Document:

Exhibit 4.18

                               BUY-SELL AGREEMENT

      This Buy-Sell Agreement is made effective as of ___ day of ___________ by
and between Research Triangle Consultants, Inc., a North Carolina corporation
(the "Corporation") and __________ as the holder of the options to purchase
common stock of the Corporation (the "Optionholder").

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the grant of options to the
Optionholder and the mutual promises and covenants made herein, and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties do hereby agree as follows:

                              I. SCOPE OF AGREEMENT

      This Agreement shall apply to any and all shares of capital stock or
rights to acquire shares of capital stock of the Corporation now or in the
future owned by the Optionholder however and whenever acquired by the
Optionholder, which capital stock and rights to acquire shares of capital stock
are hereinafter referred to as the "Shares."

                        II.  RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.

2.1   Restrictions on Transfer. The Optionholder will not sell, transfer,
      donate, exchange or assign or in any way dispose of his or her ownership
      of any of his or her Shares of capital stock of the Corporation, either
      voluntarily or involuntarily, including, without limitation, any purported
      transfer by or pursuant to bankruptcy, attachment, divorce, equitable
      distribution, or operation of law, without the prior written consent of
      the Corporation, unless such transfer is in accordance with the terms and
      conditions of this Agreement. The Corporation agrees not to unreasonably
      withhold approval for transfers made by the Optionholder for estate
      planing purposes during his or her lifetime or by testamentary transfer,
      any or all of his or her shares of the Corporation to his or her spouse,
      any of his or her children, grandchildren or direct lineal descendants,
      whether by blood or by adoption, spouses of such issue or a trust for the
      sole benefit of those persons or any of them. In case of any such
      transfer, the transferee shall as a consideration to transfer execute and
      deliver, and be bound by, all the provisions of this Agreement and no
      further transfer of such shares shall be made by such transferee except
      back to the Optionholder who originally owned them or except in accordance
      with the provisions of this Agreement.

2.2   Void Transfers. The Corporation will not transfer on its books any Shares
      sold or transferred other than pursuant to the terms and conditions of
      this Agreement. No transferee of Shares in violation of the terms and
      conditions of this Agreement will be a record owner of such Shares nor
      will such transferee have the right to receive dividends or other
      distributions payable to the record owner of such Shares. In the event
      proper consent is obtained, such transfers shall not be effective unless
      and until the transferee executes and

<PAGE>

      becomes a party to this Agreement and is legally bound by the terms and
      conditions herein. Any transfer of Shares in violation of the terms and
      conditions of this Agreement will be void and without effect in
      transferring any interest in such Shares to the transferee.

2.3   Lifetime Transfers.

      (i)   Offer to Corporation. The Optionholder, or transferee of the
            Optionholder, who wishes to transfer all or any part of his or her
            Shares of the Corporation (hereinafter "offeror"), other than an
            estate planning transfer approved by the Corporation as provided
            above, shall first shall submit a written offer to sell such shares
            to the Corporation at the lesser of: (A) the same price per share
            and upon the same terms and conditions offered by a bona fide
            prospective purchaser of such shares; or (B) the Fair Market Value
            determined as provided in Section 3.4 of this Agreement. Such
            written offer to the Corporation shall continue to be a binding
            offer to sell until: (1) expressly rejected by the Chief Executive
            Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation; or (2) the
            expiration of a period of thirty (30) days after delivery of such
            written offer to the Corporation, whichever shall first occur.

      (ii)  Contents of Offer. Every written offer submitted in accordance with
            the provisions of this Section 2.3 shall specifically name the
            person to whom the offeror intends to transfer the Shares, the
            number and class of the Shares which he or she intends so to
            transfer to each person and the price per share and other terms upon
            which each intended transfer is to be made. If requested by the
            Corporation, the Optionholder shall provide such other information
            as the Corporation requests. Upon the termination of all such
            written offers and the thirty (30) day period provided for in
            Section 2.3(i) above, the offeror shall be free to transfer, for a
            period of thirty (30) days thereafter, any unpurchased shares to the
            persons so named at the price per share and upon the other terms and
            conditions so named, provided that any such transferee of the Shares
            as a condition to transfer executes and deliver to the Corporation a
            counterpart of this Agreement agreeing to be bound by the right of
            first refusal in any subsequent transfer provisions of this
            Agreement.

