<PAGE>

                                                                Exhibit 10(d)(i)

                      EXPORT CREDIT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                     AMERICAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, INC.

                                       AND

                                  HSBC BANK USA

                                NOVEMBER 30, 2000



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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


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<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            PAGE(S)
                                                                                                            -------
<S>      <C>               <C>                                                                              <C>
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS..................................................................................1
         Section 1.1       Certain Defined Terms..................................................................1
         Section 1.2       Computation of Time Periods...........................................................18
         Section 1.3       Other Terms...........................................................................18

ARTICLE II.                AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES AND THE STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT...................18
         Section 2.1       The Advances..........................................................................18
         Section 2.2       Procedure for Export Working Capital Advances.........................................20
         Section 2.3       Issuance of and Drawings Under Standby Letters of Credit, No Liability of The Bank....21
         Section 2.4       The Note..............................................................................23
         Section 2.5       Payment of  Advances..................................................................23
         Section 2.6       Loan Account, Monthly Statements......................................................25
         Section 2.7       Use of Facility.......................................................................26
         Section 2.8       Munitions List........................................................................26
         Section 2.9       Voluntary Reduction of Facility Amount................................................26

ARTICLE III.               INTEREST, LATE PAYMENT, PREPAYMENTS AND FEES..........................................26
         Section 3.1       Interest and Late Payments............................................................26
         Section 3.2       Special Provisions Governing LIBOR Loans - Increased Costs............................28
         Section 3.3       Required Termination and Repayment of LIBOR Loans.....................................29
         Section 3.4       Fees..................................................................................29

ARTICLE IV.                FUNDING AND YIELD PROTECTION..........................................................30
         Section 4.1       Increased Costs.......................................................................30
         Section 4.2       Capital Adequacy Protection...........................................................31
         Section 4.3       Payments - No Offset, Etc.............................................................32
         Section 4.4       Survival..............................................................................32

ARTICLE V.                 EXIMBANK GUARANTEE....................................................................32
         Section 5.1       Generally.............................................................................32
         Section 5.2       Preservation of Eximbank Guarantee....................................................33

ARTICLE VI.                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................................33
         Section 6.1       Representations and Warranties........................................................33


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ARTICLE VII.              CONDITIONS OF LENDING..................................................................38
         Section 7.1       Closing Conditions....................................................................38
         Section 7.2       Conditions Precedent to Each Export Working Capital Advance and Issuance of a
                           Standby Letter of Credit..............................................................40
         Section 7.3       Suspension and Debarment, etc.........................................................41
         Section 7.4       Special Conditions....................................................................42
         Section 7.5       Borrowing Base Certificate Requirements...............................................42

ARTICLE VIII.              COVENANTS.............................................................................42
         Section 8.1       Reporting Requirements................................................................42
         Section 8.2       Insurance and Endorsements............................................................43
         Section 8.3       Tax and Other Liens...................................................................44
         Section 8.4       Terms of Sale.........................................................................44
         Section 8.5       Compliance with Export L/Cs; Deliver Export L/Cs to Bank..............................44
         Section 8.6       Payment in Dollars....................................................................45
         Section 8.7       Place of Business.....................................................................45
         Section 8.8       Inspections...........................................................................45
         Section 8.9       Litigation............................................................................45
         Section 8.10      Additional Collateral.................................................................45
         Section 8.11      Maintenance of Existence and Compliance...............................................45
         Section 8.12      Export Inventory......................................................................45
         Section 8.13      Compliance with Borrower Agreement....................................................45
         Section 8.14      Notice of Certain Events..............................................................46
         Section 8.15      Collateral Duties.....................................................................47
         Section 8.16      Encumbrances..........................................................................48
         Section 8.17      Limitation on Indebtedness............................................................49
         Section 8.18      Contingent Liabilities................................................................50
         Section 8.19      Consolidation, Merger or Corporate Changes............................................50
         Section 8.20      Investments...........................................................................50
         Section 8.21      Acquisition and Issuance of Stock of the Borrower; Dividends..........................51
         Section 8.22      Prohibited Transfers..................................................................51
         Section 8.23      Loans.................................................................................51
         Section 8.24      Tangible Net Worth....................................................................52
         Section 8.25      Current Ratio.........................................................................52
         Section 8.26      Senior Debt to Tangible Net Worth.....................................................52
         Section 8.27      Cash Flow Coverage Ratio..............................................................52

ARTICLE IX.                COLLATERAL............................................................................52
         Section 9.1       Grant.................................................................................52
         Section 9.2       Continuous Security Interest..........................................................52
         Section 9.3       Priority in Proceeds of Collateral....................................................52



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ARTICLE X.                 EVENTS OF DEFAULT, ACCELERATION.......................................................53
         Section 10.1      Events of Default, Acceleration.......................................................53

ARTICLE XI.                INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.................................................................56

ARTICLE XII.               RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF BANK...........................................................56
         Section 12.1      Remedies of the Bank..................................................................56
         Section 12.2      Collection of Other Accounts, Etc.....................................................57
         Section 12.3      Specific Powers.......................................................................58
         Section 12.4      Right of the Bank to Use and Operate Collateral, Etc..................................59
         Section 12.5      Duties After Default..................................................................60
         Section 12.6      Cumulative Remedies...................................................................60

ARTICLE XIII.              INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.................................................................61

ARTICLE XIV.               TERMINATION...........................................................................61
         Section 14.1      Termination...........................................................................61

ARTICLE XV.                EXPENSES..............................................................................61
         Section 15.1      Expenses..............................................................................61

ARTICLE XVI.               ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATION..........................................................61
         Section 16.1      Assignment and Participation by Bank..................................................61
         Section 16.2      Disclosure............................................................................62
         Section 16.3      Assignment by Borrower................................................................62

ARTICLE XVII.              MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................................62
         Section 17.1      Indemnification.......................................................................62
         Section 17.2      Payment Set-Aside.....................................................................63
         Section 17.3      Set-off...............................................................................64
         Section 17.5      Cross-Collateralization...............................................................64
         Section 17.6      Cross-Default.........................................................................64
         Section 17.8      Amendments and Waiver.................................................................65
         Section 17.9      Notices...............................................................................65
         Section 17.10     Waivers...............................................................................65
         Section 17.11     Section Headings, Severability, Entire Agreement......................................66
         Section 17.12     GOVERNING LAW.........................................................................66

ARTICLE XVIII.             INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.................................................................67
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EXHIBITS:

Exhibit A  Note
Exhibit B  Continuing Letter of Credit Agreement
Exhibit C  Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit D  Borrower Agreement
Exhibit E  Compliance Certificate

Schedule 1.1(uu)  Export Contracts
Schedule 6.1(d)  Litigation
Schedule 6.1(i) Existence of Material Indebtedness
Schedule 6.1(o) Places of Business
Schedule 6.l(q) Permitted Liens
Schedule 6.1(s) Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.1(t) Tradenames
Schedule 8.17(f) Other Permitted Indebtedness
Schedule 8.23 Loans to Officers, Directors and Shareholders
Schedule 9.1 Description of the Collateral



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                      EXPORT CREDIT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


                  This Export Credit and Security Agreement dated as of November
30, 2000 between AMERICAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, INC., a Massachusetts
corporation with its principal place of business at 829 Middlesex Turnpike,
Billerica, Massachusetts 01821 ("Borrower"), and HSBC BANK USA, a bank organized
under the laws of New York ("Bank"), having a place of business at 17 South
Broadway, Nyack, New York 10960.

                  WHEREAS, the Borrower and the Bank agreed to enter into
financing arrangements, on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other
good and valuable consideration, the Borrower and the Bank agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.

                        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

                  Section 1.1 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. As used herein, the
following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

                  (a) "Accounts" shall mean all accounts and accounts receivable
         related to or arising from the sale or lease of inventory or rendition
         of services by the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business or
         however otherwise arising, and all other accounts, deposit accounts,
         contract rights and general intangibles related to or arising from any
         account and notes, documents, chattel paper, instruments, acceptances,
         letters of credit, drafts, bank notes or other forms of obligations and
         receivables of the Borrower related to or arising from the foregoing or
         evidencing any of the foregoing or issued in substitution for or
         replacement of any of the foregoing, whether or not the same are listed
         on any schedules, assignments or reports furnished to the Bank from
         time to time, and whether now existing or are created at any time
         hereafter, including, without limitation, all Accounts as such term is
         defined in the UCC, together with all goods, inventory and merchandise
         returned by or reclaimed by or repossessed from customers wherever such
         goods, inventory and merchandise are located, and all proceeds thereto,
         including without limitation, proceeds of insurance thereon and all
         guaranties, securities, liens and other collateral security which the
         Borrower may hold for the payment of any of the foregoing, including
         without limitation, all rights of stoppage in transit, recission,
         replevin and reclamation and all other rights and remedies of an unpaid
         vendor or lienor, and any liens held by the Borrower as a mechanic,
         contractor, subcontractor, processor, materialman, machinist,
         manufacturer, artisan, or otherwise.



<PAGE>



                  (b) "Account Debtor" shall mean a person or entity obligated
         to the Borrower upon an Account, including without limitation, a Buyer
         obligated to the Borrower upon an Export Account.

                  (c) "Advance" shall mean an Export Working Capital Advance or
         a Standby Letter of Credit Advance to Borrower.

                  (d) "Affiliate" shall mean any person that would be considered
         to be an affiliate of the Borrower under Rule 144(a) of the Rules and
         Regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as
         in effect on the date hereof, if the Borrower were issuing securities.

                  (e) "Agreement" shall mean this Export Credit and Security
         Agreement as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented or
         otherwise modified.

                  (f) "All Risk" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 8.2
         hereof.

                  (g) "Available Amount" of any Standby Letter of Credit shall
         mean, at any time, the maximum amount available to be drawn under such
         Standby Letter of Credit at such time (assuming compliance at such time
         with all conditions to drawing).

                  (h) "Bank" shall have the meaning assigned in the Preamble to
         this Agreement and shall be deemed to also mean the "Lender" as such
         term is defined in the Borrower Agreement.

                  (i) "Borrower" shall have the meaning assigned in the Preamble
         to this Agreement.

                  (j) "Borrower Agreement" shall mean the Borrower Agreement
         dated as of November 30, 2000 between the Borrower and the Bank, as the
         same may from time to time be amended, supplemented or otherwise
         modified.

                  (k) "Borrower's Account" shall mean the account of Borrower
         maintained by Borrower with the Bank at 17 South Broadway, Nyack, New
         York 10960.

                  (l) "Borrowing Base Certificate" shall mean each certificate
         submitted by the Borrower to the Bank in accordance with Sections 2.3,
         7.5 and 8.1 hereof.

                  (m) "Borrowing Base Deficiency" shall mean, on any day, the
         positive amount, if any, by which (i) the sum of (A) 25% of the
         Available Amounts of the outstanding Standby Letters of Credit other
         than Warranty Letters of Credit, PLUS (B) 100% of the Available Amounts
         of the outstanding Warranty Letters of Credit, PLUS (C)
         the aggregate amount of Standby Letter of Credit Advances, PLUS (D)
         without duplication,

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<PAGE>


         the aggregate amount of all unpaid reimbursement Obligations of the
         Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3(b), PLUS (E) the aggregate principal
         amount of all Export Working Capital Advances outstanding at such
         time, exceeds (ii) the aggregate Loan Value of the Collateral.

                  (n) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a day on
         which the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, New York or commercial
         banks in New York, New York are required or permitted by law to close.

                  (o) "Buyer" shall mean, collectively, each party (other than
         the Borrower) to the applicable Export Contract.

                  (p) "Capital Expenditure" shall mean, as determined in
         accordance with GAAP, the dollar amount of gross expenditures
         (including those that are financed by Capitalized Leases and/or the
         Financing Agreements) made or incurred for fixed assets, real property,
         plant and equipment, and all renewals, improvements and replacements
         thereto (but not repairs thereof) during any period.

                  (q) "Capitalized Lease" shall mean leases under which the
         Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or such other applicable Person as
         the context requires) is the lessee or obligor, the discounted future
         rental payment obligations under which are required to be capitalized
         on the balance sheet of the lessee or obligor in accordance with
         generally accepted accounting principles.

                  (r) "Cash Flow Coverage Ratio" shall mean as at any date of
         determination for any period, the ratio of (X) (a) Net Income; PLUS (b)
         the non-cash portion of Provisions for Income Taxes; PLUS (c) Interest
         Expense; PLUS (d) depreciation and amortization of assets (including
         patents, trademarks and goodwill) of the Borrower; to (Y) (a) Interest
         Expense; PLUS (b) regularly scheduled principal payments on
         Indebtedness and the Obligations; PLUS (c) Capital Expenditures.

                  (s) "Cash Collateral Account" shall mean that certain account
         of Borrower with the Bank pursuant to the Cash Collateral Account
         Agreement.

                  (t) "Cash Collateral Account Agreement" shall mean the
         Agreement Re: Cash Collateral Agreement dated the date hereof between
         Borrower and the Bank and as the same may from time to time be further
         amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

                  (u) "Closing Date" shall mean the first date on which the
         Financing Agreements and the Eximbank Documents are executed by the
         parties thereto and the conditions set forth in Article VII have been
         satisfied.


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                  (v) "Collateral" shall mean the property of the Borrower in
         which the Bank has a security interest as described in Section 9.1
         hereof.

                  (w) "Collateral Management Fee" shall have the meaning
         assigned in Section 3.4(e) hereof.

                  (x) "Collateral Value" of any item of Eligible Collateral
         shall mean, at any given time, the value of such item of Eligible
         Collateral as determined in accordance with GAAP, which, in the case of
         Eligible Export Accounts, shall reflect any charges, adjustments,
         discounts or other reductions whatsoever with respect thereto and shall
         include unbilled accounts receivable to the extent allowed under the
         Eximbank Documents (as determined by the Bank).

                  (y) "Commencement Date" shall mean the first day of a LIBOR
         Period with respect to any LIBOR Loan.

                  (z) "Commitment" shall mean the amount of $30,000,000.00 and
         as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to the provisions
         hereof; or if such commitment is terminated pursuant to the provisions
         hereof, zero.

                  (aa) "Commitment Amount" shall mean an amount equal to
         $30,000,000.00, such amount being the Bank's commitment to provide
         financing to the Borrower under this Facility, as same may be reduced
         from time to time pursuant to the provisions hereof; or if such
         commitment is terminated pursuant to the provisions hereof, zero.

                  (bb) "Continuing Letter of Credit Agreement" shall have the
         meaning assigned in Section 2.3(a) hereof.

                  (cc) "Current Assets" shall mean all assets of the Borrower
         and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis which are classified as
         current assets in accordance with GAAP.

                  (dd) "Current Liabilities" shall mean all liabilities of the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis maturing on
         demand or within one (1) year from the date as of which Current
         Liabilities are to be determined.

                  (ee) "Defaulting Event" shall mean the occurrence of an Event
         of Default or the occurrence of any condition or event which but for
         the giving of notice or passage of time or both would constitute an
         Event of Default.

                  (ff) "Documents" shall mean all documents, as that term is
         defined in Article 9 of the UCC.

                  (gg) "Dollar" and the sign "$" shall mean lawful money of the
         United States.


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                  (hh) "Domestic Credit Agreement" shall mean the Revolving Loan
         and Security Agreement of even date herewith between the Borrower and
         the Bank, together with any amendments, supplements or modifications
         thereto.

                  (ii) "Drawdown Date" shall mean the date on which an Export
         Working Capital Advance is to be made.

                  (jj) "Domestic Facility Obligations" shall mean all
         Obligations arising under or relating to the Domestic Credit Agreement
         and all other Financing Agreements relating thereto.

                  (kk) "Eligible Collateral" shall mean Eligible Export
         Accounts, Eligible Export Inventory and amounts in the Cash Collateral
         Account, excluding all amounts in the Cash Collateral Account which are
         cash collateral for Warranty Letters of Credit.

                  (ll) "Eligible Export Account" shall mean an Export Account
         which is Collateral and which is not an Ineligible Export Account and
         shall include unbilled accounts to the extent allowed under the
         Eximbank Documents.

                  (mm) "Eligible Export Inventory" shall mean Export Inventory
         which is Collateral and which is not Ineligible Export Inventory.

                  (nn) "Environmental Laws" shall mean any and all applicable
         foreign, federal, state and local statutes, laws, regulations, rules,
         ordinances, orders, guidances, policies or common law (whether now
         existing or hereafter enacted or promulgated) of any and all federal,
         state or local governments and governmental and quasi-governmental
         agencies, bureaus, subdivisions, commissions or departments which may
         now or hereafter have jurisdiction over the Borrower and all applicable
         judicial and administrative and regulatory decrees, judgments and
         orders, including common law rulings and determinations, pertaining or
         relating to injury to, or the protection of, the environment, health,
         safety or Hazardous Materials, including without limitation, all
         requirements pertaining to reporting, licensing, permitting,
         investigation, remediation and removal of emissions, discharges,
         releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials, chemical
         substances, pollutants or contaminants whether solid, liquid or gaseous
         in nature, into the environment or relating to the manufacture,
         processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport
         or handling of such Hazardous Materials, chemical substances,
         pollutants or contaminants.

                  (oo) "Event of Default" and "Events of Default" shall have the
         meanings assigned in Section 10.1 hereof.

                  (pp) "Eximbank" shall mean the Export-Import Bank of the
         United States, an agency of the United States.


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                  (qq) "Eximbank Documents" shall mean the Eximbank Guarantee,
         the Loan Authorization Agreement and any and all other instruments,
         agreements and documents executed in connection therewith or related
         thereto, together with any amendments, modifications or supplements
         thereto.

                  (rr) "Eximbank Facility Fee" shall have the meaning assigned
         in Section 3.4(a) hereof.

                  (ss) "Eximbank Guarantee" shall mean the Master Guarantee
         Agreement dated as of August 18, 1999 and identified as Master
         Guarantee Agreement NY-MGA-99-005, as amended, supplemented and/or
         modified from time to time.

                  (tt) "Export Account" shall mean an Account arising under an
         Export Contract, whether in the form of an account receivable, note,
         draft, bank note, acceptance, Letter of Credit (including proceeds of
         Letters of Credit) or other form of obligation and receivable, now or
         hereafter existing (including without limitation, an Export Account
         belonging or owing to the Borrower under any trade name, style or
         division thereof), arising out of or in connection with the sale or
         lease of Export Inventory or the rendering of services in connection
         with the sale or lease of Export Inventory, whether or not earned by
         performance, and whether or not the same are listed on any schedules,
         assignments or reports furnished to the Bank from time to time.

                  (uu) "Export Contract" shall mean the contracts and written
         requests for proposals (related to bid bonds) referred to in the Loan
         Authorization Agreement, including the contracts more fully described
         on Schedule 1.1(uu) hereto, and any other written export order or
         contract among the Borrower and any other party or parties that is
         approved in writing by the Bank in its sole and absolute discretion,
         which export order or contract shall provide for the purchase of
         finished goods or services intended for export from the United States,
         the foregoing to include any Minimum Amount Contracts whether or not
         listed on Schedule 1.1 (uu).

                  (vv) "Export Facility Obligations" shall mean all Obligations
         arising under or relating to this Agreement and all other Financing
         Agreements relating hereto.

                  (ww) "Export Inventory" shall mean Inventory, in all of its
         forms, wherever located, now or hereafter existing, which is held by or
         on behalf of the Borrower for export sale to a Buyer pursuant to an
         Export Contract, and the related services, if any, to be performed by
         the Borrower in connection therewith, and, in any event, shall include
         all inventory, merchandise, goods, raw materials, supplies, work in
         process (which shall include the actual costs of labor and the
         proportionate share of the Borrower's manufacturing overhead associated
         therewith and the inventory cost value of unbilled revenue), and
         finished goods purchased and/or manufactured by the Borrower and the
         related services, if any, to be performed by the Borrower in connection
         therewith, which


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         is held by or on behalf of the Borrower for export sale to a Buyer
         pursuant to an Export Contract.

