BARNES GROUP INC
10-K, 1997-03-11
MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS
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                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549

                                      FORM 10-K

         FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d)
                       OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        (Mark One)
        [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
        EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED] FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
        DECEMBER 31, 1996 OR
        -----------------

        [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED] FOR THE TRANSITION
        PERIOD FROM               TO
                   ------------     --------------

                            Commission file number 1-4801
                                                   ------

                                  BARNES GROUP INC.
                                  -----------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                Delaware                                      06-0247840
        --------------------------------                 ---------------
        (State or other jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S.Employer
        incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)

        123 Main St., Bristol, Connecticut                 06011-0489
        ---------------------------------                 --------------
        (Address of Principal Executive Office)           (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code 860/583-7070
                                                           ------------
        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

        Title of each class         Name of each exchange on which
        -------------------                 registered                 
                                    ------------------------------

        Common Stock par value       
        ----------------------
            $1.00 per share                   New York Stock Exchange
        ----------------------                -----------------------


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

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

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
        Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be
        contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy
        or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of
        this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

        The aggregate market value of the registrant's voting stock held by
        non-affiliates amounted to $406,297,958 as of February 4, 1997.

        The registrant had outstanding 6,669,471 shares of common stock as of
        February 4, 1997.

        Parts I and II incorporate information by reference from the
        registrant's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders.  Part III
        incorporates information by reference from the registrant's Proxy
        Statement dated March 4, 1997.

        Exhibit Index located at pages 15-18.




<PAGE>
                                      PART I


            Item 1.   Business.
                      ---------
                      The Company was organized as a Delaware corporation
            in 1925.  The Company is in three businesses:  Bowman
            Distribution, a distributor of consumable repair and
            replacement products for industrial, heavy equipment, and
            transportation maintenance markets; Associated Spring, a
            manufacturer and distributor of custom-made springs and other
            close-tolerance engineered metal components; and Barnes
            Aerospace, a manufacturer of precision machined and
            fabricated assemblies for the aircraft and aerospace
            industries and a refurbisher of jet engine components.*

                      Bowman Distribution.  Bowman Distribution is
                      -------------------
            engaged in distributing in the United States, Canada, the
            United Kingdom and France a variety of replacement parts and
            other products, including fasteners and special purpose
            hardware, automotive parts, automotive specialties and
            accessories, general purpose electric and gas welding
            supplies, industrial maintenance supplies, and industrial
            aerosols such as adhesives, lubricants, and sealants.

                      The products sold by Bowman Distribution are, for
            the most part, not manufactured by the Company, but are
            obtained from a number of outside suppliers.  The vast
            majority of the products are repackaged and sold under
            Bowman's labels.

                      Sales by Bowman Distribution in the United States
            and Canada are primarily to industrial and food processing
            plants, chemical and petrochemical process industries,
            contractors, new-car dealers, garages, service stations,
            operators of vehicle fleets, railroads, electric utilities,
            and airline ground maintenance facilities.

                      In 1992, the Company sold substantially all of the
            assets of the Pioneer division of Bowman.

                      Associated Spring.  Associated Spring manufactures
                      -----------------
            and distributes a wide variety of custom metal parts for
            mechanical purposes.  It is equipped to produce practically
            every type of spring requiring precision engineering, as well
            as an extensive



            -----------------------
                      *As used in this annual report, "Company" refers to
            the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries except where
            the context requires otherwise, and "Associated Spring,"
            "Barnes Aerospace," and "Bowman Distribution" refer to the
            above-defined businesses, but not to separate corporate
            entities.

                                          1
<PAGE>



            variety of precision metal components and assemblies.  Its
            products range in size from fine hairsprings for instruments
            to large springs for heavy machinery, and its output of a
            given metal part may vary in amount from a few units to
            several million.  Associated Spring does not produce leaf
            springs or bed springs.

                      Associated Spring's custom metal parts are sold in
            the United States and through the Company's foreign
            subsidiaries to manufacturers in many industries, chiefly for
            use as components in their own products.  Custom metal parts
            are sold primarily through Associated Spring's sales
            employees.  In view of the diversity of functions which
            Associated Spring's custom metal parts perform, Associated
            Spring's output is characterized by little standardization,
            with the major portion being manufactured to customer
            specifications.

                      The automotive and automotive parts industries
            constitute Associated Spring's largest single custom metal
            parts market.  Other important outlets include manufacturers
            of industrial and textile machinery, motors, generators,
            electronic equipment, aircraft, diesel and other internal
            combustion engines, household appliances and fixtures,
            hardware, office equipment, agricultural equipment, railroad
            equipment, general machinery, and scientific instruments.

                      The Associated Spring Distribution division is
            engaged in the distribution of industrial products to the
            tool and die market, of which die springs manufactured
            primarily by Associated Spring are the principal item.  It
            also distributes certain standard parts manufactured by
            Associated Spring consisting primarily of stock wire and flat
            springs which are sold under the Company's SPEC registered
            trademark.

                      Associated Spring also has manufacturing operations
            in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Singapore, and distribution
            operations in the United Kingdom and France.  In 1994, it
            closed its spring manufacturing plants in Gardena,
            California, and Monterrey, Mexico.  The Company has retained
            a minority interest of 15% in its former subsidiary in
            Argentina.

                      The Company is a partner in a joint venture
            corporation in the United States with NHK Spring Co., Ltd. of
            Japan.  The joint venture corporation, NHK-Associated Spring
            Suspension Components Inc. ("NASCO"), has a manufacturing
            facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  It manufactures and
            sells hot-wound coil springs for automotive suspension
            systems and counterbalance torque bars for trunk lids. 
            Barnes Group owns a minority interest of 45% in NASCO.

                      Barnes Aerospace.  Barnes Aerospace is engaged in
                      ----------------
            the advanced fabrication and precision machining of
            components for jet engines and airframes as well as the
            repair and overhaul of jet engine components.  Windsor
            Manufacturing, Windsor Airmotive, and Advanced Fabrications
            constitute the Barnes Aerospace Group.

                                          2
<PAGE>



                      Windsor Manufacturing manufactures machined and
            fabricated parts as well as assemblies.  It specializes in
            the machining of difficult-to-process aircraft engine
            superalloys.  Manufacturing processes include computer
            numerically controlled machining, electrical discharge
            machining, laser drilling, creep-feed grinding, and automated
            deburring.  Customers include gas turbine engine
            manufacturers for commercial and military jets as well as
            land-based turbines.

                      Windsor Airmotive specializes in refurbishing jet
            engine components.  Electron beam welding and plasma spray
            are two of the major processes used in this division, and
            customers include approximately 30 airlines and engine
            overhaul businesses worldwide and the U.S. military.  In
            1995, Windsor Airmotive's Singapore operations moved into a
            larger facility.

                      Advanced Fabrications, through its Jet Die and
            Flameco plants, specializes in hot forming and fabricating
            titanium and other high-temperature alloys such as hastelloy
            and inconel for use in precision details and assemblies for
            aircraft engine and airframe applications.  It utilizes
            advanced manufacturing processes including superplastic
            forming and diffusion bonding.

                      Segment Analysis.  The analysis of the Company's
                      ----------------
            revenue from sales to unaffiliated customers, operating
            income, and identifiable assets by industry segments and geo-
            graphic areas appearing on pages 27 and 28 of the Company's
            1996 Annual Report to Stockholders, included as Exhibit 13 to
            this report, is incorporated by reference.

                      Competition.  The Company competes with many other
                      -----------
            companies, large and small, engaged in the manufacture and
            sale of custom metal parts (including aerospace components).
             The Company believes Associated Spring is the largest
            domestic manufacturer of precision springs used for
            mechanical purposes.  The Company also faces active
            competition in the products sold by Bowman Distribution.  The
            principal methods of competition for the Company's three
            businesses include service, quality, price, reliability of
            supply, and also, in the case of Associated Spring and Barnes
            Aerospace, technology and design.

                      Backlog.  The backlog of the Company's orders
                      -------
            believed to be firm amounted to $151,142,000 at the end of
            1996, as compared with $111,125,000 at the end of 1995.  Of
            the 1996 year-end backlog, $103,357,000 is attributable to
            the Barnes Aerospace Group and all of the balance is
            attributable to the Associated Spring Group.  $12,078,000 of
            Barnes Aerospace's backlog is not expected to be shipped in
            1997.  Substantially all of the remainder of the Company's
            backlog is expected to be shipped during 1997.

                                          3
<PAGE>



                      Raw Materials and Customers.  None of the Company's
                      ---------------------------
            divisions or groups are dependent upon any single source for
            any of their principal raw materials or products for resale,
            and all such materials and products are readily available. 
            No one customer accounted for more than 10% of total sales in
            1996.  Automotive manufacturers and manufacturers of
            electronic products are important customers of Associated
            Spring.  Sales by Barnes Aerospace to two domestic jet engine
            manufacturers accounted for approximately 50% of its
            business.  Bowman Distribution is not dependent on any one or
            a few customers for a significant portion of its sales.

                      Research and Development.  Although most of the
                      ------------------------
            products manufactured by the Company are custom parts made to
            the customers' specifications, the Company is engaged in
            continuing efforts aimed at discovering and implementing new
            knowledge that is useful in developing new products or
            services or improving significantly an existing product or
            service.  The Company spent approximately $3,957,000 on its
            research and development activities in 1996, as compared to
            expenditures of approximately $3,087,000 in 1995 and
            $2,640,000 in 1994.  There were no significant customer-
            sponsored research and development activities.

                      Patents and Trademarks.  Patents, licenses,
                      ----------------------
            franchises and concessions are not material to any of the
            Company's businesses.

                      Employees.  As of the date of this report, the
                      ---------
            Company employs approximately 3,800 persons.

                      Environmental Laws.  Compliance with federal,
                      ------------------
            state, and local laws which have been enacted or adopted
            regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or
            otherwise relating to the protection of the environment has
            not had a material effect and is not expected to have a
            material effect upon the capital expenditures, earnings, or
            competitive position of the Company.


            Item 2.        Properties.
                           ----------
                      The Company and its Canadian subsidiary operate 12
            manufacturing plants and 14 warehouses at various locations
            throughout the United States and Canada, of which all of the
            plants and 6 of the warehouses are owned in fee, and the
            others are leased.  Of the properties which are owned, none
            is subject to any encumbrance.  The Company's other foreign
            subsidiaries own or lease plant or warehouse facilities in
            the countries where their operations are conducted.  The
            listing of the facility locations of each of the Company's
            businesses contained in the Directory of Operations on the
            inside front cover of the 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders,
            included as Exhibit 13 to this report, is incorporated by
            reference.

                                          4
<PAGE>



                      The Company believes that its owned and leased
            properties have been adequately maintained, are in
            satisfactory operating condition, are suitable and adequate
            for the business activities conducted therein, and have
            productive capacities sufficient to meet current needs.


            Item 3.   Legal Proceedings.
                      -----------------
                      There are no material pending legal proceedings to
            which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or
            of which any of their property is the subject.

            Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security
                      -------------------------------------------
                      Holders.
                      -------
                      No matter was submitted during the fourth quarter
            of 1996 to a vote of security holders.

                      The following information is included in accordance
            with the provisions of Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Executive Officers of the Company*
                          --------------------------------
                                                       Age as of
            Executive Officer        Position       December 31, 1996
            -----------------        --------       -----------------
            <S>                      <C>                      <C>
            Theodore E. Martin       President and            57
                                     Chief Executive
                                     Officer
                                     (since 1995)

            Thomas O. Barnes         Chairman of the          47
                                     Board of Directors
                                     (since 1995) and
                                     Senior Vice President-
                                     Administration
                                     (since 1993)

            Mary Louise Beardsley    Associate General        42
                                     Counsel and
                                     Secretary
                                     (since 1994)

            Francis C. Boyle, Jr.    Vice President,          46
                                     Controller
                                     (since 1997)

            Leonard M. Carlucci      Vice President,          50
                                     Barnes Group Inc.
                                     (since 1994) and
                                     President, Bowman
                                     Distribution
                                     (since 1995)
</TABLE>
                                          5
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Age as of
            Executive Officer          Position       December 31, 1996
            -----------------          --------       -----------------
            <S>                       <C>                      <C>
            Ali A. Fadel              Vice President,          41
                                      Barnes Group Inc.
                                      and President,
                                      Associated Spring
                                      (since 1994)

            William V. Grickis, Jr.   Vice President,          46
                                      General Counsel
                                      (since 1997)

            John J. Locher            Vice President,          52
                                      Treasurer
                                      (since 1992)
</TABLE>

            *  All officers are elected by the Board of Directors and
             serve an indefinite term at the discretion of the Board.

                      Except for Messrs. Barnes and Grickis, each of the
            Company's executive officers has been employed by the Company
            or its subsidiaries in an executive or managerial capacity
            for at least the past five years.  Each officer holds office
            until his  or her successor is chosen and qualified, or
            otherwise as provided in the By-Laws.  No family
            relationships exist among the executive officers of the
            Company.

                      Mr. Barnes was elected Senior Vice President-
            Administration effective December 16, 1993.  From 1982 to
            1993, Mr. Barnes was employed by The Olson Brothers Company
            as Executive Vice President and President, which position he
            held since 1983.  Prior to joining Olson Brothers, Mr. Barnes
            held a variety of management positions with The Connecticut
            Bank and Trust Company, The S. Carpenter Construction
            Company, and the Company's Bowman Distribution division.

                      Mr. Grickis joined the Company as Vice President,
            General Counsel on February 3, 1997.  From 1981 to 1997, Mr.
            Grickis held various positions in the legal department of
            Loctite Corporation and for more than the past five years was
            its Corporate Counsel and Assistant Secretary.

                                          6
<PAGE>



                                       PART II


            Item 5.   Market for the Registrant's Common Stock and
                      --------------------------------------------
                      Related Stockholder Matters.
                      ---------------------------
                      The information regarding the Company's common
            stock contained on pages 22 and 29 of the Company's 1996
            Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated by reference. 
            As of February 4, 1997, the Company's common stock was held
            by 3,723 stockholders of record.  The Company's common stock
            is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

            Item 6.   Selected Financial Data.
                      -----------------------
                      The selected financial data for the last five years
            contained on pages 30 and 31 of the Company's 1996 Annual
            Report to Stockholders is incorporated by reference.


            Item 7.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                      -------------------------------------------------
                      Condition and Results of Operations.
                      -----------------------------------
                      The financial review and management's analysis
            thereof appearing on pages 11 through 13 of the Company's
            1996 Annual Report to Stockholders are incorporated by
            reference.


            Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
                      -------------------------------------------
                      The financial statements and report of independent
            accountants appearing on pages 14 through 29 of the Company's
            1996 Annual Report to Stockholders are incorporated by
            reference.  See also the report of independent accountants
            included on page 13 below pursuant to Item 302(a) of
            Regulation S-K.  The material under "Quarterly Data" on page
            29 of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders is
            also incorporated by reference.


            Item 9.   Changes and Disagreements with Accountants on
                      ---------------------------------------------
                      Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
                      -----------------------------------
                      None.

                                          7
<PAGE>



                                        PART III


            Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Company.
                      -----------------------------------------------
                      The material under "Election of Directors" on pages
            1 through 4 of the Company's Proxy Statement dated March 4,
            1997, is incorporated by reference.  See also "Executive
            Officers of the Company," included above pursuant to Item
            401(b) of Regulation S-K.


            Item 11.  Executive Compensation.
                      ----------------------
                      The material under "Compensation of Directors"
            appearing on page 4 and the information appearing on pages 7
            through 14 of the Company's Proxy Statement dated March 4,
            1997, is incorporated by reference.


            Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
                      ---------------------------------------------------
                      Management.
                      ----------
                      The information concerning this item appearing on
            pages 5 and 6 of the Company's Proxy Statement dated March 4,
            1997, is incorporated by reference.


            Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
                      ----------------------------------------------
                      The information concerning this item appearing on
            page 10 of the Company's Proxy Statement dated March 4, 1997,
            is incorporated by reference.

                                          8
<PAGE>



                                       PART IV


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports
                      ---------------------------------------------------
                      on Form 8-K.
                      -----------
                      (a)  The report of Price Waterhouse LLP,
                           independent accountants, and the following
                           financial statements and financial statement
                           schedules are filed as part of this report:
                                                 Reference
                                     -------------------------------------
                                                            Annual Report
                                          Form 10-K        to Stockholders
                                            (page)             (page)   
                                          ---------        ---------------
            <S>                               <C>            <C>
            Report of independent             13                 29
              accountants

            Consolidated balance                                 15
              sheets at December 31,
              1996 and 1995

            Consolidated statements                              14
              of income for the years
              ended December 31, 1996,
              1995 and 1994

            Consolidated statements                              17
              of changes in stockholders'
              equity for the years
              ended December 31, 1996,
              1995 and 1994

            Consolidated statements                              16
              of cash flows for the years
              ended December 31, 1996,
              1995 and 1994

            Notes to consolidated                             18 - 28
              financial statements

            Supplementary information                            29
              Quarterly data (unaudited)

            Consolidated schedules for
              the years ended December 31,
              1996, 1995 and 1994

              VIII - Valuation and            14
               qualifying accounts
</TABLE>

                     All other schedules have been omitted since the
            required information is not present or not present in
            amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule,
            or because the information required is included in the
            consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

                                         9
<PAGE>



                     The consolidated financial statements listed in
            the above index which are included in the Annual Report to
            Stockholders of Barnes Group Inc. for the year ended
            December 31, 1996, are hereby incorporated by reference. 
            With the exception of the pages listed in the above index
            and in Items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the 1996 Annual Report
            to Stockholders is not to be deemed filed as part of this
            report.

                     (b)  One report on Form 8-K was filed on December
                          20, 1996, reporting on the adoption of a
                          shareholder rights plan in Item 5.  No
                          financial statements were filed with the
                          report.

                     (c)  The Exhibits required by Item 601 of
                          Regulation S-K are filed as Exhibits to this
                          Annual Report and indexed at pages 15 through
                          18 of this report.

                                        10
<PAGE>





                                    SIGNATURES
                                    ----------
                     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or
            15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company
            has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
            the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                Date:  February 21, 1997

                                BARNES GROUP INC.


                                By /s/ Theodore E. Martin                  
                                   -----------------------------------------
                                   Theodore E. Martin
                                   President and Chief Executive Officer

                     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
            Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below as
            of the above date by the following persons on behalf of the
            Company in the capacities indicated.


            /s/ Theodore E. Martin                            
            ---------------------------------------------------
            Theodore E. Martin
            President and Chief Executive Officer
            (the principal executive officer) and Director


            /s/ John J. Locher                                
            ---------------------------------------------------
            John J. Locher
            Vice President, Treasurer
            (the principal financial officer)


            /s/ Francis C. Boyle, Jr.                        
            --------------------------------------------------
            Francis C. Boyle, Jr.
            Vice President, Controller
            (the principal accounting officer)


            /s/ Thomas O. Barnes                            
            -------------------------------------------------
            Thomas 0. Barnes
            Director

                                        11
<PAGE>






            /s/ Gary G. Benanav                             
            -------------------------------------------------
            Gary G. Benanav
            Director


            /s/ William S. Bristow, Jr.                     
            -------------------------------------------------
            William S. Bristow, Jr.
            Director


            /s/ Robert J. Callander                         
            -------------------------------------------------
            Robert J. Callander
            Director


            /s/ George T. Carpenter                         
            -------------------------------------------------
            George T. Carpenter
            Director


            /s/ Donna R. Ecton                              
            -------------------------------------------------
            Donna R. Ecton
            Director


            /s/ Marcel P. Joseph                            
            -------------------------------------------------
            Marcel P. Joseph
            Director


            /s/ Juan M. Steta                               
            -------------------------------------------------
            Juan M. Steta
            Director


            /s/ K. Grahame Walker                           
            -------------------------------------------------
            K. Grahame Walker
            Director

                                        12
<PAGE>



                                                         CONFORMED COPY


                      REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS ON
                          FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE




            To the Board of Directors
            of Barnes Group Inc.


            Our audits of the consolidated financial statements for the
            years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 referred to in
            our report dated January 22, 1997, except as to Note 13,
            which is as of February 21, 1997, appearing on page 29 of
            the 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders of Barnes Group Inc.
            (which report and consolidated financial statements are
            incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-
            K) also included an audit of the Financial Statement
            Schedule for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and
            1994 listed in Item 14(a) of this Form 10-K.  In our
            opinion, this Financial Statement Schedule presents fairly,
            in all material respects, the information set forth therein
            when read in conjunction with the related consolidated
            financial statements.




            /s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
            PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP


            Hartford, Connecticut
            January 22, 1997, except
               as to Note 13, which is
               as of February 21, 1997

                                        13
<PAGE>




                                 BARNES GROUP INC.

                 SCHEDULE VIII - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

                   Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                  (in thousands)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Provision
                       Balance at   charged to                 Balance
                       beginning    costs and                  at end
                       of year      expenses    Deductions(1)  of year
                       ----------   ---------   -------------  -------
          <S>             <C>       <C>           <C>           <C>
          1996

            Allowance
            for doubtful
            accounts      $3,635     $  545       $1,022        $3,158



          1995

            Allowance
            for doubtful
            accounts      $3,222    $1,577        $1,164        $3,635



          1994

            Allowance
            for doubtful
            accounts      $2,217    $1,523        $  518        $3,222



          (1)  Write-offs, net of recoveries
</TABLE>
                                         14
<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
                                    -------------
                                  Barnes Group Inc.

                             Annual Report on Form 10-K
                          for year ended December 31, 1996
                          --------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Exhibit No.         Description              Reference
            ----------          -----------              ---------
               <S>         <C>                      <C>
               3.1         Restated Certificate     Incorporated by 
                           of Incorporation,        reference to Exhibit
                           as amended               3.1 to the Company's
                                                    report on Form 10-K
                                                    for the year ended 
                                                    December 31, 1992.

               3.2         By-Laws.                 Incorporated by 
                                                    reference to Exhibit 
                                                    3.2 to the Company's 
                                                    report on Form 10-K 
                                                    for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1995.

               4.1         Revolving Credit         Filed with this 
                           Agreement dated as       report.
                           of December 1, 1991
                           among the Company and
                           several commercial
                           banks.


               4.2         First Amendment to       Incorporated by 
                           Credit Agreement set     reference to Exhibit
                           forth in Exhibit 4.1     4.2 to the Company's
                           dated as of December     report on Form 10-K
                           1, 1992.                 for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1992.

               4.3         Second Amendment to      Incorporated by 
                           Credit Agreement set     reference to Exhibit
                           forth in Exhibit 4.1     4.3 to the Company's
                           dated as of December     report on Form 10-K
                           1, 1993.                 for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1993.

               4.4         Third Amendment to       Incorporated by 
                           Credit Agreement set     reference to Exhibit
                           forth in Exhibit 4.1     4.4 to the Company's
                           dated as of              report on Form 10-K
                           December 1, 1994.        for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1994.
</TABLE>
                                         15
<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Exhibit No.         Description              Reference
            ----------          -----------              ---------
               <S>         <C>                      <C>
               4.5         Fourth Amendment to      Incorporated by
                           Credit Agreement set     reference to Exhibit
                           forth in Exhibit 4.1     4.5 to the Company's
                           dated as of              report on Form 10-K
                           December 1, 1995.        for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1995.

               4.6         Fifth Amendment to       Filed with this
                           Credit Agreement set     report.
                           forth in Exhibit 4.1
                           dated as of
                           December 1, 1996.

               4.7         Rights Agreement         Incorporated by 
                           dated as of December     reference to Exhibit 
                           10, 1996, between the    1 to the Company's
                           Company and              report on Form 8-A
                           ChaseMellon Shareholder  filed on December 20,
                           Services L.L.C.          1996

               4.8         Note Agreement dated     Filed with this 
                           as of September 16,      report.
                           1991, among the 
                           Company and several
                           insurance companies.


               4.9         Note Purchase Agreement  Incorporated by 
                           dated as of December 1,  reference to Exhibit
                           1995, between the        4.9 to the Company's
                           Company and several      report on Form 10-K
                           insurance companies.     for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1995.

               10.1        The Company's            Incorporated by
                           Management Incentive     reference to Exhibit
                           Plan.                    10.1 to the Company's
                                                    report on Form 10-K
                                                    for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1995.

               10.2        The Company's Long       Incorporated by
                           Term Incentive Plan.     reference to Exhibit
                                                    10.2 to the Company's
                                                    report on Form 10-K
                                                    for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1995.
</TABLE>
                                         16
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Exhibit No.    Description              Reference
            -----------    -----------              ---------
               <S>         <C>                      <C>
               10.3        The Company's            Incorporated by
                           Retirement Benefit       reference to Exhibit
                           Equalization Plan.       10.3 to the Company's
                                                    report on Form 10-K
                                                    for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1995.

               10.4        The Company's            Incorporated by
                           Supplemental             reference to Exhibit
                           Executive                10.4 to the Company's
                           Retirement Plan.         report on Form 10-K
                                                    for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1995.

               10.5        The Company's 1981       Filed with this 
                           Stock Incentive Plan.    report.

               10.6        The Company's 1991       Filed with this 
                           Stock Incentive Plan,    report.
                           as amended February 21,
                           1997.

               10.7        The Company's Non-       Incorporated by
                           Employee Director        reference to Exhibit
                           Deferred Stock Plan.     10.7 to the Company's
                                                    report on Form 10-K
                                                    for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1994.

               10.8        The Company's            Filed with this 
                           Amended and Restated     report.
                           Directors' Deferred
                           Compensation Plan.


               10.9        Consulting Agreement     Incorporated by
                           dated as of April 1,     reference to Exhibit
                           1994 between the         10.9 to the Company's
                           Company and Wallace      report on Form 10-K
                           Barnes.                  for the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1994.

               10.10       Addendum to              Incorporated by
                           Consulting Agreement     reference to Exhibit
                           set forth in Exhibit     10.10 to the Company's
                           10.9 dated as of         report on Form 10-K for
                           May 22, 1995.            the year ended
                                                    December 31, 1995.
</TABLE>
                                         17
<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Exhibit No.         Description              Reference
            ----------          -----------              ---------
               <S>         <C>                      <C>
               10.11       The Company's Officer    Incorporated by
                           Enhanced Life            reference to Exhibit
                           Insurance Program.       10.11 to the
                                                    Company's report on
                                                    Form 10-K for the
                                                    year ended
                                                    December 31, 1993.

               10.12       The Company's Enhanced   Incorporated by
                           Life Insurance Program.  reference to Exhibit
                                                    10.12 to the
                                                    Company's report on
                                                    Form 10-K for the 
                                                    year ended
                                                    December 31, 1993.

               10.13       The Company's            Filed with this
                           Supplemental Senior      report.
                           Officer Retirement
                           Plan.

               13          Portions of the 1996     Filed with this
                           Annual Report to         report.
                           Stockholders.

               21          List of Subsidiaries.    Filed with this 
                                                    report.


               23          Consent of Independent   Filed with this 
                           Accountants.             report.
</TABLE>

                      The Company agrees to furnish to the Commission,
            upon request, a copy of each instrument with respect to which
            there are outstanding issues of unregistered long-term debt
            of the Company and its subsidiaries the authorized principal
            amount of which does not exceed 10% of the total assets of
            the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

                      Except for Exhibit 13, which will be furnished free
            of charge, and Exhibits 21 and 23, which are included herein,
            copies of exhibits referred to above will be furnished at a
            cost of twenty cents per page to security holders who make a
            written request therefor to The Secretary, Barnes Group Inc.,
            Executive Office, 123 Main Street, P.O. Box 489, Bristol,
            Connecticut 06011-0489.

                                         18


<PAGE>
                                                               EXHIBIT 21


                                  BARNES GROUP INC.

                                LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
                                --------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Operating Subsidiaries of the Company:
            -------------------------------------

                                                    Jurisdiction of
                      Name                           Incorporation
                      ----                          ---------------
            <S>                                      <C>
            Associated Spring-Asia PTE. LTD.         Singapore
            Associated Spring SPEC Limited           United Kingdom
            Barnes Group (Bermuda) Limited           Bermuda
            Barnes Group Canada Inc.                 Canada
            Barnes Group Holding B.V.                Netherlands
            Bowman Distribution Europe Limited       United Kingdom
            Bowman Distribution France S.A.          France
            Resortes Mecanicos, S.A.                 Mexico
            Ressorts SPEC, EURL                      France
            Stumpp & Schuele do Brasil Industria e   Brazil
              Comercio Limitada
            Windsor Airmotive Asia PTE. LTD.         Singapore
</TABLE>


                     Associated Spring SPEC Limited is wholly-owned by
            Bowman Distribution Europe Limited.  Ressorts SPEC, EURL is
            wholly-owned by Bowman Distribution France S.A.  Windsor
            Airmotive Asia PTE. LTD. is wholly-owned by Barnes Group
            Canada Inc. Associated Spring-Asia PTE. LTD., and Stumpp &
            Schuele do Brasil Industria e Comercio Limitada are wholly-
            owned by Barnes Group (Bermuda) Limited.  Resortes Mecanicos,
            S.A. is owned by Barnes Group (Bermuda) Limited (20%), Barnes
            Group Canada Inc. (40%), and Associated Spring-Asia PTE. LTD.
            (40%).  Barnes Group Canada Inc., Bowman Distribution Europe
            Limited, and Bowman Distribution France S.A. are wholly-owned
            by Barnes Group Holding B.V.  Barnes Group (Bermuda) Limited
            and Barnes Group Holding B.V. are wholly-owned by Barnes
            Group Inc.  The Company's consolidated financial statements
            include all of the above-named subsidiaries.  For a statement
            of the principles of consolidation applicable to these
            subsidiaries, see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated
            Financial Statements on page 18 of the 1996 Annual Report to
            Stockholders.

                                                        EXHIBIT 23





                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


            We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the
            Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 2-56437, pertaining
            to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, No. 2-91285, pertaining
            to the 1981 Stock Incentive Plan, Nos. 33-20932 and 33-30229,
            pertaining to the Guaranteed Stock Plan, and the registration
            statement filed on July 18, 1994, pertaining to the 1991
            Stock Incentive Plan) of Barnes Group Inc. of our report
            dated January 22, 1997, except as to Note 13, which is as of
            February 21, 1997, appearing on page 29 of the Annual Report
            to Stockholders which is incorporated in this Annual Report
            on Form 10-K.  We also consent to the incorporation by
            reference of our report on the Financial Statement Schedule,
            which appears on page 13 of this Form 10-K.


            /s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
            PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP



            Hartford, Connecticut
            March 6, 1997

                                                               EXHIBIT 4.8
                                BARNES GROUP INC,




                                 NOTE AGREEMENT




                         Dated as of September 16, 1991



                                   $40,000,000

                           9.47% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2001

<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
SECTION 1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOTES ....................................     1
      1.1  Issue of Notes ................................................     1
      1.2  The Closing ...................................................     2
      1.3  Purchase for Investment .......................................     2
      1.4  Failure to Deliver ............................................     2
      1.5  Expenses; Issue Taxes .........................................     2
      1.6  Other Agreements ..............................................     3

SECTION 2. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS ................................     4
      2.1  Subsidiaries ..................................................     4
      2.2  Corporate Organization and Authority ..........................     4
      2.3  Business, Property, Indebtedness and Liens ....................     5
      2.4  Financial Statements ..........................................     5
      2.5  Full Disclosure ...............................................     6
      2.6  Pending Litigation; Compliance with Law .......................     6
      2.7  Title to Properties ...........................................     6
      2.8  Patents and Trademarks ........................................     7
      2.9  Sale is Legal and Authorized ..................................     7
      2.10 No Defaults ...................................................     7
      2.11 Governmental Consent ..........................................     8
      2.12 Taxes .........................................................     8
      2.13 Use of Proceeds ...............................................     8
      2.14 Private Offering ..............................................     9
      2.15 ERISA .........................................................     9

SECTION 3. CLOSING CONDITIONS ............................................    10
      3.1  Opinions of Counsel ...........................................    10
      3.2  Warranties and Representations True as of Closing Date ........    10
      3.3  Compliance with this Agreement ................................    10
      3.4  Officers' Certificate .........................................    10
      3.5  Proceedings Satisfactory ......................................    11
      3.6  Sales Under Other Agreements ..................................    11
      3.7  Private Placement Number ......................................    11
      3.8  Legal Investment ..............................................    11

SECTION 4. DIRECT PAYMENT ................................................    11

SECTION 5. PREPAYMENTS ...................................................    11
      5.1  Required Prepayments ..........................................    11
      5.2  Option to Prepay ..............................................    12
      5.3  Notice of Optional Prepayment .................................    12
      5.4  Partial Payment Pro Rata ......................................    13

SECTION 6. REGISTRATION; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES ...........................    13
      6.1  Registration of Notes .........................................    13
      6.2  Exchange of Notes .............................................    13
      6.3  Replacement of Notes ..........................................    13
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                      -ii-




<TABLE>
<S>                                                                          <C>
SECTION 7. COMPANY BUSINESS COVENANTS ....................................    14
      7.1  Payment of Taxes and Claims ...................................    14
      7.2  Maintenance of Properties and Corporate Existence .............    15
      7.3  Maintenance of Office .........................................    16
      7.4  Sale of Assets or Merger ......................................    16
      7.5  Leases ........................................................    17
      7.6  Liens and Encumbrances ........................................    17
      7.7  Indebtedness ..................................................    19
      7.8  Net Worth .....................................................    19
      7.9  ERISA Compliance ..............................................    20
      7.10 Transactions with Affiliates ..................................    20
      7.11 Tax Consolidation .............................................    20
      7.12 Acquisition of Notes ..........................................    20
      7.13 Lines of Business .............................................    21

SECTION 8. INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY .....................................    21
      8.1  Financial and Business Information ............................    21
      8.2  Officers' Certificates ........................................    24
      8.3  Accountants' Certificates .....................................    24
      8.4  Inspection ....................................................    25

SECTION 9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT .............................................    25
      9.1  Nature of Events ..............................................    25
      9.2  Default Remedies ..............................................    27
      9.3  Annulment of Acceleration of Notes ............................    27

SECTION 10. INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT .............................    28
      10.1 Terms Defined .................................................    28
      10.2 Accounting Principles .........................................    32
      10.3 Directly or Indirectly ........................................    32
      10.4 Governing Law .................................................    32

SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS ................................................    33
      11.1 Notices .......................................................    33
      11.2 Reproduction of Documents .....................................    33
      11.3 Survival ......................................................    33
      11.4 Successors and Assigns ........................................    34
      11.5 Amendment and Waiver ..........................................    34
      11.6 Duplicate Originals ...........................................    35
</TABLE>

Exhibit  A  --  Principal Amounts, Payment Information and Addresses

Exhibit  B  --  Form of 9.47% Senior Note Due September 15, 2001

Exhibit  C  --  List of Subsidiaries, Affiliates, Debt and Liens

Exhibit  D  --  Description of Company Counsel's Closing Opinion

Exhibit  E  --  Description of Special Counsel's Closing Opinion

Exhibit  F  --  Certain Documents Furnished to Purchasers

Schedule I  --  Schedule of Leases

<PAGE>
                                BARNES GROUP INC.
                                 123 MAIN STREET
                           BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT 06010



                                 NOTE AGREEMENT

                                   $40,000,000

                   9.47% Senior Notes due September 16, 2001




The Travelers Insurance Company
One Tower Square
Hartford, Connecticut 06115
Attn: Securities Department - Capital
      Finance Division, 9PB


                                                        As of September 16, 1991

Dear Sirs:

                  Barnes Group Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation,
hereby agrees with you as follows:

SECTION 1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOTES

1.1 Issue of Notes.

                  The Company will issue $40,000,000 in aggregate principal
amount of its 9.47% Senior Notes due September 16, 2001 (herein called the
"Notes"). Each Note will bear interest on the unpaid principal balance thereof
from the date of the Note at the rate of 9.47% per annum, payable semi-annually
on the sixteenth day of March and the sixteenth day of September in each year,
commencing with the payment date next succeeding the date of the Note, until the
principal amount shall be due and payable, and will bear interest, payable on
demand, on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal
or premium and (to the extent permitted by law) on any overdue payment of
interest at a fluctuating rate per annum, to be adjusted daily, equal to the
greater of (a) the rate announced publicly by Citibank, N.A. in New York, New
York from time to time as its prime rate and (b) 11.47% per annum (but in no
event higher than the maximum rate permitted by law); and will mature on
September 16, 2001. The Notes will be registered notes in the form set out in
Exhibit B.

<PAGE>
                                       -2-




1.2 The Closing.

                  The Company agrees to sell to you and you agree to purchase
from the Company, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the
principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite your name on Exhibit A hereto
at 100% of the principal amount thereof.

                  The closing of your purchase shall be held at 9:00 a.m. on
September 16, 1991 ("Closing Date") at the office of Day, Berry & Howard,
CityPlace I, 25th Floor, Hartford, Connecticut 06103-3499. At the closing the
Company will deliver to you, unless you otherwise request, a single Note in the
principal amount of your purchase, dated the Closing Date and payable to you, or
your nominee, as set forth in Exhibit A, against payment in immediately
available funds.

1.3 Purchase for Investment.

                  You represent to the Company that you are purchasing the Notes
for investment for your own account and the account of your affiliated entities
and with no present intention of distributing or reselling the Notes or any part
thereof to anyone other than an affiliated entity, but without prejudice,
however, to your right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any
part of the Notes under a registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or under a registration exemption available under that Act. It is
understood that, in making the representations set out in Sections 2.9 and 2.11,
the Company is relying, to the extent applicable, upon your representation as
aforesaid.

1.4 Failure to Deliver.

                  If, at the closing, the Company fails to tender to you the
Notes to be purchased by you or if the conditions specified in Section 3 have
not been fulfilled, you may thereupon elect to be relieved of all further
obligations under this Agreement. Nothing in this Section shall operate to
relieve the Company from any of its obligations hereunder or to waive any of
your rights against the Company.

1.5 Expenses; Issue Taxes.

                  Whether or not the Notes are sold, the Company will pay all
expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to:

<PAGE>
                                       -3-




                  (a)      the cost of reproducing this Agreement and the Notes;

                  (b)      the reasonable fees and disbursements of your special
                           counsel;

                  (c)      your out-of-pocket expenses;

                  (d)      the cost of delivering to or from your home office,
                           insured to your satisfaction, the Notes purchased by
                           you at the closing, any Note surrendered by you to
                           the Company pursuant to this Agreement and any Note
                           issued to you in substitution or replacement for a
                           surrendered Note;

                  (e)      the cost of obtaining the Private Placement Number
                           referred to in Section 3.7;

                  (f)      all expenses, including attorneys' fees, relating to
                           any amendments or waivers pursuant to the provisions
                           hereof; and

                  (g)      all costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees,
                           incurred by the holder of any Note in enforcing any
                           rights under this Agreement or the Notes or in
                           responding to any subpoena or other legal process
                           issued in connection with this Agreement or the
                           transactions contemplated hereby, including without
                           limitation, costs and expenses incurred in any
                           bankruptcy case.

                  The Company will pay all taxes in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Notes and in connection with any modification of the Notes and
will save you harmless against any and all liabilities with respect to such
taxes. The obligations of the Company under this Section 1.5 shall survive the
payment of the Notes and the termination of this Agreement.

1.6 Other Agreements.

                  Simultaneously herewith the Company is executing separate
agreements (the "Other Agreements") with the other purchasers named in Exhibit A
(the "Other Purchasers") similar in all respects hereto, under which each of the
Other Purchasers agrees to purchase from the Company Notes in the principal
amount set forth opposite its name on Exhibit A and makes the same
representations to the Company as you have made in Section 1.3. The purchase
made by each purchaser is to be a separate purchase from the Company, and each
sale and delivery of Notes to each

<PAGE>
                                       -4-




purchaser is to be a separate sale and delivery by the Company to such
purchaser.

SECTION 2. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS

                  The Company warrants and represents to you that:

2.1 Subsidiaries.

                  Exhibit C to this Agreement correctly identifies (i) each of
the Company's active Subsidiaries (indicating which Subsidiaries are Domestic
Subsidiaries), its Jurisdiction of incorporation and the percentage of its
Voting Stock owned by the Company and each other Subsidiary and (ii) each of the
Company's Affiliates (other than Subsidiaries) which is a corporation or
partnership or which is a holder of 5% or more of the Voting Stock of the
Company and the nature of the affiliation. The Company and each Subsidiary is
the legal and beneficial owner of all of the shares of Voting Stock it purports
to own of each Subsidiary, free and clear in each case of any Lien. All such
shares have been duly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

2.2 Corporate Organization and Authority.

                  The Company, and each Subsidiary,

                  (a)      is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
                           in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction
                           of incorporation,

                  (b)      has all requisite power and authority and all
                           necessary licenses, permits, franchises and other
                           governmental authorizations to own and operate its
                           Properties and to carry on its business as now
                           conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted,
                           and

                  (c)      has duly qualified and is authorized to do business
                           and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each
                           jurisdiction where the character of its Properties or
                           the nature of its activities makes such qualification
                           necessary and where the failure to be so qualified
                           would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
                           or Subsidiary's business or financial position.

<PAGE>
                                      -5-




2.3 Business, Property, Indebtedness and Liens.

                  (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1990 filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and previously delivered to you correctly describes the
general nature of the business and principal Properties of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.

                  (b) Exhibit C correctly lists all outstanding Indebtedness for
borrowed money (including all Capitalized Leases) of, and all Liens (other than
those (x) permitted by clauses (i) - (v) of Section 7.6(a) and (y) those on
Property which individually does not have a fair market value in excess of
$500,000 and which, when aggregated with other Property subject to Liens not
included pursuant to this clause (y), does not have a fair market value in
excess of $2,000,000) on Property of, the Company and its Subsidiaries. Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the
future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its Property,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted
by Section 7.6(a).

2.4 Financial Statements.

                  (a) The consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31 in the years 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989,
and 1990 and the related statements of income, retained earnings and changes in
financial position or cash flows for the fiscal years ended on such dates, all
accompanied by reports thereon containing opinions without qualification, except
as therein noted, by Ernst & Young (or its predecessor, Arthur Young & Company),
independent certified public accountants, and the consolidated balance sheets of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of June 30, 1991 and the
related statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for the 6-month
period then ended, certified by the Company's chief financial officer or chief
accounting officer, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied, and present fairly the financial
position of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and
the results of their operations for such periods.

                  (b) Since December 31, 1990 there have been no materially
adverse changes in the Properties, business, prospects, profits or financial
condition of the Company or the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

<PAGE>
                                      -6-




2.5 Full Disclosure.

                  The financial statements referred to in Section 2.4 do not,
nor does this Agreement or the Private Placement Memorandum contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make the
statements contained therein or herein not misleading. The descriptions set
forth in Exhibit F of certain other written materials which may have been
furnished to you by the Company is correct. There is no agreement, restriction
or other factual matter which the Company has not disclosed to you in writing
which so far as the Company can now reasonably foresee, will have a material
adverse impact on the longterm financial condition or prospects of the Company
and its Subsidiaries or the ability of the Company to perform this Agreement.

2.6 Pending Litigation; Compliance with Law.

                  There are no proceedings or investigations pending, or to the
knowledge of the Company threatened, against or affecting the Company or any
Subsidiary in or before any court, governmental authority or agency or
arbitration board or tribunal which, so far as the Company can now reasonably
foresee, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse impact
on the longterm financial condition or prospects of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, or would impair the ability of the Company to perform this
Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to
any order of any court, governmental authority or agency or arbitration board or
tribunal or in violation of any laws or governmental rules or regulations where,
so far as the Company can now reasonably foresee, such default or violation will
have a material adverse impact on the longterm financial condition or prospects
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or the ability of the Company to perform
this Agreement.

2.7 Title to Properties.

                  Except where the failure to possess good and marketable title
in fee simple or good title, as the case may be, would not have a material
adverse impact on the Company or on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, the Company, and each Subsidiary, has good and marketable title in fee
simple (or its equivalent under applicable law) to all the real Property, and
has good title to all the other Property, it purports to own, including that
reflected in the most recent balance sheet referred to in Section 2.4 (except as
sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business), free from
Liens not permitted by Section 7.6(a).

<PAGE>
                                      -7-




2.8 Patents and Trademarks.

                  The Company, and each Subsidiary, owns or possesses all the
patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and rights
with respect to the foregoing necessary for the present and planned future
conduct of its business, without any conflict with the rights of others known by
Senior Management.

2.9 Sale is Legal and Authorized.

                  The sale of the Notes by the Company and compliance by the
Company and each Subsidiary with all of the provisions of this Agreement and of
the Notes:

                  (a)      have been duly authorized and are within the
                           corporate powers of the Company and each Subsidiary;
                           and

                  (b)      are legal and will not conflict with, constitute a
                           violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien
                           upon any Property of the Company or any Subsidiary
                           under the provisions of, any agreement, charter
                           instrument, by-law or other instrument to which the
                           Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any
                           of them or their respective Properties may be bound.

The Company is not a party to any agreement, or subject to any charter or other
corporate restriction, which restricts its right or ability to incur
Indebtedness, other than this Agreement and the agreements listed on Exhibit C.

2.10 No Defaults.

                  No event has occurred and no condition exists which, upon the
issue of the Notes, would constitute a Default or an Event of Default. The
Company is not in violation (whether or not temporarily waived) of any term of
any charter instrument or by-law and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is
in default under any agreement or other instrument with respect to borrowed
money. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any term of any
other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of
its Property may be bound which violation, individually or in the aggregate with
other violations, will have a materially adverse impact on the longterm business
or prospects of the Company or the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.

<PAGE>
                                       -8-




2.11 Governmental Consent.

                  Neither the nature of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or of
any of their respective businesses or Properties, nor any relationship between
the Company or any Subsidiary and any other Person, nor any circumstance in
connection with the offer, issue, sale or delivery of the Notes or the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement is such as to require a
consent, approval or authorization of, or filing, registration or qualification
with, any governmental authority on the part of the Company or any Subsidiary in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the
offer, issue, sale or delivery of the Notes.

2.12 Taxes.

                  Consolidated Federal income tax returns for the Company and
its Domestic Subsidiaries have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service for
all years up to and including the year ended December 31, 1987. The Company and
each of its Subsidiaries have filed or caused to be filed all Federal, state and
local tax returns which, to the knowledge of Senior Management are required to
be filed and have paid or caused to be paid all taxes as shown on such returns
or on any assessment received by it or by any of them, to the extent that such
taxes have become due, except any such tax or assessment the validity of which
is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to
which the Company or a Subsidiary, as appropriate, has set aside on its books
adequate reserves to the extent the Company or any Subsidiary and a nationally
recognized independent certified public accountant believes such reserves are
necessary. To the extent that the Company in good faith believes is necessary,
the Company and its Subsidiaries have set up reserves which are believed by the
Company to be adequate for the payment of additional taxes. All assessed
deficiencies resulting from examinations by the Internal Revenue Service up to
and including the year ended December 31, 1987 have been discharged, reserved
against or will not impair the Company's ability to repay the Loans.

2.13 Use of Proceeds.

                  The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of the Notes
to refinance outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money. None of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement (including, without limitation
thereof, the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes) will violate or
result in a violation of Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any regulations issued pursuant thereto, including, without

<PAGE>
                                       -9-




limitation, Regulations G, T and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, 12 C.F.R., Chapter II.

2.14 Private Offering.

                  Neither the Company nor Chemical Bank (the only Person
authorized or employed by the Company as agent, broker, dealer or otherwise in
connection with the offering or sale of the Notes or any similar Security of the
Company) has offered any of the Notes or any similar Security of the Company for
sale to, or solicited offers to buy any thereof from, or otherwise approached or
negotiated with respect thereto with, any prospective purchaser, other than the
purchasers of the Notes and not more than twenty-five other institutional
investors, each of whom was offered all or a portion of the Notes at private
sale for investment. The Company agrees that neither the Company nor anyone
acting on its behalf will offer the Notes or any part thereof or any similar
Securities for issue or sale to, or solicit any offer to acquire any of the same
from, anyone so as to bring the issuance and sale of the Notes within the
provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.15 ERISA.

                  (a) Relationship of Vested Benefits to Pension Plan Assets.
The present aggregate value of all benefits vested under all qualified "defined
benefit pension plans", as such term is defined in Section 3 of ERISA,
maintained by the Company and its Related Persons, or in which employees of the
Company or any Related Person are entitled to participate, as from time to time
in effect (herein called the "Pension Plans"), did not, as of January 1, 1990,
the last annual valuation date, exceed the actuarial or market value of the
assets of the Pension Plans allocable to such vested benefits.

                  (b) Prohibited Transactions. Neither the Company or any
Related Person nor any of the Pension Plans nor any trusts created thereunder,
nor any trustee or administrator thereof, has engaged in a "prohibited
transaction", as such term is defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, or described in Section 406 of ERISA, which could
subject the Company, any Related Person, any of the Pension Plans, any such
trust, or any trustee or administrator thereof, or any party dealing with the
Pension Plans or any such trust to the tax or penalty on prohibited transactions
imposed by said Section 4975 or by Section 502(i) of ERISA.

                  (c) Reportable Events. Since December 31, 1986, neither any of
the Pension Plans nor any such trusts have been terminated, nor have there been
any "reportable events", as that

<PAGE>
                                      -10-




term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, since the effective date of ERISA.

                  (d) Accumulated Funding Deficiency. Neither any of the Pension
Plans nor any such trusts have incurred any "accumulated funding deficiency",
as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA (whether or not waived), since
the effective date of ERISA.

SECTION 3. CLOSING CONDITIONS

                  Your obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be
delivered to you at the closing shall be subject to the following conditions
precedent:

3.1 Opinions of Counsel.

                  You shall have received from John E. Besser, Esq., General
Counsel of the Company, and Day, Berry & Howard, your special counsel, the
closing opinions described in Exhibits D and E.

3.2 Warranties and Representations True as of Closing Date.

                  (a) The warranties and representations contained in Section 2
shall (except as affected by transactions contemplated by this Agreement) be
true in all material respects on the Closing Date with the same effect as though
made on and as of that date.

                  (b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall have taken
any action or permitted any condition to exist which would have been prohibited
by Section 7 if such Section had been binding and effective at all times during
the period from December 31, 1990 to and including the Closing Date.

3.3 Compliance with this Agreement.

                  The Company shall have performed and complied with all
agreements and conditions contained herein which are required to be performed or
complied with by the Company before or at the closing.

3.4 Officers' Certificate.

                  You shall have received a certificate dated the Closing Date
and signed by the President or a Vice President and the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer of the Company, certifying that the conditions specified in
Sections 3.2 and 3.3 have been fulfilled.

<PAGE>
                                      -11-




3.5 Proceedings Satisfactory.

                  All proceedings taken in connection with the sale of the Notes
and all documents and papers relating thereto shall be satisfactory to you and
your special counsel. You and your special counsel shall have received copies of
such documents and papers as you or they may reasonably request in connection
therewith or as a basis for your special counsel's closing opinion, all in form
and substance satisfactory to you and your special counsel.

3.6 Sales Under Other Agreements.

                  The Company shall have sold or shall simultaneously sell to
the Other Purchasers pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Other
Agreements (and shall have received or simultaneously receive the purchase price
for) the remainder of the $40,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

3.7 Private Placement Number.

                  The Company shall have obtained from Standard & Poor's
Corporation and provided to you a Private Placement Number for the Notes.

3.8 Legal Investment.

                  Each Note to be purchased by you shall qualify as a legal
investment for life insurance companies under the New York Insurance Law and any
other law applicable to you (other than under any "basket" or leeway provisions
thereof), and the Company shall have delivered to you such officer's
certificates or other evidence as you may request to establish compliance with
this condition.

SECTION 4. DIRECT PAYMENT

                  The Company agrees that, notwithstanding any provision in this
Agreement or the Notes to the contrary, it will pay all sums becoming due to any
institutional holder of Notes in the manner provided in Exhibit A or in any
other reasonable manner as any institutional holder may designate to the Company
in writing (without presentment of or notation on the Notes).

SECTION 5. PREPAYMENTS

5.1 Required Prepayments.

                  (a) In addition to paying the entire remaining principal
amount and interest due on the Notes at

<PAGE>
                                      -12-




maturity, the Company will prepay, and there shall become due and payable,
$3,076,923.08 principal amount of the Notes on March 16 and September 16 in each
year beginning on September 16, 1995 and ending March 16, 2001, inclusive. Each
such prepayment shall be at 100% of the principal amount to be prepaid, together
with interest accrued thereon to the date of prepayment.

                  (b) The acquisition of any Notes by the Company shall not
reduce or otherwise affect its obligation to make any prepayment required by
Section 5.1(a). Upon any exercise by the Company of the prepayment option in
Section 5.2, each remaining scheduled payment of principal shall be reduced on a
pro rata basis to reflect such reduction in outstanding principal amount.

5.2 Option to Prepay.

                  The Company may make optional prepayments to prepay the Notes
in whole or in part, in multiples of $1,000,000, at any time at a price equal to
the greater of (i) the principal amount to be prepaid together with accrued
interest on the principal amount so prepaid to the prepayment date, and (ii) the
Makewhole Price applicable at such time with respect to the amount of the Notes
being prepaid.

