[LETTERHEAD OF THE BANK OF NEW YORK]



                                 August 29, 1997


J.B. Williams Company, Inc.
65 Harristown Road
Glen Rock, NJ  07452

Attention:

Gentlemen/Ladies:

          The Bank of New York (the  "Bank") is pleased to confirm that it holds
available to J.B.  Williams Company,  Inc. (the "Company") a $5,000,000  secured
line of credit,  to be available  for direct  borrowings  by the Company and the
issuance  by the Bank of  commercial  letters of credit  for the  account of the
Company  with an  expiration  date not later than six  months  after the date of
issuance thereof.

          Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the aggregate  outstanding  principal
amount of all  extensions  of credit  under this line of credit shall not exceed
the lesser of $5,000,000 or an amount (as set forth in the most recent borrowing
base certificate delivered to the Bank) equal to the sum of the following:

                    1. 75% of each of the accounts  receivable of the Company in
          respect of which each of the following is satisfied:

                          a. The account debtor thereon either (i) is located in
             the United  States or (ii) is not located in the United States and,
             in  addition  in respect  of this  clause  (a)(ii),  either (A) the
             obligations  of such  account  debtor are  supported by a letter of
             credit which (x) is issued by a person which is satisfactory to the
             Bank and (y) is otherwise satisfactory in form and substance to the
             Bank or (B) such account debtor is a subsidiary of a person located
             in the United States;

                          b. The Bank has a perfected  first  priority  security
             interest therein;

                          c. No amounts are unpaid (i) for more than 90 days (or
             such other  greater or lesser  period as the Bank may specify  with
             respect to any account  debtor) past the related  invoice date with
             respect to accounts originated during the months of January through
             July,  or (ii) for more  than 30 days (or  such  other  greater  or
             lesser  period as the Bank may specify  with respect to any account
             debtor)  past  the  related  due  date  with  respect  to  accounts
             originated during the months of August through December; and

                          d. No more than 25% of the accounts  receivable of the
             related  account  debtor have  amounts  unpaid (i) for more than 90
             days  past the  related  invoice  date  with  respect  to  accounts
             originated during the months of January




 





through  July,  or (ii) for more  than 30 days  past the  related  due date with
respect to accounts originated during the months of August through December;

                    2. The least of (a)  $2,000,000  or (b) 50% of all inventory
          of the  Company  in respect  of which the Bank has a  perfected  first
          priority security interest.

          Extensions  of credit  under this line of credit in the form of direct
borrowings  by the Company  shall be evidenced  by, shall be payable as provided
in, and shall bear interest at the rate  specified in, a promissory  note of the
Company in the form included with this letter

          With respect to each  commercial  letter of credit,  if any, issued by
the Bank under this line of credit, the Company will pay to the Bank,  quarterly
in arrears,  an issuance fee of 1% per annum on the average  daily  undrawn face
amount of such  letter of credit and will also pay all other  fee(s) of the Bank
in effect  therefor from time to time. Each request for a letter of credit under
this  line of  credit  shall  be  accompanied  by a  completed  application  and
agreement for such letter of credit on the Bank's then  standard form  therefor,
duly  executed  by the  Company,  and the  issuance of any such letter of credit
shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in such  application  and
agreement.

          All  obligations  of the Company to the Bank with respect to this line
of credit shall be jointly and severally  guaranteed by J.B. Williams  Holdings,
Inc., CEP Holdings,  Inc., After Shave Products,  Inc., Pre-Shave Products, Inc.
and Hair Care  Products,  Inc.  pursuant to guarantees in the  respective  forms
included  with this  letter.  All  obligations  of the  Company to the Bank with
respect  to this  line of  credit  shall  be  secured,  pursuant  to a  security
agreement in the form included with this letter,  executed by the Company, which
grants the Bank a first and prior security  interest in all accounts  receivable
and inventory of the Company.

