Document:

EXHIBIT 10.12

West Essex Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated
<PAGE>

                                 WEST ESSEX BANK
                     SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

                 (Amended and Restated as of February 8, 2002)

<PAGE>

                                 West Essex Bank
                     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

                                Table of Contents

Article I    -  Introduction...................................................1

Article II   -  Definitions....................................................2

Article III  -  Participation..................................................4

Article IV   -  Benefits.......................................................5

Article V    -  Accounts.......................................................7

Article VI   -  Supplemental Benefit Payments..................................8

Article VII  -  Claims Procedures..............................................9

Article VIII -  Amendment and Termination.....................................11

Article IX   -  General Provisions............................................12

<PAGE>

                                    Article I
                                  Introduction

Section 1.01 Purpose, Design and Intent.

(a) The purpose of the West Essex Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
(the "Plan") is to assist West Essex Bank (the "Bank") and its Affiliates (as
defined in Section 2.01(a) of the Plan), in retaining the services of key
employees until their retirement, to induce such employees to use their best
efforts to enhance the business of the Bank and its Affiliates, and to provide
certain supplemental retirement benefits to such employees.

(b) The Plan, in relevant part, is intended to constitute an unfunded "excess
benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(36) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Plan is designed, in large part, to
provide certain key employees with retirement benefits that would have been
payable under the various tax-qualified retirement plans sponsored by the Bank
and/or its Affiliates but for the limitations placed on the benefits and
contributions under such plans by the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.

(c) This Plan constitutes an amendment, restatement, and consolidation of two
existing plan documents known as the West Essex Bank Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan and the West Essex Bank Management Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan. The effective date of this Plan, as amended and restated, is
February 8, 2002.

                                       1

<PAGE>

                                   Article II
                                   Definitions

Section 2.01 Definitions. In this Plan, whenever the context so indicates, the
singular or the plural number and the masculine or feminine gender shall be
deemed to include the other, the terms "he," "his," and "him," shall refer to a
Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be, and, except as otherwise
provided, or unless the context otherwise requires, the capitalized terms shall
have the following meanings:

(a) "Affiliate" means any corporation, trade or business, which, at the time of
reference, is together with the Bank, a member of a controlled group of
corporations, a group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated)
under common control, or an affiliated service group, as described in Sections
414(b), 414(c), and 414(m) of the Code, respectively, or any other organization
treated as a single employer with the Bank under Section 414(o) of the Code;
provided, however, that, where the context so requires, the term "Affiliate"
shall be construed to give full effect to the provisions of Sections 409(l)(4)
and 415(h) of the Code.

(b) "Applicable Limitations" means any of the following:

      (i) the maximum limitations on annual additions to a tax-qualified defined
contribution plan under Section 415(c) of the Code and

      (ii) the maximum limitation on the annual amount of compensation that may,
under Section 401(a)(17) of the Code, be taken into account in determining
contributions to and benefits under tax-qualified plans;

(c) "Bank" means West Essex Bank, and its successors.

(d) "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Bank.

(e) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(f) "Committee" means the person(s) designated by the Board of Directors,
pursuant to Section 9.02 of the Plan, to administer the Plan.

(g) "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Bank.

(h) "Company" means West Essex Bancorp, Inc., and its successors.

(i) "Eligible Individual" means any Employee of the Bank or an Affiliate who
participates in the ESOP and whom the Board of Directors determines is one of a
"select group of management or highly compensated employees," as such phrase is
used for purposes of Sections 101, 201 and 301 of ERISA.

                                        2
<PAGE>

(j) "Employee" means any person employed by the Bank or an Affiliate.

(k) "Employer" means the Bank or its Affiliate that employs the Employee.

(l) "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

(m) "ESOP" means the West Essex Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan, as amended
from time to time.

(n) "ESOP Acquisition Loan" means a loan or other extension of credit incurred
by the trustee of the ESOP in connection with the purchase of Common Stock on
behalf of the ESOP.

(o) "ESOP Restoration Benefit" means the benefit credited to a Participant's
ESOP Restoration Benefit Account pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Plan.

(p) "ESOP Restoration Benefit Account" means the account established by an
Employer, pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Plan, with respect to a Participant's
ESOP Restoration Benefit.

(q) "ESOP Valuation Date" means any day as of which the investment experience of
the trust fund of the ESOP is determined and individuals' accounts under the
ESOP are adjusted accordingly.

(r) "Effective Date" means January 1, 2002.

(s) "Participant" means an Eligible Individual who is entitled to benefits under
the Plan.

(t) "Plan" means this West Essex Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

(u) "Retirement" means, except as provided for in Sections 4.02(c) and 4.03(c)
of the Plan, termination of employment at any time following the satisfaction
the requirements for early or normal retirement under either the ESOP.

(v) "Supplemental ESOP Account" means an account established by an Employer,
pursuant to Section 5.01 of the Plan, with respect to a Participant's
Supplemental ESOP Benefit.

(w) "Supplemental ESOP Benefit" means the benefit credited to a Participant's
Supplemental ESOP Account pursuant to Section 4.01 of the Plan.

                                        3
<PAGE>

                                   Article III
                                  Participation

Section 3.01 Participation.

(a) An Eligible Individual shall become a Participant in the Plan upon
designation as such by the Board of Directors. An Eligible Individual whom the
Board of Directors designates as a Participant in the Plan shall commence
participation as of the date established by the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors shall establish an Eligible Individual's date of participation at the
same time it designates the Eligible Individual as a Participant in the Plan.

(b) The Board of Directors may designate an Eligible Individual as a Participant
with respect to any or all supplemental benefits provided for under Article IV
of the Plan.

                                       4
<PAGE>

                                   Article IV
                                    Benefits

Section 4.01 Supplemental ESOP Benefit.

As of the last day of each plan year of the ESOP, the Employer shall credit a
Participant's Supplemental ESOP Account with a Supplemental ESOP Benefit equal
to the excess of (a) over (b), where:

(a) equals the annual contributions made by the Employer and/or the number of
shares of Common Stock released for allocation in connection with the repayment
of an ESOP Acquisition Loan, together with any forfeitures, earnings or
dividends, that would otherwise be allocated to the accounts of the Participant
under the ESOP for the applicable plan year if the provisions of the ESOP were
administered without regard to any of the Applicable Limitations; and

(b) equals the annual contributions made by the Employer and/or the number of
shares of common stock released for allocation in connection with the repayment
of an ESOP Acquisition Loan, together with any forfeitures, earnings or
dividends, that are actually allocated to the accounts of the Participant under
the ESOP for that particular plan year after giving effect to any reduction of
such benefits required by, or as the result of, the limitations imposed by any
of the Applicable Limitations.

Section 4.02 ESOP Restoration Benefit.

(a) Upon a Participant's Retirement from the Employer, the Employer shall credit
to the Participant's ESOP Restoration Account, an ESOP Restoration Benefit equal
to (i) less (ii), the result of which is multiplied by (iii), where:

      (i)   equals the total number of shares of Common Stock acquired with the
            proceeds of all ESOP Acquisition Loans (together with any dividends,
            cash proceeds or other medium related to such ESOP Acquisition
            Loans) that would have been allocated or credited for the benefit of
            the Participant under the ESOP and/or Section 4.01 of this Plan, as
            the case may be, had the Participant continued in the employ of the
            Employer through the first ESOP Valuation Date following the last
            scheduled payment of principal and interest on all ESOP Acquisition
            Loans outstanding at the time of the Participant's Retirement; and

      (ii)  equals the total number of shares of Common Stock acquired with the
            proceeds of all ESOP Acquisition Loans (together with any dividends,
            cash proceeds, or other medium related to such ESOP Acquisition
            Loans) and allocated for the benefit of the Participant under the
            ESOP and/or Section 4.01 of this Plan, as the case may be, as of the
            first ESOP Valuation Date following the Participant's Retirement;
            and

      (iii) equals the higher of the closing price of the Common Stock as of:

                                       5
<PAGE>

            (A)   The first ESOP Valuation Date following the Participant's
                  Retirement, or

            (B)   The last day of the Participant's employment with the
                  Employer.

(b) For purposes of clause (i) of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, the total
number of shares of Common Stock that would have been allocated or credited for
the benefit of the Participant shall be determined by multiplying the sum of (i)
and (ii) by (iii), where:

      (i)   equals the average of the total shares of Common Stock acquired with
            the proceeds of an ESOP Acquisition Loan and allocated for the
            benefit of the Participant under the ESOP as of three most recent
            ESOP Valuation Dates preceding the Participant's Retirement (or
            lesser number if the Participant has not participated in the ESOP
            for three full years);

      (ii)  equals the average number of shares of Common Stock credited to the
            Participant's Supplemental ESOP Account for the three most recent
            plan years of the ESOP (such that the three recent plan years
            coincide with the three most recent ESOP Valuation Dates referred to
            in (b)(i) above); and

      (iii) equals the total number of originally scheduled payments on the ESOP
            Acquisition Loans as of the Participant's Retirement.

(c) In the event of a Change in Control:

      (i)   a Participant's Retirement shall be deemed to have occurred as of
            the effective date of the Change in Control, as determined by the
            Board of Directors, regardless of whether the Participant continues
            in the employ of the Employer following the Change in Control;
            provided, however, that if the Participant continues to benefit
            under the ESOP following the effective date of the Change in
            Control, his benefit determined under this Plan as of the effective
            date of the Change in Control shall be reduced by benefits allocated
            or credited to following (which relate to an Acquisition Loan) in a
            manner consistent with the provisions of Sections 4.02(a)(i) and
            (ii) of the Plan; and

      (ii)  the determination of fair market value of the Common Stock shall be
            made as the effective date of the Change in Control.

                                       6
<PAGE>

                                    Article V
                                    Accounts

Section 5.01 Supplemental ESOP Benefit Account.

For each Participant who is credited with a benefit pursuant to Section 4.01 of
the Plan, the Employer shall establish, as a memorandum account on its books, a
Supplemental ESOP Account. Each year, the Committee shall credit to the
Participant's Supplemental ESOP Account the amount of benefits determined under
Section 4.01 of the Plan for that year. The Employer shall credit the account
with an amount equal to the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock or
other medium of contribution that would have otherwise been made to the
Participant's accounts under the ESOP but for the Applicable Limitations. Shares
of Common Stock shall be valued under this Plan in the same manner as under the
ESOP. Cash and other (non-stock) contributions credited to a Participant's
Supplemental ESOP Account shall be credited annually with interest at a rate
equal to the investment rate of return provided to the Participant's non-stock
accounts under the ESOP.

Section 5.02 Employee Stock Ownership Plan Restoration Account.

The Employer shall establish, as a memorandum account on its books, an ESOP
Restoration Benefit Account. Upon a Participant's Retirement or in the event of
a Change in Control, the Committee shall credit to the Participant's ESOP
Restoration Benefit Account the amount of benefits determined under Section 4.02
of the Plan. The Committee shall credit the account with an amount equal to the
appropriate number of shares of Common Stock or other medium of contribution
that would have otherwise been made to the Participant's accounts under the ESOP
but for the Participant's Retirement or the occurrence of the Change in Control.
Shares of Common Stock shall be valued under this Plan in the same manner as
under the ESOP. Cash and other (non-stock) contributions credited to a
Participant's ESOP Restoration Benefit Account shall be credited annually with
interest at a rate equal to the investment rate of return provided to the
Participant's non-stock accounts under the ESOP.

                                       7
<PAGE>

                                   Article VI
                          Supplemental Benefit Payments

Section 6.01 Payment of Supplemental ESOP Benefit.

(a)   A Participant's Supplemental ESOP Benefit shall be paid to the Participant
      or, in the event of the Participant's death, to his beneficiary, in the
      same form, time and medium (i.e., cash and/or shares of Common Stock) as
      his benefits are paid under the ESOP.

(b)   A Participant shall have a non-forfeitable right to the Supplemental ESOP
      Benefit credited to him under this Plan in the same percentage as he has
      to benefits allocated to him under the ESOP at the time the benefits
      become distributable to him under the ESOP.

Section 6.02 Payment of Employee Stock Ownership Plan Restoration Benefit.

(a)   A Participant's ESOP Restoration Benefit shall be paid to the Participant
      or, in the event of the Participant's death, to his beneficiary, in the
      same form, time and medium (i.e., cash and/or shares of Common Stock) as
      his benefits are paid under the ESOP.

(b)   A Participant shall always have a fully non-forfeitable right to the ESOP
      Restoration Benefit credited to him under this Plan.

Section 6.03 Alternative Payment of Benefits

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article VI, a Participant may, with
prior written consent of the Committee and upon such terms and conditions as the
Committee may impose, request that the Supplemental ESOP Benefit and/or the ESOP
Restoration Benefit to which he is entitled, be paid commencing at a different
time, over a different period, in a different form, or to different persons,
than the benefit to which he or his beneficiary may be entitled under the ESOP.

Section 6.04 Hardships

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, at its sole discretion, allow
for the early payment of a Participant's Supplemental ESOP Benefit in the event
of an "unforeseeable emergency" or in the event of the death or disability of
the Participant. An "unforeseeable emergency" means an unanticipated emergency
caused by an event beyond the control of the Participant that would result in
severe financial hardship if the distribution were not permitted. Such
distributions shall be limited to the amount necessary to sufficiently address
the financial hardship. Any distributions under this provision, shall be
consistent with the Code and any applicable regulations.

                                       8
<PAGE>

                                   Article VII
                                Claims Procedures

Section 7.01 Claims Reviewer.

For purposes of handling claims with respect to this Plan, the "Claims Reviewer"
shall be the Committee, unless the Committee designates another person or group
of persons as Claims Reviewer.

Section 7.02 Claims Procedure.

(a) An initial claim for benefits under the Plan must be made by the Participant
or his or her beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this
Section 7.02.

(b) Not later than ninety (90) days after receipt of such a claim, the Claims
Reviewer will render a written decision on the claim to the claimant, unless
special circumstances require the extension of such 90-day period. If such
extension is necessary, the Claims Reviewer shall provide the Participant or the
Participant's beneficiary or beneficiaries with written notification of such
extension before the expiration of the initial 90-day period. Such notice shall
specify the reason or reasons for the extension and the date by which a final
decision can be expected. In no event shall such extension exceed a period of
ninety (90) days from the end of the initial 90-day period.

