SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                           REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT



                            dated as of July 16, 1998



                                      among




                                  GENRAD, INC.,
                            GENRAD HOLDINGS LIMITED,
                             GENRAD EUROPE LIMITED,
                                 GENRAD LIMITED,



                                BANKBOSTON, N.A.
       and the other lending institutions set forth on Schedule 1 hereto,



                                BANKBOSTON, N.A.,
                                    as Agent



                                       and



                    FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Syndication Agent


<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>

<C>  <S>                                                                                             <C>
1.   DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF INTERPRETATION.........................................................2
         1.1.   Definitions..........................................................................2
         1.2.   Rules of Interpretation..............................................................15
2.   THE REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY...................................................................16
         2.1.   Commitment to Lend...................................................................16
         2.2.   Commitment Fee.......................................................................16
         2.3.   Reduction of Total Commitment........................................................16
         2.4.   The Revolving Credit Notes...........................................................17
         2.5.   Interest on Revolving Credit Loans...................................................17
         2.6.   Requests for Revolving Credit Loans..................................................18
         2.7.   Conversion Options...................................................................18
                  2.7.1.   Conversion to Different Type of Revolving Credit Loan.....................18
                  2.7.2.   Continuation of Type of Revolving Credit Loan.............................19
                  2.7.3.   Eurocurrency Rate Loans...................................................19
         2.8.   Funds for Revolving Credit Loan......................................................19
                  2.8.1.   Funding Procedures........................................................20
                  2.8.2.   Advances by Agent.........................................................20
         2.9.   Optional Currencies..................................................................21
                  2.9.1.   Request for Optional Currency.............................................21
                  2.9.2.   Exchange Rate.............................................................22
                  2.9.3.   Multiple Denominations....................................................22
                  2.9.4.   Repayment.................................................................22
                  2.9.5.   Funding...................................................................22
         2.10.   Overdraft Facility..................................................................23
3.   REPAYMENT OF THE REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS.........................................................25
         3.1.   Maturity.............................................................................25
         3.2.   Mandatory Repayments of Revolving Credit Loans.......................................25
         3.3.   Optional Repayments of Revolving Credit Loans........................................25
4.   LETTERS OF CREDIT...............................................................................26
         4.1.   Letter of Credit Commitments.........................................................26
                  4.1.1.   Commitment to Issue Letters of Credit.....................................26
                  4.1.2.   Letter of Credit Applications.............................................26
                  4.1.3.   Terms of Letters of Credit................................................27
                  4.1.4.   Reimbursement Obligations of Banks........................................27
                  4.1.5.   Participations of Banks...................................................27
         4.2.   Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower.............................................27
         4.3.   Letter of Credit Payments............................................................28
         4.4.   Obligations Absolute.................................................................28
         4.5.   Reliance by Issuer...................................................................29
         4.6.   Letter of Credit Fee.................................................................29
5.   CERTAIN GENERAL PROVISIONS......................................................................30
         5.1.   Closing Fee..........................................................................30
         5.2.   Agent's Fee..........................................................................30
         5.3.   Funds for Payments...................................................................30
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                      -ii-

<TABLE>

<C>  <S>                                                                                             <C>
                  5.3.1.   Payments to Agent.........................................................30
                  5.3.2.   No Offset, etc............................................................30
         5.4.   Computations.........................................................................31
         5.5.   Inability to Determine Eurocurrency Rate.............................................31
         5.6.   Illegality...........................................................................31
         5.7.   Additional Costs, etc................................................................32
         5.8.   Capital Adequacy.....................................................................33
         5.9.   Certificate..........................................................................34
         5.10.   Indemnity...........................................................................34
         5.11.   Interest After Default..............................................................34
                  5.11.1.   Overdue Amounts..........................................................34
                  5.11.2.   Amounts Not Overdue......................................................34
         5.12.   Replacement Bank....................................................................35
         5.13.   Lending Office......................................................................35
6.   GUARANTIES......................................................................................35
         6.1.   Guaranty.............................................................................35
         6.2.   Guaranty Absolute....................................................................36
         6.3.   Effectiveness, Enforcement...........................................................38
         6.4.   Waiver...............................................................................38
         6.5.   Subordination; Subrogation...........................................................38
         6.6.   Payments.............................................................................39
         6.7.   Receipt of Information...............................................................39
7.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..................................................................40
         7.1.   Corporate Authority..................................................................40
                  7.1.1.   Incorporation; Good Standing..............................................40
                  7.1.2.   Authorization.............................................................40
                  7.1.3.   Enforceability............................................................40
         7.2.   Governmental Approvals...............................................................41
         7.3.   Title to Properties; Leases..........................................................41
         7.4.   Financial Statements.................................................................41
         7.5.   No Material Changes, etc.............................................................41
         7.6.   Franchises, Patents, Copyrights, etc.................................................42
         7.7.   Litigation...........................................................................42
         7.8.   No Materially Adverse Contracts, etc.................................................42
         7.9.   Compliance with Other Instruments, Laws, etc.........................................42
         7.10.   Tax Status..........................................................................42
         7.11.   No Event of Default.................................................................43
         7.12.   Holding Company and Investment Company Acts.........................................43
         7.13.   Absence of Financing Statements, etc................................................43
         7.14.   Certain Transactions................................................................43
         7.15.   Employee Benefit Plans..............................................................43
                  7.15.1.   In General...............................................................43
                  7.15.2.   Terminability of Welfare Plans...........................................44
                  7.15.3.   Guaranteed Pension Plans.................................................44
                  7.15.4.   Multiemployer Plans......................................................44
         7.16.   Regulations U and X.................................................................45
         7.17.   Environmental Compliance............................................................45
         7.18.   Subsidiaries, etc...................................................................46
         7.19.   Chief Executive Offices.............................................................47
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                     -iii-

<TABLE>

<C>  <S>                                                                                             <C>
         7.20.   Fiscal Year.........................................................................47
         7.21.   No Amendments to Certain Documents..................................................47
         7.22.   Disclosure..........................................................................47
         7.23.   No Withholding, Etc.................................................................47
         7.24.   No Filing, Recording Required.......................................................47
8.   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF THE BORROWERS..........................................................48
         8.1.   Punctual Payment.....................................................................48
         8.2.   Maintenance of Office................................................................48
         8.3.   Records and Accounts.................................................................48
         8.4.   Financial Statements, Certificates and Information...................................48
         8.5.   Notices..............................................................................50
                  8.5.1.   Defaults..................................................................50
                  8.5.2.   Environmental Events......................................................50
                  8.5.3.   Notice of Litigation and Judgments........................................50
         8.6.   Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties.......................................50
         8.7.   Insurance............................................................................51
         8.8.   Taxes................................................................................51
         8.9.   Inspection of Properties and Books, etc..............................................52
         8.10.   Compliance with Laws, Contracts, Licenses, and Permits..............................52
         8.11.   Employee Benefit Plans..............................................................52
         8.12.   Use of Proceeds.....................................................................52
         8.13.   Fair Labor Standards Act............................................................52
         8.14.   Further Assurances..................................................................53
9.   CERTAIN NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF THE BORROWERS.....................................................53
         9.1.   Restrictions on Indebtedness.........................................................53
         9.2.   Restrictions on Liens................................................................54
         9.3.   Restrictions on Investments..........................................................56
         9.4.   Distributions........................................................................57
         9.5.   Merger, Consolidation and Disposition of Assets......................................57
                  9.5.1.   Mergers and Acquisitions..................................................57
                  9.5.2.   Disposition of Assets.....................................................58
         9.6.   Sale and Leaseback...................................................................58
         9.7.   Compliance with Environmental Laws...................................................58
         9.8.   Employee Benefit Plans...............................................................58
         9.9.   Fiscal Year..........................................................................59
         9.10.   Negative Pledges....................................................................59
         9.11.   Transaction with Affiliates.........................................................59
         9.12.   Upstream Limitations................................................................59
         9.13.   Inconsistent Agreements.............................................................60
10.   FINANCIAL COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.............................................................60
         10.1.   Leverage Ratio......................................................................60
         10.2.   Profitable Operations...............................................................60
         10.3.   Capital Expenditures................................................................60
         10.4.   Debt Service........................................................................60
         10.5.   Current Ratio.......................................................................60
11.   CLOSING CONDITIONS.............................................................................60
         11.1.   Loan Documents......................................................................60
         11.2.   Certified Copies of Charter Documents...............................................60
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                      -iv-

<TABLE>

<C>  <S>                                                                                             <C>
         11.3.   Corporate Action....................................................................61
         11.4.   Incumbency Certificate..............................................................61
         11.5.   UCC Search Results..................................................................61
         11.6.   Certificates of Insurance...........................................................61
         11.7.   Solvency Certificate................................................................61
         11.8.   Opinion of Counsel..................................................................61
         11.9.   Payment of Fees.....................................................................61
12.   CONDITIONS TO ALL BORROWINGS...................................................................62
         12.1.   Representations True; No Event of Default...........................................62
         12.2.   No Legal Impediment.................................................................62
         12.3.   Governmental Regulation.............................................................62
         12.4.   Proceedings and Documents...........................................................62
13.   EVENTS OF DEFAULT; ACCELERATION; ETC...........................................................62
         13.1.   Events of Default and Acceleration..................................................62
         13.2.   Termination of Commitments..........................................................66
         13.3.   Remedies............................................................................66
         13.4.   Exchange Rate.......................................................................66
14.   SETOFF.........................................................................................67
15.   THE AGENT......................................................................................68
         15.1.   Authorization.......................................................................68
         15.2.   Employees and Agents................................................................69
         15.3.   No Liability........................................................................69
         15.4.   No Representations..................................................................69
         15.5.   Payments............................................................................69
                  15.5.1.   Payments to Agent........................................................70
                  15.5.2.   Distribution by Agent....................................................70
                  15.5.3.   Delinquent Banks.........................................................70
         15.6.   Holders of Revolving Credit  Notes..................................................71
         15.7.   Indemnity...........................................................................71
         15.8.   Agent as Bank.......................................................................71
         15.9.   Resignation.........................................................................71
         15.10.   Notification of Defaults and Events of Default.....................................71
16.   EXPENSES.......................................................................................72
17.   INDEMNIFICATION................................................................................72
18.   SURVIVAL OF COVENANTS, ETC.....................................................................73
19.   ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATION...................................................................73
         19.1.   Conditions to Assignment by Banks...................................................73
         19.2.   Certain Representations and Warranties; Limitations; Covenants......................74
         19.3.   Register............................................................................75
         19.4.   New Revolving Credit  Notes.........................................................75
         19.5.   Participations......................................................................76
         19.6.   Disclosure..........................................................................76
         19.7.   Assignee or Participant Affiliated with the Borrower................................76
         19.8.   Miscellaneous Assignment Provisions.................................................77
         19.9.   Assignment by Borrower..............................................................77
20.   NOTICES, ETC...................................................................................77
21.   GOVERNING LAW..................................................................................78
22.   HEADINGS.......................................................................................78
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                      -v-


<TABLE>

<C>  <S>                                                                                             <C>
23.   COUNTERPARTS...................................................................................79
24.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT, ETC..........................................................................79
25.   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL...........................................................................79
26.   CONSENTS, AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC.............................................................79
27.   SEVERABILITY...................................................................................80
28.   TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS......................................................................80
         28.1.   Original Credit Agreement Superseded................................................80
         28.2.   Return and Cancellation of Notes....................................................80
         28.3.   Interest and Fees Under Superseded Agreement........................................80
         1.2.  Rules of Interpretation.  ............................................................16
2.  THE REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY.  .................................................................17
         2.1.  Commitment to Lend.  .................................................................17
         2.2.  Commitment Fee.  .....................................................................17
         2.3.  Reduction of Total Commitment.  ......................................................18
         2.4.  The Revolving Credit Notes.  .........................................................18
         2.5.  Interest on Revolving Credit Loans.  .................................................18
         2.6.  Requests for Revolving Credit Loans.  ................................................19
         2.7.  Conversion Options.  .................................................................19
                  2.7.1.  Conversion to Different Type of Revolving Credit Loan.  ...................19
                  2.7.2.  Continuation of Type of Revolving Credit Loan.  ...........................20
                  2.7.3.  Eurocurrency Rate Loans.  .................................................20
         2.8.  Funds for Revolving Credit Loan.  ....................................................21
                  2.8.1.  Funding Procedures.  ......................................................21
                  2.8.2.  Advances by Agent.  .......................................................21
         2.9.  Optional Currencies.  ................................................................22
                  2.9.1.  Request for Optional Currency..............................................22
                  2.9.2.  Exchange Rate.  ...........................................................23
                  2.9.3.  Multiple Denominations.  ..................................................23
                  2.9.4.  Repayment.  ...............................................................23
                  2.9.5.  Funding.  .................................................................24
         2.10.  Change in Borrowing Base.  ..........................................................24
         2.11.  Overdraft Facility...................................................................24
3.  REPAYMENT OF THE REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS.  .......................................................26
         3.1.  Maturity.  ...........................................................................26
         3.2.  Mandatory Repayments of Revolving Credit Loans.  .....................................27
         3.3.  Optional Repayments of Revolving Credit Loans.  ......................................27
4.  LETTERS OF CREDIT.  .............................................................................27
         4.1.  Letter of Credit Commitments..........................................................27
                  4.1.1.  Commitment to Issue Letters of Credit.  ...................................27
                  4.1.2.  Letter of Credit Applications.  ...........................................28
                  4.1.3.  Terms of Letters of Credit.  ..............................................28
                  4.1.4.  Reimbursement Obligations of Banks.  ......................................29
                  4.1.5.  Participations of Banks.  .................................................29
         4.2.  Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower.  ...........................................29
         4.3.  Letter of Credit Payments.  ..........................................................30
         4.4.  Obligations Absolute.  ...............................................................30
         4.5.  Reliance by Issuer.  .................................................................31
         4.6.  Letter of Credit Fee.  ...............................................................31
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                      -vi-


<TABLE>

<C>  <S>                                                                                             <C>
5.   CERTAIN GENERAL PROVISIONS.  ...................................................................32
         5.1.  Closing Fee.  ........................................................................32
         5.2.  Agent's Fee.  ........................................................................32
         5.3.  Funds for Payments.  .................................................................33
                  5.3.1.  Payments to Agent.  .......................................................33
                  5.3.2.  No Offset, etc.  ..........................................................33
         5.4.  Computations.  .......................................................................33
         5.5.  Inability to Determine Eurocurrency Rate.  ...........................................34
         5.6.  Illegality.  .........................................................................34
         5.7.  Additional Costs, etc.  ..............................................................35
         5.8.  Capital Adequacy.  ...................................................................36
         5.9.  Certificate.  ........................................................................37
         5.10.  Indemnity.  .........................................................................37
         5.11.  Interest After Default.  ............................................................37
                  5.11.1.  Overdue Amounts.  ........................................................37
                  5.11.2.  Amounts Not Overdue.  ....................................................38
         5.12.  Replacement Bank.  ..................................................................38
         5.13.  Lending Office.  ....................................................................39
6.  GUARANTIES.  ....................................................................................39
         6.1.  Guaranty.  ...........................................................................39
         6.2.  Guaranty Absolute.  ..................................................................39
         6.3.  Effectiveness, Enforcement.  .........................................................41
         6.4.  Waiver.  .............................................................................41
         6.5.  Subordination; Subrogation.  .........................................................41
         6.6.  Payments.  ...........................................................................42
         6.7.  Receipt of Information.  .............................................................42
7.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  ................................................................42
         7.1.  Corporate Authority.  ................................................................43
                  7.1.1.  Incorporation; Good Standing.  ............................................43
                  7.1.2.  Authorization.  ...........................................................43
                  7.1.3.  Enforceability.  ..........................................................43
         7.2.  Governmental Approvals.  .............................................................43
         7.3.  Title to Properties; Leases.  ........................................................44
         7.4.  Financial Statements.  ...............................................................44
         7.5.  No Material Changes, etc.  ...........................................................44
         7.6.  Franchises, Patents, Copyrights, etc.  ...............................................45
         7.7.  Litigation.  .........................................................................45
         7.8.  No Materially Adverse Contracts, etc.  ...............................................45
         7.9.  Compliance with Other Instruments, Laws, etc.  .......................................45
         7.10.  Tax Status.  ........................................................................46
         7.11.  No Event of Default.  ...............................................................46
         7.12.  Holding Company and Investment Company Acts.  .......................................46
         7.13.  Absence of Financing Statements, etc.  ..............................................46
         7.14.  Certain Transactions.  ..............................................................46
         7.15.  Employee Benefit Plans.  ............................................................47
                  7.15.1.  In General.  .............................................................47
                  7.15.2.  Terminability of Welfare Plans.  .........................................47
                  7.15.3.  Guaranteed Pension Plans.  ...............................................47
                  7.15.4.  Multiemployer Plans.  ....................................................48

</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                     -vii-


<TABLE>

<C>  <S>                                                                                             <C>
         7.16.  Regulations U and X.  ...............................................................48
         7.17.  Environmental Compliance.  ..........................................................48
         7.18.  Subsidiaries, etc..  ................................................................50
         7.19.  Chief Executive Offices.  ...........................................................50
         7.20.  Fiscal Year.  .......................................................................50
         7.21.  No Amendments to Certain Documents.  ................................................51
         7.22.  Disclosure.  ........................................................................51
         7.23.  No Withholding, Etc.  ...............................................................51
         7.24.  No Filing, Recording Required.  .....................................................51
8.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF THE BORROWERS.  ........................................................51
         8.1.  Punctual Payment.  ...................................................................52
         8.2.  Maintenance of Office.  ..............................................................52
         8.3.  Records and Accounts.  ...............................................................52
         8.4.  Financial Statements, Certificates and Information.  .................................52
         8.5.  Notices.  ............................................................................54
                  8.5.1.  Defaults.  ................................................................54
                  8.5.2.  Environmental Events.  ....................................................54
                  8.5.3.  Notice of Litigation and Judgments.  ......................................55
         8.6.  Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties.  .....................................55
         8.7.  Insurance.  ..........................................................................56
         8.8.  Taxes.  ..............................................................................56
         8.9.  Inspection of Properties and Books, etc.  ............................................56
                  8.9.1.  General.  .................................................................56
                  8.9.2.  Collateral Reports.  ......................................................56
         8.10.  Compliance with Laws, Contracts, Licenses, and Permits.  ............................57
         8.11.  Employee Benefit Plans.  ............................................................57
         8.12.  Use of Proceeds.  ...................................................................57
         8.13.  Fair Labor Standards Act.  ..........................................................58
         8.14.  Further Assurances.  ................................................................58
9.  CERTAIN NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF THE BORROWERS.  ...................................................58
         9.1.  Restrictions on Indebtedness.  .......................................................58
         9.2.  Restrictions on Liens.  ..............................................................59
         9.3.  Restrictions on Investments.  ........................................................61
         9.4.  Distributions.  ......................................................................62
         9.5.  Merger, Consolidation and Disposition of Assets.  ....................................63
                  9.5.1.  Mergers and Acquisitions.  ................................................63
                  9.5.2.  Disposition of Assets.  ...................................................63
         9.6.  Sale and Leaseback.  .................................................................63
         9.7.  Compliance with Environmental Laws.  .................................................64
         9.8.  Employee Benefit Plans.  .............................................................64
         9.9.  Fiscal Year.  ........................................................................64
         9.10.  Negative Pledges.  ..................................................................65
         9.11.  Transaction with Affiliates.  .......................................................65
         9.12.  Upstream Limitations.  ..............................................................65
         9.13.  Inconsistent Agreements.  ...........................................................65
10.  FINANCIAL COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.  ...........................................................65
         10.1.  Leverage Ratio.  ....................................................................66
         10.2.  Profitable Operations.  .............................................................66
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                     -viii-


<TABLE>

<C>  <S>                                                                                             <C>
         10.3.  Capital Expenditures.  ..............................................................66
         10.4.  Debt Service.  ......................................................................66
         10.5.  Current Ratio.  .....................................................................66
11.  CLOSING CONDITIONS.  ...........................................................................66
         11.1.  Loan Documents.  ....................................................................66
         11.2.  Certified Copies of Charter Documents.  .............................................66
         11.3.  Corporate Action.  ..................................................................67
         11.4.  Incumbency Certificate.  ............................................................67
         11.5.  UCC Search Results.  ................................................................67
         11.6.  Certificates of Insurance.  .........................................................67
         11.7.  Borrowing Base Report.  .............................................................67
         11.8.  Accounts Receivable Aging Report.  ..................................................67
         11.9.  Solvency Certificate.  ..............................................................68
         11.10.  Opinion of Counsel.  ...............................................................68
         11.11.  Payment of Fees.  ..................................................................68
12.  CONDITIONS TO ALL BORROWINGS.  .................................................................68
         12.1.  Representations True; No Event of Default.  .........................................68
         12.2.  No Legal Impediment.  ...............................................................69
         12.3.  Governmental Regulation.  ...........................................................69
         12.4.  Proceedings and Documents.  .........................................................69
         12.5.  Borrowing Base Report.  .............................................................69
13.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT; ACCELERATION; ETC.  .........................................................69
         13.1.  Events of Default and Acceleration.  ................................................69
         13.2.  Termination of Commitments.  ........................................................73
         13.3.  Remedies.  ..........................................................................73
         13.4.  Exchange Rate.  .....................................................................73
14.  SETOFF.  .......................................................................................74
15.  THE AGENT.  ....................................................................................75
         15.1.  Authorization.  .....................................................................75
         15.2.  Employees and Agents.  ..............................................................76
         15.3.  No Liability.  ......................................................................76
         15.4.  No Representations.  ................................................................76
         15.5.  Payments.  ..........................................................................77
                  15.5.1.  Payments to Agent.  ......................................................77
                  15.5.2.  Distribution by Agent.  ..................................................77
                  15.5.3.  Delinquent Banks.  .......................................................77
         15.6.  Holders of Revolving Credit  Notes.  ................................................78
         15.7.  Indemnity.  .........................................................................78
         15.8.  Agent as Bank.  .....................................................................78
         15.9.  Resignation.  .......................................................................78
         15.10.  Notification of Defaults and Events of Default.  ...................................79
16.  EXPENSES.  .....................................................................................79
17.  INDEMNIFICATION.  ..............................................................................80
18.  SURVIVAL OF COVENANTS, ETC.  ...................................................................80
19.  ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATION.  .................................................................81
         19.1.  Conditions to Assignment by Banks.  .................................................81
         19.2.  Certain Representations and Warranties; Limitations; Covenants.  ....................81
         19.3.  Register.  ..........................................................................83
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                      -ix-


<TABLE>

<C>  <S>                                                                                             <C>
         19.4.  New Revolving Credit  Notes.  .......................................................83
         19.5.  Participations.  ....................................................................83
         19.6.  Disclosure.  ........................................................................84
         19.7.  Assignee or Participant Affiliated with the Borrower.  ..............................84
         19.8.  Miscellaneous Assignment Provisions.  ...............................................85
         19.9.  Assignment by Borrower.  ............................................................85
20.  NOTICES, ETC.  .................................................................................85
21.  GOVERNING LAW.  ................................................................................86
22.  HEADINGS.  .....................................................................................86
23.  COUNTERPARTS.  .................................................................................86
24.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT, ETC.  ........................................................................87
25.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  .........................................................................87
26.  CONSENTS, AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC.  ...........................................................87
27.  SEVERABILITY.  .................................................................................88
28.  TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.  ....................................................................88
         28.1.  Original Credit Agreement Superseded.  ..............................................88
         28.2.  Return and Cancellation of Notes.  ..................................................88
         28.3.  Interest and Fees Under Superseded Agreement.  ......................................88
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


             SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT is made as
of July 16, 1998, by and among (a) GENRAD, INC. (the "Company"), a Massachusetts
corporation having its principal place of business at 7 Technology Park Drive,
Westford, Massachusetts 01886-0033, (b) GENRAD EUROPE LIMITED ("Genrad Europe"),
a corporation organized under the laws of the United Kingdom and having its
principal place of business at Orion Business Park, Bird Lane Hall, Stockport,
Cheshire, (c) GENRAD LIMITED ("Genrad Ltd."), a corporation organized under the
laws of the United Kingdom and having its principal place of business at Orion
Business Park, Bird Lane Hall, Stockport, Cheshire, (d) GENRAD HOLDINGS LIMITED
("Holdings"), a corporation organized under the laws of the United Kingdom and
having its principal place of business at Orion Business Park, Bird Lane Hall,
Stockport, Cheshire, (e) BANKBOSTON, N.A., a national banking association, and
the other lending institutions listed on Schedule 1 hereto, (f) BANKBOSTON, N.A.
as agent for itself and such other lending institutions; (g) BANKBOSTON, N.A..
acting through its London Branch, as Overdraft Bank (as hereinafter defined);
and (h) FLEET NATIONAL BANK as syndication agent for itself and such other
lending institutions.