          For so long as the Company has any obligations  outstanding under this
line of credit, there shall be delivered to the Bank the following:

                  I.       Within 45 days after the end of each  quarter of each
                           fiscal year of the Company,  financial  statements of
                           the Company as of the end of and for such quarter and
                           for the period of the then current fiscal year of the
                           Company then ended,  as prepared by management of the
                           Company,  and in form and content satisfactory to the
                           Bank;

                  II.      Within 90 days after the end of each  fiscal  year of
                           the  Company,  audited  financial  statements  of the
                           Company as of the end of and for such  fiscal year as
                           prepared by independent  certified public accountants
                           selected by the Company, and acceptable to the Bank;

                  III.     Within  15  days  after  the  end of  each  month,  a
                           borrowing base  certificate  and an aging schedule of
                           the accounts  receivable of the Company, in each case
                           as of the last business day of such month and in form
                           and content satisfactory to the Bank; and

                  IV.      Such other  information as  the Bank  may  reasonably
                           request from time to time;

          As you know  lines of  credit  are  cancellable  at any time by either
party and, in addition, (x) any extension of credit under this line of credit is
subject to the Bank's  satisfaction,  at the time of such  extension  of credit,
with the condition (financial and otherwise), business, prospects and operations
of the Company  and (y) the  issuance  by the Bank of any  commercial  letter of
credit for the  account of the  Company  is subject to the  satisfaction  of the
Bank, at the time






                                      -2-







of such  issuance,  with the expiry  date and all other  terms of such letter of
credit.  Unless  cancelled  earlier as  provided  in the first  sentence of this
paragraph, this line of credit shall be held available until August 31, 1998.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         THE BANK OF NEW YORK



                                         By: /s/ GERALDINE TUCKINGTON 
                                            ------------------------------
                                         Name:   Geraldine Tuckington
                                         Title:  Vice President



                                      -3-



                             MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE

$5,000,000.00                                                    August 29, 1997

         For Value Received, the undersigned (the "Borrower") hereby promises to
pay to the order of THE BANK OF NEW YORK (the  "Bank"),  at its 10 Mason Street,
Greenwich,  Connecticut  office,  the  principal  sum of Five Million and 00/100
Dollars ($5,000,000.00) or the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all advances
made by the Bank to the Borrower (which  aggregate unpaid principal amount shall
be equal to the  amount  duly  endorsed  and set  forth  opposite  the date last
appearing on the schedule attached hereto), whichever is less.

         Each advance  hereunder (an "Advance")  shall bear interest  at a  rate
per annum equal to (1) the Alternate Base Rate (as  hereinafter  defined) or (2)
provided  that  the  outstanding  principal  amount  thereof  is not  less  than
$100,000, a Eurodollar Rate (as hereinafter  defined),  but, in each case, in no
event in excess of the maximum rate  permitted  by law. Any Advance  which shall
not be paid when due shall bear interest, payable on demand, at a rate per annum
equal to the  Alternate  Base  Rate  plus 2%,  but in no event in  excess of the
maximum rate permitted by law.

         As used in this note:

         "Alternate  Base Rate " shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal
to the higher of (i) the Prime  Rate in effect on such day and (ii) the  Federal
Funds Rate in effect on such day plus one-half of one percent (1/2%);

         "Alternate  Base Rate  Advance"  shall mean any  Advance  which   bears
interest at the Alternate Base Rate;

         "Business Day" shall mean (i) any day other than a Saturday,  Sunday or
other  day on  which  commercial  banks  in New  York  New  York or  Greenwich,
Connecticut  are  required or  permitted  by law " close and (iv with respect to
Eurodollar  Rate  Advances any day  specified  in clause (i) of this  definition
which  is also a day on  which  commercial  banks  are  open  for  domestic  and
international  business,  including  dealings  in Dollar  deposits,  in  London,
England and New York New York;

         "Dollar"  and "$" shall  mean  lawful  money of the  United  States  of
America;