(c) In the event the Claims Reviewer denies the claim of a Participant or any
beneficiary in whole or in part, the Claims Reviewer's written notification
shall specify, in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, the
reason for the denial; a reference to the Plan or other document or form that is
the basis for the denial; a description of any additional material or
information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim; an explanation as
to why such information or material is necessary; and an explanation of the
applicable claims procedure.

(d) Should the claim be denied in whole or in part and should the claimant be
dissatisfied with the Claims Reviewer's disposition of the claimant's claim, the
claimant may have a full and fair review of the claim by the Committee upon
written request submitted by the claimant or the claimant's duly authorized
representative and received by the Committee within sixty (60) days after the
claimant receives written notification that the claimant's claim has been
denied. In connection with such review, the claimant or the claimant's duly
authorized representative shall be entitled to review pertinent documents and
submit the claimant's views as to the issues, in writing. The Committee shall
act to deny or accept the claim within sixty (60) days after receipt of the
claimant's written request for review unless special circumstances require the
extension of such 60-day period. If such extension is necessary, the Committee
shall provide the claimant with written notification of such extension before
the expiration of such initial 60-day period. In all events, the Committee shall
act to deny or accept the claim within 120 days of the receipt of the claimant's
written request for review. The action of the Committee shall be in the form of
a written notice to the claimant and its contents shall include all of the
requirements for action on the original claim.

                                       9
<PAGE>

(e) In no event may a claimant commence legal action for benefits the claimant
believes are due the claimant until the claimant has exhausted all of the
remedies and procedures afforded the claimant by this Article VII.

                                       10
<PAGE>

                                  Article VIII
                            Amendment and Termination

Section 8.01 Amendment of the Plan.

The Company may from time to time and at any time amend the Plan; provided,
however, that such amendment may not adversely affect the rights of any
Participant or beneficiary with respect to any benefit under the Plan to which
the Participant or beneficiary may have previously become entitled prior to the
effective date of such amendment without the consent of the Participant or
beneficiary. The Committee shall be authorized to make minor or administrative
changes to the Plan, as well as amendments required by applicable federal or
state law (or authorized or made desirable by such statutes); provided, however,
that such amendments must subsequently be ratified by the Board of Directors.

Section 8.02 Termination of the Plan.

The Company may at any time terminate the Plan; provided, however, that such
termination may not adversely affect the rights of any Participant or
beneficiary with respect to any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant
or beneficiary may have previously become entitled prior to the effective date
of such termination without the consent of the Participant or beneficiary. Any
amounts credited to the supplemental accounts of any Participant shall remain
subject to the provisions of the Plan and no distribution of benefits shall be
accelerated because of termination of the Plan.

                                       11
<PAGE>

                                   Article IX
                               General Provisions

Section 9.01 Unfunded, Unsecured Promise to Make Payments in the Future.

The right of a Participant or any beneficiary to receive a distribution under
this Plan shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company
or its Affiliates and neither a Participant nor his designated beneficiary or
beneficiaries shall have any rights in or against any amount credited to any
account under this Plan or any other assets of the Company or an Affiliate. The
Plan at all times shall be considered entirely unfunded both for tax purposes
and for purposes of Title I of ERISA. Any funds invested hereunder shall
continue for all purposes to be part of the general assets of the Company or an
Affiliate and available to its general creditors in the event of bankruptcy or
insolvency. Accounts under this Plan and any benefits which may be payable
pursuant to this Plan are not subject in any manner to anticipation, sale,
alienation, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or
garnishment by creditors of a Participant or a Participant's beneficiary. The
Plans constitute a mere promise by the Company or Affiliate to make benefit
payments in the future. No interest or right to receive a benefit may be taken,
either voluntarily or involuntarily, for the satisfaction of the debts of, or
other obligations or claims against, such Participant or beneficiary, including
claims for alimony, support, separate maintenance and claims in bankruptcy
proceedings.

Section 9.02 Committee as Plan Administrator.

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee designated by the Board of
Directors.

(b) The Committee shall have the authority, duty and power to interpret and
construe the provisions of the Plan as it deems appropriate. The Committee shall
have the duty and responsibility of maintaining records, making the requisite
calculations and disbursing the payments hereunder. In addition, the Committee
shall have the authority and power to delegate any of its administrative duties
to employees of the Bank or Affiliate, as they may deem appropriate. The
Committee shall be entitled to rely on all tables, valuations, certificates,
opinions, data and reports furnished by any actuary, accountant, controller,
counsel or other person employed or retained by the Company with respect to the
Plan. The interpretations, determination, regulations and calculations of the
Committee shall be final and binding on all persons and parties concerned.

Section 9.03 Expenses.

Expenses of administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company or an
Affiliate.

                                       12
<PAGE>

Section 9.04 Statements.

The Committee shall furnish individual annual statements of accrued benefits to
each Participant, or current beneficiary, in such form as determined by the
Committee or as required by law.

Section 9.05 Rights of Participants and Beneficiaries.

(a) The sole rights of a Participant or beneficiary under this Plan shall be to
have this Plan administered according to its provisions, to receive whatever
benefits he or she may be entitled to hereunder.

(b) Nothing in the Plan shall be interpreted as a guaranty that any funds in any
trust which may be established in connection with the Plan or assets of the
Company or an Affiliate will be sufficient to pay any benefit hereunder.

(c) The adoption and maintenance of this Plan shall not be construed as creating
any contract of employment or service between the Company or an Affiliate and
any Participant or other individual. The Plan shall not affect the right of the
Company or an Affiliate to deal with any Participants in employment or service
respects, including their hiring, discharge, compensation, and conditions of
employment or other service.

Section 9.06 Incompetent Individuals.

The Committee may from time to time establish rules and procedures which it
determines to be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan and the
benefits payable to a Participant or beneficiary in the event that such
Participant or beneficiary is declared incompetent and a conservator or other
person legally charged with that Participant's or beneficiary's care is
appointed. Except as otherwise provided herein, when the Committee determines
that such Participant or beneficiary is unable to manage his or her financial
affairs, the Committee may pay such Participant's or beneficiary's benefits to
such conservator, person legally charged with such Participant's or
beneficiary's care or institution then contributing toward or providing for the
care and maintenance of such Participant or beneficiary. Any such payment shall
constitute a complete discharge of any liability of the Company or an Affiliate
and the Plan for such Participant or beneficiary.

Section 9.07 Sale, Merger, or Consolidation of the Employer.

The Plan shall be continued after a sale of assets of the Company or the Bank or
a merger or consolidation of the Company or the Bank into or with another
corporation or entity until all benefits have been paid pursuant to the Plan.
Additionally, upon a merger, consolidation or other Change in Control any
amounts credited to Participant's accounts under the Plan shall be placed in a
grantor trust to the extent not already in such a trust. Any legal fees incurred
by a Participant in determining benefits to which he is entitled under

                                       13
<PAGE>

the Plan following a sale, merger, consolidation or other Change in Control of
the Company or the Bank shall be paid by the resulting or succeeding entity.

Section 9.08 Location of Participants.

Each Participant shall keep the Company informed of his current address and the
current address of his designated beneficiary or beneficiaries. The Company
shall not be obligated to search for any person. If such person is not located
within three (3) years after the date on which payment of the Participant's
benefits payable under this Plan may first be made, payment may be made as
though the Participant or his beneficiary had died at the end of such three-year
period.

Section 9.09 Liability of the Bank and its Affiliates.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, neither the Bank nor any
individual acting as an employee or agent of the Bank shall be liable to any
Participant, former Participant, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim,
loss, liability or expense incurred in connection with the Plan, unless
attributable to fraud or willful misconduct on the part of the Bank or any such
employee or agent of the Bank.

Section 9.10 Governing Law.

All questions pertaining to the construction, validity and effect of the Plan
shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the United States and to the
extent not preempted by such laws, by the laws of New Jersey.

West Essex Bank has adopted this SERP, to be executed by a designee of the Board
and duly attested, on this the 8 day of February, 2002.

ATTEST:                                     WEST ESSEX BANK

/s/ Dennis A. Petrello                       /s/ Leopold w. Montanaro
--------------------------                  ------------------------------------
Dennis A. Petrello                               Leopold w. Montanaro
                                            For the Entire Board of Directors

                                       14CONFORMED COPY
                                                                  --------------

                        THOMAS INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.

                             THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC.

                                 NOTE AGREEMENT

                   Amended and Restated as of November 6, 1998

                          $85,000,000 Principal Amount
                               9.36% Senior Notes
                              Due January 31, 2005

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1.  AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT.............................................1

                           Amendments..........................................1

Section 2.  DESCRIPTION OF NOTES AND COMMITMENT................................2

                           Description of Notes................................2

Section 3.  PAYMENTS ON THE NOTES..............................................2

                  3.1.     Required Prepayments................................2
                  3.2.     Optional Prepayments................................2
                  3.3.     Notice of Prepayments under Section 3.2.............3
                  3.4.     Surrender of Notes on Prepayment or Exchange........3
                  3.5.     Direct Payment......................................3
                  3.6.     Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.....4
                  3.7.     Allocations.........................................4

Section 4.  REPRESENTATIONS....................................................4

                  4.1.     Representations of the Issuers......................4
                  4.2.     Representations of the Purchasers..................10

Section 5.  CLOSING CONDITIONS................................................11

                  5.1.     Representations and Warranties.....................11
                  5.2.     Events of Default..................................11
                  5.3.     Proceedings and Documents..........................11
                  5.4.     Payment of Fees and Expenses.......................11

Section 6.  INTERPRETATION OF AGREEMENT.......................................11

                  6.1.     Certain Terms Defined..............................11
                  6.2.     Accounting Principles..............................19
                  6.3.     Valuation Principles...............................19
                  6.4.     Direct or Indirect Actions.........................19

Section 7.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.............................................19

                  7.1.     Corporate Existence................................19
                  7.2.     Insurance..........................................19
                  7.3.     Taxes, Claims for Labor and Materials..............20
                  7.4.     Maintenance of Properties..........................20
                  7.5.     Maintenance of Records.............................20

                                       i

<PAGE>

                  7.6.     Financial Information and Reports..................21
                  7.7.     Inspection of Properties and Records...............22
                  7.8.     ERISA..............................................23
                  7.9.     Compliance with Laws...............................24
                  7.10.    Acquisition of Notes...............................24

Section 8.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS................................................24

                  8.1.     Current Ratio......................................24
                  8.2.     Restricted Payments................................24
                  8.3.     Liens..............................................25
                  8.4.     Debt...............................................25
                  8.5.     Restricted Leases..................................26
                  8.6.     Fixed Charge Coverage..............................27
                  8.7.     Merger or Sale of Substantially All Assets.........27
                  8.8.     Sale of Assets.....................................27
                  8.9.     Sale and Leaseback Transaction.....................28
                  8.10.    Dispositions of Stock and Debt of Restricted
                           Subsidiaries.......................................28
                  8.11.    Issuance of Stock by Restricted Subsidiaries.......28
                  8.12.    Change in Business.................................28
                  8.13.    Consolidated Tax Returns...........................28
                  8.14.    Purchase of Notes..................................29
                  8.15.    Dealing with Affiliates............................29

Section 9.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES THEREFOR...........................29

                  9.1.     Nature of Events...................................29
                  9.2.     Remedies on Default................................30
                  9.3.     Annulment of Acceleration of Notes.................32
                  9.4.     Other Remedies.....................................32
                  9.5.     Conduct No Waiver; Collection Expenses.............33
                  9.6.     Remedies Cumulative................................33
                  9.7.     Notice of Default..................................33

Section 10. AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS..................................34

                  10.1.    Matters Subject to Modification....................34
                  10.2.    Solicitation of Holders of Notes...................34
                  10.3.    Binding Effect.....................................34

Section 11. FORM OF NOTES, REGISTRATION, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE AND REPLACEMENT...35

                  11.1.    Form of Notes......................................35
                  11.2.    Note Register......................................35
                  11.3.    Issuance of New Notes upon Exchange or Transfer....35

                                       ii

<PAGE>

                  11.4.    Replacement of Notes...............................35

Section 12. MISCELLANEOUS.....................................................36

                  12.1.    Expenses...........................................36
                  12.2.    Notices and Payment................................36
                  12.3.    Reproduction of Documents..........................36
                  12.4.    Successors and Assigns.............................37
                  12.5.    Law Governing......................................37
                  12.6.    Headings...........................................37
                  12.7.    Counterparts.......................................37
                  12.8.    Reliance on and Survival of Provisions.............37
                  12.9.    Integration and Severability.......................37

Schedule A:                List of Purchasers and information with respect to
                           payment, notices, etc.
Annex I:                   List of Subsidiaries  (see Section 4.1(c)) and List
                           of Guarantees,  each as of January 19, 1990
Annex II:                  List of  Investments  held by the Company as of
                           January 19,  1990 (see  definition  of "Restricted
                           Investments")
Annex III:                 Description of Outstanding  Liens and  Dispositions
                           of Assets (see Section 4.1(j) and Section 8.3(a)) as
                           of January 19, 1990
Annex IV:                  Potential Non-Recurring Charges
Exhibit A:                 Form of Senior Note
Exhibit B:                 Restructuring

                                      iii

<PAGE>

                        THOMAS INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.
                             THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC.

                                 NOTE AGREEMENT

                                                      Amended and Restated as of
                                                                November 6, 1998

To Each of the Purchasers
Named in Schedule A
Attached Hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Reference is made to the Note Agreement dated as of January 19, 1990
(the "Note Agreement") between THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), DAY-BRITE LIGHTING, INC., now THOMAS INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation ("Holdings") (the Company and Holdings are sometimes
hereafter collectively referred to as the "Issuers"), and each of the
institutional investors named therein pursuant to which $85,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Company's 9.36% Senior Notes due January 31, 2005 were
issued. The Note Agreement subsequently was amended by a First Amendment to Note
Agreement, dated as of April 8, 1992, a Second Amendment to Note Agreement,
dated as of July 31, 1992, and a Third Amendment to Note Agreement, dated as of
July 7, 1998 (collectively, the "Amendments") (the Note Agreement, as amended by
each of the Amendments is hereinafter referred to as the "Outstanding
Agreement"). You are either (i) the Purchasers of the Notes in the aggregate
principal amount set forth opposite your name in the attached Schedule A or (ii)
the assigness of such Purchasers. You and the other Purchasers of the Notes,
together with any assignee or transferee are sometimes referred to herein
individually as a "Purchaser" and collectively as the "Purchasers".