      (iii) Delivery of Offer. Every written offer submitted to the Corporation
            shall be deemed to have been delivered when delivered in person to
            the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation or if and when sent
            by prepaid registered or certified mail, to the Chief Financial
            Officer of the Corporation at 1135 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, N.C.
            27511, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or at such other address
            as the Corporation may hereafter deliver to the Optionholder at the
            address specified below.

      (iv)  Consideration Other than Cash. If any consideration to be received
            by the offeror for the shares offered is property other than cash,
            then the price per share shall be measured to the extent of the fair
            market value of such noncash consideration, which determination
            shall be made in good faith by the Board of Directors of the

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<PAGE>

            Corporation, or a committee of the Board of Directors. Such
            determination shall be final and binding.

2.4   Closing. The closing (the "Closing") will take place at the principal
      office of the Corporation on a date specified by the Corporation, which
      shall not exceed a reasonable time after determination of the purchase
      price or at such time and place as may be mutually agreed upon by the
      parties. The selling Optionholder or his or her personal representative
      will deliver to the purchaser at Closing the certificates representing the
      Shares being purchased along with such additional documentation and
      endorsements as the purchasers may reasonably request.

2.5   Payment of Purchase Price. The purchase price of the Shares will be
      payable at Closing in cash or by certified check.

                 III. OPTION TO PURCHASE OR SELL SHARES

3.1   Option of the Corporation. The Corporation shall have the option to
      purchase all or some of the Shares at any time and from time from the
      Optionholder as the Corporation shall determine in its sole discretion for
      the Fair Market Value determined as provided in Section 3.4 of this
      Agreement.

3.2   Option of the Optionholders.

      (a)   Except if the employment of the Optionholder by the Corporation is
            terminated for Cause (as defined below), the Optionholder shall have
            the right to require the Corporation from time to time and at any
            time to purchase some or all of the Shares held by the Optionholder
            (the "Put") for a purchase price equal to the lesser of (i) the Fair
            Market Value determined as provided in Section 3.4 of this Agreement
            or (ii) the price which the Optionholder paid the Corporation to
            acquire the Share(s) the Optionholder is requiring the Corporation
            to purchase upon exercise of the Put.

      (b)   Notwithstanding subsection (a) above, the Board of Directors or a
            committee thereof, may, from time to time in its sole discretion,
            limit the aggregate amount that the Corporation may use to purchase
            Shares from Optionholders pursuant to subsection (a) above during
            any one (1) year or other period (the "Put Amount"). If an
            Optionholder exercises his Put and the Put Amount would be exceeded
            if the Corporation paid the purchase price for the Put, the
            Corporation shall so notify the Optionholder and shall purchase only
            that portion of the Shares held by the Optionholder exercising his
            Put that would not result in the Corporation exceeding the Put
            Amount. The Board of Directors or a committee thereof may adopt any
            rules it deems appropriate for allocating dollars available among
            all persons eligible to sell Shares to the Corporation.

      (c)   If the Corporation is unable to purchase some or all of the Shares
            the exercising Optionholder has requested the Corporation to
            purchase as a result of the limitation

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<PAGE>

            in subsection (b) above, immediately after the applicable twelve
            (12) month period has ended, the Corporation shall purchase the
            Shares not previously purchased from the exercising Optionholder
            prior to purchasing any other Shares held by other Optionholders
            exercising their Put, in the manner and subject to the limitation
            set forth in this Section 3.2.