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit
Agreement dated as of May 6, 1997 (as amended and in effect from time to time,
the "Original Credit Agreement"), by and among the Company, Genrad Europe,
Genrad Ltd., certain of the Banks (as hereinafter defined), the Overdraft Bank
and the Agent (as hereinafter defined), the Banks party thereto made loans and
other extensions of credit to the Company, Genrad Europe and Genrad Ltd. for
working capital and general corporate purposes; and

         WHEREAS, the Company, Genrad Europe and Genrad Ltd. have requested,
among other things, to amend and restate the Original Credit Agreement and to
provide additional financing to refinance existing Indebtedness (as hereinafter
defined) and for general corporate and working capital purposes, and the Banks
are willing to provide such additional financing on the terms and conditions set
forth herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Borrowers (as hereinafter defined), the Banks
(including the Overdraft Bank), the Agent and the Syndication Agent (as
hereinafter defined) agree that on the Closing Date the Original Credit
Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as set forth herein and
shall remain in full force and effect only as set forth herein.

<PAGE>


                                      -2-


                   1. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF INTERPRETATION.

         1.1. Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings set forth
in this ss.1 or elsewhere in the provisions of this Credit Agreement referred to
below:

         Adjustment Date. The first day of the month immediately following the
month in which a Compliance Certificate is to be delivered by the Company
pursuant to ss.8.4(c).

         Affected Bank.  See ss.5.10.

         Affiliate. Any Person that would be considered to be an affiliate of
any Borrower under Rule 144(a) of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as in effect on the date hereof, if such Borrower were
issuing securities.

         Agent's Head Office. The Agent's head office located at 100 Federal
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, or at such other location as the Agent may
designate from time to time.

         Agent.  BankBoston, N.A.,  acting as agent for the Banks.

         Agent's Special Counsel. Bingham Dana LLP or such other counsel as may
be approved by the Agent.

         Applicable Margin. For each period commencing on an Adjustment Date
through the date immediately preceding the next Adjustment Date (each a "Rate
Adjustment Period"), the Applicable Margin shall be the applicable margin set
forth below with respect to the Company's Leverage Ratio, as determined for the
fiscal period of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending immediately prior to
the applicable Rate Adjustment Period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Dollar                                       Letter
Tier  Leverage Ratio               Base Rate   Sterling        Eurocurrency     of          Commitment
                                   Loans       Base Rate       Rate Loans       Credit      Fees
                                   (in basis   Loans           (in basis pts)   Fees        (in basis
                                   pts)        (in basis                        (in         pts)
                                               pts)                             basis
                                                                                pts)
<S>   <C>                            <C>         <C>             <C>            <C>          <C>
4     Greater  than  or  equal
      to 1.50:1.00                   0           150             150            150          50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                      -3-

<TABLE>


<S>   <C>                            <C>         <C>             <C>            <C>          <C>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3     Less than  1.50:1.00 but       0           125             125            125          37.50
      greater  than  or  equal
      to 1.25:1.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2     Less than  1.25:1.00 but       0           100             100            100          25
      greater  than  or  equal
      to 0.75:1.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1     Less than 0.75:1.00            0            75              75             75          25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


         Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) for Revolving Credit Loans
outstanding, the Overdraft Facility, Letter of Credit Fees and the commitment
fee payable during the period commencing on the Closing Date through the date
immediately preceding the first Adjustment Date to occur after the fiscal
quarter ending October 3, 1998, the Applicable Margin shall be Tier 1, and (b)
if the Company fails to deliver any Compliance Certificate pursuant to ss.8.4(c)
hereof then, for the period commencing on the next Adjustment Date to occur
subsequent to such failure through the date immediately following the date on
which such Compliance Certificate is delivered, the Applicable Margin shall be
the highest Applicable Margin set forth above.

         Assignment and Acceptance.  See ss.19.1.

         Balance Sheet Date.  January 3, 1998.

         Banks. BKB and the other lending institutions listed on Schedule 1
hereto and any other Person who becomes an assignee of any rights and
obligations of a Bank pursuant to ss.19, and, unless the context otherwise
requires, the Overdraft Bank.

         Base Rate. The higher of (a) the annual rate of interest announced from
time to time by BKB at its head office in Boston, Massachusetts, as its "base
rate" and (b) one-half of one percent (1/2%) above the Federal Funds Effective
Rate. For the purposes of this definition, "Federal Funds Effective Rate" shall
mean for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates
on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve
System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such
day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that
is a Business Day, the

<PAGE>

                                      -4-


average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the
Agent from three funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Agent.

         Base Rate Loans. Revolving Credit Loans bearing interest calculated by
reference to the Base Rate.

         BKB. BankBoston, N.A., a national banking association, in its
individual capacity.

         Borrower. The Company or any Borrowing Subsidiary, and "Borrowers"
shall mean the Company and each Borrowing Subsidiary.

         Borrowing Subsidiary.  Each of Holdings, Genrad Europe and Genrad Ltd.

         Business Day. Any day on which banking institutions in Boston,
Massachusetts, are open for the transaction of banking business and, in
addition, (a) if Eurocurrency Rate Loans are involved, a day on which dealings
in Dollars and the relevant Optional Currency and exchange can be carried on in
the relevant Eurocurrency Interbank Market and Dollar settlements of such
dealings may be effected, in New York, New York, and (b) if any Optional
Currency is involved, a day on which dealings in Dollars and the relevant
Optional Currency and exchange can be carried on in the principal financial
center of the country in which such currency is legal tender.

         Capital Assets. Fixed assets, both tangible (such as land, buildings,
fixtures, machinery and equipment) and intangible (such as patents, copyrights,
trademarks, franchises and good will); provided that Capital Assets shall not
include any item customarily charged directly to expense or depreciated over a
useful life of twelve (12) months or less in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.

         Capital Expenditures. Amounts paid or indebtedness incurred by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the purchase or lease by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Capital Assets that would be required
to be capitalized and shown on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles.

         Capitalized Leases. Leases under which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries 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.

         CERCLA.  See ss.7.17.
<PAGE>

                                      -5-


         Closing Date. The first date on which the conditions set forth in ss.12
have been satisfied and any Revolving Credit Loans are to be made or any Letter
of Credit is to be issued hereunder.

         Collateral Instrument. Letters of credit, guarantees, indemnities and
performance bonds in form and substance satisfactory to the Overdraft Bank
issued or to be issued by the Overdraft Bank to or for the account of any of the
Borrowing Subsidiaries pursuant to ss.2.

         Code.  The Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

         Commitment. With respect to each Bank, the amount set forth on Schedule
1 hereto as the amount of such Bank's commitment to make Revolving Credit Loans
to, and to participate in the issuance, extension and renewal of Letters of
Credit for the respective accounts of, any Borrower, as the same may be reduced
from time to time; or if such commitment is terminated pursuant to the
provisions hereof, zero.

         Commitment Fee Rate. The applicable rate per annum set forth in the
chart contained in the definition of Applicable Margin under the heading
"Commitment Fee".

         Commitment Percentage. With respect to each Bank, the percentage set
forth on Schedule 1 hereto as such Bank's percentage of the aggregate
Commitments of all of the Banks.

         Company.  As defined in the preamble hereto.

         Compliance Certificate.  See ss.8.4(c) hereof.

         Consolidated or consolidated. With reference to any term defined
herein, shall mean that term as applied to the accounts of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, consolidated in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

         Consolidated Current Assets. All assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, are properly classified as current assets.

         Consolidated Current Liabilities. All liabilities of the Company and
its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis maturing on demand or within one (1)
year from the date as of which Consolidated Current Liabilities are to be
determined, and such other liabilities as may properly be classified as current
liabilities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and
including all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and the Maximum Drawing Amount
of all issued Letters of Credit, whether or not so classified.

         Consolidated Net Income (or Deficit). The consolidated net income (or
deficit) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, after deduction of all expenses,

<PAGE>

                                      -6-


taxes, and other proper charges other than the Restructuring Charge, determined
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles

         Consolidated Recurring Operating Income. For any period, an amount
equal to (a) the Company's consolidated operating income (as such term is
defined in the Company's annual report) for such period less (b) for purposes of
calculating the Applicable Margin and compliance with the covenants set forth in
ss.10 hereof, the Restructuring Charge for such period, but only to the extent
such Restructuring Charge is taken in the second and/or third fiscal quarters of
the 1998 fiscal year.

         Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. The excess of Consolidated Total
Assets over Consolidated Total Liabilities, and less the sum of:

                  (a) the total book value of all assets of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries properly classified as intangible assets under generally
         accepted accounting principles, including such items as good will, 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; plus

                  (b) all amounts representing any write-up in the book value of
         any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries resulting from a
         revaluation thereof subsequent to the Balance Sheet Date; plus

                  (c) to the extent otherwise includable in the computation of
         Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, any subscriptions receivable.

         Consolidated Total Assets. All assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.

         Consolidated Total Interest Expense. For any period, the aggregate
amount of interest required to be paid or accrued by the Company and its
Subsidiaries during such period on all Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries outstanding during all or any part of such period, whether such
interest was or is required to be reflected as an item of expense or
capitalized, including payments consisting of interest in respect of Capitalized
Leases and including commitment fees, agency fees, facility fees, balance
deficiency fees and similar fees or expenses in connection with the borrowing of
money.

         Consolidated Total Liabilities. All liabilities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and all Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries whether or not so classified.

<PAGE>

                                      -7-


         Conversion Request. A notice given by any Borrower to the Agent of such
Borrower's election to convert or continue a Revolving Credit Loan in accordance
with ss.2.7.

         Counter Indemnities. Any indemnity or counter indemnity from any of the
Borrowing Subsidiaries, in favor of the Overdraft Bank with respect to any
Collateral Instrument issued to or for the account of such Borrowing Subsidiary,
in the standard form of indemnity or counter indemnity used by the Overdraft
Bank or in such other form and substance as may be satisfactory to the Overdraft
Bank and including (without limitation) any letter of credit application
incorporating indemnification language satisfactory to the Overdraft Bank.

         Credit Agreement. This Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit
Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto.

         Default.  See ss.13.1.

         Distribution. The declaration or payment of any dividend on or in
respect of any shares of any class of capital stock of any Borrower, other than
dividends payable solely in shares of common stock of such Borrower; the
purchase, redemption, or other retirement of any shares of any class of capital
stock of any Borrower, directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary of such
Borrower or otherwise; the return of capital by any Borrower to its shareholders
as such; or any other distribution on or in respect of any shares of any class
of capital stock of such Borrower.

         Dollars or $. Dollars in lawful currency of the United States of
America.

         Domestic Lending Office. Initially, the office of each Bank designated
as such in Schedule 1 hereto; thereafter, such other office of such Bank, if
any, located within the United States that will be making or maintaining Base
Rate Loans.

         Domestic Subsidiary. Any Subsidiary of any Borrower which conducts
substantially all of its business in the United States of America and that is
organized under the laws of the United States of America and the States (or the
District of Columbia) thereof.

         Drawdown Date. The date on which any Revolving Credit Loan is made or
is to be made, and the date on which any Revolving Credit Loan is converted or
continued in accordance with ss.2.7.

         EBITDA. With respect to any fiscal period, an amount equal to the sum
of (a) Consolidated Recurring Operating Income of the Company for such period,
plus (b) to the extent deducted in the calculation of the Company's Consolidated
Recurring Operating Income and without 


<PAGE>

                                      -8-


duplication, depreciation and amortization for such period, all as determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

         Eligible Assignee. Any of (a) a commercial bank or finance company
organized under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof or the
District of Columbia, and having total assets in excess of $1,000,000,000; (b) a
savings and loan association or savings bank organized under the laws of the
United States, or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and having a
net worth of at least $100,000,000, calculated in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles; (c) a commercial bank organized under the laws
of any other country which is a member of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (the "OECD"), or a political subdivision of any such
country, and having total assets in excess of $1,000,000,000, provided that such
bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the country in which it is
organized or another country which is also a member of the OECD; (d) the central
bank of any country which is a member of the OECD; and (e) if, but only if, any
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other bank, insurance
company, commercial finance company or other financial institution or other
Person approved by the Agent, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.

         Employee Benefit Plan. Any employee benefit plan within the meaning of
ss.3(3) of ERISA maintained of contributed to by any Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate, other than a Multiemployer Plan.

         Environmental Laws.  See ss.7.17(a).

         ERISA.  The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

         ERISA Affiliate. Any Person which is treated as a single employer with
any Borrower under ss.414 of the Code.

         ERISA Reportable Event. A reportable event with respect to a Guaranteed
Pension Plan within the meaning of ss.4043 of ERISA and the regulations
promulgated thereunder as to which the requirement of notice has not been
waived.

         Eurocurrency Interbank Market. Any lawful recognized market in which
deposits of Dollars and the relevant Optional Currencies are offered by
international banking units of United States banking institutions and by foreign
banking institutions to each other and in which foreign currency and exchange
operations or eurocurrency funding operations are customarily conducted.

         Eurocurrency Lending Office. Initially, the office of each Bank
designated as such on Schedule 1 hereto; thereafter, such other office of such
Bank, if any, that shall be making or maintaining Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

<PAGE>

                                      -9-


         Eurocurrency Offered Rate. With respect to the Interest Period of any
Eurocurrency Rate Advance, the annual rate of interest determined by the Agent
at or about 10:00 A.M. (in the jurisdiction in which the Eurocurrency Rate Loan
is requested) (or as soon thereafter as practicable) two (2) Business Days
preceding the first day of such Interest Period, as being the average of the
rates of interest per annum at which deposits in the currency of such
Eurocurrency Rate Loan are offered to the lending office of the Reference Bank
by prime banks in the Eurocurrency Interbank Market selected by the Reference
Bank in its sole discretion acting in good faith for such Interest Period, at
the time of the determination and in accordance with the usual practice in such
market, for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in immediately
available funds and having a maturity equal to such Interest Period and for the
number of days comprised therein, in an amount equal (as nearly as may be) to
such Reference Bank's Commitment Percentage of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

         Eurocurrency Rate. With respect to all Eurocurrency Rate Amounts for
any Interest Period, the annual rate of interest, rounded to the nearest 1/100
of one percent, determined by the Agent for such Interest Period in accordance
with the following formula:

                            Eurocurrency Offered Rate
                Eurocurrency Rate = 1 - Eurocurrency Reserve Rate

         Eurocurrency Rate Advance. Revolving Credit Loans denominated in
Dollars or in an Optional Currency bearing interest calculated by reference to
the Eurocurrency Rate.

         Eurocurrency Rate Amounts. Any portion of the principal amount of the
Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars or in an Optional Currency, on
which any Borrower has elected pursuant to ss.2.6 or 2.7 hereof to pay interest
based on the Eurocurrency Rate.

         Eurocurrency Reserve Rate. For any day with respect to a Eurocurrency
Rate Loan, the maximum rate (expressed as a decimal) at which the Agent would be
required to maintain reserves under Regulation D of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (or any successor or similar regulations relating to
such reserve requirements) against "Eurocurrency Liabilities" (as that term is
used in Regulation D), if such liabilities were outstanding. The Eurocurrency
Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of
any change in the Eurocurrency Reserve Rate.

         Event of Default.  See ss.13.1.

         Fee Letter. The fee letter dated as of the Closing Date between the
Company and the Agent.

<PAGE>

                                      -10-


         Foreign Subsidiaries. Any Subsidiary that conducts substantially all of
its business in countries other than the United States of America and that is
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of
America and the states thereof.

         generally accepted accounting principles. (a) When used in ss.10,
whether directly or indirectly through reference to a capitalized term used
therein, means (i) principles that are consistent with the principles
promulgated or adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and its
predecessors, in effect for the fiscal year ended on the Balance Sheet Date, and
(ii) to the extent consistent with such principles, the accounting practice of
the Company reflected in its financial statements for the year ended on the
Balance Sheet Date, and (b) when used in general, other than as provided above,
means principles that are (i) consistent with the principles promulgated or
adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and its predecessors, as in
effect from time to time, and (ii) consistently applied with past financial
statements of the Company adopting the same principles, provided that in each
case referred to in this definition of "generally accepted accounting
principles" a certified public accountant would, insofar as the use of such
accounting principles is pertinent, be in a position to deliver an unqualified
opinion (other than a qualification regarding changes in generally accepted
accounting principles) as to financial statements in which such principles have
been properly applied.

         Guaranteed Pension Plan. Any employee pension benefit plan within the
meaning of ss.3(2) of ERISA maintained or contributed to by any Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate the benefits of which are guaranteed on termination in full or
in part by the PBGC pursuant to Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer
Plan.

         Guarantors. Each of the Domestic Subsidiaries other than GenRad
Securities Corporation; provided, however, in the event GenRad Securities
Corporation becomes, in the Agent's reasonable determination, an active
Subsidiary, GenRad Securities Corporation shall immediately upon becoming an
active Subsidiary, become a Guarantor hereunder.

         Guaranty. That certain Second Amended and Restated Guaranty dated on or
prior to the Closing Date from each Guarantor in favor of the Agent and the
Banks and in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and the Banks.

         Hazardous Substances.  See ss.7.17(b).

         Indebtedness. All obligations, contingent and otherwise, that in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles should be classified
upon the obligor's balance sheet as liabilities, or to which reference should be
made by footnotes thereto, including in any event and whether or not so
classified: (a) all debt and similar monetary obligations, whether direct or
indirect; (b) all liabilities secured by any mortgage, pledge, 


<PAGE>

                                      -11-


security interest, lien, charge or other encumbrance existing on property owned
or acquired subject thereto, whether or not the liability secured thereby shall
have been assumed; and (c) all guarantees, endorsements and other contingent
obligations whether direct or indirect in respect of indebtedness of others,
including any obligation to supply funds to or in any manner to invest in,
directly or indirectly, the debtor, to purchase indebtedness, or to assure the
owner of indebtedness against loss, through an agreement to purchase goods,
supplies, or services for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of
the indebtedness held by such owner or otherwise, and the obligations to
reimburse the issuer in respect of any letters of credit.

         Interest Payment Date. (a) As to any Base Rate Loan, the last day of
the month which includes the Drawdown Date thereof; and (b) as to any
Eurocurrency Rate Loan in respect of which the Interest Period is (i) three (3)
months or less, the last day of such Interest Period and (ii) more than three
(3) months, the date that is three (3) months from the first day of such
Interest Period and, in addition, the last day of such Interest Period.

         Interest Period. With respect to each Revolving Credit Loan, (a)
initially, the period commencing on the Drawdown Date of such Revolving Credit
Loan and ending on the last day of one of the periods set forth below, as
selected by the relevant Borrower in a Loan Request (i) for any Base Rate Loan,
the last day of the fiscal quarter; and (ii) for any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, 1,
2, 3 or 6 months; and (b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of
the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Revolving Credit Loan and
ending on the last day of one of the periods set forth above, as selected by
such Borrower in a Conversion Request; provided that all of the foregoing
provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:

                  (a) if any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate
         Loan would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, that
         Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day
         unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest
         Period into another calendar month, in which event such Interest Period
         shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

                  (b) if any Interest Period with respect to a Base Rate Loan
         would end on a day that is not a Business Day, that Interest Period
         shall end on the next succeeding Business Day;

                  (c) if such Borrower shall fail to give notice as provided in
         ss.2.7, (i) for Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars, such
         Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a conversion of the affected
         Eurocurrency Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan and the continuance of all
         Base Rate Loans as Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current
         Interest Period with respect thereto and (ii) for Revolving Credit
         Loans denominated in any Optional Currency, such Borrower 


<PAGE>

                                      -12-


shall repay such Revolving Credit Loan on the last day of the then current
Interest Period with respect thereto;

                  (d) any Interest Period relating to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan
         that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day
         for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar
         month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last
         Business Day of a calendar month; and

                  (e) any Interest Period relating to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan
         that would otherwise extend beyond the Revolving Credit Loan Maturity
         Date shall end on the Revolving Credit Loan Maturity Date.

         Investments. All expenditures made and all liabilities 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 as described under
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 a guaranty shall be taken at not less than the
principal amount of the obligations guaranteed 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 be deducted in respect of each such Investment any amount
received as a return of capital (but only by repurchase, redemption, retirement,
repayment, liquidating dividend or liquidating distribution); (d) 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 (e) there shall not be deducted from the aggregate
amount of Investments any decrease in the value thereof.

         Letter of Credit.  See ss.4.1.1.

         Letter of Credit Application.  See ss.4.1.1.

         Letter of Credit Participation.  See ss.4.1.4.

         Leverage Ratio. As at the end of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a)
Total Funded Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding on
such date to (b) the EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period
of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters (treated as a single accounting period)
ending on such date.

         Loan Documents. This Credit Agreement, the Revolving Credit Notes, the
Letter of Credit Applications, the Letters of Credit, the Fee Letter and the
Guaranty.

         Loan Request.  See ss.2.6.

<PAGE>

                                      -13-


         Majority Banks. As of any date, the Banks holding at least sixty-six
and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the outstanding principal amount of the
Revolving Credit Notes on such date; and if no such principal is outstanding,
the Banks whose aggregate Commitments constitutes at least sixty-six and
two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the Total Commitment.

         Maximum Drawing Amount. The maximum aggregate amount that the
beneficiaries may at any time draw under outstanding Letters of Credit, as such
aggregate amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms of the
Letters of Credit.

         Maximum Overdraft Amount. The Dollar equivalent of (pound)2,000,000, as
the same may be  reduced  from time to time;  or if the  Overdraft  Facility  is
terminated pursuant to the provisions hereof, zero.

         Multiemployer Plan. Any multiemployer plan within the meaning of
ss.3(37) of ERISA maintained or contributed to by any Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate.

         Non-Affected Banks. As at any date of determination, those Banks which
are not Affected Banks.

         Obligations. All indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of any of
the Company and its Subsidiaries to any of the Banks and the Agent, individually
or collectively, existing on the date of this Credit Agreement or arising
thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent,
matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising
by contract, operation of law or otherwise, arising or incurred under this
Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the
Loans made or Reimbursement Obligations incurred or any of the Revolving Credit
Notes, Letter of Credit Application, Letter of Credit, Collateral Instrument or
other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.

         OC Notice.  See ss.2.9.1 hereof.

         Optional Currency. Any currency other than Dollars which is freely
convertible into Dollars and which is traded on any recognized Eurocurrency
Interbank Market selected by the Agent in good faith.

         outstanding. With respect to the Revolving Credit Loans, the aggregate
unpaid principal thereof as of any date of determination.

         Overdraft Bank.  BKB, acting through its London branch.

         Overdraft Facility.  See ss.2.10.

         PBGC. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation created by ss.4002 of
ERISA and any successor entity or entities having similar responsibilities.


<PAGE>

                                      -14-


         Permitted Liens. Liens, security interests and other encumbrances
permitted by ss.19.2.

         Person. Any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, unincorporated
association,  business,  or  other  legal  entity,  and  any  government  or any
governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.

         Rate Adjustment Period.  See the definition of "Applicable Margin".

         Rate of Exchange.  See ss.2.9.2 hereof.

         Real Estate. All real property at any time owned or leased (as lessee
or sublessee) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

         Record. The grid attached to a Revolving Credit Note, or the
continuation of such grid, or any other similar record, including computer
records, maintained by any Bank with respect to any Revolving Credit Loan
referred to in such Revolving Credit Note.

         Reference Bank.  BankBoston, N.A.

         Reimbursement Obligation. Any Borrower's obligation to reimburse the
Agent and the Banks on account of any drawing under any Letter of Credit as
provided in ss.4.2.

         Restructuring Charge. That certain nonrecurring restructuring charge of
the Company to be taken in the second and/or third fiscal quarters of the 1998
fiscal year, provided, the aggregate amount of such Restructuring Charge
(whether taken in the second fiscal quarter, the third fiscal quarter, or both
fiscal quarters) shall not exceed $40,000,000.

         Revolving Credit Loan Maturity Date.  July 16, 2001.

         Revolving Credit Loans. Revolving credit loans made or to be made by
the Banks to any Borrower pursuant to ss.2 and advances made on the Overdraft
Facility pursuant to ss.2.

         Revolving Credit Notes.  See ss.2.4.

         Sterling or (pound). Pounds Sterling in lawful currency of the United
Kingdom.

         Sterling Base Rate. The annual rate of interest announced from time to
time by the Agent at its London branch as its "base rate" for loans denominated
in Sterling.

         Sterling Base Rate Loans. Overdraft Facility advances bearing interest
calculated by reference to the Sterling Base Rate.

<PAGE>

                                      -15-


         Subsidiary. Any corporation, association, trust, or other business
entity of which the designated parent 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.

         Syndication Agent. Fleet National Bank in its capacity as syndication
agent for the Banks.

         Total Commitment. The sum of the Commitments of the Banks, as in effect
from time to time.

         Total Funded Indebtedness. All Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for borrowed money, purchase money Indebtedness and with respect to
Capitalized Leases, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.

         Type. As to any Revolving Credit Loan, its nature as a Base Rate Loan
or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

         Uniform Customs. With respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform
Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (1993 Revision), International
Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 500 or any successor version thereto adopted
by the Agent in the ordinary course of its business as a letter of credit issuer
and in effect at the time of issuance of such Letter of Credit.

