<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                             REVOLVING CREDIT AND
                      LETTER OF CREDIT ISSUANCE AGREEMENT



                                 By and Among



                       THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.,
                                  as Borrower


                                      and


                    THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY hereto

                                      and

                        PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                   as Agent


                                      and


                        PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                 as L/C Issuer



                        Dated as of September 25, 1997
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                               -----------------

 
SCHEDULES...................................................................   v

EXHIBITS....................................................................  vi

ARTICLE I  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS..............................................   1
  1.01.  Certain Definitions................................................   1
  1.02.  Construction.......................................................  21
  1.03.  Accounting Principles..............................................  21
 
ARTICLE II  REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY.......................................  22
  2.01.  Revolving Credit Commitments.......................................  22
  2.02.  Nature of Lenders' Obligations with Respect to Revolving
          Credit Loans......................................................  23
  2.03.  Commitment Fee.....................................................  23
  2.04   Reductions of Revolving Credit Commitment..........................  24
  2.05.  Revolving Credit Loan Requests.....................................  25
  2.06.  Making Revolving Credit Loans......................................  25
  2.07.  Notes and Interest Rates Provisions................................  26
  2.08.  Interest Payments, Interest Rates and Certain Related
          Payments Pertaining to the Revolving Credit Loans.................  26
  2.09.  Prepayments; Allocation of Repayments..............................  30
  2.10.  Yield Protection...................................................  31
  2.11.  Special Provisions Relating to the Euro-Rate Option................  33
  2.12.  Capital Adequacy...................................................  35
  2.13.  Swingline Loans....................................................  35
  2.14   Loan Account.......................................................  36
  2.15.  All Advances to Constitute One Loan................................  36
  2.16.  Use of Proceeds....................................................  37
  2.17.  Letter of Credit Subfacility.......................................  37
  2.18.  Taxes..............................................................  42
  2.19.  Payments...........................................................  43
 
ARTICLE III  SET-OFF, ACCOUNT, SECURITY INTERESTS...........................  44
 
  3.01.  Set-Off............................................................  44
  3.02.  Loan Disbursement Account..........................................  44
  3.03.  Assigned Collateral................................................  44
  3.04.  Designation of Class A Subsidiary Guarantors; Subsidiary
          Assigned Collateral...............................................  44
<PAGE>
 
  3.05.  Further Cooperation................................................  45
 
ARTICLE IV  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..................................  46
  4.01.  Organization and Qualification.....................................  46
  4.02.  Capitalization and Ownership.......................................  47
  4.03.  Subsidiaries.......................................................  47
  4.04.  Power and Authority................................................  47
  4.05.  Validity and Binding Effect........................................  47
  4.06.  No Conflict........................................................  47
  4.07.  Litigation.........................................................  48
  4.08.  Financial Statements...............................................  48
  4.09.  Margin Stock.......................................................  48
  4.10.  Full Disclosure....................................................  49
  4.11.  Tax Returns and Payments...........................................  49
  4.12.  Consents and Approvals.............................................  49
  4.13.  No Event of Default; Compliance with Instruments...................  50
  4.14.  Compliance with Laws...............................................  50
  4.15.  Investment Company; Public Utility Holding Company.................  50
  4.16.  Plans and Benefit Arrangements.....................................  50
  4.17.  Title to Properties................................................  52
  4.18.  Insurance..........................................................  52
  4.19.  Employment Matters.................................................  52
  4.20.  Environmental Matters..............................................  52
  4.21.  Senior Debt Status.................................................  54
  4.22.  Solvency of Borrower...............................................  54
  4.23.  Burdensome Restrictions............................................  54
  4.24.  Brokers............................................................  54
  4.25.  Liens..............................................................  54
  4.26.  No Material Adverse Change.........................................  55

ARTICLE V  CONDITIONS OF LENDING OR ISSUANCE OF LETTER OF CREDIT............  55
  5.01.  Conditions to Initial Borrowings...................................  55
  5.02.  Each Additional Revolving Credit Loan or Issuance of a Letter
          of Credit.........................................................  59
  5.03.  Location of Closing................................................  59
 
ARTICLE VI  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS...........................................  60
  6.01.  Preservation of Existence, etc.....................................  60
  6.02.  Reporting Requirements.............................................  60
  6.03.  Notices Regarding Plans and Benefit Arrangements...................  63

                                      -ii-
<PAGE>
 
  6.04.  Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, etc.......................  65
  6.05.  Maintenance of Insurance...........................................  65
  6.06.  Maintenance of Properties and Leases...............................  65
  6.07.  Maintenance of Permits and Franchises..............................  65
  6.08.  Visitation Rights..................................................  66
  6.09.  Keeping of Records and Books of Account............................  66
  6.10.  Plans and Benefit Arrangements.....................................  66
  6.11.  Compliance with Laws...............................................  66
  6.12.  Use of Proceeds....................................................  66
  6.13.  Environmental Laws.................................................  67
  6.14.  Senior Debt Status.................................................  67
 
ARTICLE VII  NEGATIVE COVENANTS.............................................  67
  7.01.  Indebtedness.......................................................  68
  7.02.  Liens..............................................................  69
  7.03.  Loans, Acquisitions and Investments................................  69
  7.04.  Liquidations, Mergers and Consolidations...........................  70
  7.05.  Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries.............................  70
  7.06.  Affiliate Transactions.............................................  71
  7.07.  Subsidiaries, Partnerships and Joint Ventures......................  71
  7.08.  Continuation of or Change in Business..............................  72
  7.09.  Plans and Benefit Arrangements.....................................  72
  7.10.  Fiscal Year........................................................  73
  7.11.  Changes in Organizational Documents................................  73
  7.12.  Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth............................  73
  7.13.  Interest Coverage..................................................  73
  7.14.  Leverage Ratio.....................................................  73
  7.15   Operating Leases...................................................  73
  7.16.  Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses..............................  73
  7.17.  No Changes.........................................................  74
 
ARTICLE VIII  DEFAULT.......................................................  74
  8.01.  Events of Default..................................................  74
  8.02.  Consequences of Event of Default...................................  78
 
ARTICLE IX  THE AGENT.......................................................  80
  9.01.  Appointment and Grant of Authority.................................  80
  9.02.  Delegation of Duties...............................................  80
  9.03.  Reliance by Agent on Lenders for Funding...........................  80

                                     -iii-
<PAGE>
 
  9.04.  Non-Reliance on Agent..............................................  81
  9.05.  Responsibility of Agent and Other Matters..........................  81
  9.06.  Actions in Discretion of Agent; Instructions from the Lenders......  82
  9.07.  Indemnification....................................................  83
  9.08.  Agent's Rights as a Lender.........................................  83
  9.09.  Notice of Default..................................................  83
  9.10.  Payment to Lenders.................................................  83
  9.11.  Holders of Notes...................................................  84
  9.12.  Equalization of Lenders............................................  84
  9.13.  Successor Agent....................................................  85
  9.14.  Calculations.......................................................  85
  9.15.  Beneficiaries......................................................  85
 
ARTICLE X  GENERAL PROVISIONS...............................................  86
 10.01.  Amendments and Waivers.............................................  86
 10.02.  Taxes..............................................................  87
 10.03.  Costs and Expenses, etc............................................  87
 10.04.  Notices............................................................  88
 10.05.  Participation and Assignment.......................................  89
 10.06.  Successors and Assigns.............................................  92
 10.07.  No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies; Writing Required..........  92
 10.08.  Severability.......................................................  92
 10.09.  Indemnity..........................................................  93
 10.10.  Confidentiality....................................................  93
 10.11.  Survival...........................................................  94
 10.12.  GOVERNING LAW......................................................  94
 10.13.  FORUM..............................................................  94
 10.14.  Non-Business Days..................................................  95
 10.15.  Integration........................................................  95
 10.16.  Headings...........................................................  95
 10.17.  Counterparts.......................................................  95
 10.18.  Funding by Branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate.........................  96
 10.19.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL...............................................  96

                                      -iv-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULES
                                   ---------
                                        

Schedule 1.01(a)   Lenders
Schedule 2.17(j)   Assumed Letters of Credit
Schedule 4.01      Jurisdictions of Incorporation and Qualification of
                    Borrower
Schedule 4.02      Capital Stock Options
Schedule 4.03      Interests in Subsidiaries and Other Entities
Schedule 4.07      Litigation
Schedule 4.11      Agreements Concerning Tax Returns
Schedule 4.12      Consents and Approvals
Schedule 4.16      Plans and Benefit Arrangements
Schedule 4.20      Environmental Matters
Schedule 5.01(b)   Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification of
                    Subsidiary Guarantor
Schedule 7.01      Permitted Indebtedness
Schedule 7.03      Other Investments
Schedule 7.06      Affiliate Transaction

                                      -v-
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBITS
                                 --------


Exhibit "A-1"   Form of Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit "A-2"   Form of Swingline Note
Exhibit "B"     Form of Borrower Security Agreement
Exhibit "C-1"   Form of Application and Agreement for Letter of Credit
Exhibit "C-2"   Form of Reimbursement Agreement
Exhibit "D"     Form of Loan Request
Exhibit "E"     Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement
Exhibit "F"     Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit "G"     Form of Opinion of Counsel
Exhibit "H"     Form of UCC-1 for Borrower
Exhibit "I"     Form of Subsidiary Guaranty
Exhibit "J"     Form of Subsidiary Security Agreement
Exhibit "K"     Form of UCC-1 for Subsidiary Guarantor
Exhibit "L"     Form of Subordination Agreement

                                      -vi-
<PAGE>
 
                             REVOLVING CREDIT AND
                      LETTER OF CREDIT ISSUANCE AGREEMENT


     THIS REVOLVING CREDIT AND LETTER OF CREDIT ISSUANCE AGREEMENT, dated as of
September 25, 1997, made by and among THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC., a
Delaware corporation (as more fully defined below, the "Borrower"), and the
Lenders (as hereinafter defined) and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its
capacity as L/C Issuer (as hereinafter defined) and as agent for the L/C Issuer
and the Lenders under this Agreement (in such capacity, as more fully defined
below, the "Agent").


                                 WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested the Lenders to make available to the
Borrower Revolving Credit Loans in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding
One Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000) at any one time
outstanding; and the Borrower has requested the Lenders to provide for the
issuance for the account of the Borrower Letters of Credit with an aggregate
Stated Amount not exceeding Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) at any one
time outstanding; provided that at no time will Total Utilization exceed One
Hundred and Twenty-Five Million ($125,000,000); and

     WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to make the Revolving Credit Loans
available to the Borrower upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
and the L/C Issuer is willing to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the
Borrower upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and the Lenders
are willing to purchase risk participations with respect to each Letter of
Credit issued by the L/C Issuer hereunder upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises (each of which is
incorporated herein by reference) and the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter set forth, and other valuable consideration, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby covenant and agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I
                              CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
                              -------------------


     1.01.  Certain Definitions.  In addition to words and terms defined
            -------------------                                           
elsewhere in this Agreement, the following words and terms shall have the
following meanings, respectively, unless the context hereof clearly requires
otherwise:
<PAGE>
 
     Affiliate of any Person shall mean any other Person (i) which owns
     ---------                                                         
beneficially, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding voting
securities of such Person, or which is otherwise in control of such Person, or
(ii) which is otherwise controlled by any entity described in clause (i) above;
provided that for purposes of this definition the terms "control" and
"controlled by" shall have the meanings assigned to them in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     Agent shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, a national banking
     -----                                                              
association organized under the laws of the United States of America, in its
capacity as agent for the L/C Issuer and the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement,
and its successors in such capacity.

     Agent's Fee shall mean the fee due the Agent in its capacity as Agent as
     -----------
more fully set forth in that certain letter agreement by and between the Agent
and the Borrower dated August 15, 1997.

     Agreement shall mean this Revolving Credit and Letter of Credit Issuance
     ---------                                                               
Agreement as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time including
all schedules and exhibits hereto.

     Applicable Commitment Fee shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
     -------------------------
2.03 of this Agreement.

     Applicable Euro-Rate Margin shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
     ---------------------------
Section 2.08(b)(ii) of this Agreement.

     Applicable Letter of Credit Fee shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
     -------------------------------
Section 2.17(b) of this Agreement.

     Application and Agreement for Letter of Credit shall mean an application
     ----------------------------------------------
and agreement for either a standby letter of credit or for an amendment thereto
substantially in the form of Exhibit "C-1" hereto.
                             -------------        

     Assigned Collateral shall mean "Assigned Collateral" as described in the
     -------------------                                                     
Security Agreement.

     Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall mean an Assignment and Assumption
     -----------------------------------                                        
Agreement by and among a Purchasing Lender, a Transferor Lender and the Agent,
as the Agent and on behalf of the remaining Lenders, as consented and agreed to
by the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit "E" hereto.
                                              -----------        

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     Assignment Fee shall mean the fee described in Section 10.05(b).
     --------------                                                  

     Authorized Officer shall mean those persons designated initially in the
     ------------------                                                     
several incumbency certificates delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof by the
Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be.  The Borrower, or a
Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, may amend such list of persons from
time to time by giving written notice of such amendment to the Agent.

     Availability shall mean, as of any time of determination either (i) the
     ------------                                                           
positive difference between the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and Total
Utilization, if the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments is greater than Total
Utilization at such time, or (ii) zero, if the aggregate Revolving Credit
Commitments is less than or equal to Total Utilization at such time.

     Base Rate shall mean, the greater of (i) the Prime Rate, or (ii) the
     ---------
Federal Funds Effective Rate plus fifty basis points (1/2 of 1%) per annum.

     Base Rate Option shall mean the interest rate option described in Section
     ----------------                                                         
2.08(b)(i) hereof.

     Base Rate Portion shall mean the portion of the Revolving Credit Loans or
     -----------------
the Swingline Loan which bears, or is to bear, interest under the Base Rate
Option.

     Benefit Arrangement shall mean at any time an "employee benefit plan",
     -------------------
within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, which is neither a Plan or a
Multiemployer Plan and which is maintained, sponsored or otherwise contributed
to, by any member of the ERISA Group.

     Borrower shall mean The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc., a corporation
     --------
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and its
successors and permitted assigns.

     Borrowing Date shall mean, with respect to any Revolving Credit Loan or the
     --------------                                                             
Swingline Loan, the date for the making thereof, which shall be a Business Day.

     Business Day shall mean (i) any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a
     ------------
legal holiday on which commercial banks in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are
authorized or required to be closed under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, federal law or other applicable Law of an Official Body, and (ii)
if the applicable Business Day relates to any day for the determination of any
Euro-Rate, any day that satisfies the conditions of clause (i) above provided
that such day is a day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are carried on in
the London interbank market.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     Capital Adequacy Event shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
     ----------------------
2.12 hereof.

     Capital Compensation Amount shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
     ---------------------------
Section 2.12 hereof.

     Capital Stock shall mean any and all shares, of any class (however
     -------------
designated) of capital stock of a corporation.

     Cash Collateral Account shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
     -----------------------                                                 
8.02(e) hereof.

     Cash Interest Expense means for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any
     ---------------------                                                    
period, gross interest expense for such period net of any interest income for
such period plus any interest capitalized during such period and excluding from
the calculation of gross interest expense any amortization of capitalized fees
(all of the foregoing determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with
GAAP).

     Cash Equivalents shall mean (i) securities issued or directly and fully
     ----------------                                                       
guaranteed or insured by the United States Government or any agency or
instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than six months from the
date of acquisition, (ii) time deposits, certificates of deposit and eurodollar
time deposits with maturities of not more than six months from the date of
acquisition, bankers' acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months from
the date of acquisition and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any
Lender or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess
of $500,000,000, (iii) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than
thirty days for underlying securities of any of the types described in clause
(i) or (ii) and entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified
in clause (ii) above, (iv) commercial paper maturing in 180 days or less rated
not lower than A-1 by S&P or P-1 by Moody's on the date of acquisition, and (v)
interests in pooled investment funds the assets of which are invested in
investments referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above.

     Class A Subsidiary Guarantor shall mean Seadrift Coke, L.P., a Texas
     ----------------------------
limited partnership and each other directly or indirectly owned Subsidiary of
the Borrower designated by the Lenders as a "Class A Subsidiary Guarantor"
pursuant to Section 3.04 hereof.

     Closing shall mean the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
     -------
other Loan Documents by the parties hereto and thereto on the Closing Date.

     Closing Date shall mean September 25, 1997.
     ------------                               

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     Commitment Fee shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.03
     --------------
hereof.
  
     Compliance Certificate shall mean a certificate executed by the chief
     ----------------------                                               
financial officer or the controller of the Borrower, substantially in the form
of Exhibit "F" hereto.
   -----------        

     Consolidated Intangible Assets shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and
     ------------------------------                                             
its Subsidiaries, all assets properly classified as intangible assets under
GAAP, including without limitation goodwill, patents, copyrights, trademarks,
trade names, franchises, licenses, organization costs and deferred charges.

     Consolidated Net Worth shall mean stockholders' equity of the Borrower and
     ----------------------
its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis, as determined in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied.

     Consolidated Tangible Net Worth shall mean the remainder determined by
     -------------------------------                                       
subtracting from Consolidated Net Worth the aggregate amount of Consolidated
Intangible Assets.

     Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall mean the Indebtedness of the Borrower
     -------------------------------
and its subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP,
consistently applied; provided however, that for the purpose of this definition
Indebtedness described in items (iv), (v) and (vi) of Section 7.01 shall be
excluded.

     Consolidated Total Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio shall mean, as of any date
     -----------------------------------------------
of determination, the ratio of the Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness as
of the end of the Borrower's most recently completed Fiscal Quarter to the
Borrower's EBITDA for the Borrower's four most recently completed Fiscal
Quarters treated as a single accounting period.

     Default shall mean any event or condition which with notice or passage of
     -------
time or both of the foregoing, would constitute an Event of Default.

     Dollar, Dollars, U.S. Dollars and the symbol $ shall mean lawful money of
     -----------------------------                -
the United States of America.

     EBITDA shall mean, for any period, the consolidated net income (or net
     ------
loss) of the Borrower for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP,
plus (a) the sum of (i) depreciation expense, (ii) amortization expense, (iii)
----
Interest Expense, (iv) total income tax expense, (v) extraordinary or unusual
losses (including after tax losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary
course of business and not otherwise included in GAAP extraordinary or unusual
losses), (vi) other non-cash charges, and (vii) the net loss of any Person that
is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except to the extent of
the amount of dividends or distributions paid to the Borrower, less (b) the sum
                                                               ----
of (i) extraordinary or unusual gains (including after tax

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
gains on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business and not
otherwise included in GAAP extraordinary or unusual gains), (ii) other non-cash
credits, and (iii) the net income of any Person that is accounted for by the
equity method of accounting, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or
distributions paid to the Borrower.

     Environmental Complaint shall mean any written complaint setting forth a
     -----------------------
cause of action for personal or property damage or equitable relief, or any
order, notice of violation or citation issued pursuant to any Environmental Laws
by an Official Body or arising out of, or issued pursuant to, any Environmental
Laws or any Environmental Conditions.

     Environmental Conditions shall mean any conditions of the environment,
     ------------------------                                              
including, without limitation, the work place, the ocean, natural resources
(including flora or fauna), soil, surface water, ground water, any actual or
potential drinking water supply sources, substrata or the ambient air, relating
to or arising out of, or caused by the use, handling, storage, treatment,
recycling, generation, transportation, release, spilling, leaking, pumping,
emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, disposal, dumping,
threatened release or other management or mismanagement of Regulated Substances
resulting from the use of, or operations on, the Property.

     Environmental Laws shall mean all federal, state and local laws and
     ------------------                                                 
regulations, including permits, orders, judgments, consent decrees issued, or
entered into by Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, pursuant thereto,
relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment or
employee safety in the work place.

     ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
     -----
the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor
statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, in each
case as from time to time in effect.

     ERISA Group shall mean, at any time, the Borrower and all members of a
     -----------                                                           
controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not
incorporated) under common control and all other entities which, together with
the Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal
Revenue Code.

     Euro-Rate shall mean for any day, as used herein, for each segment of the
     ---------                                                                
Euro-Rate Portion corresponding to a proposed or existing Euro-Rate Interest
Period, the interest rate per annum determined by the Agent by dividing (the
resulting quotient rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th of 1% per annum) (i)
the rate of interest determined by the Agent in accordance with its usual
procedures (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) to be
the average of the London interbank offered rates of interest per annum set
forth on Telerate display page 3750 or such other display page on the Telerate
System as may replace such page to evidence the average of rates quoted by banks
designated by the British Bankers' Association (or

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
an appropriate successor, or, if the British Bankers' Association or its
successor ceases to provide such quotes a comparable replacement determined by
the Agent) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Euro-Rate
Interest Period in an amount comparable to such Euro-Rate Portion for such Euro-
Rate Interest Period and having a borrowing date and a maturity comparable to
such Interest Period by (ii) a number equal to 1.00 minus the Euro-Rate Reserve
Percentage. The Euro-Rate may also be expressed by the following formula:

                      Telerate page 3750 quoted by British
     Euro-Rate  =  Banker's Association or appropriate successor
                   ---------------------------------------------
                       1.00 - Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage

The Euro-Rate shall be adjusted with respect to any Euro-Rate Option outstanding
on the effective date of any change in the Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage as of
such effective date.  The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower of the
Euro-Rate as determined or adjusted in accordance herewith, which determination
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     Euro-Rate Interest Period shall mean any individual period equal to be one
     -------------------------                                                 
(1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months selected by the Borrower commencing on
the Borrowing Date, a conversion date or a renewal date of a Euro-Rate Portion
to which such period shall apply.

     Euro-Rate Option shall mean the interest rate option described in Section
     ----------------                                                         
2.08b(ii) hereof.

     Euro-Rate Portion shall mean each portion of the Revolving Credit Loans
     -----------------
which bears, or is to bear, interest under the Euro-Rate Option; and the term
Euro-Rate Portions shall mean collectively all such portions of the Revolving
------------------
Credit Loans which bear, or are to bear, interest under the Euro-Rate Option.

     Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage shall mean for any day the percentage
     ----------------------------
(expressed as a decimal rounded upward to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) as determined
by the Agent in accordance with its usual procedures (which determination shall
be conclusive absent manifest error) which is in effect on such day as
prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any
successor) for determining the reserve requirements (including, without
limitation, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserve requirements) for the
Agent with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
"Eurocurrency Liabilities" in Regulation D promulgated by the Federal Reserve
Board).

     Event of Default shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.01
     ----------------
hereof.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
     Expiration Date shall mean September 30, 2002, or such later date as
     ---------------                                                     
determined by the Lenders in accordance with Section 2.01(b).

     Federal Bankruptcy Code shall mean the bankruptcy code of the United States
     -----------------------
of America codified in Title 11 of the United States Code, as from time to time
amended or supplemented.

     Federal Funds Effective Rate shall mean for any day the rate per annum
     ----------------------------
(based on a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed and rounded upward to the
nearest 1/100 of 1%) announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any
successor) on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the previous
Business Day) as being the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal
funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by
federal funds brokers on the previous trading day, as computed and announced by
such Federal Reserve Bank (or any successor) in substantially the same manner as
such Federal Reserve Bank computes and announces the weighted average it refers
to as the "Federal Funds Effective Rate" as of the date of this Agreement.

     Federal Reserve Board shall mean the Board of Governors of the United
     ---------------------
States Federal Reserve System as constituted from time to time.

     Fee shall mean any of the Commitment Fee, the Letter of Credit Fee, the L/C
     ---                                                                        
Fronting Fee, the Underwriting Fee and the Agent's Fee.

     Fiscal Quarter shall mean each three month fiscal period of the Borrower
     --------------                                                          
beginning respectively on each August 1, November 1, February 1 and May 1 during
the term hereof and ending on the immediately succeeding October 31, January 31,
April 30 and July 31.

     Fiscal Year shall mean each 12-month fiscal period of the Borrower
     -----------
beginning August 1 and ending on the immediately succeeding July 31.

     GAAP shall mean, subject to the provisions of Section 1.03 hereof,
     ----
generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as
may be recognized by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which
are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination.

     Guaranty or Guarantee shall mean any obligation, direct or indirect, by
     ---------------------
which a Person undertakes to guaranty, assume or remain liable for the payment
of another Person's obligations, including but not limited to (i) endorsements
of negotiable instruments, (ii) discounts with recourse, (iii) agreements to pay
upon a second Person's failure to pay, (iv) agreements to

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
maintain the capital, working capital solvency or general financial condition of
a second Person and (v) agreements for the purchase or other acquisition of
products, materials, supplies or services, if in any case payment therefor is to
be made regardless of the non-delivery of such products, materials or supplies
or the non-furnishing of such services.

     Indebtedness shall mean as to any person at any time, any and all
     ------------                                                     
indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of such person for or in respect of:
(i) borrowed money, (ii) amounts raised under or liabilities in respect of any
note purchase or acceptance credit facility, (iii) reimbursement obligations
under any letter of credit, currency swap agreement, hedging contracts, interest
rate swap, cap, collar or floor agreement or other interest rate management
device, raw materials management device or commodities management device (except
raw materials or commodity management devices entered into in the ordinary
course of business), (iv) any forward sale or purchase agreements, capitalized
leases or conditional sales agreements having the commercial effect of a
borrowing of money entered into by such person to finance its operations or
capital requirements (but not including trade payables and accrued expenses
incurred in the ordinary course of business), or (v) any Guaranty of any of the
foregoing.

     Indenture shall mean that certain Indenture dated as of August 26, 1993,
     ---------                                                                  
as amended, by and between the Borrower and State Street and Trust Company
concerning the issuance of the 11.5% senior notes due September 1, 2003,
together with all extensions, renewals, amendments, substitutions and
replacements thereto and thereof.

     Interest Expense shall mean interest expense, as determined in accordance
     ----------------
with GAAP, as appearing on the Borrower's financial statements.

     Interest Hedge Agreement shall mean any interest rate swap agreement,
     ------------------------
interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate
insurance or any other agreement or arrangement designed to provide protection
against fluctuations in interest rates.

     Interest Payment Date shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.08
     ---------------------                                                      
hereof.

     Interest Rate Option shall mean the Euro-Rate Option or Base Rate Option.
     --------------------                                                     

     Internal Revenue Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the
     ---------------------                                                     
same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute
of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to
time in effect.

     Inventory shall mean, with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary
     ---------                                                           
Guarantor, any and all now owned or hereafter acquired goods, merchandise, raw
material, work-in-process and finished goods inventory and other tangible
personal property intended for sale or lease and all materials and supplies
which are used or consumed in selling or furnishing such goods,

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
merchandise or other personal property, in the custody or possession, actual or
constructive, of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case maybe,
including such inventory as is on consignment to third parties, leased to
customers of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case maybe, or
otherwise temporarily out of the custody or possession of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case maybe.

     L/C Fronting Fee shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.17(b)
     ----------------
of this Agreement.

     L/C Issuer shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, as the issuer of
     ----------
Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.17, and any successor to PNC Bank,
National Association as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

     Labor Contracts shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.19
     ---------------
hereof.

