<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


===============================================================================



                                   $41,000,000

                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of February 11, 1999

                                     Between

                                 RIDGEVIEW, INC.
                        SENECA KNITTING MILLS CORPORATION
                          TRI-STAR HOSIERY MILLS, INC.
                                 (the Borrowers)
                                       and

                        THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY
                            HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME
                                  (the Lenders)

                                       and

                                BANKBOSTON, N.A.
                                   (the Agent)

                                       and

                      GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                 (the Co-Agent)



===============================================================================



<PAGE>   2


                              TABLE OF CONTENTS(1)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                Page
<S>          <C>                                                                                                <C>

                                                         ARTICLE 1

SECTION 1.1  Definitions..........................................................................................1
SECTION 1.2  General Interpretive Rules..........................................................................32
SECTION 1.3  Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules.....................................................................34

                                                         ARTICLE 2

SECTION 2.1  Revolving Credit Loans..............................................................................35
SECTION 2.2  Manner of Borrowing Revolving Credit Loans..........................................................35
SECTION 2.3  Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans.................................................................37
SECTION 2.4  Revolving Credit Note...............................................................................38
SECTION 2.5  Extension of Revolving Credit Facility..............................................................38

                                                         ARTICLE 3

SECTION 3.1  Agreement to Issue..................................................................................39
SECTION 3.2  Amounts.............................................................................................39
SECTION 3.3  Conditions..........................................................................................39
SECTION 3.4  Issuance of Letters of Credit.......................................................................40
SECTION 3.5  Duties of BankBoston................................................................................40
SECTION 3.6  Payment of Reimbursement Obligations................................................................40
SECTION 3.7  Participations......................................................................................41
SECTION 3.8  Indemnification, Exoneration........................................................................42
SECTION 3.9  Supporting Letter of Credit; Cash Collateral Account................................................44

                                                         ARTICLE 4

SECTION 4.1  Term Loans..........................................................................................45
SECTION 4.2  Manner of Borrowing Term Loans......................................................................45
SECTION 4.3  Repayment of Term Loan..............................................................................45
SECTION 4.4  Term Notes..........................................................................................45

                                                         ARTICLE 5

SECTION 5.1  Interest............................................................................................46
SECTION 5.2  Certain Fees........................................................................................47
</TABLE>
----------------
(1) This Table of Contents is included for reference purposes only and does not
    constitute part of the Loan and Security Agreement.


                                        i
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>                                                                                                <C>

SECTION 5.3  Manner of Payment...................................................................................48
SECTION 5.4  General.............................................................................................48
SECTION 5.5  Loan Accounts; Statements of Account................................................................49
SECTION 5.6  Reduction of Revolving Credit Facility; Termination of Agreement....................................49
SECTION 5.7  Making of Loans.....................................................................................50
SECTION 5.8  Settlement Among Lenders............................................................................52
SECTION 5.9  Mandatory Prepayments...............................................................................55
SECTION 5.10  Prepayment Fee.....................................................................................55
SECTION 5.11  Payments Not at End of Interest Period; Failure to Borrow..........................................56
SECTION 5.12  Assumptions Concerning Funding of Eurodollar Rate Loans............................................56
SECTION 5.13  Notice of Conversion or Continuation...............................................................57
SECTION 5.14  Conversion or Continuation.........................................................................56
SECTION 5.15  Duration of Interest Periods; Maximum Number of Eurodollar Rate Loans; Minimum Increments..........57
SECTION 5.16  Changed Circumstances..............................................................................58
SECTION 5.17  Cash Collateral Account; Investment Accounts.......................................................60
SECTION 5.18  Borrowers' Representative..........................................................................61
SECTION 5.19  Joint and Several Liability........................................................................61
SECTION 5.20  Obligations Absolute...............................................................................62
SECTION 5.21  Waiver of Suretyship Defenses......................................................................63

                                                         ARTICLE 6

SECTION 6.1  Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans...............................................................64
SECTION 6.2  All Loans and Letters of Credit.....................................................................68
SECTION 6.3  Conditions as Covenants.............................................................................68

                                                         ARTICLE 7

SECTION 7.1  Representations and Warranties......................................................................69
SECTION 7.2  Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc.....................................................79

                                                         ARTICLE 8

SECTION 8.1  Security Interest...................................................................................80
SECTION 8.2  Continued Priority of Security Interest.............................................................80

                                                         ARTICLE 9

SECTION 9.1  Collection of Receivables...........................................................................82
SECTION 9.2  Verification and Notification.......................................................................83
SECTION 9.3  Disputes, Returns and Adjustments...................................................................83
SECTION 9.4  Invoices............................................................................................84
SECTION 9.5  Delivery of Instruments.............................................................................84
SECTION 9.6  Sales of Inventory..................................................................................84
SECTION 9.7  Ownership and Defense of Title......................................................................84
</TABLE>


                                       ii
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<S>           <C>                                                                                                <C>
SECTION 9.8   Insurance.........................................................................................85
SECTION 9.9   Location of Offices and Collateral................................................................85
SECTION 9.10  Records Relating to Collateral....................................................................86
SECTION 9.11  Inspection........................................................................................86
SECTION 9.12  Information and Reports...........................................................................87
SECTION 9.13  Power of Attorney.................................................................................88
SECTION 9.14  Additional Real Estate and Leases.................................................................88
SECTION 9.15  Assignment of Claims Act..........................................................................89
SECTION 9.16  Additional Subsidiaries...........................................................................89

                                                        ARTICLE 10

SECTION 10.1  Preservation of Corporate Existence and Similar Matters...........................................90
SECTION 10.2  Compliance with Applicable Law....................................................................90
SECTION 10.3  Maintenance of Property...........................................................................90
SECTION 10.4  Conduct of Business...............................................................................90
SECTION 10.5  Insurance.........................................................................................90
SECTION 10.6  Payment of Taxes and Claims.......................................................................91
SECTION 10.7  Accounting Methods and Financial Records..........................................................91
SECTION 10.8  Use of Proceeds...................................................................................91
SECTION 10.9  Hazardous Waste and Substances; Environmental Requirements........................................91
SECTION 10.10  Year 2000........................................................................................93
SECTION 10.11  Life Insurance Policies..........................................................................93

                                                        ARTICLE 11

SECTION 11.1  Financial Statements..............................................................................94
SECTION 11.2  Accountants' Certificate..........................................................................95
SECTION 11.3  Officer's Certificate.............................................................................95
SECTION 11.4  Copies of Other Reports...........................................................................95
SECTION 11.5  Notice of Litigation and Other Matters............................................................96
SECTION 11.6  ERISA.............................................................................................97
SECTION 11.7  Revisions or Updates to Schedules.................................................................97

                                                        ARTICLE 12

SECTION 12.1  Financial Ratios..................................................................................98
SECTION 12.2  Debt..............................................................................................98
SECTION 12.3  Guaranties........................................................................................99
SECTION 12.4  Investments.......................................................................................99
SECTION 12.5  Capital Expenditures..............................................................................99
SECTION 12.6  Restricted Distributions and Payments, Etc........................................................99
SECTION 12.7  Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets..........................................................99
SECTION 12.8  Transactions with Affiliates......................................................................99
SECTION 12.9  Liens.............................................................................................99
SECTION 12.10  Operating Leases.................................................................................99
</TABLE>


                                      iii
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>                                                                                                 <C>

SECTION 12.11  Real Estate Leases...............................................................................  99
SECTION 12.12  Benefit Plans....................................................................................  99
SECTION 12.13  Sales and Leasebacks............................................................................. 100
SECTION 12.14  Amendments of Other Agreements................................................................... 100
SECTION 12.15  Minimum Revolving Credit Availability............................................................ 100


                                                        ARTICLE 13

SECTION 13.1  Events of Default................................................................................. 101
SECTION 13.2  Remedies.......................................................................................... 104
SECTION 13.3  Application of Proceeds........................................................................... 104
SECTION 13.4  Power of Attorney................................................................................. 106
SECTION 13.5  Miscellaneous Provisions Concerning Remedies...................................................... 107
SECTION 13.6  Trademark License................................................................................. 108

                                                        ARTICLE 14

SECTION 14.1  Successors and Assigns; Participations............................................................ 109
SECTION 14.2  Representation of Lenders......................................................................... 111

                                                        ARTICLE 15

SECTION 15.1  Appointment of Agent.............................................................................. 112
SECTION 15.2  Delegation of Duties.............................................................................. 112
SECTION 15.3  Exculpatory Provisions............................................................................ 112
SECTION 15.4  Reliance by Agent................................................................................. 112
SECTION 15.5  Notice of Default................................................................................. 113
SECTION 15.6  Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders........................................................... 113
SECTION 15.7  Indemnification................................................................................... 114
SECTION 15.8  Agent in Its Individual Capacity.................................................................. 114
SECTION 15.9  Successor Agent; Co-Agents........................................................................ 114
SECTION 15.10  Notices from Agent to Lenders.................................................................... 115
SECTION 15.11  Co-Agent......................................................................................... 115

                                                        ARTICLE 16

SECTION 16.1  Notices........................................................................................... 117
SECTION 16.2  Expenses.......................................................................................... 118
SECTION 16.3  Stamp and Other Taxes............................................................................. 118
SECTION 16.4  Setoff............................................................................................ 119
SECTION 16.5  Litigation........................................................................................ 119
SECTION 16.6  Waiver of Rights.................................................................................. 120
SECTION 16.7  Consent to Advertising and Publicity.............................................................. 120
SECTION 16.8  Reversal of Payments.............................................................................. 121
</TABLE>


                                       iv
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>                                                                                                 <C>
SECTION 16.9   Injunctive Relief................................................................................ 121
SECTION 16.10  Accounting Matters............................................................................... 122
SECTION 16.11  Amendments....................................................................................... 122
SECTION 16.12  Assignment....................................................................................... 123
SECTION 16.13  Performance of Borrowers' Duties................................................................. 123
SECTION 16.14  Indemnification.................................................................................. 124
SECTION 16.15  All Powers Coupled with Interest................................................................. 124
SECTION 16.16  Survival......................................................................................... 124
SECTION 16.17  Titles and Captions.............................................................................. 125
SECTION 16.18  Severability of Provisions....................................................................... 125
SECTION 16.19  Governing Law.................................................................................... 125
SECTION 16.20  Counterparts..................................................................................... 125
SECTION 16.21  Reproduction of Documents........................................................................ 125
SECTION 16.22  Term of Agreement................................................................................ 125
SECTION 16.23  Pro-Rata Participation........................................................................... 125
</TABLE>



                                       v
<PAGE>   7


                         ANNEXES, EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES



ANNEX A                    COMMITMENTS

EXHIBIT A                  FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
EXHIBIT B                  FORM OF TERM NOTE
EXHIBIT C                  FORM OF BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE
EXHIBIT D                  FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
EXHIBIT E                  FORM OF SETTLEMENT REPORT
EXHIBIT F                  FORM OF COVENANT COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

Schedule 1.1A              Permitted Investments
Schedule 1.1B              Permitted Liens
Schedule 6.1(c)            Sources and Uses of Funds
Schedule 7.1(a)            Organization
Schedule 7.1(b)            Capitalization
Schedule 7.1(c)            Subsidiaries; Ownership of Stock
Schedule 7.1(g)            Compliance with Laws
Schedule 7.1(i)            Governmental Approvals
Schedule 7.1(j)            Title to Properties
Schedule 7.1(k)            Liens
Schedule 7.1(l)            Indebtedness and Guaranties
Schedule 7.1(m)            Litigation
Schedule 7.1(n)            Tax Matters
Schedule 7.1(p)            ERISA
Schedule 7.1(t)            Location of Offices and Receivables
Schedule 7.1(u)            Location of Inventory
Schedule 7.1(v)            Equipment
Schedule 7.1(w)            Lockboxes and Deposit Accounts
Schedule 7.1(x)            Intellectual Property
Schedule 7.1(y)            Real Estate
Schedule 7.1(z)            Corporate and Fictitious Names
Schedule 7.1(cc)           Employee Relations
Schedule 7.1(dd)           Trade Names
Schedule 10.8              Use of Proceeds
Schedule 12.3              Permitted Guaranties



<PAGE>   8


                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of February 11, 1999

         RIDGEVIEW, INC., a North Carolina corporation, SENECA KNITTING MILLS
CORPORATION, a New York corporation, and TRI-STAR HOSIERY MILLS, INC., a North
Carolina corporation (the "Borrowers"), the financial institutions party to this
Agreement from time to time (the "Lenders"), and BankBoston, N.A., a national
banking association, as agent for the Lenders (the "Agent"), and GENERAL
ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, a New York corporation, as Co-Agent, agree as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1

                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1  Definitions.  For the purposes of this Agreement:

         "Account Debtor" means a Person who is obligated on a Receivable.

         "Acquire" or "Acquisition", as applied to any Business Unit or
Investment, means the acquiring or acquisition of such Business Unit or
Investment by purchase, exchange, issuance of stock or other securities, or by
merger, reorganization or any other method.

         "Adjusted Net Worth" means the consolidated Net Worth of the Borrowers
and their Consolidated Subsidiaries less the amount included therein for any
amounts due from Affiliates.

         "Affiliate" means, with respect to a Person, (a) any partner, officer,
shareholder or member (if holding more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding
equity interests of such Person), director, manager, employee or managing agent
of such Person, (b) any spouse, parents, siblings, children or grandchildren of
such Person, (c) any corporation, limited liability company, association,
partnership, trust, entity or enterprise in which such Person is a director,
officer, manager or general partner, and (d) any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary) that, (i) directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such given
Person, (ii) directly or indirectly beneficially owns or holds ten percent (10%)
or more of any class of voting stock or partnership or membership or other
voting interest of such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person, or (iii) ten
percent (10%) or more of the voting stock or partnership or membership or other
voting interest of which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned or held by
such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person. The term "control" means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership
of voting securities or partnership or other voting interest, by contract or
otherwise.

         "Agency Account" means an account of a Borrower maintained by it with a
Clearing Bank pursuant to an Agency Account Agreement.
<PAGE>   9

         "Agency Account Agreement" means an agreement among a Borrower, the
Agent and a Clearing Bank, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent,
concerning the collection and transfer of payments which represent the proceeds
of Receivables or of any other Collateral.

         "Agent" means BankBoston, N.A., a national banking association, and any
successor agent appointed pursuant to SECTION 15.9 hereof.

         "Agent's Office" means the office of the Agent specified in or
determined in accordance with the provisions of SECTION 16.1.

         "Agreement" means and includes this Agreement, including all Schedules,
Exhibits and other attachments hereto, and all amendments, modifications and
supplements hereto and thereto.

         "Agreement Date" means the date as of which this Agreement is dated.

         "Applicable Law" means all applicable provisions of constitutions,
statutes, rules, regulations and orders of all governmental bodies and of all
orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators, including, without limitation,
Environmental Laws.

         "Applicable Margin" means as to Base Rate Loans, 2.0%, and from and
after the first Margin Adjustment Date, as to Base Rate Loans and Eurodollar
Rate Loans, in accordance with the matrix set forth below subject in each case
to quarterly adjustment thereafter in accordance with the matrix set forth below
based upon the consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio of Ridgeview and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries (excluding the Irish Subsidiary), as of the Fiscal
Quarter immediately preceding a Margin Adjustment Date, measured for the period
of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters then ended:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     EURODOLLAR RATE                          BASE RATE

                                          -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
        
                                               Revolving                            Revolving                    
          Interest Coverage Ratio            Credit Loans         Term Loans        Credit Loans      Term Loans
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     <S>                                  <C>                     <C>              <C>                <C>        
              < 2.00 to 1                        2.50%              3.00%             0.50%              1.00%
              -
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         > 2.0 to 1 < 2.50 to 1                  2.25%              2.75%             0.25%              0.75%
                    -
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        > 2.50 to 1 < 3.00 to 1                  2.00%              2.50%             0.25%              0.75%
                    -
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              > 3.00 to 1                        1.75%              2.25%             0.25%              0.75%
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

where

                                       2
<PAGE>   10

                  "Margin Adjustment Date" means the first day of the first
         month following receipt of the Borrowers' financial statements for a
         Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as the case may be, ending on or after
         December 31, 1999, delivered pursuant to SECTION 11.1 and the related
         certificate pursuant to SECTION 11.3 that reflects an Interest Coverage
         Ratio corresponding to Applicable Margins different from those in
         effect at the date of such delivery, PROVIDED, that if EBITDA for the
         nine-month period ending September 30, 1999 is at least $4,500,000 (as
         adjusted to reflect any Seneca Charges incurred) and Revolving Credit
         Availability as of such date is at least $3,500,000, then the first
         Margin Adjustment Date shall be the first day of the first month
         following delivery of Ridgeview's financial statements for the Fiscal
         Quarter ending September 30, 1999.

         "Asset Disposition" means the disposition of any asset of a Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries, other than sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of
business.

         "Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance in the
form attached hereto as EXHIBIT D assigning all or a portion of a Lender's
interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to SECTION 14.1.

         "BankBoston" means BankBoston, N.A., a national banking association, in
its individual capacity and not as Agent hereunder.

         "Base Rate" means at any time an interest rate per annum equal to the
greater of (i) the rate of interest publicly announced from time to time by
BankBoston at its head office at 100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts as
its "base" rate as in effect at such time, and (ii) the Federal Funds Effective
Rate plus 1/2 of 1% per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next 1/8 of
1%).

         "Base Rate Loan" means a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan or a Base Rate
Term Loan.

         "Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan" means a Revolving Credit Loan bearing
interest at the time in question at a rate determined with reference to the Base
Rate.

         "Base Rate Term Loan" means that portion of the principal amount
outstanding under the Term Loan Facility bearing interest at the time in
question at a rate determined with reference to the Base Rate.

         "Benefit Plan" means, whether established before or after the Agreement
Date and excluding any Multiemployer Plan,

         (a) a "welfare plan" as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA as to which a
Borrower is an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA, and

         (b) an "employee pension benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(2) of
ERISA as to which a Borrower or (if such plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA)
any Related Company is or within the past six years has been such an "employer."

                                       3
<PAGE>   11

         "Borrower" means each of Ridgeview, Seneca and Tri-Star, and
"Borrowers" means all of Ridgeview, Seneca and Tri-Star.

         "Borrowing" means the borrowing of a group of Loans of a single Type
made by all Lenders on a single date and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans,
having a single Interest Period and shall mean and include the continuation or
conversion of an existing Loan or Loans in whole or in part.

         "Borrowing Base" means at any time an amount equal to the lesser of:

         (a)      the Revolving Credit Facility, MINUS the sum of

                  (i)      the Letter of Credit Reserve, PLUS

                  (ii)     the Environmental Compliance Reserve, PLUS

                  (iii)    the aggregate amount of all other Reserves, and

         (b)      an amount equal to

                  (i) 85% (or such lesser percentage as the Agent may in its
         reasonable credit judgment determine from time to time) of the face
         value of Eligible Receivables due and owing at such time, plus

                  (ii) the lesser of

                           (A) 65% (or such lesser percentage as the Agent may
                  in its reasonable credit judgment determine from time to time)
                  of the lesser of cost determined on a FIFO (or
                  first-in-first-out) accounting basis and fair market value of
                  Eligible Inventory at such time, and

                           (B) $18,000,000, MINUS

                  (iii) the sum of

                           (A) the Letter of Credit Reserve, PLUS

                           (B) the Environmental Compliance Reserve, PLUS

                           (C) the Dilution Reserve, PLUS

                           (D) the aggregate amount of all other Reserves.

         "Borrowing Base Certificate" means a certificate in the form attached
hereto as EXHIBIT C or in such other form as the Agent and Borrowers may agree.

                                       4
<PAGE>   12

         "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day
on which banks in Atlanta, Georgia are authorized to close and, when used with
respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, means any such day on which dealings are also
carried on in the applicable interbank eurodollar market.

         "Business Unit" means the assets constituting the business or a
division or operating unit thereof of any Person.

         "Capital Expenditures" means, with respect to any Person, all
expenditures made and liabilities incurred for the acquisition of assets (other
than assets which constitute a Business Unit or Inventory) which are not, in
accordance with GAAP, treated as expense items for such Person in the year made
or incurred or as a prepaid expense applicable to a future year or years.

         "Capitalized Lease" means a lease that is required to be capitalized
for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

         "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means Indebtedness represented by
obligations under a Capitalized Lease, and the amount of such Indebtedness shall
be the capitalized amount of such obligations determined in accordance with
GAAP.

         "Cash Collateral" means collateral consisting of cash or Cash
Equivalents on which the Agent, for the benefit of itself as Agent and the
Lenders, has a first priority Lien.

         "Cash Collateral Account" means a special interest-bearing Deposit
Account consisting of cash maintained at the principal office of the Agent and
under the sole dominion and control of the Agent, for its benefit and for the
benefit of the Lenders, established pursuant to the provisions of SECTION
5.17(A) for purposes set forth therein.

         "Cash Equivalents" means

         (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed
by the United States government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one
year from the date of acquisition thereof;

         (b) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date
issued and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a rating of at least A-1
from Standard & Poor's Ratings Service or at least P-1 from Moody's Investors
Service, Inc.;

         (c) certificates of deposit or bankers' acceptances issued in Dollar
denominations and maturing within one year from the date of issuance thereof
issued by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of
America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia having combined capital
and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 and, unless issued by the Agent or a
Lender, not subject to set-off or offset rights in favor of such bank arising
from any banking relationship with such bank; and

         (d) repurchase agreements in form and substance and for amounts
satisfactory to the 


                                       5
<PAGE>   13

Agent.

         "Clearing Bank" means NationsBank, N.A. and any other banking
institution with which an Agency Account has been established pursuant to an
Agency Account Agreement.

         "Co-Agent" means GECC.

         "Collateral" means and includes all of each Borrower's right, title and
interest in and to each of the following, wherever located and whether now or
hereafter existing or now owned or hereafter acquired or arising:

         (a) (i) all rights to the payment of money or other forms of
consideration of any kind (whether classified under the Uniform Commercial Code
as accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, general intangibles or otherwise)
including, but not limited to, accounts receivable, letters of credit and the
right to receive payment thereunder, chattel paper, tax refunds, insurance
proceeds, any rights under contracts not yet earned by performance and not
evidenced by an instrument or chattel paper, notes, drafts, instruments,
documents, acceptances and all other debts, obligations and liabilities in
whatever form from any Person, (ii) all guaranties, security and Liens securing
payment thereof, (iii) all goods, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and
whether sold, delivered, undelivered, in transit or returned, which may be
represented by, or the sale or lease of which may have given rise to, any such
right to payment or other debt, obligation or liability, and (iv) all proceeds
of any of the foregoing (the foregoing, collectively, "Receivables"),

         (b) (i) all inventory, (ii) all goods intended for sale or lease or for
display or demonstration, (iii) all work in process, (iv) all raw materials and
other materials and supplies of every nature and description used or which might
be used in connection with the manufacture, packing, shipping, advertising,
selling, leasing or furnishing of goods or services or otherwise used or
consumed in the conduct of business, and (v) all documents evidencing and
general intangibles relating to any of the foregoing (the foregoing,
collectively, "Inventory"),

         (c) (i) all machinery, apparatus, equipment, motor vehicles, tractors,
trailers, rolling stock, fittings, fixtures and other tangible personal property
(other than Inventory) of every kind and description, (ii) all tangible personal
property (other than Inventory) and fixtures used in such Borrower's business
operations or owned by such Borrower or in which such Borrower has an interest,
and (iii) all parts, accessories and special tools and all increases and
accessions thereto and substitutions and replacements therefor, (the foregoing,
collectively, "Equipment"),

         (d) all general intangibles, choses in action and causes of action and
all other intangible personal property of every kind and nature (other than
Receivables), including, without limitation, Intellectual Property, corporate or
other business records, inventions, designs, blueprints, plans, specifications,
trade secrets, goodwill, computer software, customer lists, registrations,
licenses, franchises, tax refund claims, reversions or any rights thereto and
any other amounts payable to such Person from any Benefit Plan, Multiemployer
Plan or other employee benefit plan, rights and claims against carriers and
shippers, rights to indemnification, business interruption insurance and
proceeds thereof, property, casualty or any similar type of insurance and any
proceeds thereof, the 


                                       6
<PAGE>   14

beneficiary's interest in proceeds of insurance covering the lives of key
employees and any letter of credit, guarantee, claims, security interest or
other security for the payment by an Account Debtor of any of the Receivables
(the foregoing, collectively, "General Intangibles"),

         (e) any demand, time, savings, passbook, money market or like
depository account, and all certificates of deposit, maintained with a bank,
savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an
account evidenced by a certificate of deposit that is an instrument under the
Uniform Commercial Code (the foregoing, collectively, "Deposit Accounts"),

         (f) all certificated and uncertificated securities, including the
Pledged Shares under and as defined in the Pledge Agreement (but not more than
65% of the capital stock of any non-U.S. Subsidiary), all security entitlements,
all securities accounts, all commodity contracts and all commodity accounts (the
foregoing, collectively, "Investment Property"),

         (g) (i) any investment account maintained by or on behalf of any
Borrower with the Agent or any Lender or any Affiliate of the Agent or any
Lender, (ii) any agreement governing such account, (iii) all cash, money, notes,
securities, instruments, goods, accounts, documents, chattel paper, general
intangibles and other property now or hereafter held by the Agent or any Lender
or any Affiliate of the Agent or any Lender on behalf of such Borrower in
connection with such investment account or deposited by such Borrower or on such
Borrower's behalf to such investment account or otherwise credited thereto for
such Borrower's benefit, or distributable to such Borrower from such investment
account, together with all contracts for the sale or purchase of the foregoing,
(iv) all of such Borrower's right, title and interest with respect to the
deposit, investment, allocation, disposition, distribution or withdrawal of the
foregoing, (v) all of such Borrower's right, title and interest with respect to
the making of amendments, modifications or additions of or to the terms and
conditions under which the investment account or investments maintained therein
is to be maintained by such Borrower, the Agent, any Lender or any Affiliate of
the Agent or any Lender on the Borrower's behalf, and (vi) all of such
Borrower's books, records and receipts pertaining to or confirming any of the
foregoing (the foregoing, collectively, "Investment Accounts"),

         (h) all Real Estate subject to a Mortgage,

         (i) all goods and other property, whether or not delivered, (i) the
sale or lease of which gives or purports to give rise to any Receivable,
including, but not limited to, all merchandise returned or rejected by or
repossessed from customers, or (ii) securing any Receivable, including, without
limitation, all rights as an unpaid vendor or lienor (including, without
limitation, stoppage in transit, replevin and reclamation) with respect to such
goods and other properties,

         (j) all mortgages, deeds to secure debt and deeds of trust on real or
personal property, guaranties, leases, security agreements and other agreements
and property which secure or relate to any Receivable or other Collateral or are
acquired for the purpose of securing and enforcing any item thereof,

         (k) all documents of title, including bills of lading and warehouse
receipts, policies and 


                                       7
<PAGE>   15

certificates of insurance, securities, chattel paper and other documents and
instruments,

         (l) all files, correspondence, computer programs, tapes, disks and
related data processing software which contain information identifying or
pertaining to any of the Collateral or any Account Debtor or showing the amounts
thereof or payments thereon or otherwise necessary or helpful in the realization
thereon or the collection thereof,

         (m) all cash or property deposited with the Agent or any Lender or any
Affiliate of the Agent or any Lender or which the Agent, for its benefit and the
benefit of the Lenders, or any Lender or such Affiliate is entitled to retain or
otherwise possess as collateral pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or
any of the Loan Documents or any agreement relating to any Letter of Credit,
including, without limitation, amounts on deposit in the Cash Collateral
Account, and

         (n) any and all products and cash and non-cash proceeds of the
foregoing (including, but not limited to, any claims to any items referred to in
this definition and any claims against third parties for loss of, damage to or
destruction of any or all of the Collateral or for proceeds payable under or
unearned premiums with respect to policies of insurance) in whatever form,
including, but not limited to, cash, negotiable instruments and other
instruments for the payment of money, chattel paper, security agreements and
other documents.

