CONTROL DEVICES INC
S-1/A, 1996-09-26
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS & ACCESSORIES
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<PAGE>
 
     
  AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1996
                                         
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-09379
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                               ----------------
                                
                             AMENDMENT NO. 2     
                                      TO
                                   FORM S-1
 
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                               ----------------
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
         INDIANA                     3625                   01-0490335
     (STATE OR OTHER          (PRIMARY STANDARD          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     JURISDICTION OF      INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION   IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
     INCORPORATION OR            CODE NUMBER)
      ORGANIZATION)
 
            228 NORTHEAST ROAD STANDISH, MAINE 04084 (207) 642-4535
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                               BRUCE D. ATKINSON
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
                              228 NORTHEAST ROAD
                             STANDISH, MAINE 04084
                                (207) 642-4535
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
 
                               ----------------
 
                                  COPIES TO:
         JAMES A. STRAIN, ESQ.                     F. GEORGE DAVITT, ESQ. 
         SOMMER & BARNARD, PC                  TESTA, HURWITZ & THIBEAULT, LLP 
          4000 BANK ONE TOWER                      HIGH STREET TOWER 125
      INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46204               HIGH STREET BOSTON, MA 02110 
            (317) 630-4000                            (617) 248-7000
 
                               ----------------
 
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
 
                               ----------------
 
  If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box. [_]
 
  If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
 
  If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier registration
statement for the same offering. [_]
 
  If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
check the following box. [_]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF           PROPOSED MAXIMUM            AMOUNT OF
   SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED    AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE     REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                      <C>
Common Shares...................        $27,600,000(1)           $9,518.00(2)
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Estimated maximum offering price of the securities registered hereby
    calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o).
(2) Previously paid.
 
                               ----------------
 
  THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A) MAY DETERMINE.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A         +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE   +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY  +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT        +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR   +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE      +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE    +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF  +
+ANY SUCH STATE.                                                               +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION                                                          
                                                                           
Dated September 26, 1996                                                       
                                                                          [LOGO]
 
                                   2,000,000
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
                                 COMMON SHARES
 
                                  -----------
 
  The Common Shares offered hereby are being offered by Control Devices, Inc.
                                (the "Company").
 
                                  -----------
   
Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Shares of
the Company. The initial public offering  price will be determined by agreement
 between the Company and the Underwriters.  It is currently estimated that the
 initial public offering  price will be between $9.00 and  $11.00. See "Under-
  writing." The Common Shares have been  approved for quotation on the Nasdaq
  National Market under the symbol "SNSR".     
 
                                  -----------
 
 SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 8 FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE
                      CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.
 
                                  -----------
 
THESE SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS  THE SECURITIES
 AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
 ACCURACY OR  ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION  TO THE CONTRARY
  IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      UNDERWRITING
            PRICE TO DISCOUNTS AND  PROCEEDS TO
             PUBLIC  COMMISSIONS(1) COMPANY(2)
- -----------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>      <C>            <C>
PER SHARE     $           $             $
TOTAL(3)      $           $            $
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against
    certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
    1933. See "Underwriting."
(2) Before deduction of expenses payable by the Company estimated at
    $1,000,000.
(3) The Company has granted the several Underwriters a 30-day option to
    purchase up to an additional 300,000 Common Shares to cover over-
    allotments, if any. If all such shares are purchased, total price to
    public, underwriting discounts and commissions and proceeds to Company will
    be $   , $    and $   , respectively. See "Underwriting."
 
                                  -----------
 
  The Common Shares are being offered by the Underwriters named herein when and
if received and accepted by them subject to their right to reject orders in
whole or in part and subject to certain other conditions. It is expected that
the delivery of the shares will be made in New York, New York on or about    ,
1996.
 
                                  -----------
 
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.                    CLEARY GULL REILAND & MCDEVITT INC.
 
      , 1996
<PAGE>
 
                            INSIDE FRONT COVER PAGE
 
  Under the heading "Automotive Markets--Control Devices provides a wide range
of circuit breakers and electronic sensors to the Automotive Market," there is
a photograph of a number of the Company's metal based circuit breakers and a
labeled schematic of a generic automobile with the caption "Control Devices
sells circuit breakers and electronic sensors to major automobile OEMs in
North America and Europe. Circuit breakers protect small electric motors from
current and heat overload. Electronic sensors control certain comfort and
safety features such as climate control and headlamp intensity."
 
  Below these are photographs of selected sensors with the caption "Control
Devices' sensors generate electronic signals for climate control systems,
power steering systems and daytime running lamps" and a photograph of chip-on-
board technology with the caption "Control Devices has developed a lower cost
`next generation' sensor utilizing chip-on-board technology."


 
  IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON SHARES
AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH
STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
 
 
 
 
<PAGE>
 
                               ----------------
 
  NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER CONTAINED HEREIN AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY
SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR SINCE THE DATES AS OF WHICH INFORMATION IS SET FORTH
HEREIN. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY JURISDICTION TO
ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
 
                               ----------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      PAGE
                                      ----
<S>                                   <C>
Prospectus Summary..................    4
Risk Factors........................    8
Company History.....................   13
Use of Proceeds.....................   14
Dividend Policy.....................   14
Dilution............................   15
Capitalization......................   16
Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Data..   17
Selected Financial Information......   19
Management's Discussion and Analysis
 of Financial Condition and Results
 of Operations......................   21
</TABLE>
 
 
                               ----------------
 
  UNTIL    , 1996, (25 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS) ALL DEALERS
EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN COMMON SHARES, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS
DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO
THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS
AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
                               ----------------
 
  The Company intends to furnish its shareholders with annual reports
containing financial statements audited by its independent public accountants
and quarterly reports containing unaudited financial information for the first
three quarters of each fiscal year.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  PAGE
                                  ----
<S>                               <C>
Business.........................  27
Management.......................  39
Certain Transactions.............  44
Principal Shareholders...........  45
Description of Capital Shares....  46
Shares Eligible for Future Sale..  48
Underwriting.....................  49
Legal Matters....................  50
Experts..........................  50
Additional Information...........  50
Index to Financial Statements.... F-1
</TABLE>
 
  The Control Devices logo is a registered trademark of the Company and Maxi
Breaker is a trademark of the Company. This Prospectus also includes
trademarks and tradenames of companies other than the Company. All other
company or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
  The following summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in
conjunction with, the more detailed information and financial statements,
including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless
otherwise indicated, all information in this Prospectus assumes that the
Underwriters' over-allotment option to purchase up to 300,000 additional Common
Shares is not exercised and is adjusted to give effect to (i) the exercise of
all outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 564,100 Class B Series 1
Common Shares at $0.01 per share, (ii) the conversion of all 999,996 Class B
Series 1 Common Shares outstanding after such exercise into a like number of
Class A Common Shares, (iii) the reclassification of Class A Common Shares into
Common Shares and the elimination of the designations of Class A Common Shares
and Class B Common Shares and (iv) the conversion of all RDI Convertible Notes
(as defined below) into 89,240 Common Shares (assuming an initial public
offering price of $10.00 per share). The adjustments discussed above will occur
immediately prior to the closing of this Offering. See "Company History," and
"Description of Capital Shares." Reference herein to the "Company" includes
predecessors of the Company and the Company's consolidated subsidiaries, unless
the context otherwise requires. Prospective investors should carefully consider
the information set forth under the heading "Risk Factors."
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
  Control Devices, Inc. ("CDI" or the "Company") designs, manufactures and
markets circuit breakers, electronic sensors and electronic ceramic component
parts used by original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") in the automotive,
appliance and telecommunications markets. The Company is a leading supplier of
automatically resetting circuit breakers and solar sensors for the automotive
market and of glass enclosed circuit breakers for the appliance market. The
Company has supplied circuit breakers to automotive OEMs for more than 30
years, and in 1991 expanded its offerings to the automotive market by
introducing its initial sensor product, a solar sensor used to automatically
signal adjustments in climate control systems in luxury cars. The Company's
products are sold to the three major North American automotive OEMs, General
Motors Corporation ("GM"), Ford Motor Company ("Ford") and Chrysler Corp.
("Chrysler"), as well as to foreign OEMs such as Mercedes, Peugeot, Volkswagen
and Valeo. Sales to GM, Ford and Chrysler, and their suppliers, in North
America accounted for approximately 45% of net sales in 1995. Other principal
customers include Danfoss, Celwave and Siecor.
 
  In April 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of
Realisations et Diffusion pour l'Industrie ("RDI"), which is headquartered near
Paris, France. RDI markets, distributes, assembles and packages a full line of
circuit protection devices, including various fuses and circuit breaker
components and assemblies manufactured by other companies. The Company
purchased RDI primarily to enhance its market penetration of the automotive OEM
market in Europe, in part by locating itself closer to European customers.
Management believes that the resulting expansion of its European presence and
improvement of its European distribution network will enhance the Company's
ability to distribute in Europe existing, internally developed and newly
acquired products.
 
  Since 1991, CDI has shipped approximately 4.2 million solar sensor units. To
complement its solar sensor product lines, in July 1995, the Company commenced
shipments of its steering wheel sensor to Ford, and in September 1996 commenced
shipments of its twilight sensor to GM to be used in GM's Daytime Running Lamp
("DRL") program beginning with certain 1997 models. The Company is also in
various stages of development of its rain, window fog and other solar (climate
control)/twilight (headlamp control) sensors for a number of domestic and
foreign automotive OEMs. In late 1995, in an effort to encourage automotive
OEMs' use of sensors in a greater range of vehicle models, the Company sought
to lower the cost of its sensors by incorporating chip-on-board manufacturing
technology. With chip-on-board technology, the Company bonds custom silicon
wafers directly onto an integrated circuit board, to incorporate both the
function of numerous discrete electronic components and a photodiode. This
technology significantly reduces the number
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
of components in the Company's sensor products, thereby lowering the cost of
the sensor as well as providing greater design flexibility through reduced
board size requirements. The Company's chip-on-board technology is currently
employed on the twilight sensor being delivered to GM, and the Company is
redesigning all of its sensor products to incorporate this technology.
 
  On July 29, 1994, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and
certain liabilities (the "Business") of GTE Control Devices Incorporated and
Dominican Overseas Trading Company, two subsidiaries of GTE Corporation
(collectively referred to herein as "GTE"). For periods prior to July 29, 1994,
the Business is sometimes referred to herein as the "Predecessor Company." The
Company is an Indiana corporation incorporated in June 1994 to purchase the
Business. See "Company History."
 
  The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 228 Northeast
Road, Standish, Maine 04084, and its telephone number is (207) 642-4535.
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
Common Shares being Offered by the    2,000,000 shares
 Company............................
Common Shares to be outstanding
 after the Offering.................
                                      4,653,334(1)
Use of Proceeds.....................  Repayment of long-term indebtedness
                                      (including accrued interest), redemption
                                      of outstanding preferred shares
                                      (including payment of accrued dividends)
                                      and the balance, if any, for working
                                      capital. See "Use of Proceeds."
                                      SNSR
Nasdaq National Market Symbol..     
- --------
(1) Excludes a currently exercisable option to purchase 200,000 Common Shares
    and options to purchase 150,000 Common Shares granted, subject to the
    closing of this Offering, and not yet exercisable. See "Description of
    Capital Shares."
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                         SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                 (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    PREDECESSOR                CONTROL
                                     COMPANY(1)             DEVICES, INC. PRO FORMA(2)    CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
                          --------------------------------- ------------- ------------ ----------------------------
                                                    SEVEN       FIVE
                                                    MONTHS     MONTHS         YEAR         YEAR       SIX MONTHS
                                YEARS ENDED         ENDED       ENDED        ENDED        ENDED          ENDED
                               DECEMBER 31,        JULY 29, DECEMBER 31,  DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,    JUNE 30,
                          ------------------------ -------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ---------------
                           1991     1992    1993     1994       1994          1994         1995      1995   1996(3)
                          -------  ------- ------- -------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ------- -------
<S>                       <C>      <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>     <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME
 DATA:
 Net sales..............  $38,088  $39,747 $39,807 $24,995     $18,847      $43,842      $38,881    $20,713 $28,180
 Gross profit...........    2,394    5,328   9,761   7,319       6,688       14,007       13,160      7,380  10,310
 Operating income
  (loss)(4).............   (3,512)   1,084   4,380   3,825       3,223        7,053        6,916      4,006   4,273
 Net income (loss)(5)...   (2,107)     650   2,628   2,295       1,576        3,319        3,458      1,964   2,123
 Net income applicable
  to common
  shareholders(6).......                                         1,466        3,055        3,194      1,832   1,991
 Net income per
  share(6)(7)...........                                       $  0.57      $  1.19      $  1.25    $  0.71 $  0.78
                                                               =======      =======      =======    ======= =======
 Weighted average number
  of common shares and
  equivalents
  outstanding(6)........                                         2,564        2,564        2,564      2,564   2,564
OTHER DATA:
 Research and
  development...........  $   863  $   651 $ 2,144 $ 1,598     $ 1,052      $ 2,650      $ 2,740    $ 1,402 $ 1,880
 Research and
  development as a
  percentage of net
  sales(8)..............     2.3%     1.6%    5.4%    6.4%        5.6%         6.0%         7.0%       6.8%    6.7%
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              JUNE 30, 1996
                                                          ----------------------
                                                          ACTUAL  AS ADJUSTED(9)
                                                          ------- --------------
<S>                                                       <C>     <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Working capital........................................  $ 8,515    $ 9,273
 Total assets...........................................   42,986     42,067
 Long-term debt, net of current maturities..............   16,743      1,487
 Redeemable preferred shares............................    2,400        --
 Shareholders' equity...................................    7,274     25,688
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) On July 29, 1994, the Company purchased the Business. See "Company
    History." The data prior to July 29, 1994 represent the financial
    information of the Predecessor Company, and has been prepared by the
    Company. See Note 1 to the Company's Financial Statements.
(2) Pro forma year ended December 31, 1994 amounts were prepared as if the
    acquisition of the Business and initial capitalization of the Company had
    occurred on January 1, 1994. These pro forma results include adjustments
    for depreciation and amortization of assets acquired based on their fair
    market values at the acquisition date, increased interest on acquisition
    debt, additional preferred share dividends, limination of allocated
    employee benefit and administrative expenses, additional professional fees
    and the related income tax effect. The unaudited pro forma consolidated
    financial data do not purport to represent what the results of operations
    of the Company would actually have been if the acquisition and initial
    capitalization had in fact occurred on January 1, 1994, or to project the
    results of operations of the Company for any future date or period. See
    Note 3 to the Company's Financial Statements.
(3) The Summary Financial Information for the six months ended June 30, 1996
    includes RDI's results of operations from April 1, 1996, the date of the
    acquisition.
(4) The Predecessor Company incurred an operating loss in the year ended
    December 31, 1991, due in part to the GTE corporate allocation charge of
    approximately $2,000,000 and higher cost of sales associated with
    manufacturing facilities closed in 1991.
(5) For purposes of computing the income tax provision (benefit), an effective
    tax rate of 40% was used for the Predecessor Company results of operations
    because no income taxes were allocated to the Predecessor Company.
(6) See Note 2 to the Company's Financial Statements. Net income, net income
    applicable to common shareholders, and weighted average number of common
    shares and equivalents outstanding are not presented for periods prior to
    and including July 29, 1994 as the Business did not operate as an
    independent entity during such periods.
(7) The supplemental net income per share would have been $0.99 and $0.56 for
    the year ended December 31, 1995, and the six month period ended June 30,
    1996, respectively, assuming the conversion of the RDI Convertible Notes,
    the issuance of 1,816,500 and 1,842,600 Common Shares, respectively, at a
    public offering price of $10.00 per share (the midpoint of the estimated
    range of the initial public offering price), and the application of
    proceeds thereof and cash on hand to retire the Company's 10% Senior Notes
    plus accrued interest, 11% Subordinated Notes plus accrued interest and the
    Redeemable Preferred Shares plus accrued dividends, as of the beginning of
    each period.
(8) Research and development as a percentage of net sales for the six months
    ended June 30, 1996 includes the financial data for RDI. The percentage for
    the six months ended June 30, 1996 without RDI was 8.5%.
(9) After giving effect to (i) the adjustments described above in this
    Prospectus Summary and (ii) the sale by the Company of the Common Shares
    offered hereby at an assumed initial public offering price of $10.00 per
    share (the midpoint of the estimated range of the initial public offering
    price) and application of the net proceeds therefrom and cash on hand. See
    "Use of Proceeds".
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
 
         SUMMARY PRO FORMA UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA(1)(2)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  YEAR ENDED               SIX MONTHS ENDED
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995            JUNE 30, 1996
                            -----------------------     ----------------------
                            (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
  <S>                       <C>                         <C>
   Net sales..............       $               65,621     $               34,803
   Gross profit...........                       22,211                     12,958
   Operating income.......                        8,342                      4,675
   Net income.............                        3,460                      2,198
   Net income applicable
    to common
    shareholders..........                        3,196                      2,066
   Net income per
    share(3)..............       $                 1.25     $                 0.81
   Weighted average number
    of common shares and
    equivalents
    outstanding...........                        2,564                      2,564
</TABLE>
 --------
  (1) The summary pro forma unaudited consolidated financial data of the
      Company for the year ended December 31, 1995 and for the six months
      ended June 30, 1996 were prepared as if the acquisition of RDI had
      occurred on January 1 of the respective period. The unaudited pro
      forma consolidated financial data do not purport to represent what
      the results of operations of the Company would actually have been
      if the events described in the pro forma unaudited consolidated
      statements of income included elsewhere in this Prospectus had in
      fact occurred at the beginning of such period, or to project the
      results of operations of the Company for any future date or period.
  (2) No pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 1996 is
      presented as the actual financial data for RDI is included in the
      actual consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of June 30,
      1996.
  (3) The supplemental pro forma net income per share would have been
      $0.97 and $0.58 for the year ended December 31, 1995, and the six
      month period ended June 30, 1996, respectively, assuming the
      conversion of the RDI Convertible Notes, the issuance of 1,816,500
      and 1,842,600 Common Shares, respectively, at a public offering
      price of $10.00 per share (the midpoint of the estimated range of
      the initial public offering price), and the application of the
      proceeds thereof and cash on hand to retire the Company's 10%
      Senior Notes plus accrued interest, 11% Subordinated Notes plus
      accrued interest and the Redeemable Preferred Shares plus accrued
      dividends, as of the beginning of each period.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                                 RISK FACTORS
 
  Prospective purchasers should carefully consider the following factors, as
well as the other information contained in this Prospectus, in evaluating an
investment in the Common Shares offered by this Prospectus. This Prospectus
contains forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. The
Company's actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed
in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference
include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the following factors.
 
CYCLICALITY OF AUTOMOTIVE AND APPLIANCE INDUSTRIES
 
  The major markets for the Company's circuit breakers and sensors are the
automotive and, to a lesser extent, appliance industries, which are cyclical
and have historically experienced periodic downturns. The cyclical nature of
these industries is due to general economic conditions beyond the control of
the Company. For example, the level of interest rates, consumer confidence,
patterns of consumer spending and the automobile and appliance replacement
cycles affect the level of automobile and appliance purchases. The Company's
operating results may be adversely affected by future downturns in these
industries. See "Business--Products and Markets."
 
RELIANCE ON OEMS
 
  There is continuing pressure from the major automotive and appliance OEMs to
reduce costs, including costs associated with outside suppliers such as the
Company. In addition, for quality control and pricing reasons, OEMs prefer to
deal with a limited number of preferred suppliers and favor suppliers that can
provide the OEM with a number of different products in sufficient quantities
to meet all of the OEM's needs. The Company believes that its ability to
develop new proprietary products to meet specific customer needs, to control
its own costs and to deliver its products in quantities sufficient to meet the
requirements of OEMs will allow the Company to remain competitive. However,
there can be no assurance that the Company will remain a preferred OEM
supplier or that the Company will be able to improve or maintain its gross
margins on product sales to OEMs. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operation."
 
  In the automotive industry, new car model development generally begins three
to five years prior to the marketing of such models to the public.
Consequently, a substantial portion of the Company's sales for the short term
depend on sales of the automobile models in which the Company's products are
currently used. In the long term, a substantial portion of the Company's sales
will also depend on the Company's ability to continue as a supplier of parts
for new automobile models. The inability of the Company to develop new
products to replace products whose life cycles have come to an end could have
a material adverse effect on the Company. See "Business--Products and
Markets."
 
RISK OF CUSTOMER LABOR INTERRUPTIONS
 
  Substantially all of the hourly employees of North American automotive OEMs
are represented by the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement
Workers of America ("UAW") under similar collective bargaining agreements. The
collective bargaining agreements applicable to GM, Ford and Chrysler are
scheduled to expire in September 1996. The failure of GM, Ford or Chrysler to
reach agreement with the UAW relating to the terms of a new collective
bargaining agreement resulting in either a work stoppage or strike at any of
their respective production facilities could have a material adverse effect on
the Company. A 17-day March 1996 work stoppage in two Dayton, Ohio, GM plants
resulted in a loss of revenue because of the lack of demand for products for
GM vehicles. Although the Company took steps to minimize the consequences of
the work stoppage, the Company lost approximately $450,000 in revenue as a
result of the 17-day strike.
 
COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES
 
  The Company's circuit breakers are sold to GM, Ford and Chrysler in North
America. Commencing in 1995, Ford began a program, which continues in 1996, to
replace various circuit breakers in certain of its North American vehicle
models with fuses, which can be used as an alternative to circuit breakers
when an automatically resetting product is determined not to be required. The
Company's net sales in 1995 declined $5.0 million, or 11.3%, as compared to
combined 1994, of which $2.2 million was a result of Ford's decision.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
Although the Company believes Ford will not expand its program to other
applications or other vehicle models, and believes that neither GM nor
Chrysler is considering a similar decision, the decision by any of the
Company's significant customers, including GM or Ford, to replace circuit
breakers with fuses could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
results of operations and financial condition. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
SHIFT IN BUSINESS FOCUS FROM CIRCUIT BREAKERS TO SENSORS
 
  Historically, the Company has derived over 80% of its total revenue from
sales of its circuit breakers. Because this market is relatively mature and
intensely price competitive, the Company has begun to shift its focus for
growth to its sensor products. In the future, the Company expects to derive an
increasing portion of its total revenue and net income from sales of its
sensor products. Continued growth of the Company's sensor business will depend
upon several factors, including continued demand for these sensors, the
Company's ability to develop new products to meet the changing requirements of
the OEMs, technological changes and competitive pressures. There can be no
assurance that the Company's sensor business will continue to grow. See
"Business--Products and Markets" and "--Business Strategies."
 
CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION
 
  In 1995, the Company sold approximately 72% of its products to 15 customers.
One of the Company's customers, GM, accounted for approximately 17%, 20% and
12% of net sales in 1994, 1995 and the first six months of 1996, respectively.
These sales were primarily to two divisions of GM, Packard Electric and Delco
Electronics, both of which manufacture electrical systems for automotive
companies, including GM. In addition, in 1995 sales to Danfoss accounted for
approximately 14% of the Company's net sales. Loss of, or the failure to
replace, any significant portion of sales to any significant customer could
have a material adverse effect on the Company. See "Business--Marketing and
Customers."
 
FLUCTUATION IN QUARTERLY RESULTS
 
  The Company's quarterly results may fluctuate as a result of a variety of
factors, including the timing of orders, declines in net sales caused by
seasonal retooling and shut-downs of OEMs, delays of shipments to customers,
new product introductions by the Company or its competitors, levels of market
acceptance for new products or the hiring of additional staff. The fluctuation
of quarterly results may have a material adverse effect on the market price of
the Common Shares. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations--Seasonality."
 
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
 
  On July 29, 1994, the Company purchased the Business from GTE. In connection
with the acquisition, GTE agreed to retain certain liabilities and indemnify
the Company for damages that may be incurred by the Company as a result of
such retained liabilities, including liabilities relating to certain
environmental matters. GTE retained liability for claims relating to soil and
groundwater contamination from the surface impoundment and the out-of-service
leachfield at the Company's Standish, Maine facility known to exist prior to
the acquisition. Such contamination is currently being remediated at GTE's
expense. Although the Company believes GTE's indemnity is enforceable, if the
Company were unable to enforce such indemnification obligations against GTE,
the Company could become liable for any such retained liability. The inability
to proceed against GTE could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
See "Business--Environmental Matters."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUISITIONS
 
  The acquisition of RDI was the Company's first acquisition. Acquisitions
pose a number of risks including the inability to integrate operations
effectively. The Company currently has no specific agreements or
understandings regarding future acquisitions. However, to the extent that the
Company does engage in future acquisitions, there can be no assurance that the
Company will realize any or all of the expected synergies from such
transactions or that the Company will be able to successfully integrate such
new businesses into its existing business. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING
 
  The Company has a manufacturing plant in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
at which it manufactures a substantial portion of its circuit breakers and
certain of its sensors. In 1995, such products represented, in the aggregate,
approximately 40% of the Company's net sales. The Company's operations in the
Dominican Republic are subject to risks associated with manufacturing products
internationally, including: political and economic uncertainties; tariff
regulations or trade restrictions; currency controls; unexpected or sudden
increases in wage rates or other manufacturing costs; and exchange rate
fluctuations. Any such risk could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, operating results and financial condition. The Company
expects to continue to manufacture a substantial portion of its products in
the Dominican Republic. See "Business--Manufacturing and Supply."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION
 
  With the acquisition of RDI, the Company has strengthened its distribution
capability to automotive and appliance OEMs in Europe. As a result of the
acquisition, however, the Company has increased exposure to general economic
conditions in Europe and the cyclical nature of the automotive industry in
Europe. Factors which can affect automobile purchases in Europe, and which
contribute to the industry's cyclicality, include the level of interest rates,
consumer confidence, patterns of consumer spending and the automobile
replacement cycle, all of which are beyond the control of the Company and
which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
condition and results of operations. In addition, RDI generates revenues and
incurs expenses primarily in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The
Company does not engage in currency hedging transactions. As a result, the
Company has increased financial risk based on fluctuations in currency
exchange rates, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition and results of operations. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" and "Business."
 
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
 
  The market for the Company's sensor products is subject to rapid
technological change, new product introductions and enhancements and evolving
industry standards. The Company's ability to remain competitive in this and
other markets will depend in part upon its ability to respond to technological
changes by developing and introducing new systems, and enhancing its present
products, to satisfy customer needs. The Company's success in doing so depends
upon efficient completion of product design and manufacturing, product
performance and effective sales and marketing. Because new product commitments
must be made well in advance of sales, such decisions must anticipate both
future demand and the future technology. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be successful in selecting, developing, manufacturing and
marketing new products or enhancing its existing products. In addition, new
technology or new product introductions by competitors could cause a decline
in sales or market acceptance of the Company's existing products. There can be
no assurance that products or technologies developed by others, or existing
technologies which become commercially viable, will not render the Company's
products non-competitive or obsolete.
 
  While there have been no material challenges to date and the Company
believes that its technology is adequately protected, there can be no
assurance that any of the Company's present or future patents will afford
protection against competitors or survive a validity challenge. Although the
Company believes that its technology and products do not infringe upon the
proprietary rights of others, there can be no assurance that third parties
will not assert infringement claims against the Company or that the Company
will be successful in defending its patent position if challenged.
 
  Additionally, the Company licenses certain patents from third parties under
long-term agreements. If one or more of these patent licenses are
discontinued, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
develop future products or obtain alternative sources or, if able, that such
efforts would not result in delays or cost increases that could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business. See "Management--Key
Consultant."
 
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
SOLE OR LIMITED SOURCES OF SUPPLY
 
  Due to its high quality standards, the Company relies on a sole supplier or
a limited group of suppliers for certain key components of its products. The
Company does not have a long-term supply agreement with any of these
suppliers, and operates under purchase orders. The Company's reliance on sole
or a limited group of suppliers involves several risks, including a potential
inability to obtain an adequate supply of required components and reduced
control over pricing and timely delivery of components. Although the
timeliness, yield and quality of deliveries to date from the Company's
suppliers have been acceptable, any prolonged inability to obtain adequate
deliveries or any other circumstance that would require the Company to seek
alternative sources of supply could delay the Company's ability to ship its
products, which could damage relationships with current and prospective
customers and could therefore have a material adverse effect on the Company.
See "Business--Manufacturing and Supply."
 
COMPETITION
 
  The Company has many competitors with respect to its products, and the
automotive parts supply industry in particular is highly competitive. Many of
its competitors in the automotive industry are companies which are larger,
more diversified and have greater financial resources than the Company. In
general, competition in the circuit breaker market is based on price, although
the Company also seeks to compete based on product performance. The automotive
market for circuit breakers is a relatively mature, small market, and the
Company competes principally with Texas Instruments and Otter Controls, Inc.
In the appliance market for circuit breakers, the Company competes principally
with Texas Instruments. The Company also competes in the circuit breaker
market with suppliers of alternative technologies, such as fuses which can be
used as an alternative to circuit breakers. Automatically resetting circuit
breakers do not need to be replaced as frequently as fuses, and for some
applications an automatically resetting feature is essential for safety.
However, fuses are lower priced than circuit breakers. In its circuit breaker
lines, the Company's highly automated Maine facilities and low cost Dominican
Republic facility generally enable the Company to be competitive on price.
However, the Company's competitors are from time to time competitive for
reasons including the ability to adapt existing technology to a particular
circuit breaker application, which results in a lower price, and the existence
of established marketing relationships, especially in Europe. Competition in
the sensor market is primarily based on technology, quality, delivery,
reliability, price, functionality and engineering support. The suppliers who
compete with the Company's sensor business for the most part are sophisticated
manufacturers with similar quality, reliability, delivery and engineering
support as the Company. As a result, decisions are often based primarily on
price and technological advantage as to which the Company believes it is
competitive with other suppliers. Furthermore, the Company believes that its
patented lensing technology enables its solar sensors to measure direct solar
heating more accurately then competitors' products. However, certain of the
Company's competitors are larger, better financed and better known than the
Company. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
continue its current technological  advantage or that its technological
advantage will translate into superior sales. The Company's principal
competitors in this market are Texas Instruments, Eaton, Motorola, Panasonic,
Philips and Nippondenso. In the ceramics market, the Company competes on the
basis of supplying niche products and on service, delivery and product
technology. Its principal competitors in this market are NTK, TDK, Alpha
Industries, Murata and Siemens. While the Company believes that its
responsiveness and technology are competitive advantages across all of its
product lines, there can be no assurance that the Company's products will be
able to compete successfully with the products of its competitors. Increased
competition generally, and the introduction or promotion of competing products
specifically, could adversely affect the Company's revenues and profitability
by exerting pricing pressure, reducing market share and margins and creating
other obstacles. In the European distribution market, the Company competes
with similar electronic component distributors. While the Company believes
that its customer service and distribution capabilities are a competitive
advantage in the European distribution market, there can be no assurance that
the Company will be able to compete successfully with the distribution
capabilities of its competitors. See "Business--Products and Markets" and "--
Competition."
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL AND KEY CONSULTANT
 
  The success of the Company's business depends upon the services of its
executive officers and certain other key managers and employees including
Bruce D. Atkinson, the Company's Chief Executive Officer,
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
Jeffrey G. Wood, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, and Michel Hauser-
Kauffmann, General Manager of RDI. Except for Mr. Hauser-Kauffmann, none of
such persons has an employment agreement with the Company. While the Company
is not presently aware of any intention by any of its key employees to leave
the Company, the failure to retain such persons could materially adversely
affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
See "Management."
 
  The Company also has a six year consulting agreement expiring on March 31,
2001 with Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi, a Professor of Physics at the University of
Michigan. The Company is the exclusive licensee of certain patents and know-
how used in its solar, twilight, rain, window fog and solar position sensors
from Dr. Hegyi. The loss of Dr. Hegyi's services or one or more of the
licenses could have a material adverse effect on the Company. See
"Management--Key Consultant."
 
CONCENTRATION OF SHARE OWNERSHIP
 
  Upon completion of this Offering, the Company's officers and directors (who
include certain affiliates of Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney & Company, Inc.) will
beneficially own approximately 22% of the outstanding Common Shares. In
addition, institutional investors affiliated with Massachusetts Mutual Life
Insurance Company will own in the aggregate approximately 22% of the
outstanding Common Shares. As a result, these shareholders will continue to be
in a position to significantly affect the outcome of all actions requiring
shareholder approval, including the election of the Board of Directors,
thereby affecting the future direction and management of the Company. See
"Principal Shareholders."
 
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS; EFFECT OF PREFERRED SHARES
 
  The Indiana Business Corporation Law (the "IBCL") contains provisions that
could restrict the acquisition of or a change in control of the Company. The
IBCL limits certain business combinations between the Company and an
"interested" shareholder. These restrictions may discourage a person from
making a tender offer for, or otherwise acquiring outstanding voting
securities of, the Company. See "Description of Capital Shares--Effects of
Indiana Law."
 
  The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to issue, from time to
time, without any further action on the part of the Company's shareholders, up
to 3,000,000 preferred shares in one or more series, with such relative
rights, powers, preferences, limitations and restrictions as are determined by
the Board of Directors at the time of issuance. The issuance of preferred
shares could be used in certain circumstances to render more difficult or
discourage a merger, tender offer or proxy contest or a removal of incumbent
management. Preferred shares may be issued with voting and conversion rights
that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders
of Common Shares. See "Description of Capital Shares."
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
  A substantial number of outstanding Common Shares and Common Shares issuable
upon the exercise of outstanding options will become eligible for future sale
in the public market at prescribed times pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 701 and
other available exemptions from registration under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act") or pursuant to registration rights. Sales of
such Common Shares in the public market could adversely affect the market
price of the Common Shares. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
 
DILUTION
 
  The price per share for this Offering is expected to be substantially higher
than the book value per Common Share of the Company. Purchasers in this
Offering will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible
book value of their Common Shares. See "Dilution."
 
NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET FOR COMMON SHARES; DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE
 
  Prior to this Offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Shares. The initial public offering price will be determined by negotiations
between the Company and the Underwriters. See "Underwriting" for a discussion
of the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price.
There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop after
this Offering or, if developed, that such a market will be sustained. The
market price for Common Shares may be significantly affected by such factors
as news announcements or changes in general economic, industry or market
conditions.
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
                                COMPANY HISTORY
 
  The Company is an Indiana corporation organized by Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney
& Company, Inc. ("HKW"), a New York private capital firm, to purchase the
circuit breaker, electronic sensor and electronic ceramic component parts
business (the "Business") of GTE. The Company purchased the Business on July
29, 1994.
 
  The circuit breaker business acquired by the Company was started by Sylvania
Electrical Products ("Sylvania") in 1956 when Sylvania obtained a patent to
produce an automatically resetting circuit breaker. Sylvania developed and
operated the business until 1959, when GTE acquired all of Sylvania's assets
and business. GTE expanded the circuit breaker business and added the
electronic sensor and electronic ceramic component parts product lines. GTE
also used the resources of the Business to establish a start-up
telecommunications division in 1983, to develop and market protection and
interface devices for use in the wired telecommunications industry (the
"Telecommunications Division").
 
  In 1991, GTE announced its decision to divest all of its non-core
businesses, which included all of the businesses acquired from Sylvania. Bruce
D. Atkinson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, served as
the General Manager of the Business and the Telecommunications Division which
had combined annual revenues in excess of $80,000,000 in 1992. In September
1993, Siecor Corporation purchased the assets and business of the
Telecommunications Division. In July 1994, the Company purchased the Business
for a total purchase price of $17,900,000 plus the assumption of certain
liabilities. The Company paid $16,400,000 in cash and delivered its Junior
Subordinated Promissory Note in the principal amount of $1,500,000 (the
"Seller Note"), which was repaid in full in March 1996. See "Certain
Transactions".
 
  In April 1996, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of RDI for a total purchase price of $8,964,000. The Company
paid $6,964,000 in cash, delivered $1,108,000 aggregate principal amount of
its 8.0% Subordinated Promissory Notes (the "RDI Notes"), and delivered
$892,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.5% Automatically Converting
Subordinated Promissory Notes (the "RDI Convertible Notes"). See "Certain
Transactions."
 
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  The net proceeds from the sale of Common Shares offered hereby at an assumed
public offering price of $10.00 per share are estimated to be $17,600,000
($20,390,000 if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full),
after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated
offering expenses payable by the Company.
 
  The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from this Offering
to (i) repay outstanding long-term indebtedness consisting of $10.0 million of
10% Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes due July 31, 2004 (the "Senior Notes")
plus accrued interest thereon and $4.5 million of 11% Senior Subordinated
Notes due July 31, 2004 (the "Subordinated Notes") plus accrued interest
thereon; and (ii) redeem 580 of the outstanding 11% Cumulative Preferred
Shares (the "Redeemable Preferred Shares") at $1,000 stated value per share
plus accrued dividends. The proceeds of the Senior Notes, the Subordinated
Notes and the Redeemable Preferred Shares were used to purchase the Business.
See "Company History," "Capitalization" and "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." The Senior Notes,
Subordinated Notes and 580 Redeemable Preferred Shares are held by
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and certain of its affiliates
("MassMutual"). See "Principal Shareholders." The Company is required to
redeem the Redeemable Preferred Shares held by MassMutual upon repayment of
the Senior Notes and Subordinated Notes.
 
