E-P ACQUISITION, INC.
                 to be merged into Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.

              $220,000,000 9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008

                            NOTES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                                              February 19, 1998
                                                             New York, New York

SBC Warburg Dillon Read Inc.
535 Madison Avenue
New York, New York  10022

ABN AMRO Incorporated
1325 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         E-P Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "ISSUER"), to be
merged on or prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein) into Eagle-Picher
Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Eagle-Picher
Holdings, Inc. ("PARENT") jointly and severally agree with you as follows:

           1. ISSUANCE OF NOTES. The Issuer proposes to issue and sell to SBC
Warburg Dillon Read Inc. and ABN AMRO Incorporated (together, the "INITIAL
PURCHASERS") an aggregate of $220,000,000 principal amount of 9 3/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "ORIGINAL NOTES"). The Original Notes will be
issued pursuant to an indenture (the "NOTES INDENTURE"), to be dated the Closing
Date (as defined below), by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors and The Bank of
New York, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). The Issuer's obligations under the
Original Notes will be succeeded to, upon the merger, by the Company and will be
unconditionally guaranteed (the "GUARANTEES") on an unsecured senior
subordinated basis by Parent and the Subsidiary Guarantors (collectively, the
"Guarantors"). All references herein to the Original Notes include the related
Guarantees, unless the context otherwise requires. Capitalized terms used but
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the
Notes Indenture or the Offering Memorandum (as defined below).


                                      
















         The Original Notes will be offered and sold to the Initial Purchasers
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "ACT"). The Issuer has prepared a preliminary
offering memorandum dated February 4, 1998 (the "PRELIMINARY OFFERING
MEMORANDUM") and a final offering memorandum dated February 20, 1998 (the
"OFFERING MEMORANDUM") relating to the Issuer, the Company, the Guarantors and
the Original Notes.

         The Initial Purchasers have advised the Issuer that the Initial
Purchasers intend, as soon as they deem practicable after this Notes Purchase
Agreement has been executed and delivered, to resell (the "EXEMPT RESALES") the
Original Notes purchased by the Initial Purchasers under this Notes Purchase
Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") in private sales exempt from registration under the
Act on the terms set forth in the Offering Memorandum, as amended or
supplemented, solely to (i) persons whom the Initial Purchasers reasonably
believe to be "qualified institutional buyers," as defined in Rule 144A under
the Act ("QIBS"), and (ii) other eligible purchasers pursuant to offers and
sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S
under the Act; the persons specified in clauses (i) and (ii) are sometimes
collectively referred to herein as the "ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS."

         Holders (including subsequent transferees) of the Original Notes will
have the registration rights set forth in the registration rights agreement (the
"REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT") to be dated the Closing Date in form and
substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and conforming to the
description thereof in the Offering Memorandum, for so long as such Original
Notes constitute "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement,
the Issuer will agree to (i) file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "COMMISSION") under the circumstances set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement, (a) a registration statement under the Act (the "EXCHANGE OFFER
REGISTRATION STATEMENT") relating to a new issue of debt securities (the "NEW
NOTES" and, together with the Original Notes, the "NOTES," which term includes
the Guarantees related thereto) to be offered in exchange for the Original Notes
(the "EXCHANGE OFFER") and issued under the Notes Indenture or an indenture
substantially identical to the Notes Indenture and/or (b) under certain
circumstances set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, a shelf
registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (the "SHELF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT" and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS") relating to the resale by certain
holders of the Original Notes, and (ii) to cause such Registration Statements to
be declared effective. This Agreement, the Notes, the


                                       2














Notes Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement are hereinafter sometimes
referred to collectively as the "OPERATIVE DOCUMENTS."

         Upon original issuance of the Original Notes and until such time as the
same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Act, the
Original Notes shall bear the legend relating thereto set forth under "Transfer
Restrictions" in the Offering Memorandum.

         Concurrently with the offering of Notes hereby, Parent is offering (the
"PREFERRED STOCK OFFERING") approximately $80.0 million of gross proceeds of 11 
3/4% Cumulative Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK").
In connection with the Acquisition (as defined below) and the offering of the
Original Notes hereby, the Issuer, the Company and the Guarantors will enter
into a Credit Agreement (the "CREDIT AGREEMENT") with ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as
Agent, and the other agents and lenders party thereto. The net proceeds from the
sale of the Original Notes and from the Preferred Stock Offering and borrowings
under the New Credit Agreement will be used as described under "The Acquisition
and Use of Proceeds" in the Offering Memorandum, including, but not exclusively,
(i) to pay the Merger Consideration in connection with the merger of the Issuer
into the Company (the "ACQUISITION") pursuant to a Merger Agreement (the "MERGER
AGREEMENT") dated as of December 23, 1997 by and among the Issuer, Parent, the
Company and the Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. Personal Injury Settlement Trust
(the "TRUST") and (ii) to repay the total amount outstanding under the 10%
Debentures and (iii) to redeem 660,000 shares of Common Stock from the Trust.

           2. AGREEMENTS TO SELL AND PURCHASE. On the basis of the
representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement, and
subject to the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, the Issuer
agrees to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial Purchasers
agree to purchase from the Issuer, severally and not jointly, the aggregate
principal amount of Original Notes set forth opposite its name in Schedule I
hereto. The purchase price for the Original Notes shall be 99.836% of their
principal amount. The Guarantors shall unconditionally guarantee on an unsecured
senior subordinated basis the Issuer's obligations under the Notes.

           3. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT. Delivery of, and payment of the purchase
price for, the Original Notes shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time,
on February 24, 1998 (such date and time, the "CLOSING DATE") at the offices of
Howard, Darby & Levin, 1330 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019.
The Closing Date and the location of delivery of and the form of payment for the
Original Notes may be varied by mutual agreement between the Initial Purchasers
and the Issuer.



                                       3
















         One or more of the Original Notes in global form registered in such
names as the Initial Purchasers may request upon at least one business day's
notice prior to the Closing Date, having an aggregate principal amount
corresponding to the aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes, shall be
delivered by the Issuer to the Initial Purchasers (or as the Initial Purchasers
direct), against payment by the Initial Purchasers of the purchase price
therefor by means of transfer of immediately available funds to such account or
accounts as the Issuer shall specify prior to the Closing Date, or by such means
as the parties hereto shall agree prior to the Closing Date. The Original Notes
in global form shall be made available to the Initial Purchasers for inspection
not later than 1:00 p.m. on the business day immediately preceding the Closing
Date.

           4.   AGREEMENTS OF THE ISSUER.  The Issuer covenants and agrees
with the Initial Purchasers as follows:

          (a) To furnish the Initial Purchasers and those persons identified by
         the Initial Purchasers, without charge, with as many copies of the
         Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, and any
         amendments or supplements thereto, as the Initial Purchasers may
         reasonably request. The Issuer consents to the use of the Preliminary
         Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, and any amendments and
         supplements thereto required pursuant to this Agreement, by the Initial
         Purchasers in connection with Exempt Resales that are in compliance
         with this Agreement.

          (b) Not to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum prior to the
         Closing Date unless the Initial Purchasers shall previously have been
         advised of, and shall not have objected to, such amendment or
         supplement within a reasonable time, but in any event not longer than
         two business days after being furnished with a copy of such amendment
         or supplement. The Issuer shall promptly prepare, upon the Initial
         Purchasers' reasonable request, any amendment or supplement to the
         Offering Memorandum that may be necessary or advisable in connection
         with Exempt Resales.

          (c) If, during the time that an Offering Memorandum is required to be
         delivered in connection with any Exempt Resales or market-making
         transactions after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
         consummation of the Exchange Offer, any event shall occur that, in the
         judgment of the Issuer or in the judgment of counsel to the Initial
         Purchasers, makes any statement of a material fact in the Offering
         Memorandum as then amended or supplemented untrue or that requires the


                                       4















         making of any additions to or changes in the Offering Memorandum in
         order to make the statements in the Offering Memorandum as then amended
         or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they are
         made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to amend or supplement the
         Offering Memorandum to comply with all applicable laws, the Issuer
         shall promptly notify the Initial Purchasers of such event and prepare
         an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Offering Memorandum so
         that (i) the statements in the Offering Memorandum as amended or
         supplemented will, in the light of the circumstances at the time that
         the Offering Memorandum is delivered to prospective Eligible
         Purchasers, not be misleading and (ii) the Offering Memorandum will
         comply with applicable law.

