EXHIBIT 10.2


                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                 by and between


                                IVAX CORPORATION



                                       and



                                  CARSON, INC.




                                  June 16, 1998



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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE
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                                    ARTICLE I
                                PURCHASE AND SALE

SECTION 1.1  Purchase and Sale.................................................1
SECTION 1.2  Purchase Price....................................................2
SECTION 1.3  Closing...........................................................2
SECTION 1.4  Purchase Price Adjustment.........................................3
SECTION 1.5  Letter of Credit..................................................5

                                   ARTICLE II
                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

SECTION 2.1  Organization......................................................6
SECTION 2.2  Capitalization....................................................7
SECTION 2.3  Ownership of Stock................................................8
SECTION 2.4  Authorization; Validity of Agreement..............................8
SECTION 2.5  Consents and Approvals; No Violations.............................8
SECTION 2.6  Financial Statements..............................................9
SECTION 2.7  No Undisclosed Liabilities........................................9
SECTION 2.8  Absence of Certain Changes.......................................10
SECTION 2.9  Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA....................................10
SECTION 2.10  Litigation......................................................13
SECTION 2.11  No Default; Compliance with Applicable Laws.....................13
SECTION 2.12  Taxes...........................................................14
SECTION 2.13  Title to Assets.................................................16
SECTION 2.14  Real Property...................................................16
SECTION 2.15  Company Intellectual Property...................................17
SECTION 2.16  Contracts.......................................................19
SECTION 2.17  Environmental Matters...........................................20
SECTION 2.18  Brokers or Finders..............................................21
SECTION 2.19  Employees; Labor Relations......................................21
SECTION 2.20  Affiliate Transactions..........................................21
SECTION 2.21  Substantial Customers and Suppliers.............................22
SECTION 2.22  Accounts Receivable.............................................22
SECTION 2.23  Inventory.......................................................22


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                                   ARTICLE III
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

SECTION 3.1  Organization.....................................................23
SECTION 3.2  Authorization; Validity of Agreement.............................23
SECTION 3.3  Consents and Approvals; No Violations............................24
SECTION 3.4  Acquisition for Investment.......................................24
SECTION 3.5  Financing........................................................24
SECTION 3.6  Brokers or Finders...............................................24
SECTION 3.7  Investigation by Buyer...........................................25
SECTION 3.8  Capital Adequacy; Solvency.......................................26

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                    COVENANTS

SECTION 4.1  Interim Operations of Seller.....................................26
SECTION 4.2  Access to Information............................................28
SECTION 4.3  Tax Matters......................................................29
SECTION 4.4  Employee Matters.................................................33
SECTION 4.5  Publicity........................................................34
SECTION 4.6  Approvals and Consents; Cooperation; Notification................35
SECTION 4.7  Non-Competition..................................................36
SECTION 4.8  Use of "IVAX" Name...............................................38
SECTION 4.9  Affiliate Transactions...........................................38
SECTION 4.10  Further Assurances..............................................38
SECTION 4.11  Post-Closing Purchase Transactions..............................39

                                    ARTICLE V
                                 INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 5.1  Indemnification by Seller........................................43
SECTION 5.2  Indemnification by Buyer.........................................43
SECTION 5.3  Survival of Representations and Warranties.......................44
SECTION 5.4  Notice and Opportunity to Defend.................................44
SECTION 5.5  Adjustment for Insurance and Taxes...............................45
SECTION 5.6  Mitigation of Loss.  ............................................45
SECTION 5.7  Subrogation.  ...................................................46
SECTION 5.8  Tax Indemnification..............................................46


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                                                                            PAGE
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SECTION 5.9   Set-Off.........................................................46
SECTION 5.10  Exclusive Remedy................................................46

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                   CONDITIONS

SECTION 6.1  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Closing......47
SECTION 6.2  Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer...........................47
SECTION 6.3  Conditions to the Obligations of Seller..........................48

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                   TERMINATION

SECTION 7.1   Termination.....................................................49
SECTION 7.2   Procedure and Effect of Termination.............................50

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.1   Governing Laws and Consent to Jurisdiction......................50
SECTION 8.2   Amendment and Modification......................................51
SECTION 8.3   Notices.........................................................51
SECTION 8.4   Interpretation..................................................52
SECTION 8.5   Counterparts....................................................53
SECTION 8.6   Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries.....................53
SECTION 8.7   Severability....................................................54
SECTION 8.8   Service of Process..............................................54
SECTION 8.9   Specific Performance............................................54
SECTION 8.10  Assignment......................................................54
SECTION 8.11  Expenses........................................................54
SECTION 8.12  Waivers.........................................................55
SECTION 8.13  No Double Recovery..............................................55

                                     ANNEXES

Index of Defined Terms                                                   Annex A
Procedures for Calculating Working Capital                               Annex B


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                          INDEX TO DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

TITLE                                                                    SECTION
-----                                                                    -------

Organization.................................................................2.1
Capitalization...............................................................2.2
Consents and Approvals; No Violations........................................2.5
No Undisclosed Liabilities...................................................2.7
Absence of Certain Changes...................................................2.8
Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA................................................2.9
Litigation..................................................................2.10
No Default; Compliance with Applicable Law..................................2.11
Taxes.......................................................................2.12
Real Property...............................................................2.14
Company Intellectual Property...............................................2.15
Contracts ..................................................................2.16
Environmental Matters.......................................................2.17
Employees; Labor Relations..................................................2.19
Affiliate Transactions......................................................2.20
Substantial Customers and Suppliers.........................................2.21
Accounts Receivable.........................................................2.22
Inventory...................................................................2.23
General Disclosure...........................................................3.7
Employee Matters.............................................................4.4
Affiliate Transactions.......................................................4.9


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                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                  PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of June 16, 1998 (this "AGREE
MENT"), by and between IVAX Corporation, a Florida corporation ("SELLER"), and
Carson, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("BUYER").

                  WHEREAS, Seller is the owner of all of the outstanding shares
of capital stock (the "SHARES") of Johnson Products Co., Inc., a Florida
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seller (the "COMPANY");

                  WHEREAS, Buyer has granted Seller the right to arrange for an
unaffiliated third party to purchase the Dermablend Business (as defined herein)
following the Closing (as defined herein);

                  WHEREAS, Buyer has granted Seller the right to purchase or
arrange for the purchase of, and Seller, if requested by Buyer, agrees to
purchase or arrange for the purchase of, the National Cosmetics Business (as
defined herein) and the Iman Business (as defined herein) following the Closing;
and

                  WHEREAS, Buyer desires to purchase from Seller, and Seller
desires to sell to Buyer, all of the Shares, subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                PURCHASE AND SALE

                  SECTION 1.1 PURCHASE AND SALE. Upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing Seller shall sell,
assign, transfer and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from Seller, the
Shares, free and clear of all options, pledges, security interests, liens or
other encumbrances or restrictions on voting or transfer ("ENCUMBRANCES"), other
than restrictions imposed by federal or state securities laws.


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                  SECTION 1.2 PURCHASE PRICE.

                  (a) On the Closing Date (as defined herein) and subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement in consideration of the sale,
assign ment, transfer and delivery of the Shares, Buyer shall pay to Seller (i)
$85 million by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or
accounts designated by Seller (the "PURCHASE PRICE") PROVIDED, HOWEVER, for
purposes of this Agreement, after the Closing Date the term "Purchase Price"
will refer to an amount equal to $85 million reduced by the funds received by
Buyer in accordance with Section 4.11.

                  (b) In addition, Buyer will cause the Company promptly to pay
to Seller all net proceeds received by the Company in connection with the
settlement or final adjudication of the litigation and other proceedings
involving JOHNSON PRODUCTS CO., INC. V. PRO-LINE CORPORATION, Docket No. 94 C
3555 (the "PRO-LINE LITIGATION"). Buyer will cause the Company to allow Seller
to assume complete control of the Pro-Line Litigation and to cause the Company
not to interfere with Seller's prosecution of the Pro-Line Litigation on behalf
of the Company. Seller shall bear the costs of prosecuting the Pro-Line
Litigation. Seller shall not have any obligation to become a substituted or
additional party to the litigation. Buyer will cause the Company to cause such
of its personnel as may be reasonably requested by Seller, including, without
limitation, Adu Darkwa, to be available for consultation, testimony, acting as a
Company representative at trial on the matter and related matters, and shall
cooper ate in other ways as Seller reasonably requests, in connection with the
conduct of the Pro-Line Litigation. Seller will reimburse Buyer for the
reasonable out-of-pocket costs of providing such personnel and cooperation.
Seller will provide updates on the status of the Pro-Line Litigation to Buyer as
and when reasonably requested. Buyer will cause the Company to agree to any
settlement or voluntary dismissal of any part of the Pro-Line Litigation
proposed by Seller, PROVIDED that such settlement does not impose any costs or
any ongoing obligations or restrictions on the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Buyer acknowledges and agrees that only Seller will have the right, subject to
the preceding sentence, to agree to any settlement or dismissal of the Pro-Line
Litigation.

                  SECTION 1.3  CLOSING.

                  (a) The sale and purchase of the Shares contemplated by this
Agreement shall take place at a closing (the "CLOSING") to be held at the
offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Illinois) at 9:00 a.m. Chicago
time on a date not later than the second business day following the satisfaction
of the condition set


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forth in Section 6.1(b) (but in no event earlier than August 15, 1998 or such
earlier date selected by Seller) or at such other place or at such other time or
on such other date as Seller and Buyer mutually agree upon in writing (the day
on which the Closing takes place being the "CLOSING DATE").

                  (b) At the Closing, Seller shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to Buyer (i) stock certificates evidencing the Shares duly endorsed in
blank or accompa nied by stock powers duly executed in blank and (ii) all other
previously undelivered certificates and other documents required to be delivered
by Seller to Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (c) At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver to Seller (i) the
Purchase Price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account or
accounts designated by Seller and (ii) all other previously undelivered
certificates and other documents required to be delivered by Buyer to Seller at
or prior to the Closing Date in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.

                  SECTION 1.4  PURCHASE PRICE ADJUSTMENT.

                  (a) As soon as practicable but not later than 60 days
following the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare and deliver to Buyer a working
capital statement of the Company as of the close of business on the Closing Date
(the "CLOSING STATEMENT") setting forth the current assets minus the current
liabilities of the Company (the "WORKING CAPITAL") on the basis described in
Annex B, accompanied by a report from Arthur Andersen LLP; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, if
the transactions contemplated in Section 4.11(a) or (b) occur, the Closing
Statement will be prepared as if the Com pany did not own the Dermablend
Business or the National Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business as of the
Closing Date, as the case may be; PROVIDED FURTHER that if Buyer retains the
Dermablend Business and, pursuant to Section 4.11(b), sells the National
Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business, the Dermablend Business will also
include the net accounts receivable (other than the Designated Receivables (as
defined in Section 4.11)), bank overdraft, accounts payable and accrued expenses
related to the National Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business. Seller and its
authorized representatives shall have reasonable access to all relevant books
and records and employees of the Company following the Closing Date to the
extent required to complete preparation of the Closing Statement, including,
without limitation, preparation of any financial reports or schedules needed to
complete the Closing Statement. Seller and Buyer shall split equally the cost of
preparing and delivering the Closing Statement.


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                  (b) After receipt of the Closing Statement, Buyer shall have
15 days to review it. Buyer and its authorized representatives shall have
reasonable access to Seller's accountants to the extent required to complete
their review of the Closing Statement, including, without limitation, the
accountants' work papers used in preparation thereof. Unless Buyer delivers
written notice to Seller on or prior to the 15th day after receipt of the
Closing Statement specifying in reasonable detail its objections to the Closing
Statement on the grounds that the Closing Statement (i) was not prepared in
accordance with this Section 1.4 or (ii) contained arithmetic errors, the
parties shall be deemed to have accepted and agreed to the Closing Statement. If
Buyer so notifies Seller of such an objection to the Closing Statement, the
parties shall within 15 days following the date of such notice (the "RESOLUTION
PERIOD") attempt to resolve their differences.

                  (c) At the conclusion of the Resolution Period, any amounts
remaining in dispute shall, at the election of either party, be submitted to
Price Waterhouse (the "NEUTRAL AUDITOR"). The Neutral Auditor shall be engaged
within five days after an election by either party to submit its objections to
the Neutral Auditor, and each party agrees to execute, if requested by the
Neutral Auditor, a reasonable engagement letter. All fees and expenses of the
Neutral Auditor shall be borne equally by Seller and Buyer. The Neutral Auditor
shall act as an arbitrator to determine, based solely on the written
presentations by Seller and Buyer made within 15 days of the Neutral Auditor's
engagement or such other reasonable period of time to which the parties agree,
and not by independent review, only those issues still in dispute. The Neutral
Auditor's determination shall be made within 30 days after Seller's and Buyer's
written presentations have been made, shall be set forth in a written statement
delivered to Seller and Buyer and shall be final, binding, conclusive and
nonappealable. The term "FINAL CLOSING STATEMENT" shall mean the definitive
Closing Statement agreed to by Seller and Buyer in accordance with Section
1.4(b) or the definitive Closing Statement resulting from the determination made
by the Neutral Auditor in accordance with this Section 1.4(c) (in addition to
those items theretofore agreed to by Seller and Buyer).

                  (d) On a date or dates mutually agreeable to Seller and Buyer
within ten days of the Closing Date, Seller and its accountants will take a
physical inventory, observed by Buyer and/or its representatives. All inventory
reflected on the Closing Statement shall be as of the Closing Date and based
upon this physical inventory. For purposes of the Closing Statement, the
inventory shall include all finished goods, work-in-process, raw materials and
promotional materials calculated in accordance with the procedures set forth in
Annex B.


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                  (e) The Purchase Price shall be (i) increased
dollar-for-dollar to the extent the Working Capital as reflected on the Final
Closing Statement is greater than the March Target Amount (as defined below) and
(ii) decreased dollar-for-dollar to the extent the Working Capital as reflected
on the Closing Statement is less than the December Target Amount. There shall be
no adjustment to the Purchase Price pursuant to this Section 1.4(e) if the
Working Capital is equal to or greater than the December Target Amount and less
than or equal to the March Target Amount. The amount of any such change in the
Purchase Price pursuant to this Section 1.4(e) shall be paid by Buyer to Seller,
in the case of an increase, or by Seller to Buyer, in the case of a decrease,
plus interest on such amount from the Closing Date through the date of payment
at the Prime Rate, within five business days after the Closing Statement is
agreed to by Seller and Buyer or is determined by the Neutral Auditor. The
"PRIME RATE" means the prime lending rate announced by THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
as in effect from time to time. Any amount paid pursuant to this Section 1.4(e)
will be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or
accounts designated by Buyer or Seller, as the case may be. The "DECEMBER TARGET
AMOUNT" means $11.95 million and the "MARCH TARGET AMOUNT" means $12.78 million;
PROVIDED that (x) if Buyer sells the National Cosmetics Business and the Iman
Business pursuant to Section 4.11(b) and Buyer retains the Dermablend Business,
the December Target Amount shall be $12.49 million and the March Target Amount
shall equal $14.00 million less the amount of the Designated Receivables, if
any, (y) if Buyer sells the Dermablend Business, the National Cosmetics Business
and the Iman Business pursuant to Sections 4.11(a) and (b), the December Target
Amount shall be $10.63 million and the March Target Amount shall be $10.75
million and (z) if Buyer sells the Dermablend Business pursuant to Section
4.11(a) and Buyer retains the National Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business,
Buyer and Seller will negotiate in good faith to establish the Target Amount in
a manner consistent with setting of the foregoing amounts.