                  (xx) "Export L/C" shall mean a Letter of Credit (as defined in
         Section 1(ppp)(i)) upon the terms prescribed in Section 8.5 hereof.

                  (yy) "Export-Related Collateral" shall mean the Export
         Accounts and the Export Inventory, including without limitation,
         Proceeds and proceeds of Letters of Credit relating to such Export
         Accounts and/or Export Inventory.

                  (zz) "Export Working Capital Advance" shall have the meaning
         assigned in Section 2.1(a) hereof.

                  (aaa) "Facility" shall mean the export working capital and
         standby letter of credit facility being extended to the Borrower
         pursuant to this Agreement.

                  (bbb) "Facility Amount" shall mean Thirty Million Dollars
         ($30,000,000.00), as same may be reduced from time to time; or if such
         facility is terminated pursuant to the terms hereof, zero.

                  (ccc) "Financing Agreements" shall mean this Agreement, the
         Note, the Borrower Agreement, the Cash Collateral Account Agreement,
         the L/C Related Documents and any and all other instruments, agreements
         and documents executed in connection herewith or therewith or related
         hereto or thereto, as well as all other "Financing Agreements" as
         defined in the Domestic Credit Agreement, together with any amendments,
         supplements or modifications hereto or thereto.

                  (ddd) "GAAP" shall mean the accounting principles issued by
         the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as from time to
         time in effect, as consistently applied.

                  (eee) "Hazardous Materials" shall mean any chemical, compound,
         material, mixture or substance: (i) the presence of which requires or
         may hereafter require notification, investigation, monitoring or
         remediation under any Environmental Law; (ii) which is or becomes
         defined as a "hazardous waste", "hazardous material" or "hazardous
         substance" or "toxic substance" or "pollutant" or "contaminant" under
         any present or future applicable federal, state or local law or under
         the rules and regulations adopted or promulgated pursuant thereto,
         including without limitation, the Environmental Laws; (iii) which is
         toxic, explosive, corrosive, reactive, ignitable, infectious,
         radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise hazardous and is or
         becomes regulated by any governmental authority, agency, department,
         commission, board, agency or instrumentality of any foreign country,
         the United States, any state of the United States, or any political
         subdivision thereof to the extent any of the foregoing has or had


                                        7

<PAGE>



         jurisdiction over the Borrower; (iv) which contains gasoline, diesel
         fuel or other petroleum products, asbestos or polychlorinated
         biphenyls; or (v) any other chemical, material or substance, exposure
         to, or disposal of, which is now or hereafter prohibited, limited or
         regulated by any federal, state or local governmental body,
         instrumentality or agency.

                  (fff) "Indebtedness" shall mean collectively, as to any Person
         and whether recourse is secured by or is otherwise available against
         all or only a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not
         contingent, but without duplication:

                           (i) every obligation of such Person for money
                  borrowed,

                           (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by
                  bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
                  including obligations incurred in connection with the
                  acquisition of property, assets or businesses,

                           (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person
                  with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or
                  similar facilities issued for the account of such Person,

                           (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or
                  assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services
                  (including securities repurchase agreements),

                           (v) every obligation of such Person under any
                  Capitalized Lease,

                           (vi) every obligation of such Person under any lease
                  (a "synthetic lease") treated as an operating lease under
                  generally accepted accounting principles and as a loan or
                  financing for U.S. income tax purposes,

                           (vii) every obligation of such Person (an "equity
                  related purchase obligation") to purchase, redeem, retire or
                  otherwise acquire for value any shares of capital stock of any
                  class issued by such Person, any warrants, options or other
                  rights to acquire any such shares, or any rights measured by
                  the value of such shares, warrants, options or other rights,

                           (viii) every obligation of such Person under any
                  forward contract, futures contract, swap, option or other
                  financing agreement or arrangement (including, without
                  limitation, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements), the
                  value of which is dependent upon interest rates, currency
                  exchange rates, commodities or other indices (a "derivative
                  contract"),


                                        8

<PAGE>



                           (ix) every obligation in respect of Indebtedness of
                  any other entity (including any partnership in which such
                  Person is a general partner) to the extent that such Person is
                  liable therefor as a result of such Person's ownership
                  interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to
                  the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness provide that
                  such Person is not liable therefor and such terms are
                  enforceable under applicable law,

                           (x) every obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
                  such Person guaranteeing, or having the economic effect of
                  guarantying or otherwise acting as surety for, any obligation
                  of a type described in any of clauses (i) through (ix) (the
                  "primary obligation") of another Person (the "primary
                  obligor"), in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and
                  including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person
                  (A) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the
                  purchase of) any security for the payment of such primary
                  obligation, (B) to purchase property, securities or services
                  for the purpose of assuring the payment of such primary
                  obligation, or (C) to maintain working capital, equity capital
                  or other financial statement condition or liquidity of the
                  primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay
                  such primary obligation.

                           The "amount" or "principal amount" of any
                  Indebtedness at any time of determination represented by (v)
                  any Indebtedness, issued at a price that is less than the
                  principal amount at maturity thereof, shall be the amount of
                  the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with
                  generally accepted accounting principles, (w) any Capitalized
                  Lease shall be the principal component of the aggregate of the
                  rentals obligation under such Capitalized Lease payable over
                  the term thereof that is not subject to termination by the
                  lessee, (x) any synthetic lease shall be the stipulated loss
                  value, termination value or other equivalent amount, (y) any
                  derivative contract shall be the maximum amount of any
                  termination or loss payment required to be paid by such Person
                  if such derivative contract were, at the time of
                  determination, to be terminated by reason of any event of
                  default or early termination event thereunder, whether or not
                  such event of default or early termination event has in fact
                  occurred and (z) any equity related purchase obligation shall
                  be the maximum fixed redemption or purchase price thereof
                  inclusive of any accrued and unpaid dividends to be comprised
                  in such redemption or purchase price.

                  (ggg) "Indemnifiable Liabilities" shall have the meaning
         assigned in Section 17.1(a) hereof.

                  (hhh) "Indemnitees" shall have the meaning assigned in Section
         17.1 (a) hereof.

                  (iii) "Ineligible Export Accounts" shall mean the following
         classes of Export Accounts:


                                        9

<PAGE>



                           (i) Export Accounts arising from the sale of
                  Ineligible Export Inventory;

                           (ii) Export Accounts with a term in excess of one
                  hundred (180) days;

                           (iii) Export Accounts which are more than sixty (60)
                  calendar days past the original due date, unless they are
                  insured through Eximbank export credit insurance for
                  comprehensive commercial and political risk, or through
                  Eximbank approved private insurers for comparable coverage, in
                  which case ninety (90) calendar days shall apply;

                           (iv) Export Accounts which are not Eligible Export
                  Related Accounts under the Borrower Agreement or any of the
                  Eximbank Documents;

                           (v) Export Accounts supported by a Letter of Credit
                  where the Eligible Export Inventory the sale of which gave
                  rise to such Export Account has not been shipped, except in
                  the event the Account Debtor has requested that such Export
                  Inventory be held by the Borrower to the extent permitted by
                  the Eximbank Documents;

                           (vi) Export Accounts to the extent consisting of
                  Retainage; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT Retainage up to ten percent
                  (10%) of the actual purchase price of the Export Contract may
                  be deemed eligible for the purposes of calculating Loan Value
                  if the Eximbank and the Bank approve same in writing;
                  PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT the sum of all eligible Retainage and
                  Warranty Letters of Credit issued hereunder shall not exceed
                  $500,000.00; or

                           (vii) Export Accounts which the Bank or Eximbank, in
                  its reasonable judgment, deems uncollectible or ineligible for
                  any reason whatsoever.

                  (jjj) "Ineligible Export Inventory" shall mean the following
         classes of Export Inventory:

                           (i) Export Inventory not purchased or manufactured by
                  the Borrower pursuant to an Export Contract;

                           (ii) Export Inventory which is not located at all
                  times in the State of the Borrower's principal place of
                  business located within the United States or in such other
                  State of the United States in which the Bank, after giving
                  effect to the related filings of Uniform Commercial Code
                  financing statements (or the equivalent thereof), has a valid
                  and perfected first priority security interest in such
                  Inventory;


                                       10

<PAGE>



                           (iii) Export Inventory which is not owned by and in
                  the possession of the Borrower (except for Inventory located
                  at vendors or subsuppliers if it is reasonable for it to be so
                  located due to the manufacturing assembly process), or which
                  is subject to a lien, security interest, charge or other
                  encumbrance in favor of a person or entity other than the
                  Bank;

                           (iv) Export Inventory constituting demonstration
                  Inventory;

                           (v) Export Inventory consisting of solely proprietary
                  software;

                           (vi) Export Inventory which has been sold on
                  consignment;

                           (vii) Export Inventory which is damaged, obsolete,
                  defective or unfit for further processing, or which has been
                  recalled or returned;

                           (viii) Export Inventory whose sale would result in an
                  Ineligible Export Account;

                           (ix) Export Inventory which is not U.S. Content,
                  except that if (A) at least fifty (50%) percent of the total
                  costs to the Borrower of any Export Inventory constituting a
                  finished good is attributed to U.S. Content, and (B) the
                  non-U.S. Content components (e.g. raw materials, labor and
                  services) of such finished good are incorporated therein in
                  the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or in such other State of
                  the United States in which the Bank, after giving effect to
                  the related filings of Uniform Commercial Code financing
                  statements (or the equivalent thereof), has a valid and
                  perfected first priority security interest in such Inventory,
                  then such non-U.S. Content components shall be eligible;

                           (x) Export Inventory which constitutes defense
                  articles or defense services, or nuclear products or services;

                           (xi) Export Inventory which is not Eligible Export
                  Related Inventory under the Borrower Agreement or any of the
                  Eximbank Documents;

                           (xii) Export Inventory deemed ineligible by the
                  Eximbank for any reason whatsoever;

                           (xiii) Export Inventory held by or on behalf of
                  International and/or Global or in which International and/or
                  Global now or at any time hereafter may have an interest; and

                           (xiv) Export Inventory which has been previously
                  exported from the United States.


                                       11

<PAGE>



                  (kkk) "Inventory" shall mean all (i) all goods manufactured or
         acquired for sale or lease, and any piece goods, raw materials, work in
         process and finished merchandise, findings or component materials, and
         all supplies, goods, incidentals, office supplies, packaging materials,
         in which the Borrower now or at any time hereafter may have an
         interest, whether or not the foregoing is listed in this agreement on
         any reports furnished to the Bank from time to time, including, without
         limitation, all Inventory as such term is defined in the UCC; (ii) all
         of the foregoing whether or not the same is in transit or in the
         constructive, actual or exclusive occupancy or possession of the
         Borrower or is held by the Borrower or by others for the Accounts,
         including without limitation all goods covered by purchase orders and
         contracts with suppliers and all goods billed and held by suppliers;
         (iii) all of the foregoing which may be located on premises of the
         Borrower or of any carrier, forwarding agents, truckers, warehousemen,
         vendors, selling agents or third parties; (iv) all Documents, documents
         of title, insurance and general intangibles relating to or arising out
         of inventory; and (v) all proceeds and products of the foregoing
         resulting from the sale, lease or other disposition of the foregoing,
         including cash, accounts receivable, other non-cash proceeds and
         trade-ins.

                  (lll) "Investments" shall mean, without duplication, all
         expenditures made and all Indebtedness incurred (contingently or
         otherwise) for the acquisition of stock or Indebtedness of, or for
         loans, advances, capital contributions or transfers of property to, or
         in respect of any guaranties (or other commitments or arrangements as
         described under clauses (h) or (i) of the definition of Indebtedness),
         or obligations of, any Person. In determining the aggregate amount of
         Investments outstanding at any particular time: (a) the amount of any
         Investment represented by any such guaranty or other commitment or
         arrangement shall be taken at not less than the principal amount of the
         obligations guaranteed or otherwise supported and still outstanding;
         (b) there shall be included as an Investment all interest accrued with
         respect to Indebtedness constituting an Investment unless and until
         such interest is paid; (c) there shall not be deducted in respect of
         any Investment any amounts received as earnings on such Investment,
         whether as dividends, interest or otherwise, except that accrued
         interest included as provided in the foregoing clause (b) may be
         deducted when paid; and (d) there shall not be deducted from the
         aggregate amount of Investments any decrease in the value thereof.

                  (mmm) "Issuance Date" shall mean the date on which any Standby
         Letter of Credit is to be issued.

                  (nnn) "L/C Advance Amount" shall have the meaning assigned in
         Section 2.3(c) hereof.

                  (ooo) "L/C Related Documents" shall have the meaning assigned
         in Section 2.5(b) hereof


                                       12

<PAGE>



                  (ppp) "Letter of Credit" shall mean an irrevocable letter of
         credit subject to UCP 500, payable in the United States or at the
         issuing bank and issued either: (i) for the benefit of the Borrower on
         behalf of a Buyer in connection with purchases under an Export
         Contract; or (ii) for the benefit of United States supplier(s) on
         behalf of the Borrower in connection with the purchase of goods or
         services from the supplier by the Borrower, which purchase is in
         support of the export sales financed under this Agreement; or (iii) for
         the benefit of a Buyer on behalf of the Borrower, including, without
         limitation, Standby Letters of Credit and Warranty Letters of Credit.

                  (qqq) "LIBOR" shall mean the rate of interest per annum
         determined by Bank applicable to any selected LIBOR Period equal to the
         rate appearing on Telerate Page 3750, or if no quotation appears on
         Telerate Page 3750, the average rate per annum which the offices of
         four leading banks selected by the Bank and located in London offer,
         for deposits in U.S. dollars in the London Interbank Eurodollar Market
         at approximately 10:00 a.m. (London time) on a LIBOR Interest
         Determination Date in an amount approximately equal to the amount of
         the applicable LIBOR Loan.

                  (rrr) "LIBOR Interest Determination Date" shall mean a
         Business Day which is three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable
         Commencement Date.

                  (sss) "LIBOR Loan" shall mean any or all Advances from time to
         time unpaid and bearing interest at the LIBOR Rate.

                  (ttt) "LIBOR Period" shall mean a period equal to one (1)
         month, two (2) months or three (3) months selected by Borrower pursuant
         to Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

                  (uuu) "LIBOR Rate" shall mean LIBOR, plus two hundred (200)
         basis points.

                  (vvv) "Loan Account" shall have the meaning assigned in
         Section 2.6 hereof.

                  (www) "Loan Authorization Agreement" shall mean the Loan
         Authorization Agreement dated the date hereof, between Eximbank and the
         Bank with respect to the Facility, together with any amendments,
         supplements or modifications thereto.

                  (xxx) "Loan Value" shall mean, with respect to each item of
         Eligible Collateral, an amount not greater than: (i) ninety percent
         (90%) with respect to the Collateral Values of Eligible Export
         Accounts, (ii) seventy-five percent (75%) with respect to the
         Collateral Values of Eligible Export Inventory, and (iii) one hundred
         percent (100%) with respect to the Collateral Value of the cash
         deposited in the Cash Collateral Account pursuant to the Cash
         Collateral Account Agreement.


                                       13

<PAGE>



                  (yyy) "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse
         effect on (a) the business, condition (financial or otherwise),
         operations, performance, properties or prospects of the Borrower,
         individually, or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
         (b) the validity, perfection, or priority of the security interest of
         the Bank in the Collateral created pursuant to this Agreement and the
         other Financing Agreements, (c) the rights and remedies of the Bank
         under any Financing Agreements, or (d) the ability of the Borrower to
         perform its Obligations under the Financing Agreements.

                  (zzz) "Maturity Date" shall mean the Termination Date.

                  (aaaa) "Minimum Amount Contract" shall mean any proposed
         export order or contract among the Borrower and any party that is
         approved in writing by the Bank in its sole and absolute discretion
         which provides for the purchase of finished goods or services exported
         from the United States and in connection with which the Borrower has
         requested the issuance of a Standby Letter of Credit for purposes of
         proposal bid bonds of not more than $100,000 individually, or, in the
         aggregate, $500,000.

                  (bbbb) "Net Income" shall mean the consolidated net income (or
         loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, after deduction of all
         expenses, taxes, and other charges against consolidated net income,
         determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

                  (cccc) "Note" shall mean the promissory note of the Borrower
         payable to the order of the Bank, in the form of EXHIBIT A attached
         hereto, evidencing the Obligations, including without limitation, the
         indebtedness of the Borrower to the Bank resulting from the Advances.

                  (dddd) "Notice of Borrowing" shall have the meaning assigned
         in Section 2.2(a) hereof.

                  (eeee) "Notice of Issuance" shall have the meaning assigned in
         Section 2.3(a) hereof.

                  (ffff) "Obligations" shall mean and includes all Advances,
         interest, indebtedness, liabilities, obligations, fees, charges,
         expenses, guaranties, covenants and duties at any time owing by the
         Borrower to the Bank of every kind and description arising under the
         Facility, whether or not evidenced by any note or other instrument,
         whether or not for the payment of money, whether direct or indirect,
         absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter
         arising, and all other indebtedness, liabilities and obligations
         arising under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements,
         including, without limitation, the reimbursement obligation of the
         Borrower to the Bank upon any drawing or drawings under that certain
         Standby Letter of Credit issued by the Bank on or about the Closing
         Date for the benefit of the Borrower in


                                       14

<PAGE>


         favor of State Street Bank and Trust Company, and all costs, expenses,
         fees, and charges incurred by the Bank and/or Eximbank hereunder or
         otherwise with respect to the Borrower, including without limitation,
         reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, paralegals and other
         professional incurred in connection with any of the foregoing, or in
         any way connected with, involving or relating to the preservation,
         enforcement, protection or defense of, or realization under this
         Agreement, the Note, the Continuing Letter of Credit Agreements, any of
         the other Financing Agreements, the Collateral and the rights and
         remedies hereunder or thereunder, including without limitation, all
         costs and expenses in inspecting or surveying mortgaged real estate, if
         any, or conducting environmental studies or tests, and all reasonable
         costs, expenses and fees incurred in connection with any "workout" or
         default resolution negotiations involving legal counsel or other
         professionals and further in connection with any re-negotiation or
         restructuring of the indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement, the Note
         and/or any of the other Financing Agreements.

                  (gggg) "Person" shall mean any individual, sole
         proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint
         venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation,
         limited liability company, institution, public benefit corporation,
         business, or other legal entity or any government (whether national,
         federal, provincial, state, county, city, municipal or otherwise,
         including any instrumentality, division, agency, body, political
         subdivision or department thereof), and shall include such Person's
         successors and assigns.

                  (hhhh) "Prime Rate" shall mean the rate of interest publicly
         announced by HSBC Bank USA from time to time as its prime rate and is a
         base rate for calculating interest on certain loans. The rate announced
         by HSBC Bank USA as its prime rate may or may not be the most favorable
         rate charged by HSBC Bank USA to its customers.

                  (iiii) "Prime Rate Loan" shall mean all Advances hereunder
         bearing interest at the Prime Rate.

                  (jjjj) "Proceeds" shall mean all proceeds, as that term is
         defined in Article 9 of the UCC, and, in any event, shall include (a)
         any and all Accounts, chattel paper, instruments, cash and other
         proceeds payable to the Borrower from time to time in respect of any of
         the foregoing collateral security, (b) any and all proceeds of any
         insurance (whether or not the Bank is the loss payee thereof),
         indemnity, warranty or guaranty payable to the Borrower from time to
         time with respect to any of the collateral security, (c) any and all
         payments (in any form whatsoever) made or due and payable to the
         Borrower from time to time in connection with any requisition,
         confiscation, condemnation, seizure or forfeiture of all or any part of
         the collateral security by any governmental body, authority, bureau or
         agency (or any person acting under color of governmental authority),
         and (d) any and all other amounts from time to time paid or payable
         under or in connection with any of the collateral security.


                                       15

<PAGE>



                  (kkkk) "Retainage" shall mean that portion of the purchase
         price of an Export Contract that a Buyer is not obligated to pay until
         the end of a specified period of time following the satisfactory
         performance of the Borrower's obligations under such Export Contract.