      (d)   "Cause" shall be limited to the following events: (i) drug abuse by
            Optionholder; (ii) alcohol abuse by Optionholder if it interferes
            with the efficient conduct of business by Optionholder; (iii) theft,
            embezzlement or other similar act by Optionholder of any tangible or
            intangible asset of the Corporation or any customer, supplier or
            investor of the Corporation; (iv) commission of any other criminal
            act by Optionholder (whether or not Optionholder is prosecuted and
            convicted) if such act causes or is likely to cause damage to the
            business of the Corporation; (v) a material breach by Optionholder
            of any written agreement between the Corporation and Optionholder,
            or any written policy of the Corporation known by and applicable to
            all its employees, but a mere mistake in business judgment shall not
            constitute "Cause" unless it is a part of a continuing pattern of
            bad judgment that has caused actual damage to the Corporation or its
            business, and (vi) willful failure by Optionholder to follow the
            instructions of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or an
            officer or other supervisory employee of the Corporation duly
            authorized by the Board, the Bylaws of the Corporation or an officer
            of the Corporation to give instructions to Optionholder, to the
            extent such instructions are reasonably related to the business of
            the Corporation, are given in good faith to promote the interest of
            the Corporation, would not require Optionholder to commit any
            illegal act and are not given to provide the Corporation with cause
            for terminating Optionholder.

3.3   Manner of Exercise; Closing. The Corporation or the Optionholders shall
      exercise their respective options by notice in writing given by the
      Corporation or the Optionholder to the other party, in the case of the
      Corporation, in the manner provided in Section 2.3(iii) of this Agreement,
      or, in the case of the Optionholder, at the address set forth in Schedule
      1 hereto. Closing shall take place at the time specified in the notice,
      which shall be not less than thirty (30) days following the date of
      notice. The Closing will take place as provided in Section 2.4 above and
      payment shall be made in the manner provided in Section 2.5.

3.4   Fair Market Value. The Fair Market Value of any Shares shall be the value
      determined in good faith from time to time by the Board of Directors of
      the Corporation or a committee thereof. Such determination shall be final
      and binding. If the Optionholder's employment or service is terminated by
      reason of his death or disability, all insurance proceeds payable to the
      Corporation on account of such Optionholder's death or disability shall be
      excluded in making such determination of Fair Market Value, whether or not
      such proceeds have been paid to the Corporation as of the valuation date.

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<PAGE>

                          IV. ADMINISTRATION.

4.1   Legend on Certificates. The Corporation will take such action as is
      necessary to inscribe on each Share certificate the following legend:

            "The shares represented by this certificate, and the transfer
            thereof are subject to the provisions of a Buy-Sell Agreement dated
            as of the 1st day of July, 1998, a copy of which may be inspected at
            the principal office of the corporation. The agreement, among other
            things, restricts sale, transfer or hypothecation of the shares. No
            transfer of ownership of the shares represented by this certificate
            is valid unless transferor and transferee have complied with the
            terms and conditions of the Buy-Sell Agreement prior to such
            transfer."

4.2   Employment. Employment of the Optionholder by the Corporation, if any, is
      subject to the continued approval of the management and/or the Board of
      Directors of the Corporation. Neither the ownership of Shares nor this
      Agreement confers on any Optionholder any expectation of or right to
      employment. The remedies provided in a written employment agreement will
      constitute the Optionholder's sole remedy for termination of employment.

4.3   Term. The term of this Agreement will commence upon its execution and
      terminate on the earlier to occur of the following:

      (i)   dissolution and completion of the liquidation of the Corporation;

      (ii)  the bankruptcy, receivership or dissolution of the Corporation;

      (iii) the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities
            Act of 1933, as amended, relating to a bona fide, firm commitment
            underwriting of the Corporation's common stock; provided, however,
            that as a condition to termination of the Corporation may in its
            sole discretion require the Optionholder to execute and deliver to
            the underwriters in the offering such form of lock-up agreement as
            the underwriters request any shareholder of the Corporation to sign;
            or

      (iv)  the mutual agreement of the parties hereto.

