SAFETY COMPONENTS INTERNATIONAL INC
8-K, 1997-08-08
MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 24, 1997



                      Safety Components International, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




                Delaware                                   0-23938        
    (State or other jurisdiction of               (Commission File Number)  
             incorporation)                                         

                                   33-0596831
                      (IRS Employer Identification Number)


     3190 Pullman Street, Costa Mesa, CA                  92626
   (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (714) 662-7756

                                 Not Applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)




<PAGE>

ITEM 2.           ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

              (a) On July 24, 1997,  Safety  Components  International,  Inc., a
Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  through its  wholly-owned  subsidiary,
acquired all of the assets of the Air Restraints and Technical Products Division
(the "Division") of JPS Automotive L.P. ("JPS  Automotive") for $56.3 million in
cash  (including  18 looms  which  were  delivered  prior to  closing)  plus the
assumption of certain liabilities, subject to post-closing adjustments (the "JPS
Acquisition").  In addition, the Company made a payment to JPS Automotive at the
closing  to  enable  it to pay off  existing  indebtedness  of the  Division  of
approximately  $650,000 at the  closing.  The  Division  is a leading,  low-cost
supplier of airbag fabric in North America and is also a leading manufacturer of
value-added  synthetic  fabrics  used  in a  variety  of  niche  industrial  and
commercial  applications.  The Company  financed  the JPS  Acquisition  out of a
portion of the proceeds of a private  placement (the  "Offering") of $90,000,000
of its Senior Subordinated Notes.

              (b) JPS  Automotive  is a  leading,  low cost  supplier  of airbag
fabric  in North  America  and is also a  leading  manufacturer  of  value-added
synthetic  fabrics  used  in  a  variety  of  niche  industrial  and  commercial
applications.  The Company  currently intends that the Division will continue in
the same businesses.


ITEM 7.       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (a)  The financial statements required to be filed by Item 7(a) of this
              Form 8-K will be filed by the  Company  within  60 days  after the
              date that this Form 8-K is filed with the  Securities and Exchange
              Commission.

         (b)  The pro forma financial  information  required to be filed by Item
              7(b) of this Form 8-K will be filed by the Company  within 60 days
              after the date that this Form 8-K is filed with the Securities and
              Exchange Commission.

         (c)  Exhibits.

              10.1     Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 1997, by
                       and between JPS Automotive L.P. and Safety Components
                       International, Inc.


<PAGE>
                                    SIGNATURE


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

                                  SAFETY COMPONENTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.



                                  By:   /s/ JEFFREY J. KAPLAN
                                        --------------------------
                                  Name:     Jeffrey J. Kaplan
                                  Title:    Executive Vice President and
                                              Chief Financial Officer


Date: August 7, 1997


                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                  BY AND AMONG


                               JPS AUTOMOTIVE L.P.

                                       AND

                      SAFETY COMPONENTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                            Dated as of June 30, 1997


 

<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                        Page No.

ARTICLE I.  DEFINITIONS......................................................  1
         Section 1.1.   Definitions..........................................  1
         Section 1.2.  Use of Defined Terms.................................. 11
         Section 1.3.  Accounting Terms and Determinations................... 12
         Section 1.4.  Sections, Exhibits and Schedules...................... 12
         Section 1.5.  Miscellaneous Terms................................... 12

ARTICLE II.  SALE AND PURCHASE............................................... 12
         Section 2.1.  Sale and Purchase of the Acquired Assets.............. 12
         Section 2.2.  Acquired Assets and Excluded Assets................... 12
         Section 2.3.  Assumption of Liabilities............................. 14
         Section 2.4.  Purchase Price........................................ 17
         Section 2.5.  Purchase Price Adjustment............................. 17

ARTICLE III.  CLOSING........................................................ 20
         Section 3.1.  The Closing........................................... 20

ARTICLE IV.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER........................ 20
         Section 4.1.  Organization; Good Standing; Power 
                         and Qualification... ............................... 20
         Section 4.2.  No Conflict or Violation; Consents.................... 20
         Section 4.3.  Authority of Seller................................... 21
         Section 4.4.  Acquired Assets....................................... 21
         Section 4.5.  No Material Misstatements............................. 22
         Section 4.6.  Financial Statements; Closing Date Liability
                         to Seller..         ................................ 22
         Section 4.7.  Undisclosed Liabilities............................... 23
         Section 4.8.  Accounts Receivable................................... 23
         Section 4.9.  Inventory............................................. 23
         Section 4.10.  Material Adverse Effect.............................. 24
         Section 4.11.  Real Property........................................ 24
         Section 4.12. Tangible Property..................................... 25
         Section 4.13.  Intellectual Property................................ 25
         Section 4.14.  Compliance with Laws................................. 26
         Section 4.15.  Affiliate Agreements; Related Party Transactions..... 26
         Section 4.16.  Assumed Contracts.................................... 27
         Section 4.17.  Labor Relations...................................... 28
         Section 4.18.  Employee Benefits.................................... 28
         Section 4.19.  Insurance............................................ 31
         Section 4.20.  Litigation........................................... 31
         Section 4.21.  Environmental Matters................................ 31
         Section 4.22.  Tax Matters.......................................... 33

 
                                     - ii -

<PAGE>



         Section 4.23.  Interim Operations................................... 35
         Section 4.24.  Brokers.............................................. 36
         Section 4.25.  Products Liability................................... 36
         Section 4.26.  Books and Records.................................... 37
         Section 4.27.  Disclaimer of Additional Representations and
                          Warranties; Schedules.............................. 37
         Section 4.28.  Accruals............................................. 37

ARTICLE V.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER...................... 38
         Section 5.1.  Organization; Good Standing; Power and Qualification.. 38
         Section 5.2.  No Conflict or Violation; Consents.................... 38
         Section 5.3.  Litigation............................................ 38
         Section 5.4.  Brokers............................................... 38
         Section 5.5.  Financial Capacity.................................... 39
         Section 5.6.  Disclaimer of Additional Representations
                          and Warranties..................................... 39

ARTICLE VI.  CERTAIN COVENANTS OF SELLER..................................... 39
         Section 6.1.  Conduct of Business................................... 39
         Section 6.2.  Legal Proceedings..................................... 41
         Section 6.3.  Solicitation.......................................... 41
         Section 6.4.  Information and Access................................ 41
         Section 6.5.  Confidentiality Agreements............................ 42
         Section 6.6.  Certain Environmental Covenants....................... 42
         Section 6.7.  Management Information System......................... 43
         Section 6.8.  Accounting; Human Resources; Credit Collection........ 43
         Section 6.9.  Taylors Facility...................................... 43

ARTICLE VII.  CERTAIN COVENANTS.............................................. 44
         Section 7.1. Hart-Scott-Rodino and Other Filings.................... 44
         Section 7.2. Certain Provisions Relating to Consents................ 44
         Section 7.3.  Nondisclosure; Noncompetition.  ...................... 44
         Section 7.4.  Efforts............................................... 46
         Section 7.5.  Collections........................................... 46
         Section 7.6.  Ongoing Tax Cooperation............................... 46
         Section 7.7.  Clearance Certificates................................ 47
         Section 7.8.  Certain Tax Matters................................... 47
         Section 7.9.  W-2 Matters........................................... 48
         Section 7.10.  Ongoing Insurance Cooperation........................ 48
         Section 7.11.  Bulk Transfer Laws................................... 49
         Section 7.12.  Enhanced Severance Issues............................ 49
         Section 7.13.  Notice............................................... 50
         Section 7.14.  Policy............................................... 50

ARTICLE VIII.  CONDITIONS TO SELLER'S OBLIGATIONS............................ 50
         Section 8.1.  Representations and Warranties........................ 50

 
                                     - iii -

<PAGE>



         Section 8.2.  Compliance with Agreement............................. 50
         Section 8.3.  No Adverse Proceeding................................. 50
         Section 8.4.  Hart-Scott-Rodino..................................... 51
         Section 8.5.  Corporate Documents................................... 51
         Section 8.6.  Bill of Sale.......................................... 51
         Section 8.7.  Purchase Price........................................ 51
         Section 8.8.  Opinion of the Purchaser's Counsel.................... 51
         Section 8.9.  C&A Credit Agreements Consent......................... 51

ARTICLE IX.  CONDITIONS TO PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS........................... 51
         Section 9.1.  Representations and Warranties........................ 51
         Section 9.2.  Compliance with Agreement............................. 51
         Section 9.3.  No Adverse Proceeding................................. 52
         Section 9.4.  Hart-Scott-Rodino..................................... 52
         Section 9.5.  Consents.............................................. 52
         Section 9.6.  Corporate Documents................................... 52
         Section 9.7.  FIRPTA................................................ 52
         Section 9.8.  Material Adverse Effect............................... 52
         Section 9.9.  Bill of Sale.......................................... 52
         Section 9.10.  Opinion of the Seller's Counsel...................... 52
         Section 9.11.  Financing............................................ 52
         Section 9.12.  Loom Purchase........................................ 53
         Section 9.13.  Intellectual Property................................ 53
         Section 9.14.  Limited Partner Guarantee............................ 53
         Section 9.15.  Intentionally Left Blank............................. 53
         Section 9.16.  1994 Financial Statements............................ 53
         Section 9.17.  SC Seller's Affidavit................................ 53
         Section 9.18.  KeyBank Consent...................................... 53

ARTICLE X.  DELIVERIES AT CLOSING............................................ 53
         Section 10.1.  Deliveries by Seller at the Closing.................. 53
         Section 10.2.  Deliveries by Purchaser at the Closing............... 54

ARTICLE XI.  TERMINATION..................................................... 55
         Section 11.1.  Termination.......................................... 55
         Section 11.2.  Effect of Termination................................ 56

ARTICLE XII.  COVENANTS RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEE
                    MATTERS.................................................. 56
         Section 12.1.     Offer of Employment, Welfare and Fringe Benefits.. 56
         Section 12.2.     Seller Plans...................................... 58
         Section 12.3.     Crediting of Service.............................. 60
         Section 12.4.     No Rights to Employees............................ 60

 
                                     - iv -

<PAGE>




ARTICLE XIII.  INDEMNIFICATION............................................... 60
         Section 13.1.  Survival............................................. 60
         Section 13.2.  Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of Purchaser.. 61
         Section 13.3.  Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of Seller..... 63
         Section 13.4.  Matters Involving Third Parties...................... 63
         Section 13.5.  Certain Limitations on Environmental Indemnification. 64
         Section 13.6.  Certain Additional Provisions Relating to
                          Indemnification.................................... 66

ARTICLE XIV.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS....................................... 67
         Section 14.1.  Notices.............................................. 67
         Section 14.2.  Amendments........................................... 68
         Section 14.3.  Assignment and Parties in Interest................... 68
         Section 14.4.  Announcements........................................ 68
         Section 14.5.  Expenses............................................. 69
         Section 14.6.  Entire Agreement..................................... 69
         Section 14.7.  Descriptive Headings................................. 69
         Section 14.8.  Counterparts......................................... 69
         Section 14.9.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction.......................... 69
         Section 14.10.  Construction........................................ 69
         Section 14.11.  Severability........................................ 70
         Section 14.12.  Specific Performance................................ 70


 
                                      - v -

<PAGE>



SCHEDULE
NUMBER            SCHEDULE NAME

1.1               Knowledge
1.2               Permitted Liens
2.2(b)(viii)      Excluded Assets
2.3(b)(iv)        Excluded Contracts
2.5(a)            Closing Date Balance Sheet Principles
4.1               Qualification; Certificate and Partnership Agreement
4.2               No Conflict or Violation; Consents
4.4(a)            Acquired Assets
4.4(b)            Leased or Licensed Acquired Assets
4.6               Financial Statements
4.7               Undisclosed Liabilities
4.10              Material Adverse Effect
4.11(a)           Business Real Property
4.11(b)           Leased Business Real Property
4.12(a)           Tangible Property
4.12(b)           Tangible Property Leases
4.13              Intellectual Property
4.14(a)           Compliance with Laws
4.14(b)           Permits
4.15(a)           Affiliate Agreements
4.15(b)           Related Party Transactions
4.16              Assumed Contracts
4.17              Labor Relations
4.18(a)           Employee Benefit Plans
4.18(c)           Multiemployer Plans
4.18(d)           Reportable Events
4.18(j)           Employee Benefit Plan Post Retirement Liabilities
4.18(k)           Employee Benefit Plan Compensation
4.19              Insurance
4.20              Litigation
4.21              Environmental Matters
4.22              Tax Matters
4.23              Interim Operations
4.25              Products Liability
5.2               No Conflict of Violation; Consents
5.4               Brokers
6.1               Conduct of Business
7.10              Insurance
7.12              Enhanced Severance Issues


 
                                     - vi -

<PAGE>



EXHIBIT           EXHIBIT NAME

A                 Bill of Sale
B                 Form of Opinion of Purchaser's Counsel
C                 Form of FIRPTA Certificate
D                 Form of Opinion of Seller's Counsel
E                 Guarantee
F                 SC Seller's Affidavit

 
                                     - vii -

<PAGE>



                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                  THIS ASSET PURCHASE  AGREEMENT (this  "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of June 30, 1997, by and between JPS AUTOMOTIVE L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (the "Seller"), and SAFETY COMPONENTS INTERNATIONAL, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser").

                              PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

                  WHEREAS, Purchaser desires to purchase from Seller, and Seller
desires to sell to Purchaser,  the air restraint and technical products division
of Seller (the  "Business") on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement.

                  NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises,  the mutual
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:

                                   ARTICLE I.
                                   DEFINITIONS

                  Section  1.1.  Definitions.  In addition to the terms  defined
elsewhere  herein,  the terms  defined  in the  introductory  paragraph  and the
Recital to this Agreement shall have the respective  meanings specified therein,
and the following terms shall have the meanings specified below when used herein
with initial capital letters:

                  "AAA" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.5(d).

                  "Accountants" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).

                  "Acquired Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

                  "Actual Net Worth Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section
                  2.5(a).

                  "Affiliate"   means   "affiliate"   as  defined  in  Rule  405
         promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                  "Agreement"  has the  meaning set forth in the  preamble,  and
         shall include all Schedules and Exhibits hereto.

                  "Assumed  Contracts"  has the  meaning  set  forth in  Section
         2.2(a).

                  "Assumed  Liabilities"  has the  meaning  set forth in Section
         2.3(a).

                  "Balance Sheet" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.

 
                                                         1

<PAGE>



                  "Bill  of  Sale"  means  a Bill  of Sale  and  Assignment  and
         Instrument of Assumption  substantially  in the form annexed  hereto as
         Exhibit A.

                  "Business"  has the meaning set forth in the  preamble to this
         Agreement.

                  "Business Day" means a day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday,
         on which  commercial  banks are not required or  authorized to close in
         the City of New York.

                  "Business   Employees"  means  each  individual  who,  on  the
         applicable  date,  performs  services as an employee  for the  Business
         (including  such  persons  who are on an  approved  leave  of  absence,
         vacation,  short-term  disability  or  otherwise  treated  as an active
         employee of the Business).

                  "Business  Real Property" has the meaning set forth in Section
         4.11(a).

                   "C&A Credit  Agreements"  means (i) the Amended and  Restated
         Credit Agreement,  dated as of June 3, 1996, among the Limited Partner,
         as  Borrower,  Collins & Aikman  Canada  Inc.,  as  Canadian  Borrower,
         Collins & Aikman  Corporation as Guarantor,  the Lenders named therein,
         and The Chase Manhattan  Bank, as  Administrative  Agent,  and (ii) the
         Credit  Agreement,  dated as of  December  5, 1996,  among the  Limited
         Partner, as Borrower,  Collins & Aikman Corporation,  as Guarantor, the
         Lenders named therein and The Chase  Manhattan  Bank as  Administrative
         Agent, each as amended and in effect as of the date hereof.

                  "Cap" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2(a).

                  "Certificate of Limited  Partnership" means the certificate of
limited partnership of Seller, as amended and in effect on the date hereof.

                  "Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

                  "Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

                  "Closing  Date  Balance  Sheet" has the  meaning  set forth in
         Section 2.5(a) as finally adjusted pursuant to Section 2.5.

                  "Closing Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

                  "COBRA" has the meaning set forth in Section 12.1(e).

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  "Confidentiality  Agreement"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in
         Section 6.4(a).

 
                                        2

<PAGE>



                  "Consents" All governmental and third party consents, Permits,
         approvals, orders, authorizations, qualifications and waivers necessary
         for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
         or that  thereafter  may be  necessary  to  effectuate  the transfer or
         renewal of any Contract,  license and Permit or other license,  Permit,
         approval, order, authorization, qualification or waiver.

                  "Contract"  as of any date  means,  any  contract,  agreement,
         mortgage,  deed  of  trust,  bond,  indenture,  lease,  license,  note,
         franchise, certificate, option, warrant, right, commitment, instrument,
         guarantee or other similar  document or agreement,  whether  written or
         oral, to which Seller is a party as of such date, including the Assumed
         Contracts,  all  unfilled  orders  outstanding  as of such date for the
         purchase  of raw  materials,  goods  or  services  by  Seller,  and all
         unfilled  orders  outstanding  as of such date for the sale of goods or
         services by Seller.  Contracts,  however,  shall not include  Leases or
         Permitted Liens.

                  "Costs of  Remediation"  means  all  losses,  amounts  paid in
         settlement,  remediation,  monitoring and reporting costs and expenses,
         Taxes, claims, damages, punitive damages, consequential damages, treble
         damages,   Liabilities,   obligations,   Judgments,   settlements   and
         out-of-pocket   costs   (including,   without   limitation,   costs  of
         investigation or enforcement),  expenses and attorneys' fees including,
         without  limitation,  fees  for  services  of  attorneys,  consultants,
         contractors,   experts,  engineers  and  laboratories,  and  all  other
         out-of-pocket   costs,   incurred  in  connection  with  investigation,
         characterization,  remediation,  monitoring,  reporting or  mitigation,
         primarily relating to the Business and arising out of or related to the
         presence or Release of any Hazardous  Materials existing as of or prior
         to the Closing Date at, on, or emanating  from any of the Business Real
         Property,  Leased  Business Real Property or any real property at or to
         which Seller,  any  Subsidiary or  predecessor  of any of the foregoing
         disposed,  Released,  transported,  stored,  treated,  or  arranged  to
         dispose of Hazardous  Materials  prior to the Closing  Date  including,
         without  limitation,  off-site  Liability under any  Environmental  Law
         arising from or in connection with transportation,  treatment, storage,
         disposal, Release, or arranging for disposal of Hazardous Materials.

                  "Cramerton Supply Agreement" means the Supply Agreement, dated
         as of December 11, 1996,  between Foamex L.P. and Cramerton  Automotive
         Products, L.P.

                  "Damages"  means  any  losses,  amounts  paid  in  settlement,
         claims, damages, Liabilities,  obligations,  Judgments, settlements and
         reasonable out-of-pocket costs (including, without limitation, costs of
         investigation or enforcement), expenses and attorneys' fees, including,
         without limitation,  (i) any consequential  damages or (ii) any special
         or punitive damages which are assessed against an Indemnified  Party as
         a result of a third party action.

                  "Deductible" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2(a).

 
                                                         3

<PAGE>



                  "Employee Benefit Plan" means an Employee Pension Benefit Plan
         or an Employee  Welfare Benefit Plan,  where no distinction is required
         by the context in which the term is used.

                  "Employee  Pension  Benefit Plan" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 3(2) of ERISA.

                  "Employee  Welfare  Benefit Plan" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 3(1) of ERISA.

                  "Environmental  Arbitrator"  has  the  meaning  set  forth  in
         Section 13.5(d).

                  "Environmental   Laws"  means  any  existing  and   applicable
         federal, state or local statute,  regulation or ordinance or any rules,
         orders,  writs, decrees, or injunctions of any Governmental Agency with
         respect  to the  protection  of  the  environment,  including,  without
         limitation,  with respect to any Hazardous  Materials,  drinking water,
         groundwater,  wetlands,  landfills,  open dumps,  storage tanks,  solid
         waste or waste water,  water,  soil,  air,  pollution,  the protection,
         preservation or restoration of natural resources, plant and animal life
         or human health or the environment, or waste management,  regulation or
         control.  Without  limiting the generality of the  foregoing,  the term
         will  encompass  each of the following  statutes,  and the  regulations
         promulgated  thereunder,  in each case as in effect as of Closing:  (a)
         the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and Liability
         Act of 1980 (codified in scattered sections of 26 U.S.C., 33 U.S.C., 42
         U.S.C.  and 42 U.S.C.  ss. 9601 et seq.,  "CERCLA");  (b) the  Resource
         Conservation  and  Recovery  Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C.  ss.  6901 et seq.,
         "RCRA"); (c) the Hazardous Materials  Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. ss.
         1801 et seq., "HMTA");  (d) the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C.
         ss. 2061 et seq., "TSCA");  (e) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
         (33 U.S.C.  ss. 1251 et seq.); (f) the Clean Air Act and Amendments (42
         U.S.C.  ss. 7401 et seq.);  (g) the Safe Drinking  Water Act (21 U.S.C.
         ss. 349; 42 U.S.C.  ss. 201 and ss. 300 et seq.); and (h) the Superfund
         Amendment  and  Reauthorization  Act of  1986  (codified  in  scattered
         sections of 10 U.S.C., 29 U.S.C., 33 U.S.C. and 42 U.S.C., "SARA").

                  "Environmental  Losses"  has the  meaning set forth in Section
         13.5.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
         1974, as amended.

                  "ERISA  Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
         incorporated)  which has been  under  common  control  or  treated as a
         single  employer with Seller under Section  414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) of
         the Code or 4001(a) of ERISA.

                  "Estimated  Net Worth  Amount"  has the  meaning  set forth in
         Section 2.4(b).


 
                                                         4

<PAGE>



                  "Estimated  Purchase  Price"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in
         Section 2.4(b).

                  "Exchange  Act"  The  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as
         amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Excluded Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

                  "Excluded  Contracts"  has the  meaning  set forth in  Section
         2.3(b)(iv).

                  "Excluded  Liabilities"  has the  meaning set forth in Section
         2.3(b).

                  "Extended  Health  Benefits"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in
         Section 12.1(c).

                  "Financial  Statements"  has the  meaning set forth in Section
         4.6.

                  "FIRPTA Affidavit" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7.

                  "Former Business  Employee" means each individual other than a
         Business  Employee  on the  Closing  Date who at any time  prior to the
         Closing  Date  performed  services  as an  employee  primarily  for the
         Business.

                  "GAAP" means  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  set
         forth in the opinions and  pronouncements of the Accounting  Principles
         Board of the American  Institute of Certified  Public  Accountants  and
         statements and  pronouncements  of the Financial  Accounting  Standards
         Board,   applied  on  a  consistent  basis  and  consistent  with  past
         practices.

                  "General Partner" means PACJ, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

                  "Governmental  Agency" means (a) any  international,  foreign,
         federal, state, county, local or municipal government or administrative
         agency or political  subdivision  thereof, (b) any governmental agency,
         authority,  board, bureau,  commission,  department or instrumentality,
         (c) any  court or  administrative  tribunal,  (d) any  non-governmental
         agency, tribunal or entity that is vested by a governmental agency with
         applicable  jurisdiction,  or (e) any  arbitration  tribunal  or  other
         non-governmental authority with applicable jurisdiction.

                  "Guarantee" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.14.

                  "HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements
         Act of 1976, as amended.


 
                                                         5

<PAGE>



                  "Hazardous Materials" means each and every element,  compound,
         chemical  mixture,  pollutant,  contaminant  material,  waste  or other
         substance  which is  defined,  designated,  determined,  classified  or
         identified  as of the Closing Date as hazardous,  radioactive  or toxic
         under any  Environmental  Law, or the Release of which is prohibited or
         regulated  under any  Environmental  Law, or which to the  Knowledge of
         Seller could  reasonably be expected to cause,  whether now or with the
         passage  of time,  damage to  Persons,  property,  flora,  fauna or the
         environment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term
         will include any "toxic substance,"  "hazardous  substance," "hazardous
         waste" or "hazardous  material" as defined in any  Environmental Law as
         amended to date,  and any explosive or  radioactive  material,  friable
         asbestos,  friable  asbestos-containing  material, waste water, sludge,
         untreated dye, other  effluent,  coal ash,  polychlorinated  biphenyls,
         special  waste,  petroleum or any  derivative or byproduct  thereof and
         toxic waste.