         Unpaid Reimbursement Obligation. Any Reimbursement Obligation for which
any Borrower does not reimburse the Agent and the Banks on the date specified
in, and in accordance with, ss.4.2.

         Voting Stock. Stock or similar interests, of any class or classes
(however designated), the holders of which are at the time entitled, as such
holders, to vote for the election of a majority of the directors (or persons
performing similar functions) of the corporation, association, trust or other
business entity involved, whether or not the right so to vote exists by reason
of the happening of a contingency.

         1.2.  Rules of Interpretation.

               (a) A reference to any document or agreement shall include such
         document or agreement as amended, modified or supplemented from time to
         time in accordance with its terms and the terms of this Credit
         Agreement.

               (b) The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the
         singular.

               (c) A reference to any law includes any amendment or modification
         to such law.

<PAGE>

                                      -16-


               (d) A reference to any Person includes its permitted successors
         and permitted assigns.

               (e) Accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
         meanings assigned to them by generally accepted accounting principles
         applied on a consistent basis by the accounting entity to which they
         refer.

               (f) The words "include", "includes" and "including" are not
         limiting.

               (g) All terms not specifically defined herein or by generally
         accepted accounting principles, which terms are defined in the Uniform
         Commercial Code as in effect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have
         the meanings assigned to them therein, with the term "instrument" being
         that defined under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

               (h) Reference to a particular "ss." refers to that section of
         this Credit Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

               (i) The words "herein", "hereof", "hereunder" and words of like
         import shall refer to this Credit Agreement as a whole and not to any
         particular section or subdivision of this Credit Agreement.

                        2. THE REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY.

         2.1.  Commitment to Lend. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in this Credit Agreement, each of the Banks severally agrees to lend to any
Borrower and any Borrower may borrow, repay, and reborrow from time to time
between the Closing Date and the Revolving Credit Loan Maturity Date upon notice
by such Borrower to the Agent given in accordance with ss.2.6, such sums, in
Dollars and/or at any Borrower's option from time to time, subject to ss.2.9
hereof, in an Optional Currency, as are requested by the Borrower up to a
maximum aggregate amount outstanding (after giving effect to all amounts
requested) at any one time equal to such Bank's Commitment minus such Bank's
Commitment Percentage of the sum of the Maximum Drawing Amount, all Unpaid
Reimbursement Obligations and the Maximum Overdraft Amount, provided that the
sum of the outstanding amount of the Revolving Credit Loans (after giving effect
to all amounts requested) plus the Maximum Overdraft Amount, plus the Maximum
Drawing Amount and all Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations shall not at any time
exceed the Total Commitment. The Revolving Credit Loans shall be made pro rata
in accordance with each Bank's Commitment Percentage. Each request for a
Revolving Credit Loan and each utilization of the Overdraft Facility hereunder
shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the
conditions set forth in ss.11 and ss.12, in the case of the initial Revolving
Credit Loans to be made, and the utilizations of the Overdraft Facility, on the
Closing Date, and ss.12, in the case of all other 


<PAGE>

                                      -17-


Revolving Credit Loans and utilizations of the Overdraft Facility, have been
satisfied on the date of such request. Each Base Rate Loan shall be denominated
in Dollars, and each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be denominated in Dollars or,
subject to ss.2.9 hereof, in an Optional Currency.

         2.2.  Commitment Fee. The Company agrees to pay to the Agent for the
accounts of the Banks in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages
a commitment fee calculated at the rate of the Commitment Fee Rate per annum on
the average daily amount during each calendar quarter or portion thereof from
the date hereof to the Revolving Credit Loan Maturity Date by which the Total
Commitment minus the sum of (i) the Maximum Drawing Amount and (ii) all Unpaid
Reimbursement Obligations and (iii) the Total Overdraft Usage exceeds the
outstanding amount of Revolving Credit Loans during such calendar quarter. The
commitment fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the first day of each
calendar quarter for the immediately preceding calendar quarter commencing on
the first such date following the date hereof, with a final payment on the
Revolving Credit Maturity Date or any earlier date on which the Commitments
shall terminate.

         2.3. Reduction of Total Commitment. The Company shall have the right at
any time and from time to time upon two (2) Business Days prior written notice
to the Agent to reduce by $500,000 or an integral multiple thereof or terminate
entirely the Total Commitment, whereupon the Commitments of the Banks shall be
reduced pro rata in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages of
the amount specified in such notice or, as the case may be, terminated. Promptly
after receiving any notice of the Company delivered pursuant to this ss.2.3, the
Agent will notify the Banks of the substance thereof. Upon the effective date of
any such reduction or termination, the Company shall pay to the Agent for the
respective accounts of the Banks the full amount of any commitment fee then
accrued on the amount of the reduction. No reduction or termination of the
Commitments may be reinstated.

         2.4.  The Revolving Credit Notes. The Revolving Credit Loans shall be
evidenced by separate amended and restated promissory notes of each of the
Borrowers in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (each a "Revolving
Credit Note"), dated as of the Closing Date and completed with appropriate
insertions. One Revolving Credit Note shall be payable to the order of each Bank
in a principal amount equal to such Bank's Commitment or, if less, the
outstanding amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by such Bank, plus
interest accrued thereon, as set forth below. Each Borrower irrevocably
authorizes each Bank to make or cause to be made, at or about the time of the
Drawdown Date of any Revolving Credit Loan or at the time of receipt of any
payment of principal on such Bank's Revolving Credit Note, an appropriate
notation on such Bank's Record reflecting the making of such Revolving Credit
Loan or (as the case may be) the receipt of such payment. The outstanding amount
of the Revolving Credit Loans set forth on such Bank's Record shall be prima
facie evidence of the principal 

<PAGE>

                                      -18-


amount thereof owing and unpaid to such Bank, but the failure to record, or any
error in so recording, any such amount on such Bank's Record shall not limit or
otherwise affect the obligations of the applicable Borrower hereunder or under
any Revolving Credit Note to make payments of principal of or interest on any
Revolving Credit Note when due.

         2.5. Interest on Revolving Credit Loans. Except as otherwise provided
in ss.5.11,

         (a) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest for the period commencing
with the Drawdown Date thereof and ending on the last day of the Interest Period
with respect thereto at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

         (b) Each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest for the period
commencing with the Drawdown Date thereof and ending on the last day of the
Interest Period with respect thereto at the rate per annum equal to the
Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin.

         (c) Each of the Borrowers promises to pay interest on each Revolving
Credit Loan made to such Borrower in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with
respect thereto. Interest on the Revolving Credit Loans calculated by reference
to the Base Rate shall be payable in Dollars, and interest on the Revolving
Credit Loans calculated by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate shall be payable
in Dollars or in the applicable Optional Currency in which the underlying
Revolving Credit Loan was made, as the case may be.

         2.6.  Requests for Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower requesting any
Revolving Credit Loan (other than a Revolving Credit Loan constituting an
advance made on the Overdraft Facility) shall give to the Agent, at the Agent's
Head Office, written notice in the form of Exhibit C hereto (or telephonic
notice confirmed in a writing in the form of Exhibit C hereto) of each Revolving
Credit Loan requested hereunder (a "Loan Request") no later than (a) 10:30 a.m.
(Boston time) on the proposed Drawdown Date of any Base Rate Loan and (b) three
(3) Business Days prior to the proposed Drawdown Date of any Eurocurrency Rate
Loan provided that any such notice requesting an Optional Currency must comply
with the requirements of this ss.2.6 and the requirements of an OC Notice
pursuant to ss.2.9.1. Each such notice shall specify (a) the principal amount of
the Revolving Credit Loan requested, stated in either Dollars, or, subject to
ss.2.9 hereof, in an Optional Currency, (b) the proposed Drawdown Date of such
Revolving Credit Loan, (c) the Interest Period for such Revolving Credit Loan,
(d) the Type of such Revolving Credit Loan and (e) the Borrower's account to
which payment of the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loan is to be made.
Promptly upon receipt of any such notice, the Agent shall notify each of the
Banks thereof. Each Loan Request shall be irrevocable and binding on the
Borrower and shall obligate the Borrower to accept the Revolving Credit Loan
requested from the Banks on the proposed Drawdown Date. Each Loan Request for a
Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be in a minimum 


<PAGE>

                                      -19-


aggregate amount of $500,000 or an integral multiple thereof, and each Loan
Request for a Base Rate Loan shall be in a minimum aggregate amount of $50,000
or an integral multiple thereof.

         2.7.  Conversion Options.

               2.7.1. Conversion to Different Type of Revolving Credit Loan. Any
         Borrower may elect from time to time to convert any outstanding
         Revolving Credit Loan (other than a Revolving Credit Loan constituting
         an advance on the Overdraft Facility) denominated in Dollars to a
         Revolving Credit Loan of another Type denominated in Dollars, provided
         that (a) with respect to any such conversion of a Eurocurrency Rate
         Loan to a Base Rate Loan, such Borrower shall give the Agent at least
         prior written notice of such election by not later than 10:30 a.m. on
         such Conversion Date; (b) with respect to any such conversion of a Base
         Rate Loan to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, such Borrower shall give the
         Agent at least three (3) Business Days prior written notice of such
         election; (c) with respect to any such conversion of a Eurocurrency
         Rate Loan into a Revolving Credit Loan of another Type, such conversion
         shall only be made on the last day of the Interest Period with respect
         thereto and (d) no Base Rate Loan may be converted into a Eurocurrency
         Rate Loan when any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
         continuing. On the date on which such conversion is being made each
         Bank shall take such action as is necessary to transfer its Commitment
         Percentage of such Revolving Credit Loans to its Domestic Lending
         Office or its Eurocurrency Lending Office, as the case may be. All or
         any part of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (other than a Revolving
         Credit Loan constituting an advance on the Overdraft Facility)
         denominated in Dollars of any Type may be converted into a Revolving
         Credit Loan of another Type as provided herein, provided that any
         partial conversion shall be in an aggregate principal amount of
         $1,000,000 or a whole multiple thereof. Each Conversion Request
         relating to the conversion of a Revolving Credit Loan to a Eurocurrency
         Rate Loan shall be irrevocable by the applicable Borrower.

               2.7.2. Continuation of Type of Revolving Credit Loan. Any
         Revolving Credit Loan (other than a Revolving Credit Loan constituting
         an advance on the Overdraft Facility) of any Type may be continued as a
         Revolving Credit Loan of the same Type upon the expiration of an
         Interest Period with respect thereto by compliance by the applicable
         Borrower with the notice provisions contained in ss.2.7.1; provided
         that (a) as to Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, no such
         Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued as such when any Default or
         Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, but shall be
         automatically converted to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the
         first Interest Period relating thereto ending during the continuance of
         any Default or Event of Default of which officers of the Agent active
         upon the Parent's account have actual 


<PAGE>

                                      -20-


         knowledge; and (b) as to Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in
         Optional Currency, no such Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued as
         such when any Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing
         or the provisions of ss.2.9 hereof have not or cannot be met at the
         time of such continuation, but shall be repaid by the applicable
         Borrower on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto. In
         the event that a Borrower fails to provide any such notice with respect
         to the continuation of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan as such, then (a) as
         to Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, such Eurocurrency
         Rate Loans shall be automatically converted to a Base Rate Loan on the
         last day of the first Interest Period relating thereto, and (b) as to
         Eurocurrency Rate Advances denominated in an Optional Currency, shall
         be repaid on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto. The
         Agent shall notify the Banks promptly when any such automatic
         conversion contemplated by this ss.2.7 is scheduled to occur.

               2.7.3.  Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Any conversion to or from
         Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant
         to such elections so that, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate
         principal amount of all Eurocurrency Rate Loans having the same
         Interest Period shall not be less than $500,000 or a whole multiple of
         $10,000 in excess thereof (or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans
         denominated in an Optional Currency, that whole number which is nearest
         to the Dollar equivalent of $500,000 or $10,000, as the case may be,
         rounded to the nearest one thousandth). In no event shall the Borrowers
         have more than ten (10) Eurocurrency Rate Loans outstanding at any one
         time.

         2.8.  Funds for Revolving Credit Loan.

               2.8.1. Funding Procedures. Not later than 11:00 a.m. (Boston
         time) on the proposed Drawdown Date of any Revolving Credit Loans
         (other than a Revolving Credit Loan constituting an advance on the
         Overdraft Facility), each of the Banks will make available to the
         Agent, at the Agent's Head Office, in immediately available funds, the
         amount of such Bank's Commitment Percentage of the amount of the
         requested Revolving Credit Loans. Upon receipt from each Bank of such
         amount, and upon receipt of the documents required by ss.ss.11 and 12
         and the satisfaction of the other conditions set forth therein, to the
         extent applicable, the Agent will make available to the Borrower the
         aggregate amount of such Revolving Credit Loans made available to the
         Agent by the Banks. The failure or refusal of any Bank to make
         available to the Agent at the aforesaid time and place on any Drawdown
         Date the amount of its Commitment Percentage of the requested Revolving
         Credit Loans shall not relieve any other Bank from its several
         obligation hereunder to make available to the Agent the amount of such
         other Bank's Commitment Percentage of any requested Revolving Credit
         Loans.

<PAGE>

                                      -21-


               2.8.2. Advances by Agent. The Agent may, unless notified to the
         contrary by any Bank prior to a Drawdown Date, assume that such Bank
         has made available to the Agent on such Drawdown Date the amount of
         such Bank's Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Credit Loans to be
         made on such Drawdown Date, and the Agent may (but it shall not be
         required to), in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the
         applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. If any Bank makes available
         to the Agent such amount on a date after such Drawdown Date, such Bank
         shall pay to the Agent on demand an amount equal to the product of (a)
         the average computed for the period referred to in clause (c) below, of
         the weighted average interest rate paid by the Agent for federal funds
         acquired by the Agent during each day included in such period, times
         (b) the amount of such Bank's Commitment Percentage of such Revolving
         Credit Loans, times (c) a fraction, the numerator of which is the
         number of days that elapse from and including such Drawdown Date to the
         date on which the amount of such Bank's Commitment Percentage of such
         Revolving Credit Loans shall become immediately available to the Agent,
         and the denominator of which is 365. A statement of the Agent submitted
         to such Bank with respect to any amounts owing under this paragraph
         shall be prima facie evidence of the amount due and owing to the Agent
         by such Bank. If the amount of such Bank's Commitment Percentage of
         such Revolving Credit Loans is not made available to the Agent by such
         Bank within three (3) Business Days following such Drawdown Date, the
         Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount from the applicable
         Borrower on demand, with interest thereon at the rate per annum
         applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans made on such Drawdown Date. In
         the event any Bank fails to make such Bank's Commitment Percentage of
         such Revolving Credit Loans available to the Agent within one (1)
         Business Day following the Drawdown Date, the Agent shall provide to
         the Borrower written notice of such failure, provided, a failure by the
         Agent to so provide such notice shall not affect the Agent's rights
         under this ss.2.8.2.

         2.9. Optional Currencies.

               2.9.1. Request for Optional Currency. Subject to the limitations
         set forth in ss.2.1.1, any Borrower may, upon at least three (3)
         Business Days' notice to the Agent (an "OC Notice"), request that one
         or more Revolving Credit Loans (other than a Revolving Credit Loan
         constituting an advance on the Overdraft Facility) be made as
         Eurocurrency Rate Loans in an Optional Currency, provided that any
         Revolving Credit Loan proposed to be made under this ss.2.9.1 shall be
         in an amount not less than $500,000, or a greater amount which is an
         integral multiple of $10,000, or the equivalent in an Optional
         Currency. Each OC Notice requesting a Revolving Credit Loan in an
         Optional Currency shall be by telephone, telex, telecopy or cable (in
         each case confirmed in writing by the requesting Borrower), specifying
         (a) the Revolving Credit Loan to be made, (b) the requested date of the

<PAGE>

                                      -22-


         proposed borrowing, (c) the requested currency in which the Revolving
         Credit Loan is to be made, (d) the initial Interest Period for the
         Revolving Credit Loan to be borrowed, and (e) such Borrower's account
         with the Agent, or, in the case of an Optional Currency which is the
         legal tender of a country in which the Agent has no office, with
         another depository specified by such Borrower in such country, to which
         payment of the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loan is to be made. If
         any Bank, on or prior to the second Business Day preceding the first
         day of any Interest Period for which an OC Notice has been delivered
         requesting a Revolving Credit Loan in an Optional Currency or on any
         funding date, determines (which determination shall be conclusive) that
         the Optional Currency is not freely transferable and convertible into
         Dollars or that it will be impracticable for such Bank to fund the
         Revolving Credit Loan in such Optional Currency, then such Bank shall
         so notify Agent, which notification shall be given immediately by the
         Agent to the applicable Borrower, and such Bank's portion of the
         requested Revolving Credit Loan shall, notwithstanding any contrary
         election by such Borrower or any other provisions hereof, be
         denominated in Dollars as a Base Rate Loan unless such Borrower, one
         Business Day prior to the commencement of the Interest Period and
         pursuant to the terms of ss.2.6 hereof elects to have such Revolving
         Credit Loan denominated in Dollars as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan. In the
         event that such Borrower repays such portion of a Revolving Credit Loan
         denominated in Dollars as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan,
         as the case may be, in accordance with ss.3.3 hereof and such repayment
         results in Revolving Credit Loans outstanding that are not pro rata in
         accordance with the Commitment Percentages, then all subsequent
         principal repayments denominated in the Optional Currency which the
         applicable Bank did not advance shall be made by such Borrower to the
         Agent for the respective accounts of such Banks other than such Bank on
         a pro rata basis until such time as the Revolving Credit Loans are
         outstanding on a pro rata basis. Subject to the foregoing and to the
         satisfaction of the terms and conditions of ss.ss.11 and 12, each
         Revolving Credit Loan requested to be made in an Optional Currency will
         be made on the date specified therefor in the OC Notice, in the
         currency requested in the OC Notice and, upon being so made, will have
         the Interest Period requested in the OC Notice.

               2.9.2.  Exchange Rate. For purposes of this Credit Agreement the
         amount in one currency which shall be equivalent on any particular date
         to a specified amount in another currency shall be that amount (as
         conclusively ascertained by the Agent by its normal banking practices,
         absent manifest error) in the first currency which is or could be
         purchased by the Agent (in accordance with normal banking practices)
         with such specified amount in the second currency in any recognized
         Eurocurrency Interbank Market selected by the Agent in good faith for
         delivery on such date at the spot rate of exchange prevailing at 10:00
         A.M. (Boston time) (or as soon thereafter 


<PAGE>

                                      -23-


         as practicable) on such date (such amount described in this ss.2.9.2,
         the "Rate of Exchange").

               2.9.3. Multiple Denominations. In the event that any portion of
         the funds available under the terms of this Credit Agreement is
         denominated in one or more Optional Currencies, the Dollar equivalent
         of such portion of the funds shall be calculated pursuant to ss.2.9.2
         above. The amount so determined shall then be added to the amount
         already outstanding in Dollars for the purpose of determining the
         remaining availability of funds under ss.2.1 and ss.2.9.1 hereof and
         any required repayments under the following ss.2.9.4.

               2.9.4. Repayment. If at any time prior to the Revolving Credit
         Loan Maturity Date, the Dollar equivalent of the aggregate principal
         amount outstanding of all Revolving Credit Loans, Unpaid Reimbursement
         Obligations and the Maximum Drawing Amount hereunder shall exceed the
         Total Commitment as a result of fluctuations in respective conversion
         rates, the Borrowers shall pay or cause to be paid immediately, upon
         demand made by the Agent, such amounts as are sufficient to eliminate
         such excess and to reduce the aggregate principal amount outstanding to
         the Dollar equivalent of the Total Commitment. In the event there are
         any Revolving Credit Loans outstanding which are denominated in an
         Optional Currency, the Agent shall provide the Banks and the Borrowers
         with calculations on the last day of each calendar month that such
         Loans are outstanding as to the Dollar Equivalents of such Loans.

               2.9.5. Funding. Each Bank may make any Eurocurrency Rate Loan
         denominated in an Optional Currency by causing any of its foreign
         branches or foreign affiliates to make such Eurocurrency Rate Loan
         (whether or not such branch or affiliate is named as a lending office
         on the signature pages hereof); provided that in such event the
         obligation of any Borrower to repay such Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall
         nevertheless be to such Bank and shall, for all purposes of this Credit
         Agreement (including without limitation for purposes of the definition
         of the term "Majority Banks") be deemed made by such Bank, to the
         extent of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, for the account of such branch
         or affiliate.

         2.10.  Overdraft Facility.

         (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Credit Agreement,
including, without limitation, the conditions of this ss.2.10, each of the
Borrowing Subsidiaries may from time to time between the date hereof and the
Revolving Credit Loan Maturity Date (i) utilize an overdraft facility on a
Sterling-denominated current account with the Overdraft Bank in the name of the
applicable Borrowing Subsidiary (the "Overdraft Facility") by causing checks or
other items denominated in Sterling to be presented for payment against such
current account in amounts greater than the then available 


<PAGE>

                                      -24-


balance in such current account and (ii) request that the Overdraft Bank agree
to issue Collateral Instruments to or for the account of the Borrowing
Subsidiaries upon receipt by it of a duly-completed and executed Counter
Indemnity the requesting Borrowing Subsidiary in respect of each such Collateral
Instrument, in form and substance satisfactory to the Overdraft Bank provided
that the aggregate amount of all liabilities of the Borrowing Subsidiaries in
respect of the Overdraft Facility and all such Counter Indemnities (whether
contingent or otherwise) (the "Total Overdraft Usage") shall not exceed the
Maximum Overdraft Amount. As to the Overdraft Facility, each such presentation
shall be deemed to be a request by the applicable Borrowing Subsidiary for a
utilization of the Overdraft Facility in an amount equal to the excess of such
check or other item over such available balance, and shall be irrevocable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at no time shall the Total Overdraft Usage exceed
the Maximum Overdraft Amount. After the occurrence of an Event of Default, the
Overdraft Bank may terminate the Overdraft Facility in its entirety and reduce
the Maximum Overdraft Amount to zero with immediate effect at its sole
discretion by written notice to the Borrowers, and the entire principal amount
of the debit balance in the Overdraft Facility, together with all interest
accrued thereon, shall become immediately due and payable. The entire principal
amount of the debit balance in the Overdraft Facility, together with all
interest accrued thereon, shall be due and payable on the Revolving Credit Loan
Maturity Date.

         (b) If at any time the outstanding amount of the debit balance in the
Overdraft Facility plus the aggregate amount of all liabilities in respect of
all Counter Indemnities shall exceed the Maximum Overdraft Amount (due to
currency fluctuations or otherwise), the Borrowers hereby jointly and severally,
absolutely and unconditionally promise to repay the amount of such excess to the
Agent for the account of the Overdraft Bank.

         (c) Interest on the Overdraft Facility shall be payable on the day to
day cleared debit balance in the applicable Borrowing Subsidiary's current
account maintained with the Overdraft Bank. Except as provided in ss.5.11
hereto, interest on the Overdraft Facility shall be payable at the annual
percentage rate of interest determined by the Agent to be the sum of (i) the
Sterling Base Rate, plus (ii) the Applicable Margin with respect to Sterling
Base Rate Loans as in effect from time to time. The rate of interest on the
Overdraft Facility shall be adjusted from time to time to reflect changes in the
Sterling Base Rate and the Applicable Margin. Any such change in such rate of
interest shall become effective on the date of the change in the Sterling Base
Rate and/or the date of the change in the Applicable Margin. The Borrowers
jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the Overdraft Facility (i)
monthly in arrears on the last day of each calendar month, commencing on the
first such date following the Closing Date and (ii) the date on which the
Overdraft Facility is repaid in full.

         (d) Interest due with respect to the Overdraft Facility shall be paid
to the Agent for the account of the Overdraft Bank, provided that to the 


<PAGE>

                                      -25-


extent that a Bank has paid to the Overdraft Bank any amount in respect of the
Overdraft Facility as provided in ss.2.10(e), interest to the extent of such
amount shall thereafter be for the account of such Bank, minus one-eighth of one
percent (1/8%) which shall be for the account of the Overdraft Bank.

         (e) Each Bank irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the
Agent for the account of the Overdraft Bank on demand made by the Overdraft Bank
through the Agent:

                  (i) its Commitment Percentage of the debit balance from time
             to time in the applicable Borrowing Subsidiary's current account
             maintained with the Overdraft Bank such Borrowing Subsidiary fails
             to pay together with interest which has accrued with respect
             thereto; and

                  (ii) such additional amount as shall be necessary to reimburse
             the Overdraft Bank for its cost of funding the amount payable by
             such Bank as mentioned in clause (i) above during the period
             beginning on the date the amount was due from such Borrowing
             Subsidiary and ending on the date demand is made on such Bank for
             payment of the same,

and agrees that neither the Overdraft Bank nor the Agent shall be obliged to
make any demand on or take any proceedings against any Borrowing Subsidiary or
any other person before making demand on such Bank hereunder. The provisions of
ss.15.5.3 shall apply to the obligations of the Banks under this ss.2.10.