                              V.  MISCELLANEOUS.

5.1   Performance. Each Optionholder and the Corporation agrees to perform such
      acts as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this
      Agreement.

5.2   Modification. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements between the
      parties and constitutes the entire agreement between the parties on the
      subjects herein. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended,
      deleted or modified in whole or in part without the

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<PAGE>

express written consent of all parties to this Agreement which will be executed
with the same formality as this Agreement.

5.3   Governing  Law. This  Agreement will be subject to and governed by
      the laws of the State of North  Carolina,  without  respect to the
      principles of the choice of law or the conflicts of law.

5.4   Binding  Effect.  This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to
      the benefit of the parties  hereto,  their heirs,  successors  and
      assigns.

5.5   Severability. Each portion of this Agreement will be interpreted as
      separate and divisible, and in the event that any provision will be held
      to be void, invalid, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this
      Agreement will continue to be in full force and effect.

5.6   Headings. The headings used in this Agreement are included only for
      convenience of reference, and in the event of any conflict between such
      headings and the text of this Agreement, the text will control.

5.7   Notices. All notices required or referenced under this Agreement will be
      in writing, and will be deemed to have been duly given on (i) the date of
      service if served personally on the party to whom the notice is to be
      given, or (ii) if mailed on the date three (3) days after having been
      mailed to the party to whom notice is to be given by first class mail,
      postage pre-paid, registered or certified, if properly addressed to the
      party at his or her address as set forth below (or, in the case of the
      Corporation, the address set forth above), or at such other address as the
      party may hereafter designate by written notice to the remaining parties.

5.8   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
      each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will
      constitute one and the same document.

5.9   Gender.  All  references  to gender will be  interchangeable  with
      the masculine, feminine, and neuter, as applicable.

       (The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.)

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<PAGE>

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

                              RESEARCH TRIANGLE CONSULTANTS, INC.

                              By:
                                  --------------------------------------------
                              Name:  Jeffrey LeRose
                                  --------------------------------------------
                              Title:  President  and  Chief  Executive Officer
                                  --------------------------------------------

                                  OPTIONHOLDER:

                              ------------------------------------------------
                              Name:
                                    ------------------------------------------
                              Address:
                                      ----------------------------------------

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

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

                                       7EXHIBIT 10.1

           SECOND AMENDMENT, dated  as of  September 22,  2000 (this  "Second
 Amendment"), to  the Amended  and Restated  Credit  Agreement, dated  as  of
 September 8, 1998 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from  time
 to time, the  "Credit Agreement"), among  Home Products International,  Inc.
 (the "Borrower"),  the several  banks and  other financial  institutions  or
 entities from time to  time parties thereto (the  "Lenders"), and The  Chase
 Manhattan  Bank,   as   administrative   agent  (in   such   capacity,   the
 "Administrative Agent").

                            W I T N E S S E T H :

           WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement the Lenders have  agreed
 to make, and have made, certain extensions of credit to the Borrower;

           WHEREAS, the Borrower  has requested that  the Lenders amend,  and
 the Lenders have agreed  to amend, certain of  the provisions of the  Credit
 Agreement upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below;

           NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

           1. Defined Terms.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
 defined are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

           2. Amendment to Section 1.1.  Section 1.1 of the Credit  Agreement
 is  hereby  amended  by  adding  the  following  defined  terms  in   proper
 alphabetical order:

           "Covenant Reinstatement  Condition":   shall occur  upon any
      date after  the  Second  Amendment Effective  Date  on  which the
      Borrower would  be in compliance  on a  pro forma basis  with the
      covenants set  forth  in Section  7.1(a),  (b) and  (c),  as such
      covenants existed prior to the amendments thereto provided in the
      Second Amendment,  as  of  the last  day  of  the fiscal  quarter
      immediately preceding such date.