                  "Highly Confident Letter" has the meaning set forth in Section
         9.11.

                  "Income  Tax" or "Income  Taxes"  means all Taxes  imposed on,
         measured  by, or that  require  reference  to,  net or  taxable  income
         (including  any income,  franchise,  estimated,  alternative,  minimum,
         add-on minimum or other tax imposed on,  measured by, or which requires
         reference  to, net or  taxable  income),  together  with  interest  and
         penalties thereon and estimated payments thereof.

                  "Indebtedness"  means (without  duplication),  with respect to
         any  Person,  whether  recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of
         such Person,  (i) the  principal of and premium,  if any, in respect of
         any indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed, (ii) the principal,
         premium,   if  any,  and  interest  of  such  Person  with  respect  to
         obligations  evidenced  by  bonds,  debentures,  notes or,  except  for
         accrued liabilities  arising in the ordinary course of business,  other
         similar instruments,  including obligations incurred in connection with
         the  acquisition  of property,  assets or businesses  (other than trade
         payables),  (iii) all  obligations of such Person in respect of letters
         of  credit  or  other  similar  instruments  (including   reimbursement
         obligations  with  respect  thereto) but only to the extent of drawings
         thereunder  (other than  obligations  with respect to letters of credit
         securing  obligations  (other than obligations  described in (i), (ii),
         and (v)) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person
         to the  extent  such  drawing  is  reimbursed  no later  than the third
         Business  Day  following  receipt  by  such  Person  of  a  demand  for
         reimbursement  following  payment on the letter of credit),  (iv) every
         obligation  of such Person  issued or assumed as the deferred  purchase
         price of property  or services  (excluding  trade  accounts  payable or
         accrued  liabilities  arising in the ordinary course of business),  (v)
         every capital lease obligation  (determined in accordance with GAAP) of
         such Person,  (vi) all  Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien
         on any  asset  of such  Person,  whether  or not such  Indebtedness  is
         assumed  by such  Person;  provided,  however,  that the amount of such
         Indebtedness  shall be the lesser of (A) the fair market  value of such
         asset  at  such  date of  determination  and  (B)  the  amount  of such
         Indebtedness of such other Persons, and

 
                                                         6

<PAGE>



         (vii) every  obligation  of the type referred to in clauses (i) through
         (vi) of another Person the payment of which,  in any case,  such Person
         has guaranteed or is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly,  as
         obligor, guarantor or otherwise.

                  "Indemnified  Party"  has the  meaning  set  forth in  Section
         13.4(a).

                  "Indemnifying  Party"  has the  meaning  set forth in  Section
         13.4(a).

                  "Insurance"  means all binders or polices of fire,  liability,
         product liability, workers' compensation,  vehicular,  unemployment and
         other insurance, self insurance programs and fidelity bonds.

                  "Intangible Property" All Contracts,  certificates of deposit,
         securities, partnership or other ownership interests, rights to receive
         money or property by assignment,  future  interests,  claims and rights
         against  third  parties,   accounts   receivable,   notes   receivable,
         Intellectual  Property,  prepaid expenses,  acquisition costs and other
         intangible property of any nature owned, leased, licensed, used or held
         for use, directly or indirectly, by, on behalf of or for the account of
         a Person.

                  "Intellectual  Property" means any  inventions,  improvements,
         trademarks,  service  marks,  brand names,  logos,  trade names,  trade
         dress,   label  designs  and  copyrightable   works  and  all  patents,
         registrations and applications  therefor;  customer lists and rights in
         computer software and all know-how;  and all rights granted or retained
         in licenses under any of the foregoing.

                  "Interim  Balance  Sheet" has the meaning set forth in Section
         4.6.

                  "Interim Balance Sheet Date" means March 29, 1997.

                  "Interim  Financial  Statements"  has the meaning set forth in
         Section 4.6.

                  "IRS" means the Internal  Revenue Service of the Department of
         the Treasury.

                  "JPS Products" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.13.

                  "Judgment" means any judgment, writ, order, injunction,  award
         or decree of or by any Governmental Agency.

                  "KeyBank" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.18.

                  "Knowledge" as applied to Seller,  means the actual knowledge,
         after reasonable  inquiry, of any person listed on Schedule 1.1 annexed
         hereto.


 
                                                         7

<PAGE>



                  "Last Offer" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).

                  "Law" Any statute, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order or
         other law  enacted,  adopted,  promulgated,  applied or followed by any
         Governmental Agency.

                  "Leased  Business Real  Property" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 4.11(b).

                  "Leases" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(b).

                  "Liability"  means any liability or obligation  (whether known
         or  unknown,  whether  asserted  or  unasserted,  whether  absolute  or
         contingent,   whether  accrued  or  unaccrued,  whether  liquidated  or
         unliquidated  and whether  due or to become  due),  including,  without
         limitation, any liability for Taxes.

                  "Lien"  means any  lien,  mortgage,  pledge or other  security
         interest.

                  "Limited Partner" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.14.

                  "Loom Purchase" means the  contemplated  purchase by Seller of
         18 looms for an aggregate purchase and installation price of up to $1.5
         million dollars.

                  "Material Adverse Effect" has the meaning set forth in Section
         4.1.

                  "Multiemployer  Plan" has the  meaning  set  forth in  Section
         3(37) of ERISA.

                  "Net  Worth  Amount"  has the  meaning  set  forth in  Section
         2.4(a).

                  "Non-Prevailing  Party" has the  meaning  set forth in Section
         2.5(c).

                  "Parent  Entity"  means  The  Blackstone  Group,   Wasserstein
Perella & Co.,  Inc.,  their  respective  Affiliates,  other than Seller and its
Subsidiaries, and their respective officers and directors.

                  "Partnership  Agreement"  means the Seller's First Amended and
         Restated Agreement of Limited  Partnership,  dated as of July 27, 1994,
         and any amendments thereto.

                  "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

                  "Permit" means any permit, approval,  consent,  authorization,
         license, variance, certificate, franchise, registration,  accreditation
         or permission  required by a  Governmental  Agency under any applicable
         Laws.


 
                                                         8

<PAGE>



                  "Permitted  Liens" means,  with respect to any Acquired Asset,
         (i) any covenants, conditions, restrictions,  easements, encroachments,
         encumbrances  or  other  imperfections  of  title  (other  than  a Lien
         securing any  Indebtedness)  with respect to such Acquired Asset which,
         individually or in the aggregate,  does not materially detract from the
         value of, or materially interfere with the present occupancy or use of,
         such Acquired Asset and the  continuation  of the present  occupancy or
         use of such Acquired Asset;  (ii) the matters set forth on Schedule 1.2
         annexed hereto; (iii) mechanics',  materialmen's and similar liens with
         respect to amounts not yet due and payable or which are being contested
         in good faith through  appropriate  proceedings and, for those existing
         on the  Interim  Balance  Sheet  Date or the  Closing  Date,  for which
         adequate  reserves in accordance with GAAP are reflected on the Interim
         Balance  Sheet or the Closing Date Balance  Sheet,  as the case may be;
         (iv) Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent or which are being contested in
         good faith through  appropriate  proceedings and, for those existing on
         the Interim  Balance Sheet Date or the Closing Date, for which adequate
         reserves in accordance  with GAAP are reflected on the Interim  Balance
         Sheet or the Closing  Date Balance  Sheet,  as the case may be; and (v)
         Liens securing rental payments under capital lease arrangements,  which
         capital  lease  arrangements  existing  as of the  Closing  Date are in
         accordance  with GAAP  reflected  as  Indebtedness  on the Closing Date
         Balance Sheet.

                  "Perpetual  Representations"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in
         Section 13.1.

                  "Person" means any individual,  trustee, corporation,  general
         or  limited  partnership,   limited  liability   partnership,   limited
         liability  company,  joint venture,  joint stock company,  bank,  firm,
         Governmental Agency, trust, association, organization or unincorporated
         entity of any kind or nature whatsoever.

                  "Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(a).

                  "Plan Basket" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2(a)

                  "Prevailing  Party"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in  Section
         2.5(c).

                  "Product" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.25(a).

                  "Product Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.25(a).

                  "Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

                  "Purchaser" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

                  "Purchaser's Counsel" means the law firm of Shereff, Friedman,
         Hoffman & Goodman, LLP.


 
                                                         9

<PAGE>



                  "Purchaser's  Plan"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in  Section
         12.2(b).

                  "Recall" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.25(b).

                  "Release"  means any spilling,  leaking,  pumping,  releasing,
         depositing,   pouring,  emitting,  emptying,  migrating,   discharging,
         injecting,  storing, escaping,  leaching, dumping, burying, abandoning,
         disposing or moving into the environment.

                  "Returns"  All  returns,  declarations  and  reports  and  all
         information returns and statements of any kind or nature whatsoever.

                  "SC Seller's  Affidavit"  has the meaning set forth in Section
         9.17.

                  "Schedules" or "Disclosure Schedules" means, collectively, the
         various Schedules referred to in this Agreement delivered separately to
         Purchaser on or before the date of this Agreement.

                  "Seller" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

                  "Seller's  Counsel" means the law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis &
         Pogue.

                  "Seller's Dependent Care Program" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 12.1(c).

                  "Seller's  Flexible Benefit Program" has the meaning set forth
         in Section 12.1(c).

                  "Seller's  Group  Health  Plan" has the  meaning  set forth in
         Section 12.1(c).

                  "Seller's  Group Life  Policy"  has the  meaning  set forth in
         Section 12.1(c).

                  "Seller's  Retirement  Plan"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in
         Section 12.2(a).

                  "Seller's  Savings  Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section
         12.2(c).

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
         and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Significant  Employee"  has the  meaning set forth in Section
         4.23.

                  "Single-Employer  Plan" means an Employee Pension Benefit Plan
         which is described in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA and which is subject
         to Title IV of ERISA.


 
                                                         10

<PAGE>



                  "SMT License  Agreement" means a Technology  License Agreement
         between Foamex L.P. and the Limited Partner.

                  "Subsidiary"   means  "subsidiary"  as  defined  in  Rule  405
         promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                  "Surviving  Lien" Any Lien affecting the Acquired Assets which
         the Purchaser,  prior to the Closing, expressly agrees in writing or by
         a notation on a Schedule shall survive the Closing, including,  without
         limitation, Permitted Liens.

                  "Tangible  Property" All  furnishings,  machinery,  equipment,
         computer systems and Software, supplies,  inventories,  vehicles, books
         and records and other  tangible  property and facilities of any kind or
         nature whatsoever.

                  "Tax Return"  means any report,  return,  information  return,
         forms, declarations, claims for refund, statements or other information
         (including  any  amendments  thereto  and  including  any  schedule  or
         statement thereto) required to be supplied to a Governmental  Agency in
         connection with Taxes.

                  "Taxes"  means all federal,  state,  local,  foreign and other
         taxes,  assessments  and water and sewer  charges and rents,  including
         without limitation,  income, gross receipts, excise, employment, sales,
         use,  transfer,   license,  payroll,   franchise,   severance,   stamp,
         withholding,  Social Security,  unemployment,  real property,  personal
         property,  registration,  capital stock, value added,  single business,
         occupation,  workers'  compensation,  alternative  or  add-on  minimum,
         estimated,  or other tax,  including  without  limitation any interest,
         penalties or additions thereto.

                  "Transferred  Assets"  has the  meaning  set forth in  Section
         12.2(c).

                  "Transferred  Business  Employee" means each Business Employee
         who  accepts  the offer of  employment  made by  Purchaser  pursuant to
         Article XII hereof.

                  "1994 Acquisition Agreement" means that certain Asset Purchase
         Agreement,  dated as of May 25, 1994,  by and among JPS Textile  Group,
         Inc.,  JPS  Auto,  Inc.,  JPS  Converter  and  Industrial   Corp.,  JPS
         Automotive Products Corp. and Foamex International Inc.

                  "1994  Financial  Statements"  has the  meaning  set  forth in
         Section 4.6.

                  Section  1.2. Use of Defined  Terms.  Any defined term used in
the plural  shall refer to all members of the  relevant  class,  and any defined
term used in the  singular  shall refer to any one or more of the members of the
relevant class. The use of any gender shall be applicable to all genders.

 
                                                         11

<PAGE>



                  Section  1.3.   Accounting  Terms  and   Determinations.   All
references in this Agreement to "generally  accepted  accounting  principles" or
"GAAP" shall mean  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  in effect in the
United  States of  America  at the time of  application  thereof,  applied  on a
consistent basis.  Unless otherwise  specified herein, all accounting terms used
herein shall be  interpreted,  all  determinations  with  respect to  accounting
matters  hereunder shall be made, and all financial  statements and certificates
and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished  hereunder shall be
prepared, in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles,  applied
on a consistent basis.

                  Section 1.4. Sections,  Exhibits and Schedules.  References in
this Agreement to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Sections, Exhibits and
Schedules of and to this Agreement. All Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement
are hereby incorporated herein by this reference as if fully set forth herein.

                  Section 1.5.  Miscellaneous  Terms. The term "or" shall not be
exclusive.  The terms "herein," "hereof," "hereto,"  "hereunder" and other terms
similar to such terms shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to
the specific article, section,  paragraph or clause where such terms may appear.
The term "including" shall mean "including, but not limited to."


                                   ARTICLE II.
                                SALE AND PURCHASE

                  Section 2.1.  Sale and Purchase of the Acquired Assets.

                  (a) Upon the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions  of this
         Agreement,  and on the  basis  of the  representations  and  warranties
         contained in this  Agreement,  on the Closing  Date,  Seller will sell,
         assign,  convey,  transfer  and  deliver  to  the  Purchaser,  and  the
         Purchaser  will  acquire,  accept  and  receive  from  Seller,  for the
         Purchase Price and in the manner herein below provided, all of Seller's
         rights, title and interests in and to all of the Acquired Assets.

                  (b) The aggregate  purchase  price,  in  consideration  of the
         sale,  assignment,  conveyance,  transfer  and delivery of the Acquired
         Assets  to  Purchaser  shall be the  price as  calculated  pursuant  to
         Section 2.4 hereof plus the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities.

                  Section 2.2.  Acquired Assets and Excluded Assets

                  (a) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Acquired Assets"
         means the following properties,  assets and rights of whatever kind and
         nature,  real or  personal,  tangible  or  intangible,  other  than the
         Excluded Assets, owned by Seller as of the Closing and used or held for
         use in the Business:


 
                                                         12

<PAGE>



                  (i) the  Business  Real  Property  and  Leased  Business  Real
         Property;

                  (ii) the inventory of Seller that as of the Closing is located
         on either  the  Business  Real  Property  or the Leased  Business  Real
         Property and all other  inventory of Seller on the Closing Date that is
         used or held for use in the Business;

                  (iii) the  machinery  and  equipment of Seller and other fixed
         assets of the Business  located at either the Business Real Property or
         the Leased Business Real Property as of the Closing;

                  (iv) the  prepaid  expenses of Seller as of the Closing to the
         extent relating to the Acquired Assets;

                  (v) the right,  title and interest of Seller as of the Closing
         in, to and under all Contracts (other than Excluded Contracts) relating
         primarily  to the  Business  ("Assumed  Contracts")  including  without
         limitation  those Contracts that are listed or required to be listed on
         Schedule 4.16 annexed hereto;

                  (vi) the right, title and interest of Seller as of the Closing
         in, to and under the  Intellectual  Property  listed or  required to be
         listed on Schedule 4.13 annexed hereto;

                  (vii) the trade secrets, know-how and goodwill owned by Seller
         as of the Closing relating primarily to the Business;

                  (viii) the books of account,  general,  financial,  accounting
         and personnel records, files, invoices, customers' and suppliers' lists
         and other written  information  (excluding Tax Returns) owned by Seller
         as of the Closing and relating primarily to the Business;

                  (ix)  the  Permits  of  Seller  as  of  the  Closing  relating
         primarily to the Business;

                  (x) the assets  reflected  as such in the Closing Date Balance
         Sheet; and

                  (xi) all other assets owned by Seller and used or held for use
         in the Business.

                  (b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Excluded Assets"
         means:

                  (i)      cash and cash-equivalent assets;

                  (ii) the insurance  policies or other  insuring  agreements of
         Seller,  whether  or not  pertaining  to  the  Acquired  Assets  or the
         Business,  and all  rights of every  nature  and  description  under or
         arising  out  of  such  policies  or  agreements,   including   without
         limitation  prepaid  balances and deposits  with  insurers,  other than
         rights to claims listed as

 
                                                         13

<PAGE>



         assets  on the  Closing  Date  Balance  Sheet and  except as  expressly
         provided in Section 7.10;

                  (iii) the  rights  of  Seller  under  this  Agreement  and the
         agreements,  instruments and certificates  delivered in connection with
         this Agreement;

                  (iv) the  Records  referred to in Section  6.4(a)(i),  (ii) or
         (iii);

                  (v) the  rights  and  other  assets  (including  Tax and other
         refunds  and  claims  thereto)  to the extent  related to the  Excluded
         Liabilities;

                  (vi) the  rights,  title and  interest in the trade names "JPS
         Automotive" and the "JPS  Automotive"  logo, and "Collins & Aikman" and
         "C&A" and the "CA" logo, or any variations or derivations of such names
         or logo;

                  (vii)    Intentionally left blank;

                  (viii) the assets identified in Schedule  2.2(b)(viii) annexed
         hereto;

                  (ix) the warehouse space  currently  rented by the Business at
         Seller's Taylors facility; and

                  (x) Seller's  Management  Information  System (MIS) equipment,
         except to the extent  listed as an asset on the  Closing  Date  Balance
         Sheet.

                  (c) As used in  Sections  2.1 and 2.2 of this  Agreement,  the
         phrases  "used" or "held for use in," "related to," "related  primarily
         to" or "relating primarily to" the Business, or the conduct thereof and
         similar  phrases are intended to exclude assets of Seller owned or held
         (i)  primarily in any business  other than the  Business,  (ii) for use
         primarily in the businesses or activities of Seller generally, or (iii)
         for use by both the Business  and any other  business of Seller so long
         as such  assets  or  rights do not  primarily  relate to the  Business.
         Nothing  in this  Section  2.2  will  constitute  a  representation  or
         warranty  with  respect  to the  extent of  Seller's  right,  title and
         interest in or to any of the Acquired Assets.

                  Section 2.3.  Assumption of Liabilities.

                  (a)  On the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions  of  this
         Agreement, effective as of the Closing, Purchaser will assume and agree
         to pay,  perform and discharge when due and to indemnify Seller and its
         Affiliates  against and hold them  harmless  from all  obligations  and
         Liabilities of whatever kind and nature,  primary or secondary,  direct
         or indirect,  absolute or contingent,  known or unknown, whether or not
         accrued,  whether arising before,  on or after the Closing Date,  other
         than the  Excluded  Liabilities,  of Seller to the extent  relating to,
         resulting from or arising out of the Business, any of the Acquired

 
                                                         14

<PAGE>



         Assets or any of the Products  manufactured,  produced,  distributed or
         sold by or on behalf of the Business  (the "Assumed  Liabilities")  and
         including without limitation the obligations and Liabilities  specified
         below other than Excluded Liabilities:

                  (i) the  obligations  and  Liabilities of Seller under Assumed
         Contracts;

                  (ii) the account  payable  and accrued  expenses in respect of
         the Business;

                  (iii) the  obligations  and  Liabilities in respect of any and
         all  Products  sold  by or on  behalf  of the  Business  at  any  time,
         including without  limitation  obligations and liabilities for refunds,
         adjustments,   allowances,   damages,  repairs,   exchanges,   returns,
         warranties and personal injury;

                  (iv) the obligations and Liabilities  relating to the Acquired
         Assets or the conduct of the Business at any time;

                  (v) the  obligations  and  Liabilities  arising as a result of
         being an owner,  occupant or operator of the  Business  Real  Property,
         including, without limitation, all obligations and Liabilities relating
         to  personal  injury,   property  damage,   the  environment,   natural
         resources,   employee   safety  and   health   and  waste   generation,
         transportation  or  disposal,  in each case in respect of the  Business
         Real Property;

                  (vi) the obligations  and  Liabilities  relating to Taxes with
         respect to the  conduct  of the  Business  at any time,  whether or not
         reflected or reserved  against in the Balance Sheet,  but not including
         Income Taxes that are Excluded Liabilities;

                  (vii) Except to the extent  otherwise  provided in Article XII
         hereof,  the obligations and Liabilities  relating to the employment or
         termination of employment of any of the Business  Employees employed by
         Seller at any time or arising  under or relating  to any  benefit  plan
         listed on  Schedule  4.18(a)  annexed  hereto,  or any  other  program,
         agreement, or arrangement, whether or not subject to ERISA, relating to
         any such employee;

                  (viii) the  Liabilities  reflected as such in the Closing Date
         Balance Sheet;

                  (ix) the obligations  arising  pursuant to Article XII hereof;
         and

                  (x) any  direct,  out-of-pocket  costs  relating to any legal,
accounting,  travel,  printing or other expenses incurred on behalf of Purchaser
or any of its  Affiliates in connection  with the financing by Purchaser of this
transaction.


 
                                                         15

<PAGE>



The assumption by Purchaser of the Assumed Liabilities  pursuant to this Section
2.3(a)   shall  not  be   construed   in  any  way  to  limit  or  diminish  the
representations and warranties of Seller contained in Article IV hereof.

                  (b)  For  purposes  of  this  Agreement,  the  term  "Excluded
         Liabilities" means:

                  (i) the  obligations  and  Liabilities of Seller to the extent
         attributable to any of the Excluded Assets;

                  (ii) the  obligations or Liabilities of Seller or the Business
         for Income Taxes (a) for all periods  ending on or prior to the Closing
         Date and (b) arising from or  associated  with the Transfer from Seller
         to Purchaser of the Acquired Assets;

                  (iii)  the   obligations   or   Liabilities   for  any  legal,
         accounting,  investment banking,  brokerage or similar fees or expenses
         incurred  by Seller or any of its  Affiliates  in  connection  with the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (iv) the  obligations  or  Liabilities  of  Seller  under  the
         Contracts listed on Schedule  2.3(b)(iv)  annexed hereto (the "Excluded
         Contracts");

                  (v) any Liability  relating to the failure of Seller to comply
         with  ERISA,  and to the extent  attributable  to acts of Seller in its
         administration  of the Plan, the Code or other  applicable law, in each
         case in  respect  of a Plan  maintained  by  Seller  for its  employees
         generally,  notwithstanding that Business Employees are participants in
         such Plan;

                  (vi) any Liability arising from or under any qualified defined
         benefit  plan  (within  the  meaning of  Section  414(j) of the Code or
         Section  3(35) of ERISA) of Seller or any ERISA  Affiliate  (except for
         the obligation to pay the amount described in Section 2.4(a));

                  (vii) any  obligations and Liabilities of Seller under any Tax
         Sharing Agreements listed on Schedule 4.22 annexed hereto.

                  (viii) the Liabilities specifically excluded under Article XII
         hereof.

                  (c)  Purchaser  shall not assume or  otherwise  be bound by or
         responsible or liable for any Excluded Liabilities.


 
                                                         16

<PAGE>



                  Section 2.4.  Purchase Price.

                  (a) In addition to assuming  the Assumed  Liabilities,  at the
         Closing,  Purchaser  will pay to Seller fifty six million three hundred
         thousand  U.S.  dollars  ($56,300,000)  plus (at the Closing or, if not
         determinable  at  Closing,   promptly  after  an  invoice  showing  the
         calculation of the amount due is provided  therefor) an amount equal to
         the   difference  at  the  Closing  Date  between  (i)  the  amount  of
         accumulated  benefit obligations at the Closing Date under the Seller's
         Retirement  Plan,  which was  $(248,000)  at December 28,  1996,  which
         amount  includes  the  cost  of  fully  vesting  Transferred   Business
         Employees  under such Plan,  and (ii) the amount of such Plan assets at
         the  Closing  Date,  which was  $(191,000)  at  December  28, 1996 (the
         "Closing Price"),  subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 2.4(b)
         and 2.5 in respect of changes in the Net Worth Amount (as adjusted, the
         "Purchase Price").  "Net Worth Amount" means the amount shown as "Total
         Equity" as it would appear on a balance sheet of the Business  prepared
         in accordance with the second sentence of Section 2.5(a).