     Law shall mean any law (including common law), constitution, statute,
     ---
treaty, regulation, rule, ordinance, opinion, release, ruling, order,
injunction, writ, decree or award of any Official Body.

     Lender Obligations shall mean collectively, (i) all unpaid principal and
     ------------------                                                      
accrued and unpaid interest under the Revolving Credit Loans and the Swingline
Loan, (ii) all accrued and unpaid Fees hereunder or under  any of the other Loan
Documents, (iii) the face amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding,
together with all Unreimbursed L/C Draws and all accrued and unpaid interest on
such Unreimbursed L/C Draws, (iv) the actual (as opposed to nominal) credit
exposure determined in accordance with standard industry practices to any Lender
or Affiliate of a Lender under an Interest Hedge Agreement between such Person
and the Borrower, (v) any other amounts payable hereunder or under any of the
other Loan Documents, including all reimbursements, indemnities, fees, costs,
expenses, prepayment premiums and other obligations of the Borrower to a Lender
(in any capacity hereunder) or any indemnified party hereunder, (vi) all out-of-
pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with this
Agreement or any other Loan Documents, including but not limited to the
reasonable fees and expenses of the Agent's counsel, (vii) all out-of-pocket
costs and expenses incurred by a Lender after an Event of Default in connection
with any administration or enforcement of the Loan Documents , including but not
limited to the reasonable fees and expenses of such Lender's counsel, and (vii)
all other liabilities, obligations, covenants, duties and Indebtedness of the
Borrower to the Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders of any and every kind and
nature, arising under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, whether
heretofore, now or hereafter owing, arising, due or payable from the Borrower to
the Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Lenders.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
     Lenders shall mean the financial institutions named on Schedule 1.01(a)
     -------                                                ----------------
hereto and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder,
each of which is referred to herein as a Lender.
                                         ------ 

     Letter of Credit shall mean any standby letter of credit issued by the L/C
     ----------------                                                          
Issuer for the account of the Borrower upon the application of the Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement, and all extensions, renewals, amendments,
substitutions and replacements thereto and thereof.

     Letter of Credit Fee shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.17.
     --------------------                                                       

     Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security
     ----
interest, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of any nature
whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily given, including but not
limited to any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, and any
assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of,
security and any filed financing statement or other notice of any of the
foregoing (whether or not a lien or other encumbrance is created or exists at
the time of the filing).

     Loans shall mean Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans and Loan shall
     -----                                                                     
mean separately, any Revolving Credit Loan or Swingline Loan.

     Loan Account shall mean the loan account maintained by a Lender as more
     ------------
fully described in Section 2.14 hereof.

     Loan Disbursement Account shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
     -------------------------                                                 
3.02 hereof.

     Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, any Application and
     --------------                                                          
Agreement for Letter of Credit, the Reimbursement Agreement, the Security
Documents, any Interest Rate Hedge Agreement executed by a Lender or an
affiliate of a Lender, any Subordination Agreement and any other agreements,
instruments, certificates or documents contemplated thereby, as any of the same
may be supplemented or amended from time to time in accordance herewith or
therewith; and Loan Document shall mean any of the Loan Documents.
               -------------                                      

     Loan Request shall mean a request for Revolving Credit Loans made in
     ------------                                                        
accordance with Section 2.05 hereof which request shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit "D" hereto.
        -----------        

     Margin Regulations shall mean Regulation G, T, U or X as promulgated by the
     ------------------                                                         
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended from time to time.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
     Material Adverse Change shall mean any set of circumstances or events which
     -----------------------                                                    
(a) has or would reasonably be expected to have any material adverse effect upon
the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Notes, any Application and
Agreement for Letter of Credit or any Security Document, taken as a whole (b) is
or would reasonably be expected to be material and adverse to the business,
properties, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (c) impairs materially or would
reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Borrower, or a
Subsidiary Guarantor, to duly and punctually pay or perform each such party's
respective obligations under the Loan Documents.

     Maximum Purchase Commitment shall mean the maximum amount the purchaser in
     ---------------------------
a Securitization Contract is committed to purchase at any one time during the
term of such Securitization Contract.

     Moody's shall mean Moody's Investors Service, Inc., a corporation organized
     -------                                                                    
and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, its successors and
assigns, and, if such corporation shall be dissolved or liquidated or shall no
longer perform the functions of a securities rating agency, "Moody's" shall be
deemed to refer to any other nationally recognized securities rating agency
designated by the Agent, with the approval of the Borrower, by notice to the
Lenders.

     Multiemployer Plan shall mean any employee benefit plan which is a
     ------------------                                                
"multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and to
which the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group is then making or accruing
an obligation to make contributions or, within the preceding five Plan years,
has made or had an obligation to make such contributions.

     Multiple Employer Plan shall mean a Plan which has two or more contributing
     ----------------------                                                     
sponsors (including the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group) at least two
of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Sections
4063 and 4064 of ERISA.

     Notes shall mean collectively all of the Revolving Credit Notes and the
     -----                                                                  
Swingline Note and Note separately shall mean any Revolving Credit Note and the
                   ----                                                        
Swingline Note.

     October 1997 Delivery Date shall mean the date on which the Borrower's
     --------------------------                                            
financial statements and Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter Ending
October 31, 1997 are required to be delivered to the Lenders pursuant to items
(i) and (iii) of Section 6.02.

     Official Body shall mean any national, federal, state, local or other
     -------------                                                        
government or political subdivision or any agency, authority, bureau, central
bank, commission, department or instrumentality of either, or any court,
tribunal, grand jury or arbitrator, in each case whether foreign or domestic.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
     Participant shall mean any bank or financial institution which acquires
     -----------
from any Lender an undivided interest in the Lender's Ratable Share of the
Revolving Credit Commitments, Revolving Credit Loans, Letters of Credit and
Unreimbursed L/C Draws, pursuant to Section 10.05.

     Participation shall mean the sale, made in accordance with the provisions
     -------------
of Section 10.05, by any Lender to any Participant of an undivided interest in
such Lender's Ratable Share of the Revolving Credit Commitments, Revolving
Credit Loans, Letters of Credit and Unreimbursed L/C Draws.

     PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established
     ----
pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA or any other governmental agency,
department or instrumentality succeeding to the functions of said corporation.

     Permitted Liens shall mean:
     ---------------            

          (i)   Liens for taxes, assessments, governmental levies or similar
                charges incurred in the ordinary course of business and
                which are not yet due and payable, or if due and payable,
                (aa) are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
                and lawful proceedings diligently conducted, but only so
                long as such proceedings could not subject the Agent, the
                Lenders or the L/C Issuer to any (1) civil or criminal
                penalties or liabilities or (2) involve any risk of loss,
                sale or forfeiture of any Assigned Collateral or the
                Subsidiary Assigned Collateral not otherwise protected
                against and (bb) for which such reserves or other
                appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP
                shall have been made and (cc) which shall be paid in
                accordance with the terms of any final judgments or orders
                relating thereto within thirty (30) days after the entry of
                such judgments or orders and (dd) which do not impair the
                first priority lien of the Agent for the benefit of the
                Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in the Receivables,
                the Inventory or the proceeds thereof;

          (ii)  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,
                other social security programs or similar program or to
                secure liability to insurance

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
                carriers under insurance or self-insurance agreements or
                arrangement;

          (iii) 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
                and Liens of landlords securing obligations to pay lease
                payments that are not yet due and payable or in default, or
                if such Liens are due and payable, (aa) are being contested
                in good faith and by appropriate and lawful proceedings
                diligently conducted and (bb) for which such reserves or
                other appropriate provisions, if any, as required by GAAP
                shall have been made and (cc) which shall be paid in
                accordance with the terms of any final judgments or orders
                relating thereto within thirty (30) days after the entry of
                such judgments or orders;

          (iv)  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 the aggregate amounts due thereunder, or to secure
                statutory obligations, or surety, appeal, indemnity,
                performance or other similar bonds required in the ordinary
                course of business;

          (v)   (aa) Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions,
                easements, rights-of-way, or other restrictions on the use
                of real property, (bb) defects in title to real property,
                and (cc) Liens, encumbrances and title defects affecting
                real property not known by the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as
                applicable, and not discoverable by a search of the public
                records, none of which materially impairs the use of such
                property;

          (vi)  Liens, security interests and mortgages in favor of the
                Agent for the benefit of the Agent, the Lenders and the L/C
                Issuer;

          (vii) (aa) Liens on assets of a Person which is merged into or
                acquired by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower
                after the date of this Agreement, and  (bb) Liens on assets
                acquired after the date of this Agreement, provided that (A)
                                                           --------         
                such Liens existed at the time of such merger or acquisition
                and were not created in anticipation thereof, (B) no such
                Lien is spread to cover any property or assets of the
                Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower and (C) the
                principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not
                increased

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
                from the amount outstanding immediately prior to such merger
                or acquisition;

         (viii) Liens created by or resulting from any litigation or legal
                proceedings which are currently being contested in good
                faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently
                conducted and for which such reserves or other appropriate
                provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have
                been made and Liens arising out of judgments or orders for
                the payment of money which do not constitute an Event of
                Default hereunder;

         (ix)   Liens placed upon fixed assets or equipment hereafter
                acquired to secure all or a portion of the purchase price
                thereof, provided that any such lien shall not encumber any
                other property of the Borrower;

         (x)    other Liens incidental to the conduct of the Borrower's
                business or the ownership of its property and assets which
                were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money
                or the obtaining of advances or credit, and which do not in
                the aggregate materially detract from the value of the
                Borrower's property or assets or which do not materially
                impair the use thereof in the operation of the Borrower's
                business; and

         (xi)   Leases or subleases including existing operating leases in
                favor of PNC Leasing Corp. not otherwise prohibited by this
                Agreement or other Loan Documents; provided, however,
                                                   --------  ------- 
                nothing set forth in items (ii) through (xi) of this
                definition shall permit or authorize Liens on any of the
                Assigned Collateral or Subsidiary Assigned Collateral except
                in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Agent, the
                Lenders and the L/C Issuer.

     Person or person shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
     ----------------                                                     
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint
venture, government or political subdivision or agency thereof, or any other
entity.

     Plan shall mean at any time an employee pension benefit plan (including a
     ----                                                                     
Multiple Employer Plan but not a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title
IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of
the Code and either (i) is maintained by any member of the ERISA Group for
employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the
preceding five years been maintained by any entity which

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any entity which
was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.

     PNC Bank shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, and its successors and
     --------                                                                  
assigns.

     Portions shall mean collectively the Base Rate Portions and the Euro-Rate
     --------                                                                 
Portions; and the term Portion shall mean individually any of the Portions.
                       -------                                             

     Prime Rate shall mean for any day, a fluctuating interest rate per annum
     ----------
equal to the rate of interest which the Agent announces from time to time as its
prime lending rate, which rate may not be the lowest rate then being charged by
the Agent to commercial borrowers.

     Principal Office shall mean the principal commercial banking office of the
     ----------------
Agent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

     Prohibited Transaction shall mean any prohibited transaction as defined in
     ----------------------                                                    
Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 406 of ERISA for which
neither a statutory, an individual nor a class exemption has been issued by the
United States Department of Labor.

     Property shall mean, and refer to, each parcel of real property, whether
     --------
owned in fee or leased, of the Borrower or a Subsidiary.

     Purchasing Lender shall mean a Lender which becomes a party to this
     -----------------
Agreement by executing an Assignment and Assumption Agreement.

     Ratable Share shall mean the proportion that a Lender's Revolving Credit
     -------------                                                           
Commitment bears to the Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders,
respectively.

     Receivable shall mean, with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary
     ----------                                                           
Guarantor, all accounts, accounts receivable, contract rights related to such
accounts, instruments, chattel paper, general intangibles related to such
accounts and all other rights to payments of moneys for any reason (whether or
not evidenced by a contract, instrument, chattel paper or document), and all
other rights, powers and privileges of the Borrower, or any Subsidiary
Guarantor, as the case may be, arising thereunder or related thereto (including
but not limited to all guarantees, collateral security, surety bonds, rights
under letters of credit, insurance or other direct or indirect security),
assertible against any Person whatever and all rebates, refunds, adjustments and
returned, rejected, or repossessed goods relating thereto and all proceeds of
any of the foregoing.

     Register shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.05(c).
     --------                                                         

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
     Regulated Substances shall mean any substance, including without limitation
     --------------------                                                       
Solid Waste, the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport, recycling, reclamation, use, reuse or other
management or mismanagement of which is regulated by the Environmental Laws.

     Reimbursement Agreement shall mean the Reimbursement Agreement
     -----------------------
substantially in the form of Exhibit "C-2" as the same may be supplemented and
                             -------------
amended from time to time.

     Reportable Event shall mean any of the events or occurrences set forth in
     ----------------                                                         
Section 4043(b) of ERISA.

     Required Lenders shall mean Lenders whose Revolving Credit Commitments
     ----------------                                                      
aggregate at least 51% of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the
Lenders.

     Revolving Credit Commitment shall mean as to any Lender at any time, the
     ---------------------------                                             
amount initially set forth opposite its signature hereto, and thereafter on
Schedule I to the most recent Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as the same
may be reduced pursuant to Sections 2.04 or 2.10(a) hereof, and Revolving Credit
                                                                ----------------
Commitments shall mean the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the
-----------                                                                    
Lenders.

     Revolving Credit Loans shall mean collectively, all Revolving Credit or any
     ----------------------                                                     
Revolving Credit Loan and Revolving Credit Loan shall mean any Revolving Credit
                          ---------------------                                
Loan made by the Lenders or one of the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.01 hereof.

     Revolving Credit Notes shall mean collectively all the promissory notes of
     ----------------------
the Borrower in the form of Exhibit "A-1" hereto and Revolving Credit Note shall
                            -------------                                       
mean separately each promissory note of the Borrower substantially in the form
of Exhibit A-1 hereto in each case evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans
together with all amendments, extensions, renewals, replacements, refinancings
or refundings thereof or thereto in whole or in part.

     S&P shall mean Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of McGraw Hill
     ---                                                                      
Corporation, and, if such corporation shall be dissolved or liquidated or shall
no longer perform the functions of a securities rating agency, "S&P" shall be
deemed to refer to any other nationally recognized securities rating agency
designated by the Agent, with the approval of the Borrower, by notice to the
Lenders.

     Securitization shall mean the monetizing of Receivables of the Borrower and
     --------------
the consolidated Subsidiaries.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
     Securitization Contract shall mean a contract between the Borrower or a
     -----------------------                                                
consolidated Subsidiary on the one hand and the purchaser of receivables on the
other hand relating to a Securitization.

     Security Agreement shall mean a security agreement, substantially the form
     ------------------
of Exhibit "B" attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, together in
   -----------                                                                  
each case with all extensions, renewals, amendments, substitutions and
replacements thereto and thereof.

     Security Documents shall mean the Security Agreement, any Subsidiary
     ------------------
Guaranty, any Subsidiary Security Agreement, the Uniform Commercial Code filings
and any and all security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages, deeds of
trust, other agreements and other documents (including without limitation
financing statements) related to the creation, perfection or maintenance of
Liens in favor of the Agent in any assets of the Borrower or a Subsidiary
Guarantor as security for the Lender Obligations.

     Senior Notes shall mean those certain 11-1/2% per annum senior notes of the
     ------------                                                               
Borrower due September 1, 2003 issued pursuant to the Indenture; and the term
                                                                             
     Senior Note shall mean any of the Senior Notes.
     -----------                                    

     Solid Waste shall mean any garbage, refuse or sludge from any waste
     -----------
treatment plant, water supply treatment plant or air pollution control facility
generated by activities on the Property, and any unpermitted release into the
environment or the work place of any material as a result of activities on the
Property, including without limitation, baghouse dust, dross, scrap and used
Regulated Substances.

     Solvent shall mean, with respect to any person on a particular date, that
     -------
on such date (i) the fair value of the property of such person is greater than
the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent
liabilities, of such person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets
of such person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the
probable liability of such person on its debts as they become absolute and
matured, (iii) such person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts
and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they
mature in the normal course of business, (iv) such person does not intend to,
and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such
person's ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (v) such
person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage
in business or a transaction, for which such person's property would constitute
unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing
practice in the industry in which such person is engaged. In computing the
amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such
liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and
circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably
be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
     Stated Amount shall mean as to any Letter of Credit, the lesser of (i) the
     -------------                                                             
face amount thereof or (ii) the remaining available undrawn amount thereof
(regardless of whether any conditions for drawing could then be met).

     Subordination Agreement shall mean a subordination agreement executed by a
     -----------------------                                                   
Subsidiary of the Borrower as the subordinated creditor, the Borrower or a
Subsidiary of the Borrower as the debtor and the Agent on behalf of the Lenders
as senior creditors each substantially in the form of Exhibit "L" hereto
together with all extensions, renewals, amendments, substitutions and
replacements thereto and thereof.

     Subordinated Note shall mean either or both and Subordinated Notes shall
     -----------------                               ------------------
mean both (i) the demand note dated January 17, 1995 by the Borrower as maker to
CG Specialty Products Management Corporation in the principal amount of Forty-
Nine Million Nine Hundred Forty Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Dollars
($49,940,550) and (ii) the demand note dated March 25, 1995 by the Borrower as
maker to CG Specialty Products Management Corporation in the principal amount of
Three Million Two Hundred Forty Three Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Dollars and
Seventy Five Cents ($3,243,980.75) and all extensions, renewals, amendments,
substitutions and replacements thereto and thereof.

     Subsidiary of any person at any time shall mean any corporation or trust of
     ----------                                                                 
which more than 50% (by number of shares or number of votes) of the outstanding
Capital Stock or shares of beneficial interest normally entitled to vote for the
election of one or more directors or trustees (regardless of any contingency
which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) is at such time owned
directly or indirectly by such person or one or more of such person's
Subsidiaries, or any partnership of which such person is a general partner or of
which more than 50% of the partnership interests is at the time directly or
indirectly owned by such person or one or more of such person's Subsidiaries.

     Subsidiary Assigned Collateral shall mean "Assigned Collateral", as
     ------------------------------
described in the Subsidiary Security Agreement executed by each Class A
Subsidiary Guarantor.

     Subsidiary Guarantor shall mean each Class A Subsidiary Guarantor and each
     --------------------                                                      
other Subsidiary of the Borrower incorporated or organized in the United States
of America.

     Subsidiary Guaranty shall mean a guaranty agreement executed by a
     -------------------
Subsidiary Guarantor substantially in the form of Exhibit "I" attached hereto,
                                                  -----------
together in each case with all extensions, renewals, amendments, substitutions
and replacements thereto and thereof.

     Subsidiary Security Agreement shall mean a security agreement executed by a
     -----------------------------                                              
Class A Subsidiary Guarantor, substantially in the form of Exhibit "J" attached
                                                           -----------         
hereto and

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
incorporated herein by reference, together in each case with all extensions,
renewals, amendments, substitutions and replacements thereto and thereof.

     Supplemental Documentation  shall mean agreements, instruments, documents,
     --------------------------                                                
financing statements, warehouse receipts, bills of lading, notices of assignment
of accounts, schedules of accounts assigned, and other written matter necessary
or reasonably requested by Agent to perfect and maintain perfected Agent's lien
and security interest for the benefit of the Agent, the Lenders and the L/C
Issuer in the Assigned Collateral or the Subsidiary Assigned Collateral.

     Swingline Loan shall mean a disbursement made by PNC to Borrower pursuant
     --------------
to Section 2.13.

     Swingline Note shall mean the promissory note of the Borrower evidencing
     --------------                                                          
Indebtedness of the Borrower under the Swingline Option which note is
substantially in the form of Exhibit "A-2" to the Agreement, together with all
                             -------------                                    
extensions, renewals, amendments, modifications, substitutions and replacements
thereto and thereof.

     Swingline Option shall mean the loan option between the Borrower and PNC
     ----------------
Bank pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof.

     Tender Offer shall mean the tender for the Senior Notes made pursuant to
     ------------
the tender offer announced August 29, 1997 which offer has an expiration date of
September 26, 1997, unless otherwise extended.

     Total Utilization shall mean as of the time of determination the sum of
     -----------------                                                      
Revolving Credit Loans outstanding, Swingline Loans outstanding, the
Unreimbursed L/C Draws outstanding and the aggregate Stated Amount of the
Letters of Credit outstanding.

     Transfer Effective Date shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the
     -----------------------
applicable Assignment and Assumption Agreement.

     Transferor Lender shall mean the selling Lender pursuant to an Assignment
     -----------------
and Assumption Agreement.

     Uniform Commercial Code or UCC shall mean the Pennsylvania Uniform
     ------------------------------
Commercial Code and, if applicable, the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the
state in which the place of business of the Borrower is located, or, if the
Borrower has more than one place of business, the state in which the Borrower
has its Chief Executive Office.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
     Underwriting Fee.  The fee due the Agent pursuant to the letter agreement
     -----------------                                                        
dated August 15, 1997 between the Borrower and the Agent.

     Unreimbursed L/C Draw shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
     ---------------------                                                 
2.17(f).

     1.02.  Construction.
            ------------   

            (a) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly requires,
references to the plural include the singular, the singular the plural and the
part the whole, "or" has the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase
"and/or," and "including" has the meaning represented by the phrase "including
without limitation." References in this Agreement to "determination" of or by
the Agent, L/C Issuer or the Lenders shall be deemed to include reasonable good
faith estimates by the Agent, L/C Issuer or the Lenders (in the case of
quantitative determinations) and reasonable and good faith beliefs by the Agent,
L/C Issuer or the Lenders (in the case of qualitative determinations). Whenever
the Agent, L/C Issuer or the Lenders are granted the right herein to act in its
or their sole discretion or to grant or withhold consent such right shall be
exercised reasonably and in good faith. The words "hereof," "herein,"
"hereunder" and similar terms in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The article,
section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not control or affect the construction of this Agreement
or the interpretation thereof in any respect. Article, Section, schedule and
exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Except as
otherwise specified in this Agreement, all references in this Agreement (i) to
any Person, other than the Borrower, shall be deemed to include such Person's
successors and assigns, and (ii) to any Law, agreement or contract specifically
defined or referred to in Agreement shall be deemed references to such Law,
agreement or contract as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified,
extended, waived, consolidated, replaced or renewed from time to time, but only
to the extent permitted by, and effected in accordance with, the terms thereof.

            (b) For purposes of this Agreement, all terms used in Article 9 of
the UCC and not specifically defined in this Agreement shall herein have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the UCC as from time to time in effect in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

            (c) References to "writing" include printing, typing, lithography
and other means of reproducing words in a tangible visible form. References to
"written" include "printed", "typed", "lithographed" and other adjectives
relating to words reproduced in a tangible visible form consistent with the
preceding sentence and also include electronic images and images stored on
computer disks, magnetic tape and like media.

     1.03.  Accounting Principles.  Except as otherwise provided in this
            ---------------------                                         
Agreement, all computations and determinations as to accounting or financial
matters and all financial state-

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
ments to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be made and prepared in
accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation where appropriate),
and all accounting or financial terms shall have the meanings ascribed to such
terms by GAAP.


                                  ARTICLE II
                           REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
                           -------------------------


     2.01.  Revolving Credit Commitments.  (a) Subject to the terms and
            ----------------------------                                 
conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set
forth, each Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans (the
"Revolving Credit Loans") to the Borrower at any time or from time to time on or
-----------------------                                                         
after the date hereof to, but not including, the Expiration Date, provided that
                                                                  --------     
the aggregate principal amount of each Lender's Revolving Credit Loans
outstanding hereunder to the Borrower shall not exceed at any one time such
Lender's Ratable Share of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments minus such
Lender's Ratable Share of the sum of (i) the aggregate Stated Amount of
outstanding Letters of Credit issued pursuant to Section 2.17 and (ii) the
aggregate amount of Unreimbursed L/C Draws.  Within such limits of time and
amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may
borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.01.  The aggregate amount
of the Revolving Credit Commitments on the Closing Date is $125,000,000.  All
Revolving Credit Commitments shall expire on the Expiration Date; and all
Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on the Expiration Date shall become due and
payable in full on such date.

            (b) Extension of Expiration Date. Commencing in 1998, upon the
                ----------------------------
written request of the Borrower directed to the Agent given not earlier than the
delivery of the audited financial statements of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year just ended nor later than November 15
immediately following the last day of the Fiscal Year covered by the most
recently delivered audited financial statements of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Lenders, the Lenders
may extend the Expiration Date then in effect in one year increments measured
from the Expiration Date in effect on the date that each such request is
received; provided however the initial extension of the Expiration Date shall
alter the Expiration Date from September 30, 2002 to December 31, 2003 and
thereafter each subsequent extension of the Expiration Date shall be to the next
successive December 31st; and provided further, that the initial extension of
                              ----------------
the Expiration Date, if granted, shall not become effective until January 1,
1999. It is understood that the first such request for an extension of the
Expiration Date may not be made until the delivery to the Bank of the audited
financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year
ending July 31, 1998, and in any event the first such request must be made on or
before November 15, 1998. No such extension of an Expiration Date shall be
effective unless the Borrower shall have received a written notice of all
Lenders which consents to such extension.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
 
     2.02. Nature of Lenders' Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit
           ---------------------------------------------------------------
Loans. Each Lender shall be obligated to participate in each request for
-----
Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof in accordance with its
Ratable Share. The aggregate principal amount of each Lender's Revolving Credit
Loans outstanding hereunder to the Borrower at any time shall never exceed such
Lender's Ratable Share of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments minus such
Lender's Ratable Share of the sum of (i) Swingline Loans outstanding, (ii) the
aggregate Stated Amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit and (iii) the
aggregate amount of Unreimbursed L/C Draws. The obligations of each Lender
hereunder are several. The failure of any Lender to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower, or any other Lender,
to any other party nor shall the Borrower, or any other Lender, be liable for
the failure of such Lender to perform its obligations hereunder. The Lenders
shall have no obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder on or after
the Expiration Date.

     2.03.  Commitment Fee.  Accruing from Closing Date until the Expiration
            --------------                                                    
Date, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender, as
consideration for such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, a
commitment fee (the "Commitment Fee") equal to the Applicable Commitment Fee per
                     --------------                                             
annum, as determined below, (all computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366
days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) on the average daily amount
equal to such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment minus such Lender's Ratable
Share of Total Utilization.  All Commitment Fees shall be payable (i) quarterly
in arrears beginning October 31, 1997 and continuing on the last Business Day of
each Fiscal Quarter occurring during the term of the Revolving Credit Commitment
thereafter, (ii) on the Expiration Date and (iii) upon acceleration of the
Notes.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Applicable Commitment Fee" shall mean
                                          -------------------------            
the rate per annum set forth in the chart below which corresponds to the range
of ratios in which the Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness to EBITDA
Ratio, as at the end of the preceding fiscal quarter, falls:

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Consolidated Total Indebtedness                    Applicable 
                    to EBITDA Ratio                          Commitment Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                                                        <C>
  Less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0                                .15%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 1.5 to 1.0 but less than or equal
   to 2.0 to 1.0                                                 .175%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.0 to 1.0 but less than or equal                            
   to 2.5 to 1.0                                                  .20%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.5 to 1.0                                        .225%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

All such adjustments shall be determined as of the date the Borrower's quarterly
financial statements and Compliance Certificate are required to be delivered to
the Lenders pursuant to items (i) and (iii) of Section 6.02.  The foregoing
notwithstanding the Applicable Commitment Fee from the Closing Date to and
including the October 1997 Delivery Date shall be .175%.