         (f) The Borrowers jointly and severally, irrevocably and
unconditionally agree to reimburse to each Bank any amount paid by such Bank
pursuant to this ss.2.10 and agree that such amounts shall be Obligations
hereunder. The Borrowers further agree to indemnify and hold such Bank harmless
against all actions, proceedings, liabilities, claims, demands, costs and
expenses of whatsoever nature and howsoever occurring which such Bank may
properly incur, suffer or sustain by reason of its payment of such amount.

         (g) The applicable Borrower shall, on the date of issuance or any
extension or renewal of any Collateral Instrument and at such other time or
times as such charges are customarily made by the Overdraft Bank, pay a fee (in
each case, a "Collateral Instrument Fee") to the Overdraft Bank in respect of
each Collateral Instrument equal to the rate of the Applicable Margin for
Eurocurrency Rate Loans per annum on the face amount of each such Collateral
Instrument, plus the Overdraft Bank's customary issuance fee, such fee to be for
the account of the Overdraft Bank.


<PAGE>

                                      -26-


                   3. REPAYMENT OF THE REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS.

         3.1. Maturity. Each of the Borrowers promises to pay on the Revolving
Credit Loan Maturity Date, and there shall become absolutely due and payable on
the Revolving Credit Loan Maturity Date, all of the Revolving Credit Loans
outstanding on such date, together with any and all accrued and unpaid interest
thereon.

         3.2. Mandatory Repayments of Revolving Credit Loans. If at any time the
sum of the outstanding amount of the Revolving Credit Loans (including, without
limitation, advances made in connection with the Overdraft Facility), the
Maximum Drawing Amount and all Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations exceeds the
Total Commitment, then the Borrowers shall immediately pay the amount of such
excess to the Agent for the respective accounts of the Banks for application:
first, to any Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations; second, to reduce the debit
balance in the Overdraft Facility; third, to the other Revolving Credit Loans;
and fourth, to provide to the Agent cash collateral for Reimbursement
Obligations as contemplated by ss.4.2(b) and (c). Each payment of any Unpaid
Reimbursement Obligations or prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans shall be
allocated among the Banks, in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to each
Reimbursement Obligation or (as the case may be) the respective unpaid principal
amount of each Bank's Revolving Credit Note, with adjustments to the extent
practicable to equalize any prior payments or repayments not exactly in
proportion.

         3.3. Optional Repayments of Revolving Credit Loans. Any of the
Borrowers shall have the right, at its election, to repay the outstanding amount
of the Revolving Credit Loans, as a whole or in part, at any time without
penalty or premium, provided that any full or partial prepayment of the
outstanding amount of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan pursuant to this ss.3.3 may be
made only on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto. The
applicable Borrower shall give the Agent at least two (2) Business Days notice
of any proposed prepayment pursuant to this ss.3.3 of any Eurocurrency Rate
Loans, specifying the proposed date of prepayment of such Eurocurrency Rate
Loans and the principal amount to be prepaid. Each such partial prepayment of
the Revolving Credit Loans shall be in an integral multiple of $50,000, shall be
accompanied by the payment of accrued interest on the principal prepaid to the
date of prepayment and shall be applied, in the absence of instruction by the
applicable Borrower, first to the principal of the Base Rate Loans, if any, and
then to the principal of the Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Each partial prepayment
shall be allocated among the Banks, in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to
the respective unpaid principal amount of each Bank's Revolving Credit Note,
with adjustments to the extent practicable to equalize any prior repayments not
exactly in proportion.


<PAGE>

                                      -27-


                              4. LETTERS OF CREDIT.

         4.1.  Letter of Credit Commitments.

               4.1.1. Commitment to Issue Letters of Credit. Subject to the
         terms and conditions hereof and the execution and delivery by a
         Borrower of a letter of credit application on the Agent's customary
         form (a "Letter of Credit Application"), the Agent on behalf of the
         Banks and in reliance upon the agreement of the Banks set forth in
         ss.4.1.4 and upon the representations and warranties of such Borrower
         contained herein, agrees, in its individual capacity, to issue, extend
         and renew for the account of such Borrower one or more standby or
         documentary letters of credit (individually, a "Letter of Credit"), in
         such form as may be requested from time to time by the Borrower and
         agreed to by the Agent; provided, however, that, after giving effect to
         such request, (a) the sum of the aggregate Maximum Drawing Amount and
         all Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations shall not exceed $5,000,000 and
         (b) the sum of (i) the Maximum Drawing Amount on all Letters of Credit,
         (ii) all Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations, (iii) the amount of all
         Revolving Credit Loans outstanding, and (iv) the Maximum Overdraft
         Amount shall not exceed the Total Commitment. Notwithstanding the
         foregoing, the Agent shall have no obligation to issue any Letter of
         Credit to support or secure any Indebtedness of any Borrower or any of
         its Subsidiaries to the extent that such Indebtedness was incurred
         prior to the proposed issuance date of such Letter of Credit, unless in
         any such case such Borrower demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
         Agent that (x) such prior incurred Indebtedness was then fully secured
         by a prior perfected and unavoidable security interest in collateral
         provided by such Borrower or such Subsidiary to the proposed
         beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or (y) such prior incurred
         Indebtedness was then secured or supported by a letter of credit issued
         for the account of such Borrower or such Subsidiary and the
         reimbursement obligation with respect to such letter of credit was
         fully secured by a prior perfected and unavoidable security interest in
         collateral provided to the issuer of such letter of credit by such
         Borrower or such Subsidiary.

               4.1.2. Letter of Credit Applications. Each Letter of Credit
         Application shall be completed to the satisfaction of the Agent. In the
         event that any provision of any Letter of Credit Application shall be
         inconsistent with any provision of this Credit Agreement, then the
         provisions of this Credit Agreement shall, to the extent of any such
         inconsistency, govern.

               4.1.3. Terms of Letters of Credit. Each Letter of Credit issued,
         extended or renewed hereunder shall, among other things, (a) provide
         for the payment of sight drafts for honor thereunder when presented in
         accordance with the terms thereof and when accompanied by the documents
         described therein, and (b) have an


<PAGE>

                                      -28-


         expiry date no later than the date which is fourteen (14) days (or, if
         the Letter of Credit is confirmed by a confirmer or otherwise provides
         for one or more nominated persons, forty-five (45) days) prior to the
         Revolving Credit Loan Maturity Date. Each Letter of Credit so issued,
         extended or renewed shall be subject to the Uniform Customs.

               4.1.4. Reimbursement Obligations of Banks. Each Bank severally
         agrees that it shall be absolutely liable, without regard to the
         occurrence of any Default or Event of Default or any other condition
         precedent whatsoever, to the extent of such Bank's Commitment
         Percentage, to reimburse the Agent on demand for the amount of each
         draft paid by the Agent under each Letter of Credit to the extent that
         such amount is not reimbursed by any Borrower pursuant to ss.4.2 (such
         agreement for a Bank being called herein the "Letter of Credit
         Participation" of such Bank).

               4.1.5. Participations of Banks. Each such payment made by a Bank
         shall be treated as the purchase by such Bank of a participating
         interest in the applicable Borrower's Reimbursement Obligation under
         ss.4.2 in an amount equal to such payment. Each Bank shall share in
         accordance with its participating interest in any interest which
         accrues pursuant to ss.4.2.

         4.2.  Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. In order to induce the
Agent to issue, extend and renew each Letter of Credit and the Banks to
participate therein, each Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse or pay to the
Agent, for the account of the Agent or (as the case may be) the Banks, with
respect to each Letter of Credit issued, extended or renewed by the Agent
hereunder,

                  (a) except as otherwise expressly provided in ss.4.2(b) and
         (c), on each date that any draft presented under such Letter of Credit
         is honored by the Agent, or the Agent otherwise makes a payment with
         respect thereto, (i) the amount paid by the Agent under or with respect
         to such Letter of Credit, and (ii) the amount of any taxes, fees,
         charges or other costs and expenses whatsoever incurred by the Agent or
         any Bank in connection with any payment made by the Agent or any Bank
         under, or with respect to, such Letter of Credit,

                  (b) upon the reduction (but not termination) of the Total
         Commitment to an amount less than the Maximum Drawing Amount, an amount
         equal to such difference, which amount shall be held by the Agent for
         the benefit of the Banks and the Agent as cash collateral for all
         Reimbursement Obligations, and

                  (c) upon the termination of the Total Commitment, or the
         acceleration of the Reimbursement Obligations with respect to all
         Letters of Credit in accordance with ss.13, an amount equal to the then
         Maximum Drawing Amount on all Letters of Credit, which amount 


<PAGE>

                                      -29-


         shall be held by the Agent for the benefit of the Banks and the Agent
         as cash collateral for all Reimbursement Obligations.

Each such payment shall be made to the Agent at the Agent's Head Office in
immediately available funds. Interest on any and all amounts remaining unpaid by
such Borrower under this ss.4.2 at any time from the date such amounts become
due and payable (whether as stated in this ss.4.2, by acceleration or otherwise)
until payment in full (whether before or after judgment) shall be payable to the
Agent on demand at the rate specified in ss.5.11 for overdue principal on the
Revolving Credit Loans.

         4.3. Letter of Credit Payments. If any draft shall be presented or
other demand for payment shall be made under any Letter of Credit, the Agent
shall notify the applicable 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 such Borrower fails to reimburse
the Agent as provided in ss.4.2 on or before the date that such draft is paid or
other payment is made by the Agent, the Agent may at any time thereafter notify
the Banks of the amount of any such Unpaid Reimbursement Obligation. No later
than 3:00 p.m. (Boston time) on the Business Day next following the receipt of
such notice, each Bank shall make available to the Agent, at the Agent's Head
Office, in immediately available funds, such Bank's Commitment Percentage of
such Unpaid Reimbursement Obligation, together with an amount equal to the
product of (a) the average, computed for the period referred to in clause (c)
below, of the weighted average interest rate paid by the Agent for federal funds
acquired by the Agent during each day included in such period, times (b) the
amount equal to such Bank's Commitment Percentage of such Unpaid Reimbursement
Obligation, times (c) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days
that elapse from and including the date the Agent paid the draft presented for
honor or otherwise made payment to the date on which such Bank's Commitment
Percentage of such Unpaid Reimbursement obligation shall become immediately
available to the Agent, and the denominator of which is 360. The responsibility
of the Agent to the Borrowers and the Banks shall be only to determine that the
documents (including each draft) delivered under each Letter of Credit in
connection with such presentment shall be in conformity in all material respects
with such Letter of Credit.

         4.4. Obligations Absolute. Each Borrower's obligations under this ss.4
shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and
irrespective of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default or any
condition precedent whatsoever or any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment
which such Borrower may have or have had against the Agent, any Bank or any
beneficiary of a Letter of Credit. Each Borrower further agrees with the Agent
and the Banks that the Agent and the Banks shall not be responsible for, and the
Borrower's Reimbursement Obligations under ss.4.2 shall not be affected by,
among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any
endorsements thereon, even if such documents should 


<PAGE>

                                      -30-


in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any
dispute between or among such Borrower, the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit
or any financing institution or other party to which any Letter of Credit may be
transferred or any claims or defenses whatsoever of such Borrower against the
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any such transferee. The Agent and the
Banks shall not be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in
transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however
transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit. Each Borrower agrees that
any action taken or omitted by the Agent or any Bank under or in connection with
each Letter of Credit and the related drafts and documents, if done in good
faith and without gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be binding upon
such Borrower and shall not result in any liability on the part of the Agent or
any Bank to such Borrower.

         4.5. Reliance by Issuer. To the extent not inconsistent with ss.4.4,
the Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying,
upon any Letter of Credit, draft, writing, resolution, notice, consent,
certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype
message, statement, order or other document believed by it to be genuine and
correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons
and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and
other experts selected by the Agent. The Agent shall be fully justified in
failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement unless it shall
first have received such advice or concurrence of the Majority Banks as it
reasonably deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its reasonable
satisfaction by the Banks against any and all liability and expense which may be
incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The
Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from
acting, under this Agreement in accordance with a request of the Majority Banks,
and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall
be binding upon the Banks and all future holders of the Revolving Credit Notes
or of a Letter of Credit Participation.

         4.6. Letter of Credit Fee. The applicable Borrower shall, on the date
of issuance or any extension or renewal of any Letter of Credit and at such
other time or times as such charges are customarily made by the Agent, pay a fee
(in each case, a "Letter of Credit Fee") to the Agent (a) in respect of each
standby Letter of Credit equal to the rate of the Applicable Margin per annum on
the face amount of each such Letter of Credit, plus the Agent's customary
issuance fee, and the Agent shall, in turn, remit to each Bank, its pro rata
portion of such Letter of Credit Fee calculated at a rate of the Applicable
Margin minus 1/8% per annum on the face amount of each such Letter of Credit,
and (b) in respect of each documentary Letter of Credit equal to (i) the Agent's
customary issuance fee or amendment fee, as the case may be, plus (ii) the
Agent's customary time negotiation fee per document examination plus one half of
one percent (1/2%) per annum on the face amount of such documentary Letter of
Credit, plus (iii) a 

<PAGE>

                                      -31-


negotiation fee of one quarter of one percent (1/4%) of the face amount of such
documentary Letter of Credit.

                         5. CERTAIN GENERAL PROVISIONS.

         5.1.  Closing Fee. The Company agrees to pay to the Agent a closing fee
in the amount and at the times specified in the Fee Letter.

         5.2.  Agent's Fee. The Company shall pay to the Agent for the Agent's
own account, an Agent's fee in the amount and at the times specified in the Fee
Letter.

         5.3.  Funds for Payments.

               5.3.1. Payments to Agent. All payments of principal of and
         interest on Revolving Credit Loans made to any Borrower which are
         denominated in Dollars, and all Reimbursement Obligations, commitment
         fees, Letter of Credit Fees and any other amounts due hereunder or
         under any of the other Loan Documents shall be made to the Agent, for
         the respective accounts of the Banks and the Agent, at the Agent's Head
         Office or at such other location in the Boston, Massachusetts, area
         that the Agent may from time to time designate, in each case in
         immediately available funds. All payments of principal of and interest
         on Revolving Credit Loans made to any Borrower which are denominated in
         an Optional Currency or Currencies and all other fees hereunder by any
         local branch or affiliate of any Bank or the Agent located outside of
         the United States shall be made by such Borrower to the Agent in the
         currency of such Revolving Credit Loans, at or prior to 11:00 a.m.,
         local time, on any payment date, in immediately available funds, for
         the account of the Agent, at a depository designated by the Agent in
         the country in which such Optional Currency is legal tender.

               5.3.2. No Offset, etc. All payments by any Borrower hereunder and
         under any of the other Loan Documents shall be made without 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 such
         Borrower is compelled by law to make such deduction or withholding. If
         any such obligation is imposed upon any Borrower with respect to any
         amount payable by it hereunder or under any of the other Loan
         Documents, such Borrower will pay to the Agent, for the account of the
         Banks or (as the case may be) the Agent, on the date on which such
         amount is due and payable hereunder or under such other Loan Document,
         such additional amount in Dollars as shall be necessary to enable the
         Banks or the Agent to receive the same net amount which the Banks or
         the Agent 


<PAGE>

                                      -32-


         would have received on such due date had no such obligation been
         imposed upon such Borrower. The applicable Borrower will deliver
         promptly to the Agent 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 Loan Document.

         5.4. Computations. All computations of interest on the Revolving Credit
Loans, the Sterling Base Rate Loans and of commitment fees, Letter of Credit
Fees or other fees shall, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, be based
on a 360-day year and paid for the actual number of days elapsed. Except as
otherwise provided in the definition of the term "Interest Period" with respect
to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, whenever a payment hereunder or under any of the
other Loan Documents becomes due on a day that is not a Business Day, the due
date for such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and
interest shall accrue during such extension. The outstanding amount of the Loans
as reflected on the Records from time to time shall be considered correct and
binding on the applicable Borrower unless within five (5) Business Days after
receipt of any notice by the Agent or any of the Banks of such outstanding
amount, the Agent or such Bank shall notify such Borrower to the contrary.

         5.5. Inability to Determine Eurocurrency Rate. In the event, prior to
the commencement of any Interest Period relating to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan,
the Agent shall determine or be notified by the Majority Banks that adequate and
reasonable methods do not exist for ascertaining the Eurocurrency Rate that
would otherwise determine the rate of interest to be applicable to any
Eurocurrency Rate Loan during any Interest Period or deposits of Dollars or the
relevant Optional Currency, as the case may be, in the relevant Interest Period
are not available to the Agent or the Banks in any Eurocurrency Interbank
Market, the Agent shall forthwith give notice of such determination (which shall
be conclusive and binding on the Borrowers and the Banks) to the Borrowers and
the Banks. In such event (a) any Loan Request or Conversion Request with respect
to Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be automatically withdrawn and shall be deemed
a request for Base Rate Loans, (b) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan will
automatically, on the last day of the then current Interest Period relating
thereto, if denominated in Dollars, become a Base Rate Loan and if denominated
in any Optional Currency, be repaid, and (c) the obligations of the Banks to
make Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Revolving Credit Loans denominated in such
Optional Currency, as the case may be, shall be suspended until the Agent or the
Majority Banks determines that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension
no longer exist, whereupon the Agent or, as the case may be, the Agent upon the
instruction of the Majority Banks, shall so notify the Borrowers and the Banks.

         5.6. Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, if any
present or future law, regulation, treaty or directive or in the interpretation
or application thereof shall make it unlawful for any Bank to make or 


<PAGE>

                                      -33-


maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans or perform its obligations in respect of any
Eurocurrency Rate Loans in an Optional Currency or Currencies, such Bank shall
forthwith give notice of such circumstances to the Borrowers and the other Banks
and thereupon (a) the commitment of such Bank to make Eurocurrency Rate Loans,
to convert Revolving Credit Loans of another Type to Eurocurrency Rate Loans or
to make Eurocurrency Rate Loans in such Optional Currency, as the case may be,
shall forthwith be suspended and (b) such Bank's Revolving Credit Loans then
outstanding as Eurocurrency Rate Loans and denominated in Dollars, if any, shall
be converted automatically to Base Rate Loans on the last day of each Interest
Period applicable to such Eurocurrency Rate Loans or within such earlier period
as may be required by law and the Eurocurrency Rate Loans then outstanding as
Eurocurrency Rate Loans and denominated in Optional Currency, if any, shall be
repaid on the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Eurocurrency
Rate Loan or within such earlier period as may be required by law. Each of the
Borrowers hereby agrees promptly to pay the Agent for the account of such Bank,
upon demand by such Bank, any additional amounts necessary to compensate such
Bank for any costs incurred by such Bank in making any conversion in accordance
with this ss.5.6, including any interest or fees payable by such Bank to lenders
of funds obtained by it in order to make or maintain its Eurocurrency Rate Loans
hereunder.

         5.7. Additional Costs, etc. If any present or future applicable law,
which expression, as used herein, includes statutes, rules and regulations
thereunder and interpretations thereof by any competent court or by any
governmental or other regulatory body or official charged with the
administration or the interpretation thereof and requests, directives,
instructions and notices at any time or from time to time hereafter made upon or
otherwise issued to any Bank or the Agent by any central bank or other fiscal,
monetary or other authority (whether or not having the force of law), shall:

                  (a) subject any Bank or the Agent to any tax, levy, impost,
         duty, charge, fee, deduction or withholding of any nature with respect
         to this Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any Letters of
         Credit, such Bank's Commitment or the Revolving Credit Loans (other
         than taxes based upon or measured by the income or profits of such Bank
         or the Agent), or

                  (b) materially change the basis of taxation (except for
         changes in taxes on income or profits) of payments to any Bank of the
         principal of or the interest on any Revolving Credit Loans or any other
         amounts payable to any Bank or the Agent under this Credit Agreement or
         any of the other Loan Documents, or

                  (c) impose or increase or render applicable (other than to the
         extent specifically provided for elsewhere in this Credit Agreement)
         any special deposit, reserve, assessment, liquidity, capital adequacy
         or other similar requirements (whether or not having the force of law)


<PAGE>

                                      -34-


         against assets held by, or deposits in or for the account of, or loans
         by, or letters of credit issued by, or commitments of an office of any
         Bank, or

                  (d) impose on any Bank or the Agent any other conditions or
         requirements with respect to this Credit Agreement, the other Loan
         Documents, any Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit Loans, such
         Bank's Commitment, or any class of loans, letters of credit or
         commitments of which any of the Revolving Credit Loans or such Bank's
         Commitment forms a part, and the result of any of the foregoing is

                           (i) to increase the cost to any Bank of making,
                  funding, issuing, renewing, extending or maintaining any of
                  the Revolving Credit Loans or such Bank's Commitment or any
                  Letter of Credit, or

                           (ii) to reduce the amount of principal, interest,
                  Reimbursement Obligation or other amount payable to such Bank
                  or the Agent hereunder on account of such Bank's Commitment,
                  any Letter of Credit or any of the Revolving Credit Loans, or

                           (iii) to require such Bank or the Agent to make any
                  payment or to forego any interest or Reimbursement Obligation
                  or other sum payable hereunder, the amount of which payment or
                  foregone interest or Reimbursement Obligation or other sum is
                  calculated by reference to the gross amount of any sum
                  receivable or deemed received by such Bank or the Agent from
                  any Borrower hereunder,

then, and in each such case, such Borrower will, upon demand made by such Bank
or (as the case may be) the Agent at any time and from time to time and as often
as the occasion therefor may arise, pay to such Bank or the Agent such
additional amounts as will be sufficient to compensate such Bank or the Agent
for such additional cost, reduction, payment or foregone interest or
Reimbursement Obligation or other sum. To the extent that the amount of such
additional costs, reduction, payment or foregone interest or Reimbursement
Obligation or other sum is not reflected in the Base Rate or the Eurocurrency
Rate, as the case may be, the applicable Borrower agrees to pay the Bank for the
amount of such additional cost, reduction, payment or foregone interest or
Reimbursement Obligation or other sum as and when such additional cost,
reduction, payment or foregone interest or Reimbursement Obligation or other sum
is determined upon presentation by the Bank of a certificate in accordance with
ss.5.9 hereof.

         5.8. Capital Adequacy. If after the date hereof any Bank or the Agent
determines that (a) the adoption of or change in any law, governmental rule,
regulation, policy, guideline or directive (whether or not 

<PAGE>

                                      -35-


having the force of law) regarding capital requirements for banks or bank
holding companies or any change in the interpretation or application thereof by
a court or governmental authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (b)
compliance by such Bank or the Agent or any corporation controlling such Bank or
the Agent with any law, governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such entity regarding
capital adequacy, has the effect of reducing the return on such Bank's or the
Agent's commitment with respect to any Revolving Credit Loans to a level below
that which such Bank or the Agent could have achieved but for such adoption,
change or compliance (taking into consideration such Bank's or the Agent's then
existing policies with respect to capital adequacy and assuming full utilization
of such entity's capital) by any amount deemed by such Bank or (as the case may
be) the Agent to be material, then such Bank or the Agent may notify the
Borrower of such fact. To the extent that the amount of such reduction in the
return on capital is not reflected in the Base Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, as
the case may be, the applicable Borrower agrees to pay such Bank or (as the case
may be) the Agent for the amount of such reduction in the return on capital as
and when such reduction is determined upon presentation by such Bank or (as the
case may be) the Agent of a certificate in accordance with ss.5.9 hereof. Each
Bank shall allocate such cost increases among its customers in good faith and on
an equitable basis.

         5.9. Certificate. A certificate setting forth any additional amounts
payable pursuant to ss.ss.5.7 or 5.8 and a brief explanation of such amounts
which are due, submitted by any Bank or the Agent to the applicable Borrower,
shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, that such amounts are due and owing.

         5.10. Indemnity. Each of the Borrowers agrees to indemnify each Bank
and to hold each Bank harmless from and against any loss, cost or expense
(including loss of anticipated profits) that such Bank may sustain or incur as a
consequence of (a) a default by any Borrower in payment of the principal amount
of or any interest on any Eurocurrency Rate Loans as and when due and payable,
including any such loss or expense arising from interest or fees payable by the
Agent or any of the Banks to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to
maintain its Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (b) a default by any Borrower in making a
borrowing or conversion after such Borrower has given (or is deemed to have
given) a Loan Request or a Conversion Request relating thereto in accordance
with ss.2.6 or ss.2.7 or (c) the making of any payment of a Eurocurrency Rate
Loan or the making of any conversion of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan to a
Base Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of the applicable Interest
Period with respect thereto, including interest or fees payable by such Bank to
lenders of funds obtained by it in order to make any such Eurocurrency Rate
Loans.

