<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

            FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
            --------------------------------------------------------

         THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as
of May 14, 2002 (this "Agreement"), is by and among GEO SPECIALTY CHEMICALS,
                       ---------
INC. ("Borrower"), certain financial institutions party to the Credit Agreement
       --------
referred to below (the "Lenders"), DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS f/k/a
                        -------
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, in its capacity as administrative agent ("Administrative
                                                                 --------------
Agent"), SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC. in its capacity as syndication agent
-----
("Syndication Agent"), and US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its capacity as
  -----------------
documentation agent ("Documentation Agent").
                      -------------------

                                   BACKGROUND
                                   ----------

         A.   Borrower, the Lenders, Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent and
Documentation Agent are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of May 31, 2001 (as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").
                                                         ----------------

         B.   Borrower has requested Administrative Agent and the Lenders amend
the Credit Agreement in certain respects as set forth herein and Administrative
Agent and the Lenders are agreeable to the same, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein.

                                    AGREEMENT
                                    ---------

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         SECTION 1.  DEFINED TERMS. Unless otherwise defined herein, all
                     -------------
capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings given them in the Credit
Agreement.

         SECTION 2.  AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT. The Credit Agreement is, as
                     ------------------------------
of the First Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), hereby amended as
follows:

         (a)  Subsection 4.02(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
              ------------------
deleting the number "$15,000,000" appearing in the first proviso of such
subsection in its entirety and substituting therefor the number "$5,000,000."

         (b)  Subsection 4.02(f) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
              ------------------
deleting the second parenthetical therein in its entirety and substituting
therefor the following parenthetical:

         "(other than equity contributions to the Borrower by its Subsidiaries,
         any Pinjarra Equity Issuances and any Allentown Equity Issuances)"

         (c)  Subsection 4.02(g) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
              ------------------
adding the following parenthetical after the reference therein to Section
                                                                  -------
8.05(j):
-------

         "(other than subordinated Indebtedness issued by the Borrower to
         finance Pinjarra Consolidated Capital Expenditures and Allentown
         Consolidated Capital Expenditures pursuant to Sections 8.05(e) and (f),
                                                       ----------------     ---
         respectively)"

         (d)  Subsection 7.01(c) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and
              ------------------
restated in its entirety as follows:

<PAGE>

              "(c)  Monthly Report. As soon as practicable, and in any event
                    --------------
         within 30 days after the end of each monthly accounting period of each
         fiscal year of the Borrower (other than the last monthly accounting
         period in such fiscal year), monthly reports in a form reasonably
         satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which shall include the
         consolidated (and certain business unit data as the Administrative
         Agent and the Borrower may agree consistent with the manner provided in
         the Information Memorandum of the Borrower dated April 2001) balance
         sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as at the end of such
         monthly accounting period, and the related consolidated (and certain
         business unit data as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may
         agree and consistent with the manner provided in the Information
         Memorandum of the Borrower dated April, 2001) statements of income and
         cash flow for such monthly accounting period, setting forth (i) (A) in
         the case of statements of income, comparative figures to the budget
         prepared in accordance with Section 7.01(d), (B) in the case of the
                                     ---------------
         balance sheet, comparative figures to the balance sheet delivered
         pursuant to Section 7.01(a) for the fiscal year most recently ended,
                     ---------------
         and (C) in the case of statements of cash flow, a summary of cash flows
         for the elapsed portion of such fiscal year ended with the last day of
         such quarterly accounting period, and (ii) information relating to the
         Pinjarra Consolidated Capital Expenditures and Allentown Consolidated
         Capital Expenditures, as at the end of such monthly period, which shall
         include, without limitation, the amount of such expenditures during the
         applicable period, the status of the Pinjarra Project and the Allentown
         Restructuring and a comparison of budgeted to actual Pinjarra
         Consolidated Capital Expenditures and Allentown Consolidated Capital
         Expenditures for the applicable period and percentage completion."

         (e)  Subsection 7.01(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
              ------------------
deleting the words "of the twelve months" appearing in the first sentence
thereof and substituting therefor the words "fiscal quarter."

