POINDEXTER J B & CO INC
10-K, 1999-04-01
TRUCK & BUS BODIES
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                                  United States
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 10-K

          (Mark one) [X] ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
                                       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 33-75154
                           J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                     Delaware                    76-0312814
        (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
         incorporation or organization)

                 1100 Louisiana
                   Suite 5400
                 Houston, Texas                           77002  
       (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)


       (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) (713) 655-9800
        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
                  Name of each exchange where registered: None

        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None


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. Yes X No Indicate by check mark if disclosure
of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405 of  Regulation  S-K is not contained
herein,  and will not be contained,  to the best of registrant's  knowledge,  in
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III
of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by  non-affiliates  of
the registrant: $ 0 -------

The number of shares  outstanding of each of the registrants'  classes of common
stock as of March 19, 1999: 3059 

Documents Incorporated by Reference: None


<PAGE>


                  J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


                                                             

PART I.

Item 1.  Business

     J.B.  Poindexter & Co., Inc.  ("JBPCO")  operates  primarily  manufacturing
businesses.  JBPCO's subsidiaries are Morgan Trailer Mfg Co., ("Morgan"),  Truck
Accessories Group, Inc., ("TAG"), Lowy Group, Inc. ("Lowy" or "Lowy Group"), EFP
Corporation, ("EFP") and Magnetic Instruments Corp., ("MIC Group").

       Unless the context  otherwise  requires,  the  "Company"  refers to JBPCO
together with its consolidated  subsidiaries.  The Company is controlled by John
B. Poindexter.  In May 1994, the Company completed an initial public offering of
$100.0 million,  12 1/2% Senior Notes due 2004 (sometimes  referred to herein as
the "Note Offering").  Concurrent with the Note Offering,  the Company acquired,
from John B. Poindexter and various minority interests, TAG, Lowy Group, EFP and
MIC Group. During 1998, the Company's  management made the strategic decision to
concentrate resources on the Company's manufacturing  operations.  Consequently,
the retail and wholesale distribution operations of TAG and Lowy Group are being
held  for  sale  and  have  been  treated  as  discontinued  operations  in  the
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company. The Company manages its assets
on a decentralized  basis,  with a small  corporate  staff  providing  strategic
direction and support.

       During  1998,  the  Company  sold the  carpet  manufacturing  and  dyeing
operations  (Blue  Ridge/Courier)  of Lowy  Group.  The plan to  dispose  of the
remaining  operations of Lowy Group and the distribution  operations of TAG (TAG
Distribution)  are  anticipated to be  substantially  complete by the end of the
second  quarter  of 1999.  See Note 13 of  Notes to the  Consolidated  Financial
Statements.

     The Company  considers  each of its operating  subsidiaries  as an industry
segment. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

Morgan

       Morgan is the nation's  largest  manufacturer  of  commercial  van bodies
("van bodies") for medium-duty  trucks.  Morgan  products,  which are mounted on
truck chassis  manufactured and supplied by others, are used for general freight
and deliveries, moving and storage and distribution of refrigerated consumables.
Its 119  authorized  distributors,  seven  manufacturing  plants and two service
facilities  are in  strategic  locations  to provide  nationwide  service to its
customers,  including rental companies, truck dealers and companies that operate
fleets  of  delivery  vehicles.  Formed  in 1952,  Morgan  is  headquartered  in
Morgantown, Pennsylvania, and was acquired in 1990.

       Morgan's van bodies are  manufactured  and  installed  on truck  chassis,
which are  classified  by hauling  capacity  or gross  vehicular  weight  rating
("GVWR").  There  are  eight  classes  of GVWR.  Morgan  generally  manufactures
products for Classes 3 through 7, those having a GVWR of between  10,001  pounds
(light-duty  dry  freight  vans) and  33,000  pounds  (medium-duty  trucks).  It
generally does not  manufacture  products for Classes 1 or 2 (pickup  trucks) or
Class 8. The principal products offered by Morgan are the following:

                                       2
<PAGE>


       Dry  Freight  Bodies  (Classes  3-7).  Dry freight  bodies are  typically
fabricated with pre-painted  aluminum or fiberglass  reinforced  plywood ("FRP")
panels,  aerodynamic  front-end  treatment,  hardwood  floors and  various  door
configurations to accommodate end-user loading and unloading requirements. These
products are used for diversified dry freight  transportation and represent more
than one-half of Morgan's sales.

       Refrigerated  Van Bodies  (Classes 3-7).  Refrigerated  vans are equipped
with insulated  aluminum or FRP bodies that accommodate  controlled  temperature
and  refrigeration  needs of  end-users.  These  products are used  primarily on
trucks that transport dairy products, frozen foods and meats.

        Cutaway  Van Bodies  (Classes  3-5).  Aluminum or FRP cutaway van bodies
(which  differ  from  conventional  vans  generally  by having  different  floor
configurations and shorter lengths) are installed only on cutaway chassis, which
are  available  with or without  access to the cargo area from the cab.  Cutaway
bodies  are  used  primarily  for  local   delivery  of  parcels,   freight  and
perishables.

        Stake Bodies and Flatbeds.  Morgan also manufactures stake bodies, which
are flatbeds with various  configurations  of removable sides.  Stake bodies are
used for the  movement  of a  variety  of  materials  for the  agricultural  and
construction industries, among others.

        Gem Top Pickup Truck Caps.  Pickup truck caps are fabricated  enclosures
that fit over the beds of pickup trucks,  converting the beds into  weatherproof
storage areas.  Effective June 30, 1997,  Morgan  acquired the operations of Gem
Top from  TAG.  Gem Top  services  primarily  commercial  customers.  For a more
detailed discussion of the truck accessories business see TAG below.

        Some of the components of Morgan's  products,  such as certain  patented
methods for making curtained doors for vehicle bodies,  are proprietary.  Morgan
also offers certain products manufactured by others, including those distributed
by Morgan's  Advanced  Handling Systems Division that facilitate the loading and
unloading of cargo.  Morgan  distributes  spare parts through and offers limited
service  programs at some of its own  facilities  and through its 119 authorized
distributors.

        Customers and Sales.  The van body industry has two major  categories of
customers:  (1)  customers  operating  their own fleets of vehicles or who lease
their vehicles to third parties (collectively,  "fleet/leasing customers");  and
(2) truck dealers and  distributors  who sell vehicles to others  (collectively,
"dealer/distributor customers"). Morgan's net sales constituted 55%, 54% and 49%
of the Company's total net sales in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

        Morgan's  revenue is generated by five sources:  (1) sales to commercial
divisions  of leasing  companies,  companies  with fleets of delivery  vehicles,
truck  dealers  and  distributors  ("Commercial  Sales");  (2) sales to consumer
rental companies  ("Consumer Rental Sales");  (3) parts; (4) service and (5) the
Advanced Handling Systems Division.

        Consumer  Rental Sales are composed of sales to companies  that maintain
large  fleets of one-way and local  moving  vehicles  available  for rent to the
general public.  Procurement  contracts for Consumer Rental Sales are negotiated
annually,  usually in late summer to early fall and tend to be the most volatile
and price sensitive aspect of Morgan's business.

                                       3
<PAGE>


        Morgan's  two largest  customers,  Ryder Truck  Rental,  Inc. and Penske
Truck Leasing  L.P.,  have,  together,  historically  represented  approximately
40-50% of  Morgan's  total net  sales.  Each has been a  customer  of Morgan for
approximately 20 years and management  considers relations with each to be good.
Sales  to  these  customers  represented  26%,  24%  and  21% of  the  Company's
consolidated net sales during the years 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively.

        Morgan  sells   products   through  its  own  sales  force  and  through
independent distributors.  Most of the distributors sell a wide variety of truck
related equipment to truck dealers and end-users.

        Manufacturing and Supplies. Morgan operates manufacturing, body mounting
and service facilities in Pennsylvania,  Wisconsin,  Georgia, Texas and Arizona.
It also  has  sales,  service  and  body  mounting  facilities  in  Florida  and
California. Its Gem Top division is located in Oregon.

        Generally,  all van bodies manufactured by Morgan are produced to order.
The shipment of a unit is dependent upon receipt of the chassis  supplied by the
customer  and the  customer's  arrangements  for  delivery of  completed  units.
Revenue is  recognized  and the customer is billed upon final body  assembly and
quality inspection. Because contracts for Consumer Rental Sales are entered into
in the summer or fall but production does not begin until the following January,
Morgan  generally has a significant  backlog of Consumer  Rental Sales orders at
the end of each year that is processed  through May of the  following  year.  In
addition,  Morgan typically maintains a significant backlog of Commercial Sales.
At December 31, 1998 and 1997,  Morgan's  total  backlog was  approximately  $73
million and $55  million,  respectively.  All of the  products  under the orders
outstanding at December 31, 1998 are expected to be shipped during 1999.

        Morgan  maintains an inventory of raw  materials  necessary to build van
bodies according to customers' orders. Raw materials are acquired from a variety
of sources and Morgan has not experienced  significant shortages of materials in
recent  years.   Fiberglass  reinforced  plywood  panels,  which  are  important
components of Morgan's  products,  are acquired  principally from two suppliers.
The loss of either of those suppliers could disrupt Morgan's  operations until a
replacement  source could be located.  Morgan's  customers  purchase their truck
chassis from major truck manufacturing  companies.  The delivery of a chassis to
Morgan is dependent upon truck manufacturers'  production  schedules,  which are
beyond  Morgan's  control.  Delays in chassis  deliveries  can disrupt  Morgan's
operations and can increase its working capital requirements.

        Industry.  Industry  revenue and growth are  dependent  primarily on the
demand for delivery vehicles in the general freight,  moving and storage, parcel
delivery and food  distribution  industries.  Replacement  of older  vehicles in
fleets represents an important revenue source,  with replacement  cycles varying
from  approximately  four to six  years,  depending  on  vehicle  types.  During
economic  downturns,  replacement  orders are often  deferred or, in some cases,
older vehicles are retired without replacement.

        Competition.  The van body manufacturing industry is highly competitive.
Morgan competes with a limited number of large  manufacturers and a large number
of smaller  manufacturers.  Some of Morgan's  competitors operate from more than
one location.  Certain  competitors are publicly owned with substantial  capital
resources. Competitive factors in the industry include product quality, delivery


                                       4
<PAGE>


time,  geographic proximity of manufacturing  facilities to customers,  warranty
terms, service and price.

TAG

         TAG historically has had two operating  divisions:  TAG  Manufacturing,
which  consists  of the Leer,  20th  Century  Fiberglass  (Century)  and  Raider
Industries Inc., (Raider) operating divisions; and TAG Distribution,  consisting
of retail  (Leer  Retail  and  Radco) and the  wholesale  distribution  business
(National Truck Accessories,  including Midwest Truck AfterMarket). During 1998,
the  Company  decided  to  dispose  of the TAG  Distribution  business  and has,
accordingly,   treated  it  as  discontinued  in  the   Consolidated   Financial
Statements. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

     TAG Manufacturing is the nation's largest manufacturer of pickup truck caps
and tonneau  covers and its products  are  marketed  under the brand names Leer,
Raider,  LoRider and Century.  Caps and tonneau covers are fabricated enclosures
that fit over the beds of pickup trucks,  converting the beds into  weatherproof
storage  areas.  TAG's  eight  manufacturing  plants  and  network  of over  600
independent  dealers  provide a national  network through which its products are
marketed to individuals,  small businesses and fleet operators.  TAG's net sales
constituted  27%, 28% and 33% of the Company's total net sales during 1998, 1997
and 1996, respectively. Formed in 1971, TAG is headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana
and was acquired in 1987.

         Customer and Sales.  Most purchasers of TAG's products  (purchased from
dealers) are  individuals.  TAG's products are sold through its national network
of  independent  dealers.  TAG also sells its products in Canada and Europe.  In
1998, foreign sales (primarily in Canada) represented  approximately 8% of TAG's
total sales or less than 3% of the Company's total net sales.  During 1998, 1997
and 1996, TAG  Manufacturing  had  intercompany  sales of $12.7  million,  $13.7
million and $15.3 million, respectively, to TAG Distribution.  Under the current
plan of disposal for TAG Distribution,  a substantial portion of these sales may
not continue subsequent to the disposition.

         Manufacturing  and  Supplies.  TAG  designs and  manufactures  caps and
tonneaus  in seven  manufacturing  facilities  located in  California,  Indiana,
Pennsylvania and Saskatchewan, Canada. Approximately 85% of the caps sold by TAG
are  fiberglass,  with  aluminum  representing  the  balance.  TAG  maintains an
inventory of raw materials necessary to manufacture its products.  Raw materials
are obtained from a variety of sources and TAG has not  experienced  significant
shortages of materials in recent years. TAG purchases a substantial  majority of
its windows for caps from a single supplier.  Although the loss of that supplier
would disrupt TAG's production  activities until a replacement supplier could be
located,  management  does not  believe  that such loss  would  have a  material
adverse effect on the Company.

         Industry. Sales of caps and tonneaus tend to correspond to the level of
new pickup truck  sales.  Cap sales are  seasonal,  with sales  typically  being
higher in the spring and fall than in the summer and winter.

     Competition.  The cap and tonneau  cover  industry  is highly  competitive.
Competitive   factors  include   product   availability,   quality,   price  and
installation services.

                                       5
<PAGE>


EFP

         EFP molds and markets  expandable  foam plastics used  primarily by the
automotive,  electronics, furniture and appliance industries as packaging, shock
absorbing and materials handling products.  Management  believes that EFP is the
nation's third largest producer and marketer of custom-shaped, molded expandable
plastics.  Management  believes  that EFP's  competitive  strengths  include its
ability to  manufacture  high  quality  products  for  competitive  prices while
providing  excellent  service to its  customers,  including  timely  delivery of
products.  EFP's net sales made up approximately  10% of the Company's total net
sales during each of the last three years. Founded in 1954, EFP is headquartered
in Elkhart, Indiana and was acquired in 1985.

         Products.  EFP's products are manufactured from expandable  polystyrene
("EPS"),  expandable  polypropylene  ("EPP"),  expanded  polyethylene ("EPE"), a
copolymer of polyethylene  and polystyrene  ("Copolymer")  and certain high heat
resistant resins ("Resins"). EPP, EPE, Copolymer and Resins are each tougher and
more resilient, or have higher temperature  tolerances,  than EPS. Products made
from expandable  foams are lightweight and durable,  capable of absorbing shocks
and impacts, provide thermal insulation and are chemically neutral.

         EFP manufactures and markets the following products:

         o   Packaging and Shock Absorbing Products. EFP sells these products to
             other  manufacturers  who  use  them  to  package  and  ship a wide
             assortment of industrial and consumer products,  such as computers,
             television sets, toys, furniture, appliances and cameras. Virtually
             all of these products are custom-made to fit the "footprint" of the
             particular  product  or item  for  which  EFP's  product  is  being
             manufactured.  These  products are  manufactured  from EPS and EPP,
             with EPP being used for more fragile  products.  Sales of packaging
             and shock absorbing products  represent  approximately 75% of EFP's
             total sales.

         o   Material Handling  Products.  These products include reusable trays
             or containers that are used for transporting  components to or from
             a   customer's   manufacturing   facility.   EFP  also  offers  its
             Thin-Wall(TM)  products,  which are used as parts positioning trays
             for  robotic  or  automatic   product   assembly  (such  as  camera
             manufacturing).  Material handling products  generally are produced
             from EPS, EPP or Copolymer.

         o   Components. EFP provides materials manufactured from EPP, which are
             used as energy absorbing components of automobile bumpers. EFP also
             offers a line of its  Styro-Cast(R)  foam foundry  patterns used by
             foundries in the "lost foam" or "evaporative casting" metal pouring
             process.  During 1996, EFP began the production of door cores, with
             a molded-in metal frame,  for use in the mobile home  manufacturing
             industry.

     Customers  and  Sales.   EFP's   products  are  sold  to  the   automotive,
electronics, furniture, appliance and marine industries, among others. EFP has a
reasonably diversified customer base.

         EFP   utilizes  an  in-house   sales  force  and  engages   independent
representatives, from time to time, to provide supplemental sales support in the
marketing of EFP's packaging and shock absorbing  products.  EFP also employs an
engineering staff that assists  customers in the production,  design and testing


                                       6
<PAGE>


of products.  Because  expanded  foams are very bulky,  freight  charges  impose
geographical  limitations on sales of those products.  Generally,  EFP considers
its  target  market  to  be  limited  to  a  300-mile  radius  surrounding  each
manufacturing  facility. In certain circumstances,  however, EFP has shipped its
products greater distances.

         Manufacturing and Supplies. EFP manufactures its products at facilities
located in  Indiana,  Wisconsin,  Alabama,  Tennessee  and Texas.  The Texas and
Tennessee   facilities   manufacture  products  primarily  for  Compaq  Computer
Corporation and Toshiba  Corporation,  respectively,  although EFP utilizes both
facilities to manufacture products for other customers as well.

         As is customary in the industry, EFP purchases its raw materials from a
variety  of  sources on a purchase  order  basis and not  pursuant  to long term
supply  contracts.  Raw material prices  fluctuate and EFP historically has been
affected  by price  increases  in the past but has not  experienced  significant
shortages of raw materials in recent years.

         EFP is ISO 9001 certified.  ISO 9001 is an  internationally  recognized
certification of production  practices and techniques  employed in manufacturing
processes.

         Industry.  Because most of EFP's products are  manufactured  for use by
other  industries,  economic  conditions,  which affect those other  industries,
generally will affect EFP's operations.  In particular,  growth or a downturn in
the automotive,  electronics,  furniture or appliance industries generally would
be expected to have a corresponding  effect on EFP's business,  as those are the
principal industries served by its packaging and shock absorbing products. Sales
of  EFP's  products  typically  are not  seasonal,  other  than  during a slight
downturn during the latter part of December and early January.

     Competition.  EFP competes with other molded,  expandable plastic producers
and  with  manufacturers  of  alternative   packaging  and  handling  materials,
including  paper,  corrugated  boxes  and  other  foam  products  (such  as soft
urethane).  Many of these  competitors,  particularly the paper  companies,  are
large  companies  having greater  financial  resources  than EFP.  Certain other
expandable  plastic  manufacturers have multiple  facilities.  EFP also competes
with other companies in the foundry patterns market. Competitive factors include
price, quality and timely delivery of products.

MIC Group

         MIC Group is a  manufacturer,  caster and assembler of precision  metal
parts used in the  worldwide  oil and gas,  aerospace  and  general  industries.
Formed in 1963, MIC Group is located in Brenham, Texas and was acquired in 1992.
MIC Group operates an electronic  assembly  facility in Houston,  which operates
under the name  ElectroSpec.  MIC Group's net sales made up less than 10% of the
Company's net sales during each of the last three years.

         Products.  MIC Group  manufactures  various  precision  metal parts and
electro-mechanical  devices that are utilized primarily in a variety of oilfield
applications  and  also  in the  aerospace  and  other  industries.  Most of the
precision parts  currently  manufactured by MIC Group are utilized in connection
with the exploration  for oil and gas reserves.  Parts produced by MIC Group are
utilized  for complex  functions,  such as well bore  logging,  perforation  and
fracturing.  Its products are also  applicable  to many seismic and  geophysical


                                       7
<PAGE>


activities.   ElectroSpec   assembles  electronic  printed  circuit  boards  and
instrumentation  packages  for the  same  or  similar  applications.  Electronic
assembly   provides   additional  sales   opportunities  by  providing   turnkey
value-added  assemblies to its  customers,  who  incorporate  machined parts and
electronics in the manufacture of their products.

         Customers.  MIC Group  sells its  products to  primarily  international
oilfield  services and  aerospace  companies.  MIC Group has one  customer  that
represents  approximately  57% of its total net sales during 1998.  The customer
has purchased  products and services from MIC Group for more than five years and
management considers relations with the customer to be good.

         Manufacturing  and  Supplies.  MIC Group  manufactures  its products in
Brenham,  Texas.  ElectroSpec is located in Houston,  Texas. Management believes
that MIC Group's manufacturing  capabilities are among the most sophisticated in
the   industry.    It   performs   a   broad   range   of   services   including
computer-controlled  precision  machining and welding,  electrostatic  discharge
machining,  electron beam welding,  trepanning and gun drilling.  MIC Group also
performs investment casting services.

         MIC  Group  is ISO  9002  certified.  ISO  9002  is an  internationally
recognized  certification  of production  practices and  techniques  employed in
manufacturing processes.

         Products are manufactured  primarily from non-magnetic stainless steel,
alloy  steels,  nickel-based  alloys,  titanium,  brass  and  beryllium  copper.
Materials  are  obtained  from a  variety  of  sources  and  MIC  Group  has not
experienced significant shortages in materials in recent years.

         Industry. Because a significant amount of MIC Group's products are sold
to large,  international oilfield service companies, MIC is not dependent solely
on the domestic oil and gas industry.  Rather, demand for equipment and services
supplied by those  oilfield  service  companies  and, in turn,  sales of related
parts  manufactured by MIC Group and  ElectroSpec,  are directly  related to the
level of worldwide oil and gas drilling  activity.  Aerospace  companies make up
the second largest  segment of business and that business  activity is dependent
on world economics and defense spending.

         Competition.  MIC Group competes with other  businesses  engaged in the
machining,  casting and manufacturing of parts and equipment utilized in the oil
and gas  exploration  industry,  aerospace and general  industry.  Technological
know-how  and  production  capacity are the primary  competitive  factors in MIC
Group's industry.

Discontinued Operation - TAG Distribution

         TAG Distribution distributes accessories for light trucks, minivans and
sport  utility  vehicles;  including  caps  and  tonneaus  manufactured  by  TAG
Manufacturing.  At December 31, 1998,  Leer Retail operated 35 retail stores and
National  Truck  Accessories  operated  six  wholesale   distribution   centers,
including Midwest Truck  AfterMarket.  The Company has decided to exit the truck
automotive accessory  distribution  business and has committed to a plan to sell
or close the wholesale and retail  businesses of TAG  Distribution.  As of March
19, 1999,  the Company has sold 14 retail  stores,  one  wholesale  distribution
center and closed one distribution  center.  The disposition of TAG Distribution
is expected to be substantially  complete by mid-1999. TAG Distribution has been


                                       8
<PAGE>


treated as a  discontinued  operation in the  Company's  Consolidated  Financial
Statements. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

Discontinued Operation - Lowy

         Lowy,  which was  acquired  in 1991,  operates  in the  floor  covering
distribution  business.  The Company  has decided to sell the Lowy  distribution
business and, accordingly,  has classified it as a discontinued operation in the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.  Lowy included carpet manufacturing
and dyeing  operations  (Blue  Ridge and  Courier),  which were sold,  effective
August 31, 1998.  See Note 13 to the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements of the
Company.

         Lowy is a leading wholesale floor-covering distributor, in the Midwest,
serving twelve Midwestern states. It operates seven facilities, located in Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and three locations in Missouri.

          Products.  Lowy offers two broad categories of products, each of which
     includes multiple product lines and accessories:

          o    Hard Surface Products. Hard surface products include sheet vinyl,
               vinyl,  wood flooring,  ceramic floor, wall tiles and accessories
               and laminate flooring.

          o    Soft Surface  Products.  This  product  line  consists of carpet,
               padding  substrate  used in  carpet  installation,  area rugs and
               sundry   items,   such  as  carpet   cleaners  and   installation
               accessories.  Most of Lowy's  carpet  sales  are for  residential
               installation,  with the  balance  being  sales to the  commercial
               market.  Its carpet line is anchored  by carpet  manufactured  by
               Barrett,  the Beaulieu Group,  Miliken,  the Mohawk Group and the
               Shaw Group. Lowy Distribution also offers private label carpeting
               marketed  under  the  "Americana"  and  "Essex  House"  names and
               manufactured by various suppliers.

         Customers  and  Sales.  Lowy  sells  its  products  primarily  to floor
covering  retailers,  most of which are privately  owned,  small to medium-sized
dealers  located  away from major  metropolitan  areas.  These  dealers  rely on
wholesalers,  such as Lowy,  to provide a broad line of products  with  adequate
inventory  ready for  immediate  delivery  and to  provide  sales and  marketing
support.

         Inventory and Supplies.  Lowy offers products manufactured by a variety
of suppliers. Its largest supplier is Congoleum Corporation ("Congoleum"), whose
products represent  approximately 30% of Lowy's total revenue during each of the
last three years.  Lowy has  purchased  products from  Congoleum  since 1967 and
management  considers  its  relations  with  Congoleum to be good.  Nonetheless,
Congoleum  is  entitled to  terminate  its  relationship  with Lowy at any time,
subject to notice requirements.  Lowy is an exclusive distributor of Congoleum's
products in certain  markets and competes with other  Congoleum  distributors in
other markets.  Congoleum may appoint additional distributors of its products in
Lowy's  markets  at any  time.  The  loss of  Congoleum  as a  supplier,  or the
introduction  of  other  Congoleum   distributors  into  Lowy's  markets,  could
adversely affect Lowy's operations.

                                       9
<PAGE>


         Industry.  The wholesale  distribution of floor covering is affected by
the level of new home and  remodeling  construction  activity.  The  industry is
somewhat  seasonal,  with the second and third quarters  generally having higher
sales than the other quarters.

         Competition.  The floor  covering  wholesale  distribution  business is
highly  competitive.  Lowy competes with other  wholesale  distributors,  retail
building supply chains and large carpet and tile  manufacturing  companies,  who
sell their products directly to their customers.

Trademarks and Patents

         The Company owns rights to certain  presentations  of Leer's name (part
of TAG  Manufacturing),  which the  Company  believes  is  valuable  insofar  as
management  believes that it is recognized as being a leading  "brand name." The
Company also owns rights to certain other  trademarks and tradenames,  including
certain  presentations of Morgan's name. Although these and other trademarks and
tradenames  used by the Company help  customers  differentiate  Company  product
lines from those of  competitors,  the Company  believes that the  trademarks or
tradenames  themselves  are less  important to customers than the quality of the
products and services.

Employees

              At  February  28,  1999,  the  Company  had  approximately   3,300
full-time  employees.  Personnel are unionized in: Lowy Distribution's  Fridley,
Minnesota  (contract  expires May, 1999), St. Louis (contract  expires February,
2001) and Ankeny,  Iowa (contract expires December,  1999) warehouses  (covering
10, 14, and 7 persons, respectively);  EFP's Decatur, Alabama facility (covering
approximately  65 persons,  with a contract  expiring in August  2000);  and TAG
Manufacturing's Raider Industries facility in Canada (covering approximately 160
persons,  with a contract  expiring in December 2000). The Company believes that
relations with its employees are good.

Environmental Matters

         The Company's operations are subject to numerous environmental statutes
and  regulations,  including  laws and  regulations  affecting  its products and
addressing materials used in manufacturing the Company's products.  In addition,
certain of the  Company's  operations  are subject to  federal,  state and local
environmental  laws and regulations that impose  limitations on the discharge of
pollutants  into the air and water.  The Company  also  generates  non-hazardous
wastes. The Company has received occasional notices of noncompliance,  from time
to time,  with  respect  to its  operations,  which are  typically  resolved  by
correcting  the  conditions  and the  payment  of  minor  fines,  none of  which
individually  or in the  aggregate  has had a  material  adverse  effect  on the
Company.  However,  the Company  expects that the nature of its operations  will
continue to make it subject to increasingly stringent  environmental  regulatory
standards.  Although  the  Company  believes  it  has  made  sufficient  capital
expenditures to maintain  compliance with existing laws and regulations,  future
expenditures may be necessary,  as compliance  standards and technology  change.
Unforeseen significant expenditures required to maintain such future compliance,
including unforeseen liabilities,  could limit expansion,  or otherwise,  have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business and financial condition.

                                       10
<PAGE>


        Morgan has been named as a  potentially  responsible  party ("PRP") with
respect to the generation of hazardous materials alleged to have been handled or
disposed of at two Federal  Superfund sites in  Pennsylvania  and one in Kansas.
Although a precise  estimate of liability  cannot currently be made with respect
to these sites,  based upon information  known to Morgan,  the Company currently
believes that it's proportionate share, if any, of the ultimate costs related to
any  necessary  investigation  and remedial  work at those sites will not have a
material adverse effect on the Company.

         Since the 1980s and early 1990s,  products manufactured from expandable
polystyrene,  such as some  of the  products  manufactured  by  EFP,  have  been
criticized as being allegedly  harmful to the environment.  Although  management
believes that more recent  information  suggests that expandable  polystyrene is
not as  harmful to the  environment  as  reported  earlier,  negative  publicity
relating to the  material  has had,  and in the future  could  have,  an adverse
effect on EFP's business, although this publicity has not had a material adverse
effect on EFP's results of operations.

Item 2.  Properties

         The  Company  owns or leases the  following  manufacturing,  office and
sales facilities as of March 19, 1999:
                                                                 Owned
                                                     Approximate  or      Lease
    Location                    Principal Use        Square Feet Leased Expir-
                                                                        ation(a)
Morgan:
 Ehrenberg, Arizona ...........   Manufacturing          125,000   Owned    --
 Rydal, Georgia ...............   Manufacturing           85,000   Leased   1999
 Ephrata, Pennsylvania ........   Manufacturing           50,000   Owned    --
 Morgantown, Pennsylvania .....   Manufacturing           62,900   Leased   1999
 Morgantown, Pennsylvania .....   Office & manufacturing 261,500   Owned    --
 Corsicana, Texas .............   Manufacturing           60,000   Owned    --
 Janesville, Wisconsin ........   Manufacturing           23,000   Leased   1999
 Janesville, Wisconsin ........   Manufacturing           32,000   Owned    --
 Clackamas, Oregon ............   Manufacturing           78,000   Leased   2003
TAG Manufacturing:
 Woodland, California .........   Manufacturing           92,000   Leased   2001
 Elkhart, Indiana .............   Office & research       17,500   Owned    --
 Elkhart, Indiana .............   Manufacturing          139,000   Leased   2001
 Milton, Pennsylvania .........   Manufacturing          102,000   Leased   2001
 Elkhart, Indiana .............   Manufacturing           91,900   Owned    --
 Elkhart, Indiana .............   Office & manufacturing  18,400   Leased   1999
 Drinkwater, Saskatchewan, Canada Office & manufacturing  72,000   Owned    --
 Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada  Manufacturing           87,000   Leased   2005
EFP:
 Decatur, Alabama .............   Manufacturing          175,000   Leased   1999
 Elkhart, Indiana .............   Office & manufacturing 211,600   Owned    --
 Elkhart, Indiana .............   Manufacturing           24,900   Leased   1999
 Gordonsville, Tennessee ......   Manufacturing           40,000   Leased   2001
 Marlin, Texas ................   Manufacturing           73,000   Leased   2001
 Waukesha, Wisconsin ..........   Manufacturing           13,850   Leased   2000
MIC Group:
 Brenham, Texas ...............   Office & manufacturing  75,500   Owned    --
 Houston, Texas ...............   Manufacturing            9,600   Leased   2000


(a)      Including all renewal terms.

         The Company  utilizes  principally  all of its  facilities and believes
that its  facilities are adequate for its current needs and are capable of being
utilized at higher capacities to supply increased demand, if necessary.


                                       11
<PAGE>


Item 3.  Legal Proceedings


         The  Company  is  involved  in  various  lawsuits,  which  arise in the
ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management,  the ultimate outcome
of these lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

         EFP is subject to a lawsuit concerning the supply of natural gas to one
of its  manufacturing  plants.  The utility  company  has  alleged  that EFP was
under-billed by approximately  $500,000 over a four-year  period, as a result of
errors made by the utility  company.  The Company is aggressively  defending the
suit and believes that its resolution will not have a material adverse effect on
the Company.


Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

         No matters  were  submitted  to a vote of security  holders  during the
fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.


PART II


Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters


         The  registrant's  common  equity is  privately  held and not  publicly
traded.  As of March 19,  1999,  one  individual  owned all of the  registrant's
issued and outstanding common equity.  During the last three fiscal years, JBPCO
paid no cash dividends.

         The  registrant's  ability to pay  dividends  on its  common  equity is
restricted to the extent  described in the Senior Note  Indenture,  dated of May
23, 1994,  pertaining to the  registrant's 12 1/2% Senior Notes due 2004 and the
Loan and Security Agreement,  dated as of June 28, 1996, with Congress Financial
Corporation, as lender.



Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

         The  historical  financial data  presented  below,  for the years ended
December  31,  1998,  1997,  1996,  1995 and 1994,  are derived from the audited
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  of the Company.  The data  presented  below
should be read in  conjunction  with  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of
Financial  Condition and Results of Operations  and the  Consolidated  Financial
Statements  of  the  Company  and  notes  thereto.   The  historical   financial
information  presented below has been restated to reflect the discontinuation of


                                       12
<PAGE>


TAG Distribution and Lowy. The financial  information is not directly comparable
due to the acquisitions of Century and Raider in June 1995.

                                               Year Ended December 31,
                                 (Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)
                                      1998     1997     1996     1995      1994
Operating Data:
Net sales ........................   $ 365.3  $ 338.6  $ 310.9  $ 329.5  $ 278.9
Cost of sales ....................     310.1    280.2    257.1    283.6    229.0
Selling, general and
   administrative expense ........      47.6     48.4     44.7     43.9     34.3
Closed and excess facility costs .       0.3      1.4      1.0      --       --
Other (income) expense ...........      (0.4)    (0.4)     0.1     (1.0)     --
                                       -----    -----    -----    -----    -----
Operating income .................       7.7      9.0      8.0      3.0     15.6
Interest expense .................      15.7     15.8     14.5     14.2      9.3
Income tax provision (benefit) ...       0.7      1.0     (1.0)    (2.9)     3.0
                                       -----    -----    -----    -----    -----
Income (loss) before extraordinary
 loss and discontinued operations .... (8.7)     (7.8)    (5.5)    (8.3)    3.3
Income (loss) from discontinued
 operations .......................... (3.4)      0.2     (0.6)    (0.2)    2.2
Extraordinary loss ...................  --        --      (0.3)     --     (2.1)
                                        ---       ---      ---      ---     ---
Net income (loss) ...................$(12.1)     (7.6)   $(6.4)   $(8.5) $  3.4
                                        ===       ===      ===      ===     ===

Earnings (loss) per share            $(3,973) $(2,467) $(2,097) $ 2,790   $1,503
                                       ======  ======   ======   ======   ======
Cash dividends per share                $ --    $ --     $ --     $ --    $2,910
                                        =====   =====   ======   ======   ======

Balance Sheet Data
    (at period end):
Working capital .................    $  15.0  $   2.3   $  1.4  $   7.1  $  36.8
Total assets ....................      133.9    161.2    162.9    169.0    159.8
Total long-term obligations .....      102.9    103.3    103.7    105.6    109.0
Stockholder's equity (deficit) ..    $ (17.2) $  (4.7)  $  3.0  $   9.5  $  17.8

Cash Flow Data:
    Net cash provided by (used in)
       operating activities ........  $ 11.7  $  (2.5)  $ 10.7  $  (8.2)$ (1.7)
    Capital expenditures ...........     6.3      7.3      8.1     11.9     9.2
    Net cash provided by (used in)
       investing activities ........    10.3     (6.4)    (7.5)  (19.0)   (14.5)
    Net cash provided by (used in)
        financing activities .......   (23.1)     9.5     (2.3)   19.8     23.5
    Depreciation and amortization (a)   10.6     11.6     11.2    10.5      8.2




                                       13
<PAGE>


Other Data:
EBITDA (b) ........................    $17.2    $20.9    $17.1   $10.5   $ 21.6
Consolidated EBITDA
       Coverage Ratio (c) .........    1.1x     1.3x     1.2x     0.7x     2.3x

(a)       Depreciation and amortization  excludes  amortization of debt issuance
          cost of $0.9  million,  $0.8 million,  $0.7 million,  $0.7 million and
          $0.4 million in 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

(b)      "EBITDA" from continuing  operations is net income increased by the sum
         of interest  expense,  income taxes,  depreciation and amortization and
         other  non-cash  items as defined in the  Indenture  pertaining  to the
         Senior  Notes.  EBITDA is not  included  herein as  operating  data and
         should  not  be  construed  as  an  alternative  to  operating   income
         (determined   in  accordance   with   generally   accepted   accounting
         principles) as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. The
         Company has included  EBITDA from continuing  operations  because it is
         relevant for determining compliance under the Indenture and because the
         Company understands that it is one measure used by certain investors to
         analyze the Company's  operating  cash flow and  historical  ability to
         service its indebtedness.

(c)      "Consolidated  EBITDA  Coverage  Ratio"  is the  ratio of  EBITDA  from
         continuing  operations of JBPCO and its subsidiaries that guarantee the
         Notes,  to interest  expense that is used in the Indenture to limit the
         amount of  indebtedness  that the  Company  may  incur.  Certain of the
         Company's  subsidiaries  are not guarantors of the Notes, see Note 8 of
         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
              Financial Condition and Results of Operations

         The  following  discussion  of the  Company's  financial  condition and
results  of  operations  should  be read in  conjunction  with the  Consolidated
Financial Statements of the Company and the notes thereto.

Basis of Financial Statements

         During 1998, the Company committed to plans for disposing of Lowy Group
and TAG  Distribution.  As of December 31, 1998, the Company has disposed of the
Blue Ridge/Courier  operations of Lowy and certain portions of TAG Distribution.
The Company plans to dispose of the remaining  portions of these  business lines
in 1999. Accordingly,  the remaining operations of Lowy and TAG Distribution are
being held for sale and the related  operating  results have been  classified as
discontinued operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements for all periods
presented. As a result, the Company recorded a loss from discontinued operations
of $3.4  million,  net of  taxes in 1998.  The  components  of this net loss are
discussed   further   under  the   captions   "Discontinued   Operations  -  TAG
Distribution" and  "Discontinued  Operations - Lowy Group" and in Note 13 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                       14
<PAGE>



Overview

         The Company  operates in various  industries  and considers each of its
main operating  subsidiaries  a separate  business  segment.  The businesses are
dependent on various factors  reflecting general economic  conditions  including
corporate profitability,  consumer spending patterns, sales of truck chassis and
new pickup trucks and the level of oil and gas exploration  activity.  Net sales
at Morgan and EFP increased 32% and 21%, respectively over the three-year period
ended December 31, 1998, as each segment  experienced  increased  demand for its
products.  Sales at TAG Manufacturing  decreased 6% during 1997 compared to 1996
as  manufacturing  quality  problems at the Leer operations and the closure of a
Leer  manufacturing   facility  caused  a  reduction  in  sales.   However,  TAG
Manufacturing sales during 1998 recovered to 1996 levels. The MIC Group business
segment experienced a decline in activity during 1998 as a result of the decline
in the level of world-wide oil and gas exploration activity.

         The following  table  represents  the net sales,  operating  income and
operating margins for each business segment and on a consolidated basis.

                                      Years Ended December 31,             
                                      1998      1997      1996
                                      ----      ----      ----
                                        (Dollars in Millions)

Net Sales:
    Morgan   ......................  $201.1    $181.7    $152.1
    TAG Manufacturing..............    99.3      95.4     101.9
    EFP............................    38.0      33.0      31.4
    MIC Group......................    26.9      28.5      25.5
                                   --------   --------  --------
   Consolidated...................   $365.3    $338.6    $310.9  
                                    =======    =======  ========

Operating Income (Loss):
    Morgan.........................   $ 2.8     $ 8.6     $ 6.3
    TAG Manufacturing..............     2.2      (4.5)     (3.3)
    EFP............................     4.0       3.0       2.7
    MIC Group......................     1.5       4.7       4.8
    JBPCO..........................    (2.8)     (2.8)     (2.5)
                                     -------    -------  -------
    Consolidated...................   $ 7.7     $ 9.0     $ 8.0  
                                      ======    =======  =======

Operating Margins:
    Morgan.........................    1%        5%        4%
    TAG Manufacturing..............    2%       (5)%      (3)%
    EFP............................   10%        9%        9%
    MIC Group......................    6%       17%       19%
    Consolidated...................    2%        3%        3%

         Net sales  include  $14.5  million,  $15.6  million and $17.0  million,
respectively,  from  intercompany  sales  to TAG  Distribution,  which  has been
classified as a discontinued operation.  As a result,  operating income includes
approximately $2.9 million, $3.1 million and $3.4 million, respectively, related


                                       15
<PAGE>


to profits on these sales.  Since TAG  Distribution's  results of operations are
classified as discontinued,  the  intercompany  sales do not eliminate on a line
item basis in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. However, on
a  consolidated  basis,  such  intercompany  transactions  are eliminated in the
accompanying  Consolidated  Statement of Operations  for each period  presented.
Under the  current  plan of  disposition  for TAG  Distribution,  a  substantial
portion of these sales may not continue subsequent to the disposition.

         During 1998,  MIC Group closed a facility and incurred  charges of $0.3
million,   which  was  included  in  operating   income  for  the  period.   TAG
manufacturing operating income included $0.8 million and $1.0 million of charges
during the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, associated with
the closure or write-down in carrying value of certain excess facilities. During
1997,  Morgan  wrote down the  carrying  value of its facility in Mexico by $0.5
million.


Results of Operations

Consolidated Operating Results from Continuing Operations

Comparison of 1998 to 1997

         Net sales  increased  8% to $365.3  million in 1998  compared to $338.6
million in 1997. The increase was due primarily to Morgan, whose sales increased
11% or $19.4 million. EFP and TAG Manufacturing  recorded sales increases of 15%
or $5.0 million and 6% or $5.0 million, respectively. Sales decreased 6% or $1.7
million at MIC Group.

         Cost of sales  increased  11% to $310.1  million  in 1998  from  $280.2
million in 1997. Gross profits  decreased 5% to $55.2 million (15% of net sales)
in 1998  compared to $58.4  million (17% of net sales) in 1997.  The decrease in
gross  profits was due  primarily to Morgan and MIC Group,  whose gross  profits
decreased 22% or $5.6 million and 34% or $2.7 million,  respectively,  partially
offset by increases at EFP of 22% or $1.5  million and at TAG  Manufacturing  of
20% or $3.7 million.

         Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  decreased  2% to $47.6
million (13% of net sales) in 1998  compared to $48.4 million (14% of net sales)
in 1997.  The decrease was due  primarily to an 11% or $2.3 million  decrease at
TAG Manufacturing.

         Operating income decreased 14% to $7.7 million in 1998 compared to $9.0
million in 1997. TAG Manufacturing's  operating income increased $6.8 million to
$2.2 million in 1998  compared to an operating  loss of $4.6 million in 1997 and
EFP's operating income increased 31% or $1.0 million. Operating income decreased
67% or $5.8 million at Morgan and 67% or $3.2 million at MIC Group.

         Interest  expense  decreased  1% to $15.7  million in 1998  compared to
$15.8 million in 1997 and weighted average total debt decreased approximately 5%
to $132.0 million during 1998 compared to $139.0 million during 1997.

                                       16
<PAGE>


         The Company recorded an income tax expense of $0.7 million for the year
ended  December 31, 1998  compared to a $1.0 million  expense  during 1997.  The
income tax expense of $0.7 million in 1998  represents  state and foreign income
taxes  payable.  The  Company's  income tax  provision  differs from the federal
statutory rate  principally  due to a $3.6 million  increase in the deferred tax
valuation allowance relating to net operating losses that may not be realizable.
See Note 10 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Comparison of 1997 to 1996

         Net sales  increased  9% to $338.6  million in 1997  compared to $310.9
million in 1996. The increase was due primarily to Morgan, whose sales increased
19% or $29.6  million and  increases  at MIC Group of 12% or $3.1 million and at
EFP of 5% or $1.5 million. TAG Manufacturing sales decreased $6.5 million or 6%.

         Cost of sales  increased  9% to  $280.2  million  in 1997  from  $257.1
million in 1996,  and gross  profits  increased 8% to $58.4  million (17% of net
sales) in 1997 compared to $53.8 million (17% of net sales) in 1996. Morgan, EFP
and MIC Group recorded 26%, 9% and 2% increases in gross profits, respectively.

     Selling,  general and administrative  expense increased 8% to $48.4 million
(14% of net sales) in 1997 compared to $44.7 million (14% of net sales) in 1996.

         The Company  recorded  Closed and Excess Facility Costs of $1.4 million
and  $1.0  million   during  the  years  ended   December  31,  1997  and  1996,
respectively.  During  1997,  Morgan  considered  selling  its idle  facility in
Mexico.  Accordingly,  Morgan  began  marketing  the property  and,  based on an
estimate  of the fair value less the cost to sell the  property,  wrote down the
carrying  value  by  $0.6  million.  In  1996,  TAG  Manufacturing   closed  two
manufacturing  facilities,  resulting  in a charge of $1.0  million for the year
ended December  31,1996,  and additional  charges during the year ended December
31, 1997 of $0.8 million.

         Operating income increased 12% to $9.0 million in 1997 compared to $8.0
million in 1996.  Operating  losses at TAG  Manufacturing  increased 39% to $4.6
million during 1997 compared to $3.3 million during 1996.

         Interest  expense  increased  9% to $15.8  million in 1997  compared to
$14.5  million in 1996 and average  total debt  increased  5% to $139.0  million
during 1997 compared to $132.3 million in 1996.

         The Company  recorded an  aggregate  income tax expense for  continuing
operations  of $1.0 million for the year ended  December 31, 1997  compared to a
$1.0  million  benefit  during  1996.  See Note 11 of Notes to the  Consolidated
Financial Statements.




                                       17
<PAGE>


Business Segment Results

Morgan

         During 1998, the Company  appointed a new president of Morgan (See Part
III of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-k). Subsequently,  new key members
of management  were appointed,  including a Vice President of Operations,  Chief
Financial  Officer and a Vice President of Human Resources.  Morgan acquired Gem
Top from TAG,  effective June 30,1997.  Gem Top  manufactures  pickup truck caps
primarily for  commercial  customers,  which  compliments  the Morgan  business.
Morgan's operating results have been restated to include Gem Top for all periods
presented.

Comparison of 1998 to 1997

         Net sales  increased  11% to $201.1  million in 1998 compared to $181.7
million in 1997.  Shipments of van body units  increased  13% to 26,600 units in
1998  compared to 23,600 units during  1997.  Consumer  Rental Sales (as defined
under Part I, Item I - Business)  decreased 18% to $18.7 million and  Commercial
Sales  increased  22% to $158.1  million in 1998  compared  to 1997.  Backlog at
December  31, 1998 was $73.3  million  compared  to $55.2  million at the end of
1997. The increase in backlog  reflects  continued  demand for Morgan  products.
However,  Morgan depends upon chassis  manufacturers  for timely delivery of its
customers' chassis.  Approximately $13.2 million of backlog at December 31, 1998
is a result of delayed chassis deliveries.

         Cost of sales  increased  16% to $181.2  million  in 1998  compared  to
$156.1  million in 1997.  Gross  profits  decreased 22% or $5.6 million to $20.0
million (10% of net sales) compared to $25.6 million (14% of net sales) in 1997.
The gross  profit  margin  decreased as a result of the  increased  material and
overhead costs as a percentage of sales and less favorable pricing on certain of
Morgan's  products.  Corrective action taken by the new management team included
the  re-negotiation  of raw material supply  arrangements and of certain product
pricing.

         Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  increased  1% to $17.2
million (9% of net sales) in 1998 compared to $17.0 million (9% of net sales) in
1997.  Selling  expense  increased 10% to $8.9 million  primarily as a result of
increased sales commissions on higher sales. General and administrative  expense
remained  approximately  the same in 1998  compared to 1997. An 18% reduction in
general and administrative personnel and the related cost reductions were offset
by  severance  payments  and  increased  relocation  costs  associated  with new
management personnel.

         Morgan's  operating  income  decreased  67% to $2.8  million (1% of net
sales) in 1998  compared to $8.6 million (5% of net sales) in 1997.  The decline
in  operating  income  was due  primarily  to the  reasons  cited  above for the
reduction in gross profits.

Comparison of 1997 to 1996

         Net sales  increased  19% to $181.7  million in 1997 compared to $152.1
million in 1996.  Shipments of van body units  increased  26% to 23,600 units in
1997 compared to 18,700 units during 1996.  Consumer  Rental Sales increased 65%
to $22.9 million and  Commercial  Sales  increased 10% to $131.3 million in 1997


                                       18
<PAGE>


compared to 1996.  Backlog at December  31, 1997 was $55.2  million  compared to
$50.2 million at the end of 1996.  The increase in backlog  reflects an increase
in consumer rental orders following a downturn in that business during 1996.

         Cost of sales  increased  19% to $156.1  million  in 1997  compared  to
$131.7  million in 1996 as a result of the  increase  in units  produced.  Gross
profits  increased  26% or $5.2  million  to $25.6  million  (14% of net  sales)
compared  to $20.4  million  (13% of net  sales) in 1996.  Gross  profit  margin
increased  slightly as a result of  slightly  lower raw  material  costs and the
implementation of selling price increases.

         Selling,  general and  administrative  expense  increased  23% to $17.0
million (9% of net sales) in 1997 compared to $13.8 million (9% of net sales) in
1996.  General and  administrative  expense increased 50% or $3.0 million due to
increased personnel and the related costs.

     Due to increased net sales, Morgan's operating income increased 35% to $8.6
million in 1997  compared to $6.3 million in 1996. As a percentage of net sales,
operating income increased to 5% in 1997 compared to 4% in 1996.

TAG Manufacturing

         TAG historically was comprised of two divisions:  TAG Manufacturing and
TAG Distribution. As a result of continued losses from TAG Distribution.  During
1998,  management  committed  to a formal  plan to dispose of those  operations.
Therefore, the following discussion excludes TAG Distribution.

         The following discussion also excludes the operations of Gem Top, which
was  acquired  by Morgan in June 1997.  TAG  Manufacturing's  results  have been
restated to exclude Gem Top for all periods presented.

Comparison of 1998 to 1997

         Net sales for TAG  Manufacturing  increased 4% to $99.4 million in 1998
compared to $95.4 million in 1997. Net sales included  intercompany sales to TAG
Distribution  of $12.7 million in 1998  compared to $13.7  million in 1997.  TAG
Manufacturing's  net third party sales increased 6% to $86.7 million during 1998
compared to $81.7  million  during 1997.  Total  shipments of caps and tonneaus,
including  shipments to TAG Distribution were 175,000 units during 1998 compared
to 162,000  units in 1997.  The increase in units  shipped is  primarily  due to
improved quality, more favorable product mix and product pricing.

        Cost of  sales  was  $78.0  million  in 1998  and  1997.  Gross  profits
increased  20% to $21.4 million (21% of net sales) during 1998 compared to $17.7
million (19% of net sales)  during 1997.  The increase in gross  profits was due
primarily to a decrease in warranty costs as a result of improved quality at the
Leer division and a 3% decrease in material costs as a percentage of sales.

         Selling,  general and  administrative  expense  decreased  11% to $19.6
million  (20% of net sales)  during 1998  compared to $21.9  million (23% of net
sales) during 1997.  General and  administrative  expense  decreased 18% or $1.4


                                       19
<PAGE>


million, primarily as a result of a reduction in corporate overhead costs.

         TAG  Manufacturing  incurred  an  operating  profit  for the year ended
December 31, 1998 of $2.2 million  compared to an operating loss of $4.6 million
in 1997. The  improvement in operating  performance  was primarily the result of
higher shipments and lower direct costs resulting in improved gross profits.

Comparison of 1997 to 1996

         Net sales for TAG  Manufacturing  decreased 6% to $95.4 million in 1997
compared  to  $101.9   million  in  1996.  TAG   Manufacturing   sales  included
intercompany  sales to TAG  Distribution  of  $13.7  million  in 1997 and  $15.3
million in 1996.  Total shipments of caps and tonneaus,  including  shipments to
TAG  Distribution,  were 162,000  units during 1997 compared to 174,000 units in
1996.  The decline in units shipped was primarily a result of the closing of the
Leer plant in the  Southeastern  United States and a decline in national  market
share.  Raider recorded an 8,900 unit or 44% increase in shipments and Century's
shipments were consistent with the prior year.

         Cost of sales  decreased  $5.1  million  (6%) to $77.7  million in 1997
compared to $82.7 million in 1996.  Gross profits  decreased 7% to $17.7 million
(19% of net sales)  during  1997  compared to $19.2  million  (19% of net sales)
during 1996.  The decrease in gross  profits was  primarily due to a decrease of
$3.1  million or 29% at Leer  Manufacturing  as a result of  increased  material
costs arising from product quality problems.

         Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  increased  2% to $21.9
million  (23% of net sales)  during 1997  compared to $21.6  million (21% of net
sales) during 1996. Selling expense increased 4% or $0.5 million, primarily as a
result of increased delivery costs.

     TAG  Manufacturing  incurred an operating  loss for the year ended December
31, 1997 of $4.6 million compared to an operating loss of $3.3 million in 1996.

         The Leer  Manufacturing  plant in the  Southeastern  United  States was
closed during the last quarter of 1996 due to inefficient operations. Production
was  transferred  to the remaining TAG  Manufacturing  plants with an associated
reduction in overhead costs.  Including costs of closing another minor facility,
total closure costs of approximately $1.0 million were charged to expense during
1996 as Closed and Excess Facility Cost.

EFP

Comparison of 1998 to 1997

         Net sales  increased  15% to $38.0  million in 1998  compared  to $33.0
million in 1997.  EFP's Packaging and Shock Absorbing  product (as defined under
Part I, Item I - Business)  sales  increased  $4.0  million,  on the strength of
increased shipments to customers in the consumer electronic industry.

                                       20
<PAGE>


         Cost of sales increased 14% to $29.4 million in 1998 from $25.9 million
in 1997.  Accordingly,  gross profits  increased 22% to $8.6 million (23% of net
sales) in 1998 compared to $7.1 million (21% of net sales) in 1997. The increase
in gross profits was due to a decrease in material  costs and improved  overhead
absorption on higher sales volume.

         Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  increased  14% to $4.6
million  (12% of net sales) in 1998  compared to $4.0 million (12% of net sales)
in  1997,  primarily  due to  increased  general  and  administrative  expenses,
including higher incentive based costs.

         EFP's operating income increased 31% to $4.0 million (10% of net sales)
in 1998  compared to $3.0  million (9% of net sales) in 1997,  primarily  due to
increased gross profits on higher sales.

Comparison of 1997 to 1996

         Net sales  increased  5% to $33.0  million  in 1997  compared  to $31.5
million in 1996.  EFP's  Components (as defined under Part I, Item I - Business)
sales  increased  $1.9 million,  on the strength of new business,  including the
door core business started in 1996.

         Cost of sales  increased 4% to $25.9 million in 1997 from $25.0 million
in 1996.  Accordingly,  gross  profits  increased 9% to $7.1 million (21% of net
sales) in 1997 compared to $6.5 million (21% of net sales) in 1996. The increase
in gross profits was due to a decrease in material  costs,  which were partially
offset by higher labor costs resulting from changes in product mix.

     Selling,  general and  administrative  expense increased 6% to $4.0 million
(12% of net sales) in 1997 compared to $3.8 million (12% of net sales) in 1996.

     EFP's operating  income  increased 11% to $3.0 million (9% of net sales) in
1997 compared to $2.7 million (9% of net sales) in 1996.


MIC Group

         During  1998,  the Company  appointed a new  President of MIC Group and
subsequently  appointed a new Vice  President  of Sales and a Vice  President of
Quality.

Comparison of 1998 to 1997

         Net sales  decreased  6% to $26.9  million  in 1998  compared  to $28.6
million in 1997.  The  decrease  was  attributable  to reduced  demand for MIC's
products  and  services  caused  by  lower  levels  of  activity  in the  energy
exploration  and production  business.  The decline in levels of activity in the
energy business  accelerated in the second half of 1998 and continued into 1999.
MIC Group is increasing efforts to diversify its revenue base outside the energy
business.

         Cost of sales  increased 5% to $21.6  million in 1998 compared to $20.6
million in 1997. Gross profits  decreased 34% to $5.3 million (20% of net sales)
in 1998  compared to $8.0 million (28% of net sales) in 1997.  During the fourth


                                       21
<PAGE>


quarter of 1998,  in response to a 33% decline in sales,  measures were taken to
reduce direct costs, including a 25% reduction in labor personnel.
Further measures are being implemented.

         Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  increased  6% to  $3.5
million (13% of net sales)  compared to $3.3 million (11% of net sales) in 1997,
primarily due to increased  sales  personnel and related costs  associated  with
efforts to diversify the customer base into the non-energy business.

     During the year ended  December  31,  1998,  the Houston  machine  shop was
closed resulting in costs of $0.3 million included in Closed and Excess Facility
Costs.

     Operating  income  decreased  67% to $1.5 million (6% of net sales)  during
1998 compared to $4.7 million (17% of net sales) in 1997.

Comparison of 1997 to 1996

         Net sales  increased  12% to $28.6  million in 1997  compared  to $25.5
million in 1996. The increase was  attributable to greater demand for Magnetic's
products  and  services  due to  increased  levels  of  activity  in the  energy
exploration and production business.

         Cost of sales  increased 17% to $20.6 million in 1997 compared to $17.6
million in 1996. Accordingly, gross profits increased 2% to $8.0 million (28% of
net sales) in 1997  compared to $7.8 million  (31% of net sales) in 1996.  Labor
costs increased $1.4 million or 18%, primarily due to increased training costs.

         Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  increased  6% to  $3.3
million (11% of net sales)  compared to $3.0 million (12% of net sales) in 1996,
principally because of increased sales, personnel and related costs.

     Operating  income  decreased 1% to $4.7  million (17% of net sales)  during
1997 compared to $4.8 million (19% of net sales) in 1996.

Discontinued Operations - TAG Distribution

         TAG  Distribution  incurred  operating  losses  of $2.4  million,  $5.4
million and $2.8 million during 1998, 1997 and 1996,  respectively.  As a result
of  continued  losses  from  TAG  Distribution,  on April  2,  1998,  management
committed  to a formal  plan to dispose of TAG  Distribution.  Accordingly,  the
results of operations of TAG  Distribution  have been classified as discontinued
operations in the accompanying  financial  statements for all periods presented.
The plan of disposal is expected to be substantially completed by the end of the
second  quarter of 1999.  In  addition,  the net assets and  liabilities  of TAG
Distribution,  which are expected to be disposed of, have been segregated within
the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets as "net assets of  discontinued
operations."  As of March 19, 1999, the Company has sold one wholesale  location
and 14 retail locations.  Two wholesale  locations and two retail locations have
been closed.

         As a  result  of  this  plan,  the  Company  recorded  a  loss  on  TAG
Distribution's  discontinued  operations  of $12.0  million,  net of  applicable
taxes,  in 1998. This net loss is comprised of $1.2 million related to losses on


                                       22
<PAGE>


operations  prior to April 2, 1998,  and $10.8 million  related to the estimated
loss on disposal,  each net of applicable taxes. The Company estimates that this
loss on disposal will include losses of $2.8 million for  operations  from April
2,  1998  through  the  disposal  date and $8.0  million  for the  excess of the
carrying  value of assets  over  estimated  net  realizable  value,  each net of
applicable taxes.

        Effective January 29, 1999 in accordance with the plan of disposal,  the
Company  sold the  business  and assets of Radco,  which were part of the retail
operations of TAG Distribution. Proceeds of approximately $1.2 million were used
to repay borrowings  under the revolving credit agreement  entered into by Radco
during  1997.  Effective  on the same date,  Radco  changed its name to Welshman
Industries, Inc.

Comparison of 1998 to 1997

        TAG  Distribution  net sales  increased 6% to $58.5 million  during 1998
compared to $54.9 million in 1997. At Leer Retail,  sales  decreased 5% to $35.4
million and at National Truck Accessories, wholesale sales increased 30% or $5.3
million.  Sales of Midwest Truck  AfterMarket,  Inc.,  acquired in October 1997,
increased $6.3 million during 1998 compared to the two months of 1997.

        Cost of sales  increased  $3.4  million  (9%) to $40.8  million  in 1998
compared to $37.4 million in 1997.  Gross profits  increased 1% to $17.7 million
(30% of net sales)  during  1998  compared to $17.5  million  (32% of net sales)
during 1997.

        Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  decreased  17% to $19.0
million  (33% of net sales)  during 1998  compared to $22.9  million (42% of net
sales) during 1997.  General and  administrative  expense  decreased 39% or $3.0
million,  primarily as a result of eliminating the costs associated with the TAG
Distribution headquarters office in Houston.

     TAG Distribution incurred an operating loss for the year ended December 31,
1998 of $2.4 million compared to an operating loss of $5.4 million in 1997.

Comparison of 1997 to 1996

        TAG  Distribution  net sales  decreased 18% to $55.0 million during 1997
compared to $67.1 million  during 1996. At Leer Retail,  sales  decreased 13% to
$37.2 million as same store sales decreased  approximately  6%, primarily due to
lower cap sales.  Leer Retail  closed six stores  between July 1996 and December
1997,  which reduced sales  approximately  $2.8 million  during 1997 compared to
1996.  Wholesale sales decreased 27% or $6.7 million,  primarily due to softness
in regional  markets and loss of customers  resulting from a  reorganization  of
service areas late in 1996.  Effective October 31, 1997, TAG acquired the assets
of Midwest  Truck  AfterMarket,  Inc.,  a wholesale  distributor  of light truck
accessories  based in Tulsa,  Oklahoma,  for  approximately  $2.7  million.  The
acquisition  provided  the  wholesale  operations  of  TAG  Distribution  with a
presence in a geographical market not previously served.

                                       23
<PAGE>


        Cost of sales  decreased  $9.0  million  (19%) to $37.4  million in 1997
compared to $46.4 million in 1996. Gross profits  decreased 16% to $17.5 million
(32% of net sales)  during  1997  compared to $20.8  million  (31% of net sales)
during  1996.  The  decrease  in gross  profits was due  primarily  to the $12.1
million decline in sales.

        Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  decreased  2% to  $22.9
million  (42% of net sales)  during 1997  compared to $23.3  million (35% of net
sales) during 1996. Selling expense decreased 15% or $2.7 million primarily as a
result of a $1.7  million  (13%)  decrease  in selling  expense at Leer  Retail,
resulting from the closure of six stores during 1997. General and administrative
expense  increased 41% or $2.2 million primarily as a result of costs associated
with the headquarters office in Houston.

        During the year ended  December 31, 1997,  TAG  Distribution  closed the
headquarters in Houston and eight  unprofitable  retail stores at a cost of $1.0
million.

        TAG Distribution  incurred an operating loss for the year ended December
31, 1997 of $5.4 million  compared to an operating loss of $2.8 million in 1996.
The decline in operating performance was primarily the result of lower sales and
the costs  associated with the closing and  consolidation  of various stores and
administrative activities.

Discontinued Operations - Lowy Group

         The sale of the Blue  Ridge/Courier  division of Lowy was completed and
was effective on August 31, 1998, resulting in a gain of $6.5 million. Effective
September  8,  1998,  the  Company  decided  to  pursue  a plan to sell the Lowy
Distribution  division of Lowy.  Accordingly,  the operations of Lowy Group have
been classified as discontinued in the Consolidated Financial Statements for all
periods presented. The net assets and liabilities of Lowy, which are expected to
be  disposed  of,  have been  segregated  within the  accompanying  consolidated
balance sheets as "net assets of discontinued operations." Because the assets of
Blue  Ridge/Courier  were sold during the period,  the  following  discussion is
related to the operations of Lowy Distribution only.

         The Company  expects to break even from the  operations of Lowy through
the disposal  date.  The  anticipated  sales  proceeds from the disposal of Lowy
Distribution's  assets are expected to equal or exceed their  carrying  value at
December 31, 1998.

Comparison of 1998 to 1997

         Net sales  decreased  5% to $36.1  million  in 1998  compared  to $37.9
million  in 1997,  primarily  due to poor  sales of carpet  and  vinyl  products
partially offset by increased wood flooring sales.

     Cost of sales  decreased  4% to $27.9  million  in 1998  compared  to $29.2
million in 1997.  Gross profits  decreased 6% to $8.2 million (23% of net sales)
in 1998 compared to $8.7 million (23% of net sales) in 1997.

                                       24
<PAGE>


         Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  decreased  7% to  $8.0
million  (22% of net sales) in 1998  compared to $8.5 million (22% of net sales)
in 1997,  due  primarily  to a  decrease  in  selling  expense  as a result of a
reduction in sales personnel and related costs.

        Lowy  sold  two  properties  during  1997,  recognizing  a gain  of $2.7
million,  which was included in Other  Income,  for the year ended  December 31,
1997. A warehouse facility near Minneapolis, Minnesota was sold, effective March
31, 1997,  and the operations  moved to a new location  during the quarter ended
June 30, 1997. Effective June 30, 1997, Lowy Distribution sold and leased back a
warehouse facility in Ankeny, Iowa.