5.3 Notice of Optional Prepayment.

                  The Company will give notice of any optional prepayment of the
Notes to each holder of the Notes not less than 10 Business Days nor more than
60 days before the date fixed for prepayment, specifying (a) such date, (b) the
section of this Agreement under which the prepayment is to be made, (c) the
principal amount of the Notes and of such holder's Notes to be prepaid on such
date, and (d) the accrued interest applicable to the prepayment, and setting
forth a detailed calculation of what the Makewhole Price would be if the Notes
were being prepaid on the date of such notice. Notice of prepayment having been
so given, the principal amount of the Notes specified in such notice, together
with the premium, if any, and accrued interest thereon, shall become due and
payable on the prepayment date. The Company will provide a supplemental notice
by courier or facsimile confirmed by telephone to be received by each holder of
the Notes by 2:00 p.m., Hartford, Connecticut time, on the Business Day
immediately preceding the date fixed for prepayment which will set forth a
detailed calculation of the Makewhole Price.

<PAGE>
                                      -13-




5.4 Partial Payment Pro Rata.

                  If there is more than one Note outstanding at any time the
aggregate principal amount of each required or optional partial payment of the
Notes shall be allocated among the outstanding Notes in proportion, as nearly as
practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts of the Notes. For the
purpose of this Section 5.4 only, any Notes reacquired by the Company shall be
deemed to be outstanding.

SECTION 6. REGISTRATION; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES

6.1 Registration of Notes.

                  The Company will cause to be kept at its office maintained
pursuant to Section 7.3, a register for the registration and transfer of the
Notes. The names and addresses of the holders of the Notes, the transfer thereof
and the names and addresses of the transferees of any of the Notes will be
registered in the register. The Person in whose name any Note is registered
shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes of
this Agreement, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge
to the contrary.

6.2 Exchange of Notes.

                  Upon surrender of any Note to the Company at its office
maintained pursuant to Section 7.3, the Company, upon request, will execute and
deliver, at its expense (except as provided below), new Notes in exchange
therefor, in denominations of at least $100,000 (except as may be necessary to
reflect any principal amount not evenly divisible by $100,000), in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the surrendered Note.
Each such new Note (a) shall be payable to such Person as the surrendering
holder may request, and (b) shall be dated and bear interest from the date to
which interest has been paid on the surrendered Note or dated the date of the
surrendered Note if no interest has been paid thereon. The Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental charge
imposed in respect of any transfer.

6.3 Replacement of Notes.

                  Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of any Note and,

<PAGE>
                                      -14-

                  (a)      in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of
                           indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (provided, if
                           the holder of the Note is an institutional investor,
                           its own agreement of indemnity shall be deemed to be
                           satisfactory), or

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

the Company at its expense will execute and deliver a new Note of like tenor,
dated and bearing interest from the date to which interest has been paid on the
lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note or dated the date of such lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest has been paid thereon.

SECTION 7. COMPANY BUSINESS COVENANTS

                  The Company covenants that on and after the date of this
Agreement until the Notes are paid in full:

7.1 Payment of Taxes and Claims.

                  Except in situations where the failure to pay would not result
in a material adverse impact on the Company or the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, the Company, and each Subsidiary, will pay, before they become
delinquent,

                  (a)      all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or
                           levies imposed upon it or its Property, and

                  (b)      all claims or demands of any kind (including but not
                           limited to those of materialmen, mechanics, carriers,
                           warehousemen, landlords and other like Persons)
                           which, if unpaid, might result in the creation of a
                           Lien upon its Property,

provided that items of the foregoing description need not be paid while being
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if and for so long as
book reserves reasonably believed by the Company and independent certified
public accountants of recognized national standing to be adequate have been
established with respect thereto; provided further that notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 7.1, the Company and each Subsidiary will
pay all taxes known by Senior Management to be due and payable no later than
fifteen days after the date such taxes are due.

<PAGE>
                                      -15-




7.2 Maintenance of Properties and Corporate Existence.

                  (a) Except where the failure to do so would not have a
material adverse impact on the Company or the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole, the Company, and each Subsidiary, will:

                           (i)      Property -- maintain its Property in good
                                    condition and make all necessary renewals,
                                    replacements, additions, betterments and
                                    improvements thereto;

                           (ii)     Insurance -- keep its properties adequately
                                    insured at all times, by financially sound
                                    and reputable insurers; maintain such other
                                    insurance, to such extent and against such
                                    risks, including fire and other risks
                                    insured against by extended coverage as is
                                    customary with companies in the same or
                                    similar businesses located or operating in
                                    areas with similar geological conditions;
                                    maintain in full force and effect public
                                    liability insurance against claims for
                                    personal injury or death or property damage
                                    occurring upon, in, about or in connection
                                    with the use of any properties owned,
                                    occupied or controlled by it, in such
                                    amounts as the Company or any Subsidiary, as
                                    the case may be, shall reasonably deem
                                    necessary; and maintain such other insurance
                                    as may be required by law;

                           (iii)    Financial Records -- keep true books of
                                    records and accounts in which full and
                                    correct entries will be made of all its
                                    business transactions, and will reflect in
                                    its financial statements adequate accruals
                                    and appropriations to reserves, all in
                                    accordance with generally accepted
                                    accounting principles, consistently applied;
                                    and

                           (iv)     Corporate Existence and Rights -- do or
                                    cause to be done all things necessary to
                                    preserve and keep in full force and effect
                                    its existence, rights and franchises, except
                                    as otherwise permitted by Section 7.4,
                                    provided, however that the Company may
                                    liquidate or sell any Subsidiary if the
                                    transaction is permitted by Section 7.4.

<PAGE>
                                      -16-

                  (b) Except where the failure to do so would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company and each
Subsidiary will not be in violation of any laws, ordinances, or governmental
rules and regulations to which it is subject and will not fail to maintain any
licenses, permits, franchises or other governmental authorizations necessary to
the ownership of its Properties or to the conduct of its business.

7.3 Maintenance of Office.

                  The Company will maintain an office in the State of
Connecticut where notices, presentations and demands in respect of this
Agreement or the Notes may be made upon it. Such office shall be maintained at
123 Main Street, Bristol, Connecticut 06010 until such time as the Company shall
notify the holders of the Notes of a change of location.

7.4 Sale of Assets or Merger.

                  (a) Sale of Assets -- The Company will not, nor will it permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, except in the ordinary
course of business, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its
Property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, if, as a result of such
sale, lease, transfer or disposition, the aggregate net book value or fair
market value, whichever shall be higher, of all Property and assets sold,
leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Company and its Subsidiaries
in the then current fiscal year of the Company would exceed an amount equal to
10% of the book value (computed in accordance with GAAP) of all Property and
assets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of the
preceding fiscal year.

                  (b) Consolidation, Merger -- The Company will not, nor will it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or
merge into any other corporation, or permit another corporation to merge into
it, provided, however, that (i) any Subsidiary of the Company may be merged into
the Company or another wholly-owned Subsidiary, (ii) the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company may merge or consolidate with another Person or
business, if the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, is the
surviving corporation, (iii) the Company or any Subsidiary may consolidate with
or merge with another Person or business in a transaction where the Company or
Subsidiary is not the surviving entity if (1) the continuing or surviving entity
shall assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this
Agreement and the Notes, (2) the continuing or surviving entity shall not,
immediately after such merger or consolidation, be in default of any of the

<PAGE>
                                      -17-

Company's obligations under this Agreement or the Notes, (3) the continuing or
surviving entity shall be a corporation organized under the laws of the United
States or any state thereof, and (4) after giving effect to such consolidation
or merger, the continuing or surviving entity could incur $1 of additional
Indebtedness under Section 7.7.

7.5 Leases.

                  The Company will not, nor will it permit any of its
Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to incur, create or assume any commitment
to make any direct or indirect payment, whether as rent or otherwise, under any
lease, rental or other arrangement for the use of real or personal Property or
both of any other Person unless (a) after giving effect to such lease the
aggregate rental obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries (exclusive of
obligations to pay taxes and rental increments attributable to escalator
clauses) during any fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equal to 15% of the
book value (computed in accordance with GAAP) of all Properties and assets of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of the preceding fiscal
year or (b) such lease was in existence as of the Closing Date and disclosed on
Schedule I hereto.

7.6 Liens and Encumbrances.

                  (a) Negative Pledge. The Company will not, nor will it permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly incur, create, assume or
permit to exist any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien, charge or other
encumbrance of any nature whatsoever (including conditional sales or other title
retention agreements) on any of its Property or assets, whether owned at the
date hereof or hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to assign, any right to receive income, except:

                           (i)      liens incurred or pledges and deposits made
                                    in connection with workers' compensation,
                                    unemployment insurance, old-age pensions,
                                    social security and public liability and
                                    similar legislation;

                           (ii)     liens securing the performance of bids,
                                    tenders, leases, contracts (other than for
                                    the repayment of borrowed money), statutory
                                    obligations, surety and appeal bonds and
                                    other obligations of like nature, incurred
                                    as an incident to and in the ordinary course
                                    of business; 

<PAGE>
                                      -18-




                           (iii)    statutory liens of landlords and other liens
                                    imposed by law, such as carriers',
                                    warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's
                                    and vendors' liens, incurred in good faith
                                    in the ordinary course of business;

                           (iv)     liens securing the payment of taxes,
                                    assessments and governmental charges or
                                    levies, either (1) not delinquent, or (2)
                                    being contested in good faith by appropriate
                                    proceedings;

                           (v)      zoning restrictions, easements, licenses,
                                    reservations, restrictions on the use of
                                    real property or minor irregularities
                                    incident thereto which do not in the
                                    aggregate materially detract from the value
                                    of the Property or assets of the Company or
                                    such Subsidiary, as the case may be, or
                                    impair the use of such Property in the
                                    operation of its business;

                           (vi)     purchase money liens on real Property or
                                    equipment (which are filed against the real
                                    Property or equipment within 180 days of
                                    purchase) that do not exceed 100% of the
                                    fair market value of the related Property;
                                    and

                           (vii)    other liens, that in the aggregate, do not
                                    exceed 15% of the book value (computed in
                                    accordance with GAAP) of all Properties and
                                    assets of the Company and its Consolidated
                                    Subsidiaries at the end of the preceding
                                    fiscal year.

                  (b) Equal and Ratable Lien: Equitable Lien. In case any
Property is subjected to a Lien in violation of Section 7.6(a), the Company will
make or cause to be made provision whereby the Notes will be secured pursuant to
documents reasonably satisfactory to the holders of at least 51% in outstanding
principal amount of the Notes (exclusive of Notes owned by the Company,
Subsidiaries and Affiliates) equally and ratably with all other obligations
secured thereby, and in any case the Notes shall have the benefit, to the full
extent that, and with such priority as, the holders may be entitled thereto
under applicable law, of an equitable Lien on such Property securing the Notes.
Such violation of Section 7.6(a) shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder,
whether or not any such provision is made pursuant to this Section 7.6(b).

<PAGE>
                                      -19-




7.7 Indebtedness.

                  The Company will not, nor will it permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly incur, create, assume or permit to exist
any Indebtedness other than:

                  (a)      Indebtedness incurred by the Company under the
                           Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement;

                  (b)      Indebtedness incurred by the Company under the Term
                           Loan and Rollover Loan Agreement;

                  (c)      the Notes;

                  (d)      Indebtedness of the Company which constitutes
                           extensions, renewals or replacements on substantially
                           the same terms and conditions (and does not increase
                           the amount outstanding) of (a) through (c) above; and

                  (e)      additional Indebtedness of the Company and its
                           Subsidiaries;

provided, however, that (i) the total Indebtedness of the Company's Subsidiaries
shall not at any time exceed S50 million; (ii) total Indebtedness of the
Company's Domestic Subsidiaries shall not at any time exceed $10 million
(excluding from the calculation thereof for all purposes except compliance with
Section 7.4(b)(4) any pre-existing indebtedness of a newly acquired Domestic
Subsidiary for a period not exceeding 30 days after acquisition of such Domestic
Subsidiary), and (iii) the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of the Company
and its Subsidiaries at any time outstanding shall not exceed an amount equal to
155% of Consolidated Net Worth at such time.

7.8 Net Worth.

                  The Company will not permit Consolidated Net Worth of the
Company and its Subsidiaries at any time to be less than $120 million plus 50%
of Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal year beginning after December 31,
1991 (but without deduction for any fiscal year in which Consolidated Net Income
is a negative amount), with the annual adjustments to be applicable as of
December 31, 1992 and as of the end of each subsequent fiscal year.

<PAGE>
                                      -20-




7.9 ERISA Compliance.

                  Neither the Company nor any Related Person will at any time
permit any Pension Plan maintained by it to:

                           (i)      engage in any "prohibited transaction" as
                                    such term is defined in Section 4975 of the
                                    Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
                                    or described in Section 406 of ERISA;

                           (ii)     incur any "accumulated funding deficiency"
                                    as such term is defined in Section 302 of
                                    ERISA, whether or not waived; or

                           (iii)    terminate under circumstances which could
                                    result in the imposition of a Lien on the
                                    Property of the Company or any Subsidiary
                                    pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA.

7.10 Transactions with Affiliates.

                  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will enter into any
transaction (except transactions which do not in any one calendar year involve
in the aggregate an amount in excess of $500,000), including, without
limitation, the purchase, sale or exchange of Property or the rendering of any
service, with any Affiliate except in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the
reasonable requirements of the Company's or such Subsidiary's business and upon
fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary
than would obtain in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person not an
Affiliate.

7.11 Tax Consolidation.

                  The Company will not file or consent to the filing of any
consolidated income tax return with any Person other than a Subsidiary.

7.12 Acquisition of Notes.

                  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor any Affiliate will,
directly or indirectly, acquire or make any offer to acquire any Notes unless
the Company or such Subsidiary or Affiliate has offered to acquire Notes, pro
rata, from all holders of the Notes and upon the same terms. In case the Company

<PAGE>
                                      -21-




acquires any Notes, such Notes shall thereafter be cancelled and no Notes shall
be issued in substitution therefor.

7.13 Lines of Business.

                  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will engage in any line
of business if as a result thereof the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole would be substantially different from what it was
at December 31, 1990 as described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1990.

SECTION 8. INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY

8.1 Financial and Business Information.

                  The Company will deliver to you, if at the time you or your
nominee holds any Notes (or if you are obligated to purchase any Notes), and to
each other institutional holder of outstanding Notes:

                  (a)      Quarterly Statements - within 60 days after the end
                           of each of the first three quarterly fiscal periods
                           in each fiscal year of the Company, two copies of:

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

                           (ii)     consolidated statements of income, retained
                                    earnings and cash flows of the Company and
                                    its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for that
                                    quarter and (in the case of the second and
                                    third quarters) for the portion of the
                                    fiscal year ending with that quarter,

                           setting forth in each case in comparative form the
                           figures for the corresponding periods in the previous
                           fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified
                           by a principal financial officer of the Company as
                           presenting fairly the financial condition of the
                           companies being reported upon and as having been
                           prepared in accordance with generally accepted
                           accounting principles for interim statements
                           consistently applied;

                  (b)      Annual Statements - within 90 days after the end of
                           each fiscal year of the Company, two copies of:

<PAGE>
                                      -22-




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

                           (ii)     consolidated statements of income, retained
                                    earnings and cash flows of the Company and
                                    its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for that
                                    year,

                           setting forth in each case in comparative form the
                           figures for the previous fiscal year, and accompanied
                           by an opinion of independent certified public
                           accountants of recognized national standing stating
                           that such financial statements fairly present the
                           financial condition of the companies being reported
                           upon and have been prepared in accordance with
                           generally accepted accounting principles consistently
                           applied (except for changes in application in which
                           such accountants concur), and that the examination of
                           such accountants in connection with such financial
                           statements has been made in accordance with generally
                           accepted auditing standards, and which independent
                           auditors' report shall not identify either (A) any
                           departure from the consistent application of
                           generally accepted accounting principles (except for
                           identified changes in application in which such
                           accountants concur), or (B) any tests of the
                           accounting records or other auditing procedures which
                           were considered necessary in the circumstances and
                           which were not performed;

                  (c)      Audit Reports - promptly upon receipt thereof, one
                           copy of each other report submitted to the Company or
                           any Subsidiary by independent accountants in
                           connection with any material interim or special audit
                           made by them of the books of the Company or any
                           material Subsidiary;

                  (d)      SEC and Other Reports - promptly upon their becoming
                           available one copy of each report, notice or proxy
                           statement sent by the Company to stockholders
                           generally, and of each periodic report and any
                           registration statement, filed by the Company with any
                           securities exchange or the Securities and Exchange
                           Commission or any successor agency;

                  (e)      ERISA - as soon as practicable, but in no event later
                           than five days, after a member of Senior Management
                           becoming aware of the occurrence of any

<PAGE>
                                      -23-




                           (i) "reportable event" as such term is defined in
                           Section 4043 of ERISA, or (ii) "accumulated funding
                           deficiency" as such term is defined in Section 302
                           of ERISA, or (iii) "prohibited transaction", as such
                           term is defined in Section 4975 of the Internal
                           Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or described in
                           Section 406 of ERISA, in connection with any Pension
                           Plan or any trust created thereunder, a notice
                           specifying the nature thereof, what action the
                           Company or a Related Person is taking or proposes to
                           take with respect thereto, and, when known, any
                           action taken by the Internal Revenue Service with
                           respect thereto;

                  (f)      Notice of Default or Event of Default - immediately
                           upon becoming aware of the existence of any Default
                           or Event of Default a notice describing its nature
                           and the action the Company is taking with respect
                           thereto;

                  (g)      Notice of Claimed Default - immediately upon becoming
                           aware that the holder of any Note or of any
                           Indebtedness or Security of the Company or any
                           Subsidiary has given notice or taken any other action
                           with respect to a claimed Default or Event of
                           Default, a notice specifying the notice given or
                           action taken by such holder, the nature of the
                           claimed Default or Event of Default and the action
                           the Company is taking with respect thereto;

                  (h)      Report on Proceedings - The Company and each
                           Subsidiary will give each holder of the Notes (a)
                           notice, promptly, of any action, suit or proceeding
                           at law or in equity or by or before any court or
                           other governmental instrumentality or agency (i)
                           which is not fully covered by insurance without the
                           applicability of any co-insurance provisions or with
                           respect to which insurance coverage is being
                           contested and which has not been bonded and in which
                           either the aggregate specified dollar amount of all
                           claims (either as set forth in the complaint, demand
                           letters or other written communications by or on
                           behalf of the plaintiff or as otherwise determined in
                           good faith by the Company or its counsel) against the
                           Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
                           exceeds the amount of any applicable insurance
                           coverage by (x) $1,000,000 for any single proceeding
                           or (y) $5,000,000 in the aggregate during any fiscal
                           year of the Company; provided, however, that after

<PAGE>
                                      -24-




                           giving notice of such claims aggregating at least
                           $5,000,000, notice is only required of subsequent
                           claims made during the same fiscal year which exceed
                           insurance coverage by $500,000 for any single
                           proceeding, or (ii) if the results thereof may have a
                           material adverse effect on the business or condition
                           of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and
                           (b) with respect to any such action, suit or
                           proceeding such documentation as the holder of any
                           Note reasonably requests.

                  (i)      Requested Information - with reasonable promptness,
                           such data and information as from time to time may be
                           reasonably requested.

8.2 Officers' Certificates.

                  Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Section
8.1(a) or 8.1(b) will be accompanied by a certificate of the President or a Vice
President and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company setting
forth:

                  (a)      Covenant Compliance - the information required in
                           order to establish compliance with the requirements
                           of Section 7 during the period covered by the income
                           statements being furnished; and

                  (b)      Event of Default - that the signers have reviewed the
                           relevant terms of this Agreement and have made, or
                           caused to be made, under their supervision, a review
                           of the transactions and condition of the Company and
                           its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the period
                           covered by the income statements being furnished and
                           that the review has not disclosed the existence
                           during such period of any Default or Event of Default
                           or, if any such Default or Event of Default existed
                           or exists, describing its nature and the action the
                           Company has taken with respect thereto.

8.3 Accountants' Certificates.

                  Each set of annual financial statements delivered pursuant to
Section 8.1(b) will be accompanied by a certificate of the accountants who
certify such financial statements, stating that they have reviewed this
Agreement and whether, in making the examination necessary for their
certification of such statements, they have become aware of any Default or Event
of Default, and, if any Default or Event of Default then exists, describing its
nature.

<PAGE>
                                      -25-

8.4 Inspection.

                  The Company will permit your representatives, while you or
your nominee holds any Note, or the representatives of any other institutional
holder of the Notes, at your or such holder's expense, to visit and inspect any
of the Properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, to examine and make copies
and abstracts of all their books of account, records, and other papers, and to
discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective
officers, employees designated by said officers and independent public
accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to
discuss the finances and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries) all at
reasonable times, upon notice to a member of Senior Management (unless there
shall exist a Default or an Event of Default), and as often as may be reasonably
requested. Any visit or inspection made pursuant to this Section 8.4 shall be at
the expense of the holder requesting the same unless, at the time of such visit
or inspection, there shall exist a Default or Event of Default, in which event
the Company shall bear the cost thereof.

SECTION 9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

9.1 Nature of Events.

                An "Event of Default" shall exist if any of the following occurs
and is continuing:

                  (a)      Principal Payments - failure to pay principal on any
                           Note on or before the date such payment is due;

                  (b)      Interest Payments - failure to pay interest on any
                           Note on or before the fifth Business Day following
                           the date such payment is due;

                  (c)      Other Defaults - failure to comply with any other
                           provision of this Agreement, which continues for more
                           than 30 days after it first becomes known to any
                           member of Senior Management of the Company;

                  (d)      Warranties or Representations - any warranty or
                           representation by or on behalf of the Company
                           contained in this Agreement or in any instrument
                           delivered under or in reference to this Agreement is
                           false or misleading in any material respect;

                  (e)      Default on Other Indebtedness - a default or defaults
                           shall have occurred under any other

<PAGE>
                                      -26-




                           Indebtedness or Securities of the Company having a
                           principal or face amount, individually or in the
                           aggregate, in excess of $5,000,000; or any event
                           shall occur or any condition shall exist, the effect
                           of which is to cause (or permit any holder of such
                           Indebtedness or Securities having a principal or face
                           amount, individually or in the aggregate, in excess
                           of $5,000,000, or a trustee to cause) such
                           Indebtedness or Security, or a portion thereof, to
                           become due prior to its stated maturity or prior to
                           its regularly scheduled dates of payment;

                  (f)      Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceedings - a custodian
                           receiver, liquidator or trustee of the Company or of
                           any of its Property, is appointed or takes possession
                           and such appointment or possession remains in effect
                           for more than 30 days; or the Company is adjudicated
                           bankrupt or insolvent; or an order for relief is
                           entered under the Federal Bankruptcy Code against the
                           Company; or any of the Property of the Company is
                           sequestered by court order and the order remains in
                           effect for more than 30 days; or a petition is filed
                           against the Company under any bankruptcy,
                           reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment
                           of debt, dissolution or liquidation law of any
                           jurisdiction, whether now or hereafter in effect, and
                           is not dismissed within 30 days after filing;

                  (g)      Voluntary Petitions - the Company files a petition in
                           voluntary bankruptcy or seeking relief under any
                           provision of any bankruptcy, reorganization,
                           arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt,
                           dissolution or liquidation law of any jurisdiction,
                           whether now or hereafter in effect, or consents to
                           the filing of any petition against it under any such
                           law;

                  (h)      Assignments for Benefit of Creditors, etc. - the
                           Company makes an assignment for the benefit of its
                           creditors, or generally fails to pay its debts as
                           they become due, or consents to the appointment of or
                           taking possession by a custodian, receiver,
                           liquidator or trustee of the Company or of all or any
                           part of the Property of the Company; or

                  (i)      Undischarged Final Judgments - final judgment or
                           judgments which are not subject to appeal for the
                           payment of money aggregating in excess of

<PAGE>
                                      -27-




                           $5,000,000 is or are outstanding against one or more
                           of the Company and its Subsidiaries and any one of
                           such Judgments (x) has not been stayed or paid on the
                           date it is finally due and payable or (y) has
                           resulted in the attachment of a Lien on any Property
                           of the Company or any Subsidiary.

9.2 Default Remedies.

                  (a) If an Event of Default described in Section 9.1(f) or
9.1(g) occurs, the entire outstanding principal amount of the Notes shall
automatically become due and payable, without the taking of any action on the
part of any holder of the Notes or any other Person and without the giving of
any notice with respect thereto. If an Event of Default described in Section
9.1(a) or 9.1(b) exists, any holder of Notes may, at its option, exercise any
right, power or remedy permitted by law, including but not limited to the right
by notice to the Company to declare the Notes held by such holder to be
immediately due and payable. If any other Event of Default exists, the holder or
holders of at least 51% in outstanding principal amount of the Notes (exclusive
of Notes owned by the Company, Subsidiaries and Affiliates) may exercise any
right, power or remedy permitted by law, including but not limited to the right
by notice to the Company to declare all the outstanding Notes immediately due
and payable. Upon any such acceleration the principal of the Notes declared due
or automatically becoming due shall be immediately payable together with all
interest accrued thereon without any presentment, demand, protest or other
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, and the Company
will immediately pay the greater of (x) the principal of and interest accrued on
such Notes and (y) the Makewhole Price applicable at such time to such Notes;
provided that the Makewhole Price shall not be applicable upon any such
declaration if the only Event of Default existing at such time is the Event of
Default described in Section 9.1(f).

                  (b) No course of dealing or delay or failure on the part of
any holder of the Notes to exercise any right shall operate as a waiver of such
right or otherwise prejudice such holder's rights, powers and remedies. The
Company will pay or reimburse the holders of the Notes, to the extent permitted
by law, for all costs and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable
attorneys' fees, incurred by them in collecting any sums due on the Notes or in
otherwise enforcing any of their rights.

9.3 Annulment of Acceleration of Notes.

                  If a declaration is made pursuant to Section 9.2(a), the
holders of at least 51% of the outstanding principal amount

<PAGE>
                                      -28-




of the Notes may annul such declaration and the consequences thereof if no
judgment or decree has been entered for the payment of any monies due pursuant
to such declaration and if all sums payable under the Notes and this Agreement
(except principal, interest or premium which has become due solely by reason of
such declaration) have been duly paid. No such annulment shall extend to or
waive any subsequent Default or Event of Default.

SECTION 10. INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT

10.1 Terms Defined.

                  As used in this Agreement (including Exhibits), the following
terms have the respective meanings set forth below or in the Section indicated:

                  Affiliate - a Person other than a Subsidiary (1) which
directly or indirectly controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control
with, the Company, (2) which owns 5% or more of the Voting Stock of the Company
or (3) 5% or more of the Voting Stock (or in the case of a Person which is not a
corporation, 5% or more of the equity interest) of which is owned by the Company
or a Subsidiary. The term "control" means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.

                  Business Day - any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
national, Connecticut or New York holiday.

                  Capitalized Lease - any lease which is shown or is required to
be shown in accordance with GAAP as a liability on a balance sheet of the lessee
thereunder.

                  Closing Date - Section 1.2

                  Consolidated Net Income - the consolidated net income of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for any period as determined in accordance with
GAAP.

                  Consolidated Net Worth - shall mean the assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries less the liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
each as shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, plus any negative (less any positive)
foreign currency translation adjustments shown in the equity section of such a
consolidated balance sheet pursuant to FAS 52, plus any amount shown on such a
consolidated balance sheet in the equity contra account arising from the
Guaranty.

<PAGE>
                                      -29-

                  Consolidated Subsidiary - shall mean any Subsidiary the
accounts of which shall at the time in question be consolidated with the
Company.

                  Default - an event or condition which will, with the lapse of
time or the giving of notice or both, become an Event of Default.

                  Domestic Subsidiary - shall mean a Subsidiary incorporated in
the United States.

                  ERISA - means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time.

                  Event of Default - Section 9.1

                  GAAP - means generally accepted accounting principles which
are consistent with the principles promulgated or adopted by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board and its predecessors; provided, however, that such
principles shall be applied without giving effect to FAS 106.

                  Guaranty - means the Company's obligations as guarantor under
a certain Guaranty Agreement, effective as of July 28, 1989, from the Company to
The Connecticut National Bank and National Bank of Detroit.

                  Indebtedness - with respect to any Person, means, without
duplication, (a) all debt arising from borrowed money and similar monetary
obligations, whether direct or indirect; (b) all indebtedness of others secured
by any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien, charge, or other encumbrance
existing on Property owned by the Company or any Subsidiary or acquired by the
Company or any Subsidiary subject thereto, whether or not the Indebtedness
secured thereby shall have been assumed; (c) all guarantees, endorsements and
other contingent obligations, in respect of Indebtedness of others, including
(x) any obligation to supply funds to or in any manner to invest in, directly or
indirectly, the debtor, to purchase Indebtedness, or to assure the owner of
Indebtedness against loss, through an agreement to purchase goods, supplies, or
services for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of the
Indebtedness held by such owner or otherwise and (y) any obligation of any
partnership in which the Company or any Subsidiary is a general partner; and (d)
the obligations to reimburse the issuer in respect of any letters of credit.
Indebtedness shall not include the indebtedness of (i) a Subsidiary of the
Company to the Company or to another Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) the
Company to a Subsidiary of the

<PAGE>
                                      -30-




Company; provided, however, that in the case of debt of a Subsidiary not wholly
owned by the Company and/or another Subsidiary, Indebtedness shall include a
percentage of such indebtedness equal to the percentage of the total minority
ownership.

                  Lien - any mortgage, lien, charge, security interest or other
encumbrance of any kind upon any Property or assets of any character, or upon
the income or profits therefrom, any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, device or arrangement (including Capitalized Leases), or any sale
assignment, pledge or other transfer for security of any accounts, general
intangibles or chattel paper, with or without recourse.

                  Makewhole Price - with respect to full or partial optional
prepayments of the Notes pursuant to Section 5.2 or repayment of Notes which
have become or been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to Section
9.2, the present value of all scheduled payments of principal and interest in
respect of the Notes (or portions thereof being prepaid) which, but for such
optional prepayment or required repayment, would be required to be made
following the date of the proposed prepayment or the date on which such Notes
became or are declared due and payable, determined by discounting (on a
semi-annual basis), at a rate which is equal to the Treasury Constant Yield at
such time plus .50%, the amount of each such payment (or portion thereof) from
the date such payment would be required to be made to the prepayment or
repayment date.

                  Notes - Section 1.1.

                  Other Agreements - Section 1.6.

                  Other Purchasers - Section 1.6.

                  Pension Plans - Section 2.15(a).

                  Person - shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

                  Property - any interest in any kind of property or asset,
whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

                  Related Person - any Person (whether or not incorporated)
which is under common control with the Company

<PAGE>
                                      -31-




within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or of Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

                  Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement - means the
$100,000,000 Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of December 15,
1988 among the Company, The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company, N.A., as Agent,
and the banks signatory thereto.

                  Security - shall have the same meaning as in Section 2(1) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                  Senior Management - shall mean any of the following officers
of the Company: President, any Group Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer or General Counsel.

                  Subsidiary - of a Person shall mean any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding
stock having by its terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board
of directors of such corporation, or other business entity (irrespective of
whether at the time stock of any other class or classes of such corporation
shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any
contingency) is at the time owned directly or indirectly by such Person.

                  Term Loan and Rollover Loan Agreement - means the Term Loan
Agreement dated October 17, 1986 between the Company and Mellon Bank, N.A.

                  Treasury Constant Yield - at any time with respect to any
optional prepayment of the Notes pursuant to Section 5.2 or repayment of Notes
which have been declared or become immediately due and payable pursuant to
Section 9.2, means the yield to maturity at such time of United States Treasury
obligations with a remaining life to maturity (as compiled by and published in
the most recently published issue of the United States Federal Reserve Bulletin
or its successor publication) most nearly equal to the Weighted Average Life to
Maturity of the Notes (or portions thereof) to be prepaid or repaid at the time.
If there are United States Treasury obligations listed in such publication with
a remaining life to maturity equal to the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of
the Notes (or portions thereof), then the yield on such Treasury obligations
shall be the Treasury Constant Yield. If no such Treasury obligation exists,
then the Treasury obligation with the remaining life to maturity closest to and
greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Notes (or portions
thereof) to be prepaid or repaid shall be used, along with the Treasury
obligation with a remaining life to maturity closest to and less than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Notes being prepaid or repaid

<PAGE>
                                      -32-




(or portions thereof) in order to calculate the Treasury Constant Yield. In this
event these two Treasury obligations will be examined together and the Treasury
Constant Yield will be calculated through interpolation of the yields on such
Treasury obligations.

                  Weighted Average Life to Maturity - of the Notes or any
portion thereof, at the time of the determination thereof, means the number of
years obtained by dividing the then Remaining Dollar-years of such Notes or
portion thereof by the then outstanding principal amount of such Notes or
portion thereof. The term "Remaining Dollar-years" of any indebtedness for
borrowed money means the amount obtained by (1) multiplying (A) the amount of
each then remaining required repayment or redemption (including repayment or
redemption at final maturity) by (B) the number of years (calculated at the
nearest one-twelfth) which will elapse between the date as of which the
calculation is made and the date that such required repayment is due and (2)
totaling all the products obtained in (1).

10.2 Accounting Principles.

                  Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or
item of income or expense is required to be determined or any consolidation or
other accounting computation is required to be made under this Agreement, this
shall be done in accordance with GAAP.

10.3 Directly or Indirectly.

                  Where any provision in this Agreement refers to any action
which a Person is prohibited from taking, the provision shall be applicable
whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person, including
actions taken by or on behalf of any partnership in which such Person is a
general partner and all liabilities of such partnerships shall be considered
liabilities of such Person for purposes of this Agreement.

10.4 Governing Law.

                  This Agreement and the Notes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with Connecticut law.

<PAGE>
                                      -33-




SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS

11.1 Notices.

         (a) All notices or other communications under this Agreement or the
Notes shall be in writing and shall be mailed by first class mail, postage
prepaid,

(i)      if to you, in the manner provided in Exhibit A to this Agreement, or in
         any other manner as you may have advised the Company in writing, or

(ii)     if to the Company, at its address shown at the beginning of this
         Agreement, or at such other address as it may have furnished in writing
         to you and all other holders of the Notes.

         (b) Any notice so addressed and mailed by registered or certified mail
shall be deemed to be given when so mailed.

11.2 Reproduction of Documents.

         This Agreement and all documents relating thereto, including, without
limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications which may hereafter be
executed, (b) documents received by you at the closing of your purchase of the
Notes (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, micro-card,
miniature photographic or other similar process and you may destroy any original
document so reproduced. The Company agrees and stipulates that any such
reproduction shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, 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 that any
enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall
likewise be admissible in evidence.

11.3 Survival.

         All warranties, representations, and covenants made by the Company
herein or on any certificate or other instrument delivered by it or on its
behalf pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be considered to have been
relied upon by you and shall survive the delivery to you of the Notes regardless
of any investigation made by you or on your behalf. All statements

<PAGE>
                                      -34-


in any such certificate or other instrument shall constitute warranties and
representations by the Company hereunder.

11.4 Successors and Assigns.

                This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the successors and assigns of each of the parties, except that the Company's
right to require you to purchase the Notes in accordance with Section 1.2 shall
be personal to the Company and shall not be assignable or transferable to any
other Person (including successors at law) whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be for the benefit of all
holders, from time to time, of the Notes, and shall be enforceable by any
holder, whether or not an express assignment to such holder of rights under this
Agreement has been made by you or your successor or assign.

11.5 Amendment and Waiver.

                This Agreement may be amended, and the observance of any term of
this Agreement may be waived, with (and only with) the written consent of the
Company and the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding principal amount
of the Notes (exclusive of Notes owned by the Company, Subsidiaries and
Affiliates); provided that no such amendment or waiver of any of the provisions
of Sections 1 through 4 shall be effective as to you unless consented to by you
in writing; and provided further, that no such amendment or waiver shall,
without the written consent of the holders of all the outstanding Notes, (i)
subject to Section 9.3, change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment
of principal or premium or the rate or time of payment of interest, (ii) amend
Section 9, or (iii) amend this Section 11.5. Executed or true and correct copies
of any amendment or waiver effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section
11.5 shall be delivered by the Company to each holder of outstanding Notes
promptly following the date on which the same shall become effective. No such
amendment or waiver shall extend to or affect any provision or obligation not
expressly amended or waived.

<PAGE>
11.6 Duplicate Originals.

                Two or more duplicate originals of this Agreement may be signed
by the parties, each of which shall be an original but all of which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                If this Agreement is satisfactory to you, please so indicate by
signing the acceptance at the foot of a counterpart of this Agreement and return
such counterpart to the Company, whereupon this Agreement will become binding
between us in accordance with its terms.

                                                 Very truly yours,

                                                 BARNES GROUP INC.

                                                 By /s/ A. S. Wells
                                                    ----------------------------
Accepted:

THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY

By /s/ Robert M. Mills
   ---------------------------------
Title: Assistant Investment Officer

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                     PAGE 1 of 6

         This Exhibit to the foregoing Agreement sets forth registration, money
transfer and notice instructions for each purchaser.

Purchaser                     Registration                  Principal Amount
- ---------                     ------------                  ----------------

The Travelers Insurance         TRAL & CO.                     $20,500,000
    Company

In the case of all payments on account of the Notes in accordance with Section
4.1, by:



         (a)      crediting (in the form of federal funds bank wire transfer):

                          The Travelers Insurance Company -
                            Consolidated Private Placement
                            Account No. 910-2-587434
                          The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                          One Chase Manhattan Plaza
                          New York, New York 10081
                          ABA No. 021000021

                  and

         (b)      providing sufficient information with such wire transfer to
                  identify the source and application of such funds including
                  the Company's name, the maturity date of the Notes, the
                  applicable interest rate and identification of the amounts to
                  be applied to the payment of principal, premium and interest,
                  respectively;

         with a notice of any such payment (and all other notices
                     in respect of payment) to:

                  The Travelers Insurance Company
                  One Tower Square
                  Hartford, Connecticut 06183-2030
                  Attn: Securities Department - Cashier, 6 PB

         In the case of all other communications:

                 The Travelers Insurance Company
                 One Tower Square
                 Hartford, Connecticut 06115
                 Attn: Securities Department - Capital Finance
                       Division, 9 PB

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                     PAGE 2 of 6


Purchaser                     Registration                  Principal Amount
- ---------                     ------------                  ----------------

The Travelers Indemnity        DUBY & CO.                   $4,000,000
    Company

In the case of all payments on account of the Notes in
               accordance with Section 4.1, by:


         (a)      crediting (in the form of federal funds bank wire transfer):

                  The Travelers Insurance Company -
                     Consolidated Private Placement
                     Account No. 910-2-587434
                  The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                  One Chase Manhattan Plaza
                  New York, New York 10081
                  ABA No. 021000021

          and

         (b)      providing sufficient information with such wire transfer to
                  identify the source and application of such funds including
                  the Company's name, the maturity date of the Notes, the
                  applicable interest rate and identification of the amounts to
                  be applied to the payment of principal, premium and interest,
                  respectively;

         with a notice of any such payment (and all other notices in respect of
                  payment) to:

                  The Travelers Indemnity Company
                  One Tower Square
                  Hartford, Connecticut 06183-2030
                  Attn: Securities Department - Cashier, 6 PB

In the case of all other communications:

                  The Travelers Indemnity Company
                  One Tower Square
                  Hartford, Connecticut 06115
                  Attn: Securities Department - Capital Finance
                        Division, 9 PB

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                     PAGE 3 of 6

Purchaser                     Registration             Principal Amount
- ---------                     ------------             ----------------
The Travelers Indemnity        EFAM & CO.                 $500,000
  Company of Rhode Island

In the case of all payments on account of the Notes in accordance with Section
                  4.1, by:

         (a)      crediting (in the form of federal funds bank wire transfer):

                  The Travelers Insurance Company -
                    Consolidated Private Placement
                    Account No. 910-2-587434
                  The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
                  One Chase Manhattan Plaza
                  New York, New York 10081
                  ABA No. 021000021

                  and

         (b)      providing sufficient information with such wire transfer to
                  identify the source and application of such funds including
                  the Company's name, the maturity date of the Notes, the
                  applicable interest rate and identification of the amounts to
                  be applied to the payment of principal, premium and interest,
                  respectively;

        with a notice of any such payment (and all other notices
                  in respect of payment) to:

                  The Travelers Indemnity Company of Rhode Island
                  One Tower Square
                  Hartford, Connecticut 06183-2030
                  Attn: Securities Department - Cashier, 6 PB

In the case of all other communications:

                  The Travelers Indemnity Company of Rhode Island
                  One Tower Square
                  Hartford, Connecticut 06115
                  Attn: Securities Department - Capital Finance
                        Division, 9 PB

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                     PAGE 4 of 6

Purchaser               Registration              Principal Amount
- ---------               ------------              ----------------
Allstate Life           Allstate Life
  Insurance Company        Insurance Company          $5,000,000

        In the case of all payments on account of the
                    Notes in accordance with Section 4.1, by:

         (a)      crediting (in the form of federal funds bank wire transfer):

                  Allstate Life Insurance Company -
                       Custody Account No. 23-80524
                  Harris Trust and Savings Bank (ABA No. 0710-0028-8)
                  Chicago, IL 60690
                     Attention: Trust Collection Department - 5C
                  and

         (b)      providing sufficient information with such wire transfer to
                  identify the source and application of such funds including
                  the Company's name, the private placement number, the maturity
                  date of the Notes, the applicable interest rate and
                  identification of the amounts to be applied to the payment of
                  principal, premium and interest, respectively;

         with a notice of any such payment (and all other notices in
                  respect of payment) to:

                  Allstate Life Insurance Company
                  Allstate Plaza West
                  Northbrook, IL 60062
                    Attention: Investment Department --
                    Private Placements Division J2A

         (c)      deliver securities to:

                  Harris Trust and Savings Bank
                  111 West Monroe Street
                  Master Trust Department, 5W
                  Chicago, IL 60690
                       Attention: Timothy Cummins
                  for Allstate Life Insurance Company
                  Custody Account No. 23-80524

         In the case of all other communications:

                  Allstate Life Insurance Company
                  Allstate Plaza West
                  Northbrook, IL 60062
                    Attention: Investment Department --
                    Private Placements Division J2A

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                     PAGE 5 of 6

Purchaser                Registration                       Principal Amount
- ---------                ------------                       ----------------

Allstate Life            Allstate Life
    Insurance Company        Insurance Company                   $5,000,000

In the case of all payments on account of the Notes in
                        accordance with Section 4.1, by:

         (a)      crediting (in the form of federal funds bank wire transfer):
                  Allstate Life Insurance Company -
                         Custody Account No. 23-83531
                  Harris Trust and Savings Bank (ABA No. 0710-0028-8)
                  Chicago, IL 60690

                         Attention: Trust Collection Department - 5C
                  and

         (b)      providing sufficient information with such wire transfer to
                  identify the source and application of such funds including
                  the Company's name, the private placement number, the maturity
                  date of the Notes, the applicable interest rate and
                  identification of the amounts to be applied to the payment of
                  principal, premium and interest, respectively;

         with a notice of any such payment (and all other notices
                           in respect of payment) to:

                  Allstate Life Insurance Company
                  Allstate Plaza West
                  Northbrook, IL 60062
                       Attention: Investment Department --
                       Private Placements Division J2A

         (c)      deliver securities to:

                  Harris Trust and Savings Bank
                  111 West Monroe Street
                  Master Trust Department, 5W
                  Chicago, IL 60690
                         Attention: Timothy Cummins
                  for Allstate Life Insurance Company
                  Custody Account No. 23-83531

In the case of all other communications:

                  Allstate Life Insurance Company
                  Allstate Plaza West
                  Northbrook, IL 60062
                            Attention: Investment Department --
                            Private Placements Division J2A

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                     PAGE 6 of 6

Purchaser                      Registration                     Principal Amount
- ---------                      ------------                     ----------------

Aid Association                Aid Association                    $5,000,000
  for Lutherans                  for Lutherans



In the case of all payments on account of the Notes in accordance with Section
4.1, by:




         (a)      crediting (in the form of federal funds bank wire transfer):

                  Aid Association for Lutherans
                  Account No. 164-096-0
                  Harris Trust and Savings Bank
                  111 West Monroe Street
                  Chicago, IL 60690
                  ABA No. 071 000 288

                  and

         (b)      providing sufficient information with such wire transfer to
                  identify the source and application of such funds including
                  the Company's name, the maturity date of the Notes, the
                  applicable interest rate and identification of the amounts to
                  be applied to the payment of principal, premium and interest,
                  respectively;

        with a notice of any such payment (and all other notices
                  in respect of payment) to:

                  Aid Association for Lutherans
                  4321 North Ballard Road
                  Appleton, WI 54919
                       Attention: Investment Accounting

In the case of all other communications:

                  Aid Association for Lutherans
                  4321 North Ballard Road
                  Appleton, WI 54919
                       Attention: Investment Department

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                               BARNES GROUP INC.

                    9.47% Senior Note due September 16, 2001

$                                                          Hartford, Connecticut

                                                                            , 19

                Barnes Group Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, for
value received, hereby promises to pay to or registered assigns the principal
sum of ______ Dollars ($______) on September 16, 2001; and to pay interest
(computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) on the unpaid
principal balance hereof from the date of this Note at the rate of 9.47% per
annum, semi-annually on the sixteenth day of March and the sixteenth day of
September in each year, commencing with the payment date next succeeding the
date hereof, until the principal amount hereof shall become due and payable; and
to pay on demand interest on any overdue principal (including any overdue
prepayment of principal) and premium, if any, and (to the extent permitted by
applicable law) on any overdue payment of interest, at a fluctuating rate per
annum, to be adjusted daily, equal to the greater of (a) the rate announced
publicly by Citibank, N.A. in New York, New York from time to time as its prime
rate and (b) 11.47% per annum (but in no event higher than the maximum rate
permitted by law).

                Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be
made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of
payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, by check
mailed and addressed to the registered holder hereof at the address shown in the
register maintained by the Company for such purpose, or, at the option of the
holder hereof, in such manner and at such other place in the United States of
America as the holder hereof shall have designated to the Company in writing.

                This Note is one of an issue of Senior Notes of the Company
issued in an aggregate principal amount limited to $40,000,000 pursuant to the
Company's Note Agreements with The Travelers Insurance Company, The Travelers
Indemnity Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company of Rhode Island, Allstate
Life Insurance Company and Aid Association for Lutherans, respectively dated as
of September 16, 1991, and is entitled to the benefits thereof. As provided in
such Agreements, this Note is subject to prepayment, in whole or in part, in
certain cases without premium and in other cases with a premium as specified in
said Agreements. The Company agrees to make required prepayments on

<PAGE>
                                      -2-


account of said Notes in accordance with the provisions of said Agreements.

                This Note is a registered Note and is transferable only by
surrender thereof at the principal office of the Company in Bristol,
Connecticut, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer
duly executed by the registered holder of this Note or his attorney duly
authorized in writing.

                Under certain circumstances, as specified in said Agreement, the
principal of this Note may be declared due and payable in the manner and with
the effect provided in said Agreements.

                This Note and said Agreements are governed by and construed in
accordance with Connecticut law.


                                                  BARNES GROUP INC.

(Corporate Seal)



                                                By__________________

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT C


 I.      THE COMPANY'S ACTIVE SUBSIDIARIES, EACH OF WHICH HAS ONLY A SINGLE
         CLASS OF STOCK OUTSTANDING, ARE AS FOLLOWS:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Percentage of Voting
                                                                            Stock* Owned by Company
                                           Jurisdiction of                      and each other
 Name of Subsidiary                        Incorporation                        Subsidiary**
 ------------------                        -------------                    -----------------------
<S>                                        <C>                                        <C>
 Associated Spring-                        Singapore                                  100%
     Asia PTE. LTD.
 Associated Spring                         United Kingdom                             Note 1
     SPEC Limited
 Autoliaisons France                       France                                     100%
      S.A.
 Barnes Group Canada                       Canada                                     100%
      Inc.
 Motalink Limited                          United Kingdom                             100%
 Resortes Industriales                     Mexico                                     100%
      del Norte, S.A.
 Resortes Mecanicos,                       Mexico                                     100%
     S.A.
 Stumpp & Scheule                          Brazil                                     100%
      Distribuidora Ltda.
 Stumpp & Scheule do                       Brazil                                     100%
     Brasil Industria e
     Comercio Limitada
Windsor Airmotive Asia                     Singapore                                  Note 2 
     PTD. LTD.

</TABLE>

 Note 1 - Associated Spring SPEC Limited is wholly owned by Motalink Limited.

 Note 2 - Windsor Airmotive Asia PET. LTD. is wholly owned by Barnes Group
          Canada Inc.

  *Other than directors' qualifying shares.
 **If Subsidiary, specify name and extent of ownership.

<PAGE>
                                      -2-
II.  AFFILIATES





         The Company's Affiliates, other than Subsidiaries, are as follows:


                                 Jurisdiction of        Nature and Extent
  Name of Affiliate              Incorporation          of Affiliation


 a)  NHK-Associated Spring         Delaware               45% of Voting
     Suspension Components Inc.                           Stock Owned by
                                                          Company

 b) Carlyle F. Barnes                                     Have beneficial
    Wallace Barnes                                        ownership of more than
    Fleet Bank of Connecticut                             5% of the Company's
    State Street Bank & Trust Company                     stock as determined
      (in its capacity as Trustee for the                 under Rule 13d-3 of
      Company's Guaranteed Stock Plan)                    the Securities
                                                          Exchange Act of 1934.










<PAGE>
                                       -3-

III. DESCRIPTION OF INDEBTEDNESS


               (A) The Indebtedness for borrowed money (including
Financing Leases) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 1991 is as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Description                                                                                 Amount
       -----------                                                                                 ------
<S>                                                <C>                                         <C>

 1)    Term Loan Agreement                         Mellon Bank, N.A.                           $ 20,000,000.00

 2)    Revolving Credit and                        Fleet Bank, N.A.                            $ 50,000,000.00
       Term Loan Agreement                         as agent

 3)    Industrial Revenue                          Comerica Bank, N.A.                         $  7,000,000.00
       Bond, Saline, MI                            Trustee

 4)    Industrial Revenue                          Mellon Bank, N.A.                           $  2,000,000.00
       Bond, Meridian, MS                          Trustee

 5)    Short Term Credit Line                      Various                                     $ 33,000,0O0.00

 6)    Bank Overdraft                              Various                                     $    481,000.00

 7)    Guaranty Agreement                          Mellon Bank, N.A.                           $  2,000,000.00

 8)    Letter of Credit                            Fuji Bank, Ltd.                             $  7,394,000.00

 9)    NASCO Guaranty                              LTCB Trust Co.                              $  3,780,000.00

 10)   NASCO Guaranty                              Tohlease Corp.                              $  3,891,000.00

 11)   NASCO Guaranty                              LTCB Trust Co.                              $  5,930,000.00

 12)   NASCO Guaranty                              LTCB Trust Co.                              $  1,350,000.00

 13)   ESOP Guaranty                               Ct. National Bank                           $ 18,403,000.00
                                                   Nat. Bank Detroit

 14)   Standby L/C                                 Connecticut National                        $  5,694,000.00
       (Insurance)                                 Bank

 15)   Commercial L/C                              Fleet Bank, N.A.                            $    400,000.00

 16)   Company Guaranty                            Various                                     $    100,000.00

 17)   Standby L/C (Gardena)                       Connecticut National                        $    347,000.00
                                                   Bank
</TABLE>

 Total Debt: $152,770,000. Total excludes duplication items listed:
#3) Industrial Revenue Bond, Saline, $7,000,000.00.
#7) Guaranty Agreement, Meridian, $2,000,000.00.

<PAGE>
                                      -4-


                 (B) Agreement Restricting the Company's Ability to Incur
Indebtedness

 1.  Term Loan Agreement, Mellon Bank, N.A., dated October 17, 1986;

 2.  Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, Fleet Bank N.A., agent, dated
     December 15, 1988;


 3.  Reimbursement Agreement, Fuji Bank Limited, New York Branch, dated 
     February 1, 1986;

 4.  Guarantee Agreement, Connecticut National Bank and National Bank of
     Detroit, dated July 28, 1989;

 5.  Interest Rate Swap Agreement, Fleet Bank, N.A., dated August 28, 1989;

 6.  Interest Rate Swap Agreement, Chemical Bank, N.A., dated September 16,
     1991;

 7.  Interest Rate Exchange Agreement, Mellon Bank, N.A., dated October 17,
     1986;

 8.  Barnes Group Inc. Company Resolution, Barnes Group Inc., dated April 14,
     1990.


IV. LIENS ON PROPERTY

         Liens existing as of September 16, 1991 (other than Liens of the types
permitted by clauses (i) through (v) of Section 7.6(a)) on any Property of the
Company and its Subsidiaries which has a cost or market value greater than
$500,000 are as follows:

 a.  Capitalized lease between Barnes Group and City of Meridian, Mississippi,
     dated as of July 1, 1985.