     2.04  Reductions of Revolving Credit Commitment.
           -----------------------------------------   

           (a) Voluntary Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments. Subject to
               ---------------------------------------------------
the provisions of Section 2.09 hereof, at any time and from time to time upon at
least five (5) Business Days' prior written notice to the Agent, the Borrower
may terminate, in whole or in part, without penalty, the then unused portion of
the Revolving Credit Commitments, thereby causing a corresponding abatement of
the Commitment Fee. Each such reduction shall be in a minimum principal amount
of $5,000,000 or, if in excess of $5,000,000, in integral multiples of
$1,000,000. The Commitment Fee shall cease to accrue with respect to any unused
portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments so terminated five (5) Business Days
after receipt of such notice. Notice of termination once given shall be
irrevocable and the portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments so terminated
shall not be available for borrowing once such notice has been given under the
terms hereof. The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of its Ratable Share
of such terminated unused portion and the date of each such termination.

           (b)  Mandatory Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitment. The
Borrower, subject to the provisions of Section 2.09, shall be required to reduce
the Revolving Credit Commitment and immediately repay outstanding Revolving
Credit Loans which cause the Total Utilization to be in excess of the Revolving
Credit Commitment, as so reduced, in each of the following amounts in each of
the following circumstances:

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
 
                 (x)  on the date of sale, by the amount of the Maximum
                      Purchase Commitment; and

                 (y)  on the date of funding by the amount of any
                      Indebtedness issued by the Borrower or any of its
                      Subsidiaries pursuant to item (vii) of Section 7.01.

     2.05. Revolving Credit Loan Requests. Except as otherwise provided herein,
           ------------------------------
the Borrower may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request the
Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower by the delivery to the
Agent, not later than Noon (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) (i) three (3)
Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of
Revolving Credit Loans to which the Euro-Rate Option applies for any Revolving
Credit Loans; and (ii) on the Business Day of the proposed Borrowing Date with
respect to the making of a Revolving Credit Loan to which the Base Rate Option
applies of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of
Exhibit "D" hereto or a request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by
-----------                                                                     
letter or facsimile in such form (each, a "Loan Request"), it being understood
                                           ------------                       
that the Agent may rely on the authority of any person making such a telephonic
request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation.  Each
Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the proposed Borrowing
Date; (ii) the aggregate amount of the proposed Revolving Credit Loans to be
made on such Borrowing Date, which amount shall be in integral multiples of
$100,000 and not less than $1,000,000; (iii) subject to Section 2.08(d), whether
the Euro-Rate Option or the Base Rate Option shall apply to the proposed
Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such Borrowing Date; and (iv) in the case
of Revolving Credit Loans to which the Euro-Rate Option applies and subject to
Sections 2.08(d) and 2.08(e), an appropriate Euro-Rate Interest Period for each
Euro-Rate Portion of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such Borrowing
Date.

     2.06.  Making Revolving Credit Loans.  Subject to Section 9.03, the Agent
            -----------------------------                                       
shall, promptly after receipt by it of a Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.05
(but not later than noon (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) on the Borrowing Date
for same day funding and 2:00 p.m. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) on the second
Business Day preceding any Borrowing Date for which any Portion of the Revolving
Credit Loans to be made on such Borrowing Date bears interest at the Euro-Rate
Option), notify the Lenders of its receipt of such Loan Request specifying:  (i)
the proposed Borrowing Date and the time and method of disbursement of such
Revolving Credit Loan; (ii) the amount and type of such Revolving Credit Loan
and the applicable Euro-Rate Portions and Euro-Rate Interest Periods (if any);
and (iii) the apportionment among the Lenders of the Revolving Credit Loans as
determined by the Agent in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof.  Subject to
Section 9.03, each Lender shall remit the principal amount of each Revolving
Credit Loan to the Agent such that the Agent is able to, and the Agent shall, to
the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such purpose, fund
such Revolving Credit Loan to the Borrower in Dollars and immediately available
funds at the Principal Office

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
 
prior to 2:00 P.M. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) on the Borrowing Date,
provided that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Agent in a timely
manner, or any Lender fails to advise the Agent of its intention not to fund,
then the Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with its own funds the
Revolving Credit Loan of such Lender on the Borrowing Date.

     2.07.  Notes and Interest Rates Provisions.  The obligation of the Borrower
            -----------------------------------
to repay the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans
made to the Borrower by each Lender, together with interest thereon, shall be
evidenced by a promissory note of the Borrower dated the Closing Date in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A-1" payable to the order of
                                          -------------                        
each Lender in a face amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitment of such
Lender.

     2.08.  Interest Payments, Interest Rates and Certain Related Payments
            --------------------------------------------------------------
Pertaining to the Revolving Credit Loans.
----------------------------------------

            (a) Interest. The Revolving Credit Notes shall bear interest on the
                --------
actual unpaid principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding from the
date thereof until payment in full at the rates of interest set forth in Section
2.08(b). The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on the unpaid principal balance
of the Revolving Credit Notes in arrears:

                (i) with respect to the Base Rate Portion, at the rate specified
     in the Base Rate Option, (A) on the last Business Day of each Fiscal
     Quarter during the term of the Revolving Credit Commitment, (B) at
     maturity, whether by acceleration or otherwise, of the Revolving Credit
     Notes and (C) thereafter on demand until all amounts evidenced by the
     Revolving Credit Notes are paid in full; and

                (ii) with respect to each Euro-Rate Portion, at the rate
     specified in the Euro-Rate Option, (A) on the last day of the Euro-Rate
     Interest Period applicable thereto; provided, however, if the Euro-Rate
                                         --------
     Interest Period chosen for any Euro-Rate Portion exceeds three (3) months,
     interest on that Euro-Rate Portion shall be due and payable at the end of
     every three (3) months during such Euro-Rate Interest Period and on the
     last day of such Euro-Rate Interest Period, (B) at the maturity, whether by
     acceleration or otherwise, of the Revolving Credit Notes and (C) thereafter
     on demand until all amounts evidenced by the Revolving Credit Notes are
     paid in full.

            (b) Interest Rate Options. During the term hereof, the Borrower
                ---------------------
shall have the option of electing, from time to time, one or more of the
Interest Rate Options set forth below to be applied to the Revolving Credit
Loans.

                (i)  Base Rate Option. Interest under this Interest Rate Option
                     ----------------
     shall accrue, for the Base Rate Portion of the Revolving Credit Loans
     outstanding, at a rate per

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
 
     annum equal to the Base Rate. The Base Rate shall be adjusted automatically
     from time to time upon each change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
     Effective Rate, as the case may be, and in accordance with the provisions
     of Section 2.08(c).

                (ii) Euro-Rate Option. Interest under this Interest Rate Option
                     ----------------
     shall accrue, for each Euro-Rate Portion of the Revolving Credit Loans
     outstanding, for any Euro-Rate Interest Period selected, at a rate per
     annum equal to the sum of (A) the Euro-Rate plus (B) the Applicable Euro-
                                                 ----
     Rate Margin as determined below. The rate of interest established pursuant
     to the preceding sentence of this Section 2.08(b)(ii) for each Euro-Rate
     Portion shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the
     provisions of Section 2.08(c).

For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Applicable Euro-Rate Margin" shall
                                          ---------------------------       
mean the rate per annum set forth in the chart below which corresponds to the
range of ratios in which the Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness to
EBITDA Ratio as at the end of the preceding fiscal quarter falls:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Consolidated Total Indebtedness              Applicable Euro-Rate
                    to EBITDA Ratio                             Margin
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                                                    <C>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0                               1/2%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 1.5 to 1.0 but less than or equal                 
   to 2.0 to 1.0                                                 5/8%           
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.0 to 1.0 but less than or equal                       
   to 2.5 to 1.0                                                 3/4%  
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.5 to 1.0                                        7/8%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

All adjustments shall be determined as of the date the Borrower's quarterly
financial statements and Compliance Certificate are required to be delivered
pursuant to items (i) and (iii) of Section 6.02.  The foregoing notwithstanding
the Applicable Euro-Rate Margin from the Closing Date to and including the
October 1997 Delivery Date shall be 5/8%.

            (c)  Interest After Maturity. After the occurrence of an Event of
                 -----------------------
Default and during the continuation thereof, the Base Rate Portion shall bear
interest at a rate per annum which shall be two hundred (200) basis points (2%)
above the Base Rate otherwise in effect during such period. After the occurrence
of an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof, all Euro-Rate
Portions shall bear interest (i) until the end of the then current Euro-Rate
Interest Period for each such Euro-Rate Portion, at a rate per annum which shall
be two hundred (200) basis points (2%) above the sum of (A) the Euro-Rate plus
                                                                          ----
(B) the Applicable

                                      -27-
<PAGE>
 
Euro-Rate Margin otherwise in effect during such period and (ii) at the end of
the then current Euro-Rate Interest Period for each such Euro-Rate Portion, such
Euro-Rate Portions shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Portion,
and thereafter the interest rate shall be calculated in accordance with the
initial sentence of this Section 2.08(c).

            (d)  Interest Periods; Limitations on Elections. At any time when
                 ------------------------------------------
the Borrower shall select, convert to or renew the Euro-Rate Option to apply to
all or any portion of the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, it shall elect one
or more Euro-Rate Interest Periods as the case may be. All the foregoing,
however, is subject to the following:

                 (i) any Euro-Rate Interest Period which would otherwise end on
     a day which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next Business
     Day unless such Business Day falls in the succeeding calendar month in
     which case such Euro-Rate Interest Period shall end on the next preceding
     Business Day; and

                 (ii) any Euro-Rate Interest Period which begins on the last day
     of a calendar month or on a day for which there is no numerically
     corresponding day in the subsequent calendar month during which such Euro-
     Rate Interest Period is to end shall end on the last Business Day of such
     subsequent month.

     Elections by the Borrower of the Euro-Rate Option shall be subject to the
following limitations:

                 (i)   The Euro-Rate Portion for each Euro-Rate Interest Period
     shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or more; provided,
                                                                      --------
     however, that each increment in excess of $5,000,000 shall be $1,000,000 or
     an integral multiple thereof;

                 (ii)  No Euro-Rate Interest Period may be elected at any time
     that a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
     continuing;

                 (iii) No Euro-Rate Interest Period may be elected which would
     end later than the Expiration Date;

                 (iv)  No Euro-Rate Interest Period may be elected with regard
     to amounts outstanding which would be in excess of the Revolving Credit
     Commitment;

                 (v)   At no time may there be more than eight (8) separate
     Euro-Rate Interest Periods in effect; and

                                      -28-
<PAGE>
 
                 (vi)  Until the earlier to occur of (A) completion of
     syndication as determined by the Agent or (B) ninety days from the Closing
     Date the Borrower may only elect the one (1) month Euro-Rate Interest
     Period.

            (e) Election, Renewal or Conversion of Interest Rate Options.
                --------------------------------------------------------
Elections or renewals of, or conversions to, the Base Rate Option shall continue
in effect until converted or renewed as hereinafter provided. Elections or
renewals of, or conversions to, the Euro-Rate Option shall expire as to each
Euro-Rate Portion at the expiration of the applicable Euro-Rate Interest Period.
At any time with respect to the Base Rate Portion or at the expiration of the
applicable Euro-Rate Interest Period with respect to any Euro-Rate Portion, the
Borrower may cause (subject to Subsection 2.08(d)) all or any part of the
principal amount of such portion to be converted to, or to be renewed under, the
Euro-Rate Option by notice to the Agent as hereinafter provided. Such notice (i)
shall be irrevocable, (ii) shall be given not later than Noon (Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania time) in the case of a conversion to or renewal of, either in whole
or in part, the Euro-Rate Option, not less than three (3) Business Days prior to
the proposed effective date for such conversion or renewal, and (iii) shall set
forth:

            (A)  the effective date of such conversion or renewal, which shall
     be a Business Day;

            (B)  the new Euro-Rate Interest Period(s) selected; and

            (C)  with respect to each such Euro-Rate Interest Period, the
     aggregate principal amount of the corresponding Euro-Rate Portion.

At the expiration of each Euro-Rate Interest Period, any part (including the
whole) of the principal amount of the corresponding Euro-Rate Portion as to
which no notice of conversion or renewal has been received shall automatically
be converted to the Base Rate Option.  The Agent shall promptly notify the
Borrower and the Lenders of any such automatic conversion.

            (f)  Notification of Election of an Interest Rate Option. The
                 ---------------------------------------------------
Borrower, by an Authorized Officer, shall notify the Agent of each election of
an Interest Rate Option, each conversion from one Interest Rate Option to
another, the amount of the Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding to be
allocated to each Interest Rate Option and, where relevant, the Euro-Rate
Interest Periods as provided for in this Agreement. Any such communication may
be oral or written and if oral it shall be followed promptly by written
confirmation of such Interest Rate Option election executed by an Authorized
Officer of the Borrower.

            (g)  Calculation of Interest. Interest on the Base Rate Portion
                 -----------------------
shall be calculated on the basis of a 365 or 366 day year, as the case may be,
and the actual days elapsed. Interest on each Euro-Rate Portion shall be
calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the

                                      -29-
<PAGE>
 
actual days elapsed. The calculation of the amount of interest due and owing to
the Lenders shall be evidenced by posting the amount of interest due under the
Revolving Credit Notes to the Loan Account established by the Agent pursuant to
Section 2.14.

            (h)  Lawful Interest Rates Intended. In no event whatsoever
                 ------------------------------
shall the interest rates charged hereunder exceed the highest rate permissible
under any law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final
determination, deem applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines
that any Lender has received interest hereunder in excess of the highest
applicable rate, such Lender shall promptly refund such excess to the Borrower,
or at such Lender's option, apply such excess in reduction of the principal
balance of the Lender Obligations owing to the affected Lender.

     2.09.  Prepayments; Allocation of Repayments.
            -------------------------------------   

            (a)  Prepayments of Base Rate Portion. The Borrower, upon oral or
                 --------------------------------
written notice to the Agent by an Authorized Officer of Borrower given not later
than 12:00 noon (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) on the proposed date for
prepayment, may prepay without penalty or premium any or all of the Base Rate
Portion. Any oral notice of election hereunder shall be followed immediately by
written confirmation of such prepayment election executed by an Authorized
Officer of Borrower

            (b)  Prepayments of Euro-Rate Portions. Except as otherwise provided
                 ---------------------------------
in Section 2.10(c), the Borrower, upon oral or written notice to the Agent by an
Authorized Officer of Borrower given at least three (3) Business Days prior to
the proposed date for repayment, may prepay, all or any part of such Euro-Rate
Portion. If such Euro-Rate Portion is prepaid on the last day of the Euro-Rate
Interest Period applicable thereto, such prepayment shall be without premium or
penalty. If the Borrower prepays a Euro-Rate Portion other than on the last day
of the Euro-Rate Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower agrees to pay,
in addition to the other amounts set forth in this Section 2.09(b), such
additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate each Lender for any loss
(including loss of profit on a pre-tax basis) and any direct or indirect costs,
including the costs of reemployment of funds prepaid at rates lower than the
cost to such Lender of such funds. Such losses and costs shall be specified in
writing to the Borrower by the affected Lenders (and such specifications shall
set forth in reasonable detail the calculation of such losses and costs) and
such specifications shall, absent manifest error, be binding and conclusive on
the Borrower. Such prepayment shall include the then outstanding principal
amount of the Euro-Rate Portion being prepaid together with accrued interest,
fees and other amounts then due and payable on the amount prepaid, to the day of
such prepayment. Except as provided in this Section 2.09(b), there shall be no
voluntary prepayment of any Euro-Rate Portion.

                                      -30-
<PAGE>
 
                 (c)  Allocation of Repayments of Principal. Any voluntary
                      -------------------------------------
prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.09 hereof shall be applied first to the
repayment of any Euro-Rate Portion of the Revolving Credit Loans for which its
associated Euro-Rate Interest Period expires on the date of such payment,
second, to the reduction of the Base Rate Portion of the Revolving Credit Loans,
and third, to the reduction of such Euro-Rate Portions of the Revolving Credit
Loans as directed by the Borrower, and if the Borrower fails to give such
directions, or if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
to the reduction of such Euro-Rate Portions of the Revolving Credit Loans as the
Agent may select in its sole and absolute discretion. Any reduction in any Euro-
Rate Portion on a date other than the date on which its associated Euro-Rate
Interest Period expires may result in a funding loss for which the Borrower will
owe the Lenders an indemnity payment pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof.

     2.10.  Yield Protection.
            ----------------   

            (a)  If any change subsequent to the Closing Date in any Law or in
the interpretation or application thereof by any Official Body or in the
compliance with any guideline or request from any Official Body, shall make it
unlawful for any Lender to maintain or give effect to its obligations as
contemplated under the Revolving Credit Commitment, such Lender shall notify the
Borrower and the Agent in writing of its determination of such unlawfulness and
an explanation thereof. Thereafter, such Lender's obligation to make available
any further Revolving Credit Loans hereunder shall forthwith be cancelled and
the Borrower, within thirty (30) days, or within such longer period as may be
allowed by Law, if any, shall repay to such Lender so affected its pro rata
share of the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans together
with interest thereon to the date of repayment and fees, if any, due as of the
date of termination; provided, however, that the affected Lender's obligations
                     --------
which are lawful, if severable from those which are unlawful, shall continue,
and with respect to those obligations, this Agreement shall not terminate.

            (b)  If any Law issued after the Closing Date (including, without
limitation, Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board), or if any change on or
after the Closing Date in any Law (including, without limitation, Regulation D)
or in the interpretation thereof by any Official Body charged with the
administration thereof, shall

                 (i)  subject any Lender to any tax, levy, impost, charge, fee,
     duty, deduction or withholding or any kind hereunder (other than any tax
     imposed or based upon the income of such Lender and payable to any
     governmental or taxing authority in the United States of America, any state
     or any municipality thereof); or

                 (ii) change the basis of taxation of any Lender with respect to
     payments of principal or interest or other amounts due hereunder (other
     than any change

                                      -31-
<PAGE>
 
     which affects, and only to the extent that it affects, the taxation by the
     United States, any state or any municipality thereof based upon the income
     of such Lender); or

                 (iii) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special
     deposit or similar requirements against assets held by any Lender (other
     than such requirements which result solely from a change in the credit
     quality of the Borrower or which are included in the determination of the
     applicable rate of interest hereunder); or

                 (iv)  impose upon any Lender any other obligation or condition
     with respect to this Agreement,

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to any Lender, to
decrease the yield to any Lender with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans or
any Letters of Credit, to reduce the income receivable by any Lender or to
impose any expenses upon any Lender with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans
or any Letters of Credit by an amount which any Lender reasonably deems
material, then and in any such case:

                       (A)  the Lender so affected shall promptly notify the
     Borrower and the Agent of the happening of such event;

                       (B)  the Borrower shall pay to the affected Lender,
     within five (5) Business Days of written demand such amount as will
     compensate such Lender for such additional cost or reduced amount,
     calculated from the date of the notification by such Lender; and

                       (C)  the Borrower may pay to such affected Lender the
     affected Revolving Credit Loan in full without the payment of any
     additional amount other than on account of such Lender's out-of-pocket
     losses (including funding losses, if any, as provided in paragraph (c)
     below) not otherwise provided for in subparagraph (B) immediately above.

The Lender so affected shall present to the Borrower and the Agent a certificate
setting forth such increased cost or reduced amount.  Such certificate shall set
forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount due and such Lender's
reasons for invoking the provisions of this Section 2.10(b).  Such certificate
shall be conclusive evidence of the amount due thereunder except in the case of
manifest error in computation.  The Borrower shall pay such amount to such
Lender, as additional consideration hereunder, within ten (10) days of the
Borrower's receipt of such certificate.

                 (c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender, on demand,
against any loss or expense (including loss of profit) which such Lender may
sustain or incur in

                                      -32-
<PAGE>
 
liquidating or employing deposits from third parties acquired to effect, fund or
maintain such Euro-Rate Portions or any part thereof as a consequence of (i) the
failure of the Borrower to make a payment on the due date thereof, (ii) the
failure of the Borrower to borrow under, convert to or renew under the Euro-Rate
Option on the proposed effective date of such borrowing, conversion or renewal,
or (iii) the payment, prepayment or conversion by the Borrower of any Euro-Rate
Portions for any reason on a day other than the last day of the applicable Euro-
Rate Interest Period. Any Lender's determination of an amount payable under this
paragraph (c) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

            (d)  The foregoing notwithstanding, if the affected Lender can
mitigate or eliminate such increased cost or reduced yield by transferring the
Loans to another existing lending office of such Lender, such Lender agrees to
so transfer the Loans.

     2.11.  Special Provisions Relating to the Euro-Rate Option.
            ---------------------------------------------------   

            (a)  Euro-Rate Unascertainable. In the event that on any date on
                 -------------------------
which a Euro-Rate Option would otherwise be set, the Agent shall have determined
(which determination shall be final and conclusive) that, by reason of
circumstances affecting the London interbank market, adequate, reasonable means
do not exist for ascertaining the Euro-Rate, the Agent shall give prompt notice
of such determination to the Borrower and the Lenders. Until the Agent notifies
the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such
determination no longer exist (which notice shall be given promptly following
receipt of knowledge thereof by the Agent), the right of the Borrower to borrow
under, convert to or renew the Euro-Rate Option shall be suspended. Any notice
of borrowing under, conversion to or renewal of the Euro-Rate Option which was
to become effective during the period of such suspension shall be treated as a
request to borrow under, convert to or renew the Base Rate Option with respect
to the principal amount therein specified.

            (b) Inability to Offer Euro-Rate. In the event that any Lender
                ----------------------------
shall determine, in its sole discretion, that it is unable to obtain deposits in
the London interbank market in sufficient amounts and with maturities related to
such Euro-Rate Portions which would enable such Lender to fund such Euro-Rate
Portions, then such Lender shall notify the Borrower and the Agent that the
right of the Borrower to borrow under, convert to or renew the Euro-Rate Option,
shall be suspended with respect to such Lender. Such notice shall set forth in
reasonable detail such Lender's reasons for invoking the provisions of this
Section 2.11(b). Following notification of the suspension of the Euro-Rate
Option with respect to such Lender, the Borrower agrees to negotiate with such
Lender for a modified or alternative fixed rate of interest, which will allow
such Lender to realize its anticipated and bargained-for yield. In the event
that the Borrower and such Lender cannot agree on a modified or alternative
fixed rate of interest, any notice of borrowing under, conversion to or renewal
of the Euro-Rate Option which was to become effective during the period of
suspension shall be treated as a request to borrow under,

                                      -33-
<PAGE>
 
convert to or renew the Base Rate Option with respect to the principal amount
specified therein attributable to such Lender.

            (c)  Illegality. If any Lender shall determine in good faith (which
                 ----------                                                     
determination shall be final and conclusive) that compliance with any Law
(whether or not having the force of law) or the interpretation or application
thereof by any Official Body, has made it unlawful or impractical for such
Lender to make or maintain the Revolving Credit Loans under the Euro-Rate
Option, such Lender shall give notice of such determination to the Borrower and
the Agent, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail such Lender's
reasons for invoking the provisions of this Section 2.11(c). Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, unless and until such Lender shall
have given notice to the Borrower and the Agent that the circumstances giving
rise to such determination no longer apply (which notice shall be given promptly
following receipt of knowledge thereof by such Lender):

                 (i)  with respect to any Euro-Rate Interest Periods thereafter
     commencing, interest in an amount equal to such Lender's Ratable Share of
     the corresponding Euro-Rate Portion shall be computed and payable under the
     Base Rate Option; and

                 (ii) on such date, if any, as shall be required by law, an
     amount equal to such Lender's Ratable Share of any Euro-Rate Portion, as
     the case may be, then outstanding shall be automatically converted to the
     Base Rate Option and the Borrower shall pay to such Lender the accrued and
     unpaid interest on such amounts to (but not including) such conversion
     date.

The Borrower shall pay any such Lender any additional amounts reasonably
necessary to compensate such Lender for any costs incurred by such Lender as a
result of any conversion pursuant to clause (ii) above which occurs on a day
other than the last day of the relevant Euro-Rate Interest Period, including,
but not limited to, any interest or fees payable by such Lender to lenders of
funds obtained by them to loan or maintain the lending of the Revolving Credit
Loans so converted.  Such Lender shall furnish to the Borrower and the Agent a
certificate as to the amount necessary to compensate it for such costs, which
certificate shall set forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount
due.  Such certificate shall constitute conclusive evidence of the amount due
thereunder absent any manifest error in computation.  The Borrower shall pay
such amount to such Lender, as additional consideration hereunder, within ten
(10) days of the Borrower's receipt of such certificate.

            (d) The foregoing notwithstanding, if the affected Lender can
continue to offer the Euro-Rate Option to the Borrower by transferring the
Revolving Credit Loans to another existing lending office of such Lender, such
Lender agrees to so transfer the Revolving Credit Loans.

                                      -34-
<PAGE>
 
     2.12.  Capital Adequacy.  If after the Closing Date (i) any adoption of or
            ----------------
any change in or in the interpretation by an Official Body of any Law or (ii)
compliance with any Law, guideline or request of any Official Body exercising
control over banks or financial institutions generally or any court (whether or
not having the force of law), affects or would affect the amount of capital
required or expected to be maintained by any Lender or any corporation
controlling such Lender other than those resulting solely from a change in the
credit quality of the Borrower (a "Capital Adequacy Event"), and the result of
such Capital Adequacy Event is to reduce the rate of return on capital of such
Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence thereof to a
level below that which such Lender could have achieved but for such Capital
Adequacy Event, taking into consideration such Lender's policies with respect to
capital adequacy, by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, such
Lender shall promptly deliver to the Borrower and the Agent a statement of the
amount necessary to compensate such Lender for the reduction in the rate of
return on its capital attributable to the commitments under this Agreement or
any of the Loan Documents (the "Capital Compensation Amount").  Each Lender
shall determine the Capital Compensation Amount in good faith, using reasonable
attribution and averaging methods.  Each Lender shall, from time to time,
furnish to the Borrower and the Agent a certificate setting forth the amount so
determined and the calculations of such amount.  Such certificate shall
constitute conclusive evidence of the amount due thereunder absent any manifest
error in computation.  Such amount shall be due and payable by the Borrower to
such Lender ten (10) days after such notice is given.  As soon as practicable
after any Capital Adequacy Event, such Lender shall submit to the Borrower and
the Agent estimates of the Capital Compensation Amounts that would be payable as
a function of such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder.

     2.13.  Swingline Loans.
            ---------------   

            (a)  Swingline Option. Subject to the provisions of this Section
2.13, PNC Bank agrees that the Borrower may request that Swingline Loans, in an
aggregate amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the lesser of (i)
$5,000,000 or (ii) an amount which, when added to the aggregate principal amount
of (A) all other Loans then outstanding, (B) the aggregate Stated Amount of
outstanding Letters of Credit issued pursuant to Section 2.17 and (C) the
aggregate amount of unreimbursed draws does not exceed $125,000,000.