         (f)  Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
              ------------
the following clause after the first parenthetical therein:

                    "including, without limitation, maintaining at all times
         gallium sales arrangements between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
         which are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent."

         (g)  Subsection 8.02(m) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
              ------------------
amending and restating clause (vii) therein as follows: "(vii) immediately after
giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition there is Available Liquidity of at
least $20,000,000," and by deleting the word "and" after clause (vii) therein
and adding a new clause (ix) thereto as follows:

              ", and (ix) both before and after giving effect to such Permitted
         Acquisition, the Leverage Ratio shall be no greater than 4.50 to 1.00
         (with calculations therefor set forth in the certificate required to be
         delivered pursuant to clause (vi) hereof)."
                               -----------

         (h)  Section 8.03 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
              ------------
the word "and" at the end of subsection 8.03(n), deleting the period at the end
                             ------------------
of subsection 8.03(o) and substituting therefor the words "; and" and adding a
   ------------------
new subsection 8.03(p) thereto as follows:
    ------------------

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

               "(p)  Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred
         pursuant to subsection 8.04(l); provided that such Liens do not at any
                     ------------------
         time encumber any property other than the property financed by such
         Indebtedness and proceeds thereof."

         (i)   Subsection 8.04(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and
               ------------------
restated in its entirety as follows:

               "(e)  Indebtedness under Permitted Hedge Agreements;"

         (j)   Section 8.04 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
               ------------
deleting the word "and" at the end of subsection 8.04(j), deleting the period at
                                      ------------------
the end of subsection 8.04(k) and substituting therefor the words "; and" and
           ------------------
adding a new subsection 8.04(l) thereto as follows:
             ------------------

               "(l)  Indebtedness of the Pinjarra Subsidiary relating to the
         financing of the Pinjarra Project in an aggregate amount not to exceed
         $40,000,000 at any time outstanding;"

         (k)   Subsection 8.05(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
               ------------------
deleting the table therein in its entirety and substituting therefor the
following table:

                     "Fiscal Year Ending                      Amount
                      ------------------                      ------
               December 31, 2001                              $13,000,000
               December 31, 2002 and each fiscal
               year thereafter                                $10,000,000"

         (l)   Subsection 8.05(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and
               ------------------
restated in its entirety as follows:

               "(e)  In addition to the foregoing, the Borrower and the Pinjarra
         Subsidiary may make Consolidated Capital Expenditures related to the
         Pinjarra Project ("Pinjarra Consolidated Capital Expenditures") to the
                            ------------------------------------------
         extent such Pinjarra Consolidated Capital Expenditures are financed by
         the proceeds from (x) the incurrance by the Pinjarra Subsidiary of
         Indebtedness as contemplated by Section 8.04(l), (y) the issuance of
                                         ---------------
         common stock of the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.12 ("Pinjarra Equity
                                                  ------------   ---------------
         Issuances") or (z) the issuance of unsecured Indebtedness, in the case
         ---------
         of each of the foregoing clauses (x), (y) and (z) on terms and
                                          --------     ---
         conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and, in
         the case of the foregoing clause (z), such terms and conditions to
                                   ----------
         include, without limitation, subordination of such Indebtedness to the
         Obligations as contemplated by Section 8.04(j) and the prohibition of
                                        ---------------
         any cash interest payments in respect of such Indebtedness on, or prior
         to, the Term B Loan Maturity Date)."