                  SECTION 1.5 LETTER OF CREDIT. In the event that following the
Closing, Seller publicly announces its intention on or prior to the second
anniversary of the Closing Date to (i) complete a liquidation of Seller or (ii)
distribute by way of extraordinary dividend or stock repurchase all or
substantially all of Seller's assets, Seller shall deliver to Buyer an
irrevocable letter of credit to secure Seller's obliga tions under this
Agreement, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, issued by a commercial
bank having combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million in favor of
Buyer. Such letter of credit, if issued on or prior to the end of the eighteenth
month after the Closing Date (the "CUT-OFF DATE"), shall be in the initial
principal amount of 25% of the Purchase Price, PROVIDED that the amount of any
such letter of credit outstanding at the Cut-Off Date will be reduced to equal
the dollar value of all


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pending claims for indemnification made by Buyer pursuant to Sections 4.3 and
5.1 as of the Cut-Off Date. Any such letter of credit issued after the Cut-Off
Date shall be in the initial principal amount equal to the dollar value of all
then pending claims for indemnification made by Buyer pursuant to Sections 4.3
and 5.1. Any such letter of credit shall have a term of two years and shall be
subject to automatic renewal for successive six-month periods to the extent that
claims for indemnification by Buyer under Section 5.1 remain unresolved. After
the second, but before the sixth anniver sary of the Closing Date, if Seller
sells all or substantially all of its assets, Seller shall cause the buyer of
such assets to assume Seller's obligations under this Agreement, in which event
the obligation to issue a letter of credit pursuant to this Section 1.5 will
terminate.

                                   ARTICLE II

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

                  Seller represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:

                  SECTION 2.1 ORGANIZATION. Seller, the Company and the
Company's Subsidiaries each is a corporation or other entity duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization and has all requisite corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to be so organized,
existing and in good standing or to have such power and authority would not have
a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein). The Company and each of
its Subsidiaries are duly qualified, licensed or admitted to do business and are
in good standing in those jurisdictions specified in Section 2.1 of the written
statement delivered by Seller to Buyer at or prior to the execution of this
Agreement (the "DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE"), which, except as disclosed in Section 2.1
of the Disclosure Schedule, are the only jurisdictions in which the ownership,
use or leasing of the Company's and its Subsidiaries' properties, or the conduct
or nature of their businesses, may make such qualification, licensing or
admission necessary, except where the failure to be so organized, existing and
in good standing or to have such power and authority would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. Before Closing, Seller will have delivered to Buyer a
complete and correct copy of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws,
certificate of formation, operating agreement or similar organizational
documents of Seller, the Company and the Company's Subsidiaries. As used in this
Agreement, "COMPANY MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means any material adverse change
in, or material adverse effect on, the business, financial


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condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, the effects of changes that are generally applicable to
(i) the industries or markets in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate,
(ii) the United States economy or (iii) the United States securities markets
shall be excluded from the determination of Company Material Adverse Effect;
PROVIDED FURTHER, that any adverse effect on the Company or its Subsidiaries
resulting from the execution and the announcement of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall also be excluded from the determination
of Company Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement, "SUBSIDIARY"
means, with respect to any party, any corporation, partnership or other entity
or organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which (i) such party
or any subsidiary of such party is a general partner (excluding such
partnerships where such party or any subsidiary of such party does not have a
majority of the voting interest in such partnership) or (ii) at least a majority
of the securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power
to elect a majority of the Board of Directors or others performing similar
functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is directly or
indirectly owned or controlled by such party or by any one or more of its
subsidiaries. Section 2.1 of the Disclosure Schedule lists the name of each
Subsidiary and all lines of business in which each Subsidiary is participating
or engaged. Except for interests in the Subsidiaries of the Company and as
disclosed in Section 2.2 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries owns, directly or indirectly, any equity or similar interest
in, or any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any
equity or similar interest in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture or
other business association or entity.

                  SECTION 2.2 CAPITALIZATION. Section 2.2 of the Disclosure
Sched ule sets forth the authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Company. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights. Section 2.2 of the Disclosure Schedule lists for each Subsidiary the
amount of its authorized capital stock, the amount of its outstanding capital
stock and the record owners of such outstanding capital stock. All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized
and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. There are no existing
(i) options, warrants, calls, subscriptions or other rights, convertible
securities, agreements or commitments of any character obligating Seller, the
Company or its Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any shares of capital
stock or other equity interest in the Company or its Subsidiaries or securi ties
convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests, (ii)
contrac tual obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries to repurchase,
redeem or other wise acquire any capital stock of Seller, the Company or the
Company's Subsidiaries


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or (iii) voting trusts or similar agreements to which Seller, the Company or its
Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of the capital stock of the
Company or its Subsidiaries.

                  SECTION 2.3 OWNERSHIP OF STOCK. The Shares are owned benefi
cially and of record by Seller, and the shares of each of the Company's
Subsidiaries are owned of record and beneficially by the Company, in each case
free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than restrictions imposed by Federal
and state securities laws. Upon the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, Buyer will acquire title to the Shares, free and clear of
all Encumbrances, other than restrictions imposed by Federal and state
securities laws.

                  SECTION 2.4 AUTHORIZATION; VALIDITY OF AGREEMENT. Seller has
full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by Seller of
this Agreement, and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated
hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate proceedings, and no
other corporate action on the part of Seller or its stockholders is necessary to
authorize the execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement and the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by Seller (and assuming due and valid
authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Buyer) is a valid and binding
obligation of Seller enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms,
except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws, now or hereafter
in effect, affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) the remedy of specific
performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to
equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought.

                  SECTION 2.5 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS; NO VIOLATIONS. Except as
disclosed in Section 2.5 of the Disclosure Schedule and except for (a) filings
pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended
(the "HSR ACT"), (b) applicable requirements under corporation or "blue sky"
laws of various states and (c) matters specifically described in this Agreement,
neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller nor the
consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) violate
any provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Seller, the Company or the Company's Subsidiaries,
(ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due
notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, any of the terms, conditions
or


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provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, contract,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Seller, the Company or the
Company's Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their
properties or assets may be bound, (iii) violate any order, writ, judgment,
injunction, decree, law, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Seller, the
Company, the Company's Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets or (iv)
require on the part of Seller, the Company or the Company's Subsidiaries any
filing or registration with, notification to, or authori zation, consent or
approval of, any court, legislative, executive or regulatory authority or agency
(a "GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY"), except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) for
such violations, breaches or defaults which, or filings, registrations,
notifications, authorizations, consents or approvals the failure of which to
obtain, would (A) not have a Company Material Adverse Effect and would not
materially adversely affect the ability of Seller to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or (B) become applicable as a result of the
business or activities in which Buyer is or proposes to be engaged or as a
result of any acts or omissions by, or the status of any facts pertaining to,
Buyer.

                  SECTION 2.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Seller has delivered to
Buyer (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets (including the related notes)
of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, and
the related audited consolidated statements of income, shareholder's equity and
cash flows (including the notes thereto) for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1997, together with a true and correct copy of the
report on such audited information by Arthur Andersen LLP, (ii) management
letters to the Company from such accountants with respect to the results of such
audits and (iii) the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of March 31,
1998, and the related unaudited consolidated statement of income for the
three-month period ended March 31, 1998 (the "UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS"
and together with (i), the "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS"). The Financial Statements
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Com pany
as of the respective dates or for the respective periods set forth therein in
accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered, except that the
Unaudited Financial Statements lack footnotes and are subject to normal
year-end adjustments.

                  SECTION 2.7 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as disclosed in
Section 2.7 of the Disclosure Schedule and except for liabilities and
obligations (a) incurred in the ordinary course of business after December 31,
1997, (b) disclosed in the Financial Statements or (c) incurred in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise as contemplated by this
Agreement, since


                                        9
<PAGE>



December 31, 1997, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any
liabilities or obligations that would be required to be reflected or reserved
against in a consoli dated balance sheet of the Company, prepared in accordance
with GAAP as applied in preparing the audited consolidated balance sheets of the
Company included in the Financial Statements, and that would constitute a
Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 2.8 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Except as disclosed in
Section 2.8 of the Disclosure Schedule or in the Financial Statements and except
as contemplated by this Agreement (including Section 4.1), since December 31,
1997, the Company has not (i) suffered any change constituting a Company
Material Adverse Effect, (ii) amended its certificate of incorporation or bylaws
or other organizational documents, (iii) split, combined or reclassified the
Shares, (iv) materi ally changed its accounting principles, practices or
methods, except as required by GAAP or applicable law or (v) entered into any
transaction or activity which would require the prior written consent of Buyer
pursuant to Section 4.1(b)-(m) if entered into after the date hereof.

                  SECTION 2.9 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS; ERISA.

                  (a) Section 2.9(a) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a
complete list and description of each of the material Benefit Plans. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has scheduled or agreed upon future material
increases of benefit levels (or creations of new material benefits) with respect
to any Benefit Plan.

                  (b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries maintains
or is obligated to provide benefits under any life, medical or health plan
(other than as incidental benefit under a Qualified Plan) which provides
benefits to retirees or other terminated employees, excluding benefit
continuation rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985, as amended.

                  (c) None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any ERISA
Affiliate or any other corporation or organization controlled by or under common
control with any of the foregoing within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA
has at any time within the past six years (i) sponsored, maintained or
contributed to any Defined Benefit Plan or (ii) contributed to any
"multiemployer plan," as that term is defined in Section 4001 ERISA.

                  (d) Each of the Benefit Plans is, and its administration and
opera tion has been, in all material respects in compliance with, and there is
no outstanding claim or notice that any such Benefit Plan is not in compliance
with, all applicable


                                       10
<PAGE>



laws and orders, including, without limitation, the requirements of ERISA and
the Code, except for such failures to be in compliance which would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Qualified Plan has received a
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service stating that it is so
qualified.

                  (e) All contributions and other payments required to be made
by Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary to any Benefit Plan with respect to any
period ending before or upon the Closing Date have been made or reserves
adequate for such contributions or other payments have been or will be set aside
therefor and have been or will be reflected in financial statements of Seller in
accordance with GAAP.

                  (f) To the knowledge of Seller, no event has occurred, and
there exists no condition or set of circumstances in connection with any Benefit
Plan, under which Buyer, the Company or any Subsidiary, directly or indirectly
(through any indemnification agreement or otherwise), could reasonably be
expected to be subject to any risk of material liability pursuant to Section 409
of ERISA, Section 502(i) of ERISA, Title IV of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code.

                  (g) No transaction contemplated by this Agreement will result
in material liability to the PBGC under Section 302(c)(11), 4062, 4063, 4064 or
4069 of ERISA with respect to Buyer, the Company, any Subsidiary or any
corporation or organization controlled by or under common control with any of
the foregoing within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA, and no event or
condition exists or has existed in respect of any Benefit Plan which could
reasonably be expected to result in any such material liability with respect to
the Buyer, the Company, any of its Subsid iaries or any such corporation or
organization.

                  (h) Except as disclosed in Section 2.9 of the Disclosure
Schedule, no benefit under any Benefit Plan, including, without limitation, any
severance or parachute payment plan or agreement, will be established or become
triggered, accelerated, vested, funded or payable, directly or indirectly, by
reason of any transaction contemplated by or under this Agreement, either alone
or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events.

                  (i) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of Seller,
threat ened claims by or on behalf of any Benefit Plan, by any person covered
thereby, or otherwise, which allege violations of law which could reasonably be
expected to result in material liability on the part of Buyer, the Company, any
Subsidiary or any such Benefit Plan.


                                       11
<PAGE>



                  (j) Except as set forth in Section 2.9(j) of the Disclosure
Sched ule, no spin-off of assets and liabilities or other similar division or
transfer of rights will be required with respect to a Benefit Plan as a result
of transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (k) For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:

                           (i) "BENEFIT PLAN" means any Plan established by the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates of any of the
         foregoing, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries contributes
         or has contributed, or under which any employee, former employee or
         director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any beneficiary
         thereof is covered, is eligible for coverage or has benefit rights.

                           (ii) "DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN" means each Benefit Plan
         which is subject to Part 3 of Title I of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code
         or Title IV of ERISA.

                           (iii) "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income
         Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations
         promulgated thereunder.

                           (iv) "ERISA AFFILIATE" means any person or entity who
         is in the same controlled group of corporations or who is under common
         control with Seller or, before the Closing, the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries (within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code).

                           (v) "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty
         Corporation established under ERISA.

                           (vi) "PLAN" means any bonus, incentive compensation,
         deferred compensation, pension, profit sharing, retirement, stock
         purchase, stock option, stock ownership, stock appreciation rights,
         phantom stock, cafeteria, life, health, accident, disability or other
         insurance, severance, separation or other employee benefit plan,
         practice, policy or arrangement of any kind, whether written or oral,
         including, but not limited to, any "employee benefit plan" within the
         meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA.


                                       12
<PAGE>



                           (vii) "QUALIFIED PLAN" means each Benefit Plan which
         is intended to qualify under Section 401 of the Code.

                  SECTION 2.10  LITIGATION.

                  (a) Except as disclosed in Section 2.10 of the Disclosure
Schedule, there is no action, suit, proceeding (other than any action, suit or
proceeding resulting from or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby) or, to the knowledge of Seller, investigation pending or,
to the knowledge of Seller, action, suit, proceeding or investigation
threatened, involving the Company or its Subsidiaries by or before any
Governmental Entity or by any third party that, individually or in the
aggregate, is reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b) Except as disclosed in Section 2.10 of the Disclosure
Schedule, the Company is not subject to any continuing order of, consent decree,
settlement agreement, or other similar written agreement with any Governmental
Entity, or any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree, or award of any
Governmental Entity, court, or arbitrator.

                  SECTION 2.11  NO DEFAULT; COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

                  (a) Except as disclosed in Section 2.11 of the Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default or
violation of any term, condition or provision of (i) its certificates of
incorporation, bylaws or similar organizational documents, (ii) any Material
Agreement (as defined herein) or (iii) any applicable law (including statutes,
laws, rules, regulations, judgments, decrees, orders or arbitration awards) or
licenses, permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of any Governmental
Entity ("PERMITS"), excluding defaults or violations which would not reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or which become applicable
as a result of the business or activities in which Buyer is or proposes to be
engaged or as a result of any acts or omissions by, or the status of any facts
pertaining to, Buyer.

                  (b) The Company and its Subsidiaries have all material Permits
necessary to conduct their businesses in the manner and in the areas in which
they are presently being conducted. All such Permits are valid and in full force
and effect, except where the failure to have such Permits or the invalidity or
ineffectiveness thereof would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.


                                       13
<PAGE>



                  SECTION 2.12  TAXES.

                  (a) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has (i) timely filed or
caused to be filed all Tax Returns (as defined herein) required to be filed by
it other than those Tax Returns the failure of which to file would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect and (ii) paid all material Taxes (as defined
herein) shown to be due on such Tax Returns other than such Taxes that are being
contested in good faith by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

                  (b) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, none of Seller, the Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries has
received written notice of any ongoing federal, state, local or foreign audits
or examinations of any Tax Return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

                  (c) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived any statute
of limitations in respect of income taxes or agreed to any extension of time
with respect to the assessment of any Taxes.

                  (d) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
agreement providing for the allocation or sharing of Taxes.

                  (e) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations relating to the withholding of Taxes and payment of
withheld taxes (including withholding and reporting requirements under Code
ss.ss. 1441 through 1464, 3401 through 3406, 6041 and 6049 and similar
provisions under any other laws) and have, within the time and in the manner
prescribed by law, withheld from employee wages and paid over to the proper
governmental authorities all required amounts.

                  (f) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, no deficiency for Taxes has been asserted in writing against the
Company and its Subsidiaries that has not been resolved and paid in full or is
being contested in good faith.


                                       14
<PAGE>



                  (g) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, no power of attorney currently in force has been granted by or on
behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries concerning any Tax matter.

                  (h) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, none of Seller, the Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries has
received any written ruling of a taxing authority relating to Taxes of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other written and legally binding
agreement with a taxing author ity relating to any Taxes that would have
continuing effect after the Closing.

                  (i) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has filed a consent
pursuant to Code /section/ 341(f) or agreed to have Code /section/ 341(f)(2)
apply to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset.

                  (j) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, no property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is property that
is or will be required to be treated as being owned by another person pursuant
to the provisions of Code /section/ 168(f)(8) (as in effect prior to its
amendment by the Tax Reform Act of 1986) or is "tax-exempt use property" within
the meaning of Code /section/ 168.

                  (k) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to include
in income any adjustment pursuant to Code /section/ 481(a) by reason of a
voluntary change in accounting method initiated by or on behalf of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, and the Internal Revenue Service has not proposed an
adjustment or change in accounting method.

