<PAGE>
 
                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.2(X)
                                                                 ---------------

                                                                  Execution Copy

                             CITATION CORPORATION
                        CITATION AUTOMOTIVE SALES CORP.
                         MANSFIELD FOUNDRY CORPORATION
                         IROQUOIS FOUNDRY CORPORATION
                          OBERDORFER INDUSTRIES CORP.
                          BERLIN FOUNDRY CORPORATION
                            CASTWELL PRODUCTS, INC.
                            TEXAS STEEL CORPORATION
                                 HI-TECH, INC.
                      SOUTHERN ALUMINUM CASTINGS COMPANY
                              BOHN ALUMINUM, INC.
                             TSC TEXAS CORPORATION
                             TEXAS FOUNDRIES, LTD.
                          MABRY FOUNDRY COMPANY, LTD.
                            CITATION CASTINGS, INC.
                      INTERSTATE FORGING INDUSTRIES, INC.
                          INTERSTATE SOUTHWEST, LTD.
                             ISW TEXAS CORPORATION
                          CAMDEN CASTING CENTER, INC.
                                 DYCAST, INC.
                                      and
                           CITATION PRECISION, INC.
            _______________________________________________________


                 SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          dated as of August 3, 1998

            ________________________________________________________

                            The Banks Party Hereto,
                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                    as Administrative and Syndication Agent
                                      and
                     SOUTHTRUST BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                              as Collateral Agent

                                   Arranged
                                      by
                      FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                               -----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Article                                                                              Page
-------                                                                              ----
<S>                                                                                  <C> 
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................     1 
                                                                                         
ARTICLE I.  DEFINITIONS..........................................................     1  
                                                                                         
  1.1 Certain Definitions........................................................     1  
  1.2 Other Definitions; Rules of Construction...................................    16  
                                                                                         
ARTICLE II.  THE COMMITMENTS, THE SWING LINE FACILITY AND THE ADVANCES...........    16  
                                                                                         
  2.1 Commitment of the Banks and Swing Line Facility............................    16  
      (a) Revolving Credit Advances..............................................    16  
      (b) Limitation on Amount of Revolving Credit Advances......................    17  
      (c) Swing Line Loans.......................................................    17  
  2.2 Termination and Reduction of Commitments...................................    18  
  2.3 Fees.......................................................................    18  
  2.4 Disbursement of Advances...................................................    19  
  2.5 Conditions for First Disbursement..........................................    21  
      (a) Charter and Partnership Documents......................................    21  
      (b) By-Laws, Partnership Agreements and Corporate Authorizations...........    21  
      (c) Incumbency Certificates................................................    21  
      (d) Notes..................................................................    21  
      (e) Security Documents.....................................................    21  
          (i) Recording, Filing, Etc.............................................    22  
          (iii) Environmental Certificate........................................    22  
      (f) Legal Opinions.........................................................    22  
      (g) Consents, Approvals, Etc...............................................    22  
      (h) Fees...................................................................    22  
      (i) Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum.................................    22  
      (j) Year 2000 Assessment...................................................    22  
      (k) Payment of Amounts Owing Under Existing Credit Agreement...............    22  
      (l) Other..................................................................    22  
  2.6 Further Conditions for Disbursement........................................    22  
  2.7 Subsequent Elections as to Loans...........................................    23  
  2.8 Limitation of Requests and Elections.......................................    23  
  2.9 Minimum Amounts; Etc.......................................................    24  
  2.10 Additional Required Documents for New Participating Subsidiaries..........    24  

ARTICLE III.  PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS OF ADVANCES...............................    25  
                                                                                         
  3.1 Principal Payments and Prepayments.........................................    25  
  3.2 Interest Payments..........................................................    25  
  3.3 Letter of Credit Reimbursement Payments....................................    25  
  3.4 Payment Method.............................................................    27  
  3.5 No Setoff or Deduction.....................................................    27  
  3.6 Payment on Non-Business Day; Payment Computations..........................    27  
  3.7 Additional Costs...........................................................    28  
  3.8 Illegality and Impossibility...............................................    28  
  3.9 Indemnification............................................................    29  
                                                                        
ARTICLE IV.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES......................................    29   
</TABLE> 

                                       i
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<S>                                                                                          <C> 
  4.1 Original.............................................................................  29
  4.2 Survival.............................................................................  32

ARTICLE V.  BORROWERS' COVENANTS...........................................................  32

  5.1 Affirmative Covenants................................................................  33
  5.2 Negative Covenants...................................................................  38
  5.3 Financial Covenants..................................................................  43
  5.4 Interpretation and Consolidation.....................................................  43 

ARTICLE VI.  DEFAULT.......................................................................  43

  6.1 Events of Default....................................................................  43
  6.2 Remedies.............................................................................  45
  6.3 Distribution of Proceeds of Collateral...............................................  46
  6.4 Letter of Credit Liabilities.........................................................  47 

ARTICLE VII.  THE AGENTS AND THE BANKS.....................................................  47

  7.1 Appointment and Authorization........................................................  47
  7.2 Agents and Affiliates................................................................  47
  7.3 Scope of Agents' Duties..............................................................  47
  7.4 Reliance by Agents...................................................................  48
  7.5 Default..............................................................................  48
  7.6 Liability of Agents..................................................................  48
  7.7 Nonreliance on Agents and Other Banks................................................  48
  7.8 Indemnification......................................................................  48
  7.9 Successor Agents.....................................................................  49
  7.10 Sharing of Payments.................................................................  49
  7.11 Withholding Tax Exemption...........................................................  50
  7.12 Collateral Agent Matters............................................................  50 

ARTICLE VIII.  COLLATERAL SECURITY.........................................................  51

  8.1 Composition of the Collateral........................................................  51
  8.2 Rights in Property Held by the Banks.................................................  51
  8.3 Rights in Property Held Either by Borrowers or by the Banks..........................  51
  8.4 Priority of Liens....................................................................  52
  8.5 Perfection...........................................................................  52
  8.6 Collateral Release...................................................................  52
  8.7 [intentionally omitted]..............................................................  52 

ARTICLE IX.  MISCELLANEOUS.................................................................  53

  9.1 Amendments, Etc......................................................................  53
  9.2 Notices..............................................................................  53
  9.3 No Waiver By Conduct; Remedies Cumulative............................................  54
  9.4 Reliance on and Survival of Various Provisions.......................................  54
  9.5 Expenses; Indemnification............................................................  54
  9.6 Successors and Assigns...............................................................  56
  9.7 Counterparts.........................................................................  58
  9.8 Governing Law........................................................................  58
  9.9 Table of Contents and Headings.......................................................  59
  9.10 Construction of Certain Provisions..................................................  59
  9.11 Integration and Severability........................................................  59
  9.12 Independence of Covenants...........................................................  59
  9.13 Interest Rate Limitation............................................................  59
  9.14 Joint and Several Obligations; Subrogation and Contribution Rights; Savings Clause..  59
  9.15 Waivers, Etc........................................................................  61 

                                      ii
 
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                          <C>
  9.16 Citation To Act For All Borrowers...................................................  61
  9.17 Further Assurances..................................................................  61
  9.18 Waiver and Release by Borrowers.....................................................  61
  9.19 No Partnership or Joint Venture.....................................................  62
  9.20 Termination.........................................................................  62
  9.21 Existing Letters of Credit..........................................................  63
  9.22 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL................................................................  63 
</TABLE>

EXHIBITS
--------

          Exhibit A               Environmental Certificate
          Exhibit B-1             Revolving Credit Note
          Exhibit B-2             Swing Line Note
          Exhibit C-1             Request for Borrowing
          Exhibit C-2             Request for Swing Line Loan
          Exhibit D               Request for Continuation or Conversion 
          Exhibit E               Legal Opinion
          Exhibit F               Compliance Certificate
          Exhibit G               Participating Subsidiary Assumption Agreement 
          Exhibit H               Assignment and Acceptance

SCHEDULES
---------

          Schedule 1.1(a)         Security Documents                           
          Schedule 1.1(b)         Existing Liens                               
          Schedule 4.1(a)         Qualification to do Business, Places of 
                                  Business and Locations of Collateral         
          Schedule 4.1(b)         Tradenames                                   
          Schedule 4.1(d)         Mergers, Acquisitions and Certain Changes    
          Schedule 4.1(i)         Claims, Litigation                           
          Schedule 4.1(n)         Compliance with Laws Disclosures             
          Schedule 4.1(u)         ERISA Disclosures                            
          Schedule 4.1(v)         Citation and Consolidated Entities 
                                  Organization     
          Schedule 5.2(h)         Certain Existing Indebtedness                

                                      iii
<PAGE>
 
          THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August
3, 1998 (this "Agreement"), is by and among CITATION CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation ("Citation" or the "Company"), CITATION AUTOMOTIVE SALES CORP., a
Michigan corporation, MANSFIELD FOUNDRY CORPORATION, an Ohio corporation
formerly known as MFC Acquisition Corporation, IROQUOIS FOUNDRY CORPORATION, a
Wisconsin corporation formerly known as Iroquois Acquisition Corporation,
OBERDORFER INDUSTRIES CORP., a New York corporation formerly known as OBI
Acquisition Corp., BERLIN FOUNDRY CORPORATION, a Wisconsin corporation, CASTWELL
PRODUCTS, INC., an Illinois corporation, TEXAS STEEL CORPORATION, a Texas
corporation formerly known as TSC Acquisition Corporation, HI-TECH, INC., an
Indiana corporation formerly known as HTC Acquisition Corporation, SOUTHERN
ALUMINUM CASTINGS COMPANY, an Alabama corporation, BOHN ALUMINUM, INC., an
Indiana corporation formerly known as BAC Acquisition Corporation, TSC TEXAS
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, TEXAS FOUNDRIES, LTD., a Texas limited
partnership, MABRY FOUNDRY COMPANY, LTD., a Texas limited partnership, CITATION
CASTINGS, INC., an Alabama corporation, INTERSTATE FORGING INDUSTRIES, INC., a
Wisconsin corporation, INTERSTATE SOUTHWEST, LTD., a Texas limited partnership,
ISW TEXAS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, CAMDEN CASTING CENTER, INC., a
Tennessee corporation, DYCAST, INC., a Delaware corporation, and CITATION
PRECISION, INC., a California corporation (collectively the "Initial
Participating Subsidiaries" and individually an "Initial Participating
Subsidiary"; and, together with Citation and all other Subsidiaries (as
hereinafter defined) of Citation that hereafter become Participating
Subsidiaries, collectively the "Borrowers" and individually a "Borrower"), the
banks and other lenders party hereto from time to time (collectively the "Banks"
and individually a "Bank"), THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, a national
banking association, successor to NBD Bank, a Michigan banking corporation, as
administrative and syndication agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative
Agent") for the Banks, and SOUTHTRUST BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national
banking association formerly known as SouthTrust Bank of Alabama, National
Association, as collateral agent (in such capacity, the "Collateral Agent", and
together with the Administrative Agent, collectively the "Agents" and
individually an "Agent") for the Banks.

                                 INTRODUCTION 
                                 ------------             

          A.  Citation, the Initial Participating Subsidiaries, certain Banks
(collectively the "Existing Banks" and individually an "Existing Bank") and the
Agents are parties to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of
July 24, 1997, as amended by the First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of December 19, 1997(the "Existing Credit Agreement"),
pursuant to which the Existing Banks provide to the Borrowers a revolving credit
facility in the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000, including letters of
credit, for working capital and general corporate purposes, including
acquisitions.

          B.  Citation, the Initial Participating Subsidiaries, the Banks and
the Agents now desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in
order to, among other things, revise the pricing for borrowings from the Banks,
modify certain covenants applicable to the Borrowers and reflect the release of
certain collateral.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto hereby amend and restate the
Existing Credit Agreement, and further agree, as follows:

                                  ARTICLE I.
                                 DEFINITIONS 
                                 -----------                        

          1.1  Certain Definitions.  As used herein the following terms shall 
               -------------------                                             
have the following respective meanings:

          "Accounts", "Chattel Paper", "Inventory" and other terms not
           --------    -------------    ---------                     
specifically defined in this Agreement shall have the same respective meanings
as are given to those terms in the Uniform Commercial Code as currently adopted
and in effect in the State of Illinois.

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
          "Adjusted EBITDA" for any period means EBITDA for such period
           ---------------                                             
calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that each Consolidated Entity that was
acquired by Citation after the first day of such period (and that exists as a
Consolidated Entity at the end of such period) was acquired on and as of the
first day of such period.

          "Advance" means any Loan and any Letter of Credit Advance.
           -------                    

          "Affiliate" means, with respect to any person, any other person (A)
           ---------                                                         
which directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or
is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person, or (B) five
percent (5%) or more of the equity interest of which is held beneficially or of
record by such person. The term "control" means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.

          "Arranger" means First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.
           --------             

          "Bank Obligations" means the obligations of the Borrowers to the Banks
           ----------------                                                     
described in paragraph (A) of the definition of Obligations.

          "Base Rate" means the per annum rate equal to the greater of (a) the
           ---------                                                          
Corporate Base Rate in effect from time to time, and (b) the sum of one percent
(1%) per annum plus the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect from time to
time; which Base Rate shall change simultaneously with any change in such
Corporate Base Rate or Federal Funds Rate, as the case may be.

          "Benefit Plan" means any employee welfare benefit plan as defined in
           ------------                                                       
Section 3(1) of ERISA or any employee pension benefit plan as defined in Section
3(2) of ERISA.

          "Borrowing" means the aggregation of Advances, including each Letter
           ---------                                                          
of Credit issuance, of the Banks to be made to the Borrowers, or continuations
and conversions of any Loans, made pursuant to Article II on a single date and,
in the case of any Loans, for a single Interest Period, which Borrowings may be
classified for purposes of this Agreement by reference to the type of Loans or
the type of Advance comprising the related Borrowing, e.g., a "Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing" is a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Loans and a "Letter of
Credit Borrowing" is an Advance comprised of the issuance of a single Letter of
Credit.

          "Business Day" means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day
           ------------                                                        
on which the Administrative Agent is not open to the public for carrying on
substantially all of its banking functions in Chicago, Illinois.

          "Capital Expenditure" means any payment by any of the Borrowers or any
           -------------------                                                  
of the other Consolidated Entities for the purpose of acquiring or constructing
any real property, plant and equipment or other Fixed Assets, or acquiring any
existing business or part thereof, including any such payment made under a title
retention agreement or capital lease obligation and any such payment made for
goodwill of a business or for any noncompetition covenant in connection with the
acquisition of a business, and any other expenditure or liability that is
properly charged to a capital account or otherwise capitalized on Citation's
Consolidated balance sheet in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles.

          "Capital Lease" of any person means any lease which, in accordance
           -------------                                                    
with generally accepted accounting principles, is or should be capitalized on
the books of such person.

          "Change in Control" means the acquisition by any Person, or two or
           -----------------                                                
more Persons acting in concert, other than T. Morris Hackney, members of T.
Morris Hackney's immediate family and any trust or trusts controlled by T.
Morris Hackney or members of his immediate family for their benefit, of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 30% or more of
the outstanding shares of voting stock of Citation.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
          "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
           ----
to time, and the regulations thereunder.

          "Collateral" means the property and rights, and any proceeds, in
           ----------                                                     
whatever form, thereof, described in Article VIII of this Agreement and in the
Security Documents.

          "Commitment" means, with respect to each Bank, the commitment of each
           ----------                                                          
such Bank to make Loans and to participate in Letter of Credit Advances made
through the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.1, in amounts not
exceeding in aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time the respective
commitment amounts for each such Bank set forth next to the name of each such
Bank on the signature pages hereof or otherwise pursuant to Section 9.6, as such
amounts may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2.

          "Commitment Fee Rate" means the per annum rate (expressed as a
           -------------------       
 percentage) in accordance with the following:
           


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------
      Ratio of Total Debt as of preceding fiscal
            quarter end to Adjusted EBITDA          Commitment
    for period of four consecutive fiscal quarters    Rate (%)
            ending with such quarter end              

---------------------------------------------------------------
    <S>                                             <C>
  Greater than 3.50 to 1.00                             .375
---------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 3.00 to 1.00
  but not greater than 3.50 to 1.00                      .25
---------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.50 to 1.00
  but not greater than 3.00 to 1.00                      .25
---------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.25 to 1.00
  but not greater than 2.50 to 1.00                      .25
---------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 1.75 to 1.00
  but not greater than 2.25 to 1.00                     .225
---------------------------------------------------------------
  Equal to or less than 1.75 to 1.00                     .20
---------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Such ratio shall be determined from the then most recent Margin Certificate
delivered by Citation from time to time pursuant to Section 5.1(c)(6); provided
                                                                       --------
that the Commitment Fee Rate in effect under this Agreement for the period from
and including the Effective Date to and including the last day prior to the
first change in accordance with the next sentence shall be .25%.  Each change,
if any, in the Commitment Fee Rate shall be effective on the fifth Business Day
after delivery of any such Margin Certificate, commencing with the Margin
Certificate delivered with the financial statements furnished under Section
5.1(c)(3) for Citation's 1998 fiscal year.  In the event that Citation shall at
any time fail to furnish to the Administrative Agent any Margin Certificate
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c)(6), the maximum Commitment
Fee Rate shall apply until such time as such Margin Certificate is so delivered.

          "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate in the form annexed
           ----------------------                                         
hereto as Exhibit F which is delivered by Citation, on behalf of itself and the
          ---------                                                            
other Borrowers, and accepted by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section
5.l(c)(4) of this Agreement.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
          "Consolidated" refers to the consolidation of the accounts of a Person
           ------------                                                         
and its Consolidated Entities on a balance sheet and statement of income and
retained earnings in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

          "Consolidated Entity" means each Participating Subsidiary and any
           -------------------                                             
other Person the financial statements of which are appropriately consolidated
with the financial statements of Citation under Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles; and "Consolidated Entities" means all of them, collectively.
                 ---------------------                                  

          "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the net income of
           -----------------------                                          
Citation and the Consolidated Entities (on a Consolidated basis and excluding
intercompany items) for such period, determined in accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles.

          "Contingent Liabilities" of any person means, as of any date, all
           ----------------------                                          
obligations of such person or of others for which such person is contingently
liable, as obligor, guarantor, surety, accommodation party, partner or in any
other capacity, or in respect of which obligations such person assures a
creditor against loss or agrees to take any action to prevent any such loss
(other than endorsements of negotiable instruments for collection in the
ordinary course of business), including, without limitation, all reimbursement
obligations of such person in respect of any letters of credit, surety bonds or
similar obligations (including, without limitation, bankers acceptances) and all
obligations of such person to advance funds to, or to purchase assets, property
or services from, any other person in order to maintain the financial condition
of such other person.

          "Corporate Base Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the corporate
           -------------------                                               
base rate of interest announced by First Chicago from time to time, changing
when and as said corporate base rate changes.

          "Default" means any event or condition which might become an Event
           -------                    
of Default with notice or lapse of time or both.

          "Dollars" and "$" each mean the lawful money of the United States
           -------       -           
of America.

          "Domestic Subsidiary" means each present and future Subsidiary of
           -------------------                                    
Citation or any of the Consolidated Entities which is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

          "EBIT" for any period means Consolidated Net Income after taxes
           ----                             
(or the net deficit, if expenses and charges exceed revenues and proper income
items) for such period, plus amounts that have been deducted for (i) Interest
Expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) extraordinary items, (iv) the cumulative
effects of changes in accounting principles and (v) minority interest expense,
in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, and minus amounts that
have been added for (vi) extraordinary items and (vii) the cumulative effects of
changes in accounting principles, in determining Consolidated Net Income for
such period.

          "EBITDA" for any period means Consolidated Net Income after taxes
           ------                                 
(or the net deficit, if expenses and charges exceed revenues and proper income
items) for such period, plus amounts that have been deducted for (i)
depreciation, (ii) amortization, (iii) Interest Expense, (iv) income taxes, (v)
extraordinary items, (vi) the cumulative effects of changes in accounting
principles, (vii) non-cash losses on the disposition or abandonment of assets
and (viii) minority interest expense, in determining Consolidated Net Income for
such period, and minus amounts that have been added for (ix) extraordinary
items, (x) the cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles and (xi)
gains on the disposition or abandonment of assets, in determining Consolidated
Net Income for such period.

          "Effective Date" means the effective date specified in the final
           --------------    
paragraph of this Agreement.

          "Eligible Transferee" means (i) a Bank or any Affiliate thereof;
           -------------------                             
(ii) a bank; (iii) a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined under Rule 144A
of the Securities Act of 1933, as in effect from time to time; and (iv) any
other Person approved by the Administrative Agent and, unless a Default or Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, Citation, such approval by the
Administrative Agent and Citation not to be unreasonably withheld

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
or delayed; provided, however, that neither any Borrower nor any Affiliate of
            --------  -------                                                
any Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible Transferee.

  "Environmental Certificate" means an appropriately completed environmental
   -------------------------                                                
certificate in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A, executed and delivered by
                                          ---------                           
the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent.

  "Environmental Laws" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the
   ------------------                                                
Environmental Certificate.

  "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
   -----                                                                       
and in effect from time to time, and the regulations promulgated by the
Department of Labor or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation thereunder.

  "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business, whether or not incorporated,
   ---------------                                                           
that with any Borrower is a member of a group that would be treated as a single
employer for purposes of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended.

  "Eurodollar Business Day" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, a
   -----------------------                                                    
day which is both a Business Day and a day on which dealings in Dollar deposits
are carried out in the London interbank market.

  "Eurodollar Interest Period" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan,
   --------------------------                                                  
the period commencing on the day such Eurodollar Rate Loan is made or converted
to a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the day which is one, two, three or six
months thereafter, as the Borrowers may elect under Section 2.4 or 2.7, and each
subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding
Eurodollar Interest Period and ending on the day which is one, two, three or six
months thereafter, as the Borrowers may elect under Section 2.4 or 2.7,
provided, however, that (a) any Eurodollar Interest Period which commences on
--------  -------                                                            
the last Eurodollar Business Day of a calendar month (or on any day for which
there is no numerically corresponding day in the appropriate subsequent calendar
month) shall end on the last Eurodollar Business Day of the appropriate
subsequent calendar month, (b) each Eurodollar Interest Period which would
otherwise end on a day which is not a Eurodollar Business Day shall end on the
next succeeding Eurodollar Business Day or, if such next succeeding Eurodollar
Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, on the next preceding
Eurodollar Business Day, and (c) no Eurodollar Interest Period which would end
after the Termination Date shall be permitted.

  "Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Borrowing and the
   ---------------                                                              
related Eurodollar Interest Period, the per annum rate that is equal to the sum
of:

         (a)  the Margin, plus

         (b)  the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) the per annum rate
determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which First Chicago
offers to place deposits in Dollars with first-class banks in the London
interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on the second
Eurodollar Business Day prior to the first day of such Eurodollar Interest
Period, in the approximate amount of First Chicago's relevant Eurodollar Rate
Loan and having a maturity approximately equal to such Eurodollar Interest
Period, by (ii) an amount equal to one minus the stated maximum rate (expressed
as a decimal) of all reserve requirements (including, without limitation, any
marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other reserves) that are specified
on the first day of such Eurodollar Interest Period by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (or any successor agency thereto) for determining the
maximum reserve requirement with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently
referred to as "Eurocurrency liabilities" in Regulation D of such Board)
maintained by a member bank of such System;

all as conclusively determined by the Administrative Agent, such sum to be
rounded up, if necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of one one-hundredth of
one percent (1/100 of 1%).

  "Eurodollar Rate Loan" means any Loan which bears interest at the Eurodollar
   --------------------                                                       
Rate.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
  "Event of Default" means any of the events or conditions described in Section
   ----------------                                                            
6.1.

  "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, an interest 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 on such day, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a
Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Chicago
time) on such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from
three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the
Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

  "Financial Statements" means the Consolidated balance sheet of Citation and
   --------------------                                                      
the Consolidated Entities as of September 28, 1997, and the Consolidated
statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows of Citation and the
Consolidated Entities for the years or months ended on such dates, all as
furnished to the Administrative Agent, and shall also mean any such balance
sheets and statements as may hereafter be furnished by any Borrower to the
Administrative Agent.

  "First Chicago" means The First National Bank of Chicago in its individual
   -------------                                                            
capacity, and its successors.

  "Fixed Assets" means long-term assets used in the operation of the business of
   ------------                                                                 
Citation or any Consolidated Entity, as determined in accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles.

  "Fixed Charge Coverage" means the quotient which is obtained by dividing (a)
   ---------------------                                                      
the sum of (i) EBIT for the four (4) calendar quarters preceding the applicable
date plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining such EBIT, Rent Expense, by
(b) Interest Expense for the four (4) calendar quarters preceding the applicable
date plus (ii) such Rent Expense.

  "Floating Rate" means the per annum rate equal to the sum of (a) the Margin
   -------------                                                             
plus (b) the Base Rate.

  "Floating Rate Loan" means any Loan which bears interest at the Floating Rate.
   ------------------                                                           

  "Foreign Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary incorporated or formed in any
   ------------------                                                    
jurisdiction other than any State of the United States of America or any
political subdivision of any such State.

  "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" and "GAAP" each mean generally
   ----------------------------------------       ----                      
accepted principles of accounting in effect from time to time in the United
States applied in a manner consistent with those used in preparing such
financial statements as have theretofore been furnished to the Administrative
Agent by or on behalf of the Borrowers or any one or more of them.

  "Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state and any
   ----------------------                                                   
political subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government,
which has or asserts jurisdiction over any Bank, either Agent, any Borrower, or
over the property of any of them.

  "Hazardous Materials" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the
   -------------------                                                
Environmental Certificate.

  "Hedging Contract" means, with respect to any Borrower, all liabilities of
   ----------------                                                         
such Borrower under interest rate swap, cap or collar agreements, currency
exchange agreements and all similar agreements designed to protect such person
against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates entered into
with any Bank or any Affiliate of any Bank.

  "Indebtedness" of any person means, as of any date, (a) all obligations of
   ------------                                                             
such person for borrowed money and all obligations of such person evidenced by
any promissory note, debenture or other similar instrument,

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
(b) all obligations of such person as lessee under any Capital Lease, (c) all
obligations which are secured by any Lien existing on any asset or property of
such person whether or not the obligation secured thereby shall have been
assumed by such person (to the extent of such Lien if such obligation is not
assumed), (d) all obligations of such person for the unpaid purchase price for
goods, property or services acquired by such person, (e) all obligations of such
person to purchase goods, property or services where payment therefor is
required regardless of whether delivery of such goods or property or the
performance of such services is ever made or tendered (generally referred to as
"take or pay contracts"), (f) all liabilities of such person in respect of
Unfunded Benefit Liabilities under any Plan of such person or of any ERISA
Affiliate, (g) all obligations of such person in respect of any Hedging Contract
(valued in an amount equal to the highest termination payment, if any, that
would be payable by such person upon termination for any reason on the date of
determination), (h) all principal amounts outstanding and owing to parties other
than Citation or any Consolidated Entity under the items described in clause (a)
of the definition of Receivables Program Obligations, and (i) all obligations of
others similar in character to those described in clauses (a) through (h) of
this definition for which such person is contingently liable, as guarantor,
surety, accommodation party, partner or in any other capacity, or in respect of
which obligations such person assures a creditor against loss or agrees to take
any action to prevent any such loss (other than endorsements of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), including
without limitation all reimbursement obligations of such person in respect of
letters of credit, surety bonds or similar obligations and all obligations of
such person to advance funds to, or to purchase assets, property or services
from, any other person in order to maintain the financial condition of such
other person.

