STANLEY WORKS
10-Q, 1998-08-18
CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE
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                               UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, DC 20549


                                 FORM 10-Q


      [X] Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
          For the quarterly period ended July 4, 1998.

                                   or

      [ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
          the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
          For the transition period from [     ]  to  [     ]



                      Commission file number 1-5224

                            The Stanley Works
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              CONNECTICUT                         06-0548860
   (State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer 
     incorporation or organization)         Identification Number) 
             
           1000 Stanley Drive
         New Britain, Connecticut                    06053
(Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

                               (860) 225-5111
                       (Registrant's telephone number)


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


Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's
classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: shares of the
company's Common Stock ($2.50 par value) were outstanding 88,773,011
as of August 14, 1998.  






         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                     THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
        (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars Except Per Share Amounts)

                             Second Quarter           Six Months
                            1998       1997        1998       1997
                          ------     ------        -------   -------
Net Sales                $ 691.8    $ 673.6      $ 1,363.7 $ 1,320.2
 
Costs and Expenses
  Cost of sales            448.9      446.1          883.9     877.5
  Selling, general and
    administrative         166.1      153.8          337.2     307.0
  Interest - net             5.2        4.4           10.0       8.7
  Other - net                4.1       13.6            6.9      17.2
  Restructuring and 
    asset write-offs           -      137.2              -     132.6
                          ------     ------        -------   -------
                           624.3      755.1        1,238.0   1,343.0
                          ------     ------        -------   ------- 
Earnings (Loss) before
    income taxes            67.5      (81.5)         125.7     (22.8)   
                          
Income Taxes                25.3      (17.0)          47.1       5.0
                          ------     ------        -------   -------
Net Earnings (Loss)       $ 42.2    $ (64.5)     $    78.6  $  (27.8)
                          ======     ======        =======   ======= 
Net Earnings (Loss) Per      
    Share of Common Stock

     Basic                $ 0.47    $  (.72)     $    0.88  $  (0.31)
                          ======     ======        =======   ======= 
     Diluted              $ 0.47    $  (.72)     $    0.87  $  (0.31)
                          ======     ======        =======   ======= 
Dividends per share       $ 0.20    $ 0.185      $    0.40  $   0.37
                          ======     ======        =======   ======= 
Average shares outstanding
    (in thousands)                  
                           
     Basic                89,405     89,525         89,442    89,443   
                          ======     ======         ======    ======
     Diluted              90,442     89,525         90,464    89,443   
                          ======     ======         ======    ======







See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       -1-                                   




                           THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
                               CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)

                                                         July 4     January 3
                                                           1998          1998
                                                        --------      --------
ASSETS
Current Assets
   Cash and cash equivalents                        $      77.4    $    152.2
   Accounts and notes receivable                          502.9         472.5
   Inventories                                            372.0         301.2
   Other current assets                                    87.4          79.4
                                                        --------      --------
Total Current Assets                                    1,039.7       1,005.3

Property, plant and equipment                           1,161.6       1,166.1
   Less: accumulated depreciation                        (674.0)       (652.9)
                                                        --------      --------
                                                          487.6         513.2

Goodwill and other intangibles                            104.1         104.1
Other assets                                              134.6         136.1
                                                        --------      --------
                                                     $  1,766.0    $  1,758.7
                                                        ========      ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
   Short-term borrowings                             $    117.3    $     80.8
   Current maturities of long-term debt                    15.5          50.0
   Accounts payable                                       172.7         155.5
   Accrued expenses                                       302.0         336.4
                                                        --------      --------
Total Current Liabilities                                 607.5         622.7

Long-term debt                                            272.0         283.7
Other liabilities                                         240.6         244.5

Shareholders' Equity                             
   Common stock                                           230.9         230.9
   Retained earnings                                      848.2         806.6
   Accumulated other comprehensive income                 (85.3)        (85.3)
   ESOP debt                                             (221.2)       (223.8)
                                                        --------      --------  
                                                          772.6         728.4
       Less: cost of common stock in treasury             126.7         120.6 
                                                        --------      -------- 
 Total Shareholders' Equity                               645.9         607.8
                                                        --------      --------
                                                     $  1,766.0    $  1,758.7 
                                                        ========      ========


See notes to consolidated financial statements.  

                                       -2-
                             

                     THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                     (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)
   
                                        Second Quarter        Six Months
                                        1998     1997       1998      1997
                                       ------   ------     ------    ------ 
Operating Activities 
  Net earnings (loss)                  $ 42.2   $(64.5)    $ 78.6   $(27.8) 
  Depreciation and amortization          18.3     18.9       38.1     37.4
  Restructuring and asset write-offs        -    137.2          -    132.6
  Other non-cash items                   10.0    (27.0)      10.6    (14.1)
  Changes in operating assets
     and liabilities                    (59.3)   (16.4)    (137.5)   (76.8) 
                                        ------   ------    ------   -------
  Net cash provided (used) by
     operating activities                11.2     48.2      (10.2)    51.3 
                                               
Investing Activities                        
  Capital expenditures                  (13.5)   (19.3)     (20.9)   (36.5)
  Capitalized software                   (1.4)    (3.9)      (1.8)    (6.6)
  Proceeds from sales of businesses         -        -        3.0     34.8
  Investment in affiliated company          -    (22.2)         -    (22.2)
  Other                                   6.1      2.5        5.7      3.3
                                        ------   ------    -------  -------
  Net cash used by
     investing activities                (8.8)   (42.9)     (14.0)   (27.2)
                                               
Financing Activities                        
  Payments on long-term borrowings       (1.6)    (1.8)     (38.1)    (3.4)
  Proceeds from long-term borrowings        -      2.3          -      2.3
  Net short-term borrowings               8.3     21.9       36.5     21.4
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock  5.6      5.4       14.5     15.4
  Purchase of common stock for treasury (13.4)       -      (29.6)   (17.8)
  Cash dividends on common stock        (17.8)       -      (35.6)   (16.5)
                                        ------   ------    -------  -------
Net cash provided (used) by
     financing activities               (18.9)    27.8      (52.3)     1.4

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash   0.7     (1.9)       1.7     (1.9)
                                        ------   ------    -------  -------
Increase (decrease) in Cash and 
     Cash Equivalents                   (15.8)    31.2      (74.8)    23.6    
                                             
Cash and Cash Equivalents, 
     Beginning of Period                 93.2     76.4      152.2     84.0
                                        ------   ------    -------  -------
Cash and Cash Equivalents,
     End of Second Quarter             $ 77.4   $107.6     $ 77.4   $107.6
                                        ======   ======    =======  =======
                                          
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                       -3-





                         THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES                     
                         CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES
                               IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                          (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)
                                      
                                   Accumulated                         
                                      Other 
                                      Compre-                       Total
                    Common  Retained  hensive    ESOP  Treasury  Shareholders'
                     Stock  Earnings  Income     Debt    Stock     Equity
                    --------------------------------------------------------- 
Balance Jan 3, 1998 $ 230.9 $ 806.6   $(85.3)  $(223.8)  $(120.6)  $ 607.8
Comprehensive income: 
    Net earnings               78.6                                   
    Foreign currency
      translation                          -                             
Total comprehensive 
  income                                                              78.6 
Cash dividends 
  declared                    (35.6)                                 (35.6)   
Net common stock 
  activity                     (5.9)                        (6.1)    (12.0)  
Tax benefit related
  to stock options              3.2                                    3.2
ESOP debt                                          2.6                 2.6
ESOP tax benefit                1.3                                    1.3
                    --------------------------------------------------------- 
Balance July 4,1998 $ 230.9 $ 848.2   $(85.3)  $(221.2)  $(126.7)   $645.9
                    =========================================================
                    
                                    Accumulated  
                                      Other
                                      Compre-                      Total
                    Common  Retained  hensive   ESOP   Treasury  Shareholders'
                     Stock  Earnings  Income    Debt     Stock     Equity
                    --------------------------------------------------------- 
Balance Dec 28,1996  $230.9  $919.0   $(45.5)  $(234.8)   $(89.5)   $780.1 
Comprehensive loss: 
    Net loss                  (27.8)
    Foreign currency
      translation                      (11.7)
Total comprehensive 
  income                                                             (39.5)
Cash dividends 
  declared                    (33.0)                                 (33.0)   
Net common stock 
  activity                     (4.4)                         4.0      (0.4)  
Tax benefit related
  to stock options              3.0                                    3.0
ESOP debt                                          5.0                 5.0
ESOP tax benefit                1.5                                    1.5
                    --------------------------------------------------------- 
Balance June 28, 1997 $230.9 $858.3    $(57.2) $(229.8)   $(85.5)   $716.7
                    =========================================================

See notes to consolidated financial statements.  
                                      -4-



                         THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
        NOTES TO (Unaudited) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   July 4, 1998



NOTE A - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles 
for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and
Article 10 of Regulation S-X and do not include all of the information 
and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for 
complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments 
considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for 
the interim periods have been included. For further information, refer to the 
consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the company's 
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 1998.

NOTE B - Earnings Per Share Computation

The following table reconciles the weighted average shares outstanding used to 
calculate basic and diluted earnings per share.

                                Second Quarter              Six Months
                               1998       1997           1998       1997
                            ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
Net earnings (loss) - 
  basic and diluted             $ 42.2     $(64.5)      $ 78.6      $(27.8)
                            ==========  ==========   ==========  ==========  
Basic earnings per share - 
  weighted average shares   89,404,624  89,525,423   89,442,431  89,443,254

Dilutive effect of 
  employee stock options     1,037,239           -    1,021,113           -    
                            ----------  ----------   ==========  ==========
Diluted earnings per share -
  weighted average shares   90,441,863  89,525,423   90,463,544  89,443,254  
                            ==========  ==========   ==========  ========== 
Earnings per share:
  Basic                         $ 0.47     $(0.72)       $ 0.88    $ (0.31)
                            ==========  ==========   ==========  ==========
  Diluted                       $ 0.47     $(0.72)       $ 0.87    $ (0.31)
                            ==========  ==========   ==========  ==========

The effect of employee stock options for 1997 was 1,098,338 shares.  These 
are not included in the calculations since they are antidilutive.










                                    -5-


NOTE C - Inventories

The components of inventories at the end of the second quarter of 1998
and at year-end 1997, in millions of dollars, are as follows:

                             July 4            January 3
                               1998                 1998
                              ------              ------
Finished products            $ 257.5             $ 203.7
Work in process                 63.0                51.9
Raw materials                   48.9                43.8
Supplies                         2.6                 1.8
                              ------              ------
                             $ 372.0             $ 301.2
                              ======              ======
                                   
NOTE D - Cash Flow Information

Interest paid during the second quarters of 1998 and 1997 amounted to $7.5
million and $7.7 million, respectively.  Interest paid for the six months of 
1998 and 1997 amounted to $14.4 million and $12.8 million, respectively.

Income taxes paid during the second quarters of 1998 and 1997 were $37.2
million and $39.4 million, respectively. Income taxes paid for the six months 
of 1998 and 1997 were $46.6 million and $56.7 million, respectively.

Note E - Subsequent Event

On August 5, 1998 the company acquired 90% of the outstanding common shares of 
ZAG Industries Ltd., an innovator of plastic storage products, for 
approximately $114 million.  The acquisition will be accounted for by the 
purchase method of accounting.  This transaction is not expected to have a 
material proforma effect on the company's financial position or results of 
operations for the periods prior to the date of acquisition.

Note F - Comprehensive Income

In June of 1997, the Financial Accoun0ting Standards Board issued Statement of 
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 130 "Reporting Comprehensive 
Income".  The Statement, which the company adopted in the first quarter of 
1998, establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income 
and its components in financial statements.   Where applicable, earlier 
periods have been restated to conform to the standards set forth in FAS No. 
130.  The company's Comprehensive Income consists of net earnings and foreign 
currency translation adjustments which are presented before tax.  The company 
does not provide for U.S. income taxes on foreign currency translation 
adjustments because it does not provide for such taxes on undistributed 
earnings of foreign subsidiaries.  Accumulated other comprehensive income 
consists of foreign currency translation adjustments.  Comprehensive income 
(loss) for the second quarters of 1998 and 1997 were $38.8 million and ($69.8) 
million, respectively.






                                    -6-


Note G - New Accounting Pronouncement

In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of 
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative 
Instruments and Hedging Activities."  Essentially, the new statement requires 
all derivatives to recorded on the balance sheet at fair value and establishes 
new accounting practices for hedge instruments.  The statement is effective 
for years beginning after June 15, 1999.  The company is currently assessing 
the impact this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.
















































                                  -7-

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND         
        RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations

The attached table, "Price/Volume Information" provides detail of the changes 
in net sales by business segment and geographic region.  In addition, the 
attached table, "Business Segment Information", provides clarification of 
reported operating results for the second quarter and first six months of 1998 
and 1997, reconciling them with pro-forma or "core" results.  Core results 
exclude restructuring charges, restructuring-related transition costs 
associated with the company's restructuring plans and other costs.  
Restructuring charges include the severance associated with employment 
reductions, write-downs of assets either disposed of or impaired as a result 
of the initiatives or other business factors, environmental costs of 
remediating facilities to be closed or vacated and other similar exit costs.  
The restructuring-related transition costs are additional costs resulting from 
these major initiatives that are classified as period operating expenses 
within cost of sales or selling, general and administrative expense 
categories.  These include the costs of moving production equipment, operating 
duplicative facilities while transferring production or distribution, 
consulting costs incurred in planning and implementing changes and other types 
of costs that have been incurred to facilitate the changes encompassed by the 
restructuring initiatives. Other costs excluded from core results are year-
2000 systems compliance costs and CEO recruitment costs. Management 
judgmentally determines which costs should be classified as transition costs 
based on the criteria of whether the costs are unusual in nature and are 
expected to cease when the transition activities related to these initiatives 
end.  Because the presence of restructuring charges and transition costs makes 
it difficult to see the underlying trends within the company's businesses, the 
company also presents its results on a pro forma or core basis, which excludes 
these as well as other non-recurring charges incurred in the period. 

Net sales for the second quarter were $692 million, up 3% from net sales of 
$674 million in the same quarter of last year.  Core unit volume growth 
generated substantially all of the increase.  The most significant sales gains 
were made in the Mac Tools r and U.S. consumer mechanics tools markets and  in 
the North American Fastening Systems business.  U.S. markets continued to be 
strong for Stanley products, however, European and Asian markets reflected 
economic weakening.  Revenue contributed by the late 1997 acquisition of Atro 
Industriale, SpA offset the divested sales activity from the Access 
Technologies European business to contribute a 1% increase in net sales.    
Foreign currency translation, primarily Asia, decreased sales by 1%.  Net 
sales for the six month period increased by 3% to $1,364 million primarily 
from unit volume growth.  

Gross profit of $243 million increased 7% from $227 million reported in the 
second quarter 1997.  Gross profit as a percent of sales increased from 33.8% 
to 35.1%.  Included in the second quarter cost of sales for 1998 was $3 
million of restructuring-related transition costs, primarily for plant 
rationalization activities,  as compared with $8 million recorded in 1997.    
Excluding these transition costs related to the start up and moving of 
production to new facilities, on a core basis, gross profit margin as a 
percent of sales increased to 35.5% from  34.9%.  Substantially all of the 
margin improvement was contributed by the growth of the MacDirect (TM) program 
which provides for higher gross margins as additional volume is generated from 

                                 -8-
a direct sales force rather than through independent distributors.  These 
higher margins are offset to some extent by increased selling expenses.    
This program, along with higher production volume and savings from 
productivity initiatives improved the year to date gross margins as a percent 
of sales from 33.5% to 35.2%.  On a core basis, gross profit as a percent of 
sales for the six month period was 35.7%, up from 34.5% in the same period 
last year. 

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $166 million in the 
second quarter 1998 from $154 million in 1997.  As a percent of sales, these 
expenses increased from 22.8% to 24.0%.  This change included increased 
spending on restructuring-related transition and other non-recurring costs 
from $5 million in 1997 to $13 million in 1998.  Although the focus of 
restructuring initiatives has shifted this year from the consolidation of the 
North American distribution centers to the functional reorganization, related 
spending has not significantly changed year to year.  The $8 million increase 
in non-recurring costs compared to last year is attributable primarily to 
systems conversions for the Year 2000 ("Y2k") remediation.  To the greatest 
extent possible, the Y2k systems solutions are being designed to provide a 
common computer platform for the Company.  This directly facilitates the 
centralization of functions envisioned by the restructuring initiatives.  On a 
core basis selling, general and administration expenses increased $4 million 
over the prior year quarter.  Higher selling and administration costs 
associated with the growth in the MacDirect (TM) program were partially offset 
by savings generated from restructuring initiatives.  In addition, as planned, 
the early stages of the restructuring program to reallocate resources brings 
about a positive effect on gross margins, but also increases marketing, 
advertising and product development spending.  Increased spending on growth 
programs is being closely monitored and is being limited to the extent of 
restructuring savings actually achieved.   

Selling, general and administration expenses for the six month period were 
$337 million, or 24.7% of sales,  as compared with $307 million, or 23.3% of 
sales,  in the same period of 1997.   Transition and other non-core spending 
in the first six months of 1998 of $26 million represented an increase of $16 
million over the same period last year.  As in the second quarter the increase 
was primarily attributable to Y2k remediation costs.   Selling, general and 
administration expenses excluding restructuring-related transition and other 
non-recurring costs was $311 million, up $14 million from the prior year due 
principally to the growth in the MacDirect (TM) program and reinvestment of 
savings achieved from the operational restructuring savings into spending on 
brand and new product development. 

Net interest expense for the second quarter and for the six month period was 
slightly higher than the comparable period of 1997 due to higher net 
borrowings, which were used primarily to fund increased working capital.  
Other, net expense of $4.1 million in the second quarter 1998 was 
significantly lower than $13.6 million recorded in the prior year quarter.  A 
one-time, non-cash charge was included in the 1997 quarter and related to 
stock options issued to the company's newly recruited chief executive officer 
and represented substantially all of the variance.  The 1997 second quarter 
charge also represented the majority of the decrease in other, net expense for 
the six month period.  

Net earnings of $42 million, or $.47 per diluted share, were reported for the 
second quarter 1998.  In the second quarter of 1997, the company recorded a
significant restructuring and asset write-off charge of $137 million.   The

                                  -9-
charge related to restructuring initiatives providing for the reallocation of 
resources freed from streamlining manufacturing, sales, distribution and 
administrative operations in order to fund increased investment in brand and 
new product development to stimulate long-term profitable growth.  
Specifically, the company is reorganizing its operations into a product 
management organizational structure and will centralize manufacturing, 
engineering, sales and service, finance, human resource and information 
technology.  Overall these actions are expected to result in a decrease of 
manufacturing and distribution facilities from 123 to 70 and change the 
composition of the company's workforce with a resulting reduction in net 
employment levels of 4,500.   This charge contributed to a reported net loss 
in the second quarter 1997 of $65 million, or $.72 per diluted share.   Net 
earnings on a pro-forma or "core" basis, which excludes restructuring-related 
transition and other non-recurring charges, would have been $52 million, or 
$.58 per diluted share, in the second quarter 1998 as compared with $49 
million, or $.55 per diluted share, in 1997.  

The company's restructuring initiatives are progressing substantially as 
planned.  While the anticipated results of the initiatives continue to be 
as originally estimated, the timing of project completions may potentially
be delayed as it is dependent on the company's achievement of common
systems.  Through July 1998, 24 facilities have been closed and 1500 employees
have been terminated (450 employees during 1998).  During the first six months
of 1998, the company made payments of $12 million for severance and benefit
costs and payments of $4 million for other exit costs.  At July 4, 1998,
the reserve balances related to the restructuring was $183 million.

For the first six months of 1998 net income of $79 million, or $.87 per 
diluted share, was reported as compared with a net loss of $28 million, or 
$.31 per diluted share, in the same period of 1997.  The net restructuring 
charge in 1997 of $133 million included a net restructuring gain reported in 
the first quarter 1997 resulting from the divestiture of several businesses 
offset by severance and other exit costs associated with the restructuring 
program.    Net earnings for the six months on a core basis would have been 
$99 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, as compared with $89 million, or $.99 
per diluted share, in 1997.  

In the Tools segment overall, second quarter net sales increased 3% over the 
prior year, primarily from unit volume growth.   Both industrial and 
engineered tools unit volume increased by 4% driven by the Mac Tools and 
Fastening Systems businesses.  Unit volume for consumer tools increased only 
1% with strength in the consumer mechanics tools market offsetting declines in 
carpenters tools.    While pricing had no net effect on sales, increases in 
consumer and industrial businesses offset the continuation of price erosion in 
the markets for pneumatic tools and fasteners.  As reflected in the attached 
table, "Business Segment Information," second quarter 1998 core operating 
profits for this segment, excluding restructuring charges, restructuring-
related transition costs and other non-recurring charges, were $87 million, up 
from $83 million in the prior year second quarter.  As a percent of sales, 
operating profitability increased to 16.4% from 16.0% in the prior year.  The 
profitability of the MacDirect (TM) program as well as the benefits of 
restructuring initiatives contributed to this improvement.  For the six month 
period core operating profits were $163 million, or 15.5% of sales, up from 
$148 million, or 14.8% of sales in 1997.  

The Hardware segment reported net sales of $86 million, essentially flat with 
the second quarter last year.  Unit volume increases of 2% were offset by 
pricing and foreign currency translation. On a core basis, operating profit 
decreased to 10.0% from 14.2% in the prior year, reflecting both mix and lower 
than expected volumes in the Home Decor business.  In the beginning of the 
quarter Home Decor's largest customers initiated corrections to their 
inventory levels, however, the necessary reductions in factory spending lagged 
the lower level of sales.  This also contributed to the decline in core 
operating margins for the six month period declining from 14.7% of sales to 
13.4% of sales. 



                                  -10-
Net sales in the Specialty Hardware segment were $73 million, up 2% from the 
prior year.  Very strong unit volume growth, driven primarily by the growth in 
Access Technologies' national account business in the U.S., increased sales by 
7%.  The recent divestiture of the European business of Access Technologies 
reduced sales by 6% and the net effects of pricing and foreign currency 
translation provided a net 1% increase in revenue.  Core operating profit as a 
percent of sales increased to 8.2% from 5.6% in the second quarter due 
primarily to increased volumes, productivity gains and lower wood prices in 
the U.S. entry door business.  

Core operating profits in the U.S. declined slightly to 15.8% of sales from an 
unusually strong 16.1% in the prior year quarter.  European profitability 
declined to 11.1% of sales from 13.6% in 1997.  The quarter reflected slowing 
in the company's European markets and continued pricing pressures in the 
fastening systems business.   In Other Areas operating margins improved to 
13.1% primarily due to the additional profitability of the company's Latin 
American business. 

Liquidity and Sources of Capital

Net cash flow from operations was $11 million for the second quarter 1998, 
down substantially from $48 million generated in the same quarter of 1997.  
The lower net cash flow is due primarily to an increase in inventory levels 
reflecting the company's priority commitment to improving customer service.  
The focus on improving customer service also incorporates a SKU reduction 
program and an initiative to improve production planning.  This short-term 
inventory build is not expected to be a significant ongoing cash requirement 
and is expected to be reversed as longer term improvements, including the SKU 
reduction and improved production planning, are implemented. 

Capital expenditures of $14 million in the second quarter and $21 million for 
the six months were lower than spending in the comparable periods of the prior 
year.  A major component of the company's restructuring initiative is the 
improvement of manufacturing efficiency through the establishment of the 
Stanley Production System "SPS".  Activities associated with the SPS program 
have temporarily reduced the capital required to expand or improve capacity.  
The total anticipated spending for capital has not yet been determined, 
however, it is likely to be lower than the annual capital spending in prior 
years.

Other Issues

The company is reviewing its products in light of the December 1, 1997 Federal 
Trade Commission announcement of its enforcement policy with respect to "Made 
in USA" labeling.  In some cases, this review will result in the company's 
increasing the domestic content of products or changing the labeling of 
products.  The impact of these changes on the company's results of operations 
or financial position is not expected to be material.  

On January 1, 1999, certain member countries of the European Union are 
scheduled to establish fixed conversion rates between their existing 
currencies ("legacy currencies ") and one common currency - the euro.  The euro 
will then trade on currency exchanges and may be used in business 

                                    -11-
transactions.  Beginning in January 2002, new euro-denominated bills and coins 
will be issued, and legacy currencies will be withdrawn from circulation.  The 
Company's operating subsidiaries affected by the euro conversion are 
developing plans to address the systems and business issues raised by the euro 
currency conversion.  These issues include, among others, (1) the need to 
adapt computer and other business systems and equipment to accommodate euro-
denominated transactions; and (2) the competitive impact of cross-border price 
transparency, which may make it more difficult for businesses to charge 
different prices for the same products on a country-by-country basis.  The
Company has not yet completed its estimate of the potential impact likely to
be caused by the euro conversion, however, it is not expected to have a
material adverse impact on its financial condition or results of operations.

Cautionary Statements Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 
1995

The company's ability to achieve the growth expected from its restructuring 
initiatives is dependent on several factors.  These factors include the 
ability to develop new products that will be successful in the marketplace; to 
expand into "near neighbor" or related products; to position Stanley(R) as a 
"Great Brand" in the marketplace; and to position the company as a low cost 
producer.

These initiatives are in turn dependent on several factors.  These include the 
company's ability to generate the necessary cost savings to fund these 
initiatives from a reallocation of resources, including the simplification of 
the organization, the change in the composition of the workforce and the 
standardization of the operating mechanisms.

The company's ability to achieve savings from the resource reallocation is 
dependent upon the development and execution of comprehensive plans for the 
facility consolidations so that among other things, the closures can be 
executed without a disruption in customer service; the prompt resolution of 
any labor issues arising from any employee terminations related to the closure 
of facilities or to changes in the composition of the workforce; the 
implementation of process improvements in the company's manufacturing 
operations in order to meet customer requirements for on-time delivery, 
quality and value; the ability of the organization to complete the transition 
to a product management structure without losing focus on the business; the 
ability to recruit, train and retain high level employees with the relevant 
experience to execute the necessary changes; the availability of vendors to 
perform non-core functions; the need to respond to significant changes in 
product demand during the transition; the complexity and ultimate extent of 
Y2k  compliance efforts; and unforeseen events.













- -12-
                         THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES 
                             PRICE/VOLUME INFORMATION
                          (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)
                                                                             
NET SALES
                                            Second Quarter
                        ---------------------------------------------------   
                                             Unit    ACQ/
                           1998     Price   Volume   DVT    Currency   1997
                        ---------------------------------------------------
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS
     Tools
       Consumer         $ 183.7       1%       1%      -      (3)%  $ 184.5   
       Industrial         151.1       -        4%      -       -      145.3   
       Engineered         197.9      (2)%      4%      5%     (1)%    186.4 
                         ------                                      ------
         Total Tools      532.7       -        3%      2%     (2)%    516.2
     Hardware              86.3      (1)%      2%      -      (1)%     86.2
     Specialty Hardware    72.8       2%       7%     (6)%    (1)%     71.2
                         ------                                      ------   
       Consolidated     $ 691.8       -        3%      1%     (1)%  $ 673.6   
                         ======                                      ======
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
     United States      $ 502.7       -        5%      -        -   $ 479.7 
     Europe               109.6       -       (1)%     6%     (2)%    106.3
     Other Areas           79.5       1%      (2)%     -      (8)%     87.6
                         ------                                      ------
       Consolidated     $ 691.8       -        3%      1%     (1)%  $ 673.6  
                         ======                                      ====== 


                                             Year to Date
                       ----------------------------------------------------
                                             Unit    ACQ/
                           1998     Price   Volume   DVT   Currency    1997
                       ---------------------------------------------------- 
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS
     Tools
       Consumer         $ 356.7       1%       2%      -     (4)%   $ 358.9  
       Industrial         302.2       -        7%      -      -       281.5
       Engineered         386.3      (2)%      5%      6%    (1)%     358.5 
                        -------                                     -------   
         Total Tools    1,045.2       -        5%      2%    (2)%     998.9
     Hardware             182.6      (2)%      5%      -     (1)%     179.3   
     Specialty Hardware   135.9       2%       4%     (9)%   (1)%     142.0 
                        -------                                     -------  
       Consolidated   $ 1,363.7       -        5%      -     (2)% $ 1,320.2   
                        =======                                     =======   
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
     United States    $   978.4      (1)%      7%     (1)%    -   $   935.5    
     Europe               229.5       1%       3%      7%    (4)%     214.1
     Other Areas          155.8       1%      (1)%    (1)%   (8)%     170.6  
                        -------                                     -------  
       Consolidated   $ 1,363.7       -        5%      -     (2)% $ 1,320.2
                        =======                                     =======  



                                      -13-
 
                          THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES   
                             BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION  
                           (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)  
  
OPERATING PROFIT  
                                       Second Quarter 1998  
                      -----------------------------------------------------  
                                              Related                 Core  
                                   Restrg   Transition               Profit  
                       Reported    Charges     Costs       Core      Margin  
                      -----------------------------------------------------  
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS  
    Tools             $   76.5     $   -     $  11.1    $  87.6       16.4%  
    Hardware               6.4         -         2.2        8.6       10.0%  
    Specialty Hardware     3.0         -         3.0        6.0        8.2%  
                         -----      -----      -----      -----               
       Total              85.9         -        16.3      102.2       14.8%  
    Net corporate                                                     
       expenses          (11.8)        -           -      (11.8)  
    Interest expense      (6.6)        -           -       (6.6)  
                         -----      -----      -----      ----- 
    Earnings before   
       income taxes   $   67.5     $   -      $ 16.3    $  83.8  
                         =====      =====      =====      =====    
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS      
    United States     $   65.1     $   -      $ 14.5   $   79.6       15.8%  
    Europe                11.2         -         1.0       12.2       11.1%  
    Other Areas            9.6         -         0.8       10.4       13.1%  
                         -----      -----      -----      -----   
       Total          $   85.9     $   -      $ 16.3    $ 102.2       14.8%  
                         =====      =====      =====      ===== 
  
                                     Second Quarter 1997  
                      -----------------------------------------------------   
                                              Related                 Core  
                                   Restrg   Transition               Profit  
                       Reported    Charges     Costs*       Core     Margin  
                      -----------------------------------------------------    
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS  
    Tools             $  (38.3)    $ 110.7    $ 10.4    $  82.8       16.0%  
    Hardware               2.6         7.5       2.1       12.2       14.2%  
    Specialty Hardware    (9.8)       13.7         -        3.9        5.6%  
                          -----      -----     -----      -----
       Total             (45.5)      131.9      12.5       98.9       14.7%  
    Net corporate                 
       expenses          (29.6)        5.3      11.0      (13.3)   
    Interest expense      (6.4)          -         -       (6.4)   
                          -----      -----     -----      ----- 
    Earnings (loss) before  
       income taxes   $  (81.5)    $ 137.2    $ 23.5    $  79.2   
                          =====      =====     =====      =====
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS  
    United States     $  (19.1)    $  87.6    $  8.5    $  77.0       16.1%  
    Europe               (12.0)       24.1       2.4       14.5       13.6%  
    Other Areas          (14.4)       20.2       1.6        7.4        8.4%  
                          -----      -----     -----      -----
       Total          $  (45.5)    $ 131.9    $ 12.5    $  98.9       14.7%  
                          =====      =====     =====      =====
* Includes stock option charge.  
                                        -14-
                          THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES  
                            BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION  
                          (Unaudited, Millions of Dollars)  
  
OPERATING PROFIT  
                                           Year to Date 1998  
                     ------------------------------------------------------    
                                               Related                Core  
                                   Restrg     Transition             Profit  
                       Reported    Charges      Costs      Core      Margin  
                     ------------------------------------------------------    
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS  
    Tools             $  139.4    $   -      $  23.1    $ 162.5       15.5%  
    Hardware              20.1        -          4.3       24.4       13.4%  
    Specialty Hardware     2.9        -          5.2        8.1        6.0%  
                         -----     -----       -----      -----
       Total             162.4        -         32.6      195.0       14.3%  
    Net corporate        
       expenses          (23.3)       -            -      (23.3)  
    Interest expense     (13.4)       -            -      (13.4)  
                         -----     -----       -----      -----
    Earnings before  
       income taxes   $  125.7    $   -      $  32.6    $ 158.3  
                         =====     =====       =====      =====
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS  
    United States     $  120.3    $   -      $  28.8    $ 149.1       15.2%  
    Europe                24.6        -          2.3       26.9       11.7%  
    Other Areas           17.5        -          1.5       19.0       12.2%  
                         -----     -----       -----      -----
       Total          $  162.4    $   -      $  32.6    $ 195.0       14.3%  
                         =====     =====       =====      =====
  
                                       Year to Date 1997  
                     ------------------------------------------------------    
                                              Related                 Core  
                                   Restrg    Transition              Profit  
                       Reported     Chgs        Costs*      Core     Margin  
                     ------------------------------------------------------    
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS  
    Tools             $   17.7    $  111.8    $ 18.0    $ 147.5       14.8%  
    Hardware              14.4         7.9       4.0       26.3       14.7%  
    Specialty Hardware    (7.5)       14.3       0.2        7.0        4.9%  
                         -----       -----     -----      ----- 
       Total              24.6       134.0      22.2      180.8       13.7%  
    Net corporate          
       expenses          (35.4)       (1.4)     11.1      (25.7)   
    Interest expense     (12.0)          -         -      (12.0)   
                         -----       -----     -----      -----
    Earnings (loss) before  
       income taxes   $  (22.8)   $  132.6    $ 33.3    $ 143.1   
                         =====       =====     =====      ===== 
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS  
    United States     $   34.1    $   88.8    $ 16.1    $ 139.0       14.9%  
    Europe                (0.7)       24.5       3.5       27.3       12.8%  
    Other Areas           (8.8)       20.7       2.6       14.5        8.5%  
                         -----       -----     -----      -----
       Total          $   24.6    $  134.0    $ 22.2    $ 180.8       13.7%  
                         =====       =====     =====      =====
* Includes stock option charge 
                                      -15-
                               
PART II OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2. - Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds 

(c) Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

(1) During the second fiscal quarter of 1998, 1,183 shares were issued to 
certain participants in the Company's U.K. Savings Related Share Plans (the 
"Savings Plan"). 

(2) Participation in the Savings Plan is offered to all employees of the 
Company's subsidiaries in the United Kingdom.

(3) The total dollar value of the shares issued during the quarter was 
$22,119.69.

460 shares were issued at $18.15 per share with an aggregate value of 
$8,349.00

368 shares were issued at $15.5334 per share with an aggregate value of 
$5,716.29

166 shares were issued at $15.8834 per share with an aggregate value of 
$2,636.64

94 shares were issued at $24.15 per share with an aggregate value of $2,270.10

95 shares were issued at $33.1333 per share with an aggregate value of 
$3,147.66


(4) Neither the options nor the underlying shares have been registered in 
reliance on an exemption from registration found in several no-action letters 
issued by the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission. Registration is not required because the Company is a reporting 
company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, its shares are actively 
traded, the number of shares issuable under the Savings Plans is small 
relative to the number of shares outstanding, all eligible employees are 
entitled to participate, the shares are being issued in connection with the 
employees' compensation, not in lieu of it and there is no negotiation between 
the Company and the employee regarding the grant.

(5) Under the Savings Plans, employees are given the right to buy a specified 
number of shares with the proceeds of a "Save-as-You-Earn" savings contract.  
Under the savings contract, the employee authorizes 60 monthly deductions from 
his or her paycheck  At the end of the five year period, the employee may 
elect to (i) use all or a part of the accumulated savings to buy all or some 
of the shares under the employee's options, (ii) leave the accumulated savings 
with the financial institution that has custody of the funds for an additional 
two years or (iii) take a cash distribution of the accumulated savings.  The 
option to purchase shares will lapse at the end of the five year period if not 
exercised at that time.  Employees who are terminated and whose options have 
not lapsed have six months from the date of termination to elect to receive 
shares with the savings accumulated as of the termination date.




                                     -16-
Item 4. - Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security-Holders

(a)  The company's annual meeting of shareholders was held on April 15, 1998.