                  (b) Not less than two business days prior to the Closing Date,
         Seller and  Purchaser  shall jointly  agree on a  consolidated  balance
         sheet which will set forth the  estimate of the Net Worth  Amount as of
         the close of  business on the Closing  Date (the  "Estimated  Net Worth
         Amount"),  determined in accordance with the second sentence of Section
         2.5(a) as if it were the  Actual  Net  Worth  Amount,  but  based  upon
         Seller's and Purchaser's  review of monthly financial  information then
         available to Seller (which financial  information Seller agrees to make
         available to Purchaser)  and their  inquiries of personnel  responsible
         for the preparation of financial  information  relating to the Business
         in the ordinary  course  thereof.  The Closing Price will be reduced or
         increased  dollar-for-dollar,  as the case may be (as so adjusted,  the
         "Estimated  Purchase Price"),  by the amount by which the Estimated Net
         Worth Amount,  calculated on the basis set forth in the second sentence
         of  Section  2.5(a),  is less  or  more,  as the  case  may  be,  than,
         $38,008,000  such amount  being the Net Worth Amount as of May 3, 1997,
         as calculated on the basis set forth in the second  sentence of Section
         2.5(a). If Seller and Purchaser do not agree on the Estimated Net Worth
         Amount,  the Estimated Net Worth Amount shall be an amount equal to the
         average of (x) Seller's  reasonable  computation  of the  Estimated Net
         Worth  Amount  and  (y)  Purchaser's   reasonable  computation  of  the
         Estimated Net Worth Amount.

                  (c) On the Closing Date,  Purchaser  will pay by wire transfer
         of  immediately   available   funds  to  such  account  as  Seller  has
         theretofore designated an amount equal to the Estimated Purchase Price.

                  Section 2.5.  Purchase Price Adjustment

                  (a) In order to determine  the Purchase  Price,  the Estimated
         Purchase Price will be reduced or increased  dollar-for-dollar,  as the
         case may be, to the extent that the Actual Net Worth  Amount is less or
         greater, as the case may be, than the Estimated Net Worth

 
                                                         17

<PAGE>



         Amount  determined in accordance with Section  2.4(b).  For purposes of
         this  Agreement,  the  "Actual  Net Worth  Amount"  means the Net Worth
         Amount on a  consolidated  balance  sheet for the Business  prepared in
         accordance  with this  Section  2.5 as of the close of  business on the
         Closing Date (the "Closing Date Balance Sheet"),  on a basis consistent
         with, and using the same accounting principles, policies, practices and
         procedures used in preparing the Interim Balance Sheet, except that (i)
         the  principles  set forth in Schedule  2.5(a)  annexed  hereto will be
         applied  in  preparing  the  Closing  Date  Balance  Sheet and (ii) the
         Closing Date Balance Sheet will in all events  exclude (A) any Excluded
         Liabilities, (B) any Excluded Assets, (C) the assets resulting from the
         Loom Purchase and (D) any intercompany  balance and other accounts from
         Seller or any of its Subsidiaries.

                  (b) Within 60  calendar  days after the Closing  Date,  Seller
         will  prepare,  or cause to be prepared,  and  deliver,  to Purchaser a
         Closing Date Balance  Sheet  setting forth the Actual Net Worth Amount.
         Seller and its authorized  representatives  will be entitled to review,
         during normal business hours, the books,  records and workpapers of the
         Business to prepare the Closing Date Balance  Sheet.  Without  limiting
         the generality or effect of any other provision hereof,  Purchaser will
         (i)  provide  Seller  and its  representatives  access,  during  normal
         business hours,  to the facilities,  personnel and accounting and other
         records  of the  Business  to the  extent  determined  by  Seller to be
         necessary to permit Seller to prepare or have prepared the Closing Date
         Balance Sheet as herein provided;  provided,  however, that Seller will
         conduct  any  such  review  in a  manner  that  does  not  unreasonably
         interfere with the conduct of the Business after the Closing,  and (ii)
         take such actions as may be reasonably requested by Seller to close, or
         to assist Seller in closing, as of the close of business on the Closing
         Date, the books and  accounting  records for the Business and otherwise
         reasonably  to  cooperate  with Seller and its  representatives  in the
         preparation of the Closing Date Balance Sheet.

                  (c) If,  within 30  calendar  days after the date of  Seller's
         delivery of its  computation of the Actual Net Worth Amount,  Purchaser
         determines in good faith that such computation is inaccurate, Purchaser
         shall give written  notice to Seller within such 30 calendar day period
         (i) setting forth Purchaser's computation of Actual Net Worth Amount as
         of the close of  business on the Closing  Date and (ii)  specifying  in
         reasonable detail  Purchaser's basis for its disagreement with Seller's
         computation. The failure by Purchaser so to express its disagreement or
         provide  such  specification  within such 30  calendar  day period will
         constitute Purchaser's acceptance of Seller's computation of the Actual
         Net Worth  Amount.  Any amount that is not in dispute  will be promptly
         paid by the party obligated to make such payment hereunder to the party
         entitled to receive  such payment  hereunder,  together  with  interest
         thereon,  from  the  Closing  Date to the date of  payment  at the rate
         specified  in Section  2.5(d).  If  Purchaser  and Seller are unable to
         resolve any  disagreement  between them within ten calendar  days after
         the giving of notice of such disagreement, the items in dispute will be
         referred for determination to the principal dispute  resolution unit of
         Deloitte & Touche, or if they decline such

 
                                                         18

<PAGE>



         appointment,  KPMG Peat  Marwick  (the  "Accountants")  as  promptly as
         practicable.  Purchaser and Seller will use reasonable efforts to cause
         the  Accountants  to  render  their  decision  as soon as  practicable,
         including without  limitation by promptly complying with all reasonable
         requests by the Accountants for information, books, records and similar
         items.  The  Accountants  will make a  determination  as to each of the
         items in  dispute,  which  determination  will be (A) in  writing,  (B)
         furnished  to each of the parties  hereto as  promptly  as  practicable
         after the items in dispute have been referred to the  Accountants,  (C)
         made in accordance with this Agreement,  and (D) conclusive and binding
         upon each of the parties hereto. In connection with their determination
         of the disputed items,  (i) the Accountants will be entitled to rely on
         presentations  by Seller and Purchaser to the  Accountants  without any
         independent  review  by  the  Accountants  and  the  workpapers,  trial
         balances  and  similar  materials  prepared by Arthur  Andersen  LLP in
         connection with such firm's examination of the financial  statements of
         Seller and its  Subsidiaries and (ii) the Accountants will not consider
         or make  any  adjustment  in  respect  of any  matter  which  is not in
         dispute,  other  than as a  result  of a change  in a  matter  which is
         disputed.  Except  as  provided  below,  the fees and  expenses  of the
         Accountants  will be shared  equally by  Purchaser  and Seller.  If the
         determination  of the Accountants  represents an outcome more favorable
         to either  Purchaser or Seller than the midpoint of such  parties' last
         written  settlement  offers  related  to all items in  dispute,  in the
         aggregate, submitted to the Accountants upon the referral of the matter
         to the Accountants (each a "Last Offer"), then the party obtaining such
         favorable  result will be deemed the  "Prevailing  Party" and the other
         party will be deemed the  "Non-Prevailing  Party". For purposes hereof,
         all of the fees and  expenses of the  Accountants,  and the  reasonable
         out-of-pocket  expenses of the Prevailing  Party,  will be borne by the
         Non-Prevailing  Party. No party will disclose to the  Accountants,  and
         the Accountants will not consider for any purpose, any settlement offer
         (other than the Last Offer) made by any party.

                  (d) To the extent that the Actual Net Worth Amount  determined
         as provided in this Section 2.5 is more or less than the  Estimated Net
         Worth Amount,  Purchaser or Seller,  as  applicable,  will,  within ten
         calendar  days  after the final  determination  of the Actual Net Worth
         Amount  pursuant to this Section 2.5,  make payment by wire transfer of
         immediately  available  funds of the amount of such  difference  (after
         taking  into  account  any payment  made  pursuant to Section  2.5(c)),
         together  with  interest  thereon  from the Closing Date to the date of
         payment  (at a rate equal to Chase  Manhattan  Bank's  prime  rate,  as
         publicly  announced and in effect from time to time during such period,
         plus 2.0%, calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed
         over 365),  to such  account as has been  designated  by  Purchaser  or
         Seller, as applicable.

                  (e)  Except as set forth in Section  13.2(d),  nothing in this
         Section 2.5 or in the  statements,  reports or  documents  contemplated
         hereby shall affect the parties' rights and obligations in respect of a
         breach or alleged breach of any representation or warranty herein.


 
                                                         19

<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE III.
                                     CLOSING

                  Section 3.1. The Closing.  Subject to the terms and conditions
of  this  Agreement,  the  closing  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Shereff,  Friedman,
Hoffman & Goodman,  LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York, on the date which
is two Business Days after the  satisfaction  or waiver of all conditions to the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby or at such other time and
place as Seller and Purchaser  shall mutually agree in writing (the day on which
the Closing takes place is referred to herein as the "Closing Date").


                                   ARTICLE IV.
                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

                  Subject to Section  4.27,  Seller  represents  and warrants to
Purchaser as set forth in this Article IV:

                  Section   4.1.   Organization;   Good   Standing;   Power  and
Qualification. Seller is a limited partnership duly formed, validly existing and
in good  standing  under  the laws of the  State  of  Delaware.  Seller  is duly
qualified  to do  business  and is in good  standing  in the  states  listed  on
Schedule 4.1 annexed  hereto,  such states being each  jurisdiction in which the
ownership of the Acquired  Assets or the conduct of the Business  requires  such
qualification,  except where the failure to so qualify,  individually  or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse change in
or effect with respect to the Business or the financial  condition,  properties,
or results of  operations  of the Business or  materially  impair the ability of
Seller  to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  (a
"Material  Adverse  Effect").  Seller has the  requisite  partnership  power and
authority  to own the  Acquired  Assets and to conduct the Business as presently
conducted.  Schedule 4.1 annexed hereto  includes true and correct copies of the
Certificate of Limited Partnership and the Partnership Agreement as in effect on
the date of this Agreement.

                  Section 4.2. No Conflict or Violation; Consents. Except as set
forth on Schedule 4.2 annexed hereto, neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement  by Seller,  nor the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  nor the  fulfillment  of the terms and  compliance  with the provisions
hereof,  will (a) conflict  with or result in a breach of or a default (or in an
occurrence  which  with the lapse of time or action by a third  party,  or both,
could  result in a default)  with  respect to any of the  terms,  conditions  or
provisions of, (b) result in the  termination  of,  accelerate  the  performance
required  by, (c) result in the  creation of any Lien upon the  Acquired  Assets
(except as a result of Liens  created by  Purchaser)  in  connection  with,  (d)
impair Seller's ability to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby, (e)
require any filing with or approval of any Person,  including without limitation
any  Governmental  Agency  arising  out of,  or (f)  give  rise to any  right of
termination or renegotiation, or purchase or offer right, under:

 
                                                         20

<PAGE>



(x) any law or Judgment of any Governmental Agency applicable to Seller, (y) the
Certificate  of  Limited  Partnership  or  Partnership  Agreement,  or  (z)  any
Contract,  Lease,  Permit  or other  instrument  to which  Seller  is a party or
subject or by which any of Seller's  properties  or assets are bound,  except in
the  cases of  clauses  (x) and (z) for  those  conflicts,  breaches,  defaults,
terminations or accelerations, which individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect or materially  impair
the  ability  of Seller to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement;  provided, however, that no representation or warranty is made hereby
by Seller  with  respect  to the effect of  antitrust  laws or  regulations.  No
consent,  approval or  authorization  of, or  registration  or filing with,  any
Governmental  Agency is required  to be  obtained or made by or with  respect to
Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller
or the  performance  by Seller  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby to be
performed by it except for such of the  foregoing (i) as are listed or described
on  Schedule  4.2  annexed  hereto or (ii)  which,  if not so  obtained or made,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  could not  reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

                  Section 4.3. Authority of Seller.  Seller has full partnership
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, and the execution and
delivery by Seller of this Agreement and the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  have been duly and  validly  authorized  by all  necessary
partnership  action on the part of Seller,  and this Agreement  constitutes  the
legal,  valid and binding  obligation of Seller  enforceable  against  Seller in
accordance  with  its  terms,  except  as such  enforcement  may be  limited  by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, or similar laws from time to time
in effect which affect  creditors'  rights  generally and by legal and equitable
limitations on the enforceability of specific remedies.

                  Section 4.4.  Acquired Assets.

                  (a) There are no  properties  or assets used,  held for use or
         usable by  Seller in the  Business  having an  original  cost as of the
         Interim Balance Sheet Date in excess of $10,000 which are not set forth
         on the  Schedules  hereto and,  except for  contemplated  additions  or
         deletions  in the  ordinary  course of  business  consistent  with past
         practice,  the Acquired  Assets (i) include all  properties  and assets
         owned by  Seller or any of its  Affiliates  and used  primarily  in the
         Business,  other  than  the  Excluded  Assets,  (ii) in the  aggregate,
         together  with  the  Excluded  Assets,  are  adequate  to  conduct  the
         operations  of the  Business  in  substantially  the  manner  currently
         conducted,  (iii) are  suitable  for the  purposes  for which  they are
         currently  used,  (iv) have been maintained in accordance with Seller's
         historical  practices  since  December  29,  1996,  and (v) are in good
         condition,  ordinary  wear and tear  excepted.  Except  as set forth on
         Schedule  4.4(a)  annexed  hereto,   (i)  all  Business  Employees  are
         exclusive  employees of the  Business  and do not perform  services for
         other  businesses of Seller,  (ii) the Acquired  Assets are not used by
         other  businesses of Seller and (iii) the Acquired  Assets  include any
         and all  assets  owned or  leased  by Seller  that are  located  at the
         Business Real Property and Leased  Business Real  Property,  other than
         the Excluded Assets.

 
                                                         21

<PAGE>



                  (b)  Seller  has  good  and  marketable  title  to  all of the
         Acquired  Assets,  free and clear of any  Lien,  except  for  Permitted
         Liens.  Seller is the  direct  sole and  exclusive  owner of all of the
         Acquired  Assets  other than those  listed on Schedule  4.4(b)  annexed
         hereto as being leased, licensed or otherwise used by the Seller. There
         are no Subsidiaries of Seller which own or have any leasehold interests
         in any of the Acquired  Assets.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.4(b)
         annexed  hereto,  Seller does not use any of the Acquired Assets by the
         consent of any other Person and is not required to make any payments to
         others with respect to the Acquired Assets. To the Knowledge of Seller,
         Seller has the right to use all of the Acquired Assets leased, licensed
         or otherwise used by it. Upon the Closing, Purchaser will hold good and
         marketable  title to all of the Acquired  Assets owned by Seller,  free
         and clear of all Liens  (except for any  Permitted  Liens and Surviving
         Liens) of any nature whatsoever, whether such Liens are now existing or
         perfected or at any time hereafter arise or become  perfected  pursuant
         to any Law, Contract or otherwise, and Purchaser will have the right to
         use all of the Acquired  Assets  leased,  licensed or otherwise used by
         Seller.

                  (c) The Business is not as of the date hereof, and will not be
         on the Closing Date,  subject in any way to the terms and conditions of
         either the SMT License Agreement or the Cramerton Supply Agreement.

                  Section   4.5.   No  Material   Misstatements.   None  of  the
representations  or  warranties  of  Seller  contained  herein  and  none of the
information  contained in the Schedules  hereto  furnished by Seller is false or
misleading in any material  respect or omits to state a material fact  necessary
to make the statements herein or therein not misleading in any material respect.

                  Section 4.6. Financial  Statements;  Closing Date Liability to
Seller.  Schedule 4.6 annexed hereto contains an accurate,  correct and complete
copy of (i) the audited balance sheets of the Business at December 28, 1996 (the
"Balance  Sheet")  and  December  31,  1995,  and  the  related   statements  of
operations,  divisional  equity and cash flows for the period from  December 12,
1996 to December 28, 1996, the period from January 1, 1996 to December 11, 1996,
and the  year  ended  December  31,  1995  and the  notes  thereto  and (ii) the
unaudited  balance sheet of the Business at the Interim  Balance Sheet Date (the
"Interim Balance Sheet") and the related unaudited  statements of operations and
cash flows of the  Business for the period then ended.  Promptly  after they are
available,  Seller shall have  delivered to Purchaser  and added to Schedule 4.6
annexed  hereto an accurate,  correct and complete  copy of the audited  balance
sheets of the  Business at January 1, 1995 and June 28, 1994 and the  statements
of  operations,  divisional  equity and cash flows for the period  from June 29,
1994 to January 1, 1995 and the period from January 3, 1994 to June 28, 1994 and
the notes thereto (the "1994 Financial  Statements").  The financial  statements
referenced in subsections (i) and (ii) and the immediately preceding sentence of
this Section 4.6 shall hereinafter be referred to collectively as the "Financial
Statements" and the financial  statements  referenced in subsection (ii) of this
Section  4.6 shall  hereinafter  be  referred to  collectively  as the  "Interim
Financial  Statements".  The Financial  Statements  (including the  accompanying
notes), as of their respective dates, present, and

 
                                                         22

<PAGE>



will  present  upon  delivery  to  Purchaser  in the case of the 1994  Financial
Statements,  fairly the  financial  condition  of the  Business  as of the dates
stated  therein and the results of its  operations  for periods then ended,  and
were  prepared,  and will be prepared  upon delivery to Purchaser in the case of
the 1994 Financial  Statements,  in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent
basis during the periods  indicated  (except,  in each case, as may be indicated
therein or in the notes thereto),  subject,  in the case of unaudited  financial
statements,  to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end adjustments.  To
the  Knowledge  of  Seller,  the  Interim  Financial   Statements  included  all
adjustments,  consisting  solely of normal recurring  accruals,  necessary for a
fair  presentation  of  the  consolidated  financial  position  and  results  of
operations  of the  Business.  As of the  Closing,  the  Business  will  have no
Liabilities to any Parent  Entity,  other than  Liabilities  (i) as set forth on
Schedule 4.6 annexed  hereto  which are either  reflected in full on the Closing
Date Balance Sheet or are not required  under GAAP to be so reflected,  and (ii)
as reflected in full in the Closing Date Balance Sheet.

                  Section  4.7.  Undisclosed  Liabilities.  As  of  the  Interim
Balance  Sheet Date and the  Closing  Date,  the  Business  has and will have no
material Liabilities,  except for Liabilities:  (a) reflected or reserved for on
the Interim Balance Sheet or the Closing Date Balance Sheet, as the case may be,
(b) relating to performance  obligations,  under Leases, Contracts and Permitted
Liens in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof which are not required
by GAAP to be reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet or the Closing Date Balance
Sheet, as the case may be, (c) constituting  Taxes, (d) as set forth on Schedule
4.7 annexed hereto, (e) constituting Costs of Remediation, or (f) arising out of
or in connection with any claim by the ultimate retail purchaser of any Products
manufactured,  produced,  distributed  or sold by or on behalf  of the  Business
resulting  from an  alleged  defect  in the  design or  manufacture  of any such
Product or failure to warn with respect to any such Product.

                  Section 4.8. Accounts  Receivable.  All accounts receivable of
the Business reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet, and all accounts receivable
of the Business  arising  subsequent to the Interim  Balance Sheet Date, have or
will have arisen in the ordinary  course of business of the Business.  All items
that are required by GAAP to be reflected as accounts  receivable on the Interim
Balance  Sheet and on the Closing Date Balance Sheet are or will be so reflected
and any reserve for accounts  relating  thereto are adequate under GAAP and have
been or will  have  been  established  in  accordance  with  GAAP,  consistently
applied.  Nothing  contained  in this  representation  shall be  construed  as a
guaranty of collectibility of any or all accounts receivable.

                  Section   4.9.   Inventory.   The   material,   supplies   and
work-in-process  included in the  inventory  of the Business as set forth on the
Interim Balance Sheet were, and the inventory of the Business at the Closing and
reflected  on the Closing  Date  Balance  Sheet will be, as the case may be, (a)
substantially equivalent in quality and quantity, subject to seasonality, to the
materials,  supplies  and  work-in-process,  and  additions  thereto,  generally
included in such  inventory in the past;  (b) suitable for the  manufacture  and
distribution of the Products in a manner substantially  equivalent in quality to
that achieved generally by the Business in the past, and (c) valued in

 
                                                         23

<PAGE>



accordance  with GAAP,  consistently  applied,  subject,  in each  case,  to all
reserves  reflected in the Interim  Balance Sheet with respect to such inventory
existing on the Interim  Balance Sheet Date or in the Closing Date Balance Sheet
with respect to inventory  existing on the Closing  Date.  Such  reserves on the
Interim  Balance  Sheet are,  and on the  Closing  Date  Balance  Sheet will be,
adequate under GAAP and are, in the case of the Interim  Balance Sheet,  or will
have  been,  in the case of the  Closing  Date  Balance  Sheet,  established  in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied.

                  Section  4.10.  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Other than changes
resulting from (a) general  economic  conditions,  (b) conditions  affecting the
automotive textile industry generally,  (c) changes in any applicable Law, rule,
regulation,  statute or interpretation  thereof, or (d) as set forth on Schedule
4.10 annexed hereto, since the Interim Balance Sheet Date except as reflected in
the  Interim  Financial  Statements,  there  has not been any  Material  Adverse
Effect,  nor have any events  occurred  nor do any  circumstances  exist  which,
individually  or in the aggregate,  could  reasonably be expected to result in a
Material  Adverse Effect.  Since the Interim  Balance Sheet Date,  except as set
forth on Schedule 4.10 annexed hereto,  there has not occurred any deterioration
in the Business'  relationships with Business Employees or with any suppliers or
customers of the Business, and the Business has not lost or been threatened with
the loss of any program in each case which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,
has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  Section 4.11.  Real Property.

                  (a) Schedule  4.11(a)  annexed  hereto lists all real property
owned by  Seller  and used by  Seller  in its  operation  of the  Business  (the
"Business Real Property"). Seller has good and marketable title in fee simple to
all of the Business  Real  Property and the Business  Real  Property is free and
clear of any Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

                  (b)  Schedule  4.11(b)  annexed  hereto  lists all  leases and
         subleases,  together with any  amendments  thereto (the  "Leases") with
         respect to all real property  leased or subleased by Seller and used by
         Seller in its  operation of the Business  (the  "Leased  Business  Real
         Property").

                  (c) Each of the Leases is in full force and effect. Seller has
         delivered  to  Purchaser  a copy of  each  Lease,  and  all  amendments
         thereto,  listed on  Schedule  4.11(b)  annexed  hereto,  except to the
         extent  otherwise  noted  therein.  Seller has  performed  all material
         obligations  required to be  performed  by it to date under each Lease,
         and to the  Knowledge  of Seller,  neither  Seller nor any other  party
         thereto is in material default under any such Leases.

                  (d) The covenants,  easements or  rights-of-way  affecting the
         Business  Real  Property or Leased  Business Real Property do not, with
         respect  to  each  Business  Real  Property  or  Leased  Business  Real
         Property, materially impair the Seller's ability to use any

 
                                                         24

<PAGE>



         such  Business  Real  Property or Leased  Business Real Property in the
         operation of the Business as presently conducted. There are no pending,
         or  to  Seller's   Knowledge,   threatened   condemnation   or  similar
         proceedings affecting the Business Real Property. To Seller's Knowledge
         there are no pending or threatened  condemnation or similar proceedings
         affecting the Leased  Business Real Property.  The Seller has access to
         public  roads,  streets  or the like or valid  easements  over  private
         streets, roads or other private property for such ingress to and egress
         from the Business Real Property (and to Seller's Knowledge,  the Leased
         Business  Real  Property),  except as would not  materially  impair the
         Seller's  ability  to use any such  Business  Real  Property  or Leased
         Business  Real  Property in the  operation of the Business as presently
         conducted.

                  (e) Seller has  delivered to the Purchaser  accurate,  correct
         and complete  copies of Phase I and Phase II  environmental  reports in
         Seller's  possession  or the  possession  of its agents of all Business
         Real Property purported to be owned by Seller.

                  Section 4.12. Tangible Property.