  "Interest Expense" means interest payable by Citation and the Consolidated
   ----------------                                                         
Entities on Indebtedness (including, without limitation, (a) the component of
amounts payable under capitalized leases attributable to interest and (b)
interest, yield, discount or similar amounts paid under any Qualified
Receivables Transactions) during the period in question.

  "Interest Payment Date" means (a) with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan,
   ---------------------                                                     
the last day of each Interest Period with respect to such Eurodollar Rate Loan
and, in the case of any Interest Period exceeding three months, those days that
occur during such Interest Period at intervals of three months after the first
day of such Interest Period, and (b) in all other cases, the last Business Day
of each March, June, September and December occurring after the date hereof,
commencing with the first such Business Day occurring after the date of this
Agreement.

  "Interest Period" means any Eurodollar Interest Period or Swing Line Interest
   ---------------                                                             
Period.

  "Law" and "Laws" each means all ordinances, statutes, rules, regulations,
   ---       ----                                                          
orders, injunctions, judgments, writs or decrees of any government or political
subdivision or agency thereof, or any court or similar entity established by any
thereof.

  "Letter of Credit" means a standby letter of credit, having a stated expiry
   ----------------                                                          
date or a date upon which the draft must be reimbursed not later than twelve
months after the date of issuance and not later than the fifth Business Day
before the Termination Date, issued by the Administrative Agent on  behalf of
the Banks for the account of the Borrowers under an application and related
documentation acceptable to the Administrative Agent requiring, among other
things, immediate reimbursement by the Borrowers jointly and severally to the
Administrative Agent in respect of all drafts or other demand for payment
honored thereunder and all expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent
relative thereto.

  "Letter of Credit Advance" means any issuance of a Letter of Credit under
   ------------------------                                                
Section 2.4 made pursuant to Section 2.1 in which each Bank acquires a pro rata
risk participation pursuant to Section 2.4(d).

  "Letter of Credit Borrowings" means, as of any date, the maximum aggregate
   ---------------------------                                              
amount that the Administrative Agent could be required to pay under any drafts
that conceivably could be drawn under all Letters of Credit outstanding on such
date, but does not include drafts that have been drawn and paid.

  "Letter of Credit Documents" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
   --------------------------                                            
Section 3.3(b).

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
  "Letter of Credit Fee Rate" means the rate (expressed as a percentage) in
   -------------------------                                               
accordance with the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Ratio of Total Debt as of preceding
        fiscal quarter end to Adjusted EBITDA
    for period of four consecutive fiscal quarters    Letter of Credit
             ending with such quarter end                   Fee
                                                         Rate (%)
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>
  Greater than 3.50 to 1.00                                       1.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 3.00 to 1.00
  but not greater than 3.50 to 1.00                               1.25
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.50 to 1.00
  but not greater than 3.00 to 1.00                                1.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.25 to 1.00
  but not greater than 2.50 to 1.00                               .875
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 1.75 to 1.00
  but not greater than 2.25 to 1.00                                .75
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Equal to or less than 1.75 to 1.00                              .625
------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Such ratio shall be determined from the then most recent Margin Certificate
delivered by Citation from time to time pursuant to Section 5.1(c)(6); provided
                                                                       --------
that the Letter of Credit Fee Rate in effect under this Agreement for the period
from and including the Effective Date to and including the last day prior to the
first change in accordance with the next sentence shall be 1.0%.  Each change in
the Letter of Credit Fee Rate shall be effective on the fifth Business Day after
delivery of any such Margin Certificate, commencing with the Margin Certificate
delivered with the financial statements furnished under Section 5.1(c)(3) for
Citation's 1998 fiscal year.  In the event that Citation shall at any time fail
to furnish to the Administrative Agent any Margin Certificate required to be
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c)(6), the maximum Letter of Credit Fee Rate
shall apply until such time as such Margin Certificate is so delivered.

  "Letter of Credit Obligations" means (a) the Letter of Credit Borrowings and
   ----------------------------                                               
(b) the reimbursement obligations and other obligations of Borrowers under this
Agreement with respect to drawings made on Letters of Credit (including any
obligations owing under the application or agreement relating to any such Letter
of Credit), including all principal, interest, fees and other charges relating
thereto.

  "Lien" means any pledge, assignment, hypothecation, mortgage, security
   ----                                                                 
interest, deposit arrangement, option, conditional sale or title retaining
contract, sale and leaseback transaction, financing statement filing, lessor's
or lessee's interest under any lease, subordination of any claim or right, or
any other type of lien, charge, encumbrance, preferential arrangement or other
claim or right.

  "Loan" means any Revolving Credit Loan or any Swing Line Loan, as the context
   ----                                                                        
may require.

  "Loan Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes, the Security
   --------------                                                              
Documents, the Hedging Contracts and all other agreements, instruments and other
documents now or hereafter executed pursuant, or otherwise relating, thereto.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
  "Margin" means the margin (expressed as a percentage) to be used to determine
   ------                                                                      
the Floating Rate or the Eurodollar Rate, as the case may be, in accordance with
the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Ratio of Total Debt as of preceding                                                 
          fiscal quarter end to Adjusted EBITDA                                               
          for period of four consecutive fiscal quarters       Floating Rate        Eurodollar
          ending with such quarter end                             Margin              Rate   
                                                                    (%)             Margin (%) 
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                            <C>                  <C>
Greater than 3.50 to 1.00                                          .50                  1.50
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 3.00 to 1.00
but not greater than 3.50 to 1.00                                  .25                  1.25
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 2.50 to 1.00
but not greater than 3.00 to 1.00                                  .0                   1.0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 2.25 to 1.00
but not greater than 2.50 to 1.00                                   0                    .875
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 1.75 to 1.00
but not greater than 2.25 to 1.00                                   0                    .75
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equal to or less than 1.75 to 1.00                                  0                    .625
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Such ratio shall be determined from the then most recent Margin Certificate
delivered by Citation from time to time pursuant to Section 5.1(c)(6); provided
                                                                       --------
that the Margin in effect under this Agreement for the period from and including
the Effective Date to and including the last day prior to the first change in
accordance with the next sentence shall be 0% for Floating Rate Loans and 1.0%
for Eurodollar Rate Loans.  Each change in the Margin shall be effective on the
fifth Business Day after delivery of any such Margin Certificate, commencing
with the Margin Certificate delivered with the financial statements furnished
under Section 5.1(c)(3) for Citation's 1998 fiscal year. For purposes of
clarification, the Margin initially applicable to any Loan shall be the Margin
in effect at the time such Loan is funded, without regard to the Margin in
effect at the time such Loan was requested and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate
Loans, without regard to the Margin in effect at the time the components of the
applicable Eurodollar Rate (other than the Margin) were set.  In the event that
Citation shall at any time fail to furnish to the Administrative Agent any
Margin Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c)(6), the
maximum Margin shall apply until such time as such Margin Certificate is so
delivered.

  "Margin Certificate" means the certificate with respect to the ratio used to
   ------------------                                                         
calculate the Margin, provided to the Administrative Agent by Citation on behalf
of itself and the other Borrowers on a quarterly basis pursuant to Section
5.1(c)(6).

  "Maximum Funding Amount" means the sum of (a) with respect to outstanding
   ----------------------                                                  
Receivables Investor Instruments that have fixed principal amounts, such
principal amounts, and (b) with respect to Receivables Investor Instruments that
have variable principal amounts, the Receivable Stated Amount thereof.

  "Net Cash Proceeds" means, in each case as set forth in a statement in
   -----------------                                                    
reasonable detail delivered to the Administrative Agent, with respect to the
disposition of assets pursuant to Qualified Receivables Transactions by Citation
or any other Sellers, the excess, if any, of (a) the cash received in connection
with such disposition over (b) the sum of (i) the principal amount of any
Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) which is secured by such asset and
which is required to be repaid in connection with the disposition thereof, plus
(ii) the reasonable out-of-

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
pocket expenses incurred by Citation or such other Sellers, as the case may be,
in connection with such disposition, plus (iii) provision for taxes, including
income taxes, attributable to the disposition of such assets.

  "Notes" means the Revolving Credit Notes and the Swing Line Note; and "Note"
   -----                                                                      
means any Revolving Credit Note or the Swing Line Note, as the context may
require.

  "Obligations" means the obligations, whether joint or several, of Borrowers:
   -----------                                                                

  (A) To pay the principal of and interest on the Notes in accordance with the
terms thereof and to satisfy, pay and perform the Letter of Credit Obligations
and all other liabilities to the Agents and the Banks under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the Hedging Contracts,
whether now existing or hereafter incurred, matured or unmatured, direct or
contingent, joint or several, including any extensions, modifications, and
renewals thereof and substitutions therefor;

  (B) To repay to the Agents and the Banks all amounts advanced by any Agent or
any Bank under this Agreement, under any of the Security Documents or under any
of the other Loan Documents on behalf of the Borrowers, or any one or more of
them, including, but without limitation, advances for principal or interest
payments to prior secured parties, mortgagees, or lienors, or for taxes, levies,
insurance rent, repairs to or maintenance or storage of any of the Collateral;

  (C) To reimburse the Agents, on demand, for all of each Agent's expenses and
costs, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel, in connection
with the preparation, administration, amendment, modification, or enforcement of
this Agreement and the documents required or contemplated hereunder, including,
without limitation, any proceeding brought or threatened to enforce payment of
any of the obligations referred to in the foregoing paragraphs (A) and (B), and
all other costs and expenses reimbursable under Section 9.5(a)(iii); and

  (D) To reimburse the Banks, on demand, for all costs and expenses reimbursable
under Section 9.5(a)(iii).

  "Overdue Rate" means (a) in respect of principal of Floating Rate Loans, a
   ------------                                                             
rate per annum that is equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per annum plus the
Floating Rate, (b) in respect of principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans and Swing
Line Loans, a rate per annum that is equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per
annum plus the per annum rate in effect thereon until the end of the then
current Interest Period for such Loan and, thereafter, a rate per annum that is
equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per annum plus the Floating Rate, and (c)
in respect of other amounts payable by the Borrowers hereunder (other than
interest), a per annum rate that is equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per
annum plus the Floating Rate.

  "Participating Subsidiary" means (a) each of the Initial Participating
   ------------------------                                             
Subsidiaries and (b) any other Subsidiary that hereafter executes and delivers
to the Administrative Agent a Participating Subsidiary Assumption Agreement, the
appropriate Security Documents and all other documents necessary to assume joint
and several liability as to the Obligations arising with respect to the Advances
or any agreement or instrument executed by such Subsidiary in connection
therewith (in the maximum amount provided for in such Assumption Agreement).

  "Participating Subsidiary Assumption Agreement" means each Assumption
   ---------------------------------------------                       
Agreement duly authorized and executed by each Subsidiary that is to become a
Participating Subsidiary after the Effective Date and substantially in the form
annexed hereto as Exhibit G, as each such Assumption Agreement may be thereafter
                  ----------                                                    
supplemented or amended, and "Participating Subsidiary Assumption Agreements"
                              ---------------------------------------------- 
means all of them, collectively.

  "Pension Plan" means any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in Section
   ------------                                                                
3(2) of ERISA that is subject to Section 302 of ERISA.

  "Permitted Liens" means:
   ---------------        

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
         (A)  Liens for taxes, assessments, or similar charges, incurred in the
ordinary course of business that are not yet due and payable;

         (B)  Pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to
secure payment of workmen's compensation, or to participate in any fund in
connection with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions
or other social security programs;

         (C)  Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other
like liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business
that are not yet due and payable;

         (D)  Good faith pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of
business to secure performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the
repayment of borrowed money) or leases, not in excess of ten percent (10%) of
the aggregate amount due thereunder, or to secure statutory obligations, or
surety, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds required in the
ordinary course of business;

         (E)  Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easement or other
restrictions on the use of real property, none of which materially impairs the
use of such property by a Borrower or any Consolidated Entity in the operation
of its business, and none of which is violated in any material respect by
existing or proposed structures or land use;

         (F)  Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Banks;

         (G)  Existing liens set forth or described on Schedule 1.1(b), attached
                                                       ---------------
hereto and incorporated herein;

         (H)  Purchase money security interests granted to secure not more than
the purchase price of assets, the purchase of which does not violate any Loan
Document, and provided that any such security interest does not encumber any
asset other than the related asset purchased;

         (I)  The following, if the validity or amount thereof is being
contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings, so long as levy
and execution thereon have been stayed and continue to be stayed and they do
not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of the property of a
Borrower or any Consolidated Entity or materially impair the use thereof in the
operation of its business:

              (1)   Claims or liens for taxes, assessments or charges due and
                    payable and subject to interest or penalty;    
             
              (2)   Claims, liens and encumbrances upon, and defects of title
                    to, real or personal property, including any attachment of
                    personal or real property or other legal process prior to
                    adjudication of a dispute on the merits;
             
              (3)   Claims or liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen,
                    carriers, or other like liens; and
             
              (4)   Subject to Section 6.1(h), adverse judgments on appeal;


         (J)  The Lien in favor of M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank ("M&I Bank")
covering Interstate Forging Industries, Inc.'s ("Interstate") 14,000 ton press
line and related equipment located in the building commonly referred to by
Interstate as its 14,000 ton press building in Navasota, Texas, and only such
assets, to secure the Indebtedness of Interstate permitted under Part (10) of
Section 5.2(h), and only such Indebtedness; and

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
          (K)   The customary interests of any Receivables Subsidiaries, Special
Purpose Vehicles and related collateral agents and trustees in Receivables
Program Assets under Qualified Receivables Transactions permitted under clause
(ii) of Section 5.2(b).

          "Person" or "person" shall include an individual, a corporation, an
           ------      ------                                                
association, a partnership, a trust or  estate, a joint stock company, a limited
liability company, an unincorporated organization, a joint venture, a trade or
business (whether or not incorporated), a government (foreign or domestic) and
any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

          "Pledge Agreements" means each stock pledge agreement identified on 
           -----------------                                                  
Schedule 1.1(a) annexed hereto, and each other pledge agreement now or 
--------------                                                                 
hereafter entered into by any Borrower for the benefit of the Agents and the
Banks pursuant to this Agreement, as any of the foregoing may be amended or
modified from time to time.

          "Pledged Stock" means one hundred percent (100%) of all capital stock
           -------------                                                       
and other ownership interests of all Domestic Subsidiaries and sixty-five
percent (65%) of all capital stock and other ownership interests of all Foreign
Subsidiaries, in both cases now or hereafter owned, directly or indirectly, by
Citation.

          "Purchase Money Note" means a promissory note evidencing the 
           -------------------                                                 
obligation of a Receivables Subsidiary to pay the purchase price for Receivables
to Citation or any other Seller in connection with a Qualified Receivables
Transaction, which note shall be repaid from cash available to the maker of such
note, other than cash required to be held as reserves pursuant to Receivables
Documents, amounts paid in respect of interest, principal and other amounts
owing under Receivables Documents and amounts paid in connection with the
purchase of newly generated Receivables.

          "Qualified Receivables Transaction" means any transaction or series of
           ---------------------------------                                    
transactions that may be entered into by Citation or any other Seller pursuant
to which Citation or such other Seller may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to
a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by Citation or any other
Seller) and any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables
Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any Receivables Program Assets
(whether now existing or arising in the future); provided that:
                                                 --------      

          (a) no portion of the indebtedness or any other obligations
     (contingent or otherwise) of a Receivables Subsidiary or Special Purpose
     Vehicle (i) is guaranteed by Citation or any other Seller (excluding
     guarantees of obligations pursuant to Standard Securitization
     Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates Citation or any other
     Seller in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization
     Undertakings or (iii) subjects any property or asset of Citation or any
     other Seller, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the
     satisfaction of obligations incurred in such transactions, other than
     pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings,

          (b) neither Citation nor any other Seller has any material contract,
     agreement, arrangement or understanding with a Receivables Subsidiary or a
     Special Purpose Vehicle other than on terms no less favorable to Citation
     or such Seller than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons
     that are not Affiliates of Citation, other than fees payable in the
     ordinary course of business in connection with servicing accounts
     receivable, and

          (c) Citation and the other Sellers do not have any obligation to
     maintain or preserve the financial condition of a Receivables Subsidiary or
     a Special Purpose Vehicle or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of
     operating results.

          "Receivable Stated Amount" means, with respect to a Receivables 
           ------------------------                                            
Investor Instrument, the maximum amount of the funding commitment with respect
thereto.

          "Receivables" means all rights of Citation or any other Seller to 
           -----------                                                         
payments (whether constituting accounts, chattel paper, instruments, general
intangibles or otherwise, and including the right to payment of any

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
interest or finance charges), which rights are identified in the accounting
records of Citation or such Seller as accounts receivable.

         "Receivables Documents" means (a) a receivables purchase agreement, 
          ---------------------                                                
pooling and servicing agreement, credit agreement, agreements to acquire
undivided interests or other agreement to transfer, or create a security
interest in, Receivables Program Assets, in each case as amended, modified,
supplemented or restated and in effect from time to time entered into by
Citation, another Seller and/or a Receivables Subsidiary, and (b) each other
instrument, agreement and other document entered into by Citation, any other
Seller or a Receivables Subsidiary relating to the transactions contemplated by
the items referred to in clause (a) above, in each case as amended, modified,
supplemented or restated and in effect from time to time.

         "Receivables Investor Instruments" means trust certificates, purchased
          --------------------------------                                     
interests or any other securities, instruments or agreements evidencing an
interest in the Receivables Program Assets held by a person other than Citation
and the other Consolidated Entities.

         "Receivables Program Assets" means (a) all Receivables which are 
          --------------------------                                           
described as being transferred by Citation, another Seller or a Receivables
Subsidiary pursuant to the Receivables Documents, (b) all Receivables Related
Assets, and (c) all collections (including recoveries) and other proceeds of the
assets described in the foregoing clauses.

         "Receivables Program Obligations" means (a) notes, trust certificates,
          -------------------------------                                      
undivided interests, partnership interests or other interests representing the
right to be paid a specified principal amount from the Receivables Program
Assets, and (b) related obligations of Citation, another Seller or a Special
Purpose Vehicle (including, without limitation, rights in respect of interest or
yield, breach of warranty claims and expense reimbursement and indemnity
provisions) and other Standard Securitization Undertakings.

         "Receivables Related Assets" means (a) any rights arising under the
          --------------------------                                        
documentation governing or relating to Receivables (including rights in respect
of liens securing such Receivables and other credit support in respect of such
Receivables), (b) any proceeds of such Receivables and any lockboxes or accounts
in which such proceeds are deposited, (c) spread amounts and other similar
accounts (and any amounts on deposit therein) established in connection with a
Qualified Receivables Transaction, (d) any warranty, indemnity, dilution and
other intercompany claim arising out of Receivables Documents and (e) other
assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security
interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization
transactions involving accounts receivable.

         "Receivables Subsidiary" means a special purpose wholly-owned 
          ----------------------                                               
Subsidiary of Citation or any Consolidated Entity created in connection with the
transactions contemplated by a Qualified Receivables Transaction, which
Subsidiary engages in no activities other than those incidental to such
Qualified Receivables Transaction and which is designated as a Receivables
Subsidiary by Citation's or such Consolidated Entity's, as the case may be,
Board of Directors. Any such designation by such Board of Directors shall be
evidenced by providing to the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the
resolutions of such Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an
officer's certificate certifying, to the best of such officer's knowledge and
belief after consulting with counsel, that such designation, and the
transactions in which the Receivables Subsidiary will engage, comply with the
requirements of the definition of Qualified Receivables Transaction.

         "Records" means correspondence, memoranda, tapes, discs, microfilm,
          -------                                                           
microfiche, papers, books and other documents, or transcribed information of any
type, whether expressed in ordinary or machine language, and all filing
cabinets, computer hardware, and other containers in which any of the foregoing
is stored, maintained or updated.

         "Regulation D" means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the 
          ------------                                                         
Federal Reserve System as now or from time to time hereafter in effect, and
shall include any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of
said Board of Governors relating to reserve requirements applicable to member
banks of the Federal Reserve System.

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
         "Regulation U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the 
          ------------                                                         
Federal Reserve System as now or from time to time hereafter in effect and shall
include any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of said
Board of Governors relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose
of purchasing or carrying margin stocks applicable to member banks of the
Federal Reserve System.

         "Rent Expense" means, for any period, the maximum aggregate amount of 
          ------------                                                         
all rents and other payments (exclusive of property taxes, property and
liability insurance premiums and maintenance costs) paid or required to be paid
by Citation and the Consolidated Entities under any Capital Leases and other
leases of real or personal property in respect of which Citation or any
Consolidated Entity is obligated as a lessee or user.

         "Required Banks" means Banks holding not less than (i) fifty-one 
          --------------                                                       
percent (51%) of the aggregate principal amount of the Advances then outstanding
or (ii) fifty-one percent (51%) of the Commitments if no Advances are then
outstanding.

         "Revolving Credit Advance" means any Revolving Credit Loan and any 
          ------------------------                                             
Letter of Credit Advance.

         "Revolving Credit Loan" means any borrowing under Section 2.4 
          ---------------------                                                
evidenced by the Notes and made by a Bank pursuant to Section 2.1. Any such Loan
or portion thereof may also be denominated as a Floating Rate Loan or a
Eurodollar Rate Loan and such Loans are referred to herein as "types" of Loans.

         "Revolving Credit Note" means any promissory note of the Borrowers
          ---------------------                                            
evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans, in substantially the form annexed hereto
as Exhibit B-1, as amended or modified from time to time and together with any
   -----------                                                                
promissory note or notes issued in exchange or replacement therefor.

         "Security Documents" means, collectively, the Pledge Agreements, the
          ------------------                                                 
Environmental Certificate, and all other and related agreements and documents,
including financing statements and similar documents, delivered pursuant to this
Agreement, the Existing Credit Agreement or any predecessor credit agreement or
otherwise entered into by any person to secure the Advances.

         "Seller" means Citation and any Consolidated Entity (other than a
          ------                                                          
Receivables Subsidiary) which is a party to a Receivables Document.

         "SouthTrust" means SouthTrust Bank, National Association in its 
          ----------                                                           
individual capacity, and its successors.

         "Special Purpose Vehicle" means a trust, partnership or other special
          -----------------------                                             
purpose Person established by Citation and/or the Consolidated Entities to
implement a Qualified Receivables Transaction.

         "Standard Securitization Undertakings" means representations, 
          ------------------------------------                                 
warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by Citation or any other
Seller which are reasonably customary in accounts receivable securitization
transactions, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent.

         "Stockholders' Equity" means, at any time, the sum of the following 
          --------------------                                                 
accounts (less treasury stock carried at cost) set forth in a balance sheet of a
Borrower (or, if the Borrower in question is Citation, a Consolidated balance
sheet of Citation and the Consolidated Entities), prepared in accordance with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles consistently applied:

         (A) The par or stated value of all outstanding capital stock;     
                                                                          
         (B)  Capital surplus; and                                        
                                                                          
         (C)  Retained earnings.                                           

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
         "Subordinated Indebtedness" of any person means, as of any date, that
          -------------------------                                           
Indebtedness of such person for borrowed money which is expressly subordinate
and junior in right and priority of payment to the Advances and other
Indebtedness of such person to the Banks in manner and by agreement satisfactory
in form and substance to the Required Banks.

         "Subordinated Notes"  means the subordinated notes that may be issued
          ------------------                                                  
from time to time by Citation substantially as described in the preliminary
Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum furnished to the Administrative Agent
pursuant to Section 2.5(i).

         "Subordinated Notes Documents"  means the Subordinated Notes Indenture,
          ----------------------------                                          
the Subordinated Notes and all other agreements, instruments and documents
executed or delivered in connection therewith, including, without limitation,
the Subsidiary Guarantees (as defined in the Subordinated Notes Indenture).

         "Subordinated Notes Indenture"  means the Indenture to be entered into
          ----------------------------                                         
among Citation, the Subsidiaries of Citation that are Guarantors (as defined in
the final Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum) and the trustee identified in
the final Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum, as amended or modified from
time to time.

         "Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum"  means the Offering Memorandum
          --------------------------------------                                
with respect to the $150,000,000 Citation Corporation Senior Subordinated Notes
Due 2008.  Any reference to the Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum shall
mean the Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum in preliminary or final form, as
indicated with such reference.

         "Subsidiary" of any person means any other person (whether now 
          ----------                                                            
existing or hereafter organized or acquired) in which (other than directors
qualifying shares required by law) more than 50% of the securities or other
ownership interests of each class having ordinary voting power or analogous
right (other than securities or other ownership interests which have such power
or right only by reason of the happening of a contingency), at the time as of
which any determination is being made, are owned, beneficially and of record, by
such person or by one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such person or by any
combination thereof.

         "Swing Line Bank" means the Administrative Agent.

         "Swing Line Facility" shall have the meaning specified in Section 
          -------------------                                                  
2.1(c).

         "Swing Line Interest Period" means, with respect to any Swing Line 
          --------------------------                                           
Loan, the period commencing on the day such Swing Line Loan is made and ending
on the date agreed upon between Citation and the Swing Line Bank at the time
such Swing Line Loan is made, provided no Swing Line Interest Period which would
end after the Termination Date shall be permitted.

         "Swing Line Loan" means any borrowing under Section 2.4 evidenced by 
          ---------------                                                      
the Swing Line Note and made by the Swing Line Bank pursuant to Section 2.1(c).

         "Swing Line Note" means any promissory note of the Borrowers 
          ---------------                                                      
evidencing the Swing Line Loans, in substantially the form annexed hereto as
Exhibit B-2, as amended or modified from time to time and together with any
-----------
promissory note or notes issued in exchange or replacement therefor.

         "Swing Line Rate" means the Base Rate.
          ---------------                      

         "Termination Date" means the earlier to occur of (a) October 15, 2001 
          ----------------                                                     
and (b) the date on which the Commitments shall be terminated pursuant to
Section 2.2 or 6.2.

         "Total Assets" of any person means the net book value of all assets of
          ------------                                                         
such person, less all goodwill included in such assets.

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
         "Total Consideration"  means, with respect to any acquisition by any 
          -------------------                                                  
person, the sum of the maximum purchase price paid or to be paid and any other
consideration given or to be given for such acquisition, including, without
limitation, cash payments, Indebtedness issued, deferred obligations incurred,
including, without limitation pursuant to earn-out provisions, equity and other
securities issued or exchanged, and Indebtedness and other obligations forgiven,
plus the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness and other obligations
assumed by such person in connection with such acquisition.

         "Total Debt" means the Bank Obligations and all other Indebtedness of
          ----------                                                          
Citation and the Consolidated Entities, whether now existing or hereafter
incurred, but excluding (a) Contingent Liabilities pursuant to earn-out
provisions incurred as part of acquisitions permitted under Section 5.2(r), (b)
trade accounts or accruals payable arising in the ordinary course of business,
and (c) Indebtedness of the types described in clauses (e), (f) and (g) of the
definition of the term "Indebtedness".

         "UCC-1" means each financing statement to be filed pursuant to the 
          -----                                                                
Uniform Commercial Code, as enacted in any state in which any of the Collateral
is located, in order to perfect the Collateral Agent's lien on the Collateral.

         "Year 2000 Issues"  means anticipated costs, problems and uncertainties
          -----------------                                                    
associated with the inability of certain computer applications to effectively
handle data including dates on and after January 1, 2000, as such inability
affects the business, operations, and financial condition of Citation and the
Consolidated Entities and of Citation's and the Consolidated Entities' material
customers, suppliers and vendors.

         "Year 2000 Program"  has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 
          -----------------                                                     
4.1(y).