(c)(i) The following directors were elected:

                                 Shares Voted     Shares
                                      For        Withheld     Non-Votes
                                  - - - - - -    - - - - -    - - - - -
       James G. Kaiser            70,773,888     1,166,845       0
       Hugo E. Uyterhoeven        70,843,918     1,096,815       0
       Walter W. Williams         70,794,017     1,146,716       0

(ii) The material terms of performance goals were approved by the following 
vote:

      Shares Voted     Shares Voted     Shares Voted
           For            Against         Abstaining     Non-Votes
      - - - - - - -    - - - - - -       - - - - - -     - - - - -
       67,940,612        3,226,359         773,761          0

(iii) The 1997 Long-Term Plan was approved by the following vote:

      Shares Voted     Shares Voted     Shares Voted
           For            Against         Abstaining     Non-Votes
      - - - - - - -    - - - - - -       - - - - - -     - - - - -
       51,740,755      19,333,871         866,106           0

(iv) Ernst & Young LLP was approved as the company's independent auditors by 
the following vote:

      Shares Voted     Shares Voted     Shares Voted
           For            Against         Abstaining     Non-Votes
      - - - - - - -    - - - - - -       - - - - - -     - - - - -
       71,163,016        497,444          280,273           0


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

(a) Exhibits 
           
         (1) See Exhibit Index on page 19
                                     
(b) Reports on Form 8-K.

         (1)  Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 22, 
              1998, in respect of the Registrant's press release announcing 
              first quarter earnings.

         (2)  Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 23,    
              1998, in respect of the Registrant's press release announcing  
              that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire 90% of the 
              outstanding shares of ZAG Industries, Ltd.      

         (3)  Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 23,
              1998, in respect of the Registrant's press release discussing
              expected second quarter results and long-term business outlook.

    
                                    -17-
           


                             Signature


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

                                        THE STANLEY WORKS


Date: August 18, 1998               By:  Theresa F. Yerkes

                                         Theresa F. Yerkes
                                         Vice President and
                                         Controller (Chief Financial 
                                         Officer, Chief Accounting
                                         Officer and Authorized 
                                         Signatory of the Registrant)





































                                    -18-




EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT LIST

 (3)  (i)  By-laws.

(10)  (i)  Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 1998, between
           Stanley Account Value Plan Trust, acting by and through
           Citibank, N.A., as trustee under the trust agreement for 
           the Stanley Account Value Plan, for $41,050,763 6.07% Senior
           ESOP Guaranteed Notes Due December 31, 2009.

     (ii)  New 1991 Loan Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between The
           Stanley Works, as lender, and Citibank, N.A., as trustee under
           the trust agreement for the Stanley Account Value Plan, to
           refinance the 1991 Salaried ESOP Loan and the 1991 Hourly ESOP
           Loan and their related promissory notes.

    (iii)  Management Incentive Compensation Plan effective January 4, 
           1998.

(12) Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
(27) Financial Data Schedule






























                                     -19-



                                                       As amended April 15, 1998




                                THE STANLEY WORKS

                                     BYLAWS

                                    ARTICLE I

                             SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS


1.       Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting of the shareholders shall be held at
         such time in the month of February,  March or April in each year and at
         such place within or without the State of  Connecticut  as the Board of
         Directors  may  determine.  Notice  thereof  shall  be  mailed  to each
         shareholder  to his or her last known post office address not less than
         twenty-five days nor more than fifty days before such Meeting.

2.       Special Meetings.  Special Meetings of the shareholders shall be called
         by the Chairman, or the President or Secretary,  or by the Chairman, or
         the President or Secretary  upon the written  request of the holders of
         not less than 35% of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote on
         any issue proposed to be considered at such Meeting by mailing a notice
         thereof  to each  shareholder  to his or her  last  known  post  office
         address not less than  twenty-five days nor more than fifty days before
         such Meeting.

3.       Quorum.  At any Meeting of shareholders  the holders of not less than a
         majority of the shares  outstanding  and  entitled  to vote  present in
         person  or by proxy  shall  constitute  a  quorum.  The  Directors  may
         establish a record date for voting or other purposes in accordance with
         law.

4.       Business  to  be  Conducted  at  Annual  Meeting.   No business may  be
         transacted  at  an  Annual  Meeting  of  shareholders   (including  any
         adjournment thereof), other than business that is either  (a) specified
         in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the
         direction of the Board of Directors  (or any  duly authorized committee
         thereof), (b) otherwise properly brought before the  Annual  Meeting by
         or at the direction of the Board of Directors  (or  any duly authorized
         committee thereof) or (c) otherwise properly  brought before the Annual
         Meeting  by any shareholder  (i) who is a shareholder of record  on the
         date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 4  and on
         the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to  vote
         at such Annual Meeting and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures
         set forth in this Section 4.



                                        1

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

         In addition to any other  applicable  requirements,  for business to be
         properly  brought  before  an Annual  Meeting  by a  shareholder,  such
         shareholder  must have given timely  notice  thereof in proper  written
         form to the Secretary.

         To be timely, a shareholder's notice to the Secretary must be delivered
         to or mailed and  received at the  principal  executive  offices of the
         Corporation  not less than  sixty (60) days nor more than  ninety  (90)
         days  prior to the  anniversary  of the date on which  the  immediately
         preceding  Annual  Meeting  of  shareholders  was  convened;  provided,
         however, that in the event that the Annual Meeting is called for a date
         that is not within  thirty (30) days  before or after such  anniversary
         date,  notice  by the  shareholder  in  order to be  timely  must be so
         received  not later than the close of business on the tenth  (10th) day
         following  the day on  which  such  notice  of the  date of the  Annual
         Meeting was mailed or such public  disclosure of the date of the Annual
         Meeting was made, whichever first occurs.

         To be in proper written form, a  shareholder's  notice to the Secretary
         must set forth as to each  matter  such  shareholder  proposes to bring
         before the  Annual  Meeting  (i) a brief  description  of the  business
         desired to be brought  before the Annual  Meeting  and the  reasons for
         conducting  such  business  at the  Annual  Meeting,  (ii) the name and
         record  address  of such  shareholder,  (iii) the  class or series  and
         number of shares of capital  stock of the  Corporation  which are owned
         beneficially  or of record by such  shareholder,  (iv) a description of
         all  arrangements or  understandings  between such  shareholder and any
         other person or persons  (including their names) in connection with the
         proposal of such business by such shareholder and any material interest
         of such shareholder in such business and (v) a representation that such
         shareholder  intends  to appear  in  person  or by proxy at the  Annual
         Meeting to bring such business before the meeting.

         No business  shall be conducted at the Annual  Meeting of  shareholders
         except  business  brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance  with
         the procedures set forth in this Section 4,  provided,  however,  that,
         once business has been properly  brought  before the Annual  Meeting in
         accordance  with such  procedures,  nothing in this  Section 4 shall be
         deemed to preclude  discussion by any shareholder of any such business.
         If the Chairman of an Annual Meeting  determines  that business was not
         properly  brought  before the Annual  Meeting  in  accordance  with the
         foregoing  procedures,  the Chairman  shall declare to the meeting that
         the  business  was not  properly  brought  before the  meeting and such
         business shall not be transacted.





                                        2

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

                                   ARTICLE II

                       NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES

1.       Eligibility to Make Nominations. Nominations of candidates for election
         as directors of the Corporation at any meeting of  shareholders  called
         for election of directors  (an  "Election  Meeting") may be made by the
         Board  of  Directors  or by any  shareholder  entitled  to vote at such
         Election Meeting.

2.       Procedure for Nominations by the Board of Directors.  Nominations  made
         by the Board of Directors  shall be made  at a meeting of the  Board of
         Directors, or by written consent of directors in lieu of a meeting, not
         less than 30 days prior to the date  of the Election Meeting,  and such
         nominations shall be reflected in the minute books  for the Corporation
         as of the date made. At the request of the Secretary of the Corporation
         each  proposed  nominee  shall  provide   the  Corporation   with  such
         information  concerning  himself  or herself as is required,  under the
         rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to be included  in the
         Corporation's   proxy  statement  soliciting  proxies  for  his or  her
         election as a director.

3.        Procedure for Nominations by Shareholders. Not less than 30 days prior
          to the date of the Election Meeting,    any shareholder who intends to
          make a nomination at the  Election Meeting  shall deliver a notice  to
          the Secretary of the Corporation  setting  forth  (i)  the name,  age,
          business  address  and  residence  address of each nominee proposed in
          such notice,  (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such
          nominee, (iii) the number of shares of capital stock of  the  Corpora-
          tion which are beneficially owned by each such nominee  and  (iv) such
          other  information  concerning each such nominee as would be required,
          under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission,  in a proxy
          statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominees.

4.       Substitution  of  Nominees.  In the  event  that a  person  is  validly
         designated  as a nominee in  accordance  with section 2 or 3 hereof and
         shall  thereafter  become  unable or unwilling to stand for election to
         the Board of  Directors,  a  substitute  nominee may be  designated  as
         follows:

         (a)      by those  named as proxies in proxies  solicited  on behalf of
                  the Board of Directors if the person was designated as nominee
                  in accordance with section 2 hereof
         (b)      by the shareholder who proposed such nominee if the person was
                  designated as a nominee in accordance with section 3 hereof.



                                        3

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

5.       Determination of Compliance with Procedure.
         If the chairman of the Election  Meeting  determines  that a nomination
         was not in accordance  with the foregoing  procedures,  such nomination
         shall be void.


                                   ARTICLE III

                            DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

1.       Directors. The business, property and affairs of this Corporation shall
         be managed by  or  under  the  direction of the Board of Directors con-
         sisting of not less than nine  nor more than  eighteen  Directors,  the
         exact number  to be determined  by the Board of Directors  from time to
         time.  All  Directors  shall be shareholders of record.   The Directors
         shall be divided into three classes designated  Class I,  Class II  and
         Class III. Such classes shall be as nearly equal in number as the total
         number of Directors constituting the entire Board of Directors permits.
         One class  shall be chosen  annually  at  the  nnual Meeting  of share-
         holders  and  the  members  of such class shall hold office until their
         successors be elected and qualified.  The Directors  may  increase  the
         prescribed number of Directors  by the  concurring  vote of a  majority
         of the prescribed number of Directors.  Any increase or decrease in the
         prescribed  number  of  Directors  shall  be  so  apportioned among the
         classes of Directors as to make all the classes as nearly equal in num-
         ber as  possible.  No reduction of the number of Directors shall remove
         or shorten the term of any Director in office. A majority of the number
         of Directors prescribed shall constitute a quorum for  the  transaction
         of business.

2.       Meetings.   The  Chairman  or  the  President  or any Vice Chairman may
         and  upon  written  application  of  any  three  Directors shall call a
         meeting of the Board of Directors to be held at such  time and place as
         may  be  determined  by the person calling said meeting and shall cause
         notice thereof to be given. Unless waived in writing, three days verbal
         or written (mail) notice shall be required provided,  however,  that if
         in the judgment of any two officers an emergency exists,  a meeting may
         be called forthwith by telephone or telegram or verbal notice  and such
         notice  shall be deemed  sufficient notice notwithstanding that some of
         the Directors may not have actual notice.

         The Annual  Meeting of the Directors for the election of officers shall
         be held  without  notice,  immediately  after  the  Annual  Meeting  of
         shareholders.  Regular meetings of the Directors shall be held at least
         on a quarterly basis.

3.       Written Consent. If all the Directors, or all members of a committee of
         the Board of Directors,  as the case may be,  severally or collectively
         consent  in  writing  to  any  action  taken  or to  be  taken  by  the
         Corporation, and the number of such Directors or members


                                        4

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

         constitutes  a quorum for such  action,  such  action  shall be a valid
         corporate  action as though it had been  authorized at a meeting of the
         Board of  Directors  or  committee,  as the case may be. The  Secretary
         shall file such  consents with the minutes of the Board of Directors or
         of the committee, as the case may be.

4.       Participation by Telephone.  A Director may participate in a meeting of
         the Board of Directors or of a committee by any means of  communication
         by which all Directors  participating in the meeting may simultaneously
         hear one another  during the meeting,  and  participation  in a meeting
         pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at such
         meeting.

5.       Vacancies. In case any vacancy or vacancies shall exist in the Board of
         Directors  at any time the  remaining  members of the Board by majority
         action  may fill  the  vacancy  or  vacancies.  The term of a  Director
         elected to fill a vacancy expires at the next  shareholders  meeting at
         which Directors are elected.

6.       Committees.  The Board of Directors  may from time to time appoint from
         its  membership  such  committees as it may deem necessary or desirable
         for the best  interests  of the  Corporation  and may  delegate  to any
         committee  all needful  authority  to the extent  permitted by law. The
         meetings of all committees are open to all directors.

         Each  committee  shall fix its own rules as to procedure and calling of
         meetings. It shall appoint a Secretary, who need not be a member of the
         committee.  Such Secretary  shall call meetings of the committee on the
         request of the Chair of the committee or any two members and shall keep
         permanent record of all of its  proceedings.  A majority of the members
         of any committee shall constitute a quorum.

7.       Executive Committee. The Directors shall appoint an Executive Committee
         consisting  of the  Chairman,  if any, the President and at least three
         other  Directors,  but in no event shall the Committee  consist of less
         than five  members.  The Board of  Directors  may at any time  decrease
         (subject to the provisions of the preceding  paragraph) or increase the
         size of said Committee,  may change the membership thereof and may fill
         vacancies therein.

         During  intervals  between  meetings  of the  Board of  Directors,  the
         Executive  Committee  shall  possess and may exercise all the powers of
         the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of
         the  Corporation,  but the  Committee  shall  have no power to  declare
         dividends  or  do  other  things  specially  reserved  by  law  to  the
         Directors.  The  Executive  Committee  shall have power to appoint such
         subcommittees   as  it  may  deem   necessary   to   report   and  make
         recommendations  to the  Executive  Committee.  Any action taken by the
         Executive Committee shall be subject to change, alteration and revision
         by the Board of  Directors,  provided  that no rights or acts of others
         shall be affected by any


                                        5

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

         such alteration or revision.

8.       Finance and Pension Committee.   A  Finance  and Pension Committee con-
         sisting of at least five Directors  shall be appointed  by the Board of
         Directors.    The Committee shall advise and assist the Chief Financial
         Officer  and  the Treasurer in major matters concerning the finances of
         the  Corporation  and  in matters of major policy decisions in the pur-
         chase and sale of securities.   In  performance  of  this the Committee
         shall regularly review the financial condition of the Corporation so as
         to  counsel  these  officers  and  the Board on the total financial re-
         sources,  strength  and  capabilities  of  the  Corporation.   In  this
         connection,  the  Committee  shall  analyze  and  advise on fundamental
         corporate changes in capital structure  (both debt and equity);  review
         the  capital structure of the Corporation and make recommendations with
         respect  to  management  proposals  concerning  financing, purchases of
         treasury stock, investments, and dividend actions;  review periodically
         the Corporation's risk management program and its adequacy to safeguard
         the Corporation against extraordinary liabilities or losses; and advise
         and   assist  in  matters   such  as  short-term  investments,   credit
         liabilities, financings, and hedges of foreign currency exposures.

         The Committee  shall oversee the  Corporation's  administration  of its
         pension  plans  and of the  pension  plans  of  its  subsidiaries.  The
         Committee shall be responsible for setting  (subject to the approval of
         the Board of Directors) the retirement  policies of the Corporation and
         its  subsidiaries;  for amending pension plans,  savings and retirement
         plans,  stock  ownership  plans or any similar  plans or related  trust
         agreements;  and for approving  actuarial  assumptions  and  investment
         policies for the Corporation's  pension plans. It shall report at least
         annually to the Board of  Directors.  The Committee may delegate any or
         all of these functions to such employees as it, in its judgment,  deems
         appropriate.

         Specifically,  the Committee shall approve retaining or terminating the
         services of actuaries,  lawyers, accountants or other professionals for
         the plans; shall approve annually the amount of the contributions to be
         made by the  Corporation  to the  respective  plans;  and shall approve
         appointing  and  terminating   trustees  and  investment  managers  and
         determine  the  allocation of the assets of the plans among one or more
         trustees or investment managers.

9.       Audit Committee.   An  Audit Committee  consisting  of  at  least three
         Directors,  none  of  whom  shall  be  officers  or  employees  of  the
         Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, shall be appointed by the Board
         of Directors.  The Committee shall nominate  the public accounting firm
         to  conduct  the  annual audit and shall review fees for audit  and tax
         work  and approve  in  advance  management  consulting  services  which
         management  may  propose  be  provided  by  the   Corporation's  public
         accounting firm.   With respect to such management consulting services,
         consideration  shall  be  given to the effect that performing such ser-
         vices might have on audit independence. The Committee shall review with
         the auditors the scope and


                                        6

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

         timing of their audit  examination,  with particular  emphasis on those
         areas  which  either the  Committee  or the  auditors  believe  warrant
         special  attention.  The  Committee is  authorized to have the auditors
         perform such supplemental reviews or audits as it deems desirable.

         The Committee  shall review the audited  financial  statements  and the
         auditors'  report thereon,  including  consideration of all significant
         disclosures required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any
         proposed  changes in accounting  principles  or practices  which have a
         significant  impact on amounts  reported  for the current year (or will
         have in the future) and shall discuss with the auditors any significant
         problems  encountered  in the  completion  of the audit.  The Committee
         shall  review  with  management  and  the   independent   auditors  the
         qualitative   judgments  about  the   appropriateness,   not  just  the
         acceptability,   of  accounting  principles  and  financial  disclosure
         practices  used or  proposed  to be  adopted  including  the  degree of
         aggressiveness  or  conservatism  of  the  accounting   principles  and
         underlying  estimates  including  significant  liabilities and reserves
         associated  with those  liabilities.  The  Committee  shall  review the
         auditors'   recommendations   regarding   internal  control  and  their
         comments,  if any,  relating to  conflicts  of  interest,  questionable
         payments or other  similar  matters,  and monitor with  management  the
         consideration  given and/or the corrective action taken with respect to
         these  comments  and   recommendations.   The  Committee  shall  review
         management's   evaluation  of  the  Corporation's  system  of  internal
         accounting controls,  including the independence,  scope and results of
         the  internal  audit  function,  and monitor the  effectiveness  of the
         system  with  management,   independent  auditors  and  internal  audit
         management.  The Committee shall review with management and independent
         auditors  and  consider the impact on the  Corporation  of  significant
         recent or pending  statements  by the  Financial  Accounting  Standards
         Board, the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  the Auditing Standards
         Executive  Committee  of the American  Institute  of  Certified  Public
         Accountants  and similar  authoritative  bodies.  The  Committee  shall
         review environmental liabilities and the reserves associated with those
         liabilities.

         In carrying out all of the  foregoing  responsibilities,  the Committee
         shall have direct and open access to Management, public accountants and
         internal  audit  management  (each of which  shall have direct and open
         access   to   the   Committee);   shall   submit   Committee   reports,
         recommendations, and minutes of meetings to the Board of Directors; and
         shall provide  opportunities  to the other members of the Board to have
         full and open access to the independent auditors.

10.      Compensation   and   Organization   Committee.   A   Compensation   and
         Organization Committee consisting of at least three Directors,  none of
         whom shall be employees of the Corporation or any of its  subsidiaries,
         shall be  appointed  by the Board of  Directors.  The  Committee  shall
         review  and  approve  major  organization  and  compensation  structure
         changes as recommended by Management.  Although the Board, itself, will
         review the


                                        7

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

         performance of the chief  executive  officer and fix his or her salary,
         the Committee  shall approve the performance and determine the salaries
         of the other executive  officers of the Corporation and of other senior
         executives  whose base salary  exceeds an amount  fixed by the Board of
         Directors;  shall determine the compensation of all executive  officers
         and such senior  executives  under the  Corporation's  senior executive
         compensation  plans;  shall administer all of the Corporation's  senior
         executive  compensation  plans;  and  shall  assure  that  there  is  a
         succession plan in place.

11.      Committee on Board Affairs and Public Policy.   A  Committee  on  Board
         Affairs and Public Policy consisting of at least three directors,  none
         of  whom  shall  be  employees  of  the  Corporation or any of its sub-
         sidiaries shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.  The  Committee
         shall consider and make recommendations to the Board of Directors as to
         Board  of  Director  membership with respect to names generated by  the
         Committee itself or submitted by shareholders. The Committee shall con-
         sider  and  make recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect
         to Board of Director committee membership and chair assignments. (These
         will  normally  be  acted  upon by the Board of Directors at its Annual
         Meeting held immediately after the Annual Meeting of shareholders.) The
         Committee  shall  consider  and  make  recommendations  to the Board of
         Directors  with  respect  to  the  number  of  members of the Board  of
         Directors.  (The Charter and Bylaws provide for not less than nine  nor
         more than eighteen as may be determined by the  Board).  Annually,  the
         Committee shall consider and recommend   to  the Board of Directors the
         persons  whom  the  Committee  proposes  that  the  Board  of Directors
         nominate  for  election  as  directors  at the Annual Meeting of share-
         holders.  The Committee shall consider and make  recommendations to the
         Board of Directors with respect to remuneration of directors.

         The Committee shall provide  guidance to the Management on major issues
         in areas of corporate social  responsibility,  including  environmental
         issues and public  affairs.  The  Committee  shall  review and  approve
         policy  guidelines  to be  used  by  Management  in  making  charitable
         contributions  and shall annually  review all charitable  contributions
         made by the Corporation during the previous twelve months and recommend
         to the Board the level of contributions to be set for the ensuing year.

12.      In the absence of any one or more  members from a meeting of any of the
         committees  provided  for  in  these  Bylaws,  the  Chairman,   or  the
         President, may in his or her discretion invite any member or members of
         the Board  (otherwise  qualified  to serve)  to  attend  such  meeting.
         Temporary  members thus appointed to attend for absentees  shall act as
         regular members and shall have the right to vote.

13.      Powers of All Committees. The powers of all committees are at all times
         subject  to the  control  of  the  Directors,  and  any  member  of any
         committee may be removed at any time at the pleasure of the Board.


                                        8

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998


                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    OFFICERS

1.       Election of Officers.  The Board of Directors shall have power to elect
         from its own members or otherwise a Chairman, a President,  one or more
         Vice Chairmen and Vice  Presidents,  a Secretary,  a Treasurer,  one or
         more  Assistant  Treasurers and Assistant  Secretaries,  and such other
         officers,  agents and employees as it may deem expedient, and to define
         the duties and authority of all  officers,  employees and agents and to
         delegate to them such lawful powers as may be deemed advisable.

         The officers shall respectively perform all acts and duties required of
         such officers by law, by the Charter and Bylaws of this Corporation, or
         by the Board of Directors.

2.       Chairman of the Board.  If the Directors  have elected a Chairman,  the
         Chairman  shall preside at all meetings of the Board except that in the
         Chairman's  absence the Directors  present shall  designate a person to
         preside. The Chairman shall have such additional duties as the Board of
         Directors or the Executive Committee may assign.

3.       President.  The  President  shall be elected by the Directors and shall
         have such duties as the Board of Directors or the  Executive  Committee
         may assign.

4.       Chief  Executive  Officer One of the officers shall be appointed  Chief
         Executive Officer of the Corporation by the Board of Directors. Subject
         to the  Board of  Directors  and the  Executive  Committee,  the  Chief
         Executive  Officer  shall have general  supervision  and control of the
         policies, business and affairs of the Corporation.

5.       Vice  Chairmen.  Each Vice Chairman  shall have such powers and perform
         such duties as may be conferred  upon him or her or  determined  by the
         Chief Executive Officer.

6.       Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall have such powers and perform
         such duties as may be conferred  upon him or her or  determined  by the
         Chief Executive Officer.

7.       Treasurer.  The  Treasurer  shall have the oversight and control of the
         funds of the Corporation and shall have the power and authority to make
         and endorse notes,  drafts and checks and other  obligations  necessary
         for the transaction of the business of the Corporation except as herein
         otherwise provided.

8.       Controller.  The Controller shall have the oversight and control of the
         accounting records


                                        9

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

         of the  Corporation  and shall  prepare  such  accounting  reports  and
         recommendations  as  shall  be  appropriate  for the  operation  of the
         Corporation.

9.       Secretary.  It  shall  be the  duty of the  Secretary  to make and keep
         records of the votes,  doings and  proceedings  of all  meetings of the
         shareholders  and Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation,  and of its
         Committees, and to authenticate records of the Corporation.

10.      Assistant  Treasurers.  The Assistant Treasurers shall have such duties
         as the Treasurer shall determine.

11.      Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretaries shall have such duties
         as the Secretary shall determine.

12.      Powers of All  Officers.  The powers of all  officers  are at all times
         subject to the control of the Directors, and any officer may be removed
         at any time at the pleasure of the Board.


                                    ARTICLE V

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

         To the extent  properly  permitted by law the Board of Directors  shall
         provide for the  indemnification  and reimbursement of, and advances of
         expenses to, any person made a party to any action,  suit or proceeding
         by  reason  of the  fact  that  he or  she,  or a  person  whose  legal
         representative or successor he or she is,

         (a)      is  or  was  a  Director,  officer,  employee or agent of  the
                  Corporation, or

         (b)      served at the  Corporation's  request as a director,  officer,
                  employee or agent of another corporation,

                  for expenses,  including  attorney's  fees, and such amount of
                  any judgment,  money decree,  fine,  penalty or settlement for
                  which  he or she  may  have  become  liable  as the  Board  of
                  Directors deems reasonable, actually incurred by him or her in
                  connection  with the defense or  reasonable  settlement of any
                  such action, suit or proceeding or any appeal therein.

         This  provision  of  indemnification  shall be in addition to any other
         right or remedy which such person may have. The Corporation  shall have
         the  right  to  intervene  in and  defend  all such  actions,  suits or
         proceedings brought against any such person.



                                       10

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                 CORPORATE SEAL

         The corporate  seal shall be in the custody of the Secretary and either
         the  Secretary or any other  officer  shall have the power to affix the
         same for the Corporation.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                               STOCK CERTIFICATES

1.       Signatures.  Certificates of stock shall be signed by the Chairman, the
         President or a Vice  President  and by the  Secretary or the  Treasurer
         (except that where any such  certificate  is signed by a transfer agent
         or transfer  clerk and by the  registrar,  the  signatures  of any such
         Chairman,  President,  Vice  President,  Secretary or Treasurer  may be
         facsimiles,  engraved or printed)  and shall be sealed with the seal of
         the corporation (or shall bear a facsimile of such seal).

2.       Lost   Certificates.   No  certificate  for  shares  of  stock  in  the
         Corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have
         been lost,  stolen or destroyed except upon production of such evidence
         of such loss,  theft or  destruction  as the Board of  Directors in its
         discretion  may require and upon delivery to the  Corporation of a bond
         of  indemnity  in form  and,  unless  such  requirement  is  waived  by
         Resolution of the Board, with one or more sureties, satisfactory to the
         Board in at least  double  the value of the stock  represented  by said
         Certificate.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   FISCAL YEAR

         The  Corporation's  fiscal  year shall  close on the  Saturday  nearest
         December 31st of each year.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                                INDEPENDENT AUDIT

                                       11

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

         The Board of Directors  shall provide for a yearly  independent  audit,
         the form and scope of which shall be  determined by the Board from time
         to time.


                                    ARTICLE X

                                   AMENDMENTS

         The Board of Directors of the  Corporation  may adopt,  amend or repeal
         the Bylaws of the Corporation,  subject,  however,  to the power of the
         shareholders  to adopt,  amend or repeal  the same,  provided  that any
         notice of a meeting of  shareholders  or of the Board of  Directors  at
         which  Bylaws are to be adopted,  amended or  repealed,  shall  include
         notice of such proposed action.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                              ACQUISITIONS OF STOCK

          (a)  Except as set forth in  subsection  (b) hereof,  the  Corporation
               shall not acquire any of its voting equity securities (as defined
               below) at a price per share above the market  price per share (as
               defined below) of such securities on the date of such acquisition
               from  any  person  actually  known by the  Corporation  to be the
               beneficial owner (as determined  pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the
               Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  or any  successor
               rule  or   regulation)   of  more  than  three   percent  of  the
               Corporation's   voting  equity   securities   who  has  been  the
               beneficial owner of the  Corporation's  voting equity  securities
               for less  than two years  prior to the date of the  Corporation's
               acquisition  thereof,   unless  such  acquisition  (i)  has  been
               approved by a vote of a majority of the shares  entitled to vote,
               excluding  shares  owned  by any  beneficial  owner  any of whose
               shares are  proposed  to be  acquired  pursuant  to the  proposed
               acquisition  that is the subject of such vote or (ii) is pursuant
               to an offer made on the same terms to all  holders of  securities
               of such class. The  determination of the Board of Directors shall
               be  conclusive  in  determining  the  price  paid per  share  for
               acquired  voting equity  securities if the  Corporation  acquires
               such securities for consideration other than cash.

          (b)  This  provision   shall  not  restrict the Corporation from:  (i)
               acquiring  shares  in  the  open market in transactions in  which
               there  has  been no prior arrangement with,  or  solicitation  of
               (other  than  a  solicitation  publicly made to all holders), any
               selling holder of voting equity securities or in which all share-
               holders desiring to

                                       12

<PAGE>


                                                       As amended April 15, 1998

               sell their shares have an equal chance to sell their shares; (ii)
               offering to acquire shares of  shareholders  owning less than 100
               shares of any class of voting equity securities;  (iii) acquiring
               shares  pursuant to the terms of a stock  option or similar  plan
               that  has  been   approved  by  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  the
               Corporation's   common  shares   represented   at  a  meeting  of
               shareholders and entitled to vote thereon;  (iv) acquiring shares
               from,  or on behalf of, any employee  benefit plan  maintained by
               the Corporation or any subsidiary or any trustee of, or fiduciary
               with respect to, any such plan when acting in such  capacity;  or
               (v) acquiring  shares pursuant to a statutory  appraisal right or
               otherwise as required by law.

          (c)  Market price per share on a particular day means the highest sale
               price on that day or  during  the  period  of five  trading  days
               immediately  preceding  that day of a share of such voting equity
               security on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange-Listed
               Stocks,  or if such voting  equity  security is not quoted on the
               Composite  Tape on the New York Stock  Exchange or listed on such
               Exchange,  on the  principal  United States  securities  exchange
               registered  under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 on which
               such voting equity security is listed,  or, if such voting equity
               security is not listed on any such  exchange,  the highest  sales
               price or, if sales price is not reported, the highest closing bid
               quotation with respect to a share of such voting equity  security
               on that day or during the period of five trading days immediately
               preceding  that day on the  National  Association  of  Securities
               Dealers,  Inc. Automated  Quotations System or any system then in
               use,  or if no such  quotations  are  available,  the fair market
               value on the date in question  of a share of such  voting  equity
               security as determined by a majority of the Board of Directors.

          (d)  Voting  equity   securities  of  the  Corporation   means  equity
               securities  issued from time to time by the Corporation  which by
               their terms are entitled to be voted generally in the election of
               the directors of the Corporation.

          (e)  The Board of  Directors  shall  have the power to  interpret  the
               terms and provisions of, and make any determinations with respect
               to, this Article XI,  which  interpretations  and  determinations
               shall be conclusive.




J:\SHRDATA\LEGAL\BYLAWS\041598C.WPD
                                                        13

<PAGE>




                                                  [COMPOSITE CONFORMED COPY WITH
                                                      SUBSTANTIALLY ALL EXHIBITS
                                                          CONFORMED AS EXECUTED]









                        STANLEY ACCOUNT VALUE PLAN TRUST





               ---------------------------------------------------


                             Note Purchase Agreement

               ---------------------------------------------------






                            DATED AS OF JUNE 30, 1998













      $41,050,763 6.07% SENIOR ESOP GUARANTEED NOTES DUE DECEMBER 31, 2009


<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                      PAGE

1.       AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES........................................  1

2.       SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES....................................  1

3.       CLOSING.......................................................  1

4.       CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.........................................  2
         4.1      Representations and Warranties.......................  2
         4.2      Performance; No Default..............................  2
         4.3      Compliance Certificates..............................  2
         4.4      Opinions of Counsel..................................  2
         4.5      Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc............  3
         4.6      Sale of Other Notes..................................  3
         4.7      Payment of Special Counsel Fees......................  3
         4.8      Private Placement Number.............................  3
         4.9      Changes in Corporate Structure.......................  3
         4.10     ESOP Documents.......................................  4
         4.11     Proceedings and Documents............................  4

5.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.................  4
         5.1      Organization; Power and Authority....................  4
         5.2      Authorization, etc...................................  4
         5.3      Disclosure...........................................  5
         5.4      Material Subsidiaries................................  5
         5.5      Financial Statements.................................  5
         5.6      Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.........  5
         5.7      Governmental Authorizations, etc.....................  6
         5.8      Litigation; Observance of Statutes and Orders........  6
         5.9      Taxes................................................  6
         5.10     Title to Property; Leases............................  6
         5.11     Licenses, Permits, etc...............................  7
         5.12     Compliance with ERISA................................  7
         5.13     Private Offering by the Company......................  8
         5.14     Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations..................  8
         5.15     Existing Indebtedness................................  8
         5.16     Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc..............  9
         5.17     Status under Certain Statutes........................  9
         5.18     The ESOP.............................................  9
         5.19     Representations of the Bank.......................... 10

6.       REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER.............................. 11
         6.1      Purchase for Investment.............................. 11
         6.2      Source of Funds...................................... 12

                                       i


<PAGE>


                           TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)

                                                                      PAGE

7.       INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY..................................... 13
         7.1      Financial and Business Information................... 13
         7.2      Officer's Certificate................................ 15
         7.3      Inspection........................................... 16

8.       PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES....................................... 16
         8.1      Required Prepayments................................. 16
         8.2      Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount.......... 16
         8.3      Allocation of Required and Partial Prepayments....... 17
         8.4      Maturity; Surrender, etc............................. 17
         8.5      Assumption of Notes upon the Occurrence of the
                  Termination of the ESOP.............................. 17
         8.6      Purchase of Notes.................................... 18
         8.7      Offer to Purchase Notes upon Change in Control, etc.. 19
         8.8      Purchase of Notes by Company upon Acceleration....... 21
         8.9      Make-Whole Amount.................................... 21
         8.10     Interest............................................. 23

9.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS......................................... 23
         9.1      Compliance with Law.................................. 23
         9.2      Insurance............................................ 23
         9.3      Maintenance of Properties............................ 23
         9.4      Payment of Taxes..................................... 24
         9.5      Corporate Existence, etc............................. 24
         9.6      ESOP Existence.  .................................... 24
         9.7      Determination Letter.  .............................. 25
         9.8      Pari Passu Obligations............................... 26

10.      NEGATIVE COVENANTS............................................ 26
         10.1     Transactions with Affiliates......................... 26
         10.2     Merger, Consolidation, etc........................... 26
         10.3     Consolidated Cash Flow............................... 27

11.      EVENTS OF DEFAULT............................................. 27

12.      REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC...................................... 29
         12.1     Acceleration......................................... 29
         12.2     Other Remedies....................................... 30
         12.3     Rescission........................................... 30
         12.4     No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc.... 31
         12.5     Code Limitations..................................... 31

13.      REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES................. 31
         13.1     Registration of Notes................................ 31
         13.2     Transfer and Exchange of Notes....................... 32
         13.3     Replacement of Notes................................. 32

                                       ii


<PAGE>


                           TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)

                                                                      PAGE
14.      PAYMENTS ON NOTES............................................. 33
         14.1     Place of Payment..................................... 33
         14.2     Home Office Payment.................................. 33

15.      EXPENSES, ETC................................................. 33
         15.1     Transaction Expenses................................. 33
         15.2     Survival............................................. 34

16.      SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE
         AGREEMENT..................................................... 34

17.      AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.......................................... 34
         17.1     Requirements......................................... 34
         17.2     Solicitation of Holders of Notes..................... 34
         17.3     Binding Effect, etc.................................. 35
         17.4     Notes held by the Issuer, the Company, etc........... 35

18.      NOTICES....................................................... 35

19.      REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS..................................... 36

20.      CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION...................................... 36

21.      SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER..................................... 38

22.      GUARANTEE..................................................... 38
         22.1     Guaranteed Obligations............................... 38
         22.2     Performance under this Agreement and the Other
                  Agreements........................................... 38
         22.3     Waivers.............................................. 39
         22.4     Certain Waivers of Subrogation, Reimbursement and
                  Indemnity............................................ 40
         22.5     Releases............................................. 40
         22.6     Marshaling........................................... 41
         22.7     Liability............................................ 41
         22.8     Character of Obligation.............................. 41
         22.9     Election to Perform Obligations...................... 42
         22.10    No Election.......................................... 43
         22.11    Severability......................................... 43
         22.12    Other Enforcement Rights............................. 43
         22.13    Delay or Omission; No Waiver......................... 43
         22.14    Restoration of Rights and Remedies................... 43
         22.15    Cumulative Remedies.................................. 44
         22.16    Survival............................................. 44
         22.17    Miscellaneous........................................ 44

23.      MISCELLANEOUS................................................. 44
         23.1     Successors and Assigns............................... 44
         23.2     Payments Due on Non-Business Days.................... 44

                                      iii


<PAGE>


                           TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)

                                                                      PAGE

         23.3     Severability......................................... 44
         23.4     Construction......................................... 45
         23.5     Counterparts......................................... 45
         23.6     Governing Law........................................ 45
         23.7     Prohibited Transactions and Fiduciary Violations..... 45
         23.8     No Recourse with respect to the Issuer or the ESOP... 46

         SCHEDULE A    --  Information Relating to Purchasers

         SCHEDULE B    --  Defined Terms

         SCHEDULE C    --  Wiring Instructions at Closing

         SCHEDULE 4.9  --  Changes in Corporate Structure

         SCHEDULE 5.3  --  Disclosure Materials

         SCHEDULE 5.11 -- Licenses, Patents, etc.