         The Company agrees with you as follows:

Section 1.  AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT

                  Amendments.

                  a. The Purchasers have heretofore agreed to amend and restate
                  the Outstanding Agreement to consolidate into one document,
                  the Note Agreement and each of the Amendments thereto.

                  b. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and on the basis
                  of the representations and warranties herein contained and
                  fulfillment of the conditions set forth herein, the parties

<PAGE>

                  agree that the Outstanding Agreement shall be amended and
                  restated to be in the form of this Agreement.

                  c. This Agreement shall become effective following its
                  execution and delivery by all of the signatories listed on the
                  signature pages and upon satisfaction of all of the conditions
                  set forth in Section 5, all of which shall take place at 9:00
                  A.M. Chicago time on the date set forth above (the "Effective
                  Date"). Delivery of any and all documents called for by
                  Section 5 shall take place at the offices of Gardner, Carton &
                  Douglas, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610.

Section 2.  DESCRIPTION OF NOTES AND COMMITMENT

         Description of Notes. Under the Outstanding Agreement, the Issuers
authorized the issuance of $85,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Senior
Notes (the "Notes") to mature January 31, 2005, to be dated the date of issuance
and to bear interest from the date thereof at the rate of 9.36% per annum prior
to maturity payable semiannually on January 31 and July 31 of each year,
commencing July 31, 1990. The Notes were issued substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A and have the other terms and provisions hereinafter
set forth. The term "Notes" as used herein shall include the Notes delivered
pursuant to the Outstanding Agreement and each Note delivered in substitution or
exchange therefor and, where applicable, shall include the singular number as
well as the plural.

Section 3. PAYMENTS ON THE NOTES

         3.1. Required Prepayments. In addition to payment of all outstanding
principal of the Notes at maturity, the Issuers will prepay, and there shall
become due and payable, $7,730,000 of the then outstanding principal amount of
the Notes, or such lesser amount as would constitute payment in full on the
Notes, on January 31 in each year, commencing January 31, 1995 and ending
January 31, 2004, inclusive, with the remaining principal payment due at
maturity, subject to reduction of the payment due at maturity and of the
required prepayments hereunder in the event optional prepayment is made as
provided in Section 3.2, below. Each such payment shall be at a price of 100% of
the principal amount prepaid, together with interest accrued thereon to the date
of prepayment.

         3.2. Optional Prepayments. Upon notice as provided in Section 3.3, the
Issuers may prepay the Notes, in whole or in part at any time, in multiples of
$250,000 and pursuant to Section 9.2 the Issuers shall prepay the Notes in
whole, in both cases as provided in this Section 3.2. Each such prepayment shall
be at a price of either (i) 100% of the principal amount to be prepaid, plus
interest accrued thereon to the date of prepayment, in the event that the
Reinvestment Yield shall, on the applicable Determination Date, equal or exceed
the interest rate payable on or in respect of the Notes, or (ii) 100% of the
principal amount to be prepaid, plus interest accrued thereon to the date of
prepayment, plus a premium, in the event that the Reinvestment Yield shall, on
such Determination Date, be less than the interest rate payable on or in respect
of the Notes. The premium shall equal the present value of each remaining

                                       2

<PAGE>

scheduled payment of principal and interest which would be required by Section
3.1 in respect of the principal amount of the Notes being so prepaid (in the
case of any prepayment to be made on other than a regular interest payment date,
such premium to be calculated after deducting the amount of interest accrued to
the prepayment date and required to be paid in conjunction with the prepayment
from the next succeeding regular interest payment), determined by discounting
(on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months) each such
amount utilizing an interest factor equal to the Reinvestment Yield, less the
principal amount to be prepaid. In the event optional prepayment is made by the
Issuers, as provided in this Section 3.2, the principal amount of each such
optional prepayment shall be applied on a pro rata basis to reduce the maturity
payment and the required prepayments under Section 3.1. Except as provided in
Section 3.1 and Section 3.2, the Notes shall not be prepayable in whole or in
part.

         3.3. Notice of Prepayments under Section 3.2. (a) The Issuers shall
give notice of any optional prepayment of the Notes under Section 3.2 (including
any prepayment from proceeds of a Disposition pursuant to clause (y) of Section
8.8) to each holder of the Notes not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days
before the date fixed for prepayment, specifying (i) such date and (ii) the
principal amount of the holder's Notes to be prepaid on such date. Notice of
optional prepayment having been so given, the aggregate principal amount of the
Notes specified in such notice, together with the premium, if any, and accrued
interest thereon shall become due and payable on the prepayment date.

                  (b) In the case of any such optional prepayment pursuant to
Section 3.2, the Issuers shall give written notice (such notice to include an
original signature of an authorized officer) to each holder of the Notes as soon
as practicable, but in no event later than 5 days before the date fixed for such
prepayment, of the premium, if any, applicable to such prepayment and the
details of the calculations used to determine the amount of such premium.

         3.4. Surrender of Notes on Prepayment or Exchange. Subject to Section
3.5, upon any partial prepayment of a Note pursuant to this Section 3 or partial
exchange of a Note pursuant to Section 11.3, such Note may, at the option of the
holder thereof, (i) be surrendered to the Issuers pursuant to Section 11.3
hereof in exchange for a new Note equal to the principal amount remaining unpaid
on the surrendered Note, or (ii) be made available to the Issuers for notation
thereon of the portion of the principal so prepaid or exchanged. In case the
entire principal amount of any Note is prepaid or exchanged, such Note shall be
surrendered to the Issuers for cancellation and shall not be reissued, and no
Note shall be issued in lieu of such Note.

         3.5. Direct Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision contained in
the Notes or this Agreement, the Issuers will pay all sums becoming due on each
Note held by you by wire transfer of Federal Funds or other immediately
available funds to such account in your name as specified in Section 12.2 or as
you may otherwise designate to the Issuers in writing, without presentment and
without notations being made thereon, except that any such Note so paid in full
shall be surrendered to the Issuers for cancellation. Any wire transfers shall
identify such payments as "Thomas Industries Inc. and Thomas Industries
Holdings, Inc., 9.36% Senior Notes due January 31, 2005", shall identify the
payment as principal, premium and/or interest and shall be made by 11:00 a.m.
Central Time. Before selling or otherwise transferring any Note, you agree that

                                       3

<PAGE>

you will make a notation thereon of the date to which interest has been paid. If
the transferee of any Note held by you is an Institutional Holder or its nominee
and shall request the Issuers to make all payments on account of such Note that
are payable in cash either by check or by wire transfer of immediately available
funds at an address specified in such request, the Issuers will make such
payments in compliance with such request, provided that such Institutional
Holder undertakes in said request the same obligations in respect of such Note
as those undertaken by you in the immediately preceding sentence.

         3.6. Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. In any case where
any interest payment date on the Notes or the date fixed for any other payment
of any Note or exchange of any Note shall be on a Saturday, Sunday or a legal
holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close in
Louisville, New York or Chicago, then such payment or exchange need not be made
on such date but may be made on the next succeeding business day not a Saturday,
Sunday or a legal holiday or a day upon which banking institutions are
authorized by law to close in Louisville, New York or Chicago, with the same
force and effect as if made on the due date.

         3.7. Allocations. In the event that less than the entire principal
amount of the Notes is being prepaid pursuant to Sections 3.1 or 3.2, the
Issuers will prorate the aggregate principal amount to be prepaid among the
holders in proportion to the unpaid principal amounts held thereof.

Section 4. REPRESENTATIONS

         4.1. Representations of the Issuers. As an inducement to, and as part
of the consideration for, your entering into this Agreement, the Issuers
represent and warrant to you as follows:

                  (a) Corporate Organization and Authority. The Company and
Holdings are corporations duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware, each such company has full corporate
power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into the
Agreement.

                  (b) Qualification to Do Business. The Company and Holdings are
duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as foreign corporations
authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of their
respective businesses or the character of their respective properties would make
such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified or licensed would not materially and adversely affect the business,
properties, operations or financial condition of the Company and Holdings.

                  (c) Subsidiaries. As of January 19, 1990, the Company had no
Subsidiaries except those listed in Annex I attached hereto and each Subsidiary
named in Annex I which is in existence as of the date of this Agreement,
including Holdings, is duly authorized and validly existing in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was incorporated, with all
requisite power and authority to carry on the business now being conducted by
it, and each Restricted Subsidiary is duly licensed or qualified and in good

<PAGE>

standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in each jurisdiction
in which the nature of its business or the character of its properties would
make such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be
qualified or licensed would not materially and adversely affect the business,
properties, operations or financial condition of such Restricted Subsidiary.

                  (d) Financial Statements. The consolidated balance sheets of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the related consolidated statements of
income, cash flows and shareholders' equity for each of the five years in the
period ended December 31, 1988, certified by the Company's independent public
accountants, copies of which have heretofore been delivered to you, were
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted
therein) and present fairly the financial position and results of operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries for and as of the end of each of such fiscal
years. The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and the unaudited
condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and
its Subsidiaries for the nine months ended September 30, 1988 and September 30,
1989 were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
and present fairly the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole as of said dates and the results of its operations for the
fiscal periods then ended, subject to customary year-end audit adjustments.

                  (e) No Contingent Liabilities or Adverse Changes. Except as
listed as a part of Annex I, as of January 19, 1990 the Company and its
Subsidiaries had no contingent liabilities which would have been material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole other than as indicated on the
audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1988
described in the foregoing paragraph (d) of this Section 4.1 (including in the
footnotes thereto), and from December 31, 1988 to January 19, 1990, there were
no material adverse changes in the financial condition of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (f) No Pending Litigation or Proceedings. There are no
actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened against or affecting the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, at law or in equity or before or by any
Federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, court commission,
board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, which could
reasonably be foreseen to result, individually or in the aggregate, in any
material adverse change in the business, properties, operations or financial
condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (g) Compliance with Law. (i) Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is (x) in default with respect to any order, writ, injunction
or decree of any court to which it is a named party of which it has notice; or
(y) in default under any law, rule, regulation, ordinance or order relating to
the businesses of the Company or its Subsidiaries and compliance with which is
material, individually or in the aggregate, with respect to the operation or
financial condition of such businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole.

                                       5

<PAGE>

                  (ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
         "national" of a "designated foreign country", a Person defined as a
         "designated foreign country", an entity defined as "Iran" or an
         "Iranian Entity," an entity defined as "Nicaragua" or a "Nicaraguan,"
         an "Entity controlled by the South African Government," or an entity
         defined as the "Government of Libya" or a "Libyan Person" within the
         definitions in the Foreign Assets Control, Cuban Assets Control,
         Iranian Assets Control, Nicaraguan Control, South African Transactions
         or Libyan Sanctions Regulations of the United States Treasury
         Department, 31 C.F.R., Chapter V, as amended, or any regulation or
         ruling issued thereunder.

                  (h) Environmental Matters. All facilities owned, leased, used
and operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been, and continue to be,
owned, leased, used and operated by the Company in compliance with the
applicable Federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws, regulations and
guidelines as enacted, amended or reauthorized, promulgated or published, except
where the failure to be in compliance with all such laws, regulations or
guidelines would not materially and adversely affect the business, properties,
operations, or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole.

                  (i) Pension Reform Act of 1974. Neither the purchase of the
Notes by you nor the consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement is or will constitute a "prohibited transaction" within the
meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), or Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended ("ERISA") with respect to any "employee pension benefit plan," as
defined in Section 3 of ERISA (a "Plan"), established or maintained by the
Company and its Subsidiaries. Each Plan maintained by the Company and its
Subsidiaries which is intended to qualify under Section 4.01(a) of the Code has
been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to so qualify (except for
recently adopted Plans for which Internal Revenue Service applications have not
yet been submitted), and each related trust has been determined by the Internal
Revenue Service to be exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code. All
Plans established or maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries comply in
all material respects with ERISA and the Code. There exist with respect to the
Company and its Subsidiaries no "multiemployer plans," as defined in the
Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980, for which a material
withdrawal or termination liability may be incurred. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries has any knowledge of any material liability existing with
respect to any "multiemployer plans" in which it participates, including but not
limited to withdrawal or termination liability. There exist with respect to all
Plans or trusts established or maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries:
(i) no material accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of ERISA; (ii)
no termination of any Plan or trust which would result in any liability to the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") or any "reportable event," as that
term is defined in ERISA, which is likely to constitute grounds for termination
of any Plan or trust by the PBGC; and (iii) no "prohibited transaction," as that
term is defined in ERISA, which is likely to subject any Plan, trust or party
dealing with any such Plan or trust to any material tax or penalty on prohibited
transactions imposed by Section 4975 of the Code.

                                       6

<PAGE>

                  (j) Title to Properties. Except as disclosed on the
consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1988 delivered pursuant to
Paragraph (d) of this Section 4.1 and except with respect to the asset
dispositions described on Annex III, as of January 19, 1990 the Company and its
Subsidiaries had (i) good title in fee simple or its equivalent under applicable
law to all the real property owned by them and (ii) good title to all the other
property reflected in said balance sheet or subsequently acquired by the Company
or its Subsidiaries (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary
course of business), in each case free from all liens, charges, and encumbrances
of any kind, except (w) liens for taxes which are not now delinquent; (x) any
mechanic's, laborer's or supplier's liens if payment is not yet due under the
contract in question; (y) other liens, charges and encumbrances that, in the
aggregate, do not materially detract from the value or marketability of said
properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of
the Company and its Subsidiaries and (z) those liens described on Annex III.

                  (k) Leases. The Company and its Subsidiaries enjoy peaceful
and undisturbed possession under all leases under which the Company or its
Subsidiaries are lessees or are operating. None of such leases contains any
restrictions which would materially and adversely affect the operation or use of
the property so leased. All of such leases are valid and subsisting and there
are no defaults in such leases which would result in a material adverse effect
on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (l) Franchises, Patents, Trademarks and Other Rights. The
Company and its Subsidiaries have all franchises, permits, licenses and other
authority as are necessary to enable them to carry on their businesses as now
being conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and none of them is in default
under any of such franchises, permits, licenses or other authority which default
is material to the business, properties, operations or financial (whether the
same be immediate or reasonably expected in the future) condition of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or
possess all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights,
licenses and rights with respect to the foregoing necessary for the present
conduct of their businesses, without any known conflict with the rights of
others which might result in any material adverse change in the business,
properties, operations or financial (whether the same be immediate or reasonably
expected in the future) condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.