  The total amount necessary to repay the Senior Notes and Subordinated Notes
(plus accrued interest) and to redeem 580 Redeemable Preferred Shares (plus
accrued dividends) is approximately $15.5 million as of September 30, 1996
(the "MassMutual Amount"). To the extent net proceeds from this Offering
exceed the MassMutual Amount, the Company intends to use such proceeds to
redeem all remaining 1,820 Redeemable Preferred Shares plus accrued dividends
for a total of approximately $2.3 million. If the net proceeds are not
sufficient to redeem all of the Redeemable Preferred Shares, the Company
intends to use a portion of its cash on hand or borrowings under its line of
credit for such purpose. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital
Resources."
 
  Excess proceeds from this Offering, if any, will be used for general
corporate purposes, including working capital, funding internal growth and
possible future acquisitions. The Company currently has no specific agreements
or understanding with respect to any acquisitions.
 
  Pending such uses, the net proceeds of this Offering will be invested in
short-term, investment grade, interest-bearing securities.
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
  The Company has never declared or paid dividends on the Common Shares. The
Company will pay all accrued but unpaid dividends on the Redeemable Preferred
Shares in connection with the redemption thereof. See "Use of Proceeds." The
Company currently anticipates that all future earnings will be retained by the
Company to support its growth strategy and does not anticipate paying any cash
dividends on the Common Shares in the foreseeable future. The payment of any
future dividends will be at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors
and will depend upon, among other things, future earnings, operations, capital
requirements, the general financial condition of the Company and general
business conditions.
 
  If fewer than all of the Redeemable Preferred Shares are redeemed in
connection with this Offering, all accrued and unpaid dividends on the
Redeemable Preferred Shares must be paid before dividends may be paid on the
Common Shares.
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
                                   DILUTION
 
  The net tangible book value of the Company's Common Shares at June 30, 1996,
was approximately $0.49 per share after giving effect to the adjustments
described in the Prospectus Summary. "Net tangible book value" per share
represents total tangible assets reduced by the amount of total liabilities
and Redeemable Preferred Shares, divided by the number of Common Shares
outstanding. Without taking into account any other changes in the net tangible
book value after June 30, 1996 other than to give effect to the adjustments
described in the Prospectus Summary and the sale by the Company of Common
Shares in this Offering at an assumed initial offering price of $10.00 per
share (the midpoint of the estimated range of the initial public offering
price) for assumed net proceeds to the Company of $17,600,000 and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom, the pro forma net tangible book
value of the Company's Common Shares on June 30, 1996 would have been
$18,819,000 or $4.04 per share. This represents an increase in net tangible
book value of $3.55 per share to existing common shareholders and an immediate
dilution in net tangible book value of $5.96 per share to new investors
purchasing Common Shares in this Offering. The following table illustrates
this per share dilution:
 
<TABLE>
   <S>                                                             <C>   <C>
   Assumed initial public offering price per share (1)...........        $10.00
     Net tangible book value per share before offering...........  $0.49
     Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable
      to new investors...........................................   3.55
                                                                   -----
   Pro forma net tangible book value per share after offering....          4.04
                                                                         ------
   Dilution per share to new investors...........................        $ 5.96
                                                                         ======
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated
    offering expenses payable by the Company.
 
  The following table summarizes, as of June 30, 1996, the differences in
total consideration paid and the average price per share paid between the
existing common shareholders and the new investors with respect to the number
of Common Shares purchased from the Company (based upon an assumed initial
offering price of $10.00 per share):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  SHARES ISSUED   TOTAL CONSIDERATION  AVERAGE
                                ----------------- -------------------   PRICE
                                 NUMBER   PERCENT   AMOUNT    PERCENT PER SHARE
                                --------- ------- ----------- ------- ---------
   <S>                          <C>       <C>     <C>         <C>     <C>
   Existing shareholders....... 2,564,094   55.1% $   606,000    2.8%  $ 0.24
   Holders of RDI Convertible
    Notes......................    89,240    1.9      892,400    4.2    10.00
   New investors (1)........... 2,000,000   43.0   20,000,000   93.0    10.00
                                ---------  -----  -----------  -----
       Total................... 4,653,334  100.0% $21,498,400  100.0%
                                =========  =====  ===========  =====
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) If the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full, the
    shares purchased by the new investors would be 2,300,000 or 46.4% of the
    outstanding Common Shares and the percent of shares held would be 51.8%
    for the existing shareholders and 1.8% for the holders of the RDI
    Convertible Notes.
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
                                CAPITALIZATION
 
  The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company as of June
30, 1996, (i) on an actual basis; (ii) on a pro forma basis to give effect to
the adjustments described in the Prospectus Summary and (iii) as adjusted to
reflect the sale of the Common Shares offered by the Company hereby (at an
assumed initial public offering price of $10.00 per share (the midpoint of the
estimated range of the initial public offering price) and after deducting the
estimated offering expenses and underwriting discount) and the application of
the net proceeds therefrom and cash on hand. See "Use of Proceeds." This table
should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and related notes
and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources" appearing elsewhere herein.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               JUNE 30, 1996
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                   PRO FORMA
                                   ACTUAL         PRO FORMA       AS ADJUSTED
                                 -------------  --------------  ----------------
                                 (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                              <C>            <C>             <C>
Debt:
  CDI--10% Senior Secured Fixed
   Rate Notes..................        $10,500         $10,500    $         --
  CDI--11% Senior Subordinated
   Notes (face value $4,500)...          4,364           4,364              --
  RDI Convertible Notes........            892             --               --
  RDI Notes....................          1,108           1,108            1,108
  RDI--other debt..............          1,812           1,812            1,812
                                 -------------   -------------    -------------
    Total debt.................         18,676          17,784            2,920
                                 -------------   -------------    -------------
Redeemable Preferred Shares,
 stated value $1,000 per share;
 2,400 shares authorized,
 issued and outstanding actual
 and pro forma; none
 authorized, issued or
 outstanding pro forma as
 adjusted......................          2,400           2,400              --
                                 -------------   -------------    -------------
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred Shares; 997,600
   authorized, none issued and
   outstanding actual;
   3,000,000 shares authorized,
   none issued and outstanding,
   pro forma and pro forma as
   adjusted....................            --              --               --
  Common Shares, no par value;
   no shares authorized, issued
   or outstanding actual;
   16,000,000 shares authorized
   pro forma and pro forma as
   adjusted; 2,653,334 shares
   issued and outstanding pro
   forma; 4,653,334 shares
   issued and outstanding pro
   forma as adjusted...........            --            1,743           19,343
  Class A Common Shares, no par
   value; 10,000,000 shares
   authorized actual; 1,564,098
   shares issued and
   outstanding actual; none
   authorized, issued or
   outstanding pro forma and
   pro forma as adjusted.......            520             --               --
  Class B Series 1 Common
   Shares, no par value;
   4,000,000 shares authorized
   actual; 435,896 shares
   issued and outstanding
   actual; none authorized,
   issued or outstanding pro
   forma and pro forma as
   adjusted....................            145             --               --
  Warrants to purchase 564,100
   shares of Class B Series 1
   Common Shares at $0.01 per
   share actual; none
   outstanding pro forma and
   pro forma as adjusted.......            180             --               --
  Retained earnings............          6,651           6,651            6,567
  Foreign currency translation
   adjustment..................           (222)           (222)            (222)
                                 -------------   -------------    -------------
    Total shareholders' equity.          7,274           8,172           25,688
                                 -------------   -------------    -------------
    Total capitalization.......        $28,350         $28,356    $      28,608
                                 =============   =============    =============
</TABLE>
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
                      UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA
 
  The unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of income for the year ended
December 31, 1995, and the six months ended June 30, 1996 are based upon the
historical consolidated financial statements of CDI and RDI. The unaudited pro
forma consolidated statements of income have been prepared after giving effect
to pro forma adjustments described in the notes thereto as if the acquisition
of RDI occurred on January 1 of the respective period.
 
  The unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of income do not purport to
represent what the results of operations of the Company would actually have
been if the events described in the notes thereto had in fact occurred at the
beginning of such period, or to project the results of operations of the
Company for any future date or period.
 
  The unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of income should be read in
conjunction with CDI's and RDI's financial statements including the notes
thereto and other financial information included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
No pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 1996 is presented as
the actual financial data for RDI is included in the actual consolidated
balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 1996. See "Index to Financial
Statements".
 
             UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
                     FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
 
          (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            CDI           RDI       PRO FORMA
                         HISTORICAL  HISTORICAL(A) ADJUSTMENTS        PRO FORMA
                         ----------  ------------- -----------        ---------
<S>                      <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>    <C>
Net sales............... $  38,881      $30,009      $(3,269)  (1)    $  65,621
Cost of sales...........    25,721       20,909       (3,220)  (1)(2)    43,410
                         ---------      -------      -------          ---------
  Gross profit..........    13,160        9,100          (49)            22,211
                         ---------      -------      -------          ---------
Selling, general and
 administrative
 expenses...............     3,504        7,323           55   (2)(3)    10,882
Research and
 development............     2,740          247          --               2,987
                         ---------      -------      -------          ---------
                             6,244        7,570           55             13,869
                         ---------      -------      -------          ---------
  Operating income......     6,916        1,530         (104)             8,342
Interest expense........     1,380          579          615   (4)        2,574
                         ---------      -------      -------          ---------
  Income before income
   taxes................     5,536          951         (719)             5,768
Income tax
 provision(benefit).....     2,078          438         (208)  (5)        2,308
                         ---------      -------      -------          ---------
  Net income............     3,458          513         (511)             3,460
Preferred share
 dividends..............      (264)         --           --                (264)
                         ---------      -------      -------          ---------
  Net income applicable
   to common
   shareholders......... $   3,194      $   513      $  (511)         $   3,196
                         =========      =======      =======          =========
Earnings per share...... $    1.25                                    $    1.25
                         =========                                    =========
Weighted average number
 of common shares and
 equivalents
 outstanding............ 2,564,094                                    2,564,094
                         =========                                    =========
</TABLE>
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
             UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
                    FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
 
          (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          RDI
                                      THREE MONTHS
                                         ENDED
                                       MARCH 31,    PRO FORMA
                         ACTUAL(A)(B)  1996(A)(C)  ADJUSTMENTS        PRO FORMA
                         ------------ ------------ -----------        ---------
<S>                      <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>    <C>
Net sales...............  $  28,180      $8,013      $(1,390)  (1)      $34,803
Cost of sales...........     17,870       5,419       (1,444)  (1)(2)    21,845
                          ---------      ------      -------          ---------
  Gross profit..........     10,310       2,594           54             12,958
                          ---------      ------      -------          ---------
Selling, general and
 administrative
 expenses...............      4,157       2,149           44   (2)(3)     6,350
Research and
 development............      1,880          53          --               1,933
                          ---------      ------      -------          ---------
                              6,037       2,202           44              8,283
                          ---------      ------      -------          ---------
  Operating income......      4,273         392           10              4,675
Interest expense........        828         134          113   (4)        1,075
                          ---------      ------      -------          ---------
  Income before income
   taxes................      3,445         258         (103)             3,600
Income tax provision....      1,322          58           22   (5)        1,402
                          ---------      ------      -------          ---------
  Net income............      2,123         200         (125)             2,198
                          ---------      ------      -------          ---------
Preferred share
 dividends..............       (132)        --           --                (132)
                          ---------      ------      -------          ---------
  Net income applicable
   to common
   shareholders.........  $   1,991      $  200      $  (125)         $   2,066
                          =========      ======      =======          =========
Earnings per share......  $    0.78                                   $    0.81
                          =========                                   =========
Weighted average number
 of common shares and
 equivalents
 outstanding............  2,564,094                                   2,564,094
                          =========                                   =========
</TABLE>
(a) RDI's historical statements of income were translated into U.S. dollars
    using the average exchange rate prevailing throughout the applicable
    period. See Note 2 to the Company's Financial Statements. RDI's historical
    statements of income have been prepared in accordance with French
    generally accepted accounting principles and have been adjusted to U.S.
    generally accepted accounting principles with pro forma adjustment number
    3.
 
(b) Represents the consolidated results for CDI for the six months ended June
    30, 1996, including RDI for the period from April 1, 1996 (date of RDI
    acquisition) to June 30, 1996.
 
(c) Represents the results of RDI for the period January 1, 1996 to March 31,
    1996 (prior to the acquisition).
 
- --------
 
(1) Elimination of intercompany sales and profit of products held in RDI
    inventory.
(2) Adjustment for amortization of goodwill related to the acquisition of RDI,
    and adjustment for depreciation of property, plant and equipment acquired
    based on their estimated fair values.
(3) Adjustment to pension expense under United States generally accepted
    accounting principles for RDI.
(4) Adjustments to interest expense:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
                                                               1995       1996
                                                           ------------ --------
                                                                (AMOUNTS IN
                                                                THOUSANDS)
   <S>                                                     <C>          <C>
   Interest on short term debt...........................     $ 264       $ --
   Interest on RDI Notes and RDI Convertible Notes.......       147         37
   Elimination of interest expense on Seller Note (repaid
    in connection with the acquisition) .................      (150)       (38)
   Elimination of interest on excess cash balances.......       354        114
                                                              -----       ----
                                                              $ 615       $113
                                                              =====       ====
</TABLE>
 
(5) Income tax effect of the pro forma adjustments at assumed rate of 40%,
    except for the adjustment to goodwill amortization which was not tax
    effected.
 
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
                        SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
  The selected data for the year ended December 31, 1993, for the seven months
ended July 29, 1994, as of and for the five months ended December 31, 1994,
and as of and for the year ended December 31, 1995, have been derived from the
Company's Financial Statements audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, the Company's
independent public accountants. Their report on the financial statements is
included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The statement of income data for the
years ended December 31, 1991 and 1992, and the balance sheet data as of
December 31, 1991, 1992 and 1993 have been derived from audited financial
statements of the Company not included in this Prospectus. The selected
statement of income data for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, and
the selected balance sheet data as of June 30, 1996, have been derived from
unaudited interim financial statements of the Company, and reflect, in
management's opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the
financial position and results of operations for these periods. Results of
operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be
expected for the full year. This data should be read in conjunction with the
Company's Financial Statements and related notes, "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and other financial
information included herein.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              CONTROL
                              PREDECESSOR COMPANY(1)       DEVICES, INC. PRO FORMA(2)    CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
                         --------------------------------- ------------- ------------ ----------------------------
                                                   SEVEN
                                                   MONTHS   FIVE MONTHS                              SIX MONTHS
                               YEARS ENDED         ENDED       ENDED      YEAR ENDED   YEAR ENDED       ENDED
                              DECEMBER 31,        JULY 29, DECEMBER 31,  DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,    JUNE 30,
                         ------------------------ -------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ---------------
                          1991     1992    1993     1994       1994          1994         1995      1995   1996(3)
                         -------  ------- ------- -------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ------- -------
                                              (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS,  EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                      <C>      <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>     <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
Net sales............... $38,088  $39,747 $39,807 $24,995     $18,847       $43,842     $38,881    $20,713 $28,180
Cost of sales...........  35,694   34,419  30,046  17,676      12,159        29,835      25,721     13,333  17,870
                         -------  ------- ------- -------     -------      --------     -------    ------- -------
 Gross profit...........   2,394    5,328   9,761   7,319       6,688        14,007      13,160      7,380  10,310
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and
 administrative.........   5,043    3,593   3,237   1,896       2,413         4,304       3,504      1,972   4,157
Research and
 development............     863      651   2,144   1,598       1,052         2,650       2,740      1,402   1,880
                         -------  ------- ------- -------     -------      --------     -------    ------- -------
 Operating income
  (loss)(4).............  (3,512)   1,084   4,380   3,825       3,223         7,053       6,916      4,006   4,273
Interest expense........     --       --      --      --          657         1,581       1,380        732     828
                         -------  ------- ------- -------     -------      --------     -------    ------- -------
 Income (loss) before
  income taxes..........  (3,512)   1,084   4,380   3,825       2,566         5,472       5,536      3,274   3,445
Income tax provision
 (benefit)(5)...........  (1,405)     434   1,752   1,530         990         2,153       2,078      1,310   1,322
                         -------  ------- ------- -------     -------      --------     -------    ------- -------
 Net income (loss)...... $(2,107) $   650 $ 2,628 $ 2,295     $ 1,576      $  3,319     $ 3,458    $ 1,964 $ 2,123
                         =======  ======= ======= =======     =======      ========     =======    ======= =======
 Net income applicable
  to common sharehold-
  ers(6)................                                      $ 1,466      $  3,055     $ 3,194    $ 1,832 $ 1,991
 Net income per
  share(6)(7)...........                                      $  0.57      $   1.19     $  1.25    $  0.71 $  0.78
Weighted average number
 of common shares and
 equivalents outstand-
 ing(6).................                                        2,564         2,564       2,564      2,564   2,564
OTHER DATA:
 Research and
  development as a
  percentage of net
  sales(8)..............    2.3%     1.6%    5.4%    6.4%        5.6%          6.0%        7.0%       6.8%    6.7%
</TABLE>
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  PREDECESSOR COMPANY    CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
                                ----------------------- ------------------------
                                     DECEMBER 31,        DECEMBER 31,   JUNE 30,
                                ----------------------- --------------- --------
                                 1991    1992    1993    1994    1995     1996
                                ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- --------
                                             (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital...............  $ 4,623 $ 2,665 $ 4,891 $ 9,255 $13,662 $ 8,515
Total assets..................   23,700  21,226  22,385  26,051  30,141  42,986
Long-term debt, net of current
 maturities...................      --      --      --   16,320  15,853  16,743
Redeemable preferred shares...      --      --      --    2,400   2,400   2,400
Shareholders' equity..........      --      --      --    2,311   5,505   7,274
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) On July 29, 1994, the Company purchased the Business. See "Company
    History." The data prior to July 29, 1994 represents the financial
    information of the Predecessor Company, and has been prepared by the
    Company. See Note 1 to the Company's Financial Statements.
(2) Pro forma year ended December 31, 1994 amounts were prepared as if the
    acquisition of the Business and initial capitalization of the Company had
    occurred on January 1, 1994. These pro forma results include adjustments
    for depreciation and amortization of assets acquired based on their fair
    market values at the acquisition date, increased interest on acquisition
    debt, additional preferred share dividends, elimination of allocated
    employee benefit and administrative expenses, additional professional fees
    and the related income tax effect. The unaudited pro forma consolidated
    financial data do not purport to represent what the results of operations
    of the Company would actually have been if the acquisition and initial
    capitalization had in fact occurred on January 1, 1994, or to project the
    results of operations of the Company for any future date or period. See
    Note 3 to the Company's Financial Statements.
(3) The Selected Financial Data presented for the six months ended June 30,
    1996 includes RDI's results of operations from April 1, 1996, the date of
    the acquisition.
(4) The Predecessor Company incurred operating losses in the year ended
    December 31, 1991, due in part to GTE corporate allocation charges of
    approximately $2,000,000 and higher cost of sales associated with
    manufacturing facilities closed in 1991.
(5) For purposes of computing income tax provision (benefit), an effective tax
    rate of 40% was used for the Predecessor Company results of operations
    because no income taxes were allocated to the Predecessor Company.
(6) See Note 2 to the Company's Financial Statements. Net income per share,
    net income applicable to common shareholders and weighted average number
    of Common Shares and equivalents outstanding are not presented for periods
    prior to and including July 29, 1994 as the Business was not operated as
    an independent entity during such periods.
(7) The supplemental net income per share would have been $0.99 and $0.56 for
    the year ended December 31, 1995, and the six month period ended June 30,
    1996, respectively, assuming the conversion of the RDI Convertible Notes,
    the issuance of 1,816,500 and 1,842,600 Common Shares, respectively, at a
    public offering price of $10.00 per share (the midpoint of the estimated
    range of the initial public offering price), and the application of the
    proceeds thereof and cash on hand to retire the Company's Senior Notes
    plus accrued interest, the Subordinated Notes plus accrued interest and
    the Redeemable Preferred Shares plus accrued dividends, as of the
    beginning of each period.
(8) Research and development as a percentage of net sales for the six months
    ended June 30, 1996 includes the financial data for RDI. The percentage
    for the six months ended June 30, 1996 without RDI was 8.5%.
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
                                  OPERATIONS
 
INTRODUCTION
 
  The Company purchased the Business from GTE on July 29, 1994 for a total
purchase price of $17,900,000 plus the assumption of certain liabilities. The
Company had no operations prior to that date. The Company paid $16,400,000 in
cash and delivered the Seller Note. In March 1996, the Company repaid the
Seller Note and in April 1996, acquired all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of RDI for a total purchase price of $8,964,000. The Company
paid $6,964,000 in cash, delivered RDI Notes totaling $1,108,000 and delivered
the RDI Convertible Notes totaling $892,000. See "Certain Transactions."
 
  The financial information for the periods prior to July 29, 1994 does not
reflect the impact of the acquisition of the Business or the related financing
and purchase accounting adjustments on the financial position and results of
operations of the Company. The financial statements prior to July 29, 1994,
have been prepared solely by the Company as if the Business was operated as a
separate entity for the periods presented. The Predecessor Company financial
statements do not include an allocation of GTE's assets and liabilities not
specifically identifiable to the Business, including cash and intercompany
debt. Prior to September 28, 1993, the Telecommunications Division shared
certain facilities and functions with the Business. Certain costs and
expenses, including manufacturing overhead and selling, general and
administrative expenses, were prorated by the Company between the Business and
the Telecommunications Division in preparing the Predecessor Company financial
statements. Expenses were allocated by the Company based on actual usage or
other allocation methods which approximate actual usage. Management of the
Company believes that the allocation methods are reasonable. The purchase
method of accounting was used to record assets acquired by the Company. Such
accounting generally results in increased amortization and depreciation
reported in future periods. Accordingly, the financial statements of the
Predecessor Company and the Company are not comparable in all material
respects since the financial statements report on two separate entities.
 
  Since the acquisition of the Business in July 1994, the Company's financial
strategy has been to improve gross profits in its circuit breaker business,
maintain stable selling, general and administrative expenses and expand its
sensor business. The Company has increased its research and development
expenditures, which increase was primarily devoted to its sensor products,
from $651,000 in 1992 to $2.7 million in 1995. During the same period, the
Company's sales of sensors have grown from $ 3.2 million in 1992 to $5.3
million in 1995 and $4.0 million for the first six months of 1996.
 
  In addition, the Company's financial strategy contemplates making
acquisitions which complement the Company's existing businesses. See
"Business--Business Strategies." The Company's acquisition of RDI in April
1996, which was funded in part with $7.4 million in cash generated from
operations, is intended to enhance the Company's market penetration of the
automotive OEM market in Europe. RDI, which is a European-based distributor of
products of the Company and other manufacturers, historically, due to the
nature of the distribution business, has had lower gross margins and higher
selling, general and administrative expenses (measured as a percentage of net
sales) than the Company. Although the Company's gross profit and operating
income have increased as a result of the RDI acquisition, when expressed as a
percentage of sales, the Company's gross profit and operating income have
decreased due to the lower margins associated with distribution businesses
generally.
 
  RDI generates revenues and incurs expenses primarily in currencies other
than the U.S. dollar. The Company does not engage in currency hedging
transactions. RDI's currency of account is the French franc. RDI's assets and
liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate in effect
at the balance sheet date. RDI's results of operations are translated into
U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate prevailing throughout the
applicable period. See Note 2 to the Company's Financial Statements.
 
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Summary Data
 
  Management's discussion and analysis of the operating results of the Company
are based on amounts in the table set below which were derived from the
Financial Statements appearing elsewhere herein.
 
  The 1994 combined financial information was based on the summation of the
financial information for the seven months ended July 29, 1994 of the
Predecessor Company and the five months ended December 31, 1994 of the
Company. The combined financial information is presented for comparison
purposes only and does not purport to reflect the results of the Company had
they been under common control.
 
  The following table presents selected financial information derived from the
Company's statements of income, expressed as a percentage net sales for the
periods indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          PREDECESSOR
                            COMPANY      COMBINED    CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
                          ------------ ------------ -------------------------
                                                                 SIX MONTHS
                                                                    ENDED
                                                                  JUNE 30,
                                                                 ------------
                           YEAR ENDED   YEAR ENDED   YEAR ENDED
                          DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
                              1993         1994         1995     1995     1996
                          ------------ ------------ ------------ -----  ----------
<S>                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>    <C>    <C>
Net sales...............     100.0%       100.0%       100.0%    100.0% 100.0%
Gross profit............      24.5         31.9         33.8      35.6   36.6
Selling, general and ad-
 ministrative expenses..       8.1          9.8          9.0       9.5   14.8
Research and develop-
 ment...................       5.4          6.0          7.0       6.8    6.7
Operating income........      11.0         16.1         17.8      19.3   15.2
Net income..............       6.6          8.8          8.9       9.5    7.5
</TABLE>
 
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 COMPARED TO SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995
 
  Net sales were $28.2 million in the first six months of 1996, an increase of
$7.5 million, or 36.0%, as compared to the first six months of 1995. Net sales
increased primarily as a result of the acquisition of RDI which contributed
$6.6 million to net sales in the first six months of 1996.
 
  Sales of circuit breaker products declined 9.5% to $15.7 million in the
first six months of 1996 from $17.3 million in first six months of 1995,
primarily due to lower European shipments and the switch in 1995 from the use
of circuit breakers to fuses on certain models of Ford vehicles. This decrease
was partially offset by a 72.9% increase in sales of sensor products to $4.0
million in the first six months of 1996 from $2.3 million in the first six
months of 1995, primarily as a result of the Company's shipment of its new
steering sensor. The decrease was also partially offset by an increase of
74.8% in sales of ceramics products to $1.9 million in the first six months of
1996 from $1.1 million in the first six months of 1995, primarily due to
shipments of ceramics to the PCS and cellular equipment manufacturers.
 
  Gross profit in the first six months of 1996 was $10.3 million, an increase
of $2.9 million, or 39.7%, as compared to the same period in 1995. As a
percentage of net sales, gross profit in the first six months of 1996 was
36.6% as compared to 35.6% in the first six months of 1995. The increase in
gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, resulted from improved
productivity due in part to the continuing success of an employee gain sharing
program as well as from improved plant utilization and efficiencies.
 
  Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first six months of 1996
were $4.2 million, an increase of $2.2 million, or 110.8%, as compared to the
first six months of 1995. The increase consisted primarily of RDI expenses
which were $2.0 million. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and
administrative expenses were 14.8% in the first six months of 1996 as compared
to 9.5% in the first six months of 1995.
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
Excluding RDI, selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of
net sales increased to 10.1% in the first six months of 1996 from 9.5% in the
first six months of 1995, primarily as a result of increased expenses for
bonus plans.
 
  Research and development expenses in the first six months of 1996 were $1.9
million, an increase of $0.5 million, or 34.1%, as compared to the first six
months of 1995. The increased research and development expense was primarily a
result of increased staffing and expenses required to develop products for
introduction in the 1997-1999 period. In addition, resources have been added
to develop a chip-on-board manufacturing line to reduce the cost and enhance
market penetration of the Company's sensor products. As a percentage of net
sales, research and development expense was 6.7% in the first six months of
1996, as compared to 6.8% in the first six months of 1995. Due to the
distribution nature of RDI's business, research and development is a minimal
expense for RDI. Excluding RDI, research and development spending increased to
8.5% in the first six months of 1996 from 6.8% in the first six months of
1995.
 
  Operating income in the first six months of 1996 was $4.3 million, an
increase of $0.3 million, or 6.7%, as compared to the first six months of
1995. As a percentage of net sales, operating income was 15.2% in the first
six months of 1996 as compared to 19.3% in the first six months of 1995. The
decrease in operating income as a percentage of net sales resulted primarily
from the acquisition of RDI. RDI is primarily a distributor and, on a
historical basis, has incurred selling, general and administrative expenses
higher, as a percentage of net sales, than the Company. Similarly, as a
distributor, RDI's operating income as a percentage of net sales is typically
lower than that of the Company.
 
  Interest expense was $0.8 million in the first six months of 1996, an
increase of $0.1 million, or 13.1%, as compared to the first six months of
1995. The increased interest expense was primarily the result of lower
interest income due to the use of cash for the acquisition of RDI.
 
  The provision for income tax was $1.3 million in the first six months of
1996 and the first six months of 1995. The effective tax rate was 38.4% in the
first six months of 1996 compared to 40.0% in the first six months of 1995.
 
  Net income was $2.1 million in the first six months of 1996, an increase of
$0.2 million, or 8.1%, as compared to the first six months of 1995. The
increase in net income was a result of the acquisition and the improvement in
operating income partially offset by increased research and development and
interest expense. As a percentage of net sales, net income was 7.5% in the
first six months of 1996 as compared to 9.5% in the first six months of 1995.
 
1995 COMPARED TO COMBINED 1994
 
  Net sales were $38.9 million in 1995, a decrease of $5.0 million, or 11.3%,
as compared to combined 1994. Net sales decreased primarily as a result of the
weakened economic conditions in North America and Europe, particularly related
to automotive sales. Sales of circuit breaker products decreased 13.6% to
$30.9 million in 1995 from $35.8 million in 1994. Approximately $2.2 million
of the decrease in net sales was attributable to decreased demand for the
Company's automotive circuit breaker products as Ford switched certain models
of vehicles from circuit breakers to fuses. Sales of sensor products increased
25.5% to $5.3 million in 1995 from $4.2 million in combined 1994 as the
Company began shipping sensors to European automakers. Ceramic sales declined
31.2% to $2.6 million in 1995 from $3.8 million in 1994 primarily due to a
decrease in air heater sales.
 
  Gross profit in 1995 was $13.2 million, a decrease of $0.8 million, or 6.0%,
as compared to combined 1994. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit in
1995 was 33.8% as compared to 31.9% in combined 1994. The increase in gross
profit, as a percent of net sales, resulted from increased productivity due in
part to the success of an employee gain sharing program instituted in 1994 as
well as from improved plant utilization.
 
  Selling, general and administrative expenses in 1995 were $3.5 million, a
decrease of $0.8 million, or 18.7%, as compared to combined 1994. The decrease
in administrative expenses was a result of management
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
initiative to contain expenses as a result of the decreased sales volume. As a
percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were
9.0% in 1995 as compared to 9.8% in combined 1994.
 
  Research and development expenses in 1995 were $2.7 million, an increase of
$0.1 million, or 3.4%, as compared to combined 1994. The increased research
and development expenses were a result of the Company's continued focus on new
product development in the sensor product line. As a percentage of net sales,
research and development expenses were 7.0% in 1995 as compared to 6.0% in
combined 1994. In 1995, approximately 75% of the research and development
expenses were related to sensor development projects, primarily in the rain
and solar/twilight areas. See "Business--Research and Development."
 
  Operating income in 1995 was $6.9 million, a decrease of $0.1 million, or
1.9%, as compared to combined 1994. The decreased operating income was a
result of the lower sales volume substantially offset by higher gross margins
and reduced selling, general and administrative expenses. As a percentage of
net sales, operating income was 17.8% in 1995 as compared to 16.1% in combined
1994.
 
  Interest expense was $1.4 million in 1995, an increase of $0.7 million from
combined 1994. The Predecessor Company did not receive an allocation of
interest expense from GTE in 1994.
 
  Provision for income tax was $2.1 million in 1995, as compared to $2.5
million in combined 1994. The effective tax rate was 37.5% in 1995 as compared
to a rate of 39.4% in combined 1994.
 
  Net income was $3.5 million in 1995, a decrease of 10.7%, as compared to
$3.9 million in combined 1994. The decrease in net income was primarily
attributable to the additional interest expense in 1995. As a percentage of
net sales, net income was 8.9% in 1995 as compared to 8.8% in combined 1994.
 
COMBINED 1994 COMPARED TO 1993
 
  Net sales were $43.8 million in combined 1994, an increase of $4.0 million,
or 10.1%, as compared to 1993. Net sales increased primarily as a result of
improved economic conditions in North America and Europe, particularly related
to automotive sales. Sales of circuit breaker products increased 4.6% to $35.8
million in 1994 from $34.2 million in 1993. This increase was primarily due to
the strength of the worldwide automotive market. Sensor sales also increased
26.2% to $4.2 million in 1994 from $3.4 million in 1993 as solar sensors
benefited from improving market conditions and increased market acceptance.
Ceramic sales increased 71.0% to $3.8 million in 1994 from $2.2 million in
1993 in part due to increased sales of air heaters.
 
  Gross profit in combined 1994 was $14.0 million, an increase of $4.2
million, or 43.5%, as compared to 1993. As a percentage of net sales, gross
profit in combined 1994 was 31.9% as compared to 24.5% in 1993. The increase
in gross profit, as a percent of net sales, resulted from improved
productivity due in part to the success of an employee gain sharing program
instituted in 1994 as well as from improved plant utilization and efficiency.
 
  Selling, general and administrative expenses in combined 1994 were $4.3
million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 33.1%, as compared to 1993. The
increase in administrative expenses consisted primarily of corporate expenses
associated with being an independent company in 1994. As a percentage of net
sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 9.8% in combined 1994
as compared to 8.1% in 1993.
 
  Research and development expenses in combined 1994 were $2.7 million, an
increase of $0.5 million, or 23.6%, as compared to 1993. The increased
research and development expenses were a result of the Company's increased
focus on new product development in the sensor product line. As a percentage
of net sales, research and development expenses were 6.0% in combined 1994 as
compared to 5.4% in 1993.
 
  Operating income in combined 1994 was $7.0 million, an increase of $2.7
million, or 60.9%, as compared to 1993. The increased operating income was a
result of the improvement in gross profit partially offset by higher selling,
general and administrative and research and development expenses. As a
percentage of net sales, operating income was 16.1% in combined 1994 as
compared to 11.0% in 1993.
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
  Interest expense was $0.7 million in 1994. The Predecessor Company did not
receive an allocation of interest expense from GTE in 1993.
 
  Provision for income tax was $2.5 million in combined 1994, as compared to
$1.8 million in 1993. The effective tax rate was 39.4% in combined 1994 as
compared to 40.0% in 1993.
 
  Net income was $3.9 million in combined 1994, as compared to $2.6 million in
1993. The increase in net income was a result of the improvement in operating
income partially offset by interest expense and income taxes. As a percentage
of net sales, net income was 8.8% in combined 1994 as compared to 6.6% in
1993.
 
QUARTERLY RESULTS
 
  The following tables present the Company's operating results for each of the
six quarters for the period ended June 30, 1996, including such amounts
expressed as a percentage of net sales. The information for each of these
quarters is unaudited, but has been prepared on the same basis as the audited
consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of the Company's
management, reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring
adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of such information when read
in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Operating results for any
quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future periods.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                         ----------------------------------------------------------------
                         MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, MARCH 31, JUNE 30,
                           1995      1995       1995          1995       1996      1996
                         --------- -------- ------------- ------------ --------- --------
                                 (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                      <C>       <C>      <C>           <C>          <C>       <C>
Net sales...............  $10,916   $9,798     $9,063        $9,104     $10,772  $17,408
Cost of sales...........    6,919    6,414      6,132         6,256       6,919   10,951
                          -------   ------     ------        ------     -------  -------
 Gross profit...........    3,997    3,384      2,931         2,848       3,853    6,457
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and
 administrative
 expenses...............      943    1,027        816           718       1,075    3,082
Research and develop-
 ment...................      771      632        641           696         959      921
                          -------   ------     ------        ------     -------  -------
 Operating income.......    2,283    1,725      1,474         1,434       1,819    2,454
Interest expense........      368      364        336           312         312      516
                          -------   ------     ------        ------     -------  -------
 Income before income
  taxes.................    1,915    1,361      1,138         1,122       1,507    1,938
Income tax provision....      766      544        433           335         580      742
                          -------   ------     ------        ------     -------  -------
 Net income.............    1,149      817        705           787         927    1,196
Preferred share divi-
 dends..................       66       66         66            66          66       66
                          -------   ------     ------        ------     -------  -------
 Net income applicable
  to common
  shareholders..........  $ 1,083   $  751     $  639        $  721     $   861  $ 1,130
                          =======   ======     ======        ======     =======  =======
Earnings per share......  $  0.42   $ 0.29     $ 0.25        $ 0.28     $  0.34  $  0.44
                          =======   ======     ======        ======     =======  =======
Weighted average number
 of common shares and
 equivalents outstand-
 ing....................    2,564    2,564      2,564         2,564       2,564    2,564
<CAPTION>
                                           AS A PERCENTAGE OF NET SALES
                         ----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>       <C>      <C>           <C>          <C>       <C>
Net sales...............    100.0%   100.0%     100.0%        100.0%      100.0%   100.0%
Cost of sales...........     63.4     65.5       67.7          68.7        64.2     62.9
                          -------   ------     ------        ------     -------  -------
 Gross profit...........     36.6     34.5       32.3          31.3        35.8     37.1
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and
 administrative
 expenses...............      8.6     10.4        8.9           7.9        10.0     17.7
Research and develop-
 ment...................      7.1      6.5        7.1           7.6         8.9      5.3
                          -------   ------     ------        ------     -------  -------
 Operating income.......     20.9     17.6       16.3          15.8        16.9     14.1
Interest expense........      3.4      3.7        3.7           3.4         2.9      3.0
                          -------   ------     ------        ------     -------  -------
 Income before income
  taxes.................     17.5     13.9       12.6          12.4        14.0     11.1
Income tax provision....      7.0      5.6        4.8           3.7         5.4      4.2
                          -------   ------     ------        ------     -------  -------
 Net income.............     10.5%     8.3%       7.8%          8.7%        8.6%     6.9%
                          =======   ======     ======        ======     =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
SEASONALITY
 
 
  The Company's performance is dependent primarily on automotive vehicle
production which is seasonal in nature. The Company's revenues tend to be
somewhat lower in the third and fourth quarters as automotive OEMs schedule
plant tooling changeovers, vacations and holiday shutdowns.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
  Since its formation and initial capitalization, the Company has financed its
operations and investments in property, equipment and the RDI acquisition
primarily through cash generated from operations, the issuance of the RDI
Notes and the RDI Convertible Notes and bank borrowings. At June 30, 1996, the
Company had capital expenditure commitments of approximately $1.5 million. The
commitments relate primarily to capital expenditures associated with the
Company's design, development, manufacturing and marketing of sensors.
 
