ALLEN ETHAN INTERIORS INC
10-Q, 1997-02-13
WOOD HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, (NO UPHOLSTERED)
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                                       UNITED STATES
                            SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                         FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[X]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934


For the quarterly period ended           December 31, 1996
                                ------------------------------------------------


                                            or

[ ]  TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13 OR  15(d)  OF THE  SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                         to


Commission File Number:                 1-11806


        Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.; Ethan Allen Inc.; Ethan Allen Finance
        Corporation; Ethan Allen Manufacturing Corporation; Andover Wood
                                  Products Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                  Delaware                                     06-1275288
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation          (I.R.S. Employer ID No.)
              or organization)

                  Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, Connecticut 06811
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (203) 743-8000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                       N/A
                 (Former name, former address and former fiscal
                      year, if changed since last report)





<PAGE>



  Indicate  by check  mark  whether  the  registrant  (1) has filed all  reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. [X] Yes [ ] No

                APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
                  PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

  Indicate by check mark  whether the  registrant  has filed all  documents  and
reports  required  to be filed by  Sections  12,  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the  distribution of securities  under a plan
confirmed by a court. [ ] Yes [ ] No

                      APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

  Indicate the number of shares  outstanding of each of the issuer's  classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

                         14,402,367 at December 31, 1996




<PAGE>





                           ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
                                 AND SUBSIDIARY



                                      INDEX


                                                                  PAGE

Part I.   Financial Information:

 Item 1.    Consolidated  Financial Statements as of December 31 and June 30,
            1996 and for the three and six months  ended  December  31, 1996 and
            1995 (unaudited):

            Consolidated Balance Sheets                             2

            Consolidated Statements of Income                       4

            Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                   5

            Consolidated Statement of Shareholders'
              Equity                                                6

            Notes to Consolidated Financial
              Statements                                            7

 Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis
              of Financial Condition and Results
              of Operations                                        12


Part II.  Other Information:                                       17

 Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 Item 2.  Changes in Securities

 Item 6.  Exhibits and reports on Form 8-K






                                     -1-

<PAGE>



                       ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
                              Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                (Dollars in thousands)

                                                    December 31,
        ASSETS                                          1996           June 30,
                                                     (unaudited)         1996
Current assets:
  Cash                                               $ 23,238           $  9,078
  Accounts receivable, less allowances of
    $2,446 and $2,564 at December 31 and
    June 30, 1996, respectively                        30,896             33,984
  Notes receivable, current portion, less
    allowances of $342 and $314 at December
    31 and June 30, 1996,respectively                   1,400              1,314
  Inventories (note 3)                                100,236            107,224
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets             7,476              7,377
  Deferred income taxes                                 8,593              9,305
                                                      -------            -------

       Total current assets                           171,839            168,282
                                                      -------            -------

Property, plant and equipment, net                    163,299            159,634
Property, plant and equipment held for sale (note 4)    1,135              4,233
Notes receivable, net of current portion, less
  allowance of $176 and $97 at December 31 and
  June 30, 1996, respectively                           2,523              2,561
Intangibles, net of amortization of $12,594 and
   $11,768 at December 31 and June 30, 1996,
   respectively                                        53,239             54,065
Deferred financing costs, net of amortization of
   $1,709 and $1,426 at December 31 and June 30,
   1996, respectively                                   1,767              1,877
Other assets                                            4,638              5,329
                                                      -------            -------

     Total assets                                    $398,440           $395,981
                                                     ========            =======

       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
  Current maturities of long-term debt and
   capital lease obligations                         $  1,878           $  2,498
  Accounts payable                                     34,579             36,742
  Accrued expenses                                      7,204              6,956
  Accrued compensation and benefits                    13,890             12,939
                                                      -------            -------

     Total current liabilities                         57,551             59,135
                                                      -------            -------

Long-term debt, less current maturities                63,857             79,929
Obligations under capital leases, less current
  maturities                                            2,867              2,752
Other long-term liabilities, principally long-term
  compensation and environmental reserves                 853              1,036
Deferred income taxes                                  31,999             32,836
                                                      -------            -------

     Total liabilities                                157,127            175,688
                                                      -------            -------

Commitments and contingencies (note 5)                     -                  -

Shareholders' equity:
Class A common stock, par value $.01,  35,000,000 shares authorized,  14,666,781
  and 14,568,731 shares



                                         -2-

<PAGE>



  issued at December 31 and June 30, 1996 respectively    146                146
Preferred stock, par value $.01, 1,055,000 shares
  authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at
  December 31 and June 30, 1996, respectively              -                  -
Additional paid-in capital                            255,170            254,971
                                                      -------            -------
                                                      255,316            255,117
Less:  Notes receivable from officer and employees         -                (51)
       Treasury stock (at cost) 264,414 and 256,480
       shares at December 31 and June 30, 1996,       (5,606)            (5,371)
       respectively                                   -------            -------
                                                      249,710            249,695
Accumulated deficit                                   ( 8,397)          (29,402)
                                                      -------            -------
     Total shareholders' equity                       241,31             220,293
                                                      -------            -------

     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity      $398,440           $395,981
                                                     ========           ========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



                                         -3-

<PAGE>




                       ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
                           Consolidated Statements of Income
                                      (Unaudited)
                     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)





                                          Three Months             Six Months
                                      Ended December 31,      Ended December 31,
                                       1996        1995        1996       1995

Net sales                            $138,330    $127,212    $270,685   $244,153
Cost of sales                          78,409      75,857     156,186    147,327
                                      -------     -------     -------    -------
    Gross profit                       59,921      51,355     114,499     96,826

Operating expenses:
  Selling                              18,875      17,857      38,035     35,626
  General and administrative            19,396     18,270      38,412     36,086
                                       -------    -------     -------    -------

    Operating income                   21,650      15,228      38,052     25,114
                                      -------     -------     -------    -------

Interest and other miscellaneous
  income, net                             295         287         344        590

Interest expense                        1,420       2,341       3,011      4,894
Amortization of deferred
  financing costs                         136         105         357        214
                                      -------     -------     -------    -------

  Income before income taxes           20,389      13,069      35,028     20,596

Income tax expense                      8,162       5,228      14,018      8,255
                                      -------     -------     -------    -------

    Net income                       $ 12,227    $  7,841    $ 21,010   $ 12,341
                                      =======     =======     =======    =======

Per share data:

    Net income per common share      $   0.84    $   0.54    $   1.44   $   0.85
                                      =======     =======     =======    =======

    Dividend declared per
      common share                   $   0.04    $    -      $   0.08   $    -
                                      =======     =======     =======    =======

    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding (in thousands)        14,621      14,472      14,627     14,536



See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



                                          -4-

<PAGE>



                 ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
                   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                (Unaudited)
                          (Dollars in thousands)


                                                              Six Months
                                                          Ended December 31,
                                                         1996        1995
Operating activities:
  Net income                                           $ 21,010    $ 12,341
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to
   net cash provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization                        8,855       8,586
     Provision for deferred income taxes                    544        (237)
     Other non-cash charges                                 419         (71)
     Change in:
       Accounts receivable                                3,196       2,044
       Inventories                                        6,988       3,903
       Prepaid and other current assets                     (99)     (1,124)
       Other assets                                          68          77
       Accounts payable                                  (2,163)      3,284
       Accrued expenses                                     761         359
       Other long-term liabilities                         (183)        (31)
                                                        -------    --------

  Net cash provided by operating activities              39,396      29,131
                                                        -------    --------

Investing activities:
  Proceeds from the disposal of property, plant             110          96
    and equipment
  Proceeds from the disposal of plant, and equipment
    held for sale                                         1,945        -
  Capital expenditures                                   (9,753)     (6,320)
  Payments received on long-term notes receivable           621         977
  Disbursements made for long-term notes receivable        (727)       (400)

  Net cash used by investing activities                  (7,804)     (5,647)
                                                         -------    --------

Financing activities:

  Payments on revolving credit facility                 (21,500)    (44,000)
  Borrowings on revolving credit facility                14,500      26,500
  Other long-term borrowings                                440         -
  Redemption of Senior Notes                             (9,384)        -
  Payments on long-term debt, including                     (77)       (39)
    current maturities
  Payments under capital leases                          (1,039)       (805)
  Issuance of capital stock                                 611       154
  Payments to acquire treasury stock                       (235)     (2,755)
  Increase in deferred financing costs                     (173)        (99)
  Payment of dividends                                     (575)        -

  Net cash used by financing activities                 (17,432)    (21,044)
                                                        --------    --------

Net increase in cash                                     14,160       2,440
Cash at beginning of period                               9,078       7,546
                                                        --------    --------

Cash at end of period                                  $ 23,238   $   9,986
                                                       ========   =========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



                                    -5-

<PAGE>



                           ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
                        Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
                              Six Months Ended December 31, 1996
                                          (Unaudited)
                                    (Dollars in thousands)


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

                                                                Additional
                                                       Common    Paid-in         Notes       Treasury   Accumulated
                                                        Stock    Capital       Receivable     Stock      Deficit        Total
                                                        -----   ---------      ----------    --------   -----------     -----

Balance at June 30, 1996 ........................   $     146   $ 254,971      $     (51)    $(5,371)   $ (29,402)   $ 220,293

  Issuance of capital stock .....................         611        --                         --           --            611

  Payments received on notes
    receivable ..................................         --          --              51        --           --             51

  Increase in management
    warrants ....................................         --           71             --        --           --             71

  Purchase of 7,934 shares
    of treasury stock ...........................         --          --              --        (235)        --           (235)

  Tax benefit associated with
    the exercise of employee
    options and warrants ........................         --          669             --        --           --            669

  Dividends declared ............................         --       (1,152)            --        --           --         (1,152)

  Foreign currency adjustment ...................         --          --              --        --             (5)          (5)

  Net income ....................................         --          --              --        --         21,010       21,010
                                                    ----------  ----------   ------------  ----------   ----------   ----------


Balance at December 31, 1996 ....................   $     146   $ 255,170      $    --     $  (5,606)   $  (8,397)   $ 241,313
                                                    =========   =========    ===========   ==========   ==========   =========


</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



                                             -6-

<PAGE>


                   ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                  (Unaudited)




(1)   Basis of Presentation

      Ethan Allen  Interiors  Inc.  (the  "Company")  is a Delaware  corporation
      incorporated  on May  25,  1989.  The  consolidated  financial  statements
      include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned  subsidiary Ethan
      Allen  Inc.   ("Ethan   Allen")  and  Ethan  Allen's   subsidiaries.   All
      intercompany  accounts  and  transactions  have  been  eliminated  in  the
      consolidated  financial statements.  All of Ethan Allen's capital stock is
      owned by the Company. The Company has no other assets or operating results
      other than those associated with its investment in Ethan Allen.


(2)   Interim Financial Presentation

      All  significant   intercompany   accounts  and  transactions   have  been
      eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

      In the opinion of the Company, all adjustments,  consisting only of normal
      recurring accruals necessary for fair presentation,  have been included in
      the financial statements.  The results of operations for the three and six
      months ended December 31, 1996 are not  necessarily  indicative of results
      for the fiscal year.


(3)   Inventories

      Inventories  at December 31 and June 30,  1996 are  summarized  as follows
      (dollars in thousands):
                                           December 31,     June 30,
                                              1996            1996

            Retail merchandise              $ 27,540        $ 28,695
            Finished products                 31,765          39,146
            Work in process                   13,306          12,803
            Raw materials                     27,625          26,580
                                             -------         -------
                                            $100,236        $107,224

(4)   Plant, Property Equipment Held for Sale

      Property  and plants held for resale are  recorded at the lower of cost or
      net realizable  values.  As of July 1, 1996, the Company  adopted FAS 121,
      "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived  Assets and Long-Lived Assets
      To Be Disposed  Of". The adoption of this standard did not have a material
      impact on the Company's financial position or its results of operations.




                                     -7-

<PAGE>


                   ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                  (Unaudited)




(5)   Contingencies

      The Company has been named as a potentially  responsible party ("PRP") for
      the cleanup of four sites  currently  listed or proposed for  inclusion on
      the National Priorities List ("NPL") under the Comprehensive Environmental
      Response,  Compensation  and  Liability Act of 1980  ("CERCLA").  Numerous
      other  parties  have  been  identified  as PRP's at these  sites,  and the
      Company believes its share of waste contributed to these sites is small in
      relation to the total;  however,  liability  under CERCLA may be joint and
      several.  The Company has total  reserves of $500,000  applicable to these
      sites. With respect to all of these sites, the Company believes that it is
      not a major  contributor based on the very small volume of waste generated
      by the Company in relation to total  volume at the site.  For three of the
      sites,  the site assessment is at a very early stage and there has been no
      allocation of responsibility among the parties.  Environmental  assessment
      activity with respect to these sites is expected to continue over the next
      few years.  With respect to the fourth site,  final  allocation  is in the
      process of being negotiated.


(6)   Wholly-Owned Subsidiary

      The  Company  owns all of the  outstanding  stock of Ethan  Allen,  has no
      material  assets  other  than its  ownership  of Ethan  Allen  stock,  and
      conducts all significant  operating  transactions through Ethan Allen. The
      Company  has  guaranteed  Ethan  Allen's   obligations  under  the  Credit
      Agreement  and Senior  Notes and has pledged all the  outstanding  capital
      stock of Ethan Allen to secure its guarantee under its Credit Agreement.





                                     -8-

<PAGE>


                   ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                  (Unaudited)





      The condensed balance sheets of Ethan Allen as of December 31 and June 30,
      1996 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

                                    December 31,      June 30,
                                        1996            1996
      Assets

      Current assets                  $171,794        $168,261
      Non-current assets               231,187         231,163
                                       -------         -------

            Total assets              $402,981        $399,424
                                       =======         =======

      Liabilities

      Current liabilities             $ 56,926        $ 58,517
      Non-current liabilities           99,576         116,553
                                       -------         -------

            Total liabilities         $156,502        $175,070


      A summary of Ethan Allen's operating activity for the three and six months
      ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, is as follows (dollars in thousands):

                                  Three Months             Six Months
                               Ended December 31,      Ended December 31,
                                1996        1995        1996        1995
                              --------    --------    --------    ------

      Net sales               $138,330    $127,212    $270,685    $244,153
      Gross profit              59,921      51,355     114,499      96,826
      Operating income          21,668      15,256      38,088      25,171
      Interest expense           1,420       2,341       3,011       4,894
      Amortization of deferred
        financing costs            136         105         357         214
      Income before income
        tax expense             20,407      13,096      35,063      20,650
      Net income                12,245       7,868      21,045      12,395





                                          -9-

<PAGE>


                   ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                  (Unaudited)





7)    Business Reorganization

      The  Company  implemented  a  business  reorganization  ("Reorganization")
      effective July 1, 1995,  which  permitted the separation of  manufacturing
      operations  from  distribution  and store  operations.  This has given the
      Company additional  flexibility to permit it to reduce its aggregate state
      corporate  income tax  liability by  allocating  income to the  operations
      responsible  for  generating  such income  thereby  reducing the Company's
      effective  tax  rate.   The  Company   believes  that  the  separation  of
      manufacturing  operations from distribution and store operations will also
      provide for improved measures of performance,  including  profitability of
      operations  and return on assets,  by allowing  the Company to more easily
      allocate  income,  expenses and assets to the separate  operations  of the
      Company's  business.  The  Reorganization  consisted  principally  of  the
      following  elements:  (i) the contribution of Ethan Allen's  manufacturing
      equipment to Ethan Allen Manufacturing  Corporation  ("EAMC"),  which is a
      newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ethan Allen (ii) the execution of
      operating  lease  arrangements  between  EAMC  and  Ethan  Allen  for real
      property used in manufacturing  operations (iii) the contribution by Ethan
      Allen of certain of Ethan Allen's  trademarks  and service  marks,  design
      patents and related  assets to Ethan Allen  Finance  Corporation  ("EAFC")
      which is a newly formed,  wholly-owned subsidiary of Ethan Allen, (iv) the
      full and  unconditional  guarantee  on a senior  unsecured  basis of Ethan
      Allen's obligations under Ethan Allen's Credit Agreement and 8-3/4% Senior
      Notes due 2001 by each of EAMC and EAFC and  Andover  Wood  Products  Inc.
      ("Andover",   the  existing   wholly-owned   subsidiary  of  the  Company)
      (collectively,   "Guarantor  Subsidiaries"),  (v)  the  amendment  of  the
      Company's existing guarantee of Ethan Allen's obligations under the Senior
      Notes  and  the  Indenture  to  include  a  guarantee  of  each  Guarantor
      Subsidiary's   obligations  under  its  Subsidiary  Guarantee,   (vi)  the
      execution of a management agreement and a service mark licensing agreement
      and a  trademark  licensing  agreement  between  EAMC and EAFC,  (vii) the
      execution  of a  management  agreement  between  Ethan  Allen and EAFC and
      (viii) the execution of a manufacturing  agreement between Ethan Allen and
      EAMC. Ethan Allen continues to own its  headquarters  building in Danbury,
      Connecticut,  the  real  property  associated  with  EAMC's  manufacturing
      operations  and the  assets  and  liabilities  associated  with the  Ethan
      Allen-owned retail operations and Ethan Allen's distribution,  service and
      home delivery operations.



                                        -10-

<PAGE>


                   ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                  (Unaudited)




      The summarized  historical  combined  balance sheet  information for EAMC,
      EAFC, and Andover (the "Guarantor  Subsidiaries")  at December 31 and June
      30, 1996 is as follows (dollars in thousands):

                                      December 31,                June 30,
      Assets                              1996                      1996
      ------                          ------------                ------

      Current assets                    $ 61,533                  $ 46,394
      Non-current assets                 165,418                   164,602
                                         -------                   -------
        Total assets                    $226,951                  $210,996
                                         =======                   =======

      Liabilities
      Current liabilities               $ 22,188                  $ 21,346
      Non-current liabilities             17,917                    17,939
                                         -------                   -------
        Total liabilities               $ 40,105                  $ 39,285
                                         =======                   =======


      Summarized  historical  combined  operating activity for the three and six
      months  ended  December  31,  1996  and  1995 is as  follows  (dollars  in
      thousands):

                                      Three Months                Six Months
                                         Ended                       Ended
                                      December 31,               December 31,
                                   1996         1995         1996          1995
                                   ----         ----         ----          ----

      Net Sales                $ 84,769      $ 79,629     $162,182      $147,594
      Gross Profit               16,176        14,450       31,856        25,206
      Operating income           11,519        10,264       22,808        17,127
      Income before
        income taxes             12,630        11,356       25,017        19,239
      Net income                  7,641         6,871       15,135        11,640

      The  summarized   historical  financial   information  for  the  Guarantor
      Subsidiaries above, has been derived from the financial  statements of the
      Company.



                                         -11-

<PAGE>



                     MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS



Results of Operations

      Ethan Allen's  revenues are comprised of wholesale  sales to  dealer-owned
stores and retail  sales of Ethan  Allen-owned  stores as  follows  (dollars  in
millions):
                                   Three Months             Six Months
                                       Ended                  Ended
                                   December 31,           December 31,
                                1996        1995        1996        1995
                                ----        ----        ----        ----
Revenues:
Net wholesale sales to
 dealer-owned stores           $ 88.4      $ 80.2      $174.5      $158.0
Net retail sales of Ethan
 Allen-owned stores              44.2        41.5        84.4        76.3
Other revenues                    5.7         5.5        11.8         9.8
                                -----       -----       -----       -----
  Total                        $138.3      $127.2      $270.7      $244.1
                                =====       =====       =====       =====


  Three Months Ended December 31, 1996 Compared to Three Months Ended December
31, 1995

      Sales for the three  months  ended  December  31, 1996  increased by $11.1
million,  or 8.7%,  over the  corresponding  period in the prior  year to $138.3
million. Net sales by Ethan Allen-owned stores increased $2.7 million or 6.5% to
$44.2 million and net sales to  dealer-owned  stores  increased  $8.2 million or
10.2% to $88.4  million.  The  increase  in sales  to  dealer-owned  stores  has
resulted  from  increased   distribution  through  relocated  stores,   improved
effectiveness  of  existing  stores,  newer  product  offerings,  a  coordinated
advertising  program,  and growth in international  sales. At December 31, 1996,
there were 290 total stores, of which 232 were dealer-owned,  as compared to 298
total  stores,  of which 238 were  dealer-owned  at December 31,  1995.  The net
decrease in the number of stores is primarily  due to the closing of 14 smaller,
under-performing  stores in Japan, which were replaced by 3 larger,  high-volume
stores in fiscal 1996.

      The increase in retail sales by Ethan  Allen-owned  stores is attributable
to a 7.5%,  or $3.0  million,  increase in  comparable  store  sales,  and sales
generated by newly opened or acquired stores of $1.5 million,  partially  offset
by closed stores, which generated $1.8 million less in sales in the three months
ended  December  31, 1996,  as compared to the three  months ended  December 31,
1995.

      Comparable stores are stores that, if newly opened,  have been open for at
least 15 months.  Ethan Allen's retail business is principally special order and
minimal net sales are  generated  during the first three months of operations of
newly opened stores. Stores acquired from dealers by Ethan



                                     -12-

<PAGE>



Allen are included in comparable  store sales in their  thirteenth full month of
Ethan Allen-owned operations.

      Gross  profit for the three months  ended  December 31, 1996  increased by
$8.5  million,  or 16.7% from the three months ended  December 31, 1995 to $59.9
million. This increase is attributable to higher sales volume,  combined with an
increase in gross margin from 40.4% in the three months ended  December 31, 1995
to 43.3% in the three months ended  December 31, 1996.  Gross  margins have been
favorably   impacted  by   increased   sales   volume,   greater   manufacturing
efficiencies,  improvements  in  manufacturing  technology,  full benefit of the
recent price  increases,  and higher  retail gross  margins.  These  factors are
partially  offset by higher  medical and  employee  benefit  costs as well as an
increase in the price of certain raw materials.

      Selling,  general and administrative  expenses increased $2.1 million from
$36.1  million,  or 28.4% of net sales,  in the three months ended  December 31,
1995 to $38.3 million, or 27.7% of net sales, in the three months ended December
31,  1996.  This  increase  is  principally  attributable  to an increase in the
operating  expenses  of Ethan  Allen-owned  stores of $.6  million due to higher
sales volumes.  The remaining increase can be attributed to expenses  associated
with the higher wholesale sales.

      Operating  income for the three months  ended  December 31, 1996 was $21.7
million  (15.7% of sales),  an increase of $6.5 million as compared to the three
months ended December 31, 1995. Wholesale operating income was $19.1 million for
the three months ended December 31, 1996, reflecting an increase of $5.0 million
as compared to the prior year period.  The  improvement  in wholesale  operating
income is primarily due to a $12.1 million  increase in wholesale sales combined
with a 2.1%  improvement in wholesale  gross margin to 34.4%.  Retail  operating
income was $2.9  million  for the three  months  ended  December  31,  1996,  an
increase of $1.0 million from the prior year.  The higher  retail sales  volumes
and improved gross margin were partially offset by higher operating expenses due
to the higher sales volumes.

      Interest expense,  including the amortization of deferred financing costs,
for the three months ended  December 31, 1996  decreased by $0.9 million to $1.5
million from $2.4 million in the three months ended December 31, 1995. The lower
expense reflects the lower debt balances outstanding.

      Income tax expense of $8.2 million or an  effective  tax rate of 40.0% was
recorded  for the three months  ended  December  31,  1996,  as compared to $5.2
million or an effective tax rate of 40.0% in the prior year quarter.

      For the three months ended  December  31, 1996,  the Company  recorded net
income of $12.2  million,  compared  to net  income for the three  months  ended
December 31, 1995 of $7.8 million.





                                     -13-

<PAGE>




Six Months Ended December 31, 1996 Compared to Six Months Ended December 31,
1995

      Sales for the six  months  ended  December  31,  1996  increased  by $26.5
million,  or  10.9%,  over the six  months  ended  December  31,  1995 to $270.6
million.  Net retail  sales by Ethan  Allen-owned  stores  increased by 10.6% to
$84.4  million and sales to  dealer-owned  stores  increased  by 10.4% to $174.5
million.  The  increase  in sales  to  dealer-owned  stores  has  resulted  from
increased  distribution  through  relocated  stores,  improved  effectiveness of
existing stores, newer product offerings, and growth in international sales.

      The increase in retail sales by Ethan  Allen-owned  stores is attributable
to a 10.0% or $7.1 million  increase in comparable  store sales, and an increase
in sales generated by newly opened or acquired stores of $3.5 million, partially
offset by closed  stores which  generated  $2.5 million less in sales in the six
months ended  December 31, 1996 as compared to the six months ended December 31,
1995.

      Gross profit for the six months ended December 31, 1996 increased by $17.7
million from the six months  ended  December  31, 1995 to $114.5  million.  This
increase is  attributable  to higher  sales volume and an  improvement  in gross
margin from 39.7% in the six months ended  December 31, 1995 to 42.3% in the six
months  ended  December 31, 1995.  The gross margin  percentage  improved due to
greater manufacturing  efficiencies,  improvements in manufacturing  technology,
and the full  benefit  of recent  price  increases,  partially  offset by higher
medical  and  employee  benefit  costs as well as an  increase  in the  price of
certain  raw  materials.  Additionally,  the prior year  margin  was  negatively
impacted by $.8 million of costs related to extended plant shutdowns.

      Selling,  general and administrative  expenses increased $4.7 million from
$71.7 million or 29.4% of net sales, in the fiscal 1996 period to $76.4 million,
or 28.2% of net sales, in the fiscal 1997 period.  This increase is attributable
principally  to an  increase  in  operating  expenses  in the  Company's  retail
division of $1.9 million due to higher sales volumes.  The remaining increase is
attributable  to the  increase  in  wholesale  shipments  combined  with  higher
employee medical and benefit costs.

      Operating  income for the six months  ended  December  31,  1996 was $38.1
million (14.1% of sales),  an increase of $13.0 million,  as compared to the six
months ended December 31, 1995. Wholesale operating income was $34.4 million for
the six months ended December 31, 1996, an increase of $10.7 million as compared
to the six months ended  December 31, 1995.  This  increase is  attributable  to
higher sales volumes and an improved gross margin. Retail operating income was $
4.2 million for the six months ended December 31, 1996.  This  represents a $2.4
million  increase from the six months ended December 31, 1995.  This increase is
attributable  to higher sales  volumes and an improved  gross  margin  partially
offset by higher operating expenses due to the higher sales volumes.




                                     -14-

<PAGE>



      Interest expense,  including the amortization of deferred financing costs,
for the six months  ended  December  31, 1996  decreased by $1.7 million to $3.4
million, from $5.1 million in the fiscal 1996 period, due to lower debt balances
outstanding.

      Income tax expense of $14.0 million or an effective tax rate of 40.0%, was
recorded for the six months ended December 31, 1996, as compared to $8.3 million
or an effective rate of 40.0% in the prior year period.

      For the six months  ended  December  31,  1996,  the Company  recorded net
income  of $21.0  million,  compared  to net  income  for the six  months  ended
December 31, 1995 of $12.3 million.


Financial Condition and Liquidity

      Principal   sources  of  liquidity  are  cash  flow  from  operations  and
additional  borrowing  capacity under the revolving  credit  facility.  Net cash
provided by operating  activities totaled $39.4 million for the six months ended
December 31, 1996, as compared to $29.1 million in the six months ended December
31, 1995. The increase is due  principally to higher net income of $8.7 million.
At December 31, 1996,  the Company had working  capital of $114.3  million and a
current ratio of 2.99 to 1.

      During the six months ended December 31, 1996,  capital  spending  totaled
$9.8 million as compared to $6.3  million in the six months  ended  December 31,
1995.  Capital  expenditures in fiscal 1997 are anticipated to be  approximately
$18.0  million.  The  Company  anticipates  that  cash from  operations  will be
sufficient  to fund this level of capital  expenditures.  The  current  level of
anticipated capital spending,  which is attributable  primarily to manufacturing
efficiency  improvements and new store openings, is expected to continue for the
foreseeable future.

      Total debt outstanding at December 31, 1996 is $68.6 million.  At December
31, 1996 there are no outstanding  revolving  loans under the Credit  Agreement.
Trade and standby  letters of credit of $14.3  million  were  outstanding  as of
December  31, 1996.  During the quarter  ended  December  31, 1996,  the Company
amended its Credit  Agreement with Chase Manhattan Bank as agent.  Amendments to
the Credit  Agreement  include:  (1) the  reduction of the  commitment of senior
secured debt under a revolving credit facility to $100.0 million,  (2) reduction
of  interest  rates to adjusted  LIBOR plus .45% which is subject to  adjustment
arising from changes in the credit rating of Ethan Allen's  senior  secured debt
or Fixed Charge  Ratio,  (3)  elimination  of a lien on certain  fixed assets as
collateral and (4) amendment of certain  additional debt and restricted  payment
limitations.  In  connection  with the Amended and  Restated  Credit  Agreement,
$173,000 in additional deferred financing fees were incurred. These charges will
be amortized over the remaining life of the credit agreement.

      Other debt includes $52.6 million of outstanding Senior Notes which have a
final maturity in 2001, with no scheduled  amortization prior to final maturity.
The Senior Notes may not be redeemed at the option of the Company



                                     -15-

<PAGE>



until March 15, 1998. Therefore, the Company does not anticipate that any Senior
Notes will be repaid  until this date;  however,  the  Company  may from time to
time, either directly or through agents, repurchase its Senior Notes in the open
market,  through  negotiated  purchases  or  otherwise,  at prices  and on terms
satisfactory to the Company. During the six months ended December 31, 1996, $9.4
million  principal  amount was  repurchased.  The Company may also, from time to
time, either directly or through agents, repurchase its common stock in the open
market  through  negotiated  purchases  or  otherwise,  at  prices  and on terms
satisfactory  to the Company.  Depending on market  prices and other  conditions
relevant to the Company,  such purchases may be discontinued at any time. During
the six months ended  December 31, 1996, the Company  purchased  7,934 shares of
its stock on the open market at an average price of $29.62 per share.

      As of December 31, 1996,  aggregate scheduled maturities of long-term debt
for each of the next  five  fiscal  years  are $.1  million,  $.1  million,  $.4
million, $.2 million and $52.8 million,  respectively.  Management believes that
its cash flow from  operations,  together  with its other  available  sources of
liquidity,  will be adequate to make all  required  payments  of  principal  and
interest on its debt, to permit  anticipated  capital  expenditures  and to fund
working capital and other cash requirements.



                                     -16-

<PAGE>



                          PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION



Item 1. - Legal Proceedings

There has been no change to matters discussed in  Business-Legal  Proceedings in
Company's  Form 10-K as filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  on
September 27, 1996.


Item 2. - Changes in Securities

There has been no change to matters  discussed in  Description  and Ownership of
Capital  Stock in the  Company's  Form  10-K as filed  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission on September 27, 1996, except that pursuant to the November
4, 1996 Annual Meeting, the shareholders approved an Amendment to the 1992 Stock
Option Plan to increase by 600,000 the  authorized  shares  reserved  for use in
connection with the Stock Option Plan.


Item 6. - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

    4(k)-3  Amended and Restated Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility
            dated as of March 10, 1995, as amended and restated as of December
            4, 1996, between Ethan Allen Inc. and the Chase Manhattan Bank

    4(t)    Security Agreement, dated as of March 10, 1995, between Ethan
            Allen Inc. and the Chase Manhattan Bank

    11      Statement Re: Computation of Per Share Earnings

    27      Financial Data Schedule



                                     -17-

<PAGE>



                                  SIGNATURES


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


                          ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
                                 (Registrant)



DATE:    2/13/97                          BY: /s/ M. Farooq Kathwari
                                              ----------------------
                                              M. Farooq Kathwari
                                              Chairman of the Board
                                              President and Chief
                                              Executive Officer
                                              (Principal Executive Officer)



DATE:    2/13/97                          BY: /s/ Edward P. Schade
                                              ----------------------
                                              Edward P. Schade
                                              Vice President &
                                              Treasurer
                                              (Principal Financial Officer)



DATE:    2/13/97                          BY: /s/ Gerardo Burdo
                                              ----------------------
                                              Gerardo Burdo
                                              Corporate Controller
                                              (Principal Accounting Officer)







                                     -18-

<PAGE>



                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS





      4(k)-3      Amended and Restated Senior Secured Revolving Credit
                  Facility dated as of March 10, 1995, as amended and restated
                  as of December 4, 1996, between Ethan Allen Inc. and the
                  Chase Manhattan Bank.

      4(t)        Security Agreement, dated as of March 10, 1995, between
                  Ethan Allen Inc. and the Chase Manhattan Bank.

      11          Statement Re: Computation of Per Share Earnings

      27          Financial Data Schedule

<PAGE>



                                                                CONFORMED COPY










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





                    AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT



                          Dated as of March 10, 1995
                As Amended and Restated as of December 4, 1996


                                    among



                              ETHAN ALLEN INC.,

                                 as Borrower,


                         ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.,


                          THE LENDERS NAMED HEREIN,



                                     and



                          THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,

                as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, and
                              Swingline Lender.














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




<PAGE>













                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                          Page

I.  DEFINITIONS............................................................ 2


SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms................................................ 2
SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally..............................................18


II.  THE CREDITS...........................................................18

SECTION 2.01. Commitments..................................................18
SECTION 2.02. Loans........................................................18
SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedure; Interest Rate Elections.................20
SECTION 2.04. Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans.........................21
SECTION 2.05. Fees.........................................................22
SECTION 2.06. Interest on Loans............................................23
SECTION 2.07. Default Interest.............................................23
SECTION 2.08. Alternate Rate of Interest...................................23
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments.....................24
SECTION 2.10. Prepayment...................................................24
SECTION 2.11. Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances................25
SECTION 2.12. Change in Legality...........................................26
SECTION 2.13. Indemnity....................................................27
SECTION 2.14. Pro Rata Treatment...........................................27
SECTION 2.15. Sharing of Set Offs..........................................27
SECTION 2.16. Payments.....................................................28
SECTION 2.17. Taxes........................................................28
SECTION 2.18. Assignment of Commitments Under Certain
                Circumstances..............................................33
SECTION 2.19. Swingline Loans..............................................32
SECTION 2.20. Letters of Credit............................................33


III.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................................37

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers.........................................37
SECTION 3.02. Authorization................................................37
SECTION 3.03. Enforceability...............................................38
SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals.......................................38
SECTION 3.05. Financial Statements.........................................38
SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse Change...................................38
SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases.................38
SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries.................................................38
SECTION 3.09. Litigation; Compliance with Laws.............................38
SECTION 3.10. Agreements...................................................39
SECTION 3.11. Federal Reserve Regulations..................................39
SECTION 3.12. Investment Company Act;  Public Utility Holding              
                Company Act................................................39
SECTION 3.13. Use of Proceeds..............................................39
SECTION 3.14. Tax Returns..................................................39
SECTION 3.15. No Material Misstatements....................................40
SECTION 3.16. Employee Benefit Plans.......................................40
SECTION 3.17. Environmental Matters........................................40
SECTION 3.18. Insurance....................................................41
SECTION 3.19. Security Documents ..........................................41
SECTION 3.20. Location of Real Property....................................41
SECTION 3.21. Labor Matters................................................41
SECTION 3.22. Patents, Trademarks, etc.....................................42

IV.  CONDITIONS............................................................42

SECTION 4.01. All Credit Events............................................43
SECTION 4.02. Effectiveness................................................43


V.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS..................................................43

SECTION 5.01. Existence; Businesses and  Properties........................43
SECTION 5.02. Insurance....................................................44
SECTION 5.03. Obligations and Taxes........................................45
SECTION 5.04. Financial Statements, Reports, etc...........................45
SECTION 5.05. Litigation and Other Notices.................................47
SECTION 5.06. Employee Benefits............................................47
SECTION 5.07. Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and                
                Inspections................................................48
SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds..............................................48
SECTION 5.09. Further Assurances...........................................48
SECTION 5.10. Environmental Matters........................................49
                                                                           
VI.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS....................................................49

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness.................................................49
SECTION 6.02. Liens........................................................51
SECTION 6.03. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.............................52
SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans and Advances; Certain                      
                Acquisitions...............................................53
SECTION 6.05. Mergers, Consolidations and Sales of Assets..................55
SECTION 6.06. Transactions with Stockholders and Affiliates................56
SECTION 6.07. Business of Holdings, Borrower and Subsidiaries..............56
SECTION 6.08. Restricted Payments..........................................56
SECTION 6.09. Limitations Regarding Senior Notes...........................57
SECTION 6.10. Amendment of Constituent Documents...........................58
SECTION 6.11. Subsidiaries.................................................58
SECTION 6.12. Consolidated Net Worth.......................................58
SECTION 6.13. Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.....................58
SECTION 6.14. Leverage Ratio...............................................58
SECTION 6.15. Fiscal Year..................................................58
SECTION 6.16. Limitations Regarding Capital Stock..........................58

VII.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT....................................................59

VIII. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT....................62

IX.   MISCELLANEOUS........................................................64

SECTION 9.01. Notices......................................................64
SECTION 9.02. Survival of Agreement........................................65
SECTION 9.03. Binding Effect...............................................65
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns.......................................65
SECTION 9.05. Expenses; Indemnity..........................................68
SECTION 9.06. Right of Setoff..............................................69
SECTION 9.07. Applicable Law...............................................69
SECTION 9.08. Waivers; Amendment...........................................69
SECTION 9.09. Interest Rate Limitation.....................................70
SECTION 9.10. Entire Agreement.............................................70
SECTION 9.11. Waiver of Jury Trial.........................................71
SECTION 9.12. Severability.................................................71
SECTION 9.13. Counterparts.................................................71
SECTION 9.14. Headings.....................................................71
SECTION 9.15. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process..................71
SECTION 9.16. Confidentiality..............................................72
SECTION 9.17. Release of Collateral........................................72
SECTION 9.18. Defaulting Lender............................................73
SECTION 9.19. Release of Mortgages.........................................73

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A    Administrative Questionnaire
Exhibit B    Form of Assignment & Acceptance
Exhibit C    Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit D    Form of Note


<PAGE>


SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.01  Mortgaged Properties
Schedule 2.01  Commitments
Schedule 3.08  Subsidiaries and Excluded Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.09  Litigation
Schedule 3.17  Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.18  Insurance
Schedule 3.20  Real Property
Schedule 6.01  Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02  Existing Liens
Schedule 6.04  Existing  Investments

                                   - ii -



<PAGE>














                        AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT  AGREEMENT dated as of March
               10, 1995,  as amended and restated as of December 4, 1996,  among
               ETHAN ALLEN INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"),  ETHAN
               ALLEN INTERIORS INC., a Delaware  corporation  ("Holdings"),  the
               financial institutions from time to time parties hereto (together
               with the Swingline Lender (as defined below), the "Lenders"), and
               THE CHASE  MANHATTAN BANK (as successor to Chemical  Bank), a New
               York banking corporation,  as swingline lender (in such capacity,
               the "Swingline  Lender"),  and as  administrative  agent (in such
               capacity, the "Administrative Agent") and as collateral agent (in
               such capacity, the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders.


            The  Borrower,  Holdings,  the Original  Lenders (such term and each
other  capitalized  term used  herein  having the meaning set forth in Article I
hereof), the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Swingline Lender
are  parties to a Credit  Agreement  dated as of March 10,  1995,  and in effect
prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement (the "Original Credit  Agreement").
The Borrower and Holdings have  requested that the Lenders,  the  Administrative
Agent,  the Collateral Agent and the Swingline Lender agree to amend and restate
the Original Credit Agreement in order to (i) amend certain  provisions  therein
and (ii) to  release  and  discharge  the  Mortgaged  Properties  from the Liens
created  under  the  Mortgages.  The  Lenders,  the  Administrative  Agent,  the
Collateral Agent and the Swingline Lender are willing to agree to such amendment
and  restatement  of the  Original  Credit  Agreement,  subject to the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth.

            The Borrower has  requested  that the Lenders  extend  credit in the
form of Revolving Loans at any time and from time to time prior to the Revolving
Credit Maturity Date, in an aggregate  principal  amount at any time outstanding
not in excess of  $100,000,000.  The Borrower has requested the Swingline Lender
to  extend  credit in the form of  Swingline  Loans at any time and from time to
time prior to the Revolving  Credit  Maturity  Date,  in an aggregate  principal
amount at any time  outstanding  not in excess of  $3,000,000.  The Borrower has
requested  the  Issuing  Bank to issue  letters  of  credit to  support  payment
obligations  incurred in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  in an aggregate face amount at any time  outstanding not to exceed
$40,000,000.  The proceeds of the Loans are to be used to pay all amounts owing,
if any, under the Original Credit  Agreement on the  Restatement  Effective Date
and  otherwise  for  working  capital  and  other  general  corporate   purposes
(including all proper and  legitimate  business  purposes),  and such Letters of
Credit are to be used for general corporate purposes.


                                   - 1 -



<PAGE>



            The Lenders are  willing to extend such credit to the  Borrower  and
the  Issuing  Bank is willing to issue  letters of credit for the account of the
Borrower  on  the  terms  and  subject  to  the  conditions  set  forth  herein.
Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:


ARTICLE I.  DEFINITIONS

            SECTION  1.01.  Defined  Terms.  As  used  in  this  Agreement,  the
following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

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

            "ABR Loan" shall mean any Loan  bearing  interest  at the  Alternate
Base Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II.

            "Adjusted  LIBO Rate" shall  mean,  with  respect to any  Eurodollar
Borrowing  for any Interest  Period,  an interest  rate per annum  (rounded,  if
necessary,  to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the product of (a) the LIBO Rate in
effect for such Interest Period and (b) Statutory Reserves.

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

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

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

            "Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure"  shall  mean the  aggregate
amount of the Lenders' Revolving Credit Exposures.

            "Alternate  Base  Rate"  shall  mean,  for any day, a rate per annum
(rounded, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greatest of (a) the
Prime  Rate in effect  on such  day,  (b) the Base CD Rate in effect on such day
plus 1% and (c) the Federal Funds  Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2
of 1%. If for any reason the  Administrative  Agent shall have determined (which
determination  shall be conclusive  absent  manifest error) that it is unable to
ascertain the Base CD Rate or the Federal Funds  Effective  Rate or both for any
reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain
sufficient  quotations in accordance with the terms thereof,  the Alternate Base
Rate shall be  determined  without  regard to clause (b) or (c), or both, of the
preceding sentence, as appropriate,  until the circumstances giving rise to such
inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change
in the Prime  Rate,  the  Three-Month  Secondary  CD Rate or the  Federal  Funds
Effective  Rate shall be effective on the  effective  date of such change in the
Prime Rate,  the  Three-Month  Secondary CD Rate or the Federal Funds  Effective
Rate, respectively.


                                   - 2 -



<PAGE>



            "Applicable  Fixed Charge  Coverage  Ratio" shall mean, at any time,
the Consolidated  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the most recent period of four
consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower for which financial  statements have
been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04.