           "Second Amendment":    the  Second  Amendment  dated  as  of
      September 22, 2000 to this Agreement.

           "Second Amendment Effective  Date":   the date on  which the
      Second Amendment becomes effective in accordance with its terms.

           3. Amendment to Section 6.1.  Section 6.1 of the Credit  Agreement
 is amended  by (i)  deleting the  word "and"  which appears  at the  end  of
 paragraph (a), (ii) deleting  the period from the  end of paragraph (b)  and
 (iii) adding the following new paragraph (c):
<PAGE>

                (c)  as  soon as available,  but in  any event  not
           later than the last Business  Day of the calendar  month
           (or (1) in the  case of the  December fiscal months,  no
           later than the last Business Day of the second  calendar
           month and (2) in the case  of January fiscal months,  no
           later than the following March 15) after the end of each
           fiscal month of the Borrower, the unaudited consolidated
           balance sheet  of  the  Borrower  and  its  consolidated
           Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal month and  the
           related unaudited consolidated statements of income  and
           of cash flows for such fiscal  month and the portion  of
           the fiscal year  through the end  of such fiscal  month,
           setting forth  in  each  case in  comparative  form  the
           figures for the previous year (beginning with the fiscal
           month  ending  October   31,  2001),   certified  by   a
           Responsible  Officer  as  being  fairly  stated  in  all
           material respects  (subject  to  normal  year-end  audit
           adjustments).

           4. Amendment to Section 6.2.  Section 6.2 of the Credit  Agreement
 is hereby  amended  by  adding  the following  immediately  at  the  end  of
 paragraph (b) thereof:

                  and concurrently  with  the delivery  of  any  financial
                  statements pursuant to Section 6.1(c) (i) a  certificate
                  of a Responsible Officer  stating that such  Responsible
                  Officer has  obtained no  knowledge  of any  Default  or
                  Event of  Default  during  the period  covered  by  such
                  financial  statements  except   as  specified  in   such
                  certificate (including, in the case of any such  Default
                  or Event  of Default,  an  explanation of  the  proposed
                  actions  the  Borrower  intends  to  take  with  respect
                  thereto), and (ii)  a compliance certificate  in a  form
                  approved by  the  Administrative  Agent  executed  by  a
                  Responsible  Officer  of  the  Borrower  containing  all
                  information necessary for determining compliance by  the
                  Borrower and  its Subsidiaries  with the  provisions  of
                  Section 7.1(d) for the  period of 12 consecutive  fiscal
                  months ending as  of the last  day of the  month of  the
                  Borrower  for  which   such  financial  statements   are
                  delivered;

           5. Amendment to Section 7.1.   (a)  Section  7.1(a) of the  Credit
 Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the table setting forth the  maximum
 permitted Consolidated  Total  Leverage  Ratio  and  substituting,  in  lieu
 thereof, the following:

                                                           Consolidated Total
                       Period                                Leverage Ratio
                       ------                                --------------
             September 30, 2000                               6.25 to 1.00
             December 31, 2000 - March 31, 2001               7.00 to 1.00
             June 30, 2001 - September 30, 2001               6.75 to 1.00
             December 31, 2001                                6.50 to 1.00
             March 31, 2002 - June 30, 2002                   5.00 to 1.00
             September 30, 2002 - June 30, 2003               4.75 to 1.00
             September 30, 2003 - September 30, 2004          4.50 to 1.00
<PAGE>

           6. (b) Section 7.1(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
 deleting the table setting forth  the maximum permitted Consolidated  Senior
 Leverage Ratio and substituting, in lieu thereof, the following:

                                                          Consolidated Senior
                       Period                                Leverage Ratio
                       ------                                --------------
             September 30, 2000                               3.000 to 1.00
             December 31, 2000                                3.250 to 1.00
             March 31, 2001                                   3.250 to 1.00
             June 30, 2001                                    3.250 to 1.00
             September 30, 2001                               3.125 to 1.00
             December 31, 2001                                3.000 to 1.00
             March 31, 2002 - June 30, 2002                   2.750 to 1.00
             September 30, 2002 - September 30, 2004          2.500 to 1.00

           7. (c) Section 7.1(c) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
 deleting the table setting forth the maximum permitted Consolidated Interest
 Coverage Ratio and substituting, in lieu thereof, the following:

                                                        Consolidated Interest
                       Period                                Coverage Ratio
                       ------                                --------------
             September 30, 2000                               1.75 to 1.00
             December 31, 2000                                1.50 to 1.00
             March 31, 2001                                   1.50 to 1.00
             June 30, 2001 - September 30, 2001               1.50 to 1.00
             December 31, 2001                                1.55 to 1.00
             March 31, 2002 - June 30, 2002                   2.25 to 1.00
             September 30, 2002 - September 30, 2004          2.50 to 1.00

           (d)  Section  7.1 of  the Credit  Agreement is  hereby amended  by
      adding the following new paragraph (d):

           (d)   Consolidated EBITDA.   Permit  Consolidated EBITDA  for  any
      period  of  12  consecutive  fiscal  months  ending  after  the  Second
      Amendment Effective Date to be less than $33,000,000.

           8. Amendment to Section 7.6.  Section 7.6 of the Credit  Agreement
 is hereby amended by adding the following at the end thereof:

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, the  Borrower and its Subsidiaries
      may not make any of  the Restricted Payments or  engage in any of
      the transactions permitted  by the  preceding clauses (ii)  - (v)
      after the Second Amendment  Effective Date unless at  the time of
      the making of such Restricted Payment or the consummation of such
      transaction the Covenant Reinstatement Condition is satisfied.

           9. Amendment to Section 7.7.  Section 7.7 of the Credit  Agreement
 is hereby amended by (i) deleting the  word "and" from the end of  paragraph
 (a), (ii) deleting the period from the end of paragraph (b) and substituting
 therefor the phrase  "; and" and  (iii) adding the  following new  paragraph
 (c):
<PAGE>

           (c)    Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  paragraph  (a),  the
      Capital  Expenditures  of  the   Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries
      permitted by paragraph  (a) to be  made and committed  to be made
      shall not exceed $15,000,000  in any fiscal  year, beginning with
      fiscal year 2000, unless  at the time of  making or committing to
      make each such  Capital Expenditure  in excess of  $15,000,000 in
      any such  fiscal  year the  Covenant  Reinstatement  Condition is
      satisfied.

          10. Amendment to Section 7.8.  Section 7.8  of the Credit Agreement
 is hereby amended by adding the following at the end of paragraph (g):

           notwithstanding the  foregoing,  the  Borrower  and  its
           Subsidiaries may not  make any  Acquisition pursuant  to
           this  paragraph  (g)   unless  at  the   time  of   such
           Acquisition (x) the Covenant Reinstatement Condition  is
           satisfied and  (y) the  pro  forma compliance  with  the
           financial covenants contained in Section 7.1 required by
           clause (i) above is based on  Section 7.1 as it  existed
           prior to the amendments  thereto provided in the  Second
           Amendment;

          11. Amendment to Section 7.9.  Section 7.9  of the Credit Agreement
 is hereby amended by adding the following at the end of clause  (a) thereof:

                  provided further that notwithstanding the foregoing  the
                  Borrower and  its  Subsidiaries  may not  Take  Out  any
                  Senior Subordinated Notes (other than scheduled interest
                  payments required to be made in cash) in accordance with
                  the preceding clauses (i) or (ii) unless at the time  of
                  any Take  Out the  Covenant Reinstatement  Condition  is
                  satisfied,

           12. Amendment to Section 7.  Section 7 of the Credit  Agreement is
 hereby amended by adding the following new Section 7.18:

                7.18   Maintenance of Cash.  Have or maintain any  cash, cash
     equivalents, proceeds of Collateral  or any other  monies,  investments,
     instruments, securities or cash equivalents  in any banking,  investment
     or other account or in  any place other than  (a)  in an account  opened
     and  maintained  at  a  Lender  or   (b)  in  the  possession   of   the
     Administrative Agent.