          (d) To cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and counsel to the
         Initial Purchasers in connection with the qualification or registration
         of the Original Notes under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
         jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may request and to continue
         such qualification in effect so long as required for the Exempt
         Resales. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Issuer nor the
         Company nor the Guarantors shall be required to qualify as a foreign
         corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to
         file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction
         or subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in
         any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

          (e) To advise the Initial Purchasers promptly and, if requested by the
         Initial Purchasers, to confirm such advice in writing, of the issuance
         by any state securities commission of any stop order suspending the
         qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Original
         Notes for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of
         any proceeding for such purpose by any state securities commission or
         other regulatory authority. The Issuer shall use its reasonable best
         efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or order suspending
         the qualification or exemption of any of the Original Notes under any
         state securities or Blue Sky laws, and if at any time any state
         securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an
         order suspending the qualification or exemption of any of the Original
         Notes under any state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Issuer shall use
         its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such
         order at the earliest possible time.

          (f) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are
         consummated or this Agreement becomes effective or is terminated, to
         pay all costs, expenses, fees, disbursements (including fees, expenses
         and disbursements of counsel to the Issuer, the Guarantors and


                                       5
















         the Company, but not of counsel to the Initial Purchasers (except
         pursuant to clause (iv) herein) or expenses of the Initial Purchases if
         the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated) and stamp,
         documentary or similar taxes incident to and in connection with: (i)
         the preparation, printing and distribution of the Preliminary Offering
         Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum (including, without limitation,
         financial statements) and all amendments and supplements thereto, (ii)
         the preparation and delivery of the Operative Documents and all other
         agreements, memoranda, correspondence and documents prepared and
         delivered in connection with this Agreement and with the Exempt
         Resales, (iii) the issuance, transfer and delivery by the Issuer and
         the Guarantors of the Original Notes and the Guarantees, respectively,
         to the Initial Purchasers, (iv) the qualification or registration of
         the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of
         the several states of the United States or provinces of Canada
         (including, without limitation, the cost of printing and mailing a
         preliminary and final Blue Sky memorandum and the fees and
         disbursements of counsel to the Initial Purchasers relating thereto),
         (v) the furnishing of such copies of the Preliminary Offering
         Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, and all amendments and
         supplements thereto, as may be reasonably requested for use in
         connection with Exempt Resales, (vi) the preparation of certificates
         for the Notes, (vii) the application for quotation of the Notes in the
         National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") Automated
         Quotation System - PORTAL ("PORTAL"), including, but not limited to,
         all listing fees and expenses, (viii) the approval of the Notes by The
         Depository Trust Company ("DTC") for "book-entry" transfer, (ix) the
         rating of the Notes by rating agencies, (x) the fees and expenses of
         the Trustee and its counsel and (xi) the performance by the Issuer, the
         Company and the Guarantors of their other obligations under the
         Operative Documents, including, but not limited to, the fees,
         disbursements and expenses of the Issuer's counsel and accountants.

          (g) To use the proceeds from the sale of the Original Notes in the
         manner described in the Offering Memorandum under the caption "The
         Acquisition and Use of Proceeds."

          (h) To do and perform all things required to be done and performed
         under this Agreement by it prior to or after the Closing Date and to
         satisfy all conditions precedent on its part to the delivery of the
         Original Notes.

          (i)   Not to, and not to permit any Subsidiary of the Company to,
         sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate 
         in respect


                                       6















         of any security (as defined in the Act) that would be integrated with
         the sale of the Original Notes in a manner that would require the
         registration under the Act of the sale of the Original Notes to the
         Initial Purchasers or any Eligible Purchasers.

          (j) During the period of two years after the Closing Date or, if
         earlier, until such time as the Original Notes are no longer restricted
         securities (as defined in Rule 144 under the Act), not to, not to
         permit any Subsidiary to, and to use its reasonable best efforts to
         cause its other affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Act) not
         to, resell any of the Original Notes that have been reacquired by any
         of them.

          (k) Not to engage, not to allow any Subsidiary to engage, and to use
         its reasonable best efforts to cause its other affiliates and any
         person acting on its behalf (other than in any case any Initial
         Purchaser, as to whom the Issuer and Parent make no covenant) not to
         engage, in any form of general solicitation or general advertising
         (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Act) in connection with
         any offer or sale of the Original Notes in the United States.

          (l) Not to engage, not to allow any Subsidiary to engage, and to use
         its reasonable best efforts to cause its other affiliates and any
         person acting on its behalf (other than in any case any Initial
         Purchaser, as to whom the Issuer and Parent make no covenant) not to
         engage in any directed selling effort with respect to the Original
         Notes, and agrees to comply with the offering restrictions requirement
         of Regulation S under the Act. Terms used in this paragraph have the
         meanings given to them by Regulation S.

          (m) In connection with the offering, until 90 days after the Closing
         Date, not to, not to permit any Subsidiary to, and to use its
         reasonable best efforts to cause its other affiliates not to, either
         alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or purchase for any
         account in which it or any of its affiliates has a beneficial interest
         any Original Notes; and neither it nor any of its affiliates will make
         bids or purchases for the purpose of creating actual, or apparent,
         active trading in, or of raising the price of, the Original Notes.

          (n) During the period of two years after the Closing Date or, if
         earlier, until such time as the Original Notes are no longer restricted
         securities (as defined in Rule 144 under the Act), not to be or become
         a closed-end investment company required to be registered, but not


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         registered, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
         "INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT").

          (o) From and after the Closing Date, for so long as any of the Notes
         remain outstanding and are "restricted securities" within the meaning
         of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Act and during any period in which the
         Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), to make available upon
         request the information required by Rule 144(d)(4) under the Act to (i)
         any Holder or beneficial owner or Notes in connection with any sale of
         such Notes and (ii) any prospective purchase of such Notes from any
         such Holder or beneficial owner designated by the Holder or beneficial
         owner. The Issuer will pay the expenses of printing and distributing
         such documents.

          (p) To comply with all its agreements set forth in the Registration
         Rights Agreement and all agreements set forth in the representations
         letter of the Issuer to DTC relating to the approval of the Notes by
         DTC for "book-entry" transfer and to obtain approval of the Notes by
         DTC for "book-entry" transfer.

          (q)   To use its reasonable best efforts to effect the inclusion of
         the Original Notes in PORTAL.

          (r) Prior to the Closing Date, to furnish to the Initial Purchasers,
         as soon as they have been prepared by the Company and its Subsidiaries,
         a copy of any regularly prepared final internal financial statements of
         the Company and its Subsidiaries for any period subsequent to the
         period covered by the financial statements appearing in the Offering
         Memorandum and prior to the Closing Date.

          (s) Not to distribute prior to the Closing Date any offering material
         in connection with the offer and sale of the Original Notes other than
         the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

          (t) To cause each Original Note to bear the legend set forth in the
         form of Original Note set forth in the Notes Indenture until such
         legend shall no longer be necessary or advisable because the Notes are
         no longer subject to the restrictions on transfer described therein.

           5.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  (a) Each of the Issuer
and Parent represents and warrants to the Initial Purchasers that:


                                       8

















           (i) Each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering
          Memorandum has been prepared in connection with the Exempt Resales.
          Neither the Preliminary Offering Memorandum nor the Offering
          Memorandum, nor any supplement or amendment thereto, contains any
          untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material
          fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
          of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
          provided, however, that the Issuer and Parent make no representation
          or warranty with respect to information contained in or omitted from
          the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum, as
          supplemented or amended, in reliance upon and in conformity with the
          information set forth in Section 9 hereto and furnished to the Issuer
          and Parent in writing by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers
          expressly for inclusion in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the
          Offering Memorandum or any supplement or amendment thereto. No order
          preventing the use of either the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or
          the Offering Memorandum, or any order asserting that any of the
          transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the
          registration requirements of the Act, has been issued or to the
          knowledge of Issuer or Parent threatened.

           (ii) There are no securities of either the Company or the Guarantors
          that are listed on a national securities exchange registered under
          Section 6 of the Exchange Act or that are quoted in a United States
          automated interdealer quotation system.

           (iii) As of the date of this Agreement, the Trust beneficially owns
          100% of the outstanding common stock equity ownership of the Company
          and, as of the Closing Date, the Company shall have an authorized
          capitalization as set forth under the heading entitled "Company Pro
          Forma" in the section of the Offering Memorandum entitled
          "Capitalization". Attached as Schedule A is a true and complete list
          of all Subsidiaries, their jurisdictions of incorporation, type of
          entity and equity ownership. All of the issued and outstanding shares
          of capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and
          validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable. All shares of
          capital stock of the Subsidiaries that are owned of record directly by
          the Company or indirectly by a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company
          are owned free and clear of any lien, security interest, pledge,
          charge, encumbrance, equity or claim; none of the outstanding shares
          of capital stock of each such Subsidiary was issued in violation of,
          or subject to, any preemptive or similar rights or the charter or
          by-laws of the Issuer, the Company or such Subsidiary or any agreement
          to which the Issuer, the Company or such Subsidiary is a party.