            "Applicable  Percentage"  shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar
Loan, or with respect to the Commitment Fees or L/C  Participation  Fees, as the
case may be,  the  applicable  percentage  set forth  below  under  the  caption
"Eurodollar  Spread" or "Commitment Fee Percentage" or "L/C Fee Percentage",  as
the case may be, in each case determined as provided below:


                    Eurodollar     Commitment Fee     L/C Fee
                      Spread         Percentage      Percentage
                      ------         ----------      ----------

   Category 1         0.3500%          0.1250%        0.2250%
   ----------

   Category 2         0.4000%          0.1500%        0.2750%
   ----------

   Category 3         0.4500%          0.1875%        0.3250%
   ----------

   Category 4         0.6250%          0.2250%        0.5000%
   ----------

   Category 5         0.7500%          0.2500%        0.6250%
   ----------



During any period  that  either  Moody's or S&P is rating the  Obligations,  the
"Applicable  Percentage"  shall be  determined  by reference  to the  applicable
percentage  set forth above on the line  designated as (i) "Category 1", so long
as the Obligations are rated Baa1 or better by Moody's or BBB+ or better by S&P,
(ii) "Category 2", so long as the  conditions  described in clause (i) above are
not satisfied but the  Obligations are rated Baa2 or better by Moody's or BBB or
better by S&P,  (iii)  "Category  3",  so long as the  conditions  described  in
clauses (i) and (ii) above are not satisfied but the  Obligations are rated Baa3
or better by Moody's or BBB- or better by S&P, (iv) "Category 4", so long as the
conditions  described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above are not satisfied but
the  Obligations  are rated Ba1 or better by  Moody's or BB+ or better by S&P or
(v)  "Category  5", so long as the  conditions  described in clauses (i),  (ii),
(iii) and (iv) above are not satisfied; provided that if and only if the ratings
established  by  Moody's  and S&P shall fall in the same  category,  then (a) if
based  on  such  ratings  at the  time  the  "Applicable  Percentage"  would  be
determined by reference to "Category 2" but the Applicable Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio at the time is 4.0 to 1.0 or  greater,  then the  "Applicable  Percentage"
shall be determined by reference to the applicable percentage set forth above on
the line  designated  as "Category  1", (b) if based on such ratings at the time
the "Applicable Percentage" would be determined by reference to "Category 3" but
the Applicable Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio at the time is 3.5 to 1.0 or greater,
then  the  "Applicable  Percentage"  shall be  determined  by  reference  to the
applicable  percentage  set forth above on the line  designated as "Category 2",
(c) if based on such ratings at the time the  "Applicable  Percentage"  would be
determined by reference to "Category 4" but the Applicable Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio at the time is 3.0 to 1.0 or  greater,  then the  "Applicable  Percentage"
shall be determined by reference to the applicable percentage set forth above on
the line  designated as "Category 3" or (d) if based on such ratings at the time
the "Applicable Percentage" would be determined by reference to "Category 5" but
the  Applicable  Fixed  Charge  Coverage  Ratio  at the  time  is 2.75 to 1.0 or
greater,  then the "Applicable  Percentage"  shall be determined by reference to
the applicable  percentage  set forth above on the line  designated as "Category
4". The "Applicable  Percentage" shall be determined by the Administrative Agent
and, for  purposes of  determinations  pursuant to the  preceding  sentence,  no
rating  or change of a rating by  Moody's  or S&P shall be  effective  until the
Administrative  Agent  receives  notice  thereof.  The  Applicable  Fixed Charge
Coverage  Ratio  at any time  shall be  determined  based  upon the most  recent
financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to

                                   - 3 -



<PAGE>



Section 5.04 and each change in the "Applicable  Percentage" based upon a change
in the Applicable Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be effective upon receipt by
the Administrative Agent of (i) such financial statements indicating such change
and (ii) notice by the  Borrower of such change in the  "Applicable  Percentage"
based upon the Applicable  Fixed Charge  Coverage  Ratio;  provided that if such
financial statements and notice are not delivered to the Administrative Agent by
the date that delivery thereof is required by Section 5.04, then the "Applicable
Percentage"  shall be determined  without regard to the Applicable  Fixed Charge
Coverage  Ratio  unless and until such  financial  statements  and notice are so
delivered. If neither Moody's nor S&P is rating the Obligations,  then (A) for a
period of 90 days  commencing on the date that the  Obligations  ceased to be so
rated,  the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this
definition in a manner that will  substitute  for such ratings  financial  tests
(which may include tests by reference solely to the Borrower's  Applicable Fixed
Charge  Coverage  Ratio and  Leverage  Ratio) for  determining  the  "Applicable
Percentage", (B) during such 90-day period, the "Applicable Percentage" shall be
the same as that in effect  immediately prior to commencement of such period and
(C) if the Borrower and the Lenders fail to agree upon any such amendment within
such 90-day  period,  then upon and after  expiration  of such 90-day period the
"Applicable  Percentage"  shall be  determined  by reference  to the  applicable
percentage set forth on the line designated as "Category 5" until such agreement
is reached;  provided that if at any time, whether during or after expiration of
any such 90-day  period,  the  Borrower  arranges for Moody's or S&P to commence
rating the  Obligations,  then the "Applicable  Percentage"  shall be determined
based upon any such  rating or ratings so  obtained  (and the  Applicable  Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio) as provided above so long as a rating is available.

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

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

            "Base CD Rate"  shall  mean  the sum of (a) the  product  of (i) the
Three-Month Secondary CD Rate and (ii) Statutory Reserves and (b) the Assessment
Rate.

            "Board"  shall mean the Board of  Governors  of the Federal  Reserve
System of the United States.

            "Borrowing" shall mean a group of Loans of a single Type made by the
Lenders on a single date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

            "Borrowing  Request"  shall  mean  a  request  by  the  Borrower  in
accordance  with the  terms of  Section  2.03 and  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit C.

            "Business  Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,  Sunday or
day on which banks in New York City are  authorized or required by law to close;
provided, however, that when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term
"Business  Day"  shall  also  exclude  any day on which  banks  are not open for
dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

            "Capital Lease Obligations" of any person shall mean the obligations
of such  person  to pay rent or  other  amounts  under  any  lease of (or  other
arrangement  conveying  the  right  to use)  real  or  personal  property,  or a
combination  thereof,  which  obligations  are  required  to be  classified  and
accounted for as capital

                                   - 4 -



<PAGE>



leases on a balance  sheet of such  person  under  GAAP,  and the amount of such
obligations  shall be the  capitalized  amount thereof  determined in accordance
with GAAP.

            "Cash  Equivalents" shall mean (a) securities with maturities of one
year or less  from the date of  acquisition  issued or fully  guaranteed  by the
United States or any agency or  instrumentality  thereof,  (b)  certificates  of
deposit,  banker's  acceptances and time deposits with maturities of one year or
less from the date of acquisition  and overnight bank deposits,  in each case of
any commercial bank having a long-term  unsecured debt rating of at least "A" by
S&P or "A2" by Moody's, (c) repurchase  obligations with a term of not more than
twelve days for underlying  securities of the types described in clauses (a) and
(b) above  entered  into with any of the Lenders and (d)  commercial  paper of a
domestic issuer with maturities of one year or less rated at least A-1 by S&P or
P-1 by Moody's; (e) commercial paper of any bank or other financial  institution
meeting the  qualifications  in clause (b) above;  and (f)  investments in money
market funds, substantially all assets of which comprise securities of the types
described in clauses (a) through (e) above.

            A  "Change  in  Control"  shall be deemed  to have  occurred  if (a)
Holdings  shall cease to own 100% of the capital stock of the Borrower,  (b) any
person or group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 as in  effect on the date  hereof)  shall own  directly  or  indirectly,
beneficially  or of record,  shares  representing  30% or more of the  aggregate
ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of
Holdings;  (c) a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of
directors of Holdings  shall at any time have been  occupied by persons who were
neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of Holdings,  nor (ii) appointed
by directors so nominated;  (d) any person or group shall otherwise  directly or
indirectly  Control  Holdings;  or (e) any "change of control" or similar  event
shall occur under the Senior Note Documents.

            "Closing  Date"  shall  mean the date on which the  Original  Credit
Agreement became effective in accordance with Section 4.02 thereof.

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

            "Collateral"  shall  mean all the  "Collateral"  as  defined  in any
Security Document.

            "Commitment"  shall mean, with respect to any Lender,  such Lender's
Revolving  Credit  Commitment and Swingline  Commitment and, with respect to the
Issuing Bank, its L/C Commitment.

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

            "Consolidated  Capital Expenditures" shall mean, for any period, the
sum of (a) the  aggregate  of all  expenditures  (whether  paid in cash or other
consideration  or accrued as a liability)  by the Borrower and its  consolidated
Subsidiaries  during  such  period  that,  in  conformity  with GAAP,  should be
included in  "additions to property,  plant or  equipment"  or comparable  items
reflected  in the  consolidated  statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its
consolidated  Subsidiaries;  provided that "Consolidated  Capital  Expenditures"
shall not include (i) any of the foregoing  expenditures to the extent made with
the proceeds from property or casualty insurance or compensation with respect to
eminent  domain  or  condemnation  proceedings  or  (ii)  any of  the  foregoing
expenditures  to the extent  constituting  an acquisition  made in reliance upon
clause (b) of Section  6.04;  plus (b) the  aggregate of all payments of Capital
Lease  Obligations  during  such  period  (except  to the  extent  allocable  to
interest).

            "Consolidated  EBITDA" shall mean, for any period,  Consolidated Net
Income for such  period,  before  giving  effect to any  extraordinary  gains or
losses or any gains or losses  resulting  from sales of assets (other than sales
of inventory in the ordinary  course of business),  plus, to the extent deducted
in computing  such  Consolidated  Net Income,  the sum of (a) income tax expense
(whether paid or deferred), (b) Consolidated

                                   - 5 -



<PAGE>



Interest Expense, (c) depreciation and amortization and (d) any non-cash charges
resulting from any  restructuring  or  consolidation of operations or any grant,
exercise or cancellation of stock options or warrants.

            "Consolidated  Fixed  Charge  Coverage  Ratio"  shall mean,  for any
period,  the ratio of (a) the sum of (i)  Consolidated  EBITDA  plus (ii) Rental
Expense  minus (iii)  Consolidated  Capital  Expenditures  to (b) the sum of (i)
Consolidated  Interest  Expense plus (ii) Rental Expense,  in each case for such
period.

            "Consolidated  Interest  Expense"  shall mean,  for any period,  the
gross  consolidated  interest expense of the Borrower for such period determined
on a consolidated  basis in accordance  with GAAP, and including,  to the extent
not otherwise  included,  Capital Lease  Obligations (to the extent allocable to
interest) and all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges with respect
to letters of credit and  bankers'  acceptances  and the net costs  (i.e.  costs
minus  benefits)  under interest rate  protection  agreements and other interest
hedging arrangements,  but excluding amortization of deferred financing costs to
the extent otherwise included.

            "Consolidated   Net  Income"  shall  mean,   for  any  period,   the
consolidated net income or loss of the Borrower for such period  determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;  provided,  however,  that (a) there
shall be deducted any dividends paid to Holdings pursuant to Section 6.08 (other
than  dividends  paid  to  repay  loans  made by the  Borrower  to  Holdings  as
contemplated  thereby) and any loans made to Holdings for the purposes set forth
therein, to the extent that the proceeds thereof are used in a manner that would
result in (or has resulted in) a deduction in calculating the net income or loss
of Holdings and is not otherwise  deducted in calculating the  consolidated  net
income or loss of the  Borrower,  and (b) there shall be excluded (i) the income
(or loss) of any Person in which any other  Person  (other than the  Borrower or
any of its  Subsidiaries)  has a joint  interest,  except  to the  extent of the
amount of dividends or other distributions  actually paid to the Borrower or any
of its  Subsidiaries  by such  Person  during  such  period and except  that the
Borrower's  interest in EA-JB  Properties,  Inc. may be  recognized on an equity
basis,  (ii) the  income (or loss) of any  Person  accrued  prior to the date it
becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged into or consolidated  with the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries or that Person's assets are acquired by the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  and (iii) the income of any  Subsidiary of
the  Borrower  to the extent that the  declaration  or payment of  dividends  or
similar  distributions  by the  Subsidiary  of that  income  is not at the  time
permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument,
judgment,  decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to
that Subsidiary.

            "Consolidated   Net   Worth"   shall   mean,   as  of  any  date  of
determination,  the consolidated stockholders' equity of the Borrower determined
on a consolidated  basis in accordance  with GAAP,  less treasury stock, if any,
and less the amount of any Indebtedness of Holdings to the Borrower  included as
an asset of the Borrower in determining such consolidated  stockholders' equity,
plus the aggregate amount of non-cash charges resulting from the grant, exercise
or  cancellation  of stock  options or  warrants,  to the extent  such  non-cash
charges were deducted in calculating the consolidated net income of the Borrower
for  any  period  subsequent  to June  30,  1996,  and  prior  to  such  date of
determination.

            "Consolidated   Total   Assets"  shall  mean,  as  of  any  date  of
determination,   the  total  assets  which  would   properly  be  classified  as
consolidated  assets  of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  at  such  date in
accordance with GAAP.

            "Consolidated   Total  Debt"   shall   mean,   as  of  any  date  of
determination,  all Indebtedness  (excluding (a) Guarantees of Indebtedness,  to
the extent the Guaranteed  Indebtedness is already included, (b) Indebtedness of
the type described in clause (i) of the definition of the term  Indebtedness and
(c) to the extent such Indebtedness is contingent in nature, Indebtedness of the
type described in clause (j) of the definition of the term  Indebtedness) of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.


                                   - 6 -



<PAGE>



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

            "Credit  Event"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
Section 4.01.

            "Dealer Notes" shall mean all promissory  notes held by the Borrower
representing  loans or advances to its dealers which are made in accordance with
the  past  business  practices  of the  Borrower,  made in  accordance  with its
standard  credit  procedures  and made for the purpose of  financing  (i) dealer
inventories in connection with the opening or expanding of a new Store, (ii) the
purchase  by the  dealer  of a  Store,  (iii)  dealer  capital  improvement  and
leasehold improvements,  or (iv) the conversion (on a secured basis) of accounts
receivable and services sold to dealers from open accounts receivable.

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

            "Designated  Payment"  shall mean any amount  that is required to be
treated as a "Designated Payment" by any provision of this Agreement.

            "Designated Payment Amount" shall mean, at any time, an amount equal
to the  excess,  if  any,  of (a)  50% of  Consolidated  Net  Income  (excluding
extraordinary  gains and any gains or losses  resulting  from  sales of  assets,
other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business) for the period
of eight consecutive fiscal quarters (or shorter period commencing on January 1,
1994) most recently ended,  treated as a single accounting period, minus (b) the
sum of all Designated  Payments made during the period referred to in clause (a)
above  (excluding any Designated  Payments made in respect of  Consolidated  Net
Income for a previous  period,  it being  understood  that, for purposes of this
exclusion,  each  Designated  Payment shall be considered  made in reliance upon
Consolidated Net Income for the earliest  quarterly period included  pursuant to
clause (a) at the time such Designated Payment is made, to the extent not relied
upon  for  previous  Designated  Payments).  For  purposes  of  calculating  the
Designated Payment Amount,  Consolidated Net Income shall be adjusted to exclude
any gains or losses resulting from the payment of Designated Payments.

            "Dollars"  or "$" shall mean  lawful  money of the United  States of
America.

            "Environment"  shall mean ambient air, surface water and groundwater
(including  potable water,  navigable  water and wetlands),  the land surface or
subsurface  strata,  the workplace or as otherwise  defined in any Environmental
Law.

            "Environmental  Claim"  means any  written  accusation,  allegation,
notice of violation,  claim, demand, order,  directive,  cost recovery action or
other  cause of action by, or on behalf of, any  Governmental  Authority  or any
person for damages,  injunctive or equitable relief,  personal injury (including
sickness,  disease or death),  Remedial  Action  costs,  tangible or  intangible
property damage,  natural resource  damages,  nuisance,  pollution,  any adverse
effect  on the  environment  caused by any  Hazardous  Material,  or for  fines,
penalties or restrictions,  resulting from or based upon: (a) the existence,  or
the continuation of the existence, of a Release (including sudden or non-sudden,
accidental or non-accidental  Releases); (b) exposure to any Hazardous Material;
(c) the presence, use, handling, transportation,  storage, treatment or disposal
of any  Hazardous  Material;  or (d) the  violation or alleged  violation of any
Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.

            "Environmental  Law" means any and all applicable present and future
treaties,  laws,  rules,  regulations,   codes,  ordinances,   orders,  decrees,
judgments,  injunctions,  notices or binding agreements  issued,  promulgated or
entered  into  by  any  Governmental  Authority,  relating  in  any  way  to the
environment,  preservation or reclamation of natural resources,  the management,
Release or threatened Release of any

                                   - 7 -



<PAGE>



Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters,  including the Comprehensive
Environmental  Response,  Compensation  and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by
the Superfund  Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 9601
et seq. (collectively "CERCLA"), the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the
Resource  Conservation  and  Recovery  Act  of  1976  and  Hazardous  and  Solid
Amendments of 1984, 42 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  6901 et seq., the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C. ss.ss. 1251 et
seq., the Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended 42 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  7401 et seq., the
Toxic  Substances  Control  Act of 1976,  15  U.S.C.  ss.ss.  2601 et seq.,  the
Occupational  Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 U.S.C. ss.ss. 651 et
seq., the Emergency Planning and Community  Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C.
ss.ss. 11001 et seq., the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
ss.ss.  300(f) et seq., the Hazardous  Materials  Transportation  Act, 49 U.S.C.
ss.ss. 1801 et seq., and any similar or implementing state or local law, and all
amendments or regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

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

            "ERISA  Affiliate" shall mean any trade or business  (whether or not
incorporated) that, together with the Borrower,  is treated as a single employer
under Section 414 of the Code.

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

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

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

            "Excluded Subsidiary" shall mean, at any time, any Subsidiary of the
Borrower  identified on Schedule 3.08 as an "Excluded  Subsidiary"  and that has
not ceased to be an "Excluded  Subsidiary" as provided below; provided that such
Subsidiary  (a) does not own,  lease,  license or hold any assets or properties,
(including  patents,  trademarks,  trade names and other intellectual  property)
other  than such as are not used or useful in the  businesses  conducted  by the
Borrower and its other Subsidiaries, and in any event such assets and properties
do not, in the  aggregate  (for all  Subsidiaries  that are treated as "Excluded
Subsidiaries"),  have a fair market value in excess of $1,000,000,  (b) did not,
during the period of four  consecutive  fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on
the most recent  date for which  quarterly  or annual  financial  statements  of
Holdings are available,  have revenues  that,  together with the revenues of all
other  Subsidiaries that are treated as "Excluded  Subsidiaries",  accounted for
more than 3% of the  consolidated  revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
during such period, and (c) does not have any Indebtedness or any other material
liabilities.  At any time the Borrower  may,  and shall if one or more  Excluded
Subsidiaries fail to satisfy one or more of the conditions  described in clauses
(a) through (d) above, notify the Administrative Agent that one or more Excluded
Subsidiaries shall cease to constitute an "Excluded Subsidiary",  whereupon such
Subsidiary or  Subsidiaries  shall cease to constitute an "Excluded  Subsidiary"
for all purposes  hereof.  The Borrower may not designate any Subsidiary that is
not an Excluded Subsidiary as an Excluded Subsidiary.

            "Federal Funds Effective Rate" shall mean, for any day, the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the
Federal  Reserve System  arranged by Federal funds brokers,  as published on the
next  succeeding  Business Day by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York,  or, if
such rate is not so published  for any day which is a Business  Day, the average
of the quotations for the day of

                                   - 8 -



<PAGE>



such transactions  received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

            "Fees" shall mean the  Commitment  Fees,  the  Administrative  Agent
Fees, the LC Participation Fees and the Issuing Bank Fees.

            "Financial   Officer"  of  any  corporation  shall  mean  the  chief
financial officer, principal accounting officer, Treasurer or Controller of such
corporation,  and the  Assistant  Treasurer  and  Assistant  Controller  for the
purpose of giving notice pursuant to Sections 2.03, 2.10, 2.19 and 2.20.

            "Foreign  Subsidiary" shall mean any Subsidiary organized outside of
the United States.

            "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted  accounting  principles applied
on a consistent basis.

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

            "Guarantee"  of  or  by  any  person  shall  mean  any   obligation,
contingent  or  otherwise,  of such person  guaranteeing  or having the economic
effect of  guaranteeing  any  Indebtedness  of any other  person  (the  "primary
obligor") in any manner,  whether  directly or  indirectly,  and  including  any
obligation  of such  person,  direct or  indirect,  (a) to  purchase  or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such  Indebtedness or to
purchase  (or to advance or supply  funds for the  purchase of) any security for
the payment of such Indebtedness,  (b) to purchase or lease property, securities
or services  for the purpose of assuring the owner of such  Indebtedness  of the
payment of such Indebtedness or (c) to maintain working capital,  equity capital
or any other financial  statement  condition or liquidity of the primary obligor
so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness; provided, however,
that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit
in the ordinary course of business.

            "Guarantee  Agreement " shall mean the Guarantee  Agreement dated as
of March 10, 1995, among the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent.

            "Guarantors" shall mean Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

            "Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or radioactive  substances
or wastes, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants, solid, liquid or
gaseous  wastes,  including  petroleum  or  petroleum  distillates,  asbestos or
asbestos   containing   materials,   polychlorinated   biphenyls   ("PCBs")   or
PCB-containing  materials or equipment,  radon gas, infectious or medical wastes
and all other  substances  or wastes of any  nature  regulated  pursuant  to any
Environmental Law.

            "Indebtedness" of any person shall mean,  without  duplication,  (a)
all obligations of such person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or
advances of any kind,  (b) all  obligations  of such person  evidenced by bonds,
debentures,  notes or similar  instruments,  (c) all  obligations of such person
upon which interest  charges are  customarily  paid, (d) all obligations of such
person under  conditional sale or other title retention  agreements  relating to
property or assets purchased by such person,  (e) all obligations of such person
issued or  assumed  as the  deferred  purchase  price of  property  or  services
(excluding  trade  accounts  payable  and  accrued  obligations  incurred in the
ordinary  or  customary  course of  business),  (f) all  Indebtedness  of others
secured by (or for which the holder of such  Indebtedness has an existing right,
contingent  or  otherwise,  to be  secured  by) any  Lien on  property  owned or
acquired by such person,  whether or not the  obligations  secured  thereby have
been assumed,  (g) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness of others,  (h)
all Capital Lease Obligations of such person, (i) all obligations of such person
in respect of Rate Protection  Agreements and (j) all obligations of such person
as an account party in respect of letters of credit and bankers'

                                   - 9 -



<PAGE>



acceptances.  The  Indebtedness of any person shall include the  Indebtedness of
any partnership in which such person is a general partner.

            "Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution  Agreement" shall mean the
Indemnity,  Subrogation and  Contribution  Agreement dated as of March 10, 1995,
among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Administrative Agent.

            "Information  Memorandum"  shall mean the  confidential  information
memorandum, dated as of November, 1996, prepared by the Borrower and distributed
by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders.

            "Interest  Payment Date" shall mean,  with respect to any Loan,  the
last day of the Interest  Period  applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan
is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar  Borrowing with an Interest Period of
more than three  months'  duration,  each day that  would have been an  Interest
Payment Date had  successive  Interest  Periods of three  months'  duration been
applicable  to such  Borrowing,  and, in  addition,  any date on which such Loan
shall be changed to a different Type.

            "Interest Period" shall mean (a) as to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the
period  commencing  on the  date of such  Borrowing  or on the  last  day of the
immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing,  as the case
may be,  and ending on the  numerically  corresponding  day (or,  if there is no
numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is 1,
2, 3, 6 or (if  available,  as  determined by the  Administrative  Agent and the
Lenders) 9 or 12 months thereafter,  as the Borrower may elect and (b) as to any
ABR  Borrowing,  the period  commencing on the date of such  Borrowing or on the
last  day of the  immediately  preceding  Interest  Period  applicable  to  such
Borrowing,  as the case  may be,  and  ending  on the  earliest  of (i) the next
succeeding  March 31, June 30,  September 30 or December 31, (ii) the  Revolving
Credit  Maturity Date and (iii) the date such Borrowing is prepaid in accordance
with Section 2.10(b);  provided,  however, that if any Interest Period would end
on a day other than a Business Day,  such  Interest  Period shall be extended to
the next succeeding  Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar  Borrowing
only, such next  succeeding  Business Day would fall in the next calendar month,
in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day.
Interest shall accrue from and including the first day of an Interest  Period to
but excluding the last day of such Interest Period.

            "Issuing Bank" shall mean, as the context may require, (a) The Chase
Manhattan  Bank or (b) any other Lender that may become an Issuing Bank pursuant
to Section 2.20(i) or 2.20(k),  with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such
Lender.

            "Issuing Bank Fees" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in
Section 2.05(c).

            "Kathwari Employment  Agreement" shall mean the employment agreement
dated as of July 27, 1994, among Holdings, the Borrower and Mr. Kathwari.

            "L/C  Commitment"  shall mean the  commitment of the Issuing Bank to
issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.20.

            "L/C Disbursement"  shall mean a payment or disbursement made by the
Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

            "L/C  Exposure"  shall mean at any time the sum of (a) the aggregate
undrawn  amount of all  outstanding  Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the
aggregate  principal  amount  of all L/C  Disbursements  that  have not yet been
reimbursed at such time. The L/C Exposure of any Revolving  Credit Lender at any
time shall mean its Pro Rata  Percentage  of the  aggregate L/C Exposure at such
time.


                                   - 10 -



<PAGE>



            "L/C Participation Fee" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 2.05(c).

            "Letter of Credit" shall mean any letter of credit  issued  pursuant
to Section 2.20.

            "Leverage  Ratio"  shall  mean,  on  any  date,  the  ratio  of  (a)
Consolidated  Total Debt to (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated  Total Debt and (ii)
Consolidated Net Worth, in each case as of such date.

            "LIBO Rate" shall mean,  with respect to any  Eurodollar  Borrowing,
the  rate  (rounded,  if  necessary,  to the next  1/16 of 1%) at  which  Dollar
deposits  approximately equal in principal amount to the Administrative  Agent's
portion  of such  Eurodollar  Borrowing  and for a maturity  comparable  to such
Interest Period are offered to the principal London office of the Administrative
Agent  in  immediately  available  funds  in  the  London  interbank  market  at
approximately   11:00  a.m.,  London  time,  two  Business  Days  prior  to  the
commencement of such Interest Period.

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

            "Loan Documents"  shall mean this Agreement,  the Letters of Credit,
the Guarantee Agreement, the Security Documents, the Indemnity,  Subrogation and
Contribution Agreement and the Notes, if any.

            "Loan Parties" shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors.

            "Loans" shall mean the Revolving Loans and the Swingline Loans.

            "Margin  Stock"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
Regulation U.

            "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean (a) a materially adverse effect
on the  business,  assets,  operations,  prospects  or  condition,  financial or
otherwise,  of Holdings,  or the Borrower,  or the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
taken as a whole,  (b) material  impairment  of the ability of any Loan Party to
perform any of its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is or will be
a party or (c) material impairment of the rights of or benefits available to the
Lenders under any Loan Document.

            "Moody's"  shall  mean  Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.,  and its
successors.

            "Mortgaged  Properties" shall mean the real properties  specified on
Schedule 1.01 and improvements thereto and equipment located at such properties.

            "Mortgages" shall mean the mortgages, deeds of trust, assignments of
leases  and  rents,   modifications  and  other  security  documents  previously
delivered to the Collateral Agent creating a Lien on the Mortgaged Properties in
connection with the Original Credit Agreement.

            "Multiemployer  Plan" shall mean a multiemployer  plan as defined in
Section  4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (other
than one considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of
Code Section 414) is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions,  or
has within any of the preceding five plan years made or accrued an obligation to
make contributions.



                                   - 11 -



<PAGE>



            "Non Wholly Owned  Subsidiary" shall mean a Subsidiary that is not a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

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

            "Obligations" shall mean all obligations defined as "Obligations" in
the Guarantee Agreement and the Security Documents.

            "Original Credit  Agreement" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto
in the preamble to this Agreement.

            "Original  Lenders" shall mean the "Lenders"  under,  and as defined
in, the Original Credit Agreement immediately prior to the effectiveness of this
Agreement.

            "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation referred
to and defined in ERISA.

            "Perfection  Certificate"  shall  mean  the  Perfection  Certificate
substantially in the form of Annex 2 to the Security Agreement.

            "Permitted  Receivables  Facility"  shall  mean (a) the  receivables
financing  arrangement  existing under the Monogram  Credit Card Bank of Georgia
Program  Agreement  dated as of November 9, 1993,  between  Monogram Credit Card
Bank of  Georgia  and the  Borrower,  as in  effect on the date  hereof,  and as
amended or modified after the date hereof with the prior written  consent of the
Required Lenders;  (b) any successor retail  receivables  financing  arrangement
entered into by the Borrower pursuant to documentation  reasonably  satisfactory
to the Required  Lenders and on terms and conditions that are either (i) no less
favorable  to the Borrower  than those of the  predecessor  arrangement  that is
being replaced or (ii) satisfactory to the Required Lenders; provided,  however,
that, if the Borrower delivers to the Lenders  documentation with respect to any
amendment,  modification or replacement of a Permitted Receivables Facility, any
Lender  that fails to notify the  Borrower in writing of any  objection  to such
amendment, modification or replacement within 10 Business Days after its receipt
thereof shall be deemed to have consented to and approved of such  documentation
and the  terms  and  conditions  set forth  therein;  and (c) any  other  retail
receivables  financing  arrangement  that (i) applies only to  receivables  from
retail  customers,  (ii) provides for a "true" sale of such receivables  without
recourse to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary,  except for obligations of
the Borrower to repurchase such  receivables on terms and conditions  (including
the  circumstances  in which such repurchases may be required) no less favorable
to the Borrower than those of the  arrangement  referred to in clause (a) above,
(iii) does not impose any financial covenants upon Holdings, the Borrower or any
Subsidiary,  or any other  covenants or obligations  materially  more burdensome
than those  contained in the  arrangement  referred to in clause (a) above,  and
(iv) is conducted pursuant to documentation delivered to the Lenders at least 10
Business Days before such arrangement is implemented.  Any Permitted Receivables
Facility  shall  continue  to be a  Permitted  Receivables  Facility  after  any
amendment  or  modification  thereto and  without  the  consent of the  Required
Lenders if after giving effect to such amendment or modification the arrangement
(i) is no less  favorable  to the Borrower  than prior to giving  effect to such
amendment  or  modification  and (ii) does not  adversely  affect  the rights or
interests of the Lenders.

            "Permitted  Sale-Leaseback  Transaction"  shall mean any sale by the
Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  of any  property  which  property is then
leased back to the respective seller;  provided that (a) such sale shall be made
for fair market value (as  determined  by the  Borrower in good faith),  (b) the
consideration for such sale shall consist entirely of cash consideration, (c) if
such   transaction   results  in  Indebtedness   (including  any  Capital  Lease
Obligation),  such  Indebtedness is permitted under Section 6.01, (d) no Default
or Event of Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing  at the time of, or would
result from, such transaction and (e) the

                                   - 12 -



<PAGE>



resulting lease provides for  substantially  equal payments during each one-year
period  during the term of such lease  except  that a balloon  payment  shall be
permitted  at the end of the lease term) and (i) with a minimum term of at least
seven years, in the case of real property and improvements thereto, or (ii) with
a minimum term of at least three years, in the case of personal property.

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

            "Plan"  shall mean any employee  pension  benefit plan (other than a
Multiemployer  Plan)  subject to the  provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section
412 of the Code that is  maintained  for  current  or former  employees,  or any
beneficiary thereof, of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

            "Pledge Agreement" shall mean the Pledge Agreement dated as of March
10, 1995, among Holdings,  the Borrower,  the Subsidiaries party thereto and the
Collateral Agent.

            "Pro Rata  Percentage"  of any  Revolving  Credit Lender at any time
shall mean the percentage of the Total Revolving Credit  Commitment  represented
by such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment.

            "Prime  Rate"  shall mean the rate of  interest  per annum  publicly
announced  from time to time by the  Administrative  Agent as its prime  rate in
effect at its principal  office in New York City;  each change in the Prime Rate
shall be  effective  on the date such  change  is  publicly  announced  as being
effective.

            "Rate  Protection  Agreements"  shall mean interest rate  protection
agreements,  foreign currency  exchange  agreements,  commodity price protection
agreements  and other  interest or currency  exchange  rate or  commodity  price
hedging arrangements.

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

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

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

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

            "Release" means any spilling,  leaking, pumping, pouring,  emitting,
emptying,  discharging,   injecting,  escaping,  leaching,  dumping,  disposing,
depositing,  dispersing,  emanating or migrating of any  Hazardous  Material in,
into, onto or through the environment.

            "Remedial  Action"  means  (a)  "remedial  action"  as such  term is
defined  in  CERCLA,  42 U.S.C.  Section  9601(24),  and (b) all  other  actions
required  by any  Governmental  Authority  or  voluntarily  undertaken  to:  (i)
cleanup, remove, treat, abate or in any other way address any Hazardous Material
in the environment;  (ii) prevent the Release or threat of Release,  or minimize
the further Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not migrate or endanger
or threaten to endanger  public  health,  welfare or the  environment;  or (iii)
perform studies and  investigations in connection with, or as a precondition to,
(i) or (ii) above.

            "Rental Expense" shall mean, for any period, all payment obligations
of Borrower and its consolidated  Subsidiaries  accrued during such period under
agreements for rent, lease, hire or use of any real or

                                   - 13 -



<PAGE>



personal property,  including  obligations in the nature of operating leases but
excluding Capital Lease Obligations.

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

            "Required Lenders" shall mean, at any time, Lenders having Revolving
Credit Exposure and unused Revolving Credit  Commitments  representing in excess
of  50% of  the  sum of the  Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure  and  unused
Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

            "Responsible  Officer" of any  corporation  shall mean any executive
officer  or  Financial  Officer  of such  corporation  and any other  officer or
similar official thereof  responsible for the  administration of the obligations
of such corporation in respect of this Agreement.

            "Restatement  Effective  Date"  shall  mean the  date on which  this
Agreement becomes effective in accordance with Section 4.02.

            "Restricted Payment" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.08.

            "Revolving  Credit  Borrowing"  shall mean a Borrowing  comprised of
Revolving Loans.

            "Revolving  Credit  Commitment"  shall  mean,  with  respect to each
Lender,  the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving  Loans hereunder as set
forth in Schedule 2.01, or in the  Assignment  and Acceptance  pursuant to which
such Lender assumed its Revolving Credit Commitment,  as applicable, as the same
may be reduced  from time to time  pursuant  to  Section  2.09 and  pursuant  to
assignments  by such  Lender  pursuant  to  Section  9.04.  The  parties  hereto
acknowledge  that the Revolving  Credit  Commitments  set forth in Schedule 2.01
are, in some  respects,  different  than those  previously  in effect  under the
Original Credit  Agreement and, as of the Restatement  Effective Date,  Schedule
2.01 shall apply and the Lenders shall be released from their  Revolving  Credit
Commitments under the Original Credit Agreement to the extent  inconsistent with
Schedule  2.01.  For purposes of  determining  each Lender's L/C Exposure,  each
Letter of Credit, if any, outstanding as of the Restatement Effective Date shall
be deemed to have been issued on the Restatement Effective Date.

            "Revolving  Credit  Exposure" shall mean, with respect to any Lender
at any time,  the  aggregate  principal  amount at such time of all  outstanding
Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender, plus the aggregate amount at such time of
such  Lender's  L/C  Exposure,  plus the  aggregate  amount at such time of such
Lender's Swingline Exposure.

            "Revolving  Credit  Lender"  shall  mean a Lender  with a  Revolving
Credit Commitment.

            "Revolving Credit Maturity Date" shall mean March 10, 2000.

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

            "S&P" shall mean Standard & Poor's Ratings Group and its successors.

            "Secured  Parties"  shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in
the Security Agreement.


                                   - 14 -



<PAGE>



            "Security  Agreement" shall mean the Security  Agreement dated as of
March 10, 1995,  among the  Borrower,  the  Subsidiaries  party  thereto and the
Collateral Agent.

            "Security  Documents" shall mean the Security Agreement,  the Pledge
Agreement  and  each  of the  security  agreements  and  other  instruments  and
documents executed and delivered pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to
Section 5.09.

            "Senior  Notes"  shall  mean  the  Borrower's  $75,000,000  original
aggregate  principal  amount  of 8-3/4%  Senior  Notes  due  2001,  as  amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified.

            "Senior Note Documents" shall mean the Senior Notes, the Senior Note
Indenture  and all other  documents  and  agreements  entered into in connection
therewith, in each case as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

            "Senior Note Indenture" shall mean the Indenture,  dated as of March
11,  1993,  between  the  Borrower  and The First  National  Bank of Boston,  as
Trustee, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

            "Statutory Reserves" shall mean a fraction (expressed as a decimal),
the  numerator  of which is the number one and the  denominator  of which is the
number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any
marginal,  special,  emergency or supplemental  reserves) expressed as a decimal
established by the Board and any other banking  authority,  domestic or foreign,
to  which  the  Administrative  Agent  or  any  Lender  (including  any  branch,
Affiliate, or other Funding Office making or holding a Loan) is subject (a) with
respect to the Base CD Rate,  for new  negotiable  nonpersonal  time deposits in
Dollars of over $100,000 with  maturities  approximately  equal to three months,
and (b) with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for Eurocurrency Liabilities (as
defined in Regulation D of the Board).  Such reserve  percentages  shall include
those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to
constitute   Eurocurrency   Liabilities  and  to  be  subject  to  such  reserve
requirements  without benefit of or credit for proration,  exemptions or offsets
which may be available from time to time to any Lender under such  Regulation D.
Statutory  Reserves shall be adjusted  automatically  on and as of the effective
date of any change in any reserve percentage.

            "Store"  shall mean any retail  store  used by the  Borrower  in its
furniture retail network.

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

            "Subsidiary" shall mean any subsidiary of the Borrower.

            "Subsidiary Guarantor" shall mean each Subsidiary that is or becomes
a party to a Guarantee Agreement.

            "Swingline  Commitment"  shall mean the  commitment of the Swingline
Lender to make loans  pursuant to Section  2.19, as the same may be reduced from
time to time pursuant to Section 2.09.

            "Swingline  Exposure" shall mean at any time the aggregate principal
amount at such time of all outstanding  Swingline Loans. The Swingline  Exposure
of any Revolving  Credit Lender at any time shall equal its Pro Rata  Percentage
of the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.


                                   - 15 -



<PAGE>



            "Swingline  Loan" shall mean any loan made by the  Swingline  Lender
pursuant to Section 2.19.

            "Three-Month  Secondary  CD  Rate"  shall  mean,  for any  day,  the
secondary market rate for three-month  certificates of deposit reported as being
in effect on such day (or,  if such day shall not be a  Business  Day,  the next
preceding  Business Day) by the Board through the public  information  telephone
line of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (which rate will, under the current
practices  of the Board,  be published in Federal  Reserve  Statistical  Release
H.15(519)  during the week following such day), or, if such rate shall not be so
reported on such day or such next  preceding  Business  Day,  the average of the
secondary  market  quotations for  three-month  certificates of deposit of major
money center banks in New York City received at  approximately  10:00 a.m.,  New
York City time, on such day (or, if such day shall not be a Business Day, on the
next  preceding  Business Day) by the  Administrative  Agent from three New York
City negotiable  certificate of deposit dealers of recognized  standing selected
by it.

            "Total  Revolving  Credit  Commitment"  shall mean, at any time, the
aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as in effect at such time.

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

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

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

            "Wholly  Owned   Subsidiary"   shall  mean  a  Subsidiary  of  which
securities  (except  for  directors'   qualifying  shares)  or  other  ownership
interests representing 100% of the equity, including 100% of the ordinary voting
power,  are, at the time any determination is being made, owned by the Borrower,
either  directly or  indirectly  through  other  Subsidiaries  that  satisfy the
requirements of this definition.

            SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally. The definitions in Section 1.01 shall
apply  equally  to both the  singular  and  plural  forms of the terms  defined.
Whenever the context may require,  any pronoun shall  include the  corresponding
masculine,  feminine  and neuter  forms.  The words  "include",  "includes"  and
"including"  shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without  limitation".
All references  herein to Articles,  Sections,  Exhibits and Schedules  shall be
deemed  references  to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and  Schedules to,
this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise  require.  Except as otherwise
expressly  provided  herein,  (a) any  reference  in this  Agreement to any Loan
Document  shall  mean  such  document  as  amended,  restated,  supplemented  or
otherwise  modified  from  time to time and (b) all  terms of an  accounting  or
financial  nature shall be construed in accordance  with GAAP, as in effect from
time to time;  provided,  however,  that for purposes of determining  compliance
with the covenants contained in Article VI, all accounting terms herein shall be
interpreted  and  all  accounting  determinations  hereunder  shall  be  made in
accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date of this Agreement and applied on a
basis consistent with the application used in the financial  statements referred
to in Section 3.05.


ARTICLE II.  THE CREDITS

            SECTION 2.01.  Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions and
relying upon the  representations  and warranties  herein set forth, each Lender
agrees,  severally and not jointly, to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower,  at
any time and from time to time on or after the date hereof, and until the

                                   - 16 -



<PAGE>



earlier  of the  Revolving  Credit  Maturity  Date  and the  termination  of the
Revolving Credit  Commitment of such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof,
in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in
(i) such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Exposure  exceeding  (ii)  such  Lender's
Revolving Credit Commitment.

            Within the limits set forth in the preceding sentence,  the Borrower
may  borrow,  pay or  prepay  and  reborrow  Revolving  Loans  on or  after  the
Restatement  Effective  Date and prior to the Revolving  Credit  Maturity  Date,
subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth herein.

            SECTION 2.02.  Loans. (a) Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan, as
to which this Section 2.02 shall not apply) shall be made as part of a Borrowing
consisting  of Loans  made by the  Lenders  ratably  in  accordance  with  their
applicable Revolving Credit Commitments;  provided, however, that the failure of
any Lender to make any Loan shall not in itself  relieve any other Lender of its
obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall
be responsible  for the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan required to
be made by such other Lender). The Loans comprising any Borrowing shall be in an
aggregate  principal  amount  which  is (i) not  less  than  $500,000  and is an
integral  multiple of $100,000,  in the case of an ABR Borrowing,  (ii) not less
than  $500,000  and is an  integral  multiple  of  $500,000,  in the  case  of a
Eurodollar  Borrowing,  or (iii) equal to the remaining available balance of the
Revolving Credit Commitments.

            (b)  Subject to  Sections  2.08 and 2.12,  each  Borrowing  shall be
comprised  entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request
pursuant to Section 2.03. Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Loan
by causing any  domestic or foreign  branch or  Affiliate of such Lender to make
such  Loan;  provided  that any  exercise  of such  option  shall not affect the
obligation  of the Borrower to repay such Loan in  accordance  with the terms of
this Agreement.  Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same
time; provided,  however, that the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any
Borrowing  which,  if made,  would result in more than 20 Eurodollar  Borrowings
outstanding  hereunder at any time.  For purposes of the  foregoing,  Borrowings
having different  Interest  Periods,  regardless of whether they commence on the
same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.

            (c) Each Lender  shall make each Loan to be made by it  hereunder on
the proposed date thereof by wire transfer to such account as the Administrative
Agent may  designate in federal  funds not later than 11:00 a.m.,  New York City
time, and the  Administrative  Agent shall by 12:00 (noon),  New York City time,
credit the  amounts so  received  to an account  with the  Administrative  Agent
designated by the Borrower in the applicable  Borrowing  Request,  which account
must be in the name of the Borrower  or, if a Borrowing  shall not occur on such
date because any condition  precedent  herein specified shall not have been met,
return the amounts so received to the respective Lenders.

            (d) Unless the Administrative  Agent shall have received notice from
a Lender  prior to the date of any  Borrowing  that  such  Lender  will not make
available to the  Administrative  Agent such Lender's portion of such Borrowing,
the  Administrative  Agent may assume  that such  Lender  has made such  portion
available  to the  Administrative  Agent  on  the  date  of  such  Borrowing  in
accordance  with  paragraph  (c)  above and the  Administrative  Agent  may,  in
reliance  upon such  assumption,  make  available to the Borrower on such date a
corresponding  amount.  If the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have so made funds
available  then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion
available to the  Administrative  Agent, such Lender and the Borrower  severally
agree  to  repay  to  the   Administrative   Agent   forthwith  on  demand  such
corresponding  amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such  amount is made  available  to the  Borrower  until the date such amount is
repaid  to the  Administrative  Agent  at (i) in the case of the  Borrower,  the
interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans  comprising such Borrowing and
(ii) in the case of such Lender, a rate determined by the  Administrative  Agent
to  represent  its cost of overnight or  short-term  funds (which  determination
shall be conclusive  absent manifest  error).  If such Lender shall repay to the
Administrative  Agent such  corresponding  amount,  such amount shall constitute
such Lender's Loan as part of such Borrowing for

                                   - 17 -



<PAGE>



purposes of this  Agreement.  Nothing in this  paragraph  shall be  construed to
relieve any Lender of its obligation to make Loans hereunder or to prejudice any
rights that the  Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any failure
by such Lender to make Loans hereunder.

            (e)  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  of this  Agreement,  the
Borrower  shall not be entitled to request any Borrowing if the Interest  Period
requested  with respect  thereto would end after the Revolving  Credit  Maturity
Date.