            (b)  Limitations on and Evidence of Swingline Loans. Each Swingline
                 ----------------------------------------------
Loan or repayment of a Swingline Loan must be in the minimum principal amount of
$10,000 or, if in excess of $10,000 in integral multiples of $10,000. The
obligation of the Borrower to repay, prior to the Expiration Date, the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of such Swingline Loans advanced by PNC Bank shall be
evidenced by the Swingline Note substantially in the form of Exhibit "A-2"
                                                             -------------
hereto. The principal amount actually due and owing PNC Bank shall be the

                                      -35-
<PAGE>
 
aggregate unpaid principal amount of all disbursements of Swingline Loans made
by PNC Bank, all as shown on such PNC Bank Loan Account established pursuant to
Section 2.14.

            (c)  Swingline Procedure. The Borrower may from time to time from
                 -------------------
the Closing Date to the Business Day prior to the Expiration Date request a
Swingline Loan. Such request shall be made not later than Noon (Pittsburgh Time)
on the date of the proposed Swingline Loan. Such request may be made to the
Agent orally or in writing and if orally confirmed in writing. PNC Bank shall
make the Swingline Loan available to the Borrower not later than 3:00 P.M.
Pittsburgh Time on the same Business Day such Swingline Loan is requested.

            (d)  Swingline Loan Interest. Interest on the Swingline Loans
                 -----------------------
shall accrue at the Base Rate, except as provided in Subsection 2.08(c).

            (e)  Risk Participation. Upon the disbursement of each Swingline
                 ------------------
Loan and without any further action by or on behalf of such Lender, each Lender
hereby agrees to purchase, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, an
undivided full risk non-recourse participation in such Swingline Loan, in an
amount equal to (i) such Lender's Commitment Percentage (ii) multiplied by the
outstanding principal amount of such Swingline Loan on the date of the Event of
Default; provided however, no Lender shall participate in any Swingline Loan
         -------- -------
which Swingline Loan is made after a notice of an Event of Default has been
given. If and to the extent any Swingline Lender receives payment of principal
or interest on a participated Swingline Loan, such Swingline Lender shall
deliver to each Lender such Lender's pro rata share of such payment.

     2.14  Loan Account. The Agent shall open and maintain on its books a Loan
           ------------
Account in the name of the Borrower, with respect to (i) Revolving Credit Loans
and Swingline Loans made, repayments and prepayments of the principal thereof,
and the computation and payment of interest thereon, (ii) Letters of Credit
issued, or participated in, as the case may be, and draws and reimbursements
thereon or thereof, and (iii) the computation and payment of interest and the
Fees due hereunder to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Agent, and the
computation of other amounts due and sums paid to the Agent hereunder.  Upon the
request of the Borrower to Agent, the Agent shall promptly furnish to the
Borrower a statement of the Loan Account.  The failure to record any such amount
shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or
under the Notes to repay all amounts owed hereunder and thereunder together with
all interest accrued thereon and all other fees and charges provided herein.
The Loan Account shall be conclusive evidence as to the amount at any time due
to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Agent from the Borrower except in the
case of manifest error.

     2.15.  All Advances to Constitute One Loan. Notwithstanding the limitations
            -----------------------------------
set forth herein, all Revolving Credit Loans by the Lenders to the Borrower
under this Agreement

                                      -36-
<PAGE>
 
and the other Loan Documents, including without limitation, the Revolving Credit
Loans, the Swingline Loans and all other Lender Obligations, shall constitute
one loan and all Indebtedness and obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders
under this Agreement and all other Loan Documents shall constitute a general
obligation of the Borrower, secured by a first priority lien on the Assigned
Collateral and the Subsidiary Assigned Collateral. The Lenders and the Borrower
agree that all of the rights of the Lenders and the Borrower set forth in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall apply to any amendment or
modification of or supplement to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
  
     2.16.  Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans shall be
            ---------------
used exclusively (i) to pay interest, Fees and other costs, and expenses
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (ii) to repay any Unreimbursed L/C
Draw, (iii) to fund the Tender Offer and (iv) to fund capital expenditures,
working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower.

     2.17.  Letter of Credit Subfacility.
            ----------------------------

            (a)  At the request of the Borrower, the L/C Issuer will issue for
the account of the Borrower, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth
(including without limitation Article V hereof), one or more Letters of Credit;
provided, however, no Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date later than the
earlier of one (1) year from the date of issuance or fifteen (15) days prior to
the Expiration Date; and provided, further, however, that in no event shall (i)
the Stated Amount of the Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.17
exceed, at any one time, $15,000,000, or (ii) the sum of aggregate outstanding
principal balance of the Revolving Credit Loans, the aggregate unpaid balance of
outstanding Swingline Loans, the aggregate unpaid balance of any Unreimbursed
L/C Draws and the aggregate Stated Amount of the Letters of Credit issued by the
L/C Issuer under this Section 2.17 exceed, at any one time, the aggregate
Revolving Credit Commitments. Each Letter of Credit issued hereunder shall be
issued only to support performance obligations, bonding requirements and self-
insurance obligations of the Borrower arising in the ordinary course of its
business and other purposes approved by the Agent, the Required Lenders and L/C
Issuer.

            (b)  The Borrower shall pay (i) to the L/C Issuer for its own
account a fronting fee equal to 1/8 of 1% per annum (the "L/C Fronting Fee") on
the aggregate daily (computed at the opening of business and on the basis of a
year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) Stated
Amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit for the period in question, and (ii)
to the Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders a fee (the "Letter of Credit
Fee") equal to the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee per annum, as determined
below, on the aggregate daily (computed at the opening of business and on the
basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed)
Stated Amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit for the period in question.
The Letter of Credit Fee and the L/C Fronting Fee shall be

                                      -37-
<PAGE>
 
payable (i) quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter
occurring during the term of this Agreement thereafter, (ii) on the Expiration
Date or (iii) upon acceleration of the Notes. Any issuance of an amendment to
extend the stated expiration date of a Letter of Credit or an amendment to
increase the Stated Amount of a Letter of Credit shall be treated as an issuance
of a new Letter of Credit for purposes of calculation of Letter of Credit Fee
and the L/C Fronting Fee due and payable hereunder. The Borrower shall also pay
to the L/C Issuer the L/C Issuer's customary documentation fees payable with
respect to the Letters of Credit as the L/C Issuer may generally charge from
time to time. After the occurrence of an Event of Default (which continues after
the expiration of any cure period applicable thereto) and during the
continuation thereof, the rate at which the Letter of Credit Fee is calculated
shall be increased by two hundred (200) basis points (2%) above the pre-default
rate; the increase to be payable monthly during the continuation of the Event of
Default.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Applicable Letter of Credit Fee" shall
                                          -------------------------------       
mean the rate per annum set forth in the chart below which corresponds to the
range of ratios in which the  Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness to
EBITDA  Ratio as at the end of the preceding fiscal quarter falls:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Consolidated Total Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio         Applicable Letter of
                                                                 Credit Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                                                       <C>
  Less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0                                  1/2%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 1.5 to 1.0 but less than or equal
   to 2.0 to 1.0                                                    5/8%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.0 to 1.0 but less than or equal                           
    to 2.5 to 1.0                                                   3/4%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Greater than 2.5 to 1.0                                           7/8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

All adjustments shall be determined as of the date the Borrower's quarterly
financial statements and Compliance Certificate are required to be delivered
pursuant to items (i) and (iii) of Section 6.02.  The foregoing notwithstanding,
the Applicable Letter of Credit Fee from the Closing Date to and including the
October 1997 Delivery Date shall be 5/8%.

            (c)  Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit and each
increase or decrease in the Stated Amount thereof, each Lender hereby agrees to
irrevocably purchase and shall be deemed to have irrevocably purchased from the
L/C Issuer an undivided, full risk, non-recourse participation in such Letter of
Credit and drawings thereunder in an

                                      -38-
<PAGE>
 
amount equal to such Lender's Ratable Share of the maximum amount which is or at
any time may become available to be drawn thereunder. In the event that the L/C
Issuer is required for any reason to refund or repay to the Borrower, any
guarantor or any other Person all or any portion of any amount remitted to the
L/C Issuer pursuant to this Agreement, the Lenders shall promptly remit to the
L/C Issuer, upon three (3) Business Days' demand therefor, their respective
Ratable Share of the amount which is so refunded or repaid.

            (d)  In the event any restrictions are imposed upon the L/C Issuer
or any of the Lenders by any Law of any Official Body having jurisdiction over
the banking activities of the L/C Issuer or any Lender which would prevent the
L/C Issuer from issuing the Letters of Credit or amending the Letters of Credit
or would prevent any Lender from honoring its obligations under this Section
2.17, the commitment of the L/C Issuer to issue the Letters of Credit or enter
into any amendment with respect thereto shall be immediately suspended. If any
Lender believes any such restriction would prevent such Lender from honoring its
obligations under this Section 2.17, it shall promptly notify the Agent. The
Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, the L/C Issuer and the other Lenders
of the existence and nature of (i) any restriction which would cause the
suspension of the commitment of the L/C Issuer to issue the Letters of Credit or
to enter into amendments with respect thereto and (ii) any restriction which
would prevent any Lender from honoring its obligations under this Section 2.17.
The Borrower will thereupon undertake reasonable efforts to obtain the
cancellation of all outstanding Letters of Credit; provided, however, that the
refusal of any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit to surrender such Letter of
Credit will not be an Event of Default hereunder, provided that the Borrower
shall undertake good faith efforts to obtain substitute letters of credit for
the then existing and outstanding Letters of Credit. Nothing contained in this
Section 2.17 shall be deemed a termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments
and, in the event of a suspension of the commitment of the L/C Issuer to issue
Letters of Credit as set forth above, the Borrower may continue to borrow under
the Revolving Credit Commitments provided the requirements of Section 5.02 are
complied with.

            (e)  On the Closing Date the Borrower shall execute and deliver to
the Agent the Reimbursement Agreement. When the Borrower desires the issuance of
a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall deliver a duly completed Application and
Agreement for Letter of Credit to the L/C Issuer, with a copy to the Agent, no
later than 11:00 A.M. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) at least three (3)
Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the L/C Issuer, in
advance of the proposed date of issuance. Upon satisfaction of the conditions
set forth in Section 5.01 and, if applicable, Section 5.02, the L/C Issuer shall
be obligated to issue the Letter of Credit and shall notify the Agent and each
Lender of such issuance. In determining whether to pay under a Letter of Credit,
the L/C Issuer shall be responsible only to determine that the documents and
certificates required to be delivered under the Letter of Credit have been
delivered and that they comply on their face with the requirements of the Letter
of Credit.

                                      -39-
<PAGE>
 
            (f)  In the event of any request for drawing under a Letter of
Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer shall immediately notify the
Borrower and the Agent, and the Borrower shall reimburse, or cause the
reimbursement of, the L/C Issuer on demand as set forth in the applicable
Application and Agreement for Letter of Credit in an amount in same day funds
equal to the amount of such drawing; provided, however, that anything contained
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, unless the Borrower shall
have notified the Agent and the L/C Issuer prior to such time that the Borrower
intends to reimburse the L/C Issuer for all or a portion of the amount of such
drawing with funds other than the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans, the
Borrower shall be deemed to have given a Loan Request to the Agent requesting
the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans on the first Business Day immediately
following the date on which such drawing is honored in an aggregate amount equal
to the excess of the amount of such drawing over the amount received by the L/C
Issuer from such other funds in reimbursement thereof (the "Unreimbursed L/C
                                                            ----------------
Draw"), plus accrued interest on such amount at the rate set forth in Subsection
----
2.08. Any such Revolving Credit Loan shall be deemed advanced to the Borrower.
If the Borrower shall be deemed to have given a Loan Request, then, subject to
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions specified in Section 5.02, the Lenders
shall, all as set forth in Section 2.17(g) hereof, on the first Business Day
immediately following the date of such drawing, make Revolving Credit Loans in
the aggregate amount of the Unreimbursed L/C Draw plus accrued interest on such
amount at the applicable rate set forth in Section 2.08. The proceeds of any
such Revolving Credit Loans shall be applied directly by the Agent upon receipt
from the Lenders to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the Unreimbursed L/C Draw plus
accrued interest on such amount. The foregoing shall not limit or impair the
Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer shall immediately notify the
Borrower and the Agent, and the Borrower shall reimburse, or cause the
reimbursement of, the L/C Issuer on demand as set forth in the applicable
Application and Agreement for Letter of Credit in an amount in same day funds
equal to the amount of such drawing; provided, however, that anything contained
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, unless the Borrower shall
have notified the Agent and the L/C Issuer prior to such time that the Borrower
intends to reimburse the L/C Issuer for all or a portion of the amount of such
drawing with funds other than the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans, the
Borrower shall be deemed to have given a Loan Request to the Agent requesting
the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans on the first Business Day immediately
following the date on which such drawing is honored in an aggregate amount equal
to the excess of the amount of such drawing over the amount received by the L/C
Issuer from such other funds in reimbursement thereof (the "Unreimbursed L/C
Draw"), plus accrued interest on such amount at the rate set forth in Subsection
2.08. Any such Revolving Credit Loan shall be deemed advanced to the Borrower.
If the Borrower shall be deemed to have given a Loan Request, then, subject to
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions specified in Section 5.02, the Lenders
shall, all as set forth in Section 2.17(g) hereof, on the first Business Day
immediately following the date of such drawing, make Revolving Credit Loans in
the aggregate amount of the Unreimbursed L/C Draw plus accrued interest on such
amount at the applicable rate set forth in Section 2.08. The proceeds of any
such Revolving Credit Loans shall be applied directly by the Agent upon receipt
from the Lenders to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the Unreimbursed L/C Draw plus
accrued interest on such amount. The foregoing shall not limit or impair the
obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer on demand.

            (g) In the event that the Borrower shall fail to reimburse the L/C
Issuer on demand as provided in the applicable Application and Agreement for
Letter of Credit and Section 2.17(f) above in an amount equal to the amount of
any drawing honored by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit plus accrued
interest, the L/C Issuer shall promptly notify the Agent and each Lender of the
Unreimbursed L/C Draw plus accrued interest on such amount of such drawing and
of such Lender's respective participation therein. Each Lender shall make
available to the L/C Issuer an amount equal to its respective participation in
same day funds, at the office of the L/C Issuer specified in such notice, not
later than 12:00 Noon (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) on the Business Day after
the date specified in such notice by the L/C Issuer. In the event that any
Lender fails to make available to the L/C Issuer the amount of such Lender's
participation in such Letter of Credit as provided in this Section 2.17(g), the
L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender
together with interest at the Federal Funds Effective Rate for three (3)
Business Days and thereafter at the Base Rate. Nothing in this Section 2.17(g)
shall be deemed to prejudice the right of any Lender to recover its Ratable
Share of the Unreimbursed L/C Draw from the L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section
2.17(g) in the event that it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
that payment with respect to a Letter of

                                      -40-
<PAGE>
 
Credit by the L/C Issuer constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct on
the part of the L/C Issuer. The L/C Issuer shall distribute to each Lender which
has paid all amounts payable by it under this Section 2.17(g) with respect to a
Letter of Credit such other Lender's Ratable Share of all payments received by
the L/C Issuer from the Borrower in reimbursement of drawing honored by the L/C
Issuer under the Letter of Credit when such payments are received.

            (h)  The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement to
reimburse the L/C Issuer for all drawings upon the Letters of Credit shall be
absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall not be subject to any right
of set-off or counterclaim and shall be paid or performed strictly in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement, under all circumstances whatsoever, including
the following circumstances:

                 (i)   any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement,
     any Letter of Credit or any of the Loan Documents;

                 (ii)  any amendment or waiver of any provision of all or any of
     the Loan Documents;

                 (iii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other
     rights which the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or
     any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such
     beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer, the
     Agent or any Lender (other than the defense of payment to the L/C Issuer in
     accordance with the terms of this Agreement) or any other Person, whether
     in connection with this Agreement, the Loan Documents or any transaction
     contemplated hereby or thereby or any unrelated transaction;

                 (iv)  any statement or document presented under any Letter of
     Credit, appearing on its face to be valid and sufficient, but proving to be
     forged or fraudulent in any respect or any statement therein being untrue
     or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever;

                 (v)   payment by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit
     against presentation of any document which does not comply with the terms
     of the Letter of Credit, provided that such payment shall not have
     constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct of the L/C Issuer; and

                 (vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or
     not similar to any of the foregoing, not resulting from gross negligence or
     willful misconduct of the L/C Issuer.

                                      -41-
<PAGE>
 
            (i)  This Agreement is intended to supplement each Application and
Agreement for Letter of Credit executed by the Borrower and delivered to the L/C
Issuer. Whenever possible this Agreement is to be construed as consistent with
each Application and Agreement for Letter of Credit but, to the extent that the
provisions of this Agreement and each Application and Agreement for Letter of
Credit conflict, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

            (j)  Outstanding Letters of Credit. As of the Closing Date, each of
                 -----------------------------
the letters of credit issued by the L/C Issuer and outstanding on such date for
the account of the Borrower and identified on Schedule 2.17(j) shall be deemed
                                              ----------------
to be Letters of Credit issued hereunder and shall be subject to all of the
terms and provisions of this Agreement. The Borrower is hereby deemed to be
account party with respect to each letter of credit listed on Schedule 2.17(j)
hereunder for all purposes thereunder and hereunder. Each Lender agrees that its
obligations with respect to Letters of Credit pursuant to this Agreement shall
include such outstanding letters of credit. With respect to each such
outstanding letter of credit, for the period commencing on the Closing Date the
Borrower shall pay all fees and commissions set forth in this Agreement at the
times and in the manner herein set forth. The obligations of the Borrower under
each application for letter of credit and reimbursement agreement (together with
any related amendments) executed by the Borrower with respect to the letters of
credit shown on Schedule 2.17(j) are hereby expressly assumed by the Borrower
                ----------------
and each such application for letter of credit and reimbursement agreement, as
amended, is hereby deemed an Application and Agreement for Letter of Credit. The
existing reimbursement agreements shall be superseded in their entirety by the
Reimbursement Agreement which shall apply to existing letters of credit set
forth on Schedule 2.17(j) as well as all Letters of Credit issued hereunder on
and after the date hereof.

            (k)  Obligations Absolute. Notwithstanding any other provision of
                 --------------------
this Agreement, each Lender hereby agrees that its obligation to participate in
each Letter of Credit issued in accordance herewith and its obligation to make
the payments to be made by it under this Section 2.17 is absolute, irrevocable
and unconditional and shall not be affected by any event, condition or
circumstance whatever. The failure of any Lender to make any such payment shall
not relieve any other Lender of its funding obligation hereunder on the date
due, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to
meet its funding obligations hereunder.

     2.18.  Taxes. Each Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the
            -----                                                               
United States of America or a state thereof agrees that it will deliver to the
Borrower and the Agent (i) two duly completed copies of United States Internal
Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224 or successor applicable form, as the case may
be (assuming that it is entitled to do so), and (ii) two duly completed copies
of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9 or successor applicable form.  Each
such Lender also agrees to deliver to the Borrower and the Agent two further
copies

                                      -42-
<PAGE>
 
of the said Form 1001 or 4224 and Form W-8 or W-9, or successor applicable forms
or other manner of certification, as the case may be, on or before the date that
any such form expires or becomes obsolete or otherwise is required to be
resubmitted as a condition to obtaining an exemption from withholding tax or
after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form
previously delivered by it to the Borrower and the Agent, and such extensions or
renewals thereof as may reasonably be requested by the Borrower or the Agent,
unless in any such case 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 Lender from duly completing and delivering any such
form with respect to it and such Lender so advises the Borrower and the Agent.
Such Lender shall certify (i) in the case of Form 1001 or 4224, that it is
entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes (assuming that it is
entitled to do so) and (ii) in the case of Form W-8 or W-9, that it is entitled
to an exemption from United States backup withholding tax.

     2.19.  Payments. All payments and prepayments to be made in respect of
            --------                                                          
principal, interest, Unreimbursed L/C Draws, Fees, or other amounts due from the
Borrower hereunder shall be payable prior to 11:00 A.M. (Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania time) on the date when due without presentment, demand, protest or
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each of the
Borrower, and without setoff, counterclaim or other deduction of any nature, and
an action therefor shall immediately accrue.  Such payments shall be made to the
Agent at the Principal Office for the ratable accounts of the Lenders or L/C
Issuer, as the case may be, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, and
the Agent shall promptly distribute such amounts to the Lenders or L/C Issuer,
as the case may be, in immediately available funds in accordance with the terms
and provisions of Section 9.10 of this Agreement.  The Agent's, the L/C Issuer's
and each Lender's statement of account, ledger or other relevant record shall,
in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive as the statement of the amount
of principal of and interest on the Revolving Credit Loans and the Unreimbursed
L/C Draws, Fees and other amounts owing under this Agreement and shall be deemed
an "account stated."  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) any
Agent's Fees and the Underwriting Fee paid by the Borrower shall be solely for
the account of the Agent, (ii) any L/C Fronting Fees paid by the Borrower shall
be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer and (iii) any interest paid on any
Unreimbursed L/C Draw to the extent a Lender has not been required to honor or
has not honored its funding obligations pursuant to Section 2.17(g) hereof shall
be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.

                                      -43-
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE III
                     SET-OFF, ACCOUNT, SECURITY INTERESTS
                     ------------------------------------


     3.01.  Set-Off. To secure the repayment of the Lender Obligations, the
            -------                                                           
Borrower hereby gives to each Lender (in any capacity hereunder) a lien and
security interest upon and in any and all of the Borrower's property, credits,
securities or money which may at any time be delivered to, or be in the
possession of, or owed by such Lender in any capacity whatever, including the
balance of any deposit account maintained by the Borrower with such Lender
(including without limitation the Loan Disbursement Account).  The Borrower
hereby authorizes each Lender, at any time and from time to time upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at such Lender's
option, to apply, at the discretion of such Lender, to the payment of the Lender
Obligations, any and all such property, credits, securities or money now or
hereafter in the hands of such Lender or belonging or owed to the Borrower.

     3.02.  Loan Disbursement Account. The Borrower shall maintain at all times
            -------------------------
during this Agreement with the Agent, at the Agent's office in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, a demand deposit account (the "Loan Disbursement Account"), into
                                             -------------------------        
which proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans and other monies transferred to the
Borrower shall be deposited from time to time.  The Loan Disbursement Account
shall be in the name of the Borrower and, subject to the other provisions of
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, monies therein shall be disbursed
as directed by the Borrower, from time to time.  To secure the payment and
performance of Lender Obligations, the Borrower hereby pledges and assigns, and
grants to the Agent for the benefit of the Agent, the L/C Issuer and the
Lenders, a lien on and security interest in the Loan Disbursement Account, all
funds from time to time deposited or held therein, all interest and other income
derived therefrom, and all proceeds of all the foregoing.

     3.03.  Assigned Collateral. The Borrower hereby agrees to grant and convey
            -------------------
to Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer a Lien on any and all
Assigned Collateral now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower.  To secure
the full and timely payment and performance of each of the Lender Obligations,
and to grant to the Agent for the benefit of the Agent, the Lenders and the L/C
Issuer a Lien on the right, title and interest of the Borrower in and to any
Assigned Collateral, the Borrower hereby agrees to execute and deliver to the
Agent, on or prior to the Closing Date, the Security Agreement, together with
all financing statements, supplements, amendments, certificates, documents and
notices as reasonably requested by the Agent to perfect such Liens, all duly
completed and executed to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent.

     3.04.  Designation of Class A Subsidiary Guarantors; Subsidiary Assigned
            -----------------------------------------------------------------
Collateral.  (a) Each Subsidiary of the Borrower incorporated or organized in
----------                                                                     
the United States of

                                      -44-
<PAGE>
 
America, whether now in existence or hereafter acquired, that owns Receivables
and Inventory (priced at the lower of cost or market) with a value at the time
of designation in excess of $5,000,000 shall be designated as a Class A
Subsidiary Guarantor by the Lenders. Any Subsidiary designated as a Class A
Subsidiary Guarantor shall continue as a Class A Subsidiary Guarantor until
released in writing by all Lenders. For the purposes of this Section 3.04, the
Subordinated Notes shall not be deemed Receivables.

            (b)  The Borrower hereby agrees to cause each Class A Subsidiary
Guarantor to grant and convey to Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and the
L/C Issuer a Lien on any and all Subsidiary Assigned Collateral now owned or
hereafter acquired by each such Class A Subsidiary Guarantor. To secure the full
and timely payment and performance of each of the Lender Obligations, and to
grant to the Agent for the benefit of the Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer
a Lien on the right, title and interest of a Class A Subsidiary Guarantor in and
to any Subsidiary Assigned Collateral of such Class A Subsidiary Guarantor, the
Borrower hereby agrees to cause each Class A Subsidiary Guarantor to execute and
deliver to the Agent a Subsidiary Guaranty and a Security Agreement, together
with all financing statements, supplements, amendments, certificates, documents
and notices as reasonably requested by the Agent to perfect such Liens, all duly
completed and executed to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent. Each other
Guarantor Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Agent for the benefit of
the Lenders and the Agent a Subsidiary Guaranty to guaranty the full and timely
payment and performance of each of the Lender Obligations.

     3.05.  Further Cooperation. (a) The Borrower shall perform, or cause a
            -------------------                                               
Subsidiary Guarantor to perform , on the reasonable request of the Agent and at
the Borrower's expense, such acts as may be necessary or advisable to carry out
the intent of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Without limiting the
generality of the preceding sentence, the Borrower shall take all steps
reasonably necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of Agent, advisable to grant
and convey, or cause the grant and conveyance by a Subsidiary Guarantor, to
Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Agent a Lien on any
and all Assigned Collateral of the Borrower, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, and any and all Subsidiary Assigned Collateral of a Class A Subsidiary
Guarantor, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and to validate or protect
any Lien granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and
the Agent in any Assigned Collateral or any Subsidiary Assigned Collateral, or
to defeat the assertion by any third parties of any adverse claim with respect
to any Assigned Collateral or any Subsidiary Assigned Collateral.  Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, from time to time, or at the request
of Agent, the Borrower will execute and file, and cause the execution and filing
of, as the case may be, such agreements, amendments, supplements, bailee's
waivers, landlord's waivers, financing statements, continuation statements,
amendments thereto and assignments thereof, and such other instruments and
notices, to grant Liens on any Assigned Collateral or any Subsidiary Assigned
Collateral, and to perfect, protect or

                                      -45-
<PAGE>
 
more fully evidence the rights of the Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer
under any Security Documents.

            (b)  The Borrower hereby authorizes the Agent or any of its
designees, and does hereby constitute the Agent the attorney-in-fact of the
Borrower, to execute in the name of the Borrower, and to file, one or more
financing statements, continuation statements, amendments thereto and/or
assignments thereof, relative to all or any of the liens and security interests
in favor of the Agent in any of the Assigned Collateral, whether now existing or
hereafter created. If the Borrower fails to perform any of its respective
agreements or obligations under this Agreement, the Agent or its designee may
(but shall not be required to) itself perform, or cause the performance of, such
agreement or obligation, and the reasonable expenses of the Agent or its
designee or assignee incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by the
Borrower as provided in Section 10.03 hereof.