         SCHEDULE 8.1  --  Principal Amortization of Notes

         EXHIBIT 1     --  Form of 6.07% Senior ESOP Guaranteed Note due
                           December 31, 2009

         EXHIBIT 4.4(a)--  Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Issuer
                           and the Company

         EXHIBIT 4.4(b)--  Form of Opinion of General Counsel of the Company

         EXHIBIT 4.4(c)-- Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for Citibank, N.A.

         EXHIBIT 4.4(d)--  Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Purchasers

         EXHIBIT 8.5   --  Form of Endorsement for Termination-Related Assumed
                           Notes

                                       iv


<PAGE>


                        STANLEY ACCOUNT VALUE PLAN TRUST

      $41,050,763 6.07% SENIOR ESOP GUARANTEED NOTES DUE DECEMBER 31, 2009

                                                       Dated as of June 30, 1998

[Separately Addressed to Each of the
Purchasers Listed on Schedule A hereto]:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Each of  STANLEY  ACCOUNT  VALUE  PLAN  TRUST,  acting  by and  through
Citibank,  N.A., a national banking association,  not in its individual capacity
(except as expressly  specified in Section 5.19 and Section 23.8), but solely as
trustee under the ESOP Documents (as hereinafter  defined) (the  "Issuer"),  and
THE  STANLEY  WORKS,  a  corporation  organized  under  the laws of the State of
Connecticut (together with its permitted successors, the "Company"), agrees with
you as follows:

1.       AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES.

         The  Issuer  will  authorize  the  issue  and  sale of  $41,050,763  in
aggregate  principal  amount  of its  6.07%  Senior  ESOP  Guaranteed  Notes due
December  31, 2009 (the  "Notes",  such term to include any such notes issued in
substitution  therefor  pursuant  to Section 13 of this  Agreement  or the Other
Agreements (as hereinafter  defined)).  The Notes shall be  substantially in the
form set out in  Exhibit  1,  with such  changes  therefrom,  if any,  as may be
approved by you, the Issuer and the Company.  Certain  capitalized terms used in
this  Agreement  are defined in Schedule B;  references  to a  "Schedule"  or an
"Exhibit" are, unless otherwise specified,  to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached
to this Agreement.

2.       SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES.

         Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,  the Issuer will
issue and sell to you and you will  purchase  from the  Issuer,  at the  Closing
provided for in Section 3, Notes in the principal amount specified opposite your
name in  Schedule  A at the  purchase  price  of 100%  of the  principal  amount
thereof.  Contemporaneously  with  entering into this  Agreement,  the Issuer is
entering  into  separate  Note  Purchase  Agreements  (the  "Other  Agreements")
identical  with  this  Agreement  with  each of the  other  purchasers  named in
Schedule A (the "Other  Purchasers"),  providing for the sale at such Closing to
each of the Other Purchasers of Notes in the principal amount specified opposite
its name in Schedule A. Your  obligation  hereunder and the  obligations  of the
Other   Purchasers  under  the  Other  Agreements  are  several  and  not  joint
obligations  and you shall have no obligation  under any Other  Agreement and no
liability  to any Person for the  performance  or  non-performance  by any Other
Purchaser thereunder.

3.       CLOSING.

         The sale and purchase of the Notes to be purchased by you and the Other
Purchasers  shall  occur at the  offices  of Hebb & Gitlin,  One  State  Street,
Hartford,  Connecticut  06103,  at 10:00  a.m.,  local time,  at a closing  (the
"Closing")  on June 30, 1998.  At the Closing the Issuer will deliver to you the
Notes  to be  purchased  by you in the form of a  single  Note (or such  greater
number of Notes in  denominations  of at least  $1,000,000  as you may  request)
dated the date of the  Closing  and  registered  in your name (or in the name of
your nominee), against delivery by you to the Issuer or its order of immediately
available funds in the amount of the purchase price


<PAGE>


therefor by wire transfer of immediately  available funds for the account of the
Issuer as  indicated  on Schedule C. If at the Closing the Issuer  shall fail to
tender  such  Notes to you as  provided  above in this  Section 3, or any of the
conditions  specified  in  Section  4 shall  not  have  been  fulfilled  to your
satisfaction,   you  shall,  at  your  election,  be  relieved  of  all  further
obligations  under this  Agreement,  without  thereby waiving any rights you may
have by reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.

4.       CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

         Your  obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold to you at
the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to your  satisfaction,  prior to or at
the Closing, of the following conditions:

4.1      Representations and Warranties.

         The  representations  and  warranties  of the Issuer,  the Bank and the
Company  in this  Agreement  shall be  correct  when made and at the time of the
Closing.

4.2      Performance; No Default.

         The Issuer and the Company  shall have  performed and complied with all
agreements and conditions  contained in this Agreement  required to be performed
or complied  with by each of them prior to or at the  Closing  and after  giving
effect to the issue and sale of the Notes (and the  application  of the proceeds
thereof as  contemplated  by Section  5.14) no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing.

4.3      Compliance Certificates.

              (a) Bank  Certificate.  The Bank  shall  have  delivered  to you a
         certificate,  dated  the  date  of the  Closing,  certifying  that  its
         representation set forth in Section 5.19 is true and correct.

              (b) Bank Secretary's Certificate. The Bank shall have delivered to
         you a certificate  certifying as to corporate  proceedings  relating to
         the  authorization,  execution  and  delivery  of  the  Notes  and  the
         Agreements.

              (c)  Company  Officer's   Certificate.   The  Company  shall  have
         delivered  to you an  Officer's  Certificate,  dated  the  date  of the
         Closing,  certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2
         and 4.9 have been fulfilled with respect to both itself and the Issuer.

              (d)  Company  Secretary's  Certificate.  The  Company  shall  have
         delivered  to  you  a  certificate  certifying  as to  the  resolutions
         attached  thereto  and  other  corporate  proceedings  relating  to the
         authorization, execution and delivery of the Notes and the Agreements.

4.4      Opinions of Counsel.

         You shall have received opinions in form and substance  satisfactory to
you, dated the date of the Closing

                                       2


<PAGE>


              (a) from Reid & Riege,  special  counsel  for the  Issuer  and the
         Company,  covering  the  matters  set forth in Exhibit  4.4(a) (and the
         Company hereby instructs its counsel to deliver such opinion to you),

              (b) from  Stephen  S.  Weddle,  General  Counsel  of the  Company,
          covering  the  matters  set forth in Exhibit  4.4(b)  (and the Company
          hereby instructs its counsel to deliver such opinion to you),

              (c) from  McDermott,  Will & Emery,  special counsel for the Bank,
          covering the matters set forth in Exhibit 4.4(c) and


              (d) from Hebb & Gitlin,  your special  counsel in connection  with
         such  transactions,  substantially  in the  form set  forth in  Exhibit
         4.4(d) and covering such other matters incident to such transactions as
         you may reasonably request.

4.5      Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc.

         On the  date  of the  Closing  your  purchase  of  Notes  shall  (i) be
permitted  by the laws and  regulations  of each  jurisdiction  to which you are
subject,  without recourse to provisions (such as Section  1405(a)(8) of the New
York  Insurance  Law)  permitting  limited  investments  by insurance  companies
without restriction as to the character of the particular  investment,  (ii) not
violate  any  applicable  law  or  regulation  (including,  without  limitation,
Regulation  U, T or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System)
and (iii) not subject you to any tax,  penalty or liability under or pursuant to
any applicable  law or regulation,  which law or regulation was not in effect on
the date  hereof.  If  requested  by you,  you shall have  received an Officer's
Certificate  certifying as to such matters of fact as you may reasonably specify
to enable you to determine whether such purchase is so permitted.

4.6      Sale of Other Notes.

         Contemporaneously  with the Closing the Issuer  shall sell to the Other
Purchasers and the Other  Purchasers shall purchase the Notes to be purchased by
them at the Closing as specified in Schedule A.

4.7      Payment of Special Counsel Fees.

         Without limiting the provisions of Section 15.1, the Company shall have
paid on or before  the  Closing  the fees,  charges  and  disbursements  of your
special  counsel  referred  to in  Section  4.4 to  the  extent  reflected  in a
statement  of such  counsel  rendered to the Company at least one  Business  Day
prior to the Closing.

4.8      Private Placement Number.

         A Private  Placement  number  issued by Standard & Poor's CUSIP Service
Bureau (in  cooperation  with the  Securities  Valuation  Office of the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners) shall have been obtained for the Notes.

4.9      Changes in Corporate Structure.

         Except as specified in Schedule 4.9, the Company shall not have changed
its jurisdiction of incorporation or been a party to any merger or consolidation
and shall not have succeeded

                                       3


<PAGE>


to all or any substantial  part of the  liabilities of any other entity,  at any
time following the date of the most recent financial  statements  referred to in
Section 5.5.

4.10      ESOP Documents.

         You shall have received true and correct  copies of the ESOP  Documents
and all other  documents  having  the legal  effect  of  governing  the terms or
administration  of the Stanley  Account Value Plan; all the terms and provisions
thereof shall be satisfactory to you in form and substance  (including schedules
and exhibits thereto); and all such agreements,  documents and instruments shall
be in full force.  Except as affected by the transactions  contemplated  hereby,
all conditions precedent to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
the  ESOP  Documents  shall  have  occurred,  all  governmental  authorizations,
consents,  approvals,  exemptions or other actions  required in connection  with
such transactions  shall have been duly received or taken, and such transactions
shall have been  consummated  substantially in accordance with the terms of such
documents.

4.11     Proceedings and Documents.

         All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement and all documents and  instruments  incident to
such transactions shall be satisfactory to you and your special counsel, and you
and your special counsel shall have received all such  counterpart  originals or
certified  or other  copies  of such  documents  as you or they  may  reasonably
request.

5.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

         The Company (except as to Sections  5.18(j) and 5.19), the ESOP Trustee
(solely  as to  Section  5.18(j))  and the  Bank  (solely  as to  Section  5.19)
represent and warrant to you as of the date of this Agreement that:

5.1      Organization; Power and Authority.

         The Company is a corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing and in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of  incorporation,  and is duly
qualified as a foreign  corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
in which such  qualification is required by law, other than those  jurisdictions
as to which the  failure  to be so  qualified  or in good  standing  would  not,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own or hold
under lease the  properties it purports to own or hold under lease,  to transact
the business it transacts and proposes to transact,  to execute and deliver this
Agreement,  the Other  Agreements,  guarantee  endorsements on the Notes and the
ESOP Documents to which it is a party and to perform the  provisions  hereof and
thereof.

5.2         Authorization, etc.

     This  Agreement  and the  Other  Agreements  and the  Notes  have been duly
authorized by all  necessary  corporate  action on the part of the Company,  and
this  Agreement  constitutes,  and upon  execution  and  delivery  thereof  each
guarantee  endorsement on each Note will constitute,  a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms,   except  as  such  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  (a)  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,   moratorium  or  other  similar  laws
affecting the enforcement

                                       4


<PAGE>


of creditors' rights generally and (b) general  principles of equity (regardless
of whether such  enforceability  is  considered  in a proceeding in equity or at
law).

5.3      Disclosure.

         The Company, through the Placement Agent, has delivered to you and each
Other Purchaser a copy of an Executive  Summary,  dated May 1998 (the "Executive
Summary"), relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. Except as disclosed
in  Schedule  5.3,  this  Agreement,   the  Executive  Summary,  the  documents,
certificates  or other  writings  identified  in Schedule 5.3 and the  financial
statements  listed in Schedule 5.5, taken as a whole,  do not contain any untrue
statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any material  fact  necessary to
make the statements  therein not misleading in light of the circumstances  under
which  they were  made.  Except as  disclosed  in the  Executive  Summary  or as
expressly described in Schedule 5.3, or in one of the documents, certificates or
other writings  identified  therein,  or in the financial  statements  listed in
Schedule  5.5,  since  January 3, 1998 there has been no change in the financial
condition,  operations,  business  or  properties  of the  Company or any of its
Material Subsidiaries except changes that individually or in the aggregate would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.4      Material Subsidiaries.

         The outstanding  shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of
each  Material   Subsidiary  have  been  validly  issued,  are  fully  paid  and
nonassessable and are owned by the Company or another  Subsidiary free and clear
of any Lien.

5.5      Financial Statements.

         The Company has delivered to you and each Other Purchaser copies of the
financial statements of the Company and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries  attached
to the Executive Summary.  All of said financial  statements  (including in each
case the related  schedules and notes) fairly  present in all material  respects
the  consolidated  financial  position  of  the  Company  and  its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  as of the  respective  dates  specified  in such  Schedule and the
consolidated  results  of their  operations  and cash  flows for the  respective
periods so specified and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes thereto
(subject,  in the case of any interim financial  statements,  to normal year-end
adjustments).

5.6      Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.

         The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  by  the  Company  of  this
Agreement, the Other Agreements, the guarantee endorsements on the Notes and the
ESOP Documents  to which it is a party  will not (a) contravene,  result  in any
breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the  creation of any Lien
in respect of any property of the Company or any Material Subsidiary under,  any
indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement,  lease,
corporate  charter or by-laws,  or any other Material agreement or instrument to
which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or
any  Material  Subsidiary  or any of their respective properties may be bound or
affected,  (b) conflict  with  or  result  in  a  breach  of  any  of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court,
arbitrator  or  Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Material
Subsidiary  or  (c) violate any  provision  of  any statute  or  other  rule  or
regulation of any Governmental  Authority  applicable  to  the  Company  or  any
Material Subsidiary.

                                       5


<PAGE>


5.7      Governmental Authorizations, etc.

         No consent,  approval or authorization  of, or registration,  filing or
declaration with, any Governmental  Authority is required in connection with the
execution,  delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement,  the Other
Agreements,  the guarantee  endorsements  on the Notes or the ESOP  Documents to
which it is a party.

5.8      Litigation; Observance of Statutes and Orders.

                 (a) Except as disclosed in the Company's Annual Report for 1997
         on Form  10-K and on the  Company's  Quarterly  Report  for the  fiscal
         quarter ending April 4, 1998 on Form 10-Q, there are no actions,  suits
         or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,  threatened
         against or affecting the Company, any Material Subsidiary or the Issuer
         or any property of the Company,  any Material  Subsidiary or the Issuer
         in any court or before any  arbitrator  of any kind or before or by any
         Governmental  Authority that,  individually or in the aggregate,  would
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                 (b) Neither the Company  nor any  Material  Subsidiary  nor the
         Issuer is in default under any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any
         court,  arbitrator or Governmental  Authority or is in violation of any
         applicable  law,  ordinance,  rule  or  regulation  (including  without
         limitation  Environmental  Laws) of any Governmental  Authority,  which
         default  or  violation,   individually  or  in  the  aggregate,   would
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.9      Taxes.

         The Company  and its  Material  Subsidiaries  have filed all income tax
returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction,  and have paid
all taxes  shown to be due and  payable on such  returns and all other taxes and
assessments  payable by them,  to the extent  such  taxes and  assessments  have
become due and payable and before  they have become  delinquent,  except for any
taxes and  assessments  (a) the  amount of which is not  individually  or in the
aggregate  Material  or (b) the  amount,  applicability  or validity of which is
currently  being  contested in good faith by  appropriate  proceedings  and with
respect to which the Company or a Material  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, has
established  adequate  reserves in accordance  with GAAP. The Federal income tax
liabilities of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries have been determined by
the Internal  Revenue  Service and paid for all fiscal years up to and including
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1986.

5.10     Title to Property; Leases.

         The  Company and its  Material  Subsidiaries  have good and  sufficient
title to their  respective  Material  properties,  including all such properties
reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in Section 5.5 or
purported to have been acquired by the Company or any Material  Subsidiary after
said date  (except as sold or otherwise  disposed of in the  ordinary  course of
business),  except for those defects in title and Liens that, individually or in
the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. All Material leases are
valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect in all material respects.

                                       6


<PAGE>


5.11     Licenses, Permits, etc.

         Except as  disclosed  in Schedule  5.11,  the Company and its  Material
Subsidiaries own or possess all licenses, permits,  franchises,  authorizations,
patents,  copyrights,  service  marks,  trademarks  and trade  names,  or rights
thereto,  that are Material,  without known  conflict with the rights of others,
except for those  conflicts that,  individually  or in the aggregate,  would not
have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.12     Compliance with ERISA.

                (a) The  Company  and each ERISA  Affiliate  have  operated  and
         administered  each Plan in compliance  with all applicable  laws except
         for such instances of  noncompliance  as have not resulted in and could
         not  reasonably  be  expected to result in a Material  Adverse  Effect.
         Neither the Company nor any ERISA  Affiliate has incurred any liability
         pursuant  to  Title I or IV of  ERISA  or the  penalty  or  excise  tax
         provisions of the Code  relating to employee  benefit plans (as defined
         in Section 3 of ERISA),  and no event,  transaction  or  condition  has
         occurred or exists that would  reasonably  be expected to result in the
         incurrence of any such liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate,
         or in the  imposition  of any Lien on any of the rights,  properties or
         assets of the Company or any ERISA  Affiliate,  in either case pursuant
         to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such  penalty or excise tax  provisions
         or  to  section  401(a)(29)  or  412  of  the  Code,  other  than  such
         liabilities or Liens as would not be  individually  or in the aggregate
         Material.

                 (b) The accumulated benefit obligations under each of the Plans
         (other than Multiemployer  Plans),  determined as of January 3, 1998 on
         the basis of the actuarial  assumptions  specified for funding purposes
         in such Plan's most recent actuarial  valuation report,  did not exceed
         the aggregate  fair value of the assets of such Plan  allocable to such
         accumulated benefit obligations by more than $20,000,000 in the case of
         any single Plan and by more than $0 in the aggregate for all Plans. The
         term "accumulated  benefit  obligations" has the meaning provided under
         GAAP and the term "fair value" has the meaning provided under GAAP.

                 (c) The  Company  and its ERISA  Affiliates  have not  incurred
         withdrawal  liabilities  (and are not subject to contingent  withdrawal
         liabilities)  under  section  4201 or  4204  of  ERISA  in  respect  of
         Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

                 (d) The expected  unfunded  postretirement  benefit  obligation
         (determined  as of the last day of the Company's  most  recently  ended
         fiscal year in accordance  with Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board
         Statement  No.  106,  without  regard to  liabilities  attributable  to
         continuation  coverage  mandated  by section  4980B of the Code) of the
         Company and its Material Subsidiaries is not Material.

                 (e)  The  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the
         issuance  and  sale  of  the  Notes  hereunder  will  not  involve  any
         transaction that is subject to the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA
         or in connection with which a tax could be imposed  pursuant to section
         4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code. The representation by the Company in the
         first  sentence of this  Section  5.12(e) is made in reliance  upon and
         subject to (i) the accuracy of your representation in Section 6.2 as to
         the  sources of the funds to be used to pay the  purchase  price of the
         Notes to be purchased by you and (ii) the  assumption,  made solely for
         the purpose of making such  representation,  that  Department  of Labor
         Interpretive

                                       7


<PAGE>


         Bulletin 75-2 with respect to prohibited  transactions remains valid in
         the circumstances of the transactions contemplated herein.

5.13     Private Offering by the Company.

         Neither the Issuer nor the Company  nor anyone  acting on their  behalf
has offered the Notes or any similar  securities  for sale to, or solicited  any
offer to buy any of the same from,  or otherwise  approached  or  negotiated  in
respect  thereof with,  any person other than you, the Other  Purchasers and not
more than 40 other Institutional  Investors,  each of which has been offered the
Notes at a private sale for  investment.  Neither the Issuer nor the Company nor
anyone  acting on their  behalf has taken,  or will take,  any action that would
subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the  registration  requirements  of
Section 5 of the Securities Act.

5.14     Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations.

         The  Issuer  will  apply  the  proceeds  of the  sale of the  Notes  to
refinance (i) certain term loans in the original  aggregate  principal amount of
$54,500,000  made on June 6,  1989 by the  lenders  signatory  to the  Loan  and
Guaranty Agreement  relating thereto to State Street Bank and Trust Company,  as
trustee of The Stanley Works Savings and Retirement Trust, and (ii) certain term
loans in the original aggregate  principal amount of $40,500,000 made on June 6,
1989 by the  lenders  signatory  to the Loan  and  Guaranty  Agreement  relating
thereto to State Street Bank and Trust Company,  as trustee of The Stanley Works
Savings  Trust  for  Hourly  Paid  Employees,  which  loans  have  an  aggregate
outstanding principal balance of $41,050,763 on the date of the Closing. None of
the  transactions  contemplated  in  this  Agreement  and the  Other  Agreements
(including,  without  limitation,  the use of the  proceeds  of the  sale of the
Notes) violates, or will result in a violation of, Section 7 of the Exchange Act
or Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve System (12 CFR
220),  Regulation U of said Board (12 CFR 221) or Regulation X of said Board (12
CFR  224).  The  holding  by the  Issuer  of  Employer  Capital  Stock  and  the
refinancing of the acquisition  loan in respect thereof with the proceeds of the
issuance of the Notes  hereunder  and under the Other  Agreements is an exempted
transaction  under section 221.4(c) of the aforesaid  Regulation U and the Notes
are not directly or indirectly secured by any such Employer Capital Stock or any
other margin  stock,  as such term is defined in said  Regulation U. The Company
shall,  or shall  cause the Issuer  to,  furnish to you,  upon your  request,  a
statement in conformity  with the  requirements  of Federal  Reserve Form FR G-3
referred to in said Regulation U.

5.15     Existing Indebtedness.

         A complete  and correct  list of all  outstanding  Indebtedness  of the
Company and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries as of January 3, 1998 is set forth in
the Company's  Annual Report for 1997 on Form 10-K.  Since January 3, 1998 there
has been no Material  change in the  amounts,  interest  rates,  sinking  funds,
instalment  payments or  maturities  of the  Indebtedness  of the Company or its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries.  Neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary
is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of
any  principal  or  interest  on  any   Indebtedness  of  the  Company  or  such
Consolidated  Subsidiary  and no event or  condition  exists with respect to any
Indebtedness  of the  Company or any  Consolidated  Subsidiary  the  outstanding
principal  amount of which  exceeds  $500,000  that  would  permit (or that with
notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause
such Indebtedness to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before
its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

                                       8


<PAGE>


5.16     Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc.

         Neither the sale of the Notes by the Company  hereunder  nor its use of
the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or
any of the foreign  assets  control  regulations  of the United States  Treasury
Department  (31  CFR,  Subtitle  B,  Chapter  V,  as  amended)  or any  enabling
legislation or executive order relating thereto.

5.17     Status under Certain Statutes.

         Neither  the  Company  nor  any  Material   Subsidiary  is  subject  to
regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  The Company is
exempt from regulation  under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended,  pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(a) thereof.  The rates charged
by the Farmington River Power Company, a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company,
for power generated by it are not subject to regulation  under the Federal Power
Act, as amended.

5.18     The ESOP.

                 (a) The ESOP has been  duly  adopted  and is in full  force and
         effect and  constitutes a "qualified  plan" under section 401(a) of the
         Code and an  "employee  stock  ownership  plan" as  defined  in section
         4975(e)(7) of the Code. The ESOP Trust Agreement has been duly adopted,
         is validly  existing and  constitutes  an "exempt  trust" under section
         501(a)  of the Code.  The  Issuer  has the  requisite  trust  power and
         authority to own its properties and assets.

                 (b) The Company has delivered to you true and correct copies of
         the  ESOP  Documents,   including  all  modifications  and  supplements
         thereto.  Each of the ESOP Documents is in full force and effect and no
         term or condition of any thereof has been amended, modified or waived.

                 (c) The  Indebtedness  evidenced by each Note  delivered on the
         date of Closing  will qualify for the  exemptions  set forth in section
         408(b)(3)  of ERISA and  section  4975(d)(3)  of the  Code.  All of the
         "employer securities," as such term is defined in section 409(l) of the
         Code, held by the Issuer constitute  "qualifying  employer  securities"
         within the meaning of Code regulation  section  54.4975-12 (as modified
         by any subsequent modifications to the Code or ERISA). The Issuer holds
         no other securities that are not permitted to be held by it pursuant to
         section 4975(e)(7) of the Code.

                 (d)  Except  for the loan or  loans  made as of the date of the
         Closing from the Company to the Issuer in an aggregate principal amount
         not exceeding $185,000,000 to refinance (i) a term loan in the original
         principal  amount of  $153,499,995.00  made on June 7, 1991 by  Stanley
         Works Funding  Corporation to State Street Bank and Trust  Company,  as
         trustee of The Stanley Works Savings and Retirement  Trust,  and (ii) a
         term loan in the original  principal amount of  $26,499,973.50  made on
         June 7, 1991 by Stanley Works Funding  Corporation to State Street Bank
         and Trust  Company,  as trustee of The Stanley  Works Savings Trust for
         Hourly Paid  Employees,  the Issuer has not  incurred  any  outstanding
         Indebtedness and, as of the date of Closing, will not have incurred any
         outstanding Indebtedness other than the Indebtedness represented by the
         Notes. The ESOP and the Issuer have been established by the Company for
         a valid corporate purpose. All ESOP Documents are legal, valid, binding
         and enforceable obligations of the respective parties thereto.

                                       9


<PAGE>


                 (e) The sale of the  Notes by the  Issuer,  and the  execution,
         delivery and  performance  by the Issuer of this  Agreement,  the Other
         Agreements  and the Notes are within the trust powers of the Issuer and
         have been duly  authorized  by the Issuer  pursuant to the terms of the
         ESOP Documents.

                 (f)  The  ESOP  Trustee  has  all  requisite  trust  power  and
         authority,  as trustee under the ESOP Documents, to execute and deliver
         and to  perform  all of  the  obligations  of  the  Issuer  under  this
         Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes.

                 (g) The  execution,  delivery and  performance by the Issuer of
         this  Agreement,  the  Other  Agreements  and the  Notes  will  not (i)
         contravene,  result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or
         result in the  creation  of any Lien in respect of any  property of the
         Issuer under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or
         credit  agreement,  lease,  ESOP  Document  or any other  agreement  or
         instrument  to which the Issuer is bound or by which the ESOP or Issuer
         or any of its properties  may be bound or affected,  (ii) conflict with
         or result in a breach of any of the terms,  conditions or provisions of
         any order,  judgment,  decree,  or ruling of any court,  arbitrator  or
         Governmental  Authority  applicable to the Issuer or the ESOP, or (iii)
         violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any
         Governmental Authority applicable to the Issuer or the ESOP.

                 (h) This  Agreement and the Other  Agreements  constitute,  and
         upon execution and delivery  thereof each Note will constitute a legal,
         valid and  binding  obligation  of the Issuer  enforceable  against the
         Issuer in accordance with its terms,  except as such enforceability may
         be limited by (i) applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,
         moratorium  or  other  similar  laws   affecting  the   enforcement  of
         creditors'  rights  generally  and (ii)  general  principles  of equity
         (regardless  of  whether  such   enforceability   is  considered  in  a
         proceeding in equity or at law).

                 (i) There are no actions,  suits or proceedings  pending or, to
         the best knowledge of the Company or the Issuer,  threatened against or
         affecting the ESOP,  the Issuer or the properties of the ESOP or Issuer
         before any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau,
         agency or  instrumentality  domestic  or  foreign,  which (i) draw into
         question the validity of any ESOP Document,  this Agreement,  the Other
         Agreements or the Notes or (ii) if determined  adversely to the ESOP or
         Issuer, would materially adversely affect the ability of the Company or
         the ESOP Trustee to perform their respective obligations under the ESOP
         Documents  or of the  Issuer to  perform  its  obligations  under  this
         Agreement, the Other Agreements or the Notes.

                  (j) The execution,  delivery and  performance by the Issuer of
         this Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes is primarily for the
         benefit  of the  participants  and  beneficiaries  of the  Issuer.  The
         interest  rate  payable with  respect to the Notes is  reasonable.  The
         terms of the Notes are at least as favorable to the Issuer as the terms
         of comparable loans,  resulting from arms-length  negotiations  between
         independent parties.

5.19     Representations of the Bank.

                  (a) The Bank is a national banking association duly organized,
         validly  existing  and in good  standing  under the laws of the  United
         States of America  and has the  corporate  power,  authority  and legal
         right to execute and deliver in its individual capacity the ESOP

                                       10


<PAGE>


         Trust  Agreement  and (solely  with respect to this Section and Section
         23.8) this Agreement and the Other Agreements.

                  (b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Bank of the
         ESOP Trust Agreement are in the ordinary course of the banking business
         of the Bank.

                  (c) The  execution  of,  delivery of, and  performance  of its
         duties  under,  the ESOP  Trust  Agreement  by the Bank  have been duly
         authorized by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of the Bank,
         and the execution of, delivery of, and performance of its duties under,
         this  Agreement and the Other  Agreements by the ESOP Trustee have been
         duly authorized by all necessary action of the ESOP Trustee.

                  (d) The ESOP  Trust  Agreement  has  been  duly  executed  and
         delivered by the Bank in its  individual  capacity,  and this Agreement
         and the Other Agreements have been duly executed by the ESOP Trustee in
         its trustee capacity; provided, however, that the Bank may be liable in
         its   individual   capacity   in  the   case  of   inaccuracy   of  the
         representations in clauses (a) through (d) of this Section 5.19.

                  (e) The ESOP Trust  Agreement  constitutes the legal valid and
         binding  obligation  of the Bank  solely  as an  exercise  of its trust
         powers,  and is  enforceable  against the Bank as trustee in accordance
         with its terms, except as the enforceability  thereof may be limited by
         (i)  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization  or  other  similar  laws
         affecting  creditors' rights generally,  and (ii) equitable  principles
         (including  those  under  ERISA)  regardless  of  whether  the issue of
         enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

6.       REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER.

6.1      Purchase for Investment.

         You represent that:

                  (a)      you are an accredited investor,  as  defined  in Rule
         501(a)   promulgated   under  the   Securities  Act   and  a  Qualified
         Institutional Buyer;

                  (b) you are  purchasing  the Notes for your own account or, in
         compliance  with the provisions of Rule 144A(d)  promulgated  under the
         Securities  Act, for a nominee or nominees  which are either (i) one or
         more separate accounts  maintained by you or (ii) the account of one or
         more  pension or trust funds,  and not with a view to the  distribution
         thereof;  provided that the disposition of your or their property shall
         at all times be within your or their control;

                  (c) the  Company and Issuer have  provided  you with,  and you
         have had access to, the  relevant  information  about the  Company  and
         Issuer, including information about the Issuer's and Company's business
         and financial  condition,  and the relevant information about the Notes
         being  purchased,  which you or your nominees have  requested  from the
         Company or Issuer;

                  (d) you have had a reasonable  opportunity to ask questions of
         and receive  answers from the management of the Company  concerning the
         Company, the Issuer, the

                                       11


<PAGE>


         information  contained in the Executive Summary, and the Notes, and all
         such questions have been answered to your full satisfaction;

                  (e) you have such  knowledge  and  experience in financial and
         business  matters  that you are  capable of  evaluating  the merits and
         risks  of the  prospective  investment  being  made  pursuant  to  this
         Agreement; and

                  (f) you  understand  that the Notes are being offered and sold
         to you  in  reliance  on  specific  exemptions  from  the  registration
         requirements of Federal and state  securities laws and the Issuer,  the
         Company,  its  management  and their counsel are relying upon the truth
         and accuracy of the foregoing representations in order to determine the
         applicability of such exemptions.

You understand that the Notes have not been registered  under the Securities Act
or any  applicable  state  securities  laws and may be resold only if registered
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act and such state  securities laws
or if an exemption from  registration is available,  except under  circumstances
where  neither such  registration  nor such an exemption is required by law, and
that neither the Issuer nor the Company is required to register the Notes.

6.2      Source of Funds.

         You  represent  that at least  one of the  following  statements  is an
accurate  representation  as to each source of funds (a  "Source") to be used by
you to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you hereunder:

                 (a) the Source is an  "insurance  company  general  account" as
         defined in Department of Labor Prohibited Transaction Exemption ("PTE")
         95-60 (60 FR 35925, July 12, 1995) and in respect thereof you represent
         that there is no "employee benefit plan" (as defined in section 3(3) of
         ERISA and section 4975(e)(1) of the Code, treating as a single plan all
         plans  maintained  by the same  employer  or employee  organization  or
         affiliate  thereof)  with  respect to which the  amount of the  general
         account  reserves and liabilities of all contracts held by or on behalf
         of such plan exceed 10% of the total  reserves and  liabilities of such
         general  account  (exclusive  of  separate  account  liabilities)  plus
         surplus,  as set forth in the NAIC  Annual  Statement  filed  with your
         state of domicile; or

                 (b) if you  are an  insurance  company,  the  Source  does  not
         include assets allocated to any separate  account  maintained by you in
         which  any  employee  benefit  plan  (or  its  related  trust)  has any
         interest,  other than a separate  account that is maintained  solely in
         connection  with your fixed  contractual  obligations  under  which the
         amounts  payable,  or credited,  to such plan and to any participant or
         beneficiary of such plan  (including any annuitant) are not affected in
         any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or

                 (c) the  Source  is  either  (i) an  insurance  company  pooled
         separate  account,  within the meaning of PTE 90-1 (issued  January 29,
         1990), or (ii) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of
         the PTE 91-38 (issued July 12, 1991) and,  except as you have disclosed
         to the Company in writing  pursuant to this  paragraph (c), no employee
         benefit  plan or  group  of  plans  maintained  by the  same  employer,
         affiliate of such employer or employee  organization  beneficially owns
         more than 10% of all assets  allocated to such pooled separate  account
         or collective investment fund; or

                                       12


<PAGE>


                 (d) (i) the Source  constitutes  assets of an "investment fund"
         (within  the  meaning  of Part V of the QPAM  Exemption)  managed  by a
         "qualified professional asset manager" or "QPAM" (within the meaning of
         Part V of the QPAM  Exemption),  (ii) no employee benefit plan's assets
         that are  included in such  investment  fund,  when  combined  with the
         assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by
         the same  employer  or by an  affiliate  (within the meaning of Section
         V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee
         organization  and managed by such QPAM,  exceed 20% of the total client
         assets managed by such QPAM,  (iii) the conditions of Part I(c) and (g)
         of the QPAM  Exemption  are  satisfied,  neither  the QPAM nor a person
         controlling  or  controlled  by the QPAM  (applying  the  definition of
         "control"  in  Section  V(e) of the QPAM  Exemption)  owns a 5% or more
         interest  in the  Company  and (iv) the  identity  of such QPAM and the
         names of all employee  benefit  plans whose assets are included in such
         investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in writing  pursuant
         to this paragraph (d); or

                 (e)       the Source is a governmental plan; or

                 (f) the  Source is one or more  employee  benefit  plans,  or a
         separate  account  or  trust  fund  comprised  of one or more  employee
         benefit  plans,  each of which has been  identified  to the  Company in
         writing pursuant to this paragraph (f); or

                 (g) the Source does not include assets of any employee  benefit
         plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

As used in this Section 6.2, the terms  "employee  benefit plan",  "governmental
plan",  "party in interest" and  "separate  account"  shall have the  respective
meanings assigned to such terms in section 3 of ERISA.