  The Company has an existing $3.0 million line of credit with MassMutual (the
"Existing Line of Credit") under which no amounts are outstanding as of the
date hereof. The Existing Line of Credit is expected to be terminated in
connection with the closing of this Offering.
 
  Cash and cash equivalents totaled $3.7 million at June 30, 1996 compared to
$10.5 million at December 31, 1995. The $6.7 million decrease in cash and cash
equivalents during this period resulted primarily from the Company's payment
of $7.4 million in connection with the RDI acquisition and the repayment of
the $1.5 million Seller Note, offset by $2.2 million generated by the Company.
The Company's cash and cash equivalents increased $5.2 million in 1995 and
$4.4 million in the five month period ending December 31, 1994 as a result of
cash generated from operations.
 
  RDI has various credit facilities available to it totaling $4.5 million with
rates ranging from 0.5% to 1.0% over the Paris Inter-Bank Offered Rate. At
June 30, 1996, RDI had borrowings aggregating $3.8 million under these
facilities.
 
  The Company believes its current cash and cash equivalents, together with
its credit facilities and cash flows from operations, will be sufficient to
meet the Company's cash requirements, including capital expenditures, for at
least the next twelve months.
 
  Fleet Bank of Maine ("Fleet Bank") and the Company have entered into a
commitment agreement, pursuant to which Fleet Bank has agreed to provide a
$15.0 million revolving line of credit facility to the Company to fund
strategic acquisitions and, if needed, for working capital. The new revolving
line of credit facility, which is subject to raising $15.0 million in this
Offering and the repayment of the Senior Notes, the Subordinated Notes and the
Existing Line of Credit, is expected to close simultaneously with the closing
of this Offering and will mature on September 30, 1998. The facility will have
three interest rate options consisting of (i) Fleet Bank's prime rate for
daily rate borrowings, (ii) Fleet Bank's cost of funds rate plus 1.5% for
borrowings of 30 days or less, or (iii) the corresponding London Interbank
Offering Rate (LIBOR) plus 1.5% for borrowings of 30, 60, 90 or 180 days. The
line of credit will be unsecured and contain covenants less restrictive than
those of the Existing Line of Credit. To date, no credit agreement has been
executed and no assurance can be given that the new line of credit will be
executed on such terms.
 
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
                                   BUSINESS
 
GENERAL OVERVIEW
 
  The Company designs, manufactures and markets circuit breakers, electronic
sensors and electronic ceramic component parts used by OEMs in the automotive,
appliance and telecommunications markets. The Company has supplied circuit
breakers to automotive OEMs for more than 30 years, and in 1991 the Company
expanded its offerings to the automotive market by introducing its initial
sensor product, a solar sensor used for climate control in luxury cars. The
Company believes it is a leading supplier of automatically resetting circuit
breakers and solar sensors for the automotive market and of glass enclosed
circuit breakers for the appliance market. In addition to continued shipments
of its solar sensor, in July 1995, the Company commenced shipping its steering
wheel sensor to Ford, and, in June 1996, commenced shipping its twilight
sensor to GM. The Company is in various stages of development of its rain,
window fog and other solar (climate control)/twilight (headlamp control)
sensors for a number of automotive OEMs. Frost & Sullivan's Sensor Market
Sourcebook, 1995 Edition (the "F&S Sourcebook") estimates that the size of the
North American automotive sensor market will increase from $1.4 billion in
1992 to $2.6 billion in 1998 based in part on increased consumer demand for
safety, performance, convenience and comfort.
 
  In April 1996, the Company acquired RDI primarily to enhance its market
penetration of the automotive OEM market in Europe, in part by locating itself
closer to European customers. The Company's customers include GM, Ford and
Chrysler in North American and Mercedes, Peugeot, Rockwell, Valeo, Opel and
Danfoss in Europe. Sales to GM, Ford and Chrysler and their suppliers in North
America were approximately $17.6 million, or 45.4% of the Company's net sales,
in 1995 and approximately $10.0 million, or 46.2% of net sales excluding RDI,
in the first six months of 1996.
 
PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
 
  Circuit Protection. The Company manufactures and markets for the automotive
and appliance industries, circuit breakers which protect transformers, battery
chargers, compressors and small motors from heat and current overloads. The
technology utilized in such devices traces back to automatically resetting
circuit breakers developed as an alternative to fuses by Sylvania in 1956. Due
to the resetting feature, Sylvania's circuit breakers provided the same
protection from current overloads as fuses without the need for replacement.
The Company manufactures over 250 types of circuit breakers, including over
150 types of glass enclosed circuit breakers. Through RDI, the Company markets
and distributes in Europe a full line of circuit protection devices, including
various fuses and circuit breaker components and assemblies manufactured by
other companies. The Company's sales of circuit breakers were $30.9 million,
or 79.6% of net sales, in 1995, and $15.7 million, or 72.7% of net sales
excluding RDI, in the first six months of 1996.
 
  Electronic Sensors. The Company's automotive sensors use optical sensing
technologies to recognize external conditions and send an electronic signal to
a central processor which automatically triggers a control response, that in
many cases, had required manual operation. The functions automatically
controlled by the Company's sensors include climate control and headlight
intensity in response to sunlight, power steering assist in response to
driving conditions, wiper control in response to precipitation and defrost
operation in response to window fog. In addition to continued sales of its
existing solar sensors, in July 1995, the Company began shipping its steering
wheel sensor to Ford. The Company's steering wheel sensor replaced a
competitor's product and is currently used in a number of Ford models. In
September 1996, the Company commenced shipping its twilight sensor to GM. The
Company's twilight sensor signals the vehicle's headlight system to switch
from low intensity to full intensity in twilight conditions and was developed
for use in GM's DRL program beginning with certain 1997 models. The Company's
sales of sensors were $5.3 million, or 13.7% of net sales in 1995, and $4.0
million, or 18.4% of net sales excluding RDI, in the first six months of 1996.
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
  In late 1995, in an effort to encourage automotive OEMs to use sensors in a
greater range of vehicle models, the Company sought to lower the cost of its
sensors by incorporating chip-on-board manufacturing technology. The Company's
original sensor technology uses discrete electronic components together with
prepackaged photodiodes. With chip-on-board technology, the Company has
designed silicon wafers which incorporate both the function of the discrete
electronic components and the photodiode and also reduce board size
requirements and assembly costs. The Company packages the wafer directly on a
circuit board resulting in savings which will permit the Company to introduce
a new line of lower cost sensors. Currently, the Company's twilight sensor
product, which possesses chip-on-board technology, is being shipped to GM, and
the Company is redesigning the remainder of its sensor products to incorporate
chip-on-board technology.
 
  The Company's rain, window fog, and "next generation" solar (climate
control)/twilight (headlamp control) sensors are in various stages of
development. See "--Research and Development." The Company is continually
working with customers to provide new sensor products which will provide
increased comfort and safety in vehicles. In response to customer requests for
"next generation" functionality, prototypes of these advanced sensor products
have been shipped to GM, Ford, Mercedes, Volvo, Fiat, BMW and Volkswagen, as
well as to major tier one suppliers such as Valeo.
 
  Electronic Ceramics. The Company's ceramic products include PTC (Positive
Temperature Coefficient) thermistors and dielectric resonators. PTC
thermistors, which convert electrical current into heat, are used as component
parts in room air heaters and protection devices for switching equipment
critical to the operation of telephone companies' central offices (facilities
that provide the local switching and distribution functions for telephone
companies). Dielectric resonators are used to filter frequencies in wireless
communications equipment. In addition to sales to wireless communications
equipment manufacturers, in the fourth quarter of 1995 the Company began
shipping custom designed dielectric resonators to Personal Communication
Systems ("PCS") equipment manufacturers. The Company's sales of ceramics were
$2.6 million, or 6.7% of net sales, in 1995, and $1.9 million, or 8.9% of net
sales excluding RDI, in the first six months of 1996.
 
  Acquisition of RDI. In April 1996, the Company acquired RDI primarily to
enhance the Company's market penetration of the automotive OEM market in
Europe. In addition, through RDI, the Company distributes a number of
electronic components in Europe such as capacitors, connectors and various
electronic fuses and aftermarket products. These components are supplied to
the automotive, appliance, and telecommunication OEM markets and are sourced
and stocked by RDI. RDI's sales (excluding an amount equal to the Company's
sales to RDI) were $6.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 1996.
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
  The Company sells its products primarily to three markets: automotive,
appliance and telecommunications. In 1995, the Company's sales to these markets
were $22.3 million, $14.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The following
table generally describes the products currently being sold or being developed
for each of the markets addressed by the Company:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  PRODUCT LINES           AUTOMOTIVE               APPLIANCE        TELECOMMUNICATIONS
- ------------------  ----------------------- ----------------------- -------------------
<S>                 <C>                     <C>                     <C>
Circuit Breakers    Mini Remote Reset       Glass Enclosed Circuit          --
                    Mini Positive Make-and-  Breakers
                     Break                  Metal Control Devices
                    Maxi Breakers           Recessed Lighting
                    Vehicle Protectors       Protection
                    Thermal Relays
                    Micro Positive Make-
                    and- Break
Electronic Sensors  Solar Sensor (climate             --                    --
                     control)
                    Steering Wheel Sensor
                    Twilight Sensor
                    (headlamp  control)
                    Rain Sensor
                    Window Fog Sensor
Electronic Ceramic  PTC Thermistors for use PTC Thermistors for use Current Limiters
 Devices             in auxiliary heaters    in portable air        Dielectric
                                             heaters                Resonators
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
 <C>                  <S>
 Products Distributed Circuit Protection Devices (including Fuses, Circuit
  by RDI                            Breakers, Components and
                                    Assemblies) and Electronic Components
</TABLE>
 
Automotive Market
 
  The Company believes it is a leading supplier of automatically resetting
circuit breakers and solar sensors to the automotive market and has a growing
presence in the expanding automotive sensor market.
 
  Circuit Protection. The Company produces over 100 types of metal-based
(covered or uncovered) automatically resetting circuit breakers. These products
utilize a bimetal technology which essentially protects electrical circuits and
motors from heat and current overloads. The Company offers a broad line of
automotive circuit breakers which operate in a wide range of ambient
temperatures, thereby enabling customers to choose the protection most
appropriate for the particular application. The Company believes that it is a
leading supplier of circuit breakers to North American automotive OEMs. Typical
applications include protection for wiring harnesses, headlamps and small
motors. An automobile's electric wiring system (harness) delivers electricity
to door locks, cigarette lighters, window lift motors, windshield wiper motors
and power antennae motors. Typically, there is a circuit breaker or fuse for
each of these applications to protect against electrical current overload.
 
  The Company's circuit breakers include automatically resetting circuit
breakers used as protectors for 12-volt DC motors. These products are cycling,
or self-resetting, circuit breakers created for mounting in the motor and are
used to protect motors with currents ranging from 20 amps (such as windshield
wiper motors) to 40 amps (such as power seat motors). Another line of the
Company's automatically resetting circuit breakers are installed in automotive
fuse blocks or wiring harnesses and are used to protect circuits which
occasionally experience momentary overloads (e.g., headlamps, for which fuses
can present a safety hazard) and to minimize the inconvenience of fuse
replacement (e.g., cigarette lighters, which can overload if used for other
applications). The Company's other electromechanical automotive products
include thermal relays, which provide a time delay for automotive courtesy
lights and seat belt warning lights.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
 
  In Europe, the Company distributes a full line of circuit protection
products through RDI. These products include those manufactured by the Company
and complementary products distributed for other manufacturers.
 
  Electronic Sensors. The Company's sensors use proprietary optical sensing
technologies to recognize external conditions and send an electronic signal to
a central processor which automatically triggers a control response that, in
many cases, had required manual operation. These operations include climate
control and headlight intensity in response to sunlight, power steering assist
in response to driving conditions, wiper control in response to precipitation
and defrost operation in response to window fog. In addition to continued
sales of its existing solar and steering wheel sensors, in June 1996, the
Company commenced shipping its twilight sensor to GM. The Company's twilight
sensor signals the vehicle's headlight system to switch from low intensity to
full intensity in twilight conditions and was developed for use in GM's DRL
program. The F&S Sourcebook estimates that the size of the North American
automotive sensor market will increase from $1.4 billion in 1992 to $2.6
billion in 1998. In 1994 and 1995, the Company devoted approximately 75% of
its research and development expenditures to electronic sensors. See
"Business--Research and Development."
 
  The Company's solar sensor, used for automatic climate control in several
current GM, Mercedes and Peugeot luxury cars, measures the direct solar
heating felt by the automobile's occupants. The Company's solar sensor is
customized for each car model by taking into account the roof line and
placement of windows. The Company believes that its patented lensing
technology enables its solar sensors to measure direct solar heating more
accurately than competitors' products. This technological advantage leads the
Company to believe that its solar sensors have gained wide industry acceptance
as standard in automatic climate control systems. The Company's solar sensors
can be found on vehicles manufactured by Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Jeep,
Mercedes, Opel and Peugeot, among others.
 
  In July 1995, the Company began shipments of steering wheel sensors to Ford
for vehicles sold in North America. These sensors optically measure the speed
and direction of the steering column rotation, and send electric signals to
the car's central processor to make adjustments in the stiffness of the power
steering system of the car. The technology used in its steering wheel sensor
has other automotive applications which the Company is pursuing.
 
  Building on a design effort commenced in late 1995, the Company shipped its
first sensor incorporating chip-on-board technology in June 1996. This
technology results in savings which will permit the Company to introduce a new
line of lower cost sensors.
 
  The Company's rain, window fog and "next generation" solar (climate
control)/twilight (headlamp control) sensors are in various stages of
development and will incorporate the Company's chip-on-board manufacturing
technology. The Company's rain sensor measures precipitation on the windshield
and sends a signal to adjust the windshield wiper speed. The window fog sensor
optically detects condensation or frost on front and/or rear windows and sends
a signal to adjust the defroster before such condensation or frost is
detectable by the human eye. By eliminating frost and condensation before it
has a chance to accumulate, the driver's visibility remains unimpaired.
 
Appliance Market
 
  The Company believes it is a leading supplier of glass enclosed circuit
breakers for the small motor appliance market. The Company also supplies
ceramic PTC thermistor based heaters to the appliance market and, through RDI,
distributes component parts manufactured by others. The products distributed
by RDI include capacitors, filters and condensers.
 
  Circuit Protection. The Company manufactures a number of different types of
circuit breakers for the appliance market and believes it is one of only two
companies in the world producing glass enclosed circuit breakers. Most of its
revenues in the appliance market are derived from the sale of the Company's
150 types
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
of glass enclosed circuit breakers. The Company's glass enclosed circuit
breakers are generally sold for applications in which quality, cycle life and
dependability are the critical factors. These products prolong motor life by
shutting off motors in the presence of excess ambient heat or current. A key
feature of the glass circuit breakers is the hermetic seal created by the
glass enclosure. This hermetic seal makes it the lowest cost type of circuit
breaker which can be totally immersed in a liquid or gas environment and still
maintain consistent operation. Typical uses include protection of compressor
motors and other small motors where the breaker is required to be mounted
directly inside the motor, such as refrigerator compressor motors, dishwasher
motors and garage door opener motors. Internal mounting in motors places the
circuit breaker in close proximity to the source of heat, allowing for faster
response times under fault conditions than can be delivered by externally
mounted breakers. Internal mounting also eliminates the need for an external
mounting location and associated wiring connectors, and facilitates greater
efficiency in compressor motor design.
 
  The Company also supplies circuit breakers to recessed lighting
manufacturers. These breakers protect the fixture from heat overloads and
cause the light to blink in a fault condition.
 
  Electronic Components. The Company supplies ceramic PTC thermistors for use
in small electric air heaters. The PTC ceramic is designed to maintain a
constant temperature, making them safer than certain other electric air
heating technologies. In addition, RDI distributes electronic components to
the European appliance industry.
 
Telecommunications Market
 
  The Company manufactures and markets PTC current limiters and dielectric
resonators for applications in the telecommunications market.
 
  PTC Current Limiters. The Company supplies PTC current limiters for use in
modules which prevent current surges from damaging line cards (circuit boards)
in telephone companies' central office switching systems. The Company's
products are sold as a component part in Siecor's central office module
(protection device). The PTC current limiters are being supplied to Siecor
under a five-year exclusive requirements contract entered into in September
1993 for use by GTE on its installed base of 23 million telephone lines.
 
  Dielectric Resonators. The Company supplies a line of dielectric resonators
to OEMs of wireless telecommunications equipment. Dielectric resonators are an
integral part of wireless communication filters, which capture the desired
frequencies and keep the desired frequencies from interfering with others.
These filters are typically placed at transmission sites, where space is at a
premium, and the Company therefore believes that the size of dielectric
resonator based filters, which are smaller than air cavity based filters,
offer a competitive advantage. The markets for theses products include
cellular and PCS wireless applications.
 
  PCS is the term used to describe the wireless telecommunications services
that will be offered by those companies that acquired or will acquire licenses
for a radio spectrum (frequency range 1850-1990 MHz) in the FCC auctions and
are the newest entrants in the wireless telecommunications market. PCS will
initially compete directly with existing cellular telephone, paging and mobile
radio services. PCS will also include features which are not generally offered
by cellular providers, such as: (i) the provision of all services to one
untethered, mobile number; (ii) lower-priced service options; and (iii) in the
near future, medium-speed data transmissions to and from portable computers,
advanced paging services and facsimile services. PCS providers may be the
first to be able to offer mass market wireless local loop applications, in
competition with switched and direct access local telecommunications services.
 
BUSINESS STRATEGIES
 
  Pursue Selected Growth Opportunities Utilizing Technology. The Company
intends to pursue opportunities to apply new and existing technologies to
develop additional products to fulfill anticipated
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
customer needs. The Company's current emphasis is on electronic optical
sensors for the automotive market. The F&S Sourcebook projects growth in the
electronic sensor market as auto consumers demand improved safety, performance
and comfort. The Company also believes that its proprietary optical sensor
technology gives the Company's sensors an advantage in quality and accuracy of
function over competitors' sensors.
 
  Building on a design effort commenced in late 1995, the Company shipped its
first sensor incorporating chip-on-board technology in June 1996. This
technology results in savings which will permit the Company to introduce a new
line of lower cost sensors. The chip-on-board technology also provides greater
design latitude by miniaturizing the process.
 
  The Company expects to continue to expand its research and development
efforts in electronic sensor technology. In 1994 and 1995, approximately 75%
of the Company's total expenditures for research and development were for its
electronic sensor products. The Company's research and development staff has
grown from approximately 20 employees in July 1994 to approximately 33
employees in June 1996.
 
  Maintain Market Leadership in Automotive Circuit Breakers and Glass Enclosed
Circuit Breakers. The Company is a leading supplier of circuit breakers for
the automotive market and glass enclosed circuit breakers for the small motor
appliance market. The Company believes that its experience and expertise in
these markets, developed over more than thirty years, its strong customer
relationships, and its strategy of continuous improvement in productivity and
cost management, will enable it to maintain its leadership position. In turn,
the Company believes that its leadership position provides a stable base from
which to pursue growth opportunities for its other existing and new products,
especially electronic sensors.
 
  Strategic Acquisitions. The Company is pursuing an acquisition strategy
designed to complement the Company's existing businesses, including
acquisitions of complementary products, expanding its line of electronic
sensors and expanding its distribution base. In April 1996, the Company
acquired RDI primarily to enhance the Company's market penetration of the
automotive OEM market in Europe. RDI expands the Company's presence in Europe
and strengthens its ability to market its electronic sensor and other
products. Management believes that a European based distribution network will
enhance the Company's ability to distribute existing, internally developed and
newly acquired products. The Company currently has no specific agreements or
understandings with respect to any acquisitions.
 
  Operating Efficiency and Cost Management. The Company is dedicated to
continuous improvement of its operations, including cost management. These
improvements have led to an increase in operating profit margins from 2.7% in
1992 to 17.8% in 1995. The Company's current strategy is to develop and
initially manufacture products at its facilities in Maine and, as they mature,
move production offshore to the Company's lower cost facility in the Dominican
Republic. Other cost reduction strategies being pursued by the Company include
efforts to improve manufacturing yields, eliminate non-value added labor and
reduce manufacturing cycle time. The Company has achieved significant success
in pursuing such efforts, in part due to a gain sharing program implemented in
1994. Virtually all Company employees receive incentive compensation based on
operating results or cost improvements.
 
  Focus on Customer Relationships and the Manufacture of Quality Products. The
Company builds on its longstanding customer relationships in the development
of new products and new applications for existing products. These products and
applications are designed either to fulfill an existing customer need or to
meet an expected future market requirement. By working closely with customers
on the initial design and specification of products, management believes the
Company has a competitive advantage. The Company has implemented comprehensive
systems and statistical tools in conjunction with its customers to assure the
production of quality products. The Company's commitment to quality has
resulted in the Company's having received, in addition to other awards, ISO
(International Standards Organization) 9001-1994 registration (the highest
attainable) in June 1995, GM's Mark of Excellence Award (the highest
attainable) and Ford's Q1 quality rating.
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
MARKETING AND CUSTOMERS
 
  The Company markets its products through a direct sales and service force
located in the Company's Dearborn, Michigan sales office, at the Company's
corporate headquarters in Standish, Maine and at RDI's headquarters near
Paris, France. The Company also sells and distributes its products through a
number of independent agents and distributors in Europe and Asia. In Europe,
RDI acts as a technical and value added resource to its customers.
 
  In the automotive market, the Company sells its products primarily to parts
suppliers, including subsidiaries of automotive manufacturers, rather than
directly to the automobile manufacturer. The Company must generally market its
products both to the manufacturer (to insure the design of the automobile
incorporates the Company's product) and to the supplier of the particular
parts in which the Company's products will be incorporated. As is typical in
the automotive and appliance industries, the Company's customers buy products
through the use of purchase orders rather than long-term contracts.
 
  For export sales, see Note 15 of the Company's Financial Statements.
 
  One of the Company's customers, GM, accounted for approximately 17%, 20% and
12% of net sales in 1994, 1995 and the six months ended June 30, 1996,
respectively. These sales were primarily to two divisions of GM, Packard
Electric and Delco Electronics, both of which manufacture electrical systems
for automotive companies, including GM. Net sales to Danfoss were 13.6% in
1995. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of sales in 1994, 1995 and
the six months ended June 30, 1996. See "Risk Factors."
 
  The following table shows certain of the Company's key customers for each of
its product lines:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRODUCT LINE                              KEY CUSTOMERS
 ------------         ---------------------------------------------------------
                           AUTOMOTIVE           APPLIANCE     TELECOMMUNICATION
                      --------------------  ----------------- -----------------
<S>                   <C>                   <C>               <C>
Circuit Protection... GM, Ford, Chrysler,        Danfoss             --
                              Valeo
Electronic Sensors...  GM, Ford, Mercedes          --                --
Electronic Ceramic
 Devices.............         --                   --          Celwave, Siecor
Products Distributed
 by RDI..............  Rockwell, Mercedes,         --                --
                           Volkswagen
</TABLE>
 
  Danfoss is a manufacturer of compressors for refrigeration and other uses;
Celwave is a manufacturer of microwave communications components; and Siecor
manufactures telecommunications products.
 
  The following table shows the car and truck models, as of June 30, 1996,
which incorporate circuit breakers and sensors manufactured by the Company:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CUSTOMER                    CIRCUIT BREAKERS                   SENSORS
- --------           ----------------------------------  ------------------------
<S>                <C>                                 <C>
GM
  Buick........... Century, LeSabre, Park Avenue,      LeSabre, Park Avenue,
                   Regal, Riviera, Roadmaster,         Riviera, Roadmaster
                   Skylark
  Cadillac........ DeVille, Eldorado, Fleetwood        DeVille, Eldorado,
                   Brougham, Seville                   Fleetwood Brougham,
                                                       Seville
</TABLE>
 
 
 
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CUSTOMER                    CIRCUIT BREAKERS                   SENSORS
- --------           ----------------------------------  ------------------------
<S>                <C>                                 <C>
  Chevrolet....... Astro, Beretta, Blazer, Camaro,     Corvette
                   Caprice, Cargo Van, Cavalier, C/K
                   Pick-up, Corsica, Corvette,
                   Lumina, Lumina Van, Monte Carlo,
                   S-10, Sport Van, Suburban, Tahoe
  GMC............. Jimmy, P Model Truck, Safari,       --
                   Sonoma, Suburban, Yukon
  Oldsmobile...... Achieva, Aurora, Bravada, Ciera,    Aurora, Cutlass, 88, 98,
                   Cutlass Supreme, 88, 98,            Supreme
                   Silhouette
  Pontiac......... Bonneville, Firebird, Grand Am,     Bonneville
                   Grand Prix, Sunfire, Trans Sport
Ford
  Ford............ Crown Victoria, Aerostar,           Thunderbird, Explorer,
                   F-Series Truck, Taurus              Crown Victoria
  Lincoln......... Town Car, Mark VIII, Continental    Town Car, Mark VIII
  Mercury......... Grand Marquis, Cougar, Villager,    Cougar, Grand Marquis
                   Sable
Chrysler
  Chrysler........ Concorde, Cirrus, New Yorker,       --
                   Sebring, Town & Country
  Dodge........... Intrepid, Neon, Stratus, Ram Van,   --
                   Dakota, Ram Wagon, Caravan, T-300,
                   Viper
  Eagle........... Vision                              --
  Plymouth........ Breeze, Neon, Voyager               --
  Jeep............ Cherokee, Grand Cherokee            Grand Cherokee
Mercedes.......... --                                  E-Class, S-Class
Renault........... Laguna, Clio, 19                    --
Peugeot........... 306, 106, 405                       806, 506
Volkswagen/Audi... Golf, Passat, A6, A8                --
Citroen........... ZX, Xantia, XM                      Evasion
Opel.............. 2900 Vectra                         --
Seat.............. Ibiza                               --
Nissan............ Quest                               --
Honda............. Odyssey                             --
</TABLE>
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
  The Company incurred research and development expenses of $2.1 million, $2.7
million, and $2.7 million in 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively, and $1.9
million for the six months ended June 30, 1996. The increase from 1993 to 1995
was a result of the Company's focus on new product development in the
electronic sensor
 
                                      34
<PAGE>
 
product line based on the Company's existing optical sensing technologies. In
1995 and the first six months of 1996, the Company devoted over 7.0% and 8.5%,
respectively, of net sales excluding RDI to research and development. In 1994
and 1995, the Company devoted approximately 75% of its research and
development expenditures to electronic sensors. The Company maintains a
research and development staff at its Standish, Maine facility of 33 employees
as of June 30, 1996, 28 of whom, including 22 engineering professionals, were
devoted to new sensor product development.
 
  In addition to the recently introduced twilight sensor, the Company also has
under development rain and window fog sensors which will control intermittent
windshield wiper and/or defroster functions, and a solar position sensor for
multi-zone automatic climate control. The Company has a six year consulting
agreement expiring on March 31, 2001 with Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi, a Physics
Professor at the University of Michigan, relating to its sensor products. The
Company currently licenses five of Dr. Hegyi's patents for its sensor
products. See "Products and Markets" and "Management--Key Consultant."
 
  The following tables summarize the results of the Company's historical
research and development activities and the focus of its current research and
development activities.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR OF INTRODUCTION         PRODUCT               APPLICATION          CUSTOMERS
- --------------------  --------------------- ------------------------- -------------
<S>                   <C>                   <C>                       <C>
        1991          Solar Sensor          Automatic Climate Control Numerous OEMs
        1993          Dielectric Resonator  Wireless Telecom-Cellular Celwave
        1995          Steering Wheel Sensor Power Steering Assist     Ford
        1995          Dielectric Resonator  Wireless Telecom-PCS      Numerous OEMs
        1996          Twilight Sensor       Daytime Running Lamps     GM
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DEVELOPMENT STAGE PRODUCTS          APPLICATION                            STATUS
- --------------------------  ---------------------------- -------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>                          <C>
 Solar Twilight Sensor      Combined Climate and         OEMs have tested and requested quotes.
                             Headlamp Control
 Rain Sensor                Wiper Function and           Testing with a North American OEM.
                             Speed Control
 Window Fog Sensor          Defrost Control              Prototypes provided to European OEMs.
 Solar Quadrant Sensor      Multi-zone Automatic Climate Prototypes provided to a European OEM.
                             and Headlamp Control
 Electric Vehicle Heaters   Automobile Heaters           Development funding has been received from
                                                          Ford and Chrysler. The Company has started
                                                          production tooling for Ford.
</TABLE>
 
PATENTS, LICENSES AND TRADEMARKS
 
  The Company owns 11 patents and has two patents pending. The Company does
not consider any single patent to be material to its business. The Company
typically requires its employees to execute appropriate non-competition and
patent rights agreements. The Control Devices logo is a registered trademark
of the Company and Maxi Breaker is a trademark of the Company.
 
  The Company is licensed to use technology in patents and know-how owned by
Dr. Hegyi, a consultant to the Company. See "Management--Key Consultant."
 
                                      35
<PAGE>
 
MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY
 
  The Company manufactures and assembles its products at its plants in
Standish and Caribou, Maine, and San Cristobal, Dominican Republic and has
certain value added operations at its distribution facility in France. The
Company's facility in the Dominican Republic, where the Company has an average
total burdened labor cost of $4.00 per hour, has been audited by
representatives of Chrysler, Valeo and Packard Electric and has been certified
as an approved supplier by all three. The Company manufactures its products
using components purchased from third parties and from parts manufactured by
the Company with various raw materials.
 
  During and after the manufacturing process, products undergo extensive
inspection and testing to insure quality control. The Company's commitment to
quality has resulted in the Company having received, in addition to other
awards, ISO (International Standards Organization) 9001-1994 registration (the
highest attainable) in June 1995, GM's Mark of Excellence Award (the highest
attainable) and Ford's Q1 quality rating. The Company is currently in the
process of qualifying for the QS-9000 certification which it expects to
complete in 1996.
 
  Certain of the Company's components are standard items and are available
from multiple sources. The Company also sources components produced from
custom tools or molds. These custom parts may be single sourced in some
circumstances in order to take advantage of price and quality considerations.
The Company has never had any significant supply interruptions in these
components and it believes it could develop alternative sources of supply if
supply interruptions were to occur.
 
  Backlog consists of firm orders received from customers and distributors
with delivery dates requested by customers at some future date. At June 30,
1996, backlog was approximately $8.3 million versus approximately $4.5 million
at June 30, 1995. This backlog increase is primarily due to the acquisition of
RDI. All of the Company's current backlog is expected to be shipped by year
end.
 
COMPETITION
 
  The Company has many competitors with respect to all of its products, and
the automotive parts supply industry, in particular, is highly competitive.
Many of its competitors in the automotive industry are companies which are
larger, more diversified and have greater financial resources than the
Company. In general, competition in the circuit breaker market is based on
price, although the Company also seeks to compete based on product
performance. The automotive market for circuit breakers is a relatively
mature, small market and the Company competes principally with Texas
Instruments and Otter Controls Inc. In the appliance market for circuit
breakers, the Company competes principally with Texas Instruments. The Company
also competes in the circuit breaker market with suppliers of alternative
technologies, such as fuses which can be used as an alternative to circuit
breakers. Automatically resetting circuit breakers do not need to be replaced
as frequently as fuses, and for some applications an automatically resetting
feature is essential for safety. However, fuses are lower-priced than circuit
breakers. In its circuit breaker lines, the Company's highly automated Maine
facilities and low cost Dominican Republic facility generally enable the
Company to be competitive on price. However, the Company's competitors are
from time to time competitive for reasons including the ability to adapt
existing technology to a particular circuit breaker application, which results
in a lower price, and the existence of established marketing relationships,
especially in Europe. Competition in the sensor market is primarily based on
technology, quality, delivery, reliability, price, functionality and
engineering support. The suppliers who compete with the Company's sensor
business for the most part are sophisticated manufacturers with similar
quality, reliability, delivery and engineering support as the Company. As a
result, decisions are often based on price and technological advantage as to
which the Company believes it is competitive with other suppliers.
Furthermore, the Company believes that its patented lensing technology enables
its solar sensors to measure direct solar heating more accurately than
competitors' products. However, certain of the Company's competitors are
larger, better financed and better known than the Company. Therefore, there
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue its current
technological advantage or that its technological advantage will translate
into superior sales. The Company's principal competitors in this market are
Texas Instruments, Eaton, Motorola, Panasonic, Philips and Nippondenso. In the
ceramics market, the Company competes on the basis of supplying niche products
and on service, delivery and product technology. Its principal competitors in
this market are NTK, TDK, Alpha Industries, Murata and Siemens. In the
European distribution market, the Company competes with similar electronic
distributors.
 
                                      36
<PAGE>
 
PROPERTIES
 
  The Company's facilities are kept in good condition and the capacity of such
facilities is adequate for the Company's needs. The Company expects to renew
leases expiring in December 1996 but believes that, if such leases are not
renewed, alternative space would be available on comparable terms. The
following table sets forth certain information, as of June 30, 1996, relating
to the Company's facilities:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            APPROXIMATE  OWNED/
LOCATION                        PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES        SQUARE FEET  LEASED
- --------                 ---------------------------------  ----------- --------
<S>                      <C>                                <C>         <C>
Standish, Maine......... Corporate Headquarters; Research     120,000    Owned
                          and Development; Manufacture of
                          Electronic Sensors, Glass
                          Enclosed Circuit Breakers and
                          Electronic Ceramic Devices
Caribou, Maine.......... Manufacture of Circuit Breakers       33,000    Leased
                                                                        (Yearly
                                                                        Renewal)
San Cristobal,           Manufacture of Circuit Breakers,      26,000    Leased
 Dominican Republic.....  Electronic Sensors                            (Expires
                                                                        December
                                                                          1996)
Dearborn, Michigan...... Sales Office                           1,320    Leased
                                                                        (Expires
                                                                        December
                                                                          1996)
Villepinte, France...... RDI Headquarters, European            27,500    Owned
                          Warehouse, Manufacturing and
                          Distribution.
</TABLE>
 
EMPLOYEES
 
  As of June 30, 1996, the Company had 808 employees, consisting of 207
employees based in Standish, 92 employees based in Caribou, three employees
based in Dearborn, 396 employees based in the Dominican Republic and 110
employees in France. None of the Company's employees are currently represented
by a labor union; RDI's employees enjoy the benefits of a state-mandated
collective bargaining agreement (Convention Collective de la Metallurgie)
which applies to numerous French companies whose business relates to metal
products, including RDI. The Company believes its relations with employees are
good.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
  The Company's owned and leased facilities are subject to numerous
environmental laws and regulations concerning, among other things, emissions
to the air, discharges to surface and ground water, and the generation,
handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of toxic and
hazardous substances. Under various Federal, state and local environmental
laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of
real property may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of
hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in such property, typically without
regard to fault.
 
  Pursuant to the terms of an Environmental Agreement dated July 6, 1994, GTE
has retained liability and agreed to indemnify the Company for any and all
liabilities arising under CERCLA and other environmental requirements related
to contamination and cleanup of the Standish facility, treatment, storage and
disposal of hazardous materials transported offsite and remediation required
by the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection ("MEDEP") or U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") not known to exist or occur prior to
July 29, 1994. GTE's indemnification for these various unknown liabilities
expires on July 29, 1997 and July 29, 1999. GTE has also retained complete
liability for claims relating to soil and groundwater contamination from the
surface impoundment and the out-of-service leachfield at the Company's
Standish, Maine facility known to exist prior to the acquisition. Such
contamination is currently being remediated at GTE's sole expense. GTE's
obligation to remediate such contamination and its indemnification for any
claims relating thereto expire several years after the MEDEP and EPA conclude
remediation has been completed.
 