                  (a)  Schedule   4.12(a)  annexed  hereto  lists  all  Tangible
         Property  owned by Seller  and used by Seller in its  operation  of the
         Business with an original cost of $10,000 or more as of March 1997.

                  (b)  Schedule  4.12(b)  annexed  hereto  sets  forth the name,
         parties  and term of all  Tangible  Property  leases:  (i) under  which
         Seller is the  lessee,  (ii) under  which the annual rent is $10,000 or
         more,  and (iii) which leases are not  cancelable  (without  Liability)
         within 90 days. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12(b) annexed hereto,
         Seller holds good  leaseholds in all of the Tangible  Property shown or
         required to be shown on Schedule  4.12(b)  annexed  hereto as leased by
         Seller, in each case under valid and enforceable leases. Seller is not,
         and to Seller's  Knowledge no other party to any such Tangible Property
         lease is, in material  breach of or default under any lease of any item
         of personal  property listed on Schedule 4.12(b) annexed hereto (and no
         event has  occurred  which,  with due  notice or lapse of time or both,
         would constitute such a lapse or default).

                  Section 4.13.  Intellectual Property.

                  (a) Schedule 4.13 annexed  hereto lists all  applications  and
         registrations for material  Intellectual Property (other than know-how,
         non-customized computer software, and customer lists) of Seller used by
         Seller  in its  operation  of the  Business.  Except  as set  forth  on
         Schedule  4.13 annexed  hereto,  Seller either owns or has the right to
         use  by  license,  sublicense,  agreement  or  permission  all  of  the
         Intellectual Property set forth on Schedule 4.13 annexed hereto, and in
         the case of patents  and license  agreements  for the term set forth on
         Schedule 4.13 annexed  hereto.  Except for  Purchaser  pursuant to this
         Agreement or as otherwise  set forth in Schedule  4.13 annexed  hereto,
         Seller has not granted a license, nor reached an understanding with any
         third party, nor entered into a

 
                                                         25

<PAGE>



         written  agreement,  relating  in  whole  or in  part,  to  any  of the
         Intellectual  Property,  and to Seller's Knowledge since June 28, 1994,
         there has been no  assertion  thereof by any  Person  that has not been
         fully  withdrawn.  Except as noted in  Schedule  4.13  annexed  hereto,
         Seller has not been charged with,  nor to the Knowledge of Seller is it
         threatened to be charged with, the  infringement  or other violation of
         the intellectual property rights of any other Person.

                  Section 4.14.  Compliance with Laws.

                  (a) Except as set forth on Schedule  4.14(a)  annexed  hereto,
         Seller has complied  with, has not received any notice of violation of,
         and has no  Knowledge  of any facts which with or without  notice could
         reasonably  be  expected  to  constitute  a  violation  of, any Laws or
         Judgments,  applicable  to the  Business,  including but not limited to
         Environmental  Laws,  except for any  violation or failure so to comply
         which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  could  not  reasonably  be
         expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
 .
                  (b) Schedule  4.14(b) annexed hereto lists each Permit that is
         necessary for the  operation of the Business as currently  conducted or
         currently proposed to be conducted, the lack of which,  individually or
         in the  aggregate,  could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
         Adverse  Effect.  All  Permits  included on  Schedule  4.14(b)  annexed
         hereto,  except as noted  therein,  are in full force and effect and no
         proceeding  is pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller,  threatened,  to
         revoke or limit any such Permit.

                  Section   4.15.    Affiliate    Agreements;    Related   Party
         Transactions.

                  (a) Except as set forth on Schedule  4.15(a)  annexed  hereto,
         there are no written or oral Contracts relating to the Business between
         Seller and any of its Affiliates or any of their respective officers or
         directors,  including,  without limitation, any such Contracts relating
         to the provision of any services by Seller to any Affiliate,  or by any
         such Affiliate to Seller, in respect of the Business. Other than (x) in
         the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (which in
         the case of  transactions  with  Affiliates  will be on an arms' length
         basis) or (y) as set forth on  Schedule  4.15(a)  annexed  hereto,  (a)
         since the Interim  Balance  Sheet Date,  there have been,  (b) from the
         date  hereof  to the  Closing  Date  there  will be,  and (c) after the
         Closing Date there will be, no transactions, agreements or arrangements
         involving  the  Acquired  Assets or  otherwise  affecting  the Business
         between Seller and (i) any of its Affiliates or any of their respective
         officers,  directors or management personnel, or (ii) any member of the
         immediate  family of any  individual  described  in clause  (i) of this
         sentence.

                  (b) Except as set forth on Schedule  4.15(b)  annexed  hereto,
         none of the  General  Partner,  the  Limited  Partner  or any of  their
         respective Affiliates (i) owns, directly or indirectly,  in whole or in
         part, any Tangible Property or Intangible Property, the use of which is
         necessary  for the  conduct of the  Business as  conducted  on the date
         hereof, and

 
                                                         26

<PAGE>



         which if not obtained  from such Person  could have a Material  Adverse
         Effect, or (ii) owes any amount to the Business or, to the Knowledge of
         Seller,  has any cause of action or other claim  against the  Business,
         other  than  for  sales of goods in the  ordinary  course  of  business
         consistent with past practice.

                  Section 4.16.  Assumed Contracts.

                  (a)  Schedule  4.16  annexed  hereto  lists all of the Assumed
         Contracts  (other  than the  Leases  or  Permitted  Liens),  which  are
         material  to the  operation  of the  Business.  Except  for  Leases and
         Permitted Liens or as set forth on Schedule 4.16 annexed hereto, Seller
         is not a party to or bound by any of the following,  in connection with
         the Business:

                           (i)  mortgage,   indenture,   note,  or   installment
                  obligation,   or  other   instrument   for  or   relating   to
                  Indebtedness;

                           (ii)  guaranty of any  obligation  for  borrowings or
                  performance,  or guaranty or warranty of products or services,
                  excluding  endorsements  or guaranties of instruments  made in
                  the ordinary course of business in connection with the deposit
                  of items for  collection,  and express  product and  statutory
                  warranties;

                           (iii)  agreement or arrangement for the sale or lease
                  of any of the Acquired Assets other than in the usual, regular
                  and ordinary course of business;

                           (iv) agreement or other  arrangement for the purchase
                  of any real estate,  machinery,  equipment,  or other  capital
                  assets in excess of $25,000;

                           (v)  Contract  pursuant  to  which  it is or  may  be
                  obligated  to  make  payments,  contingent  or  otherwise,  on
                  account of or arising  out of prior  acquisitions  or sales of
                  businesses, assets, or stock of other companies;

                           (vi)   distribution,    dealership,   representative,
                  broker,  sales  agency,  advertising  or  consulting  Contract
                  excepting  any such Contract that is terminable at will, or by
                  giving notice of 30 days or less, without Liability;

                           (vii)  lease  or  other  agreement  for  the  use  of
                  Tangible Property with rent in excess of $25,000 per year;

                           (viii)    agreement     imposing     confidentiality,
                  non-competition or exclusive dealing obligations on it;

                           (ix)  Contract for the future  purchase of materials,
                  supplies, services,  merchandise, or equipment parts in excess
                  of $50,000;

 
                                                         27

<PAGE>



                           (x) Contract or agreement  for the  employment of any
                  partner,  management personnel,  director, officer, consultant
                  or key employee not  terminable  without  penalty or liability
                  arising   from   such   termination   or  any   severance   or
                  change-in-control contract or arrangement;

                           (xi) Contract relating to cleanup, abatement or other
                  actions in connection with environmental Liabilities;

                           (xii)  Contract  which  terminates,   accelerates  or
                  creates any Liability as a result of this  Agreement or any of
                  the transactions  contemplated hereby,  except in the ordinary
                  course of business; and

                           (xiii)  Contract which involves  future payment by or
                  to the Business in excess of $50,000 or is otherwise  material
                  to the extent relating to the Business as currently  conducted
                  by  Seller  or  provides  for a period  of  performance  which
                  extends beyond twelve (12) months from the date hereof.

                  (b) Each Contract  listed or required to be listed on Schedule
         4.16 annexed hereto is valid,  binding and  enforceable  against Seller
         and to Seller's  Knowledge the other parties thereto in accordance with
         its terms,  and is in full force and effect.  Seller has  performed all
         material  obligations required to be performed by it to date under each
         of the Contracts.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.16 annexed hereto,
         neither Seller nor, to Seller's  Knowledge,  any other party thereto is
         in  material  breach of or default  under any such  Contract  listed or
         required to be listed on Schedule 4.16 annexed hereto (and no event has
         occurred  which,  with due  notice  or  lapse  of time or  both,  would
         constitute such a lapse or default).  Seller has delivered to Purchaser
         a copy of each Contract or other written  evidence of the  obligations,
         and all amendments thereto, listed or required to be listed on Schedule
         4.16 annexed hereto, except to the extent otherwise noted thereon.

                  Section 4.17. Labor Relations. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.17  annexed  hereto,  Seller  is  not a  party  to any  collective  bargaining
agreement  covering  Business  Employees,  there are no  controversies or unfair
labor practice proceedings pending or, to Seller's Knowledge, threatened between
Seller  and any  current  or  former  Business  Employees  or any labor or other
collective bargaining unit representing any current or former Business Employees
that  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  result  in a labor  strike,  dispute,
slow-down  or work  stoppage or otherwise  have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  To
Seller's  Knowledge,  except as set forth on Schedule  4.17 annexed  hereto,  no
organizational  effort is presently  being made,  or to the knowledge of Seller,
threatened by or on behalf of any labor union with respect to the Business.

                  Section 4.18.  Employee Benefits.

                  (a) Schedule 4.18(a) annexed hereto lists all Employee Benefit
         Plans and all other material  employee benefit  arrangements or payroll
         practices, including, without

 
                                                         28

<PAGE>



         limitation,  any  such  arrangements  or  payroll  practices  providing
         severance  pay,  sick leave,  vacation  pay,  salary  continuation  for
         disability,  retirement  benefits,  deferred  compensation,  bonus pay,
         incentive  pay,  stock  options,   hospitalization  insurance,  medical
         insurance, life insurance, or other insurances, scholarships or tuition
         reimbursements,  maintained  by Seller or to which  Seller or any ERISA
         Affiliate is obligated to contribute  for Business  Employees or Former
         Business Employees.  Each of the employee benefit plans,  practices and
         arrangements  set  forth on  Schedule  4.18(a)  annexed  hereto,  shall
         hereafter  be  referred  to as a "Plan" (or  "Plans" as the context may
         require).

                  (b) Except with respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan, copies of
         the  following  documents,  with  respect  to  each  of  the  Plans  as
         applicable,  have been  delivered  or made  available  to  Purchaser by
         Seller:  (i) all  Plan  and  related  trust  documents  and  amendments
         thereto;  (ii)  the  most  recent  IRS Form  5500;  (iii)  the last IRS
         determination letter; (iv) summary plan descriptions; and (v) the three
         most recent actuarial reports.

                  (c) Except as set forth on Schedule  4.18(c)  annexed  hereto,
         none of the Plans is a Multiemployer Plan. Neither Seller nor any ERISA
         Affiliate  has  incurred  any  Liability  resulting  from a complete or
         partial  withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer  Plan maintained for
         Business Employees or Former Business  Employees,  and none of them has
         incurred,  or is reasonably  likely to incur,  any Liability due to the
         termination or reorganization of a Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has
         not been  satisfied in full,  and to the Knowledge of Seller,  no event
         has occurred  that would subject  Seller or any ERISA  Affiliate to any
         such Liability.

                  (d) Neither Seller nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or is
         reasonably  likely to incur,  any Liability under Section 4062, 4063 or
         4064 of ERISA to the PBGC or to a trustee  appointed under Section 4042
         of ERISA  with  respect  to any  Single-Employer  Plan  maintained  for
         Business Employees or Former Business  Employees,  and to the Knowledge
         of Seller, no event has occurred that would subject Seller or any ERISA
         Affiliate to any such Liability. All premiums due the PBGC with respect
         to all  Single-Employer  Plans  maintained  by  Seller  and  its  ERISA
         Affiliates  for Business  Employees or Former  Business  Employees have
         been  timely  paid.  Neither  Seller nor any such ERISA  Affiliate  has
         engaged in any transaction  described in Section 4069 of ERISA.  Except
         as set forth on  Schedule  4.18(d)  annexed  hereto,  there has been no
         "reportable  event",  within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, with
         respect to any  Single-Employer  Plan maintained by Seller or its ERISA
         Affiliates for Business  Employees or Former  Business  Employees which
         would require the giving of notice to the PBGC. No Single-Employer Plan
         maintained by Seller or its ERISA Affiliates for Business  Employees or
         Former   Business   Employees  has  incurred  an  accumulated   funding
         deficiency within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code.

                  (e) Except with respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan, each Plan
         complies with, and has been  established,  operated and administered in
         accordance with its terms and the

 
                                                         29

<PAGE>



         requirements of, ERISA, the Code and other applicable Laws,  except for
         any  failures  to  comply  that  could  not,  individually  or  in  the
         aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (f) Except with respect to any  Multiemployer  Plan, there are
         no material pending or, to Seller's Knowledge, threatened claims by, on
         behalf of or, to the Knowledge of Seller,  against any Plan (other than
         routine claims for benefits).

                  (g) To Seller's  Knowledge,  no "prohibited  transaction"  (as
         defined in Section  4975 of the Code or Section  406 of ERISA) has ever
         occurred which involves the assets of any Plan  maintained for Business
         Employees or Former  Business  Employees and which would subject Seller
         or any ERISA  Affiliate to, and neither Seller nor any ERISA  Affiliate
         has incurred any,  Liability for any tax or penalty  imposed by Section
         4975 of the Code or Section  502(i) of ERISA  with  respect to any such
         Plan.

                  (h) With respect to each Plan that is a Single  Employer  Plan
         maintained for Business  Employees or Former  Business  Employees,  the
         most recent actuarial report prepared by such Plan's actuary, using the
         actuarial  methods and  assumptions  contained in such  report,  fairly
         presents  the fair market value of the assets of each such Plan and the
         present  value of the  Liabilities  in respect of the benefits  accrued
         under each such Plan, and since the date of such actuarial report there
         has been no material  adverse  change in the funded  status of any such
         Plan after  taking into account the  additional  accrual of benefits by
         participants  since  the  date of such  actuarial  report  through  the
         Closing Date.

                  (i) Each Plan  related to the  Business  which is  intended to
         qualify  under  Section   401(a)  of  the  Code  has  received  an  IRS
         determination  letter  concluding  that such Plan so qualifies in form,
         and no  amendment  has been  adopted  or action  been  taken  that,  to
         Seller's Knowledge, would cause such Plan to lose its qualified status.

                  (j) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.18(j) annexed hereto, or
         as may be  required  under  Section  4980B of the Code,  Section 601 of
         ERISA or other applicable foreign,  state or local Law, Seller does not
         have  any  Liability  for  post-retirement  medical  or life  insurance
         benefits  or coverage  for any  Business  Employee  or Former  Business
         Employee  or any  dependent  of any such  Business  Employee  or Former
         Business  Employee.  The reserve  reflected in the Closing Date Balance
         Sheet  will be  adequate  in  accordance  with GAAP for the  payment or
         provision of all such benefits.

                  (k) Except as set forth on Schedule  4.18(k)  annexed  hereto,
         the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
         will not  result  in any  increase  in the  amount of  compensation  or
         benefits  or  accelerate  the  vesting  or  timing  of  payment  of any
         compensation  or  benefits  payable  by Seller to or in  respect of any
         Business  Employee or Former  Business  Employee or the  beneficiary or
         dependent of any such  Business  Employee or Former  Business  Employee
         under any Plan.

 
                                                         30

<PAGE>



                  Section 4.19.  Insurance.  Schedule 4.19 annexed  hereto lists
all material  current and past  Insurance  policies  providing  coverage for the
properties or operations or Liabilities of the Business since June 28, 1994, the
type and amount of coverage,  and the  expiration  dates of the  policies.  Such
policies are valid and enforceable in accordance  with their terms,  are in full
force and effect and insure  against risk and  Liabilities  to the extent and in
the manner deemed  appropriate and sufficient by Seller.  As of the date of this
Agreement,  no such Insurance  policy  aggregates,  limits or maximums have been
reached or exceeded,  and no insurance carrier has been declared insolvent,  for
policies providing coverage for the properties, operations or Liabilities of the
Business since June 28, 1994.  Seller has not received notice from any Insurance
carrier: (i) threatening a suspension, revocation,  modification or cancellation
of any current  Insurance policy relating to the Business or a material increase
in any  premium in  connection  therewith,  or (ii)  informing  Seller  that any
current coverage listed or required to be listed on Schedule 4.19 annexed hereto
will or may not be  available in the future on  substantially  the same terms as
now in effect.

                  Section 4.20. Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.20
annexed  hereto,  there are no  actions,  causes  of  action,  claims,  suits or
proceedings  pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller,  threatened against Seller,
the  Business  or the  Acquired  Assets,  at Law,  in equity,  in  admiralty  or
otherwise  before or by any Governmental  Agency or any other Person,  which (i)
seeks to restrain or enjoin the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby or (ii)  individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to
have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Except as set forth in Schedule  4.20 annexed
hereto,  neither Seller,  the Business nor any of the Acquired Assets is subject
to, or in default with respect to, any Judgment,  which  individually  or in the
aggregate has had, or could  reasonably be expected to have, a Material  Adverse
Effect.

                  Section 4.21.  Environmental  Matters.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.21 annexed hereto:

                  (a) the  operation of the Business is, and since June 28, 1994
         has been,  and to  Seller's  Knowledge,  prior to June 28, 1994 was, in
         compliance  with all  Environmental  Laws except for any  noncompliance
         resulting  in  Damages  of  less  than  $5,000  individually  or in the
         aggregate;

                  (b) the  Business  has no  Liability,  whether  contingent  or
         otherwise,  under  any  Environmental  Law  except  for  any  Liability
         resulting  in  Damages  of  less  than  $5,000  individually  or in the
         aggregate;

                  (c) no request for information,  notice,  Governmental  Agency
         inquiry,  demand letter,  notice of violation or alleged  violation of,
         non-compliance or alleged  non-compliance  with or any Liability under,
         any  Environmental  Law by or relating to the operation of the Business
         has been  received by or threatened  in writing  against  Seller or any
         prior  owner of the  Business  since  June 28,  1994,  or, to  Seller's
         Knowledge, before June 28, 1994;

 
                                                         31

<PAGE>



                  (d) Seller has not entered into or been subject to, and is not
         currently  a party  or  respondent  to,  any  administrative,  civil or
         criminal  Judgments  outstanding,  or  any  administrative,   civil  or
         criminal actions,  suits,  proceedings or investigations pending or, to
         Seller's  Knowledge,  threatened,  relating  to any  Environmental  Law
         affecting the Business;

                  (e) Seller has obtained  and has in full force and effect,  or
         as set forth on Schedule  4.14(b) annexed  hereto,  has applied for and
         reasonably   expects  to  obtain,   all  Permits   required  under  any
         Environmental  Law for its  operation  of the  Business on the Business
         Real Property or Leased  Business Real Property and for any alterations
         or  improvements  existing at such  property at any time since June 28,
         1994;

                  (f)  as  of  the  date  of  this  Agreement,   no  changes  in
         Environmental  Law proposed,  contemplated or under  consideration by a
         Governmental  Agency will to Seller's Knowledge subject the Business to
         Liability in excess of $5,000 individually or in the aggregate or cause
         a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (g) except as set forth on Schedule 4.21 annexed  hereto,  the
         Business has neither  expressly  nor by  operation  of Law,  assumed or
         undertaken any Liability,  including without  limitation any obligation
         for Costs of Remediation of any other Person;

                  (h) Seller  has not,  and does not have any  Knowledge  of any
         other Person who has,  caused any Release or threatened  Release of any
         Hazardous Material on, in, under, or from the Business Real Property or
         Leased  Business  Real  Property nor does Seller have  Knowledge of any
         such Release,  except for any Release resulting in Damages of less than
         $5,000 individually or in the aggregate;

                  (i)  Seller  has not  received  any  written  or, to  Seller's
         Knowledge,   other  communication   indicating  or  claiming  potential
         Liability for response costs, Damages, or remediation with respect to a
         Release or threatened  Release of any Hazardous  Material in connection
         with its operation of the Business;

                  (j) the Business is not subject to any  cleanup,  remediation,
         monitoring  or corrective  action  Liability or  requirement  under any
         Environmental Law;

                  (k) Seller has not arranged for the disposal of any  Hazardous
         Material at, or  transported  any Hazardous  Material to, any site from
         which, to the Seller's  Knowledge,  there exists a Release or threat of
         Release of any Hazardous Material;

                  (l) no Lien has been or with the  passage  of time  and/or the
         giving of notice  could  reasonably  be  expected  to be imposed on the
         Business Real  Property or, to the  Knowledge of Seller,  on the Leased
         Business   Real   Property  by  any   Governmental   Agency  under  any
         Environmental Law or in connection with any Hazardous Material;


 
                                                         32

<PAGE>



                  (m) Except as set forth on Schedule  4.21 annexed  hereto,  to
         Seller's  Knowledge,  neither the Business Real Property nor the Leased
         Business  Real  Property (and any  buildings,  structures,  fixtures or
         materials on such real  property)  (i) contains or includes any friable
         asbestos,  polychlorinated biphenyls, or any underground storage tanks,
         piping,  or  sumps  (or  other  underground  structures  which  contain
         Hazardous Material),  (ii) is included or proposed for inclusion on the
         National  Priorities  List or any  similar  list  maintained  under any
         Environmental   Law,  (iii)  constitutes  a  habitat  for  any  species
         designated  as  threatened  or  endangered  pursuant to the  Endangered
         Species Act, or (iv) contains any wetlands  subject to regulation under
         the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or any other Environmental Law;
         and

                  (n) to  Seller's  Knowledge,  Seller is not  required  to give
         notice  of  or  record  or  deliver  to  any  Governmental   Agency  an
         environmental  disclosure  document  or  statement  by  virtue  of  the
         transactions set forth herein and contemplated hereby.

                  Section 4.22.  Tax Matters.

                  (a)      Except as set forth on Schedule 4.22 annexed hereto:

                           (i) Seller has filed (or joined in the filing of), or
                  will file (or join in the filing of),  all Tax  Returns  which
                  relate to the Business or the ownership of the Acquired Assets
                  required to be filed under applicable Law prior to the Closing
                  Date that relate to any material Taxes;

                           (ii) as of the time of such  filing,  Seller has paid
                  or will  have paid all Taxes  shown to be due and  payable  on
                  such Tax Returns  and, as to any such Tax Returns not filed as
                  of the date  hereof,  will pay all  Taxes  shown to be due and
                  payable thereon;

                           (iii)  Seller  has  paid,  or has  made or will  make
                  adequate provision for all material Taxes for any periods that
                  end on or before  the  Closing  Date for which no Tax  Returns
                  which relate to the Business or the  ownership of the Acquired
                  Assets  have yet been  filed and for any  periods  that  begin
                  before the Closing  Date and end after the Closing Date to the
                  extent such Taxes are  attributable to the portion of any such
                  period ending at the Closing Date;

                           (iv) Seller has not given or requested any waivers of
                  any statutes of limitation in respect of any Tax Returns which
                  relate to the Business or the ownership of the Acquired Assets
                  nor has Seller agreed to any extension of time with respect to
                  any Tax assessment or deficiency which relates to the Business
                  or the ownership of the Acquired Assets;


 
                                                         33

<PAGE>



                           (v) no material claim for assessment or collection of
                  Taxes with respect to the Business or the Acquired  Assets has
                  been asserted  against Seller and Seller is not a party to (or
                  has been  informed  that it may become a party to) any pending
                  action, proceeding or investigation by any Governmental Agency
                  for the assessment or collection of any such Taxes;

                           (vi) Seller is not a party to any agreement,  whether
                  written  or  unwritten,  providing  for  the  payment  of  Tax
                  Liabilities,  payment for Tax losses,  entitlements to refunds
                  or similar tax matters;

                           (vii) no Liens  have been  imposed  upon or  asserted
                  against any  Acquired  Assets as a result of or in  connection
                  with any failure or alleged failure, to pay any Tax;

                           (viii) no ruling  with  respect to Taxes  relating to
                  the Business or the Acquired  Assets (other than a request for
                  determination  of the status of a qualified  pension plan) has
                  been requested by or on behalf of Seller;

                           (ix) since June 28, 1994, no claim has been made by a
                  Governmental  Agency in a  jurisdiction  where Seller does not
                  currently file Tax Returns that relate to any Taxes in respect
                  of the  Business or the  Acquired  Assets that it is or may be
                  subject to taxation by that jurisdiction,  nor is Seller aware
                  that any such assertion of jurisdiction is threatened; and

                           (x) Seller has not  requested  any  extension of time
                  within  which to file any Tax Return that relates to any Taxes
                  in respect of the  Business or the  Acquired  Assets which Tax
                  Return has not been filed.