         "Eurodollar Interest Period" shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar
Rate  Advance,  a period  selected by the  Borrower and  acceptable  to the Bank
commencing on the date such  Eurodollar  Rate Advance is made and ending one (1)
month, two (2) months or three (3) months thereafter;  provided,  however,  that
(i) any Eurodollar  Interest  Period which would otherwise end on a day which is
not a Business Day shall be extended to the immediately  succeeding Business Day
unless such  Business  Day falls in another  calendar  month (in which case such
Eurodollar Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day),
(ii) no Eurodollar Interest Period shall end after the date until which the line
of credit under which  Advances may be made is held  available to the  Borrower,
(iii) if any  Eurodollar  Interest  Period  begins on the last Business Day of a
calendar month or on a day for which there is no numerically  corresponding  day
in the calendar month during which such  Eurodollar  Interest  Period is to end,
such  Eurodollar  Interest  Period  shall end on the last  Business  Day of such
calendar  month,  and (iv) no Eurodollar  Interest Period shall be less than one
(1) month;











         "Eurodollar  Rate"  shall mean,  with  respect to any  Eurodollar  Rate
Advance for the then current  Eurodollar  Interest Period applicable  thereto, a
rate per annum equal to,  during such  Eurodollar  Interest  Period,  the sum of
1-1/2% S LIBOR for such Eurodollar Interest Period;

         "Eurodollar  Rate Advance" shall mean any Advance which bears  interest
at a Eurodollar Rate;

         "Federal Funds Rate" shall mean, for any day, the  weighted  average of
the rates on  overnight  Federal  funds  transactions  with the  members  of the
Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers,  as published for such
day  (or if such  day is not a  Business  Day,  for  the  immediately  preceding
Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or if such rate is not so
published  for any day which is a Business  Day, the average of  quotations  for
such day on such  transactions  received  by the Bank from three  Federal  funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by the Bank;

         "LIBOR" shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advance for the
then current Eurodollar Interest Period relating thereto,  the rate per annum at
which the Bank  offers  deposits  in  Dollars  to  leading  banks in the  London
interbank  market on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of
such Eurodollar  Interest Period for a period equal to such Eurodollar  Interest
Period and in an amount equal to the amount of such Eurodollar Rate Advance;

         "Maturity  Date"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to any  Eurodollar  Rate
Advance,  the last Business Day of the Eurodollar  Interest Period applicable to
such Eurodollar Rate Advance;

         "Obligations"  shall mean and  include  any and all present  or  future
obligations or liabilities of any Obligor to the Bank,  whether incurred by such
Obligor as maker, indorser,  drawer, acceptor,  guarantor,  accommodation party,
counterparty,  purchaser, seller or otherwise, and whether due or to become due,
secured  or  unsecured,  absolute  or  contingent,  joint  and/or  several,  and
howsoever and whensoever acquired by the Bank;

         "Obligor" shall mean and include the Borrower, any guarantor hereof  or
any hypothecator of any collateral securing this note; and

         "Prime  Rate" shall mean,  for any  day, a rate per annum  equal to the
prime commercial  lending rate of the Bank as publicly announced to be in effect
from time to time, such rate to be adjusted  automatically,  without notice,  on
the effective date of any change in such rate-. The Borrower  acknowledges  that
the Prime Rate is not the lowest  rate at which the Bank may make loans or other
extensions of credit.

         Each Alternate Base Rate Advance shall be payable ON DEMAND and may  be
prepaid in whole at any time or in part from time to time.  Each Eurodollar Rate
Advance  shall be payable on the Maturity Date of such  Eurodollar  Rate Advance
and, except as otherwise  provided herein, the Borrower shall not have the right
to prepay such Eurodollar Rate Advance.

         Interest  shall be  computed  on the  basis of a  360-day  year for the
actual number of days elapsed.  Interest on each Alternate Rate Advance shall be
payable monthly on the last day of each month and at maturity.  Interest on each
Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be payable on the Maturity Date thereof.  Upon any
prepayment of Alternate Base Rate  Advances,  the Borrower shall pay interest on
the amount so prepaid to the date of such prepayment.

         If any  payment  hereof  becomes due and payable on a day other than  a
Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next preceding Business Day;
provided, however, that



                                      -2-




in the case of a payment in respect of the principal amount of a Eurodollar Rate
Advance,  if such next succeeding  Business Day falls in another calendar month,
such payment shall be due on the immediately preceding Business Day. If the date
for any payment of principal is so extended,  interest  thereon shall be payable
for the extended time.