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


     Representations and Warranties. The Borrower represents and warrants to the
     ------------------------------
Agent, each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer as follows in Sections 4.01
through and including Section 4.26.

     4.01.  Organization and Qualification. (a) The Borrower is a corporation
            ------------------------------                                      
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware; the Borrower has the lawful power to own or lease its
properties and to engage in the business it presently conducts or proposes to
conduct; and the Borrower is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in
each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 4.01 hereto and in all other jurisdictions
                            -------------                                      
where the property owned or leased by it or the nature of the business
transacted by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except for
those jurisdictions where the Borrower's non-qualification would not cause there
to be a Material Adverse Change.

            (b)  Each Subsidiary of the Borrower is a corporation, business
trust or limited partnership, as the case may be, duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation
or organization, as the case may be, shown on Schedule 4.01; each Subsidiary of
                                              -------------
the Borrower has the lawful power to own or lease its properties and to engage
in the business it presently conducts or proposes to conduct; and each
Subsidiary of the Borrower is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in
each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 4.01 hereto and in all other jurisdictions
                            -------------
where the property owned or leased by it or the nature of the business
transacted by it makes such licensing or qualification

                                      -46-
<PAGE>
 
necessary, except for those jurisdictions where such Subsidiary's non-
qualification would not cause there to be a Material Adverse Change.

     4.02.  Capitalization and Ownership. As of August 31, 1997, the authorized
            ----------------------------
Capital Stock of the Borrower consists of 18,000,000 shares of common stock of
which 8,632,272 shares were issued and outstanding and 2,000,000 shares of
preferred stock none of which was issued or outstanding.  All of the Capital
Stock of the Borrower has been validly issued and is fully paid and
nonassessable.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.02, there are no options,
                                       -------------                       
warrants or other rights outstanding to purchase any such Capital Stock.

     4.03.  Subsidiaries. Except for the Subsidiaries and investments in other
            ------------
Persons set forth in Schedule 4.03, the Borrower does not own directly or
                     -------------                                       
indirectly any capital stock of any other Person, is not a partner (general or
limited) of any partnership, is not a party to any joint venture and does not
own (beneficially or of record) any equity interest or similar interest in any
other Person.

     4.04.  Power and Authority. The Borrower has full power to enter into,
            -------------------                                               
execute, deliver, carry out and perform this Agreement and the Loan Documents to
which it is a party, to incur the Indebtedness contemplated by the Loan
Documents and to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is
a party and all such actions have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate proceedings on its part.

     4.05.  Validity and Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each Loan
            ---------------------------
Document, when executed and delivered by the Borrower, will have been, duly and
validly executed and delivered by the Borrower.  This Agreement, each of the
other Loan Documents executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to the
provisions hereof and each of the other Loan Documents executed and delivered by
the Borrower will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their respective
terms, except to the extent that enforceability of any of the Loan Documents may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors' rights generally or
limiting the right of specific performance.

     4.06.  No Conflict. (a)  Neither the execution and delivery by the Borrower
            -----------
of this Agreement or the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party nor the
consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated nor compliance
with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by the Borrower will (a)
conflict with, constitute a default under or result in any breach of (i) the
terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other
organizational documents of the Borrower or (ii) any Law or any agreement or
instrument or order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree to which the Borrower
is a party or by which it is bound or to which it is subject, which conflict,
default or breach would cause a Material Adverse

                                      -47-
<PAGE>
 
Change, or (b) result in the creation or enforcement of any Lien upon any
property (now or hereafter acquired) of the Borrower (other than the Permitted
Liens).

            (b)  Neither the execution and delivery by a Subsidiary Guarantor of
a Subsidiary Guaranty, a Subsidiary Security Agreement or the other Security
Documents to which such Subsidiary Guarantor is a party nor the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents nor
compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by such Subsidiary
Guarantor will (a) conflict with, constitute a default under or result in any
breach of (i) the terms and conditions of the articles of incorporation, by-laws
or other organizational documents of such Subsidiary or (ii) any Law or any
agreement or instrument or order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree to which
such Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound or to which it is subject,
which conflict, default or breach would cause a Material Adverse Change, or (b)
result in the creation or enforcement of any Lien upon any property (now or
hereafter acquired) of such Subsidiary (other than the Permitted Liens).

     4.07.  Litigation. Except for the litigation set forth on Schedule 4.07,
            ----------                                         ------------- 
there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the
knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower, or any Subsidiary of
the Borrower, at law or equity before any Official Body which individually or in
the aggregate, if adversely determined would be likely to result in any Material
Adverse Change.  Neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower is in
violation of any order, writ, injunction or decree of any Official Body which
could be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change.

     4.08.  Financial Statements.
            --------------------   

            (i)  Financial Statements. The Borrower has delivered to the Agent
                 --------------------
the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for
the period ended July 31, 1997. All such financial statements are complete and
correct in all material respects and fairly present the consolidated financial
condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in all material respects and the
results of their operations as of the dates and for the periods referred to, and
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP throughout the period included.

            (ii) Accuracy of Financial Statements. The Borrower and its
                 --------------------------------
Subsidiaries have no liabilities, contingent or otherwise, that are not
disclosed in the financial statements referred to in clause (i) above and that
would be required to be disclosed in accordance with GAAP, except for those
incurred since the date of such financial statements in the ordinary course of
business.

     4.09.  Margin Stock. Neither the Borrower, nor any of its Subsidiaries,
            ------------                                                       
engage or intend to engage principally, or as one of its important activities,
in the business of incurring indebtedness or extending credit to others
(including, without limitation, any of the Subsidiaries

                                      -48-
<PAGE>
 
of the Borrower) for the purpose, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, of
purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of any Margin
Regulation). No part of the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loan has been or
will be used, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry any
margin stock or to extend credit to others (including, without limitation, any
of its Subsidiaries) for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock
or to refund or retire Indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, or for
any purpose which entails a violation of or which is inconsistent with the
provisions of the Margin Regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System. The Borrower does not intend to hold, and shall not permit its
Subsidiaries to hold, margin stock.

     4.10.  Full Disclosure. Neither this Agreement nor any Loan Document, nor
            ---------------
any certificate, statement, agreement or other document furnished to the Agent,
the L/C Issuer or any Lender in connection herewith or therewith, contains any
misstatement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements contained herein and therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  There is no fact
known to the Borrower which materially adversely affects the business, property,
assets, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which has not been set forth in this
Agreement or the Loan Documents or in the certificates, statements, agreements
or other documents furnished in writing to the Agent, the Lenders or the L/C
Issuer prior to or at the date hereof in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.

     4.11.  Tax Returns and Payments. The Borrower is a member of an affiliated
            ------------------------
group of companies which file consolidated federal tax returns.  All such
federal tax returns that are required by law to be filed, have been filed or
properly extended.  All taxes, assessments and other governmental charges levied
upon members of such affiliated group or any of their respective properties,
assets, income or franchises which are due and payable have been paid in full
other than (i) those presently payable without penalty or interest, (ii) those
which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and (iii)
those which, if not paid, would not, in the aggregate, constitute a Material
Adverse Change; and as to each of items (i), (ii) and (iii) the affiliated group
has established reserves for such claim as have been determined to be adequate
by application of GAAP consistently applied.  There are no agreements or waivers
extending the statutory period of limitations applicable to any consolidated
federal income tax return of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for
any period, except as set forth on Schedule 4.11.

     4.12.  Consents and Approvals. No consent, approval, exemption, order or
            ----------------------
authorization of, or a registration or filing with any Official Body or any
other Person is required by any Law or any agreement in connection with the
execution, delivery and carrying out of this Agreement and the Loan Documents to
which the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party, except for the
financing statements requested to be filed by the Agent and the continuation

                                      -49-
<PAGE>
 
statements with respect to such UCC financing statements which are not yet
required to be filed and except as listed on Schedule 4.12 attached hereto, all
                                             -------------                     
of which items set forth on Schedule 4.12 shall have been obtained or made on or
                            -------------                                       
prior to the Closing Date.

     4.13.  No Event of Default; Compliance with Instruments. No event has
            ------------------------------------------------                 
occurred and is continuing and no condition exists or will exist after giving
effect to the borrowings to be made on the Closing Date under the Loan Documents
which constitutes an Event of Default or a Default.  Neither the Borrower nor
any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of (i) any term of its certificate of
incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents or (ii) any material
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
properties may be subject or bound where such violation would constitute a
Material Adverse Change.

     4.14.  Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in
            --------------------
compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws (other than
Environmental Laws) in all jurisdictions in which the Borrower, and its
Subsidiaries, are presently or will be doing business except where the failure
to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, constitute a Material
Adverse Change.

     4.15.  Investment Company; Public Utility Holding Company. Neither the
            --------------------------------------------------
Borrower nor any Subsidiary Guarantor is an "investment company" registered or
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under the
"control" of an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, and shall not become such an
"investment company" or under such "control."  Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary Guarantor is a "holding company" or a "subsidiary company" of a
"holding company" or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" within the meaning
the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended from time to time.
The Borrower is not subject to any Law of any Official Body (in each case
whether United States federal, state or local, or other) having jurisdiction
over the Borrower, which purports to restrict or regulate its ability to borrow
money, or to extend or obtain credit, or to pledge any of the Assigned
Collateral or its interests in the Loan Disbursement Account.  No Subsidiary
Guarantor is subject to any Law of any Official Body (in each case whether
United States federal, state or local, or other) having jurisdiction over such
Subsidiary Guarantor which purports to restrict or regulate its ability to
borrow money, or to extend or obtain credit, or to pledge its Subsidiary
Assigned Collateral.

     4.16.  Plans and Benefit Arrangements. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.16
            ------------------------------                         -------------
hereto:

            (i)   The Borrower and each member of the ERISA Group are in
compliance in all material respects with any applicable provisions of ERISA with
respect to all Benefit Arrangements, Plans and Multiemployer Plans. There has
been no Prohibited

                                      -50-
<PAGE>
 
Transaction with respect to any Benefit Arrangement or any Plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, with respect to any
Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan, which could result in any material
liability of the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group. The Borrower
and all members of the ERISA Group have made when due any and all payments
required to be made under any agreement relating to a Multiemployer Plan or a
Multiple Employer Plan or any Law pertaining thereto. With respect to each Plan
and, to the knowledge of Borrower, each Multiemployer Plan, the Borrower and
each member of the ERISA Group (i) have fulfilled in all material respects their
obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA, (ii) have not incurred
any liability to the PBGC (other than for premiums not yet due) and (iii) have
not had asserted against them any penalty for failure to fulfill the minimum
funding requirements of ERISA.

            (ii)  To the best of the Borrower's knowledge, each Multiemployer
Plan and Multiple Employer Plan is able to pay benefits thereunder when due.

            (iii) Neither the Borrower nor any other member of the ERISA Group
has instituted or intends to institute proceedings to terminate any Plan.

            (iv)  No event requiring notice to the PBGC under Section
302(f)(4)(A) of ERISA has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with
respect to any Plan, and no amendment with respect to which security is required
under Section 307 of ERISA has been made or is reasonably expected to be made to
any Plan.

            (v)   Neither the Borrower nor any other member of the ERISA Group
has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any material withdrawal liability
under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan. Neither the
Borrower nor any other member of the ERISA Group has been notified by any
Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan or
Multiple Employer Plan has been terminated within the meaning of Title IV of
ERISA and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no Multiemployer Plan or Multiple
Employer Plan is reasonably expected to be reorganized or terminated, within the
meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

            (vi)  To the extent that any Benefit Arrangement is insured, the
Borrower and all members of the ERISA Group have paid when due all premiums
required to be paid for all periods ending through and including the Closing
Date. To the extent that any Benefit Arrangement is funded other than with
insurance, the Borrower and all members of the ERISA Group have made when due
all contributions, to the extent required by applicable Law or the terms of such
Benefit Arrangement to be paid for all periods ending through and including the
Closing Date.

                                      -51-
<PAGE>
 
     4.17.  Title to Properties. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have
            -------------------
good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all their respective real and
personal property, except to the extent the failure to have such title or
leasehold interests is not reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate,
to result in a Material Adverse Change, and none of such property is subject to
any Lien except Permitted Liens.

     4.18.  Insurance. There are in full force and effect for the benefit of the
            ---------
Borrower and its Subsidiaries insurance policies and bonds providing adequate
coverage from reputable and financially sound insurers in amounts sufficient to
insure the assets and risks of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance
with prudent business practice in the industry of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.  No notice has been given or claim made and to the knowledge of
the Borrower, no grounds exist, to cancel or void any of such policies or bonds
or to reduce the coverage provided thereby.

     4.19.  Employment Matters. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower
            ------------------
are in compliance with all employee benefit plans, employment agreements,
collective bargaining agreements and labor contracts (the "Labor Contracts") and
all applicable federal, state and local labor and employment Laws including, but
not limited to, those related to equal employment opportunity and affirmative
action, labor relations, minimum wage, overtime, child labor, medical insurance
continuation, worker adjustment and relocation notices, immigration controls and
worker and unemployment compensation, except where the failure to comply would
not constitute a Material Adverse Change.  There are no outstanding grievances,
arbitration awards or appeals therefrom arising out of the Labor Contracts or
current or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened strikes, picketing,
handbilling or other work stoppages or slowdowns at facilities of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary of the Borrower which in any case would constitute a Material
Adverse Change.  All payments due from Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries on
account of employee health and welfare insurance which could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Change if not paid have been paid or accrued
as a liability on the books of Borrower or such Subsidiary.

     4.20.  Environmental Matters. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.20 hereto:
            ---------------------                         -------------        

            (i)  The Borrower has not received any Environmental Complaint from
any Official Body or private person alleging that the Borrower, any Subsidiary
of the Borrower or any prior or subsequent owner of the Property is a
potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Cleanup and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. (S)9601, et seq., in connection with the
                                              -- ---
Property which Environmental Complaint is reasonably expected to result in any
Material Adverse Change, and the Borrower has no reason to believe that such an
Environmental Complaint is reasonably likely to be received. There are no
pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened Environmental
Complaints relating to the Borrower, any

                                      -52-
<PAGE>
 
Subsidiary of the Borrower or, to the Borrower's knowledge, without any inquiry,
any prior or subsequent owner of the Property pertaining to, or arising out of,
any Environmental Conditions in connection with the Property, which
Environmental Complaints are reasonably expected to result in any Material
Adverse Change.

            (ii)  Except for conditions, violations or failures which
individually and in the aggregate are not reasonably likely to result in a
Material Adverse Change, there are no circumstances at, on or under the Property
that constitute a breach of or non-compliance with any of the Environmental
Laws, and there are no past or present Environmental Conditions at, on or under
the Property or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, without any inquiry at, on or
under adjacent property, that prevent compliance with the Environmental Laws at
the Property.

            (iii) Neither the Property nor any structures, improvements,
equipment, fixtures, activities or facilities thereon or thereunder contain or
use Regulated Substances except in compliance with Environmental Laws, other
than such containment or use which individually and in the aggregate is not
reasonably likely to result in any Material Adverse Change. There are no
processes, facilities, operations, equipment or any other activities at, on or
under the Property, or, to the Borrower's knowledge, without any inquiry, at, on
or under adjacent property, that currently result in the release or threatened
release of Regulated Substances on to the Property in violation of the
Environmental Laws, except to the extent that such releases or threatened
releases are not likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

            (iv)  There are no underground storage tanks, or underground piping
associated with such tanks, used for the management of Regulated Substances at,
on or under the Property that are not in compliance with all Environmental Laws,
other than those with respect to which the failure to comply with Environmental
Laws is not reasonably likely, either individually or in the aggregate, to
result in a Material Adverse Change, and there are no abandoned underground
storage tanks or underground piping associated with such tanks, previously used
for the management of Regulated Substances at, on or under the Property that
have not been either abandoned in place, or removed, in accordance with the
Environmental Laws, other than those with respect to which the failure to comply
with Environmental Laws is not reasonably likely, either individually or in the
aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change.

            (v)  The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower have all
material permits, licenses, authorizations and approvals necessary under the
Environmental Laws for the conduct of the respective businesses of the Borrower
and each Subsidiary of the Borrower as presently conducted, other than those
with respect to which the failure to comply with Environmental Laws is not
reasonably likely, either individually or in the aggregate, to result in a
Material Adverse Change. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower have
submitted all notices, reports and other filings required by the Environmental
Laws to be submitted to an

                                      -53-
<PAGE>
 
Official Body which pertain to past and current operations on the Property,
except for any failure to submit which would not be reasonably likely to result
in a Material Adverse Change.

            (vi)  Except for violations which individually and in the aggregate
are not likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, all past and present on-
site generation, storage, processing, treatment, recycling, reclamation or
disposal of Solid Waste at, on, or under the Property and all off-site
transportation, storage, processing, treatment, recycling, reclamation or
disposal of Solid Waste has been done in accordance with the Environmental Laws.

     4.21.  Senior Debt Status. The obligations of the Borrower under this
            ------------------
Agreement and the Notes rank at least pari passu in priority of payment with all
                                      ---- -----                                
other Indebtedness of the Borrower except Indebtedness of the Borrower to the
extent secured by Permitted Liens.  The obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor
under a Subsidiary Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary Guarantor rank at least
pari passu in priority of payment with all other Indebtedness of such Subsidiary
---- -----                                                                      
Guarantor except Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor to the extent secured
by Permitted Liens.  There is no Lien upon or with respect to any of the
properties or income of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which secures
Indebtedness or other obligations of any Person except for Permitted Liens.

     4.22.  Solvency of Borrower. On the date hereof, and as of the date of each
            --------------------
advance of the Revolving Credit Loan and issuance or renewal of any Letter of
Credit, as the case may be, and after giving effect to such advance or the
issuance or renewal of a Letter of Credit, each of the Borrower and each
Subsidiary Guaranty is, and will be, Solvent.

     4.23.  Burdensome Restrictions. No contract, lease, agreement or other
            -----------------------
instrument to which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is bound
and no provision of applicable law or governmental regulation would reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

     4.24.  Brokers. No broker or finder acting on behalf of Borrower brought
            -------
about the obtaining, making or closing of the loans made pursuant to this
Agreement, and Borrower has no obligation to any other Person in respect of any
finder's or brokerage fees in connection with the loans contemplated by this
Agreement.

     4.25.  Liens. Assuming the filing of all requisite financing statements,
            -----
the Liens granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Agent, the Lenders and the
L/C Issuer pursuant to the Security Documents will at the Closing Date be fully
perfected first priority Liens in and to the collateral described therein.

                                      -54-
<PAGE>
 
     4.26.  No Material Adverse Change. No event has occurred since July 31,
            --------------------------
1997 and is continuing which has had or would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Change.


                                   ARTICLE V
             CONDITIONS OF LENDING OR ISSUANCE OF LETTER OF CREDIT
             -----------------------------------------------------

     The obligation of each Lender to make the Revolving Credit Loans hereunder,
or of the L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, is subject to the
performance by the Borrower of its obligations to be performed hereunder at or
prior the making of any such Revolving Credit Loans, or the issuance of any such
Letter of Credit, as the case may be, and to the satisfaction of the following
further conditions.

     5.01.  Conditions to Initial Borrowings. On the Closing Date the following
            --------------------------------
actions shall be completed or satisfied to the sole satisfaction of the Agent:

            (a)  The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained
in Article IV and in the other Loan Documents executed and delivered by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Closing shall be true
and accurate in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the
same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and
as of such date (except representations and warranties which relate solely to an
earlier date or time, which representations and warranties shall be true and
correct on and as of the specific date or times referred to therein), and the
Borrower, and each Subsidiary of the Borrower which has executed any Loan
Documents, shall have performed, observed and complied with all covenants and
conditions hereof and contained in the other Loan Documents; no Event of Default
or Default under this Agreement shall have occurred and be continuing or shall
exist; and there shall be delivered to the Agent, for the benefit of each
Lender, the L/C Issuer and the Agent, a certificate of the Borrower, dated the
Closing Date and signed by the chief executive officer and president or chief
financial officer of the Borrower, to each such effect.

            (b)  There shall be delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each
Lender and the L/C Issuer a certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the
secretary or an assistant secretary of the Borrower, certifying as appropriate
as to:

                 (i)   all corporate action taken by the Borrower in connection
     with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

                                      -55-
<PAGE>
 
                 (ii)  the names, offices and titles of the Borrower's officer
     or officers authorized to sign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
     and the true signatures of such officer or officers and the identities of
     the Authorized Officers permitted to act on behalf of the Borrower for
     purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the true
     signatures of such officers, on which the Agent, each Lender and the L/C
     Issuer may conclusively rely;

                 (iii) (A) copies of the Borrower's organizational documents,
     including its articles of incorporation as in effect on the Closing Date
     certified by the Secretary of State of its incorporation as well as a copy
     of the Borrower's by-laws, and (B) a certificate as to the continued
     existence and good standing of the Borrower issued by the Secretary of
     State of its incorporation, and (C) a certificate concerning the due
     qualification of the Borrower as a foreign corporation authorized to due
     business, and the good standing of the Borrower, issued by the Secretary of
     State of each jurisdiction shown on Schedule 4.01;
                                         -------------

                 (iv) all corporate or partnership action taken by each
     Subsidiary Guarantor in connection with each Subsidiary Guaranty, each
     Subsidiary Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

                 (v)  the names, offices and titles of each Subsidiary
     Guarantor's officer or officers authorized to sign each Subsidiary
     Guaranty, each Subsidiary Security Agreement, if appropriate, and the other
     Loan Documents and the true signatures of such officer or officers and the
     identities of the Authorized Officers permitted to act on behalf of each
     Subsidiary Guarantor for purposes of each Subsidiary Guaranty, each
     Subsidiary Security Agreement, if appropriate, and the other Loan Documents
     and the true signatures of such officers, on which the Agent, each Lender
     and the L/C Issuer may conclusively rely; and

                 (vi) (A) copies of each Subsidiary Guarantor's organizational
     documents, as in effect on the Closing Date certified, by the secretary of
     state of the state of its organization and (B) a certificate as to the
     continued existence and good standing of each Subsidiary Guarantor issued
     by the secretary of state of the state of its organization, (C) a
     certificate concerning the due qualification of each Subsidiary Guarantor
     as a foreign Person authorized to due business, and the good standing of
     such Subsidiary Guarantor, issued by the Secretary of State of each
     jurisdiction shown on Schedule 5.01(b) to this Agreement and (D) if
                           ----------------
     appropriate, a certified copy of the filed fictitious name registration (if
     required by applicable law).

                                      -56-
<PAGE>
 
            (c)  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents required by the
Agent to be executed and delivered by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the
Borrower at the Closing shall have been duly executed and delivered by the
Borrower to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the
Agent.

            (d)  There shall be delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each
Lender a written opinion of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, LLP, special counsel for
the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors dated the Closing Date and in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel as to the
matters set forth on Exhibit "G":
                     -----------

            (e)  All legal details and proceedings in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
(including without limitation the filing of all financing statements required to
perfect the Liens of the Agent in the Assigned Collateral and the Subsidiary
Assigned Collateral) shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent
and its counsel, and the Agent shall have received all such other counterpart
originals or certified or other copies of such documents and proceedings in
connection with such transactions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Agent and said counsel, as the Agent or said counsel may reasonably
request.

            (f)  No Material Adverse Change shall have occurred since July 31,
1997; and there shall be delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender,
the L/C Issuer and the Agent a certificate of the Borrower dated the Closing
Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or Chief Financial
Officer of the Borrower to each such effect.

            (g)  The Borrower shall deliver evidence acceptable to the Agent
that adequate insurance in compliance with Section 6.05 hereof is in full
force and effect.

            (h)  All material consents required to effectuate the transactions
contemplated hereby as set forth on Schedule 4.12 shall have been obtained.
                                    -------------

            (i)  The making and/or continuance of any Loan, or the issuance of a
Letter of Credit, or the pledge of any Lien in the Assigned Collateral or the
Subsidiary Assigned Collateral shall not contravene any Law applicable to the
Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor, any of the Agent, the Lenders or the L/C
Issuer.

            (j)  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.07, no action, suit,
proceeding, investigation, regulation or legislation shall have been instituted,
threatened or proposed before any court or other Official Body (i) with respect
to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or this Agreement, the other Loan Documents
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby to
enjoin, restrain or prohibit, or to obtain damages in respect of, their
performance under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents or the consummation
of the

                                      -57-
<PAGE>
 
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (ii) which in the reasonable
opinion of Agent would have a Material Adverse Change.

            (k)  The Agent and its counsel shall have received UCC lien search
reports of filings against the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor and tax
lien and judgment searches relating to the Borrower and each Subsidiary
Guarantor which are satisfactory in form and substance to the Lender.

            (l)  The Agent and its counsel shall have received executed
financing statements (Form UCC-1), on or prior to the Closing Date,
substantially in the form of Exhibit "H" or in such other form as the Agent may
                             -----------
reasonably request, naming Borrower as the debtor and Agent, for the benefit of
Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer as the secured party, or other similar
instruments or documents, as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Agent,
desirable under the UCC or any comparable law of all appropriate jurisdictions
to perfect Agent's interests in the Receivables originated and Inventory owned
by the Borrower and proceeds thereof; and the Agent and its counsel shall have
received executed financing statements (Form UCC-1), filed on or prior to the
Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit "K" or in such other form as
                                           -----------
the Agent may reasonably request, naming the Subsidiary Guarantor as the debtor
and Agent, for the benefit of Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer as the
secured party, or other similar instruments or documents, as may be necessary
or, in the opinion of the Agent, desirable under the UCC or any comparable law
of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect Agent's interests in the Receivables
originated and Inventory owned by the Subsidiary Guarantor and proceeds thereof.

            (m)  The Agent and its counsel shall have received duly executed
landlord waivers and bailee waivers, in form and substance satisfactory to
Agent, concerning locations at which Inventory of the Borrower or a Subsidiary
Guarantor is located; provided however; if such landlord waivers and bailee
                      ----------------
waivers are not available on the Closing Date, the Borrower shall cause such
landlord waivers and bailee waivers to be delivered to the Agent not later than
ninety (90) days after the Closing Date.

            (n)  The Agent shall have received evidence that the Credit
Agreement dated as of December 1, 1995 among the Borrower, the financial
institution party thereto and PNC Bank, as agent has been terminated and all
amounts due thereunder have been paid in full.

            (o)  The Agent on its own behalf and on behalf of the Lenders and
the L/C Issuer shall be in receipt of all Fees due and payable on or prior to
the Closing Date and all reimbursable expenses incurred on or prior to the
Closing Date.

            (p)  All matters and circumstances set forth as qualifications,
limitations, exceptions, additional matters or other materials set forth in the
Schedules hereto

                                      -58-
<PAGE>
 
provided by or on behalf of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall be acceptable
to the Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders in their reasonable discretion.