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT D
                DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY COUNSEL'S CLOSING OPINION

         The closing opinion of John E. Besser, Esq., Counsel of the Company,
which is called for by Section 3.1, shall be dated the Closing Date and
addressed to you, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to you, and shall
be to the effect that:

                  (1) Organization, Standing, etc. of the Company--the Company
         is a duly incorporated and validly existing corporation in good
         standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
         power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Notes and to carry
         on its business and own its Property;

                  (2) Organization, Standing, etc. of Subsidiaries--each
         Subsidiary is a duly incorporated and validly existing corporation in
         good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and
         has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its
         business and own its Property;

                  (3) Authority to Conduct Business--the Company, and each
         Subsidiary, is duly authorized to conduct its business in each
         jurisdiction in which it operates and has duly qualified and is in good
         standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the
         character of its Properties or the nature of its activities makes such
         qualification necessary or desirable;

                  (4) Agreement, Notes--the Agreement and the Notes being
         delivered to you at the closing have been duly authorized by all
         necessary corporate action on the part of the Company (no action by the
         stockholders of the Company being required by law, by the Certificate
         of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or otherwise), have been
         duly executed and delivered by the Company, and are legal, valid and
         binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their
         terms except as enforcement of such terms may be limited by bankruptcy,
         insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
         rights generally or by general equitable principles;

                  (5) No Conflict with Charter, By-Laws or Other Agreements--the
         issue and sale of the Notes and compliance by the Company with the
         terms of the Notes and the Agreement will not conflict with, or result
         in any breach of any of the provisions of, or constitute a default
         under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of
         the Property of the Company pursuant to the provisions of, the
         Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company, or any
         agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a party or by
         which it is bound;

<PAGE>
                                      -2-


                  (6) Title to Stock of Subsidiaries--the Company is the legal
         and beneficial owner of all of the shares it purports to own of the
         capital stock of each Subsidiary, free and clear in each case of any
         Lien and all such shares have been duly issued and are fully paid and
         non-assessable;

                  (7) Governmental Consent, etc.--all consents, approvals or
         authorizations, if any, of any governmental authority required on the
         part of the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of
         the Agreement or the offer, issue, sale or delivery of the Notes to you
         have been duly obtained, and the Company has complied with any
         applicable provisions of law requiring any designation, declaration,
         filing, registration or qualification with any governmental authority
         in connection with such offer, issue, sale or delivery;

                  (8) Margin Requirements--none of the transactions contemplated
         in the Agreement (including, without limitation thereof, the use of the
         proceeds from the sale of the Notes) will violate or result in a
         violation of Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
         amended, or any regulations issued pursuant thereto, including, without
         limitation, Regulations G, T and X of the Board of Governors of the
         Federal Reserve System, 12 C.F.R., Chapter II; and

                  (9) Exempted Offering--the issuance, sale and delivery of the
         Notes under the circumstances contemplated by the Agreement are
         exempted transactions under the registration provisions of the
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and do not, under existing law,
         require the registration of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933,
         as amended, or qualification of an indenture under the Trust Indenture
         Act of 1939.

                  (10) Litigation--there is no action, suit or proceeding at law
         or in equity or any investigation pending, or to the best knowledge of
         such counsel threatened, against or affecting the Company or any
         Subsidiary in or before any court, governmental authority or agency or
         arbitration board or tribunal which, individually or in the aggregate
         will have a material adverse impact on the longterm financial condition
         or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or the ability of the
         Company to perform the Agreement.

         Such opinion shall also cover such other matters incident to the
transactions contemplated hereby as you or your special counsel may reasonably
request.

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT E

                DESCRIPTION OF SPECIAL COUNSEL'S CLOSING OPINION

                The closing opinion of Day, Berry & Howard, special counsel for
you, which is called for by Section 3.1 of the Agreement, shall be dated the
Closing Date and addressed to you, shall be satisfactory in form and substance
to you, and shall cover the matters referred to in paragraphs 1 (as to
incorporation and good standing only), and 4, 5 (as to Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws only), 7, 8 and 9 of Exhibit D. Such opinion shall
also state that based on such due investigation and inquiry as deemed relevant
and appropriate, the closing opinion of Company counsel delivered pursuant to
Section 3.1 is satisfactory in scope and form to special counsel and that in
their opinion you are justified in relying thereon, and shall cover such other
matters relating to the sale of the Notes as you may reasonably request.

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT F


                    CERTAIN DOCUMENTS FURNISHED TO PURCHASERS


 1.  Estimated Operation By Business Segment for Three Months and Six Months
     Ended June 30, 1990 and June 30, 1991 dated September 13, 1991.


               Segment sales are accurate in all material respects. Numerous
      adjustments to interim operating income data by business segments are made
      at year-end. The data set forth in the above document reflects reasonable
      estimates of operating income by segments for the periods shown.

 2.  The Investment Policy - Surplus Cash accurately states said policy as of
     the date of the Agreement. 


 3.  The List of certain competitors and customers of Bowman Distribution was
     prepared in February, 1991 and furnished to the Company's directors as part
     of a briefing book prepared for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in
     April, 1991.


 4.  The document reflecting 1990 sales distribution of the Aerospace Components
     Group is, taken as a whole, reasonably accurate in all material respects.


 5.  Sales and Operating Income by Segment 1981-1991. The data for the years
     1981-1990 are taken from the Company's Annual Report. See discussion in
     item 1 above relating to the date for the first six months of 1991. In
     addition, the numbers referenced in item 1 should be substituted for those
     shown on this document.



<PAGE>
                                                                EXHIBIT 4.6
                                BARNES GROUP INC.

                              Revolving Credit Note

$35,000,000                                                   New York, New York
                                                                December 6, 1996

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, BARNES GROUP INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of FLEET
NATIONAL BANK (the "Lender") on or before the Revolving Credit Maturity Date,
and at such earlier dates as may be required by the Agreement (as defined
below), the lesser of (i) the principal sum of THIRTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS
($35,000,000) or (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving
Credit Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time pursuant to
the Agreement. The Borrower further promises to pay to the order of the Lender
interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof from time to time outstanding at
the rate or rates per annum determined pursuant to the Agreement, payable on the
dates set forth in the Agreement.

                  This Note is one of the "Revolving Credit Notes" as referred
to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated
as of December 1, 1991, by and among the Borrower, the Lenders parties thereto
from time to time, and Mellon Bank, N.A., as Agent (as the same may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Agreement"), which among other
things provides for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence
of certain events and for prepayments in certain circumstances and upon certain
terms and conditions. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meanings
herein.

                  Except as otherwise set forth in the Agreement, the Borrower
hereby expressly waives presentment, demand, notice, protest and all other
demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance,
default or enforcement of this Note and the Agreement, and an action for amounts
due hereunder or thereunder shall immediately accrue.

                  This Note shall be governed by, construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles
of choice of law.

                                                  BARNES GROUP INC.

                                                  By  /s/ J. Locher
                                                      --------------------------
                                                      Title: V.P. Treasurer

<PAGE>
                                 FIFTH AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                  THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment"),
dated as of December 1, 1996, by and between BARNES GROUP, INC. the
"Borrower"), the Lenders parties to the Credit Agreement (as defined below) from
time to time (the "Lenders"), and MELLON BANK, N.A., a national banking
association, as Agent (in such capacity, the "agent").

                  WHEREAS, the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower are parties
to a certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 1, 1991 (as amended, the
"Credit Agreement"); and

                  WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend
the Revolving Credit Maturity Date for a period of one year;

                  WHEREAS, the parties desire to add The First National Bank of
Boston as a Lender under the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby;

                  WHEREAS, the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower desire to
amend the Credit Agreement as set forth herein; and

                  WHEREAS, all words and terms used in this Amendment which are
defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings unless
otherwise defined herein or required by the context;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and
intending to be legally bound, the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower hereby
agree as follows:

                  Section 1. Extension of Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
Pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement and as requested by the
Borrower in a letter to the Agent dated October 15, 1996, the Lenders and the
Agent hereby agree to extend the Revolving Credit Maturity Date for a period of
one year. On and after December 6, 1996 (the "Effective Date"), as provided in
Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall
be December 6, 2001, as such date may be further extended by the Lenders
pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement.

                  Section 2. Amendments to Credit Agreement.

                  The Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

                  (a) Section 1.01 is amended as follows: The term "Reference
Banks" is amended to substitute The First National Bank of Chicago" for "NBD
Bank, N.A."

<PAGE>
                  (b) Section 2.01(a) is hereby amended by substituting the
figure "$150,000,000" for the figure "$100,000,000" in the last sentence
thereof.

                  (c) The Revolving Credit Committed Amount of each Lender shall
be increased such that the Total Revolving Credit Committed Amount for each
Lender shall be as follows:

                    Mellon Bank, N.A.                  $35,000,000
                    Fleet National Bank                 35,000,000
                    The Chase Manhattan Bank            20,000,000
                    The First National Bank
                      of Chicago                        20,000,000
                    KeyBank                             20,000,000
                    The First National 
                      Bank of Boston                    20,000,000


                  (d) From and after the Effective Date of this Amendment, the
Commitment Percentage for each Lender shall be as follows:

                    Mellon Bank, N.A.                  23.3334%
                    Fleet National Bank                23.3334%
                    The Chase Manhattan Bank           13.3333%
                    The First National Bank
                      of Chicago                       13.3333%
                    KeyBank                            13.3333%
                    The First National
                      Bank of Boston                   13.3333%


                  (e) Section 2.02(a) is hereby amended by deleting the first
sentence in its entirety and substituting the following therefor:

                  "The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each
                  Lender a commitment fee (the "Commitment Fee") equal to (x)
                  0.115% per annum if the Borrower's Consolidated Leverage Ratio
                  is less than 1.15:1, (y) 0.150% per annum if the Borrower's
                  Consolidated Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than l.15:1
                  but less than or equal to 1.40:1 and (z) 0.180% per annum if
                  the Borrower's Consolidated Leverage Ratio is greater than
                  1.40:1 (based on a year of 365 or 366 days and actual days
                  elapsed), for each day from and including the Effective Date
                  and to but not including the Revolving Credit Maturity Date,
                  of the amount (not less than zero) equal to (i) such Lender's
                  Revolving Credit Committed Amount on such day, minus (ii) such
                  Lender's Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such day.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>
                  (f) Section 2.06(b) is hereby deleted and the following
substituted therefor:

                  "(b) Applicable Margins. The Applicable Margins and interest
                  rate option for any day shall mean the percentages set forth
                  below:

                  (i) the Applicable Margin for each day on which the Borrower's
                  Consolidated Leverage Ratio is less than 1.15:1 shall mean the
                  percentage set forth below:

                  Interest Rate Option                 Applicable Margin

                  Base Rate Option                     O.000%
                  CD Rate Option                       0.425%
                  Euro-Rate Option                     0.300%

                  (ii) the Applicable Margin for each day on which the
                  Borrower's Consolidated Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater
                  than 1.15:1 but less than or equal to 1.40:1 shall mean the
                  percentage set forth below:

                  Interest Rate Option                 Applicable Margin

                  Base Rate Option                     O.000%
                  CD Rate Option                       0.475%
                  Euro-Rate Option                     0.350%

                  and

                  (iii) the Applicable Margin for each day on which the
                  Borrower's Consolidated Leverage Ratio is greater than 1.40:1
                  shall mean the percentage set forth below:

                  Interest Rate Option                 Applicable Margin

                  Base Rate Option                     0.075%
                  CD Rate Option                       0.600%
                  Euro-Rate Option                     0.500%"

                  Section 3. Conditions. The obligation of the Agent and the
Lenders to extend the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall be subject to
satisfaction by the Borrower of the following conditions precedent:

                           (a) The Agent shall have received (with a copy for
                  each Lender) the following documents dated as of the date of
                  the issuance of the Amendment (the "Closing Date") and in form
                  and substance satisfactory to the Lenders:

                           (i) An executed counterpart of this Amendment;

                                      -3-

<PAGE>
                           (ii) Executed original Revolving Credit Notes,
                  payable to the order of each Lender in the face amount of such
                  Lender's Revolving Credit Committed Amount, as set forth
                  herein, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A to the
                  Credit Agreement with the blanks appropriately filled; and

                           (iii) A certificate signed by a duly authorized
                  officer of the Borrower stating that (A) the representations
                  and warranties contained in Article III of the Credit
                  Agreement (except for Section 3.06 which continues to be true
                  as of the date set forth therein) are correct on and as of the
                  Closing Date and as though made on and as of the Closing Date
                  and (B) no Event of Default and no event, act or omission
                  which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both,
                  would constitute such an Event of Default has occurred and is
                  continuing or would result from the execution and delivery of
                  the Amendment.

                           (b) The Agent shall have received (with a copy for
                  each Lender) such other approvals, certificates, opinions or
                  documents, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders,
                  as the Lenders may reasonably request.

                  Section 4. Effect of Amendment. The Credit Agreement, as
amended by this Amendment, is in all respects ratified, approved and confirmed
and shall, as so amended, remain in full force and effect. From and after the
date hereof, all references in any document or instrument to the Credit
Agreement shall mean and include the Credit Agreement, as amended by this
Amendment.

                  Section 5. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by
and shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State
of New York.

                  Section 6. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate
counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall
be deemed to be an original, and all of which counterparts, taken together,
shall constitute but one and the same Amendment.

                  Section 7. Expenses. The Borrower shall reimburse the Lenders
for all costs and expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent)
incurred in connection with this Amendment.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers
thereunto duly authorized.

                                             BARNES GROUP, INC.

                                             By   /s/ J. Locher
                                                  ---------------------------
                                             Title  Vice President, Treasurer

                                             MELLON BANK, N.A.,
                                             individually and as Agent

                                             By
                                                  -------------------------
                                             Title
                                                   ------------------------

                                             FLEET NATIONAL BANK

                                             By
                                                  -------------------------
                                             Title
                                                   ------------------------

                                             THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

                                             By
                                                  -------------------------
                                             Title
                                                   ------------------------

                                             THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
                                             OF CHICAGO

                                             By
                                                  -------------------------
                                             Title
                                                   ------------------------

                                      -5-

<PAGE>
                                             KEYBANK

                                             By
                                                  -------------------------
                                             Title
                                                   ------------------------


                                             THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
                                             OF BOSTON

                                             By
                                                  -------------------------
                                             Title
                                                   ------------------------

                                      -6-

<PAGE>
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.5
                                                                  APPENDIX

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

BARNES GROUP INC.
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Plan is to authorize the grant to Senior Executives of the
Company or any Subsidiary of (i) nonqualified options to purchase shares of
Common Stock, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) Incentive Stock Rights and
(iv) Performance Unit Awards, and thus benefit the Company by giving such
employees a greater personal interest in the success of the enterprise and an
added incentive to continue and advance in their employment.

2. DEFINITIONS

The following terms, when used in the Plan, shall mean:

         1966 PLAN: The Company's 1966 Stock Option Plan as in effect
         immediately prior to its expiration.

         BOARD: The Board of Directors of the Company.

         COMMITTEE: Such committee as shall be appointed by the Board pursuant
         to the provisions of section 11.

         COMMON STOCK: The Common Stock of the Company, par value $1 per share,
         or such other class of shares or other securities as may be applicable
         pursuant to the provisions of section 9.

         COMPANY: Barnes Group Inc.

         DISABILITY: Inability to perform the services normally rendered by the
         employee due to any physical or mental impairment that can be
         expected either to be of indefinite duration or to result in death, as
         determined by the Committee on the basis of appropriate medical
         evidence.

         EARLY RETIREMENT: Termination of employment with the Company or a
         Subsidiary with the Company's consent after the employee has attained
         age 55 and prior to his Normal Retirement Date.

         FAIR MARKET VALUE: As applied to the Common Stock on any day, the
         closing market price of such stock as reported in the New York Stock
         Exchange-Composite Transactions Index for such day, or if the Common
         Stock was not traded on such day, for the last preceding day on which
         the Common Stock was traded.

         INCENTIVE: An incentive granted under the Plan in one of the forms
         provided for in section 3.

         INCENTIVE STOCK RIGHT: Incentive stock units credited pursuant to
         section 7 as additional compensation for services to the Company or a
         Subsidiary.

         NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE: The last day of the month following the
         employee's 65th birthday except that if such birthday occurs on the
         last day of the month, his Normal Retirement Date shall be the date of
         such birthday. 

         OPTION: An option to purchase shares of Common Stock.

         PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARD: Performance units credited to a Senior
         Executive pursuant to section 8 as additional compensation for services
         to the Company or a Subsidiary.

         PLAN: The Barnes Group Inc. Stock Incentive Plan herein set forth, as
         amended from time to time.

         SENIOR EXECUTIVE: An employee of the Company or of a Subsidiary,
         including an officer or director who is an employee, who in the
         Committee's judgment can contribute significantly to the growth and
         successful operations of the Company or a Subsidiary.

         STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT: A right to receive an amount, payable in
         shares of Common Stock or, at the election of the Committee as to all
         or any part of such amount, in cash, equal to the increase in the Fair
         Market Value of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such
         right, as set forth in section 6.

         SUBSIDIARY: A corporation at least 50% of whose outstanding voting
         stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

                                                                              15

<PAGE>
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3. GRANTS OF INCENTIVES

(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may at any time, or
from time to time, grant Incentives under the Plan to, and only to, Senior
Executives.

(b) Incentives may be in the following forms:

    (i)  an Option, in accordance with section 5,

    (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right, in accordance with section 6,

    (iii) an Incentive Stock Right, in accordance with section 7,

    (iv) a Performance Unit Award, in accordance with section 8, or

    (v)  a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in section 9, the aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock which may be made the subject of Incentives granted under
the Plan shall not exceed the sum of (i) 500,000 shares, (ii) the number of
shares of such stock available for the granting of options under the 1966 Plan
immediately prior to its expiration, and (iii) the number of shares of such
stock covered by outstanding options (or installments thereof) granted under the
1966 Plan which, after its expiration, shall terminate or expire in whole or in
part without being exercised. Charges against such aggregate number are governed
by the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section 4, paragraph (h) of section
5, paragraph (e) of section 6, paragraph (c) of section 7 and paragraph (e) of
section 8. Subject to said provisions and to adjustment as provided in section
9, the maximum number of shares that may be charged under the Plan on account of
any one individual may not exceed 75,000.

(b) Such shares may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares issued
and thereafter acquired by the Company.

(c) If any shares subject to an Incentive shall cease to be subject thereto
because of the termination without exercise or payment, in whole or in part, of
such Incentive, the shares as to which the Incentive was not exercised or paid
shall no longer be charged against the aggregate and individual limitations in
paragraph (a) of this section 4 and may again be made subject to Incentives.

(d) The Committee may permit the voluntary surrender of all or a portion of any
Incentive granted under this Plan to be conditioned upon the granting to the
employee of a new Incentive for the same or a different number of shares or
amount of other payment as the Incentive surrendered, or may require such
voluntary surrender as a condition to a grant of a new Incentive to such
employee. Such new Incentive shall be exercisable at the price, during the
period, and in accordance with any other terms or conditions specified by the
Committee at the time the new Incentive is granted, all determined in accordance
with the provisions of this Plan without regard to the price, period of
exercise, or any other terms or conditions of the Incentive surrendered.

5. OPTIONS

Incentives in the form of Options shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) The Option price per share shall not be less than 85% of the Fair Market
Value at the time of the grant of the Option. In no event shall the Option price
be less than the par value of the stock.

(b) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (c) and (f) of this section 5 and
the provisions of paragraph (a) of section 12 relating to absence on leave, an
Option granted under the Plan may not be exercised unless, at the time of such
exercise, the optionee shall be in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary and
shall have completed at least 12 months of continuous employment with the
Company or a Subsidiary or both, from the date of the grant of his Option.

(c) Each Option shall expire at such time as the Committee may determine at the
time the Option shall be granted but not later than ten years from the date such
Option shall have been granted or, if earlier, one year following the optionee's
Normal Retirement Date.

(d) Any Option granted under the Plan may be exercised solely by the person to
whom granted (or by his guardian or legal representative) except as provided in
paragraph (f) (i) of this section 5 in the case of such person's death.

(e) After completion of the required period of employment specified in the
Option grant, the Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time or
from time to time during the balance of the term of the Option, except as
limited by provisions contained in the Option (including provisions regarding
exercise in installments).

16

<PAGE>
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(f) The Option shall terminate if and when the optionee shall terminate
employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries, except as follows:

    (i) If the optionee shall die while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary
    or within 90 days after termination of such employment, the Option
    theretofore granted to him may only be exercised by his legal representative
    within the period of one year following his death, and in no event after the
    date of expiration of his Option, and then only as and to the extent that he
    was entitled to exercise it at the date of his death; however, in the case
    of any Option exercisable in installments, if the optionee shall die while
    employed by the Company or a Subsidiary or within 90 days after terminating
    employment by Early Retirement or by retiring on or after his Normal
    Retirement Date, such Option may be exercised as to any or all shares which
    would have been purchasable in the following installment period if the
    optionee had not died.

    (ii) If the optionee elects Early Retirement, he may exercise his Option on,
    or any time within one year following the date of such Early Retirement (but
    in no event after the date of expiration of his Option) as to any or all
    shares purchasable on such date and also, in the case of any Option
    exercisable in installments, as to any or all shares which would have been
    purchasable in the following installment period if such retirement had not
    occurred.

    (iii) If the optionee terminates employment by retiring on or after his
    Normal Retirement Date, he may exercise his Option on, or at any time within
    one year following, his Normal Retirement Date (but in no event after the
    date of expiration of his Option) as to any or all shares purchasable on the
    date of exercise.

    (iv) If the optionee terminates employment prior to his Normal Retirement
    Date for any reason other than by death or Early Retirement, he may exercise
    his Option, on the date of such termination or any time within 90 days
    following such termination (but in no event after the date of expiration of
    his Option), as to any or all shares purchasable on the date of his
    termination of employment.

(g) Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be paid for in full at the
time of exercise in cash or, with the consent of the Committee, in whole or in
part in shares of Common Stock (based on their Fair Market Value on the date of
exercise).

(h) The forms of Option authorized by the Plan may contain such other provisions
as the Committee shall deem advisable. Without limiting the foregoing and if so
authorized by the Committee, the Company may, with the consent of the optionee,
and at any time or from time to time, cancel all or a portion of any Option
granted under the Plan then subject to exercise and discharge its obligation in
respect of the Option either by payment to the optionee of an amount of cash
equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value, at such time, of the
shares subject to the portion of the Option so cancelled over the aggregate
purchase price of such shares, or by issuance or transfer to the optionee of
shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value, at such time, equal to any such
excess, or by a combination of cash and shares. Upon any exercise of an Option
or upon any such payment of money or issuance of shares, (i) there shall be
charged against the aggregate and individual limitations in paragraph (a) of
section 4 a number of shares equal to (A) the number of shares so issued plus
(B) the number of shares purchasable with the amount of any cash paid to the
optionee on the basis of the Fair Market Value as of the date of payment; and
(ii) the number of shares subject to the portion of the Option so cancelled,
less the number of shares so charged against such limitations, shall thereafter
be available for other grants of Incentives and shall no longer be charged
against the individual's maximum limitation.

6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

(a) A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted (i) in connection with any Option
granted under the Plan, either at the time of the grant of such Option or at any
time thereafter during the term of the Option, (ii) in connection with any
Option theretofore granted under the 1966 Plan, or (iii) independently of the
grant of an Option.

(b) A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the holder thereof, upon exercise
of the Stock Appreciation Right, to receive a number of shares of Common Stock,
or cash or a combination of cash and shares (as the Committee in its discretion
may elect), determined pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section 6.

                                                                              17

<PAGE>
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(c) A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions and to such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan
as shall from time to time be approved by the Committee:

  (i) If granted in connection with an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right shall
  be exercisable at such time or times and by such person or persons and to the
  extent, but only to the extent, that the Option to which it relates shall be
  exercisable; provided, however, that such Right (A) shall not be exercisable
  during the first six months following the date of its grant and (B) shall be
  exercisable only during the ten-day periods (the "Exercise Periods") beginning
  on the third business day following the date of release of a summary statement
  of the Company's quarterly or annual sales and earnings and ending on the
  twelfth business day following such date of release.

  (ii) If granted independently of an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right shall
  be subject to the following provisions:

    (A) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (E) of this paragraph (c) (ii)
    and the provisions of paragraph (a) of section 12 relating to absence on
    leave, such Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised unless, at the
    time of such exercise, the grantee shall be in the employ of the Company or
    a Subsidiary and shall have completed at least 12 months of continuous
    employment with the Company or a Subsidiary or both, from the date of the
    grant of such Right.

    (B) Such Stock Appreciation Right shall expire at such time as the Committee
    may determine at the time the Right shall be granted but not later than ten
    years from the date such Right shall have been granted or, if earlier, one
    year following the employee's Normal Retirement Date.

    (C) Any such Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan may be
    exercised solely by the person to whom granted (or by his guardian or legal
    representative) except as provided in subparagraph (E) (1) of this
    paragraph (c) (ii) in the case of such person's death.

    (D) After completion of the required period of employment specified in the
    related Stock Appreciation Right agreement, such Right may be exercised, in
    whole or in part, at any time or from time to time during the balance of the
    term of the Right, except as limited by provisions contained in such
    agreement (including provisions regarding exercise in installments) and
    except that any such Right shall only be exercised during the Exercise
    Periods defined in paragraph (c) (i) of this section 6.

    (E) Such Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate if and when the grantee
    shall cease to be an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, except as
    follows:

    (1) If the grantee shall die while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary
    or within 90 days after termination of such employment, the Stock
    Appreciation Right theretofore granted to him may only be exercised by his
    legal representative within the period of one year following his death, and
    in no event after the date of expiration of the Stock Appreciation Right,
    and then only as and to the extent that he was entitled to exercise it at
    the date of his death; however, in the case of any Stock Appreciation Right
    exercisable in installments, if the grantee shall die while employed by
    the Company or a Subsidiary or within 90 days after terminating employment
    by Early Retirement or by retiring on or after his Normal Retirement Date,
    such Right may be exercised as to all or that portion of such Right which
    would have been exercisable in the following installment period if the
    grantee had not died.

    (2) If the grantee elects Early Retirement, he may exercise his Stock
    Appreciation Right on, or any time within the one year following the date of
    such Early Retirement (but in no event after the date of expiration of such
    Right) as to all or a portion of such Right exercisable on such date and
    also, in the case of any such Right exercisable in installments, as to all
    or a portion of such Right which would have been exercisable in the
    following installment period if such retirement had not occurred.

    (3) If the grantee terminates employment by retiring on or after his Normal
    Retirement Date, he may exercise his Stock Appreciation Right on, or at any
    time within one year following, his Normal Retirement Date (but in no event
    after the date of expiration of such Right) as to all or a portion of such
    Right exercisable on the date of exercise.

18

<PAGE>
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    (4) If the grantee terminates employment prior to his Normal Retirement Date
    for any reason other than by death or Early Retirement, he may on the date
    of such termination or within 90 days following such termination (but in no
    event after the date of expiration of his Stock Appreciation Right) exercise
    such Right if and to the extent that he was entitled to exercise it at the
    date of such termination.

(d) Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the holder thereof shall be
entitled to receive a number of shares equal in Fair Market Value to (1 ) the
amount by which the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of
such exercise shall exceed the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on
the date of grant of the related Option, or, in the case of any such Right
granted independently of an option, on the date of grant of such Right (except
that if any such Right shall be granted in connection with an Option previously
outstanding under the Plan or the 1966 Plan, and if such Right shall so provide,
the Fair Market Value of a share of Common stock on the date of grant of such
Right, if such Fair Market Value is lower than the Fair Market Value at the time
of grant of the related Option, may be used instead of the Fair Market Value at
the time of grant of the related Option), multiplied by (2) the number of shares
in respect of which such Right shall have been exercised. Settlement for any
fraction of a share due shall be made in cash. The Committee may settle all or
any part of the Company's obligation arising out of an exercise of any such
Right by the payment of cash equal to the aggregate value of the shares of
Common Stock that it would otherwise be obligated to deliver under the
provisions of this paragraph (d).

(e) Upon exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right, (i) there shall be charged
against the aggregate and individual limitations in paragraph (a) of section 4 a
number of shares equal to (A) the number of shares issued to the grantee under
paragraph (d) of this section 6 plus (B) the number of shares purchasable with
the amount of any cash paid to the grantee on the basis of the Fair Market Value
as of the date of payment; and (ii) the portion of the Incentive in respect of
which such Right shall have been exercised shall be cancelled and the number of
shares subject to such portion, less the number of shares so charged against
such limitations, shall thereafter be available for other grants of Incentives
and shall no longer be charged against the individual's maximum limitation.

7. INCENTIVE STOCK RIGHTS

(a) An Incentive Stock Right will consist of incentive stock units, each of
which will be equivalent to one share of the Company's Common Stock. An
Incentive Stock Right wi11 be evidenced by an agreement in form approved by the
Committee,will be nontransferable, will entitle the holder to receive shares of
Common Stock, without payment to the Company, after the lapse of the incentive
period or periods established by the Committee and wi11 be subject to the
limitations in paragraph (a) of section 4. Holders of Incentive Stock Rights
will be entitled, from the date of the award, to receive from the Company cash
payments equal to the amount of dividends declared on the number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the number of incentive stock units held by them, such
payments to be made on the Company's dividend payment dates.

(b) In the event of termination of employment by reason of death, Disability or
Early Retirement during an incentive period, the Committee may provide that such
period will lapse on the date of termination with respect to that proportion of
the incentive stock units that are to vest at the close of such period as the
number of full months in such period up to the date of termination bears to the
number of months in such period. To the extent that incentive periods have not
lapsed prior to the termination of employment for the foregoing or any other
reason, the Incentive Stock Right will terminate on termination of employment.

(c) After the lapse of the incentive period and the issuance of shares, there
will be charged against the aggregate and individual limitations in paragraph
(a) of section 4 the number of shares equal to the number of shares issued.

                                                                              19

<PAGE>
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8. PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS

(a) A Performance Unit Award will consist of performance units granted to Senior
Executives selected by the Committee. Performance units may be granted alone or
in conjunction with and related to an Option. When granted in conjunction with
an Option, the number of performance units, unless otherwise provided by the
Committee, will be equal to the number of shares under the related Option. To
the extent that the Committee elects to pay performance units granted with a
related Option, there will be a proportionate reduction in the number of shares
available under such Option and any related Stock Appreciation Right. To the
extent the related Option or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection
with such Option is exercised, the related number of performance units will be
proportionately reduced.

(b) The Committee will establish an initial value for each performance unit at
the time of grant. At that time the Committee will also establish performance
targets to be achieved during the award period of not less than one year set by
the Committee. The value of the performance units at the end of the award period
will be determined by the degree to which the performance targets are achieved.
However, in no event will the value be greater than the initial value
established at the time of the grant. Performance Unit Awards will be subject to
the limitations in paragraph (a) of section 4 and will be evidenced by
agreements setting forth the initial value for each performance unit, the
performance targets and award period and such other terms and conditions not
inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may determine.

(c) Payment, if any, at the end of the award period will be made in cash, shares
of Common Stock, or both, as determined by the Committee. A Performance Unit
Award granted alone, not in conjunction with an Option, is automatically payable
if the conditions are met. A Performance Unit Award granted in conjunction with
an Option is payable only at the election of the Committee, as an alternative to
the continuance of the related option and any related Stock Appreciation Right.
The Committee may make this election to pay only during the first two months
after the end of the award period. If the election to pay is not made, the
Performance Unit Award terminates and the related Option and Stock Appreciation
Right continue in effect.

(d) In the event of termination of employment by reason of death, Disability, or
Early Retirement prior to the end of the award period, or if employment
terminates for any other reason during the final year of the award period
(excepting termination for cause), a pro rata portion of the value of the
performance units at the end of the award period will be paid to the employee
(or his estate in the case of death), unless the Committee determines that a
different portion be payable or elects to terminate the award. Upon termination
of employment under any other circumstances, the Performance Unit Award will
terminate.

(e) Upon payment of a Performance Unit Award there shall be charged against the
aggregate and individual limitations in paragraph (a) of section 4 a number of
shares equal to (i) the number of shares issued to the employee in respect of
the Performance Unit Award plus (ii) the number of shares purchasable with the
amount of any cash paid to the employee in respect of the Performance Unit Award
on the basis of the Fair Market Value as of the date of payment.

(f) The Committee may make such adjustments to the publicly reported amounts of
the Company's consolidated earnings or book values it deems appropriate for
changes in accounting practices or principles, for material acquisitions or
dispositions of stock or property, for recapitalizations or reorganizations or
for any other events with respect to which the Committee determines such an
adjustment to be appropriate in order to avoid distortion in the operation of
the Plan.

9. ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS

The Options granted under the Plan shall contain such provisions as the
Committee may determine with respect to adjustments to be made in the number and
kind of shares covered by such Options and in the Option price in the event of a
reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, combination of
shares, merger, consolidation, rights offering or any other change in the
corporate structure of shares of the Company; and in the event of any such
change, the aggregate number and kind of shares available under the Plan and the
maximum number of shares that may be charged under the Plan on account of any
one individual shall be appropriately adjusted. In the event of any such change,
equitable adjustments shall also be made by the Committee in its discretion in
the terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right, Incentive Stock Right
and Performance Unit Award granted under the Plan.

20

<PAGE>
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10. TERM

The Plan shall become effective if and when approved by the Company's
shareholders at their 1981 Annual Meeting. No Incentives shall be granted under
the Plan after April 3, 1991.

11. ADMINISTRATION

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, to be appointed from time
to time by the Board and to consist of not less than three of the then members
of the Board. No member of the Committee shall be eligible to participate in the
Plan.

(b) The Committee shall select one of its members as its Chairman and shall hold
its meetings at such times and places as it shall deem advisable. The greater of
two members or one-third of the entire Committee shall constitute a quorum, and
the act of a majority of the members present shall be the act of the Committee.
Any decision or determination reduced to writing, signed by all members of the
Committee and filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee, shall
be fully as effective as if made by a unanimous vote at a meeting duly called
and held. The Committee may appoint a Secretary, shall keep minutes of its
meetings and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its
business and for the carrying out of the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.

(c) Incentives under the Plan shall be granted in accordance with the
Committee's determinations pursuant to the Plan, by execution and prompt
delivery to the employee of instruments approved by the Committee. Any such
grant shall be effective on the date of such determination or, if later, on the
date specified in the instrument evidencing the grant.

(d) The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision of the
Plan and of any Incentive granted thereunder shall, unless otherwise determined
by the Board, be final and conclusive on all persons having any interest
thereunder.

12. GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a) Absence on leave because of military or governmental service, Disability or
other reason, if such absence is approved by the Committee, shall not be
considered an interruption or termination of employment for any purpose of the
Plan, or Incentives granted thereunder, except that no Incentive may be granted
to an employee while he is absent on leave.

(b) Incentives may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution
for non-qualified stock options and/or stock appreciation rights held by
employees of other corporations who are or are about to become employees of the
Company or a Subsidiary as the result of a merger or consolidation of the
employing corporation with the Company or a Subsidiary, or the acquisition by
the Company or a Subsidiary of the assets of the employing corporation, or the
acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of stock of the employing corporation
as the result of which it becomes a Subsidiary. Further, Stock Appreciation
Rights may be granted under the Plan from time to time in connection with
nonqualified stock options assumed by the Company or a Subsidiary as part of any
such merger, consolidation or acquisition. The terms and conditions of the
substituted Incentives or related Stock Appreciation Rights so granted may vary
from the terms and conditions set forth in sections 5 and 6 to such extent as
the Board may deem appropriate to conform in whole or in part to the provisions
of the substituted incentives.

(c) Nothing in the Plan nor in any instrument executed pursuant thereto shall
confer upon any employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or a
Subsidiary.

(d) No shares of Common Stock shall be sold, issued or transferred pursuant to,
or accepted as payment of the Option price of, an Incentive unless and until
there has been compliance, in the opinion of the Company's General Counsel, with
all applicable legal requirements, including without limitation those relating
to securities laws and stock exchange listings.

(e) No employee (individually or as a member of a group), and no beneficiary or
other person claiming under or through him, shall have any right, title or
interest in or to any shares of Common Stock allocated or reserved for the Plan
or subject to any Incentive except as to such shares of Common Stock, if any, as
shall have been sold, issued or transferred to him.

                                                                              21

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(f) The Company or a Subsidiary may make such provisions as it may deem
appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which the Company or Subsidiary
determines it is required to withhold in connection with any Incentive.

(g) No Incentive and no rights under the Plan, contingent or otherwise, (i)
shall be assignable or subject to any encumbrance, pledge or charge of any
nature, whether by operation of law or otherwise, (ii) shall be subject to
execution, attachment or similar process, or (iii) shall be transferable other
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and every Incentive and
all rights under the Plan shall be exercisable during the employee's lifetime
only by him or by his guardian or legal representative.

(h) Nothing in the Plan is intended to be a substitute for, or shall preclude or
limit the establishment or continuation of, any other plan, practice or
arrangement for the payment of compensation or fringe benefits to any employee
which the Company or any Subsidiary now has or may hereafter put into effect,
including without limitation, any retirement, pension, savings or thrift,
insurance, death benefit, stock purchase, incentive compensation or bonus plan.

13. AMENDMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE OF PLAN

(a) The Plan may be amended by the Board at any time, provided that, without the
approval of the shareholders of the Company, no amendment shall be made which
(i) increases the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be made
the subject of Incentives as provided in paragraph (a) of section 4, (ii)
materially increases the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan, (iii)
materially modifies the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the
Plan, (iv) amends section 10 to extend the term of the Plan, or (v) amends this
section 13.

(b) The Board may discontinue the Plan at any time.

(c) No amendment or discontinuance of the Plan shall adversely affect, except
with the consent of the holder, any Incentive theretofore granted.

22

<PAGE>
                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.1
                                                               [CONFORMED COPY]








                           REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
                                      among
                               BARNES GROUP INC.,
                          THE LENDERS SIGNATORY HERETO
                                       and
                           MELLON BANK, N.A., as Agent




                          Dated as of December 1, 1991











<PAGE>


Table of Contents


Section                  Title                              Page
- -------                  -----                              ----
                                                            
ARTICLE  I      DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION .......... ......    1
                                                            
    1.01        Certain Definitions ................ ......    1
    1.02        Construction ....................... ......   14
    1.03        Accounting Principles .............. ......   14
                                                            
ARTICLE  II     THE CREDITS ........................ ......   15
                                                            
    2.01        Revolving Credit Loans ............. ......   15
    2.02        Fees; Reduction                             
                  of the Committed Amounts ......... ......   15
    2.03        Extension of Revolving Credit               
                  Maturity Date .................... ......   16
    2.04        Maximum Aggregate Amount of                 
                  Revolving Credit Loans ........... ......   17
    2.05        Making of Loans .................... ......   17
    2.06        Interest Rates ..................... ......   18
    2.07        Conversion or Renewal of Interest           
                  Rate Options ..................... ......   22
    2.08        Prepayments Generally .............. ......   24
    2.09        Prepayments ........................ ......   24
    2.10        Interest Payment Dates ............. ......   25
    2.11        Pro Rata Treatment; Payments Generally ....   25
    2.12        Additional Compensation in Certain          
                  Circumstances ...........................   26
    2.13        HLT Classification ........................   29
    2.14        Taxes .....................................   30
    2.15        Funding by Branch, Subsidiary               
                  or Affiliate ............................   32
                                                            
                                                            
ARTICLE  III    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ............   33
                                                            
    3.01        Corporate Status ..........................   33
    3.02        Corporate Power and Authorization .........   33
    3.03        Execution and Binding Effect ..............   34
    3.04        Governmental Approvals and Filings ........   34
    3.05        Absence of Conflicts ......................   34
    3.06        Audited Financial Statements ..............   35
    3.07        Absence of Undisclosed Material  
                  Liabilities .............................   35
    3.08        Absence of Material Adverse Change ........   35
    3.09        Accurate and Complete Disclosure ..........   35
    3.10        Margin Regulations ........................   35
    3.11        Subsidiaries ..............................   36
    3.12        Partnerships, etc .........................   36
    3.13        Litigation ................................   36
                                                      

                                       -i-



<PAGE>


         3.14        Absence of Events of Default ..............  36
         3.15        Insurance .................................  36
         3.16        Title to Properties .......................  37
         3.17        Intellectual Property .....................  37
         3.18        Taxes .....................................  37
         3.19        Employee Benefits .........................  38
         3.20        Environmental Matters .....................  39

     ARTICLE  IV     CONDITIONS OF LENDING .....................  39

         4.01        Conditions to Initial Loans ...............  39
         4.02        Conditions to All Loans ...................  40

     ARTICLE  V      AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS .....................  41

         5.01        Basic Reporting Requirements ..............  41
         5.02        Insurance .................................  44
         5.03        Payment of Taxes and Other Potential
                       Charges and Priority Claims .............  44
         5.04        Preservation of Corporate Status ..........  44
         5.05        Governmental Approvals and Filings ........  45
         5.06        Maintenance of Properties .................  45
         5.07        Avoidance of Other Conflicts ..............  45
         5.08        Financial Accounting Practices ............  45
         5.09        Use of Proceeds ...........................  45
         5.10        Continuation of or Change in Business .....  46
         5.11        Consolidated Tax Return ...................  46
         5.12        ERISA .....................................  46

     ARTICLE  VI     NEGATIVE COVENANTS ........................  47

         6.01        Financial Covenants .......................  47
         6.02        Liens .....................................  47
         6.03        Indebtedness ..............................  48
         6.04        Limitation on Restrictions on Dividends
                       by Subsidiaries, etc ....................  49
         6.05        Mergers; Acquisitions .....................  49
         6.06        ERISA Obligations .........................  50
         6.07        Leases ....................................  50
         6.08        Disposition of Properties .................  51
         6.09        Transactions with Affiliates ..............  51
         6.10        Loans, Advances and Investments ...........  51

     ARTICLE  VII    DEFAULTS ..................................  52

         7.01        Events of Default .........................  52
         7.02        Consequences of an Event of Default .......  54
         7.03        Application of Proceeds ...................  55

     ARTICLE  VIII   THE AGENT .................................  56

         8.01        Appointment ...............................  56


                                      -ii-


<PAGE>


     8.02         General Nature of Agent's Duties .............   56
     8.03         Exercise of Powers ...........................   57
     8.04         General Exculpatory Provisions ...............   57
     8.05         Administration by the Agent ..................   58
     8.06         Lender Not Relying on Agent or
                    Other Lenders ..............................   59
     8.07         Indemnification ..............................   59
     8.08         Agent in its Individual Capacity .............   60
     8.09         Holders of Notes .............................   60
     8.10         Successor Agents .............................   60
     8.11         Calculations .................................   61
     8.12         Funding by Agent .............................   61

  ARTICLE  IX     MISCELLANEOUS ................................   62

     9.01         Holidays .....................................   62
     9.02         Records ......................................   62
     9.03         Amendments and Waivers .......................   62
     9.04         No Implied Waiver; Cumulative Remedies .......   63
     9.05         Notices ......................................   63
     9.06         Expenses; Taxes; Indemnity ...................   64
     9.07         Severability .................................   65
     9.08         Prior Understandings .........................   65
     9.09         Duration; Survival ...........................   65
     9.10         Counterparts .................................   66
     9.11         Limitation on Payments .......................   66
     9.12         Set-Off ......................................   66
     9.13         Sharing of Collections .......................   67
     9.14         Successors and Assigns; Participations
                    Assignments ................................   67
     9.15         Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction ....   70
     9.16         Replacement of Lender ........................   71


  Exhibit  A      Form of Revolving Credit Note
  Exhibit  B      Form of Transfer Supplement
  Exhibit  C      Form of Opinion of John E. Besser, Esquire
  Exhibit  D      Form of Quarterly Compliance Certificate

  Schedule  3.01      Corporate Status
  Schedule  3.07      Indebtedness
  Schedule  3.11      Subsidiaries
  Schedule  3.12      Partnerships
  Schedule  6.02      Liens




                                      -iii-


<PAGE>

                           REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                  THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of December 1, 1991, by and among
BARNES GROUP INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the lenders parties
hereto from time to time (the "Lenders", as defined further below) and MELLON
BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as Agent for the Lenders hereunder.

                  The Borrower has requested the Lenders to extend credit to the
Borrower and the Lenders are willing to extend such credit upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
mutual covenants herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                            DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION

                  1.01. Certain Definitions. In addition to other words and
terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, as used herein the following words
and terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context
hereof otherwise clearly requires:

                  "Affected Lender" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
         2.06(e) hereof.

                  "Affiliate" of a Person (the "Specified Person") shall mean
         (a) any Person which directly or indirectly controls, or is controlled
         by, or is under common control with, the Specified Person, and (b) any
         director or officer (or, in the case of a Person which is not a
         corporation, any individual having analogous powers) of the Specified
         Person or of a Person who is an Affiliate of the Specified Person
         within the meaning of the preceding clause (a). For purposes of the
         preceding sentence, "control" of a Person means the possession,
         directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction
         of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the
         ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

                  "Agent" shall mean Mellon Bank, N.A., in its capacity Agent
         for the Lenders hereunder, and any successor Agent appointed in
         accordance with Section 8.10 hereof.

                  "Anniversary Date" shall mean each December 6 during the term
         of this Agreement.

                  "Applicable Margin" shall have the meaning set forth in
         Section 2.06(b) hereof.


<PAGE>


                  "Assessment Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
         2.06(a)(ii) hereof.

                  "Base Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
         2.06(a)(i) hereof.

                  "Base Rate Option" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
         2.06(a)(i) hereof.

                  "Base Rate Portion" of any Loan or Loans shall mean at any
         time the portion, including the whole, of such Loan or Loans bearing
         interest at such time (i) under the Base Rate Option or (ii) in
         accordance with Section 2.11(c)(ii) hereof. If no Loan or Loans is
         specified, "Base Rate Portion" shall refer to the Base Rate Portion of
         all Loans outstanding at such time.

                  "Benefit Plan" shall mean any employee benefit plan, as
         defined in section 3(3) of ERISA), with respect to which the Borrower,
         any of its Subsidiaries, or a member of their respective Controlled
         Group, at any relevant time have some liability or obligation to
         contribute or pay benefits and which relates to current or former
         employees of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any member of their
         respective Controlled Group.

                  "Business Day" shall mean (a) with respect to selection of the
         Euro-Rate Option, prepayment of any Euro-Rate Portion of any Revolving
         Credit Loans, or determining the first or last day of any Euro-Rate
         Funding Period, a day for dealings in deposits in Dollars by and among
         banks in the London interbank market and on which commercial banks are
         open for domestic and international business in Pennsylvania and
         Connecticut and (b) with respect to selection of any other interest
         rate Option, prepayment of any part of any other Portion of any
         Revolving Credit Loans, determining the first or last day of any other
         Funding Period, and in every other context, any day other than a
         Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are
         authorized or obligated to close in Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

                  "Capitalized Lease" shall mean at any time any lease which is,
         or is required under GAAP to be, capitalized on the balance sheet of
         the lessee at such time, and "Capitalized Lease Obligation" of any
         Person at any time shall mean the aggregate amount which is, or is
         required under GAAP to be, reported as a liability on the balance sheet
         of such Person at such time as lessee under a Capitalized Lease.

                  "CD Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
         2.06(a)(ii) hereof.



                                      -2-

<PAGE>



                  "CD Rate Funding Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
         Section 2.06(c) hereof.

                  "CD Rate Option" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
         2.06(a)(ii) hereof.


                  "CD Rate Portion" of any Loan or Loans shall mean at any time
         the portion, including the whole, of such Loan or Loans bearing
         interest at any time under the CD Rate Option or at a rate calculated
         by reference to the CD Rate under Section 2.11(c)(i) hereof. If no Loan
         or Loans is specified, "CD Rate Portion" shall refer to the CD Rate
         Portion of all Loans outstanding at such time.

                  "CD Rate Reserve Percentage" for any day and for any CD Rate
         Funding Period shall mean the percentage (expressed as a decimal,
         rounded upward to the nearest 1/100 of 1%), as determined in good faith
         by the Agent (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest
         error), which is in effect on such day as prescribed by the Board of
         Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) representing
         the maximum reserve requirement (including without limitation
         supplemental, marginal and emergency reserve requirements) for a member
         bank of such System in respect of nonpersonal time deposits in Dollars
         in the United States having a maturity comparable to such CD Rate
         Funding Period.

                  "Change of Control" shall mean any Person or group of Persons
         (as used in Sections 13 and 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
         as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules and regulations
         thereunder) shall have become the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules
         13d-3 and 13d-5 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
         (the "SEC") under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of the Borrower's
         outstanding Voting Stock; provided, however, that members of the Barnes
         family, Fleet Norstar Financial Group and any of its affiliates (to the
         extent that it owns stock in which a member of the Barnes family has an
         interest), the Barnes Group Inc. Guaranteed Stock Plan and State Street
         Bank & Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee under such plan, and
         employees of the Borrower (except employees of the Borrower who became
         beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Borrower's Voting Stock prior
         to becoming employees of the Borrower) shall not be counted as a Person
         for purposes hereof.

                  "Closing Date" shall mean the date on which the last of the
         conditions set forth in Section 4.01 hereof has been satisfied.

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
         and any successor statute of similar import, and


                                      -3-

<PAGE>

regulations thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References
to sections of the Code shall be construed also to refer to any successor
sections.


         "Commitment Fee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)
hereof.

         "Commitment Percentage" of a Lender at any time shall mean the
Commitment Percentage for such Lender set forth below its name on the signature
page hereof, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 2.03 and 9.16 hereof
and subject to transfer to another Lender as provided in Section 9.14 hereof.

         "Consolidated Current Assets" at any time shall mean the current assets
of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.

         "Consolidated Current Liabilities" at any time shall mean the current
liabilities of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

         "Consolidated Current Ratio" at any time shall mean the ratio of the
Consolidated Current Assets at such time to the Consolidated Current Liabilities
at such time.

         "Consolidated Leverage Ratio" at any time shall mean the ratio of
aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP to the Consolidated
Net Worth at such time.

         "Consolidated Net Worth" at any time shall mean the total assets of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries less the liabilities of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, each as shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, plus any negative (less any positive)
foreign currency translation adjustments shown in the equity section of such a
consolidated balance sheet pursuant to FAS 52 plus any amount shown on such a
consolidated balance sheet in the equity contra account arising from the
Guaranty.

         "Controlled Group" shall mean with respect to any Person, all members
of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or
not incorporated) under common control which, together with such Person, are
treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) or 414(o) of
the Code or Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA.


                                      -4-

<PAGE>

         "Corresponding Source of Funds" shall mean:

                  (a) In the case of any Funding Segment of the CD Rate Portion,
         the proceeds of hypothetical issuances by a Lender of one or more of
         its certificates of deposit at the beginning of the CD Rate Funding
         Period corresponding to such Funding Segment, having maturities
         approximately equal to such CD Rate Funding Period and in an aggregate
         amount approximately equal to such Lender's Pro Rata share of such
         Funding Segment; and

                  (b) In the case of any Funding Segment of the Euro-Rate
         Portion, the proceeds of hypothetical receipts by a Notional Euro-Rate
         Funding Office or by a Lender through a Notional Euro-Rate Funding
         Office of one or more Dollar deposits in the interbank eurodollar
         market at the beginning of the Euro-Rate Funding Period corresponding
         to such Funding Segment having maturities approximately equal to such
         Euro-Rate Funding Period and in an aggregate amount approximately equal
         to such Lender's Pro Rata share of such Funding Segment.

         "Debt Instrument" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(f)
hereof.

         "Dollar," "Dollars" and the symbol "$" shall mean lawful money of the
United States of America.

         "Environmental Claim" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any
action, suit, proceeding, investigation, notice, claim, complaint, demand,
request for information or other communication (written or oral) by any other
Person (including but not limited to any Governmental Authority, citizens' group
or present or former employee of such Person) alleging, asserting or claiming
any actual or potential (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) liability
under any Environmental Law or (c) liability for investigatory costs, cleanup
costs, governmental response costs, natural resources damages, property damages,
personal injuries, fines or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from
the presence, or release into the environment, of any Hazardous Materials at any
location, whether or not owned by such Person.

         "Environmental Matters" means any matter arising out of, relating to,
or resulting from any emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of
Hazardous Materials into the air, surface water, groundwater, or soil, or
otherwise arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or
handling of Hazardous Materials.


                                      -5-

<PAGE>

     "Environmental Permits" means all permits, licenses, authorizations,
registrations and other governmental consents required by applicable
Requirements of Law for the use, storage, treatment, transportation, release,
emission and disposal of raw materials, by-products, wastes and other substances
used or produced by or otherwise relating to the operations of the Borrower and
any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

     "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and any successor statute of similar import, and regulations
thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References to sections
of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

     "ERISA Lien" shall mean a security interest or lien arising under or in
connection with a Pension Plan or Title IV of ERISA or a claim asserted
(including for failure to withhold) by the government which if successful would
result in such a lien; provided, however, that any claim asserted, (a) for which
the Borrower has reasonable grounds to contest and (b) which the Borrower is
diligently contesting in good faith through appropriate proceedings with the IRS
or a court of law, shall not be deemed an ERISA Lien for so long as all of the
above conditions are met.

     "Eurocurrency Liabilities" shall have the meaning set forth in the
definition of Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage set forth in Section 1.01 hereof.

     "Euro-Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(a)(iii) 
hereof.

     "Euro-Rate Funding Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.06(c) hereof.