                  (l) Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
agreement, contract or arrangement that would result, separately or in the
aggregate, in the payment of any "excess parachute payments" within the meaning
of Code /section/ 280G as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

                  (m) "TAXES" shall mean any and all taxes, charges, fees,
levies or other similar assessments, including, without limitation, income,
gross receipts, excise, real or personal property, sales, withholding, social
security, occupation, use, service, service use, value added, license, net
worth, payroll, franchise, transfer and recording taxes, fees and charges,
imposed by any taxing authority (whether domestic or foreign including, without
limitation, any federal, state, local or foreign govern-

                                       15
<PAGE>

ment or any subdivision or taxing agency thereof (including a United States
posses sion)), whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined
or any other basis; and such term shall include any interest, penalties or
additional amounts attributable to, or imposed upon, or with respect to, any
such taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments and any out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with the determination, settlement or litigation
of any Tax liability. "TAX RETURN" shall mean any report, return, document,
declaration or other information or filing required to be supplied to any taxing
authority or jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) with respect to Taxes. "CODE"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  SECTION 2.13 TITLE TO ASSETS. On December 31, 1997 the Company
and its Subsidiaries had and, except with respect to assets disposed of since
December 31, 1997, in the ordinary course of business, the Company and its
Subsidiaries have, good and valid title to, or a valid leasehold interest in,
all material tangible properties and assets (other than real property) owned or
used by the Company and its Subsid iaries and reflected on the balance sheet of
the Company dated as of December 31, 1997 included in the Financial Statements
(the "BALANCE SHEET"), or which would have been reflected on the Balance Sheet
if acquired prior to December 31, 1997, free and clear of all Encumbrances of
any nature except for (i) Encumbrances that secure indebtedness or obligations
which are properly reflected on the Balance Sheet (all of which shall be
released and dissolved at or prior to the Closing), (ii) liens for Taxes not yet
payable or any Taxes being contested in good faith and reserved for on the
Balance Sheet, (iii) liens arising as a matter of law in the ordinary course of
business, PROVIDED that the obligations secured by such liens are not delinquent
or are being contested in good faith and (iv) such imperfections of title and
Encumbrances, if any, as do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially
interfere with the present use of any of the Company's or its Subsidiaries'
properties and assets subject thereto (the "PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES"). All such
material tangible property and assets used in the operation of the Company and
its Subsidiaries are, in all material respects, in good operating condition and
repair, wear and tear excepted in light of the age of such material tangible
property.

                  SECTION 2.14 REAL PROPERTY.

                  (a) With respect to each parcel of real property owned by the
Company and its Subsidiaries, the common address of which is included in Section
2.14 of the Disclosure Schedule, and except for matters which would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the identified owner has good and valid
title to the parcel of real property, free and clear of any Encumbrance,
easement, covenant,


                                       16
<PAGE>



or other restriction, except for installments of special assessments not yet
delinquent, recorded easements, covenants, conditions and other restrictions,
and utility ease ments, building restrictions, zoning restrictions, and other
easements and restrictions existing generally with respect to properties of a
similar character, (ii) there are no leases, subleases, licenses, concessions,
or other agreements granting any party the right of use or occupancy of any
portion of the parcel of real property and (iii) there are no outstanding
options or rights of first refusal to purchase the parcel of real property or
any portion thereof or interest therein.

                  (b) Except as set forth in Sections 2.14(b) and 2.11 of the
Disclo sure Schedule, with respect to each parcel of real property owned by the
Company and its Subsidiaries, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has received any written notice from any governmental entity, and Seller does
not have any knowledge, that any of its real property, buildings, structures,
facilities, fixtures or other improve ments, or the use thereof, contravenes or
violates any building, zoning or administra tive law (whether or not permitted
on the basis of prior nonconforming use, waiver or variance), except where such
violation would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The improvements
located on each parcel of real property owned by the Company and its
Subsidiaries are adequate and suitable for the purposes for which they are
presently being used (ordinary wear and tear excepted in light of the age of
such improvements) and, to the knowledge of Seller, there are no condemnation or
appropriation proceedings pending or threatened against any of such real
property or the improvements thereon.

                  (c) Seller has delivered to Buyer correct and complete copies
of the leases and subleases for all real property leased or subleased to any of
the Com pany and its Subsidiaries. Each such lease or sublease is legal, valid,
binding, enforce able and in full force and effect, except where the illegality,
invalidity, nonbinding nature, unenforceability or ineffectiveness would not
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 2.15  COMPANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

                  (a) Section 2.15(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
list of all registrations and applications for copyrights, patents, trademarks
and service marks and, to the Company's knowledge, unregistered copyrights,
patents, trade marks and service marks ("INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS"), owned
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that individually are material to the
business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, along with the
Intellectual Property Rights licensed to the Company or Subsidiaries from third
parties the "COMPANY INTELLECTUAL


                                       17
<PAGE>



PROPERTY RIGHTS"), specifying as to each item owned by the Company or any Subsid
iary, as applicable: (i) the nature of such Intellectual Property Right; (ii)
the jurisdic tions by or in which such Intellectual Property Right has been
issued or registered or an application for issuance or registration thereof has
been filed; and (iv) the registra tion or application numbers for each such
Intellectual Property Right.

                  (b) Section 2.15(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
list of all material licenses, sublicenses and other agreements to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which the Company
or any of its Subsid iaries is permitted to use any Intellectual Property Rights
owned or controlled by a third party (excluding off-the-shelf software licenses)
or any person is authorized to use any Company Intellectual Property Right,
including (i) the identity of all parties thereto and (ii) a description of the
nature and subject matter thereof.

                  (c) Except as set forth in Section 2.15(a), (b) or (c) of the
Disclosure Schedule (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries own or have the right
to use all Company Intellectual Property Rights, as well as, to the Company's
knowledge, any trade secrets and inventions, in each case material to the
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, free and clear of any
Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances) or, with respect to items of
Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to the
Company's knowledge, any other claim of ownership or, right to use by or of any
other person, except pursuant to the license agreements set forth in Section
2.15(b) of the Disclosure Schedule and (ii) to the Company's knowledge, each
Company Intellectual Property Right owned by the Company which is the subject of
a registration is in full force and effect and to the Company's knowledge, is
valid and enforceable. To the knowledge of Seller, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is, or has received any written notice that it is, in
default under any license or agreement pursuant to which it uses any Company
Intellectual Property Rights, except for defaults which are not reasonably
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  (d) Except as set forth in Section 2.15(d) of the Disclosure
Schedule or except for actions or claims which would not have a Company Material
Adverse Effect: neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a defendant
in any action, suit, investigation or proceeding relating to, or otherwise has
been notified of, any alleged claim of infringement by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of any third party's Intellectual Property Right, and Seller has no
knowledge of any other such infringement by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, and there is no outstand ing claim or suit brought by the Company
or its Subsidiaries for, and Seller has no knowledge of, any continuing
infringement by any other person of any Company


                                       18


<PAGE>



Intellectual Property Rights. Except as set forth in Section 2.15(c) of the
Disclosure Schedule, no Company Intellectual Property Right owned by the Company
or any Subsidiary is subject to any outstanding judgment, injunction, order,
decree or agreement restricting the use or transfer thereof by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or restricting the licensing thereof by the Company or
any of its Subsid iaries to any person, except as may be contained in the
license agreements set forth in Sections 2.15(a) and (b) of the Disclosure
Schedule and under other non-material licenses.

                  (e) To the Company's knowledge and except as may be determined
in connection with the claims set forth in Section 2.15(c) of the Disclosure
Schedule, none of the products manufactured, nor any process or know-how used,
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries infringes any Intellectual Property
Right of any other person, except for infringements which would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 2.16 CONTRACTS. Section 2.16 of the Disclosure
Schedule contains a true and complete list of all Material Agreements. Except as
set forth in Section 2.16 of the Disclosure Schedule, each Material Agreement is
in full force and effect, is a valid and enforceable agreement of the Company
and its Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of Seller, the other parties thereto in
accordance with its terms. As used in this Agreement, "MATERIAL AGREEMENT" means
each agreement, arrangement, instrument, bond, commitment, franchise, indemnity,
indenture, lease, license or understanding to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or to which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any
of their respective properties is subject that (i) obligates the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries to pay an amount in excess of $100,000 in any twelve-month
period beginning after December 31, 1997 other than purchase orders entered into
in the ordinary course of business, (ii) provides for the extension of credit
(excluding trade credit issued in the ordinary course of business), (iii)
provides for a guaranty by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations
of others in excess of $100,000, (iv) constitutes an employment agreement or
personal service contract not terminable on less than sixty (60) days' notice
without penalty, (v) expressly limits, in any material respect, the ability of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business,
compete with any person or expand the nature or geographic scope of its
business, (vi) includes a partnership, joint venture or shareholders'
arrangement, (vii) relates to the future dispositions or acquisitions of assets
or properties other than in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent
with past practice, or any merger or business combination, (viii) includes any
collective bargaining or similar labor agreement or (ix) includes arrange-


                                       19
<PAGE>

ments with distributors, dealers, manufacturer's representatives, sales agencies
or franchisees not terminable on less than sixty (60) days' notice without
penalty.

                  SECTION 2.17 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

                  (a) Except as set forth in Section 2.17 of the Disclosure
Schedule, Seller and the Company have not, as of the date hereof, received any
written notice alleging the violation of, or liability under, any applicable
Environmental Laws, which violation or liability would be reasonably likely to
result in a Company Material Adverse Effect and, to the knowledge of Seller, (i)
the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Environmental Laws,
(ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have obtained and are in compliance with
all Permits received pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws with respect to
the business as currently conducted, (iii) no hazardous waste or Hazardous
Substance has been stored, treated or disposed of by the Company or its
Subsidiaries on the real estate owned or leased by the Company or its
Subsidiaries except in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, (iv) the
Company and its Subsidiaries have lawfully disposed of their hazardous waste
with respect to the operations of their businesses and (v) there have been no
"Releases" (as such term is defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. /section/ 9601, ET SEQ.) of Hazardous
Substances at any of the real estate owned or operated by the Company or its
Subsidiaries, except, in each case referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above,
where such failure to comply with applicable Environmental Laws and Permits or
to obtain Permits or to store, treat or dispose of hazardous waste or hazardous
substances would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "ENVIRONMENTAL
LAWS" means all foreign, federal, state and local laws, regulations, rules and
ordi nances relating to pollution or protection of the environment, including,
without limitation, laws relating to Releases or threatened Releases of
Hazardous Substances into the environment (including, without limitation,
ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land, surface and subsurface strata) or
otherwise relating to the manu facture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, Release, transport or handling of Hazardous Substances and
all laws and regulations with regard to record keeping, notification, disclosure
and reporting requirements respecting Hazardous Substances, and all laws
relating to endangered or threatened species of fish, wildlife and plants and
the management or use of natural resources. The term "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES"
means any toxic, hazardous, radioactive, caustic, or dangerous sub stances,
pesticides, wastes, pollutants or contaminants, or any other substances that


                                       20


<PAGE>



are defined as any of the above by or regulated as such under, any Environmental
Law, including, without limitation, petroleum and asbestos.

                  (c) The representations and warranties set forth in this
Section 2.17 shall be the sole and exclusive representations and warranties with
respect to environmental matters made by Seller in this Agreement.

                  SECTION 2.18 BROKERS OR FINDERS. Seller represents, as to
itself and the Company, that, except for A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., no agent,
broker, invest ment banker, financial advisor or other firm or person is or will
be entitled to any broker's or finder's fee or any other commission or similar
fee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Seller acknowledges that it is responsible for the payment of the fees of A.G.
Edwards & Sons, Inc. in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

                  SECTION 2.19 EMPLOYEES; LABOR RELATIONS. Seller has delivered
to Buyer prior of this Agreement a list identifying each employee of the Company
and its Subsidiaries with yearly base salary in excess of $50,000, the position
and rate of compensation of each such employee and copies of contracts entered
into between the Company and its Subsidiaries and such employee, if any. Except
as disclosed in Section 2.19 of the Disclosure Schedule, (a) to the knowledge of
Seller, there are no threatened or contemplated attempts to organize for
collective bargaining purposes any of the employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and (b) no unfair labor practice complaint or sex, age, race or
other discrimination claim has been brought since January 1, 1997 against the
Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to the conduct of their businesses
before the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission or any other Governmental Entity. Since January 1, 1997, the Company
and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all applicable
laws relating to the employment of labor, including those relating to wages,
hours and collective bargaining.

                  SECTION 2.20 AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. Except as disclosed in
Section 2.20 of the Disclosure Schedule, (a) there are no intercompany
liabilities between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and
Seller or any officer, director or Affiliate of Seller (other than the Company
and its Subsidiaries), on the other; (b) neither Seller nor any such officer,
director or Affiliate provides or causes to be provided any assets, services or
facilities to the Company or any of its Subsid iaries; (c) neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries provides or causes to be provided any assets,
services or facilities to Seller or any such officer, director or Affiliate; and
(iv) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries beneficially owns,


                                       21
<PAGE>



directly or indirectly, any debt or equity securities issued by Seller or any
such officer, director or Affiliate. Except as disclosed in Section 2.20 of the
Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 1997, all settlements of intercompany
liabilities between the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one hand, and Seller
or any such officer, director or Affiliate, on the other, have been made, and
all allocations of intercompany expenses have been applied, in the ordinary and
usual course of business consistent with past practice.

                  SECTION 2.21 SUBSTANTIAL CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS. Section 2.21
of the Disclosure lists the ten largest customers of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, on the basis of revenues for goods sold or services provided for
the year ended Decem ber 31, 1997 and the four month period ended April 30,
1998. Section 2.21 of the Disclosure Schedule lists the ten largest suppliers of
the Company and its Subsidiar ies, on the basis of cost of goods or services
purchased for the year ended December 31, 1997 and the four month period ended
April 30, 1998. As of the date hereof, except as disclosed on Section 2.21 of
the Disclosure Schedule, since April 30, 1998, neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has received written notice that there has been or will be any
material change in the business relationship of the Company with any of such
customers or suppliers.

                  SECTION 2.22 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. Except as set forth in
Section 2.22 of the Disclosure Schedule, the accounts and notes receivable of
the Company and its Subsidiaries reflected on the Financial Statements, and all
accounts and notes receivable arising subsequent to December 31, 1997, (i) arose
from BONA FIDE sales transactions in the ordinary and usual course of business
and are payable on ordinary trade terms, (ii) are legal, valid and binding
obligations of the respective debtors enforceable in accordance with their terms
(PROVIDED that such representation is not intended to be a representation as to
collectability and in no way guarantees the collectability of such accounts and
notes receivable), (iii) are not subject to any valid set-off or counterclaim
(other than rights of return in the ordinary course of business) and (iv) as of
the date hereof, are not the subject of any actions or proceedings brought by or
on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than as fully
reserved in the Closing Balance Sheet or arising in the ordinary course of
business).

                  SECTION 2.23 INVENTORY. Except as set forth on Section 2.23 of
the Disclosure Schedule, no clearance or extraordinary sale of inventory has
been conducted since December 31, 1997. The Company and its Subsidiaries have
not committed to acquire inventory for sale which is not of a quantity usable in
the ordinary and usual course of the business within a reasonable period of time
and consistent with past practices. Section 2.23 of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a


                                       22
<PAGE>



complete list of the addresses of the warehouses and other facilities in which
the inventory is located as of the date hereof.

                                   ARTICLE III

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

                  Buyer represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

                  SECTION 3.1 ORGANIZATION. Buyer is a corporation or other
entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has all requisite
corporate power and author ity to own, lease and operate its properties and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to
be so organized, existing and in good standing or to have such power and
authority would not have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect. As used in this
Agreement, "BUYER MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means any material adverse change in,
or material adverse effect on, the business, financial condition or operations
of Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
effects of changes that are generally applicable to (i) the industries or
markets in which Buyer and its Subsidiaries operate, (ii) the United States econ
omy, or (iii) the United States securities markets shall be excluded from the
determi nation of Buyer Material Adverse Effect; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that any
adverse effect on Buyer and its Subsidiaries resulting from the execution and
the announce ment of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
shall also be excluded from the determination of Buyer Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 3.2 AUTHORIZATION; VALIDITY OF AGREEMENT. Buyer has
full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by Buyer of
this Agreement, and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated
hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate proceedings, and no
other corporate action on the part of Buyer is necessary to authorize the
execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation by it of
the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Buyer (and assuming due and valid authorization, execution and
delivery hereof by Seller) is a valid and binding obligation of Buyer
enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms, except that (i) such
enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting
creditors' rights generally and (ii) the remedy of


                                       23
<PAGE>



specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be
subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which
any proceeding therefor may be brought.