         1.2 Other Definitions; Rules of Construction. As used herein, the terms
             ----------------------------------------
 "Administrative Agent", "Agents", "Bank", "Banks", "Borrower", "Borrowers",
  --------------------    ------    ----    -----    --------    ---------
 "Citation", "Collateral Agent", "Company", "Existing Bank", "Existing Banks",
  --------    ----------------    -------    -------------    --------------
 "Existing Credit Agreement", "Initial Participating Subsidiaries", "Initial
  -------------------------    ----------------------------------    -------
 Participating Subsidiary" and "this Agreement" shall have the respective
 ------------------------       --------------
 meanings ascribed thereto in the introductory paragraphs of this Agreement.
 Such terms, together with the other terms defined in Section 1.1 shall include
 both the singular and the plural forms thereof and shall be construed
 accordingly. All computations required hereunder and all financial terms used
 herein shall be made or construed in accordance with Generally Accepted
 Accounting Principles unless such principles are inconsistent with the express
 requirements of this Agreement; provided that, if the Company notifies the
                                 --------
 Administrative Agent that the Borrowers wish to amend any covenant in Article V
 to eliminate the effect of any change in Generally Accepted Accounting
 Principles in the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent
 notifies the Company that the Required Banks wish to amend Article V for such
 purpose), then the Borrowers' compliance with such covenant shall be determined
 on the basis of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in effect immediately
 before the relevant change in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles became
 effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in
 a manner satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Required Banks. Use of the terms
 "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" shall be deemed references to this Agreement
  ------    ------       ---------
 in its entirety and not to the Section or clause in which such term appears.
 References to "Sections" and "subsections" shall be to Sections and
 subsections, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically
 provided.


                                  ARTICLE II.
           THE COMMITMENTS, THE SWING LINE FACILITY AND THE ADVANCES
           ---------------------------------------------------------


         2.1  Commitment of the Banks and Swing Line Facility 
              -----------------------------------------------                  

              (a) Revolving Credit Advances   Each Bank agrees, for itself only,
                  -------------------------                                    
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to make Revolving Credit
Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.4 and Section 3.3 and to
participate in Letter of Credit Advances to the Borrowers pursuant to Section
2.4, from time to time from and including the Effective Date to but excluding
the Termination Date, not to exceed in aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding the amount determined pursuant to Section 2.1(b).

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
         (b) Limitation on Amount of Revolving Credit Advances. Notwithstanding
             -------------------------------------------------            
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the aggregate principal amount of
the Revolving Credit Advances made by any Bank at any time outstanding shall not
exceed the amount of its respective Commitment as of the date any such Advance
is made and the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances made
by all the Banks at any time outstanding shall not exceed $300,000,000,
provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of Letter of Credit
--------  -------
Advances outstanding at any time shall not exceed $20,000,000.

         (c) Swing Line Loans.  (i) The Borrowers may request the Swing Line
             ----------------
Bank to make, and the Swing Line Bank may, in its sole discretion provided that
the requirements of Section 2.6 are complied with by the Borrowers at the time
of such request, make, Swing Line Loans to the Borrowers from time to time on
any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination
Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any date the lesser of
(A) $15,000,000 (the "Swing Line Facility") and (B) the aggregate unused
portions of the Commitments of the Banks as of such date. Each Bank's Commitment
shall be deemed utilized by an amount equal to such Bank's pro rata share (based
on such Bank's Commitment) of each Swing Line Loan for purposes of determining
the amount of Revolving Credit Advances required to be made by such Bank, but no
Bank's Commitment, other than the Swing Line Bank, shall be deemed utilized for
purposes of determining commitment fees under Section 2.3(a). Swing Line Loans
shall bear interest at the Swing Line Rate. Within the limits of the Swing Line
Facility, so long as the Swing Line Bank, in its sole discretion, elects to make
Swing Line Loans, the Borrowers may borrow and reborrow under this Section
2.1(c)(i).

             (ii)   The Swing Line Bank may at any time in its sole and absolute
discretion require that any Swing Line Loan be refunded by a Floating Rate
Borrowing from the Banks, and upon written notice thereof by the Swing Line Bank
to the Administrative Agent, the Banks and Citation, the Borrowers shall be
deemed to have requested a Floating Rate Borrowing in an amount equal to the
amount of such Swing Line Loan, and such Floating Rate Borrowing shall be made
to refund such Swing Line Loan.  Each Bank shall be absolutely and
unconditionally obligated (except as set forth in Section 2.1(c)(i)) to fund its
pro rata share (based on such Bank's Commitment) of such Floating Rate Borrowing
or, if applicable, purchase a participating interest in the Swing Line Loans
pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii) and such obligation shall not be affected by any
circumstance, including, without limitation, (A) any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which such Bank or any Borrower or any of
their respective Subsidiaries may have against the Swing Line Bank, any Borrower
or any of their respective Subsidiaries or anyone else for any reason
whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of
Default, subject to Section 2.1(c)(iii); (C) any adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise) of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (D) any
breach of this Agreement by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any other
Bank; or (E) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or
not similar to any of the foregoing (including without limitation any Borrower's
failure to satisfy any conditions contained in Article II or any other provision
of this Agreement).

             (iii)  If, for any reason (including without limitation as a
result of the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to any Borrower
pursuant to Section 6.1(e), (f) or (g)), Floating Rate Loans may not be made by
the Banks as described in Section 2.1(c)(ii), then (A) each Borrower agrees that
each Swing Line Loan not paid pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(ii) shall bear
interest, payable on demand by the Swing Line Bank, at the Overdue Rate, and (B)
effective on the date each such Floating Rate Loan would otherwise have been
made, each Bank severally agrees that it shall unconditionally and irrevocably,
without regard to the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, in lieu of
deemed disbursement of loans, to the extent of such Bank's Commitment, purchase
a participating interest in the Swing Line Loans by paying its participation
percentage thereof. Each Bank will immediately transfer to the Swing Line Bank,
in same day funds, the amount of its participation. Each Bank shall share on a
pro rata basis (calculated by reference to its Commitment) in any interest which
accrues thereon and in all repayments thereof. If and to the extent that any
Bank shall not have so made the amount of such participating interest available
to the Swing Line Bank, such Bank and the Borrowers severally agree to pay to
the Swing Line Bank forthwith on demand such amount together with interest
thereon, for each day from the date of demand by the Swing Line Bank until the
date such amount is paid to the Swing Line Bank, at (x) in the case of the
Borrowers, the interest rate specified above and (y) in the case of such Bank,
the Federal Funds Rate.

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
         2.2  Termination and Reduction of Commitments. (a) The Borrowers 
              ----------------------------------------                         
shall have the right to terminate or reduce the Commitments at any time and from
time to time at their option, provided that (i) the Borrowers shall give notice
                              --------  
of such termination or reduction to the Administrative Agent (with sufficient
executed copies for each Bank) specifying the amount and effective date thereof,
(ii) each partial reduction of the Commitments shall be in a minimum amount of
$5,000,000 and in an integral multiple of $500,000, (iii) no such termination or
reduction shall be permitted with respect to any portion of the Commitments as
to which a request for an Advance pursuant to Section 2.4 is then pending and
(iv) the Commitments may not be terminated if any Advances are then outstanding
and may not be reduced below the principal amount of Advances then outstanding.

              (b)  Each reduction of the Commitments pursuant to this Section
2.2 shall reduce the Commitments of all the Banks proportionately in accordance
with the respective Commitment amounts for each such Bank prior to such
reduction. The Commitments or any portion thereof terminated or reduced pursuant
to this Section 2.2 may not be reinstated.

              (c)  For purposes of this Agreement, a Letter of Credit Advance
(i) shall be deemed outstanding in an amount equal to the sum of the maximum
amount available to be drawn under the related Letter of Credit on or after the
date of determination and on or before the stated expiry date thereof plus the
amount of any draws under such Letter of Credit that have not been reimbursed as
provided in Section 3.3 and (ii) shall be deemed outstanding at all times on and
before such stated expiry date or such earlier date on which all amounts
available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit have been fully drawn, and
thereafter until all related reimbursement obligations have been paid pursuant
to Section 3.3. As provided in Section 3.3, upon each payment made by the
Administrative Agent in respect of any draft or other demand for payment under
any Letter of Credit, the amount of any Letter of Credit Advance outstanding
immediately prior to such payment shall be automatically reduced by the amount
of each Loan deemed advanced in respect of the related reimbursement obligation
of the Borrowers.

         2.3  Fees.  (a) The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative
              ----                                                             
Agent for the pro rata account of the Banks (based upon their respective
Commitments) a commitment fee on the daily average unused amount of the
aggregate Commitments, during each calendar quarter or portion thereof for the
period from the Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date, at a rate
equal to the Commitment Fee Rate applicable during each such quarter. Accrued
commitment fees shall be determined quarterly in arrears on the last Business
Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the first such
Business Day occurring after the Effective Date, and on the Termination Date,
and shall be payable within 15 days of each such last Business Day and on the
Termination Date.

              (b)  The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for
the pro rata account of the Banks (based upon their respective Commitments) a
closing fee in the amount equal to $150,000. Such closing fee shall be payable
on or prior to the Effective Date.

              (c)  On or before the date of issuance, extension or renewal of
any Letter of Credit during any calendar quarter, the Borrowers agree (i) to pay
to the Administrative Agent for the pro rata account of the Banks (based upon
their respective Commitments) a fee computed at the rate equal to the Letter of
Credit Fee Rate applicable during such quarter of the maximum amount available
to be drawn from time to time under such Letter of Credit for the period from
and including the date of issuance, extension or renewal, as the case may be, of
such Letter of Credit to and including the stated expiry date of such Letter of
Credit, and (ii) to pay an additional fee to the Administrative Agent for its
own account computed at the rate of one-eighth of one percent (1/8 of 1%) per
annum of such maximum amount for such period. Such fees are nonrefundable and
the Borrowers shall not be entitled to any rebate of any portion thereof if such
Letter of Credit does not remain outstanding through its stated expiry date or
for any other reason. The Borrowers further agree to pay to the Administrative
Agent, on demand, such other customary administrative fees, charges and expenses
of the Administrative Agent in respect of the issuance, negotiation, acceptance,
amendment, transfer and payment of such Letter of Credit or otherwise payable
pursuant to the application and related documentation under which such Letter of
Credit is issued.

              (d)  The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent and
the Arranger certain fees, in such amounts, and on such schedule, as provided in
that certain letter agreement dated July 1, 1998 among

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
Citation, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, and as the Borrowers and
the Administrative Agent and the Arranger otherwise may from time to time agree.

         2.4 Disbursement of Advances. (a) Except with respect to Swing Line
             ------------------------
Loans, the Borrowers shall give the Administrative Agent notice of their request
for each Borrowing in substantially the form annexed hereto as Exhibit C-1 not
                                                               -----------
later than 11:00 a.m. Chicago time (i) three Eurodollar Business Days prior to
the date such Borrowing is requested to be made if such Borrowing is to be made
as a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, (ii) five Business Days prior to the date any
Letter of Credit Borrowing is requested to be made, and (iii) one Business Day
prior to the date such Borrowing is requested to be made in all other cases,
which notice shall specify whether a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, Floating Rate
Borrowing or Letter of Credit Borrowing is requested and, in the case of each
requested Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, the Interest Period to be initially
applicable thereto and, in the case of each Letter of Credit Borrowing, such
information as may be necessary for the issuance thereof by the Administrative
Agent. With respect to Swing Line Loans, the Borrowers shall give the Swing Line
Bank notice of their request for each Swing Line Loan in substantially the form
of Exhibit C-2 not later than 1:00 p.m. Chicago time on the same Business Day
   -----------
such Swing Line Loan is requested to be made. The Administrative Agent, not
later than 11:00 a.m. Chicago time on the Business Day next succeeding the day
such notice is given, shall provide notice of each such requested Borrowing (not
including Swing Line Loans) to each Bank. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, the proceeds of each such requested Swing Line Loan or Borrowing
comprised of Revolving Credit Loans shall be made available to the Borrowers by
depositing the proceeds thereof, in immediately available funds, in an account
maintained and designated by the Borrowers at the principal office of the
Administrative Agent. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
Administrative Agent shall, on the date any Letter of Credit Advance is
requested to be made, issue the related Letter of Credit on behalf of the Banks
for the account of the Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, the Administrative Agent may decline to issue any requested Letter of
Credit on the basis that the beneficiary, the purpose of issuance or the terms
or the conditions of drawing are unacceptable to it in its discretion.

              (b)  Each Bank, on the date any Borrowing comprised of Loans is
requested to be made, shall make its pro rata share of such Borrowing available
in immediately available funds for disbursement to the Borrowers pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement at the principal office of the
Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice from any Bank prior to the date  such Borrowing is requested to be made
under this Section 2.4 that such Bank will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Bank's pro rata portion of such Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent may assume that such Bank has made such portion available
to the Administrative Agent on the date such Borrowing is requested to be made
in accordance with this Section 2.4.  If and to the extent such Bank shall not
have so made such pro rata portion available to the Administrative Agent, the
Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) make such amount
available to the Borrowers, and such Bank and the Borrowers severally agree to
pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount together with
interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to
the Borrowers by the Administrative Agent until the date such amount is repaid
to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.  If such Bank shall pay
such amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest, such amount so
paid shall constitute a Loan by such Bank as a part of such Borrowing for
purposes of this Agreement. The failure of any Bank to make its pro rata portion
of any such Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent shall not relieve
any other Bank of its obligation to make available its pro rata portion of such
Borrowing on the date such Borrowing is requested to be made, but no Bank shall
be responsible for failure of any other Bank to make such pro rata portion
available to the Administrative Agent on the date of any such Borrowing.

              (c)  All Revolving Credit Loans made under this Section 2.4 shall
be evidenced by the Revolving Credit Notes, all Swing Line Loans under this
Section 2.4 shall be evidenced by the Swing Line Note, and all such Loans shall
be due and payable and bear interest as provided in Article III. Each Bank is
hereby authorized by the Borrowers to record on the schedule attached to its
Note(s), or in its books and records, the date, amount and type of each Loan and
the duration of the related Interest Period (if applicable), the amount of each
payment or prepayment of principal thereon, and the other information provided
for on such schedule, which schedule or books and records, as the case may be,
shall constitute prima facie evidence of the information so recorded, provided,
                                                                      -------- 
however, that failure of any Bank to record, or any error in recording, any such
-------                                                                         
information shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to repay the
outstanding principal amount of the Loans, all accrued

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
interest thereon and other amounts payable with respect thereto in accordance
with the terms of the Notes and this Agreement.  Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, the Borrowers may borrow Revolving Credit Loans
under this Section 2.4 and under Section 3.3, prepay Revolving Credit Loans
pursuant to Section 3.1 and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans under this Section
2.4 and under Section 3.3.

              (d)  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require or
authorize any Bank to issue any Letter of Credit, it being recognized that the
Administrative Agent has the sole obligation under this Agreement to issue
Letters of Credit on behalf of the Banks, and the Commitment of each Bank with
respect to Letter of Credit  Advances is expressly conditioned upon the
Administrative Agent's performance of such obligations.  Upon such issuance by
the Administrative Agent, each Bank shall automatically acquire a pro rata risk
participation interest in such Letter of Credit Advance based on the amount of
its respective Commitment.  If the Administrative Agent shall honor a draft or
other demand for payment presented or made under any Letter of Credit, the
Administrative Agent shall provide notice thereof to each Bank by 11:00 a.m.
Chicago time on the date such draft or demand is honored unless the Company
shall have satisfied its reimbursement obligation under Section 3.3 by payment
to the Administrative Agent on such date.  Each Bank, by 4:00 p.m. Chicago time
on such date, shall make its pro rata share of the amount paid by the
Administrative Agent available in immediately available funds at the principal
office of the Administrative Agent for the account of the Administrative Agent.
If and to the extent such Bank shall not have made such pro rata portion
available to the Administrative Agent, such Bank and the Borrowers severally
agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount
together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount was paid
by the Administrative Agent until such amount is so made available to the
Administrative Agent at a per annum rate equal to  the Federal Funds Rate.  If
such Bank shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent together with such
interest, such amount so paid shall constitute a Loan by such Bank as part of
the Borrowing disbursed in respect of the reimbursement obligation of the
Borrowers under Section 3.3 for purposes of this Agreement.  The failure of any
Bank to make its pro rata portion of any such amount paid by the Administrative
Agent available to the Administrative Agent shall not relieve any other Bank of
its obligation to make available its pro rata portion of such amount, but no
Bank shall be responsible for failure of any other Bank to make such pro rata
portion available to the Administrative Agent.

              (e)  The initial Borrowing under this Agreement shall, subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be a Borrowing of Revolving Credit
Loans in an aggregate principal amount not less than the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) made
by the Existing Banks under the Existing Credit Agreement (the "Restated Debt")
and shall be made immediately upon the satisfaction of all conditions set forth
in Sections 2.5 and 2.6. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents to the contrary, the Borrowers, the Banks and the
Agents hereby agree that such initial Borrowing shall be funded as follows:

          (i)    each Existing Bank, in its capacity as a Bank under this
          Agreement, shall automatically be deemed to have already funded to the
          Administrative Agent (and the Administrative Agent likewise shall
          automatically be deemed to have already disbursed to the Borrowers) an
          amount of such initial Borrowing equal to the portion of the Restated
          Debt held by such Bank;

          (ii)   each Bank that is not an Existing Bank shall fund to the
          Administrative Agent an amount of such initial Borrowing equal to such
          Bank's pro rata share thereof based on such Bank's respective
          Commitment amount under this Agreement;

          (iii)  if the amount deemed funded by any Bank under clause (i) above
          is less than such Bank's pro rata share of such initial Borrowing
          (based on such Bank's respective Commitment amount under this
          Agreement), then such Bank shall fund, by the actual transfer to the
          Administrative Agent of immediately available funds, the amount equal
          to such shortfall;

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
          (iv)  if the amount deemed funded by any Bank under clause (i) above
          exceeds such Bank's pro rata share of such initial Borrowing (based on
          such Bank's respective Commitment amount under this Agreement), then
          the Administrative Agent shall remit to such Bank a portion of the
          amounts funded under clauses (ii) and (iii) above equal to such
          excess; and

          (v)   any portion of the amounts funded by the Banks under clauses
          (ii) and (iii) above remaining after the Administrative Agent has
          remitted all amounts required to be remitted to the Banks under clause
          (iv) above shall be made available to the Borrowers in accordance with
          Section 2.4(a);

such that thereupon (A) each Bank shall have funded a portion of such initial
Borrowing in a net amount equal to its pro rata share thereof (based on such
Bank's respective Commitment amount), and (B) all Loans (as defined in the
Existing Credit Agreement) shall be deemed restated and replaced by such initial
Borrowing.

    2.5  Conditions for First Disbursement. The obligation of the Banks to make
         ---------------------------------                                     
the first Advances hereunder is subject to receipt by the Administrative Agent
of the following documents (with sufficient copies for the Banks) and completion
of the following matters, in form and substance satisfactory to each Bank and
the Administrative Agent:

         (a) Charter and Partnership Documents.  Certificates of recent date of 
             ---------------------------------                           
the appropriate authority or official of Citation's and each Initial
Participating Subsidiary's respective state of incorporation or organization
(listing all charter documents or the certificate of limited partnership, as
applicable, of Citation and each Initial Participating Subsidiary, respectively,
on file in that office if such listing is available) and certifying as to the
good standing and corporate or partnership existence of Citation and each
Initial Participating Subsidiary, respectively, together with copies of such
charter documents or certificate of limited partnership, as the case may be, of
Citation and each Initial Participating Subsidiary, certified as of a recent
date by such authority or official and certified as true and correct as of the
Effective Date by a duly authorized officer of Citation, such Initial
Participating Subsidiary or the general partner of such Initial Participating
Subsidiary, as applicable;

         (b) By-Laws, Partnership Agreements and Corporate Authorizations.  
             ------------------------------------------------------------      
Copies of the by-laws or partnership agreement, as applicable, of Citation and
each Initial Participating Subsidiary, together with all authorizing resolutions
and evidence of other corporate action taken by Citation, such Initial
Participating Subsidiary or the general partner of such Initial Participating
Subsidiary, as the case may be, to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance by Citation and each Initial Participating Subsidiary of the Loan
Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by Citation and each such
Initial Participating Subsidiary, respectively, of the transactions contemplated
hereby, certified as true and correct as of the Effective Date by a duly
authorized officer of Citation, such Initial Participating Subsidiary or the
general partner of such Initial Participating Subsidiary, as applicable;

         (c) Incumbency Certificates.  Certificates of incumbency of Citation, 
             -----------------------
of each corporate Initial Participating Subsidiary and of the general partner of
each partnership Initial Participating Subsidiary containing, and attesting to
the genuineness of, the signatures of those officers authorized to act on behalf
of Citation, each such Initial Participating Subsidiary and each such general
partner in connection with the Loan Documents to which Citation or such Initial
Participating Subsidiary, as the case may be, is a party and the consummation by
Citation and such Initial Participating Subsidiary of the transactions
contemplated hereby, certified as true and correct as of the Effective Date by a
duly authorized officer of Citation, such Initial Participating Subsidiary or
the general partner of such Initial Participating Subsidiary, as applicable;

         (d) Notes.  The Revolving Credit Notes duly executed on behalf of 
             -----                                                        
Citation and each Initial Participating Subsidiary for each Bank, and the Swing
Line Note so executed for the Swing Line Bank;

         (e) Security Documents.  The Security Documents and such confirmations
             ------------------                                                
and amendments of the Security Documents required or reasonably desired by the
Administrative Agent in order to

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
satisfy the requirements of Article VIII of this Agreement and otherwise to
provide to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Banks and the Agents all
of the security intended to be provided thereby, duly executed on behalf of
Citation and each Initial Participating Subsidiary, as applicable, together
with:

             (i)  Recording, Filing, Etc. Evidence of the recordation, filing 
                  ----------------------  
and other action (including payment of any applicable taxes or fees) in such
jurisdictions as the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or appropriate with
respect to the Security Documents, including the filing of financing statements,
financing statement assignments, financing statement amendments and similar
documents which the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or appropriate to
create, preserve or perfect the liens, security interests and other rights
intended to be granted to the Banks and the Agents thereunder, together with
Uniform Commercial Code record searches in such offices as the Administrative
Agent may request; and

             (ii) Environmental Certificate.  An Environmental Certificate dated
                  -------------------------                                     
as of the Effective Date;

         (f) Legal Opinions.  The favorable written opinion of Ritchie & 
             --------------                                                   
Rediker, L.L.C., counsel for Citation the and Initial Participating Subsidiaries
in substantially the form annexed hereto as Exhibit E;
                                            --------- 

         (g) Consents, Approvals, Etc. Copies of all governmental and 
             ------------------------                                          
nongovernmental consents, approvals, authorizations, declarations, registrations
or filings, if any, required on the part Citation or any Initial Participating
Subsidiary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the
Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or as a condition to the
legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents, certified as
true and correct and in full force and effect as of the Effective Date by a duly
authorized officer of Citation, or, if none is required, a certificate of such
officer to that effect;

         (h) Fees.  Payment of the closing fees described in Section 2.3(b) and
             ----
all fees due to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger in accordance with
Section 2.3(d);

         (i) Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum. The latest draft of the
             --------------------------------------                       
preliminary Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum certified as true and
complete by the chief financial officer of Citation, and the terms of the
Subordinated Notes offering shall have been found satisfactory by the
Administrative Agent;

         (j) Year 2000 Assessment. Information satisfactory to the Banks
             --------------------                                       
regarding Citation's Year 2000 Program;

         (k) Payment of Amounts Owing Under Existing Credit Agreement. The
             --------------------------------------------------------           
Borrowers shall have paid to the Existing Banks all interest, fees and other
amounts including, without limitation, all amounts provided for under Section
3.9 of the Existing Credit Agreement in connection with the prepayment of
Eurodollar Rate Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) (but
excluding principal of outstanding Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit
Agreement), which shall be deemed part of the funding of the initial Borrowing
under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.4(e)), it being understood
that the restating and replacement of the Loans (as defined in the Existing
Credit Agreement) pursuant to Section 2.4(e) shall result in a breaking of such
Eurodollar Rate Loan contracts, and amounts may be due under Section 3.9 of the
Existing Credit Agreement in connection therewith; and

         (l) Other.  Such other documents, and completion of such other matters,
             -----                                                         
as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

    2.6  Further Conditions for Disbursement. The obligation of the Banks to
         -----------------------------------                          
make the Advances (including the first Advances), or any continuation or
conversion under Section 2.7, is further subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent:

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
         (a) The representations and warranties contained in Article IV hereof
and in the Security Documents shall be true and correct on and as of the date
such Advances are made (both before and after such Advances are made) as if such
representations and warranties were made on and as of such date;

         (b) No Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall have occurred
and be continuing on the date such Advances are made (whether before or after
such Advance is made);

         (c) No material adverse change shall have occurred in the financial
condition of any Borrower since September 28, 1997;

         (d) All of the Loan Documents shall have remained, and then be, in full
force and effect; and

         (e) In the case of any Letter of Credit Advance, the Borrowers shall
have delivered to the Administrative Agent an application for the related Letter
of Credit and other related documentation requested by and acceptable to the
Administrative Agent appropriately completed and duly executed on behalf of the
Borrowers.

The Borrowers shall be deemed to have made a representation and warranty to the
Banks at the time of the making of, and the continuation or conversion of, each
Advance to the effects set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this
Section 2.6.

    2.7  Subsequent Elections as to Loans. The Borrowers may elect (a) to
         --------------------------------                                       
continue a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, or a portion thereof, as a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing or (b) to convert a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, or a portion thereof,
to a Floating Rate Borrowing or (c) to convert a Floating Rate Borrowing, or a
portion thereof, to a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing in each case by giving notice
thereof to the Administrative Agent in substantially the form annexed hereto as
Exhibit D not later than 11:00 a.m. Chicago time three Eurodollar Business Days
---------
prior to the date any such continuation of or conversion to a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing is to be effective and not later than 11:00 a.m. Chicago time one
Business Day prior to the date such continuation or conversion is to be
effective in all other cases, provided that an outstanding Eurodollar Rate
                              --------
Borrowing may only be converted on the last day of the then current Interest
Period with respect to such Borrowing, and provided, further, if a continuation
                                           --------  -------
of a Borrowing as, or a conversion of a Borrowing to, a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing is requested, such notice shall also specify the Interest Period to be
applicable thereto upon such continuation or conversion. The Administrative
Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m. Chicago time on the Business Day next
succeeding the day such notice is given, shall provide notice of such election
to the Banks. If the Borrowers shall not timely deliver such a notice with
respect to any outstanding Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, the Borrowers shall be
deemed to have elected to convert such Eurodollar Rate Borrowing to a Floating
Rate Borrowing on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect
to such Borrowing.

    2.8  Limitation of Requests and Elections.  Notwithstanding any other
         ------------------------------------                              
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if, upon receiving a request for a
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.4, or a request for a
continuation of a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, or a request for a conversion of a
Floating Rate Borrowing to a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.7,
(a) deposits in Dollars for periods comparable to the Interest Period elected by
the Borrowers are not available to one or more of the Banks in the London
interbank market, or (b) the Eurodollar Rate will not adequately and fairly
reflect the cost to any Bank of making, funding or maintaining its related
Eurodollar Rate Loan, or (c) by reason of national or international financial,
political or economic conditions or by reason of any applicable law, treaty or
other international agreement, rule or regulation (whether domestic or foreign)
now or hereafter in effect, or the interpretation or administration thereof by
any governmental authority charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or compliance by any Bank with any guideline, request or directive of
such authority (whether or not having the force of law), including without
limitation exchange controls, it is impracticable, unlawful or impossible for,
or shall limit or impair the ability of, any Bank to make or fund its relevant
Loan or to continue such Loan as a Loan of the then existing type or to convert
a Loan to such a Loan, then the Borrowers shall not be entitled, so long as such
circumstances continue, to request a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing pursuant to
Section 2.4 or a continuation of or conversion to a Eurodollar Rate

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
Borrowing type pursuant to Section 2.7. In the event that such circumstances no
longer exist, the Banks shall again consider requests for Eurodollar Rate
Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.4, and requests for continuations of and
conversions to Eurodollar Rate Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.7.