            (f) If the Issuing  Bank shall not have  received  from the Borrower
any payment  required to be made under Section  2.20(e) by the time such payment
is  required  to be made,  then,  the  Issuing  Bank will  promptly  notify  the
Administrative  Agent of the L/C Disbursement and the Administrative  Agent will
promptly notify each Revolving  Credit Lender of such L/C  Disbursement  and its
Pro Rata  Percentage  thereof.  Each  Revolving  Credit Lender shall pay by wire
transfer of immediately  available funds to the  Administrative  Agent not later
than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date (or, if such  Revolving  Credit
Lender shall have received  such notice later than 12:00  (noon),  New York City
time,  on any day,  not  later  than  10:00  a.m.,  New York City  time,  on the
immediately  following  Business Day), an amount equal to such Lender's Pro Rata
Percentage of such L/C Disbursement and the  Administrative  Agent will promptly
pay to the Issuing  Bank  amounts so received  by it from the  Revolving  Credit
Lenders.  The  Administrative  Agent will  promptly  pay to the Issuing Bank any
amounts  received by it from the Borrower  pursuant to Section  2.20(e) prior to
the time that any  Revolving  Credit  Lender makes any payment  pursuant to this
paragraph (f); any such amounts received by the Administrative  Agent thereafter
will be promptly  remitted by the  Administrative  Agent to the Revolving Credit
Lenders  that shall have made such  payments and to the Issuing  Bank,  as their
interests may appear. If any Revolving Credit Lender shall not have made its Pro
Rata Percentage of such L/C Disbursement  available to the Administrative  Agent
as provided above, such Lender and the Borrower  severally agree to pay interest
on such amount, for each day from and including the date such amount is required
to be paid in  accordance  with this  paragraph to but  excluding  the date such
amount is paid, to the Administrative  Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank
at (i) in the case of the Borrower,  the applicable rate per annum under Section
2.20(h),  without duplication and (ii) in the case of such Lender, for the first
such day, the Federal Funds  Effective  Rate, and for each day  thereafter,  the
Alternate  Base Rate.  If (i) the  Revolving  Credit  Lenders  make the payments
required pursuant to this paragraph (f) in respect of any L/C Disbursement, (ii)
the  Borrower  notifies  the  Administrative  Agent in  accordance  with Section
2.20(e)  that all or any portion of such  payments  should be financed  with ABR
Loans,  specifying  the amount  thereof to be so  financed,  (iii) the amount so
specified is not less than $500,000 and is an integral multiple of $100,000, and
(iv) the  conditions to Borrowing set forth in Section 4.01 are satisfied at the
time, then the amount of such payments so specified  shall  constitute ABR Loans
made on the date  such  payments  were  made  for all  purposes  hereof  and the
Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the Lenders thereof.

            (g) Any Borrowing  made on the  Restatement  Effective Date shall be
made as an ABR Borrowing.

            SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedure;  Interest Rate Elections.  (a) In
order to request a  Borrowing  (other than a  Swingline  Loan,  as to which this
Section  2.03 shall not apply),  the Borrower  shall give to the  Administrative
Agent  telephonic  notice of the  contents of its  Borrowing  Request  (promptly
confirmed by hand delivery or telecopy notice to the  Administrative  Agent of a
duly completed Borrowing Request  substantially in the form of Exhibit C) (i) in
the case of a  Eurodollar  Borrowing,  not later than 11:00 a.m.,  New York City
time, three Business Days before a proposed  Borrowing,  and (ii) in the case of
an ABR  Borrowing,  not later than 12:00 noon,  New York City time, one Business
Day before a proposed Borrowing; provided, however, that Borrowing Requests with
respect to Borrowings to be made on the  Restatement  Effective Date may, at the
discretion  of the  Administrative  Agent,  be  delivered  later  than the times
specified above.  Each Borrowing  Request shall be irrevocable,  signed by or on
behalf of the Borrower and shall specify the following information:  (i) whether
the Borrowing then being requested is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or

                                   - 18 -



<PAGE>



an ABR  Borrowing;  (ii) the date of such  Borrowing  (which shall be a Business
Day),  (iii) the number and  location  of the  account to which  funds are to be
disbursed  (which shall be an account that  complies  with the  requirements  of
Section 2.02(c));  (iv) the amount of such Borrowing;  and (v) if such Borrowing
is to be a  Eurodollar  Borrowing,  the Interest  Period with  respect  thereto;
provided,  however,  that,  notwithstanding  any contrary  specification  in any
Borrowing Request,  each requested  Borrowing shall comply with the requirements
set  forth in  Section  2.02.  If no  election  as to the Type of  Borrowing  is
specified  in any such  notice,  then the  requested  Borrowing  shall be an ABR
Borrowing.  If no Interest  Period with respect to any  Eurodollar  Borrowing is
specified in any such notice, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected
an  Interest  Period of one month's  duration.  The  Administrative  Agent shall
promptly  (and in any  event  on the same  day  that  the  Administrative  Agent
receives such notice, if received by 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on such day)
advise the Lenders of any notice  given  pursuant to this  Section 2.03 (and the
contents thereof) and of each Lender's portion of the requested Borrowing.

            (b) The Revolving Loans included in any Revolving  Credit  Borrowing
shall  initially  be of the  Type and have the  Interest  Period  determined  as
provided in paragraph (a) above. Thereafter,  the Borrower may from time to time
elect to change or continue  the Type of all or a portion of the Loans  included
in such Borrowing, as follows:

            (i) if such Loans are ABR Loans,  the  Borrower  may elect to change
such Loans to Eurodollar Loans; or

            (ii) if such Loans are Eurodollar  Loans,  the Borrower may elect to
change such Loans to ABR Loans or to continue such Loans as Eurodollar Loans for
an additional Interest Period.

Each such election  shall be made by  delivering a notice to the  Administrative
Agent at the time and in the manner  applicable  to a  Borrowing  Request  under
paragraph (a) above, and specifying the information  required to be specified in
such a Borrowing Request,  and the contents thereof shall be communicated by the
Administrative  Agent to the Lenders, in each case as though the Loans resulting
from such election were being  advanced as a Borrowing on the date such election
is to become effective. In any event (i) the Borrower may not elect to change or
continue any Eurodollar  Loans except  pursuant to an election that is effective
on the last day of the Interest Period applicable  thereto,  (ii) each Borrowing
resulting from any such election  (including each separate  Borrowing  resulting
from an election that applies to a portion of the Loans included in a Borrowing)
shall comply with the  requirements  set forth in Section 2.02, and (iii) if any
election applies to a portion of the Loans included in a Borrowing, such portion
shall be allocated  ratably among the Loans included in such  Borrowing.  If the
Borrower  shall not have  delivered a notice in accordance  with this  paragraph
prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the last day
of the Interest  Period then in effect for any  Borrowing,  then,  except to the
extent that the Borrower is required to repay or elects to prepay such Borrowing
in accordance  with Section 2.04 or 2.10,  the Loans  included in such Borrowing
shall  be  converted  into or  continued  as ABR  Loans  on the last day of such
Interest Period then if effect.

            SECTION  2.04.  Evidence  of  Debt;  Repayment  of  Loans.  (a)  The
outstanding principal balance of each Revolving Loan and Swingline Loan shall be
payable on the Revolving  Credit  Maturity  Date.  Each Loan shall bear interest
from the date of the first  Borrowing  hereunder  on the  outstanding  principal
balance thereof as set forth in Section 2.06.

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


                                   - 19 -



<PAGE>



            (c) The  Administrative  Agent shall  maintain  accounts in which it
will  record (i) the amount of each Loan made  hereunder,  the Type of each Loan
made  and the  Interest  Period  applicable  thereto,  (ii)  the  amount  of any
principal  or interest  due and  payable or to become due and  payable  from the
Borrower to each Lender  hereunder  and (iii) the amount of any sum  received by
the  Administrative  Agent  hereunder  from the Borrower and each Lender's share
thereof.

            (d)  The  entries  made  in  the  accounts  maintained  pursuant  to
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 2.04 shall be prima facie evidence of the
existence  and amounts of the  obligations  therein  recorded,  absent  manifest
error;  provided,  however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative
Agent to maintain  such  accounts or any error  therein  shall not in any manner
affect the  obligations  of the Borrower to repay the Loans in  accordance  with
their terms.

            (e)  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Agreement,  in the
event any Lender shall request and receive a Note payable to such Lender and its
registered  assigns,  the interests  represented by that Note shall at all times
(including  after any  assignment of all or part of such  interests  pursuant to
Section  9.04) be  represented  by one or more Notes  payable to the payee named
therein or its registered assigns.

            SECTION 2.05.  Fees. (a) The Borrower  agrees to pay to each Lender,
through the Administrative  Agent, on the last day of March, June, September and
December in each year, and on the date on which the Revolving Credit  Commitment
of such Lender shall be  terminated  as provided  herein,  a  commitment  fee (a
"Commitment  Fee") equal to the  Applicable  Percentage per annum on the average
daily unused amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender during the
preceding  quarter (or other period  commencing with the  Restatement  Effective
Date or ending with the Revolving  Credit Maturity Date or the date on which the
Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender shall be terminated).  All Commitment
Fees shall be  computed on the basis of the actual  number of days  elapsed in a
year of 360 days. The Commitment Fee due to each Lender shall commence to accrue
on the Restatement Effective Date and shall cease to accrue on the date on which
the Revolving  Credit  Commitment of such Lender shall be terminated as provided
herein.  For purposes of  calculating  Commitment  Fees only,  no portion of the
Revolving  Credit  Commitments  shall be deemed utilized under Section 2.14 as a
result of outstanding Swingline Loans.

            (b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative  Agent, for its
own account,  the administrative  fees separately agreed to between the Borrower
and  the  Administrative  Agent  at  the  time  so  agreed  to be  payable  (the
"Administrative Agent Fees").

            (c) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to each Revolving  Credit Lender,
through the Administrative  Agent, on the last day of March, June, September and
December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving  Credit  Commitment
of  such  Lender  shall  be  terminated  as  provided  herein,  a fee  (an  "L/C
Participation  Fee")  equal  to the  Applicable  Percentage  per  annum  on such
Lender's  Pro Rata  Percentage  of the  average  daily  aggregate  L/C  Exposure
(excluding the portion thereof  attributable to unreimbursed L/C  Disbursements)
during the preceding  quarter (or shorter period commencing with the Restatement
Effective Date or ending with the Revolving  Credit Maturity Date or the date on
which the Revolving  Credit  Commitment of such Lender shall be terminated)  and
(ii) to the Issuing Bank with respect to each Letter of Credit,  on the last day
of March, June, September and December in each year and on the date on which the
L/C  Commitment of such Issuing Bank shall be terminated as provided  herein,  a
fee equal to  0.125%  per annum (or such  other  rate as the  Borrower  and such
Issuing  Bank may agree) on the  aggregate  face amount of such Letter of Credit
during the  preceding  quarter (or shorter  period  commencing  with the date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit or ending with the  expiration or  termination
such  Letter of  Credit)  plus,  in  connection  with the  issuance,  amendment,
extension,  renewal or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any L/C Disbursement,
the Issuing Bank's customary  documentary and processing charges  (collectively,
the "Issuing Bank Fees"). All L/C Participation Fees and Issuing Bank Fees shall
be computed on the basis of the actual  number of days  elapsed in a year of 360
days.

                                   - 20 -



<PAGE>




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

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

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

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

            SECTION 2.07. Default Interest. If the Borrower shall default in the
payment of the principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount becoming
due hereunder,  by acceleration or otherwise,  the Borrower shall on demand from
time to time pay  interest,  to the extent  permitted by law, on such  defaulted
amount up to (but not  including)  the date of actual  payment (after as well as
before judgment) at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of the actual number
of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to the sum of the Alternate  Base
Rate plus 2.00%.

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

            SECTION  2.09.  Termination  and Reduction of  Commitments.  (a) The
Revolving Credit Commitments and the Swingline Commitment shall be automatically
terminated on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

            (b) Upon at least three Business Days' prior irrevocable  telephonic
notice  (promptly  confirmed  by  hand  delivery  or  telecopy  notice)  to  the
Administrative  Agent,  the  Borrower  may  at any  time  in  whole  permanently
terminate, or from time to time in part permanently reduce, the Revolving Credit
Commitments  or the  Swingline  Commitment;  provided,  however,  that  (i) each
partial  reduction of the Revolving Credit  Commitments  shall be in an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 and in a minimum  principal amount of $1,000,000 and (ii)
the Total Revolving  Credit  Commitment shall not be terminated at any time that
there is any

                                   - 21 -



<PAGE>



Revolving Credit Exposure, nor reduced to an amount that is less than the sum of
the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure at the time.

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

            SECTION 2.10.  Prepayment.  (a) The Borrower shall have the right at
any time and from time to time to  prepay  any  Borrowing,  in whole or in part,
upon prior telephonic  notice  (promptly  confirmed by hand delivery or telecopy
notice) to the  Administrative  Agent before 11:00 a.m.,  New York City time, on
the date three  Business  Days prior to the  prepayment  date,  in the case of a
Eurodollar  Borrowing,  or one Business Day prior to the prepayment date, in the
case of an ABR Borrowing;  provided, however, that each partial prepayment shall
be in an amount  which is an integral  multiple  of  $100,000  and not less than
$500,000.

            (b) In  the  event  of  any  termination  of  the  Revolving  Credit
Commitments,  the Borrower shall repay or prepay all its  outstanding  Revolving
Credit Borrowings on the date of such  termination.  In the event of any partial
reduction  of the  Revolving  Credit  Commitments,  then  (i) at or prior to the
effective  date of such  reduction,  the  Administrative  Agent shall notify the
Borrower and the  Revolving  Credit  Lenders of the Aggregate  Revolving  Credit
Exposure and (ii) if the Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure would exceed the
Total Revolving Credit  Commitment  after giving effect to such reduction,  then
the Borrower  shall, on the date of such  reduction,  repay or prepay  Revolving
Credit  Borrowings or Swingline  Loans (or a  combination  thereof) in an amount
sufficient to eliminate such excess.

            (c) Each notice of prepayment  shall specify the prepayment date and
the principal amount of each Borrowing (or portion thereof) to be prepaid, shall
be  irrevocable  and shall commit the  Borrower to prepay such  Borrowing by the
amount stated therein on the date stated  therein.  All  prepayments  under this
Section  2.10 shall be subject to Section  2.13 but without  premium or penalty.
All prepayments of Loans (other than ABR Loans prepaid pursuant to paragraph (a)
of this Section  2.10) under this Section 2.10 shall be  accompanied  by accrued
interest on the principal amount being prepaid to the date of payment.

            SECTION 2.11. Reserve Requirements;  Change in Circumstances. (a) If
after the date of this  Agreement any change in applicable  law or regulation or
in the  interpretation or administration  thereof by any Governmental  Authority
charged with the interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having
the force of law) shall  change the basis of  taxation of payments to any Lender
or the Issuing Bank of the principal of or interest on any Eurodollar  Loan made
by such  Lender  or any Fees or other  amounts  payable  hereunder  (other  than
changes in respect of taxes  imposed on the overall net income of such Lender or
the Issuing  Bank by the  jurisdiction  in which such Lender or the Issuing Bank
has its principal  office or by any political  subdivision  or taxing  authority
therein),  or shall  impose,  modify or deem  applicable  any  reserve,  special
deposit or similar  requirement  against  assets  of,  deposits  with or for the
account of or credit  extended by such Lender or the  Issuing  Bank  (except any
such reserve  requirement which is reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or shall
impose on such Lender or the  Issuing  Bank or the London  interbank  market any
other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender
or any Letter of Credit or participation  therein,  and the result of any of the
foregoing  shall be to increase  the cost to such Lender or the Issuing  Bank of
making or  maintaining  any  Eurodollar  Loan or of issuing or  maintaining  any
Letter of Credit or purchasing or  maintaining a  participation  therein,  or to
reduce  the  amount of any sum  received  or  receivable  by such  Lender or the
Issuing Bank  hereunder  (whether of  principal,  interest or  otherwise)  by an
amount  deemed  by such  Lender or the  Issuing  Bank to be  material,  then the
Borrower  will pay to such Lender or the Issuing  Bank, as the case may be, upon
demand such  additional  amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the
Issuing  Bank,  as the  case may be,  for  such  additional  costs  incurred  or
reduction suffered.

                                   - 22 -



<PAGE>




            (b) If any Lender or the Issuing Bank shall have determined that the
adoption  after  the date  hereof of any law,  rule,  regulation,  agreement  or
guideline regarding capital adequacy, or any change after the date hereof in any
such law,  rule,  regulation,  agreement or guideline  (whether such law,  rule,
regulation, agreement or guideline has been adopted) or in the interpretation or
administration   thereof  by  any  Governmental   Authority   charged  with  the
interpretation  or administration  thereof,  or compliance by any Lender (or any
lending  office of such  Lender)  or the  Issuing  Bank or any  Lender's  or the
Issuing Bank's holding company with any request or directive  regarding  capital
adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental  Authority
has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such  Lender's or
the Issuing  Bank's  capital or on the  capital of such  Lender's or the Issuing
Bank's holding company,  if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans
made or  participation  in Letters of Credit  purchased by such Lender  pursuant
hereto or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank pursuant  hereto to a
level below that which such Lender or the Issuing  Bank or such  Lender's or the
Issuing Bank's holding  company could have achieved but for such  applicability,
adoption, change or compliance by an amount deemed by such Lender or the Issuing
Bank to be  material,  then  from  time to time the  Borrower  shall pay to such
Lender  or the  Issuing  Bank,  as the case may be,  such  additional  amount or
amounts as will  compensate  such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender's or
the Issuing Bank's holding company for any such reduction  suffered.  Any Lender
or Issuing Bank may utilize  reasonable  averaging  and  attribution  methods in
determining any amount or amounts under this paragraph.

            (c) A certificate  of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the
amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its
holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) above shall
be  delivered  to the  Borrower,  shall  set  forth  in  reasonable  detail  the
circumstances  giving rise to such  certificate and the basis for calculation of
the amount or amounts  for which  compensation  is  required,  shall  constitute
rebuttable  presumptive  evidence of such amount or amounts and, if not rebutted
within five Business Days,  shall be conclusive and binding.  The Borrower shall
pay  each  Lender  or the  Issuing  Bank  the  amount  shown  as due on any such
certificate delivered by it within 10 days after its receipt of the same.

            (d) The protection of this Section shall be available to each Lender
and the Issuing Bank regardless of any possible  contention of the invalidity or
inapplicability  of the law,  rule,  regulation,  agreement,  guideline or other
change or condition which shall have occurred or been imposed.

            (e) Each Lender or Issuing  Bank will  promptly  notify the Borrower
and the  Administrative  Agent of any event of which it has knowledge  that will
entitle  such Lender or Issuing  Bank to  compensation  pursuant to this Section
(any such event,  a  "Compensation  Event").  No Lender or Issuing Bank shall be
entitled to compensation pursuant to this Section in respect of any Compensation
Event  for any  period  of time in  excess  of 365 days  prior  to such  notice;
provided that, if a Compensation  Event by its terms is  retroactive,  such 365-
day period shall be increased by the duration of the retroactive  effect of such
Compensation Event.

            SECTION  2.12.  Change in Legality.  (a)  Notwithstanding  any other
provision herein, if, after the date hereof, any change in any law or regulation
or in the interpretation  thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the
administration or  interpretation  thereof shall make it unlawful for any Lender
to make or maintain any Eurodollar  Loan or to give effect to its obligations as
contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by written notice
to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent:

            (i)  such  Lender  may  declare  that  Eurodollar   Loans  will  not
  thereafter (for the duration of such unlawfulness or impracticability) be made
  by such  Lender  hereunder,  whereupon  such  Lender will not make any further
  Eurodollar Loans and any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall, as to such
  Lender only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan unless such declaration shall
  be  subsequently  withdrawn (or, if a Loan to the Borrower  cannot be made for
  the  reasons  specified  above,  such  request  shall be  deemed  to have been
  withdrawn); and

                                   - 23 -



<PAGE>




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

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

            (b) For purposes of this  Section  2.12, a notice to the Borrower by
any Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan, if lawful, on the last
day of the Interest Period currently  applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; in all
other  cases  such  notice  shall be  effective  on the date of  receipt  by the
Borrower.

            SECTION 2.13.  Indemnity.  The Borrower shall  indemnify each Lender
against  any  loss or  expense  which  such  Lender  may  sustain  or incur as a
consequence  of (a) any  event,  other  than a  default  by such  Lender  in the
performance  of its  obligations  hereunder,  which  results in (i) such  Lender
receiving or being  deemed to receive any amount on account of the  principal of
any Loan prior to the end of the Interest  Period in effect therefor or (ii) any
Eurodollar  Loan to be made,  continued  or  converted  by such Lender not being
made,  continued or converted  after notice thereof shall have been given by the
Borrower  hereunder  (any of the  events  referred  to in this  clause (a) being
called a  "Breakage  Event") or (b) any  default in the making of any payment or
prepayment  required to be made  hereunder.  In the case of any Breakage  Event,
such loss shall include an amount equal to the excess, as reasonably  determined
by such  Lender,  of (i) its cost of  obtaining  funds for the Loan which is the
subject of such  Breakage  Event for the period  from the date of such  Breakage
Event to the last day of the Interest Period in effect (or which would have been
in effect) for such Loan over (ii) the amount of interest  likely to be realized
by such Lender in  redeploying  the funds  released or not utilized by reason of
such Breakage  Event for such period.  A certificate of any Lender setting forth
any amount or amounts which such Lender is entitled to receive  pursuant to this
Section shall be delivered to the Borrower, shall set forth in reasonable detail
the basis for such amount or amounts,  shall constitute  rebuttable  presumptive
evidence of such amount or amounts  and, if not  rebutted  within five  Business
Days, shall be conclusive and binding.

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

            SECTION  2.15.  Sharing of Setoffs.  Each  Lender  agrees that if it
shall,  through the exercise of a right of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim
against any Loan Party,  or  pursuant  to a secured  claim under  Section 506 of
Title 11 of the United States Code or other  security or interest  arising from,
or in lieu of, such secured claim,  received by such Lender under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by any other means,
obtain payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any Loan or Loans or L/C
Disbursement as a result of which the unpaid principal  portion of its Loans and
participations  in L/C  Disbursements  shall be  proportionately  less  than the
unpaid principal portion of the Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements of
any other Lender, it shall be deemed  simultaneously to have purchased from such
other  Lender at face value,  and shall  promptly  pay to such other  Lender the
purchase price for, a participation  in the Loans and L/C Exposure of such other
Lender,  so that the  aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount  of the Loans and L/C
Exposure and  participations in Loans and L/C Exposure held by each Lender shall
be in the same

                                   - 24 -



<PAGE>



proportion  to the  aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount  of all  Loans  and L/C
Exposure then  outstanding as the principal amount of its Loans and L/C Exposure
prior to such exercise of banker's lien,  setoff or  counterclaim or other event
was to the principal amount of all Loans and L/C Exposure  outstanding  prior to
such exercise of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event; provided,
however,  that, if any such purchase or purchases or  adjustments  shall be made
pursuant to this Section and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be
recovered,  such purchase or purchases or adjustments  shall be rescinded to the
extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment  restored
without interest.  The Borrower expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements
and agrees that any Lender holding a participation in a Loan or L/C Disbursement
deemed to have been so  purchased  may  exercise  any and all rights of banker's
lien,  setoff or  counterclaim  with  respect to any and all moneys owing by the
Borrower to such Lender by reason  thereof as fully as if such Lender had made a
Loan directly to the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

            SECTION  2.16.  Payments.  (a) The Borrower  shall make each payment
(including  principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any L/C Disbursement or
any Fees or other amounts) hereunder and under any other Loan Document not later
than  12:00  (noon),  New York City  time,  on the date when due in  immediately
available  funds.  Each such payment  (other than (i) Issuing  Bank Fees,  which
shall be paid directly to the Issuing Bank,  and (ii)  principal of and interest
on Swingline Loans,  which shall be paid directly to the Swingline Lender except
as otherwise  provided in Section  2.19(e)) shall be made to the  Administrative
Agent at its offices at 270 Park Avenue,  New York, New York.  Each such payment
shall be made in Dollars.

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

            SECTION  2.17.  Taxes.  (a)  Any and all  payments  by the  Borrower
hereunder  and under any other Loan Document  shall be made, in accordance  with
Section 2.16, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all current or
future taxes,  levies,  imposts,  deductions,  charges or withholdings,  and all
liabilities  with respect  thereto,  excluding (i) income taxes and interest and
penalties  thereon imposed on the net income of the  Administrative  Agent,  any
Lender or the Issuing Bank (or any transferee or assignee  thereof,  including a
participation  holder (any such entity a "Transferee")) and (ii) franchise taxes
imposed on the net income of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing
Bank (or Transferee),  in each case by the jurisdiction  under the laws of which
the  Administrative  Agent,  such Lender or the Issuing Bank (or  Transferee) is
organized or any  political  subdivision  thereof (all such  nonexcluded  taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions,  charges, withholdings and liabilities and interest
and penalties thereon,  collectively or individually,  being called "Taxes"). If
the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum
payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative  Agent,
any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or any Transferee), (i) the sum payable shall be
increased by the amount (an "additional  amount") necessary so that after making
all required  deductions  (including  deductions  applicable to additional  sums
payable under this Section 2.17) the  Administrative  Agent,  such Lender or the
Issuing Bank (or Transferee),  as the case may be, shall receive an amount equal
to the sum it would have  received had no such  deductions  been made,  (ii) the
Borrower  shall make such  deductions  and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full
amount  deducted to the  relevant  Governmental  Authority  in  accordance  with
applicable law.

            (b) In  addition,  the  Borrower  agrees  to  pay  to  the  relevant
Governmental  Authority in accordance  with applicable law any current or future
stamp or  documentary  taxes or any other excise or property  taxes,  charges or
similar  levies  (including,  mortgage  recording  taxes and  similar  fees) and
interest and  penalties  thereon  that arise from any payment made  hereunder or
under any other Loan Document or from the  execution,  delivery or  registration
of, or  otherwise  with respect to, this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document
("Other Taxes").


                                   - 25 -



<PAGE>



            (c) The Borrower  will  indemnify  the  Administrative  Agent,  each
Lender and the  Issuing  Bank (or  Transferee)  for the full amount of Taxes and
Other Taxes paid by the  Administrative  Agent,  such Lender or the Issuing Bank
(or  Transferee),  as the case may be, and any liability  (including  penalties,
interest  and  expenses  (including  reasonable  attorney's  fees and  expenses)
arising  therefrom or with respect  thereto,  whether or not such Taxes or Other
Taxes were correctly or legally asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.
A  certificate  as to the amount of such  payment or  liability  prepared by the
Administrative  Agent,  a Lender or the  Issuing  Bank (or  Transferee),  or the
Administrative  Agent on its  behalf,  absent  manifest  error,  shall be final,
conclusive  and binding for all  purposes.  Such  indemnification  shall be made
within  30 days  after  the date the  Administrative  Agent,  any  Lender or the
Issuing Bank (or Transferee), as the case may be, makes written demand therefor.

            (d) If the  Administrative  Agent,  a Lender or the Issuing Bank (or
Transferee)  shall  become  aware that it is  entitled  to claim a refund from a
Governmental  Authority  in respect  of Taxes or Other  Taxes as to which it has
been indemnified by the Borrower, or with respect to which the Borrower has paid
additional amounts,  pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall promptly notify the
Borrower  of the  availability  of such refund  claim and shall,  within 30 days
after  receipt of a request by the Borrower,  make a claim to such  Governmental
Authority  for such  refund at the  Borrower's  expense.  If the  Administrative
Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Bank (or Transferee) receives a refund (including
pursuant  to a claim for refund  made  pursuant to the  preceding  sentence)  in
respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been  indemnified  by the
Borrower  or with  respect to which the  Borrower  has paid  additional  amounts
pursuant to this  Section  2.17,  it shall  within 30 days from the date of such
receipt  pay over  such  refund  to the  Borrower  (but  only to the  extent  of
indemnity  payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this
Section  2.17 with  respect  to the  Taxes or Other  Taxes  giving  rise to such
refund),  net of all  reasonable  and  necessary  out-of-pocket  expenses of the
Administrative  Agent,  such  Lender or the  Issuing  Bank (or  Transferee)  and
without  interest  (other  than  interest  paid  by  the  relevant  Governmental
Authority with respect to such refund);  provided,  however,  that the Borrower,
upon the request of the  Administrative  Agent,  such Lender or the Issuing Bank
(or  Transferee),  agrees to repay the amount  paid over to the  Borrower  (plus
penalties,  interest or other charges) to the Administrative  Agent, such Lender
or the Issuing Bank (or Transferee) in the event the Administrative  Agent, such
Lender or the Issuing Bank (or  Transferee)  is required to repay such refund to
such Governmental Authority.

            (e) As soon as practicable after the date of any payment of Taxes or
Other Taxes by the Borrower to the relevant Governmental Authority, the Borrower
will deliver to the Administrative  Agent, at its address referred to in Section
9.01, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such  Governmental
Authority evidencing payment thereof.

            (f)  Without  prejudice  to  the  survival  of any  other  agreement
contained herein, the agreements and obligations  contained in this Section 2.17
shall  survive the payment in full of the principal of and interest on all Loans
made hereunder,  the expiration or cancellation of all Letters of Credit and the
reimbursement of all draws thereunder.

            (g) Each Lender (or Transferee)  that is organized under the laws of
a jurisdiction  other than the United States,  any State thereof or the District
of  Columbia  (a  "Non-U.S.  Lender")  shall  deliver  to the  Borrower  and the
Administrative Agent two copies of either United States Internal Revenue Service
Form 1001 or Form 4224, or, in the case of a Non-U.S.  Lender claiming exemption
from U.S.  Federal  withholding  tax under Section  871(h) or 881(c) of the Code
with respect to payments of "portfolio interest",  a Form W-8, or any subsequent
versions thereof or successors thereto (and, if such Non-U.S.  Lender delivers a
Form W-8, a certificate representing that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a bank for
purposes of Section 881(c) of the Code, is not a 10-percent  shareholder (within
the meaning of Section  871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code) of the  Borrower and is not a
controlled  foreign  corporation  related to the Borrower (within the meaning of
Section  864(d)(4) of the Code)),  properly  completed and duly executed by such
Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or

                                   - 26 -



<PAGE>



reduced rate of, U.S. Federal  withholding tax on payments by the Borrower under
this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents.  Such forms shall be delivered by
each Non-U.S.  Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement
(or, in the case of a Transferee  that is a participation  holder,  on or before
the date such  participation  holder  becomes a Transferee  hereunder) and on or
before the date, if any, such Non-U.S.  Lender  changes its  applicable  lending
office by designating a different  lending office (a "New Lending  Office").  In
addition,  each  Non-U.S.  Lender  shall  deliver such forms  promptly  upon the
obsolescence  or  invalidity of any form  previously  delivered by such Non-U.S.
Lender.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.17(g), a Non-U.S.
Lender  shall not be  required  to deliver  any form  pursuant  to this  Section
2.17(g) that such Non-U.S. Lender is not legally able to deliver.

            (h) The  Borrower  shall not be required to  indemnify  any Non-U.S.
Lender or to pay any  additional  amounts to any  Non-U.S.  Lender in respect of
United States Federal  withholding tax pursuant to paragraph (a) or (c) above to
the extent that (i) the  obligation  to withhold  amounts with respect to United
States Federal withholding tax existed on the date such Non U.S. Lender became a
party to this Agreement (or, in the case of a Transferee that is a participation
holder, on the date such participation holder became a Transferee hereunder) or,
with respect to payments to a New Lending Office, the date such Non-U.S.  Lender
designated  such New Lending Office with respect to a Loan ; provided,  however,
that this  paragraph  (h) shall not apply (x) to any  Transferee  or New Lending
Office  that  becomes  a  Transferee  or New  Lending  Office  as a result of an
assignment,  participation,  transfer or designation  made at the request of the
Borrower and (y) to the extent the indemnity  payment or additional  amounts any
Transferee, or any Lender (or Transferee),  acting through a New Lending Office,
would be  entitled  to receive  (without  regard to this  paragraph  (h)) do not
exceed the indemnity  payment or  additional  amounts that the person making the
assignment,  participation  or  transfer  to  such  Transferee,  or  Lender  (or
Transferee)  making the designation of such New Lending Office,  would have been
entitled to receive in the absence of such assignment,  participation,  transfer
or designation or (ii) the obligation to pay such  additional  amounts would not
have  arisen  but for a failure  by such  Non-U.S.  Lender  to  comply  with the
provisions of paragraph (g) above.

            (i)  Any  Lender  or  Issuing  Bank  (or  Transferee)  claiming  any
indemnity  payment or additional  amounts payable  pursuant to this Section 2.17
shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions)
to file any  certificate  or  document  reasonably  requested  in writing by the
Borrower or to change the  jurisdiction of its applicable  lending office if the
making of such a filing or change  would avoid the need for or reduce the amount
of any such indemnity  payment or additional  amounts that may thereafter accrue
and would not,  in the sole  determination  of such  Lender or Issuing  Bank (or
Transferee),  be  otherwise  disadvantageous  to such Lender or Issuing Bank (or
Transferee).

            (j) Nothing  contained in this Section 2.17 shall require any Lender
or the Issuing  Bank (or any  Transferee)  or the  Administrative  Agent to make
available any of its tax returns (or any other  information  that it deems to be
confidential or proprietary).

            SECTION 2.18. Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances.
(a) In the event (i) any  Lender or the  Issuing  Bank  delivers  a  certificate
requesting compensation pursuant to Section 2.11, (ii) any Lender or the Issuing
Bank  delivers a notice  described  in  Section  2.12 or (iii) the  Borrower  is
required to pay any  additional  amount to any Lender or the Issuing Bank or any
Governmental  Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to
Section 2.17,  the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort,  upon notice to
such Lender or the  Issuing  Bank and the  Administrative  Agent,  require  such
Lender  or the  Issuing  Bank to  transfer  and  assign,  without  recourse  (in
accordance with and subject to the restrictions  contained in Section 9.04), all
of its  interests,  rights and  obligations  under this Agreement to an assignee
which shall  assume such  assigned  obligations  (which  assignee may be another
Lender,  if a Lender accepts such  assignment);  provided that (w) no Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,  (x) such assignment  shall not
conflict  with  any law,  rule or  regulation  or  order  of any  court or other
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, (y) the Borrower shall have received
the prior written consent of the

                                   - 27 -



<PAGE>



Administrative  Agent (and, if a Revolving Credit  Commitment is being assigned,
of the Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender),  which consent shall not unreasonably
be  withheld,  and (z) the  Borrower  or such  assignee  shall  have paid to the
affected  Lender or the Issuing Bank in  immediately  available  funds an amount
equal to the sum of the  principal of and  interest  accrued to the date of such
payment on the outstanding  Loans and  participations  in L/C  Disbursements and
Swingline  Loans of such  Lender  or the  Issuing  Bank  plus all Fees and other
amounts  accrued for the account of such  Lender or the Issuing  Bank  hereunder
(including  any amounts under Section 2.11 and Section 2.13);  provided  further
that if prior to any such transfer and  assignment  the  circumstances  or event
that  resulted in such  Lender's or the Issuing  Bank's  claim for  compensation
under  Section 2.11 or notice under Section 2.12 or the amounts paid pursuant to
Section 2.17, as the case may be, cease to cause such Lender or the Issuing Bank
to suffer  increased  costs or reductions  in amounts  received or receivable or
reduction in return on capital,  or cease to have the consequences  specified in
Section 2.12, or cease to result in amounts being payable under Section 2.17, as
the case may be (including as a result of any action taken by such Lender or the
Issuing Bank pursuant to paragraph (b) below),  or if such Lender or the Issuing
Bank shall waive its right to claim further  compensation  under Section 2.11 in
respect  of such  circumstances  or event or shall  withdraw  its  notice  under
Section 2.12 or shall waive its right to further  payments under Section 2.17 in
respect of such  circumstances or event, as the case may be, then such Lender or
the Issuing Bank shall not  thereafter be required to make any such transfer and
assignment  hereunder.  In the case of any such  assignment  by an Issuing Bank,
such assignment  shall not affect the Issuing Bank's rights under this Agreement
in respect of any Letters of Credit issued by it that remain outstanding.

            (b) If (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank shall request compensation
under  Section  2.11,  (ii) any  Lender or the  Issuing  Bank  delivers a notice
described  in  Section  2.12  or  (iii)  the  Borrower  is  required  to pay any
additional  amount  to  any  Lender  or the  Issuing  Bank  or any  Governmental
Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.17,
then such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall  exercise  reasonable  efforts (which
shall not require such Lender or the Issuing Bank to incur an unreimbursed  loss
or unreimbursed  cost or expense or otherwise take any action  inconsistent with
its internal  policies or suffer any  disadvantage  or burden deemed by it to be
significant)  to assign its rights and delegate  and  transfer  its  obligations
hereunder to another of its offices,  branches or affiliates, if such assignment
would  reduce its claims for  compensation  under  Section  2.11 or enable it to
withdraw its notice  pursuant to Section 2.12 or would  reduce  amounts  payable
pursuant to Section 2.17, as the case may be, in the future. The Borrower hereby
agrees to pay all  reasonable  costs and expenses  incurred by any Lender or the
Issuing Bank in connection with any such assignment, delegation and transfer.

            SECTION 2.19. Swingline Loans. (a) Swingline Commitment.  Subject to
the terms and  conditions  and relying upon the  representations  and warranties
herein set forth,  the Swingline  Lender agrees to make loans to the Borrower at
any time and from time to time on and after the  Restatement  Effective Date and
until the earlier of the Revolving  Credit  Maturity Date and the termination of
the Revolving  Credit  Commitments  in accordance  with the terms hereof,  in an
aggregate  principal  amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i)
the aggregate  principal  amount of all Swingline Loans exceeding  $3,000,000 in
the  aggregate or (ii) the Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure,  after giving
effect to any Swingline Loan,  exceeding the Total Revolving Credit  Commitment.
Each  Swingline  Loan  shall be in a  principal  amount  that is not  less  than
$100,000 and is an integral multiple of $50,000. The Swingline Commitment may be
terminated or reduced from time to time as provided herein. Within the foregoing
limits,  the Borrower may borrow,  pay or prepay and  reborrow  Swingline  Loans
hereunder on and after the Restatement Effective Date and prior to the Revolving
Credit Maturity Date, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth
herein.

            (b) Swingline  Loans.  The Borrower shall notify the  Administrative
Agent by  telephonic  notice  (promptly  confirmed by hand  delivery or telecopy
notice) not later than 12:00 noon,  New York City time, on the day of a proposed
Swingline  Loan.  Such notice  shall be delivered  on a Business  Day,  shall be
irrevocable  and shall refer to this  Agreement  and shall specify the requested
date (which  shall be a Business  Day) and amount of such  Swingline  Loan.  The
Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline

                                   - 28 -



<PAGE>



Lender of any notice received from the Borrower  pursuant to this paragraph (b).
The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by
means of a credit  to the  general  deposit  account  of the  Borrower  with the
Swingline Lender by 3:00 p.m. on the date such Swingline Loan is so requested to
be made.

            (c)  Prepayment.  The Borrower  shall have the right at any time and
from time to time to prepay any Swingline Loan, in whole or in part, upon giving
telephonic  notice  (promptly  confirmed by hand delivery or telecopy notice) to
the Swingline Lender and to the  Administrative  Agent before 12:00 (noon),  New
York City time on the date of prepayment at the Swingline  Lender's  address for
notices specified on Schedule 2.01; provided,  however, that partial prepayments
shall be in a  principal  amount that is an  integral  multiple of $50,000.  All
principal  payments of  Swingline  Loans  pursuant to Section  2.10(b)  shall be
accompanied by accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid to the date
of payment.

            (d) Interest.  Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan and, subject
to the  provisions of Section  2.07,  shall bear interest as provided in Section
2.06(a).

            (e) Participations. The Swingline Lender may by written notice given
to the  Administrative  Agent not later than 10:00 a.m.,  New York City time, on
any Business Day require the Revolving Credit Lenders to acquire  participations
in all or a portion  of the  Swingline  Loans  outstanding.  Such  notice  shall
specify the aggregate  amount of Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon in
which Revolving Credit Lenders will participate.  The Administrative Agent will,
promptly  upon  receipt of such  notice,  give notice to each  Revolving  Credit
Lender,  specifying  in such notice such  Lender's Pro Rata  Percentage  of such
Swingline Loan or Loans and accrued interest  thereon.  In consideration  and in
furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Credit Lender hereby absolutely and
unconditionally  agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the
Administrative  Agent, for the account of the Swingline  Lender,  such Revolving
Credit  Lender's Pro Rata Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans and accrued
interest  thereon.  Each Lender  acknowledges  and agrees that its obligation to
acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute
and  unconditional  and shall not be  affected by any  circumstance  whatsoever,
including the  occurrence  and  continuance of a Default or an Event of Default,
and  that  each  such  payment  shall be made  without  any  offset,  abatement,
withholding  or  reduction  whatsoever.   Each  Lender  shall  comply  with  its
obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds,
in the same manner as provided in Section  2.02(c) with respect to Loans made by
such Lender (and Section 2.02(c) shall apply,  mutatis mutandis,  to the payment
obligations of the Lenders) and the  Administrative  Agent shall promptly pay to
the  Swingline  Lender  amounts  so  received  by  it  from  the  Lenders.   The
Administrative  Agent shall  notify the  Borrower of any  participations  in any
Swingline Loan acquired  pursuant to this  paragraph and thereafter  payments in
respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not
to the Swingline  Lender.  Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the
Borrower  (or other party on behalf of the  Borrower)  in respect of a Swingline
Loan  after  receipt  by the  Swingline  Lender  of the  proceeds  of a sale  of
participations  therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative  Agent;
any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted
by the  Administrative  Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments
pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline  Lender,  as their interests may
appear.  The purchase of  participations  in a Swingline  Loan  pursuant to this
paragraph  shall not relieve the Borrower (or other party liable for obligations
of the Borrower) of its default in respect of the payment thereof.

            SECTION  2.20.  Letters of Credit.  (a)  General.  The  Borrower may
request the issuance of a Letter of Credit,  in a form reasonably  acceptable to
the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank,  appropriately completed, for the
account of the  Borrower,  at any time and from time to time while the Revolving
Credit  Commitments  remain in effect.  This  Section  shall not be construed to
impose an obligation upon the Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit that is
inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.


                                   - 29 -



<PAGE>



            (b)  Notice of  Issuance,  Amendment,  Renewal,  Extension;  Certain
Conditions. In order to request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or to amend,
renew or extend an existing  Letter of Credit),  the Borrower shall hand deliver
or telecopy to the Issuing  Bank and the  Administrative  Agent  (reasonably  in
advance of the requested  date of issuance,  amendment,  renewal or extension) a
notice  requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter
of Credit to be amended,  renewed or extended, the date of issuance,  amendment,
renewal  or  extension,  the date on which  such  Letter  of Credit is to expire
(which  shall  comply with  paragraph  (c) below),  the amount of such Letter of
Credit,  the  name  and  address  of the  beneficiary  thereof  and  such  other
information  as shall be necessary  to prepare such Letter of Credit.  Following
receipt of such  notice and prior to the  issuance  of the  requested  Letter of
Credit or the applicable  amendment,  renewal or extension,  the  Administrative
Agent  shall  notify  the  Borrower  and the  Issuing  Bank of the amount of the
Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure  after giving effect to (i) the issuance,
amendment,  renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit,  (ii) the issuance or
expiration  of any other  Letter of Credit  that is to be issued or will  expire
prior to the  requested  date of issuance of such Letter of Credit and (iii) the
borrowing  or repayment of any  Revolving  Credit Loans or Swingline  Loans that
(based upon notices delivered to the  Administrative  Agent by the Borrower) are
to be borrowed or repaid prior to the requested  date of issuance of such Letter
of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only
if, and upon issuance,  amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit
the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that,  after giving effect
to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (A) the L/C Exposure shall not
exceed  $40,000,000,  and (B) the Aggregate  Revolving Credit Exposure shall not
exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Promptly following the end of each
month, the Administrative  Agent shall notify the Lenders of the L/C Exposure as
of the end of such month.

            (c) Expiration  Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior
to the close of  business  on the date that is five  Business  Days prior to the
Revolving  Credit  Maturity  Date or, if such  Letter of Credit is a  commercial
letter of credit,  the  earlier of such date and date 180 days after the date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit.

            (d)  Participations.  By the  issuance  of a Letter  of  Credit  and
without any further  action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders,  the
Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender,  and each such Lender hereby acquires
from the applicable Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal
to such Lender's Pro Rata  Percentage of the  aggregate  amount  available to be
drawn under such Letter of Credit, effective upon the issuance of such Letter of
Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby
absolutely and  unconditionally  agrees to pay to the Administrative  Agent, for
the account of the Issuing Bank,  such Lender's Pro Rata  Percentage of each L/C
Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower (or, if
applicable,  another  party  pursuant  to its  obligations  under any other Loan
Document) forthwith on the date due as provided in Section 2.02(f).  Each Lender
acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire  participations  pursuant
to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and  unconditional
and  shall  not  be  affected  by any  circumstance  whatsoever,  including  the
occurrence and  continuance  of a Default or an Event of Default,  and that each
such  payment  shall be made  without  any  offset,  abatement,  withholding  or
reduction  whatsoever;  provided,  however,  that  the  foregoing  shall  not be
construed  to  impose  an   obligation  of  the  Lenders  to  reimburse  an  L/C
Disbursement  that the Borrower is not  required to  reimburse  due to the gross
negligence or wilful  misconduct of the Issuing Bank  (determined as provided in
Section 2.20(f)).