 
                                      37
<PAGE>
 
  Except as set forth above, the Company believes that its facilities are in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable United States federal,
state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, as well as
comparable laws and regulations outside the United States. No assurances can
be given, however, that the current environmental condition of the Company's
owned and leased facilities are not other than as currently understood by the
Company, or will not be adversely affected by the condition of properties in
the vicinity of the Company's owned and leased properties, or by the
activities of third parties unrelated to the Company or by former owners or
operators of the Company's owned or leased facilities, or that future laws,
ordinances or regulations will not impose any material environmental liability
on the Company.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
  The Company is not engaged in any legal proceedings other than ordinary
routine litigation incidental to its business. The Company is not involved in
any pending or threatened legal proceedings which the Company believes could
reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial
condition, liquidity or results of operations.
 
                                      38
<PAGE>
 
                                  MANAGEMENT
 
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES
 
  The directors, executive officers and certain key employees of the Company
and their ages as of the date of this Prospectus are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             NAME              AGE                 POSITION
             ----              ---                 --------
 <C>                           <C> <S>
 Ralph R. Whitney, Jr.(1)(2).   61 Chairman of the Board
 Bruce D. Atkinson...........   55 Chief Executive Officer, President and
                                    Director
 Jeffrey G. Wood.............   40 Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
                                    Secretary and Treasurer
 Michel Hauser-Kauffmann.....   53 General Manager, RDI
 Keith J. Coulling...........   38 Engineering Manager--Research and
                                    Development
 Richard E. Griffin..........   53 Plant Manager, Caribou, Maine
 Frederick B. Howard, Jr. ...   33 Materials/Marketing Manager
 Paul M. Manganelli..........   51 Quality Assurance/Engineering Manager
 Meo J. Poliquin.............   44 Plant Manager, Standish, Maine
 Lee A. Prager...............   45 Sales Manager
 Jose M. Ricardo.............   32 Plant Manager, Dominican Republic
 Charles M. Brennan, III(1)..   54 Director
 John D. Cooke(1)(2).........   55 Director
 James O. Futterknecht, Jr. .   49 Director
 Alan I. Mossberg(2).........   64 Director
 John M. Ramey...............   43 Director
 Glenn Scolnik...............   45 Director
</TABLE>
- --------
(1)Member of Audit Committee
(2)Member of the Compensation Committee
 
  Mr. Whitney has been Chairman of the Board of the Company since July 1994,
and was Chief Executive Officer from July 29, 1994 until June 22, 1995. Mr.
Whitney has been a principal of HKW, a New York private capital firm, since
1971. Mr. Whitney is also a director of Excel Industries, Inc. ("Excel"),
Baldwin Technology Company, Inc., Adage, Inc., IFR Systems, Inc., and Selas
Corp. of America.
 
  Mr. Atkinson has been President and a Director of the Company since July
1994, and has been Chief Executive Officer since June 22, 1995. Mr. Atkinson
was General Manager of the Business and the Telecommunications Division from
1978 until September 1993, and was General Manager of the Business from
September 1993 until July 1994.
 
  Mr. Wood has been Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and
Treasurer of the Company since July 1994. Mr. Wood was Controller of the
Business and the Telecommunications Division from 1990 to September 1993 and
was Controller of the Business from September 1993 until July 1994. From 1987
to 1990 Mr. Wood was Controller of the Caribbean operations of the special
products division of GTE.
 
  Mr. Coulling has been the Company's New Product Manager since 1994. Mr.
Coulling was an Engineering Supervisor for the Company from 1993 to 1994 and a
Special Project Engineer from 1989 to 1993. He has been with the Company in
various capacities for a total of 14 years.
 
  Mr. Griffin has been Plant Manager at the Caribou manufacturing facility
since 1982. Mr. Griffin was a Manufacturing Supervisor at Standish from 1966
to 1982. Mr. Griffin has been with the Company in various capacities for 33
years.
 
  Mr. Howard has been Materials/Marketing Manager since June 1996. Mr. Howard
was Marketing Manager from 1992 to 1996 and was Marketing Manager
Telecommunications Division from 1991 to 1992. He has been with the Company in
various capacities for seven years.
 
                                      39
<PAGE>
 
  Mr. Manganelli has been the Company's Quality Assurance/Engineering Manager
since February 1994. Mr. Manganelli was an Engineering Supervisor for the
Company from 1985 to 1994 and held various other engineering positions with
the Company from 1975 to 1985.
 
  Mr. Poliquin has been Plant Manager of the Company's Standish, Maine, plant
since 1993. Mr. Poliquin was Operations Manager--Caribbean Operations for the
Company from 1991 to 1993 and was Plant Manager of the Company's Oxford, Maine
feeder plant from 1977 to 1981.
 
  Mr. Prager has been the Company's Sales Manager since October 1993. Mr.
Prager was Manager of Electronic Ceramics from March to October 1993, PTC
Product Manager from 1986 to 1993, Manager of Research and Development from
1983 to 1986 and held engineering positions with the Company from 1980 to
1983.
 
  Mr. Ricardo has been Plant Manager at the Dominican Republic Manufacturing
facility since 1993. Mr. Ricardo was Manufacturing Supervisor from 1988 to
1993. He has been with the Company in various capacities for eight years.
 
  Mr. Brennan has been a Director of the Company since July 1994. Mr. Brennan
has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of MYR Group Inc, a
specialty electrical and telecommunications contractor, since 1989. Mr.
Brennan is also a director of UNR Industries, Inc.
 
  Mr. Cooke has been a Director of the Company since July 1994. Mr. Cooke has
been Senior Vice President-Investments of Prudential Securities, Inc. since
1991. For more than five years prior thereto he was Senior Vice President-
Investments of Thompson McKinnon Securities.
 
  Mr. Futterknecht has been a Director of the Company since October 1995. Mr.
Futterknecht has been Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Excel, an Elkhart, Indiana automotive parts supplier, since
September 1995. Mr. Futterknecht was President and Chief Operating Officer of
Excel from 1992 to September 1995, and Executive Vice President of Excel from
1990 to 1992.
 
  Mr. Mossberg has been a Director of the Company since July 1994. Mr.
Mossberg has been Chief Executive Officer and President of O. F. Mossberg &
Sons, Inc. ("O. F. Mossberg"), a North Haven, Connecticut manufacturer of
shotguns, for more than five years.
 
  Mr. Ramey has been a Director of the Company since June 1994. Mr. Ramey has
been a principal of HKW since 1986 and sits on the boards of several private
companies.
 
  Mr. Scolnik has been a Director of the Company since June 1994. Mr. Scolnik
has been a principal of HKW since April 1993. Mr. Scolnik was a member of the
law firm of Sommer & Barnard, PC, Indianapolis, Indiana, for more than five
years prior to April 1993, and was of counsel to such firm from April 1993 to
January 1995. Mr. Scolnik is a director of WavePhore, Inc., a data
broadcasting company, and sits on the boards of several private companies.
 
  All directors hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or
until their successors are elected and qualified. Executive officers serve at
the discretion of the Board of Directors. Directors who are not officers are
paid $14,200 per year payable quarterly plus $200 per board meeting attended
and $200 per committee meeting if not held on the date of a board meeting.
Non-employee directors will also be granted options to purchase 1,000 Common
Shares, at the fair market value on the date of grant, annually upon
reelection commencing with the 1997 meeting of shareholders. The options will
expire at the earlier of one year after termination of the director's Board
membership or ten years after the date of grant. Directors who are employees
of the Company receive no fees or options for serving as directors.
 
                                      40
<PAGE>
 
KEY CONSULTANT
 
  Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi, age 53, has been a key consultant to the Company with
respect to the development of its sensor products, in particular its solar
sensor, since 1989. Dr. Hegyi has been a tenured Professor of Physics at the
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor since 1986. Dr. Hegyi received a B.S. in
Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963 and a Ph.D. in
Physics from Princeton University in 1968.
 
  In April 1995, the Company and Dr. Hegyi entered into a new Consultant's
Agreement, three new license agreements and a new Agreement to Grant License
which were designed to continue, on a long term basis, the relationship
between Dr. Hegyi and the Company started in 1989 when the Company and Dr.
Hegyi entered into a consulting agreement and a solar sensor license agreement
(the "1989 License Agreement"). Under the new Consultant's Agreement, the
Company guarantees Dr. Hegyi a minimum of 720 consulting hours per year,
although the actual number of hours up to 720 hours is at Dr. Heygi's
discretion. Dr. Hegyi's consulting activities include design, design
modification and marketing assistance services regarding any current or
prospective automotive sensor products. The term of the new agreement is for
six years through March 31, 2001 and requires the Company to pay Dr. Hegyi
$257 per hour (in 1996), plus a cost of living escalator in each subsequent
year. The new agreement replaced a consulting agreement entered into in 1989
which was restricted to the solar sensor currently being sold by the Company.
 
  The three new license agreements entered into in April 1995 supplement the
1989 License Agreement regarding the Company's existing solar sensor product.
The three new license agreements are substantially similar to each other and
to the 1989 License Agreement and cover the twilight sensor, the rain and/or
window fog and solar position sensor products also in the development stage at
the Company. The 1989 License Agreement and the new twilight sensor license
agreement each require royalty payments to Dr. Hegyi equal to 5% of the net
selling price of products sold by the Company which are covered by valid
claims in any patent owned by Dr. Hegyi. The royalty rate for the rain and/or
window fog sensor and the solar position sensor is 6% of the net selling price
to the extent the product is covered by a valid claim in a patent owned by Dr.
Hegyi. If any of these products sold by the Company is not covered by a valid
patent claim, but instead utilizes know-how supplied by Dr. Hegyi, the royalty
rate for that product is 5% (6% for rain and/or window fog products and solar
position products) for three years (six years for rain and/or window fog
products and solar position products), 3% for three years (six years with
respect to products in models for which the Company is the sole source
supplier), and 1% for three years. The 1989 License Agreement provides for
minimum annual royalty payments of $35,000. Pursuant to the three new license
agreements, the Company has guaranteed to Dr. Hegyi annual minimum royalty
payments, starting at an aggregate of $15,000 for 1996 and increasing to an
aggregate of $260,000 for 2002 and each year thereafter.
 
  The three new license agreements also require the Company to pay Dr. Hegyi
certain cash payments in the event the Company receives a purchase order from
an automotive OEM for a twilight, rain, window fog, or solar position sensor
expected to generate at least $1,000,000 in sales to the Company over the life
of the agreement. The amount of such up front payments are $225,000 for each
of the twilight, rain and window fog sensor products and $125,000 for the
solar position sensor product. The three new license agreements and the 1989
License Agreement grant the Company an exclusive, world-wide license to make,
use, sell, or sublicense the licensed products and require the Company to use
reasonable efforts to commercialize the licensed products.
 
  In April 1995, the Company and Dr. Hegyi also entered into an Agreement to
Grant License which obligates Dr. Hegyi to offer to license to the Company any
new invention of his which involves an automotive component part or any type
of circuit breaker or thermoprotector. This agreement expires in 2001 and any
license required to be granted thereunder must be upon substantially the same
terms as the rain and/or window fog sensor license agreement, except that the
payment on signing the agreement granting such license is $15,000, and the
royalty rate is 7.5%. Under the Consultant's Agreement, Dr. Hegyi is
prohibited from competing with the Company through March 31, 2001, except with
respect to a new invention offered to, but declined by, the Company for
license. In consideration for Dr. Hegyi's obligations in this agreement, the
 
                                      41
<PAGE>
 
Company paid him $200,000 and issued him a non-qualified stock option to
purchase up to 200,000 Common Shares exercisable at any time prior to March
31, 2002. The exercise price per share is the lower of $10.00 or the offering
price per share in this Offering.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
  Mr. Douglas H. Bagin and Messrs. Mossberg and Whitney were members of the
compensation committee of the Board of Directors during the year ended
December 31, 1995. Mr. Atkinson was a member of the compensation committee
until he became Chief Executive Officer of the Company on June 22, 1995. Mr.
Bagin, who became a principal of HKW in 1996, resigned from the Board on July
29, 1996. He had no disagreement with management of the Company or the Board.
 
  Mr. Bagin was an executive officer of Maine Rubber Company ("MRC") during
1995. Mr. Whitney is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of
MRC, and a member of the executive committee of the Board of Directors of MRC,
which performs the functions of a compensation committee.
 
  Since the acquisition of the Business, the Company has paid HKW management
fees of $15,000 per month as compensation for HKW providing managerial and
financial consulting and merger and acquisition advice and assistance. In
1994, 1995, and the first seven months of 1996, such fees totaled $75,000,
$180,000 and $105,000, respectively. Since the acquisition of the Business,
the Company has paid directors' fees, but no salary, to Mr. Whitney. See
"Management."
 
  Mr. Mossberg is an executive officer of O.F. Mossberg. Mr. Whitney is a
director and a member of the compensation committee of the Board of Directors
of O. F. Mossberg.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
  The following table sets forth certain summary information regarding
compensation paid by the Company for the year ended December 31, 1995 to the
Company's executive officers. No executive officer held any options to
purchase Common Shares at December 31, 1995.
 
                          SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                  -------------------------------
                                                        OTHER         ALL
                                                        ANNUAL       OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION        SALARY  BONUS (1) COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
- ---------------------------       -------- --------- ------------ ------------
<S>                               <C>      <C>       <C>          <C>
Ralph R. Whitney, Jr.,
 Chairman........................ $    --   $   --      $  --       $15,000(2)
Bruce D. Atkinson,
 President and CEO...............  211,647   35,219      1,381(3)     6,660(4)
Jeffrey G. Wood,
 Vice President and CFO..........  145,248   21,011        602(5)     6,587(4)
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Represents bonus for the five months ended December 31, 1994 paid in 1995.
(2) Represents director's fees paid to Mr. Whitney.
(3) Includes value of personal use of a Company leased automobile and Company
    paid life insurance.
(4) Represents contributions to a defined contribution plan by the Company.
(5) Includes value of Company paid life insurance.
 
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLANS
 
  The Company has reserved 300,000 Common Shares for issuance pursuant to its
1996 Stock Compensation Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan permits the grant of
Incentive Stock Options within the meaning
 
                                      42
<PAGE>
 
of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, nonstatutory options and
performance units payable in cash or Common Shares. On September 6, 1996, the
Company granted, conditioned on the closing of this Offering, options to
purchase an aggregate of 150,000 Common Shares under the Plan, at an exercise
price equal to the initial public offering price, to certain employees of the
Company and RDI, including an option to purchase 14,000 Common Shares granted
Mr. Hauser-Kauffman, an executive officer of the Company. The Plan is
administered by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors.
 
HAUSER-KAUFFMANN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
  The terms of Michel Hauser-Kauffmann's employment with RDI are governed by
(i) his written employment agreement dated January 10, 1986, with amendments
dated March 23, 1993 and March 29, 1996 (the "Employment Agreement"), and (ii)
by the provisions of French law and the National Metal Workers' collective
bargaining agreement.
 
 The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Hauser-Kauffmann will receive a
gross annual base salary of FF 975,000 (approximately $195,000 at current
exchange rates), plus an annual bonus payment of up to FF 487,500
(approximately $97,000 at current exchange rates). The amount of bonus payment
will depend on whether Mr. Hauser-Kauffmann satisfies certain performance
objectives set annually by management. In addition to his base salary and
bonus payment, Mr. Hauser-Kauffmann receives the use of a company car, health
insurance and supplemental retirement benefits. The Employment Agreement
provides for a contractual severance payment to Mr. Hauser-Kauffmann if RDI
terminates the Employment Agreement for any reason (other than for serious
professional misconduct) prior to March 29, 1998. The amount of the
contractual severance payment is equal to two years salary and bonus.
 
 In addition, Mr. Hauser-Kauffmann benefits from the provisions of French
labor law, and the National Metal Workers' collective bargaining agreement
(Convention Collective de la Metallurgie; the "Collective Bargaining
Agreement"), which applies to numerous French companies whose businesses
relate to metal products, including RDI. Both French labor law and the
Collective Bargaining Agreement provide for a minimum notice period prior to
dismissal of an employee and for the payment of termination indemnities. In
addition to these termination indemnities, French law also provides for the
payment of damages if the dismissal is without "real and serious cause."
 
  In general, if Mr. Hauser-Kauffmann is dismissed before March 29, 1998, he
would receive a severance payment under his Employment Agreement. The
Employment Agreement provides that this severance payment is inclusive of any
damages and termination indemnities that may be due under French law or the
Collective Bargaining Agreement. If Mr. Hauser-Kauffmann is dismissed after
March 29, 1998, damages and termination indemnities would be payable under
French law and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which would take into
account Mr. Hauser-Kauffmann's age and seniority.
 
                                      43
<PAGE>
 
                             CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
  In connection with the purchase of the Business, the Company sold securities
to certain officers and directors in transactions exceeding $60,000, as
follows: 320,690 Common Shares and one Redeemable Preferred Share to Ralph R.
Whitney, Jr. for an aggregate consideration of $110,808; 153,846 Common Shares
and 48 Redeemable Preferred Shares to Bruce D. Atkinson for an aggregate
consideration of $60,000; 20,000 Common Shares and 94 Redeemable Preferred
Shares to Charles M. Brennan III for an aggregate consideration of $100,000;
20,000 Common Shares and 94 Redeemable Preferred Shares to John D. Cooke for
an aggregate consideration of $100,000; and 20,000 Common Shares and 94
Redeemable Preferred Shares to James O. Futterknecht, Jr. for an aggregate
consideration of $100,000. See "Principal Shareholders."
 
  The Company was initially capitalized with an equity investment of
$3,000,000, consisting of $600,000 for an aggregate of 2,000,000 Class A and
Class B Series 1 Common Shares and $2,400,000 for 2,400 Redeemable Preferred
Shares. The Company financed the acquisition of the Business in part with
$15,000,000 from MassMutual and the $1,500,000 Seller Note from GTE. The
Company also obtained a $1,500,000 line of credit from MassMutual, which was
subsequently increased to $3,000,000 in connection with the RDI acquisition.
As part of this financing, the Company sold to MassMutual (i) 435,896 Class B
Series 1 Common Shares for an aggregate consideration of $145,000, (ii) 580
Redeemable Preferred Shares at the stated value of $1,000 per share for a
total of $580,000, and (iii) warrants to purchase 564,100 Class B Series 1
Common Shares. In connection with the RDI acquisition, the Company paid off
the Seller Note with cash on hand.
 
  MassMutual beneficially owns all of the outstanding Class B Series 1 Common
Shares and all of the outstanding warrants to purchase Class B Series 1 Common
Shares. MassMutual is expected to exercise such warrants and to convert its
Class B Series 1 Common Shares into Class A Common Shares effective upon the
closing of this Offering. In August 1996, an amendment to the Company's
Articles of Incorporation was approved by the shareholders of the Company, to
take effect at the closing of this Offering, reclassifying the Class A Common
Shares and Class B Common Shares as Common Shares and eliminating the
designations of Class A Common Shares and Class B Common Shares. See
"Description of Capital Shares."
 
  On April 1, 1995, the Company entered into a Consultant's Agreement and
certain license agreements with Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi, and, in connection
therewith, granted to Dr. Hegyi an option to purchase up to 200,000 Common
Shares. See "Management--Key Consultant" and "Description of Capital Shares--
Options."
 
  HKW provides management services and acquisition advice and assistance to
the Company. Messrs. Whitney, Ramey, Scolnik and Bagin and Mr. Forrest E.
Crisman, Jr. are principals of HKW and each owns Common Shares. Mr. Whitney
owns one Redeemable Preferred Share. See "Compensation Committee Interlocks
and Insider Participation." The Company pays HKW monthly management fees of
$15,000 and pays directors fees to the HKW principals who are members of the
board of directors of the Company. The management and directors fees amounted
to $91,000, $240,000, $120,000 and $127,500 for the five months ended December
31, 1994, for the year ended December 31, 1995, and for the six months ended
June 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Mr. Scolnik also assists the Company in
the management of its legal affairs and is paid fees for such services. Such
fees amounted to $16,635, $58,923, $26,890 and $18,465 for the five months
ended December 31, 1994, for the year ended December 31, 1995, and for the six
months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The Company believes the
transactions with HKW and its principals are at least as fair as could be
obtained from unaffiliated third parties. The Company's policy regarding
transactions with affiliates requires that a majority of the disinterested
directors approve any such transaction after the Company has determined the
transaction to be fair and reasonable.
 
  In April 1996, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of RDI for a total purchase price of $8,964,000. The Company
paid $6,964,000 in cash, delivered the RDI Notes and delivered the RDI
Convertible Notes. The price was determined in arms length negotiations
between the directors of the Company and the shareholders of RDI, none of whom
were officers of the Company at the time. Mr. Michel Hauser-Kauffman, General
Manager of RDI, received from such consideration in exchange for his shares of
RDI a total of $1,285,515 in cash and $369,200 in aggregate principal amount
of RDI Convertible Notes. Mr. Hauser-Kaufmann's RDI Convertible Notes will
convert automatically upon the closing of this Offering into 36,920 Common
Shares of the Company assuming an initial offering price of $10.00 per share.
 
                                      44
<PAGE>
 
                            PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
 
  The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership as of June 30, 1996, of (i) each person known by the Company to
beneficially own 5% or more of the Common Shares, (ii) each current director
of the Company, (iii) each executive officer of the Company and (iv) all
current directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise
indicated, each shareholder has sole voting and investment power with respect
to the shares listed.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PERCENT OWNED
                                                  ------------------------------
NAME                         NUMBER OF SHARES (1) BEFORE OFFERING AFTER OFFERING
- ----                         -------------------- --------------- --------------
<S>                          <C>                  <C>             <C>
Ralph R. Whitney, Jr. (2)..         320,690(3)         12.1%            6.9%
Bruce D. Atkinson (2)......         153,846             5.8             3.3
Jeffrey G. Wood (2)........         102,564             3.9             2.2
Michel Hauser-Kauffman (2).          36,920(4)          1.4             0.8
Charles M. Brennan, III
 (2).......................          20,000             0.8             0.4
John D. Cooke (2)..........          20,000             0.8             0.4
James O. Futterknecht, Jr.
 (2).......................          20,000(5)          0.8             0.4
Alan I. Mossberg (2).......          10,000(6)          0.4             0.2
John M. Ramey (2)..........         160,345(7)          6.0             3.4
Glenn Scolnik (2)..........         160,345             6.0             3.4
Massachusetts Mutual Life
 Insurance Company.........         999,996(8)         37.7            21.5
Dennis J. Hegyi (9)........         200,000(10)         7.5             4.3
Forrest E. Crisman, Jr.
 (11)......................         160,345             6.0             3.4
All directors and executive
 officers as a group
 (10 persons)..............       1,004,710            37.9            21.6
</TABLE>
- --------
 (1) Assumes the adjustments described in the Prospectus Summary and
     redemption of all of the Redeemable Preferred Shares. See "Use of
     Proceeds."
 (2) The address for each shareholder, each of whom is an officer or director
     of the Company, is the principal office of the Company.
 (3) Includes 80,172 shares owned by Mr. Whitney's wife, as to which Mr.
     Whitney disclaims beneficial ownership.
 (4) Assumes conversion of Mr. Hauser-Kauffman's RDI Convertible Note in the
     aggregate principal amount of $369,200 at an assumed initial public
     offering price of $10.00 per share.
 (5) Includes 5,000 shares held by a revocable trust of which Mr. Futterknecht
     is trustee, 5,000 shares held by a revocable trust of which Mr.
     Futterknecht's wife is trustee and 10,000 shares held by two irrevocable
     trusts for the benefit of Mr. Futterknecht's children, all of such shares
     as to which Mr. Futterknecht disclaims beneficial ownership.
 (6) Represents shares owned by Mr. Mossberg's wife, as to which Mr. Mossberg
     disclaims beneficial ownership.
 (7) Includes 60,000 shares owned by Mr. Ramey's wife, as to which Mr. Ramey
     disclaims beneficial ownership.
 (8) Assuming the adjustments described in the Prospectus Summary, includes
     174,199 shares (6.8% before the Offering and 3.8% after the Offering)
     owned by MassMutual Corporate Investors, 57,999 shares owned by
     MassMutual Participation Investors, each of which is a mutual fund
     managed by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and 174,199
     shares (6.8% before the Offering and 3.8% after the Offering) owned by
     MassMutual Corporate Value Partners Limited, for which Massachusetts
     Mutual Life Insurance Company acts as investment adviser. Pursuant to a
     Securities and Exchange Commission Executive Order issued pursuant to
     Section 17(d) of the Investment Company Act, Massachusetts Mutual Life
     Insurance Company, MassMutual Corporate Investors, MassMutual
     Participation Investors and MassMutual Corporate Value Partners Limited
     must sell shares in proportion to their respective holdings, unless the
     joint transactions committees of the Boards of Trustees of MassMutual
     Corporate Investors and MassMutual Participation Investors approve a
     disproportionate disposition of the shares. Massachusetts Mutual Life
     Insurance Company disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares in which
     it has no actual pecuniary interest. The address of each shareholder is
     Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, 1295 State Street,
     Springfield, Massachusetts 01111.
 (9) Dr. Hegyi's address is 1708 Morton Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104.
(10) Represents Common Shares issuable upon exercise of a presently
     exercisable option.
(11) Mr. Crisman's address is 230 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10169.
 
                                      45
<PAGE>
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL SHARES
 
  On August 30, 1996, the existing shareholders of the Company approved two
amendments to the Company's Articles of Incorporation. The first amendment
will reclassify the then outstanding Class A Common Shares and Class B Common
Shares as Common Shares and will eliminate the designations of the Class A and
Class B Common Shares immediately prior to the closing of the Offering. The
second amendment will eliminate the Redeemable Preferred Shares if all of the
Redeemable Preferred Shares are redeemed in connection with this Offering.
Thereafter, the Company will have authorized 16,000,000 Common Shares and
3,000,000 preferred shares. As of September 1, 1996, assuming the adjustments
described in the Prospectus Summary, 2,653,334 Common Shares and 2,400
Redeemable Preferred Shares would have been outstanding. As of September 1,
1996, there were 69 holders of record of Common Shares and 49 holders of
record of Redeemable Preferred Shares.
 
COMMON SHARES
 
  Holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote per share. Subject to the
rights of holders of any class having a preference over the Common Shares as
to dividends or upon liquidation, holders of Common Shares are entitled to
such dividends as may be declared by the Company's Board of Directors out of
funds lawfully available therefor. See "Dividend Policy." Subject to the
rights of holders of any class or series of shares having a preference over
the Common Shares upon liquidation, holders of Common Shares are entitled upon
liquidation to receive pro rata the assets available for distribution to
shareholders. The outstanding Common Shares, the Common Shares to be issued on
the occurrence of the events described in the Prospectus Summary, and the
Common Shares offered hereby are, or when issued will be, fully paid and
nonassessable.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
  The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Shares is The First National
Bank of Boston.
 
PREFERRED SHARES
 
  The Company has issued and outstanding 2,400 Redeemable Preferred Shares
with a stated value of $1,000 per share, which it intends to redeem with the
proceeds of this Offering and cash on hand. See "Use of Proceeds." The holders
of Redeemable Preferred Shares are entitled to receive cummulative cash
dividends at a rate of 11% per annum, which dividends are required to be paid
annually in an amount not to exceed 25% of the Company's Excess Cash Flow (as
defined in its Articles of Incorporation). The Redeemable Preferred Shares,
which are not convertible, are required to be redeemed on July 29, 2006 at
their stated value plus accrued but unpaid dividends. In addition, the Company
is required to redeem (i) the Redeemable Preferred Shares to the extent 25% of
annual Excess Cash Flow exceeds accrued but unpaid dividends by more than
$24,000 and (ii) 580 Redeemable Preferred Shares issued to MassMutual, plus
accrued but unpaid dividends upon the repayment of the Senior Notes and
Subordinated Notes.
 
  Except to the extent that any of the Redeemable Preferred Shares are not
redeemed in connection with this Offering, there will be no preferred shares
outstanding after this Offering. The Board of Directors will have the
authority, without further action by the shareholders, to issue additional
preferred shares in one or more series and fix the rights, preferences,
privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued
preferred shares and to fix the number of shares constituting any series and
the designation of such series, without any further vote or action by the
shareholders. The issuance of preferred shares may have the effect of
delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company without
further action by the shareholders, may discourage bids for the Company's
Common Shares at a premium over the market price of the Common Shares and may
adversely affect the market price of and the voting and other rights of the
holders of Common Shares. The Company has no present plans to issue any
additional preferred shares.
 
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
 
  The Company has issued an option to purchase 200,000 Common Shares at a
price equal to the lower of $10.00 per share or the public offering price per
share in this Offering. Such option expires on March 31,
 
                                      46
<PAGE>
 
2002. See "Management--Key Consultant." Pursuant to the Plan, the Company may
issue options exercisable for 300,000 Common Shares. On September 6, 1996, the
Company granted, conditioned upon the closing of this Offering, options to
purchase an aggregate of 150,000 Common Shares under the Plan, at an exercise
price equal to the initial public offering price, to certain employees of the
Company and RDI. In addition, as a result of the Company's acquisition of RDI,
there are $892,400 in aggregate principal amount of RDI Convertible Notes that
will automatically convert upon the closing of this Offering into 89,240
Common Shares, assuming an initial public offering price of $10.00 per share.
 
EFFECTS OF INDIANA LAW
 
  In the event any person acquires 10% of the voting power of the Company's
Common Shares (an "Interested Shareholder"), then, for a period of five (5)
years after such acquisition, the IBCL prohibits certain business combinations
between the Company and such Interested Shareholder unless prior to the
acquisition of such Common Shares by the Interested Shareholder, the Board of
Directors of the Company approves of such acquisition of Common Shares or
approves of such business combination. After such five-year period, only the
following three types of business combinations between the Company and such an
Interested Shareholder are permitted: (i) a business combination approved by
the Board of Directors of the Company before acquisition of Common Shares by
the Interested Shareholder, (ii) a business combination approved by holders of
a majority of the Common Shares not owned by the Interested Shareholder, and
(iii) a business combination in which the shareholders receive a price for
their Common Shares at least equal to a formula price based on the highest
price per Common Share paid by the Interested Shareholder.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
  Upon completion of this Offering, MassMutual and its assigns (the
"Rightsholders") will be entitled to require the Company to register under the
Securities Act up to a total of 999,996 Common Shares (the "Registrable
Shares"), pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreements dated as
of July 29, 1994 (the "Securities Purchase Agreements"). The Securities
Purchase Agreements provide that, subject to certain conditions and
limitations, Rightsholders holding at least 25% of the Registrable Shares may
require the Company to prepare and file up to two registration statements
under the Securities Act with respect to their Registrable Shares. The
registration rights are freely transferable by the Rightsholders with the
underlying Registrable Securities. In connection with this Offering,
MassMutual has agreed not to exercise such registration rights or transfer its
Registrable Shares for 180 days from the date of this Prospectus. In addition,
the Securities Purchase Agreements provide that in the event the Company
proposes to register any of its securities, each Rightsholder may require the
Company to include Registrable Shares in such registration; however, in any
underwritten offering, the managing underwriter may exclude some or all
Registrable Shares for marketing reasons but solely to the extent such
exclusion is applied pro rata to all persons, other than the Company,
participating in such offering. MassMutual has waived such registration rights
with respect to this Offering. The Company is generally required to bear the
expenses of all such registrations, except underwriting discounts and
commissions. The Company is required to indemnify each Rightsholder in
connection with any such registration.
 
  Prior to this Offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Shares of the Company and no prediction can be made as to the effect, if any,
that market sales of shares or the availability of shares for sale will have
on the market price of the Common Shares prevailing from time to time.
Nevertheless, sales of substantial amounts of Common Shares, or the perception
that such sales could occur, could adversely affect prevailing market prices
for the Common Shares and could impair the Company's future ability to obtain
capital through an offering of equity securities.
 
                                      47
<PAGE>
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
  Prior to this Offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Shares. Future sales of substantial amounts of Common Shares in the public
market could adversely effect the trading price of the Common Shares.
 
  Upon completion of this Offering, the Company will have outstanding
4,653,334 Common Shares. Of those shares, 2,000,000 Common Shares sold in this
Offering will be freely tradeable in the public market without restriction or
further registration under the Securities Act unless purchased by "affiliates"
of the Company within the meaning of Rule 144. Of the remaining Common Shares,
2,564,094 Common Shares (collectively the "Restricted Shares") are "restricted
securities" within the meaning of Rule 144 and may not be sold in the absence
of registration under the Securities Act except in compliance with the
limitations set forth in Rule 144 or pursuant to an exemption from
registration.
 
  A total of 1,999,994 of the Restricted Shares will be eligible for resale in
the public market pursuant to Rule 144 beginning 180 days after the date of
this Prospectus upon expiration of certain lock-up agreements. The balance of
the Restricted Shares will be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144
beginning two years after the closing of this Offering. Also, beginning 180
days after the date of this Prospectus, upon expiration of a lock-up
agreement, an additional 200,000 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of an
outstanding option may be resold in the public market pursuant to Rule 701.
 
  In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person (or persons
whose shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned Restricted Shares for
at least two years (including the holding period of any prior owner other than
an affiliate) is entitled to sell in "broker's transactions" or to market
makers, within any three-month period, a number of shares that does not exceed
the greater of (i) one percent of the number of Common Shares then outstanding
(approximately 46,500 shares immediately after this Offering), or (ii) the
average weekly trading volume in the Common Shares during the four calendar
weeks preceding the required filing of a Form 144 with respect to such sale.
Affiliates of the Company may sell shares only in compliance with the
foregoing restrictions regardless of whether or not the shares sold are
Restricted Shares. Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to certain provisions
relating to the manner and notice of sale and availability of current public
information about the Company. Under Rule 144(k), a person is entitled to sell
shares beneficially owned by him or her without compliance with the manner of
sale, public information, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144,
provided that such person is not deemed to have been an affiliate of the
Company at any time during the last ninety days preceding a sale, and a period
of at least three years has elapsed since the later of the date the securities
were acquired from the issuer or from an affiliate of the issuer. In general,
under Rule 701, persons other than affiliates of an issuer may resell
securities in reliance on Rule 144 without compliance with a holding period or
volume limitations.
 
  The Company sold the RDI Convertible Notes pursuant to Regulation S under
the Securities Act. Regulation S applies to sales of securities to non-U.S.
persons in offshore transactions. A total of 89,400 Common Shares (assuming an
initial public offering price of $10.00 per share) issuable at the closing of
the Offering upon conversion of the RDI Convertible Notes may be eligible for
resale pursuant to exemptions from registration after the later of (i) the
expiration of lock-up agreements beginning 180 days after the date of this
Prospectus or (ii) April 1, 1997, which is one year after the date of sale of
such Notes.
 
  MassMutual has certain registration rights with respect to 999,996 Common
Shares acquired pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreements. See
"Description of Capital Shares--Registration Rights."
 
                                      48
<PAGE>
 
                                 UNDERWRITING
 
  The Underwriters named below, for whom Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. and Cleary
Gull Reiland & McDevitt Inc. are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives"), have severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions
of an underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement"), to purchase from
the Company the number of Common Shares set forth opposite their respective
names below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   UNDERWRITER                                                  NUMBER OF SHARES
   -----------                                                  ----------------
   <S>                                                          <C>
   Dean Witter Reynolds Inc....................................
   Cleary Gull Reiland & McDevitt Inc..........................
                                                                   ---------
     Total.....................................................    2,000,000
                                                                   =========
</TABLE>
 
  The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the several
Underwriters thereunder are subject to approval of certain legal matters by
counsel and to various other conditions. The nature of the Underwriters'
obligation is such that they must purchase all of the Common Shares offered to
the public, if any such Common Shares are purchased.
 
  Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Shares. The initial public offering price for the Common Shares was determined
through agreement among the Company and the Representatives. Among the factors
considered in making such determination were the prevailing market conditions
and general economic conditions, the market prices of securities and certain
financial and operating information of publicly traded companies which the
Company and the Representatives believed to be comparable to the Company, the
earnings and certain other financial and operating information of the Company
in recent periods, the future prospects of the Company and its industry in
general and other factors deemed relevant.
 
  The Company has been advised by the Underwriters that the Underwriters
propose to offer the Common Shares directly to the public at the initial
public offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus and to
certain dealers (who may include Underwriters) at the public offering price
less a concession not to exceed $   per share. Such dealers may reallow a
concession not to exceed $    per share in sales to other dealers. After the
initial public offering, the public offering price and concessions and
reallowances to dealers may be changed by the Underwriters.
 
  The Representatives have advised the Company that the Underwriters do not
intend to confirm sales to any account over which they exercise discretionary
authority.
 
  The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute
to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
 
  The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable within 30
days from the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to an additional 300,000
Common Shares at the initial public offering price
 
                                      49
<PAGE>
 
less underwriting discounts and commissions. The Underwriters may exercise the
option only for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in
connection with the distribution of the Common Shares to the public. To the
extent that the Underwriters exercise such option, the Underwriters will be
committed, subject to certain conditions, to purchase a number of option
shares proportionate to such Underwriter's initial commitment.
 