                  (b) Seller is not a party to any  agreement  that is or may be
         characterized  as a lease under the safe-harbor  leasing  provisions of
         Section  168(f)(8)  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1954 that  would
         result in any Acquired Asset being treated as owned by another  Person.
         None of the  Acquired  Assets is tax  exempt  use  property  within the
         meaning  of  Section  168(h) of the Code or  tax-exempt  bond  financed
         property within the meaning of Section 168(g)(5) of the Code.

                  (c) Seller has  withheld  and paid all  material  Taxes  which
         relate to the Business or the ownership of the Acquired Assets required
         to be  withheld,  in  connection  with any amounts paid or owing to any
         employee, creditor, independent contractor or other third party.

                  (d) For purposes of this Section  4.22,  references  to Seller
         shall also refer to any predecessor companies.


 
                                                         34

<PAGE>



                  (e) Seller is not a  "foreign  person"  within the  meaning of
         Section 1445 of the Code.

                  Section 4.23.  Interim  Operations.  Since the Interim Balance
Sheet Date,  Seller has operated the Business in the ordinary course,  except as
set forth on Schedule 6.1 annexed hereto,  consistent  with past practices,  and
except as set forth in Schedule 4.23 annexed hereto,  there has not been,  other
than in connection  with the Loom Purchase,  with respect to the Business (or if
specifically referenced, Seller) any:

                           (i)  incurrence,  or  agreement  to incur  or  become
                  subject to, any material  obligation or  Liability,  except in
                  the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice
                  or as contemplated by this Agreement;

                           (ii)  mortgage  or  pledge  of any  Acquired  Assets,
                  tangible or intangible, except for Permitted Liens;

                           (iii)  sale  or  transfer,  or  agreement  to sell or
                  transfer,  any Acquired Assets, or cancellation or payment, or
                  agreement to cancel or pay, any debts,  Liabilities or claims,
                  except in the  ordinary  course of business,  consistent  with
                  past practice;

                           (iv)  extraordinary  losses or except in the ordinary
                  course of business  consistent  with past practice,  waiver of
                  any material rights;

                           (v) increase in the rate of  compensation  payable to
                  any Business Employee, whose current total annual compensation
                  or estimated annual  compensation from the Business is $75,000
                  or more ("Significant Employee"),  over the rate being paid or
                  accrued to them as of the Interim  Balance Sheet Date,  except
                  in   accordance   with  its  prior   practices  or  employment
                  agreements;

                           (vi) termination of any Contract, agreement, license,
                  or other  instrument  relating to the Business to which Seller
                  is  a  party,  except  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business
                  consistent with past practice;

                           (vii)  accrual or  arrangement  for or payment of, or
                  agreement  to make any accrual or  arrangement  for or payment
                  of, any  bonuses or  special  compensation  of any kind to any
                  management personnel of the Business or Significant  Employee,
                  or  general  increase  in the  salary or bonus  payable  or to
                  become  payable by Seller to any other  salaried  employees or
                  hourly  employees of the Business  (other than (x) pursuant to
                  existing collective bargaining  agreements,  and (y) increases
                  granted to individual  Business Employees for merit, length of
                  service, change in position or responsibility or other reasons
                  applicable to specific Business Employees and not generally to
                  a class or group thereof);

 
                                                         35

<PAGE>



                           (viii) agreement,  written or oral, providing for the
                  employment of any senior management  personnel of the Business
                  or any severance or termination  benefits payable or to become
                  payable by Seller to any senior  management  personnel  of the
                  Business;

                           (ix) action which would have  constituted a breach of
                  any negative covenant of Seller set forth in Article VI or VII
                  if such negative covenant had applied since December 29, 1996;

                           (x)   shortages  of  materials  or  supplies  or  any
                  casualty  that  individually  or in the  aggregate  has had or
                  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  have a  Material  Adverse
                  Effect; or

                           (xi)  agreement or  understanding  to take any of the
                  actions described above in this Section 4.23.

                  Section  4.24.  Brokers.  All  negotiations  relative  to this
Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  have been  carried on by
Seller without the intervention of any other Person acting on its behalf in such
manner as to give rise to any valid claim by any such Person  against  Purchaser
for a finder's fee,  brokerage  commission or other similar  payment based on an
arrangement with Seller.

                  Section  4.25.  Products  Liability.  Except as  disclosed  in
Schedule 4.25 annexed hereto:

                  (a) there is no notice,  demand, claim, action, suit, inquiry,
         hearing,  proceeding,  notice of violation or investigation of a civil,
         criminal or administrative  nature by or before any Governmental Agency
         against or involving any product,  substance or material (collectively,
         a  "Product"),  or class of  claims  or  lawsuits  involving  a Product
         manufactured,  produced,  distributed  or sold by or on  behalf  of the
         Business,  which is pending or, to Seller's Knowledge,  threatened,  on
         behalf of the ultimate retail purchaser of any Product,  resulting from
         an alleged defect in design,  manufacture,  materials or workmanship of
         any Product manufactured, produced, distributed or sold by or on behalf
         of the Business,  or any alleged failure to warn, or from any breach of
         express or implied  specifications or warranties or  representations (a
         "Product Claim"); and

                  (b) there has not been,  nor is there under  consideration  or
         investigation by the Seller,  any Product recall,  rework,  retrofit or
         post-sale  warning  (collectively,   recalls,  reworks,  retrofits  and
         post-sale  warnings  are referred to in this  Agreement  as  "Recalls")
         conducted   by  or  on  behalf  of  Seller   concerning   any  Products
         manufactured,  produced,  distributed  or sold by or on  behalf  of the
         Business, or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any Recall conducted by or on
         behalf of any entity as a result of any  alleged  defect in any Product
         supplied by the Business.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.25 annexed
         hereto,

 
                                                         36

<PAGE>



         there is no Product Claim pending or, to Seller's Knowledge threatened,
         on behalf of a customer  of the  Business  or any  Governmental  Agency
         which  individually or in the aggregate has had or could  reasonably be
         expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  Section 4.26. Books and Records.  Seller has made available to
Purchaser   and   its   directors,   officers,   attorneys,    accountants   and
representatives  true and correct copies of all agreements,  documents and other
items  listed on the  Schedules to this  Agreement  and all books and records of
Seller  relating  primarily  to the  Business.  The books and  records of Seller
relating  primarily to the Business  accurately reflect in reasonable detail the
transactions  to which Seller is a party or by which its properties are bound in
accordance with GAAP.

                  Section 4.27.  Disclaimer of  Additional  Representations  and
Warranties; Schedules.

                  (a)  Except  as  expressly  set forth in this  Agreement,  the
         Schedules and Exhibits hereto,  and any other certificate or instrument
         delivered  pursuant  to the terms  hereof or thereof,  Seller  makes no
         representation or warranty,  including, with respect to the Business or
         its operations,  assets,  Liabilities,  or conditions,  including,  any
         representation or warranty of  merchantability,  suitability or fitness
         for a particular  purpose, or quality as to the Acquired Assets, or any
         part thereof,  or as to the condition or  workmanship  thereof,  or the
         absence of any defects therein, whether latent or patent.

                  (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
         Agreement, any item disclosed on any one Schedule shall be deemed to be
         disclosed on each Schedule,  where  relevant,  provided that a specific
         cross-reference  is made in the relevant  Schedule or its  relevance to
         another  Schedule  is readily  apparent.  Disclosure  of an item in any
         Schedule  shall  not be  deemed  to be an  admission  that such item is
         material.

                  Section 4.28.  Accruals.  As of the Interim Balance Sheet Date
and the Closing  Date,  the Business  has and will have no material  Liabilities
with respect to Plans in the aggregate,  except for Liabilities (a) reflected or
reserved for on the Interim  Balance Sheet or the Closing Date Balance Sheet, as
the case may be, (b) relating to  performance  obligations,  under  Contracts or
Permitted  Liens in accordance  with the terms and conditions  thereof which are
not required by GAAP to be reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet or the Closing
Date  Balance  Sheet,  as the case may be, or (c)  constituting  Taxes.  For the
purposes of this representation,  Plans and accruals therefor will be considered
in the aggregate and not on an individual Plan basis.


 
                                                         37

<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE V.
                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

                  Purchaser represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

                  Section   5.1.   Organization;   Good   Standing;   Power  and
Qualification.  Purchaser is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing and
in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Purchaser  has full
corporate  power and  authority  to execute  and  deliver  this  Agreement,  the
execution and delivery by Purchaser of this  Agreement and the  consummation  of
the transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly and validly  authorized by
all  necessary  corporate  action on the part of Purchaser,  and this  Agreement
constitutes  the legal,  valid and binding  obligation of Purchaser  enforceable
against  Purchaser in accordance with its terms,  except as such enforcement may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws from
time to time in effect which affect creditors'  rights  generally,  and by legal
and equitable limitations on the enforceability of specific remedies.  Purchaser
has the requisite  corporate  power and authority to own its  properties  and to
carry on the business presently being conducted by it.

                  Section 5.2. No Conflict or Violation; Consents. Except as set
forth on Schedule 5.2 annexed hereto, neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Purchaser,  nor the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  nor the  fulfillment  of the terms and  compliance  with the provisions
hereof  will  conflict  with or result  in a  material  breach of or a  material
default (or in an  occurrence  which with the lapse of time or action by a third
party, or both,  could result in a material  default) with respect to any of the
terms,  conditions or provisions of any  applicable  Judgment of any court or of
any  Governmental  Agency,  applicable to Purchaser,  or of the  Certificate  of
Incorporation or By-Laws of Purchaser, or of any indenture, Contract, agreement,
lease, or other  instrument to which Purchaser is a party or subject or by which
Purchaser or any of its  properties  or assets are bound,  or of any  applicable
Law,  to  which  Purchaser  or its  businesses  is  subject,  except  for  those
conflicts,   breaches,   defaults,   terminations,   or   accelerations,   which
individually  or in the  aggregate  could not  reasonably  be expected to have a
material  adverse  effect on  Purchaser  or  materially  impair  the  ability of
Purchaser  to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement;
provided,  however,  that  no  representation  or  warranty  is made  hereby  by
Purchaser with respect to the effect of antitrust Laws or regulations.

                  Section  5.3.  Litigation.  There  are no  actions,  causes of
action,  claims,  suits,  proceedings,  orders,  writs,  injunctions  or decrees
pending or, to the actual knowledge,  after reasonable inquiry, of the executive
officers of  Purchaser,  threatened  against  Purchaser  at Law,  in equity,  in
admiralty or otherwise,  or before or by any Governmental Agency, which seeks to
restrain or enjoin the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  Section  5.4.  Brokers.  All  negotiations  relative  to  this
Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  have been  carried on by
Purchaser  without the  intervention of any other Person acting on its behalf in
such manner as to give rise to any valid claim by any such

 
                                                         38

<PAGE>



Person against Seller for a finder's fee, brokerage  commission or other similar
payment based on an arrangement with Purchaser.

                  Section 5.5. Financial  Capacity.  The Highly Confident Letter
is  valid  and  in  full  force  and  effect.   Assuming  the  accuracy  of  the
representations  and  warranties of Seller herein and  compliance by Seller with
the covenants contained herein,  Purchaser believes that the financing described
in the Highly  Confident Letter will be available prior to Closing and Purchaser
will use reasonable best efforts to obtain such financing.

                  Section 5.6.  Disclaimer  of  Additional  Representations  and
Warranties.  Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement,  the Schedules and
the Exhibits hereto, and any other certificate or instrument  delivered pursuant
to the terms hereof or thereof, Purchaser makes no representation or warranty.


                                   ARTICLE VI.
                           CERTAIN COVENANTS OF SELLER

                  Seller  covenants  with Purchaser that from and after the date
hereof  through  the Closing  Date  (except as  expressly  set forth below or in
Schedule 6.1, or as consented to or approved by Purchaser in writing):

                  Section  6.1.  Conduct  of  Business.  Seller  shall  use  its
reasonable best efforts to:

                  (a) not  amend  its  Certificate  of  Limited  Partnership  or
         Partnership  Agreement  or merge with or into or  consolidate  with any
         other  Person,  or  change  or agree to  change  the  character  of the
         Business in any manner that would have a Material  Adverse Effect other
         than the transactions contemplated herein;

                  (b) operate the Business in the ordinary  course in accordance
         with past practices;

                  (c) use  commercially  reasonable  efforts  to keep  available
         generally  the  services of the  present  management  personnel  of the
         Business and Business Employees (including Significant Employees),  and
         preserve  generally  the  present  relationships  with  Persons  having
         business dealings with the Business;

                  (d) not make any sale, assignment,  transfer,  abandonment, or
         other  conveyance  of any  Acquired  Assets or any part thereof in each
         case having a book value of $10,000 or more or a fair  market  value in
         excess  of  $25,000,   except  (i)  transactions  pursuant  to  Assumed
         Contracts  set  forth  in  Schedule   4.16  annexed   hereto  and  (ii)
         dispositions of inventory or of worn-out or obsolete equipment for fair
         or reasonable value in the ordinary course of business  consistent with
         past practices;

 
                                                         39

<PAGE>



                  (e) to keep in full force and effect Insurance relating to the
         Business  comparable  in amount and scope to coverage  maintained by it
         (or on behalf of it) on the date hereof;  after the  Closing,  policies
         held by Seller will not be available to cover  occurrences (in the case
         of occurrence-based policies) occurring, or claims made (in the case of
         claims-made-based policies) after the Closing Date;

                  (f) not  settle,  release or  forgive  any  material  claim or
         litigation  or waive any  material  right with  respect to any Acquired
         Asset or the Business;

                  (g) not make, change or revoke, or permit to be made,  changed
         or revoked,  without the consent of Purchaser any material  election or
         method of accounting with respect to Taxes affecting or relating to the
         Business;

                  (h) not enter into, or permit to be entered into,  without the
         consent of Purchaser any closing or other  agreement or settlement with
         respect to Taxes affecting or relating to the Business;

                  (i) not enter into any employment Contract with any management
         personnel  of  the  Business  or  Business   Employee   (including  any
         Significant  Employee)  or make any loan to, or enter into any material
         transaction of any other nature with,  any management  personnel of the
         Business or Business Employee (including any Significant Employee);

                  (j)  increase  or  commit  to  increase  the  salary  or other
         compensation payable or to become payable to any Business Employees, or
         management personnel, agents or independent contractors of the Business
         (except  for normal  compensation  adjustments  to salaries or wages to
         non-management personnel, and to management personnel as required by an
         applicable employment agreement);

                  (k) to not  acquire,  lease or  dispose  or agree to  acquire,
         lease or dispose of any capital  Acquired Assets having a book value in
         excess of $5,000 or a fair market value in excess of $25,000 other than
         the Loom Purchase or in the ordinary course of business of the Business
         consistent  with past practice and except as described on Schedule 4.16
         annexed hereto; and

                  (l) to inform the  Purchaser of (i) any loss or threat of loss
         of  any  automotive  program,  (ii)  any  material  development  in any
         organizational  effort  on  behalf  of any  labor  union  set  forth on
         Schedule  4.17  annexed  hereto,  (iii)  changes in  Environmental  Law
         proposed,  contemplated or under consideration by a Governmental Agency
         which will to Seller's  Knowledge  subject the Business to Liability in
         excess of $5,000  individually  or $25,000 in the  aggregate or cause a
         Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) any material discussion or development
         of the  amendment,  termination  or  renewal  of the Loan and  Security
         Agreement  dated as of June 28, 1994  between JPS  Automotive  Products
         Corp.  and  the  CIT  Group/Equipment  Financing,  Inc.  identified  on
         Schedule 4.16 annexed hereto

 
                                                         40

<PAGE>



         and any and all agreements,  notes,  documents or allonges  executed in
         connection therewith;  provided, however, that notwithstanding anything
         to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any breach of this Section
         6.1(l) shall be deemed to be a breach of a representation  and warranty
         and not a breach of covenant.

                  Section 6.2. Legal  Proceedings.  Seller shall promptly notify
Purchaser of any claim,  action,  suit,  proceeding,  complaint,  charge, Tax or
other audit,  investigation  or  arbitration  or other formal method of settling
disputes or  disagreements  relating  primarily to the Business by or before any
Governmental  Agency,  which  after  the date  hereof  is  commenced  or, to the
Knowledge of Seller,  threatened  against Seller or against the General Partner,
the  Limited  Partner,  or  any  Business  Employee  or  management   personnel,
consultant, agent or other representative of the Business.

                  Section  6.3.  Solicitation.  Neither  Seller  nor  any of its
Subsidiaries shall (directly or indirectly)  solicit or initiate any discussions
or  negotiations  with,  participate  in any  negotiations  with, or provide any
information  to or afford any  access to the  properties,  books and  records of
Seller or the  Business  to, or  otherwise  cooperate  with,  or  facilitate  or
encourage  any effort or attempt by any Person  concerning  any merger,  sale of
substantial assets, sale of limited partnership interests or similar transaction
involving the Business.  In addition,  it shall be a breach of this Agreement by
Seller if the Limited  Partner or a Parent  Entity takes any action which Seller
is prohibited from taking under this Section 6.3.

                  Section 6.4.  Information and Access.

                  (a) Seller shall permit  representatives  of Purchaser to have
         reasonable  access during normal business hours,  and in a manner so as
         not  to  interfere  with  the  normal  operations  of  Seller  and  its
         Subsidiaries,  to all  premises,  properties,  personnel,  accountants,
         books,  records,   contracts  and  documents  of  Seller  which  relate
         primarily to the  Business  (collectively,  "Records"),  subject to the
         following exceptions:

                           (i)  Purchaser  recognizes  that certain  Records may
                  contain only incidental  information  relating to the Business
                  or  may  primarily   relate  to  the  Seller  or  any  of  its
                  Affiliates,  or the  businesses  of the  Seller  or any of its
                  Affiliates  other  than  the  Business,  and  Seller  and  its
                  Affiliates  may retain  such  Records  and Seller may  deliver
                  appropriately  excised,  but otherwise true and correct copies
                  of such Records so long as the effect of such  excising is not
                  to omit information from the Records necessary for the conduct
                  of the Business;

                           (ii) Seller and each of its Affiliates may retain any
                  Tax  Returns  so long  as  true  and  complete  copies  of the
                  portions  thereof  relating to the Business  are  delivered to
                  Purchaser  at or before the Closing or made  available  to the
                  Purchaser following the Closing; and


 
                                                         41

<PAGE>



                           (iii)  Seller  and each  post-Closing  Affiliate  may
                  retain Records that contain  information that is privileged or
                  similarly  protected from disclosure,  except for such Records
                  relating to the Acquired  Assets or Assumed  Liabilities  (but
                  only in the  event  that  the  disclosure  of the  information
                  contained  in such  Records  does not damage the  privilege of
                  such   information)  and  Records  relating  to  the  Excluded
                  Liabilities or Excluded Assets.

         After the  Closing,  Purchaser  will retain all Records  (except  those
         Records referred to in Section 6.4 (a)(i),  (ii) and (iii)) required to
         be retained  pursuant to  obligations  imposed by any  applicable  Law.
         Except as provided in the immediately  preceding sentence or in Section
         7.6  hereof,  Purchaser  will  retain all Records for a period of seven
         years after the Closing Date. After the end of such seven-year  period,
         before  disposing of any such  Records,  Purchaser  will give notice to
         such  effect  to Seller  and give  Seller  at its cost and  expense  an
         opportunity  to remove and  retain  all or any part of such  Records as
         Seller may elect. Purchaser and each of its representatives shall treat
         and hold as  confidential  information  contained  in such  Records  in
         accordance   with   the   terms   and   provisions   of  that   certain
         Confidentiality  Agreement,  entered into as of March 14, 1997, between
         Purchaser   and  Seller  (the   "Confidentiality   Agreement"),   which
         Confidentiality  Agreement  shall remain in full force and effect until
         the  Closing  Date,  whereupon  such  Confidentiality   Agreement  will
         terminate without further action.

                  (b)  Purchaser  shall  indemnify,  defend  and  hold  harmless
         Seller,  the lessors under the Leases and their  respective  Affiliates
         from and against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, losses,
         damages, Liabilities, cost and expenses (including, without limitation,
         attorneys'  fees  and  disbursements),  suffered  or  incurred  by such
         Persons  in  connection   with  (i)  Purchaser's   and/or   Purchaser's
         representatives'  entry  upon the  Business  Real  Property  or  Leased
         Business Real Property, or (ii) any and all other activities undertaken
         by  Purchaser  or  Purchaser's  representatives  with  respect  to  the
         Business  Real Property or Leased  Business  Real Property  pursuant to
         this Section 6.4.

                  Section  6.5.  Confidentiality  Agreements.  At  the  Closing,
Seller will take all such commercially  reasonable actions as may be required to
assign  to  Purchaser   the  benefits  with  respect  to  the  Business  of  all
confidentiality  agreements  relating to the  possible  sale of the  Business by
Seller.

                  Section 6.6. Certain Environmental Covenants.  Upon reasonable
request,  Seller shall promptly respond to Purchaser's requests for information,
and  make  available  to  Purchaser   copies  of  all  documents,   records  and
correspondence  in their  possession  or control  (or  available  to Seller,  if
unavailable   to   Purchaser)   relating  to  the   compliance  by  Seller  with
Environmental Laws or to the Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials
in  connection  with the  ownership of the  Acquired  Assets or operation of the
Business  by the  Seller,  whether  generated  by Seller or  others,  including,
without limitation,  environmental  audits,  environmental risk assessments,  or
site assessments of the Business Real Property or Leased Business Real

 
                                                         42

<PAGE>



Property,  documentation  regarding  off-site or on-site  disposal of  Hazardous
Materials,   spill  control  plans,   and   environmental   agency  reports  and
correspondence.  Prior to the Closing  Date,  Purchaser  shall have the right to
inspect and  investigate  the Leased  Business  Real  Property and Business Real
Property.  The  scope of the  investigation  shall  not  include  any  sampling,
monitoring,  testing, soil borings, well or wellpoint installation, or any other
physical  testing  of the  indoor or  outdoor  environment  unless  agreed to in
writing by Seller at Seller's  sole  discretion;  provided,  however,  Purchaser
shall be permitted to sample existing  groundwater  wells at the Leased Business
Real Property and the Business Real Property.

                  Section  6.7.  Management  Information  System.  For a  period
beginning on the Closing Date and ending 12 months from the date thereof, Seller
shall make  available  to  Purchaser  at no cost to  Purchaser,  the  Management
Information System (MIS) services for the Business  comparable to that which was
previously provided to the Business by Seller.

                  Section 6.8. Accounting;  Human Resources;  Credit Collection.
For a period  beginning  on the  Closing  Date and ending 120 days from the date
thereof, Seller shall provide to Purchaser, at no cost to Purchaser, accounting,
cash  management and credit  collections  personnel  support  comparable to that
which was previously  provided to the Business by Seller.  When requested by the
Purchaser,  and if the Seller has the ability to do so without (i)  unreasonably
disrupting or interfering with its or its Affiliates'  requirements or services,
(ii) hiring additional  personnel or (iii) retaining personnel that it would not
otherwise  retain,  for the period up to  December  15,  1997,  the Seller  will
provide  consulting human resources  services  relating to the Seller's employee
benefit  plans  and   responding  to  questions   regarding  the  transition  of
Transferred  Business  Employees out of those plans.  For any such services that
Seller is not otherwise  required to provide under applicable law, the Purchaser
will reimburse the Seller based on the hours involved at the hourly compensation
rate for the individuals  providing such services plus  out-of-pocket  expenses.
The  hourly  rate for Bob Cauble is $59.37 per hour and for Wanda Ball is $31.59
per hour.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained herein to the contrary,  neither
Seller  nor  any  of  its  Affiliates  nor  any of  their  respective  officers,
directors, employees, representatives or agents shall be liable to the Purchaser
or any of its  Affiliates  for any losses or damages  suffered in respect of any
services or advice provided  pursuant to this Section 6.6, other than for losses
or damages  resulting from the gross negligence or willful  misconduct of Seller
as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.  The Purchaser shall
indemnify and hold the Seller and its Affiliates and their respective  officers,
directors,  employees,  representatives and agents harmless from and against any
loss,  Liability,  damage  or  expense  (including  reasonable  legal  fees  and
expenses) suffered or incurred by or to which such persons may become subject as
a result of or arising from any service (other than for services which Seller is
required to provide under  applicable law) or advice  provided  pursuant to this
Section 6.6,  other than for any loss,  Liability,  damage or expense  resulting
from the gross negligence or willful  misconduct of Seller as finally determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction.