                                       9















          Upon the closing of the Acquisition, there will not be any outstanding
          rights, warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible
          into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity
          interest of the Company's Subsidiaries, which shares of capital stock
          or other equity interests are held by the Company.

           (iv) The Issuer, the Company, Parent and each Subsidiary has been
          duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good
          standing (or its equivalent in the case of non-U.S. Subsidiaries)
          under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation and has
          all requisite corporate power and authority, and all necessary
          authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits
          of and from regulatory or governmental officials, bodies and
          tribunals, except where the failure to obtain such authorizations,
          approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits would not
          reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to (A) carry
          on its business as it is currently being conducted and as described in
          the Offering Memorandum and (B) own, lease, license and operate its
          respective properties in accordance with its business as currently
          conducted. The Company and each Restricted Subsidiary is duly
          qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation authorized to
          do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business
          or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification,
          except where the failure to be so qualified would not, either
          individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a
          Material Adverse Effect. A "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means any
          material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or
          other), properties, results of operations or prospects of the Company
          and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

           (v) Each of the Issuer, the Company and each Guarantor has all
          requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and
          perform all of its obligations under the Operative Documents to which
          it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
          Operative Documents to be consummated on its part and, without
          limitation, the Issuer has all requisite corporate power and authority
          to issue, sell and deliver the Notes and each Guarantor has all
          requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and
          perform all its obligations under its Guarantee.

           (vi) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed
          and delivered by the Issuer and Parent.

           (vii) The Notes Indenture, including the Guarantees set forth
          therein, has been, or upon the Closing Date will be, duly and validly
          authorized by the Issuer and each Guarantor and, when duly executed
          and
                                       10
















          delivered by the Issuer, each Guarantor and the Trustee (assuming the
          due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee),
          will be a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of the Issuer
          and each Guarantor, enforceable against each of them in accordance
          with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by
          bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance,
          moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
          rights generally and by general principles of equity and the
          discretion of the court before which any proceedings therefor may be
          brought. The Notes Indenture, when executed and delivered, will
          conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the
          Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

           (viii) The Original Notes have been, or upon the Closing Date will
          be, duly and validly authorized for issuance and sale to the Initial
          Purchasers by the Issuer and, when issued, authenticated and delivered
          by the Issuer against payment by the Initial Purchasers in accordance
          with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes Indenture, the Original
          Notes will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer,
          entitled to the benefits of the Notes Indenture and enforceable
          against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, except as
          enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
          reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws
          affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by
          general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before
          which any proceedings therefor may be brought. The Original Notes,
          when issued, authenticated and delivered, will conform in all material
          respects to the description thereof in the Preliminary Offering
          Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

           (ix) The New Notes have been, or upon the Closing Date will be, duly
          and validly authorized for issuance by the Issuer and, when issued,
          authenticated and delivered by the Issuer in accordance with the terms
          of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Exchange Offer and the Notes
          Indenture, the New Notes will be legal, valid and binding obligations
          of the Issuer, entitled to the benefits of the Notes Indenture and
          enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, except
          that enforceability of the New Notes may be limited by bankruptcy,
          insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or
          similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally
          and by general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
          before which any proceedings therefor may be brought. The New Notes,
          when issued, authenticated and delivered, will conform in all material
          respects to the

                                       11















          description thereof in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the
          Offering Memorandum.

           (x) The Registration Rights Agreement has been, or upon the Closing
          Date will be, duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by
          the Issuer and, when duly executed and delivered by the Issuer and the
          Initial Purchasers, will constitute a legal, valid and binding
          obligation of the Issuer, enforceable against it in accordance with
          its terms, except that (A) enforceability of the Registration Rights
          Agreement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
          fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting the
          enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general principles
          of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceedings
          therefor may be brought and (B) any rights to indemnity or
          contribution thereunder may be limited by federal and state securities
          laws and public policy considerations. The Registration Rights
          Agreement will conform in all material respects to the description
          thereof in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering
          Memorandum.

           (xi) All taxes, fees and other governmental charges that are due and
          payable on or prior to the Closing Date in connection with the
          execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Documents, the
          Credit Agreement and the Merger Agreement and the execution, delivery
          and sale of the Original Notes shall have been paid by or on behalf of
          the Issuer at or prior to the Closing Date.

           (xii) None of the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary is
          (A) in violation of its charter, constitutive documents or bylaws or
          (B) in default (or, with notice or lapse of time or both, would be in
          default) in the performance or observance of any obligation,
          agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond, debenture,
          note, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
          lease, license, franchise agreement, authorization, permit,
          certificate or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a
          party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their assets
          or properties is subject (collectively, "AGREEMENTS AND INSTRUMENTS"),
          or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment,
          order or decree of any domestic or foreign court with jurisdiction
          over any of them or any of their assets or properties or other
          governmental or regulatory authority, agency or other body, that, in
          the case of clauses (B) and (C) herein, would reasonably be expected
          to have a Material Adverse Effect. There exists no condition that,
          with notice, the passage of time or otherwise, would constitute a
          default by the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary under any
          such document or

                                       12















          instrument or result in the imposition of any penalty or the
          acceleration of any indebtedness, other than penalties, defaults or
          conditions that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

           (xiii) The Credit Agreement has been, or upon the Closing Date will
          be, authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer, the Guarantors,
          ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as Agent, and the other agents and lenders party
          thereto will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of
          the Issuer and the Guarantors, enforceable against the Issuer and the
          Guarantors, in accordance with their terms, except that enforceability
          of the Credit Agreement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
          reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws
          affecting the enforceability of creditors' rights generally and by
          general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before
          which any proceedings therefor may be brought. The Credit Agreement
          conforms in all material respects to the description thereof in the
          Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.

           (xiv) The Merger Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
          executed and delivered by the Issuer and Parent, and constitutes a
          legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and Parent
          enforceable against the Issuer and Parent in accordance with its terms
          except that enforceability of the Merger Agreement may be limited by
          bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance,
          moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors'
          rights generally and by general principles of equity and the
          discretion of the court before which any proceedings therefor may be
          brought.


           (xv) None of (A) the execution and delivery by the Issuer and Parent
          of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, (B) the
          execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer or each of the
          Guarantors of (x) the other Operative Documents, (y) the Credit
          Agreement or (z) the Merger Agreement to the extent each is a party or
          (C) the consummation of the offer and sale of the Original Notes, the
          Preferred Stock Offering or the Acquisition does or will violate,
          conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions
          of, or a default under (or an event that with notice or the lapse of
          time, or both, would constitute a default), or require consent under,
          or result in the creation or imposition of a lien (other than, as of
          the Closing Date, the liens imposed under the Credit Agreement),
          charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Issuer, the
          Company, Parent or any Subsidiary or an acceleration of any
          indebtedness of the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary
          pursuant to, (i) the charter, constitutive documents or bylaws of

                                       13
















          the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary, (ii) assuming the
          consummation of the Acquisition and the transactions contemplated
          thereby, any Agreement or Instrument, (iii) any law, statute, rule or
          regulation applicable to the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any
          Subsidiary or their respective assets or properties or (iv) any
          judgment, order or decree of any domestic or foreign court or
          governmental agency or authority having jurisdiction over the Issuer,
          the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary or their respective assets or
          properties. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and
          warranties of the Initial Purchasers in Section 5(b) of this
          Agreement, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing,
          registration, qualification, license or permit of or with, any court
          or governmental agency, body or administrative agency, domestic or
          foreign, is required to be obtained or made by the Issuer, the Company
          or any Guarantor for (1) the execution and delivery by the Issuer or
          Parent of this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, (2) the
          execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer and each Guarantor
          of (x) the other Operative Documents, (y) the Credit Agreement or (z)
          the Merger Agreement to the extent each is a party or (3) the
          consummation of the Acquisition or any of the transactions
          contemplated thereby, except (x) such as have been or will be obtained
          or made on or prior to the Closing Date, (y) registration of the
          Exchange Offer or resale of the Notes under the Act pursuant to the
          Registration Rights Agreement or (z) such as may be required by the
          NASD. No consents or waivers from any other person or entity are
          required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
          or any of the other Operative Documents, the execution, delivery and
          performance of the Merger Agreement or the Credit Agreement or the
          consummation of the Preferred Stock Offering or the Acquisition or any
          of the transactions contemplated thereby, other than such consents and
          waivers as have been obtained or will be obtained prior to the Closing
          Date.

           (xvi) The Issuer has delivered or made available to the Initial
          Purchasers true and correct executed copies of the Merger Agreement
          and the Credit Agreement and there have been no amendments,
          alterations or modifications thereto or waivers of any of the
          provisions thereof. The representations and warranties of the Issuer
          and each Guarantor set forth in the Merger Agreement and the Credit
          Agreement will be true and correct in all material respects as of the
          Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation or
          warranty was expressly made as of any other date, in which case such
          representation and warranty was true and correct as of such date).