         (m)   Section 8.05 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
               ------------
thereto a new subsection 8.05(f) as follows:
              ------------------

               "(f)  In addition to the foregoing, Borrower may make
         Consolidated Capital Expenditures relating to the Allentown
         Restructuring ("Allentown Consolidated Capital Expenditures") to the
                         -------------------------------------------
         extent such Allentown Consolidated Capital Expenditures are financed by
         the proceeds from (x) the issuance of common stock of the Borrower
         pursuant to Section 8.12 ("Allentown Equity Issuances") or (y) the
                     ------------   --------------------------
         issuance by the

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

         Borrower of unsecured Indebtedness to the Borrower's shareholders, in
         the case of each of the foregoing clauses (x) and (y), on terms and
                                           ----------      ---
         conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and, in
         the case of the foregoing clause (y), such terms and conditions to
                                   ----------
         include, without limitation, subordination of such Indebtedness to the
         Obligations as contemplated by Section 8.04(j) and, except as
                                        ---------------
         contemplated by the proviso set forth herein, the prohibition of any
         cash interest payments in respect of such Indebtedness on, or prior to,
         the Term Loan B Maturity Date) and in an amount not to exceed
         $15,000,000 in the aggregate for all transactions permitted by this
         Section 8.05(f); provided, however, that payments in respect of any
         ---------------  -----------------
         Indebtedness issued pursuant to the foregoing clause (y) shall be
                                                       ----------
         permitted on the same terms and at the same times as set forth in
         Section 8.08(a)(iii) for Allentown Equity Issuances. "
         --------------------

         (n)   Section 8.06 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
               ------------
amending and restating subsection 8.06(f) as follows: "(f) Permitted Hedge
                       ------------------
Agreements;" and by deleting the word "and" after subsection 8.06(m), deleting
                                                  ------------------
the period at the end of subsection 8.06(n) and substituting therefor the word
                         ------------------
"; and" and adding a new subsection 8.06(o) and a paragraph at the end of such
                         ------------------
Section as follows:

               "(o)   investments made by the Borrower in a joint venture formed
         under the laws of Puerto Rico on or after the First Amendment Effective
         Date in an amount not to exceed $400,000 in fiscal year 2002 and
         $400,000 in fiscal year 2003.

         Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Borrower shall not
         be permitted to make any investment in the Pinjarra Subsidiary or the
         Pinjarra Project other than investments in the Pinjarra Subsidiary
         financed with the proceeds of Pinjarra Equity Issuances or Indebtedness
         permitted by Section 8.05(e) and the exercise of the Borrower's option
                      ---------------
         pursuant to the Option Agreement as contemplated by Section 8.06(n)
                                                             --------------
         above."

         (o)   Section 8.08 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
               ------------
deleting the word "and" after subsection 8.08(a)(i), deleting the period at the
                              ---------------------
end of subsection 8.08(a)(ii) and substituting therefor the words "; and" and
       ----------------------
adding thereto a new subsection 8.08(a)(iii) as follows:
                     -----------------------

               "(iii) The Borrower may return capital to its stockholders up to
         an amount equal to the original dollar value of any Allentown Equity
         Issuance commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004;
         provided, however, that such capital returns shall not exceed in any
         -----------------
         fiscal year one third of the total amount of the original dollar amount
         of all Allentown Equity Issuances; and provided further, however, that,
                                                -------------------------
         both before and after giving effect to any such capital return, (x) the
         Leverage Ratio shall be less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00, (y) no
         Default or Event of Default shall exist, and (z) there is Available
         Liquidity of at least $20,000,000."

         (p)   Section 8.09 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
               ------------
the following parenthetical after the words "such Subsidiary" in the fourth and
fifth lines thereof and after the word "Subsidiaries" in clause (ii) of the
proviso thereof: "(other than the Pinjarra Subsidiary)".

         (q)   Section 8.10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding
               ------------
the following parenthetical after the word "below" in the last line of the
introductory paragraph: "(effective with the fiscal quarter ended March 31,
2002)" and deleting the table therein in its entirety and substituting therefor
the following table:

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

                         "Fiscal Quarter                      Ratio
                          --------------                      -----
                         March 31, 2002                     1.45:1.00
                         June 30, 2002                      1.15:1.00
                         September 30, 2002                 1.20:1.00
                         December 31, 2002                  1.25:1.00
                         March 31, 2003                     1.45:1.00
                         June 30, 2003                      1.65:1.00
                         September 30, 2003                 1.85:1.00
                         December 31, 2003                  2.05:1.00
                         March 31, 2004                     2.50:1.00
                         June 30, 2004                      2.50:1.00
                         September 30, 2004                 2.50:1.00
                         December 31, 2004                  2.50:1.00
                         March 31, 2005                     2.75:1.00
                         June 30, 2005                      2.75:1.00
                         September 30, 2005                 2.75:1.00
                         December 31, 2005                  2.75:1.00
                         March 31, 2006                     3.00:1.00
                         June 30, 2006                      3.00:1.00
                         September 30, 2006                 3.00:1.00
                         December 31, 2006                  3.00:1.00
                         March 31, 2007                     3.25:1.00
                         June 30, 2007                      3.25:1.00
                         September 30, 2007                 3.25:1.00
                         December 31, 2007                  3.25:1.00"

         (r)   Section 8.11 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and
               ------------
restated in its entirety as follows:

               "8.11  Leverage  Ratios. (a) The Borrower will not permit the
                      ----------------
         Leverage Ratio of the Borrower at any time during a fiscal quarter of
         the Borrower set forth below to be greater than the ratio set forth
         opposite such fiscal quarter:

                         Fiscal Quarter                       Ratio
                         --------------                       -----
                         June 30, 2001                      4.90:1.00
                         September 30, 2001                 4.90:1.00
                         December 31, 2001                  4.90:1.00
                         March 31, 2004                     4.00:1.00
                         June 30, 2004                      4.00:1.00
                         September 30, 2004                 4.00:1.00
                         December 31, 2004                  4.00:1.00
                         March 31, 2005                     3.50:1.00
                         June 30, 2005                      3.50:1.00
                         September 30, 2005                 3.50:1.00
                         December 31, 2005                  3.50:1.00
                         March 31, 2006                     3.50:1.00
                         June 30, 2006                      3.50:1.00
                         September 30, 2006                 3.50:1.00
                         December 31, 2006                  3.50:1.00
                         March 31, 2007                     3.50:1.00

                                      -5-

<PAGE>
                    Fiscal Quarter                     Ratio
                    --------------                     -----

                    June 30, 2007                      3.50:1.00
                    September 30, 2007                 3.50:1.00
                    December 31, 2007                  3.50:1.00

          The parties hereto agree that measurement of the Leverage Ratio
     pursuant to this Section 8.11 (a) shall be suspended for each fiscal
                      ------------
     quarter occurring in fiscal years 2002 and 2003; provided, however, that
                                                      -----------------
     the Borrower shall continue to be subject to all other terms and conditions
     of this Agreement relating to the Leverage Ratio (including, without
     limitation, the reporting requirements with respect thereto set forth in
     Section 7.01(e)).
     ---------------

          (b)  The Borrower will not permit the Senior Leverage Ratio of the
     Borrower at any time during a fiscal quarter of the Borrower set forth
     below to be greater than the ratio set forth opposite such fiscal quarter:

                    Fiscal Quarter                       Ratio
                    --------------                       -----
                    March 31, 2002                     3.00:1.00
                    June 30, 2002                      3.80:1.00
                    September 30, 2002                 3.70:1.00
                    December 31, 2002                  3.30:1.00
                    March 31, 2003                     3.05:1.00
                    June 30, 2003                      2.50:1.00
                    September 30, 2003                 2.15:1.00
                    December 31, 2003                  1.90:1.00"


     (s)  Section 10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
          ----------

          (i) The table in the definition therein of "Base Rate Margin" is
     hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows and the following
     proviso is added to the end thereof as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Applicable Base Rate Margin for    Applicable
                 Most Recent                     Revolving Loans             Base Rate
                Leverage Ratio                                              Margin For
                --------------                                             Term B Loans
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       <S>                               <C>                               <C>
             Less than 2.25 to 1                      1.25%                    2.25%
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equal to or greater than                    1.50%                    2.50%
        2.25 to 1 but less than 2.50
                   to 1
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equal to or greater than                    1.75%                    2.50%
        2.50 to 1 but less than 3.00
                   to 1
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equal to or greater than                    2.00%                    2.75%
        3.00 to 1 but less than 3.50
                   to 1
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equal to or greater than                    2.25%                    2.75%
        3.50 to 1 but less than 4.25
                   to 1
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
          <S>                                         <C>                         <C>
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Equal to or greater than                  3.00%                       3.50%
          4.25 to 1 but less than 5.00
                    to 1.00
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Equal to or greater than                   3.75%                       4.25%
                 5.00 to 1.00
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

               ; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, for the
                 -----------------
          period from the First Amendment Effective Date until the date of
          receipt by the Administrative Agent of the certificate required to be
          delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 7.01(c) for the fiscal
                                                ---------------
          quarter ended March 31, 2002, the Base Rate Margin shall be 3.75% for
          Revolving Loans and 4.25% for Term B Loans."

               (ii)  The definition therein of "Consolidated Net Indebtedness"
          is hereby amended by adding the following sentence to the end thereof:

               "For the purposes of computing the Leverage Ratio, the Senior
          Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio for any period, the
          definition of "Consolidated Net Indebtedness" shall be deemed to
          exclude the impact of FASB 133 as such financial accounting standard
          relates to obligations of the Borrower under Permitted Hedge
          Agreements."

               (iii) The table in the definition therein of "Eurocurrency
          Margin" is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows and
          the following proviso is added to the end thereof:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Applicable Eurocurrency Margin for      Applicable
                   Most Recent                      Revolving Loans              Eurocurrency
                  Leverage Ratio                                                  Margin For
                  --------------                                                  Term B Loans
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           <S>                            <C>                                    <C>
               Less than 2.25 to 1                       2.25%                       3.25%
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Equal to or greater than                     2.50%                       3.50%
           2.25 to 1 but less than 2.50
                     to 1
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Equal to or greater than                    2.75%                       3.50%
           2.50 to 1 but less than 3.00
                     to 1
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Equal to or greater than                    3.00%                       3.75%
           3.00 to 1 but less than 3.50
                     to 1
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Equal to or greater than                     3.25%                       3.75%
           3.50 to 1 but less than 4.25
                     to 1
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Equal to or greater than                     4.00%                       4.50%
           4.25 to 1 but less than 5.00
                    to 1.00
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Equal to or greater than                     4.50%                       5.00%
                 5.00 to 1.00
          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

               ; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, for the
                 -----------------
          period from the First Amendment Effective Date until the date of
          receipt by the Administrative Agent of the certificate required to be
          delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 7.01(c) for the fiscal
                                                ---------------
          quarter ended March 31, 2002, the Eurocurrency Margin shall be 4.50%
          for Revolving Loans and 5.00% for Term B Loans."

               (iv)  The definition therein of "Excess Cash Payment Date" is
          amended by deleting the word "2001" appearing therein and substituting
          therefor the word "2002."

               (v)  New definitions of "Allentown Restructuring," "Available
          Liquidity," "Consolidated Senior Indebtedness," "FASB 133," "First
          Amendment Effective Date, "Permitted Hedge Agreement," "Pinjarra
          Subsidiary," and "Senior Leverage Ratio" are hereby added to such
          Section 10 in appropriate alphabetical order as follows:
          ----------

               " `Allentown Restructuring' shall mean the closing of all or
                  -----------------------
          substantially all of the operations of the Borrower located in
          Allentown, Pennsylvania and the relocation of such operations to one
          or more locations of the Borrower."

               " `Available Liquidity' shall mean the sum of (i) the Total
                  -------------------
          Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment and (ii) cash and Cash
          Equivalents."

               " `Consolidated Net Senior Indebtedness' shall mean, at any date
                  ------------------------------------
          of determination, an amount equal to the amount of Consolidated Net
          Indebtedness at such time less any Indebtedness evidenced by the
          Senior Subordinated Notes."

               " `FASB 133' shall mean Statement of Financial Accounting
                  --------
          Standards No. 133 promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards
          Board."