            (e)   Reimbursement.   If  the  Issuing  Bank  shall  make  any  L/C
Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such
L/C  Disbursement  by  paying an amount  equal to such L/C  Disbursement  to the
Administrative  Agent  not  later  than  12:00  (noon) on the date that such L/C
Disbursement  is made or, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such L/C
Disbursement  later than 10:00 a.m.,  New York City time,  on the date that such
L/C  Disbursement  is made, not later than 12:00 (noon),  New York City time, on
the immediately  following  Business Day; provided that the Borrower may, to the
extent that such L/C  Disbursement  is not less than $500,000 and is an integral
multiple of $100,000 and subject to the conditions to

                                   - 30 -



<PAGE>



Borrowing  set forth in Section  4.01,  request by notice to the  Administrative
Agent not later than the time that payment  would be required as aforesaid  that
such payment be financed with ABR Loans as  contemplated by Section 2.02(f) and,
to the extent such  payment is so  financed  with ABR Loans in  accordance  with
Section  2.02(f),  such payment shall not be required to be made by the Borrower
under this Section 2.20(e).

            (f) Obligations  Absolute.  The Borrower's  obligations to reimburse
L/C  Disbursements  as  provided  in  paragraph  (e)  above  shall be  absolute,
unconditional  and  irrevocable,  and shall be performed  strictly in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement,  under any and all  circumstances  whatsoever,
and irrespective of:

            (i) any lack of validity or  enforceability  of any Letter of Credit
or any Loan Document, or any term or provision therein;

            (ii) any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all
or any of the provisions of any Letter of Credit or any Loan Document;

            (iii) the  existence  of any claim,  setoff,  defense or other right
that the Borrower,  any other party  guaranteeing,  or otherwise obligated with,
the Borrower,  any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof or any other person may
at any time have against the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing
Bank,  the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender or any other person,  whether in
connection with this Agreement,  any other Loan Document or any other related or
unrelated agreement or transaction;

            (iv) any draft or other document  presented under a Letter of Credit
proving to be forged, fraudulent,  invalid or insufficient in any respect or any
statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

            (v)  payment by the  Issuing  Bank under a Letter of Credit  against
presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of
such Letter of Credit; and

            (vi) any  other act or  omission  to act or delay of any kind of the
Issuing Bank, the Lenders,  the Administrative  Agent or any other person or any
other  event or  circumstance  whatsoever,  whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing,  that might,  but for the  provisions of this  Section,  constitute a
legal or equitable discharge of the Borrower's obligations hereunder;

provided that the foregoing  shall not be construed to impose an obligation upon
the  Borrower  to  reimburse  the Issuing  Bank to the extent  that  neither the
Borrower nor any Subsidiary received any benefit from such L/C Disbursement as a
direct result of the Issuing  Bank's gross  negligence  or wilful  misconduct in
determining  whether  drafts  and other  documents  presented  under a Letter of
Credit comply with the terms thereof; it is understood that the Issuing Bank may
accept  documents that are on their face in order,  without  responsibility  for
further  investigation,  regardless of any notice or information to the contrary
and,  in making any payment  under any Letter of Credit (A) the  Issuing  Bank's
exclusive reliance on the documents  presented to it under such Letter of Credit
as to any and all matters set forth therein, including reliance on the amount of
any draft presented  under such Letter of Credit,  whether or not the amount due
to the beneficiary thereunder equals the amount of such draft and whether or not
any  document  presented  pursuant  to  such  Letter  of  Credit  proves  to  be
insufficient  in any  respect,  if such  document  on its face  appears to be in
order,  and whether or not any other  statement or any other document  presented
pursuant  to such  Letter of  Credit  proves  to be  forged  or  invalid  or any
statement  therein  proves to be inaccurate or untrue in any respect  whatsoever
and (B) any noncompliance in any immaterial  respect of the documents  presented
under such  Letter of Credit  with the terms  thereof  shall,  in each case,  be
deemed not to constitute  wilful  misconduct or gross  negligence of the Issuing
Bank.


                                   - 31 -



<PAGE>



            (g)  Disbursement  Procedures.  The  Issuing  Bank  shall,  promptly
following its receipt thereof,  examine all documents  purporting to represent a
demand for payment under a Letter of Credit.  The Issuing Bank shall as promptly
as  possible  give  telephonic  notification,  confirmed  by  telecopy,  to  the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower of such demand for payment and whether the
Issuing Bank has made or will make an L/C Disbursement thereunder; provided that
any  failure  to give or delay in  giving  such  notice  shall not  relieve  the
Borrower of its  obligation  to reimburse  the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with
respect to any such L/C Disbursement.  The  Administrative  Agent shall promptly
give each Lender notice thereof.

            (h)  Interim  Interest.  If the  Issuing  Bank  shall  make  any L/C
Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit,  then,  unless the Borrower shall
reimburse such L/C  Disbursement  in full not later than 12:00 (noon),  New York
City time,  on the date that such L/C  Disbursement  is made,  the unpaid amount
thereof  shall bear  interest,  for each day from and including the date of such
L/C  Disbursement  to but excluding  the date of payment at the  Alternate  Base
Rate;  provided that to the extent that such L/C  Disbursement is not reimbursed
by the Borrower prior to 12:00 (noon),  New York City time on the third Business
Day after the date such L/C  Disbursement  is made and is not financed  with ABR
Loans in  accordance  with Section  2.02(f),  then such unpaid amount shall bear
interest from and including such third Business Day to but excluding the date of
payment as provided in Section 2.07.

            (i) Resignation or Removal of the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may
resign  at  any  time  by  giving  180  days'  prior   written   notice  to  the
Administrative  Agent,  the Lenders and the Borrower,  and may be removed at any
time by the Borrower by notice to the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders. Subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, upon the acceptance
of any  appointment as the Issuing Bank  hereunder by a successor  Issuing Bank,
such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the interests, rights
and obligations of the retiring Issuing Bank and the retiring Issuing Bank shall
be  discharged  from its  obligations  to issue  additional  Letters  of  Credit
hereunder.  At the time such removal or resignation shall become effective,  the
Borrower  shall pay all accrued and unpaid  Issuing Bank Fees. The acceptance of
any  appointment  as the Issuing Bank  hereunder by a successor  Lender shall be
evidenced by an agreement entered into by such successor, in a form satisfactory
to the Borrower and the Administrative  Agent, and, from and after the effective
date of such agreement,  (i) such successor Lender shall have all the rights and
obligations of the previous Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and (ii) references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the term
"Issuing  Bank" shall be deemed to refer to such  successor  or to any  previous
Issuing  Bank,  or to such  successor  and all previous  Issuing  Banks,  as the
context  shall  require.  After the  resignation  or removal of the Issuing Bank
hereunder,  the  retiring  Issuing  Bank shall  remain a party  hereto and shall
continue to have all the rights and  obligations  of an Issuing  Bank under this
Agreement and the other Loan  Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued
by it prior to such  resignation or removal,  but shall not be required to issue
additional Letters of Credit.

            (j) Cash Collateralization.  If any Event of Default shall occur and
be continuing,  the Borrower  shall, on the Business Day it receives notice from
the  Administrative  Agent or the Required  Lenders thereof and the amount to be
deposited,  deposit in an account with the Collateral  Agent, for the benefit of
the Revolving Credit Lenders,  an amount in cash equal to the L/C Exposure as of
such date. Such deposit shall be held by the Collateral  Agent as collateral for
the payment and performance of the Obligations.  The Collateral Agent shall have
exclusive  dominion and control,  including the exclusive  right of  withdrawal,
over such  account.  Other than any interest  earned on the  investment  of such
deposits in Cash Equivalents,  which investments shall be made at the option and
sole discretion of the Collateral  Agent, such deposits shall not bear interest.
Interest  or profits,  if any,  on such  investments  shall  accumulate  in such
account.  Moneys in such  account  shall (i)  automatically  be  applied  by the
Administrative  Agent to reimburse  the Issuing Bank for L/C  Disbursements  for
which  it has not been  reimbursed,  (ii) be held  for the  satisfaction  of the
reimbursement  obligations of the Borrower for the L/C Exposure at such time and
(iii) if the maturity of the Loans has been  accelerated,  be applied to satisfy
the  Obligations.  If the  Borrower  is  required  to  provide an amount of cash
collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default,  such
amount (to the extent not applied

                                   - 32 -



<PAGE>



as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after
all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

            (k) Additional Issuing Banks. The Borrower may, at any time and from
time to time with the consent of the  Administrative  Agent (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld) and such Lender,  designate one or more additional
Lenders to act as an issuing bank under the terms of this Agreement.  Any Lender
designated as an issuing bank pursuant to this  paragraph (k) shall be deemed to
be an  "Issuing  Bank" (in  addition to being a Lender) in respect of Letters of
Credit issued or to be issued by such Lender, and, with respect to any Letter of
Credit,  such term shall  thereafter  apply to the Issuing  Bank that shall have
issued such Letter of Credit.


ARTICLE III.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

            Each of Holdings and the Borrower represents and warrants to each of
the Lenders that:

             SECTION  3.01.  Organization;  Powers.  Each  of  Holdings  and the
Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries (other than the Excluded Subsidiaries) (a)
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the  jurisdiction of its  organization,  (b) has all requisite power and
authority  to own its  property  and assets and to carry on its  business as now
conducted  and as proposed to be  conducted,  (c) is qualified to do business in
every  jurisdiction  where such  qualification  is  required,  except  where the
failure so to qualify  could not  reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse  Effect,  and (d) has the  corporate  power and  authority  to  execute,
deliver and perform its  obligations  under each of the Loan  Documents and each
other agreement or instrument  contemplated  thereby to which it is or will be a
party and, in the case of the Borrower, to borrow hereunder.

            SECTION 3.02. Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance
by each  Loan  Party of each of the Loan  Documents  to which it is or will be a
party and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowings hereunder  (collectively,
the  "Transactions")  (a) have been duly  authorized by all requisite  corporate
and,  if  required,  stockholder  action  and (b) will not (i)  violate  (A) any
provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the certificate or articles
of incorporation  or other  constitutive  documents or by-laws of Holdings,  the
Borrower or any Subsidiary,  (B) any order of any Governmental  Authority or (C)
any provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which Holdings,
the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  is a party or by which  any of them or any of
their property is or may be bound,  (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach
of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under
any such  indenture,  agreement  or other  instrument  or  (iii)  result  in the
creation  or  imposition  of any Lien upon or with  respect to any  property  or
assets  now  owned or  hereafter  acquired  by  Holdings,  the  Borrower  or any
Subsidiary, other than Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents.

            SECTION 3.03. Enforceability.  This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by Holdings and the Borrower and constitutes,  and each other Loan
Document  when  executed  and  delivered  by each Loan Party party  thereto will
constitute,  a legal,  valid and binding obligation of Holdings and the Borrower
and such Loan Party enforceable  against Holdings and the Borrower and such Loan
Party in accordance with its terms.

            SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals. No action, consent or approval
of,  registration  or  filing  with  or any  other  action  by any  Governmental
Authority is or will be required in connection with the Transactions, except for
(a) filings and  recordings in connection  with the  perfection of Liens granted
under the Security  Documents and (b) such as have been made or obtained and are
in full force and effect.


                                   - 33 -



<PAGE>



            SECTION  3.05.   Financial   Statements.   Holdings  has  heretofore
furnished to the Lenders its  consolidated and  consolidating  balance sheet and
statement of operations and  consolidated  statement of cash flows as of and for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996, which consolidated  statements were audited
by and accompanied by the opinion of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,  independent  public
accountants,  and its unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and
statement of operations and  consolidated  statement of cash flows as of and for
the three month  period ended  September  30, 1996.  Such  financial  statements
present fairly the financial  condition and results of operations and cash flows
of  Holdings  and its  consolidated  subsidiaries  as of such dates and for such
periods.  Each such balance  sheet and the notes  thereto  disclose all material
liabilities, direct or contingent, of Holdings on a consolidated basis as of the
date thereof.  Such financial  statements  were prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis.

            SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse Change. There has been no material
adverse  change in the  business,  assets,  operations,  prospects or condition,
financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,
since June 30, 1996.

            SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases. (a) Each
of  Holdings,  the  Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries  (other  than  the  Excluded
Subsidiaries) has good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in,
all its material  properties and assets,  except for minor defects in title that
do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted
or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended  purposes.  All such
material  properties  and assets  are free and clear of Liens,  other than Liens
expressly permitted by Section 6.02.

            (b) Each of Holdings,  the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (other than
the Excluded  Subsidiaries) has complied with all obligations under all material
leases to which it is a party as a lessee and all such  leases are in full force
and effect. Each of Holdings,  the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (other than the
Excluded Subsidiaries) enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such
material leases.

            SECTION  3.08.  Subsidiaries.  Schedule  3.08  sets  forth as of the
Closing  Date a list of all  Subsidiaries  of the  Borrower  and the  percentage
ownership interest of the Borrower therein. Each Subsidiary that is an "Excluded
Subsidiary"  satisfies the  conditions  set forth in the  definition of the term
"Excluded Subsidiary".

            SECTION 3.09.  Litigation;  Compliance  with Laws. (a) Except as set
forth in Schedule 3.09,  there are not any actions,  suits or proceedings at law
or in equity or by or before any  Governmental  Authority now pending or, to the
knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower,  threatened against or affecting Holdings
or the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  or any  business,  property or rights of any
such person (i) which involve any Loan Document or the  Transactions  or (ii) as
to which  there is a  reasonable  possibility  of an adverse  determination  and
which, if adversely determined,  could, individually or in the aggregate, result
in a Material Adverse Effect.

            (b) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any
of their respective  material  properties or assets is in violation of, nor will
the continued  operation of their  material  properties  and assets as currently
conducted violate, any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning,  building,
Environmental  and Safety  Law,  ordinance,  code or  approval  or any  building
permits),  or is in default with respect to any  judgment,  writ,  injunction or
decree of any  Governmental  Authority,  except any such  violations or defaults
that,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  could not  reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            SECTION 3.10. Agreements.  (a) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any
of the  Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any
corporate  restriction  that has resulted or could  reasonably be anticipated to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.


                                   - 34 -



<PAGE>



            (b) None of Holdings,  the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is in
default in any manner under any provision of any indenture or other agreement or
instrument  evidencing   Indebtedness,   or  any  other  material  agreement  or
instrument  to which it is a party  or by which it or any of its  properties  or
assets are or may be bound,  where such default could  reasonably be anticipated
to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            SECTION 3.11. Federal Reserve Regulations. (a) None of Holdings, the
Borrower or any of the  Subsidiaries  is engaged  principally,  or as one of its
important  activities,  in the business of  extending  credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

            (b) No part of the  proceeds  of any  Loan  will  be  used,  whether
directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i)
to purchase or carry Margin Stock or to extend  credit to others for the purpose
of  purchasing  or carrying  Margin Stock or to refund  indebtedness  originally
incurred for such purpose, or (ii) for any purpose which entails a violation of,
or which is  inconsistent  with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board,
including Regulation G, U or X.

            SECTION 3.12. Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company
Act.  None of Holdings,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  is (a) an  "investment
company" as defined in, or subject to regulation  under, the Investment  Company
Act of 1940 or (b) a "holding  company" as defined in, or subject to  regulation
under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

            SECTION 3.13. Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of
the Loans and will  request  the  issuance  of  Letters  of Credit  only for the
purposes specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

            SECTION 3.14.  Tax Returns.  Each of Holdings,  the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries  has filed or caused to be filed all  Federal,  state and local tax
returns  required to have been filed by it and has paid or caused to be paid all
taxes due and payable by it and all  assessments  received by it,  except  taxes
that are being contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings and for which
adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

            SECTION 3.15. No Material Misstatements. (a) No factual information,
including factual information contained in the Information  Memorandum or in any
report, financial statement,  exhibit or schedule,  furnished by or on behalf of
Holdings or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection
with the  negotiation  of any Loan  Document  or included  therein or  delivered
pursuant thereto (when considered as a whole with all other factual  information
so furnished) contained,  contains or will contain, as of the date so furnished,
any material misstatement of fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state, as of
the date so  furnished,  any  material  fact  necessary  to make the  statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were, are or will be
made, not misleading.

            (b)  All  financial   projections   contained  in  the   Information
Memorandum or otherwise furnished by or on behalf of Holdings or the Borrower to
the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of any
Loan  Document or delivered  pursuant  thereto have been and will be prepared in
good faith based upon  estimates and  assumptions  believed by management of the
Borrower  to be  reasonable  at the  time  of  preparation  thereof  (except  as
otherwise disclosed in writing therein), it being understood that projections as
to future  performance are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results may
differ from projected results and such differences may be material.

            SECTION 3.16.  Employee Benefit Plans.  Each of the Borrower and its
ERISA  Affiliates is in compliance in all material  respects with the applicable
provisions   of  ERISA  and  the  Code  and  the   regulations   and   published
interpretations  thereunder.  No Reportable Event has occurred in respect of any
Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate.  The present  value of all benefit
liabilities  under each Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan)
did not, as of the last annual valuation date applicable thereto, exceed by

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more than $1,000,000 the value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value
of all benefit  liabilities of all underfunded Plans (based on those assumptions
used to fund each such  Plan) did not,  as of the last  annual  valuation  dates
applicable  thereto,  exceed by more than  $5,000,000 the value of the assets of
all such  underfunded  Plans.  Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA  Affiliate has
incurred  any  Withdrawal   Liability  that  materially  adversely  affects  the
financial  condition of the Borrower and its ERISA  Affiliates taken as a whole.
Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has received any notification  that
any Multiemployer  Plan is in reorganization or has been terminated,  within the
meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and no Multiemployer  Plan is reasonably  expected
to be in  reorganization  or to be  terminated,  where  such  reorganization  or
termination  has resulted or can reasonably be expected to result in an increase
in the contributions  required to be made to such Plan that would materially and
adversely  affect  the  financial  condition  of  the  Borrower  and  its  ERISA
Affiliates taken as a whole.

            SECTION 3.17. Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.17:

            (a) The  soils  and  groundwater  beneath  the  properties  owned or
operated by Holdings,  the Borrower and the Subsidiaries  (the  "Properties") do
not contain  any  Hazardous  Materials  in amounts or  concentrations  which (i)
constitute a violation of, or (ii) give rise to liability  under,  Environmental
Laws, which violations and  liabilities,  in the aggregate,  could reasonably be
anticipated to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            (b)  The  Properties  and all  operations  of the  Borrower  and the
Subsidiaries  are in  compliance,  and in the  last  three  years  have  been in
compliance,  with all Environmental Laws and all necessary Environmental Permits
have  been  obtained  and  are  in  effect,  except  to  the  extent  that  such
non-compliance  or failure to obtain any necessary  permits,  in the  aggregate,
could not reasonably be anticipated to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            (c) There have been no Releases or  threatened  Releases  at,  from,
under or  proximate  to the  Properties  or  otherwise  in  connection  with the
operations  of the Borrower or the  Subsidiaries,  which  Releases or threatened
Releases,  in the  aggregate,  could  reasonably be  anticipated  to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.

            (d) None of Holdings,  the Borrower or any of the  Subsidiaries  has
received any notice of an Environmental  Claim in connection with the Properties
or the  operations  of the  Borrower or the  Subsidiaries  or with regard to any
person whose liabilities for environmental matters Holdings, the Borrower or the
Subsidiaries  has retained or assumed,  in whole or in part,  contractually,  by
operation of law or otherwise,  which,  in the  aggregate,  could  reasonably be
anticipated  to  result in a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  nor do  Holdings,  the
Borrower or the Subsidiaries have reason to believe that any such notice will be
received or is being threatened.

            SECTION 3.18.  Insurance.  Schedule 3.18 sets forth a true, complete
and correct  description  of all insurance  maintained by the Borrower or by the
Borrower for its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. As of each such date, such
insurance is in full force and effect and all premiums have been duly paid.  The
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  have insurance in such amounts and covering such
risks and liabilities as are in accordance with normal industry practice.

            SECTION  3.19.  Security  Documents.  (a) The  Pledge  Agreement  is
effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of
the Secured Parties,  a legal,  valid and enforceable  security  interest in the
Collateral (as defined in the Pledge  Agreement) and the Pledge  Agreement shall
constitute a fully perfected first priority Lien on, and security  interests in,
all right, title and interest of the pledgors  thereunder in such Collateral and
the  proceeds  thereof,  in each case prior and  superior  in right to any other
person.

            (b) The  Security  Agreement  is effective to create in favor of the
Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid
and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as

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<PAGE>



defined in the Security Agreement) and the Security Agreement shall constitute a
fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest
of the grantors  thereunder in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof, in each
case prior and superior in right to any other person, other than with respect to
Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02.

            SECTION  3.20.  Location  of  Real  Property.  Schedule  3.20  lists
completely  and correctly as of the Closing Date all real property  owned by the
Borrower and the  Subsidiaries and the addresses  thereof.  The Borrower and the
Subsidiaries own in fee all the real property set forth on Schedule 3.20.

            SECTION  3.21.  Labor  Matters.  There are no  significant  strikes,
lockouts,  slowdowns or other labor disputes against  Holdings,  the Borrower or
any of  its  Subsidiaries  pending  or,  to the  knowledge  of  Holdings  or the
Borrower,  threatened that could  reasonably be expected to,  individually or in
the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect.  The hours worked by and payment
made to employees of Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries have not
been in  violation  of the Fair  Labor  Standards  Act or any  other  applicable
Federal,  state,  local or foreign law  dealing  with such  matters,  where such
violations  could reasonably be expected,  individually or in the aggregate,  to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The consummation of the Transactions  will
not give rise to a right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of
any union under any  collective  bargaining  agreement  to which  Holdings,  the
Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a  party  or by  which  Holdings,  the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is bound.

            SECTION  3.22.  Patents,  Trademarks,  etc. Each of the Borrower and
each of its Subsidiaries  owns, or is licensed to use, all patents,  trademarks,
trade names, copyrights,  technology,  know-how and processes, service marks and
rights with respect to the  foregoing  that are (a) used in or necessary for the
conduct of their respective  businesses as currently  conducted and (b) material
to  the  business,  assets,  operations,   properties,  prospects  or  condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole.
The  use of such  patents,  trademarks,  trade  names,  copyrights,  technology,
know-how, processes and rights with respect to the foregoing by the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any Person. Holdings and the
Excluded Subsidiaries do not own or license any such patents,  trademarks, trade
names, copyrights, technology, know-how or processes, service marks or rights.


ARTICLE IV.  CONDITIONS

            SECTION 4.01. All Credit Events.  The  obligations of the Lenders to
make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit are subject to the
satisfaction,  on the date of each  Borrowing,  including  each  Borrowing  of a
Swingline  Loan,  and on the date of each  issuance of a Letter of Credit  (each
such event, a "Credit Event"), of each of the following conditions:

            (a) The  Administrative  Agent shall have  received a notice of such
  Borrowing  as  required by Section  2.03 or, in the case of the  issuance of a
  Letter of Credit,  the Issuing  Bank and the  Administrative  Agent shall have
  received a notice requesting the issuance of such Letter of Credit as required
  by Section  2.20(b) or, in the case of the Borrowing of a Swingline  Loan, the
  Swingline  Lender and the  Administrative  Agent shall have  received a notice
  requesting such Swingline Loan as required by Section 2.19(b).

            (b) The  representations  and  warranties  set forth in Article  III
  hereof  and in the  other  Loan  Documents  shall be true and  correct  in all
  material  respects  on and as of the date of such  Credit  Event with the same
  effect as  though  made on and as of such  date,  except  to the  extent  such
  representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date.


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<PAGE>



            (c) Each Loan Party  shall be in  compliance  with all the terms and
  provisions  set forth herein and in each other Loan Document on its part to be
  observed or performed,  and at the time of and  immediately  after such Credit
  Event, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Each Credit Event shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by
the  Borrower on the date of such Credit  Event as to the matters  specified  in
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 4.01.

            SECTION 4.02. Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Agreement and
the obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder are subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions:

            (a) The  Administrative  Agent shall have received  counterparts  of
  this Agreement  signed on behalf of Holdings,  the Borrower,  the Issuing Bank
  and all the Lenders.

            (b) All legal matters incident to this Agreement, the borrowings and
  extensions  of  credit  hereunder  and  the  other  Loan  Documents  shall  be
  reasonably  satisfactory  to the Lenders,  to the Issuing Bank and to Cravath,
  Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Administrative Agent.

            (c) The Administrative  Agent shall have received all Fees, together
  with all other fees  separately  agreed to be  payable  to the  Administrative
  Agent and the Lenders in connection  with the amendment and restatement of the
  Original Credit Agreement  pursuant hereto,  and other amounts due and payable
  on or  prior to the  Restatement  Effective  Date,  including,  to the  extent
  invoiced,  reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket  expenses required to
  be  reimbursed  or paid by the  Borrower  hereunder  or under any  other  Loan
  Document.

            (d) All outstanding  Loans,  accrued and unpaid interest thereon and
  accrued  and unpaid  Fees  (other  than  Administrative  Agent Fees) under the
  Original  Credit  Agreement  shall be paid in full  (without  prejudice to the
  Borrower's right to borrow hereunder in order to finance such payment).

            The  Administrative  Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders
when the Restatement  Effective Date occurs, and such notice shall be conclusive
absent manifest error.  Each party hereto hereby  acknowledges and confirms that
the Guarantee Agreement,  the Security Documents and the Indemnity,  Subrogation
and  Contribution  Agreement shall remain in effect on and after the Restatement
Effective Date and shall continue to apply to the Obligations.  Unless and until
the  Restatement  Effective Date occurs,  the Original  Credit  Agreement  shall
remain in effect in accordance with its terms and shall not be affected hereby.


ARTICLE V.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

            Each of Holdings  and the  Borrower  covenants  and agrees with each
Lender  that so long as this  Agreement  shall  remain in  effect  and until the
Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan,
all Fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Loan Document shall
have been paid in full and all  Letters  of Credit  have been  canceled  or have
expired and all amounts drawn  thereunder have been  reimbursed in full,  unless
the Required  Lenders shall otherwise  consent in writing,  each of Holdings and
the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to:

            SECTION 5.01. Existence;  Businesses and Properties. (a) Do or cause
to be done all things  necessary to  preserve,  renew and keep in full force and
effect  its legal  existence,  except as  otherwise  expressly  permitted  under
Section  6.05 and  except  that  the  foregoing  shall  not  apply  to  Excluded
Subsidiaries.

            (b) Do or cause  to be done  all  things  necessary  to (i)  obtain,
preserve,  renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses,
permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights,

                                   - 38 -



<PAGE>



trademarks  and trade  names  material  to the  conduct  of its  business;  (ii)
maintain and operate such  business in  substantially  the manner in which it is
presently conducted and operated; (iii) comply in all material respects with all
applicable laws,  rules,  regulations and orders of any Governmental  Authority,
whether now in effect or hereafter  enacted;  and (iv) at all times maintain and
preserve  all  property  material to the conduct of such  business and keep such
property in good repair, working order and condition and from time to time make,
or cause to be made,  all  needful  and  proper  repairs,  renewals,  additions,
improvements  and  replacements  thereto  necessary  in order that the  business
carried on in  connection  therewith  may be  properly  conducted  at all times;
provided that (A) clauses (i),  (ii), and (iv) above shall not apply to Excluded
Subsidiaries,  (B) the  foregoing  shall not prevent any  transaction  expressly
permitted under Section 6.05, (C) the foregoing shall not prevent Holdings,  the
Borrower or any  Subsidiary  from  withdrawing  its  qualification  as a foreign
corporation  in any  jurisdiction  and (D) the  foregoing  clause  (i) shall not
prevent Holdings,  the Borrower or any Subsidiary from taking or failing to take
any action  respecting any right,  license,  permit,  franchise,  authorization,
patent,  copyright,  trademark or trade name  determined by it to be in the best
interest  of the  Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries;  provided  further  that  the
foregoing clauses (C) and (D) shall not be construed to permit the taking of, or
failure to take,  any action  that could  reasonably  be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.

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

            (b)  Cause  all  such  policies  relating  to any  Collateral  to be
endorsed or  otherwise  amended to include a "standard"  or "New York"  lender's
loss  payable   endorsement,   in  form  and  substance   satisfactory   to  the
Administrative  Agent and the Collateral Agent,  which endorsement shall provide
that,  from and after the Closing  Date,  if the  insurance  carrier  shall have
received written notice from the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent of
the  occurrence  of an Event of Default,  the  insurance  carrier  shall pay all
proceeds  relating to any  Collateral  otherwise  payable to the Borrower or the
Loan Parties under such policies  directly to the  Collateral  Agent;  cause all
such policies to provide that neither the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent,
the Collateral Agent nor any other party shall be a coinsurer  thereunder and to
contain  a   "Replacement   Cost   Endorsement",   without  any   deduction  for
depreciation,  and such  other  provisions  as the  Administrative  Agent or the
Collateral  Agent may  reasonably  require  from time to time to  protect  their
interests;  deliver  original or  certified  copies of all such  policies to the
Collateral  Agent;  cause  each  such  policy  to  provide  that it shall not be
canceled,  modified or not renewed (i) by reason of  nonpayment  of premium upon
not less than 10 days'  prior  written  notice  thereof  by the  insurer  to the
Administrative  Agent and the Collateral Agent or (ii) for any other reason upon
not less than 30 days'  prior  written  notice  thereof  by the  insurer  to the
Administrative  Agent and the Collateral  Agent;  deliver to the  Administrative
Agent and the  Collateral  Agent,  prior to the  cancellation,  modification  or
nonrenewal of any such policy of insurance,  a copy of a renewal or  replacement
policy (or other  evidence of renewal of a policy  previously  delivered  to the
Administrative   Agent  and  the  Collateral   Agent)   together  with  evidence
satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent and the Collateral Agent of payment of
the premium therefor.  In addition,  the policies of general liability insurance
shall name the Collateral Agent as an additional insured.

            (c)  Notify  the  Administrative  Agent  and  the  Collateral  Agent
immediately  whenever any separate insurance  concurrent in form or contributing
in the event of loss with that required to be maintained under this Section 5.02
is taken out by the Borrower;  and promptly deliver to the Administrative  Agent
and the Collateral Agent a duplicate original copy of such policy or policies.


                                   - 39 -



<PAGE>



            (d) In connection with the covenants set forth in this Section 5.02,
it is understood and agreed that:

            (i) neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Bank,
  nor their agents or employees  shall be liable for any loss or damage  insured
  by the insurance  policies  required to be maintained under this Section 5.02,
  it being  understood  that (A) the Borrower  and the other Loan Parties  shall
  look solely to their  insurance  companies or any other parties other than the
  aforesaid  parties  for the  recovery  of such  loss or  damage  and (B)  such
  insurance   companies  shall  have  no  rights  of  subrogation   against  the
  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders,  the Issuing Bank or
  their agents or employees.  If, however, the insurance policies do not provide
  waiver of subrogation rights against such parties, as required above, then the
  Borrower hereby agrees,  to the extent permitted by law, to waive its right of
  recovery,  if any, against the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the
  Lenders, the Issuing Bank and their agents and employees; and

            (ii) the  designation  of any  form,  type or  amount  of  insurance
  coverage by the  Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent or the Required
  Lenders under this Section 5.02 shall in no event be deemed a  representation,
  warranty or advice by the  Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral Agent or the
  Lenders  that such  insurance  is adequate for the purposes of the business of
  the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  or the protection of their  properties and
  the Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Required Lenders shall
  have the right from time to time to require  the  Borrower  and the other Loan
  Parties to keep other insurance in such form and amount as the  Administrative
  Agent, the Collateral  Agent or the Required  Lenders may reasonably  request,
  provided that such insurance  shall be obtainable on  commercially  reasonable
  terms.

            SECTION 5.03.  Obligations and Taxes. Pay its Indebtedness and other
material  obligations  promptly and in  accordance  with their terms and pay and
discharge promptly when due all taxes,  assessments and governmental  charges or
levies  imposed  upon it or upon its  income or  profits  or in  respect  of its
property,  before the same shall become delinquent or in default, as well as all
lawful claims for labor,  materials and supplies or otherwise  which, if unpaid,
might give rise to a Lien upon such  properties or any part  thereof;  provided,
however,  that such payment and discharge  shall not be required with respect to
any  such  obligation,  tax,  assessment,  charge,  levy or claim so long as the
validity  or amount  thereof  shall be  contested  in good faith by  appropriate
proceedings and the Borrower shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves
with respect  thereto and such  contest  operates to suspend  collection  of the
contested obligation, tax, assessment charge, levy or claim and enforcement of a
Lien.

            SECTION 5.04.  Financial  Statements,  Reports,  etc. In the case of
Holdings and the Borrower, furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

            (a)  within  95  days  after  the  end  of  each  fiscal  year,  its
  consolidated  and  consolidating  balance sheets and related  consolidated and
  consolidating   statements  of  operations  and  consolidated   statements  of
  shareholders'  equity  and cash  flows  showing  the  financial  condition  of
  Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year
  and the results of its  operations  and the  operations  of such  subsidiaries
  during  such  year,  all  audited  (in  the  case  of  such  consolidated  and
  consolidating  statements) by any "Big 6" accounting firm or other independent
  public accountants of recognized  national standing  reasonably  acceptable to
  the Required Lenders, and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which
  shall  not  contain  any  "going   concern"   or  other   materially   adverse
  qualification)  to the  effect  that such  consolidated  financial  statements
  fairly  present the financial  condition and results of operations of Holdings
  on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

            (b) within 50 days after the end of each of the first  three  fiscal
  quarters of each fiscal  year,  its  consolidated  and  consolidating  balance
  sheets and related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations and
  consolidated  statements  of  shareholders'  equity and cash flows showing the
  financial condition

                                   - 40 -



<PAGE>



  of Holdings and its  consolidated  subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal
  quarter  and  the  results  of its  operations  and  the  operations  of  such
  subsidiaries  during such fiscal  quarter and the then elapsed  portion of the
  fiscal  year,  all  certified  by one  of its  Financial  Officers  as  fairly
  presenting the financial  condition and results of operations of Holdings on a
  consolidated  basis in accordance with GAAP consistently  applied,  subject to
  the absence of  footnotes  and normal  year-end  reserves,  accruals and audit
  adjustments;

            (c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under (a)
  or (b) above,  a certificate  of a Financial  Officer (i)  certifying  that no
  Event of Default or Default  has  occurred  or, if such an Event of Default or
  Default  has  occurred,  specifying  the  nature and  extent  thereof  and any
  corrective  action  taken or proposed to be taken with respect  thereto,  (ii)
  setting  forth   computations  in  reasonable   detail   satisfactory  to  the
  Administrative Agent demonstrating  compliance with the covenants contained in
  Sections  6.08,  6.12,  6.13 and 6.14,  (iii)  setting  forth each  Designated
  Payment made during the most recent  fiscal  quarter and  calculations  of the
  Designated Payment Amount as of the beginning and end of such quarter and (iv)
  setting  forth  notice,  if  applicable,  of  any  change  in  the  Applicable
  Percentage based upon the Applicable Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio;

            (d)  concurrently  with any delivery of financial  statements  under
  paragraph (a) above,  a  certificate  of the  accounting  firm opining on such
  statements  (which  certificate  may be  limited  to  accounting  matters  and
  disclaim  responsibility for legal interpretations)  certifying (i) whether in
  connection with its audit examination any Default or Event of Default has come
  to its attention and, if such event has come to its attention,  the nature and
  extent thereof and (ii) that based on its audit  examination and its review of
  the  computations  referred to in clause (ii) of paragraph (c) above,  nothing
  has come to its  attention  that  leads  it to  believe  that the  information
  contained in the  certificate  delivered  therewith  pursuant to paragraph (c)
  above is not correct;  provided that the requirements of this clause (d) shall
  be subject to any limitations and qualifications adopted after the date hereof
  by any professional association or organization or any Governmental Authority,
  in each case that  affects the content of, or ability of  accounting  firms to
  deliver, certificates of the type contemplated by this paragraph;

            (e) promptly after the same become  publicly  available or are filed
  or distributed, as applicable, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy
  statements  and other  materials  filed by  Holdings  or the  Borrower  or any
  Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  or any  Governmental
  Authority  succeeding  to any of or all the functions of said  Commission,  or
  with any national  securities  exchange,  or distributed to the holders of the
  Senior  Notes or any  other  Indebtedness  with a then  outstanding  principal
  amount of $15,000,000 or more (or any trustee, agent or representative for any
  such holders) or to Holdings' shareholders, as the case may be;

            (f) within one  Business  Day after  receipt of notice or  knowledge
  thereof,  any change (or prospective  change) in the rating of the Obligations
  or the Senior Notes by Moody's or S&P;

            (g) no later than 60 days after the first day of each fiscal year of
  Holdings,  a budget in the form approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings
  for such fiscal year,  and which will be generally in the format of the budget
  delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date; and

            (h) promptly,  from time to time, such other  information  regarding
  the operations,  business affairs and financial  condition of Holdings and the
  Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document,
  as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.


                                   - 41 -



<PAGE>



            SECTION  5.05.   Litigation  and  Other  Notices.   Furnish  to  the
Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

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

            (b) the  filing  or  commencement  of,  or any  threat  or notice of
  intention of any person to file or commence,  any action,  suit or proceeding,
  whether  at law or in  equity  or by or  before  any  Governmental  Authority,
  against the  Borrower or any  Affiliate  thereof  which  could  reasonably  be
  expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

            (c) any other  development that has resulted in, or could reasonably
  be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

            SECTION 5.06. Employee Benefits. (a) Comply in all material respects
with the  applicable  provisions  of ERISA and the Code and (b)  furnish  to the
Administrative  Agent (i) as soon as possible after,  and in any event within 30
days after any Responsible  Officer of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate knows
or has reason to know that,  any  Reportable  Event has  occurred  that alone or
together with any other  Reportable Event could reasonably be expected to result
in  liability  of the  Borrower  to the PBGC in an  aggregate  amount  exceeding
$5,000,000,  a statement of a Financial Officer setting forth details as to such
Reportable Event and the action that the Borrower  proposes to take with respect
thereto,  together with a copy of the notice,  if any, of such Reportable  Event
given to the PBGC,  (ii) promptly  after receipt  thereof,  a copy of any notice
that the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate  may receive from the PBGC relating to
the  intention  of the PBGC to  terminate  any Plan or Plans  (other than a Plan
maintained by an ERISA  Affiliate  that is considered  an ERISA  Affiliate  only
pursuant to  subsection  (m) or (o) of Code Section 414) or to appoint a trustee
to administer any such Plan,  (iii) within 10 days after the due date for filing
with the PBGC pursuant to Section 412(n) of the Code a notice of failure to make
a required installment or other payment with respect to a Plan, a statement of a
Financial  Officer  setting forth details as to such failure and the action that
the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto,  together with a copy of any
such notice given to the PBGC and (iv)  promptly and in any event within 30 days
after receipt thereof by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the sponsor of
a  Multiemployer  Plan,  a copy of each notice  received by the  Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate  concerning (A) the imposition of Withdrawal  Liability or (B) a
determination  that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, terminated or
in reorganization, both within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

            SECTION  5.07.   Maintaining  Records;   Access  to  Properties  and
Inspections.  Maintain all financial  records in accordance with GAAP and permit
any  representatives  designated by any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to
visit and inspect the  financial  records and the  properties  of Holdings,  the
Borrower or any Subsidiary at reasonable  times (during normal  business  hours)
and as often as requested and to make extracts from and copies of such financial
records, and permit any representatives  designated by any Lender to discuss the
affairs, finances and condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary with
the officers  thereof and independent  accountants  therefor;  provided that any
such visitation and inspection  rights shall be exercised in a reasonable manner
that  does  not  disrupt  the  business  activities  of  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries.

            SECTION  5.08.  Use of  Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of the Loans and
request the issuance of Letters of Credit only for the purposes set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.

            SECTION 5.09.  Further  Assurances.  (a) Execute any and all further
documents,  financing  statements,  agreements  and  instruments,  and  take all
further action  (including  filing Uniform  Commercial  Code and other financing
statements,  mortgages and deeds of trust) that may be required under applicable
law, or which the Required Lenders,  the Administrative  Agent or the Collateral
Agent  may  reasonably   request,   in  order  to  effectuate  the  transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents and in order to grant, preserve, protect and

                                   - 42 -



<PAGE>



perfect the validity and priority of the security  interests created or intended
to be created by the Security Documents.

            (b) Cause each  Subsidiary  (including any Subsidiary that becomes a
Subsidiary  after the date hereof,  but excluding (i) any Foreign  Subsidiary so
long as such Foreign  Subsidiary has not entered into any Guarantee with respect
to the  Senior  Notes or any other  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  and (ii) any
Excluded Subsidiary that has not ceased to qualify as an "Excluded  Subsidiary")
to undertake the obligations of and to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to
the  Guarantee  Agreement  and  a  party  to  the  Indemnity,   Subrogation  and
Contribution Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and the Security Agreement pursuant
to one or more  instruments or agreements  satisfactory in form and substance to
the Collateral Agent and thereupon take such actions pursuant to Section 5.09(a)
and the applicable Security Documents as shall be necessary to grant,  preserve,
protect and perfect the validity and priority of the security  interests created
or intended to be created  thereby.  In addition,  the Borrower  shall, or shall
cause its  Subsidiaries  to, (i) pledge all capital stock of any such Subsidiary
that is owned by the Borrower or any other  Subsidiary to the  Collateral  Agent
for the benefit of the Secured  Parties  pursuant  to the Pledge  Agreement  (or
supplement to the Pledge  Agreement)  satisfactory  in form and substance to the
Collateral  Agent;  provided  that any such  pledge  of the  capital  stock of a
Foreign  Subsidiary may exclude shares of such capital stock representing 35% of
the ordinary voting power  represented by all the outstanding  shares of capital
stock of such  Foreign  Subsidiary  so long as such Foreign  Subsidiary  has not
entered  into any  Guarantee  with  respect  to the  Senior  Notes or any  other
Indebtedness  of the  Borrower;  and (ii)  cause all  intercompany  Indebtedness
between or among any of  Holdings,  the Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries,  to the
extent evidenced by promissory  notes, to be pledged to the Collateral Agent for
the  benefit  of the  Secured  Parties  pursuant  to the  Pledge  Agreement  (or
supplement to the Pledge  Agreement)  satisfactory  in form and substance to the
Collateral  Agent;  provided  that any  such  Indebtedness  owing  to a  Foreign
Subsidiary  that is not  required  to be a party  to the  Pledge  Agreement,  as
provided above, need not be so pledged by such Foreign Subsidiary.

            SECTION 5.10. Environmental Matters. (a) Promptly give notice to the
Administrative   Agent  upon  becoming   aware  of  (i)  any  violation  of  any
Environmental Law, (ii) any claim, inquiry,  proceeding,  investigation or other
action,  including  a  request  for  information  or a notice  of an  actual  or
threatened  Environmental  Claim or (iii) the  discovery  of the  Release of any
Hazardous Material at, on, under or from any of the properties owned or occupied
by the  Borrower  or  any  Subsidiary  in  excess  of  reportable  or  allowable
standards,  threshold  amounts or levels  under any  Environmental  Law, or in a
manner or amount that could  reasonably be expected to result in liability under
any Environmental Law.

            (b) Upon discovery of the presence on any of the properties owned or
occupied by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Hazardous  Material that is in
violation of, or that could reasonably be expected to result in liability under,
any  Environmental  Law, take all necessary steps to initiate and  expeditiously
complete all Remedial Action to eliminate any such adverse effect,  and keep the
Administrative Agent informed of such actions and the results thereof.