     Lowy Group's  operating  income,  excluding the gains from the sale of real
estate, was $0.3 million (1% of net sales) in 1998 and 1997.

Comparison of 1997 to 1996

         Net sales  decreased  9% to $37.9  million  in 1997  compared  to $41.5
million in 1996.  Cost of sales decreased 9% to $29.2 million in 1997 from $32.1
million in 1996. Accordingly, gross profits decreased 7% to $8.7 million (23% of
net sales) in 1997 compared to $9.4 million (23% of net sales) in 1996.

     Selling,  general and  administrative  expense decreased 3% to $8.5 million
(22% of net sales) in 1997 compared to $8.8 million (21% of net sales) in 1996.

     Lowy  Group's  operating  income,  excluding  the gains on the sale of real
estate  during 1997 of $2.7  million,  decreased  50% to $0.3 million (1% of net
sales) in 1997 compared to $0.6 million (2% of net sales) in 1996.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         During 1998, net cash provided by operations was $11.7 million compared
to net cash used of $2.5 million during 1997. Overall changes in working capital
provided  cash of $14.1  million  during 1998  primarily  due to a reduction  in
working capital at Morgan of $4.4 million.  Cash provided by operations was used
to pay  down  revolver  borrowings  and to  fund  capital  expenditures  of $6.3
million.

         The  Company's  ability to borrow under its  Revolving  Loan  Agreement
depends on the amount of  eligible  collateral,  which is  dependent  on certain
advance rates applied to the value of accounts  receivables  and  inventory.  At
March 13, 1999,  the Company had unused  available  borrowing  capacity of $20.7
million under the terms of the Revolving Loan  Agreement.  At December 31, 1998,
the  Company  had total  borrowing  capacity of $43.3  million,  of which,  $3.7
million   was  used  to  secure   letters   of  credit  and   foreign   exchange
accommodations. At December 31, 1998, the Company had unused available borrowing
capacity  of  approximately  $22.0  million.  On August 31,  1998,  the  Company
completed  the sale of the assets of Blue  Ridge/Courier  and proceeds  from the
sale of  approximately  $15.3  million were used to repay  borrowings  under the
Revolving Loan Agreement.

                                       25
<PAGE>


     The initial term of the  three-year  Revolving  Loan Agreement ends in June
1999,  however,  the agreement  provides for borrowings on a year to year basis,
unless sooner terminated by the Company or lender,  provided that the lender may
at its option extend the renewal date to a fourth year.  On March 29, 1999,  the
Company was  notified by the lender,  in  writing,  that it is  exercising  this
option thus extending the agreement to June 2000.

        The Company's Radco  subsidiary (part of TAG  Distribution),  which is a
non-guarantor  subsidiary  under the terms of the bond  indenture,  concurrently
with the  acquisition  of  substantially  all the assets of MTA,  entered into a
three-year  revolving  credit  agreement  with the  Company's  revolving  credit
lender.  The agreement provided for borrowings of up to the lesser of $5,000,000
or an amount  based on advance  rates  applied to the total  amounts of eligible
accounts  receivable and inventories of Radco.  At December 31, 1998,  Radco had
total  borrowings  of  approximately  $1.6 million  under the  revolving  credit
agreement.  Effective  January 29,  1999,  the business and assets of Radco were
sold to third parties.  Net proceeds of approximately  $1.2 million were used to
pay down borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement.  At December 31, 1998,
accounts  due under the  facility  are  included in "Net Assets of  Discontinued
Operations".

         As discussed in Notes 7 and 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements,
the Company's  Revolving Loan Agreement and Senior Notes Indenture  restrict the
ability of the  Company to dispose of assets,  incur  debt,  pay  dividends  and
restrict certain corporate activities.

         The Company believes that it has adequate resources to meet its working
capital and capital  expenditure  requirements  consistent  with past trends and
practices.  The Company also  believes  that its cash balances and the borrowing
availability  under the Revolving  Credit  Agreement  will satisfy the Company's
cash requirements for the foreseeable future,  given its anticipated  additional
capital expenditure and working capital requirements and its known obligations.

Year 2000

         The Year 2000 (Y2K)  issue is the  result of  computer  programs  being
written  using two digits  rather  than four to define a specific  year.  Absent
corrective  actions,  a computer  program that has date  sensitive  software may
recognize  a date using "00" as the year 1900  rather  than the year 2000.  This
could result in system  failure or  miscalculations  resulting in disruptions to
operations.

         The Company's plan to resolve the Y2K issue involves the following four
phases:  assessment,  remediation,  testing,  and  implementation.  Based on the
recently completed assessment of continuing  operations,  the Company determined
that it will be  required  to  modify or  replace  significant  portions  of its
software and certain  hardware so that those systems will properly utilize dates
beyond December 31, 1999 at certain of the companies  subsidiaries.  The Company
expects to have all remediated systems fully tested and implemented by September
30, 1999.  The Company  believes  that with  modifications  or  replacements  of
existing software and certain hardware, the Y2K issue can be mitigated.

         The Company has queried its  significant  suppliers and  subcontractors
that do not share  information  systems with the Company (external  agents).  To
date, the Company is not aware of any external agent with a Y2K issue that would


                                       26
<PAGE>


materially  impact the  Company's  results of  operations,  liquidity or capital
resources.

         The Company has and will continue to utilize both internal and external
resources to reprogram or replace,  test and  implement  software and  operating
equipment for Y2K modifications.  The total cost of the Y2K project is estimated
at $1.5 million and is being funded through operating cash flows.  Approximately
20% of the cost is to  replace  equipment  and the  remainder  is to  upgrade or
reprogram  software.  The majority of these costs are being expended as incurred
and are not  expected  to have a  material  impact on the  Company's  results of
operations   or  financial   position.   To  date,   the  Company  has  incurred
approximately $0.7 million related to all phases of the Y2K project.

         The  Company  believes  that the Y2K  issue  will not pose  significant
operational  problems  for the  Company.  However,  if all Y2K  problems are not
identified and corrected in a timely manner, there can be no assurances that the
Y2K issue will not have a material  adverse  effect on the Company's  results of
operations  or adversely  affect the  Company's  relationships  with  customers,
suppliers or other parties. In addition,  there can be no assurance that outside
third parties, including customers,  suppliers, utility and government entities,
will be in compliance  with all Y2K issues.  The Company  believes that the most
likely worse case Y2K  scenario,  if one were to occur,  would be the  temporary
inability of third party suppliers, such as utility providers, telecommunication
companies and other critical  suppliers to continue providing their products and
services.  The  failure of these  third  party  suppliers  to  provide  on-going
services  could  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  results of
operations.

         Management of the Company believes it has an effective program in place
to resolve the Y2K issue in a timely manner.  However, the Company currently has
no contingency  plans in place in the event it or any of its major  suppliers do
not complete all phases of the Y2K  program.  The Company  plans to evaluate the
status of the  completion  of its Y2K project and those of key  suppliers in the
second quarter of 1999 and determine whether such a plan is necessary.

Other Matters

         The  Company  is  significantly  leveraged  and  had  a  $17.2  million
stockholder's  deficit at December 31, 1998. Through its floating rate debt, the
Company is subject to  interest  rate  fluctuations.  The  Company  operates  in
cyclical businesses and the markets for its products are highly competitive.  In
addition,  the Company places significant  reliance on a relatively small number
of customers,  with two customers  accounting for 26% of 1998  consolidated  net
sales.  The  combination  of these  factors,  which are  outside  the  Company's
control,  cause it to be subject to changes in economic  trends and new business
developments.

         The Company has net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $34.0
million for U.S. federal income tax purposes at December 31, 1998, which, if not
utilized,  will begin to expire in 2002.  The Company  has  recorded a valuation
allowance  of $5.0  million and $2.1  million as of  December  31,1998 and 1997,
respectively,  against  the net  operating  loss  carryforwards  as the  Company
believes that the  corresponding  deferred tax asset may not be realizable.  The
Company has considered prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing
the need for the valuation allowance. The Company has assumed approximately $7.5
million of benefits  attributable to such tax planning  strategies.  The Company


                                       27
<PAGE>


believes that after  consideration  of its options  concerning the operations of
TAG, which incurred significant losses during 1998, 1997 and 1996, and other tax
planning strategies,  that sufficient future taxable income will be generated to
utilize the deferred tax asset.  In the event the Company were to determine,  in
the future, that any such tax planning  strategies would not be implemented,  an
adjustment  to the  deferred  tax asset would be charged to income in the period
the determination was made.

         Inflation  historically  has  not  materially  affected  the  Company's
business,  although  raw  materials  and  general  operating  expenses,  such as
salaries and employee benefits,  are subject to normal  inflationary  pressures.
The Company believes that,  generally,  it has been able to increase its selling
prices to offset increases in costs due to inflation.

        Morgan has been named as a  potentially  responsible  party ("PRP") with
respect to the generation of hazardous materials alleged to have been handled or
disposed of at two Federal  Superfund sites in  Pennsylvania  and one in Kansas.
Although a precise  estimate of liability  cannot currently be made with respect
to these sites,  based upon information  known to Morgan,  the Company currently
believes that it's proportionate share, if any, of the ultimate costs related to
any  necessary  investigation  and remedial  work at those sites will not have a
material adverse effect on the Company.

         Certain of the  Company's  operations  utilize  paints and  solvents in
their  businesses.  Also, raw materials used by EFP contain pentane,  which is a
volatile  organic  compound  subject  to  regulation  under  the  Clean Air Act.
Although the Company believes that it has made sufficient  capital  expenditures
to maintain  compliance with existing laws and regulations,  future expenditures
may be necessary if and when compliance standards and technology change.

         Although  all of the  Subsidiaries  have  reviewed  the benefits of the
adoption of ISO 9000,  an  internationally  recognized  certification  regarding
production  practices and techniques employed in manufacturing  processes,  only
MIC Group and EFP, at its facility in Indiana, have obtained certification.  The
implementation of this standard is in recognition of the international nature of
a  number  of MIC  Group's  customers  as well as being  reflective  of the high
precision  nature of the  services  of both  companies.  Morgan  and the  Raider
division  of TAG have plans to  implement  the  standard  and EFP,  at its other
locations,  within the next two years. The Company believes that, except for MIC
Group and EFP, none of the customers of the Company have requested or expect the
adoption by the Company of ISO 9000.

         The Company pays fees to a corporation,  owned by Mr. Poindexter,  for,
among other  things,  services  provided by Messrs.  Poindexter  and Magee.  The
Company  charges  the  Subsidiaries  for their use of funds and for  stewardship
services provided to them by the Company.


Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

         The Company is subject to certain market risks, including interest rate
risk and foreign  currency  risk.  The adverse  effects of potential  changes in
these market risks are discussed  below. The sensitivity  analyses  presented do
not consider the effects that such adverse changes may have on overall  economic


                                       28
<PAGE>


activity,  nor do  they  consider  additional  actions  management  may  take to
mitigate the Company's exposure to such changes.  Actual results may differ. See
the Notes to the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for a description  of the
Company's  accounting  policies and other information related to these financial
instruments.

Interest Rates

         Variable-Rate   Debt.  As  of  December  31,  1998,   the  Company  had
approximately  $16.8 million  outstanding  under a $55.0  million,  asset-based,
revolving credit  facility.  The interest rate on this revolving credit facility
is based upon a spread above either the Prime Interest Rate or London  Interbank
Overnight Rate (LIBOR),  which rate is determined at the Company's  option.  The
amount   outstanding   under  this  revolving  credit  facility  will  fluctuate
throughout  the year based upon  working  capital  requirements.  Based upon the
$16.8 million  outstanding  under the revolving  credit facility at December 31,
1998, a 1.0% change in the interest rate (from the December 31, 1998 rate) would
cause a change in interest  expense of  approximately  $0.2 million on an annual
basis. The Company's  objective in maintaining these variable rate borrowings is
the flexibility  obtained  regarding early repayment without penalties and lower
overall cost as compared with fixed-rate borrowings.

         Fixed-Rate Debt. As of December 31, 1998, the Company had approximately
$100.0 million of 12 1/2% Senior Notes,  long-term  debt,  outstanding,  with an
estimated  fair value of  approximately  $94.0 million based upon their publicly
traded value at that date. Market risk,  estimated as the potential  increase in
fair value resulting from a hypothetical  1.0% decrease in interest  rates,  was
approximately $3.7 million as of December 31, 1998.

Foreign Currency

         Raider Industries, a division of TAG Manufacturing, has a manufacturing
plant in Canada,  which generated revenues of approximately $16.0 million during
the year ended December 31, 1998. The functional  currency of Raider  Industries
is the local currency  (Canadian  dollar).  Management does not currently employ
risk management techniques to manage this potential exposure to foreign currency
fluctuations,  however,  the vast majority of goods  manufactured  in Canada are
imported and sold to customers in the United States.  Therefore,  a weakening of
the United States dollar in relation to the Canadian  dollar may have the effect
of decreasing Raider  Industries' gross margin,  assuming that the United States
sales price remains unchanged.

         In addition,  Morgan purchases certain raw materials from a supplier in
the  United  Kingdom,  which  approximated  $6.6  million  during the year ended
December  31,  1998.  The result of a uniform 25%  weakening in the value of the
United  States  dollar from  December  31,  1998 levels  relative to the British
Sterling  would  result  in an  estimated  increase  in  cost of  goods  sold of
approximately  $1.3  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  1999  before
considering any risk reduction instruments. However, Morgan manages its exposure
to changes in foreign currency  exchange rates by entering into foreign currency
exchange contracts. Morgan's risk management objective is to reduce its exposure
to the effects of changes in exchange rates between the firm purchase commitment
date and the  settlement  of the  purchased  inventory  item. As of December 31,
1998, the Company had foreign currency exchange contracts with a notional amount
of approximately $1.1 million outstanding and a fair value of less than $5,000.

                                       29
<PAGE>


Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

         Forward-looking   statements   in  this   report,   including   without
limitation, statements relating to the Company's plans, strategies,  objectives,
expectations,  intentions  and adequacy of  resources,  are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Investors are cautioned that such  forward-looking  statements involve risks and
uncertainties,  including without limitation,  the following:  (1) the Company's
plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions are subject to change
at any time at the discretion of the Company; (2) any sale of a business unit is
subject  to  many  factors  including  terms  considered   satisfactory  to  the
management of the Company; and (3) other risks and uncertainties  indicated from
time  to  time  in the  Company's  filings  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.


Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Index to Financial Statements:                                         Page

Report of Independent Auditors ................................         31
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1997...         32
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
     December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996..........................         33
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
     December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996..........................         34
Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Deficit for the years ended
     December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996..........................         35
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.....................         36



                                       30
<PAGE>






                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



Board of Directors and Stockholder
J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.

We have audited the accompanying  consolidated balance sheets of J.B. Poindexter
& Co.,  Inc. and  subsidiaries  as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the related
consolidated statements of operations,  stockholder's deficit and cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998.  These  financial
statements   are  the   responsibility   of  the   Company's   management.   Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated  financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material  respects,  the consolidated  financial position of J.B.
Poindexter & Co.,  Inc. and  subsidiaries  at December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the
consolidated  results of their  operations  and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1998, in conformity  with generally
accepted accounting principles.

                                                   ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Houston, Texas
March 29, 1999


                                       31
<PAGE>
                  J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Dollars in thousands)

                                     ASSETS
                                                                 December 31,  
                                                               1998       1997 
                                                             --------  ---------
Current assets
     Restricted cash .....................................   $  2,194   $  3,191
     Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
       accounts of $710 and $1,426, respectively .........     26,289     28,401
     Inventories, net ....................................     31,094     29,960
     Deferred income taxes ...............................      3,071      2,277
     Prepaid expenses and other ..........................        559      1,048
                                                             --------   --------
              Total current assets .......................     63,207     64,877
Property, plant and equipment, net .......................     38,198     41,085
Net assets of discontinued operations ....................      8,844     28,744
Goodwill, net ............................................     14,517     15,405
Deferred income taxes ....................................      4,465      5,259
Other assets .............................................      4,744      5,829
                                                             --------   --------
Total assets .............................................   $133,975   $161,199
                                                             ========   ========

                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S DEFICIT

Current liabilities
     Short-term debt ..................................     $   --      $    428
     Current portion of long-term debt ................        1,019       1,173
     Borrowings under the revolving credit facility ...       16,813      38,154
     Accounts payable .................................       17,771       9,948
     Accrued compensation and benefits ................        4,648       4,175
     Accrued income taxes .............................          483        --
     Other accrued liabilities ........................        7,471       8,718
                                                            --------    --------
              Total current liabilities ...............       48,205      62,596
                                                            --------    --------
Noncurrent liabilities
     Long-term debt, less current portion .............      100,386     101,404
     Employee benefit obligations and other ...........        2,583       1,940
                                                            --------    --------
            Total noncurrent liabilities ............        102,969     103,344
                                                            --------    --------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's deficit
     Common stock and paid-in capital .................      16,486      16,486
     Cumulative other comprehensive income ............        (491)       (186)
     Accumulated deficit ..............................     (33,194)    (21,041)
                                                            --------    --------
            Total stockholder's deficit .............       (17,199)     (4,741)
                                                            --------    --------
            Total liabilities and stockholder's deficit    $133,975    $161,199
                                                            ========    ========


        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
                             financial statements.



                                       32
<PAGE>






                  J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                 (Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

                                               Year Ended December 31,          

                                                1998         1997         1996 
                                                ----         ----         ----

Net sales ..................................   $365,327    $338,559    $310,924
Cost of sales ..............................    310,094     280,193     257,065
                                               --------    --------    --------
Gross profit ...............................     55,233      58,366      53,859
Selling, general and administrative expense      47,651      48,455      44,833
Closed and excess facility costs ...........        335       1,364       1,001
Other (income) expense, net ................       (431)       (405)         53
                                               --------    --------    --------
Operating income ...........................      7,678       8,952       7,972
Interest expense ...........................     15,648      15,775      14,484
                                               --------    --------    --------
Loss from continuing operations before income
   taxes and extraordinary loss ............     (7,970)     (6,823)     (6,512)
Income tax provision (benefit) .............        744         947        (991)
                                               --------    --------    --------
Loss from continuing operations before
    extraordinary loss .....................     (8,714)     (7,770)     (5,521)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations,
         net of applicable taxes ...........     (3,439)        224        (633)
Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of
    debt, net of income tax benefit of $135        --          --          (260)
                                               --------    --------    --------
Net loss ...................................   $(12,153)   $ (7,546)   $ (6,414)
                                               ========    ========    ========

Basic and diluted loss per share:
Loss from continuing operations before
     extraordinary loss ....................   $ (2,849)   $ (2,540)   $ (1,805)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations,
     net of applicable taxes ...............     (1,124)         73        (207)
Extraordinary loss, net of applicable taxes .      --          --           (85)
                                               --------    --------    --------
Net loss ...................................   $ (3,973)   $ (2,467)   $ (2,097)
                                               ========    ========    ========

Weighted average shares outstanding ...........  3,059      3,059      3,059
                                                =======   ========   ========











              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                       consolidated financial statements.



                                       33
<PAGE>

                  J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                             (Dollars in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Year Ended December 31,
                                                                                           1998      1997        1996
<S>                                                                                   <C>         <C>         <C>
Net loss ...........................................................................   $(12,153)   $ (7,546)   $ (6,414)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
      cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization ....................................................     11,535      12,382      11,862
  Provision for write-down of assets of
       discontinued operations .....................................................      5,505        --          --
  Gain on sale of discontinued operations ..........................................     (6,529)       --          --
  Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt,
      net of tax ...................................................................       --          --           260
  Closed and excess facility costs .................................................         47       1,834        --
  (Gain) loss on sale of facilities and equipment ..................................         23      (2,545)         19
  Deferred federal income tax provision (benefit) ..................................       --           226      (1,725)
  Other ............................................................................       (801)        347         303
Increase  (decrease)  in  assets  and liabilities  net
  of the  effect  ofacquisitions:
  Accounts receivable ..............................................................      2,093      (4,903)      2,590
  Inventories ......................................................................      1,206      (1,077)      3,325
  Prepaid expenses and other .......................................................       --           485         160
  Accounts payable .................................................................      7,765        (151)        798
  Accrued income taxes .............................................................        297        (378)          9
  Other accrued liabilities ........................................................      2,757      (1,189)       (500)
                                                                                        --------    --------    --------
      Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities ..........................     11,745      (2,515)     10,687
                                                                                        --------    --------    --------
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
  Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired .....................................       --        (2,700)       --
  Proceeds from disposition of business, facilities
      and equipment ................................................................     16,164       3,674         416
  Acquisition of property, plant and equipment .....................................     (6,226)     (7,262)     (8,091)
  Other ............................................................................        397        (145)        178
                                                                                        --------    --------    --------
      Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities ..........................     10,335      (6,433)     (7,497)
                                                                                        --------    --------    --------
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
  Net (payments) proceeds of revolving lines of
      credit and short term debt ...................................................    (21,758)     11,037         683
  Payments of long-term debt and capital leases ....................................     (1,319)     (1,298)     (2,228)
  Debt issuance costs ..............................................................       --          (207)       (752)
                                                                                        --------    --------    --------
      Net cash provided (used in) financing activities .............................    (23,077)      9,532      (2,297)
                                                                                        --------    --------    --------
           Increase (decrease) in restricted cash ..................................       (997)        584         893
Restricted cash beginning of period ................................................      3,191       2,607       1,714
                                                                                        --------    --------    --------
Restricted cash end of period ......................................................   $  2,194    $  3,191    $  2,607
                                                                                        ========    ========    ========
Supplemental information:
  Cash paid for income taxes .......................................................   $    633    $  1,526    $  1,010
                                                                                        ========    ========    ========
  Cash paid for interest cost ......................................................   $ 15,615    $ 15,029    $ 16,211
                                                                                        ========    ========    ========

</TABLE>
             
              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                       consolidated financial statements.



                                       34
<PAGE>




                  J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY (DEFICIT)
              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
                  (Dollars in thousands, except share amounts)


                             Shares of  Common  Retained    Other
                              Common  Stock and Earnings Comprehensive
                              Stock    Paid-in  (Deficit)   Income       Total 
                                       Capital


December 31, 1995 .........     3,059  $ 16,486  $ (7,081)  $     46   $  9,451
                                                                       --------
    Net loss ..............      --        --      (6,414)      --       (6,414)
     Translation adjustment      --        --        --           (7)        (7)
                                                                       --------
     Comprehensive income .      --        --        --         --       (6,421)
                             --------  --------   --------   --------   --------
December 31, 1996 .........     3,059    16,486   (13,495)        39      3,030
                             --------  --------   --------   --------   --------
     Net loss .............     --        --       (7,546)      --       (7,546)
     Translation adjustment      --        --        --         (225)      (225)
                                                                        --------
     Comprehensive income .      --        --        --         --       (7,771)
                             --------  --------   --------   --------   --------
December 31, 1997 .........     3,059    16,486   (21,041)      (186)    (4,741)
                                                                        --------
     Net loss .............      --        --     (12,153)       --     (12,153)
     Translation adjustment      --        --        --         (305)      (305)
                                                                        --------
     Comprehensive income .      --        --        --         --      (12,458)
                             --------  --------   --------   --------   --------
December 31, 1998 .........     3,059  $ 16,486  $(33,194)  $   (491)  $(17,199)
                             ========  ========   ========   ========   ========



















              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                       consolidated financial statements.





                                       35
<PAGE>





                  J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  Organization & Business:

     J.B.   Poindexter  &  Co.,  Inc.   ("JBPCO")  and  its  subsidiaries   (the
"Subsidiaries",  and  together  with JBPCO,  the  "Company")  operate  primarily
manufacturing and wholesale distribution businesses.  JBPCO and the Subsidiaries
are controlled by John B. Poindexter.

       Morgan Trailer  Manufacturing Co.  ("Morgan")  Acquired January 12, 1990,
Morgan   manufactures  truck  bodies  for  dry  freight  and  refrigerated  vans
(excluding  those  made for  pickup  trucks  and  tractor-trailer  trucks).  Its
customers  include  rental  companies,  truck dealers and companies that operate
fleets of delivery vehicles.

       Effective   July   1,1997,   Morgan   acquired  the  assets  of  Gem  Top
Manufacturing,  Inc. ("Gem Top") from the Truck Accessories  Group, Inc. Gem Top
manufactures and distributes light truck caps primarily to commercial  customers
and was  originally  acquired on March 16, 1993.  Since both companies are under
common  control  the  acquisition  was  accounted  for in a manner  similar to a
pooling of interests.

       Truck Accessories Group, Inc. ("TAG") Acquired on August 14, 1987, TAG is
a manufacturer of pickup truck "caps" and tonneau  covers,  which are fabricated
enclosures  that fit over the open beds of pickup  trucks,  converting  the beds
into weatherproof  storage areas. TAG operations are organized into two separate
and distinct  operating  divisions:  TAG Manufacturing and TAG Distribution (See
Note 13).

       TAG  Manufacturing  includes Leer, which was acquired on August 14, 1987,
20th Century Fiberglass (Century),  which was acquired June 29, 1995, and Raider
Industries Inc. (Raider),  a Saskatchewan,  Canada corporation that acquired the
cap manufacturing businesses of Raider and LoRider on June 30, 1995.

       EFP Corporation ("EFP") Acquired on August 2, 1985, EFP molds and markets
expandable foam products which are used as casting  patterns,  packaging,  shock
absorbing  and  materials   handling  products   primarily  by  the  automotive,
electronics,  furniture,  appliance and other  industries.  It also manufactures
products  used as thermal  insulators.  On August 31, 1992,  EFP acquired  Astro
Pattern  Corporation's  ("Astro")  assets.  Astro's  assets  are used to produce
machine tooling and wood patterns primarily for the foundry industry.

       MIC  Group  ("MIC  Group")  Acquired  on June 19,  1992,  MIC  Group is a
manufacturer,  investment  caster and assembler of precision metal parts for use
in the worldwide oil and gas exploration, aerospace and general industries.

       Discontinued Operations

        The following  operations  have been  presented as  discontinued  in the
accompanying consolidated financial statements. See a further discussion at Note
13.

       Truck  Accessories  Group  Distribution  Division  Acquired on August 14,
1987, as part of the TAG acquisition,  TAG Distribution operates as a retail and
wholesale  distributor of products  manufactured by TAG  Manufacturing and other
suppliers. Management has committed to a plan to dispose of TAG Distribution.

                                       36
<PAGE>
       
       TAG Distribution  includes Radco  Industries,  Inc.,  ("Radco") which was
acquired on December 28, 1994, Century  Distributing which was acquired June 29,
1995,  and Midwest  Truck After Market  ("MTA")  which was acquired  October 31,
1997.

       Lowy Group,  Inc.  ("Lowy Group")  Acquired  August 30, 1991,  Lowy Group
operates  in the floor  covering  business  serving  all or a portion  of twelve
Midwestern  states  through  six company  operated  facilities.  Management  has
committed  to  a  plan  to  dispose  of  Lowy.  Lowy  Group  included  the  Blue
Ridge/Courier  division,  which was a carpet manufacturing and dyeing operation,
and was sold effective August 31, 1998.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

       Principles of Consolidation.  The consolidated  financial statements have
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles.  All
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

       Restricted Cash. At December 31, 1998 and 1997,  substantially all of the
Company's  cash is  restricted  pursuant  to the terms of the  revolving  credit
facility (See Note 7).

       Cash and Cash  Equivalents.  For the  purposes of the  statement  of cash
flows,  the Company  considers all highly liquid  investments with maturities of
three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

       Accounts  Receivable.  Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance
for doubtful accounts.  During the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
the Company charged to expense, $242,000, $696,000, and $552,000,  respectively,
as a provision for doubtful  accounts and deducted from the allowance  $958,000,
$694,000 and $1,124,000, respectively, for write-offs of bad debts.

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

       Property, Plant and Equipment.  Property, plant and equipment,  including
property  under capital  leases,  are stated at cost. The cost of property under
capital leases represents the present value of the future minimum lease payments
at the  inception of the lease.  Depreciation  and  amortization  is computed by
using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the applicable
assets for financial  reporting purposes and accelerated  methods for income tax
purposes. The cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to operating expense as
incurred and the cost of major  replacements  and  significant  improvements  is
capitalized.

       Warranty. Morgan provides product warranties for periods up to ten years.
TAG provides a warranty period, exclusive to the original truck owner, which is,
in general  but with  exclusions,  one year for parts,  five years for paint and
lifetime for  structure.  A provision for warranty  costs is included in cost of
sales when goods are sold based on historical experience.

       Income Taxes.  The Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions
of Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  (SFAS) No. 109. Under SFAS No.
109,  deferred tax assets and  liabilities  are computed based on the difference


                                       37
<PAGE>

between the financial  statement and income tax bases of assets and  liabilities
using the enacted tax rates.  Deferred  income tax expenses or credits are based
on the changes in the deferred tax asset or liability from period to period.

       Net Sales  Recognition.  Net sales are  recognized  upon  shipment of the
product to  customers,  except for Morgan where  revenue is  recognized  and the
customer is billed upon final body assembly and quality inspection.
Adjustments to arrive at net sales include allowances for discounts and returns.

       Earnings  per Share.  Earnings  per share is  calculated  by dividing net
income by the weighted average number of shares  outstanding  during the period.
No common stock equivalents exist.

       Use of Estimates.  The preparation of financial  statements in conformity
with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to make
estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets and
liabilities  and disclosure of contingent  assets and liabilities at the date of
the  financial  statements  and the  reported  amounts of revenues  and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

       Foreign  Exchange  Currency  Contracts.   Morgan  uses  foreign  exchange
currency  contracts to hedge the foreign  currency risk  associated with British
Sterling inventory purchases. Any such gains or losses on these contracts, which
qualify as accounting  hedges,  are deferred and recognized  when the underlying
inventory is sold.

       Recently  Issued  Accounting  Standards.  In  June  1998,  the  Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments  and Hedging  Activities,  which is required to be adopted in fiscal
years  beginning  after June 15, 1999.  Because of the Company's  limited use of
derivatives to manage its exposure to  fluctuations  in foreign  exchange rates,
management  does not anticipate that the adoption of the new statement will have
a significant effect on earnings or the financial position of the Company.

     In  March  1998,  the  Accounting   Standards  Executive  Committee  issued
Statement  of  Position  ("SOP")  98-1,  Accounting  for the  Costs of  Computer
Software  Developed  or Obtained  for  Internal  Use.  This  statement  provides
guidance on  accounting  for the costs of  software  developed  or obtained  for
internal use and is  effective  for fiscal years  beginning  after  December 15,
1998.  The  Company  will  adopt  this  standard  in the first  quarter of 1999.
Management  does not believe its adoption will have a significant  effect on the
Company's  financial  statements,  as the Company's policies are consistent with
this standard.