                  Section 6.9. Taylors  Facility.  For a period beginning on the
Closing Date and ending six months from the date  thereof,  Seller shall rent to
Purchaser the warehouse space at

 
                                                         43

<PAGE>



Seller's  Taylors  facility at a cost of $11,100 per month,  which is consistent
with historical rental allocations to the Business for such space.


                                  ARTICLE VII.
                                CERTAIN COVENANTS

                  Section 7.1. Hart-Scott-Rodino and Other Filings.

                  (a) As  promptly  as  practicable,  and in  any  event  within
         fifteen  Business  Days  following  the  execution and delivery of this
         Agreement by the parties,  Seller and Purchaser  shall each prepare and
         file, or shall cause its "ultimate  parent" (as defined in the HSR Act)
         to prepare and file,  any required  notification  and report form under
         the HSR Act, in connection with the transactions  contemplated  hereby,
         the  filing  fees for which  shall be borne by  Purchaser.  Seller  and
         Purchaser  shall,  or shall cause their  ultimate  parents to,  request
         early termination of the waiting period thereunder.

                  (b) Seller and Purchaser  shall, or shall cause their ultimate
         parents  to,  respond  with  reasonable  diligence  to any  request for
         additional information made in response to such filings.

                  (c) As promptly as  practicable,  Seller and  Purchaser  shall
         prepare  and file  any  other  application,  report,  or  other  filing
         required to be submitted to any other Governmental Agency in connection
         with the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  Section 7.2. Certain Provisions  Relating to Consents.  Seller
shall use commercially reasonable efforts prior to and after the Closing Date to
obtain all  Consents  that are  required  in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Seller shall not obtain any Consent that will be
to the economic  detriment of the Business,  including any  modification  of any
Assumed  Contract,  Lease or Permit.  Purchaser  shall  cooperate as  reasonably
necessary or desirable to secure the third party  Consents,  including,  without
limitation,  providing  to such third  party  information,  including  financial
information,  provided,  however,  that  neither  Purchaser  nor Seller  will be
required to incur any Liability or obligation  in  connection  therewith,  other
than for the underlying  matter for which such Consent was obtained as in effect
immediately prior to such Consent.

                  Section 7.3.  Nondisclosure; Noncompetition.

                  (a) From and after the  Closing  Date,  Seller  shall not use,
         divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone any proprietary, material
         non-public,  confidential or secret  information to the extent relating
         to  the  Business  (including,  without  limitation,   customer  lists,
         supplier lists and pricing and marketing arrangements with customers or
         suppliers),

 
                                                         44

<PAGE>



         and Seller shall cooperate reasonably with Purchaser in preserving such
         proprietary, confidential or secret aspects of the Business.

                  (b) For a period of four years after the Closing Date,  Seller
         will not, and will cause Collins & Aikman  Corporation  and each of its
         wholly-owned  Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly,  through any
         division,  Subsidiary or otherwise,  alone or in  association  with any
         other Person in any form or manner, (i) engage in any business activity
         which competes with the Business as currently conducted by Seller as of
         the Closing or (ii) own stock or otherwise  have an equity  interest in
         or be  affiliated  with any Person or entity  engaged  in any  Business
         activity  which  is  competitive   with  the  Business   (except  as  a
         stockholder  holding  less  than 5% of the  stock  of a  publicly  held
         corporation);  provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to
         any of the  following:  (x) in the event of an acquisition by Seller or
         Collins & Aikman  Corporation or any of their  respective  wholly-owned
         Subsidiaries  of an entity  35% or less of the  assets or  revenues  of
         which are  attributable to a business  activity which competes with the
         Business so long as the  competitive  business  which is a part of such
         entity has less then 10% of the market  share of the North  America air
         restraint fabric business, (y) in the event of an acquisition by Seller
         or Collins & Aikman Corporation or any of their respective wholly-owned
         Subsidiaries  which exceeds the  limitations  of subsection (x) of this
         Section 7.3(b), provided that Seller or Collins & Aikman Corporation or
         any of their respective wholly-owned Subsidiaries,  as the case may be,
         subsequently sells such portion of the acquired entity  attributable to
         the competing  business which exceeds the limitations of subsection (x)
         of this Section  7.3(b)  within two years from the date of  acquisition
         thereof and notifies  Purchaser of such  acquisition and intent to sell
         promptly  following the closing of the acquisition and allows Purchaser
         to participate  in any bidding  process  established  for such sale, it
         being understood that Seller or Collins & Aikman  Corporation or any of
         their respective  Affiliates may otherwise  conduct the bidding process
         in any  manner it sees fit;  or (z) to any  Person  who is or may be an
         Affiliate of Seller  (other than Collins & Aikman  Corporation  and its
         direct and indirect  Subsidiaries),  including without limitation,  The
         Blackstone Group,  Wasserstein Perella & Co., Inc. and their respective
         Affiliates (other than Collins & Aikman  Corporation and its direct and
         indirect Subsidiaries). Seller will not, for a period of two years from
         the Closing Date,  solicit for hire any Business  Employees  (including
         Significant  Employees) without the prior written consent of Purchaser.
         Seller  agrees  that  a  violation  of  this  Section  7.3  will  cause
         irreparable  injury to Purchaser,  and Purchaser  will be entitled,  in
         addition  to any other  rights  and  remedies  it may have at Law or in
         equity, to an injunction enjoining and restraining Seller from doing or
         continuing  to do any  such  violation  and  any  other  violations  or
         threatened violations of Section 7.3.

                  (c) Seller  acknowledges  and agrees  that the  covenants  set
         forth in this Section 7.3 are  reasonable and valid in scope and in all
         other  respects.  If any of such  covenants  is found to be  invalid or
         unenforceable  by  a  final  determination  of  a  court  of  competent
         jurisdiction  (i) the remaining  terms and  provisions  hereof shall be
         unimpaired and (ii) the

 
                                                         45

<PAGE>



         invalid or unenforceable  term or provision shall be deemed replaced by
         a term or  provision  that is valid  and  enforceable  and  that  comes
         closest to  expressing  the  intention of the invalid or  unenforceable
         term  or  provision.  In the  event  that,  notwithstanding  the  first
         sentence of this Section 7.3(c),  any of the provisions of this Section
         7.3 relating to scope of the covenants  contained therein or the nature
         of the  business  restricted  thereby  shall be  declared by a court of
         competent jurisdiction to exceed the maximum restrictiveness such court
         deems enforceable, such provision shall be deemed to be replaced herein
         by the maximum restriction deemed enforceable by such court.

                  Section  7.4.  Efforts.  Upon the  terms  and  subject  to the
conditions of this Agreement,  each of the parties hereto shall use commercially
reasonable  efforts to take,  or cause to be taken,  all  action,  and to do, or
cause to be done,  all things  necessary,  proper or advisable  consistent  with
applicable law to consummate and make effective in the most  expeditious  manner
practicable  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby;  provided,  however,  that
nothing in this covenant or any other  provision of this  Agreement will require
Purchaser to agree to any divestiture,  hold-separate or other similar agreement
or requirement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Purchaser will
(i) use  reasonable  efforts to satisfy the  conditions to the  availability  of
financing  referred to in Section 9.11 hereof and (ii) promptly notify Seller if
Purchaser is given notice or Purchaser  otherwise  determines that the financing
contemplated by the Highly Confident Letter will not be available.

                  Section  7.5.  Collections.  On and  after the  Closing  Date,
Purchaser  shall  have the sole  right and  authority  to  collect,  for its own
account and sole  benefit,  all monies  payable in respect of the  Business,  no
matter how or when earned, except for any monies relating to or arising from any
Excluded  Liability or Excluded  Asset. If Seller shall receive any such monies,
Seller  shall hold all such monies in trust for the sole  benefit of  Purchaser.
Within five business days after receipt thereof, Seller shall cause the transfer
and  delivery to  Purchaser  of any such monies or other  property  which it may
receive after the Closing Date in respect of the Business. Seller authorizes the
Purchaser to endorse in Seller's name all notes, checks, drafts, money orders or
other instruments of payment in respect of the foregoing which may come into the
possession of Purchaser. This right shall become irrevocable upon Closing.

                  Section 7.6. Ongoing Tax  Cooperation.  If the Closing occurs,
Seller and Purchaser shall cooperate fully with each other and make available or
cause to be made  available  to each  other in a timely  fashion  such Tax data,
prior Tax  Returns  and  filings  and  other  information  as may be  reasonably
required  for the  preparation  by  Purchaser  or  Seller  of any  Tax  Returns,
elections,  Consents  or  certificates  required  to be  prepared  and  filed by
Purchaser  or  Seller  that  relate  to the  Business  and any  audit  or  other
examination by any taxing authority,  or judicial or  administrative  proceeding
relating  to  Liability  for  Taxes.  Without  limiting  the  generality  of the
foregoing,  each of Purchaser and Seller shall retain copies of all Tax Returns,
supporting work schedules and other records  relating to tax periods or portions
thereof  ending  prior to or  including  the Closing  Date in any such case that
relate to the Business  until the later of (i) the  expiration of the statute of
limitations for the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns

 
                                                         46

<PAGE>



and other documents  relate,  without regard to extensions except for extensions
executed by that party or its  Affiliates  or extensions of which such party has
received  written notice from another party, or (ii) six years following the due
date (without extensions) for such Tax Returns; provided, however, that no party
will  dispose  of its copies  without  first  notifying  the other  parties  and
providing  such  other  parties  with a  reasonable  period  of time  to  assume
possession of such copies.  In addition,  without limiting the generality of the
foregoing,  each party  shall  make its  personnel  and those of its  Affiliates
reasonably  available for  deposition  and testimony in any Tax  controversy  or
proceeding that relates to the Business. Purchaser shall provide Seller with any
necessary  payroll records  relating to the Business  attributable to the period
prior to the Closing Date.  Purchaser  shall cooperate with Seller to the extent
reasonably  necessary for Sellers' preparation of their financial statements and
Tax Returns  that relate to the  Business  and in the sharing of  financial  and
accounting  information  with  respect  thereto  or with  respect  to any audit,
examination,  or other  proceeding  with respect  thereto.  Any  information  or
documentation  provided  pursuant to this  Section 7.6 shall not be disclosed by
the  recipient  thereof to any Person  except its  accountants  and relevant Tax
authorities or as required by applicable Law (in which case the disclosing party
shall  consult  in good  faith  with the other  party  prior to making  any such
disclosure).

                  Section 7.7. Clearance Certificates. To the extent required by
law to relieve Purchaser of any secondary  Liability for unpaid sales or similar
Taxes of Seller attributable to periods prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall,
following  execution  of  this  Agreement,  use  reasonable  efforts  to  obtain
clearance certificates or similar documents from any state Tax authority.

                  Section 7.8.  Certain Tax Matters.

                  (a)  Purchaser  and Seller shall each bear and pay one-half of
         all sales,  use,  transfer,  stamp,  conveyance,  value  added or other
         similar Taxes,  duties,  excise or governmental  charges imposed by any
         United States  federal,  state or local  Governmental  Agency,  and all
         recording  or filing fees,  notarial  fees and other  similar  costs of
         Closing  with  respect  to the  transfer  of  the  Acquired  Assets  or
         otherwise on account of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
         hereby  (collectively,  the  "Transfer  Taxes").  Each  of  Seller  and
         Purchaser,  as appropriate,  shall in a timely manner sign and swear to
         any  return,  certificate,  questionnaire  or  affidavit  as to matters
         within its  Knowledge  required in  connection  with the payment of any
         Transfer Tax.

                  (b)  Purchaser  will  prepare and file or cause to be prepared
         and filed all Tax Returns with  respect to the Acquired  Assets and the
         Business required to be filed with the appropriate  Governmental Agency
         for all taxable  periods  beginning  after the Closing Date.  Purchaser
         will make all payments required with respect to any such Tax Returns.

                  (c) Seller or an  Affiliate of Seller will prepare and file or
         cause to be prepared  and filed all Tax Returns for the Seller that are
         required to be filed with respect to the

 
                                                         47

<PAGE>



         Acquired Assets and the Business, other than Tax Returns that Purchaser
         is obligated to prepare and file pursuant to Section  7.8(b),  with the
         appropriate  Governmental  Agency.  Seller will pay or cause to be paid
         all Taxes  required to be paid with  respect to such Tax  Returns.  The
         amount of any  Income  Taxes  attributable  to a  portion  of a taxable
         period  that  includes  but does not end on the  Closing  Date shall be
         determined pursuant to the interim closing of books method.

                  (d) From the date hereof through the Closing Date,  Seller and
         Purchaser  will consult with one another with a view to  determining  a
         mutually acceptable allocation of the Purchase Price among the Acquired
         Assets. If such a mutually acceptable allocation is agreed upon, Seller
         and Purchaser  will jointly  prepare Form 8594 pursuant to Section 1060
         of the Code and Seller and Purchaser will file all of their  respective
         Tax  Returns  consistent  with  such  allocation.  If  such a  mutually
         acceptable  allocation is not agreed upon, each of Seller and Purchaser
         will be free  independently  to determine an appropriate  allocation of
         the aggregate  Purchase Price among the Acquired Assets for purposes of
         preparing and filing its own Tax Returns.

                  (e)  Purchaser  will prepare and deliver,  or will cause to be
         prepared and delivered,  within 60 calendar days of receipt of Seller's
         request  therefor,  to Seller,  Seller's standard federal and state Tax
         Return data gathering packages relating to the Business.  Such packages
         will be  prepared  on a basis  consistent  with the  prior  year's  Tax
         Returns.  In addition to providing  such packages to Seller,  Purchaser
         will  promptly  provide or cause to be  provided  to Seller  such other
         information  as  Seller  may  reasonably   request  in  order  for  the
         operations  of the  Business  to be properly  reported in Seller's  Tax
         Returns.

                  Section 7.9. W-2 Matters.  Pursuant to the alternate procedure
described by Revenue  Procedure  96-60,  Purchaser will assume  Seller's  entire
obligation  to  furnish  Forms  W-2 for the year  ending  December  31,  1997 to
Transferred  Business  Employees.  Seller will provide Purchaser the information
not  available to Purchaser  and relating to periods  ending on the Closing Date
necessary  for  Purchaser  to prepare and  distribute  Forms W-2 to  Transferred
Business  Employees for the year ending December 31, 1997,  which Forms W-2 will
include all remuneration  earned by Transferred  Business  Employees from Seller
and  Purchaser  during the year ending  December 31, 1997,  and  Purchaser  will
prepare and distribute such Forms.  The information  provided by Seller pursuant
to this  Section on 7.9 shall be true,  correct and  complete,  and Seller shall
hold Purchaser harmless and indemnify  Purchaser for any penalty or other charge
or loss  incurred by Purchaser  as a result of Seller  providing  inaccurate  or
incomplete information hereunder.

                  Section 7.10.  Ongoing Insurance Cooperation.

                  (a)  If  the  Closing  occurs,   Seller  and  Purchaser  shall
         cooperate  fully with each other and make available or cause to be made
         available  to each  other  in a timely  fashion  such  information  and
         documentation as may be reasonably required for the processing of

 
                                                         48

<PAGE>



         Insurance  claims and the  determining  of or  obtaining  of  Insurance
         coverage. Seller and Purchaser will use reasonable efforts to cooperate
         (i) to transfer to Purchaser any Insurance and administrative  services
         contracts that relate to the Business, are separately  transferable and
         that Purchaser wishes to continue as set forth on Schedule 7.10 annexed
         hereto  and  (ii)  to  cause  any  Insurance  carrier  or  third  party
         administrator  administering  workers'  compensation or other Insurance
         programs or  Liabilities  assumed by  Purchaser to deal  directly  with
         Purchaser.

                  (b) With respect to any loss, Liability or damage relating to,
         resulting  from or arising out of Seller's  ownership or conduct of the
         Business  on or prior to the  Closing  Date for which  Seller  would be
         entitled to assert,  or cause any other  Person or entity to assert,  a
         claim for recovery  under any policy of Insurance  maintained by or for
         the  benefit of Seller in respect of the  Business,  at the  request of
         Purchaser, Seller will use its reasonable best efforts to assert, or to
         assist  Purchaser to assert,  one or more claims  under such  Insurance
         covering  such loss,  Liability or damage if  Purchaser,  is not itself
         entitled to assert such claim but Seller is so entitled and Seller will
         promptly pay to Purchaser any amounts  recovered in respect of any such
         claim,  provided that all of Seller's  out-of-pocket costs and expenses
         incurred in connection with the foregoing, including without limitation
         any cost in  asserting or  assisting  in  asserting  any claim,  or any
         deductible,  self-insurance  retention,  retrospective premium or other
         like  arrangement by which Seller retains any Liability  under any such
         policy of Insurance, are promptly reimbursed by Purchaser.  Seller will
         be deemed,  solely for the purpose of  asserting  claims for  Insurance
         pursuant  to the  immediately  preceding  sentence,  to  have  retained
         Liability  for such  loss,  Liability  or damage  to the  extent of the
         policy limits of the applicable Insurance. Nothing in this Section 7.10
         will change or alter the provisions of Article XIII.

                  (c) Until the Closing  Date, if any current  Insurance  policy
         covering the  Business or the Acquired  Assets is cancelled or expires,
         Seller  will use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to have  such  current
         Insurance policy renewed or extended or to replace such policy with one
         or more policies  providing  substantially  the same type and amount of
         coverage prior to such  cancellation  or expiration,  provided that any
         such renewal, extension or replacement is on reasonable terms.

                  Section 7.11.  Bulk  Transfer  Laws.  Purchaser  hereby waives
compliance by Seller with the provisions of any so-called "bulk transfer" Law of
any  jurisdiction  in  connection  with  the  sale  of the  Acquired  Assets  to
Purchaser.

                  Section 7.12.  Enhanced  Severance  Issues.  Purchaser  hereby
covenants  and  agrees to  provide  written  notice to Seller on the  earlier of
fourteen  days prior to the Closing  Date or August 15, 1997 of any  decision by
Purchaser  not to  retain  the  services  of the  Business  Employees  listed on
Schedule  7.12  annexed  hereto  following  the Closing.  If Purchaser  fails to
provide Seller with such notice  pursuant to the preceding  sentence,  Purchaser
shall be liable for all severance  payable to the Business  Employees  listed on
Schedule 7.12 annexed hereto and shall

 
                                                         49

<PAGE>



indemnify and hold harmless Seller  therefrom.  The foregoing shall not obligate
Purchaser  to continue  the  employment  relationship  with such persons for any
specific period of time.

                  Section 7.13. Notice. Purchaser hereby covenants and agrees to
provide prompt  written notice to Seller in the event that Purchaser  reasonably
believes  that the  representations  and  warranties  of Purchaser  set forth in
Section 5.5 hereof are no longer accurate.

                  Section 7.14. Policy. Purchaser will notify Seller, within two
weeks of the date hereof, if a policy  reasonably  comparable (in material terms
and cost) to the policy  currently  maintained by the Seller with Aetna Life and
Casualty Insurance Company, with respect to Seller's Employee Retiree Life Plan,
is not  available  to the Business on a standalone  basis  (without  taking into
account  any  changes  to the  Business  or to  benefit   plans  to be  made  by
Purchaser). If Purchaser and Seller reasonably agree that such comparable policy
is not  available,  a closing  adjustment  will be made to the Purchase Price in
favor of  Purchaser,  to take into account any  increased  accrual for such Plan
which is made necessary by reason of such unavailability.


                                  ARTICLE VIII.
                       CONDITIONS TO SELLER'S OBLIGATIONS

                  The  obligation  of  Seller  to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction  (unless waived in
writing  by  Seller)  of each of the  following  conditions  on or  prior to the
Closing Date:

                  Section   8.1.    Representations    and    Warranties.    The
representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement shall be
true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof,  and shall also
be true and correct in all material  respects on and as of the Closing  Date, as
though  such  representations  and  warranties  were  made anew on and as of the
Closing Date.  Purchaser  shall have  delivered to Seller a  certificate  of its
President or a Vice President, dated the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.

                  Section 8.2.  Compliance with Agreement.  Purchaser shall have
performed  and  complied  in all  material  respects  with the  covenants  to be
performed  or  complied  with by it on or prior to the Closing  Date.  Purchaser
shall  have  delivered  to  Seller  a  certificate  of its  President  or a Vice
President, dated the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.

                  Section 8.3. No Adverse  Proceeding.  As of the Closing  Date,
there shall not have been  instituted  or be pending  any suit,  action or other
proceeding  by any  Governmental  Agency in which it is sought  to  restrain  or
prohibit or question the validity or legality of the  transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement,  nor shall any such  suit,  action or  proceeding  under any
applicable  antitrust Law, rule or regulation be threatened by any  Governmental
Agency.


 
                                                         50

<PAGE>



                  Section 8.4. Hart-Scott-Rodino. All applicable waiting periods
(and any  extensions  thereof) under the HSR Act shall have expired or otherwise
been terminated.

                  Section 8.5. Corporate  Documents.  Seller shall have received
from Purchaser  certified copies of the resolutions duly adopted by the board of
directors of Purchaser  approving the  execution and delivery of this  Agreement
and  the  consummation  of  the  transactions   contemplated  hereby,  and  such
resolutions shall be in full force and effect as of the Closing Date.

                  Section 8.6. Bill of Sale.  The Purchaser  shall have executed
and delivered the Bill of Sale to Seller.

                  Section 8.7.  Purchase Price. The Purchaser shall have paid to
the Seller the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 2.4.

                  Section 8.8.  Opinion of the Purchaser's  Counsel.  The Seller
shall have  received the opinion,  dated the Closing  Date,  of the  Purchaser's
Counsel,  substantially  in the form annexed  hereto as Exhibit B  ("Purchaser's
Opinion of Counsel").

                  Section 8.9.  C&A Credit  Agreements  Consent.  The C&A Credit
Agreements  shall  have  been  amended  or  effectively  waived  to  permit  the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated herein; provided that it shall be
a breach of this Agreement by Seller if any of its Affiliates who are parties to
such  agreements  fail  to use  their  reasonable  best  efforts  to  have  such
agreements amended or waived.

                                   ARTICLE IX.
                      CONDITIONS TO PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS

                  The  obligation  of Purchaser to consummate  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction  (unless waived in
writing by  Purchaser)  of each of the  following  conditions on or prior to the
Closing Date:

                  Section   9.1.    Representations    and    Warranties.    The
representations  and warranties of Seller  contained in this Agreement  shall be
true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof,  and shall also
be true and correct in all material  respects on and as of the Closing  Date, as
though  such  representations  and  warranties  were  made anew on and as of the
Closing Date, except for  representations  and warranties made as of a specified
date,  which  shall be true  and  correct  in all  material  respects  as of the
specified  date.  Seller shall have  delivered to Purchaser a certificate of the
President or a Vice President of the General  Partner dated the Closing Date, to
the foregoing effect.

                  Section  9.2.  Compliance  with  Agreement.  Seller shall have
performed  and  complied  in all  material  respects  with the  covenants  to be
performed or complied with by it on or

 
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<PAGE>



prior  to  the  Closing  Date.  Seller  shall  have  delivered  to  Purchaser  a
certificate of the President or a Vice President of the General  Partner,  dated
the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.

                  Section 9.3. No Adverse  Proceeding.  As of the Closing  Date,
there shall not have been  instituted  or be pending  any suit,  action or other
proceeding  by any  Governmental  Agency  in which  it is  sought  to  restrain,
prohibit or question the validity or legality of the  transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement,  nor shall any such  suit,  action or  proceeding  under any
applicable  antitrust Law, rule or regulation be threatened by any  Governmental
Agency.