                  (llll) "Senior Debt to Tangible Net Worth Ratio" shall mean as
         at any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Total Senior
         Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such
         date to (b) Tangible Net Worth of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for
         the fiscal quarter ended on such date.

                  (mmmm) "Standby Letter of Credit" shall mean each standby
         letter of credit issued by the Bank pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof
         either (i) for the benefit of a Buyer in order to secure the Borrower's
         performance of its obligations under an Export Contract; (ii) bid or
         performance bonds in connection with an Export Contract; (iii) to
         secure a Buyer's down payment made in connection with the purchase of
         Eligible Export Inventory pursuant to an Export Contract; (iv) for the
         benefit of United States suppliers on behalf of the Borrower in
         connection with the purchase of goods or services by the Borrower from
         the supplier, which purchase is in support of the export sales financed
         under this Agreement; or (v) for the benefit of State Street Bank and
         Trust Company ("State Street") in connection with the refinancing by
         the Bank of a certain export credit facility made by State Street to
         the Borrower. A Standby Letter of Credit may not be used to serve as a
         retainage or warranty bond, unless the Standby Letter of Credit is a
         Warranty Letter of Credit.

                  (nnnn) "Standby Letter of Credit Advance" shall have the
         meaning assigned in Section 2.3(c) hereof.

                  (oooo) "Standby Letter of Credit Fee" shall have the meaning
         assigned in Section 3.4(d) hereof.

                  (pppp) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation, association,
         trust, or other business entity of which the Borrower shall at any time
         own directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries at
         least a majority (by number of votes) of the outstanding voting stock.

                  (qqqq) "Tangible Net Worth" shall mean the excess of Total
         Assets over Total Liabilities, and less the total book value of all
         assets of the Borrower properly classified as intangible assets under
         GAAP, including such items as goodwill, the purchase price of acquired
         assets in excess of the fair market value thereof, trademarks, trade
         names, service marks, brand names, copyrights, patents and licenses,
         and rights with respect to the foregoing.


                                       16

<PAGE>



                  (rrrr) "Termination Date" shall mean the earlier of (i)
         November 30, 2002 or, if such date is not a Business Day, the next
         Business Day thereafter, and any subsequent date to which the
         Termination Date may be extended pursuant to Section 14.1 hereof, or
         (ii) the date the Bank terminates its commitments pursuant to Paragraph
         10.1 hereof or Borrower terminates the Facility pursuant to Section 2.9
         hereof.

                  (ssss) "Total Assets" shall mean the sum of (i) all assets
         ("consolidated balance sheet assets") of the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP, PLUS (ii) without
         duplication, all assets leased by the Borrower as lessee under any
         synthetic lease referred to in clause (vi) of the definition of the
         term "Indebtedness" to the extent that such assets would have been
         consolidated balance sheet assets had the synthetic lease been treated
         for accounting purposes as a Capitalized Lease, PLUS (iii) without
         duplication, all sold receivables referred to in clause (vii) of the
         definition of the term "Indebtedness" to the extent that such
         receivables would have been consolidated balance sheet assets had they
         not been sold.

                  (tttt) "Total Liabilities" shall mean all liabilities of the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in
         accordance with GAAP and classified as such on the consolidated balance
         sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and all other Indebtedness
         of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, whether or not so classified, but
         specifically excluding all contingent obligations of the Borrower in
         respect of (i) undrawn amounts under issued letters of credit; and (ii)
         indemnity obligations in respect of surety bonds issued to any
         governmental agency under the General Agreement of Indemnity executed
         on September 21, 1998 between the Borrower and the Chubb Group of
         Insurance Companies.

                  (uuuu) "Total Senior Indebtedness" shall mean as of any date
         of determination, an amount equal to the sum of all Indebtedness of the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any
         unpaid reimbursement obligations from draws under letters of credit),
         but excluding (i) contingent Indebtedness and (ii) any Indebtedness
         that is subordinated to the Obligations on terms acceptable to the
         Bank.

                  (vvvv) "UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in
         effect from time to time in the State of New York.

                  (wwww) "Unused Commitment Amount" shall mean an amount equal
         to the Commitment Amount MINUS the sum of (A) the Available Amounts of
         all outstanding Standby Letters of Credit (including without limitation
         any Standby Letter of Credit that is being requested by the Borrower at
         the time the Unused Commitment Amount is being calculated) PLUS (B) the
         aggregate amount of outstanding Standby Letter of Credit Advances PLUS
         (C) without duplication, the aggregate amount of all unpaid
         reimbursement Obligations of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3(b)
         outstanding at such time PLUS (D) the aggregate amount of all Export
         Working Capital Advances


                                       17

<PAGE>


         (including without limitation any Export Working Capital Advance that
         is being requested by the Borrower at the time the Unused Commitment
         Amount is being calculated).

                  (xxxx) "U.S." or "United States" shall mean the United States
         of America and its territorial possessions.

                  (yyyy) "U.S. Content" shall mean with respect to any Export
         Inventory, all the labor, materials and services which are of U.S.
         origin or manufacture, and which are incorporated into Export Inventory
         in the United States.

                  (zzzz) "Warranty" shall mean a Borrower's guarantee to a Buyer
         that the Export Inventory will function as intended during the warranty
         period set forth in the applicable Export Contract.

                  (aaaaa) "Warranty Letter of Credit" shall mean a Standby
         Letter of Credit which is issued or caused to be issued by the Bank to
         support the Obligations with respect to a Warranty or a Standby Letter
         of Credit which by its terms becomes a Warranty Letter of Credit, but
         only after the date on which it becomes a Warranty Letter of Credit,
         subject to compliance with the collateral requirements of this
         Agreement and the Eximbank Documents.

                  Section 1.2 COMPUTATION OF TIME PERIODS. In this Agreement in
the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified
date, the word "from" shall mean "from and including" and the words "to" and
"until" each mean "to but excluding."

                  Section 1.3 OTHER TERMS. Unless otherwise defined, all
accounting terms shall be construed, and all computations or classifications of
assets and liabilities and of income and expenses shall be made or determined in
accordance with GAAP. All terms not specifically defined herein or by GAAP,
which terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to
time in the State of New York, have the meanings assigned to them therein, with
the term "instrument" being that defined under Article 9 of the Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.

                                   ARTICLE II.

                        AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
                        AND THE STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT

                  Section 2.1 THE ADVANCES.

                  (a) EXPORT WORKING CAPITAL ADVANCES. Subject to the terms and
         conditions hereof, the Bank in reliance upon the representations and
         warranties of the Borrower


                                       18

<PAGE>


         contained herein, agrees to make advances (each an "Export Working
         Capital Advance") to the Borrower upon request of the Borrower from
         time to time on any Business Day during the period from the date hereof
         until the Termination Date up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding
         (after giving effect to all Export Working Capital Advance amounts
         requested) at any one time up to the Commitment Amount; PROVIDED,
         HOWEVER THAT after giving effect to such request, (i) the sum of the
         aggregate Available Amounts, all Advances and, without duplication, all
         unpaid reimbursement Obligations of the Borrower pursuant to Section
         2.3(b) shall not exceed the Facility Amount at any one time; and (ii)
         the sum of (1) the Available Amounts of all Standby Letters of Credit,
         (2) all Advances and (3) without duplication, all unpaid reimbursement
         Obligations of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3(b), shall not at
         any time result in a Borrowing Base Deficiency. Subject to the limits
         referred to above, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.1(a),
         repay pursuant to Section 2.5 hereof and reborrow under this Section
         2.1(a).

                  (b) STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT.

                           (i) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
                  Bank in reliance upon the representations and warranties of
                  the Borrower contained herein, agrees to issue for the account
                  of the Borrower upon the Borrower's request one or more
                  Standby Letters of Credit, in such form as may be requested
                  from time to time by the Borrower and agreed to by the Bank;
                  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, after giving effect to such request,
                  (i) the sum of the aggregate Available Amounts, all Advances
                  and, without duplication, all unpaid reimbursement Obligations
                  of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3(b) shall not exceed
                  the Facility Amount at any one time; and (ii) the sum of (1)
                  the Available Amounts of all Standby Letters of Credit, (2)
                  all Advances and (3) without duplication, all unpaid
                  reimbursement Obligations of the Borrower pursuant to Section
                  2.3(b), shall not at any time result in a Borrowing Base
                  Deficiency. Subject to the limits referred to above, the
                  Borrower may request the issuance of Standby Letters of Credit
                  under this Section 2.1(b), repay any Standby Letter of Credit
                  Advances resulting from drawing thereunder pursuant to Section
                  2.3 hereof, and request the issuance of additional Standby
                  Letters of Credit under this Section 2.l(b).

                           (ii) Unless the Termination Date has been extended
                  pursuant to Section 14.1 hereof, no Standby Letter of Credit
                  shall: (a) be issued within sixty (60) days of the Termination
                  Date without the prior approval of Eximbank and the Bank; or
                  (b) shall be issued with an expiry date later than the
                  Termination Date without the prior approval of Eximbank and
                  the Bank, in which case the Borrower shall be obligated to
                  provide to the Bank, pursuant to the terms and conditions set
                  forth in the Cash Collateral Agreement, on or before the
                  Issuance Date of any Standby Letter of Credit, cash collateral
                  equal to one hundred percent (100%) of


                                       19

<PAGE>



                  the Available Amount for all Standby Letters of Credit having
                  an expiry date beyond the Termination Date.

                           (iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
                  contained herein, Warranty Letters of Credit may only be
                  issued with the prior written consent of Eximbank.

                  (c) LOAN VALUE. Any provision of this Agreement or any other
         Financing Agreement or any Eximbank Document to the contrary
         notwithstanding, in the event that the sum of the Available Amounts,
         all Advances and all reimbursement Obligations of Borrower exceed the
         Loan Value, Borrower shall upon request of the Bank immediately pay to
         the Bank the excess of the Available Amounts, all Advances and all
         reimbursement Obligations over the Loan Value.

                  Section 2.2 PROCEDURE FOR EXPORT WORKING CAPITAL ADVANCES.

                  (a) NOTICES OF BORROWING. Requests for Export Working Capital
         Advances may be made only once per Business Day and shall be made on
         notice, given not less than one (1) Business Day before the proposed
         Drawdown Date for a Prime Rate Loan and three (3) Business Days before
         the proposed Drawdown Date for a LIBOR Loan, by the Borrower to the
         Bank. Each such notice (which notice shall be irrevocable and binding
         on the Borrower) of a proposed borrowing (a "Notice of Borrowing")
         shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, or by telex or
         telecopier, specifying the proposed Drawdown Date (which shall be a
         Business Day) and the amount to be borrowed. In the event that written
         confirmation of a telephonic Notice of Borrowing differs in any respect
         from the action taken by the Bank, the records of the Bank shall
         control absent manifest error. To be eligible to request an Export
         Working Capital Advance, the Borrower must submit to the Bank, together
         with its Notice of Borrowing, (i) a Borrowing Base Certificate in the
         form of EXHIBIT C attached hereto (together with the attachments
         referred to therein) which to the extent required by Section 7.5 shall
         be current as of the date of such Notice of Borrowing, and (ii) a
         certified copy of the applicable Export Contract and the underlying
         letter of credit issued in favor of the Borrower for the account of the
         Buyer for which the Working Capital Advance is being made; and (iii) a
         description of the proposed use of the proceeds of such Working Capital
         Advance.

                  (b) PAYMENT AND DISBURSEMENT OF EXPORT WORKING CAPITAL
         ADVANCES. Upon receipt of the documents required by this Section 2.2,
         the Bank will make available to the Borrower the requested Export
         Working Capital Advance by crediting the Borrower's Account.

                  (c) ESTABLISHMENT OF RESERVES. The Bank may, at any time and
         from time to time, in its reasonable judgment, establish reserves
         against the Export Accounts and


                                       20

<PAGE>



         Export Inventory of the Borrower. Without limiting the Bank's right to
         establish reserves against the Export Accounts and Export Inventory of
         the Borrower at any time and from time to time, in its reasonable
         judgment, the Bank typically shall establish such reserves after a
         collateral audit performed by the Bank (or the Bank's agent), but only
         if such reserves are established based upon such collateral audit (or a
         prior collateral audit). The Bank shall furnish the Borrower with
         written notice of the establishment of such reserves, if practicable,
         at least ten (10) days prior to the implementation thereof, which
         notice shall describe the reason therefor. The amount of such reserves
         shall be subtracted from the Collateral Value. Without in any way
         limiting the Bank's right to establish reserves hereunder, the Borrower
         acknowledges that the Bank shall establish a reserve against the Export
         Accounts and Export Inventory of the Borrower in an amount equal to One
         Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($100,000.00) with respect to the
         rent obligations for Borrower's premises located at 829 Middlesex
         Turnpike, Billerica, Massachusetts.

                  Section 2.3 ISSUANCE OF AND DRAWINGS UNDER STANDBY LETTERS OF
         CREDIT, NO LIABILITY OF THE BANK.

                  (a) NOTICES OF ISSUANCE. Requests for the issuance of Standby
         Letters of Credit may be made only once per Business Day and shall be
         made on notice, given not less than five (5) Business Days before the
         proposed Issuance Date, by the Borrower to the Bank. Each such notice
         (which notice shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower) of
         issuance of a Standby Letter of Credit (a "Notice of Issuance") shall
         be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, or by telex or
         telecopier, specifying therein the requested (i) proposed Issuance Date
         (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) Available Amount of such Standby
         Letter of Credit in Dollars, (iii) expiration date of such Standby
         Letter of Credit, (iv) name and address of the beneficiary of such
         Standby Letter of Credit, and (v) form of such Standby Letter of
         Credit, and shall be accompanied by such application and agreement for
         letter of credit substantially in the form of EXHIBIT B hereto, or in
         the form, if any, as the Bank may otherwise specify to the Borrower for
         use in connection with such requested Standby Letter of Credit (a
         "Continuing Letter of Credit Agreement"), and a certified copy of the
         applicable Export Contract and the underlying letter of credit issued
         in favor of the Borrower for the account of the Buyer in connection
         therewith. To be eligible to request the issuance of any Standby Letter
         of Credit, the Borrower must also submit to the Bank, together with its
         Notice of Issuance, a Borrowing Base Certificate in the form of EXHIBIT
         C attached hereto (together with the attachments referred to therein)
         which shall, to the extent required by Section 7.5 hereof, be current
         as of the date of such Notice of Issuance. If the requested form of
         such Standby Letter of Credit is acceptable to the Bank in its sole
         discretion, the Bank will, upon fulfillment of the applicable
         conditions set forth in Article VII hereof, make such Standby Letter of
         Credit available to the Borrower at its office referred to in the first
         paragraph of this Agreement or as otherwise agreed with the Borrower is
         connection with such issuance. The Bank reserves the right, in its sole
         discretion, to not issue Letters of Credit in favor of beneficiaries
         domiciled in countries deemed by the Bank to possess an


                                       21

<PAGE>


         inordinate amount of risk, whether that risk is related to economic,
         political, or other circumstances. In the event and to the extent that
         the provisions of any Continuing Letter of Credit Agreement shall
         conflict with this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall
         govern.

                  (b) REIMBURSEMENT OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWER. In order to
         induce the Bank to issue, extend and renew each Standby Letter of
         Credit, the Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse or pay to the Bank,
         with respect to each Standby Letter of Credit issued, extended or
         renewed by the Bank hereunder on each date that any draft presented
         under such Standby Letter of Credit is honored by the Bank, the Bank
         otherwise makes a payment with respect thereto, (i) the amount paid by
         the Bank under or with respect to such Standby Letter of Credit, and
         (ii) the amount of any taxes, fees, charges or other costs and expenses
         whatsoever incurred by the Bank in connection with any payment made by
         the Bank under, or with respect to, such Standby Letter of Credit. Each
         such payment shall be made to the Bank at its address set forth above
         in immediately available funds. Interest on any and all amounts
         remaining unpaid by the Borrower under this Section 2.3 at any time
         from the date such amounts become due and payable (whether as stated in
         this Section 2.3, by acceleration or otherwise) until payment in full
         (whether before or after judgment) shall be payable to the Bank on
         demand at the rate specified in Section 3.1(a)(ii) for overdue
         principal. All payments and prepayments of principal, interest or fees
         by the Borrower hereunder that are received by the Bank after 11:00
         a.m. (New York City time) will be deemed for all purposes to have been
         received on the next Business Day.

                  (c) LETTER OF CREDIT PAYMENTS. If any draft shall be presented
         or other demand for payment shall be made under any Standby Letter of
         Credit, the Bank shall notify the Borrower of the date and amount of
         the draft presented or demand for payment and of the date and time when
         it expects to pay such draft or honor such demand for payment. If the
         Borrower fails to reimburse the Bank as provided in Section 2.3(b) on
         or before the date that such draft is paid or other payment is made by
         the Bank, the Bank may at any time thereafter, but shall not be
         obligated to, make an advance (a "Standby Letter of Credit Advance") to
         the Borrower in the amount of any such unreimbursed amount thereof (the
         "L/C Advance Amount"). Subject to the limitations on liability
         contained in the following paragraph (d), the Bank will endeavor in
         good faith to determine that the documents (including each draft)
         delivered under each Standby Letter of Credit in connection with such
         presentment shall be in strict conformity in all material respects with
         such Standby Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
         contrary, (a) the sum of the Available Amounts of Warranty Letters of
         Credit, plus the Retainage portion of Accounts in the Loan Value (if
         any) shall not exceed the lesser of (x) twenty percent (20%) of the
         Commitment Amount; or (y) $500,000.00; and (b) the outstanding
         principal balance of Advances that are supported by Eligible Export
         Inventory shall not exceed sixty percent (60%) of the sum of the amount
         of all financial accommodations hereunder other than Standby Letters of
         Credit (excluding Warranty Letters of Credit).


                                       22

<PAGE>


                  (d) NO LIABILITY OF THE BANK. The Borrower assumes all risks
         of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee of any
         Standby Letter of Credit with respect to its use of such Standby Letter
         of Credit. Neither the Bank nor any of its officers or directors shall
         be liable or responsible for: (i) the use that may be made of any
         Standby Letter of Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or
         transferee in connection therewith; (ii) the validity, sufficiency or
         genuineness of Documents, or of any endorsement thereon, even if such
         Documents should prove to be in any or all respects invalid, fraudulent
         or forged; (iii) payment by the Bank against presentment of Documents
         that do not comply with the terms of a Standby Letter of Credit,
         including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate
         reference to the Standby Letter of Credit; or (iv) any other
         circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under any
         Standby Letter of Credit, except that the Borrower shall have a claim
         against the Bank, and the Bank shall be liable to the Borrower, to the
         extent of any direct, but not consequential, damages suffered by the
         Borrower that the Borrower proves were caused by (A) the Bank's willful
         misconduct or gross negligence in determining whether documents
         presented under any Standby Letter of Credit comply with the terms of
         the Standby Letter of Credit, or (B) the Bank's willful failure to make
         lawful payment under a Standby Letter of Credit after presentation to
         it of a draft and certificates strictly complying with the terms and
         conditions of the Standby Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in
         limitation of the foregoing, the Bank may accept documents that appear
         on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further
         investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary.

                  Section 2.4 THE NOTE. The Advances shall be evidenced by a
Note of the Borrower in substantially the form of EXHIBIT A hereto, dated as of
the Closing Date. The Note shall be payable to the order of the Bank in a
principal amount of up to $30,000,000.00, plus interest accrued thereon, as set
forth below. The Borrower irrevocably authorizes the Bank to make or cause to be
made, at or about the time of each Advance and the Issuance Date of each Standby
Letter of Credit or at the time of receipt of any payment of principal on the
Note, an appropriate notation on the Bank's Note Record reflecting the making of
such Advance, the issuance of such Standby Letter of Credit or (as the case may
be) the receipt of such payment. The outstanding amount of the Advances and the
Available Amounts of Standby Letters of Credit set forth on the Bank's Note
Record shall be PRIMA FACIE evidence of the principal amount thereof owing and
unpaid to the Bank, but the failure to record, or any error in so recording, any
such amount on the Bank's Note Record shall not limit or otherwise affect the
obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under the Note to make payments of
principal of or interest on the Note when due.