     5.02.  Each Additional Revolving Credit Loan or Issuance of a Letter of
            ----------------------------------------------------------------
Credit. At the time of making any Revolving Credit Loans or the issuance of, or
------
renewal of, a Letter of Credit and after giving effect to the proposed
borrowings or issuance:

            (a)  the representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in
Article IV hereof and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in
all material respects on and as of the earlier of: (x) the date of such
additional Revolving Credit Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit or (y) the
specific dates or times referred to therein, with the same effect as though such
representations and warranties have been made on and as of such date;

            (b)  the Borrower shall have performed and complied in all material
 respects with all covenants and conditions hereof;

            (c)  no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing or shall exist;

            (d)  the making of any Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit
shall not contravene any Law applicable to the Borrower, any of the Lenders or
the L/C Issuer;

            (e)  the Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent a duly executed
and completed Loan Request and with respect to the issuance of a Letter of
Credit, the Borrower shall have complied with the reasonable requirements of the
L/C Issuer not inconsistent with the terms hereof.

            (f)  Total Utilization shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving
Credit Commitments; provided, however, that prior to the advance of any Loan on
                    --------  -------
a Borrowing Date the proceeds of which will repay any Unreimbursed L/C Draw, for
the purpose of calculating Total Utilization and compliance with this Subsection
5.02(f) on such date, the existing Total Utilization immediately prior to such
advance shall be reduced pro tanto by the dollar amount of the Loans to be
                         --- -----
advanced on such Borrowing Date which will be used to repay any outstanding
Unreimbursed L/C Draws.

     5.03.  Location of Closing. The Closing shall take place at 11:00 A.M.,
            -------------------                                                
Pittsburgh time, on the Closing Date at the offices of Tucker Arensberg, P.C.,
1500 One PPG Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222, or at such other time and
place as the parties agree.

                                      -59-
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE VI
                             AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
                             ---------------------


     The Borrower covenants and agrees that, until payment in full of the Loans
and interest thereon, payment in full of all Letter of Credit reimbursement
obligations and interest thereon, satisfaction of all of the Borrower's other
obligations hereunder and termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, and
the expiration and cancellation of all Letters of Credit issued hereunder, the
Borrower shall comply, or cause compliance, at all times with the affirmative
covenants set forth in Sections 6.01 through and including Section 6.14.

     6.01.  Preservation of Existence, etc. (a) The Borrower shall maintain its
            -------------------------------
corporate existence and its license or qualification and its good standing in
the state of its incorporation and in each other jurisdiction in which its
ownership or lease of property or the nature of its businesses makes such
license or qualification necessary (except for such other jurisdictions in which
such failure to be so licensed or qualified individually and in the aggregate
would not result in a Material Adverse Change).

            (b)  Each Subsidiary of the Borrower shall maintain its corporate
existence and its license or qualification and its good standing in the state of
its incorporation and in each other jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease
of property or the nature of its businesses makes such license or qualification
necessary (except for such other jurisdictions in which such failure to be so
licensed or qualified individually and in the aggregate would not result in a
Material Adverse Change).

     6.02.  Reporting Requirements. The Borrower will maintain, and will cause
            ----------------------
its Subsidiaries to maintain, a system of accounting established and
administered in accordance with GAAP, and will set aside on its books all such
proper reserves as shall be required by GAAP.  Further, the Borrower will:

            (i)  deliver to the Agent within forty-five (45) days after the end
of each Fiscal Quarter in each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, (A) consolidated
balance sheet as at the end of such period for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, (B) consolidated statements of income for such period for the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, in the case of the second, third and fourth
quarterly periods, for the period from the beginning of the current Fiscal Year
to the end of such quarterly period, (C) consolidated statements of cash flow
for such period for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, in the case of the
second, third and fourth quarterly periods, for the period from

                                      -60-
<PAGE>
 
the beginning of the current Fiscal Year to the end of such quarterly period,
and (D) consolidated statements of shareholders equity for such period for the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, in the case of the second, third and fourth
quarterly periods, for the period from the beginning of the current Fiscal Year
to the end of such quarterly period; and with each financial statement described
in clauses (A) through (D) of this Section 6.02(i), each such statement shall
set forth, in comparative form, corresponding figures for the corresponding
period in the immediately preceding Fiscal Year; and all such statements shall
be prepared in reasonable detail and certified, subject to changes resulting
from year-end adjustments, by the chief financial officer of the Borrower;

            (ii)  deliver to the Agent within 90 days after the end of each
Fiscal Year of the Borrower, (A) consolidated balance sheets as at the end of
such year for the Borrower, (B) consolidated statements of income for such year
for the Borrower, (C) consolidated statements of cash flow for such year for the
Borrower, and (D) consolidated statements of shareholders equity for such year
for the Borrower; and with each financial statement described in clauses (A)
through (D) of this Section 6.02(ii), each such statement shall set forth, in
comparative form, corresponding figures for the immediately preceding Fiscal
Year for the Borrower; and all such financial statements shall present fairly in
all material respects the financial position of the Borrower and its
consolidated subsidiaries, as at the dates indicated and the results of its
operations and its cash flow for the periods indicated, in conformity with GAAP;
and the Borrower shall cause each of the consolidated financial statements
described in clauses (A) through (D) of the Section 6.02(ii) to be certified
without limitation as to scope by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. or other independent
certified public accountants acceptable to the Required Lenders;

            (iii) deliver to the Agent, together with each delivery of financial
statements pursuant to items (i) and (ii) above, a Compliance Certificate of the
Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit "F" hereto, properly completed,
                                      -----------
(A) stating (1) that the Borrower has reviewed the terms of the Loan Documents
and has made, or caused to be made under his supervision, a review of the
transactions and condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the
accounting period covered by such financial statements and that such review has
not disclosed the existence during such accounting period, and (2) that the
Borrower does not have knowledge of the existence, as at the date of such
Compliance Certificate, of any condition or event which constitutes an Event of
Default or a Default, or, if any such condition or event existed or exists,
specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the
Borrower has taken or is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and
(B) demonstrating in reasonable detail compliance as at the end of such
accounting period with the restrictions contained in Sections 7.12, 7.13, 7.14
and 7.15 hereof;

            (iv)  upon request of the Agent, deliver to the Agent as soon as it
becomes available, but in no event later than October 15 of each Fiscal Year of
the Borrower, a capital budget and financial forecast of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year of the Borrower; and promptly give written
notice to the Agent of the occurrence of any event or condition that has
resulted in a material variance from the capital budget or operating budget in

                                      -61-
<PAGE>
 
effect for such Fiscal Year, but in no event shall any such notice be given
later than five (5) days after such determination is made;

            (v)  promptly give written notice to the Agent of the happening of
any event (which is known to the Borrower or should reasonably be known to the
Borrower) which constitutes an Event of Default or a Default hereunder, but in
no event shall any such notice be given later than five (5) days after the
Borrower knows or should have known of such event;

            (vi) promptly give written notice to the Agent of any pending or, to
the knowledge of the Borrower, overtly threatened claim in writing, litigation
or threat of litigation which arises between the Borrower, or any of its
Subsidiaries, and any other party or parties (including, without limitation, any
Official Body) which claim, litigation or threat of litigation, individually or
in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to cause a Material Adverse Change, any
such notice to be given not later than five (5) days after any of the Borrower
becomes aware of the occurrence of any such claim, litigation or threat of
litigation;

            (vii) promptly deliver to the Agent, but in no event later than ten
(10) days after the Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries, receives, copies of
(A) all management letters and other reports submitted to the Borrower, or a
Subsidiary of the Borrower, by independent certified public accountants in
connection with an annual or interim audit of the books of the Borrower, or a
Subsidiary of the Borrower made by such accountants which sets forth issues
concerning material deviations by the Borrower and/or one or more of its
Subsidiaries from GAAP and/or generally accepted auditing standards, (B) all
reports, notices and proxy statements sent by the Borrower to its shareholders
and (C) all regular and periodic reports and definitive proxy materials
(including but not limited to Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K) filed by the Borrower
with any securities exchange or the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission;

            (viii) deliver to the Agent within forty-five (45) days after the
end of each fiscal quarter in each fiscal year of a Class A Subsidiary
Guarantor, (A) a balance sheet as at the end of such period for such Class A
Subsidiary Guarantor, (B) a statement of income for such period for such Class A
Subsidiary Guarantor and, in the case of the second, third and fourth quarterly
periods, for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end
of such quarterly period, (C) a statement of cash flow for such period for such
Class A Subsidiary Guarantor and, in the case of the second, third and fourth
quarterly periods, for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year
to the end of such quarterly period, and (D) a statement of shareholders equity
(or similar statement for a partnership) for such period of such Class A
Subsidiary Guarantor and, in the case of the second, third and fourth quarterly
periods, for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end
of such quarterly period; and with each financial statement described in clauses
(A) through (D) of this Section 6.02(ix), each such statement shall set forth,
in comparative form, corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the
immediately preceding fiscal year of such Class A Subsidiary Guarantor; and all

                                      -62-
<PAGE>
 
such statements shall be prepared in reasonable detail and certified, subject to
changes resulting from year-end adjustments, by the chief financial officer or
general partner, as the case may be, of such Class A Subsidiary Guarantor;

            (ix) deliver to the Agent within 90 days after the end of each
fiscal year of each Subsidiary Guarantor, (A) a balance sheet as at the end of
such year for such Subsidiary Guarantor and for each Subsidiary Guarantor which
is a Class A Subsidiary Guarantor (B) a statement of income for such year for
such Class A Subsidiary Guarantor, (C) a statement of cash flow for such year
for such Class A Subsidiary Guarantor, and (D) a statement of shareholders
equity (or similar statement for a partnership) for such year of such Class A
Subsidiary Guarantor; and with each financial statement described in clauses (A)
through (D) of this Section 6.02(x), each such statement shall set forth, in
comparative form, corresponding figures for the immediately preceding fiscal
year for such Subsidiary Guarantor; and shall prepare, or cause to be prepared,
each of the financial statements described in clauses (A) through (D) of this
Section 6.02(x) in reasonable detail; and all such financial statements shall
present fairly in all material respects the financial position of such
Subsidiary Guarantor, as at the dates indicated and, where applicable, the
results of its operations and its cash flow for the periods indicated, in
conformity with GAAP; and

            (x) such other reports and information as the Agent or the Required
Lenders may from time to time reasonably request.

     6.03.  Notices Regarding Plans and Benefit Arrangements.
            ------------------------------------------------   

            (a)  Promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence thereof, notice
(including the nature of the event and, when known, any action taken or
threatened by the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC with respect thereto)
shall be given to the Agent by the Borrower of:

                 (i)   any Reportable Event with respect to the Borrower or any
     member of the ERISA Group,

                 (ii)  any Prohibited Transaction which could subject the
     Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group to a civil penalty assessed
     pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed by Section 4975 of the
     Internal Revenue Code in connection with any Plan, Benefit Arrangement or
     any trust created thereunder, if such tax and/or penalty is reasonably
     likely to result in a Material Adverse Change,

                 (iii) any assertion of material withdrawal liability with
     respect to any Multiemployer Plan,

                                      -63-
<PAGE>
 
                 (iv)  any partial or complete withdrawal from a Multiemployer
     Plan by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group under Title IV of
     ERISA (or assertion thereof), where such withdrawal is likely to result in
     material withdrawal liability,

                 (v)   any cessation of operations (by the Borrower of any
     member or the ERISA Group) at a facility in the circumstances described in
     Section 4062(e) of ERISA,

                 (vi)  withdrawal by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA
     Group from a Multiple Employer Plan,

                 (vii)  a failure by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA
     Group to make a payment to a Plan required to avoid imposition of a lien
     under Section 302(f) of ERISA,

                 (viii) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the
     provision of security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA, or

                 (ix)   any change in the actuarial assumptions or funding
     methods used for any Plan, where the effect of such change is to materially
     increase or materially reduce the unfunded benefit liability or obligation
     to make periodic contributions.

            (b) Promptly after receipt thereof, copies of (i) all notices
received by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group of the PBGC's intent
to terminate any Plan administered or maintained by the Borrower or any member
of the ERISA Group, or to have a trustee appointed to administer any such Plan;
and (ii) at the request of the Agent or any Lender each annual report (IRS Form
5500 series) and all accompanying schedules, the most recent actuarial reports,
the most recent financial information concerning the financial status of each
Plan administered or maintained by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA
Group, and schedules showing the amounts contributed to each such Plan by or on
behalf of the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group in which any of their
respective personnel participate or from which such personnel may derive a
benefit, and each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report filed
by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group with the Internal Revenue
Service with respect to each such Plan shall be given to the Agent by the
Borrower.

            (c)  Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of any PBGC Form 200,
500, 600 or 601, or any successor form, filed with the PBGC in connection with
the termination of any Plan.

                                      -64-
<PAGE>
 
     6.04.  Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, etc. The Borrower shall
            ---------------------------------------------
duly pay and discharge, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge
timely (subject, where applicable, to specified grace periods and, in the case
of trade payables, to normal payment practices), all liabilities which
singularly are in excess of $100,000 or which in the aggregate exceed $500,000
to which they are subject or which are asserted against them, promptly as and
when the same shall become due and payable, including all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges upon them or any of their properties, assets, income or
profits, prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto; provided however,
                                                              -------- ------- 
the Borrower may chose not to pay any such liabilities, including taxes,
assessments or charges, if the same are being contested in good faith and for
which such reserves (including reserves for any additional amounts which would
be payable as a result of the failure to discharge timely any such liabilities)
or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have
been made.

     6.05.  Maintenance of Insurance. The Borrower shall insure, and shall cause
            ------------------------
its Subsidiaries to insure, their respective properties and assets against loss
or damage in such amounts as similar properties and assets are insured by
prudent companies in similar circumstances carrying on similar businesses, and
with reputable and financially sound insurers, including self-insurance to the
extent customary.  The Borrower shall comply with all of the terms and
provisions of any Security Document executed by the Borrower concerning the
maintenance of insurance with respect to any collateral granted to or for the
benefit of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer thereunder.  The Borrower will furnish
to the Agent on the Closing Date and thereafter simultaneously with the delivery
of the annual financial information delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(ii) a
certificate of the Borrower executed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower
certifying that such insurance is in force, is adequate in nature and amount and
complies with the Borrower's obligations under this Section 6.05.

     6.06.  Maintenance of Properties and Leases. The Borrower, and its
            ------------------------------------                          
Subsidiaries, shall maintain in good repair, working order and condition
(ordinary wear and tear excepted) in accordance with the general practice of
other businesses of similar character and size, all of those properties useful
or necessary to their respective businesses, and from time to time, the Borrower
will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals or replacements
thereof.

     6.07.  Maintenance of Permits and Franchises.  The Borrower, and its
            -------------------------------------                          
Subsidiaries, shall maintain in full force and effect all franchises, permits
and other authorizations necessary for the ownership and operation of their
respective properties and business if the failure so to maintain the same,
individually or in the aggregate, would constitute a Material Adverse Change.

                                      -65-
<PAGE>
 
     6.08.  Visitation Rights. The Borrower shall permit, and shall cause its
            -----------------                                                   
Subsidiaries to permit, any of the officers or authorized employees or
representatives of the Agent or any of the Lenders to visit and inspect any of
the properties of the Borrower, or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, and to examine
and make excerpts from its books and records and discuss its respective business
affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, all in such detail and at such
times and as often as any of the Lenders may reasonably request, provided that
each Lender shall provide the Borrower, or the Subsidiary of the Borrower, as
the case may be, and the Agent with reasonable notice prior to any visit or
inspection and only the Agent and its authorized employees or representatives
are permitted to conduct audits.

     6.09.  Keeping of Records and Books of Account. The Borrower, and its
            ---------------------------------------                          
Subsidiaries, shall maintain and keep proper books of record and account which
enable the Borrower to issue financial statements in accordance with GAAP and as
otherwise required by applicable Laws of any Official Body having jurisdiction
over the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and in which full, true and correct
entries shall be made in all material respects of all their respective dealings
and business and financial affairs.

     6.10.  Plans and Benefit Arrangements. The Borrower shall, and shall cause
            ------------------------------
each member of the ERISA Group to, comply with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code
and other applicable Laws applicable to Plans and Benefit Arrangements except
where such failure, alone or in conjunction with any other failure, would not
result in a Material Adverse Change.  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Borrower shall cause all of its Plans and all Plans maintained by
any member of the ERISA Group to be funded in accordance with the minimum
funding requirements of ERISA and shall make, and cause each member of the ERISA
Group to make, in a timely manner, all contributions due to Plans, Benefit
Arrangements and Multiemployer Plans.

     6.11.  Compliance with Laws. The Borrower, and its Subsidiaries, shall
            --------------------                                              
comply with all applicable Laws (other than Environmental Laws) in all respects,
provided that they shall not be deemed to be a violation of this Section 6.11 if
any failure to comply with any Law would not result in fines, penalties, other
similar liabilities or injunctive relief which in the aggregate would constitute
a Material Adverse Change.

     6.12.  Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans
            ---------------                                                    
only for lawful purposes in accordance with Section 2.16 hereof as applicable
and such uses shall not contravene any applicable Law or any other provision
hereof.  The Borrower will permit the use of the Letters of Credit only for
lawful purposes in accordance with Section 2.17 hereof as applicable, and such
uses shall not contravene any applicable Law or any other provision hereof.

                                      -66-
<PAGE>
 
     6.13.  Environmental Laws. (i) The Borrower and its Subsidiaries, shall
            ------------------                                                  
comply in all material respects, subject to the disclosure set forth in Schedule
4.20, with all Environmental Laws and shall obtain and comply in all material
respects with and maintain any and all licenses, approvals, registrations or
permits required by Environmental Laws;

            (ii)  The Borrower, and its Subsidiaries, shall conduct and complete
in all material respects all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and
all remedial, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws and
promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful orders and directives
of all Official Bodies respecting Environmental Laws, except to the extent that
the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings
diligently conducted and for which such reserves or other appropriate
provisions, if any, required by GAAP shall have been made; and

            (iii)  The Borrower shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the
Agent and the Lenders, and their respective employees, agents, officers and
directors, from and against any claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities,
settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature known or
unknown, contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way relating to the
violation of or noncompliance with any Environmental Laws applicable to the real
property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any
orders, requirements or demands of any Official Bodies related thereto,
including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's and consultant's fees,
investigation and laboratory fees, court costs and litigation expenses, except
to the extent that any of the foregoing arise out of the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification therefor.

     6.14.  Senior Debt Status. The obligations of the Borrower under this
            ------------------                                               
Agreement and the Notes will rank at least pari passu in priority of payment
                                           ---- -----                       
with all other Indebtedness of the Borrower except Indebtedness of the Borrower
to the extent secured by Permitted Liens.  The obligations of a Subsidiary
Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Subsidiary Security Agreement and
other Security Documents executed by it will rank at least pari passu in
                                                           ---- -----   
priority of payment with all other Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor
except Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor to the extent secured by
Permitted Liens.


                                  ARTICLE VII
                              NEGATIVE COVENANTS
                              ------------------


     The Borrower covenants and agrees that, until payment in full of the Loans
and interest

                                      -67-
<PAGE>
 
thereon, payment in full of all Letter of Credit reimbursement obligations and
interest thereon, satisfaction of all of the Borrower's other obligations
hereunder and termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, and the
expiration and cancellation of all Letters of Credit issued hereunder, the
Borrower shall comply, or cause the compliance, with the negative covenants set
forth in Sections 7.01 through and including Section 7.17.

     7.01.  Indebtedness. The Borrower, and its Subsidiaries, shall not at any
            ------------
time, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness (including
Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens), except:

            (i)   Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

            (ii)  Existing Indebtedness as set forth on Schedule 7.01 hereto
                                                        -------------
     (including any extensions or renewals thereof provided there is no increase
     in the amount thereof or other significant change in the terms thereof);

            (iii) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower
     or to another Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Indebtedness of the
     Borrower to a Subsidiary of the Borrower including, without limitation, the
     Indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Notes;

            (iv)  Indebtedness with respect to foreign exchange hedging
     transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business to manage
     foreign currency risk for the Borrower and/or one or more of its
     Subsidiaries;

            (v)   Indebtedness with respect to oil hedging contracts entered
     into in the ordinary course of business to manage oil price risk for the
     Borrower and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries;

            (vi)  Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Interest Hedge Agreements;

            (vii) Other Indebtedness not covered by clauses (i) through (v)
     above of this Section 7.01 provided that (A) the principal amount of such
     indebtedness is not due and payable until after the Expiration Date in
     effect when such Indebtedness is incurred, (B) the terms of such
     Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the terms
     hereof and (C) on the date such Indebtedness is incurred there is a
     permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments in an amount equal
     to the amount of such Indebtedness;

            (viii) Other Indebtedness not covered by items (i) through (vii)
     above, provided that the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness permitted by
     this item (viii) shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding;
     and

                                      -68-
<PAGE>
 
            (ix)  Indebtedness evidenced by the Senior Notes; provided that on
     and after October 1, 1997, the principal amount of such Indebtedness shall
     not exceed $3,000,000.

     7.02.  Liens. The Borrower, and its Subsidiaries, shall not at any time
            -----                                                              
create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of their respective
property or assets, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired, or
agree or become liable to do so, except Permitted Liens.

     7.03.  Loans, Acquisitions and Investments. The Borrower, and its
            -----------------------------------                          
Subsidiaries, shall not at any time make any loan or advance to, or purchase or
otherwise acquire any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership
interest (whether general or limited) in, or assets of, or any other investment
or interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other person, or agree
to or become liable to do any of the foregoing, except:

            (i)   trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the
     ordinary course of business;

            (ii)  fixed assets, equipment or Inventory acquired in the ordinary
     course of business;

            (iii) loans and advances to employees to meet expenses incurred by
     such employees in the ordinary course of business, including without
     limitation relocation expenses;

            (iv)  Cash Equivalents;

            (v)   investments, capital contributions and advances by the
     Borrower in existence as of the date hereof, which investments, capital
     contributions and advances are set forth on Schedule 7.03 hereof;
                                                 -------------

            (vi)  investments and capital contributions by the Borrower in,
     and loans and advances by Borrower to, a third Person so long as after
     giving effect to each such investment or capital contribution the Borrower
     shall not have caused a violation of Sections 7.01, 7.02, 7.08, 7.09, 7.12,
     7.13, 7.14, 7.15 or 7.16;

            (vii) loans, advances and capital contributions by a Subsidiary of
     the Borrower to the Borrower or any of the Borrower's other Subsidiaries or
     loan, advances and capital contributions by the Borrower to any of its
     Subsidiaries; and

                                      -69-
<PAGE>
 
            (viii) Borrower or any Subsidiary may acquire the assets
     or voting securities of any other Person provided that (A) at the time of
     such acquisition no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
     continuing or be caused by such acquisition, (B) the acquired Person, if
     any, shall become a Guarantor Subsidiary and , if required pursuant to the
     terms of Section 3.04 shall become a Class A Guarantor Subsidiary, and
     shall execute all Loan Documents required of a Guarantor Subsidiary, (C)
     the acquisition shall not be contested by such Person or the holders of its
     equity securities and (D) the Borrower shall have provided the Agent with
     pro forma historical financial information which demonstrate to the
     reasonable satisfaction of the Lenders that such acquisition will not
     violate any covenants of this Agreement.

     7.04.  Liquidations, Mergers and Consolidations. The Borrower shall not,
            ----------------------------------------                            
and shall not permit any Subsidiary of Borrower to, dissolve, liquidate or wind-
up its affairs, or become a party to any merger or consolidation, or sell,
lease, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, all or substantially all of its
assets, provided that:
        --------      

            (i)   any Subsidiary of Borrower may consolidate or merge into the
     Borrower or another Subsidiary of the Borrower;

            (ii)  any Subsidiary of the Borrower may sell, lease, transfer or
     otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary
     liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or another Subsidiary of the
     Borrower; and

            (iii) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may consolidate or merge with
     any Person, provided that (A) if the Borrower is a party to such merger or
     consolidation, the Borrower be the surviving Person, (B) at the time of the
     consolidation or merger no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
     and be continuing or be caused by such consolidation or merger, (C) the
     surviving Person, if not the Borrower, shall become a Guarantor Subsidiary
     and , if required pursuant to the terms of Section 3.04 shall become a
     Class A Guarantor Subsidiary, (D) the consolidation or merger shall not be
     contested by such Person or the holders of its equity securities and (E)
     the Borrower shall have provided the Agent with pro forma historical
     financial information which demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of
     the Lenders that such merger or consolidation will not violate any
     covenants of this Agreement.

     7.05.  Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries. Excluding the payment of
            --------------------------------------
cash as consideration for assets purchased by, or services rendered to, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
shall sell, convey, assign, lease, or otherwise transfer or dispose of,
voluntarily or involuntarily, any of its properties or assets, tangible or
intangible (including but not limited to sale, assignment, discount or other
disposition of accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, equipment or

                                      -70-
<PAGE>
 
general intangibles with or without recourse or of Capital Stock, shares or
beneficial interests or partnership interests in Subsidiaries), except:

            (i)   any sale, transfer or disposition of surplus, obsolete or worn
     out assets of the Borrower or a Subsidiary;

            (ii)  any sale, transfer or lease of Inventory by the Borrower or
     any Subsidiary of the Borrower in the ordinary course of business;

            (iii) any sale, transfer or lease of assets by any Subsidiary of the
     Borrower to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower or by the
     Borrower to any Subsidiary of the Borrower;

            (iv)  any sale, transfer or lease of assets, other than those
     specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (iii) above, which in
     any one sale, transfer or lease of assets, or in any number of sales,
     transfers or leases of assets occurring in any consecutive twelve month
     period, involves the sale, transfer or lease of not more than 10% of the
     Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower (measured with respect to a series
     of sales, transfers or leases of assets on the day of the first sale); or

            (v)   any absolute sale or assignment of accounts in connection
     with a Securitization, provided that (A) such transaction, except for the
     customary exceptions, is nonrecourse to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries,
     (B) on the date of each such transaction the Revolving Credit Commitments
     are permanently reduced by a Dollar amount equal to the Maximum Purchase
     Commitment of such transaction and (C) such Securitization be "off balance
     sheet" for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

     7.06.  Affiliate Transactions. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.02 and as
            ----------------------                         -------------
set forth on Schedule 7.06, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the
             -------------                                                
Borrower shall enter into or carry out any material transaction (including,
without limitation, purchasing property or services or selling property or
services) with an Affiliate unless such transaction is not otherwise prohibited
by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, is entered into in the ordinary
course of business upon fair and reasonable arm's-length terms and conditions
which are fully disclosed to the Agent and is in accordance with all applicable
Law.

     7.07.  Subsidiaries, Partnerships and Joint Ventures. (i) Except as
            ---------------------------------------------                  
permitted by Section 7.03, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the
Borrower shall own or create any Subsidiaries other than those listed in
Schedule 4.03 or 7.03; and (ii) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the
---------------------                                                         
Borrower shall become or agree to become a general partner in any general or
limited partnership or a joint

                                      -71-
<PAGE>
 
venturer in any joint venture, without the consent of the Required Lenders, such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld.

     7.08.  Continuation of or Change in Business. Neither the Borrower nor any
            -------------------------------------
Subsidiary of the Borrower shall engage in any business other than the business
activities of such Persons substantially as conducted and operated by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the Fiscal Year ended July 31, 1997, and
the Borrower shall not permit any material change in such business.