ARTICLE VI.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS

            Each of Holdings  and the  Borrower  covenants  and agrees with each
Lender  that,  so long as this  Agreement  shall  remain in effect and until the
Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan,
all Fees and all other expenses or amounts  payable under any Loan Document have
been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been  cancelled or have expired
and all amounts drawn thereunder

                                   - 43 -



<PAGE>



have been  reimbursed  in full,  unless the  Required  Lenders  shall  otherwise
consent in writing,  neither Holdings nor the Borrower will, nor will they cause
or permit any of the Subsidiaries to:

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

            (a) the Obligations;

            (b)  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  under the  Senior  Notes and of
  Holdings and the Subsidiaries under Guarantees of the Senior Notes;

            (c) other  Indebtedness  existing on the Closing  Date to the extent
  set forth on Schedule 6.01;

            (d)  Indebtedness  the net proceeds of which are used  substantially
  concurrently with the incurrence thereof to refinance  Indebtedness  described
  in paragraph (c) above so long as (i) such  refinancing  Indebtedness is in an
  aggregate  principal amount not greater than the aggregate principal amount of
  the Indebtedness  being refinanced plus the amount of any prepayment  premiums
  required to be paid thereon, (ii) such Indebtedness has a later final maturity
  and a longer weighted average life than the Indebtedness  being refinanced and
  is not  subject to  prepayment,  redemption  or  repurchase  requirements  not
  applicable to the Indebtedness being refinanced,  (iii) the covenants,  events
  of default and other provisions thereof (including,  if the Indebtedness being
  refinanced is subordinated,  the subordination provisions thereof) shall be no
  less  favorable  to the  Borrower or the Lenders  than those  contained in the
  Indebtedness  being  refinanced and (iv) such  Indebtedness  is not secured or
  guaranteed except to the extent the Indebtedness  being refinanced was secured
  or guaranteed;

            (e) Indebtedness of the Borrower incurred to finance the acquisition
  of equipment or machinery,  in each case,  in the ordinary  course of business
  (or to refinance Indebtedness incurred for such purpose);

            (f)  Capital  Lease  Obligations  of the  Borrower  in an  aggregate
  principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $30,000,000;

            (g) additional mortgage  Indebtedness of the Borrower incurred after
  the Closing  Date,  maturing  after the  Revolving  Credit  Maturity  Date and
  incurred to finance the  acquisition  or  improvement  of real property (or to
  refinance  Indebtedness  incurred for such purpose) in an aggregate  principal
  amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $30,000,000;

            (h)  Indebtedness  of the Borrower in respect of industrial  revenue
  bonds (or incurred to refinance industrial revenue bonds);

            (i) Indebtedness of Holdings consisting of Guarantees of obligations
  of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  in an  aggregate  amount  at any time
  outstanding  not to  exceed  $20,000,000  (such  limitation  of  amount  to be
  determined excluding Guarantees by Holdings of the Senior Notes);

            (j) intercompany Indebtedness,  including open accounts, incurred by
  Holdings  from the  Borrower  for the  purposes and to the extent such amounts
  could be paid as dividends to Holdings in compliance with clause (b) or (c) of
  Section 6.08, so long as such Indebtedness is repaid with dividends  permitted
  thereunder;


                                   - 44 -



<PAGE>



            (k) intercompany Indebtedness,  including open accounts, incurred by
  the Borrower from the  Subsidiaries  or by  Subsidiaries  from the Borrower or
  from other Subsidiaries in compliance with clause (f) or (g) of Section 6.04;

            (l) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower in an aggregate principal
  amount  at any time  outstanding  not to exceed  $50,000,000  on terms no less
  favorable to the Borrower than those set forth in this  Agreement with respect
  to the Loans;

            (m) to the extent not creating an Event of Default  under  paragraph
  (p) of Article VII, any  Indebtedness  arising  under a Permitted  Receivables
  Facility;

            (n) Indebtedness  under Rate Protection  Agreements  entered into to
  hedge  interest  rate risks  relating  to  Indebtedness  permitted  under this
  Agreement, currency exchange rate risks relating to revenues or liabilities in
  foreign  currencies  or commodity  price risks  relating to raw  materials and
  other  commodities  used in the  businesses  conducted by the Borrower and its
  Subsidiaries;

            (o) Indebtedness consisting of obligations on performance, surety or
  appeal  bonds in an aggregate amount  at any time  outstanding  not to  exceed
  $5,000,000;

            (p) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued to dealers as
  consideration for the purchase from such dealers of Stores and related assets;
  and

            (q)  Indebtedness  arising from  acquisitions  made in reliance upon
  clause (b) of Section  6.04, to the extent  expressly  permitted by sub-clause
  (ii) thereof.

            SECTION 6.02. Liens.  Create,  incur,  assume or permit to exist any
Lien on any  property  or assets  (including  stock or other  securities  of any
person,  including any Subsidiary)  now owned or hereafter  acquired by it or on
any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

            (a) Liens on property or assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
  existing on the Closing  Date and set forth in Schedule  6.02;  provided  that
  such Liens shall  secure only (i) those  obligations  which they secure on the
  Closing Date and (ii)  refinancings  of such  obligations  in compliance  with
  clause (d) of Section 6.01;

            (b) any Lien created under the Loan Documents;

            (c)  any  Lien  existing  on any  property  or  asset  prior  to the
  acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary;  provided that (i) such
  Lien  is  not  created  in   contemplation  of  or  in  connection  with  such
  acquisition, and (ii) such Lien does not apply to any other property or assets
  of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

            (d) Liens for taxes,  assessments or governmental  charges or levies
  not yet due or which are being contested in compliance with Section 5.03;

            (e)  Liens  imposed  by law  that  do not  secure  Indebtedness  for
  borrowed money and were incurred in the ordinary  course of business,  such as
  carriers',  warehousemen's,  mechanic's,  materialmen's,  repairmen's or other
  like Liens  arising in the  ordinary  course of business;  provided  that such
  Liens either (i) do not in the aggregate  materially detract from the value of
  the property or assets to which such Liens apply or materially  impair the use
  thereof in the  operation of the  business of  Holdings,  the Borrower and the
  Subsidiaries or (ii) are being contested in compliance with Section 5.03;


                                   - 45 -



<PAGE>



            (f) Liens upon  equipment,  machinery  or real  property  (including
  improvements  thereto and fixtures  thereon),  assets subject to Capital Lease
  Obligations and assets financed with industrial  revenue bonds;  provided that
  (i) such Liens only secure  Indebtedness  permitted under clause (e), (f), (g)
  or (h), as  applicable,  of Section  6.01,  (ii) in the case of any such Liens
  securing  Indebtedness  permitted by clause (e),  (g) or (h) of Section  6.01,
  such Liens are incurred,  and such  Indebtedness  is created,  within 180 days
  after the acquisition or construction of the assets financed thereby and (iii)
  in each case, such Liens do not encumber any other assets or properties;

            (g) [Intentionally Omitted]

            (h) leases or  subleases  granted to other  persons  not  materially
  interfering  with  the  conduct  of the  business  of  the  Borrower  and  its
  Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

            (i)   easements,   licenses,   rights-of-way,    zoning   or   other
  restrictions,  encroachments  and other similar charges or  encumbrances,  and
  minor title  deficiencies,  statutory  and common law  landlords'  liens under
  leases to which Holdings,  the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party,
  in each case not securing Indebtedness and not materially interfering with the
  conduct of the business of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

            (j)  Liens  (other  than any Lien  imposed  by ERISA)  for  worker's
  compensation,   unemployment   compensation  and  other  forms  of  government
  insurance incurred in the ordinary course of business;

            (k)  Liens  to  secure  (i)   performance   of  tenders,   statutory
  obligations,  bids, leases and contracts or other similar  obligations  (other
  than for borrowed  money)  entered into in the ordinary  course of business or
  (ii)  obligations  on surety or appeal bonds,  provided  that the  obligations
  secured by such Liens (and, to the extent (without  duplication)  the value of
  cash or property (other than Letters of Credit) forming a part of the security
  with  respect  to such  surety or appeal  bonds  exceeds  the  obligations  so
  secured, the amount of such excess) do not exceed in the aggregate $5,000,000;

            (l)  Liens  arising  from  precautionary   Uniform  Commercial  Code
  financing  statement  filings regarding  operating leases otherwise  permitted
  hereunder;

            (m) any interest or title of a lessor under any  operating  lease of
  property to, or of any consignor of goods consigned to, or any creditor of any
  consignee in goods  consigned to such consignee by, the Borrower or any of its
  Subsidiaries, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

            (n) Liens  arising out of  judgments  or awards,  which have been in
  existence  for less than 45 days from the date of  creation  thereof  or which
  have been  stayed or bonded  pending  appeal  or fully  covered  by  insurance
  (subject to applicable  deductibles)  and for which no enforcement  action has
  been  commenced,  provided that the aggregate  amount of all such judgments or
  awards (and, to the extent (without duplication) the value of cash or property
  (other than Letters of Credit)  forming a part of the security with respect to
  such judgment or award exceeds the obligations so secured,  the amount of such
  excess) does not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;

            (o) transactions under the Permitted  Receivables  Facility shall be
  permitted; and

            (p) Liens securing  obligations under any Rate Protection  Agreement
  consisting  solely of an assignment of the  Borrower's  rights under such Rate
  Protection Agreement.

            SECTION  6.03.  Sale and  Lease-Back  Transactions.  Enter  into any
arrangement,  directly or  indirectly,  with any person whereby it shall sell or
transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its

                                   - 46 -



<PAGE>



business,  whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease
such property or other  property which it intends to use for  substantially  the
same purpose or purposes as the  property  being sold or  transferred;  provided
that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  may enter into Permitted  Sale-Leaseback
Transactions  so long as the  aggregate  amount of  proceeds  received  from all
Permitted  Sale-Leaseback  Transactions consummated on or after the Closing Date
do not exceed $25,000,000.

            SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans and Advances; Certain Acquisitions.
Purchase,  hold or acquire any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other
securities  of,  make or permit to exist  any loans or  advances  to, or make or
permit to exist any  investment or any other  interest in, any other person,  or
purchase,  lease or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions)  any property or assets  outside the ordinary  course of business,
except:

            (a) cash and Cash Equivalents;

            (b)  acquisitions  by the Borrower of the capital  stock of a Person
  (the  "Issuer")  or of  property  or assets  outside  the  ordinary  course of
  business;  provided,  that (i) the aggregate  consideration paid in connection
  with all such  acquisitions does not exceed the sum of (A) $75,000,000 of cash
  consideration  and (B) common stock issued by Holdings with an aggregate  fair
  market value  (determined at the time of each such  acquisition) not exceeding
  $150,000,000,  provided that the aggregate amount of consideration  paid under
  clauses (A) and (B) above  combined  shall not exceed  $175,000,000;  (ii) any
  Indebtedness  of the Issuer,  or with recourse to any such property or assets,
  existing at the time of such acquisition is eliminated or repaid at such time,
  except that such Indebtedness shall not be required to be eliminated or repaid
  to the  extent  that (A) such  Indebtedness  is either  mortgage  Indebtedness
  secured only by real property,  improvements  thereto and fixtures  thereon or
  unsecured Indebtedness that is not revolving in nature and is on terms no more
  restrictive  than those  contained in this  Agreement  and (B) the amount that
  would be required to be paid in order to eliminate or repay such  Indebtedness
  at the time of such  acquisition  is  treated  as cash  consideration  paid in
  connection with such  acquisition for purposes of determining  compliance with
  clause (i)(A) above but shall in any event not exceed  $25,000,000;  (iii) the
  aggregate  amount of  contingent  obligations  (quantified  as the amount that
  would be required to be set forth in audited financial statements or footnotes
  thereto  prepared  in  accordance  with GAAP as of the date of the  applicable
  acquisition)  of all Issuers so acquired,  and arising out of all property and
  assets so  acquired,  shall not exceed  $10,000,000;  (iv) the Issuer shall be
  engaged in, or the property and assets  acquired  shall be used in  connection
  with, the same or related (ancillary or complementary) line of business as the
  Borrower,  (v) all necessary  governmental  approvals and third party consents
  for the acquisition have been obtained without imposing burdensome conditions,
  all appeal periods have expired and there shall be no governmental or judicial
  action,  pending or threatened,  restraining or imposing burdensome conditions
  on such acquisition, (vi) after giving effect to the acquisition, and on a pro
  forma  basis  (including  the  financial  results  of  the  Borrower  and  the
  Subsidiaries and the Issuer or the property and assets to be acquired,  as the
  case may be, and giving pro forma effect to any Indebtedness to be incurred in
  connection with such  acquisition) for the period of four  consecutive  fiscal
  quarters ending immediately prior to such acquisition,  no Event of Default or
  Default  shall have  occurred and be  continuing  and the Borrower  shall have
  delivered to the  Administrative  Agent a certificate  of a Financial  Officer
  certifying  compliance  with the  conditions set forth in this clause (vi) and
  setting forth pro forma calculations  demonstrating such compliance,  (vii) in
  the case of any such  acquisition of capital stock,  the Issuer shall become a
  Subsidiary  Guarantor  under the Guarantee  Agreement;  (viii) liens and other
  security  interests  in the capital  stock and other  assets  acquired in such
  acquisition  are  created  as  required  under  Section  5.09;  and  (ix)  any
  acquisition  of  capital  stock of an  Issuer,  whereby  as a  result  of such
  acquisition the Issuer shall become a Non Wholly Owned Subsidiary or a Foreign
  Subsidiary, shall comply with the further limitations in Section 6.04(f) below
  and Section 6.11.

            (c)  the  Borrower  and  the   Subsidiaries   (other  than  Excluded
  Subsidiaries)  may  acquire and hold Dealer  Notes in an  aggregate  principal
  amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $30,000,000;

                                   - 47 -



<PAGE>




            (d) loans and  advances by the Borrower to employees of the Borrower
  or the Subsidiaries (i) to finance the acquisition of common stock in Holdings
  in an aggregate  amount at any time  outstanding  not to exceed  $5,000,000 or
  (ii) in the ordinary course of business,  including with respect to travel and
  relocation expenses;

            (e) investments in joint ventures,  partnerships and similar persons
  that are not  Subsidiaries in an aggregate  amount at any time outstanding not
  to exceed $5,000,000;

            (f)   investments  by  the  Borrower  in   Subsidiaries,   including
  Subsidiaries  formed  after  the  date  hereof;  provided  that  (i) all  such
  Subsidiaries  shall be Wholly Owned  Subsidiaries or, subject to Section 6.11,
  Non Wholly Owned Subsidiaries,  in either case owned directly by the Borrower,
  (ii) all such  Subsidiaries  are Subsidiary  Guarantors and the capital stock,
  intercompany Indebtedness and assets of such Subsidiaries are subject to Liens
  granted under the Security  Documents to secure the Obligations,  in each case
  to be  extent  required  by  Section  5.09(b),  (iii)  in the case of any such
  investment  that  constitutes  an acquisition of any capital stock of a person
  that is not a Subsidiary at the time of such  investment,  such acquisition is
  made in compliance with clause (b) of Section 6.04, (iv) the aggregate  amount
  of  investments  in Foreign  Subsidiaries  at any time  outstanding  shall not
  exceed  $40,000,000,  and (v) no additional  investments  shall be made in any
  Excluded Subsidiary;

            (g)  investments  consisting  of  intercompany  Indebtedness  of the
  Borrower  to  a  Subsidiary  (other  than  an  Excluded  Subsidiary)  or  of a
  Subsidiary  (other than an Excluded  Subsidiary) to another  Subsidiary (other
  than an Excluded Subsidiary); provided that (i) each such Subsidiary satisfies
  the  conditions  set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph  (f) above and
  (ii) any such intercompany  Indebtedness of a Foreign  Subsidiary that is owed
  to a  Subsidiary  that is not a  Foreign  Subsidiary  shall be  considered  an
  investment by the Borrower in such Foreign  Subsidiary  for purposes of clause
  (iv) of paragraph (f) above;

            (h)  loans  and  advances  by  the  Borrower  to  Holdings  made  in
  compliance with paragraph (j) of Section 6.01;

            (i) accounts  receivable  owing to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
  arising in the ordinary course of business;

            (j) any  non-cash  consideration  received  by the  Borrower  or any
  Subsidiary in connection with any asset  disposition  permitted by clause (iv)
  of Section 6.05(b);

            (k) investments by Holdings in the common stock of the Borrower;

            (l) the foregoing  shall not be construed to prevent (i)  Restricted
  Payments  expressly  permitted  under  Section  6.08 or (ii) the  purchase  or
  acquisition of Senior Notes in accordance with Section 6.09(b); and

            (m) the  investments  existing on the Closing  Date and set forth in
  Schedule 6.04.

            SECTION 6.05. Mergers, Consolidations and Sales of Assets. (a) Merge
into or consolidate  with any other person,  or permit any other person to merge
into or consolidate with it, or sell,  transfer,  lease or otherwise  dispose of
(in one  transaction  or in a  series  of  transactions)  all or any part of its
assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), including any capital stock of
any Subsidiary,  provided,  however, that if at the time thereof and immediately
after giving  effect  thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing,  (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may be liquidated into or
may merge into or with the  Borrower in a  transaction  in which the Borrower is
the surviving corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into or
with or  consolidate  with any Wholly  Owned  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  in a
transaction  in which the surviving  entity is a Wholly Owned  Subsidiary of the
Borrower, provided in each case

                                   - 48 -



<PAGE>



that (x) no Person other than the Borrower or a Wholly Owned  Subsidiary  of the
Borrower  receives any consideration and (y) in the event that any Loan Party is
a party to such merger or  consolidation  and is not the surviving  entity,  the
surviving entity shall, simultaneously with such merger or consolidation, assume
all the  obligations  of such Loan  Party  hereunder  and  under the other  Loan
Documents,  and (iii) any Excluded  Subsidiary  may be  liquidated  or may sell,
transfer  or  otherwise  dispose  of its  assets to the  Borrower  or to another
Subsidiary.

            (b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) above:

            (i) the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may sell  inventory in the
  ordinary and customary course of business;

            (ii)  Holdings,   the  Borrower  and  its   Subsidiaries   may  make
  investments  permitted  by Section  6.04 and  Restricted Payments permitted by
  Section 6.08;

            (iii) the Borrower may sell receivables and, to the extent permitted
  by the terms of a Permitted  Receivables  Facility,  purchase receivables from
  its dealers so long as such  receivables are promptly sold, in either case for
  cash pursuant to a Permitted Receivables Facility;

            (iv) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise dispose
  of  equipment  and  other  tangible  personal  property  in the  ordinary  and
  customary course of business that is worn out, damaged or obsolete;

            (v) the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may enter  into  Permitted
  Sale-Leaseback Transactions to the extent permitted under Section 6.03;

            (vi)  the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may  sell,  transfer  or
  otherwise dispose of assets to each other; and

            (vii)  the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may sell,  transfer  or
  otherwise dispose of assets;  provided that (A) such dispositions are made for
  fair value, (B) such  dispositions do not include any Collateral and (C) after
  giving effect to any such sale,  transfer or  disposition  the aggregate  fair
  market  value of all  assets  disposed  of on and  after the  Closing  Date in
  reliance upon this clause (vii) would not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Total
  Assets  determined by reference to the most recent quarterly or annual balance
  sheet of the Borrower which precedes such sale,  transfer or disposition  that
  is delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.04.

            SECTION  6.06.   Transactions   with  Stockholders  and  Affiliates.
Directly or indirectly enter into or permit to exist any transaction  (including
the  purchase,  sale,  lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any
service)  with any  holder of 5% or more of any class of  equity  securities  of
Holdings or with any Affiliate of any such holder or of Holdings,  other than in
the  ordinary   course  of  business  and  on  terms  and  conditions  that  are
substantially  as favorable to Holdings,  the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  as
could be obtained in an  arm's-length  transaction  at the time from persons who
are not such holders or  Affiliates;  provided  that the  foregoing  restriction
shall not apply to (a) transactions between or among the Borrower and its Wholly
Owned  Subsidiaries  made  in  compliance  with  the  other  provisions  of this
Agreement,   (b)  Restricted   Payments  permitted  by  Section  6.08,  (c)  the
performance  of the  Kathwari  Employment  Agreement,  as in  effect on the date
hereof, in accordance with its terms or (d) transactions under and in accordance
with a Permitted Receivables Facility.

            SECTION  6.07.  Business of  Holdings,  Borrower  and  Subsidiaries.
Engage at any time in any business or business  activity other than the business
currently conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries

                                   - 49 -



<PAGE>



and business activities  reasonably  related,  supportive or incidental thereto.
Without  limiting the generality of the  foregoing,  Holdings will not engage in
any business or business  activity other than the ownership of the capital stock
of the Borrower.

            SECTION  6.08.  Restricted  Payments.  Declare or pay,  directly  or
indirectly, any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital
or otherwise),  whether in cash, property,  securities or a combination thereof,
with  respect to any shares of its capital  stock,  or  directly  or  indirectly
redeem,  purchase,  retire or otherwise  acquire for value any shares of capital
stock of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary,  or any options,  warrants or
other  rights to acquire such shares of capital  stock,  or set aside any amount
for  any  such  purpose,  or  make  any  payment  pursuant  to any  tax  sharing
arrangement (any such dividend, distribution,  redemption, purchase, retirement,
other  acquisition  or tax sharing  payment  being  referred to as a "Restricted
Payment"), except that:

            (a) any  Subsidiary  may  declare  or pay  dividends  and make other
  distributions  on its capital  stock to, or make tax sharing  payments to, the
  Borrower or to another Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

            (b) the  Borrower  may pay cash  dividends  to, or make tax  sharing
  payments  to,  Holdings in the amounts  and at the times  necessary  to permit
  Holdings to make payments  required to be made by it in respect of federal and
  state income taxes, franchise taxes and any other administrative  governmental
  charges incurred in the ordinary course of business, or to repay loans made by
  the  Borrower  to Holdings  for such  purposes;  provided  that any tax refund
  received by Holdings shall be paid to the Borrower;

            (c) the Borrower  may pay cash  dividends to Holdings in the amounts
  and at the times necessary to permit Holdings to make payments  required to be
  made by it in respect of directors'  fees and expenses,  costs of  maintaining
  its corporate existence, operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of
  business and other similar corporate overhead costs and expenses,  or to repay
  loans made by the Borrower to Holdings for the  foregoing  purposes;  provided
  that the aggregate  amount of dividends  paid in reliance upon this clause (c)
  (excluding  dividends to repay loans made by the  Borrower  for the  foregoing
  purposes), plus the aggregate amount of loans made by the Borrower to Holdings
  for the foregoing purposes, shall not exceed $1,000,000 during any fiscal year
  of the Borrower;

            (d) the Borrower  may pay cash  dividends to Holdings so long as the
  proceeds thereof are used promptly by Holdings to repurchase  shares of common
  stock of  Holdings  from  dealers,  managers  and  employees  of the  Borrower
  pursuant to the terms of any agreements  entered into with the holders of such
  common stock in  connection  with the issuance  thereof;  provided that (i) no
  Default or Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing at the time of, or
  would result from,  such dividend and (ii) the  aggregate  amount of dividends
  paid in reliance upon this clause (d) during any fiscal year of Holdings shall
  not  exceed  the sum of  $1,000,000  plus  the  aggregate  amount  of  capital
  contributions  made by Holdings to the  Borrower  during such fiscal year with
  the net proceeds from the issuance by Holdings to employees of the Borrower of
  additional shares of common stock of Holdings;

            (e) the Borrower  may pay cash  dividends to Holdings so long as the
  proceeds  thereof  are  limited  to  amounts  necessary  to pay,  and are used
  promptly by Holdings to pay, (i) compensation due to employees of the Borrower
  pursuant  to  stock  appreciation  rights,  bonus  plans or  other  equity  or
  incentive  achievement plans for such employees or judgments against Holdings;
  provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at
  the time of, or would result from, such dividend for the purposes  referred to
  in this clause  (i); or (ii)  indemnification  payments  due from  Holdings to
  directors of Holdings;

            (f) during any  fiscal  quarter  (i)  Holdings  may make  Restricted
  Payments in cash that are treated as Designated  Payments and do not result in
  the aggregate amount of Designated Payments made in such quarter exceeding the
  Designated Payment Amount as of the commencement of such quarter, and (ii) the

                                   - 50 -



<PAGE>



  Borrower  may pay cash  dividends  to Holdings in the amounts and at the times
  that Holdings makes Restricted  Payments in accordance with clause (i) of this
  clause (f);  provided  that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
  continuing at the time of, or would result from,  any such  dividends or other
  Restricted Payments; and

            (g)  Holdings  may make  Restricted  Payments in cash not  otherwise
  permitted by this  Section  6.08,  and the Borrower may pay cash  dividends to
  Holdings in the amounts and at the times that Holdings  makes such  Restricted
  Payments; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
  continuing at the time of, or would result from, any such  Restricted  Payment
  and (ii) the  aggregate  (cumulative)  amount of  Restricted  Payments made in
  reliance upon this clause (g) shall not exceed $15,000,000.

            SECTION 6.09. Limitations Regarding Senior Notes. (a) Enter into any
amendment  or  modification  of any of the Senior Note  Documents,  or waive any
rights  thereunder;  provided  that the  foregoing  shall  not  apply to (i) the
amendments and modifications  contemplated by the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (Registration  No.  33-85578),  as amended and in effect on the date hereof,
filed by Holdings  and certain  Subsidiaries  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission (it being understood that amendments to such  Registration  Statement
that  change  the  amount of  compensation  payable  to  consenting  holders  or
disclosure  matters,   but  do  not  affect  the  amendments  and  modifications
contemplated to be made to the Senior Note Documents,  shall not be construed to
affect the ability to make such  amendments and  modifications  pursuant to this
clause  (i)),  and (ii)  amendments,  modifications  and waivers  that could not
reasonably  be  expected  to  adversely  affect the rights or  interests  of the
Lenders.

            (b) Prepay, redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value,
directly or  indirectly,  any of the Senior Notes,  except that the Borrower may
prepay,  redeem or purchase Senior Notes for cash  consideration;  provided that
(i) no Default or Event of Default has  occurred and is  continuing  at the time
of, or would result from, such  prepayment,  redemption or purchase and (ii) any
Senior Notes so acquired shall not be resold or reissued.

            SECTION 6.10. Amendment of Constituent  Documents.  Amend, modify or
change its  certificate  or articles  of  incorporation  (or other  constitutive
documents) or by-laws,  or any  shareholders'  agreement or other agreement with
respect to its capital  stock,  or enter into any new agreement  with respect to
its  capital  stock,  except  any such  amendment,  modification,  change or new
agreement  that could not  reasonably  be  anticipated  to adversely  affect the
rights or  interests of the  Lenders;  or enter into any tax sharing  agreement,
other than  intercompany  tax  sharing  agreements  among any of  Holdings,  the
Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  that do not provide for any payments  that would
not be permitted hereunder if such parties had not entered into such tax sharing
agreements.

            SECTION 6.11. Subsidiaries.  Have any Subsidiaries other than (a) in
the case of Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  and (b) in the case of
the Borrower (i) Subsidiaries that are Wholly Owned Subsidiaries existing on the
Closing Date or created or acquired  after the Closing Date in  compliance  with
this  Agreement or (ii) Non Wholly Owned  Subsidiaries  acquired  after the date
hereof in compliance  with this  Agreement;  provided  that the total  aggregate
amount of all investments in Non Wholly Owned  Subsidiaries  (including  capital
contributions,  loans and advances to such  Subsidiaries)  by Persons other than
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not at any time exceed $10,000,000.

            SECTION 6.12.  Consolidated Net Worth. Permit Consolidated Net Worth
at any  time  to be  less  than  the sum of (a)  $180,000,000,  plus  (b) 50% of
Consolidated Net Income (determined after adjusting such Consolidated Net Income
to add any  non-cash  charges  deducted in  calculating  such  Consolidated  Net
Income,  to the extent  resulting from the grant,  exercise or  cancellation  of
stock  options or  warrants)  for each fiscal  quarter of the Borrower for which
Consolidated Net Income (as so adjusted) is positive, commencing with

                                   - 51 -



<PAGE>



the fiscal  quarter ended  September  30, 1996,  plus (c) 50% of any increase in
Consolidated  Net Worth  after  September  30,  1996,  attributable  to  capital
contributions or the issuance of additional shares of capital stock.

            SECTION 6.13.  Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Permit the
Consolidated  Fixed  Charge  Coverage  Ratio for any period of four  consecutive
fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or after September 30, 1996, to be less
than 2.5 to 1.

            SECTION 6.14.  Leverage Ratio. Permit the Leverage Ratio at any time
to be greater than 0.55 to 1.

            SECTION 6.15.  Fiscal Year.  Permit its fiscal year to end on a date
other than June 30.

            SECTION 6.16. Limitations Regarding Capital Stock. Issue any capital
stock  (including by way of sales of treasury  stock) or any options or warrants
to purchase, or securities  convertible into, capital stock, except (a) Holdings
may issue  additional  shares of its common  stock in  transactions  that do not
result in a Change in Control,  (b) Holdings  may issue  options and warrants to
purchase shares of its common stock pursuant to existing  compensation  plans or
any future  compensation  plans  approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings,
(c) the Borrower may issue  additional  shares of its capital stock to Holdings,
(d) subsidiaries  may issue  additional  shares of capital stock to the Borrower
and (e) to qualify directors to the extent required by applicable law.


ARTICLE VII.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT

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

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

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

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

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

            (e) default shall be made in the due  observance or  performance  by
  Holdings,  the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  of any  covenant,  condition  or
  agreement  contained in any Loan Document  (other than those specified in (b),
  (c) or (d) above) and such default shall  continue  unremedied for a period of
  (i) in the case of a default under Section 5.05, three Business Days after any
  Responsible  Officer  of the  Borrower  has  actual  knowledge  of any  matter
  required to be disclosed to the Administrative  Agent and the Lenders pursuant
  to

                                   - 52 -



<PAGE>



  such  Section  that has not been so disclosed or (ii) in the case of any other
  such default,  30 days after notice thereof from the  Administrative  Agent or
  any Lender to the Borrower;

            (f) Holdings,  the Borrower or any Subsidiary  shall (i) fail to pay
  any  principal  or  interest,  regardless  of  amount,  due in  respect of any
  Indebtedness  in a principal  amount in excess of $5,000,000,  when and as the
  same shall  become  due and  payable,  or (ii) fail to observe or perform  any
  other term,  covenant,  condition or agreement  contained in any  agreement or
  instrument evidencing or governing any such Indebtedness referred to in clause
  (i) if the effect of any failure  referred to in this clause (ii) is to cause,
  or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or a trustee on its or
  their behalf (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both)
  to cause, such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity;

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

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

            (i) one or more  judgments  for the payment of money in an aggregate
  amount  in  excess of  $5,000,000  shall be  rendered  against  Holdings,  the
  Borrower,   any  Subsidiary  (other  than  an  Excluded   Subsidiary)  or  any
  combination  thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30
  consecutive  days during which execution shall not be effectively  stayed,  or
  any action shall be legally  taken by a judgment  creditor to levy upon assets
  or  properties  of  Holdings,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  (other than an
  Excluded Subsidiary) to enforce any such judgment;

            (j) (i) a Reportable  Event or  Reportable  Events,  or a failure to
  make a required  installment  or other payment  (within the meaning of Section
  412(n)(1) of the Code),  shall have occurred with respect to any Plan or Plans
  that  reasonably  could be expected to result in  liability of the Borrower to
  the PBGC or to a Plan in an aggregate amount exceeding  $5,000,000 and, within
  30 days after the reporting of any such Reportable Event to the Administrative
  Agent or after the receipt by the Administrative Agent of a statement required
  pursuant to Section  5.06(b)(iii)  hereof, the Administrative Agent shall have
  notified the  Borrower in writing  that (A) the  Required  Leaders have made a
  determination that, on the basis of such Reportable Event

                                   - 53 -



<PAGE>



  or  Reportable  Events or the  failure to make a required  payment,  there are
  reasonable  grounds for the termination of such Plan or Plans by the PBGC, the
  appointment by the  appropriate  United States  district court of a trustee to
  administer  such Plan or Plans or the  imposition of a lien in favor of a Plan
  and (B) as a result  thereof an Event of Default exists  hereunder;  or (ii) a
  trustee shall be appointed by a United States district court to administer any
  such Plan or Plans; or (iii) the PBGC shall institute  proceedings  (including
  giving notice of intent thereof) to terminate any such Plan or Plans;

            (k) (i) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall have been notified
  by the  sponsor  of a  Multiemployer  Plan  that  it has  incurred  Withdrawal
  Liability  to such  Multiemployer  Plan,  (ii)  the  Borrower  or  such  ERISA
  Affiliate  does not have  reasonable  grounds for contesting  such  Withdrawal
  Liability  or is not  contesting  such  Withdrawal  Liability  in a timely and
  appropriate manner and (iii) the amount of such Withdrawal Liability specified
  in such notice,  when aggregated with all other amounts required to be paid to
  Multiemployer Plans in connection with Withdrawal  Liabilities  (determined as
  of the date or dates of such  notification),  either (A) exceeds $5,000,000 or
  requires  payments  exceeding  $1,000,000  in any  year  or (B) is  less  than
  $5,000,000 but any Withdrawal  Liability  payment remains unpaid 30 days after
  such payment is due;

            (l) the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate shall have been notified by
  the  sponsor  of a  Multiemployer  Plan  that  such  Multiemployer  Plan is in
  reorganization  or is being  terminated,  within  the  meaning  of Title IV of
  ERISA,  if  solely  as a result  of such  reorganization  or  termination  the
  aggregate annual contributions of the Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates to all
  Multiemployer  Plans that are then in reorganization or have been or are being
  terminated  have been or will be  increased  over the  amounts  required to be
  contributed to such Multiemployer Plans for their most recently completed plan
  years by an amount exceeding $1,000,000;

            (m) at any time after the  Closing  Date (i) any  security  interest
  purported to be created by any Security  Document  shall cease to be, or shall
  be  asserted  by the  Borrower  or any  other  Loan  Party not to be, a valid,
  perfected,  first  priority  (except as otherwise  expressly  provided in this
  Agreement or such  Security  Document)  security  interest in the  securities,
  assets or properties covered thereby,  except to the extent that any such loss
  of perfection or priority  results from the failure of the Collateral Agent to
  maintain possession of certificates  representing securities pledged under the
  Pledge  Agreement  and  except to the  extent  that such loss is  covered by a
  lender's title insurance  policy and the related  insurer  promptly after such
  loss shall  have  acknowledged  in  writing  that such loss is covered by such
  title  insurance  policy,  and (ii) the  aggregate  fair  market  value of the
  Collateral affected by the circumstances described in clause (i) above exceeds
  $2,500,000;

            (n) at any time after the  Closing  Date,  the  Guarantee  Agreement
  shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any  Guarantor  not to be, a valid,
  binding and enforceable agreement;

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

            (p) the Borrower shall be required to purchase receivables,  or make
  any payments in respect of  indemnities,  pursuant to a Permitted  Receivables
  Facility or pursuant to a facility that previously was a Permitted Receivables
  Facility,  and the aggregate  amount (in respect of all Permitted  Receivables
  Facilities)  of all such purchases and payments after the Closing Date exceeds
  $5,000,000; or

            (q)  it  is  discovered  that  (i)  Hazardous  Materials  have  been
  transported  from any of the  Properties  or  generated,  treated,  stored  or
  disposed  of at,  on or  under  any of the  Properties  in a  manner  that has
  resulted in, or could reasonably be anticipated to result in, an Environmental
  Claim, or (ii) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has retained or assumed
  any liability,  contractually,  by operation of law or otherwise, with respect
  to the generation, treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Materials, and,
  in any

                                   - 54 -



<PAGE>



  such case  described  in clause (i) or (ii) above,  the  Administrative  Agent
  shall have  notified the  Borrower in writing  that the Required  Lenders have
  determined  that  such  Environmental  Claims  and other  liabilities,  in the
  aggregate,  have resulted in, or could reasonably be anticipated to result in,
  a Material Adverse Effect and, as a result thereof, an Event of Default exists
  hereunder;

then,  and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower
described in paragraph (g) or (h) above),  and at any time thereafter during the
continuance of such event, the  Administrative  Agent may, and at the request of
the Required  Lenders shall,  by notice to the Borrower,  take either or both of
the following actions,  at the same or different times: (i) terminate  forthwith
the Commitments and (ii) declare the Loans then  outstanding to be forthwith due
and  payable  in whole or in  part,  whereupon  the  principal  of the  Loans so
declared to be due and payable,  together with accrued  interest thereon and any
unpaid accrued Fees and all other  liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder
and under any other Loan  Document,  shall  become  forthwith  due and  payable,
without  presentment,  demand,  protest or any other notice of any kind,  all of
which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower,  anything contained herein or
in any other Loan  Document to the  contrary  notwithstanding;  and in any event
with  respect to the  Borrower  described  in  paragraph  (g) or (h) above,  the
Commitments  shall  automatically  terminate and the principal of the Loans then
outstanding,  together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees
and all other  liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other
Loan Document,  including the obligation to provide cash collateral  pursuant to
Section  2.20(j),   shall   automatically   become  due  and  payable,   without
presentment,  demand,  protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby  expressly  waived by the Borrower,  anything  contained herein or in any
other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.


ARTICLE VIII.  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT

            In  order  to  expedite  the   transactions   contemplated  by  this
Agreement, The Chase Manhattan Bank is hereby appointed to act as Administrative
Agent and  Collateral  Agent on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing  Bank (for
purposes of this Article VIII, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent
are  referred to  collectively  as the  "Agents").  Each of the Lenders and each
assignee of any such Lender  hereby  irrevocably  authorizes  the Agents to take
such  actions on behalf of such Lender or  assignee  or the Issuing  Bank and to
exercise  such powers as are  specifically  delegated to the Agents by the terms
and  provisions  hereof  and of the other  Loan  Documents,  together  with such
actions and powers as are  reasonably  incidental  thereto.  The  Administrative
Agent is hereby  expressly  authorized  by the  Lenders  and the  Issuing  Bank,
without hereby limiting any implied  authority,  (a) to receive on behalf of the
Lenders and the Issuing  Bank all  payments of  principal of and interest on the
Loans, all payments in respect of L/C Disbursements and all other amounts due to
the Lenders hereunder,  and promptly to distribute to each Lender or the Issuing
Bank its proper share of each payment so received;  (b) to give notice on behalf
of each of the Lenders to the Borrower of any Event of Default specified in this
Agreement of which the  Administrative  Agent has actual  knowledge  acquired in
connection  with its agency  hereunder;  and (c) to  distribute  to each  Lender
copies of all notices, financial statements and other materials delivered by the
Borrower  pursuant to this  Agreement as received by the  Administrative  Agent.
Without  limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  the  Agents  are  hereby
expressly  authorized to execute any and all documents (including releases) with
respect to the  Collateral  and the rights of the Secured  Parties  with respect
thereto,  as  contemplated  by and in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this
Agreement and the Security Documents.

            Neither the Agents nor any of their respective directors,  officers,
employees  or agents  shall be liable as such for any action taken or omitted by
any of them except for its or his own gross negligence or wilful misconduct,  or
be  responsible  for any  statement,  warranty or  representation  herein or the
contents of any document  delivered in  connection  herewith,  or be required to
ascertain or to make any inquiry concerning the performance or observance by the
Borrower or any other Loan Party of any of the terms,  conditions,  covenants or
agreements  contained in any Loan Document.  The Agents shall not be responsible
to the Lenders for the due

                                   - 55 -



<PAGE>



execution,  genuineness,  validity,  enforceability  or  effectiveness  of  this
Agreement or any other Loan Documents or other  instruments  or agreements.  The
Agents  shall in all cases be fully  protected  in acting,  or  refraining  from
acting, in accordance with written  instructions  signed by the Required Lenders
and, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, such instructions and any
action or inaction  pursuant  thereto shall be binding on all the Lenders.  Each
Agent shall, in the absence of knowledge to the contrary, be entitled to rely on
any  instrument  or  document  believed  by it in good faith to be  genuine  and
correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons. Neither
the Agents nor any of their respective directors,  officers, employees or agents
shall have any responsibility to the Borrower or any other Loan Party on account
of the failure of or delay in performance or breach by any Lender or the Issuing
Bank of any of its obligations hereunder or to any Lender or the Issuing Bank on
account of the failure of or delay in  performance or breach by any other Lender
or the  Issuing  Bank or the  Borrower  or any other  Loan Party of any of their
respective  obligations  hereunder  or  under  any  other  Loan  Document  or in
connection  herewith  or  therewith.  Each of the Agents may execute any and all
duties hereunder by or through agents or employees and shall be entitled to rely
upon the advice of legal  counsel  selected  by it with  respect to all  matters
arising  hereunder  and shall not be liable for any action  taken or suffered in
good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel.

            The Lenders hereby acknowledge that neither Agent shall be under any
duty to take any  discretionary  action  permitted to be taken by it pursuant to
the provisions of this  Agreement  unless it shall be requested in writing to do
so by the Required Lenders.

            Subject to the  appointment  and acceptance of a successor  Agent as
provided below, either Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and
the Borrower.  Upon any such  resignation,  the Required  Lenders shall have the
right to appoint a successor  reasonably  acceptable  to the  Borrower (it being
understood  that any Lender is deemed to be acceptable to the  Borrower).  If no
successor  shall have been so appointed  by the Required  Lenders and shall have
accepted such  appointment  within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice
of its  resignation,  then the  retiring  Agent may,  on behalf of the  Lenders,
appoint a  successor  Agent  reasonably  acceptable  to the  Borrower  (it being
understood  that any Lender is deemed to be acceptable  to the  Borrower)  which
shall be either a Lender or a bank with an office in New York, New York,  having
a combined  capital and surplus of at least  $500,000,000 or an Affiliate of any
such bank.  Upon the  acceptance  of any  appointment  as Agent  hereunder  by a
successor  bank,  such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the
rights,  powers,  privileges  and duties of the retiring  Agent and the retiring
Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations  hereunder.  After the
Agent's resignation  hereunder,  the provisions of this Article and Section 9.05
shall  continue  in effect for its  benefit in respect of any  actions  taken or
omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Agent.

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

            Each Lender  agrees (i) to reimburse the Agents,  on demand,  in the
amount of its Pro Rata  Percentage  of any expenses  incurred for the benefit of
the Lenders by the Agents, including counsel fees and compensation of agents and
employees paid for services  rendered on behalf of the Lenders,  which shall not
have been  reimbursed  by the Borrower and (ii) to indemnify  and hold  harmless
each Agent and any of its directors,  officers,  employees or agents, on demand,
in the  amount  of such  Pro  Rata  Percentage,  from  and  against  any and all
liabilities, taxes, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits,  costs,  expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which
may be imposed on,  incurred by or asserted  against it in its capacity as Agent
or any of them in any way  relating to or arising out of this  Agreement  or any
other Loan  Document  or any action  taken or omitted by it or any of them under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, to the extent the same shall not have
been reimbursed by the Borrower; provided that no Lender

                                   - 56 -



<PAGE>



shall be liable to an Agent for any  portion of such  liabilities,  obligations,
losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses or
disbursements  resulting from the gross negligence or wilful  misconduct of such
Agent or any of its directors, officers, employees or agents.

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


ARTICLE IX.  MISCELLANEOUS

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

            (a) if to the  Borrower or  Holdings,  to it at Ethan  Allen  Drive,
Danbury,  CT 06811,  Attention of Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer (Telecopy
No.  (203)  743-8341),  with  copies  to (i)  in  the  case  of  any  notice  or
communication  other than routine notices and  communications  under Article II,
the attention of General  Counsel at the aforesaid  address and (ii) in the case
of any notice or  communication  relating  to a Default or an Event of  Default,
Mayer, Brown & Platt, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, Attention of James
B. Carlson, Esq. (Telecopy No. (212) 262-1910);

            (b) if to the Administrative Agent, to The Chase Manhattan Bank Loan
and Agency Services Group,  One Chase Manhattan  Plaza,  8th Floor, New York, NY
10081, Attention of Hilma Gabbidon (Telecopy No. (212) 552-7500), with a copy to
The Chase Manhattan Bank, at 270 Park Avenue, New York 10017,  Attention of Neil
R. Boylan (Telecopy No. (212) 972-0009); and

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

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

            SECTION 9.02.  Survival of  Agreement.  All  covenants,  agreements,
representations  and warranties  made by the Borrower or Holdings  herein and in
the certificates or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in connection with
or pursuant to this  Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to
have been relied upon by the Lenders and the Issuing Bank and shall  survive the
making by the Lenders of the Loans and the  issuance of Letters of Credit by the
Issuing Bank, regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders or the Issuing
Bank or on their behalf,  and shall continue in full force and effect as long as
the  principal  of or any  accrued  interest on any Loan or any Fee or any other
amount  payable under this  Agreement or any other Loan Document is  outstanding
and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments
have not been terminated.


                                   - 57 -



<PAGE>



            SECTION 9.03. Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall become effective
when  it  shall  have  been   executed  by  the   Borrower,   Holdings  and  the
Administrative  Agent and when the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received
counterparts  hereof which, when taken together,  bear the signatures of each of
the other  parties  hereto,  and the  conditions to  effectiveness  set forth in
Section 4.02 have been satisfied or waived, and thereafter shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties  hereto and their  respective  permitted
successors and assigns.

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

            (b) Each Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion
of its interests,  rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or
a portion of its  Commitment  and the Loans at the time owing to it);  provided,
however,  that  (i)  except  in the  case of an  assignment  to a  Lender  or an
Affiliate of such Lender, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (and, in the
case of any assignment of a Revolving  Credit  Commitment,  the Issuing Bank and
the Swingline  Lender) must give their prior written  consent to such assignment
(which  consent  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld),  (ii) the  amount of the
Commitment of the assigning  Lender subject to each such assignment of less than
all its Commitment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with
respect to such assignment is delivered to the  Administrative  Agent) shall not
be less than $5,000,000, (iii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute
and deliver to the Administrative  Agent an Assignment and Acceptance,  together
with a processing  and  recordation  fee of $3,500 and (iv) the assignee,  if it
shall  not  be  a  Lender,   shall  deliver  to  the  Administrative   Agent  an
Administrative   Questionnaire.   Upon  acceptance  and  recording  pursuant  to
paragraph (e) of this Section 9.04,  from and after the effective date specified
in each Assignment and  Acceptance,  which effective date shall be at least five
Business Days after the execution thereof,  (A) the assignee thereunder shall be
a party  hereto and, to the extent of the interest  assigned by such  Assignment
and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement
and (B) the assigning  Lender  thereunder  shall,  to the extent of the interest
assigned by such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  be released from its  obligations
under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance  covering
all or the remaining  portion of an assigning  Lender's  rights and  obligations
under this  Agreement,  such Lender  shall cease to be a party  hereto but shall
continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11,  2.13,  2.17 and 9.05,
as well as to any Fees accrued for its account and not yet paid).