                  Section 2.5 PAYMENT OF ADVANCES.

                  (a) EXPORT WORKING CAPITAL ADVANCES. ALL EXPORT WORKING
         CAPITAL ADVANCES HEREUNDER, TOGETHER WITH ACCRUED AND UNPAID INTEREST
         AND ANY OTHER AMOUNTS DUE HEREUNDER, SHALL


                                       23

<PAGE>



         BE DUE AND PAYABLE TO THE BANK ON THE MATURITY DATE OR EARLIER
         ACCELERATION OF THE OBLIGATIONS, at which time the Borrower shall have
         no ability to request, and the Bank shall have no obligation to make,
         any further Export Working Capital Advances hereunder. The Bank may, at
         its option, debit principal, interest, fees, costs and expenses due and
         payable hereunder, under any of the other Financing Agreements or under
         any other agreements between the Bank and the Borrower to any of the
         Borrower's accounts maintained with the Bank on each date any such
         amount is due and payable.

                  (b) STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT ADVANCES.

                           (i) Regardless of whether any Continuing Letter of
                  Credit Agreement is executed, or the terms thereof, the
                  Borrower shall repay to the Bank the outstanding principal
                  amount of each Standby Letter of Credit Advance in accordance
                  with Section 2.3 on the earlier of (A) demand and (B) the
                  Termination Date. The Bank may, at its option, debit
                  principal, interest, fees, costs and expenses due and payable
                  hereunder, under any of the other Financing Agreements or
                  under any other agreements between the Bank and the Borrower
                  to any of the Borrower's accounts maintained with the Bank on
                  each date any such amount is due and payable.

                           (ii) Without limiting the generality of Section
                  2.3(d) hereof, the Obligations of the Borrower under this
                  Agreement, any Continuing Letter of Credit Agreement or any
                  other agreement or instrument relating to any Standby Letter
                  of Credit shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be
                  paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
                  such Continuing Letter of Credit Agreement and such other
                  agreement or instrument under all circumstances, including
                  without limitation, the following circumstances:

                           (A)      any lack of validity or enforceability of
                                    any Continuing Letter of Credit Agreement,
                                    any Standby Letter of Credit or any other
                                    agreement or instrument relating thereto
                                    (all of the foregoing being, collectively,
                                    the "L/C Related Documents") or any other
                                    Financing Agreement;

                           (B)      any change in the time, manner or place of
                                    payment of, or in any other term of, all or
                                    any of the Obligations in respect of any L/C
                                    Related Document or any other amendment or
                                    waiver of or any consent to departure from
                                    all or any of the L/C Related Documents;

                           (C)      the existence of any claim, set-off, defense
                                    or other right that the Borrower may have at
                                    any time against any beneficiary or any


                                       24

<PAGE>



                                    transferee of a Standby Letter of Credit (or
                                    any person or entity for whom any such
                                    beneficiary or any such transferee may be
                                    acting), the Bank or any other person or
                                    entity, whether in connection with the
                                    transactions contemplated by the L/C Related
                                    Documents or any unrelated transaction;

                           (D)      any statement or any other document
                                    presented under a Standby Letter of Credit
                                    proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid
                                    in any respect or any statement therein
                                    being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

                           (E)      payment by the Bank under a Standby Letter
                                    of Credit against presentation of a draft or
                                    certificate that does not strictly comply
                                    with the terms of such Standby Letter of
                                    Credit;

                           (F)      any exchange, release or non-perfection of
                                    any Collateral or other collateral, for all
                                    or any of the Obligations in respect of the
                                    L/C Related Documents; or

                           (G)      any other circumstance or happening
                                    whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of
                                    the foregoing, including without limitation,
                                    any other circumstance that might otherwise
                                    constitute a defense available to, or a
                                    discharge of, the Borrower or a guarantor.

                  Section 2.6 LOAN ACCOUNT, MONTHLY STATEMENTS. Insofar as the
Bank shall make Advances hereunder, the Bank shall enter the amounts of such
Advances as debits on an internal ledger account (the "Loan Account"). The Bank
may also record to the Loan Account, in accordance with customary banking
procedures, all fees, accrued and unpaid interest, late fees, usual and
customary bank charges for the maintenance and administration of checking and
other bank accounts maintained by the Borrower and other fees and charges which
are properly chargeable to the Borrower under this Agreement; all payments,
subject to collection, made by the Borrower on account of indebtedness evidenced
by the Loan Account; and all proceeds of Collateral which are finally paid to
the Bank in its own office in cash or collected items. The aggregate amount of
all such Obligations set forth in the Loan Account shall be presumptive evidence
of the principal amount owing hereunder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to
make any such entry with respect to any Obligations shall not limit or otherwise
affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder. Any statement for the Loan
Account rendered by the Bank, shall be considered correct and accepted by the
Borrower and conclusively binding upon the Borrower unless the Borrower notifies
the Bank to the contrary within thirty (30) days of the receipt of said
statement by the Borrower.

                  Section 2.7 USE OF FACILITY. The Borrower represents that the
(a) Standby Letters of Credit will be requested solely for issuance to a Buyer
pursuant to the terms of an Export


                                       25

<PAGE>



Contract, and (b) the proceeds of the Export Working Capital Advances shall be
used solely for the purpose of enabling the Borrower to finance the cost of
manufacturing, producing, purchasing or selling goods or services which are
intended for export from the United States pursuant to an Export Contract, but
in no event shall the proceeds of Export Working Capital Advances be used for
Capital Expenditures or acquisitions.

                  Section 2.8 MUNITIONS LIST. If any of the purchases under an
Export Contract are articles, services, or related technical data that are
listed on the United States Munitions List (part 121 of title 22 of the Code of
Federal Regulations), the Borrower shall send a written notice promptly to the
Lender describing such purchases and the corresponding invoice amount.

                  Section 2.9 VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF FACILITY AMOUNT. The
Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time upon five (5)
Business Days' prior written notice to the Bank to reduce by $500,000 or any
greater integral multiple thereof or terminate entirely the Facility Amount,
whereupon the Commitment of the Bank shall be reduced or terminated; PROVIDED,
that the aggregate Commitment may not be reduced under this Section 2.9 to an
amount less than the aggregate amount of the outstanding Obligations.

                                  ARTICLE III.

                  INTEREST, LATE PAYMENT, PREPAYMENTS AND FEES

                  Section 3.1 INTEREST AND LATE PAYMENTS.

                  (a) INTEREST RATES.

                           (i) PRE-EVENT OF DEFAULT INTEREST. So long as no
                  Event of Default has occurred, each Advance shall bear
                  interest (from the date made through and including the date of
                  payment in full) on the outstanding principal amount thereof
                  at a floating rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate or the
                  LIBOR Rate, as elected by Borrower pursuant to the terms
                  hereof.

                           The Borrower may elect that any Advance to be made
                  shall be a LIBOR Loan, to continue any existing LIBOR Loan as
                  a new LIBOR Loan or to convert any Advances bearing interest
                  at the Prime Rate to a LIBOR Loan, by giving irrevocable
                  notice of such election to the Bank by 10:00 a.m. (New York
                  City time) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the
                  requested Commencement Date and, in the case of the
                  continuation of any LIBOR Loan, such continuation shall take
                  place on the last day of the applicable LIBOR Period with
                  respect to the LIBOR Loan being so continued. Each such
                  request for a LIBOR Loan, or to continue or convert shall
                  include the requested Commencement Date (which shall be a
                  Business Day), the LIBOR Period selected and the amount of the
                  LIBOR Loan to be made or continued, or into


                                       26

<PAGE>


                  which a Prime Rate Loan is to be converted (which shall be in
                  a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 and an integral
                  multiple of $500,000.00). If no Default nor Event of Default
                  has occurred and is continuing at such time, such LIBOR Loan
                  shall be made or continued, or such Prime Rate Loan shall be
                  converted, on the requested Commencement Date.

                           Any Advance as to which the Borrower does not
                  exercise the foregoing election in accordance with the
                  provisions thereof shall be a Prime Rate Loan or shall remain
                  a Prime Rate Loan if it is already a Prime Rate Loan or shall
                  become a Prime Rate Loan at the end of the applicable LIBOR
                  Period if it is a LIBOR Loan.

                           The Bank shall not incur any liability to the
                  Borrower in acting upon telephonic or facsimile notice
                  referred to above which the Bank believes to have been given
                  by a duly authorized officer or other person authorized to and
                  on behalf of the Borrower or for otherwise acting under this
                  Section.

                           (ii) DEFAULT INTEREST. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
                  interest on all Advances at all times after the occurrence of
                  an Event of Default and interest on all payments of interest
                  that are not paid when due, shall accrue at a floating rate
                  per annum equal to three percent (3.0%) in excess of the rate
                  otherwise applicable to the Advance.

                  (b) PAYMENT OF INTEREST. So long as any of the Obligations
         remain outstanding, interest on the Advances shall be due and payable,
         without notice of demand, monthly in arrears beginning on January 1,
         2001 and continuing on the first day of each and every month
         thereafter.

                  (c) CALCULATION OF INTEREST. Interest on the Advances shall be
         calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and the actual number of days
         elapsed. Any change in the interest rate applicable to Prime Rate Loans
         because of a change in the Prime Rate shall become effective
         immediately, without notice or demand, on the date any change in the
         Prime Rate occurs.

                  (d) LAWFUL INTEREST. It being the intent of the parties that
         the rate of interest and all other charges to the Borrower be lawful,
         if for any reason the payment of a portion of interest, fees or charges
         as required by this Agreement would exceed the limit established by
         applicable law which a commercial lender such as the Bank may charge to
         a commercial borrower such as the Borrower, then the obligation to pay
         interest or charges shall automatically be reduced to such limit and,
         if any amounts in excess of such limits shall have been paid, then such
         amounts shall be applied to the unpaid principal amount of the
         Obligations or refunded so that under no circumstances shall interest
         or charges required hereunder exceed the maximum


                                       27

<PAGE>


         rate allowed by law, as aforesaid.

                  (e) LATE PAYMENT. If any amount hereunder or under the Note is
         not paid within five (5) days after the date it is due and payable,
         without in any way affecting the Bank's right to declare an Event of
         Default to have occurred, a late charge equal to five (5%) percent of
         such late payment shall be assessed against the Borrower for each month
         that said amount shall be immediately due and payable without demand or
         notice of any kind.

                  Section 3.2 SPECIAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING LIBOR LOANS -
         INCREASED COSTS.


                  (a) In the event that on any LIBOR Interest Determination
         Date, the Bank shall have determined (which determination shall be
         final, conclusive and binding) that:

                           (1) by reason of conditions in the London interbank
         market or of conditions affecting the position of the Bank in such
         market occurring after the date hereof, adequate fair means do not
         exist for establishing LIBOR, or

                           (2) by reason of (i) any applicable law or
         governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order (or any written
         interpretation thereof and including any new law or governmental rule,
         regulation, guideline or order or (ii) other circumstances affecting
         the Bank or the London interbank market or the position of the Bank in
         such market (such as, but not limited to, official reserve
         requirements), LIBOR does not represent the effective pricing to the
         Bank for U.S. dollar deposits of comparable amounts for the relevant
         period due to such increased costs then, the Bank shall give a notice
         by telephone, confirmed in writing, to the Borrower of such
         determination.

                  (b) Thereafter, the Borrower shall pay to the Bank upon
         written request therefor, such additional amounts as the Bank shall
         reasonably determine are required to compensate the Bank for such
         increased costs. A certificate as to such additional amounts submitted
         to the Borrower by the Bank shall, absent manifest error, be final,
         conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto.

                  (c) In lieu of paying such additional amounts as required by
         this Section 3.2, the Borrower may withdraw any request made pursuant
         to Section 3.1 hereof.


                                       28

<PAGE>



                  Section 3.3 REQUIRED TERMINATION AND REPAYMENT OF LIBOR LOANS.


                  (a) In the event the Bank shall have determined, at any time
         (which determination shall be final, conclusive and binding), that the
         making or continuation of any or all of the LIBOR Loans by the Bank:

                           (1) has become unlawful by compliance by the Bank in
                  good faith with any applicable law, governmental rule,
                  regulation, guideline or order, or

                           (2) would cause the Bank severe hardship as a result
                  of a contingency occurring after the date of this Agreement
                  which materially and adversely affects the London interbank
                  market (such as, but not limited to disruptions resulting from
                  political or economic events);

                  then, and in either such event, the Bank shall on such date
                  (and in any event as soon as possible after making such
                  determination) give telephonic notice to the Borrower,
                  confirmed in writing, of such determination, identifying which
                  of the LIBOR Loans are so affected.

                  (b) the Borrower shall, upon the termination of the then
         current LIBOR Period applicable to each LIBOR Loan so affected or, if
         earlier, when required by law, either (1) repay each such affected
         LIBOR Loan, together with all interest accrued thereon, or (2) convert
         each such affected LIBOR Loan to a Prime Rate Loan at the end of the
         current LIBOR Period and pay all interest accrued thereon.

                  (c) Upon notice of such determination being given to the
         Borrower as provided in (a) above, each pending request made pursuant
         to Section 3.1 shall be deemed withdrawn.

                  Section 3.4 FEES.

                  (a) EXIMBANK FACILITY FEE. The Borrower shall pay to Eximbank
         a commitment fee in the amount of $600,000.00 (the "Eximbank Facility
         Fee"), payable in two installments. The first installment shall be in
         the amount of $300,000 and due on the Closing Date and the second
         installment shall be in the amount of $300,000 and shall be due on the
         earlier of (i) the Termination Date and (ii) the first anniversary of
         the Closing Date; provided, however, that if the Borrower reduces the
         Facility Amount pursuant to Section 2.9 effective as of or before the
         first anniversary of the Closing Date, the amount of the second
         installment of the Eximbank Facility Fee shall be reduced by an amount
         equal to 1.0% of the amount of such Facility Amount reduction. If any
         portion of the Eximbank Facility Fee is not paid by the Borrower, the
         Bank shall have the right, but not the obligation, to pay the Eximbank


                                       29

<PAGE>



         Facility Fee on behalf of the Borrower and to treat such payment as an
         Advance hereunder.

                  (b) ARRANGEMENT FEE. The Borrower shall pay to the Bank a fee
         of $100,000 (the "Bank's Fee"). The unpaid portion of the Bank's Fee
         shall be payable on the date hereof.

                  (c) UNUSED COMMITMENT FEE. Borrower shall pay to the Bank a
         fee in arrears on the first day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower,
         which fee shall be equal to one-fourth of one percent (.25%) per annum
         of the average daily Unused Commitment Amount during the preceding
         fiscal quarter (the "Unused Commitment Fee").

                  (d) STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT FEE. In connection with the
         Bank's issuance of each Standby Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall
         pay to the Bank: (i) a nonrefundable fee at the per annum rate not to
         exceed eighty-five (85) basis points of the Available Amount of such
         Standby Letter of Credit (the "Standby Letter of Credit Fee"), payable
         quarterly commencing simultaneously with the issuance of such Standby
         Letter of Credit and each quarter thereafter, based upon the Available
         Amount of such outstanding Standby Letter of Credit at the beginning of
         each quarter, and on each renewal date thereof in the event that any
         such Standby Letter of Credit is renewed, and (ii) an additional
         $250.00 at issuance. In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay the Bank
         for its own account, upon the application therefor, the Bank's
         customary processing fee for the issuance of any Standby Letter of
         Credit, any amendment to a Standby Letter of Credit in accordance with
         the Bank's standard fee schedule, as the same may be updated from time
         to time by the Bank and provided to the Borrower. Such fees shall be
         payable in advance of the issuance of such Letter of Credit or any
         amendment thereto or as they become due with respect to administrative
         matters other than issuance or amendments of Letters of Credit.

                  (e) COLLATERAL MANAGEMENT FEE. The Borrower shall reimburse
         the Bank for the out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Bank
         in connection with audits of the Borrower's Inventory and Accounts,
         provided that the Borrower's aggregate reimbursement obligation shall
         not exceed $2,500 in any fiscal quarter ("Collateral Management Fee").

                                   ARTICLE IV.

                          FUNDING AND YIELD PROTECTION

                  Section 4.1 INCREASED COSTS. In the event that any applicable
law, treaty or regulation or directive from any government, governmental agency
or regulatory authority, or any change therein or in the interpretation or
application thereof, or compliance by any of


                                       30

<PAGE>



the Bank with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
from any central bank or government, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, shall:

                  (a) subject the Bank to any tax of any kind whatsoever (except
         taxes on the overall net income of the Bank) with respect to this
         Agreement, the Note or any of the Advances or change the basis of
         taxation of payments to the Bank of principal, interest or any other
         amount payable hereunder or thereunder (except for changes in the rate
         of tax on the overall net income of the Bank);

                  (b) impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special
         deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirements against assets held
         by, or deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances
         or loans or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of
         funds by, any office of the Bank, including (without limitation)
         pursuant to Regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal
         Reserve System; or

                  (c) in the opinion of the Bank, cause the Note, any Advance or
         this Agreement to be included in any calculations used in the
         computation of regulatory capital standards; or

                  (d) impose on the Bank any other condition;

                  and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost
         to the Bank of making, continuing and/or maintaining the Advances (or
         any part thereof) by an amount that the Bank deems to be material, or
         to reduce the amount of any payment (whether of principal, interest or
         otherwise) in respect of any of the Advances by an amount that the Bank
         deems to be material, then, in any case, the Borrower shall promptly
         pay the Bank, upon its demand, such additional amounts necessary to
         compensate the Bank for such additional costs or such reduction in
         payment. The Bank shall certify the amount of such additional costs to
         the Borrower, and such certification, absent manifest error, shall be
         deemed conclusive.

                  Section 4.2 CAPITAL ADEQUACY PROTECTION. If, after the date
hereof, the Bank shall have determined that the adoption of any applicable law,
governmental rule, regulation or order regarding capital adequacy of banks or
bank holding companies, or any change therein, or any change in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central
bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or compliance by the Bank with any request or directive regarding
capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law and whether or not
failure to comply therewith would be unlawful, so long as the Bank believes in
good faith that such has the force of law or that the failure to so comply would
be unlawful) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or
would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on any of the Bank's
capital as a consequence of the Bank's obligations


                                       31

<PAGE>


hereunder to a level below that which the Bank could have achieved but for such
adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration the Bank's policies
with respect to capital adequacy immediately before such adoption, change or
compliance and assuming that the Bank's capital was fully utilized prior to such
adoption, change or compliance) by an amount deemed by the Bank in its judgment
to be material, then, promptly upon demand, the Borrower shall immediately pay
to the Bank, from time to time as specified by the Bank, such additional amounts
as shall be sufficient to compensate the Bank for such reduced return, together
with interest on each such amount from the date of such specification by the
Bank until payment in full thereof at the highest rate of interest (other than
the default rate of interest) due on the Advances. A certificate of the Bank
setting forth the amount to be paid to the Bank shall, in the absence of
manifest error, be deemed conclusive. In determining such amount, the Bank shall
use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

                  Section 4.3 PAYMENTS - NO OFFSET, ETC. All payments by the
Borrower hereunder and under any of the other Financing Agreements shall be made
without recoupment, setoff or counterclaim and free and clear of and without
deduction for any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions,
withholdings, compulsory loans, restrictions or conditions of any nature now or
hereafter imposed or levied by any jurisdiction or any political subdivision
thereof or taxing or other authority therein unless the Borrower is compelled by
law to make such deduction or withholding. If any such obligation is imposed
upon the Borrower with respect to any amount payable by it hereunder or under
any of the other Financing Agreements, the Borrower will pay to the Bank, on the
date on which such amount is due and payable hereunder or under such other
Financing Agreement, such additional amount in Dollars as shall be necessary to
enable the Bank to receive the same net amount which the Bank would have
received on such due date had no such obligation been imposed upon the Borrower.
The Borrower will deliver promptly to the Bank certificates or other valid
vouchers for all taxes or other charges deducted from or paid with respect to
payments made by the Borrower hereunder or under such other Financing Agreement.