7.       INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY.

7.1      Financial and Business Information.

         The  Company  shall  deliver  to  each  holder  of  Notes  that  is  an
Institutional Investor:

                 (a)  Quarterly  Statements  -- within 45 days  after the end of
         each quarterly  fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other
         than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), a copy
         of,

                           (i)       a consolidated balance sheet of the Company
                  and  its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries as  at  the  end of  such
                  quarter, and

                           (ii) consolidated  statements of operations,  changes
                  in shareholders'  equity and cash flows of the Company and its
                  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  for such quarter and (in the case
                  of the  second  and third  quarters)  for the  portion  of the
                  fiscal year ending with such quarter,

         setting  forth in each case in  comparative  form the  figures  for the
         corresponding  periods in the previous  fiscal year,  all in reasonable
         detail,  prepared  in  accordance  with GAAP  applicable  to  quarterly
         financial  statements  generally,  and certified by a Senior  Financial
         Officer as fairly presenting,  in all material respects,  the financial
         position  of the  companies  being  reported  on and their  results  of
         operations and cash flows, subject to changes

                                       13


<PAGE>


         resulting from year-end adjustments,  provided that delivery within the
         time period specified above of copies of the Company's Quarterly Report
         on Form 10-Q prepared in compliance with the requirements  therefor and
         filed with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  shall be deemed to
         satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(a);

                 (b) Annual  Statements  -- within 90 days after the end of each
         fiscal year of the Company, a copy of,

                           (i)  a consolidated balance sheet of  the Company and
                  its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and

                           (ii) consolidated  statements of operations,  changes
                  in shareholders'  equity and cash flows of the Company and its
                  Consolidated Subsidiaries, for such year,

         setting  forth in each case in  comparative  form the  figures  for the
         previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail,  prepared in accordance
         with  GAAP,  and  accompanied  by an  opinion  thereon  of  independent
         certified public  accountants of recognized  national  standing,  which
         opinion shall state that such financial  statements  present fairly, in
         all material  respects,  the financial  position of the companies being
         reported upon and their  results of operations  and cash flows and have
         been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and that the examination of such
         accountants in connection with such financial  statements has been made
         in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such
         audit   provides   a   reasonable   basis  for  such   opinion  in  the
         circumstances,  provided  that the  delivery  within  the  time  period
         specified  above of the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for such
         fiscal year (together with the Company's annual report to shareholders,
         if any,  prepared  pursuant  to Rule  14a-3  under  the  Exchange  Act)
         prepared in accordance  with the  requirements  therefor and filed with
         the Securities and Exchange  Commission  shall be deemed to satisfy the
         requirements of this Section 7.1(b);

                 (c) SEC and Other  Reports  --  promptly  upon  their  becoming
         available, one copy of (i) each financial statement,  report, notice or
         proxy  statement  sent by the  Company or any  Material  Subsidiary  to
         public securities holders generally,  and (ii) each regular or periodic
         report,  each registration  statement (other than any such registration
         statement  on Form S-8)  that  shall  have  become  effective  (without
         exhibits except as expressly requested by such holder),  and each final
         prospectus  and all  amendments  thereto  filed by the  Company  or any
         Material Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

                 (d) Notice of Default or Event of Default --  promptly,  and in
         any event within five days after a Responsible  Officer  becoming aware
         of the existence of any Default or Event of Default,  a written  notice
         specifying  the nature and period of existence  thereof and what action
         the  Issuer  and/or  the  Company  is taking or  proposes  to take with
         respect thereto;

                 (e) ERISA Matters -- promptly,  and in any event within 10 days
         after a Responsible  Officer becoming aware of any of the following,  a
         written notice setting forth the nature thereof and the action, if any,
         that the Company or an ERISA  Affiliate  proposes to take with  respect
         thereto:

                                       14


<PAGE>


                           (i) with respect to any Plan, any  reportable  event,
                  as  defined in  section  4043(b) of ERISA and the  regulations
                  thereunder,  for  which  notice  thereof  has not been  waived
                  pursuant to such  regulations as in effect on the date hereof;
                  or

                           (ii) the taking by the PBGC of steps to institute, or
                  the threatening by the PBGC of the institution of, proceedings
                  under  section  4042 of ERISA for the  termination  of, or the
                  appointment  of a trustee  to  administer,  any  Plan,  or the
                  receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of a notice from
                  a  Multiemployer  Plan that such  action has been taken by the
                  PBGC with respect to such Multiemployer Plan; or

                           (iii) any event,  transaction or condition that could
                  result in the  incurrence  of any  liability by the Company or
                  any ERISA Affiliate  pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the
                  penalty  or excise  tax  provisions  of the Code  relating  to
                  employee  benefit  plans,  or in the imposition of any Lien on
                  any of the rights,  properties or assets of the Company or any
                  ERISA  Affiliate  pursuant  to  Title I or IV of ERISA or such
                  penalty or excise tax provisions,

         if such  reportable  event,  such  proceedings,  such liability or such
         Lien,  taken  together  with any other such  liabilities  or Liens then
         existing,  would  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse
         Effect;

                 (f) ESOP SEC  Reporting  -- within 15 days after the receipt of
         any written request therefor from any Institutional Investor, copies of
         attachments to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
         Securities and Exchange  Commission in respect of financial  statements
         of the Issuer; and

                 (g) Requested Information -- with reasonable  promptness,  such
         other  data  and  information  relating  to the  business,  operations,
         affairs,  financial condition,  assets or properties of the Issuer, the
         ESOP or the  Company or  relating  to the  ability of the Issuer or the
         Company to perform  its  obligations  hereunder  and under the Notes as
         from time to time may be  reasonably  requested  by any such  holder of
         Notes.

7.2      Officer's Certificate.

         Each  set of  financial  statements  delivered  to a  holder  of  Notes
pursuant to Section  7.1(a) or Section  7.1(b) hereof shall be  accompanied by a
certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth:

                 (a) Covenant Compliance -- the information  (including detailed
         calculations) required in order to establish whether the Company was in
         compliance  with the  requirements of Section 10.3 as of the end of the
         quarterly  or  annual  period  covered  by the  statements  then  being
         furnished   (including  with  respect  to  each  such  Section,   where
         applicable, the calculations of the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or
         percentage,  as the case may be,  permissible  under  the terms of such
         Sections,  and the calculation of the amount,  ratio or percentage then
         in existence); and

                 (b) Event of  Default  -- a  statement  that such  officer  has
         reviewed the relevant  terms hereof and has made, or caused to be made,
         under  his  or her  supervision,  a  review  of  the  transactions  and
         conditions of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries from the

                                       15


<PAGE>


         beginning of the quarterly or annual period  covered by the  statements
         then  being  furnished  to the date of the  certificate  and that  such
         review shall not have disclosed the existence during such period of any
         condition  or event that  constitutes  a Default or an Event of Default
         or,  if any such  condition  or event  existed  or  exists  (including,
         without  limitation,  any such event or  condition  resulting  from the
         failure of the Company or any  Material  Subsidiary  to comply with any
         Environmental  Law),  specifying  the nature  and  period of  existence
         thereof  and what  action the  Company  shall have taken or proposes to
         take with respect thereto.

7.3      Inspection.

         If a Default or Event of Default  then  exists,  at the  expense of the
Company,  the Company shall permit the  representatives  of each holder of Notes
that is an  Institutional  Investor  to visit and  inspect any of the offices or
properties  of the Issuer,  the  Company,  and/or any  Material  Subsidiary,  to
examine  all their  respective  books of  account,  records,  reports  and other
papers, to make copies and extracts  therefrom,  and to discuss their respective
affairs,  finances and accounts with their  respective  officers and independent
public  accountants (and by this provision the Issuer and the Company  authorize
said  accountants  to discuss the affairs,  finances and accounts of the Issuer,
the Company and/or its Material Subsidiaries),  all at such times, during normal
business  hours  and  upon  reasonable  prior  notice,  and as  often  as may be
requested.

8.       PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES; INTEREST.

         8.1      Required Prepayments.

         On the last day of each calendar month, commencing on July 31, 1998 and
ending on and including  November 30, 2009, the Issuer will prepay the principal
amount of the Notes set forth on Schedule 8.1 hereto  corresponding  to such day
at par and without  payment of the  Make-Whole  Amount or any premium,  provided
that  upon any  partial  prepayment  of the Notes  pursuant  to  Section  8.2 or
purchase of the Notes  permitted by Section 8.6 or 8.7 the  principal  amount of
each required prepayment (and the payment at maturity) of the Notes becoming due
under this  Section  8.1 on and after the date of such  prepayment  or  purchase
shall be reduced in the same proportion as the aggregate unpaid principal amount
of the Notes is reduced as a result of such  prepayment or purchase.  The unpaid
principal amount of the Notes shall be due and payable on December 31, 2009.

         8.2      Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount.

         The Issuer may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at
any time all, or from time to time any part of, the Notes, in an amount not less
than 5% of the aggregate  principal  amount of the Notes then outstanding in the
case of a partial prepayment,  at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid,  plus
the Make-Whole  Amount  determined for the prepayment  date with respect to such
principal  amount.  The Issuer will give each holder of Notes written  notice of
each  optional  prepayment  under this Section 8.2 not less than 30 days and not
more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment.  Each such notice
shall  specify  such date,  the  aggregate  principal  amount of the Notes to be
prepaid on such date,  the principal  amount of each Note held by such holder to
be prepaid  (determined in accordance  with Section 8.3), and the interest to be
paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid,
and shall be accompanied by a certificate  of a Senior  Financial  Officer as to
the  estimated   Make-Whole  Amount  due  in  connection  with  such  prepayment
(calculated  as if the date of such  notice  were  the date of the  prepayment),
setting forth the details of such

                                       16


<PAGE>


computation.  Two  Business  Days prior to such  prepayment,  the  Issuer  shall
deliver to each  holder of Notes a  certificate  of a Senior  Financial  Officer
specifying  the  calculation  of  such  Make-Whole  Amount  as of the  specified
prepayment date.

         8.3     Allocation of Required and Partial Prepayments.

         In the case of each partial prepayment of the Notes pursuant to Section
8.1 or Section 8.2,  the  principal  amount of the Notes to be prepaid  shall be
allocated  among  all of the Notes at the time  outstanding  in  proportion,  as
nearly as practicable,  to the respective  unpaid principal  amounts thereof not
theretofore called for prepayment.

         8.4      Maturity; Surrender, etc.

         In the case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section 0, the
principal  amount of each Note to be  prepaid  shall  mature  and become due and
payable on the date fixed for such  prepayment,  together  with interest on such
principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable  Make-Whole  Amount, if
any.  From and  after  such  date,  unless  the  Issuer  shall  fail to pay such
principal  amount  when so due and  payable,  together  with  the  interest  and
Make-Whole Amount, if any, as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall
cease to accrue.  Any Note paid or prepaid in full shall be  surrendered  to the
Issuer and cancelled  and shall not be reissued,  and no Note shall be issued in
lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Note.

         8.5      Assumption of Notes upon the Occurrence of  the Termination of
                  the ESOP.

         The Company may elect, at any time and at its sole option, to terminate
the ESOP and the Issuer,  provided  that at the time of such election no Default
or Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring solely as a result
of such  termination  under Section 9.6) shall exist and the Company assumes the
Notes as  hereinafter  provided in this Section 8.5. The Company shall give each
holder of Notes  irrevocable  written notice of the  termination of the ESOP and
the  Issuer  and the  assumption  of the  Issuer's  Notes  ("Termination-Related
Assumption") not less than five nor more than 15 days prior to the date on which
such  termination is to become  effective (the  "Termination-Related  Assumption
Date").  On such  Termination-Related  Assumption Date, the Company shall assume
such  Notes  (the  "Termination-Related  Assumed  Notes").  Upon and  after  any
Termination-Related  Assumption, the reference to "Notes" herein shall be deemed
to be a reference  to the  Termination-Related  Assumed  Notes,  and,  where the
context requires, references to the "Issuer" shall mean the Company, except that
the provisions of Section 22 shall not be applicable to such Termination-Related
Assumed Notes.  The  Termination-Related  Assumption is subject to the following
conditions and undertakings:

                  (a) the  Termination-Related  Assumed  Notes  shall be  legal,
         valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance
         with their terms,  subject to (i)  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
         reorganization,   moratorium  or  other  similar  laws   affecting  the
         enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii) general  principles
         of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
         proceeding in equity or at law);

                  (b) the  Company,  at its  expense,  shall have  delivered  an
         Opinion(s) of Counsel to each of the holders of Notes, which Opinion(s)
         of Counsel shall be  satisfactory in form and substance to the Required
         Holders and which shall

                                       17


<PAGE>


                       (i)    opine    to    the    enforceability    of    such
                  Termination-Related  Assumed Notes, as set forth in clause (a)
                  above,  to the  corporate  authority of the Company to execute
                  and delivery such Termination-Related Assumed Notes and to the
                  due   and   valid    execution    and    delivery    of   such
                  Termination-Related Assumed Notes,

                       (ii) opine that such Termination-Related  Assumption does
                  not constitute a nonexempt  "prohibited  transaction,"  within
                  the meaning of section  406 of ERISA and  section  4975 of the
                  Code, or a breach of the fiduciary  duty  standards of section
                  404 of ERISA and

                       (z)   address the federal income tax consequences of such
                  Termination-Related Assumption;

                  (c) the Company shall  reimburse and hold harmless each holder
         of Notes on an after-tax  basis for all net increases in federal income
         taxes applicable to, or incurred by virtue of, such Termination-Related
         Assumption,  whether  incurred at the time of such assumption or at any
         time or times thereafter;

                  (d) all  accrued  interest  shall  be paid on the  date of the
         consummation of such Termination-Related Assumption; and

                  (e) a fully  executed  endorsement,  in the form  referred  to
         below,  shall have been delivered to each holder of Notes for each Note
         so held by such holder.

Evidence of the Company's assumption of the obligations of the Issuer in respect
of each Termination-Related Assumed Note shall be in the form of an endorsement,
substantially  in the form set forth in Exhibit  8.5,  from the  Company to such
holder to be attached by such holder to such  Termination-Related  Assumed Note.
Such Termination-Related  Assumed Note shall not be considered a new or separate
obligation of the Company,  but shall, to the extent permitted by law, represent
a continuation of the obligation of the Company theretofore  existing in respect
of such  Termination-Related  Assumed Note, but the Issuer shall be deemed to be
released  from all  obligations  in  respect  of each  such  Termination-Related
Assumed  Note.  Such  endorsement  shall  be  delivered  (if to you or an  Other
Purchaser)  to the address  specified for such delivery in Schedule A or at such
other address as you or such Other Purchaser shall have specified to the Company
in writing, or (if to any other holder of such Termination-Related Assumed Note)
to such address as such holder  shall have  specified to the Company in writing.
From time to time after any  Termination-Related  Assumption,  the Company  will
execute and deliver, or will cause to be executed and delivered, such additional
instruments,  certificates  or documents,  and will take all such actions as any
holder  of  any of  the  Notes  may  reasonably  request  for  the  purposes  of
implementing,  effectuating  or evidencing  the  provisions of this Section 8.5,
including, without limitation, issuing notes in its own name in exchange for the
Termination-Related  Assumed  Notes,  which  notes  shall be  identical  to such
Termination-Related  Assumed Notes (except that they shall be in the name of the
Company,  shall not bear the guarantee  endorsement of the Company and shall not
have the aforesaid  endorsement  attached  thereto) and shall be treated for all
purposes hereunder and under the Other Agreements as Termination-Related Assumed
Notes.

         8.6      Purchase of Notes.

         The Issuer will not,  and the Company  will not and will not permit any
Affiliate  to,  purchase,  redeem,  prepay or  otherwise  acquire,  directly  or
indirectly, any of the outstanding Notes except

                                       18


<PAGE>


                  (a)      upon  the  payment  or  prepayment  of  the  Notes in
        accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes,

                  (b)      as provided for in Sections 8.7 or 8.8, or

                  (c) pursuant to an offer to purchase  made by the Issuer,  the
         Company  or an  Affiliate  pro rata to the  holders of all Notes at the
         time outstanding upon the same terms and conditions.

Any such offer shall provide each holder with  sufficient  information to enable
it to make an informed  decision  with  respect to such offer,  and shall remain
open for at least 10  Business  Days.  If the  holders  of more  than 50% of the
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding  accept such offer, the Issuer or
the Company shall  promptly  notify the  remaining  holders of such fact and the
expiration  date for the  acceptance  by holders of Notes of such offer shall be
extended by the number of days necessary to give each such  remaining  holder at
least 10 Business Days from its receipt of such notice to accept such offer. The
Issuer will  promptly  cancel all Notes  acquired  by it, and the Company  shall
cause the cancellation of all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate, pursuant to
any payment,  prepayment or purchase of Notes  pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement  and no Notes may be issued in  substitution  or exchange for any such
Notes.

         8.7      Offer to Purchase Notes upon Change in Control, etc.

                  (a)      Notice and Offer.  In the event of either

                           (i)      a Change in Control, or

                           (ii) the  obtaining of actual  knowledge of a Control
                   Event by a Senior Financial Officer,

         the Company will,  within 30 Business Days of the  occurrence of either
         of such  events,  give  written  notice of such  Change in  Control  or
         Control  Event to each holder of Notes by facsimile  transmission  and,
         simultaneously  with the sending of such facsimile notice,  send a copy
         of such notice to each such holder via an overnight courier of national
         reputation.  Such written notice shall contain, and such written notice
         shall  constitute,  an irrevocable  offer to purchase all, but not less
         than all,  the Notes held by such  holder on a date  specified  in such
         notice (the "Control  Purchase Date") that is not less than 30 days and
         not more than 60 days after the date of such notice,  provided that, in
         the case of a  Control  Event  that  does not give  rise to a Change in
         Control,  such  notice  shall  be null  and  void  and in the case of a
         Control  Event that does give rise to a Change in Control  which  shall
         occur more than 60 days following the date the written notice  required
         by this Section 8.7(a) must be given,  the Control Purchase Date may be
         delayed  by the  Company to a date not later than the date on which the
         Change in Control  arising  from such Control  Event shall  actually be
         consummated  or  finalized.  If the Control  Purchase Date shall not be
         specified in such notice,  the Control  Purchase Date shall be the 30th
         day after the date of such notice;  it being  understood by the parties
         hereto,  for purposes of the  avoidance of doubt,  that any such notice
         shall be dated the date on which it is first  given to the  holders  of
         Notes and that all  notices to all holders of Notes shall bear the same
         date.

                                       19


<PAGE>


                  If the Company shall not have  received a written  response to
         such  written  notice from any holder of Notes within 10 days after the
         date of the facsimile  transmission of such notice to such holder,  the
         Company shall use its best efforts to send a second  written notice via
         an overnight courier of national reputation to such holder of Notes but
         shall be under no obligation to do so.

                  (b)      Acceptance and Payment; Acceptance.

                           (i) Acceptance  and Payment.  To accept or reject any
                  such offer to purchase, a holder of Notes shall cause a notice
                  of such acceptance or rejection to be delivered to the Company
                  not  later   than  15  days  after  the  date  of  the  notice
                  constituting  such offer (which,  if there shall have been two
                  written  notices,  shall be  deemed to be the  second  written
                  notice).  If so  accepted,  payment  in  respect of such offer
                  shall be due and payable on the Control  Purchase Date subject
                  to only the  receipt by the Company of the Note or Notes to be
                  purchased  together with an appropriate  written instrument of
                  transfer in respect  thereof,  provided that,  with respect to
                  any Institutional  Investor,  a written undertaking to deliver
                  such Note or Notes and such written instruments of transfer as
                  soon as practicable  after the Control  Purchase Date shall be
                  sufficient  and title to such Note or Notes shall be deemed to
                  have passed to the Company on the Control  Purchase Date after
                  the payment in full of the purchase  price in respect  thereof
                  to such Institutional  Investor. The purchase price in respect
                  of any such offer to purchase  shall be 100% of the  principal
                  amount of the Notes held by holders having accepted  such off-
                  er together with  interest  on  the Notes then being purchased
                  accrued to the Control Purchase Date. No Make-Whole  Amount or
                  other  prepayment  or  purchase  premium  shall be  payable in
                  respect  thereof.  The purchase price of any Note for which an
                  offer  shall  have  been  accepted  shall  be paid in the same
                  manner as  payments  on such Note are to be made  pursuant  to
                  Section 14.

                           (ii)  Deemed  Rejection.  A failure  by any holder of
                  Notes to respond in writing to all written  offers of purchase
                  referred  to in  Section  8.7(b)  by the  deadlines  set forth
                  therein  shall be deemed to  constitute  a  rejection  of such
                  offers by such holder.

                  (c)  Officer's  Certificate.  Each offer to purchase the Notes
         pursuant to this  Section 8.7 shall be  accompanied  by a  certificate,
         executed  by a Senior  Financial  Officer  and  dated  the date of such
         offer, specifying:

                           (i)      the Control Purchase Date;

                           (ii) that such offer is being made  pursuant  to this
                  Section  8.7 and that  failure  by a holder to respond to such
                  offer by the  deadlines  as  established  by this  Section 8.7
                  shall  result  in such  offer  to  such  holder  being  deemed
                  rejected;

                           (iii)  the  interest  that  would be due on each such
                  Note  offered  to be  purchase,  accrued to the date fixed for
                  purchase;

                           (iv) that the  conditions  of this  Section  8.7 have
                  been fulfilled; and

                            (v)  in  reasonable  detail,  a  description  of the
                  nature and date or proposed date of the Change in Control.

                                       20


<PAGE>


                  (d)  Cancellation  of Notes.  Any Note acquired by the Company
         under this  Section 8.7 shall be  cancelled  and shall not be reissued.
         Each  purchase  of a Note by the Company  pursuant to this  Section 8.7
         shall be made without recourse and without  representation  or warranty
         of any kind whatsoever by the holder thereof (except as to the right of
         such holder to transfer valid title to such Note so purchased).

         8.8      Purchase of Notes by Company upon Acceleration.

         In the event  that a holder of a Note  shall  require  the  Company  to
repurchase the Notes of such holder  pursuant to Section 12.5, the Company shall
immediately purchase such holder's Notes at a purchase price equal to the unpaid
principal  amount of such Note,  plus  interest  accrued  thereon to the date of
purchase, plus an amount equal to the applicable Make-Whole Amount (if any) that
would have been payable if such Notes were then  prepaid by the Issuer,  plus an
amount  equal to any other sums due and owing  hereunder  to such  holder on the
date on which such purchase is consummated,  provided, however, that such holder
shall have given to the Company not less than five Business  Days' prior written
notice that such holder has elected to exercise  its option  pursuant to Section
12.5. The Company hereby  expressly  waives tender or delivery of any such Notes
in connection with the purchase thereof under this Section 8.8,  provided that a
written  undertaking  is  delivered to the Company by the holder of such Note or
Notes pursuant to which such holder agrees to deliver such Note or Notes and all
necessary  written  instruments  of  transfer  in  respect  thereof  as  soon as
practicable  after receipt of the full purchase price in respect thereof.  Title
to such Note or Notes  shall be deemed to have passed to the Company on the date
on which the  purchase  price in  respect  thereof  is  received  by the  holder
thereof.  Any Note  acquired  by the  Company  under this  Section  8.8 shall be
cancelled  and shall not be  reissued.  Each  purchase  of a Note by the Company
pursuant  to this  Section  8.8  shall  be made  without  recourse  and  without
representation  or warranty of any kind whatsoever by the holder thereof (except
as to the  right  of such  holder  to  transfer  valid  title  to  such  Note so
purchased).  In connection with any legal proceeding instituted by any holder of
Notes to enforce the  obligation  of the Company to purchase  Notes  pursuant to
this  Section,  the Company  hereby  waives any  defense  based upon an adequate
remedy at law.  The  purchase  price of any Note under this Section 8.8 shall be
paid in the same  manner as  payments  on such Note are to be made  pursuant  to
Section  14. The  remedies  of any holder of Notes with  respect to the  Company
under this Section 8.8 and under Section 22 shall be cumulative.

         8.9      Make-Whole Amount.

         The term "Make-Whole Amount" means, with respect to any Note, an amount
equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining  Scheduled
Payments  with  respect to the Called  Principal of such Note over the amount of
such Called  Principal,  provided that the Make-Whole  Amount may in no event be
less than zero.  For the purposes of  determining  the  Make-Whole  Amount,  the
following terms have the following meanings:

                  "Called  Principal"  means,  with  respect  to any  Note,  the
         principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or
         has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to
         Section 12.1, as the context requires.

                  "Discounted Value" means, with respect to the Called Principal
         of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled
         Payments with respect to such Called  Principal  from their  respective
         scheduled due dates to the Settlement  Date with respect to such Called
         Principal,  in  accordance  with accepted  financial  practice and at

                                       21


<PAGE>

         a discount factor (applied on the same periodic  basis as that on which
         interest on the Notes is payable) equal to the Reinvestment  Yield with
         respect to such Called Principal.

                  "Reinvestment   Yield"  means,  with  respect  to  the  Called
         Principal  of any Note,  the sum of (a)  0.25%  per annum  plus (b) the
         yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported,  as of 10:00 a.m.
         (New  York  City  time)  on  the  second  Business  Day  preceding  the
         Settlement Date with respect to such Called  Principal,  on the display
         designated as "Page U.S.D." of the Bloomberg Financial Markets Services
         Screen (or, if not available,  any other nationally  recognized trading
         screen  reporting   on-line  intraday  trading  in  the  U.S.  Treasury
         securities)  for  actively  traded U.S.  Treasury  securities  having a
         maturity equal to the Remaining  Average Life of such Called  Principal
         as of such Settlement  Date, or (ii) if such yields are not reported as
         of  such  time  or  the  yields  reported  as  of  such  time  are  not
         ascertainable  (including  by  interpolation),  the  Treasury  Constant
         Maturity  Series  Yields  reported,  for the  latest day for which such
         yields have been so reported as of the second  Business  Day  preceding
         the Settlement Date with respect to such Called  Principal,  in Federal
         Reserve  Statistical  Release H.15 (519) (or any  comparable  successor
         publication)  for actively  traded U.S.  Treasury  securities  having a
         constant  maturity  equal to the Remaining  Average Life of such Called
         Principal  as of such  Settlement  Date.  Such  implied  yield  will be
         determined,   if  necessary,  by  (1)  converting  U.S.  Treasury  bill
         quotations  to  bond-equivalent  yields  in  accordance  with  accepted
         financial  practice  and (2)  interpolating  linearly  between  (A) the
         actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and
         greater than the  Remaining  Average  Life and (B) the actively  traded
         U.S.  Treasury  security with the maturity closest to and less than the
         Remaining Average Life.

                  "Remaining  Average  Life"  means,  with respect to any Called
         Principal,  the number of years (calculated to the nearest  one-twelfth
         year) obtained by dividing

                           (i)      such Called Principal into

                           (ii)     the sum of the products obtained by
                                    multiplying

                                    (a)     the  principal  component  of   each
                           Remaining  Scheduled  Payment  with  respect  to such
                           Called Principal by

                                    (b) the number of years  (calculated  to the
                           nearest  one-twelfth  year) that will elapse  between
                           the  Settlement  Date  with  respect  to such  Called
                           Principal   and  the   scheduled  due  date  of  such
                           Remaining Scheduled Payment.

                  "Remaining  Scheduled  Payments"  means,  with  respect to the
         Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and
         interest  thereon  that  would be due  after the  Settlement  Date with
         respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal
         were  made  prior to its  scheduled  due  date,  provided  that if such
         Settlement Date is not a date on which interest  payments are due to be
         made  under  the  terms  of the  Notes,  then  the  amount  of the next
         succeeding  scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of
         interest  accrued to such  Settlement  Date and  required to be paid on
         such Settlement Date pursuant to Section 8.2 or Section 12.1.

                  "Settlement  Date" means, with respect to the Called Principal
         of any Note,  the date on which such Called  Principal is to be prepaid
         pursuant to Section 8.2 or has


                                       22


<PAGE>


         become or  is declared to be  immediately  due and payable  pursuant to
         Section 12.1, as the context requires.

         8.10     Interest.

         Interest shall accrue on the unpaid  principal  balance of the Notes on
the basis of a 360-day  year of  twelve  30-day  months at the rate of 6.07% per
annum and shall be payable,  in arrears, on the last day of each calendar month,
commencing on July 31, 1998,  until the principal amount of the Notes in respect
of which such  interest  shall have accrued  shall  become due and payable,  and
interest shall accrue on any overdue principal (including any overdue prepayment
of  principal),  Make-Whole  Amount,  if any,  and (to the extent  permitted  by
applicable  law) on any overdue  installment  of interest at a rate equal to the
Default Rate.

9.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

         The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

9.1      Compliance with Law.

         The Company  will and will cause each of its Material  Subsidiaries  to
comply with all laws,  ordinances or governmental  rules or regulations to which
each of them is subject, including, without limitation,  Environmental Laws, and
will  obtain  and  maintain  in  effect  all  licenses,  certificates,  permits,
franchises and other governmental  authorizations  necessary to the ownership of
their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in
each case to the extent necessary to ensure that  non-compliance with such laws,
ordinances  or  governmental  rules or  regulations  or  failures  to  obtain or
maintain in effect such licenses,  certificates,  permits,  franchises and other
governmental authorizations would not reasonably be expected, individually or in
the aggregate, to have a materially adverse effect on the business,  operations,
affairs,  financial  condition,  properties  or  assets of the  Company  and its
Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

9.2      Insurance.

         The Company  will and will cause each of its Material  Subsidiaries  to
maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers,  insurance with respect
to their  respective  properties  and  businesses  against such  casualties  and
contingencies,  of such  types,  on such  terms and in such  amounts  (including
deductibles,   co-insurance  and   self-insurance,   if  adequate  reserves  are
maintained  with  respect  thereto) as is  customary  in the case of entities of
established  reputations engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly
situated.

9.3      Maintenance of Properties.

         The Company  will and will cause each of its Material  Subsidiaries  to
maintain  and  keep,  or cause  to be  maintained  and  kept,  their  respective
properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear
and tear),  so that the  business  carried  on in  connection  therewith  may be
properly  conducted at all times,  provided  that this Section shall not prevent
the Company or any Material  Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the
maintenance of any of its properties if such  discontinuance is desirable in the
conduct of its business and the Company has concluded  that such  discontinuance
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a materially adverse effect on
the business, operations,  affairs, financial condition, properties or assets of
the Company and its Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                                       23


<PAGE>


9.4      Payment of Taxes.

         The Company  will and will cause each of its Material  Subsidiaries  to
file  all  income  tax or  similar  tax  returns  required  to be  filed  in any
jurisdiction  and to pay and  discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on
such returns and all other taxes,  assessments,  governmental charges, or levies
payable by any of them, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due
and payable and before they have become  delinquent,  provided  that neither the
Company nor any Material  Subsidiary  need pay any such tax or assessment if (a)
the amount,  applicability  or validity  thereof is  contested by the Company or
such  Material  Subsidiary  on a timely  basis in good faith and in  appropriate
proceedings,  and the Company or a Material Subsidiary has established  adequate
reserves  therefor in  accordance  with GAAP on the books of the Company or such
Material  Subsidiary or (b) the nonpayment of all such taxes and  assessments in
the  aggregate  would not  reasonably  be expected to have a materially  adverse
effect on the business, operations,  affairs, financial condition, properties or
assets of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

9.5      Corporate Existence, etc.

         The  Company  will at all  times  preserve  and keep in full  force and
effect its corporate existence. Subject to Section 10.2, the Company will at all
times  preserve  and  keep in full  force  and  effect  the  corporate  or other
existence of each of its Material  Subsidiaries  (unless merged into the Company
or a  Subsidiary  or for  purposes  of an  intra-company  reorganization  by the
Company and its  Subsidiaries)  and all rights and franchises of the Company and
its Material Subsidiaries unless, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the
termination  of or failure to  preserve  and keep in full force and effect  such
corporate or other existence,  right or franchise would not,  individually or in
the aggregate,  have a materially  adverse  effect on the business,  operations,
affairs,  financial  condition,  properties  or  assets of the  Company  and its
Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

9.6      ESOP Existence.

         (a)      The Company will

                           (i)  do  all  things  necessary  so  that  the  loans
                  evidenced  by the Notes will  qualify as "exempt  loans" to an
                  "employee stock ownership  plan," as such terms are defined in
                  Code regulation sections 54.4975-7 and 54.4975-11 (as modified
                  by any subsequent modifications to the Code or ERISA);

                           (ii) do all things  necessary to maintain and keep in
                  full force and effect the ESOP as an "employee stock ownership
                  plan",  within the meaning of sections  4975(e)(7) of the Code
                  and 407(d)(6) of ERISA;

                           (iii) cause the ESOP to be operated and  administered
                  at all  times  and be  amended  as  necessary  so as to remain
                  qualified under sections 401(a) and 4975(e)(7) of the Code and
                  cause the Issuer to remain  tax-exempt under section 501(a) of
                  the Code; and

                           (iv)  take or  cause to be taken  all  other  actions
                  which  are  necessary  for the  ESOP and the  Issuer  to be in
                  material compliance with all applicable  requirements of ERISA
                  (including Titles I and II thereof) and the Code and the

                                       24


<PAGE>


                  regulations  thereunder  as from  time to time in  effect  and
                  applicable to the ESOP and the Issuer;

         provided,  however,  that the  failure of the  Company or the Issuer to
         comply with this Section 9.6 shall not be deemed an Event of Default to
         the extent the Issuer elects to prepay the Notes in full, and the Notes
         are so prepaid,  under  Section 8.2, or the Company  assumes the Notes,
         and the Notes are so assumed,  under Section 8.5. The Company covenants
         that it will make  contributions  to the Issuer as is  necessary to the
         extent required by the ESOP Documents,  including,  without limitation,
         making contributions, as is necessary, at such time and in such amounts
         as to enable the Issuer to pay in full,  when due,  the  principal  of,
         Make-Whole Amount (if any) on, and interest on, the Notes and all other
         amounts owing by the Issuer under this Agreement,  the Other Agreements
         and the Notes.

         (b)      The Issuer will

                           (i)  do  all  things  necessary  so  that  the  loans
                  evidenced  by the Notes will  qualify as "exempt  loans" to an
                  "employee stock ownership  plan," as such terms are defined in
                  Code regulation sections 54.4975-7 and 54.4975-11 (as modified
                  by any subsequent modifications to the Code or ERISA);

                           (ii) do all things  necessary to maintain and keep in
                  full force and effect the ESOP as an "employee stock ownership
                  plan",  within the meaning of sections  4975(e)(7) of the Code
                  and 407(d)(6) of ERISA; and

                           (iii)  take or cause to be taken  all  other  actions
                  which  are   necessary  for  the  Issuer  to  be  in  material
                  compliance   with  all   applicable   requirements   of  ERISA
                  (including  Titles  I and II  thereof)  and the  Code  and the
                  regulations  thereunder  as from  time to time in  effect  and
                  applicable to the Issuer;

         provided,  however,  that the failure of the Issuer to comply with this
         Section  9.6 shall not be deemed an Event of  Default to the extent the
         Issuer  elects  to  prepay  the  Notes in full,  and the  Notes  are so
         prepaid,  under Section 8.2, or the Company assumes the Notes,  and the
         Notes are so assumed, under Section 8.5.

9.7      Determination Letter.

         The most  recent  Internal  Revenue  Service  determination  letter was
issued for the ESOP on September 3, 1996. Pursuant to this determination letter,
the Internal  Revenue Service  determined that the terms of the ESOP, as then in
effect,  met the  qualification  requirements  of Code  section  401(a)  and the
requirements  for status as an employee stock  ownership plan under Code section
4975(e)(7).  Following the date of Closing, the Company will reasonably promptly
proceed to request an updated  determination  letter from the  Internal  Revenue
Service in order to reflect  changes  made in the ESOP since the issuance of the
September 3, 1996 letter, and, in that connection,  the Company agrees to modify
the ESOP Documents to the extent  reasonably  requested by the Internal  Revenue
Service as a condition  to  obtaining  such updated  determination  letter.  The
Company  will  deliver  to you as  promptly  as  practicable  a copy of any such
favorable determination letter.

                                       25


<PAGE>


9.8      Pari Passu Obligations.

         The Issuer  covenants  that its  obligations  under the Notes and under
this Agreement and the Other  Agreements do and will rank at least pari passu in
right  of  payment  with  all  its  other  present  and  future   unsecured  and
unsubordinated  Indebtedness,  except for those obligations that are mandatorily
preferred by law. The Company covenants that its obligations under the Notes and
under this  Agreement  and the Other  Agreements  do and will rank at least pari
passu in right of payment with all its other  present and future  unsecured  and
unsubordinated  Indebtedness,  except for those obligations that are mandatorily
preferred by law.