                  Section 9.4. Hart-Scott-Rodino. All applicable waiting periods
(and any  extensions  thereof) under the HSR Act shall have expired or otherwise
been terminated.

                  Section    9.5.    Consents.    All    consents,    approvals,
authorizations,  registrations or filings  necessary for the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement and the execution and delivery of
this  Agreement by Seller which are listed on Schedule 4.2 annexed  hereto shall
have been obtained.

                  Section  9.6.  Corporate   Documents.   Purchaser  shall  have
received from Seller  certified  copies of the  resolutions  duly adopted by the
board of directors of the General  Partner  approving the execution and delivery
of  this  Agreement  by  Seller  and  the   consummation  of  the   transactions
contemplated  hereby,  and such resolutions shall be in full force and effect as
of the Closing Date.

                  Section 9.7. FIRPTA. Seller shall have delivered an affidavit,
dated the Closing Date, pursuant to Section 1445 of the Code (Foreign Investment
in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 affidavit) in substantially the form of Exhibit
C (the "FIRPTA Affidavit").

                  Section 9.8.  Material Adverse Effect.  Since the date hereof,
there shall not have  occurred (i) a Material  Adverse  Effect or (ii) any event
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  Section  9.9.  Bill of Sale.  Seller  shall have  executed and
delivered the Bill of Sale to Purchaser.

                  Section 9.10. Opinion of the Seller's Counsel. Purchaser shall
have  received  the  opinion,  dated  the  Closing  Date,  of  Seller's  Counsel
substantially  in the form  annexed  hereto as Exhibit D  ("Seller's  Opinion of
Counsel").

                  Section 9.11.  Financing.  The financing  contemplated  by the
highly  confident letter of BT Securities  Corporation,  dated June 9, 1997 (the
"Highly  Confident  Letter") (a copy of which has been  previously  delivered by
Purchaser to Seller),  shall be  available to Purchaser on terms not  materially
less favorable than those contemplated thereby or alternative financing shall be
available from another source, including a source identified by Seller, on terms

 
                                                         52

<PAGE>



that in the aggregate,  are not materially  less favorable to Purchaser than the
terms set forth in the Highly Confident Letter.

                  Section 9.12. Loom Purchase. Seller shall have consummated the
Loom Purchase.

                  Section 9.13. Intellectual Property.  Seller shall have caused
JPS  Automotive  Products  Corp.,  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Seller  ("JPS
Products"), to transfer to Purchaser all of its right, title and interest in all
applications and registrations for Intellectual Property listed on Schedule 4.13
annexed hereto that is owned by JPS Products.

                  Section  9.14.  Limited  Partner  Guarantee.  Collins & Aikman
Products Co., the limited partner of Seller (the "Limited Partner"),  shall have
executed the  Guarantee  substantially  in the form annexed  hereto as Exhibit E
(the "Guarantee").

                  Section 9.15.  Intentionally left blank.

                  Section 9.16.  1994  Financial  Statements.  Seller shall have
delivered to Purchaser the 1994 Financial Statements.

                  Section  9.17.  SC  Seller's  Affidavit.   Seller  shall  have
delivered an affidavit,  dated the Closing Date, pursuant to South Carolina Code
Section 12-8-580 et. seq.  substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit F
(the "SC Seller's Affidavit").

                  Section 9.18.  KeyBank Consent.  Purchaser shall have obtained
the  consent  of  KeyBank  National  Association  ("KeyBank")  under the  Credit
Agreement,  dated as of May 21, 1997, among  Purchaser,  Phoenix Airbag GmbH and
Automotive Safety Components  International  Limited, as borrowers,  KeyBank, as
administrative  agent,  and the lending  institutions  named therein.  Purchaser
agrees to use reasonable best efforts to obtain such consent.

                                   ARTICLE X.
                              DELIVERIES AT CLOSING

                  Section  10.1.  Deliveries  by Seller at the  Closing.  At the
Closing,  Seller shall  deliver,  or cause to be delivered,  to  Purchaser,  the
following items:

                  (a) The duly  executed  officer's  certificates  and certified
         resolutions referred to in Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.6;

                  (b)      The Consents listed on Schedule 4.2 annexed hereto;

                  (c)      Sellers' Opinion of Counsel;


 
                                                         53

<PAGE>



                  (d)      The Bill of Sale;

                  (e)   Certificates   issued   by   appropriate    Governmental
         Authorities evidencing,  as of a recent date, the good standing and tax
         status of the Seller in its jurisdiction of formation;

                  (f) A copy of the  Certificate of Limited  Partnership and the
         Partnership  Agreement,  certified by the President or a Vice President
         of the General Partner;

                  (g) Except to the extent  physically  located at the  Business
         Real Property, the books and records necessary to operate the Business;

                  (h) All other previously  undelivered documents that Seller is
         required to deliver to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement;

                  (i) Duly  executed  and  acknowledged  transfer  Tax and other
         required Tax forms  reasonably  required by Purchaser to consummate the
         transactions   contemplated   hereby,  all  in  the  form  required  by
         applicable Law;

                  (j) Duly executed  warranty  deed  conveying the Business Real
         Property  to  Purchaser  in form  substantially  similar  to the  deeds
         described on Schedule 4.11(a) annexed hereto.

                  (k)  Duly  executed   instrument  of  transfer   conveying  to
         Purchaser or a wholly-owned  Subsidiary thereof all of the right, title
         and interest of JPS Products in all applications and  registrations for
         Intellectual  Property  listed on Schedule 4.13 annexed  hereto that is
         owned by JPS Products;

                  (l)      The Guarantee duly executed by the Limited Partner;

                  (m)      The FIRPTA Affidavit; and

                  (n)      The SC Seller's Affidavit.

                  Section 10.2.  Deliveries by Purchaser at the Closing.  At the
Closing,  Purchaser  shall  deliver,  or cause to be delivered,  to Seller,  the
following items:

                  (a) The duly executed  officer's  certificates  referred to in
         Sections 8.1, 8.2, and 8.5;

                  (b)      The Consents listed on Schedule 5.2 annexed hereto;

                  (c)      Purchaser's Opinion of Counsel;

 
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<PAGE>



                  (d)      The Bill of Sale;

                  (e)      The Purchase Price in accordance with Section 2.4;

                  (f) A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation  and By-Laws of
         the  Purchaser,  certified by the President or a Vice  President of the
         Purchaser; and

                  (g) All other previously  undelivered documents that Purchaser
         is required to deliver to Seller pursuant to this Agreement; and

                                   ARTICLE XI.
                                   TERMINATION

                  Section 11.1.  Termination.  Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary  notwithstanding,  this  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby may be  terminated  in any of the  following  ways at any time before the
Closing and in no other manner:

                  (a)      By mutual written consent of Purchaser and Seller; or

                  (b) After  September 15, 1997 (such date to be extended by one
         day for each day after July 14, 1997 that the 1994 Financial Statements
         are not delivered) by Purchaser or Seller (if such terminating party is
         not then in default of any  obligation  hereunder),  if the Closing has
         not  occurred on or before  such date,  unless such date is extended by
         mutual consent of the parties hereto.

                  (c) By either Purchaser or Seller, if any Governmental  Agency
         shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or
         Judgment  which  has the  effect  of  prohibiting  consummation  of the
         transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (d) By  Purchaser,  if it  becomes  apparent  that  any of the
         conditions  (other than the  financing  condition  set forth in Section
         9.11) to the  obligations of Purchaser  contained in Article IX of this
         Agreement  required  to have been met on or prior to the  Closing  Date
         will be  incapable  of being met on or prior to the date  specified  in
         Section  11.1(b),  and such failure has not been waived by Purchaser or
         cured by Seller.

                  (e)  By  Seller,  if it  becomes  apparent  that  any  of  the
         conditions to the  obligations  of Seller  contained in Article VIII of
         this  Agreement  required  to have been met on or prior to the  Closing
         Date will be incapable  of being met on or prior to the date  specified
         in Section  11.1(b),  and such failure has not been waived by Seller or
         cured by Purchaser.

                  (f) By Seller if BT  Securities,  Inc.  withdraws  the  Highly
         Confident Letter or Purchaser notifies Seller that BT Securities,  Inc.
         has informed Purchaser that the financing

 
                                                         55

<PAGE>



         contemplated  by the Highly  Confident  Letter  will not be obtained or
         that Purchaser has determined that such financing is not available.

                  (g) By Purchaser if (i) BT Securities,  Inc. has withdrawn the
         Highly Confident Letter or BT Securities,  Inc. has informed  Purchaser
         that the financing contemplated by the Highly Confident Letter will not
         be  obtained,  (ii)  Purchaser  shall have so  notified  Seller,  (iii)
         Purchaser shall have used reasonable best efforts to obtain alternative
         financing on terms that,  in the  aggregate,  are not  materially  less
         favorable to Purchaser than the terms set forth in the Highly Confident
         Letter,  and (iv)  financing  shall not be available to Purchaser  from
         another source within 45 calendar days after Purchaser is notified that
         the Highly  Confident  Letter has been  withdrawn or that the financing
         contemplated   thereby  will  not  be  obtained,   including  a  source
         identified  by  Seller,  on  terms  that,  in the  aggregate,  are  not
         materially  less favorable to Purchaser than the terms set forth in the
         Highly Confident Letter.

                  Section  11.2.  Effect  of  Termination.  In  the  event  this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11.1, all further obligations of the
parties  hereunder  shall  terminate,  except for the  obligations  set forth in
Sections  6.4(b),  14.4, 14.5 and 14.9 and the  Confidentiality  Agreement,  and
except that  nothing in this  Article XI shall  relieve any party  hereto of any
Liability  for  breach  of  any  of  the  covenants  or  breach  of  any  of the
representations or warranties contained in this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE XII.

              COVENANTS RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEE MATTERS

                  Section  12.1.   Offer  of  Employment,   Welfare  and  Fringe
Benefits.

                  (a)  Effective as of the Closing Date,  Purchaser  shall offer
         employment to each Business  Employee in the same  positions and at the
         same  level of wages  and/or  salary  as in  effect  for such  Business
         Employee on the business day  immediately  preceding  the Closing Date;
         provided, however, except as may be specifically required by applicable
         law or any Contract,  the Purchaser  shall not be obligated to continue
         any employment  relationship with any Transferred Business Employee for
         any specific period of time.

                  (b) Purchaser shall be solely responsible for all compensation
         accruing  on and after the  Closing  Date with  respect to  Transferred
         Business Employees. Purchaser shall also assume as an Assumed Liability
         and be solely responsible for all compensation accrued but unpaid as of
         the Closing Date with respect to the  Transferred  Business  Employees.
         Nothing in this Section  12.1(c) shall be construed in any way to limit
         or diminish the  representations  and warranties of Seller contained in
         Article IV hereof.


 
                                                         56

<PAGE>



                  (c) Except as  provided  in Section  12(d) and  subject to the
         reimbursement  obligations  referred to in this Section  12.1(c) below,
         Seller  shall,  with  respect to  Business  Employees,  continue  to be
         responsible  after the Closing Date for any welfare  benefits or claims
         (whether  submitted before, on or after the Closing Date) which will by
         reason of events  which took place  prior to the  Closing  Date  become
         payable under any group insurance (including,  without limitation,  the
         Term Life Insurance  under the Group  Protection  Plan for Employees of
         JPS automotive L.P.  (Salaried  Employees) and (Hourly  Employees) (the
         "Seller's Group Life Policy"), the Group Long Term Disability Insurance
         Income  Protection for Salaried  Employees of JPS Automotive  L.P., the
         JPS Automotive  L.P.  Voluntary Group Accident  Insurance  Programs for
         Full-Time  Hourly  Employees and their  Families and the JPS Automotive
         Voluntary Group Accident  Insurance Programs for Salaried Employees and
         their  Families),  welfare  benefits for purposes of complying with the
         workman's  compensation  law or group health or dental plan (including,
         without limitation, the Health Care Plan for Employees or Dependents of
         The Group  Protection  Plan for Employees of JPS Automotive  L.P., (the
         "Seller's  Group Health  Plan") and the JPS  Automotive  L.P.  Flexible
         Benefits Program (the "Seller's  Flexible Benefit  Program")),  in each
         case,  affecting  Business  Employees.  Subject  to  the  reimbursement
         obligations  referred to in this Section  12.1(c)  below,  Seller shall
         continue to be responsible  for any benefits or claims under such plans
         arising by reason of events which took place  before the Closing  Date.
         In the case of health benefits,  the event referred to in the foregoing
         sentence is the  provision  of the service for which  reimbursement  or
         payment  is  sought  by  the  employee  and in the  case  of  long-term
         disability benefits,  the event referred to is the onset of disability.
         Subject to the  reimbursement  obligations  referred to in this Section
         12.1(c) below,  on or after the Closing Date,  Seller shall continue to
         be  responsible  for extended  benefits after  termination  provided to
         Transferred Business Employees who are hospitalized at the Closing Date
         under the terms of Seller's  group health or dental plan (the "Extended
         Health  Benefits") and extended  death benefits for Business  Employees
         who are  disabled at the  Closing  Date under the  Seller's  Group Life
         Policy.  After the Closing Date,  Seller shall continue to honor claims
         by Business  Employees  under the JPS  Automotive  L.P.  Dependent Care
         Spending Account Program (the "Seller's Dependent Care Program"),  with
         respect to deferrals made by such Business  Employees during 1997 up to
         the Closing Date, based on eligible dependent care expenses incurred at
         any time during 1997,  whether  before or after the Closing  Date.  Any
         out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred  by Seller  (including  the amount of
         claims paid by it, the direct  out-of-pocket  costs of processing those
         claims and a pro rata share of indirect  out-of-pocket costs, including
         without limitation,  the pro rata share of administrative fees to third
         party  administrators  of the Plans) by reason of the payment of claims
         under this  Section  12.1(c),  to the extent not covered by  insurance,
         shall be  billed  to  Purchaser  and  promptly  reimbursed  to  Seller;
         provided,  however,  that  nothing  contained  in this  sentence  shall
         undermine  the ability of  Purchaser  to make a claim for a breach of a
         representation or warranty.


 
                                                         57

<PAGE>



                  (d)  Purchaser  shall  assume as an Assumed  Liability  and be
         solely  responsible  for all  Liability  of Seller for  post-retirement
         medical and post-retirement life insurance benefits and/or coverage for
         Business Employees  (including without limitation  Transferred Business
         Employees)  and Former  Business  Employees and any  dependents of such
         Business  Employees  and  Former  Business  Employees.  Nothing in this
         Section  12.1(d) shall be construed in any way to limit or diminish the
         representations  and  warranties  of Seller  contained  in  Article  IV
         hereof.

                  (e) Purchaser shall make available to all Transferred Business
         Employees who are  participating  in Seller's  group health and medical
         plan  immediately  prior to the Closing  Date group  health and medical
         coverage  which has no  waiting  period for such  Transferred  Business
         Employees with respect to eligibility to enroll and  participate and no
         exclusions or  limitations  based on  preexisting  conditions  for such
         Transferred  Business  Employees,  other than any waiting  periods with
         respect to such  exclusions or limitations  already  applicable to such
         Transferred  Business Employees,  if not longer than would otherwise be
         applicable  under  Purchaser's  Plan. For purposes of  determining  the
         amount of any benefit under  Purchaser's group health and medical plan,
         all service of Transferred  Business  Employees credited under Seller's
         group  health  and  medical  plan  shall be  treated  as  service  with
         Purchaser.  If the  employment  of a Transferred  Business  Employee is
         terminated by Purchaser on or after the Closing Date,  Purchaser  shall
         fulfill its obligations,  to the extent required by law with respect to
         such Transferred  Business Employee under Section 4980B of the Code and
         Title  I,  Subtitle  B,  Part 6 of  ERISA  ("COBRA").  Seller  shall be
         required to comply with the provisions of COBRA, to the extent required
         by law, for Business Employees and Former Business Employees who do not
         become  Transferred  Business  Employees  and  Purchaser  shall have no
         Liability  under  COBRA as to  Business  Employees  or Former  Business
         Employees who do not become Transferred Business Employees.

                  Section 12.2.     Seller Plans.

                  (a) As of the Closing  Date,  Seller agrees to take all action
         necessary,  including  amendment  of the  Retirement  Pension  Plan for
         Employees of JPS Automotive  L.P. (the "Seller's  Retirement  Plan") to
         fully vest the accrued benefits of all Transferred  Business  Employees
         under  the  Seller's   Retirement  Plan.  Accrued  benefits  having  an
         actuarial  present  value  of  $3,500  or less  based  on the  interest
         assumption  currently in the Sellers's Retirement Plan for such purpose
         will  automatically be cashed out in accordance with current provisions
         of  such  plan  and  shall  be  eligible  for  direct  rollover  at the
         distributee's election.

                  (b)  Purchaser  shall,  effective  as  of  the  Closing  Date,
         establish or designate a plan intended to qualify under Section  401(a)
         of the Code and a trust  maintained  thereunder  intended  to be exempt
         from  federal  income  taxation  under  Section 401 of the Code for the
         benefit of Transferred Business Employees ("Purchaser's Plan").

 
                                                         58

<PAGE>



         Purchaser  shall  cause  Purchaser's  Plan  to  accept  as  a  rollover
         contribution,  pursuant to Sections  401(a)(31) and 402(c) of the Code,
         the lump sum value of the accrued  benefits  from  Seller's  Retirement
         Plan as to which Transferred Business Employees' designate  Purchaser's
         Plan as the  recipient  of  rollover  contributions.  Seller  agrees to
         notify the Transferred  Business  Employees that if they receive a lump
         sum distribution from Seller's  Retirement Plan they have the option to
         take such  distribution in cash or make a direct  rollover  pursuant to
         Sections 401(a)(31) and 402(c) of the Code to an individual  retirement
         account  or  annuity  or  to   Purchaser's   Plan.  All  such  rollover
         contributions  shall be  required  to be in cash.  Purchaser  agrees to
         accept rollover  contributions from Transferred  Business Employees who
         elect to make such rollover within 180 days following the Closing Date.

                  (c)  The  Business  Employees   participate  in  the  Savings,
         Investment and Profit Sharing Plan of JPS Automotive,  L.P.  ("Seller's
         Savings Plan"). No earlier than January 1, 1998 and no later than March
         31, 1998 (or as soon as practicable thereafter), the Seller shall cause
         the  trustee of the  Seller's  Savings  Plan to transfer to the funding
         agent of  Purchaser's  Plan,  for the benefit of  Transferred  Business
         Employees,  an amount,  in cash,  equal to the total account  balances,
         including actual investment  earnings or losses through the date of the
         last  valuation,   held  under  the  Seller's   Savings  Plan  for  the
         Transferred  Business  Employees,  except  for any  amounts as to which
         withdrawal requests have been duly submitted prior to such transfer and
         which  shall  be  paid by the  Seller's  Savings  Plan  to  Transferred
         Business  Employees in accordance with ERISA and the Code and the terms
         of the Seller's Savings Plan (the  "Transferred  Assets").  Purchaser's
         Plan shall provide, as of the date of such transfer,  benefits for each
         Transferred  Business  Employee  which  are  equal to such  Transferred
         Business  Employees'  respective  account  balances  (including any net
         earnings or losses accrued  thereon from the Closing Date to the actual
         date of the last valuation)  under the Seller's  Savings Plan as of the
         date of the last valuation in addition to the account  balance (if any)
         to which such  Transferred  Business  Employees  are entitled  based on
         their  participation in Purchaser's Plan on and after the Closing Date.
         Pending the  transfer of the  Transferred  Assets,  the accounts of the
         Transferred  Business  Employees shall remain in the trust fund for the
         Seller's  Savings  Plan and  Seller  shall  cause  the  trustee  of the
         Seller's  Savings  Plan  to  pay  any  current  benefits  or  make  any
         distributions  to  Transferred  Business  Employees,  including but not
         limited to such  benefits  as may be payable  to  Transferred  Business
         Employees on account of termination of employment  with  Purchaser,  as
         they  become  due.  Between the date hereof and the date of transfer of
         the Transferred  Assets,  Seller shall  administer the Seller's Savings
         Plan in compliance with all the applicable laws.

                  (d) Seller and Purchaser agree to provide each other with such
         records and  information  as they may  reasonably  request  relating to
         their respective  obligations under this section or the  administration
         of the Seller's Savings Plan or Purchaser's Plan.


 
                                                         59

<PAGE>



                  Section 12.3. Crediting of Service. From and after the Closing
Date,  Purchaser shall credit to the  Transferred  Business  Employees,  for all
purposes under all employee  benefit plans,  employee  benefit  arrangements and
employee  compensation  policies and practices of  Purchaser,  all prior service
recognized  by  Seller  with  respect  to such  Transferred  Business  Employees
immediately prior to the Closing Date for purposes of eligibility to participate
in, vesting or payment of benefits under,  and eligibility for early  retirement
or any subsidized benefit provided under, but not, except as provided in Section
12.1 and this  Section  12.3,  for  purposes  of  determining  the amount of any
benefit  under any  employee  benefit  plan  (including  but not  limited to any
"employee  benefit  plan" as  defined in Section  3(3) of ERISA)  maintained  by
Purchaser.  For purposes of computing deductible amounts (or like adjustments or
limitations on coverage) under any "welfare plan" (as defined in Section 3(1) of
ERISA), expenses and claims previously recognized for similar purposes under the
applicable  welfare  plan of  Seller  shall  be  credited  or  recognized  under
Purchaser's welfare plan.  Notwithstanding  anything in this Section 12.3 to the
contrary,  Purchaser shall give the Transferred  Business  Employees full credit
for all prior  service  recognized  by Seller with  respect to such  Transferred
Business  Employees  immediately prior to the Closing Date under the Purchaser's
vacation pay plan or policy.

                  Section  12.4.  No  Rights  to  Employees.   Nothing  in  this
Agreement  expressed  or  implied  shall  confer  upon  any  employee  or  legal
representative  thereof  or  any  collective  bargaining  agent  any  rights  or
remedies,  including,  without limitation,  any right to employment or continued
employment for any specified  period,  of any nature or kind whatsoever under or
by reason of this Agreement.


                                  ARTICLE XIII.
                                 INDEMNIFICATION

                  Section  13.1.  Survival.   All  of  the  representations  and
warranties  of  Seller  contained  in  Article  IV of this  Agreement  or in any
certificate  delivered by Seller  pursuant to this  Agreement  shall survive the
Closing  and  continue  in  full  force  and  effect:  (a)  in the  case  of the
representations  and warranties of Seller  contained in Section 4.22, until five
months after the  expiration of the statute of  limitations  with respect to the
matter to which the claim relates,  (b) in the case of the  representations  and
warranties of Seller contained in Section 4.21, August 15, 2000, (c) in the case
of the  representations  and warranties of Seller  contained in Section 4.11(a),
until  November 11,  2006,  and (d) in the case of any other  representation  or
warranty of Seller contained in this Agreement  (other than the  representations
and warranties of Seller contained in Sections 4.1, 4.3, and 4.24  (collectively
the "Perpetual  Representations"))  or any certificate delivered by Seller for a
period of sixteen months from the Closing Date;  provided however that Purchaser
will give written notice to Seller of any matter of which it becomes aware as to
which it intends to make a claim in  respect of any of the  representations  and
warranties  referred  to in this clause (d) as  promptly  as  practicable  after
Purchaser  has actual  knowledge  of facts  which a  reasonable  person  (having
knowledge of this Agreement) would believe  reasonably might impose Liability on
Seller   pursuant  to  the   indemnification   provisions  of  this   Agreement.
Notwithstanding

 
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the  foregoing,  (i) any notice  given in  accordance  with Section 14.1 of this
Agreement claiming an alleged breach of any representation or warranty hereunder
will without further action extend the survival period for the representation or
warranty alleged to have been breached as applied to the circumstances set forth
in such notice until  immediately  after the final  resolution of the matter and
(ii) to the extent that any representation or warranty of Seller is qualified by
the phrase  "Material  Adverse  Effect," the portion of the  definition  of such
phrase that states "or materially impair the ability of Seller to consummate the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement" shall not survive the Closing. The
Perpetual  Representations,  the  representations  and  warranties  of Purchaser
contained  in  Sections  5.1 and 5.4,  and all of the  covenants  of Seller  and
Purchaser  contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing and continue in
full force and effect forever thereafter.