    2.9  Minimum Amounts; Etc. Except for (a) Borrowings which exhaust the      
         --------------------                                           
entire remaining amount of the Commitments, and (b) payments required pursuant
to Section 3.8, each Eurodollar Rate Borrowing and each continuation thereof or
conversion thereto pursuant to Section 2.7 shall be in a minimum amount of
$2,500,000 and in an integral multiple of $100,000, and each Floating Rate
Borrowing and each continuation thereof or conversion thereto pursuant to
Section 2.7 and each prepayment thereof shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000
and in an integral multiple of $100,000.

    2.10 Additional Required Documents for New Participating Subsidiaries.  On 
         ----------------------------------------------------------------
or before the date on which a Subsidiary becomes a Participating Subsidiary, the
Administrative Agent shall have received, with copies for each of the Banks, the
following:

         (a) a certificate of such Subsidiary's, or such Subsidiary's general
partner's, corporate secretary, in substantially the same form as those provided
by the Initial Participating Subsidiaries and otherwise satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and certifying as to the incumbency and signatures of the
officers of such Subsidiary or general partner, as the case may be, together
with the following documents attached thereto:

             (1)  A copy of resolutions of such Subsidiary's, or such
                  Subsidiary's general partner's, board of directors authorizing
                  the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
                  Notes and the other Loan Documents, and each other document to
                  be delivered by such Subsidiary pursuant hereto;
          
             (2)  A copy, certified as of the most recent date practicable by
                  the appropriate authority or official of the jurisdiction in
                  which such Subsidiary's articles or certificate of
                  incorporation or certificate of limited partnership or similar
                  document is filed or the appropriate authority or official of
                  the state where such Subsidiary is incorporated or with which
                  such Subsidiary's certificate of limited partnership or
                  similar document has been filed, as appropriate, of such
                  Subsidiary's articles or certificate of incorporation or
                  certificate of limited partnership or similar document; and
     
             (3)  A copy of such Subsidiary's bylaws or partnership agreement or
                  similar document;

         (b) certificates, as of the most recent dates practicable, of the
aforesaid authorities or officials, the appropriate authority or official of
each state in which such Subsidiary is qualified as a foreign corporation and
the department of revenue or taxation of each of the foregoing states, as to the
good standing of such Subsidiary;

         (c) a written opinion of legal counsel for such Subsidiary and
addressed to the Agents and the Banks, in form substantially similar to, and
covering such matters covered by, the opinion provided by counsel for the
Initial Participating Subsidiaries in connection with the closing of this
Agreement, and otherwise satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

         (d) fully executed copies of all Loan Documents that this Agreement
requires to be executed or delivered (or both) by such Subsidiary (including a
duly executed Participating Subsidiary Assumption Agreement, in the case of any
Subsidiary that becomes a Participating Subsidiary after the Effective Date),
and fully executed Security Documents, which Security Documents shall include,
as applicable, a pledge agreement of such Subsidiary, in substantially the same
form as any Pledge Agreement provided by Citation and otherwise acceptable

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
to the Administrative Agent, an amendment to the Pledge Agreement of Citation,
and an Environmental Certificate executed by such Subsidiary; and

               (e) such additional supporting documents as the Administrative
Agent or its counsel may reasonably request.


                                 ARTICLE III.
                     PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS OF ADVANCES 
                     ------------------------------------

          3.1  Principal Payments and Prepayments.  (a) Unless earlier payment 
               ----------------------------------                          
is required under this Agreement, the Borrowers shall pay to the Banks on the
Termination Date the entire outstanding principal amount of the Loans.

               (b) The Borrowers may at any time and from time to time prepay
all or a portion of the Loans, without premium or penalty, provided that (i) the
                                                           --------
Borrowers may not prepay any portion of any Loan as to which an election for a
continuation of or a conversion to a Eurodollar Rate Loan is pending pursuant to
Section 2.4, and (ii) unless earlier payment is required under this Agreement,
any Eurodollar Rate Loan may only be prepaid on the last day of the then current
Interest Period with respect to such Loan.

               (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or the
Notes, immediately upon any reduction of the Commitments under Section 2.2, the
Borrowers shall prepay the Loans in an amount sufficient that, after giving
effect to such prepayment, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Loans shall not be greater than the aggregate amount of the Commitments as so
reduced.

          3.2  Interest Payments.  The Borrowers shall pay interest to the Banks
               -----------------                                                
on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan, for the period commencing on the
date such Loan is made until such Loan is paid in full, on each Interest Payment
Date and at maturity (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise),
and thereafter on demand, at the following rates per annum:

               (a)  With respect to Revolving Credit Loans:

                    (i)   During such periods that such Loan is a Floating Rate
Loan, the Floating Rate; and

                    (ii)  During such periods that such Loan is a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, the Eurodollar Rate applicable to such Loan for each related
Eurodollar Interest Period.

               (b)  With respect to Swing Line Loans, the Swing Line Rate.

Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs (a) and (b), the Borrowers shall pay
interest on demand by the Administrative Agent at the Overdue Rate on the
outstanding principal amount of any Loan and any other amount payable by the
Borrowers hereunder (other than interest) at any time on or after an Event of
Default if required in writing by the Required Banks.

          3.3  Letter of Credit Reimbursement Payments.  (a)(i) The Borrowers 
               ---------------------------------------                    
agree to pay to the Banks, on the day on which the Administrative Agent shall
honor a draft or other demand for payment presented or made under any Letter of
Credit, an amount equal to the amount paid by the Administrative Agent in
respect of such draft or other demand under such Letter of Credit and all
expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent relative thereto. Unless
the Borrowers shall have made such payment to the Banks on such day, upon each
such payment by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall be
deemed to have disbursed to the Borrowers, and the Borrowers shall be deemed to
have elected to satisfy their reimbursement obligation by, a Borrowing of
Revolving Credit Loans bearing interest at the Floating Rate for the account of
the Banks in an amount equal to the amount so paid by the Administrative Agent
in respect of such draft or other demand under such Letter of Credit. Such Loans
shall be disbursed notwithstanding any failure to satisfy any conditions for
disbursement of

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
any Advance set forth in Article II hereof and, to the extent of the Loans so
disbursed, the reimbursement obligation of the Borrowers under this Section 3.3
shall be deemed satisfied; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 3.3
                           --------  -------                                  
shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of any Default or Event of Default caused
by the failure to satisfy the conditions for disbursement or otherwise.

                    (ii)   If, for any reason (including without limitation as a
result of the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to any Borrower
pursuant to Section 6.1(e), (f) or (g)), Floating Rate Loans may not be made by
the Banks as described in Section 3.3(a)(i), then (A) the Borrowers agree that
each reimbursement amount not paid pursuant to the first sentence of Section
3.3(a)(i) shall bear interest, payable on demand by the Administrative Agent, at
the interest rate then applicable to Floating Rate Loans, and (B) effective on
the date each such Floating Rate Loan would otherwise have been made, each Bank
severally agrees that it shall unconditionally and irrevocably, without regard
to the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, in lieu of deemed
disbursement of Loans, to the extent of such Bank's Commitment, purchase a
participating interest in each reimbursement amount. Each Bank will immediately
transfer to the Administrative Agent, in same day funds, the amount of its
participation. Each Bank shall share on a pro rata basis (calculated by
reference to its Commitment) in any interest which accrues thereon and in all
repayments thereof. If and to the extent that any Bank shall not have so made
the amount of such participating interest available to the Administrative Agent,
such Bank and the Borrowers severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each day
from the date of demand by the Administrative Agent until the date such amount
is paid to the Administrative Agent, at (x) in the case of the Borrowers, the
interest rate then applicable to Floating Rate Loans and (y) in the case of such
Bank, the Federal Funds Rate.

               (b)  The reimbursement obligation of the Borrowers under this
Section 3.3 shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall remain in
full force and effect until all obligations of the Borrowers to the Banks
hereunder shall have been satisfied, and such obligations of the Borrowers shall
not be affected, modified or impaired upon the happening of any event, including
without limitation, any of the following, whether or not with notice to, or the
consent of, any Borrower:

                    (i)    Any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter
of Credit or any documentation relating to any Letter of Credit or to any
transaction related in any way to such Letter of Credit (the "Letter of Credit
Documents");

                    (ii)   Any amendment, modification, waiver, consent, or any
substitution, exchange or release of or failure to perfect any interest in
collateral or security, with respect to any of the Letter of Credit Documents;

                    (iii)  The existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other
right which the Borrowers may have at any time against any beneficiary or any
transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any persons or entities for whom any such
beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), either Agent or any Bank or
any other person or entity, whether in connection with any of the Letter of
Credit Documents, the transactions contemplated herein or therein or any
unrelated transactions;

                    (iv)   Any draft or other statement or document presented
under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or
insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate
in any respect;

                    (v)    Payment by the Administrative Agent to the
beneficiary under any Letter of Credit against presentation of documents which
do not comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit, including failure of any
documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to such Letter of Credit;

                    (vi)   Any failure, omission, delay or lack on the part of
the either Agent or any Bank or any party to any of the Letter of Credit
Documents to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy conferred
upon either Agent, any Bank or any such party under this Agreement or any of the
Letter of Credit Documents, or any other acts or omissions on the part of either
Agent, any Bank or any such party;

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
                    (vii)  Any other event or circumstance that would, in the
absence of this clause, result in the release or discharge by operation of law
or otherwise of any Borrower from the performance or observance of any
obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Section 3.3.

No setoff, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any obligation or any
defense of any kind or nature which any of the Borrowers have or may have
against the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit shall be available hereunder to
the Borrowers against the Agent or any Bank.  Nothing in this Section 3.3 shall
limit the liability, if any, of the Banks to the Borrowers pursuant to Section
9.5, or the liability, if any, of the Agents to the Banks under Article VII of
this Agreement.

          3.4  Payment Method.  (a) All payments to be made by the Borrowers
               --------------                                                 
hereunder will be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Banks
in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 1:00 p.m. at the
principal office of the Administrative Agent specified in Section 9.2. Payments
received after 1:00 p.m. at the place for payment shall be deemed to be payments
made prior to 1:00 p.m. at the place for payment on the next succeeding Business
Day; provided that payments with respect to Swing Line Loans shall be made to
     --------
the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Bank. The Borrowers
hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to charge their accounts with the
Administrative Agent in order to cause timely payment of amounts due hereunder
to be made (subject to sufficient funds being available in such account for that
purpose).

               (b)  At the time of making each such payment, the Borrowers
shall, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, specify to
the Administrative Agent that Borrowing or other obligation of the Borrowers
hereunder to which such payment is to be applied. In the event that the
Borrowers fail to so specify the relevant obligation or if an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may apply such
payments as it may determine in its sole discretion.

               (c)  On the day such payments are deemed received, the
Administrative Agent shall remit to the Banks their pro rata shares of such
payments in immediately available funds to the Banks at their respective address
in the United States specified for notices pursuant to Section 9.2. In the case
of payments of principal and interest on any Borrowing, such pro rata shares
shall be determined with respect to each such Bank by the ratio which the
outstanding principal balance of its Loan included in such Borrowing bears to
the outstanding principal balance of the Loans of all of the Banks included in
such Borrowing, and in the case of fees paid pursuant to Section 2.3 and other
amounts payable hereunder (other than the closing fees payable pursuant to
Section 2.3(b), the Letter of Credit fees for the Administrative Agent pursuant
to Section 2.3(c), the Administrative Agent's fees payable pursuant to Section
2.3(d) and amounts payable to any Bank under Section 3.7), such pro rata shares
shall be determined with respect to each such Bank by the ratio which the
Commitment of such Bank bears to the Commitments of all the Banks.

          3.5  No Setoff or Deduction.  All payments of principal of and 
               ----------------------                                          
interest on the Loans and other amounts payable by the Borrowers hereunder shall
be made by the Borrowers without setoff or counterclaim, and, subject to the
next succeeding sentence, free and clear of, and without deduction or
withholding for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, fees, assessments, or other charges of whatever nature, imposed by any
governmental authority, or by any department, agency or other political
subdivision or taxing authority. If any such taxes, levies, imposts, duties,
fees, assessments or other charges are imposed, the Borrowers will pay such
additional amounts as may be necessary so that payment of principal of and
interest on the Loans and other amounts payable hereunder, after withholding or
deduction for or on account thereof, will not be less than any amount provided
to be paid hereunder and, in any such case, the Borrowers will furnish to the
Banks certified copies of all tax receipts evidencing the payment of such
amounts within 45 days after the date any such payment is due pursuant to
applicable law.

          3.6  Payment on Non-Business Day; Payment Computations. Except as
               -------------------------------------------------              
otherwise provided in this Agreement to the contrary, whenever any installment
of principal of, or interest on, any Loan or any other amount due hereunder
becomes due and payable on a day which is not a Business Day, the maturity
thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, in the case
of any installment of principal, interest shall be payable thereon at the rate
per annum determined in accordance with this Agreement during such extension.

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
Computations of interest and other amounts due under this Agreement shall be
made on the basis of a year of 360 days (or 365 or 366 days, as the case may be,
when determining the Floating Rate) for the actual number of days elapsed,
including the first day but excluding the last day of the relevant period.

          3.7  Additional Costs.  (a) In the event that any applicable law,
               ----------------                                                 
treaty or other international agreement, rule or regulation (whether domestic or
foreign) now or hereafter in effect and whether or not presently applicable to
any Bank or either Agent, or any interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or compliance by any Bank or either Agent with any guideline, request
or directive of any such authority (whether or not having the force of law),
shall (i) affect the basis of taxation of payments to any Bank or either Agent
of any amounts payable by the Borrowers under this Agreement (other than taxes
imposed on the overall net income of any Bank or either Agent by the
jurisdiction, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such
jurisdiction, in which any Bank or either Agent, as the case may be, has its
principal office), or (ii) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve,
special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for
the account of, or credit extended by any Bank or either Agent, or (iii) shall
impose any other condition with respect to this Agreement, or any of the
Commitments, the Notes or the Loans or any Letter of Credit, and the result of
any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to any Bank or either Agent, as the
case may be, of making, funding or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan or any
Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum receivable by any Bank or
either Agent, as the case may be, thereon, then the Borrowers shall pay to such
Bank or such Agent, as the case may be, from time to time, upon request by such
Bank (with a copy of such request to be provided to the Administrative Agent) or
such Agent, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Bank or such Agent,
as the case may be, for such increased cost or reduced sum receivable to the
extent, in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Loan, such Bank or such Agent is not
compensated therefor in the computation of the interest rate applicable to such
Eurodollar Rate Loan. A statement as to the amount of such increased cost or
reduced sum receivable, prepared in good faith and in reasonable detail by such
Bank or such Agent, as the case may be, and submitted by such Bank or such
Agent, as the case may be, to the Borrowers, shall be conclusive and binding for
all purposes absent manifest error in computation.

               (b)  In the event that any applicable law, treaty or other
international agreement, rule or regulation (whether domestic or foreign) now or
hereafter in effect and whether or not presently applicable to any Bank or
either Agent, or any interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or compliance by any Bank or either Agent with any guideline, request
or directive of any such authority (whether or not having the force of law),
including any risk-based capital guidelines, affects or would affect the amount
of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Bank or such Agent (or
any corporation controlling such Bank or such Agent) and such Bank or such
Agent, as the case may be, determines that the amount of such capital is
increased by or based upon the existence of such Bank's or such Agent's
obligations hereunder and such increase has the effect of reducing the rate of
return on such Bank's or such Agent's (or such controlling corporation's)
capital as a consequence of such obligations hereunder to a level below that
which such Bank or such Agent (or such controlling corporation) could have
achieved but for such circumstances (taking into consideration its policies with
respect to capital adequacy), then the Borrowers shall pay to such Bank or such
Agent, as the case may be, from time to time, upon request by such Bank (with a
copy of such request to be provided to the Administrative Agent) or such Agent,
additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Bank or such Agent (or such
controlling corporation) for any increase in the amount of capital and reduced
rate of return which such Bank or such Agent reasonably determines to be
allocable to the existence of such Bank's or such Agent's obligations hereunder.
A statement as to the amount of such compensation, prepared in good faith and in
reasonable detail by such Bank or such Agent, as the case may be, and submitted
by such Bank or such Agent to the Company, shall be conclusive and binding for
all purposes absent manifest error in computation.

          3.8  Illegality and Impossibility. In the event that any applicable
               ----------------------------                                   
law, treaty or other international agreement, rule or regulation (whether
domestic or foreign) now or hereafter in effect and whether or not presently
applicable to any Bank, or any interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or compliance by any Bank with any guideline, request or directive of
such authority (whether or not having the force of law), including without
limitation exchange controls, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Bank
to maintain any Loan under this Agreement, the Borrowers shall upon receipt of
notice thereof from such Bank repay in full the then outstanding principal
amount

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
of each Loan so affected, together with all accrued interest thereon to the date
of payment and all amounts owing to such Bank under Section 3.9, (a) on the last
day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Loan if such Bank may
lawfully continue to maintain such Loan to such day, or (b) immediately if such
Bank may not continue to maintain such Loan to such day.

          3.9  Indemnification. If the Borrowers make any payment of principal 
               ---------------
with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan on any other date than the last day of
an Interest Period applicable thereto (whether pursuant to Section 3.8, Section
6.2, or in connection with any transaction contemplated by Section 9.1(d), or
otherwise), or if the Borrowers fail to borrow any Eurodollar Rate Loan after
notice has been given to the Banks in accordance with Section 2.4 or fail to
convert a Floating Rate Borrowing into, or to continue, a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing after making such election pursuant to Section 2.7, or if the
Borrowers fail to make any payment of principal or interest in respect of a
Eurodollar Rate Loan when due, the Borrowers shall reimburse each Bank on demand
for any resulting loss or expense incurred by each such Bank, including without
limitation any loss incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits
from third parties, whether or not such Bank shall have funded or committed to
fund such Loan. A statement as to the amount of such loss or expense, prepared
in good faith and in reasonable detail by such Bank and submitted by such Bank
to the Borrowers, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent
manifest error in computation. Calculation of all amounts payable to such Bank
under this Section 3.9 shall be made as though such Bank shall have actually
funded or committed to fund the relevant Eurodollar Rate Loan through the
purchase of an underlying deposit in an amount equal to the amount of such Loan
in the relevant market and having a maturity comparable to the related Interest
Period and through the transfer of such deposit to a domestic office of such
Bank in the United States; provided, however, that each Bank may fund any
                           --------  -------
Eurodollar Rate Loan in any manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumption
shall be utilized only for the purpose of calculation of amounts payable under
this Section 3.9.


                                  ARTICLE IV.
                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 
                        ------------------------------

          4.1  Original.  To induce the Agents and the Banks to enter into this
               --------                                                     
Agreement, each Borrower, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the
Agents and the Banks, as of the date hereof and, except as otherwise expressly
provided, as of all times (including, without limitation, as of the date each
Advance is requested and made) until the Termination Date and thereafter until
all Obligations under the Loan Documents are satisfied, as follows:

               (a)  Citation is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware; each Consolidated
Entity is a corporation or limited partnership, as the case may be, duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its state of
organization, each of Citation and the Consolidated Entities has the lawful
power to own its properties and to engage in the business it conducts, and is
duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation in the
jurisdictions wherein the nature of the business transacted by it or property
owned by it makes such qualification necessary; the states in which Citation and
each Consolidated Entity are qualified to do business are set forth in Schedule
                                                                       --------
4.1(a) annexed hereto, the addresses of all places of business and headquarters
------
of Citation and each Consolidated Entity are as set forth in Schedule 4.1(a)
                                                             ---------------
annexed hereto and the addresses of all places where any property or assets of
Citation and each Consolidated Entity are located and a brief description of the
nature of such property and assets at each such location are set forth in
Schedule 4.1(a) annexed hereto;
---------------

               (b)  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.1(b) annexed hereto,
                                           ---------------
neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity has used any corporate or
fictitious name other than the name for Citation or such Consolidated Entity, as
the case may be, as is used in this Agreement, which is the same as the name
shown, respectively, on Citation's and such Consolidated Entity's certificate or
articles of incorporation or certificate of limited partnership, as applicable,
through the date of filing of the last amendment thereto;

               (c)  None of the Borrowers is directly or indirectly controlled
by, or acting on behalf of, any Person which is an "Investment Company," within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
               (d)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity has been the
surviving corporation in a merger, acquired any business, or changed its
principal executive office within five (5) years and one (1) month prior to the
date hereof, except as set forth in Schedule 4.1(d) annexed hereto;
                                    ---------------                

               (e)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity is in default
with respect to any of its existing Indebtedness, and the making and performance
of this Agreement, the Notes, and the other Loan Documents will not
(immediately, or with the passage of time, the giving of notice, or both):

                    (1)  Violate the charter or by-law provisions or the
                         certificate of limited partnership or partnership
                         agreement or any similar document of any Borrower, or
                         violate any Law or result in a default under any
                         contract, agreement or instrument to which any Borrower
                         or any Consolidated Entity is a party or by which any
                         Borrower or any Consolidated Entity or its property is
                         bound; or

                    (2)  Result in the creation or imposition of any security
                         interest in, or lien or encumbrance upon, any of the
                         assets of any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity
                         except in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit
                         of the Banks and the Agents;

               (f)  Each Borrower has the power and authority to enter into and
perform this Agreement, the Notes, and the other Loan Documents, and to incur
the obligations herein and therein provided for, and has taken all corporate or
partnership, as the case may be, action necessary to authorize the execution,
delivery, and performance of this Agreement, the Notes, and the other Loan
Documents;

               (g)  This Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents are,
or when delivered will be, valid, binding, and enforceable in accordance with
their respective terms;

               (h)  The Security Documents, together with any UCC-1's and all
other documents filed in connection therewith, create as security for the
Obligations a valid and enforceable perfected first-priority security interest
in and lien on all of each Borrower's rights, title and interest in the
Collateral, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Banks and
the Agents, superior and prior to the rights of all third Persons and subject to
no other Liens;

               (i)  Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(i) annexed hereto, there
                                           ---------------
is no pending order, notice, claim, litigation, proceeding or investigation
against or affecting Citation or any Consolidated Entity whether or not covered
by insurance, that would involve the payment of $500,000 or more if adversely
determined;

               (j)  Each of Citation and the Consolidated Entities has good and
marketable title to all of its assets, including the Collateral, free of any
security interest, encumbrance or lien, or claim of any third person except for
Permitted Liens;

               (k)  The Financial Statements, including any schedules and notes
pertaining thereto, have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles consistently applied, and fully and fairly present the
financial condition of Citation and the Consolidated Entities at the dates
thereof and the results of operations for the periods covered thereby, except
that the interim Financial Statements may not include all footnotes required for
conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and there have been no
material adverse changes in the Consolidated financial condition or business of
Citation and the Consolidated Entities from the dates of the Financial
Statements to the date hereof;

               (l)  As of the date of the Financial Statements, Citation and the
Consolidated Entities had no material Indebtedness of any nature, including, but
without limitation, liabilities for taxes and any interest or penalties relating
thereto, except to the extent reflected (in a footnote or otherwise) and
reserved against in the Financial Statements or as disclosed in or permitted by
this Agreement; none of the Borrowers knows or has any

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
reasonable ground to know of any basis for the assertion against it or any
Consolidated Entity of any material Indebtedness of any nature not fully
reflected and reserved against in the Financial Statements;

               (m)  Except as otherwise permitted herein, each of Citation and
the Consolidated Entities has filed all federal, state and local tax returns and
other reports that it is required by Law to file prior to the date hereof and
which are material to the conduct of its businesses, has paid or caused to be
paid all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that are due and
payable prior to the date hereof, and has made adequate provision for the
payment of such taxes, assessments or other charges accruing but not yet
payable; none of the Borrowers has any knowledge of any deficiency or additional
assessment in a materially important amount in connection with any taxes,
assessments or charges not provided for on its books;

               (n)  Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 4.1(n) annexed
                                                     ---------------
hereto, or except to the extent that the failure to comply would not materially
interfere with the conduct of the business of Citation or any Consolidated
Entity, Citation and each Consolidated Entity has complied with all applicable
Laws with respect to:

                    (1)  Any restrictions, specifications, or other requirements
                         pertaining to products that Citation or any
                         Consolidated Entity manufactures or sells or to the
                         services that Citation or any Consolidated Entity
                         performs;
                      
                    (2)  The conduct of its businesses; and
                      
                    (3)  The use, maintenance and operation of the real and
                         personal properties owned or leased by it in the
                         conduct of its businesses;

               (o)  No representation or warranty by any Borrower contained
herein or in any other Loan Document or in any certificate or other document
furnished by any Borrower pursuant hereto contains any untrue statement of
material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make such
representation or warranty not misleading in light of the circumstances under
which it was made;

               (p)  Each consent, approval or authorization of, or filing,
registration or qualification with, any Person that is required to be obtained
or effected by Citation or any Consolidated Entity in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes, and the other Loan
Documents or the undertaking or performance of any obligation hereunder or
thereunder has been duly obtained or effected;

               (q)  All existing Indebtedness of each Borrower which, with
respect to any particular item, is in excess of $150,000:

                    (1)  For money borrowed; or

                    (2)  Under any security agreement, mortgage, or agreement
                         covering the lease by any Borrower as lessee of real or
                         personal property,

is described in the most recent Financial Statements furnished by the Borrowers
to the Administrative Agent;

               (r)  To the best of each Borrower's knowledge, all parties
(including each Borrower and each Consolidated Entity) to any material lease,
contract or commitment of any kind to which any Borrower or any other
Consolidated Entity is a party have complied with the provisions of such lease,
contract or commitment; no party is in default under any material lease,
contract, or other commitment thereof and no event has occurred which, but for
the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute a default
thereunder;

               (s)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity has made any
agreement or taken any action which may cause any Person to become entitled to a
commission or finder's fee as a result of the making of the Advances hereunder;

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
               (t)  Citation's Consolidated federal tax returns for all years of
operation prior to its fiscal year ended September 28, 1997 have been filed with
the Internal Revenue Service and have not been challenged; provided, however,
that said tax returns for the fiscal years ended October 3, 1993 and October 2,
1994 have been audited and the Internal Revenue Service has proposed adjustments
to taxable income for such years of $295,543 and $835,737, respectively, but
there has not to date been any final determination made with respect thereto;

               (u)  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(u) annexed hereto, with
                                           ---------------
regard to each Benefit Plan that any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate maintains
or contributes to, or has maintained or contributed to: (1) Any such Benefit
Plan that is a Pension Plan satisfies the minimum funding standards of Section
302 of ERISA; (2) there have been no Reportable Events (as defined in Section
4043 of ERISA) or Prohibited Transactions (as defined in Section 408 of ERISA)
with respect to any such Benefit Plan; (3) the Internal Revenue Service has not
issued a minimum funding waiver with respect to any such Benefit Plan that is a
Pension Plan; (4) none of such Benefit Plans is a multiemployer plan as defined
in Section 3(37) of ERISA; (5) each such Benefit Plan to which 4980B of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applies has been operated in
compliance therewith; (6) no such Benefit Plan provides benefits to employees
beyond retirement or other termination of employment other than benefits
required by Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and
(7) each such Benefit Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the
Code and ERISA;

               (v)  Schedule 4.1(v) annexed hereto correctly sets forth the
                    ---------------
corporate or partnership, as the case may be, name, the jurisdiction of
incorporation or partnership formation, as the case may be, and the ownership
(corporate stock or partnership interest, as the case may be) of Citation and
each Consolidated Entity. All outstanding shares of capital stock or partnership
interests of each class or type of each of Citation and the Consolidated
Entities have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and, in
the case of each such Consolidated Entity, are owned, beneficially and of
record, by Citation or another Consolidated Entity free and clear of any Liens.
Each Participating Subsidiary is a Consolidated Entity;

               (w)  Each Borrower owns or has the rights to use, pursuant to
written licenses, all patents, trademarks and copyrights used or employed in its
business and products; and

               (x)  No Borrower's Inventory is subject to any license agreement
relating to patents, trademarks or copyrights which could, directly or
indirectly, preclude or render impracticable the realization by Agent for the
benefit of the Banks of the value of such Inventory.