     "Euro-Rate Option" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 
2.06(a)(iii) hereof.

     "Euro-Rate Portion" of any Loan or Loans shall mean at any time the
portion, including the whole, of such Loan or Loans bearing interest at any time
under the Euro-Rate Option or at a rate calculated by reference to the Euro-Rate
under Section 2.11(c)(i) hereof. If no Loan or Loans is specified, "Euro-Rate
Portion" shall refer to the Euro-Rate Portion of all Loans outstanding at such
time.

     "Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage" for any day for any Lender shall mean the
percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded upward to the nearest 1/100 of 1%),
as determined in good faith by such Lender (which determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error), which is in effect on such

                                     -6-

<PAGE>
day as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or
any successor) representing the maximum reserve requirement of such Lender
(including, without limitation, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserve
requirements) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
"Eurocurrency Liabilities") of a member bank in such System.

         "Event of Default" shall mean any of the Events of Default described in
Section 7.01 hereof.

         "Federal Funds Effective Rate" for any day shall mean the rate per
annum (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined by the Agent (which
determination shall be conclusive) to be the rate per annum announced by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any successor) on such day as being the
weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions arranged
by Federal funds brokers on the previous trading day, as computed and announced
by such Federal Reserve Bank (or any successor) in substantially the same manner
as such Federal Reserve Bank computes and announces the weighted average it
refers to as the "Federal Funds Effective Rate" as of the date of this
Agreement; provided, that if such Federal Reserve Bank (or its successor) does
not announce such rate on any day, the "Federal Funds Effective Rate" for such
day shall be the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the last day on which such
rate was announced.

         "Funding Periods" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(c)
hereof.

         "Funding Segment" of the CD Rate Portion or the Euro-Rate Portion, as
the case may be, of the Revolving Credit Loans at any time shall mean the entire
principal amount of such Portion to which at the time in question there is
applicable a particular Funding Period beginning on a particular day and ending
on a particular day. (By definition, each such Portion is at all times composed
of an integral number of discrete Funding Segments and the sum of the principal
amounts of all Funding Segments of any such Portion at any time equals the
principal amount of such Portion at such time.)

         "GAAP" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03 hereof.

         "Governmental Action" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.04
hereof.

         "Governmental Authority" shall mean any government or political
subdivision or any agency, authority, bureau,


                                      -7-

<PAGE>


central bank, commission, department or instrumentality of either, or any court,
tribunal, grand jury or arbitrator, in each case whether foreign or domestic.

         "Guarantee" shall mean the guarantee by any Person to pay or perform
the obligations of any other Person, including any agreement, whether such
agreement is on a contingency basis or otherwise, to purchase, repurchase or
otherwise acquire Indebtedness of any other Person, or to purchase, sell or
lease, as lessee or lessor, property or services, in any such case primarily for
the purpose of enabling another Person to make payment of Indebtedness.

         "Guaranty" shall mean the Guaranty Agreement, effective as of July 28,
1989, from the Borrower to The Connecticut National Bank and National Bank of
Detroit (now known as NBD Bank, N.A.).

         "Hazardous Materials" means any pollutants, contaminants, hazardous or
toxic substances, materials or wastes (including petroleum, petroleum
by-products, PCBs, and friable asbestos) as those concepts are used in the
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA),
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Toxic Substance Control
Act (TSCA), the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other similar federal or
state statutes or regulations.

         "Indebtedness" of a Person shall mean with respect to such Person,
without duplication, (a) all debt arising from borrowed money and similar
monetary obligations, whether direct or indirect; (b) all indebtedness of others
secured by any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien, charge, or other
encumbrance existing on property owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or
acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary subject thereto, whether or not the
Indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed; (c) all Guarantees,
endorsements and other contingent obligations, in respect of Indebtedness of
others, including (x) any obligation to supply funds to or in any manner to
invest in, directly or indirectly, the debtor, to purchase Indebtedness, or to
assure the owner of Indebtedness against loss, through an agreement to purchase
goods, supplies, or services for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make
payment of the Indebtedness held by such owner or otherwise and (y) any
obligation of any partnership in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a
general partner; and (d) the obligations to reimburse the issuer in respect of
any letters of credit. Indebtedness shall not include the Indebtedness of (i) a
Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary of the
Borrower, or (ii) the Borrower to a Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided,
however, that in the case of debt of a Subsidiary not wholly owned by the
Borrower


                                      -8-

<PAGE>



and/or another Subsidiary, Indebtedness shall include a percentage of such
Indebtedness equal to the percentage of the total minority ownership.

         "Indemnified Parties" shall mean the Agent, the Lenders, their
respective affiliates, and the directors, officers, employees, attorneys and
agents of each of the foregoing.

         "Initial Revolving Credit Committed Amount" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.01(a) hereof.

         "Investment" by any Person in any other Person shall mean:

         (a) the amount paid, or the value of property or services contributed,
         by such Person for or in connection with the acquisition by such Person
         of any stock, bonds, notes, debentures, option contracts, investment
         contracts, partnership or other ownership interests or other securities
         of any other Person;

         (b) the amount of any advance, loan or extension of credit to any other
         Person by such Person; and

         (c) the amount of any Indebtedness of any other Person which such
         Person has guaranteed and which by its terms or as a consequence of any
         default thereunder such Indebtedness has or may, at the option of the
         holder thereof, become due and payable by acceleration or otherwise.

         "IRS" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.

         "Law" shall mean any constitution, statute, treaty, convention,
regulation, rule, ordinance, order, injunction, writ, decree or award of any
Governmental Authority.

         "Lender" shall mean any of the Lenders listed on the signature pages
hereof, subject to the provisions of Section 9.14 hereof pertaining to Persons
becoming or ceasing to be Lenders.

         "Lien" shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security
interest, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of any nature
whatsoever, including but not limited to any conditional sale or title retention
arrangement, and any assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or
having the effect of, security.

         "Loan" shall mean any loan or advance by a Lender under this Agreement,
and "Loans" shall mean all loans and advances made by the Lenders under this
Agreement.


                                      -9-

<PAGE>

         "Loan Documents" shall mean this Agreement, the Notes and the Transfer
Supplements, and all other agreements and instruments extending, renewing,
refinancing or refunding any indebtedness, obligation or liability arising under
any of the foregoing, and any certificate or instrument delivered by the
Borrower in connection herewith or therewith, in each case as the same may be
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time hereafter.

         "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect on the
long-term financial condition or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or on the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations
under this Agreement or the Notes.

         "Nonextending Lender" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03
hereof.

         "Note" or "Notes" shall mean the Revolving Credit Note(s) of the
Borrower executed and delivered under this Agreement, together with all
extensions, renewals, refinancings or refundings of any thereof in whole or
part.

         "Notional Euro-Rate Funding Office" shall have the meaning given to
that term in Section 2.15(a) hereof.

         "Obligations" shall mean all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities
of the Borrower to any Lender or the Agent from time to time arising under or in
connection with or related to or evidenced by or secured by this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, and all extensions, renewals or refinancings thereof,
whether such indebtedness, obligations or liabilities are direct or indirect,
otherwise secured or unsecured, joint or several, absolute or contingent, due or
to become due, whether for payment or performance, now existing or hereafter
arising. Without limitation of the foregoing, such indebtedness, obligations and
liabilities include the principal amount of Loans, interest, fees, indemnities
or expenses under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, and all extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof, whether or not
such Loans were made in compliance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement or in excess of the obligation of the Lenders to lend. Obligations
shall remain Obligations notwithstanding any assignment or transfer or any
subsequent assignment or transfer of any of the Obligations or any interest
therein.

         "Office" shall mean the Agent's office located at One Mellon Bank
Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258, or at such other office or offices of
the Agent or any branch, subsidiary or affiliate thereof as may be designated in
writing from time to time by the Agent to the Borrower.


                                      -10-

<PAGE>

         "Option" shall mean the Base Rate Option, the CD Rate Option or the
Euro-Rate Option, as the case may be.

         "Participants" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.14(b)
hereof.

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established under
Title IV of ERISA or any other governmental agency, department or
instrumentality succeeding to the functions of said corporation.

         "Pension Plan" shall mean a single employer plan as defined in Section
4001(a)(15) of ERISA or an individual account plan which is subject to the
funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA with respect to which the Borrower,
any of its Subsidiaries, or members of their respective Controlled Groups, at
any relevant time have some liability or obligation to contribute or pay
benefits and which relates to current or former employees of the Borrower, any
of its Subsidiaries or any member of their respective Controlled Groups.

         "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture, joint-stock company, Governmental
Authority or any other entity.

         "Portion" shall mean the Base Rate Portion, the CD Rate Portion or the
Euro-Rate Portion, as the case may be.

         "Potential Default" shall mean any event or condition which with notice
or passage of time, or any combination of the foregoing, would constitute an
Event of Default.

         "Prime Rate" as used herein, shall mean the interest rate per annum
announced from time to time by Mellon Bank, N.A. as its prime rate.

         "Pro Rata" shall mean to or from each Lender in proportion to such
Lender's Commitment Percentage.

         "Purchasing Lender" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.14(c)
hereof.

         "Reference Banks" shall mean, collectively, Mellon Bank, N.A. and NBD
Bank, N.A.

         "Register" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.14(d) hereof.

         "Regular Payment Date" shall mean the last Business Day of each March,
June, September and December after the date hereof.



                                      -11-

<PAGE>

         "Relevant Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03
hereof.

         "Replacement Lender" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03
hereof.

         "Reportable Event" means an event described in Section 4043 of ERISA or
in the regulations thereunder with respect to which the 30-day notice is not
waived or an event described in Section 4043 or in the regulations thereunder
with respect to which the 30-day notice has been waived and which involves a
liability of $1,000,000 or more or a material plan or a receipt of a notice of
withdrawal liabilities pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA. For purposes of this
definition a material plan is a plan in which benefit liabilities exceed assets
on a termination basis based on PBGC assumptions by $1,000,000.

         "Required Lenders" shall mean, as of any date, Lenders holding in the
aggregate 61% of the aggregate Revolving Credit Committed Amounts of all
Lenders.

         "Requirements of Law" means all applicable federal, state, and local
laws, statutes, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees,
directives, permits, licenses and judgments relating to Environmental Matters in
effect as of the date of this Agreement.

         "Responsible Officer" of the Borrower shall mean any of the following:
the President, the senior officer of each of the Borrower's three operating
groups, the Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel.

         "Revolving Credit Commitment" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.01(a) hereof.

         "Revolving Credit Committed Amount" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.01(a) hereof.

         "Revolving Credit Loans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.01(a) hereof.

         "Revolving Credit Maturity Date" shall mean December 6, 1995, as such
date may be extended pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof.

         "Revolving Credit Note" shall mean the promissory note of the Borrower
executed and delivered under Section 2.01(c) hereof, any promissory note issued
in substitution therefor pursuant to Sections 2.15(b) or 9.14(c) hereof,
together with all extensions, renewals, refinancings or refundings thereof in
whole or part.


                                      -12-

<PAGE>

         "Senior Notes" shall mean the Borrower's 9.47% Senior Notes due 2001 in
the original aggregate principal amount of $40,000,000.

         "Significant Subsidiary" shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower
which in the most recent fiscal year of the Borrower accounted for more than 10%
of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each of the
most recent three fiscal years of the Borrower; provided, however, that with
respect to Subsidiaries created or acquired after the date hereof, if thereafter
such entity, in a fiscal year, accounts for more than 10% of the consolidated
assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in such fiscal year, it shall be
deemed to be a Significant Subsidiary for such fiscal year.

         "Standard Notice" shall mean an irrevocable notice provided to the
Agent on a Business Day which is

                  (a) On the same Business Day in the case of selection of,
         conversion to or renewal of the Base Rate Option or prepayment of any
         Base Rate Portion;

                  (b) At least one Business Day in advance in the case of
         selection of, conversion to or renewal of the CD Rate Option or
         prepayment of any CD Rate Portion; and

                  (c) At least three Business Days in advance in the case of
         selection of, conversion to or renewal of the Euro-Rate Option or
         prepayment of any Euro-Rate Portion.

Standard Notice must be provided no later than 10:00 a.m., Pittsburgh time, on
the last day permitted for such notice. The Agent shall promptly forward to the
Lenders copies of all Standard Notices received from the Borrower.

         "Stock Payment" by any Person shall mean any dividend, distribution or
payment of any nature (whether in cash, securities, or other property) on
account of or in respect of any shares of the capital stock (or warrants,
options or rights therefor) of such Person, including but not limited to any
payment on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or
acquisition of any shares of the capital stock (or warrants, options or rights
therefor) of such Person, in each case regardless of whether required by the
terms of such capital stock (or warrants, options or rights) or any other
agreement or instrument.

         "Subsidiary" of a Person at any time shall mean any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding
stock having by its terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board
of



                                      -13-

<PAGE>

         directors of such corporation, association or other business entity
         (irrespective of whether at such time stock of any other class or
         classes of such corporation, association or other business entity shall
         have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any
         contingency) is at such time owned directly or indirectly by such
         Person.

                  "Taxes" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.14
         hereof.

                  "Transfer Effective Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
         the applicable Transfer Supplement.

                  "Transfer Supplement" shall have the meaning set forth in
         Section 9.14(c) hereof.

                  "Voting Stock" shall mean, with respect to any corporation,
         the capital stock of such corporation having the power to vote for a
         majority of the board of directors of such corporation under ordinary
         circumstances.

         1.02. Construction. Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise
clearly requires, references to the plural include the singular, the singular
the plural and the part the whole; "or" has the inclusive meaning represented by
the phrase "and/or"; and "property" includes all properties and assets of any
kind or nature, tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed. References in
this Agreement to "determination" (and similar terms) by the Agent or by any
Lender include reasonable and good faith estimates by the Agent or by such
Lender (in the case of quantitative determinations) and good faith beliefs by
the Agent or by such Lender (in the case of qualitative determinations). The
words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and similar terms in this Agreement refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement. The section and other headings contained in this Agreement and the
Table of Contents preceding this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
shall not control or affect the construction of this Agreement or the
interpretation thereof in any respect. Section, subsection and exhibit
references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

         1.03. Accounting Principles. As used herein, "GAAP" shall mean
generally accepted accounting principles as such principles shall be in effect
at the Relevant Date; provided, however, that such principles shall be applied
without giving effect to FAS 106. As used herein, "Relevant Date" shall mean the
date a relevant computation or determination is to be made or the date of
relevant financial statements, as the case may be.

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II
                                  THE CREDITS

         2.01. Revolving Credit Loans.

         (a) Revolving Credit Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions
and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each
Lender, severally and not jointly, agrees (such agreement being herein called
such Lender's "Revolving Credit Commitment") to make loans (the "Revolving
Credit Loans") to the Borrower from time to time on or after the date hereof and
to but not including the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. A Lender shall have no
obligation to make any Revolving Credit Loan to the extent that the aggregate
principal amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Loans at any time would
exceed such Lender's Revolving Credit Committed Amount at such time. Each
Lender's "Revolving Credit Committed Amount" at any time shall be equal to the
amount set forth as its "Initial Revolving Credit Committed Amount" below its
name on the signature pages hereof, as such amount may have been reduced
pursuant to Section 2.02(d) hereof at such time, and subject to transfer to
another Lender as provided in Section 9.14 hereof. The sum of the Revolving
Credit Committed Amounts of the Lenders shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any
time.

         (b) Nature of Credit. Within the limits of time and amount set forth in
this Section 2.01, and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower
may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans hereunder.

         (c) Revolving Credit Notes. The obligation of the Borrower to repay the
unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans made to it by each Lender
and to pay interest thereon shall be evidenced in part by promissory notes of
the Borrower, one to each Lender, dated the Closing Date (the "Revolving Credit
Notes") in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, with the blanks
appropriately filled, payable to the order of such Lender in a face amount equal
to such Lender's Initial Revolving Credit Committed Amount.

         (d) Maturity. To the extent not due and payable earlier, the Revolving
Credit Loans shall be due and payable on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

         2.02. Fees; Reduction of the Committed Amounts.

         (a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account
of each Lender a commitment fee (the "Commitment Fee") equal to 0.250% per annum
(based on a year of 365 or 366 days and actual days elapsed), for each day from
and including the Closing Date and to but not including the Revolving Credit
Maturity Date, of the amount (not less than zero) equal to (i) such Lender's
Revolving Credit Committed Amount on such day, minus (ii) such Lender's
Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

such day. Such Commitment Fee shall be due and payable for the preceding period
for which such fee has not been paid (x) on each Regular Payment Date and (y) on
the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. The Commitment Fee shall be increased to
0.375% for each day on which the aggregate Revolving Credit Loans of all Lenders
outstanding exceeds 75% of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all
Lenders.

         (b) Closing Fee. On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay to the
Agent for the account of each Lender a closing fee equal to 0.05% of such
Lender's Revolving Credit Committed Amount.

         (c) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent an agency fee and
other fees at the times and in the amounts previously agreed upon among the
Agent and the Borrower.

         (d) Optional Reduction of the Revolving Credit Committed Amounts. The
Borrower may at any time or from time to time reduce Pro Rata the Revolving
Credit Committed Amounts of the Lenders to an aggregate amount (which may be
zero) not less than the sum of the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans plus the
principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans not yet outstanding as to which
notice has been given by Borrower under Section 2.05 hereof. Any reduction of
the Revolving Credit Committed Amounts shall be in an aggregate amount not less
than $5,000,000 which is an integral multiple of $1,000,000. Reduction of the
Revolving Credit Committed Amounts shall be made by providing not less than 10
days notice (which notice shall be irrevocable) to such effect to the Agent.

         2.03. Extension of Revolving Credit Maturity Date. On and after the
first Anniversary Date hereof, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date may be
extended for successive one year periods at the request of the Borrower with the
express consent of each Lender as provided below. Not later than the date 60
days prior to each Anniversary Date, the Borrower shall, at its option, in a
written notice to the Agent request (an "Extension Request") that the Revolving
Credit Maturity Date be extended for a period of one year. The Agent shall
promptly inform the Lenders of such Extension Request. Each Lender that agrees
with such Extension Request shall deliver to the Agent its express written
consent thereto no later than such Anniversary Date. If (i) any Lender notifies
the Agent in writing prior to such Anniversary Date that it will not consent to
such Extension Request or (ii) all of the Lenders have not in writing expressly
consented to any such Extension Request as provided in the preceding sentence,
then the Agent shall so notify the Borrower and the Borrower, at its option, may
replace each Lender which has not agreed to such Extension Request (a
"Nonextending Lender") with another commercial lending institution (a
"Replacement Lender") by giving (not later than 90 days after such Anniversary
Date) notice of the name of such Replacement Lender to the Agent. Upon notice
from


                                      -16-

<PAGE>
the Agent, each Nonextending Lender shall promptly (but in no event later than
the date which is 120 days after such Anniversary Date) assign all of its
interests hereunder to such Replacement Lender in accordance with the provisions
of Section 9.14(c) hereof. If, prior to the date which is 120 days after such
Anniversary Date some, but not all, of the Lenders have agreed to such Extension
Request, and each Nonextending Lender has not been replaced by the Borrower in
accordance with the terms of this Section 2.03, the Revolving Credit Maturity
Date shall be extended in accordance with such Extension Request; provided,
however, that on the original Revolving Credit Maturity Date (as such date may
have been previously extended), the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the
account of such Nonextending Lender such Nonextending Lender's Pro Rata share of
all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, together with interest thereon, and all
fees due and payable to such Nonextending Lender and the total Revolving Credit
Commitment shall be irrevocably reduced by an amount equal to the Commitment of
each Nonextending Lender. If all Lenders consent to any such Extension Request
(or, if any Nonextending Lenders are replaced in accordance with this Section),
then as of 5:00 p.m. Pittsburgh time on the date which is 120 days after such
Anniversary Date the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall be deemed to have been
extended for, and shall be the date, one year after the then effective Revolving
Credit Maturity Date.

         2.04. Maximum Aggregate Amount of Revolving Credit Loans. No Loan shall
be made or requested or permitted to remain outstanding hereunder if the making 
or maintenance of such Loan would cause the aggregate amount of all Revolving
Credit Loans outstanding hereunder to exceed the sum of the aggregate Revolving
Credit Committed Amounts of all Lenders.

         2.05. Making of Loans. Whenever the Borrower desires that the Lenders
make Revolving Credit Loans, the Borrower shall provide Standard Notice to the
Agent setting forth the following information (a separate notice being required
for each such type of Loans):

                  (a) The date, which shall be a Business Day, on which such
         proposed Loans are to be made;

                  (b) The aggregate principal amount of such proposed Loans,
         which shall be the sum of the principal amounts selected pursuant to
         clause (c) of this Section 2.05, and which shall be an integral
         multiple of $1,000,000 not less than $5,000,000;

                  (c) The interest rate Option or Options selected in accordance
         with Section 2.06(a) hereof and the principal amounts selected in
         accordance with Section 2.06(d) hereof of the Base Rate Portion and
         each Funding Segment of the CD Rate Portion and the Euro-Rate Portion,
         as the case may be, of such proposed Loans; and


                                      -17-

<PAGE>

                  (d) With respect to each such Funding Segment of such proposed
         Loans, the Funding Period to apply to such Funding Segment, selected in
         accordance with Section 2.06(c) hereof.

Standard Notice having been so provided, the Agent shall promptly notify each
Lender of the information contained therein and of the amount of such Lender's
Loan. Unless any applicable condition specified in Article IV hereof has not
been satisfied, on the date specified in such Standard Notice each Lender shall
make the proceeds of its Loan available to the Agent at the Agent's Office, no
later than 12:00 o'clock Noon, Pittsburgh time, in funds immediately available
at such Office.

                  2.06. Interest Rates.

                  (a) Optional Bases of Borrowing. The unpaid principal amount
of the Revolving Credit Loans shall bear interest for each day from and
including the date on which funds are made available to the Borrower by the
Agent and to but excluding the date of repayment on one or more bases selected
by the Borrower from among the interest rate Options set forth below. Subject to
the provisions of this Agreement the Borrower may select different Options to
apply simultaneously to different Portions of the Loans and may select different
Funding Segments to apply simultaneously to different parts of the CD Rate
Portion or the Euro-Rate Portion of the Loans. Each selection of a rate Option
shall apply separately and without overlap to the Revolving Credit Loans as a
class. The aggregate number of Funding Segments applicable to the CD Rate
Portion and the Euro-Rate Portion of the Revolving Credit Loans at any time
shall not exceed six unless otherwise permitted by the Agent.

                  (i) Base Rate Option: A rate per annum (computed on the basis
         of a year of 365 or 366 days and actual days elapsed) for each day
         equal to the Base Rate for such day plus the Applicable Margin for such
         day. The "Base Rate" for any day shall mean the greater of (A) the
         Prime Rate for such day or (B) 0.50% plus the Federal Funds Effective
         Rate for such day, such interest rate to change automatically from time
         to time effective as of the effective date of each change in the Prime
         Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

                  (ii) CD Rate Option: A rate per annum (based on a year of 360
         days and actual days elapsed) for each day equal to the CD Rate for
         such day plus the Applicable Margin for such day. "CD Rate" for any day
         shall mean for each Funding Segment of the CD Rate Portion
         corresponding to a proposed or existing CD Rate Funding Period the rate
         per annum determined by the Agent by adding

                           (A) the rate per annum (which shall be the same for
                  each day in such CD Rate Funding Period) determined

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

         in good faith by the Agent in accordance with its usual procedures
         (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) to be
         the arithmetic average of the rates offered to the Reference Banks at
         or about 11:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the first day of such CD Rate
         Funding Period by dealers of recognized standing in negotiable
         certificates of deposit for the purchase at face value of negotiable
         certificates of deposit of major money center banks for delivery on
         such day in amounts comparable to such Funding Segment and having
         maturities comparable to such CD Rate Funding Period plus

                 (B) the Assessment Rate.

         "Assessment Rate" for any day shall mean the rate per annum (rounded
upward to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined in good faith by the Agent in
accordance with its usual procedures (which determination shall be conclusive
absent manifest error) to be the maximum effective rate per annum payable by a
depository institution insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (or
any successor) for such day as an assessment for insurance on Dollar time
deposits, exclusive of any credit that is or may be allowed against such
assessment on account of assessment payments made or to be made by such
depository institution. The CD Rate shall be adjusted automatically as of the
effective date of each change in the Assessment Rate. The CD Rate Option shall
be calculated in accordance with the foregoing if any Lender is actually
required to pay FDIC assessments or, if required to pay such assessments, is
required to pay such assessments at the "Assessment Rate" as herein defined.

         The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and to the Lenders
of the CD Rate determined or adjusted in accordance with the definition of CD
Rate, which determination or adjustment shall be conclusive if made in good
faith.

         (iii) Euro-Rate Option: A rate per annum (based on a year of 360 days
and actual days elapsed) for each day equal to the Euro-Rate for such day plus,
in each case, the Applicable Margin for such day. "Euro-Rate" for any day, as
used herein, shall mean for each Funding Segment of the Euro-Rate Portion
corresponding to a proposed or existing Euro-Rate Funding Period the rate per
annum determined by the Agent to be the rate of interest (which shall be the
same for each day in such Euro-Rate Funding Period) determined in good faith by
the Agent in accordance with its usual procedures (which determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error) to be the average of the rates per annum for
deposits in Dollars offered to the Reference Banks in the London interbank
market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time,

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

         two Business Days prior to the first day of such Euro-Rate Funding
         Period for delivery on the first day of such Euro-Rate Funding Period
         in amounts comparable to such Funding Segment and having maturities
         comparable to such Funding Period.

                  The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and to the
         Lenders of the Euro-Rate determined in accordance with the definition
         of the Euro-Rate, which determination shall be conclusive if made in
         good faith.

                  (b) Applicable Margins. The "Applicable Margin" and interest
rate Option for any day shall mean the percentage set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             Interest Rate Option      Applicable Margin
             --------------------      -----------------
             <S>                         <C>
             Base Rate Option              0.000%
             CD Rate Option                0.625%
             Euro-Rate Option              0.500%

</TABLE>



provided, however, that the Applicable Margin for each day on which the
Borrower's Consolidated Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.45:1 (but
less than or equal to 1.55:1) shall mean the percentage set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             Interest Rate Option       Applicable Margin
             --------------------       -----------------
            <S>                           <C>
             Base Rate Option              0.125%
             CD Rate Option                0.750%
             Euro-Rate Option              0.625%
</TABLE>


                  (c) Funding Periods. At any time when the Borrower shall
select, convert to or renew the CD Rate Option or the Euro-Rate Option to apply
to any part of the Loans, the Borrower shall specify one or more periods (the
"Funding Periods") during which each such Option shall apply, such Funding
Periods being as set forth below:

Interest Rate Option                         Available Funding Periods
- --------------------                         -------------------------

CD Rate Option                               30, 60, 90 or 180 days or such
                                             longer period as may be offered by
                                             all of the Lenders ("CD Rate
                                             Funding Period"); and

Euro-Rate Option                             One, two, three or six months or
                                             such longer period as may be
                                             offered by all of the Lenders
                                             ("Euro-Rate Funding Period");


                                      -20-

<PAGE>

provided, that:

                  (i) Each CD Rate Funding Period which would otherwise end on a
         day which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next
         succeeding Business Day;

                  (ii) Each Euro-Rate Funding Period shall begin on a Business
         Day, and the term "month", when used in connection with a Euro-Rate
         Funding Period, shall be construed in accordance with prevailing
         practices in the interbank eurodollar market at the commencement of
         such Euro-Rate Funding Period, as determined in good faith by the Agent
         (which determination shall be conclusive);

                  (iii) The Borrower may not select a Funding Period that would
         end after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; and

                  (iv) The Borrower shall, in selecting any Funding Period,
         allow for scheduled mandatory payments of the Loans.

         (d) Transactional Amounts. Every selection of, conversion from,
conversion to or renewal of an interest rate Option and every payment or
prepayment of any Loans shall be in a principal amount such that after giving
effect thereto the aggregate principal amount of the Base Rate Portion of the
Revolving Credit Loans shall be $1,000,000 and integral multiples thereof, and
the aggregate principal amount of each Funding Segment of the CD Rate Portion or
the Euro-Rate Portion of the Revolving Credit Loans shall be $5,000,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000,000 thereof.

         (e) CD Rate or Euro-Rate Unascertainable; Impracticability. If

                  (i) on any date on which a CD Rate or a Euro-Rate would
         otherwise be set the Agent (in the case of clauses (A) or (B) below)
         shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be
         conclusive absent manifest error) that:

                           (A) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
                  ascertaining such CD Rate or Euro-Rate, or

                           (B) a contingency has occurred which materially and
                  adversely affects the secondary market for negotiable
                  certificates of deposit maintained by dealers of recognized
                  standing or the interbank eurodollar market, as the case may
                  be, or

                  (ii) at any time any Lender shall have determined in good
         faith (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error)
         that the making, maintenance or funding of any part of the CD Rate
         Portion or the Euro-Rate Portion has


                                      -21-

<PAGE>

         been made impracticable or unlawful by compliance by such Lender or a
         Notional Euro-Rate Funding Office in good faith with any Law or
         guideline or interpretation or administration thereof by any
         Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or
         administration thereof or with any request or directive of any such
         Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law);

then, and in any such event, the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may
notify the Borrower of such determination (and any Lender giving such notice
shall notify the Agent). Upon such date as shall be specified in such notice
(which shall not be earlier than the date such notice is given), the obligation
of each of the Lenders to allow the Borrower to select, convert to or renew the
CD Rate Option or Euro-Rate Option, as the case may be, shall be suspended until
the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, shall have later notified the
Borrower (and any Lender giving such notice shall notify the Agent) of the
Agent's or such Lender's determination in good faith (which determination shall
be conclusive absent manifest error) that the circumstance giving rise to such
previous determination no longer exist.

         If any Lender notifies the Borrower of a determination under subsection
(ii) of this Section 2.06(e), the CD Rate Portion or the Euro-Rate Portion, as
the case may be, of the Loans of such Lender (the "Affected Lender") shall,
subject to Section 2.12(b) hereof, automatically be converted to the Base Rate
Option as of the last day of the then current Funding Period with respect to
such Loans (in the case of a determination that the making, maintenance or
funding of any CD Rate Portion or Euro-Rate Portion of such Loans is
impracticable) and the last day on which the making, maintenance or funding of
any CD Rate Portion or Euro-Rate Portion of such Loans is not unlawful (in the
case of a determination that the making, maintenance or funding of any CD Rate
Portion or Euro-Rate Portion of such Loans is unlawful) and accrued interest
thereon shall be due and payable on such date.

         If at the time the Agent or a Lender makes a determination under
subsection (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.06(e), the Borrower previously has
notified the Agent that it wishes to select, convert to or renew the CD Rate
Option or the Euro-Rate Option, as the case may be, with respect to any proposed
Loans but such Loans have not yet been made, such notification shall be deemed
to provide for selection of, conversion to or renewal of the Base Rate Option
instead of the CD Rate Option or the Euro-Rate Option, as the case may be, with
respect to such Loans or, in the case of a determination by a Lender, such Loans
of such Lender.

         2.07. Conversion or Renewal of Interest Rate Options.

         (a) Conversion or Renewal. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(b)
hereof, so long as no Event of Default or



                                      -22-

<PAGE>

Potential Default shall have occurred or be continuing hereunder, the Borrower
may convert any part of its Loans from any interest rate Option or Options to
one or more different interest rate Options and may renew the CD Rate Option or
the Euro-Rate Option as to any Funding Segment of the CD Rate Portion or the
Euro-Rate Portion:

                  (i) At any time with respect to conversion from the Base Rate
         Option; or

                  (ii) At the expiration of any Funding Period with respect to
         conversions from or renewals of the CD Rate Option or the Euro-Rate
         Option, as the case may be, as to the Funding Segment corresponding to
         such expiring Funding Period.

Whenever the Borrower desires to convert or renew any interest rate Option or
Options, the Borrower shall provide to the Agent Standard Notice setting forth
the following information:

                  (w) The date, which shall be a Business Day, on which the
         proposed conversion or renewal is to be made;

                  (x) The principal amounts selected in accordance with Section
         2.06(d) hereof of the Base Rate Portion and each Funding Segment of the
         CD Rate Portion and the Euro-Rate Portion, as the case may be, to be
         converted from or renewed;

                  (y) The interest rate Option or Options selected in accordance
         with Section 2.06(a) hereof and the principal amounts selected in
         accordance with Section 2.06(d) hereof of the Base Rate Portion and
         each Funding Segment of the CD Rate Portion and the Euro-Rate Portion,
         as the case may be, to be converted to; and

                  (z) With respect to each Funding Segment to be converted to or
         renewed, the Funding Period selected in accordance with Section 2.06(c)
         hereof to apply to such Funding Segment.

Standard Notice having been so provided, on and after the date specified in such
Standard Notice, interest shall be calculated upon the principal amount of the
Loans as so converted or renewed. Interest on the principal amount of any part
of the Loans converted or renewed (automatically or otherwise) shall be due and
payable on the conversion or renewal date.

                  (b) Failure to Convert or Renew. Absent payment of a Loan or
due notice from the Borrower of conversion or renewal in the circumstances
described in Section 2.07(a)(ii) hereof, any part of the CD Rate Portion or
Euro-Rate Portion for which such notice is not received shall be converted
automatically to the Base Rate Option on the last day of the expiring Funding
Period.


                                      -23-

<PAGE>


         2.08. Prepayments Generally. Whenever the Borrower desires or is
required to prepay any part of its Loans, it shall provide Standard Notice to
the Agent setting forth the following information:

                  (a) The date, which shall be a Business Day, on which the
         proposed prepayment is to be made;

                  (b) The total principal amount of such prepayment, which shall
         be the sum of the principal amounts selected pursuant to clause (c) of
         this Section 2.08; and

                  (c) The principal amounts selected in accordance with Section
         2.06(d) hereof of the Base Rate Portion and each part of each Funding
         Segment of the CD Rate Portion and the Euro-Rate Portion, as the case
         may be, to be prepaid.

Standard Notice having been so provided, on the date specified in such Standard
Notice, the principal amounts of the Base Rate Portion and each part of the CD
Rate Portion and the Euro-Rate Portion specified in such notice, together with
interest on each such principal amount to such date, shall be due and payable.

         2.09. Prepayments. (a) The Borrower shall have the right at its option
from time to time to prepay its Revolving Credit Loans in whole or part without
premium or penalty (subject, however, in the case of clause (iii) below, to
Section 2.12(b) hereof):

                  (i) At any time (other than a time when Standard Notice
         requesting the making of Revolving Credit Loans bearing interest under
         the Euro-Rate Option has been given by the Borrower but such Loans have
         not yet been made) with respect to any part of the Base Rate Portion;

                  (ii) At the expiration of any Funding Period with respect to
         prepayment of the CD Rate Portion or the Euro-Rate Portion, as the case
         may be, with respect to any part of the Funding Segment corresponding
         to such expiring Funding Period; or

                  (iii) Prior to the expiration of any Funding Period with
         respect to prepayment of the CD Rate Portion or the Euro-Rate Portion,
         as the case may be, with respect to any part of the Funding Segment
         corresponding to such expiring Funding Period, upon payment of the
         indemnity payment set forth in Section 2.12(b) hereof.

         (b) All prepayments shall be made in accordance with Section 2.08
hereof.



                                      -24-

<PAGE>

         2.10. Interest Payment Dates. Interest on the Base Rate Portion shall
be due and payable on the date of any conversion of all or part of the Base Rate
Portion to a different interest rate Option, any prepayment of any part of the
Base Rate Portion on the amount prepaid, and on each Regular Payment Date.
Interest on each Funding Segment of the CD Rate Portion shall be due and payable
on the last day of the corresponding CD Rate Funding Period and, if such CD Rate
Funding Period is longer than 90 days, also every 90th day during such CD Rate
Funding Period. Interest on each Funding Segment of the Euro-Rate Portion shall
be due and payable on the last day of the corresponding Euro-Rate Funding Period
and, if such Euro-Rate Funding Period is longer than three months, also on the
last day of every third month during such Funding Period. After maturity of any
part of the Loans (by acceleration or otherwise), interest on such part of the
Loans shall be due and payable on demand.

         2.11. Pro Rata Treatment; Payments Generally.

         (a) Pro Rata Treatment. Each borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans
hereunder and each conversion and renewal of interest rate Options hereunder
shall be made, and all payments made in respect of principal, interest and fees
due from the Borrower hereunder or under the Notes shall be applied, Pro Rata
from and to each Lender, except for payments of agency and arrangement fees
pursuant to Section 2.02(c) hereof, payments of interest involving an Affected
Lender as provided in Section 2.06(e) hereof and payments to a Lender subject to
a withholding deduction under Section 2.14(c) hereof. The failure of any Lender
to make a Revolving Credit Loan shall not relieve any other Lender of its
obligation to lend hereunder, but neither the Agent nor any Lender shall be
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make a Revolving Credit Loan.

                  (b) Payments Generally. All payments and prepayments to be
made by the Borrower in respect of principal, interest, fees, indemnity,
expenses or other amounts due from the Borrower to the Agent for the account of
the Lenders hereunder or under any Loan Document in Dollars shall be payable at
2:00 p.m., Pittsburgh time, on the day when due without presentment, demand,
protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, and an
action therefor shall immediately accrue, without setoff, counterclaim,
withholding or other deduction of any kind or nature, except for payments to a
Lender subject to a withholding deduction under Section 2.14(c) hereof. Except
for payments under Sections 2.12 and 9.06 hereof, such payments shall be made to
the Agent at its Office in Dollars in funds immediately available at such
Office, and payments under Sections 2.12 and 9.06 hereof shall be made to the
applicable Lender at such domestic account as it shall specify to the Borrower
from time to time in funds immediately available at such account. Any payment or
prepayment received by the Agent or such Lender after 2:00 p.m., Pittsburgh
time, on any day shall be deemed to have been received on the next



                                      -25-

<PAGE>

succeeding Business Day. The Agent shall distribute to the Lenders all such
payments received by it from the Borrower as promptly as practicable after
receipt by the Agent.

          (c) Interest on Overdue Amounts. To the extent permitted by law, after
there shall have become due (by acceleration or otherwise) principal, interest,
fees, indemnity, expenses or any other amounts due from the Borrower hereunder
or under any other Loan Document, such amounts shall bear interest for each day
until paid (before and after judgment), payable on demand, at a rate per annum
based on a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed
(in the case of any Portion of Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate Option)
and 360 days and actual days elapsed (in the case of any Portion of Loans
bearing interest at the CD Rate Option or the Euro-Rate Option) which for each
day shall be equal to the following:

                  (i) In the case of any part of the CD Rate Portion or
         Euro-Rate Portion of any Loans, (A) until the end of the applicable
         then-current Funding Period at a rate per annum 200 basis points above
         the rate otherwise applicable to such part, and (B) thereafter in
         accordance with the following clause (ii); and

                  (ii) In the case of any other amount due from the Borrower
         hereunder or under any Loan Document, 200 basis points above the then
         current Base Rate.

                  2.12. Additional Compensation in Certain Circumstances.

         (a) Increased Costs or Reduced Return Resulting From Taxes, Reserves,
Capital Adequacy Requirements, Expenses, Etc. If any Law or change therein or
guideline or interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority
charged with the interpretation or administration thereof or compliance with any
request or directive of any Governmental Authority (whether or not having the
force of law) adopted or made after the date hereof:

                  (i) subjects any Lender or any Notional Euro-Rate Funding
         Office to any tax or changes the basis of taxation with respect to this
         Agreement, the Notes, the Loans or payments by the Borrower of
         principal, interest, commitment fee or other amounts due from the
         Borrower hereunder or under the Notes (except for taxes on the overall
         net income or overall gross receipts of such Lender or such Notional
         Euro-Rate Funding Office imposed by the jurisdictions (federal, state
         and local) in which the Lender's principal office or Notional Euro-Rate
         Funding Office is located),

                  (ii) imposes, modifies or deems applicable any reserve,
         special deposit or similar requirement against credits or commitments
         to extend credit extended by, assets (funded or contingent) of,
         deposits with or for the account of, other



                                      -26-

<PAGE>

         acquisitions of funds by, such Lender or any Notional Euro-Rate Funding
         Office (other than requirements expressly included herein in the
         determination of the CD Rate, the Euro-Rate, or the determination of
         additional interest pursuant to Section 2.12(c) hereof, as the case may
         be, hereunder),

                  (iii) imposes, modifies or deems applicable any capital
         adequacy or similar requirement (A) against assets (funded or
         contingent) of, or credits or commitments to extend credit extended by,
         any Lender or any Notional Euro-Rate Funding Office, or (B) otherwise
         applicable to the obligations of any Lender or any Notional Euro-Rate
         Funding Office under this Agreement, or

                  (iv) imposes upon any Lender or any Notional Euro-Rate Funding
         Office any other condition or expense directly related to this
         Agreement, the Notes or its making, maintenance or funding of any Loan

and the result of any of the foregoing is determined by any Lender to increase
the cost to, reduce the income receivable by, or impose any expense (including
loss of margin) upon such Lender, any Notional Euro-Rate Funding Office or, in
the case of clause (iii) hereof, any Person controlling a Lender, with respect
to this Agreement, the Notes or the making, maintenance or funding of any Loan
(or, in the case of any capital adequacy or similar requirement, to have the
effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's or controlling Person's
capital, taking into consideration such Lender's or controlling Person's
policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount which such Lender deems
to be material (such Lender being deemed for this purpose to have made,
maintained or funded each Funding Segment of the CD Rate Portion and the
Euro-Rate Portion from a Corresponding Source of Funds), such Lender may from
time to time promptly notify the Borrower of the amount determined in good faith
(using any averaging and attribution methods) by such Lender (which
determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) to be necessary to
compensate such Lender or such Notional Euro-Rate Funding Office for such
increase, reduction or imposition. Each Lender will notify the Borrower and the
Agent of any event occurring after the date of this Agreement which will entitle
such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 2.12 as promptly as
practicable after it obtains knowledge thereof and determines to request such
compensation. Each Lender will furnish the Borrower and Agent with a statement
setting forth in reasonable detail the basis, the manner of calculation and the
amount of each request by such Lender for compensation from the Borrower under
this Section 2.12. Such amount shall be due and payable by the Borrower to such
Lender 20 days after such notice is given.


                                      -27-

<PAGE>
          (b) Funding Breakage. In addition to the compensation required under
Section 2.12(a) hereof, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any
loss or expense (including loss of margin) which such Lender has incurred as a
consequence of:

                  (i) any payment, prepayment or conversion of any part of any
         Funding Segment of any CD Rate Portion or Euro-Rate Portion of the
         Loans on a day other than the last day of the corresponding Funding
         Period (whether or not such payment, prepayment or conversion is
         mandatory or automatic and whether or not such payment or prepayment is
         then due),

                  (ii) any attempt by the Borrower to revoke (expressly, by
         later inconsistent notices or otherwise) in whole or in part any notice
         stated herein to be irrevocable (the Agent having in its sole
         discretion the options (A) to give effect to such attempted revocation
         provided that indemnity under this Section 2.12(b) is obtained or (B)
         to treat such attempted revocation as having no force or effect, as if
         never made), or

                  (iii) any default by the Borrower in the performance or
         observance of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or
         the Notes, including without limitation any failure of the Borrower to
         pay when due (by acceleration or otherwise) any principal, interest,
         commitment fee, facility fee or any other amount due hereunder or under
         any Note.

          If any Lender sustains or incurs any such loss or expense it shall
from time to time notify the Borrower and the Agent in writing setting forth in
reasonable detail the amount determined in good faith by such Lender (which
determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) to be necessary to
indemnify such Lender for such loss or expense. Such amount shall be due and
payable by the Borrower to the Agent for the account of such Lender, 20 days
after such notice is given.

                  (c) Additional Interest. (i) So long as any Lender shall be
         required under regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal
         Reserve System to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or
         assets consisting of or including loans made with reference to the CD
         Rate, such Lender may require the Borrower to pay, but only in respect
         of any period during which such reserves shall actually be maintained
         by such Lender, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of
         the CD Rate Portion of the Loans, at an interest rate per annum equal
         at all times during each CD Rate Funding Period to the difference
         obtained by subtracting (A) the CD Rate for such CD Rate Funding Period
         from (B) the rate obtained by dividing such CD Rate referred to in
         clause (A) above by that percentage equal to 100% minus the CD Rate
         Reserve Percentage of such Lender for such CD Rate Funding Period.



                                      -28-

<PAGE>

                  (ii) So long as any Lender shall be required under regulations
         of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to maintain
         reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or
         including Eurocurrency Liabilities, such Lender may require the
         Borrower to pay, but only in respect of any period during which such
         reserves shall actually be maintained by such Lender, additional
         interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Euro-Rate Portion of the
         Loans, at an interest rate per annum equal at all times during each
         Euro-Rate Funding Period to the difference obtained by subtracting (A)
         the Euro-Rate for such Euro-Rate Funding Period from (B) the rate
         obtained by dividing such Euro-Rate referred to in clause (A) above by
         that percentage equal to 100% minus the Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage of
         such Lender for such Euro-Rate Funding Period.

                  (iii) If any Lender shall claim entitlement to any additional
         amount pursuant to this Section 2.12(c), then such Lender shall deliver
         to the Borrower a certificate setting forth the basis for the
         determination thereof as promptly as practicable. More than one such
         certificate may be so delivered. Each such certificate shall be
         conclusive and binding for all purposes as to the amount due absent
         manifest error. The Borrower shall pay to such Lender the amount shown
         as due on any such certificate within 20 days after its receipt of the
         same.

         2.13. HLT Classification. The Agent shall promptly give notice to the
Borrower and each Lender if at any time

         (a) the Agent determines in its reasonable judgment (based upon any Law
or guideline or interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental
Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof or
compliance with any request or directive of any Governmental Authority (whether
or not having the force of law), now existing or hereafter adopted), that any
portion of the Loans under this Agreement should be classified as a "highly
leveraged transaction" (or any similar or successor classification then in
effect) (an "HLT Classification"),

         (b) the Agent is informed by any Governmental Authority that any
portion of the Loans under this Agreement are or should be subject to HLT
Classification, or

         (c) any Lender is informed by any Governmental Authority that any
portion of the Loans under this Agreement contemplated hereby are or should be
subject to HLT Classification, and such Lender in its discretion gives notice of
such fact to the Agent.


                                      -29-

<PAGE>

In such event the parties hereto shall commence negotiations in good faith with
a view to agreeing on revised interest rates, fees and other terms and
conditions hereof, consistent with then-current market requirements for
transactions subject to HLT Classification. If the parties hereto fail to agree
on such matters in their respective absolute discretion within 30 days of the
notice given by the Agent referred to above, then the Agent, acting at the
request of the Required Lenders, may give a further notice to the Borrower, and
effective as of the date of such further notice (i) each Applicable Margin set
forth in Section 2.06(b) hereof shall be increased by 2.50%, and (ii) the
percentage applicable to calculation of the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee in
Section 2.02(a) hereof shall be increased by .250%. Except as set forth above,
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

         2.14 Taxes.

         (a) Payments Net of Taxes. All payments made by the Borrower under this
Agreement shall be made free and clear of, and without reduction or withholding
for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes,
levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or
hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental
Authority, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding

                  (i) in the case of the Agent and each Lender, income or
         franchise taxes imposed on the Agent or such Lender by the jurisdiction
         under the laws of which the Agent or such Lender is organized or any
         political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or as a
         result of a connection between such Lender and any jurisdiction other
         than a connection resulting solely from this Agreement and the
         transactions contemplated hereby, and

                  (ii) in the case of each Lender, income or franchise taxes
         imposed by any jurisdiction in which such Lender's lending offices
         which make or book Loans are located or any political subdivision or
         taxing authority thereof or therein

(all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or
withholdings being hereinafter called "Taxes"). If any Taxes are required to be
withheld or deducted from any amounts payable to the Agent or any Lender under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the Borrower shall pay the relevant
amount of such Taxes and the amounts so payable to the Agent or such Lender
shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to the Agent or such Lender
(after payment of all Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable
hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents. Whenever any Taxes are paid by the Borrower with respect
to payments made in connection with this Agreement, as promptly as possible

                                      -30-

<PAGE>

thereafter, the Borrower shall send to the Agent for its own account or for the
account of such Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an original
official receipt received by the Borrower showing payment thereof.

          (b) Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies the Agent and each of
the Lenders for the full amount of all Taxes attributable to payments by or on
behalf of the Borrower hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, any
such Taxes paid by the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any present or
future claims, liabilities or losses with respect to or resulting from any
omission to pay or delay in paying any Taxes (including any incremental Taxes,
interest or penalties that may become payable by the Agent or such Lender as a
result of any failure to pay such Taxes), whether or not such Taxes were
correctly or legally asserted. Such indemnification shall be made within 30 days
from the date such Lender or the Agent, as the case may be, makes written demand
therefor.

          (c) Withholding and Backup Withholding. Each Lender that is
incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the
United States or any State thereof agrees that, on or prior to the Closing Date
(or, with respect to any Lender which becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant
to Section 9.14 hereof, the Transfer Effective Date), it will furnish to the
Borrower and the Agent

                  (i) two valid, duly completed copies of United States Internal
         Revenue Service Form 4224 or United States Internal Revenue Form 1001
         or successor applicable form, as the case may be, certifying in each
         case that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under this
         Agreement and the other Loan Documents without deduction or withholding
         of any United States federal income taxes, and

                  (ii) a valid, duly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8
         or W-9 or successor applicable form, as the case may be, to establish
         an exemption from United States backup withholding tax.

Each Lender which so delivers to the Borrower and the Agent a Form 1001 or 4224
and Form W-8 or W-9 applicable forms (the "Forms") agrees to deliver to the
Borrower and the Agent two further copies of the Forms, or other manner of
certification, as the case may be, on or before the date that any such form
expires or becomes obsolete or otherwise is required to be resubmitted as a
condition to obtaining an exemption from withholding tax, or after the
occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form previously
delivered by it, and such extensions or renewals thereof as may reasonably be
requested by the Borrower and the Agent, certifying in the case of a Form 1001
or Form 4224 that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document without deduction or

                                      -31-

<PAGE>

withholding of any United States federal income taxes, unless in any such cases
an event (including any changes in Law) has occurred prior to the date on which
any such delivery would otherwise be required which renders all such forms
inapplicable or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing and
delivering any such letter or form with respect to it and such Lender advises
the Borrower and the Agent that it is not capable of receiving payments without
any deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax, and in the
case of a Form W-8 or W-9, establishing an exemption from United States backup
withholding tax. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional amounts pursuant to this
Section 2.14 or pursuant to Section 2.12 if the obligation to pay such
additional amounts would not have arisen but for the failure by any Lender to
comply with its obligations hereunder, or if such Lender shall have delivered
the appropriate Forms and such Lender is not entitled to exemption from
deduction or withholding of U.S. federal income tax in respect of payments made
by the Borrower hereunder for any reason other than a change in U.S. law or
regulations or in the official interpretation thereof after the date of delivery
of such Forms.

         2.15. Funding by Branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate.

         (a) Notional Funding. Each Lender shall have the right from time to
time, prospectively or retrospectively, without notice to the Borrower, to deem
any branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender to have made, maintained or
funded any part of the Euro-Rate Portion at any time. Any branch, subsidiary or
affiliate so deemed shall be known as a "Notional Euro-Rate Funding Office."
Such Lender shall deem any part of the Euro-Rate Portion of the Loans or the
funding therefor to have been transferred to a different Notional Euro-Rate
Funding Office if such transfer would avoid or cure an event or condition
described in Section 2.06(e)(ii) hereof or would lessen compensation payable by
the Borrower under Sections 2.12(a) or 2.14(b) hereof, and provided that such
Lender determines in its sole discretion that such transfer would be practicable
and would not have a material adverse effect on such part of the Loans, such
Lender or any Notional Euro-Rate Funding Office (it being assumed for purposes
of such determination that each part of the Euro-Rate Portion is actually made
or maintained by or funded through the corresponding Notional Euro-Rate Funding
Office). Notional Euro-Rate Funding Offices may be selected by such Lender
without regard to such Lender's actual methods of making, maintaining or funding
Loans or any sources of funding actually used by or available to such Lender.

         (b) Actual Funding. Each Lender shall have the right from time to time
to make or maintain any part of the Euro-Rate Portion by arranging for a branch,
subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender to make or maintain such part of the
Euro-Rate Portion.


                                      -32-

<PAGE>
Such Lender shall have the right to (i) hold any applicable Note payable to its
order for the benefit and account of such branch, subsidiary or affiliate or
(ii) request the Borrower to issue one or more promissory notes in the principal
amount of such Euro-Rate Portion, in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A with the blanks appropriately filled, payable to such branch,
subsidiary or affiliate and with appropriate changes reflecting that the holder
thereof is not obligated to make any additional Loans to the Borrower. The
Borrower agrees to comply promptly with any request under subsection (ii) of
this Section 2.15(b). If any Lender causes a branch, subsidiary or affiliate to
make or maintain any part of the Euro-Rate Portion hereunder, all terms and
conditions of this Agreement shall, except where the context clearly requires
otherwise, be applicable to such part of the Euro-Rate Portion and to any note
payable to the order of such branch, subsidiary or affiliate to the same extent
as if such part of the Euro-Rate Portion were made or maintained and such note
were a Revolving Credit Note payable to such Lender's order.