                  (m) Status of Notes and Sale of Notes. The Notes have been
duly authorized on the part of the Company and Holdings and constitute the
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and Holdings, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement of the Notes
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement
of the rights of creditors or secured parties or by equitable principles if
equitable remedies are sought. The sale of the Notes and compliance by the
Company and Holdings with all of the provisions of this Agreement and of the
Notes (i) are within the corporate powers of the Company and Holdings, (ii) have
been duly authorized by proper corporate action and (iii) are legal and will not
result in any breach of any of the provisions of, or constitute a default under,
or result in the creation of any lien or encumbrance upon any property of the
Company or its Subsidiaries under the provisions of, any charter instrument,

                                       7

<PAGE>

by-law, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound.

                  (n) No Defaults. No event has occurred and no condition exists
which, after giving effect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
would constitute an Event of Default, or with the lapse of time or the giving of
notice or both would become an Event of Default, under this Agreement. Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under any charter
instrument, by-law, or any loan agreement or other material agreement or
instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound which default is
material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (o) Governmental Consent. Neither the nature of the Company
and its Subsidiaries nor their businesses nor their properties, nor any
relationship between the Company and its Subsidiaries and any other Person, nor
any circumstances in connection with the offer, issue, sale or delivery of the
Notes is such as to require a consent, approval or authorization of, or filing,
registration or qualification with, any governmental authority on the part of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement.

                  (p) Taxes. (i) All tax returns required to be filed by the
Company and its Subsidiaries in any jurisdiction have in fact been filed. All
taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges upon the Company and its
Subsidiaries, or upon any of their properties, income or franchises, which are
due and payable, and which the failure to pay would have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, have been paid timely or within
appropriate extension periods or contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries know of any
proposed additional tax assessment against it nor of any basis for any such
assessment which would have a materially adverse effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries.

                  (ii) As of January 19, 1990, the Federal income tax
         liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries had been finally
         determined by the Internal Revenue Service and satisfied for all
         taxable years to and including the taxable year ended December 31,
         1984. The provisions for taxes on the books of the Company are adequate
         for all open years and for the current fiscal period.

                  (q) Status under Certain Statutes. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is (i) a "public utility company" or a "holding company," or
an "affiliate" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an
"affiliate" of such a "subsidiary company," as such terms are defined in the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, or (ii) a "public
utility" as defined in the Federal Power Act, as amended, or (iii) an
"investment company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, nor directly or indirectly owns, controls or holds with power
to vote, 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of any investment
company nor directly or indirectly controls any investment company.

                                       8

<PAGE>

                  (r) Private Offering. Neither the Company, Holdings nor
Salomon Brothers Inc. (the only Person authorized or employed by the Company and
Holdings as agent, broker, dealer or otherwise in connection with the offering
of the Notes or any similar security of the Company or Holdings) has offered any
of the Notes or any similar security of the Company or Holdings for sale to, or
solicited offers to buy any thereof from, or otherwise approached or negotiated
with respect thereto with, any prospective purchaser, other than not more than
80 institutional investors, including the Purchasers, referred to in a letter
from the Capital Markets Department of Salomon Brothers Inc. to the Company and
Holdings, dated January 19, 1990, a copy of which has been delivered to your
special counsel, each of whom was offered all or a portion of the Notes at
private sale for investment and not for distribution. The Company and Holdings
agree that neither the Company, Holdings nor anyone acting on their
authorization will offer the Notes or any part thereof or any similar securities
for issue or sale to, or solicit any offer to acquire any of the same from,
anyone so as to require the issuance and sale of the Notes to be registered
pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. In making the foregoing representations as to Salomon Brothers Inc.,
the Company and Holdings have relied entirely upon the letter of Salomon
Brothers Inc. described above with respect to such representations.

                  (s) Effect of Other Instruments. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is bound by any agreement or instrument or subject to any
charter or other corporate restriction which, materially and adversely affects
the business, properties, operations, or financial (whether the same be
immediate or reasonably expected in the future) condition, of the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (t) Use of Proceeds. None of the net proceeds from the sale of
the Notes have been or will be used to purchase or carry or refinance any
borrowing the proceeds of which were used to purchase or carry any "margin
stock" or "margin security" as such terms are defined in Regulations G, T, U or
X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. None of the proceeds
from the sale of the Notes will be used to purchase or carry or refinance any
borrowing the proceeds of which were used to purchase or carry any "margin
stock" or "margin security" as such terms are defined in Regulations G, T, U or
X. (12 C.F.R., Chapter II).

                  (u) Change in Business. The Issuers have no present intention,
directly or indirectly, to enter into any business which is substantially
different from that being conducted by them and that do not relate to products
or services supplied by or product markets served by the Company. The Company
has no present intention of entering into any transaction of the kind described
in Section 8.7 hereof with respect to merger or sale of substantially all
assets.

                  (v) Condition of Property. All of the facilities of the
Company and its Subsidiaries are in reasonable operating condition and repair
except for facilities being repaired in the ordinary course of business.

                  (w) Books and Records. The Company and Holdings each (i)
maintain books, records and accounts which, in reasonable detail, accurately and
fairly reflect their transactions and business affairs, and (ii) maintains a
system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable

                                       9

<PAGE>

assurances that transactions are executed in accordance with their management's
general or specific authorization and to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

                  (x) Financial Matters. The Company and Holdings are "solvent
business entities", as said term is used in Section 125.9a of the Illinois
Insurance Code, each company having a "net worth" of not less than $1,000,000.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, during the five years
preceding the date hereof been in default as to principal or interest on any
direct, unconditional obligation, guarantee or insurance of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. As used in the preceding sentence, the terms "direct" and
"unconditional" shall have the meanings assigned to them in Sections 124.9 and
124.17, respectively, of said Code.

                  (y) Full Disclosure. Neither the financial statements referred
to in Paragraph (d) of this Section 4.1, nor this Agreement, nor the
Confidential Private Placement Memorandum, dated November 1989, nor the December
8, 1989 letter from the Company to Salomon Brothers Inc., nor the Thomas
Industries Inc. "Market Analysis - January 1989" presented December 19, 1989 to
representatives of certain of the Purchasers, furnished to you in connection
with the placement of the Notes, taken together, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make the statements
contained therein or herein not misleading in light of the circumstances under
which they were made. There is no fact known, or which, after reasonable inquiry
would be known, by the Company or its Subsidiaries which the Company has not
disclosed to you in writing which has a material adverse effect on or, so far as
the Company and its Subsidiaries can now reasonably foresee, will have a
material adverse effect on the business, property, operations or financial
(whether the same be immediate or reasonably expected in the future) condition
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or the ability of the
Company or its Subsidiaries to perform its undertakings under and in respect of
this Agreement and the Notes.

         4.2. Representations of the Purchasers. You represent, and in entering
into this Agreement the Issuers understand, that you have acquired the Notes for
the purpose of investment and not with a view to the resale or distribution
thereof, and that you have no present intention of selling, negotiating or
otherwise disposing of the Notes; provided that the disposition of your property
shall at all times be and remain within your control, subject, however, to
compliance with Federal securities laws. You acknowledge that the Notes have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and you understand
that the Notes must be held indefinitely unless (i) they are subsequently
registered under said Securities Act, (ii) an exemption from such registration
is available, or (iii) said Securities Act does not apply to their disposition.
You have been advised that the Issuers do not contemplate registering, and are
not legally required to register, the Notes under said Securities Act or any
other applicable laws.

You further represent and warrant that no part of the funds that were used by
you to purchase the Notes constitute assets allocated to any separate account
maintained by you.

                                       10

<PAGE>

Section 5. CLOSING CONDITIONS

         The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the execution of this
Agreement by the Issuers and the Purchasers and to the following conditions to
be satisfied on or before the Effective Date:

         5.1. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties
of the Company and Holdings contained in this Agreement, or otherwise made in
writing in connection herewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the
Effective Date.

         5.2. Events of Default. No event shall have occurred and be continuing
on the Effective Date which would, giving effect to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, constitute an Event of Default, as defined in Section 9.1
hereof, or with notice or lapse of time or both would become such an Event of
Default.

         5.3. Proceedings and Documents. All proceedings taken in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all documents necessary
to the consummation thereof shall be satisfactory in form and substance to you
and your special counsel, and you and your special counsel shall have received
copies (executed or certified as may be appropriate) of all legal documents or
proceedings which you and they may reasonably request in connection with the
consummation of said transactions.

         5.4. Payment of Fees and Expenses. The Issuers shall have paid the fees
and expenses of Gardner, Carton & Douglas, your special counsel, incurred
through the Effective Date and incident to all proceedings in connection with,
transactions contemplated by, and documents incident to this Note Agreement and
the Notes.

Section 6. INTERPRETATION OF AGREEMENT

         6.1. Certain Terms Defined. The terms hereinafter set forth when used
herein shall have the following meanings:

         Adjusted Net Earnings - For any period, the gross revenues of the
Company and Restricted Subsidiaries for such period less all expenses and other
proper charges (including taxes on income), determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and after
eliminating earnings or losses attributable to outstanding minority interests,
but excluding in any event:

                  (i) any gains or losses on the sale or other disposition of
         investments or fixed or capital assets, and any taxes on such excluded
         gains and any tax deductions or credits on account of any such excluded
         losses;

                  (ii) the proceeds of any life insurance policy;

                                       11

<PAGE>

                  (iii) net earnings and losses of any Restricted Subsidiary
         accrued prior to the date it became a Restricted Subsidiary;

                  (iv) net earnings and losses of any corporation (other than a
         Restricted Subsidiary), substantially all of the assets of which have
         been acquired in any manner, realized by such other corporation prior
         to the date of such acquisition;

                  (v) net earnings and losses of any corporation (other than a
         Restricted Subsidiary) with which the Company or a Restricted
         Subsidiary shall have consolidated or which shall have merged into or
         with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary prior to the date of such
         consolidation or merger;

                  (vi) net earnings of any business entity (other than a
         Restricted Subsidiary) in which the Company or any Restricted
         Subsidiary has an ownership interest unless such net earnings shall
         have actually been received by the Company or such Subsidiary in the
         form of cash distributions;

                  (vii) any portion of the net earnings of any Restricted
         Subsidiary which for any reason is unavailable for payment of dividends
         to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the amount
         of such portion as is directly used to make payments with respect to
         the Debt of such Restricted Subsidiary;

                  (viii) earnings resulting from any reappraisal, reevaluation
         or write-up of assets, except write-ups of assets in connection with
         acquisitions in accordance with generally accepted accounting
         principles (under United States accounting standards);

                  (ix) any deferred or other credit representing any excess of
         the equity in any Subsidiary at the date of acquisition thereof over
         the amount invested in such Subsidiary, except gains from decreases in
         depreciation as a result of negative goodwill incurred in write-downs
         in fixed assets of such Subsidiaries;

                  (x) any gain arising from the acquisition of any securities of
         the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

                  (xi) any reversal of any contingency reserve, except to the
         extent that provision for such contingency reserve was made (A) for
         purposes of Restricted Payments under Section 8.2, from income arising
         after December 31, 1989, or (B) for purposes of the definition of
         "Consolidated Earnings Before Fixed Charges", from income arising
         during the twelve-month period ending as of the most recently preceding
         fiscal quarter. The LIFO reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries
         shall not for purposes of this subparagraph (xi) be deemed to
         constitute contingency reserves; and

                  (xii) any earnings resulting from the excess, if any, of
         actual cash amounts expended with respect to post-retirement healthcare

                                       12

<PAGE>

         benefits over charges to earnings with respect to annual recurring
         expenses associated with post-retirement healthcare benefits.

         Affiliate - Any Person (other than a Subsidiary) which directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or
is under common control with, the Company. The term "control" means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

         Capitalized Lease Obligation - The amount which represents the
capitalized value of any lease of property, real or personal, which in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, would be required to
be capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee.

         Consolidated - The total amount determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles by consolidation of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries.

         Consolidated Current Ratio - The ratio of (x) consolidated current
assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, to (y) consolidated current
liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding current
maturities of Funded Debt), determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.

         Consolidated Earnings Before Fixed Charges - For any period, on a
consolidated basis the sum of (i) Adjusted Net Earnings (but excluding therefrom
the effect of extraordinary and non-recurring items) plus (to the extent
deducted in determining Net Earnings) any federal, state, or other income taxes
of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) Consolidated
Fixed Charges. Earnings of Restricted Investments shall be included only to the
extent of dividends or other cash payments actually received. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, however, the effect of the items listed on the attached Annex IV
shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Earnings Before Fixed
Charges to the extent such item is reflected in such Annex. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, solely for the purposes of calculating Consolidated Earnings Before
Fixed Charges as such term is used in Section 8.6, for the fiscal year in which
FASB 106 is adopted by the Company and for each fiscal year thereafter,
Consolidated Earnings Before Fixed Charges shall be calculated by adding to
Adjusted Net Earnings in each such year, to the extent it otherwise would have
been deducted in calculating Adjusted Net Earnings for such year, an amount
equal to the Net FASB 106 Adjustment for such year.

         Consolidated Fixed Charges - For any period, the sum of (i) all
interest expense, interest capitalized during such period, amortization of debt
discount and expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii)
one-third (1/3) of all rental expense of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries with respect to Restricted Leases, each calculated in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles; provided, however, Consolidated
Fixed Charges shall not include fixed charges arising with respect to any
Restricted Subsidiary for any period during which earnings of such Restricted
Subsidiary are not included under paragraphs (iii), (iv) and (v) of the
definition of Adjusted Net Earnings set forth herein.

                                       13

<PAGE>

         Consolidated Funded Debt - Funded Debt of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.

         Consolidated Net Earnings - The Net Earnings of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries consolidated in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be excluded
from the calculation of Consolidated Net Earnings any earnings resulting from
the excess, if any, of actual cash amounts expended with respect to
post-retirement healthcare benefits over charges to earnings with respect to
annual recurring expenses associated with post-retirement healthcare benefits.
Solely for purposes of calculating Consolidated Net Earnings as such term is
used in Section 8.2, for the fiscal year in which FASB 106 is adopted by the
Company and for each fiscal year thereafter, Consolidated Net Earnings (as such
term is used solely in Section 8.2) shall be calculated by adding to
Consolidated Net Earnings (as such term is used solely in Section 8.2) in each
such year, to the extent it otherwise would have been deducted in calculating
Consolidated Net Earnings for such year, an amount equal to the Net FASB 106
Adjustment for such year.