         Whenever the Borrower desires the Bank to make an Advance, the Borrower
shall give the Bank  irrevocable  notice (i) in the case of any  Alternate  Base
Rate  Advance,  on or prior to the date of such  Advance and (ii) in the case of
any Eurodollar Rate Advance,  at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date
of such  Advance,  of its  intention  to  borrow,  specifying  the  date of such
Advance,  the  interest  rate to be  applicable  to such  Advance,  and, if such
Advance is to be a Eurodollar Rate Advance,  the requested  Eurodollar  Interest
Period for such Advance  (which shall comply with the  definition  of Eurodollar
Interest  Period  above).  If,  on any day on  which  the  Borrower  requests  a
Eurodollar  Rate  Advance,  the Bank and the Borrower are unable to agree on the
Eurodollar Interest Period applicable to such Advance,  such Advance shall be an
Alternate  Base  Rate  Advance.  Each  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance  shall be in an
integral multiple of $100,000.

         If either:

           (i)    The  Bank  and  the  Borrower  are  unable  to  agree  on  the
                  Eurodollar  Interest  Period  applicable to a Eurodollar  Rate
                  Advance, or

           (ii)   The Eurodollar Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate
                  Advance is not in conformity with the definition of Eurodollar
                  Interest Period above, or

           (iii)  The amount of any Eurodollar Rate  Advance is not an  integral
                  multiple of $100,000; or

           (iv)   The Bank shall determine at any  time that (a) the  Eurodollar
                  Rate  cannot  be   determined  for  any   Eurodollar  Interest
                  Period, (b) deposits  of the relevant amount  and term are not
                  available  in  the London  interbank   Eurodollar  market with
                  respect to the making  of a Eurodollar  Rate Advance,  (c) the
                  rate  at  which  deposits  are   offered  to  the  Bank in the
                  relevant market will  not  accurately  reflect the cost to the
                  Bank of  making or  maintaining a  Eurodollar Rate Advance, or
                  (d) by reason of any  adoption of or  change in any applicable
                  law or  regulation  or  any change in  the  interpretation  or
                  application  thereof it  has become  unlawful  for the Bank to
                  make any Eurodollar Rate Advance,

then no Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be available hereunder (and any requested
Eurodollar  Rate Advance shall be made as an Alternate  Base Rate Advance) until
the Bank has given  the  Borrower  written  notice  of the  termination  of such
condition.

         Notwithstanding  any other  provision  hereof,  if any applicable  law,
treaty, regulation or directive of any government or any agency, instrumentality
or  authority  thereof,  or  any  change  therein  or in the  interpretation  or
application  thereof,  shall  make it  unlawful  for the Bank (or the  office or
branch  where the Bank  makes or  maintains  any  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance)  to
maintain any Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Borrower shall, if any Eurodollar Rate
Advance is then outstanding,  promptly upon request from the Bank, either prepay
such  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance,  together  with accrued  interest on the amount
prepaid to the date of prepayment,  or, at the Borrower's  option,  convert such
Eurodollar  Rate  Advance  into an  Alternate  Base  Rate  Advance.  If any such
prepayment or conversion of any Eurodollar Rate Advance is made on a day that is
not the Maturity Date thereof,  the Borrower shall also  compensate the Bank, as
provided in the second succeeding  paragraph,  as a result of such prepayment or
conversion.