     7.09.  Plans and Benefit Arrangements. The Borrower shall not, and shall
not permit any member of the ERISA Group to:

            (i)   fail to satisfy the minimum funding requirements of ERISA and
     the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Plan;

            (ii)  request a minimum funding waiver from the Internal Revenue
     Service with respect to any Plan;

            (iii) engage in a Prohibited Transaction with any Plan, Benefit
     Arrangement or Multiemployer Plan which, alone or in conjunction with any
     other circumstances or set of circumstances resulting in liability under
     ERISA, would constitute a Material Adverse Change;

            (iv)  fail to make when due any contribution to any Multiemployer
     Plan that the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group may be required to
     make under any agreement relating to such Multiemployer Plan, or any Law
     pertaining thereto;

            (v)   withdraw (completely or partially) from any Multiemployer Plan
     or be deemed under Section 4062(e) of ERISA to withdraw from any Multiple
                        ---------------
     Employer Plan, where any such withdrawal is likely to result in a material
     liability of the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group;

            (vi)  terminate, or institute proceedings to terminate, any Plan,
     where such termination is likely to result in a material liability to the
     Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group;

            (vii) make any amendment to any Plan with respect to which security
     is required under Section 307 of ERISA; or

                                      -72-
<PAGE>
 
            (viii) fail to give any and all notices and make all disclosures and
     governmental filings required under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code,
     where such failure is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

     7.10.  Fiscal Year. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower
            -----------
shall change its Fiscal Year from a period beginning August 1 and ending on the
immediately succeeding July 31.

     7.11.  Changes in Organizational Documents. The Borrower shall not, and
            -----------------------------------
shall not permit any Guarantor Subsidiary of Borrower to, amend in any respect
its certificate or articles of incorporation without providing at least thirty
(30) calendar days' prior written notice to the Agent and the Lenders and, in
the event such change would be materially adverse to the Lenders as determined
by the Agent in its sole but reasonable discretion, obtaining the prior written
consent of the Required Lenders.

     7.12.  Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. The Borrower will not at
            ---------------------------------------                        --
any time on and after November 1, 1997 permit its Consolidated Tangible Net
--------                                                                   
Worth to be less than an amount equal to the sum of (i) 85% of the Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth as of October 31, 1997, plus (ii) 50% of the positive net
income for each Fiscal Quarter ending after October 31, 1997 of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied, plus (iii) all increases to equity from the issuance by
the Borrower after July 31, 1997 of further equity securities or other equity
capital investments.

     7.13.  Interest Coverage. The Borrower shall not permit its ratio, measured
            -----------------
on a rolling four Fiscal Quarter basis, of EBITDA to Cash Interest Expense as of
the end of each Fiscal Quarter to be less than 3.5 to 1.0.

     7.14.  Leverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit its Consolidated Total
            --------------
Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio to exceed 3.0 to 1.0.

     7.15. Operating Leases. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries may not incur
           ----------------                                                    
operating leases which in the aggregate require rental payments in a Fiscal Year
to exceed $5,000,000.

     7.16.  Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses. Neither the Borrower nor any
            -------------------------------------
of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any agreement with any Person (other than
the Lenders pursuant hereto) which prohibits or limits the ability of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired.

                                      -73-
<PAGE>
 
     7.17.  No Changes. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
            ----------                                                     
Subsidiary Guarantor to change the name, identity or corporate or other
organizational structure of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor in any
manner which would make any financing statement or continuation statement filed
in connection with this Agreement or the Subsidiary Guaranty or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby seriously misleading within the meaning of
Section 9-402(7) of the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction or other applicable
Laws unless it shall have given the Agent prior thirty (30) day written notice
thereof, and unless prior thereto it shall have caused such financing statement
or continuation statement to be amended or a new financing statement to be filed
such that such financing statement or continuation statement would not be
seriously misleading as required by the Security Agreement or the Subsidiary
Security Agreement, as the case may be.


                                 ARTICLE VIII
                                    DEFAULT
                                    -------


     8.01.  Events of Default.  An "Event of Default" shall mean the occurrence
            -----------------       ----------------
or existence of any one or more of the following events or conditions (whatever
the reason therefor and whether voluntary, involuntary or effected by operation
of Law):

            (a)   (i) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan
(including scheduled installments, mandatory prepayments or the payment due at
maturity whether by acceleration or otherwise) when due, or (ii) the Borrower
shall fail to pay any Unreimbursed L/C Amount when due, or (iii) the Borrower
shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan, any Unreimbursed L/C Draw or any
other amount owing hereunder or under any other Loan Documents after such
interest, or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof or
thereof and such failure shall continue for a period of five (5) days;

            (b) Any representation or warranty made at any time by the Borrower
herein or in any other Loan Document or by a Subsidiary Guarantor in any Loan
Document executed by such Subsidiary Guarantor, or in any certificate, other
instrument or statement furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof or thereof,
shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect as of the
time it was made or furnished;

            (c) The Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of
any covenant contained in Sections 6.13 or 6.14 or Article VII hereof;

            (d) The Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of
any other covenant, condition or provision hereof, or of any other Loan Document
and, if

                                      -74-
<PAGE>
 
remediable, such default shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30)
days after any officer of the Borrower becomes aware of the occurrence thereof;
or a Subsidiary Guarantor shall default in the observance or performance of any
other covenant, condition or provision contained in a Subsidiary Guaranty,
Subsidiary Security Agreement or any other Loan Document executed by such
Subsidiary Guarantor, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of
thirty (30) days after any officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor becomes aware of
the occurrence thereof;

            (e) A default or event of default shall occur at any time under the
terms of any agreements involving Indebtedness under which the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of the Borrower may be obligated as borrower, guarantor or otherwise
in excess of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) in the aggregate, and such
breach, default or event of default consists of the failure to pay (beyond any
period of grace permitted with respect thereto, whether waived or not) any
Indebtedness when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) or if such breach or default causes the acceleration of any such
Indebtedness or such breach or default permits the acceleration of any
Indebtedness;

            (f) Any judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of
Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) in the aggregate shall be entered against the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, by a court having jurisdiction in the
premises which judgments are not satisfied, discharged, vacated, bonded or
stayed pending appeal within a period of thirty (30) days from the respective
date of entry;

            (g) Any of the Loan Documents shall cease to be legal, valid and
binding agreements enforceable against the party executing the same or such
party's successors and assigns (as permitted under the Loan Documents) in
accordance with the respective terms thereof (except to the extent that
enforceability of any of the Loan Documents may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the
enforceability of creditors' rights generally or limiting the right of specific
performance) or shall in any way be terminated (except in accordance with terms)
or become or be declared ineffective or inoperative or shall in any way be
challenged or contested or cease to give or provide the respective rights,
titles, interests, remedies, powers or privileges intended to be created thereby
in all material respects;

            (h) A notice of lien, levy or assessment in excess of Two Million
Dollars ($2,000,000) in the aggregate is filed of record with respect to all or
any part of the assets of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor by the United
States, or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, or by any state,
county, municipal or other governmental agency, including, without limitation,
the PBGC, or if any taxes or debts in excess of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000)
owing at any time or times hereafter to any one of these becomes payable and the
same is not paid within thirty (30) days after the same becomes payable, or if
such notice

                                      -75-
<PAGE>
 
is filed or such payment is not so made, unless the Borrower or such Subsidiary
Guarantor (i) contests such lien, assessment, tax or debt in good faith by
appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted but only so long as such
proceedings could not subject the Agent, the Lenders or the L/C Issuer to any
criminal penalties, or could not result in or involve any risk of loss, sale or
forfeiture of any Assigned Collateral or the Subsidiary Assigned Collateral, as
the case may be, or any risk of loss of the first priority interest of the Agent
in the Assigned Collateral or the Subsidiary Assigned Collateral, as the case
may be, (ii) establishes such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any,
as shall be required by GAAP and (iii) pays such lien, assessment, tax or debt
in accordance with the terms of any final judgments or orders relating thereto
within thirty (30) days after the entry of such judgments or orders;

            (i) The Borrower, or a Subsidiary Guarantor, ceases to be Solvent or
admits in writing its inability to pay debts as they mature;

            (j) Any of the following occurs: (i) any Reportable Event, which
constitutes grounds for the termination of any Plan by the PBGC or the
appointment of a trustee to administer or liquidate any Plan, shall have
occurred and be continuing; (ii) proceedings shall have been instituted or other
action taken to terminate any Plan, or a termination notice shall have been
filed with respect to any Plan; (iii) a trustee shall be appointed to administer
or liquidate any Plan; (iv) the PBGC shall give notice of its intent to
institute proceedings to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to
administer or liquidate any Plan and, in the case of the occurrence of (i),
(ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 8.01(j), the amount of Borrower's liability
or the liability of the other members of the ERISA Group is likely to exceed
five percent (5%) of the Consolidated Tangible Net Worth; (v) the Borrower or
any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to make any contributions when due to a
Plan or a Multiemployer Plan; (vi) the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group
shall make any amendment to a Plan with respect to which security is required
under Section 307 of ERISA; (vii) the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group
shall withdraw completely or partially from a Multiemployer Plan; (viii) the
Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group shall withdraw (or shall be treated
under Section 4062(e) of ERISA as having withdrawn) from a Multiple Employer
Plan; or (ix) any applicable Law is adopted, changed or interpreted by any
Official Body with respect to or otherwise affecting one or more Plans,
Multiemployer Plans or Benefit Arrangements and, with respect to any of the
events specified in (v), (vi), (vii), (viii) or (ix), any such occurrence would
be reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the total enterprise
represented by the Borrower and the other members of the ERISA Group;

            (k) The Borrower, or a Subsidiary Guarantor, is enjoined, restrained
or in any way prevented by court order from conducting all or any material part
of its business and such injunction, restraint or other preventive order is not
stayed or dismissed within thirty (30) days after the entry thereof;

                                      -76-
<PAGE>
 
            (l)   (i) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of
Sections 13(g) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended),
shall have acquired beneficial ownership of (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act) 35% or
more of the voting Capital Stock of the Borrower;

                  (ii) within a period of twelve (12) consecutive months,
individuals who were directors of the Borrower on the first day of such period
and/or individuals who become directors of the Borrower pursuant to a nomination
or election that was recommended or approved by the individuals who were
directors on the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority
of the board of directors of the Borrower; or

                  (iii) the Borrower or a Subsidiary shall own less than 100% of
the voting Capital Stock or voting partnership or other equity interest of any
Subsidiary Guarantor;

            (m) A proceeding shall have been instituted in a court having
jurisdiction in the premises seeking a decree or order for relief in respect of
the Borrower, or a Subsidiary Guarantor, in an involuntary case under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect, or a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator, conservator (or similar official) of the Borrower, or a Subsidiary
Guarantor, for any substantial part of such Person's property, or for the
winding-up or liquidation of such Person's affairs, and such proceeding shall
remain undismissed or unstayed and in effect for a period of thirty (30)
consecutive days or such court shall enter a decree or order granting any of the
relief sought in such proceeding;

            (n) The Borrower, or a Subsidiary Guarantor, shall commence a
voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an
order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to
the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
custodian, trustee, sequestrator, conservator (or other similar official) of
itself or for any substantial part of property or shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay debts as
they become due, or shall take any action in furtherance of any of the
foregoing;

            (o) any of the Security Documents shall cease to be in full force
and effect or shall be declared to be null and void by a court of competent
jurisdiction; or any Lien granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders,
the L/C Issuer and the Agent pursuant to any such Security Document ceases to be
a Lien with the priority as represented and warranted in such Security Document;
or

                                      -77-
<PAGE>
 
            (p) any garnishment proceeding concerning a sum in excess of
Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) shall be instituted by attachment, levy or
otherwise, against any deposit account maintained by the Borrower or a
Subsidiary Guarantor with any Lender.

     8.02.  Consequences of Event of Default.
            --------------------------------   

            (a) If an Event of Default specified in any of items (a) through (l)
or item (o) or (p) of Section 8.01 hereof shall occur and be continuing, the
Lenders shall be under no further obligation to make Loans hereunder, the L/C
Issuer shall be under no further obligation to issue or amend Letters of Credit
hereunder and the Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders shall,
by written notice to the Borrower, declare the unpaid principal amount of the
Notes then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all
other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders, the Agent and the L/C Issuer
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents to be forthwith due and payable,
and the same shall thereupon become and be immediately due and payable to the
Agent for the benefit of each Lender, the Agent and the L/C Issuer without
presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby expressly waived; and

            (b) If any Event of Default specified in item (m) or (n) of Section
8.01 hereof shall occur, the Lenders shall be under no further obligations to
make Loans hereunder, the L/C Issuer shall be under no further obligation to
issue or amend Letters of Credit hereunder and the unpaid principal amount of
the Notes then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and
all other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders, the Agent and the L/C
Issuer hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall be immediately due and
payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of
which are hereby expressly waived; further, during the thirty (30) day period
referred to in item (m) the Lenders shall be under no further obligation to make
Loans and the L/C Issuer shall be under no further obligation to issue or amend
Letters of Credit hereunder; and

            (c) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, any Lender
to whom any obligation is owed by the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan
Document, of such Lender and any branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender
anywhere in the world shall each have the right, in addition to all other rights
and remedies available to it, without notice to the Borrower, to set-off against
and apply to the then unpaid balance of all the Revolving Credit Loans and all
other obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document,
any debt owing to, and any other funds held in any manner for the account of,
the Borrower by such Lender or by such branch, subsidiary

                                      -78-
<PAGE>
 
or affiliate, including, without limitation, all funds in all deposit accounts
(whether time or demand, general or special, provisionally credited or finally
credited, or otherwise) now or hereafter maintained by the Borrower for its own
account (but not including funds held in custodian or trust accounts) with such
Lender or such branch, subsidiary or affiliate. Such right shall exist in each
case whether or not any Lender or the Agent shall have made any demand under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether or not such debt owing to or
funds held for the account of the Borrower is or are matured or unmatured and
regardless of the existence or adequacy of any other security, right or remedy
available to any Lender or the Agent; and

            (d) In addition to all of the rights and remedies contained in this
Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, the Agent and the Lenders shall
have all of the rights and remedies of a creditor under applicable Law, all of
which rights and remedies shall be cumulative and non-exclusive, to the extent
permitted by Law. The Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders
shall, exercise all post-default rights granted to the Agent and the Lenders
under the Loan Documents or applicable Law.

            (e) Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in the
foregoing Sections 8.01(m) or (n) or upon the declaration by the Required
Lenders of any other Event of Default and the termination of the Revolving
Credit Commitments, the obligation of the L/C Issuer to issue or amend Letters
of Credit shall terminate, the L/C Issuer or the Agent may provide written
demand to any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit to present a draft against such
Letter of Credit, and an amount equal to the maximum amount which may at any
time be drawn under the Letters of Credit then outstanding (whether or not any
beneficiary of such Letters of Credit shall have presented, or shall be entitled
at such time to present, the drafts or other documents required to draw under
the Letters of Credit) shall automatically become immediately due and payable,
without presentment, demand, protest or other requirements of any kind, all of
which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; provided that the foregoing
shall not affect in any way the obligations of the Lenders to purchase from the
L/C Issuer participation in the unreimbursed amount of any drawings under the
Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.17(c). So long as the Letters of
Credit shall remain outstanding, any amounts declared due pursuant to this
Section 8.02(e) with respect to the outstanding Letters of Credit when received
by the Agent shall be deposited and held by the Agent in an interest bearing
account denominated in the name of the Agent for the benefit of the Agent, the
Lenders and the L/C Issuer over which the Agent shall have sole dominion and
control of withdrawals (the "Cash Collateral Account") as cash collateral for
the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer in the event of any
drawing under the Letters of Credit and upon any drawing under such Letters of
Credit in respect of which the Agent has deposited in the Cash Collateral
Account any amounts declared due pursuant to this Section 8.02(e), the Agent
shall apply such amounts held by the Agent to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the
amount of such drawing. In the event that any Letter of Credit in respect of
which the Agent has deposited in the Cash Collateral Account any amounts
described above is cancelled or expires or in the event of any reduction in the
maximum amount available at any time for drawing under the

                                      -79-
<PAGE>
 
Letters of Credit outstanding, the Agent shall apply the amount then in the Cash
Collateral Account designated to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any drawings under
the Letters of Credit less the maximum amount available at any time for drawing
under the Letters of Credit outstanding immediately after such cancellation,
expiration or reduction, if any, to the payment in full of the outstanding
Lender Obligations, and second, to the payment of any excess, to the Borrower.


                                  ARTICLE IX
                                   THE AGENT
                                   ---------


     9.01.  Appointment and Grant of Authority. (a) Each of the Lenders and the
            ----------------------------------
L/C Issuer hereby appoints PNC Bank, National Association, and PNC Bank,
National Association, hereby agrees to act, as the Agent under this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents.  The Agent shall have and may exercise such powers
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are specifically delegated
to it by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such other powers as are
incidental thereto.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Agent, on behalf of the
Lenders and the L/C Issuer, is authorized to execute all of the Loan Documents
(other than this Agreement) and to accept all of the Loan Documents and all
other agreements, documents or instruments reasonably required to carry out the
intent of the parties to this Agreement.

            (b) The Lenders and the L/C Issuer appoint and authorize the Agent,
and the Agent hereby accepts the appointment and authorization to act as agent
of, and bailee, for the Lenders and the L/C Issuer to hold for their collective
benefit the Assigned Collateral and the Subsidiary Assigned Collateral. The
Agent, in its capacity of agent and bailee as set forth in the immediately
preceding sentence, shall not commingle the proceeds realized from any
enforcement action against any of the Assigned Collateral or the Subsidiary
Assigned Collateral with any asset or account of the Agent, and such proceeds
shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer and
shall be applied pursuant to the terms hereof.

     9.02.  Delegation of Duties. The Agent may perform any of its duties
            --------------------                                            
hereunder by or through agents or employees (provided such delegation does not
constitute a relinquishment of duties as the Agent hereunder) and, subject to
Sections 9.07 and 10.03 hereof, shall be entitled to engage and pay for the
advice or services of any attorneys, accountants or other experts concerning all
matters pertaining to duties hereunder and to rely upon any advice so obtained.

     9.03.  Reliance by Agent on Lenders for Funding. Unless the Agent shall
            ----------------------------------------                           
have received notice from a Lender prior to any Borrowing Date that such Lender
will not make available to the Agent such Lender's portion of net disbursements
of Revolving Credit Loans, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
portion available to the Agent and the Agent may, in reliance upon such
assumption, make

                                      -80-
<PAGE>
 
Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower. If and to the extent that such Lender
has not made such portion available to the Agent on or prior to any Borrowing
Date, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent
immediately upon demand, in immediately available funds, such unpaid amount,
together with interest thereon for each day from the applicable Borrowing Date
until such amount is repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, at
the rate of interest then in effect for such loan and (ii) in the case of such
Lender, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the
Agent such corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute a Revolving Credit
Loan made by such Lender for purposes of this Agreement. The failure by any
Lender to pay its portion of a Revolving Credit Loan made by the Agent shall not
relieve any other Lender of the obligation to pay its portion of net
disbursements of Revolving Credit Loans on any Borrowing Date, but no Lender
shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its net share
of Revolving Credit Loans to be made by such other Lender on such Borrowing
Date.

     9.04.  Non-Reliance on Agent. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agree that
            ---------------------
(i) it has, independently and without reliance on the Agent, and based on such
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit
analysis of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and decision to enter into this
Agreement and (ii) that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Agent, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate
at the time, continue to make its own analysis and decisions in taking or not
taking action under this Agreement.  Except as otherwise provided herein or
under any other Loan Document, the Agent shall have no duty to keep the Lenders
or the L/C Issuer informed as to the performance or observance by the Borrower
of this Agreement or any other document referred to or provided for herein or to
inspect the properties or books of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.  The
Agent, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall not be
liable to any Lender or the L/C Issuer for its failure to relay or furnish to
the Lender any information.

     9.05.  Responsibility of Agent and Other Matters.
            -----------------------------------------   

            (a)  Ministerial Nature of Duties. As between the Lenders, the L/C
                 ----------------------------
Issuer and itself, the Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities
except those expressly set forth in this Agreement or in the other Loan
Documents, and those duties and responsibilities shall be subject to the
limitations and qualifications set forth in this Article IX. The duties of the
Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature.

            (b)  Limitation of Liability. As between the Lenders, the L/C Issuer
                 -----------------------
and itself, neither the Agent nor any of its respective directors, officers,
employees or agents shall be liable, in the absence of gross negligence or
willful misconduct, for any action taken or omitted (whether or not such action
taken or omitted is within or without the Agent's

                                      -81-
<PAGE>
 
responsibilities and duties expressly set forth in this Agreement) under or in
connection with this Agreement or any other instrument or document in connection
herewith. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Agent, nor any of its
directors, officers, employees or its agents, shall be responsible for, or have
any duty to examine (i) the genuineness, execution, validity, effectiveness,
enforceability, value or sufficiency of (A) this Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents or (B) any other document or instrument furnished pursuant to or
in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the collectability of any amounts owed
by the Borrower to the Agent, the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, (iii) the
truthfulness of any recitals or statements or representations or warranties made
to the Agent or the Lenders in connection with this Agreement, (iv) any failure
of any party to this Agreement to receive any communication sent, including any
telegram, telex, teletype, telecopy, bank wire, cable, or telephone message or
any writing, application, notice, report, statement, certificate, resolution,
request, order, consent letter or other instrument or paper or communication
entrusted to the mails or to a delivery service, or (v) the assets or
liabilities or financial condition or results of operations or business or
creditworthiness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

            (c)  Reliance. The Agent shall be entitled to act, and shall be
                 --------
fully protected in acting upon, any telegram, telex, teletype, telecopy, bank
wire or cable or any writing, application, notice, report, statement,
certificate, resolution, request, order, consent, letter or other instrument or
paper or communication believed by the Agent in good faith to be genuine and
correct and to have been signed or sent or made by a proper Person. The Agent
may consult counsel and shall be entitled to act, and shall be fully protected
in any action taken in good faith, in accordance with advice given by counsel.
The Agent may employee agents and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be liable for
the default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by
the Agent with reasonable care. The Agent shall not be bound to ascertain or
inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or
conditions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents on the part of
the Borrower.

     9.06.  Actions in Discretion of Agent; Instructions from the Lenders. The
            -------------------------------------------------------------
Agent agrees, upon the written request of the Required Lenders, to take or
refrain from taking any action of the type specified as being within the Agent's
rights, powers or discretion herein or under any Loan Documents, provided that
                                                                 --------     
the Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes the Agent to
personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or applicable Law.  In the absence of a request by the Required
Lenders, the Agent shall have authority, in its sole discretion, to take or not
to take any such action, unless this Agreement specifically requires the consent
of the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders.  Any action taken or failure to
act pursuant to such instructions or discretion shall be binding on the Lenders
and the L/C Issuer, subject to Section 9.05(b) hereof.  Subject to the
provisions of Section 9.05(b), no Lender shall have any right of action
whatsoever against the Agent as a result of the Agent acting or refraining from
acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders.

                                      -82-
<PAGE>
 
     9.07.  Indemnification. To the extent the Borrower does not reimburse and
            ---------------
save harmless the Agent according to the terms hereof for and from all costs,
expenses and disbursements in connection herewith, such costs, expenses and
disbursements, shall be borne by the Lenders ratably in accordance with
respective Lender's Ratable Share.  Each Lender hereby agrees on such basis (i)
to reimburse the Agent for such Lender's Ratable Share of all such reasonable
costs, expenses and disbursements on request and (ii) to the extent of each such
Lender's Ratable Share, to indemnify and save harmless the Agent against and
from any and all losses, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments and suits
and other costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever
which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent, other than
as a consequence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the
Agent, arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents or any other agreement, instrument or document in connection herewith
or therewith, or any request of the Required Lenders, including without
limitation the reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements in connection with
defending itself against any claim or liability related to the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties under this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents, or any of the other agreements, instruments or documents delivered in
connection herewith or the taking of any action under or in connection with any
of the foregoing.

     9.08.  Agent's Rights as a Lender. With respect to the Revolving Credit
            --------------------------
Commitment of the Agent as a Lender hereunder, any Revolving Credit Loans or
Swingline Loans of the Agent under this Agreement, the Agent's Ratable Share of
any Unreimbursed L/C Draws, the participation of PNC Bank as a Lender and as the
L/C Issuer under this Agreement the other Loan Documents and any other
agreements, instruments and documents delivered pursuant hereto, and the
issuance of any Letter of Credit under the terms hereof, the Agent shall have
the same rights and powers, duties and obligations under this Agreement, the
other Loan Documents or any other agreement, instrument or document as any
Lender and may exercise such rights and powers and shall perform such duties and
fulfill such obligations as though it were not the Agent, as the case may be.
The Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage, and
continue to engage, in any kind of business with the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, as if PNC Bank were not the Agent.

     9.09.  Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge
            -----------------
or notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default unless the Agent has received
written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement,
describing such Event of Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of
default".

     9.10.  Payment to Lenders. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 9.03
            ------------------                                                  
hereof, promptly after receipt from the Borrower of any principal repayment
of the Revolving Credit Loans or any Unreimbursed L/C Draw, interest due on
the Revolving Credit Loans or any Unreimbursed L/C Draws, and any Fees (other
than the

                                      -83-
<PAGE>
 
Underwriting Fee, the Agent's Fee and the L/C Fronting Fee) or other amounts
due under any of the Loan Documents, the Agent shall distribute to each Lender
that Lender's Ratable Share of the funds so received except that funds received
from the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor to reimburse the L/C Issuer for
drawings on Letters of Credit (other than a Lender's Ratable Share of such
reimbursement payment to the extent such Lender has complied fully with any
funding obligations under Section 2.17(g) hereof) or to fund any risk
participant in the Letters of Credit or to pay the L/C Fronting Fee shall be
paid solely for the account of L/C Issuer.   If the Agent fails to distribute
collected funds received by 2:00 P.M. on any Business Day by the end of such
Business Day or collected funds received after 2:00 P.M. on any Business Day on
the next Business Day the funds shall bear interest until distributed at the
Federal Funds Effective Rate.  The Agent agrees to make its best efforts to
provide telephonic notice to each Lender that it is in receipt of funds from the
Borrower and the day on which it will commence a wire transfer of such Lender's
share of such funds.

     9.11.  Holders of Notes. The Agent may deem and treat any payee of any Note
            ----------------
as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until written notice of
the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Agent.  Any
request, authority or consent of any person who at the time of making such
request or giving such authority or consent is the holder of any Note shall be
conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee or assignee of such
Note or of any Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.