         Consolidated Net Tangible Assets - As of the date of determination
thereof, the total amount of all assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries after deducting (i) goodwill, patents, trade names, trademarks,
unamortized debt discount and expense, organization expense and such other
assets as are properly classified as "intangible assets" in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) any write-up of fixed assets
after the Closing, except write-ups of fixed assets in connection with
acquisitions in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (under
United States accounting standards); (iii) Restricted Investments (valued at the
book value thereof); (iv) treasury stock and translation adjustments; and (v)
all items which in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
would be included on the liability side of a consolidated balance sheet,
excluding minority interests and Funded Debt.

         Current Debt - The aggregate of all Debt which matures on demand or
within one year after the date of creation thereof (other than current
maturities of Funded Debt).

         Debt - (i) All obligations for borrowed money, including Capitalized
Lease Obligations, which in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles would be included in determining total liabilities as shown on the
liability side of a balance sheet as of the date at which indebtedness is to be
determined; (ii) obligations secured by any mortgage, pledge or lien existing on
property owned subject to such mortgage, pledge or lien, whether or not the
indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed; (iii) obligations to make
payment for goods and services whether or not ultimately delivered (for example,
so-called "take-or-pay contracts" but not including accounts payable created in
the ordinary course of business); and (iv) guarantees or endorsements (other
than of notes, bills, and checks presented to banks for collection in the
ordinary course of business) in respect of Debt of other Persons. Letters of
credit issued for bonding, trade, insurance or similar purposes shall not be
considered Debt unless funds are drawn down thereunder.

                                       14

<PAGE>

         Determination Date - The date 15 days before the date fixed for
prepayment pursuant to a notice required by Section 3.3 or the day 15 days
before the date of declaration pursuant to Section 9.2.

         EBITDA - means, for any period, Adjusted Net Earnings plus (to the
extent deducted from, or not included in, Adjusted Net Earnings for the relevant
period) depreciation, amortization, interest expense, taxes and cash
distributions from minority investments.

         FASB 106 - Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106.

         Funded Debt - All items of Debt which have a final maturity of more
than one year from the date of creation thereof (or which are renewable or
extendible at the option of the obligor for a period or periods more than one
year from the date of creation) other than current maturities thereof of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

         Institutional Holder - (i) Until such time as Rule 144A under the
Securities Act of 1933 is adopted, any bank, trust company, insurance company,
pension fund, mutual fund or other similar financial institution which is or
becomes a holder of any Note and (ii) after Rule 144A under the Securities Act
of 1933 is adopted, any "Qualified Institutional Buyer" as defined in such Rule
144A which becomes a holder of any Note.

         Lien - Any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien
(other than any unexercised right of set-off; provided, that when a right of
set-off is exercised, it shall constitute a Lien) or charge of any kind,
including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or
other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, and the filing
of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial
Code of any jurisdiction in connection with any of the foregoing.

         Net Earnings - For any period, net earnings determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles (under United States accounting
standards).

         Net FASB 106 Adjustment - either:

                  (a) in the event the Company elects to recognize its
accumulated post-retirement health care benefit obligation as an expense during
the year FASB 106 is adopted by the Company, then in such event the Net FASB 106
Adjustment shall be a one-time adjustment in an amount equal to the transition
obligation calculated in accordance with FASB 106 and net of any related income
tax benefits recognized and reported in such year as the cumulative effect of a
change in accounting (it being understood that subsequent charges to earnings
representing the annual recurring expense associated with post-retirement health
care benefits shall not be included in computing the net FASB 106 Adjustment);
or

                  (b) in the event the Company elects to amortize its
accumulated post-retirement health care benefit obligation over the average
remaining service lives of active participants (or 20 years if longer), then in
such event the Net FASB 106 Adjustment in any year shall be an amount equal to

                                       15

<PAGE>

the expense associated with the annual amortization of the transition obligation
(the "Annual Amortization Amount"), such Annual Amortization Amount to be
computed in accordance with FASB 106 and to be net of any related income tax
benefits recognized (it being understood that charges to earnings representing
the annual recurring expense associated with post-retirement health care
benefits in excess of the Annual Amortization Amount shall not be included in
computing the Net FASB 106 Adjustment);

provided, however, that in no event shall the Net FASB 106 Adjustment computed
by reference to subparagraph (a) or subparagraph (b) (in the case of the amount
calculated by reference to subparagraph (b), computed on a cumulative basis)
above exceed $6.0 million.

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

         Priority Debt - has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(b).

         Reinvestment Yield - With respect to Notes to be prepaid pursuant to
Section 3.2 (except as otherwise provided in such Section) or Notes the payment
of which has been accelerated pursuant to Section 9.2, the arithmetic mean of
the rates, published for the 5 business days preceding the applicable
Determination Date, in the weekly statistical release designated H. 15(519) (or
any successor publication) of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System under the caption "U.S. Government Securities--Treasury Constant
Maturities" opposite the maturity corresponding to the Weighted Average Life to
Maturity, rounded to the nearest month, of the principal amount of the Notes to
be prepaid plus no additional percentage for all calculations of prepayments
prior to January 31, 1995 and plus .50% for all calculations of prepayments
beginning with the period commencing on January 31, 1995. If no maturity exactly
corresponding to such rounded Weighted Average Life to Maturity shall appear
therein, yields for the two most closely corresponding published maturities
shall be calculated pursuant to the foregoing sentence and the Reinvestment
Yield shall be interpolated from such yields on a straight-line basis (rounding
in each of such relevant periods, to the nearest month).

         Rentals - As of the date of any determination thereof, the maximum
annual rental payments payable with respect to a Restricted Lease in any fiscal
year during which such Restricted Lease is in effect or proposed to be in effect
(including all payments which the lessee is obligated to make to the lessor on
termination of the lease or surrender to the property) payable by the Company or
a Subsidiary, as lessee or sublessee under Restricted Leases of real or personal
property, but exclusive of any amounts required to be paid by the Company or a
Subsidiary (whether or not designated as rents or additional rents) on account
of maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, amortization and similar
charges.

         Restricted Investments - With respect to the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, all loans, advances, capital contributions and transfers of assets
to, and all purchases and other acquisitions for consideration of evidences of
indebtedness, capital stock or other securities of, any Person except:

                                       16

<PAGE>

                  (i) investments in or advances to Restricted Subsidiaries or
         in Persons which through such investments become Restricted
         Subsidiaries;

                  (ii) investments in assets which will be used by the Company
         or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

                  (iii) investments in obligations which mature within one year
         issued by or guaranteed by the United States of America or an agency
         thereof;

                  (iv) state, local or municipal obligations and adjustable or
         auction preferred stock which mature within one year or are adjustable
         or subject to auction within one year and which obligations and
         preferred stock are all rated in one of the top two rating
         classifications by at least one national rating agency. (The national
         rating agency making such rating shall be either Moody's Investors
         Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Corporation so long as one of these
         services shall then be rendering such ratings.);

                  (v) investments in domestic or Euro certificates of deposit or
         time deposits maturing within one year issued by commercial banks
         located in the United States or Canada having capital, surplus and
         undivided profits aggregating at least $250,000,000;

                  (vi) investments held by the Company as of January 19, 1990
         and set forth on Annex II attached hereto; and

                  (vii) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days
         and rated in one of the top two rating classifications by at least one
         national rating agency. (The national rating agency making such rating
         shall be either Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's
         Corporation so long as one of these services shall then be rendering
         such ratings.)

         Restricted Leases - All lease obligations other than Capitalized Lease
Obligations and data processing or vehicle leases.

         Restricted Payments - The sum of (i) all payments, in either cash or
property (in the case of payments of property, the property is to be valued at
the greater of book or fair market value as determined by the board of directors
of the Company), as dividends upon any class of capital stock, and (ii) the
excess, if any, of (x) investments after the date hereof in either cash or
property, in Restricted Investments and purchases of capital stock of the
Company over (y) net return, in either cash or property, of capital in
Restricted Investments through the sale, liquidation, transfer or other
disposition of a Restricted Investment or other return, in either cash or
property, of capital from a Restricted Investment, plus the net proceeds from
the sale, transfer, liquidation or other disposition of capital stock of the
Company, plus the net proceeds from the sale, transfer, exercise or other
disposition of warrants plus the par value of debt that has been converted into
capital stock of the Company.

                                       17

<PAGE>

         Restricted Subsidiary - A Subsidiary which has not been designated an
Unrestricted Subsidiary of which the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary
owns, directly or indirectly, more than 75% of the voting stock and which is
located in the United States or Canada, Australia, Japan, U.K., France, West
Germany, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Scandinavian or Benelux countries. The Board of
Directors of the Company may designate or redesignate any Unrestricted
Subsidiary a Restricted Subsidiary provided that such Unrestricted Subsidiary at
the time of such designation or redesignation complies with all covenants
applicable to Restricted Subsidiaries, and immediately thereafter the Company is
in compliance with Section 8.4(a) after giving effect to said designation. At no
time shall the entity resulting from the Company's exchange of its lighting
division assets for a minority interest in a joint venture, as further described
on Exhibit B (the "Restructuring"), be a Restricted Subsidiary.

         Sale and Leaseback Transaction - Any arrangement, directly or
indirectly, with any Person whereby a seller or a transferor shall sell or
otherwise transfer any real or personal property and then or thereafter lease
(whether or not a Capitalized Lease Obligation), or repurchase under an extended
purchase contract, the same or similar property from the purchaser or the
transferee of such property.

         Secured Debt - All Debt which is secured by a lien, pledge, mortgage or
other interest on any of the property or assets, whether real or personal, of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus Capitalized Lease
Obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

         Subsidiary - A corporation of which the Company owns, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of the voting stock.

         Unrestricted Subsidiary - Any Subsidiary which has been designated by
the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary which at the
time of such designation neither owns directly or indirectly, any Debt or
capital stock of any other Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) immediately thereafter
the Company is in compliance with Section 8.4(a).

         Weighted Average Life to Maturity - As applied to any prepayment of
principal of the Notes, at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing
(a) the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid, as the
case may be, into (b) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the
amount of each then remaining required prepayment, including payment at final
maturity by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest 1/12th) which
will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.

         Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary - Any Restricted Subsidiary 100% of
the voting shares of which is owned by the Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted
Subsidiary.

         Terms which are defined in other Sections of this Agreement shall have
the meanings specified therein.

                                       18

<PAGE>

         6.2. Accounting Principles. Where the character or amount of any asset
or liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined or any
consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made for the
purposes of this Agreement, the same shall be done in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in force at the time of such determination,
consolidation or computation to the extent applicable, except where such
principles are inconsistent with the requirements of this Agreement.

         6.3. Valuation Principles. Except when indicated expressly to the
contrary by the use of terms such as "fair value," "fair market value" or
"market value," each asset, each liability and each capital item of any Person,
and any quantity derivable by a computation involving any of such assets,
liabilities or capital items, shall be taken at the net book value thereof for
all purposes of this Agreement. "Net book value" with respect to any asset,
liability or capital item of any Person shall mean the amount at which the same
is recorded or, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
should have been recorded in the books of account of such Person, as reduced by
any reserves which have been or, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, should have been set aside with respect thereto, but in
every case (whether or not permitted in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles) without giving effect to any write-up, write-down or
write-off relating thereto which was made after the date of this Agreement.

         6.4. Direct or Indirect Actions. Where any provision in this Agreement
refers to action to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited
from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether the action in question
is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.

Section 7. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The Issuers agree that, so long as any amount remains unpaid on any
Note:

         7.1. Corporate Existence. The Company will maintain and preserve, and
will cause each Subsidiary to maintain and preserve, its corporate existence and
right to carry on its business and duly procure all necessary renewals and
extensions thereof and use, and cause each Subsidiary to use, its best efforts
to maintain, preserve and renew all of its rights, powers, privileges and
franchises which in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company
continue to be advantageous to the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided,
however, that the corporate existence of the Company or of any Subsidiary may be
discontinued as a result of a liquidation or sale of assets or merger in
accordance with the provisions of Section 8.7 hereof.

         7.2. Insurance. The Company will insure and keep insured, and will
cause each Subsidiary to insure and keep insured, in a prudent manner, at all
times all of its properties which are of an insurable nature and of the
character usually insured by companies operating properties similar to the
properties of the Company and each such Subsidiary, against loss or damage by
fire and from other causes customarily insured against by companies engaged in a
business similar to that of the Company and each Subsidiary in such amounts as
are usually insured against by such companies. All such property casualty
insurance with respect to the domestic operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall at the time said policy or any renewal thereof is entered
into be carried with financially sound and reputable insurers who are rated "A+"

                                       19

<PAGE>

or better by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ("Best"); provided, however, that in the
event certain property casualty insurance is currently carried by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries in sound and reputable insurers rated "A" by Best, or
with respect to any such insurer currently rated "A+" which hereafter is
downgraded to "A", the Company or any such Subsidiary, as the case may be, may
continue to carry such insurance and any renewals thereof so long as such
insurance carrier(s) continue to be rated at least "A" by Best. The Company will
also maintain, and will also cause each Subsidiary to maintain, in a prudent
manner, at all times adequate insurance against loss or damage from such hazards
and risks to the person and property of others as are usually insured against by
companies operating properties similar to the properties of the Company and such
Subsidiary. All such third-party liability insurance with respect to the
domestic operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall at the time said
policy or any renewal thereof is entered into be carried with financially sound
and reputable insurers who are rated "A+" by Best; provided, however, that in
the event certain third-party liability insurance is currently carried by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries with financially sound and reputable insurers
who are rated at least "A" by Best, or with respect to any such insurer
currently rated "A+" which hereafter is downgraded to "A", the Company or any
such Subsidiary, as the case may be, may continue to carry such insurance and
any renewals thereof so long as such insurance carrier(s) continue to be rated
at least "A" by Best if such insurance may continue to be procured by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in a commercially
reasonable fashion. The Company shall furnish you on or prior to the Closing
Date a summary of insurance it presently has in force.

         7.3. Taxes, Claims for Labor and Materials. The Company will pay and
discharge when due, and will cause each Subsidiary to pay and discharge when
due, all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it
or its property or assets, or upon properties leased by it (but only to the
extent required to do so by the applicable lease), prior to the date on which
penalties attach thereto, and all lawful claims which, if unpaid, might become a
Lien upon its property or assets, provided that neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or
claim, the payment of which is being contested in good faith and by proper
proceedings that will stay the forfeiture or sale of any property and with
respect to which adequate reserves, if any, are maintained in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.