                  SECTION 3.3 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS; NO VIOLATIONS. Except for
(a) filings pursuant to the HSR Act and (b) matters specifically described in
this Agreement, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer
nor the consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i)
violate any provision of the articles of incorporation, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Buyer, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or
give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
lease, license, contract, agreement or other instru ment or obligation to which
Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of
their properties or assets may be bound, (iii) violate any order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, law, statute, rule or regulation applicable to
Buyer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets or (iv)
require on the part of Buyer any filing or registration with, notification to,
or authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity; except in the
case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) for such violations, breaches or defaults
which, or filings, registrations, notifications, authorizations, consents or
approvals the failure of which to obtain, would not have a Buyer Material
Adverse Effect and would not materially adversely affect the ability of Buyer to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  SECTION 3.4 ACQUISITION FOR INVESTMENT. Buyer is acquiring the
Shares solely for its own account and not with a view to any distribution or
other disposition of such Shares. The Shares will not be transferred except in a
transaction registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.

                  SECTION 3.5 FINANCING. Buyer has available existing credit
facilities (including an acquisition line of credit and a revolving credit
facility) which, together with Buyer's cash on hand as of the Closing Date, will
be sufficient to enable Buyer to pay the full amount of the Purchase Price at
the Closing.

                  SECTION 3.6 BROKERS OR FINDERS. Buyer represents, as to
itself, its Subsidiaries and its Affiliates, that other than PaineWebber
Incorporated (whose fee Buyer will pay), no agent, broker, investment banker,
financial advisor or other firm or person is or will be entitled to any broker's
or finder's fee or any other commission or similar fee in connection with any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agree ment. As used in this Agreement, the
term "AFFILIATE(S)" shall have the meaning set


                                       24
<PAGE>



forth in Rule l2b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"EXCHANGE ACT").

                  SECTION 3.7 INVESTIGATION BY BUYER. In entering into this
Agreement, Buyer:

                  (a) acknowledges that, except for the specific representations
and warranties of Seller contained in Article II, none of Seller, the Company,
the Com pany's Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, Affiliates, controlling persons, agents, advisors or representatives,
makes or shall be deemed to have made any representation or warranty, either
express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information
(including, without limitation, any estimates, projections, forecasts or other
forward-looking information) provided or otherwise made available to Buyer or
any of its directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, controlling persons,
agents, advisors or representatives (including, without limitation, in any
management presentations, information or offering memorandum, supplemental
information or other materials or information with respect to any of the above).
With respect to any such estimate, projection or forecast delivered by or on
behalf of Seller to Buyer, Buyer acknowledges that (A) there are uncertainties
inherent in attempting to make such projections and forecasts, (B) it is
familiar with such uncertainties, (C) it is taking full responsibility for
making its own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all such projections
and forecasts so furnished to it, (D) it is not acting in reliance on any such
projection or forecast so furnished to it and (E) it shall have no claim against
any such person with respect to any such projection or forecast; and

                  (b) agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that
Seller and its directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, controlling persons,
agents, advisors or representatives shall not have any liability or
responsibility whatsoever to Buyer or any of its directors, officers, employees,
Affiliates, controlling persons, agents, advisors or representatives on any
basis (including, without limitation, in contract or tort, under federal or
state securities laws or otherwise) based upon any information provided or
otherwise made available, or statements made, (or omissions to so provide, make
available or state) to Buyer or any of its directors, officers, employees,
Affiliates, controlling persons, agents, advisors or representatives, including,
without limitation, in respect of the specific representations and warranties of
Seller set forth in Article II, except as and only to the extent expressly set
forth herein with respect to such representations and warranties and subject to
the limitations and restrictions contained herein and in the Disclosure Schedule
(including Section 3.7 thereof).


                                       25
<PAGE>



                  SECTION 3.8 CAPITAL ADEQUACY; SOLVENCY. Buyer represents that
immediately after the sale of the Shares and the other transactions contemplated
herein, Buyer (and any successor corporation) will have a positive net worth
(calcu lated in accordance with GAAP) and will not be insolvent (as defined
under the federal Bankruptcy Code (the "BANKRUPTCY CODE") and in equity) and
that the sale of the Shares and other transactions contemplated hereby and any
borrowing by Buyer in connection with such transactions will not have the effect
of hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of Buyer (or any successor
corporation). Buyer further represents that (A) upon consummation of the sale of
the Shares and within the meaning of Sections 544 and 548 of the Bankruptcy Code
and comparable state statutes, the Company (and any successor corporations) will
not (i) be insolvent or rendered insolvent, (ii) have an unreasonably small
capital with respect to the business or transactions engaged in or to be engaged
in, (iii) incur debts that would be beyond the ability of Buyer or any successor
corporation's ability to pay as such debts mature, and (B) the Purchase Price is
a reasonably equivalent value in exchange for the Shares.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    COVENANTS

                  SECTION 4.1 INTERIM OPERATIONS OF SELLER. Seller covenants and
agrees that, except (i) as contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) entering into
new warehousing/distribution arrangements to replace the agreement with Cosmetic
Essence, Inc., PROVIDED that Seller has consulted with Buyer as to the terms
with respect to such new arrangements prior to entering into any definitive
agreement related thereto and that any such definitive agreement (A) has an
initial term of 24 months or less and (B) is on terms no less favorable in the
aggregate in any material respect than the current arrangement, based on 1997
sales volume and product mix, (iii) the continuation of the Affiliate
transactions in Section 2.20 of the Disclosure Schedule, (iv) that Seller will
have the right to delay payment of accounts payable by an amount not in excess
of (A) $120,000, if Seller and/or its designees elect to purchase, and Buyer
sells, the Dermablend Business, the National Cosmetics Business and the Iman
Business pursuant to Sections 4.11 (a) and (b) or (B) $1,500,000, if Buyer
retains the Dermablend Business but Seller and/or its designees elect to
purchase, and Buyer sells, the National Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business
pursuant to Section 4.11(b) or (v) with the prior written consent of Buyer,
after the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date, Seller will cause:


                                       26
<PAGE>



                  (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries to conduct their
businesses in the ordinary and usual course of business;

                  (b) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to amend their
certifi cates of incorporation or bylaws or similar organizational documents;

                  (c) the Company not to (i) split, combine or reclassify the
Shares, (ii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution
payable in cash, stock or property with respect to the Shares, (iii) issue or
sell any additional shares of, or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for, or options, warrants, calls, commit ments or rights of any kind to acquire,
the Shares or (iv) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly
any of its capital stock;

                  (d) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to (i) adopt any new
employee benefit plan (including any stock option, stock benefit or stock
purchase plan) or amend any existing employee benefit plan in any material
respect, except as may be required by applicable law or (ii) materially increase
any compensation or enter into or amend any employment, severance, termination
or similar agreement with any of its present or future officers or directors;

                  (e) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to, except as may be
required or contemplated by this Agreement or in the ordinary and usual course
of business, acquire, sell, lease or dispose of any assets which in the
aggregate are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                  (f) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to (i) incur or
assume any long-term or short-term debt or issue any debt securities except for
borrowings under existing lines of credit in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, (ii) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise
become liable or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for
the material obligations of any other person except in the ordinary and usual
course of business consistent with past practice in an amount not material to
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iii) make any material
loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person
other than in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent with past
practice, (iv) pledge or otherwise encumber the Shares or (v) mortgage or pledge
any of its material assets, tangible or intangible, or create any material
Encumbrance of any kind with respect to any such asset;


                                       27
<PAGE>



                  (g) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to acquire (by
merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any corporation,
partnership or other business organization or division thereof or any equity
interest therein;

                  (h) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to authorize any new
capital expenditure of capitalized items which, individually, is in excess of
$50,000 or, in the aggregate, are in excess of $250,000;

                  (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to enter into or
amend any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement providing for the
taking of any action which would be prohibited hereunder;

                  (j) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to adopt plan of
complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such
liquidation or a dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring,
recapitalization or other reorganization;

                  (k) the Company not to materially change any of the accounting
policies used by it in preparing the Financial Statements unless required by
GAAP or applicable law;

                  (l) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to settle or
compromise any claim (including arbitration) or litigation, which after
insurance reimbursement is material to the Company taken as a whole, without the
prior written consent of Buyer, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld;

                  (m) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to enter into any
transac tion with Seller or any officer, director or Affiliate (other than the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Seller (i) outside the ordinary and usual
course of business consistent with past practice or (ii) other than on an
arm's-length basis, other than pursuant to any arrangement disclosed in Section
2.20 of the Disclosure Schedule; and

                  (n) the Company and its Subsidiaries not to authorize or enter
into an agreement to do any of the foregoing.

                  SECTION 4.2 ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Seller shall cause the
Company to afford Buyer's officers, employees, accountants, counsel and other
authorized representatives full and complete access during normal business hours
throughout the period prior to the Closing Date or the date of termination of
this Agreement, to its


                                       28
<PAGE>



and its offices, properties, contracts, commitments, tax and accounting work
papers, books and records (including but not limited to Tax Returns) and any
material report, schedule or other document filed or received by it during such
period pursuant to the requirements of Federal or state securities laws and to
use all reasonable efforts to cause its representatives to furnish promptly to
Buyer such additional material financial and operating data and other
information as to its businesses and properties as Buyer or its duly authorized
representatives may from time to time reasonably request; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that nothing herein shall require Seller or the Company to disclose any
information to Buyer if such disclosure (i) would cause significant competitive
harm to Seller, the Company, the Company's Subsidiaries or their Affiliates if
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement were not consummated or (ii)
would violate applicable laws or regulations or the provisions of any confidenti
ality agreement to which Seller, the Company, the Company's Subsidiaries or
their Affiliates is a party. Buyer will hold any such information which is
nonpublic in confidence in accordance with the provisions of the Confidentiality
Agreement between Seller and Buyer, dated as of October 28, 1997 (the
"CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT").

                  SECTION 4.3 TAX MATTERS.

                  (a) CODE /SECTION/ 338(H)(10) ELECTION. Seller and Buyer shall
jointly make all available elections described in Code /section/ 338(h)(10) and
any corresponding elections under applicable state and local tax laws (the
"ELECTIONS") for the Company and its Subsidiaries. Seller and Buyer agree to
report the transactions under this Agreement consistently with the Elections.
Buyer will prepare all forms required to be filed in connection with the
Elections ("CODE /SECTION/ 338 FORMS"), and Buyer and Seller shall each execute
an Internal Revenue Service Form 8023 for the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries at Closing. All Code /section/ 338 Forms shall be filed by the
party required to file such forms under applicable law. Each party shall
promptly execute and deliver to the other party all documentation reasonably
requested by such other party, including the completed Code /section/ 338 Forms.
Within 150 days after the Closing, Buyer will compute the Modified Aggregate
Deemed Sale Price ("MADSP") of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations) and will notify Seller of its
allocation of the MADSP among the assets. After receipt of Buyer's calculation
of the MADSP, Seller shall have 30 days to review such calculation. Unless
Seller delivers written notice to Buyer on or prior to the thirtieth day after
receipt of the MADSP calculation specifying in reasonable detail its objection
to the MADSP calculation, such calculation shall be deemed final and binding
between Buyer and Seller. In the event Seller has provided a timely notice of
objections to the MADSP calculation with which Buyer does not agree, the Neutral


                                       29
<PAGE>



Auditor shall resolve such dispute in accordance with the provisions of Section
1.4(c) subject to Section 4.11(f). Buyer and Seller each agrees to act in
accordance with these allocations in any relevant Tax Returns. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Section 4.3, all income Taxes imposed
as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including as
result of the Elections, shall be the responsibility of Seller.

                  (b) SELLER INDEMNIFICATION. Seller shall be liable for, and
shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless against, all Taxes of the Company,
including income Taxes imposed on the Company as a result of the Elections,
payable for any taxable year or taxable period ending on or before the Closing
Date (other than Taxes imposed as a result of actions outside the ordinary
course of business occurring after the Closing on the Closing Date). To
appropriately apportion any income Taxes relating to any taxable year or period
beginning before and ending after the Closing Date by a closing of the Company's
books as of the end of the day on the Closing Date, the parties shall apportion
such income Taxes to the portion of the taxable period ending on or before the
Closing Date by a closing of the Company's books at the end of the day on the
Closing Date except that (i) exemptions, allowances or deductions that are
calculated on a time basis, such as the deduction for depreciation, shall be
apportioned on a time basis and (ii) all Taxes relating to actions outside the
ordinary course of business occurring after the Closing on the Closing Date
(other than income Taxes imposed as a result of the Elections) shall be
apportioned to the period ending after the Closing Date. To appropriately
apportion any non-income Taxes relating to any taxable year beginning before and
ending after the Closing Date, the parties shall apportion such non-income Taxes
to the portion of the taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date as
follows: (x) AD VALOREM Taxes (including, without limitation, real and personal
property Taxes) shall be accrued on a daily basis over the period for which such
Taxes are levied, or if it cannot be determined over the period such Taxes are
being levied, over the fiscal period of the relevant taxing authority, in each
case irrespective of the lien or assessment date of such Taxes, (y) all Taxes
relating to actions outside the ordinary course of business occurring on or
after the Closing on the Closing Date (other than income Taxes imposed as a
result of the Elections) shall be apportioned to the period ending after the
Closing Date and (z) franchise and other privilege Taxes not measured by income
shall be accrued on a daily basis over the period to which the privilege
relates. Seller's obligations under this paragraph shall not be limited or
affected by any disclosures made by Seller in or pursuant to Article II.

                  (c) BUYER AND COMPANY INDEMNIFICATION. Except as otherwise
provided in (b) above, Buyer and the Company shall be liable for, and shall
indemnify


                                       30
<PAGE>



and hold Seller and any of its Affiliates harmless against, any and all Taxes
imposed on the Company relating or apportioned to any taxable year or portion
thereof ending after the Closing Date, including, without limitation, Taxes
imposed as a result of actions outside the ordinary course of business occurring
after the Closing on the Closing Date (other than income Taxes imposed as a
result of the Elections).

                  (d) TAX SHARING AGREEMENT. Any Tax sharing agreements,
settlement agreements, arrangements, policies or guidelines, formal or informal,
express or implied, that may exist between the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries on the one hand, and Seller or any other affiliate of Seller, on
the other hand (a "TAX SHARING AGREEMENT"), shall terminate as of the Closing
Date and, except as specifi cally provided herein, any obligation to make
payments under any Tax Sharing Agreement shall be cancelled as of the Closing
Date. Seller shall not amend any Tax Sharing Agreement prior to its termination
pursuant to this Section 4.3(d).

                  (e) PRE-CLOSING TAXES. Seller shall cause the Company and its
Subsidiaries, and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall consent, to join for
all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date in Seller's
consolidated federal income Tax Return and in any required state or local
consolidated or combined income or franchise Tax Returns that include the
Company and its Subsidiaries ("PRE-CLOSING CONSOLIDATED TAX RETURNS"). Seller's
Consolidated Group shall timely prepare and file all Pre-Closing Consolidated
Tax Returns that include the Company and its Subsidiar ies. Seller's
Consolidated Group shall timely prepare and file (or cause to be so prepared and
filed) all Tax Returns required by law, other than Pre-Closing Consoli dated Tax
Returns, covering the Company and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods
ending on or before the Closing Date ("PRE-CLOSING SEPARATE TAX RETURNS";
together with Pre-Closing Consolidated Tax Returns, "PRE-CLOSING TAX RETURNS").
Seller shall prepare all Tax Returns in accordance with the Tax accruals on the
books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Seller will not amend any
Pre-Closing Tax Returns without the consent of Buyer (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld) if such amended Tax Return would affect the amount of
Taxes for which Buyer is liable under this Agreement. Seller's Consolidated
Group shall timely pay or cause to be paid all Taxes related to Pre-Closing Tax
Returns.