                  Section 4.4 SURVIVAL. The obligations and covenants of the
Borrower under this Article IV shall survive the termination of this Agreement
and payment of the Advances and the Obligations in full.

                                   ARTICLE V.

                               EXIMBANK GUARANTEE

                  Section 5.1 GENERALLY. The Borrower represents and warrants
that it is aware that the commitment of the Bank to make Export Working Capital
Advances and issue Standby Letters of Credit is made on the condition, among
others, that Eximbank guarantee ninety percent (90%) of the aggregate principal
amount of all Advances and the interest thereon at the Guaranteed Interest Rate
(as defined in the Eximbank Guarantee) and certain


                                       32

<PAGE>



costs and expenses pursuant to the Eximbank Guarantee. Borrower acknowledges
that any payment made by Eximbank pursuant to the Eximbank Guarantee shall in no
way reduce or otherwise modify or affect the Obligations.

                  Section 5.2 PRESERVATION OF EXIMBANK GUARANTEE. The Borrower
represents and warrants that it is aware that the terms and conditions of the
Eximbank Documents may require the Bank to act or not act under certain
circumstances, including without limitation, if a Defaulting Event shall occur,
in order to preserve the Bank's rights and benefits under the Eximbank
Guarantee. The Borrower represents and warrants further that it has reviewed the
Eximbank Documents and all other documents relating thereto, and is aware of the
requirements relating to the issuance and maintenance of the Eximbank Guarantee.
The Borrower acknowledges that compliance by the Bank with said requirements
will be deemed to be reasonable when taken and will not subject the Bank to any
claim or damages for being unreasonable or for so-called "lender liability"
claims. The Borrower shall not take or fail to take any action which shall
invalidate or limit the effectiveness of the Eximbank Guarantee.

                                   ARTICLE VI.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  Section 6.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. In order to induce
the Bank to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Bank to make Export
Working Capital Advances and issue Standby Letters of Credit and to make
Advances, the Borrower makes the following representations and warranties to the
Bank, which shall be deemed made as of the date hereof and of each Export
Working Capital Advance and/or issuance of each Standby Letter of Credit and
shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and each performance hereunder.
Any knowledge acquired by the Bank shall not diminish its rights to rely upon
such representations and warranties.

                  (a) GOOD STANDING AND QUALIFICATION. (i) The Borrower is a
         duly organized corporation, validly existing and in good standing under
         the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has all requisite
         corporate power and authority to own and operate its property and to
         carry on its business as presently conducted and is duly qualified to
         do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each
         jurisdiction wherein the character of the properties owned or leased by
         it therein or in which the transaction of its business therein makes
         such qualification necessary.

                  (b) CORPORATE AUTHORITY. The Borrower has full power and
         authority to enter into this Agreement and the other Financing
         Agreements, to make the borrowings contemplated herein, to execute and
         deliver the Note and the other Financing Agreements, and to incur the
         obligations provided for herein and therein, all of which have been
         duly authorized by all necessary and proper corporate action.


                                       33

<PAGE>



         No other consent or approval or the taking of any other action in
         respect of shareholders or of any public authority is required as a
         condition to the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the
         Note, the other Financing Agreements or any other instrument, document
         or agreement delivered in connection herewith or therewith.

                  (c) BINDING AGREEMENTS. This Agreement constitutes, and the
         Note and the other Financing Agreements executed and/or delivered in
         connection herewith or therewith, when issued and delivered pursuant
         hereto for value received shall constitute, the valid and legally
         binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with
         their respective terms, except as enforcement may be limited by
         principles of equity, bankruptcy, insolvency, or other laws affecting
         the enforcement of creditors' rights generally.

                  (d) LITIGATION. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 6.1(d), there
         are no actions, suits or proceedings pending against the Borrower
         before any court or administrative agency, nor are any actions, suits
         or proceedings threatened, which, either in any case or in the
         aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the financial
         condition, assets or operations of the Borrower, nor are there any such
         actions, suits or proceedings which question the validity of this
         Agreement, the Note, any of the other Financing Agreements, or any
         action to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated
         hereby or thereby.

                  (e) NO CONFLICTING LAW OR AGREEMENTS. The execution, delivery
         and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the Note and the
         other Financing Agreements: (i) do not violate any provision of the
         Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Borrower, (ii) do not
         violate any order, decree or judgment, or any provision of any statute,
         rule or regulation, (iii) do not violate or conflict with, result in a
         breach of or constitute (with notice or lapse of time, or both) a
         default under any shareholder agreement, stock preference agreement,
         mortgage, indenture or other contract or undertaking to which the
         Borrower is a party, or by which any of its properties is bound, and
         (iv) do not result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
         encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any property or assets of the
         Borrower, except for the liens granted hereunder to the Bank.

                  (f) TAXES. With respect to all taxable periods of the
         Borrower, the Borrower has filed all tax returns which are required to
         be filed and all federal, state, municipal, franchise and other taxes
         shown on such filed returns have been paid.

                  (g) FINANCIAL INFORMATION. All written data, reports and
         information which the Borrower has heretofore delivered or caused to be
         so delivered to the Bank and/or to Eximbank in connection with this
         Agreement and the Eximbank Documents are complete and correct in all
         material respects, contain no material omission or


                                       34

<PAGE>


         misstatement and fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower
         as of the dates and for the periods referred to and have been prepared
         in accordance with GAAP consistently applied by the Borrower throughout
         the periods involved. All financial and other information including,
         but not limited to, information relating to the Export Accounts and
         Export Inventory, submitted by the Borrower to the Bank, whether
         previously or in the future, is and will be true and correct in all
         material respects, and is and will be complete insofar as may be
         necessary to give the Bank a true and accurate knowledge of the subject
         matter.

                  (h) ADVERSE DEVELOPMENTS. Since the date of the most recent
         financial statements of the Borrower delivered to the Bank, there have
         not occurred any events that, singularly or in the aggregate, have had
         a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (i) EXISTENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS. Set forth on SCHEDULE 6.1(i) is
         a complete and accurate list of all existing material indebtedness of
         the Borrower (not including debt incurred in the ordinary course of
         business as accounts payable) to any person or entity, including
         without limitation, all indebtedness owing to any officer, director,
         shareholder and/or employee of the Borrower, showing as of the date
         hereof the principal amount outstanding thereunder.

                  (j) NO AFFILIATION. No Buyer is, or will be, a parent,
         subsidiary or affiliate of, or otherwise related to, the Borrower.

                  (k) NON-MILITARY USE. None of the Export Inventory is destined
         for military use.

                  (l) COMPLIANCE. The Borrower is not in default with respect to
         any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or of any federal,
         state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board,
         bureau, agency, authority or official; is not in violation of any law,
         statute, rule or regulation to which it or its properties is or are
         subject and has not received notice of any such default from any party;
         and is not in default in the payment or performance of any of its
         obligations to any third parties or in the performance of any mortgage,
         indenture, lease, contract or other agreement to which it is a party or
         by which any of its assets or properties are bound.

                  (m) NO DEFAULTING EVENT. No Defaulting Event has occurred
         and/or is continuing.

                  (n) OFFICE. The chief executive office and principal place of
         business of the Borrower, and the office where its books and records
         concerning Collateral are kept, is as set forth in the first paragraph
         of this Agreement.


                                       35

<PAGE>



                  (o) PLACES OF BUSINESS. The Borrower has no other places of
         business and locates no Collateral, specifically including books and
         records, at any location other than as set forth in the first paragraph
         of this Agreement, or as set forth on SCHEDULE 6.1(o).

                  (p) LICENSES. The Borrower has all licenses, permits and other
         permissions required by any government, agency or subdivision thereof,
         or from any licensing entity necessary for the conduct of its business,
         all of which the Borrower represents to be in good standing and in full
         force and effect.

                  (q) COLLATERAL. The Borrower is and shall continue to be the
         legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral free and clear of all
         liens, encumbrances, security interests and claims, except for the
         liens granted to the Bank, and those set forth on SCHEDULE 6.1(q); the
         Borrower is fully authorized to sell, transfer, pledge and/or grant a
         security interest in each and every item of the Collateral to the Bank;
         all Documents and agreements related to the Collateral shall be true
         and correct and in all respects what they purport to be; all signatures
         and endorsements that appear thereon shall be genuine and all
         signatories and endorser shall have full capacity to contract; none of
         the transactions underlying or giving rise to the Collateral shall
         violate any applicable state or federal laws or regulations; all
         Documents relating to the Collateral shall be legally sufficient under
         such laws or regulations and shall be legally enforceable in accordance
         with their terms; this Agreement creates a valid and perfected first
         priority security interest in the Collateral, subject only to the prior
         liens set forth on SCHEDULE 6.1(q), securing the payment of the
         Obligations, and all filings and other actions necessary or desirable
         to perfect and protect such security interests have been or will be
         duly taken; and the Borrower agrees to defend the Collateral against
         the claims of all persons other than the Bank, and those persons whose
         security interests are prior to the Bank, as set forth on Schedule
         6.1(q).

                  (r) EXPORT ACCOUNTS. Each Export Account, at the time it comes
         into existence, will be a true and correct statement of: (i) the bona
         fide indebtedness of the Buyer named thereon; and (ii) the amount of
         the Export Account for such Export Inventory sold and delivered to, or
         for services performed for and accepted by, such Buyer, net of any
         charges, adjustments, discounts or other reductions whatsoever.

                  (s) PARENT, AFFILIATE OR SUBSIDIARY CORPORATIONS. The Borrower
         has no parent corporation and no subsidiaries, except as set forth on
         SCHEDULE 6.1(s) and such subsidiaries have no assets except as set
         forth on SCHEDULE 6.1(s).


                  (t) TRADENAMES. The Borrower does not use any tradenames,
         except as set forth on SCHEDULE 6.1(t).

                  (u) ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.



                                       36

<PAGE>



                           (i) The Borrower has obtained all permits, licenses
                  and other authorizations which are required under all
                  Environmental Laws. The Borrower is in compliance with the
                  terms and conditions of all such permits, licenses and
                  authorizations, and is also in compliance with all other
                  limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards,
                  prohibitions, requirements, obligations, schedules and
                  timetables contained in any applicable Environmental Law or in
                  any regulation, code, plan, order, decree, judgment,
                  injunction, notice or demand letter issued, entered,
                  promulgated or approved thereunder.

                           (ii) No notice, notification, demand, request for
                  information, citation, summons or order has been issued, no
                  complaint has been filed, no penalty has been assessed and no
                  investigation or review is pending or threatened by any
                  governmental or other entity with respect to any alleged
                  failure by the Borrower to have any permit, license or
                  authorization required in connection with the conduct of its
                  business or with respect to any Environmental Laws, including
                  without limitation, Environmental Laws relating to the
                  generation, treatment, storage, recycling, transportation,
                  disposal or release of any Hazardous Materials.

                           (iii) No oral or written notification of a release of
                  a Hazardous Material has been filed by or against the Borrower
                  and no property now or previously owned, leased or used by the
                  Borrower is listed or proposed for listing on the
                  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
                  Liability Inventory of Sites or National Priorities List under
                  the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
                  Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or on any similar state or
                  federal list of sites requiring investigation or clean-up.

                           (iv) There are no liens or encumbrances arising under
                  or pursuant to any Environmental Laws on any of the property
                  or properties owned, leased or used by the Borrower and no
                  governmental actions have been taken or are in process which
                  could subject any of such properties to such liens or
                  encumbrances or, as a result of which the Borrower would be
                  required to place any notice or restriction relating to the
                  presence of Hazardous Materials at any property owned by it in
                  any deed to such property.

                           (v) Neither the Borrower nor, to the best knowledge
                  and belief of the Borrower, any previous owner, tenant,
                  occupant or user of any property owned, leased or used by the
                  Borrower has (A) engaged in or permitted any operations or
                  activities upon or any use or occupancy of such property, or
                  any portion thereof, for the purpose of or in any way
                  involving the release, discharge, refining, dumping or
                  disposal (whether legal or illegal, accidental


                                       37

<PAGE>



                  or intentional) of any Hazardous Materials on, under, or in or
                  about such property, or (B) transported or had transported any
                  Hazardous Materials to such property except to the extent such
                  Hazardous Materials are raw products commonly used in
                  day-to-day manufacturing operations of such property and, in
                  such case, in compliance with, all Environmental Laws, (C)
                  engaged in or permitted any operations or activities which
                  would allow the facility to be considered a treatment, storage
                  or disposal facility as that term is defined in 40 CFR 264 and
                  265, or (D) constructed, stored or otherwise located Hazardous
                  Materials on, under, in or about any such property except to
                  the extent commonly used in day-to-day operations of such
                  Property and, in such case, in compliance with all
                  Environmental Laws. Further, to the best knowledge and belief
                  of the Borrower, no Hazardous Materials have migrated from
                  other properties upon, about or beneath any property owned,
                  leased or used by the Borrower.

                  (v) JUDGMENTS. The Borrower has no unsatisfied judgments.

                  (w) ERISA COMPLIANCE. The Borrower and each Affiliate of
         Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
         provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
         ("ERISA"), as it may be amended from time to time. Neither a Reportable
         Event nor a Prohibited Transaction has occurred and is continuing with
         respect to any Plan; no notice of intent to terminate a Plan has been
         filed, nor has any Plan been terminated; no circumstances exist which
         constitute grounds entitling the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
         ("PBGC") to institute proceedings to terminate, or appoint a trustee to
         administer, a Plan, nor has the PBGC instituted any such proceedings;
         neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity has completely
         or partially withdrawn from a Multiemployer Plan; the Borrower and each
         Commonly Controlled Entity has met its minimum funding requirements
         under ERISA with respect to all of its Plans and the present value of
         all vested benefits under each Plan exceeds the fair market value of
         all Plan assets allocable to such benefits, as determined on the most
         recent valuation date of the Plan and in accordance with the provisions
         of ERISA; and neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity
         has incurred any liability to the PBGC under ERISA. Capitalized terms
         used in this subsection shall have the meanings ascribed thereto under
         ERISA.

                                  ARTICLE VII.

                              CONDITIONS OF LENDING

                  Section 7.1 CLOSING CONDITIONS. Subject to the terms of
Section 7.2 hereof, the obligation of the Bank to make the initial Export
Working Capital Advance or issue the initial Standby Letter of Credit under this
Agreement and the effectiveness of this Credit


                                       38

<PAGE>



Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions
precedent on or prior to November 30, 2000:

                  (a) NOTE; CONTINUING LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT. The Bank
         shall have received a duly executed Note drawn to its order in the form
         of EXHIBIT A attached hereto and, if applicable, a Continuing Letter of
         Credit Agreement in form and content satisfactory to the Bank in its
         sole discretion.

                  (b) EVIDENCE OF CORPORATE ACTION. The Bank shall have received
         certified copies of all corporate action (in form and substance
         satisfactory to the Bank) taken by the Borrower to authorize the
         execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Note and the
         other Financing Agreements, together with such other papers as the Bank
         may require.

                  (c) INITIAL BORROWING-BASE CERTIFICATE. The Bank shall have
         received an initial Borrowing Base Certificate in the form of EXHIBIT C
         attached hereto, together with the attachments thereto.

                  (d) LIEN SEARCHES. The Bank shall be in receipt of searches of
         the appropriate filing records, as the Bank reasonably may require in
         order to confirm the priority of the security interest.

                  (e) MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. The Bank shall: (a) have
         determined to its reasonable satisfaction that there has not occurred
         any Material Adverse Effect on the financial condition, business,
         operations or properties of Borrower set forth in the financial
         statements of the Borrower as of March 31, 2000; and (b) shall not have
         become aware of any facts or conditions not previously known which the
         Bank, in its reasonable discretion, shall determine could have a
         Material Adverse Effect.

                  (f) WAIVERS, WAREHOUSEMEN AND PROCESSOR'S NOTIFICATIONS AND
         ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND FREIGHT FORWARDER'S AGREEMENTS. The Borrower shall
         have caused to be executed and delivered to the Bank such landlord
         waivers, warehousemen and processor's notifications and
         acknowledgments, and freight forwarder's agreements in form and content
         reasonably satisfactory to the Bank and executed by such landlords,
         warehouseman, processors and freight forwarders as the Bank reasonably
         shall request.

                  (g) COLLATERAL AUDIT. The Bank shall have performed an audit
         of the Collateral, the results of which reasonably shall be
         satisfactory to the Bank. Borrower shall, at Borrower's sole cost and
         expense, cooperate with and assist the Bank in connection with the
         Collateral audit, including, without limitation, giving the Bank access
         to Borrower's books and records and furnishing other information and
         material reasonably requested by the Bank.


                                       39

<PAGE>



                  (h) INSURANCE. Borrower shall have caused to be delivered to
         the Bank evidence of insurance coverage indicating compliance with
         Section 8.2.

                  (i) OPINION OF COUNSEL. The Bank shall have received a
         favorable written opinion of counsel for the Borrower which shall be
         accompanied by such supporting documents as the Bank or its counsel may
         require.

                  (j) FURTHER DOCUMENTS. The Bank shall have received such
         further Documents, Instruments and agreements as the Bank may
         reasonably request, including without limitation, (x) evidence that the
         insurance policies and certificates evidencing adequate insurance and
         coverage on the Borrower's assets are currently in full force and
         effect, name the Bank as loss payee, mortgagee or additional insured,
         as the case may be, and that the premiums are current, (y) a negative
         pledge in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank with respect to
         the Borrower's General Intangibles consisting of trademarks and (z) the
         closing shall have occurred under the Domestic Credit Agreement.

                  (k) EXIMBANK SECURITY AGREEMENT AND SHARING AGREEMENT. The
         Borrower shall have (i) executed and delivered a security agreement in
         favor of the Eximbank pursuant to which the Borrower shall have granted
         the Eximbank a security interest in all of the Borrower's now owned and
         hereafter acquired patents and patent applications whether arising
         under the laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction, and (ii)
         caused to be executed and delivered an agreement whereby the Eximbank
         agrees to share the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of any
         such patents or patent applications with the Bank for application to
         payment of the Obligations, the foregoing to be in form and substance
         satisfactory to the Bank.

                  Section 7.2 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EACH EXPORT WORKING
CAPITAL ADVANCE AND ISSUANCE OF A STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT. The obligation of
the Bank to make an Export Working Capital Advance (including the initial Export
Working Capital Advance) or to issue a Standby Letter of Credit (including the
initial issuance) on the occasion of each request therefor shall be subject to
the further conditions precedent that on the Drawdown Date of such Export
Working Capital Advance or the Issuance Date of such Standby Letter of Credit
the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable
Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Issuance and the acceptance by the Borrower of
the proceeds of such Export Working Capital Advance or issuance of such Standby
Letter of Credit shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower
that both on the date of such notice and on the date of such borrowing or
issuance such statements are true):

                           (i) ABSENCE OF TERMINATION OR DEFAULTING EVENT.
                  Neither the Bank nor the Borrower shall have terminated the
                  Facility, nor shall a Defaulting Event exist or have occurred,
                  nor would a Defaulting Event exist or occur as a


                                       40

<PAGE>



                  result of such borrowing or issuance or from the application
                  of the proceeds thereof;

                           (ii) TRUTH OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All of
                  the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI
                  hereof are true and correct in all material respects on and as
                  of such date, before and after giving effect to such borrowing
                  or issuance, as though made on and as of such date other than
                  any such representations or warranties that, by their terms,
                  refer to a specific date other than the date of such borrowing
                  or issuance, in which case as of such specific date; and

                           (iii) BORROWING BASE DEFICIENCY. For the issuance of
                  each Standby Letter of Credit and the making of each Export
                  Working Capital Advance, (a) the Bank shall have received, to
                  the extent required by Section 7.5 hereof, a Borrowing Base
                  Certificate in the form attached as EXHIBIT C and no Borrowing
                  Base Deficiency (as determined by reference to such Borrowing
                  Base Certificate) exists before or after giving effect to such
                  issuance or borrowing; and (b) the Bank shall have received
                  such further Documents, Instruments and agreements, as the
                  Bank may reasonably request.