10.      NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

         The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

10.1     Transactions with Affiliates.

         The Company  will not and will not permit any  Material  Subsidiary  to
enter  into  directly  or  indirectly  any   transaction  or  group  of  related
transactions (including without limitation the purchase, lease, sale or exchange
of  properties  of any kind or the  rendering of any service) with any Affiliate
(other than the Company or another Material Subsidiary),  except (a) pursuant to
the  reasonable  requirements  of the  Company's or such  Material  Subsidiary's
business and upon fair and reasonable  terms no less favorable to the Company or
such  Subsidiary   than  would  be  obtainable  in  a  comparable   arm's-length
transaction  with a  Person  not an  Affiliate  or (b)  if the  effect  of  such
transaction or group of related  transactions would not,  individually or in the
aggregate,  have  a  materially  adverse  effect  on the  business,  operations,
affairs,  financial  condition,  properties  or  assets of the  Company  and its
Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

10.2     Merger, Consolidation, etc.

         The  Company  will  not  and  will  not  permit  any  of  its  Material
Subsidiaries to  consolidate,  amalgamate or merge with or into any other Person
or convey,  transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single
transaction  or series of  transactions  to any Person (except that any Material
Subsidiary  may  consolidate,  amalgamate  or  merge  with or into,  or  convey,
transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction
or series of transactions  to, (x) the Company if the Company is, in the case of
any consolidation,  merger or amalgamation,  the surviving entity, (y) any other
Subsidiary or (z) any other Person if such consolidation,  merger,  amalgamation
or  conveyance,  transfer  or  lease  of  assets  is not a  direct  or  indirect
circumvention of the prohibitions set forth in this Section 10.2 with respect to
the Company or any Successor Company),  provided that the foregoing restrictions
do not apply to the consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Company with or
into, or the conveyance,  transfer or lease of all or  substantially  all of the
assets of the Company in a single  transaction or series of transactions to, any
Person so long as:

                  (i) the successor formed by such consolidation or amalgamation
         or  the  survivor  of  such  merger  or the  Person  that  acquires  by
         conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the assets of
         the  Company  as an  entirety,  as  the  case  may be  (the  "Successor
         Company"),  shall be a solvent corporation organized and existing under
         the  laws  of  the  United  States  of  America  or any  State  thereof
         (including the District of Columbia);

                                       26


<PAGE>


                  (ii)  if  the  Company  is not  the  Successor  Company,  such
         Successor  Company  shall have executed and delivered to each holder of
         any Notes its assumption of the obligations in respect of its guarantee
         endorsements  on the Notes and all other  obligations in respect of any
         Termination-Related  Assumed Notes and the due and punctual performance
         and observance of each covenant and condition of this Agreement and the
         Other Agreements; and

                  (iii)  immediately  before  and  after  giving  effect to such
         transaction  no Default or Event of Default  shall have occurred and be
         continuing.

No such conveyance,  transfer or lease of substantially all of the assets of the
Company shall have the effect of releasing the Company or any Successor  Company
that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this Section
10.2 from its  liability  under  this  Agreement,  the Other  Agreements  or the
guarantee endorsements on the Notes.

10.3     Consolidated Cash Flow.

         The  Company  will not, at any time,  permit the ratio of  Consolidated
Cash Flow to Consolidated  Cash  Expenditures,  determined as of the last day of
the then most recently  ended  calendar  month in respect of the 12 month period
ending on such date, to be less than 1.25:1.00.

11.      EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

         An "Event of Default" shall exist if any of the following conditions or
events shall occur and be continuing:

                  (a) the Issuer or the  Company  defaults in the payment of any
         principal  or  Make-Whole  Amount,  if any,  on any Note  when the same
         becomes  due and  payable,  whether at  maturity or at a date fixed for
         prepayment or by declaration or otherwise; or

                  (b) the Issuer or the  Company  defaults in the payment of any
         interest  on any Note for more than five  Business  Days after the same
         becomes due and payable; or

                  (c) the Company  defaults in the  performance of or compliance
         with any term  contained  in Section  7.1(d),  Section  10.2 or Section
         10.3; or

                  (d) the Issuer or the Company  defaults in the  performance of
         or compliance with any term contained herein (other than those referred
         to in paragraphs  (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 11) and such default
         is not remedied within 30 days after the earlier of

                           (i)      a   Responsible  Officer  obtaining   actual
                  knowledge of such default and

                           (ii) the  Company  receiving  written  notice of such
                  default from any holder of a Note (any such written  notice to
                  be   identified   as  a  "notice  of  default"  and  to  refer
                  specifically to this paragraph (d) of Section 11); or

                  (e) any  representation  or warranty  made in writing by or on
         behalf of the Issuer or the Company or by any trustee of the ESOP or by
         any officer of the Company in this Agreement,  in the Other  Agreements
         or in any writing furnished in connection with the

                                       27


<PAGE>


         transactions contemplated hereby proves to have been false or incorrect
         in any material respect on the date as of which made; or

                  (f) (i) the  Issuer  or the  Company  shall  fail to make  any
                  payment  in  respect  of  Indebtedness  when due  (whether  by
                  scheduled  maturity,  required  prepayment,   acceleration  or
                  otherwise)  if  the  aggregate   amount  of  such  payment  is
                  $5,000,000 or more, or

                           (ii) any  breach,  default or event of default  shall
                  occur and be  continuing  (and  applicable  grace  and  notice
                  periods shall have  expired)  under any agreement or indenture
                  relating to any  Indebtedness  of the Issuer or the Company in
                  an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or more, and the maturity of
                  any such  Indebtedness has been accelerated in accordance with
                  the terms thereof; or


                  (g)      the Issuer, the Company or any Material Subsidiary

                           (i)      is  generally  not   paying,  or  admits  in
                  writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due,

                           (ii) files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the
                  filing against it of, a petition for relief or  reorganization
                  or  arrangement  or any  other  petition  in  bankruptcy,  for
                  liquidation   or  to  take   advantage   of  any   bankruptcy,
                  insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of
                  any jurisdiction,

                           (iii)    makes  an  assignment for the benefit of its
                  creditors,

                           (iv)  consents  to the  appointment  of a  custodian,
                  receiver,  trustee or other  officer with similar  powers with
                  respect to it or with respect to any  substantial  part of its
                  property,

                           (v)      is   adjudicated   as  insolvent  or  to  be
                  liquidated, or

                           (vi)     takes  corporate or other appropriate action
                  for the purpose of any of the foregoing; or

                  (h)  a  court   or   governmental   authority   of   competent
         jurisdiction enters an order appointing, without consent by the Issuer,
         the Company or any Material Subsidiary, a custodian,  receiver, trustee
         or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect
         to any substantial  part of its property,  or constituting an order for
         relief or  approving  a petition  for relief or  reorganization  or any
         other petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation or to take advantage of
         any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any  jurisdiction,  or ordering the
         dissolution,  winding-up or liquidation  of the Issuer,  the Company or
         any Material  Subsidiary,  or any such petition  shall be filed against
         the Issuer,  the Company or any Material  Subsidiary  and such petition
         shall not be dismissed within 60 days; or

                  (i) a final  judgment  or  judgments  for the payment of money
         aggregating in excess of $5,000,000 are rendered against one or more of
         the  Issuer,  the  Company  and/or any  Material  Subsidiary  and which
         judgments  are  not,  within  45  days  after  entry  thereof,  bonded,
         discharged or stayed pending  appeal,  or are not discharged  within 45
         days after the expiration of such stay; or

                                       28


<PAGE>


                  (j)      if

                           (i) any  Plan  shall  fail  to  satisfy  the  minimum
                  funding  standards  of ERISA or the Code for any plan  year or
                  part thereof or a waiver of such standards or extension of any
                  amortization  period is sought or granted under section 412 of
                  the Code,

                           (ii) a notice of intent to  terminate  any Plan shall
                  have been or is reasonably  expected to be filed with the PBGC
                  or the PBGC shall have  instituted  proceedings  under section
                  4042 of ERISA to terminate or appoint a trustee to  administer
                  any Plan or the PBGC shall have  notified  the  Company or any
                  ERISA  Affiliate  that a Plan may become a subject of any such
                  proceedings,

                           (iii) the aggregate  amount of "benefit  liabilities"
                  (within the meaning of section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA) under all
                  Plans  (other  than   Multiemployer   Plans),   determined  in
                  accordance  with Title IV of ERISA,  shall not exceed  130% of
                  the current  value (as defined in ERISA) of the assets of such
                  Plans,

                           (iv) the  Company or any ERISA  Affiliate  shall have
                  incurred  or is  reasonably  expected  to incur any  liability
                  pursuant  to  Title I or  Title  IV of  ERISA  (other  than in
                  respect of the payment of premiums to the PBGC) or the penalty
                  or excise tax  provisions  of the Code  relating  to  employee
                  benefit plans,

                           (v)      the Company or any ERISA Affiliate withdraws
                  from any Multiemployer Plan, or

                           (vi)  the   Company   or  any   Material   Subsidiary
                  establishes or amends any employee  welfare  benefit plan that
                  provides  post-employment  welfare  benefits  in a manner that
                  would  increase  the  liability of the Company or any Material
                  Subsidiary thereunder;

         and any such event or events  described  in clauses  (i)  through  (vi)
         above,  either  individually  or together  with any other such event or
         events, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
         As used in this Section 11(j),  the terms  "employee  benefit plan" and
         "employee  welfare  benefit  plan" shall have the  respective  meanings
         assigned to such terms in section 3 of ERISA.

12.      REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

         12.1     Acceleration.

                  (a) If an Event of Default  with  respect to the Issuer or the
         Company  described in paragraph (g) or (h) of Section 11 (other than an
         Event of Default  described in clause (i) of paragraph (g) or described
         in clause (vi) of paragraph  (g) by virtue of the fact that such clause
         encompasses  clause (i) of paragraph  (g)) has occurred,  all the Notes
         then  outstanding  shall  automatically   become  immediately  due  and
         payable.

                  (b)  If  any  other  Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is
         continuing,  any holder or holders of more than 50% in principal amount
         of the  Notes at the time  outstanding  may at any time at its or their
         option, by notice or notices to the Issuer and the Company, declare all
         the Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable.

                                       29


<PAGE>


                  (c) If any Event of Default  described in paragraph (a) or (b)
         of Section 11 has occurred and is continuing,  any holder or holders of
         Notes at the time outstanding  affected by such Event of Default may at
         any time,  at its or their  option,  by notice or notices to the Issuer
         and  the  Company,  declare  all  the  Notes  held  by it or them to be
         immediately due and payable.

Upon any Notes  becoming  due and  payable  under  this  Section  12.1,  whether
automatically or by declaration, such Notes will forthwith mature and the entire
unpaid principal amount of such Notes,  plus (x) all accrued and unpaid interest
thereon and (y) the  Make-Whole  Amount  determined in respect of such principal
amount  (to  the  full  extent  permitted  by  applicable  law),  shall  all  be
immediately due and payable, in each and every case without presentment, demand,
protest or further  notice,  all of which are hereby waived.  The Issuer and the
Company  acknowledge,  and the parties hereto agree,  that each holder of a Note
has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the
Issuer or the Company (except as herein specifically  provided for) and that the
provision for payment of a Make-Whole Amount by the Issuer or the Company in the
event that the Notes are prepaid or are  accelerated  as a result of an Event of
Default,  is intended to provide  compensation for the deprivation of such right
under such  circumstances.  Nothing in this Section  12.1,  or elsewhere in this
Agreement  or in the Other  Agreements  shall permit (1) a transfer of assets of
the  Issuer or the ESOP to any Person in excess of the  amount  permitted  under
Code regulation  sections  54.4975-7(b)(5) or (6) (as modified by any subsequent
modifications  to the  Code  or  ERISA),  or (2) if a  holder  of any  Note is a
"disqualified  person"  within  the  meaning of  section  4975 of the Code,  the
transfer  of assets of the  Issuer or the ESOP to such  holder  except  upon the
failure  of the  Issuer to make  payment  of  regularly  scheduled  payments  of
principal  of and  interest on such  Notes,  and then only to the extent of such
failure.

         12.2     Other Remedies.

         If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,  and
irrespective of whether any Notes have become or have been declared  immediately
due and  payable  under  Section  12.1,  the  holder  of any  Note  at the  time
outstanding  may  proceed to protect and enforce the rights of such holder by an
action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate  proceeding,  whether for the
specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any Note, or for an
injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof,  or in aid
of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by law or otherwise.

         12.3     Rescission.

         At any time after any Notes have been declared due and payable pursuant
to clause (b) or (c) of Section  12.1 and prior to the  purchase of any Notes by
the  Company  pursuant  to  Section  8.8,  the  holders  of not less than 51% in
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding,  by written notice to the Issuer
and the Company, may rescind and annul any such declaration and its consequences
if

                  (a) the  Issuer  and/or  the  Company  has  paid  all  overdue
         interest on the Notes, all principal of and Make-Whole  Amount, if any,
         on any Notes  that are due and  payable  and are  unpaid  other than by
         reason of such declaration,  and all interest on such overdue principal
         and  Make-Whole  Amount,  if  any,  and  (to the  extent  permitted  by
         applicable  law) any overdue  interest in respect of the Notes,  at the
         Default Rate,

                                       30


<PAGE>


                  (b) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment
         of amounts  that have become due solely by reason of such  declaration,
         have been cured or have been waived pursuant to Section 17, and

                  (c) no judgment or decree has been  entered for the payment of
         any monies due pursuant hereto or to the Notes.

No rescission and annulment under this Section 12.3 will extend to or affect any
subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

         12.4     No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc.

         No course of dealing and no delay on the part of any holder of any Note
in exercising  any right,  power or remedy shall operate as a waiver  thereof or
otherwise prejudice such holder's rights, powers or remedies. No right, power or
remedy  conferred by this Agreement or by any Note upon any holder thereof shall
be exclusive of any other right,  power or remedy  referred to herein or therein
or now or  hereafter  available  at law,  in equity,  by  statute or  otherwise.
Without limiting the obligations of the Issuer and the Company under Section 15,
the Issuer and the  Company  will pay to the holder of each Note on demand  such
further  amount as shall be  sufficient  to cover all costs and expenses of such
holder  incurred  in any  enforcement  or  collection  under  this  Section  12,
including,   without  limitation,   reasonable  attorneys'  fees,  expenses  and
disbursements.

         12.5     Code Limitations.

         Anything contained in this Section 12 notwithstanding, the Issuer shall
not be  obligated  to make any  accelerated  payment  hereunder  or transfer any
assets to any holder of Notes in respect  thereof  which would not  otherwise be
permitted  under  section  4975 of the Code.  To the extent that any holder of a
Note shall be in any way prohibited or otherwise  restricted pursuant to section
4975 of the Code or pursuant to any other  applicable  law from  exercising  the
remedies  provided in this  Section 12 and in Section 22 in order to receive the
full  payment of its Note and all other  amounts  owing to it hereunder or under
the Other  Agreements,  such holder shall  immediately  be entitled to cause the
Company to purchase the Notes held by such holder pursuant to Section 8.8.

13.      REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.

13.1     Registration of Notes.

         The Issuer  shall keep at the  principal  executive  office of the ESOP
Trustee a register for the  registration and registration of transfers of Notes.
The  Company  shall also keep at its  principal  executive  office a copy of the
aforesaid  register and shall also maintain a register for the  registration and
registration  of transfers of  Termination-Related  Assumed Notes.  The name and
address of each holder of one or more Notes,  each transfer thereof and the name
and address of each  transferee of one or more Notes shall be registered in such
registers.  Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Person in
whose name any Note shall be registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner
and holder  thereof  for all  purposes  hereof,  and  neither the Issuer nor the
Company shall be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary. The Issuer
and the  Company  shall  give to any  holder of a Note that is an  Institutional
Investor  promptly  upon  request  therefor,  a complete and correct copy of the
names and addresses of all registered holders of Notes.

                                       31


<PAGE>


13.2     Transfer and Exchange of Notes.

         Upon  surrender of any Note at the  principal  executive  office of the
Issuer or the  Company,  as the case may be, for  registration  of  transfer  or
exchange  (and in the case of a surrender  for  registration  of transfer,  duly
endorsed or accompanied by a written  instrument of transfer (a form of which is
attached to Exhibit 1) duly  executed by the  registered  holder of such Note or
his  attorney  duly  authorized  in writing and  accompanied  by the address for
notices of each  transferee  of such Note or part  thereof),  the  Issuer  shall
execute and deliver,  at the Issuer's or Company's  expense  (except as provided
below),  one or more new Notes (as requested by the holder  thereof) in exchange
therefor,  in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unpaid principal amount
of the  surrendered  Note. Each such new Note shall be payable to such Person as
such  holder may request  and shall be  substantially  in the form of Exhibit 1.
Each  such new Note  shall be  dated  and bear  interest  from the date to which
interest shall have been paid on the  surrendered  Note or dated the date of the
surrendered  Note if no interest  shall have been paid thereon.  With respect to
each such new Note issued by the Issuer, the Company shall execute the guarantee
endorsement  thereon.  For the avoidance of doubt, if any surrendered  Note is a
Termination-Related  Assumed Note, such new Note shall be a  Termination-Related
Assumed  Note.  The  Issuer  and/or the  Company  may  require  payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any stamp tax or  governmental  charge imposed in respect of
any such transfer of Notes.  Notes shall not be transferred in  denominations of
less than  $1,000,000,  provided that if necessary to enable the registration of
transfer  by a holder  of its  entire  holding  of  Notes,  one Note may be in a
denomination of less than  $1,000,000.  Any  transferee,  by its acceptance of a
Note  registered  in its name (or the name of its  nominee),  shall be deemed to
have made the representation set forth in Section 6.2.

13.3     Replacement of Notes.

         Upon receipt by the Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of
the  ownership of and the loss,  theft,  destruction  or  mutilation of any Note
(which evidence shall be, in the case of an Institutional Investor,  notice from
such Institutional Investor of such ownership and such loss, theft,  destruction
or mutilation), and

                  (a) in the case of loss,  theft or  destruction,  of indemnity
         reasonably satisfactory to it (provided that if the holder of such Note
         is, or is a nominee for, an original  Purchaser or another  holder of a
         Note with a minimum net worth of at least  $100,000,000,  such Person's
         own   unsecured   agreement  of   indemnity   shall  be  deemed  to  be
         satisfactory), or

                  (b)      in  the  case  of  mutilation,   upon  surrender  and
         cancellation thereof,

the  Issuer  (at the  expense  in any case of the  Company)  shall  execute  and
deliver,  in lieu  thereof,  a new  Note  (and the  Company  shall  execute  any
guarantee  endorsement  required  to be  endorsed  thereon),  dated and  bearing
interest  from the date to which  interest  shall  have been paid on such  lost,
stolen,  destroyed  or  mutilated  Note or dated the date of such lost,  stolen,
destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.

                                       32

<PAGE>


14.      PAYMENTS ON NOTES.

14.1     Place of Payment.

         Subject to Section 14.2,  payments of principal,  Make-Whole Amount, if
any,  and  interest  becoming  due and payable on the Notes shall be made in New
York  City,  New  York,  at the  principal  office  of  Citibank,  N.A.  in such
jurisdiction.  The Issuer may at any time,  by notice to each  holder of a Note,
change the place of payment of the Notes so long as such place of payment  shall
be either  the  principal  office of the  Company  in such  jurisdiction  or the
principal office of a bank or trust company in such jurisdiction.

14.2     Home Office Payment.

         So long as you or your  nominee  shall be the  holder of any Note,  and
notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  Section  14.1 or in  such  Note to the
contrary,  the Issuer will pay all sums becoming due on such Note for principal,
Make-Whole  Amount,  if any,  and  interest  by the  method  and at the  address
specified  for such  purpose  below  your name in  Schedule  A, or by such other
method or at such other address as you shall have from time to time specified to
the Issuer in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of
such Note or the  making  of any  notation  thereon,  except  that upon  written
request  of the Issuer  made  concurrently  with or  reasonably  promptly  after
payment or prepayment  in full of any Note,  you shall  surrender  such Note for
cancellation,  reasonably  promptly after any such request, to the Issuer at the
principal  executive  office of the ESOP Trustee or at the place of payment most
recently designated by the Issuer pursuant to Section 14.1. Prior to any sale or
other  disposition  of any Note held by you or your  nominee  you will,  at your
election,  either  endorse  thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the
last date to which  interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the
Issuer in exchange for a new Note or Notes  pursuant to Section 13.2. The Issuer
will afford the benefits of this Section 14.2 to any Institutional Investor that
is the direct or indirect  transferee  of any Note  purchased  by you under this
Agreement and that has made the same agreement relating to such Note as you have
made in this Section 14.2.

15.      EXPENSES, ETC.

15.1     Transaction Expenses.

         Whether or not the  transactions  contemplated  hereby are consummated,
the Company will pay all costs and  expenses  (including  reasonable  attorneys'
fees of a special counsel and, if reasonably  required,  local or other counsel)
incurred by you and each Other  Purchaser or holder of a Note in connection with
such  transactions  and in connection with any  amendments,  waivers or consents
under or in  respect  of this  Agreement,  the  Other  Agreements  or the  Notes
(whether or not such amendment, waiver or consent becomes effective), including,
without  limitation:  (a) the  costs  and  expenses  incurred  in  enforcing  or
defending (or determining  whether or how to enforce or defend) any rights under
this  Agreement,  the  Other  Agreements  or the Notes or in  responding  to any
subpoena  or other  legal  process or informal  investigative  demand  issued in
connection with this Agreement,  the Other Agreements or the Notes, or by reason
of being a  holder  of any  Note,  and (b) the  costs  and  expenses,  including
financial   advisors'   fees,   incurred  in  connection  with  the  insolvency,
receivership or bankruptcy of the Issuer,  the ESOP Trustee,  the Company or any
Material  Subsidiary or in connection with any work-out or  restructuring of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and by the Notes.  The Company  will pay, and
will save you and each  other  holder of a Note  harmless  from,  all  claims in
respect of any fees,  costs or expenses  if any,  of brokers and finders  (other
than those retained by you).

                                       33


<PAGE>


15.2     Survival.

         The  obligations  of the Company under this Section 15 will survive the
payment  or  transfer  in  accordance  with  this  Agreement  of any  Note,  the
enforcement,  amendment  or waiver of any  provision  of this  Agreement  or the
Notes, and the termination of this Agreement.

16.      SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

         All representations  and warranties  contained herein shall survive the
execution and delivery of this  Agreement,  the Other  Agreements and the Notes,
the  purchase  or  transfer  by you of any Note or portion  thereof or  interest
therein  and the payment of any Note,  and may be relied upon by any  subsequent
holder  of a Note,  regardless  of any  investigation  made at any time by or on
behalf of you or any  other  holder  of a Note (it  being  understood  that such
representations  and warranties are made as of the date of this Agreement and as
of the date of any certificate being delivered pursuant to Section 4 and are not
otherwise  being  updated  or  restated).   All  statements   contained  in  any
certificate or other  instrument  delivered by or on behalf of the Issuer or the
Company,  as the  case  may be,  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall  be  deemed
representations  and  warranties of the Issuer and the Company,  as the case may
be, under this Agreement.  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and
the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding  between you, the Issuer
and the Company and supersede all prior agreements and  understandings  relating
to the subject matter hereof.

17.      AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

17.1     Requirements.

         This Agreement,  the Other Agreements and the Notes may be amended, and
the observance of any term hereof, thereof or of the Notes may be waived (either
retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the
Issuer,  the Company and the Required  Holders,  except that (a) no amendment or
waiver of any of the provisions of Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 21 hereof, or any
defined  term  (as it is used  therein),  will  be  effective  as to you  unless
consented to by you in writing, and (b) no such amendment or waiver may, without
the written consent of the holder of each Note at the time outstanding  affected
thereby, (i) subject to the provisions of Section 12 relating to acceleration or
rescission,  change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal
of, or reduce the rate or change the time of payment or method of computation of
interest or of the Make-Whole  Amount on, the Notes,  (ii) change the percentage
of the  principal  amount of the  Notes the  holders  of which are  required  to
consent to any such  amendment  or waiver,  or (iii)  amend any of  Sections  8,
11(a), 11(b), 12, 17 or 20 or 22.

17.2     Solicitation of Holders of Notes.

                  (a) Solicitation.  The Company will provide each holder of the
         Notes  (irrespective  of the  amount  of Notes  then  owned by it) with
         sufficient  information,  sufficiently  far in  advance  of the  date a
         decision is  required,  to enable  such holder to make an informed  and
         considered decision with respect to any proposed  amendment,  waiver or
         consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or of the Notes. The
         Company  will  deliver  executed  or true and  correct  copies  of each
         amendment,  waiver or consent  effected  pursuant to the  provisions of
         this Section 17 to each holder of outstanding Notes promptly  following
         the date on which it is executed  and  delivered  by, or  receives  the
         consent or approval of, the requisite holders of Notes.

                                       34


<PAGE>


                  (b) Payment.  Neither the Issuer nor the Company will directly
         or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration,  whether by way
         of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise,  or grant any
         security,  to  any  holder  of  Notes  as  consideration  for  or as an
         inducement to the entering into by any holder of Notes or any waiver or
         amendment  of  any of the  terms  and  provisions  hereof  unless  such
         remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted,
         on the same  terms,  ratably to each  holder of Notes then  outstanding
         even if such holder did not consent to such waiver or amendment.

17.3     Binding Effect, etc.

         Any  amendment  or waiver  consented  to as provided in this Section 17
applies  equally to all holders of Notes and is binding  upon them and upon each
future holder of any Note and upon the Issuer and the Company  without regard to
whether such Note has been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver.  No such
amendment  or  waiver  will  extend  to  or  affect  any  obligation,  covenant,
agreement, Default or Event of Default not expressly amended or waived or impair
any right consequent thereon. No course of dealing among the Issuer, the Company
and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising  any rights  hereunder or
under any Note  shall  operate  as a waiver of any  rights of any holder of such
Note. As used herein,  the term "this  Agreement" and  references  thereto shall
mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.

17.4     Notes held by the Issuer, the Company, etc.

         Solely  for the  purpose  of  determining  whether  the  holders of the
requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding
approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this
Agreement  or the Notes,  or have  directed  the  taking of any action  provided
herein  or in the  Notes to be taken  upon the  direction  of the  holders  of a
specified   percentage  of  the  aggregate   principal   amount  of  Notes  then
outstanding,  Notes directly or indirectly  owned by the Issuer,  the Company or
any of Affiliates of the Company shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

18.      NOTICES.

         All notices  and  communications  provided  for  hereunder  shall be in
writing  and  sent  (a) by  telecopy  if the  sender  on the  same  day  sends a
confirming  copy of such  notice  by a  recognized  overnight  delivery  service
(charges  prepaid),  or (b) by registered or certified  mail with return receipt
requested (postage prepaid),  or (c) by a recognized  overnight delivery service
(with charges prepaid). Any such notice must be sent:

                  (i) if to you or  your  nominee,  to you or it at the  address
         specified  for such  communications  in  Schedule  A, or at such  other
         address as you or it shall have specified to the Company in writing,

                  (ii) if to any other  holder of any  Note,  to such  holder at
         such address as such other  holder shall have  specified to the Company
         in writing,

                  (iii)    if to the Issuer or the Company, to the Issuer at

                           The Stanley Works
                           76 Batterson Road

                                       35


<PAGE>


                           Farmington, CT  06032
                           Attn: Mr. Craig A. Douglas
                           Treasurer
                           T: 860.409.1201
                           F: 860.409.1285

         or to such address as the Issuer and the Company  shall have  specified
         to the holder of each Note in writing.

Notices under this Section 18 will be deemed given only when actually received.

19.      REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.

         This Agreement and all documents relating thereto,  including,  without
limitation,  (a)  consents,  waivers and  modifications  that may  hereafter  be
executed,  (b)  documents  received  by you at the  Closing  (except  the  Notes
themselves),  and (c) financial  statements,  certificates and other information
previously  or  hereafter  furnished  to you,  may be  reproduced  by you by any
photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other
similar  process and you may destroy any original  document so  reproduced.  The
Issuer and the Company  agree and  stipulate  that,  to the extent  permitted by
applicable  law, any such  reproduction  shall be  admissible in evidence as the
original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the
original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by you in
the  regular  course of  business)  and any  enlargement,  facsimile  or further
reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. This
Section 19 shall not  prohibit  the Issuer,  the Company or any other  holder of
Notes from  contesting  any such  reproduction  to the same extent that it could
contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy
of any such reproduction.

20.      CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

         For the purposes of this Section 20,  "Confidential  Information" means
information  delivered to you by or on behalf of the Issuer,  the Company or any
Material  Subsidiary  in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by or
otherwise  pursuant to this Agreement that is proprietary in nature and that was
clearly marked or labeled or otherwise  adequately  identified  when received by
you as  being  confidential  information  of the  Issuer,  the  Company  or such
Material Subsidiary, provided that such term does not include information that

                  (a)      was publicly known or otherwise known to you prior to
         the time of such disclosure,

                  (b)  subsequently  becomes  publicly  known  through no act or
         omission by you or any Person acting on your behalf,

                  (c)  otherwise   becomes  known  to  you  other  than  through
         disclosure by the Issuer, the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or

                  (d) constitutes  financial  statements  delivered to you under
         Section 7.1 that are otherwise publicly available.

                                       36


<PAGE>


You will  maintain  the  confidentiality  of such  Confidential  Information  in
accordance with procedures adopted by you in good faith to protect  confidential
information of third parties  delivered to you, provided that you may deliver or
disclose Confidential Information to:

                  (i) your directors,  officers,  trustees,  employees,  agents,
         attorneys  and  affiliates  (to the extent such  disclosure  reasonably
         relates to the  administration  of the  investment  represented by your
         Notes),

                  (ii) your financial advisors and other  professional  advisors
         who   agree  to  hold   confidential   the   Confidential   Information
         substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section 20,

                  (iii)    any other holder of any Note,

                  (iv) any Institutional  Investor to which you sell or offer to
         sell such Note or any part  thereof or any  participation  therein  (if
         such  Person  has  agreed  in  writing  prior  to its  receipt  of such
         Confidential  Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section
         20),

                  (v) any Person from which you offer to purchase  any  security
         of the  Company  (if such  Person has  agreed in  writing  prior to its
         receipt of such Confidential  Information to be bound by the provisions
         of this Section 20),

                  (vi)  any  federal  or  state   regulatory   authority  having
         jurisdiction over you,

                  (vii) the National  Association of Insurance  Commissioners or
         any similar  organization,  or any nationally  recognized rating agency
         that requires access to information about your investment portfolio or

                  (viii) any other Person to which such  delivery or  disclosure
         may be necessary or appropriate

                             (A)  to  effect  compliance  with  any  law,  rule,
                  regulation or order applicable to you,

                             (B)    in  response  to any subpoena or other legal
                  process,

                             (C)    in  connection  with any litigation to which
                  you are a party, or

                             (D) if an  Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is
                  continuing,  to the extent you may  reasonably  determine such
                  delivery and  disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the
                  enforcement  or for the  protection of the rights and remedies
                  under your Notes and this Agreement.

Each  holder  of a Note,  by its  acceptance  of a Note,  will be deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the  benefits of this  Section 20 as
though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by the Issuer or
the  Company  in  connection  with  the  delivery  to any  holder  of a Note  of
information  required to be  delivered  to such holder  under this  Agreement or
requested by such holder (other than a holder that is a party to this  Agreement
or its  nominee),  such holder will enter into an agreement  with the Issuer and
the Company embodying the provisions of this Section 20.

                                       37


<PAGE>


21.      SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER.

         You shall have the right to  substitute  any one of your  Affiliates as
the  purchaser  of the Notes  that you have  agreed to  purchase  hereunder,  by
written  notice to the Issuer and the  Company,  which notice shall be signed by
both you and such  Affiliate,  shall  contain such  Affiliate's  agreement to be
bound by this  Agreement and shall contain a  confirmation  by such Affiliate of
the accuracy with respect to it of the  representations  set forth in Section 6.
Upon receipt of such notice,  wherever the word "you" is used in this  Agreement
(other  than in this  Section  21),  such word  shall be deemed to refer to such
Affiliate in lieu of you. In the event that such  Affiliate is so substituted as
a purchaser hereunder and such Affiliate  thereafter transfers to you all of the
Notes then held by such Affiliate, upon receipt by the Issuer and the Company of
notice  of such  transfer,  wherever  the word  "you" is used in this  Agreement
(other than in this Section 21), such word shall no longer be deemed to refer to
such Affiliate,  but shall refer to you, and you shall have all the rights of an
original holder of the Notes under this Agreement.

22.      GUARANTEE.

         22.1     Guaranteed Obligations.

         The Company hereby irrevocably, unconditionally, absolutely, guarantees
to each holder of Notes, as and for each the Company's own debt, until final and
indefeasible payment has been made:

                  (a)  the  due  and  punctual  payment  by  the  Issuer  of the
         principal   of,  and   interest   (including   default   interest   and
         post-petition  interest),  and the  Make-Whole  Amount (if any) on, the
         Notes at any time  outstanding and the due and punctual  payment of all
         other amounts payable,  and all other indebtedness owing, by the Issuer
         to the holders of the Notes under this Agreement,  the Other Agreements
         and  the  Notes  (all  such   obligations   so  guarantied  are  herein
         collectively referred to as the "Guaranteed Obligations"), in each case
         when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity,
         pursuant  to  mandatory  or optional  prepayment,  by  acceleration  or
         otherwise,  all in accordance with the terms and provisions  hereof and
         thereof;  it being the intent of the  Company  that the  guarantee  set
         forth in this  Section 22 (the  "Guarantee")  shall be a  guarantee  of
         payment and not a guarantee of collection; and

                  (b)  the   punctual   and   faithful   performance,   keeping,
         observance,  and  fulfillment by the Issuer of all duties,  agreements,
         covenants and  obligations of the Issuer  contained in this  Agreement,
         the Other Agreements and the Notes.

         22.2     Performance under this Agreement and the Other Agreements.

         In the  event  the  Issuer  fails to make,  on or  before  the due date
thereof, any payment of the Guaranteed Obligations,  or if the Issuer shall fail
to perform, keep, observe, or fulfill any other obligation referred to in clause
(a) or clause (b) of Section 22.1 in the manner provided in this Agreement,  the
Other Agreements or the Notes after in each case giving effect to any applicable
grace  periods or cure  provisions or waivers or  amendments,  the Company shall
cause forthwith to be paid the moneys, or to be performed,  kept,  observed,  or
fulfilled  each of such  obligations,  in  respect  of which  such  failure  has
occurred in  accordance  with the terms and  provisions of this  Agreement,  the
Other Agreements and the Notes.

                                       38


<PAGE>


22.3     Waivers.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company does hereby waive:

         (a) notice of acceptance of the Guarantee;

         (b) notice of any  purchase  of the Notes under this  Agreement  or the
Other  Agreements,  or  the creation,  existence  or  acquisition  of any of the
Guaranteed  Obligations,  subject to the Company's right to make inquiry of each
holder of Notes to ascertain  the amount of the  Guaranteed  Obligations  at any
reasonable time;

         (c) notice of the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations,  subject to the
Company's  right to make inquiry of each holder of Notes to ascertain the amount
of the Guaranteed Obligations at any reasonable time;

         (d) notice of adverse change in the financial  condition of the Issuer,
any  other  guarantor  or any other  fact  that  might  increase  or expand  the
Company's risk hereunder;

         (e) notice of  presentment  for payment,  demand,  protest,  and notice
thereof as to the Notes or any other instrument;

         (f) notice of any Default or Event of Default (except if such notice or
demand is specifically otherwise required to be given to the Company pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement);

         (g) all other notices and demands to which the Company might  otherwise
be entitled (except if such notice or demand is specifically  otherwise required
to be given to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement);

         (h) the defense of the  "single  action"  rule or any similar  right or
protection, and the right by statute or otherwise to require any holder of Notes
to institute  suit  against the Issuer or any other  guarantor or to exhaust its
rights and remedies against the Issuer or any other guarantor, the Company being
bound  to the  payment  of each  and all  Guaranteed  Obligations,  whether  now
existing or hereafter accruing, as fully as if such Guaranteed  Obligations were
directly owing to the holders of Notes by the Company;

         (i)  any  defense  of  the  Issuer  under  this  Agreement,  the  Other
Agreements and the Notes other than the full and timely performance thereof;

         (j) any defense relating to the validity or enforceability  (or absence
or failure  thereof) of any term of this Agreement,  the Other  Agreements,  the
Notes and/or any ESOP Document;

         (k) any defense  arising by reason of any  disability  or other defense
(other than the defense that the  Guaranteed  Obligations  shall have been fully
and finally  performed and indefeasibly  paid) of the Issuer or by reason of the
cessation  from any cause  whatsoever  of the liability of the Issuer in respect
thereof,  and any other defense that the Company may otherwise  have against the
Issuer or any holder of Notes; and

         (l) any stay (except in connection with a pending  appeal),  valuation,
appraisal,  redemption  or extension  law now or at any time  hereafter in force
which, but for this

                                       39


<PAGE>


waiver,  might be  applicable  to any sale of property of the Company made under
any judgment, order or decree based on this Agreement, and the Company covenants
that it will not at any time  insist  upon or plead,  or in any manner  claim or
take the benefit or advantage of such law.