         "Commitment" means, as to each Lender, the amount set forth opposite
such Lender's name on ANNEX A hereto, representing such Lender's obligation,
upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the
applicable provisions of SECTION 14.1), to make its Proportionate Share of Loans
under the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan Facility and to purchase
participations in Letters of Credit or, from and after the date hereof, as set
forth in the Register representing such Lender's obligation to make its
Proportionate Share of Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility and to purchase
participations in Letters of Credit and its corresponding interest in Term Loans
outstanding.

         "Commitment Percentage" means, as to any Lender at the time of
determination, the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments at
such time obtained by dividing such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment at such
time by the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

         "Consolidated Subsidiaries" means, as to Ridgeview, Seneca, Tri-Star,
the Irish Subsidiary, GPM Corporation and each other Subsidiary of Ridgeview
whose accounts are at the time in question, in accordance with GAAP and pursuant
to the written consent of the Required Lenders, which consent may be conditioned
upon, inter alia, the execution and delivery of Guaranties, security agreements,
mortgages and other documents as required by the Required Lenders, consolidated
with those of Ridgeview.

         "Contaminant" means any waste, pollutant, hazardous substance, toxic
substance, hazardous waste, special waste, petroleum or petroleum-derived
substance or waste, or any constituent of any such substance or waste.

                                       8
<PAGE>   16

         "Controlled Disbursement Account" means one or more accounts maintained
by and in the name of the Borrowers with a Disbursing Bank for the purposes of
disbursing Revolving Credit Loan proceeds and amounts deposited thereto.

         "Copyrights" means and includes, in each case whether now existing or
hereafter arising, all of each Borrower's right, title and interest in and to

         (a) all copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights, works
protectable by copyright, copyright registrations and copyright applications;

         (b) all renewals of any of the foregoing;

         (c) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due
and/or payable under any of the foregoing, including, without limitation,
damages or payments for past or future infringements of any of the foregoing;

         (d) the right to sue for past, present and future infringements of any
of the foregoing; and

         (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the
world.

         "Debt" means

         (a) Indebtedness for money borrowed,

         (b) Indebtedness, whether or not in any such case the same was for
money borrowed,

                  (i) represented by notes payable, drafts accepted and
         reimbursement obligations under letters of credit and similar
         instruments that represent extensions of credit,

                  (ii) constituting obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures,
         notes or similar instruments, or

                  (iii) upon which interest charges are customarily paid or that
         was issued or assumed as full or partial payment for property (other
         than trade credit that is incurred in the ordinary course of business),

         (c) Indebtedness that constitutes a Capitalized Lease Obligation,

         (d) Indebtedness under Interest Rate Protection Agreements, and

         (e) Indebtedness that is such by virtue of CLAUSE (C) of the definition
thereof, but only to the extent that the obligations Guaranteed are obligations
that would constitute Debt.

         "Default" means any of the events specified in SECTION 13.1 which with
the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute an Event of
Default.

                                       9
<PAGE>   17

         "Default Margin" means 2% per annum.

         "Deposit Accounts" has the meaning set forth in the definition
"Collateral".

         "Dilution Reserve" means an amount equal to the EXCESS of (i) non-cash
reductions to the Borrowers' Receivables (on a combined basis) during a 12-month
period prior to the date of determination as established by the Borrowers'
records or by a field examination conducted by the Agent's employees or
representatives, expressed as a percentage of the Borrowers' Receivables (on a
combined basis) outstanding during the same period OVER (ii) 5%, such excess
percentage MULTIPLIED by an amount equal to Eligible Receivables on the date of
determination.

         "Disbursing Bank" means any commercial bank with which a Controlled
Disbursement Account is maintained after the Effective Date.

         "Dollar" and "$" means freely transferable United States dollars.

          "EBITDA" means, for any accounting period of Ridgeview, the
consolidated Net Income of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
(excluding the Irish Subsidiary) for such period, PLUS the sum of (i) net
federal and state income tax expense, (ii) interest expense, (iii) depreciation
expense and (iv) amortization expense, in each case of Ridgeview and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis), for such period and to the
extent deducted (or included) in computing such consolidated Net Income.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
in effect from time to time.

         "ERISA Event" means (a) a "Reportable Event" as defined in Section
4043(c) of ERISA, but excluding any such event as to which the provision for 30
days' notice to the PBGC is waived under applicable regulations, (b) the filing
of a notice of intent to terminate a Benefit Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA
under a distress termination under Section 4041(c) of ERISA or the treatment of
an amendment to such a Benefit Plan as a termination under Section 4041(c) of
ERISA, (c) the institution of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Benefit
Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or the appointment of a trustee to administer
any such Benefit Plan or an event or condition that might reasonably be expected
to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer, any Benefit Plan subject to Section
4042, (d) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA other than for
PBGC premiums due but not yet payable, (e) the filing of an application for a
minimum funding waiver under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, (f) a
withdrawal by the Borrower or any Related Company from a Benefit Plan subject to
Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a "substantial
employer" as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (g) a Benefit Plan
intending to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code losing
such qualified status, (h) the failure to make a material required contribution
to a Benefit Plan, (i) the Borrower or any Related Company being in "default"
(as defined in Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA) with respect to payments to a
Multiemployer Plan because of its complete or partial withdrawal (as described
in Section 4203 or 4205 of ERISA) from such Multiemployer Plan, or 


                                       10
<PAGE>   18

(j) the occurrence of a non-exempt prohibited transaction within the meaning of
Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 406 of ERISA with respect
to any Benefit Plan.

         "Effective Date" means the later of:

         (a) the Agreement Date, and

         (b) the first date on which all of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE
6 shall have been fulfilled.

         "Effective Interest Rate" means each rate of interest per annum on the
Revolving Credit Loans and the Term Loans in effect from time to time pursuant
to the provisions of SECTIONS 5.1(A), (B), (C) and (D).

         "Eligible Assignee" means any Person (including any investment fund)
engaged in the business of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans, that
is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the
District of Columbia having total assets in excess of $250,000,000; PROVIDED in
each case that the representation contained in SECTION 14.2 hereof shall be
applicable with respect to such Person.

         "Eligible Inventory" means items of Inventory of a Borrower held for
sale in the ordinary course of business of such Borrower (but not including
packaging or shipping materials, maintenance supplies or display racks) which
the Agent (or, in accordance with the provisions of SECTION 5.7(C), the Required
Lenders) in its (or their) reasonable credit judgment determines to be eligible
for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base. Unless otherwise
approved in writing by the Agent, no Inventory shall be deemed to be Eligible
Inventory unless it meets all of the following requirements: (a) such Inventory
is owned by a Borrower, no document of title has been issued in respect of such
goods, is subject to the Security Interest, which is perfected as to such
Inventory, and is subject to no other Lien whatsoever other than a Permitted
Lien; (b) such Inventory consists of raw materials, greige goods or finished
goods and does not consist of supplies or goods on consignment; (c) such
Inventory is in good condition and meets all standards applicable to such goods,
their use or sale imposed by any governmental agency, or department or division
thereof, having regulatory authority over such matters; (d) such Inventory is
currently either usable or saleable, at prices approximating at least the cost
thereof, in the normal course of such Borrower's business; (e) such Inventory is
not obsolete or returned or repossessed or used goods taken in trade; (f) such
Inventory is located within the United States at one of the locations listed in
SCHEDULE 7.1(U) and is not in transit; and (g) such Inventory is in the
possession and control of a Borrower and not any third party and if located in a
warehouse or other facility leased by a Borrower, the warehouseman or lessor, as
the case may be, has delivered to the Agent a waiver and consent in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent.

         "Eligible Receivable" means a Receivable of a Borrower that consists of
the unpaid portion of the obligation stated on the invoice issued to an Account
Debtor with respect to Inventory sold and shipped to or services performed for
such Account Debtor in the ordinary course of business, net of any credits or
rebates owed by a Borrower to the Account Debtor and net of any commissions
payable by a Borrower to third parties and that the Agent (or, subject to 


                                       11
<PAGE>   19


the provisions of SECTION 5.7(C), the Required Lenders), in its (or their)
reasonable credit judgment, determines to be eligible for inclusion in the
Borrowing Base. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Agent, no Receivable
shall be deemed an Eligible Receivable unless it meets all of the following
requirements: (a) such Receivable is owned by a Borrower and represents a
complete bona fide transaction which requires no further act under any
circumstances on the part of any Borrower to make such Receivable payable by the
Account Debtor; (b) such Receivable is not unpaid more than 120 days after the
date of the original invoice or past due more than 60 days after its due date,
which shall not be later than 60 days after the invoice date; (c) such
Receivable does not arise out of any transaction with any Subsidiary, Affiliate,
creditor, lessor or supplier of any Borrower; (d) such Receivable is not owing
by an Account Debtor more than 20% of whose then-existing accounts owing to any
Borrower do not meet the requirements set forth in CLAUSE (B) above; (e) if the
Account Debtor with respect thereto is located outside of the United States of
America, the goods which gave rise to such Receivable were shipped after receipt
by the applicable Borrower from the Account Debtor of an irrevocable letter of
credit that has been confirmed by a financial institution acceptable to the
Agent and is in form and substance acceptable to the Agent, payable in the full
face amount of the face value of the Receivable in Dollars at a place of payment
located within the United States and has been duly assigned to the Agent; (f)
the Account Debtor with respect to such Receivable is not located in a state
which imposes conditions on the enforceability of Receivables with which the
applicable Borrower has not complied; (g) such Receivable is not subject to the
Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, or any
Applicable Law now or hereafter existing similar in effect thereto, as
determined in the sole discretion of the Agent, or to any provision prohibiting
its assignment or requiring notice of or consent to such assignment; (h) the
applicable Borrower is not in breach of any express or implied representation or
warranty with respect to the goods the sale of which gave rise to such
Receivable; (i) the Account Debtor with respect to such Receivable is not
insolvent or the subject of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings of any kind
or of any other proceeding or action, threatened or pending, which might, in the
Agent's sole judgment, have a Materially Adverse Effect on such Account Debtor;
(j) the goods, the sale of which gave rise to such Receivable, were shipped or
delivered to the Account Debtor on an absolute sale basis and not on a
bill-and-hold sale basis, a consignment sale basis, a guaranteed sale basis, a
sale or return basis or on the basis of any other similar understanding, and
such goods have not been returned or rejected; (k) such Receivable is not owing
by an Account Debtor or a group of Account Debtors who are Affiliates whose
then-existing accounts owing to the Borrowers (or any of them) exceed in face
amount 20% of the Borrowers' total Eligible Receivables; (l) such Receivable is
evidenced by an invoice or other documentation in form acceptable to the Agent
containing only terms normally offered by the applicable Borrower, and dated no
later than the date of shipment; (m) such Receivable is a valid, legally
enforceable obligation of the Account Debtor with respect thereto and is not
subject to any present, or contingent (and no facts exist which are the basis
for any future), offset, deduction or counterclaim, dispute or other defense on
the part of such Account Debtor; (n) such Receivable is not evidenced by chattel
paper or an instrument of any kind; (o) such Receivable does not arise from the
performance of services, including services under or related to any warranty
obligation of a Borrower or out of service charges by a Borrower or other fees
for the time value of money; and (p) such Receivable is subject to the Security
Interest, which is perfected as to such Receivable, and is subject to no other
Lien whatsoever other than a 


                                       12
<PAGE>   20


Permitted Lien and the goods giving rise to such Receivable were not, at the
time of the sale thereof, subject to any Lien other than a Permitted Lien.

         "Environmental Compliance Reserve" means any reserve for the cost of
Remedial Action by a Borrower determined by the Agent from time to time in its
reasonable discretion based upon the reports delivered pursuant to SECTION
10.9(B) and such other advice, analysis and engineering studies as it deems
appropriate in its reasonable business judgment.

         "Environmental Laws" means all federal, state, local and foreign laws
now or hereafter in effect relating to pollution or protection of the
environment, including laws relating to emissions, discharges, Releases or
threatened Releases of pollutants, Contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic
or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment (including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land), or otherwise
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, removal, transport, or handling of pollutants, Contaminants,
chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes, and any and
all regulations, notices or demand letters issued, entered, promulgated or
approved thereunder; such laws and regulations include but are not limited to
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 6901 et seq., as
amended; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9601 et seq., as amended; the Toxic Substances Control Act,
15 U.S.C. ss. 2601 et seq., as amended; the Clean Air Act, 46 U.S.C. ss. 7401 et
seq., as amended; and state and federal lien and environmental cleanup programs.

         "Environmental Lien" means a Lien in favor of any governmental entity
for (a) any liability under Environmental Laws or (b) damages arising from, or
costs incurred by such governmental entity in response to, a Release or
threatened Release of Contaminant into the environment.

         "Equipment" has the meaning set forth in the definition "Collateral".

         "Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan for
the Interest Period applicable thereto, a simple per annum interest rate
determined pursuant to the following formula:

                  Eurodollar Rate =              Interbank Offered Rate
                                            ---------------------------------
                                            1 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

The Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of
any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

         "Eurodollar Rate Loan" means any Loan bearing interest at a rate
determined with reference to the Eurodollar Rate, including any such Loans
continued as or converted into a Eurodollar Rate Loan on the same day by the
Lenders for the same Interest Period.

         "Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loan" means a Eurodollar Rate Loan
outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

                                       13
<PAGE>   21


         "Eurodollar Rate Term Loan" means a Eurodollar Rate Loan outstanding
under the Term Loan Facility.

         "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means that percentage (expressed as a
decimal) which is in effect from time to time under Regulation D of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as such regulation may be amended from
time to time, or any successor regulation, as the maximum reserve requirement
(including, without limitation, any basic, supplemental, emergency, special, or
marginal reserves) applicable with respect to Eurocurrency liabilities as that
term is defined in Regulation D (or against any other category of liabilities
that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate of Eurodollar
Rate Loans is determined), whether or not any Lender has any Eurocurrency
liabilities subject to such reserve requirement at that time. Eurodollar Rate
Loans shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as such shall
be deemed subject to reserve requirements without benefits of credits for
proration, exceptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any
Lender.

         "Event of Default" means any of the events specified in SECTION 13.1,
PROVIDED that any requirement for notice or lapse of time or any other condition
has been satisfied.

         "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating
interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the
Federal Reserve system arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such
day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day)
by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published
for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day
on such transactions received by BankBoston from three federal funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by BankBoston.

         "Financed Capital Expenditures" means Capital Expenditures funded with
the proceeds of Debt (excluding Loans) and those represented by Capitalized
Lease Obligations.

         "Financial Officer" means the chief financial officer, Treasurer or
Controller of Ridgeview.

         "Financing Statements" means any and all Uniform Commercial Code
financing statements, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, executed
and delivered by a Borrower to the Agent, naming the Agent, for the benefit of
the Lenders, as secured party and such Borrower as debtor in connection with
this Agreement.

         "Fiscal Quarter" means each three month accounting period of Ridgeview
ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each Fiscal Year.

         "Fiscal Year" means the calendar year.

         "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, for any specified measurement
period, the result obtained by dividing Operating Cash Flow for such period by
Total Debt Service during such measurement period, in all cases excluding the
Irish Subsidiary.

                                       14
<PAGE>   22

         "Funded Debt" means all outstanding Debt of Ridgeview and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied and maintained throughout the period indicated and, when used with
reference to Ridgeview or any Subsidiary, consistent with the prior financial
practice of Ridgeview, as reflected on the financial statements referred to in
SECTION 7.1(N); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, in the event that changes shall be
mandated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any similar accounting
authority of comparable standing, or shall be recommended by Ridgeview's
independent public accountants, such changes shall be included in GAAP as
applicable to the Borrowers only from and after such date as the Borrowers, the
Required Lenders, the Co-Agent and the Agent shall have amended this Agreement
to the extent necessary to reflect any such changes in the financial covenants
set forth in ARTICLE 12.

         "GECC" means General Electric Capital Corporation, a New York
corporation.

         "General Intangibles" has the meaning set forth in the definition
"Collateral".

         "Government Acts" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 3.8(A)(II).

         "Governmental Approvals" means all authorizations, consents, approvals,
licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, all
governmental bodies, whether federal, state, local or foreign national or
provincial and all agencies thereof.

         "Guaranty", "Guaranteed" or to "Guarantee" as applied to any obligation
of another Person shall mean and include

         (a) a guaranty (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for
collection in the ordinary course of business), directly or indirectly, in any
manner, of any part or all of such obligation of such other Person, and

         (b) an agreement, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, and
whether or not constituting a guaranty, the practical effect of which is to
assure the payment or performance (or payment of damages in the event of
nonperformance) of any part or all of such obligation of such other Person
whether by

                  (i) the purchase of securities or obligations,

                  (ii) the purchase, sale or lease (as lessee or lessor) of
         property or the purchase or sale of services primarily for the purpose
         of enabling the obligor with respect to such obligation to make any
         payment or performance (or payment of damages in the event of
         nonperformance) of or on account of any part or all of such obligation,
         or to assure the owner of such obligation against loss,

                  (iii) the supplying of funds to or in any other manner
         investing in the obligor with respect to such obligation,

                                       15
<PAGE>   23

                  (iv) repayment of amounts drawn down by beneficiaries of
         letters of credit, or

                  (v) the supplying of funds to or investing in a Person on
         account of all or any part of such Person's obligation under a Guaranty
         of any obligation or indemnifying or holding harmless, in any way, such
         Person against any part or all of such obligation.

         "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, all
Liabilities of such Person, and to the extent not otherwise included in
Liabilities, the following:

         (a) all obligations for money borrowed or for the deferred purchase
price of property or services or in respect of drafts accepted or similar
instruments or reimbursement obligations under letters of credit,

         (b) all obligations (including, during the noncancellable term of any
lease in the nature of a title retention agreement, all future payment
obligations under such lease discounted to their present value in accordance
with GAAP) secured by any Lien to which any property or asset owned or held by
such Person is subject, whether or not the obligation secured thereby shall have
been assumed by such Person,

         (c) all obligations of other Persons which such Person has Guaranteed,
including, but not limited to, all obligations of such Person consisting of
recourse liability with respect to accounts receivable sold or otherwise
disposed of by such Person,

         (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of Interest Rate
Protection Agreements, and

         (e) in the case of the Borrowers (without duplication) all Secured
Obligations.

         "Installment Payment Date" means the first day of each January, April,
July, and October commencing on October 1, 1999.

         "Initial Notice of Borrowing" means the Notice of Borrowing given by
the Borrower with respect to the Initial Loans which shall also specify the
method of disbursement.

         "Initial Loans" means the Revolving Credit Loans and the Term Loans
made to the Borrower on the Effective Date pursuant to the Initial Notice of
Borrowing.

         "Intellectual Property" means all of each Borrower's now owned and
hereafter arising or acquired: Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, including,
without limitation, the Intellectual Property set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(X)
hereto.

         "Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any Eurodollar Rate Loan for any
Interest Period means the rate of interest determined by BankBoston to be the
prevailing rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered to
BankBoston by first-class banks in the interbank Eurodollar market in which it
regularly participates on or about 10:00 a.m. (Boston, Massachusetts time) two
Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount


                                       16
<PAGE>   24

approximately equal to the principal amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan to which
such interest Period is to apply for a period of time approximately equal to
such Interest Period.

         "Interest Coverage Ratio" means for any specified measurement period,
the ratio of (i) EBITDA of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such
period to (ii) interest expense (excluding any interest attributable to deferred
compensation) of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, in
all cases excluding the Irish Subsidiary.

         "Interest Payment Date" means as to Base Rate Loans the first day of
each calendar month commencing March 1, 1999 and continuing thereafter until the
Secured Obligations have been irrevocably paid in full and as to Eurodollar Rate
Loans the last day of the applicable Interest Period and, if such Interest
Period is longer than the three months, at intervals of three months after the
first day thereof and on the date any such Secured Obligation is due (whether at
maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise).

         "Interest Period" means with respect to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the
period commencing on the date of the making or continuation of or conversion to
such Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter,
as the Borrowers may elect in the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of
Conversion or Continuation; PROVIDED, that:

                  (i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that
         is not a Business Day shall, subject to the provisions of CLAUSE (III)
         below, be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such
         Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case such
         Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

                  (ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day
         of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
         corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest
         Period) shall, subject to CLAUSE (III) below, end on the last Business
         Day of a calendar month;

                  (iii) any Interest Period that would otherwise end after the
         Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date;

                  (iv) no Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Term
         Loan may end after the next Installment Payment Date, unless the
         aggregate principal amount of Base Rate Term Loans and Eurodollar Rate
         Term Loans having Interest Periods ending prior to such Installment
         Payment Date is at least equal to the amount of the principal repayment
         due hereunder on such Installment Payment Date; and

                  (v) notwithstanding CLAUSE (III) above, no Interest Period
         shall have a duration of less than one month and if any applicable
         Interest Period would be for a shorter period, such Interest Period
         shall not be available hereunder.

         "Interest Rate Protection Agreement" shall mean an interest rate swap,
cap or collar agreement or similar arrangement between any Person and a
financial institution providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest risks
either generally or under specific contingencies.

                                       17
<PAGE>   25

          "Internal Revenue Code" or "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended from time to time.

         "Inventory" has the meaning set forth in the definition "Collateral".

         "Investment" means, with respect to any Person:

         (a) the acquisition or ownership by such Person of any share of capital
stock, membership interest, partnership interest, evidence of Indebtedness or
other security or equity interest issued by any other Person,

         (b) any loan, advance or extension of credit to, or contribution to the
capital of, any other Person, excluding advances to employees in the ordinary
course of business for business expenses,

         (c) any Guaranty of the obligations of any other Person,

         (d) any other investment (other than the Acquisition of a Business
Unit) in any other Person, and

         (e) any commitment or option to make any of the investments listed in
CLAUSES (A) through (D) above if, in the case of an option, the consideration
therefor exceeds $100.

For avoidance of doubt, Capital Expenditures made by such Person for its own
account shall not be deemed to be "Investments."

         "Investment Account" has the meaning set forth in the definition
"Collateral".

         "Investment Property" has the meaning set forth in the definition
"Collateral".

         "Irish Subsidiary" means Ridgeview, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation
and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Ridgeview.

         "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.

         "Lender" means at any time any financial institution party to this
Agreement at such time, including any such Person becoming a party hereto
pursuant to the provisions of ARTICLE 14, and "Lenders" means at any time all of
the financial institutions party to this Agreement at such time, including any
such Persons becoming parties hereto pursuant to the provisions of ARTICLE 14.

         "Letter of Credit" means any Letter of Credit issued by BankBoston for
the account of the Borrowers (or any of them) pursuant to ARTICLE 3.

         "Letter of Credit Amount" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit,
the aggregate maximum amount at any time available for drawing under such Letter
of Credit.

                                       18
<PAGE>   26

         "Letter of Credit Availability" means, as of the date of determination,
the aggregate face amount of Letter of Credit Obligations available to be
outstanding hereunder at the time of determination in accordance with SECTION
3.2, which shall be an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Letter of Credit
Facility minus the Letter of Credit Obligations and (ii) the Revolving Credit
Availability, on such date.

         "Letter of Credit Facility" means a subfacility of the Revolving Credit
Facility providing for the issuance of Letters of Credit described in ARTICLE 3
up to an aggregate amount of Letter of Credit Obligations at any one time
outstanding not to exceed $1,000,000.

         "Letter of Credit Obligations" means, at any time, the sum of (a) the
Reimbursement Obligations of the Borrowers at such time, PLUS (b) the aggregate
Letter of Credit Amount of Letters of Credit outstanding at such time, in each
case as determined by the Agent.

         "Letter of Credit Reserve" means, at any time, the aggregate Letter of
Credit Obligations at such time, other than Letter of Credit Obligations that
are fully secured by Cash Collateral.

         "Liabilities" of any Person means all items (except for items of
capital stock, additional paid-in capital or retained earnings, or of general
contingency or deferred tax reserves) which in accordance with GAAP would be
included in determining total liabilities as shown on the liability side of a
balance sheet of such Person as at the date as of which liabilities are to be
determined.

         "Lien" as applied to the property of any Person means:

         (a) any mortgage, deed to secure debt, deed of trust, lien, pledge,
charge, lease constituting a Capitalized Lease Obligation, conditional sale or
other title retention agreement, or other security interest, security title or
encumbrance of any kind in respect of any property of such Person, or upon the
income or profits therefrom,

         (b) any arrangement, express or implied, under which any property of
such Person is transferred, sequestered or otherwise identified for the purpose
of subjecting the same to the payment of Indebtedness or performance of any
other obligation in priority to the payment of the general, unsecured creditors
of such Person,

         (c) any Indebtedness which is unpaid more than 30 days after the same
shall have become due and payable and which if unpaid might by law (including,
but not limited to, bankruptcy and insolvency laws), or otherwise, be given any
priority whatsoever over the claims of general unsecured creditors of such
Person,

         (d) the filing of, or any agreement to give, any financing statement
under the Uniform Commercial Code or its equivalent in any jurisdiction,
excluding informational financing statements relating to property leased by the
Borrower, and

         (e) in the case of Real Estate, reservations, exceptions,
encroachments, easements, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions,
leases and other title exceptions and 


                                       19
<PAGE>   27

encumbrances.

         "Life Insurance Assignments" means each Assignment of Life Insurance
Policy, made by Ridgeview in favor of the Agent, consented to by the named
insured and acknowledged by the issuer thereof.

         "Loan" means any Revolving Credit Loan or Term Loan, as well as all
such loans collectively, as the context requires.

         "Loan Account" and "Loan Accounts" shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in SECTION 5.5.

         "Loan Documents" means collectively this Agreement, the Notes, the
Security Documents and each other instrument, agreement or document executed by
a Borrower or any Affiliate or Subsidiary of a Borrower in connection with this
Agreement whether prior to, on or after the Effective Date and each other
instrument, agreement or document referred to herein or contemplated hereby.

         "Loan Party" means any Borrower or Subsidiary Guarantor or other
guarantor of the Secured Obligations.

         "Loan Year" means each period of 12 consecutive months commencing on
the Effective Date and on each anniversary thereof.

         "Lockbox" means each U. S. Post Office Box specified in a Lockbox
Agreement.

         "Lockbox Agreement" means each agreement between a Borrower and a
Clearing Bank concerning the establishment of a Lockbox for the collection of
Receivables.

         "Materially Adverse Effect" means any act, omission, situation,
circumstance, event or undertaking which would, singly or in any combination
with one or more other acts, omissions, situations, circumstances, events or
undertakings, have, or could reasonably be expected to have, a materially
adverse effect upon (a) the business, assets, properties, liabilities, condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations or business prospects of a
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the value of the whole or any part of
the Collateral, the Security Interest or the priority of the Security Interest,
(c) the respective ability of a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to perform
any obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to which it is a
party, or (d) the legality, validity, binding effect, enforceability or
admissibility into evidence of any Loan Document or the ability of the Agent or
the Lenders to enforce any rights or remedies under or in connection with any
Loan Document.