         5.11. Interest After Default.

<PAGE>

                                      -36-


               5.11.1. Overdue Amounts. Overdue principal and (to the extent
         permitted by applicable law) interest on the Revolving Credit Loans and
         all other overdue amounts payable hereunder or under any of the other
         Loan Documents shall bear interest compounded monthly and payable on
         demand at a rate per annum equal to three percent (3%) above (a) the
         rate otherwise applicable to such Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to
         ss.2.5 (with respect to Revolving Credit Loans other than the advances
         made pursuant to the Overdraft Facility) and (b) the Sterling Base Rate
         with respect to the Overdraft Facility, until such amount shall be paid
         in full (after as well as before judgment).

               5.11.2. Amounts Not Overdue. During the continuance of a Default
         or an Event of Default the principal of the Revolving Credit Loans not
         overdue shall, until such Default or Event of Default has been cured or
         remedied or such Default or Event of Default has been waived by the
         Majority Banks pursuant to ss.26, bear interest at a rate per annum
         equal to the greater of (a) two percent (2%) above the rate of interest
         otherwise applicable to such Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to ss.2.5
         and (b) the rate of interest applicable to overdue principal pursuant
         to ss.5.11.1.

         5.12. Replacement Bank. Within thirty (30) days after any Bank has (i)
given notice pursuant to ss.5.6 or (ii) demanded compensation from any Borrower
pursuant to ss.ss.5.7 or 5.8 hereof or any Bank has become a Delinquent Bank, as
defined in ss.15.5.3 hereof (any such Bank described in the foregoing is
hereinafter referred to as an "Affected Bank"), the Company may request that the
Non-Affected Banks acquire all, but not less than all, of the Affected Bank's
outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and assume all, but not less than all, of the
Affected Bank's Commitment. If the Company so requests, the Non-Affected Banks
may elect to acquire all or any portion of the Affected Bank's outstanding
Revolving Credit Loans and to assume all or any portion of the Affected Bank's
Commitment. If the Non-Affected Banks do not elect to acquire and assume all of
the Affected Bank's outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Commitment, the
Company may designate a replacement bank or banks, which must be satisfactory to
the Agent, to acquire and assume that portion of the outstanding Revolving
Credit Loans and Commitment of the Affected Bank not being acquired and assumed
by the Non-Affected Banks. The provisions of ss.19 hereof shall apply to all
reallocations pursuant to this ss.5.12, and the Affected Bank and any
Non-Affected Banks and/or replacement banks which are to acquire the Revolving
Credit Loans and Commitment of the Affected Bank shall execute and deliver to
the Agent, in accordance with the provisions of ss.19 hereof, such Assignments
and Acceptances and other instruments, including, without limitation, Notes, as
are required pursuant to ss.19 hereof to give effect to such reallocations. Any
Non-Affected Banks and/or replacement banks which are to acquire the Revolving
Credit Loans and Commitment of the Affected Bank shall be deemed to be Eligible
Assignees for all purposes of ss.19 hereof. On the effective date of the
applicable Assignments and Acceptances, the Company shall pay to the Affected
Bank all interest 


<PAGE>

                                      -37-


accrued on its Revolving Credit Loans up to but excluding such date, along with
any fees payable to such Affected Bank hereunder up to but excluding such date.

         5.13. Lending Office. Each Revolving Credit Loan made by any Bank in an
Optional Currency, and each payment by any Borrower in respect thereof, shall be
made by, or, as the case may be, for the account of, such applicable lending
office of the Agent as the Agent shall designate.

                                 6. GUARANTIES.

         6.1. Guaranty. The Obligations shall be guaranteed pursuant to the
terms of the Guaranty. In addition, for value received and hereby acknowledged
and as an inducement to the Banks to make Eurocurrency Rate Loans to the
Borrowers, including the Foreign Subsidiaries, (a) the Company hereby
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees: (i) the full punctual payment when
due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all
obligations of each Borrower now or hereafter existing hereunder whether for
principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise, and (ii) the strict
performance and observance by each such Borrower of all agreements, warranties
and covenants in this Credit Agreement applicable to each such Borrower (such
obligations collectively being the "Guaranteed Obligations"); and (b) each
Borrowing Subsidiary hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees: (i) the
full punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, of all obligations of each other Borrowing Subsidiary now or
hereafter existing hereunder whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or
otherwise, and (ii) the strict performance and observance by each such other
Borrowing Subsidiary of all agreements, warranties and covenants in this Credit
Agreement applicable to each such Borrowing Subsidiary (such obligations
collectively being the "Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations").

         6.2. Guaranty Absolute. Each of the Company and the Borrowing
Subsidiaries guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations and the Subsidiary
Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be, will be paid strictly in accordance
with the terms hereof, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or
hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the
rights of the Agent or any Bank with respect thereto. The liability of the
Company under this guaranty with regard to the Guaranteed Obligations of each
Borrower, and the liability of each Borrowing Subsidiary under this guaranty
with regard to the Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations of each other Borrowing
Subsidiary, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

                  (a) any lack of authorization, execution, validity or
         enforceability or any illegality of such Borrower to become a Borrower
         hereunder, this Credit Agreement and any amendment hereof (with regard
         to such Guaranteed Obligations and the Subsidiary Guaranteed
         Obligations, as the case may be), or any other obligation, 


<PAGE>

                                      -38-


         agreement or instrument relating thereto (it being agreed by the
         Company and each Borrowing Subsidiary that the Guaranteed Obligations
         and the Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations shall not be discharged prior
         to the final and complete satisfaction of all of the Obligations of the
         Borrowers) or any failure to obtain any necessary governmental consent
         or approvals or necessary third party consents or approvals;

                  (b) the Agent's or any Bank's exercise or enforcement of, or
         failure or delay in exercising or enforcing, legal proceedings to
         collect the Obligations or the Guaranteed Obligations or the Subsidiary
         Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be, or any power, right or
         remedy with respect to any of the Obligations or the Guaranteed
         Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be,
         including (i) any suspension of the Agent's or any Bank's right to
         enforce against any other Borrower of the Guaranteed Obligations or the
         Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be, or (ii) any
         change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term
         of, all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations of such Borrower or the
         Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations of such Borrowing Subsidiary or any
         other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from this
         Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents (with regard to such
         Guaranteed Obligations and Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations) or any
         other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing any of the
         Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the
         case may be;

                  (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral,
         or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from
         any other guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations of
         such Borrower or the Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations of such
         Borrowing Subsidiary;

                  (d) any change in ownership of such Borrower;

                  (e) any acceptance of any partial payment(s) from such
         Borrower;

                  (f) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
         adjustment, composition, assignment for the benefit of creditors,
         appointment of a receiver or trustee for all or any part of any
         Borrower's assets;

                  (g) any assignment, participation or other transfer, in whole
         or in part, of the Agent's or any Bank's interest in and rights under
         this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, or of the Agent's or
         any Bank's interest in the obligations or the Guaranteed Obligations or
         Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be;

<PAGE>

                                      -39-


                  (h) any cancellation, renunciation or surrender of any pledge,
         guaranty or any debt instrument evidencing the Obligations or the
         Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the
         case may be;

                  (i) the Agent's or any Bank's vote, claim, distribution,
         election, acceptance, action or inaction in any bankruptcy or
         reorganization case related to the Obligations or the Guaranteed
         Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be;
         or

                  (j) any other action or circumstance, other than payment,
         which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge
         of, such Borrower in respect of its Guaranteed Obligations or
         Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be.

         This guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the
case may be, if at any time any payment of any Guaranteed Obligation or
Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be, is rescinded or must
otherwise be returned by the Agent or any Bank upon the insolvency, bankruptcy
or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise, all as though such payment had
not been made.

         6.3. Effectiveness, Enforcement. The guaranty herein of the Company and
each Borrowing Subsidiary shall be effective and shall be deemed to be made with
respect to each Revolving Credit Loan made to a Borrower as of the time it is
made. No invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability by reason of any
bankruptcy or similar law, or any law or order of any government or agency
thereof purporting to reduce, amend or otherwise affect any liability of a
Borrower, and no defect in or insufficiency or want of powers of any Borrower or
irregular or improperly recorded exercise thereof, shall impair, affect, be a
defense to or claim against such guaranty. This guaranty is a continuing
guaranty and shall (a) survive any termination of this Credit Agreement and (b)
remain in full force and effect until payment in full and performance of all
Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be,
and all other amounts payable under this guaranty. This guaranty is made for the
benefit of the Agent and each of the Banks and their respective successors and
assigns, and may be enforced from time to time as often as occasion therefor may
arise and without requirement on the part of the Agent or any Bank first to
exercise any rights against any Borrower or to exhaust any remedies available to
it against any Borrower or to resort to any other source or means of obtaining
payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed
Obligations, as the case may be, or to elect any other remedy. In the event that
acceleration of the time for payment (or the giving of notice of such
acceleration) of the Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed
Obligations, as the case may be, of any Borrower is stayed upon the insolvency,
bankruptcy or reorganization of such Borrower or for any other reason, all such
amounts otherwise subject to acceleration 


<PAGE>

                                      -40-


under the terms of this Credit Agreement shall be immediately due and payable by
the Company or the Borrowing Subsidiaries, as the case may be, under the
guaranty herein provided.

         6.4. Waiver. Each of the Company and the Borrowing Subsidiaries hereby
waives promptness, diligence, protest, notice of protest, all suretyship
defenses, notice of acceptance and any other notice with respect to any of the
Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be,
and this guaranty and any requirement that the Agent or any Bank secure, perfect
or protect any security interest or lien or any property subject thereto or
exhaust any right or take any action against any Borrower or any other person or
any collateral. The Company and each Borrowing Subsidiary also irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all defenses which at any time
may be available to it in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary
Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be, by virtue of any statute of
limitations, valuation, stay, moratorium law or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect.

         6.5. Subordination; Subrogation. Until the payment and performance in
full of all the Obligations, neither the Company nor any Borrowing Subsidiary
shall exercise and hereby waives any rights against any Borrower as a result of
payment by the Company or any Borrowing Subsidiary, as the case may be,
hereunder, by way of subrogation, reimbursement, restitution, contribution or
otherwise, and the Company or any Borrowing Subsidiary, as the case may be, will
not prove any claim in competition with the Agent or any Bank in respect of any
payment hereunder in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization proceedings of any
nature; the Company or any Borrowing Subsidiary, as the case may be, will not
claim any set-off, recoupment or counterclaim against the Borrowers in respect
of any liability of the Company or such Borrowing Subsidiary to such Borrower;
and the Company and each Borrowing Subsidiary waives any benefit of and any
right to participate in any collateral which may be held by the Agent and any
Bank. The payment of any amounts due with respect to any Indebtedness of the
Borrowers now or hereafter held by the Company or any Borrowing Subsidiary, as
the case may be, is hereby subordinated to the prior payment in full of the
Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be.
Each of the Company and each Borrowing Subsidiary agrees that after the
occurrence of any default in the payment or performance of the Guaranteed
Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be, the
Company or such Borrowing Subsidiary, as the case may be, will not demand, sue
for, or otherwise attempt to collect any such Indebtedness of any of the
Borrowers to the Company or such Borrowing Subsidiary, as the case may be, until
the Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may
be, then due shall have been paid in full. If, notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, the Company or any Borrowing Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall
collect or receive any amounts in respect of such indebtedness, such amounts
shall be collected and received by the Company or such Borrowing Subsidiary, as
the case may be, as trustee for the Agent 


<PAGE>

                                      -41-


and the Banks and be paid over to the Agent for the respective accounts of the
Agent and the Banks on account of the Guaranteed Obligations or Subsidiary
Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be, without affecting in any manner the
liability of the Company or any Borrowing Subsidiary under the other provisions
of this ss.6. The provisions of this section shall survive the expiration or
termination of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the
provisions of this section shall be supplemental to and not in derogation of any
rights and remedies of the Agent or any Bank under any separate subordination
agreement which the Agent or any Bank may at any time and from time to time
entered into with the Company or any Borrowing Subsidiary for the benefit of the
Agent or any Bank.

         6.6. Payments. All payments made by the Company or any Borrowing
Subsidiary pursuant to this ss.6 in respect of any Revolving Credit Loans made
to any Borrower shall be made in the same currency in which such Revolving
Credit Loan was made, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Agent or the
Banks.

         6.7. Receipt of Information. Each of the Company and each Borrowing
Subsidiary acknowledges and confirms that the Company or such Borrowing
Subsidiary, as the case may be, itself has established its own adequate means of
obtaining from each Borrower on a continuing basis all information desired by
the Company or such Borrowing Subsidiary concerning the financial condition of
any Borrower and that the Company or such Borrowing Subsidiary will look to each
Borrower and not to the Agent or any Bank in order for the Company or such
Borrowing Subsidiary to keep adequately informed of changes in each Borrower's
financial condition.

                       7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         Representations and warranties are made to the Banks and the Agent as
follows:

         7.1.  Corporate Authority.

               7.1.1. Incorporation; Good Standing. Each Borrower represents and
         warrants that such Borrower and its Subsidiaries (a) is a corporation
         duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
         its state of incorporation, (b) has all requisite corporate power to
         own its property and conduct its business as now conducted and as
         presently contemplated, and (c) is in good standing as a foreign
         corporation and is duly authorized to do business in each jurisdiction
         where such qualification is necessary except where a failure to be so
         qualified would not have a materially adverse effect on the business,
         assets or financial condition of such Borrower or such Subsidiary.

               7.1.2. Authorization. Each Borrower represents and warrants that
         the execution, delivery and performance of this Credit 


<PAGE>

                                      -42-


         Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower or any of
         its Subsidiaries is or is to become a party and the transactions
         contemplated hereby and thereby (a) are within the corporate authority
         of such Person, (b) have been duly authorized by all necessary
         corporate proceedings, (c) do not conflict with or result in any breach
         or contravention of any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation
         to which such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is subject or any
         judgment, order, writ, injunction, license or permit applicable to such
         Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (d) do not conflict with any
         provision of the corporate charter or bylaws of, or any agreement or
         other instrument binding upon, such Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries.

               7.1.3. Enforceability. Each Borrower represents and warrants that
         the execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement and the other Loan
         Documents to which such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is or is to
         become a party will result in valid and legally binding obligations of
         such Person enforceable against it in accordance with the respective
         terms and provisions hereof and thereof, except as enforceability is
         limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
         laws relating to or affecting generally the enforcement of creditors'
         rights and except to the extent that availability of the remedy of
         specific performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion
         of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

         7.2. Governmental Approvals. Each Borrower represents and warrants that
the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower and any of its
Subsidiaries of this Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is or is to become a party and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, but not limited to the
making by such Borrower of the borrowings contemplated by this Credit Agreement
or the obtaining of any Letters of Credit) do not require the approval, consent,
order, authorization or license by, or giving notice to, or taking any other
action with respect to, any governmental agency or authority of any
jurisdiction, or other fiscal, monetary or other authority, under any provisions
of any laws or governmental rules, regulations, orders or decrees of any
jurisdiction or the central bank of any jurisdiction or other fiscal monetary or
other authority, under any provisions of any laws or governmental rules,
regulations, orders or decrees of any jurisdiction applicable to and binding on
such Borrower other than those already obtained.


         7.3. Title to Properties; Leases. The Company represents and warrants
that except as indicated on Schedule 7.3 hereto, the Company and its
Subsidiaries own all of the assets reflected in the consolidated balance sheet
of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the Balance Sheet Date or acquired
since that date (except property and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the
ordinary course of business since that date), subject to no 


<PAGE>

                                      -43-


rights of others, including any mortgages, leases, conditional sales agreements,
title retention agreements, liens or other encumbrances except Permitted Liens.


         7.4. Financial Statements. The Company represents and warrants that
there has been furnished to the Agent a consolidated balance sheet of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as at the Balance Sheet Date, and a consolidated
statement of income and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the
fiscal year then ended, certified by Price Waterhouse LLP. Such balance sheet
and statement of income and cash flow have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and fairly present the financial
condition of the Borrowers as at the close of business on the date thereof and
the results of operations for the fiscal year then ended. There are no
contingent liabilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of such date
involving material amounts, known to the officers of the Company, which were not
disclosed in such balance sheet and the notes related thereto.

         7.5. No Material Changes, etc. The Company represents and warrants that
since the Balance Sheet Date there has occurred no materially adverse change in
the financial condition or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as shown
on or reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as at the Balance Sheet Date, or the consolidated statement of
income for the fiscal year then ended, other than changes in the ordinary course
of business that have not had any materially adverse effect either individually
or in the aggregate on the business or financial condition of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries. Since the Balance Sheet Date, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries has made any Distributions.

         7.6. Franchises, Patents, Copyrights, etc. Each Borrower represents and
warrants that such Borrower and its Subsidiaries possesses all franchises,
patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, licenses and permits, and rights
in respect of the foregoing, adequate for the conduct of its business
substantially as now conducted without known conflict with any rights of others.

         7.7. Litigation. Each Borrower represents and warrants that except as
set forth in Schedule 7.7 hereto, there are no actions, suits, proceedings or
investigations of any kind pending or threatened against such Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries before any court, tribunal or administrative agency or board
that, if adversely determined, might, either in any case or in the aggregate,
materially adversely affect the properties, assets, financial condition or
business of such Borrowers and its Subsidiaries or materially impair the right
of such Borrowers and its Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, to carry on
business substantially as now conducted by them, or result in any substantial
liability not adequately covered by insurance, or for which adequate reserves
are not maintained on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, or which question the validity of 


<PAGE>

                                      -44-


this Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or any action taken or
to be taken pursuant hereto or thereto.

         7.8. No Materially Adverse Contracts, etc. Each Borrower represents
that neither such Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any
charter, corporate or other legal restriction, or any judgment, decree, order,
rule or regulation that has or is expected in the future to have a materially
adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of any of such
Borrowers or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither such Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any contract or agreement that has or is expected, in
the judgment of such Borrower's officers, to have any materially adverse effect
on the business of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

         7.9. Compliance with Other Instruments, Laws, etc. Each Borrower
represents and warrants that neither such Borrowers nor any of its Subsidiaries
is in violation of any provision of its charter documents, bylaws, or any
agreement or instrument to which it may be subject or by which it or any of its
properties may be bound or any decree, order, judgment, statute, license, rule
or regulation, in any of the foregoing cases in a manner that could result in
the imposition of substantial penalties or materially and adversely affect the
financial condition, properties or business of such Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries.

         7.10. Tax Status. Each Borrower represents that such Borrower and its
Subsidiaries (a) has made or filed all federal, state and, if applicable,
foreign income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by
any jurisdiction to which any of them is subject, (b) have paid all taxes and
other governmental assessments and charges shown or determined to be due on such
returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith
and by appropriate proceedings and (c) have set aside on their books provisions
reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the
periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. Except as set
forth on Schedule 7.10 hereto, there are no unpaid taxes in any material amount
claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers
of the Company know of no basis for any such claim.

         7.11. No Event of Default. Each Borrower represents and warrants that
as to itself no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

         7.12. Holding Company and Investment Company Acts. Each Borrower
represents and warrants that neither such Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a "holding company", or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company", or an
affiliate" of a "holding company", as such terms are defined in the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935; nor is it an "investment company", or an
"affiliated company" or a "principal underwriter" of an "investment company", as
such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

<PAGE>

                                      -45-


         7.13. Absence of Financing Statements, etc. Each Borrower represents
and warrants that except with respect to Permitted Liens, there is no financing
statement, security agreement, chattel mortgage, real estate mortgage or other
document filed or recorded with any filing records, registry or other public
office, that purports to cover, affect or give notice of any present or possible
future lien on, or security interest in, any assets or property of such Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries or any rights relating thereto.

         7.14. Certain Transactions. Each Borrower represents and warrants that
except as set forth on Schedule 7.14 hereto and except for arm's length
transactions pursuant to which such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries makes
payments in the ordinary course of business upon terms no less favorable than
such Borrower or such Subsidiary could obtain from third parties, none of the
officers, directors, or employees of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is
presently a party to any transaction with such Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than for services as employees, officers and directors),
including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the
furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal
property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer,
director or such employee or, to the knowledge of such Borrower, any
corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which any officer, director,
or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director,
trustee or partner.

         7.15. Employee Benefit Plans. Each Borrower represents and warrants as
to its own Employee Benefit Plans, if any:

               7.15.1. In General. Each Employee Benefit Plan has been
         maintained and operated in compliance in all material respects with the
         provisions of ERISA and, to the extent applicable, the Code, including
         but not limited to the provisions thereunder respecting prohibited
         transactions. Such Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Agent the
         most recently completed annual report, Form 5500, with all required
         attachments, and actuarial statement required to be submitted under
         ss.103(d) of ERISA, with respect to each Guaranteed Pension Plan.

               7.15.2. Terminability of Welfare Plans. Under each Employee
         Benefit Plan which is an employee welfare benefit plan within the
         meaning of ss.3(1) or ss.3(2)(B) of ERISA, no benefits are due unless
         the event giving rise to the benefit entitlement occurs prior to plan
         termination (except as required by Title I, Part 6 of ERISA). Such
         Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate, as appropriate, may terminate each such
         Plan at any time (or at any time subsequent to the expiration of any
         applicable bargaining agreement) in the discretion of such Borrower or
         such ERISA Affiliate without liability to any Person.

<PAGE>

                                      -46-


               7.15.3. Guaranteed Pension Plans. Each contribution required to
         be made to a Guaranteed Pension Plan, whether required to be made to
         avoid the incurrence of an accumulated funding deficiency, the notice
         or lien provisions of ss.302(f) of ERISA, or otherwise, has been timely
         made. No waiver of an accumulated funding deficiency or extension of
         amortization periods has been received with respect to any Guaranteed
         Pension Plan. No liability to the PBGC (other than required insurance
         premiums, all of which have been paid) has been incurred by the
         Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to any Guaranteed Pension
         Plan and there has not been any ERISA Reportable Event, or any other
         event or condition which presents a material risk of termination of any
         Guaranteed Pension Plan by the PBGC. Based on the latest valuation of
         each Guaranteed Pension Plan (which in each case occurred within twelve
         months of the date of this representation), and on the actuarial
         methods and assumptions employed for that valuation, the aggregate
         benefit liabilities of all such Guaranteed Pension Plans within the
         meaning of ss.4001 of ERISA did not exceed the aggregate value of the
         assets of all such Guaranteed Pension Plans, disregarding for this
         purpose the benefit liabilities and assets of any Guaranteed Pension
         Plan with assets in excess of benefit liabilities.

               7.15.4. Multiemployer Plans. Neither such Borrower nor any ERISA
         Affiliate has incurred any material liability (including secondary
         liability) to any Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or
         partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan under ss.4201 of ERISA
         or as a result of a sale of assets described in ss.4204 of ERISA.
         Neither the Borrowers nor any ERISA Affiliate has been notified that
         any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or insolvent under and
         within the meaning of ss.4241 or ss.4245 of ERISA or that any
         Multiemployer Plan intends to terminate or has been terminated under
         ss.4041A of ERISA.

         7.16. Regulations U and X. Each Borrower represents, with respect to
its Loans, that the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans shall be used (a) to
convert existing Indebtedness under the Original Credit Agreement to
Indebtedness hereunder; (b) for acquisitions permitted by ss.9.5.1 up to a
maximum aggregate amount of $15,000,000 during the term of this Credit
Agreement; (c) for working capital and general corporate purposes; and (d) to
fund Distributions permitted to be made pursuant to ss.9.4(b) hereof. The
Borrower will obtain Letters of Credit solely for working capital and general
corporate purposes. No portion of any Revolving Credit Loan is to be used, and
no portion of any Letter of Credit is to be obtained, for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying any "margin security" or "margin stock" as such terms are
used in Regulations U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, 12 C.F.R. Parts 221 and 224.