  The Company, each of its directors and executive officers who own Common
Shares, certain family affiliates of such directors and executive officers,
each person who beneficially owns more than five percent of the Company's
Common Shares and certain other shareholders of the Company have agreed with
the Underwriters that they will not offer, sell or contract to sell, or
otherwise dispose of or enter into any agreement to sell, directly or
indirectly, any securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable
for, Common Shares for a period of 180 days after the date of this Prospectus
without the prior written consent of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. See "Shares
Eligible for Future Sale."
 
  At the Company's request, the Representatives have reserved up to 90,000
Common Shares for sale at the initial public offering price to the Company's
employees and other persons having certain relationships with the Company. The
number of Common Shares available for sale to the general public will be
reduced to the extent these persons purchase such reserved shares. Any
reserved shares not purchased will be offered by the Underwriters to the
general public on the same terms as the other shares offered hereby.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  The validity of the issuance of the Common Shares being offered hereby will
be passed upon for the Company by Sommer & Barnard, PC, Indianapolis, Indiana,
counsel for the Company. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the
Underwriters by Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The audited financial statements included in this Prospectus and elsewhere
in the Registration Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP and
Barbier Frinault & Associes, independent public accountants, as indicated in
their reports thereto, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority
of said firms as experts in giving said reports.
 
                            ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
  The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), Washington, D.C., a Registration Statement on Form S-1 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Common Shares
offered hereby (the "Registration Statement"). This Prospectus does not
contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and in the
exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information about the Company and
the securities offered hereby, reference is hereby made to the Registration
Statement and to the exhibits and schedules thereto. The Registration
Statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, may be inspected and
copied at the Commission's Public Reference Room, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following Regional Offices of
the Commission: Northeast Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, New York, New
York, 10048, and Midwest Regional Office, CitiCorp Center, 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60621-2511. Copies of such material may
be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, the
Commission maintains a Web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The Common
Shares are quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, and information regarding the
Company may also be inspected at the offices of Nasdaq Operations, 1735 K
Street, N.W., Washington, DC, 20006.
 
                                      50
<PAGE>
 
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     PAGE(S)
                                                                     -------
<S>                                                                <C>
DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994, AND 1995, AND JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
  Report of Independent Public Accountants........................     F-2
  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1994 and 1995,
   and June 30, 1996 (Unaudited)..................................     F-3
  Consolidated Statements of Income for the Year Ended December
   31, 1993, the Seven Months Ended July 29, 1994, the Five Months
   Ended December 31, 1994, the Year Ended December 31, 1995 and
   the Six Months Ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 (Unaudited)........     F-4
  Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Five
   Months Ended December 31, 1994, the Year Ended December 31,
   1995 and the Six Months Ended June 30, 1996 (Unaudited)........     F-5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Year Ended
   December 31, 1993, the Seven Months Ended July 29, 1994, the
   Five Months Ended December 31, 1994, the Year Ended December
   31, 1995 and the Six Months Ended June 30, 1995 and
   1996 (Unaudited)...............................................     F-6
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements......................  F-7 to F-20
REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE ("RDI")
  Report of Independent Public Accountants........................     F-21
  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1994 and 1995....     F-22
  Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Years in the
   Period Ended December 31, 1995.................................     F-23
  Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for
   the Three Years in the Period Ended December 31, 1995..........     F-24
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Years in the
   Period Ended December 31, 1995.................................     F-25
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...................... F-26 to F-34
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
 
                   REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
TO CONTROL DEVICES, INC.:
 
  We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Control Devices, Inc. (an
Indiana corporation) as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the related
statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the five months
ended December 31, 1994 and for the year ended December 31, 1995. We have also
audited the accompanying combined statements of income and cash flows of the
Electromechanical Business of GTE Control Devices Incorporated and Dominican
Overseas Company ("Predecessor Company") for the year ended December 31, 1993
and for the seven months ended July 29, 1994. These financial statements are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
  We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
 
  In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Control Devices, Inc. as
of December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for five months ended December 31, 1994 and for the year ended December
31, 1995, and of the results of operations and cash flows for the Predecessor
Company for the year ended December 31, 1993 and for the seven months ended
July 29, 1994, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                          ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Stamford, Connecticut, January 21, 1996 (except for Note 4 as to which the
date July 15, 1996)
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
           (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                    ---------------  JUNE 30,
                                                     1994    1995      1996
                                                    ------- ------- -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                 <C>     <C>     <C>
                      ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents........................ $ 5,304 $10,459   $ 3,724
  Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts
   of $257, $277 and $484, respectively............   5,111   4,305    10,482
  Inventories......................................   2,999   3,279     7,158
  Other current assets.............................     613   1,001     1,195
                                                    ------- -------   -------
    Total current assets...........................  14,027  19,044    22,559
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net.................  12,024  11,097    13,558
GOODWILL, net......................................     --      --      6,869
                                                    ------- -------   -------
                                                    $26,051 $30,141   $42,986
                                                    ======= =======   =======
       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current portion of long-term debt................ $   --  $   500   $ 1,279
  Short-term debt..................................     --      --        654
  Accounts payable.................................   1,520   1,429     5,356
  Accrued employee benefits........................   1,311   1,459     3,140
  Accrued expenses.................................   1,941   1,994     3,615
                                                    ------- -------   -------
    Total current liabilities......................   4,772   5,382    14,044
LONG-TERM DEBT (Note 20)...........................  16,320  15,853    16,743
OTHER LIABILITIES..................................     248   1,001     2,525
REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES........................   2,400   2,400     2,400
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 12)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Note 20):
  Class A Common Shares, no par value; 10,000,000
   authorized and 1,564,098 issued.................     520     520       520
  Class B Series 1 Common Shares, no par value;
   4,000,000 authorized and 435,896 issued.........     145     145       145
  Warrants.........................................     180     180       180
  Foreign currency translation adjustment..........     --      --       (222)
  Retained earnings................................   1,466   4,660     6,651
                                                    ------- -------   -------
    Total shareholders' equity.....................   2,311   5,505     7,274
                                                    ------- -------   -------
                                                    $26,051 $30,141   $42,986
                                                    ======= =======   =======
</TABLE>    
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated balance
                                    sheets.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
           (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  SIX MONTHS
                             PREDECESSOR COMPANY                                ENDED JUNE 30,
                          -------------------------                           -------------------
                                       SEVEN MONTHS FIVE MONTHS
                           YEAR ENDED     ENDED        ENDED      YEAR ENDED
                          DECEMBER 31,   JULY 29,   DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
                              1993         1994         1994         1995       1995      1996
                          ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ --------- ---------
                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>       <C>
NET SALES...............    $39,807      $24,995     $  18,847    $  38,881   $  20,713    28,180
COST OF SALES...........     30,046       17,676        12,159       25,721      13,333    17,870
                            -------      -------     ---------    ---------   --------- ---------
 Gross profit...........      9,761        7,319         6,688       13,160       7,380    10,310
                            -------      -------     ---------    ---------   --------- ---------
SELLING, GENERAL AND
 ADMINISTRATIVE
 EXPENSES...............      3,237        1,896         2,413        3,504       1,972     4,157
RESEARCH AND
 DEVELOPMENT............      2,144        1,598         1,052        2,740       1,402     1,880
                            -------      -------     ---------    ---------   --------- ---------
                              5,381        3,494         3,465        6,244       3,374     6,037
                            -------      -------     ---------    ---------   --------- ---------
 Operating income.......      4,380        3,825         3,223        6,916       4,006     4,273
INTEREST EXPENSE........        --           --            657        1,380         732       828
                            -------      -------     ---------    ---------   --------- ---------
 Income before income
  taxes.................      4,380        3,825         2,566        5,536       3,274     3,445
INCOME TAX PROVISION          1,752        1,530           990        2,078       1,310     1,322
                            -------      -------     ---------    ---------   --------- ---------
 Net income.............    $ 2,628      $ 2,295         1,576        3,458       1,964     2,123
                            =======      =======
PREFERRED SHARE
 DIVIDENDS REQUIREMENTS.                                   110          264         132       132
                                                     ---------    ---------   --------- ---------
 Net income applicable
  to common
  shareholders..........                             $   1,466    $   3,194   $   1,832 $   1,991
                                                     =========    =========   ========= =========
EARNINGS PER SHARE......                             $    0.57    $    1.25   $    0.71 $    0.78
                                                     =========    =========   ========= =========
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER
 OF COMMON SHARES AND
 EQUIVALENTS
 OUTSTANDING............                             2,564,094    2,564,094   2,564,094 2,564,094
                                                     =========    =========   ========= =========
</TABLE>
 
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
                             (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      FOREIGN
                           CLASS A CLASS B           CURRENCY
                           COMMON  COMMON           TRANSLATION RETAINED
                           SHARES  SHARES  WARRANTS ADJUSTMENT  EARNINGS TOTAL
                           ------- ------- -------- ----------- -------- ------
<S>                        <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>         <C>      <C>
BALANCE, at July 29, 1994
 (Initial
 Capitalization).........   $455    $145    $ --       $ --      $  --   $  600
Value assigned to
 warrants and Class A
 Common Shares issued to
 employees (Notes 7 and
 10).....................     65     --       180        --         --      245
Net income for the five
 months ended
 December 31, 1994.......    --      --       --         --       1,576   1,576
Preferred share
 dividends...............    --      --       --         --        (110)   (110)
                            ----    ----    -----      -----     ------  ------
BALANCE, at December 31,
 1994....................    520     145      180        --       1,466   2,311
Net income...............    --      --       --         --       3,458   3,458
Preferred share
 dividends...............    --      --       --         --        (264)   (264)
                            ----    ----    -----      -----     ------  ------
BALANCE, at December 31,
 1995....................    520     145      180        --       4,660   5,505
Net income for the six
 months ended June 30,
 1996 (unaudited)........    --      --       --         --       2,123   2,123
Preferred share dividends
 (unaudited).............    --      --       --         --        (132)   (132)
Foreign currency
 translation adjustment
 (unaudited).............    --      --       --        (222)       --     (222)
                            ----    ----    -----      -----     ------  ------
BALANCE, at June 30, 1996
 (unaudited).............   $520    $145    $ 180      $(222)    $6,651  $7,274
                            ====    ====    =====      =====     ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                             (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           PREDECESSOR COMPANY
                          ---------------------
                                        SEVEN                                SIX MONTHS
                                        MONTHS   FIVE MONTHS                    ENDED
                           YEAR ENDED   ENDED       ENDED      YEAR ENDED     JUNE 30,
                          DECEMBER 31, JULY 29,  DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, ----------------
                              1993       1994        1994         1995      1995     1996
                          ------------ --------  ------------ ------------ -------  -------
                                                                             (UNAUDITED)
<S>                       <C>          <C>       <C>          <C>          <C>      <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM
 OPERATIONS:
 Net income.............    $ 2,628    $ 2,295     $  1,576     $ 3,458    $ 1,964  $ 2,123
 Adjustments to
  reconcile net income
  to cash provided by
  operations:
 Depreciation and
  amortization..........      1,734        949          673       1,774        872      987
 Deferred income taxes..        --         --          (358)        941        595      395
 Amortization of debt
  discount..............        --         --           --           33         21       12
 Stock compensation
  expense...............        --         --            65         --         --         -
 Changes in assets and
  liabilities:
  (Increase) decrease in
   receivables..........     (1,260)     1,261         (367)        806        259   (1,507)
  (Increase) decrease in
   inventories..........       (537)       277          561        (280)      (555)    (324)
  (Increase) decrease in
   other current assets.        212        (31)          (7)       (466)       (18)     265
  Increase (decrease) in
   accounts payable.....        666       (531)          55         (91)      (250)    (251)
  Increase (decrease) in
   accrued employee
   benefits.............       (490)      (121)         795         148        247      643
  Increase (decrease) in
   accrued expenses.....       (812)      (388)       1,342        (321)    (1,348)     616
  Increase in other
   long-term
   liabilities..........        --         --           --          --         --        18
                            -------    -------     --------     -------    -------  -------
 Cash provided by
  operations............      2,141      3,711        4,335       6,002      1,787    2,977
                            -------    -------     --------     -------    -------  -------
CASH FLOWS FROM
 INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Acquisition of the
  Business (including
  transaction fees and
  expenses), net of cash
  acquired..............        --         --       (16,929)        --         --    (7,232)
 Capital expenditures...     (1,308)      (812)        (102)       (847)      (284)  (1,086)
                            -------    -------     --------     -------    -------  -------
 Cash used in investing
  activities............     (1,308)      (812)     (17,031)       (847)      (284)  (8,318)
                            -------    -------     --------     -------    -------  -------
CASH FLOWS FROM
 FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 Proceeds from issuance
  of debt...............        --         --        14,820         --         --       --
 Repayment of debt......        --         --           --          --         --    (1,685)
 Net change in short-
  term debt.............        --         --           --          --         --       293
 Proceeds from issuance
  of redeemable
  preferred shares......        --         --         2,400         --         --       --
 Proceeds from issuance
  of common shares......        --         --           600         --         --       --
 Proceeds from issuance
  of warrants...........        --         --           180         --         --       --
 Net transfers to
  Sellers...............       (833)    (2,899)         --          --         --       --
                            -------    -------     --------     -------    -------  -------
 Cash provided by (used
  in) financing
  activities............       (833)    (2,899)      18,000         --         --    (1,392)
                            -------    -------     --------     -------    -------  -------
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES
 ON CASH................        --         --           --          --         --        (2)
                            -------    -------     --------     -------    -------  -------
 Increase (decrease) in
  cash and cash
  equivalents...........        --         --         5,304       5,155      1,503   (6,735)
CASH AND CASH
 EQUIVALENTS, beginning
 of period..............        --         --           --        5,304      5,304   10,459
                            -------    -------     --------     -------    -------  -------
CASH AND CASH
 EQUIVALENTS, end of
 period.................    $   --     $   --      $  5,304     $10,459    $ 6,807  $ 3,724
                            =======    =======     ========     =======    =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
  (ALL INFORMATION AS OF JUNE 30, 1996 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
                         1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED.)
 
(1) ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION:
 
  Control Devices, Inc. ("CDI"), which was organized on June 10, 1994,
designs, manufactures and markets circuit breakers, electronic sensors and
electronic ceramic component parts used by original equipment manufacturers
("OEMs") in the automotive, appliance and telecommunications markets. On April
1, 1996, CDI purchased Realisations et Diffusion pour l'Industrie ("RDI"),
which distributes these and other products in the Northern European market
from its headquarters near Paris, France. CDI is headquartered in Standish,
Maine and has manufacturing facilities in Standish and Caribou, Maine and San
Cristobal, Dominican Republic. CDI also maintains a sales office in Dearborn,
Michigan. CDI had no significant operations from incorporation through July
29, 1994. The accompanying financial statements include the results of CDI and
RDI from the date of acquisition. The "Company" refers to both CDI and RDI and
its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
  On July 29, 1994, CDI purchased certain assets and liabilities (the
"Business") of GTE Control Devices Incorporated and Dominican Overseas Trading
Company (collectively, the "Seller"), indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of
GTE Corporation. For periods prior to the acquisition date, the Business is
referred to as the "Predecessor Company". The accompanying financial
statements, including those of the Predecessor Company prior to the
acquisition date have been prepared by CDI management and present the
financial position and results of operations of CDI from the acquisition date
and of the Business for the periods prior to the acquisition date.
Accordingly, the financial information for periods prior to the acquisition
date does not reflect the significant impact of the acquisition, the related
financing and the purchase accounting adjustments on the financial position
and results of operations of CDI.
 
  The Predecessor Company financial statements include all significant
components of the Business and have been prepared solely by CDI as if the
Business were operated as a separate entity for the periods presented. The
Predecessor Company financial statements do not include an allocation of any
assets and liabilities not specifically identified to the Business, including
cash and intercompany debt. Prior to September 28, 1993, the Predecessor
Company also included a telecommunications product division and shared certain
facilities and functions with this division. The results of operations of the
telecommunications product division are not included in the accompanying
statements of income. Certain costs and expenses, including manufacturing
overhead and selling, general and administrative expenses, were prorated by
CDI between the Business and the telecommunications division in preparing the
accompanying Predecessor Company financial statements. Expenses were allocated
based on actual usage or other allocation methods which approximate actual
usage. Management of CDI believes that the allocation methods are reasonable.
 
(2) SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
 Principles of consolidation--
 
  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions
have been eliminated.
 
 Basis of accounting--
 
  The Company maintains its books in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. The preparation of the financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
and liabilities and
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
(2) SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED):
 
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
 Foreign currency translation and transactions--
 
  Assets and liabilities of the Company's foreign operations are translated
into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date.
Results of operations are translated using the average exchange rate
prevailing throughout the period. The effects of exchange rate fluctuations on
translating foreign currency assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars are
included in the foreign currency translation adjustment component of
shareholders' equity, while gains and losses resulting from foreign currency
transactions are included in net income.
 
 Cash and cash equivalents--
 
  Cash and cash equivalents include short-term investments with original
maturities of three months or less.
 
 Trade receivables--
 
  RDI's practice is to sell part of its trade receivables to finance their
business. At June 30, 1996, such sales with recourse amounted to $3,108,000
which have been deducted from trade receivables. Based on historical
collectibility of trade receivables, RDI's obligations under the recourse
provisions are not material.
 
 Inventories--
 
  Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost of
inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method of
inventory valuation.
 
 Property, plant and equipment--
 
  Depreciation is provided using the straight-line and various accelerated
methods over the estimated useful lives of the related plant and equipment.
Ranges of the estimated useful lives are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
     <S>                                                          <C>
     The Company
       Machinery and equipment...................................  3 to 15 years
       Building and building equipment...........................       40 years
     Predecessor Company
       Machinery and equipment...................................  3 to 16 years
       Building and building equipment........................... 10 to 50 years
</TABLE>
 
  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the terms of the respective leases
or the estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever is less.
Maintenance, repairs and renewals are expensed as incurred; betterments are
capitalized.
 
 Goodwill--
 
  As part of the acquisition of RDI, goodwill was recorded which represented
the difference between the purchase price and the fair value of the
identifiable underlying net assets acquired and is carried as an asset, less
accumulated amortization which is calculated on a straight-line basis over the
estimated useful life of 40 years.
 
  The Company periodically evaluates the periods over which intangible assets
are amortized to determine whether events have occurred which would require
modification to the amortization period. The Company reviews anticipated
future operating results and cash flows on an undiscounted basis in
determining whether there has been an impairment in the value of the excess of
purchase price over net assets acquired. An impairment loss would be measured
as the amount by which the carrying amount of the impaired asset exceeds the
fair value of the asset. That fair value would then become the asset's new
cost basis.
 
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES CONSOLIDATED TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
(2) SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED):
 
 Income taxes--
 
  CDI utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes as set
forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 109,
"Accounting for Income Taxes." Under this method, deferred income taxes are
determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax
bases of assets and liabilities using presently enacted tax rates and
regulations.
 
 Retirement benefits--
 
  RDI maintains a defined contribution plan for their employees. The Company
applies SFAS No. 87, "Employer's Accounting for Pensions" to account for
retirement benefits.
 
 Research and development--
 
  Expenditures for Company-sponsored research and new product development are
expensed as incurred.
 
 Environmental expenditures--
 
  Environmental expenditures that relate to current or future revenues are
expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an
existing condition caused by past operations and that do not contribute to
current or future revenues are expensed.
 
 Revenue recognition--
 
  Revenue is recognized when products are shipped.
 
 Earnings per share--
 
  Earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares
and dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period.
 
 Fair value of financial instruments--
 
  The fair values of financial instruments closely approximate their carrying
value. The Company has no involvement with derivative financial instruments.
 
 Interim financial statements--
 
  In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited consolidated
financial statements contain all adjustments, all of which are of a normal
recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the financial position of the
Company as of June 30, 1996 and the results of their operations and changes in
their cash flows for the six month periods ended June 30, 1995 and 1996.
 
(3) ACQUISITION OF THE BUSINESS:
 
  On July 29, 1994, CDI purchased the Business for $16.4 million in cash and a
$1.5 million note payable to GTE Control Devices Incorporated (the "Seller
Note"). The cash portion of the purchase price and related transaction fees of
approximately $500,000 were financed through a combination of long-term debt
and common and preferred shares issued to various investors.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
(3) ACQUISITION OF THE BUSINESS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The purchase method was used to account for the acquisition. The aggregate
purchase price has been allocated to the assets and liabilities of the
Business based on fair market value.
 
  The net assets acquired after allocating the purchase price are as follows
(in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
       <S>                                                              <C>
       Receivables..................................................... $ 4,744
       Inventories.....................................................   3,560
       Other current assets............................................     110
       Property, plant and equipment...................................  12,213
       Other assets....................................................     382
       Accounts payable................................................  (1,465)
       Accrued employee benefits.......................................    (516)
       Accrued expenses................................................    (599)
                                                                        -------
                                                                        $18,429
                                                                        =======
</TABLE>
 
  Pursuant to the asset purchase agreement, the Seller retained certain assets
and liabilities including, but not limited to, liabilities for pensions and
post-retirement life and health insurance, certain employee benefits for
active employees and reserves for environmental matters.
 
  The unaudited pro forma results of operations for the years ended December
31, 1993 and 1994, respectively, had the acquisition and initial
capitalization of the Company occurred at the beginning of each of the periods
presented, are provided in the following table. These pro forma results
include adjustments for depreciation and amortization of assets acquired based
on their fair market values at the acquisition date, increased interest on
acquisition debt, additional preferred share dividends, elimination of
allocated employee benefit and administrative expenses, additional
professional fees and the related income tax effect. For purposes of computing
income taxes, an effective tax rate of 40% was used for the Predecessor
Company results of operations. The unaudited pro forma information does not
necessarily represent what the results of operations would have been in such
periods and is not intended to be indicative of future results.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED
                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -----------------
                                                                1993     1994
                                                              -------- --------
                                                                 (UNAUDITED-
                                                                IN THOUSANDS
                                                              EXCEPT PER SHARE)
     <S>                                                      <C>      <C>
     Net sales...............................................  $39,807  $43,842
     Net income applicable to common shareholders............    1,349    3,055
     Earnings per share......................................     0.53     1.19
</TABLE>
 
(4) ACQUISITION OF RDI:
 
  On April 1, 1996, the Company purchased all of the issued and outstanding
stock of RDI for $8,964,000. The Company paid $6,964,000 in cash plus
transaction fees of approximately $400,000 from existing cash on hand,
delivered Subordinated Promissory Notes ("RDI Notes") totaling $1,108,000 and
delivered Automatically Converting Subordinated Promissory Notes ("RDI
Convertible Notes") totaling $892,000.
 
  The purchase method was used to account for the acquisition. The aggregate
purchase price has been allocated to the assets and liabilities of RDI based
on preliminary estimates of fair market value. Any adjustments resulting from
the final purchase price allocation, which could result in changes to the
carrying values of assets and liabilities, including goodwill, are not
expected to be material to the financial statements.
 
                                     F-10
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
(4) ACQUISITION OF RDI--(CONTINUED):
 
  The net assets acquired after allocating the purchase price are as follows
(in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
     <S>                                                                <C>
     Cash.............................................................. $   132
     Receivables.......................................................   5,888
     Inventories.......................................................   3,642
     Other current assets..............................................     549
     Goodwill and other intangible assets..............................   7,144
     Property, plant and equipment.....................................   2,376
     Accounts payable..................................................  (5,387)
     Accrued expenses..................................................  (3,236)
     Debt..............................................................  (1,744)
                                                                        -------
                                                                        $ 9,364
                                                                        =======
</TABLE>
 
  The unaudited pro forma results of operations for the six months ended June
30, 1995 and 1996, respectively, had the acquisition of RDI occurred at
January 1, 1995 and January 1, 1996, respectively, are provided in the
following table. These pro forma results include adjustments for depreciation
and amortization of assets acquired based on their estimated fair market
values at the acquisition date, adjustments for additional interest expense on
acquisition debt, adjustments for the decrease in interest expense on the
Seller Note which was repaid in connection with the acquisition of RDI,
adjustments for the elimination of interest income on excess cash balances,
adjustments for the elimination of intercompany sales and profit in inventory,
and the related income tax effect. The unaudited pro forma information does
not necessarily represent what the results of operations would have been in
such periods and is not intended to be indicative of future results.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               SIX MONTHS JUNE
                                                                     30,
                                                              -----------------
                                                                1995     1996
                                                              -------- --------
                                                                 (UNAUDITED-
                                                                IN THOUSANDS
                                                              EXCEPT PER SHARE)
     <S>                                                      <C>      <C>
     Net sales............................................... $ 34,968 $ 34,803
     Net income applicable to common shareholders............    1,987    2,066
     Earnings per share......................................     0.77     0.81
</TABLE>
 
(5) INVENTORIES:
 
  Classes of inventories as of December 31, 1994 and 1995 and June 30, 1996,
are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1994   1995   1996
                                                           ------ ------ ------
     <S>                                                   <C>    <C>    <C>
     Raw materials and supplies........................... $1,055 $1,174 $1,298
     Work-in-process......................................    703    613    769
     Finished goods.......................................  1,241  1,492  5,091
                                                           ------ ------ ------
                                                           $2,999 $3,279 $7,158
                                                           ====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-11
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(6) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
 
  Classes of property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 1994 and 1995,
and June 30, 1996, are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       1994     1995     1996
                                                      -------  -------  -------
   <S>                                                <C>      <C>      <C>
   Land.............................................. $   181  $   181  $   486
   Building..........................................   1,440    1,440    2,987
   Equipment.........................................  10,796   11,513   13,016
   Leasehold improvements............................     248      248      248
                                                      -------  -------  -------
                                                       12,665   13,382   16,737
   Accumulated depreciation..........................    (641)  (2,285)  (3,179)
                                                      -------  -------  -------
                                                      $12,024  $11,097  $13,558
                                                      =======  =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
(7) DEBT:
 
  Debt consists of the following as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, and June
30, 1996, (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         1994    1995    1996
                                                        ------- ------- -------
   <S>                                                  <C>     <C>     <C>
   10% Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes................. $10,500 $10,500 $10,500
   11% Senior Subordinated Notes (face value of
    $4,500)............................................   4,320   4,353   4,364
   RDI Notes...........................................     --      --    1,108
   RDI Convertible Notes...............................     --      --      892
   RDI fixed rate loans................................     --      --    1,158
   RDI short-term debt ................................     --      --      654
   Junior Subordinated Promissory Note (Seller Note)...   1,500   1,500     --
                                                        ------- ------- -------
                                                        $16,320 $16,353 $18,676
                                                        ======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
 
  On July 29, 1994, and as amended on March 29, 1996, CDI entered into
agreements (the "Securities Purchase Agreements") with a group of affiliated
lenders to provide CDI with $15.0 million of term loans and up to $3.0 million
in revolving credit loans (collectively referred to as "Senior Debt"). Loans
available under the revolving credit loan (the "Revolver") will be used from
time to time for working capital and general corporate purposes. The maturity
date of the Revolver is July 29, 1999. Borrowings bear interest at the prime
rate plus 1.5%. A facility fee of 0.5% of the unused commitment under the
Revolver is payable quarterly in arrears. As of, and for the five months ended
December 31, 1994, as of and for the year ended December 31, 1995, and as of
and for the six months ended June 30, 1996, there were no loans outstanding
under the Revolver.
 
  The term loans are comprised of the 10% Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes and
the 11% Senior Subordinated Notes (collectively the "Senior Notes") both due
July 31, 2004. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on each
January 31 and July 31. The 10% Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes are payable
beginning July 31, 1996. The 11% Senior Subordinated Notes are payable
beginning July 31, 2000. Optional prepayments without a premium may be made on
the Senior Notes up to an annual maximum of $3,750,000. Upon a change of
control (as defined) or upon an initial public offering of the Company's
common or preferred shares, CDI may also redeem the entire amount of Senior
Notes without a premium. The Senior Debt ranks senior to all other
indebtedness of CDI and is secured by substantially all of the Company's
assets.
 
 
                                     F-12
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
(7) DEBT--(CONTINUED):
 
  Under the Securities Purchase Agreements, warrants to purchase 564,100
shares of Class B Series 1 Common Shares at $.01 per share were issued to the
lenders. The proceeds received upon the issuance of the 11% Senior
Subordinated Notes of $4.5 million were allocated between the notes and the
warrants based on their estimated relative fair values. Accordingly, $180,000,
which represents the amount of the proceeds allocated to the warrants, has
been credited to additional paid-in-capital. The discount is being amortized
over the life of the notes.
 
  In connection with the acquisition of RDI, the Seller Note was repaid
without premium in March 1996. The Seller Note earned interest at 10% payable
quarterly and was due in full on July 29, 1999.
 
  The Securities Purchase Agreements, contains certain restrictive covenants
which include, among other things, a restriction on the payment of dividends
(to no more than 25% of cash flow, as defined), maintenance of a current ratio
of 1.4 and limitation on other indebtedness. The Company was in compliance
with all covenants in 1994 and 1995 and for the six months ended June 30,
1996.
 
  The RDI fixed rate loans bear interest at the weighted average rate of 7.7%
and are secured by certain assets of RDI.
 
  The RDI Notes bear interest at 8% per annum and are due in three equal
annual installments commencing on April 1, 1997. CDI has the right to prepay
the RDI Notes at any time without premium.
 
  The RDI Convertible Notes bear interest at 6.5% per annum and are payable in
full on demand after April 1, 1999. Prior to April 1, 2001, the RDI
Convertible Notes may be prepaid with the consent of the holders. Thereafter,
the RDI Convertible Notes may be prepaid by CDI without premium. Upon the
closing of an initial public offering of CDI's Class A Common Shares, any
remaining principal balance of the RDI Convertible Notes shall be converted
into Class A Common Shares. The conversion price shall be equal to the initial
public offering price per share.
 
  The RDI Notes and RDI Convertible Notes are subordinate to the Senior Debt.
 
  Scheduled principal payment due on debt in the next five years are as
follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          RDI        RDI        RDI
                   10%    11%    RDI  CONVERTIBLE SHORT-TERM   FIXED
                  NOTES  NOTES  NOTES    NOTES       DEBT    RATE LOANS  TOTAL
                  ------ ------ ----- ----------- ---------- ---------- -------
   <S>            <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>
   1996.......... $  500 $  --  $--      $--         $654       $191    $ 1,345
   1997..........    500    --   369      --          --         336      1,205
   1998..........    750    --   369      --          --         267      1,386
   1999..........    750    --   370      892         --         152      2,164
   2000..........  1,000    900  --       --          --          80      1,980
   Thereafter....  7,000  3,600  --       --          --         132     10,732
</TABLE>
 
  Cash paid for interest for the five month period ended December 31, 1994,
for the year ended December 31, 1995 and for the six months ended June 30,
1995 and 1996 was $65,000, $1,702,500, $851,000 and $854,000, respectively.
 
                                     F-13
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(8) OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
 
  Other long-term liabilities as of December 31, 1994, 1995 and June 30, 1996,
are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             1994  1995   1996
                                                             ---- ------ ------
   <S>                                                       <C>  <C>    <C>
   Deferred tax liabilities................................. $138 $1,001 $1,258
   Accrued redeemable preferred share dividends.............  110    --     --
   RDI--Retirement benefits.................................  --     --     812
   RDI--Profit sharing......................................  --     --     455
                                                             ---- ------ ------
                                                             $248 $1,001 $2,525
                                                             ==== ====== ======
</TABLE>
 
  See Note 12 for discussion of RDI retirement benefits and profit sharing.
 
(9) REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SHARES:
 
  In connection with the acquisition of the Business, CDI issued 2,400 shares
of 11% Cumulative Preferred Shares ("Redeemable Preferred Shares") for $2.4
million. The Redeemable Preferred Shares accrue cumulative dividends at a rate
of 11% per annum and have a liquidation preference value of $2,400,000 plus
accrued and unpaid dividends. The liquidation preference value of the
Redeemable Preferred Shares ($1,000 per share plus accrued dividends) was
$2,510,000, $2,774,000 and $2,906,000 at December 31, 1994 and 1995 and June
30, 1996, respectively. At December 31, 1994 and 1995, and June 30, 1996,
accrued and unpaid dividends were $110,000, $374,000, and $506,000,
respectively, which have been included in accrued expenses, at December 31,
1995, and June 30, 1996 and other long-term liabilities at December 31, 1994.
Dividends are payable after October 1996 assuming that a certain level of cash
flow, as defined, is achieved. The Redeemable Preferred Shares are subject to
redemption at the option of the Company, without a premium, from time to time
with mandatory redemption on July 29, 2006. In addition, 580 Preferred Shares
(aggregating $580,000) issued to the lenders, plus accrued and unpaid
dividends, must be redeemed without a premium if the Senior Notes are prepaid
in full.
 
(10) SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY/NET ASSETS:
 
  In connection with the acquisition of the Business, CDI issued 1,564,098
shares of Class A Common Shares and 435,896 shares of Class B Series 1 Common
Shares for an aggregate price of $600,000. The Class A Common Shares are
identical in all respects to the Class B Series 1 Common Shares, except that
the Class B Series 1 Common Shares have limited voting rights. The Class B
Series 1 Common Shares are convertible at any time at the option of the holder
into Class A Common Shares currently on a one-for-one basis, subject to
dilution. No dividends on the Class A Common Shares or the Class B Series 1
Common Shares may be paid until the Seller Note is repaid in full and while
any dividends on the Redeemable Preferred Shares remain unpaid. Accordingly,
no dividends on Common Shares could have been paid as of December 31, 1994 and
1995 and June 30, 1996.
 
  Certain Class A Common Shares were issued to officers of CDI at a price
which was less than the amount paid by other investors. A non-cash charge of
$65,000 was recorded in 1994 as compensation expense for the difference
between the fair value and the purchase price for these shares.
 
  Warrants to purchase 564,100 shares of Class B Series 1 Common Shares for
$.01 per share are outstanding at December 31, 1994. The warrants expire on
July 31, 2004 (see Note 7).
 
  As further discussed in Note 17, in 1995 the Company issued a non-qualified
stock option to purchase 200,000 Class A Common Shares.
 
  In July 1996, the Company reserved, subject to shareholder approval, 300,000
Common Shares for issuance pursuant to its 1996 Stock Compensation Plan (the
"Plan"). The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, nonstatutory options and
performance units payable in cash or Common Shares. No options or performance
units have been granted to date. The Plan is administered by the compensation
committee of the Board of Directors.
 
                                     F-14
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(10) SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY/NET ASSETS--(CONTINUED):
 
  The Company will account for the Plan under SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock Based Compensation". Under SFAS No. 123, the Company may either adopt
the new fair value based accounting method or provide pro forma disclosures of
net earnings and earnings per share as if the accounting provisions of SFAS
No. 123 had been adopted. The Company plans to adopt only the disclosure
requirements of SFAS No. 123.
 
Net assets--
 
Changes in Predecessor Company net assets were as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    SEVEN MONTHS
                                                        YEAR ENDED     ENDED
                                                       DECEMBER 31,   JULY 29,
                                                           1993         1994
                                                       ------------ ------------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>
Balance, beginning of period..........................   $15,539      $17,334
Net income............................................     2,628        2,295
Net transfers.........................................      (833)      (2,899)
                                                         -------      -------
Balance, end of period................................   $17,334      $16,730
                                                         =======      =======
</TABLE>
 
(11) INCOME TAXES:
 
  The Predecessor Company operated as a division, and income taxes were not
allocated to it. The accompanying financial statements of the Predecessor
Company reflect an allocated provision for income taxes using an effective tax
rate of 40%, the estimated combined rate for current and deferred state and
federal income taxes. The related current or deferred income taxes payable
would have been transferred to the Seller, if allocated, and are included in
the net assets of the Predecessor Company.
 