         "Maximum Rate" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 5.1(F).

         "Mortgages" means and includes any and all of the mortgages, deeds of
trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments and other instruments executed and
delivered by a Borrower to or for the benefit of the Agent by which the Agent
acquires a Lien on the Real Estate or a collateral 


                                       20
<PAGE>   28

assignment of such Borrower's interest under leases of Real Estate, and all
amendments, modifications and supplements thereto.

         "Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or a Related Company is required to
contribute or has contributed within the immediately preceding six (6) years.

         "Net Amount" means, with respect to any Investments made by any Person,
the gross amount of all such Investments minus the aggregate amount of all cash
received and the fair value, at the time of receipt by such Person, of all
property received as payments of principal or premiums, returns of capital,
liquidating dividends or distributions, proceeds of sale or other dispositions
with respect to such Investments (but not interest thereon).

         "Net Income" or "Net Loss" means, as applied to any Person for any
accounting period, the net income or net loss, as the case may be, of such
Person for the period in question after giving effect to deduction of or
provision for all operating expenses, all taxes and reserves (including reserves
for deferred taxes) and all other proper deductions, all determined in
accordance with GAAP, provided that there shall be excluded:

         (a) the net income or net loss of any Person accrued prior to the date
it becomes a Subsidiary of, or is merged into or consolidated with, the Person
whose Net Income is being determined or a Subsidiary of such Person,

         (b) the net income or net loss of any Person in which the Person whose
Net Income is being determined or any Subsidiary of such Person has an ownership
interest, except, in the case of net income, to the extent that any such income
has actually been received by such Person or such Subsidiary in the form of cash
dividends or similar distributions,

         (c) any restoration of any contingency reserve, except to the extent
that provision for such reserve was made out of income during such period,

         (d) any net gains or losses on the sale or other disposition, not in
the ordinary course of business, of Investments, Business Units and other
capital assets, provided that there shall also be excluded any related charges
for taxes thereon,

         (e) any net gain arising from the collection of the proceeds of any
insurance policy,

         (f) any write-up of any asset, and

         (g) any other extraordinary item.

         "Net Outstandings" of any Lender means, at any time, the sum of (a) all
amounts paid by such Lender (other than pursuant to SECTION 15.7) to the Agent
in respect of Loans by such Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility, MINUS
(b) all amounts received by the Agent and paid by the Agent to such Lender for
application, pursuant to this Agreement, to reduction of the 


                                       21
<PAGE>   29

outstanding principal balance of the Loans of such Lender outstanding under the
Revolving Credit Facility.

         "Net Proceeds" means proceeds received by a Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries in cash from any Asset Disposition (including, without limitation,
payments as and when received under notes or other debt securities received in
connection with any Asset Disposition), net of: (a) the transaction costs of
such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition; (b) any tax liability arising
from such transaction; and (c) amounts applied to repayment of Indebtedness
(other than the Secured Obligations) secured by a Lien on the asset or property
disposed.

         "Net Worth" means, with respect to any Person, such Person's total
shareholder's equity (including capital stock, additional paid-in capital and
retained earnings, after deducting treasury stock) which would appear as such on
a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

         "Non-Ratable Loan" means a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan made by
BankBoston in accordance with the provisions of SECTION 5.8(C).

         "Note" means any of the Revolving Credit Notes and the Term Notes and
"Notes" means more than one such Note.

         "Notice of Borrowing" means a written notice, or telephonic notice
followed by a confirming same-day written notice, requesting a Borrowing of
either a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan or a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan,
which is given by telex or facsimile transmission in accordance with the
applicable provisions of SECTION 2.2 and which specifies (i) the amount of the
requested Borrowing, (ii) the date of the requested Borrowing, and (iii) if the
requested Borrowing is of a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan, the duration of
the applicable Interest Period.

         "Notice of Conversion or Continuation" has the meaning specified in
SECTION 5.13.

         "Operating Cash Flow" for any specified accounting period means EBITDA
of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, MINUS cash taxes
paid, MINUS Capital Expenditures (other than Financed Capital Expenditures) of
Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) for the
same accounting period.

         "Operating Lease" means any lease (other than a lease constituting a
Capitalized Lease Obligation) of real or personal property.

         "Overadvance" means at any time the amount by which the principal
amount of Revolving Credit Loans exceeds the Borrowing Base.

         "Overadvance Condition" means and is deemed to exist any time the
principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans outstanding exceeds the Borrowing
Base at such time.

                                       22
<PAGE>   30

         "Overadvance Loan" means a Revolving Credit Loan made at the time an
Overadvance Condition exists or which results in an Overadvance Condition.

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any successor
agency.

         "Patents" means and includes, in each case whether now existing or
hereafter arising, all of the Borrowers' right, title and interest in and to

                  (i) any and all patents and patent applications,

                  (ii) inventions and improvements described and claimed
         therein,

                  (iii) reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions
         and continuations-in-part thereof,

                  (iv) income, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or
         hereafter due and/or payable under and with respect thereto, including,
         without limitation, damages and payments for past and future
         infringements thereof,

                  (v) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements
         thereof, and

                  (vi) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing
         throughout the world.

         "Pending Loan" has the meaning specified in SECTION 5.16(B).

         "Permitted Investments" means Investments of (a) a Borrower in:

                  (i) negotiable certificates of deposit and time deposits
         issued by BankBoston or an Affiliate of BankBoston or by any United
         States bank or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided
         profits in excess of $100,000,000,

                  (ii) any direct obligation of the United States of America or
         any agency or instrumentality thereof which has a remaining maturity at
         the time of purchase of not more than one year and repurchase
         agreements relating to the same,

                  (iii) sales of inventory on credit in the ordinary course of
         business,

                  (iv) shares of capital stock, evidence of Indebtedness or
         other security acquired by such Borrower in consideration for or as
         evidence of past-due or restructured Receivables in an aggregate face
         amount of such Receivables at any time not to exceed $100,000,

                  (v) Guaranties permitted pursuant to SECTION 12.3,

                  (vi) another Borrower,

                  (vii) those items described on SCHEDULE 1.1A - PERMITTED
         INVESTMENTS, and

                                       23
<PAGE>   31

         (b) Ridgeview in:

                  (i) the Irish Subsidiary existing on the Effective Date, and

                  (ii) other Investments not in excess of $50,000 individually
         or $100,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year.

         "Permitted Liens" means:

         (a) Liens securing taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or
levies (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the provisions of ERISA)
or the claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen or landlords for
labor, materials, supplies or rentals incurred in the ordinary course of
business, but (i) in all cases only if payment shall not at the time be required
to be made in accordance with SECTION 10.6, and (ii) in the case of warehousemen
or landlords controlling locations where Inventory is located, only if such
liens have been waived or subordinated to the Security Interest in a manner
satisfactory to the Agent (except to the extent that the value of the Inventory
located on such premises does not exceed $250,000 at any time).

         (b) Liens consisting of deposits or pledges made in the ordinary course
of business in connection with, or to secure payment of, obligations under
workers' compensation, unemployment insurance or similar legislation or under
payment or performance bonds,

         (c) Liens constituting encumbrances in the nature of zoning
restrictions, condemnations, easements, and rights or restrictions of record on
the use of real property, which do not materially detract from the value of such
property or materially impair the use thereof in the business of the Borrowers,

         (d) Liens consisting of deposits to secure the performance of bids,
trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations,
surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like
nature incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrowers (and not in
connection with incurring Debt),

         (e) Liens of or resulting from any judgment or award that would not
result in an Event of Default under SECTION 13.1(K), the time for appeal or
petition for rehearing of which shall not have expired, or in respect of which
the affected Borrower or the affected Subsidiary shall at any time in good faith
be prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for review and in respect of which a stay
of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review is in effect,

         (f) Purchase Money Liens securing Permitted Purchase Money Debt,

         (g) Liens shown on SCHEDULE 1.1B - PERMITTED LIENS,

         (h) Liens of the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, arising under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and

         (i) Liens in existence immediately prior to the Effective Date that are
satisfied in full 



                                       24
<PAGE>   32

and released (or assigned to and accepted by the Agent) on the Effective Date or
promptly thereafter as a result of the application of the proceeds of the
Initial Loans or cash on hand.

         "Permitted Purchase Money Debt" means Purchase Money Debt of the
Borrowers

         (a) which is secured by a Purchase Money Lien, and

         (b) the aggregate principal amount of which does not exceed an amount
equal to 100% of the lesser of

                  (i) the cost (including the principal amount of such Debt,
         whether or not assumed) of the tangible personal property (other than
         Inventory) subject to such Lien, and

                  (ii) the fair value of such tangible personal property (other
         than Inventory) at the time of its acquisition.

         "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government
or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

         "Pledge Agreement" means the Stock Pledge Agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent executed by Ridgeview on or about the
Effective Date, made by Ridgeview in favor of the Agent, pledging 100% of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of each of Tri-Star and Seneca and 65% of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Irish Subsidiary.

         "Projections" means the forecasted (a) consolidated balance sheets, (b)
consolidated income statements and (c) consolidated cash flow statements of
Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, prepared on a monthly basis, dated
February 2, 1999 for the 1999 Fiscal Year, delivered to the Agent and the
Lenders by Ridgeview, together with appropriate supporting details and a
statement of underlying assumptions.

         "Proportionate Share" or "Ratable Share" or "Ratable" means, as to a
Lender, such Lender's share of an amount in Dollars or other property at the
time of determination equal to (i) the Commitment Percentage of such Lender, or
(ii) if the Commitments are terminated, the percentage of the total principal
amount of Loans outstanding at such time obtained by dividing the principal
amount of the Loans then owing to such Lender by the total principal amount of
all Loans then owing to all Lenders, or (iii) if no Loans are outstanding, the
percentage of the total Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding obtained
by dividing such Lender's participation in such Letter of Credit Obligations by
the total Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding.

         "Purchase Money Debt means Debt created to finance the payment of all
or any part of the purchase price (not in excess of the fair market value
thereof) of any tangible personal property (other than Inventory) and incurred
at the time of or within 10 days prior to or after the acquisition of such
tangible asset.

                                       25
<PAGE>   33

         "Purchase Money Lien" means any Lien securing Purchase Money Debt, but
only if such Lien shall at all times be confined solely to the property (other
than Inventory) the purchase price of which was financed through the incurrence
of the Purchase Money Debt secured by such Lien.

         "Real Estate" means all of a Borrower's now or hereafter owned or
leased estates in real property, including, without limitation, all fees,
leaseholds and future interests, together with all of the Borrower's now or
hereafter owned or leased interests in the improvements and emblements thereon,
the fixtures attached thereto and the easements appurtenant thereto, including,
without limitation the real property described on SCHEDULE 7.1(Y).

         "Receivables" has the meaning set forth in the definition "Collateral".

         "Register" has the meaning specified in SECTION 14.1(D).

          "Reimbursement Agreement" means, with respect to a Letter of Credit,
such form of application therefor and form of reimbursement agreement therefor
(whether in a single document or several documents) as BankBoston may employ in
the ordinary course of business for its own account, with such modifications
thereto as may be agreed upon by BankBoston and the Borrowers, provided that
such application and agreement and any modifications thereto are not
inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.

         "Reimbursement Obligations" means the reimbursement or repayment
obligations of the Borrower to BankBoston pursuant to SECTION 3.6 or pursuant to
a Reimbursement Agreement with respect to amounts that have been drawn under
Letters of Credit.

         "Related Company" means any (i) corporation which is a member of the
same controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of Section 414(b) of
the Internal Revenue Code) as the Borrower; (ii) partnership or other trade or
business (whether or not incorporated) under common control (within the meaning
of Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code) with the Borrower; or (iii)
member of the same affiliated service group (within the meaning of Section
414(m) of the Internal Revenue Code) as the Borrower, any corporation described
in CLAUSE (I) above or any partnership, trade or business described in CLAUSE
(II) above.

         "Release" means release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection,
deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor
or outdoor environment or into or out of any property, including the movement of
Contaminants through or in the air, soil, surface water or groundwater.

         "Remedial Action" means actions required to (i) clean up, remove, treat
or in any other way address Contaminants in the indoor or outdoor environment;
(ii) prevent the Release or threat of Release or minimize the further Release of
Contaminants so they do not migrate or endanger or threaten to endanger public
health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment; or (iii) perform
pre-remedial studies and investigations and post-remedial monitoring and care.

                                       26
<PAGE>   34

         "Reportable Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 4043(b) of
ERISA, but shall not include a Reportable Event as to which the provision for 30
days' notice to the PBGC is waived under applicable regulations.

         "Required Lenders" means, at any time, any combination of two or more
Lenders whose Commitment Percentages at such time aggregate in excess of 50%.

         "Reserves" means any Letter of Credit Reserve, Environmental Compliance
Reserve or other reserve against the Borrowing Base as the Agent in its
reasonable credit judgment may establish from time to time.

         "Restricted Distribution" by any Person means (i) its retirement,
redemption, purchase, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any
capital stock or other equity securities (except equity securities acquired on
the conversion thereof into other equity securities of such Person) or equity
interests or partnership or membership interests issued by such Person, (ii) the
declaration or payment of any dividend or distribution in cash or property on or
with respect to any such securities (other than dividends payable solely in
shares of its capital stock), equity interests or partnership or membership
interests, excluding, however, any such dividend, distribution or payment to a
Borrower by any Subsidiary of such Borrower, (iii) any loan or advance by such
Person to, or other investment by such Person in, the holder of any of such
securities, equity interests or partnership or membership interests, and (iv)
any other payment by such Person in respect of such securities, equity interests
or partnership or membership interests.

         "Restricted Payment" means (i) any redemption or prepayment or other
retirement, prior to the stated maturity thereof or prior to the due date of any
regularly scheduled installment or amortization payment with respect thereto, of
any Debt (other than the Loans) or of any Subordinated Debt, (ii) the payment by
any Person of the principal amount of or interest on any Indebtedness (other
than trade debt) owing to an Affiliate of such Person or to any Affiliate of any
such Affiliate and (iii) the payment of any management, consulting or similar
fee by any Person to any Affiliate of such Person.

         "Revolving Credit Availability" means, as of the date of determination,
the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans available to be
borrowed by the Borrowers hereunder at the time in accordance with SECTION 2.1,
which shall an amount be equal to the remainder derived by subtracting the
aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date
from the Borrowing Base on such date.

         "Revolving Credit Facility" means the credit facility providing for
Revolving Credit Loans based upon the Borrowing Base described in SECTION 2.1 up
to an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed
$35,000,000 or such lesser or greater amount as shall be agreed upon from time
to time in writing by the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrowers.

         "Revolving Credit Loans" means loans made to the Borrowers pursuant to
SECTION 2.1, including any Non-Ratable Loans.


                                       27
<PAGE>   35

         "Revolving Credit Note" means each Revolving Credit Note made by the
Borrowers payable to the order of a Lender evidencing the obligation of the
Borrowers to pay the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans made to it
by such Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility (and any promissory note or
notes that may be issued from time to time in substitution, renewal, extension,
replacement or exchange therefor whether payable to such Lender or to a
different Lender in connection with a Person becoming a Lender after the
Effective Date or otherwise) substantially in the form of EXHIBIT A hereto, with
all blanks properly completed, either as originally executed or as the same may
from time to time be supplemented, modified, amended, renewed, extended or
refinanced.

         "Ridgeview" means Ridgeview, Inc., a North Carolina corporation.

         "Schedule of Inventory" means a schedule delivered by the Borrowers to
the Agent pursuant to the provisions of SECTION 9.12(B).

         "Schedule of Receivables" means a schedule delivered by the Borrowers
to the Agent pursuant to the provisions of SECTION 9.12(A).

         "Secured Obligations" means, in each case whether now in existence or
hereafter arising,

         (a) the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the Loans,

         (b) the Reimbursement Obligations and all other obligations of the
Borrowers to the Agent or any Lender arising in connection with the issuance of
Letters of Credit,

         (c) all obligations to any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender under
any Interest Rate Protection Agreement, and

         (d) all indebtedness, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of
the Borrowers or any Subsidiary of the Borrowers to the Agent or to the Lenders
or to any Affiliate of the Agent or the Lenders of every kind, nature and
description arising under or in respect of this Agreement, the Notes or any of
the other Loan Documents, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent,
due or not due, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether
or not evidenced by any note, and whether or not for the payment of money,
including without limitation, fees required to be paid pursuant to ARTICLE 5 and
expenses required to be paid or reimbursed pursuant to SECTION 16.2.

         "Security Documents" means each of the following:

         (a) the Mortgages,

         (b) the Financing Statements,

         (c) the Life Insurance Assignments,

         (d) the Pledge Agreement,


                                       28
<PAGE>   36

         (e) the Trademark Security Agreement, and

         (f) each other writing executed and delivered by a Borrower or any
other Person securing the Secured Obligations,

         "Security Interest" means the Liens of the Agent, for the benefit of
itself as Agent and the Lenders and Affiliates of the Lenders, on and in the
Collateral and the Real Estate effected hereby or by any of the Security
Documents or pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof.

         "Seneca" means Seneca Knitting Mills Corporation, a New York
corporation, and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Ridgeview.

         "Seneca Charges" means up to $1,000,000 of charges incurred by the
Borrowers associated with the shut-down of Seneca's manufacturing facility in
Seneca Falls, New York.

         "Settlement Date" means each Business Day after the Effective Date
selected by the Agent in its sole discretion subject to and in accordance with
the provisions of SECTION 5.8(C)(I) as of which a Settlement Report is delivered
by the Agent and on which settlement is to be made among the Lenders in
accordance with the provisions of SECTION 5.8.

         "Settlement Report" means each report, substantially in the form
attached hereto as EXHIBIT E, prepared by the Agent and delivered to each Lender
and setting forth, among other things, as of the Settlement Date indicated
thereon and as of the next preceding Settlement Date, the aggregate principal
balance of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding, each Lender's Proportionate
Share thereof, each Lender's Net Outstandings and all Non-Ratable Loans made,
and all payments of principal, interest and fees received by the Agent from the
Borrowers during the period beginning on such next preceding Settlement Date and
ending on such Settlement Date.

         "Subordinated Debt" means any Debt of the Borrower which is
subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms and conditions acceptable to
the Required Lenders.

         "Subsidiary"

         (a) when used to determine the relationship of a Person to another
Person, means a Person of which an aggregate of 50% or more of the stock of any
class or classes or 50% or more of other ownership interests is owned of record
or beneficially by such other Person, or by one or more Subsidiaries of such
other Person, or by such other Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person,

                  (i) if the holders of such stock, or other ownership
         interests, (A) are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies,
         entitled to vote for the election of a majority of the directors (or
         other individuals performing similar functions) of such Person, even
         though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such
         a contingency, or (B) are entitled, as such holders, to vote for the
         election of a majority of the directors (or individuals performing
         similar functions) of such Person, whether or not the right so 



                                       29
<PAGE>   37

         to vote exists by reason of the happening of a contingency, or

                  (ii) in the case of such other ownership interests, if such
         ownership interests constitute a majority voting interest,

         (b) when used with respect to a Benefit Plan, ERISA or a provision of
the Internal Revenue Code pertaining to employee benefit plans, also means any
corporation, trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is under
common control with a Borrower and is treated as a single employer with a
Borrower under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code and the
regulations thereunder, and

         (c) when used without other designation of ownership, means a
Subsidiary of Ridgeview.

         "Subsidiary Guarantor" means each Subsidiary that is not a Borrower and
that has, at the Agent's request or with its consent, executed and delivered a
Subsidiary Guaranty.

         "Subsidiary Guaranty" means a Guaranty of the Secured Obligations in
form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in its reasonable judgment.

         "Subsidiary Security Agreement" means one or more agreements in form
and substance satisfactory to the Agent in its reasonable judgment, sufficient
to create in favor of the Agent a security interest in all of the personal and
real property and proceeds thereof of any Subsidiary Guarantor.

         "Supporting Letter of Credit" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 3.9.

         "Tangible Net Worth" means, as applied to the Borrowers, the Adjusted
Net Worth of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at the time in
question, after excluding therefrom the amount of all intangible items reflected
therein, including, without limitation, all unamortized debt discount and
expense, unamortized research and development expense, unamortized deferred
charges, goodwill, Patents, Trademarks, service marks, trade names, Copyrights,
unamortized excess cost of investment in non-Consolidated Subsidiaries over
equity at dates of acquisition and all similar items which should properly be
treated as intangibles in accordance with GAAP.

         "Term Loan" means the aggregate Loans outstanding under the Term Loan
Facility and refers to both Eurodollar Rate Term Loans and Base Rate Term Loans.

         "Term Loan Facility" means the credit facility providing for the Term
Loan described in SECTION 4.1(A) in the principal amount of $6,000,000.

         "Term Note" means each Term Note made by the Borrowers payable to the
order of a Lender evidencing the obligation of the Borrowers to pay the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans made to it by such Lender under
the Term Loan Facility (and any promissory note or notes that may be issued from
time to time in substitution, renewal, extension, replacement or 


                                       30
<PAGE>   38

exchange therefor whether payable to such Lender or to a different Lender in
connection with a Person becoming a Lender after the Effective Date or
otherwise) substantially in the form of EXHIBIT B hereto, with all blanks
properly completed, either as originally executed or as the same may from time
to time be supplemented, modified, amended, renewed, extended or refinanced.

         "Termination Date" means December 31, 2003, such earlier date as all
Secured Obligations shall have been irrevocably paid in full and the Revolving
Credit Facility shall have been terminated, or such later date as to which the
same may be extended pursuant to the provisions of SECTION 2.5.

         "Termination Event" means

         (a) a Reportable Event, or

         (b) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Benefit Plan or the
treatment of a Benefit Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of
ERISA, or

         (c) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Benefit Plan by the
PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA, or the appointment of a trustee to administer
any Plan.

         "Total Debt Service" means for any specified accounting period, the sum
of (i) net interest expense of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, PLUS
(ii) the aggregate principal scheduled payments on Funded Debt of Ridgeview and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case, during such accounting period.

         "Total Facilities" means the aggregate of the Revolving Credit Facility
and the Term Loan Facility.

         "Trademark Security Agreement" means the Security Agreement
(Trademarks), dated on or about the Effective Date, by a Borrower to the Agent
for the benefit of the Lenders, as the same may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time.

         "Trademarks" means and includes in each case whether now existing or
hereafter arising, all of a Borrower's right, title and interest in and to

         (a) trademarks (including service marks), trade names and trade styles
and the registrations and applications for registration thereof and the goodwill
of the business symbolized by the trademarks,

         (b) licenses of the foregoing, whether as licensee or licensor,

         (c) renewals thereof,

         (d) income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due and/or
payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims and
payments for past and future infringements thereof,

                                       31
<PAGE>   39

         (e) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements thereof,
including the right to settle suits involving claims and demands for royalties
owing, and

         (f) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the
world.

         "Tri-Star" means Tri-Star Hosiery Mills, Inc., a North Carolina
corporation, and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Ridgeview,

         "Type" when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to
the rate by reference to which interest on such Loan or on the Loans comprising
such Borrowing is determined.

         "Unfunded Vested Accrued Benefits" means with respect to any Benefit
Plan subject to Title IV of the ERISA , amount at any time by which

         (a) the present value of all vested nonforfeitable benefits under such
Benefit Plan exceeds

         (b) the fair market value of all Benefit Plan assets allocable to such
benefits,

all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Benefit Plan.

         "Uniform Commercial Code" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in
effect from time to time in the State of Georgia.

         "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" when used to determine the relationship of a
Subsidiary to a Person means a Subsidiary all of the issued and outstanding
shares (other than directors' qualifying shares) of the capital stock of which
shall at the time be owned by such Person or one or more of such Person's Wholly
Owned Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of such Person's Wholly
Owned Subsidiaries.

         "Year 2000 Compliant" means, as to any computer application used by a
Borrower or any Subsidiary of such Borrower, or any supplier, vendor or customer
of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, that such computer application will
not be negatively affected by the Year 2000 Problem and that such computer
application is reasonably expected on a timely basis to be able to properly
recognize and perform date-sensitive functions for all dates prior to, on and
after January 1, 2000.

         "Year 2000 Problem" means the risk that computer applications used by a
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any supplier, vendor or customer of such
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with which such Borrower's or such
Subsidiaries' data processing systems communicate electronically may be unable
to properly recognize and perform date-sensitive functions involving dates prior
to, on or after January 1, 2000.

         SECTION 1.2 General Interpretive Rules.

         (a) All terms of an accounting nature not specifically defined herein
shall have the 


                                       32
<PAGE>   40

meaning ascribed thereto by GAAP.

         (b) The terms accounts, chattel paper, contract rights, documents,
equipment, instruments, general intangibles and inventory, as and when used in
this Agreement or the Security Documents, shall have the meanings given those
terms in the Uniform Commercial Code.

         (c) Unless otherwise specified, the words "hereof," "herein,"
"hereunder" and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to
this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision, section or
subsection of this Agreement.

         (d) Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated
in either the singular or plural shall include the singular and plural, and
pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall include the
masculine, the feminine and the neuter. Words denoting individuals include
corporations and vice versa.

         (e) References to any legislation or statute or code, or to any
provisions of any legislation or statute or code, shall include any modification
or reenactment of, or any legislative, statutory or code provision substituted
for, such legislation, statute or code or provision thereof.

         (f) References to any document or agreement (including this Agreement)
shall include references to such document or agreement as amended, novated,
supplemented, modified or replaced from time to time, so long as and to the
extent that such amendment, novation, supplement, modification or replacement is
either not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement or is consented to by the
Required Lenders and the Agent.

         (g) Except where specifically restricted in a Loan Document, references
to any Person include its successor or permitted substitutes and assigns
permitted or not prohibited under such Loan Document.

         (h) References to the time of day are to the time of day in the city in
which the Agent's Office is located.

         (i) The terms "payment", "prepayment", "distribution" and similar terms
used in the definitions "Restricted Distribution" and "Restricted Payment" and
in SECTION 10.6, shall include payment by means of the transfer of funds or of
property and, in the event of a transfer of property, the payment shall be
deemed to be in an amount equal to the greater of the fair market value and the
book value of the property at the time of the transfer.

         (j) Titles of Articles and Sections in this Agreement are for
convenience only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and neither limit nor
amplify the provisions of this Agreement, and all references in this Agreement
to Articles, Sections, subsections, paragraphs, clauses, subclauses, Schedules,
Annexes or Exhibits shall refer to the corresponding Article, Section,
subsection, paragraph, clause or subclause of, or Schedule, Annex or Exhibit
attached to, this Agreement, unless specific reference is made to the articles,
sections or other subdivisions or divisions of, or to schedules or exhibits to,
another document or instrument.

                                       33
<PAGE>   41

         (k) Whenever from the context it appears appropriate, the term "Loan",
including such terms as used as part of a defined term including the term
"Loan", shall mean and include a Loan made by all Lenders to the Borrowers as
well as a Lender's Proportionate Share of any Loan.

         (l) All references to defined terms, unless otherwise specified herein,
shall mean such terms as defined in this Agreement.

         (m) Whenever the phrase "to the knowledge of a Borrower" or words of
similar import relating to the knowledge of a Borrower are used herein, such
phrase shall mean and refer to (i) the actual knowledge of the chief operating
officer, president or chief financial officer or (ii) the knowledge that such
officers would have obtained if they had engaged in good faith in the diligent
performance of their duties, including the making of such reasonable specific
inquiries as may be necessary of the appropriate persons in a good faith attempt
to ascertain the accuracy of the matter to which such phrase relates.