         7.4. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will maintain, preserve and
keep, and will cause each Subsidiary to maintain, preserve and keep, its
material properties (whether owned in fee or a leasehold interest) in good
repair and working order, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and from time to time
will make all necessary repairs, replacements, renewals and additions required
to maintain the business of the Company and each Subsidiary.

         7.5. Maintenance of Records. The Company will keep, and will cause each
Subsidiary to keep, at all times proper books of record and account in which
full, true and correct entries will be made of all dealings or transactions of
or in relation to the business and affairs of the Company or such Subsidiary, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
throughout the period involved (except for such changes as are disclosed in such
financial statements or in the notes thereto and concurred in by the independent
certified public accountants), and the Company will, and will cause each

                                       20

<PAGE>

Subsidiary to, provide reasonable protection against loss or damage to such
books of record and account.

         7.6. Financial Information and Reports. The Company will furnish to you
and to any other Institutional Holder the following:

                  (a) As soon as available and in any event within 60 days after
the end of each of the first three quarterly accounting periods of each fiscal
year of the Company, an unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such period and unaudited
condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and
its Subsidiaries for the periods beginning on the first day of such fiscal year
and the first day of such period and ending on the date of such balance sheet
(being the financial information furnished the Securities and Exchange
Commission in Form 10-Q), setting forth in comparative form the corresponding
figures for the corresponding periods of the preceding fiscal year, all such
reports to be consolidated and in reasonable detail prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the
period involved (except for such changes as are disclosed in such financial
statements or in the notes thereto and concurred in by independent certified
public accountants);

                  (b) As soon as available and in any event within 90 days after
the last day of each fiscal year an audited consolidated balance sheet of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the related
statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal year,
in each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the preceding fiscal
year, all such reports to be consolidated and in reasonable detail, prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
throughout the period involved (except for changes as are disclosed in such
financial statements or in the notes thereto and concurred in by independent
certified public accountants) and accompanied by a report of a firm of
independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing
selected by the Company. In addition, one copy of the Company's Annual Report to
Stockholders shall be delivered to the Securities Valuation Office, National
Association of Insurance Commissioners, 195 Broadway, New York, New York 10007.

                  (c) As soon as available, copies of such financial statements,
notices, reports and proxy statements as the Company shall furnish to its
stockholders; copies of all registration statements (other than registration
statements covering employee benefit, stock option or similar plans) and
periodic reports which the Company may file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and any other similar or successor agency of the Federal government
administering the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and
copies of all reports relating to the Company or its securities which the
Company may file with any securities exchange on which any of the Company's
securities may be registered;

                  (d) Together with the financial reports delivered pursuant to
Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 7.6, a certificate of the chief financial
officer or any officer responsible for financial or accounting matters, (i) to
the effect that the signer thereof has re-examined the terms and provisions of

                                       21

<PAGE>

this Agreement and that, to the best of his knowledge after due inquiry, at the
date of such certificate, during the periods covered by such financial reports
and as of the end of such periods, no Event of Default, or event which, with the
lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would become an Event of Default
hereunder, is occurring or has occurred as of the date of such certificate,
during such periods and as of the end of such periods, or if the signer is aware
of any such event or Event of Default, he shall disclose in such statement the
nature thereof, its period of existence and what action, if any, the Company has
taken or proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) in the event such
consolidated financial reports include information with respect to Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, setting forth information and computations in sufficient detail to
delete therefrom information with respect to all such Unrestricted Subsidiaries,
and (iii) stating whether, after giving effect to the information furnished in
(ii), the Company is in compliance with Sections 8.1 through 8.14 and setting
forth, in sufficient detail, the information and computations required to
establish whether or not, after giving effect to the information furnished in
(ii), the Company was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 8.1
through 8.11 during the periods covered by the financial reports then being
furnished and as of the end of such periods;

                  (e) Together with the financial reports delivered pursuant to
Paragraph (b) of this Section 7.6, a report of the independent certified public
accountants stating that they have reviewed the Agreement and setting forth in
reasonable detail the computations showing whether there was compliance with the
requirements of Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3(g), 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7(b), 8.8, 8.9, 8.10
and 8.11, inclusive, and stating that in making the examination necessary for
expressing an opinion on such financial statements, nothing came to their
attention that caused them to believe that there is in existence or has occurred
any Event of Default hereunder, or any event (the occurrence of which is
ascertainable by accountants in the course of normal audit procedures) which,
with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would become an Event
of Default hereunder or, if such accountants shall have obtained knowledge of
any such event or Event of Default, they shall disclose in such report the
nature thereof and the length of time it has existed;

                  (f) The Company will notify you with respect to change of
independent public accountants retained by the Company and will retain at all
times independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing; and

                  (g) Such additional information as you or such other
Institutional Holder of the Notes may reasonably request concerning the Company.

         7.7. Inspection of Properties and Records. The Company will allow any
representative of you or any other Institutional Holder, so long as you or such
other Institutional Holder shall hold any Note, to visit and inspect any of its
properties, to examine its financial books of record and account and to discuss
its financial affairs, finances and accounts with its officers and its public
accountants in the presence of a financial or accounting officer of the Company
designated by either the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, all at such reasonable times and as often as
you or such Institutional Holder may reasonably request; provided, however, that
the time for such visit and inspection shall be within a reasonable time after
notice to the Company, except during the existence of an Event of Default (or
any event or condition which, with the passage of time, the giving of notice, or
both, would constitute an Event of Default) during which time, the time of such
visit and inspection shall be within three business days of such notice. All

                                       22

<PAGE>

information disclosed pursuant to this Section shall be kept confidential,
except as you or as such other Institutional Holder may be required by law or by
any regulatory agency which you or such other Institutional Holder may be
subject to reveal such information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall
have no obligation to preserve the confidential nature of any confidential
information which: (a) was previously known to you; (b) is disclosed to third
parties by the Company or Holdings without restriction; (c) is or becomes
available other than by unauthorized disclosure to any member of the public
other than a person or firm with whom the Company enjoys a confidential
relationship; (d) was or is independently developed by you; (e) is released for
disclosure by the Company or Holdings with the written consent of either of
them; or (f) is legitimately received by you from a third party.

         7.8. ERISA. (a) The Company agrees that all assumptions and methods
used to determine the actuarial valuation of employee benefits, both vested and
unvested, under any Plan of the Company and its Subsidiaries and each such Plan,
will comply in all material respects with ERISA and other applicable laws.

                  (b) The Company will not at any time cause any Plan
established, maintained or contributed to by it or any Subsidiary or "affiliate"
(as defined in Section 407(d)(7) of ERISA) to:

                  (i) engage in any "prohibited transaction" as such term is
         defined in Section 4975 of the Code or in Section 406 of ERISA;

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

                  (iii) be terminated under circumstances which are likely to
         result in the imposition of a lien on the property of the Company or
         any Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA, if and to the extent
         such termination is within the control of the Company;

if the event or condition described in (i), (ii) or (iii) above is likely to
subject the Company or any Subsidiary or "affiliate" to a liability which, in
the aggregate, is material in relation to the business, operations, property or
condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis.

                  (c) Upon the request of you or any other Institutional Holder,
the Company will furnish a copy of the annual report of each Plan (Form 5500)
required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Copies of annual reports
shall be delivered no later than 30 days after the later of the date such report
has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service or the date the copy is
requested.

                                       23

<PAGE>

                  (d) The Company will notify you and each other Institutional
Holder with respect to (i) any material accumulated funding deficiency within
the meaning of ERISA of any Plan of the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) any
termination of any plan or trust which would result in any material liability of
the Company or any Subsidiary to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
("PBGC") or any "reportable event," as that term is defined in ERISA, which is
likely to constitute grounds for termination of any plan or trust by the PBGC;
and (iii) any "prohibited transaction," as that term is defined in ERISA, which
is likely to subject any plan, trust or party dealing with any such plan or
trust to any material tax or penalty on prohibited transactions imposed by
Section 4975 of the Code.

         7.9. .Compliance with Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries will
comply with all laws, court orders, rules and regulations applicable to its
business, including, without limitation, all environmental laws and regulations,
except for such failures to so comply which individually or in the aggregate
would not be material to the operation or financial condition of the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

         7.10. Acquisition of Notes. The Issuers will forthwith cancel any Notes
in any manner or at any time acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate and such Notes shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any of the
purposes of this Agreement or the Notes.

Section 8. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         The Company and Holdings agree that, for so long as any amount remains
unpaid on any Note:

         8.1. Current Ratio. The Company will not, as of the end of any fiscal
quarter, permit its Consolidated Current Ratio for such quarter to be less than
1.50:1.00.

         8.2. Restricted Payments. The Company will not, directly or indirectly,
declare, make or become obligated to make any Restricted Payment, if immediately
after giving effect thereto the sum of Restricted Payments declared, made or
obligated, for the period subsequent to December 31, 1989 would exceed the sum
of (i) the lesser of (x) $5,200,000 or (y) the amount determined by an audit
conducted by the Company's independent public accountants to constitute the net
gain of the Company with respect to the sale of its fastener division, (ii)
$15,000,000, plus (iii) seventy-five percent (75%) (or minus 100% in the case of
a loss) of Consolidated Net Earnings (but excluding the effect of extraordinary
or non-recurring gains) accumulated after December 31, 1989. The amount to be
determined by audit referred to in clause (y) above was confirmed in writing by
a letter from the independent accountants addressed to you no later than March
31, 1990. For purposes of this Section 8.2, the effect of the items listed on
the attached Annex IV shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net
Earnings to the extent such item is reflected in such Annex.

         8.3. Liens. The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or permit to exist, directly or indirectly,
any Lien on its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,
except:

                                       24

<PAGE>

                  (a) Liens existing on property of the Company or any
Subsidiary as of the date of January 19, 1990 that are described on Annex III
attached hereto;

                  (b) Construction, materialmen's or warehousemen's Liens
securing obligations not overdue, or if overdue, being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings;

                  (c) Pledges or deposits to secure obligations under workmen's
compensation laws, unemployment insurance or other social security or similar
judgments thereunder which are not currently dischargeable and pledges,
deposits, performance bonds or similar security interests in connection with
bids, tenders, contracts and leases to which the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary is a party;

                  (d) Attachments, judgments and other similar Liens arising in
connection with court proceedings ("Attachments, etc.") which in the aggregate
do not exceed $1,000,000 and Attachments, etc. which in the aggregate do exceed
$1,000,000 provided with respect to such excess the claims secured thereby are
being actively contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and such
liens have not remained in effect for more than 90 days without having been
effectively stayed, vacated or bonded and adequate reserves, if any, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, are maintained by the
Company or the Restricted Subsidiary affected in connection with such
proceedings;

                  (e) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges not
then due and delinquent or the validity of which is being contested in good
faith and adequate reserves, if any, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, are maintained by the Company or the Restricted
Subsidiary affected in connection with such contest;

                  (f) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business
(including easements and similar encumbrances) that are not incurred in
connection with the borrowing of money, provided that such liens do not
materially interfere with the conduct of the business of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or

                  (g) Liens created after the Closing Date by purchase money
mortgages, capitalized leases, conditional sales contracts, security interests,
deeds of trust, real estate mortgages or similar instruments given to secure the
payment of the purchase price incurred in connection with the acquisition of
fixed assets useful and intended to be used in carrying out the business of the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Debt secured thereby is
permitted pursuant to Section 8.4(b).

         8.4. Debt. (a) The Company will not permit at any time the ratio of
Funded Debt of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to EBITDA to exceed
(i) 3.5 to 1.0 for the period commencing the date hereof through September 30,
1999, and (ii) 3.0 to 1.0 subsequent to September 30, 1999. For purposes of this
Section 8.4(a), Current Debt of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
shall be deemed to constitute Funded Debt of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries unless, for a period of forty five (45) consecutive days (which
period shall be determined by the Company) during each fiscal year, there shall

                                       25

<PAGE>

have been outstanding no Current Debt of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries. For purposes of calculating the amount of Current Debt which will
be deemed to constitute Funded Debt pursuant to the previous sentence, the
amount of such Funded Debt will equal the average amount of Current Debt
outstanding during each forty five (45) day period of determination.

                  (b) The Company will not permit at any time Debt of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Debt owed to the Company or another
Restricted Subsidiary) and Secured Debt (together, "Priority Debt") to be
incurred, unless after giving effect thereto, (i) such Priority Debt would be
permitted to be outstanding under paragraph (a) of this Section 8.4, and (ii)
the aggregate amount of such Priority Debt at any time outstanding would not
exceed the sum of $10,000,000 plus 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. If
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary purchases or acquires 75% or more of the
assets or capital stock of a Person that has outstanding Funded Debt and such
acquired Person is thereupon designated a Restricted Subsidiary, then, not
withstanding clause (ii) of this paragraph (b), such Funded Debt of such
acquired Person may remain outstanding if, after giving effect thereto, the
Company could incur additional Funded Debt pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
Section 8.4.

         8.5. Restricted Leases. The Company will not and will not permit any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur, guarantee or otherwise
become liable, directly or indirectly, with respect to any Restricted Lease
(except for the renewal of any existing Restricted Lease, other than with
Affiliates, entered into on an arm's-length basis) if, at the time of entering
into any such Restricted Lease and after giving effect thereto, on a pro forma
basis, as of the end of the preceding four fiscal quarters, its Consolidated
Earnings Before Fixed Charges would be less than 175% of its Consolidated Fixed
Charges for such four fiscal quarters plus one third (1/3) of proposed Rentals
with respect to such proposed Restricted Lease of the Company, calculated in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (the "Lease Ratio");
provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing from the Company and any Restricted
Subsidiary may create, assume, incur, guarantee, become liable or have
outstanding, directly or indirectly, Restricted Leases with aggregate rental
obligations in an amount not in excess of $1.5 million per year (the "Additional
Rentals") without the requirement that the incurrence of such Additional Rentals
comply with the Lease Ratio; provided further that in no event shall any rental
obligations outstanding on or after August 1, 1995, constitute Additional
Rentals; provided further that with respect to any rental obligations which are
outstanding on or after August 1, 1995, the Company shall be required to comply
with the Lease Ratio and the amount of any such rental obligations outstanding
on or after August 1, 1995, shall be included for purposes of calculating the
Lease Ratio; provided further that for purposes of calculating the Lease Ratio,
all rental obligations which were Additional Rentals prior to August 1, 1995 and
which remain outstanding on August 1, 1995, will be deemed to have been incurred
on August 1, 1995; and provided further that at all times Additional Rentals
will be included in the calculation of Consolidated Fixed Charges for purposes
of Section 8.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the incurrence of
rental obligations in excess of the amount of the Additional Rentals, the
Company shall be required to comply with the Lease Ratio and the amount of any
Additional Rentals shall be included for purposes of calculating the Lease
Ratio.