                                      -3-




         In the event that any applicable law, treaty or governmental regulation
(whether  now  or  hereafter  in  effect),  or  any  change  therein  or in  the
interpretation  or  application  thereof,  or  compliance  by the Bank  with any
request or  directive  (whether or not having the force of law) from any central
bank or other financial, monetary or other authority, shall (i) subject the Bank
to any tax of any kind  whatsoever  with respect to this note or any  Eurodollar
Rate  Advance  or  change  the  basis of  taxation  of  payments  to the Bank of
principal,  interest,  fees or any other amount  payable under this note (except
for  changes  in the rate of tax on the  overall  net  income of the Bank by the
jurisdiction  in which the Bank  maintains its principal  office),  (ii) impose,
modify or hold applicable any reserve,  special  deposit,  assessment or similar
requirement  against  assets  held by, or  deposits  in or for the  account  of,
advances  or loans by, or other  credit  extended  by, any  office of the Bank,
including  (without  limitation)  pursuant  to  Regulation  D of  the  Board  of
Governors  of the Federal  Reserve  System,  or (iii)  impose on the Bank or the
London interbank Eurodollar market any other condition with respect to this note
or any  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance,  and the result of any of the foregoing is to
increase  the cost to the Bank of  making or  maintaining  any  Eurodollar  Rate
Advance by an amount  that the Bank deems to be material or to reduce the amount
of any payment  (whether of principal,  interest or otherwise) in respect of any
Eurodollar  Rate Advance by an amount that the Bank deems to be material,  then,
in any such case,  the Borrower  shall promptly pay to the Bank for its account,
upon its demand,  such  additional  amount as will  compensate the Bank for such
additional cost or such reduction,  as the case may be; provided,  however, that
the  foregoing  shall not apply to  increased  costs  which are  reflected  in a
Eurodollar Rate.

         The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Bank and to hold the Bank harmless
from and against all losses and expenses  that the Bank may sustain or incur (i)
if the  Borrower  makes  any  payment  or  prepayment  of the  principal  of, or
converts,  any  Eurodollar  Rate Advance on a day other than the  Maturity  Date
thereof  (whether as a result of  acceleration  of the maturity of such Advance,
pursuant to or as a result of the second preceding  paragraph,  or otherwise) or
(ii) if the Borrower,  for any reason whatsoever,  fails to complete a borrowing
of any  Eurodollar  Rate  Advance on the date  specified  therefor  after notice
thereof has been given and the Bank has determined to make such  Eurodollar Rate
Advance (including,  without  limitation,  in each case, any interest payable by
the Bank to lenders of funds  obtained  by the Bank in order to make or maintain
such Eurodollar Rate Advance).

         A certificate of the Bank setting forth such amount or amounts as shall
be necessary to compensate  the Bank as specified in the  immediately  preceding
two  paragraphs,  submitted  by the Bank to the  Borrower,  shall be  conclusive
absent manifest error, and the obligations of the Borrower under the immediately
preceding two paragraphs shall survive payment of this note and all Advances.

         If the Bank shall make a new Advance on a day on which the  Borrower is
to repay an  Advance,  the Bank shall  apply the  proceeds of the new Advance to
make such  repayment  and only the  amount by which the  amount  being  advanced
exceeds the amount  being  repaid  shall be made  available  to the  Borrower in
accordance with the terms of this note.

         The  Borrower   hereby   authorizes  the  Bank  to  accept   telephonic
instructions  from a duly authorized  representative  of the Borrower to make an
Advance or receive a payment  hereof,  and to endorse on the  schedule  attached
hereto the amount of all Advances and all principal  payments hereof received by
the Bank, the interest rate  applicable to each Advance and the Maturity Date of
each Eurodollar Rate Advance.

         The Bank is hereby  authorized  to charge any  deposit  account of  the
Borrower maintained at the Bank for each principal prepayment hereof on the date
made, and for each principal payment and for each interest payment due hereunder
on the due date thereof. The Bank



                                      -4-




shall credit the Borrower's deposit account maintained at the Bank in the amount
of each Advance on the date of such  Advance,  which credit will be confinned to
the Borrower by standard  advice of credit or notation in the monthly  statement
sent to the Borrower in connection  with such account.  The Borrower agrees that
the actual  crediting  of the amount of any  Advance to the  Borrower's  deposit
account  maintained at the Bank shall constitute  conclusive  evidence that such
Advance was made, and neither the failure of the Bank to indorse on the schedule
attached  hereto the amount of any Advance,  the *merest rate  applicable to any
Advance or the Maturity Date of any  Eurodollar  Rate Advance nor the failure of
the Bank to forward an advice of credit to the  Borrower  or note any Advance in
the  monthly  statement  sent  to  the  Borrower  shall  affect  the  Borrower's
obligations hereunder.

         All payments  hereof shall be made in lawful money of the United States
of America and in immediately available funds.