         SECTION 1.3 Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules. All Exhibits, Annexes and
Schedules attached hereto are by reference made a part hereof.




                                       34
<PAGE>   42



                                    ARTICLE 2

                            REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

         SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties made
under, this Agreement, each Lender agrees, severally but not jointly, to make
Revolving Credit Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility to the Borrowers from
time to time from the Effective Date to but not including the Termination Date,
as requested or deemed requested by the Borrowers in accordance with the terms
of SECTION 2.2, in amounts equal to such Lender's Proportionate Share of each
Revolving Credit Loan requested or deemed requested hereunder up to an aggregate
amount at any one time outstanding equal to such Lender's Proportionate Share of
the Borrowing Base; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Borrowing of a Revolving Credit
Loan shall exceed the Revolving Credit Availability at the time and the
aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Loans under the Revolving Credit
Facility (after giving effect to the Loans requested) shall not exceed the
Borrowing Base. It is expressly understood and agreed that the Lenders may and
at present intend to use the Borrowing Base as a maximum ceiling on Loans made
to the Borrowers under the Revolving Credit Facility; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that it
is agreed that should the aggregate outstanding amount of such Loans exceed the
ceiling so determined or any other limitation set forth in this Agreement, such
Loans shall nevertheless constitute Secured Obligations and, as such, shall be
entitled to all benefits thereof and security therefor. The principal amount of
any Loans made under the Revolving Credit Facility which is repaid pursuant to
SECTION 2.3(C) may be reborrowed by the Borrowers, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, in accordance with the terms of this SECTION 2.1.
The Agent's and each Lender's books and records reflecting the date and the
amount of each Loans made under the Revolving Credit Facility and each repayment
of principal thereof shall constitute prima facie evidence of the accuracy of
the information contained therein, subject to the provisions of SECTION 5.8.

         SECTION 2.2 Manner of Borrowing Revolving Credit Loans. Borrowings
under the Revolving Credit Facility shall be made as follows:

         (a) Requests for Borrowing.

                  (i) Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans. Unless the Borrowers
         shall previously have requested a Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loan
         and authorized the application of the proceeds thereof to any purpose
         described in CLAUSES (A) through (E) below and the Lenders shall have
         disbursed such Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loan for such purpose,
         a request for the Borrowing of a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan shall
         be made, or shall be deemed to be made, in the following manner:

                           (A) with respect to the initial Borrowing to be made
                  on the Effective Date, which shall be a Base Rate Revolving
                  Credit Loan, the Borrowers shall give the Agent an Initial
                  Notice of Borrowing at least two Business Days prior to the
                  proposed date of the Borrowing, and, with respect to each
                  subsequent Borrowing, the Borrowers may request a Base Rate
                  Revolving Credit Loan by giving the Agent 


                                       35
<PAGE>   43

                  a Notice of Borrowing, before 12:00 noon on the proposed date
                  of the Borrowing, PROVIDED that if such notice is received
                  after 12:00 noon on the proposed date of Borrowing, the
                  proposed Borrowing may be postponed to the next Business Day.

                           (B) whenever a check or other item is presented to a
                  Disbursing Bank for payment against a Controlled Disbursement
                  Account in an amount greater than the then available balance
                  in such account, such Disbursing Bank shall, and is hereby
                  irrevocably authorized by the Borrowers to, give the Agent
                  notice thereof, which notice shall be deemed to be a request
                  for a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan on the date of such
                  notice in an amount equal to the excess of such check or other
                  item over such available balance, and such request shall be
                  irrevocable,

                           (C) unless payment is otherwise made by the
                  Borrowers, the becoming due of any amount required to be paid
                  under this Agreement or any of the Notes as interest shall be
                  deemed to be a request for a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan
                  on the due date in the amount required to pay such interest,
                  and such request shall be irrevocable,

                           (D) unless payment is otherwise made by the
                  Borrowers, a becoming due of any other Secured Obligation
                  shall be deemed to be a request for a Base Rate Revolving
                  Credit Loan on the due date in the amount then so due, and
                  such request shall be irrevocable, and

                           (E) the receipt by the Agent of notification from
                  BankBoston to the effect that a drawing has been made under a
                  Letter of Credit and that the applicable Borrower has failed
                  to reimburse BankBoston therefor in accordance with the terms
                  of such Letter of Credit, the related Reimbursement Agreement
                  and ARTICLE 3, shall be deemed to be a request for a Base Rate
                  Revolving Credit Loan on the date such notification is
                  received in the amount of such drawing which is so
                  unreimbursed.

                  (ii) Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loans. At any time after
         the first Margin Adjustment Date, provided no Default or Event of
         Default shall exist, the Borrowers may request a Eurodollar Rate Loan
         under the Revolving Credit Facility by giving the Agent a Notice of
         Borrowing (which notice shall be irrevocable) not later than 11:00 a.m.
         on the date three Business Days before the day on which the requested
         Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loan is to be made.

                  (iii) Notification of Lenders. In the case of each Eurodollar
         Rate Revolving Credit Loan and, unless the Agent has elected periodic
         settlements pursuant to SECTION 5.8, in the case of each Base Rate
         Revolving Credit Loan, the Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of
         any notice of Borrowing given or deemed given pursuant to this SECTION
         2.2(A) by 12:30 p.m. on the proposed Borrowing date (in the case of
         Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans) or by 3:00 p.m. three Business Days
         before the proposed Borrowing date (in the case of Eurodollar Rate
         Revolving Credit Loans). Not later than 2:30 p.m. on the proposed
         Borrowing date, each Lender will make available to the Agent, for the
         account of the Borrowers, at the Agent's Office in funds immediately
         available to 


                                       36
<PAGE>   44

         the Agent, such Lender's Proportionate Share of the Base Rate Revolving
         Credit Loan or Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loan, as the case may
         be.

         (b) Disbursement of Loans. The Borrowers hereby irrevocably authorize
the Agent to disburse the proceeds of each Borrowing requested, or deemed to be
requested, pursuant to this SECTION 2.2(A) as follows:

                  (i) the proceeds of each Borrowing requested under SECTION
         2.2(A)(I)(A) (other than the Borrowing of the Initial Loans) or (B) or
         SECTION 2.2(A)(II) shall be disbursed by the Agent in Dollars in
         immediately available funds by wire transfer or other appropriate means
         to a Controlled Disbursement Account or, in the absence of a Controlled
         Disbursement Account, by wire transfer or other appropriate means to
         such other account as may be agreed upon by the Borrowers and the Agent
         from time to time, and the proceeds of the Initial Loans under SECTION
         2.2(A)(I)(A) shall be disbursed in accordance with the Initial Notice
         of Borrowing.

                  (ii) the proceeds of each Borrowing deemed requested under
         SECTION 2.2(A)(I)(C) or (D) shall be disbursed by the Agent by way of
         direct payment of the relevant interest or other Secured Obligation,
         and

                  (iii) the proceeds of each Borrowing deemed requested under
         SECTION 2.2(A)(I)(E) shall be disbursed by the Agent directly to
         BankBoston on behalf of the applicable Borrower.

         SECTION 2.3 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans. The Revolving Credit
Loans will be repaid as follows:

         (a) The outstanding principal amount of all the Revolving Credit Loans
is due and payable, and shall be repaid by the Borrowers, as their joint and
several obligation, in full, not later than the Termination Date;

         (b) If at any time the aggregate outstanding unpaid principal amount of
the Revolving Credit Loans exceeds the Borrowing Base in effect at such time,
the Borrower shall repay the Revolving Credit Loans in an amount sufficient to
reduce the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Revolving Credit Loans by
an amount equal to such excess, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the
amount so repaid to the date of repayment;

         (c) The Borrowers hereby instruct the Agent to repay the Revolving
Credit Loans outstanding on any day in an amount equal to the amount received by
the Agent on such day pursuant to SECTION 9.1(B); PROVIDED that payments
received in excess of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans or payments received on
account of Eurodollar Rate Loans which would otherwise result in prepayment of
such Loans prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto may, upon
the instruction of the Borrower to the Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on any
Business Day, be applied to the Cash Collateral Account or any Investment
Account; and

         (d) Repayments pursuant to SECTION 2.3(B) or (C) shall be applied first
to Base Rate


                                       37
<PAGE>   45

Revolving Credit Loans and then to Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loans.

         SECTION 2.4 Revolving Credit Note. Each Lender's Revolving Credit Loans
and the joint and several obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Revolving
Credit Loans shall also be evidenced by a Revolving Credit Note payable to the
order of such Lender. Each Revolving Credit Note shall be dated the Effective
Date (or later "effective date" under any Assignment and Acceptance) and be duly
and validly executed and delivered by the Borrowers.

         SECTION 2.5 Extension of Revolving Credit Facility. Upon the request of
the Borrowers, the Lenders may, in their sole discretion, agree to extend the
Termination Date by an instrument in writing signed by the Agent and all
Lenders.




                                       38
<PAGE>   46



                                    ARTICLE 3

                            LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY

         SECTION 3.1 Agreement to Issue. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties made
under, this Agreement, BankBoston agrees to issue for the account of a Borrower
one or more Letters of Credit in accordance with this ARTICLE 3, from time to
time during the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the
Termination Date.

         SECTION 3.2 Amounts. BankBoston shall not have any obligation to issue
any Letter of Credit at any time:

         (a) if, after giving effect to the issuance of the requested Letter of
Credit, (i) the aggregate Letter of Credit Obligations of the Borrowers would
exceed the Letter of Credit Facility then in effect or (ii) the aggregate
principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans outstanding would exceed the
Borrowing Base (after reduction for the Letter of Credit Reserve in respect of
such Letter of Credit) or (iii) if no Revolving Credit Loans are outstanding,
the aggregate Letter of Credit Obligations would exceed the Borrowing Base; or

         (b) which has a term longer than one calendar year or an expiration
date after the last Business Day that is more than 30 days prior to the
Termination Date.

         SECTION 3.3 Conditions. The obligation of BankBoston to issue any
Letter of Credit is subject to the satisfaction of (a) the applicable conditions
precedent contained in ARTICLE 6 and (b) the following additional conditions
precedent in a manner satisfactory to the Agent and BankBoston:

                  (i) the Borrower for whose account such Letter of Credit is to
         be issued shall have delivered to BankBoston and the Agent at such
         times and in such manner as BankBoston or the Agent may prescribe an
         application in form and substance satisfactory to BankBoston and the
         Agent for the issuance of the Letter of Credit, a Reimbursement
         Agreement and such other documents as may be required pursuant to the
         terms thereof, and the form and terms of the proposed Letter of Credit
         shall be satisfactory to BankBoston and the Agent; and

                  (ii) as of the date of issuance, no order of any court,
         arbitrator or governmental authority having jurisdiction or authority
         over BankBoston shall purport by its terms to enjoin or restrain banks
         generally from issuing letters of credit of the type and in the amount
         of the proposed Letter of Credit, and no law, rule or regulation
         applicable to banks generally and no request or directive (whether or
         not having the force of law) from any governmental authority with
         jurisdiction over banks generally shall prohibit, or request that
         BankBoston refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or
         the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

                                       39
<PAGE>   47

         SECTION 3.4 Issuance of Letters of Credit.

         (a) Request for Issuance. A Borrower shall give BankBoston and the
Agent written notice of such Borrower's request for the issuance of a Letter of
Credit no later than six Business Days prior to the proposed date of issuance of
the Letter of Credit. Such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the
original face amount of the Letter of Credit requested, the effective date
(which date shall be a Business Day) of issuance of such requested Letter of
Credit, whether such Letter of Credit may be drawn in a single or in multiple
draws, the date on which such requested Letter of Credit is to expire (which
date shall be a Business Day earlier than the 30th day prior to the Termination
Date), the purpose for which such Letter of Credit is to be issued and the
beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit. The Borrower shall attach to such
notice the form of the Letter of Credit that such Borrower requests to be
issued.

         (b) Responsibilities of the Agent; Issuance. The Agent shall determine,
as of the Business Day immediately preceding the requested effective date of
issuance of the Letter of Credit set forth in the notice from the Borrower
pursuant to SECTION 3.4(A), the amount of Letter of Credit Availability. If (i)
the form of the Letter of Credit delivered by the Borrower to the Agent is
acceptable to BankBoston and the Agent in their sole, reasonable discretion,
(ii) the undrawn face amount of the requested Letter of Credit is less than or
equal to the Letter of Credit Availability and (iii) the Agent has received a
certificate from the Borrowers stating that the applicable conditions set forth
in ARTICLE 6 and SECTION 3.3 have been satisfied, then BankBoston will cause the
Letter of Credit to be issued.

         (c) Notice of Issuance. Promptly after the issuance of any Letter of
Credit, BankBoston shall give the Agent written or facsimile notice, or
telephonic notice confirmed promptly thereafter in writing, of the issuance of
such Letter of Credit, and the Agent shall give each Lender written or facsimile
notice, or telephonic notice confirmed promptly thereafter in writing, of the
issuance of such Letter of Credit.

         (d) No Extension or Amendment. No Letter of Credit shall be extended or
amended unless the requirements of this SECTION 3.4 are met as though a new
Letter of Credit were being requested and issued.

         SECTION 3.5 Duties of BankBoston. Any action taken or omitted to be
taken by BankBoston under or in connection with any Letter of Credit, if taken
or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall not
result in any liability of BankBoston to any Lender or relieve any Lender of its
obligations hereunder to BankBoston. In determining whether to pay under any
Letter of Credit, BankBoston shall have no obligation to any Lender other than
to confirm that any documents required to be delivered under such Letter of
Credit in connection with such drawing have been presented and appear on their
face to comply with the requirements of such Letter of Credit.

         SECTION 3.6 Payment of Reimbursement Obligations.

         (a) Payment to Issuer. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary
in any Reimbursement Agreement, the Borrowers agree to reimburse BankBoston for
any drawings 



                                       40
<PAGE>   48

(whether partial or full) under each Letter of Credit issued by BankBoston and
agree to pay to BankBoston the amount of all other Reimbursement Obligations and
other amounts payable to BANKBOSTON under or in connection with such Letter of
Credit immediately when due, irrespective of any claim, set-off, defense or
other right which the Borrowers may have at any time against BankBoston or any
other Person.

         (b) Recovery or Avoidance of Payments. In the event any payment by or
on behalf of the Borrowers with respect to any Letter of Credit (or any
Reimbursement Obligation relating thereto) received by BankBoston, or by the
Agent and distributed by the Agent to the Lenders on account of their respective
participations therein, is thereafter set aside, avoided or recovered from
BankBoston or the Agent in connection with any receivership, liquidation or
bankruptcy proceeding, the Lenders shall, upon demand by the Agent, pay to the
Agent, for the account of the Agent or BankBoston, their respective
Proportionate Shares of such amount set aside, avoided or recovered together
with interest at the rate required to be paid by the Agent upon the amount
required to be repaid by it.

         SECTION 3.7  Participations.

         (a) Purchase of Participations. Immediately upon issuance by BankBoston
of a Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and
unconditionally purchased and received without recourse or warranty, an
undivided interest and participation in such Letter of Credit, equal to such
Lender's Proportionate Share of the face amount thereof (including, without
limitation, all obligations of the Borrowers with respect thereto (other than
amounts owing to BankBoston under SECTION 5.2(D)), and any security therefor or
guaranty pertaining thereto).

         (b) Sharing of Letter of Credit Payments. In the event that BankBoston
makes a payment under any Letter of Credit and BankBoston shall not have been
repaid such amount pursuant to SECTION 3.6, then BankBoston shall be deemed to
have made a Non-Ratable Loan in the amount of such payment, and notwithstanding
the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default at the time of
such payment, such Non-Ratable Loan shall be subject to the provisions of
SECTION 5.8(C) and the absolute obligations of the Lenders to pay for their
respective participation interests therein.

         (c) Sharing of Reimbursement Obligation Payments. Whenever BankBoston
receives a payment from or on behalf of the Borrowers on account of a
Reimbursement Obligation as to which the Agent has previously received for the
account of BankBoston payment from a Lender pursuant to this SECTION 3.7,
BankBoston shall promptly pay to the Agent, for the benefit of such Lender, such
Lender's Proportionate Share of the amount of such payment from the Borrowers in
Dollars. Each such payment shall be made by BankBoston on the Business Day on
which BankBoston receives immediately available funds from the Agent pursuant to
the immediately preceding sentence, if received prior to 11:00 a.m. on such
Business Day, and otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day.

         (d) Documentation. Upon the request of any Lender, the Agent shall
furnish to such Lender copies of any Letter of Credit, Reimbursement Agreement
or application for any Letter of Credit and such other documentation as may
reasonably be requested by such Lender.

                                       41
<PAGE>   49

         (e) Obligations Irrevocable. The obligations of each Lender to make
payments to the Agent with respect to any Letter of Credit and their
participations therein pursuant to the provisions of SECTION 5.8(C) hereof or
otherwise and the obligations of the Borrowers to make payments to BankBoston or
to the Agent, for the account of Lenders, shall be irrevocable, shall not be
subject to any qualification or exception whatsoever and shall be made in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (assuming, in the
case of the obligations of the Lenders to make such payments, that the Letter of
Credit has been issued in accordance with SECTION 3.4), including, without
limitation, any of the following circumstances:

                  (i) Any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement
         or any of the other Loan Documents;

                  (ii) The existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other
         right which the Borrowers (or any of them) may have at any time against
         a beneficiary named in a Letter of Credit or any transferee of any
         Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such transferee may be
         acting), any Lender, BankBoston or any other Person, whether in
         connection with this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the transactions
         contemplated herein or any unrelated transactions (including any
         underlying transactions between the Borrowers or any other Person and
         the beneficiary named in any Letter of Credit);

                  (iii) Any draft, certificate or any other document presented
         under the Letter of Credit upon which payment has been made in good
         faith and according to its terms proving to be forged, fraudulent,
         invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being
         untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

                  (iv) The surrender or impairment of any Collateral or any
         other security for the Secured Obligations or the performance or
         observance of any of the terms of any of the Loan Documents;

                  (v) The occurrence of any Default or Event of Default; or

                  (vi) BankBoston's or the Agent's failure to deliver the notice
         provided for in SECTION 3.4(C).

         SECTION 3.8 Indemnification, Exoneration.

         (a) Indemnification. In addition to amounts payable as elsewhere
provided in this ARTICLE 3, the Borrowers, jointly and severally, agree to
protect, indemnify, pay and save the Lenders and the Agent harmless from and
against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs,
charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) which any Lender or
the Agent may incur or be subject to as a consequence, directly or indirectly,
of

                  (i) the issuance of any Letter of Credit, other than as a
         result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by
         a court of competent jurisdiction, or

                  (ii) the failure of BankBoston to honor a drawing under any
         Letter of Credit as 


                                       42
<PAGE>   50

         a result of any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any
         present or future de jure or de facto governmental authority (all such
         acts or omissions being hereinafter referred to collectively as
         "Government Acts").

         (b) Assumption of Risk by the Borrower. As among the Borrowers, the
Lenders and the Agent, the Borrowers assume all risks of the acts and omissions
of, or misuse of any of the Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries
of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the
foregoing, subject to the provisions of the applications for the issuance of
Letters of Credit, the Lenders and the Agent shall not be responsible for:

                  (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or
         legal effect of any document submitted by any Person in connection with
         the application for and issuance of and presentation of drafts with
         respect to any of the Letters of Credit, even if it should prove to be
         in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or
         forged;

                  (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument
         transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any
         Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds
         thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or
         ineffective for any reason;

                  (iii) the failure of the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit
         to comply duly with conditions required in order to draw upon such
         Letter of Credit;

                  (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in
         transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph,
         telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher;

                  (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms;

                  (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any
         document required in order to make a drawing under any Letter of Credit
         or of the proceeds thereof;

                  (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any Letter of
         Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or

                  (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control
         of the Lenders or the Agent, including, without limitation, any
         Government Acts.

None of the foregoing shall affect, impair or prevent the vesting of any of the
Agent's rights or powers under this SECTION 3.8.

         (c) Exoneration. In furtherance and extension, and not in limitation,
of the specific provisions set forth above, any action taken or omitted by the
Agent, BankBoston or any Lender under or in connection with any of the Letters
of Credit or any related certificates, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall
not result in any liability of any Lender or the Agent to the Borrowers or
relieve the Borrowers of any of its obligations hereunder to any such Person.

                                       43
<PAGE>   51

         SECTION 3.9 Supporting Letter of Credit; Cash Collateral Account. Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default or, if, notwithstanding the provisions of
SECTION 3.2(B), any Letter of Credit is outstanding on the Termination Date,
then on or prior to the Termination Date, the Borrowers shall, as their joint
and several obligation, promptly on demand by the Agent, deposit with the Agent,
for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, with respect to each Letter of Credit
then outstanding, as the Agent shall specify, either (a) a standby letter of
credit (a "Supporting Letter of Credit") in form and substance satisfactory to
the Agent, issued by an issuer satisfactory to the Agent in its sole and
absolute judgment in an amount equal to the greatest amount for which such
Letter of Credit may be drawn, under which Supporting Letter of Credit the Agent
shall be entitled to draw amounts necessary to reimburse the Agent and the
Lenders for payments made by the Agent and the Lenders under such Letter of
Credit or under any reimbursement or guaranty agreement with respect thereto, or
(b) Cash Collateral in an amount necessary to reimburse the Agent and the
Lenders for payments made by the Agent and the Lenders under such Letter of
Credit or under any reimbursement or guaranty agreement with respect thereto.
Such Supporting Letter of Credit or Cash Collateral shall be held by the Agent
for the benefit of the Lenders, as security for, and to provide for the payment
of, the Reimbursement Obligations. In addition, the Agent may at any time after
such Event of Default or Termination Date apply any or all of such Cash
Collateral to the payment of any or all of the Secured Obligations then due and
payable. The Cash Collateral shall be deposited in the Cash Collateral Account
or an Investment Account and shall be administered in accordance with the
provision of SECTION 5.17.




                                       44
<PAGE>   52



                                    ARTICLE 4

                               TERM LOAN FACILITY

         SECTION 4.1 Term Loans. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
of, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties made under, this
Agreement, each Lender agrees severally, but not jointly, to make a Base Rate
Loan to the Borrowers on the Effective Date in a principal amount equal to such
Lender's Proportionate Share of the Term Loan Facility.

         SECTION 4.2 Manner of Borrowing Term Loans. The Borrowers shall give
the Agent an Initial Notice of Borrowing at least two Business Days' prior to
the occurrence of the Effective Date. Upon receipt of such notice from the
Borrowers, the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. Each Lender will
make a Base Rate Loan in the amount equal to its Proportionate Share of the
aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan available to the Agent, for the
account of the Borrowers, at the Agent's Office, prior to 12:00 noon on the
Effective Date in funds immediately available to the Agent. Not later than 1:00
p.m. on the Effective Date, upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set
forth in SECTIONS 6.1 and 6.2, the Agent will disburse the Term Loans on the
Effective Date, in same day funds in accordance with the terms of the Initial
Notice of Borrowing.

         SECTION 4.3 Repayment of Term Loan. The principal amount of the Term
Loan is due and payable and shall be repaid in full by the Borrowers in 17
consecutive quarterly installments on successive Installment Payment Dates
beginning October 1, 1999 in the amount of $266,666.67 each and a final
installment on December 31, 2003 (or, if earlier, on the Termination Date) in
the amount of the then unpaid balance of the Term Loan.

         SECTION 4.4 Term Notes. Each Lender's Term Loan and the obligation of
the Borrowers to repay such Loan shall also be evidenced by a Term Note payable
to the order of such Lender. Each such Term Note shall be dated the Effective
Date (or the later "effective date" under any Assignment and Acceptance) and be
duly and validly executed and delivered by the Borrowers.


                                       45
<PAGE>   53


                                    ARTICLE 5

                             GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS

         SECTION 5.1  Interest.

         (a) Base Rate Loans. Subject to the provisions of SECTION 5.1(D), the
Borrowers will pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Base Rate
Loan, for each day from the day such Loan is made until such Loan is paid
(whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise) or is converted
to a Loan of a different Type, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the
Applicable Margin and (ii) the Base Rate, payable monthly in arrears as it
accrues on each Interest Payment Date.

         (b) Eurodollar Rate Loans. Subject to the provisions of SECTION 5.1(D),
the Borrowers will pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each
Eurodollar Rate Loan for the applicable Interest Period at a rate per annum
equal to the sum of (i) the Applicable Margin and (ii) the Eurodollar Rate,
payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and, if such Interest
Period is longer than three months, at intervals of three months after the first
day thereof, and when such Eurodollar Rate Loan is due (whether at maturity, by
reason of acceleration or otherwise).

         (c) Other Secured Obligations. The Borrowers will, to the extent
permitted by Applicable Law, pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of any
Secured Obligation that is due and payable (other than the Loans in accordance
with SECTIONS 5.1(A), (B) or (D), as applicable), on demand, as if such Secured
Obligation were a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan. Interest that is due and
payable shall be deemed to be a liquidated amount and obligation of the
Borrowers and shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, bear interest in
accordance with this SECTION 5.1(C).

         (d) Default Rate. If there shall occur and be continuing an Event of
Default, at the election of the Required Lenders, the unpaid principal amount of
the Loans and other Secured Obligations shall no longer bear interest in
accordance with the terms of SECTION 5.1(A), 5.1(B) or 5.1(C), but shall bear
interest for each day from the date of such Event of Default until such Event of
Default shall have been cured or waived at a rate per annum equal to the sum of
(i) the Default Margin and (ii) the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan,
payable on demand. The interest rate provided for in the preceding sentence
shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, apply to and accrue on the
amount of any judgment entered with respect to any Secured Obligation and shall
continue to accrue at such rate during any proceeding described in SECTION
13.1(G) or (H).

         (e) Calculation of Interest. The interest rates provided for in
SECTIONS 5.1(A), (B), (C) and (D) shall be computed on the basis of a year of
360 days and the actual number of days elapsed. Each interest rate determined
with reference to the Base Rate shall be adjusted automatically as of the
opening of business on the effective date of each change in the Base Rate.

         (f) Maximum Rate. It is not intended by the Lenders, and nothing
contained in this Agreement or the Notes shall be deemed, to establish or
require the payment of a rate of interest 


                                       46
<PAGE>   54

in excess of the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Law (the "Maximum Rate").
If, in any month, the Effective Interest Rate, absent such limitation, would
have exceeded the Maximum Rate, then the Effective Interest Rate for that month
shall be the Maximum Rate, and, if in future months, the Effective Interest Rate
would otherwise be less than the Maximum Rate, then the Effective Interest Rate
shall remain at the Maximum Rate until such time as the amount of interest paid
hereunder equals the amount of interest which would have been paid if the same
had not been limited by the Maximum Rate. In the event that, upon payment in
full of the Secured Obligations, the total amount of interest paid or accrued
under the terms of this Agreement is less than the total amount of interest
which would have been paid or accrued if the Effective Interest Rate had at all
times been in effect, then the Borrowers shall, to the extent permitted by
Applicable Law, pay to the Lenders an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i)
the lesser of (A) the amount of interest which would have been charged if the
Maximum Rate had, at all times, been in effect and (B) the amount of interest
which would have accrued had the Effective Interest Rate, at all times, been in
effect and (ii) the amount of interest actually paid or accrued under this
Agreement. In the event the Lenders receive, collect or apply as interest any
sum in excess of the Maximum Rate, such excess amount shall be applied to the
reduction of the principal balance of the Secured Obligations, and if no such
principal is then outstanding, such excess or part thereof remaining, shall be
paid to the Borrowers. For the purposes of computing the Maximum Rate, to the
extent permitted by Applicable Law, all interest and charges, discounts,
amounts, premiums or fees deemed to constitute interest under Applicable Law,
shall be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread in substantially equal parts
throughout the full term of this Agreement. The provisions of this SECTION
5.1(F) shall be deemed to be incorporated into every Loan Document (whether or
not any provision of this SECTION 5.1(F) is specifically referred to therein).