               (y)  Citation and the Consolidated Entities are in the process of
making a full and complete assessment of the Year 2000 Issues, which process
they reasonably expect to complete by December 31, 1998, and they have a
realistic and achievable program for remediating the Year 2000 Issues on a
timely basis (the "Year 2000 Program").  Based on such assessment and on the
Year 2000 Program the Borrowers do not reasonably anticipate that Year 2000
Issues will have a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets,
operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of Citation and the
Consolidated Entities on a consolidated basis, (ii) the ability of any Borrower
to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iii) the validity or
enforceability of any Loan Document or the rights or remedies of any Bank or
either Agent under any Loan Document.

          4.2  Survival. All of the representations and warranties set forth in
               --------                                                        
Section 4.1 shall survive until all Obligations are satisfied in full and there
remain no outstanding Commitments.


                                  ARTICLE V.
                             BORROWERS' COVENANTS 
                             --------------------

          Each Borrower does hereby, jointly and severally, covenant and agree
with the Agents and the Banks that, so long as any of the Obligations remains
unsatisfied or any Commitments remain outstanding, and thereafter until this
Agreement is terminated in writing, it will comply and it will cause the other
Borrowers and the Consolidated Entities to comply, at all times with the
following covenants:

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
          5.1  Affirmative Covenants. 
               ---------------------               

               (a)  Each Borrower will take and will cause each other
Consolidated Entity to take all necessary steps to preserve their respective
corporate or limited partnership, as the case may be, existence and franchises
and comply with all present and future Laws, applicable to it in the operation
of its businesses, and all material agreements to which it is subject.

               (b)  Each Borrower will use the proceeds of the Advances only for
the purposes set forth below in this Section 5.1(b), and will furnish to each
Bank such evidence as it may reasonably require with respect to such use. The
proceeds of the Advances shall be used by the Borrowers for general working
capital and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, to fund acquisitions.

               (c)  Citation will furnish to the Administrative Agent (and the
Administrative Agent will furnish copies thereof to the Banks):

                    (1)  Within three (3) Business Days after the initial
                         issuance of Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated
                         Notes Indenture, copies of all Subordinated Notes
                         Documents, certified as true and complete and in full
                         force and effect by the chief financial officer of
                         Citation.
                      
                    (2)  Within sixty (60) days after the close of each
                         quarterly accounting period in each fiscal year:

                         (i)    A Consolidated statement of Stockholders' Equity
                                and a Consolidated statement of Cash Flows of
                                Citation and the Consolidated Entities for such
                                quarterly period;
                            
                         (ii)   Consolidated and consolidating income statements
                                of Citation and the Consolidated Entities for
                                such quarterly period;

                         (iii)  Consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of
                                Citation and the Consolidated Entities as of the
                                end of such quarterly period all in reasonable
                                detail, subject to year-end audit adjustments
                                and certified by Citation's president or
                                principal financial officer as having been
                                prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted
                                Accounting Principles, consistently applied, by
                                Citation and the Consolidated Entities, except
                                for any inconsistencies explained in such
                                certificate to the satisfaction of the Required
                                Banks; and

                         (iv)   A Consolidated income statement for the period
                                of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Citation
                                ending with the end of such quarter, in each
                                case prepared for Citation and the Consolidated
                                Entities on a pro forma basis assuming that each
                                Consolidated Entity that was acquired by
                                Citation after the first day of such period (and
                                that exists as a Consolidated Entity at the end
                                of such period) was acquired on and as of the
                                first day of such period;

                    (3)  Within ninety (90) days after the close of each fiscal
                         year:

                         (i)    A Consolidated statement of Stockholders' Equity
                                and a Consolidated statement of Cash Flows of
                                Citation and the Consolidated Entities for such
                                fiscal year;

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
                         (ii)   Consolidated and consolidating income statements
                                of Citation and the Consolidated Entities for
                                such fiscal year; and

                         (iii)  Consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of
                                Citation and the Consolidated Entities as of the
                                end of such fiscal year;

                         all in reasonable detail, including all supporting
                         schedules and comments; the Consolidated statements and
                         balance sheets to be audited by an independent
                         certified public accountant selected by Citation and
                         acceptable to the Required Banks, and certified by such
                         accountants to have been prepared in accordance with
                         Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, consistently
                         applied, by Citation and the Consolidated Entities
                         except for any inconsistencies explained in such
                         certificate to the satisfaction of the Required Banks;
                         in addition, Citation will obtain from such independent
                         certified public accountants and deliver to the
                         Administrative Agent (and the Administrative Agent will
                         furnish copies thereof to the Banks), within ninety
                         (90) days after the close of each fiscal year, their
                         written statement that in making the examination
                         necessary to their certification they have obtained no
                         knowledge of any Event of Default by Citation or any
                         other Borrower, or disclosing all Events of Default of
                         which they have obtained knowledge; provided, however,
                                                             --------  ------- 
                         that in making their examination such accountants shall
                         not be required to go beyond the bounds of generally
                         accepted auditing procedures for the purpose of
                         certifying financial statements; Lender shall have the
                         right from time to time to discuss Citation's and each
                         Consolidated Entity's affairs directly with Citation's
                         independent certified public accountant after notice to
                         Citation and opportunity of Citation to be present at
                         any such discussions.

                    (4)  Contemporaneously with each quarterly and year-end
                         financial report required by the foregoing paragraphs,
                         a Compliance Certificate, wherein in addition to the
                         financial information reported in such Compliance
                         Certificate, the president or principal financial
                         officer of Citation shall certify that he has
                         individually reviewed the provisions of this Agreement
                         and that a review of the activities of Citation and the
                         Consolidated Entities during such year or quarterly
                         period, as the case may be, has been made by or under
                         the supervision of the signer of such certificate with
                         a view to determine whether each Borrower has kept,
                         observed, performed and fulfilled all its obligations
                         under this Agreement, and that, to the best of his
                         knowledge, each Borrower has observed and performed
                         each and every undertaking contained in this Agreement
                         and is not at the time in default in the observance or
                         performance of any of the terms and conditions hereof,
                         or specifying all such Defaults and Events of Default
                         of which he may have knowledge;
                      
                    (5)  Promptly after sending or making available or filing of
                         the same, copies of all reports, proxy statements and
                         financial statements that any Borrower sends or makes
                         available to its stockholders or other holders of
                         equity interests and all registration statements and
                         reports that any Borrower files with the Securities and
                         Exchange Commission or any successor Person;
                      
                    (6)  Together with the financial statements required under
                         Section 5.1(c)(2) and 5.1(c)(3), a certificate (the
                         "Margin Certificate") executed by the

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
                         chief financial officer, treasurer or chief executive
                         officer of Citation setting forth (a) the ratio of
                         Total Debt as of such fiscal quarter-end or year-end,
                         as the case may be, to Adjusted EBITDA for the period
                         of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such date
                         and (b) the computations used in calculating said
                         ratio;

                    (7)  Within thirty (30) days after the close of each fiscal
                         year, the budget of Citation and the Consolidated
                         Entities for the next following fiscal year; and
                      
                    (8)  Upon any Bank's request from time to time, copies of
                         any or all leases, contracts, or commitments of the
                         type referred to in Section 4.1(r) hereof.

               (d)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will maintain its
Inventory, Equipment, real estate and other properties in good condition and
repair (normal wear and tear excepted), and will pay and discharge, or cause to
be paid and discharged when due, the cost of repairs to or maintenance of the
same, and will pay or cause to be paid all rental or mortgage payments due on
such real estate. Borrowers hereby agree that, in the event they or any
Consolidated Entity fail to pay or cause to be paid any such payments, the
Administrative Agent may do so and on demand be reimbursed therefor by
Borrowers. In addition, Borrowers jointly and severally agree to reimburse the
Agents for any reasonable expenses incurred by either of them to protect and
preserve the Collateral pursuant to Section 8.5(c).

               (e)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will maintain, or
cause to be maintained, public liability insurance, and fire and extended
coverage insurance on all tangible assets owned by it, all in such form and
amounts as are consistent with industry practices and with such insurers as may
be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Each Borrower will furnish to the
Administrative Agent such evidence of insurance as the Administrative Agent may
require.

               (f)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will pay or cause to
be paid when due all taxes, assessments and charges or levies imposed upon it or
on any of its property or which it is required to withhold and pay over, except
where contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings with adequate reserves
therefor having been set aside on their books; provided, however, that Citation
                                               --------  -------
and each Consolidated Entity shall pay or cause to be paid all such taxes,
assessments, charges or levies forthwith whenever foreclosure on any lien that
attached (or security therefor) appears imminent.

               (g)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will, when requested
to do so, make available for inspection by the Administrative Agent's and each
Bank's duly authorized representatives any of its books and Records, and will
furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Bank any information regarding its
business affairs and financial condition within a reasonable time after written
request therefor. Each Borrower will, and will cause each Consolidated Entity
to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct
entries in all material respects shall be substantially in conformity with GAAP
and all requirements of Law shall be satisfied in all dealings and transactions
in relation to its business and activities. Each Borrower will, and will cause
each Consolidated Entity to, permit the Administrative Agent's and each Bank's
officers and designated representatives to visit and inspect, during normal
business hours, any of the properties of such Borrower or such Consolidated
Entity and to examine the books of account of such Borrower or such Consolidated
Entity and discuss the affairs, finances, accounts of such Borrower or such
Consolidated Entity with, and be advised as to the same by, its and their
officers, all at such reasonable times and intervals and to such reasonable
extent as the Administrative Agent or any Bank may from time to time request. In
connection with the foregoing, each of the Administrative Agent and the Banks
agrees to utilize such documents, materials and information solely and
exclusively in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and
the transactions contemplated therein and to exercise its best efforts to keep
all such documents, materials and information delivered or made available by
Borrowers confidential from anyone other than the Collateral Agent and Persons
employed or retained by the Administrative Agent, any such Bank or the
Collateral Agent, as the case may be, who are expected to be engaged

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
in evaluating, approving, structuring, and enforcing or administering this
Agreement; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the
           --------  -------                                       
Administrative Agent, any such Bank, the Collateral Agent or any such Persons
from disclosing such information;

                    (1)  to any actual or potential assignee or participant of
                         any Advance or Note; provided that such assignee or
                         participant shall be subject to this Section;
                      
                    (2)  upon order of any court or administrative agency after
                         it, to the extent practical, gives notice to Citation
                         pursuant to which Citation may seek a protective order
                         against such disclosure;
                      
                    (3)  upon request or demand of any regulatory agency or
                         authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative
                         Agent, such Bank or the Collateral Agent, as the case
                         may be;
                      
                    (4)  which has been publicly disclosed;
                      
                    (5)  in connection with any litigation;
                      
                    (6)  to the extent reasonably required in connection with
                         the exercise of any remedy hereunder; or
                      
                    (7)  to the Administrative Agent's, such Bank's or the
                         Collateral Agent's legal counsel and independent
                         auditors in connection with the Administrative Agent's,
                         such Bank's or the Collateral Agent's business.

               (h)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will collect their
respective Accounts and sell their respective Inventory only in the ordinary
course of business.

               (i)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will keep accurate and
complete Records of their respective Accounts, Inventory and Equipment,
consistent with sound business practices.

               (j)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will give immediate
notice to the Banks of:

                    (1)  Any litigation or proceeding in which it is a party if
                         an adverse decision therein would require it to pay
                         over more than $500,000 or deliver assets the value of
                         which exceeds such sum (whether or not the claim is
                         considered to be covered by insurance); and
                      
                    (2)  The institution of any other suit or proceeding
                         involving it that might materially and adversely affect
                         its operations, financial condition, property or
                         business prospects.

               (k)  Within ten (10) days of the Administrative Agent's or any
Bank's request therefor, each Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent
or such Bank, as the case may be, copies of federal income tax returns filed by
such Borrower.

               (l)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will pay when due (or
within applicable grace periods) all Indebtedness due third Persons, except when
the amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
and with adequate reserves therefor being set aside on the books of Citation and
each Consolidated Entity. If default is made by Citation or any Consolidated
Entity in the payment of any principal (or installment thereof) of, or interest
on, any such Indebtedness, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, in its

                                       36
<PAGE>
 
discretion, to pay such interest or principal for the account of Citation or
such Consolidated Entity and be reimbursed by Borrowers therefor.

               (m)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will notify the Banks
immediately if any of them becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of
Default or of any fact, condition or event that only with the giving of notice
or passage of time or both, could become an Event of Default, including, without
limitation any default under the Subordinated Notes Documents, or if they become
aware of any material adverse change in the business prospects, financial
condition (including, without limitation, proceedings in bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, or the appointment of a receiver or trustee), or results of
operations of Citation or any Consolidated Entity, or of the failure of Citation
or any Consolidated Entity to observe any of its undertakings hereunder or under
any of the Loan Documents.

               (n)  Citation and each Consolidated Entity will notify the
Administrative Agent thirty (30) days in advance of any change in the location
of any of its places of business or of the establishment of any new place of
business, or the discontinuance of any existing place of business.

               (o)  [intentionally omitted]

               (p)  Each Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate will:

                    (1)  Fund each of its Pension Plans, if any, in accordance
                         with no less than the minimum funding standards set
                         forth in Section 302 of ERISA;
                      
                    (2)  Furnish to the Banks, promptly after filing the same,
                         copies of all reports or statements filed with the
                         United States Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit
                         Guaranty Corporation, or the Internal Revenue Service
                         with respect to any Benefit Plans;
                      
                    (3)  Promptly advise the Banks of the occurrence of any
                         Reportable Event or Prohibited Transaction; each as
                         defined in ERISA, with respect to any Benefit Plan; and
                      
                    (4)  Promptly advise the Banks of the issuance of a funding
                         waiver by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to
                         any Pension Plan.

               (q)  If at any time Citation or any Consolidated Entity shall
enter into or be a party to any instrument or agreement, including all such
instruments or agreements in existence as of the date hereof and all such
instruments or agreements entered into after the date hereof, relating to or
amending any terms or conditions applicable to any of its Indebtedness or any
issuance or placement of its equity which includes covenants, terms, conditions
or defaults not substantially provided for in this Agreement or more favorable
to the holder or holders thereof than those provided for in this Agreement, then
Citation shall promptly so advise the Administrative Agent and the Banks.
Thereupon, if the Administrative Agent shall request, upon notice to Citation,
the Agents and the Banks shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement or an
additional agreement (as the Administrative Agent may request), providing for
substantially the same covenants, terms, conditions and defaults as those
provided for in such instrument or agreement to the extent required and as may
be selected by the Administrative Agent. In addition to the foregoing, upon the
initial issuance of Subordinated Notes, any covenants, terms, conditions or
defaults in the Subordinated Notes Documents not substantially provided for in
this Agreement or more favorable to the holders of the Subordinated Notes than
those provided for in this Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference into
this Agreement to the same extent as if set forth fully herein, and no
subsequent amendment, waiver or modification thereof shall effect any such
covenants, terms, conditions or defaults as incorporated herein.

               (r)  Citation and each Borrower shall take all such actions as
are reasonably necessary to successfully implement the Year 2000 Program and to
assure that Year 2000 Issues will not have a material adverse effect on (i) the
business, assets, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of Citation
and the

                                       37
<PAGE>
 
Consolidated Entities on a consolidated basis, (ii) the ability of any Borrower
to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iii) the validity or
enforceability of any Loan Document or the rights or remedies of any Bank or
either Agent under any Loan Document.  At the request of the Administrative
Agent or any Bank, Citation will provide a description of the Year 2000 Program,
together with any updates or progress reports with respect thereto.

               (s)  All representations and warranties of the Borrowers
contained in the Subordinated Notes Documents shall be true and correct in all
material respects when made or deemed made. All Obligations (as defined in this
Agreement) shall be "Senior Debt" and "Designated Senior Debt" as such terms are
defined, respectively in the final Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum and
the Subordinated Notes Indenture. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents
shall be the "Credit Agreement" as such term is defined in the final
Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum and the Subordinated Notes Indenture.
Other than the Obligations (as defined in this Agreement) and other Indebtedness
permitted under Section 5.2(h), there shall be no "Senior Debt" as such term is
defined in the final Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum and the Subordinated
Notes Indenture. Other than the Obligations (as defined in this Agreement),
there shall be no "Designated Senior Debt" as such term is defined in the final
Subordinated Notes Offering Memorandum and the Subordinated Notes Indenture.

          5.2  Negative Covenants.
               ------------------                        

               (a)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will enter into
any merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, enter into any
joint venture or similar arrangement, reclassify its capital stock, liquidate or
dissolve or, unless Citation shall have given not less than thirty (30) days
prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and furnished to the
Administrative Agent all further instruments and documents, including, without
limitation, UCC financing statement amendments, and taken all further action
that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Administrative Agent may
request, in order to preserve the effectiveness and perfected status of the
liens and security interests of the Agents and the Banks with respect to the
Collateral, change its name; provided that this Section 5.2(a) shall not
                             --------
prohibit any merger of a Consolidated Entity completed as part of a transaction
permitted under Section 5.2(r).

               (b)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will sell,
transfer, lease, assign or otherwise dispose of all or (except inventory in the
ordinary course of business) any material part of its assets, provided, however,
                                                              --------  -------
that this Section 5.2(b) shall not prohibit (i) any such sale, transfer, lease
or other disposition if the aggregate book value (disregarding any write-downs
of such book value other than ordinary depreciation and amortization) of all of
the business, assets, rights, revenues and property disposed of by Citation and
the Consolidated Entities during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months
ending after the date of this Agreement shall be less than the amount equal to
5% of the Total Assets of Citation and the Consolidated Entities determined on a
consolidated basis as of the end of such twelve-month period or (ii) any
Qualified Receivables Transaction so long as the aggregate Maximum Funding
Amount with respect to all such Qualified Receivables Transactions does not
exceed $100,000,000 at any time, provided, further, that immediately before and
                                 --------  -------
after any such transaction described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, no Default
or Event of Default shall exist or shall have occurred and be continuing.

               (c)  Except as permitted under Section 5.2(b), neither Citation
nor any Consolidated Entity will sell, or enter into any agreement to sell, any
of its Accounts.

               (d)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will sell,
lease, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral.

               (e)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will sell, or
otherwise dispose of, or for any reason cease operating, any of its divisions,
franchises, or lines of business.

               (f)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will mortgage,
pledge, or grant or permit to exist a security interest in or lien upon any of
its assets of any kind, now owned or hereafter acquired, except for Permitted
Liens.

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
               (g)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will incur any
Contingent Liabilities, except for (i) the endorsement of commercial paper for
deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred purchase
price obligations, including without limitation pursuant to earn-out provisions,
incurred as part of acquisitions permitted under Section 5.2(r), (iii) the
guarantee by Citation of obligations of Participating Subsidiaries permitted
under this Agreement, (iv) Standard Securitization Undertakings in connection
with Qualified Receivables Transactions permitted under clause (ii) of Section
5.2(b), and (v) guarantees of Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to and in
accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Notes Documents.

               (h)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will incur,
create, assume, or permit to exist any Indebtedness except:

                    (1)  The Advances;

                    (2)  Subordinated Indebtedness under the Subordinated Notes
                         in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding
                         $200,000,000;
                      
                    (3)  Indebtedness to Persons other than the Banks which is
                         existing on the date of this Agreement and, in the case
                         of any such Indebtedness in excess of $500,000, is
                         listed on Schedule 5.2(h) annexed hereto;
                      
                    (4)  Trade indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of
                         business;
                      
                    (5)  Contingent Liabilities permitted by Section 5.2(g);
                      
                    (6)  Indebtedness not to exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate
                         which is unsecured or secured by Permitted Liens;
                      
                    (7)  Lease obligations permitted by Section 5.2(m);

                    (8)  Hedging Contracts;

                    (9)  Purchase money Indebtedness of any person acquired by
                         Citation, provided that such purchase money
                         Indebtedness was existing at the time of such
                         acquisition and not created in contemplation thereof
                         and such purchase money Indebtedness was incurred to
                         acquire fixed assets;
                       
                    (10) Indebtedness of any Participating Subsidiary owing to
                         Citation or to any other Participating Subsidiary;
                       
                    (11) The following Indebtedness of Interstate Forging
                         Industries, Inc. ("Interstate") to M&I Bank, provided
                         that no extension or renewal thereof shall be
                         permitted:  term loan in the principal amount of
                         $5,600,000, reducing by $200,000 each quarter, maturing
                         March 31, 1999;
                       
                    (12) Indebtedness of any Receivables Subsidiary to Citation
                         or any other Seller under any Purchase Money Notes in
                         connection with Qualified Receivables Transactions
                         permitted under clause (ii) of Section 5.2(b); and
                       
                    (13) Receivables Program Obligations described under clause
                         (a) of the definition of such term of Special Purpose
                         Vehicles, and Receivables Program Obligations described
                         under clause (b) of the definition of such term of
                         Citation and the Consolidated Entities, provided in
                                                                 --------   
                         each case

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
                         such Receivables Program Obligations relate solely to
                         Qualified Receivables Transactions permitted under
                         clause (ii) of Section 5.2(b).

               (i)  Except as permitted under Section 5.2(b), neither Citation
nor any Consolidated Entity will make any assignment or transfer of Accounts,
Chattel Paper or Equipment, or, other than in the ordinary course of business,
of Inventory.

               (j)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will (i) form
or acquire any Subsidiary that would be used to acquire the assets of or to
substantially succeed to the operations of any of their respective divisions or
(ii) except as permitted under Section 5.2(r), 5.2(n) or 5.2(k), without the
prior written consent of the Required Banks in their sole discretion, make any
investment in or loan to any Person, including, without limitation, any
Subsidiary; provided, however, that (A) no such action described in clause (i)
            --------  -------
of this Section 5.2(j) taken in connection with any restructuring of any
Subsidiaries or divisions of Citation or any Consolidated Entity for tax or
other legal reasons shall be prohibited by this Section 5.2(j) provided that
such formed or acquired Subsidiary is a Domestic Subsidiary and satisfies the
requirements for, and becomes, a Participating Subsidiary in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement and (B) this Section 5.2(j) shall not prohibit the
formation of Receivables Subsidiaries and Special Purpose Vehicles for Qualified
Receivables Transactions permitted under clause (ii) of Section 5.2(b).

               (k)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will make any
loan or advance to any officer, shareholder, director or employee of Citation or
any Consolidated Entity except for business travel and similar temporary
advances in the ordinary course of business.

               (l)  Citation will not declare or pay any dividends, or make any
other payments or distributions on account of its capital stock, which exceed in
the aggregate for all such dividends, payments and distributions in any fiscal
year an amount equal to 10% of Citation's net income, determined in accordance
with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, for the immediately preceding
fiscal year; provided, however, that no dividends or other such payments shall
             --------  -------
be made by Citation at any time that the ratio of Total Debt, as determined as
of the end of the latest fiscal quarter of Citation for which a Compliance
Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c)(4), to Adjusted EBITDA
for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with such quarter end
is greater than 2.5 to 1.0. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
this Section 5.2(l) shall not prohibit a distribution to Citation's former S
Corporation stockholders relating to a determination, due to an Internal Revenue
Service audit, that Citation's taxable income for any period prior to the
termination of its former S Corporation status should be increased.

               (m)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will pay, in an
aggregate amount in any fiscal year (commencing with the current fiscal year),
lease obligations in excess of $5,000,000.  As used in this paragraph, the term
"lease" means a lease that is not reflected on a Consolidated balance sheet of
Citation and the Consolidated Entities and should not be so reflected under
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

               (n)  Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will purchase
or otherwise invest in or hold securities, non-operating real estate or other
non-operating assets, or otherwise make any investment in, or loan or advance
to, any Person, or enter into any joint venture or similar arrangement with any
other Person, except:

                    (1)  Direct obligations of the United States of America;
                      
                    (2)  Operating assets that hereafter become nonoperating
                         assets; and
                      
                    (3)  Other investments and loans, including, without
                         limitation, investments in joint ventures, in an
                         aggregate amount not exceeding at any time 7.5% of the
                         Total Assets of Citation and the Consolidated Entities
                         determined on a consolidated basis as of such time;

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
provided that investments in Subsidiaries that satisfy the requirements for, and
--------                                                                        
become, Participating Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, and with respect to which the capital stock and other ownership
interests in which that are owned, directly or indirectly, by Citation are
pledged to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agent and the Banks,
shall not be counted for purposes of the limit under the foregoing clause (3),
and this Section 5.2(n) shall not prohibit (i) the creation by Citation and the
Consolidated Entities of Receivables Subsidiaries, the creation by Receivables
Subsidiaries of Special Purpose Vehicles or the incurrence by Citation and the
Consolidated Entities of Standard Securitization Undertakings, in each case
solely in connection with Qualified Receivables Transactions permitted under
clause (ii) of Section 5.2(b), (ii) loans and advances between Citation and any
Participating Subsidiary or between any Participating Subsidiary and any other
Participating Subsidiary or (iii) loans or advances by Citation and the
Consolidated Entities to Receivables Subsidiaries evidenced by Purchase Money
Notes in connection with Qualified Receivables Transactions permitted under
clause (ii) of Section 5.2(b).

     (o) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will redeem, purchase or
retire any of its capital stock or partnership or other ownership interests or
grant or issue any warrant, right or option pertaining thereto or other security
convertible into any of the foregoing, or permit any redemption or retirement of
the outstanding capital stock or partnership or other ownership interests of
Citation or of any Consolidated Entity.  No Consolidated Entity will issue any
capital stock or partnership or other ownership interests or grant or issue any
warrant, right or option pertaining thereto or other security convertible into
any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, this Section 5.2(o) shall not prohibit the transactions of Citation
and the Consolidated Entities in the ordinary course of business under, and in
accordance with the terms of, the following: (i) Citation Corporation 1994
Incentive Award Plan; (ii) Citation Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan;
(iii) Citation Corporation Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan For Non-Employee
Directors; (iv) Citation Corporation Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors; (v)
401(k) plans for Citation and numerous of the Consolidated Entities (in all of
which participants may invest elective deferral accounts and employer matching
contribution accounts in Citation stock); and (vi) other plans established from
time to time by Citation and the Consolidated Entities that are reasonably
determined by the Administrative Agent to be of a similar nature to those
described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(v), provided that, prior to the
establishment of any such plan, Citation furnishes to the Administrative Agent
such information about such plan and copies of such documents relating thereto
as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request for the purpose of making the
determination required under this clause (vi).