3.  Segment Data:

     The  Company  operates  and  manages  its  subsidiaries   individually  and
considers each subsidiary a separate  business  segment.  The Company  evaluates
performance  and  allocates  resources  based on the  operating  income  of each
subsidiary.  The accounting policies of the reportable business segments are the
same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Other
than  sales  between  TAG  Manufacturing  and  TAG  Distribution,  there  are no
significant inter-segment sales. For a description of each business segment, see
Note 1. The  following is a summary of the  business  segment data for the years
ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 (dollars in thousands):


                                       38
<PAGE>

Net Sales ......................            1998            1997            1996
Morgan .........................        $201,126        $181,652        $152,073
TAG Manufacturing ..............          99,357          95,391         101,927
EFP ............................          37,986          32,954          31,444
MIC Group ......................          26,858          28,562          25,480
                                        --------        --------        --------
Net Sales ......................        $365,327        $338,559        $310,924
                                        ========        ========        ========

Operating Income (Loss)
Morgan .........................        $  2,781        $  8,531        $  6,312
TAG Manufacturing ..............           2,165          (4,559)        (3,340)
EFP ............................           3,971           3,031           2,737
MIC Group ......................           1,542           4,732           4,799
JBPCO (Corporate) ..............          (2,781)         (2,783)        (2,536)
                                         --------        --------       --------
Operating Income ...............        $  7,678        $  8,952        $  7,972
                                         ========        ========       ========

Depreciation and Amortization Expense
Morgan..........................        $  2,326        $  2,424        $  2,335
TAG Manufacturing...............           4,312           4,279           3,674
EFP.............................           1,684           1,853           1,928
MIC Group.......................             944           1,230           1,440
JBPCO (Corporate)...............           1,039             945             675
Discontinued operations.........           1,230           1,651           1,810
                                       ---------       ---------         -------
Depreciation and Amortization Expense    $11,535         $12,382         $11,862
                                         =======         =======         =======

Total Assets
Morgan...............................   $ 60,454        $ 65,205       $  58,399
TAG Manufacturing....................     35,656          37,142          37,680
EFP..................................     16,233          14,253          14,930
MIC Group............................      9,078          10,500          10,144
JBPCO (Corporate)....................      3,710           5,355           9,364
Net assets of discontinued operations      8,844          28,744          32,999
                                      ----------      ----------       ---------
Identifiable Assets..................   $133,975        $161,199        $163,516
                                        ========        ========        ========

Capital Expenditures
Morgan...............................    $ 2,646         $ 3,071         $ 2,448
TAG Manufacturing....................      1,820           2,392           3,283
EFP..................................        510             478             523
MIC Group.............................       392             750           1,141
JBPCO (Corporate).....................        27             101              32
Discontinued operations...............       831             470             664
                                       ---------       ---------       ---------
Capital Expenditures..................   $ 6,226         $ 7,262         $ 8,091
                                         =======         =======         =======

      Net sales include $14,497,000, $15,630,000 and $17,025,000,  respectively,
from  intercompany  sales to TAG  Distribution,  which has been  classified as a
discontinued  operation.  As a result,  operating income included  approximately
$2,900,000, $3,100,000 and $3,400,000, respectively, related to profits on these


                                       39
<PAGE>

sales.  Since  TAG  Distribution's  results  of  operations  are  classified  as
discontinued,  the  intercompany  sales do not eliminate on a line item basis in
the  accompanying   consolidated   statement  of  operations.   However,   on  a
consolidated  basis,  such  intercompany  transactions  are  eliminated  in  the
accompanying  consolidated  statement of operations  for each period  presented.
Under the  current  plan of  disposition  for TAG  Distribution,  a  substantial
portion of these sales may not continue subsequent to the disposition.

      During 1998, MIC Group closed a facility and incurred charges of $335,000,
which was  included  in  operating  income for the period.  TAG  Manufacturing's
operating income included  $805,000 and $1,001,000 of charges,  during the years
ended December 31, 1997 and 1996,  respectively,  associated with the closure or
write-down in carrying value of certain excess  facilities.  During 1997, Morgan
wrote down the carrying  value of its facility in Mexico by $559,000,  which was
included in operating income for the period.

        Morgan has two  customers  (truck  leasing  and rental  companies)  that
accounted for, on a combined basis,  approximately  40-45% of Morgan's net sales
during  1998,  1997 and  1996,  respectively.  EFP has  three  customers  in the
electronics  industry that accounted for approximately 37%, 28% and 25% of EFP's
net sales in 1998,  1997 and  1996,  respectively.  MIC  Group  has an  industry
concentration, pertaining to international oil field service companies, with one
customer  in 1998,  three  customers  in 1997 and four  customers  in 1996  that
accounted  for  approximately  57%,  53%  and  69% of  MIC  Group's  net  sales,
respectively.

        The Company's  operations are located  principally in the United States.
However, Raider Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of TAG manufacturing,  is located
in Canada and  Acero-Tec,  S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary  of Morgan,  is located in
Mexico. The following  information  pertains to these foreign subsidiaries as of
December 31. (dollars in thousands):

                                                    1998             1997
                                                    ----             ----

   Long lived assets............                   $5,296           $5,839
                                                   ======           ======

         Consolidated net sales include $11,118,000,  $11,084,000 and $8,458,000
in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively,  for sales to customers outside the United
States.


                                       40
<PAGE>

4.  Inventories:

   Consolidated net inventories consist of the following (dollars in thousands):

                                                            December 31,   
                                                       1998             1997   
                                                    ----------       ----------
FIFO Basis Inventory:
        Raw Materials......................           $19,549        $14,398
        Work in Process....................             4,296          6,103
        Finished Goods.....................             7,249          9,459
                                                    ---------      ---------
Total Inventory............................           $31,094        $29,960
                                                      =======        =======


        Inventories  are stated  net of an  allowance  for  excess and  obsolete
inventory   of   $1,214,000   and  $852,000  at  December  31,  1998  and  1997,
respectively.  During the years ended  December  31,  1998,  1997 and 1996,  the
Company charged to expense $1,176,000, $923,000 and $2,052,000, respectively, as
a provision  for excess and obsolete  inventory  and deducted from the allowance
$814,000, $1,635,000 and $1,389,000,  respectively, for write-offs of excess and
obsolete inventory.


5.       Long Lived Assets


        Property,  plant  and  equipment,  as of  December  31,  1998 and  1997,
consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):
                                        Range of Useful Lives  1998       1997  
                                        --------------------- -------    -------
  Land................................         --          $   3,598    $  3,636
  Buildings and improvements..........        5-32            19,330      19,433
  Machinery and equipment.............        3-10            51,516      50,037
  Furniture and fixtures..............        2-10             8,623       6,770
  Transportation equipment............        2-10             3,337       3,480
  Leasehold improvements..............        3-10             3,884       3,631
  Construction in progress............         --              2,541       2,795
                                                            --------    --------
                                                             92,829       89,782
                                                            --------    --------
 Accumulated depreciation and amortization                  (54,631)    (48,697)
  Property, plant and equipment, net..                     $ 38,198     $ 41,085
                                                           =========   =========

     Depreciation  expense was  $8,122,000,  $8,550,000  and  $8,000,000 for the
years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.


                                       41
<PAGE>





        Other assets and  goodwill as of December 31, 1998 and 1997,  consist of
the following (dollars in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              1998                                     1997                
                                              ---------------------------------      -------------------------------------
                                Amortization     Accumulated         Net Book           Accumulated             Net Book
                                    Period       Amortization          Value            Amortization             Value   
<S>                                <C>           <C>               <C>                   <C>                  <C>    
Other Assets:
  Cash surrender value of
    life insurance............          -         $     -          $  1,123               $    -               $  1,009
  Agreements not-to-compete            3-6           1,244              531                   888                   888
  Debt issuance costs and other        3-10          3,022            3,090                 2,216                 3,932 
                                                    -------          -------               -------             ----------
Total.........................                      $4,266         $  4,744                $3,104              $  5,829 
                                                    =======         ========               ========             =========
Goodwill......................        25-40         $7,937          $14,517                $7,049               $15,405
                                                    =======         ========               ========             =========
</TABLE>

       Goodwill is being amortized on a straight-line basis over forty years for
Morgan and twenty-five years for TAG Manufacturing.

        In accordance with FASB Statement No. 121, Accounting for the Impairment
of Long-Lived  Assets and for  Long-Lived  Assets to be Disposed of, the Company
records  impairment  losses on long-lived  assets used in operations when events
and circumstances  indicate that the assets may be impaired and the undiscounted
cash flows  estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying
amounts of those assets.  During the twelve months ended December 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996, the Leer division of TAG  Manufacturing  incurred  operating losses of
approximately $1,036,000,  $7,462,000 and $4,546,000,  respectively. Even though
the operating  performance of the Leer division of TAG  Manufacturing  indicated
that  approximately  $13,082,000  of assets of certain of its  operations may be
impaired,  an  estimate  of the  future  undiscounted  cashflows  from  the Leer
division of TAG  Manufacturing  indicated that the carrying values of the assets
would be expected to be recovered  over the useful life of the assets.  However,
it is possible that the estimate of undiscounted  future  cashflows could change
in the future requiring recognition of an impairment loss.

        During 1998, MIC Group closed its Houston machining  facility  resulting
in a charge of  $335,000  included  in Closed and Excess  Facility  Costs in the
accompanying  consolidated statements of operations.  Of these charges,  $47,000
was non-cash expenses related to the write-down of assets. At December 31, 1998,
accrued expenses  included  $234,000 with respect to lease  obligations that run
through December 1999.

        During 1997,  Morgan committed to a plan to dispose of its idle facility
in Mexico.  Accordingly,  Morgan began  marketing the property and,  based on an
estimate  of the fair value less the cost to sell the  property,  wrote down the
carrying  value by $559,000  which was  included  in Closed and Excess  Facility
Costs in the  accompanying  consolidated  statement of  operations  for the year
ended  December  31,  1997.  The  Mexico  facility  has  a  net  book  value  of
approximately  $1,200,000  at December  31, 1998 and 1997,  which is included in
Property, Plant and Equipment.

       In 1996, TAG  Manufacturing  closed its plant in the Southwestern  United
States,  resulting  in a charge of  $1,001,000  for the year ended  December 31,
1996. Additional expenses of $805,000 were incurred during 1997, with respect to
these  facilities.  Both such charges are included in Closed and Excess Facility


                                       42
<PAGE>

Costs  in the  accompanying  consolidated  statements  of  operations.  Of these
charges, $476,000 in 1997 and $453,000 in 1996 were non-cash expenses related to
the  write-down or disposal of assets during those years.  At December 31, 1998,
accrued expenses included $162,000 with respect to lease obligations,  which run
through September 1999.

6.       Short-term debt:

     Short-term debt as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, consists of the following
(dollars in thousands):                                    1998          1997 
                                                           ----          ----
Morgan: Bankers' acceptances generally 180 day terms 
        with interest rates ranging from 4.9% to 7.7%...   $ -           $428
                                                           =====         ====

7.         Revolving Credit Agreements:

     Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement as of December 31,
1998 and 1997 were (in thousands):

                                                          1998            1997
                                                          ----            ----
Revolving loan due June 2000........................    $16,813       $ 38,154
                                                        =======       ========

     On June 28, 1996,  the Company  entered into a  three-year  senior  secured
revolving loan agreement  (Revolving Loan Agreement)  providing for borrowing by
its  Subsidiaries  of up to  $50,000,000,  which was  subsequently  increased to
$55,000,000,  effective  May 13, 1998.  At the  conclusion  of the initial three
years (June  1999),  the  agreement  provides for  borrowings  on a year to year
basis,  unless  sooner  terminated  by the Company or lender  provided  that the
lender may, at its option,  extend the  renewal  date of the  agreement  to four
years from the original  inception  of the  agreement.  On March 29,  1999,  the
Company was  notified by the lender,  in  writing,  that it is  exercising  this
option and thus extending the agreement to June 2000.

        The  Revolving  Loan  Agreement  allows the Company to borrow  funds and
provides  for the  guarantee of letters of credit and certain  foreign  exchange
contracts,  issued by the Company's banks, up to the lesser of $55,000,000 or an
amount based on advance rates applied to the total amounts of eligible  accounts
receivable  and  inventories  of the  Subsidiaries.  The  advance  rates vary by
subsidiary and range between 75% and 85% for receivables and between 40% and 60%
for inventory.  The Revolving Loan Agreement  provides for borrowing at variable
rates of interest, based on either LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate, 5.0% at
December 31, 1998) or U.S. prime rate (7.75% at December 31, 1998).  Interest is
payable  monthly  including  a fee of  one-half  of one percent on the amount of
unused  borrowings.  The Subsidiaries are guarantors of this  indebtedness,  and
inventory and  receivables  are pledged under the Revolving Loan  Agreement.  At
December 31, 1998, the Company had total borrowings of $16,813,000,  and letters
of credit and foreign exchange accommodations of $3,742,000 outstanding pursuant
to the Revolving  Loan  Agreement.  At December 31, 1998,  the Company's  unused
available  borrowing  under the Revolving Loan Agreement  totaled  approximately
$22,745,000.

        During the year ended  December 31, 1996,  the Company wrote off certain


                                       43
<PAGE>

capitalized financing costs and recorded an extraordinary loss of $260,000,  net
of tax benefits, as a result of refinancing the revolver debt.
        The Revolving Loan Agreement contains  provisions allowing the lender to
accelerate debt repayment upon the occurrence of an event the lender  determines
to represent a material adverse change. Accordingly,  balances outstanding under
the  Revolving  Loan  Agreement  are  classified  as  current  liabilities.  The
Revolving Loan Agreement also contains restrictive covenants, which, among other
things, restrict the ability of the Company to dispose of assets, incur debt and
restrict certain corporate activities.  At December 31, 1998, the Company was in
compliance with all covenants of the Revolving Loan  Agreement.  At December 31,
1998, the Company was prohibited  from paying  dividends  under the terms of the
Revolving Loan Agreement. Additionally, the Company's cash balance is restricted
under the terms of the Revolving Loan  Agreement.  Effective  February 12, 1999,
the  Company  obtained  a waiver  from the  lender  permitting  the  Company  to
repurchase up to  $10,000,000  of its 12 1/2% Senior notes (See Note 8), subject
to certain conditions.

        Radco is a non-guarantor  of the Company's Senior Notes (See Note 8) and
is not a Subsidiary  Guarantor  under the terms of the Company's  Revolving Loan
Agreement.  Concurrent with the acquisition of  substantially  all the assets of
MTA, Radco entered into a three-year  revolving credit  agreement  providing for
borrowings of up to the lesser of $5,000,000 or an amount based on advance rates
applied to the total amounts of eligible accounts  receivable and inventories of
Radco and MTA. At December 31, 1998,  Radco had total  borrowings of $1,629,000,
and unused available  borrowing  capacity totaling  approximately  $0.2 million.
Radco is part of TAG  Distribution  and it is  anticipated  that  the  remaining
balance  outstanding  under the Radco  facility  will be  repaid  from  proceeds
derived from the disposal of MTA. Accordingly,  the borrowings,  under the Radco
revolving  loan   agreement,   are  included  in  "Net  Assets  of  Discontinued
Operations."  Effective  January 29, 1999,  the assets and  operations  of Radco
(excluding MTA) were sold and proceeds of approximately  $1,200,000 were used to
repay borrowings under the Radco facility.


8.  Long-term debt and Note Offering:

     Long-term  debt as of December 31, 1998 and 1997  consists of the following
(dollars in the table in thousands):

                                                          1998            1997
JBPCO:                                                    ----            ----  
        12 1/2% Senior Notes due 2004..............     $100,000        $100,000
                                                        --------        --------

TAG Manufacturing:
   Note payable, due June 15, 2000, monthly principal 
   payment of $26,666 plus interest at U.S. prime, 
  (7.75% at December 31, 1998)......................       480              800
    Obligations under various non-compete agreements..     629              984
        Obligations under capital leases..............      82              196
                                                       ---------       ---------
                                                         1,191            1,980
                                                       ---------       ---------
Morgan:
  Capital lease obligation due in monthly installments 
    of $17,704 including interest at 8.2%,
     through May 10, 1998............................      -                 90
                                                       ---------       ---------

                                       44
<PAGE>

EFP:
 Various equipment notes, due in monthly or annual 
   installments, interest from 8.12% to 10%, with 
   maturities from May 1997 to September 1999, 
   each collateralized by specific assets...........       214              478
                                                       --------        ---------

MIC Group:
  Covenant not-to-compete...........................       -                 29
                                                      ---------        ---------
      Total long-term debt..........................   101,405          102,577
       Less current portion    .....................     1,019            1,173
                                                      ---------        ---------
      Long-term debt, less current portion..........  $100,386         $101,404
                                                      =========        =========

        The Senior Notes Indenture contains restrictive covenants,  which, among
other  things,  restrict the ability of the Company to dispose of assets,  incur
debt and restrict  certain  corporate  activities.  At December  31,  1998,  the
Company was in  compliance  with all  covenants of the Senior  Notes  Indenture.
Under the terms of the Senior Notes Indenture,  proceeds in excess of $2,000,000
from the sale of assets, including the stock of the Company's subsidiaries,  are
required to be used to repay  borrowings  under the  Revolving  Loan  Agreement.
Proceeds in excess of amounts outstanding under the Revolving Loan Agreement may
be  re-invested  in assets of the Company  within one year of the asset sale. At
December 31, 1998, the Company was prohibited  from paying  dividends  under the
terms of the Senior Notes Indenture.

        The Company's  obligations under the Senior Notes are guaranteed by each
directly wholly owned  Subsidiary of JBPCO (the "Subsidiary  Guarantors").  Each
guarantee is a senior  unsecured  obligation of the  Subsidiary  providing  such
Guarantee and ranks pari passu with all other senior  unsecured  indebtedness of
such  subsidiary.   In  addition,   the  Subsidiary   Guarantors  guarantee  the
indebtedness  outstanding  under the Revolving  Loan  Agreement and have pledged
substantially  all  of  their  assets.  Separate  financial  statements  of  the
Subsidiary Guarantors are not included because (a) all the Subsidiary Guarantors
provide  the  Guarantees,  and (b) the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  are  jointly and
severally liable on a full and unconditional basis.

        The Company's non-guarantor  subsidiaries are Radco Industries (acquired
by TAG in  December  1994 and include MTA  acquired  in October  1997),  Tile by
Design  (acquired  by  Lowy in  November  1994),  and  Acero-Tec,  S.A.  de C.V.
(Morgan's Mexico subsidiary).  The net assets and operating results of Radco and
Tile by Design are included in discontinued  operations.  Effective  January 29,
1999, the assets and  operations of Radco were sold.  The Company  believes that
separate  financial  statements or other  disclosures  of the guarantors are not
material to the investors.  Acero-Tec,  S.A. de C.V., is the only  non-guarantor
subsidiary  not  classified  as a  discontinued  operation and for which the net
assets and operating results have been segregated in the accompanying  financial
statements. Acero-Tec, S.A. de C.V. has total assets of approximately $1,200,000
at December 31, 1998,  and the results of its  operations  were not  significant
during the three years then ended.

        The  Company  estimates  the fair value of the 12 1/2%  Senior  Notes at
December 31, 1998 to be $94,000,000 based on their publicly traded value at that
date compared to a recorded amount of $100,000,000 as of December 31, 1998.

                                       45
<PAGE>

        Subsequently to December 31, 1998, the Company  purchased  $8,000,000 of
its 2004 12 1/2% Senior Notes for an aggregate  purchase price of  approximately
$7,700,000. The Company will record an extraordinary gain on the purchase of the
Senior  Notes of  approximately  $300,000  in 1999.  The  Company's  decision to
purchase and hold the Senior Notes or to sell the Senior Notes will be dependent
upon the interest rate arbitrage  between the Senior Notes and borrowings  under
the Revolving Loan Agreement and market  conditions.  The purchases were made in
the open  market,  the  company  does not  intend to cancel or redeem the Senior
Notes and may re-sell the Senior Notes in the open market at a future date.


     Maturities.  Aggregate  principal  payments on long-term  debt for the next
five  years  subsequent  to  December  31,  1998,  are as  follows  (dollars  in
thousands):

1999 .................................................                  $  1,019
2000 .................................................                       386
2001 .................................................                      --
2002 .................................................                      --
2003 .................................................                      --
2004 .................................................                   100,000
                                                                        --------
                                                                        $101,405
                                                                        ========
9.      Operating Leases:

         The Company leases certain manufacturing facilities and equipment under
noncancelable  operating  leases certain of which contain renewal  options.  The
future minimum lease payments for the next five years subsequent to December 31,
1998 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

1999 ..................................................                  $ 5,994
2000 ..................................................                    4,514
2001 ..................................................                    3,283
2002 ..................................................                    1,754
2003 ..................................................                      952
                                                                         -------
                                                                         $16,497
                                                                         =======
  
         Total  rental  expense  included  in  continuing  operations  under all
operating  leases was $4,852,000,  $5,453,000 and $4,929,000 for the years ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.



                                       46
<PAGE>

10.    Income Taxes:

     The income tax provision  (benefit) consists of the following for the years
ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 (dollars in thousands):

                                             1998           1997           1996
                                             ----           ----           ----
Current:
Federal ...........................           $--            $--           $--
State .............................            248            721           734
Foreign ...........................            496            --            --

Deferred:
Federal ...........................            -              525        (1,799)
State .............................            -             (299)           74
Foreign ...........................            -             --              -- 
                                               -           ------         ------
Income tax provision (benefit).....         $  744        $   947         $(991)
                                            =======       =======         ======

         The following table  reconciles the  differences  between the statutory
Federal  income tax rate and the effective tax rate for the years ended December
31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 (Dollars in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                            1998              1997              1996       
                                        -------------     ------------  ----------------
                                          Amount    %     Amount    %      Amount     %
<S>                                      <C>      <C>     <C>       <C>    <C>       <C>
Tax provision (benefit) at statutory
     federal income tax rate...........  $(2,710)   34%  $ (2,320)   34% $ (2,214)    34%
Valuation allowance....................    2,397   (30)     1,277   (19)     -
Goodwill amortization..................      234    (2)       239    (4)      335     (5)
Non deductible expenses................       86    (1)       196    (3)     -
Expiration of ITC......................       -               663   (10)     -
State income taxes, net of federal
     income tax benefit................      167    (2)       268    (4)      301     (5)
Intangible asset write-down............      317    (3)        -              -
Foreign income and withholding
     taxes, net of federal benefit.....      346    (4)       173    (2)      368     (6)
Other..................................      (93)   (1)       451    (6)      219     (3)
                                          -------  -----   ------- -----   -------  -----
Provision (benefit) for income
     Taxes and effective tax rates.....   $  744    (9%)   $  947   (14%)  $ (991)    15%
                                          =======  =====   ======= =====   =======  =====

</TABLE>

                                       47
<PAGE>









         Deferred  taxes  are  based on the  estimated  future  tax  effects  of
differences  between  the  financial  statements  and tax  basis of  assets  and
liabilities  given the  provisions of the enacted tax laws. The net deferred tax
assets and  liabilities  as of December  31, 1998 and 1997 are  comprised of the
following (dollars in thousands):
                                                            1998           1997
                                                            ----           ----
Current deferred tax (assets):
Allowance for doubtful accounts ....................      $  (579)      $  (994)
Employee benefit accruals and reserves .............         (853)       (1,031)
Warranty liabilities ...............................         (215)         --
Excess facility costs ..............................       (1,242)         (252)
Other ..............................................         (182)         --   
                                                          -------       -------
   Total current deferred tax (assets)..............       (3,071)       (2,277)
                                                          -------       --------

Long term deferred tax (assets):
Tax benefit carryforwards ....................         (12,720)         (10,635)
Warranty liabilities .........................          (1,109)          (1,235)
Non-compete agreements .......................            --               (579)
Other ........................................            (670)            (198)
Intangible write-off .........................          (1,181)            --
Valuation allowance ..........................           5,236            2,312
                                                       -------          -------
   Total long term deferred tax (asset).......         (10,444)        (10,335)

Long term deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization.................           4,161           3,645
Other.........................................           1,818           1,431
                                                     ---------       ---------
Total long term deferred tax liability........           5,979           5,076
                                                     ---------       ---------
   Net long term deferred tax (asset).........          (4,465)         (5,259)
                                                     ----------      ----------
           Net deferred tax assets............        $ (7,536)       $ (7,536)
                                                     ==========      ==========

       Tax Carryforwards. The Company has investment tax credit carryforwards of
approximately  $189,000 for U.S. federal income tax purposes,  which will expire
between  1999 and 2001 if not  previously  utilized.  The company has recorded a
valuation  allowance of $189,000 against the investment tax credit  carryforward
as the Company  believes  that the  corresponding  deferred tax asset may not be
realizable.  The Company has  alternative  minimum tax credit  carryforwards  of
approximately  $817,000  for U.S.  federal  income  tax  purposes,  which may be
carried forward  indefinitely.  The  utilization of the alternative  minimum tax
credit  carryforward is restricted to the taxable income of one  Subsidiary.  In
addition,  the Company has net operating  loss  carryforwards  of  approximately
$34.0 million for U.S.  federal income tax purposes at December 31, 1998,  which
if not  utilized,  will  begin to expire in 2002.  The  Company  has  recorded a
valuation  allowance  of $5.0 million and $2.1  million,  during the years ended
December  31,  1998 and  1997,  respectively,  against  the net  operating  loss
carryforwards as the Company believes that the corresponding  deferred tax asset
may not be realizable.

       The Company has considered  prudent and feasible tax planning  strategies
in  assessing  the need for the  valuation  allowance.  The  Company has assumed
approximately  $7.5  million  of  benefits  attributable  to such  tax  planning


                                       48
<PAGE>

strategies.  In the event the Company  were to  determine in the future that any
such tax planning  strategies  would not be  implemented,  an  adjustment to the
deferred  tax asset would be charged to income in the period such  determination
was made.

11.  Common Stock:

         As of December 31, 1998 and 1997, there were 100,000 shares  authorized
and 3,059 shares  outstanding of JBPCO common stock with a par value of $.01 per
share.  JBPCO was  incorporated  in Delaware.  No other classes of common stock,
preferred stock or common stock equivalents exist.

12.  Employee Benefit Plans:

Defined Contribution Plans

         JBPCO  401(k)  Plan.  The  JBPCO-sponsored  401(k)  savings plan allows
participating  employees to contribute  through  salary  deductions up to 15% of
gross pay and provides for Company  matching  contributions up to two percent of
gross  pay as well the  opportunity  for an annual  discretionary  contribution.
Vesting in the Company matching contribution is 20% per year over the first five
years.  The Company incurred  expenses of $1,250,000,  $1,355,000 and $1,426,000
during the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, including
administrative fees of approximately $75,000 in each year.

Defined Benefit Plans

         Morgan,  EFP and Lowy had defined benefit plans as discussed below. The
other Subsidiaries do not have any defined benefit plans.

         Morgan.  Morgan  assumed  future  sponsorship  of the NSSC  (Morgan was
merged into NSSC during 1993) pension plan and  continues to make  contributions
to the plan in accordance with the funding  requirements of the Internal Revenue
Service.  No further benefits have accrued subsequent to February 12, 1992. Plan
assets  consist  primarily  of  investments  in two bank  funds  and the plan is
overfunded by approximately $193,000.

         Gem Top, a division  of Morgan,  had a defined  benefit  plan  covering
hourly  employees  working at least  1,000  hours per year.  The plan was frozen
effective  March  31,  1996,  and at  December  31,  1998 and 1997  plan  assets
approximated projected benefit obligations.

         EFP.  EFP  had  a  defined  benefit  plan  covering  substantially  all
full-time employees of one of its divisions.  This plan was terminated effective
April 15,  1996 and the assets  distributed  effective  October  10,  1996.  The
Company  realized  a  gain,   during  the  year  ended  December  31,  1996,  of
approximately $200,000 upon termination of the plan.

         Lowy Group.  Lowy Group has an unfunded  executive defined benefit plan
whereby deferred  compensation  agreements  provide a fixed amount of retirement
benefits  to  key  corporate  and  sales  employees.   The  accumulated  benefit
obligation  related to this plan were  approximately  $926,000 and $1,800,000 at
December 31, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  Lowy Group makes no contributions to
the plan and no assets are held in trust to secure benefits  accumulating in the
plan.  Lowy Group does,  however,  maintain life insurance  policies to fund the



                                       49
<PAGE>
plan obligations and accumulate cash surrender values.  The cash surrender value
of life  insurance  policies,  of which  Lowy  Group  was  beneficiary,  totaled
$1,015,000  and $1,647,000 at December 31, 1998 and 1997,  respectively,  and is
included  in  "Net  assets  of  discontinued  operations"  in  the  accompanying
consolidated  balance sheets.  Payments made to retired  individuals in the plan
were $522,000,  $142,000 and $136,000 in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.  The
benefits are based on the  employee's  age at  retirement  and the fixed monthly
benefit amount  specified in each individual  deferred  compensation  agreement.
Lowy Group sold the assets with Blue Ridge/Courier division effective August 31,
1998. The accumulated  benefit  obligation assumed by the acquirer of the assets
was $421,000 as of August 31, 1998.

         The following table sets forth the funded status and amounts recognized
in the Company's  consolidated  balance sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1997,
and the  significant  assumptions  used in  accounting  for the defined  benefit
plans. The Company's  funding policy for all plans is to make the minimum annual
contributions required by applicable regulations. (dollars in thousands):

                                                         1998            1997
                                                         ----            ----
  Change in benefit obligation

  Benefit obligation at beginning of year.........     $5,284            $5,143
  Service cost....................................        147               235
  Interest cost...................................        252               249
  Actuarial losses................................        288                80
  Benefits paid...................................       (773)             (423)
  Benefits assumed by acquirer....................       (421)              -   
                                                     ---------       -----------
  Benefit obligation at end of year...............     $4,777            $5,284
                                                       ------         ----------

  Change in plan assets

  Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year..     $3,943            $3,512
  Actual return on plan assets....................        800               699
  Company contributions...........................         33                15 
  Expenses........................................        (30)               (2)
  Benefits paid...................................       (251)             (281)
                                                    ---------         ----------
  Fair value of plan assets at end of year........      4,495             3,943 
                                                    ---------         ----------
  Funded status of the plans (underfunded)........       (282)           (1,341)
  Unrecognized net gains..........................       (518)             (359)
                                                    ---------         ----------
  Accrued benefit cost............................     $ (800)          $(1,700)
                                                    =========           ========


         The Lowy Group plan is the only  underfunded plan included in the above
table.  Lowy Group maintains life insurance  policies with cash surrender values
of $963,000 and $1,647,000 at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively,  to fund
plan  obligations  of $968,000 and  $1,766,000 as of December 31, 1998 and 1997,
respectively.


                                       50
<PAGE>

                                                      1998               1997  
                                                    --------           --------
 Weighted-average assumptions
 as of December 31:

 Discount rate................................        6.8%              7.5%
 Expected return on plan assets...............        8.0%              8.0%


                                               1998        1997         1996   
                                             -------      -------     --------
 Components of net periodic
 benefit cost

 Service cost............................    $  66        $  67        $  75
 Interest cost...........................      385          373          342
 Expected return on plan assets..........     (274)        (341)        (338)
 Recognized net actuarial (gains)/losses.      (57)          44         (216)
                                            -------       ------       ------
 Net periodic benefit cost...............     $121         $143        $(137)  
                                            =======       ======       ======

13.      Discontinued Operations

         Truck Accessories Group (TAG Distribution Division).  TAG comprises two
operating divisions: TAG Manufacturing and TAG Distribution.  Effective April 2,
1998, the Company  committed to a formal plan to sell principally all the assets
less  certain  liabilities  of  TAG.  However,  based  upon  improved  operating
performance, the Company decided, during the third quarter of 1998 to retain TAG
Manufacturing and continue with the disposal of TAG Distribution.

         TAG Manufacturing  produces pickup truck caps and tonneau covers, while
TAG Distribution  distributes accessories and pickup truck caps for light trucks
through retail outlets and distribution  centers. TAG Distribution's  results of
operations  have been reported as  discontinued  operations in the  consolidated
financial statements for all periods presented.  In addition, the net assets and
liabilities of TAG Distribution, which are expected to be disposed of, have been
segregated within the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as "net assets of
discontinued  operations."  The plan of disposal is expected to be substantially
complete by the end of the third quarter of 1999.

         As of March 19, 1999,  the Company has sold one wholesale  location and
13 retail locations,  including the eight stores,  which were part of Radco. Two
wholesale locations and two retail locations have been closed. Effective January
29,  1999,  the Company  sold the  business  and assets of Radco,  and  realized
proceeds of approximately $1.2 million in line with the Company's estimate.  The
proceeds  were used to repay  borrowings  under the revolving  credit  agreement
entered into by Radco during 1997.