         SECTION 5.2 Certain Fees.

         (a) Origination Fee. On the Effective Date, as additional consideration
for the extensions of credit provided for hereunder, the Borrowers, jointly and
severally, shall pay to the Agent for the Ratable benefit of the Lenders, in
addition to any interest due under this Agreement, an origination fee in an
amount equal to 1/2 of 1 percent (0.50%) of the Commitments in effect on the
Effective Date.

         (b) Agent Fee. For administration and other services performed by the
Agent in connection with its continuing administration of this Agreement, the
Borrowers, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Agent, for its own account,
and not for the account of the Lenders, an annual fee of $35,000, payable on the
Effective Date and on each anniversary thereof for so long as any Secured
Obligation shall remain outstanding or the Revolving Credit Facility shall not
have been terminated.

         (c) Commitment Fee. In connection with and as consideration for the
holding available for the use of the Borrowers hereunder the full amount of the
Revolving Credit Facility, the Borrowers will pay a fee to the Agent, for the
Ratable benefit of the Lenders, for each day from the Effective Date until the
Termination Date, in an amount equal to .25% per annum of the average daily
unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility. Such fee shall be payable


                                       47
<PAGE>   55

monthly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date and on the date of any
permanent reduction in the Revolving Credit Facility.

         (d) Letter of Credit Fees.

                  (i) The Borrowers, jointly and severally, agree to pay to the
         Agent, for the Ratable benefit of the Lenders, Letter of Credit fees on
         each standby Letter of Credit equal to 2.50% until the first Margin
         Adjustment Date and thereafter the Applicable Margin per annum
         applicable to Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loans on the date of
         issuance, of such Letter of Credit payable quarterly in arrears on the
         first day of each January, April, July and October. Such fees shall be
         calculated according to the face value of such Letter of Credit, based
         on a year of 360 days and the actual number of days elapsed.

                  (ii) The Borrowers agree to pay to Agent, for the account of
         BankBoston, fees and charges in connection with all Letters of Credit
         at the rates customarily charged by BankBoston, including standard fees
         and charges of BankBoston for issuing, administering, amending,
         renewing, transferring, paying and canceling all letters of credit, as
         and when assessed.

         (e) General. All fees shall be fully earned by the Agent and the
Lenders when due and payable and, except as otherwise set forth herein or
required by Applicable Law, shall not be subject to refund or rebate. All fees
are for compensation for services and are not, and shall not be deemed to be,
interest or a charge for the use of money.

         SECTION 5.3 Manner of Payment.

         (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in SECTION 9.1(B), each
payment (including prepayments) by the Borrowers on account of the principal of
or interest on the Loans or of any other amounts payable to the Lenders under
this Agreement or any Note shall be made not later than 12:00 noon on the date
specified for payment under this Agreement to the Agent, for the account of the
Lenders, at the Agent's Office, in Dollars, in immediately available funds and
shall be made without any setoff, counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any
payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. on such day shall be
deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of SECTION 13.1, but for all
other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business
Day.

         (b) The Borrowers hereby irrevocably authorize each Lender and each
Affiliate of such Lender and each participant herein to charge any account of a
Borrower maintained with such Lender or such Affiliate or participant with such
amounts as may be necessary from time to time to pay any Secured Obligations
(whether or not owed to such Lender, Affiliate or participant) which are not
paid when due.

         SECTION 5.4 General. If any payment under this Agreement or any Note
shall be specified to be made on a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be
made on the next 


                                       48
<PAGE>   56

succeeding day which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall in such
case be included in computing interest, if any, in connection with such payment.

         SECTION 5.5 Loan Accounts; Statements of Account. (a) Each Lender shall
open and maintain on its books a loan account in Ridgeview's name (each, a "Loan
Account" and collectively, the "Loan Accounts"). Each such Loan Account shall
show as debits thereto each Loan made under this Agreement by such Lender to the
Borrowers and as credits thereto all payments received by such Lender and
applied to principal of such Loans, so that the balance of the Loan Account at
all times reflects the principal amount due such Lender from the Borrowers.

         (b) The Agent shall maintain on its books a control account for the
Borrowers in which shall be recorded (i) the amount of each disbursement made
hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due or to become due
from the Borrowers hereunder, and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the
Agent hereunder from the Borrowers and each Lender's share therein.

         (c) The entries made in the accounts pursuant to SUBSECTIONS (A) and
(B) shall be prima facie evidence, in the absence of manifest error, of the
existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrowers therein recorded and
in case of discrepancy between such accounts, in the absence of manifest error,
the accounts maintained pursuant to SUBSECTION (B) shall be controlling.

         (d) The Agent will account separately to the Borrowers monthly with a
statement of Loans, charges and payments made to and by the Borrowers pursuant
to this Agreement, and such accounts rendered by the Agent shall be deemed
final, binding and conclusive, save for manifest error, unless the Agent is
notified by the Borrowers in writing to the contrary within 60 days after the
date the account to the Borrowers was so rendered. Such notice by the Borrowers
shall be deemed an objection to only those items specifically objected to
therein. Failure of the Agent to render such account shall in no way affect the
rights of the Agent or of the Lenders hereunder.

         SECTION 5.6 Reduction of Revolving Credit Facility; Termination of
Agreement.

         (a) Reduction of Revolving Credit Facility.

                  (i) The Borrowers shall have the right, at any time and from
         time to time, upon at least 30 days' prior irrevocable, written notice
         to Agent, to terminate or reduce permanently all or a portion of the
         Revolving Credit Facility; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any such partial
         reduction shall be made in increments of not less than $1,000,000 and
         shall not reduce the Revolving Credit Facility below the amount of the
         aggregate Letter of Credit Reserve plus any additional Reserves. As of
         the date of termination or reduction set forth in such notice, the
         Revolving Credit Facility shall be permanently reduced to the amount
         stated in the Borrowers' notice for all purposes herein, and the
         Borrowers shall pay the amount necessary to reduce the amount of the
         Revolving Credit Loans outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility
         as so reduced, together with accrued interest on the amounts so
         prepaid. The Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly 


                                       49
<PAGE>   57

         upon its receipt of any such notice of reduction.

                  (ii) The amount of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be
         automatically reduced to zero on the Termination Date.

                  (iii) The Revolving Credit Facility or any portion thereof
         terminated or reduced pursuant to this SECTION 5.6 may not be
         reinstated.

         (b) Termination of Agreement. Subject to the provisions of SECTION
5.10, the Borrowers shall have the right, at any time, to terminate this
Agreement upon not less than 30 Business Days' prior written notice, which
notice shall specify the effective date of such termination. Upon receipt of
such notice, the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. On the date
specified in such notice, such termination shall be effected, PROVIDED, that the
Borrowers shall, on or prior to such date, pay to the Agent, for its account and
the account of the Lenders, in same day funds, an amount equal to all Secured
Obligations (other than with respect to Letter of Credit Obligations)
outstanding on such date, including, without limitation, all (i) accrued
interest thereon, (ii) all accrued fees provided for hereunder, and (iii) any
amounts payable to the Lenders pursuant to SECTIONS 5.10, 5.11, 5.16, 16.2,
16.3, 16.14 and 16.23, and, in addition thereto, shall deliver to the Agent, in
respect of each outstanding Letter of Credit, either a Supporting Letter of
Credit or Cash Collateral as provided in SECTION 3.9. Additionally, the
Borrowers shall provide the Agent and the Lenders with indemnification in form
and substance satisfactory to the Agent with respect to such matters as the
Agent and the Lenders shall require and a general release of all claims.
Following a notice of termination as provided for in this SECTION 5.6(B) and
upon payment in full of the amounts specified in this SECTION 5.6(B), and
execution and delivery of any required indemnification and release, this
Agreement shall be terminated and the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrowers shall
have no further obligations to any other party hereto, except for the
obligations to the Agent and the Lenders pursuant to SECTION 16.14 hereof, which
shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

         SECTION 5.7 Making of Loans.

         (a) Nature of Obligations of Lenders to Make Loans. The obligations of
the Lenders under this Agreement to make the Loans are several and are not joint
or joint and several.

         (b) Assumption by Agent. Subject to the provisions of SECTION 5.8 and
notwithstanding the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default
or other failure of any condition to the making of Loans under the Revolving
Credit Facility hereunder subsequent to the Initial Loans, unless the Agent
shall have received notice from a Lender in accordance with the provisions of
SECTION 5.7(C) prior to a proposed Borrowing date that such Lender will not make
available to the Agent such Lender's Proportionate Share of the Revolving Credit
Loan to be borrowed on such date, the Agent may assume that such Lender will
make such Proportionate Share available to the Agent in accordance with SECTION
2.2(A), and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to
the Borrowers on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent such
Lender shall not make such Proportionate Share available to the Agent, such
Lender on one hand, and the Borrowers, jointly and severally on the other hand,
severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding



                                       50
<PAGE>   58

amount, together with interest thereon for each day from the date such amount is
made available to the Borrowers until the date such amount is repaid to the
Agent at the Effective Interest Rate or, if lower, subject to SECTION 5.1(F),
the Maximum Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Agent such corresponding
amount in full, the amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender's
Proportionate Share of the Loan made on such Borrowing date for purposes of this
Agreement. The failure of any Lender to make its Proportionate Share of any Loan
available shall not (without regard to whether the Borrowers shall have returned
the amount thereof to the Agent in accordance with this SECTION 5.7) relieve it
or any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its
Proportionate Share of the Loan available on such Borrowing date, but no Lender
shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its
Proportionate Share of a Loan available on the Borrowing date.

         (c) Delegation of Authority to Agent. Without limiting the generality
of SECTION 15.1, each Lender expressly authorizes the Agent to determine on
behalf of such Lender (i) any reduction or increase of advance rates applicable
to the Borrowing Base, so long as such advance rates do not at any time exceed
the rates set forth in the definition "Borrowing Base", (ii) the creation or
elimination of any Reserves (other than the Letter of Credit Reserve) and (iii)
whether or not Inventory or Receivables constitute Eligible Inventory or
Eligible Receivables. Such authorization may be withdrawn by the Required
Lenders by giving the Agent written notice of such withdrawal signed by the
Required Lenders; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that unless otherwise agreed by the Agent
such withdrawal of authorization shall not become effective until the fifth
Business Day after receipt of such notice by the Agent. Thereafter, the Required
Lenders shall jointly instruct the Agent in writing regarding such matters with
such frequency as the Required Lenders shall jointly determine. Unless and until
the Agent shall have received written notice from the Required Lenders as to the
existence of a Default, an Event of Default or some other circumstance which
would relieve the Lenders of their respective obligations to make Loans
hereunder, which notice shall be in writing and shall be signed by the Required
Lenders and shall expressly state that the Required Lenders do not intend to
make available to the Agent such Lender's Ratable Share of Loans made after the
effective date of such notice, the Agent shall be entitled to continue to make
Loans to the Borrowers based upon the assumptions described in SECTION 5.7(B)
and all Lenders agree to make such Loans. After receipt of the notice described
in the preceding sentence, which shall become effective on the Business Day
after receipt of such notice by the Agent unless otherwise agreed by the Agent,
the Agent shall be entitled to make the assumptions described in SECTION 5.7(B)
as to any Loans as to which it has not received a written notice to the contrary
prior to 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day next preceding the day on which the Loan
is to be made. The Agent shall not be required to make any Loan as to which it
shall have received notice by a Lender of such Lender's intention not to make
its Ratable Share of such Loan available to the Agent. Any withdrawal of
authorization under this SECTION 5.7(C) shall not affect the validity of any
Loans made prior to the effectiveness thereof.

         (d) Overadvances. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
elsewhere in this SECTION 5.7 or this Agreement or the other Loan Documents,
unless otherwise notified by the Required Lenders in accordance with SECTION
5.7(C), the Agent may in its discretion (but with the consent of the Required
Lenders if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising solely
out of the existence of such Overadvance) exists at the time) require all
Lenders to 


                                       51
<PAGE>   59

honor requests or deemed requests by the Borrowers for Revolving Credit Loans at
a time that an Overadvance Condition exists or which would result in an
Overadvance Condition and each Lender shall be obligated to continue to make its
Proportionate Share of Revolving Credit Loans up to a maximum amount outstanding
equal to its Commitment, so long as such Overadvance is not outstanding for more
than four consecutive Business Days and is not known by the Agent to exceed
$1,500,000.

         SECTION 5.8  Settlement Among Lenders.

         (a) Term Loans. The Agent shall pay to each Lender on each Interest
Payment Date or Installment Payment Date, as the case may be, its Ratable Share
(or, if different, a proportionate amount based on the principal amount of the
Term Loans owing to such Lender), of all payments received by the Agent
hereunder in immediately available funds in respect of the principal of, or
interest on, the Term Loans, net of any amounts payable by such Lender to the
Agent, by wire transfer of same day funds.

         (b) Revolving Credit Loans. It is agreed that each Lender's Net
Outstandings are intended by the Lenders to be equal at all times to such
Lender's Ratable Share of the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit
Loans outstanding. Notwithstanding such agreement, the several and not joint
obligation of each Lender to make its Ratable Share of Loans under the Revolving
Credit Facility in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and each Lender's
right to receive its Ratable Share of principal payments on Revolving Credit
Loans, the Lenders agree that in order to facilitate the administration of this
Agreement and the Loan Documents that settlement among them may take place on a
periodic basis in accordance with the provisions of this SECTION 5.8.

         (c) Settlement Procedures as to Revolving Credit Loans. To the extent
and in the manner hereinafter provided in this SECTION 5.8, settlement among the
Lenders as to Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans may occur periodically on
Settlement Dates determined from time to time by the Agent, which may occur
before or after the occurrence or during the continuance of a Default or Event
of Default and whether or not all of the conditions set forth in SECTIONS 6.1
and 6.2 have been met. On each Settlement Date payments shall be made by or to
BankBoston and the other Lenders in the manner provided in this SECTION 5.8 in
accordance with the Settlement Report delivered by the Agent pursuant to the
provisions of this SECTION 5.8 in respect of such Settlement Date so that as of
each Settlement Date, and after giving effect to the transactions to take place
on such Settlement Date, each Lender's Net Outstandings shall equal such
Lender's Ratable Share of the Revolving Credit Loans.

                  (i) Selection of Settlement Dates. If the Agent elects, in its
         discretion, but subject to the consent of BankBoston, to settle
         accounts among the Lenders with respect to principal amounts of Base
         Rate Revolving Credit Loans less frequently than each Business Day,
         then the Agent shall designate periodic Settlement Dates which may
         occur on any Business Day after the Effective Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
         that (A) the Agent shall designate as a Settlement Date any Business
         Day which is an Interest Payment Date, (B) a Settlement Date shall
         occur not less often than every five (5) Business Days, and 



                                       52
<PAGE>   60

         (C) settlements with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall take place
         on the date of Borrowing, on the last day of each Interest Period
         applicable thereto, and on any other date during such Interest Period
         on which interest is payable thereon. The Agent shall designate a
         Settlement Date by delivering to each Lender a Settlement Report not
         later than 12:00 noon on the proposed Settlement Date, which Settlement
         Report will be in the form of EXHIBIT E hereto and shall be with
         respect to the period beginning on the next preceding Settlement Date
         and ending on such designated Settlement Date.

                  (ii) Non-Ratable Loans and Payments. Between Settlement Dates,
         the Agent shall request and BankBoston may (but shall not be obligated
         to) advance to the Borrowers out of BankBoston's own funds, the entire
         principal amount of any Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan requested or
         deemed requested pursuant to SECTION 2.2(A) (any such Base Rate
         Revolving Credit Loan being referred to as a "Non-Ratable Loan"). The
         making of each Non-Ratable Loan by BankBoston shall be deemed to be a
         purchase by BankBoston of a 100% participation in each other Lender's
         Proportionate Share of such Non-Ratable Loan. All payments of
         principal, interest and any other amount with respect to such
         Non-Ratable Loan shall be payable to and received by the Agent for the
         account of BankBoston. Upon demand by BankBoston, with notice thereof
         to the Agent, each other Lender shall pay to BankBoston, as the
         repurchase of such participation, an amount equal to 100% of such
         Lender's Proportionate Share of the principal amount of such
         Non-Ratable Loan. Any payments received by the Agent between Settlement
         Dates which in accordance with the terms of this Agreement are to be
         applied to the reduction of the outstanding principal balance of
         Revolving Credit Loans, shall be paid over to and retained by
         BankBoston for such application, and such payment to and retention by
         BankBoston shall be deemed, to the extent of each other Lender's
         Proportionate Share of such payment, to be a purchase by each such
         other Lender of a participation in the Revolving Credit Loans
         (including the repurchase of participations in Non-Ratable Loans) held
         by BankBoston. Upon demand by another Lender, with notice thereof to
         the Agent, BankBoston shall pay to the Agent, for the account of such
         other Lender, as a repurchase of such participation, an amount equal to
         such other Lender's Proportionate Share of any such amounts (after
         application thereof to the repurchase of any participations of
         BankBoston in such other Lender's Proportionate Share of any
         Non-Ratable Loans) paid only to BankBoston by the Agent.

                  (iii) Settlement. On each Settlement Date each Lender shall
         transfer to the Agent and the Agent shall transfer to each Lender such
         amounts as are necessary to insure that, after giving effect to all
         such transfers, each Lender's Net Outstandings are equal to such
         Lenders Proportionate Share of the aggregate principal amount of all
         Revolving Loans then outstanding.

                  (iv) Return of Payments. If any amounts received by BankBoston
         in respect of the Secured Obligations are later required to be returned
         or repaid by BankBoston to the Borrowers (or any of them) or any other
         obligor or their respective representatives or successors in interest,
         whether by court order, settlement or otherwise, in excess of the
         BankBoston Proportionate Share of all such amounts required to be
         returned by all 


                                       53
<PAGE>   61

         Lenders, each other Lender shall, upon demand by BankBoston with notice
         to the Agent, pay to the Agent for the account of BankBoston, an amount
         equal to the excess of such Lender's Proportionate Share of all such
         amounts required to be returned by all Lenders over the amount, if any,
         returned directly by such Lender.

                  (v) Payments to Agent, Lenders.

                           (A) Payment by any Lender to the Agent shall be made
                  not later than 2:30 p.m. on the Business Day such payment is
                  due, PROVIDED that if such payment is due on demand by another
                  Lender, such demand is made on the paying Lender not later
                  than 10:00 a.m. on such Business Day. Payment by the Agent to
                  any Lender shall be made by wire transfer, promptly following
                  the Agent's receipt of funds for the account of such Lender
                  and in the type of funds received by the Agent, PROVIDED that
                  if the Agent receives such funds at or prior to 1:00 p.m., the
                  Agent shall pay such funds to such Lender by 2:00 p.m. on such
                  Business Day. If a demand for payment is made after the
                  applicable time set forth above, the payment due shall be made
                  by 2:00 p.m. on the first Business Day following the date of
                  such demand.

                           (B) If a Lender shall, at any time, fail to make any
                  payment to the Agent required hereunder, the Agent may, but
                  shall not be required to, retain payments that would otherwise
                  be made to such Lender hereunder and apply such payments to
                  such Lender's defaulted obligations hereunder, at such time,
                  and in such order, as the Agent may elect in its sole
                  discretion.

                           (C) With respect to the payment of any funds under
                  this SECTION 5.8(C), whether from the Agent to a Lender or
                  from a Lender to the Agent, the party failing to make full
                  payment when due pursuant to the terms hereof shall, upon
                  demand by the other party, pay such amount together with
                  interest on such amount at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

         (d) Settlement of Other Secured Obligations. All other amounts received
by the Agent on account of, or applied by the Agent to the payment of, any
Secured Obligation owed to the Lenders (including, without limitation, fees
payable to the Lenders pursuant to SECTIONS 5.2(A), (C) and (D) and proceeds
from the sale of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral
following an Event of Default) that are received by the Agent on or prior to
1:00 p.m. on a Business Day will be paid by the Agent to each Lender on the same
Business Day, and any such amounts that are received by the Agent after 1:00
p.m. will be paid by the Agent to each Lender on the following Business Day.
Unless otherwise stated herein, the Agent shall distribute to each Lender such
Lender's Proportionate Share of fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to SECTIONS
5.2(A), (c) and (d) and shall distribute to each Lender such Lender's
Proportionate Share (or if different, such Lender's share based upon the amount
of the Secured Obligations then owing to each Lender) of the proceeds from the
sale of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral following
an Event of Default.

                                       54
<PAGE>   62

                  SECTION 5.9 Mandatory Prepayments.

                  (a) Prepayments from Asset Dispositions. Immediately upon
receipt by a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the Net Proceeds of any
Asset Disposition, such Borrower shall apply such Net Proceeds in prepayment of
the Loans as provided in SECTION 5.9(C); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such Borrower
shall not be required to make such prepayment to the extent that the Net
Proceeds from Asset Dispositions during the 1999 Fiscal Year do not exceed, in
the aggregate, $50,000 and during any Fiscal Year thereafter do not exceed, in
the aggregate, $150,000. Concurrently with the making of any such payment, the
Borrowers shall deliver to the Agent a certificate of the Financial Officer
demonstrating the calculations of the amount required to be paid.

                  (b) Prepayments from Equity Offerings. In the event that at
any time after the Effective Date, any Borrower issues capital stock or other
securities or receives an additional capital contribution in respect of existing
capital stock or other securities, no later than the third Business Day
following the date of receipt of proceeds from such issuance which, when added
to the amount of all other such proceeds of issuance (in each case net of
underwriting discounts, commissions and other reasonable costs) received by the
Borrowers after the Effective Date, exceeds $2,000,000, the Borrowers shall
apply such excess in prepayment of the Loans as provided in SECTION 5.9(C).

                  (c) Application of Proceeds of Prepayments. All prepayments
pursuant to this SECTION 5.9 shall be applied first to the outstanding principal
of the Term Loans to the extent thereof, second to the outstanding Revolving
Credit Loans to the extent thereof, with any excess to be deposited with the
Agent to be held as Cash Collateral for the Secured Obligations and applied by
the Agent from time to time to outstanding Revolving Credit Loans promptly upon
the making of such Revolving Credit Loans or, after the Termination Date, to any
of the Secured Obligations in such manner as the Agent shall determine in its
sole discretion. All prepayments of the Term Loans shall be applied to the
principal installments payable thereon in inverse order of maturity.

         SECTION 5.10 Prepayment Fee. If the Borrowers shall prepay the Loans,
for any reason (including acceleration upon default) prior to the Termination
Date or terminate this Agreement pursuant to SECTION 5.6, the Borrowers shall
pay to the Agent for the Ratable benefit of the Lenders on such date of
termination or prepayment, as liquidated damages and compensation for the cost
of making funds available to the Borrowers under this Agreement, and not as a
penalty, an amount equal to: (a) 1.5% of (i) the sum of the Revolving Credit
Facility and the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans outstanding on the
date of termination or (ii) the sum of any amount by which the Revolving Credit
Facility is permanently reduced and the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans
prepaid, as the case may be (the "Prepayment Amount") in either case if such
termination or prepayment occurs on or prior to the first anniversary of the
Effective Date, (b) 1.0% of the Prepayment Amount if such termination or
prepayment occurs after the first anniversary of the Effective Date, and prior
to the second anniversary thereof, and (c) 0.5% of the amount of the Prepayment
Amount if such termination or prepayment occurs after the second anniversary of
the Effective Date and prior to the third anniversary thereof.

                                       55
<PAGE>   63

         SECTION 5.11 Payments Not at End of Interest Period; Failure to Borrow.
If for any reason any payment of principal with respect to any Eurodollar Rate
Loan is made on any day prior to the last day of the Interest Period applicable
to such Eurodollar Rate Loan or, after having given a Notice of Borrowing with
respect to any Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loan or a Notice of Conversion
or Continuation with respect to any Loan to be continued as or converted into a
Eurodollar Rate Loan, such Loan is not made or is not continued as or converted
into a Eurodollar Rate Loan due to the Borrowers' failure to borrow or to
fulfill the applicable conditions set forth in ARTICLE 6, the Borrowers shall
pay to each Lender, in addition to any amounts that may be due under SECTION
5.10, an amount (if a positive number) computed pursuant to the following
formula:

<TABLE>
                  <S>      <C>      <C>
                  L        =        (R - T) x  P x D
                                            360

                  L        =        amount payable
                  R=                the Eurodollar Rate applicable to the Loan unborrowed,  prepaid or not continued or converted
                  T        =        effective interest rate per annum at which any readily marketable
                                    bonds or other obligations of the United
                                    States, selected at the Agent's sole
                                    discretion, maturing on or near the last day
                                    of the then applicable or requested Interest
                                    Period for such Loan and in approximately
                                    the same amount as such Loan, can be
                                    purchased by such Lender on the day of such
                                    payment of principal or failure to borrow
                  P        =        the amount of principal paid or the amount of the requested Loan
                  D        =        the number of days remaining in the Interest Period as of the date
                                    of such payment or the number of days in the requested Interest Period
</TABLE>

The Borrowers shall pay such amount upon presentation by the Agent of a
statement setting forth the amount and the Agent's calculation thereof pursuant
hereto, which statement shall be deemed true and correct absent manifest error.

         SECTION 5.12 Assumptions Concerning Funding of Eurodollar Rate Loans.
Calculation of all amounts payable to the Lenders under this ARTICLE 5 shall be
made as though each Lender had actually funded or committed to fund its
Eurodollar Rate Loans through the purchase of an underlying deposit in an amount
equal to the amount of such ratable share and having a maturity comparable to
the relevant Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
each Lender may fund its Eurodollar Rate Loans in any manner it deems fit and
the foregoing assumption shall be utilized only for the calculation of amounts
payable under this ARTICLE 5.

         SECTION 5.13 Notice of Conversion or Continuation. Whenever the
Borrowers desire, subject to the provisions of SECTION 5.14, to convert an
outstanding Loan into a Loan or Loans of a different Type or to continue all or
a portion of an outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan for a 


                                       56
<PAGE>   64

subsequent Interest Period, the Borrowers shall notify the Agent in writing
(which notice shall be irrevocable) by telecopy not later than 11:30 a.m. on the
date two Business Days before the day on which such proposed conversion or
continuation is to be effective (and such effective date of any continuation
shall be the last day of the Interest Period for the Eurodollar Rate Loan). Each
such notice (a "Notice of Conversion or Continuation") shall (i) identify the
Loan to be converted or continued, the aggregate outstanding principal balance
thereof and, if a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of the Interest Period
applicable to such Loan, (ii) specify the effective date of such conversion or
continuation, (iii) specify the principal amount of such Loan to be converted or
continued and, if converted, the Type or Types into which the same is to be
converted, and (iv) the Interest Period to be applicable to the Eurodollar Rate
Loan as converted or continued, and shall be immediately followed by a written
confirmation thereof by the Borrowers in a form acceptable to the Agent,
PROVIDED that if such written confirmation differs in any respect from the
action taken by the Lenders, the records of the Agent shall control absent
manifest error.