                                       14















           (xvii) Except as set forth in the Offering Memorandum, there is (A)
          no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, arbitrator or
          governmental agency, body or official, domestic or foreign, now
          pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer or Parent, threatened or
          contemplated, to which the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any
          Subsidiary is or may be a party or to which the business, assets or
          property of such person is or may be subject, (B) no statute, rule,
          regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or issued or, to
          the knowledge of the Issuer or Parent, that has been proposed by any
          governmental body or agency, domestic or foreign, (C) no injunction,
          restraining order or order of any nature by a federal or state court
          or foreign court of competent jurisdiction to which the Issuer, the
          Company, Parent or any Subsidiary is or may be subject that (x) in the
          case of clause (A) above, if determined adversely to the Issuer, the
          Company, Parent or any Subsidiary, would reasonably be expected,
          either individually or in the aggregate, (1) to have a Material
          Adverse Effect or (2) to interfere with or adversely affect the
          issuance of the Notes or the Guarantees in any jurisdiction or
          adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
          any of the Operative Documents, the Merger Agreement or the Credit
          Agreement and (y) in the case of clauses (B) and (C) above, would
          reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, (1)
          to have a Material Adverse Effect or (2) to interfere with or
          adversely affect the issuance of the Notes or the Guarantees in any
          jurisdiction or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated by any of the Operative Documents, the Merger Agreement
          or the Credit Agreement. Every request of any securities authority or
          agency of any jurisdiction for additional information with respect to
          the Notes that has been received by the Issuer, Parent or their
          counsel prior to the date hereof has been, or will prior to the
          Closing Date be, complied with in all material respects.

           (xviii) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
          Adverse Effect, (a) no labor disturbance by the employees of the
          Company or any Subsidiary exists or, to the actual knowledge of the
          Issuer or Parent, is imminent; (b) the Issuer, the Company, Parent and
          each Subsidiary are in compliance in all respects with, as applicable,
          all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
          Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and
          published interpretations thereunder ("ERISA"); (c) no "reportable
          event" (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any "pension
          plan" (as defined in ERISA) for which the Issuer, the Guarantors, the
          Company or any Subsidiary would have any liability; (d) none of the
          Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary has incurred or expects
          to incur liability under (A) Title IV of ERISA with respect to
          termination of, or


                                       15
















          withdrawal from, any "pension plan" or (B) Section 412 or 4971 of the
          Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations
          and published interpretations thereunder (the "Code"); and (e) each
          "pension plan" that is maintained or contributed to by the Company or
          its Subsidiaries that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a)
          of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by
          action or by failure to act, that would cause the loss of such
          qualification.

           (xix) Except as set forth in the Offering Memorandum, each of the
          Company and each Subsidiary (A) is in compliance with, or not subject
          to costs or liabilities under, all local, state, provincial, federal
          and foreign laws, regulations, rules of common law, orders and
          decrees, as in effect as of the date hereof, and any present judgments
          and injunctions issued or promulgated thereunder relating to pollution
          or protection of public and employee health and safety, the
          environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or
          contaminants applicable to it or its business or operations or
          ownership or use of its property ("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), other than
          noncompliance or such costs or liabilities that would not reasonably
          be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (B) possesses all
          permits, licenses or other approvals required under applicable
          Environmental Laws, except where the failure to possess any such
          permit, license or other approval would not reasonably be expected to
          have a Material Adverse Effect. All currently pending and, to the
          knowledge of the Issuer or Parent, threatened proceedings, notices of
          violation, demands, notices of potential responsibility or liability,
          suits and existing environmental conditions by any governmental
          authority which the Company or its Subsidiaries could reasonably
          expect to result in a Material Adverse Effect are fully and accurately
          described in all material respects in the Offering Memorandum.

           (xx) Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has (A) good and
          marketable title to all of the properties and assets described in the
          Offering Memorandum as owned by it and good and marketable title to
          the leasehold estates in the real and personal property described in
          the Offering Memorandum as leased by them, free and clear of all Liens
          (as defined in the Notes Indenture), except for Liens described in the
          Offering Memorandum and Liens permitted under the Notes Indenture, and
          such Liens as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
          Adverse Effect on the rights of the holders of the Notes, (B) all
          licenses, certificates, permits, authorizations, approvals, franchises
          and other rights from, and has made all declarations and filings with,
          all federal, state, local and foreign authorities, all self-regulatory
          authorities and all courts and other tribunals (each, an
          "AUTHORIZATION") necessary to engage in the


                                       16

















          business conducted by it in the manner described in the Offering
          Memorandum, except where failure to hold such Authorizations would not
          be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (C) no
          reason to believe that any governmental body or agency, domestic or
          foreign, is considering limiting, suspending or revoking any such
          Authorization, except where such limitation, suspension or revocation
          would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
          All such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and the
          Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects
          with the terms and conditions of all such Authorizations and with the
          rules and regulations of the regulatory authorities having
          jurisdiction with respect to such Authorizations, except for any
          invalidity, failure to be in full force and effect or noncompliance
          with any Authorization that would not reasonably be expected to have a
          Material Adverse Effect.

           (xxi) The Company and each Subsidiary owns, possesses or has the
          right to employ all patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions,
          copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented
          and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems
          or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names
          (collectively, the "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY") necessary to conduct the
          businesses operated by it as described in the Offering Memorandum,
          except where the failure to own, possess or have the right to employ
          such Intellectual Property would not reasonably be expected to have a
          Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company or any Subsidiary has
          received any notice of infringement of or conflict with (and neither
          knows of any such infringement or a conflict with) asserted rights of
          others with respect to any of the foregoing that, if such assertion of
          infringement or conflict were sustained, would reasonably be expected
          to have a Material Adverse Effect. The use of the Intellectual
          Property in connection with the business and operations of the Company
          and its Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any person,
          except for such infringement as would not reasonably be expected to
          have a Material Adverse Effect.

           (xxii) All tax returns required to be filed by the Company and each
          Subsidiary have been filed in all jurisdictions where such returns are
          required to be filed; and all taxes, including withholding taxes,
          penalties and interest, assessments, fees and other charges due or
          claimed to be due from such entities or that are due and payable have
          been paid, other than those being contested in good faith and for
          which reserves have been provided in accordance with generally
          accepted accounting principles or those currently payable without
          penalty or interest and except where the failure to make such required
          filings or payment would not reasonably be


                                       17















          expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the
          Issuer and Parent, there are no material proposed additional tax
          assessments against any of the Company and its Subsidiaries or their
          assets or property.

           (xxiii) None of the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary is
          an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment
          company" incorporated in the United States within the meaning of the
          Investment Company Act.

           (xxiv) Except as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement or as
          described in the Offering Memorandum, there are no holders of
          securities of the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary who
          have the right to request or demand that the the Issuer, the Company,
          Parent or any of the Company's Subsidiaries register under the Act or
          analogous foreign laws and regulations any of such securities held by
          any such holders.

           (xxv) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains a system of
          internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
          assurance that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with
          management's general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are
          recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial
          statements in conformity with United States generally accepted
          accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (C)
          access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's
          general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability
          for its assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
          intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
          differences.

           (xxvi) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains insurance
          covering its properties, assets, operations, personnel and businesses,
          and such insurance is of such type and in such amounts in accordance
          with customary industry practice to protect the Company and its
          Subsidiaries and their businesses. None of the Company or any
          Subsidiary has received notice from any insurer or agent of such
          insurer that any material capital improvements or other material
          expenditures will have to be made in order to continue any insurance
          maintained by any of them other than capital improvements and other
          expenditures that have been budgeted by the Company or its
          Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

           (xxvii) None of the Issuer, the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or
          their Affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the
          Act) has (A) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or
          that


                                       18

















          might reasonably be expected to, cause or result in stabilization or
          manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuer to facilitate
          the sale or resale of the Original Notes or (B) since the date of the
          Preliminary Offering Memorandum (x) sold, bid for, purchased or paid
          any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Original
          Notes in a manner that would require registration of the Original
          Notes under the Act or (y) paid or agreed to pay to any person any
          compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities
          of the Issuer, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a manner
          that would require registration of the Original Notes under the Act.

           (xxviii) None of the Issuer, the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary
          or any of their Affiliates (as defined in Regulation D under the Act)
          has, directly or through any agent, sold, offered for sale, contracted
          to sell, pledged, solicited offers to buy or otherwise disposed of or
          negotiated in respect of, any security (as defined in the Act) that is
          currently or will be integrated with the sale of the Original Notes in
          a manner that would require the registration of the Original Notes
          under the Act.