                                   ARTICLE III
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Agent and each
Lender as follows:

         3.01. Corporate Status. The Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof (a)
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; (b) has corporate power and authority
to own its property and to transact the business in which it is engaged or
presently proposes to engage; and (c) is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in all jurisdictions in which the
ownership of its properties or the nature of its activities or both makes such
qualification necessary, except for matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, could not have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 3.01 hereof states
as of the date hereof the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Borrower and each
Subsidiary.

         3.02. Corporate Power and Authorization. The Borrower has the corporate
power to execute, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to be executed by it,
has the power to borrow hereunder and has taken all necessary corporate action
and obtained all necessary consents and approvals to authorize the borrowings
hereunder on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, has taken all necessary
action, corporate or otherwise, to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be executed by it.
No consent or approval of stockholders of the Borrower generally, no consent or
approval of any landlord or mortgagee, and no waiver of any Lien of right or
distraint or other similar right, is or will be required in


                                      -33-

<PAGE>

connection with the execution, delivery or performance by it, or the validity,
enforcement or priority, of the Loan Documents to be executed by it.

         3.03. Execution and Bindinq Effect. This Agreement and each other Loan
Document to which the Borrower is a party has been, or upon its execution and
delivery will be, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and each
constitutes, or upon its execution and delivery will constitute, the valid and
legally binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws, now or hereafter
in effect, relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and except that the remedy of specific performance and other equitable
remedies are subject to judicial discretion. There is no action, suit,
proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which
questions the validity or the enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.

         3.04. Governmental Approvals and Filings. No approval, order, consent,
authorization, certificate, license, permit or validation of, or exemption or
other action by, or filing, recording or registration with, or notice to, any
Governmental Authority (collectively, "Governmental Action") is or will be
necessary or advisable in connection with execution and delivery of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, consummation by the Borrower of the
transactions herein or therein contemplated, or performance of or compliance
with the terms and conditions hereof or thereof. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary thereof is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940
or to any Federal or state statute or regulation limiting the Borrower's ability
to incur Indebtedness for money borrowed. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary thereof is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an
"investment company," within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.

         3.05. Absence of Conflicts. The execution and delivery by the Borrower
of this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party and
performance by it hereunder and thereunder, will not violate any Law (including,
without limitation, Regulations G, U, T and X of the Federal Reserve Board) and
will not conflict with or result in a breach of any order, writ, injunction,
ordinance, resolution, decree, or other similar document or instrument of any
court or governmental authority, bureau or agency, domestic or foreign, or its
certificate of incorporation or by-laws or create (with or without the giving of
notice or lapse of time, or both) a default under or breach of any agreement,
bond, note or indenture to which it is a party (by successor in interest or
otherwise), or by which it is

                                      -34-

<PAGE>

bound or any of its properties or assets is affected, or result in the
imposition of any Lien of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or
assets owned by or used in connection with the business of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries.

         3.06. Audited Financial Statements. The Borrower has heretofore
furnished to the Agent and each Lender consolidated balance sheets of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1990 and the
related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and changes in
stockholders' equity for the fiscal year then ended, as examined and reported on
by Ernst & Young, independent certified public accountants for the Borrower, who
delivered an unqualified opinion in respect thereof. Such financial statements
(including the notes thereto) present fairly the financial condition of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of each such fiscal
year and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the fiscal
years then ended, all in conformity with GAAP.

         3.07. Absence of Undisclosed Material Liabilities. Except as disclosed
in writing by the Borrower to the Lenders and except as to the possible effect
of the application of FAS 106, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the
Borrower has any liability or obligation of any nature whatever (including
without limitation Environmental Matters) which, to the knowledge of any
Responsible Officer, will more likely than not have a Material Adverse Effect.
As of September 30, 1991, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the
Borrower has any Indebtedness other than the Indebtedness of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 3.07 hereto.

         3.08. Absence of Material Adverse Change. Except as to the possible
effect of the application of FAS 106, since December 31, 1990, there has been no
change in the business, properties, assets or financial condition of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole which is likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         3.09. Accurate and Complete Disclosure. The Borrower has furnished to
the Lenders copies of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1990, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
30, 1991 and its Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1990. None of
such documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state any material fact necessary to make such information (taken as a whole)
not misleading at such time in light of the circumstances in which it was
provided.

         3.10. Margin Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder
will be used for the purpose of buying or carrying any "margin stock", as such
term is used in Regulations G and U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, as amended from time to time, except margin stock issued by the

                                      -35-

<PAGE>

Borrower, or to extend credit to others for the purpose of buying or carrying
any "margin stock." Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is engaged
in the business of extending credit to others for the purpose of buying or
carrying "margin stock." Neither the making of any Loan nor any use of proceeds
of any such Loan will violate or conflict with the provisions of Regulation G,
T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended
from time to time.

         3.11. Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.11 hereof states as of the Closing Date
each Subsidiary of the Borrower and the percentage of outstanding shares owned
by the Borrower and by each Subsidiary. The outstanding shares of each
Subsidiary of the Borrower have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable. The Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof owns
beneficially and of record and has good title to all of the shares represented
by the ownership percentage shown in such Schedule 3.11, free and clear of any
Lien. There are no options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, conversion rights,
exchange rights, preemptive rights or other rights, agreements or arrangements
(contingent or otherwise) which may in any circumstances now or hereafter
obligate any Subsidiary to issue any shares of its capital stock or any other
securities. As of the Closing Date, no Subsidiary has outstanding any class of
preferred stock or any class of common stock with a prior right to dividends.

          3.12. Partnerships, etc. As of the Closing Date, neither the Borrower
nor any Subsidiary thereof is a partner (general or limited) of any partnership,
is a party to any joint venture or owns (beneficially or of record) any material
equity or similar interest in any Person (including but not limited to any
interest pursuant to which the Borrower or such Subsidiary has or may in any
circumstance have an obligation to make capital contributions to, or be
generally liable for or on account of the liabilities, acts or omissions of such
other Person), except for the partnership interests set forth in Schedule 3.12
hereof.

         3.13. Litigation. Except as disclosed in writing by the Borrower to the
Lenders, there is no pending or (to the Borrower's knowledge) threatened action,
suit, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority
against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, which will
more likely than not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         3.14. Absence of Events of Default. No event has occurred and is
continuing and no condition exists which constitutes an Event of Default or
Potential Default.

         3.15. Insurance. The policies, binders or self-insurance programs for
fire, liability, product liability, worker's compensation, vehicular and other
insurance currently



                                      -36-

<PAGE>

held by or on behalf of the Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof insure its
properties and business activities against such losses and risks as are adequate
to protect its properties in accordance with customary industry practice when
entered into or renewed. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, all such
policies, binders and self-insurance programs are in full force and effect.
Neither the Borrower nor, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that
substantial capital improvements or other expenditures will have to be made in
order to continue such insurance and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, no
such improvements or expenditures are required. Neither the Borrower nor, to the
best knowledge of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of
cancellation of any material insurance policy or binder.


         3.16. Title to Properties. Except where the failure to possess good and
marketable title in fee simple or good title, as the case may be, would not have
a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof has good and
marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned or purported to be
owned by it and necessary for the operation of its business and good title to
all other property of whatever nature owned or purported to be owned by it,
including but not limited to all property reflected in the most recent audited
balance sheet referred to in Section 3.06 hereof or submitted pursuant to
Section 5.01(a) hereof, as the case may be (except as sold or otherwise disposed
of in the ordinary course of business after the date of such balance sheet or,
after the Closing Date, as otherwise expressly permitted by the Loan Documents)
in each case free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section
6.02 hereof.

         3.17. Intellectual Property. The Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof
owns, or is licensed or otherwise has the right to use, all the patents,
trademarks, service marks, names (trade, service, fictitious or otherwise),
copyrights, technology (including but not limited to computer programs and
software), processes, data bases and other rights, free from burdensome
restrictions, necessary to own and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as presently conducted and presently planned to be conducted without
conflict with the rights of others.

         3.18. Taxes. Consolidated federal income tax returns for the Borrower
and its domestic Subsidiaries have been examined by the IRS for all years up to
and including the year ended December 31, 1987. The Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries have filed or caused to be filed all federal, state and local tax
returns which, to the knowledge of any Responsible Officer of the Borrower, are
required to be filed and have paid or caused to be paid all taxes as shown on
such returns or on any assessment received by it or by any of them, to the
extent that such taxes have become due, except any such tax or assessment the
validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings


                                      -37-

<PAGE>
and with respect to which the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, as
appropriate, has set aside on its books adequate reserves to the extent the
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower and a nationally recognized
independent certified public accountant believes such reserves are necessary. To
the extent that the Borrower in good faith believes is necessary, the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries have set up reserves which are believed by the Borrower to
be adequate for the payment of additional taxes. All assessed deficiencies
resulting from examinations by the IRS up to and including the year ended
December 31, 1987 have been discharged, reserved against or will not impair the
Borrower's ability to repay the Loans.

         3.19. Employee Benefits. (a) No borrowing contemplated by this
Agreement is a transaction which is subject to the prohibitions of Section 406
of ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to Section
4975 of the Code or a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA
(assuming that monies other than monies representing plan assets are borrowed
hereunder). Neither the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries nor any other Person,
including any fiduciary, has engaged in any prohibited transaction (as defined
in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could subject any of
the Benefit Plans, the Borrower, or any Subsidiary (or any entity which they
have an obligation to indemnify) to any tax or penalty imposed under 4975 of the
Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA or any other material liability under a foreign
law of similar nature which alone or together with any other item described in
this Section 3.19 would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (including any
member of their respective Controlled Group) (i) has incurred or expects to
incur any liability under Title IV of ERISA or Section 502(g) of ERISA or any
analogous provision relating to Section 515 of ERISA or (ii) has become subject
or expects to be subject to the lien described in Section 412(n) of the Code,
which alone or together with any other item described in this Section 3.19 would
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (c) The Pension Plans do not have an "accumulated funding deficiency"
(whether or not waived) within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section
302 of ERISA. No Pension Plan has benefit liabilities as defined in Section
4001(a)(16) of ERISA which exceed the assets of such Pension Plan by such an
amount that the termination of such Pension Plan alone or together with any
other item described in this Section would have a Material Adverse Effect. The
Borrower has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS with respect
to all Pension Plans except for such Pension Plans with respect to which the
failure to receive such a favorable determination would not alone or together
with any other item described in this Section 3.19 have a Material Adverse
Effect and nothing has happened since the date of such letter that has adversely
affected such

                                      -38-

<PAGE>

qualification. There is no Lien outstanding or security interest given in
connection with a Pension Plan or under Title IV of ERISA which would exceed the
percentage limitations of Section 6.02(g) hereof. As of the date hereof, the
Borrower has filed all required notices with respect to any terminated Benefit
Plans subject to Title IV of ERISA, no objections relating to any such
termination by the IRS or the PBGC are pending and the time period for making
such objections has lapsed.

          (d) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (including any
member of their respective Controlled Group) is in default in any material
respect under any Benefit Plan and all Benefit Plans are administered in
accordance with their terms and are in all material respects in compliance with
all applicable Laws, except where any such default or failure to comply would
not alone or together with any other item described in this Section 3.19 have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         3.20 Environmental Matters

         (a) The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower, to its knowledge,
has been operated in compliance with all applicable Requirements of Law, except
for matters which, individually or in the aggregate, are not likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         (b) The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower, to its knowledge,
has not received notice from any governmental authority that any of them is a
potentially responsible party under any Requirements of Law at any disposal site
containing Hazardous Materials, nor received any notice that any lien under any
Requirements of Law against any property of the Borrower or Subsidiary of the
Borrower exists, except for matters which, individually or in the aggregate, are
not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                              CONDITIONS OF LENDING

          4.01. Conditions to Initial Loans. The obligation of each Lender to
make Loans on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction, immediately prior
to or concurrently with the making of such Loan, of the following conditions
precedent, in addition to the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02
hereof:

                  (a) Agreement; Notes. The Agent shall have received executed
         counterparts of this Agreement for each Lender, duly executed by the
         Borrower, the Agent and each Lender, and executed Revolving Credit
         Notes conforming to the requirements hereof, duly executed on behalf of
         the Borrower.

                  (b) Corporate Proceedings. The Agent shall have received, with
         a counterpart for each Lender, certificates by


                                      -39-

<PAGE>

         the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower dated as of the
         Closing Date as to (i) true copies of the articles of incorporation and
         by-laws (or other constituent documents) of the Borrower in effect on
         such date, (ii) true copies of all corporate action taken by the
         Borrower relative to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and
         (iii) the incumbency and signature of the respective officers of the
         Borrower executing this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which
         the Borrower is a party, together with satisfactory evidence of the
         incumbency of such Secretary or Assistant Secretary. The Agent shall
         have received, with a copy for each Lender, certificates from the
         appropriate Secretaries of State or other applicable Governmental
         Authorities dated not more than 30 days before the Closing Date showing
         the good standing of the Borrower in its state of incorporation.

                  (c) Financial Statements. The Agent shall have received, with
         a counterpart for each Lender, copies of the consolidated financial
         statements referred to in Section 3.06 hereof.

                  (d) Legal Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower. The Agent shall
         have received, with an executed counterpart for each Lender, an opinion
         addressed to the Agent and each Lender, dated the Closing Date, of John
         E. Besser, Esquire, General Counsel of the Borrower, in the form
         attached hereto as Exhibit C.

                  (e) Fees, Expenses, etc. All fees and other compensation
         required to be paid to the Agent or the Lenders pursuant hereto or
         pursuant to any other written agreement on or prior to the Closing Date
         shall have been paid or received.

                  (f) Additional Matters. All corporate and other proceedings,
         and all documents, instruments and other matters in connection with the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan
         Documents shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
         Agent and each Lender.

         4.02. Conditions to All Loans. The obligation of each Lender to make
any Loan (including the initial Loans) are subject to performance by the
Borrower of its obligations to be performed hereunder or under the other Loan
conditions precedent set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and to
satisfaction of the following further conditions precedent:

                  (a) Notice. Appropriate notice of such Loan shall have been
         given by the Borrower as provided in Article II hereof.

                                      -40-

<PAGE>

                  (b) Representations and Warranties. Each of the
         representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein shall be
         true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date as if
         made on and as of such date (except with respect to representations and
         warranties which specifically refer to an earlier date, which shall be
         true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date),
         both before and after giving effect to the Loans requested to be made
         on such date.

                  (c) No Defaults. No Event of Default or Potential Default
         shall have occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving
         effect to the Loans requested to be made on such date.

                  (d) No Violations of Law, etc. Neither the making nor use of
         the Loans shall cause any Lender to violate or conflict with any Law.

Each request by the Borrower for any Loan shall constitute a representation and
warranty by the Borrower that the conditions set forth in this Section 4.02 have
been satisfied as of the date of such request. Failure of the Agent to receive
notice from the Borrower to the contrary before such Loan is made shall
constitute a further representation and warranty by the Borrower that the
conditions referred to in this Section 4.02 have been satisfied as of the date
such Loan is made.

                                    ARTICLE V
                             AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The Borrower hereby covenants to the Agent and each Lender as follows:

         5.01. Basic Reporting Requirements.

         (a) Annual Audit Reports. The Borrower shall deliver to the Agent, with
a copy for each Lender, as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days
after the last day of each of its fiscal years, a consolidated balance sheet of
the Borrower as at such last day of the fiscal year, and the related
consolidated statement of income, consolidated statement of changes in common
shareholders equity and consolidated statement of cash flows for such fiscal
year, each prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as required by any change in
accounting principles or concurred in by the Borrower's independent certified
public accountants), in reasonable detail, and, as to the financial statements,
certified without qualification (other than relating to a change in accounting
principles with which such accountants concur and other than any other
qualification which the Agent and the Required Lenders deem, in their reasonable
judgment, to be immaterial) by Ernst & Young or another firm of independent
certified public

                                      -41-

<PAGE>

accountants satisfactory to the Agent as fairly presenting the financial
position at year end and the consolidated results of operations of the Borrower
consolidated for the year ending on such date and as having been prepared in
accordance with GAAP.

          (b) Quarterly Consolidated Reports. The Borrower shall deliver to the
Agent, with a copy for each Lender, as soon as available, but in any event
within 60 days after the end of each of the Borrower's fiscal quarterly periods,
a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of the last day of such quarter
and consolidated statement of income, consolidated statement of changes in
common shareholders' equity and consolidated statement of cash flows, for such
quarter, and on a comparative basis figures for the corresponding period of the
immediately preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, each such statement
to be certified in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, as
the case may be, as fairly presenting the financial position and the
consolidated results of operations of the Borrower consolidated for such quarter
and as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial
statements (subject to customary year-end audit adjustments).

          (c) Quarterly Compliance Certificates. The Borrower shall deliver to
the Agent, with a copy for each Lender, a Quarterly Compliance Certificate in
substantially the form set forth as Exhibit D hereto, duly completed and signed
by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower concurrently with the delivery of the
financial statements referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section
5.01.
        
         (d) Other Financial Statements. The Borrower shall deliver to the
Agent, with a copy for each Lender, for each Subsidiary and Subsidiary
Investment which is subject to any restriction on its ability to make Stock
Payments in respect of its capital stock (except for restrictions applicable to
corporations generally in such entity's place of incorporation) and in which
there has been an investment of cash or assets since the Closing Date, as soon
as possible but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a
certificate, duly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, as to
amount of the Borrower's investment, direct or indirect, in each Subsidiary and
Subsidiary Investment, together with a balance sheet and an income statement for
each Subsidiary subject to any such restriction.

         (e) Certain Other Reports and Information. Promptly upon their becoming
available to the Borrower, the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent, with a copy
for each Lender, a copy of (i) all regular or special reports, registration
statements and amendments to the foregoing which the Borrower or any Subsidiary
shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any

                                      -42-

<PAGE>

successor thereto), and (ii) all reports, proxy statements, financial statements
and other information distributed by the Borrower to its stockholders or
bondholders.

          (f) Further Information. The Borrower will promptly furnish to the
Agent, with a copy for each Lender, such other information and in such form as
the Agent or any Lender may reasonably request from time to time.

          (g) Notice of Certain Events. Promptly upon becoming aware of any of
the following, the Borrower shall give the Agent notice thereof, together with a
written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the
details thereof and any action with respect thereto taken or proposed to be
taken by the Borrower:

                  (i) Any Event of Default or Potential Default.

                  (ii) Any material correspondence with the PBGC, the Secretary
         of Labor or any representative of the IRS with respect to any Benefit
         Plan or Pension Plan, relating to an actual or threatened change or
         development which would have a Material Adverse Effect; and copies of
         any notices from the PBGC to the Borrower with respect to the intent of
         the PBGC to institute involuntary proceedings.

                  (iii) Any Environmental Claim pending or threatened against
         the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, which Environmental
         Claim, if adversely resolved, individually or in the aggregate, could
         have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that no such notice
         is required to be given with respect to any Environmental Claim if the
         Borrower reasonably determines that its liability, if any, with respect
         to such Environmental Claim will not exceed $1,000,000.

         (h) Visitation; Verification. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each
of its Subsidiaries to, permit the Lenders to make or cause to be made,
reasonable inspections of any of its books, records and papers and to make
extracts therefrom and copies thereof, or to make reasonable inspections and
examinations of any of its properties and facilities, and to discuss the
affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with the
principal officers of the Borrower and with the Borrower's independent
accountants, all at all such reasonable times and as often as any Lender may
reasonably require, in order to assure that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
are and will be in compliance with their respective obligations under the Loan
Documents or to evaluate the Lenders' investment in the then outstanding Notes.


                                      -43-

<PAGE>

          The Agent shall promptly deliver to each Lender copies of all notices,
financial statements and other information received pursuant to this Section
5.01.

          5.02. Insurance. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, maintain, at its expense, and keep in effect with responsible
insurance companies, such liability insurance for bodily injury and third party
property damage as is customary in the case of corporations engaged in the same
or similar business or having similar properties, similarly situated. The
Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain,
at its expense, its real and personal property insured against loss or damage by
fire, theft, explosion, spoilage, and all other risks ordinarily insured against
by other owners or users of such properties in similar businesses in an amount
equal to the full replacement or cash value thereof, subject to deductible
amounts which the Borrower, in its reasonable judgment, deems prudent.

         5.03. Payment of Taxes and Other Potential Charges and Priority Claims.
Except for situations where the failure to pay or discharge would not have a
Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to,
pay or discharge

                  (a) on or prior to the date on which penalties are imposed by
         a taxing authority with respect thereto, all taxes, assessments and
         other governmental charges imposed upon it or any of its properties;

                  (b) on or prior to the date when due, all lawful claims of
         materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, landlords and other
         like Persons which, if unpaid, might result in the creation of a Lien
         upon any such property; and

                  (c) on or prior to the date when due, all other lawful claims
         which, if unpaid, might result in the creation of a Lien upon any such
         property or which, if unpaid, might give rise to a claim entitled to
         priority over general creditors of the Borrower or such Subsidiary in a
         case under Title 11 (Bankruptcy) of the United States Code, as amended;

provided, that unless and until foreclosure, distraint, levy, sale or similar
proceedings shall have been commenced the Borrower or such Subsidiary need not
pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim so long as (x) the
validity thereof is contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
diligently conducted, (y) such reserves or other appropriate provisions as are
required by GAAP shall have been made therefor, and (z) such failure will not
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.04. Preservation of Corporate Status. The Borrower shall, and shall
cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do, or cause

                                      -44-

<PAGE>

to be done, all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and
effect its corporate existence, permits and franchises, and use its best efforts
to comply with all Laws (including without limitation environmental Laws)
applicable to it except where such noncompliance could not have Material Adverse
Effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5.04 shall prevent the
abandonment or termination of the Borrower's authorization to do business in any
foreign jurisdiction or of the corporate existence, rights and franchises of any
Subsidiary of the Borrower if such abandonment or termination is in the interest
of the Borrower and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Lenders.

          5.05. Governmental Approvals and Filings. The Borrower shall, and
shall cause each Subsidiary to, keep and maintain in full force and effect all
Governmental Actions necessary, if any, in connection with execution and
delivery of any Loan Document, consummation of the transactions hereon or
therein contemplated, performance of or compliance with the terms and conditions
hereof or thereof or to ensure the legality, validity, binding effect,
enforceability or admissibility in evidence hereof or thereof.

          5.06. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower shall, and shall cause
each Subsidiary to, maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working
order and condition the properties now or hereafter owned, leased or otherwise
possessed by it which are necessary for the effective conduct of its business
and shall make or cause to be made all needful and proper repairs, renewals,
replacements and improvements thereto so that they are able to serve the
functions for which they are currently being used.

         5.07. Avoidance of Other Conflicts. The Borrower shall not, and shall
not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, violate or conflict with, be in violation
of or conflict with, or be or remain subject to any liability (contingent or
otherwise) on account of any violation or conflict with its articles of
incorporation or by-laws (or other constituent documents) except for matters
which, individually or in the aggregate could not have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         5.08. Financial Accounting Practices. The Borrower shall, and shall
cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in
accordance with normal business practice.

         5.09. Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall apply the proceeds of Loans
hereunder for general corporate purposes. The Borrower shall not use the
proceeds of any Loans hereunder directly or indirectly for any unlawful purpose
or in any manner inconsistent with any other provision of any Loan Document.

                                      -45-

<PAGE>

         5.10. Continuation of or Change in Business. Neither the Borrower nor
any Subsidiary shall engage in any line of business if as a result thereof the
business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole would be
substantially different from what it was at December 31, 1990 as described in
the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1990.

         5.11. Consolidated Tax Return. The Borrower shall not, and shall not
suffer any of its Subsidiaries to, file or consent to the filing of any
consolidated income tax return with any Person other than the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.

         5.12. ERISA. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries incorporated in the United States to

                  (a) comply with all applicable provisions of ERISA now and
         hereafter in effect, non-compliance with which would have a Material
         Adverse Effect; and

                  (b) as soon as possible and, in any event, within 10 days
         after the Borrower knows or has reason to know that a Reportable Event
         has occurred with respect to a Pension Plan, that a transaction
         prohibited under ERISA or the Code has occurred resulting in a material
         liability to a Benefit Plan, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
         (or any entity which they have an obligation to indemnify), that an
         accumulated funding deficiency has been incurred or an application is
         to be or has been made to the Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver of
         the minimum funding standard with respect to an accumulation funding
         deficiency of $100,000 or more, that a failure to make timely
         contributions to a Pension Plan may give or has given rise to a lien in
         a material amount, that an amendment to a Pension Plan may require or
         requires the granting of a security interest in a material amount, that
         proceedings are likely to be or have been instituted to terminate a
         Pension Plan, or that the Borrower, any of its Significant Subsidiaries
         or a member of their respective Controlled Group will or may incur any
         material liability under Section 502(g) or any analogous provision
         relating to Section 515 or Title IV of ERISA, the Borrower will deliver
         to the Lenders a certificate of a financial officer setting forth
         details as to such occurrence and action, if any, which the Borrower,
         such Subsidiary or the respective member of their Controlled Group is
         required or proposes to take, together with any notices required or
         proposed to be filed with or by the Borrower, such Subsidiary or the
         member of their respective Controlled Group, the PBGC or the plan
         administrator with respect thereto. For purposes of this Section, an
         item is material if alone or taken with any other item in this Section,
         it results in a liability of $1,000,000 or more. Copies of any notices
         required to be delivered to the Lenders hereunder shall be delivered
         not later than 10

                                      -46-

<PAGE>

         days after the later of the date such notice has been filed with the
         IRS or the PBGC or received by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or
         members of their respective Controlled Group. Upon the request of the
         Agent or any of the Lenders made from time to time, the Borrower will
         deliver a copy of the most recent actuarial report and annual report
         completed with respect to any Benefit Plan and any other financial
         information the Borrower has with respect to the Benefit Plan.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

                  The Borrower hereby covenants to the Agent and each Lender as
         follows:

                  6.01. Financial Covenants.

                  (a) Consolidated Current Ratio. The Consolidated Current Ratio
shall not at any time be less than 1.40:1.

                  (b) Consolidated Leverage Ratio. The Consolidated Leverage
Ratio shall not at any time exceed 1.55:1.

                  (c) Consolidated Net Worth. Consolidated Net Worth shall not
at any time be less than $120,000,000 plus 50% of the Borrower's after-tax
consolidated net income for each fiscal year beginning after December 31, 1991
(but without deduction for any fiscal year in which consolidated net income is a
negative amount), with the annual adjustments to be applicable as of December
31, 1992 and as of the end of each subsequent fiscal year.

                  6.02. Liens. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly incur, create, assume or permit to
exist any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien, charge or other encumbrance
of any nature whatsoever (including conditional sales or other title retention
agreements) on any of its property or assets, whether owned at the date hereof
or hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to assign,
any right to receive income, except:

         (a)      liens incurred or pledges and deposits made in connection with
                  workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age
                  pensions, social security and public liability and similar
                  legislation;

         (b)      liens securing the performance of bids, tenders, leases,
                  contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money),
                  statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds and other
                  obligations of like


                                      -47-

<PAGE>

         nature, incurred as an incident to and in the ordinary course of
         business;

(c)      statutory liens of landlords and other liens imposed by law, such as
         carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's and vendors'
         liens, incurred in good faith in the ordinary course of business;

(d)      liens securing the payment of taxes, assessments and governmental
         charges or levies, either (1) not delinquent, or (2) being contested in
         good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(e)      zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, reservations, restrictions on
         the use of real property or minor irregularities incident thereto which
         do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the
         property or assets of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may
         be, or impair the use of such property in the operation of its
         business;

(f)      purchase money liens on real property or equipment (which are filed
         against the real property or equipment within 180 days of purchase)
         that do not exceed 100% of the fair market value of the related
         property; and

(g)      other liens (including ERISA Liens) that in the aggregate do not exceed
         15% of the book value (computed in accordance with GAAP) of all
         properties and assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the end
         of the preceding fiscal year.

                  6.03. Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not, and shall not
permit any Subsidiary to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
or have outstanding any Indebtedness other than:

(a)      Indebtedness of the Borrower hereunder or under the Notes;

(b)      the Senior Notes;

(c)      Indebtedness of the Borrower which constitutes extensions, renewals or
replacements on substantially the same terms and conditions (and does not
increase the amount outstanding) of (a) and (b) above; and

(d)      additional Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;


                                      -48-

<PAGE>




provided, however, that (i) the total Indebtedness of the Borrower's
Subsidiaries shall not at any time exceed $50,000,000, and (ii) the total
Indebtedness of the Borrower's domestic Subsidiaries shall not at any time
exceed $10,000,000 (excluding from the calculation thereof any pre-existing
Indebtedness of a newly-acquired domestic Subsidiary for a period not exceeding
30 days after the acquisition of such domestic Subsidiary if, on each day from
and including the date of any such acquisition until payment of such
pre-existing Indebtedness, the Borrower or such domestic Subsidiary has in place
a committed credit facility acceptable to the Agent which is sufficient to
permit the Borrower or such domestic Subsidiary to borrow sufficient funds to
repay such Indebtedness and comply with the limitations on Indebtedness set
forth in this Section 6.03).

          6.04. Limitation on Restrictions on Dividends by Subsidiaries, etc.
The Borrower shall not permit any Subsidiary or other entity in which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary has an equity investment (a "Subsidiary Investment")
to be or become subject to any restriction (except restrictions applicable to
corporations generally), whether arising by agreement, by its articles of
incorporation, by-laws or other constituent documents of such Subsidiary or
Subsidiary Investment or otherwise, on the right of such Subsidiary or
Subsidiary Investment from time to time to (w) declare and pay Stock Payments
with respect to capital stock owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (x) pay
any obligations from time to time owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (y)
make loans or advances to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (z) transfer any of
its properties or assets to the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided, however,
that such restrictions may be permitted with respect to any Subsidiary or
Subsidiary Investment in which the Borrower or a Subsidiary directly or
indirectly owns less than 80% of the Voting Stock and in which the Borrower's or
such Subsidiary's cumulative investment since the Closing Date (in terms of cash
invested in and/or assets contributed to the entity) (i) individually is less
than 10% of the book value of the assets of the Borrower and its consolidated
subsidiaries, and (ii) when taken together with all such Subsidiaries and
Subsidiary Investments subject to any such restrictions in which the Borrower or
a Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns less than 80% of the Voting Stock, is
less than 15% of the book value of the assets of the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries.

         6.05. Mergers; Acquisitions. The Borrower shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or
merge into any Person or permit any Person to merge into it; provided, however,
that (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged into the Borrower or any
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, (b) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
the Borrower may merge or consolidate with another Person or business, if the
Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, is the surviving corporation,
(c) the Borrower or any

                                      -49-

<PAGE>

Subsidiary of the Borrower may consolidate with another Person in a transaction
where the Borrower or Subsidiary is not the surviving corporation if (i) the
continuing or surviving entity shall assume in writing all of the Obligations of
the Borrower under this Agreement and the Notes, (ii) the continuing or
surviving entity shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, be
in default of any of the Borrower's obligations under this Agreement or the
Notes, (iii) the continuing or surviving entity shall be a corporation organized
under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, (iv) after
giving effect to such consolidation or merger no Potential Default or Event of
Default would then exist and (v) such consolidation or merger shall not have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         6.06. ERISA Obligations. Except for matters which are not likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall at
any time

                  (a) engage in any "prohibited transaction" as such term is
         defined in Section 4975 of the Code or described in Section 406 of
         ERISA;

                  (b) fail timely to make any required installment to a Pension
         Plan such that a lien could arise under Section 412(n) of the Code or
         Section 302(f) of ERISA;

                  (c) permit the incurrence of any "accumulated funding
         deficiency" as such term is defined in Section 302(a)(2) of ERISA and
         Section 412(a) of the Code with respect to a Pension Plan, whether or
         not waived or extended;

                  (d) permit the occurrence of any "reportable event" with
         respect to a Pension Plan as such term is defined in Section 4043 of
         ERISA;

                  (e) become obligated to contribute to any "multiemployer plan"
         as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA;

                  (f) amend any Pension Plan such that security would have to be
         provided to such Pension Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Code; or

                  (g) permit any Pension Plan to be terminated other than in a
         "standard termination" as defined in Section 4041(b) of ERISA.

         6.07. Leases. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, at any time enter into or suffer to remain in effect any lease,
as lessee, of any property, or agree, become or remain liable (contingently or
otherwise) to any of the foregoing, except leases which on any date in the
aggregate will

                                      -50-

<PAGE>

not result in the payment or accrual by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of a
total of more than 15% of the book value (computed in accordance with GAAP) of
all properties and assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries in
the twelve month period after such date.

          6.08. Disposition of Properties. The Borrower shall not, and shall not
permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, except in the ordinary course
of business, sell, convey, assign, lease, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose
of, voluntarily or involuntarily, any of its properties, now owned or hereafter
acquired, or agree, become or remain liable (contingently or otherwise) to do
any of the foregoing, if, as a result of such sale, conveyance, assignment,
lease, transfer, abandonment or other disposition, the aggregate net book value
or fair market value, whichever shall be higher, of all property and assets
sold, conveyed, assigned, leased, transferred, abandoned or otherwise disposed
of by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the then current fiscal year of the
Borrower would exceed an amount equal to 10% of the book value (computed in
accordance with GAAP) of all properties and assets of the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries at the end of the preceding fiscal year.

          6.09. Transactions with Affiliates. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary shall enter into any transaction (except transactions which do not in
any one calendar year involve in the aggregate an amount in excess of $500,000),
including without limitation the purchase, sale or exchange of property or the
rendering of any service, with any Affiliate (excluding any wholly-owned
Subsidiary) except in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable
requirements of the Borrower's or such Subsidiary's business and upon fair and
reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than would
obtain in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

         6.10. Loans, Advances and Investments. The Borrower shall not, and
shall not permit any Subsidiary to, at any time make or permit to exist any
loans or advances to, or purchase any stock, other securities or evidences of
indebtedness of, or make or permit to exist any investment or acquire any
interest whatsoever in, any other person, except (a) the purchase of the
Borrower's common or preferred stock, (b) loans or advances of the Borrower or
any Subsidiary of the Borrower (in addition to loans or advances permitted by
clauses (d) and (e) of this Section 6.10) not in excess of $10,000,000 aggregate
principal amount for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at any time outstanding,
(c) investments of its cash by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in
(i) marketable direct obligations of, or marketable obligations guaranteed by,
the United States of America or Canada, or marketable obligations of any
instrumentality or agency thereof, the payment of the principal and interest of
which is unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or

                                      -51-

<PAGE>

Canada, (ii) certificates of deposit or other obligations issued by, or bankers'
acceptances of, any bank or trust company organized under the laws of the
Federal Republic of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada or the
United States of America or any state thereof (including foreign branches of any
such bank or trust company) and having capital, surplus and undivided profits in
excess of $100,000,000, (iii) open market commercial paper with a maturity not
in excess of 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having the
highest credit rating by either Standard & Poor's Corporation or Moody's
Investors Service, Inc., or (iv) in the case of any foreign Subsidiary of the
Borrower, such investments in marketable obligations of a comparable quality and
term to the other investments permitted by this clause (c) as are usually made
in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which the business of such foreign
Subsidiary is principally conducted by prudent corporate investors in like
circumstances, (d) loans or advances of the Borrower to any of its Subsidiaries
and loans or advances of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower or
another such Subsidiary, (e) purchases of stock or other securities of any
corporations, associations or other business entities; provided, however, that
the aggregate cost to or fair market value of the consideration paid by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such stock or securities of any such
corporation, association or other business entity shall not exceed 40% of the
Borrower's Consolidated Net Worth within any four year period commencing on the
Closing Date, or (f) such other investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$250,000 as the Borrower or a Subsidiary may elect.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                    DEFAULTS

         7.01. Events of Default. An Event of Default shall mean the occurrence
or existence of one or more of the following events or conditions (for any
reason, whether voluntary, involuntary or effected or required by Law):

                  (a) The Borrower shall fail to pay by the close of business at
         the Agent's office on the date when due principal of any Loan.

                  (b) The Borrower shall fail to pay when due interest on any
         Loan, any fees, indemnity or expenses, or any other amount due
         hereunder or under any other Loan Document and such failure shall have
         continued for a period of five Business Days.

                  (c) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in or pursuant to any Loan
         Document or in any certificate delivered thereunder, shall prove to
         have been false or misleading in any material respect as of the time
         when made or deemed made

                                      -52-

<PAGE>

         (including by omission of material information necessary to make such
         representation, warranty or statement not misleading).

                  (d) The Borrower shall default in the performance or
         observance of any covenant contained in Article VI hereof.

                  (e) The Borrower shall default in the performance or
         observance of any other covenant, agreement or duty under this
         Agreement or any other Loan Document and such default shall have
         continued for a period of 20 days after the date on which a Responsible
         Officer first becomes aware thereof.

                  (f) The Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall fail
         to perform or observe any term, condition or covenant of any bond,
         note, debenture, loan agreement, indenture, guaranty, trust agreement,
         mortgage or similar instrument to which the Borrower or any such
         Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound, or by which any of its
         properties or assets may be affected (a "Debt Instrument") having a
         principal or face amount, individually or in the aggregate outstanding
         at any time, in excess of $5,000,000, so that, as a result of any such
         failure to perform, the Indebtedness included therein or secured or
         covered thereby may at the time be declared due and payable prior to
         the date on which such Indebtedness would otherwise become due and
         payable;

                  (g) One or more final judgment or judgments which are not
         subject to appeal for the payment of money aggregating in excess of
         $5,000,000 is or are outstanding against the Borrower or any Subsidiary
         and any one of such judgments (x) has not been stayed or paid on the
         date it is finally due and payable or (y) has resulted in the
         attachment of a Lien on any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

                  (h) (i) Any Pension Plan is terminated pursuant to Section
         4041 or 4042 of ERISA and the benefit liabilities exceed the assets
         based upon the assumptions used by the PBGC on plan termination by
         $10,000,000 or more; or (ii) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
         (or a member of their respective Controlled Group) incur a liability
         under Section 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA for an amount that would
         materially and adversely affect the financial condition of the Borrower
         and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (i) A Change in Control shall have occurred.

                  (j) A proceeding shall have been instituted in respect of the
         Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary

                           (i) seeking to have an order for relief entered in
                  respect of such Person, or seeking a declaration or


                                      -53-

<PAGE>
         entailing a finding that such Person is insolvent or a similar
         declaration or finding, or seeking dissolution, winding-up, charter
         revocation or forfeiture, liquidation, reorganization or other similar
         relief with respect to such Person, its assets or its debts under any
         Law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, relief of debtors or protection
         of creditors, termination of legal entities or any other similar Law
         now or hereafter in effect, or

                  (ii) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator,
         assignee, sequestrator or other custodian for such Person or for all or
         any substantial part of its property

and such proceeding shall result in the entry, making or grant of any such order
for relief, declaration, finding, relief or appointment, or such proceeding
shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days.

         (k) The Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary shall become insolvent;
shall fail to pay, become unable to pay, or state that it is or will be unable
to pay, its debts as they become due; shall voluntarily suspend transaction of
its or his business; shall make a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors; shall institute (or fail to controvert in a timely and appropriate
manner) a proceeding described in Section 7.01(j)(i) hereof, or (whether or not
any such proceeding has been instituted) shall consent to or acquiesce in any
such order for relief, declaration, finding or relief described therein; shall
institute (or fail to controvert in a timely and appropriate manner) a
proceeding described in Section 7.01(j)(ii) hereof, or (whether or not any such
proceeding has been instituted) shall consent to or acquiesce in any such
appointment or to the taking of possession by any such custodian of all or any
substantial part of its or his property; shall dissolve, wind-up, revoke or
forfeit its charter (or other constituent documents) or liquidate itself or any
substantial part of its property; or shall take any action in furtherance of any
of the foregoing.

         7.02. Consequences of an Event of Default.

         (a) If an Event of Default specified in subsections (a) through (i) of
Section 7.01 hereof shall occur and be continuing or shall exist, then, in
addition to all other rights and remedies which the Agent or any Lender may have
hereunder or under any other Loan Document, at law, in equity or otherwise, the
Lenders shall be under no further obligation to make Loans hereunder, and the
Agent may, and upon the written request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice
to the Borrower, from time to time do any or all of the following:

                                      -54-

<PAGE>

                  (i) Declare the Commitments terminated, whereupon the
         Commitments will terminate and any fees hereunder shall be immediately
         due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or further notice
         of any kind, all of which are hereby waived, and an action therefor
         shall immediately accrue.

                  (ii) Declare the unpaid principal amount of the Loans,
         interest accrued thereon and all other Obligations to be immediately
         due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or further notice
         of any kind, all of which are hereby waived, and an action therefor
         shall immediately accrue.

          (b) If an Event of Default specified in subsection (j) or (k) of
Section 7.01 hereof shall occur or exist, then, in addition to all other rights
and remedies which the Agent or any Lender may have hereunder or under any other
Loan Document, at law, in equity or otherwise, the Commitments shall
automatically terminate and the Lenders shall be under no further obligation to
make Loans, and the unpaid principal amount of the Loans, interest accrued
thereon and all other Obligations shall become immediately due and payable
without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue.

         7.03. Application of Proceeds. After the occurrence of an Event of
Default and acceleration of the Loans, any payments received by any Lender on
account of Obligations shall be applied by the Agent to payment of the
Obligations in the following order:

                  First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations
         constituting accrued and unpaid interest on Loans, accrued and unpaid
         Revolving Credit Commitment Fees, ratably among the Lenders in
         proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause "First"
         due to them;

                  Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations
         constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, ratably among the Lenders
         in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause
         "Second" due to them;

                  Third, to payment of all other Obligations, ratably among the
         Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this
         clause "Third" due to them; and

                  Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations
         constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts due to the Agent in
         its capacity as such;

                                      -55-

<PAGE>

                  Finally, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations
         have been satisfied and all Commitments shall have terminated, to the
         Borrower or as otherwise required by law.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                    THE AGENT

          8.01. Appointment. Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Mellon
Bank, N.A. to act as Agent for such Lender under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents. Each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Agent to take such
action on behalf of such Lender under the provisions of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers and to perform such duties, as
are expressly delegated to or required of the Agent by the terms hereof or
thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Mellon
Bank, N.A. hereby agrees to act as Agent on behalf of the Lenders on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, subject
to its right to resign as provided in Section 8.10 hereof. Each Lender hereby
irrevocably authorizes the Agent to execute and deliver each of the Loan
Documents and to accept delivery of such of the other Loan Documents as may not
require execution by the Agent. Each Lender agrees that the rights and remedies
granted to the Agent under the Loan Documents shall be exercised exclusively by
the Agent, and that no Lender shall have any right individually to exercise any
such right or remedy, except to the extent expressly provided herein or therein.

         8.02. General Nature of Agent's Duties. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document:

                  (a) The Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities
         except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan
         Documents, and no implied duties or responsibilities on the part of the
         Agent shall be read into this Agreement or any Loan Document or shall
         otherwise exist.

                  (b) The duties and responsibilities of the Agent under this
         Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be mechanical and
         administrative in nature, and the Agent shall not have a fiduciary
         relationship in respect of any Lender.

                  (c) The Agent is and shall be solely the agent of the Lenders.
         The Agent assumes no, and shall not at any time be deemed to have, any
         relationship of agency or trust with or any other duty or
         responsibility to, the Borrower, and Subsidiary of the Borrower or any
         other Person (except only for (i) its relationship as agent for, and
         its express duties



                                      -56-

<PAGE>

         and responsibilities to, the Lenders and (ii) its express duties and
         responsibilities to, the Borrower, all as provided in this Agreement
         and the other Loan Documents).

                  (d) The Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any
         action hereunder or under any other Loan Document if the Agent believes
         in good faith after consultation with counsel that taking such action
         may conflict with any Law or any provision of this Agreement or any
         other Loan Document, or may require the Agent to qualify to do business
         in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified.

          8.03. Exercise of Powers. The Agent shall take any action of the type
specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document as being within the
Agent's rights, powers or discretion in accordance with directions from the
Required Lenders (or, to the extent this Agreement or such Loan Document
expressly requires the direction or consent of some other Person or set of
Persons, then instead in accordance with the directions of such other Person or
set of Persons). In the absence of such directions, the Agent shall have the
authority (but under no circumstances shall be obligated), in its sole
discretion, to take any such action, except to the extent this Agreement or such
Loan Document expressly requires the direction or consent of the Required
Lenders (or some other Person or set of Persons), in which case the Agent shall
not take such action absent such direction or consent. Any action or inaction
pursuant to such direction, discretion or consent shall be binding on all the
Lenders. The Agent shall not have any liability to any Person as a result of (x)
the Agent acting or refraining from acting in accordance with the directions of
the Required Lenders (or other applicable Person or set of Persons), (y) unless
expressly required to act under the terms hereof, the Agent refraining from
acting in the absence of instructions to act from the Required Lenders (or other
applicable Person or set of Persons), whether or not the Agent has discretionary
power to take such action, or (z) the Agent taking discretionary action it is
authorized to take under this Section absent gross negligence or willful
misconduct.

          8.04. General Exculpatory Provisions. Notwithstanding anything to 
the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement or any other Loan Document:

                  (a) The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or
         omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or
         anY other Loan Document, unless caused by its own gross negligence or
         willful misconduct.

                  (b) Except for the records to be maintained by the Agent
         pursuant to Section 9.02, the Agent shall not be responsible for (i)
         the execution, delivery, effectiveness, enforceability, genuineness,
         validity or adequacy of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii)
         any recital,


                                      -57-

<PAGE>
         representation, warranty, document, certificate, report or statement
         in, provided for in, or received under or in connection with, this
         Agreement or any other Loan Document or (iii) any failure of the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or Lender to perform any of
         their respective obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan
         Document.

                  (c) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Agent
         shall not be under any obligation to ascertain, inquire or give any
         notice relating to (i) the performance or observance of any of the
         terms or conditions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document on the
         part of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) the
         business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects
         of the Borrower or any other Person, or (iii) except to the extent set
         forth in Section 8.05(f) hereof, the existence of any Event of 
         Default or Potential Default.

                  (d) The Agent shall not be under any obligation, either
         initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Lender with any
         notices, reports or information of any nature, whether in its
         possession presently or hereafter, except for such notices, reports and
         other information expressly required by this Agreement or any other
         Loan Document to be furnished by the Agent to such Lender.

                  8.05. Administration by the Agent.

          (a) The Agent may rely in good faith upon any notice or other
communication of any nature (written or oral, including but not limited to
telephone conversations, whether or not such notice or other communication is
made in a manner permitted or required by this Agreement or any Loan Document)
purportedly made by or on behalf of the proper party or parties, and Agent shall
not have any duty to verify the identity or authority of any Person giving such
notice or other communication.

          (b) The Agent may consult with legal counsel (including, without
limitation, in-house counsel for the Agent or in-house or other counsel for the
Borrower), independent public accountants and any other experts selected by it
from time to time, and the Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or
omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such
counsel, accountants or experts.

         (c) The Agent may conclusively rely upon the truth of the statements
and the correctness of the opinions expressed in any certificates or opinions
furnished to the Agent in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document. Whenever the Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable
that a matter be proved or established with respect to the Borrower or any
Lender, such matter may be established by a


                                      -58-

<PAGE>

certificate of the Borrower or Lender, as the case may be, and the Agent may
conclusively rely upon such certificate (unless other evidence with respect to
such matter is specifically prescribed in this Agreement or another Loan
Document).

          (d) The Agent may fail or refuse to take any action unless it shall be
indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction from time to time against any and all
amounts, liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature which
may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent by reason of taking
or continuing to take any such action.

          (e) The Agent may perform any of its duties under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact. The Agent
shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or
attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.

          (f) The Agent shall not be deemed to have any knowledge or notice of
the occurrence of any Event of Default or Potential Default unless the Agent has
actual knowledge or has received notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring
to this Agreement, describing such Event of Default or Potential Default, and
stating that such notice is a "notice of default." If the Agent receives such a
notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to each Lender.

         8.06. Lender Not Relying on Agent or Other Lenders. Each Lender
acknowledges as follows: (a) Neither the Agent nor any other Lender has made any
representations or warranties to it, and no act taken hereafter by the Agent or
any other Lender shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by
the Agent or such other Lender to it. (b) It has, independently and without
reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, and based upon such documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit and legal analysis
and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. (c) It
will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, and
based upon such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, make its own decisions to take or not take action under or in connection
with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         8.07. Indemnification. Each Lender agrees to reimburse and indemnify
the Agent and its directors, officers, employees and agents (to the extent not
reimbursed by the Borrower and without limitation of the obligations of the
Borrower to do so), Pro Rata, from and against any and all amounts, losses,
liabilities, claims, damages, expenses, obligations, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs or disbursements of any kind or nature (including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Agent or such other Person in connection with any

                                      -59-

<PAGE>

investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding commenced or threatened,
whether or not the Agent or such other Person shall be designated a party
thereto) that may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the
Agent or such other Person as a result of, or arising out of, or in any way
related to or by reason of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any
transaction from time to time contemplated hereby or thereby, or any transaction
financed in whole or in part or directly or indirectly with the proceeds of any
Loan, provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such amounts,
losses, liabilities, claims, damages, expenses, obligations, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs or disbursements resulting from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of the Agent or such other Person, as finally determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction.

          8.08. Agent in its Individual Capacity. With respect to its
Commitments and the Obligations owing to it, the Agent shall have the same
rights and powers under this Agreement and each other Loan Document as any other
Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent, and the terms
"Lenders," "holders of Notes" and like terms shall include the Agent in its
individual capacity as such. The Agent and its affiliates may, without liability
to account, make loans to, accept deposits from, acquire debt or equity
interests in, act as trustee under indentures of, and engage in any other
business with, the Borrower and any stockholder, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the
Borrower, as though the Agent were not the Agent hereunder.

         8.09. Holders of Notes. The Agent may deem and treat the Lender which
is payee of a Note as the owner and holder of such Note for all purposes hereof
unless and until a Transfer Supplement with respect to the assignment or
transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Agent in accordance with Section
9.14 hereof. Any authority, direction or consent of any Person who at the time
of giving such authority, direction or consent is shown in the Register as being
a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on each present and subsequent holder,
transferee or assignee of any Note or Notes payable to such Lender or of any
Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.


          8.10. Successor Agents. The Agent may resign at any time by giving 30
days' written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. The Agent may be
removed by the Required Lenders upon 30 days' written notice thereof to the
Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of notice of any such
resignation or removal, the Borrower shall have the right to appoint a successor
Agent; provided, that the Required Lenders shall have the right to disapprove
such successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed and
consented to, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 20 days after
such notice of resignation or removal, then the Required Lenders shall appoint a
successor Agent to succeed to the obligations of the Agent hereunder. Each


                                      -60-

<PAGE>

successor Agent shall be a commercial bank or trust company organized under the
laws of the United States of America or any State thereof. Upon the acceptance
by a successor Agent of its appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor Agent
shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the properties, rights,
powers, privileges and duties of the former Agent, without further act, deed or
conveyance. Upon the effective date of resignation or removal of a retiring
Agent, such Agent shall be discharged from its duties under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, but the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to
its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted by it while it was Agent under
this Agreement. If and so long as no successor Agent shall have been appointed,
then any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given by the
Agent shall be sufficiently given if given by the Required Lenders, all notices
or other communications required or permitted to be given to the Agent shall be
given to each Lender, and all payments to be made to the Agent shall be made
directly to the Borrower or Lender for whose account such payment is made.

          8.11. Calculations. The Agent shall not be liable for any calculation,
apportionment or distribution of payments made by it in good faith except for
gross negligence. If such calculation, apportionment or distribution is
subsequently determined to have been made in error, the sole recourse of any
Lender to whom payment was due but not made shall be to recover from the other
Lenders any payment in excess of the amount to which they are determined to be
entitled or, if the amount due was not paid by the Borrower, to recover such
amount from the Borrower.

         8.12. Funding by Agent. Unless the Agent shall have been notified in
writing by any Lender not later than the close of business on the day before the
day on which Loans are requested by the Borrower to be made that such Lender
will not make its ratable share of such Loans, the Agent may assume that such
Lender will make its ratable share of the Loans, and in reliance upon such
assumption the Agent may (but in no circumstances shall be required to) make
available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that any
Lender fails to make such payment to the Agent on such date, such Lender shall
pay such amount on demand (or, if such Lender fails to pay such amount on
demand, the Borrower shall pay such amount on demand), together with interest,
for the Agent's own account, for each day from and including the date of the
Agent's payment to and including the date of repayment to the Agent (before and
after judgment) at the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the first day and
thereafter at the rate or rates per annum applicable to such Loans. All payments
to the Agent under this Section shall be made to the Agent at its Office in
Dollars in funds immediately available at such Office, without set-off,
withholding, counterclaim or other deduction of any nature.



                                      -61-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

         9.01. Holidays. Whenever any payment or action to be made or taken
hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be stated to be due on a day
which is not a Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on
the next following Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in
computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with such payment or action.