                                       51
<PAGE>
     Condensed financial information related to TAG Distribution at December 31,
1998 and 1997 is as follows (in thousands):
                                               December 31,        December 31,
                                                  1998                 1997     
                                              ----------------    --------------
     Net assets of discontinued operations:
          Current assets....................     $9,438             $11,809
          Property, net.....................      2,137               2,394
          Intangible assets.................        466               6,319
                                               ----------          ---------
          Total Assets.......................    12,041              20,522
          Less current liabilities...........     7,946               5,483
          Less long-term liabilities.........       800                 697
                                                ---------          ----------
     Net Assets..............................   $ 3,295             $14,342
                                                =======             =======

     TAG Distribution revenues were $58,446,000, $54,884,000 and $67,125,000 for
the twelve months ended December 31, 1998,  1997 and 1996,  respectively.  As of
December 31, 1998, the Company had recorded an estimated loss on disposal of TAG
Distribution of approximately $10,811,000, net of applicable income taxes, which
included a provision for estimated operating losses through the disposal date of
$2,849,000.  The  estimated  loss on disposal of TAG  Distribution  included the
write-down of the related goodwill of $5,505,000.  At December 31, 1998, accrued
expenses  included   $3,925,000  with  respect  to  severance  costs  and  lease
obligations,  which run through October 2005.  Substantially all of this accrual
will be paid in 1999. The income (loss) from discontinued  operations related to
TAG  Distribution,  during the twelve months ended  December 31, 1998,  1997 and
1996, were as follows (in thousands):

                                                     For the Twelve Months
                                                             Ended              
                                                    1998        1997       1996
                                                    ----        ----       ----
Loss from TAG Distribution's operations less
     applicable income taxes of
     $-0-, $-0- and $(1,060), respectively......$ (1,180)     $(5,857)   $ 2,373
Loss on disposal of TAG, including provision of
     $2,849 for estimated operating losses through
     disposal date, less applicable income
     taxes of $-0-.............................. (10,811)       -           -  
                                                 --------     --------  --------
                                                $(11,991)     $(5,857)   $ 2,373
                                                =========     ========  ========

       Losses from operations of TAG  Distribution  include  interest expense of
$717,000,  $495,000 and $603,000  related to the borrowings of TAG  Distribution
under the Revolving  Loan  Agreement  for the twelve  months ended  December 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996,  respectively.  The borrowings are anticipated to be repaid
using the proceeds from the sale of TAG Distribution.

       In 1997,  TAG  Distribution  closed  eight  unprofitable  stores  and its
administrative  office.  The closure of these  excess  facilities  resulted in a
charge  of  $945,000  for the  year  ended  December  31,  1997.  In  1996,  TAG
Distribution  closed four unprofitable  stores resulting in a charge of $298,000
for the year ended December 31, 1996. Of these charges,  approximately  $579,000
in 1997 and $182,000 in 1996 were non-cash expenses related to the write-down or
disposal of assets during those years.  At December 31, 1997,  accrued  expenses


                                       52
<PAGE>
included $100,000 with respect to severance costs and lease  obligations,  which
run through September 1999.

       Lowy Group. Lowy comprised two operating  divisions:  Blue  Ridge/Courier
and Lowy  Distribution.  Effective  June 8, 1998, the Company signed a letter of
intent to sell  certain  assets and  liabilities  of Blue  Ridge/Courier,  which
transaction closed on August 31, 1998. The Company realized net cash proceeds of
approximately  $15.8 million and recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $6.5
million on the disposal. Additionally, the Company committed to a formal plan to
dispose of the  remaining  division of Lowy,  Lowy  Distribution,  on August 24,
1998.  The Company  expects to realize  proceeds  from the planned  sale of Lowy
Distribution  equal to the related assets and liabilities  carrying  value,  and
also has estimated that the division's results of operations will at least break
even through the disposal date.

       Blue Ridge/Courier and Lowy Distribution  divisions together  constituted
the Company's Floor Covering segment, which designed,  manufactured and marketed
commercial  and  residential  floor  covering.   Accordingly,  such  results  of
operations  have been reported as  discontinued  operations in the  consolidated
financial statements for the periods presented.  In addition, the net assets and
liabilities,  which are expected to be disposed of, have been segregated  within
the consolidated balance sheets as "net assets of discontinued operations."

       Condensed  financial  information  related to Lowy at  December  31, 1997
(consisting of both the Blue Ridge/Courier and Lowy Distribution  divisions) and
Lowy Distribution at December 31, 1998, is as follows (in thousands):
                                               December 31,        December 31,
                                                  1998                 1997     
                                              --------------      --------------
   Current assets...................            $  7,517            $ 17,240
   Property, net....................                 473               2,849
   Long-term assets.................               1,498               2,748
                                                ---------          ----------
   Total assets.....................               9,488              22,837
   Less current liabilities.........               2,659               6,036
   Less long-term liabilities.......               1,280               2,399
                                                ---------          ----------
   Net assets........................           $  5,549            $ 14,402 
                                                =========          ==========

       Lowy revenues  were  $56,891,000,  $69,724,000  and  $71,343,000  for the
twelve months ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,  respectively.  The income
from discontinued operations was as follows related to Lowy (in thousands):
                                                    For the Twelve Months
                                                           Ended 
                                                    1998     1997     1996
                                                    ----     ----     ----
Net income from operations of Lowy, less
     applicable income taxes of $262,
     $446 and $1,060, respectively............    $2,052    $6,081   $1,740
Gain on disposal of assets of the Blue Ridge/
     Courier division, less applicable taxes
     of $-0-..................................     6,500       -        -    
                                                  ------    ------   ------
                                                  $8,552    $6,081   $1,740 
                                                  ======    ======   ======

                                       53
<PAGE>

         Net income of Lowy includes interest expense of $218,000,  $624,000 and
$1,127,000  related to the borrowings of Lowy under the Revolving Loan Agreement
for the twelve months ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.  The
related  borrowings  were repaid  using the  proceeds  from the sale of the Blue
Ridge/Courier  division. Net income of Lowy for the twelve months ended December
31, 1997, includes a gain on the sale of certain real estate of $3,000,000.

14. Acquisitions:

        Effective  October  31,  1997  Radco,  a  subsidiary  of  TAG,  acquired
substantially all of the assets of MTA in a purchase business combination.  MTA,
based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a wholesale distributor of light truck and vehicle
accessories.  Radco paid  approximately  $2.5  million of which $2.1 million was
paid in cash and $0.5 million  evidenced by a 9%  promissory  note payable in 20
consecutive quarterly installments of principal and interest. Radco also assumed
$100,000 in closing costs.

        Concurrently  with  the  acquisition,  Radco  entered  into a five  year
non-compete agreement and a six month consulting agreement with the owner of MTA
pursuant  to which  the  owner  will be  compensated  for  providing  continuing
services  to,  and not  competing  with,  Radco.  Radco  will  pay the  owner an
aggregate of $100,000 each year under the terms of the non-compete agreement.

        During 1998, the company's  management committed to a plan to dispose of
TAG Distribution,  which includes MTA. Accordingly, the results of operations of
MTA,  subsequent  to the date of  acquisition,  are  included  in the Loss  from
Discontinued  Operations.  The  inclusion of the results of operations of MTA as
though MTA had been acquired  January 1, 1996 for all periods  presented,  would
not materially change the Consolidated Results of Operations.

15.  Commitments and Contingencies:

        Claims and  Lawsuits.  The  Company is  involved  in certain  claims and
lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management,
the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect
on the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

        EFP is subject to a lawsuit  concerning the supply of natural gas to one
of its  manufacturing  plants.  The utility  company  has  alleged  that EFP was
under-billed by  approximately  $500,000 over a four-year  period as a result of
errors made by the utility  company.  The Company is aggressively  defending the
suit and  believes  that it will  not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
Company.

        Letters of Credit and Other Commitments.  The Company had $3,541,000 and
$3,950,000  in standby  letters of credit  outstanding  at December 31, 1998 and
1997, respectively, primarily securing the Company's insurance programs.

        Foreign  Currency  Exchange  Contracts.  The Company  purchases  foreign
exchange  currency  contracts that enable it to hedge certain  British  Sterling
denomination  inventory purchases.  As of December 31, 1998 and 1997, Morgan had
outstanding  foreign  exchange  currency  contracts  with a  notional  amount of
$1,078,000 and  $2,100,000,  respectively,  and a fair value of less than $5,000
for each of the periods. The gains or losses on such activity during each of the
years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 was not material.

                                       54
<PAGE>

        Environmental   Matters.   Morgan  has  been  named  as  a   potentially
responsible party ("PRP") with respect to the generation of hazardous  materials
alleged to have been  handled or disposed of at two Federal  Superfund  sites in
Pennsylvania and one in Kansas.  Although a precise estimate of liability cannot
currently be made with respect to these sites,  based upon information  known to
Morgan, the Company currently believes that it's proportionate share, if any, of
the ultimate costs related to any necessary  investigation  and remedial work at
those sites will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

        Certain of the Company's operations utilize paints and solvents in their
businesses. Also, raw materials used by EFP contain pentane, which is a volatile
organic  compound  subject to regulation  under the Clean Air Act.  Although the
Company  believes that it has made sufficient  capital  expenditures to maintain
compliance  with  existing  laws and  regulations,  future  expenditures  may be
necessary if and when compliance standards and technology change.

        Self-Insured Risks. The Subsidiaries  utilize a combination of insurance
coverage and self-insurance  programs for health care and workers  compensation.
The Company has  reserves  recorded to cover the  self-insured  portion of these
risks based on known facts and historical  trends and  management  believes that
such reserves are adequate and the ultimate resolution of these matters will not
have a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  financial  position  or  results  of
operations of the Company.

16. Related Party Transactions:

        Concurrently with the Note Offering on May 23, 1994, the Company entered
into  a  Management  Services  Agreement  with  Southwestern  Holdings,  Inc.  a
corporation ("Southwestern") owned by Mr. Poindexter. Pursuant to the Management
Services  Agreement,  Southwestern  provides services to the Company,  including
those of Mr. Poindexter and Mr. Magee its Chief Financial  Officer.  The Company
pays to Southwestern approximately $600,000 per year for these services, subject
to annual  automatic  increases based upon the consumer price index. The Company
may also pay a  discretionary  annual bonus to  Southwestern  subject to certain
limitations,  none was paid in 1998, 1997 or 1996. The Company and  Subsidiaries
use certain  facilities  provided by Southwestern  for meetings and conferences.
The Company did not use the  facilities  during 1998,  1997 or 1996. The Company
paid  Southwestern  approximately  $619,000,  $613,000 and $600,000 during 1998,
1997 and 1996,  respectively.  Radco, which is not a restricted subsidiary under
the terms of the Bond Indenture or a guarantor  under the terms of the Company's
Revolving Loan Agreement,  paid Southwestern Holdings $85,000 and $60,000 during
1998 and 1997, respectively, for certain services.

     Mr.  Poindexter  and Mr.  Magee are officers of JBPCO and are partners in a
partnership that leases to Morgan certain real property in Georgia.  Morgan paid
$222,000 in rent to the  partnership  in 1998 and 1997 and $200,000  during 1996
pursuant to such lease.

        TAG  Manufacturing  leases  certain real estate in Canada from an entity
controlled by an executive  vice  president of TAG. Total lease expense for that
facility  was   $108,000,   $117,000  and  $114,000  in  1998,   1997and   1996,
respectively.

                                       55
<PAGE>


                  J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


Item 9.  Changes in and  Disagreements  with  Accountants  on
            Accounting and Financial Disclosure as discussed in Form
            8K filed on October 11, 1996.
            
            None.

PART III.

Item 10.      Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

         The  directors  and  executive  officers  of the  Company are set forth
below.  All directors hold office until the next annual meeting of  stockholders
of the  Company  or until  their  successors  are duly  elected  and  qualified.
Executive  officers  of the  Company  are  appointed  by the Board of  Directors
annually and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

         Name                Age        Position
John B. Poindexter           54         Chairman of the Board, President and 
                                        Chief Executive Officer
W.J. Bowen                   77         Director
Stephen P. Magee             51         Director, Executive Vice President,
                                        Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
M. James Levine              44         Senior Vice President
R.S. Whatley                 47         Vice President, Controller
L.T. Wolfe                   50         Vice President Administration

         John B.  Poindexter has served as Chairman of the Board and Director of
the Company since 1988 and Chief Executive Officer since 1994. From 1985 through
1996, Mr. Poindexter was the majority limited partner of J.B.  Poindexter & Co.,
L.P., a privately held,  long-term equity  investment and management firm formed
by Mr.  Poindexter.  From 1983 through 1985, he was co-managing  partner of KD/P
Equities, a privately held equity investment firm that he co-founded.  From 1976
through 1985, Mr. Poindexter  worked for Smith Barney,  Harris Upham & Co. While
with  Smith  Barney,  he became a senior  vice  president  for its Smith  Barney
Venture Corporation and Smith Barney Capital Corporation ("SBCC") affiliates and
a partner in First Century Partnership II, an investment fund managed by SBCC.

         Stephen P. Magee has served as Treasurer  and a Director of the Company
since the Company was formed in 1988 and Chief Financial Officer since 1994.

     M. James  Levine has served as Senior  Vice  President  since  April  1998.
Previously,  Mr.  Levine held senior  positions  at Norton,  a  manufacturer  of
engineered abrasive products.

     W.J.  Bowen retired in 1992 as the Chairman of the Board of Transco  Energy
Company ("Transco"),  a diversified energy company based in Houston,  Texas. Mr.
Bowen  served  as Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Transco  from  1974  until  his
retirement from that position in 1987.

     R.S.  Whatley  has served as Vice  President,  Controller  since June 1994.
Previously Mr.  Whatley held senior  financial  positions  with Vinmar,  Inc., a
chemical  trading company and Weatherford  International,  an oilfield  services
company.

     Larry T. Wolfe has served as Vice President of Administration  since May of
1995.   Previously  Mr.  Wolfe  was  Vice  President  of  Human   Resources  and
Administrative Services of Transco Energy Company.

                                       56
<PAGE>

         Directors  who are  officers or employees of the Company do not receive
fees for serving as  directors.  The Company pays $20,000 per year as director's
fees to each outside director.



Other Significant Persons


         Although not an executive officer of the Company, each of the following
persons is an officer of the referenced Subsidiary or division thereof and is an
important contributor to the Company's operations:


         Name                Age            Position
Martin Brown                 43             President of TAG Manufacturing
Nelson Byman                 52             President of MIC Group
James R. Chandler            63             President of EFP
Peter K. Hunt                52             President of Morgan


         Martin Brown was named  President of TAG  Manufacturing  in March 1998.
Mr. Brown was the previous owner of Raider and LoRider,  acquired by the Company
in June 1995. He has served as President of Raider Industries since June 1995.


         Nelson Byman has 24 years of engineering and management  experience and
was most  recently  Vice  President/General  Manager of a domestic  division  of
Weatherford/Enterra, a manufacturer of oilfield related equipment.


         James R.  Chandler has served as President of EFP since 1978.  Prior to
1978, Mr. Chandler worked in various marketing and executive  positions with the
Ames  Division of Miles  Laboratories,  Inc.  and in the  management  consulting
section of Price Waterhouse & Co.


         Peter K. Hunt has served as President  of Morgan since April 1998.  Mr.
Hunt has 28 years of engineering and management experience and was most recently
Senior Vice President and General  Manager of the  Industrial  Products Group of
Greenfield Industries.


                                       57
<PAGE>

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

         The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information  regarding  the
compensation  paid to the  Company's  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  the  other
executive officers whose total annual salary and bonus are anticipated to exceed
$100,000 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996:

                                         Summary Compensation Table
                                     Annual Compensation    All Other
 Name and Principal Position        Year Salary   Bonus    Compensation
 ---------------------------        ---- ------   -----    ------------
 John B. Poindexter                1998 $  (a)   $   -     $    -
    Chairman of the Board and      1997    (a)
    Chief Executive Officer        1996    (a)
 Stephen P. Magee                  1998 $  (a)   $  (b)    $    -
    Chief Financial Officer        1997    (a)
                                   1996    (a)
 M. James Levine                   1998 $156,218           $77,393(c)
 R.S. Whatley Controller           1998 $115,000 $   -     $
                                   1997 $105,000 $   -     $     -
 L.T. Wolfe Vice President
      Administration               1998 $168,000 $   -     $     -
                                   1997 $165,000 $   -     $     -

(a)  Messrs.  Poindexter  and Magee do not receive  salaries  from the  Company.
     Rather, their services are provided to the Company pursuant to a Management
     Services Agreement. See "Management Services Agreement."

(b)  It is anticipated  that Mr. Magee will be eligible to receive in the future
     an annual bonus pursuant to the incentive plan described below.

(c)  Other compensation  includes moving expenses of $77,393 and the related tax
     of $31,648.

         The Company  implemented  an  incentive  plan  covering  certain of its
executive  officers.  Although  the  precise  terms of that  plan  have not been
established,  the Company  anticipates that it will be similar to the Subsidiary
Incentive Plans described below. Messrs. Poindexter and Magee are covered by the
various insurance programs provided by Morgan to its employees.

Management Services Agreement

         Concurrently  with  the  Note  Offering,  the  Company  entered  into a
Management Services Agreement with a corporation  ("Southwestern")  owned by Mr.
Poindexter. Pursuant to the Management Services Agreement, Southwestern provides
services to the Company,  including  those of Mr.  Poindexter  who serves as the
Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and of Mr. Magee who
serves  as its  Chief  Financial  Officer.  The  Company  pays  to  Southwestern
approximately $600,000 per year for these services,  subject to annual automatic
increases  based  upon  the  consumer  price  index.   The  Company  may  pay  a


                                       58
<PAGE>

discretionary annual bonus to Southwestern for the provision of Mr. Poindexter's
and Mr.  Magee's  services  and may  increase  the annual fee payable  above the
automatic annual increase, in each case subject to certain limitations, if after
giving effect to such payment and/or increase the Company's  Consolidated EBITDA
Coverage Ratio is 2.00 to 1 or higher.

Subsidiary Incentive Plans

         The Company has adopted an incentive  compensation  plan for members of
upper  management  of  each of its  Subsidiaries  (collectively  the  "Incentive
Plans") to provide for the payments of annual  bonuses based upon the attainment
of  performance-based  goals.  Eligible  employees will be entitled to receive a
bonus if the Subsidiary  attains or surpasses a stated  percentage (which varies
by Subsidiary) of that Subsidiary's  budgeted pre-tax profit, with the amount of
bonus being tied to the Subsidiary's actual pre-tax profits.  Individual bonuses
are then  allocated  among the eligible  employees  based upon their  individual
achievement of stated  performance  objectives.  The Subsidiaries  also maintain
certain other benefit plans for their  respective  officers and  employees.  See
Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the Company.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

         The Company does not have a compensation committee.  Instead, executive
compensation review decisions are made by the entire board of directors.

Item 12.  Security of Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

                                                 Beneficial Ownership
                                               Number           Percent
Directors, Officers and 5% Stockholders       of Shares         of Class
- ---------------------------------------       ---------         --------
John B. Poindexter                             3,059             100%
     c/o J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.
     1100 Louisiana, Suite 5400
     Houston, Texas  77002

Stephen P. Magee                                 --               --
     c/o J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.
     1100 Louisiana, Suite 5400
     Houston, Texas  77002

W.J. Bowen                                       --               --
     c/o J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.
     1100 Louisiana, Suite 5400
     Houston, Texas  77002

All directors and officers as a
group (6 persons)                              3,059              100%

          Mr.  Poindexter has sole voting and  investment  power with respect to
     all shares that he beneficially  owns. 

                                       59
<PAGE>


Item 13. Certain  Relationships and Related Transactions

         Messrs.  Poindexter  and Magee are members of a partnership  ("Bartow")
that leases  certain  real  property in Georgia to Morgan.  During each of 1998,
1997 and 1996, Morgan paid approximately $200,000 as rent to Bartow, and it will
continue to pay such rent to Bartow in the future. The Company believes that the
rent paid by Morgan to Bartow is a competitive market rate for the location.

        The  Company has  entered  into a  Management  Services  Agreement  with
Southwestern  Holdings,  Inc.  a  corporation   ("Southwestern")  owned  by  Mr.
Poindexter. Pursuant to the Management Services Agreement, Southwestern provides
services to the Company,  including  those of Mr.  Poindexter  and Mr. Magee its
Chief Financial Officer. The Company pays to Southwestern approximately $600,000
per year for these services,  subject to annual  automatic  increases based upon
the consumer price index. The Company may also pay a discretionary  annual bonus
to Southwestern subject to certain limitations. The Company and Subsidiaries use
certain  facilities  provided by Southwestern for meetings and conferences.  For
all  services and facility  use,  the Company  paid  Southwestern  approximately
$619,000, $613,000 and $600,000 during 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

         The Company  believes that the amounts paid by it to  Southwestern  for
the use of these facilities is a market rate.  Radco,  which is not a restricted
subsidiary  under the terms of the Senior Notes  Indenture or a guarantor  under
the terms of the Company's Revolving Loan Agreement,  paid Southwestern Holdings
$85,0000,  $60,000 and $-0- during 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively for certain
services.

         TAG  Manufacturing  leases certain real estate in Canada from an entity
controlled  by an executive  vice  president of TAG  Manufacturing.  Total lease
expenses was $108,000 and $117,000 in 1998 and 1997,  respectively,  the Company
considers this to be a market rate for the property.

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)(1)   Financial Statements-None, other than as previously listed in response
         to Item 8.
(a)(2)   Financial Statement Schedules -  None
(a)(3)   Exhibits
3.1(a)   Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation
3.1.1(e) Certificate  of First  Amendment  to Second  Restated  Certificate  of
         Incorporation.
3.2(a)   Amended and Restated Bylaws
4.1(e)   Form of 12 1/2% Senior Note due 2004 (included in Exhibit 4.2)
4.2(e)   Indenture dated as of May 23, 1994
4.2.1(f) First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 11, 1995.  Incorporated by
         reference  to Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 10-Q for the  quarterly  period 
         ended June 30, 1995, as filed with the Commission on August 15, 1995
4.2.2(f) Second  Supplemental  Indenture  dated  as of June  26,  1995.
         Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Form 10-Q for
         the  quarterly  period ended June 30, 1995,  as filed with the
         Commission on August 15, 1995.
4.3(a)   List of certain promissory notes
10.1.5(h)Loan and Security  Agreement by and among  Congress  Financial
         Corporation  and J.B.  Poindexter & Co., Inc.,  dated June 28,
         1996.
10.1.6(j)Amendment  No. 1 to Loan and  Security  Agreement by and among
         Congress  Financial  Corporation  and J.B.  Poindexter  & Co.,
         Inc., dated May 13, 1998.


                                       60
<PAGE>

10.23(a) Lease  Agreement,  dated as of March  29,  1990,  between  Bartow
         Partners,  L.P. and Morgan  Trailer  Manufacturing  Co.,  d/b/a Morgan
         Corporation,  as amended by the First  Amendment  to Lease  Agreement,
         dated June 13, 1991
10.24(a) Form of Salary  Continuance  Agreement for director level  employees of
         Morgan Trailer Mfg. Co.
10.25(a) Form of Salary  Continuance  Agreement  for officers of Morgan  Trailer
         Mfg. Co.
10.26(a) Form of Incentive Plan for certain employees of the Subsidiaries
10.27(a) Morgan  Trailer  Mfg.  Co.  Long-Term  Management  Equity  Appreciation
         Program
10.32(a) Lease Agreement,  dated August 14, 1987, between C&D Realty Partnership
         and Leer, Inc., as amended by the Lease Option and Amendment Agreement,
         dated as of August 14, 1992
10.33(a) Lease Agreement,  dated August 14, 1987, between J&R Realty Company and
         Leer, Inc.
10.34(a) Lease Agreement,  dated August 14, 1987, between BCD Realty Partnership
         with Leer,Inc., as amended by the Lease Option and Amendment Agreement,
         dated as of August 14, 1992 (missing page 2 of Amendment)
10.35(a) Lease  Agreement,  dated August 14,  1987,  between John M. Collins and
         Leer, Inc.,  as  amended  by  the Lease Option and Amendment Agreement,
         dated as  of  August 14,  1992,  and  the Addendum to Lease  Agreement,
         dated as of August 1, 1993
10.36(a) Lease agreement,  dated August 14, 1987, between PCD Realty Partnership
         and Leer, Inc., as amended by the Lease Option and Amendment Agreement,
         dated as of August 14, 1992
10.86(e) Management  Services  Agreement dated as of May 23, 1994,  between J.B.
         Poindexter & Co., Inc. and Southwestern Holdings, Inc.
10.102(f)Asset Purchase Agreement,  dated as of June 15, 1995, among Leer Inc.,
         20th Century Fiberglass, Inc., Steven E.Robinson and Ronald E.Hickman.
         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form
         8-K, dated June 29, 1995, as filed with the Commission on September 11,
         1995
10.103(f)Promissory  Note,  dated  June  29,  1995,  executed  by  Leer,  Inc.
         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form
         8-K, dated June 29, 1995, as filed with the Commission on September 11,
         1995
10.104(f)Asset Purchase  Agreement,  dated as of June 15, 1995 among Leer Inc.,
         Century Distributing, Inc., Steven E. Robinson  and Ronald E.  Hickman.
         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form
         8-K, dated June 29, 1995, as filed with the Commission on September 11,
         1995
10.105(f)Consulting  Agreement,  dated as of June 29, 1995,  between Leer, Inc.
         and Steven E.Robinson. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the
         current report on Form 8-K, dated  June 29,  1995,  as  filed  with the
         Commission on September 11, 1995
10.106(f)Consulting  Agreement,  dated as of June 29, 1995,  between Leer, Inc.
         and Ronald E. Hickman. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the
         current  report  on Form  8-K,  dated June 29, 1995, as filed  with the
         Commission on September 11, 1995.
10.107(f)Non-Competition  Agreement,  dated as of June 29, 1995, between Leer,
         Inc.and Steven E.Robinson. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to
         the current report on Form 8-K, dated June 29, 1995,  as filed with the
         Commission on September 11, 1995.
10.108(f)Non-Competition Agreement,  dated  as  of June 29, 1995, between Leer,
         Inc. and Ronald E.Hickman. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to
         the  current report on Form 8-K, dated June 29, 1995, as filed with the
         Commission on September 11, 1995.
10.109(f)Share  Purchase  Agreement  dated as of June 30, 1995,  between Raider
         Industries, Inc. and Martin Brown

                                       61
<PAGE>

10.110(f)Asset  Purchase  Agreement  dated as of June 30, 1995,  by and between
         Raider Industries Inc., Pro-More  Industries  Ltd.,  Brown Industries
        (1976) Ltd. and Martin Brown
10.111(i)Loan  and  Security  Agreement  by  and  between  Congress  Financial
         Corporation and Radco Industries Inc., dated October 31,1997
10.112(i)Asset  Purchase  Agreement  by and among  Radco  Industries  Inc.  and
         Midwest TruckAfter Market and William J. Avery, Sr. and Sarah A. Avery,
         dated October 31.1997.
10.113 Asset Purchase Agreement by and among Lowy Group, Inc., J.B. Poindexter &
       Co., Inc. and Blue Ridge Acquisition Company, LLC, dated August 31, 1998.
21.1   Subsidiaries of the Registrant
27.1   Financial data schedule
27.2   Restated financial data schedule for the years 1997 and 1996

(a)  Incorporated by reference to the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form
     S-1 (No. 33-75154) as filed with the Commission on February 10, 1994
(b)  Incorporated by reference to the Company's  Amendment No. 1 to Registration
     Statement (No. 33-75154) as filed with the Commission on February 24, 1994
(c)  Incorporated by reference to the Company's  Amendment No. 2 to Registration
     Statement (No. 33-75154) as filed with the Commission on March 23, 1994
(d)  Incorporated by reference to the Company's  Amendment No. 3 to Registration
     Statement (No. 33-75154) as filed with the Commission on May 16, 1994
(e)  Incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for
     the year ended December 31, 1994, as filed with the Commission on March 31,
     1995.
(f)  Incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Annual Report on form 10-K for
     the year ended December 31, 1995, as filed with the Commission on March 29,
     1996.
(g)  Incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q
     for the quarter ended March 31, 1996,  as filed with the  Commission on May
     10, 1996.
(h)  Incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q
     for the quarter ended June 30, 1996, as filed with the Commission on August
     13, 1996.
(i)  Incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Annual Report of Form 10-K for
     the year ended December 31, 1997, as filed with the Commission of March 30,
     1998.
(j)  Incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q
     for the quarter ended June 30, 1998, as filed with the Commission on August
     14, 1998.
- ---------------
(b)  Reports of Form 8-K. The Company  filed the  following  reports on Form 8-K
     during the year:
         
     None

Supplemental  Information to Be Furnished With Reports Filed Pursuant to Section
15 (d) of the Act by Registrants Which Have Not Registered  Securities  Pursuant
to Section 12 of the Act.

The  registrant  has not delivered to its security  holders any annual report to
security holders  covering the last fiscal year, proxy statement,  form of proxy
or other proxy soliciting material (as described under this caption in Form 10-K
as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange  Commission).  A copy of this Form
10-K will be sent to each registered  holder of the  registrant's 12 1/2% Senior
Notes due 2004.




                                       62
<PAGE>




                                   SIGNATURES



         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of Section  13 or 15(d) 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.

                                   J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC.