         7.17. Environmental Compliance. Each Borrower represents and warrants
that such Borrower has taken all necessary steps to investigate 


<PAGE>

                                      -47-


the past and present condition and usage of the Real Estate and the operations
conducted thereon and, based upon such diligent investigation, has determined
that:

                  (a) none of such Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any operator of
         the Real Estate or any operations thereon is in violation, or alleged
         violation, of any judgment, decree, order, law, license, rule or
         regulation pertaining to environmental matters, including without
         limitation, those arising under the Resource Conservation and Recovery
         Act ("RCRA"), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
         and Liability Act of 1980 as amended ("CERCLA"), the Superfund
         Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 ("SARA"), the Federal Clean
         Water Act, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act,
         or any state or local statute, regulation, ordinance, order or decree
         relating to health, safety or the environment (hereinafter
         "Environmental Laws"), which violation would have a material adverse
         effect on the environment or the business, assets or financial
         condition of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

                  (b) neither such Borrowers nor any of its Subsidiaries has
         received notice from any third party including, without limitation, any
         federal, state or local governmental authority, (i) that any one of
         them has been identified by the United States Environmental Protection
         Agency ("EPA") as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA with
         respect to a site listed on the National Priorities List, 40 C.F.R.
         Part 300 Appendix B; (ii) that any hazardous waste, as defined by 42
         U.S.C. ss.6903(5), any hazardous substances as defined by 42 U.S.C.
         ss.9601(14), any pollutant or contaminant as defined by 42 U.S.C.
         ss.9601(33) and any toxic substances, oil or hazardous materials or
         other chemicals or substances regulated by any Environmental Laws
         ("Hazardous Substances") which any one of them has generated,
         transported or disposed of has been found at any site at which a
         federal, state or local agency or other third party has conducted or
         has ordered that such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries conduct a
         remedial investigation, removal or other response action pursuant to
         any Environmental Law; or (iii) that it is or shall be a named party to
         any claim, action, cause of action, complaint, or legal or
         administrative proceeding (in each case, contingent or otherwise)
         arising out of any third party's incurrence of costs, expenses, losses
         or damages of any kind whatsoever in connection with the release of
         Hazardous Substances;

                  (c) except as set forth on Schedule 7.17 attached hereto: (i)
         no portion of its Real Estate has been used for the handling,
         processing, storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances except in
         accordance with applicable Environmental Laws; and no underground tank
         or other underground storage receptacle for Hazardous Substances is
         located on any portion of the Real Estate; (ii) in the course of any


<PAGE>

                                      -48-


         activities conducted by such Borrowers, its Subsidiaries or operators
         of its properties, no Hazardous Substances have been generated or are
         being used on its Real Estate except in accordance with applicable
         Environmental Laws; (iii) there have been no releases (i.e. any past or
         present releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting,
         emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, disposing or dumping) or
         threatened releases of Hazardous Substances on, upon, into or from the
         properties of such Borrower or its Subsidiaries, which releases would
         have a material adverse effect on the value of any of its Real Estate
         or adjacent properties or the environment; (iv) to the best of such
         Borrower's knowledge, there have been no releases on, upon, from or
         into any real property in the vicinity of any of its Real Estate which,
         through soil or groundwater contamination, may have come to be located
         on, and which would have a material adverse effect on the value of, its
         Real Estate; and (v) in addition, any Hazardous Substances that have
         been generated on any of its Real Estate have been transported offsite
         only by carriers having an identification number issued by the EPA,
         treated or disposed of only by treatment or disposal facilities
         maintaining valid permits as required under applicable Environmental
         Laws, which transporters and facilities have been and are, to the best
         of such Borrower's knowledge, operating in compliance with such permits
         and applicable Environmental Laws; and

                  (d) none of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries or any of its
         Real Estate is subject to any applicable environmental law requiring
         the performance of Hazardous Substances site assessments, or the
         removal or remediation of Hazardous Substances, or the giving of notice
         to any governmental agency or the recording or delivery to other
         Persons of an environmental disclosure document or statement by virtue
         of the transactions set forth herein and contemplated hereby.

         7.18. Subsidiaries, etc.. The Company represents and warrants that its
only Subsidiaries are set forth on Schedule 7.18(a) attached hereto, and those
Subsidiaries have no other Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 7.18(b)
hereto, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company is engaged in any
joint venture or partnership with any other Person.

         7.19. Chief Executive Offices. The Company represents and warrants that
the Company's chief executive office is at 7 Technology Park Drive, Westford,
Massachusetts 01886-0033 at which location its books and records are kept. Each
Subsidiary's chief executive office is as set forth on Schedule 7.18(a) attached
hereto.

         7.20. Fiscal Year. The Company represents and warrants that the Company
has a fiscal year which is the approximate twelve (12) months ending January 3,
1998 for the 1997 fiscal year, January 2, 1999 for the 

<PAGE>

                                      -49-


1998 fiscal year, January 1, 2000 for the 1999 fiscal year, December 30, 2000
for the 2000 fiscal year and December 29, 2001 for the 2001 fiscal year. Each
other Borrower has a fiscal year which is the twelve (12) months ending on the
same dates.

         7.21. No Amendments to Certain Documents. Each Borrower represents that
each of the representations and warranties made by it in any of the Loan
Documents was true and correct in all material respects when made and continues
to be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date, except to
the extent that any of such representations and warranties relate, by the
express terms thereof, solely to a date falling prior to the Closing Date, and
except to the extent that any of such representations and warranties may have
been affected by the consummation of the transactions contemplated and permitted
or required by the Loan Documents.

         7.22. Disclosure. The Company represents and warrants that no
representation or warranty made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
this Credit Agreement or in any agreement, instrument, document, certificate,
statement or letter furnished to the Agent or any Bank by or on behalf of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any of the transactions
contemplated by any of the Loan Documents, contains any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in
which they are made.

         7.23. No Withholding, Etc. Each Borrower represents that it is not
required by the laws of any jurisdiction to make any deduction or withholding of
any nature whatsoever from any payment to be made by it hereunder unless
disclosed in writing to the Agent and such deductions or withholdings are not,
in the Agent's reasonable discretion, material. Neither this Credit Agreement
nor any of the Loan Documents is subject to any registration or stamp tax or any
other similar or like takes payable in any jurisdiction.

         7.24. No Filing, Recording Required. The Company represents that no
filing, recording or enrolling of this Credit Agreement or any other Loan
Document is required to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or
admissibility in evidence of this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.

                   8. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF THE BORROWERS.

         Each of the Borrowers (or the Company when so specified) covenants and
agrees that, so long as any Revolving Credit Loan, Unpaid Reimbursement
Obligation, Letter of Credit or Revolving Credit Note is outstanding or any Bank
has any obligation to make any Revolving Credit Loans or the Agent has any
obligation to issue, extend or renew any Letters of Credit:

<PAGE>

                                      -50-


         8.1. Punctual Payment. Such Borrower will duly and punctually pay or
cause to be paid the principal and interest on the Revolving Credit Loans, all
Reimbursement Obligations, the Letter of Credit Fees, the commitment fees, the
Agent's fee and all other amounts provided for in this Credit Agreement and the
other Loan Documents to which such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party, all in accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement and such other
Loan Documents.

         8.2. Maintenance of Office. The Company covenants that it will maintain
its chief executive office at 7 Technology Park Drive, Westford, Massachusetts,
or at such other place in the United States of America as the Company shall
designate upon written notice to the Agent, where notices, presentations and
demands to or upon the Borrowers in respect of the Loan Documents to which the
Borrowers are a party may be given or made.

         8.3. Records and Accounts. The Company covenants that it will (a) keep,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, true and accurate records and books
of account in which full, true and correct entries will be made in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles and (b) maintain adequate accounts
and reserves for all taxes (including income taxes), depreciation, depletion,
obsolescence and amortization of its properties and the properties of its
Subsidiaries, contingencies, and other reserves.

         8.4. Financial Statements, Certificates and Information. The Company
will deliver to the Agent, with sufficient copies for each of the Banks:

              (a) as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than ninety
         (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, the
         consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the
         consolidating balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other
         than the consolidating balance sheet of any Subsidiary of the Company
         which the Company's accountant does not in its reasonable discretion
         deem to be a material Subsidiary of the Company, unless such a
         Subsidiary is a Borrower), each as at the end of such year, and the
         related consolidated statement of income and consolidated statement of
         cash flow and consolidating statement of income and consolidating
         statement of cash flow for such year, each setting forth in comparative
         form the figures for the previous fiscal year and all such consolidated
         and consolidating statements to be in reasonable detail, prepared in
         accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and certified
         (without qualification or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Agent;
         provided that such certificate may set forth qualifications to the
         extent such qualifications pertain solely to changes in generally
         accepted accounting principles from those applied during earlier
         accounting periods, the implementation of which changes is reflected in
         the financial statements accompanying such certification) by Price
         Waterhouse LLP or by other independent 


<PAGE>

                                      -51-


         certified public accountants satisfactory to the Agent, together with a
         written statement from such accountants to the effect that they have
         read a copy of this Credit Agreement, and that, in making the
         examination necessary to said certification, they have obtained no
         knowledge of any Default or Event of Default pursuant to ss.10 hereof,
         or, if such accountants shall have obtained knowledge of any then
         existing Default or Event of Default pursuant to ss.10 hereof, they
         shall disclose in such statement any such Default or Event of Default
         arising pursuant to ss.10 hereof; provided that such accountants shall
         not be liable to the Banks for failure to obtain knowledge of any
         Default or Event of Default;

                  (b) as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
         forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the fiscal quarters of
         the Company, copies of the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the
         Company and its Subsidiaries and the unaudited consolidating balance
         sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, each as at the end of such
         quarter, and the related consolidated statement of income and
         consolidated statement of cash flow and consolidating statement of
         income and consolidating statement of cash flow for the portion of the
         Company's fiscal year then elapsed, all in reasonable detail and
         prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
         together with a certification by the principal financial or accounting
         officer of the Company that the information contained in such financial
         statements fairly presents the financial position of the Company and
         its Subsidiaries on the date thereof (subject to year-end adjustments);

                  (c) simultaneously with the delivery of the financial
         statements referred to in subsections (a) and (b) above, a statement
         certified by the principal financial or accounting officer of the
         Company in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto (the "Compliance
         Certificate") and setting forth in reasonable detail computations
         evidencing compliance with the covenants contained in ss.10 and (if
         applicable) reconciliations to reflect changes in generally accepted
         accounting principles since the Balance Sheet Date;

                  (d) contemporaneously with the filing or mailing thereof,
         copies of all material of a financial nature filed with the Securities
         and Exchange Commission or sent to the stockholders of any of the
         Borrowers;

                  (e) by not later than thirty (30) days prior to the end of any
         fiscal year, the annual projections of the Borrowers for the next
         fiscal year, and upon the request of the Agent or any Bank, any
         quarterly projections of the Borrower prepared by the Borrowers for the
         next fiscal quarter; and

<PAGE>

                                      -52-


                  (f) from time to time such other financial data and
         information (including accountants, management letters) as the Agent or
         any Bank may reasonably request.

         8.5.  Notices.

               8.5.1. Defaults. The Company covenants that it will promptly
         notify the Agent in writing of the occurrence of any Default or Event
         of Default. If any Person shall give any notice or take any other
         action in respect of a claimed default (whether or not constituting an
         Event of Default) under this Credit Agreement or any other note,
         evidence of indebtedness, indenture or other credit or similar monetary
         obligation to which or with respect to which any of the Borrowers or
         any of their Subsidiaries is a party or obligor, whether as principal,
         guarantor, surety or otherwise, such Borrower shall forthwith give
         written notice thereof to the Agent and each of the Banks, describing
         the notice or action and the nature of the claimed default.

               8.5.2. Environmental Events. The Company covenants that it will
         promptly give notice to the Agent (a) of any violation of any
         Environmental Law that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries reports
         in writing or is reportable by such Person in writing (or for which any
         written report supplemental to any oral report is made) to any federal,
         state or local environmental agency and (b) upon becoming aware
         thereof, of any inquiry, proceeding, investigation, or other action,
         including a notice from any agency of potential environmental
         liability, of any federal, state or local environmental agency or
         board, that has the potential to materially affect the assets,
         liabilities, financial conditions or operations of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

               8.5.3. Notice of Litigation and Judgments. The Company will, and
         will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, give notice to the Agent in
         writing within fifteen (15) days of becoming aware of any litigation or
         proceedings threatened in writing or any pending litigation and
         proceedings affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to
         which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or becomes a party
         involving an uninsured claim against the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a materially
         adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries and stating the
         nature and status of such litigation or proceedings. The Company will,
         and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, give notice to the Agent
         and each of the Banks, in writing, in form and detail satisfactory to
         the Agent, within ten (10) days after any judgment not covered by
         insurance, final or otherwise, against the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries in an amount in excess of $250,000.

         8.6. Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties. Such Borrower will
do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and


<PAGE>

                                      -53-


keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights and franchises and
those of its Subsidiaries and will not, and will not cause or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, convert to a limited liability company. Such Borrower (a) will
cause all of its properties and those of its Subsidiaries used or useful in the
conduct of its business or the business of its Subsidiaries to be maintained and
kept in good condition, repair and working order (ordinary wear and tear
excepted and damage by fire and other casualty which is fully covered by
insurance excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment, (b) will cause to
be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and
improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of such Borrower may be necessary
so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and
advantageously conducted at all times, and (c) will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, continue to engage primarily in the businesses now conducted by
them and in related businesses; provided that nothing in this ss.8.6 shall
prevent any Borrower from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any of
its properties or any of those of its Subsidiaries (unless such Subsidiary is a
Borrower hereunder) if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of such Borrower,
desirable in the conduct of its or their business.

         8.7. Insurance. Such Borrower will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurers
insurance with respect to its properties and business against such casualties
and contingencies as shall be in accordance with the general practices of
businesses engaged in similar activities in similar geographic areas and in
amounts, containing such terms, in such forms and for such periods as may be
reasonable and prudent.

         8.8. Taxes. Such Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, duly pay and discharge, or cause to be paid and discharged, before the same
shall become overdue, all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges
imposed upon it and its real properties, sales and activities, or any part
thereof, or upon the income or profits therefrom, as well as all claims for
labor, materials, or supplies that if unpaid might by law become a lien or
charge upon any of its property; provided that any such tax, assessment, charge,
levy or claim need not be paid if the validity or amount thereof shall currently
be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and if such Borrower or
such Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect
thereto; and provided further that such Borrower and each Subsidiary of such
Borrower will pay all such taxes, assessments, charges, levies or claims
forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any lien that may
have attached as security therefor.

<PAGE>

                                      -54-


         8.9. Inspection of Properties and Books, etc. Such Borrower shall
permit the Banks, through the Agent or any of the Banks' other designated
representatives, to visit and inspect any of the properties of such Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries, to examine the books of account of such Borrower and
its Subsidiaries (and to make copies thereof and extracts therefrom), and to
discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries
with, and to be advised as to the same by, its and their officers, all at such
reasonable times and intervals as the Agent or any Bank may reasonably request.

         8.10. Compliance with Laws, Contracts, Licenses, and Permits. Such
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with (a) the
applicable laws and regulations wherever its business is conducted, including
all Environmental Laws, (b) the provisions of its charter documents and by-laws,
(c) all agreements and instruments by which it or any of its properties may be
bound and (d) all applicable decrees, orders, and judgments. If any
authorization, consent, approval, permit or license from any officer, agency or
instrumentality of any government shall become necessary or required in order
that such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may fulfill any of its obligations
hereunder or any of the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower or such
Subsidiary is a party, such Borrower will, or (as the case may be) will cause
such Subsidiary to, immediately take or cause to be taken all reasonable steps
within the power of such Borrower or such Subsidiary to obtain such
authorization, consent, approval, permit or license and furnish the Agent and
the Banks with evidence thereof.

         8.11. Employee Benefit Plans. Such Borrower will, if applicable, (a)
promptly upon filing the same with the Department of Labor or Internal Revenue
Service, furnish to the Agent a copy of the most recent actuarial statement
required to be submitted under ss.103(d) of ERISA and Annual Report, Form 5500,
with all required attachments, in respect of each Guaranteed Pension Plan and
(b) promptly upon receipt or dispatch, furnish to the Agent any notice, report
or demand sent or received in respect of a Guaranteed Pension Plan under
ss.ss.302, 4041, 4042, 4043, 4063, 4065, 4066 and 4068 of ERISA, or in respect
of a Multiemployer Plan, under ss.ss.4041A, 4202, 4219, 4242, or 4245 of ERISA.

         8.12. Use of Proceeds. Such Borrower will use the proceeds of the
Revolving Credit Loans solely (a) to convert existing Indebtedness under the
Original Credit Agreement into Indebtedness hereunder; (b) for acquisitions
permitted pursuant to ss.9.5.1. up to an aggregate amount not to exceed
$15,000,000 during the term of this Credit Agreement; (c) for working capital
and general corporate purposes, including making loans to Subsidiaries; and (d)
to fund Distributions permitted to be made pursuant to ss.9.4(b) hereof. The
Borrower will obtain Letters of Credit solely for working capital and general
corporate purposes.

<PAGE>

                                      -55-


         8.13. Fair Labor Standards Act. Such Borrower will, and each of its
Subsidiaries shall at all times operate its business in compliance with all
material applicable provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as
amended. None of the inventory of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are
or will be produced by employees of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries who
are employed in violation of the applicable minimum wage or maximum hour
provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. ss.ss.206 and 207) or any
regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case, as in effect from time to
time.

         8.14. Further Assurances. Such Borrower will, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to, cooperate with the Banks and the Agent and execute such
further instruments and documents as the Banks or the Agent shall reasonably
request to carry out to their satisfaction the transactions contemplated by this
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

                 9. CERTAIN NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF THE BORROWERS.

         Each of the Borrowers (or the Company where so stated) covenants and
agrees that, so long as any Revolving Credit Loan, Unpaid Reimbursement
Obligation, Letter of Credit or Revolving Credit Note is outstanding or any Bank
has any obligation to make any Revolving Credit Loans or the Agent has any
obligations to issue, extend or renew any Letters of Credit:

         9.1. Restrictions on Indebtedness. Such Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume, guarantee or be or
remain liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to any Indebtedness other
than:

               (a) Indebtedness to the Banks and the Agent arising under any of
         the Loan Documents;

               (b) current liabilities of such 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 ss.8.8;

               (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 such
         Borrower or such Subsidiary shall at the time in good faith be
         prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review and in respect of 


<PAGE>

                                      -56-


         which a stay of execution shall have been obtained pending such appeal
         or review;

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

               (f) obligations under Capitalized Leases not exceeding $6,000,000
         in aggregate amount at any time outstanding;

               (g) Indebtedness incurred after the date hereof in connection
         with the acquisition of any real or personal property by such Borrower
         or such Subsidiary, provided that the aggregate principal amount of
         such Indebtedness of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries shall not
         exceed the aggregate amount of $3,000,000 at any one time;

               (h) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and listed and
         described on Schedule 9.1 hereto;

               (i) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of any Borrower existing on the
         Closing Date to such Borrower, so long as such Subsidiary is a Borrower
         hereunder or prior to the date of the incurrence or existence of such
         Indebtedness such Subsidiary becomes a guarantor of all the Obligations
         hereunder on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Agent;

               (j) Indebtedness of a Borrower to any other Borrower or to a
         Guarantor or of a Guarantor to another Guarantor; and

               (k) (i) Indebtedness of Genrad Ltd. to BankBoston, N.A. London
         Branch pursuant to a certain Facility Agreement dated 26 June 1997
         between Genrad Ltd. and BankBoston, N.A. London Branch and (ii)
         unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not
         otherwise provided for in this ss.9.1;

provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of ss.9.1, the total
principal amount of all Indebtedness outstanding under clauses (f), (g), (h) and
(k) of this ss.9.1 shall not at any time exceed in the aggregate $20,000,000 at
any one time outstanding.

         9.3. Restrictions on Liens. Such Borrower will not, and will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, (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 


<PAGE>

                                      -57-


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 such Borrower and
its Subsidiary may create or incur or suffer to be created or incurred or to
exist:

               (i) liens in favor of such Borrower on all or part of the assets
         of Subsidiaries of such Borrower securing Indebtedness owing by
         Subsidiaries of such Borrower to such Borrower;

               (ii) 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;

               (iii) 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;

               (iv) liens on properties in respect of judgments or awards, the
         Indebtedness with respect to which is permitted by ss.9.1(d);

               (v) liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen,
         and other like liens on properties in existence less than 120 days from
         the date of creation thereof in respect of obligations not overdue;

               (vi) 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 or
         lessor's liens under leases to which such Borrower or a Subsidiary of
         such Borrower is a party, and other minor liens or encumbrances none of
         which in the opinion of such Borrower interferes materially with the
         use of the property affected in the ordinary conduct of the business of
         such Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which defects do not individually
         or in the aggregate have a materially adverse effect on the business of
         such Borrower individually or of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries
         on a consolidated basis;

               (vii) liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule
         9.2 hereto and liens granted to BankBoston, N.A. London Branch to
         secure the Indebtedness permitted by ss.9.1(k)(i);


<PAGE>

                                      -58-


               (viii) purchase money security interests in or purchase money
         mortgages on real or personal property acquired after the date hereof
         to secure purchase money Indebtedness of the type and amount permitted
         by ss.9.1(g), incurred in connection with the acquisition of such
         property, which security interests or mortgages cover only the real or
         personal property so acquired;

               (ix) liens on office equipment of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date but not set forth on Schedule
         9.2 provided such liens do not secure Indebtedness in excess of $25,000
         in the aggregate; and

               (x) liens in respect of Capitalized Leases permitted pursuant to
         ss.9.1(f).

         9.3.  Restrictions on Investments. Such Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make or permit to exist or to remain
outstanding any Investment except Investments in:

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

               (b) demand deposits, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances
         and time deposits of United States banks having total assets in excess
         of $1,000,000,000 or banks organized under the laws any OECD country
         and having total assets in excess of $10,000,000,000;

               (c) 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 2" if rated by
         Moody's Investors Services, Inc., and not less than "A 2" if rated by
         Standard and Poor's;

               (d) Investments existing on the date hereof and listed on
         Schedule 9.3 hereto;

               (e) Investments with respect to Indebtedness permitted by
         ss.9.1(j) so long as such entities remain Subsidiaries of such
         Borrower;

               (f) Investments consisting of the guaranty arrangements provided
         for in ss.6 hereof or Investments by any Borrower in Subsidiaries of
         such Borrower either existing on the Closing Date or made subsequent to
         the Closing Date so long as such Subsidiary is a Borrower or prior to
         the date of such Investment such Subsidiary becomes a guarantor
         hereunder on terms and conditions, and 


<PAGE>

                                      -59-


pursuant to an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent;

               (g) Investments consisting of promissory notes received as
         proceeds of asset dispositions permitted by ss.9.5.2;

               (h) money market mutual funds provided (i) each such fund in
         which such Borrower or its Subsidiaries makes an Investment has assets
         of not less than $50,000,000; and (ii) the proportional Investment in
         each such fund by such Borrower or such Subsidiary does not exceed five
         percent (5%) of the aggregate amount of all Investments in such fund;
         and

               (i) Investments made by the Agent on behalf of such Borrower,
         including, without limitation, Investments made in money market loan
         participant notes; and

               (j) Investments by the Borrower in the ordinary course of
         business in money market loan participant notes which have terms
         similar to those notes invested in by the Agent on behalf of the
         Borrower, or otherwise acceptable to the Agent.

         9.4. Distributions. Such Borrower will not make any Distributions;
provided, however, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would exist as a result thereof, (a) any Subsidiary of the Company
shall be permitted to make Distributions to its parent or the Company, and (b)
the Company shall be permitted to make Distributions in respect of stock
repurchases up to an aggregate amount in any one twelve-month period which does
not exceed in the aggregate the lesser of (1) fifteen percent (15%) of the
Company's Consolidated Tangible Net Worth as of the most recent fiscal quarter
then ended and (2) $15,000,000.

         9.5.  Merger, Consolidation and Disposition of Assets.

               9.5.1. Mergers and Acquisitions. The Company will not, and will
         not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, become a party to any merger or
         consolidation, or agree to or effect any asset acquisition or stock
         acquisition other than (a) the acquisition of assets in the ordinary
         course of business consistent with past practices; (b) the merger or
         consolidation of one or more of the Subsidiaries of any Borrower with
         and into such Borrower, or the merger or consolidation of two (2) or
         more Subsidiaries of any Borrower (so long as the Subsidiary which does
         not survive such a merger or consolidation is not a Borrower); and (c)
         the acquisition by the Company of assets of Persons in the same or
         similar line of business so long as (i) the Company has provided the
         Agent and the Syndication Agent with three (3) Business Days prior
         written notice of such acquisition, which notice shall include a
         reasonably detailed description of such acquisition; (ii) no Default or
         Event of Default has occurred and is 


<PAGE>

                                      -60-


         continuing or would exist as a result of such proposed acquisition;
         (iii) the business to be acquired would not subject the Agent or the
         Banks to regulatory or third party approvals in connection with the
         exercise of its rights and remedies under this Credit Agreement or any
         other Loan Document; (iv) the Company is in pro forma compliance with
         its covenants contained in ss.10 both prior to and immediately after
         giving effect to each such acquisition and the Company covenants to
         provide the Agent and the Syndication Agent with evidence satisfactory
         to the Agent and the Syndication Agent of such compliance within ten
         (10) days after consummating such acquisition; (v) the aggregate
         purchase price for all acquisitions (exclusive of consideration
         evidenced by the capital stock of any Borrower) in any one twelve-month
         period does not exceed in the aggregate the lesser of (1) fifteen
         percent (15%) of the Company's Consolidated Tangible Net Worth as of
         the most recent fiscal quarter then ended and (2) $15,000,000.

               9.5.2. Disposition of Assets. The Company will not, and will not
         permit any of its Subsidiaries to, become a party to or agree to or
         effect any disposition of assets, other than (a) the disposition of
         assets in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past
         practices; and (b) other sales of assets not otherwise provided for
         herein, provided, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and
         is continuing at the time of such sale; (ii) the fair market value of
         all assets sold in any fiscal year does not exceed, in the aggregate,
         $2,000,000; and (iii) the Person selling such asset receives 100% of
         the purchase price in cash; (iv) the purchase price received by such
         Person is not less than the fair market value of the property being
         sold.