                  (f) TRANSFER TAXES. Buyer shall pay all sales, use, transfer,
real property transfer, recording, gains, stock transfer and other similar Taxes
and fees ("TRANSFER TAXES") arising out of or in connection with the
transactions effected pursuant to this Agreement, and shall indemnify, defend,
and hold harmless Seller and the Company and its Subsidiaries on an after-Tax
basis with respect to all Transfer


                                       31
<PAGE>



Taxes. Buyer shall file all necessary documentation and Tax Returns with respect
to such Transfer Taxes.

                  (g) TAX RETURNS FOR STUB PERIOD. To the extent that the
taxable period for any Tax of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not
end on the Closing Date, Seller and Buyer will, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, elect with the relevant state and local taxing authorities to
close the taxable period of the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Closing
Date. In any case where applicable law does not permit the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to close its taxable year on the Closing Date, Buyer will cause to
be prepared and duly filed all Tax Returns relating to Taxes of the Company and
its Subsidiaries for any taxable period that includes and ends after the Closing
Date. At least 30 days prior to the due date of any such Tax Return Buyer shall
provide copies of such Tax Return to Seller for Seller's review and approval,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Taxes shown as due on
such Tax Returns shall be apportioned between Seller and Buyer in accordance
with Section 4.3(b).

                  (h) REFUNDS OR CREDITS. Buyer or the Company shall promptly
pay to Seller any refunds or credits (including interest thereon) relating to
Taxes for which Seller may be liable under this Section 4.3. For purposes of
this Section 4.3(h), the terms "refund" and "credit" shall include a reduction
in Taxes and the use of an overpayment of Taxes as an audit or other Tax offset.
Receipt of a refund shall occur upon the filing of a Tax Return or an adjustment
thereto using such reduction, overpayment or offset, or upon the receipt of
cash. Upon the reasonable request of Seller, Buyer shall prepare and file, or
cause to be prepared and filed, all claims for refunds relating to such Taxes;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Buyer shall not be required to file such claims for
refund to the extent such claims for refund would have a Company Material
Adverse Effect in future periods or to the extent the claims for refund relate
to a carryback of an item. Buyer shall be entitled to all other refunds and
credits of Taxes; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Buyer will not allow the amendment of any
Tax Return relating to any Taxes for a period (or portion thereof) ending on or
prior to the Closing Date or the carryback of an item to a period ending prior
to Closing without Seller's consent.

                  (i) MUTUAL COOPERATION. As soon as practicable, but in any
event within 15 days after either Seller's or Buyer's request, as the case may
be, Buyer shall deliver to Seller or Seller shall deliver to Buyer, as the case
may be, such information and other data relating to the Tax Returns and Taxes of
the Company (and shall provide such other assistance as may reasonably be
requested), to cause the completion and filing of all Tax Returns or to respond
to audits by or litigation with any


                                       32
<PAGE>



taxing authorities with respect to any Tax Returns or taxable periods or to
otherwise enable Seller, Buyer or the Company to satisfy their accounting or Tax
requirements. For a period of five years from and after the Closing, Buyer and
Seller shall, and shall cause their Affiliates to, maintain and make available
to the other party, on such other party's reasonable request, copies of any and
all information, books and records referred to in this Section 4.3(i). After
such five-year period, Buyer or Seller may dispose of such information, books
and records, PROVIDED that prior to such disposi tion, Buyer or Seller shall
give the other party the opportunity to take possession of such information,
books and records.

                  (j) CONTESTS. Whenever any taxing authority asserts a claim,
makes an assessment, or otherwise disputes the amount of Taxes for which Seller
is or may be liable under this Agreement, Buyer shall, if informed of such an
assertion, promptly inform Seller within 5 business days, and Seller shall have
the right to control any resulting proceedings and to determine whether and when
to settle any such claim, assessment or dispute to the extent such proceedings
or determinations affect the amount of Taxes for which Seller may be liable
under the Agreement, PROVIDED that Seller shall have agreed in writing to assume
all costs and expenses of any such contest and shall have recognized its
obligation to indemnify Buyer under this Agreement for any such Taxes. Whenever
any taxing authority asserts a claim, makes an assessment or otherwise disputes
the amount of Taxes for which Buyer is liable under this Agreement, Buyer shall
have the right to control any resulting proceedings and to determine whether and
when to settle any such claim, assessment or dispute, except to the extent such
proceedings affect the amount of Taxes for which Seller are liable under this
Agreement.

                  SECTION 4.4 EMPLOYEE MATTERS.

                  (a) As of the Closing Date, Buyer shall cause the Company and
its Subsidiaries to continue to employ all persons who, immediately prior to the
Closing Date, were employees (the "COMPANY EMPLOYEES") of the Company or its
Subsidiaries on terms no less favorable in the aggregate (including with respect
to position, duties, responsibilities, location, compensation, incentives and
Benefit Plans, (as defined herein)) than those in effect on the date hereof with
respect to such Company Employees. Buyer agrees that, for a period of at least
two years following the Closing, Buyer shall provide the Company Employees with
employee benefits that are generally comparable in the aggregate than those
provided to the Company Employees immediately prior to the date hereof. With
respect to any employee benefits that are provided to the Company Employees
under any of Buyer's employee benefit plans, programs, policies and
arrangements, including vacation policies ("BUYER PLANS"), service accrued by
the Company Employees during employment with Seller, the


                                       33
<PAGE>



Company and the Company's Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date shall be recog
nized for all purposes, except to the extent necessary to prevent duplication of
benefits. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Buyer agrees to
maintain the Company's general severance policy as described in Section 4.4(a)
of the Disclo sure Schedule for a period of one year following the Closing Date.

                  (b) Buyer agrees to assume and honor, and cause the Company
and its Subsidiaries to assume and honor, without modification, the employment,
severance, retention, other incentive agreements and arrangements, as amended
through the date hereof (each, an "EMPLOYEE ARRANGEMENT") for the benefit of the
employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries as described in Section 4.4(b) of
the Disclosure Schedule. Seller shall indemnify Buyer for any severance payments
the Company owes to any Company employee other than as described in Section
4.4(b) of the Disclosure Schedule or to any former Company employees whose
employment with the Company terminates prior to the Closing to the extent any
such amounts are not accrued for on the Final Closing Statement.

                  (c) Buyer shall cause each Buyer Plan to waive any (i)
pre-existing condition restriction which was waived under the terms of any
analogous Benefit Plan immediately prior to the Closing and (ii) waiting period
limitation which would otherwise be applicable to a Company Employee on or after
the Closing to the extent such Company Employee had satisfied any similar
waiting period limitation under an analogous Benefit Plan prior to the Closing.
The Company Employees shall also be given credit for any deductible or
co-payment amounts paid in respect of the Benefit Plan year in which the Closing
occurs, to the extent that, following the Closing, they participate in any Buyer
Plan for which deductibles or co-payments are required. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Company Employees" shall include those Company Employees who, as of
immediately prior to the Closing Date, are on lay-off, disability or leave of
absence, paid or unpaid.

                  SECTION 4.5 PUBLICITY. The initial press releases with respect
to the execution of this Agreement shall be reasonably acceptable to Buyer and
Seller. Thereafter, so long as this Agreement is in effect, neither Buyer nor
Seller nor any of their respective Affiliates shall issue or cause the
publication of any press release with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby or this Agreement without the prior agreement of the other party, except
as may be required by law or by any listing agreement with a national securities
exchange.


                                       34
<PAGE>



                 SECTION 4.6  APPROVALS AND CONSENTS; COOPERATION; NOTIFICATION.

                  (a) The parties shall use all reasonable efforts and cooperate
with each other to obtain as promptly as practicable all Permits and third-party
consents necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agree ment. Each party shall keep the other apprised of the status of
matters relating to completion of the transactions contemplated hereby. Buyer
and Seller shall have the right to review in advance, and shall consult with the
other on, in each case subject to applicable laws relating to the exchange of
information, all the information relating to Seller, the Company, the Company's
Subsidiaries or Buyer, as the case may be, and any of their respective
Affiliates, which appears in any filing made with, or written materials
submitted to, any third party or any Governmental Entity in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to provide any party with a right to review any
information provided to any Governmental Entity on a confidential basis in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. The party responsible for
any such filing shall promptly deliver to the other party evidence of the filing
of all applications, filings, registrations and notifications relating thereto
(except for any confidential portions thereof) and any supplement, amendment or
item of additional information in connection therewith (except for any
confidential portions thereof). The party responsible for a filing shall also
promptly deliver to the other parties a copy of each material notice, order,
opinion and other item or correspondence received by such filing party from any
Governmental Entity in respect of any such application (except for any
confidential portions thereof).

                  (b) Seller and Buyer shall take all actions necessary to file
as soon as practicable all notifications, filings and other documents required
to obtain all governmental authorizations, approvals, consents or waivers,
including, without limitation, under the HSR Act, and to respond as promptly as
practicable to any inquiries received from the Federal Trade Commission, the
Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and any other Governmental
Entity for additional information or documentation and to respond as promptly as
practicable to all inquiries and requests received from any state attorney
general or other Governmental Entity in connection therewith. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the parties agree to file any applications
required under the HSR Act within three business days after the date hereof.

                  (c) Buyer and Seller shall promptly advise each other upon
receiving any communication from any Governmental Entity whose consent or
approval is required for consummation of the transactions contemplated by this


                                       35
<PAGE>



Agreement which causes such party to believe that there is a reasonable
likelihood that any requisite regulatory approval will not be obtained or that
the receipt of any such approval will be materially delayed.

                  (d) Seller shall give prompt notice to Buyer of the occurrence
of any Company Material Adverse Effect, and Buyer shall give prompt notice to
Seller of the occurrence of any Buyer Material Adverse Effect. Seller and Buyer
each shall give prompt notice to the other of the occurrence or failure to occur
of an event that would, or with the lapse of time would, cause any condition to
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby not to be satisfied.

                  SECTION 4.7  NON-COMPETITION.

                  (a) Seller agrees that neither Seller nor any of its
Affiliates shall, directly or indirectly, at any time within the four year
period immediately following the Closing Date:

                           (i) engage for its own account or the account of
         others, or have any ownership, management, employment, agency,
         consultancy or other interest in, or provide financing to, any person
         or entity that engages in the sale, distribution, packaging,
         manufacture or marketing of any (i) Afrocentric hair care products,
         (ii) in the event that Seller or its designees do not acquire the
         National Cosmetics Business after the Closing, ethnic cosmetics or
         (iii) in the event that Seller or its designees do not acquire the
         Dermablend Business after the Closing, corrective cosmetics (other than
         corrective cosmetics sold through the medical channels) (the
         "PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES"), or assist any other person or entity to do
         so, except that Seller and its Affiliates may (x) own, directly or
         indirectly, solely as an investment, securities of any entity engaged
         in the Prohibited Activities that are publicly traded if Seller and its
         Affiliates do not, directly or indirectly, beneficially own,
         collectively, five percent (5%) or more of any class of securities of
         such entity or (y) have an ownership interest otherwise prescribed by
         this Section 4.7 during such period if such ownership interest arises
         as a result of the acquisition of a business entity not principally
         engaged in the Prohibited Activities; PROVIDED that Seller or its
         Affiliate uses commercially reasonable efforts to sell the competing
         portion as soon as reasonably practicable;

                           (ii) for its own account or for the account of
         others, attempt to or assist any other person or entity in attempting
         to do any of the following with respect to the Prohibited Activities:
         (w) solicit to employ any


                                       36
<PAGE>



         director, officer or employees of Buyer or its Affiliates or encourage
         any such person to terminate such relationship with Buyer or its
         Affiliates, (x) encour age any customer, client, supplier or other
         business relationship of Buyer or its Affiliates to terminate or alter
         such relationship, whether contractual or otherwise, to the
         disadvantage of Buyer or its Affiliates, as the case may be, (y)
         encourage any customer or supplier not to enter into a business
         relation ship with Buyer or its Affiliates or (z) impair or attempt to
         impair any relation ship, contractual or otherwise, between Buyer or
         its Affiliates or any of their customers, suppliers or other business
         relationships. As used in this Agreement, the term "solicit to employ"
         shall not include general solicitations not specifically directed
         toward employees of Buyer or its Affiliates; or

                           (iii) the provisions of clauses (i) and (ii) above
         will not apply in the event of a change in control of Seller, including
         as a result of a merger resulting in Seller's then-current stockholders
         owning less than a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
         entity resulting from such merger, or sale of all or substantially all
         of the assets or outstanding voting securities of Seller, if the entity
         which takes control of Seller derived, immediately prior to such
         change\ in control, substantial revenues from Prohibited Activities.

                  (b) The parties agree that damages at law for violation of the
provisions of this Section 4.7 may not be an adequate remedy and that if Seller
or its Affiliates violate any of the provisions thereof, in addition to any
other available rights or remedies, Buyer, its Affiliates and their successors
and assigns, shall be entitled to seek temporary or permanent injunctive relief
with regard to such violation. The parties recognize that laws and public
policies of the jurisdictions may differ as to the validity and enforceability
of covenants similar to those set forth in this Section 4.7. It is the intention
of the parties that the provisions of this Section 4.7 be enforced to the
fullest extent permissible under the laws and policies of each jurisdiction in
which enforcement of this Section 4.7 may be sought, and that the
unenforceability (or the modification to conform to such laws or policies) of
any provisions of this Section 4.7 shall not render unenforceable, or impair,
the remainder of the provisions of this Section 4.7. Accordingly, if any
provision of this Section 4.7 shall be determined to be invalid or
unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall be deemed to apply only
with respect to the operation of such provision in the particular jurisdiction
in which such determination is made and not with respect to any other provision
or jurisdiction.


                                       37
<PAGE>



                  SECTION 4.8 USE OF "IVAX" NAME. Buyer agrees and agrees to
cause the Company or its Subsidiaries not to use the "IVAX" name, trademark
(including the "double equilateral triangle design"), tradename or logo
(including the hourglass logo) at any time after the Closing Date.

                  SECTION 4.9 AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. Except as set forth in
Section 4.9 of the Disclosure Schedule, immediately prior to the Closing, all
indebtedness and other amounts owing under any arrangement between Seller or any
officer, director or Affiliate (other than the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries) of Seller, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, on the other, will be paid in full, and Seller will terminate and
will cause any such officer, director or Affiliate to terminate each such
arrangement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

                  SECTION 4.10 FURTHER ASSURANCES.

                  (a) Prior to Closing, each party agrees to use all reasonable
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action, and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations or as reasonably requested by the other party to consummate and make
effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. At any time or from
time to time after the Closing, Seller shall execute and deliver to Buyer such
other documents and instruments, provide such materials and information, and
take such other action as Buyer may reasonably request to make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (b) Seller shall use all reasonable efforts to assist Buyer,
Deloitte & Touche LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP, at Buyer's cost and expense, in
the preparation of historical financial statements of the Company and its
Subsidiaries which Buyer may be required to file in a current report on Form 8-K
pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act including, without limitation,
the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of March 31, 1997 and the related
unaudited statements of income and cash flow for the three-month period ended
March 31, 1997, the statement of cash flow for the three-month period ended
March 31, 1998, and the unaudited balance sheets of the Company as of June 30,
1998 and 1997 and the related unaudited statements of income and cash flow for
the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 1998 and 1997.

                  (c) After the Closing Date, Buyer shall execute and deliver to
Seller such other documents and instruments, provide such materials and
information,


                                       38
<PAGE>



and take such other action as Seller or its designees may reasonably request to
make effective the transactions contemplated in Section 4.11.

                  SECTION 4.11  POST-CLOSING PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS.