                                       26

<PAGE>

         8.6. Fixed Charge Coverage. The Company will not, as of the end of any
fiscal quarter, permit its Consolidated Earnings Before Fixed Charges for such
quarter and the preceding three fiscal quarters to be less than 150% of its
Consolidated Fixed Charges for such quarter and the preceding three fiscal
quarters.

         8.7. Merger or Sale of Substantially All Assets. The Company will not,
and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, merge or consolidate
with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to, any
other Person, except that,

                  (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with,
or sell, lease or convey substantially all of its assets to (i) the Company
(provided that the Company shall be the successor corporation) or (ii) another
Restricted Subsidiary; and

                  (b) The Company may merge or consolidate with, or sell, lease
or convey substantially all of its assets to another corporation provided that
the surviving corporation (which includes any corporation to which such assets
shall have been sold, leased or conveyed) (i) is a United States corporation,
(ii) assumes payment of the Notes and performance of all obligations under this
Agreement, and no Event of Default (as defined in Section 9.1 of this Agreement)
shall have occurred and be continuing, and (iii) after giving effect to such
merger, consolidation, sale, lease or conveyance of assets the surviving
corporation would be in compliance with Section 8.4(a).

         8.8. Sale of Assets. The Company will not, and will not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any asset (a
"Disposition") other than inventories or surplus, worn-out or obsolete assets
disposed of in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise permitted in
Section 8.7, if (a) the Disposition occurs at less than fair market value, or
(b) after giving effect to the Disposition on a pro forma basis, (i) the
Consolidated Earnings Before Fixed Charges derived from the assets sold in all
the Dispositions (on a Consolidated basis) during the twelve-month period ending
as of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding the Disposition would exceed
fifteen percent (15%) of the Company's Consolidated Earnings Before Fixed
Charges computed as at the end of such fiscal quarter as to such twelve-month
period or (ii) the aggregate net book value of all such Dispositions (on a
Consolidated basis) during the twelve-month period ending as of the most recent
fiscal quarter preceding the Disposition would exceed ten percent (10%) of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets computed as of the end of such fiscal quarter.
Provided, however, that Dispositions shall be excluded from the fifteen percent
(15%) limitation in (b)(i) and the ten percent (10%) calculation in (b)(ii),
above, to the extent the net proceeds from such Dispositions are either (x) used
to acquire productive assets, subject only to Liens securing property of a value
in excess of the amount of Dispositions but subject to no other prior Liens, in
similar or related lines of business of the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries or (y) used to prepay the Notes pursuant to Section 3.2 (including
the premium, if any, thereon determined in accordance with Section 3.2), such
prepayment to be that part of the total proceeds of the Disposition which bears
the same proportion to such total proceeds as the aggregate principal amount of
the Notes then outstanding bears to the aggregate principal amount of all Funded
Debt of the Company ranking pari passu with the Notes then outstanding.

                                       27

<PAGE>

         8.9. Sale and Leaseback Transaction. The Company will not, and will not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, effect any Sale and Leaseback
Transaction unless, after giving effect thereto, the provisions of Sections 8.4,
8.5 and 8.8 would be satisfied.

         8.10. Dispositions of Stock and Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries. The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of capital stock, Funded Debt
or Current Debt of any Restricted Subsidiary owned by it except the sale or
transfer to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary or for
directors' qualifying shares. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding
sentence, all shares of capital stock, Funded Debt or Current Debt of a
particular Restricted Subsidiary may be sold or transferred as an entirety,
provided that (i) such Restricted Subsidiary shall not own any shares of stock,
Funded Debt or Current Debt of any other Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such sale
or transfer would not be prohibited under Section 8.7 or 8.8, and (iii) after
giving effect thereto, the Company would be in compliance with Section 8.4(a).

         8.11. Issuance of Stock by Restricted Subsidiaries. Unless otherwise
permitted by Section 8.10, the Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to issue, sell or dispose of any shares of any class of its own capital stock
except that a Restricted Subsidiary may issue, sell or dispose of shares of its
capital stock to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, or for
directors' qualifying shares.

         8.12. Change in Business. The Company and its Subsidiaries are
generally engaged in the manufacture and sale of general consumer, commercial
and industrial tools, machinery and equipment, including without limitation
pumps and compressors, the manufacture and sale of electronic and other
electrical equipment and components, including without limitation residential,
commercial, industrial and outdoor lighting, the manufacture and sale of various
commercial accessories and tools, and the manufacture and sale of various
consumer products, including without limitation fireplaces, wood stoves, metal
chimneys, fire screens and fireplace accessories. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary will engage in any business that is not substantially similar to, or
otherwise complementary with, the general nature of the business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries if, as a result, the general nature of the business, taken
on a consolidated basis, which would then be engaged in by the Company and its
Subsidiaries would be substantially changed from the general nature of the
business engaged in by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of this
Agreement as described above.

         8.13. Consolidated Tax Returns. The Company will not file, or consent
to the filing of, any consolidated Federal income tax return with any Person
other than a Subsidiary.

         8.14. Purchase of Notes. The Company will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary to purchase or offer to purchase any of the Notes, except pursuant to
a written offer made equally to all holders or pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.

         8.15. Dealing with Affiliates. The Company will not, and will not
permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction (including the furnishing
of goods or services) with an Affiliate except in the ordinary course of

                                       28

<PAGE>

business on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Company or such
Subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable arm's-length transaction with
a Person not an Affiliate.

Section 9.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES THEREFOR

         9.1. Nature of Events. An "Event of Default" shall exist in case any
one or more of the following occurs and is continuing:

                  (a) Default in the payment of the principal of any of the
Notes or the premium thereon, if any, at maturity, at any date fixed for
prepayment or upon acceleration of maturity;

                  (b) Default in the payment of interest on any of the Notes
when the same shall have become due, and such default shall continue for a
period of 10 days (the "Grace Period"); provided, however, that it shall be an
Event of Default for the Issuers to utilize the Grace Period with respect to two
consecutive interest payments or six interest payments during the life of the
Notes (unless the default in the payment of interest occurs due to events beyond
the control of the Issuers);

                  (c) Default shall occur under any other covenant or provision
of this Agreement which is not remedied within 30 days after notice thereof to
the Issuers;

                  (d) Default shall occur with respect to any other Debt in
excess of $1,000,000, individually or in the aggregate, of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary and such default shall continue, unless waived, beyond the
period of grace, if any, allowed with respect thereto and would cause or permit
the holders thereof to declare the entire principal and all interest accrued on
such obligations to be forthwith due and payable;

                  (e) Any representation or warranty made by the Company or
Holdings herein, or made by the Company or Holdings in any written statement or
certificate furnished by the Company or Holdings in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Notes or furnished by the Company or Holdings pursuant hereto,
proves incorrect in any material respect as of the date of the issuance or
making thereof; or

                  (f) Any judgment, writ or warrant of attachment or any similar
process in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000 shall be entered or filed
against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or against any property or
assets of either and remain unpaid, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed (through
appeal or otherwise) for a period of 60 days after the Company receives notice
thereof;

                  (g) The Company or any Subsidiary shall be in financial
difficulties as evidenced by

                  (i) its generally not paying its debts as they become due or
         its admitting in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as
         they become due;

                                       29

<PAGE>

                  (ii) its filing a petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization
         or for the adoption of an arrangement under the Federal Bankruptcy
         Code, or any similar applicable Federal or State bankruptcy or
         insolvency law, as now or in the future amended (herein collectively
         called "Bankruptcy Laws"), or an answer or other pleading admitting or
         failing to deny the material allegations of such a petition or seeking,
         consenting to or acquiescing in relief provided for under the
         Bankruptcy Laws;

                  (iii) its making an assignment of all or a substantial part of
         its property for the benefit of its creditors;

                  (iv) its seeking or consenting to or acquiescing in the
         appointment of a receiver, liquidator, custodian or trustee of it or
         for all or a substantial part of its property;

                  (v) its being finally adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent;

                  (vi) the entry of a court order, which shall not be vacated,
         set aside or stayed within 60 days from the date of entry, appointing a
         receiver, liquidator, custodian or trustee of it or for all or a
         substantial part of its property, or approving a petition filed against
         it for, or effecting an arrangement in, bankruptcy or for a
         reorganization pursuant to the Bankruptcy Laws or for any other
         judicial modification or alteration of the rights of creditors; or

                  (vii) the assumption of custody or sequestration by a court of
         competent jurisdiction of all or a substantial part of its property,
         which custody or sequestration shall not be suspended or terminated
         within 60 days from its inception.

         9.2. Remedies on Default. (i) When any Event of Default described in
Section 9.1 hereof, except paragraphs (a), (b) and (g) thereof, has happened and
is continuing, the holder or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
Notes then outstanding may (in addition to any other right, power or remedy
permitted to such holder or holders by law) declare the entire principal and all
interest accrued on all the Notes, including any penalty interest on principal
or interest, then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable, (ii) when any
Event of Default described in paragraphs (a) or (b) of Section 9.1 hereof has
happened and is continuing, any holder may (in addition to any other right,
power or remedy permitted to such holder or holders by law) declare the entire
principal and all interest accrued on all the Notes, including any penalty
interest on principal or interest, then outstanding to be forthwith due and
payable and (iii) when an Event of Default described in (g) of Section 9.1
hereof has happened, without any notice or other action by any holder, the
entire principal and all interest accrued on all the Notes, including any
penalty interest on principal or interest then outstanding shall be forthwith
due and payable, in all three cases, without any presentment, demand, protest or
other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived. The Issuers
will forthwith pay to the holder or holders of all the Notes then outstanding
the entire principal of and interest accrued on such Notes, including any
penalty interest on principal or interest.

                                       30

<PAGE>

         When any Event of Default occurs with respect to any of the covenants
set forth in Sections 8.2 through 8.5 or 8.7 through 8.15 hereof, which Event of
Default is directly related to, causes or is caused by, a Designated Event (as
defined below), the Issuers, upon demand by a holder or holders of the Notes,
will pay to the holder or holders of the Notes a premium as calculated pursuant
to Section 2.2 and the entire principal of and interest accrued on such Notes,
including any penalty interest on principal or interest.

         A "Designated Event" for the purposes of the preceding paragraph shall
be deemed to have occurred when:

                  (i) (a) a "person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections
         13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
         (the "Exchange Act")) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in
         Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more
         than 40% of the total voting power of all classes of stock then
         outstanding of the Company normally entitled to vote in elections of
         directors ("Voting Stock"), or (b) a person or group which is the
         beneficial owner as of this date, directly or indirectly, of more than
         40% of the total Voting Stock becomes the beneficial owner, directly or
         indirectly, at any time or from time to time, in one or more
         transactions, of an additional 5% or more of the Voting Stock within
         any 12-month period (including the Voting Stock which causes such
         person or group to so become the beneficial owner of an additional 5%
         or more of such Voting Stock); provided that for purposes of this
         clause (i) such 40% shall be 50% with respect to any Employee Benefit
         Plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
         Security Act of 1974, as amended) or any "plan" (within the meaning of
         Item 402 of Regulation S-K) maintained by the Company or any
         Subsidiary, or any trust or funding vehicle maintained thereunder (a
         "Benefit Plan") or any group comprised solely of Benefit Plans; or

                  (ii) the Company consolidates with or merges into another
         corporation or any corporation consolidates with or merges into the
         Company, in either event pursuant to a transaction in which more than
         30% of the Voting Stock (including treasury stock of the Company) is
         changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property,
         provided that any such transaction involving solely the reincorporation
         of the Company in another state shall be excluded from the operation of
         this clause (ii); or

                  (iii) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, directly or
         indirectly, in a single transaction or in a series of related
         transactions within any 12-month period, conveys, transfers or leases
         to any person or persons any assets of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries with an aggregate fair market value equal to or greater
         than 50% of the aggregate value of the Company's consolidated
         non-current assets, all such values to be determined in good faith by
         the Company's Board of Directors, which determination shall be
         conclusive; or

                  (iv) on any date (a "Calculation Date") the Company makes any
         distribution or distributions of cash, property or securities
         (excluding regular dividends and distributions of capital stock, as
         determined by the Company's historical practice, or rights to acquire

                                       31

<PAGE>

         capital stock of the Company pursuant to its then current Rights
         Agreement) to holders of equity securities of the Company (collectively
         a "Distribution"), or the Company, any Subsidiary or any Benefit Plan
         purchases or otherwise acquires, directly or indirectly, beneficial
         ownership of equity securities of the Company (a "Purchase"), and the
         sum of the fair market values of such Distribution or Purchase, and of
         all other prior Distributions and Purchases during the preceding
         12-month period or 36-month period is at least 40% or 50%,
         respectively, of the fair market value of the Voting Stock of the
         Company (based on the closing sale price of the Voting Stock as
         reported in The Wall Street Journal as of the Calculation Date. The
         fair market value of any Distribution or Purchase shall be determined
         by the Company's Board of Directors in good faith exercise of their
         judgment. This percentage shall be calculated on each Calculation Date
         by determining the percentage of the fair market value of the
         outstanding Voting Stock as of such Calculation Date which is
         represented by the fair market value of the Distributions and Purchases
         which have occurred on such date and adding to that percentage all of
         the percentages which have been similarly calculated on the Calculation
         Dates of all prior Distributions and Purchases during the preceding
         12-month and 36-month periods.

         The Company and Holdings agree to pay to each holder of the Notes then
outstanding all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by it in the collection
or enforcement of any such Notes, including reasonable compensation to such
holder's attorneys for all services rendered in connection therewith to the
extent permitted by law.

         9.3. Annulment of Acceleration of Notes. The provisions of the
foregoing Section 9.2 are subject to the condition that if the principal of,
premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes have been declared
immediately due and payable by reason of the occurrence of any Event of Default,
the holder or holders of 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding may, by written instrument filed with the Company, rescind and annul
such declaration and the consequences thereof, provided that (i) at the time
such declaration is annulled and rescinded no judgment or decree has been
entered for the payment of any monies due pursuant to the Notes or this
Agreement, (ii) all arrears of principal, interest and any penalty interest upon
all the Notes and all other sums payable under the Notes and under this
Agreement (except any principal, interest or premium on the Notes which has
become due and payable solely by reason of such declaration under Section 9.2)
shall have been duly paid and (iii) each and every other Event of Default shall
have been cured or waived; and provided further, that no such rescission and
annulment shall extend to or affect any subsequent default or Event of Default
or impair any right consequent thereto.