                  Section 7.3 SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT, ETC. On the date of this
Agreement neither the Borrower nor its Principals (as defined below) are (A)
debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment with a final determination still
pending, declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded (as such terms are defined
under any of the Debarment Regulations referred to below) from participating in
procurement or nonprocurement transactions with any United States federal
government department or agency pursuant to any of the Debarment Regulations (as
defined below) or (B) indicted, convicted or had a civil judgment rendered
against the Borrower or any of its Principals for any of the offenses listed in
any of the Debarment Regulations. Unless authorized by Eximbank, the Borrower
will not knowingly enter into any transactions in connection with an Export
Contract with any person who is debarred, suspended, declared ineligible or
voluntarily excluded from participation in procurement or nonprocurement
transactions with any United States federal government department or agency
pursuant to any of the Debarment Regulations. The Borrower will provide
immediate written notice to the Lender if at any time it learns that the
certification set forth in this Section 7.3 was erroneous when made or has
become erroneous by reason of changed circumstances. For the purposes hereof,
(1) "Principals" shall mean any officer, director, owner, partner, key employee,
or other person with primary management or supervisory responsibilities with
respect to the Borrower, or any other person (whether or not an employee) who
has critical influence on or substantive control over the transactions covered
by this Agreement and (2) the "Debarment Regulations" shall mean (x) the
Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) regulations (Common
Rule), 53 Fed. Reg. 19204 (May 26, 1988), (y) Subpart 9.4 (Debarment,
Suspension, and Ineligibility) of the Federal Acquisition Regulations, 48 C.F.R.
9.400-9.409 and (z) the


                                       41

<PAGE>



revised Government- wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) regulations
(Common Rule), 60 Fed. Reg. 33037 (June 26, 1995).

                  Section 7.4 SPECIAL CONDITIONS. The Borrower shall comply with
all Special Conditions referenced in Section (11) of the Loan Authorization
Agreement.

                  Section 7.5 BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS. In
conjunction with each request from the Borrower for the issuance of a Working
Capital Advance and/or the issuance of a Standby Letter of Credit, the Bank
shall have received (x) a Borrowing Base Certificate in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit C which demonstrates that, after giving effect to the requested
Working Capital Advance and/or Standby Letter of Credit issuance, no Borrowing
Base Deficiency exists and (y) such further Documents, Instruments and
agreements as the Bank may reasonably request.

                  With respect ONLY to the issuance of Standby Letters of
Credit, the Borrower may satisfy the terms of this section by submitting the
prior month end Borrowing Base Certificate, required under Section 8.1(d),
provided that the aggregate amount of Standby Letter of Credit issuances,
including the amount of the pending request, has not exceeded $500,000 since the
submission of the prior month end Borrowing Base Certificate. If the aggregate
amount of such Standby Letter of Credit issuances exceeds $500,000 since the
date of the prior month end Borrowing Base Certificate, or for ANY Working
Capital Advance requests, then the Borrower must submit an intramonth Borrowing
Base Certificate, which shall contain information that is effective as of a date
no more than one (1) Business Day prior to the date of the proposed issuance
request or borrowing request.



                                  ARTICLE VIII.

                                    COVENANTS

         A. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

                  The Borrower covenants and agrees that from the date hereof
until payment and performance in full of all Obligations, and until the
termination of this Agreement, the Borrower shall:

                  Section 8.1 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. Deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Bank (a) within ninety (90) days after the close of each fiscal
year of Borrower, consolidated financial statements including a balance sheet as
of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, shareholders' equity
and cash flow for the year then ended, prepared in conformity with GAAP, applied
on a basis consistent with that of the preceding year or containing disclosure
of the effect on financial position or results of operations of any


                                       42

<PAGE>


change in the application of accounting principles during the year, and audited
by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Borrower
and satisfactory to the Bank, (b) within ninety (90) days after the close of
each fiscal year of Borrower, Borrower's annual report on Form 10K, together
with any other filings made with the SEC; (c) within forty-five (45) days of the
end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, quarterly financial statements on
Form 10Q; (d) monthly within twenty (20) days of each month end a borrowing base
certificate in the form of EXHIBIT C attached hereto, including supporting
export accounts receivable aging (from invoice date), export inventory report,
unbilled export receivables schedule and a schedule of outstanding export
letters of credit; (e) monthly within twenty (20) days of each month end a
schedule of contracts in progress and such other supporting schedules as the
Bank may deem appropriate; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that for months ending on other
than a quarter end, the Borrower shall deliver a balance sheet with appropriate
disclaimers and notations indicating that all final accounting adjustments may
not have been made and also deliver a report on operational metrics (e.g.,
bookings, backlogs, etc.) certified by the chief financial officer of the
Borrower as being accurate and fairly presenting the financial position of the
Borrower; (f) simultaneously with the delivery of the financial statements
referred to in subsections (a) and (c) above, a statement certified by the
principal financial or accounting officer of the Borrower in substantially the
form of EXHIBIT E hereto and setting forth in reasonable detail computations
evidencing compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 8.24 through 8.27
and (if applicable) reconciliations to reflect changes in generally accepted
accounting principles since the end of the last year of the Borrower, (g)
promptly upon the Bank's written request, such other information about the
financial condition and operations of the Borrower as the Bank may, from time to
time, reasonably request; and (i) promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence
of any Defaulting Event, written notice of such occurrence signed by the chief
financial officer of the Borrower describing such occurrence and the steps, if
any, being taken to cure the Defaulting Event.

                  Section 8.2 INSURANCE AND ENDORSEMENTS. Keep its properties
insured against fire and other hazards (so-called "All Risk" coverage), as well
as shipping insurance, when applicable, and inland transit insurance covering
goods in transit or at port of shipment, in amounts and with companies
satisfactory to the Bank to the same extent and covering such risks as is
customary in the same or a similar business; maintain public liability coverage,
including without limitation, products liability coverage, against claims for
personal injuries or death; and maintain all worker's compensation, employment
or similar insurance as may be required by applicable law; (b) All insurance
shall contain such terms, be in such form, and be for such periods reasonably
satisfactory to the Bank, and be written by such carriers duly licensed by the
appropriate states where any Collateral is located and reasonably satisfactory
to the Bank. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, domestic and
maritime insurance must provide that it may not be canceled without ten (10)
days' prior written notice to the Bank. The Borrower shall cause the Bank, to be
endorsed as a loss payee with a long form Lender's Loss Payable Clause, in form
and substance acceptable to the Bank, on all such insurance. In the event of
failure to provide and maintain insurance as


                                       43

<PAGE>


herein provided, the Bank may, at its option (but shall not be obligated to),
provide such insurance and charge the amount thereof to the Loan Account. The
Borrower shall furnish to the Bank certificates or other satisfactory evidence
of compliance with the foregoing insurance provisions. The Borrower hereby
irrevocably appoints the Bank, as its attorney- in-fact, coupled with an
interest, to make proofs of loss and claims for insurance, and to receive
payments of the insurance and execute and endorse all Documents, checks and
drafts in connection with payment of the insurance. Any Proceeds received by the
Bank shall be applied to the Obligations, or paid over to the Borrower for
repair and replacement of the Collateral as the Bank shall determine in its
reasonable discretion.

                  Section 8.3 TAX AND OTHER LIENS. Comply with all statutes and
government regulations and pay all taxes, assessments, governmental charges or
levies, or claims for labor, supplies, rent and other obligations made against
it or its property which, if unpaid, might become a lien or charge against the
Borrower or its properties, except liabilities being contested in good faith and
against which, if requested by the Bank, the Borrower shall set up reserves in
amounts and in form satisfactory to the Bank.

                  Section 8.4 TERMS OF SALE. Require that all sales of Export
Inventory be in accordance with the terms of the Loan Authorization Agreement,
including, without limitation, paragraph 7 thereof.

                  Section 8.5 COMPLIANCE WITH EXPORT L/Cs; DELIVER EXPORT L/Cs
TO BANK.

                  (a) Comply in all respects with the requirements for drawing
         under each Export L/C;

                  (b) Deliver all original freely negotiable Export L/Cs to the
         Bank on the Closing Date (or, as to any freely negotiable Export L/Cs
         that have not yet been issued as of the Closing Date, immediately at
         the time that they are received by the Borrower); PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
         that so long as there is no Event of Default hereunder, the Bank will
         temporarily return the original Export L/Cs if requested by the
         Borrower by making such Export L/C available to the Borrower at the
         Bank's address specified above or at such other address designated by
         the Bank, for the purpose of obtaining or processing a draw under the
         Export L/Cs; PROVIDED, FURTHER THAT the Borrower shall either obtain
         payment thereon or return the subject Export L/C to the Bank within 21
         days of its receipt thereof.

                  (c) Deliver to the Bank, as soon as the conditions for drawing
         on any Export L/C can be satisfied, all certificates, drafts and other
         documents (collectively, "Draw Documents") that are required in order
         for such Export L/Cs to be drawn upon, and in order for the issuers of
         such Export L/Cs to pay the proceeds of such drawings to the Bank, for
         deposit by the Bank into the Cash Collateral Account (or for such other
         payment or allocation by the Bank as may be required by the Borrower


                                       44

<PAGE>



         Agreement, by any Eximbank Document or by any applicable regulation or
         requirement of Eximbank) (which Draw Documents shall be reviewed for
         discrepancies by the Bank within three (3) Business Days of receipt
         thereof and shall be presented for payment within seven (7) Business
         Days of the resolution of any discrepancies). If any Export L/C is
         freely negotiable, all Draw Documents shall be presented to and flow
         through the Bank. If any Export L/C is not freely negotiable, then all
         Draw Documents must flow through the Bank, who will in turn forward the
         Draw Documents to the negotiating bank for collection. It is agreed and
         understood that in the event that any amendments are required to any
         Export L/Cs in order for the proceeds of the Export L/Cs to be paid to
         the Bank, any fees charged in connection with any such amendments shall
         be borne by the Bank.

                  Section 8.6 PAYMENT IN DOLLARS. Require that all payments made
for any and all Export Inventory be made in Dollars, unless Eximbank otherwise
agrees in writing.

                  Section 8.7 PLACE OF BUSINESS. Maintain its principal place of
business and chief executive offices at the address set forth in the first
paragraph of this Agreement, unless the Borrower shall have given the Bank
thirty (30) days' prior written notice of any change in such places of business.

                  Section 8.8 INSPECTIONS. Allow the Bank, by or through any of
their officers, attorneys, and/or accountants designated by it, for the purpose
of ascertaining whether or not each and every provision hereof and of any
related agreement, instrument and document is being performed, including,
without limitation the provisions of Section 8.13, to enter the offices and
plants of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours to examine or
inspect any of its properties, books and records or extracts therefrom, to make
copies of such books and records or extracts therefrom, and cause its officers
and employees to give full cooperation and assistance to the Bank in connection
therewith.

                  Section 8.9 LITIGATION. Promptly advise the Bank of the
commencement or threat of any litigation, including arbitration proceedings and
any proceedings before any governmental agency, which is instituted against the
Borrower and is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  Section 8.10 ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL. Within two (2) Business
Days after the Borrower becomes aware of the existence of a Borrowing Base
Deficiency, furnish additional cash collateral to the Bank, pursuant to the Cash
Collateral Account Agreement.

                  Section 8.11 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTENCE AND COMPLIANCE. Maintain
its corporate existence and comply with all valid and applicable statutes, rules
and regulations, and maintain its properties in good repair, working order and
operating condition.


                                       45

<PAGE>

                  Section 8.12 EXPORT INVENTORY. Segregate and keep the Export
Inventory separate and apart at all times from the Borrower's other Inventory
and assets, mark or tag the Export Inventory so that it is otherwise easily
identifiable, or identify the Export Inventory in a written ledger.

                  Section 8.13 COMPLIANCE WITH BORROWER AGREEMENT. Perform and
observe all of its obligations under the Borrower Agreement, a copy of which is
attached hereto as EXHIBIT D and the terms of which are incorporated herein by
reference. In the event and to the extent that the provisions of the Borrower
Agreement shall conflict with this Agreement, the provisions of the Borrower
Agreement shall govern, but only in the event such provisions are more
restrictive upon the Borrower than those of this Agreement. If the Borrower can
comply with the provisions of both this Agreement and the Borrower Agreement as
to any provision hereof and thereof, the Borrower shall do so.

                  Section 8.14 NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS. Give written notice to
the Bank within five (5) Business Days of the occurrence of any of the following
(except that in the case of subsection (k) below, such written notice to the
Bank shall be given immediately):

                  (a) the Borrower's commencement of or consent in any manner to
         any proceeding or arrangement for its liquidation in whole or in part
         or of or to any other proceeding or arrangement whereby any of its
         assets are subject generally to the payment of its liabilities or
         whereby any receiver, trustee, liquidator or the like is appointed for
         it or any substantial part of its assets (including without limitation,
         the filing by the Borrower of a petition for appointment as a
         debtor-in-possession under Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy
         Code);

                  (b) the Borrower's failure to obtain a dismissal or
         termination within thirty (30) calendar days of the commencement of any
         proceeding or arrangement referred to in subsection (a) above;

                  (c) the Borrower's commencement of any other proceeding or
         procedure for the relief of financially distressed or insolvent
         debtors, or such proceeding or procedure having been commenced against
         it, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, and such procedure has not
         been effectively terminated or dismissed within thirty (30) calendar
         days after the commencement thereof;

                  (d) the Borrower's commencement of any procedure for its
         dissolution, or a procedure therefore having been commenced against it;

                  (e) if (but without in any way constituting the Bank's
         acquiescence to the same): (i) the Borrower changes its name or
         identity in any manner, or (ii) the nature of any of the Collateral is
         changed or any of the Collateral or books and records of the


                                       46

<PAGE>


         Borrower is transferred to a location other than as set forth in the
         first paragraph of this Agreement (except for any Inventory in transit
         to the buyer thereof);

                  (f) any event causing material loss or depreciation in value
         of the Export Inventory and the amount of such loss or depreciation;

                  (g) any circumstance or event by virtue of which or in
         connection with which the Borrower has incurred or may incur any
         liability, expense or responsibility under any Environmental Law
         including without limitation: (i) any and all written communications
         with respect to claims or suits under any applicable Environmental Laws
         or any release of Hazardous Materials required to be reported to any
         federal, state or local governmental authority, instrumentality or
         agency under any applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) any remedial
         action taken by the Borrower or any other person in response to (A) any
         Hazardous Materials on, under or about the properties or assets of the
         Borrower, the existence of which may give rise to a claim or suit
         resulting in a material change of the Borrower's business operations or
         financial condition, or (B) any claim or suit resulting in a material
         change of the Borrower's business operations or financial condition;
         (iii) the Borrower's discovery of any occurrence or condition on any
         real property adjoining or in the vicinity of the Borrower's business
         premises which may cause such premises to be in violation of the
         Environmental Laws or to be subject to any restrictions on the
         ownership, occupancy, transferability or use thereof under any
         Environmental Laws; and (iv) any request for information from any
         federal, state or local governmental authority, instrumentality or
         agency that indicates such entity is investigating the Borrower's
         potential responsibility for a release of Hazardous Materials;

                  (h) any other matter which has resulted or is reasonably
         likely to result in a material adverse change in the financial
         condition or operations of the Borrower;

                  (i) any information received by the Borrower with respect to
         Export Accounts that may materially affect the value thereof or the
         rights and remedies of the Bank with respect thereto; and

                  (j) any action, suit or claim pending or which could be
         reasonably expected to be asserted against the Borrower, before any
         court or administrative agency.

                  Section 8.15 COLLATERAL DUTIES. Do whatever the Bank
reasonably may request from time to time by way of obtaining, executing,
delivering and filing financing statements, assignments, waivers, agreements and
other notices and amendments and renewals thereof, and the Borrower will take
any and all steps and observe such formalities as the Bank may request, in order
to create and maintain for the Bank a valid and enforceable first lien upon,
pledge of, and first priority security interest in, any and all of the
Collateral.


                                       47

<PAGE>



The Bank is authorized to file financing statements without the signature of the
Borrower and to execute and file such financing statements on behalf of the
Borrower as specified by the UCC and/or the Uniform Commercial Code of any other
State to perfect or maintain its security interest in all of the Collateral. All
reasonable charges, expenses and fees the Bank may incur in filing any of the
foregoing, together with reasonable costs and expenses of any lien search
required by the Bank, and any taxes relating thereto, shall be charged to the
Loan Account and added to the Obligations, all of which shall be payable on
demand.

         B. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         The Borrower covenants and agrees that from the date hereof until
payment and performance in full of all Obligations, and until the termination of
this Agreement, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to:

                  Section 8.16 ENCUMBRANCES. (a) Create or incur or suffer to be
created or incurred or to exist any lien, encumbrance, mortgage, pledge, charge,
restriction or other security interest of any kind upon any of its property or
assets of any character whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or upon the
income or profits therefrom; (b) transfer any of such property or assets or the
income or profits therefrom for the purpose of subjecting the same to the
payment of Indebtedness or performance of any other obligation in priority to
payment of its general creditors; (c) acquire, or agree or have an option to
acquire, any property or assets upon conditional sale or other title retention
or purchase money security agreement, device or arrangement; (d) suffer to exist
for a period of more than thirty (30) days after the same shall have been
incurred any Indebtedness or claim or demand against it that if unpaid might by
law or upon bankruptcy or insolvency, or otherwise, be given any priority
whatsoever over its general creditors; or (e) sell, assign, pledge or otherwise
transfer any accounts, contract rights, general intangibles, chattel paper or
instruments, with or without recourse; PROVIDED that the Borrower may create or
incur or suffer to be created or incurred or to exist:

                           (i) liens to secure taxes, assessments and other
                  government charges in respect of obligations not overdue or
                  liens on properties to secure claims for labor, material or
                  supplies in respect of obligations not overdue, or which are
                  being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
                  diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate
                  reserves are being maintained in accordance with generally
                  accepted accounting principles so long as such liens are not
                  being foreclosed;

                           (ii) deposits or pledges made in connection with, or
                  to secure payment of, workmen's compensation, unemployment
                  insurance, old age pensions or other social security
                  obligations;


                                       48

<PAGE>



                           (iii) liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and
                  materialmen, and other like liens on properties in existence
                  less than 90 days from the date of creation thereof in respect
                  of obligations not overdue or which are being contested in
                  good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and
                  with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained
                  in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles so
                  long as such liens are not being foreclosed;

                           (iv) encumbrances on real estate consisting of
                  easements, rights of way, zoning restrictions, restrictions on
                  the use of real property and defects and irregularities in the
                  title thereto, landlord's liens or lessor's liens under leases
                  to which the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower is a
                  party, and other similar minor liens or encumbrances none of
                  which interferes materially with the use of the property
                  affected in the ordinary conduct of the business of the
                  Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which defects do not
                  individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse
                  Effect;

                           (v) liens existing on September 28, 2000 and listed
                  and described on SCHEDULE 6.1(q) hereto;


                           (vi) liens in favor of the Bank under the Financing
                  Agreements; and

                           (vii) liens in favor of the Eximbank with respect to
                  Borrower's patents and patent applications as more fully
                  described in Section 7.1(k) hereof.