                  (a) Seller or its designees shall have an option to arrange
for a third party not affiliated with Seller, including without limitation, a
trust or similar escrow agent, (the "THIRD PARTY PURCHASER") to purchase the
Dermablend Business from Buyer for a payment to Buyer of $15 million (it being
understood that any amount paid by the Third Party Purchaser exceeding $15
million will be paid to Seller), PROVIDED that the Seller has delivered written
notice to Buyer of its election to arrange for the purchase the Dermablend
Business at least two business days prior to the Closing Date. Following the
delivery of such written notice, the Third Party Purchaser shall purchase, and
Buyer will sell, the Dermablend Business on the Closing Date immediately
following the Closing. At such closing, either the Third Party Purchaser or
Seller on behalf of the Third Party Purchaser will deliver to Buyer $15 million
by cashier's check or wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account
designated by Buyer in exchange for the transfer of the Dermablend Business,
free and clear of all Encumbrances created by Buyer. The Dermablend Business may
be transferred, at Seller's election, either in the form of (i) the transfer of
all of the stock of Flori Roberts Inc. if the Dermablend Business is transferred
together with the National Cosmetics Business; (ii) an asset sale by Flori
Roberts Inc.; (iii) a transfer by Flori Roberts Inc. of all of the membership
interests of a new limited liability company (a "LLC") that may be formed prior
to Closing pursuant to Section 4.11(c) or (iv) such other form of transfer
reasonably acceptable to Buyer.

                  The "DERMABLEND BUSINESS" means all the rights, title and
interest to all of the assets (including contracts and leases) used or held for
use in connection with the operation of the business of selling corrective
cosmetics under the brand name "Dermablend," including, without limitation, all
associated intellectual property used primarily in such business to the extent
not material to the Company's business to be retained by Buyer, and all
associated liabilities, PROVIDED that if Buyer retains the Dermablend Business
and, pursuant to Section 4.11(b), sells the National Cosmetics Business and the
Iman Business, the Dermablend Business will also include the net accounts
receivable (other than the Designated Receivables (as defined below)), bank
overdraft, accounts payable and accrued expenses related to the National
Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business as of the Closing Date.

                  (b) Buyer shall have the option to require Seller or its
designees to purchase, and Seller or its designees shall have the option to
purchase, the National


                                       39
<PAGE>



Cosmetics Business (as defined) and the Iman Business (as defined) together and
not separately PROVIDED that either party has delivered written notice to the
other party of its election to have Seller or its designees purchase the
National Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business at least two business days
prior to Closing. Following the delivery of such written notice by either party,
Seller or its designees shall purchase, and Buyer will sell to Seller or its
designees, the National Cosmetics and Iman Businesses on the Closing Date
immediately following the Closing. At such closing, Seller or its designees, as
the case may be, shall deliver to Buyer $1 by check in exchange for the transfer
of the National Cosmetics Business and Iman Business, in each case free and
clear of all Encumbrances created by Buyer. The National Cosmetics Business may
be transferred, at Seller's election, either in the form of (i) the transfer of
all of the stock of Flori Roberts Inc. if the National Cosmetics Business is
transferred together with the Dermablend Business; (ii) an asset sale by Flori
Roberts Inc.; (iii) a transfer by Flori Roberts Inc. of all of the membership
interests of a new LLC that may be formed prior to Closing pursuant to Section
4.11(c) or (iv) such other form of transfer reasonably acceptable to Buyer. The
Iman Business may be transferred, at Seller's election, in the form of (i) the
transfer of all of the stock of Flori Roberts Inc. if the Iman Business is both
contributed to Flori Roberts Inc. and the Iman Business is transferred together
with the Dermablend Business; (ii) an asset sale by the Company; (iii) a
transfer by the Company of all of the membership interests of a new LLC that may
be formed prior to Closing pursuant to Section 4.11(c) or (iv) such other form
of transfer reasonably acceptable to Buyer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
the National Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business are transferred together
with the Dermablend Business, to the extent practicable, such transfer will be
accomplished by (x) a transfer of the Iman Business to Flori Roberts Inc.
followed by (y) a transfer of all of the stock of Flori Roberts Inc., subject to
there being no adverse tax or economic consequences (with adverse tax
consequences meaning taxes incremental to those incurred by using another method
of structuring such transfers) to Buyer or Seller or their affiliates therefrom.

                  The "NATIONAL COSMETICS BUSINESS" means all the rights, title
and interest to all of the assets (including contracts and leases) used or held
for use in connection with the operation of the business of selling ethnic
cosmetics under the brand names "Flori Roberts,""Patti LaBelle" and "Wu-Tang",
all associated intellectual property used primarily in such business to the
extent not material to the Company's business to be retained by Buyer, PROVIDED
that if Buyer retains the Dermablend Business and, pursuant to Section 4.11(b),
sells the National Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business, the net accounts
receivable (other than the Designated Receivables), bank overdraft, accounts
payable and accrued expenses related to the National Cosmetics Business will be
retained by the Buyer as part of the


                                       40
<PAGE>



Dermablend Business. The "IMAN BUSINESS" means all the rights, title and
interest to all of the assets (including contracts and leases) used or held for
use in connection with the operation of the business of selling cosmetics under
the "IMAN" brand name, all associated intellectual property used primarily in
such business to the extent not material to the Company's business to be
retained by Buyer and all associated liabilities, PROVIDED that if Buyer retains
the Dermablend Business and, pursuant to Section 4.11(b), sells the National
Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business, the net accounts receivable (other
than the Designated Receivables), bank overdraft, accounts payable and accrued
expenses related to the Iman Business will be retained by the Buyer as part of
the Dermablend Business.

                  The "DESIGNATED RECEIVABLES" means a group of net receivables
of the National Cosmetics Business and/or the Iman Business with aggregate net
value of not more than $1,500,000 which, prior to Closing, will be specifically
designated by Seller in a manner reasonably acceptable to Buyer according to
customer, invoice number or other means of identification and which may be
purchased by Seller or its designees for $1.00 if Buyer retains the Dermablend
Business and, pursuant to Section 4.11(b), sells the National Cosmetics Business
and the Iman Business. If the Designated Receivables include accounts receivable
from customers that also owe to Buyer accounts receivable retained by Buyer
after the Closing, Buyer will control the collections from such customers
pursuant to the transition service agreement contemplated by Section 4.11(c).
Seller agrees that the Designated Receivables will be selected in a manner so
that weighted average age of the Designated Receivables will not be less, in any
material respect, from the weighted average age of the accounts receivable
retained by Buyer after the Closing Date.

                  (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.1, Seller will
have the right (i) to restructure the Company prior to the Closing to (A)
transfer the Dermablend Business to a new single member LLC to be held by Flori
Roberts Inc., (B) transfer the National Cosmetics Business to a new single
member LLC to be held by Flori Roberts Inc. and (C) transfer the Iman Business
to Flori Roberts Inc. or to a newly formed LLC to be held by the Company or
Flori Roberts Inc. and (ii) to take such other steps as may be necessary to
facilitate the transactions contemplated by this Section 4.11, including,
without limitation, entering into reasonable contracts to (x) sell (either
directly or by selling the options described in Sections 4.11(a) and (b)) the
National Cosmetics Business, the Iman Business or the Dermablend Business, (y)
provide transition services to any purchasers of such businesses at cost
(including, without limitation, collection of accounts receivable and trades
payable processing services) and (z) license on a non-exclusive, royalty-free
basis certain Company Intellectual Property Rights to the Buyer and the
purchasers of any such business to


                                       41
<PAGE>



allow such entities to continue to use such Company Intellectual Property Rights
in manner consistent with past practice. Buyer agrees to maintain the legal
entity status of each such business as it exists at the Closing for purposes of
completing any sale pursuant to Section 4.11(a) or (b).

                  (d) If written notice has been delivered pursuant to Section
4.11(a) or (b) (each referred to as a "PURCHASE NOTICE"), then during the period
between Closing and the transfer of the applicable business, Buyer will (i)
operate the business to be transferred to Seller or its designees in the
ordinary course of business, (ii) not take any actions that would be prohibited
under Section 4.1 with regard to the Dermablend Business, National Cosmetics
Business or Iman Business as if all reference to the "Company" in Section 4.1
referred to the applicable business and "Seller" referred to Buyer in Section
4.1, (iii) not sell, transfer, assign, or take any action that would result in
the creation of an Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrances on (A) any of
the assets of any of the Dermablend Business, the National Cosmetics Business
and the Iman Business; (B) the membership interests of any LLC created pursuant
to Section 4.11(c) or (C) the stock of Flori Roberts Inc. and (iv) not take any
other action that will inhibit the transactions contemplated by this Section
4.11 in any material respect.

                  (e) Seller and Buyer agree that the transfer documents used to
complete the purchases referred to in Section 4.11(a) and (b) and the transfers
referred to in Section 4.11(c) shall (i) be in forms mutually acceptable to
Seller and Buyer to ensure that such purchases will not result in (A) any
adverse tax conse quences for Buyer or Seller or their affiliates (with adverse
tax consequences meaning taxes incremental to those incurred by using another
method of structuring such transfers), (B) the making of any representations or
warranties by Buyer except for customary representations regarding due
authorization to enter into and perform the transaction or (B) the granting of
any indemnities or liabilities to the purchasers of such businesses by the
Company, Buyer, or Buyer's affiliates and (ii) expressly state that the buyers
of the businesses waive any rights that they may have against the Company, Buyer
or Buyer's affiliates arising out of or relating to the condition or operation
of the business, PROVIDED that such statement will not render or impair any
rights Seller has against Buyer and its affiliates hereunder.

                  (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.3(a), Buyer
and Seller agree that (i) the amount of MADSP to be allocated to the Dermablend
Business shall be equal to $15 million plus the amount of the liabilities to be
assumed by the purchasers of such business pursuant to Section 4.11(a) and (ii)
the amount of the MADSP to be allocated to the National Cosmetics Business and
the Iman


                                       42
<PAGE>



Business shall be equal to an amount of the liabilities to be assumed by the
purchaser of such businesses pursuant to Section 4.11(b).

                                    ARTICLE V

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

                  SECTION 5.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY SELLER. Subject to the limits
set forth in this Article V, Seller agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Buyer,
its officers, directors, agents and Affiliates, harmless from and in respect of
any and all losses, damages, costs and reasonable expenses (including, without
limitation, reasonable expenses of investigation and defense fees and
disbursements of counsel and other professionals), in each case in excess of
$2,500 (collectively, "LOSSES"), (i) that they may incur arising out of or due
to the inaccuracy of any representation or the breach of any warranty, covenant,
undertaking or other agreement of Seller contained in this Agreement or the
Disclosure Schedule (determined, without giving effect to any limitation as to
"materiality" or "material adverse effect" set forth therein other than with
respect to the use of such qualifications in Sections 2.5, 2.7 and 2.8, the last
sentence of Section 2.21 and the use of the terms "Material Agreement" and
"Company Intellectual Property Rights" each of which includes materiality
qualifiers); (ii) that arise out of the Pro-Line Litigation; (iii) that arise
out of the operation or condition of the Dermablend Business or relate to the
liabilities of the Dermablend Business, if Buyer has sold such business pursuant
to Section 4.11; (iv) that arise out of the operation or condition of the
National Cosmetics Business or the Iman Business or relate to the liabilities of
the National Cosmetics Business or Iman Business if Buyer has sold such business
pursuant to Section 4.11; and (v) that arise out of the operation or condition
of Flori Roberts Inc. prior to the Closing or relate to liabilities of Flori
Roberts Inc. immediately prior to the Closing, if Flori Roberts Inc. remains a
subsidiary of the Company following the sale of the Dermablend Business, the
National Cosmetics Business and the Iman Business pursuant to Sections 4.11(a)
and (b), except for liabilities arising out of or relating to the operation of
the hair care and Posner businesses retained by Buyer; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the indemnification pursuant to Sections 5.1 (iii), (iv) or (v) will not be
available to the extent such Losses or liabilities arise out of a violation by
Buyer of Section 4.11(d).

                  SECTION 5.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY BUYER. Subject to the limits
set forth in this Article V, Buyer agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Seller,
its officers, directors, agents and Affiliates, harmless from and in respect of
any and all Losses that they may incur arising out of or due to any inaccuracy
of any representation or


                                       43
<PAGE>



the breach of any warranty, covenant, undertaking or other agreement of Buyer
contained in this Agreement (determined without giving effect to any limitation
as to "materiality" or "material adverse effect" set forth therein).

                  SECTION 5.3 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The
several representations and warranties of the parties contained in this
Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant hereto will survive the
Closing Date and will remain in full force and effect thereafter for a period of
eighteen months from the Closing Date (the "CUT-OFF DATE"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the representations and warranties contained in Section 2.12 shall survive
the Closing Date for 90 days following the expiration of all applicable statutes
of limitations (including extensions); PROVIDED, FURTHER, that such
representations or warranties shall survive (if at all) beyond such period with
respect to any inaccuracy therein or breach thereof, notice of which shall have
been duly given within such applicable period in accordance with Section 5.4.
Anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, neither party shall
be entitled to recover from the other unless and until the total of all claims
for indemnity or damages with respect to any inaccuracy or breach of any such
represen tations or warranties or breach of any covenants, undertakings or other
agreements set forth in Section 4.1 and whether such claims are brought under
this Article V or otherwise, exceeds three percent (3%) of the Purchase Price
and then only for the amount by which such claims for indemnity or damages
exceeds three percent (3%) of the Purchase Price; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no
party shall be entitled to recover from the other more than twenty-five percent
(25%) of the Purchase Price in the aggregate pursuant to this Article V for
indemnity or damages with respect to any inaccuracy or breach of any such
representations or warranties or any breach of the covenants, undertakings or
other agreements set forth in Section 4.1.

                  SECTION 5.4 NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND. If an event
occurs which a party asserts is an indemnifiable event pursuant to Section 5.1
or 5.2, the party seeking indemnification shall promptly notify the other party
obligated to provide indemnification (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY"), PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the failure to provide prompt notice as provided herein will
relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder only to the extent
that such failure prejudices the Indemnifying Party hereunder. If such event
involves (i) any claim or (ii) the commencement of any action or proceeding by a
third person, the party seeking indemnification will give such Indemnifying
Party prompt written notice of such claim or the commencement of such action or
proceeding, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to provide prompt notice as
provided herein will relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder
only to the extent that such failure prejudices the Indemnifying Party
hereunder. In case any such action shall be brought against any party seeking


                                       44
<PAGE>



indemnification and it shall notify the Indemnifying Party of the commencement
thereof, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it shall wish, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such party seeking indemnification, PROVIDED that the
Indemnifying Party will be deemed to have waived any right to dispute its
liability under this Agreement with respect to such action to the party seeking
indemnification for such action. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to
such party seeking indemnification of such election so to assume the defense
thereof, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the party seeking
indemnification hereunder for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other
expenses subsequently incurred by such party in connection with the defense
thereof. The party seeking indemnification agrees to cooperate fully with the
Indemnifying Party and its counsel in the defense against any such asserted
liability. The party seeking indemnification shall have the right to participate
at its own expense in the defense of such asserted liability. In no event shall
an Indemnifying Party, or the party being indemnified, be liable for any
settlement effected without its consent which will not be unreasonably withheld.

                  SECTION 5.5 ADJUSTMENT FOR INSURANCE AND TAXES. The amount
which an Indemnifying Party is required to pay to, for or on behalf of the other
party (hereinafter referred to as an "INDEMNITEE") pursuant to this Article V
and Section 4.3 shall be adjusted (including, without limitation, retroactively)
(i) by any insurance proceeds actually recovered by or on behalf of such
Indemnitee in reduction of the related indemnifiable loss (the "INDEMNIFIABLE
LOSS") and (ii) to take account of any Tax benefit realized as a result of any
Indemnifiable Loss. Amounts required to be paid, as so reduced, are hereinafter
sometimes called an "INDEMNITY PAYMENT." If an Indemnitee has received or has
had paid on its behalf an Indemnity Payment for an Indemnifiable Loss and
subsequently receives insurance proceeds for such Indemnifiable Loss, or realize
any Tax benefit as a result of such Indemnifiable Loss, then the Indemnitee
shall promptly (i) notify the Indemnifying Party of the amount and nature of
such proceeds and benefits and (ii) pay to the Indemnifying Party the amount of
such insurance proceeds or Tax benefit or, if lesser, the amount of the
Indemnity Payment.

                  SECTION 5.6 MITIGATION OF LOSS. Each Indemnitee is obligated
to use all reasonable efforts to mitigate, to the fullest extent practicable,
the amount of any Loss for which it is entitled to seek indemnification
hereunder (including, without limitation, seeking reimbursement for losses
pursuant to contractual rights with vendors). The Indemnifying Party shall not
be required to make any payment to an Indemnitee in respect of such Loss to the
extent such Indemnitee failed to comply with the foregoing obligation.