            (c) By executing and  delivering an Assignment and  Acceptance,  the
assigning  Lender  thereunder  and the  assignee  thereunder  shall be deemed to
confirm to and agree with each other and the other  parties  hereto as  follows:
(i) such assigning  Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of
the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that
its Revolving Credit  Commitment,  and the outstanding  balance of its Revolving
Loans, in each case without giving effect to assignments  thereof which have not
become  effective,  are as set forth in such  Assignment  and  Acceptance,  (ii)
except as set forth in (i) above,  such assigning Lender makes no representation
or  warranty  and  assumes no  responsibility  with  respect to any  statements,
warranties or representations  made in or in connection with this Agreement,  or
the execution, legality, validity, enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency or
value of this  Agreement,  any other Loan  Document or any other  instrument  or
document furnished  pursuant hereto, or the financial  condition of the Borrower
or any  Subsidiary  or the  performance  or  observance  by the  Borrower or any
Subsidiary  of any of its  obligations  under  this  Agreement,  any other  Loan
Document or any other instrument or document  furnished  pursuant hereto;  (iii)
such assignee  represents  and warrants  that it is legally  authorized to enter
into such  Assignment and  Acceptance;  (iv) such assignee  confirms that it has
received  a copy of this  Agreement,  together  with  copies of the most  recent
financial statements,  if any, delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 and such other
documents and  information  as it has deemed  appropriate to make its own credit
analysis and decision to enter into such  Assignment  and  Acceptance;  (v) such
assignee will independently and without reliance upon the

                                   - 58 -



<PAGE>



Administrative  Agent, the Collateral  Agent, such assigning Lender or any other
Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem  appropriate
at the time,  continue to make its own credit  decisions in taking or not taking
action under this  Agreement;  (vi) such assignee  appoints and  authorizes  the
Administrative  Agent and the  Collateral  Agent to take such action as agent on
its behalf and to exercise such powers under this  Agreement as are delegated to
the Administrative  Agent and the Collateral Agent,  respectively,  by the terms
hereof,  together with such powers as are  reasonably  incidental  thereto;  and
(vii) such assignee  agrees that it will perform in accordance  with their terms
all the  obligations  which by the terms of this  Agreement  are  required to be
performed by it as a Lender.

            (d) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of
the  Borrower,  shall  maintain  at one of its offices in The City of New York a
copy of each  Assignment and  Acceptance  delivered to it and a register for the
recordation  of the names and addresses of the Lenders,  and the  Commitment of,
and  principal  amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender  pursuant to the terms
hereof from time to time (the "Register").  The entries in the Register shall be
conclusive and the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing Bank, the
Collateral Agent and the Lenders may treat each person whose name is recorded in
the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes
of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be
available for inspection by the Borrower, the Issuing Bank, the Collateral Agent
and any Lender,  at any  reasonable  time and from time to time upon  reasonable
prior notice.

            (e) Upon its receipt of a duly  completed  Assignment and Acceptance
executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire
completed in respect of the assignee  (unless the  assignee  shall  already be a
Lender  hereunder),  the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph
(b) above and, if required,  the written consent of the Borrower,  the Swingline
Lender,  the Issuing Bank and the Administrative  Agent to such assignment,  the
Administrative  Agent  shall (i) accept such  Assignment  and  Acceptance,  (ii)
record the information  contained  therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt
notice  thereof to the Lenders,  the Issuing Bank and the Swingline  Lender.  No
assignment  shall be  effective  unless it has been  recorded in the Register as
provided in this paragraph (e).

            (f) Each  Lender  may  without  the  consent  of the  Borrower,  the
Swingline   Lender,   the  Issuing  Bank  or  the   Administrative   Agent  sell
participations to one or more banks or other entities in all or a portion of its
rights and obligations  under this Agreement  (including all or a portion of its
Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender's
obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged,  (ii) such Lender shall
remain solely  responsible  to the other parties  hereto for the  performance of
such  obligations,  (iii) the  participating  banks or other  entities  shall be
entitled to the benefit of the cost protection  provisions contained in Sections
2.11,  2.13 and 2.17 to the same  extent  as if they were  Lenders  and (iv) the
Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing  Bank and the Lenders  shall
continue to deal solely and directly  with such Lender in  connection  with such
Lender's  rights and  obligations  under this  Agreement,  and such Lender shall
retain the sole right to enforce the obligations of the Borrower relating to the
Loans or L/C Disbursements and to approve any amendment,  modification or waiver
of any provision of this  Agreement  (other than  amendments,  modifications  or
waivers  decreasing any fees payable  hereunder or the amount of principal of or
the rate at which  interest  is payable on the Loans,  extending  any  scheduled
principal  payment  date or date fixed for the payment of interest on the Loans,
changing or extending the Commitments or releasing all or substantially  all the
Collateral).

            (g) Any Lender or participant may, in connection with any assignment
or  participation  or  proposed  assignment  or  participation  pursuant to this
Section 9.04,  disclose to the assignee or participant  or proposed  assignee or
participant any information  relating to any Loan Party furnished to such Lender
by or on behalf of the Borrower;  provided that, prior to any such disclosure of
information  designated by the Borrower as  confidential,  each such assignee or
participant  or proposed  assignee or  participant  shall  execute an  agreement
whereby  such  assignee  or  participant   shall  agree  (subject  to  customary
exceptions) to preserve the confidentiality

                                   - 59 -



<PAGE>



of such  confidential  information  on  terms  no less  restrictive  than  those
applicable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 9.16.

            (h) Any  Lender  may at any time  assign  all or any  portion of its
rights under this  Agreement to a Federal  Reserve Bank to secure  extensions of
credit  by such  Federal  Reserve  Bank to such  Lender;  provided  that no such
assignment  shall  release a Lender  from any of its  obligations  hereunder  or
substitute  any  such  Bank  for  such  Lender  as a party  hereto.  In order to
facilitate  such an assignment to a Federal Reserve Bank, the Borrower shall, at
the request of the assigning  Lender,  duly execute and deliver to the assigning
Lender a promissory  note or notes  evidencing the Loans made to the Borrower by
the assigning Lender hereunder.

            (i) Neither  Holdings nor the Borrower  shall assign or delegate any
of its  rights or duties  hereunder  without  the prior  written  consent of the
Administrative  Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank and each  Lender,  and any  attempted
assignment without such consent shall be null and void.

            (j) In the event  that S&P,  Moody's  or  Thompson's  BankWatch  (or
InsuranceWatch  Ratings  Service,  in the case of  Lenders  that  are  insurance
companies (or Best's Insurance  Reports,  if such insurance company is not rated
by  Insurance  Watch  Ratings  Service))  shall,  after the date that any Lender
becomes a Lender,  downgrade the long-term  certificate  deposit ratings of such
Lender, and the resulting ratings shall be below BBB-, Baa3 and C (or BB, in the
case of a Lender that is an insurance company (or B, in the case of an insurance
company not rated by InsuranceWatch Ratings Service)),  then the Issuing Bank or
the Swingline  Lender shall have the right,  but not the obligation,  at its own
expense, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, to replace (or
to request the Borrower to use its  reasonable  efforts to replace)  such Lender
with an assignee (in accordance with and subject to the  restrictions  contained
in paragraph  (b) above),  and such Lender  hereby agrees to transfer and assign
without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the  restrictions  contained
in paragraph (b) above) all its interests,  rights and obligations in respect of
its Revolving Credit Commitment to such assignee; provided, however, that (i) no
such assignment shall conflict with any law, rule and regulation or order of any
Governmental Authority and (ii) the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender or such
assignee,  as the case may be, shall pay to such Lender in immediately available
funds on the date of such  assignment  the principal of and interest  accrued to
the date of  payment on the Loans made by such  Lender  hereunder  and all other
amounts accrued for such Lender's account or owed to it hereunder.

            SECTION 9.05.  Expenses;  Indemnity.  (a) The Borrower agrees to pay
all out-of-pocket  expenses reasonably incurred by the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral  Agent,  the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender in connection with
the  preparation  and  administration  of  this  Agreement  and the  other  Loan
Documents or in connection with any amendments,  modifications or waivers of the
provisions   hereof  or  thereof  (whether  or  not  the   transactions   hereby
contemplated shall be consummated) or incurred by the Administrative  Agent, the
Collateral  Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank or any  Lender  in  connection  with  the
enforcement or protection of their rights in connection  with this Agreement and
the other  Loan  Documents  or in  connection  with the Loans made or Letters of
Credit  issued   hereunder,   including  the   reasonable   fees,   charges  and
disbursements of Cravath,  Swaine & Moore,  counsel for the Administrative Agent
and the  Collateral  Agent,  and, in  connection  with any such  enforcement  or
protection,  the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of not more than one
other counsel for the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral  Agent, the Issuing
Bank and the Lenders in each jurisdiction where enforcement is sought.

            (b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the  Administrative  Agent, the
Collateral Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank, each Affiliate of any of the
foregoing persons and each of their respective  directors,  officers,  employees
and agents (each such person being called an "Indemnitee")  against, and to hold
each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages,  liabilities
and  related  expenses,   including   reasonable   counsel  fees,   charges  and
disbursements, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in
any way connected  with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this
Agreement or any other

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<PAGE>



Loan  Document  or  any  agreement  or  instrument   contemplated  thereby,  the
performance by the parties thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or
the  consummation of the Transactions  and the other  transactions  contemplated
thereby,  (ii) the use of the  proceeds  of the Loans or  issuance of Letters of
Credit, (iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any
of the foregoing,  whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto, or (iv) any
actual or alleged  presence or Release of  Hazardous  Materials  on any property
owned  or  operated  by  the  Borrower  or  any  of  the  Subsidiaries,  or  any
Environmental  Claim  related in any way to the  Borrower  or the  Subsidiaries;
provided that such indemnity  shall not, as to any  Indemnitee,  be available to
the extent that such losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities or related expenses
resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

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

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

            SECTION  9.07.  APPLICABLE  LAW.  THIS  AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN LETTERS OF CREDIT AND AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.  EACH  LETTER OF CREDIT  SHALL BE  GOVERNED  BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH,  THE LAWS OR RULES  DESIGNATED IN SUCH LETTER OF
CREDIT,  OR IF NO SUCH LAWS OR RULES ARE  DESIGNATED,  THE  UNIFORM  CUSTOMS AND
PRACTICE FOR  DOCUMENTARY  CREDITS  (1993  REVISION),  INTERNATIONAL  CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE,  PUBLICATION  NO. 500 (THE "UNIFORM  CUSTOMS")  AND, AS TO MATTERS NOT
GOVERNED BY THE UNIFORM CUSTOMS, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

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

                                   - 61 -



<PAGE>



any case shall  entitle the Borrower or Holdings to any other or further  notice
or demand in similar or other circumstances.

            (b)  Neither  this  Agreement,  the other  Loan  Documents,  nor any
provision  thereof  may be waived,  amended or  modified  except  pursuant to an
agreement or  agreements in writing  entered into by the Borrower,  Holdings and
the  Required  Lenders;  provided,  however,  that no such  agreement  shall (i)
decrease the  principal  amount of, or extend the  maturity of or any  scheduled
principal  payment  date or date for the payment of any  interest on any Loan or
any date for reimbursement of an L/C  Disbursement,  or waive or excuse any such
payment or any part thereof, or decrease the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C
Disbursement, without the prior written consent of each Lender affected thereby,
(ii) change or extend the  Commitment or decrease or extend the date for payment
of any of the Fees of any  Lender  without  the prior  written  consent  of such
Lender,  or (iii) amend or modify the  provisions  of Section 2.14 or 2.15,  the
provisions  of  this  Section,  the  definition  of  "Required  Lenders"  or any
provision of any Loan Document that by its terms expressly  requires the consent
or approval of all the Lenders,  or release all or any  substantial  part of the
Collateral,  without the prior written consent of each Lender;  provided further
that no such  agreement  shall amend,  modify or otherwise  affect the rights or
duties of the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral  Agent, the Issuing Bank or
the  Swingline  Lender  hereunder or under any other Loan  Document  without the
prior written consent of the  Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent, the
Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender.

            SECTION 9.09.  Interest Rate  Limitation.  Notwithstanding  anything
herein to the contrary,  if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan
or participation in any L/C  Disbursement,  together with all fees,  charges and
other  amounts  which are treated as interest on such Loan or  participation  in
such L/C Disbursement  under applicable law (collectively the "Charges"),  shall
exceed the maximum lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which may be contracted for,
charged,  taken,  received  or  reserved  by the  Lender  holding  such  Loan or
participation in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in
respect  of such Loan or  participation  hereunder,  together  with all  Charges
payable in respect  thereof,  shall be limited to the  Maximum  Rate and, to the
extent lawful,  the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect
of such Loan or participation  but were not payable as a result of the operation
of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges  payable to such
Lender in respect of other Loans or participations or periods shall be increased
(but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount,  together
with  interest  thereon  at the  Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate to the  date of
repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

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

            SECTION 9.11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES,
TO THE FULLEST  EXTENT  PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE  LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A
TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY  LITIGATION  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY  ARISING OUT
OF,  UNDER  OR IN  CONNECTION  WITH  THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY OF THE  OTHER  LOAN
DOCUMENTS.  EACH PARTY HERETO (A)  CERTIFIES  THAT NO  REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR
ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,  THAT SUCH
OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING
WAIVER  AND (B)  ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO  HAVE BEEN
INDUCED  TO  ENTER  INTO  THIS  AGREEMENT  AND  THE  OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS,  AS
APPLICABLE,  BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,  THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND  CERTIFICATIONS  IN
THIS SECTION 9.11.


                                   - 62 -



<PAGE>



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

            SECTION  9.13.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in
counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different  counterparts),  each
of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall
constitute a single contract,  and shall become effective as provided in Section
9.03.  Delivery of an executed  signature  page to this  Agreement  by facsimile
transmission  shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

            SECTION  9.16.   Confidentiality.   The  Administrative  Agent,  the
Collateral  Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank and each of the  Lenders  agrees  to keep
confidential  (and to use its best  efforts to cause its  respective  agents and
representatives to keep confidential) the Information (as defined below) and all
copies  thereof,  extracts  therefrom  and  analyses  or other  materials  based
thereon, except that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing
Bank or any Lender shall be permitted to disclose Information (a) to such of its
respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives as need to
know such Information,  (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority,
(c) to the extent  otherwise  required by applicable  laws and regulations or by
any subpoena or similar legal process,  (d) in connection with any suit,  action
or proceeding  relating to the enforcement of its rights  hereunder or under the
other Loan  Documents,  (e) to any other party to this  Agreement  or (f) to the
extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of
a

                                   - 63 -



<PAGE>



breach of this Agreement or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative  Agent,
the Issuing Bank, any Lender or the Collateral Agent on a nonconfidential  basis
from a source  other than the  Borrower or  Holdings.  For the  purposes of this
Section,  "Information"  shall  mean  all  financial  statements,  certificates,
reports,  agreements and information  (including all analyses,  compilations and
studies prepared by the Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing
Bank or any Lender based on any of the  foregoing)  that are  received  from the
Borrower or Holdings and related to the Borrower or Holdings, any shareholder of
the Borrower or Holdings or any  employee,  customer or supplier of the Borrower
or  Holdings,  other  than  any of the  foregoing  that  were  available  to the
Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a
nonconfidential  basis  prior  to its  disclosure  thereto  by the  Borrower  or
Holdings,  and  which  are in the case of  Information  provided  after the date
hereof,  clearly  identified  at the  time  of  delivery  as  confidential.  The
provisions  of this Section 9.16 shall  remain  operative  and in full force and
effect regardless of the expiration and term of this Agreement.

            SECTION 9.17.  Release of Collateral.  Notwithstanding  any contrary
provision  herein or in any other Loan  Document,  the  Collateral  Agent  shall
acknowledge  the  termination  of the Security  Documents and, at the Borrower's
expense, release the Collateral from the Liens and security interests thereunder
at such time as (a) the Senior  Notes are rated Baa3 (or  better) by Moody's and
BBB- (or better) by S&P and (b) no Default or Event of Default has  occurred and
is continuing. For purposes of the foregoing, the Collateral Agent may rely upon
a certificate  signed by a Financial  Officer of the Borrower as to satisfaction
of the  conditions  set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of the preceding  sentence,
attaching  letters or other  communications  from Moody's and S&P confirming the
matters set forth in such clause (a). Any such termination and release shall not
require the consent of any Lender.  Any such release  shall be without  recourse
to, or  representation  or  warranty  by, the  Collateral  Agent.  Upon any such
termination  and release,  the  representations,  warranties  and  agreements of
Holdings and the Borrower  hereunder with respect to the Security  Documents and
the Collateral,  including those set forth in Section 3.19, Section 5.09 (except
with respect to the Guarantee  Agreement)  and clause (m) of Article VII,  shall
cease to have any force and effect.

            SECTION 9.18.  Defaulting Lender. If any Lender shall refuse to make
any Loan required to be made by it hereunder or to fund its participation in any
L/C  Disbursement or Swingline Loan  hereunder,  or shall notify the Borrower or
the  Administrative  Agent in  writing  that it does not intend to make any such
Loan or fund any such participation,  in either case as a result of any takeover
of such  Lender by any  regulatory  authority  or agency  (any  such  Lender,  a
"Defaulting Lender"),  then, unless and until such Defaulting Lender retracts in
writing  any such  notice and cures all  defaults  on its part in respect of the
funding of its Pro Rata Percentage of all outstanding  Loans, L/C  Disbursements
and Swingline  Loans,  (a) any of the Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent, the
Issuing  Bank and the  Swingline  Lender may require such  Defaulting  Lender to
transfer  and assign all of its  interests,  rights and  obligations  under this
Agreement  to an  assignee  in the same manner and effect as provided in Section
2.18(a),  the  provisions of which shall apply,  mutatis  mutandis,  to any such
assignment,  (b) such  Defaulting  Lender  shall not be entitled to exercise any
right of setoff under  Section 9.06 and (c) to the maximum  extent  permitted by
applicable law, such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a "Lender", the
Revolving Credit  Commitment of such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be
in effect and such Defaulting Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure shall be deemed
not to exist,  in each case solely for  purposes of the  definition  of the term
"Required Lenders" and determining whether any waiver, amendment or modification
has been  approved by the requisite  Lenders in accordance  with Section 9.08 or
any other  applicable  provision  of the Loan  Documents.  In no event shall the
provisions  of this Section be construed to release any  Defaulting  Lender from
its obligations  hereunder to any other party hereto,  including its obligations
to make Loans and participate in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans, and such
provisions shall not prejudice any claims,  or be construed to waive any rights,
including any rights to bring legal proceedings  against such Defaulting Lender,
which the  Administrative  Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any Loan Party
may have  against  such  Defaulting  Lender as a result of any  failure  by such
Defaulting Lender to honor its obligations under this Agreement.


                                   - 64 -



<PAGE>



            SECTION 9.19.  Release of Mortgages.  The Lenders  hereby consent to
the  discharge and release of the  Mortgaged  Properties  from the Liens created
under  the  Mortgages.  Promptly  after  the  Restatement  Effective  Date,  the
Collateral Agent shall (at the Borrower's  expense) take all necessary  actions,
including but not limited to the execution and filing of mortgage  releases,  as
the Borrower shall reasonably request to effectuate such discharge and release.


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


ETHAN ALLEN INC.,

    by
         /s/ M. Farooq Kathwari
      Name:  M. Farooq Kathwari
      Title:   President


ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.,

    by
         /s/ M. Farooq Kathwari
      Name:  M. Farooq Kathwari
      Title:   President


THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, individually
and as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and
Swingline Lender,

    by
         /s/ Neil R. Boylan
      Name:  Neil R. Boylan
      Title:   Vice President


BANK OF MONTREAL,

    by
         /s/ Glen Pole
      Name: Glen Pole
      Title:  Director



                                   - 65 -



<PAGE>



THE BANK OF NEW YORK,

    by
         /s/ Howard F. Bascom, Jr.
      Name:  Howard F. Bascom, Jr.
      Title:   Vice President


THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON,

    by
         /s/ Harvey H. Thayer, Jr.
      Name:  Harvey H. Thayer, Jr.
      Title:   Director


FLEET NATIONAL BANK,

    by
         /s/ Gerald G. Sheehan
      Name:  Gerald G. Sheehan
      Title:   AVP


THE FUJI BANK, LIMITED, NEW YORK
BRANCH,

    by
         /s/ Masanobu Kobayashi
      Name:  Masanobu Kobayashi
      Title:   Vice President & Manager


MERITA BANK LTD, NEW YORK BRANCH,

    by
         /s/ Charles Foster
      Name:  Charles Foster
      Title:   VP


    by
         /s/ John Kehnle
      Name: John Kehnle
      Title:   Vice President



                                   - 66 -



<PAGE>


SAKURA BANK,

    by
         /s/ Toshikazu Nagura
      Name:   Toshikazu Nagura
      Title:   Vice President


SANWA BANK,

    by
         /s/ Christian Kambour
      Name: Christian Kambour
      Title:  Assistant Vice President


WACHOVIA BANK, [of Georgia]

    by
         /s/ James McCreary
      Name: James McCreary
      Title:  SVP


YASUDA TRUST & BANKING CO., LTD.,

    by
         /s/ Rohn Laudenschlager
      Name: Rohn Laudenschlager
      Title:  Senior Vice President

                                   - 67 -



<PAGE>


                                                                     EXHIBIT A


                         ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

Please accurately  complete the following  information and return via FAX to the
attention of Sandra Miklave at the Loan and Agency  Services  Group,  as soon as
possible.

FAX Number: 212-552-5658

LEGAL NAME TO APPEAR IN DOCUMENTATION:

GENERAL INFORMATION - DOMESTIC LENDING OFFICE:
Institution Name:_______________________________________________________________
Street Address:_________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code:__________________________________________________________

GENERAL INFORMATION - EURODOLLAR LENDING OFFICE:
Institution Name:_______________________________________________________________
Street Address:_________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code:__________________________________________________________

CONTRACTS/NOTIFICATION METHODS:

CREDIT CONTACTS:
Primary Contact:________________________________________________________________
Street Address:_________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code:__________________________________________________________
Phone Number:___________________________________________________________________
FAX Number:_____________________________________________________________________
Backup Contact:_________________________________________________________________
Street Address:_________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code:__________________________________________________________
Phone Number:___________________________________________________________________
FAX Number:_____________________________________________________________________

TAX WITHHOLDING:

      Non Resident Alien       ____  Y    ____  N
      * Form 4224 Enclosed


                                    -1-



<PAGE>



      Tax ID Number

CONTACTS/NOTIFICATION METHODS:

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACTS--BORROWINGS, PAYDOWNS, INTEREST, FEES, ETC.
Contact:________________________________________________________________________
Street Address:_________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code:__________________________________________________________
Phone Number:___________________________________________________________________
FAX Number:_____________________________________________________________________

BID LOAN NOTIFICATION:
Contact:________________________________________________________________________
Street Address:_________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code:__________________________________________________________
Phone Number:___________________________________________________________________
FAX Number:_____________________________________________________________________

PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS:
Name of Bank where funds are to be transferred:_________________________________
Routing Transit/ABA number of Bank where funds are to be transferred:___________
Name of Account, if applicable:_________________________________________________
Account Number:_________________________________________________________________
Additional Information:_________________________________________________________

MAILINGS:
Please specify who should receive financial information:________________________
Name:___________________________________________________________________________
Street Address:_________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip Code:__________________________________________________________


                                    -2-



<PAGE>



It is very important that all of the above  information is accurately  filled in
and  returned  promptly.  If there is  someone  other than  yourself  who should
receive this questionnaire, please notify us of their name and FAX number and we
will FAX them a copy of the  questionnaire.  If you have any  questions,  please
call me at 212-552-7953.



                                    -3-



<PAGE>



                                                                     EXHIBIT B



                                   [FORM OF]

                           ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

      Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
December 4, 1996 (the  "Credit  Agreement"),  among Ethan Allen Inc., a Delaware
corporation,  as borrower  (the  "Borrower"),  Ethan  Allen  Interiors  Inc.,  a
Delaware corporation ("Holdings"),  the financial institutions named therein, as
lenders (the "Lenders"),  the Issuing Bank (such term and each other capitalized
term used but not defined  herein  shall have the meaning  assigned to it in the
Credit  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  as  applicable)  and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as administrative  agent (in such capacity,  the "Administrative
Agent"), for the Lenders.

      1. The  Assignor  hereby  sells  and  assigns,  without  recourse,  to the
Assignee, and the Assignee hereby pur chases and assumes, without recourse, from
the Assignor,  effective as of the Effective Date set forth below, the interests
set  forth  below  (the  "Assigned  Interest")  in  the  Assignor's  rights  and
obligations  under the Credit  Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,  the
percentages and amounts set forth below of (i) the Revolving  Credit  Commitment
of the Assignor on the Effective  Date,  (ii) the  Revolving  Loans owing to the
Assignor  which are out standing on the  Effective  Date,  together  with unpaid
interest  accrued on such assigned  Revolving Loans to the Effective Date, (iii)
participations  in Letters of Credit  acquired  from the Issuing  Bank which are
outstanding  on the  Effective  Date,  (iv)  participations  in Swingline  Loans
acquired from the Swingline  Lender which are  outstanding on the Effective Date
and (v) the Fees accrued to the Effective  Date for the account of the Assignor.
Each of the Assignor and the Assignee hereby makes and agrees to be bound by all
the representations,  warranties and agree ments set forth in Section 9.04(c) of
the Credit Agreement, a copy of which has been received by each such party. From
and after the Effective  Date (x) the Assignee  shall be a party to and be bound
by the  provisions of the Credit  Agreement  and, to the extent of the interests
assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance,  have the rights and obli gations of
a Lender  thereunder and under the Loan Documents and (y) the Assignor shall, to
the  extent  of the inter  ests  assigned  by this  Assignment  and  Acceptance,
relinquish  its rights and be  released  from its  obligations  under the Credit
Agreement.

     2. This Assignment and Acceptance is being delivered to the  Administrative
Agent  together  with  (i) if the  Assignee  is  organized  under  the laws of a
jurisdiction  outside the United States,  the forms specified in Section 2.17(g)
of the Credit Agreement,  duly completed and executed by such Assignee,  (ii) if
the  Assignee  is  not  already  a  Lender  under  the  Credit   Agreement,   an
Administrative  Questionnaire  in the form of Exhibit A to the Credit  Agreement
and (iii) a processing and recordation fee of $3,500.

     3. This  Assignment and  Acceptance  shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

      Date of Assignment:_______________________________________________________

      Legal Name of Assignor:___________________________________________________

      Legal Name of Assignee:___________________________________________________

      Assignee's Address for Notices:___________________________________________

      Effective Date of Assignment
      (may not be fewer than 5 Business
      Days after the Date of Assignment):_______________________________________


                                    -1-



<PAGE>




                                                      Percentage   Assigned   of
                                                      Revolving           Credit
                                                      Commitment  and  Revolving
                                                      Credit    Exposure    (set
                                                      forth,   to  at   least  8
                                                      decimals,  as a percentage
                                                      of the aggregate Revolving
                                                      Credit Commitments
Commitment                Principal Amount Assigned   of all Lenders thereunder)
- ----------                -------------------------   --------------------------

Revolving Credit:               $____________              ____________%
Fees Assigned (if any):         $____________              ____________%




The terms set forth above are
hereby agreed to:


________________, as Assignor,


By:___________________________

Name:_________________________

Title:________________________


________________, as Assignor,


By:___________________________

Name:_________________________

Title:________________________




                                    -2-



<PAGE>




                                Consented to by:
                         ETHAN ALLEN INC., if required,

                                         By:___________________________

                                         Name:_________________________

                                         Title:________________________


                                         THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, if
                                         required, as Administrative Agent,
                                         Swingline Lender and Collateral Agent,


                                         By:___________________________

                                         Name:_________________________

                                         Title:________________________


                                    -3-



<PAGE>



                                                                     EXHIBIT C



                                   [FORM OF]
                               BORROWING REQUEST



The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders referred to below,
c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank
   1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, 8th Floor
   New York, NY 10081

                                                                        [Date]

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

      The  undersigned,   Ethan  Allen  Inc.  (the  "Company"),  refers  to  the
$100,000,000 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 4, 1996
(as amended or modified from time to time, the "Agreement"),  among the Company,
Ethan Allen  Interiors Inc., the Lenders parties thereto and The Chase Manhattan
Bank,  as   Administrative   Agent,   Collateral  Agent  and  Swingline  Lender.
Capitalized  terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in the Agreement.

      The  Company  hereby  gives you notice  pursuant  to  Section  2.03 of the
Agreement  that  it  requests  a  Borrowing  under  the  Agreement,  and in that
connection sets forth below the terms on which such Borrowing is requested to be
made:

(A) Date of Borrowing (which is a Business Day)
                                                       -------------
(B) Principal amount of Borrowing1/
                                                       -------------
(C) Interest rate basis2/
                                                       -------------
(D) Interest Period and the last day thereof3/
                                                       -------------


- ----------
    1/   In the  case  of an ABR  Borrowing,  not  less  than  $500,000  (and in
         integral  multiples of  $100,000)  or greater than the Total  Revolving
         Credit  Commitment  then  available.   In  the  case  of  a  Eurodollar
         Borrowing,  not  less  than  $500,000  (and in  integral  multiples  of
         $500,000) or greater than the Total  Revolving  Credit  Commitment then
         available.
    2/   Eurodollar Borrowing or ABR Borrowing.
    3/   Which shall be subject to the  definition of "Interest  Period" and end
         not later than the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

                                    -1-



<PAGE>



      Upon acceptance of any or all of the Loans made by the Lenders in response
to this request,  the Company shall be deemed to have  represented and warranted
that the  conditions  specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 4.01 of the
Agreement have been  satisfied.  Any amounts  borrowed shall be deposited in The
Chase Manhattan Bank account number [ ].

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          ETHAN ALLEN INC.,



                                          by
                                             Name:
                                             Title [Financial Officer]



                                    -2-



<PAGE>



                                                                     EXHIBIT D


                                   [FORM OF]
                                     NOTE

                                                            New York, New York

                                                                        [Date]


      FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED,  the  undersigned,  ETHAN  ALLEN  INC.,  a  Delaware
corporation  (the   "Borrower"),   hereby  promises  to  pay  to  the  order  of
_______________________________  (the  "Lender"),  at the  office  of The  Chase
Manhattan Bank (the  "Administrative  Agent") at 1 Chase  Manhattan  Plaza,  8th
Floor,  New York,  New York 10081,  on the  Revolving  Credit  Maturity Date (as
defined in the Amended and  Restated  Credit  Agreement  dated as of December 4,
1996 (as amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit  Agreement"),  among
the Borrower,  Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  the Lenders
named therein,  and the  Administrative  Agent) the aggregate  unpaid  principal
amount of all Loans made to the  Borrower  by the Lender  pursuant to the Credit
Agreement,  in lawful  money of the  United  States of  America  in  immediately
available funds, and to pay interest on the principal amount hereof from time to
time outstanding,  in like funds, at said office, at the rate or rates per annum
and payable on the dates provided in the Credit Agreement.

      The Borrower promises to pay interest, on demand, on any overdue principal
and, to the extent  permitted by law,  overdue  interest from their due dates at
the rate or rates provided in the Credit Agreement.

      The Borrower hereby waives  diligence,  presentment,  demand,  protest and
notice  of any kind  whatsoever.  The  nonexercise  by the  holder of any of its
rights  hereunder  in any  particular  instance  shall not  constitute  a waiver
thereof in that or any subsequent instance.

      All borrowings  evidenced by this Note and all payments and prepayments of
the principal  hereof and interest hereon and the respective dates thereof shall
be endorsed by the holder hereof on the schedule attached hereto and made a part
hereof or on a  continuation  thereof  that shall be attached  hereto and made a
part  hereof,  or  otherwise  recorded by such holder in its  internal  records;
provided, however, that the failure of the holder hereof to make such a notation
or any error in such a notation shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower
under this Note.

      This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement,  which,
among other things,  contains  provisions for the  acceleration  of the maturity
hereof  upon the  happening  of  certain  events,  for  optional  and  mandatory
prepayment  of the  principal  hereof prior to the  maturity  hereof and for the
amendment or waiver of certain provisions of the Credit Agreement,  all upon the
terms and conditions therein specified.  This Note is (i) secured as provided in
the Security  Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and (ii) guaranteed
pursuant to the Guarantee  Agreement (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  This
Note shall be governed by, and  construed in  accordance  with,  the laws of the
State of New York.

                                          ETHAN ALLEN INC.,



                                          By:___________________________________

                                          Name:_________________________________

                                          Title:________________________________


                                    -1-



<PAGE>



                              Loans and Payments

                             
                              Payments
         Amount and     --------------------   Unpaid Principal  Name of Person
Date    Type of Loan    Principal   Interest   Balance of Note   Making Notation
- ----    ------------    ---------   --------   ---------------   ---------------



                                    -2-



<PAGE>
                                                                 SCHEDULE 1.01


                                MORTGAGED PROPERTIES


                                                       Amount of Insurance
   Location Title Number           Form of Ownership   for Premium Purposes
                                   
   1.   Title No. N9300-1073 (2)          Fee          $10,008,000 Real Property
        Danbury, Connecticut                             9,927,000 Equipment
        (headquarters and store)   
                                   
   2.   Title No. N9300-1073 (31)         Fee          $ 5,404,000 Real Property
        Spruce Pine, NC                                 11,000,000 Machinery
                                   
                                   
                                 




<PAGE>


                                                                  SCHEDULE 2.01











                                   COMMITMENTS



Name and Address of Bank                          Commitment


The Chase Manhattan Bank                          $12,000,000
270 Park Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Attention of: Neil R. Boylan
Telephone:  (212) 270-1410
Facsimile:  (212) 972-0009


Bank of Montreal                                    10,000,000
430 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Attention of: Glen Pole
Telephone:  (212) 605-1462
Facsimile:  (212) 605-1454


The Bank of New York                                10,000,000
One Wall Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10286

Attention of: Howard F. Bascom, Jr.
Telephone:  (212) 635-7894
Facsimile:  (212) 635-1483


The First National Bank of Boston                   10,000,000
100 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

Attention of: Harvey Thayer
Telephone:  (617) 434-1996
Facsimile:  (617) 434-0816






<PAGE>






Fleet Bank                                          10,000,000
One Federal Street, OF-0320
Boston, MA 02111

Attention of: Gerald G. Sheehan
Telephone:  (617) 346-0609
Facsimile:  (617) 346-0580


The Fuji Bank, Limited                              10,000,000
Two World Trade Center, 79th Floor
New York, NY 10048

Attention of: Larry J. White
Telephone:  (212) 898-2083
Facsimile:  (212) 321-9407/8


Merita Bank                                         10,000,000
437 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Attention of: Chas Poer
Telephone:  (212) 318-9564
Facsimile:  (212) 421-4420


The Sakura Bank, Limited                             7,000,000
277 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10172

Attention of: Barry L. Wilson
Telephone:  (212) 756-6721
Facsimile:  (212) 888-7651


The Sanwa Bank, Limited                              7,000,000
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055

Attention of: Christian Kambour
Telephone:  (212) 339-6232
Facsimile:  (212) 754-1304






<PAGE>






Wachovia Bank                                        7,000,000
152 West 57th Street, 37th Floor
New York, NY 10019

Attention of: Edmund D. Puckhaber
Telephone:  (212) 603-7702
Facsimile:  (212) 603-7729


The Yasuda Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.               7,000,000
666 Fifth Avenue, Suite 801
New York, NY 10103

Attention of: Nick Pullen
Telephone:  (212) 373-5720
Facsimile:  (212) 373-5796


Total                                             $100,000,000
                                                  ============







<PAGE>



                                                                   SCHEDULE 3.08

                       SUBSIDIARIES AND EXCLUDED SUBSIDIARIES


                                               %Ownership By     Jurisdiction of
          Subsidiaries                         Ethan Allen Inc.  Organization
          ------------                         ----------------  ------------

          Andover Wood Products, Inc.          100%               Maine
                                                                 
          Ethan Allen Manufacturing Corporation  100%             Delaware
                                                                 
          Ethan Allen Finance Corporation      100%               Delaware
                                                                 
          Ethan Allen (Canada)                 100%               Canada
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                               %Ownership By     Jurisdiction of
          Excluded Subsidiaries                Ethan Allen Inc.  Organization
          ---------------------                ----------------  ------------

          Baumritter Corporation               100%               Delaware

                                                                 
          Baumritter Corporation               100%               New York
                                                                 
          Carriage House Furniture Inc.        100%               Delaware
                                                                 
          EA Enterprises Inc.                  100%               Florida
                                                                 
          Ethan Allen Adco Inc.                100%               New York
                                                                 
          Ethan Allen Furniture Realty & Mfg.  100%               New York
           Corporation                                           
                                                                 
          Ethan Allen Services Inc.            100%               New York
                                                                 
          KEA International Inc.               100%               New York
                                                                 
          Knob Creek, Inc.                     100%               North Carolina

          Lake Avenue Associates Inc.          100%               Connecticut

          Manor House, Inc.                    100%               Delaware

          Northeast Consolidated Inc.          100%               Vermont

          Riverside Water Works Inc.           100%               Vermont

          Ethan Allen Foreign Sales
            Corporation                        100%               U.S. Virgin
                                                                  Islands



<PAGE>



                                                                   SCHEDULE 3.09

                                     LITIGATION

            None.









<PAGE>



                                                                   SCHEDULE 3.17

                                ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS



            Environmental Matters addressed in:

            3.17(a)        No exceptions
            3.17(b)        No exceptions
            3.17(c)        No exceptions
            3.17(d)        No exceptions, except as disclosed in Schedule 3.09







<PAGE>



                                                                   SCHEDULE 3.18

                                      INSURANCE

            1.   Comprehensive  General  Liability  insurance on an "occurrence"
                 basis,  including but not limited to, the following  coverages:
                 premises/operations;    explosion    and    collapse    hazard;
                 products/completed  operations;  broad  form  property  damage;
                 blanket  contractual  liability;  independent  contractor's and
                 personal  injury.  Limits  are  no  less  than  $1,000,000  for
                 injuries or death to one or more  persons or damage to property
                 resulting  from  any one  occurrence  subject  to a  $1,000,000
                 annual  aggregate for Products and Completed  Operations.  Such
                 insurance   policy  may  have  a  deductible  or  self  insured
                 retention of not greater than $250,000 each occurrence.

            2.   Automobile Liability insurance,  including, but not limited to,
                 coverage for owned, non-owned and hired automobiles with limits
                 of no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence. Appropriate no-fault
                 insurance   provisions.   Such  insurance  policy  may  have  a
                 deductible  or self  insuring  retention  of not  greater  than
                 $250,000 per occurrence.

            3.   Workers Compensation insurance and any other forms of insurance
                 with the  Borrower  is  required  by law to  provide  providing
                 statutory  benefits  covering  losses  resulting  from  injury,
                 sickness, disability or death of the employees of the Borrower.
                 Such  insurance  policy may have a  deductible  or self insured
                 retention of not greater than $250,000 per occurrence.

            4.   Employers   Liability   coverage   with  limits  no  less  than
                 $1,000,000 per  occurrence  per employee or per accident.  Such
                 insurance   policy  may  have  a  deductible  or  self  insured
                 retention of not greater than $250,000 per occurrence.

            5.   Umbrella Excess  Liability  insurance on an "occurrence"  basis
                 providing  coverage not less than  $10,000,000  per  occurrence
                 over and above the coverage provided by the policies  described
                 in above paragraphs (1), (2) and (3).

            6.   Property   Coverage,   including  direct  damage  and  business
                 interruption,  on an "all  risk"  replacement  cost basis in an
                 amount no less than  $622,265,000  for all locations other than
                 stores,  and  $2,500,000  per store.  All Risk  coverage  shall
                 include,  but not be  limited  to,  loss  or  damage  by  fire,
                 lightning,  windstorm,  hail explosion,  riot, civil commotion,
                 aircraft,  vehicles,  smoke, earthquake,  flood and the periods
                 covered  by  blanket  boiler  and  machinery  insurance.   Such
                 insurance may have a deductible  or self insured  retention not
                 greater than  $100,000 each  occurrence or an annual  aggregate
                 deductible of $150,000.

            7.   Directors  &  Officers  liability   coverage,   including  both
                 Corporate Indemnity and Personal Reimbursement coverage,  shall
                 be  carried  with a  minimum  limit of  $10,000,000.  Corporate
                 Reimbursement  retention shall not exceed,  with respect to the
                 $10,000,000  limit, an amount of $350,000,  or, with respect to
                 the $5,000,000 IPPO sublimit, an amount of $750,000.

            8.   Crime coverage,  including employee  fidelity,  on-premises and
                 off-premises  coverage,  in the  amount of  $5,000,000  for the
                 employee  fidelity  and  $1,000,000  for  each of the  premises
                 exposures. Such insurance may have a deductible or self insured
                 retention not greater than $25,000.




<PAGE>



                                                                   SCHEDULE 3.20
                                    REAL PROPERTY

                                                             Form of
    Location Title Number (Type of Property)                 Ownership
    ----------------------------------------                 ---------

    1. Title No. N9300-1073(2)                              Fee
       Danbury, Connecticut (headquarters and store)
       Fairfield County

    2. Title No. N9300-1073(3)                              Fee
       Newton, Connecticut (distribution warehouse and home
         delivery center)
       Fairfield County

    3. Title No. N9300-1073(4)                              Fee
       Plant City, Florida (home delivery center)
       Hillsborough County

    4. Title No. N9300-1073(5)                              Fee
       Dahlonega, Georgia (manufacturing facility)
       Lumpkin County

    5. Title No. N9300-1073(6)                              Fee
       Kentland, Indiana (distribution warehouse)
       Newtown County

    6. Title No. (See N9300-1073(37) (below)                Fee
       Whiteside City, Illinois (manufacturing facility)
       Whiteside County
       (FOR SALE)

    7. Title No. N9300-1073(8)                              Fee (Property owned
       Andover, Maine (manufacturing facility)                   by Andover Wood
       Oxford County                                             Products, Inc.)