           (xxix) None of the Issuer, the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or
          any of their Affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf
          (other than any Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Issuer and Parent
          make no representation), is engaged in any directed selling effort
          with respect to the Original Notes, and each of them has complied with
          the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S under the Act.
          Terms used in this paragraph have the meaning given to them by
          Regulation S.

           (xxx) No registration under the Act of the Original Notes or
          qualification of the Notes Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
          1939, as amended (the "TRUST INDENTURE ACT"), is required for the sale
          of the Original Notes to the Initial Purchasers as contemplated by
          this Agreement or for the Exempt Resales, assuming in each case that
          (A) the purchasers who buy the Original Notes in the Exempt Resales
          are Eligible Purchasers and (B) the accuracy of and compliance with
          the Initial Purchasers' representations, warranties and covenants
          contained in Section 5(b) of this Agreement. No form of general
          solicitation or general advertising (prohibited by the Act in
          connection with offers or sales such as the Exempt Resales) was used
          by the Issuer, the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their
          representatives (other than any Initial Purchaser, as to whom the
          Issuer and Parent make no representation) in connection with the offer
          and sale of any of the Original Notes or in connection with Exempt
          Resales, including, but not limited to, articles, notices or other
          communications published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium

                                       19
















          or broadcast over television or radio, or any seminar or meeting whose
          attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general
          advertising. None of the Issuer, the Company, any Restricted
          Subsidiary or any of their affiliates has entered into, and none of
          the Issuer, the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or their affiliates
          will enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the
          distribution of the Original Notes except for this Agreement.

           (xxxi) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the other
          Operative Documents, and the sale of the Notes to be purchased by the
          QIBs will not involve any prohibited transaction within the meaning of
          Section 406(a) of ERISA or Section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code. The
          representation made by the Issuer and Parent in the preceding sentence
          is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of, and
          compliance with, the representations and covenants made or deemed made
          by the Initial Purchasers in Section 5(b) and by the persons who
          purchase the Notes as set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the
          caption "Transfer Restrictions."


           (xxxii) Each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering
          Memorandum, as of its respective date, and each amendment or
          supplement thereto, as of its date, contains the information specified
          in, and meets the requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act.

           (xxxiii) As of November 30, 1997, neither, the Company, nor any
          Subsidiary had any material liabilities or obligations, direct or
          contingent, that were not set forth in the Company's consolidated
          balance sheet as of November 30, 1997 or in the notes thereto set
          forth in the Offering Memorandum. Since November 30, 1997, except as
          set forth or contemplated in the Offering Memorandum, (a) none of the
          Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary has (1) incurred any
          liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, that would
          reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (2)
          entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of
          business, (b) there has not been any event or development in respect
          of the business or condition (financial or other) of the Company and
          its Subsidiaries that, either individually or in the aggregate, would
          reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (c) there
          has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or
          made by the Company or any Subsidiary on any class of their capital
          stock.

           (xxxiv) None of the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary (or
          any agent thereof acting on their behalf) has taken, and none of them

                                       20

















          will take, any action that might cause this Agreement or the issuance
          or sale of the Notes to violate Regulation G (12 C.F.R. Part 207),
          Regulation T (12 C.F.R. Part 220), Regulation U (12 C.F.R. Part 221)
          or Regulation X (12 C.F.R. Part 224) of the Board of Governors of the
          Federal Reserve System or analogous foreign laws and regulations, in
          each case as in effect, or as the same may hereafter be in effect, on
          the Closing Date.

           (xxxv) Each firm of accountants that has certified or shall certify
          the financial statements included or to be included as part of the
          Offering Memorandum is an independent accountant within the meaning of
          the Act. The historical financial statements and the notes thereto
          included in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering
          Memorandum comply as to form in all material respects with the
          requirements applicable to registration statements on Form S-1 under
          the Act and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated
          financial position and results of operations of Parent, the Company
          and its Subsidiaries at the respective dates and for the respective
          periods indicated. Such financial statements have been prepared in
          accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles
          applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods presented (except
          as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum). The pro forma financial
          statements included in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the
          Offering Memorandum have been prepared on a basis consistent with such
          historical statements, except for the pro forma adjustments specified
          therein, and give effect to assumptions made on a reasonable basis and
          present fairly in all material respects the historical and proposed
          transactions contemplated by the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and
          the Offering Memorandum, this Agreement and the other Operative
          Documents. The other financial and statistical information and data
          included in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering
          Memorandum, historical and pro forma, are accurately presented in all
          material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the
          financial statements and the books and records of Parent, the Company
          and its Subsidiaries.

           (xxxvi) None of the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary (A)
          is "insolvent" as that term is defined in Section 101(32) of the
          United States Bankruptcy Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") (11 U.S.C. '
          101(32)), Section 2 of the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act ("UFTA") or
          Section 2 of the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act ("UFCA"), (B) has
          "unreasonably small capital" as that term is used in Section
          548(a)(2)(ii) of the Bankruptcy Code or Section 5 of the UFCA, (C) is
          engaged or about to engage in a business or transaction for which its
          remaining property is


                                       21
















          "unreasonably small" in relation to the business or transaction as
          that term is used in Section 4 of the UFTA or (D) is unable to pay its
          debts as they mature or become due, within the meaning of Section
          548(a)(2)(B)(iii) of the Bankruptcy Code, Section 4 of the UFTA and
          Section 6 of the UFCA. The Issuer, Parent, the Company and each
          Subsidiary now own assets having a value both at "fair valuation" and
          at "present fair saleable value" greater than the amount required to
          pay its "debts" as such terms are used in Section 2 of the UFTA and
          Section 2 of the UFCA. None of the Issuer, the Company, Parent or any
          Subsidiary of the Company will be rendered insolvent by the execution
          and delivery of any of the Operative Documents or the Credit Agreement
          or by the transactions contemplated hereunder or thereunder.

           (xxxvii) Except as described in the Offering Memorandum, the
          Consolidated Plan of Reorganization of the Eagle-Picher Group, the
          Order of the Bankruptcy Court and the Ohio District Court and the
          Injunction (together, the "Bankruptcy Plans and Orders") are in full
          force and effect, and none of them has been stayed, voided, vacated or
          reversed or modified in any material respect; the Eagle-Picher Group,
          the Issuer and Parent have not taken any actions or omitted to take
          actions in violation of the Bankruptcy Plans and Orders.

           (xxxviii) Except as described in the section entitled "Certain
          Relationships and Related Transactions" in the Offering Memorandum,
          there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the
          Issuer, the Company, Parent or any Subsidiary and any other person
          other than the Initial Purchasers that would give rise to a valid
          claim against the Issuer, the Company, Parent, any Subsidiary or the
          Initial Purchasers for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or like
          payment in connection with the issuance, purchase and sale of the
          Notes.

           (xxxix) The Company has the authorized, issued and outstanding
          capitalization set forth in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and
          the Offering Memorandum under the caption "Capitalization"; all of the
          outstanding capital stock of the Company has been duly authorized and
          validly issued, is or will be on the Closing Date fully paid and
          nonassessable and was not issued in violation of any preemptive or
          similar rights.

           (xl) The statistical and market-related data and forward-looking
          statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section
          21E of the Exchange Act) included in the Preliminary Offering
          Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum are based on or derived from
          sources that

                                       22

















          the Issuer and Parent believe to be reliable and accurate in all
          material respects and represent their good faith estimates that are
          made on the basis of data derived from such sources, and the Company
          and its Subsidiaries have informed the Issuer and Parent that they
          believe such sources to be reliable and accurate in all material
          respects and have notified the Issuer and Parent as to their good
          faith estimates made on the basis of data derived from such sources.

           (xli) Each certificate signed by any officer of the Issuer or Parent
          and delivered to the Initial Purchasers or counsel for the Initial
          Purchasers pursuant to, or in connection with, this Agreement shall be
          deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Issuer or Parent to
          the Initial Purchasers as to the matters covered by such certificate.

           (xlii) All of the representations and warranties made by the Issuer
          and Parent in each of the Operative Documents will be true and correct
          as of the Closing Date in all material respects, in each case after
          giving effect to the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby.

                  The Issuer and Parent acknowledge that the Initial Purchasers
         and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial
         Purchasers pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, counsel to the
         Issuer and counsel to the Initial Purchasers will rely upon the
         accuracy and truth of the foregoing representations and the Issuer and
         Parent hereby consent to such reliance.

          (b) Each Initial Purchaser represents, warrants and covenants (as to
itself only) to the Issuer that:

          (i) It is a QIB with such knowledge and experience in financial and
         business matters as are necessary in order to evaluate the merits and
         risks of an investment in the Notes.