               " `First Amendment Effective Date' shall mean May 14, 2002."
                  ------------------------------

               " `Permitted Hedge Agreements' shall mean all obligations
                  --------------------------
          (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing
          or arising under Hedge Agreements, provided that each of the following
                                             --------
          criteria is satisfied: (a) such obligations are (or were) entered into
          by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of
          mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments or assets
          held by such Person and not for purposes of speculation or taking a
          "market view" and (b) such Hedge Agreement does not contain any
          provision ("walk-away" provision) exonerating the non-defaulting party
          from its obligation to make any payments on outstanding transactions
          to the defaulting party."

               " `Pinjarra Subsidiary' shall mean a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of
                  -------------------
          the Borrower formed under the laws of Australia for the sole purpose
          of financing and operating the Pinjarra Project."

               " `Senior Leverage Ratio' shall mean, at any date of
                  ---------------------
          determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Net Senior Indebtedness
          to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the Test Period most recently ended
          (taken as one accounting period)."

               (vi)  The definition therein of "Total Revolving Loan Commitment"
is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

          " `Total Revolving Loan Commitment' shall mean the sum of the
     Revolving Loan Commitments of each of the Lenders which shall equal
     $20,000,000 in the aggregate as of the First Amendment Effective Date."

     (t)  Annex I to the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and
replaced with Annex I attached hereto.

     SECTION 3. AMENDMENT FEE. (a) Borrower agrees to pay a fee to the
                -------------
Administrative Agent on or prior to the First Amendment Effective Date on behalf
of each Lender which has executed and delivered this Agreement on or prior to
5:00 p.m. C.S.T. on May 14, 2002 equal to 0.25% times the sum of the Total
Revolving Loan Commitment, and outstanding Term Loan B of such Lender as in
effect under the Credit Agreement on the First Amendment Effective Date, such
fee to be due and payable on the First Amendment Effective Date.

          (b)   Borrower also agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses of
the Administrative Agent in connection with the negotiation, preparation,
printing, typing, reproduction, execution and delivery of this Amendment and all
other documents furnished pursuant hereto or in connection herewith, including
without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of Winston &
Strawn, special counsel to Administrative Agent and any local counsel retained
by Administrative Agent relative thereto or the reasonable allocated costs of
staff counsel as well as the fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel,
independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by
Administrative Agent in connection with the administration of this Agreement.

     SECTION 4. CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES AND FEES. Borrower, the Lenders and
                ----------------------------------
Administrative Agent acknowledge and agree that any increases in any interest
rates or fees resulting from the effectiveness of this Agreement shall be
effective as of the First Amendment Effective Date.

     SECTION 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS OF AGREEMENT. This
                --------------------------------------------------
Agreement shall become effective upon the date (the "First Amendment Effective
                                                     -------------------------
Date") each of the following conditions have been satisfied:
----

          (a)   First Amendment. Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Lenders
                ---------------
shall have executed and delivered this Agreement.

          (b)   No Defaults. No Default or Event of Default under the Credit
                -----------
Agreement (as amended hereby) shall have occurred and be continuing.

          (c)   Representations and Warranties. The representations and
                ------------------------------
warranties of Borrower contained in this Agreement, the Credit Agreement (as
amended hereby) and the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of the First Amendment Effective Date, with the same effect
as though made on such date, except to the extent that any such representation
or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case such
representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as
of such earlier date.

          (d)   Payment of Amendment Fee. Borrower shall have paid in full to
                ------------------------
the Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender, the fees set forth in
Section 3 hereof and any other separately agreed upon fees.
---------

          (e)   Perfection Certificate. Borrower shall have executed and
               ----------------------
delivered a duly completed perfection certificate in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

          (f)   Security Agreement Amendment. Borrower shall have executed and
                ----------------------------
delivered the Security Agreement Amendment (as defined in Section 6 below) and
                                                          ---------
such other documents and instruments as Administrative Agent shall reasonably
request in connection therewith.

          (g)   Prepayment of Term Loan B. Borrower shall have prepaid the Term
                -------------------------
Loan B in an amount equal to $7,500,000.