Date: March 29, 1999               By: John B. Poindexter                     
                                   -------------------------------------------
                                   John B. Poindexter, Chairman of the
                                   Board and Chief Executive Officer


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
this  report has been  signed  below by the  following  persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



Date: March 29, 1999           John B. Poindexter
                               ------------------
                               John B. Poindexter
                               Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director
                               (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: March 29, 1999           Stephen P. Magee
                               ----------------
                               Stephen P. Magee
                               Chief Financial Officer and Director
                               (Principal Financial Officer)

Date: March 29, 1999           W.J. Bowen
                               -----------                              
                               W.J. Bowen
                               Director

Date: March 29, 1999           Robert S. Whatley
                               -----------------
                               Robert S. Whatley
                               Chief Accounting Officer
                               (Principal Accounting Officer)






                                       63


 
                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                  By and Among


                                LOWY GROUP, INC.,


                          J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC.,


                                       and


                       BLUE RIDGE ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC



                                 August 31, 1998








<PAGE>



                                                                              

                                Table of Contents

                                                                        Page

ARTICLE 1                  PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS                    1

       1.1       Purchased Assets; Excluded Assets                        1
       1.2       Assumed Liabilities;                                     3
       1.3       Purchase Price for the Assets                            4
       1.4       Transfer Taxes; Recording Fees                           7
       1.5       Closing                                                  7
       1.6       Risk of Loss                                             8

ARTICLE 2                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
                                 SELLER AND PARENT8

       2.1       Corporate Matters                                        8
       2.2       Validity of Agreement and Conflict with Other 
                    Instruments                                           8
       2.3       Approvals, Licenses and Authorizations                   9
       2.4       Title to and Condition of Properties                     9
       2.5       Purchased Proprietary Rights                             9
       2.6       Contracts and Commitments                                9
       2.7       No Litigation                                           10
       2.8       No Adverse Changes or Events                            11
       2.9       Suppliers                                               12
      2.10       Customers                                               12
      2.11       Certain Business Relationships with Affiliates          12
      2.12       Environmental Matters                                   12
      2.13       Financial Statements; No Undisclosed Liabilities        13
      2.14       Purchased Real Property                                 14
      2.15       Equipment; Vehicles; Personal Property                  14
      2.16       Inventory                                               14
      2.17       Accounts Receivable                                     15
      2.18       Disclaimer of Implied Warranties                        15  
      2.19       Insurance                                               15
      2.20       Employee Benefit Plans and Employment Agreements        15
      2.21       Employment and Labor Matters                            16
      2.22       Immigration                                             16
      2.23       Taxes                                                   16
      2.24       No Defaults or Violations                               17
      2.25       Finder's Fees                                           17

ARTICLE 3          REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER           17

<PAGE>

       3.1       Organizational Matters                                  17
       3.2       Validity of Agreement and Conflict with Other 
                    Instruments.                                         17
       3.3       Approvals and Authorizations                            18
       3.4       Litigation.                                             18
       3.5       Finder's Fees                                           18

ARTICLE 4                ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS                           18

       4.1       Implementing Agreements                                 18
       4.2       Consents and Approvals                                  18
       4.3       Employee Matters                                        18
       4.4       Continuation of Employee Benefits.                      19
       4.5       Use of Names.                                           20
       4.6       Access to Information and Facilities                    20
       4.7       Due Diligence                                           20
       4.8       Preservation of Businesses                              20
       4.9       Exclusivity                                             20
       4.10      Accounts                                                20
       4.11      Monthly Financial Statements                            21
       4.12      Inquiry of Lagasse                                      21

ARTICLE 5                  BUYER'S CONDITIONS                            21

       5.1       Representations, Warranties and Covenants               21
       5.2       No Material Adverse Change.                             21
       5.3       No Litigation                                           21
       5.4       Real Estate                                             22
       5.5       Beck Purchase Price                                     22
       5.6       Consents and Approvals                                  22
       5.7       Updated Schedules                                       22
       5.8       Closing Actions                                         22

ARTICLE 6                  SELLER'S CONDITIONS                           23

       6.1       Representations, Warranties and Covenants               23
       6.2       No Litigation                                           23
       6.3       Consents and Approvals                                  23
       6.4       Closing Actions                                         23
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 7                  INDEMNIFICATION                               24


       7.1       Indemnification by Seller                               24
       7.2       Indemnification by Buyer.                               24
       7.3       Indemnification Procedures.                             25
       7.4       Settlement.                                             25
       7.5       Limitations on Liability                                26
       7.6       Effect on Purchase Price of Indemnity Payments          26

ARTICLE 8        NATURE OF STATEMENTS AND SURVIVAL OF COVENANTS,
                   REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS            26

ARTICLE 9                  TERMINATION                                   27

       9.1        Events of Termination                                  27
       9.2        Liability Upon Termination27
       9.3        Notice of Termination                                  27

ARTICLE 10                 DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS                  28

      10.1        "Accounts Receivable"                                  28
      10.2        "Affiliate"                                            28
      10.3        "Agreement"                                            29
      10.4        "Assumed Liabilities"                                  29
      10.5        "Businesses"                                           29
      10.6        "Business Day"                                         29
      10.7        "Businesses'Financial Statements"                      29
      10.8        "Buyer"                                                29
      10.9        "CERCLA"                                               29
      10.10       "Code"                                                 29
      10.11       "Confidential Information"                             29
      10.12       "Contracts"                                            29
      10.13       "Debt Obligations"                                     29
      10.14       "Easements"                                            29
      10.15       "Environmental Laws"                                   30
      10.16       "Environmental Permit"                                 30
      10.17       "Equipment"                                            30
      10.18       "ERISA"                                                30
      10.19       "Excluded Assets"                                      30
      10.20       "GAAP"                                                 30
      10.21       "Governmental Entity"                                  30
      10.22       "Hazardous Substance"                                  30

<PAGE>
      10.23        "Inventories"                                         31
      10.24        "Law"                                                 31
      10.25        "Lien"                                                31
      10.26        "Loss"or "Losses"                                     31
      10.27        "Material Adverse Change"                             31
      10.28        "Material Adverse Effect"                             31
      10.29        "Order"                                               31
      10.30        "Ordinary Course of Business"                         31
      10.31        "Permits"                                             32
      10.32        "Permitted Liens"                                     32 
      10.33        "Person"                                              32
      10.34        "Proprietary Information"                             32
      10.35        "Proprietary Rights"                                  32
      10.36        "Proceeding"                                          32
      10.37        "Seller"                                              32
      10.38        "Taxes"                                               32
      10.39        "Tax Return"                                          33
      10.40        "Title Insurer"                                       33
      10.41        "Knowledge"                                           33

ARTICLE 11                 MISCELLANEOUS                                 33

      11.1          Public Announcements                                 33
      11.2          Other Action                                         33
      11.3          Expenses                                             33
      11.4          Notices                                              34
      11.5          Successors                                           35
      11.6          Entire Agreement                                     35
      11.7          Governing Law                                        36
      11.8          Waiver                                               36
      11.9          Severability                                         36
      11.10         No Third Party Beneficiaries                         36
      11.11         Counterparts                                         36
      11.12         Interpretation                                       36

<PAGE>





                                List of Schedules


Schedule                               Subject Matter

1.1(a)(i)                              Equipment
1.1(a)(ii)                             Inventories
1.1(a)(iii)                            Accounts Receivable
1.1(a)(iv)                             Purchased Real Property
1.1(a)(v)                              Easements
1.1(a)(vi)                             Purchased Proprietary Rights
1.1(a)(vii)                            Vehicles
1.1(a)(x)                              Personal Property Leases
1.1(a)(xi)                             Contracts
1.1(a)(xii)                            Permits
1.1(b)                                 Excluded Assets
1.2(a)                                 Certain Assumed Liabilities
1.3(a)                                 Beck Purchase Price
1.3(b)(iv)                             Determination of Net Inventory
1.3(d)                                 Allocation of Purchase Price
2.1                                    Seller Foreign Jurisdiction
2.2(b)                                 Conflicts
2.3                                    Seller Consents
2.5                                    Purchased Proprietary Rights
2.6                                    Contracts
2.7                                    Litigation
2.8                                    Adverse Changes or Events
2.9                                    Suppliers
2.10                                   Customers
2.11                                   Relationships with Affiliates
2.12                                   Environmental Matters
2.13(a)                                Businesses' Financial Statements
2.14                                   Purchased Real Property Matters
2.16                                   "As Is" Inventory
2.19(a)                                Insurance
2.19(b)                                Insurance Claims
2.20                                   Benefit Plans
2.21                                   Employment and Labor Matters
2.22                                   Immigration
2.24                                   Defaults and Violations
3.3                                    Buyer Consents
4.4(c)                                 Former Employees

<PAGE>


                           ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                  This Asset Purchase  Agreement (this  "Agreement") is made and
entered  into this 31st day of August,  1998 by and among LOWY  GROUP,  INC.,  a
Delaware  corporation  (the "Seller"),  J.B.  POINDEXTER & CO., INC., a Delaware
corporation  and the sole  stockholder  of  Seller  ("Parent"),  and BLUE  RIDGE
ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Buyer").

                                   WITNESSETH:

                  WHEREAS,  Seller is engaged in the  business  of,  among other
things,  manufacturing  carpet  through  its Blue Ridge  Carpet  Mills  Division
located in Ellijay,  Georgia and dyeing  carpet  through its Courier  Dyeing and
Printing Division located in Ellijay, Georgia (collectively,  the "Businesses");
and

                  WHEREAS, the Seller and Parent desire to transfer to the Buyer
the  Businesses  and the  properties and assets related to or used for operating
the Businesses, and the Buyer desires to acquire such Businesses, properties and
assets,  and assume certain  liabilities  related thereto all upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein;

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and the
respective covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable
consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,  the
parties hereto agree as follows (all capitalized  terms not otherwise defined in
this Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in Article 10):

                                    ARTICLE 1
                     
                           PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS

1.1             Purchased Assets; Excluded Assets 

     (a)      Purchased  Assets.  Subject  to the  terms  and conditions of this
Agreement  and in  consideration  of the  obligations  of the Buyer as  provided
herein,  and except as otherwise  provided in Section  1.2, at the Closing,  the
Seller shall sell, assign,  transfer,  deliver and convey to the Buyer, free and
clear of any Liens except Permitted Liens, and the Buyer shall purchase, acquire
and take assignment and delivery from the Seller,  the Seller's right, title and
interest in, to and under the  Businesses  and certain  assets,  properties  and
rights that are related to or used for the Businesses (the "Purchased  Assets"),
including the following: 

     (i)       the Equipment set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(i);

     (ii)      the Inventories set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(ii);


                                       1
<PAGE>


     (iii)     the Accounts Receivable set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(iii);

     (iv)      the parcels of land set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(iv), 
     together with all privileges and easements appurtenant thereto and all 
     buildings, plants, facilities, installations, fixtures and other structures
     and improvements situated or located thereon or attached thereto
     (collectively, the "Purchased Real Property");

     (v)       the Easements set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(v);

     (vi)      the Purchased Proprietary Rights set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(vi)
     (the "Purchased Proprietary Rights");

     (vii)     the Vehicles set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(vii);

     (viii)    all prepaid expenses, deposits made by the Seller, and deposits
     made by customers relating to the Businesses;

     (ix)      any goodwill associated with the Businesses;

     (x)       the equipment leases and other leases set forth in Schedule
     1.1(a)(x) (collectively, the "Personal Property Leases");

     (xi)      the Contracts set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(xi),including, but not
     limited to, all customer purchase orders;

     (xii)     the Permits set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(xii)

     (xiii)    copies of all financial books and records necessary for the
     operations of Businesses and the Purchased Assets;

     (xiv)     all rights under warranties relating to the Equipment;

     (xv)      copies of all employee records;

     (xvi)     all customer lists;

     (xvii)    all Benefit Plans set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)(xvii); and

     (xviii)   all other assets used in the Businesses.

Items  (x) and  (xi) are  referred  to  herein  collectively  as the  "Purchased
Contracts."

                                       2
<PAGE>

          (b)  Excluded  Assets.  Notwithstanding  anything  in  Section  1.1(a)
to the  contrary,  the  Purchased  Assets shall not include  those assets of the
Seller listed or described in Schedule  1.1(b) to this Agreement  (collectively,
the "Excluded Assets"). 

1.2             Assumed Liabilities;  Retained Liabilities.

     (a)      Assumed Liabilities.  At  the Closing, the Seller shall assign all
of its  respective  right,  title and  interest  in and to, and the Buyer  shall
assume and agree to pay, perform, fulfill and discharge in a timely manner:

          (i)  all  liabilities  and  obligations  of Seller under all Purchased
Contracts  or  service   commitments   relating  to  the  Businesses  except  as
specifically set forth in Section 1.2(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement;

          (ii) all payroll, accrued vacation obligations, and other  liabilities
(except for payroll,  accrued  vacation  obligations  and other  liabilities  to
Norman E. Gibbs, Jr.) incurred with respect to employee benefits with respect to
Continuing Employees for any periods prior to the Closing Date which are accrued
on the  Businesses'  Financial  Statements or incurred in the Ordinary Course of
Business  since the date of the last balance sheet  included in the  Businesses'
Financial Statements;

          (iii) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,  all liabilities
and obligations in connection with Environmental Laws;

          (iv) all warranty obligations for products sold and services performed
by the Businesses prior to the Closing Date;

          (v)   certain  non-interest  bearing  current  liabilities  of  the
Businesses listed in Schedule 1.2(a) including trade accounts payable (excluding
an amount  equal to the sum of all checks  issued by Seller  for the  payment of
trade  accounts  payable but not presented for payment at the effective  time of
the Closing  ("Checks in Transit") and operating  expenses  which are accrued on
the  Businesses'  Financial  Statements  or incurred in the  Ordinary  Course of
Business  since the date of the last balance sheet  included in the  Businesses'
Financial Statement;

          (vi)   up to $150,000 of health insurance  claims  liability  existing
on the Closing Date which are accrued on the Businesses' Financial Statements or
incurred in the Ordinary  Course of Business  since the date of the last balance
sheet  included  in the  Businesses'  Financial  Statement  or  which  represent
incurred but not reported claims (the "Assumed Health Insurance Liability"); and

                                       3
<PAGE>

          (vii)   up  to $115,000 of the unfunded liability of the Seller at the
Closing Date under its Unfunded  Deferred  Compensation Plan (Top Hat Plan) (the
"Assumed Retirement Plan Liability").

The obligations  being assumed by the Buyer are collectively  referred to herein
as the "Assumed Liabilities".  The assumption of the Assumed Liabilities will be
evidenced by the Buyer's  execution and delivery of the assumption  contemplated
by Section 6.4(c).

     (b)    Liabilities  Not  Assumed by the  Buyer.   Except  for  the  Assumed
Liabilities, the Buyer shall not assume or otherwise be liable in respect of, or
be deemed to have assumed or otherwise be liable in respect of, any Debt, claim,
obligation   or  other   liability  of  the  Seller   (collectively,   "Retained
Liabilities").  The Retained  Liabilities shall include, but are not limited to,
the following:

          (i)  all obligations or liabilities  under the Retention Bonus Letters
dated  December  11,  1997 and  December  19,  1997  sent to C.B.  Hatch,  David
Westmoreland, Edgar Bailey, Eric Krause, Clarence Griffin and Norman Gibbs, III;

          (ii)  all obligations of the Seller to Norman E. Gibbs, Jr.;

          (iii) all interest bearing Debt of the Seller and all accrued interest
or prepayment fees thereon;

          (iv)  any  incentive compensation liability of the Seller payable as a
result of this transaction;

          (v)   all health insurance liability in excess of the  Assumed  Health
Insurance Liability;

          (vi) all retirement plan liability in excess of the Assumed Retirement
Plan Liability;

         (vii) any liability relating to worker's compensation claims associated
with events occurring on or prior to the Closing Date; and

        (viii) any liability relating to Checks in Transit; and

          (ix) any liability relating to the Excluded Assets.


                                       4
<PAGE>

1.3           Purchase Price for the Assets. 

     (a)     Base Purchase Price. At the Closing,  in  consideration of the sale
and transfer to the Buyer of the  Purchased  Assets,  the Buyer shall pay to the
Seller an amount equal to  $18,000,000  plus all amounts  expended by the Seller
prior to the Closing Date to acquire,  transport and install the small  pressure
beck described in Schedule 1.3(a) (the "Beck Purchase Price")(the "Base Purchase
Price"). The Base Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment prior to Closing
as provided in Section  1.3(b) and after Closing as provided in Section 1.3(d) .
The Base Purchase Price shall be paid to Seller as follows:

               (i)   $17,500,000 plus  (A) the Beck Purchase Price  and  (B) any
Preclosing Price Adjustment (to the extent the calculation  described in Section
1.3(c)  results  in an  increase  to the  Base  Purchase  Price)  and  less  any
Preclosing Price Adjustment (to the extent the calculation  described in Section
1.3(c)  results in a decrease to the Base  Purchase  Price) by wire  transfer of
immediately available funds to an account or accounts designated by Seller; and

               (ii)  $500,000 by wire transfer of immediately available funds to
Chase  Bank of Texas,  national  association  (the  "Escrow  Agent")  to be held
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the escrow agreement  attached hereto as
Exhibit A (the "Escrow Agreement").

     (b)  Preclosing  Adjustments.  The Base Purchase Price will be increased or
decreased  dollar for dollar to the extent  Seller's  Working Capital is greater
than or less than,  respectively,  the average working  capital  employed in the
Businesses  for the twelve (12) months  ended July 31, 1998 of  $7,090,000  (the
"Working Capital Peg") based upon a Preliminary  Closing Date Balance Sheet (the
"Preliminary  Closing Date Balance  Sheet") and a  Preliminary  Working  Capital
Schedule (the "Preliminary  Working Capital Schedule")  provided for herein. For
the purposes of this Section, the following terms have the following meanings:

               (i)   "Current Assets"  means  all Net Accounts  Receivable,  Net
Inventory and prepaid expenses.

               (ii)  "Current  Liabilities"  means,  without  duplication,   all
Assumed  Liabilities  which  would  be  considered  under  GAAP  to  be  current
liabilities.

             (iii) "Net Accounts Receivable" shall mean all Accounts Receivable,
excluding  any amounts  recorded  therein  related to cash deposits for unfilled
purchase  orders from  customers  for  shipments  not made as of the end of each
month  for the  period  being  used to  calculate  such  receivables  ("Customer
Deposits"),  acquired  by Buyer on the  Closing  Date less a reserve of $101,000
(the "Reserve").

             (iv) "Net Inventory" shall mean all Inventory acquired by the Buyer
on the Closing Date (but  excluding  all  Inventory  described on Schedule  2.16
except  to  the  extent  such  Inventory  is  included  in  inventory   reserves
established in accordance with GAAP) valued  according to GAAP less a reasonable


                                       5
<PAGE>

inventory  reserve  established  in  accordance  with GAAP  applied  in a manner
consistent  with Seller's past practice.  The manner and method for  determining
Net Inventory shall be as described in Schedule 1.3(b)(iv).

               (v)  "Working Capital"  means the excess of Current  Assets  over
Current Liabilities as shown in the Purchase Price Adjustment Schedule.

     (c)  Calculations.  The calculations of Working Capital are to be made in a
manner consistent with Seller's  preparation of the Financial  Statements of the
Businesses for the year ended December 31, 1997  (including  classifications  of
assets and  liabilities)  and consistent  with the provisions of Section 1.3(b).
Prior to the  Closing  Date,  the Buyer  shall  deliver to Seller a  Preliminary
Closing Date Balance  Sheet and a schedule  based upon the  Preliminary  Closing
Date Balance Sheet showing the Current Assets,  the Current  Liabilities and the
Working Capital (the  "Preliminary  Working Capital  Schedule")  which Buyer and
Seller  shall  agree upon prior to the  Closing.  When the  Preliminary  Working
Capital  Schedule is agreed upon, the Base Purchase Price shall be (i) increased
dollar for dollar to the extent Working Capital shown on the Preliminary Working
Capital  Schedule is greater  than the sum of Working  Capital Peg and  Customer
Deposits  and (ii)  decreased  dollar for dollar to the extent  Working  Capital
shown  on the  Preliminary  Working  Capital  Schedule  is less  than the sum of
Working Capital Peg and Customer Deposits (the "Preclosing Price Adjustment").

     (d) Post Closing Adjustments. The Base Purchase Price will be (i) increased
dollar for dollar to the extent Seller's  Working Capital as finally  determined
after the  Closing  pursuant  to Section  1.3(e) is greater  than the sum of the
Working Capital Peg and Customer  Deposits and (ii) decreased  dollar for dollar
to the extent Seller's  Working Capital as finally  determined after the Closing
pursuant to Section  1.3(e) is less than the sum of the Working  Capital Peg and
Customer  Deposits.  The Base Purchase  Price as adjusted by Section  1.3(b) and
this Section 1.3(d) is hereinafter referred to as the "Purchase Price."

     (e) Post Closing  Calculations.Within 60 days after the Closing Date, Buyer
shall deliver to Seller a draft  closing date balance sheet (the "Draft  Closing
Date Balance  Sheet") and a schedule  based upon the Draft  Closing Date Balance
Sheet  showing  the Current  Assets,  the  Current  Liabilities  and the Working
Capital  (the  "Draft  Working  Capital  Schedule").  Within 15 days after Buyer
delivers the Draft Closing Date Balance Sheet and the Working  Capital  Schedule
to Seller,  Seller must state,  in writing by notice to Buyer within such 15 day
period,  whether  Seller agrees or disagrees with the Draft Closing Date Balance
Sheet or Working Capital  Schedule (in whole or in part).  The failure of Seller
to so state  within  such 15 day  period  will  result  in the  Seller's  deemed
acceptance of the Draft Closing Date Balance Sheet and Working Capital Schedule.
If the parties are in agreement as to the Draft  Closing Date Balance  Sheet and
Working Capital  Schedule (either as a result of Seller's notice being delivered
within the 15 day period or Seller  being  deemed in  agreement  for  failure to
deliver its notice  within such 15 period)  then the Draft  Closing Date Balance
Sheet shall become the Closing Date Balance Sheet and the adjustment to the Base

                                       6
<PAGE>

Purchase Price under Section 1.3(d) will be calculated using the Working Capital
Schedule and taking into account the Preclosing  Price  Adjustment and the party
owing the other will pay that amount,  plus interest  calculated at a rate of 8%
per  annum  accrued  on the  amount  owed from the  Closing  Date to the date of
payment.  If Seller timely delivers its notice of disagreement,  then Seller and
Buyer will have 15 days to resolve  their  differences.  If they  resolve  their
differences,  the adjustment to the Base Purchase Price and payment will be made
as set forth above. If they are unable to resolve their differences  within such
15 day period,  the matter will be submitted within 15 days to a mutually agreed
upon  independent  accountant  with the Atlanta  office of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
(the  "Accountant")  for  arbitration  with the  adjustment to the Base Purchase
Price under Section 1.3(d) being  calculated in accordance with the Accountant's
decision, which shall be final and binding on all parties. Seller and Buyer will
cooperate  with each other in order to facilitate and complete the procedures as
described in this  paragraph.  All fees and expenses of the Accountant  shall be
paid by the  Buyer  and the  Seller  in such  amounts  as the  Accountant  shall
determine  based upon his  determination  as to the merits of each such  party's
arguments with respect to the differences resolved by him.

     (f)  Allocation of Purchase  Price.  The Purchase  Price shall be allocated
among the  Purchased  Assets by the Buyer and the Seller in the manner set forth
in Schedule  1.3(d) with such Schedule to be revised based upon the Closing Date
Balance Sheet. The Seller and Buyer agree that:

            (i) such allocation of the Purchase Price will be in accordance with
Section 1060 of the Code and the regulations thereunder; and

           (ii) the Buyer and the Seller will treat and report in filings under 
the  Code  and the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  in a  manner
consistent with Schedule 1.3(f).

1.4             Transfer Taxes; Recording Fees .

     (a)  Transfer Taxes. The Buyer shall pay, and indemnify the Seller against,
and  protect,  save and hold the  Seller  harmless  from,  any loss,  liability,
obligation  or claim  for any and all  sales,  use,  transfer,  stamp,  vehicle,
service,  or other similar taxes (other than income or similar taxes relating to
the sale of the Purchased Assets) and any interest, penalties,  additions to tax
and fines thereon or related thereto imposed as a result of the  consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (b)  Recording Fees. The Buyer shall pay any and all  recording,  filing or
other fees relating to the  conveyance or transfer of the Purchased  Assets from
the Seller to the Buyer.

1.5      Closing . Subject to the  conditions set forth in this  Agreement,  the
consummation of the purchase,  sale and assignment of the Purchased Assets,  and
assumption  of  the  Assumed  Liabilities,   pursuant  to  this  Agreement  (the
"Closing")  shall take place at 10:00 a.m. on August 31, 1998,  or at such other

                                       7
<PAGE>

time, date and place as the parties hereto shall mutually agree upon in writing,
but not later than September 30, 1998 (the "Closing  Date").  The effective date
and time of the Closing shall be 12:01 a.m. on August 31, 1998.

1.6      Risk of Loss . Risk of loss or damage to the  Purchased  Assets by fire
or other casualty  occurring  prior to the Closing shall remain with the Seller,
and risk of loss or damage  to the  Purchased  Assets by fire or other  casualty
occurring after the Closing shall be borne by the Buyer.

                                     ARTICLE  2

             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER AND PARENT

                  The Seller and Parent,  jointly and  severally,  represent and
warrant to the Buyer as follows:

2.1       Corporate  Matters . The Seller is a  corporation  duly  incorporated,
validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware
with full corporate power and authority (i) to enter into this  Agreement,  (ii)
to perform its obligations under this Agreement, (iii) to own, lease and operate
its  properties  and  (iv) to  carry on the  Businesses  as they are now  owned,
leased, operated and carried on. The Seller is qualified to do business in those
foreign  jurisdictions  set forth in Schedule  2.1 which  jurisdictions  are, to
Seller's Knowledge,  the only jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified
could result in a Material Adverse Effect.

2.2        Validity of Agreement and Conflict with Other Instruments .

     (a) Validity of Agreement.  This Agreement  constitutes a legal,  valid and
binding  obligation of the Seller  enforceable  against the Seller in accordance
with its terms,  except  that the  enforceability  of Seller's  obligations  are
subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar laws relating
to or affecting the enforcement of creditors'  rights generally and (ii) general
principles of equity.

     (b)  Conflict  with  Other  Instruments.  Except as set  forth in  Schedule
2.2(b),  neither (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement,  nor (ii) the
consummation  or  performance  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  will
directly or indirectly, with or without notice or lapse of time or both:

         (i) conflict with or violate the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws
of the Seller;

        (ii) conflict with, result in a violation or breach of any provision of,
or give any Person the right to declare a default or exercise any remedy  under,
or to  accelerate  the maturity or  performance  of, or to cancel,  terminate or
modify, any Purchased Contract;

                                       8
<PAGE>

        (iii) result  in the creation or imposition of any material Lien,  other
than  Permitted  Liens and Liens  created by the Buyer,  on any of the Purchased
Assets or permit the  acceleration of the maturity of any indebtedness of Seller
or any indebtedness secured by any Purchased Asset; or

         (iv) violate any Law in effect on the date of this Agreement applicable
to the Seller, the Businesses or any of the Purchased Assets.

2.3      Approvals, Licenses and Authorizations. Except as set forth in Schedule
2.3 ("Seller  Consents"),  no consent,  authorization  or approval of, filing or
registration with, or notification to, any Person not a party to this Agreement,
or any Governmental  Entity,  is required in connection with Seller's  execution
and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated hereby.

2.4       Title  to and  Condition  of  Properties  . The  Seller  has  good and
marketable title to and is the lawful owner of the Purchased Real Property, free
and clear of any Liens,  other than Permitted Liens. The Seller has the right to
sell, convey,  transfer and deliver all Purchased Assets to the Buyer. Except as
set forth in Schedule  2.4, all of the  tangible  Purchased  Assets  (other than
Inventory),  whether real or personal,  owned or leased, are fit for the purpose
for which  they were  procured  or  manufactured.  and have been  maintained  in
accordance with past practices and in good operating  condition and repair, with
the exception of normal wear and tear.

2.5      Purchased  Proprietary  Rights . Schedule  1.1(a)(vi) sets forth a true
and accurate list of all Proprietary Rights owned by the Seller that are related
to or necessary to the Businesses as presently conducted or which are related to
other Purchased Assets (the "Purchased Proprietary Rights"). Except as otherwise
described in Schedule 2.5: (a) Seller owns or possesses adequate,  perpetual and
irrevocable rights in and to all of the Purchased  Proprietary Rights and is not
obligated  to pay any  royalty,  license  fee or other  payment to any Person in
order to use  them;  and (b) none of the  Purchased  Proprietary  Rights  is the
subject of any (i) pending or, to the Seller's Knowledge, threatened litigation,
or (ii) claim of infringement or  misappropriation  and, to Seller's  Knowledge,
there is no basis for making any such claim.

2.6      Contracts and Commitments .

     (a)  Schedule  2.6 sets  forth a true and  accurate  list of the  following
Contracts and commitments relating to the Businesses:

          (i)  any Contract requiring the  expenditure   or  series  of  related
expenditures  of funds in excess of $10,000,  other than purchase orders entered
into in the Ordinary  Course of Business for goods  necessary  for the Seller to
complete then existing contracts or purchase orders;

                                       9
<PAGE>

         (ii) any loan or advance to,  or  investment  in,  any  Person  or  any
agreement,  contract,  commitment or understanding relating to the making of any
such loan, advance or investment;

        (iii) any Debt Obligations;

         (iv) any management service, employment, consulting, leased employee or
other similar type of Contract or arrangement;

          (v) any license, royalty or similar agreement;

         (vi) any collective bargaining agreement;

        (vii) any  Contract  or  arrangement  pursuant  to which  Seller  grants
or is granted any license or other rights to use any of the assets or any rights
of joint use with respect to any of the assets, other than any Personal Property
Lease;

       (viii) any  Contract not made in the Ordinary  Course of Business that is
to be performed in whole or in part on or after the date of this Agreement; and

         (ix) any  Contract  not  specified  above  that  is   material  to  the
Businesses.

The Seller has delivered to the Buyer true and accurate  copies of each document
set forth on  Schedule  2.6 as amended  or  modified  and each of the  Contracts
included in the Purchased Contracts as amended or modified.

     (b) To Seller's  Knowledge,  each of the  Purchased  Contracts is valid and
enforceable by the Seller in accordance with its terms. The Seller has performed
all of, and is not in default with respect to, its  material  obligations  under
any of the  Purchased  Contracts  and to the Seller's  Knowledge,  other parties
thereto  have  performed  all of, and are not in default  with respect to, their
material  obligations  thereunder.  The  Seller has not given nor  received  any
notice of termination or cancellation of any Purchased  Contracts.  Schedule 2.6
also sets forth a listing of all  Purchased  Contracts  requiring the consent of
any party for them to be transferred to Buyer.

2.7      No Litigation . Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.7, Seller (i) has not
received  any notice that an  injunction,  judgment,  Order,  decree,  ruling or
charge has been entered  against it and (ii) has not received any notice that it
is a party to or, to the  Seller's  Knowledge,  is not  threatened  to be made a
party to, any action,  suit,  proceeding,  hearing or  investigation  of, in, or
before any court or  quasi-judicial  or  administrative  agency of any  federal,
state, local or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator.

2.8      No Adverse Changes or Events .

                                       10
<PAGE>

     (a) Except as  disclosed  in  Schedule  2.8,  since June 30,  1998 (or with
respect to any matter relating to taxes,  December 31, 1997) the Businesses have
been operated in the Ordinary Course of Business, and there has not been:

          (i) to Seller's Knowledge any Material Adverse Change in the condition
or results of operations of the  Businesses  except for such changes that in the
aggregate have not had a Material Adverse Effect;

         (ii) any  physical  damage or physical destruction incurred or suffered
by the Businesses or the Purchased Assets in excess of $10,000;

        (iii) any  sale,  transfer  or  other  disposition  of any properties or
assets, real, personal or mixed,  tangible or intangible,  used in, held for use
in, or related to the Businesses  having a value of $10,000 or more,  other than
sales in the Ordinary Course of Business; or

         (iv) any change in the Seller's method or principle of accounting.

     (b) Except as  disclosed  in  Schedule  2.8,  since June 30,  1998 (or with
respect to any matter  relating to taxes,  December 31,  1997) the Seller,  with
respect to the Businesses and the Purchased Assets, has not:

          (i) taken  any action,  or entered into or authorized  any Contract or
other  transaction  or any  amendment or  modification  to any Contract or other
transaction, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;

         (ii) waived,  released  or canceled any claims against third parties or
debts owing to it or any rights, which have value in the aggregate, in excess of
$10,000;

        (iii) made any loan, advance or capital  contribution  to, or investment
in, any other  Person  other  than cash  advances  to  officers,  directors  and
employees  for  reimbursable  expenses  which  are in  the  Ordinary  Course  of
Business, and do not individually exceed $10,000;

         (iv) made any Tax election or settled or compromised any federal, state
or local Tax  liability,  or waived or extended  the statute of  limitations  in
respect of any such Taxes;

          (v) increased,  or  promised  increases in  compensation  to employees
other than regularly  scheduled  increases made in a manner consistent with past
practices; or

          (vi) altered or amended any Benefit Plan.

                                       11
<PAGE>

2.9       Suppliers  . Except as set  forth in  Schedule  2.9,  no  supplier  of
materials or services to the  Businesses  in an amount in excess of $250,000 per
year has during the last  twelve (12) months  decreased  materially,  or, to the
Seller's  Knowledge,  threatened  to decrease  materially  or limit  materially,
except upon the Businesses' request, its provision of services or supplies.  The
Seller  does  not  have  any  knowledge  of any  termination,  cancellation,  or
limitation of, or any material modification or change in, during the last twelve
(12) months, the business  relationships of the Businesses with any suppliers of
materials  or  services  in any  amount  in  excess of  $250,000  per year.  The
Businesses'  relationships  and pricing terms with its yarn  suppliers  have not
changed in any material respects from those in effect during 1997.

2.10      Customers  .  Except  as set  forth  in  Schedule  2.10,  to  Seller's
Knowledge  there  has not been  any  change  in the  business  relationships  or
prospects of the Businesses  with any customer to whom the Company had aggregate
sales during 1997 or during the 7-month period ending July 31, 1998 in excess of
$500,000.

2.11      Certain Business  Relationships  with Affiliates . Except as set forth
in  Schedule  2.11,  the  Businesses  have not  been  involved  in any  business
arrangement or  relationship  involving sales of products or supplies within the
last twelve (12) months with any Affiliate of the Businesses or of the Seller.

2.12      Environmental Matters .

        (a) The sole representations of the Seller with respect to environmental
matters are set forth in this Section  2.12.  To the extent  representations  in
other  sections  of this  Agreement  also  could  be  interpreted  to  apply  to
environmental  matters,  including,  but not  limited  to,  matters  related to,
arising under or concerning  Environmental Laws, such  representations  shall be
construed  to exclude all  environmental  matters and to apply to matters  other
than environmental  matters. The exclusive remedy which may be asserted by Buyer
with respect to any environmental matter or matters related to, arising under or
concerning  Environmental  Laws,  shall be a contract  action to recover Buyer's
actual economic damages pursuant to the indemnification  provisions of Article 7
of this  Agreement  if  Buyer  proves  a  breach  of any of the  representations
contained in this Section 2.12.  Without  limiting the  foregoing,  no action in
tort or strict  liability or for contribution or cost recovery may be maintained
by Buyer against Seller, related to the Purchased Assets, the Businesses, or any
Real  Property in  connection  therewith  including  any action  pursuant to any
Environmental  Laws, and BUYER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO BRING, AND
AGREES NOT TO BRING, ANY SUCH ACTION AGAINST SELLER.