         The Bank  shall  have a lien on the  balances  of the  Borrower  now or
hereafter  on deposit  with or held as  custodian by the Bank and the Bank shall
have full authority to set off such balances against the indebtedness  evidenced
by this  note or any  other  Obligation  of the  Borrower  and may at any  time,
without notice,  to the extent  permitted by law, apply the same to the Advances
or such other Obligations, whether due or not.

         All obligations of the Borrower to the Bank under this note are secured
pursuant to the terms of the  security  agreement  executed  by the  Borrower in
favor of the Bank dated of even date  herewith as such  agreement may be amended
or modified from time to time and any other security agreement that the Borrower
shall have  executed or shall at any time execute in favor of the Bank,  and the
Bank is entitled to all the benefits thereof.

         The Borrower  acknowledges  that the  Alternate  Base Rate Advances are
payable on demand and  payment  thereof  may be demanded by the Bank at any time
for any reason in the sole and absolute  discretion of the Bank,  and such right
of the Bank  shall  not be  affected  or  impaired  by any  condition,  event or
circumstance whatsoever.

         All Advances  together with all accrued  interest  thereon shall become
immediately and  automatically  due and payable,  without  demand,  presentment,
protest or notice of any kind,  upon the  commencement by or against any Obligor
of a case or proceeding  under any bankruptcy,  insolvency or other law relating
to the  relief  of  debtors,  the  readjustment,  composition  or  extension  of
indebtedness or reorganization or liquidation.

         All  Eurodollar  Rate  Advances,  together  with all  accrued  interest
thereon,  shall become  immediately and automatically  due and payable,  without
demand,  presentment,  protest or notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any
of the following events:

                      A.  Failure of any  Obligor in the  performance  of any of
           such Obligor's  covenants  herein or in any  instrument,  document or
           agreement delivered in connection herewith; or

                      B. Default by any Obligor in the payment or performance of
           any Obligation; or

                      C.  Failure  of any  Obligor  to pay  when  due any  other
           indebtedness for borrowed money, acceleration of the maturity of such
           indebtedness  or the  occurrence  of any event  which with  notice or
           lapse  of  time,  or  both,   would  permit   acceleration   of  such
           indebtedness; or

                      D. The  death or  incompetence  of any  Obligor  who is an
           individual; or



                                      -5-




                      E. The  dissolution,  merger or  consolidation  of, or the
           sale or  disposal of all or  substantially  all of the assets of, any
           Obligor which is not an individual  without the prior written consent
           of the Bank; or

                      F. The  financial  condition  or  credit  standing  of any
           Obligor shall be or become materially impaired in the sole opinion of
           the Bank or any of its officers; or

                      G.  Commencement  of any  proceeding,  procedure  or other
           remedy  supplemental  to the  enforcement  of a judgment  against any
           Obligor; or

                      H. Any  representation  or warranty made by any Obligor or
           any financial or other statement of any Obligor delivered to the Bank
           by or on behalf of any  Obligor  proves to be  untrue,  incorrect  or
           incomplete when made or delivered; or

                      I.  The  death of the  insured  under  any life  insurance
           policy  held as  collateral  by the Bank for the  Obligations  of any
           Obligor with respect to this note, or the non-payment of any premiums
           on any such life insurance policy; or

                      J.  The  validity  or  enforceability  of this  note,  any
           guarantee  hereof  or any  other  document  delivered  in  connection
           herewith  shall be contested or declared null and void or any Obligor
           shall deny it has any liability or  obligation  under or with respect
           to this note, any guarantee hereof or any other document delivered by
           it in connection herewith; or

                      K. Any  Obligor  shall  make  payment  on  account  of any
           indebtedness  subordinated to the indebtedness evidenced by this note
           in contravention of the terms of such subordination; or

                      L.  Cancellation  of the line of credit  under  which such
           Advances were made.

         The Borrower does hereby forever waive  presentment,  demand,  protest,
notice of protest and notice of nonpayment or dishonor of this note.

         The Borrower agrees to pay all costs and expenses  incurred by the Bank
incidental  to or  in  any  way  relating  to  the  Bank's  enforcement  of  the
obligations  of the Borrower  hereunder or the  protection  of the Bank's rights
hereunder,  including,  but not  limited  to,  reasonable  attorneys'  fees  and
expenses, whether or not litigation is commenced.