         9.4. Other Remedies. If any Event of Default shall be continuing, any
holder or holders may enforce its or their rights by suit in equity, by action
at law, or by any other appropriate proceedings, whether for the specific
performance (to the extent permitted by law) of any covenant or agreement
contained in this Agreement or in the Notes or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted in this Agreement, and may enforce the payment of any Note held by
such holder or holders and any of its or their other legal or equitable rights.

                                       32

<PAGE>

         9.5. Conduct No Waiver; Collection Expenses. No course of dealing on
the part of any holder of Notes, nor any delay or failure on the part of any
holder of Notes to exercise any of its rights, shall operate as a waiver of such
rights or otherwise prejudice such holder's rights, powers and remedies.
Acceptance of partial payments is not a waiver of any rights. If the Issuers
fail to pay, when due, the principal of, or the interest on, any Note, or fails
to comply with any other provision of this Agreement, the Company will pay to
each holder, to the extent permitted by law, on demand, such further amounts as
shall be sufficient to cover the cost and expenses, including but not limited to
reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by such holders of the Notes in collecting
any sums due on the Notes or in otherwise enforcing any of their rights.

         9.6. Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy conferred upon or reserved
to any holder of Notes under this Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any
other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall be cumulative and in
addition to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing under any applicable law. Every right and remedy given by this
Agreement or by applicable law to any holder of Notes may be exercised from time
to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by such holder, as the case may
be.

         9.7. Notice of Default. With respect to Events of Default, claimed
defaults or other adverse conditions, the Company will give the following
notices by registered mail, return receipt requested:

                  (a) The Company and Holdings will promptly, but in any event
in no more than five business days after the Company and Holdings have knowledge
thereof, furnish to each holder of a Note notice in writing of the occurrence of
an Event of Default or an event which, with the lapse of time or the giving of
notice, or both, would become an Event of Default. Such notice shall specify the
nature of such default, the period of existence thereof and what action the
Company and Holdings have taken or are taking or propose to take with respect
thereto.

                  (b) If the holder of any Note, regardless of the principal
amount thereof, or of any other evidence of indebtedness in excess of $1,000,000
of the Company or any Subsidiary gives any notice or takes any other action with
respect to a claimed default (including, without limitation, any notice of
acceleration), the Company will forthwith give written notice thereof to each
holder of the then outstanding Notes, describing the notice or action, the
nature of the claimed default and what action the Company and Holdings have
taken or are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

                  (c) If a suit, proceeding or other legal process has been
filed or levied against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which, if
adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect upon the Company, the
Company will forthwith give written notice thereof to every holder of the then
outstanding Notes describing what action the Company has taken or is taking or
intends to take with respect thereto.

                                       33

<PAGE>

Section 10.  AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS

         10.1. Matters Subject to Modification. Any term, covenant, agreement or
condition of this Agreement may, with the consent of the Company and Holdings,
be amended, or compliance therewith may be waived (either generally or in a
particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), if the Company
and Holdings shall have obtained the consent in writing of the holder or holders
of at least 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes;
provided, however, that without the written consent of the holder or holders of
all of the Notes then outstanding, no such waiver, modification, alteration or
amendment shall be effective which will (i) change the time or amount of payment
(including any required prepayment) of the principal of or the interest or
premium, if any, on any Note, (ii) reduce the principal amount thereof or the
premium, if any, or change the rate of interest thereon, or (iii) change any of
the provisions of SECTIONS 1.1, 3.2, 9.2, 9.4 or this Section 10.

         For the purpose of determining whether holders of the requisite
principal amount of Notes have made or concurred in any waiver, consent,
approval, notice or other communication under this Agreement, Notes held in the
name of, or owned beneficially by, the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate
of any thereof, shall not be deemed outstanding.

         10.2. Solicitation of Holders of Notes. The Issuers will not solicit,
request or negotiate for or with respect to any proposed waiver or amendment of
any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Notes unless each holder of the
Notes (irrespective of the amount of Notes then owned by it) shall concurrently
be informed thereof by the Company and Holdings and shall be afforded the
opportunity of considering the same and shall be supplied by the Issuers with
sufficient information to enable it to make an informed decision with respect
thereto. Executed or true and correct copies of any waiver or consent effected
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10 shall be delivered by the Issuers
to each holder of outstanding Notes forthwith following the date on which the
same shall have been executed and delivered by the holder or holders of the
requisite percentage of outstanding Notes. The Issuers will not, directly or
indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of
supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, to any holder of the
Notes as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any
holder of the Notes of any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and
provisions of this Agreement unless such remuneration is concurrently paid, on
the same terms, ratably to each holder of the then outstanding Notes.

         10.3. Binding Effect. Any such amendment or waiver shall apply equally
to all the holders of the Notes and shall be binding upon them, upon each future
holder of any Note and upon the Issuers whether or not such Note shall have been
marked to indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver shall
extend to or affect any obligation not expressly amended or waived or impair any
right related thereto.

                                       34

<PAGE>

Section 11. FORM OF NOTES, REGISTRATION, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE AND REPLACEMENT

         11.1. Form of Notes. The Notes initially delivered under the
Outstanding Agreement were in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Notes
were issuable only in fully registered form and in denominations of at least
$100,000 (or the remaining outstanding balance thereof, if less than $100,000).

         11.2. Note Register. The Issuers shall cause to be kept at the
principal office of the Company a register (the "Note Register") for the
registration and transfer of the Notes. The names and addresses of the holders
of Notes, the transfer thereof and the names and addresses of the transferees of
the Notes shall be registered in the Note Register. The Issuers may deem and
treat the person in whose name a Note is so registered as the holder and owner
thereof for all purposes and shall not be affected by any notice to the
contrary, until due presentment of such Note for registration of transfer as
provided in this Section 11. The Issuers will furnish you and any other
Institutional Holder with the information contained in the Note Register upon
request.

         11.3. Issuance of New Notes upon Exchange or Transfer. Upon surrender
for exchange or registration of transfer of any Note at the office of the
Company designated for notices in accordance with Section 12.2, the Issuers
shall execute and deliver, at their expense, one or more new Notes of any
authorized denominations requested by the holder of the surrendered Note, each
dated the date to which interest has been paid on the Notes so surrendered (or,
if no interest has been paid, the date of such surrendered Note), but in the
same aggregate unpaid principal amount as such surrendered Note, and registered
in the name of such person or persons as shall be designated in writing by such
holder. Every Note surrendered for registration of transfer shall be duly
endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed,
by the holder of such Note or by his attorney duly authorized in writing. The
Issuers may condition the issuance of any new Note in connection with a transfer
by any Person on compliance by both transferee and transferor with Section 4.2,
by Institutional Holders on compliance with Section 3.5 and on the payment to
them of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or other governmental charge
imposed in respect of such transfer.

         11.4. Replacement of Notes. Upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to
the Issuers of the loss, theft, mutilation or destruction of any Note, and in
the case of any such loss, theft or destruction upon delivery of a bond of
indemnity in such form and amount as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Issuers or in the event of such mutilation upon surrender and cancellation of
the Note, the Issuers, without charge to the holder thereof, will make and
deliver a new Note, of like tenor in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated Note. If any such lost, stolen or destroyed Note is owned by you or
any other Institutional Holder, then the affidavit of an authorized officer of
such owner setting forth the fact of loss, theft or destruction and of its
ownership of the Note at the time of such loss, theft or destruction shall be
accepted as satisfactory evidence thereof, and no further indemnity shall be
required as a condition to the execution and delivery of a new Note, other than
a written agreement of such owner (in form reasonably satisfactory to the
Issuers) to indemnify the Issuers.

                                       35

<PAGE>

Section 12.     MISCELLANEOUS

         12.1. Expenses. The Issuers agree to pay directly all reasonable
expenses of Gardner, Carton & Douglas, your special counsel, photocopying and
printing costs and charges for shipping this Agreement to you at your home
office or at such other address as you may designate, and all similar expenses
relating to any amendment, waivers or consents in connection with this Agreement
or the Notes. The Issuers also agree that it will pay and save you harmless
against any and all liability with respect to stamp and other documentary taxes,
if any, which may be payable, or which may be determined to be payable in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Notes (but
not in connection with a transfer of any Notes), whether or not any Notes are
then outstanding. The obligations of the Issuers under this Section 12.1 shall
survive the retirement of the Notes.

         12.2. Notices and Payments. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, all communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and
delivered or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or
by overnight courier (i) if to you for all communications, including notices of
payment and written confirmations of wire or interbank transfers, to the address
set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement or to such other address as you may
have already designated in writing to the Company or may in the future designate
in writing, (ii) if to any other holder of the Notes, to such address as the
holder may designate in writing to the Company, (iii) if to the Company and
Holdings, to Thomas Industries Inc., 4360 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, Kentucky
40207, Attention: Vice President -- Finance and Chief Financial Officer, or to
such other address as the Company may in writing designate and, (iv) if to
Holdings, to Thomas Industries Holdings, Inc., c/o Thomas Industries Inc., 4360
Brownsboro Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40207, Attention: Vice President-Finance
and Chief Financial Officer, or to such other address as Holdings may in writing
designate. Unless the Issuers have already been in directed in writing by the
Purchasers or until the Issuers are otherwise directed in writing by the
Purchasers, all payments by the Issuers to the Purchasers are to be made by bank
wire transfer of immediately available funds to their respective addresses set
forth on Schedule A to this Agreement for deposit in the accounts of each of the
Purchasers as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and designating such
payment as made with respect to Thomas Industries Inc. and Thomas Industries
Holdings, Inc., 9.36% Senior Notes, due January 31, 2005.

         12.3. Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all documents
relating hereto, including, without limitation (a) consents, waivers and
modifications which may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by you at
the closing of the purchase of the Notes (except the Notes themselves), and (c)
financial statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter
furnished to you, may be reproduced by you by any photographic, photostatic,
microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process, and you
may destroy any original document so reproduced. The Issuers agree and stipulate
that any such reproduction which is legible shall be admissible in evidence as
the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not
the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by
you in the regular course of business) and that any enlargement, facsimile or
further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence; provided that nothing herein contained shall preclude the Issuers from
objecting to the admission of any reproduction on the basis that such

                                       36

<PAGE>

reproduction is not accurate, has been altered, is otherwise incomplete or is
otherwise inadmissible.

         12.4. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns.

         12.5. Law Governing. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois. No provision of this
Agreement may be waived, changed or modified, or the discharge thereof
acknowledged, orally, except only by an agreement in writing signed by the party
against whom the enforcement of any waiver, change, modification or discharge is
sought.

         12.6. Headings. The headings of the sections and subsections of this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.

         12.7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in
one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument, and it
shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account
for more than one such counterpart or reproduction thereof permitted by Section
12.3.

         12.8. Reliance on and Survival of Provisions. All covenants,
representations and warranties made by the Issuers herein and in any
certificates delivered pursuant hereto, whether or not in connection with a
closing, (i) shall be deemed to have been relied upon by you, notwithstanding
any investigation heretofore or hereafter made by you or on your behalf and (ii)
shall survive the delivery of this Agreement and the Notes.

         12.9. Integration and Severability. This Agreement embodies the entire
agreement and understanding between you and the Issuers, and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. In
case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any
Note, or application thereof, shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained herein and therein, and any other application thereof, shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.

                                       37

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuers and the Purchasers have caused this
Agreement to be executed and delivered by their respective officer or officers
thereunto duly authorized.

         Dated as of this _______ day of November, 1998.

THOMAS INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.             THOMAS INDUSTRIES INC.

By:  /s/ Phillip J. Stuecker                 By:  /s/ Phillip J. Stuecker
   -------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
Its:  Vice President, CFO, and               Its:  Vice President, CFO, and
      Secretary                                    Secretary

                                       38

<PAGE>

ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY             AID ASSOCIATION FOR LUTHERANS

By:  /s/ Patricia W. Wilson                 By:  /s/ R. Jerry Scheel
   --------------------------------                -----------------------------
                                            Its:  Second Vice President -
                                                  Securities

By:  /s/ Robert B. Bodett                   By:  /s/ Alan D. Onstad
   --------------------------------            ---------------------------------
           Authorized Signatories           Its:  Assistant Vice President -
                                                  Securities

THE MINNESOTA MUTUAL LIFE                   WOODMEN ACCIDENT AND LIFE
  INSURANCE COMPANY                            COMPANY

By:  /s/ Guy M. de Lambert                  By:  /s/ A.M. McCray
   --------------------------------            ---------------------------------
Its:  Second Vice President                 Its:  Senior Director, Securities
Investments
                                                     and Assistant Treasurer

AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE                        GUARANTEE LIFE INSURANCE
    INSURANCE COMPANY                         COMPANY

By:  /s/ Phillip Hannifan                   By:  /s/ Paul L. Strong
   -------------------------------             ---------------------------------
Its:  Investment Director                   Its:  Director - Fixed Income
                                                  Securities

NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE                     AMERICAN UNITED LIFE INSURANCE
  COMPANY                                      COMPANY

By:  /s/ R. Scott Higgins                   By:  /s/ Christopher D. Pahlke
   --------------------------------            ---------------------------------
Its:  Vice President                        Its:  Vice President of Private
       National Life Investment                   Placements
         Management Co., Inc.

                                       39

<PAGE>

GENERAL AMERICAN LIFE
  INSURANCE COMPANY
By:  Conning Asset Management Company

By:  /s/ Laura R. Caro
   --------------------------------------------------
Its:  Senior Vice President

THE AMERICAN FRANKLIN LIFE
  INSURANCE COMPANY

By:
   --------------------------------------------------
Its:

By:
   --------------------------------------------------
Its:

MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA

By:  /s/ Clyde C. Schoeck
   --------------------------------------------------
Its:  President

PAN-AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE
  COMPANY

By:  /s/ F. Anderson Stone
   ----------------------------------------------
Its:  Vice President - Corporate Securities

FIRST COLONY LIFE INSURANCE
  COMPANY

By:  /s/ Jon M. Lucia
   ----------------------------------------------
Its:  Assistant Vice President and Investment Officer

                                       40

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00049-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00049-of-00352.parquet"}]]