    8. Title No. N9300-1073(10)                             Fee
       South Ashburnham, Massachusetts (manufacturing
       facility)
       Worcester County
       (FOR SALE)

    9. Title No. N9300-1073(11)                             Fee
       Livonia, Michigan (store)
       Wayne County

    10. Title No. N9300-1073(13)                            Fee
        Passaic, New Jersey (manufacturing facility and
        distribution warehouse)
        Passaic County




<PAGE>





                                                             Form of
    Location Title Number (Type of Property)                 Ownership
    ----------------------------------------                 ---------

    11. Title No. N9300-1073 (15)                            Fee
        Asheville (Woodfin), North Carolina
        (manufacturing facility and office building)
        Buncombe County

    12. Title No. N9300-1073(15)                             Fee
        Old Fort (Pine Valley), North Carolina
        (manufacturing facility and distribution warehouse)
        McDowell County

    13. Title No. N9300-1073(17)                             Fee
        Greensboro, North Carolina (store)
        Guilford County
        (FOR SALE)

    14. Title No. N9300-1073(19)                             Fee
        Maiden, North Carolina (manufacturing facility and
        distribution warehouse)
        Catawba County

    15. Title No. N9300-1073(20)                             Fee
       Union City, Pennsylvania (manufacturing facility)
       Erie County

    16. Title No. N9300-1073(21)                             Fee
        Bridgewater, Virginia (manufacturing facility)
        Rockingham County

    17. Title No.                                            Fee
        Barton, Vermont (manufacturing facility and
        distribution warehouse)
        Orleans County

    18. Title No. N9300-1073(23)                             Fee
        Randolph, Vermont (main manufacturing facility)
        Orange County

    19. Title No. N9300-1073(24)                             Fee
       Randolph, Vermont (manufacturing facility)
       Orange County
       (FOR SALE)





<PAGE>





                                                             Form of
    Location Title Number (Type of Property)                 Ownership
    ----------------------------------------                 ---------


    20. Title No. N9300-1073(25)                             Fee
        Morgantown, West Virginia (store)
        Monrongalia County

    21. Title No. N9300-1073(26)                             Fee
        East Palestine, Ohio (manufacturing facility)
        Columbia County

    22. Title No. N9300-1073(27)                             Fee
        Boonville, New York (manufacturing facility)
        Oneida County

    23. Title No. N9300-1073(28)                             Fee
        Frewsburg, New York (manufacturing facility)
        Chautauqua County

    24. Title No. N9300-1073(29)                             Fee
        Mayville (Falconer), New York (manufacturing
        facility and distribution warehouse)
        Chautauqua County

    25. Title No. N9300-1073(30)                             Fee (Property owned
        Morganton, North Carolina (manufacturing                 by Knob Creek,
        facility) Burke County                                   Inc.)
        (FOR SALE)

    26. Title No. N9300-1073(31)                             Fee
        Spruce Pine, North Carolina (manufacturing
        facility) Mitchell County

    27. Title No. N9300-1073(32)                             Fee
        Eldred, Pennsylvania (manufacturing facility)
        McKean County

    28. Title No. N9300-1073(33)                             Fee
        Beecher Falls, Vermont (manufacturing facility
        and distribution warehouse)
        Essex County

    29. Title No. N9300-1073(46)                             Fee
        Stewartstown, New Hampshire (vacant land)
        Coos County





<PAGE>




                                                             Form of
    Location Title Number (Type of Property)                 Ownership
    ----------------------------------------                 ---------


    30. Quebec, Canada (land only)                           Fee  (Part of
                                                                  Beecher Falls,
                                                                  Vermont site)

    31. Title No. N9300-1073(34)                             Fee
        Island Pond, Vermont (Brighton) (manufacturing
        facility) Essex County

    32. Title No. N9300-1073(35)                             Fee
        Atoka, Oklahoma (manufacturing facility and
        distribution warehouse)
        Atoka County

    33. Title No. N9300-1073(39)                             Fee
        Birmingham, Alabama (Lot 2A) (vacant land)
        Jefferson County
        (FOR SALE)

    34. Title No. N9300-1073(40)                             Fee
        Coral Springs, Florida (vacant land)
        Broward County
        (FOR SALE)

    35. Title No. N9300-1073(41)                             Fee
        Dudley, Massachusetts (manufacturing facility)
        Worcester County

    36. Title No. N9300-1073(45)                             Fee
        Middleburg Heights, Ohio (store)
        Grand Forks County

    37. Melbourne, Florida (store)                           Fee
        Brevard County

    38. Orlando, Florida (store)                             Fee
        Orange County

    39. Danbury, Connecticut (Ethan Allen Inn -- hotel)      Fee (Property owned
        Fairfield County                                          by Lake Avenue
                                                                  Associates
                                                                  Inc.)

    40. Kennesaw, Georgia (Store)                            Fee
        Cobb County

    41. Kansas City, Kansas (Store)                          Fee
        Johnson County




<PAGE>




                                                             Form of
    Location Title Number (Type of Property)                 Ownership
    ----------------------------------------                 ---------


    42. North Point, Georgia (Store)                         Fee
        Fulton County

    43. Grand Blanc, Michigan (Store)                        Fee
        Genessen County







<PAGE>



                                                                   SCHEDULE 6.01

                                EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS


     All of the  Indebtedness  listed under items 1-3 below may be refinanced or
     renewed in accordance with Section 6.01(d) of the Credit Agreement.

      1.  Ethan Allen Inn Mortgage loan in a principal  amount  outstanding  not
          exceeding $1,659,085 as of March 10, 1995.

      2.  Melbourne and Orlando,  Florida,  Stores  Mortgage loan in a principal
          amount outstanding not exceeding $278,015 as of March 10, 1995.

      3.  Grand  Blanc,  Michigan,  Store  Mortgage  loan in a principal  amount
          outstanding not exceeding $170,361 as of March 10, 1995.






<PAGE>


                                                                  SCHEDULE 6.02

                                   EXISTING LIENS


       All of the Liens set forth in items 1 through 3 below may be  renewed  or
       extended subject to Section 6.01(d) of this Agreement.

       1. (See Schedules 4(A) and 4(B) to the Perfection Certificate, Annex 2 to
          the Security Agreement)

       2. Permitted  Encumbrances as set forth in that title insurance policy or
          title commitment delivered with respect to each Mortgaged Property.

       3. Liens  securing  the  Indebtedness  described  in items 1 through 3 of
          Schedule 6.01 to this Agreement.






<PAGE>


                                                                   SCHEDULE 6.04

                                EXISTING INVESTMENTS


       1. Ownership of the Subsidiaries as set forth in Schedule 3.08.

       2. 50%  limited  partnership  interest  in EA-JB  Properties,  a  Florida
          partnership.




<PAGE>


                                                                CONFORMED COPY












                  SECURITY  AGREEMENT  dated as of March 10,  1995,  among ETHAN
                  ALLEN  INC.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Borrower");  the
                  subsidiaries  of the  Borrower  listed  on  Schedule  I hereto
                  (collectively, the "Subsidiary Grantors"; the Borrower and the
                  Subsidiary Grantors being collectively called the "Grantors");
                  and  CHEMICAL  BANK,  a  New  York  banking  corporation,   as
                  collateral  agent (in such capacity,  the "Collateral  Agent")
                  for the Secured Parties, as defined herein.

      Reference is made to the Credit  Agreement  dated as of March 10, 1995 (as
amended  or  modified  from time to time,  the  "Credit  Agreement"),  among the
Borrower,  Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.  ("Holdings"),  the financial institutions
party thereto,  as lenders (the "Lenders") and Chemical Bank, as  administrative
agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent").

      The  Lenders  have agreed to extend  credit to, and the  Issuing  Bank has
agreed to issue Letters of Credit for the account of, the Borrower  pursuant to,
and subject to the terms and conditions specified in, the Credit Agreement. Each
of Holdings and the  Subsidiary  Grantors has agreed to  guarantee,  among other
things,  all the  obligations  of the Borrower under the Credit  Agreement.  The
obligations  of the Lenders to extend  credit and of the  Issuing  Bank to issue
Letters of Credit under the Credit  Agreement are conditioned  upon, among other
things,  the execution  and delivery by the Grantors of a security  agreement in
the form hereof to secure (a) the due and  punctual  payment by the  Borrower of
(i) the  principal  of and  interest on the Loans,  when and as due,  whether at
maturity,  by  acceleration,  upon  one or  more  dates  set for  prepayment  or
otherwise,  (ii) each  payment  required  to be made by the  Borrower  under the
Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter or Letters of Credit, when and as due,
including  payments  in  respect of  reimbursement  of  disbursements,  interest
thereon and  obligations to provide cash collateral and (iii) all other monetary
obligations  of the Borrower to the Secured  Parties under the Credit  Agreement
and the other Loan  Documents to which the Borrower is or is to be a party,  (b)
the due and punctual  performance of all other obligations of the Borrower under
the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is or is
to be a  party,  (c)  the  due  and  punctual  payment  and  performance  of all
obligations of the Borrower under each Rate  Protection  Agreement  entered into
with any  counterparty  that  was a Lender  at the  time  such  Rate  Protection
Agreement was entered into and (d) the due and punctual payment and performance




<PAGE>



of all  obligations  of each of Holdings and the  Subsidiary  Grantors under the
Loan  Documents  to  which  it is or is to be a  party  (all  of  the  foregoing
obligations being collectively called the "Obligations").

      Accordingly,  the  Grantors  and the  Collateral  Agent  hereby  agree  as
follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS

     SECTION 1.01. Terms Defined in the Credit Agreement.  Terms used herein and
not  otherwise  defined  herein  shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit
Agreement.

     SECTION 1.02. Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used herein, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:

      "Account  Debtor" shall mean any person who is or who may become obligated
to a Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.

      "Accounts"  shall  mean any and all rights of any  Grantor to payment  for
goods or services sold or leased,  including any such right evidenced by chattel
paper,  whether due or to become due,  whether or not earned by performance  and
whether now  existing or arising in the future,  including  accounts  receivable
from Affiliates of the Grantors, but excluding Dealer Notes.

      "Accounts  Receivable"  shall  mean all  Accounts  and all  rights  in any
returned goods, together with all rights, titles, securities and guarantees with
respect  thereto,  including  any  rights  to  stoppage  in  transit,  replevin,
reclamation and resales, and all related security interests,  liens and pledges,
whether voluntary or involuntary.

      "Collateral"  shall mean (i) Accounts  Receivable,  (ii) Documents,  (iii)
General Intangibles,  (iv) Intercompany Claims, (v) Inventory, (vi) Proceeds and
(vii)  Collection  Deposit  Accounts;  provided that  Excluded  Assets shall not
constitute
Collateral.

      "Collection  Deposit  Account"  shall mean a lockbox  account of a Grantor
maintained  for the benefit of the Secured  Parties  with the  Collateral  Agent
pursuant to Article V or with a Sub-Agent pursuant to a Lockbox Agreement.


                                    -2-



<PAGE>



      "Copyright License" shall mean any written agreement,  now or hereafter in
effect,  granting  any  right to any third  party  under  any  Copyright  now or
hereafter owned by any Grantor or which such Grantor  otherwise has the right to
license,  or  granting  any right to such  Grantor  under any  Copyright  now or
hereafter  owned by any third party,  and all rights of such  Grantor  under any
such agreement.

      "Copyrights"  shall  mean all of the  following  now  owned  or  hereafter
acquired by any  Grantor:  (i) all  copyright  rights in any work subject to the
copyright  laws of the United  States or any other  country,  whether as author,
assignee,  transferee or otherwise,  and (ii) all registrations and applications
for  registration  of any such  copyright  in the  United  States  or any  other
country,  including registrations,  recordings,  supplemental  registrations and
pending  applications for  registration in the United States  Copyright  Office,
including those listed on Schedule II.

      "Credit  Agreement"  shall have the  meaning  assigned to such term in the
preliminary statement of this Agreement.

      "Documents" shall mean all instruments,  files, records, ledger sheets and
documents covering or relating to any of the Collateral.

      "Excluded  Assets" shall mean fixtures,  equipment,  motor  vehicles,  any
other tangible  personal  property (except  Inventory),  Dealer Notes and rights
(whether as lessor or lessee) under leases.

      "General Intangibles" shall mean all choses in action and causes of action
and all other assignable  intangible  personal  property of any Grantor of every
kind and nature (other than Accounts Receivable) now owned or hereafter acquired
by any Grantor,  including corporate or other business records,  contract rights
(including  rights under Rate Protection  Agreements and other  agreements,  but
excluding  rights  under  leases,  whether  entered  into as lessor or  lessee),
Intellectual Property,  goodwill,  registrations,  franchises, tax refund claims
and any letter of credit, guarantee,  claim, security interest or other security
held by or granted to any Grantor to secure  payment by an account debtor of any
of the Accounts Receivable.

      "Intellectual  Property" shall mean all  intellectual and similar property
of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or  hereafter  acquired by any
Grantor,   including  inventions,   designs,  Patents,   Copyrights,   Licenses,
Trademarks,  trade secrets,  confidential or proprietary  technical and business
information,  know-how,  show-how  or other data or  information,  software  and
databases and all embodiments or fixations thereof

                                    -3-



<PAGE>



and related  documentation,  registrations  and  franchises,  and all additions,
improvements  and  accessions  to, and books and records  describing  or used in
connection with, any of the foregoing.

      "Intercompany  Claims"  shall  mean any and all  rights of any  Grantor in
respect  of loans,  advances  or other  claims  owed to such  Grantor  by any of
Holdings,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  other than  Accounts and other than
loans,  advances or other claims evidenced by an instrument  pledged pursuant to
the Pledge Agreement.

      "Inventory"  shall  mean all  goods of a  Grantor,  whether  now  owned or
hereafter acquired, held for sale or lease, or furnished or to be furnished by a
Grantor  under  contracts  of service,  or  consumed  in a  Grantor's  business,
including raw materials,  intermediates,  work in progress, packaging materials,
finished goods, semi-finished inventory, scrap inventory, manufacturing supplies
and spare parts, and all such goods that have been returned to or repossessed by
or on behalf of any Grantor.

      "License"  shall mean any Patent  License,  Trademark  License,  Copyright
License  or other  license  or  sublicense  to  which  any  Grantor  is a party,
including  those listed on Schedule III (other than those license  agreements in
existence  as of the date  hereof and listed on Schedule  III and those  license
agreements  entered  into after the date hereof,  which by their terms  prohibit
assignment  or a grant  of a  security  interest  by such  Grantor  as  licensee
thereunder).

      "Lockbox  Agreement" shall mean a Lockbox  Agreement  substantially in the
form of Annex 1 hereto among a Grantor, the Collateral Agent and a Sub-Agent.

      "Obligations"  shall  have  the  meaning  assigned  to  such  term  in the
preliminary statement of this Agreement.

      "Patent  License"  shall mean any written  agreement,  now or hereafter in
effect, granting to any third party any right to make, use or sell any inventory
on which a Patent,  now or hereafter  owned by any Grantor or which such Grantor
otherwise has the right to license, is in existence, or granting to such Grantor
any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter
owned by any third party, is in existence,  and all rights of such Grantor under
any such agreement.

      "Patents" shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter  acquired
by any  Grantor:  (i) all  letters  Patent  of the  United  States  or any other
country,  all  registrations  and recordings  thereof,  and all applications for
letters   Patent  of  the  United  States  or  any  other   country,   including
registrations,

                                    -4-



<PAGE>



recordings  and pending  applications  in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office or any similar  offices in any other country,  including  those listed on
Schedule    IV,    and   (ii)   all    reissues,    continuations,    divisions,
continuations-in-part,  renewals  or  extensions  thereof,  and  the  inventions
disclosed or claims  therein,  including the right to make,  use and/or sell the
inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

      "Perfection Certificate" means a certificate  substantially in the form of
Annex 2 hereto,  completed and  supplemented  with the schedules and attachments
contemplated  thereby,  and duly  executed by a Financial  Officer and the chief
legal officer of the Borrower.

      "Proceeds" shall mean any consideration  received from the sale, exchange,
license,  lease or other  disposition of any asset or property which constitutes
Collateral,  any  value  received  as a  consequence  of the  possession  of any
Collateral  and any payment  received from any insurer or other person or entity
as a result  of the  destruction,  loss,  theft,  damage  or  other  involuntary
conversion  of  whatever  nature  of any  asset or  property  which  constitutes
Collateral,  and shall include (a) all cash and negotiable  instruments received
or held on behalf of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Lockbox  Agreements or
any other  lockbox or similar  arrangement  relating  to the payment of Accounts
Receivable  and  Inventory  and (b) any claim of any  Grantor  against any third
party for (and the right to sue and  recover  for and the  rights to  damages or
profits due or accrued arising out of or in connection  with) (i) past,  present
or future  infringement  of any Patent now or hereafter  owned by any Grantor or
licensed under a Patent License,  (ii) past,  present or future  infringement or
dilution  of any  Trademark  now or  hereafter  owned by any Grantor or licensed
under  a  Trademark  License  or  injury  to the  goodwill  associated  with  or
symbolized by any Trademark now or hereafter  owned by any Grantor,  (iii) past,
present  or  future  breach  of  any  License,  (iv)  past,  present  or  future
infringement  of any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or licensed
under a Copyright  License,  and (v) any and all other amounts from time to time
paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral.

      "Secured  Parties"  shall  mean  (a)  the  Lenders  party  to  the  Credit
Agreement,  (b) each  counterparty to a Rate Protection  Agreement  entered into
with the  Borrower,  if such  counterparty  was a Lender  at the time  such Rate
Protection  Agreement  was  entered  into,  (c) the  Administrative  Agent,  the
Collateral  Agent and the Issuing Bank,  in their  capacities as such under each
Loan  Document,  (d)  the  beneficiaries  of  each  indemnification   obligation
undertaken by any Grantor under any Loan  Document,  and (e) the  successors and
assigns of the foregoing.


                                    -5-



<PAGE>



     "Security Interest" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.01.

      "Sub-Agent" shall mean a financial  institution which shall have delivered
to the Collateral Agent an executed Lockbox Agreement.

      "Trademark License" shall mean any written instrument, now or hereafter in
effect,  granting  to any  third  party any  right to use any  Trademark  now or
hereafter owned by any Grantor or which such Grantor  otherwise has the right to
license,  or granting  to such  Grantor  any right to use any  Trademark  now or
hereafter  owned by any third party,  and all rights of such  Grantor  under any
such agreement.

      "Trademarks"  shall  mean all of the  following  now  owned  or  hereafter
acquired  by any  Grantor:  (i) all  trademarks,  service  marks,  trade  names,
corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade
styles,  trade dress, logos, other source or business  identifiers,  designs and
general  intangibles  of like  nature,  now  existing  or  hereafter  adopted or
acquired,  all  registrations and recordings  thereof,  and all registration and
recording  applications filed in connection therewith,  including  registrations
and registration  applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office,
any State of the United  States or any similar  offices in any other  country or
any political  subdivision  thereof,  and all  extensions  or renewals  thereof,
including those listed on Schedule V, (ii) all goodwill associated  therewith or
symbolized  thereby,  and (iii) all other  assets,  rights  and  interests  that
uniquely reflect or embody such goodwill.

     SECTION  1.03.  Rules  of  Interpretation.   The  rules  of  interpretation
specified in Section 1.02 of the Credit  Agreement  shall be  applicable to this
Agreement.


                                  ARTICLE II

                               SECURITY INTEREST

      SECTION  2.01.   Security  Interest.   As  security  for  the  payment  or
performance,  as the  case  may be,  of the  Obligations,  each  Grantor  hereby
bargains, sells, conveys, assigns, sets over, mortgages,  pledges,  hypothecates
and transfers to the Collateral  Agent, its successors and its assigns,  for the
benefit of the Secured Parties,  and hereby grants to the Collateral  Agent, its
successors  and  assigns,  for the  benefit of the Secured  Parties,  a security
interest in, all of such  Grantor's  right,  title and interest in, to and under
the Collateral (the "Security  Interest").  Without limiting the foregoing,  the
Collateral Agent

                                    -6-



<PAGE>



is hereby  authorized  to file one or more  financing  statements,  continuation
statements, filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United
States  Copyright  Office (or any successor  office or any similar office in any
other  country) or other  documents for the purpose of  perfecting,  confirming,
continuing,  enforcing  or  protecting  the  Security  Interest  granted by each
Grantor,  without  the  signature  of any  Grantor,  naming  any  Grantor or the
Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party.

      The Grantors  agree at all times to keep accurate and complete  accounting
records with respect to the  Collateral,  including a record of all payments and
Proceeds received.

      SECTION 2.02. No Assumption of Liability. The Security Interest is granted
as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party
to, or in any way alter or modify,  any  obligation  or liability of any Grantor
with respect to or arising out of any of the Collateral.


                                  ARTICLE III

                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      The Grantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Collateral
Agent and the Lenders that:

      SECTION 3.01. Title and Authority. Each of the Grantors has good and valid
rights in and title to the Collateral  with respect to which it has purported to
grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to
the Collateral  Agent the Security  Interest in such Collateral  pursuant hereto
and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms
of this  Agreement,  without the consent or approval of any other  person  other
than any consent or approval which has been obtained.

      SECTION  3.02.  Filings.  (a) The  Perfection  Certificate  has been  duly
prepared,  completed  and  executed  and the  information  set forth  therein is
correct  and  complete.   Fully  executed  Uniform   Commercial  Code  financing
statements or other appropriate filings,  recordings or registrations containing
a description of the Collateral have been delivered to the Collateral  Agent for
filing in each  governmental,  municipal or other office specified in Schedule 6
to the  Perfection  Certificate,  which  are all  the  filings,  recordings  and
registrations  (other  than  filings  required  to be made in the United  States
Patent and Trademark  Office and the United States  Copyright Office in order to
perfect the Security Interest in Collateral consisting of United States Patents,
registered trademarks and registered copyrights) that

                                    -7-



<PAGE>



are necessary to publish  notice of and protect the validity of and to establish
a legal,  valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent
(for the benefit of the Secured  Parties) in respect of all  Collateral in which
the Security  Interest may be perfected by filing,  recording or registration in
the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and
possessions,   and  no  further  or  subsequent  filing,  refiling,   recording,
rerecording,   registration   or   reregistration   is  necessary  in  any  such
jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing
of continuation statements.

      (b) Each Grantor  shall ensure and warrants that fully  executed  security
agreements  in the form hereof and  containing a description  of all  Collateral
consisting of Intellectual Property shall have been received and recorded within
three months after the execution of this Agreement with respect to United States
Patents and United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United
States registration  applications are pending) and within three months after the
execution of this Agreement with respect to United States registered  Copyrights
by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright
Office pursuant to 35 U.S.C.  ss. 261, 15 U.S.C.  ss. 1060 or 17 U.S.C.  ss. 205
and the regulations thereunder, as applicable,  and otherwise as may be required
pursuant to the laws of any  jurisdiction  outside the United  States  where any
Trademarks,  Copyrights  or Patents  are  registered  (a  "Foreign  Registration
Jurisdiction")  to protect the validity of and to  establish a legal,  valid and
perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of
the  Secured  Parties)  in  respect of all  Collateral  consisting  of  Patents,
Trademarks  and  Copyrights  in which a security  interest  may be  perfected by
filing,  recording  or  registration  in the  United  States  (or any  political
subdivision  thereof)  and its  territories  and  possessions  or in any Foreign
Registration  Jurisdiction  and  no  further  or  subsequent  filing,  refiling,
recording, rerecording,  registration or reregistration is necessary (other than
such actions as are  necessary to perfect the Security  Interest with respect to
any Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (or registration
or application for  registration  thereof)  acquired or developed after the date
hereof).

      SECTION  3.03.  Validity  of  Security  Interest.  The  Security  Interest
constitutes  (a) a legal  and  valid  security  interest  in all the  Collateral
securing  the payment and  performance  of the  Obligations,  (b) subject to the
filings  described in Section 3.02 above, a perfected  security  interest in all
Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or
registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or
any political  subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant
to the Uniform Commercial

                                    -8-



<PAGE>



Code  or  other  applicable  law  in  such   jurisdictions  or  in  any  Foreign
Registration Jurisdiction and (c) a security interest that shall be perfected in
all  Collateral in which a security  interest may be perfected  upon the receipt
and  recording of this  Agreement  with the United  States  Patent and Trademark
Office  and the  United  States  Copyright  Office,  as  applicable,  within the
three-month  period (commencing as of the date hereof) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. ss.
261 or 15 U.S.C. ss. 1060 or the three-month  period  (commencing as of the date
hereof) pursuant to 17 U.S.C. ss. 205 and otherwise as may be required  pursuant
to the laws of any Foreign Registration  Jurisdiction.  The Security Interest is
and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Collateral.

      SECTION  3.04.  Absence of Other  Liens.  The  Collateral  is owned by the
Grantors free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens expressly permitted by the
Credit  Agreement.  Other than as  contemplated  hereby  and except for  filings
expressly  permitted by the Credit Agreement,  none of the Grantors has filed or
consented to the filing of (a) any  financing  statement  or analogous  document
under the Uniform  Commercial  Code or any other  applicable  laws  covering any
Collateral,  (b) any  assignment in which any Grantor  assigns any Collateral or
any security  agreement or similar  instrument  covering any Collateral with the
United States Patent and Trademark  Office or the United States Copyright Office
or (c) any  assignment  in which  any  Grantor  assigns  any  Collateral  or any
security  agreement  or similar  instrument  covering  any  Collateral  with any
foreign governmental, municipal or other office.

      SECTION 3.05.  Intellectual Property.  Schedules II, III, IV
and V hereto set forth accurate and complete descriptions of all
Copyrights, Licenses, Patents and Trademarks of each Grantor.


                                  ARTICLE IV

                                   COVENANTS

      SECTION 4.01. Change of Name;  Location of Collateral;  Records;  Place of
Business.  (a) Each of the  Grantors  agrees  promptly to notify the  Collateral
Agent of any  change  (i) in its  corporate  name or in any  trade  name used to
identify  it in  the  conduct  of  its  business  or in  the  ownership  of  its
properties,  (ii) in the location of its chief executive  office,  its principal
place of business, any office in which it maintains books or records relating to
Collateral owned by it or any office or facility at which Collateral owned by it
is located  (including the  establishment of any such new office or facility) or
(iii) in its identity or corporate structure. Each of the Grantors agrees not to
effect or permit any change  referred to in the  preceding  sentence  unless all
filings have been made under the Uniform

                                    -9-



<PAGE>



Commercial  Code or  otherwise  which are  required in order for the  Collateral
Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid,  legal and
perfected  security interest in all the Collateral.  Each of the Grantors agrees
promptly  to  notify  the  Collateral  Agent  if  any  material  portion  of the
Collateral is damaged or destroyed.

      (b) Each of the Grantors agrees to maintain  complete and accurate records
with  respect to the  Collateral  owned by it and,  at such time or times as the
Collateral Agent may request,  promptly to prepare and deliver to the Collateral
Agent a duly certified schedule or schedules in form and detail  satisfactory to
the  Collateral  Agent showing the identity,  amount and location of any and all
Collateral.

      SECTION 4.02.  Post-Closing  Certification.  Within three months after the
Closing Date, the Borrower  shall deliver to the Collateral  Agent a certificate
executed by a Financial  Officer  and the chief  legal  officer of the  Borrower
setting  forth,   with  respect  to  each  filing,   recording  or  registration
contemplated by Section 3.02(b), the filing office, date and file number thereof
and attaching  true,  correct and complete  acknowledgement  copies of each such
filing, recording or registration.

      SECTION 4.03.  Protection of Security.  Each of the Grantors shall, at its
own cost and expense,  take any and all actions necessary to defend title to the
Collateral  against  all  persons  and to defend the  Security  Interest  of the
Collateral  Agent in the Collateral and the priority  thereof  against any Liens
not expressly permitted under the Credit Agreement.

      SECTION 4.04.  Further  Assurances.  Each of the Grantors  agrees,  at its
expense,  to execute,  acknowledge,  deliver and cause to be duly filed all such
further  instruments  and documents and take all such actions as the  Collateral
Agent may from time to time  reasonably  request  to  better  assure,  preserve,
protect and perfect the Security  Interest  and the rights and remedies  created
hereby,  including the payment of any fees and taxes required in connection with
the  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement,  the  granting of the Security
Interest  and the  filing of any  financing  statements  or other  documents  in
connection  herewith.  If any amount payable under or in connection  with any of
the  Collateral  shall be or become  evidenced by any  promissory  note or other
instrument,  such note or instrument shall be immediately  pledged and delivered
to  the  Collateral  Agent,  duly  endorsed  in a  manner  satisfactory  to  the
Collateral Agent.

      Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  each Grantor  hereby
authorizes the Collateral Agent, with prompt notice thereof to the Grantors,  to
supplement this Agreement by  supplementing  Schedule II, III, IV or V hereto or
adding

                                    -10-



<PAGE>



additional schedules hereto to specifically  identify any asset or item that may
constitute Copyrights,  Licenses, Patents or Trademarks; provided, however, that
any Grantor shall have the right,  exercisable  within 10 days after it has been
notified  by  the  Collateral  Agent  of the  specific  identification  of  such
Collateral,  to advise the Collateral  Agent in writing of any inaccuracy of the
representations  and warranties  made by such Grantor  hereunder with respect to
such  Collateral.  Each Grantor agrees that it will use its best efforts to take
such  action  as  shall be  necessary  in order  that  all  representations  and
warranties  hereunder  shall be true and correct with respect to such Collateral
within 30 days after the date it has been  notified by the  Collateral  Agent of
the specific identification of such Collateral.

      SECTION 4.05.  Intercompany  Claims. If at any time any Intercompany Claim
is evidenced by any promissory note or other instrument,  the applicable Grantor
shall  promptly  pledge  such note or other  instrument  pursuant  to the Pledge
Agreement.

      SECTION 4.06. Taxes; Encumbrances. At its option, the Collateral Agent may
discharge past due taxes, assessments,  charges, fees, liens, security interests
or other  encumbrances  at any time levied or placed on the  Collateral  and not
permitted  under  the  Credit  Agreement,  and may pay for the  maintenance  and
preservation  of the Collateral to the extent any of the Grantors fails to do so
as required by the Credit Agreement or this Agreement,  and each of the Grantors
jointly and severally agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent on demand for any
payment made or any expense  incurred by the  Collateral  Agent  pursuant to the
foregoing authorization;  provided,  however, that nothing in this Section shall
be interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the  performance of, or imposing any
obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform,  any
covenants or other  promises of any Grantor with respect to taxes,  assessments,
charges,  fees, liens,  security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance
as set forth herein or in the Credit Agreement.

      SECTION 4.07.  Assignment of Security Interest.  If at any time any of the
Grantors  shall  take and  perfect a security  interest  in any  property  of an
Account  Debtor or any other  person to secure  payment  and  performance  of an
Account,  such  Grantor  shall  promptly  assign such  security  interest to the
Collateral  Agent.  Such  assignment  need not be filed of public  record unless
necessary to continue the  perfected  status of the  security  interest  against
creditors of and  transferees  from the Account Debtor or other person  granting
the security interest.

     SECTION 4.08. Continuing Obligations of the Grantors.  Each of the Grantors
shall remain liable to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to
be observed and performed by it

                                    -11-



<PAGE>



under each contract,  agreement or instrument relating to the Collateral, all in
accordance with the terms and conditions  thereof,  and the Grantors jointly and
severally  agree to indemnify  and hold  harmless the  Collateral  Agent and the
Secured Parties from and against any and all liability for such performance.

      SECTION 4.09.  Use and  Disposition  of  Collateral.  None of the Grantors
shall make or permit to be made an assignment,  pledge or  hypothecation  of the
Collateral or shall grant any other Lien in respect of the Collateral  except as
expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement.  None of the Grantors shall make or
permit to be made any transfer of the  Collateral  and each Grantor shall remain
at all  times in  possession  of the  Collateral  owned by it,  except  that (a)
Inventory  may be sold in the  ordinary  course of  business  and (b) unless and
until the  Collateral  Agent shall notify the Grantors  that an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing  and that during the  continuance  thereof
the  Grantors  shall not sell,  convey,  lease,  assign,  transfer or  otherwise
dispose of any  Collateral  (which  notice may be given by telephone if promptly
confirmed in writing), the Grantors may use and dispose of the Collateral in any
lawful manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan  Document.  Without  limiting the  generality of the
foregoing,  each Grantor agrees that (i) it shall not permit any Inventory to be
in the possession or control of any warehouseman,  bailee, agent or processor at
any time unless such  possession or control will not effect the  perfection  and
priority of the Security  Interest in such Inventory or arrangements are made so
that such perfection and priority will not be affected and (ii) if any warehouse
receipt (or other  receipt in the nature of a warehouse  receipt) is issued with
respect to any  Inventory,  such receipt  shall be  delivered to the  Collateral
Agent.

      SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Modification of Accounts. None of the Grantors
will, without the Collateral Agent's prior written consent,  grant any extension
of the time of payment of any of the Accounts Receivable,  compromise,  compound
or settle the same for less than the full  amount  thereof,  release,  wholly or
partly,  any  person  liable  for the  payment  thereof  or allow any  credit or
discount  whatsoever  thereon,  other  than  extensions,   credits,   discounts,
compromises or settlements granted or made in the ordinary course of business or
otherwise in accordance with prudent and reasonable business practices.

     SECTION  4.11.  Insurance.  (a) The  Borrower,  at its own  expense,  shall
maintain or cause to be maintained insurance covering physical loss or damage to
the Inventory in accordance  with the  provisions of the Credit  Agreement.  All
such policies of insurance shall be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a

                                    -12-



<PAGE>



lender's loss payable  endorsement,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to the
Collateral  Agent,  which shall provide that from and after the date, if any, on
which the insurance  carrier  receives  written notice from the Collateral Agent
that an Event of Default has  occurred,  all proceeds  otherwise  payable to the
Borrower or any other Grantor under such policies  shall be payable  directly to
the Collateral Agent. Such endorsement or an independent instrument furnished to
the  Collateral  Agent shall provide that the  insurance  carriers will give the
Collateral  Agent at least 30 days' prior written  notice before any such policy
or policies of insurance shall be altered or canceled and that no act or default
of any  Grantor or any other  person  shall  affect the right of the  Collateral
Agent to recover  under such policy or policies of  insurance in case of loss or
damage.

      (b)  Each  Grantor   irremovably  makes,   constitutes  and  appoints  the
Collateral  Agent  (and all  officers,  employees  or agents  designated  by the
Collateral Agent) as such Grantor's true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact)
for the  purpose,  during the  continuance  of an Event of  Default,  of making,
settling  and  adjusting  claims in  respect of  Collateral  under  policies  of
insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or
other item of payment for the  proceeds of such  policies of  insurance  and for
making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto.  In the event that
any  Grantor at any time or times  shall fail to obtain or  maintain  any of the
policies  of  insurance  required  hereby  to pay any  premium  in whole or part
relating  thereto,  the Collateral  Agent may,  without waiving or releasing any
obligation  or liability of the Grantors  hereunder or any Event of Default,  in
its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such
premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Collateral  Agent
deems  advisable.  All sums disbursed by the Collateral Agent in connection with
this Section,  including reasonable  attorneys' fees, court costs,  expenses and
other charges relating thereto,  shall be payable,  upon demand, by the Grantors
to the Collateral Agent and shall be additional Obligations secured hereby.

      SECTION  4.12.   Covenants  Regarding  Patent,   Trademark  and  Copyright
Collateral.  (a) Each Grantor agrees that it will not, nor will it permit any of
its licensees to, do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any Patent which is
material to the conduct of such  Grantor's  business may become  invalidated  or
dedicated to the public,  and agrees that it shall continue to mark any products
covered by a Patent with the relevant  Patent number as necessary and sufficient
to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable Patent laws.

     (b)  Each  Grantor   (either   itself  or  through  its  licensees  or  its
sublicensees) will, for each Trademark material to the

                                    -13-



<PAGE>



conduct of such  Grantor's  business,  (i) maintain such Trademark in full force
free from any claim of abandonment or invalidity for non-use,  (ii) maintain the
quality of products and services  offered  under such  Trademark,  (iii) display
such  Trademark  with  notice of federal or foreign  registration  to the extent
necessary  and  sufficient  to establish  and preserve its maximum  rights under
applicable  law and (iv) not knowingly  use or knowingly  permit the use of such
Trademark in violation of any third party rights.

      (c) Each Grantor (either itself or through  licensees) will, for each work
covered by a material Copyright,  continue to publish, reproduce, display, adopt
and  distribute  the work with  appropriate  copyright  notice as necessary  and
sufficient  to  establish  and  preserve  its maximum  rights  under  applicable
copyright laws.

      (d) Each Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent immediately if it knows
or has reason to know that any Patent,  Trademark or  Copyright  material to the
conduct of its business may become  abandoned,  lost or dedicated to the public,
or of any adverse determination or development (including the institution of, or
any such  determination  or development  in, any proceeding in the United States
Patent and  Trademark  Office,  United States  Copyright  Office or any court or
similar office of any country) regarding such Grantor's ownership of any Patent,
Trademark or Copyright,  its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain
the same.

      (e) In no event  shall any  Grantor,  either  itself or through any agent,
employee, licensee or designee, file an application for any Patent, Trademark or
Copyright  (or for the  registration  of any  Trademark or  Copyright)  with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any
office or agency in any  political  subdivision  of the United  States or in any
other country or any political  subdivision thereof,  unless it promptly informs
the Collateral Agent,  and, upon request of the Collateral  Agent,  executes and
delivers  any and all  agreements,  instruments,  documents  and  papers  as the
Collateral  Agent may  reasonably  request to evidence  the  Collateral  Agent's
security  interest in such  Patent,  Trademark  or  Copyright,  and each Grantor
hereby appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney-in-fact to execute and file
such writings for the foregoing purposes, all acts of such attorney being hereby
ratified  and  confirmed;  such  power,  being  coupled  with  an  interest,  is
irrevocable.

      (f) Each Grantor will take all necessary  steps that are  consistent  with
the practice in any  proceeding  before the United  States  Patent and Trademark
Office,  United States Copyright Office or any office or agency in any political
subdivision  of the  United  States or in any  other  country  or any  political
subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each material

                                    -14-



<PAGE>



application relating to the Patents, Trademarks and/or Copyrights (and to obtain
the relevant grant or registration)  and to maintain each issued Patent and each
registration  of the Trademarks and Copyrights  which is material to the conduct
of any Grantor's business, including timely filings of applications for renewal,
affidavits of use,  affidavits of  incontestability  and payment of  maintenance
fees, and, if consistent with good business  judgment,  to initiate  opposition,
interference and cancellation proceedings against third parties.

      (g) In the event that any Collateral consisting of a Patent,  Trademark or
Copyright  material  to  the  conduct  of  any  Grantor's  business  is  believe
infringed,  misappropriated  or diluted by a third party,  such Grantor promptly
shall notify the Collateral Agent after it obtains  knowledge thereof and shall,
if  consistent  with good  business  judgment,  promptly  sue for  infringement,
misappropriation  or  dilution  and to  recover  any and all  damages  for  such
infringement,  misappropriation or dilution,  and take such other actions as are
appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Collateral.

      (h) Upon and during the  continuance of an Event of Default,  each Grantor
shall use its best efforts to obtain all requisite  consents or approvals by the
licensor of each  Copyright  License,  Patent  License or  Trademark  License to
effect the assignment of all the Grantors' right, title and interest  thereunder
to the Collateral Agent or its designee.


                                   ARTICLE V

                                  COLLECTIONS

      SECTION 5.01.  Collection Deposit Accounts.  (a) At any time that an Event
of Default has  occurred  and is  continuing,  upon the  written  request of the
Collateral  Agent,  each Grantor  agrees to  establish  and maintain one or more
Collection  Deposit  Accounts  with the  Collateral  Agent or with any financial
institution  that is  satisfactory  to the  Collateral  Agent and enters  into a
Lockbox Agreement.

      (b) Upon and after the establishment of any Collection Deposit Accounts as
provided  above,  each Grantor shall use all  reasonable  efforts to prevent any
funds which are not  payments on Accounts  Receivable  or  Inventory  from being
deposited into, or otherwise  commingled  with, the funds held in the Collection
Deposit Accounts. Unless and until the Collection Deposit Accounts are converted
to closed lockbox accounts  pursuant to paragraph (c) below, each Grantor may at
any time withdraw any of the funds contained in a Collection  Deposit Account of
such

                                    -15-



<PAGE>



Grantor for use,  subject to the provisions of the Loan  Documents,  for general
corporate purposes.

      (c) Effective upon notice to the Grantors from the Collateral  Agent after
the occurrence  and during the  continuance of an Event of Default (which notice
may be given by telephone if promptly  confirmed  in writing),  each  Collection
Deposit Account will, without any further action on the part of any Grantor, the
Collateral  Agent or any Sub-Agent,  convert into a closed lockbox account under
the exclusive  dominion and control of the  Collateral  Agent in which funds are
held subject to the rights of the Collateral Agent  hereunder.  No Grantor shall
thereafter  have any right or power to  withdraw  any funds from any  Collection
Deposit Account without the prior written consent of Collateral  Agent until all
Events of Default are cured or waived.  The Grantors  irrevocably  authorize the
Collateral  Agent to notify each  Sub-Agent (i) of the occurrence of an Event of
Default and (ii) of the matters referred to in this paragraph (c). Following the
occurrence  of an Event of  Default,  the  Collateral  Agent may  instruct  each
Sub-Agent  to transfer  immediately  all funds held in each  Collection  Deposit
Account to an account maintained with the Collateral Agent.

      SECTION  5.02.  Collections.  So long as no Event of  Default  shall  have
occurred and be  continuing,  the  Grantors  shall have the right to collect all
Accounts  Receivable  and other payments in respect of Inventory in the ordinary
course of their businesses;  provided,  however,  that the Grantors agree, if an
Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and if the Collateral Agent shall
by notice to the Grantors so request  (which notice may be given by telephone if
promptly  confirmed in writing),  (i) to arrange for remittances on any Accounts
Receivable  and  Inventory to be made directly to  Collection  Deposit  Accounts
established  in accordance  with Section 5.01,  and (ii) promptly to deposit all
payments  received  by the  Grantors  on  account  of  Accounts  Receivable  and
Inventory,  whether  in the  form of  cash,  checks,  notes,  drafts,  bills  of
exchange,  money orders or otherwise,  in such  Collection  Deposit  Accounts in
precisely the form in which received (but with any  endorsements of the Grantors
necessary  for  deposit or  collection),  and until they are so  deposited  such
payments  shall be held in trust by the  Grantors for and as the property of the
Collateral Agent and shall not be commingled with the Grantors' other funds.

      SECTION  5.03.  Power of  Attorney.  The  Collateral  Agent shall have the
right,  as the  true  and  lawful  agent  and  attorney-in-fact  of  each of the
Grantors, with power of substitution for the Grantors and in each Grantor's name
or otherwise,  for the use and benefit of the  Collateral  Agent and the Secured
Parties,  upon the occurrence and during the  continuance of an Event of Default
(a) to receive, endorse, assign and/or deliver any and all notes,

                                    -16-



<PAGE>



acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of payment relating
to the Collateral or any part thereof; (b) to demand,  collect,  receive payment
of,  give  receipt  for and give  discharges  and  releases of all or any of the
Collateral; (c) to sign the name of any Grantor on any invoice or bill of lading
relating  to any of  the  Collateral;  (d) to  send  verifications  of  Accounts
Receivable  to any Account  Debtor;  (e) to commence and  prosecute  any and all
suits,  actions  or  proceedings  at law or in equity in any court of  competent
jurisdiction to collect or otherwise  realize on all or any of the Collateral or
to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral;  (f) to settle,  compromise,
compound,  adjust or defend any actions, suits or proceedings relating to all or
any of the  Collateral;  (g) to notify,  or to require  the  Grantors to notify,
Account  Debtors to make payment  directly to the Collateral  Agent;  and (h) to
use,  sell,  assign,  transfer,  pledge,  make any agreement  with respect to or
otherwise deal with all or any of the  Collateral,  and to do all other acts and
things  necessary  to carry out the  purposes  of this  Agreement,  as fully and
completely  as  though  the  Collateral  Agent  were the  absolute  owner of the
Collateral for all purposes;  provided,  however,  that nothing herein contained
shall be  construed  as  requiring or  obligating  the  Collateral  Agent or any
Secured Party to make any  commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or
sufficiency  of any  payment  received  by the  Collateral  Agent or any Secured
Party,  or to present or file any claim or  notice,  or to take any action  with
respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due
in respect  thereof or any  property  covered  thereby,  and no action  taken or
omitted to be taken by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party with respect to
the Collateral or any part thereof shall give rise to any defense,  counterclaim
or  offset  in favor  of any  Grantor  or to any  claim or  action  against  the
Collateral  Agent or any Secured  Party.  It is  understood  and agreed that the
appointment of the  Collateral  Agent as the agent and  attorney-in-fact  of the
Grantors  for the  purposes  set forth above is coupled  with an interest and is
irrevocable. The provisions of this Section shall in no event relieve any of the
Grantors of any of its obligations  hereunder or under the Credit Agreement with
respect to the  Collateral  or any part thereof or impose any  obligation on the
Collateral  Agent or any Secured Party to proceed in any particular  manner with
respect to the Collateral or any part thereof,  or in any way limit the exercise
by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any other or further right which
it may have on the date of this Agreement or hereafter, whether hereunder, under
any other Loan Document, by law or otherwise.

                                    -17-



<PAGE>





                                  ARTICLE VI

                                   REMEDIES

      SECTION 6.01.  Remedies upon Default.  Upon the  occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default,  each of the Grantors agrees to deliver each
item of Collateral to the Collateral Agent on demand,  and it is agreed that the
Collateral Agent shall have the right (subject to applicable law) to take any of
or all the following actions at the same or different times: (a) with respect to
any Collateral  consisting of  Intellectual  Property,  on demand,  to cause the
Security Interest to become an assignment,  transfer and conveyance of any of or
all such  Collateral by the applicable  Grantors to the Collateral  Agent, or to
license or, to the extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,  sublicense,  whether
general,  special or  otherwise,  and whether on an  exclusive  or  nonexclusive
basis, any such Collateral throughout the world on such terms and conditions and
in such manner as the Collateral  Agent shall determine (other than in violation
of any then-existing licensing arrangements to the extent that waivers cannot be
obtained),  and (b) with or without legal  process and with or without  previous
notice or demand for  performance,  to take  possession  of the  Collateral  and
without liability for trespass to enter any premises where the Collateral may be
located for the purpose of taking  possession of or removing the Collateral and,
generally,  to exercise any and all rights afforded to a secured party under the
Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing,  each of the Grantors  agrees that the Collateral  Agent shall
have the right, subject to the mandatory requirements of current law, to sell or
otherwise  dispose  of all or any part of the  Collateral,  at public or private
sale or at any broker's  board or on any  securities  exchange,  for cash,  upon
credit or for future  delivery as the Collateral  Agent shall deem  appropriate.
The  Collateral  Agent  shall be  authorized  at any  such  sale (if it deems it
advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to persons
who will  represent and agree that they are  purchasing the Collateral for their
own  account  for  investment  and not with a view to the  distribution  or sale
thereof,  and upon consummation of any such sale the Collateral Agent shall have
the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof
the  Collateral  so sold.  Each such  purchaser  at any such sale shall hold the
property sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of any of the
Grantors,  and each of the Grantors  hereby  waives (to the extent  permitted by
law) all rights of redemption,  stay and appraisal which such Grantor now has or
may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing
or hereafter enacted.