         9.02. Records. The unpaid principal amount of the Loans owing to each
Lender, the unpaid interest accrued thereon, the interest rate or rates
applicable to such unpaid principal amount, the duration of such applicability,
each Lender's Committed Amount and the accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees shall
at all times be ascertained from the records of the Agent, which shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.

         9.03. Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement nor any Loan
Document may be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the
provisions of this Section. The Required Lenders and the Borrower may from time
to time amend, modify or supplement the provisions of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document for the purpose of amending, adding to, or waiving any
provisions or changing in any manner the rights and duties of the Borrower, the
Agent or any Lender. Any such amendment, modification or supplement made by the
Borrower, the Agent and the Required Lenders in accordance with the provisions
of this Section shall be in writing and shall be binding upon the Borrower, each
Lender and the Agent; provided, that no such amendment, modification or
supplement may be made which will:

                  (a) Increase the Committed Amount of any Lender over the
         amount thereof then in effect, subject any Lender to additional
         obligations hereunder or extend the Revolving Credit Maturity Date
         without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby;

                  (b) Reduce the principal amount of or extend the time for any
         payment of any Loan, or reduce the amount of or rate of interest or
         extend the time for payment of interest borne by any Loan or extend the
         time for payment of or reduce the amount of any Commitment Fee or
         reduce or postpone the date for payment of any other fees, expenses,
         indemnities or amounts payable under any Loan Document, without the
         written consent of each Lender affected thereby;

                  (c) Change the definition of "Required Lenders" or amend this
         Section 9.03, without the written consent of all the Lenders;



                                      -62-

<PAGE>

                  (d) Amend or waive any of the provisions of Article IX hereof,
         or impose additional duties upon the Agent or otherwise adversely
         affect the rights, interests or obligations of the Agent, without the
         written consent of the Agent; or

                  (e) Amend Section 2.13 hereof, without the written consent of
         all Lenders.

provided further, that Transfer Supplements may be entered into in the manner
provided in Section 9.14 hereof. Any such amendment, modification or supplement
must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent set forth in such
writing. Any Event of Default or Potential Default waived or consented to in any
such amendment, modification or supplement shall be deemed to be cured and not
continuing to the extent and for the period set forth in such waiver or consent,
but no such waiver or consent shall extend to any other or subsequent Event of
Default or Potential Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

         9.04. No Implied Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No course of dealing and
no delay or failure of the Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or
privilege under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any other
or future exercise thereof or exercise of any other right, power or privilege;
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege
or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power or
privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or
privilege. The rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders under this
Agreement and any other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any
rights or remedies which the Agent or any Lender would otherwise have hereunder
or thereunder, at law, in equity or otherwise.

         9.05. Notices.

          (a) Except to the extent otherwise expressly permitted hereunder or
thereunder, all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications
(collectively "notices") under this Agreement or any Loan Document shall be in
writing (including telexes and communication using facsimile machines) and shall
be sent by first-class mail, or by nationally-recognized overnight courier, or
by telex or facsimile (with confirmation in writing mailed first-class or sent
by such an overnight courier), or by personal delivery. All notices shall be
sent to the applicable party at the address stated on the signature pages hereof
or in accordance with the last unrevoked written direction from such party to
the other parties hereto, in all cases with postage or other charges prepaid.
Any such properly given notice shall be effective on the earliest to occur of
receipt, telephone

                                      -63-

<PAGE>

confirmation of receipt of telex or facsimile communication, one Business Day
after delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier, or five Business
Days after deposit in the mail.

          (b) Any Lender giving any notice to the Borrower shall simultaneously
send a copy thereof to the Agent, and the Agent shall promptly notify the other
Lenders of the receipt by it of any such notice.

          (c) The Agent and each Lender may rely on any notice (whether or not
such notice is made in a manner permitted or required by this Agreement or any
Loan Document) purportedly made by or on behalf of the Borrower, and neither the
Agent nor any Lender shall have any duty to verify the identity or authority of
any Person giving such notice.

         9.06. Expenses; Taxes; Indemnity.

         (a) The Borrower agrees to pay or cause to be paid and to save the
Agent and each of the Lenders harmless against liability for the payment of all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including but not limited to
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent, local counsel, auditors,
consulting engineers, appraisers, and all other professional, accounting,
evaluation and consulting costs) incurred by the Agent or, in the case of clause
(iii) below any Lender, from time to time arising from or relating to (i) the
negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery, administration and performance of
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any requested amendments,
modifications, supplements, waivers or consents (whether or not ultimately
entered into or granted) to this Agreement or any Loan Document, and (iii) the
enforcement or preservation of rights under this Agreement or any Loan Document
(including but not limited to any such costs or expenses arising from or
relating to (A) collection or enforcement of an outstanding Obligation or any
other amount owing hereunder or thereunder by the Agent or any Lender, and (B)
any litigation, proceeding, dispute, work-out, restructuring or rescheduling
related in any way to this Agreement or the Loan Documents).

         (b) The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all stamp, document, transfer,
recording, filing, registration, search, sales and excise fees and taxes and all
similar impositions now or hereafter determined by the Agent or any Lender to be
payable in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Documents or any
other documents, instruments or transactions pursuant to or in connection
herewith or therewith, and the Borrower agrees to save the Agent and each Lender
harmless from and against any and all present or future claims, liabilities or
losses with respect to or resulting from any omission to pay or delay in paying
any such fees, taxes or impositions.

                                      -64-

<PAGE>

         (c) The Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse and indemnify each of the
Indemnified Parties from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims,
damages, expenses, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs or
disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation,
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for such Indemnified Party in
connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding
commenced or threatened, whether or not such Indemnified Party shall be
designated a party thereto) that may at any time be imposed on, asserted against
or incurred by such Indemnified Party as a result of, or arising out of, or in
any way related to or by reason of, any transaction financed in whole or in part
or directly or indirectly with the proceeds of any Loan (and without in any way
limiting the generality of the foregoing, including any violation or breach of
any Requirement of Law or any other Law by the Borrower or any Subsidiary); or
any exercise by the Agent or any Lender of any of its rights or remedies under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document; but excluding any such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages, expenses, obligations, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs or disbursements resulting solely from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. If and to the extent
that the foregoing obligations of the Borrower under this subsection (c), or any
other indemnification obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other
Loan Document, are unenforceable for any reason, the Borrower hereby agrees to
make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of such
obligations which is permissible under applicable Law.

         9.07. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be
severable. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or
unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction such provision shall, as
to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability
thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any
jurisdiction.

         9.08. Prior Understandings. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents
supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, whether
written or oral, among the parties hereto relating to the transactions provided
for herein and therein.

         9.09. Duration; Survival. All representations and warranties of the
Borrower contained herein or in any other Loan Document or made in connection
herewith shall survive the making of, and shall not be waived by the execution
and delivery, of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any investigation by
or knowledge of the Agent or any Lender, the making of any Loan, or any other
event or condition whatever. All covenants and agreements of the Borrower
contained herein or in any other Loan Document shall continue in full force and
effect from and after

                                      -65-

<PAGE>

the date hereof so long as any Borrower may borrow hereunder and until payment
in full of all Obligations. Without limitation, all obligations of the Borrower
hereunder or under any other Loan Document to make payments to or indemnify the
Agent or any Lender shall survive the payment in full of all other Obligations,
termination of the Borrower's right to borrow hereunder, and all other events
and conditions whatever. In addition, all obligations of each Lender to make
payments to or indemnify the Agent or the other Lenders shall survive the
payment in full by the Borrower of all Obligations, termination of the
Borrower's right to borrow hereunder, and all other events or conditions
whatever.

         9.10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts each
of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

         9.11. Limitation on Payments. The parties hereto intend to conform to
all applicable Laws in effect from time to time limiting the maximum rate of
interest that may be charged or collected. Accordingly, notwithstanding any
other provision hereof or of any other Loan Document, the Borrower shall not be
required to make any payment to or for the account of any Lender, and each
Lender shall refund any payment made by the Borrower, to the extent that such
requirement or such failure to refund would violate or conflict with nonwaivable
provisions of applicable Laws limiting the maximum amount of interest which may
be charged or collected by such Lender.

         9.12. Set-Off. The Borrower hereby agrees that, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, if any Obligation of the Borrower shall be due and payable (by
acceleration or otherwise), each Lender shall have the right, without notice to
the Borrower, to set-off against and to appropriate and apply to the Obligation
any indebtedness, liability or obligation of any nature owing to the Borrower by
such Lender, including but not limited to all deposits (whether time or demand,
general or special, provisionally credited or finally credited, whether or not
evidenced by a certificate of deposit) now or hereafter maintained by the
Borrower with such Lender. Such right shall be absolute and unconditional in all
circumstances and, without limitation, shall exist whether or not such Lender or
any other Person shall have given notice or made any demand to the Borrower or
any other Person, whether such indebtedness, obligation or liability owed to the
Borrower is contingent, absolute, matured or unmatured (it being agreed that
such Lender may deem such indebtedness, obligation or liability to be then due
and payable at the time of such setoff), and regardless of the existence or
adequacy of any collateral, guaranty or any other security, right or remedy
available to any Lender or any other Person. The Borrower hereby agrees that, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, any Participant and any branch, subsidiary
or affiliate of any Lender

                                      -66-

<PAGE>

or any Participant shall have the same rights of set-off as a Lender as provided
in this Section (regardless of whether such Participant, branch, subsidiary or
affiliate would otherwise be deemed in privity with or a direct creditor of such
Borrower). The rights provided by this Section are in addition to all other
rights of set-off and banker's lien and all other rights and remedies which any
Lender (or any such Participant, branch, subsidiary or affiliate) may otherwise
have under this Agreement, any other Loan Document, at law or in equity, or
otherwise, and nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall be deemed a
waiver or prohibition of or restriction on the rights of set-off or bankers'
lien of any such Person.

         9.13. Sharinq of Collections. The Lenders hereby agree among themselves
that if any Lender shall receive (by voluntary payment, realization upon
security, set-off or from any other source) any amount on account of the Loans,
interest thereon, or any other Obligation contemplated by this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents to be made by the Borrower pro rata to all Lenders in
greater proportion than any such amount received by any other Lender, then the
Lender receiving such proportionately greater payment shall notify each other
Lender and the Agent of such receipt, and equitable adjustment will be made in
the manner stated in this Section so that, in effect, all such excess amounts
will be shared ratably among all of the Lenders. The Lender receiving such
excess amount shall purchase (which it shall be deemed to have done
simultaneously upon the receipt of such excess amount) for cash from the other
Lenders a participation in the applicable Obligations owed to such other Lenders
in such amount as shall result in a ratable sharing by all Lenders of such
excess amount (and to such extent the receiving Lender shall be a Participant).
If all or any portion of such excess amount is thereafter recovered from the
Lender making such purchase, such purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase
price restored to the extent of such recovery, together with interest or other
amounts, if any, required by Law to be paid by the Lender making such purchase.
The Borrower hereby consents to and confirms the foregoing arrangements. Each
Participant shall be bound by this Section as fully as if it were a Lender
hereunder.

         9.14. Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments.

         (a) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Lenders, all future holders of the
Notes, the Agent and their respective successors and assigns, except that the
Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights hereunder or interests
herein without the prior written consent of all the Lenders and the Agent, and
any purported assignment without such consent shall be void.

                                      -67-

<PAGE>
          (b) Participations. Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its
commercial banking business and in accordance with applicable Law, at any time
sell participations to one or more commercial banks or other Persons (each a
"Participant") in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all or a
portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it and any Note held by it);
provided, that

                  (i) any such Lender's obligations under this Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged,

                  (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other
         parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,

                  (iii) the parties hereto shall continue to deal solely and
         directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
         obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents,

                  (iv) such Participant shall be bound by the provisions of
         Section 9.13 hereof, and the Lender selling such participation shall
         obtain from such Participant a written confirmation of its agreement to
         be so bound,

                  (v) no Participant (unless such Participant is an affiliate of
         such Lender, or is itself a Lender) shall be entitled to require such
         Lender to take or refrain from taking action under this Agreement or
         under any other Loan Document, except that such Lender may agree with
         such Participant that such Lender will not, without such Participant's
         consent, take action of the type described in subsections (a), (b),
         (c), (d) or (e) of Section 9.03 hereof; notwithstanding the foregoing,
         in no event shall any participation by an Lender have the effect of
         releasing such Lenders from its obligations hereunder, and

                  (vi) no Participant shall be an Affiliate of the Borrower.

The Borrower agrees that any such Participant shall be entitled to the benefits
of Sections 2.12, 2.14 and 9.06 with respect to its participation in the
Commitments and the Loans outstanding from time to time but only to the extent
such Participant sustains such losses; provided, that no such Participant shall
be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to such Sections than the
transferor Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the amount
of the participation transferred to such Participant had no such transfer
occurred.

         (c) Assignments. Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its
commercial banking business and in accordance with applicable Law, at any time
assign all or a portion of its rights

                                      -68-

<PAGE>
and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including,
without limitation, all or any portion of its Commitments and Obligations owing
to it and any Note held by it) to any Lender, any affiliate of a Lender or to
one or more additional commercial banks or other Persons (each a "Purchasing
Lender"); provided, that

                  (i) any such assignment to a Purchasing Lender which is not a
         Lender shall be made only with the consent of the Borrower and the
         Agent which shall not be unreasonably withheld,

                  (ii) if a Lender makes such an assignment of less than all of
         its then remaining rights and obligations under this Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents, such transferor Lender shall retain, after such
         assignment, a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 of the Commitments
         and Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding, and such assignment shall
         be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 of the
         Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding,

                  (iii) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a
         varying, percentage of each Commitment of the transferor Lender and of
         all of the transferor Lender's rights and obligations under this
         Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and

                  (iv) each such assignment shall be made pursuant to a Transfer
         Supplement in substantially the form of Exhibit C to this Agreement,
         duly completed (a "Transfer Supplement").

In order to effect any such assignment, the transferor Lender and the Purchasing
Lender shall execute and deliver to the Agent a duly completed Transfer
Supplement (including the consents required by clause (i) of the preceding
sentence) with respect to such assignment, together with any Note or Notes
subject to such assignment (the "Transferor Lender Notes") and a processing and
recording fee of $2,500; and, upon receipt thereof, the Agent shall accept such
Transfer Supplement. Upon receipt of the Purchase Price Receipt Notice pursuant
to such Transfer Supplement, the Agent shall record such acceptance in the
Register. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and
after the Transfer Effective Date specified in such Transfer Supplement

                  (x) the Purchasing Lender shall be a party hereto and, to the
         extent provided in such Transfer Supplement, shall have the rights and
         obligations of a Lender hereunder, and

                  (y) the transferor Lender thereunder shall be released from
         its obligations under this Agreement to the extent so transferred (and,
         in the case of an Transfer Supplement

                                      -69-

<PAGE>

         covering all or the remaining portion of a transferor Lender's rights
         and obligations under this Agreement, such transferor Lender shall
         cease to be a party to this Agreement) from and after the Transfer
         Effective Date.

On or prior to the Transfer Effective Date specified in an Transfer Supplement,
the Borrower, at its expense, shall execute and deliver to the Agent (for
delivery to the Purchasing Lender) new Notes evidencing such Purchasing Lender's
assigned Commitments or Loans and (for delivery to the transferor Lender)
replacement Notes in the principal amount of the Loans or Commitments retained
by the transferor Lender (such Notes to be in exchange for, but not in payment
of, those Notes then held by such transferor Lender). Each such Note shall be
dated the date and be substantially in the form of the predecessor Note. The
Agent shall mark the predecessor Notes "exchanged" and deliver them to the
Borrower. Accrued interest and accrued fees shall be paid to the Purchasing
Lender at the same time or times provided in the predecessor Notes and this
Agreement.

          (d) Register. The Agent shall maintain at its office a copy of each
Transfer Supplement delivered to it and a register (the "Register") for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and
principal amount of the Obligations owing to, each Lender from time to time. The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error and the
Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders may treat each person whose name is recorded
in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of the Agreement. The
Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any
reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

          (e) Financial and Other Information. The Borrower authorizes the Agent
and each Lender to disclose to any Participant or Purchasing Lender (each, a
"transferee") and any prospective transferee any and all financial and other
information in such Person's possession concerning the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates which has been or may be delivered to such Person by
or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or such Person's credit evaluation of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and Affiliates.

                  9.15. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.

         (a) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (EXCEPT
TO THE EXTENT, IF ANY, OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY STATED IN SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS)
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES.

         (b) Certain Waivers. THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY:

                                      -70-

<PAGE>

         (i) AGREES THAT ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BY ANY PERSON ARISING
FROM OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY STATEMENT,
COURSE OF CONDUCT, ACT, OMISSION, OR EVENT OCCURRING IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR
THEREWITH (COLLECTIVELY, "RELATED LITIGATION") MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR
FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION SITTING IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW
YORK, NEW YORK, AND SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS;

         (ii) WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE AT ANY TIME TO THE LAYING
OF VENUE OF ANY RELATED LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT, WAIVES ANY CLAIM
THAT ANY SUCH RELATED LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, AND
WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO OBJECT, WITH RESPECT TO ANY RELATED LITIGATION BROUGHT IN
ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH COURT DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE BORROWER;
AND

         (iii) CONSENTS AND AGREES TO SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER
LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY RELATED LITIGATION BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED U.S. MAIL,
POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE BORROWER AT THE ADDRESS FOR NOTICES DESCRIBED IN SECTION
9.05 HEREOF, AND CONSENTS AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE IN EVERY
RESPECT VALID AND EFFECTIVE SERVICE (BUT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE
VALIDITY OR EFFECTIVENESS OF PROCESS SERVED IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY
LAW).

         9.16. Replacement of Lender. If (a) a change in control shall have
occurred with respect to any Lender or (b) any Lender shall impose increased
costs on the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.12(a) or 2.12(c) hereof, the
Borrower may, upon not less than 30 Business Days' notice to the Agent, cause a
Replacement Lender reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (which may be one of the
other Lenders) to purchase all of such Lender's interests in accordance with the
provisions of Section 9.14(c) hereof.


                                      -71-

<PAGE>
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their officers thereunto
duly authorized, have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first
above written.

ATTEST:                                      BARNES GROUP INC.

By /s/ John E. Besser                        By /s/ George S. Crowley
   --------------------------------             --------------------------------
Title: Secretary                                Title: Executive Vice President-
                                                Finance
[Corporate Seal]
                                             Address for Notices:

                                             123 Main Street
                                             Bristol, CT 06010

                                             Telephone: 203-583-7070
                                             Telex:
                                                (Answerback:        )
                                             Telecopier: 203-589-3507











                                      -72-

<PAGE>

                                        MELLON BANK, N.A., individually and
                                        as Agent

                                        By /s/ Joseph F. Bond, Jr.
                                           --------------------------------
                                            Title: Vice President

                                        Initial Revolving Credit
                                        Committed Amount: $35,000,000

                                        Commitment Percentage: 35.000%

                                        Address for Notices:

                                        Corporate Banking Department
                                        Mellon Financial Center
                                        551 Madison Avenue
                                        New York, NY 10022-3217
                                        Attn: Joseph F. Bond, Jr.
                                              Vice President

                                        Telephone: 212-702-4017
                                        Telex:
                                           (Answerback:         )
                                        Telecopier: 212-702-5269

                                        CHEMICAL BANK

                                        By /s/ Stewart U. Wallace
                                           --------------------------------
                                            Title: Vice President



                                        Initial Revolving Credit
                                        Committed Amount: $25,000,000

                                        Commitment Percentage: 25.000%

                                        Address for Notices:

                                        277 Park Avenue
                                        6th Floor
                                        New York, NY 10172

                                        Telephone: (212) 310-7800
                                        Telex:
                                           (Answerback:          )
                                        Telecopier: (212) 310-4526


                                      -73-

<PAGE>

                                            THE CONNECTICUT NATIONAL BANK

                                            By /s/ Thomas A. Brugger
                                               ------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President

                                            Initial Revolving Credit
                                            Committed Amount: $10,000,000

                                            Commitment Percentage: 10.000%

                                            Address for Notices:

                                            777 Main Street 
                                            Hartford, CT 06115
                                            Attn: Corporate Banking Dept.

                                            Telephone: (203) 728-2751
                                             Telex: 99339
                                             (Answerback:             )
                                             Telecopier: (203) 722-9378

                                            NBD BANK, N.A.

                                            By /s/ Carolyn Parks
                                               ------------------------
                                               Title: Vice President

                                            Initial Revolving Credit
                                            Committed Amount: $10,000,000

                                            Commitment Percentage: 10.000%

                                            Address for Notices:

                                            611 Woodward Ave.
                                            Detroit, MI 48226

                                            Telephone: (313) 225-4315 
                                            Telex:
                                               (Answerback:           )
                                            Telecopier: (313) 225-2649


                                      -74-

<PAGE>




                                             AMERITRUST COMPANY NATIONAL
                                                ASSOCIATION

                                             By /s/ Michael Jackson
                                                -------------------------------
                                                 Title: Vice President
  
                                             Initial Revolving Credit
                                             Committed Amount: $10,000,000
                                             Commitment Percentage: 10.000%

                                             Address for Notices:

                                             900 Euclid Avenue
                                             Cleveland, OH 44115

                                             Telephone: 
                                             Telex:
                                               (Answerback:     )
                                             Telecopier:


                                             FLEET BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                             By /s/ Marlene K. Haddad
                                                -------------------------------
                                                 Title: Vice President

                                             Initial Revolving Credit
                                             Committed Amount: $10,000,000
                                             Commitment Percentage: 10.000%

                                             Address for Notices:

                                             One Constitution Plaza
                                             CTHMM03G
                                             Hartford, CT 06115-1600

                                             Telephone: (203) 244-5825
                                             Telex:
                                                (Answerback:          )
                                             Telecopier: (203) 244-5391


                                      -75-


<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit A
                                                                      to
                                                                Credit Agreement



                                BARNES GROUP INC.

                              Revolving Credit Note


$_________                                                  New York, New York
                                                           _____________, 199_

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, BARNES GROUP INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of [NAME OF LENDER]
(the "Lender") on or before the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, and at such
earlier dates as may be required by the Agreement (as defined below), the lesser
of (i) the principal sum of                 ($       ) or (ii) the aggregate 
unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by the Lender to the
Borrower from time to time pursuant to the Agreement. The Borrower further
promises to pay to the order of the Lender interest on the unpaid principal
amount hereof from time to time outstanding at the rate or rates per annum
determined pursuant to the Agreement, payable on the dates set forth in the
Agreement.

         This Note is one of the "Revolving Credit Notes" as referred to in, and
is entitled to the benefits of, the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of
December 1, 1991, by and among the Borrower, the Lenders parties thereto from
time to time, and Mellon Bank, N.A., as Agent (as the same may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Agreement"), which among other
things provides for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence
of certain events and for prepayments in certain circumstances and upon certain
terms and conditions. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meanings
herein.

         Except as otherwise set forth in the Agreement, the Borrower hereby
expressly waives presentment, demand, notice, protest and all other demands and
notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or
enforcement of this Note and the Agreement, and an action for amounts due
hereunder or thereunder shall immediately accrue.

         This Note shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of choice
of law.

                                       BARNES GROUP INC.


                                       By__________________________________
                                       Title:





<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit B
                                                                              to
                                                                Credit Agreement

                               TRANSFER SUPPLEMENT


         THIS TRANSFER SUPPLEMENT, dated as of the date specified in Item 1 of
Schedule I hereto, among the Transferor Lender specified in Item 2 of Schedule I
hereto (the "Transferor Lender"), each Purchasing Lender specified in Item 3 of
Schedule I hereto (each a "Purchasing Lender") and Mellon Bank, N.A., as Agent
for the Lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement described below.

                                    Recitals:

         A. This Transfer Supplement is being executed and delivered in
accordance with Section 9.14(c) of the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of
December 1, 1991 by and among Barnes Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Borrower"), the Lenders parties thereto, and Mellon Bank, N.A., a national
banking association, as Agent (as the same may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"). Capitalized terms used
herein without definition have the meaning specified in the Credit Agreement.

         B. Each Purchasing Lender (if it is not already a Lender) wishes to
become a Lender party to the Credit Agreement.

         C. The Transferor Lender is selling and assigning to each Purchasing
Lender, and each Purchasing Lender is purchasing and assuming, a certain portion
of the Transferor Lender's rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement,
including, without limitation, the Transferor Lender's Commitments and Loans
owing to it and any Notes held by it (the "Transferor Lender's Interests").

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound,
hereby agree as follows:

         1. Transfer Effective Notice. Upon receipt by the Agent of five
counterparts of this Transfer Supplement (to each of which is attached a fully
completed Schedule I and Schedule II), and each of which has been executed by
the Transferor Lender, by each Purchasing Lender and by any other Person
required by Section 9.14(c) of the Credit Agreement to execute this Transfer
Supplement, the Agent will transmit to the Borrower, the Transferor Lender and
each Purchasing Lender a transfer effective notice, substantially in the form of
Schedule III to this Transfer Supplement (a "Transfer Effective Notice"). The
date specified in such Transfer Effective Notice as the date on which the
transfer effected by this Transfer Supplement shall become effective (the
"Transfer Effective Date") shall be the fifth Business Day following the date of
such Transfer Effective Notice or such other date as shall be agreed upon among
the Transfer Lender, the Purchasing Lender, the Agent and the Borrower. From and
after the Transfer Effective Date each Purchasing Lender (if not already a




<PAGE>


Lender party to the Credit Agreement) shall be a Lender party to the Credit
Agreement for all purposes thereof having the respective interests in the
Transferor Lender's interests reflected in this Transfer Supplement.

         2. Purchase Price; Sale. At or before 12:00 Noon, local time at the
Transferor Lender's office specified in Schedule III, on the Transfer Effective
Date, each Purchasing Lender shall pay to the Transferor Lender, in immediately
available funds, an amount equal to the purchase price, as agreed between the
Transferor Lender and such Purchasing Lender (the "Purchase Price"), of the
portion being purchased by such Purchasing Lender (such Purchasing Lender's
"Purchased Percentage") of the Transferor Lender's Interests. Effective upon
receipt by the Transferor Lender of the Purchase Price from a Purchasing Lender,
the Transferor Lender hereby irrevocably sells, assigns and transfers to such
Purchasing Lender, without recourse, representation or warranty (express or
implied) except as set forth in Section 6 hereof, and each Purchasing Lender
hereby irrevocably purchases, takes and assumes from the Transferor Lender such
Purchasing Lender's Purchased Percentage of the Transferor Lender's Interests.
The Transferor Lender shall promptly notify the Agent of the receipt of the
Purchase Price from a Purchasing Lender ("Purchase Price Receipt Notice"). Upon
receipt by the Agent of such Purchase Price Receipt Notice, the Agent shall
record in the Register the information with respect to such sale and purchase as
contemplated by Section 9.14(d) of the Credit Agreement.

         3. Principal, Interest and Fees. All principal payments, interest, fees
and other amounts that would otherwise be payable from and after the Transfer
Effective Date to or for the account of the Transferor Lender in respect of the
Transferor Lender's Interests shall, instead, be payable to or for the account
of the Transferor Lender and the Purchasing Lenders, as the case may be, in
accordance with their respective interests as reflected in this Transfer
Supplement.

         4. Closing Documents. Concurrently with the execution and delivery
hereof, the Transferor Lender will request that the Borrower provide to each
Purchasing Lender (if it is not already a Lender party to the Credit Agreement)
conformed copies of all documents delivered to such Transferor Lender on the
Closing Date in satisfaction of conditions precedent set forth in the Credit
Agreement.

         5. Further Assurances. Each of the parties to this Transfer Supplement
agrees that at any time and from time to time upon the written request of any
other party, it will execute and deliver such further documents and do such
further acts and things as such other party may reasonably request in order to
effect the purposes of this Transfer Supplement.


                                      -2-

<PAGE>


         6. Certain Representations and Agreements. By executing and delivering
this Transfer Supplement, the Transferor Lender and each Purchasing Lender
confirm to and agree with each other and the Agent and the Lenders as follows:

                  (a) Other than the representation and warranty that it is the
         legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned hereby free
         and clear of any adverse claim, the Transferor Lender makes no
         representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect
         to (i) the execution, delivery, effectiveness, enforceability,
         genuineness, validity or adequacy of the Credit Agreement or any other
         Loan Document, (ii) any recital, representation, warranty, document,
         certificate, report or statement in, provided for in, received under or
         in connection with, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, or
         (iv) the existence, validity, enforceability, perfection, recordation,
         priority, adequacy or value, now or hereafter, of any Lien or other
         direct or indirect security afforded or purported to be afforded by any
         of the Loan Documents or otherwise from time to time.

                  (b) The Transferor Lender makes no representation or warranty
         and assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) the performance or
         observance of any of the terms or conditions of the Credit Agreement or
         any other Loan Document on the part of the Borrower or any other
         Borrower, (ii) the business, operations, condition (financial or
         otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or any other Borrower or any
         other Person, or (iii) the existence of any Event of Default or
         Potential Default.

                  (c) Each Purchasing Lender confirms that it has received a
         copy of the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents,
         together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section
         3.06 thereof, the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant
         to Section 5.01 thereof, if any, and such other documents and
         information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit and
         legal analysis and decision to enter into this Transfer Supplement.
         Each Purchasing Lender confirms that it has made such analysis and
         decision independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the
         Transferor Lender or any other Lender.

                  (d) Each Purchasing Lender, independently and without reliance
         upon the Agent, the Transferor Lender or any other Lender, and based on
         such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
         time, will make its own decisions to take or not take action under or
         in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.



                                      -3-

<PAGE>


                  (e) Each Purchasing Lender irrevocably appoints the Agent to
         act as Agent for such Purchasing Lender under the Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents, all in accordance with Article IX of the Credit
         Agreement and the other provisions of the Credit Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents.

                  (f) Each Purchasing Lender agrees that it will perform in
         accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms
         of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are required to be
         performed by it as a Lender.

         7. Schedule II. Schedule II hereto sets forth the revised Commitments
of the Transferor Lender and each Purchasing Lender as well as administrative
information with respect to each Purchasing Lender.

         8. Governing Law. This Transfer Supplement shall be governed by,
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,
without regard to principles of choice of law.

         9. Counterparts. This Transfer Supplement may be executed on any number
of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts
each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such
counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Transfer
Supplement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers on
Schedule I hereto as of the date set forth in Item 1 of Schedule I hereto.



                                      -4-

<PAGE>


                                                                 Schedule I
                                                                     to
                                                            Transfer Supplement

                          COMPLETION OF INFORMATION AND
                       SIGNATURES FOR TRANSFER SUPPLEMENT


Re:      Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 1991, by and among
         Barnes Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the Lenders
         parties thereto from time to time, and Mellon Bank N.A., a national
         banking association, as Agent for the Lenders (as amended, modified or
         supplemented from time to time, the "Credit Agreement")


         Item 1 (Date of                     [Insert date of
                 Assignment Supplement):     Assignment Supplement]

         Item 2 (Transferor Lender):         [Insert name of Transferor
                                             Lender]

         Item 3 (Purchasing Lender[s]):      [Insert name[s] of
                                             Purchasing Lender[s]]

         Item 4 (Signatures of Parties
                 to Transfer Supplement):


                                                     [Name of Transferor Lender]
                                     __________________________________________,
                                                      as Transferor Lender


                                       By:_____________________________________
                                           Title:


                                                     [Name of Purchasing Lender]
                                     __________________________________________,
                                                      as Purchasing Lender



                                       By:_____________________________________
                                           Title:


                                                     [Name of Purchasing Lender]
                                      _________________________________________
                                                      as Purchasing Lender



                                       By:_____________________________________
                                           Title:




<PAGE>


[Following two consents required
only when Purchasing Lender is not
already a Lender [or an Affiliate of
a Lender]]


CONSENTED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED:

BARNES GROUP INC.


By:___________________________
   Title:



MELLON BANK, N.A., as Agent


By:___________________________
   Title:



ACCEPTED FOR RECORDATION
  IN PURCHASING LENDER REGISTER:

MELLON BANK, N.A., as Agent


By:___________________________
   Title:





                                      -2-

<PAGE>


                                                               Schedule II
                                                                   to
                                                           Transfer Supplement

                       LIST OF LENDING OFFICES, ADDRESSES
                        FOR NOTICES AND COMMITTED AMOUNTS


[Name of Transferor
  Lender]                 Revised Commitment and Loan Amounts:

                           Revolving Credit
                            Committed Amount                         $_________

                          Revised Commitment  Percentage:             _________

[Name of Purchasing
  Lender]                 New Commitment and   Loan Amounts:

                          Revolving Credit
                            Committed Amount                         $_________

                          New Commitment Percentage:                  _________

   Administrative Information
     for Purchasing Lender:

   Address:__________________
           __________________

   Attention:________________

   Telephone:________________
   Telex:
     (Answerback:____________)
   Telecopier:_______________



<PAGE>
                                                                Schedule III
                                                                     to
                                                             Transfer Supplement

                           Transfer Effective Notice

To: [Insert Name of Borrower, Transferor
    Lender and each Purchasing Lender]

         The undersigned, as the Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement,
dated as of December 1, 1991, by and among Barnes Group Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"), the Lenders parties thereto from time to time, and
Mellon Bank N.A., a national banking association, as Agent for the Lenders (as
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"),
acknowledges receipt of five executed counterparts of a completed Transfer
Supplement, dated __________, 199_, from [name of Transferor Lender] to [name
of each Purchasing Lender] (the "Transfer Supplement"). Terms defined in the
Transfer Supplement are used herein as therein defined.

         1. Pursuant to the Transfer Supplement, you are advised that the
Transfer Effective Date will be __________, 199_. [Insert fifth Business Day
following date of Transfer Effective Notice or other date agreed to among the
Transferor Lender, the Purchasing Lender, the Agent and the Borrower.]

         2. Pursuant to Section 9.14(c) of the Credit Agreement, the Transferor
Lender has delivered to the Agent the Transferor Lender Notes.

         3. Section 9.14(c) of the Credit Agreement provides that the Borrower
is to deliver to the Agent on or before the Assignment Effective Date the
following Notes, each dated the date of the Note it replaces.

         [Describe each new Revolving Credit Note for Transferor Lender and
Purchasing Lender as to date (as required by the Credit Agreement), principal
amount and payee.]

         4. The Transfer Supplement provides that each Purchasing Lender is to
pay its Purchase Price to the Transferor Lender at or before 12:00 o'clock Noon,
local time at the Transferor Lender's lending office specified in Schedule II to
the Transfer Supplement, on the Transfer Effective Date in immediately available
funds.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            MELLON BANK, N.A., as Agent

                                            By: _______________________________
                                                Title:

<PAGE>
                              [BARNES LETTERHEAD]

[BARNES LOGO]

                                                                   Exhibit C
                                                                       to
                                                                Credit Agreement


                                December 6, 1991

Mellon Bank, N.A., Individually and as Agent
Ameritrust Company National Association
Chemical Bank
The Connecticut National Bank
Fleet Bank, National Association
NBD Bank, N.A.

Gentlemen/Mesdames:

          I am Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Barnes Group
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), and have acted as counsel to the
Borrower in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of December
1, 1991 between you and the Borrower (the "Agreement"). This opinion is being
delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.01(d) of the Agreement.
Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the
Agreement.

          In this connection, I have examined and am familiar with the originals
or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of the
Agreement, the Revolving Credit Notes, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and By-Laws of the Company, as currently in effect, resolutions of the Company's
Board of Directors authorizing the Agreement and the issuance of the Notes, and
such other documents as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for
the opinions set forth below. In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness
of all signatures (except for signatures of officers of the Borrower), the legal
capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me
as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to
me as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of
such copies. As to the facts material to this opinion which I did not
independently establish or verify, I have relied upon statements and
representations of officers and other representatives of the Borrower and
others.

          I am admitted to the bar in the State of Missouri and am not admitted
in any of the jurisdictions in which the Foreign Subsidiaries are incorporated.
With respect to Foreign Subsidiaries, I am generally familiar with their
organizational structure, have put in place

                                                                 .    .    .


<PAGE>
Page 2
December 6, 1991

procedures designed to ensure their continued qualification to do business and
good standing in their respective jurisdictions, and am generally familiar with
their current business activities and financial status.

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

1.       The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
         good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the
         corporate power to own its property and to carry on its business as now
         conducted and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction where
         such qualification is necessary and in which the failure to be so
         qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect.

2.       Each Subsidiary incorporated in the United States ("Domestic
         Subsidiary") is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
         good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation, has the
         corporate power to own its property and to carry on its business as now
         conducted and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction where
         such qualification is necessary and in which the failure to be so
         qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect. The shares of stock of
         each Domestic Subsidiary purported to be owned by the Borrower are
         validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the
         Borrower free and clear of any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security
         interest or other encumbrance.

3.       To the best of my knowledge, without any special investigation by me,
         (a) each subsidiary not incorporated in the United States ("Foreign
         Subsidiary") is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
         good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
         has the corporate power to own its property and to carry on its
         business as now conducted and is qualified to do business in every
         jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary and in which the
         failure to be so qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect, and
         (b) the shares of stock of each Foreign Subsidiary purported to be
         owned by the Borrower or another Subsidiary are validly issued, fully
         paid and

                                                                 .   .    .

<PAGE>
Page 3
December 6, 1991

         nonassessable and are owned by the Borrower or another Subsidiary
         (except in the case of Director's qualifying shares) free and clear of
         any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other
         encumbrance.

4.       The Borrower has the corporate power to execute, deliver and perform
         the Agreement, to borrow under the Agreement, and to execute and
         deliver the Notes.

5.       As of the date hereof, the execution, delivery and performance of the
         Agreement, any borrowings under the Agreement and the execution and
         delivery of the Notes by the Borrower, (a) have been duly authorized by
         all requisite corporate action (including, without limitation, any
         requisite action of the stockholders of the Borrower), (b) will not
         violate any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or
         By-Laws of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (c) will not be in
         conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or
         lapse of time or both) a default with respect to Indebtedness for
         borrowed money (including but not limited to the Guarantee).

6.       To the best of my knowledge, without any special investigation by me
         other than the laws and documents referred to above, as of the date
         hereof the execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement, any
         borrowings under the Agreement and the execution and delivery of the
         Notes by the Borrower (a) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of Law
         (including, without limitation, Regulations G, U, T, and X of the
         Federal Reserve Board), any order of any court or other agency of
         government or (B) any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which
         the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party, or by which it
         or any of its property is bound, (ii) be in conflict with, result in a
         breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a
         default under any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or
         (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
         encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any property or assets of the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower and (b) do not require the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary to obtain the consent or approval of any
         Federal, State, municipal or other governmental

                                                                 .    .     .

<PAGE>
Page 4 
December 6, 1991

         department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality,
         domestic or foreign.

7.       Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is subject to
         regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the
         Federal Power Act, or the Investment Company Act of 1940. Neither the
         Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is an "investment company" or a
         company "controlled" by an "investment company," within the meaning of
         the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

8.       The Agreement and the Revolving Credit Notes have each been duly
         executed and delivered and, assuming that the Agreement is a valid and
         binding obligation of you, each constitutes the legal, valid and
         binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in
         accordance with its terms, except (a) that such enforcement may be
         subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
         similar laws nor or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
         generally, and (b) such enforcement may be subject to general
         principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
         proceeding in equity or at law).

9.       To the best of my knowledge after due inquiry, there is no pending or
         threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation by or before any
         Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary of the Borrower, which will more likely than not,
         individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

          I am furnishing this opinion to you solely in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the Agreement. This opinion is solely for your
benefit and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for
any other purpose without my written permission. In connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the law firm of Reed Smith Shaw &
McClay may also rely on this opinion.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ John E. Besser
                                            ------------------
                                            John E. Besser

JEB/hvl

<PAGE>
                                                                       Exhibit D
                                                                              to
                                                                Credit Agreement

                        Quarterly Compliance Certificate

         I have conducted a review of the terms and conditions of the Revolving
Credit Agreement dated as of December 1, 1991 (the "Agreement"), the Notes and
the other Loan Documents, and the financial statements of the Borrower. Defined
terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the Agreement. Such
review has not disclosed nor does the signer have any knowledge of the existence
as of the date of this certificate of any condition or event which constitutes a
Potential Default or Event of Default.

         Enclosed are condensed financial statements relating to the most recent
quarter. In my opinion they present fairly the consolidated financial position
of Barnes Group at the end of the quarter and the results of operations for the
indicated periods. These statements were prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles for interim financial statements.

         Also enclosed are true and correct schedules demonstrating compliance
with the covenants contained in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03 of the Agreement as
of the date of this certificate.

Date:                                       By: _______________________________

                                            Title: ____________________________

<PAGE>
                        Schedule 3.01 (Corporate Status)

1. The Borrower is incorporated in the State of Delaware.

2. See Schedule 3.11 for the places of incorporation of the Subsidiaries.

<PAGE>
                                                                   Schedule 3.07

                                  INDEBTEDNESS

        (A) The Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of September
30, 1991 is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          Description                                                                     Amount
          -----------                                                                     ------
<S>                                             <C>                                   <C>
 1)   Term Loan Agreement                       Mellon Bank, N.A.                     $20,000,000.00

 2)   Senior Notes                              Various                               $40,000,000.00

 3)   Industrial Revenue                        Comerica Bank, N.A.                   $ 7,000,000.00
      Bond, Saline, MI                          Trustee

 4)   Industrial Revenue                        Mellon Bank, N.A.A.                  $ 1,714,300.00
      Bond, Meridian, MS                        Trustee

 5)   Short Term Credit Line                    Various                               $37,000,000.00

 6)   Bank Overdraft                            Various                               $ 3,715,803.00

 7)   Guaranty Agreement                        Mellon Bank, N.A.                     $ 1,714,300.00

 8)   Letter of Credit                          Fuji Bank, Ltd.                       $ 7,394,000.00

 9)   NASCO Guaranty                            LTCB Trust Co.                        $ 3,780,000.00

 10)  NASCO Guaranty                            Tohlease Corp.                        $ 3,891,000.00

 11)  NASCO Guaranty                            LTCB Trust Co.                        $ 5,930,000.00

 12)  NASCO Guaranty                            LTCB Trust Co.                        $ 1,350,000 00

 13)  ESOP Guaranty                             CT. National Bank                     $18,002,000.00
                                                Nat. Bank Detroit

 14)  Standby L/C                               Connecticut National                  $ 5,694,000.00
      (Insurance)                               Bank

 15)  Commercial L/C                            Fleet Bank, N.A.                      $   571,000.00

 16)  Company Guaranty                          Various                               $   100,000.00

 17)  Standby L/C (Gardena)                     Connecticut Nationa1                  $   347,000.00
</TABLE>

 Total Debt: $149,489,000. Total excludes duplication items listed:

(3) Industrial Revenue Bond, Saline, $7,000,000.00.

(7) Guaranty Agreement, Meridian, $1,714,300.00.

<PAGE>
                                                                   Schedule 3.11

         The Company's Subsidiaries are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Percentage of
                                                               Voting Stock Owned
                                            Jurisdiction of    by Company and Each
      Name of Subsidiary                     Incorporation      Other Subsidiary*
      ------------------                     -------------      -----------------
<S>                                            <C>                   <C>
Associated Spring-Asia PTE. LTD.               Singapore              100%
Associated Spring Corporation**                Connecticut            100%
Associated Spring SPEC Ltd.                    England               Note 1
Autoliaisons France S.A.                       France                 100%
Barnes Group Canada Inc.                       Canada                 100%
Bowman Distribution (U.K.) Limited**           United Kingdom         100%
Motalink Limited                               United Kingdom         100%
Resortes Industriales Del Norte, S.A.          Mexico                 100%
Resortes Mecanicos, S.A.                       Mexico                 100%
Stumpp & Schuele do Brasil
  Industria e Comercio Limitada                Brazil                 100%
Stumpp & Schuele Distribuidora Ltda.           Brazil                 100%
The Wallace Barnes Company**                   Connecticut            100%
Windsor Airmotive Asia PTE. LTD.               Singapore             Note 2
</TABLE>

Note 1: Associated Spring SPEC Limited is wholly owned by Motalink Limited.

Note 2: Windsor Airmotive Asia PTE. LTD. is wholly owned by Barnes Group Canada
        Inc.

*  Other than directors' qualifying shares.

** Inactive.

<PAGE>
                       Schedule 3.12 (Partnerships, etc.)

1.       The Subsidiaries listed in Schedule 4.11.

2.       The Borrower owns 45% of the stock of NHK-Associated Spring Suspension
         Components Inc.

3.       The Borrower owns a 15% equity interest in Resortes Argentina, S.A.,
         formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower.

<PAGE>

<PAGE>
                                                             EXHIBIT 10.6

                      1991 BARNES GROUP STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                      --------------------------------------

                   As Amended and Restated as of February 21, 1997
                   -----------------------------------------------


            1.   Purpose
            ------------
                 The purpose of the Plan is to authorize the grant to Key
            Employees of the Company or any Subsidiary of (i)
            nonqualified options to purchase shares of Common Stock, (ii)
            Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) Incentive Stock Rights, and
            (iv) Performance Unit Awards, and thus benefit the Company by
            giving such employees a greater personal interest in the
            success of the enterprise and an added incentive to continue
            and advance their employment.  An additional purpose of the
            Plan is to provide "qualified performance-based compensation"
            (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
            Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder
            ("Section 162(m)") to Key Employees.

            2.   Definitions
            ----------------
                 The following terms, when used in the Plan, shall mean:

                 1981 Plan:  The Barnes Group Inc. Stock Incentive Plan
                 ---------
                 adopted by the stockholders of the Company in 1981.

                 Board:  The Board of Directors of the Company.
                 -----

                 CEO:  The Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
                 ---

                 Committee:  Such committee as shall be appointed by the
                 ---------
                 Board pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.







                                          1
<PAGE>











                 Common Stock:  The Common Stock of the Company, par
                 ------------ 
                 value $1.00 per share, or such other class
                 of shares or other securities as may be applicable
                 pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.

                 Company:  Barnes Group Inc.
                 -------

                 Disability:  Inability to perform the services normally
                 ----------
                 rendered by the employee due to any physical or mental
                 impairment that can be expected either to be of indefinite
                 duration or to result in death, as determined by the
                 Committee on the basis of appropriate
                 medical evidence.

                 Fair Market Value:  As applied to the Common Stock on
                 -----------------
                 any day, the closing market price of such stock as reported
                 in the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions Index
                 for such day, or if the Common Stock was not traded on such
                 day, for the last preceding day on which the Common Stock
                 was traded.

                 Incentive:  An incentive granted under the Plan in one
                 ---------
                 of the forms provided for in Section 3.

                 Key Employee:  An employee of the Company or of a
                 ------------
                 Subsidiary, including an officer or director who is an
                 employee, who in the Committee's or CEO's judgment can
                 contribute significantly to the growth and successful
                 operations of the Company or a Subsidiary.


                 Option:  An option to purchase shares of Common Stock.
                 ------

                 Plan:  The 1991 Barnes Group Stock Incentive Plan herein
                 ----
                 set forth, as amended from time to time.








                                          2
<PAGE>


                 Subsidiary:  A corporation in which the Company owns,
                 ---------- 
                 directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the voting stock.


            3.   Grants of Incentives
            -------------------------
                 (a)  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
            Committee may at any time, or from time to time, grant
            Incentives under the Plan to, and only to, Key Employees.  In
            addition, subject to the provisions of the Plan, the CEO may
            also grant Options to Key Employees, but only in connection
            with the hiring or promotion of such Key Employees and only
            if such Key Employees are not (or, by virtue of such hiring
            or promotion, would not become) subject to the reporting
            requirements under Rule 16a promulgated under the Securities
            Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").  Any
            Options granted by the CEO shall be (i) evidenced by a
            written instrument in the form most recently approved by the
            Committee for such Option and (ii) subject to, if applicable,
            the performance targets and incentive periods most recently
            set forth by the Committee for such Option.  For purposes of
            the Plan, grants by the CEO complying with this Section 3(a)
            shall be deemed to have been effected by the Committee.

                 (b)  Incentives may be in the following forms:

                    (i)    an Option, in accordance with Section 5;

                    (ii)   a Stock Appreciation Right, in accordance with
                           Section 6;

                    (iii)  an Incentive Stock Right, in accordance with
                           Section 7;

                    (iv)   a Performance Unit Award, in accordance with
                           Section 8; or

                    (v)    a combination of two or more of the foregoing.





                                          3
<PAGE>


            4.   Stock Subject to the Plan
            ------------------------------
                 (a)  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9, the
                      aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which
                      may be issued subject to Incentives granted under
                      the Plan shall not exceed the sum of (i) 1,000,000
                      shares and (ii) the number of shares of stock
                      covered by outstanding options (or installments
                      thereof) granted under the 1981 Plan which, after
                      its expiration, shall terminate or expire in whole
                      or in part without being exercised.  Charges
                      against such aggregate number are governed by the
                      provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section 4,
                      paragraph (k) of Section 5, paragraph (e) of
                      Section 6, paragraph (c) of Section 7, and
                      paragraph (e) of Section 8.  No Key Employee may
                      receive grants of Options, Stock Appreciation
                      Rights or Incentive Stock Rights in any year
                      relating to shares of Common Stock which in the
                      aggregate exceed 50,000 shares, which number shall
                      be adjusted pursuant to the terms hereof.

                 (b)  Such shares may be either authorized but unissued
                      shares or shares issued and thereafter acquired by
                      the Company.

                 (c)  If any shares subject to an Incentive shall cease
                      to be subject thereto because of the termination
                      without exercise or payment, in whole or in part,
                      of such Incentive, the shares as to which the
                      Incentive was not exercised or paid shall no longer
                      be charged against the limits in paragraph (a) of
                      this Section 4 and may again be made subject to
                      Incentives.

                 (d)  The Committee may permit the voluntary surrender of
                      all or a portion of any Incentive granted under
                      this Plan conditioned upon the granting to the
                      employee of a new Incentive for the same or a
                      different number of shares or amount of other
                      payment as the Incentive surrendered, or it may
                      require such voluntary surrender as a condition to
                      a grant of a new




                                          4
<PAGE>


                      Incentive to such employee.  Such new Incentive
                      shall be exercisable at the price, during the
                      period, and in accordance with any other terms or
                      conditions specified by the Committee at the time
                      the new Incentive is granted, all determined in
                      accordance with the provisions of this Plan without
                      regard to the price, period of exercise, or any
                      other terms or conditions of the Incentive
                      surrendered.

            5.   Options
            ------------
                 Incentives, in the form of options to purchase shares of
            Common Stock, shall be subject to the following provisions:

                 (a)  The Option price per share shall be determined as
                      of the effective date of the grant and shall not be
                      less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of the
                      Common Stock at the time of the grant of the
                      Option.  In no event shall the Option price be less
                      than the par value of the stock which is the
                      subject of the Option.

                 (b)  Each Option shall expire at such time as the
                      Committee may determine at the time the Option is
                      granted; provided, however, that no Option may,
                      under any circumstances, expire later than ten
                      years from the date such Option shall have been
                      granted.

                 (c)  Any Option granted under the Plan may be exercised
                      solely by the person to whom granted, by his/her
                      guardian or legal representative, or, in the case
                      of death, by an estate.

                 (d)  No Option may be exercised less than 12 months from
                      the date it is granted.  After completion of any
                      additional required period of employment specified
                      in the Option grant, the Option may be exercised,
                      in whole or in part, at any time or from time to
                      time during the balance of


                                          5
<PAGE>

                      the term of the Option, except as limited by
                      provisions contained in the Option (including
                      provisions regarding exercise in installments).

                 (e)  If the optionee terminates employment prior to
                      attaining age 55, the Option shall terminate 90
                      days after termination of employment, except in the
                      case of death or disability.

                 (f)  If employment terminates as a result of death or
                      disability, or if the Optionee terminates
                      employment after attaining age 55, the Option shall
                      terminate five years after termination of
                      employment; provided, however, if the Optionee's
                      employment is terminated upon the request of the
                      Company after the Optionee attains age 55, the
                      Option may be terminated by the Committee effective
                      90 days after termination of employment.

                 (g)  Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 5 to
                      the contrary, (1) the Committee may provide that an
                      Option will terminate prior to time periods
                      specified in paragraphs 5(e) and 5(f) on conditions
                      specified by the Committee and incorporated in an
                      Option Agreement between the Company and the person
                      receiving the option; and (2) in no event may any
                      Option be exercised after the expiration date
                      thereof.

                 (h)  Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option shall
                      be paid for in full within twenty days of the date
                      of exercise in cash or, with the consent of the
                      Committee, in whole or in part in shares of Common
                      Stock based on their Fair Market Value on the date
                      of exercise.

                 (i)  If so authorized by the Committee, the Company may,
                      with the consent of the optionee, and at any time
                      or from time to time, cancel all or a portion of
                      any Option granted under the Plan then subject to
                      exercise and discharge its obligation in respect of
                      the Option either by payment to the





                                          6
<PAGE>






                      optionee of an amount of cash equal to the excess,
                      if any, of the Fair Market Value, at such time, of
                      the shares subject to the portion of the Option so
                      cancelled over the aggregate option price of such
                      shares, or by issuance or transfer to the optionee
                      of shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value,
                      at such time, equal to any such excess, or by a
                      combination of cash and shares.