         22.4     Certain Waivers of Subrogation, Reimbursement and Indemnity.

         Until all of the  Guaranteed  Obligations  shall  have  been  fully and
finally paid, the Company shall have no right of subrogation,  reimbursement  or
indemnity  whatsoever  and no right of recourse to or with respect to any assets
or property of the Issuer.  Nothing shall  discharge or satisfy the liability of
the Company  hereunder  except the full and final  performance and  indefeasible
payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

         22.5     Releases.

         The  Company  consents  and agrees  that,  without  notice to or by the
Company  and  without  impairing,  releasing,  abating,  deferring,  suspending,
reducing,  terminating  or otherwise  affecting the  obligations  of the Company
hereunder,  each holder of Notes,  in the manner provided  herein,  by action or
inaction, may:

                  (a)  compromise  or  settle,  renew or  extend  the  period of
         duration or the time for the payment,  or discharge the performance of,
         or may refuse  to, or  otherwise  not,  enforce,  or may,  by action or
         inaction, release all or any one or more parties to, any one or more of
         this Agreement, the Other Agreements or the Notes;

                  (b)  assign, sell or transfer, or  otherwise  dispose of,  any
         one or more of the Notes;

                  (c) grant waivers, extensions,  consents and other indulgences
         to the Issuer or any other  guarantor  in respect of any one or more of
         this Agreement, the Other Agreements or the Notes;

                  (d) amend,  modify or supplement in any manner and at any time
         (or from  time to time)  any one or more of this  Agreement,  the Other
         Agreements and the Notes;

                  (e) release or substitute  any one or more of the endorsers or
         guarantors of the Guaranteed Obligations whether parties hereto or not;

                  (f) sell,  exchange,  release or surrender any property at any
         time  pledged  or  granted as  security  in  respect of the  Guaranteed
         Obligations,  whether so  pledged or granted by the  Company or another
         guarantor of the Issuer's  obligations under this Agreement,  the Other
         Agreements and the Notes;

                  (g) exchange,  enforce,  waive,  or release, by action or
         inaction,  any  security  for  the Guaranteed Obligations or any  other
         guarantee of any of the Notes; and

                  (h) any  other act or event  which  could  have the  effect of
         releasing  the Company  from the full and complete  performance  of its
         obligations hereunder.

                                       40


<PAGE>


         22.6     Marshaling.

         The Company consents and agrees that:

                  (a) each  holder  of Notes  shall  be under no  obligation  to
         marshal  any assets in favor of the Company or against or in payment of
         any or all of the Guaranteed Obligations; and

                  (b) to the  extent the  Issuer or  another  guarantor  makes a
         payment or payments to any holder of Notes,  which  payment or payments
         or any  part  thereof  are  subsequently  invalidated,  declared  to be
         fraudulent  or  preferential,  set aside,  or required,  for any of the
         foregoing reasons or for any other reason, to be repaid or paid over to
         a custodian, trustee, receiver, or any other party under any bankruptcy
         law, common law, or equitable cause, then to the extent of such payment
         or repayment,  the obligation or part thereof  intended to be satisfied
         thereby  shall be revived and  continued in full force and effect as if
         said  payment or payments  had not been made and the  Company  shall be
         primarily liable for such obligation.

         22.7     Liability.

         The Company agrees that the liability of the Company in respect of this
Section 22 shall be immediate and shall not be  contingent  upon the exercise or
enforcement  by any holder of Notes of  whatever  remedies  such holder may have
against  the Issuer or any other  guarantor  or the  enforcement  of any Lien or
realization upon any security such holder may at any time possess.

         22.8     Character of Obligation.

         The  Guarantee  set forth in this  Section 22 is a primary and original
obligation  of the Company and is an  absolute,  unconditional,  continuing  and
irrevocable guarantee of payment and performance (and not of collectibility) and
shall  remain in full force and effect  until the full,  final and  indefeasible
payment of the  Guaranteed  Obligations  without  respect  to future  changes in
conditions.

         The  obligations  of the Company under this Guarantee and the rights of
the holders of Notes to enforce such obligations by any proceedings,  whether by
action  at law,  suit in  equity  or  otherwise,  shall  not be  subject  to any
reduction, limitation, impairment or termination, whether by reason of any claim
of any character whatsoever or otherwise,  including, without limitation, claims
of  waiver,  release,  surrender,  alteration  or  compromise,  and shall not be
subject  to  any  defense,  set-off,  counterclaim,  recoupment  or  termination
whatsoever.

         Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the  obligations of
the Company hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise  affected
by:

                  (a) any default,  failure or delay,  willful or otherwise,  in
         the  performance  by the  Issuer  of any  obligations  of any  kind  or
         character whatsoever of the Issuer (including,  without limitation, the
         obligations and  undertakings  of the Issuer  hereunder or under any of
         the Other Agreements or under any of the ESOP Documents);

                  (b) any  creditors'  rights, bankruptcy, receivership or other
         insolvency  proceeding  of the Issuer

                                       41


<PAGE>


         or any other  Person or in respect of the property of the Issuer or any
         other Person or any merger, consolidation, reorganization, dissolution,
         liquidation or winding up of the Issuer or any other Person;

                  (c)      impossibility  or  illegality  of  performance on the
         part of the Issuer  of  its  obligations  hereunder,  under  the  Other
         Agreements or under the Notes;

                  (d)      the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the
         Other Agreements or the Notes;

                  (e) in respect of the Issuer or any other  Person,  any change
         of  circumstances,  whether or not foreseen or foreseeable,  whether or
         not imputable to the Issuer or any other Person, or other impossibility
         of performance through fire,  explosion,  accident,  labor disturbance,
         floods,  droughts,  embargoes,  wars (whether or not  declared),  civil
         commotions,  acts of God or the  public  enemy,  delays or  failure  of
         suppliers or carriers,  inability  to obtain  materials,  action of any
         federal or state regulatory body or agency,  change of law or any other
         causes affecting  performance,  or any other force majeure,  whether or
         not beyond the control of the Issuer or any other Person and whether or
         not of the kind hereinbefore specified;

                  (f)  any  attachment,  claim,  demand,  charge,  lien,  order,
         process, encumbrance or any other happening or event or reason, similar
         or dissimilar to the foregoing, or any withholding or diminution at the
         source, by reason of any taxes,  assessments,  expenses,  indebtedness,
         obligations or  liabilities  of any character,  foreseen or unforeseen,
         and whether or not valid,  incurred  by or against  any Person,  or any
         claims,   demands,   charges  or  Liens  of  any  nature,  foreseen  or
         unforeseen,  incurred  by any  Person,  or  against  any  sums  payable
         hereunder  or under the Other  Agreements,  so that such sums  would be
         rendered inadequate or would be unavailable to make the payments herein
         provided;

                  (g) any order,  judgment,  decree,  law,  ruling or regulation
         (whether  or not valid) of any court of any nation or of any  political
         subdivision  thereof  or any  body,  agency,  department,  official  or
         administrative or regulatory agency of any thereof or any other action,
         happening,  event or reason  whatsoever  which shall  delay,  interfere
         with,  hinder  or  prevent,   or  in  any  way  adversely  affect,  the
         performance  by any  party  of its  respective  obligations  under  any
         instruments; or

                  (h) any other circumstance which might otherwise  constitute a
         defense  available to, or a discharge of, the Company in respect of the
         obligations of the Company under this Guarantee.

         22.9     Election to Perform Obligations.

         Any  election  by the  Company to pay or  otherwise  perform any of the
obligations  of the Issuer under this  Agreement,  the Other  Agreements  or the
Notes,  whether pursuant to this Section 22 or otherwise,  shall not release the
Issuer or any other  guarantor  from such  obligations  or any of such  Person's
other obligations under this Agreement, the Other Agreements or the Notes.

                                       42


<PAGE>


         22.10    No Election.

         Each holder of Notes shall have the right to seek recourse  against the
Company to the fullest  extent  provided for in this Section 22 and elsewhere as
provided in this Agreement,  the Other Agreements and the Notes, and against the
Issuer, to the full extent provided for in this Agreement,  the Other Agreements
and the Notes.  No election to proceed in one form of action or  proceeding,  or
against any party, or on any obligation,  shall constitute a waiver of the right
of such holder of Notes to proceed in any other form of action or  proceeding or
against  other  parties  unless such holder of Notes has  expressly  waived such
right in writing.  Specifically,  but without  limiting  the  generality  of the
foregoing,  no action or proceeding by any holder of Notes against the Issuer or
any guarantor  under any document or instrument  evidencing  obligations  of the
Issuer or such  guarantor  to such holder of Notes  shall serve to diminish  the
liability of the Company under this Agreement  (including,  without  limitation,
this  Section  22) except to the extent  that such  holder of Notes  finally and
unconditionally  shall  have  realized  payment  by such  action or  proceeding,
notwithstanding  the effect of any such action or proceeding  upon the Company's
right of subrogation against the Issuer.

         22.11    Severability.

         Subject to Section 12 hereof,  each of the rights and remedies  granted
under  this  Section  22 to the  holder of Notes in respect of the Notes held by
such holder may be exercised by such holder without notice by such holder to, or
the consent of or any other action by, any other holder of Notes.

         22.12    Other Enforcement Rights.

         Each holder of Notes may  proceed to protect and enforce the  Guarantee
under this Section 22 by suit or suits or  proceedings  in equity,  at law or in
bankruptcy,  and  whether  for  the  specific  performance  of any  covenant  or
agreement  contained  in this  Section  22 or in  execution  or aid of any power
herein  granted  or for  the  recovery  of  judgment  for or in  respect  of the
Guaranteed  Obligations  or for the  enforcement  of any other proper,  legal or
equitable remedy available under applicable law.

         22.13    Delay or Omission; No Waiver.

         No course of dealing on the part of any holder of Notes and no delay or
failure on the part of such holder to exercise  any right under this  Agreement,
the Other  Agreements or the Notes (including this Section 22) shall impair such
right or operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise  prejudice such holder's
rights,  powers and  remedies  hereunder.  Every right and remedy given in or by
this Section 22 or by law to any holder of Notes may be  exercised  from time to
time as often as may be deemed expedient by such Person.

         22.14    Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

         If any holder of Notes shall have  instituted any proceeding to enforce
any  right or remedy in this  Section  22,  under  this  Agreement  or any Other
Agreement or under any Note held by such holder and such  proceeding  shall have
been  discontinued  or abandoned for any reason,  or shall have been  determined
adversely  to such  holder,  then and in every such case each such  holder,  the
Issuer  and the  Company  shall,  except as may be limited  or  affected  by any
determination in such proceeding,  be restored severally and respectively to its
respective former positions

                                       43


<PAGE>


hereunder and thereunder,  and thereafter the rights and remedies of such holder
shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

         22.15    Cumulative Remedies.

         No remedy under this Agreement  (including,  without  limitation,  this
Section  22), the Other  Agreements  or the Notes is intended to be exclusive of
any other remedy,  but each and every remedy shall be cumulative and in addition
to any and every  other  remedy  given  pursuant to this  Agreement  (including,
without limitation, this Section 22) or the Other Agreements, or pursuant to the
Notes.

         22.16    Survival.

         So long as the  Guaranteed  Obligations  shall not have been  fully and
finally  performed and  indefeasibly  paid, the obligations of the Company under
this  Section 22 shall  survive  the  transfer  and  payment of any Note and the
payment in full of all the Notes.

         22.17    Miscellaneous.

         If an Event of Default  exists,  then the holders of Notes (as provided
in Section 12) shall have the right to declare (in accordance  with and pursuant
to the requirements of Section 12) all of the Guaranteed  Obligations to be, and
such Guaranteed  Obligations shall thereupon become,  forthwith due and payable,
without any  presentment,  demand,  protest or other notice of any kind,  all of
which  have  been  expressly   waived  by  the  Issuer  and  the  Company,   and
notwithstanding  any  stay,  injunction  or other  prohibition  preventing  such
declaration (or such Guaranteed  Obligations from becoming automatically due and
payable) as against the  Issuer.  In any such event,  the holders of Notes shall
have immediate recourse to the Company to the fullest extent set forth herein.

23.      MISCELLANEOUS.

23.1     Successors and Assigns.

         All covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement by or on
behalf  of any of the  parties  hereto  bind and inure to the  benefit  of their
respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent
holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.

23.2     Payments Due on Non-Business Days.

         Anything   in   this   Agreement   or  the   Notes   to  the   contrary
notwithstanding, any payment of principal of or Make-Whole Amount or interest on
any Note that is due on a date other  than a  Business  Day shall be made on the
next  succeeding  Business Day without  including the additional days elapsed in
the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.

23.3     Severability.

         Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or  unenforceable in
any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such  prohibition  or  unenforceability   without   invalidating  the  remaining
provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability

                                       44


<PAGE>


in any  jurisdiction  shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate
or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

23.4     Construction.

         Each  covenant  contained  herein  shall be construed  (absent  express
provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained
herein,  so that  compliance  with any one  covenant  shall not (absent  such an
express  contrary  provision)  be  deemed to  excuse  compliance  with any other
covenant. Where any provision herein refers to action to be taken by any Person,
or which  such  Person  is  prohibited  from  taking,  such  provision  shall be
applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.

23.5     Counterparts.

         This Agreement may be executed in any number of  counterparts,  each of
which  shall be an  original  but all of which  together  shall  constitute  one
instrument.  Each  counterpart  may consist of a number of copies  hereof,  each
signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.

23.6     Governing Law.

         THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH,  AND
THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
EXCLUDING  CHOICE-OF-LAW  PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF SUCH STATE THAT WOULD REQUIRE
THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN SUCH STATE.

23.7     Prohibited Transactions and Fiduciary Violations.

                  (a)  The  Company  shall,  to the  full  extent  permitted  by
         applicable law,  reimburse and indemnify you for, and hold you harmless
         from, any amount of excise tax,  penalty,  or pecuniary  remedy imposed
         upon you as a result of a "prohibited  transaction"  within the meaning
         of  section  4975 of the Code or  section  406 of ERISA  which  results
         directly or indirectly from your acquisition or holding of the Notes or
         receipt of any payment  pursuant to this Agreement,  excluding,  in any
         case,  any  such  "prohibited   transaction"   arising  from  facts  or
         circumstances  that are inconsistent with, or make untrue or incorrect,
         any representation  made by you under Section 6.2. If and to the extent
         that the obligations of the Company under the preceding sentence may be
         unenforceable  for any  reason,  the  Company  shall  make the  maximum
         contribution  to  the  payment  and  satisfaction  of  the  liabilities
         referred to above as may be  permitted by  applicable  law. The Company
         shall make such payment to you within 10 Business  Days of receipt from
         you of written  notice that such excise  taxes or  penalties  have been
         paid by you.

                  (b) In the event  that you have  received  a payment  from the
         Company under  Section  23.7(a)  above and you  subsequently  receive a
         reimbursement  of all or a portion  of the  excise  tax or penalty as a
         result  of a  determination  that the  penalty  or  excise  tax was not
         applicable to you, or applied to a lesser  extent,  then you shall,  as
         soon  as  reasonably  practicable  and  after  you  shall  have  actual
         knowledge  of the  receipt and nature of such  reimbursement,  use your
         best  efforts to pay to the  Company the amount so  received,  provided
         that in no case shall you be obligated to disclose  your tax returns or
         any other confidential information to the Issuer or the Company.

                                       45


<PAGE>


23.8     No Recourse with respect to the Issuer or the ESOP.

                  (a) The Bank is executing and delivering this  Agreement,  the
Other  Agreements and the Notes solely as trustee under the ESOP Trust Agreement
and not in its individual  capacity and in no case whatsoever shall the Bank (or
any successor  trustee under the ESOP Trust Agreement) be personally  liable for
the obligations of the Issuer hereunder, under the Other Agreements or under the
Notes,  provided that the Bank may be liable in its  individual  capacity in the
case of inaccuracy of the  representations  and warranties in Section 5.19 or in
any certificate  delivered  pursuant hereto made by it in respect of itself. The
covenants and agreements  made on the part of the Issuer herein and in the Other
Agreements are made and intended not as personal covenants and agreements of the
Bank or for the  purpose  or with  the  intention  of  binding  the  Bank in its
individual or corporate  capacity,  but are made and intended for the purpose of
binding  only the  Issuer  and the  Company  and this  Agreement  and the  Other
Agreements  are executed and delivered by the Bank solely in the exercise of the
powers expressly conferred upon it as trustee under the ESOP Trust Agreement.

                  (b) The  holders  of the  Notes  shall  not have any  recourse
against the Issuer,  the ESOP or the ESOP  Trustee,  except to the extent of the
assets or income of the ESOP that are permitted under Code  regulation  sections
54.4975-7(b)(5) and 54.4975-7(b)(6) (as modified by any subsequent modifications
to the Code or ERISA) and any successor  provisions thereto, to be used to repay
the  Notes.  This  Section  23.8  is  intended  to be  interpreted  in a  manner
consistent  with  section  4975 of the Code and section 408 of ERISA so that the
Indebtedness  evidenced  by the Notes is an  "exempt  loan" that  satisfies  the
requirements of said laws.

                  (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement  or the Notes,  no holder of a Note shall have any remedy or  recourse
against the Bank or the ESOP Trustee for refraining from taking any action that,
in the  reasonable  opinion of the ESOP  Trustee's  counsel,  would  result in a
"prohibited  transaction",  as such term is defined  in  section  4975(c) of the
Code,  which is not  exempted by section  4975(c)(2)  or (d) of the Code,  or as
defined in section 406 of ERISA,  or which is not exempted by section  408(b) of
ERISA; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 23.8 shall have
any effect on the enforceability, existence or validity of any obligation of the
Issuer or the Company under this Agreement, the Other Agreements or the Notes.


      [Remainder of page intentionally blank; next page is signature page.]

                                       46


<PAGE>


         If you are in  agreement  with the  foregoing,  please sign the form of
agreement on the accompanying counterpart of this Agreement and return it to the
Issuer,  whereupon the foregoing shall become a binding  agreement  between you,
the Issuer and the Company.

                                   Very truly yours,

                           STANLEY  ACCOUNT  VALUE  PLAN  TRUST,  acting  by and
                           through   Citibank,   N.A.,  not  in  its  individual
                           capacity  except  as set forth in  Sections  5.19 and
                           23.8  above,  but  solely as  trustee  under the ESOP
                           Documents referred to above

                                   By:  Citibank, N.A.,
                                        as Trustee


                                         By: Keith H. May
                                         Name: Keith H. May
                                         Title:  Vice President

                                   THE STANLEY WORKS



                                   By Craig A. Douglas
                                   Name:  Craig A. Douglas
                                   Title: Treasurer


The foregoing is hereby
agreed to as of the
date thereof.


[Separately executed by Each of the
Following Purchasers]

CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By CIGNA Investments, Inc.



  By  Edward Lewis

         Name:  Edward Lewis

         Title:  Managing Director


<PAGE>


HEALTHSOURCE NEW HAMPSHIRE, INC.
By CIGNA Investments, Inc.



  By  Edward Lewis

         Name:  Edward Lewis

         Title:  Managing Director



CIGNA HEALTHCARE OF FLORIDA, INC.
By CIGNA Investments, Inc.



  By  Edward Lewis

         Name:  Edward Lewis

         Title:  Managing Director



CIGNA HEALTHCARE OF CALIFORNIA, INC.
By CIGNA Investments, Inc.



  By  Edward Lewis

         Name:  Edward Lewis

         Title:  Managing Director



STATE FARM LIFE AND ACCIDENT ASSURANCE COMPANY



By  Donald E. Heltner                         By  Duncan Funk


         Name:  Donald E. Heltner                     Name:  Duncan Funk

         Title:  Vice President -                     Title:  Investment Officer
                  Taxable Fixed Income


<PAGE>


STATE FARM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


By  Donald E. Heltner                         By  Duncan Funk


         Name:  Donald E. Heltner                     Name:  Duncan Funk

         Title:     Vice President -                  Title: Investment Officer
                    Taxable Fixed Income



HARTFORD LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
By Hartford Investment Services, Inc., its
 Agent and Attorney in Fact



  By  Betsy Roberts

         Name:  Betsy Roberts

         Title: Its Senior Vice President



HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By Hartford Investment Services, Inc., its
 Agent and Attorney in Fact


  By  Betsy Roberts

         Name:  Betsy Roberts

         Title: Its Senior Vice President



HARTFORD CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
By Hartford Investment Services, Inc., its
 Agent and Attorney in Fact


  By  Dennis F. Kraft

         Name:  Dennis F. Kraft

         Title: Its Senior Vice President



<PAGE>


AID ASSOCIATION FOR LUTHERANS



By  R. Jerry Scheel

         Name:  R. Jerry Scheel

         Title: Second Vice President - Securities


<PAGE>


                                                                       EXHIBIT 1

                                  FORM OF NOTE

                        STANLEY ACCOUNT VALUE PLAN TRUST

             6.07% Senior ESOP Guaranteed Note Due December 31, 2009

No. R-                                                                    [Date]
PPN 85458# AA 2

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned,  STANLEY ACCOUNT VALUE PLAN
TRUST,
acting by and through Citibank, N.A., a national banking association, not in its
individual capacity,  but solely as trustee under the ESOP Documents (as defined
in the Note  Purchase  Agreements  referred  to below)  (the  "Issuer"),  hereby
promises  to pay  to  ________  or  registered  assigns,  the  principal  sum of
$________,  in principal installments as provided below, with interest (computed
on the  basis of a 360-day  year of  twelve  30-day  months)  (a) on the  unpaid
balance  thereof  at the rate of 6.07% per annum from the date  hereof,  payable
monthly on the last day of each calendar  month,  commencing with the earlier of
July 31, 1998 or the next payment  date  succeeding  the date hereof,  until the
principal  hereof  shall  have  become  due and  payable,  and (b) to the extent
permitted by law on any overdue  payment  (including any overdue  prepayment) of
principal,  any  overdue  payment of  interest  and any  overdue  payment of any
Make-Whole  Amount  (as  defined in the Note  Purchase  Agreements  referred  to
below), payable monthly as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder
hereof,  on demand),  at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the Default
Rate (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements).

         The principal amount of this Note shall be payable in monthly principal
installments on the last day of each calendar month,  as more  particularly  set
forth  on  Attachment  1  attached  hereto,  commencing  on July  31,  1998  and
terminating  on  November  30,  2009.  On December  31,  2009 the entire  unpaid
principal  amount of this Note together  with interest  thereon shall be due and
payable.

         Payments of principal of,  interest on and any  Make-Whole  Amount with
respect  to this Note are to be made in  lawful  money of the  United  States of
America at Citibank,  N.A. in New York City,  New York or at such other place as
the Issuer or The Stanley  Works,  a Connecticut  corporation  (the  "Company"),
shall have  designated by written  notice to the holder of this Note as provided
in the Note Purchase  Agreements referred to below. The payment by the Issuer of
the  principal  of,  Make Whole  Amount,  if any,  and  interest on this Note is
guaranteed by the Company,  as more  particularly  provided in the Note Purchase
Agreements.

         This Note is one of a series of Senior ESOP  Guaranteed  Notes  (herein
called the "Notes") issued pursuant to separate Note Purchase  Agreements,  each
dated as of June 30,  1998 (as from time to time  amended,  the  "Note  Purchase
Agreements"),  among  the  Issuer,  the  Company  and  each  of  the  respective
purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof. Each holder of
this Note will be deemed,  by its acceptance  hereof,  (i) to have agreed to the
confidentiality  provisions  set  forth  in  Section  20 of  the  Note  Purchase
Agreements  and (ii) to have made the  representation  set forth in Sections 6.1
and 6.2 of the Note Purchase Agreements.

         This Note is a  registered  Note and, as provided in the Note  Purchase
Agreements,  upon  surrender of this Note for  registration  of  transfer,  duly
endorsed, or accompanied by a written

                                  Exhibit 1-1


<PAGE>


instrument of transfer duly executed,  by the  registered  holder hereof or such
holder's  attorney duly  authorized in writing,  a new Note for a like principal
amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the  transferee.  Prior
to due presentment for registration of transfer,  the Issuer and the Company may
treat the person in whose name this Note is  registered  as the owner hereof for
the purpose of  receiving  payment and for all other  purposes,  and neither the
Issuer nor the Company will be affected by any notice to the contrary.

         This Note is subject to optional  prepayment,  in whole or from time to
time in part,  at the  times  and on the terms  specified  in the Note  Purchase
Agreements, but not otherwise.

         If an Event of  Default,  as defined in the Note  Purchase  Agreements,
occurs  and is  continuing,  the  principal  of this  Note  may be  declared  or
otherwise  become due and payable in the  manner,  at the price  (including  any
applicable  Make-Whole Amount) and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase
Agreements.

         As more particularly provided in the Note Purchase Agreements, the Bank
is executing and delivering the Note Purchase Agreements and this Note solely as
trustee under the ESOP Documents referred to in the Note Purchase Agreements and
not in its individual  capacity and in no case whatsoever shall the Bank (or any
person  acting as successor  trustee  under such ESOP  Documents)  be personally
liable for the  obligations of the Issuer under the Note Purchase  Agreements or
under this Note, provided that the Bank may be liable in its individual capacity
in the case of inaccuracy of the  representations and warranties in Section 5.19
of the Note Purchase Agreements or in any certificate delivered pursuant thereto
made by it in  respect  thereof.  Reference  is also  made to the Note  Purchase
Agreements for certain  limitations upon the recourse of the holder of this Note
against  the  Bank,  the ESOP,  the  Issuer  and the  assets of the ESOP and the
Issuer.

         Anything  contained in this Note to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the
sole and only recourse of the holder  hereof for the payment of the  obligations
of the  Issuer  shall be  derived  solely  from (a)  contributions  (other  than
securities  of the Company (the  "Securities"))  made to the Issuer from time to
time  pursuant to the Stanley  Account  Value Plan (the "ESOP Plan") to meet the
obligations of the Issuer hereunder,  (b) dividends paid on the shares purchased
by the ESOP Plan from the  proceeds of a loan which was repaid with the proceeds
of the Notes,  provided that dividends paid on allocated  shares may be used for
the payment of the obligations to the extent  permitted  under Internal  Revenue
Code  Section  404(k),  (c)  earnings  attributable  to  the  investment  of the
contributions  and dividends  referred to in the preceding  clauses (a) and (b),
(d) proceeds of a loan  entered  into to repay the loan  evidenced by this Note,
and (e) to the extent permitted by law, proceeds from the sale of collateral, if
any, with respect to this Note. The foregoing  limitations  shall not affect the
rights of the holder hereof,  which are unconditional  and absolute,  to declare
the  indebtedness  evidenced by this Note to be immediately due and payable upon
the occurrence of any default in accordance  with the Note Purchase  Agreements;
provided,  however,  that the extent of the  ability  of the  holder  thereof to
declare  such  an  acceleration   and  to  transfer  assets  of  the  Issuer  in
satisfaction  of any  default  shall be  subject  to the  applicable  limits  of
Treasury  Regulation  section  54.4975-7(b)(6).  For purposes of this paragraph,
contributions shall include all contributions made to the Issuer pursuant to the
ESOP Plan, including without limitation all elective contributions pursuant to a
cash or  deferred  arrangement  under the ESOP Plan and all  after-tax  employee
contributions made by the members to the ESOP Plan.

         In all  respects,  this Note  shall be subject  to and  construed  in a
manner consistent with the applicable  requirements for an "exempt loan" (within
the meaning of section 4975(d)(3) of the

                                  Exhibit 1-2


<PAGE>


Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended,  and Treasury  Regulation  section
54.4975-7(b)(1)(iii)).

         THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF
THE  STATE OF NEW YORK  EXCLUDING  CHOICE-OF-LAW  PRINCIPLES  OF THE LAW OF SUCH
STATE THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE  APPLICATION  OF THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION  OTHER
THAN SUCH STATE.

                                        STANLEY ACCOUNT VALUE PLAN TRUST, acting
                                        by and through  Citibank,  N.A.,  not in
                                        its   individual   capacity   except  as
                                        expressly set forth above, but solely as
                                        trustee   under   the   ESOP   Documents
                                        referred to above

                                        By: Citibank, N.A.,
                                               as Trustee


                                            By:_______________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


         The  undersigned,  THE STANLEY  WORKS, a Connecticut  corporation,  for
valuable  consideration,  hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  guarantees the
due,  punctual and complete payment of the principal of,  Make-Whole  Amount, if
any, on, and interest on, this Note,  all as more  particularly  provided for in
the Guarantee under, and as defined in, the Note Purchase Agreements referred to
above.  Said Guarantee is hereby  incorporated into this Note by reference as if
set forth  herein in its  entirety.  The holder of this Note is  entitled to the
benefits of said Guarantee.


                                            THE STANLEY WORKS



                                            By________________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:




                                  Exhibit 1-3


<PAGE>


                                                   Attachment 1









                                  Exhibit 1-4


<PAGE>


                               FORM OF BOND POWER

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
the 6.07% Senior ESOP  Guaranteed  Note Due December 31, 2009 of STANLEY ACCOUNT
VALUE PLAN TRUST (the  "Issuer"),  registration  number  R-___,  in the original
principal amount of ______ DOLLARS ($______) to






and irrevocably appoints


- ---------------------------------------

its agent and attorney-in-fact to transfer this note on the books of the Issuer.
The agent and attorney-in-fact may appoint another to act for him.


Dated:                                        ______________________



                                              By________________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:









                                  Exhibit 1-5


<PAGE>


                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.4(a)

                             REID and RIEGE, P. C.
                               COUNSELLORS AT LAW
                                ONE STATE STREET
                        HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06103-3385
                                 (860) 278-1150
                         telecopier no. (860) 240-1002

                                 June 30, 1998

To Each of the Persons on the Attached Distribution List

Re:      The Stanley Account Value Plan Trust's 6.07% Senior ESOP
         Guaranteed Notes Due December 31, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This opinion is rendered to you  pursuant to Section  4.4(a) of each of
those certain Note Purchase  Agreements dated as of June 30, 1998 (collectively,
the  "Agreements")  among the Stanley  Account Value Plan Trust (the  "Issuer"),
acting by and through  Citibank,  N.A., not in its individual  capacity,  but as
trustee  thereunder  (the "ESOP  Trustee"),  The Stanley  Works,  a  Connecticut
corporation   (the  "Company")  and  each  of  the  persons  set  forth  on  the
distribution  list  attached  hereto.  Terms defined in the  Agreements  and not
otherwise  defined herein are used herein with the meanings  assigned thereto in
such Agreements.

         We have  acted as special  tax and ERISA  counsel to the Issuer and the
Company in connection with the transactions  contemplated by the Agreements.  We
have examined and relied upon:

         (a)      A certificate  of recent date of the Secretary of State of the
                  State  of  Connecticut   certifying  that  the  Company  is  a
                  corporation  validly  existing  under the laws of the State of
                  Connecticut,  and  listing  all  corporate  documents  of  the
                  Company on file in its office;

         (b)      Copies, certified by said Secretary of State, of all corporate
                  documents of the Company listed in said certificate;

         (c)      Copies,  certified by the Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary
                  of the Company, of the by-laws of the Company;

         (d)      A certificate  of the  Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of
                  the  Company  as  to  certain  resolutions  of  the  Board  of
                  Directors  of  the  Company  and  as  to  the  incumbency  and
                  signatures of certain officers of the Company;


<PAGE>


Each of the Persons on the
     Attached Distribution List
June 30, 1998
Page 2



         (e)      Counterparts  or  originals,  executed by the Company,  of the
                  Agreements,  the ESOP Documents and the Notes delivered to you
                  this  day by the  Issuer  at the  Closing  (collectively,  the
                  "Stanley Documents");

         (f)      Counterparts  or originals,  executed by the ESOP Trustee,  of
                  the Agreements and the Notes  delivered to you this day by the
                  Issuer at the Closing (collectively, the "Trustee Documents");

         (g)      A certificate of an officer of Citibank,  N.A. dated this date
                  which confirms the representations and warranties contained in
                  Section 5.19 of the Agreements; and

         (h)      Such other certificates, documents, records and opinions as we
                  have  deemed  necessary  to enable us to render  the  opinions
                  expressed below.

         We have also  examined  and relied  upon the opinion  addressed  to you
dated this date of Stephen S. Weddle,  Esq., General Counsel of the Company, and
upon the opinion  addressed to you dated this date of  McDermott,  Will & Emery,
special counsel to the ESOP Trustee.

         We have also  examined  and  relied  upon (i) the  representations  and
warranties  as to certain  matters of fact  contained in the  Agreements  and in
certificates  delivered  to you in  connection  therewith  and  (ii)  provisions
contained  in the  Agreements  as to the  application  of  the  proceeds  of the
purchases of the Notes made pursuant to the Agreements.

         We have assumed that the documents we have reviewed in connection  with
this  opinion  which  purport to have been  executed  by parties  other than the
Issuer  have been duly  executed  by such  parties,  that such  parties  had all
requisite  power to enter into and  perform  all  obligations  thereunder,  that
execution and delivery thereof and the performance of all obligations thereunder
has  been  duly  authorized  by all  requisite  action,  and  that  the  subject
instruments are valid and binding upon said parties.

         We have assumed that the ESOP Trustee is a national banking association
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing, that it has the corporate
power,  authority  and legal  right to execute  and  deliver  in its  individual
capacity the ESOP Trust Agreement and perform its obligations  thereunder,  that
it has duly  authorized  the execution and delivery of the ESOP Trust  Agreement
and the  performance  of its  obligations  thereunder  and that  the ESOP  Trust
Agreement  is valid and binding  upon it. We have  assumed  that the Issuer is a
duly  organized and validly  existing  trust,  that it has the requisite  power,
authority  and legal right to execute and  deliver  the  Trustee  Documents  and
perform


<PAGE>


Each of the Persons on the
     Attached Distribution List
June 30, 1998
Page 3



its  obligations  thereunder  and that it has duly  authorized the execution and
delivery  of the  Trustee  Documents  and  the  performance  of its  obligations
thereunder.

         In our examination of documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures,  the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the
conformity to original documents of all documents  submitted to us as certified,
conformed, facsimile or photostatic copies, the authenticity of the originals of
such copies,  the accuracy of the material and factual matters contained in such
documents,  the competency of each  individual who signs or is purported to sign
such  documents,  and that no fraud  exists as to any  matter  relevant  to this
opinion.

         Our  opinion  with  regard to  matters  related to the Code or ERISA is
based on current  provisions of the Code and ERISA (and the legislative  history
with respect thereto) and on existing final (and, where  appropriate,  proposed)
regulations  under  the  Code  and  ERISA,   cases,   published   administrative
determinations  (including revenue rulings, advisory opinions and private letter
rulings), all of which may be changed or superseded at any time with retroactive
effect. No assurance is given that changes in the law or its interpretation will
not modify our opinions expressed herein. Further, our opinions set forth herein
are subject to the subsequent administration and operation of the Issuer and the
ESOP under the ESOP Documents.

         Whenever any opinion herein with respect to the existence or absence of
facts is qualified by the phrase "to our knowledge,"  such phrase indicates only
that, during the course of our representation of the Issuer and the Company,  no
information  has come to our attention  which would give us actual  knowledge of
the  existence  or  absence  of  such  facts,  and we have  made no  independent
investigation with respect to such facts.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         1.  Assuming  that  the  operation  of the  ESOP  Documents  and of the
predecessor  documents to the ESOP  Documents  has been in  accordance  with the
terms of the pertinent  documents and ERISA,  the ESOP Documents  satisfy in all
material  respects  the  requirements  applicable  to a  "qualified  plan" under
section 401(a) of the Code, the  requirements  applicable to an "employee  stock
ownership  plan" under section  4975(e)(7) of the Code and section  407(d)(6) of
ERISA, and the  requirements  applicable to an exempt trust under section 501(a)
of the  Code.  However,  we call to your  attention  the fact  that the  Company
intends  to  submit  a  request  to  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  for  a new
determination  letter as to the application of the requirements of the form of a
qualified  plan under section  401(a) of the Code, the form of an employee stock
ownership  plan  under  4975(e)(7)  of the Code and the form of an exempt  trust
under section 501(a)


<PAGE>


Each of the Persons on the
     Attached Distribution List
June 30, 1998
Page 4



of the Code, to the terms of the ESOP Documents.  It is anticipated that, in the
course of reviewing the ESOP Documents in connection  with the request for a new
determination  letter,  the Internal Revenue Service may require that changes be
made to  certain of the  provisions  of the ESOP  Documents  as a  condition  of
issuing such a new determination  letter. We assume that the Company will comply
with any reasonable  requests for changes that are made by the Internal  Revenue
Service  as a  condition  for  issuing  a new  favorable  determination  letter.
Consequently,  we expect the Internal Revenue Service will issue a new favorable
determination letter regarding the compliance of the terms of the ESOP Documents
with the requirements,  as currently in effect, under section 401(a) of the Code
as to the form of a qualified plan, the  requirements  of section  4975(e)(7) of
the  Code  as  to  the  form  of an  employee  stock  ownership  plan,  and  the
requirements of section 501(a) of the Code as to the form of an exempt trust.