           13. Reduction  of Total Revolving Commitments.   On the  Condition
 Satisfaction  Date  (as defined below) the Total Revolving Commitments  will
 be automatically and permanently reduced by $15,000,000 to $85,000,000.

           14. Amendment to Annex  A.   Annex A of the  Credit  Agreement  is
 hereby amended by  deleting it  in its  entirety and  substituting,  in lieu
 thereof, the Annex A attached to this Amendment.
<PAGE>

           15. Effectiveness.   This Second Amendment shall become  effective
 as of September 22, 2000 on the date (the date the following  conditions are
 satisfied, the "Condition  Satisfaction Date") that  (i)  the Administrative
 Agent shall  have  received  counterparts  of  this  Second  Amendment  duly
 executed by the  Borrower and the  Required Lenders,  and (ii) the  Borrower
 shall  have  paid  all  fees  and  expenses  required  to  be  paid  to  the
 Administrative  Agent  and  the  Lenders  in  connection  with  this  Second
 Amendment and  the Credit  Agreement, including  any fees  and  expenses  of
 counsel to the Administrative Agent.

           16. Amendment  Fee.  The Borrower shall pay  to the Administrative
 Agent, for the account of each Lender which delivers to  the  Administrative
 Agent  an  executed  copy of  this  Second  Amendment  on  or  prior  to the
 Condition Satisfaction Date  an amendment fee  equal to 0.25%  of the sum of
 such Lender's Revolving Commitment (after giving effect  to the reduction in
 the  Total  Revolving  Commitments  set  forth  in  Section  11  above)  and
 Term  Loans on  the  Condition  Satisfaction Date,  payable on the Condition
 Satisfaction Date.

           17. Representations and Warranties.  On and as of the date  hereof
 after  giving  effect  to  this  Second   Amendment,  the  Borrower   hereby
 represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

                (a)  Each of the representations and warranties contained  in
           Section 4 of the Credit Agreement or in any certificate,  document
           or financial or other statement furnished at any time under  or in
           connection  therewith  are  true  and  correct  in  all   material
           respects on and  as of  such date as  if made  on  and as  of such
           date,  except  to  the  extent   that  such   representations  and
           warranties specifically relate to an  earlier date,  in which case
           such representations and warranties shall  be true and  correct in
           all material respects as of such  earlier date; provided  that the
           references to  the Credit  Agreement therein  shall be  deemed  to
           include this Second Amendment;

                (b)   No Default  or Event  of Default  has occurred  and  is
           continuing.

           18. Conditions Subsequent.  The Borrower  agrees that on or  prior
 to the  date which  is 30  days after  the Conditions  Satisfaction Date  it
 shall:

          (a)  deliver to the Administrative Agent an update of the Schedules
      to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement;

          (b)    deliver  to the  Administrative  Agent  (i) a  list  of  all
      Subsidiaries, Capital  Stock, promissory  notes and  other  instruments
      owned by any Loan Party; (ii) all Intellectual Property (as defined  in
      the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) owned by any Loan Party;  (iii)
      all real  property in  which any  Loan  Party has  a fee  or  leasehold
      interest; and (iv) all locations  at which any Collateral owned by  any
      Loan Party is located; and

          (c)    take  all action  required  by  Section 6.9  of  the  Credit
      Agreement or  reasonably requested  by  the Administrative  Agent  with
      respect to matters addressed in such Section 6.9.
<PAGE>

           19. Continuing Effect; No Other Amendments.   Except as  expressly
 amended or waived  hereby, all  of the terms  and provisions  of the  Credit
 Agreement and the other  Loan Documents are and  shall remain in full  force
 and  effect.    The  amendments  and  waivers  contained  herein  shall  not
 constitute an  amendment or  waiver of  any other  provision of  the  Credit
 Agreement or the other Loan Documents or for any purpose except as expressly
 set forth herein.