     (p) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will (i) directly or
indirectly, make, or permit to be made any optional payment, or any optional or
mandatory prepayment, redemption or repurchase of any of its Indebtedness,
excluding the Obligations, but including, without limitation, all Subordinated
Indebtedness, and including, without limitation, the Subordinated Notes and any
repurchase thereof upon the occurrence of any "Change of Control" or "Change of
Control Triggering Event" (as such terms are defined in the final Subordinated
Notes Offering Memorandum and the Subordinated Notes Indenture), or (ii) amend
or modify, or consent or agree to any amendment or modification of, any
instrument or agreement under which any of its Subordinated Indebtedness is
issued or created or otherwise related thereto, including, without limitation,
the Subordinated Notes Documents, or (iii) enter into any agreement or
arrangement providing for the defeasance of any of its Subordinated
Indebtedness, or (iv) designate any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) as
"Designated Senior Debt" under the Subordinated Notes Documents; provided,
however, that amendments, modifications, refinancings and other alterations
thereof shall be permitted if no more restrictive covenants or terms are imposed
thereby, including without limitation any shorter maturities, increased rates or
fees or more restrictive covenants or defaults, and the subordination provisions
of such Indebtedness are not rendered less favorable to the Banks and Agents
thereby, as determined by the Required Banks in their sole discretion.

     (q) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will enter into any sale-
leaseback transaction.

     (r) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will acquire any stock in,
or acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, any Person, whether by
purchase, merger, consolidation or other means, (1) if any Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing or would exist after giving effect to
such transaction or be caused thereby, (2) in the case of any such stock
acquisition, if such Consolidated Entity is a Foreign Subsidiary and the
acquired person would be a Foreign Subsidiary or (3) in the case of any
transaction or

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
series of related transactions for which the aggregate Total Consideration would
exceed $25,000,000, without furnishing to the Administrative Agent (and the
Administrative Agent will furnish copies thereof to the Banks), at least 10 days
prior thereto, the following, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent:  (i) historical financial information on the entity or
assets to be acquired and (ii) pro forma financial statements after giving
effect to the acquisition, and showing that no Event of Default or Default would
exist after giving effect to such acquisition or be caused thereby; provided
                                                                    --------
that this Section 5.2(r) shall not prohibit the creation by Citation and the
Consolidated Entities of Receivables Subsidiaries or the creation by Receivables
Subsidiaries of Special Purpose Vehicles, in each case solely in connection with
Qualified Receivables Transactions permitted under clause (ii) of Section
5.2(b).  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.2(r) to the contrary,
without the prior written consent of the Required Banks, neither Citation nor
any Consolidated Entity will acquire any stock in, or acquire all or
substantially all of the assets of, any Person, whether by purchase, merger,
consolidation or other means, in any transaction or series of related
transactions for which the aggregate Total Consideration would exceed
$100,000,000.

     (s) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will furnish to either
Agent or any Bank any certificate or other document that will contain any untrue
statement of material fact or that will omit to state a material fact necessary
to make it not misleading in light of the circumstances under which it was
furnished.

     (t) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will directly or
indirectly apply any part of the proceeds of the Advances to the purchasing or
carrying of any "margin stock" within the meaning of Regulation U or any
regulations, interpretations or rulings thereunder.

     (u) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will enter into any
transaction or series of transactions where any Affiliate, officer, director or
shareholder of Citation or a Consolidated Entity, or any family member or
Affiliate of the foregoing, is a counter-party to such transaction except for
such transactions as are entered into on terms that would otherwise be available
with unaffiliated Persons on an "arms-length" basis.

     (v) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will enter into any
agreement whereby title to any of Citation's or any Consolidated Entity's
inventory passes to any transferee prior to delivery by Citation or such
Consolidated Entity

     (w) Citation and the Consolidated Entities will not incur during any Fiscal
Year on an aggregate basis Capital Expenditures (exclusive of acquisitions
permitted under Section 5.2(r)) exceeding 200% of the annual depreciation and
amortization expense of Citation and the Consolidated Entities for such fiscal
year; provided that for any Consolidated Entity that was acquired by Citation or
      --------                                                                  
another Consolidated Entity during such fiscal year, for purposes of this
covenant the acquired Consolidated Entity's depreciation expense for such fiscal
year shall be deemed to have been equal to its depreciation expense for its last
complete fiscal year prior to such acquisition.

     (x) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will enter into any
private placement of any of its debt or equity with any Persons other than all
the Banks unless the covenants contained in the agreements for any such private
placement are less restrictive on Citation and the Consolidated Entities than
those contained in this Agreement.

     (y) Neither Citation nor any Consolidated Entity will enter into any
agreement with any Person other than the Banks pursuant hereto which prohibits
or limits the ability of Citation or any Consolidated Entity to create, incur,
assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its assets, rights, revenues or
property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Banks.

 

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
5.3  Financial Covenants. Citation will maintain at all times:
     -------------------                                                       

                      (a)  A ratio of Total Debt as of the end of any fiscal
quarter to Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters
ending with such quarter end of not more than 3.5 to 1.00; provided that as of
any fiscal quarter end as of which Citation shall have Indebtedness of at least
$100,000,000 in aggregate outstanding principal amount under the Subordinated
Notes, such ratio may be maintained at not more than 4.00 to 1.00.

                      (b)  Fixed Charge Coverage of not less than 2.0 to 1.0.

                      (c)  Stockholders' Equity of not less than the sum of (i)
$157,000,000, plus (ii) 50% of Consolidated Net Income after taxes for the
period commencing July 1, 1998 through the end of the then most recently
completed fiscal quarter of Citation (but without reduction for any net loss
incurred for any fiscal quarter during such period), plus (iii) 100% of the net
proceeds received after June 30, 1998 by Citation and the Consolidated Entities
from the sale of any capital stock or other equity securities of or other equity
interests in Citation or any of the Consolidated Entities, including, without
limitation, securities exchangeable or convertible into such capital stock or
other equity securities or equity interests, and including, without limitation,
warrants, rights and other options to purchase or otherwise acquire such capital
stock or other equity securities or equity interests.

     5.4  Interpretation and Consolidation. Except as otherwise expressly
          --------------------------------
provided in this Article V, each Borrower shall also cause and require each of
the Consolidated Entities to observe and perform the covenants and agreements of
this Article V that are to be observed and performed by such Borrower,
regardless of whether any such covenant expressly refers to the Consolidated
Entities. All financial covenants set forth in Section 5.3 shall be computed
only on a Consolidated basis for Citation and the Consolidated Entities. In
addition, all calculations required to be made in connection with any numerical
or dollar limitations set forth in this Article V shall be made only on a
combined or Consolidated basis for Citation and the Consolidated Entities, in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, but after elimination
of intercompany items.

                                  ARTICLE VI.
                                    DEFAULT
                                    -------                     

     6.1  Events of Default.  The occurrence of any one or more of the following
          -----------------
events shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder:

          (a) Any Borrower shall fail to pay when due any installment of
principal under the Loans, any reimbursement obligation in respect of drawings
on the Letters of Credit, or any interest or fee payable under this Agreement,
any Security Document or any other Loan Document.

          (b) (1)  Any Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any of its
                   covenants contained in Sections 5.1(a), 5.2(a) or 5.3; or

              (2)  Any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity shall fail to observe
                   or perform any other obligation to be observed or performed
                   by it hereunder, or under the Notes or under any of the other
                   Loan Documents, and such failure shall continue for five (5)
                   days after the earlier of: (i) notice (either written or
                   verbal) of such failure from the Administrative Agent to
                   Citation; or (ii) the Banks are notified or should have been
                   notified of such failure pursuant to the provisions of
                   Section 5.1(m).

          (c) Any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity shall (1) fail to pay when
due any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement) to either
Agent or any Bank; (2) fail to pay any Indebtedness due any third Persons and
such failure shall continue beyond any applicable grace period; or (3) default

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
under any agreement binding such Borrower or such Consolidated Entity with
respect to any Indebtedness owing to either Agent or any Bank (other than
Indebtedness hereunder) or any third Persons if the effect of such default is to
permit the holder of such Indebtedness to accelerate the maturity date thereof
(or take any other action which would have the practical effect of the foregoing
action, including, without limitation, any "put" of such Indebtedness).

          (d) Any financial statement, representation, warranty or certificate
made or furnished by any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity to either Agent or
any Bank in connection with this Agreement, or as inducement to either Agent or
any Bank to enter into this Agreement, or in any separate statement or document
to be delivered hereunder to either  Agent or the Banks: (1) shall be materially
false, incorrect, or incomplete when made; or (2) shall become materially false
or incorrect and remain so for ten (10) days after the earlier of: (1) notice
(either written or verbal) from the Administrative Agent to Citation; or (2) the
Banks are notified or should have been notified pursuant to the provisions of
Section 5.1(m).

          (e) Any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity shall admit its inability
to pay its debts as they mature, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of
itself or any of its creditors.

          (f) Any proceeding in bankruptcy, or for reorganization, of any
Borrower or any Consolidated Entity or for the readjustment of any of their
respective debts, under the Bankruptcy Code, or any part thereof, or under any
other Law, whether state or federal, for the relief of debtors, now or hereafter
existing, shall be commenced by any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity or shall
be commenced against any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity and shall not be
discharged within thirty (30) days of its commencement.

          (g) A receiver, trustee or conservator shall be appointed for any
Borrower or any Consolidated Entity or for any substantial part of their
respective assets, or any proceeding shall be instituted for the dissolution or
the full or partial liquidation of any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity and
such receiver, trustee or conservator shall not be discharged within thirty (30)
days of his appointment, or such proceeding shall not be discharged within
thirty (30) days of its commencement, or any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity
shall discontinue business or materially change the nature of its business.

          (h) Any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity shall suffer final
judgments for payment of money aggregating in excess of $500,000 and shall not
discharge the same within a period of thirty (30) days unless, pending further
proceedings, execution has been effectively stayed.

          (i) A creditor of any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity shall obtain
possession of any of the Collateral by any means, including, without limitation,
levy, distraint, replevin or self-help.

          (j) The validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Note, or any
of the other Loan Documents shall be contested by any Borrower or any
Consolidated Entity or any of them shall deny that it has any or further
liability or obligation hereunder or thereunder.

          (k) Any Pension Plan shall fail to meet the minimum funding standards
of Section 302 of ERISA as now in effect or hereafter amended; any Pension Plan
shall be involuntarily terminated or shall be terminated in a "distress
termination," as described in ERISA Section 4041(c); or any Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate shall become a participating employer with respect to any
"multiemployer plan" (as defined in ERISA Section 3(37)) without the prior
written consent of the Required Banks.

          (l) A criminal investigation is commenced with respect to any
Borrower or any Consolidated Entity.

          (m) Any property of any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity is seized
by a governmental authority, or a forfeiture proceeding is commenced against any
Borrower or any Consolidated Entity or any property of any Borrower, or any
Consolidated Entity.

                                       44
<PAGE>
 
          (n) Any default or event of default shall occur under any of the
Security Documents or other Loan Documents.

          (o) Any Change in Control shall occur.

          (p) Any "Event of Default" (as defined in the Subordinated Notes
Documents) shall have occurred and be continuing, or any provision of the
subordination terms under the Subordinated Notes Documents shall at any time for
any reason cease to be valid and binding and enforceable against Citation, any
other Borrower, any holder of the Subordinated Notes or the Trust under the
Indenture, as applicable, or the validity, binding effect or enforceability
thereof shall be contested by any such Person or any such Person shall deny that
it has any or further liability or obligation thereunder, or any provision of
the subordination terms under any Subordinated Notes Document shall be
terminated, invalidated or set aside, or be declared ineffective or inoperative
or in any way cease to give or provide to the Banks and the Agents the benefits
purported to be created thereby.

   6.2  Remedies.
        --------              

        (a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default, the Administrative Agent may and, upon being directed to do so by the
Required Banks, shall by notice to Citation (i) terminate the Commitments or
(ii) declare the outstanding principal of, and accrued interest on, the Notes,
all unpaid reimbursement obligations in respect of drawings under Letters of
Credit and all other amounts owing under this Agreement to be immediately due
and payable, or (iii) demand immediate delivery of cash collateral, and the
Borrowers agree to deliver such cash collateral upon demand, in an amount equal
to the maximum amount that may be available to be drawn at any time prior to the
stated expiry of all outstanding Letters of Credit, or any one or more of the
foregoing, whereupon the Commitments shall terminate forthwith and all such
amounts, including such cash collateral, shall become immediately due and
payable, provided that in the case of any event or condition described in
         --------                                                        
Section 6.1(e), (f) or (g) with respect to any Borrower, the Commitments shall
automatically terminate forthwith and all such amounts, including such cash
collateral, shall automatically become immediately due and payable without
notice; in all cases without demand, presentment, protest, diligence, notice of
dishonor or other formality, all of which are hereby expressly waived.  Such
cash collateral delivered in respect of outstanding Letters of Credit shall be
deposited in a special cash collateral account to be held by the Administrative
Agent as collateral security for the payment and performance of the Borrowers'
obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to the Banks and
the Agents.

        (b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent may and, upon being directed to
do so by the Required Banks, shall, and the Collateral Agent, upon being
directed to do so by the Administrative Agent, shall, in addition to the
remedies provided in Section 6.2(a), exercise and enforce any and all other
rights and remedies available to them, whether arising under this Agreement, the
Notes or any Security Document or under applicable law, in any manner deemed
appropriate by such Agent, including suit in equity, action at law, or other
appropriate proceedings, whether for the specific performance (to the extent
permitted by law) of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or in
the Notes or any Security Document or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted in this Agreement, the Notes or any Security Document.  Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Agents may immediately, without
demand of performance and without other notice (except as specifically required
by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or as required by Law and which
cannot be waived) or demand whatsoever to Borrowers, all of which are hereby
expressly waived, and without advertisement, sell at public or private sale or
otherwise realize upon, the whole or, from time to time, any part of the
Collateral, or any interest which any Borrower may have therein. The Agents
shall apply the proceeds of sale or other disposition of the Collateral toward
the satisfaction of the Obligations in accordance with Section 6.3. Notice of
any sale or other disposition shall be given to Citation on behalf of the
Borrowers at least five (5) days before the time of any intended public sale or
of the time after which any intended private sale or other disposition of the
Collateral is to be made, which each Borrower hereby agrees shall be reasonable
notice of such sale or other disposition. Borrowers shall be jointly and
severally liable for any deficiency.  At any such sale or other disposition,
either Agent or any Bank may, to the extent permissible under applicable Law,
purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral, free from any right of
redemption on the part of any Borrower, which right is hereby waived and

                                       45
<PAGE>
 
released. Without limiting the generality of any of the rights and remedies
conferred upon the Agents and the Banks under this paragraph, to the extent
applicable to the Collateral, the Agents may, to the full extent permitted by
applicable Law:

               (1)       Enter upon any Borrower's premises, exclude therefrom
                         any Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, and take
                         immediate possession of the Collateral, either
                         personally or by means of a receiver appointed by a
                         court of competent jurisdiction, using all necessary
                         force to do so;

               (2)       At the Administrative Agent's option, use, operate,
                         manage and control the Collateral in any lawful manner;

               (3)       Collect and receive all rents, income, revenue,
                         earnings, issues and profits therefrom; and

               (4)       Maintain, repair, renovate, alter or remove the
                         Collateral as the Administrative Agent may determine in
                         its discretion.

          (c)  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default, each Bank may at any time and from time to time, without notice to any
Borrower (any requirement for such notice being expressly waived by each
Borrower) set off and apply against any and all of the obligations of the
Borrowers now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, whether owing to such
Bank or any other Bank or either Agent, any and all deposits (general or
special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other
indebtedness at any time owing by such Bank to or for the credit or the account
of any Borrower and any property of any Borrower from time to time in possession
of such Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Bank shall have made any
demand hereunder and although such obligations may be contingent and unmatured.
The rights of such Bank under this Section 6.2(c) are in addition to other
rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of setoff)
which such Bank may have.

      6.3  Distribution of Proceeds of Collateral. All proceeds received by
           --------------------------------------
either Agent pursuant to the Security Documents for application to the
Obligations or any payments on any of the liabilities secured by the Security
Documents received by either Agent or any Bank upon and during the continuance
of any Event of Default, including, without limitation, pursuant to the exercise
of rights of setoff, shall be allocated and distributed as follows:

           (a) First, to the payment of all costs, expenses and fees, including
without limitation all attorneys' fees, of each Agent in connection with the
enforcement of the Security Documents and otherwise administering this
Agreement;

           (b) Second, to the payment of all costs, expenses and fees, including
without limitation, commitment fees and attorneys' fees, owing to the Banks
pursuant to the Obligations on a pro rata basis in accordance with the
Obligations consisting of fees, costs and expenses owing to the Banks under the
Obligations, for application to payment of such liabilities;

           (c) Third, to the Banks on a pro rata basis in accordance with the
Obligations consisting of interest under the Loan Documents and termination
payments under Hedging Contracts owing to the Banks under the Obligations, for
application to payment of such liabilities;

           (d) Fourth, to the Banks and the Administrative Agent on a pro rata
basis in accordance with the Obligations consisting of principal and
reimbursement obligations pursuant to Letters of Credit (including without
limitation any cash collateral for any outstanding Letters of Credit) owing to
the Banks and the Administrative Agent under the Obligations, for application to
payment of such liabilities;

                                       46
<PAGE>
 
           (e) Fifth, to the payment of any and all other amounts owing to the
Banks and the Agents on a pro rata basis in accordance with the total amount of
such Indebtedness owing to each of the Banks and the Agents, for application to
payment of such liabilities; and

           (f) Sixth, to the Borrowers or such other person as may be legally
entitled thereto.

      6.4  Letter of Credit Liabilities. For the purposes of payments and
           ----------------------------
distributions under Section 6.3, the full amount of Bank Obligations on account
of any Letter of Credit then outstanding but not drawn upon shall be deemed to
be then due and owing. Amounts distributable to the Banks on account of such
Bank Obligations under such Letter of Credit shall be deposited in a separate
interest bearing collateral account in the name of and under the control of the
Administrative Agent and held by the Administrative Agent first as security for
such Letter of Credit Obligations and then as security for all other Bank
Obligations and the amount so deposited shall be applied to the Letter of Credit
Obligations at such times and to the extent that such Letter of Credit
Obligations become absolute liabilities and if and to the extent that the Letter
of Credit Obligations fail to become absolute Bank Obligations because of the
expiration or termination of the underlying letters of credit without being
drawn upon then such amounts shall be applied to the remaining Bank Obligations
in the order provided in Section 6.3. Each Borrower hereby grants to the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Banks, a lien and security interest
in all such funds deposited in such separate interest bearing collateral
account, as security for all the Bank Obligations as set forth above.

                                  ARTICLE VII.
                           THE AGENTS AND THE BANKS
                           ------------------------

          7.1  Appointment and Authorization. Each Bank hereby irrevocably
               -----------------------------
appoints and authorizes each Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf
and to exercise such powers under this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan
Documents as are delegated to such Agent by the terms hereof or thereof,
together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, subject to
the further terms and conditions of this Agreement. The provisions of this
Article VII are solely for the benefit of the Agents and the Banks, and no
Borrower shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the
provisions hereof. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement,
each Agent shall act solely as agent of the Banks and does not assume and shall
not be deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or relationship of agency
or trust with or for any Borrower.

          7.2  Agents and Affiliates.  Each of First Chicago and SouthTrust in
               ---------------------
their respective capacity as a Bank hereunder shall have the same rights and
powers hereunder as any other Bank and may exercise or refrain from exercising
the same as though it were not an Agent. First Chicago and SouthTrust and their
respective affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any Bank)
accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of
banking, trust, financial advisory or other business with any Borrower or any of
their respective Subsidiaries as if it were not acting as an Agent hereunder,
and may accept fees and other consideration therefor without having to account
for the same to the Banks.

          7.3  Scope of Agents' Duties.  Neither Agent shall have any duties or
               -----------------------
responsibilities except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan
Documents, and neither Agent shall, by reason of this Agreement, have a
fiduciary relationship with any Bank, and no implied functions, covenants,
responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this
Agreement or shall otherwise be imposed upon or exist against either Agent. As
to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement (including, without
limitation, collection and enforcement action under the Notes and the Security
Documents), neither Agent shall be required to exercise any discretion or take
any action, but (a) the Administrative Agent shall either take such action or
omit to take any action pursuant to the reasonable written instructions of the
Required Banks and may request instructions from the Required Banks and (b) the
Collateral Agent shall either take such action or omit to take any action
pursuant to the reasonable instructions of the Administrative Agent and may
request instructions from the Administrative Agent. Each Agent shall in all
cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, pursuant to
the written instructions of the Required Banks (or all of the Banks, as the case
may be, in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement), which
instructions and any action or omission pursuant thereto shall be binding upon
all of the Banks; provided, however, that neither Agent shall be required to act
                  --------
or omit to act if, in 

                                       47
<PAGE>
 
the sole judgment of such Agent, such action or omission may expose such Agent
to personal liability or is contrary to this Agreement, the Notes or the
Security Documents or applicable law.

          7.4  Reliance by Agents.  Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon
               ------------------
any certificate, notice, document or other communication (including any cable,
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or oral communication) believed by it to
be genuine and correct and to have been sent or given by or on behalf of a
proper person. The Administrative Agent may treat the payee of any Note as the
holder thereof unless and until the Administrative Agent receives written notice
of the assignment thereof pursuant to the terms of this Agreement signed by such
payee and the Administrative Agent receives the written agreement of the
assignee that such assignee is bound hereby to the same extent as if it had been
an original party hereto. Each Agent may employ agents (including without
limitation collateral agents) and may consult with legal counsel (who may be
counsel for the Borrowers), independent public accountants and other experts
selected by it and shall not be liable to the Banks, except as to money or
property received by it or its authorized agents, for the negligence or
misconduct of any such agent selected by it with reasonable care or for any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the
advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

          7.5  Default. Neither Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of the
               -------
occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, unless such Agent has received
written notice from a Bank or Citation specifying such Default or Event of
Default and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default". In the event that
either Agent receives such a notice, such Agent shall give written notice
thereto to the other Agent and the Banks.

          7.6  Liability of Agents.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of
               -------------------
its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable to the Banks for
any action taken or not taken by it or them or the Collateral Agent in
connection herewith with the consent or at the request of the Required Banks or
in the absence of its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or
employees shall be liable to the Banks for any action taken or not taken by it
or them in connection herewith with the consent or at the request of the
Administrative Agent or in the absence of its or their own gross negligence or
willful misconduct. Neither of the Agents nor any of their respective directors,
officers, agents or employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to
ascertain, inquire into or verify (a) any recital, statement, warranty or
representation contained in this Agreement, any Note or any other Loan Document,
or in any certificate, report, financial statement or other document furnished
in connection with this Agreement, (b) the performance or observance of any of
the covenants or agreements of any Borrower, (c) the satisfaction of any
condition specified in Article II hereof, or (d) the validity, effectiveness,
legal enforceability, value or genuineness of this Agreement, the Notes or any
other Loan Documents or any collateral subject thereto or any other instrument
or document furnished in connection herewith.

          7.7  Nonreliance on Agents and Other Banks. Each Bank acknowledges and
               -------------------------------------
agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on either Agent or any
other Bank, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own credit analysis of the Borrowers and decision to enter
into this Agreement and that it will, independently and without reliance upon
either Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as
it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own analysis and
decision in taking or not taking action under this Agreement. Neither Agent
shall be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by
the Borrowers of this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents or any
other documents referred to or provided for herein or to inspect the properties
or books of any Borrower and, except for notices, reports and other documents
and information expressly required to be furnished to the Banks by such Agent
hereunder, neither Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any
Bank with any information concerning the affairs, financial condition or
business of any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries which may come
into the possession of such Agent or any of its affiliates.

          7.8  Indemnification.  The Banks agree to indemnify each Agent (to the
               ---------------
extent not reimbursed by the Borrowers, but without limiting any obligation of
the Borrowers to make such reimbursement), ratably according to the respective
principal amounts of the Advances then outstanding made by each of them (or if
no Advances are at the time outstanding, ratably according to the respective
amounts of their Commitments), from and against any and all claims, damages,
losses, liabilities, costs or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever

                                       48
<PAGE>
 
(including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel) which may be
imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to
or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or any
action taken or omitted by such Agent under this Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents, provided, however,  that no Bank shall be liable for any portion
                --------  -------                                               
of such claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses resulting from
such Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Without limitation of the
foregoing, each Bank agrees to reimburse each Agent promptly upon demand for its
ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including without limitation fees
and expenses of counsel) incurred by such Agent in connection with the
preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or
enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of,
or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents, to the extent that such Agent is not reimbursed
for such expenses by the Borrowers, but without limiting the obligation of any
Borrower to make such reimbursement.  Each Bank agrees to reimburse each Agent
promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amounts owing to such Agent by
the Banks pursuant to this Section.  If the indemnity furnished to any Agent
under this Section shall, in the judgment of such Agent, be insufficient or
become impaired, such Agent may call for additional indemnity from the Banks and
cease, or not commence, to take any action until such additional indemnity is
furnished.

          7.9  Successor Agents.  Either Agent may resign as such at any time
               ----------------
upon 30 days' prior written notice to Citation and the Banks. In the event of
any such resignation, the Required Banks shall, by an instrument in writing
delivered to Citation and the Administrative Agent, appoint a successor, which
shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any
State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000. If a successor is not so appointed or does not accept such
appointment before an Agent's resignation becomes effective, the retiring Agent
may appoint a temporary successor to act until such appointment by the Required
Banks is made and accepted or if no such temporary successor is appointed as
provided above by the retiring Agent, the Required Banks shall thereafter
perform all the duties of such Agent hereunder until such appointment by the
Required Banks is made and accepted. Any successor to either Agent shall execute
and deliver to Citation and the Banks an instrument accepting such appointment
and thereupon such successor Agent, without further act, deed, conveyance or
transfer shall become vested with all of the properties, rights, interests,
powers, authorities and obligations of its predecessor hereunder with like
effect as if originally named as an Agent hereunder. Upon request of such
successor Agent, the Borrowers and the retiring Agent shall execute and deliver
such instruments of conveyance, assignment and further assurance and do such
other things as may reasonably be required for more fully and certainly vesting
and confirming in such successor Agent all such properties, rights, interests,
powers, authorities and obligations. The provisions of this Article VII shall
thereafter remain effective for such retiring Agent with respect to any actions
taken or omitted to be taken by such Agent while acting as an Agent hereunder.