         (ii) (A) It has not and will not solicit offers for, or offer or sell,
         the Original Notes by any form of general solicitation or general
         advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) or
         in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section
         4(2) of the Act and (B) it has and will solicit offers for the Original
         Notes only from, and will offer and sell the Original Notes only to (1)
         persons whom the Initial Purchaser reasonably believes to be QIBs or,
         if any such person is buying for one or more institutional accounts for
         which such person is acting as fiduciary or agent, only when such
         person has represented to the Initial Purchaser that each such account
         is a QIB to whom notice has been


                                       23
















         given that such sale or delivery is being made in reliance on Rule
         144A, and, in each case, in reliance on the exemption from the
         registration requirements of the Act pursuant to Rule 144A, or (2)
         persons other than U.S. persons outside the United States in reliance
         on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Act provided
         by Regulation S.

           (iii) With respect to offers and sales outside the United States,

                       (A) such Initial Purchaser will comply with all
                  applicable laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which
                  it acquires, offers, sells or delivers Notes or has in its
                  possession or distributes either any Preliminary Offering
                  Memorandum or Offering Memorandum or any such other material,
                  in all cases at its own expense;

                       (B) the Original Notes have not been and will not be
                  registered under the Act and may not be offered or sold within
                  the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of,
                  U.S. persons except in accordance with Regulation S under the
                  Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration
                  requirements of the Act;

                       (C) such Initial Purchaser has offered the Original Notes
                  and will offer and sell the Original Notes (1) as part of its
                  distribution at any time and (2) otherwise until 40 days after
                  the later of the commencement of the offering of the Original
                  Notes and the Closing Date, only in accordance with Rule 903
                  of Regulation S or another exemption from the registration
                  requirements of the Act. Accordingly, neither such Initial
                  Purchaser nor any persons acting on its or their behalf have
                  engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (within
                  the meaning of Regulation S) with respect to the Original
                  Notes, and any such persons have complied and will comply with
                  the offering restrictions requirements of Regulation S;

                           Terms used in this Section 5(b)(iii) have the
                  meanings given to them by Regulation S.

           (iv) The source of funds being used by it to acquire the Original
          Notes does not include the assets of any "employee benefit plan"
          (within the meaning of Section 3 of ERISA) or any "plan" (within the
          meaning of Section 4975 of the Code).

                                       24

















                  Each of the Initial Purchasers understands that the Issuer
         and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to them pursuant to
         Sections 8(g) and 8(h) hereof, counsel to the Issuer and counsel to the
         Initial Purchasers will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the
         foregoing representations, and each of the Initial Purchasers hereby
         consents to such reliance.

           6.   INDEMNIFICATION.

          (a) Each of the Issuer and Parent, on a joint and several basis,
         agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, each
         person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of
         Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, the agents,
         employees, officers and directors of the Initial Purchasers and the
         agents, employees, officers and directors of any such controlling
         person from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims,
         damages and expenses whatsoever (including, but not limited, to
         reasonable attorneys' fees and any and all reasonable expenses
         whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against
         any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and
         any and all reasonable amounts paid in settlement of any claim or
         litigation) (collectively, "LOSSES") to which they or any of them may
         become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise insofar as
         such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
         upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
         fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering
         Memorandum, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, or arise
         out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state
         therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
         the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
         misleading; provided, however, that the Issuer and Parent will not be
         liable in any such case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any
         such Loss arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or
         alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein
         in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to
         the Initial Purchasers furnished to the Issuer or Parent by or on
         behalf of the Initial Purchasers expressly for use therein; and,
         provided further, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in
         this subsection (a) with respect to any Preliminary Offering Memorandum
         shall not inure to the benefit of the Initial Purchasers or their
         agents, employees, officers and directors for any Loss if the Offering
         Memorandum corrected any such alleged untrue statement or omission and
         if such Initial Purchasers failed to send or give a copy of the
         Offering Memorandum at or prior to the written confirmation of a sale
         of the Notes to the person alleging such Loss. This indemnity agreement
         will be in addition to any liability that each of the Issuer and


                                       25
















         Parent may otherwise have, including, but not limited to, liability
         under this Agreement.

          (b) The Initial Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to
         indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and Parent, each person, if any,
         who controls the Issuer and Parent within the meaning of Section 15 of
         the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, and each of its agents,
         employees, officers and directors and the agents, employees, officers
         and directors of any such controlling person from and against any
         Losses to which they or either of them may become subject under the
         Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise insofar as such Losses (or actions
         in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
         or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
         Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum, or in any
         amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based
         upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
         necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case
         to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such Loss arises out of
         or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
         omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in
         conformity with information relating to the Initial Purchasers
         furnished in writing to the Issuer and Parent by the Initial Purchasers
         expressly for use therein. The Issuer, Parent and the Initial
         Purchasers acknowledge that the information set forth in Section 9 is
         the only information furnished in writing by the Initial Purchasers to
         the Issuer and Parent expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering
         Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum.

          (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection
         6(a) or 6(b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or
         proceeding (collectively, an "ACTION"), such indemnified party shall,
         if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
         party under such subsection, notify each party against whom
         indemnification is to be sought in writing of the commencement of such
         action (but the failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not
         relieve such indemnifying party from any liability that it may have
         under this Section 6 except to the extent that it has been prejudiced
         in any material respect by such failure or from any liability which it
         may otherwise have). In case any such action is brought against any
         indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the
         commencement of such action, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
         participate in such action, and to the extent it may elect by written
         notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the
         aforesaid notice from such indemnified party,


                                       26

















         to assume the defense of such action with counsel satisfactory to such
         indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party
         or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in
         any such action, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
         the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the
         employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the
         indemnifying parties in connection with the defense of such action,
         (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to take
         charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after
         notice of commencement of the action, or (iii) the named parties to
         such action (including any impleaded parties) include such indemnified
         party and the indemnifying parties (or such indemnifying parties have
         assumed the defense of such action), and such indemnified party or
         parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses
         available to it or them that are different from or additional to those
         available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in which case the
         indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the defense of
         such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of
         which events such reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be
         borne by the indemnifying parties. In no event shall the indemnifying
         party be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel
         (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all
         indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but
         substantially similar or related actions arising in the same
         jurisdiction out of the same general allegations or circumstances.
         Anything in this subsection to the contrary notwithstanding, an
         indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any claim
         or action effected without its written consent; provided, however, that
         such consent was not unreasonably withheld.

           7. CONTRIBUTION. In order to provide for contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in Section 6 of this
Agreement is for any reason held to be unavailable from the indemnifying party,
or is insufficient to hold harmless a party indemnified under Section 6 of this
Agreement, the Issuer, Parent and the Initial Purchasers shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such aggregate
Losses of the nature contemplated by such indemnification provision (but after
deducting in the case of Losses suffered by the indemnifying party, any
contribution received by the indemnifying party from persons other than the
indemnified party who may also be liable for contribution, including persons who
control the indemnified party within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) to which the Issuer, Parent and the Initial
Purchasers may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Issuer and Parent, on the one hand, and the
Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, from the offering of the Original Notes
or, if such


                                       27
















allocation is not permitted by applicable law or indemnification is not
available as a result of the indemnifying party not having received notice as
provided in paragraph (c) of this Section 8 and having been prejudiced in any
material respect by the absence of such notice, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to above but also
the relative fault of the Issuer and Parent, on the one hand, and the Initial
Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions
that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuer and Parent, on the
one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be
in the same proportion as (x) the total proceeds from the offering of Original
Notes (net of discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received
by the Issuer and Parent, and (y) the total discounts and commissions received
by the Initial Purchasers as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
Offering Memorandum. The relative fault of the Issuer and Parent, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Issuer, Parent or the Initial Purchasers
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or alleged
statement or omission.

         The Issuer, Parent and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
into account the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 7, (i) in no case shall the Initial Purchasers be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
discount and commissions applicable to the Original Notes pursuant to this
Agreement exceeds the amount of any damages that the Initial Purchasers have
otherwise been required to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission and (ii) no person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if
any, who controls the Initial Purchasers within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Initial Purchasers, and each person, if any, who controls
the Issuer and Parent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
20(a) of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Issuer and Parent, subject in each case to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section
7. Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of
commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for
contribution may be made against another party or parties under this Section 7,


                                       28

















notify such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the
omission to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or
parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may
have under this Section 7 or otherwise, except to the extent that it has been
prejudiced in any material respect by such failure; provided, however, that no
additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice
has been given under Section 6 for purposes of indemnification. Anything in this
section to the contrary notwithstanding, no party shall be liable for
contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written
consent, provided, however, that such written consent was not unreasonably
withheld.