          (h)   Reaffirmation of Guaranty. Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall have
                -------------------------
executed and delivered a Reaffirmation of Guaranty in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit A hereto.
   ---------

          (i)   Other. Such other documents, instruments and certificates as the
                -----
Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

     SECTION 6. Consent and Acknowledgment. Pursuant to Section 7.11 of the
                --------------------------
Credit Agreement, the Lenders hereby instruct the Administrative Agent to enter
into that certain Supplement and Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated
Security Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent (the "Security Agreement Amendment") which Security Agreement Amendment
            ----------------------------
shall amend the Security Agreement to make changes thereto necessary or
desirable to conform the terms of the Security Agreement to the provisions of
revised Article IX of the Uniform Commercial Code.

     SECTION 7. Acknowledgment of Reduction in Total Revolving Loan Commitment.
                --------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to Section 3.02 of the Credit Agreement, as of the First Amendment
Effective Date, the Borrower hereby reduces permanently the Total Revolving Loan
Commitment to $20,000,000.

     SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
                ------------------------------

          (a)   Borrower represents and warrants (i) that it has full corporate
power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations
hereunder in accordance with the provisions hereof, (ii) that this Agreement has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Borrower and (iii) that this
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Borrower,
enforceable against Borrower in accordance with its terms, except to the extent
that such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws generally affecting creditors' rights
and by equitable principles.

          (b)   Borrower represents and warrants that the following statements
are true and correct, in each case after giving effect to this Agreement:

                (i)   The representations and warranties contained in the Credit
          Agreement and each of the other Credit Documents are and will be true
          and correct in all material respects on and as of the First Amendment
          Effective Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that
          date, except to the extent such representations and warranties
          expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case they were true and
          correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date.

                (ii)  No event has occurred and is continuing or will result
          from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
          Agreement that would constitute an Event of Default or a Default.

                (iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
          by Borrower do not and will not violate any provision of the
          certificate of incorporation or by-laws,

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

             any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, order, writ,
             injunction or decree of any court or Governmental Authority having
             jurisdiction over it or any contractual provision to which it is a
             party or to which it or any of its property is subject.

                     (iv) No material order, consent, approval, license,
             authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or
             registration with, or exemption by, any foreign or domestic
             governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision
             thereof, is required to authorize or is required in connection with
             its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all
             agreements, documents and instruments executed and delivered
             pursuant to this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.  REFERENCES TO AND EFFECT ON THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.
                     ------------------------------------------------

             (a)     On and after the First Amendment Effective Date each
reference in the Credit Agreement to "this Agreement," "hereunder," "hereof,"
"herein," or words of like import, and each reference to the Credit Agreement in
the Credit Documents and all other documents (the "Ancillary Documents")
                                                   -------------------
delivered in connection with the Credit Agreement shall mean and be a reference
to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

             (b)     Except as specifically amended above, the Credit Agreement,
the Credit Documents and all other Ancillary Documents shall remain in full
force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

             (c)     The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Agreement
shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any
right, power or remedy of the Lenders or Agent under the Credit Agreement, the
Credit Documents or the Ancillary Documents.

         SECTION 10. EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed
                     -------------------------
in counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to
be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the
same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this
Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually
executed counterpart of this Agreement.

         SECTION 11. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND BE
                     -------------
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
WITHOUT REGARD TO THE INTERNAL CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.

         SECTION 12. HEADINGS.  Section headings in this Agreement are included
                     --------
herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this
Agreement for any other purposes.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

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

                                            GEO SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, INC.


                                            By:________________________________
                                            Name:______________________________
                                            Title:_____________________________

<PAGE>

                                                DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY
                                                AMERICAS (F/K/A BANKERS TRUST
                                                COMPANY), individually and as
                                                Administrative Agent

                                                By: ___________________________
                                                Name: _________________________
                                                Title: ________________________

<PAGE>

                                              SALOMON SMITH BARNEY,
                                              as Syndication Agent

                                              By: __________________________
                                              Name: ________________________
                                              Title: _______________________

<PAGE>

                                          US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                          as Documentation Agent

                                          By: _________________________
                                          Name: _______________________
                                          Title: ______________________