          7.10 Sharing of Payments.  The Banks agree among themselves that, in
               ------------------- 
the event that any Bank shall obtain payment in respect of any Advance or any
other Obligation through the exercise of a right of set-off, banker's lien,
counterclaim or otherwise in excess of its ratable share of payments received by
all of the Banks on account of the Advances and other Obligations (or if no
Advances are outstanding, ratably according to the respective amounts of the
Commitments), such Bank shall promptly purchase from the other Banks
participation in such Advances and other Obligations in such amounts, and make
such other adjustments from time to time, as shall be equitable to the end that
all of the Banks share such payment in accordance with such ratable shares. The
Banks further agree among themselves that if payment to a Bank obtained by such
Bank through the exercise of a right of set-off, banker's lien, counterclaim or
otherwise as aforesaid shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored, each
Bank which shall have shared the benefit of such payment shall, by repurchase of
participation theretofore sold, return its share of that benefit to each Bank
whose payment shall have been rescinded or otherwise restored. Each of the
Borrowers agrees that any Bank so purchasing such a participation may, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all rights of payment, including set-
off, banker's lien or counterclaim, with respect to such participation as fully
as if such Bank were a holder of such Advance or other obligation in the amount
of such participation. The Banks further agree among themselves that, in the
event that amounts received by the Banks and the Agents hereunder are
insufficient to pay all such obligations or insufficient to pay all such
obligations when due, the fees and other amounts owing to the Agents in such
capacity shall be paid therefrom before payment of obligations owing to the
Banks under this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, if any Bank or either Agent (the "Payer") shall fail to remit to any
Bank or either Agent (the "Payee") an amount payable by the Payer

                                       49
<PAGE>
 
to the Payee pursuant to this Agreement on the date when such amount is due,
such payments shall be made together with interest thereon for each date from
the date such amount is due until the date such amount is paid to the Payee at a
rate per annum equal to the rate at which borrowings are available to the Payee
in its overnight federal funds market.  It is further understood and agreed
among the Banks and the Agents that if First Chicago or SouthTrust shall engage
in any other transactions permitted under this Agreement with any of the
Borrowers and shall have the benefit of any collateral or security therefor
which does not expressly secure the obligations arising under this Agreement
except by virtue of a so-called dragnet clause or comparable provision, First
Chicago or SouthTrust, as the case may be, shall be entitled to apply any
proceeds of such collateral or security first in respect of the obligations
arising in connection with such other transaction before application to the
obligations arising under this Agreement.

          7.11 Withholding Tax Exemption. At least five Business Days prior to
               ------------------------- 
the first date on which interest or fees are payable hereunder for the account
of any Bank, each Bank that is not incorporated under the laws of the United
States of America, or a state thereof, agrees that it will deliver to each of
Citation and the Administrative Agent two duly completed copies of United States
Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224, certifying in either case that such
Bank is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement and the Notes without
deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes. Each Bank
which so delivers a Form 1001 or 4224 further undertakes to deliver to each of
Citation and the Administrative Agent two additional copies of such form (or a
successor form) on or before the date that such form expires (currently, three
successive calendar years for Form 1001 and one calendar year for Form 4224) or
becomes obsolete or after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the
most recent forms so delivered by it, and such amendments thereto or extensions
or renewals thereof as may be reasonably requested by Citation or the
Administrative Agent, in each case certifying that such Bank is entitled to
receive payments under this Agreement and the Notes without deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes, unless an event
(including without limitation any change in treaty, law or regulation) has
occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be
required which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such
Bank from duly completing and delivering any such form with respect to it and
such Bank advises Citation and the Administrative Agent that it is not capable
of receiving payments without any deduction or withholding of United States
federal income tax.

          7.12 Collateral Agent Matters.  (a) Subject to the other terms and
               ------------------------ 
conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Collateral Agent
shall be the secured party under the Security Documents, shall receive, hold,
administer and enforce the Collateral and the Security Documents, and shall
foreclose upon, collect and dispose of the Collateral, all for the benefit of
the Banks and the Agents, and otherwise perform its duties and obligations as
Collateral Agent hereunder and under the Security Documents in accordance with
the respective terms hereof and thereof.

               (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or
any of the other Loan Documents, the Collateral Agent shall act or refrain from
acting as directed by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the
Required Banks or all the Banks, as the case may be, if required under this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents); and the Collateral Agent shall take no
enforcement or foreclosure action under any Loan Document except at the written
direction of the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Required
Banks or all the Banks, as required).

               (c) If the Collateral Agent enters into possession of part or all
of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall use reasonable care to preserve
the part of the Collateral in its possession.

               (d) If at any time the Collateral Agent receives from any
Borrower any request for any notice, consent, waiver, approval, decision,
direction or other action under, or in respect of any right granted to the
Collateral Agent in, any Loan Document, the Collateral Agent shall promptly
notify the Administrative Agent of such request. The Collateral Agent shall
thereafter promptly give such notice, consent, waiver, approval or direction,
make such decision or take such action, in each case, as the Administrative
Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Banks or all the Banks, as the
case may be, if required under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents) shall
instruct. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon receipt by the
Collateral Agent of instructions from the Administrative Agent (acting at the
direction of the Required Banks or all the Banks, as required), the Collateral
Agent shall (i) take such action with respect to the Collateral as shall be
specified in such

                                       50
<PAGE>
 
instruction; (ii) approve as satisfactory to it all matters as are required by
the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document to be satisfactory to, or
approved by, it; (iii) execute and file any financing statements and any
amendment or continuation statement with respect to any such financing
statements and any recording instrument or other similar instrument or document
relating to any Liens created by any Loan Document as may be specified in such
instruction; and (iv) make such requests, accept such instruments, agreements,
documents, certificates, and writings and give and demand such notices under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be specified in such
instructions.

          (e) The Collateral Agent shall make available for inspection and
copying by the Administrative Agent each certificate or other paper furnished to
the Collateral Agent by any Borrower under or in respect of this Agreement, any
other Loan Document or any of the Collateral.

          (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the
Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to take any action if the Collateral
Agent believes that such action is or may be contrary to any applicable law or
might cause the Collateral Agent to incur any loss or liability for which it has
not been indemnified to its satisfaction.

          (g) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i)
the Collateral Agent is authorized on behalf of the Administrative Agent and the
Banks, without the necessity of any notice to or for the consent of the
Administrative Agent or the Banks, from time to time to take any action with
respect to any Collateral or the Loan Documents which may be necessary to
monitor, perfect and maintain perfected the security interest in and Liens upon
the Collateral, provided that the Collateral Agent shall notify the
Administrative Agent promptly after taking any such action, and (ii) the
Collateral Agent shall prepare and file on a timely basis all continuation
statements necessary from time to time in order to properly continue the
effectiveness of all financing statements relating to the Collateral.

          (h) [intentionally omitted]

          (i) [intentionally omitted]

          (j) The Administrative Agent shall endeavor to notify the Banks
reasonably promptly after giving any direction or instruction to the Collateral
Agent with respect to any material matter as contemplated under Sections 7.12(b)
and (d) (other than any such direction or instruction given by the
Administrative Agent at the direction of all the Banks); provided that the
Administrative Agent shall have no liability for any failure to provide such
notice.

                                 ARTICLE VIII.
                              COLLATERAL SECURITY
                              -------------------   

          8.1  Composition of the Collateral. The property in which a security
               -----------------------------
interest is granted pursuant to the provisions of Sections 8.2 and 8.3 hereof or
pursuant to the provisions of any Security Document is herein collectively
called the "Collateral." The Collateral, together with all of each Borrower's
other property of any kind held by either Agent or any Bank, shall stand as one
general, continuing collateral security for all Obligations and may be retained
by such Agent and such Bank until all Obligations have been satisfied in full
and the Commitments have been terminated.

          8.2  Rights in Property Held by the Banks. As security for the prompt
               ------------------------------------
satisfaction of all Obligations, each Borrower hereby assigns, transfers and
conveys to each Bank for the benefit of the Agents and the Banks all of such
Borrower's right, title and interest in and to, and grants such Bank a lien on
and a security interest in, all amounts that may be owing from time to time by
such Bank to such Borrower in any capacity, including, without limitation, any
balance or share belonging to such Borrower, of any deposit or other account
with such Bank, which lien and security interest shall be independent of any
right of setoff which such Bank may have.

          8.3  Rights in Property Held Either by Borrowers or by the Banks. As
               -----------------------------------------------------------
further security for the prompt satisfaction of all Obligations, in addition to
any other or further security provided under any of the Security

                                       51
<PAGE>
 
Documents, each Borrower hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent for the benefit
of the Agents and the Banks all of such Borrower's right, title and interest in
and to, and grants the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the
Banks a lien upon and security interest in the Pledged Stock.

          8.4  Priority of Liens. The foregoing liens shall be first and prior
               -----------------
liens.

          8.5  Perfection.
               ----------                

               (a)  Each Borrower will:

                    (1)  Execute and deliver such Pledge Agreements and such
                         stock powers relating to the Pledged Stock, in form
                         satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as the
                         Administrative Agent may from time to time specify;

                    (2)  Pay, or reimburse either Agent for paying, all costs
                         for the transfer of the Pledged Stock;

                    (3)  Deliver the Pledged Stock to the Administrative Agent
                         or the Collateral Agent or either Agents' designated
                         agent or bailee, as directed by the Administrative
                         Agent; and

                    (4)  Take such other steps as the Administrative Agent may
                         from time to time direct, all to perfect the Collateral
                         Agent's security interest in such Collateral.

               (b)  In addition to the foregoing, and not in limitation thereof:

                    (1)  A carbon, photographic, or other reproduction of this
                         Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing statement
                         and may be filed in any appropriate office in lieu
                         thereof; and,

                    (2)  To the extent lawful, each Borrower hereby appoints
                         each Agent as its attorney-in-fact (without requiring
                         either Agent to act as such) to execute any financing
                         statement or financing statement assignment or
                         amendment in the name of such Borrower, and to perform
                         all other acts that the Administrative Agent deems
                         appropriate to perfect and continue the security
                         interest in, and to protect and preserve, the
                         Collateral. Such appointment is coupled with an
                         interest and is irrevocable until this Agreement is
                         terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section
                         9.20 hereof.

          8.6  Collateral Release.   Each of the Existing Banks that is a Bank
               ------------------
hereby acknowledges and consents to the release of all Collateral (as defined in
the Existing Credit Agreement) other than the Collateral (as defined in this
Agreement), and to the execution and delivery by the Agents or either of them of
all terminations and discharges and similar instruments and documents reasonably
requested by the Borrowers to give effect to such release.

          8.7  [intentionally omitted]

                                       52
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE IX.
                                 MISCELLANEOUS
                                 -------------

          9.1  Amendments, Etc. (a) No amendment, modification, termination or
waiver of any provision of this Agreement nor any consent to any departure
therefrom shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by
Citation and the Required Banks and, to the extent any rights or duties of
either Agent may be affected thereby, such Agent, provided, however, that no
                                                  --------  -------
such amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent shall, without the
consent of the Administrative Agent and all of the Banks, (i) authorize or
permit the extension of time for, or any reduction of the amount of, any payment
of the principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any Letter of Credit
reimbursement obligation, or any fees or other amount payable hereunder, (ii)
authorize or permit any reduction of the rate of interest on the Notes or the
rate of any fee hereunder, (iii) subject to Section 9.1(d), amend, extend or
terminate the respective Commitment of any Bank set forth on the signature pages
hereof or modify the provisions of this Section regarding the taking of any
action under this Section or the provisions of Section 7.10 or the definition of
Required Banks or any provision of this Agreement requiring the consent of all
of the Banks, (iv) provide for the discharge of any Borrower or the release of
any Collateral, or (v) modify any other provision of this Agreement which by its
terms requires the consent of all of the Banks.

          (b) Any such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective only in
the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

          (c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Bank that is
in default of any of its obligations, covenants or agreements under this
Agreement shall be entitled to vote (whether to consent or to withhold its
consent) with respect to any amendment, modification, termination or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement or any departure therefrom or any direction from
the Banks to either Agent, and, for purposes of determining the Required Banks
at any time when any Bank is in default under this Agreement, the Commitment and
Advances of such defaulting Bank shall be disregarded.

          (d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the
total amount of the Commitments may be increased from time to time to an amount
not to exceed $400,000,000 with the consent of Citation and the Required Banks,
through one or more Additional Banks (as hereinafter defined) or increases in
the Commitments of one or more existing Banks, or any combination thereof,
provided that no Bank's commitment shall be increased without its consent.  In
connection with any such increase in the Commitments, Citation and the
Administrative Agent may from time to time designate additional financial
institutions (the "Additional Banks") to be parties to this Agreement and to
become Banks hereunder upon the execution and delivery to the Administrative
Agent by each such Additional Bank and Citation of an assumption agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to such Additional Bank, Citation and the
Administrative Agent (an "Assumption Agreement").  Any Additional Bank shall
become a party to this Agreement and be considered a Bank hereunder for all
purposes if (a) it shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an
Assumption Agreement, (b) it shall make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrowers
in the principal amount which bears the same ratio to the amounts of the
Revolving Credit Loans of the other Banks then outstanding as the Commitment of
such Additional Bank bears to the then Commitments of such other Banks, and (c)
a copy of such Assumption Agreement and evidence satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent of the making of such Revolving Credit Loans shall be
furnished to the Banks, together with a schedule showing the Commitment amount
of each Bank and the new percentage of the total Commitments of each Bank. In
connection with any such increase in the total Commitments, whether through
Additional Banks and/or increases in the Commitments of existing Banks, the
Borrowers, the Banks and the Agents shall execute and deliver such other
agreements, instruments and documents, including, without limitation, new
Revolving Credit Notes reflecting the Commitment amount of each Bank going
forward, and amendments to this Agreement, as may reasonably be requested to
give effect to and evidence such increase.

          9.2  Notices.  (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.2(c)
hereof, all notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be delivered or sent to Citation and the other Borrowers c/o Citation at 2
Office Park Circle, Suite 204, Birmingham, Alabama 35223, Attention: T. Morris
Hackney, Chairman, Facsimile No. (205) 870-8211, Facsimile Confirmation No.
(205) 871-5731, with a copy to Ritchie & Rediker, 312 North 23rd Street,
Birmingham, Alabama 35203, Attention: Thomas A. Ritchie, Esq., Facsimile No.
(205) 324-

                                       53
<PAGE>
 
7832, Facsimile Confirmation No. (205) 251-1288, and to the Agents and the Banks
at the respective addresses for notices set forth on the signatures pages
hereof, or to such other address as may be designated by Citation, either Agent
or any Bank by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other
communications shall be deemed to have been given at the time of actual delivery
thereof to such address, or, unless sooner delivered, (i) if sent by certified
or registered mail, postage prepaid, to such address, on the third day after the
date of mailing, (ii) if sent by telex, upon receipt of the appropriate answer
back, or (iii) if sent by facsimile transmission, upon confirmation of receipt
by telephone at the number specified for confirmation, provided, however, that
                                                       --------  -------
notices to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be,
shall not be effective until received.

          (b) Notices by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent with respect
to terminations or reductions of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.2,
requests for Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.4, requests for continuations or
conversions of Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.7 and notices of prepayment
pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrowers.

          (c) Any notice to be given by the Borrowers to the Administrative
Agent pursuant to Sections 2.4, 2.7 or 3.1 and any notice to be given by the
Administrative Agent or any Bank hereunder, may be given by telephone, and all
such notices given by the Borrowers must be immediately confirmed in writing in
the manner provided in Section 9.2(a).  Any such notice given by telephone shall
be deemed effective upon receipt thereof by the party to whom such notice is to
be given.  The Borrowers shall indemnify and hold harmless the Banks and the
Agents from any and all losses, damages, liabilities and claims arising from
their good faith reliance on any such telephone notice.

          9.3  No Waiver By Conduct; Remedies Cumulative. No course of dealing
               -----------------------------------------
on the part of either Agent or any Bank, nor any delay or failure on the part of
either Agent or any Bank in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder
shall operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege or otherwise
prejudice such Agent's or such Bank's rights and remedies hereunder; nor shall
any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. No right or remedy
conferred upon or reserved to either Agent or any Bank under this Agreement, the
Notes or any other Loan Document is intended to be exclusive of any other right
or remedy, and every right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to
every other right or remedy granted thereunder or now or hereafter existing
under any applicable law. Every right and remedy granted by this Agreement, the
Notes or any other Loan Document or by applicable law to either Agent or any
Bank may, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, be
exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by such
Agent or such Bank, as the case may be, and, unless contrary to the express
provisions of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document, irrespective
of the occurrence or continuance of any Default or Event of Default.

          9.4  Reliance on and Survival of Various Provisions. All terms,
               ----------------------------------------------
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties of the Borrowers made
herein or in any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, financial
statement or other document furnished by or on behalf of any Borrower in
connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to be material and to have been
relied upon by the Banks, notwithstanding any investigation heretofore or
hereafter made by any Bank or on such Bank's behalf, and those covenants and
agreements of the Borrowers set forth in Section 3.7, 3.9 and 9.5 hereof shall
survive the repayment in full of the Advances and the termination of the
Commitments.

          9.5  Expenses; Indemnification. (a) The Borrowers agree to pay, or
               -------------------------
reimburse each Agent for the payment of, on demand, (i) the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel to each Agent, including without limitation the fees and
expenses of Dickinson Wright PLLC and Gordon, Silberman, Wiggins, and Childs,
PC, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration
of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents and in connection with
advising each Agent as to its rights and responsibilities with respect thereto,
and in connection with any amendments, waivers or consents in connection
therewith, and (ii) all stamp and other taxes and fees payable or determined to
be payable in connection with the execution, delivery, filing or recording of
this Agreement, Notes, the other Loan Documents (or the verification of filing,
recording, perfection or priority thereof) or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and any and all liabilities with respect to or
resulting from any delay in paying or omitting to pay such taxes or fees, and
(iii) all reasonable costs and expenses

                                       54
<PAGE>
 
of the Agents and the Banks (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
and whether incurred through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) in
connection with any Default or Event of Default or the enforcement of, or the
exercise or preservation of any rights under, this Agreement or the Notes or any
other Loan Document or in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of
the credit arrangements provided under this Agreement and (iv) all reasonable
costs and expenses of the Agents and the Banks (including reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel) in connection with any action or proceeding relating to a
court order, injunction or other process or decree restraining or seeking to
restrain the Administrative Agent from paying any amount under, or otherwise
relating in any way to, any Letter of Credit and any and all costs and expenses
which any of them may incur relative to any payment under any Letter of Credit.

          (b) The Borrowers hereby indemnify and agree to hold harmless the
Banks and the Agents, and their respective officers, directors, employees and
agents, from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs
or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever which the Banks or the Agents or
any such person may incur or which may be claimed against any of them by reason
of or in connection with any Letter of Credit, and neither any Bank nor either
Agent or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall
be liable or responsible for: (i) the use which may be made of any Letter of
Credit or for any acts or omissions of any beneficiary in connection therewith;
(ii) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents or of any endorsement
thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove to be in any or all
respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (iii) payment by the
Administrative Agent to the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit against
presentation of documents which do not comply with the terms of any Letter of
Credit, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate
reference to such Letter of Credit; (iv) 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; or (v) any other event or
circumstance whatsoever arising in connection with any Letter of Credit;
provided, however, that the Borrowers shall not be required to indemnify the
--------  -------                                                           
Banks and the Agents and such other persons, and the Administrative Agent shall
be liable to the Borrowers to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct,
as opposed to consequential or incidental, damages suffered by the Borrowers
which were caused by (A) the Administrative Agent's wrongful dishonor of any
Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary thereunder of a
draft or other demand for payment and other documentation strictly complying
with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit, or (B) the payment by
the Administrative Agent to the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit against
presentation of documents which do not comply with the terms of the Letter of
Credit to the extent, but only to the extent that (i) such payment results from
the Administrative Agent's failure to act in good faith or to observe general
banking usage in connection with the Letter of Credit or failure to examine
documents presented under the Letter of Credit with care to determine whether
they comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit (it being understood that the
Administrative Agent assumes no responsibility for the genuineness,
falsification or effect of any document which appears on such examination to be
regular on its face) or (ii) such payment constitutes gross negligence or
willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent.  It is understood that in making
any payment under a Letter of Credit the Administrative Agent will rely on
documents presented to it under such Letter of Credit as to any and all matters
set forth therein without further investigation and regardless of any notice or
information to the contrary, and such reliance and payment against documents
presented under a Letter of Credit substantially complying with the terms
thereof shall not be deemed gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
Administrative Agent in connection with such payment.  It is further
acknowledged and agreed that the Borrowers may have rights against the
beneficiary or others in connection with any Letter of Credit with respect to
which the Administrative Agent is alleged to be liable and it shall be a
precondition of the assertion of any liability of the Administrative Agent under
this Section that the Borrowers shall first have exhausted all remedies in
respect of the alleged loss against such beneficiary and any other parties
obligated or liable in connection with such Letter of Credit and any related
transactions.

          (c) In consideration of the execution and delivery of this Agreement
by each Bank and each Agent and the extension of the Commitments, the Borrowers
hereby indemnify, exonerate and hold each Agent, each Bank and each of their
respective officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties") free and harmless from and against any and all actions,
 -------------------                                                          
causes of action, suits, losses, costs, liabilities and damages, and expenses
incurred in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnified
Party is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought),
including reasonable attorneys' fees

                                       55
<PAGE>
 
and disbursements (collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities"), incurred by the
                                      -----------------------                   
Indemnified Parties or any of them as a result of, or arising out of, or
relating to:

                      (i)    any transaction financed or to be financed in whole
or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of any Advance or any
transaction contemplated hereby or any acquisition by any Borrower;

                      (ii)   the entering into and performance of this Agreement
and any other agreement or instrument executed in connection herewith by any of
the Indemnified Parties (including any action brought by or on behalf of the
Borrowers or any of them as the result of any determination by the Required
Banks not to fund any Advance);

                      (iii)  any investigation, litigation or proceeding related
to any acquisition or proposed acquisition by the Borrowers or any of their
respective Subsidiaries of any portion of the stock or assets of any person,
whether or not the Agent or such Bank is party thereto;

                      (iv)   any investigation, litigation or proceeding related
to any environmental cleanup, audit, compliance or other matter relating to the
protection of the environment or the release by the Borrowers or any of their
respective Subsidiaries of any Hazardous Material; or

                      (v)    the presence on or under, or the escape, seepage,
leakage, spillage, discharge, emission, discharging or releasing from, any real
property owned or operated by the Borrowers or any of their respective
Subsidiaries of any Hazardous Material (including any losses, liabilities,
damages, injuries, costs, expenses or claims asserted or arising under any
Environmental Law), regardless of whether caused by, or within the control of,
any Borrower or any such Subsidiary, except for any such Indemnified Liabilities
arising for the account of a particular Indemnified Party by reason of the
activities of the Indemnified Party on the property of the Borrowers conducted
subsequent to a foreclosure on such property by the Banks or by reason of the
relevant Indemnified Party's gross negligence or willful misconduct or breach of
this Agreement, and if and to the extent that the foregoing undertaking may be
unenforceable for any reason, the Borrowers hereby agree to make the maximum
contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified
Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. The Borrowers shall be
obligated to indemnify the Indemnified Parties for all Indemnified Liabilities
subject to and pursuant to the foregoing provisions, regardless of whether the
Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries had knowledge of the facts and
circumstances giving rise to such Indemnified Liability.

          9.6  Successors and Assigns.   (a) This Agreement shall be binding
               ----------------------
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, provided that the Borrowers may not, without the prior
                        --------
consent of the Banks, assign their rights or obligations hereunder or under the
Notes or any other Loan Document and the Banks shall not be obligated to make
any Advance hereunder to any entity other than the Borrowers.

               (b) Any Bank may sell to any Eligible Transferee or Eligible
Transferees, and such Eligible Transferee or Eligible Transferees may further
sell to any Eligible Transferee or Eligible Transferees (subject to any
limitations set forth in the relevant participation agreements), a participation
interest (undivided or divided) in the Advances and such Bank's rights and
benefits under this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents, and to
the extent of that participation interest such participant or participants shall
have the same rights and benefits against the Borrowers under Section 3.7, 3.9
and 6.2(c) as it or they would have had if such participant or participants were
the Bank making the Advances to the Borrowers hereunder, provided, however, that
                                                         --------  -------      
(i) such Bank's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unmodified and
fully effective and enforceable against such Bank, (ii) such Bank shall remain
solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such
obligations, (iii) such Bank shall remain the holder of its Note(s) for all
purposes of this Agreement, (iv) the Borrowers, the Agents and the other Banks
shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Bank in connection with
such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement, and (v) no participant
shall be granted any rights to consent or withhold consent to any action taken
by such Bank or either Agent under this Agreement other than action requiring
the consent of all of the Banks hereunder.

                                       56
<PAGE>
 
          (c) Each Agent from time to time in its sole discretion may appoint
agents for the purpose of servicing and administering this Agreement and the
transactions  contemplated hereby and enforcing or exercising any rights or
remedies of such Agent provided under this Agreement, the Notes, any other Loan
Documents or otherwise.  In furtherance of such agency, each Agent may from time
to time direct that the Borrowers provide notices, reports and other documents
contemplated by this Agreement (or duplicates thereof) to such agent. The
Borrowers hereby consent to the appointment of such agent and agree to provide
all such notices, reports and other documents and to otherwise deal with such
agent acting on behalf of either Agent in the same manner as would be required
if dealing with such Agent itself.

          (d) Each Bank may, with the prior consent (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) of Citation and the Administrative Agent,
assign to one or more Eligible Transferees all or a portion of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a
portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it and the Note or Notes held
by it); provided, however, that (i) each such assignment shall be of a uniform,
        --------  -------                                                      
and not a varying, percentage of all rights and obligations, (ii) except in the
case of an assignment of all of a Bank's rights and obligations under this
Agreement, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Bank being assigned
pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment
and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than
$5,000,000, and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 thereafter, or such lesser
amount to which Citation and the Administrative Agent may consent, (iii) the
parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative
Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and
Acceptance in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit H (an "Assignment and
                                         ---------      --------------
Acceptance"), together with any Note or Notes subject to such assignment and a
----------                                                                    
processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and (iv) any Bank may without paying
any fee, assign to any Affiliate of such Bank all of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement.  Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording,
from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance,
(x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that
rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Bank hereunder
and (y) the Bank assignor thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and
Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under
this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of
the remaining portion of an assigning Bank's rights and obligations under this
Agreement, such Bank shall cease to be a party hereto).  Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (1) the consent of Citation and the
Administrative Agent shall not be required for any assignment to a Bank or an
Affiliate of a Bank which is an entity described in clause (ii) or (iii) of the
definition of the term "Eligible Transferee", (2) no minimum requirement shall
apply to any assignment to a Bank or an Affiliate of a Bank, and (3) under no
circumstances shall the consent of Citation be required for any assignment if a
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

          (e) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Bank
assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each
other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in
such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Bank makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements,
warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or
the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or
value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant
hereto; (ii) such assigning Bank makes no representation or warranty and assumes
no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrowers or
the performance or observance by the Borrowers of any of their obligations under
this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto;
(iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement,
together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.1(k)
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; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon
either Agent, such assigning Bank or any other Bank and based on 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 Agreement; (v)
such assignee appoints and authorizes each Agent to take such action as agent on
its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents as are delegated to such Agent by the terms hereof,
together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto;
and (vi) such assignee agrees that it

                                       57
<PAGE>
 
will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the
terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Bank.

              (f) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address
designated on the signature pages hereof a copy of each Assignment and
Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the recordation of
the names and addresses of the Banks and the Commitment of, and principal amount
of the Advances owing to, each Bank from time to time (the "Register"). The
                                                            --------
entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Agents and the Banks may treat each
person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Bank hereunder for all
purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by
Citation or any Bank at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.

              (g) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by
an assigning Bank and an assignee, together with any Note or Notes subject to
such assignment, the Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and
Acceptance has been completed, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii)
record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt
notice thereof to Citation. Within five Business Days after its receipt of such
notice, the Borrowers, at their own expense, shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent in exchange for the surrendered Note or Notes a new Note to
the order of such assignee in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed by it
pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and, if the assigning Bank has
retained a Commitment hereunder, a new Note to the order of the assigning Bank
in an amount equal to the Commitment retained by it hereunder. Such new Note or
Notes shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of such surrendered Note or Notes, shall be dated the effective date of
such Assignment and Acceptance and shall otherwise be in substantially the form
of Exhibit I hereto.
   ---------        

              (h) The Borrowers shall not be liable for any costs or expenses of
any Bank in effectuating any participation or assignment under this Section 9.6
or any fee payable in connection therewith.