           8. CONDITIONS OF INITIAL PURCHASERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of
the Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Original Notes, as provided
for in this Agreement, shall be subject to satisfaction of the following
conditions prior to or concurrently with such purchase:

          (a) All of the representations and warranties of the Issuer and Parent
         contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct, or true and
         correct in all material respects where such representations and
         warranties are not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect,
         on the date of this Agreement and, in each case after giving effect to
         the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, on the Closing
         Date, except that if a representation and warranty is made as of a
         specific date, and such date is expressly referred to therein, such
         representation and warranty shall be true and correct (or true and
         correct in all material respects, as applicable) as of such date. The
         Issuer and Parent shall have performed or complied with all of the
         agreements contained in this Agreement and required to be performed or
         complied with by them at or prior to the Closing Date.

          (b) The Offering Memorandum shall have been printed and copies
         distributed to the Initial Purchasers not later than 5:00 p.m., New
         York City time, on the day following the date of this Agreement or at
         such later date and time as the Initial Purchasers may agree. No stop
         order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of
         the Original Notes in any jurisdiction shall have been issued and no
         proceeding for that purpose shall have been commenced or shall be
         pending or threatened.

          (c) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation
         or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental
         agency that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance of the
         Original Notes or consummation of the Exchange Offer; except as
         disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, no action, suit or


                                       29
















         proceeding shall have been commenced and be pending against or
         affecting or, to the best knowledge of the Issuer and Parent,
         threatened against the Issuer, the Company, Parent and/or any
         Subsidiary before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body,
         agency or official that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be
         expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no stop order
         preventing the use of the Offering Memorandum, or any amendment or
         supplement thereto, or any order asserting that any of the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the registration
         requirements of the Act shall have been issued.

          (d) As of November 30, 1997, neither, the Company, nor any Subsidiary
         had any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, that
         were not set forth in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of
         November 30, 1997 or in the notes thereto set forth in the Offering
         Memorandum. Since November 30, 1997, except as set forth or
         contemplated in the Offering Memorandum, (a) none of the Issuer, the
         Company, Parent or any Subsidiary has (1) incurred any liabilities or
         obligations, direct or contingent, that would reasonably be expected to
         have a Material Adverse Effect, or (2) entered into any material
         transaction not in the ordinary course of business, (b) there has not
         been any event or development in respect of the business or condition
         (financial or other) of the Company and its Subsidiaries that, either
         individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have
         a Material Adverse Effect and (c) there has been no dividend or
         distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or any
         Subsidiary on any class of their capital stock.

          (e) The Initial Purchasers shall have received certificates, dated the
         Closing Date, signed by two authorized officers of each of the Issuer
         and Parent confirming, as of the Closing Date, the matters set forth in
         paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 8.

          (f) The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the Closing Date an
         opinion dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Initial Purchasers, of
         Howard, Darby & Levin, counsel to the Issuer, the Guarantors and the
         Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchasers and counsel to the Initial Purchasers.

          (g) The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the Closing Date an
         opinion (satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial Purchasers)
         dated the Closing Date of Davis Polk & Wardwell, special counsel to the
         Initial Purchasers, covering such matters as are customarily covered in
         such opinions.



                                       30

















                  In addition, such counsel shall state that they have
         participated in discussions with your representatives, representatives
         of the Issuer and the Guarantors and their counsel and independent
         public accountants concerning the preparation of the Offering
         Memorandum. Such counsel shall state that, although they are not
         passing upon and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
         completeness or fairness of any of the statements in the Offering
         Memorandum, on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality to
         a large extent upon officers or other representatives of the Issuer and
         the Company and upon your representations), no facts have come to their
         attention that lead such counsel to believe that the Offering
         Memorandum (other than the financial statements and other financial and
         statistical data contained therein as to which such counsel need
         express no belief), on the date of such Offering Memorandum and as of
         the date of the time of purchase, contained or contains an untrue
         statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material
         fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

          (h) Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Initial Purchasers
         shall have received a "comfort letter" from each of KPMG Peat Marwick
         LLP and Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants for the
         Company, dated as of the date of this Agreement, addressed to the
         Initial Purchasers and in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Initial Purchasers and counsel to the Initial Purchasers. In addition,
         as of the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received a
         "bring-down comfort letter" from Deloitte & Touche LLP in form and
         substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and counsel to the
         Initial Purchasers covering the same items and matters as covered in
         their "comfort letter" but as of a date that is not more than three
         days prior to the date thereof and any changes and additions to the
         Preliminary Offering Memorandum that were made producing the Offering
         Memorandum.

          (i) The Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall have entered into the
         Notes Indenture and the Initial Purchasers shall have received copies,
         conformed as executed, thereof.

          (j) The Issuer shall have entered into the Registration Rights
         Agreement and the Initial Purchasers shall have received counterparts,
         conformed as executed, thereof.


                                       31

















          (k) The Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall have entered into the
         Credit Agreement, and the Initial Purchasers shall have received
         counterparts, conformed as executed, thereof.

          (l) The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the Closing Date a
         certificate from the Company dated the Closing Date as to the solvency
         of the Company and its Subsidiaries, addressed to the Initial
         Purchasers and to the lenders in connection with the Issuer and
         Guarantors entering into the Credit Agreement.

          (m) Simultaneously with the purchase by the Initial Purchasers of the
         Original Notes under this Agreement, the Initial Purchasers shall have
         consummated the Preferred Stock Offering.

          (n) Prior to or simultaneously with the closing of the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement, the Acquisition shall have been
         consummated or will be consummated and the Issuer shall have been
         merged into, or on the Closing Date will be merged into, the Company.

          (o) The Initial Purchasers shall have been furnished with copies of
         such documents as they may reasonably request and all closing documents
         from the closings of the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (p) Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel to the Initial Purchasers, shall
         have been furnished with such documents as they may reasonably request
         to enable them to review or pass upon the matters referred to in this
         Section 8 and in order to evidence the accuracy, completeness or
         satisfaction in all material respects of any of the representations,
         warranties or conditions contained in this Agreement.

          (q) The Original Notes shall be eligible for trading in the PORTAL
         market upon issuance.

          (r) The Notes shall have initially been assigned ratings of "B-" and
         "B3" by Standard & Poor's Rating Services and Moody's Investors
         Service, Inc., respectively, and no such rating shall have been
         downgraded or placed on any "watch list" for possible downgrading as of
         or prior to the Closing Date.

          (s) All agreements set forth in the representation letter of the
         Issuer to DTC relating to the approval of the Notes by DTC for
         "book-entry" transfer shall have been complied with.


                                       32

















         If any of the conditions specified in this Section 8 shall not have
been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Initial Purchasers on notice to the Issuer at
any time at or prior to the Closing Date, and such termination shall be without
liability of any party to any other party. Notwithstanding any such termination,
the provisions of Sections 4(f), 6, 7, 10, 11(d) and 14 shall remain in effect.

         The Issuer's obligation under this Agreement to sell the Original Notes
to the Initial Purchasers on the Closing Date is subject to the Initial
Purchasers purchasing and paying for all of the Original Notes and the accuracy
of, and compliance with, the representations and warranties and agreements in
Section 5(b).

           9. INITIAL PURCHASERS' INFORMATION. The Issuer, Parent and the
Initial Purchasers severally acknowledge that the statements with respect to the
offer and sale of the Original Notes set forth in (i) the last paragraph of the
cover page, (ii) the first paragraph of page 3 and (iii) in the second, fourth,
and fifth paragraph under the caption "Plan of Distribution", all in the
Offering Memorandum constitute the only information furnished in writing by the
Initial Purchasers expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or
the Offering Memorandum.

          10. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS. All representations
and warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, including
the agreements contained in Sections 4(f) and 11(d), the indemnity agreements
contained in Section 6 and the contribution agreements contained in Section 7
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any controlling
person thereof or by or on behalf of the Issuer, Parent or any controlling
person of any thereof, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the
Original Notes to and by the Initial Purchasers. The agreements contained in
Sections 4(f), 6, 7, 11(d) and 14 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement, including pursuant to Section 11.

          11.   EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT; TERMINATION.  (a) This
Agreement shall become effective upon execution and delivery of a counterpart
hereof by each of the parties hereto.

          (b) The Initial Purchasers shall have the right to terminate this
         Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date by notice to the Issuer
         from the Initial Purchasers, without liability (other than with respect
         to Sections 6 and 7) on the Initial Purchasers' part to the Issuer if,
         on or prior to such date, (i) the Issuer and Parent shall have failed,
         refused or been


                                       33
















         unable to perform in any material respect any agreement on its part to
         be performed under this Agreement when and as required, (ii) any other
         condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers under this
         Agreement to be fulfilled by the Issuer or any of the Guarantors
         pursuant to Section 8 is not fulfilled when and as required in any
         material respect, (iii) trading in securities generally on the New York
         Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange shall have been suspended
         or materially limited, or minimum prices shall have been established on
         such exchange by the Commission, or by such exchange or other
         regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (iv) a
         general banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal, New
         York or Ohio authorities or (v) there is an outbreak or escalation of
         armed hostilities involving the United States on or after the date of
         this Agreement, or if there has been a declaration by the United States
         of a national emergency or war or other national or international
         calamity or crisis (economic, political, financial or otherwise) which
         affects the U.S. and international markets, making it, in the Initial
         Purchasers' judgment, impracticable to proceed with the offering or
         delivery of the Original Notes on the terms and in the manner
         contemplated in the Offering Memorandum.