                                       45
<PAGE>




                  SECTION 5.7 SUBROGATION. Upon making any Indemnity Payment,
the Indemnifying Party will, to the extent of such payment, be subrogated to all
rights of the Indemnitee against any third party in respect of the Loss to which
the payment relates; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that until the Indemnitee recovers full
payment of its Loss, any and all claims of the Indemnifying Party against any
such third party on account of such payment are hereby made expressly
subordinated and subjected in right of payment of the Indemnitee's rights
against such third party. Without limiting the generality of any other provision
hereof, each such Indemnitee and Indemnifying Party will duly execute upon
request all instruments reasonably necessary to evidence and perfect the above
described subrogation and subordination rights.

                  SECTION 5.8 TAX INDEMNIFICATION. None of the provisions of
this Article V, with the exception of Sections 5.5 and 5.10, shall apply to the
claims, obligations, liabilities, covenants and representations under Section
4.3, which shall be governed solely by the terms thereof, PROVIDED that Buyer
may seek indemnity for Losses under this Article V with respect to a breach of
the representations and warranties of Seller contained in Section 2.12 to the
extent such Losses are not covered by Section 4.3. The terms of Section 4.3
shall supercede the terms of this Article V where such terms conflict.

                  SECTION 5.9 SET-OFF. Neither Seller nor Buyer shall have any
right to set-off any Losses against any payments to be made by such party or
parties pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided
herein.

                  SECTION 5.10 EXCLUSIVE REMEDY. Following the Closing, the
indemnities provided for in Section 4.3 and this Article V shall be the sole and
exclusive remedies of the parties and their respective officers, directors,
employees, Affiliates, agents, representatives, successors and assigns for any
breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty or any breach,
nonfulfillment or default in the performance of any of the covenants or
agreements contained in this Agreement (but not any such covenants or agreements
to the extent they are by their terms to be performed after the Closing Date).
The parties shall not be entitled to a recission of this Agreement or to any
further indemnification rights or claims of any nature whatsoever in respect
thereof (whether by contract, common law, statute, law, regulation or otherwise,
including without limitation, under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt
Organizations Act of 1970, as amended) all of which the parties hereby waive,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing herein is intended to waive any claims for
fraud.


                                       46
<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE VI

                                   CONDITIONS

                  SECTION 6.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT
THE CLOSING. The obligations of Seller, on the one hand, and Buyer, on the other
hand, to consummate the Closing are subject to the satisfaction (or, if
permissible, waiver by the party for whose benefit such conditions exist) of the
following conditions:

                  (a) no arbitrator or Governmental Entity shall have issued any
order, decree or ruling, and there shall not be any statute, rule or regulation,
restraining, enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the material
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, PROVIDED that the parties will
have used all reasonable efforts to cause any such order, decree, ruling,
statute, rule or regulation to be vacated or lifted;

                  (b) any waiting period applicable to the transactions
contemplated hereby under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated; and

                  (c) all authorizations, approvals or consents from any
Governmen tal Entity required to permit the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect,
except where the failure to have obtained any such authorizations, approvals or
consents would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Buyer Material
Adverse Effect, as the case may be.

                  SECTION 6.2 CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER. The
obligations of Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are
subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Buyer) of the following conditions:

                  (a) the representations and warranties of Seller shall be true
and accurate as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of such time (other
than those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a
particular date or only with respect to a specific period of time which need to
be true and accurate only as of such date or with respect to such period),
except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true
and accurate (without giving effect to any limitation as to "materiality" or
"material adverse effect" set forth therein), would not have a Company Material
Adverse Effect; PROVIDED, that a Company Material Adverse Effect relating to the
Dermablend Business, the National Cosmetics Business or the Iman Business will
not be deemed a Company Material Adverse Effect for purposes of this


                                       47
<PAGE>



Section 6.2(a) if Buyer is to sell such business pursuant to Sections 4.11(a) or
(b), as applicable.

                  (b) Seller shall have performed in all material respects the
obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or prior to the Closing
Date;

                  (c) Buyer shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of Seller by one executive officer of Seller, dated as of the Closing Date, to
the effect that, the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) and Section 6.2(b)
have been satisfied;

                  (d) all authorizations, approvals or consents from any third
party (other than a Governmental Entity) required to permit the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and be in full
force and effect, except where the failure to have obtained any such
authorizations, approvals or consents would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect;

                  (e) if required pursuant to Section 4.11(b), Seller or its
designees are reasonably prepared and able to purchase the National Cosmetics
Business and the Iman Business from Buyer immediately following the Closing; and

                  (f) any director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
whose resignation shall have been requested by Buyer shall have submitted his or
her resignation to Buyer effective as of the Closing Date.

                  SECTION 6.3 CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER. The
obligations of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are
subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Seller) of the following further
conditions:

                  (a) The representations and warranties of Buyer shall be true
and accurate as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of such time (other
than those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a
particular date or only with respect to a specific period of time which need to
be true and accurate only as of such date or with respect to such period),
except where the failure of such representa tions and warranties to be so true
and accurate (without giving effect to any limitation as to "materiality" or
"material adverse effect" set forth therein) would not have a Buyer Material
Adverse Effect;

                  (b) Buyer shall have performed in all material respects all of
the obligations hereunder required to be performed by Buyer, at or prior to the
Closing Date; and


                                       48
<PAGE>




                  (c) Seller shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of Buyer by one executive officer of Buyer, dated as of the Closing Date, to the
effect that the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a) and Section 6.3(b) have
been satisfied.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                   TERMINATION

                  SECTION 7.1 TERMINATION. Anything herein or elsewhere to the
contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement may be terminated and the transactions
contemplated herein may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing Date:

                  (a)      by the mutual consent of Seller and Buyer;

                  (b)      by Seller or Buyer:

                           (i) if the Closing shall not have occurred on or
         prior to September 15, 1998 (or October 30, 1998 if the only condition
         remaining unfilled at September 15, 1998 is approval by any required
         Governmental Entity, and Seller and Buyer are continuing to seek to
         obtain such approval); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right to terminate
         this Agreement under this Section 7.1(b)(i) shall not be available to
         any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement
         has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to
         occur on or prior to such date; or

                           (ii) if any Governmental Entity shall have issued an
         order, decree or ruling or taken any other action (which order, decree,
         ruling or other action the parties shall use their best efforts to
         lift), in each case permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise
         prohibiting the material transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
         and such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become final
         and non-appealable;

                  (c) by Seller if Buyer (x) breaches or fails in any material
respect to perform or comply with any of its material covenants and agreements
contained herein or (y) breaches its representations and warranties in any
material respect and such breach would have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect, in
each case such that the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 or Section 6.3 would
not be satisfied; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any such breach is curable by Buyer
through the exercise of Buyer's


                                       49
<PAGE>



best efforts and for so long as Buyer shall so use its best efforts to cure such
breach, Seller may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(c);
or

                  (d) by Buyer if Seller (x) breaches or fails in any material
respect to perform or comply with any of their material covenants and agreements
contained herein or (y) breaches its representations and warranties in any
material respect and such breach would have a Company Material Adverse Effect,
in each case such that the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 or Section 6.2
would not be satisfied; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any such breach is curable by
Seller through the exercise of Seller's best efforts and for so long as Seller
shall so use its best efforts to cure such breach, Buyer may not terminate this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(d).

                  SECTION 7.2 PROCEDURE AND EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event
of the termination and abandonment of this Agreement by Seller or Buyer pursuant
to Section 7.1, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other
party. If the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are terminated as
provided herein:

                  (a) each party will return all documents, work papers and
other material of any other party relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby, whether so obtained before or after the execution hereof, to the party
furnishing the same;

                  (b) all confidential information received by either party with
respect to the business of any other party or its subsidiaries or Affiliates
shall be treated in accordance with the provisions of the Confidentiality
Agreement, which shall survive the termination of this Agreement; and

                  (c) neither party will have any liability under this Agreement
to the other except (i) as stated in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Section
7.2, (ii) for any willful breach of any provision of this Agreement and (iii) as
provided in the Confidentiality Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  SECTION 8.1 GOVERNING LAWS AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. The
laws of the state of Illinois (irrespective of its choice of law principles)
shall govern all issues concerning the validity of this Agreement, the
construction of its terms, and the interpretation and enforcement of the rights
and duties of the parties. Each party


                                       50


<PAGE>



irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts of the
United States of America for the Northern District of Illinois located in
Chicago (and the Federal courts having jurisdiction over appeals therefrom) in
respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other agreements
and documents referred to herein and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and such other documents and agreements.

                  SECTION 8.2 AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION. Subject to applicable
law, this Agreement may be amended, modified and supplemented in any and all
respects by written agreement of the parties at any time prior to the Closing
Date with respect to any of the terms contained herein.

                  SECTION 8.3 NOTICES. All notices, consents and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given (a) when delivered by hand or by FedEx or a similar overnight
courier, (b) five days after being deposited in any United States Post Office
enclosed in a postage prepaid, registered or certified envelope addressed or (c)
when successfully transmitted by telecopier (with a confirming copy of such
communication to be sent as provided in clause (a) or (b) above), to the
receiving party at the address or telecopier number set forth below (or at such
other address or telecopier number for a party as shall be specified by like
notice, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any notice of change of address or telecopier
number shall be effective only upon receipt):

                  (a)      if to Buyer, to:

                                    Carson, Inc.
                                    c/o Morningside Capital Group, L.L.C.
                                    One Morningside Drive North, Suite 200
                                    Westport, CT  06880
                                    Telephone No.:  (203) 226-7664
                                    Telecopy No.:  (203) 226-8011
                                    Attention: Vincent A. Wasik

                           and to:

                                    Carson Products Company
                                    P.O. Box 22309
                                    Savannah, GA 31403
                                    Telephone No.: (912) 651-3808
                                    Telecopy No.: (912) 651-3990


                                       51
<PAGE>



                                 Attention: Robert W. Pierce

                           with a copy to:

                                 Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
                                 One Chase Manhattan Plaza
                                 New York, New York 10005
                                 Telephone No.: (212) 530-5000
                                 Telecopy No.: (212) 530-5219
                                 Attention: Lawrence Lederman, Esq.
                                 and Robert S. Reder, Esq.

                  (b)      if Seller, to:

                                 IVAX Corporation
                                 4400 Biscayne Boulevard
                                 Miami, FL 33137
                                 Telephone :  (305) 575-6000
                                 Telecopy No:  (305) 575-6298
                                 Attention: General Counsel

                           with a copy to:

                                 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Illinois)
                                 333 West Wacker Drive
                                 Chicago, Illinois 60606
                                 Telephone No.: (312) 407-0700
                                 Telecopy No.:  (312) 407-0411
                                 Attention:  Peter C. Krupp, Esq.

                  SECTION 8.4  INTERPRETATION.

                  (a) The words "hereof," "herein" and "herewith" and words of
similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and
article, section, paragraph, exhibit and schedule references are to the
articles, sections, paragraphs, exhibits and schedules of this Agreement unless
otherwise specified. The words describing the singular number shall include the
plural and vice versa, and words denoting any gender shall include all genders
and words denoting natural persons shall include corporations and partnerships
and vice versa. The phrase "to the knowledge


                                       52
<PAGE>



of" or any similar phrase shall mean such facts and other information which as
of the date of determination are actually known to James M. Millsap, Chief
Executive Officer of the Company; Thomas Polke, Chief Operating Officer of the
Company; Sharon Boone, Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the Company;
Robert Kavanaugh, Vice President, Finance and Administration of the Company;
James Harbert, Vice President, Operations of the Company; or Joseph P. Diebold.
The phrase "made available" in this Agreement shall mean that the information
referred to has been made available if requested by the party to whom such
information is to be made available. The phrases "the date of this Agreement,"
"the date hereof" and terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise
requires, shall be deemed to refer to June 16, 1998. As used in this Agreement,
the term "BUSINESS DAY" means a day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, on which
banking institutions in The City of New York are required to be open. The
parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation
arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties
and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any
party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.

                  (b) The Disclosure Schedule shall be construed with and as an
integral part of this Agreement as if the same had been set forth verbatim
herein. Any matter disclosed pursuant to the Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed
to be disclosed for all purposes under this Agreement, but such disclosure shall
not be deemed to be an admission or representation as to the materiality of the
item so disclosed.

                  (c) Headings are for convenience of the parties only and shall
be given no substantive or interpretative effect whatsoever.

                  SECTION 8.5 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
multiple counterparts, all of which shall together be considered one and the
same agreement.

                  SECTION 8.6 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This
Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to herein), the
Confidentiality Agreement and the Disclosure Schedule (i) constitute the entire
agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written
and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (ii),
except as provided herein, are not intended to confer upon any person other than
the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.


                                       53
<PAGE>



                  SECTION 8.7 SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory
policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated.

                  SECTION 8.8 SERVICE OF PROCESS. Each party irrevocably
consents to the service of process outside the territorial jurisdiction of the
courts referred to in Section 8.1 in any such action or proceeding by mailing
copies thereof by registered United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, to its address as specified in or pursuant to Section 8.3. However,
the foregoing shall not limit the right of a party to effect service of process
on the other party by any other legally available method.

                  SECTION 8.9 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Each party acknowledges and
agrees that in the event of any breach of this Agreement, each non-breaching
party would be irreparably and immediately harmed and could not be made whole by
monetary damages. It is accordingly agreed that the parties will (a) waive, in
any action for specific performance, the defense of adequacy of a remedy at law
and (b) be entitled, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be
entitled at law or in equity, to compel specific performance of this Agreement
in any action instituted in accordance with Section 8.1.

                  SECTION 8.10 ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by either party
(whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of
the other party; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) Buyer may assign its rights
hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of Buyer or to any
person or entity which acquires, in one or a series of transactions, all of the
assets and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, provided such person
or entity agrees to assume Buyer's obligations hereunder in a form reasonably
acceptable to Seller and (ii) Seller may assign this Agreement to any person or
entity that acquires, in one or a series of transactions, all or substantially
all of the assets or shares of Seller, including through a merger or a share
exchange. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding
upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their
respective permitted successors and assigns.

                  SECTION 8.11 EXPENSES. Except as otherwise provided herein,
all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby shall


                                       54
<PAGE>



be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the
transac tions contemplated hereby is consummated, PROVIDED that Buyer shall pay
all fees associated with any filings made under the HSR Act in connection with
the transac tions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  SECTION 8.12 WAIVERS. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, any failure of either party to comply with any obligation, covenant,
agreement or condition herein may be waived by the party or parties entitled to
the benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the party granting
such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with
such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver
of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

                  SECTION 8.13 NO DOUBLE RECOVERY. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, neither party shall be entitled to indemnification or
reimburse ment under any provision of this Agreement for any amount to the
extent such party has been indemnified or reimbursed for such amount under any
other provision of this Agreement or otherwise.


                                       55
<PAGE>



                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as
of the date first written above.

                                IVAX CORPORATION

                                By:
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Name: James M. Millsap
                                   Title:  Senior VP, Corporate Development

                                CARSON, INC.