         SECTION 5.14 Conversion or Continuation. Provided that no Default or
         Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (but subject to
         the provisions of SECTIONS 5.13 and 5.15), the Borrowers may request on
         or after the first Margin Adjustment Date that all or any part of any
         outstanding Loan be converted into a Loan or Loans of a different Type
         or be continued as a Loan or Loans of the same Type, in the same
         aggregate principal amount, on any Business Day (which, in the case of
         continuation of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, shall be the last day of the
         Interest Period applicable to such Loan), upon notice (which notice
         shall be irrevocable) given in accordance with SECTION 5.13, PROVIDED
         that nothing in this ARTICLE 5 shall be construed to permit the
         conversion of a Revolving Credit Loan to a Term Loan or vice versa.

         SECTION 5.15 Duration of Interest Periods; Maximum Number of Eurodollar
Rate Loans; Minimum Increments.

         (a) Subject to the provisions of the definition "Interest Period", the
duration of each Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be
as specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or
Continuation. The Borrowers may elect a subsequent Interest Period to be
applicable to any Eurodollar Rate Loan by giving a Notice of Conversion or
Continuation with respect to such Loan in accordance with SECTION 5.13.

         (b) If the Agent does not receive a notice of election in accordance
with SECTION 5.13 with respect to the continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loan
within the applicable time limits specified in said SECTION 5.13, or if, when
such notice must be given, an Event of Default exists or such Type of Loan is
not available, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have elected to convert such
Eurodollar Rate Loan in whole into a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the
Interest Period therefor.

         (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowers may not select an
Interest Period that would end, but for the provisions of the definition
"Interest Period", after the Termination Date.

                                       57
<PAGE>   65

         (d) In no event shall there be more than six Eurodollar Rate Loans
outstanding hereunder at any time. For the purpose of this SUBSECTION (D), each
Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loan and each Eurodollar Rate Term Loan having
a distinct Interest Period shall be deemed to be a separate Loan hereunder.

         (e) Each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be in a minimum amount of
$1,000,000.

         SECTION 5.16 Changed Circumstances.

         (a) If the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of
(in each case, after the date hereof) any law or regulation makes it unlawful,
or any Governmental Authority asserts, after the date hereof, that it is
unlawful, for any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar
Rate Loan or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans hereunder, such Lender
shall notify the Agent of such event and the Agent shall notify the Borrowers of
such event, and the right of the Borrowers to select a Eurodollar Rate Loan for
any subsequent Interest Period or in connection with any subsequent conversion
of any Loan shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrowers that
the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and the Borrowers
shall forthwith prepay in full all Eurodollar Rate Revolving Credit Loans then
outstanding and shall convert each Eurodollar Rate Term Loan into a Base Rate
Term Loan, and shall pay all interest accrued thereon through the date of such
prepayment or conversion, unless the Borrowers, within three Business Days after
such notice from the Agent, request the conversion of all Eurodollar Rate Loans
then outstanding into Base Rate Loans; PROVIDED, that if the date of such
repayment or proposed conversion is not the last day of the Interest Period
applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Borrowers shall also pay any amount
due pursuant to SECTION 5.11.

         (b) If the Agent shall, at least one Business Day before the date of
any requested Revolving Credit Loan or the effective date of any conversion or
continuation of an existing Loan to be made or continued as or converted into a
Eurodollar Rate Loan (each such requested Revolving Credit Loan made and Loan to
be converted or continued, a "Pending Loan"), notify the Borrowers that the
Eurodollar Rate will not adequately reflect the cost to the Lenders of making or
funding such Pending Loan as a Eurodollar Rate Loan or that the Interbank
Offered Rate is not determinable from any interest rate reporting service of
recognized standing, then the right of the Borrowers to select a Eurodollar Rate
Loan for such Pending Loan, any subsequent Revolving Credit Loan or in
connection with any subsequent conversion or continuation of any Loan shall be
suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrowers that the circumstances
causing such suspension no longer exist, and each Pending Loan and each such
subsequent Loan requested to be made, continued or converted shall be made or
continued as or converted into a Base Rate Loan.

         (c) If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than
any change by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements included in
the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage) in or in the interpretation of, in each case
after the date hereof, any law or regulation (except to the extent such
introduction, change or interpretation affects taxes measured by net income), or
(ii) the compliance with any guideline or request (except to the extent such
guideline 


                                       58
<PAGE>   66

or request affects taxes measured by net income) from any central bank or other
governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) made after the
date hereof, there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing
to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans (other than as
separately provided for in SECTION 5.16(D)), then the Borrowers shall from time
to time, within 30 days after demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand
to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender additional
amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost.

         (d) If (i) the adoption of or change in, after the date hereof, any
law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital requirements for banks or
bank holding companies, or any change, after the date hereof, in the
interpretation or application thereof by any governmental authority charged with
the interpretation or administration thereof, or (ii) compliance by such Lender
with any guideline, request or directive, made or promulgated after the date
hereof, of any such entity regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the
force of law), has the effect of reducing the return on a Lender's capital as a
consequence of its maintaining its Loans or commitment to make Revolving Credit
Loans hereunder to a level below that which such Lender could have achieved but
for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender's
policies with respect to capital adequacy immediately before such adoption,
change or compliance and assuming the full utilization of such Lender's capital
immediately before such adoption, change or compliance) or if any change in law,
regulation, treaty or official directive or the interpretation or application
thereof by any court or by any governmental authority charged with the
administration thereof or the compliance with any guideline or request of any
central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of
law) subjects a Lender to any tax with respect to payments of principal or
interest or any other amounts payable hereunder by the Borrowers or otherwise
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (except for taxes on the
overall net income of such Lender imposed by the United States of America or any
political subdivision thereof), in each case by any amount deemed by such Lender
to be material, then such Lender shall promptly after its determination of such
occurrence notify the Borrowers and the Agent thereof. The Borrowers agree to
pay to the Agent, for the account of such Lender, as an additional fee from time
to time, within 30 days after demand by such Lender, such amount as such Lender
certifies to be the amount that will compensate it for such reduction.

         (e) Before giving any notice pursuant to SECTION 5.16(A) or making any
demand pursuant to SECTION 5.16(C) or (D), each Lender agrees to use its best
efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory
restrictions) to designate a different lending office if the making of such a
designation would avoid the need for such notice or demand, or reduce the amount
of such increased cost or reduction in return and would not, in the reasonable
judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

         (f) A certificate of the Lender claiming compensation under SECTION
5.16(C) or (D) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Such
certificate shall set forth the nature of the occurrence giving rise to such
compensation, the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder and
the method by which such amounts were determined. In determining such amount, a
Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

                                       59
<PAGE>   67

         SECTION 5.17  Cash Collateral Account; Investment Accounts.

         (a) Cash Collateral Account. The Borrowers shall establish a Cash
Collateral Account in which to deposit Collateral consisting of cash or Cash
Equivalents from time to time

                  (i) representing payments received pursuant to SECTIONS 2.3(C)
         AND 5.9 in excess of then outstanding Revolving Credit Loans or on
         account of Eurodollar Rate Loans which would otherwise result in
         repayment of such Loans prior to the end of the Interest Period
         applicable thereto,

                  (ii) with respect to Letter of Credit Obligations (x) at the
         request of the Agent upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, or (y)
         for the purposes set forth in SECTION 5.6 in the event of termination
         of this Agreement, or

                  (iii) for any other purpose appropriate under this Agreement
         to provide security for the Secured Obligations.

On the last day of the applicable Interest Period as to any amounts deposited to
the Cash Collateral Account pursuant to clause (i) above or if a drawing under a
Letter of Credit occurs with respect to any amounts deposited to the Cash
Collateral Account pursuant to CLAUSE (II) above, the Borrowers hereby authorize
the Agent to use the monies deposited in the Cash Collateral Account to make
payment to the payee with respect to such Loan or, drawing. The Cash Collateral
Account shall be in the name of the Agent and the Agent shall have sole dominion
and control over, and sole access to, the Cash Collateral Account. Neither any
Borrower nor any Person claiming on behalf of or through any Borrower shall have
any right to withdraw any of the funds held in the Cash Collateral Account. The
Borrowers agree that they will not at any time (x) sell or otherwise dispose of
any interest in the Cash Collateral Account or any funds held therein or (y)
create or permit to exist any Lien upon or with respect to the Cash Collateral
Account or any funds held therein, except as provided in or contemplated by this
Agreement. The Agent shall exercise reasonable care in the custody and
preservation of any funds held in the Cash Collateral Account and shall be
deemed to have exercised such care if such funds are accorded treatment
substantially equivalent to that which the Agent accords other funds deposited
with the Agent, it being understood that the Agent shall not have any
responsibility for taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against any
parties with respect to any funds held in the Cash Collateral Account. Subject
to the right of the Agent to withdraw funds from the Cash Collateral Account as
provided herein, the Agent will, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, from time to time invest funds on deposit in
the Cash Collateral Account, reinvest proceeds of any such investments which may
mature or be sold, and invest interest or other income received from any such
investments, in each case, in Cash Equivalents, as the Borrowers may direct
prior to the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default and as the Agent may
select after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or Event of
Default. Such proceeds, interest and income which are not so invested or
reinvested in Cash Equivalents shall be deposited and held by the Agent in the
Cash Collateral Account. The Agent makes no representation or warranty as to,
and shall not be responsible for, 

                                       60
<PAGE>   68

the rate of return, if any, earned in any Cash Collateral. Any earnings on Cash
Collateral shall be held as additional Cash Collateral on the terms set forth in
this SECTION 5.17.

         (b) Investment Accounts. The Borrowers may from time to time establish
one or more Investment Accounts with the Agent, any Lender or any Affiliate of a
Lender, for the purpose of investing in Cash Equivalents any Cash Collateral
representing payments received pursuant to SECTION 2.3(C) and SECTION 5.9 in
excess of then outstanding Revolving Credit Loans or on account of Eurodollar
Rate Loans which would otherwise result in repayment of such Loans prior to the
end of the Interest Period applicable thereto. The Borrowers hereby acknowledge
and agree that each such Investment Account shall constitute Collateral
hereunder and shall be maintained with the Agent, a Lender or Affiliate of a
Lender as security for the Secured Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
until such time as the Agent shall otherwise instruct the Agent, Lender or
Affiliate of a Lender maintaining such account, the Borrowers shall be entitled
to direct the investment of the funds deposited therein. The Borrowers agree
that they will not at any time (x) sell or otherwise dispose of any interest in
any Investment Account or any funds held therein other than by application
thereof to any Secured Obligation, or (y) create or permit to exist any Lien
upon or with respect to any Investment Account or any funds held therein, except
as provided in or contemplated by this Agreement. The Borrowers agree that at
any time, and from time to time, at the expense of the Borrowers, the Borrowers
will promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and
take all further action, that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Agent
or any Lender may request, in order to perfect and protect any security interest
in any Investment Account granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable
the Borrowers, for their respective benefit and the benefit of the Lenders, to
exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to such
Investment Account.

         SECTION 5.18 Borrowers' Representative. Ridgeview shall act under this
Agreement as the representative of all Borrowers, and each other Borrower hereby
appoints Ridgeview as its representative, hereunder, for all purposes,
including, without being limited to, requesting borrowings and receiving account
statements and other notices and communications to the Borrowers (or any of
them) from the Agent or any Lender. The Agent and the Lenders may rely, and
shall be fully protected in relying, on any request for borrowing, disbursement
instruction, report, information or any other notice or communication made or
given by Ridgeview, whether in its own name, on behalf of any other Borrower or
on behalf of "the Borrowers," and neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have
any obligation to make any inquiry or request any confirmation from or on behalf
of any other Borrower as to the binding effect on it of any such request,
instruction, report, information, notice or communication, nor shall the joint
and several character of the Borrowers' liability for the Secured Obligations be
affected. The Agent and each Lender intend to maintain a single Loan Account in
the name of "Ridgeview, Inc." hereunder and each Borrower expressly agrees to
such arrangement and confirms that such arrangement shall have no effect on the
joint and several character of its liability for the Secured Obligations.

         SECTION 5.19 Joint and Several Liability.

         (a) Joint and Several Liability. The Secured Obligations shall
constitute one joint 


                                       61
<PAGE>   69

and several direct and general obligation of all of the Borrowers.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each of the Borrowers
shall be jointly and severally, with each other Borrower, directly and
unconditionally liable to the Agent and the Lenders for all Secured Obligations
and shall have the obligations of co-maker with respect to the Loans, the Notes,
and the Secured Obligations, it being agreed that the advances to each Borrower
inure to the benefit of all Borrowers, and that the Agent and the Lenders are
relying on the joint and several liability of the Borrowers as co-makers in
extending the Loans hereunder. Each Borrower hereby unconditionally and
irrevocably agrees that upon default in the payment when due (whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of any principal of, or interest on, any
Loan or other Secured Obligation payable to the Agent or any Lender, it will
forthwith pay the same, without notice or demand.

         (b) No Modification or Release of Obligations. No payment or payments
made by any of the Borrowers or any other Person or received or collected by the
Agent or any Lender from any of the Borrowers or any other Person by virtue of
any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application at any
time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Secured
Obligations shall be deemed (except to the extent Secured Obligations are
satisfied) to modify, release or otherwise affect the liability of each Borrower
under this Agreement, which shall remain liable for the Secured Obligations
until the Secured Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are
terminated.

         SECTION 5.20 Obligations Absolute. Each Borrower agrees that the
Secured Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the
Loan Documents, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in
effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the
Agent or any Lender with respect thereto. All Secured Obligations shall be
conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance hereon. The liabilities
under this Agreement shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

         (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Documents or any
other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

         (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payments of, or in any
other term of, all or any part of the Secured Obligations, or any other
amendment or waiver thereof or any consent to departure therefrom, including,
but not limited to, any increase in the Secured Obligations resulting from the
extension of additional credit to any Borrower or otherwise;

         (c) any taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral,
or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any
guaranty for all or any of the Secured Obligations;

         (d) any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure
or existence of any Borrower; or

         (e) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense
available to, or a discharge of, any Borrower or a guarantor.

                                       62
<PAGE>   70

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

         SECTION 5.21  Waiver of Suretyship Defenses. Each Borrower agrees that
the joint and several liability of the Borrowers provided for in SECTION 5.19
shall not be impaired or affected by any modification, supplement, extension or
amendment or any contract or agreement to which the other Borrowers may
hereafter agree (other than an agreement signed by the Agent and the Lenders
specifically releasing such liability), nor by any delay, extension of time,
renewal, compromise or other indulgence granted by the Agent or any Lender with
respect to any of the Secured Obligations, nor by any other agreements or
arrangements whatever with the other Borrowers or with anyone else, each
Borrower hereby waiving all notice of such delay, extension, release,
substitution, renewal, compromise or other indulgence, and hereby consenting to
be bound thereby as fully and effectually as if it had expressly agreed thereto
in advance. The liability of each Borrower is direct and unconditional as to all
of the Secured Obligations, and may be enforced without requiring the Agent or
any Lender first to resort to any other right, remedy or security. Each Borrower
hereby expressly waives promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance and any
other notice with respect to any of the Secured Obligations, the Notes, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than notices expressly required in
this Agreement or by any of the Loan Documents) and any requirement that the
Agent or any Lender protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien or any property
subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against any Borrower or
any other Person or any Collateral.



                                       63
<PAGE>   71

                                    ARTICLE 6

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         SECTION 6.1  Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, the respective obligations of the Lenders to
make the Initial Loans are subject to the conditions precedent that (a) no
action, proceeding, investigation, regulation or legislation, shall have been
instituted, threatened or proposed before any court, governmental agency or
legislative body to enjoin, restrain or prohibit, or to obtain damages in
respect of, or which are related to or arise out of, this Agreement, or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) there shall not have
occurred any events or circumstances which individually or in the aggregate, in
the sole judgment of any Lender, would have a Materially Adverse Effect, and (c)
the Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following,
each dated as of such day, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Agent, its special counsel and the Lenders and (except for the Notes) in
sufficient copies for each Lender:

                  (1)      Agreement. This Agreement, duly executed and 
         delivered by the Borrowers and the Lenders.

                  (2)      Notes. The Notes, each dated the Effective Date and 
         duly executed and delivered by the Borrowers.

                  (3)      Articles, Bylaws and Resolutions. Certified copies of
         the articles of incorporation and by-laws of each Loan Party as in
         effect on the Effective Date and all corporate action, including
         shareholder approval, if necessary, taken by such Loan Party and/or its
         shareholders to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of
         this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which each is a party
         and the Borrowings under this Agreement.

                  (4)      Incumbency Certificates. Certificates of incumbency 
         and specimen signatures with respect to each of the officers of each
         Loan Party who is authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement or
         any other Loan Document on behalf of such Loan Party or any document,
         certificate or instrument to be delivered in connection with this
         Agreement or the other Loan Documents and, in the case of each
         Borrowers, to request Borrowings under this Agreement.

                  (5)      Good Standing Certificates. A certificate as of a
         recent date evidencing the good standing of each Loan Party in the
         jurisdiction of its incorporation and in each other jurisdiction in
         which it is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business.

                  (6)      Financing Statements. The Financing Statements to be 
         delivered by the Loan Parties duly executed and delivered by the Loan
         Parties, and evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the Financing
         Statements have been filed in each jurisdiction where such filing may
         be necessary or appropriate to perfect the Security Interest or, at the
         Agent's discretion, in appropriate form for such filing.



                                       64
<PAGE>   72

                  (7)      Agency Account Agreements. Such Agency Account
         Agreements as shall be required by the Agent duly executed by each
         Borrower and the applicable Clearing Bank.

                  (8)      Subsidiary Guaranty. Each Subsidiary Guaranty duly 
         executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor.

                  (9)      Landlord's and Warehouseman's Waivers. Waiver and
         consent agreements duly executed on behalf of each landlord of real
         property on which Collateral is located and each warehouseman having
         possession of Collateral.

                  (10)     Mortgages. Copies of the Mortgages duly executed and 
         delivered by the Borrower and evidencing the recording of each such
         instrument in the appropriate jurisdiction for the recording thereof on
         the real property subject thereto or, at the option of the Agent, in
         proper form for recording in such jurisdiction.

                  (11)     Title Insurance. One or more unconditional 
         commitments for the issuance of mortgagee title insurance policies with
         all requirements and conditions to the issuance of the final policy
         deleted or marked satisfied, issued by a title insurance company
         satisfactory to the Agent, each in an amount equal to not less than the
         fair market value of the Real Estate subject to the Mortgage insured
         thereby, insuring that such Mortgage creates a valid first lien on, and
         security title to, all Real Estate described therein, except as
         approved by the Agent, with no survey exceptions and no other
         exceptions which the Agent shall not have approved in writing.

                  (12)     Real Estate Surveys. Such materials and information 
         concerning the Real Estate as the Agent may require, including, without
         limitation, (i) true and accurate surveys satisfactory to the Agent of
         all of the Real Estate, certified to the Agent and showing the location
         of any special flood hazard areas thereon and the designations thereof,
         and otherwise complying with FEMA requirements, (ii) certificates of
         occupancy covering all of the Real Estate, and (iii) owner's affidavits
         or indemnities acceptable to the title insurance company as to such
         matters relating to the Real Estate as the Agent or title insurance
         company may request.

                  (13)     Phase I Environmental Reports. A report from a
         qualified engineering firm or other qualified consultant acceptable to
         the Agent with respect to an investigation and audit of all Real
         Estate, which shall be based on a thorough review of past and present
         uses, occupants, ownership and tenancy of the property and/or adjacent
         properties and/or upgradient properties regarding

                           (A)      subsurface ground water hazards, soils 
                  and/or test boring reports;

                           (B)      contact with local, state or federal
                  agencies regarding known or suspected hazardous material
                  contamination of the property or other properties in the area;



                                       65
<PAGE>   73

                           (C)      review of aerial photographs;

                           (D)      visual site inspection noting unregulated 
                  fills, storage tanks or areas, ground discoloration or soil
                  odors; and

                           (E)      other investigative methods deemed necessary
                  by the consultant or the Agent to enable the consultant to
                  report that there is no apparent or likely contamination of
                  the property or another property in the area.

                  (14)     Phase II Environmental Reports.  If deemed  
         necessary in the sole judgment of the Agent to further investigate
         suspected or likely contamination, supplemental environmental reports
         prepared by qualified consultants of the analysis of core drilling or
         ground water samples from property, showing no contamination by
         hazardous materials.

                  (15)     Appraisals. An appraisal of all Equipment and Real
         Estate, prepared by an appraiser satisfactory to the Agent,
         establishing values at levels satisfactory to the Agent to support the
         Loans.

                  (16)     Pledge Agreement. The Pledge Agreement duly executed 
         and delivered by Ridgeview, together with all certificates and stock
         powers, undated and in blank, constituting Pledged Shares (as defined
         therein) required to be delivered by Ridgeview to the Agent in
         connection with the execution and delivery of such agreement.

                  (17)     Trademark Agreements. The Trademark Security 
         Agreement duly executed and delivered by Ridgeview.

                  (18)     Life Insurance Assignments. Assignments of all "key 
         man" life insurance policies maintained by or for the benefit of any
         Borrower, duly executed and delivered by the applicable Borrower.

                  (19)     Schedule of Inventory/Receivables. A Schedule of
         Inventory, a Schedule of Accounts Payable and a Schedule of
         Receivables, each prepared as of a recent date.

                  (20)     Evidence of Insurance. Certificates or binders of
         insurance relating to (i) each of the policies of insurance covering
         any of the Collateral together with loss payable clauses which comply
         with the terms of SECTION 9.8(B) (ii) each of the policies of insurance
         required by the Mortgages, together with mortgagee clauses satisfactory
         to the Agent and (iii) flood insurance with respect to any improvements
         to Real Estate located in special flood hazard areas.

                  (21)     Borrowing Base Certificate. A Borrowing Base 
         Certificate prepared as of a date not earlier than three Business Days
         prior to the Effective Date duly executed and delivered by a Financial
         Officer demonstrating Revolving Credit Availability, after giving
         effect to the Initial Loans, of not less than $2,000,000, together with
         such additional evidence of such Revolving Credit Availability as the
         Agent shall reasonably 



                                       66
<PAGE>   74

         require.

                  (22)     Initial Notice of Borrowing. An Initial Notice of
         Borrowing from the Borrowers to the Agent requesting the Initial Loans
         and specifying the method of disbursement.

                  (23)     Financial Statements. Copies of all the financial
         statements referred to in SECTION 7.1(N) and meeting the requirements
         thereof.

                  (24)     Officer's Certificate. A certificate of the President
         of Ridgeview, stating that, to the best of his knowledge and based on
         an examination sufficient to enable him to make an informed statement,
         (a) all of the representations and warranties made or deemed to be made
         under this Agreement are true and correct as of the Effective Date,
         both with and without giving effect to the Loans to be made at such
         time and the application of the proceeds thereof, and (b) no Default or
         Event of Default exists.

                  (25)     Release of Liens. Evidence satisfactory to the Agent 
         of the release and termination of (or agreement to release and
         terminate) all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

                  (26)     Legal Opinion. Signed legal opinions of Moore & Van
         Allen, PLLC and Isenhower, Wood & Cilley, P.A., counsel for the
         Borrowers and each Guarantor, and such local counsel as the Agent shall
         deem necessary or desirable, opining as to such matters in connection
         with this Agreement as any Lender or its counsel may reasonably
         request.

                  (27)     Factual Certificate. A certification from the 
         principal officers of Ridgeview as to such factual matters as shall be
         reasonably requested by the Agent.

                  (28)     Payoff Letter. A payoff letter executed and delivered
         by NationsBank, N.A., together with termination statements under the
         Uniform Commercial Code, mortgage releases and such other instruments
         and documents as may be necessary to give effect to the release of any
         Lien in favor of such Person affecting any property of the Borrowers.

                  (29)     Additional Information Other documents and 
         instruments as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

                  (30)     Other Loan Documents. Copies of each of the other 
         Loan Documents duly executed by the parties thereto with evidence
         satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel of the due authorization,
         binding effect and enforceability of each such Loan Document on each
         such party and such other documents and instruments as the Agent may
         reasonably request.

                  (31)     Fees. The Borrowers shall have paid all of the fees
         payable on the Effective Date referred to herein.



                                       67
<PAGE>   75

                  (32)     Security Interests. The Agent shall have received
         satisfactory evidence that the Agent (for the benefit of Lenders) has a
         valid and perfected first priority security interest as of such date in
         all of the Collateral, subject only to Permitted Liens.

         SECTION 6.2  All Loans and Letters of Credit. At the time of making of
each Loan, including the Loans constituting the Initial Loans and all subsequent
Loans, and the issuance of each Letter of Credit:

         (a)      all of the representations and warranties made or deemed to be
made under this Agreement shall be true and correct at such time both with and
without giving effect to the Loans to be made at such time and the application
of the proceeds thereof (except to the extent any such representation or
warranty is made exclusively with reference to an earlier date), and

         (b)      the corporate actions of the Loan Parties referred to in 
SECTION 6.1(C)(3) shall remain in full force and effect and the incumbency of
officers shall be as stated in the certificates of incumbency delivered pursuant
to SECTION 6.1(C)(4) or as subsequently modified and reflected in a certificate
of incumbency delivered to the Agent.

Each request or deemed request for any borrowing hereunder shall be deemed to be
a certification by the Borrowers to the Agent and the Lenders as to the matters
set forth in SECTION 6.2(A) and (B) and the Agent may, without waiving either
condition, consider the conditions specified in SECTIONS 6.2(A) and (B)
fulfilled and a representation by the Borrowers to such effect made, if no
written notice to the contrary is received by the Agent prior to the making of
the Loan then to be made.

         SECTION 6.3  Conditions as Covenants. In the event that the Lenders 
make the Initial Loans or a Letter of Credit is issued prior to the satisfaction
of all conditions precedent set forth in SECTION 6.1, and such conditions are
not waived in writing by the Agent, the Borrowers shall nevertheless cause such
condition or conditions to be satisfied within 60 days after the making of such
Initial Loans or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.



                                       68
<PAGE>   76

                                    ARTICLE 7

                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BORROWERS

         SECTION 7.1  Representations and Warranties. Each Borrower represents
and warrants to the Agent and to the Lenders as follows:

         (a)      Organization; Power; Qualification. Each Borrower and each of 
its Subsidiaries is a corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has the power and
authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being and
hereafter proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified and authorized to do
business in each jurisdiction in which its failure so to be qualified or
authorized would have a Materially Adverse Effect. The jurisdictions in which
each of the Borrowers and each of its Subsidiaries is qualified to do business
as a foreign corporation are listed on SCHEDULE 7.1(A).

         (b)      Capitalization; Shareholder Agreements. The outstanding
capital stock of the Borrowers has been duly and validly issued and is fully
paid and nonassessable, and the number and owners of such shares of capital
stock of the Borrowers are set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(B). The issuance and sale
of the Borrower's capital stock have been registered or qualified under
applicable federal and state securities laws or are exempt therefrom. Except as
set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(B), there are no shareholders agreements, options,
subscription agreements or other agreements or understandings to which any
Borrower is a party in effect with respect to the capital stock of any Borrower,
including, without limitation, agreements providing for special voting
requirements or arrangements for approval of corporate actions or other matters
relating to corporate governance or restrictions on share transfer or providing
for the issuance of any securities convertible into shares of the capital stock
of any Borrower, any warrants or other rights to acquire any shares or
securities convertible into such shares, or any agreement that obligates a
Borrower, either by its terms or at the election of any other Person, to
repurchase such shares under any circumstances.