         9.6. Sale and Leaseback. Except as permitted by ss.9.5.2 hereof, the
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any
arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries shall sell or transfer any property owned by it in order then or
thereafter to lease such property or lease other property that the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company intends to use for substantially the same purpose
as the property being sold or transferred.

         9.7. Compliance with Environmental Laws. Such Borrower will not, and
will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) use any of its Real Estate or
any portion thereof for the handling, processing, storage or disposal of
Hazardous Substances, (b) cause or permit to be located on any of its Real
Estate any underground tank or other underground storage receptacle for
Hazardous Substances, (c) generate any Hazardous Substances on any of its Real
Estate, (d) conduct any activity at its Real Estate or use its Real Estate in
any manner so as to cause a release (i.e. releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping,
pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching,
disposing or dumping) or threatened release of Hazardous Substances on, upon or
into its Real Estate 


<PAGE>

                                      -61-


or (e) otherwise conduct any activity at its Real Estate or use its Real Estate
in any manner that would violate any Environmental Law or bring such Real Estate
in violation of any Environmental Law.

         9.8.  Employee Benefit Plans. Neither such Borrower nor any ERISA
Affiliate will

               (a) engage in any "prohibited transaction" within the meaning of
         ss.406 of ERISA or ss.4975 of the Code which could result in a material
         liability for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or

               (b) permit any Guaranteed Pension Plan to incur an "accumulated
         funding deficiency", as such term is defined in ss.302 of ERISA,
         whether or not such deficiency is or may be waived; or

               (c) fail to contribute to any Guaranteed Pension Plan to an
         extent which, or terminate any Guaranteed Pension Plan in a manner
         which, could result in the imposition of a lien or encumbrance on the
         assets of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to
         ss.302(f) or ss.4068 of ERISA; or

               (d) permit or take any action which would result in the aggregate
         benefit liabilities (with the meaning of ss.4001 of ERISA) of all
         Guaranteed Pension Plans exceeding the value of the aggregate assets of
         such Plans, disregarding for this purpose the benefit liabilities and
         assets of any such Plan with assets in excess of benefit liabilities.

         9.9. Fiscal Year. Neither such Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
will change the date of the end of its respective fiscal years from that set
forth in ss.7.20 hereof.

         9.10. Negative Pledges. Neither such Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries will enter into any agreement (excluding this Credit Agreement and
the Loan Documents) prohibiting the creation or assumption of any lien upon its
properties, revenues or assets or those of any of its Subsidiaries, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired other than agreements with Persons prohibiting any
such lien on assets in which such Person has a prior security interest which is
permitted by ss.9.2.

         9.11. Transaction with Affiliates. Such Borrower will not, nor will it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into, or cause, suffer or permit to
exist (a) any arrangement or contract with any of its other Affiliates of a
nature customarily entered into by Persons which are Affiliates of each other
(including management and similar contracts or arrangements relating to the
allocation of revenues, taxes and expenses or otherwise) requiring any payments
to be made by such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to any Affiliate unless
such arrangement is fair and equitable to such Borrower or such Subsidiary; or
(b) any other transaction, arrangement, contract with any of their other
Affiliates which would not be entered into by a prudent 


<PAGE>

                                      -62-


Person in the position of such Borrower or such Subsidiary with, or which is on
terms which are less favorable than are obtainable from, any Person which is not
one of its Affiliates.

         9.12. Upstream Limitations. Such Borrower will not, nor will it permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement, contact or arrangement
(other than the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents) restricting the
ability of any Subsidiary to pay or make dividends or distributions in cash or
kind, to make loans, advances or other payments of whatsoever nature or to make
transfers or distributions of all or any part of its assets to such Borrower to
any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary.

         9.13. Inconsistent Agreements. Such Borrower will not nor will it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any agreement containing any
provision which would be violated or breached by the performance by such
Borrower or such Subsidiary of its obligations hereunder or under any of the
Loan Documents.

                     10. FINANCIAL COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

         The Company covenants and agrees that, so long as any Revolving Credit
Loan, Unpaid Reimbursement Obligation, Letter of Credit or Revolving Credit Note
is outstanding or any Bank has any obligation to make any Revolving Credit Loans
or the Agent has any obligation to issue, extend or renew any Letters of Credit:

         10.1. Leverage Ratio. The Company will not permit the Leverage Ratio to
be greater than 2.00:1.00 for any fiscal quarter.

         10.2. Profitable Operations. The Company will not permit either
Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated Recurring Operating Income for any
fiscal quarter to be less than $1.00.

         10.3. Capital Expenditures. The Company will not make, or permit any of
its Subsidiaries to make, Capital Expenditures (other than any Capital
Expenditures for service parts inventory used solely to support the Company's
installed customer equipment base) in any fiscal year that exceed, in the
aggregate, (a) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and (b) $20,000,000 for each
fiscal year thereafter.

         10.4. Debt Service. The Company will not, during any fiscal quarter,
permit the ratio of (a) EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal
quarters (treated as a single accounting period) ending on such date to (b)
Consolidated Total Interest Expense for such fiscal period, to be less than
4.00:1.00.

<PAGE>

                                      -63-


         10.5. Current Ratio. The Company will not permit the ratio of
Consolidated Current Assets to Consolidated Current Liabilities to be less than
2.00:1.00 at any time.

                             11. CLOSING CONDITIONS.

         The obligations of the Banks to make the initial Revolving Credit Loans
and of the Agent to issue any initial Letters of Credit shall be subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on or prior to Closing Date:

         11.1. Loan Documents. Each of the Loan Documents shall have been duly
executed and delivered by the respective parties thereto, shall be in full force
and effect and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to each of the Banks.
The Agent shall have received a fully executed copy of each such document.

         11.2. Certified Copies of Charter Documents. Each of the Banks shall
have received from each of the Borrowers a copy, certified by a duly authorized
officer of such Person to be true and complete on the Closing Date, of each of
(a) its charter or other incorporation documents as in effect on such date of
certification, and (b) its by-laws as in effect on such date.

         11.3. Corporate Action. All corporate action necessary for the valid
execution, delivery and performance by each of the Borrowers of this Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is or is to become a party
shall have been duly and effectively taken, and evidence thereof satisfactory to
the Banks shall have been provided to each of the Banks.

         11.4. Incumbency Certificate. The Agent shall have received from each
of the Borrowers an incumbency certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed
by a duly authorized officer of such Borrower, and giving the name and bearing a
specimen signature of each individual who shall be authorized: (a) to sign, in
the name and on behalf of each Borrower, each of the Loan Documents to which
such Borrower is or is to become a party; (b) to make Loan Requests and
Conversion Requests and to apply for Letters of Credit; and (iii) to give
notices and to take other action on its behalf under the Loan Documents.

         11.5. UCC Search Results. The Agent shall have received the results of
UCC searches with respect to the Borrowers, indicating no liens other than
Permitted Liens and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

         11.6. Certificates of Insurance. The Agent shall have received (s) a
certificate of insurance from an independent insurance broker dated as of the
Closing Date, identifying insurers, types of insurance, insurance limits, and
policy terms, and otherwise describing the insurance obtained in accordance with
the provisions of the Credit Agreement and (b) certified 


<PAGE>

                                      -64-


copies of all policies evidencing such insurance (or certificates therefore
signed by the insurer or an agent authorized to bind the insurer).

         11.7. Solvency Certificate. The Agent shall have received an officer's
certificate of the Company dated as of the Closing Date as to the solvency of
the Company and its Subsidiaries following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein and in form and substance satisfactory to the Banks.

         11.8. Opinion of Counsel. Each of the Banks and the Agent shall have
received a favorable legal opinion addressed to the Banks and the Agent, dated
as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Banks and the
Agent, from Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP, counsel to the Company and the
Guarantors and Bolitho Way, counsel to the Borrowing Subsidiaries.

         11.9. Payment of Fees. The Company shall have paid to the Banks or the
Agent, as appropriate, the closing fee pursuant to the Fee Letter.

                        12. CONDITIONS TO ALL BORROWINGS.

         The obligations of the Banks to make any Revolving Credit Loan, and of
the Agent to issue, extend or renew any Letter of Credit, in each case whether
on or after the Closing Date, shall also be subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent:

         12.1. Representations True; No Event of Default. Each of the
representations and warranties of any of the Borrowers contained in this Credit
Agreement, the other Loan Documents or in any document or instrument delivered
pursuant to or in connection with this Credit Agreement shall be true as of the
date as of which they were made and shall also be true at and as of the time of
the making of such Revolving Credit Loan or the issuance, extension or renewal
of such Letter of Credit, with the same effect as if made at and as of that time
(except to the extent of changes resulting from transactions contemplated or
permitted by this Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and changes
occurring in the ordinary course of business that singly or in the aggregate are
not materially adverse, and to the extent that such representations and
warranties relate expressly to an earlier date) and no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

         12.2. No Legal Impediment. No change shall have occurred in any law or
regulations thereunder or interpretations thereof that in the reasonable opinion
of any Bank would make it illegal for such Bank to make such Revolving Credit
Loan or to participate in the issuance, extension or renewal of such Letter of
Credit or in the reasonable opinion of the Agent would make it illegal for the
Agent to issue, extend or renew such Letter of Credit.


<PAGE>

                                      -65-


         12.3. Governmental Regulation. Each Bank shall have received such
statements in substance and form reasonably satisfactory to such Bank as such
Bank shall require for the purpose of compliance with any applicable regulations
of the Comptroller of the Currency or the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System.

         12.4. Proceedings and Documents. All proceedings in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and
all other documents incident thereto shall be satisfactory in substance and in
form to the Banks and to the Agent and the Agent's Special Counsel, and the
Banks, the Agent and such counsel shall have received all information and such
counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as the
Agent may reasonably request.

                    13. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; ACCELERATION; ETC.

         13.1. Events of Default and Acceleration. If any of the following
events ("Events of Default" or, if the giving of notice or the lapse of time or
both is required, then, prior to such notice or lapse of time, "Defaults") shall
occur:

               (a) any of the Borrowers shall fail to pay any principal of the
         Revolving Credit Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation when the same
         shall become due and payable, whether at the stated date of maturity or
         any accelerated date of maturity or at any other date fixed for
         payment;

               (b) any of the Borrowers shall fail to pay any interest on the
         Revolving Credit Loans, the commitment fee, any Letter of Credit Fee,
         the Agent's fee, or other sums due hereunder or under any of the other
         Loan Documents, when the same shall become due and payable, whether at
         the stated date of maturity or any accelerated date of maturity or at
         any other date fixed for payment;

               (c) any of the Borrowers shall fail to comply with any of its
         covenants contained in ss.ss.6, 8.1, 8.2, 8.4, 8.5.1., 8.5.3, 8.5.4,
         8.7, 8.9, 8.12, 8.14, 9 or 10;

               (d) any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to perform
         any term, covenant or agreement contained herein or in any of the other
         Loan Documents (other than those specified elsewhere in this ss.13.1)
         for fifteen (15) days after written notice of such failure has been
         given to the Company by the Agent;

               (e) any representation or warranty of any Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries in this Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan
         Documents or in any other document or instrument delivered pursuant to
         or in connection with this Credit Agreement shall prove 


<PAGE>

                                      -66-


         to have been false in any material respect upon the date when made or
         deemed to have been made or repeated;

               (f) any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay at
         maturity, or within any applicable period of grace, any obligation in
         excess of $1,000,000 for borrowed money or credit received or in
         respect of any Capitalized Leases, 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 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) any 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 of any Borrower or any of
         its Subsidiaries or of any substantial part of the assets of any
         Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or shall commence any case or other
         proceeding relating to any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries 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 Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any
         Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall indicate its approval
         thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein or such petition or
         application shall not have been dismissed within forty-five (45) days
         following the filing thereof;

               (h) a decree or order is entered appointing any such trustee,
         custodian, liquidator or receiver or adjudicating any 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 Borrower or any Subsidiary of such Borrower
         in an involuntary case under federal bankruptcy laws as now or
         hereafter constituted;

               (i) there shall remain in force, undischarged, unsatisfied and
         unstayed, for more than thirty days, whether or not consecutive, any
         final judgment against any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that,
         with other outstanding final judgments, undischarged, against such
         Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries exceeds in the aggregate
         $1,000,000;

<PAGE>

                                      -67-


               (j) if any of the Loan Documents shall be cancelled, terminated,
         revoked or rescinded otherwise than in accordance with the terms
         thereof or with the express prior written agreement, consent or
         approval of the Banks, or any action at law, suit or in equity or other
         legal proceeding to cancel, revoke or rescind any of the Loan Documents
         shall be commenced by or on behalf of any 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 Loan Documents is illegal, invalid or unenforceable in
         accordance with the terms thereof;

               (k) with respect to any Guaranteed Pension Plan, an ERISA
         Reportable Event shall have occurred and the Majority Banks shall have
         determined in their reasonable discretion that such event reasonably
         could be expected to result in liability of any Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries to the PBGC or such Guaranteed Pension Plan in an
         aggregate amount exceeding $1,000,000 and such event in the
         circumstances occurring reasonably could constitute grounds for the
         termination of such Guaranteed Pension Plan by the PBGC or for the
         appointment by the appropriate United States District Court of a
         trustee to administer such Guaranteed Pension Plan; or a trustee shall
         have been appointed by the United States District Court to administer
         such Plan; or the PBGC shall have instituted proceedings to terminate
         such Guaranteed Pension Plan;

               (l) any 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 from conducting any material part
         of its business and such order shall continue in effect for more than
         thirty (30) days;

               (m) there shall occur any material damage to, or loss, theft or
         destruction of, any of the property of any Borrower or its
         Subsidiaries, whether or not insured, or 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 of any Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries if such event or circumstance is not covered by business
         interruption insurance and would have a material adverse effect on the
         business or financial condition of such Borrower or such Subsidiary;

               (n) there shall occur the loss, suspension or revocation of, or
         failure to renew, any license or permit now held or hereafter acquired
         by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries if such loss, suspension,
         revocation or failure to renew would have a material adverse effect on

<PAGE>

                                      -68-


         the business or financial condition of such Borrower or such
         Subsidiary;

               (n) any 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 such Borrower or any
         of its Subsidiaries, a punishment for which in any such case could
         include the forfeiture of any assets of such Borrower or such
         Subsidiary having a fair market value in excess of $1,000,000;

               (p) the Company shall at any time, legally or beneficially own
         less than one hundred percent (100%) of the capital stock of the other
         Borrowers, as adjusted pursuant to any stock split, stock dividend or
         recapitalization or reclassification of the capital of each such other
         Borrower; or

               (q) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section
         13 or 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) shall have
         acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
         promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act)
         of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding shares of common
         stock of the Company; or, during any period of twelve (12) consecutive
         calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Company on the
         first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the
         board of directors of the Company;

then, and in any such event, so long as the same may be continuing, the Agent
may, and upon the request of the Majority Banks shall, by notice in writing to
the Borrower declare all amounts owing with respect to this Credit Agreement,
the Revolving Credit Notes and the other Loan Documents and all Reimbursement
Obligations to be, and they shall thereupon forthwith become, immediately due
and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind,
all of which are hereby expressly waived by each of the Borrowers; provided that
in the event of any Event of Default specified in ss.ss.13.1(g) or 13.1(h), all
such amounts shall become immediately due and payable automatically and without
any requirement of notice from the Agent or any Bank.

         13.2. Termination of Commitments. If any one or more of the Events of
Default specified in ss.13.1(g) or ss.13.1(h) shall occur, any unused portion of
the credit hereunder shall forthwith terminate and each of the Banks shall be
relieved of all further obligations to make Revolving Credit Loans to the
Borrowers and the Agent shall be relieved of all further obligations to issue,
extend or renew Letters of Credit. If any other Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, or if on any Drawdown Date or other date for
issuing, extending or renewing any Letter of Credit the conditions precedent to
the making of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such Drawdown Date or (as
the case may be) to issuing, extending or renewing such Letter of Credit on such
other date are not satisfied, the 


<PAGE>

                                      -69-


Agent may and, upon the request of the Majority Banks, shall, by notice to the
Company, terminate the unused portion of the credit hereunder, and upon such
notice being given such unused portion of the credit hereunder shall terminate
immediately and each of the Banks shall be relieved of all further obligations
to make Revolving Credit Loans and the Agent shall be relieved of all further
obligations to issue, extend or renew Letters of Credit. No termination of the
credit hereunder shall relieve the Borrowers of any of the Obligations.

         13.3. Remedies. In case any one or more of the Events of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, and whether or not the Banks shall have
accelerated the maturity of the Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to ss.13.1, each
Bank, if owed any amount with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans or the
Reimbursement Obligations, may, with the consent of the Majority Banks but not
otherwise, 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 Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents or any instrument pursuant to which the Obligations to such 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
declaration or otherwise, proceed to enforce the payment thereof or any other
legal or equitable right of such Bank. No remedy herein conferred upon any Bank
or the Agent or the holder of any Revolving Credit Note or purchaser of any
Letter of Credit Participation 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.

         13.4. Exchange Rate. If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any
court or obtaining an order enforcing a judgment, it becomes necessary to
convert any amount due under this Credit Agreement in Dollars or in any other
currency (hereinafter in this ss.13.4 called the "first currency") into any
other currency (hereinafter in this ss.13.4 called the "second currency"), then
the conversion shall be made at the Agent's spot rate of exchange for buying the
first currency with the second currency prevailing at the Agent's close of
business on the Business Day next preceding the day on which the judgment is
given or (as the case may be) the order is made. Any payment made to the Agent
or any Bank pursuant to this Credit Agreement in the second currency shall
constitute a discharge of the obligations of the respective Borrower to pay to
the Agent and the Banks any amount originally due to the Agent and the Banks in
the first currency under this Credit Agreement only to the extent of the amount
of the first currency which the Agent and each of the Banks is able, on the date
of the receipt by it of such payment in any second currency, to purchase, in
accordance with the Agent's and such Bank's normal banking procedures, the
amount of such second currency so received. If the amount of the first currency
falls short of the amount originally due to the Agent and the Banks in the first
currency under this Credit Agreement, the Borrowers hereby agree that they 


<PAGE>

                                      -70-


will indemnify the Agent and each of the Banks against and save the Agent and
each of the Banks harmless from any shortfall so arising. This indemnity shall
constitute an obligation of each such Borrower separate and independent from the
other obligations contained in this Credit Agreement, shall give rise to a
separate and independent cause of action and shall continue in full force and
effect notwithstanding any judgment or order for a liquidated sum or sums in
respect of amounts due to the Agent or any Bank under this Credit Agreement or
under any such judgment or order. Any such shortfall shall be deemed to
constitute a loss suffered by the Agent and each such Bank, as the case may be,
and the Borrowers shall not be entitled to require any proof or evidence of any
actual loss. The covenant contained in this ss.13.4 shall survive the payment in
full of all of the other obligations of the Borrowers under this Credit
Agreement.

                                   14. SETOFF.

         Regardless of the adequacy of any collateral, during the continuance of
any Event of Default, any deposits or other sums credited by or due from any of
the Banks to any Borrower and any securities or other property of any Borrower
in the possession of such Bank may be applied to or set off by such Bank against
the payment of Obligations and any and all other liabilities, direct, or
indirect, absolute or contingent, which are due, now existing or hereafter
arising, of any Borrower to such Bank. Each of the Banks agrees with each other
Bank that (a) if an amount to be set off is to be applied to Indebtedness of the
Borrowers to such Bank, other than Indebtedness evidenced by the Revolving
Credit Notes held by such Bank or constituting Reimbursement Obligations owed to
such Bank, such amount shall be applied ratably to such other Indebtedness and
to the Indebtedness evidenced by all such Revolving Credit Notes held by such
Bank or constituting Reimbursement Obligations owed to such Bank, and (b) if
such Bank shall receive from any Borrower, whether by voluntary payment,
exercise of the right of setoff, counterclaim, cross action, enforcement of the
claim evidenced by the Revolving Credit Notes held by, or constituting
Reimbursement Obligations owed to, such Bank by proceedings against the Borrower
at law or in equity or by proof thereof in bankruptcy, reorganization,
liquidation, receivership or similar proceedings, or otherwise, and shall retain
and apply to the payment of the Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes
held by, or Reimbursement Obligations owed to, such Bank any amount in excess of
its ratable portion of the payments received by all of the Banks with respect to
the Revolving Credit Notes held by, and Reimbursement Obligations owed to, all
of the Banks, such Bank will make such disposition and arrangements with the
other Banks with respect to such excess, either by way of distribution, pro
tanto assignment of claims, subrogation or otherwise as shall result in each
Bank receiving in respect of the Revolving Credit Notes held by it or
Reimbursement obligations owed it, its proportionate payment as contemplated by
this Credit Agreement; provided that if all or any part of such excess payment
is thereafter recovered from such Bank, such disposition and arrangements 


<PAGE>

                                      -71-


shall be rescinded and the amount restored to the extent of such recovery, but
without interest.

                                 15. THE AGENT.

         15.1.  Authorization.

               (a) The Agent is authorized to take such action on behalf of each
         of the Banks and to exercise all such powers as are hereunder and under
         any of the other Loan Documents and any related documents delegated to
         the Agent, together with such powers as are reasonably incident
         thereto, provided that no duties or responsibilities not expressly
         assumed herein or therein shall be implied to have been assumed by the
         Agent.

               (b) The relationship between the Agent and each of the Banks is
         that of an independent contractor. The use of the term "Agent" is for
         convenience only and is used to describe, as a form of convention, the
         independent contractual relationship between the Agent and each of the
         Banks. Nothing contained in this Credit Agreement nor the other Loan
         Documents shall be construed to create an agency, trust or other
         fiduciary relationship between the Agent and any of the Banks.

               (c) As an independent contractor empowered by the Banks to
         exercise certain rights and perform certain duties and responsibilities
         hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Agent is nevertheless
         a "representative" of the Banks, as that term is defined in Article 1
         of the Uniform Commercial Code, for purposes of actions for the benefit
         of the Banks and the Agent with respect to all collateral security and
         guaranties contemplated by the Loan Documents. Such actions include the
         designation of the Agent as "secured party", "mortgagee" or the like on
         all financing statements and other documents and instruments, whether
         recorded or otherwise, relating to the attachment, perfection, priority
         or enforcement of any security interests, mortgages or deeds of trust
         in collateral security intended to secure the payment or performance of
         any of the Obligations, all for the benefit of the Banks and the Agent.

         15.2. Employees and Agents. The Agent may exercise its powers and
execute its duties by or through employees or agents and shall be entitled to
take, and to rely on, advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to its
rights and duties under this Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The
Agent may utilize the services of such Persons as the Agent in its sole
discretion may reasonably determine, and all reasonable fees and expenses of any
such Persons shall be paid by the Borrowers.

<PAGE>

                                      -72-


         15.3. No Liability. Neither the Agent nor any of its shareholders,
directors, officers or employees nor any other Person assisting them in their
duties nor any agent or employee thereof, shall be liable for any waiver,
consent or approval given or any action taken, or omitted to be taken, in good
faith by it or them hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, or in
connection herewith or therewith, or be responsible for the consequences of any
oversight or error of judgment whatsoever, except that the Agent or such other
Person, as the case may be, may be liable for losses due to its willful
misconduct or gross negligence.

         15.4. No Representations. The Agent shall not be responsible for the
execution or validity or enforceability of this Credit Agreement, the Revolving
Credit Notes, the Letters of Credit, any of the other Loan Documents or any
instrument at any time constituting, or intended to constitute, collateral
security for the Revolving Credit Notes, or for the value of any such collateral
security or for the validity, enforceability or collectability of any such
amounts owing with respect to the Revolving Credit Notes, or for any recitals or
statements, warranties or representations made herein or in any of the other
Loan Documents or in any certificate or instrument hereafter furnished to it by
or on behalf of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, or be bound to
ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms,
conditions, covenants or agreements herein or in any instrument at any time
constituting, or intended to constitute, collateral security for the Revolving
Credit Notes or to inspect any of the properties, books or records of the
Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries. The Agent shall not be bound to
ascertain whether any notice, consent, waiver or request delivered to it by the
Borrowers or any holder of any of the Revolving Credit Notes shall have been
duly authorized or is true, accurate and complete. The Agent has not made nor
does it now make any representations or warranties, express or implied, nor does
it assume any liability to the Banks, with respect to the credit worthiness or
financial conditions of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries. Each Bank
acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or
any other Bank, and based upon such information and documents as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Credit
Agreement.

         15.5. Payments.

               15.5.1. Payments to Agent. A payment by any Borrower to the Agent
         hereunder or any of the other Loan Documents for the account of any
         Bank shall constitute a payment to such Bank. The Agent agrees promptly
         to distribute to each Bank such Bank's pro rata share of payments
         received by the Agent for the account of the Banks except as otherwise
         expressly provided herein or in any of the other Loan Documents.