                                By:
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Name: Vincent A. Wasik
                                   Title:   Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>



                                     ANNEX A

                             INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

                                                                      DEFINED IN
TERMS                                                                   SECTION
-----                                                                   -------

Affiliate(s)...........................................................3.6
Agreement..............................................................Preamble
Balance Sheet..........................................................2.13
Bankruptcy Code........................................................3.8
Benefit Plan...........................................................2.9(k)
business day...........................................................8.4(a)
Buyer..................................................................Preamble
Buyer Material Adverse Effect..........................................3.1
Buyer Plans............................................................4.4(a)
Closing................................................................1.3(a)
Closing Date...........................................................1.3(a)
Closing Statement......................................................1.4(a)
Code...................................................................2.12(m)
Code /section/ 338 Forms...............................................4.3(a)
Company................................................................Preamble
Company Employee(s)....................................................4.4(a)
Company Intellectual Property Rights...................................2.15
Company Material Adverse Effect........................................2.1
Confidentiality Agreement..............................................4.2
Cut-Off Date...........................................................5.3
December Target Amount.................................................1.4(c)
Defined Benefit Plan...................................................2.9(k)
Dermablend Business....................................................4.11(a)
Designated Receivables.................................................4.11(b)
Disclosure Schedule....................................................2.1
Elections..............................................................4.3(a)
Employee Arrangement...................................................4.4(b)
Encumbrances...........................................................1.1
Environmental Laws.....................................................2.17(b)
ERISA..................................................................2.9(k)
ERISA Affiliate........................................................2.9(k)
Exchange Act...........................................................3.6
Final Closing Statement................................................1.4(c)
Financial Statements...................................................2.6
GAAP...................................................................2.6
Governmental Entity....................................................2.5


                                       A-1


<PAGE>


                                                                      DEFINED IN
TERMS                                                                   SECTION
-----                                                                   -------

Hazardous Substances...................................................2.17(b)
HSR Act................................................................2.5
Iman Business..........................................................4.11(b)
Indemnifiable Loss.....................................................5.5
Indemnifying Party.....................................................5.4
Indemnitee.............................................................5.5
Indemnity Payment......................................................5.5
Intellectual Property Rights...........................................2.15
LLC....................................................................4.11(a)
Losses.................................................................5.1
MADSP..................................................................4.3(a)
March Target Amount....................................................1.4(e)
Material Agreement.....................................................2.16
National Cosmetics Business............................................4.11(b)
Neutral Auditor........................................................1.4(c)
PBGC...................................................................2.9(k)
Permits................................................................2.11(a)
Permitted Encumbrances.................................................2.13
Plan...................................................................2.9(k)
Pre-Closing Consolidated Tax Returns...................................4.3(e)
Pre-Closing Separate Tax Returns.......................................4.3(e)
Pre-Closing Tax Return.................................................4.3(e)
Prime Rate.............................................................1.4(e)
Prohibited Activities..................................................4.7(a)
Pro-Line Litigation....................................................1.2(a)
Purchase Notice........................................................4.11(d)
Purchase Price.........................................................1.2(a)
Qualified Plan.........................................................2.9(k)
Releases...............................................................2.17(a)
Resolution Period......................................................1.4(b)
Seller.................................................................Preamble
Shares.................................................................Preamble
Subsidiary.............................................................2.1
Tax Return.............................................................2.12(m)
Tax Sharing Agreement..................................................4.3(d)
Taxes..................................................................2.12(m)
Third Party Purchaser..................................................4.11(a)
Transfer Taxes.........................................................4.3(f)
Unaudited Financial Statements.........................................2.6
Working Capital........................................................1.4(a)


                                       A-2


<PAGE>


                                                                      DEFINED IN
TERMS                                                                  SECTION
-----                                                                  -------












                                       A-3


<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX B

                   PROCEDURES FOR CALCULATING WORKING CAPITAL

The Closing Statement will be determined as set forth in this Annex B. To the
extent the procedures set forth herein are insufficient to determine an amount,
or some portion of an amount, for the Closing Statement, then the determination
of such amount, or portion of an amount, will be determined on a basis
consistent with the policies, procedures and methodologies used to prepare the
Financial Statements.

CASH

Amount per bank in account # 0010018800 at South Shore Bank adjusted for
deposits in transit checks outstanding that have not cleared the bank and other
reconciling items occurring through the Closing.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET

Amounts uncollected as of Closing, for product shipped through the Closing
(irrespective of when such amounts are invoiced), reduced for allowance for
doubtful accounts and reserve for credit memos as determined below.

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL

         Specific portion of reserve - Provide a reserve of 100% for all
         accounts in bankruptcy or sent to a collection agency. Analyze all
         accounts greater than 90 days past invoice (other than those accounts
         in bankruptcy or sent to a collection agency (or would have been sent
         to a collection agency consistent with past practices, even if not
         actually sent)) and determine, in a manner consistent with past
         practices used to prepare the Financial Statements, a reserve
         requirement to cover possible uncollectible amounts.

         General portion of reserve - For accounts less than 90 days past
         invoice, first reduce the total amount less than 90 days past invoice
         for those items already reserved for in the credit memo reserve
         analysis (i.e. IBNR, invoices outstand ing more than one year and
         customer deductions), then provide a reserve of 2% to the adjusted
         amount.

RESERVE FOR CREDIT MEMOS

         Specific portion of reserve - Provide a reserve of 100% on invoices
         outstand ing for more than one year and on customer deductions taken on
         invoices otherwise paid in full (referred to as open debits or customer
         deductions outstanding). Analyze all invoices outstanding not covered
         by the reserve methodology described in the preceding sentence or by
         the reserve methodol ogy described below under "General portion of
         reserve" and 


<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX B
       PROCEDURES FOR CALCULATING WORKING CAPITAL ON THE CLOSING STATEMENT
                                   (CONTINUED)


         determine in a manner consistent with past practices used to prepare
         the Financial State ments, a reserve requirement to cover possible
         uncollectible amounts.

         General portion of reserve - For mass market sales outstanding less
         than 70 days and for department store sales outstanding less than 48
         days (these parameters represent days sales outstanding at December 31,
         1997 for each type of receivable) provide a general reserve to cover
         claims incurred but not reported ("IBNR") using the reserve percentages
         in the following table (these percentages represent 1997 returns
         processed as a percent of 1997 sales):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         TYPE OF CREDIT MEMO
                           --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           RETURNS AND                DEMO                CO-OP                CASH
          BRAND            ALLOWANCES               SALARIES           ADVERTISING          DISCOUNTS

<S>                              <C>                 <C>                  <C>                 <C>  
Mass Market                      5.79%                 0%                 2.92%               2.00%

National                         3.00%               11.76%               1.61%                 0%
Cosmetics

Dermablend                       3.00%               10.83%               .73%                  0%
</TABLE>

INVENTORIES, NET

Inventories, net will be determined as follows:

I.       To the extent reasonably practicable, inventory movements should be
         halted (receiving and shipping) as of the Closing Date, in order to
         avoid any cut-off problems, and physical count of inventory should be
         commenced on the Closing Date and should be completed within the next
         10 days. Items held by a third party and not physically counted should
         be confirmed in writing by such third party.

II.      Determine Gross Inventory Value by extending inventory quantities on
         hand on the Closing Date (including those not subject to a physical
         count in I above) by the standard cost at Closing.


                                       B-2
<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX B
       PROCEDURES FOR CALCULATING WORKING CAPITAL ON THE CLOSING STATEMENT
                                   (CONTINUED)

         The following variances should be capitalized as of Closing Date.

         HAIRCARE:

         LABOR AND OVERHEAD COSTS

         The average monthly variance between standard and actual for the last
         12 months should be computed and be multiplied by the number of months
         inventory on hand, determined at December 31, 1997 to 3.67 months. This
         amount is reduced by 12% (the amount determined to be E&O as of
         December 31, 1997) to derive the final capitalizable amount.

III.     The following departments/costs are included to determine the actual
         labor and overhead cost pool at the stated capitalization percentages:

         DEPARTMENT/COSTS                         % TO BE CAPITALIZED
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         11 - Administration                               75%
         12 - Product Screening                           100%
         13 - Product Filling                             100%
         14 - Product Packing                             100%
         16 - Compounding                                 100%
         20 - Receiving                                   100%
         25 - Maintenance/Engineering                      50%
         26 - Operations Analysis                          50%
         27 - Purchasing                                  100%
         62 - Quality control                             100%
         Tools & Dies                                     100%
         28 - Security                                     50%
         90 - Housekeeping                                 50%
         91 - Building expense                             50%

         FREIGHT

         Inbound freight is capitalized in inventory based on inventory turnover
         as determined at December 31, 1997, 3.67 months of inventory.


                                       B-3
<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX B
       PROCEDURES FOR CALCULATING WORKING CAPITAL ON THE CLOSING STATEMENT
                                   (CONTINUED)

         PURCHASE PRICE VARIANCE

         Calculation is based on the variance for the number of months in ending
         inventory, determined at 3.67 months.

         COSMETICS:

         LABOR AND OVERHEAD COSTS

         The variance between standard and actual should be capitalized,
         assuming 1 year's worth of labor of overhead included in inventory at
         any time, thus capitalization is based on the last 12 months variance.

         The following departments/costs are included to determine the actual
         labor and overhead cost pool at the stated capitalization percentages:

         21 - Purchasing (cosmetics)                          100%
         26 - Operations analysis                              50%

         FREIGHT

         Inbound freight is capitalizable based on 1 year's worth of freight,
         i.e. the last 12 months of freight. The total freight costs are then
         written down by E&O reserve as a % of inventory, determined at December
         31, 1997 at 57%.

         PURCHASE PRICE VARIANCE

         Calculation is based on the last 12 months variance between actual and
         standard material cost.

IV.      Determine the Excess and Obsolete Inventory Reserve ("E&O Reserve") as
         of the Closing using the following methodology: 

         A.       Obsolete Inventory Component of E&O Reserve - Identify items
                  on an SKU basis, where Company management has determined that
                  no sales or usage activity will occur over the twelve month
                  period starting on the last full month preceding the Closing
                  Date. Management's deter mination will be based as follows:

                         (a) for finished goods that have existed for 
                             /greater than/ 12 month's, absence of sales during
                             the last 12 months.


                                       B-4
<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX B
       PROCEDURES FOR CALCULATING WORKING CAPITAL ON THE CLOSING STATEMENT
                                   (CONTINUED)

                         (b) for work in process or raw materials, absence of
                         usage during the last 12 months AND absence of sales of
                         the corre sponding finished good(s) for the last 12
                         months after giving consideration to reasonable
                         substitution.

                  The Obsolete Inventory Component of E&O Reserve will equal
                  100% of SKUs identified in this Section IV.A).

         B.       Excess Inventory Component of E&O Reserve:

                  1.       For all SKUs except for those identified as obsolete
                           in IV.A above, calculate, on a SKU basis, the dollar
                           amount of Gross Inventory Value on the Closing in
                           excess of the Gross Inventory Value sold or used
                           during the twelve month period preceding the Closing
                           (using full months only). One hundred percent (100%)
                           of this excess represents the Preliminary Excess
                           Inventory Component of E&O Reserve.

                  2.       Review all SKUs in the Preliminary Excess Inventory
                           Compo nent of E&O Reserve calculated in IV.B.1 above
                           to determine whether historical usage is
                           representative of anticipated usage. Situations where
                           historical usage would not be representative of
                           anticipated usage would include new SKUs introduced
                           within 12 months prior to the Closing, discontinued
                           items, or promotional SKUs for periods prior to the
                           Closing where such promotions are not expected to
                           recur or will recur only at reduced volumes. Increase
                           or decrease the Preliminary Excess Inventory Compo
                           nent of E&O Reserve for the estimated impact of items
                           identified in this section IV.B.2 to determine the
                           Excess Inventory Compo nent of E&O Reserve. 

         C.       Add the Obsolete Inventory Component of E&O Reserve calculated
                  in IV.B.1 to the Excess Inventory Component of E&O Reserve
                  calcu lated in IV.B.2 to determine the E&O Reserve.

V.       Determine Net Inventory Value by reducing Gross Inventory Value by the
         E&O Reserve.

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

No calculation of deferred income taxes will be made. Amount per the Closing
Statement will be $0.


                                       B-5
<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX B
       PROCEDURES FOR CALCULATING WORKING CAPITAL ON THE CLOSING STATEMENT
                                   (CONTINUED)

PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

Promotional inventories will be determined in the same manner as set forth under
the caption "Inventories, Net." Prepaid expenses and other assets will be
determined based on prepayment according to invoice or contract including all
payments made or accrued through Closing related to the compounding system
Project for the Chicago faculty, allocated on straight-line basis over the
service/contract period, where applicable, determined on a basis consistent with
the Financial Statements.

Display units should not be capitalized.

TCM note receivable related to the sale of certain of the Company's brand names
in 1995 is considered long-term since all expected payments for 1998 have been
received and therefore will not be part of the calculation.

BANK OVERDRAFT 

Amount will equal $0.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Accounts payable are determined based on outstanding invoices according to ac
counts payable detail ledger, and appropriate reconciling items, as of Closing
date.

In addition, account payable should include unvouched invoices for items that
have been received prior to Closing Date, but the invoice has not been obtained
as of Closing Date ("Other Accounts Payable"). The inventory items received
should be based on standard costs for items obtained.

Short term royalties payable should be based on royalty-% according to
underlying contract.

ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses should be determined as follows:

DESCRIPTION                          BASIS
-----------                          -----

Accrued bonus                        Bonus by job code and quota attainment, 
                                     accrued ratably where applicable


                                       B-6
<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX B
       PROCEDURES FOR CALCULATING WORKING CAPITAL ON THE CLOSING STATEMENT
                                   (CONTINUED)

Vacation/sick accrual                Based on IVAX sick/vacation report stating 
                                     actual days accrued on an employee by 
                                     employee basis

Legal                                accrual Based on last time invoiced and a
                                     computation for periods not yet invoiced,
                                     on historical invoices re ceived, excluding
                                     transaction costs

Accrued freight                      Based on month's lag, and average weekly 
                                     expense to accrue for one month

Other accruals                       Based on support, estimate for services or 
                                     goods obtained as of Closing Date

No amounts will be included for severance, retention or similar items which
Buyer has agreed to pay pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

Payroll, related payroll taxes and similar items through the Closing will be
either accrued in the Closing Statement and paid by Buyer after the Closing or
excluded from the Closing Statement and paid by Seller after the Closing.

RESERVE FOR COSMETIC RETURNS

Amount will equal the sum of the reserve for J.C. PENNEY BASE BUSINESS, ALL 
OTHER DEPARTMENT STORES BASE BUSINESS and PROMOTIONAL/HOLIDAY ITEMS and NEW SKUS
INTRODUCED IN 1998 as determined below.

J.C. PENNEY BASE BUSINESS - Perform following procedures on a SKU basis:

I.       Obtain the "Brand Lot/Line Analysis" report from J.C. Penney (the "JCP
         Report") for the most recent month-end prior to Closing. This report in
         cludes, among other items, year-to-date sales information, product on
         hand extended at J.C. Penney selling prices and weeks of product on
         hand.

II.      Exclude from the JCP Report amounts for promotional/holiday items and
         new SKUs introduced in 1998.

III.     After adjustment as described in II above, multiply the product on hand
         extended at J.C. Penney selling price from the JCP Report by 60% to
         deter mine the Company's estimated selling price of such products to
         J.C. Penney.

IV.      Use the reserve percentages as indicated in following table, applied to
         the dollar amount of product at J.C. Penney (at Company selling price)
         in each aging category set forth below, to determine the reserve
         requirements for J.C. Penney (these percentages were developed for the
         1997 audit by Company


                                       B-7
<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX B
       PROCEDURES FOR CALCULATING WORKING CAPITAL ON THE CLOSING STATEMENT
                                   (CONTINUED)

         management through a specific review, on a SKUs basis, of estimated
         sell- through of product in J.C. Penney stores).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      RESERVE PERCENTAGE BY BRAND
                                     --------------------------------------------------------
       AGING CATEGORY                DERMABLEND        FLORI ROBERTS/                    IMAN
       (WEEKS ON HAND)               DERMABLEND        PATTI LABELLE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                     <C>                      <C>
Less than 16                             0%                     0%                        0%
16-32                                   11%                     10%                       9%
33-52                                   37%                     31%                      33%
Over 52                                 61%                     56%                      53%
</TABLE>


ALL OTHER DEPARTMENT STORES BASE BUSINESS - Perform the following procedures:

I.       Compute the following ratio: All Other Department Stores Base Business
         reserve at December 31, 1997 divided by J.C. Penney Base Business
         reserve at December 31, 1997.

II.      Multiply the ratio determined in I above by the J.C. Penney Base
         Business reserve at Closing (as determined in IV above under J.C.
         PENNEY BASE BUSINESS) to determine the reserve requirement for All
         Other Department Stores Base Business.

PROMOTIONAL/HOLIDAY ITEMS AND NEW SKUS INTRODUCED IN 1998 - This reserve will be
determined based upon a specific review of anticipated sell-through of product
at retail as of the Closing related to promotional/holiday items and new SKUs
introduced in 1998.

                                       B-8