         (c)      Subsidiaries. SCHEDULE 7.1(C) correctly sets forth the name of
each Subsidiary of any Borrower, its jurisdiction of incorporation, the name of
its immediate parent or parents, and the percentage of its issued and
outstanding securities owned by such Borrower or any other Subsidiary of any
Borrower and indicating whether such Subsidiary is a Consolidated Subsidiary.
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(C),

                  (i)      no Subsidiary of a Borrower has issued any securities
         convertible into shares of such Subsidiary's capital stock or any
         options, warrants or other rights to acquire any shares or securities
         convertible into such shares,

                  (ii)     the outstanding stock and securities of each 
         Subsidiary of a Borrower are owned by a Borrower or a Subsidiary of a
         Borrower, or by a Borrower and one or more of its Subsidiaries, free
         and clear of all Liens, warrants, options and rights of others of any
         kind whatsoever, and



                                       69
<PAGE>   77

                  (iii)    no Borrower has any Subsidiaries.

The outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary of a Borrower has been duly and
validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable by the issuer, and the number
and owners of the shares of such capital stock are set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(C).

         (d)      Authorization of Agreement, Notes, Loan Documents and 
Borrowing. Each Loan Party has the right and power, and has taken all necessary
action to authorize it, to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each
of the Loan Documents to which it is a party in accordance with their respective
terms. This Agreement and each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party have
been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of each Loan
Party and each is, or each when executed and delivered in accordance with this
Agreement will be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party,
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

         (e)      Compliance of Agreement, Notes, Loan Documents and Borrowing 
with Laws, Etc. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(E), the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and each of the Loan Documents in accordance
with their respective terms and the borrowings hereunder do not and will not, by
the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise,

                  (i)      require any Governmental Approval or violate any
         Applicable Law relating to a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,

                  (ii)     conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a
         default under the articles or certificate of incorporation articles of
         organization, by-laws or any shareholders' agreement of a Borrower or
         any of its Subsidiaries,

                  (iii)    conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a
         default under any material provisions of any indenture, agreement or
         other instrument to which a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a
         party or by which a Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the
         Borrower's or such Subsidiaries' property may be bound or any
         Governmental Approval relating to a Borrower or any of its
         Subsidiaries, or

                  (iv)     result in or require the creation or imposition of 
         any Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter
         acquired by a Borrower other than the Security Interest.

         (f)      Business. The principal business of Ridgeview and Tri-Star is 
the manufacturing and marketing of hosiery and related products for men, women
and children. The principal business of Seneca is the manufacturing and
marketing of rugged outdoor and heavyweight casual socks for men, women and
children.

         (g)      Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals.

                  (i)      Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 7.1(G), each Borrower
         and each of its



                                       70
<PAGE>   78

         Subsidiaries

                           (A)      has all Governmental Approvals, including 
                  permits relating to federal, state and local Environmental
                  Laws, ordinances and regulations, required by any Applicable
                  Law for it to conduct its business, each of which is in full
                  force and effect, is final and not subject to review on appeal
                  and is not the subject of any pending or, to the knowledge of
                  any Borrower, threatened attack by direct or collateral
                  proceeding, and

                           (B)      is in compliance with each Governmental
                  Approval applicable to it and in compliance with all other
                  Applicable Laws relating to it, including, without being
                  limited to, all Environmental Laws and all occupational health
                  and safety laws applicable to such Borrower, any of its
                  Subsidiaries or their respective properties,

         except for instances of noncompliance which, singly or in the
         aggregate, would not cause a Default or Event of Default or be
         reasonably expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect and in respect
         of which reserves in respect of such Borrower's or such Subsidiary's
         reasonably anticipated liability have been established on the books of
         such Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable.

                  (ii)     Without limiting the generality of the above, except 
         as disclosed on a report delivered pursuant to SECTION 6.1(C)(14) or
         (15) or with respect to matters which could not reasonably be expected
         to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Materially Adverse Effect:

                           (A)      the operations of each Borrower and each of 
                  its Subsidiaries comply in all material respects with all
                  applicable environmental, health and safety requirements of
                  Applicable Law;

                           (B)      each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries 
                  has obtained all environmental, health and safety permits
                  necessary for its operation, and all such permits are in good
                  standing and each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in
                  compliance in all material respects with all terms and
                  conditions of such permits;

                           (C)      no Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor 
                  any of their respective present or past property or operations
                  are subject to any order from or agreement with any public
                  authority or private party respecting (x) any environmental,
                  health or safety requirements of Applicable Law, (y) any
                  Remedial Action, or (z) any liabilities and costs arising from
                  the Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant into the
                  environment;

                           (D)      none of the operations of any Borrower or of
                  any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any judicial or
                  administrative proceeding alleging a violation of any
                  environmental, health or safety requirement of Applicable Law;

                           (E)      none of the present or past operations of 
                  any Borrower or any of its



                                       71
<PAGE>   79

                  Subsidiaries is the subject of any investigation by any public
                  authority evaluating whether any Remedial Action is needed to
                  respond to a Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant
                  into the environment;

                           (F)      no Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has 
                  filed any notice under any requirement of Applicable Law
                  indicating past or present treatment, storage or disposal of a
                  hazardous waste, as that term is defined under 40 CFR Part 261
                  or any state equivalent;

                           (G)      no Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has 
                  filed any notice under any requirement of Applicable Law
                  reporting a Release of a Contaminant into the environment;

                           (H)      except in compliance in all material 
                  respects with applicable Environmental Laws, during the course
                  of any Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' ownership of or
                  operations on the Real Estate, there has been no (1)
                  generation, treatment, recycling, storage or disposal of
                  hazardous waste, as that term is defined under 40 CFR Part 261
                  or any state equivalent, (2) use of underground storage tanks
                  or surface impoundments, (3) use of asbestos-containing
                  materials, or (4) use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) used
                  in hydraulic oils, electrical transformers or other equipment;

                           (I)      no Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has
                  entered into any negotiations or agreements with any Person
                  (including, without limitation, any prior owner of any of the
                  Real Estate or other property of any Borrower or any of its
                  Subsidiaries) relating to any Remedial Action or
                  environment-related claim;

                           (J)      no Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has
                  received any notice or claim to the effect that it is or may
                  be liable to any Person as a result of the Release or
                  threatened Release of a Contaminant into the environment;

                           (K)      no Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has 
                  any material contingent liability in connection with any
                  Release or threatened Release of any Contaminant into the
                  environment;

                           (L)      no Environmental Lien has attached to any of
                  the Real Estate or other property of any Borrower or of any of
                  its Subsidiaries;

                           (M)      the presence and condition of all
                  asbestos-containing material which is on or part of the Real
                  Estate (excluding any raw materials used in the manufacture of
                  products or products themselves) do not violate in any
                  material respect any currently applicable requirement of
                  Applicable Law; and

                           (N)      no Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
                  manufactures, distributes or sells, and has never
                  manufactured, distributed or sold, products which contain
                  asbestos-containing material.



                                       72
<PAGE>   80

                  (iii)    Each Borrower has notified the Lenders and the Agent 
         of the receipt by such Borrower or by any of its Subsidiaries of any
         notice of a material violation of any Environmental Laws and
         occupational health and safety laws applicable to such Borrower, any of
         its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties.

         (h)      Title to Properties. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 7.1(H), 
each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has valid and legal title to or
leasehold interest in all personal property, Real Estate and other assets used
in its business, including, but not limited to, those reflected on the most
recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers delivered pursuant to SECTION
7.1(N).

         (i)      Liens. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 7.1(I), none of the
properties and assets of any Borrower or any Subsidiary is subject to any Lien,
except Permitted Liens. Other than the Financing Statements, no financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of any State or other instrument
evidencing a Lien which names a Borrower or any Subsidiary of a Borrower as
debtor has been filed (and has not been terminated) in any state or other
jurisdiction, and neither any Borrower nor any Subsidiary of any Borrower has
signed any such financing statement or other instrument or any security
agreement authorizing any secured party thereunder to file any such financing
statement or instrument, except to perfect those Liens listed on SCHEDULE
7.1(I).

         (j)      Debt and Guaranties. SCHEDULE 7.1(J) is a complete and correct
listing of all (i) Debt and (ii) Guaranties of each Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries. Each Borrower and its Subsidiaries has performed and is in
compliance with all of the terms of such Debt and Guaranties and all instruments
and agreements relating thereto, and no default or event of default, or event or
condition which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute such a
default or event of default, exists with respect to any such Debt or Guaranty.

         (k)      Litigation. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(K), there are 
no actions, suits or proceedings pending (nor, to the knowledge of any Borrower,
are there any actions, suits or proceedings threatened, or any reasonable basis
therefor) against or in any other way relating to or affecting any Borrower or
its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties in any court or before
any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any governmental body, except
actions, suits or proceedings of the character normally incident to the kind of
business conducted by the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries which, if
adversely determined, would not singly or in the aggregate have a Materially
Adverse Effect, and there are no strikes or walkouts in progress, pending or
contemplated relating to any labor contracts to which a Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party, relating to any labor contracts being negotiated, or
otherwise.

         (l)      Tax Returns and Payments. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1
(L), all federal, state and local as well as foreign national, provincial and
local and other tax returns of each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries
required by Applicable Law to be filed have been duly filed, and all federal,
state and local and foreign national, provincial and local and other taxes,
assessments and other governmental charges or levies upon each Borrower and each
of its Subsidiaries and each Borrower's and any of its Subsidiaries' property,
income, profits and assets 



                                       73
<PAGE>   81

which are due and payable have been paid, except any such nonpayment which is at
the time permitted under SECTION 10.6. The charges, accruals and reserves on the
books of the Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries in respect of federal,
state and local and foreign national, provincial and local taxes for all Fiscal
Years and portions thereof since Fiscal Year 1994 are in the judgment of the
Borrowers adequate, and the Borrowers know of no reason to anticipate any
additional assessments for any of such years which, singly or in the aggregate,
might have a Materially Adverse Effect.

         (m)      Burdensome Provisions. No Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a party to any indenture, agreement, lease or other instrument, or subject to
any charter or corporate restriction, Governmental Approval or Applicable Law
compliance with the terms of which might have a Materially Adverse Effect.

         (n)      Financial Statements.

                  (i)      The Borrowers have furnished to the Agent and the 
         Lenders (A) copies of the audited balance sheet of Ridgeview and its
         Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1997, and the related
         statements of income, cash flow and shareholders' equity for the Fiscal
         Year then ended, which financial statements present fairly and in all
         material respects in accordance with GAAP consistently applied the
         financial position of the Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
         as at December 31, 1997 and the results of operations of Ridgeview and
         its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year then ended and (B)
         copies of the internally prepared balance sheets of Ridgeview and its
         Consolidated Subsidiaries as at September 30, 1998 and as at December
         31, 1998, and the related statements of income and cash flow for the
         nine-month and twelve-month periods then ended, which financial
         statements are complete and correct and present fairly and in all
         material respects in accordance with GAAP consistently applied the
         financial position of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at
         September 30, 1998 and as at December 31, 1998, and the results of
         operations of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the
         nine-month and twelve-month periods, respectively, then ended.

                  (ii)     The Borrowers have furnished to the Agent and the 
         Lenders copies of the Projections. The Projections have been prepared
         by the Borrower in light of the past operations of the businesses of
         the Borrowers and the Subsidiaries and represent as of the respective
         dates thereof the good faith opinion of Ridgeview and its senior
         management concerning the most probable course of business of the
         Borrowers and the Subsidiaries.

                  (iii)    Except as disclosed or reflected in the financial
         statements described in CLAUSES (I) and (II) above, as of the
         respective dates thereof, neither Ridgeview nor any other Borrower nor
         any of their respective Subsidiaries had any material liabilities,
         contingent or otherwise, and there were no material unrealized or
         anticipated losses of any Borrower.

         (o)      Adverse Change. Since December 31, 1998,

                  (i)      no material adverse change has occurred in the 
         business, assets, liabilities,



                                       74
<PAGE>   82

         financial condition, results of operations or business prospects of
         Ridgeview, the other Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries taken
         as a whole, and

                  (ii)     no event has occurred or failed to occur which has 
         had, or may have, singly or in the aggregate, a Materially Adverse
         Effect.

         (p)      ERISA. Neither any Borrower nor any Related Company maintains 
or contributes to any Benefit Plan other than those listed on SCHEDULE 7.1(P).
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(P), each Benefit Plan is in substantial
compliance with ERISA and the Code, including but not limited to those
provisions thereof relating to reporting and disclosure, and no Borrower nor any
Related Company has received any notice asserting that a Benefit Plan is not in
compliance with ERISA. No material liability to the PBGC or to any Multiemployer
Plan has been, or is expected to be, incurred by any Borrower or any Related
Company. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(P), each Benefit Plan intended to
qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code so qualifies and any related trust is
exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, a favorable
determination letter from the IRS has been issued or applied for with respect to
each such Benefit Plan and related trust and nothing that has occurred since the
date of such determination letter that would adversely affect such qualification
or tax-exempt status. No Benefit Plan subject to the minimum funding standards
of the Code has failed to meet such standards. No Borrower nor any Related
Company has transferred any pension plan liability in a transaction that could
be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE
7.1(P), no Borrower nor any Related Company has any liability, actual or
contingent, with respect to any Benefit Plan in accordance with its terms, and
there are no pending or threatened claims against a Benefit Plan other than
claims for benefits. No non-exempt prohibited transaction within the meaning of
Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA has occurred with respect to a
Benefit Plan. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(p), no employee or former
employee of any Borrower or any Related Company is or may become entitled to any
benefit under a Benefit Plan that is a "welfare plan" within the meaning of
Section 3(1) of ERISA following such employee's termination of employment other
than continuation of group health coverage in accordance with Section 4980B of
the Code and Sections 601 through 609 of ERISA. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE
7.1(P), each such welfare plan that is a group health plan has been operated in
compliance with the provisions of Section 4980B of the Code and Sections 601-609
of ERISA and any applicable provisions of state law that are similar.

         (q)      Absence of Defaults. No Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries 
is in default under its articles or certificate of incorporation or by-laws and
no event has occurred, which has not been remedied, cured or waived,

                  (i)      which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, 
         or

                  (ii)     which constitutes, or which with the passage of time 
         or giving of notice, or both, would constitute, a default or event of
         default by a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any material
         agreement (other than any Loan Document) or judgment, decree or order
         to which such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
         which such Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of such Borrower's
         or any of its



                                       75
<PAGE>   83

         Subsidiaries' properties may be bound or which would require a Borrower
         or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payment under any thereof prior
         to the scheduled maturity date therefor, except, in the case only of
         any such agreement, for alleged defaults which are being contested in
         good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which
         reserves in an amount equal to such Borrower's or such Subsidiary's
         reasonably anticipated liability have been established on the books of
         such Borrower or Subsidiary.

         (r)      Accuracy and Completeness of Information.

                  (i)      All written information, reports and other papers and
         data produced by or on behalf of the Borrowers (or any of them) and
         furnished to the Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement
         and the transactions contemplated hereby were, at the time the same
         were so furnished, complete and correct in all material respects, to
         the extent necessary to give the recipient a true and accurate
         knowledge of the subject matter thereof. No fact is known to the
         Borrowers which has had, or may in the future have (so far as the
         Borrowers can foresee), a Materially Adverse Effect which has not been
         set forth in the financial statements or disclosure delivered prior to
         the Agreement Date, in each case referred to in SECTION 7.1(N), or in
         such written information, reports or other papers or data or otherwise
         disclosed in writing to the Agent and the Lenders prior to the
         Agreement Date. No document furnished or written statement made to the
         Agent or any Lender by the Borrowers (or any of them) in connection
         with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any
         of the Loan Documents contains or will contain any untrue statement of
         a fact material to the creditworthiness of a Borrower or omits or will
         omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
         contained therein not misleading.

                  (ii)     No Borrower has reason to believe that any document
         furnished or written statement made to the Agent or any Lender by any
         Person other than the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in connection
         with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any
         of the Loan Documents contained any incorrect statement of a material
         fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
         statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were
         made, not misleading.

         (s)      Solvency. In each case after giving effect to the Debt 
represented by the Loans outstanding and to be incurred, and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is
solvent, having assets of a fair salable value which exceeds the amount required
to pay its debts as they become absolute and matured (including contingent,
subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities), and each Borrower and
each of its Subsidiaries is able to and anticipates that it will be able to meet
its debts as they mature and has adequate capital to conduct the business in
which it is or proposes to be engaged.

         (t)      Receivables.

                  (i)      Status.

                           (A)      Each Receivable reflected in the 
                  computations included in any 



                                       76
<PAGE>   84

                  Borrowing Base Certificate meets the criteria enumerated in
                  CLAUSES (A) through (P) of the definition of Eligible
                  Receivables, except as disclosed in such Borrowing Base
                  Certificate or as disclosed in a timely manner in a subsequent
                  Borrowing Base Certificate or otherwise in writing to the
                  Agent.

                           (B)      No Borrower has knowledge of any fact or
                  circumstance not disclosed to the Agent in a Borrowing Base
                  Certificate or otherwise in writing which would impair the
                  validity or collectibility of any Receivable of $25,000 or
                  more or of Receivables which (regardless of the individual
                  amount thereof) aggregate $100,000 or more.

                  (ii)     Chief Executive Office. The chief executive office of
         each Borrower and the books and records relating to the Receivables are
         located at the address or addresses set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(T) and no
         Borrower has maintained its chief executive office or books and records
         relating to any Receivables at any other address at any time during the
         five years immediately preceding the Agreement Date except as disclosed
         on SCHEDULE 7.1(T).

         (u)      Inventory.

                  (i)      Schedule of Inventory. All Inventory included in any
         Schedule of Inventory or Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the
         Agent pursuant to SECTION 9.12 meets the criteria enumerated in CLAUSES
         (A) through (G) of the definition of Eligible Inventory, except as
         disclosed in such Schedule of Inventory or Borrowing Base Certificate
         or in a subsequent Schedule of Inventory or Borrowing Base Certificate,
         or as otherwise specifically disclosed in writing to the Agent.

                  (ii)     Condition. All Inventory is in good condition, meets 
         all standards imposed by any governmental agency, or department or
         division thereof, having regulatory authority over such goods, their
         use or sale, and is currently either usable or salable in the normal
         course of the applicable Borrower's business, except to the extent
         reserved against in the financial statements referred to in SECTION
         7.1(N) or delivered pursuant to ARTICLE 11 or as disclosed on a
         Schedule of Inventory delivered to the Agent pursuant to SECTION
         9.12(B).

                  (iii)    Location. All Inventory is located on the premises 
         set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(U) or is Inventory in transit to one of such
         locations, except as otherwise disclosed in writing to the Agent, and
         the applicable Borrower has not, in the last year, located such
         Inventory at premises other than those set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(U).

         (v)      Equipment. All Equipment is in good order and repair in all
material respects and is located on the premises set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(V)
and has been so located at all times during the last year.

         (w)      Lockboxes and Deposit Accounts. SCHEDULE 7.1(W) is a complete 
and correct listing of all lockbox, demand deposit and other bank accounts
maintained by each Borrower or any



                                       77
<PAGE>   85

Subsidiary, specifying the depositary, type and number of each such account.

         (x)      Intellectual Property. SCHEDULE 7.1(X) sets forth a correct 
and complete list of all of the Intellectual Property. None of the Intellectual
Property is subject to any licensing agreement or similar arrangement except as
set forth on SCHEDULE 7.1(X) or as entered into in connection with the sale or
distribution of the Borrowers' Inventory in the ordinary course of business. To
the best of any Borrower's knowledge, none of the Intellectual Property
infringes on or conflicts with any other Person's property, and no other
Person's property or conduct infringes on or conflicts with the Intellectual
Property. The Intellectual Property described on SCHEDULE 7.1(X) constitutes all
of the property of such type necessary to the current and anticipated future
conduct of the Borrowers' businesses.

         (y)      Real Property. No Borrower owns or leases any real property 
other than that described on SCHEDULE 7.1(Y) and other than real property
acquired or leased after the Effective Date for which the Borrower has complied
with the requirements of SECTION 9.14.

         (z)      Corporate and Fictitious Names. Except as otherwise disclosed 
on SCHEDULE 7.1(Z), during the five-year period preceding the Agreement Date, no
Borrower nor any predecessor thereof has been known as or used any corporate or
fictitious name other than the corporate name of such Borrower on the Effective
Date.

         (aa)     Federal Reserve Regulations. No Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries is engaged and none will engage, principally or as one of its
important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
"purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" (as each of the quoted terms is
defined or used in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System). No part of the proceeds of any of the Loans will be used for so
purchasing or carrying margin stock or, in any event, for any purpose which
violates, or which would be inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U
or X of such Board of Governors. If requested by the Agent or any Lender, the
Borrowers will furnish to the Agent and the Lenders a statement or statements in
conformity with the requirements of said Regulation T, U or X to the foregoing
effect.

         (bb)     Investment Company Act. No Borrower is an "investment company"
or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" (as each of the quoted
terms is defined or used in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended).

         (cc)     Employee Relations. Each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries
has a stable work force in place and is not, except as set forth on SCHEDULE
7.1(CC), party to any collective bargaining agreement nor has any labor union
been recognized as the representative of any Borrower's or any of its
Subsidiaries' employees, and no Borrower knows of any pending, threatened or
contemplated strikes, work stoppage or other labor disputes involving any
Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' employees.

         (dd)     Trade Names. All trade names or styles under which each 
Borrower sells Inventory or Equipment or creates Receivables, or to which
instruments in payment of Receivables are made payable, are listed on SCHEDULE
7.1(DD).



                                       78
<PAGE>   86

         (ee)     Year 2000 Compliance. Each Borrower has (i) initiated a review
and assessment of all areas within such Borrower's and each of its Subsidiaries'
business and operations (including those affected by suppliers, vendors and
customers) that could be adversely affected by the Year 2000 Problem, (ii)
developed a plan and timetable for addressing the Year 2000 Problem on a timely
basis, and (iii) to date, implemented that plan in accordance with that
timetable. Based on the foregoing, each Borrower believes that all computer
applications (including those of its suppliers, vendors and customers) that are
material to its or any of its Subsidiaries' business and operations are Year
2000 Compliant.

         SECTION 7.2  Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc. All
representations and warranties set forth in this ARTICLE 7 and all statements
contained in any certificate, financial statement, or other instrument,
delivered by or on behalf of the Borrowers pursuant to or in connection with
this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents (including, but not limited to, any
such representation, warranty or statement made in or in connection with any
amendment thereto) shall constitute representations and warranties made under
this Agreement. All representations and warranties made under this Agreement
shall be made or deemed to be made at and as of the Agreement Date, at and as of
the Effective Date and at and as of the date of each Loan, except that
representations and warranties which, by their terms are applicable only to one
such date shall be deemed to be made only at and as of such date. All
representations and warranties made or deemed to be made under this Agreement
shall survive and not be waived by the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lender or any borrowing hereunder.



                                       79
<PAGE>   87

                                    ARTICLE 8

                                SECURITY INTEREST

         SECTION 8.1  Security Interest.

         (a)      To secure the payment, observance and performance of the 
Secured Obligations, the Borrowers hereby mortgage, pledge and assign all of the
Collateral to the Agent, for the benefit of itself as Agent, the Lenders and
Affiliates of the Lenders, and grants to the Agent, for the benefit of itself as
Agent, the Lenders and Affiliates of the Lenders, a continuing security interest
in, and a continuing Lien upon, all of the Collateral.

         (b)      As additional security for all of the Secured Obligations, the
Borrowers grant to the Agent, for the benefit of itself as Agent, the Lenders
and Affiliates of the Lenders, a security interest in, and assigns to the Agent,
for the benefit of itself as Agent, the Lenders and Affiliates of the Lenders,
all of the Borrowers' right, title and interest in and to, any deposits or other
sums at any time credited by or due from each Lender and each Affiliate of a
Lender to a Borrower, or credited by or due from any participant of any Lender
to a Borrower, with the same rights therein as if the deposits or other sums
were credited by or due from such Lender. Each Borrower hereby authorizes each
Lender and each Affiliate of such Lender and each participant to pay or deliver
to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, without any necessity on the
Agent's or any Lender's part to resort to other security or sources of
reimbursement for the Secured Obligations, at any time during the continuation
of any Event of Default and without further notice to any Borrower (such notice
being expressly waived), any of the aforesaid deposits (general or special, time
or demand, provisional or final) or other sums may be paid or delivered to the
Agent, for the account of the Lenders, for application to any Secured
Obligation, irrespective of whether any demand has been made or whether such
Secured Obligation is mature, and the rights given the Agent, the Lenders, their
Affiliates and participants hereunder are cumulative with such Person's other
rights and remedies, including other rights of set-off. The Agent will promptly
notify the Borrowers of its receipt of any such funds for application to the
Secured Obligations, but failure to do so will not affect the validity or
enforceability thereof. The Agent may give notice of the above grant of a
security interest in and assignment of the aforesaid deposits and other sums,
and authorization, to, and make any suitable arrangements with, any Lender, any
such Affiliate of any Lender or any participant for effectuation thereof, and
each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints the Agent as its attorney to collect
any and all such deposits or other sums to the extent any such payment is not
made to the Agent or any Lender by such Lender, Affiliate or participant.

         SECTION 8.2  Continued Priority of Security Interest.

         (a)      The Security Interest granted by the Borrowers shall at all 
times be valid, perfected and enforceable against each Borrower and all third
parties in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, as security for the
Secured Obligations, and the Collateral shall not at any time be subject to any
Liens that are prior to, on a parity with or junior to the Security Interest,
other than Permitted Liens.



                                       80
<PAGE>   88

         (b)      The Borrowers shall, at their sole cost and expense, take all
action that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Agent may reasonably
request, so as at all times to maintain the validity, perfection, enforceability
and rank of the Security Interest in the Collateral in conformity with the
requirements of SECTION 8.2(A), or to enable the Agent and the Lenders to
exercise or enforce their rights hereunder, including, but not limited to:

                  (i)      paying all taxes, assessments and other claims 
         lawfully levied or assessed on any of the Collateral, except to the
         extent that such taxes, assessments and other claims constitute
         Permitted Liens,

                  (ii)     making all reasonable efforts to obtain, after the
         Agreement Date, landlords', mortgagees', bailees', warehousemen's or
         processors' releases, subordinations or waivers, and mechanics'
         releases, subordinations or waivers,

                  (iii)    delivering to the Agent, for the benefit of the 
         Lenders, endorsed or accompanied by such instruments of assignment as
         the Agent may specify, and stamping or marking, in such manner as the
         Agent may specify, any and all chattel paper, instruments, letters and
         advices of guaranty and documents evidencing or forming a part of the
         Collateral, and

                  (iv)     executing and delivering financing statements, 
         pledges, designations, hypothecations, notices and assignments in each
         case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent relating to the
         creation, validity, perfection, maintenance or continuation of the
         Security Interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or other Applicable
         Law.

         (c)      The Agent is hereby authorized to file one or more financing 
or continuation statements or amendments thereto without the signature of or in
the name of a Borrower for any purpose described in SECTION 8.2(B). The Agent
will give the Borrowers notice of the filing of any such statements or
amendments, which notice shall specify the locations where such statements or
amendments were filed. A carbon, photographic, xerographic or other reproduction
of this Agreement or of any of the Security Documents or of any financing
statement filed in connection with this Agreement is sufficient as a financing
statement to the extent permitted by Applicable Law.