                  Section 8.17 LIMITATION ON INDEBTEDNESS. Create, incur,
assume, guarantee or be or remain liable, contingently or otherwise, with
respect to any Indebtedness other than:

                  (a) Indebtedness to the Bank arising under any of the
         Financing Agreements;

                  (b) current liabilities of the Borrower or such Subsidiary
         incurred in the ordinary course of business not incurred through (i)
         the borrowing of money, or (ii) the obtaining of credit except for
         credit on an open account basis customarily extended and in fact
         extended in connection with normal purchases of goods and services;

                  (c) Indebtedness in respect of taxes, assessments,
         governmental charges or levies and claims for labor, materials and
         supplies to the extent that payment therefor shall not at the time be
         required to be made in accordance with the provisions of this
         Agreement;


                                       49

<PAGE>



                  (d) Indebtedness in respect of judgments or awards that have
         been in force for less than the applicable period for taking an appeal
         so long as execution is not levied thereunder or in respect of which
         the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall at the time in good faith be
         prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review and in respect of which
         a stay of execution shall have been obtained pending such appeal or
         review;

                  (e) endorsements of checks and similar negotiable instruments
         for collection, deposit or negotiation, and warranties of products or
         services, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

                  (f) Indebtedness existing on September 28, 2000 and listed and
         described on SCHEDULE 8.17(f) hereto, and Indebtedness extending the
         maturity of, or refunding or refinancing, in whole or in part, any such
         Indebtedness, PROVIDED that the terms of any such extending, refunding
         or refinancing Indebtedness, and of any agreement or instrument
         relating thereto, are otherwise permitted by the Financing Agreements
         and FURTHER PROVIDED that the principal amount of such Indebtedness
         shall not be increased above the amount of such Indebtedness
         immediately prior to the extension, refunding or refinancing, and the
         direct (and any contingent) obligors therefor and any collateral
         security in respect thereof shall not be changed (or increased), (but
         any lien or encumbrance on such collateral may be released or
         discharged) as a result of or in connection with such extension,
         refunding, or refinancing.

                  Section 8.18 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES. Assume, guarantee,
endorse or otherwise become liable upon the obligations of any person, firm
corporation, or enter into any purchase or option agreement or other arrangement
having substantially the same effect as such a guarantee, except by the
endorsement of negotiable Instruments for deposit or collection or similar
transactions in the ordinary course of business and except for indemnity
obligations in respect of surety bonds issued to any governmental agency under
the General Agreement of Indemnity executed on September 21, 1998 between the
Borrower and the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies.

                  Section 8.19 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR CORPORATE CHANGES.
Become a party to any merger or consolidation, or agree to or effect any asset
acquisition or stock acquisition (other than the acquisition of assets in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practices) except (a) the
merger or consolidation of one or more of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower with
and into the Borrower, and (b) the merger or consolidation of a Subsidiary with
one or more other Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

                  Section 8.20 INVESTMENTS. Make or permit to exist or to remain
         outstanding any Investment except Investments:


                                       50

<PAGE>



                  (a) in readily marketable direct or guaranteed obligations of
         the United States of America that mature within one (1) year from the
         date of purchase by such Person;

                  (b) in demand deposits, certificates of deposit, bankers
         acceptances and time deposits of United States banks having in each
         case total capital and surplus in excess of $1,000,000,000;

                  (c) in securities commonly known as "commercial paper" issued
         by a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United
         States of America or any state thereof that at the time of purchase
         have been rated and the ratings for which are not less than "P 1" if
         rated by Moody's, and not less than "A 1" if rated by Standard &
         Poor's;

                  (d) constituting trade credit extended pursuant to customer
         accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business;

                  (e) customary prepaid expenses in the ordinary course of
         business;

                  (f) acceptance and endorsements of checks or other negotiable
         instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of
         business; and

                  (g) consisting of loans or advances made in the ordinary
         course of business to officers, directors or employees of the Borrower
         or any of the Subsidiaries for travel, transportation, entertainment,
         and moving and other relocation expenses.

                  Section 8.21 ACQUISITION AND ISSUANCE OF STOCK OF THE
BORROWER; DIVIDENDS. Purchase, acquire, redeem or retire, or make any commitment
or payment to purchase, acquire, redeem or retire any of the capital stock of
the Borrower or any option, warrant or other right to acquire such stock,
whether now or hereafter outstanding, or declare or pay or set apart for the
payment of any dividend (other than dividends payable in shares of the
Borrower's stock), or make any other distribution (other than in shares of the
Borrower's stock issued to employees pursuant to the exercise of stock options
and/or normal bonus compensation) to any of its shareholders.

                  Section 8.22 PROHIBITED TRANSFERS. Transfer, in any manner,
either directly or indirectly, any cash, property, or other assets to any parent
or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, other than sales made in the ordinary
course of business and for fair consideration on terms no less favorable than if
such sale had been an arms-length transaction between the Borrower or such
Subsidiary or Affiliate and an unaffiliated entity; or (ii) shares of the
Borrower's stock.


                                       51

<PAGE>



                  Section 8.23 LOANS. Make any loans or non-salary advances or
make any transfers, in any manner, of any cash, property or other assets to or
on behalf of any Person, except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 8.23. In no event shall
the proceeds of any Export Working Capital Advance be transferred by the
Borrower to any Subsidiary or Affiliate or used by the Borrower to make any
loans or other advances to any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

                  C. FINANCIAL COVENANTS

                  The Borrower covenants and agrees that from the date hereof
until payment and performance in full of all Obligations, and until the
termination of this Agreement, the Borrower shall:

                  Section 8.24 TANGIBLE NET WORTH. Have a Tangible Net Worth of
not less than: (a) $21,400,000.00 from the date hereof through and including
March 30, 2001; (b) $22,400,000.00 from March 31, 2001 through and including
March 30, 2002; and (c) $23,400,000.00 from March 31, 2002 and at all times
thereafter, in each case to be tested at the end of every fiscal quarter.

                  Section 8.25 CURRENT RATIO. Have a ratio of Current Assets to
Current Liabilities of not less than 1.50 to 1.00 at the end of any fiscal
quarter.

                  Section 8.26 SENIOR DEBT TO TANGIBLE NET WORTH. Not permit its
Senior Debt to Tangible Net Worth Ratio to be greater than 1.50 to 1 at the end
of any fiscal quarter.

                  Section 8.27 CASH FLOW COVERAGE RATIO. Not permit its Cash
Flow Coverage Ratio to be less than: (a) 0.65 to 1 for the quarter ending
September 30, 2000; (b) 0.80 to 1 for the quarter ending December 31, 2000; and
(c) 1.0 to 1 for the quarter ending March 31, 2001 and at all times thereafter,
tested quarterly at the end of each fiscal quarter on a rolling four-quarter
basis.

                                   ARTICLE IX.

                                   COLLATERAL

                  Section 9.1 GRANT. To secure the prompt payment and
performance of each and all of the Obligations, the Borrower pledges, assigns
(including the assignment of proceeds of Letters of Credit), transfers and
grants to the Bank a continuing security interest in all the assets of the
Borrower set forth in SCHEDULE 9.1 and all Proceeds thereof (hereinafter,
collectively called the "Collateral").

                  Section 9.2 CONTINUOUS SECURITY INTEREST. The Borrower
expressly acknowledges that the security interest granted hereunder shall remain
as security for payment and performance of the Obligations, whether now existing
or which may hereafter


                                       52

<PAGE>



be incurred, or otherwise. The notice of the continuing grant of this security
interest therefore shall not be required to be stated on the face of any
document representing any such Obligations, nor otherwise identify it as being
secured hereby.

                  Section 9.3 PRIORITY IN PROCEEDS OF COLLATERAL. The Borrower
acknowledges and agrees that solely as between the Bank and Eximbank, and as
more particularly set forth in and subject to the terms of the Eximbank
Documents, the Proceeds from any foreclosure, sale, liquidation or other
disposition of, or realization upon, the Collateral shall be applied in the
following order of priority: (a) with respect to the Proceeds of Collateral
consisting of the Export-Related Collateral (i) first, for application to the
Export Facility Obligations, and (ii) second, for application to the Domestic
Facility Obligations, and (b) with respect to the Proceeds of all Collateral
other than the Export-Related Collateral, (i) first, for application to the
Domestic Facility Obligations, and (ii) second, for application to the Export
Facility Obligations.

                                   ARTICLE X.

                         EVENTS OF DEFAULT, ACCELERATION

                  Section 10.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT, ACCELERATION. If any one or
more of the following events (herein called "Events of Default" and
individually, an "Event of Default") shall occur:

                  (a) failure of the Borrower to pay principal, interest or any
         other sum due hereunder or under the Note when due and payable;

                  (b) failure of the Borrower to pay when due and payable any
         amount (whether principal, interest or any other sum) to the Bank under
         any loan not guaranteed by Eximbank that has been extended by any Bank
         to the Borrower;

                  (c) the existence of a Borrowing Base Deficiency for more than
         two Business Days;

                  (d) failure of the Borrower to fully comply with the
         provisions of Section 8.5, Article VIII (B) or Article VIII (C) hereof,
         as and when provided therein;

                  (e) any representation or warranty of the Borrower in this
         Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or in any other
         document or instrument delivered pursuant to or in connection with this
         Agreement shall have been false in any material respect upon the date
         when made or deemed to have been made or repeated;


                                       53

<PAGE>


                  (f) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay
         when due, or within any applicable period of grace, any obligation for
         borrowed money or credit received, or in respect of any Capitalized
         Leases, in an amount in excess of $300,000; or fail to observe or
         perform any material term, covenant or agreement contained in any
         agreement by which it is bound, evidencing or securing borrowed money
         or credit received, or in respect of any Capitalized Leases, in an
         amount in excess of $300,000, for such period of time as would permit
         (assuming the giving of appropriate notice if required) the holder or
         holders thereof or of any obligations issued thereunder to accelerate
         the maturity thereof;

                  (g) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall make an
         assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admit in writing its
         inability to pay or generally fail to pay its debts as they mature or
         become due, or shall petition or apply for the appointment of a trustee
         or other custodian, liquidator or receiver for the Borrower or any of
         its Subsidiaries or of any substantial part of the assets of any of
         them or shall commence any case or other proceeding relating to any of
         them under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency,
         readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law of any
         jurisdiction, now or hereafter in effect, or shall take any action to
         authorize or in furtherance of any of the foregoing; or if any such
         petition or application shall be filed or any such case or other
         proceeding shall be commenced against any of such entities and it
         indicates its approval thereof, consents thereto or acquiesces therein
         or such petition or application shall not have been dismissed within
         thirty (30) days following the filing thereof;

                  (h) a decree or order is entered appointing any such trustee,
         custodian, liquidator or receiver or adjudicating any of the Borrower
         or any of its Subsidiaries bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a
         petition in any such case or other proceeding, or a decree or order for
         relief is entered in respect of any of them in an involuntary case
         under federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter constituted;

                  (i) there shall be commenced against the Borrower any lawsuit
         or proceeding that could reasonably be expected to have a Material
         Adverse Effect on the Borrower and is not dismissed within thirty (30)
         days; or there shall remain in force, undischarged, unsatisfied,
         unappealed and unstayed, for more than thirty (30) days, whether or not
         consecutive, any final judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction
         over the Borrower or any Subsidiary against any of the Borrower and the
         Subsidiaries;

                  (j) if any of the Financing Agreements shall be cancelled,
         terminated, revoked or rescinded or the Bank's security interests, in
         any of the Collateral shall cease to be perfected, or shall cease to
         have the priority contemplated hereby, in each case otherwise than in
         accordance with the terms thereof and without the Bank's prior written
         consent, or any action at law, suit or in equity or other legal
         proceeding to


                                       54

<PAGE>


         cancel, revoke or rescind any of the Financing Agreements shall be
         commenced by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
         party thereto or any of their respective stockholders, or any court or
         any other governmental or regulatory authority or agency of competent
         jurisdiction shall make a determination that, or issue a judgment,
         order, decree or ruling to the effect that, any one or more of the
         Financing Agreements is illegal, invalid or unenforceable in accordance
         with the terms thereof;

                  (k) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be enjoined,
         restrained or in any way prevented by the order of any court or any
         administrative or regulatory agency in a manner that has a Material
         Adverse Effect and such order shall continue in effect for more than
         fifteen (15) days;

                  (l) there shall occur any strike, lockout, labor dispute,
         embargo, condemnation, act of God or public enemy, or other casualty,
         which in any such case causes, for more than fifteen (15) consecutive
         days, the cessation or substantial curtailment of revenue producing
         activities at any facility or location of the Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries, and which may have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (m) there shall occur the loss, suspension or revocation of,
         or failure to renew, any license or permit now held or hereafter
         acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, if such loss,
         suspension, revocation or failure to renew may have a Material Adverse
         Effect;

                  (n) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be indicted
         for a state or federal crime, or any civil or criminal action shall
         otherwise have been brought or threatened against the Borrower or any
         of its Subsidiaries, a punishment for which in any such case could
         include the forfeiture of any assets of such entity having a fair
         market value sufficient to constitute a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (o) the occurrence of any event which has a Material Adverse
         Effect;

                  (p) the occurrence of a default or event of default (howsoever
         defined) under any other agreements between the Bank and the Borrower;

                  (q) failure of the Borrower to perform when due, or to comply
         with, any other covenant, duty, indebtedness, liability or obligation
         arising under this Agreement, the Borrower Agreement or any of the
         other Financing Agreements and a continuation of such failure for a
         period of thirty (30) calendar days thereafter;

                  (r) the honoring by the Bank of drafts in excess of $5,000,000
         in the aggregate presented under Standby Letters of Credit in any
         twelve (12) month period


                                       55

<PAGE>



         from the date hereof (other than drafts which the Bank believes are
         being contested by Borrower in good faith);

                  (s) the occurrence of a transfer of a controlling interest of
         the capital stock of the Borrower to a single entity or group of
         entities under common control; or

                  (t) the revocation, cancellation, or termination in whole or
         in part with respect to the Eximbank Guarantee unless such revocation,
         cancellation or termination arises from the breach by the Bank of its
         obligations to Eximbank under the applicable guarantee document.

then, (1) upon the happening of any Event of Default set forth in subsections
(g) and (h) above, any obligation of the Bank to make additional Export Working
Capital Advances and any requirement that the Bank issue additional Standby
Letters of Credit shall automatically and immediately terminate and any and all
Obligations shall automatically become immediately due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest or other notice or requirements
of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by the Borrower, and the Borrower
shall be required to immediately deliver cash collateral to the Bank in an
amount equal to the aggregate Available Amounts of all Standby Letters of
Credit, and (2) upon the happening of any one or more of the other Events of
Default, the Bank may notify the Borrower that the Bank will not make any
further Export Working Capital Advances and will not issue any further Standby
Letters of Credit, and that any and all Obligations have become immediately due
and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest or other
notice or requirements of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by the
Borrower, and that the Borrower is required to immediately deliver cash
collateral to the Bank in an amount equal to the aggregate Available Amounts of
all outstanding Standby Letters of Credit. The Bank may proceed to enforce its
rights whether by suit in equity or by action at law, whether for specific
performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement, the Note
or the other Financing Agreements, or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted in either this Agreement or the Note or any other Financing Agreement,
or it may proceed to obtain judgment or any other relief whatsoever appropriate
to the enforcement of such rights, or proceed to enforce any legal or equitable
right which the Bank may have by reason of the occurrence of any Event of
Default hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE XI.

                              INTENTIONALLY OMITTED





                                       56

<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE XII.

                           RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF BANK

                  Section 12.1 REMEDIES OF THE BANK. In case any one or more of
the Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and whether or not
the Bank shall have taken any action pursuant to Article X hereof, the Bank, if
owed any Obligations, may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in
equity, action at law or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific
performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement and the
other Financing Agreements or any instrument pursuant to which the Obligations
to the Bank are evidenced, including as permitted by applicable law the
obtaining of the EX PARTE appointment of a receiver, and, if such amount shall
have become due, by acceleration or otherwise, proceed to enforce the payment
thereof or any other legal or equitable right of the Bank. The Borrower hereby
grants the Bank an irrevocable power of attorney and appoints HSBC its
attorney-in-fact, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default hereunder, to file
those certain assignments executed and delivered by Borrower to the Bank
(collectively "Assignments") whereby the Borrower has assigned to the Bank its
right, title and interest in each of the Government Contracts (which shall mean
any contracts with any agency of the United States government regarding the sale
of Inventory by the Borrower and described on Schedule 5.1(y) of the Domestic
Credit Agreement), and which are being held by the Bank until an Event of
Default, with the appropriate government agencies, to amend the Assignments on
behalf of the Borrower if needed to file same and to obtain acknowledgments of
such filings from an appropriate government agencies. No remedy herein conferred
upon the Bank or the holder of the Note is intended to be exclusive of any other
remedy and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to
every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in
equity or by statute or any other provision of law. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Bank shall have in any jurisdiction where
enforcement hereof is sought, in addition to all other rights and remedies which
the Bank may have under law and equity, the following rights and remedies, all
of which may be exercised with or without further notice to the Borrower and
without a prior judicial or administrative hearing or notice, which notice and
hearing are expressly waived: to occupy any of the Borrower's premises, subject
to an agreement with the lessor, for up to one (1) year rent free for the
purposes of liquidating Collateral, including without limitation, conducting an
auction thereon; to enforce or foreclose the liens and security interests
created under this Agreement or under any other agreement relating to Collateral
by any available judicial procedure or without judicial process; to enter any
premises where any Collateral may be located for the purposes of taking
possession or removing the same; to sell, assign, lease, or otherwise dispose of
Collateral or any part thereof, either at public or private sale, in lots or in
bulk, for cash, on credit or otherwise, with or without representations or
warranties, and upon such terms as shall be acceptable to the Bank, all at the
Bank's sole option and as the Bank in its sole discretion may deem advisable; to
bid or become purchaser at any such sale if public; and, at


                                       57

<PAGE>



the option of the Bank, to apply or be credited with the amount of all or any
part of the Obligations owing to the Bank against the purchase price bid by the
Bank at any such sale.

                  Section 12.2 COLLECTION OF OTHER ACCOUNTS, ETC. In addition to
and without limiting the rights of the Bank and obligations of the Borrower set
forth elsewhere in this Article XII, at any time after the occurrence of an
Event of Default, the Bank shall have the right to require the Borrower to, and
the Borrower shall, upon written notice from the Bank:

                  (a) Make collections of Proceeds upon its Accounts (including
         the Export Accounts), hold the Proceeds received from collections in
         trust for the Bank and turn over such Proceeds to the Bank daily in the
         exact form which they are received, together with a collection report
         in form satisfactory to the Bank. Subject to actual collection, the
         Bank shall apply such Proceeds and any Proceeds of Accounts received by
         it pursuant to the other provisions of this Article XII, to the payment
         of the Obligations; and shall hold the balance as cash collateral for
         the Borrower's reimbursement Obligations that may arise due to drawings
         upon Standby Letters of Credit;

                  (b) Assign or endorse the Accounts to the Bank, and notify
         Account Debtors that the Accounts have been assigned and should be paid
         directly to the Bank;

                  (c) Turn over to the Bank all Inventory returned in connection
         with any of the Accounts;

                  (d) Mark or stamp each of its individual ledger sheets or
         cards pertaining to its Accounts with a legend "Assigned to HSBC Bank
         USA," and stamp or otherwise mark and keep its books, records,
         documents and instruments relating to the Accounts in such manner as
         the Bank may require; and

                  (e) Mark or stamp all invoices with a legend satisfactory to
         the Bank so as to indicate that the same should be paid directly to the
         Bank.