         (b) Except as set forth on Schedule  2.12 to Seller's Knowledge:

               (i) The  Businesses  and  the  Purchased  Assets  are in material
compliance with all  applicable  Environmental Laws  that could give rise to any
material Liens and no condition or event  has  occurred  which,  with or without

                                       12
<PAGE>

notice or the passage of time or both, is reasonably  likely to give rise to any
material  Liens under any applicable Environmental  Laws  in connection with the
Purchased Assets or the Businesses;

              (ii) The  Seller  has   obtained  and  is  in  compliance  in  all
material respects with all  Environmental  Permits required for the ownership of
the Purchased Assets and the conduct and operation of the Businesses;

             (iii) No material  quantity of any  Hazardous  Substance  has  been
intentionally  or  unintentionally  released  into  the  environment  (including
releases  to air,  soil,  surface  water,  and  groundwater)  at, on or near the
Purchased Real Property except releases in compliance with  Environmental  Laws,
nor has the  Purchased  Real  Property  been  used at any time by any  person or
entity as a  landfill  or a disposal  site for any  Hazardous  Substance  or for
garbage,  waste, or refuse of any kind, which release or use would be reasonably
likely to give rise to any Liens or Proceedings under any Environmental Laws;

              (iv) The Seller is  not  subject  to  any  existing,  pending,  or
threatened  Proceedings  involving  any  alleged  violations  of,  or  potential
liability arising under,any Environmental Laws in connection with the Businesses
or the Purchased Assets;

               (v)  All  underground  storage tanks and connected pipes, valves,
and/or  associated  appurtenances("USTs")located  on or under the Purchased Real
Property are properly  registered  with the State of Georgia and are in material
compliance with current Georgia and federal law as well as with future law which
is proposed to take effect on December 22, 1998 (40 CFR Section 280.21); and

               (vi) The Purchased Real Property is  not  listed  on  the  United
States  Environmental  Protection Agency's National Priorities List of Hazardous
Wastes  Sites  nor any  other  list,  log,  schedule,  inventory,  or  record of
hazardous  materials or hazardous waste sites  maintained by any  federal,state,
county, or municipal governmental agency.

2.13      Financial Statements; No Undisclosed Liabilities .

          (a) Attached hereto as Schedule 2.13(a) are true and  accurate  copies
of the Businesses' Financial Statements which were prepared and delivered to the
Buyer prior to the date of this Agreement.  The Businesses' Financial Statements
(i) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, assets and
liabilities  of the  Businesses  as of  the  dates  thereof  and  the  revenues,
expenses, results of operations and cash flows of the Businesses for the periods
covered thereby in each case in conformity with GAAP applied consistently during
such periods in  accordance  with past  accounting  practices of Seller and (ii)
make adequate  disclosure  of, and provision for, all material  obligations  and
liabilities of the Businesses as of the dates thereof. Except as set forth in or
reflected on the balance sheets or Schedule  2.13(a) included in the Businesses'
Financial  Statements,  there are no liabilities,  debts, claims or obligations,
whether accrued, absolute,contingent or otherwise, including "off-balance sheet"
liabilities, whether due or to become due.

                                       13
<PAGE>

         (b) The Businesses' Financial Statements (i) have  been  prepared  from
the  books  and  records  of  the  Businesses,  and  (ii)  do  not  reflect  any
transactions that are not bona fide transactions.

2.14      Purchased  Real  Property . Schedule  1.1(a)(iv)  sets forth true  and
accurate  legal  descriptions  of all of the parcels of land owned by the Seller
and related to or necessary for the  Businesses and a description of any and all
buildings, plants, facilities,  installations,  fixtures and structures situated
or located  thereon.  Schedule  1.1(a)(v)  sets forth  true and  accurate  legal
descriptions of all material Easements (together with Real Property,  "Purchased
Real  Property").  Except as disclosed on Schedule 2.14,  there are no leases of
Real  Property to which the Seller is a party and which provide for the lease to
or by the Seller of any Real Property related to or necessary for the Businesses
(the "Real  Property  Leases").  The Seller has  delivered to the Buyer the most
recent title insurance  policies and surveys,  if any, for the Real Property and
true and accurate copies of material Easements as amended or modified. Except as
disclosed on Schedule  2.14,  the Seller has not received  notice of, and to the
Seller's knowledge,  there exists no, dispute,  claim, event of default or event
which constitutes or would  constitute,  with or without notice or lapse of time
or both,  a default  by the  Seller  under  any  material  Easement  or any Real
Property Lease.

2.15      Equipment; Vehicles; Personal Property . Schedule 1.1(a)(i) sets forth
a true and accurate  list of all of the  Equipment.  Schedule  1.1(a)(vii)  sets
forth a true and accurate list of all of the Vehicles.  Schedule  1.1(a)(x) sets
forth a true and  accurate  list of all  material  leases to or by the Seller of
personal  property that relates to other  Purchased  Assets or are related to or
necessary for the  Businesses.  Except as set forth in Schedule 2.15, all of the
Equipment  and all of the  personal  property  leased  by the  Seller  under the
Personal  Property Leases is presently  utilized by the Seller in the Businesses
in the Ordinary Course of Business.

2.16      Inventory  .  Schedule  1.1(a)(ii)  sets  forth  a true  and  accurate
description  of the nature,  amount and location of the Inventory as of the date
of this Agreement.  Except for inventory  listed on Schedule 2.16, which will be
sold "as is," each  item of the  Inventory  is of  merchantable  quality  and is
usable or salable in the Ordinary Course of Business,  and none of such items is
obsolete or is held by the Seller on assignment or consignment.

2.17      Accounts  Receivable  .  Schedule  1.1(a)(iii)  set  forth a  true and
accurate list of all Accounts Receivable as of the date of this Agreement.  Each
Account Receivable represents a sale made in the Ordinary Course of Business and
which arose  pursuant to an  enforceable  order for a bona fide sale of goods or
for services performed and is collectable in accordance with their terms subject
to the Reserve.

2.18      Disclaimer  of  Implied  Warranties . EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY  PROVIDED IN
THIS AGREEMENT,  THE SELLER MAKES NO  REPRESENTATION  OR WARRANTY,  EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED,  AS TO (A) THE MAINTENANCE,  REPAIR,  CONDITION,  DESIGN,  WORKMANSHIP,
SUITABILITY,  UTILITY OR  MARKETABILITY  OF ANY OF THE  PURCHASED  ASSETS OR ANY
PORTION THEREOF OR OTHER PROPERTY THEREON OR THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFECTS THEREIN,

                                       14
<PAGE>

WHETHER LATENT OR PATENT, OR (B) ANY MATERIALS OR INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN
MADE OR THAT WILL BE MADE  AVAILABLE  OR  COMMUNICATED  TO BUYER OR ITS  AGENTS,
CONSULTANTS  OR  REPRESENTATIVES  IN  CONNECTION  WITH  THIS  AGREEMENT  OR  THE
TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED  HEREBY,  OR ANY DISCUSSION OR PRESENTATION  RELATING
THERETO,  INCLUDING  ANY  EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED  WARRANTY OF  MERCHANTABILITY  OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR  PURPOSE.  IT IS THE EXPRESS AGREEMENT OF THE BUYER AND
THE SELLER THAT EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT,  THE BUYER WILL
OBTAIN  RIGHTS IN THE PURCHASED  ASSETS IN THEIR PRESENT  CONDITION AND STATE OF
REPAIR, "AS IS" AND "WHERE IS" AND "WITH ALL FAULTS".

2.19      Insurance .

          (a)  Schedule  2.19(a)  sets  forth  a  true and accurate  list of all
material policies  of fire and casualty, liability, worker's compensation, title
and other forms of insurance held by the Seller and  applicable to any Purchased
Asset  or  the  Businesses.  All  such  insurance is currently in full force and
effect.

          (b)  Schedule  2.19(b)   sets  forth  a  true  and  accurate  list  of
all  material claims which (i) have been made by the  Seller since  December 31,
1996 under any insurance policy held by the Seller with respect to the Purchased
Assets or the operations of the Businesses, (ii) are still pending or (iii) were
for  more  than  $10,000  as  to  any one event or loss.  Except as set forth on
Schedule  2.19(b) there are no  pending or, to  Seller's  Knowledge,  threatened
claims under such insurance policy.

2.20      Employee  Benefit  Plans  and  Employment  Agreements . Schedule  2.20
contains  an  accurate  list of (a) all  "employee  welfare  benefit  plans"  or
"employee  pension  benefit  plans" as those terms are  respectively  defined in
sections 3(1) and 3(2) of ERISA,  (b) all  retirement  or deferred  compensation
plans,  incentive  compensation  plans, stock plans,  unemployment  compensation
plans, vacation pay, severance pay, bonus or benefit arrangements,  insurance or
hospitalization  programs  or any other  fringe  benefit  arrangements,  whether
pursuant to any Contract, arrangement,  custom or informal understanding,  which
do not constitute  "employee  benefit plans" as defined in section 3(3) of ERISA
and (c) all  employment  agreements,  covering  any  employee of the  Businesses
(collectively, the "Benefit Plans"). True and accurate copies or descriptions of
the Benefit Plans have been  supplied to the Buyer.  Seller does not now and has
never  maintained a defined  benefit  pension plan. All Benefit Plans comply and
have been  administered  in form and in operation in all material  respects with
all  requirements of Law, and to Seller's  Knowledge no event has occurred which
will  or  could  cause  any  such  Benefit  Plan to fail  to  comply  with  such
requirements  and  no  notice  has  been  issued  by  any  Governmental   Entity
questioning or challenging such compliance.  Each Benefit Plan that is qualified
under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Code has obtained a  determination
letter signifying its qualified status and copies of those determination letters
have  been  provided  to Buyer.  Seller  does not  participate  in and has never

                                       15
<PAGE>

participated in a  multiemployer  pension plan, as defined in ERISA ss. 3(37)(A)
except for such  participation  which would not result in any  liability  to the
Buyer. The consummation of the transaction  contemplated by this Agreement shall
not result in the payment,  vesting or  acceleration  of any benefit which would
result in any  liability  to the  Buyer.  Other  than  claims  for  benefits  to
participants or beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the Benefit Plans,
there are no claims  pending or, to the  knowledge of Seller,  threatened by any
participant  in any Benefit  Plan which  would  result in any  liability  to the
Buyer.

2.21      Employment  and Labor  Matters . Schedule  2.21 sets forth a true  and
accurate  list of all  salaried  employees of the Seller who are employed by the
Seller,  as of the date hereof,  in  connection  with the  Businesses  and their
annual  compensation  for the current fiscal year. There is neither pending nor,
to the Seller's knowledge,  threatened, any labor dispute, strike, work stoppage
or  organizational  effort in  connection  with the  Businesses or any charge or
complaint of an unfair labor  practice or similar  charge  against the Seller in
connection  with  the  Businesses.  The  Seller  has not  signed  any  currently
effective  collective  bargaining  or union  agreement  in  connection  with the
Businesses.

2.22      Immigration . To Seller's  Knowledge the Businesses' hiring procedures
have fully complied with all applicable immigration laws, regulations, and other
requirements of government  authorities having jurisdiction over the Businesses.
Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.22, the Businesses  have received no inquiries
from Immigration and Natural Services ("INS") concerning their employees and are
not a party to, or to the Seller's  Knowledge,  threatened to become a party to,
any INS proceeding or action.

2.23      Taxes . Seller has filed or will file all (a) Tax Returns prior to the
due dates thereof and (b) all other material filings in respect of Taxes for all
periods  through and including  the Closing Date as required by applicable  Law.
All Taxes shown as due on all such Tax Returns and other  filings have been paid
or will be paid prior to the due dates thereof.  Each such Tax Return and filing
is true and  accurate  and the Seller does not and will not have any  additional
liability  for Taxes with respect to any Tax Return or other  filing  heretofore
filed or which was  required  by Law to be filed,  other  than as  reflected  as
liabilities on the Financial Statements.  There are no Tax Liens upon any of the
Purchased Assets.

2.24      No Defaults or  Violations . Except as set forth on Schedule  2.24, to
the Seller's Knowledge:

          (a)    the  Businesses  and  the  Purchased  Assets  are  in  material
compliance  with, and  no violation  exists  under,  all  Laws applicable to the
Businesses and the Purchased Assets; and

          (b)    no notice  from any  Governmental  Entity has been  received by
the Seller with respect to the  Businesses (i) claiming any  material  violation
of any Law,including any building, zoning or other ordinance or(ii)requiring any
work, construction or expenditure, or asserting any Tax, assessment or penalty.

                                       16
<PAGE>

2.25      Finder's Fees . Except for Wheat First Union, Inc., the Seller has not
employed or retained  any  investment  banker,  broker,  agent,  finder or other
party,  or  incurred  any  obligation  for  brokerage  fees,  finder's  fees  or
commissions,  with  respect  to the sale by the  Seller of any of the  Purchased
Assets or with respect to the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  or
otherwise  dealt with anyone  purporting  to act in the  capacity of a finder or
broker with  respect  thereto  whereby any party  hereto may be obligated to pay
such a fee or commission. The fees and expenses of Wheat First Union, Inc. shall
be borne by Seller.

                                    ARTICLE  3

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER

                  The Buyer represents and warrants to the Seller as follows:

3.1       Organizational  Matters . The  Buyer  is  a limited liability company,
validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware
with full  requisite  power and  authority to enter into this  Agreement  and to
perform its obligations under this Agreement.

3.2       Validity  of  Agreement  and  Conflict  with  Other Instruments.  This
Agreement and all transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and
approved by all necessary  action on the part of the Buyer. No further action is
necessary on the part of the Buyer to execute and deliver  this  Agreement or to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Buyer and is a legal, valid and binding obligation
of the Buyer,  enforceable  against it in accordance with its terms, except that
the  enforceability  of this  Agreement is subjected to  applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency  or  similar  laws  relating  to  or  affecting  the  enforcement  of
creditors' rights generally and to general  principles of equity.  The execution
and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby by the Buyer will not, directly or indirectly,  violate any
provision of, or constitute a default under,  any Contract to which the Buyer is
a party or by which it is bound, or conflict with its  organizational  documents
other than  violations,  defaults  or  conflicts  that would not have a Material
Adverse  Effect on the  ability  of the  Buyer to  consummate  the  transactions
provided for in this Agreement.

3.3       Approvals  and  Authorizations  . Except  as set forth on Schedule 3.3
("Buyer  Consents")  no  consent,   authorization  or  approval  of,  filing  or
registration with, or notification to, any Person not a party to this Agreement,
or any Governmental Entity, is required in connection with Buyer's execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.  

3.4       Litigation.  There is no pending or, to Buyer's Knowledge,  threatened
Proceeding by and against Buyer that challenges, or that seeks to prevent, delay
or make illegal this Agreement or any of the transactions  contemplated  herein.

3.5       Finder's Fees . The Buyer has not employed or retained any  investment
banker,  broker,  agent,  finder or other party,  or incurred any obligation for

                                       17
<PAGE>

brokerage fees,  finder's fees or  commissions,  with respect to the sale of the
Purchased  Assets  or with  respect  to the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement, or otherwise dealt with anyone purporting to act in the capacity of a
finder or broker with respect  thereto whereby any party hereto may be obligated
to pay such a fee or a commission. 


                                    ARTICLE  4

                             ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS


4.1       Implementing Agreements . Subject to the terms and conditions  hereof,
the  Seller  and  the  Buyer  shall take all actions  required of them to fulfil
their respective obligations under the terms of this Agreement and shall use all
commercially   reasonable   efforts  to  facilitate  the   consummation  of  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  Except  as  otherwise  expressly  permitted
hereby,  the Seller and the Buyer  agree that they will not take any action that
would  have the effect of  preventing  or  impairing  the  performance  of their
respective obligations under this Agreement.

4.2      Consents and Approvals .The Seller and the Buyer shall use commercially
reasonable  efforts to obtain the consents and  approvals  set forth on Schedule
2.3 and Schedule 3.3, respectively.  
 
4.3      Employee Matters . All employees of the Businesses except for Norman E.
Gibbs, Jr. (the "Continuing  Employees") shall,  commencing on the Closing Date,
become  employees  of the  Buyer;  and  thereupon,  the  Buyer  shall  have full
responsibility for all matters affecting such Continuing  Employees,  including,
without  limitation,   the  institution  of  new  benefit  plans  and  severance
practices.  With respect to periods prior to the Closing Date,  the Seller shall
pay all obligations relating to the employees except for such liabilities as are
specifically included in Assumed Liabilities. Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, Buyer shall not be obligated to retain any Continuing Employee for
any specified period of time after the Closing. 

4.4 Continuation of Employee Benefits.  

         (a)  For a period of one year from and after the  Closing  Date,  Buyer
shall provide the Continuing Employees pension, health and other fringe benefits
that in the aggregate are substantially equivalent to and no less favorable than
those provided to such Continuing  Employees under the Benefit Plans immediately
prior to the Closing  Date,  subject to the  eligibility  rules of such  Benefit
Plans.

         (b) To  the extent that service is relevant for purposes of eligibility
or vesting under any employee benefit plan,  program or arrangement  established
or maintained by Buyer for the benefit of the Continuing Employees heretofore or
in the future,  such plan,  program or arrangement  shall credit such Continuing
Employees  for service  with the Seller on or prior to the Closing  Date and, to
the extent recognized by the Benefit Plans of Seller, its predecessors. Any such
plan, program or arrangement shall waive any preexisting  condition  limitations

                                       18
<PAGE>

with  respect  to  Continuing  Employees  who  are on  the  Closing  Date  fully
participating  in Seller's health insurance plans and shall honor any deductible
and  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred  by the  Continuing  Employees  and their
beneficiaries under plans, programs or arrangements of the Seller.

         (c) Effective  as of the Closing  Date,  and except as provided  below,
Buyer  shall  assume  and  become  the  successor  sponsor  of all Plans and the
obligations  thereunder  with respect to any  Continuing  Employee or any former
employee  listed on Schedule  4.4(c).  In connection  therewith,  (i) as soon as
practicable  after the  Closing  Date,  Seller  and Buyer  shall use their  best
efforts to cause to be transferred to the trust that implements and forms a part
of Buyer's  qualified  401(k) plan, in accordance with the provisions of the JBP
Co., Inc.  401(k) Savings Plan  ("Seller's  401(k) Plan") and Buyer's  qualified
401(k) plan and in accordance  with the  provisions  of ERISA,  the Code and all
applicable law, the assets of Seller's 401(k) Plan attributable to any former or
Continuing  Employee (the "assumed trust") and Buyer shall assume and become the
successor  grantor of the assumed  trust,  and (ii) Buyer  shall  assume and the
Seller shall be relieved of all liabilities and obligations  with respect to the
Plans and the assumed trust,  including  without  limitation all  obligations to
make  contributions  required  to be made to the  Plans and the  assumed  trust.
Seller shall take all corporate action necessary,  including  amending the Plans
or the trust, to effect such transfer and assumption. Buyer represents, warrants
and covenants  that Buyer's  qualified  401(k) plan is and as of the date of the
asset transfer  referred to in this paragraph will satisfy the  requirements  of
section  401(a) of the Code.  Buyer  shall  promptly  give such  notices  as are
necessary to advise all third parties providing  benefits under any of the Plans
of Buyer's  intent to continue  all such Plans in the name and at the expense of
Buyer.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  as of the Closing Date Seller shall make
any  contributions  to Seller's  401(k) Plan  required by law or promised by the
Seller prior to the Closing Date.

4.5      Use of Names . All uses of the names set forth in  Schedule  1.1(a)(vi)
to this Agreement,  or any  derivations  thereof,  are being  transferred to the
Buyer hereunder as part of the Purchased Assets.  The Seller agrees that it will
not take any action that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Buyer's right to the such names or cause confusion with respect to
the Buyer's use of the such names.

4.6      Access to Information and Facilities . After the Closing, the Buyer and
Seller shall make available to each other, as reasonably requested by such other
party, all information,  records or documents relating to the Businesses for all
periods prior to the Closing and shall  preserve all such  information,  records
and  documents  until  the  later of five (5) years  after  the  Closing  or the
expiration of any statute of limitations or extensions thereof applicable to the
Seller.  Prior to destroying  any records  related to the  Businesses  after the
Closing  Date,  each party shall  notify the other of its intent to destroy such
records.  
 
4.7      Due  Diligence  . The Seller  agrees to give Buyer and  Buyer's  lender
representatives  full access during  normal  business  hours to the  Businesses'
facilities,  records,  personnel,  customers  and  suppliers  for the purpose of
conducting  its due  diligence  investigation  provided  that no contact will be
permitted  with the  Businesses'  personnel,  customers or supplier  without the

                                       19
<PAGE>

prior  consent of the Seller in  writing.  Buyer  agrees to  coordinate  its due
diligence  and work with the  Seller so as to  minimize  any  disruption  to the
Businesses'  operations.  
 
4.8       Preservation  of  Businesses . Prior to the  Closing,  the Seller will
cause the  Businesses to be operated in a manner  consistent  with past practice
and use  commercially  reasonable  efforts  to  preserve  the  present  business
organization  and  work  force  of the  Businesses  and the  relationships  with
lessors,  licensors,  suppliers and customers.  
 
4.9       Exclusivity  . The Seller and Parent will not (i)  solicit,  initiate,
continue,  or encourage the  submission of any proposal or offer from any Person
relating to the  acquisition of any capital stock or other voting  securities of
the Seller, or any substantial portion of the assets of the Businesses,  or (ii)
participate  in  any   discussions  or  negotiations   regarding,   furnish  any
Confidential   Information  with  respect  to,  assist  or  participate  in,  or
facilitate in any other manner any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek
any of the foregoing. The Seller and Parent will notify the Buyer immediately if
any  Person  makes any  written  proposal  or offer  with  respect to any of the
foregoing.

4.10     Accounts . With respect to all  Accounts  Receivable  acquired by Buyer
from Seller,  Buyer agrees to use  reasonably  prudent  collection  practices in
order to attempt to collect  all such  Accounts  Receivable  existing  as of the
Closing  Date within 120 days  thereafter.  All  payments  on Seller's  Accounts
Receivable  existing as of the Closing Date will be applied:  (i) as directed by
the customer; or (ii) if no such direction is made, to the oldest invoice first.
If Buyer has not  collected  an  Account  Receivable  (after  exhaustion  of the
Reserve)  included in Working  Capital  within 120 days after the Closing  Date,
Buyer may, within the next 30 days, reassign such uncollected Account Receivable
back to Seller,  together with the  contractual  obligation  giving rise to such
Account  Receivable  and  all  rights  of  Buyer  in  and  to  such  contractual
obligation.  Upon any such reassignment,  Seller will pay to Buyer, in cash, the
amount of such  uncollected  Account  Receivable  (but only to the  extent  such
uncollected  Account  Receivable was included in Working  Capital) within 5 days
after such  reassignment.  If Buyer  receives  any  payment  on such  reassigned
Account  Receivable  after  Seller has paid to Buyer the amount of such  Account
Receivable in accordance with the preceding sentence,  Buyer will promptly remit
to Seller any such payment.  

4.11     Monthly Financial  Statements . Prior to the Closing,  the Seller shall
deliver interim monthly financial statements for months ending subsequent to the
date of this Agreement  within  fifteen days of the end of each such month.  

4.12     Inquiry of Lagasse . Prior to the Closing,  Seller and Stephen P. Magee
will inquiry of Linda  Lagasse as to her  knowledge of the matters  addressed by
Sections  2.7,  2.8,  2.9 and 2.10 as they  relate  to the  Courier  Dyeing  and
Printing Division. 


                                       20
<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE  5

                               BUYER'S CONDITIONS

     The  obligation of the Buyer to purchase the Purchased  Assets or to assume
the  Assumed   Liabilities  as   contemplated   hereby  and  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby is, subject to the  satisfaction on or before
the Closing Date of the conditions  set forth below,  any of which may be waived
by the Buyer in writing.

5.1       Representations,  Warranties and Covenants . The  representations  and
warranties of the Seller  contained in this Agreement  shall be true and correct
in all  material  respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and
effect as though such  representations and warranties had been made on and as of
such date.  All of the agreements and covenants of the Seller to be performed or
complied  with by the  Seller on or before the  Closing  Date  pursuant  to this
Agreement shall have been performed or complied with in all material respects.

5.2      No Material  Adverse  Change.  No Material  Adverse  Change  shall have
occurred  with respect to the Seller or the  Businesses  and no event shall have
occurred which might cause a loss to the  Businesses in excess of $250,000.  

5.3      No Litigation . No Proceeding  shall have been instituted or threatened
which (a) might have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Purchased  Assets or the
Business or (b) could enjoin,  restrain or prohibit,  or have a Material Adverse
Effect  on  any  provision  of  this  Agreement  or  the   consummation  of  the
transactions  contemplated hereby. No court order shall have been entered in any
Proceeding,  and no Law shall have been  enacted or is  existing  as of the date
hereof  and no action  shall have been taken by any  Governmental  Entity  which
enjoins,  restrains  or prohibits  this  Agreement  or the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated hereby. 
 
5.4        Real  Estate . Seller  shall deliver good and marketable title to the
Purchased Real Property, free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens.
 
5.5        Beck  Purchase  Price . Seller   shall   have  delivered  a  detailed
schedule  showing the calculation of the Beck Purchase Price and the Buyer shall
be satisfied  with such  schedules.  

5.6        Consents  and  Approvals . The  consents and  approvals  set forth on
Schedule 2.3 shall have been  received by the Seller and delivered to the Buyer.

5.7        Updated  Schedules . The  Buyer  shall have received and be satisfied
with new  Schedules  1.1(a)(i),(ii)  and (iii)  which  shall be  updated  to the
Closing Date.  

5.8        Closing Actions . The Seller shall deliver or cause to  be  delivered
to  the  Buyer  each  of  the  following,  duly  executed  by  the Seller (where
appropriate): 


                                       21
<PAGE>

     (a) bills of sale  conveying  to the Buyer the  Purchased  Assets and other
instruments  of transfer as may be reasonably  required by the Buyer;  

     (b) a special  warranty deed or deeds conveying the Purchased Real Property
to the  Buyer;  

     (c) originals of all of the following:  (i) the Personal  Property  Leases;
(ii) all other  Purchased  Contracts;  and (iii) any  consents  required for the
Purchased  Contracts;  

     (d) title  insurance  policies for each parcel of Real  Property  issued by
Title Insurer,  dated the Closing Date, each of which such policies (i) shall be
in the full amount of the portion of the Purchase  Price that the Seller and the
Buyer mutually  allocate to each such parcel in accordance  with Section 1.3(c),
and (ii) shall be in the form of American Land Title Association Owner's Policy,
1970 Form B, subject only to the standard  exclusions from coverage contained in
such policy and the applicable  Permitted  Liens;  

     (e)  certificates of title for all Vehicles,  duly endorsed for transfer to
the Buyer and keys for all Vehicles;  

     (f) certificates of the secretaries of the Seller and the Parent,  dated as
of the Closing Date,  certifying  the  resolutions of the boards of directors of
the Seller and Parent  approving and  authorizing  the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation by the Seller and Parent of the transactions
contemplated  hereby,  together  with an incumbency  and  signature  certificate
regarding the officer(s) signing on behalf of the Seller and Parent; 

     (g) non-competition agreements duly executed by  Seller  and  Parent in the
form of Exhibit D attached hereto; 
 
     (h) a  certificate  executed  by  the Seller and Parent indicating that all
conditions to Seller's  obligations  have been  satisfied or waived and that all
representations  of the Seller and Parent  contained herein are true and correct
at the Closing Date; 

     (i) the Escrow  Agreement;  and 
 
     (j) any and all other  documents  and  instruments  reasonably  required to
satisfy  the  obligations  under the  transactions  contemplated  herein.  

                                       22
<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE  6

                              SELLER'S CONDITIONS

     The  obligation  of  the  Seller  to  transfer  the  Purchased   Assets  as
contemplated hereby is subject to the satisfaction on or before the Closing Date
of the conditions  set forth below,  any of which may be waived by the Seller in
writing.

6.1       Representations,  Warranties and Covenants . The  representations  and
warranties of the Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in
all  material  respect  on and as of the  Closing  Date with the same  force and
effect as though such  representations and warranties had been made on and as of
such date.  All of the  agreements and covenants of the Buyer to be performed or
complied  with by it on or before the Closing  Date  pursuant to this  Agreement
shall have been performed or complied with in all material respects.

6.2      No Litigation . No Proceeding  shall have been instituted or threatened
which would enjoin,  restrain or prohibit,  or have a Material Adverse Effect on
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby. No
court order  shall have been  entered in any  Proceeding,  and no law shall have
been  enacted or is existing as of the date hereof and no action shall have been
taken by any  Governmental  Entity which  enjoins,  restrains or prohibits  this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby. 
 
6.3       Consents  and  Approvals . The  consents  and  approvals  set forth in
Schedule 3.3 shall have been  received by the Buyer.  
 
6.4      Closing  Actions . The Buyer shall have delivered to the Seller each of
the following:  
 
          (a) wire  transfer of same  day  funds in the amount  determined under
Section 1.3(a)(i);  
 
          (b) wire transfer  of same day funds  totaling  $500,000 to the Escrow
Agent; 

          (c) an  instrument of  assumption  in form  and  substance  reasonably
satisfactory to the Seller; and 

          (d) the Escrow  Agreement;  

          (e) a certificate executed by the Buyer indicating that all conditions
to   Buyer's   obligations   have  been   satisfied   or  waived  and  that  all
representations  of the  Buyer  contained  herein  are true and  correct  at the
Closing Date; and 


                                       23
<PAGE>

          (f) a certificate  of the  secretary  of the  Buyer,  dated  as of the
Closing Date,  certifying the  resolutions of the board of managers of the Buyer
approving and  authorizing  this Agreement and the  consummation by the Buyer of
the transactions  contemplated hereby, together with an incumbency and signature
certificate regarding the officer(s) signing on behalf of the Buyer.


                                    ARTICLE  7

                                INDEMNIFICATION

7.1       Indemnification  by Seller and Parent.  The Seller and Parent agree to
indemnify  the  Buyer,   its   officers,   directors,   employees,   agents  and
representatives  (collectively,  the "Buyer Indemnified  Parties") against,  and
agree to hold each of the Buyer Indemnified Parties harmless from, the amount of
any and all Losses incurred or suffered by them relating to or arising out of or
in connection with any of the following: 
 
              (i) any breach in any inaccuracy in any representation or warranty
made by the Seller in this Agreement or any covenant of Seller contained in this
Agreement;

              (ii) any Retained Liability.

7.2      Indemnification by Buyer. The Buyer agrees to indemnify the Seller, its
officers, directors,  employees, agents and representatives  (collectively,  the
"Seller Indemnified  Parties") against, and agrees to hold each of them harmless
from, any and all Losses incurred or suffered by them relating to or arising out
of or in  connection  with  any of the  following:  
  
              (i) any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Buyer
in this Agreement or any covenant of Buyer contained in this Agreement;

             (ii) any Assumed Liabilities.

7.3       Indemnification  Procedures.  A party which believes it is entitled to
indemnification  hereunder (an  "Indemnified  Party") shall promptly (but in any
event within 30 days after any claim is asserted against the Indemnified  Party)
give written notice to the party believed to be responsible for  indemnification
hereunder (the  "Indemnifying  Party") of any claim or the  commencement  of any
Proceeding  by any Person (a  "Claim"),  in respect  of which  indemnity  may be
sought  hereunder;  provided  that the delay in giving,  or the failure to give,
such  written  notice shall not limit the  Indemnifying  Party's  obligation  to
provide  indemnification  hereunder  except to the extent that the  Indemnifying
Party is  materially  damaged by such delay or failure.  The  Indemnified  Party
shall notify the Indemnifying  Party with reasonable  particularity of the basis
for the Claim and the Indemnified  Party shall give the Indemnifying  Party such
other information with respect thereto as the Indemnifying  Party may reasonably
request. Upon receipt of the notice of such Claim, the Indemnifying Party may by
giving  notice to the  Indemnified  Party and at the  Indemnifying  Party's  own
expense:  (i)  participate  in the  defense of such Claim at any time during the

                                       24
<PAGE>

course of such Claim;  or (ii) assume the defense  thereof;  provided,  however,
that the Indemnifying  Party shall thereafter consult with the Indemnified Party
upon the Indemnified  Party's  reasonable request from time to time with respect
to such Claim. If the Indemnifying  Party assumes such defense,  the Indemnified
Party  shall have the right  (but not the duty) to  participate  in the  defense
thereof and to employ  counsel,  at its own expense,  separate  from the counsel
employed by the Indemnifying Party;  provided,  further, that if there are legal
or equitable  defenses available to an Indemnified Party which are not available
to or ascertainable  by the  Indemnifying  Party with respect to such Claim, the
Indemnified  Party shall have the right to participate in the defense and employ
counsel at the  reasonable  expense of the  Indemnifying  Party for such purpose
(provided  that the  Indemnifying  Party shall not be required to reimburse  the
expenses and costs of more than one law firm for such  purpose).  Whether or not
the  Indemnifying  Party  chooses to defend any such  Claim,  all of the parties
hereto  shall  cooperate  in  the  defense   thereof.   After  notice  from  the
Indemnifying  Party of its  election  so to  assume  the  defense  thereof,  the
Indemnifying  Party  shall not be  liable  (except  as  provided  in the  second
preceding  sentence) to such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expense in
connection with such defense incurred by the Indemnified  Party after such date.
The parties hereto agree that any such defense shall be conducted  expeditiously
and that the Indemnified Party shall be advised of all significant developments.
 