     9.12.  Equalization of Lenders. Each borrowing and each payment or
            -----------------------                                       
prepayment by, or for the account of, the Borrower with respect to principal,
interest, Fees, or other amounts due from the Borrower hereunder to the Lenders
with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans, shall (except as provided in Section
2.10, 2.12, 2.17(b) or 9.03 hereof) be made in proportion to the Revolving
Credit Loans outstanding from each Lender or, if no such Revolving Credit Loans
are then outstanding, in proportion to the Ratable Share of each Lender.  Each
payment of Unreimbursed L/C Draws shall be made for the account of the L/C
Issuer.  The Lenders agree among themselves that, with respect to all amounts
received by any Lender (in its capacity solely as a Lender) or any such holder
for application on any obligation hereunder or under any Note or under any such
participation, whether received by voluntary payment, by realization upon
security, by the exercise of the right of set-off or banker's lien, by
counterclaim or by any other non-pro rata source, equitable adjustment will be
made in the manner stated in the following sentence so that, in effect, all such
excess amounts will be shared ratably among the Lenders and such holders in
proportion to their interest in payments under the Notes, except as otherwise
expressly provided herein.  The Lenders or any such holder receiving any such
amount shall purchase for cash, from each of the other Lenders, an interest in
such Lender's Revolving Credit Loans in such amount as shall result in a ratable
participation by the Lenders and each such holder in the aggregate unpaid amount
under the Notes, provided that if all or any portion of such excess amount is
thereafter recovered from the Lender or the holder making such purchase, such
purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the

                                      -84-
<PAGE>
 
extent of such recovery, together with interest or other amounts, if any,
required by Law (including court order) to be paid by the Lender or the holder
making such purchase.

     9.13.  Successor Agent. The Agent may resign as the Agent upon 60 days'
            ---------------                                                    
written notice to the Lenders and the Borrower.  If such notice shall be given,
the Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the
Lenders, during such 60-day period, which successor agent shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Borrower, to serve as agent hereunder and under the several
documents, the forms of which are attached hereto as exhibits, or which are
referred to herein.  If at the end of such 60-day period the Lenders have not
appointed such a successor, the Agent shall procure a successor reasonably
satisfactory to the Lenders and the Borrower, to serve as agent for the Lenders
hereunder and under the several documents, the forms of which are attached
hereto as exhibits, or which are referred to herein.  Any such successor agent
shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Agent.  Upon the
appointment of such successor agent or upon the expiration of such 60-day period
(or any longer period to which the Agent has agreed), the former Agent's rights,
powers and duties as Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act
or deed on the part of such former Agent or any of the parties to this
Agreement.  After any retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as the Agent, the
provisions of this Article IX shall inure to the benefit of such retiring Agent
as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Agent
under this Agreement.

     9.14.  Calculations. In the absence of gross negligence or willful
            ------------                                                  
misconduct, the Agent shall not be liable for any error in computing the amount
payable to any Lender whether in respect of the Revolving Credit Loans, fees or
any other amounts due to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under this Agreement.  In
the event an error in computing any amount payable to any Lender or the L/C
Issuer is made, the Agent, the Borrower and each affected Person shall,
forthwith upon discovery of such error, make such adjustments as shall be
required to correct such error, and any compensation therefor will be calculated
at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

     9.15.  Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided herein, the provisions
            -------------
of this Article IX are solely for the benefit of the Agent, the Lenders and the
L/C Issuer, and the Borrower shall not have any rights to rely on or enforce any
of the provisions hereof.  In performing its functions and duties under this
Agreement, the Agent shall act solely as agent of the Lenders and does not
assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation toward or
relationship of agency or trust with or for the Borrower.

                                      -85-
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE X
                              GENERAL PROVISIONS
                              ------------------


     10.01.  Amendments and Waivers. The Required Lenders, or the Agent with the
             ----------------------
consent in writing of the Required Lenders, and the Borrower may, subject to the
provisions of this Section 10.01, from time to time enter into written
supplemental agreements to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents for the
purpose of adding or deleting any provisions or otherwise changing, varying or
waiving in any manner the rights of the Lenders, the Agent or the obligor
thereunder or the conditions, provisions or terms thereof or waiving any Event
of Default thereunder or consenting to an action of any of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries, but only to the extent specified in such written
agreements; provided, however, that no such supplemental agreement shall,
            --------  -------                                            
without the consent of all the Lenders:

             (i)   waive an Event of Default by the Borrower in any payment of
principal and/or interest due hereunder and under any of the Notes;

             (ii)  reduce the interest rate relating to the Revolving Credit
Loans or change the definition of the terms Base Rate, Prime Rate, Applicable
Euro-Rate Margin, Euro-Rate, Euro-Rate Interest Period, Euro-Rate Reserve
Percentage or Federal Funds Effective Rate so as to decrease the interest rate
relating to the Revolving Credit Loans;

             (iii) change the Expiration Date;

             (iv) release, other than as provided for herein and in the Security
Agreement, any Assigned Collateral securing the Indebtedness incurred hereunder,
or release, other than as provided for herein and in the applicable Subsidiary
Security Agreement, any Subsidiary Assigned Collateral securing the Indebtedness
incurred hereunder, or release and discharge any Subsidiary Guaranty;

             (v)   reduce the Commitment Fee, or any Letter of Credit Fee;

             (vi)  increase the maximum principal amount of the Revolving Credit
Commitment of any Lender, or increase the maximum Stated Amount of Letters of
Credit which may be issued and outstanding under the terms hereof;

             (vii)  change the definition of the term Required Lenders; or

             (viii) amend or waive the provisions of this Section 10.01.

                                      -86-
<PAGE>
 
     Any such supplemental agreement shall apply equally to each of the Lenders
and the L/C Issuer and shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Lenders and the
Agent, all future holders of the Notes and all Participants. In the case of any
waiver, the Borrower, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Agent shall be
restored to former positions and rights, and any Event of Default waived shall
be deemed to be cured and not continuing, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

     10.02.  Taxes. The Borrower shall pay any and all stamp, document, transfer
             -----
and recording taxes, filing fees and similar impositions payable or hereafter
determined by the Agent, the Lenders or the L/C Issuer to be payable in
connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any other
documents, instruments and transactions pursuant to or in connection with any of
the Loan Documents.  The Borrower agrees to save the Agent, the Lenders and the
L/C Issuer harmless from and against any and all present and future claims or
liabilities with respect to, or resulting from, any delay in paying or failure
to pay any such taxes or similar impositions.

     10.03.  Costs and Expenses, etc. (a)  The Borrower shall:
             -----------------------                             

             (i) pay or reimburse the Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket
     costs and expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with (A) the
     preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement, any other Loan
     Documents or any instrument or document prepared in connection herewith or
     therewith; (B) the completion of the Agent's "due diligence" permitted as a
     condition of the closing set forth in Section 5.01(k); (C) the syndication
     efforts of the Agent with respect to this Agreement and the commitments
     hereunder; and (D) the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
     and thereby (including, without limitation, in each case the reasonable
     fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the counsel to the Agent) and

             (ii) reimburse the Agent, the L/C Issuer and each Lender on demand,
     for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Agent,
     the L/C Issuer or such Lender in connection with the enforcement of or
     preservation of any of its Liens, rights, powers, interests or remedies
     under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, without
     limitation, in each case the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of
     the respective counsel to the Agent, the L/C Issuer and each Lender).

         (b) All of such costs, expenses and indemnities shall be payable by the
Borrower to the Agent, the Lenders or the L/C Issuer as appropriate upon demand
or as otherwise agreed upon by the Agent, the Lenders or the L/C Issuer as
appropriate and the Borrower, and shall constitute Lender Obligations under this
Agreement.

                                      -87-
<PAGE>
 
     10.04.  Notices.
             -------   

             (a) Notice to the Borrower. All notices required to be delivered to
the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent to
the following address, by hand delivery, recognized national overnight courier
service with all charges prepaid, telex, telegram, telecopier or other means of
electronic data communication or by the United States mail, first class, postage
prepaid:

                       The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc.,
                       One Gateway Center
                       19th Floor
                       Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
                       Attention:   Stephen D. Weaver
                                    Vice President-Finance and
                                    Chief Financial Officer

                       Telephone:   (412) 562-3700
                       Telecopier:  (412) 562-3701

             (b) Notice to the Agent. All notices required to be delivered to
                 -------------------
the Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent to
the following address, by hand delivery, recognized national overnight courier
service with all charges prepaid, telex, telegram, telecopier or other means of
electronic data communication or by the United States mail, first class, postage
prepaid:

                    PNC Bank, National Association
                    Multibank Loan Administration
                    One PNC Plaza, 4/th/ Floor Annex
                    249 Fifth Avenue
                    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  15222
                    Attention:   Arlene M. Ohler,
                                 Vice President
                    Telephone:    (412) 762-3672
                    Telecopier:   (412) 762-8672


             (c) Notice to L/C Issuer. All notices required to be sent to the
                 --------------------
L/C Issuer pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent to
the following address by hand delivery, recognized national overnight courier
service with all charges prepaid, telex,

                                      -88-
<PAGE>
 
telegram, telecopier or other means of electronic data communication or by
United States mail, first class postage prepaid:

                    PNC Bank, National Association
                    Multibank Loan Administration
                    One PNC Plaza, 4/th/ Floor Annex
                    249 Fifth Avenue
                    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  15265
                    Attention:   Arlene M. Ohler
                                 Vice President
                    Telephone:   (412) 762-3672
                    Telecopier:  (412) 762-8672


             (d) Notice to Lenders. All notices required to be sent to the
                 -----------------
Lenders pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent to the
notice address of each Lender as set forth on such Lender's signature page
hereto or such Lender's signature page to the Assignment and Assumption
Agreement executed by it as a Purchasing Lender, as the case may be, by hand
delivery, overnight courier service with all charges prepaid, telex, telegram,
telecopier or other means of electronic data communication or by the United
States mail, first class postage prepaid.

     All such notices shall be effective three days after mailing, the date of
telecopy transmission or when received, whichever is earlier.  The Borrower, the
Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Agent may each change the address for service of
notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties hereto.

     10.05.  Participation and Assignment.
             ----------------------------   

             (a) Sale of Participation. (i) Any Lender may, in the ordinary
                 ---------------------
course of its commercial lending business and in accordance with applicable law,
and without the consent of the Borrower, at any time sell to one or more
Participants (which Participants may be Affiliates of such Lender) Participation
in the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender or any Revolving Credit Loan,
the Note, or other interest of such Lender hereunder. In the event of any such
sale of a Participation, such Lender's obligations under this Agreement to the
Borrower shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible for
its performance under this Agreement, such Lender shall remain the holder of the
Note made payable to it for all purposes under this Agreement (including all
voting rights hereunder) and the Borrower shall continue to deal solely and
directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

                                      -89-
<PAGE>
 
                  (ii) As between a Participant and that Participant's selling
Lender only, the sole issues on which the Participant shall have a contractual
right to vote are: (A) an increase in such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment,
(B) any change of the term Base Rate, Euro-Rate, Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage,
or Applicable Euro-Rate Margin so as to decrease the interest rate relating to
the Revolving Credit Loans, (C) extension of the term of the Revolving Credit
Commitment, or (D) postponement of the scheduled payment of interest or Fees due
hereunder.

             (b) Assignments. Subject to the remaining provisions of this
                 -----------
Section 10.05(b), any Lender may at any time, in the ordinary course of its
commercial lending business, in accordance with applicable law, sell to one or
more Purchasing Lenders (which Purchasing Lender may be affiliates of the
Transferor Lender), a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
and the Note then held by it, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit "E" and satisfactory to the Agent, executed
                             ----------- 
by the Transferor Lender, such Purchase Lender, the Agent and the Borrower;
subject, however to the following requirements:

                 (i) The Agent and the Borrower must each give its prior consent
     to any such assignment which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; it
     being agreed that it shall not be deemed unreasonable for the Borrower to
     decline to consent to such assignment if (A) such assignment would result
     in incurrence of additional costs to the Borrower under Section 2.10, 2.11
     or 2.12, or (ii) the proposed assignee has not provided to the Borrower any
     tax forms received under Section 10.05(d);

                 (ii) Each such assignment must be in a minimum amount of
     $10,000,000, or, if in excess of $10,000,000, in integral multiples of
     $1,000,000; and

                 (iii) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a
     varying, percentage of the Transferor Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment,
     outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and all other rights and obligations
     under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and

                 (iv) The Transferor Lender shall pay to the Agent, for its own
     account, a fee of $3,500 for each such assignment (the "Assignment Fee").

     Upon the execution, delivery, acceptance and recording of any such
Assignment and Assumption Agreement, from and after the Transfer Effective Date
determined pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, (i) the
Purchasing Lender thereunder shall be a party hereto as a Lender and, to the
extent provided in such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, shall have the
rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder with a Revolving Credit Commitment
as set forth therein, and (ii) the Transferor Lender thereunder shall, to the
extent

                                      -90-
<PAGE>
 
provided in such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, be released from its
obligations under this Agreement as a Lender. Such Assignment and Assumption
Agreement shall be deemed to amend this Agreement to the extent, and only to the
extent, necessary to reflect the addition of such Purchasing Lender as a Lender
and the resulting adjustment of Ratable Share arising from the purchase by such
Purchasing Lender of all or a portion of the rights and obligations of such
Transferor Lender under this Agreement and the Notes. On or prior to the
Transfer Effective Date, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Agent, in
exchange for the surrendered Note held by the Transferor Lender, a new Note to
the order of such Purchasing Lender in an amount equal to the Revolving Credit
Commitment or the Revolving Credit Loans assumed by it and purchased by it
pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, and a new Note to the
order of the Transferor Lender in an amount equal to the Revolving Credit
Commitment or the Revolving Credit Loans retained by it hereunder.

             (c) Assignment Register. The Agent shall maintain at its address
                 -------------------
referred to in Section 10.04(b) a copy of each Assignment and Assumption
Agreement delivered to it and a register (the "Register") for the recordation of
the names and addresses of the Lenders and the amount of the Revolving Credit
Loans owing to each Lender from time to time. The entries in the Register shall
be conclusive, in the absence of manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent,
the Lender and the L/C Issuer may treat each Person whose name is recorded in
the Register as the owner of the Revolving Credit Loans recorded therein for all
purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available at the office of the
Agent for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and
from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

             (d) Withholding of Income Taxes. At least five Business Days prior
                 ---------------------------
to the first date on which interest or fees are payable hereunder for the
account of any Purchasing Lender or Participant, each Purchasing Lender or
Participant that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States or a
state thereof shall deliver to the Borrower and the Transferor Lender two duly
completed copies of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, 4224 or
1001 or other applicable form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service. Such
form shall certify that such Purchasing Lender or Participant is entitled to
receive payments under this Agreement and the Notes without deduction or
withholding of any United States Federal income taxes, or is subject to such tax
at a reduced rate under an applicable tax treaty or under United States Internal
Revenue Service Form W-8, or another applicable form or a certificate of such
Purchasing Lender or Participant indicating that no such exemption or reduced
rate is allowable with respect to such payments. Each Purchasing Lender or
Participant which delivers a Form W-8, W-9, 4224 or 1001 further undertakes to
deliver to the Borrower and its Transferor Lender two additional copies of such
form (or a successor form) on or before the date that such form expires or
becomes obsolete or otherwise is required to be resubmitted as a condition to
obtaining an exemption from withholding tax or after the occurrence of any event
requiring a change in the most recent form so delivered by it, and such
amendments thereto or extensions or renewals

                                      -91-
<PAGE>
 
thereof as may be reasonably required by the Borrower or its Transferor Lender,
either certifying that such Purchasing Lender or Participant is entitled to
receive payments under this Agreement and the Notes without deduction or
withholding of any United States Federal income taxes or is subject to such tax
at a reduced rate under an applicable tax treaty or stating that no such
exemption or reduced rate is allowable. The Borrower, in the case of a
Purchasing Lender or Transferor Lender in the case of a Participant shall be
entitled to withhold United States Federal income taxes at the full withholding
rate, unless the Purchasing Lender or Participant as the case may be establishes
an exemption, or at the applicable reduced rate, as established pursuant to this
provisions of this Section 10.05(d).

             (e) Assignments to Federal Reserve Bank. In addition to the
                 -----------------------------------
assignments permitted above, any Lender may assign and pledge all or any portion
of its Loans and Notes to any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security
pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank. No such
assignment shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations and duties
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents.

     10.06.  Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
             ----------------------                                             
Borrower and the Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and their respective
successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the
Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and  respective successors and assigns;
provided, however, that the Borrower shall not assign its rights or duties
-----------------                                                         
hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents without the prior written
consent of the Lenders.

     10.07.  No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies; Writing Required. No
             ---------------------------------------------------------       
course of dealing and no delay or failure of the Agent or any Lender in
exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document shall affect any other or future exercise thereof or operate
as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof or any
abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power, remedy or
privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power,
remedy or privilege.  The rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders under
this Agreement and any other Loan Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of
any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have.  Any waiver, permit,
consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Lender of any
breach or default under this Agreement or any such waiver of any provision or
condition of this Agreement must be in writing and shall be effective only to
the extent specifically set forth in such writing.

     10.08.  Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited
             ------------
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or enforceability without
invalidating the remaining

                                      -92-
<PAGE>
 
portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in
any other jurisdiction.

     10.09.  Indemnity. The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Agent, the
             ---------
Lenders, the Issuing Bank, and the directors, officers, employees, attorneys,
agents and Affiliates or all of the foregoing (each of the foregoing an
"Indemnified Person") against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss,
liabilities, damages, claims, costs and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements) suffered or incurred by any Indemnified
Person (except those caused by such Indemnified Person's gross negligence or
willful misconduct, ) arising out of, resulting from or in any manner connected
with, the execution, delivery and performance of each of the Loan Documents, the
Lender Obligations and any and all transactions related to or consummated in
connection with the Lender Obligations, including, without limitation, losses,
liabilities, damages, claims, costs and expenses suffered or incurred by any
Indemnified Person arising out of or related to investigating, preparing for,
defending against, or providing evidence, producing documents or taking any
other action in respect of any commenced or threatened litigation,
administrative proceeding or investigation under any Federal securities law or
by any Official Body of any jurisdiction, or at common law or otherwise, that is
alleged to arise out of or is based on (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact of the Borrower or any Affiliate of the
Borrower in any document or schedule filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any other Official Body, (ii) any omission or alleged omission to
state any material fact required to be stated in such document or schedule, or
necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances
under which made, not misleading; (iii) any actual or alleged acts, practices or
omissions of the Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any of their respective
directors, officers, partners, employees, attorneys, agents or Affiliates,
related to the making of any acquisition, purchase of shares or assets pursuant
thereto, financing of such purchases or the consummation of any other
transactions contemplated by any such acquisitions that are alleged to be in
violation of any Federal securities law or of any other statute, regulation or
other law of any jurisdiction applicable to the making of any such acquisition,
the purchase of shares or assets pursuant thereto, the financing of such
purchases or the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by any such
acquisition; or (iv) any withdrawals, termination or cancellation of any such
proposed acquisition for any reason whatsoever. The indemnity set forth in this
Section 10.9 shall be in addition to any other obligations or liabilities of the
Borrower to the Agent, the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, or at common law or
otherwise. The provisions of this Section 10.9 shall survive the payment of the
Lender Obligations and the termination of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.

     10.10.  Confidentiality. The Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank shall
             ---------------
keep confidential and not disclose to any Person, other than to their respective
directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and agents, and to actual and
potential Purchasing Lenders and Participants, all non-public information
concerning the Borrower and the Borrower's Affiliates

                                      -93-
<PAGE>
 
which comes into the possession of the Agent, the Lenders or the Issuing Bank
during the term hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agent, the Lenders
and the Issuing Bank may disclose information concerning the Borrower (i) in
accordance with normal banking practices and the Agent's, such Lender's or the
Issuing Bank's policies concerning disclosure of such information in connection
with syndication or sales of Participations, subject to informing the recipient
of such information of the duties of confidentiality hereunder, (ii) pursuant to
what the Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank believes to be the lawful
requirements or request of any Official Body regulating banks or banking, (iii)
as required by governmental regulation or rule, judicial process or subpoena;
provided however, if permitted by law, the Agent or such Lender shall notify the
Borrower and permit the Borrower, at the Borrower's cost, to contest such
subpoena; and (iv) to their respective attorneys, accountants and auditors who
have been informed of the confidentiality hereunder.

     10.11.  Survival. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
             --------
of the Borrower contained herein or in the other Loan Documents or made in
writing in connection herewith shall survive the issuance of the Notes and the
Letters of Credit and shall continue in full force and effect so long as the
Borrower may borrow hereunder and so long thereafter until payment in full of
all the Notes and the Lender Obligations is made.  The obligations of the
Borrower under Sections 6.13, 10.02 and 10.03 shall survive the termination of
this Agreement and the discharge of the other obligations of the Borrower
hereunder, and any other Loan Documents, and shall also survive the payment in
full of all Lender Obligations, the termination of the Revolving Credit
Commitment in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the
termination or expiration of all Letters of Credit in accordance with their
respective terms.

     10.12.  GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE
             -------------
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
PENNSYLVANIA, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES THEREOF REGARDING CONFLICT OF
LAWS, EXCEPTING APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW AND EXCEPT ONLY TO THE EXTENT PRECLUDED
BY THE MANDATORY APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

     10.13.  FORUM. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
             -----                                                           
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS TO
WHICH THE BORROWER IS A PARTY MAY BE COMMENCED IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA OR IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR
THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT A
SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT COMMENCING

                                      -94-
<PAGE>
 
AN ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN EITHER OF SUCH COURTS SHALL BE PROPERLY SERVED AND
SHALL CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION IF SERVED PERSONALLY OR BY CERTIFIED MAIL TO
THE PARTIES AT THEIR ADDRESSES SET FORTH IN SECTION 10.04, OR AS OTHERWISE
PROVIDED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. FURTHER, THE
BORROWER HEREBY SPECIFICALLY CONSENTS TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF THE COURT
OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA AND THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA AND WAIVES AND HEREBY
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS ESTOPPED FROM RAISING ANY OBJECTION BASED ON FORUM NON
                                                                     ---------
CONVENIENS, ANY CLAIM THAT EITHER SUCH COURT LACKS PROPER VENUE OR ANY OBJECTION
----------
THAT EITHER SUCH COURT LACKS PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE BORROWER SO AS TO
PROHIBIT EITHER SUCH COURT FROM ADJUDICATING ANY ISSUES RAISED IN A COMPLAINT
FILED WITH EITHER SUCH COURT AGAINST THE BORROWER BY THE AGENT, THE LENDERS OR
THE L/C ISSUER CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR PAYMENT
TO THE LENDERS. THE BORROWER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE CHOICE OF
FORUM CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 10.13 SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO PRECLUDE THE
ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT OBTAINED IN ANY FORUM OR THE TAKING OF ANY ACTION
UNDER THE LOAN DOCUMENTS TO ENFORCE THE SAME IN ANY APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION.

     10.14.  Non-Business Days. Whenever any payment hereunder or under the
             -----------------
Notes is due and payable on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment may
be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in
each such case be included in computing interest in connection with such
payment.

     10.15.  Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute
             -----------
the entire agreement between the parties relating to this financing transaction
and they supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or
oral, between the parties hereto relating to the transactions provided for
herein.

     10.16.  Headings. Article, Section and other headings used in this
             --------                                                     
Agreement are intended for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or
construction of this Agreement.

     10.17.  Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendment hereto may be
             ------------                                                   
executed in several counterparts and by each party on a separate counterpart,
each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be an original, but all of
which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.  In proving
this Agreement, it shall not be necessary

                                      -95-
<PAGE>
 
to produce or account for more than one such counterpart signed by the other
party against whom enforcement is sought. Delivery of an executed counterpart of
a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be as effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

     10.18.  Funding by Branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate.
             ------------------------------------------   

             (a) Notional Funding. Each Lender shall have the right from time
                 ----------------
to time, without notice to the Borrower, to deem any branch, subsidiary or
affiliate (which for the purposes of this Section 10.18 shall mean any
corporation or association which is directly or indirectly controlled by or is
under direct or indirect common control with any corporation or association
which directly or indirectly controls such Lender) of such Lender to have made,
maintained or funded any Revolving Credit Loan to which the Euro-Rate Option
applies at any time, provided that immediately following (on the assumption that
a payment were then due from the Borrower to such other office) and as a result
of such change the Borrower would not be under any greater financial obligation
to such Lender hereunder, pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.10, 2.11 or 2.12 hereof
than it would have been in the absence of such change. Notional funding offices
may be selected by each Lender without regard to a Lender's actual methods of
making, maintaining or funding the Revolving Credit Loans or any sources of
funding actually used by or available to such Lender.

             (b) Actual Funding. Each Lender shall have the right from time to
                 --------------
time to make or maintain any Revolving Credit Loan by arranging for a branch,
subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender to make or maintain such Revolving Credit
Loan subject to the last sentence of this Section 10.18(b). If any Lender causes
a branch, subsidiary or affiliate to make or maintain any part of the Revolving
Credit Loans hereunder, all terms and conditions of this Agreement shall, except
where the context clearly requires otherwise, be applicable to such part of the
Revolving Credit Loans to the same extent as if such Revolving Credit Loans were
made or maintained by such Lender but in no event shall any Lender's use of such
a branch, subsidiary or affiliate to make or maintain any part of the Revolving
Credit Loans hereunder cause such Lender or such branch, subsidiary or affiliate
to incur any cost or expenses payable by the Borrower hereunder or require the
Borrower to pay any other compensation to any such Lender (including, without
limitation, any expenses incurred or payable pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.10,
2.11 or 2.12 hereof) which would otherwise not be incurred.

     10.19.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, EACH LENDER, THE AGENT AND THE
             --------------------
ISSUING BANK EACH HEREBY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY COURT AND IN
ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY TYPE IN WHICH THE BORROWER, THE LENDERS, THE
AGENT, THE ISSUING BANK OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS IS A
PARTY,

                                      -96-
<PAGE>
 
AS TO ALL MATTERS AND THINGS ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR
THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.

                                      -97-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound
hereby, have caused this Revolving Credit and Letter of Credit Issuance
Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the
date first written above.

                                  Borrower:
                                
                                  THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.,
                                  a Delaware corporation
                                
                                
                                  By:  /s/ Stephen D. Weaver
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     Name:  Stephen D. Weaver
                                     Title: Vice President Finance and
                                            Chief Financial Officer
                                
                                
                                  Agent and L/C Issuer:
                                
                                
                                  PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                  in its capacity as the Agent and L/C Issuer


                                  By:  /s/ Mark W. Rutherford
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     Name:  Mark W. Rutherford
                                     Title: Vice President

                                      -98-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, intending to be legally bound hereby, the undersigned
Lender has caused this Revolving Credit and Letter of Credit Issuance Agreement
by and among The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc., the Lenders parties hereto, PNC
Bank, National Association, in its capacity as L/C Issuer, and PNC Bank,
National Association, in its capacity as Agent, to be executed by its duly
authorized officer as of the date first written above.

                                    Lender:

Revolving Credit                    PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 Commitment:      $125,000,000

Ratable Share: 100%

                                    By:  /s/ Mark W. Rutherford
                                       --------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Mark W. Rutherford
                                       Title: Vice President

Address for notice purposes:

If by other means:

     PNC Bank, National Association
     Metals Group
     One PNC Plaza, 2/nd/ Floor
     249 Fifth Avenue
     Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
     Attention:   Mark W. Rutherford
                  Vice President
     Telephone:   (412) 762-6278
     Telecopier:  (412) 762-6484

                                      -99-