          (c) Any notice of termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be
         given at the address specified in Section 12 below by telephone, telex,
         telephonic facsimile or telegraph, confirmed in writing by letter.

          (d) If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to clause (i) or
         (ii) of Section 11(b), or if the sale of the Notes provided for in this
         Agreement is not consummated because the Issuer or Parent to satisfy
         any condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in
         this Agreement to be satisfied on their part or because of any refusal,
         inability or failure on the part of either of the Issuer or Parent to
         perform any agreement in this Agreement or comply with any provision of
         this Agreement, the Issuer will, subject to demand by the Initial
         Purchasers, reimburse the Initial Purchasers for all of their
         reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and expenses of
         the Initial Purchasers' counsel) incurred in connection with this
         Agreement.

          12.   NOTICE.  All communications with respect to or under this
Agreement, except as may be otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement,
shall be in writing and, if sent to the Initial Purchasers, shall be mailed,
delivered, or telexed, telegraphed or telecopied and confirmed in writing to SBC
Warburg Dillon Read Inc., 535 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022
(telephone: (212) 906-7000), Attention: Syndicate Department, telecopy number:
203-719-1075; and if sent to the Issuer or Parent, shall be mailed, delivered or
telexed,


                                       34

















telegraphed or telecopied and confirmed in writing to Eagle-Picher Industries,
Inc., 250 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (telephone: (513) 721-7010,
Telecopy (513) 721-2341, Attention: President).

         All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if
telexed; when receipt acknowledged by telecopier machine, if telecopied; and one
business day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier.

          13. PARTIES. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of, and
shall be binding upon, the Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and Parent and the
controlling persons and agents referred to in Sections 6 and 7, and their
respective successors and assigns, and no other person shall have or be
construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The
term "successors and assigns" shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as
such, of Notes from the Initial Purchasers.

          14. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
the internal laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to any
provisions thereof relating to conflicts of law) and each of the parties hereto
consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York. Each of the
parties hereto agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State
of New York and the U.S. federal courts sitting in the City of New York for the
purposes of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in any other
manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of the Initial Purchasers to
bring proceedings against the Company in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

          15.   CAPTIONS.  The captions included in this Agreement are included
solely for convenience of reference and are not to be considered a part of this
Agreement.

          16.   COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in various
counterparts that together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


                                       35

















         If the foregoing Notes Purchase Agreement correctly sets forth the
understanding among the Issuer, Parent and the Initial Purchasers, please so
indicate in the space provided below for the purpose, whereupon this letter and
your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Issuer, Parent
and the Initial Purchasers.

                                            E-P ACQUISITION, INC.

                                            By: /s/ Joel P. Wyler
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Name: Joel P. Wyler
                                                Title: Chairman and President

                                            EAGLE-PICHER HOLDINGS, INC.

                                            By: /s/ Joel P. Wyler
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Name: Joel P. Wyler
                                                Title: Chairman and President

Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:

SBC WARBURG DILLON READ INC.

By: /s/ John G. Brim
   ---------------------------------------
  Name: John G. Brim
  Title: Managing Director

ABN AMRO INCORPORATED

By: /s/ Linda A. Dawson
   ---------------------------------------
   Name: Linda A. Dawson
   Title: Managing Director

















                                                                      
                                                                SCHEDULE I




                                                                                   Principal Amount of
Initial Purchaser                                                                     Original Notes
- ------------------                                                              ------------------------
                                                                                     
SBC Warburg Dillon Read Inc.....................................                       $200,903,282
ABN AMRO Incorporated...........................................                         19,096,718
                                                                                      -------------
     Total                                                                             $220,000,000
                                                                                      =============


















                                                                                                               SCHEDULE A

                                                         SUBSIDIARIES

                                                                  Jurisdiction
                 Name                           Type of Entity   Of Incorporation       Equity Ownership and Direct Owner
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              
1. DOMESTIC OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES

Daisy Parts, Inc.                                 corporation         Michigan         Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%

Eagle-Picher Development Company, Inc.            corporation         Dealware         Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%

Eagle-Picher Far East, Inc.                       corporation         Dealware         Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%

Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems, Inc.                  corporation         Michigan         Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%

Eagle-Picher Minerals, Inc.                       corporation          Nevada          Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%

Hillsdale Tool & Manufacturing Co.                corporation         Michigan         Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%

Michigan Automotive Research Corporation          corporation         Michigan         Eagle-Picher Development Company, Inc. - 100%

2. FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES

Eagle-Picher Automotive GmbH                      Gesellschaft mit     Germany         Eagle-Picher Industries, Europe B.V. - 100%
                                                  Beschraeckter
                                                  Haftung (company
                                                  with limited
                                                  liability)

Eagle-Picher Espana, S.A.                         Sociedad Anonima      Spain          Eagle-Picher Industries, Europe B.V. - 100%
                                                  (joint stock
                                                  company)

Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems, Ltd.                  private limited    England & Wales   Eagle-Picher UK Limited - 100%
                                                  company

Eagle-Picher Hillsdale Limited                    private limited    England & Wales   Eagle-Picher UK Limited - 100%
                                                  company

Eagle-Picher Industries Europe B.V.               Besloten             Netherlands     Eagle-Picher Industries Inc - 100%
                                                  Venwootschap
                                                  (private company
                                                  with limited
                                                  liability)











                                                                    Jurisdiction
            Name                        Type Of Entity            Of Incorporation     Equity Ownership and Direct Owner
- -------------------------------      --------------------         ----------------    ----------------------------------

                                                                                  
Eagle-Pitcher Technologies GmbH      Gesellschaft mit                   Germany         Eagle-Picher Wolverine GmbH - 100%
                                     beschraenkter Haftung
                                     (company with limited
                                     liability)

Eagle-Picher Industries of Canada    corporation                      Ontario, Canada   Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%
Limited

Eagle-Picher Minerals International  Societe a  Responsabilite        France            Eagle-Picher Minerals, Inc. - 100%   
S.A.R.L.                             Limite (limited liability
                                     company)

Eagle-Picher UK Limited              private limited company         England & Wales    Eagle-Picher Industries Europe B.V. - 100%

Eagle-Picher Wolverine GmbH          private limited company            Germany         Eagle-Picher Industries Europe B.V.
                                                                                        - 99.95% (DM 3,798,000); A Ruijssenaars
                                                                                        in trust for Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.
                                                                                        - .05% (DM 2,000)

Eagle-Picher, Inc.                   foreign sales corporation       Virgin Islands     Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%

EPTEC, S.A. de C.V.                  Sociedad Anonima de                Mexico          Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. (28,582,138
                                     Capital Variable                                   shares) & Hillsdale Tool & Manufacturing
                                     (corporation with                                  Co. (1 share)
                                     variable capital)

Equipos de Acuna, S.A. de C.V.       Sociedad Anonima de                Mexico          Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. (999 shares
                                     Capital Variable                                   of Series A, 19,794,801 shares of Series
                                     (corporation with                                  B, 1,508,248 shares of Series C; James A.
                                     variable capital)                                  Ralston - 1 share of Series A

United Minerals GmbH & Co. KG        Kommandit Gesellschaft             Germany         Eagle-Picher Minerals International
                                     (limited partnership)                              S.A.R.L. - 100%

United Minerals Verwaltungs-und      Gesellschaft mit                   Germany         Eagle-Picher Minerals International
Beteiligungs GmbH                    beschraenkter Haftung                              S.A.R.L - 100%
                                     (company with limited
                                     liability)

3. IMMATERIAL SUBSIDIARIES

Fabricon Corporation                 corporation                        Michigan        Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%

Fabricon Products Corporation of     corporation                      Pennsylvania      Fabricon Corporation - 100%
Pennsylvania
























                                                                       Jurisdiction
            Name                        Type Of Entity               Of Incorporation    Equity Ownership and Direct Owner
- ----------------------------------  --------------------             ----------------    ----------------------------------
                                                                                  
Ross Aluminum Foundries, Inc.        corporation                           Ohio          Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%

Wolverine Gasket and Manufacturing   corporation                         Michigan        Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%
Company

Cincinnati Industrial Machinery      corporation                           Ohio          Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. - 100%
Sales Company