                                    -18-



<PAGE>



      The  Collateral  Agent  shall give the  Grantors 10 days'  written  notice
(which each of the Grantors  agrees is  reasonable  notice within the meaning of
Section 9-504(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New
York  or its  equivalent  in  other  jurisdictions)  of the  Collateral  Agent's
intention to make any sale of Collateral.  Such notice,  in the case of a public
sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at
a broker's board or on a securities exchange,  shall state the board or exchange
at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion
thereof,  will first be offered  for sale at such  board or  exchange.  Any such
public sale shall be held at such time or times within  ordinary  business hours
and at such  place or  places as the  Collateral  Agent may fix and state in the
Notice  (if any) of such  sale.  At any such sale,  the  Collateral,  or portion
thereof,  to be  sold  may be  sold in one  lot as an  entirety  or in  separate
parcels,  as the  Collateral  Agent  may (in its sole and  absolute  discretion)
determine.  The Collateral  Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any
Collateral  if it shall  determine  not to do so,  regardless  of the fact  that
notice of sale of such Collateral  shall have been given.  The Collateral  Agent
may, without notice or publication,  adjourn any public or private sale or cause
the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place
fixed for sale, and such sale may,  without further notice,  be made at the time
and  place to which  the same was so  adjourned.  In case any sale of all or any
part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery,  the Collateral
so sold may be retained by the Collateral  Agent until the sale price is paid by
the purchaser or purchasers  thereof,  but the Collateral  Agent shall not incur
any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and
pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral
may be sold again upon like  notice.  At any public  sale made  pursuant to this
Section,  any  Secured  Party  may  bid for or  purchase,  free  (to the  extent
permitted by law) from any right of redemption,  stay, valuation or appraisal on
the part of any of the Grantors  (all said rights  being also hereby  waived and
released to the extent  permitted by law),  the  Collateral  or any part thereof
offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim then
due and  payable  to such  Secured  Party from any of the  Grantors  as a credit
against the purchase price, and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the
terms of sale,  hold,  retain  and  dispose  of such  property  without  further
accountability to any of the Grantors  therefor.  For purposes hereof, a written
agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion  thereof shall be treated as
a sale  thereof;  the  Collateral  Agent  shall be free to carry  out such  sale
pursuant to such  agreement  and none of the  Grantors  shall be entitled to the
return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding
the fact  that  after the  Collateral  Agent  shall  have  entered  into such an
agreement all

                                    -19-



<PAGE>



Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations  paid in full. As
an  alternative  to exercising  the power of sale herein  conferred upon it, the
Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose
this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion  thereof  pursuant to a
judgment  or  decree  of a court or  courts  having  competent  jurisdiction  or
pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver.

     SECTION 6.02. Application of Proceeds. The Collateral Agent shall apply the
proceeds of any collection or sale of the Collateral,  as well as any Collateral
consisting of cash, as follows:

            FIRST,  to the  payment of all costs and  expenses  incurred  by the
      Administrative  Agent or the  Collateral  Agent (in its  capacity  as such
      hereunder  or under any  other  Loan  Document)  in  connection  with such
      collection or sale or otherwise in connection  with this  Agreement or any
      of the Obligations, including all court costs and the fees and expenses of
      its agents and legal  counsel,  the  repayment of all advances made by the
      Collateral  Agent  hereunder or under any other Loan Document on behalf of
      any of the Grantors and any other costs or expenses incurred in connection
      with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan
      Document;

            SECOND,  to the payment in full of the  Obligations  (the amounts so
      applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in accordance
      with the amounts of the  Obligations  owed to them on the date of any such
      distribution);

            THIRD,  to the extent and so long as any Letter or Letters of Credit
      remain outstanding and entrain,  to be held and retained by the Collateral
      Agent and applied to reimburse  the Issuing Bank for any L/C  Disbursement
      thereafter made; and

            FOURTH, to the Grantors,  their successors or assigns, or as a court
      of competent jurisdictions may otherwise direct.

The  Collateral  Agent  shall  have  absolute  discretion  as  to  the  time  of
application  of any such  proceeds,  moneys or balances in accordance  with this
Agreement.  Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral  Agent  (including
pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial  proceeding),
the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a
sufficient  discharge to the purchaser or  purchasers of the  Collateral so sold
and such purchase or purchasers shall not be

                                    -20-



<PAGE>



obligated to see to the  application of any part of the purchase money paid over
to the  Collateral  Agent or such  officer  or be  answerable  in anyway for the
misapplication thereof.

      SECTION  6.03.  Grant of License  to Use  Intellectual  Property.  For the
purpose of enabling the Collateral  Agent to exercise  rights and remedies under
this Article VI at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully  entitled
to  exercise  such  rights  and  remedies,  each  Grantor  hereby  grants to the
Collateral  Agent an  irrevocable,  nonexclusive  license  (exercisable  without
payment of royalty or other  compensation  to the  Grantors) to use,  license or
sublicense any of the Collateral  consisting of Intellectual  Property now owned
or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and
including  in such  license  reasonable  access to all media in which any of the
licensed  items may be  recorded  or stored  and to all  computer  software  and
programs used for the compilation or printout  thereof.  The use of such license
by the  Collateral  Agent shall be  exercised,  at the option of the  Collateral
Agent,  upon the occurrence and during the  continuation of an Event of Default;
provided that any license,  sublicense or other transaction  entered into by the
Collateral  Agent in  accordance  herewith  shall be binding  upon the  Grantors
notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default.


                                 ARTICLE VII

                                MISCELLANEOUS

      SECTION 7.01.  Notices.  All  communications  and notices  hereunder shall
(except as  otherwise  expressly  permitted  herein) be in writing  and given as
provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices
hereunder  to any  Subsidiary  Grantor  shall be given to it at its  address  or
telecopy number set forth on Schedule I, with a copy to the Borrower.

      SECTION 7.02.  Security  Interest  Absolute.  All rights of the Collateral
Agent  hereunder,  the  Security  Interest and all  obligations  of the Grantors
hereunder  shall be absolute and  unconditional  irrespective of (a) any lack of
validity or  enforceability  of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document,
any agreement with respect to any of the  Obligations or any other  agreement or
instrument relating to any of the foregoing,  (b) any change in the time, manner
or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the  Obligations,
or any other  amendment  or waiver of or any consent to any  departure  from the
Credit Agreement,  any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument,
(c) any exchange, release or non- perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or
any release or

                                    -21-



<PAGE>



amendment  or  waiver  of or  consent  under or  departure  from any  guarantee,
securing  or  guaranteeing  all  or any of the  Obligations,  or (d)  any  other
circumstance  which might  otherwise  constitute  a defense  available  to, or a
discharge of, any Grantor, in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement.

      SECTION  7.03.   Survival  of  Agreement.   All   covenants,   agreements,
representations   and  warranties   made  by  any  Grantor  herein  and  in  the
certificates  or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in connection with or
pursuant to this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document  shall be  considered to
have been relied upon by the Lenders and shall survive the making by the Lenders
of the Loans,  and the  issuance by the  Issuing  Bank of any Letters of Credit,
regardless  of any  investigation  made by the Lenders or on their  behalf,  and
shall continue in full force and effect until this Agreement shall terminate.

      SECTION 7.04.  Binding  Effect;  Several  Agreement.  This Agreement shall
become effective as to any Grantor when a counterpart  hereof executed on behalf
of such  Grantor  shall  have  been  delivered  to the  Collateral  Agent  and a
counterpart  hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral  Agent,
and thereafter  shall be binding upon such Grantor and the Collateral  Agent and
their respective  successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such
Grantor, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective
successors  and assigns,  except that no Grantor  shall have the right to assign
its rights  hereunder  or any  interest  herein or in the  Collateral  except as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This Agreement
shall be construed as a separate  agreement with respect to each Grantor and may
be  amended,  modified,  supplemented,  waived or released  with  respect to any
Grantor  without the  approval of any other  Grantor and without  affecting  the
obligations of any other Grantor hereunder.

      SECTION 7.05.  Successors  and Assigns.  Whenever in this Agreement any of
the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the
successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements
by or on behalf of any Grantor or the  Collateral  Agent that are  contained  in
this  Agreement  shall  bind  and  inure  to the  benefit  of  their  respective
successors and assigns.

      SECTION 7.06.  Collateral  Agent Appointed  Attorney-in-Fact.  Each of the
Grantors  hereby  appoints the  Collateral  Agent the  attorney-in-fact  of such
Grantor for the purpose of carrying out the  provisions  of this  Agreement  and
taking any action and executing any instrument  which the  Collateral  Agent may
deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment
is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.


                                    -22-



<PAGE>



      SECTION 7.07.  Collateral Agent's Expenses;  Indemnification.  (a) Each of
the Grantors  jointly and severally  agrees to pay upon demand to the Collateral
Agent the amount of any and all  reasonable  expenses,  including the reasonable
fees and  expenses  of its  counsel  and of any  experts  or  agents,  which the
Collateral  Agent may incur in connection  with (i) the  administration  of this
Agreement  (including the customary fees of the Collateral  Agent for any audits
conducted by it with respect to the Accounts Receivable or Inventory ), (ii) the
custody or preservation of, or the sale of, collection from or other realization
upon any of the Collateral, (iii) the exercise, enforcement or protection of any
of the  rights of the  Collateral  Agent  hereunder  or (iv) the  failure of the
Grantors to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.

      (b) Without  limitation  of their  indemnification  obligations  under the
other Loan  Documents,  each of the  Grantors  jointly and  severally  agrees to
indemnify the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties  against,  and hold
each of them harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
related expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and expenses, incurred by or
asserted  against any of them arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a
result of, the  execution,  delivery or  performance  of this  Agreement  or any
claim,  litigation,  investigation  or  proceeding  relating  hereto  or to  the
Collateral,  whether or not any Secured Party is a party thereto;  provided that
such indemnity  shall not, as to any Secured  Party,  be available to the extent
that  such  losses,  claims,  damages,   liabilities  or  related  expenses  are
determined  by a court of  competent  jurisdiction  by final  and  nonappealable
judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such
Secured Party.

      (c) Any such amounts  payable as provided  hereunder  shall be  additional
Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security  Documents.  The provisions
of this Section shall remain  operative and in full force and effect  regardless
of the  termination of this  Agreement,  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  the  repayment  of any of the Loans,  the  invalidity  or
unenforceability  of any term or provision  of this  Agreement or any other Loan
Document,  or any investigation  made by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent or
any  Lender.  All  amounts  due under this  Section  shall be payable on written
demand therefor.

     SECTION  7.08.   GOVERNING  LAW.  THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL  BE  CONSTRUED  IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     SECTION 7.09. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the Collateral
Agent in  exercising  any power or right  hereunder  shall  operate  as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single

                                    -23-



<PAGE>



or  partial  exercise  of  any  such  right  or  power,  or any  abandonment  or
discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,  preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights
and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder and of the Collateral  Agent, the
Administrative  Agent  and the  Lenders  under  the  other  Loan  Documents  are
cumulative  and are not  exclusive  of any rights or  remedies  which they would
otherwise  have. No waiver of any provisions of this Agreement or consent to any
departure by any Grantor  therefrom  shall in any event be effective  unless the
same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) below,  and then such waiver or consent
shall be effective  only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which
given. No notice or demand on any Grantor in any case shall entitle such Grantor
or any other  Grantor  to any other or  further  notice or demand in  similar or
other circumstances.

      (b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended
or modified  except  pursuant to an agreement or agreements  in writing  entered
into by the  Collateral  Agent and the Grantor or Grantors with respect to which
such waiver,  amendment or modification  is to apply,  with (and subject to) the
prior  written  consent  of the  Required  Lenders  or,  if the  effect  of such
agreement is to release all or any substantial part of the Collateral other than
in accordance with Section 7.15, each Lender.

      SECTION 7.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES,  TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL
BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY  LITIGATION  DIRECTLY  OR  INDIRECTLY  ARISING OUT OF,
UNDER OR IN CONNECTION  WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS.
EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY
OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD
NOT, IN THE EVENT OF  LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING  WAIVER AND (B)
ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO HAVE BEEN  INDUCED TO ENTER
INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

      SECTION 7.11. Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Agreement should be held invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in
any  respect,  the  validity,  legality  and  enforceability  of  the  remaining
provisions  contained  herein and  therein  shall not in any way be  affected or
impaired  thereby.  The parties  shall  endeavor in good-faith  negotiations  to
replace the invalid,  illegal or unenforceable  provisions with valid provisions
the economic  effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                                    -24-



<PAGE>




      SECTION 7.12. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts,  each of which shall  constitute an original but all of which when
taken together shall constitute but one contract  (subject to Section 7.04), and
shall become effective as provided in Section 7.04.

      SECTION 7.13. Headlines.  Article and Section headings used herein are for
convenience  of reference  only,  are not part of this  Agreement and are not to
affect the construction  of, or to be taken into  consideration in interpreting,
this Agreement.

      SECTION  7.14.  Jurisdiction;  Consent  to Service  of  Process.  (a) Each
Grantor  hereby  irrevocably  and  unconditionally  submits,  for itself and its
property,  to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction  of any New  York  State  court or
Federal court of the United States of America  sitting in New York City, and any
appellate court from any thereof,  in any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the other Loan  Documents,  or for  recognition or
enforcement of any judgment,  and each of the parties hereto hereby  irrevocably
and  unconditionally  agrees  that all claims in  respect of any such  action or
proceeding  may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that
a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be
enforced in other  jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided  by law.  Nothing  in this  Agreement  shall  affect any right that the
Collateral  Agent or any  Lender  may  otherwise  have to bring  any  action  or
proceeding  relating to this Agreement or the other Loan  Documents  against any
Grantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

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

      (c) Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to  service  of
process in the manner  provided  for  notices in Section  7.01.  Nothing in this
Agreement  will  affected  the  right of any  party to this  Agreement  to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.

     SECTION 7.15.  Termination.  This Agreement and the Security Interest shall
terminate when all the Obligations have been  indefeasibly  paid in full and the
Lenders have no further

                                    -25-



<PAGE>



commitment  to extend  credit and the Issuing Bank has no further  commitment to
issue Letters of Credit under the Credit  Agreement and all outstanding  Letters
of Credit  have been  cancelled  (or at such  earlier  time as such  termination
occurs pursuant to and in accordance with Section 9.17 of the Credit Agreement),
at which time the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to the Grantors, at
the Grantors' expense,  all Uniform  Commercial Code termination  statements and
similar  documents which the Grantors shall reasonably  request to evidence such
termination.  Any execution and delivery of termination  statements or documents
pursuant to this  Section  7.15 shall be without  recourse to or warranty by the
Collateral Agent. Each Subsidiary  Grantor shall  automatically be released from
its obligations  hereunder and the Security  Interest in the Collateral owned by
such Subsidiary  Grantor shall be  automatically  released in the event that all
the capital  stock of such  Subsidiary  Grantor  shall be sold,  transferred  or
otherwise  disposed of to a person that is not an  Affiliate  of the Borrower in
accordance  with the terms of the Credit  Agreement;  provided that the Required
lenders shall have consented to such sale, transfer or other disposition and the
terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.

      SECTION  7.16.  Additional  Grantors.  Upon  execution and delivery by the
Collateral  Agent  and a  Subsidiary  of an  instrument  in the  form of Annex 3
hereto,  such Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Grantor and Grantor hereunder
with the same force and effect as if  originally  named as a Subsidiary  Grantor
and Grantor herein.  The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not
require the consent of any Grantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each
Grantor  hereunder  shall  remain in full force and effect  notwithstanding  the
addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Agreement.


                                    -26-



<PAGE>




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


ETHAN ALLEN INC.


By   /s/ M. Farooq Kathwari
  Name:  M. Farooq Kathwari
  Title: President


ANDOVER WOOD PRODUCTS, INC.


By   /s/ M. Farooq Kathwari
  Name:  M. Farooq Kathwari
  Title: President


ETHAN ALLEN MANUFACTURING
CORPORATION


By   /s/ M. Farooq Kathwari
  Name:  M. Farooq Kathwari
  Title: President


ETHAN ALLEN FINANCE
CORPORATION


By   /s/ M. Farooq Kathwari
  Name:  M. Farooq Kathwari
  Title: President


CHEMICAL BANK, as Collateral
Agent


By   /s/ Neil R. Boylan
  Name:  Neil R. Boylan
  Title: Vice President


                                    -27-



<PAGE>



                                                              SCHEDULE I
                                               to the Security Agreement









                           SUBSIDIARY GRANTORS

1.  Andover Wood Products, Inc.

2.  Ethan Allen Manufacturing Corporation

3.  Ethan Allen Finance Corporation





<PAGE>



                                                             SCHEDULE II
                                               to the Security Agreement









         SCHEDULE OF U.S. COPYRIGHTS AND COPYRIGHT APPLICATIONS

============================================================================
                                         Registration       Registration
              Copyright                     Number              Date
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Customer follow-up card                PA-217-001             04/05/84
system--securing the in-home
call

The Ethan Allen philosophy             PA-217-002             04/05/84

Expanding horizons                     PA-217-003             04/05/84

Selling the Ethan Allen way            PA-217-004             04/05/84

Increase your sales, the in-           PA-217-005             04/05/84
home calls

How to sell Ethan Allen wood           PA-217-006             04/05/84
furniture

Ethan Allen summer sale '83            PA-217-007             04/05/84

How to sell Ethan Allen                PA-217-008             04/05/84
upholstered furniture

Presenting the Treasury                PA-217-009             04/05/84

Recruitment and selection:             PA-217-010             04/05/84
in search of the perfect
designer salesperson

Ethan Allen lighting, value            PA-217-011             04/05/84
plus

Winter sales '84                       PA-217-012             04/05/84

Basic window treatments                PA-217-013             04/05/84

Ethan Allen floorcovering:             PA-225-565             04/05/84
broadloom & oriental rugs

Ethan Allen summer sale '84            PA-228-339             09/12/84

Ethan Allen recliners                  PA-228-340             09/12/84

Spring decorating sale '84             PA-228-341             09/12/84

Ethan Allen's spring                   PA-234-586             11/08/84
collections, 1984

Your first home                        PA-234-587             11/08/84

Christmas mailer promotion             PA-234-588             11/08/84
'84

Ethan Allen winter sale '85            PA-240-557             01/22/85

Ethan Allen spring sale '85            PA-252-484             04/24/85





<PAGE>





The Ethan Allen consumer               PA-273-941             10/25/85
finance plan

Ethan Allen broadlooms                 TX-1-319-747           04/05/84

Ethan Allen wood furniture             TX-1-319-748           04/05/84
construction

Ethan Allen bedspreads                 TX-1-319-749           04/05/84

Ethan Allen glossary of                TX-1-319-750           04/05/84
furniture terms

Ethan Allen product reference          TX-1-319-751           04/05/84
guide:  Heirloom

Ethan Allen broadloom:                 TX-1-319-752           04/05/84
estimating and measuring

American traditional:  a               TX-1-505-415           01/31/85
comprehensive guide to home
decorating the Ethan Allen
way

Creating organized analytical          TX-523-061             08/07/80
coaching habits



                                    -2-



<PAGE>



                                                            SCHEDULE III
                                               to the Security Agreement









                          SERVICEMARK LICENSES



Name                            Location                   Date           Marks
                                
                                
Concord House of Lubbock, Inc.  4703 S. Loop 289           1/20/92          1
                                Lubbock, TX 79424          5/5/92
                                
                                
Wayside Furniture Shops, Inc.   Derby                      5/20/93          1
                                Milford
                                Norwalk
                                Southington
                                
                                
Alberta Heirloom House Limited  6707 Elbon Dr. SW          5/4/92           1
                                Calgary, Alberta, CN
                                
                                
Chalmor Furniture               1363 Pleasant Street       --               1
                                Fall River, MA 02723
                                
                                
Hubbards Home Furnishings, Inc. 16 N. Batavia Avenue       6/12/92          1
                                Batavia, IN
                                
                                
3685 Investment Ltd.            25 King Edward Street      --/93            1
                                Coquitlan, B.C.
                                
                             
Montclair Interiors Inc.        5001-5003 Montclair Plaza  2/2              2
                                South
                                Montclair, CA 91763
                                
                                
Fischers Associates Rainbow     1540 S. Rainbow Blvd.      10/26/94         2
Corporation                     Las Vegas, NV 89119
                                
                                
Cooke, Rider, and Fransen       3220 First Avenue North    10/7/94          2
C.R.F., Inc.                    Billings, MT 59101
                                
                                
Feldman Brothers, Incorporated  306-310 West Main Street   12/15/94         2
                                Salisbury, MA
                                
                                
Fredeens Interiors Inc.         19 Stafford Road           5/12/92          1
                                Nepean, Ontario
                                Canada K2H 8VE
                                
                                
R.J. Fischer, Inc.              300 E. Route 59            5/5/93           1
                                Nanuet, NY 10954


<PAGE>






Whippany Manor                  245 Route 10               5/5/93           1
                                Whippany, NJ 07981
                                
                                
Yeager's Carriage House Inc.    Santa Rosa, CA             6/10/92          1
                                
                                
W&B Furniture Inc.              4118 West Market Street    5/5/93           1
                                Akron, OH 44333
                                
                                
Village Carriage House, Inc.    1501 Montgomery Highway    5/15/92          1
                                Dothan, AL 36303
                                
                             
Village Shops Inc.              861 E. El Camino Real      6/1/92           1
                                Mt. View, CA 94040
                                
                                
Valley Manor South Inc.         15053 South Dixie Highway  4/28/92          1
                                Miami, FL 33176
                                
                                
Valley Manor                    8750 Tampa Avenue          5/5/92           1
                                Northridge, CA 91324
                                
                                
Hector Valdizon                 1363 South E. Street       6/1/92           1
                                San Bernardino, CA 92408
                                
                                
                                2248 Griffin Way           6/1/92           1
                                Corona, CA
                                
                                
United Home Furnishings, Inc.   114 N. 3rd Street          5/15/92          1
                                Paducah, KY 42001
                                
                                
Traditional Interiors, Inc.     633 Northeast Loop         5/15/92          1
                                82B
                                Hurst, TX 76053
                                
                             
Larry & DBA                     Sacramento, CA             5/5/93           1
                                
                                
Tradition House, Inc.           8200 E. Sprague            5/5/93           1
                                Spokane, WA 99212
                                
                                
Thompson's Carriage House, Inc. 4325 S. Padre Island Drive 1/23/93         N/A
                                Corpus Christi, TX 78411   (11/11/92)
                                
                                
Thomas Furniture Co.            815 West S.W. Loop 323     8/5/92           1
                                Tyler, TX 75701


                                 -2-



<PAGE>






                                200 West Oak
                                Denton, TX 76201
                                
                                
Stern's Carriage House Inc.     2705 W. Monroe Street      9/2/92          N/A
                                Springfield, IL 62704
                                
                                
TWT, Inc.                       875 WSW Loop 323           11/11/92        N/A
                                Tyler, TX 75901
                                
                                
________ Carriage House         1111 E. Highway 26         4/27/92          1
                                St. Paul, MN
                             
   
Star Furniture                  445 N. Rosemead Blvd.      7/28/92          1
                                Pasadena, CA 91107
   
   
Stacy's Enterprises, Inc.       16240 U.S. 41 S.           5/28/92          1
                                Ft. Myers, FL 33908
   
   
Simon's Home Furnishings, Inc.  3445 Kietzke Lane          5/7/92           1
                                Reno, NV 89502
   
   
Shipley's Inc.                  1353 Brevard Road          6/4/92           1
                                Asheville, NC 28806
                                
                                
Sherman Furniture Co. Inc.      310 Court St.              5/29/92          1
                                No. Plymouth, MA
                                
                                
Robert J. Scott, Inc.           Colorado Springs, CO       4/27/92          1
                                
                                
Schwartz Furniture              990101 West Main Street    7/22/92          1
                                Somerville, NJ 08876
                                
                                
Thomas Ross Inc.                3641 Sycamore Dairy Road   4/28/92          1
                                Fayetteville, NC
                                
                                
Reis Carriage House, Inc.       5621 N. Oracle Road        5/5/93           1
                                Tucson, AZ 85704
                                
                                
R&G Furniture Corp.             Eastview Mall              5/5/93           1
                                Victor, NY 14564
                                
                                
                                Greece Towne Mall          5/5/93           1
                                Rochester, NY 14626



                                 -3-



<PAGE>






Restful Furniture Corp.         456 Montauk Highway        4/28/93          1
                                Bayshore, NY 11706
                                
                                
Sam Y. Phillips & Sons Inc.     Austin, TX                 5/5/93           1
                                Abilene, TX
                                Odessa, TX
                                
                                
National Retail Corporation     8955 Beach Boulevard       5/18/92          1
                                Jacksonville, FL
                                
                                
                                7666 Blanding Boulevard
                                Jacksonville, FL
                                
                                
                                (Orlando, FL)
                                
                                
Osborne's Galleries, Inc.       4230 Rosewood Dr.          6/3/92           1
                                Pleasonton, CA 94588
                                
                                
Nassau's                        Canton, CT                 5/30/92          1
                                Enfield, CT
                                
                                
N&K Furniture Corporation       1069 Montgomery Highway    5/6/92           1
                                Birmingham, AL 35211
                                
                                
Morrison Furniture Inc.         20040 Governors Highway    5/4/92           1
                                Olympia Fields, IL 60461
                                
                                
                                Orlando Park, IL
                                
                                
The Manor House Inc.            5301 North 16th Street     4/27/92          1
                                Phoenix, AZ 85016
                                
                             
Mark Brown & Sons               4545 So. ___ East          5/4/92           1
                                Salt Lake City, UT 84117
                                
                                
Manor House                     Richmond, VA               6/29/92          1
                                
                                
Mak Inc.                        3309 Hartzdale Dr.         6/1/92           1
                                Camp Hill, PA 17011
                                
                                
McFarlands Carriage House       450 S. Yonge St.           6/23/92          1
                                Ormond Beach, FL 32174



                                 -4-



<PAGE>






W.L. Landau's Carriage House    River Edge, NJ 07661       5/5/93           1
                                Hartsdale, NY
                                
                                
Kweller's Georgetown Manor,     5064 Hamilton Blvd.        6/1/92           1
Inc.                            Allentown, PA 18706
                                
                                
Kittle Home Furnishings Center  8600 Allisonville Road     6/25/92          1
Inc.                            Indianapolis, IN 46250
                                
                                
Mirons                          1541 Route 22              4/28/92          1
                                Watchung, NJ 07060
                             

                                East Brunswick, NJ         4/28/91          1
                                
                                
Kitslaar's Carriage House Inc.  2350 So. Oneida St.        5/5/93           1
                                Green Bay, WI 54304
                                
                                
Kineads Ethan Allen             5130 Madison Avenue        5/5/93           1
                                Sacramento, CA 95841
                                
                                
Jonsey Inc.                     525 Forest Avenue          6/12/92          1
                                Portland, ME
                                
                             
Home Furniture


Home Furniture & Appliance      121 N. Main                5/5/93           1
                                Miami, OK
                                
                                
Home Environments Inc.          192 Rt 101 West            4/27/92          1
                                Bedford, NH
                                
                                
Heyman's Furniture Co., Inc.    24 East Third Street       10/13/92         1
                                Williamsport, PA 17701
                                
                                
Grand Gallery of Shreveport,    8824 Youree Drive          5/5/93           1
Inc.                            Shreveport, LA
                             

Grand Gallery, Inc.             8560 Florida Blvd.         6/18/92          1
                                Baton Rouge, LA 70806
                                
                                
Gesman's Ethan Allen            4420 Emerson Ave.          5/5/92          N/A
                                Barkersburg, WV
                                
                                
                                
                                    -5-
                                

                                
<PAGE>                          
                             





Helke Furniture Co.          2107 Robin Lane            5/8/92           1
                             Wausau, WI 51401


Georgetown Manor Inc.        Portland, OR               6/1/92           1
                             Clackamas, OR


Georgetown Manor             1024 N. Fuller St.         6/6/92           1
                             Santa Ana, CA 92701


Garon's Furniture Co. Inc.   8727 Loch Raven Blvd.      8/6/92           1
                             Baltimore, MD 21286
                             (3 locations)


Fratco Inc.                  230 Northern Blvd.         5/5/93           1
                             Clarks Summit, PA 18411


Fowler's Carriage House      305 So. Central Expwy      5/5/93           1
                             Richardson, TX 75080


Fisher's Carriage House      4720 E. State St.          5/5/93           1
                             Rockford, IL 61108


Fischer Corporation          4043 S. Eastern Ave.       5/4/92           1
                             Las Vegas, NV 89119


Ethan Allen                  Little Rock, AK            7/2/92           1
                             Fayetteville, AK


Drinnin's Inc.               416 North Rock Road        6/4/92           1
                             Wichita, KS 67206


Doud's Inc.                  Main St.                   8/11/92          1
                             Plumville, PA 16246


Dekorne Furniture Co.        3450 28th St. SE           6/12/92          1
                             Grand Rapids, MI 49512


Davidsons Furniture Co.      8001 W. Dodge Rd.          5/5/93           1
                             Omaha, NE 68124


                             70th & Van Dorn            5/5/93           1
                             Lincoln, NE 68506


E. O. Crawford & Sons, Inc.  472 N. Military Hgwy.      7/7/92           1
                             Norfolk, VA



                                 -6-



<PAGE>






                             3032-1 Richmond Rd.        7/7/92           1
                             Williamsburg, VA


Country Manor                312 E. Main St.            5/5/93           1
                             Branford, CT 06405


Concord House                2191 Central Ave.          5/5/93           1
                             Schenectady, NY 12304


Cohen Furniture Company      1344 East Empire           5/5/93           1
                             Bloomington, IL 61701


Classic Imports, S.A.        1618 Insurgentes St.       5/5/93           1
DE C.V.                      Mexico City, Mexico


Carter Furniture Co.         6767 N. High St.           5/5/92           1
                             Worthington, OH 43085


Carriage Trade Inc.          Eatontown, NJ 07731        1/9/05           1


Carriage House Interiors,    6200 N. Dale Mabry         5/3/92           1
Inc.                         Tampa, FL 33164


                             10015 Adamo Drive          5/3/92           1
                             Tampa, FL 33619


Carriage House of            1184 N. Pleasantburg Dr.   5/5/93           1
Greenville                   Greenville, SC 29607


Carriage House Gallery, Inc. 5302 Verona Road           5/20/92          1
                             Madison, WI 53711


Carriage House Inc.          4701 Summer Ave.           5/12/92          1
                             Memphis, TN


                             Cordova Center             5/12/92          1
                             Memphis, TN


Carriage House Inc.          7700 Hickman Road          4/4/92           1
                             Des Moines, IA 50325


Carriage House Furniture     1924 Shelburne Rd          5/4/92           1
Shop Inc.                    Shelburne, VT 05482



                                 -7-



<PAGE>






Carriage House Furniture     12618 Interurban Ave.      6/8/92           1
Inc.                         S. Tukwila, WA 98168
                             (3 locations)


Carriage House Furniture     9801 Linn Station Road     10/20/92         1
Inc.                         Louisville, KY


Carriage House of Columbus   3939 Macon Rd.             6/3/92           1
Inc.                         Columbus, GA 31907


Carriage House               117 W. Shepard             11/11/92        N/A
                             Lufkin, TX 75701


Carriage House               10001 Kingston Pike        8/13/92          1
                             Knoxville, TN 37922


Carriage House               10720 Pacific Street       5/5/92           2
                             Omaha, NE 68114


Cabot House                  Saugus, MA                 11/9/92          1
                             Phalstow, NH


Burgess Carriage House       Pinellas Park, FL          10/14/92         1
                             Port Richey, FL
                             Lakeland, FL
                             Sarasota, FL


Brough Corp.                 3011 E. Shields            4/28/92          1
                             Fresno, CA 93726


Brenners Furn. Co., Inc.     210 N. Plank Road          5/12/92          1
                             Newburg, NY 12550


Claypool's Ethan Allen       2330 I-H 30                5/5/92           1
                             Mesquite, TX 75150


Stanley F. Company           111-115 N. Mechanic Street   /  /92         1
                             Carthage, NY 13619


Bly & Sons, Inc.             455 Salem Place            6/20/92          1
                             Fairview Heights, IL 62208


Wm M. Bloomfield Inc.        2500 Fontaine Road         5/4/92           1
                             San Jose,  CA
                             (2 Locations)



                                 -8-



<PAGE>






Blair House of Trevose, Inc. 4625 Street Road           5/5/93           1
                             Trevose, PA 19053


Blair House Inc.             2470 Brunswick Pike          /  /92         1
                             Lawrenceville, NJ 08648


Blair House of Pa. Inc.      668 Bethlehem Pike           /  /92         1
                             Montgomeryville, PA 18936


Blair House of Cherry        261 Route 38                 /  /92         1
Hill, Inc.                   Maple Shade, NJ 08052


Benner's Carriage House      2138 North Josey Lane      5/5/93           1
Inc.                         Carrollton, TX 75006       5/24/94          2


B&R Furniture                Dewey Ave. & E. Genese Stre6/1/92           1
                             DeWitt, NY 13066


Arlo Enterprises             Concord, CA                5/5/93           1


Americana Furniture Barn     703 Long Hill Road         5/13/93          1
Inc.                         Groton, CT 06505


Adams Furniture Inc.         613 West Lake Avenue       5/16/92          1
                             Peoria, IL 61614


Abbey Coordinated Interiors  3875 Sheridan Drive        5/5/93           1
                             Amherst, NY 14226


Carriage House Interiors     6 Locations -              5/5/93           1
Inc.                         Colorado & Corporation


Kwellers' Manor House        4118 Electric Road         12/18/92         1
                             Roanoke, VA 24014


Bragg's Ethan Allen          3017 South Parkway         8/10/92          1
                             Huntsville, AL 35801


Carriage House, Inc.         5221 U.S. Route 60         5/5/93           1
                             East Huntington, WV 25705


Georgetown Interiors Inc.    12504 Candelaria Road, NE  5/5/93           1
                             Albuquerque, NM 87112



                                 -9-



<PAGE>






Mared Furniture Inc.         McMurray, PA               11/23/93         2
                             Monroeville, PA
                             Wexford, PA


Andover Interiors Inc.       419 Andover Street         7/7/94          N/A
                             North Andover, MA 08145


Salvesen's Furniture         1607 Mesquite Avenue       9/12/94          2
Galleries                    Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403


The Myers Corporation        Route 132                  9/12/94          2
                             Hyannis, MA 02601


Kalo Ltd.                    2300 West 49th Street      7/14/94          2
                             Sioux Falls, SD


Thomas & Kline Inc.          6755 West Central          7/6/94           2
                             Sylvania, OH 43560


AJ Gallery of Boise Inc.     400 North Cole Road        8/19/94          2
                             Boise, ID 83706


Servco Distributing Inc.     4081-R Westheimer          6/1/94          N/A
                             Houston, TX 77027


Canterbury House             Holiday Mall               9/15/92         N/A
                             Moorhead, MN 56560


Albert M. Churilla Inc.      1775 Band Hill Road        9/25/93         N/A
                             Warwick, RI 02886
                             (Amendment Only)


Schultz Furniture Inc.       411 West Yakima            10/4/92         N/A
                             Yakima, WA 98902



Notes

1  =  Servicemarks include "Ethan Allen", EA Logo & Design SM.
2  =  Covers same marks as in Note 1 plus Ethan Allen Trade Name.
3  =  Above is subject to review for updating.  May also need to include; Japan,
      Jordan, Korea, Saudi Arabia.

                                 -10-



<PAGE>



                                                             SCHEDULE IV
                                               to the Security Agreement









            SCHEDULE OF U.S. PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS

I.  PATENTS


- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Inventor(s)        Title        Serial Number      Filing Date
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Store Front          346,451          04/26/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Store Front          349,413          08/09/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Arm Chair            340,197          08/02/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Curio China          343,743          02/01/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Bed                  336,797          06/29/93
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Div. of 005          345,264          03/22/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Irving Sabo    Furniture Knob     5,255,413          10/26/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Store Front II       346,664          05/03/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------


II.  DESIGN PATENT APPLICATIONS

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Inventor(s)        Title        Serial Number      Filing Date
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Joel Brand     Store Front II       000,495          10/15/92
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Philip Stone etSide Chair           877,018          05/01/92
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Philip Stone etArm.Chair            877,019          05/01/92
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Philip Stone etBed.                 877,020          05/01/92
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Philip Stone etCurio China          882,629          05/13/92
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Joel Brand     Store Front          892,512          06/01/92
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Div. of 001           18,596          02/10/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Accent Chair          32,400          12/19/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Poster Bed            32,407          12/19/93
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Sofa/Cons. Table      32,406          12/19/93
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Ell. Coffee Table     32,405          12/19/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Disp. Coffee Table    32,404          12/19/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Curio Cabinet         32,403          12/19/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Entertainment Unit    32,402          12/19/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Armoire               32,401          12/19/94
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------


III.  UTILITY PATENT APPLICATIONS

None.




<PAGE>



                                                              SCHEDULE V
                                               to the Security Agreement









               U.S. TRADEMARKS AND TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS

I. Schedule of U.S. Trademark Registrations


=============================================================================
Trademark                          Registration Number   Registration Date
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen (Script Form)                  381,746            10/01/40
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                697,295            05/10/60
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                737,146            09/04/62
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kling                                      851,020            06/18/68
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                903,549            12/01/70
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                903,855            12/08/70
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                904,124            12/15/70
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                905,053            12/29/70
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                906,171            01/19/71
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                907,552            02/09/71
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                907,567            02/10/71
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                910,034            03/16/71
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                911,916            06/08/71
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                922,385            10/19/71
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                929,420            02/22/72
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                930,136            02/28/72
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                942,357            03/05/72
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                972,404            11/06/73
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                                998,857            11/19/74
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Knob Creek                               1,000,742            12/31/74
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                              1,003,506            01/28/75
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                              1,003,584            01/28/75
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                              1,003,604            01/28/75
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                              1,003,617            01/28/75


                                 -2-



<PAGE>




- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                              1,003,605            01/28/75
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen Inn (Script Form)            1,012,476            06/03/75
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                              1,127,735            12/11/79
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen in Colonial House            1,247,706            08/09/83
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Knob Creek and Design                    1,337,963            05/28/85
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We Care About Your Home                  1,510,514            10/25/88
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newport Cherry                           1,524,041            02/07/89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen In Colonial House            1,688,646            05/26/92
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                              1,741,943            12/22/92
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Expressions                     1,801,558            10/26/93
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EA                                       1,801,318            10/20/93
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                              1,741,943            12/22/92
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen & Store Design #4            1,837,311            05/17/94
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


II.Schedule of U.S. Trademark Applications

=============================================================================
                                          Registration       Registration
              Trademark                      Number              Date
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen & Store Design #2               270,416            04/28/92
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen & Store Design #1               272,475            04/28/92
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen & Store Design #3               324,577            00/21/92
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen in Colonial House               622,456            08/09/83
=============================================================================




                                 -3-



<PAGE>


III. Schedule of Trade, Fictitious and Other Names

================================================================================
Trade Names                         Used By:               Jurisdictions
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen                         Ethan Allen Inc.   Connecticut and in each
                                                       other state where Ethan
                                                       Allen Inc. is qualified
                                                       to do business.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen Gallery                 Ethan Allen Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethan Allen Home Interiors          Ethan Allen Inc.
================================================================================





<PAGE>


                          ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
                       Computation of Per Share Earnings



                                 Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                                     December 31,              December 31,
                                 1996        1995           1996        1995
                                 ----        ----           ----        ----

Primary Earnings Per Share:

      Average number of
        shares outstanding   14,388,000  14,395,000     14,363,000   14,375,000

      Treasury stock           (518,000)   (134,000)      (524,000)    (134,000)

      Net effect of common
        stock equivalents       751,000     211,000        788,000      295,000
                             ----------   ---------      ---------   ----------

      Average number of
        shares - primary     14,621,000  14,472,000     14,627,000   14,536,000


      Net income available
        to common
        shareholder         $12,227,000 $ 7,841,000     $21,010,000 $12,341,000
                            =========== ===========     =========== ===========


      Per Share Data

      Net income per common
      share                 $     0.84  $      0.54     $      1.44 $      0.85
                            =========== ===========     =========== ===========



Earnings Per Common Share:

      Earnings  per common  share are  computed by dividing  net earnings by the
weighted  average number of shares of common stock and common stock  equivalents
outstanding  during  each  period.  The  Company  has issued  stock  options and
warrants which are the Company's only common stock equivalents.

Fully Diluted Earnings Per Share:

      Fully  diluted  earnings  per share is within 3% of primary  earnings  per
share for all periods presented.

<PAGE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
consolidated financial statements of Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. for the quarter
ended  December  31, 1996 and is  qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statement
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000896156
<NAME>                        0
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                                              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JUN-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1<F1>
<CASH>                                         23,238
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  30,896<F2>
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    100,236
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               171,839<F3>
<PP&E>                                         249,558
<DEPRECIATION>                                 86,259
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 398,440<F4>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          57,551<F5>
<BONDS>                                        57,551<F6>
                          0
                                    0<F7>
<COMMON>                                       146<F8>
<OTHER-SE>                                     241,167<F9>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   398,440
<SALES>                                        138,330
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               138,330<F10>
<CGS>                                          78,409
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  78,409
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             1,556<F11>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                20,389
<INCOME-TAX>                                   8,162
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            12,227
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   12,227
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.84<F12>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.84<F13>
<FN>
- --------------------------------

<F1>  Not applicable.  All figures for Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.
are in U.S. dollars.

<F2>  Figure for receivables is net of allowances for doubtful
accounts of $2,446.

<F3>  Includes prepaid expenses of $7,476.

<F4>  Includes goodwill of $9,207 (net of amortization).

<F5>  Includes  current  portion of long-term  debt of $1,878 as of December 31,
1996.

<F6> Includes long-term debt of $63,857 (net of the current portion of long-term
debt)  and  capitalized  leases  of  $2,867  (net  of  the  current  portion  of
capitalized leases). As of December 31, 1996 outstanding long-term debt of Ethan
Allen on a  consolidated  basis  consisted of (i) 8.75% senior notes of $52,616,
(ii) 9.75% mortgage note of $1,571 (net of current  portion),  (iii)  industrial
revenue bonds of $8,455, and (iv) other of $1,215 (net of current portion).  For
a description  of the terms of Ethan Allen's  long-term  debt, see Footnote 8 to
Ethan Allen's fiscal 1996 Consolidated Financial Statements.

<F7> As of December 31, 1996, Ethan Allen had no shares of preferred stock, $.01
par value per share,  outstanding.  For a description of Ethan Allen's preferred
stock as of June 30, 1996, see Ethan Allen's fiscal 1996 Consolidated  Statement
of  Stockholders'  Equity and Footnote 10 to Ethan Allen's  fiscal 1996 Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

<F8> As of  December  31,  1996,  Ethan Allen had  14,665,165  shares of common
stock,  $.01 par value per share,  issued.  For a  description  of Ethan Allen's
common stock as of June 30, 1996,  see Ethan  Allen's  fiscal 1996  Consolidated
Statement of  Stockholders'  Equity and Footnote 10 of Ethan Allen's fiscal 1996
Consolidated Financial Statements.

<F9> Consists of $255,170 of additional  paid in capital,  $(8,397) of retained
earnings, and ($5,606) of treasury stock.

<F10> In the quarter  ended  December  31, 1996,  Ethan  Allen's  revenues  were
derived from sales generated by its wholesale and retail operations.

<F11>  Consists  of $1,420  of  interest  expense  and $136 of  amortization  of
deferred costs during the quarter ended December 31, 1996.

<F12> Earnings per share for the quarter end December 31, 1996,  was $0.84.  For
information on Ethan Allen's earnings per share, see Ethan Allen's  Consolidated
Financial Statements for the quarter ended December 31, 1996.

<F13> Earnings per share on a fully diluted basis for the quarter ended December
31, 1996, were $0.84.
</FN>
        
<PAGE>

</TABLE>


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