  The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes for the Company
for the five months ended December 31, 1994, for the year ended December 31,
1995 and for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 are as follows (in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    DECEMBER 31,     JUNE 30,
                                                    -------------- -------------
                                                     1994    1995   1995   1996
                                                    ------  ------ ------ ------
     <S>                                            <C>     <C>    <C>    <C>
     Current:
       Federal..................................... $1,029  $  907 $  572 $  764
       State.......................................    319     230    143    234
                                                    ------  ------ ------ ------
                                                     1,348   1,137    715    998
                                                    ======  ====== ====== ======
     Deferred:
       Federal.....................................   (277)    729    461    266
       State.......................................    (81)    212    134     58
                                                    ------  ------ ------ ------
                                                      (358)    941    595    324
                                                    ------  ------ ------ ------
                                                    $  990  $2,078 $1,310 $1,322
                                                    ======  ====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
 
  A reconciliation of the income tax provision calculated at the federal
income tax statutory rate and the Company's effective income tax rate for the
five months ended December 31, 1994, for the year ended December 31, 1995 and
for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 is as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                DECEMBER 31,       JUNE 30,
                                                --------------  --------------
                                                1994    1995     1995    1996
                                                ------ -------  ------- ------
     <S>                                        <C>    <C>      <C>     <C>
     Tax at statutory rate..................... $ 872  $ 1,882  $ 1,114 $1,171
     State income taxes, net of federal bene-
      fit......................................   157      292      183    193
     Other, net................................   (39)     (96)      13    (42)
                                                -----  -------  ------- ------
                                                $ 990  $ 2,078  $ 1,310 $1,322
                                                =====  =======  ======= ======
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-15
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(11) INCOME TAXES--(CONTINUED):
 
  The significant components of deferred income tax asset (liability) at
December 31, 1994 and 1995, and June 30, 1996 are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        1994    1995     1996
                                                        -----  -------  ------
     <S>                                                <C>    <C>      <C>
     Current:
       Inventory reserves.............................. $ 108  $   112  $  127
       Accrued employee benefits.......................   258       76     439
       Other...........................................   130      230     287
                                                        -----  -------  ------
                                                          496      418     853
                                                        =====  =======  ======
     Noncurrent:
       Depreciation....................................  (240)  (1,012) (1,274)
       Other...........................................   102       11      16
                                                        -----  -------  ------
                                                         (138)  (1,001) (1,258)
                                                        -----  -------  ------
                                                        $ 358  $  (583) $ (405)
                                                        =====  =======  ======
</TABLE>
 
  The significant components of the deferred income tax provision (benefit)
for the five months ended December 31, 1994, for the year ended December 31,
1995 and for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 are as follows (in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   DECEMBER 31,     JUNE 30,
                                                   --------------  -----------
                                                    1994    1995   1995   1996
                                                   ------  ------  -----  ----
     <S>                                           <C>     <C>     <C>    <C>
     Current:
       Inventory reserves......................... $ (108) $   (4) $  (2) $ (3)
       Accrued employee benefits..................   (258)    182    115    16
       Other......................................   (130)   (100)   (63)   54
                                                   ------  ------  -----  ----
                                                     (496)     78     50    67
                                                   ------  ------  -----  ----
     Noncurrent:
       Depreciation...............................    240     772    487   262
       Other......................................   (102)     91     58    (5)
                                                   ------  ------  -----  ----
                                                      138     863    545   257
                                                   ------  ------  -----  ----
                                                   $ (358) $  941  $ 595  $324
                                                   ======  ======  =====  ====
</TABLE>
 
  Cash paid for income taxes for the five months ended December 31, 1994, for
the year ended December 31, 1995, and for the six months ended June 30, 1995
and 1996 was $1,036,600, $1,946,000, $240,000 and $792,000, respectively.
 
(12) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
 
  Effective as of the acquisition date, CDI established a 401(k) savings plan.
Under the plan, CDI matches employee contributions subject to the discretion
of the board of directors. The expense for the employer contribution for the
five months ended December 31, 1994, for the year ended December 31, 1995 and
for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 was $137,000, $301,000,
$145,000 and $230,000, respectively.
 
                                     F-16
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(12) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS--(CONTINUED):
 
  The Predecessor Company employees participated in Seller-sponsored defined
benefit, postretirement health and life insurance, and savings and investment
plans. The expense (income) for these plans, which was allocated by the seller
to the Predecessor Company (see Note 1), was $182,000 and $94,000, for the
year ended December 31, 1993 and for the seven months ended July 29, 1994,
respectively. Pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Seller retained
all obligations under these plans. CDI does not sponsor defined benefit or
postretirement benefit plans. Information with respect to actuarial
valuations, funded status, investment activities and other information
regarding the Predecessor Company's participation in the plans is not
available from the Seller, and, accordingly, is not presented.
 
RDI (Unaudited)--
 
  RDI maintains a government mandated retirement plan for substantially all of
its employees. These benefits do not vest until retirement. The amount of the
benefits to be paid depends upon, among other things, the seniority and salary
of the employees at retirement date. RDI maintains a government mandated
employee profit plan for all employees. The amount of the benefits are based
upon a formula which includes, among other things, net taxable income. The
liability is generally not payable for a period of five years, and is
internally funded. In addition, RDI maintains an incentive plan for certain of
its key executives. The amount of the benefits are based upon a formula which
includes, among other things, net income. The expense for the above plans for
RDI was $99,000 for the three months ended June 30, 1996.
 
(13) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
 Operating leases--
 
  The Company leases certain buildings, office space, automobiles and
equipment under noncancellable operating leases expiring at various dates
through May 1999. Rental expense under operating leases amounted to $521,000,
$362,000, $236,000, $446,000, $199,000 and $272,000 for the year ended
December 31, 1993, the seven months ended July 29, 1994, the five months ended
December 31, 1994, the year ended December 31, 1995, and for the six months
ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
 
  Future minimum rental payments under leases extending for one year or more
are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
       -----------------------
       <S>                                                                  <C>
          1996............................................................. $512
          1997.............................................................  315
          1998.............................................................  115
          1999.............................................................   23
</TABLE>
 
 Employment Agreements (Unaudited)--
 
  The Company has entered into employment agreements with two executives at
RDI. The agreements provide that each executive will receive annual
compensation of up to FF 975,000 (approximately $195,000), plus an annual
bonus of up to FF 487,000 (approximately $97,000), which is based upon meeting
certain performance objectives. The agreements provide for a severance payment
if the Company terminates the executive for any reason other than misconduct
prior to March 29, 1998. The amount of the severance payment to each executive
is equal two years' salary and bonus.
 
 Legal proceedings--
 
  The Company has various claims and contingent liabilities arising in the
ordinary conduct of business. In the opinion of management, they are not
expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the
Company.
 
                                     F-17
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(14) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:
 
 CDI--
  Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney & Company ("HKW") provides management services to
the Company. Certain directors of the Company are principals of HKW and own
shares of the Company's common and preferred shares. The Company pays HKW
monthly management fees of $15,000 and board of directors fees. These fees
amounted to $91,000, $240,000, $120,000 and $128,000 for the five months ended
December 31, 1994, for the year ended December 31, 1995, and for the six
months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively. In addition, fees paid to
one of the principals of HKW for professional services amounted to $17,000,
$59,000, $27,000 and $18,000, for the five months ended December 31, 1994, for
the year ended December 31, 1995, and for the six months ended June 30, 1995
and 1996, respectively.
 
 Indemnification from Seller--
 
  Pursuant to the terms of an Environmental Agreement dated July 6, 1994, the
Seller has retained liability and agreed to indemnify CDI for any and all
liabilities arising under CERCLA and other environmental requirements related
to contamination and cleanup at acquired facilities, treatment, storage and
disposal of hazardous materials transported offsite and remediation required
by the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection or U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency existing or occurring prior to the acquisition
date. The Seller has indemnified CDI against claims pursuant to the
aforementioned issues to the extent the amounts exceed $50,000 in the
aggregate. The Seller has liability for claims relating to soil and
groundwater contamination from the surface impoundment and out-of-service
leachfield at the Company's Standish facility known to exist prior to the
acquisition to the extent the liability exceeds $50,000. The indemnifications
provided by the Seller begin to expire three years after the acquisition date,
with certain indemnifications continuing indefinitely. Although the Company
believes the Seller's indemnity is enforceable, if the Company were unable to
enforce such indemnification obligations against the Seller, the Company could
become liable for any such retained liability. The inability to proceed
against the Seller could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition and results of operations.
 
 Predecessor Company--
  The Seller allocated expenses to the Predecessor Company for corporate
accounting, legal and administrative support services. Expenses charged
amounted to $179,000 and $128,000 for the year ended December 31, 1993 and for
the seven months ended July 29, 1994, respectively, and are reflected as
selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of
income.
 
(15) CUSTOMER INFORMATION:
  CDI sells its products primarily to OEMs on a worldwide basis in the
automotive, appliance and telecommunications industries. RDI distributes its
products primarily to automobile OEMs in the Northern European market. Sales
are concentrated in North America and Europe with the top 15 customers
accounting for approximately 72% of sales in 1995. Export sales to Europe and
the Far East were $7,728,000 and $1,972,000, $4,834,000 and $2,158,000,
$3,897,000 and $972,000, $9,634,000 and $1,906,000, $5,757,000 and $1,374,000,
and $12,003,000 and $1,186,000 for the year ended December 31, 1993, the seven
months ended July 29, 1994, the five months ended December 31, 1994, the year
ended December 31, 1995, and for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996,
respectively. For the year ended December 31, 1993, the seven months ended
July 29, 1994, the five months ended December 31, 1994, the year ended
December 31, 1995 and for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, Danfoss
accounted for approximately $2,707,000, $1,924,000, $1,745,000, $5,270,000,
$2,744,000 and $2,452,000 of sales, respectively, and General Motors accounted
for $5,889,000, $4,029,000, $3,315,000, $7,647,000, $3,973,000 and $3,246,000
of sales, respectively.
 
                                     F-18
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(16) SUPPLIER INFORMATION:
  The Company relies on a sole supplier or a limited group of suppliers for
certain key components of its products. The Company does not have a long-term
supply agreement with any of these suppliers, and operates under purchase
orders. The Company's reliance on sole or a limited group of suppliers
involves several risks, including a potential inability to obtain an adequate
supply of required components and reduced control over pricing and timely
delivery of components. Although the timeliness, yield and quality of
deliveries to date from the Company's suppliers have been acceptable, any
prolonged inability to obtain adequate deliveries or any other circumstances
that would require the Company to seek alternative sources of supply could
delay the Company's ability to ship its products, which could damage
relationships with current and prospective customers and could therefore have
a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
 
(17) CONSULTING AGREEMENTS:
 
  In April 1995, the Company entered several agreements with an individual to
provide design and marketing consulting services to the Company. The terms of
the agreements also provide for minimum cash royalty and license payments. The
agreements begin to expire in March 2001, and allow for cancellation by either
party in certain circumstances. In connection with these agreements, the
Company paid the individual a one time payment of $200,000 in 1995 and granted
a non-qualified stock options to purchase up to 200,000 Class A Common Shares
at any time until March 31, 2002 at the lesser of $10.00 or the initial public
offering price per share. In addition, royalty payments were approximately
$223,000, $115,000 and $120,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995, and for
the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
 
(18) INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION:
 
  The Company has international manufacturing facilities located in San
Cristobal, Dominican Republic. Included in the Company's balance sheet at
December 31, 1995, are the net assets of the Company's international
manufacturing operations which totaled approximately $1,686,000. This
operation manufactured, products accounting for approximately 40% of the
Company's gross revenues in 1995.
 
  RDI distributes its products primarily to automotive OEMs in Northern
Europe. The Company's results of operations are therefore subject to European
economic conditions. RDI generates revenues and incurs expenses primarily in
currencies other than the U.S. dollar, and the Company does not engage in
currency hedging transactions. As a result, there is increased financial risk
to the Company based on fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Changes in
exchange rates, therefore, may have a significant effect on the Company's
financial condition and results of operations. At June 30, 1996, the net
assets of RDI, including goodwill, were approximately $9.3 million.
 
(19) SUPPLEMENTARY BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION:
 
  Accrued expenses consisted of the following as of December 31, 1994 and
1995, and June 30, 1996 (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             1994   1995   1996
                                                            ------ ------ ------
   <S>                                                      <C>    <C>    <C>
   Interest................................................ $  655 $  652 $  692
   Dividends...............................................    --     374    791
   Legal...................................................    214    176    146
   Environmental...........................................    255    305    305
   Taxes...................................................    306     34    572
   Other...................................................    511    453  1,109
                                                            ------ ------ ------
                                                            $1,941 $1,994 $3,615
                                                            ====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-19
<PAGE>
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(20) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (UNAUDITED):
          
  On August 30, 1996, the shareholders of the Company approved two amendments
to the Company's Articles of Incorporation. The first amendment will
reclassify the then outstanding Class A Common Shares and Class B Common
Shares as Common Shares and will eliminate the designations of the Class A and
Class B Shares immediately prior to the closing of the initial public offering
described below. The second amendment will eliminated the Redeemable Preferred
Shares if all the Redeemable Preferred Shares are redeemed in connection with
the initial public offering.     
   
  In October 1996, the Company plans to sell 2,000,000 Common Shares (assuming
no exercise of an underwriters' overallotment option)  in an initial public
offering (the "offering"). The following transactions will occur substantially
simultaneously with the close of the offering:     
 
  a. the exercise of the outstanding warrants described in Note 7 to purchase
     564,100 Class B Series 1 Common Shares at $0.01 per share;
 
  b. the conversion of all 999,996 Class B Series 1 Common Shares outstanding
     after the exercise of the warrants into a like number of Class A Common
     Shares;
 
  c. the reclassification of the Class A Common Shares into Common Shares and
     the elimination of the designations of Class A Common Shares and Class B
     Common Shares; and
 
  d. the conversion of the RDI Convertible Notes into 89,240 Common Shares
     (assuming an initial offering price of $10.00 per share).
 
  Set forth below is summary balance sheet information as of June 30, 1996,
and pro forma June 30, 1996, assuming the above transactions occurred (except
for the completion of the offering and the application of the net proceeds
therefrom):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               JUNE    PRO FORMA
                                                                30,    JUNE 30,
                                                               1996      1996
                                                              -------  ---------
      <S>                                                     <C>      <C>
      Total assets........................................... $42,986   $42,992
                                                              =======   =======
      Long-term debt......................................... $16,743   $15,851
                                                              =======   =======
      Shareholders' equity:
       Common Shares......................................... $   --    $ 1,743
       Class A Common Shares.................................     520       --
       Class B Series 1 Common Shares........................     145       --
       Warrants..............................................     180       --
       Foreign currency translation adjustment...............    (222)     (222)
       Retained earnings.....................................   6,651     6,651
                                                              -------   -------
        Total shareholders' equity........................... $ 7,274   $ 8,172
                                                              =======   =======
</TABLE>
 
  The weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding on a pro forma
basis at June 30, 1996, assuming the transactions described above (other than
the offering) occurred on such date, would be 2,653,334.
 
  The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering to retire the
Senior Notes and the Redeemable Preferred Shares. The pro forma net income per
share would have been $0.99 and $0.56 for the year ended December 31, 1995,
and the six month period ended June 30, 1996, respectively, assuming the
conversion of the RDI Convertible Notes, the issuance of 1,816,500 and
1,842,600 Common Shares, respectively, at a public offering price of $10.00
per share, and the application of the proceeds thereof to retire the Company's
Senior Notes plus accrued interest and the Redeemable Preferred Shares plus
accrued dividends, as of the beginning of each period.
 
                                     F-20
<PAGE>
 
                   REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
TO REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE ("RDI"):
 
  We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of RDI and its
subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 1994 and 1995 and the related
consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995. These
consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated
financial statements based on our audits.
 
  We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on
a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
  In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of RDI and its subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1994 and 1995 and the results of their operations and their cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995 in
conformity with French generally accepted accounting principles.
 
  Accounting practices used by the Company in preparing the accompanying
financial statements conform with generally accepted accounting principles in
France, but do not conform with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States. A description of these differences and a complete
reconciliation of consolidated net income and stockholders' equity to United
States generally accepted accounting principles is set forth in Note 3.
 
                                            ---------------------------------
                                               BARBIER FRINAULT & ASSOCIES
                                             Member of Andersen Worldwide SC
                                                    Thierry Aymonier
 
Paris, France, May 19, 1996
 
                                     F-21
<PAGE>
 
                   REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
                        (IN THOUSANDS OF FRENCH FRANCS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ------------- 
                                                               1994   1995
<S>                                                           <C>    <C>    
                           ASSETS
 CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents..................................    305    380
  Receivables ............................................... 30,089 26,930
  Inventories ............................................... 14,823 17,221
  Deferred tax assets .......................................  1,049  1,660
  Other current assets.......................................    122    296
                                                              ------ ------
    Total current assets..................................... 46,388 46,487
                                                              ------ ------
 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES, net.........................  4,388  4,615
 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net ......................... 11,076 13,607
 INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS................................    722     94
                                                              ------ ------
    Total non-current assets................................. 16,186 18,316
                                                              ------ ------
                                                              62,574 64,803
                                                              ====== ======
            LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Short-term debt ...........................................  7,582  6,355
  Trade accounts payable..................................... 18,515 20,810
  Accrued employee benefits and tax expenses.................  7,761  8,146
  Other accrued expenses.....................................  1,385  1,514
                                                              ------ ------
    Total current liabilities................................ 35,243 36,825
                                                              ------ ------
 DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES ...................................    342    515
 PROVISION FOR LIABILITIES AND ACCRUALS .....................  2,181  2,786
 LONG TERM DEBT..............................................  8,445  6,753
                                                              ------ ------
    Total long-term liabilities.............................. 10,968 10,054
                                                              ------ ------
 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 16)
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Common stock, 100 nominal value, 70,000 shares authorized,
   issued and outstanding in 1995............................  5,000  7,000
  Retained earnings.......................................... 11,363 10,924
                                                              ------ ------
    Total stockholders' equity............................... 16,363 17,924
                                                              ------ ------
                                                              62,574 64,803
                                                              ====== ======
</TABLE>
 
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated balance
                                    sheets.
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
 
                   REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
                        (IN THOUSANDS OF FRENCH FRANCS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                     --------------------------
                                                      1993     1994      1995
                                                     -------  -------  --------
<S>                                                  <C>      <C>      <C>
NET SALES...........................................  97,662  127,058   149,685
COST OF SALES....................................... (66,483) (82,744) (104,295)
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES........ (26,201) (34,961)  (36,526)
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE....................  (1,193)  (1,299)   (1,231)
                                                     -------  -------  --------
 Operating income...................................   3,785    8,054     7,633
INTEREST EXPENSE, NET (Note 13).....................  (2,160)  (2,365)   (2,889)
                                                     -------  -------  --------
 Income before income tax...........................   1,625    5,689     4,744
INCOME TAX PROVISION (Note 11)......................    (556)  (1,888)   (2,183)
                                                     -------  -------  --------
 Net income.........................................   1,069    3,801     2,561
                                                     =======  =======  ========
</TABLE>
 
 
 
 
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
 
                   REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN
 
                              STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
                        (IN THOUSANDS OF FRENCH FRANCS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         COMMON RETAINED
                                                         STOCK  EARNINGS TOTAL
                                                         ------ -------- ------
<S>                                                      <C>    <C>      <C>
BALANCE, at January 1, 1993............................. 5,000    8,293  13,293
  Dividends paid (FF 18 per share)......................   --      (900)   (900)
  Net income............................................   --     1,069   1,069
                                                         -----   ------  ------
BALANCE, at December 31, 1993........................... 5,000    8,462  13,462
  Dividends paid (FF 18 per share)......................   --      (900)   (900)
  Net income............................................   --     3,801   3,801
                                                         -----   ------  ------
BALANCE, at December 31, 1994........................... 5,000   11,363  16,363
  Stock issued.......................................... 2,000   (2,000)    --
  Dividends paid (FF 14 per share)......................   --    (1,000) (1,000)
  Net income............................................   --     2,561   2,561
                                                         -----   ------  ------
BALANCE, at December 31, 1995........................... 7,000   10,924  17,924
                                                         =====   ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
 
 
 
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
 
                  REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                        (IN THOUSANDS OF FRENCH FRANCS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       YEARS ENDED DECEMBER
                                                                31,
                                                       -----------------------
                                                        1993     1994    1995
                                                       -------  ------  ------
<S>                                                    <C>      <C>     <C>
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income..........................................   1,069   3,801   2,561
    Depreciation and amortization.....................     910   1,352   1,356
    Loss on disposal of fixed assets..................     111      32      65
    Decrease (Increase) in inventories................     451  (1,700) (1,264)
    Decrease (Increase) in receivables................     185  (4,035)  5,687
    Decrease (Increase) in other current assets.......     (60)   (206)   (735)
    Increase (Decrease) in trade accounts payable.....    (960)  1,089     257
    Increase (Decrease) in accrued employee benefits
     and tax expenses.................................     (43)  1,846     (46)
    Increase (Decrease) in other accrued expenses.....     357     373     129
    Increase (Decrease) in other liabilities..........     653     633     778
                                                       -------  ------  ------
    Cash provided by operations.......................   2,673   3,185   8,788
                                                       -------  ------  ------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchase of property, plant and equipment...........  (1,484) (3,457) (3,459)
  Sale of property, plant and equipment...............      24      30     284
  Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired.....  (5,880) (2,121) (1,619)
                                                       -------  ------  ------
    Cash used in investing activities.................  (7,340) (5,548) (4,794)
                                                       -------  ------  ------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Dividend............................................    (900)   (900) (1,000)
  Increase in long-term debt.......................... 4,520(a)  7,630     930
  Decrease in long-term debt..........................   -- (a) (7,788) (2,622)
  Net variation in short-term debt....................   1,165   3,558  (1,227)
                                                       -------  ------  ------
    Cash provided by (used in) financing activities...   4,785   2,500  (3,919)
                                                       -------  ------  ------
    Increase in cash and cash equivalents.............     118     137      75
                                                       -------  ------  ------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period........      50     168     305
                                                       -------  ------  ------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period..............     168     305     380
                                                       =======  ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
- --------
(a) The split between increase and decrease in long-term debt was not
    available for 1993, and will be presented as a net increase in long-term
    debt in 1993.
 
 
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
 
                                     F-25
<PAGE>
 
                  REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
                NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
            (THOUSANDS OF FRENCH FRANCS UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
 
(1) ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES:
 
  The consolidated financial statements of Realisations et Diffusion pour
l'Industrie ("RDI") (the "Company") have been prepared in accordance with the
French law of January 3, 1985 and its Application Decree of February 17, 1986.
 
  Certain reclassifications of items have been made in these consolidated
financial statements in order to conform to a presentation format which is
more understandable to a United States reader.
 
 Basis of consolidation--
 
  The Company's financial statements include the accounts of all subsidiaries
in which RDI holds, directly or indirectly, a controlling interest.
 
  The results from operations of subsidiaries acquired or sold during the year
are consolidated as from or up to their respective dates of acquisition or
disposal.
 
 Goodwill and intangible assets--
 
  On the acquisition of a subsidiary, goodwill representing the difference
between the purchase price and the fair value of the identifiable underlying
net assets acquired is carried as an asset in the balance sheet and amortized
on a straight line basis against income over a period of 40 years.
 
  Other intangible assets include patents, licenses and trademarks and
software, which are amortized over their useful life ranging from 1 to 5
years.
 
  The Company periodically evaluates the periods over which the intangible
assets are amortized to determine whether events have occurred which would
require modification to the amortization period. The Company reviews
anticipated future operating results and cash flows on an undiscounted basis
in determining whether there has been an impairment in the value of the excess
of purchase price over net assets acquired.
 
 Property, plant and equipment--
 
  Property, plant and equipment are shown at historical cost. Depreciation is
provided, except on freehold land, on a straight-line basis over the estimated
useful lives of the assets, as follows:
 
<TABLE>
       <S>                                                         <C>
       Buildings.................................................. 40 years
       Industrial plant and machinery............................. 5 to 10 years
       Other tangible assets...................................... 5 to 10 years
</TABLE>
 
 Investments in unconsolidated companies--
 
  Investments in which the Company owns less than 20% are carried at cost
after deducting appropriate allowances for permanent impairment in value.
 
 Inventories--
 
  Inventories, including work in progress, are valued at the lower of cost and
estimated net realizable value. Cost is determined on an average weighted cost
basis. The cost of work in progress and finished goods comprises materials,
labor and attributable manufacturing overheads.
 
 
                                     F-26
<PAGE>
 
                  REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(1) ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES--(CONTINUED):
 
 Cash and cash equivalents--
 
  Cash and cash equivalents are made up of cash held in banks and in hand and
short-term investments generally having an original maturity of two months or
less (mainly debt securities, short-term loans and accrued interest).
 
 Retirement benefits--
 
  The Company applies Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No.
87 "Employer's Accounting for Pensions" to account for retirement benefits
except for the non-recognition of minimum liability adjustments reflecting the
excess of the accumulated benefit obligation over the liability accrued in the
financial statements (refer to Notes 3 and 12).
 
 Deferred tax--
 
  The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes as
set forth in SFAS No. 109 "Accounting for Income Taxes" effective January 1,
1993. Under this method, deferred income taxes are determined based on the
difference between the financial statement and the tax bases of assets and
liabilities using presently enacted tax rates and regulations. The cumulative
effect of adopting SFAS No. 109 was not significant.
 
 Research and development--
 
  Expenditures for Company research and new product development are expensed
as incurred.
 
 Revenue recognition--
 
  Sales are recorded upon transfer of ownership of the products which usually
corresponds to the date when products are shipped.
 
(2) ACQUISITIONS AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
 
 Acquisition (1993)--
 
  In April 1993, the Company acquired Totem representing yearly net sales of
FF 18 million.
 
 Acquisitions and significant events (1994)--
 
  In February 1994, the Company acquired Spetelec (yearly net sales of FF 8
million) and in November 1994, Lucca (yearly net sales of FF 9 million).
 
  As part of a reorganization, the activities and the net assets of Totem and
Spetelec were transferred to RDI on January 1, 1994 for Totem, and October 1,
1994 for Spetelec and the subsidiaries were liquidated.
 
 Acquisition (1995)--
 
  In June 1995, RDI acquired Futurelec which represented yearly net sales of
FF 2 million.
 
                                     F-27
<PAGE>
 
                  REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(2) ACQUISITIONS AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS--(CONTINUED):
 
  The following represents the non-cash impact of the acquisitions noted
above:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          1993    1994    1995
                                                         ------  ------  ------
     <S>                                                 <C>     <C>     <C>
     Fair value of assets acquired...................... 10,546   4,107   3,764
     Liabilities assumed................................ (7,471) (3,415) (2,469)
     Goodwill...........................................  2,805   1,429     324
                                                         ------  ------  ------
     Cash paid.......................................... (5,880) (2,121) (1,619)
                                                         ======  ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
(3) SUMMARY OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOLLOWED BY THE
   COMPANY AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES:
 
  The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with the accounting policies described in Accounting Principles and
Policies above ("French GAAP") which differ in certain respects from those
applicable in the United States ("US GAAP").
 
 a) Retirement benefits
 
  Under US GAAP, a minimum liability adjustment would have been recognized as
a reduction in shareholders' equity for the difference between the accumulated
benefit obligation and the net accrual at year end.
 
  The minimum liability adjustment amounts to:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   1994   1995
                                                                   -----  -----
     <S>                                                           <C>    <C>
     Minimum liability adjustment................................. 1,317  1,085
     Deferred tax effect..........................................  (439)  (398)
                                                                   -----  -----
     Minimum liability adjustment, net............................   878    687
                                                                   =====  =====
</TABLE>
 
 b) Other differences
 
  Other differences relate to the non-capitalization of capital leases, to the
non-recognition of unrealized exchange gains and to the lack of capitalization
of interest incurred during the construction period of RDI's headquarters.
None of these items in the aggregate or individually have an impact on
shareholders' equity as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 or net income for 1994
and 1995 higher than FF 200 before tax.
 
  Therefore, these items were not included in the reconciliation below between
French and US GAAP.
 
 c) US GAAP reconciliation
 
  The following is a summary of the adjustments to shareholders' equity for
the years ended December 31, 1994 and 1995 which would be required if US GAAP
had been applied instead of French GAAP.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                                        AS OF DECEMBER 31,
                                                       ----------------------
                                                          1994        1995
                                                       ----------  ----------
   <S>                                                 <C>         <C>
   Amounts per accompanying consolidated financial
    statements........................................     16,363      17,924
   Retirement benefits, net...........................       (878)       (687)
                                                       ----------  ----------
   Approximate amounts under US GAAP..................     15,485      17,237
                                                       ==========  ==========
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-28
<PAGE>
 
                   REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(3) SUMMARY OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOLLOWED BY THE
   COMPANY AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES--
   (CONTINUED):
 
  There is no significant adjustments to be made to reconcile 1995 and 1994 net
income from French to US GAAP.
 
(4) GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 OTHER
                                                     GOODWILL INTANGIBLES TOTAL
                                                     -------- ----------- -----
   <S>                                               <C>      <C>         <C>
   Gross book value at January 1, 1994..............  3,065       390     3,455
   Accumulated depreciation at January 1, 1994......    (58)     (361)     (419)
                                                      -----      ----     -----
       Net book value at January 1, 1994............  3,007        29     3,036
   Additions........................................  1,429        49     1,478
   Amortization provided in 1994....................    (76)      (50)     (126)
                                                      -----      ----     -----
   Gross book value at December 31, 1994............  4,494       439     4,933
   Accumulated depreciation at December 31, 1994....   (134)     (411)     (545)
                                                      -----      ----     -----
       Net book value as of December 31, 1994.......  4,360        28     4,388
   Additions........................................    324        93       417
   Amortization provided in 1995....................    (91)      (99)     (190)
                                                      -----      ----     -----
   Gross book value at December 31, 1995............  4,818       532     5,350
   Accumulated depreciation at December 31, 1995....   (225)     (510)     (735)
                                                      -----      ----     -----
       Net book value at December 31, 1995..........  4,593        22     4,615
                                                      =====      ====     =====
</TABLE>
 
  Other intangible assets mainly comprise software, patent licenses and
trademarks.
 
(5) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
 
  Property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, consists of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1994    1995
                                                                 ------  ------
       <S>                                                       <C>     <C>
       Land.....................................................  1,383   1,383
       Building.................................................  6,372  10,587
       Equipment................................................  8,665   8,544
       Other....................................................  1,779     --
                                                                 ------  ------
                                                                 18,199  20,514
       Less: Accumulated depreciation........................... (7,123) (6,907)
                                                                 ------  ------
           Total................................................ 11,076  13,607
                                                                 ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
(6) INVENTORIES:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1994    1995
                                                                 ------  ------
       <S>                                                       <C>     <C>
       Raw materials and consumable.............................  1,409   1,194
       Work in progress.........................................    117     243
       Finished goods........................................... 15,141  16,962
                                                                 ------  ------
                                                                 16,667  18,399
       Less: Valuation allowance................................ (1,844) (1,178)
                                                                 ------  ------
           Total................................................ 14,823  17,221
                                                                 ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
 
                                      F-29
<PAGE>
 
                  REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(7) TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1994    1995
                                                                 ------  ------
   <S>                                                           <C>     <C>
   Trade receivables............................................ 30,055  26,451
   Other receivables............................................    916   1,347
                                                                 ------  ------
                                                                 30,971  27,798
   Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts........................   (882)   (868)
                                                                 ------  ------
       Total.................................................... 30,089  26,930
                                                                 ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
  The Company's practice is to sell part of its trade receivables to finance
the business ("discounted bills with recourse"). At December 31, 1995, such
sales with recourse amounted to FF 16,708 (1994--FF 7,416) which have been
deducted from trade receivables accordingly. Based on historical
collectibility of trade receivables, RDI's obligations under the recourse
provisions are not material. Discounted bills with recourse are disclosed in
Note 16.
 
  For cash flow statement purposes, proceeds from these transfers of
receivables have been classified in cash from operating activities.
 
(8) LONG-TERM DEBT:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1994  1995
                                                                     ----- -----
   <S>                                                               <C>   <C>
   Employee profit sharing.......................................... 1,486 1,851
   Banks loans...................................................... 6,735 4,753
   Other............................................................   224   149
                                                                     ----- -----
       Total long-term debt......................................... 8,445 6,753
                                                                     ===== =====
</TABLE>
 
  Loan repayment schedule (excluding short-term portion of long-term debt).
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1994  1995
                                                                     ----- -----
   <S>                                                               <C>   <C>
   1996............................................................. 2,384   --
   1997............................................................. 2,164 2,118
   1998............................................................. 1,475 1,485
   1999............................................................. 1,562 1,360
   2000.............................................................   413 1,343
   2001 and thereafter..............................................   447   447
                                                                     ----- -----
       Total........................................................ 8,445 6,753
                                                                     ===== =====
</TABLE>
 
  All long term loans are in French Francs and are secured by certain assets
of the Company.
 
  Analysis of long term debt by interest rate:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1994  1995
                                                                     ----- -----
   <S>                                                               <C>   <C>
   Fixed rates:
   --8% and under................................................... 5,008 3,955
   --over 8%........................................................ 1,064   391
   Floating rates (*)............................................... 2,373 2,407
                                                                     ----- -----
       Total........................................................ 8,445 6,753
                                                                     ===== =====
</TABLE>
- --------
(*)Floating rates are principally based on PIBOR.
 
                                     F-30
<PAGE>
 
                   REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(9) SHORT-TERM DEBT:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1994  1995
                                                                     ----- -----
   <S>                                                               <C>   <C>
   Bank overdraft................................................... 3,625 2,135
   Current portion of long-term debt................................ 1,996 2,319
   Other............................................................ 1,961 1,901
                                                                     ----- -----
       Total........................................................ 7,582 6,355
                                                                     ===== =====
</TABLE>
 
(10) COMMON STOCK:
 
  The common stock consists of fully paid shares with a nominal value of FF
100:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              1994       1995
                                                           ---------- ----------
                                                           (IN NUMBER OF SHARES)
   <S>                                                     <C>        <C>
   At January 1st,........................................     50,000     50,000
   Issued.................................................        --      20,000
                                                           ---------- ----------
     At December 31,......................................     50,000     70,000
                                                           ========== ==========
</TABLE>
 
  The increase in common stock was effected through a stock dividend.
 
  At December 31, 1995 there are no outstanding shares that might be issued.
 
(11) INCOME TAX:
 
  Provision for income tax basis is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1993   1994    1995
                                                           ----  ------  ------
   <S>                                                     <C>   <C>     <C>
   Current:
     Domestic............................................. (549) (1,849) (2,621)
   Deferred:
     Domestic.............................................   (7)    (39)    438
                                                           ----  ------  ------
       Total.............................................. (556) (1,888) (2,183)
                                                           ====  ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
  The provision for income tax differs from the amount computed by applying the
   French statutory income tax rate of 33 1/3% in 1993 and 1994 and 36 2/3% in
   1995 because of the effect of the following items:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         1993    1994    1995
                                                        ------  ------  ------
   <S>                                                  <C>     <C>     <C>
   Net income..........................................  1,069   3,801   2,561
   Provision for income tax............................   (556) (1,888) (2,183)
                                                        ------  ------  ------
   Pretax income.......................................  1,625   5,689   4,744
   French statutory tax rate........................... 33 1/3% 33 1/3% 36 2/3%
                                                        ------  ------  ------
   Computed income tax at French statutory tax rate....    542   1,896   1,739
   Permanent differences...............................     18      42     (14)
   Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax
    assets.............................................    --      --      492
   Other, net..........................................     (4)    (50)    (34)
                                                        ------  ------  ------
   Provision for income tax............................    556   1,888   2,183
                                                        ======  ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-31
<PAGE>
 
                   REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(11) INCOME TAX--(CONTINUED):
 
  Deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   1994  1995
                                                                   ----- -----
   <S>                                                             <C>   <C>
   Gross deferred tax assets:
     Net operating loss carry forwards............................   --    492
     Allowances and accruals not currently deductible for tax
      purposes....................................................   356   648
     Retirement benefits..........................................   693 1,012
                                                                   ----- -----
     Gross deferred tax assets.................................... 1,049 2,152
     Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets...................   --   (492)
                                                                   ----- -----
       Deferred tax assets........................................ 1,049 1,660
   Gross deferred tax liabilities:
     Excess book over tax basis of property, plant and equipment..   342   515
                                                                   ----- -----
       Deferred tax liabilities...................................   342   515
                                                                   ----- -----
         Net deferred tax asset...................................   707 1,145
                                                                   ===== =====
</TABLE>
 
  Distribution to shareholders of the FF 10,990 retained earnings of the parent
company available for distribution as of December 31, 1995 would trigger a
taxation ("precompte") of a total amount of approximately FF 309 which would be
withheld from the amount distributed.
 
(12) PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND ACCRUALS:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1994  1995
                                                                     ----- -----
   <S>                                                               <C>   <C>
   Retirement benefits.............................................. 2,078 2,762
   Other............................................................   103    24
                                                                     ----- -----
     Total.......................................................... 2,181 2,786
                                                                     ===== =====
</TABLE>
 
  Movements in provisions are analyzed as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       RETIREMENT  PURCHASE    OTHER
                                        BENEFITS  ACCOUNTING PROVISIONS TOTAL
                                       ---------- ---------- ---------- ------
<S>                                    <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
  At, January 1, 1994.................   1,440         922       176     2,538
  Additions...........................     638         --        103       741
  Purchase accounting and other
   movements..........................     --          836       --        836
  Deductions made against expenses
   incurred...........................     --       (1,758)     (176)   (1,934)
                                         -----      ------      ----    ------
  At, December 31, 1994...............   2,078         --        103     2,181
  Additions...........................     684         --         24       708
  Purchase accounting and other
   movements..........................     --          165       --        165
  Deductions made against expenses
   incurred...........................     --         (165)     (103)     (268)
                                         -----      ------      ----    ------
  At, December 31, 1995...............   2,762         --         24     2,786
                                         =====      ======      ====    ======
</TABLE>
 
 Retirement indemnities
 
  The Company has applied SFAS No. 87 "Employers' Accounting for Pensions"
except for the non-recognition of a minimum liability as explained in Note 3 as
follows:
 
 
                                      F-32
<PAGE>
 
                  REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(12) PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND ACCRUALS--(CONTINUED):
 
  The transition obligation has been determined as of January 1, 1993 as
  being the difference between the liabilities accounted for under prior
  years' accounting policies and the funded status of the plans resulting
  from actuarial calculations; this transition obligation as determined at
  January 1, 1993, has been reduced to its amortized value as if SFAS No. 87
  had been applied from 1989. The amortization period is the average residual
  active life of the population covered by the plan (13 years). The remaining
  transition obligation is amortized over 6 years;
 
  The plan covered is a retirement lump sum indemnities plan. The actuarial
  method used is the projected unit credit method.
 