                  Section 12.3 SPECIFIC POWERS. In addition to the foregoing
powers, the Bank may at any time, before (with respect to subsections (e) and
(k)) or after the occurrence of an Event of Default, at the Bank's sole
discretion: (a) give notice of assignment to any Account Debtor; (b) collect
Accounts directly and charge, or cause to be charged, the collection costs and
expenses to the Loan Account; (c) collect Accounts submitted by the Borrower to
the Bank for collection and charge, or cause to be charged, the collection costs
and expenses to the Loan Account; (d) settle or adjust disputes and claims
directly with Account Debtors for amounts and upon terms which the Bank
considers advisable, and credit, or cause to be credited, the Loan Account with
the net amounts received in payment of Accounts; (e) draw upon Export L/Cs, and
apply the proceeds therefrom, in accordance with Section 8.5 hereof;


                                       58

<PAGE>



(f) exercise all other rights granted in this Agreement and the other Financing
Agreements; (g) receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to the Borrower
and notify the Post Office authorities to change the address for delivery of the
Borrower's mail to an address designated by the Bank; (h) endorse the name of
the Borrower on any checks or other evidence of payment that may come into
possession of the Bank and on any invoice, freight or express bill, bill of
lading or other document; (i) in the name of the Borrower or otherwise, demand,
sue for, collect and give acquittance for any and all monies due or to become
due on Accounts; (j) compromise, prosecute or defend any action, claim or
proceeding concerning Accounts; and (k) do any and all things necessary and
proper to carry out the purposes contemplated in this Agreement, the other
Financing Agreements and any other agreement between the parties. Neither the
Bank nor its officers, directors, employees and agents (including its
attorneys), shall be liable for any acts or omissions or for any error of
judgment or mistake of fact or law, except for bad faith or willful misconduct.
For the purposes of this Section 12.3, the Borrower hereby irrevocably
constitutes the Bank as the Borrower's attorney-in-fact to issue in the name and
execute or endorse on behalf of the Borrower each and every notice, instrument
and document necessary to carry out the purposes of the provisions of Section
12.2 and this Section 12.3. The power of attorney granted hereby shall be
self-executing, but the Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to the Bank,
upon written request of the Bank, such additional separate powers of attorney as
the Bank may from time to time request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is
understood that the Bank is under no duty to take any of the foregoing actions
and that after having made demand upon any Account Debtors for payment, the Bank
shall have no further duty as to the collection or protection of Accounts or any
income therefrom and no further duty to preserve any rights pertaining thereto,
other than the safe custody thereof.

                  Section 12.4 RIGHT OF THE BANK TO USE AND OPERATE COLLATERAL,
ETC. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Bank shall have the right
and power to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral, and to
exclude the Borrower and all persons claiming under the Borrower wholly or
partly therefrom, and thereafter to hold, store, and/or use, operate, manage and
control the same. Upon any such taking of possession, the Bank may, from time to
time, at the expense of the Borrower, make all such repairs, replacements,
alterations, additions and improvements to the Collateral as the Bank may deem
proper. In any such case the Bank shall have the right to manage and control the
Collateral and to carry on the business and to exercise all rights and powers of
the Borrower in respect thereto as the Bank shall reasonably deem best,
including the right to enter into any and all such agreements with respect to
the operation of the Collateral or any part thereof as the Bank may see fit; and
the Bank shall be entitled to collect and receive all issues, profits, fees,
revenues and other income of the same and every part thereof. Such issues,
profits, fees, revenues and other income shall be applied to pay the expenses of
holding and operating the Collateral and of conducting the business thereof, and
of all maintenance, repairs, replacements, alterations, additions and
improvements, and to make all payments which the Bank may be required or may
elect to make, if any, for taxes, assessments, insurance and other charges upon
the Collateral or any part thereof, and all other payments which the Bank


                                       59

<PAGE>


may be required or authorized to make under any provision of this Agreement
(including reasonable legal costs and attorneys' fees). The remainder of such
issues, profits, fees, revenues and other income shall be applied to the payment
of the Obligations in such order of priority as the Bank shall determine, in its
sole discretion. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Bank
shall have the right to apply for and have a receiver appointed by a court of
competent jurisdiction in any action taken by the Bank to enforce its rights and
remedies hereunder in order to manage, protect and preserve the Collateral and
continue the operation of the business of the Borrower and to collect all
revenues and profits thereof and apply the same to the payment of all expenses
and other charges of such receivership including the compensation of the
receiver and to the payment of the Obligations as aforesaid until a sale or
other disposition of such Collateral shall be finally made and consummated.

                  Section 12.5 DUTIES AFTER DEFAULT. After the occurrence of an
Event of Default, the Borrower will, at the Bank's request, assemble all
Collateral and make it available to the Bank at places which the Bank may
reasonably select, whether at the premises of the Borrower or elsewhere and will
make available to the Bank all premises and facilities of the Borrower for the
purpose of the Bank taking possession of Collateral or of removing or putting
the Collateral in salable form. In the event any goods called for in any sales
order, contract, invoice or other instrument or agreement evidencing or
purporting to give rise to any Account shall not have been delivered or shall be
claimed to be defective by any customer, the Bank shall have the right in its
discretion to use and deliver to such customer any goods of the Borrower to
fulfill such order, contract or the like so as to make good any such Account. If
any Collateral shall require repairing, maintenance, preparation, or the like,
or is in process or other unfinished state, the Bank shall have the right, but
shall not be obligated, to do such repairing, maintenance, preparation,
processing or completion of manufacturing for the purpose of putting the same in
such salable form as the Bank shall deem appropriate, but the Bank shall have
the right to sell or dispose of such Collateral without such processing. The net
cash Proceeds resulting from the collection, liquidation, sale, lease or other
disposition of Collateral shall be applied first to the expenses (including all
reasonable attorneys' and professional fees) of retaking, holding, storing,
processing and preparing for sale, selling, collecting, liquidating and the like
and then to the satisfaction of all Obligations, any balance to be held as cash
collateral for the Borrower's reimbursement Obligations with respect to drawings
upon Standby Letters of Credit. In the event the Proceeds of any sale, lease or
other disposition of the Collateral hereunder, including without limitation, the
Proceeds from the collection of Accounts, are insufficient to pay all of the
Obligations in full, the Borrower will be liable for the deficiency, together
with interest thereon, at the maximum rate allowable by law, and the costs and
expenses of collection of such deficiency, including (to the extent permitted by
law) without limitation, attorneys' fees, expenses and disbursements.

                  Section 12.6 CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The exercise by the Bank
of any right or remedy set forth in this Article XII shall not preclude the
exercise of any other rights or

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<PAGE>


remedies all of which shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other
right or remedy given hereunder or under any other agreement between the parties
or which may now or hereafter exist in law or at equity or by suit or otherwise.
No delay or failure to take action on the part of the Bank in exercising any
right, power or privilege hereunder or under any of the other Financing
Agreements shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall
be construed to be a waiver of any Defaulting Event.

                                  ARTICLE XIII.

                              INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

                                  ARTICLE XIV.

                                   TERMINATION

                  Section 14.1 TERMINATION. Unless sooner terminated by the Bank
as a result of the occurrence of a Defaulting Event, the obligation of the Bank
to make Export Working Capital Advances and issue Standby Letters of Credit
shall terminate on the Termination Date. The Bank may, in its sole and absolute
discretion upon written notice to the Borrower, elect to renew the Facility for
an additional period of time and on such other terms and conditions as they may
elect, in which case the Termination Date shall be extended for a corresponding
period. Upon any such termination of the Facility, all of the rights, interests
and remedies of the Bank and Obligations of the Borrower shall survive and the
Borrower shall have no right to request, and the Bank shall have no further
obligation to make any further Export Working Capital Advances or issue any
further Standby Letters of Credit. In addition, upon termination of the
Facility, the Borrower shall immediately deposit with the Bank as cash
collateral (pursuant to the Cash Collateral Agreement) an amount equal to the
aggregate Available Amount of all Standby Letters of Credit then outstanding, if
any.

                                   ARTICLE XV.

                                    EXPENSES

                  Section 15.1 EXPENSES. The Borrower agrees to pay on demand
all out-of- pocket expenses, costs, fees, charges, expenses and attorneys' and
other professionals' fees and expenses incurred by the Bank in connection with
the preparation of this Agreement, the Note, the other Financing Agreements and
any amendments or supplements hereto and thereto and all expenses (including
reasonable fees and expenses of Bank's counsel) incidental to the collection of
monies due hereunder or thereunder and in any way connected with, involving or
related to the preservation, enforcement, protection or defense of this


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<PAGE>



Agreement, the Note, the other Financing Agreements, any related agreement,
document or instrument, the Collateral, and the rights and remedies hereunder or
thereunder.

                                  ARTICLE XVI.

                          ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATION

                  Section 16.1 ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATION BY BANK. The
Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Bank may assign or sell
participation interests in all or a portion of its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement, the Note and the other Financing Agreements;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that: (a) any such assignment or sale of a participation
shall be at no cost to the Borrower, and any such assignment or sale to the
Eximbank shall be subject to the Eximbank Documents and Eximbank's Working
Capital Guarantee Program Manual in effect on the date hereof, and (b) the Bank
shall provide the Borrower with written notice of any assignments or
re-assignments of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement,
the Note and the other Financing Agreements.

                  Section 16.2 DISCLOSURE. Notwithstanding the limitations on
assignments in Section 16.1 above, the Borrower agrees that in addition to
disclosures made in accordance with standard and customary banking practices,
Bank may disclose information obtained by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement to
assignees or participants and potential assignees or participants hereunder that
agree to maintain the confidentiality thereof pursuant to the terms hereof.

                  Section 16.3 ASSIGNMENT BY BORROWER. The Borrower shall not
assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, the
Note or any of the Financing Agreements without the prior written consent of the
Bank.

                                  ARTICLE XVII.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  Section 17.1 INDEMNIFICATION.

                  (a) In consideration of the Bank's execution and delivery of
         this Agreement and the Bank's extension of the Facility and in addition
         to all other obligations of Borrower under this Agreement, Borrower
         hereby agrees to defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Bank,
         its successors, assigns, officers, directors, employees and agents
         (including without limitation, those retained in connection with the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the
         "Indemnitees") from and against any and all actions, causes of action,
         suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages
         and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such
         Indemnitee is a party to any action for


                                       62

<PAGE>



         which indemnification hereunder is sought), and including reasonable
         attorneys' fees and disbursements as and when incurred (the
         "Indemnifiable Liabilities") incurred by the Indemnitees or any of them
         as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (i) the execution,
         delivery, performance or enforcement of this Agreement and the other
         Financing Agreements and any instrument, document or agreement executed
         pursuant hereto to any of the Indemnitees; (ii) the Bank's status as
         lender to, or creditor of, Borrower; or (iii) the operation of
         Borrower's business, including without limitation, those arising under
         any Environmental Laws, excluding Indemnifiable Liabilities arising
         from an Indemnitee's gross negligence or willful misconduct. To the
         extent that the foregoing undertaking by Borrower may be unenforceable
         for any reason, Borrower shall make the maximum contribution to the
         payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnifiable Liabilities which
         is permissible under applicable law.

                  (b) Borrower hereby covenants and agrees at all times to
         indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Indemnitees, whether as secured
         party in possession or as successor in interest to Borrower as owner of
         any personal property assets located on the real property of Borrower
         (the "Premises"), by virtue of any action taken by the Bank pursuant to
         the Financing Agreements, the UCC or otherwise, from and against any
         and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs, expenses, penalties,
         fines, causes of action, suits, claims, demands or judgments (except
         when arising out of the Bank's gross negligence or willful misconduct),
         including without limitation, attorneys' fees and expenses, suffered or
         incurred in connection with: (i) the Environmental Laws, including
         without limitation, liens or claims of any federal, state or municipal
         government or quasi-governmental agency or any third person, whether
         arising under the Environmental Laws or any other federal, state or
         municipal law or regulation; (ii) any spill or contamination affecting
         the Premises, including without limitation, any Hazardous Materials or
         other waste-like or toxic substances located on, under, emanating from
         or relating to the Premises or any portion thereof or any property
         contiguous to the Premises and including without limitation, any loss
         of value of the Premises as a result of any such spill or
         contamination; and (iii) the direct or indirect installation, use,
         generation, manufacture, production, storage, release, threatened
         release, discharge, disposal or presence of any Hazardous Materials,
         on, under or about the Premises or any portion thereof, from and
         including all consequential damages, the costs of any required or
         necessary repair, cleanup or detoxification, and the costs of the
         preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial or other
         required plans. Further, the mere fact that such Indemnified Party has
         been declared an "owner" or "operator" (as such term is defined in any
         Environmental Law) resulting from the Indemnified Party having taking
         possession of any of the Collateral shall not exonerate Borrower from
         any claim by the Indemnified Parties seeking such indemnification. The
         provisions of this Section 17.1 shall survive the termination of this
         Agreement and the other Financing Agreements.


                                       63

<PAGE>


                  Section 17.2 PAYMENT SET-ASIDE. To the extent that the
Borrower or any other person makes a payment or payments to the Bank (whether
hereunder, under the Note or under the other Financing Agreements) with respect
to the Obligations, or the Bank enforces its security interests or rights or
exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or payments or the Proceeds of
such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated,
declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged
by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Borrower
or such person, a trustee, receiver or any other person under any law (including
without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or
equitable cause of action) in each case in connection with any bankruptcy or
similar proceeding involving the Borrower or such person, then to the extent of
any such restoration, the Obligation or part thereof originally intended to be
satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such
payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred,
whereupon this Agreement shall be automatically reinstated without any further
action by the Borrower or the Bank and continue to be fully applicable to such
Obligation to the same extent as though the payment so repaid or recovered had
never been originally made on such Obligation.

                  Section 17.3 SET-OFF. The Borrower hereby gives the Bank a
lien and right of setoff for all its liabilities to the Bank upon and against
all its deposits, credits, collateral and property now or hereafter in the
possession or control of the Bank or in transit to it. The Bank may, at any
time, apply or set off the same, or any part thereof, to any liability of the
Borrower to the Bank, even though unmatured.

                  Section 17.4 COVENANTS TO SURVIVE. All covenants, agreements,
warranties and representations made herein, in the Note, in the other Financing
Agreements, and in all certificates or other Documents of the Borrower shall
survive the making of Advances and the issuance of Standby Letters of Credit
made by the Bank to the Borrower hereunder, and the delivery of the Note, and
the other Financing Agreements, and all such covenants, agreements, warranties
and representations shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Bank,
the Borrower and their respective successors and assigns, whether or not so
expressed, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its
rights hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements or any interest
herein or therein.

                  Section 17.5 CROSS-COLLATERALIZATION. All Collateral which the
Bank may at any time acquire from the Borrower or from any other source in
connection with the Obligations shall constitute collateral for each and every
Obligation, without apportionment or designation as to particular Obligations
and that all Obligations, however and whenever incurred, shall be secured by all
Collateral however and whenever acquired, and the Bank shall have the right, in
its sole discretion, to determine the order in which the Bank's rights in or
remedies against any Collateral are to be exercised and which type of Collateral
or which portions of Collateral are to be proceeded against and the order of
application of Proceeds of Collateral as against particular Obligations (subject
to any express provisions


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herein regarding the priorities of security interests in any Collateral with
respect to the various Obligations).

                  Section 17.6 CROSS-DEFAULT. The Borrower acknowledges and
agrees that a default under any one of the Financing Agreements, including,
without limitation, under the Domestic Credit Agreement, shall constitute a
default under all of the other Financing Agreements; that a default under any
other indebtedness owing by the Borrower to the Bank, whether now existing or
hereafter arising, shall constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement and
the other Financing Agreements; and that an Event of Default under any of the
Financing Agreements shall constitute a default under any other indebtedness
owing by the Borrower and to the Bank, whether now existing or hereafter
arising. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that upon the occurrence of a
Defaulting Event, Eximbank shall have the right to direct the Bank to accelerate
the Facility.

                  Section 17.7 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No modification,
rescission, waiver, release or amendment of any provision of this Agreement
shall be made, except by a written agreement signed by the Borrower and a duly
authorized officer of the Bank.

                  Section 17.8 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise
expressly provided in the Financing Agreements, any consent or approval required
or permitted by this Agreement to be given by the Bank may be given, and any
term of this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements or any other instrument
related hereto or mentioned herein may be amended, and the performance or
observance by the Borrower of any terms of this Agreement, the other Financing
Agreements or such other instrument or the continuance of any Defaulting Event
or Event of Default may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance
and either retroactively or prospectively) with, but only with, the written
consent of the Borrower and the written consent of the Bank.

                  Section 17.9 NOTICES. All notices, requests, consents, demands
and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be either hand
delivered or sent by first class mail, or by certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested, or by recognized overnight courier, or by telecopy,
addressed to the respective parties to this Agreement at their respective
addresses set forth above, or, as to each party, at such other address as shall
be designated by such party by written notice given in accordance with this
Section 17.9. All such notices and correspondence shall be deemed given (a) if
sent by first class, certified or registered mail, two (2) Business Days after
being postmarked, or (b) if hand delivered or sent by overnight courier or by
telecopy, when received at the above stated addresses, whether or not receipt
thereof is acknowledged or is refused by the addressee or any person at such
address.


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                  Section 17.10 WAIVERS.

                  (a) PREJUDGMENT REMEDY, ETC. THE BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
         THE ADVANCES EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS AND WAIVES
         ITS RIGHT TO NOTICE AND HEARING ALLOWED BY ANY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW
         WITH RESPECT TO ANY PREJUDGMENT REMEDY, AND FURTHER WAIVES ALL RIGHTS
         TO REQUEST THE POSTING OF A BOND, WITH OR WITHOUT SURETY, TO PROTECT
         THE BORROWER OR ANY ENDORSER, GUARANTOR OR SURETY OF ANY OF THE
         OBLIGATIONS AGAINST DAMAGES THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY ANY PREJUDGMENT
         REMEDY. THE BORROWER FURTHER WAIVES DILIGENCE, DEMAND, PRESENTMENT FOR
         PAYMENT, NOTICE OF NONPAYMENT, PROTEST AND NOTICE OF ANY RENEWALS OR
         EXTENSIONS.

                  (b) JURY WAIVER. THE BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN
         ANY COURT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ON ANY MATTER ARISING IN
         CONNECTION WITH OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE FINANCING TRANSACTIONS OF
         WHICH THIS AGREEMENT IS A PART AND/OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY OF THE
         BANK'S RIGHTS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, TORT CLAIMS.

                  (c) VOLUNTARY NATURE OF WAIVERS. THE BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES
         THAT IT MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVERS IN SUBSECTIONS (a) AND (b) ABOVE,
         KNOWINGLY, WILLINGLY, WITHOUT DURESS AND VOLUNTARILY AND ONLY AFTER
         CONSIDERATION OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS WITH ITS ATTORNEYS.

                  Section 17.11 SECTION HEADINGS, SEVERABILITY, ENTIRE
AGREEMENT. Section and subsection headings have been inserted herein for
convenience only and shall not be construed as part of this Agreement. Every
provision of this Agreement, the Note and the other Financing Agreements is
intended to be severable; if any term or provision of this Agreement, the Note,
the other Financing Agreements, or any other document delivered in connection
herewith shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever,
the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or
thereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. All Exhibits and
Schedules to this Agreement shall be annexed hereto and shall be deemed to be
part of this Agreement. This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, and the
Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto and thereto embody the entire agreement
and understanding between the Borrower and the Bank and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof unless
otherwise specified or specifically reaffirmed or restated herein.


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                  Section 17.12 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER
FINANCING AGREEMENTS, AND ALL TRANSACTIONS, ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS HEREUNDER
AND THEREUNDER, AND ALL THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED AS TO
VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, ENFORCEMENT AND IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS BY THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK. THE BORROWER AGREES THAT THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
OR THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE UNITED STATES IN THE SOUTHERN
DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SHALL HAVE JURISDICTION TO HEAR AND DETERMINE ANY CLAIMS OR
DISPUTES PERTAINING TO THE FINANCING TRANSACTIONS OF WHICH THIS AGREEMENT IS A
PART AND/OR TO ANY MATTER ARISING OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BANK AND THE BORROWER EXPRESSLY SUBMITS AND CONSENTS
IN ADVANCE TO SUCH JURISDICTION IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND BORROWER WAIVES
PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND AGREES THAT A SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT COMMENCING
AN ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE PROPERLY SERVED AND SHALL
CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION IF SERVED BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL TO
BORROWER, OR AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY THE LAWS OF NEW YORK STATE OR THE UNITED
STATES. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF BANK TO COMMENCE LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST THE BORROWER EITHER IN ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION OR TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OR TO SERVE PROCESS
IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.




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                                 ARTICLE XVIII.

                              INTENTIONALLY OMITTED

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



                                          AMERICAN SCIENCE AND
                                          ENGINEERING, INC.


                                          By: Lee C. Steele
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Lee C. Steele
                                             Its Chief Financial Officer
                                             duly authorized


                                          HSBC BANK USA


                                          By: William L. Meli
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Name: William L. Meli
                                             Title: AVP



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