         Promptly upon the Bank's request, the Borrower agrees to furnish to the
Bank such information (including,  without limitation,  financial statements and
tax returns of the  Borrower)  and to permit the Bank to inspect and make copies
of its books and  records,  as the Bank shall  reasonably  request  from time to
time.

         The Borrower  waives,  in any  litigation  relating to this note or the
transactions   contemplated   hereby  any  right  to  claim  or  interpose   any
counterclaim or set-off of any kind.

         This note may not be amended,  and compliance with its terms may not be
waived,  orally  or by  course of  dealing,  but only by a writing  signed by an
authorized officer of the Bank.

         This note may be  assigned  or  indorsed  by the Bank and its  benefits
shall inure to the successors, indorsees and assigns of the Bank.



                                      -6-




         The Borrower  authorizes the Bank to date this note and to complete any
blank space herein according to the terms upon which any Advances were granted.

         No  failure  on the  part of the  Bank to  exercise,  and no  delay  in
exercising,  any  right,  remedy or power  hereunder  shall  operate as a waiver
thereof,  nor shall any  single or  partial  exercise  by the Bank of any right,
remedy or power hereunder  preclude any other or future exercise  thereof or the
exercise of any other right, remedy or power.

         Each and every right,  remedy and power  hereby  granted to the Bank or
allowed it by law or other  agreement  shall be cumulative and not exclusive the
one of any other right,  remedy or power,  and may be exercised by the Bank from
time to time.

         Every  provision of this note is intended to be severable;  if any term
or provision  of this note shall be invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  for any
reason  whatsoever,  the validity,  legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

         The Borrower represents and warrants that the Borrower is a corporation
duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the
state of its  incorporation and is duly qualified to do business in the State of
New York;  that the execution,  delivery and performance of this note are within
the Borrower's  corporate  powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary
action  of its  board  of  directors  and  shareholders;  and that  each  person
executing this note has the authority to execute and deliver this note on behalf
of the Borrower.

         THE PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED, AND ALL
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER DETERMINED,  IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF  CONNECTICUT  WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS. THE
BORROWER  SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE
STATE OF  CONNECTICUT  AND THE CITIES OF STAMFORD OR  BRIDGEPORT IN PERSONAM AND
AGREES THAT ALL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS  RELATING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO THIS
NOTE SHALL BE  LITIGATED  ONLY IN SAID  COURTS OR COURTS  LOCATED  ELSEWHERE  AS
SELECTED BY THE BANK AND THAT SUCH COURTS ARE  CONVENIENT  FORUMS.  THE BORROWER
WAIVES PERSONAL  SERVICE UPON IT AND CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS BY MAILING A
COPY THEREOF TO IT BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL.

         THE  BORROWER  AND THE  BANK  WAIVE  THE  RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION OR PROCEEDING BASED UPON,  ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED TO THIS
NOTE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

J.B. WILLIAMS COMPANY, INC.                 Address:
                                            --------
                                            65 Harristown Road
                                            Glen Rock, NJ  07452
                                            Attention:
                                            ----------
By:/s/ KEVIN C. HARTNETT
   ---------------------------
Name: Kevin C. Hartnett
     -------------------------
Title: Vice President
      -------------------------

By: 
   ---------------------------
Name:
     -------------------------
Title:
      -------------------------







                                      -7-







                                   Schedule to

                  Promissory Note - J.B. Williams Company, Inc.




Date of     Amount of     Type of     Maturity Date     Interest      Amount of      Aggregate Unpaid
Advance     Advance       Advance*    of Advance**      Rate***       Payment        Principal Amount
- -------     ---------     -------     -------------     --------      ---------      ----------------
                                                                   








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

*      Insert  "Alternate   Base  Rate"  (or "ABR") or  "Eurodollar  Rate,"   as
       applicable.

**     Only applicable for Eurodollar Rate Advances.

***    For  Alternate  Base  Rate  Advances,  insert "ABR." For Eurodollar  Rate
       Advances, insert the actual interest rate.