              (i) The Banks may, in connection with any assignment or
participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section
9.6, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant
any information relating to the Borrowers.

              (j) Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this
Agreement, any Bank may at any time create a security interest in, or assign,
all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including, without
limitation, the Loans owing to it and the Note or Notes held by it) in favor of
any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System; provided that such creation of a
                                         --------
security interest or assignment shall not release such Bank from its obligations
under this Agreement.

          9.7  Counterpart .  This Agreement may be executed in any number
               ------------                                                     
of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing
any such counterpart.

          9.8  Governing Law. This Agreement is a contract made under, and shall
               -------------
be governed by and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of
Illinois applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such
State and without giving effect to choice of law principles of such State. Each
of the Borrowers, the Agents and the Banks further agrees that any legal or
equitable action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, the Notes or any
other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in
any court of the State of Illinois, or in any court of the United States of
America sitting in Illinois, and each of the Borrowers, the Agents and the Banks
hereby submits to and accepts generally and unconditionally the jurisdiction of
those courts with respect to its person and property, and, in the case of each
Borrower, irrevocably appoints Castwell Products, Inc., whose address in
Illinois is 7800 North Austin Avenue, Skokie, Illinois 60077, as its agent for
service of process and irrevocably consents to the service of process in
connection with any such action or proceeding by personal delivery to such agent
or to Citation, or by the mailing thereof by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid to Citation at its address for notices pursuant to Section 9.2.
The Borrowers shall at all times maintain such an agent in Illinois for such
purpose and shall notify the Banks and the Administrative Agent of such

                                       58
<PAGE>
 
agent's address in Illinois within ten days of any change of address.  Nothing
in this paragraph shall affect the right of the Banks and the Agents to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law or limit the right of the Banks or
the Agents to bring any such action or proceeding against any Borrower or
property in the courts of any other jurisdiction.  Each of the Borrowers and the
Banks hereby irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such
action or proceeding in the above described courts.

          9.9  Table of Contents and Headings. The table of contents and the
               ------------------------------
headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for the convenience of reference
only and shall in no way modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.

          9.10 Construction of Certain Provisions. If any provision of this
               ---------------------------------- 
Agreement refers to any action to be taken by any person, or which such person
is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such
action is taken directly or indirectly by such person, whether or not expressly
specified in such provision.

          9.11 Integration and Severability. This Agreement, the Notes and the
               ----------------------------
other Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding between the
Borrowers and the Agents and the Banks, and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, relating to the subject matter hereof. In case any one or more
of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement, the Notes or any other
Loan Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction,
the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining obligations of the
Borrowers shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability in one jurisdiction shall not affect
the validity, legality or enforceability of the obligations of any Borrower
under this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document in any other
jurisdiction.

          9.12  Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be
                -------------------------
given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not
permitted by any such covenant, the fact that it would be permitted by an
exception to, or would be otherwise within the limitations of, another covenant
shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such
action is taken or such condition exists.

          9.13  Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding any provisions of this
                ------------------------
Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document, in no event shall the amount of
interest paid or agreed to be paid by the Borrowers exceed an amount computed at
the highest rate of interest permissible under applicable law. If, from any
circumstances whatsoever, fulfillment of any provision of this Agreement, the
Notes or any other Loan Document at the time performance of such provision shall
be due, shall involve exceeding the interest rate limitation validly prescribed
by law which a court of competent jurisdiction may deem applicable hereto, then,
ipso facto, the obligations to be fulfilled shall be reduced to an amount
computed at the highest rate of interest permissible under applicable law, and
if for any reason whatsoever any Bank shall ever receive as interest an amount
which would be deemed unlawful under such applicable law such interest shall be
automatically applied to the payment of principal of the Advances outstanding
hereunder (whether or not then due and payable) and not to the payment of
interest, or shall be refunded to the Borrowers if such principal and all other
obligations of the Borrowers to the Banks have been paid in full.

          9.14  Joint and Several Obligations; Subrogation and Contribution
                -----------------------------------------------------------
Rights; Savings Clause. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
----------------------
herein or in any Note or in any other Loan Document, all the obligations of the
Borrowers hereunder and under the Notes and the other Loan Documents are joint
and several.

                (b) If any Borrower makes a payment in respect of the
Obligations the proceeds of which were received by another Borrower (a
"Nonpaying Borrower"), such paying Borrower shall be subrogated to the rights of
the payee against the Nonpaying Borrower and shall have the rights of
contribution with respect to such payment set forth below against the other
Borrowers (other than the Nonpaying Borrower); provided that no Borrower shall
                                               --------
enforce its rights to any payment by way of subrogation or exercise its rights
of contribution until the Obligations have been paid in full. If any Borrower
makes a payment in respect of the Obligations the proceeds of which were
received by a Nonpaying Borrower (herein, such Nonpaying Borrower's "Guaranteed
Obligations") that is smaller in proportion to such Borrower's Payment Share (as
hereinafter defined) than the payments made by

                                       59
<PAGE>
 
the other Borrowers in repayment of such Guaranteed Obligations are in
proportion to the amounts of their respective Payment Shares, the Borrower
making such proportionately smaller payment shall, when permitted by the
preceding sentence, pay to the other Borrowers (other than the Nonpaying
Borrower) an amount such that the net payments made by the Borrowers (other than
the Nonpaying Borrower) in respect of such Guaranteed Obligations shall be
shared among such Borrowers (other than the Nonpaying Borrower) pro rata in
proportion to their respective Payment Shares. If any Borrower receives with
respect to the Guaranteed Obligations of any Nonpaying Borrower any payment by
way of subrogation that is greater in proportion to the amount of its Payment
Share than the payments with respect to such Guaranteed Obligations received by
way of subrogation by the other Borrowers (other than the Nonpaying Borrower)
are in proportion to the amounts of their respective Payment Shares, the
Borrower receiving such proportionately greater payment shall, when permitted by
the second preceding sentence, pay to such other Borrowers an amount such that
the subrogation payments received by all Borrowers (other than the Nonpaying
Borrower) shall be shared among such Borrowers pro rata in proportion to their
respective Payment Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this paragraph or in this Agreement, no liability or obligation of any Borrower
that shall accrue pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid nor shall it be
deemed owed pursuant to this paragraph until all of the Obligations shall be
paid in full.

          For purposes hereof, the "Payment Share" of any Borrower with respect
to the Guaranteed Obligations of any Nonpaying Borrower shall be the product of
(a) the aggregate amount of such Guaranteed Obligations remaining unpaid on the
date such Guaranteed Obligations become due and payable in full, whether by
stated maturity, acceleration, or otherwise (the "Determination Date"), times
(b) a fraction, the numerator of which is such paying Borrower's net worth on
the Effective Date, and the denominator of which is the aggregate net worth of
all Borrowers (other than the Nonpaying Borrower) on such date.

                (c) It is the intent of each Borrower and the Agents and the
Banks that each Borrower's maximum Bank Obligations shall be, but not in excess
of:

                    (i)    in a case or proceeding commenced by or against such
Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code on or within one year from the date on which
any of the Bank Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount that would not
otherwise cause the Bank Obligations (or any other obligations of such Borrower
to the Agents and the Banks) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such
Borrower under (A) Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or (B) any state
fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in such case
or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or

                    (ii)   in a case or proceeding commenced by or against such
Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code subsequent to one year from the date on which
any of the Bank Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount that would not
otherwise cause the Bank Obligations (or any other obligations of such Borrower
to the Agents and the Banks) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such
Borrower under any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or
statute applied in any such case or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the
Bankruptcy Code;

                    (iii)  in a case or proceeding commenced by or against such
Borrower under any law, statute or regulation other than the Bankruptcy Code
(including, without limitation, any other bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, moratorium, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or
similar debtor relief laws), the maximum amount that would not otherwise cause
the Bank Obligations (or any other obligations of such Borrower to the Agents
and the Banks) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Borrower under such
law, statute or regulation including, without limitation, any state fraudulent
transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or
proceeding.

                (d) The Borrowers acknowledge and agree that they have requested
that the Banks make credit available to the Borrowers with each Borrower
expecting to derive benefit, directly and indirectly, from the loans and other
credit extended by the Banks to the Borrowers.

                (e) The joint and several obligations of the Borrowers described
in this Section 9.14 shall remain in full force and effect without regard to and
shall not be released, affected or impaired by: (i) any

                                       60
<PAGE>
 
amendment, assignment, transfer, modification of or addition or supplement to
the Obligations, this Agreement, any Note or any other Loan Document, except to
the extent any such amendment, assignment, transfer or modification specifically
relates to the matters set forth in Section 9.14; (ii) any extension,
indulgence, increase in the Obligations or other action or inaction in respect
of any of the Loan Documents or otherwise with respect to the Obligations, or
any acceptance of security for, or guaranties of, any of the Obligations or Loan
Documents, or any surrender, release, exchange, impairment or alteration of any
such security or guaranties including without limitation the failing to perfect
a security interest in any such security or abstaining from taking advantage or
of realizing upon any guaranties or upon any security interest in any such
security; (iii) any default by any Borrower under, or any lack of due execution,
invalidity or unenforceability of, or any irregularity or other defect in, any
of the Loan Documents; (iv) any waiver by the Banks or any other person of any
required performance or otherwise of any condition precedent or waiver of any
requirement imposed by any of the Loan Documents, any guaranties or otherwise
with respect to the Obligations; (v) any exercise or non-exercise of any right,
remedy, power or privilege in respect of this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents; (vi) any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of the assets of
any Borrower or any consolidation or merger of any Borrower with or into any
other person, corporation, or entity, or any transfer or other disposition by
any Borrower or any other holder of any shares of capital stock of any Borrower;
(vii) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceedings
involving or affecting any Borrower; (viii) the release or discharge of any
Borrower from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or
condition under any of the Obligations or contained in any of the Loan Documents
by operation of law; or (ix) any other cause whether similar or dissimilar to
the foregoing which, in the absence of this provision, would release, affect or
impair the obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of any Borrower
hereunder, including without limitation any act or omission by either Agent, any
Bank or any other any person which increases the scope of such Borrower's risk;
and in each case described in this paragraph whether or not any Borrower shall
have notice or knowledge of any of the foregoing, each of which is specifically
waived by each Borrower. Each Borrower warrants to the Banks that it has
adequate means to obtain from each other Borrower on a continuing basis
information concerning the financial condition and other matters with respect to
the Borrowers and that it is not relying on the Agents or the Banks to provide
such information either now or in the future.

          9.15  Waivers, Etc.  Each Borrower unconditionally waives: (a) notice
                ------------
of any of the matters referred to in Section 9.14(e) above; (b) all notices
which may be required by statute, rule or law or otherwise to preserve any
rights of either Agent or the Banks, including, without limitation, presentment
to and demand of payment or performance from the other Borrowers and protect for
non-payment or dishonor; (c) any right to the exercise by either Agent or the
Banks of any right, remedy, power or privilege in connection with any of the
Loan Documents; (d) any requirement that either Agent or the Banks, in the event
of any default by any Borrower, first make demand upon or seek to enforce
remedies against, such Borrower or any other Borrower before demanding payment
under or seeking to enforce this Agreement or any other Loan Document against
any other Borrower; (f) any right to notice of the disposition of any security
which either Agent or any Bank may hold from any Borrower or otherwise and any
right to object to the commercial reasonableness of the disposition of any such
security; and (g) all errors and omissions in connection with either Agent's or
any Bank's administration of any of the Obligations, any of the Loan Documents,
or any other act or omission of either Agent or any Bank which changes the scope
of the Borrowers' risk, except as a result of the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of an Agent or a Bank. The obligations of each Borrower hereunder
shall be complete and binding forthwith upon the execution of this Agreement and
subject to no condition whatsoever, precedent or otherwise, and notice of
acceptance hereof or action in reliance hereon shall not be required.

          9.16  Citation To Act For All Borrowers.   Each Participating
                ---------------------------------
Subsidiary, separately and severally, hereby appoints and designates Citation as
such party's agent and attorney-in-fact to act on behalf of such party for all
purposes of the Loan Documents. Citation shall have authority to exercise on
behalf of each Participating Subsidiary all rights and powers that Citation
deems, in its sole discretion, necessary, incidental or convenient in connection
with the Loan Documents, including the authority to execute and deliver
certificates, documents, agreements and other instruments referred to in or
contemplated by the Loan Documents, request Advances hereunder, request the
issuance of Letters of Credit, receive all proceeds of Advances, give all
notices, approvals and consents required or requested from time to time by
either Agent or any Bank and take any other actions and steps that a
Participating Subsidiary could take for its own account in connection with the
Loan Documents from time to time, it being the intent of the Participating
Subsidiaries to grant to Citation plenary power

                                       61
<PAGE>
 
to act on behalf of the Participating Subsidiaries in connection with and
pursuant to the Loan Documents. The appointment of Citation as agent and
attorney-in-fact for the Participating Subsidiaries hereunder shall be coupled
with an interest and be irrevocable so long as any Loan Document shall remain in
effect.  The Agents and the Banks need not obtain any Participating Subsidiary's
consent or approval for any act taken by Citation pursuant to any Loan Document,
and all such acts shall bind and obligate Citation and the Participating
Subsidiaries, jointly and severally. The Agents and the Banks may rely on any
representation or request made or action taken by Citation in connection with
the Loan Documents as authorized by the Participating Subsidiaries.  Each
Participating Subsidiary forever waives and releases any claim (whether now or
hereafter arising) against either Agent or any Bank based on Citation's lack of
authority to act on behalf of any Participating Subsidiary in connection with
the Loan Documents.

          9.17  Further Assurances.  From time to time, each Borrower will
                ------------------
execute and deliver to the Agents and the Banks such additional documents and
will provide such additional information as the Administrative Agent or the
Required Banks may reasonably require to carry out the terms of this Agreement
and be informed of the status and affairs of each of the Borrowers and the
Consolidated Entities. Each Borrower will take any and all actions as reasonably
requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Banks to ensure that the
Agents and the Banks enjoy the full benefits of the security intended to be
granted hereunder and under the Security Documents and under the other Loan
Documents.

          9.18  Waiver and Release by Borrowers. To the maximum extent permitted
                -------------------------------
by applicable Law, each Borrower and each Consolidated Entity:

                (a) Waives protest of all commercial paper at any time held by
any Bank on which any Borrower or any Consolidated Entity is any way liable;

                (b) Except as the same may herein be specifically granted,
waives notice of acceleration and of intention to accelerate; and

                (c) Waives notice and opportunity to be heard, after
acceleration in the manner provided in Section 6.2, before exercise by either
Agent or any Bank of the remedies of self-help, set-off, or of other summary
procedures permitted by any applicable Law or by any agreement with any Borrower
or any Consolidated Entity and except where required hereby or by any applicable
Law which requirement cannot be waived, notice of any other action taken by
either Agent or any Bank; and

                (d) Releases each Agent and each Bank and their respective
officers, attorneys, agents and employees from all claims for loss or damage
caused by any act or omission on the part of any of them except willful 
misconduct.

          9.19  No Partnership or Joint Venture. Notwithstanding anything to the
                -------------------------------
contrary herein contained or implied, none of the Agents and the Banks, by this
Agreement or by any action pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed a
partner, joint venturer or participant in the venture of any Borrower, and each
Borrower hereby jointly and severally indemnifies and agrees to defend each
Agent and each Bank harmless (including the payment of attorneys' fees) from any
and all damages resulting from such allegation or construction of the parties'
relationship. The requirements herein, and the restrictions imposed in this
Agreement, are solely for the protection and benefit of the Agents and the Banks
and shall not be construed to create any obligation on behalf of either Agent or
any Bank to supervise, warn or disclose matters to any Borrower.

          9.20  Termination.  The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall
                -----------
continue in effect until the Obligations shall have been fully paid and
performed, and the Banks shall have no further obligation whatsoever to make any
Advances or extend any other credit or accommodation. Following any termination
(if applicable), the terms and provisions of this Agreement (excluding any
obligation to lend or other commitment hereunder made by any Bank), and all of
the covenants and promises of Borrowers hereunder, shall be automatically
reinstated if at any time all or any part of any payment made upon the
Obligations is rescinded or must for any reason be returned to the Person making
such payment, whether due to insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, appointment of
a custodian or receiver, or any other reason whatsoever, all as though such
payment had not been made.

                                       62
<PAGE>
 
          9.21  Existing Letters of Credit.  Notwithstanding anything in this
                --------------------------
Agreement to the contrary, the letters of credit issued by First Chicago, or by
its Affiliate and predecessor Administrative Agent, NBD Bank, under the Existing
Credit Agreement that are outstanding as of the Effective Date (collectively the
"Existing Letters of Credit" and individually an "Existing Letter of Credit"),
shall for all purposes on and after the Effective Date be deemed Letters of
Credit under this Agreement in which each Bank shall have acquired a pro rata
risk participation pursuant to Section 2.4(d), and constitute usage of the
Commitments of the Banks, all as if such Existing Letters of Credit originally
were issued under this Agreement, provided that: (a) in each instance in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents where there is a reference to the
Administrative Agent as issuer of the Letters of Credit, such reference shall,
with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit, be deemed a reference to First
Chicago or NBD Bank, as the case may be, in its capacity as issuer of the
Existing Letters of Credit issued by it, each of which shall have all the
benefits of this Agreement with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit issued
by it as if it issued such Letters of Credit as the Administrative Agent
hereunder, and (b) no Existing Letter of Credit shall be extended or renewed
except pursuant to a Letter of Credit issued by First Chicago in its capacity as
the Administrative Agent under this Agreement.


          9.22  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BANKS AND THE AGENTS AND THE
                --------------------
BORROWERS, AFTER CONSULTING OR HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH
COUNSEL, KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT ANY OF THEM
MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY RELATED INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, DEALING, STATEMENTS
(WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY OF THEM. NEITHER ANY BANK, EITHER
AGENT, NOR ANY BORROWER SHALL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE, BY COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHERWISE,
ANY SUCH ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL HAS BEEN WAIVED WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN
WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED. THESE PROVISIONS SHALL NOT
BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY RESPECT OR RELINQUISHED BY ANY PARTY
HERETO EXCEPT BY A WRITTEN INSTRUMENT EXECUTED BY SUCH PARTY.

               [The rest of this page intentionally left blank.]

                                       63
<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered on the day and year first above written, which
shall be the Effective Date of this Agreement.

 
                                    CITATION CORPORATION
 
                                    By: /s/ T. Morris Hackney
                                        ---------------------
                                            T. Morris Hackney
                                    Its  Chairman
                                        ---------------------
 
                                    CITATION AUTOMOTIVE SALES CORP.
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ---------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ---------------------
 
                                    MANSFIELD FOUNDRY CORPORATION
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ---------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ---------------------
 
                                    IROQUOIS FOUNDRY CORPORATION
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ---------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ---------------------
 
                                    OBERDORFER INDUSTRIES CORP.
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ---------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ---------------------
 
                                    BERLIN FOUNDRY CORPORATION
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ---------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ---------------------
 
                                    CASTWELL PRODUCTS, INC.
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ---------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ---------------------
 
                                    TEXAS STEEL CORPORATION
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ---------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ---------------------

                                       64
<PAGE>
 
                                    HI-TECH, INC.
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    SOUTHERN ALUMINUM CASTINGS
                                    COMPANY
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    BOHN ALUMINUM, INC.
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    TSC TEXAS CORPORATION
 
                                    By: /s/ Thomas W. Burleson
                                        ------------------------
                                            Thomas W. Burleson
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    TEXAS FOUNDRIES, LTD.
                                    By Texas Steel Corporation
                                    Its General Partner
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    MABRY FOUNDRY COMPANY, LTD.
                                    By Texas Steel Corporation
                                    Its General Partner
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    CITATION CASTINGS, INC.
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Executive Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    INTERSTATE FORGING INDUSTRIES,
                                    INC.
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                       ------------------------

                                       65
<PAGE>
 
                                    INTERSTATE SOUTHWEST, LTD.
                                    By Texas Steel Corporation
                                    Its General Partner
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    ISW TEXAS CORPORATION
 
                                    By: /s/ Thomas W. Burleson
                                        ------------------------
                                            Thomas W. Burleson
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    CAMDEN CASTING CENTER, INC.
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    DYCAST, INC.
   
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 
                                    CITATION PRECISION, INC.
 
                                    By: /s/ R. Conner Warren
                                        ------------------------
                                            R. Conner Warren
                                    Its  Vice President
                                        ------------------------
 

     Address for Notices:                   THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
                                            CHICAGO, as a Bank and as the
                                            Administrative Agent

     First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.    By  /s/   David T. McNeela
                                                ----------------------------
     One First National Plaza
     Mail Suite 0324                        Its Vice President
     Chicago, Illinois 60670-0324
     Attention:  David T. McNeela
     Facsimile No.: (312) 732-2991
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (312) 732-5730
     Commitment Amount: $36,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 12%

                                       66
<PAGE>
 
     Address for Notices:                   SOUTHTRUST BANK, NATIONAL
                                            ASSOCIATION, as a Bank and as the
                                            Collateral Agent

     420 North 20th Street, 6th Floor       By /s/ Alan T. Drennen III
                                               -----------------------
     Birmingham, Alabama 35202              Its Group Vice President
     Attention: Alan T. Drennen III
     Facsimile No.: (205) 254-5911
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (205) 254-4639
     Commitment Amount: $36,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 12%

     Address for Notices:                   AMSOUTH BANK

     Metro Commercial Banking, Upper Level  By /s/ Harry M. Waugh III
                                               -----------------------
     1900 Fifth Avenue North                Its  Vice President
     Birmingham, Alabama  35203
     Attention:  Harry M. Waugh III
     Facsimile No.: (205) 326-4793
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (205) 320-7112
     Commitment Amount: $35,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 11.6666667%

     Address for Notices:                   CIBC INC.
 
     Two Paces West                         By /s/ Cyd Petre
                                               -----------------------
     2727 Paces Ferry Road, Suite 1200      Its  Executive Director
                                               -----------------------
     Atlanta, Georgia 30339
     Attention:  Charlene Harris
     Facsimile No.: (770) 319-4954
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (770) 319-4847
     with a copy to:
     CIBC Oppenheimer
     425 Lexington Avenue
     New York, New York 10017
     Attention:  Cyd Petre
     Facsimile No.: (212) 856-3991
     Facsimile Confirmation No.: (212) 856-4165
     Commitment Amount: $20,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 6.6666667%

                                       67
<PAGE>
 
     Address for Notices:                   FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

     One First Union Plaza                  By /s/ Mark B. Felker
                                               ------------------------
                                                  
                                                  
     301 South College                      Its  Senior Vice President
                                               ------------------------
     Charlotte, North Carolina 28288               
     Attention: Jorge Gonzalez
     Facsimile No.: (704) 374-3300
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (704) 383-8461
     Commitment Amount: $20,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 6.6666667%

     Address for Notices:                   SCOTIABANC INC.

     600 Peachtree Street, N.E.             By /s/ P.M Brown
                                              -------------------------
     Suite 2700
     Atlanta, Georgia 30308                 Its  Relationship Manager
                                               ------------------------
     Attention: Pat Brown
     Facsimile No.: (404) 888-8998
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (404) 877-1506
     Commitment Amount: $20,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 6.6666667%

     Address for Notices:                   BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST
                                            COMPANY

     110 South Stratford Road               By /s/ Thatcher L. Townsend III
                                              -----------------------------
     Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104    Its  Vice President
     Attention: Thatcher L. Townsend III
     Facsimile No.: (336) 733-3254
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (336) 733-3245
     Commitment Amount: $18,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 6%


     Address for Notices:                   NATIONAL CITY BANK OF
                                            KENTUCKY
 
     National City Bank                     By /s/ Kevin C. Anderson
                                              -----------------------------
     Southern Banking Division
     101 South Fifth Street                 Its  Vice President
     Louisville, Kentucky 40202
     Attention: Kevin L. Anderson
     Facsimile No.: (502) 581-5122
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.:  (502) 581-7894
     Commitment Amount: $18,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 6%

                                       68
<PAGE>
 
     Address for Notices:                   SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA

     25 Park Place, 24th Floor              By /s/ David J. Edge
                                              -----------------------------
     Mail Code 120
     Atlanta, Georgia 30303                 Its  Vice President
                                               ----------------------------
     Attention: David Edge                  and By  John R. Frazer
                                                   ------------------------
     Facsimile No.: (404) 827-6270          Its: Vice President
                                                ---------------------------
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (404) 827-6735
     Commitment Amount: $18,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 6%

     Address for Notices:                   MELLON BANK, N.A.

     Corporate Banking Department           By /s/ Stephen L. Prather
                                              -----------------------------
     Metals Section
     One Mellon Bank Center, Room 4401      Its Vice President
                                               ----------------------------
     Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258-0001
     Attention: Stephen L. Prather
     Facsimile No.: (412) 234-8888
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (412) 234-8665
     Commitment Amount: $17,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 5.6666667%

     Address for Notices:                   CREDIT LYONNAIS ATLANTA
                                            AGENCY

     303 Peachtree Street, N.E.             By /s/ David M. Cawrse
                                              -----------------------------
     Suite 4400
     Atlanta, Georgia 30308                 Its First Vice President & Manager
                                               --------------------------------
     Attention: Christina I. Earnshaw
     Facsimile No.: (404) 584-5249
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (404) 524-3700
     Commitment Amount: $11,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 3.6666667%

     Address for Notices:                   MICHIGAN NATIONAL BANK

     27777 Inkster Road                     By /s/ Eric Haege
                                              ------------------------------
     Mail Code 10-36
     Farmington Hills, Michigan 48333       Its Commercial Relationship Manager
                                               --------------------------------
     Attention: Eric Haege
     Facsimile No.: (248) 473-4345
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (248) 473-4374
     Commitment Amount: $11,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 3.6666667%

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<PAGE>
 
     Address for Notices:                   BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI,
                                            LTD.

     Atlanta Agency                         By /s/ William Otott, Jr.
                                               -------------------------------
     133 Peachtree Street, N.E.
     Suite 4970                             Its  Vice President
                                               -------------------------------
     Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1808
     Attention:  Bill Otott
     Facsimile No.: (404) 577-1155
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (404) 577-2960
     Commitment Amount: $10,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 3.3333333%

     Address for Notices:                   DEPOSIT GUARANTY NATIONAL
                                            BANK

     Regional Department, Room 1180         By /s/ Steven C . Krohn
                                              --------------------------------
     210 East Capital Street
     Jackson, Mississippi 39201             Its Senior Vice
     President
     Attention: Steven C. Krohn
     Facsimile No.: (601) 354-8412
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (601) 354-8264
     Commitment Amount: $10,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitments: 3.3333333%

     Address for Notices:                   THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED

     133 Peachtree Street                   By /s/ Peter Leahy
                                              -------------------------------
     Suite 3210
     Atlanta, Georgia 30303                 Its Vice President
                                               ------------------------------
     Attention: Peter Leahy
     Facsimile No.: (404) 521-1187
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (404) 526-8516
     Commitment Amount: $10,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitment: 3.3333333%

     Address for Notices:                   COMPASS BANK

     15 South 20/th/ Street                 By /s/ Eric Cates
                                              -------------------------------
     Birmingham, Alabama 35233              Its Sr. Vice President
                                               ------------------------------
     Attention: Eric Cates
     Facsimile No.: (205) 933-3926
     Facsimile
     Confirmation No.: (205) 933-3294
     Commitment Amount: $10,000,000
     Percentage of
     Total Commitment: 3.3333333%

     Total Commitment Amount of
     all Banks: $300,000,000

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