7.4       Settlement.  Any settlement or compromise made or caused to be made by
the Indemnified  Person or the Indemnifying  Person,  as the case may be, of any
Claim of the kind  referred  to in  Section  7 shall  also be  binding  upon the
Indemnifying  Person or the Indemnified  Person, as the case may be, in the same
manner as if a final judgment or decree had been entered by a court of competent
jurisdiction in the amount of such settlement or compromise;  provided, however,
that no  obligation,  restriction  or Loss shall be  imposed on the  Indemnified
Person as a result of such settlement without its prior written consent.  If the
Indemnifying  Party  assumes the defense of any Claim as  described in Section 7
and so long as the Indemnifying Party is defending such Claim in good faith, the
Indemnifying Party shall have the right to settle such Claim and the Indemnified
Party  will not  settle  such  Claim;  provided,  however,  that no  obligation,
restriction  or Loss shall be imposed on the  Indemnified  Person as a result of
such settlement without its prior written consent; and provided further that the
Indemnified  Party  shall have no right to settle any Claim the defense of which
it has assumed if the  Indemnified  Party is  participating  in the defense as a
result of there being legal or equitable  defenses  available to an  Indemnified
Party which are not available to or ascertainable by the Indemnifying Party with
respect to such Claim. The Indemnified Person will give the Indemnifying  Person
at least thirty (30) days' notice of any proposed  settlement  or  compromise of
any claim,  suit,  action or proceeding  it is defending,  during which time the
Indemnifying Person may reject such proposed settlement or compromise; provided,
however,  that from and after such rejection,  the Indemnifying  Person shall be
obligated  to  assume  the  defense  of and  full  and  complete  liability  and
responsibility for such claim, suit, action or proceeding and any and all Losses
in connection therewith in excess of the amount of unindemnifiable  Losses which
the  Indemnified  Person  would have been  obligated  to pay under the  proposed
settlement or compromise. 
 
7.5       Limitations  on  Liability  . Except  for  claims  of  indemnification
resulting  from a breach of the  representations  contained in Sections 2.25, or

                                       25
<PAGE>

under Sections 7.1(ii) or Section 7.2(ii), and notwithstanding the foregoing,  a
claim by any of the parties  pursuant to this Article 7 against the others shall
not be asserted unless and until the aggregate and cumulative totals of all such
claims by the Buyer Indemnified  Parties or Seller Indemnified  Parties,  as the
case may be, shall have exceeded One Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  ($100,000) (the
"Deductible"),   whereupon   the   Indemnified   Person  shall  be  entitled  to
indemnification  for all Losses to the extent such Losses exceed the Deductible;
provided,  however,  the total  liability  of the  Indemnifying  Party shall not
exceed Ten Million  Dollars  ($10,000,000)  in the aggregate.  
 
7.6      Effect on Purchase  Price of Indemnity  Payments . Any amounts  payable
under Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 shall be treated by the Buyer and the Seller as
an  adjustment  to the Purchase  Price of the  Purchased  Assets.  
 

                                    ARTICLE 8

                NATURE OF STATEMENTS AND SURVIVAL OF COVENANTS,
                   REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS

     The several representations and warranties of the parties to this Agreement
shall  survive the Closing  Date and shall remain in full force and effect until
April 30, 2000 (the period during which the representations and warranties shall
survive  being  referred  to herein  with  respect to such  representations  and
warranties  as  the  "Survival  Period");   provided,   however,  that  the  tax
representations  and  warranties  contained in Section 2.23 shall remain in full
force  and  effect  until  the  expiration  of the last  applicable  statute  of
limitations  for the  particular  representation  and  warranty  that  has  been
breached and that the environmental  representations and warranties contained in
Section 2.12 and all representations and warranties of the Seller in Section 2.4
relating to title to the properties and assets of the  Businesses,  shall remain
in full force and effect for a period of five (5) years. No indemnification with
respect  to any  representation  or  warranty  herein  shall be made  after  the
Survival Period,  except as to claims for indemnification  under Section 7 which
have been made in writing during the Survival Period.

                                    ARTICLE 9

                                   TERMINATION

9.1       Events of  Termination  . The  obligation  to close  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement may be terminated by: 
 
          (a)   mutual agreement of the Buyer and the Seller;

          (b)   the  Buyer,  if a material  default  shall be made by the Seller
in the  observance  or in the due and  timely  performance  by the Seller of any
agreements and covenants of the Seller herein contained,  or if there shall have
been  a  material   breach  by  the  Seller  of  any  of  the   warranties   and
representations  of the Seller herein contained,  and such default or breach has
not been  cured,  or has not been waived in writing by the Buyer  within  twenty
(20) days of written notice thereof;

                                       26
<PAGE>

          (c)   the  Seller,  if a material  default  shall be made by the Buyer
in the  observance  or in the due and  timely  performance  by the  Buyer of any
agreements and covenants of the Buyer herein  contained,  or if there shall have
been a material breach by the Buyer of any of the warranties and representations
of the Buyer herein contained,  and such default or breach has not been cured or
has not been waived in writing by the Seller  within twenty (20) days of written
notice  thereof;  or 

          (d) the  Buyer or the Seller,  provided the terminating  party has not
materially  breached  any  of  its  agreements,  covenants,  representations  or
warranties,  if the Closing shall not have  occurred on or before  September 30,
1998.  

9.2     Liability Upon Termination . If the obligation to close the transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement is terminated  pursuant to any provision of this
Article 9 then this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall not be
any liability or obligation  with respect to the  terminated  provisions of this
Agreement on the part of the Seller or the Buyer,  except and to the extent such
termination  results  from  the  willful  breach  by  a  party  of  any  of  its
representations,  warranties or agreements.  

9.3     Notice of Termination . The parties hereto may exercise their respective
rights of termination under this Article 9 only by delivering  written notice to
that effect (setting forth the reasons  therefor) to the other party,  provided,
however, that such notice must be received on or before the Closing Date. 1.5


                                       27
<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE  10

                          DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS

     The terms listed below are defined in the respective referenced sections of
this Agreement:

Term                                                          Section Reference

Affected Employees                                            Section 2.21
Benefit Plans                                                 Section 2.20
Buyer Consents                                                Section 3.3
Buyer Indemnified Parties                                     Section 7.1
Claim                                                         Section 7.3
Closing                                                       Section 1.5
Deductible                                                    Section 7.5
Easements                                                     Section 1.1(a)(v)
Excluded Assets                                               Section 1.1(b)
Indemnified Party                                             Section 7.3
Indemnifying Party                                            Section 7.3
Purchased Real Property                                       Section 1.1(a)(iv)
Personal Property Leases                                      Section 1.1(a)(x)
Purchase Price                                                Section 1.3
Purchased Assets                                              Section 1.1(a)
Purchased Contracts                                           Section 1.1(a)
Purchased Proprietary Rights                                  Section 2.5
Purchased Real Property                                       Section 2.14
Retained Liabilities                                          Section 1.2(b)
Seller Consents                                               Section 2.3
Seller Indemnified Parties                                    Section 7.2
Survival Period                                               Article 8


     In addition to terms  defined  elsewhere in this  Agreement,  the following
terms  shall have the  meanings  assigned  to them  herein,  unless the  context
otherwise  indicates,  both for purposes of this  Agreement  and the  Disclosure
Schedule:

10.1      "Accounts  Receivable"  shall  mean  all  accounts  receivable,  trade
receivables,  notes  receivable  and  other  receivables,  which in any case are
payable as a result of goods sold or services  provided by Seller in  connection
with the Businesses. 

10.2     "Affiliate"  shall mean,  with respect to any Person,  an individual or
entity that,  directly or  indirectly,  controls,  is  controlled by or is under
common  control  with such  Person.  

                                       28
<PAGE>

10.3     "Agreement" shall mean this Asset Purchase Agreement between the Seller
and the Buyer,  as amended from time to time by such  parties.  

10.4     "Assumed Liabilities" shall have the meaning given such term in Section
1.2(a) hereof.  

10.5      "Businesses"  shall  have the  meaning  given  such  term in the First
Recital  hereof.  
 
10.6       "Business  Day" shall mean any day other than a  Saturday,  Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in Chattanooga,  Tennessee are authorized by
law to close.  
  
10.7     "Businesses'  Financial  Statements" shall mean the unaudited year  end
financial statements of the Businesses for the years ended December 31, 1997 and
December 31, 1996 and for the year to date period ended July 31, 1998. 
 
10.8     "Buyer" shall have the meaning  specified in the  preamble.  
 
10.9     "CERCLA"  shall  mean  the United  States  Comprehensive  Environmental
Response,  Compensation  and  Liability  Act,  42 U.S.C.  ss.  9601 et seq.,  as
amended.  
 
10.10    "Code"  shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended from
time to time, or similar provisions of legislation  replacing such law from time
to time. 

10.11    "Confidential Information" means all Proprietary Rights and Proprietary
Information  included  within  the  Purchased  Assets  that are not and have not
become ascertainable or obtainable from public or published information.
 
10.12    "Contracts" shall mean all contracts,  agreements,  purchase orders and
contracts,  customer contracts,  understandings,  indentures, notes, bonds, loan
agreements, instruments, leases, mortgages, franchises, licenses, commitments or
binding  arrangements,  whether express or implied,  oral or written,  to which,
with respect to the Businesses,  the Seller is a party or bound, or to which the
Purchased Assets are subject.  

10.13    "Debt Obligations" or "Debt" shall each mean any  contract,  agreement,
mortgage,  credit or loan agreement,  lease indenture,  note or other instrument
relating  to the  borrowing  of  money  or any  guarantee  or  other  contingent
liability in respect of any indebtedness or obligation of any Person, other than
the  endorsement  of  negotiable  instruments  for deposit or  collection in the
Ordinary  Course of Business.  

10.14     "Easements"  shall  mean all  easements,  rights-of-way   and  similar
interests of Seller related to or necessary for the Businesses. 


                                       29
<PAGE>

10.15    "Environmental Laws" shall mean any Laws that require  or relate to the
environment  in  effect in the  jurisdiction  in which  the  Business  are being
conducted or where any of the Purchased  Assets are located,  including  without
limitation,  the  Superfund  Amendments  and  Reauthorization  Act of  1986,  as
amended,  the Resource  Conservation  and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended,  the
Toxic  Substances  Control Act of 1976, as amended,  the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act  Amendments of 1972,  the Clean Water Act of 1977,  as amended,  any
so-called  "Superfund" or "Superlien" Law (including those already referenced in
this definition),  the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980,  as amended,  and the  Hazardous  Transportation  Act, as
amended, and any other Law having a similar subject matter. "Environmental Laws"
does not include the  Occupational  Safety and Health Act or any other  federal,
state or local law,  statute,  ordinance,  regulation or Order governing  worker
safety or workplace conditions.  

10.16     "Environmental  Permit" shall mean any Permit required by or given  or
granted  pursuant to any  applicable  Environmental  Law. 

10.17     "Equipment" shall mean all machinery, transportation equipment, parts,
equipment,  furnishings  and  fixtures  and other items of personal  property of
every kind and  description  that are related to or necessary for the Businesses
as operated by the Seller  (other than the  Vehicles and  Inventory).  

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

10.19     "Excluded  Assets"  shall have the meaning given  such term in Section
1.2(b) hereof.  

10.20     "GAAP" shall mean U.S. generally accepted accounting principles at the
time in effect.  

10.21     "Governmental Entity" shall mean any: (a) nation, state, county, city,
town,  village,  district,  or other  jurisdiction  of any nature;  (b) federal,
state,  local,  municipal,  foreign,  or other  government;  (c) governmental or
quasi-governmental  authority of any nature (including any governmental  agency,
branch,  department,  official, or entity and any court or other tribunal);  (d)
multi-national  organization  or body;  or (e) body  exercising,  or entitled to
exercise,  any  administrative,   executive,  judicial,   legislative,   police,
regulatory,  or taxing  authority or power of any nature.  

10.22     "Hazardous  Substance" shall mean any material,  chemical,  substance,
waste or matter which (i) is petroleum or a petroleum product,  (ii) constitutes
a hazardous  substance,  hazardous  waste,  toxic substance or pollutant as such
terms are defined by or pursuant to any  Environmental Law or (iii) is regulated
or  controlled as a Hazardous  Substance,  toxic  substance,  pollutant or other
regulated or controlled material, chemical,  substance, waste or matter pursuant
to any Environmental Law. 


                                       30
<PAGE>

10.23     "Inventories"  and  "Inventory"  shall each mean  all  inventories  of
finished goods, tooling inventory, work in progress,  supplies and raw materials
that are related to or necessary for the  Businesses,  wherever  situated.  

10.24      "Law" shall mean any  applicable  federal,  state,  local, municipal,
foreign,   international,   multinational,   or  other   administrative   order,
constitution,  law, ordinance,  principal of common law, regulation,  statute or
treaty.  

10.25      "Lien" shall mean any mortgage,  deed of trust, lien, pledge,  claim,
charge, security interest,  restriction, lease or sublease or other encumbrance,
option,  defect or other  rights of any third  Person of any nature  whatsoever.

10.26      "Loss" or "Losses" shall mean any and all liabilities, losses, costs,
claims,  damages  (including  consequential  damages but excluding  punitive and
exemplary damages), penalties and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses and reasonable costs of investigation and litigation). In the event
any of the foregoing are indemnifiable  hereunder, the terms "Loss" and "Losses"
shall include any and all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses and reasonable
costs of  investigation  and litigation  incurred by the  Indemnified  Person in
enforcing  such  indemnity.  

10.27      "Material  Adverse  Change"  shall  mean  a  change  or  circumstance
involving a prospective change in the business, operations, assets, liabilities,
results of  operations,  cash  flows,  condition  (financial  or  otherwise)  or
prospects  of the  Businesses  or the  Purchased  Assets  that is  material  and
adverse.  
 
10.28       "Material  Adverse  Effect" shall mean a single event, occurrence or
fact that, together with all other events,  occurrences and facts, has, or might
reasonably  be  expected to have,  a material  adverse  effect on the  business,
operations,  assets,  liabilities,  results of operations, cash flows, condition
(financial  or  otherwise)  or prospects of the  Businesses  or of the Purchased
Assets.  For purposes of the  foregoing,  any aggregate  loss to the  Businesses
equal to or greater  than  $100,000  shall be deemed to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

10.29       "Order" shall mean any award, decision, injunction, judgment, order,
ruling,  subpoena,  or verdict entered,  issued, made, or rendered by any court,
administrative  agency, or other Governmental  Entity or by any arbitrator.  

10.30       "Ordinary Course of Business" shall mean an action taken by a Person
that is  consistent  with the past  practices of such Person and is taken in the
ordinary course of the normal operations of such Person. 

10.31       "Permits" shall mean  permits,  tariffs,  authorizations,  licenses,
certificates, variances, interim permits, approvals, franchises and rights under
any Law or otherwise  required by any  Governmental  Entity and any applications
for the foregoing.

                                       31
<PAGE>

10.32       "Permitted  Liens" shall  mean  (a)  Liens  for  current  taxes  and
assessments  not yet due or payable or that are being contested in good faith in
the Ordinary Course of Business or (b) Liens securing the claims of materialmen,
carriers,  landlords and like persons, all of which are not yet due and payable.

10.33       "Person" shall mean a corporation, an association, a partnership,  a
limited  liability  company,  an  organization,  a business,  an individual or a
Governmental  Entity. 

10.34       "Proprietary Information" shall mean  collectively  (a)  Proprietary
Rights  and (b) any and all other  information  and  material  proprietary  to a
Person, owned, possessed or used by such Person, whether or not such information
is embodied in writing or other physical form, and which is not generally  known
to the public, that (i) relates to financial  information  regarding such Person
or such Person's business, including, but not limited to, (A) business plans and
(B) sales, financing, pricing and marketing procedures or methods of such Person
or such business or (ii) relates to specific  business  matters  concerning such
Person or such business,  including such Person or such Person's  business,  the
identity of or other information regarding sales personnel and customers of such
Person  or  such  business.  

10.35       "Proprietary Rights" means trademarks,  tradenames,  service  marks,
patents,  copyrights,  trade  secrets,  know-how  and  similar  rights,  and all
registrations,  applications,  licenses  and rights  with  respect to any of the
foregoing;  provided, however, that the name and trademarks "Lowy" whether alone
or in  conjunction  with  another  name(s),  word(s) or term(s) is not  included
within the definition of "Proprietary  Rights".  

10.36       "Proceeding" shall mean any  action,  arbitration,  audit,  hearing,
investigation,  litigation,  or suit (whether civil,  criminal,  administrative,
investigative,  or  informal)  commenced,  brought,  conducted,  or  heard by or
before, or otherwise involving, any Governmental Entity or arbitrator. 

10.37     "Seller" shall have the meaning  specified in the preamble.  

10.38     "Taxes" shall mean all federal, state, local, foreign and other taxes,
charges, fees, duties, levies, imposts, customs or other assessments,  including
all net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem,  transfer,
franchise,  profits, profit share, license,  lease, service,  service use, value
added,  withholding,  payroll,  employment,   unemployment,  excise,  estimated,
severance, stamp, occupation,  premium, real and personal property (tangible and
intangible),  windfall  profits,  or other taxes,  fees,  assessments,  customs,
duties,  levies,  imposts, or charges of any kind whatsoever,  together with any
interest, penalties, additions to tax, fines or other additional amounts imposed
thereon or related  thereto,  and the term "Tax" means any one of the  foregoing
Taxes.

10.39     "Tax  Return"  shall  mean any  report,  return  or other  information
required to be supplied to a Governmental  Entity in connection  with any Taxes.

                                       32
<PAGE>

10.40     "Title   Insurer"   shall  mean  Stewart   Title   Guaranty   Company.

10.41     "Knowledge"  shall mean,  with respect to a  particular  fact or other
matter,  actual  knowledge  and awareness of such fact or other matter after due
and reasonable inquiry (including,  but not limited to, inquiry of the Company's
general counsel.  As used in this Agreement,  the phrases "Seller's  Knowledge,"
"Knowledge of Seller" and similar  phrases shall mean only the Knowledge of John
B. Poindexter,  Stephen P. Magee,  Norman E. Gibbs,  Jr., Norman E. Gibbs,  III,
Clarence Griffin,  Timothy Gentry,  Eric Krause, C.B. Hatch, David Westmoreland,
Edgar Bailey, William David Rose and Frank Klaus. 


                                   ARTICLE 11

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

11.1      Public Announcements  . Subject to applicable  securities law or stock
exchange requirements, neither the Buyer nor the Seller shall, without the prior
approval of the other party  hereto  which shall not be  unreasonably  withheld,
issue,  or  permit  any  of  their  respective  partners,  directors,  officers,
employees,  agents or  Affiliates  to issue,  any press  release or other public
announcement  with respect to this  Agreement or the  transactions  contemplated
hereby  provided,  that nothing in this Section 11.1 shall  prevent such parties
from discussing such transactions  with those Persons whose approval,  agreement
or  opinion,  as  the  case  may  be,  is  required  for  consummation  of  such
transactions.

11.2      Other Action . Each of the parties shall use  commercially  reasonable
efforts to cause the  fulfillment at the earliest  practicable  date but, in any
event,  prior to the Closing Date of all of the  conditions to their  respective
obligations to consummate the transactions under this Agreement.

11.3     Expenses . Except as otherwise set forth herein, and whether or not the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement  shall be  consummated,  each party
agrees to pay,  without right of  reimbursement  from any other party, the costs
incurred  by such  party  incident  to the  preparation  and  execution  of this
Agreement  and  performance  of its  obligations  hereunder,  including  without
limitation  the  fees  and  disbursements  of  legal  counsel,  accountants  and
consultants   employed  by  such  party  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement.  The Buyer shall pay all costs relating to the
transfer of title to the  Purchased  Assets,  including all sales,  use,  stamp,
transfer,  service,  recording,  real  estate  and like  taxes or fees,  if any,
imposed by any Government  Entity in connection with the transfer and assignment
of the  Purchased  Assets.  

11.4       Notices  . All  notices, requests,  consents,  directions  and  other
instruments  and  communications  required or  permitted  to be given under this
Agreement  shall be in  writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly  given if
delivered in person,  by courier,  by an  internationally  recognized  overnight
delivery  service with proof of delivery or by prepaid  registered  or certified
United States  first-class  mail,  return  receipt  requested,  addressed to the
respective  party  at the  address  set  forth  below,  or if sent by  facsimile

                                       33
<PAGE>

transmission or other similar form of communication  (with receipt confirmed) to
the  respective  party at the  facsimile  number set forth below:  

           If to the Seller, to:

                  Lowy Group, Inc.
                  Suite 5400
                  1100 Louisiana Street
                  Houston, Texas  77002
                  Attention: Stephen Magee
                  Facsimile: (713) 951-9038
                  Confirm:   (713) 655-9800

                  Copies to:

                  J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.
                  Suite 5400
                  1100 Louisiana Street
                  Houston, Texas  77002
                  Attention: Stephen Magee
                  Facsimile: (713) 951-9038
                  Confirm:   (713) 655-9800

                  If to Poindexter, to:

                  Mayer, Brown & Platt
                  700 Louisiana, Suite 3600
                  Houston, Texas 77002-2730
                  Attention: Paul B. Clemenceau
                  Facsimile: (713) 224-6410
                  Confirm:   (713) 546-0512

                  If to the Buyer, to:

                  River Associates, LLC
                  Suite 1640, One Republic Centre
                  633 Chestnut Street
                  Chattanooga, TN 37450
                  Attention: Mark Jones, Jim Baker                     
                  Facsimile: (423) 755-0870                   
                  Confirm: (423) 755-0888                     

                                       34
<PAGE>

                  Copies to:

                  Miller & Martin
                  Suite 1000, Volunteer Building
                  832 Georgia Avenue
                  Chattanooga, TN 37402
                  Attention: Jonathan F. Kent
                  Facsimile: (423) 785-8480
                  Confirm: (423) 785-8301

or to such other address or facsimile  number and to the attention of such other
Person(s) as either party may  designate by written  notice.  Any notice  mailed
shall be deemed  to have  been  given and  received  on the third  Business  Day
following the day of mailing.

11.5       Successors  . This Agreement  shall  inure to the  benefit  of and be
binding  upon the  Buyer and the  Seller  and their  respective  successors  and
permitted  assigns.  Neither this  Agreement nor any of the rights,  interest or
obligations  hereunder shall be assigned by either of the parties hereto without
the prior  written  consent of the other party hereto except that Buyer shall be
allowed to  collaterally  assign its rights under this  Agreement to  SouthTrust
Bank,  National  Association.  

11.6       Entire  Agreement . This  Agreement  and  the  exhibits and schedules
hereto  constitute the entire  agreement and  understanding  between the parties
relating to the subject  matter hereof and supersede all prior  representations,
endorsements,  premises, agreements,  memoranda,  communications,  negotiations,
discussions, understandings and arrangements, whether oral, written or inferred,
between the parties  relating to the subject  matter  hereof and  thereof.  This
Agreement  may  not  be  modified,  amended,  rescinded,  canceled,  altered  or
supplemented,  in whole or in part,  except upon the execution and delivery of a
written instrument  executed by a duly authorized  representative of each of the
parties hereto.  

11.7        Governing Law .This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced  in  accordance  with the laws of the State of Georgia  without  giving
effect to choice of law  principles.  

11.8        Waiver . The failure of a party hereto  at  any  time  or  times  to
require  performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect its right
at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by a party of any condition or of
any breach of any term,  covenant,  representation or warranty contained in this
Agreement shall be effective unless in writing, and no waiver in any one or more
instances  shall be  deemed  to be a further  or  continuing  waiver of any such
condition  or breach in other  instances  or a waiver of any other  condition or
breach  of any  other  term,  covenant,  representation  or  warranty.  

                                       35
<PAGE>

11.9        Severability  .  Any   provision   hereof   that  is  prohibited  or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability  without  invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render  unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.  

11.10       No Third Party Beneficiaries . Any agreement contained, expressed or
implied in this  Agreement  shall be only for the benefit of the parties  hereto
and their respective legal  representatives,  successors and permitted  assigns,
and such  agreements  shall  not inure to the  benefit  of the  obligees  of any
indebtedness  of any party hereto,  it being the intention of the parties hereto
that no Person shall be deemed a third party beneficiary of this Agreement. 

11.11       Counterparts . This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  any number of
counterparts,  each of  which  shall be  deemed  an  original,  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  

11.12       Interpretation . The  headings  preceding  the  text of Articles and
Sections  included in this  Agreement and the headings to schedules  attached to
this  Agreement  are for  convenience  only and shall not be deemed part of this
Agreement or be given any effect in interpreting this Agreement.  The use of the
masculine,  feminine  or neuter  gender or the  singular or plural form of words
herein  shall not limit any  provision of this  Agreement.  The use of the terms
"including"  or  "include"  shall in all cases herein mean  "including,  without
limitation" or "include,  without  limitation,"  respectively.  Reference to any
Person  includes  such  Person's  successors  and  assigns  to the  extent  such
successors and assigns are permitted by the terms of any  applicable  agreement,
and reference to a Person in a particular  capacity  excludes such Person in any
other  capacity or  individually.  Reference to any  agreement  (including  this
Agreement),  document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument
as amended or modified  and in effect from time to time in  accordance  with the
terms thereof and, if applicable,  the terms hereof.  Reference to any Law means
such Law as amended, modified,  codified, replaced or re-enacted, in whole or in
part,  and  in  effect  on  the  date  hereof,  including  rules,   regulations,
enforcement procedures and any interpretations  promulgated thereunder.  The use
of the terms "hereunder",  "hereof",  "hereto" and words of similar import shall
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or
clause of or Exhibit or Schedule to this  Agreement.  Any lawsuit arising out of
this Agreement  shall be brought in a court of competent  jurisdiction in Harris
County,  Texas.  Each  party  hereby  waives  any  objection  it may have to the
jurisdiction of such court.

                                       36
<PAGE>


      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  duly  executed  this
Agreement  as of the date first above  written.  
 
                            SELLER:    
   
                            LOWY GROUP, INC.


                            By:_______________________________________          
                            Name:_____________________________________         
                            Title:______________________________________  
 
  
                            BUYER:
   
                            BLUE RIDGE ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC
  
  
                            By:_______________________________________        
                            Name:_____________________________________         
                            Title:______________________________________  
 
 
                            PARENT:
    
                            J.B. POINDEXTER & CO., INC.    
    
    
                            By:_______________________________________         
                            Name:_____________________________________
                            Title:____________________________________



                  Subsidiaries of J. B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.

1.   EFP Corporation, a Delaware corporation

     a.   EFP Corporation also operates under the following names:

          i.   Astro Pattern Corporation
          ii.  Engineered Foam Plastics

2.   Lowy Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation

     a.   Tile By Design,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation,  is a wholly-  owned
          subsidiary of Lowy Group, Inc.

     b.   Lowy Group, Inc. also operates under the following names:

          i.   Fred T. Lowy Distributors Division
          ii.  Lowy Enterprises of Minnesota
          iii.   Fred Lowy Linoleum & Rug
          iv.  Flooring Distributors
          v. Lowy Distributors

3.   Magnetic Instruments Corp., a Delaware corporation

     a.   Magnetic Instruments Corp. also operates under the following names:

          i.   Electrospec Corporation
          ii.  MIC Group
          iii. Manufacturing Innovations

4.   Morgan Trailer Mfg. Co., a New Jersey corporation

     a.   Acero-Tec S.A. de C.V., a Monterry, Nuevo Leon, Mexico corporation, is
          a subsidiary of Morgan Trailer Mfg. Co.

     b.   Morgan   Trailer  Mfg.  Co.  also  operates  under  the  names  Morgan
          Corporation and Gem Top Mfg.


5.   Truck Accessories  Group, Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  f/w/a Leer, Inc.,
     f/w/a Leer Holdings Inc.

     a.   Subsidiaries of Truck Accessories Group, Inc. include:

          i     Raider Industries, Inc.,  a Saskatchewan, Canada corporation, is
                a wholly- owned subsidiary of Truck Accessories Group, Inc.

                    (a)  Raider   Industries,  Inc.  also  operates   under  the
                         following names:
                              1)   Lo Rider
                              2)   Raider

          ii.   Leer  Acquisition  Company, Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  is a
                wholly-owned subsidiary of Truck Accessories Group, Inc.

                    (a)  Welshman  Industires,  Inc.,  f/w/a  Radco  Industries,
                         Inc.,  a  Minnesota  corporation,  is  a  wholly-owned 
                         subsidiary  of  Leer  Acquisition  Company, Inc.,  and
                         operates  under  the  following  names:
                              1)   Midwest Truck Aftermarket

  
     b.   Truck Accessories Group, Inc. also operates under the following names:

          i.    20th Century Fiberglass
          ii.   Century Fiberglass
          iii.  Century
          iv.   Leer
          v.    Leer Corporate
          vi.   Leer East
          vii.  Leer Midwest
          viii. Leer Retail
          ix.   Leer Southeast
          x.    Leer Specialty Products
          xi.   Leer Truck Accessory Centers
          xii.  Leer West
          xiii. National Truck Accessories
          xiv.  National Truck Accessories Headquarters
          xv.   National Truck Accessories Midwest
          xvi.  National Truck Accessories Southeast
          xvii. National Truck Accessories West
 

<TABLE> <S> <C>
                                               
<ARTICLE>                                           5
<LEGEND>                                       
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 1998
FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                                      
<MULTIPLIER>                                                 1,000
                                                     
<S>                                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                        DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                                       2,191
<SECURITIES>                                                     0
<RECEIVABLES>                                               26,999
<ALLOWANCES>                                                   710
<INVENTORY>                                                 31,094
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            63,207
<PP&E>                                                      92,829
<DEPRECIATION>                                              54,631
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             133,975
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                       48,205
<BONDS>                                                    102,969
                                            0
                                                      0
<COMMON>                                                    16,486
<OTHER-SE>                                                    (491)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                               133,975
<SALES>                                                    365,327
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                           365,327
<CGS>                                                      310,094
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                              310,094
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                               335
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          15,648
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             (7,970)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                   744
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         (8,714)
<DISCONTINUED>                                              (3,439)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                  0
<CHANGES>                                                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                               (12,153)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               (3.973)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               (3.973)
<FN>
LOSS PROVISION IS INCLUDED IN SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ON
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</FN>
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>
                                               
<ARTICLE>                                           5
<LEGEND>                                       
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 1998
FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                                      
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                 1,000
                                                     
<S>                                                <C>            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       YEAR           YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   DEC-31-1997    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                        DEC-31-1997    DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                                    3,191               0
<SECURITIES>                                                  0               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                            29,827               0
<ALLOWANCES>                                              1,426               0
<INVENTORY>                                              29,960               0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         64,877               0
<PP&E>                                                   89,782               0
<DEPRECIATION>                                           48,697               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          161,199               0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                    62,596               0
<BONDS>                                                 103,344               0
                                         0               0
                                                   0               0
<COMMON>                                                 16,486               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                 (186)              0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                            161,199               0
<SALES>                                                 338,559         310,924
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                        338,559         310,924
<CGS>                                                   280,193         257,065
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                           280,193         257,065
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                          1,364           1,001
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                              0               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       15,775          14,484
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                          (6,823)         (6,512)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                947            (991)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                      (7,770)         (5,521)
<DISCONTINUED>                                              224            (633)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                               0            (260)
<CHANGES>                                                     0               0
<NET-INCOME>                                             (7,546)         (6,414)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            (2.467)         (2.097)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            (2.467)         (2.097)
<FN>
LOSS PROVISION IS INCLUDED IN SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ON
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>


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