           20. GOVERNING LAW; Counterparts.  (a)  THIS SECOND AMENDMENT SHALL
 BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND  INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE  LAWS
 OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

           (b)   This Second  Amendment  may be  executed  in any  number  of
 counterparts, all of  which counterparts, taken  together, shall  constitute
 one and the  same instrument.   This Second  Amendment may  be delivered  by
 facsimile transmission of the relevant signature pages hereof.

<PAGE>
           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Second  Amendment
 to be  duly executed  and  delivered by  their  respective proper  and  duly
 authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

                                      HOME PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                      By___________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

                                      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
                                      Administrative Agent and as a Lender

                                      By___________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

                                      BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                                      By___________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

                                      KEY CORPORATE CAPITAL INC.

                                      By___________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

                                      LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                      By___________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

                                      SOCIETE GENERALE

                                      By___________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

                                      BANK ONE, NA

                                      By___________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                                     Annex A

         PRICING GRID FOR TERM LOANS REVOLVING LOANS, SWINGLINE LOANS,
                             AND COMMITMENT FEES

     Consolidated Total         Applicable      Applicable    Commitment Fee
        Leverage Ratio           Margin for    Margin for ABR       Rate
                             Eurodollar Loans      Loans
  -------------------------- ----------------  -------------- --------------
  <S>                             <C>              <C>             <C>
  Greater than or equal to
  6.25 to 1.00                    3.50%            2.50%           .50%

  Less than 6.25 to 1.00 and
  greater than or equal to        3.25%            2.25%           .50%
  5.75 to 1.00

  Less than 5.75 to 1.00 and
  greater than or equal to        3.00%            2.00%           .50%
  5.25 to 1.00

  Less than 5.25 to 1.00 and
  greater than or equal to        2.75%            1.75%           .50%
  4.75 to 1.00

  Less than 4.75 to 1.00 and
  greater than or equal to        2.50%            1.50%           .50%
  3.75 to 1.00

  Less than 3.75 to 1.00          2.00%            1.00%           .375%
</TABLE>

 Changes in  the  Applicable  Margin  with  respect  to  Revolving  Loans  or
 Swingline Loans or in the Commitment Fee Rate resulting from changes in  the
 Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio  shall become effective  on the date  (the
 "Adjustment Date")  on  which  financial statements  are  delivered  to  the
 Lenders pursuant to Section 6.1  (but in any event  not later than the  45th
 day after the  end of  each of  the first  three quarterly  periods of  each
 fiscal year or the 90th day after the end  of each fiscal year, as the  case
 may be) and  shall remain in  effect until the  next change  to be  effected
 pursuant to this paragraph.  If  any financial statements referred to  above
 are not delivered within the time periods specified above, then, until  such
 financial statements  are  delivered, if  the  Administrative Agent  or  the
 Required Lenders so determine, the Consolidated  Total Leverage Ratio as  at
 the end of the fiscal period that would have been covered thereby shall  for
 the purposes of this definition be deemed  to be greater than 6.25 to  1.00.
 In addition, at all times while an Event of Default shall have occurred  and
 be continuing  and  the Administrative  Agent  or the  Required  Lenders  so
 determine, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio  shall for the purposes  of
 this  definition  be  deemed  to  be  greater  than  6.25  to  1.00.    Each
 determination of  the Consolidated  Total Leverage  Ratio pursuant  to  this
 definition shall be  made with  respect to  the period  of four  consecutive
 fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending at  the end of the period covered  by
 the relevant financial statements.

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00016-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00016-of-00352.parquet"}]]