               15.5.2. Distribution by Agent. If in the opinion of the Agent the
         distribution of any amount received by it in such capacity 


<PAGE>

                                      -73-


         hereunder, under the Revolving Credit Notes or under any of the other
         Loan Documents might involve it in liability, it may refrain from
         making distribution until its right to make distribution shall have
         been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction. If a court of
         competent jurisdiction shall adjudge that any amount received and
         distributed by the Agent is to be repaid, each Person to whom any such
         distribution shall have been made shall either repay to the Agent its
         proportionate share of the amount so adjudged to be repaid or shall pay
         over the same in such manner and to such Persons as shall be determined
         by such court.

               15.5.3. Delinquent Banks. Notwithstanding anything to the
         contrary contained in this Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan
         Documents, any Bank that fails (a) to make available to the Agent its
         pro rata share of any Revolving Credit Loan or to purchase any Letter
         of Credit Participation or (b) to comply with the provisions of ss.14
         with respect to making dispositions and arrangements with the other
         Banks, where such Bank's share of any payment received, whether by
         setoff or otherwise, is in excess of its pro rata share of such
         payments due and payable to all of the Banks, in each case as, when and
         to the full extent required by the provisions of this Credit Agreement,
         shall be deemed delinquent (a "Delinquent Bank") and shall be deemed a
         Delinquent Bank until such time as such delinquency is satisfied. A
         Delinquent Bank shall be deemed to have assigned any and all payments
         due to it from the Borrower, whether on account of outstanding
         Revolving Credit Loans, Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations, interest,
         fees or otherwise, to the remaining nondelinquent Banks for application
         to, and reduction of, their respective pro rata shares of all
         outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Unpaid Reimbursement
         Obligations. The Delinquent Bank hereby authorizes the Agent to
         distribute such payments to the nondelinquent Banks in proportion to
         their respective pro rata shares of all outstanding Revolving Credit
         Loans and Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations. A Delinquent Bank shall be
         deemed to have satisfied in full a delinquency when and if, as a result
         of application of the assigned payments to all outstanding Revolving
         Credit Loans and Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations of the nondelinquent
         Banks, the Banks' respective pro rata shares of all outstanding
         Revolving Credit Loans and Unpaid Reimbursement Obligations have
         returned to those in effect immediately prior to such delinquency and
         without giving effect to the nonpayment causing such delinquency.

         15.6. Holders of Revolving Credit Notes. The Agent may deem and treat
the payee of any Revolving Credit Note or the purchaser of any Letter of Credit
Participation as the absolute owner or purchaser thereof for all purposes hereof
until it shall have been furnished in writing with a different name by such
payee or by a subsequent holder, assignee or transferee.

<PAGE>

                                      -74-


         15.7. Indemnity. The Banks ratably agree hereby to indemnify and hold
harmless the Agent from and against any and all claims, actions and suits
(whether groundless or otherwise), losses, damages, costs, expenses (including
any expenses for which the Agent has not been reimbursed by the Borrowers as
required by ss.16), and liabilities of every nature and character arising out of
or related to this Credit Agreement, the Revolving Credit Notes, or any of the
other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated or evidenced hereby or
thereby, or the Agent's actions taken hereunder or thereunder, except to the
extent that any of the same shall be directly caused by the Agent's willful
misconduct or gross negligence.

         15.8. Agent as Bank. In its individual capacity, BKB shall have the
same obligations and the same rights, powers and privileges in respect to its
Commitment and the Revolving Credit Loans made by it, and as the holder of any
of the Revolving Credit Notes and as the purchaser of any Letter of Credit
Participations, as it would have were it not also the Agent.

         15.9. Resignation. The Agent may resign at any time by giving sixty
(60) days prior written notice thereof to the Banks and the Company. Upon any
such resignation, the Majority Banks shall have the right to appoint a successor
Agent. Unless a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, such successor Agent shall be reasonably acceptable to the Borrower.
If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Majority Banks and
shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring
Agent's giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf
of the Banks, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a financial institution
having a rating of not less than A or its equivalent by Standard & Poor's
Corporation. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a
successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become
vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent,
and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder. After any retiring Agent's resignation, the provisions of this Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in effect for its benefit
in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting
as Agent.

         15.10. Notification of Defaults and Events of Default. Each Bank hereby
agrees that, upon learning of the existence of a Default or an Event of Default,
it shall promptly notify the Agent thereof. The Agent hereby agrees that upon
receipt of any notice under this ss.15.10 it shall promptly notify the other
Banks of the existence of such Default or Event of Default.

                                  16. EXPENSES.

         The Borrowers agree to pay (a) the reasonable costs of producing and
reproducing this Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the other
agreements and instruments mentioned herein, (b) any taxes (including any
interest and penalties in respect thereto) payable by the Agent or any of the
Banks (other than taxes based upon the Agent's or any Bank's net income) 


<PAGE>

                                      -75-


on or with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement
(the Borrower hereby agreeing to indemnify the Agent and each Bank with respect
thereto), (c) the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of the Agent's
Special Counsel or any local counsel to the Agent incurred in connection with
the preparation, administration or interpretation of the Loan Documents and
other instruments mentioned herein, (d) the fees, expenses and disbursements of
the Agent incurred by the Agent in connection with the preparation,
administration or interpretation of the Loan Documents and other instruments
mentioned herein, including all title insurance premiums and surveyor,
engineering and appraisal charges, (e) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, which
attorneys may be employees of any Bank or the Agent, and reasonable consulting,
accounting, appraisal, investment banking and similar professional fees and
charges) incurred by any Bank or the Agent in connection with (i) the
enforcement of or preservation of rights under any of the Loan Documents against
the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or the administration thereof after
the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default and (ii) any litigation,
proceeding or dispute whether arising hereunder or otherwise, in any way related
to any Bank's or the Agent's relationship with the Borrowers or any of their
Subsidiaries and (f) all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any Bank
or the Agent incurred in connection with UCC searches. The covenants of this
ss.16 shall survive payment or satisfaction of all other Obligations.

                              17. INDEMNIFICATION.

         Each of the Borrowers agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent
and the Banks from and against any and all claims, actions and suits whether
groundless or otherwise, and from and against any and all liabilities, losses,
damages and expenses of every nature and character arising out of this Credit
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated
hereby including, without limitation, (a) any actual or proposed use by the
Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries of the proceeds of any of the Revolving
Credit Loans or Letters of Credit, (b) the Borrowers or any of their
Subsidiaries entering into or performing this Credit Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents or (c) with respect to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries
and their respective properties and assets, the violation of any Environmental
Law, the presence, disposal, escape, seepage, leakage, spillage, discharge,
emission, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substances or any
action, suit, proceeding or investigation brought or threatened with respect to
any Hazardous Substances (including, but not limited to, claims with respect to
wrongful death, personal injury or damage to property), in each case including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and
allocated costs of internal counsel incurred in connection with any such
investigation, litigation or other proceeding, except any of the foregoing which
result solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified
party. In litigation, or the preparation therefor, the 


<PAGE>

                                      -76-


Banks and the Agent shall be entitled to select their own counsel and, in
addition to the foregoing indemnity, the Borrowers agree to pay promptly the
reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. If, and to the extent that the
obligations of the Borrowers under this ss.17 are unenforceable for any reason,
the Borrowers hereby agree to make the maximum contribution to the payment in
satisfaction of such obligations which is permissible under applicable law. The
covenants contained in this ss.17 shall survive payment or satisfaction in full
of all other Obligations.

                         18. SURVIVAL OF COVENANTS, ETC.

         All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein,
in the Revolving Credit Notes, in any of the other Loan Documents or in any
documents or other papers delivered by or on behalf of any of the Borrowers or
any of their Subsidiaries pursuant hereto shall be deemed to have been relied
upon by the Banks and the Agent, notwithstanding any investigation heretofore or
hereafter made by any of them, and shall survive the making by the Banks of any
of the Revolving Credit Loans and the issuance, extension or renewal of any
Letters of Credit, as herein contemplated, and shall continue in full force and
effect so long as any Letter of Credit or any amount due under this Credit
Agreement or the Revolving Credit Notes or any of the other Loan Documents
remains outstanding or any Bank has any obligation to make any Revolving Credit
Loans or the Agent has any obligation to issue, extend or renew any Letter of
Credit, and for such further time as may be otherwise expressly specified in
this Credit Agreement. All statements contained in any certificate or other
paper delivered to any Bank or the Agent at any time by or on behalf of the
Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries pursuant hereto or in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby shall constitute representations and warranties
by the Borrowers or such Subsidiary hereunder.

                        19. ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATION.

         19.1. Conditions to Assignment by Banks. Except as provided herein,
each Bank may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its
interests, rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement (including all or
a portion of its Commitment Percentage and Commitment and the same portion of
the Revolving Credit Loans at the time owing to it, the Revolving Credit Notes
held by it and its participating interest in the risk relating to any Letters of
Credit); provided that (a) unless such assignment is to another Bank or to an
affiliate of the transferor Bank, each of the Agent and, unless a Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company shall have
given its prior written consent to such assignment, which consent, in the case
of the Company, will not be unreasonably withheld, (b) each such assignment
shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all the assigning
Bank's rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement, (c) each assignment
shall be in an amount that is a whole multiple of $2,500,000 and (d) the parties
to such 


<PAGE>

                                      -77-


assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for recording in the Register
(as hereinafter defined), an Assignment and Acceptance, substantially in the
form of Exhibit E hereto (an "Assignment and Acceptance"), together with any
Revolving Credit Notes subject to such assignment. Upon such execution,
delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified
in each Assignment and Acceptance, which effective date shall be at least five
(5) Business Days after the execution thereof, (a) the assignee thereunder shall
be a party hereto and, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Acceptance,
have the rights and obligations of a Bank hereunder, and (b) the assigning Bank
shall, to the extent provided in such assignment and upon payment to the Agent
of the registration fee referred to in ss.19.3, be released from its obligations
under this Credit Agreement.

         19.2. Certain Representations and Warranties; Limitations; Covenants.
By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the parties to the
assignment thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties
hereto as follows:

               (a) other than the representation and warranty that it is the
         legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free
         and clear of any adverse claim, the assigning Bank makes no
         representation or warranty, express or implied, and assumes no
         responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or
         representations made in or in connection with this Credit Agreement or
         the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
         sufficiency or value of this Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents
         or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or the
         attachment, perfection or priority of any security interest or
         mortgage,

               (b) the assigning Bank makes no representation or warranty and
         assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of
         the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or any other Person primarily or
         secondarily liable in respect of any of the Obligations, or the
         performance or observance by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries or
         any other Person primarily or secondarily liable in respect of any of
         the Obligations of any of their obligations under this Credit Agreement
         or any of the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or document
         furnished pursuant hereto or thereto;

               (c) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this
         Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial
         statements referred to in ss.7.4 and ss.8.4 and such other documents
         and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit
         analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance;

               (d) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon
         the assigning Bank, the Agent or any other Bank and based on 


<PAGE>

                                      -78-


         such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
         time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking
         action under this Credit Agreement;

               (e) such assignee represents and warrants that it is an Eligible
         Assignee;

               (f) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such
         action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this
         Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the
         Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such powers as are
         reasonably incidental thereto;

               (g) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with
         their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Credit
         Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Bank;

               (h) such assignee represents and warrants that it is legally
         authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; and

               (i) such assignee acknowledges that it has made arrangements with
         the assigning Bank satisfactory to such assignee with respect to its
         pro rata share of Letter of Credit Fees in respect of outstanding
         Letters of Credit.

         19.3. Register. The Agent shall maintain a copy of each Assignment and
Acceptance delivered to it and a register or similar list (the "Register") for
the recordation of the names and addresses of the Banks and the Commitment
Percentage of, and principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans owing to and
Letter of Credit Participations purchased by, the Banks from time to time. The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in the absence of manifest error,
and the Borrower, the Agent and the Banks may treat each Person whose name is
recorded in the Register as a Bank hereunder for all purposes of this Credit
Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Company and the
Banks at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
Upon each such recordation, the assigning Bank (unless such assigning Bank is a
Bank on the Closing Date) agrees to pay to the Agent a registration fee in the
sum of $3,500.

         19.4. New Revolving Credit Notes. Upon its receipt of an Assignment and
Acceptance executed by the parties to such assignment, together with each
Revolving Credit Note subject to such assignment, the Agent shall (a) record the
information contained therein in the Register, and (b) give prompt notice
thereof to the Borrowers and the Banks (other than the assigning Bank). Within
five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrowers, at their own
expense, shall execute and deliver to the Agent, in exchange for each
surrendered Revolving Credit Note, a new Revolving Credit Note to the order of
such Eligible Assignee in an amount 


<PAGE>

                                      -79-


equal to the amount assumed by such Eligible Assignee pursuant to such
Assignment and Acceptance and, if the assigning Bank has retained some portion
of its obligations hereunder, a new Revolving Credit Note to the order of the
assigning Bank in an amount equal to the amount retained by it hereunder. Such
new Revolving Credit Notes shall provide that they are replacements for the
surrendered Revolving Credit Notes, shall be in an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of the surrendered Revolving Credit
Notes, shall be dated the effective date of such in Assignment and Acceptance
and shall otherwise be substantially the form of the assigned Revolving Credit
Notes. Within five (5) days of issuance of any new Revolving Credit Notes
pursuant to this ss.19.4, the Borrowers shall deliver an opinion of counsel,
addressed to the Banks and the Agent, relating to the due authorization,
execution and delivery of such new Revolving Credit Notes and the legality,
validity and binding effect thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Banks. The surrendered Revolving Credit Notes shall be cancelled and returned to
the Borrowers.

         19.5. Participations. Each Bank may sell participations to one or more
banks or other entities in all or a portion of such Bank's rights and
obligations under this Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided
that (a) each such participation shall be in an amount of not less than
$1,000,000, (b) any such sale or participation shall not affect the rights and
duties of the selling Bank hereunder to the Borrowers and (c) the only rights
granted to the participant pursuant to such participation arrangements with
respect to waivers, amendments or modifications of the Loan Documents shall be
the rights to approve waivers, amendments or modifications that would reduce the
principal of or the interest rate on any Revolving Credit Loans, extend the term
or increase the amount of the Commitment of such Bank as it relates to such
participant, reduce the amount of any commitment fees or Letter of Credit Fees
to which such participant is entitled or extend any regularly scheduled payment
date for principal or interest.

         19.6. Disclosure. The Borrowers agree that in addition to disclosures
made in accordance with standard and customary banking practices any Bank may
disclose information obtained by such Bank pursuant to this Credit Agreement
only to assignees or participants and potential assignees or participants
hereunder; provided that such assignees or participants or potential assignees
or participants shall agree (a) to treat in confidence such information unless
such information otherwise becomes public knowledge, (b) not to disclose such
information to a third party, except as required by law or legal process and (c)
not to make use of such information for purposes of transactions unrelated to
such contemplated assignment or participation.

         19.7. Assignee or Participant Affiliated with the Borrower. If any
assignee Bank is an Affiliate of any Borrower, then any such assignee Bank shall
have no right to vote as a Bank hereunder or under any of the other Loan
Documents for purposes of granting consents or waivers or for 


<PAGE>

                                      -80-


purposes of agreeing to amendments or other modifications to any of the Loan
Documents or for purposes of making requests to the Agent pursuant to ss.13.1 or
ss.13.2, and the determination of the Majority Banks shall for all purposes of
this Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents be made without regard to
such assignee Bank's interest in any of the Revolving Credit Loans. If any Bank
sells a participating interest in any of the Revolving Credit Loans or
Reimbursement Obligations to a participant, and such participant is any Borrower
or an Affiliate of any Borrower, then such transferor Bank shall promptly notify
the Agent of the sale of such participation. A transferor Bank shall have no
right to vote as a Bank hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents for
purposes of granting consents or waivers or for purposes of agreeing to
amendments or modifications to any of the Loan Documents or for purposes of
making requests to the Agent pursuant to ss.13.1 or ss.13.2 to the extent that
such participation is beneficially owned by any Borrower or any Affiliate of any
Borrower, and the determination of the Majority Banks shall for all purposes of
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents be made without regard to the
interest of such transferor Bank in the Loans to the extent of such
participation.

         19.8. Miscellaneous Assignment Provisions. Any assigning Bank shall
retain its rights to be indemnified pursuant to ss.16 with respect to any claims
or actions arising prior to the date of such assignment. If any assignee Bank is
not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state
thereof, it shall, prior to the date on which any interest or fees are payable
hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents for its account, deliver to
the Borrower and the Agent certification as to its exemption from deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes. If the Reference Bank
transfers all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Credit
Agreement, the Agent shall, in consultation with the Company and with the
consent of the Company and the Majority Banks, appoint another Bank to act as a
Reference Bank hereunder. Anything contained in this ss.19 to the contrary
notwithstanding, any Bank may at any time pledge all or any portion of its
interest and rights under this Credit Agreement (including all or any portion of
its Revolving Credit Notes) to any of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks organized
under ss.4 of the Federal Reserve Act, 12 U.S.C. ss.341. No such pledge or the
enforcement thereof shall release the pledgor Bank from its obligations
hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents.

         19.9. Assignment by Borrower. The Borrowers shall not assign or
transfer any of their rights or obligations under any of the Loan Documents
without the prior written consent of each of the Banks.

                                20. NOTICES, ETC.

         Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Credit Agreement, all
notices and other communications made or required to be given pursuant to this
Credit Agreement or the Revolving Credit Notes or any Letter of Credit


<PAGE>

                                      -81-


Applications shall be in writing and shall be delivered in hand, mailed by
United States registered or certified first class mail, postage prepaid, sent by
overnight courier, or sent by telegraph, telecopy, facsimile or telex and
confirmed by delivery via courier or postal service, addressed as follows:

               (a) if to the Borrowers, at 7 Technology Park Drive, Westford,
         Massachusetts 01886-0033, Attention: Walter A. Shephard, Treasurer, or
         at such other address for notice as the Borrower shall last have
         furnished in writing to the Person giving the notice;

               (b) if to the Agent, at 100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts
         02110, USA, Attention: Debra E. DelVecchio., Vice President, or such
         other address for notice as the Agent shall last have furnished in
         writing to the Person giving the notice; and

               (c) if to any Bank, at such Bank's address set forth on Schedule
         1 hereto, or such other address for notice as such Bank shall have last
         furnished in writing to the Person giving the notice.

         Any such notice or demand shall be deemed to have been duly given or
made and to have become effective (a) if delivered by hand, overnight courier or
facsimile to a responsible officer of the party to which it is directed, at the
time of the receipt thereof by such officer or the sending of such facsimile and
(b) if sent by registered or certified first-class mail, postage prepaid, on the
third Business Day following the mailing thereof.

                               21. GOVERNING LAW.

         THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT AND, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED
THEREIN, EACH OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS ARE CONTRACTS UNDER THE LAWS OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS AND SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF SAID COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
(EXCLUDING THE LAWS APPLICABLE TO CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW). EACH OF THE
BORROWERS AGREES THAT ANY SUIT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT OR
ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING THEREIN AND CONSENTS TO THE
NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURT AND SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT
BEING MADE UPON THE BORROWERS BY MAIL AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN ss.20. EACH OF
THE BORROWERS HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO
THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT OR ANY SUCH COURT OR THAT SUCH SUIT IS BROUGHT IN AN
INCONVENIENT COURT.


<PAGE>

                                      -82-


                                  22. HEADINGS.

         The captions in this Credit Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not define or limit the provisions hereof.

                                23. COUNTERPARTS.

         This Credit Agreement and any amendment hereof may be executed in
several counterparts and by each party on a separate counterpart, each of which
when executed and delivered shall be an original, and all of which together
shall constitute one instrument. In proving this Credit Agreement it shall not
be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart signed by
the party against whom enforcement is sought.

                           24. ENTIRE AGREEMENT, ETC.

         The Loan Documents and any other documents executed in connection
herewith or therewith express the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. Neither this Credit Agreement
nor any term hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated, except as
provided in ss.26.

                            25. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

         Each of the Borrowers hereby waives its right to a jury trial with
respect to any action or claim arising out of any dispute in connection with
this Credit Agreement, the Revolving Credit Notes or any of the other Loan
Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder or the performance
of which rights and obligations. Except as prohibited by law, each of the
Borrowers hereby waives any right it may have to claim or recover in any
litigation referred to in the preceding sentence any special, exemplary,
punitive or consequential damages or any damages other than, or in addition to,
actual damages. Each Borrower (a) certifies that no representative, agent or
attorney of any Bank or the Agent has represented, expressly or otherwise, that
such Bank or the Agent would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce
the foregoing waivers and (b) acknowledges that the Agent and the Banks have
been induced to enter into this Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents to
which it is a party by, among other things, the waivers and certifications
contained herein.

                     26. CONSENTS, AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC.

         Any consent or approval required or permitted by this Credit Agreement
to be given by all of the Banks may be given, and any term of this Credit
Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other instrument related hereto or
mentioned herein may be amended, and the performance or observance by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any terms of this Credit Agreement, the
other Loan Documents or such other instrument or the continuance of any Default
or Event of Default may be waived (either 


<PAGE>

                                      -83-


generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively)
with, but only with, the written consent of the Borrowers and the written
consent of the Majority Banks. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rate of
interest on the Revolving Credit Notes (other than interest accruing pursuant to
ss.5.9.2 following the effective date of any waiver by the Majority Banks of the
Default or Event of Default relating thereto), the term of the Revolving Credit
Notes, the amount of the Commitments of the Banks, and the amount of commitment
fee or Letter of Credit Fees hereunder may not be changed without the written
consent of the Borrowers and the written consent of each Bank affected thereby;
the definition of Majority Banks may not be amended without the written consent
of all of the Banks; and the amount of the Agent's Fee or any Letter of Credit
Fees payable for the Agent's account and ss.15 may not be amended without the
written consent of the Agent. No waiver shall extend to or affect any obligation
not expressly waived or impair any right consequent thereon. No course of
dealing or delay or omission on the part of the Agent or any Bank in exercising
any right shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise be prejudicial thereto.
No notice to or demand upon the Borrowers shall entitle the Borrowers to other
or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

                               27. SEVERABILITY.

         The provisions of this Credit Agreement are severable and if any one
clause or provision hereof shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in
part in any jurisdiction, then such invalidity or unenforceability shall affect
only such clause or provision, or part thereof, in such jurisdiction, and shall
not in any manner affect such clause or provision in any other jurisdiction, or
any other clause or provision of this Credit Agreement in any jurisdiction.

                         28. TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

         28.1. Original Credit Agreement Superseded. This Credit Agreement shall
on the Closing Date amend and restate the Original Credit Agreement in its
entirety, except as provided in this ss.28. On the Closing Date, the rights and
obligations of the parties evidenced by the Original Credit Agreement shall be
evidenced by the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the "Revolving
Credit Loans" as defined in the Original Credit Agreement shall be converted to
Revolving Credit Loans as defined herein and all outstanding letters of credit
issued by the Agent for the account of the Company prior to the Closing Date
shall, for purposes of this Credit Agreement, be Letters of Credit for the
account of the Company.

         28.2. Return and Cancellation of Notes. In exchange for the Revolving
Credit Notes delivered hereunder, on the Closing Date the Banks will return to
the Company, marked "Substituted" or "Cancelled" as the case may be, any notes
of the Company held by the Banks pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement.

<PAGE>

                                      -84-


         28.3. Interest and Fees Under Superseded Agreement. All interest and
fees and expenses, if any, owing or accruing under or in respect of the Original
Credit Agreement through the Closing Date shall be calculated as of the Closing
Date (prorated in the case of any fractional periods), and shall be paid in
accordance with the method, and on the dates, specified in the Original Credit
Agreement, as if the Original Credit Agreement were still in effect. Commencing
on the Closing Date, the commitment fee shall be payable by the Company to the
Agent for the account of the Banks in accordance with ss.2.2 hereof.

<PAGE>

                                      -85-


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Amended and
Restated Revolving Credit Agreement as a sealed instrument as of the date first
set forth above.

                                  GENRAD, INC.



                                  By: __________________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                  GENRAD HOLDINGS LIMITED



                                  By: __________________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                  GENRAD EUROPE LIMITED



                                  By: __________________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                 GENRAD LIMITED



                                  By: __________________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                  BANKBOSTON, N.A., individually and as Agent



                                  By: __________________________________________
                                         Debra E. DelVecchio, Vice President

<PAGE>

                                      -86-


                                  FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
                                  individually and as Syndication Agent



                                  By: __________________________________________
                                      Daniel G. Head, Jr., 
                                      Senior Vice President


                                  BANKBOSTON, N.A., acting through its
                                  London branch, as Overdraft Bank



                                  By: __________________________________________
                                         Title:


<PAGE>

                                                                      SCHEDULE 1



                   Banks; Commitments; Commitment Percentages
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Revolving Credit Loan        Commitment Percentage of
                    Banks                               Commitment               Revolving Credit Loans
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>                                <C>
BankBoston, N.A.                                        $25,000,000                        50%
100 Federal Street
Boston, MA  02110
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fleet National Bank                                     $25,000,000                        50%
One Federal Street
Boston, MA  02110
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Total                               $50,000,000                       100%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>