                 (j)  The forms of Option authorized by the Plan may
                      contain such other provisions as the Committee
                      shall deem advisable.

                 (k)  Upon the exercise of an Option there shall be
                      charged against the limits in paragraph (a) of
                      Section 4 the number of shares issued to the
                      optionee.  Upon the cancellation of any Option
                      pursuant to paragraph (i) of Section 5, there shall
                      be charged against the limitations in paragraph (a)
                      of Section 4 a number of shares equal to (A) the
                      number of any shares issued to the optionee plus
                      (B) the number of shares purchasable with the
                      amount of any cash paid to the optionee on the
                      basis of the Fair Market Value as of the date of
                      payment; and the number of shares subject to the
                      portion of the Option so cancelled, less the number
                      of shares so charged against such limitations,
                      shall thereafter be available for other grants of
                      Incentives.

                 (l)  An Option will not be treated as an Incentive Stock
                      Option within the meaning of section 422 of the
                      Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

            6.   Stock Appreciation Rights
            ------------------------------
                 (a)  A Stock Appreciation Right ("SAR") may be granted
                      in connection with any Option granted under the
                      Plan, either at the time of the grant of such
                      Option or at any time thereafter during the term of
                      the Option, or independently of the grant of an
                      Option.






                                          7
<PAGE>




                 (b)  An SAR shall entitle the holder thereof, upon
                      exercise of the SAR, to receive a number of shares
                      of Common Stock or cash or a combination of cash
                      and shares (as the Committee in its discretion may
                      elect) determined pursuant to paragraph (d) of this
                      Section 6.

                 (c)  An SAR shall be subject to the following terms and
                      conditions and to such other terms and conditions
                      not inconsistent with the Plan as shall from time
                      to time be approved by the Committee:

                      (i)  If granted in connection with an Option, an
                           SAR shall be exercisable at such time or times
                           and by such person or persons and to the
                           extent, but only to the extent, that the
                           Option to which it relates shall be
                           exercisable; provided, however, that such SAR
                           shall be exercisable only during the ten-day
                           periods (the "Exercise Periods") beginning on
                           the third business day following the date of
                           release of a summary statement of the
                           Company's quarterly or annual sales and
                           earnings and ending on the twelfth business
                           day following such date of release.

                      (ii) If granted independently of an Option, an SAR
                           shall be subject to the following provisions:

                           (A)  If a person terminates employment prior
                                to attaining age 55, the SAR shall
                                terminate 90 days after the termination
                                of employment, except in the case of
                                death or disability.

                           (B)  If employment terminates as a result of
                                death or disability or if a person
                                terminates employment after attaining age
                                55,





                                          8
<PAGE>




                                the SAR will terminate one year after the
                                termination of employment.

                 (d)  Upon exercise of an SAR, the holder thereof shall
                      be entitled to receive a number of shares equal in
                      Fair Market Value to (1) the amount by which the
                      Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the
                      date of such exercise shall exceed the Fair Market
                      Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of
                      grant of the related Option, or, in the case of any
                      SAR granted independently of an option, on the date
                      of grant of such SAR, multiplied by (2) the number
                      of shares in respect of which the SAR shall have
                      been exercised.  Settlement for any fraction of a
                      share due shall be made in cash.  The Committee may
                      settle all or any part of the Company's obligation
                      arising out of an exercise of any SAR by the
                      payment of cash equal to the aggregate value of the
                      shares of Common Stock that it would otherwise be
                      obligated to deliver under the provisions of this
                      paragraph (d).

                 (e)  Upon exercise of any SAR, (i) there shall be
                      charged against the limitations in paragraph (a) of
                      Section 4 a number of shares equal to (A) the
                      number of shares issued to the grantee under
                      paragraph (d) of this Section 6 plus (B) the number
                      of shares purchasable with the amount of any cash
                      paid to the grantee on the basis of the Fair Market
                      Value as of the date of payment and (ii) the
                      portion of the Incentive in respect of which such
                      SAR shall have been exercised shall be cancelled
                      and the number of shares subject to such portion,
                      less the number of shares so charged against such
                      limitations, shall thereafter be available for
                      other grants of Incentives.


                                          9
<PAGE>


            7.   Incentive Stock Rights
            ---------------------------
                 (a)  An Incentive Stock Right will consist of incentive
                      stock units, each of which will be equivalent to
                      one share of Common Stock.  An Incentive Stock
                      Right will be evidenced by an agreement in form
                      approved by the Committee; will be nontransferable;
                      will entitle the holder to receive shares of Common
                      Stock, without payment to the Company, after the
                      lapse of the incentive period or periods
                      established by the Committee and subject to the
                      satisfaction of any performance goals established
                      by the Committee from the performance criteria set
                      forth in Section 14 hereof with respect to such
                      Incentive Stock Rights; and will be subject to the
                      limitations in paragraph (a) of Section 4.  The
                      terms of the agreement evidencing an Incentive
                      Stock Right shall provide that holders of Incentive
                      Stock Rights will be entitled, from the date of the
                      award, either (1) to receive from the Company cash
                      payments equal to the amount of dividends declared
                      on the number of shares of Common Stock equal to
                      the number of incentive stock units held by them,
                      such payments to be made on or about the Company's
                      dividend payment dates or (2) to be credited with
                      dividend equivalents based upon dividends paid on
                      outstanding shares of Common Stock.  Such dividend
                      equivalents, once credited, shall be converted into
                      a number of additional incentive stock units, as of
                      each dividend payment date, in accordance with the
                      following formula:


                                     (A x B) /C


                      in which "A" equals the number of incentive stock
                      units credited to the holder on the dividend
                      payment date, "B" equals the dividend per share and
                      "C" equals the Fair Market Value per share of
                      Common Stock on the dividend payment date.  If a
                      dividend is paid in property other than cash,
                      dividend equivalents shall be credited, as of the
                      dividend payment date, in accordance with the
                      formula set forth above, except that "B" shall
                      equal


                                         10
<PAGE>


                      the fair market value per share of the property
                      which the holder would have received in respect of
                      the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the
                      number of incentive stock units credited to the
                      holder as of the dividend payment date, had such
                      shares been owned as of the record date for such
                      dividend.

                 (b)  If an employee terminates employment prior to
                      attaining age 55, all Incentive Stock Rights will
                      terminate on the date employment terminates, except
                      in the case of death or disability.  Except as
                      otherwise provided in the agreement evidencing the
                      Incentive Stock Right, if employment terminates as
                      a result of death or disability, or after
                      attainment of age 55, the Committee may elect, at
                      any time during or at the end of the Incentive
                      period, to award a portion of the shares of Common
                      Stock that would have been awarded, but for the
                      termination of employment, equal to the number of
                      months in the incentive period prior to the
                      termination date divided by the number of months in
                      the incentive period.

                 (c)  After the issuance of shares in respect of
                      Incentive Stock Rights, there will be charged
                      against the limitations in paragraph (a) of Section
                      4 a number of shares equal to the number of shares
                      so issued.

                 (d)  To the extent not inconsistent with Section 162(m),
                      the Committee may make such adjustments to any
                      performance goals or to the Company's financial
                      results as it deems appropriate for changes in
                      accounting practices or principles, for material
                      acquisitions or dispositions of stock or property,
                      for recapitalizations or reorganizations or for any
                      other events with respect to which the Committee
                      determines such an adjustment to be appropriate in
                      order to avoid distortion in the operation of the
                      Plan.


                                         11
<PAGE>


            8.   Performance Unit Awards
            ----------------------------
                 (a)  A Performance Unit Award will consist of
                      performance units granted to Key Employees selected
                      by the Committee which can be paid in cash or
                      shares of Common Stock.  Performance units may be
                      granted alone or in conjunction with and related to
                      an Option.  When granted in conjunction with an
                      Option, the number of performance units, unless
                      otherwise provided by the Committee, will be equal
                      to the number of shares under the related Option. 
                      To the extent that the Committee elects to pay
                      performance units granted with a related Option,
                      there will be a proportionate reduction in the
                      number of shares available under such Option and
                      any related SAR.  To the extent the related Option
                      or an SAR granted in connection with such Option is
                      exercised, the related number of performance units
                      will be proportionately reduced.

                 (b)  The Committee will establish an initial value for
                      each performance unit at the time of grant.  At
                      that time, the Committee will also establish
                      performance targets (from the performance criteria
                      set forth in Section 14 hereof) to be achieved
                      during the award period of not less than one year
                      set by the Committee.  The value of the performance
                      units at the end of the award period will be
                      determined by the degree to which the performance
                      targets are achieved.  Performance Unit Awards will
                      be subject to the limitations in paragraph (a) of
                      Section 4 and will be evidenced by agreements
                      setting forth the initial value for each
                      performance unit, the performance targets, the
                      award period and such other terms and conditions
                      not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee may
                      determine.

                 (c)  Payment, if any, at the end of the award period
                      will be made in cash, shares of Common Stock, or
                      both, as determined by the Committee.  In no event
                      shall payment to an individual in respect of any
                      Performance


                                         12
<PAGE>

                      Unit Award exceed $250,000 in value.  A Performance
                      Unit Award granted alone, not in conjunction with
                      an Option, is automatically payable if the
                      conditions are met.  A Performance Unit Award
                      granted in conjunction with an Option is payable
                      only if the conditions are met and then at the
                      election of the Committee, as an alternative to the
                      continuance of the related option and any related
                      SAR.  The Committee may make this election to pay
                      only during the first two months after the end of
                      the award period.  If the election to pay is not
                      made, the Performance Unit Award terminates and the
                      related Option and SAR continue in effect.

                 (d)  In the event of termination of employment prior to
                      the end of the award period by reason of death,
                      disability, or termination of employment after
                      attainment of 55 years of age, a pro rata portion
                      of the value of the performance units at the end of
                      the award period will be paid to the employee (or
                      his/her estate in the case of death), unless the
                      Committee determines that a different portion
                      should be payable or elects to terminate the award.
                      Except as otherwise determined by the Committee,
                      upon termination of employment under any other
                      circumstances, the Performance Unit Award will
                      terminate.

                 (e)  Upon payment of a Performance Unit Award, there
                      shall be charged against the aggregate limitations
                      in paragraph (a) of Section 4 a number of shares
                      equal to (i) the number of any shares issued to the
                      employee in respect of the Performance Unit Award
                      plus (ii) the number of shares purchasable with the
                      amount of any cash paid to the employee in respect
                      of the Performance Unit Award on the basis of the
                      Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the
                      date of payment.

                 (f)  To the extent not inconsistent with Section 162(m),
                      the Committee may make such adjustments to the
                      performance goals or to the Company's

                                         13
<PAGE>


                      financial results as it deems appropriate for
                      changes in accounting practices or principles, for
                      material acquisitions or disposition of stock or
                      property, for recapitalizations or reorganizations
                      or for any other events with respect to which the
                      Committee determines such an adjustment to be
                      appropriate in order to avoid distortion in the
                      operation of the Plan.

            9.   Adjustment Provisions
            --------------------------
                 The Options granted under the Plan shall contain such
            provisions as the Committee may determine with respect to
            adjustments to be made in the number and kind of shares
            covered by such Options and in the Option price in the event
            of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock
            dividend, combination of shares, merger, consolidation,
            rights offering, or any other change in the corporate
            structure or shares of the Company, and in the event of any
            such change, the aggregate number and kind of shares
            available under the Plan and the maximum number of Options,
            Stock Appreciation Rights, and Incentive Stock Rights which
            can be granted to any individual shall be appropriately
            adjusted.  In the event of any such change, equitable
            adjustments shall also be made by the Committee in its
            discretion in the terms and conditions of any SAR, Incentive
            Stock Right, or Performance Unit Award granted under the
            Plan.

            10.  Term
            ---------
                 The Plan, as amended and restated as of February 16,
            1996, shall become effective if and when approved by the
            Company's stockholders at the 1996 Annual Meeting.  In the
            absence of such approval, the Plan, as in effect prior to
            such amendment and restatement, shall remain in effect.  No
            Incentives shall be granted under the Plan after April 2,
            2006.

            11.  Administration
            -------------------
                 (a)  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, to
                      be appointed from time to time by the Board
                      consisting of not less than three members of the
                      Board.  No member of the Committee shall be
                      eligible to participate in the





                                         14
<PAGE>


                      Plan.  Each member of the Committee shall qualify
                      as an "outside director" within the meaning of
                      Section 162(m) and as a "disinterested person"
                      within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
                      (the "Exchange Act").

                 (b)  Incentives under the Plan shall be granted in
                      accordance with the Committee's determinations
                      pursuant to the Plan, by execution and prompt
                      delivery to the employee of instruments approved by
                      the Committee.  Any such grant shall be effective
                      on the date of such determination or, if after, on
                      the date specified in the instrument evidencing the
                      grant.

                 (c)  The interpretation and construction by the
                      Committee of any provision of the Plan and of any
                      Incentive granted thereunder shall, unless
                      otherwise determined by the Board, be final and
                      conclusive on all persons having any interest
                      thereunder.


            12.  General Provisions
            -----------------------
                 (a)  Absence on leave because of military or
                      governmental service, or other reason, if such
                      absence is approved by the Committee, shall not be
                      considered an interruption or termination of
                      employment for any purpose of the Plan, or
                      Incentives granted thereunder, except that no
                      Incentive may be granted to an employee while
                      he/she is absent on leave.

                 (b)  Nothing in the Plan or in any instrument executed
                      pursuant thereto shall confer upon any employee any
                      right to continue in the employ of the Company or a
                      Subsidiary.

                 (c)  No shares of Common Stock shall be sold, issued, or
                      transferred pursuant to, or accepted as payment of
                      the Option price of, an Incentive unless and





                                         15
<PAGE>




                      until there has been compliance, in the opinion of
                      the Company's General Counsel, with all applicable
                      legal requirements, including without limitation
                      those relating to securities laws and stock
                      exchange listings.

                 (d)  No employee (individually or as a member of a
                      group), and no beneficiary or other person claiming
                      under or through him/her, shall have any right,
                      title, or interest in or to any shares of Common
                      Stock allocated or reserved for the Plan or subject
                      to any Incentive except as to such shares of Common
                      Stock, if any, as shall have been sold, issued, or
                      transferred to him/her.

                 (e)  The Company or a Subsidiary may make such
                      provisions as it may deem appropriate for the
                      withholding of any taxes which the Company or
                      Subsidiary determines it is required to withhold in
                      connection with any Incentive.

                 (f)  No Incentive and no rights under the Plan,
                      contingent or otherwise, (i) shall be assignable or
                      subject to any encumbrance, pledge, or charge of
                      any nature, whether by operation of law or
                      otherwise, (ii) shall be subject to execution,
                      attachment, or similar process, or (iii) shall be
                      transferable other than by will or the laws of
                      descent and distribution, and every Incentive and
                      all rights under the Plan shall be exercisable
                      during the employee's lifetime only by him/her or
                      by a guardian or legal representative.

                 (g)  Nothing in the Plan is intended to be a substitute
                      for, or shall preclude or limit the establishment
                      or continuation of, any other plan, practice, or
                      arrangement for the payment of compensation or
                      fringe benefits to any employee which the Company
                      or any Subsidiary now has or may hereafter put into
                      effect, including without limitation any
                      retirement, pension,






                                         16
<PAGE>




                      savings or thrift, insurance, death benefit, stock
                      purchase, incentive compensation, or bonus plan.

            13.  Amendment or Discontinuance of Plan
            ----------------------------------------
                 (a)  The Plan may be amended by the Board at any time,
                      provided that, without the approval of the
                      stockholders of the Company, no amendment shall be
                      made if stockholder approval is required in order
                      for the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated
                      under the Exchange Act or Section 162(m).

                 (b)  The Board may discontinue the Plan at any time.

                 (c)  No amendment or discontinuance of the Plan shall
                      adversely affect, except with the consent of the
                      holder, any Incentive theretofore granted.

            14.  Performance Goals
            ----------------------
                 The Committee may establish performance goals or targets
            in connection with the grant of, and as a condition to
            payment in respect of, Incentive Stock Rights and shall
            establish performance goals or targets in connection with the
            grant of, and as a condition to payment in respect of
            Performance Unit Awards.  Such goals or targets shall be
            expressed in terms of one or more of the following financial
            criteria or objectives of the Company:  Net Income; Earnings
            Per Share; Return on Equity; Return on Invested Capital; or
            Performance Profit.  For purposes of the Plan:
                 (a)  "Return on Equity" shall mean net income divided by
                      stockholders' equity;
                 (b)  "Return on Invested Capital" shall mean net income
                      before interest and taxes times one minus the tax
                      rate divided by interest-bearing debt plus equity;





                                         17
<PAGE>




                 (c)  "Performance Profit" shall mean operating income
                       minus the charge for the capital employed in the
                       unit's basic business that is used in the Company's
                       current operating plan.







                                         18

<PAGE>
                                                         EXHIBIT-10.8
                                  BARNES GROUP INC.
                                AMENDED AND RESTATED
                        DIRECTORS' DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                        -------------------------------------


          Section 1:  Establishment of Plan
                      ---------------------
               This deferred compensation plan, originally effective
          December 1, 1987, as amended and restated effective July 19, 1996,
          provides a means whereby Directors of the Company may defer
          receipt of all or a portion of the compensation they earn in
          their capacity as a Director of the Company.

          Section 2:  Definitions
                      -----------
               When used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
          definitions set forth in this section:

          2.1  "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors of
               Barnes Group Inc.

          2.2  "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $1.00
               per share, of the Company.

          2.3  "Common Stock Unit" shall mean a unit representing one share
               of Common Stock.

          2.4  "Company" shall mean Barnes Group Inc.

          2.5  "Compensation" shall mean retainer fees earned for service
               as a Director of the Company, meeting attendance fees earned
               for attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any of
               its committees, and amounts payable to a Director pursuant
               to Section 5 of the Barnes Group Inc. Non-Employee Director
               Deferred Stock Plan effective February 20, 1987.

          2.6  "Deferred Compensation Accounts" shall mean, collectively,
               the Deferred Compensation Cash Account and the Deferred
               Compensation Phantom Stock Account.

          2.7  "Deferred Compensation Cash Account" shall mean the
               bookkeeping account which is credited with deferred
               Compensation pursuant to Section 4.

          2.8  "Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock Account" shall mean the
               bookkeeping account which is credited with deferred
               Compensation pursuant to Section 5.

          2.9  "Director" shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who
               is not employed by the Company.

                                          1
<PAGE>




          2.10 "Fair Market Value" on a specified day shall mean the
               closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the New
               York Stock Exchange, or if no sale of the Common Stock was
               so reported on that date, on the next preceding day on which
               there was such a sale.

          2.11 "Participant" shall mean a Director who enrolls in the Plan
               pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3.

          2.12 "Retirement" shall mean the date a Director ceases to be a
               member of the Board of Directors for any reason whatsoever.

          2.13 "Benefits Committee" shall mean the Benefits Committee of
               the Board of Directors.

          Section 3:  Participation in the Plan
                      -------------------------
          3.1  A Director may become a Participant in the Plan by filing an
               enrollment form with the Secretary of the Company in
               substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A in which
               the Director agrees to defer all or a portion of future
               Compensation which is not earned on the effective date of
               Participation.

          3.2  At the time such Director becomes a Participant, such
               Director may elect that deferred Compensation be credited to
               either (a) the Deferred Compensation Cash Account, (b) the
               Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock Account, or (c) a
               combination of the foregoing.


          3.3  A Director may withdraw from further participation in the
               Plan upon 10 days written notice; provided, however, that
               amounts previously credited to the Deferred Compensation
               Accounts will only be paid pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

          3.4 (a)   Except as provided in Section 3.4 (b), effective as of
                    January 1 of any year, a Participant may (i) increase
                    or decrease the amount of future deferred compensation;
                    (ii) allocate such future deferred Compensation between
                    the Deferred Compensation Accounts, and/or (iii) modify
                    the allocation of amounts previously deferred.

              (b)   In connection with the amendment and restatement of
                    this Plan, each Participant with a balance in the
                    Deferred Compensation Account (under the Plan as in
                    effect prior to such amendment and restatement) may
                    elect that all or any portion of such balance be
                    allocated to the Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock
                    Account hereunder, such allocation to be effective 30
                    days after the effective date of such amendment and
                    restatement.

                                          2
<PAGE>


               (c)  A Participant wishing to make any such modifications
                    must file a form with the Secretary of the Company in
                    substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B no
                    later than (i) 60 days prior to the January 1 effective
                    date (in the case of an election under paragraph (a)
                    hereof) or (ii) 10 days after the effective date of the
                    amendment and restatement of the Plan (in the case of
                    an election under paragraph (b) hereof).

          Section 4:  Deferred Compensation Cash Account
                      ----------------------------------
          4.1  The Company shall establish a bookkeeping account on behalf
               of each Participant who elects to defer Compensation to the
               Deferred Compensation Cash Account.  This account shall be
               credited with an amount equal to that portion of the
               Participant's deferred Compensation that the Participant
               elects to defer under this Section 4 at such times as the
               Compensation subject to such deferral would otherwise have
               been paid.  The Company shall not be required to segregate
               or earmark assets with respect to such account and
               Participants shall have no interest in any specific asset as
               a result of the creation of such account.

          4.2  Interest will be credited quarterly on the unpaid amount
               standing to any Participant's credit in the Deferred
               Compensation Cash Account at the end of each quarter.  The
               interest rate shall be the rate of interest for prime
               commercial loans of 90-day maturities charged by Chemical
               Bank (or such other New York City bank as the Benefits
               Committee may select) on the first business day of each
               quarter.

          Section 5:  Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock Account
                      -------------------------------------------
          5.1  The Company shall establish a bookkeeping account on behalf
               of each Participant who elects to defer Compensation to the
               Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock Account.  At such times
               as the Compensation subject to such deferral would otherwise
               have been paid, the Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock
               Account shall be credited with a number of Common Stock
               Units (including fractional Common Stock Units) equal to (a)
               that portion of the Participant's Deferred Compensation that
               the Participant elects to defer under this Section 5,
               divided by (b) the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on
               the date such Compensation would otherwise have been paid.
               The Company shall not be required to segregate or earmark
               Common Stock with respect to such account and Participants
               shall have no interest in any specific asset as a result of
               the creation of such account.


          5.2  Each Common Stock Unit shall be credited with dividend
               equivalents based on the value of any dividends which would
               have been paid to the Participant if he or she had owned a
               number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of his

                                          3
<PAGE>




               or her Common Stock Units.  Such dividend equivalents shall
               be converted into additional Common Stock Units for the
               Participant based upon the Fair Market Value of shares of
               Common Stock on the date on which such dividend is paid.

          5.3  In the event of any recapitalization, merger, consolidation,
               stock split or other significant corporate event affecting
               the Common Stock, the Common Stock Units credited to a
               Participant's Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock Account
               shall be equitably adjusted to reflect such event.

          5.4  Payments from the Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock
               Account shall be made only in cash, and only in accordance
               with Section 6 hereof.

          Section 6:  Payments
                      --------
          6.1  Payments from the amount standing to the Participant's
               credit in his or her Deferred Compensation Accounts shall
               begin on the first day of the month following the
               Participant's Retirement; provided, however, that if
               Retirement occurs prior to the Participant's 60th birthday,
               except for reasons of death or disability, said payments
               shall commence on the first day of the month following the
               Participant's 60th birthday.

          6.2  Payments shall be made in a lump sum or in installments as
               elected by the Participant in the initial participation
               form.  Where monthly or annual installments are elected, the
               Company shall conduct the payout so as to make installments
               as substantially equal as possible over the period elected.
               If at Retirement the Participant has amounts credited to the
               Deferred Compensation Cash Account and the Deferred
               Compensation Phantom Stock Account, such installments shall
               be paid in proportionate amounts simultaneously from both
               such accounts.  Amounts paid which relate to a Participant's
               Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock Account shall be based
               upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date
               preceding the date of payment.


          6.3  A Participant may elect a different form of payment by
               filing with the Secretary of the Company a form at any time
               prior to Retirement; provided, however, that such election
               shall be of no force and effect if such Participant's
               Retirement occurs within 12 months of the filing of such
               form.


          6.4  If a Participant dies prior to receiving payment of the full
               amount credited to his or her Deferred Compensation
               Accounts, the remaining balance shall be paid to the
               beneficiary designated in the enrollment form as it falls
               due, or, in the sole discretion of the Benefits Committee,
               in a lump sum amount equal to the then current value of the
               deceased Participant's Deferred Compensation Accounts.  If
               no beneficiary or beneficiaries have been designated, then
               the Participant's estate shall receive a lump-sum amount
               equal to the then value of the Deferred Compensation
               Accounts.

                                          4
<PAGE>

          Section 7:  Administration/Amendment
                      ------------------------
          7.1  This Plan shall be administered by the Benefits Committee,
               whose interpretation of the Plan shall be binding on the
               Participants.

          7.2  This Plan may be amended or terminated by the Board of
               Directors at any time; provided, however, that no such
               amendment or termination shall reduce or cancel any amount
               standing to a Participant's credit in the Deferred
               Compensation Accounts prior to the effective date of such
               amendment or termination.

          7.3  For serious financial reasons, a Participant may apply to
               the Benefits Committee for withdrawal of the funds credited
               to his or her Deferred Compensation Accounts prior to the
               time that they are otherwise payable.  If such application
               for withdrawal is approved by the Benefits Committee, the
               withdrawal will be effective at the later of the dates
               specified in the Participant's application or the date of
               approval by the Benefits Committee.  If at the time of such
               withdrawal the Participant has amounts credited to a
               Deferred Compensation Cash Account and the Deferred
               Compensation Phantom Stock Account, the withdrawal will be
               taken, to the extent practicable, in proportionate amounts
               from both such accounts.  Serious financial reasons shall
               include the following: bankruptcy or impending bankruptcy,
               unexpected and unreimbursed expenses resulting from illness
               or an accident to person or property, and other types of
               unexpected and unreimbursed expenses of a major or emergency
               nature where withdrawal of the funds would be necessary to
               prevent great hardship to the Participant.  Withdrawals for
               foreseeable expenditures normally budgetable such as a down
               payment on a home, vacation expenses, purchase of an
               automobile, or educational expenses will not be permitted.

                    I hereby certify that the foregoing amended and
               restated Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on
               July 19, 1996.

                                             /s/ Mary Louise Beardsley
                                           --------------------------------
                                           Mary Louise Beardsley, Secretary

                                          5
<PAGE>


                                                                  EXHIBIT A
                                                                  ---------

                        DIRECTORS' DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                        -------------------------------------
                        Initial Participation/Form of Payment


          To:  The Secretary, Barnes Group Inc.


          1.   Initial Participation.

               a.  Beginning           , I wish to participate in the
                             ----------
               Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and hereby agree to
               defer my right to receive Compensation as indicated below:

                         %    of annual retainer fees for Board membership.
                    -----

                         %    of attendance fees for Board and Committee
                    -----     
                              meetings.

                         %    of amounts payable under Section 5 of the
                    -----     
                              Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Plan.

               b.  I wish that the amount deferred in accordance herewith
               be credited in the following amounts to the following
               accounts:

                         %    to the Deferred Compensation Cash Account.
                    -----
                         %    to the Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock
                    -----
                              Account.


          2.   Form of Payment.


               I wish that the amount payable on Retirement under Article 6
               of the Plan be payable as follows:

                    In                substantially equal monthly
                      --------------- 
                    (Elect 60 or 120) installments.

                    In                substantially equal annual
                      ---------------
                    (Elect 5 or 10)   installments.

                    In a lump sum.

                                          1
<PAGE>



               I wish to designate the following beneficiary (or
          beneficiaries) in accordance with ARTICLE 6 of the Plan (show
          name, relationship and address.)

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

               I acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Director's Deferred
          Compensation Plan and confirm that I have reviewed and understand
          all of the terms, provisions, and conditions thereof, which
          terms, provisions, and conditions are hereby incorporated into
          this Agreement.

          Dated:                          Signed:
                -----------                       -------------------------

                                    Home Address:
                                                  -------------------------
                                                  -------------------------
                                                  -------------------------

                                          2
<PAGE>




                                                                  EXHIBIT B
                                                                  ---------

                        DIRECTORS' DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                        -------------------------------------
                         MODIFICATIONS TO FUTURE DEFERRALS/
                   MODIFICATIONS TO DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNTS


          1.   Modification to Future Deferrals.

               a.  In accordance with Section 3.4 of the Plan, beginning
               January 1, 199  , I wish to modify the amount of Compensation
                             --
               to be deferred under the Directors Deferred Compensation
               Plan as indicated below:

                    %    of annual retainer fees for Board membership.
               -----

                    %    of attendance fees for Board and Committee 
               -----     
                         meetings.

                    %    of amounts payable under Section 5 of the Non-
               -----     
                         Employee Director Deferred Stock Plan.

               b.  I wish that the amount deferred in accordance herewith
               be credited in the following amounts to the following
               accounts:

                    %    to the Deferred Compensation Cash Account.
               -----
                    %    to the Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock
               -----     
                         Account.

          2.   Modifications to Deferred Compensation Accounts.

               In accordance with Section 3.4 of the Plan, beginning
               [January 1, 199  ,] [30 days after the effective date of the
                              --
               amendment and restatement of the Plan,] I wish to allocate
               Compensation previously deferred as indicated below:

                    %    in the Deferred Compensation Cash Account.
               -----
                    %    in the Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock
               -----     
                         Account.

                                          1
<PAGE>




               I acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Directors Deferred
               Compensation Plan and confirm that I have reviewed and
               understand all of the terms, provisions, and conditions
               thereof, which terms, provisions, and conditions are hereby
               incorporated into this Agreement.



          Dated:                    Signed:
                ------------               ---------------------------

                              Home Address:
                                           ---------------------------
                                           ---------------------------
                                           ---------------------------






                                          2

<PAGE>

                                                          EXHIBIT-10.13 

                     SUPPLEMENTAL SENIOR OFFICER RETIREMENT PLAN


          Barnes Group Inc. hereby adopts the Supplemental Senior Officer
          Retirement Plan (the "Plan") effective April 3, 1996.


                                      SECTION 1

                                     DEFINITIONS


          The words and phrases defined hereinafter shall have the
          following meaning unless a different meaning is clearly required
          by the context of the Plan.

          1.1  "ACCRUED BENEFIT" shall mean a monthly benefit payable
               in the form of a single life annuity commencing on the
               Participant's Normal Retirement Date, or Deferred
               Retirement Date if applicable, which is equal to an amount 
               calculated in accordance with Section 3.1.

          1.2  "BENEFITS COMMITTEE" shall mean the Benefits Committee
               of the Board or its successor.

          1.3  "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of Barnes Group
               Inc., or its successor.

          1.4  "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
               as amended, or as it  may be amended from time to time.

          1.5  "COMMITTEE" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the
               Board or its successor.

          1.6  "COMPANY" shall mean Barnes Group Inc. and each subsidiary
               and affiliated corporation.

          1.7  "COMPENSATION" with respect to any calendar year in which
               the Participant earns Credited Service, shall mean the sum
               of (a) the Participant's "Compensation", as defined by the
               Qualified Plan, except that the limits of Code Section
               401(a)(17) shall not apply, and (b) bonuses paid pursuant to
               the Management Incentive Compensation Plan and the
               Corporate/Group Management Incentive Compensation Plan.  For
               purposes of determining compensation for a calendar year,
               payments made under a bonus plan shall be attributed to the
               year earned.

                                          1
<PAGE>



          1.8  "CONTINGENT ANNUITANT" shall mean the person designated
               by the Participant, pursuant to Section 7.4, to receive
               benefits payable hereunder in the event of the death of the
               Participant.

          1.9  "CREDITED SERVICE" shall mean "Credited Service" as defined
               by the Qualified Plan.

          1.10 "DEFERRED RETIREMENT" shall mean a Participant's actual
               retirement date, if the Participant remains in active
               service after his Normal Retirement Date.

          1.11 "EARLY RETIREMENT DATE" shall mean the date on which a
               Participant retires from the employ the Company, if such
               date is before the date the Participant reaches Normal
               Retirement Date but after the date the Participant has
               attained age 55 and completed 5 years of Credited Service.

          1.12 "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall be January 1, 1996.

          1.13 "FINAL AVERAGE COMPENSATION" shall mean Compensation
               averaged over the 5 calendar years, whether or not
               consecutive, in the last 10 years of Credited Service
               immediately preceding his termination date which produce the
               highest such average.

          1.14 "NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE" shall mean the first day of the
               month coincident with or next following the date a
               Participant has attained age 62 and completed 10 years of
               Credited Service.

          1.15 "PARTICIPANT" shall mean each employee of the Company whom
               the Board names as a participant in the Plan.

          1.16 "PLAN" shall mean the Barnes Group Inc. Supplemental Senior
               Officer Retirement Plan, as set forth herein or in any
               amendment hereto.

          1.17 "PRIOR EMPLOYER BENEFIT" shall mean the benefit (or benefit
               equivalent) payable by each prior employer from which the
               Participant has received or is entitled to receive a vested
               benefit.  The Prior Employer Benefit shall be expressed as a
               lifetime annuity commencing at age 62, and determined in
               accordance with the guidelines outlined below at the time
               participation in this Plan is extended to the Participant.

               PENSION PLANS.  The pension benefit payable from a prior
               employer's defined  benefit pension plan is converted to a
               life annuity commencing at age 62, based upon the factors
               applicable to the prior employer's plan or if none are
               available, factors from the Qualified Plan.

               ACCOUNT BALANCE PLANS.  The balance from an account balance
               plan shall be  converted to a lifetime benefit payable at
               age 62, using the following factors:

                                          2
<PAGE>



               o    With respect to account balance plan balances
                    maintained by any prior employer where such plans are
                    the prior employer's principal retirement plan, the
                    account balance shall be measured as soon as is
                    practicable after the date employment with such a prior
                    employer is terminated.

               o    An interest rate equal to the average 30-year Treasury
                    rate for the month preceding the measurement date.

               o    Mortality based upon the table prescribed by the IRS to
                    calculate lump sum distributions from qualified pension
                    plans.

               OTHER ARRANGEMENTS.  Other arrangements will be converted to
               a lifetime benefit commencing at age 62 using procedures and
               assumptions which are consistent with the procedures and
               assumptions outlined above.

          1.18 "QUALIFIED PLAN" shall mean the Barnes Group Inc. Salaried
               Retirement Income Plan, a pension plan sponsored by the
               Company which satisfies the requirements for qualification
               under Section 401(a) of the Code.

          1.19 "QUALIFIED PLAN BENEFIT" shall mean the annual amount of
               pension benefit under the Qualified Plan payable immediately
               as a single life annuity upon the Participant's actual
               retirement date (Normal Retirement Date, Early Retirement
               Date, or Deferred Retirement Date, whichever is applicable).

          1.20 "SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT" shall mean the annual Social
               Security benefit, which reflects any reduction for
               commencement prior to a Participant's Social Security
               Retirement Age or any delayed retirement credit for
               commencement after his Social Security Retirement Age, as
               determined under the Social Security Act in effect on the
               January 1 preceding the date benefits commence, and based
               upon the following assumptions:

               (a)  the Participant had no earnings during the calendar
                    year which includes the date his employment with the
                    Company terminates, or in any subsequent calendar year;

               (b)  the Participant's earnings in each prior year are equal
                    to the maximum amount of wages subject to old age
                    survivor and disability insurance tax under the Federal
                    Insurance Contributions Act;

               (c)  benefits commence on the Participant's actual
                    retirement date if such retirement date occurs on or
                    after the Participant's 62nd birthday; and

                                            3
<PAGE>


               (d)  in the event the Participant's actual retirement is
                    prior to age 62, his Social Security Benefit shall
                    equal the Social Security Benefit otherwise payable at
                    age 62 multiplied by the appropriate factor from the
                    following table, based on the age when benefits
                    commence (factors for ages not shown shall be
                    interpolated):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Age at Retirement             Factor
                         -----------------             ------
                              <C>                      <C>
                              61                       96.4%
                              60                       92.8%
                              59                       89.2%
                              58                       85.6%
                              57                       82.0%
                              56                       78.4%
                              55                       74.8%
</TABLE>
                                          4
<PAGE>



                                      SECTION 2

                                   PURPOSE OF PLAN




          2.1  PURPOSE.  The Plan is designed to provide supplemental
               retirement benefits to selected executives of the Company.
               Such benefits shall be payable out of the general assets of
               the Company.

                                          5
<PAGE>



                                      SECTION 3

                       NORMAL AND DEFERRED RETIREMENT BENEFITS




          3.1  BENEFIT UPON NORMAL RETIREMENT.  Upon reaching Normal
               Retirement Date, a Participant may retire from the employ of
               the Company and shall be entitled to receive a lifetime
               monthly "Normal Retirement Benefit" (also referred to as
               the Accrued Benefit) commencing on his Normal Retirement
               Date.  The Participant's monthly Normal Retirement Benefit
               shall be equal to one-twelfth of the excess of (a) over the
               sum of (b), (c) and (d), where:

               (a)  equals 55% of his Final Average Compensation multiplied
                    by the ratio (not to exceed 1.0) of his Credited
                    Service to fifteen;
               (b)  equals his Qualified Plan Benefit; and
               (c)  equals his Social Security Benefit; and
               (d)  equals his Prior Employer Benefit.

          3.2  BENEFIT UPON DEFERRED RETIREMENT.  Upon retiring on a
               Deferred Retirement Date, a Participant shall be entitled to
               receive a benefit commencing on the first day of the month
               coincident with or next following the Participant's Deferred
               Retirement Date and continuing monthly for the lifetime of
               the Participant.  The amount of such benefit shall be equal
               to the amount otherwise payable under Section 3.1 based on
               the Participant's Final Average Compensation, Credited
               Service, Qualified Plan Benefit, Social Security Benefit and
               Prior Employer Benefit determined as of the Participant's
               Deferred Retirement Date.

                                          6
<PAGE>



                                      SECTION 4

                              EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFITS

          4.1  BENEFIT UPON EARLY RETIREMENT.  If a Participant retires on
               or after his Early Retirement Date, but prior to his Normal
               Retirement Date, and any of conditions (a), (b) or (c)
               immediately below apply, he shall be entitled to a lifetime
               monthly "Early Retirement Benefit" as described in Section
               4.2 below.

               (a)  His retirement was requested by the President and Chief
                    Executive Officer of the Company,

               (b)  His retirement was requested by the Board, or

               (c)  His retirement has the approval of the Board.

          4.2  AMOUNT OF EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFIT.  The amount of the
               Participant's Early Retirement Benefit shall be determined
               as the excess of (a) over the sum of (b), (c) and (d) below,
               where:

               (a)  equals the product of (i), (ii), and (iii) below

                    (i)  equals 55% of his Final Average Compensation,

                    (ii) equals the ratio (not to exceed 1.0) of his
                         Credited Service to the greater of

                         (a)  15, or

                         (b)  the Credited Service the Participant would
                              have completed had Credited Service continued
                              to age 62, and

                    (iii)     equals the appropriate factor from the
                              following table, based on the age when
                              benefits commence (factors for ages not shown
                              shall be interpolated):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              Age at Retirement        Factor
                              -----------------        ------
                              <S>                      <C>
                              61                       96.4%
                              60                       92.8%
                              59                       89.2%
                              58                       85.6%
                              57                       82.0%
                              56                       78.4%
                              55                       74.8%
</TABLE>
                                          7
<PAGE>



               (b)  equals his Qualified Plan Benefit as of such date,

               (c)  equals his Social Security Benefit, and

               (d)  equals his Prior Employer Benefit, as adjusted by
                    multiplying by the factors in Section 4.2(a)(iii),
                    above.

          4.3  COMMENCEMENT DATE.  The Participant's Early Retirement
               Benefit shall  commence on the first day of the month
               coincident with or next following the Participant's Early
               Retirement Date.

                                          8
<PAGE>



                                      SECTION 5

                                   DEATH BENEFITS


          5.1  DEATH OF PARTICIPANT PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFITS.  If
               a Participant dies on or after attaining age 55 and
               completing 5 years of Credited Service, but prior to the
               date his benefits under this Plan commence, his Surviving
               Spouse shall be eligible to receive a monthly lifetime
               benefit commencing on the first day of the month following
               the Participant's death.  The benefit payable to his
               Surviving Spouse shall be equal to the amount which would
               have been payable to the Surviving Spouse if the Participant
               had:

               (a)  terminated employment on the date of death;

               (b)  elected to receive payments in the form of a joint and
                    50% contingent annuity with his Surviving Spouse as
                    Contingent Annuitant; and

               (c)  died on the next day.

          5.2  DEATH OF PARTICIPANT AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFITS.  If a
               Participant dies after the commencement of his benefits
               under this Plan, no death benefit will be payable hereunder
               except as otherwise provided under the form of annuity
               payment in effect on the date of death.

                                          9
<PAGE>



                                      SECTION 6

                                     DISABILITY




          6.1  DISABILITY DEFINED.  For purposes of this Plan, a
               Participant shall be deemed to be disabled if he is eligible
               for and receiving Social Security disability benefits.

          6.2  DISABILITY BENEFITS.  No benefits shall be payable hereunder
               solely on account of disability.  However, if a Participant
               is deemed to be disabled under Section 6.1, he shall
               continue to accrue Credited Service until the earliest of
               the following events:

               (a)  the Participant attains his Normal Retirement Date;

               (b)  the Participant elects to retire on an Early Retirement
                    Date;

               (c)  the Participant dies (however, no benefits are payable
                    under the plan on account of death prior to age 55 and
                    completion of 5 years of Credited Service) and

               (d)  the Participant ceases to be disabled.

               The Participant's Compensation during the period of
               disability shall, for purposes of this Plan, be deemed to be
               equal to the Participant's Compensation for the calendar
               year preceding the date on which such disability began.

                                         10
<PAGE>



                                      SECTION 7

                        NORMAL AND OPTIONAL FORMS OF PAYMENT



          7.1  NORMAL FORM OF PAYMENT.  The normal form of payment under
               this Plan for an unmarried Participant is a single life
               annuity: a benefit payable monthly for the lifetime of the
               Participant, the first payment to be due on the date
               specified in Section 3, 4, or 5 hereof, and the last payment
               to be due on the first day of the calendar month in which
               death occurs.

               The normal form of payment under this Plan for a married
               Participant is a 50% joint and contingent annuity: a benefit
               payable monthly for the lifetime of the Participant with a
               lifetime benefit equal to 50% of such benefit payable
               monthly to the spouse following the death of the
               Participant.

          7.2  OPTIONAL FORMS OF PAYMENT.  In lieu of the normal form of
               payment, a Participant may elect to receive his benefit in
               the form of:

               (a)  a Single Life Annuity, which is a benefit payable
                    monthly for the lifetime of the Participant with no
                    benefits payable after his death;

               (b)  a Joint and Contingent Annuity, which is a benefit
                    payable monthly for the lifetime of the Participant
                    with a benefit equal to 25%,33 1/3%, 50%,66 2/3%, 75%,
                    or 100% (as selected by the Participant) of such
                    benefit payable monthly to the Contingent Annuitant for
                    the lifetime of the Contingent Annuitant; or

               (c)  a Ten Year Certain and Continuous Annuity, which is a
                    benefit payable monthly for the lifetime of the
                    Participant and, in the event of the Participant's
                    death prior to receiving 120 monthly payments, payable
                    monthly to a named Beneficiary until the Participant
                    and Beneficiary together have received 120 monthly
                    payments.  If both the Participant and the Beneficiary
                    die before 120 payments have been made, payments shall
                    be made to the Participant's estate until a total of
                    120 monthly payments have been paid.

               The Participant's benefits shall be paid in an optional form
               if the Participant makes an irrevocable election at least
               twelve months prior to the time benefits under this Plan
               commence.  In the event that a Participant elects a Joint
               and Contingent Annuity and the Contingent Annuitant
               designated by the Participant dies prior to the time
               benefits commence, the election of the optional form of
               payment shall be disregarded.  In the event that a
               Participant elects a Ten Year Certain and Continuous Annuity
               and the Beneficiary designated by the Participant dies prior
               to the time benefits

                                         11
<PAGE>



               commence, the Participant shall designate a new
               Beneficiary.  Elections of optional forms of payment shall be
               filed by the Participant with the Benefits Committee or its
               designee on a form approved by the Benefits Committee.

          7.3  ACTUARIAL EQUIVALENT.  The amount of benefit payable under
               this Plan shall be the actuarial equivalent of the single
               life annuity.  Actuarial equivalence shall be determined
               using the factors specified in the Qualified Plan.

          7.4  DESIGNATION OF CONTINGENT ANNUITANT.  Except as provided
               below, the Participant may designate a Contingent Annuitant
               or Beneficiary or change any prior designation by giving
               written notice to the Benefits Committee at any time prior
               to the date benefits hereunder commence.

               Exception:  The Participant may not change the designation
               of a Contingent Annuitant at any time that is within twelve
               months prior to the date that benefits hereunder commence.
               No such restriction applies to the right of a Participant to
               change the designation of a Beneficiary under subparagraph
               7.2(c). above.

                                         12
<PAGE>



                                      SECTION 8

                                     PLAN ASSETS




          8.1  COMPANY SOLE OWNER AND NO TRUST CREATED.  Title to and
               beneficial ownership of any assets which the Company may
               designate to pay benefits under this Plan shall at all times
               remain in the Company, and neither the Participants,
               Beneficiaries, nor Contingent Annuitants shall have any
               property interest whatsoever in any such assets of the
               Company.  Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action
               taken pursuant to any provision hereunder, shall create or
               be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary
               relationship between the Company and the Participants,
               Beneficiaries, Contingent Annuitants or any other person.
               Any assets which may be invested to fund benefits provided
               hereunder shall continue for all purposes to be a part of
               the general funds of the Company, and no person other than
               the Company shall by virtue of the provisions of this Plan
               have any interest in such funds.  To the extent that any
               person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company
               under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the
               rights of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

                                         13
<PAGE>



                                      SECTION 9

                                   ADMINISTRATION


          9.1  ADMINISTRATION.  The Committee shall have full power and
               authority to interpret and construe the terms of this Plan,
               and the Committee's interpretations and construction
               thereof, and actions thereunder, or the amount or recipient
               of the benefits to be made therefrom shall be binding and
               conclusive on all persons for all purposes.  No agent or
               representative of the Board shall be liable to any person
               for any action taken or omitted in connection with the
               interpretation and administration of this Plan unless
               attributable to his own willful misconduct or lack of good
               faith.

          9.2  EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION.  All expenses incurred in
               connection with the execution of this Plan and in carrying
               out the provisions hereof shall be paid by the Company.

          9.3  INFORMATION FROM PARTICIPANT.  Each Participant shall
               furnish to the Company such information as the Company may
               reasonably request for purposes of the proper administration
               of the provisions of this Plan.

          9.4  NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall
               be construed as a contract of employment between the Company
               and a Participant, or as a right of any Participant to be
               continued in the employment of the Company, or as a
               limitation of the right of the Company to discharge any of
               its Participants, with or without cause.  Any benefit
               payable under this Plan shall not be deemed salary,
               earnings, or other compensation to the Participant for the
               purpose of computing benefits to which he may be entitled
               under any qualified retirement plan or other arrangement of
               the Company for the benefit of its employees.

          9.5  RESTRICTIONS ON ALIENATION AND ASSIGNMENT.  Neither a
               Participant nor any Beneficiary or Contingent Annuitant
               shall have the right to assign, transfer, hypothecate,
               encumber, commute or anticipate any interest in any payments
               hereunder, and such payments shall not in any way be subject
               to any legal process to levy upon or attach the sum for
               payment of any such claim against the Participant or any
               Beneficiary or Contingent Annuitant, provided, however, that
               nothing contained herein shall preclude a Participant from
               designating a Beneficiary or Contingent Annuitant to receive
               benefits hereunder in the event of the Participant's death.

                                         14
<PAGE>




          9.6  FACILITY OF PAYMENT.  If  the Company shall find, upon
               receipt of medical evidence or legal representations
               satisfactory to the Committee, that any Participant to whom
               a benefit is payable is unable to care for such person's
               affairs because of illness or accident, any payment due
               hereunder (unless a prior claim therefor shall have been
               made by a duly appointed guardian, conservator or other
               legal representative) may be paid to such Participant's
               spouse, child, parent or brother or sister, or to any person
               or persons determined by the Company to have incurred
               expense for such Participant.  Any payment shall be a
               complete discharge of all liability hereunder.

          9.7  FAILURE TO CLAIM AMOUNTS PAYABLE.   In the event that any
               amount shall become payable hereunder to a Participant or,
               upon a Participant's death, to the Beneficiary, Contingent
               Annuitant, or representative of the Participant's estate,
               and if after written notice from the Company mailed to such
               person's last known address as shown in the Company's
               records and after diligent effort the Company is unable to
               locate such person, the Company shall apply to a court of
               competent jurisdiction for direction as to the distribution
               of such amount.

          9.8  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board reserves the right to
               amend and/or terminate the Plan at any time for whatever
               reasons it may deem appropriate, except that no such
               amendment or termination shall adversely affect the benefits
               payable to any person who has begun to receive benefits
               hereunder.

          9.9  GENDER AND NUMBER.  All the words and terms used herein,
               regardless of the number and gender in which they shall be
               used, shall be deemed to include any other number, singular
               and plural, and any other gender, masculine and feminine, as
               the context may require.

          9.10 LAW APPLICABLE.  This Plan shall be governed by the laws of
               the State of Connecticut.








                                         15

<PAGE>
Barnes Group Around the World
[WORLD-WIDE GLOBE GRAPHIC]
- --------------------------------------------------
- --------------
ASSOCIATED SPRING         DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS
HEADQUARTERS              UNITED STATES
Bristol, Connecticut      Maumee, Ohio
                          Cerritos, California

MANUFACTURING PLANTS      Ypsilanti, Michigan
NORTH AMERICA             Arlington, Texas
Bristol, Connecticut      New Berlin, Wisconsin
Saline, Michigan
Syracuse, New York        UNITED KINGDOM
Arden, North Carolina     Evesham
Corry, Pennsylvania
Dallas. Texas             FRANCE
Milwaukee, Wisconsin      Montigny
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Mexico City, Mexico

SOUTH AMERICA
Campinas, Brazil

ASIA
Republic of Singapore

- --------------------------------------------------
- --------------
BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION
HEADQUARTERS
Cleveland, Ohio

DISTRIBUTION CENTERS      BARNES AEROSPACE
UNITED STATES             HEADQUARTERS
Bakersfield, California   Windsor, Connecticut
Norcross, Georgia
Rockford, Illinois        MANUFACTURING PLANTS
Elizabethtown, Kentucky   UNITED STATES
Edison, New Jersey        East Granby, Connecticut
Arlington, Texas          Windsor, Connecticut
Auburn, Washington        Lansing, Michigan
                          Ogden, Utah

CANADA                    ASIA
Concord, Ontario          Republic of Singapore
Edmonton, Alberta
Moncton, New Brunswick    BARNES GROUP INC.
St. Laurent, Quebec       HEADQUARTERS
                          Bristol, Connecticut
DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS
UNITED KINGDOM
Corsham

FRANCE
Voisins Le Bretonneux

[UNITED STATES MAP GRAPHIC]


<PAGE>
MANAGEMENTOS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS  BARNES GROUP
INC.

A SALUTE TO OUR EMPLOYEES
WHO HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN

Flowing through the following financial pages is a
series of employee photos that represent the
thousands of people throughout the company whose
contributions in 1996 helped us achieve record
earnings for the second year in a row. It is
through their efforts that the momentum that began
three years ago has accelerated -- and will
continue to move us ahead in the future. It has
always been a key part of Barnes GroupOs Guiding
Philosophy that Opeople are our most important
resource.O

[PHOTO OF TARIQ AFZAL ASSOCIATED SPRING
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN]
[PHOTO OF AL BEDELL BARNES AEROSPACE WINDSOR,
CONNECTICUT]

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Barnes Group Inc. reported all-time records in
sales and earnings in 1996, for the second
consecutive year. Sales were $595.0 million
compared to $592.5 million in 1995. Sales in 1995
increased 4% over 1994. Operating income was up
13% in 1996 to $55.3 million, compared to $48.8
million in 1995. Operating income in 1995
increased 33% over the $36.6 million reported in
1994. Operating income margin has steadily
increased to 9.3% in 1996 compared to 8.2% in 1995
and 6.4% in 1994. The 1996 results reflect profit
growth at all three business segments and solid
sales gains at Barnes Aerospace. The 1995 results
reflected sales and profit improvements at all
three business segments. Cost of sales as a
percentage of sales was 64.7% in 1996, comparable
to the prior two year periods. Selling and
administrative expenses decreased in both 1996 and
1995 versus the previous years.

SEGMENT REVIEW -- SALES AND OPERATING INCOME
Associated Spring segment sales for 1996 were
$279.5 million, up slightly from 1995. Sales in
1995 of $279.0 million were 2% higher than 1994.
This segment reported an 8% increase in operating
income, to a record $45.8 million in 1996. In
1995, Associated Spring reported operating income
of $42.6 million compared to $41.7 million in
1994.

At the segmentOs North American manufacturing
operations, both sales and profits increased,
reflecting a stronger domestic automotive market,
gains in manufacturing efficiencies and lower
material costs. The groupOs distribution business,
which markets die springs and precision stock
springs, also reported sales and profit growth.
Internationally, results were down compared to the
strong results reported in 1995, reflecting a
slowdown in its electronics business and a
softening in Brazil.