  The funded status of the retirement benefit plan is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         1993    1994    1995
                                                        ------  ------  ------
     <S>                                                <C>     <C>     <C>
     Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
       Vested benefit obligation.......................    --      --      --
       Non-vested benefit obligation................... (2,987) (3,395) (3,847)
                                                        ------  ------  ------
     Accumulated benefit obligation.................... (2,987) (3,395) (3,847)
       Effect of salary increases......................   (139)   (158)   (179)
                                                        ------  ------  ------
     Projected benefit obligation...................... (3,126) (3,553) (4,026)
       Plan assets at fair value.......................    --      --      --
                                                        ------  ------  ------
     Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan
      assets........................................... (3,126) (3,553) (4,026)
       Unrecognized net transition obligation..........  1,686   1,475   1,264
                                                        ------  ------  ------
     Net pension accrual............................... (1,440) (2,078) (2,762)
                                                        ======  ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
  The net periodic pension cost of the Company's pension plan includes the
following components:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1993 1994 1995
                                                                  ---- ---- ----
   <S>                                                            <C>  <C>  <C>
     Service cost--benefits earned during the year............... 182  195  211
     Interest cost on projected benefit obligation............... 204  233  263
     Actual return on plan assets................................ --   --   --
     Net amortization and deferral............................... 210  210  210
                                                                  ---  ---  ---
       Net pension cost.......................................... 596  638  684
                                                                  ===  ===  ===
</TABLE>
 
  Average assumptions used in accounting for the Company's plan were:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1993  1994  1995
                                                               ----  ----  ----
   <S>                                                         <C>   <C>   <C>
     Discount rate............................................ 7.0%  7.0%  7.0%
     Rate of increase in compensation levels.................. 3.0%  3.0%  3.0%
</TABLE>
 
 Post-retirement benefits
 
  The Company does not have any post-retirement benefit obligation that could
be covered by SFAS No. 106.
 
 Purchase Accounting
 
  These provisions relate only to purchase accounting provisions for Totem,
Spetelec and Lucca acquisitions.
 
                                     F-33
<PAGE>
 
                  REALISATIONS ET DIFFUSION POUR L'INDUSTRIE
 
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(13) INTEREST EXPENSE (NET):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          1993    1994    1995
                                                         ------  ------  ------
   <S>                                                   <C>     <C>     <C>
   Net interest income..................................     83      76      56
   Interest on debt..................................... (2,243) (2,441) (2,945)
                                                         ------  ------  ------
       Total............................................ (2,160) (2,365) (2,889)
                                                         ======  ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
(14) STAFF COSTS:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1993   1994   1995
                                                           ------ ------ ------
   <S>                                                     <C>    <C>    <C>
   Wages and salaries including social security and other
    related costs........................................  21,696 28,012 30,066
   Average number of employees during the year...........      94    100    116
   Number of employees at year end.......................     100    102    114
</TABLE>
 
(15) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
 
  RDI was acquired by Control Devices, Inc. on April 1, 1996.
 
  As this transaction constitutes an event subsequent to the December 31, 1995
   balance sheet, the consolidated financial statements of RDI for the year
   ended December 31, 1995 do not give effect to any adjustments which may
   arise from this transaction.
 
(16) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
  Commitments not otherwise disclosed amounted to:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    1994   1995
                                                                    ----- ------
   <S>                                                              <C>   <C>
   Discounted bills with recourse (see Note 7)..................... 7,416 16,708
   Other commitments...............................................   107    551
</TABLE>
 
(17) INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL AREA:
 
  The Company operates mainly on the European market and distributes their
   products primarily to automobile original equipment manufacturers.
 
(18) LIST OF COMPANY ENTITIES AT DECEMBER 31, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         COMPANY                  PERCENTAGE
      COMPANY ENTITIES           COUNTRY                 INTEREST                 OF CONTROL
      ----------------           -------                 --------                 ----------
      <S>                        <C>                     <C>                      <C>
      Lucca                      France                    100%                      100%
      Futurelec                  France                    100%                      100%
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-34
<PAGE>

 
                            INSIDE BACK COVER PAGE
 
  Under the heading "Appliance Market--Control Devices provides the appliance
market with circuit breakers for many residential and industrial
applications," there is a photograph of a number of the Company's glass
enclosed circuit breakers with the caption "The Company is one of only two
worldwide manufacturers of glass enclosed hermetic circuit breakers for many
residential and commercial applications" and a photograph of a compressor with
the caption "A typical application for the Company's hermetic glass enclosed
circuit breakers is to protect compressor motors used in residential and
commercial refrigeration equipment."
 
  Under the heading "Telecommunications Market--Control Devices designs and
manufactures ceramic products for both wire and wireless applications," there
is a photograph of Dielectric Resonators with the caption "Dielectric
Resonators are an integral part of the rapidly expanding wireless PCS and
cellular communication markets," and a photograph of PTC thermistors and a
protection module with the caption "The Company has an exclusive contract to
supply its PTC thermistors for use in the module that protects GTE's central
office equipment."
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
<PAGE>
 
 
                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
 
                                    [LOGO]
 
                                   2,000,000
                                 COMMON SHARES
 
                                  PROSPECTUS
 
                           DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
 
                      CLEARY GULL REILAND & MCDEVITT INC.
 
                                      , 1996
 
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
  The following are the actual or estimated expenses, other than the
underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the Company in connection
with the issuance and distribution of the Common Shares being registered. All
of the amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee, the
NASD filing fee and the Nasdaq Application Fee:
 
<TABLE>
     <S>                                                             <C>
     Registration Fee............................................... $    9,518
     Printing of Registration Statement and Prospectus..............    130,000
     Accounting Fees and Expenses...................................    360,000
     Legal Fees.....................................................    300,000
     Transfer Agent Fees and Expenses...............................      5,000
     NASD Filing Fees...............................................      3,260
     Nasdaq Application Fee.........................................     16,500
     Blue Sky Fees and Expenses.....................................     20,000
     Miscellaneous..................................................    155,722
                                                                     ----------
         Total...................................................... $1,000,000
                                                                     ==========
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
  Chapter 37 of the Indiana Business Corporation Law, as amended (the "Act")
grants to each Indiana corporation broad powers to indemnify directors,
officers, employees or agents against expenses incurred in certain proceedings
if the conduct in question was found to be in good faith and was reasonably
believed to be in the corporation's best interests. This statute provides,
however, that this indemnification should not be deemed exclusive of any other
indemnification rights provided by the articles of incorporation, by-laws,
resolution or other authorization adopted by a majority vote of the voting
shares then issued and outstanding. The Company's Articles of Incorporation
are silent with respect to indemnification, and the Company has not authorized
or entered into any other agreement with respect to indemnification of
officers and directors except Section 7.02 of the Code of By-Laws of the
Company, which reads as follows:
 
  Clause 7.021. Definitions. Terms defined in Chapter 37 of the Indiana
Business Corporation Law (Ind. Code (S)(S) 23-1-37, et seq.) which are used in
this Article 7 shall have the same definitions for purposes of this Article 7
as they have in such chapter of the Indiana Business Corporation Law.
 
  Clause 7.022. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The Corporation
shall indemnify any individual who is or was a director or officer of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, partner or trustee of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise whether or not for profit, against liability and expenses,
including attorneys fees, incurred by him in any action, suit, or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, and whether formal
or informal, in which he is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of
being or having been in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as
such, except (i) in the case of any action, suit, or proceeding terminated by
judgment, order, or conviction, in relation to matters as to which he is
adjudged to have breached or failed to perform the duties of his office and
the breach or failure to perform constituted willful misconduct or
recklessness; and (ii) in any other situation, in relation to matters as to
which it is found by a majority of a committee composed of all directors not
involved in the matter in controversy (whether or not a quorum) that the
person breached or failed to perform the duties of his office and the breach
or failure to perform constituted willful misconduct or recklessness. The
Corporation may pay for or reimburse reasonable expenses incurred by a
director or officer in defending any action, suit, or proceeding in advance of
the final disposition thereof upon receipt of (i) a written affirmation of the
 
                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
director's or officer's good faith belief that such director or officer has
met the standard conduct prescribed by Indiana law; and (ii) an undertaking of
the director or officer to repay the amount paid by the Corporation if it is
ultimately determined that the director or officer is not entitled to
indemnification by the Corporation.
 
  Clause 7.023. Other Employees or Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation
may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, fully or partially provide
the same rights of indemnification and reimbursement as hereinabove provided
for directors and officers of the Corporation to other individuals who are or
were employees or agents of another foreign or domestic corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise
whether or not for profit.
 
  Clause 7.024. Non-exclusive Provision. The indemnification authorized under
Section 7.02 above is in addition to all rights to indemnification granted by
Chapter 37 of the Indiana Business Corporation Law (Ind. Code (S)(S) 23-1-37,
et seq.) and in no way limits the indemnification provisions of such Chapter.
 
  The Company currently has a directors' and officers' liability policy with a
$1,000,000 limit. It does not cover liability of the directors and officers
resulting from a public offering of securities.
 
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
  The following information is provided with respect to all sales of
securities by the Company within the past three years which were not
registered under the Securities Act:
 
  On July 29, 1994, the Company: (i) sold 1,564,098 Common Shares for an
aggregate consideration of $455,000 in cash, to 56 persons each of whom was an
accredited investor, including each of the executive officers and directors of
the Company; (ii) sold 435,896 Common Shares to MassMutual for an aggregate
consideration of $145,000 in cash; (iii) granted to MassMutual warrants to
purchase up to 564,100 Common Shares for no additional consideration; (iv)
sold 2,400 11% Cumulative Preferred Shares to certain of the purchasers
referred to in (i) and (ii) for an aggregate consideration of $2,400,000 in
cash; (v) sold to MassMutual $10,500,000 in principal amount of 10% Senior
Secured Fixed Rate Notes; and (vi) sold to MassMutual $4,500,000 in principal
amount of 11% Senior Subordinated Notes. All of such transactions were
effected in reliance on the exemption under Rule 506 of Regulation D.
 
  On April 1, 1995, the Company granted to Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi, in connection
with the execution by Dr. Hegyi of a consulting agreement and certain license
agreements, an option to purchase 200,000 Common Shares, in reliance on the
exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
 
  On April 1, 1996, the Company sold: (i) $1,108,000 in aggregate principal
amount of the RDI Notes; and (ii) $892,000 in aggregate principal amount of
the RDI Convertible Notes, as part of the consideration for the acquisition
for RDI to seven residents of France, in reliance on Regulation S.
 
  On September 6, 1996, the Company granted options to purchase 150,000 Common
Shares under the Plan, conditioned on the closing of this Offering, at an
exercise price equal to the intial public offering price to certain employees.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
  (a) Exhibits
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                               DESCRIPTION
 -------                              -----------
 <C>      <S>
   1.1.1  Form of Underwriting Agreement
   3.1.1* Form of Articles of Incorporation of the Company to be filed at
          closing of the offering
   3.1.2* Form of Articles of Incorporation of the Company, to be filed upon
          redemption of all outstanding Redeemable Preferred Shares
</TABLE>    
 
                                     II-2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                 DESCRIPTION
 -------                                -----------
 <C>       <S>
    3.2*   Form of Code of By-laws of the Company to be effective at the
           closing of the offering
    4.1*   Specimen of Common Share certificate
    4.2*   Article III of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company
           (included in Exhibit 3.1.1)
    4.3*   The Code of By-laws of the Company (included in Exhibit 3.2)
    4.4*   Form of (i) Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 29, 1994
           entered into between Control Devices, Inc. and certain investors
           ("SPA"); and (ii) 10% Senior Secured Fixed Rate Notes, 11% Senior
           Subordinated Notes, and Senior Secured Floating Rate Revolving
           Credit Notes issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
    4.5*   Agreement to furnish copies of certain long term debt agreements.
    4.6*   Form of First Amendment dated March 29, 1996, to SPA and Senior
           Revolving Credit Notes
    4.7*   Form of Second Amendment dated August 16, 1996 to SPA and Waiver
           dated August 19, 1996
    4.8*   Commitment letter from Fleet Bank of Maine dated August 1, 1996
    5.1*   Opinion of Sommer & Barnard, PC
   10.1*   Environmental Agreement dated July 6, 1994 among Control Devices,
           Inc., GTE Products of Connecticut Corporation, GTE Corporation, GTE
           Control Devices Incorporated and Dominican Overseas Trading Company
   10.2*   Lease Assignment, Assumption Agreement and Release dated July 29,
           1994 between GTE Control Devices, Incorporated and Control Devices,
           Inc. with respect to the Lease dated September 23, 1993 between
           Westinghouse Electric Corporation and GTE Control Devices,
           Incorporated attached as Exhibit 1 thereto
   10.3*   Lease Assignment, Assumption Agreement and Release dated July 29,
           1994 between GTE Control Devices, Incorporated and Control Devices,
           Inc. with respect to the Lease dated December 1, 1993 between John
           Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company and GTE Control Devices
           Incorporated attached as Exhibit 1 thereto
   10.4*   Lease Agreement dated December 30, 1994 between Mecon Mfg. and
           Control Devices, Inc.
   10.5.1* 1996 Stock Compensation Plan
   10.6*   Consultant's Agreement dated April 1, 1995 between Control Devices,
           Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
   10.7*   Agreement to Grant License dated April 1, 1995 between Control
           Devices, Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
   10.8*   Option to Purchase 200,000 Class A Common Shares of Control Devices,
           Inc. granted to Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
   10.9*   Agreement dated April 1, 1995 between Control Devices, Inc. and Dr.
           Dennis J. Hegyi
   10.10*  License Agreement (Rain Sensor and Fog Sensor) dated April 3, 1995,
           between Control Devices, Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
   10.11*  License Agreement (Solar Position Sensor) dated April 3, 1995,
           between Control Devices, Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
   10.12*  License Agreement (Twilight Sensor) dated April 3, 1995, between
           Control Devices, Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
   10.13*  Stock Purchase Agreement dated March 29, 1996, by and among the
           Company and each of the shareholders of RDI
   10.14*  Employment Agreement with Michel Hauser-Kauffmann
   10.15*  License Agreement dated November 6, 1989 between GTE Products
           Corporation and Dennis J. Hegyi
   11*     Statement regarding computation of per share earnings
   23.1*   Consent of Sommer & Barnard, PC (included in Exhibit 5.1)
   23.2    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants
   23.3    Consent of Barbier Frinault & Associes, Independent Public
           Accountants
   24*     Power of Attorney (included on signature page of the Registration
           Statement)
   27*     Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>    
- --------
* Filed Previously
 
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
 
  (b) Financial Statement Schedules
 
  Financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or
the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes
thereto.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
 
  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
    (1) To provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the
  underwriting agreements certificates in such denominations and registered
  in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to
  each purchaser.
 
    (2) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
  Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
  controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions
  described in Item 14, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in
  the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
  is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,
  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
  liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or
  paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the
  successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
  director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
  being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
  the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
  appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
  against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the
  final adjudication of such issue.
 
    (3) For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as a
  part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
  contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule
  424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be
  part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared
  effective.
 
    (4) For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
  prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
  the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
  time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                     II-4
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
   
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE
UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF STANDISH, STATE OF
MAINE, ON THE 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1996.     
 
                                         Control Devices, Inc.
 
                                                   /s/ Jeffrey G. Wood
                                         By: __________________________________
                                                    JEFFREY G. WOOD
                                            VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL
                                            OFFICER, SECRETARY AND TREASURER
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSON IN THE CAPACITIES AND
ON THE DATES INDICATED.
 
             SIGNATURE                      TITLE(S)               DATE
 
     /s/ Ralph R. Whitney, Jr.*       Chairman of the            
- ------------------------------------   Board                  September 26,
       RALPH R. WHITNEY, JR.          Principal Executive       1996     
                                       Officer
 
        /s/ Jeffrey G. Wood           Vice President,            
- ------------------------------------   Chief Financial        September 26,
          JEFFREY G. WOOD              Officer, Secretary       1996     
                                       and Treasurer
                                      Principal Financial
                                       and Accounting
                                       Officer
 
       /s/ Bruce D. Atkinson*         President, Chief           
- ------------------------------------   Executive Officer      September 26,
         BRUCE D. ATKINSON             and Director             1996     
 
         /s/ C. M. Brennan*           Director                   
- ------------------------------------                          September 26,
           C. M. BRENNAN                                        1996     
 
         /s/ John D. Cooke*           Director                   
- ------------------------------------                          September 26,
           JOHN D. COOKE                                        1996     
 
  /s/ James O. Futterknecht, Jr.*     Director                   
- ------------------------------------                          September 26,
     JAMES O. FUTTERKNECHT, JR.                                 1996     
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
 
 
              SIGNATURE                       TITLE(S)               DATE
 
        /s/ Alan I. Mossberg*           Director                   
- -------------------------------------                           September 26,
          ALAN I. MOSSBERG                                        1996     
 
         /s/ John M. Ramey*             Director                   
- -------------------------------------                           September 26,
            JOHN M. RAMEY                                         1996     
 
          /s/ Glenn Scolnik*            Director                   
- -------------------------------------                           September 26,
            GLENN SCOLNIK                                         1996     
 
          /s/ Jeffrey G. Wood
  ---------------------------------
*By:
  JEFFREY G. WOOD ATTORNEY-IN-FACT

 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                             DESCRIPTION                            PAGE
 -------                            -----------                            ----
 <C>       <S>                                                             <C>
   1.1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement
   3.1.1*  Form of Articles of Incorporation of the Company to be filed
           at closing of the offering
   3.1.2*  Form of Articles of Incorporation of the Company, to be filed
           upon redemption of all outstanding Redeemable Preferred
           Shares
   3.2*    Form of Code of By-laws of the Company to be effective at the
           closing of the offering
   4.1*    Specimen of Common Share certificate
   4.2*    Article III of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company
           (included in Exhibit 3.1.1)
   4.3*    The Code of By-laws of the Company (included in Exhibit 3.2)
   4.4*    Form of (i) Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 29, 1994
           entered into between Control Devices, Inc. and certain
           investors ("SPA"); and (ii) 10% Senior Secured Fixed Rate
           Notes, 11% Senior Subordinated Notes, and Senior Secured
           Floating Rate Revolving Credit Notes issued pursuant to the
           Securities Purchase Agreement.
   4.5*    Agreement to furnish copies of certain long term debt
           agreements.
   4.6*    Form of First Amendment dated March 29, 1996, to SPA and
           Senior Revolving Credit Notes
   4.7*    Form of Second Amendment dated August 16, 1996 to SPA and
           Waiver dated August 19, 1996
   4.8*    Commitment letter from Fleet Bank of Maine dated August 1,
           1996
   5.1*    Opinion of Sommer & Barnard, PC
  10.1*    Environmental Agreement dated July 6, 1994 among Control
           Devices, Inc., GTE Products of Connecticut Corporation, GTE
           Corporation, GTE Control Devices Incorporated and Dominican
           Overseas Trading Company
  10.2*    Lease Assignment, Assumption Agreement and Release dated July
           29, 1994 between GTE Control Devices, Incorporated and
           Control Devices, Inc. with respect to the Lease dated
           September 23, 1993 between Westinghouse Electric Corporation
           and GTE Control Devices, Incorporated attached as Exhibit 1
           thereto
  10.3*    Lease Assignment, Assumption Agreement and Release dated July
           29, 1994 between GTE Control Devices, Incorporated and
           Control Devices, Inc. with respect to the Lease dated
           December 1, 1993 between John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance
           Company and GTE Control Devices Incorporated attached as
           Exhibit 1 thereto
  10.4*    Lease Agreement dated December 30, 1994 between Mecon Mfg.
           and Control Devices, Inc.
  10.5.1*  1996 Stock Compensation Plan
  10.6*    Consultant's Agreement dated April 1, 1995 between Control
           Devices, Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
  10.7*    Agreement to Grant License dated April 1, 1995 between
           Control Devices, Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
  10.8*    Option to Purchase 200,000 Class A Common Shares of Control
           Devices, Inc. granted to Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
  10.9*    Agreement dated April 1, 1995 between Control Devices, Inc.
           and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
  10.10*   License Agreement (Rain Sensor and Fog Sensor) dated April 3,
           1995, between Control Devices, Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
</TABLE>    
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                             DESCRIPTION                            PAGE
 -------                            -----------                            ----
 <C>      <S>                                                              <C>
  10.11*  License Agreement (Solar Position Sensor) dated April 3, 1995,
          between Control Devices, Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
  10.12*  License Agreement (Twilight Sensor) dated April 3, 1995,
          between Control Devices, Inc. and Dr. Dennis J. Hegyi
  10.13*  Stock Purchase Agreement dated March 29, 1996, by and among
          the Company and each of the shareholders of RDI
  10.14*  Employment Agreement with Michel Hauser-Kauffmann
  10.15*  License Agreement dated November 6, 1989 between GTE Products
          Corporation and Dennis J. Hegyi
  11*     Statement regarding computation of per share earnings
  23.1*   Consent of Sommer & Barnard, PC (included in Exhibit 5.1)
  23.2    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants
  23.3    Consent of Barbier Frinault & Associes, Independent Public
          Accountants
  24*     Power of Attorney (included on signature page of the
          Registration Statement)
  27*     Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>    
- --------
* Filed Previously

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 1.1.1
                                 
                               2,000,000 Shares

                             Control Devices, Inc.

                                 Common Shares


                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                            ----------------------

                                                            _____________, 1996


DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
CLEARY GULL REILAND & MCDEVITT INC.
 As Representatives of the several Underwriters
 c/o Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
  2 World Trade Center
  65th Floor
  New York, New York  10048

Dear Sirs:

          1.  Introductory.  Control Devices, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the
              ------------                                                     
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
 -------                                                                        
to the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the "Underwriters" which
                                     ----------              ------------       
term also shall include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in
Section 11) an aggregate of 2,000,000 Common Shares (the "Common Stock") of the
                                                          ------------         
Company.  The aggregate of 2,000,000 shares proposed to be sold are hereinafter
referred to as the "Firm Stock".  The Company also proposes to sell severally to
                    ----------                                                  
the Underwriters, on a pro rata basis, at the option of the Underwriters, an
aggregate of not more than 300,000 additional shares of Common Stock, as
provided in Section 3 of this Agreement.  The aggregate of 300,000 shares so
proposed to be sold is herein called the "Optional Stock".  The Firm Stock and
                                          --------------                      
the Optional Stock are collectively referred to herein as the "Stock".  Dean
                                                               -----        
Witter Reynolds Inc. and Cleary Gull Reiland & McDevitt Inc. are acting as
representatives of the several Underwriters and in such capacity are hereinafter
referred to as the "Representatives".
                    ---------------  

          Before the purchase and public offering of the Stock by the several
Underwriters, the Company and the Representatives, acting on behalf of the
several Underwriters, shall enter into an agreement substantially in the form of
                                                                                
Exhibit A hereto (the "Pricing Agreement").  The Pricing Agreement may take the
- ---------              -----------------                                       
form of an exchange of any standard form of written telecommunication between
the Company and the Representatives and shall specify such applicable
information as is indicated in Exhibit A hereto.  The offering of the Stock will
                               ---------                                        
be governed by this Agreement, as supplemented by the Pricing Agreement.  From
and after the 

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
date of the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement, this
Agreement shall be deemed to incorporate the Pricing Agreement.

       2.  (a)  Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company
                   ---------------------------------------------              
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters, as of the
date hereof and as of the date of the Pricing Agreement (such later date being
hereinafter referred to as the "Representation Date"), that:
                                -------------------         

     (i) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-09379) with respect
                                                            -----              
to the Stock, a copy of which has heretofore been delivered to you, has been
carefully prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the published rules and
                                         ---                               
regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange
                  ---------------------                                 
Commission (the "Commission") under the Act, and has been filed with the
                 ----------                                             
Commission under the Act; and the Company has so prepared and proposes so to
file prior to the effective date of such registration statement an amendment to
such registration statement including the final form of prospectus (which may
omit such information as permitted by Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations).
Such registration statement as amended and the prospectus constituting a part
thereof (including in each case the information, if any, deemed to be a part
thereof pursuant to Rule 430A(b) or Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations) are
hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus",
                                ----------------------           ----------  
respectively, except that if any  revised prospectus shall be provided to the
Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering of the Stock
which differs from the prospectus on file at the Commission at the time the
Registration Statement becomes effective (whether or not such prospectus is
required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and
Regulations), the term "Prospectus" shall refer to such revised prospectus from
                        ----------                                             
and after the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use.  If
the Company elects to rely on Rule 434 under the Rules and Regulations, all
references to the Prospectus shall be deemed to include, without limitation, the
form of prospectus and the term sheet, taken together, provided to the
Underwriters by the Company in reliance on Rule 434 under the Rules and
Regulations (the "Rule 434 Prospectus").  If the Company files a registration
                  -------------------                                        
statement to register a portion of the Securities and relies on Rule 462(b) for
such registration statement to become effective upon filing with the Commission
(the "Rule 462 Registration Statement"), then any reference to "Registration
      -------------------------------                           ------------
Statement" herein shall be deemed to be to both the registration statement
- ---------                                                                 
referred to above (No. 333-09379) and the Rule 462 Registration Statement, as
each such registration statement may be amended pursuant to the Act.

     (ii) When the Registration Statement becomes effective and as of the
Representation Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform
in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations.  At the time the Registration Statement becomes effective and at
the Representation Date, the Registration Statement will not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  The
Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective and as of
the Representation Date (unless the term "Prospectus" refers to a prospectus
                                          ----------                        
which has been provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection
with the offering of the Stock which differs from the prospectus on file at

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
the Commission at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, in
which case at the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use)
and at the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), will not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the foregoing
                                -------- -------
representations, warranties and agreements shall not apply to information
contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in
reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter, directly or through the
Representatives, specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

     (iii)  Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, except as otherwise expressly
disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, (A) neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities or obligations
(indirect, direct or contingent) or entered into any oral or written agreements
or other transactions not in the ordinary course of business that, singly or in
the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as a whole or that could reasonably be expected to
result in a material reduction in the earnings of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as a whole, (B) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business or
properties from strike, fire, flood, windstorm, accident or other calamity
(whether or not covered by insurance) that, singly or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as a whole, (C) there has been no material change in the indebtedness
of the Company, no change in the capital stock of the Company and no dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of
its capital stock, and (D) there has not been any material adverse change, nor
any development that could, singly or in the aggregate, result in a material
adverse change in the condition (financial or other), business, prospects or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

     (iv) The financial statements, together with the related notes and
schedules, set forth in the Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration
Statement, fairly present, on the basis stated in the Registration Statement,
the financial position and the results of operations and changes in financial
position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the respective
dates or for the respective periods therein specified.  Such financial
statements and related notes and schedules have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis except as
may be set forth in the Prospectus.  The summary financial information and
selected financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the captions fairly
present, on the basis stated in the Registration Statement, the information set
forth therein.

     (v) Arthur Andersen LLP, who have expressed their opinions on the audited
financial statements and related schedules included in the Registration
Statement, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the
Rules and Regulations.

     (vi) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation, and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized and are
validly existing and in good 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
standing as corporations, under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of
organization, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own, lease and
operate their properties and to conduct their businesses as described in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus; the Company is and each of its
subsidiaries are in possession of and operating in compliance with all material
franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents,
certificates and orders required for the conduct of its business, all of which
are valid and in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation
or modification of any such franchise, grant, authorization, license, permit,
easement, consent, certificate or order which, singly or in the aggregate, if
the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in a materially adverse
change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects or results
of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole; and the
Company is and each of such subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business and
in good standing as foreign corporations in all other jurisdictions where their
ownership or leasing of properties or the conduct of their businesses requires
such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
otherwise), business, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     (vii)  The Company has authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock as
set forth under the heading "Capitalization" in the Prospectus (except for
subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to reservations or agreements referred to
in the Prospectus); the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock
(including the Stock) of the Company conform to the description thereof in the
Prospectus and have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid
and nonassessable; the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights
with respect to any shares of capital stock of the Company (except for
MassMutual (as defined in the Registration Statement) which has waived its
preemptive rights) and all outstanding shares of capital stock of each corporate
subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and
nonassessable and are owned directly by the Company or by another subsidiary of
the Company free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, equities or claims
(except for the shares of RDI and FSC, which have been pledged to MassMutual,
which pledge will be released upon the closing of the sale of Stock to the
Underwriters pursuant hereto).

     (viii)  The Stock to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters
hereunder has been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered
against payment therefor as provided  herein and in the Pricing Agreement, will
be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to
the description thereof in the Prospectus.

     (ix) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no legal or
governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is a party or of which any property of the Company or any subsidiary is the
subject, that are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other
than as described therein), or which, if determined adversely to the Company or
any subsidiary, would individually or in the aggregate result in a material
adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole
or which might materially and adversely 

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
affect the consummation of this Agreement; and to the best of the Company's
knowledge no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental
authorities or threatened by others.

     (x) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, or with the giving
of notice or passage of time or both would be, in breach or violation of any of
the terms or provisions of or in default under (A) any statute, rule or
regulation applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B) any
indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company or such subsidiary is a party or by which it may
be bound, (C) its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational
documents, and (D) any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
The performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
herein contemplated will not, with the giving of notice or passage of time or
both, result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of or
constitute a default under (W) any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, (X) any indenture, contract, mortgage,
lease, deed of trust, note or other agreement or instrument to which the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound, (Y) the Company's
or any such subsidiary's certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other
organizational documents, or (Z) any order, decree judgment of any court or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties.

     (xi) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries exists or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, is imminent; and
the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the
employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors which
might be expected to result in any material adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise), or in the earnings, affairs or business prospects of
the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole.

     (xii)  No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is required
for the issuance and sale of the Stock by the Company or for the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Stock to be
sold by the Company in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus under the
caption "Use of Proceeds," except such as may be required by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or under the Act or the
                                              ----                          
securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase
and distribution of the Stock by the Underwriters.

     (xiii)  This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.

     (xiv)  The Company and its subsidiaries own or have obtained valid licenses
for all trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark
registrations, trade names and copyrights described in the Prospectus as being
owned, licensed or used by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or that are
necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the
Prospectus (collectively, "Intellectual Property") and neither the Company nor
                           ---------------------                              
any of its 

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
subsidiaries is aware of any claim (or of any facts that would form a
reasonable basis for any claim) to the contrary or any challenge by any third
party to the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to
any such Intellectual Property or to the validity or scope of any such
Intellectual Property and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
any claim against a third party with respect to the infringement by such third
party of any such Intellectual Property, which claims or challenges, if
adversely determined, could, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business prospects or results
of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole.  The
Company has a good faith belief in the distinctiveness and enforceability of all
trademarks, service marks and trade names comprising the Intellectual Property.

     (xv) The Company and its subsidiaries have such material certificates,
permits, licenses, franchises, consents, approvals, authorizations and
clearances as are necessary to own, lease or operate their respective properties
and to conduct their respective businesses in the manner described in the
Prospectus ("Licenses") and all such Licenses are valid and in full force and
             --------                                                        
effect.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance in all
material respects with their respective obligations under such Licenses and no
event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time or both would
allow, revocation, suspension or termination of any such License or would result
in a material violation of any such laws or regulations.  No such License
contains a burdensome restriction on the Company or any of its subsidiaries that
is not adequately disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

     (xvi)  The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity "controlled"
by an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended.

     (xvii)  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to
all properties (real and personal) owned by the Company and its subsidiaries,
free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, claim or
encumbrance of any kind that could reasonably be expected to materially
interfere with the use of such properties or the conduct of the business of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole; and all material properties
held under lease or sublease by the Company or its subsidiaries are held under
valid, subsisting and enforceable leases or subleases.

     (xviii)  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain accurate books and
records reflecting their respective assets and maintain internal accounting
controls which provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed
with management's authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements and to maintain accountability for
assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's
authorization and (D) the reported accountability of assets is compared with
existing assets at reasonable intervals.

     (xix)  The Company has complied, and will continue to comply, with all
provisions of Section 517.075 of the Florida Statutes (Chapter 92-198, Laws of
Florida) and the rules thereunder.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     (xx) The Company and its subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits
of insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained
by or on behalf of companies of established repute engaged in the same or
similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect.

     (xxi)  The properties, assets and operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and
foreign laws, rules and regulations orders, decrees, judgments, permits and
licenses relating to public and worker health and safety and to the protection
and clean-up of the natural environment and activities or conditions related
thereto, including, without limitation, those relating to the generation,
handling, disposal, transportation or release of hazardous materials
(collectively, "Environmental Laws"), except to the extent that failure to
                ------------------                                        
comply could not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on
the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole.  With
respect to such properties, assets and operations, including any previously
owned, leased or operated properties, assets or operations, there are no past,
present or, to the best knowledge of the Company, reasonably anticipated future
events, conditions, circumstances, activities, practices, incidents, actions or
plans of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that may interfere with or
prevent compliance or continued compliance in all material respects with
applicable Environmental Laws.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
is the subject of any federal, state, local or foreign investigation, and
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or claim
(or is aware of any facts that would form a reasonable basis for any claim), nor
entered into any negotiations or agreements, with any third party relating to
any liability or remedial action or potential liability or remedial action under
Environmental Laws, nor are there any pending, reasonably anticipated or, to the
best knowledge of the Company, threatened actions, suits or proceedings against
or affecting the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their properties, assets,
or operations, in connection with any such Environmental Laws.  The term
"hazardous materials" shall mean those substances that are regulated by or form
the basis for liability under any applicable Environmental Laws.  The
representations in this Section 2(xxi) are qualified to the extent expressly set
forth in the Prospectus in the second paragraph of "Business - Environmental
Matters" and the second paragraph of Note 14 to the Company's Financial
Statements.

     (xxii)  The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state,
local and foreign tax returns required to be filed, such returns are complete
and accurate in all material respects, and all taxes shown by such returns or
otherwise assessed that are due have been paid, except such taxes as are being
contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided.
The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its
subsidiaries in respect of any tax liability for any year not finally determined
are adequate to meet any assessments or reassessments for additional taxes; and
there has been no tax deficiency asserted and, to the best knowledge of the
Company, no tax deficiency might be asserted or threatened against the Company
or any of its subsidiaries that could, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the condition  (financial or otherwise), business,
prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as a whole.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     (xxiii)  Each "employee benefit plan" within the meaning of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), in which employees
                                                     -----                      
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries are eligible to participate is in
compliance in all  material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA and
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has any liability under Title IV of ERISA, nor does the Company
or any of its subsidiaries expect that any such liability will be incurred, that
could singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects or results of operations
of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole.

     (xxiv)  No transaction has occurred between or among the Company, its
subsidiaries and any of their respective officers, directors or affiliates or,
to the best of the Company's knowledge, any affiliate of any such officer or
director, that is required to be described in the Registration Statement that is
not so described.

     (xxv)  There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the
Company or its subsidiaries and any third party (whether acting in an
individual, fiduciary or other capacity) granting such third party the right to
require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect
to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such third party or to
require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered
pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered
pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act
(except for registration rights held by MassMutual, which have been waived with
respect to this Registration Statement).

     (xxvi)  There are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents
that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the registration Statement that are
not described or filed as required.  The contracts so described in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus are in full force and effect and
neither the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the
Company, any other party is in breach of or default under any such contracts.

     (xxvii)   The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause
or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock
and the Company has not distributed and will not distribute any offering
material in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock other than any
preliminary prospectus filed with the Commission or the Prospectus or other
materials, if any, permitted by the Act or the Rules or Regulations.

     (xxviii)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has, at any time
during the last five years, (A) made any unlawful contributions to any candidate
for foreign office or failed to disclose fully any contributions in violation of
law or (B) made any payment to any federal, state or local governmental officer
or official or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties,
other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States or
any jurisdiction thereof.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     (xxix)  Except as contemplated by this Agreement, there is no broker,
finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company or any of its
subsidiaries any brokerage or finder's fee or any other fee, commission or
similar payment in connection with the Stock to be sold by the Company.

     (b) Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to
the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed a representation and warranty of the Company to each Underwriter
as to the matters covered thereby.

     3.   Purchase by, and Sale and Delivery to, Underwriters; Closing Date.  On
          -----------------------------------------------------------------     
the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein
contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Firm Stock, and subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly,
to purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth in the Pricing
Agreement, the number of shares of Firm Stock set forth opposite their names in
Schedule A (except as otherwise provided in the Pricing Agreement), subject to
adjustment in accordance with Section 11 hereof.

     The Underwriters agree to reserve a maximum of 90,000 shares of Firm Stock
for offering and sale to certain officers and employees of the Company and to
certain other persons designated by the Company directly related to the conduct
of its business, at the public offering price.  Any such shares of Firm Stock
not purchased by such persons immediately following the initial public offering
of the Firm Stock will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth
in the Prospectus.