         2. The Employer Capital Stock held by the ESOP Trustee on behalf of the
Issuer and the ESOP  constitutes  "qualifying  employer  securities"  within the
meaning of section  407(d)(5) of ERISA,  and  "employer  securities"  within the
meaning of Section 409(l) of the Code.

         3. Based on the facts known to us, and assuming  that  Citibank,  N.A.,
the ESOP Trustee,  has  determined in compliance  with and  consistent  with its
fiduciary  obligations  under ERISA that (A) the issuance and sale of the Notes,
and the  guarantee  thereof by the Company,  is primarily for the benefit of the
participants  and  beneficiaries of the ESOP, (B) the interest rate payable with
respect to the Notes is  reasonable  and (C) the terms of the Notes are at least
as  favorable  to the  ESOP as the  terms of  comparable  loans  resulting  from
arms-length negotiations between independent parties and that the ESOP Trustee's
determination is correct,  the issuance and sale of the Notes, and the guarantee
thereof by the Company, do not constitute  "prohibited  transactions" within the
meaning of section 406 of ERISA or section  4975(c) of the Code by reason of the
exemptions set forth in section 408(b)(3) of ERISA and section 4975(d)(3) of the
Code.

         4.  Neither the  execution  or delivery of any Stanley  Document by the
Company,  nor the  execution  or delivery  of any  Trustee  Document by the ESOP
Trustee,  nor  compliance  by the Company with the terms and  provisions  of any
Stanley  Document,  nor  compliance  by the  ESOP  Trustee  with the  terms  and
provisions of any Trustee Document,  each as in effect on the date hereof,  will
conflict  with,  result in a breach or  violation  of, or  constitute  a default
under,  any ESOP  Document or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
properties or assets of the Issuer pursuant to any ESOP Document.

         We express no opinion as to the law of any jurisdiction  other than the
law of the State of  Connecticut  and the  federal  law of the United  States of
America.


<PAGE>


Each of the Persons on the
     Attached Distribution List
June 30, 1998
Page 5


         Future  holders of the Notes,  Hebb & Gitlin and  Stephen S. Weddle may
rely on this opinion as if it were  addressed to them.  This opinion speaks only
as of the date hereof and we assume no responsibility to update this opinion.

                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                    REID and RIEGE, P.C.



                                                    By__________________________
                                                      John J. Jacobson
                                                      Stockholder



<PAGE>


June 30, 1998


                               DISTRIBUTION LIST
                               -----------------

            The Stanley Account Value Plan Trust's 6.07% Senior ESOP
                     Guaranteed Notes Due December 31, 2009


     1.   CIG & Co.

     2.   Healthsource New Hampshire, Inc.

     3.   CIGNA Healthcare of Florida, Inc.

     4.   CIGNA Healthcare of California, Inc.

     5.   State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company

     6.   State Farm Life Insurance Company

     7.   Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company

     8.   Hartford Life Insurance Company

     9.   Hartford Casualty Insurance Company

    10.   Nimer & Co



<PAGE>


                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.4(b)

                        [STANLEY NOTCHED RECTANGLE LOGO]


                               THE STANLEY WORKS

               1000 Stanley Drive, New Britain, Connecticut 06053
                  Telephone (860) 7827-3822 Fax (860) 827-3911

       Stephen S. Weddle
Vice President, General Counsel
         and Secretary





                                                                   June 30, 1998


To each of the Persons on the Attached Distribution List

         Re:      The Stanley Account Value Plan Trust's  6.07%  Guaranteed ESOP
                  Notes Due December 31, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This opinion is rendered to each of you  pursuant to Section  4.4(b) of
each of those  certain  Note  Purchase  Agreements  dated  as of June  30,  1998
(collectively, the "Agreements") among the Stanley Account Value Plan Trust (the
"Issuer"), acting by and through Citibank, N.A., not in its individual capacity,
but as trustee thereunder (the "ESOP Trustee"), The Stanley Works, a Connecticut
corporation  (the  "Company"),  and each of the persons (the  "Purchasers")  set
forth on the distribution list attached hereto.  Terms defined in the Agreements
and not  otherwise  defined  herein are used herein with the  meanings  assigned
thereto in such Agreements.

         I am the General  Counsel to the Company.  In rendering the opinion set
forth herein, I have examined and relied on:

         (a)      A certificate  of recent date of the Secretary of State of the
                  State  of  Connecticut   certifying  that  the  Company  is  a
                  corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly existing and in good
                  standing  under  the  laws of the  State of  Connecticut,  and
                  listing all corporate  documents of the Company on file in its
                  office;

         (b)      A copy of the certificate of incorporation of the Company:

         (c)      A copy of the by-laws of the Company;

         (d)      Certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company;

         (e)      Counterparts  or  originals,  executed by the Company,  of the
                  Agreements,  the ESOP Documents and the Notes delivered to you
                  this  day by the  Issuer  at the  Closing  (collectively,  the
                  "Stanley Documents");

         (f)      Counterparts  or originals,  executed by the ESOP Trustee,  of
                  the Agreements and the Notes  delivered to you this day by the
                  Issuer at the Closing (collectively, the "Trustee Documents");


<PAGE>


                                       -2-

         (g)      A certificate of Citibank, N.A. dated this date which confirms
                  the representations  and warranties  contained in Section 5.19
                  of the Agreements;

         (h)      A letter, dated the date hereof, to Hebb & Gitlin, the Company
                  and me from the Placement  Agent,  regarding the manner of the
                  offering of the Notes (the "Offeree Letter"); and

         (i)      Originals,  or copies certified or otherwise  identified to my
                  satisfaction,  of such other documents,  records,  instruments
                  and  certificates  of  public  officials  or  officers  of the
                  Company as I have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable me
                  to render this opinion.

         In  rendering  my  opinion,  I have also  relied,  to the extent I deem
necessary and proper, on:

         (a)      warranties and  representations  as to certain factual matters
                  contained in the Agreements; and

         (b)      with respect to the opinions  pertaining to the Code and ERISA
                  expressed  therein,  the legal opinion of Reid & Riege of even
                  date herewith and addressed and delivered to each of you.

         The  opinions  which follow are subject to the  following  assumptions,
limitations and qualifications:

         (a)      I have assumed the  genuineness of all  signatures,  the legal
                  capacity  of all  natural  persons,  the  authenticity  of all
                  documents  submitted to me as originals,  the conformity  with
                  the  original  documents of all  documents  submitted to me as
                  certified or reproduced  copies,  and the  authenticity of the
                  originals of such copies.

         (b)      I have  assumed  (to  the  extent  relevant  to  the  opinions
                  expressed herein) the due organization,  valid existence, good
                  standing  under the laws of its  jurisdiction  and capacity of
                  all persons  and  entities  who are parties to the  Agreements
                  other than the Company,  and that such  persons and  entities,
                  have the right,  power  (corporate or otherwise) and authority
                  to  execute  and  deliver  the   Agreements   and  to  perform
                  thereunder.

         (c)      I have  assumed  (to  the  extent  relevant  to  the  opinions
                  expressed  herein) that the Purchasers'  obligations under the
                  Agreements  are within the powers of the  Purchasers  and that
                  each  Purchaser  has taken all  necessary  action to authorize
                  execution  of the  relevant  Agreement  on its  behalf  by the
                  person  executing  same,  and such  Agreement  has  been  duly
                  executed and validly delivered by such Purchaser.


<PAGE>


                                       -3-

         (d)      As to any  facts  material  to  this  opinion  which I did not
                  independently  establish  or verify,  I have  relied  upon the
                  written  statements  and  certificates  of  the  Company,  the
                  officers  of the  Company  and  other  representatives  and of
                  public officials.

         This  opinion is limited to the laws of the State of  Connecticut,  the
State of New York and the United States of America.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

         (1)      The Company is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing
                  and  in  good  standing   under  the  laws  of  the  State  of
                  Connecticut and has all requisite  corporate power to transact
                  the  businesses  in which it is  engaged.  The Company has all
                  requisite  corporate  power and authority to execute,  deliver
                  and  perform  all  of  its   obligations   under  the  Stanley
                  Documents.

         (2)      Each  of the  Stanley  Documents  has  been  duly  authorized,
                  executed and delivered by the Company,  is a legal,  valid and
                  binding   obligation  of  the  Company  and  (subject  to  the
                  qualifications  stated in the second to last paragraph hereof)
                  is  enforceable  against  the Company in  accordance  with its
                  terms.

         (3)      Neither  the  execution  nor  delivery  of any of the  Stanley
                  Documents  by the  Company,  nor the  offering  or sale of the
                  Notes to you pursuant to the Agreements, nor compliance by the
                  Company  with  the  terms  and   provisions  of  any  of  such
                  documents, each as in effect on the date hereof, will conflict
                  with,  result  in a breach or  violation  of or  constitute  a
                  default under,  or result in the creation of any Lien upon any
                  of the  properties  or assets of the Company  pursuant to: (i)
                  the certificate of incorporation,  as amended, of the Company,
                  (ii) any existing  federal or  Connecticut  law or  government
                  regulation  applicable  to the  Company,  or  (iii) to my best
                  knowledge,  any  agreement,  instrument,  order,  judgment  or
                  decree  to  which  the  Company  is a party  or by which it is
                  bound.

         (4)      It is not necessary in connection with the offering, issuance,
                  sale and  delivery  of the  Notes  (or the  guarantees  of the
                  Company in respect  thereof)  delivered to you today under the
                  circumstances  contemplated  by the Agreements to register the
                  Notes (or the  guarantees  of the Company in respect  thereof)
                  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  or under the
                  "blue sky law" of the State of  Connecticut,  or to qualify an
                  indenture  in respect of the  issuance  of the Notes under the
                  Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

         (5)      No consent, approval,  authorization or other order of, or the
                  making of any  declaration  or  filing  with,  any  regulatory
                  authority  or other  Governmental  Authority  is required as a
                  condition to the valid execution,  delivery and performance of
                  any of the Stanley Documents by the Company.


<PAGE>


                                       -4-

         (6)      Neither  the  Company  nor  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  is  an
                  "investment   company,"  or  a  company   "controlled"  by  an
                  "investment  company,"  within the  meaning of the  Investment
                  Company Act of 1940, as amended.

         All opinions contained herein with respect to the enforceability of the
Stanley Documents are qualified to the extent that:

         (a)      the  availability of equitable  remedies,  including,  without
                  limitation,  specific  enforcement and injunctive  relief,  is
                  subject  to the  discretion  of the  court  before  which  any
                  proceedings therefor may be brought; and

         (b)      the  enforceability  of certain terms  provided in the Stanley
                  documents   may   be   limited   by   applicable   bankruptcy,
                  administration,   reorganization,   arrangement,   insolvency,
                  fraudulent  conveyance,   moratorium  or  other  similar  laws
                  affecting or relating to  creditors'  rights  generally and by
                  general   principles   of  equity   (regardless   of   whether
                  enforcement  is sought in a  proceeding  in equity or at law);
                  and

         (c)      rights  to   indemnification   and   contribution   under  the
                  Agreements may be limited by applicable law or public policy.

         This opinion speaks only as of the date hereof.  Other than the Persons
listed on the attached  distribution  list,  future holders of the Notes, Hebb &
Gitlin and Reid and Riege,  P.C., no Person may rely on this  opinion,  nor may
this  opinion  be  furnished  to or quoted to any such  Person  (other  than any
federal or state regulatory authority and your professional advisors) without my
prior  written  consent.  Any  reliance  hereon is  limited  to the  transaction
contemplated by the Agreements.

                                                               Very truly yours,

                                                                Stephen Weddle


<PAGE>


                                DISTRIBUTION LIST


Connecticut General Life Insurance Company
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2307

Healthsource New Hampshire, Inc.
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2309

CIGNA Healthcare of Florida, Inc.
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2309

CIGNA Healthcare of California, Inc.
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2309

State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company
One State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710

State Farm Life Insurance Company
One State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710

Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1744
Hartford, CT 06144-1744

Hartford Life Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1744
Hartford, CT 06144-1744

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1744
Hartford, CT 06144-1744

Aid Association for Lutherans
4321 N Ballard Rd
Appleton, WI 54919


<PAGE>


                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.4(c)
                           A Partnership Including       Boston
                           Professional Corporations     Chicago
                           227 West Monroe Street        Los Angeles
                           Chicago, IL  60606-5096       Miami
                           312-372-2000                  Newport Beach
                           Facsimile 312-984-3651        New York
                                                         St. Petersburg (Russia)
                                                         Vilnius (Lithuania)
                                                         Washington, D.C.
     
                           Frederick W. Axley, P.C
                           Attorney at Law
                           [email protected]                    
McDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY    312-984-7574


                     

                                                        June 30, 1998

To each of the Persons set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto

                  Re:  The  Stanley  Account Value Plan Trust's 6.07% Guaranteed
                  ESOP Notes Due December 31, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We  are  special  counsel  to  Citibank,   N.A.,  a  national   banking
association  (the "Bank").  The Bank is the trustee (the "ESOP Trustee") of that
certain Stanley Account Value Plan Trust (the "ESOP Trust") dated as of June 29,
1998 (the "ESOP Trust  Agreement")  between the Bank and The Stanley  Works (the
"Company"), a Connecticut corporation.  The Bank, not in its individual capacity
but solely as the ESOP Trustee under the ESOP Trust  Agreement,  the Company and
each of the persons set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto  (collectively,  the
"Purchasers")  have entered into those  certain Note Purchase  Agreements,  each
dated as of June 30, 1998 (collectively, the "Agreements") pursuant to which the
ESOP  Trustee  has today  issued  to the  Purchasers,  on behalf of the  Stanley
Account  Value  Plan (the  "ESOP"),  6.07%  Senior  ESOP  Guaranteed  Notes (the
"Notes")  due  December  31,  2009,  in  the  aggregate   principal   amount  of
$41,050,763. This opinion is being rendered to you pursuant to Section 4.4(c) of
the Agreements.  Capitalized  terms used herein that are not defined herein have
the meanings set forth in the Agreements.

         In connection  with the issuance of such Notes by the ESOP Trustee,  we
have examined  originals or copies of the [Articles of Association]  and By-Laws
of the Bank,  both as amended to date, the proceedings of the Board of Directors
of the Bank and the committees thereof, other documents, instruments and records
relating to the powers and  organization of the ESOP Trustee and the Bank and to
the Bank's  acceptance of fiduciary  duties,  obligations  and trusts,  the ESOP
Trust Agreement, the ESOP, the Agreements, the Notes and such other certificates
and  documents  as we have  deemed  relevant  or  necessary  as a basis  for the
opinions set forth below. In such connection, we have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures,  the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals,
the  conformity  to  original  documents  of all  documents  submitted  to me as
photostatic or certified  copies and the  authenticity  of the originals of such
copies, and the conformity, other than as to the dollar amounts, of all executed
Agreements  to the examined  copies of the  Agreements.  We have 


<PAGE>


Page 2



relied, to the extent we deem such reliance proper, upon representations made in
the Agreements, ESOP Trust Agreement and certificates or representations made in
writing by duly authorized  representatives of the ESOP trustee and the Company,
copies of which, we understand, have been delivered to you.

         Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         1. The Bank is a national banking  association duly organized,  validly
existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the United  States of America.
The Bank has full  corporate  power,  authority  and legal  right to execute and
deliver the ESOP Trust  Agreement  and to undertake its duties  thereunder.  The
ESOP Trustee has all requisite  trust power and  authority  under the ESOP Trust
Agreement  to  execute,   delivery  and  undertake  its  obligations  under  the
Agreements and the Notes.

         2. The ESOP Trust has been duly  executed and  delivered by the Bank in
its individual capacity,  and this Agreement and Other Agreements have been duly
executed by the ESOP Trustee in its trustee capacity;  provided,  however,  that
the Bank may be liable in its  individual  capacity in the case of inaccuracy of
the representations in Section 5.19(a)-(d) of the Note Agreement.

         3. The ESOP Trust Agreement  constitutes  the legal,  valid and binding
obligation  of the Bank  solely  as an  exercise  of its  trust  powers,  and is
enforceable  against the Bank as trustee in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability thereof may be  limited  by  (a) the  availability  of  equitable
remedies, including, without limitation, specific enforcement and injunctive re-
lief, which remedies may be subject to the discretion of the court before  which
any proceedings  therefor  may  be  brought,   and  (b)  applicable  bankruptcy,
administration, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, fraudulent  conveyance,
moratorium  or  similar  laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of creditors' rights
generally as at the time in effect.

         4. The ESOP  Trust is a trust duly  constituted  and  validly  existing
under the laws of the State of New York.  The ESOP Trust acting through the ESOP
Trustee has the requisite  trust power and authority to own its  properties  and
assets. The ESOP Trustee has all requisite trust power and authority to execute,
deliver  and  perform  all of  the  obligations  of the  ESOP  Trust  under  the
Agreements and the Notes and to bind the ESOP Trust in connection therewith.

         5. Each of the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes is a legal, valid
and binding  obligation  of the ESOP Trust and is  enforceable  against the ESOP
Trust in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability  thereof may be
limited  by (a) the  availability  of  equitable  remedies,  including,  without
limitation,  specific  enforcement and injunctive relief,  which remedies may be
subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceedings therefor may
be  brought,  and (b)  applicable  bankruptcy,  administration,  reorganization,
arrangement,  insolvency,  fraudulent  conveyance,  moratorium  or similar  laws
affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights  generally as at the time in
effect.


<PAGE>


Page 3



6. Neither the  execution  nor delivery of the  Agreements  and the Notes by the
ESOP  Trustee,  nor the  offering  or sale of the Notes to you  pursuant  to the
Agreements,  nor compliance by the ESOP Trustee with the terms and provisions of
any of such documents, each as in effect on the date hereof, will conflict with,
result in a breach or violation of or constitute a default  under,  or result in
the creation of any Lien upon any of the  properties or assets of the ESOP Trust
pursuant to any agreement,  instrument,  order,  judgment or decree to which the
ESOP  Trust is a party or by  which it is bound  and of which we have knowledge.

         No opinion is expressed  herein with respect to matters  arising  under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

         We express no opinion as to the law of any jurisdiction  other than the
law of the  State  of New York  and the  federal  law of the  United  States  of
America.

         Hebb & Gitlin and Stephen S.  Weddle may rely on this  opinion as if it
were addressed to them. This opinion speaks only as of the date hereof.


                                                                  
                                                         McDermott, Will & Emery
                                                         McDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY

<PAGE>


                               SCHEDULE 1


Connecticut General Life Insurance Company
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2307

Healthsource New Hampshire, Inc.
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2309

CIGNA Healthcare of Florida, Inc.
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2309

CIGNA Healthcare of California, Inc.
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2309

State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company
One State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710

State Farm Life Insurance Company
One State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710

Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1744
Hartford, CT 06144-1744

Hartford Life Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1744
Hartford, CT 06144-1744

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1744
Hartford, CT 06144-1744

Aid Association for Lutherans
4321 N Ballard Rd
Appleton, WI 54919


<PAGE>


                                                                 EXHIBIT 4.4(d)



                                 HEBB & GITLIN
                           A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW
                                ONE STATE STREET
                        HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06103-3178
                                   TELEPHONE
                                 (860) 240-2700
                                    --------
                           TELECOPIER (860) 278-8968
                                    --------
                             WRITER'S DIRECT NUMBER
                                 (860) 240-2700



                                                                   June 30, 1998

To each of the Persons on the Attached
  Distribution List

         Re:  The Stanley Account Value Plan Trust's 6.07% Guaranteed ESOP Notes
              Due December 31, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Reference   is  made  to  those   certain  Note   Purchase   Agreements
(collectively,  the  "Agreements"),  each dated as of June 30,  1998,  among The
Stanley Works (the "Company"),  a Connecticut  corporation,  The Stanley Account
Value Plan Trust (the "Issuer"),  acting by and through  Citibank,  N.A., not in
its individual  capacity,  but as trustee under the ESOP Documents (as such term
is  defined  in  the  Agreements)  (the  "ESOP   Trustee"),   and  each  of  you
(collectively,  "the Purchasers"),  which provides,  among other things, for the
issuance  and sale by the  Issuer  of 6.07%  Senior  ESOP  Guaranteed  Notes due
December 31, 2009 in the aggregate  principal  amount of $41,050,763.  All terms
used in this opinion and not defined  herein have the meanings  specified in the
Agreements.

         We  have  acted  as  your  special   counsel  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated by the  Agreements.  This opinion is delivered to you
pursuant to Section 4.4(d) of the Agreements. In acting as such counsel, we have
examined:

                  (a) the Agreements;

                  (b) the 6.07%  Senior ESOP  Guaranteed  Notes,  each dated the
         date hereof,  in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Agreements and registered
         in the  names,  in the  principal  amounts  and with  the  registration
         numbers set forth in Schedule A to the  Agreements  (collectively,  the
         "Notes");

                  (c) a certificate of an officer of the Company, dated the date
         hereof, with respect to the matters set forth therein;


<PAGE>


To each of the Persons on the
Attached Distribution List
June 30, 1998
Page 2



                  (d) a certificate  of the Assistant  Secretary of the Company,
         dated the date hereof, certifying,  among other things, attached copies
         of the  restated  certificate  of  incorporation,  by-laws  and certain
         resolutions of the Company;

                  (e) a  certificate  of  Citibank,  N.A.  dated this date which
         confirms the representations  and warranties  contained in Section 5.19
         of the Agreements; and

                  (f) the opinion of Reid & Riege, special counsel to the Issuer
         and the Company, dated the date hereof and delivered to you pursuant to
         Section 4.4(a) of the Agreements;

                  (g) the opinion of Stephen S. Weddle,  General  Counsel to the
         Company, dated the date hereof and delivered to you pursuant to Section
         4.4(b) of the Agreements;

                  (h) the opinion of McDermott, Will & Emery, special counsel to
         Citibank,  N.A., dated the date hereof and delivered to you pursuant to
         Section 4.4(c) of the Agreements;

                  (i)  a  letter  to us  and  certain  other  Persons  from  the
         Placement Agent describing the manner of the offering of the Notes (the
         "Offeree Letter");

                  (j)      the ESOP Trust Agreement; and

                  (k) originals,  or copies certified or otherwise identified to
         our  satisfaction,  of such other documents,  records,  instruments and
         certificates  of  public  officials  as we  have  deemed  necessary  or
         appropriate to enable us to render this opinion.

         In  rendering  our  opinion,  we have  relied,  to the  extent  we deem
necessary and proper, upon:

                  (A)  warranties  and  representations  as to  certain  factual
         matters  contained in the Agreements  (including,  without  limitation,
         Sections 5.14, 5.17 and 5.18 of the Agreements);

                  (B)  the Offeree Letter;

                  (C) the  opinion,  of even  date  herewith,  of Reid &  Riege,
         counsel  to the  Issuer  and the  Company,  the  opinion,  of even date
         herewith, of Stephen S. Weddle, General Counsel to the Company, and the
         opinion,  of even date herewith,  of McDermott,  Will & Emery,  special
         counsel  to  the  ESOP  Trustee,  with  respect  to all  questions  (i)
         concerning the due incorporation, valid existence and good standing of,
         and the authorization,


<PAGE>


To each of the Persons on the
Attached Distribution List
June 30, 1998
Page 3

         execution, and delivery of instruments by, the Company, (ii) concerning
         the  qualification  of the ESOP under Section  401(a) of the Code,  the
         satisfaction  of the ESOP of all of the  requirements  of an  "employee
         stock ownership plan" set forth in section  4975(e)(7) of the Code, the
         tax exempt status under section  501(a) of the Code of the Issuer,  the
         qualification of the Employer's Capital Stock as "employer  securities"
         within  the  meaning  of  section  409(l)  of the Code and  "qualifying
         securities"  within the meaning of section  407(d)(5) of ERISA, and the
         compliance  with  section  4975 of the Code and section 406 of ERISA of
         the transactions  contemplated by the ESOP Documents and the Agreements
         and (iii) concerning the due  establishment  and valid existence of the
         Issuer,  and the  power,  authorization,  execution,  and  delivery  of
         instruments  by, the ESOP  Trustee on behalf of the  Issuer,  except we
         have made an  independent  examination  of (1) certified  copies of the
         restated   certificate  of  incorporation  of  the  Company  and  of  a
         certificate of an officer of the Company  setting forth its by-laws and
         its corporate resolutions authorizing participation in the transactions
         contemplated by the Agreements and (2) the ESOP Trust Agreement; and

                  (D) the opinion, of even date herewith,  of McDermott,  Will &
         Emery,  special  counsel  to  the  ESOP  Trustee  with  respect  to all
         questions  concerning the due  incorporation,  valid existence and good
         standing  of,  and  the  authorization,   execution,  and  delivery  of
         instruments by, Citibank, N.A..

         As to the aforesaid  opinions and the matters therein upon which we are
relying,  we  incorporate  herein the  assumptions  and  qualifications  to such
opinions  set  forth  therein.  Based on such  investigation  as we have  deemed
appropriate, the aforesaid opinions are satisfactory in form and scope to us and
in our opinion you and we are justified in relying thereon.

         Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

         1. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of  Connecticut  and has all requisite
corporate power to execute, deliver and perform all of its obligations under the
Agreements and the Notes.

         2. The Issuer is a trust duly  constituted  and validly  existing under
the laws of the State of New York. The ESOP Trustee has all requisite  power and
authority under the ESOP Trust Agreement to execute,  deliver and perform all of
the obligations of the Issuer under the Agreements and the Notes and to bind the
Issuer in connection therewith.

         3. Each of the Agreements and Notes has been duly authorized,  executed
and delivered by the Company,  is a legal,  valid and binding  obligation of the
Company and (subject


<PAGE>


To each of the Persons on the
Attached Distribution List
June 30, 1998
Page 4


to  the  qualifications  stated  in the  third  to  last  paragraph  hereof)  is
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

         4. Each of the Agreements and Notes has been duly authorized,  executed
and  delivered by the Issuer,  is a legal,  valid and binding  obligation of the
Issuer and (subject to the qualifications  stated in the third to last paragraph
hereof) is enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms,  subject
to the limitations upon such obligations and enforceability  imposed by the Code
and ERISA.

         5. Neither the  execution  and delivery by the Issuer or the Company of
the Agreements and the Notes, the issue and sale of the Notes, nor compliance by
the  Issuer or the  Company  with the  terms of the  Agreements  and Notes  will
conflict  with,  or result in any breach of any of the  provisions  of, the ESOP
Trust Agreement or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company.

         6.  No  consent,   approval  or  other   authorization  of  or  by  any
Governmental  Authority  is required  under the laws of the State of New York or
the United  States of America in  connection  with the execution and delivery by
the Issuer or the Company of the Agreements or the Notes,  or the offer,  issue,
sale or  delivery  of the Notes  under  the  circumstances  contemplated  by the
Agreements.  Our  opinion  in this  paragraph  is based  solely  on a review  of
generally  applicable  laws of the  State of New York and the  United  States of
America  and not on any  search  with  respect  to, or review  of,  any  orders,
decrees,  judgments  or  other  determinations  specifically  applicable  to the
Issuer, the ESOP Trustee, the Company or Citibank, N.A.

         7. It is not necessary in connection with the offering,  issuance, sale
and delivery of the Notes (and the guarantees of the Company in respect thereof)
delivered to you today under the circumstances contemplated by the Agreements to
register the Notes (or the  guarantees of the Company in respect  thereof) under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the "blue sky law" of the State
of New York,  or to qualify an indenture in respect of the issuance of the Notes
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

         8. The extension,  arranging and obtaining of the credit represented by
the  Notes  do not  result  in any  violation  of  regulations  of the  Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System with respect to margin lending.

         All opinions contained herein with respect to the enforceability of the
Agreements and the Notes are qualified to the extent that:


<PAGE>


To each of the Persons on the
Attached Distribution List
June 30, 1998
Page 5



                  (a) the availability of equitable remedies, including, without
         limitation,  specific  enforcement and injunctive relief, is subject to
         the discretion of the court before which any  proceedings  therefor may
         be brought;

                  (b) the enforceability of certain provisions of the Agreements
         and the Notes may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,  reorganization,
         arrangement,  insolvency,  moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar
         laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally as at the
         time in effect,  and general principles of equity and the discretion of
         a court in  granting  equitable  remedies  (whether  enforceability  is
         considered in a proceeding at law or in equity); and

                  (c)  rights  to  indemnification  and  contribution  under the
         Agreements may be limited by applicable law or public policy.

         We express no opinion as to the law of any jurisdiction  other than the
law of the  State  of New York  and the  federal  law of the  United  States  of
America.

         Future  holders  of the Notes may rely upon this  opinion as if it were
addressed to them.

                                                           Very truly yours

                                                           Hebb & Gitlin


<PAGE>


                                DISTRIBUTION LIST


Connecticut General Life Insurance Company
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2307

Healthsource New Hampshire, Inc.
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2309

CIGNA Healthcare of Florida, Inc.
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2309

CIGNA Healthcare of California, Inc.
900 Cottage Grove Road
Hartford, CT 06152-2309

State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company
One State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710

State Farm Life Insurance Company
One State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710

Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1744
Hartford, CT 06144-1744

Hartford Life Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1744
Hartford, CT 06144-1744

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1744
Hartford, CT 06144-1744

Aid Association for Lutherans
4321 N Ballard Rd
Appleton, WI 54919



<PAGE>


                                                                     EXHIBIT 8.5

           [Form of Endorsement for Termination-Related Assumed Notes]

                                   ENDORSEMENT


                                                            [Date of Assumption]

         The full principal  amount of that certain 6.07%  Guaranteed  ESOP Note
due December 31, 2009, in the original stated principal amount of $____________,
to which this Endorsement is attached (the  "Guaranteed  ESOP Note"),  is hereby
assumed  by THE  STANLEY  WORKS  (the  "Company"),  a  Connecticut  corporation,
pursuant to Section 8.5 of those certain Note Purchase  Agreements,  dated as of
June 30, 1998 (the "Agreements") among the Stanley Account Value Plan Trust (the
"Issuer"),  the Company and the purchasers  named therein,  and such  Guaranteed
ESOP Note shall henceforth constitute a  "Termination-Related  Assumed Note" (as
such term is defined and used in the  Agreements)  (such  Guaranteed  ESOP Note,
together with this  Endorsement so attached,  being herein  referred to as "this
Termination-Related  Assumed Note").  All references in the Guaranteed ESOP Note
to the "Issuer" shall be understood in this Termination-Related  Assumed Note to
mean the Company,  and all references to "this Note" shall be understood in this
Termination-Related  Assumed Note to mean this Termination-Related Assumed Note.
The  date of this  Termination-Related  Assumed  Note  shall be the date of this
Endorsement,  all  interest  accrued  to  the  date  hereof  in  respect  of the
Guaranteed  ESOP Note  having  become due and payable and having been paid as of
the date of this Endorsement.

         As of the date of this  Termination-Related  Assumed Note,  the Company
confirms its obligation to pay $_____________  [outstanding principal balance on
the date  hereof]  pursuant  to the  terms of the  Guaranteed  ESOP  Note.  This
Termination-Related  Assumed  Note is not a new or  separate  obligation  of the
Company but  represents,  to the extent  permitted by law, a continuation of the
direct and primary guarantee  obligation of the Company  heretofore  existing in
respect  of the  Guaranteed  ESOP Note  being  hereby  directly  assumed  by the
Company,  and the Issuer shall be deemed to be released  from any  obligation in
respect of the Guaranteed ESOP Note.


<PAGE>


         The obligations of the Company under this  Termination-Related  Assumed
Note are full recourse  obligations  of the Company and may be enforced  against
any  and  all  of  the  Company's  assets   notwithstanding  any  limitation  on
enforceability  of such Guaranteed ESOP Note against assets of the Issuer or the
ESOP (as such term is defined in the Agreements).


                                                THE STANLEY WORKS



                                                By:__________________________
                                                   Name:
                                                   Title:



<PAGE>



                             NEW 1991 LOAN AGREEMENT


         This LOAN  AGREEMENT  dated June 30,  1998 (this  "Agreement"),  by and
between The Stanley Works, a Connecticut corporation, (the "Company"), as lender
hereunder, and Citibank,  N.A., a national banking association,  as trustee (the
"Trustee")  under  a trust  (the  "Trust")  which  is  maintained  under a trust
agreement  effective  June 29, 1998  between  the  Company and the Trustee  (the
"Trust Agreement").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:


      WHEREAS,  effective as of January 1, 1987, the Company and the predecessor
trustee established an employee stock ownership trust for hourly employees which
was known as the Stanley  Works  Savings  Trust for Hourly Paid  Employees  (the
"Prior Hourly ESOP Trust") and effective as of January 1, 1985 an employee stock
ownership  trust for  salaried  employees  which was known as The Stanley  Works
Savings and Retirement Trust (the "Prior Salaried ESOP Trust");

      WHEREAS,  the Prior  Hourly ESOP Trust was formed to fund the Savings Plan
for Hourly  Paid  Employees  of The Stanley  Works (the  "Hourly  Plan"),  which
contained both a profit sharing feature and employee stock ownership feature;

      WHEREAS,  the Prior Salaried ESOP Trust was formed to fund the Savings and
Retirement  Plan for  Salaried  Employees  of The Stanley  Works (the  "Salaried
Plan"),  which  contained  both a profit  sharing  feature  and  employee  stock
ownership feature;

      WHEREAS,  effective  June 7, 1991,  the Prior  Hourly ESOP Trust  borrowed
$26,499,973.50  (the "1991 Hourly ESOP Loan") from a  subsidiary  of the Company
pursuant to a term note dated June 7, 1991 (the "1991  Hourly Term  Note"),  the
proceeds of which were used to purchase  common  stock of the Company  ("Company
Stock");

      WHEREAS,  effective  June 7, 1991,  the Prior Salaried ESOP Trust borrowed
$153,499,995.00 (the "1991 Salaried ESOP Loan") from a subsidiary of the Company
pursuant to a term note dated June 7, 1991 (the "1991 Salaried Term Note"),  the
proceeds of which were used to purchase Company Stock;

      WHEREAS,  effective  September  30, 1994,  the Prior Hourly ESOP Trust was
merged into the Prior Salaried ESOP Trust, which was amended and restated as The
Stanley Works 401(k) Savings Plan Trust (the "Former Trust") and the Hourly Plan
was merged into the Salaried Plan, which was amended and restated as The Stanley
Works 401(k) Savings Plan, now amended and restated as the Stanley Account Value
Plan (the "Plan");

                                      -1-


<PAGE>

      WHEREAS,  effective  September  30,  1994,  the 1991  Hourly ESOP Loan and
related promissory note, was assumed by the Former Trust;

      WHEREAS,  the  1991  Salaried  ESOP  Loan and the 1991  Hourly  ESOP  Loan
(together,  the "Current 1991 ESOP Loans")  provide for the Trust to make annual
principal and interest payments as of each January 31 through January 31, 2026;

      WHEREAS,  the Current 1991 ESOP Loans were based on certain assumptions of
growth in the employee work force;

      WHEREAS, due to intervening economic factors and corporate restructuring, 
these assumptions have proved to be inaccurate;

      WHEREAS,  because  these  assumptions  have proved to be  inaccurate,  the
Company and the Trustee have decided to refinance and extend the maturity of the
Current 1991 ESOP Loans and the related promissory notes;

      WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have exchanged various proposals, and
negotiated  the terms and  conditions  of a  refinancing  of the maturity of the
Current 1991 ESOP Loans and the related promissory notes;

      WHEREAS,  the Company has engaged the Trustee  under an  agreement to make
the determination in its sole and independent discretion as to whether the terms
of the proposed  refinancing  and extension is in accordance  with its fiduciary
duties under the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974,  as amended
("ERISA");

      WHEREAS,  the  Trustee  has  made the  determination  to enter  into  this
Agreement and other  documents  related to the  refinancing  of the Current 1991
ESOP  Loans and the  related  promissory  notes,  including  the  Implementation
Agreement  dated as of the date  hereof  between  the Company and the Trust (the
"Implementation  Agreement"),  the Amended and Restated  1991 Salaried ESOP Note
dated as of the date hereof (the  "Replacement 1991 Salaried ESOP Note") and the
Amended  and  Restated  1991  Hourly  ESOP Note dated as of the date hereof (the
"Replacement 1991 Hourly ESOP Note");

      WHEREAS,  it is  intended  that the loan made  under  this  Agreement  and
evidenced by the Replacement  1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the  Replacement  1991
Hourly ESOP Note  (collectively,  the "Replacement  ESOP Loan") be primarily for
the benefit of the Plan  participants and  beneficiaries  and will constitute an
"exempt loan" within the meaning of section  4975(d)(3) of the Internal  Revenue
Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"),  Treasury  Regulation  ss.54.4975-7(b),
Section 408(b)(3) of ERISA and Department of Labor Regulation ss.2550.408b-3;

      WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to enter into the Implementation Agreement
in

                                      -2-


<PAGE>


consideration  for the Trustee  entering  into this  Agreement and executing the
Replacement  1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the Replacement  1991 Hourly ESOP Note;
and

      WHEREAS,  Company  and the Trust  desire to amend and  restate the Current
1991 ESOP Loans in their entirety as this  Agreement to reflect the  refinancing
of the Current 1991 ESOP Loans.

      NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration   of  the  premises  and   the  mutual
covenants  and  agreements   herein   contained  and  other  good  and  valuable
consideration (the receipt,  adequacy and sufficiency of which each party hereto
respectively acknowledges by its execution hereof), the parties hereto intending
legally to be bound do hereby agree to the implementation of their understanding
as follows:

          Section 1.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE LOAN

      1.1 The Loan.  The  Trust  hereby consents and agrees to the  continuation
of its  indebtedness  to the Company  described in the foregoing  recitals,  and
acknowledges  and agrees that as of the date hereof the Trust is indebted to the
Company in the principal amount of $180,122,846.12  (together, the "Loan").  The
outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Loan shall,  beginning on June 30,
1998,  bear  interest at the rate of 6.09%  per annum  from (and including)  the
date hereof to (but  excluding) the date of repayment  thereof.  Interest on the
Loan  shall be  computed  on the basis of a 365-day  year and the number of days
elapsed. The Loan shall be due and payable on December 31, 2028. The Trust shall
make principal payments on the Loan as set forth on Annex I hereto.  Interest on
the  outstanding  principal  balance of the Loan shall be payable (i) monthly in
arrears on the last  business day of each  calendar  month  commencing  July 31,
1998;  and (ii) at  maturity.  All or any portion of the  outstanding  principal
balance of, or interest on, the Loan may be prepaid at any time without penalty.
Prepayments will be applied to reduce the amount of future  scheduled  payments,
and the Company shall  determine  which future  scheduled  payments to which the
prepayments are applied.

      1.2 The Note.  The  obligation  of  the Trust  to  repay the Loan shall be
evidenced by promissory  notes in the form of the Replacement 1991 Salaried ESOP
Note,  attached as Exhibit A and the Replacement 1991 Hourly ESOP Note, attached
as Exhibit B, together (the "Notes").  The Company shall use its best efforts to
record the date and the amounts of any payments and prepayments of the principal
amount on Annex A to the Replacement 1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the Replacement
1991 Hourly ESOP Note.  The insertions on said Annex A to the  Replacement  1991
Salaried  ESOP  Note  and  the  Replacement  1991  Hourly  ESOP  Note  shall  be
presumptive evidence of the outstanding principal amount of the Loan. Failure to
make such  insertions  shall not  affect  the  Company's  rights or the  Trust's
obligations  hereunder and under the Replacement 1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the
Replacement 1991 Hourly ESOP Note.

                                      -3-


<PAGE>


      1.3 Payments  Free  of  Taxes.   All   payments   made   by the  Trust  in
connection  with this  Agreement  shall be made free and clear of,  and  without
reduction by reason of, any taxes.

      1.4 Immediately Available Dollars.   All  payments  hereunder  shall be in
U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds.

          Section 2.  CONDITIONS OF LOAN CONTINUATION

      2.1 Company  Conditions.  The  obligation  of  the Company to continue the
Loan as set forth  hereunder  shall be  subject to the  conditions  that (i) the
Company shall have received, in form and substance  satisfactory to the Company,
the  Replacement  1991 Salaried ESOP Note and the  Replacement  1991 Hourly ESOP
Note (collectively with this Agreement,  the "Loan Document"),  duly executed by
the Trustee on behalf of the Trust,  and such other documents as the Company may
reasonably request in order to effect fully the purposes of this Agreement,  and
(ii) no Event of Default set forth in Section 4 herein  shall have  occurred and
be continuing.

      2.2 Trust Conditions.  The  agreement  of the Trust to the continuation of
its  indebtedness  to the Company as provided  hereunder shall be subject to the
condition  that the Trust shall have  received  from the Company the original of
the Current  1991 ESOP Notes duly marked by the Company,  in form and  substance
satisfactory  to the  Trustee,  to  evidence  its  cancellation,  or such  other
evidence of cancellation of Notes that the Trustee deems satisfactory.

          Section 3. TRUST'S AFFIRMATIVE COVENANT

      The Trustee  covenants  and agrees that,  until  payment in  full  of  the
Note,  the Trust  shall  comply at all times  with the  provisions  of  Treasury
Regulations  Section  54.4975-7  with respect to "exempt  loans" to an "employee
stock ownership plan."

          Section 4.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT

      4.1 Failure to Make  Required  Payments.   Failure  of  the Trustee to pay
any  installment  of principal or interest on the Notes on or prior to the third
business day after such payment was due shall constitute an event of default.

      4.2 Breach of Covenant.  Failure of the  Trustee  to  perform any material
term or condition under this Loan shall constitute an event of default.

          Section 5.  MISCELLANEOUS

      5.1 Special ERISA Provisions.

                                      -4-


<PAGE>


          (a) Other  than  as  specifically  set forth  in this Section 5.1,  no
person  or  entity  shall  have  any  recourse   against the Plan or Trust  with
respect to any obligation of the Trust hereunder.  No person or entity  entitled
to payment hereunder shall have any recourse, for any payments due on the Notes,
against any Plan assets other than the following categories of assets:

          (i)   contributions   (other  than  securities  of  the  Company  (the
"Securities"))  made to the Trust from time to time pursuant to the Plan to meet
the obligations of the Trust,

          (ii)  dividends  paid  on the  shares  purchased by the  Plan from the
proceeds  of a loan which was repaid with the  proceeds  of the Notes,  provided
that such dividends  and  earnings thereon shall not constitute more than 98.42%
of any payment of principal, interest or principal and interest  under the Notes
except to the extent  permitted under Code Section 404(k),  and provided further
that  dividends  paid on  allocated  shares  may be used for the  payment of the
obligations to the extent permitted under section 404(k) of the Code,

          (iii) earnings attributable to the investment of the contributions and
dividends referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii),

          (iv)  proceeds of a loan entered into to repay the loan  evidenced  by
the Notes, and

          (v)   to  the  extent  permitted  by  law,   proceeds  from  the  sale
of collateral with respect to the Notes.

The  foregoing  limitations  shall not affect the  Company's  rights,  which are
unconditional and absolute,  to declare the indebtedness  evidenced by the Notes
to be immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of any default;  provided,
however,   that  the  extent  of  the  Company's  ability  to  declare  such  an
acceleration  and to transfer assets of the Trust in satisfaction of any default
shall be  subject  to the  applicable  limits  of  Treasury  Regulation  section
54.4975-7(b)(6).  Notwithstanding  any provision to the  contrary,  the proceeds
from the sale of  shares  attributable  to the  Notes  cannot be used to pay the
obligations  hereunder  unless (1) the Trustee  receives a legal  opinion,  from
legal  counsel  satisfactory  to it,  that such  payment  does not  violate  any
provision of the Code or ERISA, and (2) the Company commits to the contributions
of amounts to the Trust which have a fair market value equal to or exceeding the
value of amounts which would have been allocated to  participants'  accounts had
the 1991 Salaried Term Note and the 1991 Hourly Term Note not been refinanced.

          (b) The Trustee may rely on the determination  and  directions  of the
Plan  Administrator  (as  defined in and  appointed  pursuant  to the Plan) with
respect  to any  payments  that are due  from  time to time  hereunder,  and the
Trustee shall have no liability attributable to its reliance thereon.

                                      -5-


<PAGE>


      5.2 Modification.  This  Agreement may not be amended,  waived or modified
in any manner without the written consent of the Company and the Trustee.

      5.3 Notices.  Except  as  otherwise expressly provided,  any notice herein
required or  permitted  to be given  shall be in writing  and may be  personally
served or sent by United  States  mail,  and shall be deemed to have been  given
when  personally  served or five days after being deposited in the United States
mail, registered,  with postage prepaid and properly addressed. For the purposes
hereof, the addresses of the parties hereto (until notice of a change thereof is
served as provided in this Section 5.3) shall be as follows:

If to the Trustee:

      Citibank, N.A.
      111 Wall Street
      15th Floor, Zone 9
      New York, New York 1005
      Attention: Katarina Antens-Miller

If to the Company:

      The Stanley Works
      76 Batterson Road
      Farmington, CT  06032
      Attention:  Mr. Craig Douglas

      4.4 Severability.   In  case  any   provision  hereof  shall  be  invalid,
illegal or  unenforceable,  such provision shall be severable from the remainder
of this Agreement and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

      4.5 Applicable  Law.  Except  to  the  extent  superseded  by  laws of the
United States,  this Agreement  shall be governed by and  interpreted  under the
internal laws of the State of New York.

      4.6 Assignability.  This  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon  the  parties
hereto and their  respective  successors  and  assigns,  and shall  inure to the
benefit of the parties  hereto and the  successors  and assigns of the  Company.
Without  the prior  written  consent  of the  Company,  which may be  granted or
withheld in the Company's sole discretion, the Trustee may not assign any of its
rights or delegate any of its obligations hereunder.

      4.7 Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may  be  executed in two counterparts,
each of which  shall be  deemed an  original  but both of which  together  shall
constitute one and the 

                                      -6-


<PAGE>

same instrument.

      4.8 Section Headings.  The  various  headings  used  in this Agreement are
are inserted for convenience only and shall  not affect the meaning or interpre-
tation of this Agreement or any provision hereof

      4.9 Further  Assurances.   At  any   time  or from  time to time  upon the
request of the  Company,  the Trustee  shall  execute and deliver  such  further
documents  and do such  other  acts and  things as the  Company  may  reasonably
request in order to effect fully the purposes of this  Agreement  and to provide
for the payment of all borrowings  hereunder and interest  thereon in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.

                                      -7-


<PAGE>


      Witness the due execution hereof as of the date first above written.

                                              CITIBANK,  N.A.,   solely  in  its
                                              capacity as Trustee of  the  trust
                                              agreement   under    the   Stanley
                                              Account Value Plan

                                              By: Keith May
                                                     Its: Vice-President




                                              THE STANLEY WORKS, in its capacity
                                              as lender hereunder

                                              By:  Craig A. Douglas
                                                     Its:  Treasurer

                                      -8-


<PAGE>

 
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 1991 HOURLY ESOP NOTE


                                                                   June 30, 1998
                                                              New York, New York

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned promises to pay to the order of The
Stanley Corporation ("the Company") the principal amount of  $26,518,403.53 (the
"Principal Amount Outstanding")  with respect to  the borrowings originally made
under a promissory note dated as of June 7, 1991, and again amended and restated
as of the date  hereof, pursuant to a loan  agreement  dated the date hereof be-
tween the  undersigned,  as Borrower,  and the Company, as lender (the "New 1991
Loan  Agreement"), payable as hereinafter set forth and the New 1991 Loan Agree-
ment. The undersigned promises to pay interest on the Principal Amount Outstand-
ing from time to time  from  the  date hereof until the date of payment in full,
payable as hereinafter set forth.

         Terms defined in the New 1991 Loan Agreement and not otherwise  defined
herein are used herein with the meanings defined for those terms in the New 1991
Loan Agreement. This is the Replacement 1991 Hourly ESOP Note referred to in the
New 1991 Loan Agreement, and any holder hereof is entitled to all of the rights,
remedies,  benefits and privileges  provided for in the New 1991 Loan Agreement.
The New 1991  Loan  Agreement,  among  other  things,  contains  provisions  for
acceleration  of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events
upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

         The  Principal  Amount  Outstanding  evidenced  by this  Note  shall be
payable as provided in the New 1991 Loan Agreement.

         Interest shall be payable on the Principal Amount  Outstanding from the
date hereof  until  payment in full and shall  accrue and be payable at the rate
and on the dates set forth in the New 1991 Loan  Agreement both before and after
default and before and after maturity and judgment.  Accrued  interest as of the
date hereof  shall be payable in the amount and on the date set forth in the New
1991 Loan Agreement.

         Anything  contained in this Note to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the
sole and only  recourse of the Company  for the  payment of the  obligations  of
undersigned hereunder shall be derived solely from (a) contributions (other than
securities of the Company (the  "Securities")) made to the undersigned from time
to time  pursuant to the  Stanley  Account  Value Plan (the  "Plan") to meet the
obligations of undersigned hereunder, (b) dividends paid on the shares purchased
by the Plan from the  proceeds of a loan which was repaid  with the  proceeds of
this  Note,  provided  that such  dividends  and earnings thereon shall not con-
stitute more than 98.42% of any payment of principal, interest or  principal and
interest under this Note except to the extent  permitted under section 404(k) of
the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the 

                                      -1-


<PAGE>


"Code") and provided further that dividends paid on allocated shares may be used
for the payment of the  obligations to the extent  permitted  under Code section
404(k),  (c) earnings  attributable to the investment of the  contributions  and
dividends  referred to in the  preceding  clauses (a) and (b), (d) proceeds of a
loan  entered  into to repay the loan  evidenced  by this  Note,  and (e) to the
extent permitted by law,  proceeds from the sale of shares  attributable to this
Note. The foregoing limitations shall not affect the Company's rights, which are
unconditional and absolute,  to declare the indebtedness  evidenced by this Note
to be immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of any default;  provided,
however,   that  the  extent  of  the  Company's  ability  to  declare  such  an
acceleration  and to transfer  assets of the  undersigned in satisfaction of any
default shall be subject to the applicable limits of Treasury Regulation section
54.4975-7(b)(6).  Notwithstanding  any provision to the  contrary,  the proceeds
from the sale of  shares  attributable  to this  Note  cannot be used to pay the
obligations  hereunder  unless (1) the Trustee  receives a legal  opinion,  from
legal  counsel  satisfactory  to it,  that such  payment  does not  violate  any
provision of the Code or ERISA, and (2) the Company commits to the contributions
of amounts to the Trust which have a fair market value equal to or exceeding the
value of amounts which would have been allocated to  participants'  accounts had
the 1991 Hourly ESOP Note not been refinanced.

         In all  respects,  this Note  shall be subject  to and  construed  in a
manner consistent with the applicable  requirements for an "exempt loan" (within
the meaning of section  4975(d)(3) of the Code and Treasury  Regulation  section
54.4975-7(b)(1)(iii)).

         The amount of each  payment  hereunder  shall be made to the Company at
the Company's  offices  located at 76 Batterson  Road,  Farmington,  Connecticut
(Attn:  Vice  President,  Corporate  Finance)  or at such  other  address as the
Company may specify from time to time,  in lawful money of the United  States of
America and in immediately  available  funds not later than 11:00 a.m.,  Eastern
time, on the day of payment.  All payments  received  after 11:00 a.m.,  Eastern
time, shall be deemed received on the next succeeding  business day. The Company
shall  use its best  efforts  to keep a record of  payments  of  principal  with
respect to this Note on Annex A hereto,  and such  record  shall be  presumptive
evidence of the Principal Amount  Outstanding  under this Note.  Failure to make
such record shall not affect the  Company's  rights  hereunder and under the New
1991 Loan Agreement.

         The  undersigned  hereby  waives   presentment,   demand  for  payment,
dishonor, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of protest and any other notice or
formality, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws.

                                      -2-


<PAGE>


         This Note shall be  delivered  to and  accepted  by the  Company in the
State of New York, and shall be governed by and  interpreted  under the internal
laws thereof.

                                                CITIBANK,  N.A.,  solely  in its
                                                capacity as Trustee of the trust
                                                agreement   under  the   Stanley
                                                Account Value Plan



                                                By: Katarina Antens-Miller
                                                       Its:  Vice President

                                      -3-


<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX A
                         LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Amount            Amount of               Principal
              of           Principal Paid              Amount          Notation
Date         Loan            or Prepaid              Outstanding        Made By
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      -4-


<PAGE>


                  AMENDED AND RESTATED 1991 SALARIED ESOP NOTE


                                                                   June 30, 1998
                                                              New York, New York

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned promises to pay to the order of The
Stanley Corporation ("the Company") the principal amount of $153,604,442.59 (the
"Principal Amount Outstanding")  with  respect to the borrowings originally made
under a  promissory  note  dated as  of  June 7, 1991,  and  again  amended  and
restated  as of the date  hereof,  pursuant to a loan  agreement  dated the date
hereof between the  undersigned,  as Borrower,  and the Company,  as lender (the
"New 1991 Loan  Agreement"),  payable as hereinafter  set forth and the New 1991
Loan Agreement. The undersigned promises to pay interest on the Principal Amount
Outstanding  from time to time from the date hereof until the date of payment in
full, payable as hereinafter set forth.

         Terms defined in the New 1991 Loan Agreement and not otherwise  defined
herein are used herein with the meanings defined for those terms in the New 1991
Loan Agreement.  This is the Replacement  1991 Salaried ESOP Note referred to in
the New 1991 Loan  Agreement,  and any holder  hereof is  entitled to all of the
rights,  remedies,  benefits  and  privileges  provided for in the New 1991 Loan
Agreement. The New 1991 Loan Agreement,  among other things, contains provisions
for  acceleration  of the maturity  hereof upon the happening of certain  stated
events upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

         The  Principal  Amount  Outstanding  evidenced  by this  Note  shall be
payable as provided in the New 1991 Loan Agreement.

         Interest shall be payable on the Principal Amount  Outstanding from the
date hereof  until  payment in full and shall  accrue and be payable at the rate
and on the dates set forth in the New 1991 Loan  Agreement both before and after
default and before and after maturity and judgment.  Accrued  interest as of the
date hereof  shall be payable in the amount and on the date set forth in the New
1991 Loan Agreement.

         Anything  contained in this Note to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the
sole and only  recourse of the Company  for the  payment of the  obligations  of
undersigned hereunder shall be derived solely from (a) contributions (other than
securities of the Company (the  "Securities")) made to the undersigned from time
to time  pursuant to the  Stanley  Account  Value Plan (the  "Plan") to meet the
obligations of undersigned hereunder, (b) dividends paid on the shares purchased
by the Plan from the  proceeds of a loan which was repaid  with the  proceeds of
this  Note,  provided  that  such  dividends  and  earnings  thereon  shall  not
constitute  more  than 98.42% of any payment of principal, interest or principal
and interest under this Note except to the extent permitted under section 404(k)
of  the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the

                                      -1-


<PAGE>


"Code") and  provided further  that  dividends  paid on allocated  shares may be
used for the  payment  of the  obligations  to the extent  permitted  under Code
section 404(k), (c) earnings attributable to the investment of the contributions
and dividends  referred to in the preceding clauses (a) and (b), (d) proceeds of
a loan  entered into to repay the loan  evidenced  by this Note,  and (e) to the
extent permitted by law,  proceeds from the sale of shares  attributable to this
Note. The foregoing limitations shall not affect the Company's rights, which are
unconditional and absolute,  to declare the indebtedness  evidenced by this Note
to be immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of any default;  provided,
however,   that  the  extent  of  the  Company's  ability  to  declare  such  an
acceleration  and to transfer  assets of the  undersigned in satisfaction of any
default shall be subject to the applicable limits of Treasury Regulation section
54.4975-7(b)(6).  Notwithstanding  any provision to the  contrary,  the proceeds
from the sale of  shares  attributable  to this  Note  cannot be used to pay the
obligations  hereunder  unless (1) the Trustee  receives a legal  opinion,  from
legal  counsel  satisfactory  to it,  that such  payment  does not  violate  any
provision of the Code or ERISA, and (2) the Company commits to the contributions
of amounts to the Trust which have a fair market value equal to or exceeding the
value of amounts which would have been allocated to  participants'  accounts had
the 1991 Salaried ESOP Note not been refinanced.

         In all  respects,  this Note  shall be subject  to and  construed  in a
manner consistent with the applicable  requirements for an "exempt loan" (within
the meaning of section  4975(d)(3) of the Code and Treasury  Regulation  section
54.4975-7(b)(1)(iii)).

         The amount of each  payment  hereunder  shall be made to the Company at
the Company's  offices  located at 76 Batterson  Road,  Farmington,  Connecticut
(Attn:  Vice  President,  Corporate  Finance)  or at such  other  address as the
Company may specify from time to time,  in lawful money of the United  States of
America and in immediately  available  funds not later than 11:00 a.m.,  Eastern
time, on the day of payment.  All payments  received  after 11:00 a.m.,  Eastern
time, shall be deemed received on the next succeeding  business day. The Company
shall  use its best  efforts  to keep a record of  payments  of  principal  with
respect to this Note on Annex A hereto,  and such  record  shall be  presumptive
evidence of the Principal Amount  Outstanding  under this Note.  Failure to make
such record shall not affect the  Company's  rights  hereunder and under the New
1991 Loan Agreement.

         The  undersigned  hereby  waives   presentment,   demand  for  payment,
dishonor, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of protest and any other notice or
formality, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws.

                                      -2-


<PAGE>


         This Note shall be  delivered  to and  accepted  by the  Company in the
State of New York, and shall be governed by and  interpreted  under the internal
laws thereof.

                                                CITIBANK,  N.A.,  solely  in its
                                                capacity as Trustee of the trust
                                                agreement   under  the   Stanley
                                                Account Value Plan



                                                By: Katarina Antens-Miller
                                                       Its:  Vice President

                                      -3-


<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX A
                         LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Amount            Amount of               Principal
              of           Principal Paid              Amount          Notation
Date         Loan            or Prepaid              Outstanding        Made By
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      -4-


<PAGE>


                            A Partnership Including       Boston
                           Professional Corporations     Chicago
                           227 West Monroe Street        Los Angeles
                           Chicago, IL  60606-5096       Miami
                           312-372-2000                  Newport Beach
                           Facsimile 312-984-3651        New York
                                                         St. Petersburg (Russia)
                                                         Vilnius (Lithuania)
                                                         Washington, D.C.
     
                           Frederick W. Axley, P.C
                           Attorney at Law
                           [email protected]                    
McDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY    312-984-7574



                                                          June 30, 1998

The Stanley Works
76 Batterson Road
Farmington, Connecticut  06032

                  Re:      New 1991 Loan Agreement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We  are  special  counsel  to  Citibank,   N.A.,  a  national   banking
association  (the "Bank").  The Bank is the trustee (the "ESOP Trustee") of that
certain Stanley Account Value Plan Trust (the "ESOP Trust") dated as of June 29,
1998  between  the Bank and The Stanley  Works (the  "Company"),  a  Connecticut
corporation,  which forms a part of the Stanley Account Value Plan (the "ESOP").
The Bank,  not in its  individual  capacity but solely as the ESOP Trustee under
the ESOP Trust,  and the Company have entered into an  Implementation  Agreement
and New 1991 Loan Agreement,  each dated as of June 30, 1998 (collectively,  the
"Agreements"),  pursuant  to which  the  Company  will  loan  the ESOP  Trust an
aggregate principal amount of $180,122,846.12, which to refinance existing loans
between  the ESOP Trust and the  Company  (the  "Refinancing  Transaction").  In
exchange  the ESOP  Trustee  will issue to the Company the Amended and  Restated
1991  Salaried ESOP Note, in the  principal  amount of  $153,604,442.59  and the
Amended  and  Restated  1991  Hourly  ESOP  Note,  in the  principal  amount  of
$26,518,403.53 (collectively, the "Notes") This opinion is being rendered to you
pursuant to an agreement of the parties.  Capitalized terms used herein that are
not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Agreements.

         In connection with the Refinancing Transaction, we have examined copies
of the Articles of  Association  and By-Laws of the Bank certified to us on June
17, 1998 as in effect,  a certificate from the Bank dated June 26, 1998 relating
to its power to execute the ESOP  Trust,  a  certificate  from the Office of the
Comptroller  of the  Currency  dated  May 27,  1998  establishing  the Bank as a
validly  existing  national banking  association,  notice from the Office of the
Comptroller  of the  Currency  dated June 23, 1998 that the Bank  possesses  the
required permit to act as a fiduciary, the ESOP Trust, the Agreements, the Notes
and  such  other  certificates  and  documents  as we have  deemed  relevant  or
necessary as a basis for the opinions set forth below.  In such  connection,  we
have  assumed  the  genuineness  of  all  signatures,  the  


<PAGE>


Page 2


authenticity  of all documents  submitted to me as originals,  the conformity to
original documents of all documents  submitted to me as photostatic or certified
copies,  the  authenticity of the originals of such copies,  and the conformity,
other than as to the dollar amounts,  of all executed Agreements to the examined
copies of the  Agreements.  We have relied,  to the extent we deem such reliance
proper,  upon  representations  made in the  Agreements,  the  ESOP  Trust,  and
certificates   or   representations   made  in   writing   by  duly   authorized
representatives  of the ESOP  trustee  and the  Company,  copies  of  which,  we
understand, have been delivered to you.

         Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         1. The Bank is a  national  banking  association,  duly  organized  and
validly  existing  under the laws of the United States of America.  The Bank has
full corporate  power and legal  authority to execute and deliver the ESOP Trust
and to undertake its duties thereunder. The ESOP Trustee has all requisite trust
power and authority  under the ESOP Trust to execute,  deliver and undertake its
obligations under the Agreements and the Notes.

         2. The ESOP Trust has been duly  executed and  delivered by the Bank in
its individual capacity,  and the Agreements have been duly executed by the ESOP
Trustee in its trustee capacity.

         3. The ESOP Trust constitutes the legal,  valid and binding  obligation
of the Bank  solely as an  exercise  of its  trust  powers,  and is  enforceable
against  the  Bank  as  trustee  in  accordance   with  its  terms,   except  as
enforceability  thereof  may be limited  by (a) the  availability  of  equitable
remedies,  including,  without limitation,  specific  enforcement and injunctive
relief,  which  remedies  may be subject to the  discretion  of the court before
which any proceedings  therefor may be brought,  and (b) applicable  bankruptcy,
administration,  reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
moratorium  or similar laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights
generally as at the time in effect.

         4. The ESOP  Trust is a trust duly  constituted  and  validly  existing
under the laws of the State of New York.  The ESOP Trust acting through the ESOP
Trustee has the requisite  trust power and authority to own its  properties  and
assets. The ESOP Trustee has all requisite trust power and authority to execute,
deliver  and  perform  all of  the  obligations  of the  ESOP  Trust  under  the
Agreements and the Notes and to bind the ESOP Trust in connection therewith.

         5. Each of the Agreements  and the Notes is a legal,  valid and binding
obligation  of the ESOP  Trust  and is  enforceable  against  the ESOP  Trust in
accordance with its terms,  except as the enforceability  thereof may be limited
by (a) the availability of equitable  remedies,  including,  without limitation,
specific enforcement and injunctive relief, which remedies may be subject to the
discretion  of the court before which any  proceedings  therefor may be brought,
and (b)  applicable  bankruptcy,  administration,  reorganization,  arrangement,
insolvency,  fraudulent  conveyance,  moratorium  or similar laws  affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally as at the time in effect.


<PAGE>


Page 3


         No opinion is expressed  herein with respect to matters  arising  under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

         We express no opinion as to the law of any jurisdiction  other than the
law of the  State  of New York  and the  federal  law of the  United  States  of
America.

         This  opinion is rendered  solely to and for the benefit of The Stanley
Works in connection with the refinancing transaction, and may not be relied upon
by any other person or for any other  purposes.  This opinion is given as of the
date hereof, and subsequent legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or
other developments may occur after the date hereof,  which may cause our opinion
to change.


                                                     McDermott, Will & Emery
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     McDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY


<PAGE>

                                                As amended as of January 4, 1998


                     Management Incentive Compensation Plan




I.       Compensation Plan

         This  Management  Incentive  Compensation  Plan is  administered by the
         Compensation and Organization  Committee (the "Committee") of the Board
         of Directors of The Stanley Works ("Stanley" or the "Company"). Members
         of management and other key employees of Stanley and its affiliates are
         eligible to receive incentive  compensation under this plan.  Incentive
         compensation can be paid under this plan only when certain "performance
         goals"  determined  by the  Committee  in  advance  are  attained.  The
         business  criteria upon which the performance  goals are based are Core
         Net Earnings,  Core Net Earnings Per Share,  and Core Return On Capital
         Employed.

         The  Committee  determines  the  specific  dollar  amount of  incentive
         compensation  that may be  awarded  under  this plan to each  executive
         officer of  Stanley  and the chief  executive  officer  determines  the
         specific dollar amount of incentive that may be awarded under this plan
         to each other eligible  employee of Stanley for a given year,  provided
         that the aggregate amount of all awards paid to any employee under this
         plan  in a  single  year  cannot  exceed  one  half of one  percent  of
         Stanley's  Shareholders'  Equity  as of the last  day of the  preceding
         year. The Committee may, in its discretion and at any time,  reduce the
         incentive compensation to be paid to any employee hereunder.


II.      Definition of Terms


         A.    Core Net  Earnings - Net  Earnings of the  Company,  exclusive of
               restructuring  charges,  restructuring-related  transition costs,
               and other unusual  events,  as set forth in the Company's  annual
               report.

         B.    Core Net Earnings  Per Share - core net  earnings  divided by the
               average shares outstanding (basic), as set forth in the Company's
               annual report.

         C.    Core Return On Capital  Employed - core net  earnings  divided by
               adjusted capital  employed,  as set forth in the Company's annual
               report.

         D.    Salary - Base salary for the Plan Year.

         E.    Plan Year - The fiscal year of the Company.


III.     Limitations

         A.    To be eligible to receive incentive compensation under this plan,
               the  employee  must be  employed  by the  Company  and  rendering
               services at the end of the Plan


                                       -1-

<PAGE>



               Year,  except in the case of retirement,  death, or disability or
               special  circumstances  as  determined  by  the  Chief  Executive
               Officer,  in which event incentive  compensation shall be paid on
               the basis of that  portion  of the year for which  services  were
               rendered prior to such retirement, death, or disability.  Periods
               of vacation will be considered  periods during which services are
               being rendered.

         B.    This plan does not  constitute  a contract  between  The  Stanley
               Works  and  the  employee.  Participation  in the  plan in no way
               constitutes an employment agreement or guarantee of employment.

IV.      Definition of Change in Control

         For  purposes of this Plan,  a  "Change in Control"  shall be deemed to
         have occurred if

         A.    any  "person,"  as such term is defined in  Section  3(a)(9)  and
               modified and used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d) of the  Securities
               Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (other than
               the Company,  any trustee or other fiduciary  holding  securities
               under an employee  benefit plan of the Company or any  subsidiary
               of the Company, or any corporation owned,  directly or indirectly
               by the  shareholders  of the  Company in  substantially  the same
               proportions  as their  ownership of stock of the Company),  is or
               becomes  the  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
               the Exchange Act),  directly or indirectly,  of securities of the
               Company  representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of
               the Company's then outstanding securities;

         B.    during any period of two consecutive years individuals who at the
               beginning  of  such  period  constitute  the  Board,  and any new
               director  (other than a director  designated  by a person who has
               entered  into  an   agreement   with  the  Company  to  effect  a
               transaction   described  in  clause  (A),  (C)  or  (D)  of  this
               definition)  whose  election  by  the  Board  or  nomination  for
               election by the Company's  shareholders was approved by a vote of
               at least  two-thirds  (2/3) of the directors then still in office
               who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose
               election or nomination  for election was  previously so approved,
               cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;

         C.    the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation
               of the  Company  with any  other  corporation,  other  than (1) a
               merger  or  consolidation   which  would  result  in  the  voting
               securities of the Company  outstanding  immediately prior thereto
               continuing to represent  (either by remaining  outstanding  or by
               being converted into voting  securities of the surviving  entity)
               more  than  75% of  the  combined  voting  power  of  the  voting
               securities of the Company or such  surviving  entity  outstanding
               immediately after such merger or consolidation or (2) a merger or
               consolidation  effected to  implement a  recapitalization  of the
               Company (or similar  transaction)  in which no "person" (with the
               exceptions  specified in clause (A) of this definition)  acquires
               25% or more of the combined  voting power of the  Company's  then
               outstanding securities; or

         D.    the  shareholders  of the  Company  approve  a plan  of  complete
               liquidation of the


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



               Company  or an  agreement  for  the  sale or  disposition  by the
               Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

V.       Pro-Rata Payment Following Change in Control

         Notwithstanding any of the preceding  provisions of this plan, upon the
         occurrence  of any Change in Control of the Company it shall be deemed,
         solely  for  purposes  of  this  plan,  that  the  employment  of  each
         individual  who is  covered  under this plan for the Plan Year in which
         such Change in Control occurs has terminated on the date of such Change
         in Control by reason of retirement. As soon as may be practicable, each
         such individual shall be paid incentive compensation for such Plan Year
         in accordance with Section III(A) hereof but without the application of
         the discretion  referred to in Section I; provided,  however,  that the
         calculation of such incentive compensation shall be based on Net Sales,
         Core Net Income,  Core  Earnings Per Share,  and Core Return On Capital
         Employed and the  employee's  Salary  during an  abbreviated  Plan Year
         which shall  include only those fiscal  months  completed  prior to the
         Change in  Control  for which  Salary was paid to the  individual;  and
         provided further that all elements entering into such calculation shall
         be appropriately adjusted for such abbreviated Plan Year.

VI.      Payment of Previously Unpaid Amount Following Change in Control

         Notwithstanding any of the preceding  provisions of this Plan, upon the
         occurrence  of any Change in Control of the Company,  if any  incentive
         compensation  which any  individual  earned  under this Plan during any
         Plan Year which ended  prior to the Change in Control has neither  been
         paid to such  individual  nor  credited to such  individual's  deferred
         account under The Stanley Deferred  Compensation  Plan for Participants
         in Stanley's  Management  Incentive Plans, such incentive  compensation
         shall be paid to such individual  immediately  following the first date
         on which such incentive  compensation can be calculated and shall in no
         event be paid later than the later of (I) the first  March 1  following
         the Plan Year with  respect to which such  incentive  compensation  was
         earned  or (ii) the  fifteenth  (15th)  day  following  the  Change  in
         Control.



                                       -3-


<PAGE>




                                                                   Exhibit 12



                           THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIAIRES
                        COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                              (In Millions of Dollars)


                                             SECOND QUARTER        SIX MONTHS
                                              1998    1997        1998    1997
                                             ------  ------      ------  ------

   Earnings (loss) before income taxes        $67.5   ($81.5)    $125.7 ($22.8)

   Add:
        Portion of rents representative of
           interest factor                      2.9      2.9        5.8    6.2
        Interest expense                        6.5      6.2       13.3   11.7
        Amortization of expense
          on long-term debt                     0.1      0.1        0.1    0.1
        Amortization of capitalized interest      -       -           -    0.1
                                              ------  ------      ------  ------
   Income (loss) as adjusted                   $77.0  ($72.3)     $144.9 ($4.7)
                                              ======  ======      ======  ======
   Fixed charges:
        Interest expense                        $6.5    $6.2       $13.3 $11.7
        Amortization of expense
          on long-term debt                      0.1     0.1         0.1   0.1
        Portion of rents representative of
           interest factor                       2.9     2.9         5.8   6.2
                                              ------  ------      ------  ------
   Fixed charges                                $9.5    $9.2       $19.2 $18.0
                                              ======  ======      ======  ======

   Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (A)       8.11     N/A        7.55   N/A
                                              ======  ======      ======  ======




(A)Due to signficant restructuring charges and asset write-offs recorded in the
   second quarter of 1997, income as computed above, was inadequate to cover
   fixed charges.  The deficiency was $81.5 for the second quarter and $22.7
   for the first six months of 1997.


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from The
Stanley Works and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements
of Operations and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-04-1998
<CASH>                                          77,400
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  502,900
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    372,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                87,400
<PP&E>                                       1,161,600
<DEPRECIATION>                                 674,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,766,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          607,500
<BONDS>                                        272,000
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                       230,900
<OTHER-SE>                                     415,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,766,000
<SALES>                                      1,363,700
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,363,700
<CGS>                                          883,900
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  883,900
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                125,700
<INCOME-TAX>                                    47,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             78,600
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    78,600
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .88
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .87
        

</TABLE>


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