Bowman Distribution segment sales for 1996 were
$213.4 million compared to $217.0 million in 1995
and $215.1 million in 1994. While overall North
American sales declined slightly in 1996 versus
1995, good progress was made in penetrating
targeted markets, such as railroad, aerospace,
public utilities and waste management companies
and large customers who look to Bowman for the
full support needed to maintain their operating
facilities. In Europe, BowmanOs sales declined 5%,
as management streamlined its van-based sales
force in an effort to eliminate low margin sales
volume. At the same time, Bowman U.K. reported an
18% increase in its systems business.

Bowman segment operating income in 1996 of $22.0
million increased $4.6 million or 26% from 1995.
The 1995 level of $17.4 million was $4.8 million
above 1994. The gains in operating income reflect
reductions in operating expenses in both North
America and Europe. This lower Ocost to serveO is
essential to BowmanOs strategy of penetrating
targeted markets and large customers where
competitive pricing is a key to success. Also
during 1996, the U.S. and Canadian operations were
integrated into a single, more effective sales and
service organization that is expected to have an
even greater impact on 1997 results.

Barnes Aerospace segment sales were $103.1 million
in 1996, up 6% from 1995, which followed an
increase of 18% from 1994. Sharply higher sales
were reported by the groupOs Repair and Overhaul
business in 1996. The Precision Machining business
also reported sales growth, while sales from the
Advanced Fabrications business were slightly lower
than in 1995. Sales growth in 1995 was driven
primarily by the Advanced Fabrications and
Precision Machining businesses.

Barnes Aerospace operating income was $5.3 million
in 1996 compared to $5.0 million in 1995. In 1994,
the group reported an operating loss of $1.8
million. The increase in 1996 profits reflects the
increased sales volume. The sharply higher

                                                11
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENTOS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS  BARNES GROUP
INC.

[PHOTO OF LOU BESSETTE BARNES AEROSPACE WINDSOR,
CONNECTICUT]
[PHOTO OF WAYNE BUCK ASSOCIATED SPRING BURLINGTON,
ONTARIO]
[PHOTO OF CAROL DANIELS BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION YORK,
PENNSYLVANIA]

profits in 1995 compared to 1994 reflect the
higher sales volume, increased gross margins and
lower operating costs as a percentage of sales.

NON-OPERATING INCOME/EXPENSE

Other income was $4.1 million in 1996, $4.4
million in 1995 and $4.6 million in 1994. Other
income includes $1.6 million, $1.9 million and
$2.3 million from the companyOs investment in
NASCO, a company jointly owned with NHK Spring
Co., Ltd. of Japan. The 1996 decrease in NASCO
profits reflects increased costs, primarily
interest and depreciation, associated with a major
capacity expansion to meet increased customer
requirements for automotive suspension springs.
Interest income, another component of other
income, was $1.2 million in 1996 compared to $1.4
million in 1995 and $1.3 million in 1994.

Interest expense was consistent over the three
years reflecting comparable borrowing levels and a
relatively stable interest rate environment.

Other expenses decreased in 1996 following an
increase in 1995, primarily due to foreign
exchange and translation losses. These losses were
$0.8 million, $1.1 million and $0.5 million in
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

INCOME TAXES

The companyOs effective income tax rate has
declined steadily over the last three years. The
companyOs effective tax rate was 37.7% in 1996
compared with 39.5% in 1995 and 40.1% in 1994. The
lower rate in 1996 was due in part to lower
foreign losses without tax benefit and higher
foreign income with tax rates lower than the U.S.
statutory tax rate. For further discussion of
income taxes, see Note 6 of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements on page 20.

NET INCOME AND NET INCOME PER SHARE

Consolidated net income was $32.6 million in 1996,
$27.5 million in 1995 and $20.3 million in 1994.
On a per share basis, income for 1996 was $4.90,
compared to $4.20 in 1995 and $3.20 in 1994. This
marks the second consecutive year of record
earnings.

INFLATION

Management believes that inflation during the 1994-
1996 period did not have a material impact on the
companyOs historical financial statements.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The companyOs ability to generate cash from
operations in excess of its capital investment and
dividend requirements is one of its leading
financial strengths. Management anticipates that
operating activities in 1997 will continue to
provide sufficient cash flows to capitalize on
opportunities for business expansion and to meet
all of the companyOs financial commitments.

Management assesses the companyOs liquidity in
terms of its overall ability to generate cash to
fund its operating and investing activities. Of
particular importance in the management of
liquidity are cash flows generated from operating
activities, capital expenditure levels, dividends,
effective utilization of surplus cash positions
overseas and adequate bank lines of credit.

Operating activities are the principal source of
cash flow for the company, generating nearly $46
million of cash flow in 1996 after a record $47
million in 1995. During the past three years,
operating activities provided over $130 million of
cash which the company used, in part, to pay
dividends to stockholders and fund significant
investments in plant and equipment.

12

<PAGE>
MANAGEMENTOS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS  BARNES GROUP
INC.

[PHOTO OF CARL DELINE BARNES AEROSPACE LANSING,
MICHIGAN]
[PHOTO OF JOHN DONLON EXECUTIVE OFFICE BRISTOL,
CONNECTICUT]
[PHOTO OF JERRY DRALLE BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION
CLEVELAND, OHIO]

Investing activities used cash of $32 million in
1996 compared with $37 million in 1995 and $31
million in 1994. Capital expenditures of $34
million in 1996 approached the record level of $36
million in 1995. During the past three years, the
company has invested over $100 million in new
plant and equipment with nearly $70 million of
that invested at Associated Spring. The focus of
these investments is plant and equipment to
support business growth and to improve
productivity and quality. The company expects 1997
capital spending to continue at a strong pace.

Financing activities include net borrowings,
dividend payments and stock transactions. In 1996,
the companyOs financing activities used cash of $7
million compared to $14 million in 1995. The
higher usage of cash in 1995 was due, in part, to
a $7 million debt reduction. In 1996, the annual
cash dividend per share was increased from $1.60
to $1.80. As a result, total cash dividends paid
to stockholders increased to $12 million.

The company has and will continue to utilize
surplus cash from foreign subsidiaries to fund
worldwide cash requirements when it is cost
effective to do so. The repatriation of certain
cash balances to the U.S. could have adverse tax
consequences; however, those balances are
generally available to fund ordinary business
needs worldwide.

To supplement internal cash generation, the
company maintains substantial bank borrowing
facilities. At December 31, 1996, the company had
$150 million of borrowing capacity available under
a revolving credit agreement that expires in 2001.
In addition, the company has available $130
million in uncommitted, short-term bank credit
lines, of which $7.5 million was in use at
December 31, 1996. During 1996 and 1995, the
company maintained long-term debt of $70 million
comprised, in part, of borrowings under its short-
term bank credit lines backed by its long-term
revolving credit agreement. The company considers
this a cost effective way to manage its long-term
financing needs. The company believes its bank
credit facilities coupled with cash generated from
operations are adequate for its anticipated future
requirements.

                                                13
<PAGE>

[PHOTO OF RICK FRANCOLINI BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION
CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT]
[PHOTO OF MARK GAMBLE ASSOCIATED SPRING
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO]
[PHOTO OF STEVE GANDOLFO BARNES AEROSPACE WINDSOR,
CONNECTICUT]

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME  BARNES GROUP
INC.
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31,    1996     1995     1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                      <C>       <C>    <C>
Net sales             $  594,989$  592,509$   569,197

Cost of sales            384,722  382,150  366,455
Selling and administrative
  expenses               154,951  161,555  166,093
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                         539,673  543,705  532,548
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Operating income          55,316   48,804   36,649

Other income               4,095    4,373    4,611

Interest expense           4,981    5,274    5,133
Other expenses             2,120    2,453    2,205
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Income before income taxes52,310   45,450   33,922
Income taxes              19,742   17,966   13,606
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Net income            $   32,568$   27,484$   20,316
==================================================
================
Per common share:
 Net income           $     4.90$     4.20$     3.20
==================================================
================
 Dividends            $     1.80$     1.60$     1.45
==================================================
================
Average common shares outstanding6,641,3296,546,671    6,353,777
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes

14
<PAGE>

[PHOTO OF LES GRIFFIN BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION ANAHEIM,
CALIFORNIA]
[PHOTO OF REBECCA HAMILTON BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION
HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA]
[PHOTO OF JIM HENDRICKSON BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS]

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  BARNES GROUP INC.

(Dollars in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,                         1996     1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                                         <C>
<C>
ASSETS
Current assets
 Cash and cash equivalents       $ 23,986 $ 17,868
 Accounts receivable, less allowances
 (1996 - $3,158; 1995 - $3,635)    88,060   86,086
 Inventories                       64,942   56,749
 Deferred income taxes              9,772    8,344
 Prepaid expenses                   3,538    3,769
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
   Total current assets           190,298  172,816
Deferred income taxes              23,575   24,308
Property, plant and equipment     131,071  122,870
Goodwill                           19,441   20,028
Other assets                       25,571   21,527
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Total assets                     $389,956 $361,549
==================================================
================

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERSO EQUITY
Current liabilities
 Notes payable                   $  1,767 $    509
 Accounts payable                  30,363   31,839
 Accrued liabilities               46,152   42,840
 Guaranteed ESOP obligation-current 2,540    2,348
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
   Total current liabilities       80,822   77,536
Long-term debt                     70,000   70,000
Guaranteed ESOP obligation          4,951    7,491
Accrued retirement benefits        69,085   68,824
Other liabilities                   7,934    8,857

StockholdersO equity
 Common stock - par value $1.00 per share
   Authorized: 20,000,000 shares
   Issued:  7,345,923 shares stated at15,73715,737
 Additional paid-in capital        28,347   27,360
 Retained earnings                156,698  136,092
 Foreign currency translation adjustments (10,087)     (10,656)
 Treasury stock at cost (1996 - 682,003 shares;
   1995 - 791,205 shares)        (26,040) (29,853)
 Guaranteed ESOP obligation       (7,491)  (9,839)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Total stockholdersO equity        157,164  128,841
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Total liabilities and stockholdersO equity$389,956     $361,549
==================================================
================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.

                                                15

<PAGE>

[PHOTO OF BOB HOWAT ASSOCIATED SPRING SALINE,
MICHIGAN]
[PHOTO OF NANCY JOHANSEN BARNES AEROSPACE OGDEN,
UTAH]
[PHOTO OF RON KURYLO ASSOCIATED SPRING SOUTHFIELD,
MICHIGAN]

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  BARNES
GROUP INC.
 (Dollars in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31,        1996   1995   1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                            <C>    <C>    <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income                   $32,568$27,484$20,316
Adjustments to reconcile net income
   to net cash from operating activities
 Depreciation and amortization26,626 26,750 23,733
 Gain on sale of property, plant and
 equipment                     (528)  (268)  (151)
 Translation losses              427    290    356
 Changes in assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable      (2,321)    365(9,411)
    Inventories              (9,971)(6,073)(1,037)
    Accounts payable         (1,548)    794  4,298
    Accrued liabilities        2,797(2,664)  2,630
    Deferred income taxes        564  3,479  (485)
    Other liabilities and assets(2,810)(2,862)(2,5
49)
- --------------------------------------------------
- -----------------
Net cash provided by operating activities45,80447,295  37,700


INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of property,
plant and equipment            2,361  1,301  2,835
Capital expenditures        (33,892)(35,820)(31,848)
Other                          (706)(2,057)(2,252)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Net cash used by investing activities(32,237)(36,576)  (31,265)


FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net increase (decrease) in notes payable1,322(7,389)   (2,653)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock4,9075,849   3,956
Payments to acquire treasury stock(1,197)(1,746)--
Dividends paid              (11,967)(10,491)(9,223)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Net cash used by financing activities(6,935)(13,777)   (7,920)


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash flows(514)     (1,097)   (621)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash
  equivalents                  6,118(4,155)(2,106)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
  of year                     17,868 22,023 24,129
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year$23,986$17,868 $22,023
==================================================
================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.


16


<PAGE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERSO EQUITY  BARNES
GROUP INC.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                              Additional
                        Common   Paid-In  Retained
(Dollars in thousands)   Stock   Capital  Earnings
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>       <C>      <C>
January 1, 1994        $15,737   $28,745  $107,668

Net income                                  20,316
Cash dividends                             (9,223)
Employee stock plans               (973)
Guaranteed ESOP obligation
Income tax benefits on unallocated
 ESOP dividends                                177
Translation adjustments
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 1994       15,737    27,772   118,938

Net income                                  27,484
Cash dividends                            (10,491)
Employee stock plans               (412)
Guaranteed ESOP obligation
Income tax benefits on unallocated
 ESOP dividends                                161
Translation adjustments
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 1995       15,737    27,360   136,092

Net income                                  32,568
Cash dividends                            (11,967)
Employee stock plans                 987     (134)
Guaranteed ESOP obligation
Income tax benefits on unallocated
 ESOP dividends                                139
Translation adjustments
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 1996      $15,737   $28,347  $156,698
===================================================================

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERSO EQUITY  BARNES
GROUP INC. (CONTINUED)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Foreign
            Currency          Guaranteed
         Translation  Treasury      ESOPStockholdersO
         Adjustments     StockObligation    Equity
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
              <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
           $ (6,464) $(39,818) $(14,019)  $ 91,849

                                            20,316
                                           (9,223)
                         5,236               4,263
                                   2,008     2,008

                                               177
             (2,251)                       (2,251)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
             (8,715)  (34,582)  (12,011)   107,139

                                            27,484
                                          (10,491)
                         4,729               4,317
                                   2,172     2,172

                                               161
             (1,941)                       (1,941)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
            (10,656)  (29,853)   (9,839)   128,841

                                            32,568
                                          (11,967)
                         3,813               4,666
                                   2,348     2,348

                                               139
                 569                           569
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
           $(10,087) $(26,040) $ (7,491)  $157,164
===================================================================
</TABLE>
                                                17



<PAGE>

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.

[PHOTO OF ERIC MABLEY BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION CONCORD,
ONTARIO]
[PHOTO OF MARY LOU MANCHESTER AS HEADQUARTERS
BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT]
[PHOTO OF TERRY MARTIN AS HEADQUARTERS BRISTOL,
CONNECTICUT]


(All dollar amounts included in the notes are
stated in thousands except per share data and the
tables in Note 14.)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

GENERAL: The preparation of financial statements
requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.

CONSOLIDATION: The accompanying consolidated
financial statements include the accounts of the
company and all of its subsidiaries. Intercompany
transactions and account balances have been
eliminated. The company accounts for its 45%
investment in the common stock of NASCO, an
automotive suspension spring company jointly owned
with NHK Spring Co., Ltd. of Japan, under the
equity method. Other income in the accompanying
income statements includes $1,550, $1,897 and
$2,314 for the years 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively, of income from the companyOs
investment in NASCO. During 1996, the company
received $709 in dividends from NASCO.

REVENUE RECOGNITION: Sales and related cost of
sales are recognized when products are shipped to
customers.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS: All highly liquid
investments purchased with a maturity of three
months or less are cash equivalents and are
carried at fair market value.

INVENTORIES: Inventories are valued at the lower
of cost or market. The last-in, first-out (LIFO)
method was used to accumulate the cost of all U.S.
inventories which represent 71% of total
inventories. The cost of foreign subsidiary
inventories was determined using the first-in,
first-out (FIFO) method.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT: Property, plant and
equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is
provided using accelerated methods over estimated
useful lives, ranging generally from 20 to 50
years for buildings and 3 to 17 years for
machinery and equipment. Maintenance and repairs
charged to expense were $16,179, $15,396 and
$16,341 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

GOODWILL: Goodwill represents the excess purchase
price over the net assets of companies acquired in
business combinations. Goodwill acquired since
1970 is being amortized on a straight-line basis
over 40 years; similar investments for businesses
acquired prior to 1970 (approximately $5,200) are
not being amortized. On a periodic basis, the
company estimates future undiscounted cash flows
of the businesses to which goodwill relates to
ensure that the carrying value of goodwill has not
been impaired. Accumulated amortization was $8,175
and $7,588 at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION: Assets and
liabilities of foreign operations, except those in
countries with high rates of inflation, are
translated at year-end rates of exchange; revenue
and expenses are translated at average annual
rates of exchange. The resulting translation gains
and losses are reflected in foreign currency
translation adjustments within stockholdersO
equity.

For operations in countries that have high rates
of inflation, translation gains and losses are
included in net income. These losses, along with
those generated from foreign currency
transactions, were $826, $1,078 and $550 in 1996,
1995 and 1994, respectively.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION: The company applies APB
Opinion 25 to account for stock-based
compensation. The FASB issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123,
OAccounting for Stock-Based Compensation,O (FAS
123) effective for years beginning after December
15, 1995. Under the provisions of this accounting
standard, the company is not required to change
its method of accounting for stock-based
compensation. Had the company adopted FAS 123, the
impact on net income and income per share would
not have been significant.

INCOME PER COMMON SHARE: Income per common share
is based on the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding during the year. The effect of
common stock equivalents (stock options and
incentive stock rights) is not material. For
purposes of calculating income per share, Employee
Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) shares are considered
outstanding.

18


<PAGE>

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.

[PHOTO OF PATRICIA MARTINEZ BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION
EDISON, NEW JERSEY]
[PHOTO OF FRAN MCDONALD BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION
CLEVELAND, OHIO]
[PHOTO OF FAZAL MOHAMED BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION
CONCORD, ONTARIO]

2.  INVENTORIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Inventories at December 31, consisted of:
                                    1996      1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                               <C>       <C>
Finished goods                  $ 30,285  $ 29,535
Work-in-process                   17,730    13,827
Raw materials and supplies        16,927    13,387
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                                $ 64,942  $ 56,749
==================================================
================
</TABLE>

Inventories valued by the LIFO method aggregated
$46,056 and $39,219 at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. If LIFO inventories had been valued
using the FIFO method, they would have been
$13,348 and $12,632 higher at those dates.


3.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Property, plant and equipment at December 31,
consisted of:
                                    1996      1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                               <C>       <C>
Land                            $  4,577  $  5,412
Buildings                         64,336    60,064
Machinery and equipment          251,691   232,356
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                                 320,604   297,832
Less accumulated depreciation    189,533   174,962
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                                $131,071  $122,870
==================================================
================
</TABLE>

4.  ACCRUED LIABILITIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Accrued liabilities at December 31, consisted of:
                                    1996      1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                               <C>       <C>
Payroll and other compensation  $ 15,188  $ 12,699
Postretirement/
   postemployment benefits         6,465     6,541
Vacation pay                       4,521     4,460
Accrued income taxes               6,688     5,006
Pension and profit sharing         2,102     2,017
Other                             11,188    12,117
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                                $ 46,152  $ 42,840
==================================================
================
</TABLE>


5.  DEBT AND COMMITMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-term debt at December 31, consisted of:
                                1996          1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                         CARRYING    FAIR Carrying
                           AMOUNT   VALUE   Amount
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                         <C>     <C>      <C>
9.47% Notes               $30,769 $32,620  $36,923
7.13% Notes                25,000  24,346   25,000
Borrowings under
   lines of credit          7,231   7,231    1,077
Industrial
   Revenue Bond             7,000   7,000    7,000
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                          $70,000 $71,197  $70,000
==================================================
================
</TABLE>

The 9.47% Notes are payable in thirteen semi-
annual payments of $3,077 beginning on September
16, 1995, while the 7.13% Notes are payable in
four equal installments of $6,250 beginning on
December 5, 2002. The fair values of these notes
are determined using discounted cash flows based
upon the companyOs estimated current interest rate
for similar types of borrowings.  The carrying
values of other long-term debt, notes payable and
the guaranteed ESOP obligation approximate their
fair value.

                                                19
<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.

[PHOTO OF RAJ OAK ASSOCIATED SPRING SOUTHFIELD,
MICHIGAN]
[PHOTO OF STEPHEN ORME ASSOCIATED SPRING
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO]
[PHOTO OF DIANA PEACOCK ASSOCIATED SPRING SALINE,
MICHIGAN]

The company has a revolving credit agreement with
six banks that allows borrowings up to $150,000
under notes due December 6, 2001. A commitment fee
of .115% per annum is paid on the unused portion
of the commitments.
The company had no borrowings under this agreement
at December 31, 1996 and 1995.

The company has available $130,000 in uncommitted,
short-term bank credit lines, of which $7,500 and
$1,500 were in use at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. The interest rate on these
borrowings was 5.7% and 6.1% at December 31, 1996
and 1995.

The Industrial Revenue Bond, due in 2008, has a
variable interest rate. The interest rate on this
borrowing was 4.5% and 5.9% at December 31, 1996
and 1995, respectively.

At December 31, 1996, the company classified
$7,231 of borrowings under its lines of credit and
$6,154 of its 9.47% Notes due within one year as
long-term debt. The company has both the intent
and the ability, through its revolving credit
agreement, to refinance these amounts on a long-
term basis.

During 1996, the company had outstanding an
interest rate swap, a form of derivative, which
effectively converted $15,385 of its fixed rate
9.47% Notes to floating rate debt with interest
equal to LIBOR plus 83 basis points. The effective
interest rate on the floating rate portion was
6.4% and 6.7% at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. This swap decreases as the Notes are
repaid. The fair value of the swap is determined
based upon current market prices and was $1,160 at
December 31, 1996. The company does not use
derivatives for trading purposes.

The company guaranteed $8,711 of letters of
credit, bank borrowings and capital lease
obligations related to its 45% investment in
NASCO. In addition, the company has other
outstanding letters of credit totaling $3,854 at
December 31, 1996.

Certain of the companyOs debt arrangements contain
requirements to maintain minimum levels of working
capital and net worth, which as a result, place
limitations on dividend payments and acquisitions
of the companyOs common stock. Under the most
restrictive covenant in any agreement, $52,104 was
available for dividends or acquisitions of common
stock at December 31, 1996.

Interest paid was $5,736, $5,661 and $5,626 in
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Interest
capitalized was $527, $214 and $478 in 1996, 1995
and 1994, respectively, and is being depreciated
over the lives of the related fixed assets.


6.  INCOME TAXES

The components of income before income taxes and
the provision for income taxes follow:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             1996    1995     1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                         <C>     <C>      <C>
Income before income taxes:
 U.S.                     $37,957 $31,722  $23,639
 International             14,353  13,728   10,283
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                          $52,310 $45,450  $33,922
==================================================
================
Income tax provision:
 Current:
    U.S. - federal        $12,451 $ 7,668  $ 7,975
    U.S. - state            3,045   1,363    1,639
    International           3,682   5,456    4,477
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                           19,178  14,487   14,091
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
 Deferred:
    U.S. - federal          (388)   2,479    (403)
    U.S. - state            (105)   1,056      355
    International           1,057    (56)    (437)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                              564   3,479    (485)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                          $19,742 $17,966  $13,606
==================================================
================
</TABLE>


20
<PAGE>

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.

[PHOTO OF BARRY QUINN BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION CONCORD,
ONTARIO]
[PHOTO OF JACK RABABEH ASSOCIATED SPRING
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN]
[PHOTO OF ROBERT REED ASSOCIATED SPRING SALINE,
MICHIGAN]

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities at
December 31, consist of the tax effects of
temporary differences related to the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             Assets    Liabilities
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                          1996  1995   1996   1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                      <C>   <C>     <C>   <C>
Allowance for doubtful accounts$ 1,108$ 1,296$   (3)   $  (10)
Depreciation and amortization(7,083)(6,460)  2,450     1,980
Inventory valuation      4,143 3,127  1,382    775
Postretirement/postemployment costs28,51028,921(467)   (435)
Tax loss carryforwards   9,329 7,665     --     --
Other                    4,770 4,742  1,263  1,163
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                        40,77739,291  4,625  3,473
Valuation allowance    (7,430)(6,639)    --     --
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                       $33,347$32,652$4,625 $3,473
==================================================
================
Current deferred income taxes$9,772$ 8,344$1,379$  765
Noncurrent deferred income taxes23,57524,308 3,246     2,708
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                       $33,347$32,652$4,625 $3,473
==================================================
================
</TABLE>
The components of the net deferred income tax
balances recognized in the balance sheet at
December 31, follow:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       1996   1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                                   <C>    <C>
Total deferred income tax assets    $55,770$53,307
Total deferred income tax asset valuation
allowance                           (7,430)(6,639)
Total deferred income tax liabilities(19,618)(17,489)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                                    $28,722$29,179
==================================================
================
</TABLE>
A portion of the deferred income tax assets can be
realized through carrybacks and reversals of
existing taxable temporary differences with the
remainder, net of the valuation allowance,
dependent on future income. Management believes
that sufficient income will be earned in the
future to realize the remaining net deferred
income tax assets. The tax loss carryforwards have
remaining carryforward periods ranging from five
years to unlimited.

The company has not recognized deferred income
taxes on $78,733 of undistributed earnings of its
international subsidiaries since such earnings are
considered to be reinvested indefinitely. If the
earnings were distributed in the form of
dividends, the company would be subject to both
U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes.
Determination of the amount of this unrecognized
deferred income tax liability is not practicable.
                                                21
<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.

[Photo of Grace Sciarretta Executive Office
Bristol, Connecticut]
[Photo of Andy Smith Associated Spring Burlington,
Ontario]
[Photo of Dave Smith Associated Spring Southfield,
Michigan]

A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory
income tax rate to the consolidated effective
income tax rate follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                1996   1995   1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                            <C>     <C>    <C>
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate35.0%
35.0%35.0%
State taxes (net of federal benefit)   3.6     3.5
3.8
Foreign losses without tax benefit     1.6     2.7
4.0
Foreign tax rates              (2.5)  (1.6)
(3.1)
NASCO income                   (0.6)  (1.0)
(2.0)
Other                           0.6    0.9     2.4
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Consolidated effective income tax rate37.7%
39.5%40.1%
==================================================
================
</TABLE>
Income taxes paid, net of refunds, were $17,825,
$13,269 and $8,849 in 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively.

7.  COMMON STOCK

In 1996, 1995 and 1994, 129,806, 167,779 and
135,692 shares of common stock were issued from
treasury for the exercise of stock options,
purchases by the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and
various other incentive awards. In 1996 and 1995,
the company acquired 20,604 and 42,236 shares of
the companyOs common stock from its Guaranteed
Stock Plan at a cost of $1,197 and $1,746,
respectively. These acquired shares were placed in
treasury.

In December 1996, the company adopted a new
stockholder rights plan.
The company had adopted a rights plan in 1986,
that expired earlier this year. Under the new
plan, each share of common stock contains one
right (Right) that entitles the holder to purchase
one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, for two hundred
dollars. The Rights generally will not become
exercisable unless and until, among other things,
any person or group acquires beneficial ownership
of 35% or more of the outstanding stock. The new
Rights are generally redeemable at one cent per
Right at any time until 10 days following a public
announcement that a 35% or greater position in the
companyOs common stock has been acquired and will
expire, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged, on
December 23, 2006.

If, following the acquisition by a person or group
of 35% or more of the outstanding shares of the
companyOs common stock, the company is acquired in
a merger or other business combination or 50% or
more of the companyOs assets or earning power is
sold or transferred, each outstanding Right
becomes exercisable for common stock or other
securities of the acquiring entity having a value
of twice the exercise price of the Right.

8.  PREFERRED STOCK

At December 31, 1996 and 1995, the company had
3,000,000 shares of one dollar par value preferred
stock authorized, none of which were outstanding.

22

<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.
[PHOTO OF JENNIFER SMITH-CAMPBELL BARNES AEROSPACE
WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT]
[PHOTO OF STAN SUGGS ASSOCIATED SPRING SOUTHFIELD,
MICHIGAN
[PHOTO OF KHALAF SUKKAR ASSOCIATED SPRING SALINE,
MICHIGAN

9.  STOCK PLANS

All U.S. salaried and non-union hourly employees
are eligible to participate in the companyOs
Guaranteed Stock Plan (GSP). The GSP provides for
the investment of employer and employee
contributions in the companyOs common stock. The
company guarantees a minimum rate of return on
certain GSP assets.

The GSP is a leveraged Employee Stock Ownership
Plan (ESOP). In 1989, the GSP purchased 579,310
shares of the companyOs common stock at a cost of
$21,000 using the proceeds of a loan guaranteed by
the company. These shares are held in trust and
are issued to employeesO accounts in the GSP as
the loan is repaid. Principal and interest on the
GSP loan are being paid in quarterly installments
through 1999. The loan bears interest based on
LIBOR. At December 31, 1996, the interest rate was
6.4%. Interest of $538, $747 and $653 was incurred
in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

Contributions and certain dividends received are
used in part by the GSP to service its debt.
Contributions include both employee contributions
up to a maximum of 10% of eligible pay and company
contributions.

The company contributions are equal to the amount
required by the Plan to pay the principal and
interest due under the Plan loan plus that
required to purchase any additional shares
required to be allocated to participant accounts,
less the sum of participant contributions and
dividends received by the GSP. The GSP used
$1,642, $1,459 and $1,323 of company dividends for
debt service in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
The company expenses all cash contributions made
to the GSP. Compensation expense was $1,666,
$2,019 and $2,268 in 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively. In addition to the company shares
held in trust, the GSP also purchases the
companyOs common stock on the open market to meet
its requirements. As of December 31, 1996, the GSP
held 1,149,622 shares of the companyOs common
stock, of which 165,855 shares were unallocated.

For financial statement purposes, the company
reflects its guarantee of the GSPOs debt as a
liability with a like amount reflected as a
reduction of stockholdersO equity.

The company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
under which eligible employees may elect to have
up to 10% of base compensation deducted from
payroll for the purchase of the companyOs common
stock at 85% of market value on the date of
purchase. The maximum number of shares which may
be purchased under the Plan is 675,000. During
1996, 17,845 shares (21,012 and 22,367 shares in
1995 and 1994, respectively) were purchased. As of
December 31, 1996, 204,026 shares may be issued in
the future.

                                                23

<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.

[PHOTO OF ROAN TAN BARNES AEROSPACE WINDSOR,
CONNECTICUT]
[PHOTO OF JEFF TIBOLLA BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION SOUTH
JORDAN, UTAH]

The 1991 Barnes Group Stock Incentive Plan
authorizes the granting of incentives to officers
and other executives in the form of stock options,
stock appreciation rights, incentive stock rights
and performance unit awards. A predecessor plan
that provided for similar incentives expired in
1991. Options granted under that plan continue to
be exercisable and any options that terminate
without being exercised become available for grant
under the 1991 Plan. A maximum of 1,051,714 common
shares are subject to issuance under this plan
after December 31, 1996. As of December 31, 1996,
there were 583,630 shares available for future
grant (160,570 at December 31, 1995). Compensation
cost related to these plans was $904 and $128 in
1996 and 1994, respectively. No amount was
recorded in 1995.



Data relating to options granted under these plans
follow:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             1996             1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                          AVERAGE          Average
                   NUMBEREXERCISE  NumberExercise
                OF SHARES   PRICEof Shares   Price
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                 <C>      <C>    <C>      <C>
Outstanding, January 1500,356$32.73644,554  $31.61
Granted            23,150  $46.96  79,100   $40.09
Exercised         109,212  $33.90 146,046   $32.01
Cancelled          51,297  $35.00  77,252   $32.24
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Outstanding, December 31, 362,997  $32.95  500,356     $32.73
==================================================
================

Exercisable, December 31, 72,340  $30.74  142,400      $32.29
==================================================
================
</TABLE>

The following table summarizes information about
stock options outstanding at December 31, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                 OPTIONS OUTSTANDINGOPTIONS EXERCI
SABLE
               ----------------------------------
- -------------------
  RANGE OF        AVERAGE  AVERAGE         AVERAGE
  EXERCISE NUMBERREMAININGEXERCISE  NUMBEREXERCISE
    PRICESOF SHARES  LIFE    PRICEOF SHARES  PRICE
- ------------------------------------------------
- --------------------
   <C>      <C>     <C>       <C>     <C>    <C>
$20 to $27 46,3705.7 years  $25.43  33,870  $25.05
$31 to $33229,4666.6 years  $31.30  14,934  $32.14
$35 to $40 28,7116.3 years  $37.50  13,411  $36.37
$40 to $47 51,9008.6 years  $41.23  10,125  $40.27
$    58.50  6,5509.9 years  $58.50      --  $   --
</TABLE>


Incentive Stock Rights entitle the holder to
receive shares of the companyOs common stock
without payment, after the lapse of the incentive
period and subject to the satisfaction of
established performance goals. Additionally,
holders are credited with dividend equivalents,
which are converted into additional incentive
stock units, based on dividends paid on
outstanding shares. In 1996, 108,000 incentive
stock units were granted, of which 36,500 are
subject to performance goals. All units granted
have a five year incentive period. During 1996, an
additional 2,087 units were credited to holders
for dividend equivalents and 5,000 units were
forfeited.


24
<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.

[PHOTO OF VIBOL TIEM BARNES AEROSPACE OGDEN, UTAH]
[PHOTO OF CARYN WOODWARD BARNES AEROSPACE WINDSOR,
CONNECTICUT]

Under the Non-employee Director Deferred Stock
Plan each non-employee director is awarded 2,000
shares of the companyOs common stock upon
retirement. There were 2,000 shares issued under
this plan in 1996 and 4,000 in 1994. No shares
were issued in 1995. As of December 31, 1996,
18,000 shares were reserved for issuance under
this plan.

Total shares reserved for issuance under all stock
plans aggregated 1,273,740 at December 31, 1996.

10.  PENSION PLANS

The company has noncontributory defined benefit
pension plans covering a majority of its worldwide
employees at Associated Spring, Bowman
Distribution and at its Executive Office. Plan
benefits for salaried and non-union hourly
employees are based on years of service and
average salary. Plans covering union hourly
employees provide benefits based on years of
service. The company funds U.S. pension costs in
accordance with the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Plan assets consist
primarily of common stocks and fixed income
investments.

Pension expense consisted of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               1996    1995   1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                           <C>    <C>    <C>
Service cost                $  5,591$  4,836$  5,282
Interest cost                 15,839 15,907 15,290
Actual (return) loss on plan assets(34,906)(43,256)    941
Net amortization and deferral 13,981 22,960(20,295)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                            $    505$    447$  1,218
==================================================
================
</TABLE>

The funded status of the plans at December 31, is
set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       1996   1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                                  <C>    <C>
Plan assets at fair value          $271,450$247,915
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
 Vested benefits                    187,728201,231
 Nonvested benefits                  13,713  4,124
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
 Accumulated benefit obligations           201,441     205,355
 Additional benefits based on
     projected future salary increases      20,840     23,026
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
 Projected benefit obligations             222,281     228,381
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Plan assets greater than projected
     benefit obligations           $ 49,169$ 19,534
==================================================
================</TABLE>

Reconciliation to net pension asset recognized in
the accompanying balance sheets:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       1996   1995
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                                  <C>    <C>
Plan assets greater than projected
     benefit obligations           $ 49,169$ 19,534
Adjustments for unrecognized:
 Net gains                         (39,387)(6,512)
 Prior service costs                  6,843  4,591
 Net asset at transition            (7,505)(9,043)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                                           (40,049)    (10,964)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Net pension asset                  $  9,120$  8,570
==================================================
================</TABLE>

                                                25
<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.

Significant assumptions used in determining
pension expense and the funded status of the plans
were:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                1996   1995   1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                              <C>    <C>   <C>
Weighted average discount rate 7.75%  7.25%  8.25%
Increase in compensation       5.25%  5.25%  5.25%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets9.00% 9.00%     9.00%
</TABLE>

The company has defined contribution plans
covering employees of Barnes Aerospace and field
sales employees of Bowman DistributionOs U.S.
operation. Company contributions under these plans
are based primarily on the performance of the
business units and employee compensation. Total
expense amounted to $1,735, $1,748 and $1,431 in
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

11. POSTRETIREMENT HEALTHCARE AND LIFE INSURANCE
BENEFITS

The company provides certain medical, dental and
life insurance benefits for a majority of its
retired employees in the U.S. and Canada. It is
the companyOs practice to fund these benefits as
incurred.

Postretirement benefit expense consisted of the
following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                1996   1995   1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                            <C>     <C>   <C>
Service cost                 $   660 $  679$   874
Interest cost                  4,782  5,594  5,199
Net amortization             (1,150)  (158)  (158)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                             $ 4,292 $6,115$ 5,915
==================================================
================
</TABLE>

The amounts included in the accompanying balance
sheets at December 31, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                1996   1995   1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                            <C>    <C>    <C>
Accumulated benefit obligations:
 Retirees                    $46,283$57,160$50,917
 Employees eligible to retire  5,283  6,904  6,209
    Employees not eligible to retire 10,464 13,654     12,020
     Unrecognized prior service cost  9,799  1,021     1,245
 Unrecognized net loss       (1,331)(7,339)  (986)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                             $70,498$71,400$69,405
==================================================
================Postretirement benefit obligations
included in:
 Accrued liabilities         $ 5,273$ 5,673$ 5,300
 Accrued retirement benefits  65,225 65,727 64,105
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                             $70,498$71,400$69,405
==================================================
================
</TABLE>


A deferred tax asset is included in the
accompanying balance sheet recognizing the future
tax benefit of the postretirement benefit
obligations (See Note 6).

Cash payments made in 1996, 1995 and 1994 for
postretirement benefits were $5,194, $5,210 and
$4,828, respectively.

The companyOs accumulated benefit obligations take
into account certain cost-sharing provisions. The
annual assumed rate of increase in the cost of
covered benefits (i.e., healthcare cost trend
rate) is assumed to be 9.0% for 1996, gradually
reducing to 5.0% by the year 2001. A one
percentage point increase in the assumed
healthcare cost trend rate would increase the
accumulated benefit obligations by approximately
$2,175 at December 31, 1996, and would have
increased 1996 expense by approximately $168.

Discount rates of 7.75%, 7.25% and 8.25% were used
in determining the accumulated benefit obligation
at December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.


26

<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.

12.  LEASES

The company has various noncancellable operating
leases for buildings, office space and equipment.
Capital leases were not significant. Rent expense
was $6,268, $5,866 and $6,072 for 1996, 1995 and
1994, respectively. During 1997, both Associated
Spring and Bowman Distribution will relocate to
new headquarters facilities under operating
leases. Minimum rental commitments under
noncancellable leases in years 1997 through 2001
are $3,327, $3,612, $2,268, $2,292, $2,420 and
$13,349 thereafter.

13.  SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On February 21, 1997, the Board of Directors
authorized, subject to stockholder approval, an
amendment to the CompanyOs Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, providing for an
increase in the number of shares of authorized
common stock from 20,000,000 to 60,000,000 and a
reduction in the par values of the common stock
and preferred stock from one dollar to one cent
per share (the OAmendmentO.) The Amendment is
being presented to stockholders for approval at
the companyOs April 2, 1997 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. On February 21, 1997, the Board of
Directors also authorized (a) a three-for-one
stock split of the companyOs common stock in the
form of a 200% stock dividend for stockholders of
record on April 3, 1997, subject to stockholder
approval of the Amendment, and (b) the transfer
from stated capital to surplus of all capital in
excess of the aggregate par value of the companyOs
issued shares, subject to effectiveness of the
stock split. If the stock split is effected, the
number of shares of issued common stock will
triple, per share data for all periods presented
will decrease accordingly, adjustments will be
made to all outstanding stock options and other
stock-based awards and the Board-authorized
transfer from stated capital to surplus will
occur.


14.  INFORMATION ON BUSINESS  SEGMENTS

The company operates three businesses:

ASSOCIATED SPRING: manufactures and distributes
custom-made springs and other close-tolerance
engineered metal components principally to the
transportation, electronics and industrial
markets. Associated SpringOs custom metal parts
are sold in the United States and through its
foreign subsidiaries. Foreign manufacturing
operations are located in Brazil, Canada, Mexico
and Singapore. The automotive and automotive parts
industries constitute Associated SpringOs largest
market.

BOWMAN DISTRIBUTION: distributes fast-moving,
consumable repair and replacement products for
industrial, heavy equipment and transportation
maintenance markets. Bowman DistributionOs
operations and  markets are located primarily in
the United States. Other important locations
include Canada and Europe.

BARNES AEROSPACE: manufactures precision machined
parts and fabricated assemblies, and refurbishes
jet engine components for the aircraft and
aerospace industries. Barnes AerospaceOs
operations and markets are located primarily in
the United States and Singapore.

Sales between the business segments and between
the geographic areas are accounted for on the same
basis as sales to unaffiliated customers.
Operating income includes net sales less cost of
sales and selling and administrative expenses.
Other income and expenses are not included in
operating income. Corporate assets consist of cash
and cash equivalents, deferred income taxes, other
assets, transportation equipment and the Executive
Office building. Included in the 1996 identifiable
international assets are the assets of
manufacturing facilities in Singapore ($23,633),
Brazil ($15,320), Canada ($19,421) and Mexico
($13,107) and distribution facilities in Canada
($12,337), United Kingdom ($15,288) and France
($8,042). Associated SpringOs operation in
Singapore was an important contributor to the
companyOs international operating income during
each of the three years presented.


                                                27

<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  BARNES
GROUP INC.


The following tables set forth information about
the companyOs operations by its three business
segments and by geographic area.

OPERATIONS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   Net Sales      Operating Income
                      ----------------------------
- ----------------------
(Dollars in millions)  19961995  1994   1996  1995     1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>            <C>   <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>  <C>
Associated Spring   $279.5$279.0$272.4 $45.8 $42.6
$41.7
Bowman Distribution  213.4 217.0 215.1  22.0  17.4
12.6
Barnes Aerospace103.1 97.3  82.3   5.3   5.0
(1.8)
Intersegment sales    (1.0) (0.8)(0.6)   --    -- --
                     ----------------------------------
- -----------------
             $595.0 $592.5$569.2  73.1  65.0  52.5
                     ==========================
Corporate expenses                     (17.8)(16
 .2)           (15.9)
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
Operating income                 $55.3 $48.8 $36.6
==================================================
================
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              Identifiable        Capital       Depreciation
                 Assets         Expenditures      Expense
               --------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------
(Dollars in
 millions)   1996 1995 1994   1996 1995 1994  1996 1995 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------
<S>          <C>  <C>  <C>    <C>  <C>  <C>    <C>  <C> <C>
Associated
 Spring    $177.8$160.3$144.7$21.5$24.2$23.7 $13.0$11.6$ 9.0

Bowman
 Distribution73.0 79.2 86.0    2.9  3.6  4.3   3.7  4.1  3.1

Barnes
 Aerospace   96.1 87.0 85.6    9.4  7.8  3.7   7.0  7.2  7.5

Corporate    43.1 35.0 35.7    0.1  0.2  0.1   0.3  0.3  0.2

- -------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------
           $390.0$361.5$352.0$33.9$35.8$31.8 $24.0$23.2$19.8
=============================================================
===================
</TABLE>

OPERATIONS BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      Net Sales      Operating Income
                            --------------------------------
- ---------------
(Dollars in millions)1996 1995 1994   1996   1995   1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>  <C>   <C>    <C>   <C> <C>
Domestic          $466.4$463.4$454.8 $59.5$51.3$45.0
International      138.8 137.9 121.9  13.6 13.7  7.5
Sales between geographic
   areas           (10.2) (8.8) (7.5) --   --   --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  $595.0$592.5$569.2 $73.1$65.0$52.5
=====================================================================
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                Identifiable Assets
                           -----------------------
(Dollars in millions)             1996  1995  1994
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
<S>                               <C>   <C>  <C>
Domestic                        $239.8$227.5$226.6
International                    107.1  99.0  89.7
Corporate                         43.1  35.0  35.7
- --------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
                                $390.0$361.5$352.0
===========================================================
=======
</TABLE>


28
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF
BARNES GROUP INC.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated
balance sheets and the related consolidated
statements of income, changes in stockholders'
equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of
Barnes Group Inc. and its subsidiaries at December
31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1996,
in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the company's management; our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits. We
conducted our audits of these statements in
accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements, assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management,
and evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.


/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

Hartford, Connecticut
January 22, 1997, except
  as to Note 13, which is
  as of February 21, 1997

QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED)  BARNES GROUP INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

(Dollars in millions,      First     Second      Third    Fourth  Full
except per share data)   Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter Year
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------
<S>       <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
1996
Net sales     $150.1      $152.6     $147.1     $145.2     $595.0
Gross profit*   52.9        53.7       52.2       51.5      210.3
Operating income11.2        14.4       14.7       15.0       55.3
Net income       6.6         8.7        8.7        8.6       32.6
Per Common Share:
Net income      1.01        1.30       1.31       1.28       4.90
Dividends        .45         .45        .45        .45       1.80
Market prices
 (high-low)$45 1U4-35$51 7U8-44 3U4$51 1U8-46 1U4$62-49 5U8$62-35

1995
Net sales     $158.6      $151.0     $141.7     $141.2     $592.5
Gross profit*   57.7        54.8       49.8       48.1      210.4
Operating income14.5        13.4       11.1        9.8       48.8
Net income       8.3         7.3        6.3        5.6       27.5
Per Common Share:
Net income      1.29        1.12        .95        .84       4.20
Dividends        .40         .40        .40        .40       1.60
Market price
 (high-low)$44 3U8-36 1U4$45 3U4-40 1U4$43-40$40 7U8-35 7U8$45 3U4-
35 7U8
<FN>
*Sales minus cost of sales.
</TABLE>
                                                               29
<PAGE>
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA  BARNES GROUP INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             1996   1995  19941993(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------
<S>                        <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>
PER COMMON SHARE (1)
Income (loss)
   Continuing operations $   4.90$   4.20$   3.20$
 .70
   Effect of accounting changes--     --    --
   Net income (loss)         4.90   4.20  3.20    .70
Dividends paid               1.80   1.60  1.45   1.40
Stockholders' equity (at year-end) 23.58 19.66  16.66
14.59
Stock price (at year-end)      60     36    38 31 1U4

- -------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------
FOR THE YEAR (in thousands)
Net sales                $594,989$592,509$569,197$502
,292
Operating income           55,316 48,80436,649 12,538
   As a percent of sales      9.3%  8.2%   6.4%   2.5%
Income from continuing operations
   before income taxes
   and effect of accounting changes$ 52,310$ 45,450$
33,922                   $  8,391
Income taxes               19,742 17,96613,606  4,008
Income from continuing operations before
   effect of accounting changes (8)32,56827,48420,316
4,383
   As a percent of average
   stockholdersO equity      22.8% 22.6%  20.3%   4.7%
Effect of accounting changes$     --$     --$    --$
- --
Net income (loss)          32,568 27,48420,316  4,383
Net income (loss) applicable to
   common stock            32,568 27,48420,316  4,383
Depreciation and amortization26,62626,75023,73323,094
Capital expenditures       33,892 35,82031,848 22,216
Average common shares outstanding  6,641 6,547  6,354
6,250

- -------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------
YEAR-END FINANCIAL POSITION
(in thousands)
Working capital          $109,476$ 95,280$ 88,325$ 87
,011
Current ratio            2.4 to 12.2 to 12.0 to 12.1
to 1
Property, plant and equipment$131,071$122,870$112,569
$103,043
Total assets              389,956361,549351,956333,29
6
Long-term debt             70,000 70,00070,000 70,000
Guaranteed ESOP obligation -
   long term portion        4,951  7,491 9,839 12,011
StockholdersO equity      157,164128,841107,13991,849
Debt as a percent of total
   capitalization(9)         33.5% 38.4%  45.6%  50.7%

- ------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------
YEAR-END STATISTICS
Employees                   3,761  3,880 4,181  4,357
<FN>
(1)  All per-share data, other than earnings per
     common share, are based on common shares
     outstanding at the end of each year. Earnings
     per common share are based on weighted
     average common shares outstanding during each
     year.
(2)  Includes a $3.4 million pretax, $2.0 million
     after-tax charge ($.33 per share) against
     income related to the plant consolidation and
     work force reduction at Barnes Aerospace and
     a $1.5 million charge without tax benefit
     ($.24 per share) for a plant consolidation at
     Associated SpringOs Mexican operations.
(3)  Includes a $17.8 million pretax, $10.7
     million after-tax charge ($1.73 per share)
     against income related to the costs of plant
     closings at Associated Spring, Barnes
     Aerospace charges on a terminated contract
     and restructuring of Bowman U.S. sales
     organization. These charges were partially
     offset by a $5.0 million pretax gain, $3.7
     million after-tax ($.60 per share) from the
     sale of BowmanOs Pioneer division.
(4)  Barnes Group adopted three new accounting
     standards in 1992 retroactive to the
     beginning of the year. Included is a one-time
     $39.7 million after-tax charge ($6.41 per
     share) to comply with FAS 106 and 112 which
     changes the accounting for certain
     postretirement and postemployment benefits to
     the accrual method and an additional $1.0
     million income tax charge ($.15 per share)
     for FAS 109, which changed income tax
     accounting.
</TABLE>
30
<PAGE>
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA  BARNES GROUP INC.
(CONTINED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1992(3)(4)    1991    1990  1989(5)    1988 1987(6)  1986(7)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------
   <C>      <C>     <C>      <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>


 $     .94$   2.60$   2.76 $   1.94$   3.06$   2.80 $   2.57
    (6.56)      --      --       --      --      --       --
    (5.62)    2.60    2.76     1.94    3.06    2.80     2.57
      1.40    1.40    1.40     1.40    1.20    1.15     1.00
     15.04   22.46   20.74    18.55   20.35   17.91    19.27
    30 1U2  35 3U8  25 7U8       29  35 5U8      32   30 1U2

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

 $ 529,073$535,660$545,857 $511,221$496,060$458,016 $439,727
     7,259  37,982  41,198   33,990  43,702  42,265   43,056
      1.4%    7.1%    7.5%     6.6%    8.8%    9.2%     9.8%


 $   7,671$ 28,849$ 29,952 $ 23,118$ 33,175$ 34,576 $ 35,336
     1,838  12,926  13,163   10,745  14,327  16,736   18,733

     5,833  15,923  16,789   11,114  16,711  17,700   16,603

      5.8%   12.2%   14.1%     9.9%   15.9%   14.0%    14.0%
 $(40,695)$     --$     -- $     --$     --$     -- $     --
  (34,862)  15,923  16,789   12,373  18,848  17,840   16,603

  (34,862)  15,923  16,789   11,114  16,711  17,700   16,603
    23,741  23,159  22,044   18,167  16,626  15,470   14,511
    16,238  19,099  21,615   18,218  21,821  22,457   18,803
     6,202   6,127   6,078    5,733   5,465   6,321    6,461

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


  $ 93,500$102,995$ 94,087 $ 89,194$102,126$  85,991$  54,659
  2.0 to 12.2 to 11.9 to 1 1.9 to 12.3 to 12.0 to 1 1.5 to 1
  $104,437$114,299$114,717 $107,491$100,403$  96,066$  87,613
   348,346 341,857 342,383  328,116 311,876 297,946  277,828
    70,000  78,428  78,714   79,088  79,287  73,853   32,285

    14,019  15,877  17,594   19,181      --      --       --
    93,575 138,813 126,432  112,568 112,810  97,103  123,025

     51.9%   46.2%   50.2%    52.8%   45.1%   48.6%    31.6%

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

     4,051   4,478   4,744    4,799   4,770   4,712    4,697
<FN>
(5)  Includes a $6.5 million pretax, $3.9 million
     after-tax charge ($.68 per share) against
     income related to restructuring costs at
     Associated Spring.
(6)  Includes a $2.9 million pretax, $1.6 million
     after-tax charge ($.26 per share) against
     income related to the transition costs
     involved in modernizing Associated SpringOs
     valve spring production facilities in North
     America.
(7)  Barnes Group changed its U.S. pension cost
     accounting to comply with FAS 87. The effect
     was to increase net income by $2.2 million
     ($.33 per share).
(8)  Adjusted for preferred dividends in 1989,
     1988 and 1987.
(9)  Debt includes all interest-bearing debt
     including the guaranteed ESOP obligation, and
     total capitalization includes interest-
     bearing debt and stockholdersO equity.
</TABLE>
                                                31
<PAGE>
APPENDIX TO FORM EX-13 FILINGS TO DESCRIBE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRINTED AND EDGAR-FILED TEXTS.

(1)  Rule lines for tables are omitted.

(2)  Italic typeface is displayed in normal type.

(3)  Boldface type is displayed in capital
     letters.

(4)  Because the printed page breaks are not
     reflected, certain tabular and columnar
     headings and symbols are displayed
     differently in this filing.

(5)  Bullet points and similar graphic symbols are
     omitted.

(6)  Page numbering is different.


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated balance sheet of Barnes Group Inc. as of December 31, 1996, the
related consolidated statement of income, Note 3 to the consolidated financial
statements and Schedule VIII of Form 10-K and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements, note and schedule.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          23,986
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   91,218
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,158
<INVENTORY>                                     64,942
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               190,298
<PP&E>                                         320,604
<DEPRECIATION>                                 189,533
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 389,956
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           80,822
<BONDS>                                         74,951
<COMMON>                                        15,737
                                0
                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     141,427
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   389,956
<SALES>                                        594,989
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               594,989
<CGS>                                          384,722
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  384,722
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   545
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,981
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 52,310
<INCOME-TAX>                                    19,742
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             32,568
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    32,568
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.90
        

</TABLE>


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