     If the Company has elected not to rely upon Rule 430A under the Rules and
Regulations, the initial public offering price and the purchase price per share
to be paid by the several Underwriters for the Firm Stock each have been
determined and set forth in the Pricing Agreement, dated the date hereof, and an
amendment to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will be filed before
the Registration Statement becomes effective.

     If the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 430A under the Rules and
Regulations, the purchase price per share to be paid by the several Underwriters
for the Firm Stock shall be an amount equal to the initial public offering
price, less an amount per share to be determined by agreement between the
Representatives and the Company.  The initial public offering price per share of
the Firm Stock shall be a fixed price to be determined by agreement between the
Representatives and the Company.  The initial public offering price and the
purchase price, when so determined, shall be set forth in the Pricing Agreement.
In the event that such prices have not been agreed upon and the Pricing
Agreement has not been executed and delivered by all parties thereto by the
close of business on the fourteenth business day following the date of this
Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate forthwith, without liability of any
party to any other party, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company
and the Representatives.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     The Company will deliver the Firm Stock to the Representatives for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters (in the form of definitive
certificates, issued in such names and in such denominations as the
Representatives may direct by notice in writing to the Company given at or prior
to (i) 12:00 Noon, New York Time, on the business day preceding the Closing Date
if the Firm Stock is to be issued in thirty (30) or fewer definitive
certificates, or (ii) 12:00 Noon, New York Time, on the second business day
preceding the Closing Date if the Firm Stock is to be issued in more than thirty
(30) definitive certificates, or, if no such direction is received, in the names
of the respective Underwriters in the amount set forth opposite each
Underwriter's name on Schedule A hereto), against payment of the purchase price
                      ----------                                               
therefor by certified or official bank check or checks in same day funds,
payable to the order of the Company, all at the offices of Testa, Hurwitz &
Thibeault, LLP, 125 High Street, High Street Tower, Boston, Massachusetts
02110.  The time and date of delivery and closing shall be at 10:00 A.M., on the
fourth full business day after the Registration Statement becomes effective (or,
if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 430A, the fourth full business day
after execution of the Pricing Agreement); provided, however, that such date and
                                           --------  -------                    
time may be accelerated or extended by agreement between the Company and the
Representatives or postponed pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 hereof.
The time and date of such payment and delivery are herein referred to as the
                                                                            
"Closing Date".  The Company shall make the certificates for the Stock available
- -------------                                                                   
to the Representatives for examination on behalf of the Underwriters not later
than 3:00 P.M., New York Time, on the business day preceding the Closing Date.

     In addition, for the purpose of covering any over-allotments in connection
with the distribution and sale of the Firm Stock as contemplated by the
Prospectus, the Company hereby grants the Underwriters an option to purchase,
severally and not jointly, up to 300,000 shares in the aggregate of the Optional
Stock.  The purchase price per share to be paid for the Optional Stock shall be
the same price per share as for the Firm Stock, less the amount of any dividend
declared by the Company and payable on any Optional Stock and as to which the
record date has occurred after the date of the Pricing Agreement.  The option
granted hereby may be exercised as to all or any part of the Optional Stock at
any time not more than 30 days subsequent to the effective date of this
Agreement.  No Optional Stock shall be sold and delivered unless the Firm Stock
previously has been, or simultaneously is, sold and delivered.  The right to
purchase the Optional Stock or any portion thereof may be surrendered and
terminated at any time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company.

     The option granted hereby may be exercised by the Representatives on behalf
of the Underwriters by giving written notice to the Company setting forth the
number of shares of the Optional Stock to be purchased by them and the date and
time for delivery of and payment for the Optional Stock.  Such date and time for
delivery of and payment for the Optional Stock (which may be the First Closing
Date) is herein called the "Option Closing Date" and shall not be later than
                            -------------------                             
three business days after written notice is given.  Optional Stock shall be
purchased for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the
number of shares of Firm Stock set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in
                                                                            
Schedule A hereto bears to the total number of shares of Firm Stock (subject to
- ----------                                                                     
adjustment by the Representatives to eliminate odd lots).  Upon exercise of the
option by the Representatives, the Company agrees, subject to

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
the terms and conditions herein set forth, to sell to the Underwriters the
number of shares of Optional Stock set forth in the written notice of exercise
and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, to purchase such shares of Optional Stock.

     The Company will deliver the Optional Stock to the Representatives for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters (in the form of definitive
certificates, issued in such names and in such denominations as the
Representatives may direct by notice in writing to the Company given at or prior
to (i) 12:00 Noon, New York Time, on the business day preceding the Option
Closing Date if the Firm Stock is to be issued in thirty (30) or fewer
definitive certificates, or (ii) 12:00 Noon, New York Time, on the second
business day preceding the Closing Date if the Firm Stock is to be issued in
more than thirty (30) definitive certificates, or, if no such direction is
received, in the names of the respective Underwriters), against payment of the
purchase price therefor by certified or official bank check or checks in same
day funds, payable to the order of the Company, all at the offices of Testa,
Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, High Street Tower, 125 High Street, Boston,
Massachusetts.  The Company shall make the certificates for the Optional Stock
available to the Representatives for examination on behalf of the Underwriters
not later than 3:00 P.M., New York Time, on the business day preceding the
Option Closing Date.

     It is understood that Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. or Cleary Gull Reiland &
McDevitt Inc., individually and not as Representatives of the several
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to)  make payment to the Company
on behalf of any Underwriter or Underwriters, for the Stock to be purchased by
such Underwriter or Underwriters.  Any such payment by Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
or Cleary Gull Reiland & McDevitt Inc. shall not relieve such Underwriter or
Underwriters from any of its or their other obligations hereunder.

     After the Registration Statement becomes effective, the several
Underwriters propose to make an initial public offering of the Stock at the
initial public offering price.  The Representatives shall promptly advise the
Company of the making of the initial public offering.

     4.    Covenants and Agreements of the Company.  The Company covenants and
           ---------------------------------------                            
agrees with the several Underwriters that:

     (a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
     Statement to become effective under the Act, will advise the
     Representatives promptly as to the time at which the Registration Statement
     becomes effective, will advise the Representatives promptly of the issuance
     by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement or of the institution of any proceedings for that
     purpose, and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
     stop order and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if
     issued.  If the Company elects to rely on Rule 434 under the Rules and
     Regulations, the Company will prepare a term sheet that complies with the
     requirements of Rule 434 under the Rules and Regulations.  If Company
     elects not to rely on Rule 434, the Company will provide the Underwriters
     with copies of the form of Prospectus, in such number as the Underwriters
     may reasonably 

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
     request, and file or transmit for filing with the Commission such
     Prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations by
     the close of business in New York on the business day immediately
     succeeding the date of the Pricing Agreement. If the Company elects to rely
     on Rule 434, the Company will provide the Underwriters with the copies of
     the form of Rule 434 Prospectus, in such number as the Underwriters may
     reasonably request, and file or transmit for filing with the Commission the
     434 Prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations
     by the close of business in New York on the business day immediately
     succeeding the date of the Pricing Agreement.

          (b) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any
     request by the Commission for any amendment of or supplement to the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information, and
     will not at any time file any amendment to the Registration Statement or
     supplement to the Prospectus which shall not previously have been submitted
     to the Representatives a reasonable time prior to the proposed filings
     thereof or to which the Representatives shall reasonably object in writing
     or which is not in compliance with the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

          (c) The Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly
     upon the request of the Representatives, any amendments or supplements to
     the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (including any revised
     prospectus which the Company proposes for use by the Underwriters in
     connection with the offering of the Stock which differs from the prospectus
     on file at the Commission at the time the Registration Statement becomes
     effective, whether or not such revised prospectus is required to be filed
     pursuant to Rule 424 of the Rules and Regulations or any term sheet
     prepared in reliance on Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations) which in the
     opinion of the Representatives may be necessary to enable the several
     Underwriters to continue the distribution of the Stock and will use its
     best efforts to cause the same to become effective as promptly as possible.

          (d) If at any time after the effective date of the Registration
     Statement when a prospectus relating to the Stock is required to be
     delivered under the Act any event relating to or affecting the Company
     occurs or has occurred as a result of which the Prospectus would include an
     untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact
     necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary, at any
     time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will
     promptly notify the Representatives thereof and will prepare an amended or
     supplemented prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to counsel to
     the Underwriters) which will correct such statement or omission; and, in
     case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus relating to the
     Stock nine months or more after the effective date of the Registration
     Statement, the Company upon the request of the Representatives and at the
     expense of such Underwriter will prepare promptly such prospectus or
     prospectuses as may be

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
     necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of
     the Act.

          (e) The Company will deliver to the Representatives, at or before the
     Closing Date, signed copies of the Registration Statement and all
     amendments thereto including all financial statements and exhibits thereto,
     and will deliver to the Representatives such number of copies of the
     Registration Statement, including such financial statements but without
     exhibits, and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives may
     reasonably request.  The Company will deliver or mail to or upon the order
     of the Representatives on the date of the initial public offering, and
     thereafter from time to time during the period when delivery of a
     prospectus relating to the Stock is required under the Act, as many copies
     of the Prospectus, in final form or as thereafter amended or supplemented
     as the Representatives may reasonably request; provided, however, that the
                                                    --------  -------          
     expense of the preparation and delivery of any prospectus required for use
     nine months or more after the effective date of the Registration Statement
     shall be borne by the Underwriters required to deliver such prospectus.

          (f) The Company will make generally available to its security holders
     as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 60 days after the
     close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form
     complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the Act) which will be in
     reasonable detail (but which need not be audited) and which will comply
     with Section 11(a) of the Act, covering a period of at least twelve months
     beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next
     following the "effective date" (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration
     Statement.

          (g) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives to enable the
     Stock to be qualified for sale under the securities laws of such
     jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and at the request of
     the Representatives will make such applications and furnish such
     information as may be required of it as the issuer of the Stock for that
     purpose; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
     qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process
     in any such jurisdiction.  The Company will, from time to time, prepare and
     file such statements and reports as are or may be required of it as the
     issuer of the Stock to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a
     period as the Representatives may reasonably request for the distribution
     of the Stock.

          (h) The Company will furnish to its shareholders annual reports
     containing financial statements certified by independent public accountants
     and shall also furnish quarterly summary financial information in
     reasonable detail which may be unaudited.  During the period of five years
     from the date hereof, the Company will deliver to the Representatives  and,
     upon request, to each of the other Underwriters, copies of each annual
     report of the Company and each other report furnished by the Company to its
     shareholders; and will deliver to the 

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
     Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of any other reports
     (financial or other) which the Company shall publish or otherwise make
     available to any of its security holders as such, and as soon as they are
     available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or
     filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or the NASD.

          (i) The Company will file with the Nasdaq National Market all
     documents and notices required by the Nasdaq National Market of companies
     that have issued securities that are traded in the over-the-counter market
     and quotations for which are reported by Nasdaq National Market.

          (j) The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale
     of the Stock in the manner specified in the Prospectus under "Use of
     Proceeds".

          (k) The Company will file with the Commission such reports on Form SR
     as may be required pursuant to Rule 463 under the Act.

          (l) During a period of 180 days from the date of the Pricing
     Agreement, the Company will not, without prior written consent of Dean
     Witter Reynolds Inc., directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, grant
     any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or enter into any
     agreement to sell, any Common Stock or any security convertible into Common
     Stock (except for Common Stock issued pursuant to reservations, agreements
     or employee benefit plans disclosed in the Registration Statement).

          (m)  At the time this Agreement is executed, the Company shall have
     furnished to the Representatives a letter from each officer and director of
     the Company and all shareholders of the Company addressed to the
     Representatives, in which each such person agrees that, during a period of
     180 days from the date of the Pricing Agreement, such person will not,
     without the prior written consent of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., directly or
     indirectly, (i) sell, offer to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or
     otherwise dispose of or transfer, any shares of Common Stock beneficially
     owned by such person or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
     exercisable for such Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired
     by such person or with respect to which such person has or hereafter
     acquires the power of disposition, or file any registration statement under
     the Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or
     any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part,
     directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common
     Stock, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of
     Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

     5.   Payment of Expenses.  The Company will pay (directly or by
          -------------------                                       
reimbursement) all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement, including but not limited to all expenses and taxes incident to
delivery of the Stock to the Representatives, all expenses incident to the
registration of the Stock under the Act and the printing of copies of the
Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any
amendments or 

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
supplements thereto including any terms sheet delivered by the Company pursuant
to Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations, the "Blue Sky" memorandum, the
Agreement Among Underwriters, Underwriters' Questionnaire and this Agreement and
furnishing the same to the Underwriters and dealers except as otherwise provided
in Sections 4(d) and 4(e), the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel
and accountants, all filing and printing fees and expenses (including legal fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred in connection with
qualification of the Stock for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representatives may designate, all fees and expenses (including legal fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) paid or incurred in connection
with filings made with the NASD, the fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing of the Stock on the Nasdaq National Market, the costs of
preparing stock certificates, the costs and fees of any registrar or transfer
agent and all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this
Section.

     6.   Indemnification and Contribution.  (a)  The Company agrees to
          --------------------------------                             
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each employee, officer, partner,
director and agent of the Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls
such Underwriter within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating
and defending against any claims therefor and counsel fees incurred in
connection therewith), joint or several, as incurred, which may be based upon
the Act, or any other federal or state statute or at common law, arising out of
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the information
deemed to be part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b) or Rule
434 of the Rules and Regulations, if applicable, or the omission or alleged
omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged
omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by such
Underwriter, directly or through the Representatives, specifically for use in
the preparation thereof; provided that the Company shall not be liable with
                         --------                                          
respect to any claims made against any Underwriter or any such employee,
officer, partner, director or agent or any such controlling person under this
subsection unless such Underwriter or employee, officer, partner, director or
agent or controlling person shall have notified the Company in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Underwriter or employee, officer, partner, director or agent or controlling
person (such notification by an Underwriter shall suffice as notification on
behalf of its officers, partners, directors, employees, agents and controlling
persons), but failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to such Underwriter or employee,
officer, partner, director or agent or controlling person otherwise than on
account of the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(a).

     The Company shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the
defense, or, if it so elects within five (5) days of receipt of the notice
referred to in the immediately preceding 

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
paragraph, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such
liability, but, if the Company elects to assume the defense, such defense shall
be conducted by counsel chosen by it and reasonably satisfactory to such
Underwriter or indemnified person, as the case may be. In the event the Company
elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the
Underwriter or Underwriters or other indemnified person or persons, defendant or
defendants in the suit, may retain additional counsel but shall bear the fees
and expenses of such counsel unless (i) the Company shall have specifically
authorized the retaining of such counsel or (ii) the parties to such suit
include such Underwriter or Underwriters or other indemnified person or persons,
and such Underwriter or Underwriters or other indemnified person or persons have
been advised by counsel that one or more legal defenses may be available to it
or them which may not be available to the Company, in which case the Company
shall not be entitled to assume the defense of such suit notwithstanding its
obligation to bear the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company will not,
without the prior written consent of each Underwriter, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action,
suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder
(whether or not such Underwriter or other indemnified party is a party to such
claim, action, suit or proceeding), unless such settlement, compromise or
consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such Underwriter and each such
other indemnified person or persons from all liability arising out of such
claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or
as admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any
indemnified party. The Company agrees that a breach of the preceding sentence
shall cause irreparable harm to the Underwriters and that the Underwriters shall
be entitled to injunctive relief from any appropriate court ordering specific
performance of said provision. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to
any liability which the Company might otherwise have.

     (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have signed the
Registration Statement, each of its employees, officers, directors and agents
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including the
reasonable cost of investigating and defending against any claims therefor and
counsel fees incurred in connection therewith), joint or several, as incurred,
which may be based upon the Act, or any other statute or at common law, arising
out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including
the information deemed to be part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule
430A(b) or Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations, if applicable, or the omission
or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged
omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, but only insofar as any such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the
Company by such Underwriter, directly or through the Representatives,
specifically for use in the preparation thereof; provided, however, that in no
                                                 --------  -------            
case is such Underwriter to be liable with respect to any claims made against
the Company or any person against whom the action is brought unless the

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
Company or such person shall have notified such Underwriter in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Company
or such person, but failure to notify such Underwriter of such claim shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to the Company or such person
otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this Section
6(b).

     Such Underwriter shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the
defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to
enforce any such liability, but, if such Underwriter elects to assume the
defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and reasonably
satisfactory to the Company or such person, as the case may be.  In the event
that any Underwriter elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain
such counsel, the Company, said employees, agents, officers and directors and
any other Underwriter or Underwriters or employee or employees or agent or
agents or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit,
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them,
respectively.  The Underwriter against whom indemnity may be sought shall not be
liable to indemnify any person for any settlement of any such claim effected
without such Underwriter's consent.  This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which such Underwriter might otherwise have.

     (c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b)
above in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to herein, then each indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof), as incurred, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Stock.  If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net  proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each
case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The
relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company or the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions
in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this subsection (c ), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount
in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the shares of the
Stock underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

     7.   Survival of Indemnities, Representations, Warranties, etc.  The
          ---------------------------------------------------------      
respective indemnities, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and
other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in
this Agreement or made by them respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall
remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of its officers or directors or
any controlling person, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Stock.

     8.   Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The respective obligations
          ---------------------------------------                             
of the several Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to the accuracy, at and
(except as otherwise stated  herein) as of the date hereof, the Representation
Date and the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, of the
representations and warranties made herein by the Company, to the accuracy of
the statements of the Company's officers or directors in any certificate
furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof, to compliance at and as of such
Closing Date by the Company with its covenants and agreements herein contained
and other provisions hereof to be satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date,
and to the following additional conditions:

     (a) The Registration Statement shall become effective not later than 3:00
     P.M., New York City time, on the date hereof or, with the consent of the
     Representatives, at a later time and date, not later, however, than 5:30
     P.M., New York City time on the first business day following the date
     hereof, or at such later date as may be approved by a majority in interest
     of the Underwriters, and at such Closing Date (i) no stop order suspending
     the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for
     that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company
     or the Representatives, threatened by the Commission, and any request for
     additional information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been
     complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives, and
     (ii) there shall not have come to the attention of the Representatives any
     facts that would cause them to believe that the Prospectus, at the time it
     was required to be delivered to a purchaser of the Stock, contained any
     untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
     necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  If the Company
     has elected to rely upon Rule 430A of the Rules

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
     and Regulations, the price of the Stock and any price related information
     previously omitted from the effective Registration Statement pursuant to
     Rule 430A shall have been transmitted to the Commission for filing pursuant
     to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations within the prescribed time
     period, and before the Closing Date the Company shall have provided
     evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing, or a
     post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been
     promptly filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements
     of Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations.

          (b) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Representatives
     shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a letter, dated the date of
     such execution, in  form and substance previously approved by the
     Representatives, and to the effect that:

          (i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to
     the Company within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

          (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and supporting
     schedule(s) examined by them and included in the Registration Statement
     comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
     requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and Regulations
     thereunder and, if applicable, they have made a review in accordance with
     standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public
     Accountants of the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements,
     selected financial data, pro forma financial information, prospective
     financial statements and/or condensed financial statements derived from
     audited financial statements of the Company for the periods specified in
     such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which have
     been furnished to the Representatives;

          (iii)  The unaudited selected financial information with respect to
     the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the
     Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus
     agrees with the corresponding amounts (after restatement where applicable)
     in the audited consolidated financial statements for the five such fiscal
     years;

          (iv) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
     examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
     consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
     information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim
     financial statements of the Company, inspection of the minute books of the
     Company  since the date of the latest audited financial statements included
     or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of
     the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and such other
     inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter, nothing came
     to their attention that caused them to believe that:

               (A) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
          consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
          included in 

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
          the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material
          respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and
          the related published rules and regulations thereunder, or are not in
          conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
          basis substantially consistent with the basis for the audited
          consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and
          consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus;

               (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet
          items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding
          items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which
          such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and
          items were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the
          basis for the corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated
          financial statements included in the Prospectus;

               (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in
          the Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed
          financial statements referred to in clause (A) and any unaudited
          income statement data and balance sheet items included in the
          Prospectus and referred to in clause (B) were not determined on a
          basis substantially consistent with the basis for the audited
          financial statements included in the Prospectus;

               (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
          statements included in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all
          material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
          Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder or the pro
          forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical
          amounts in the compilation of those statements;

               (E) as of a specified date not more than three days prior to the
          date of such letter, there has been any change in the consolidated
          capital stock of the Company (other than issuances of capital stock
          upon exercise of options, upon earn-outs of performance shares and
          upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were
          outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet included in the
          Prospectus) or any increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the
          Company and consolidated subsidiaries, any decrease in the
          consolidated net current assets, net assets or other items specified
          by the Representatives, or any change in any other items specified by
          the Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in
          the latest balance sheet included in the Prospectus, except in each
          case for changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus
          discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such
          letter; and

               (F) for the period from the date of the latest financial
          statements included in the Prospectus to the specified date referred
          to in Clause (E) there was any decrease in consolidated net revenues
          or operating profit or the total or per share amounts of consolidated
          net income or other items specified by the 

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
          Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
          Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period
          of the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding
          length specified by the Representatives, except in each case for
          increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or
          may occur or which are described in such letter; and

          (v) In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s)
     included in the Prospectus and the limited procedures, inspection of minute
     books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in paragraphs (iii) and
     (iv) above, they have carried out certain specified procedures, not
     constituting an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing
     standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial
     information specified by the Representatives which are derived from the
     general accounting records of the Company, which appear in the Prospectus
     or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration
     Statement specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain of
     such amounts, percentages and financial information with the accounting
     records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have found them to be in
     agreement.

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

          (c) The Representatives shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a
     letter, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that such accountants
     reaffirm, as of such Closing Date, and as through made on such Closing
     Date, the statements made in the letter furnished by such accountants
     pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 8, except that the specified date
     will be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

          (d) The Representatives shall have received from Sommer & Barnard,
     P.C., counsel for the Company, an opinion, dated the Closing Date, to the
     effect that:

               (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
     existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Indiana and has
     power and authority (corporate and other) to own or lease its properties
     and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; the Company is in
     possession of and is operating in compliance with all franchises, grants,
     authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates 
     

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
     and orders required for the conduct of its business, all of which are valid
     and in full force and effect; and the Company is duly qualified as a
     foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions where its
     ownership or leasing of properties or the conduct of its business requires
     such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good
     standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition
     (financial or otherwise), business, prospects or results of operations of
     the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

               (ii) The Company has an authorized and outstanding capital stock
     as set forth under the heading "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; all
     outstanding shares of capital stock (including the Stock) conform to the
     description thereof in the Prospectus and have been duly authorized and
     validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and the stockholders
     of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to any shares of
     capital stock of the Company (except for MassMutual, which has waived its
     preemptive rights).

               (iii)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are no
     legal or governmental proceedings pending other than those set forth under
     "Legal Proceedings" in the Prospectus to which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any
     subsidiary is the subject, which individually or in the aggregate are
     material; and to the best of such counsel's knowledge no such proceedings
     are threatened by governmental authorities or others.

               (iv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement have been duly
     authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; and the performance of
     this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and the consummation of the
     transactions herein and therein contemplated will not result in a breach or
     violation of any of the terms or provisions of or constitute a default
     under any statute, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
     agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument known to such
     counsel to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, the
     Company's Articles of Incorporation or Code of By-laws, or any order, rule
     or regulation known to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or
     body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties.

               (v) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or
     governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company
     of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Pricing
     Agreement, except such as may be required under the Act or as may be
     required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction or by
     the NASD in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Stock by
     the Underwriters.

               (vi) The Registration Statement has become effective under the
     Act and, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
     suspending the effectiveness thereof has been issued and no proceedings for
     that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the
     Act.

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
               (vii)  The Common Stock has been approved for listing on the
     Nasdaq National Market.  The Registration Statement on Form 8-A relating to
     the Common Stock has become effective under the Securities Exchange Act of
     1934, as amended.

               (viii)  The Registration Statement and the Prospectus (other than
     the financial statements and supporting schedules included therein, as to
     which no opinions need be rendered), and each amendment or supplement
     thereto, as of their respective effective or issue dates and as of the
     Closing Date complied as to form in all material respects with the
     requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

               (ix) The descriptions in the Registration Statement and
     Prospectus of contracts and other documents are accurate in all material
     respects and such descriptions fairly present in all material respects the
     information required to be shown; and such counsel does not know of any
     legal or governmental proceedings or of any contracts or documents of a
     character required to be described in the Registration Statement or
     Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or
     Prospectus which are not described and filed as required.

               (x) The Company is not, and will not be as a result of the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, an
     "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company"
     within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

               (xi) Nothing has come to such counsel's attention that would lead
     such counsel to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it
     became effective or at the Representation Date, contained any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
     to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading or that the Prospectus, at the Representation Date (unless the
     term "Prospectus" refers to a prospectus which has been provided to the
     Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering of the
     Stock which differs from the prospectus on file at the Commission at the
     time the Registration Statement became effective, in which case at the time
     it was first provided to the Underwriters for such use) or at the Closing
     Date, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
     any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
     the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

               (xii)  Each subsidiary of the Company (collectively, the
                                                                       
     "Subsidiaries"), have each been duly incorporated, are validly existing as
     -------------                                                             
     corporations in good standing under the laws of their respective
     jurisdictions of incorporation and have power and authority (corporate and
     other) to own their respective properties and conduct their respective
     businesses as described in the Prospectus, and each of such Subsidiaries
     are duly qualified as foreign corporations in good standing and in all
     other jurisdictions where their ownership or leasing of properties or the
     conduct of their businesses requires such qualification, except where the
     failure to be so qualified or in good standing would 

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
     not have a material
     adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business,
     prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
     taken as a whole..

               (xiii)  All outstanding shares of capital stock of the
     Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid
     and nonassessable, and are owned by the Company free and clear of any
     liens, encumbrances, equities and claims (except for the shares of RDI and
     FSC, which have been pledged to MassMutual, which pledge will be released
     upon the closing of the sale of Stock to the Underwriters pursuant hereto).

          (f) The Representatives shall have received from Testa, Hurwitz &
     Thibeault, LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, their opinion or opinions
     dated the Closing Date with respect to the validity of the Stock, the
     Registration Statement, the Prospectus and such other related matters as
     the Representatives may require.  In giving such opinion, such counsel may
     rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than
     the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the federal law of the
     United States, upon opinions of counsel satisfactory to the
     Representatives.  The Company shall have furnished to such counsel such
     documents as they may request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon
     such matters.

          (g) The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated such
     Closing Date, of the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the chief
     financial or accounting officer of the Company to the effect that: (i) no
     stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
     been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
     are pending or contemplated under the Act; (ii) subsequent to the
     respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus,
     neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any
     liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, nor entered into any
     transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, which in either case
     are material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole,
     whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and there has
     not been any material adverse change in the condition (financial or
     otherwise), business, prospects or results of operations of the Company and
     its subsidiaries considered as a whole, or any change in the capital stock
     or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole
     (except as expressly disclosed in the Prospectus); (iii) the Company has
     complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be
     performed or satisfied at or before the Closing Date; (iv) the
     representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true
     and correct at and as of the Closing Date; and (v) between the execution of
     this Agreement and the Closing Date, the business and operations conducted
     by the Company and its subsidiaries have not sustained a loss by strike,
     fire, flood, accident or other calamity (whether or not insured) of such a
     character as to interfere materially with the conduct of the business and
     operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole.  As
     used in this Section 8(g), the term "Prospectus" means the Prospectus in
                                          ----------                         
     the form first used to confirm sales of Stock.

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
          (h) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such
     additional certificates as the Representatives may have reasonably
     requested as to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of the
     representations and warranties made herein by it as to compliance at and as
     of the Closing Date by it with its covenants and agreements herein
     contained and other provisions hereof to be  satisfied at or prior to the
     Closing Date and as to other conditions to the obligations of the
     Underwriters hereunder.

          (i) The Stock shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq National
     Market.

          (j) In the event the Underwriters exercise the option granted in
     Section 3(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Optional Shares,
     the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the
     statements in any certificates furnished by the Company hereunder shall be
     true and correct as of the Option Closing Date, and you shall have
     received:

               (i) A letter from Arthur Andersen LLP, in form and substance
     satisfactory to you and dated the Option Closing Date, substantially the
     same in scope and substance as the letter furnished to you pursuant to
     Section 8(b), except that the specified date in the letter furnished
     pursuant to this Section 8(j) shall be a date not more than five days prior
     to the Option Closing Date.

               (ii) A certificate, dated the Option Closing Date, of the Chief
     Executive Officer or President and the chief financial or accounting
     officer of the Company confirming that the certificate delivered at the
     First Closing Date pursuant to Section 8(g) remains true as of the Option
     Closing Date.

               (iii)  The opinion of Sommer & Barnard, P.C., counsel for the
     Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
     Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Optional Stock
     and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 8(d).

               (iv) The opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, counsel for
     the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Optional
     Stock and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section
     8(f).

     If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section shall not
have been satisfied when and as required by this Agreement, this Agreement may
be terminated by the Representatives by notifying the Company of such
termination in writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date, but the
Representatives shall be entitled to waive any of such conditions.

     9.   Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives
          -----------                                                          
by notice to the Company if at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) trading in securities on the New York or
American Stock Exchanges shall have been 

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
suspended or minimum or maximum prices shall have been established on either
such exchange, or a banking moratorium shall have been declared by New York or
United States authorities; (ii) there shall have been any material adverse
change in the financial markets in the United States, Japan or Europe or any
outbreak or escalation of hostilities between the United States and any foreign
power, or of any other insurrection or armed conflict involving the United
States that, in the judgment of the Representatives, makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to offer, sell or deliver the Firm Stock or the Optional Stock as
applicable, on the terms contemplated by the Prospectus or this Agreement; (iii)
there shall have been since the execution of this Agreement or since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus any material
adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), or business, prospects
or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a
whole; or (iv) if there shall be any litigation, pending or threatened, which,
in the judgment of the Representatives, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to
offer or deliver the Firm Stock or the Optional Stock as applicable on the terms
contemplated by the Prospectus or this Agreement. As used in this Section 9, the
term "Prospectus" means the Prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales
- -----------                                                                 
of Stock.

     10.  Reimbursement of Underwriters.  Notwithstanding any other provisions
          -----------------------------                                       
hereof, if this Agreement shall be terminated by the Representatives under
Section 8, Section 9 or Section 12, the Company will bear and pay the expenses
specified in Section 5 hereof and, in addition to its obligations pursuant to
Section 6, hereof, the Company will reimburse the reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses of the several Underwriters (including reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Stock, and promptly upon demand the
Company will pay such amounts to you as Representatives.  In addition, the
provisions of Section 6 shall survive any such termination.

     11.  Default By Underwriters.  If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall
          -----------------------                                           
default in its or their obligations to purchase shares of Firm Stock hereunder
on the First Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares of Firm Stock which
such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does
not exceed 10% of the total number of shares which the Underwriters are
obligated to purchase at the First Closing Date, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to
purchase the shares of Firm Stock which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase.  If any Underwriter or Underwriters
shall so default and the aggregate number of shares of Firm Stock with respect
to which such default or defaults occur is more than 10% of the total number of
shares underwritten and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the
Company for the purchase of such shares of Firm Stock by other persons are not
made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate.

     If the remaining Underwriters or substituted underwriters are required
hereby or agree to take up all or part of the shares of Firm Stock of a
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters as provided in this Section 11, (i) the
Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period of not
more than five full business days, in order that the Company may effect whatever
changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees
promptly to file any amendments to the Registration Statement or supplements to
the Prospectus which may thereby be made 

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
necessary, and (ii) the respective numbers of shares of Firm Stock to be
purchased by the remaining Underwriters or substituted underwriters shall be
taken as the basis of their underwriting obligation for all purposes of this
Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of
its liability to the Company or the Underwriters for damages occasioned by its
default hereunder. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11
shall be without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the
Company, except for expenses to be paid or reimbursed pursuant to Section 5 and
except for the provisions of Section 6.

     12.  Default By the Company.  If the Company shall fail at the First
          ----------------------                                         
Closing Date to sell and deliver the number of shares of Stock which it is
obligated to sell hereunder, then this Agreement shall terminate without any
liability on the part of any non-defaulting party.

     No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve the Company so
defaulting from liability, if any, in respect of such default.

     13.  Notices.  All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if
          -------                                                           
sent to the Underwriters shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed
to you, as their Representatives c/o Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. at Two World
Trade Center, 65th Floor, Corporate Finance, New York, New York 10048, Attn:
Samuel H. Wolcott, III, except that notices given to an Underwriter pursuant to
Section 6 hereof shall be sent to such Underwriter at the address provided to
the Representatives or, if sent to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered or
telegraphed and confirmed c/o Control Devices, Inc., 228 Northeast Road,
Standish, Maine 04084, Attn: Bruce D. Atkinson, President.

     14.  Successors.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
          ----------                                                      
binding upon the several Underwriters, the Company and their respective
successors and legal representatives.  Nothing expressed or mentioned in this
Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person other than the
persons mentioned in the preceding sentence any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein
contained, this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being
intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and
for the benefit of no other person; except that the representations, warranties,
covenants, agreements and indemnities of the Company contained in this Agreement
shall also be for the benefit of the person or persons, if any, who control any
Underwriter or Underwriters within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, and the
indemnities of the several Underwriters shall also be for the benefit of each
director of the Company, each of its officers who has signed the Registration
Statement and the person or persons, if any, who control the Company within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act.

     15.  APPLICABLE LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
          --------------                                                       
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.  The Company hereby consent to personal jurisdiction in
the State of New York and voluntarily submits to the jurisdiction of the courts
of such state, including the federal district courts located in such state, in
any proceeding with respect to this Agreement.

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
     16.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by one or more parties
          -------------                                                       
hereto in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.

     17.  Authority of the Representatives.  In connection with this Agreement,
          --------------------------------                                     
the Representatives will act for and on behalf of the several  Underwriters, and
any action taken under this Agreement by the Representatives jointly or by Dean
Witter Reynolds Inc., as representatives of the several Underwriters, will be
binding on all the Underwriters.

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
     If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate
your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon
this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

                              Very truly yours,


                              CONTROL DEVICES, INC.


                              By: ___________________________________
 
                              Name: _________________________________

                              Title: __________________________________



Accepted and delivered,
     as of the date first above written:
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
CLEARY GULL REILAND & MCDEVITT INC.
     Acting on their own behalf and as
     Representatives of the several Underwriters
     referred to in the foregoing Agreement.

BY:  DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.


By: ___________________________________
 
Name: _________________________________

Title: __________________________________

237HMS2310/2.241875-1

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
 
                                                    Number of Firm Shares
Name                                                of Stock to be Purchased
- -------                                             ------------------------
<S>                                              <C>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           =========
Total.................................................     2,000,000
                                                           ========= 
 
</TABLE>

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A


                                2,000,000 Shares

                             CONTROL DEVICES, INC.

                                 Common Shares

                               PRICING AGREEMENT
                               -----------------



                                                             _____________, 1996

DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
CLEARY GULL REILAND & MCDEVITT INC.
 As Representatives of the several Underwriters
 c/o Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
 2 World Trade Center
 65th Floor
 New York, New York  10048

Dear Sirs:

          Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement, dated _____________,
1996 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), relating to the purchase by the several
           ----------------------                                           
Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto, for whom Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. and
                      ----------                                                
Cleary Gull Reiland & McDevitt Inc., acting as representatives (the
                                                                   
"Representatives"), of the above common shares (the "Common Stock") of Control
- ----------------                                     ------------             
Devices, Inc. (the "Company").
                    -------   

                                 Pursuant to Section 3 of the Underwriting
Agreement, the Company agrees with each underwriter as follows:

          1. The initial public offering price per share for the Stock,
     determined as provided in Section 3, shall be $_______________.

          2. The purchase price per share for the Stock to be paid by the
     several Underwriters shall be $_______________.

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between
the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

                              Very truly yours,

                              CONTROL DEVICES, INC.


                              By: _________________________________

                              Name: _______________________________

                              Title: ________________________________



Accepted and delivered,
     as of the date first above written:
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
CLEARY GULL REILAND & MCDEVITT INC.
     Acting on their own behalf and as
     Representatives of the several Under-
     writers referred to in the foregoing
     Agreement.

By:  DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.



By: _________________________________

Name: _______________________________

Title: ________________________________

                                       32

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
  As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our
reports and to all references to our firm included in or made part of this
registration statement.
 
                                          Arthur Andersen LLP
 
Stamford, Connecticut
   
September 26, 1996     

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
  As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our
reports and to all references to our firm included in or made part of this
registration statement.
 
                                          -----------------------------
                                          BARBIER FRINAULT & ASSOCIES
                                          Member of Andersen Worlwide SC
                                          Thierry Aymonier
 
Paris, France,
   
September 26, 1996     


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