                  Section  13.2.   Indemnification  Provisions  for  Benefit  of
Purchaser.

                  (a) Seller agrees to indemnify  Purchaser  and its  Affiliates
         against (i) any Damages  Purchaser  suffers arising out of or resulting
         from  Seller's  breach  of any of its  representations,  warranties  or
         covenants  contained in this Agreement or any certificate  delivered by
         Seller  pursuant to this  Agreement and provided  that, as to any claim
         for breach of representations or warranties,  Purchaser makes a written
         claim for indemnification against Seller within the applicable survival
         period,  if applicable,  and (ii) any and all Damages related to any of
         the Excluded Liabilities;  provided, however, Seller shall not have any
         obligation  to  indemnify   Purchaser  from  and  against  any  Damages
         resulting from the breach of any  representation  or warranty of Seller
         (as opposed to any covenant of Seller)  contained in Article IV of this
         Agreement (other than Perpetual  Representations):  (x) until Purchaser
         has  suffered  aggregate  Damages,  by  reason  of  all  such  breaches
         (excluding  breaches or series of related breaches resulting in Damages
         of less than  $5,000),  in excess of $250,000 (or $150,000 in the event
         of  a  breach  of  Section  4.28  hereof  (the  "Plan   Basket"))  (the
         "Deductible")  (after  which  point  Seller will be  obligated  only to
         indemnify  Purchaser from and against  further Damages in excess of the
         Deductible),  (y) in the case of a breach,  or alleged  breach,  of the
         representations and warranties contained in Section 4.21, to the extent
         that Purchaser has not complied with the provisions of Section 13.5, or
         (z)  notwithstanding   anything  to  the  contrary  contained  in  this
         Agreement,  to the extent the aggregate amount that Seller has actually
         indemnified   Purchaser  for  prior  breaches  of  representations  and
         warranties of Seller contained in Article IV of this Agreement  exceeds
         the  Purchase  Price (the  "Cap").  Breaches  of Section  4.28 shall be
         applied first against the Plan Basket and thereafter,  to the extent of
         any excess, against the $250,000 Deductible.

                  (b)  Without   limiting  the   generality  or  effect  of  the
         foregoing,  Seller shall indemnify,  defend and hold harmless Purchaser
         and  any of its  Affiliates  from  and  against  any  and  all  Damages
         resulting from or arising out of any of the following:


 
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                           (i) Subject to Section 13.5, any business or property
                  formerly  operated by the Business or any  predecessor but not
                  operated by the Business or included in the Acquired Assets at
                  the Closing;

                           (ii) Any  claim of any  creditor  of Seller or any of
                  its  Affiliates  that  is not an  Assumed  Liability,  whether
                  arising prior to, on or after the Closing Date; or

                           (iii)  except  with  respect to the Plans  identified
                  under Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, and 25
                  on Schedule  4.18(a)  annexed hereto and in Schedule  4.18(j))
                  (x) any  Liability  to any  Former  Business  Employee  or any
                  employee of any  predecessor  of Seller as of the Closing Date
                  arising under any employee  welfare  benefit plan,  including,
                  without limitation,  post-retirement  health benefits,  to the
                  extent not fully funded  immediately  prior to the Closing and
                  (y)  except  as  set  forth  in  Section  13.3(w)  below,  any
                  severance or other benefit payable to any Business Employee or
                  Former  Business  Employee by reason of this  Agreement or the
                  transactions   contemplated   hereby,    including,    without
                  limitation,   any  stay  bonus,   golden  parachute  or  other
                  change-in-control payment or benefit;

                           (iv) (A) Any breach of the 1994 Acquisition Agreement
                  by JPSGP Inc.,  Foamex-JPS  Automotive L.P.,  Seller or any of
                  their  respective   Affiliates  to  the  extent  occurring  or
                  commencing,  in whole or in part,  prior to the  closing  date
                  thereof and (B) all Taxes of another  Person assumed by Seller
                  pursuant to the 1994  Acquisition  Agreement  which  Seller is
                  obligated to pay.

                  (c) The  Indemnification  provided for in Sections 13.2(a) and
         13.2(b)  shall  survive  any  investigation  at any time  made by or on
         behalf of Purchaser or any knowledge or information  that Purchaser may
         have.

                  (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
         Agreement, including this Section 13.2, Purchaser shall not be entitled
         to  indemnity  hereunder  if and to the  extent  that there has been an
         increase in a Liability or contra-asset  with respect to the matter for
         which  indemnification  is sought in the period from May 3, 1997 to the
         Closing Date as reflected on the Closing Date Balance  Sheet as finally
         adjusted in connection with the computation of Actual Net Worth Amount.

                  (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
         Agreement, including this Section 13.2, Purchaser shall not be entitled
         to  indemnity  hereunder  for any  breach  of  Section  4.11(a),  until
         Purchaser  has first made, or has caused Seller to first make, a demand
         against the insurer under any available  title  insurance and Purchaser
         has  concluded  in its sole  discretion  that such insurer is unable or
         unwilling to comply with such demand.


 
                                                         62

<PAGE>



                  Section  13.3.   Indemnification  Provisions  for  Benefit  of
Seller.  Purchaser  agrees to indemnify  Seller and its  Affiliates  against any
Damages  Seller  suffers  arising  out of or  resulting  from (w) any  Liability
incurred by Seller for a severance payment to any Transferred  Business Employee
to the extent that such Liability results from the failure of Purchaser to offer
a benefit package that is comparable to the benefit package maintained by Seller
with  respect  to such  employee,  (x) the  Assumed  Liabilities,  (y) any other
obligation or liability of the Business of whatever kind and nature,  primary or
secondary, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, known or unknown, whether
or not  accrued,  arising  with  respect  to  periods  on or after the  Closing,
including, without limitation, with respect to employee benefit plans, practices
and arrangements of the Purchaser and with respect to all compensation  accruing
on and after the Closing Date with  respect to  Transferred  Business  Employees
(other  than  Excluded  Liabilities)  or (z)  Purchaser's  breach  of any of its
representations,  warranties  or covenants  contained  in this  Agreement or any
certificate delivered by Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement and provided that,
as to any claim for breach of  representations  or  warranties,  Seller  makes a
written  claim for  indemnification  against  Purchaser  within  the  applicable
survival  period.  Nothing in this Section 13.3 shall be construed in any way to
limit or diminish the  representations  and  warranties  of Seller  contained in
Article IV hereof.

                  Section 13.4.  Matters Involving Third Parties.

                  (a)  If  any  third  party  notifies  any  party  hereto  (the
         "Indemnified  Party") with respect to any matter which may give rise to
         a claim  for  indemnification  against  the  other  party  hereto  (the
         "Indemnifying  Party")  under this Article XIII,  then the  Indemnified
         Party shall use  reasonable  efforts to notify the  Indemnifying  Party
         thereof  promptly and in any event within ten days after  receiving any
         written notice from a third party; provided,  however, that no delay on
         the part of the Indemnified  Party in notifying the Indemnifying  Party
         shall  relieve the  Indemnifying  Party from any  obligation  hereunder
         unless,  and then solely to the extent that, the Indemnifying  Party is
         actually prejudiced thereby.

                  (b) Once the Indemnified  Party has given notice of the matter
         to the Indemnifying  Party,  the Indemnified  Party may, subject to the
         Indemnifying  Party's  rights  to assume  the  defense  of such  matter
         pursuant  to  paragraph  (c) below,  defend  against  the matter in any
         manner it deems appropriate.

                  (c) The Indemnifying  Party may at any point in time choose to
         assume the defense of all of such matter, in which event:

                           (i)  the   Indemnifying   Party   shall   defend  the
                  Indemnified  Party  against  the  matter  with  counsel of its
                  choice reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party,

                           (ii)  the  Indemnified   Party  may  retain  separate
                  counsel  at  its  sole  cost  and  expense  (except  that  the
                  Indemnifying Party shall be responsible for the fees

 
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<PAGE>



                  and expenses of one separate  co-counsel  for all  Indemnified
                  Parties to the extent the  Indemnified  Party is  advised,  in
                  writing  by its  counsel,  that  either  (x) the  counsel  the
                  Indemnifying Party has selected has a conflict of interest, or
                  (y) there  are legal  defenses  available  to the  Indemnified
                  Party that are different from or additional to those available
                  to the  Indemnifying  Party  (but  only to the  extent of such
                  additional defenses)), and

                           (iii) the  Indemnifying  Party  shall  reimburse  the
                  Indemnified  Party  for the  reasonable  costs of  defense  or
                  investigation  for the period prior to the  assumption  of the
                  defense.

                  (d)   Assumption   of  the   defense  of  any  matter  by  the
         Indemnifying   Party  shall  without   further  action   constitute  an
         irrevocable waiver by the Indemnifying Party of its right to claim at a
         later  date that such third  party  action  for which the  defense  was
         assumed is not a proper  matter for  indemnification  pursuant  to this
         Article XIII.

                  (e) The Indemnified  Party shall not consent to the entry of a
         Judgment or enter into any settlement  with respect to any matter which
         may give rise to a claim for indemnification  without the prior written
         consent  of  the   Indemnifying   Party,   which  consent  may  not  be
         unreasonably  withheld or  delayed.  The  Indemnifying  Party shall not
         consent to the entry of a Judgment with respect to any matter which may
         give rise to a claim for  indemnification  or enter into any settlement
         which does not include a provision whereby the plaintiff or claimant in
         the matter  releases  the  Indemnified  Party from all  liability  with
         respect  thereto,  without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
         Party (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

                  Section   13.5.    Certain    Limitations   on   Environmental
Indemnification.

                  (a) Purchaser and Seller agree that except as provided in this
         Agreement or the Guarantee,  Purchaser  forever waives any right it has
         or may in the future have  against the Parent  Entities or Seller under
         any Environmental Law (collectively, "Environmental Losses").

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Agreement to
         the contrary,  Seller shall have no  obligation to indemnify  Purchaser
         pursuant to Section 13.2 for Environmental  Losses unless,  and only to
         the extent  that,  after the  Closing  Date,  Purchaser,  or any of its
         Affiliates,  incurs,  undertakes to incur,  or becomes  liable to incur
         Costs  of  Remediation  as a  result  of a  breach  of this  Agreement;
         provided,  however,  that  nothing  herein will  require  that Costs of
         Remediation  be  incurred,  undertaken  to be  incurred or liable to be
         incurred  prior to the  expiration of the survival  period set forth in
         Section 13.1 so long as notice of breach or alleged breach or claim for
         Costs of Remediation is given during the survival  period.  Such "Costs
         of Remediation" shall be the

 
                                                         64

<PAGE>



         sole basis for calculating Damages arising out of Environmental  Losses
         pursuant to Section 13.2,  and shall be limited to those costs that are
         necessary:

                           (i) in accordance with  Environmental  Laws in effect
                  at the time such costs are  incurred,  to respond to a Release
                  of any Hazardous  Materials that first occurred in whole or in
                  part at, on,  under,  in or from the Business  Real  Property,
                  Leased  Business  Real Property or formerly  owned,  leased or
                  operated  properties or third party properties with respect to
                  the Business prior to the Closing Date;

                           (ii) to bring Purchaser from any non-compliance  with
                  Environmental   Laws  with  respect  to  the  Business   first
                  occurring  in whole or in part prior to the Closing  Date into
                  compliance  with all  Environmental  Laws with  respect to the
                  Business in effect as of the time the Costs of Remediation are
                  incurred; or

                           (iii) in accordance with Environmental Laws in effect
                  at the time such costs are  incurred,  to respond to any legal
                  proceedings, notices, requests for information, investigations
                  or  claims  under  Environmental  Laws  with  respect  to  the
                  Business brought by third parties;

provided, however, Seller shall not be required to indemnify Purchaser for Costs
of  Remediation  to the extent arising solely out of the knowing acts or knowing
omissions of Purchaser occurring after the Closing Date.

                  (c)   Seller   waives   any  right  it  may  have   under  any
         Environmental  Law  against  Purchaser  for any  matter  to the  extent
         arising out of a breach by Seller of Section 4.21.

                  (d) If a dispute  arises  with  respect to whether a claim for
         Costs of  Remediation  meets the  requirements  of Section  13.5(b)(i),
         (ii), and (iii) (without  respect to whether there has been a breach of
         the  representations  and warranties of Section 4.21), and such dispute
         cannot be resolved within 20 days of written notice of the dispute, the
         parties shall select within 14 days thereafter a mutually  satisfactory
         qualified environmental  consultant who is a professional engineer (the
         "Environmental Arbitrator").  The Environmental Arbitrator shall review
         the  information  relevant to the  dispute  provided by the parties and
         within 30 days  render a  decision  as to  whether  or not the Costs of
         Remediation meet the requirements of Section 13.5(b)(i), (ii) and (iii)
         (without   respect  to   whether   there  has  been  a  breach  of  the
         representations  and  warranties  of  Section  4.21)  by  applying  the
         standards  set forth in this  Section  13.5.  Any fees  charged  by the
         Environmental  Arbitrator  shall  be  allocated  as  determined  by the
         Environmental   Arbitrator   between   Purchaser  and  Seller.   If  an
         Environmental  Arbitrator  cannot be agreed upon  within the  aforesaid
         period, the parties shall direct the American  Arbitration  Association
         ("AAA") to immediately provide a list of six potential  arbitrators who
         are qualified environmental  consultants each of whom is a professional
         engineer. From the list provided, each party shall have the opportunity
         to strike one name, and the AAA shall appoint the

 
                                                         65

<PAGE>



         Environmental   Arbitrator   from  the  remaining   names.   The  final
         determination  of the  Environmental  Arbitrator  shall  be  final  and
         binding  on  the   parties  and  there  shall  be  no  appeal  from  or
         reexamination of such final determination,  except for fraud,  perjury,
         or misconduct by the Environmental Arbitrator prejudicing the rights of
         any party,  and to correct  manifest  clerical  errors.  Purchaser  and
         Seller  may  enforce  any  final  determination  of  the  Environmental
         Arbitrator in any court of competent jurisdiction.

                  Section  13.6.  Certain  Additional   Provisions  Relating  to
Indemnification.

                  (a) Notwithstanding Section 14.12, after the Closing Date, the
         indemnification  provisions  set  forth  in  this  Article  XIII  shall
         constitute the sole and exclusive  recourse and remedy available to the
         parties  hereto  with  respect to the breach of any  representation  or
         warranty  contained in this Agreement or in any  certificate  delivered
         pursuant to this Agreement except for actual fraud.

                  (b)  The  Indemnifying  Party  shall  have  no  obligation  to
         indemnify  or hold  harmless  the  Indemnified  Party  pursuant to this
         Article XIII for any Damages to the extent that the  Indemnified  Party
         or its Affiliates have actually recovered such Damages (net of expenses
         or  other  costs  (including  without  limitation  attorneys'  fees and
         expenses)  of recovery and any  retroactive  or  retrospective  premium
         increases  resulting from such recovery,  including without  limitation
         obligations   engendered  thereby)  from  any  Person  other  than  the
         Indemnifying Party or any Affiliate thereof.

                  (c) The Indemnified  Party hereby assigns to the  Indemnifying
         Party any right the  Indemnified  Party  may have  against  any  Person
         (other  than the  Indemnifying  Party,  the  Indemnified  Party and any
         Affiliate of any of the foregoing),  including, without limitation, any
         Insurance  company,  to recover any Damages or other  amounts  that the
         Indemnifying  Party has paid to the Indemnified  Party pursuant to this
         Article XIII. The Indemnified Party agrees to cooperate reasonably with
         the  Indemnifying  Party,  at the  Indemnifying  Party's  sole cost and
         expense, in connection with the Indemnifying  Party's efforts to pursue
         such rights, including, without limitation, providing reasonable access
         to the Indemnified  Party's  personnel,  books and records,  making its
         personnel  and  those  of  its  Affiliates   reasonably  available  for
         deposition and testimony and executing such  additional  instruments of
         assignment to evidence the assignment of such rights. In the event such
         rights by their terms may not be assigned, the Indemnified Party agrees
         to pursue its rights  against such other  Person,  at the sole cost and
         expense and direction of the  Indemnifying  Party,  and to remit to the
         Indemnifying Party any recovery.

                  (d) To the extent permitted by applicable Law, any payments by
         an  Indemnifying  Party under this  Article XIII shall be treated as an
         adjustment to the Purchase  Price for all foreign,  federal,  state and
         local income tax purposes.


 
                                                         66

<PAGE>




                                  ARTICLE XIV.
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

                  Section  14.1.   Notices.   All  notices,   demands  or  other
communications  to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of
this  Agreement  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to have been given (a)
when delivered  personally to the  recipient,  (b) when sent to the recipient by
telecopy  (receipt  electronically  confirmed by sender's  telecopy  machine) if
during normal  business hours of the  recipient,  otherwise on the next Business
Day, (c) one Business Day after the date when sent to the recipient by reputable
express courier service (charges prepaid),  or (d) seven Business Days after the
date when mailed to the  recipient  by  certified  or  registered  mail,  return
receipt  requested  and  postage  prepaid.  Such  notices,   demands  and  other
communications  will  be  sent  to  Seller  and to  Purchaser  at the  addresses
indicated below:

         If to Purchaser:           Safety Components, International, Inc.
                                    3190 Pullman Street
                                    Cosa Mesa, CA 92626
                         Attention: Jeffrey J. Kaplan
                               Fax: (714) 662-7649

               with a copy to:      Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP
             (which shall not       919 Third Avenue
              constitute notice)    New York, New York 10022
                                    Attention:  Richard A. Goldberg, Esq.
                                    Fax:  (212) 758-9526

         If to Seller:              JPS Automotive L.P.
                                    c/o Collins & Aikman Products Co.
                                    701 McCullough Drive
                                    Charlotte, North Carolina 28232
                                    Attention:  Chief Executive Officer
                                    Fax:  (704) 548-2208

               with a copy to:      Collins & Aikman Products Co.
             (which shall not       201 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
              constitute notice)    New York, New York 10016
                                    Attention:  Elizabeth Philipp, Esq.
                                    Fax:  (212) 578-1269

 
                                                         67

<PAGE>




                  and

                                    Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
                                    599 Lexington Avenue
                                    New York, New York 10022
                       Attention:   Robert A. Profusek, Esq.
                             Fax:   (212) 755-7306

or to such  other  address  as  either  party  hereto  may,  from  time to time,
designate in writing delivered pursuant to the terms of this Section.

                  Section 14.2. Amendments. The terms, provisions and conditions
of this  Agreement may not be changed,  modified or amended in any manner except
by an instrument in writing duly executed by both of the parties hereto.

                  Section 14.3.  Assignment and Parties in Interest.

                  (a) Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,  duties,  or
         obligations  of any party  hereunder  may be assigned or delegated  (by
         operation of Law or  otherwise)  by either party hereto except with the
         prior  written  consent of the other party hereto,  provided,  however,
         that (i) prior to or after the Closing, Purchaser may assign all of its
         rights  hereunder to any Affiliate of Purchaser,  provided that no such
         assignment will relieve  Purchaser of its obligations  hereunder unless
         such  assignment  is made at Closing  and  provided  further  that such
         assignment  shall not hinder,  delay or prevent the  Closing,  and (ii)
         Purchaser has a one-time right to assign all of its rights hereunder to
         any  other  Person  which  acquires  all  or  substantially  all of the
         Acquired Assets.

                  (b)  Except  as  provided  in  Article  XIII,  this  Agreement
         (including,  without  limitation,  Article  XII)  shall not  confer any
         rights or  remedies  upon any person or entity  other than the  parties
         hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.  Business
         Employees are not third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.

                  Section 14.4.  Announcements.  All press releases,  notices to
customers and suppliers and similar public announcements prior to or within five
days after the Closing Date with respect to this Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  shall be approved by both Purchaser and Seller
prior to the issuance  thereof;  provided  that either party may make any public
disclosure  it believes in good faith is required by Law,  regulation or rule of
any stock  exchange  on which  its  securities  are  traded  (in which  case the
disclosing party shall use reasonable efforts to advise the other party prior to
making such  disclosure and to provide the other party a reasonable  opportunity
to review the proposed disclosure).


 
                                                         68

<PAGE>



                  Section 14.5. Expenses.  Except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement, each party to this Agreement shall bear all of its legal, accounting,
investment  banking,  and  other  expenses  incurred  by it or on its  behalf in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,  whether or not
such transactions are consummated.

                  Section 14.6. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the
entire  agreement  among the parties  hereto with respect to the subject  matter
hereof,  supersedes and is in full substitution for any and all prior agreements
and  understandings  among them  relating to such subject  matter,  and no party
shall be liable or bound to the other party hereto in any manner with respect to
such subject matter by any warranties, representations,  indemnities, covenants,
or  agreements  except  as  specifically  set forth  herein.  The  Exhibits  and
Schedules to this Agreement are hereby  incorporated  and made a part hereof and
are an integral part of this Agreement.

                  Section 14.7.  Descriptive Headings.  The descriptive headings
of the several  sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.

                  Section  14.8.  Counterparts.   For  the  convenience  of  the
parties, any number of counterparts of this Agreement may be executed by any one
or more parties hereto,  and each such executed  counterpart shall be, and shall
be deemed to be, an original,  but all of which shall  constitute,  and shall be
deemed to constitute, in the aggregate but one and the same instrument.

                  Section 14.9.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

                  (a) This Agreement and the legal relations between the parties
         hereto shall be governed by and construed in  accordance  with the Laws
         of the State of New York,  applicable  to contracts  made and performed
         therein.

                  (b) The parties hereto  irrevocably submit to the exclusive in
         personam jurisdiction of any New York State or Federal court sitting in
         the City of New York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of
         or relating to this Agreement. To the fullest extent it may effectively
         do so under  applicable  Law,  each of the parties  hereto  irrevocably
         waives  and agrees  not to  assert,  by way of motion,  as a defense or
         otherwise,  (i) any claim  that (A) any  proceeding  arising  out of or
         relating  to this  Agreement  may be brought  in  another  jurisdiction
         (except a  proceeding  brought by a third  party) or (B) that it is not
         subject to the in personam  jurisdiction of any court referenced in the
         first  sentence of this clause (b), (ii) any objection  that it may now
         or hereafter  have to the laying of the venue of any such suit,  action
         or  proceeding  brought  in any such court and (iii) any claim that any
         such  suit,  action or  proceeding  brought  in any such court has been
         brought in an inconvenient forum.

                  Section  14.10.  Construction.   The  language  used  in  this
Agreement  will be deemed to be the  language  chosen by the  parties to express
their mutual intent, and no rule of

 
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<PAGE>



strict  construction  will be applied  against any party.  Any references to any
federal, state, local or foreign statute or law will also refer to all rules and
regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  unless the  context  requires  otherwise.
Unless the context otherwise requires: (a) a term has the meaning assigned to it
by this Agreement;  (b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
assigned to by GAAP; (c) "or" is disjunctive but not exclusive; (d) words in the
singular  include  the  plural,  and in the plural  include  the  singular;  (e)
provisions apply to successive  events and  transactions;  and (f) "$" means the
currency of the United States of America.

                  Section 14.11. Severability. In the event that any one or more
of the  provisions  contained  in  this  Agreement  or in any  other  instrument
referred to herein,  shall,  for any reason,  be held to be invalid,  illegal or
unenforceable in any respect,  then to the maximum extent permitted by law, such
invalidity,  illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any other such instrument. Furthermore, in lieu of any such
invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there
shall be added as a part of this  Agreement a  provision  as similar in terms to
such  invalid or  unenforceable  provision  as may be possible  and be valid and
enforceable.

                  Section  14.12.  Specific  Performance.  Without  limiting  or
waiving in any respect any rights or remedies of Purchaser  under this Agreement
now or  hereinafter  existing  at law or in  equity or by  statute,  each of the
parties hereto shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the obligations
to be  performed  by the  other  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this
Agreement.



 
                                                         70

<PAGE>


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto have  executed  and
delivered this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.



SELLER:                                     JPS AUTOMOTIVE L.P.

                                            BY:  PACJ, Inc.
                              Its: General Partner



                                            BY:
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:


PURCHASER:                          SAFETY COMPONENTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.



                                     BY:
                                           Name:    Jeffrey J. Kaplan
                                           Title:   Executive Vice President and
                                                       Chief Financial Officer





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