         (d)      Each Borrower shall mark its books and records as may be 
necessary or appropriate to evidence, protect and perfect the Security Interest
and shall cause its financial statements to reflect the Security Interest.



                                       81
<PAGE>   89

                                    ARTICLE 9

                              COLLATERAL COVENANTS

         Each Borrower covenants and agrees that the Borrowers will, as their
joint and several obligation, duly and punctually pay the principal of, and
interest on, and all other amounts payable with respect to, the Loans and all
other Secured Obligations and until the Revolving Credit Facility has been
terminated and all the Secured Obligations have been paid in full, unless the
Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in the manner provided in SECTION
16.11:

         SECTION 9.1  Collection of Receivables.

         (a)      Each Borrower will cause all monies, checks, notes, drafts and
other payments relating to or constituting proceeds of trade accounts receivable
to be forwarded to a Lockbox for deposit in an Agency Account in accordance with
the procedures set out in the corresponding Agency Account Agreement. In
particular, the Borrowers will:

                  (i)      advise each Account Debtor on trade accounts 
         receivable to address all remittances with respect to amounts payable
         on account thereof to a specified Lockbox,

                  (ii)     advise each other Account Debtor that makes payment 
         to a Borrower by wire transfer, automated clearinghouse ("ACH")
         transfer or similar means to make payment directly to an Agency
         Account, and

                  (iii)    stamp all invoices relating to trade accounts 
         receivable with a legend satisfactory to the Agent indicating that
         payment is to be made to such Borrower via a specified Lockbox.

         (b)      The Borrowers and the Agent shall cause all collected balances
in each Agency Account to be transmitted daily by wire transfer, ACH transfer,
depository transfer check or other means in accordance with the procedures set
forth in the corresponding Agency Account Agreement, to the Agent at the Agent's
Office:

                  (i)      for application, on account of the Secured 
         Obligations, as provided in SECTIONS 2.3(C), 13.2, and 13.3, such
         credits to be entered as of the first Business Day following the
         Business Day they are received if they are received prior to 1:30 p.m.
         and to be conditioned upon final payment in cash or solvent credits of
         the items giving rise to them, and

                  (ii)     with respect to the balance, so long as no Default or
         Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, for transfer by wire
         transfer, ACH transfer or depository transfer check to a Controlled
         Disbursement Account.

         (c)      Any monies, checks, notes, drafts or other payments referred 
to in SUBSECTION (A) of this SECTION 9.1 which, notwithstanding the terms of
such subsection, are received by or on behalf of the applicable Borrower or
which relate to or constitute proceeds of other Receivables



                                       82
<PAGE>   90

or of any other Collateral which are received by or on behalf of a Borrower will
be held in trust for the Agent and will be delivered to the Agent or a Clearing
Bank, as promptly as possible, in the exact form received, together with any
necessary endorsements for application by the Agent directly to the Secured
Obligations or, if applicable, for deposit in the Agency Account maintained with
a Clearing Bank and processing in accordance with the terms of the corresponding
Agency Account Agreement.

         SECTION 9.2  Verification and Notification. The Agent shall have the
right at any time and from time to time,

         (a)      in the name of the Agent, the Lenders or in the name of a 
Borrower, to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to any
Receivables by mail, telephone, telegraph or otherwise,

         (b)      to review, audit and make extracts from all records and files
related to any of the Receivables, and

         (c)      if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to 
notify the Account Debtors or obligors under any Receivables of the assignment
of such Receivables to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, and to direct
such Account Debtors or obligors to make payment of all amounts due or to become
due thereunder directly to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, and, upon
such notification and at the expense of the Borrowers, to enforce collection of
any such Receivables and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment
thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as the applicable Borrower
might have done.

         SECTION 9.3  Disputes, Returns and Adjustments.

         (a)      In the event any amounts due and owing under any Receivable 
for an amount in excess of $25,000 are in dispute between the Account Debtor and
the applicable Borrower, the Borrowers shall provide the Agent with prompt
written notice thereof.

         (b)      The Borrower shall notify the Agent promptly of all returns 
and credits in excess of $25,000 in respect of any Receivable, which notice
shall specify the Receivable affected.

         (c)      The Borrowers may, in the ordinary course of business unless a
Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, grant any
extension of time for payment of any Receivable or compromise, compound or
settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, or release wholly or
partly any Person liable for the payment thereof, or allow any credit or
discount whatsoever therein; PROVIDED that (i) no such action results in the
reduction of more than $100,000 in the amount payable with respect to any
Receivable or of more than $500,000 with respect to all Receivables in any
Fiscal Year of the Borrowers (in each case, excluding the allowance of credits
or discounts generally available to Account Debtors in the ordinary course of
the applicable Borrower's business), and (ii) the Agent is promptly notified of
the amount of such adjustments and the Receivable(s) affected thereby.



                                       83
<PAGE>   91

         SECTION 9.4  Invoices.

         (a)      The Borrowers will not use any invoices other than invoices in
the form delivered to the Agent prior to the Agreement Date without giving the
Agent 30 days' prior notice of the intended use of a different form of invoice
together with a copy of such different form.

         (b)      Upon the request of the Agent, the Borrowers shall deliver to 
the Agent, at the Borrowers' expense, copies of customers' invoices or the
equivalent, original shipping and delivery receipts or other proof of delivery,
customers' statements, customer address lists, the original copy of all
documents, including, without limitation, repayment histories and present status
reports, relating to Receivables and such other documents and information
relating to the Receivables as the Agent shall specify.

         SECTION 9.5  Delivery of Instruments. In the event any Receivable is at
any time evidenced by a promissory note, trade acceptance or any other
instrument for the payment of money, the Borrowers will immediately thereafter
deliver such instrument to the Agent, appropriately endorsed to the Agent, for
the benefit of the Lenders.

         SECTION 9.6  Sales of Inventory. All sales of Inventory will be made in
compliance with all requirements of Applicable Law.

         SECTION 9.7  Ownership and Defense of Title.

         (a)      Except for Permitted Liens, the Borrowers shall at all times 
be the sole owner or lessee of each and every item of Collateral and shall not
create any lien on, or sell, lease, exchange, assign, transfer, pledge,
hypothecate, grant a security interest or security title in or otherwise dispose
of, any of the Collateral or any interest therein, except for (i) sales of
Inventory in the ordinary course of business, for cash or on open account or on
terms of payment ordinarily extended to its customers, (ii) dispositions of
Equipment that is obsolete or worn out, (iii) the sale by Ridgeview of all the
assets and liabilities associated with Ridgeview's Seneca, New York plant
(including by a sale of the shares of Seneca) for an aggregate purchase price
not less than the sum of (A) $300,000, and (B) the portion of the Borrowing Base
attributable to the assets of Seneca immediately prior to such sale, as
reflected on a Borrowing Base Certificate delivered by Ridgeview to the Agent
not earlier than three Business Days prior to such sale, PROVIDED, that (1)
Ridgeview shall receive an amount equal to the sum of clauses (A) and (B) in
cash at closing, (2) Ridgeview shall pay over the Net Proceeds of such Asset
Disposition to the Agent on the same Business Day received; (3) the Net Proceeds
shall be applied to reduce the outstanding balance of the Term Loans to the
extent of $300,000 and to reduce the outstanding balance of the Revolving Credit
Loans for amounts received in excess thereof; and (4) Ridgeview shall certify to
the Agent promptly following completion of such Asset Disposition, the amount of
the Net Proceeds and shall furnish to the Agent and the Lenders copies of the
transfer documents, including annexes and exhibits thereto, any promissory notes
delivered in payment of any part of the purchase price and any additional
information with respect to such sale as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably
request, and (iv) dispositions that are otherwise expressly permitted under this
Agreement. The inclusion of "proceeds" of the Collateral under the Security
Interest shall not be deemed a consent by the Agent or the Lenders to any other
sale or other disposition



                                       84
<PAGE>   92

of any part or all of the Collateral.

         (b)      Each Borrower shall defend its title or leasehold interest in 
and to, and the Security Interest in, the Collateral against the claims and
demands of all Persons.

         SECTION 9.8  Insurance.

         (a)      The Borrowers shall at all times maintain insurance on the
Inventory and Equipment against loss or damage by fire, theft (excluding theft
by employees), burglary, pilferage, loss in transit and such other hazards as
the Agent shall reasonably specify, in amounts not to exceed those obtainable at
commercially reasonable rates and under policies issued by insurers acceptable
to the Agent in the exercise of its reasonable judgment. All premiums on such
insurance shall be paid by the Borrowers and copies of the policies delivered to
the Agent. The Borrowers will not use or permit the Inventory or Equipment to be
used in violation of Applicable Law or in any manner which might render
inapplicable any insurance coverage.

         (b)      All insurance policies required under SECTION 9.8(A) shall 
name the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, as an additional insured and
shall contain loss payable clauses in the form submitted to the Borrowers by the
Agent, or otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, naming the
Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, as loss payee, as its interests may
appear, and providing that

                  (i)      all proceeds thereunder shall be payable to the 
         Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,

                  (ii)     no such insurance shall be affected by any act or 
         neglect of the insurer or owner of the property described in such
         policy, and

                  (iii)    such policy and loss payable clauses may be 
         cancelled, amended or terminated only upon at least 10 days' prior
         written notice given to the Agent.

         (c)      Any proceeds of insurance referred to in this SECTION 9.8 
which are paid to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, shall be, at the
option of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, either (i) applied to
replace the damaged or destroyed property, or (ii) applied to the payment or
prepayment of the Secured Obligations, PROVIDED that in the event that the
proceeds from any single casualty do not exceed $250,000, then, upon the
Borrowers' written request to the Agent, provided that no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such proceeds shall be disbursed
by the Agent to the Borrowers pursuant to such procedures as the Agent shall
reasonably establish for application to the replacement of the damaged or
destroyed property.

         SECTION 9.9  Location of Offices and Collateral.

         (a)      No Borrower will change the location of its chief executive 
office or the place where it keeps its books and records relating to the
Collateral or change its name, its identity or corporate structure without
giving the Agent 60 days' prior written notice thereof.



                                       85
<PAGE>   93

         (b)      All Inventory, other than Inventory in transit to any such
location, will at all times be kept by the applicable Borrower at the locations
set forth in SCHEDULE 7.1(U), and shall not, without the prior written consent
of the Agent, be removed therefrom except pursuant to sales of Inventory
permitted under SECTION 9.7(A).

         (c)      If any Inventory is in the possession or control of any of a
Borrower's agents or processors, such Borrower shall notify such agents or
processors of the Security Interest (and shall promptly provide copies of any
such notice to the Agent and the Lenders) and, upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default, shall instruct them (and cause them to acknowledge such instruction)
to hold all such Inventory for the account of the account of the Lenders,
subject to the instructions of the Agent.

         SECTION 9.10  Records Relating to Collateral.

         (a)      The Borrowers will at all times and will cause their 
Subsidiaries to at all times

                  (i)      keep complete and accurate records of Inventory on a 
         basis consistent with past practices of the Borrowers so as to permit
         comparison of Inventory records relating to different time periods,
         itemizing and describing the kind, type and quantity of Inventory and
         the applicable Borrower's cost thereof and a current price list for
         such Inventory, and

                  (ii)     keep complete and accurate records of all other
         Collateral.

         (b)      The Borrowers will prepare a physical listing of all 
Inventory, wherever located, at least annually.

         SECTION 9.11  Inspection. The Agent and each Lender (by any of their
officers, employees or agents) shall have the right, to the extent that the
exercise of such right shall be within the control of the Borrower, at any time
or times to

         (a)      visit the properties of each Borrower and its Subsidiaries, 
inspect the Collateral and the other assets of each Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and inspect and make extracts from the books and records of each
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including but not limited to management letters
prepared by independent accountants, all during customary business hours at such
premises;

         (b)      discuss each Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' business, 
assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations and business
prospects, insofar as the same are reasonably related to the rights of the Agent
or the Lenders hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents, with the applicable
Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' (i) principal officers and (ii) independent
accountants, and with any other Person (except that any such discussion with any
third parties shall be conducted only in accordance with the Agent's or such
Lender's standard operating procedures relating to the maintenance of the
confidentiality of confidential information of borrowers); and

         (c)      verify the amount, quantity, value and condition of, or any 
other matter relating 



                                       86
<PAGE>   94

to, any of the Collateral (other than Receivables) and in this connection to
review, audit and make extracts from all records and files related to any of the
Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, third-party
Inventory appraisals will be arranged by the Agent at the Borrowers' expense,
beginning within 120 days after the Effective Date and continuing quarterly
thereafter until the Required Lenders elect to discontinue such regularly
scheduled appraisals.

The Borrowers will deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, any
instrument necessary for it to obtain records from any service bureau
maintaining records on behalf of any Borrower.

         SECTION 9.12  Information and Reports.

         (a)      Schedule of Receivables. The Borrowers shall deliver to the 
Agent in accordance with SECTION 6.1 on or before the Effective Date and not
later than the 15th day of each calendar month thereafter a Schedule of
Receivables which

                  (i)      shall be as of the last Business Day of the 
         immediately preceding month,

                  (ii)     shall be reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate
         as of such last Business Day, and

                  (iii)    shall set forth a detailed aged trial balance of all 
         its then existing Receivables, specifying the names, addresses and
         balance due for each Account Debtor obligated on a Receivable so
         listed.

         (b)      Schedule of Inventory. The Borrowers shall deliver to the 
Agent in accordance with SECTION 6.1 on or before the Effective Date and not
later than the 25th day of each calendar month ending on or before September 30,
1999 and not later than the 15th day of each calendar month ending thereafter, a
Schedule of Inventory as of the last Business Day of the immediately preceding
month of the Borrower, itemizing and describing the kind, type and quantity of
Inventory, the applicable Borrower's cost thereof and the location thereof and
which shall be reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate as of such last
Business Day.

         (c)      Borrowing Base Certificate. The Borrowers shall deliver to the
Agent on each Business Day after the Effective Date a Borrowing Base Certificate
prepared as of the close of business on the previous Business Day; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that if Revolving Credit Availability reflected on such Borrowing Base
Certificates is at least $5,000,000 for a period of 30 consecutive Business
Days, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Agent not later than Wednesday of each
week so long as such Revolving Credit Availability is maintained, a Borrowing
Base Certificate prepared as of the close of business on Friday of the preceding
week.

         (d)      Schedule of Accounts Payable. The Borrowers shall deliver to 
the Agent in accordance of SECTION 6.1 on or before the Effective Date and not
later than the 25th day of each calendar month thereafter a schedule of accounts
payable which (i) shall be as of the last Business Day of the immediately
preceding month, and (ii) shall set forth a detailed aged trial balance of all
their then existing accounts payable, specifying the names, addresses and
balance due to each vendor in respect of each payable so listed.



                                       87
<PAGE>   95

         (e)      Notice of Diminution of Value. The Borrower shall give prompt
notice to the Agent of any matter or event which has resulted in, or may result
in, the diminution in excess of $50,000 in the value of any of its Collateral,
except for any such diminution in the value of any Receivables or Inventory in
the ordinary course of business which has been appropriately reserved against,
as reflected in financial statements previously delivered to the Agent and the
Lenders pursuant to ARTICLE 11.

         (f)      Additional Information. The Agent may in its discretion from 
time to time request that the Borrowers deliver the schedules, certificates
described in SECTIONS 9.12(A), (B) and (C) more or less often and on different
schedules than specified in such Sections and the Borrowers will comply with
such requests. The Borrowers will also furnish to the Agent and each Lender such
other information with respect to the Collateral as the Agent or any Lender may
from time to time reasonably request.

         SECTION 9.13  Power of Attorney. Each Borrower hereby appoints the 
Agent as its attorney, with power

         (a)      to endorse the name of such Borrower on any checks, notes,
acceptances, money orders, drafts or other forms of payment or security that may
come into the Agent's or any Lender's possession, and

         (b)      to sign the name of such Borrower on any invoice or bill of 
lading relating to any Receivable, Inventory or other Collateral, on any drafts
against customers related to letters of credit, on schedules and assignments of
Receivables furnished to the Agent or any Lender by such Borrower, on notices of
assignment, financing statements and other public records relating to the
perfection or priority of the Security Interest, verifications of account and
notices to or from customers.

         SECTION 9.14  Additional Real Estate and Leases.

         (a)      Promptly upon any Borrower's acquisition of any interest 
(including a leasehold interest) in any Real Estate, such Borrower shall, at the
Agent's or Required Lenders' request, deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of
itself as Agent and the Lenders, an executed Mortgage in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent, conveying to the Agent, for the benefit of itself and
the Lenders, a first priority Lien on such Real Estate, subject only to such
prior Liens as the Agent shall consent to in writing. If requested by the Agent
or the Required Lenders, the Borrowers shall also deliver to the Agent at the
Borrowers' expense a mortgagee title insurance policy in favor of the Agent and
the Lenders insuring such Mortgage to create and convey such Lien, subject only
to such exceptions as are consented to by the Agent and shall deliver to the
Agent, at the Agent's or Required Lenders' request, the other applicable items
listed in SECTION 6.1(C) with respect to such Real Estate, all in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent.

         (b)      Promptly upon any Borrower's entry into any lease of Real 
Estate (other than a lease conveying an interest in Real Estate, which shall be
subject to the provisions of SUBSECTION (A) above), such Borrower shall, at the
Agent's or Required Lenders' request, collaterally assign to the Agent, for the
benefit of itself and the Lenders, such Borrower's interest in such lease, in



                                       88
<PAGE>   96

form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. Such Borrower shall also deliver
to the Agent an executed landlord's waiver and consent with respect to such
lease in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

         SECTION 9.15  Assignment of Claims Act. Upon the request of the Agent,
the Borrowers shall execute any documents or instruments and shall take such
steps or actions reasonably required by the Agent so that all monies due or to
become due under any contract with the United States of America, the District of
Columbia or any state, county, municipality or other domestic or foreign
governmental entity, or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, will
be assigned to the Agent, for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, and notice
given thereof in accordance with the requirements of the Assignment of Claims
Act of 1940, as amended, if applicable, or any other laws, rules or regulations
relating to the assignment of any such contract and monies due to or to become
due thereunder.

         SECTION 9.16  Additional Subsidiaries. Cause each Person that becomes a
Subsidiary of Ridgeview after the Effective Date, promptly upon request by the
Agent or the Required Lenders, to execute and deliver a Subsidiary Guaranty and
a Subsidiary Security Agreement or, if requested by the Agent or the Required
Lenders, enter into and cause any such new Subsidiary or any existing Subsidiary
Guarantor to enter into an amendment to this Agreement or such other documents
as may reasonably be determined by the Agent or the Required Lenders to be
necessary or desirable to add such Subsidiary as an additional "Borrower"
hereunder, in each case together with such allonges to the Notes, restated
promissory notes, Financing Statements, legal opinions and other certificates,
instruments and documents as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.



                                       89
<PAGE>   97

                                   ARTICLE 10

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The Borrowers covenant and agree that they will, as their joint and
several obligation, duly and punctually pay the principal of, and interest on,
and all other amounts payable with respect to, the Loans and all other Secured
Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and that until
the Revolving Credit Facility has been terminated and all the Secured
Obligations have been paid in full, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise
consent in the manner provided for in SECTION 16.11, each of the Borrowers will,
and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

         SECTION 10.1  Preservation of Corporate Existence and Similar Matters.
Preserve and maintain its corporate existence, rights, franchises, licenses and
privileges in the jurisdiction of its incorporation and qualify and remain
qualified as a foreign corporation and authorized to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the character of its properties or the nature of its
business requires such qualification or authorization.

         SECTION 10.2  Compliance with Applicable Law. Comply with all 
Applicable Law relating to the Borrowers or Subsidiaries except to the extent
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which reserves
in respect of a Borrower's or such Subsidiary's reasonably anticipated liability
have been appropriately established.

         SECTION 10.3  Maintenance of Property. In addition to, and not in
derogation of, the requirements of SECTION 9.7 and of the Security Documents
(but subject to the provisions of SECTION 9.7(A)),

         (a)      protect and preserve all properties material to its business,
including Copyrights, Patents, trade names and Trademarks, and maintain in good
repair, working order and condition in all material respects, with reasonable
allowance for wear and tear, all tangible properties, and

         (b)      from time to time make or cause to be made all needed and
appropriate repairs, renewals, replacements and additions to such properties
necessary for the conduct of its business, so that the business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times.

         SECTION 10.4  Conduct of Business. At all times carry on its business 
in an efficient manner and engage only the business described in SECTION 7.1(F).

         SECTION 10.5  Insurance. Maintain, in addition to the coverage required
by SECTION 9.8 and the Security Documents, insurance with responsible insurance
companies against such risks and in such amounts as is customarily maintained by
similar businesses or as may be required by Applicable Law, and from time to
time deliver to the Agent or any Lender upon its request a detailed list of the
insurance then in effect, stating the names of the insurance companies, the
amounts and rates of the insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and the
properties and risks covered thereby.



                                       90
<PAGE>   98

         SECTION 10.6  Payment of Taxes and Claims. Pay or discharge when due

         (a)      all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies 
imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or upon any properties belonging
to it, except that real property ad valorem taxes shall be deemed to have been
so paid or discharged if the same are paid before they become delinquent, and

         (b)      all lawful claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers, 
warehousemen and landlords for labor, materials, supplies and rentals which, if
unpaid, might become a Lien on any properties of any Borrower;

         Except that this SECTION 10.6 shall not require the payment or
discharge of any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim which is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which reserves in
respect of reasonably anticipated liability have been appropriately established.

         SECTION 10.7  Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain a
system of accounting, and keep such books, records and accounts (which shall be
true and complete), as may be required or as may be necessary to permit the
preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

         SECTION 10.8  Use of Proceeds.

         (a)      Use the proceeds of

                  (i)      the Initial Loans to pay amounts indicated on 
         SCHEDULE 10.8 to the Persons indicated thereon, and

                  (ii)     all subsequent Loans only for working capital and 
         general business purposes, and

         (b)      not use any part of such proceeds to purchase or, to carry or
reduce or retire or refinance any credit incurred to purchase or carry, any
margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System) or, in any event, for any purpose which would
involve a violation of such Regulation U or of Regulation T or X of such Board
of Governors, or for any purpose prohibited by law or by the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.

         SECTION 10.9  Hazardous Waste and Substances; Environmental
Requirements.

         (a)      In addition to, and not in derogation of, the requirements of
SECTION 10.2 and of the Security Documents, comply with all Environmental Laws
and all Applicable Laws relating to occupational health and safety (except for
instances of noncompliance that are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings if reserves in respect of any Borrower's or such Subsidiary's
reasonably anticipated liability therefor have been appropriately established),
promptly notify the Agent of its receipt of any notice of a violation of any
such Environmental



                                       91
<PAGE>   99

Laws or other such Applicable Laws and indemnify and hold the Agent and the
Lenders harmless from all loss, cost, damage, liability, claim and expense
incurred by or imposed upon the Agent or any Lender on account of any Borrower's
failure to perform its obligations under this SECTION 10.9.

         (b)      Whenever a Borrower gives notice to the Agent pursuant to this
SECTION 10.9 or otherwise with respect to a matter that reasonably could be
expected to result in liability to any Borrower or any Subsidiary in excess of
$100,000 in the aggregate, the Borrowers shall, at the Agent's request and the
Borrowers' expense (i) cause an independent environmental engineer acceptable to
the Agent to conduct an assessment, including tests where necessary, of the site
where the noncompliance or alleged noncompliance with Environmental Laws has
occurred and prepare and deliver to the Agent a report setting forth the results
of such assessment, a proposed plan to bring such Borrower (or such Subsidiary)
into compliance with such Environmental Laws (if such assessment indicates
noncompliance) and an estimate of the costs thereof, and (ii) provide to the
Agent a supplemental report of such engineer whenever the scope of the
noncompliance, or the response thereto or the estimated costs thereof, shall
materially adversely change.

         (c)      Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the 
Borrowers will take, within 90 days after the Effective Date, the following
remedial action with respect to underground storage tanks currently or
previously located at the following facilities of the Borrowers:

                  (i)      remove from the premises of the 
         warehouse/distribution center located at 1771 Auburn Road in Seneca
         Falls, New York that are owned by Ridgeview and used by Seneca, any
         contaminated soil previously excavated in connection with removal of an
         underground storage tank at such location and take the necessary and
         appropriate action thereafter to have the applicable agency of the
         State of New York close its records (i.e., confirm closure and no
         further action required) relating to such location within 270 days
         after the Effective Date;

                  (ii)     take the necessary and appropriate action to have the
         applicable agency of the State of New York close its records within 270
         days after the Effective Date relating to the underground storage tank
         that was previously removed from the premises at 1 Canal Street in
         Seneca Falls, New York that are owned by Seneca's subsidiary, GPM
         Corporation, and used by Seneca for its manufacturing operations;

                  (iii)    remove or close in place the underground storage tank
         located at 1920 Industrial Park Road in Fort Payne, Alabama, report the
         action taken to the appropriate agency of the State of Alabama and
         obtain acknowledgment within 270 days after the Effective Date from the
         applicable agency of the State of Alabama that no further action is
         required in connection with such closure; and

                  (iv)     contract with a reputable environmental remediation 
         firm to conduct and test soil borings at Ridgeview's facilities located
         at 2101 North Main Avenue in Newton, North Carolina to determine
         whether there was contamination of soil by the underground 



                                       92
<PAGE>   100

         storage tank that was previously removed from this site; provided,
         however, this remedial action will not be required if Ridgeview
         provides a closure report for such storage tank that indicates there
         was no contamination at the site from the underground storage tank.

         SECTION 10.10  Year 2000. Promptly notify the Agent in the event any
Borrower discovers or determines that any computer application (including those
of its suppliers, vendors and customers) that is material to it or any of its
Subsidiaries' business and operations will not be Year 2000 Compliant and begin
and diligently pursue a course of action likely, within a reasonable time, to
permit the Borrowers to continue to make the representation set forth in SECTION
7.1(EE).

         SECTION 10.11  Life Insurance Policies. The Borrowers agree to maintain
at all times cash surrender value of at least $1,100,000 in life insurance
policies insuring key officers of the Borrowers and the Borrowers shall pay to
the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, upon the death of any such key
officer of the Borrowers any death benefits thereupon due and payable to the
applicable Borrower under said policies.



                                       93
<PAGE>   101

                                   ARTICLE 11

                                   INFORMATION

         Until the Revolving Credit Facility has been terminated and all the
Secured Obligations have been paid in full, unless the Required Lenders shall
otherwise consent in the manner set forth in SECTION 16.11, the Borrowers will
furnish to the Agent and to each Lender at its offices then designated for
notices pursuant to SECTION 16.1, the statements, reports, certificates, and
other information provided for in this ARTICLE 11. All written information,
reports, statements and other papers and data furnished to the Agent or any
Lender by or at the request of the Borrowers, whether pursuant to this ARTICLE
11 or any other provision of this Agreement or of any other Loan Document, shall
be, at the time the same is so furnished, complete and correct in all material
respects to the extent necessary to give the Agent and the Lenders true and
accurate knowledge of the subject matter. Specifically, the Borrowers will so
furnish:

         SECTION 11.1  Financial Statements.

         (a)      Audited Year-End Statements. As soon as available, but in any 
event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrowers, (i)
copies of the consolidating and consolidated balance sheets of Ridgeview and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year and the related
consolidating and consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and
cash flows for such Fiscal Year, in each case setting forth in comparative form
the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, reported on, as to such consolidated
statements, without qualification by BDO Seidman or other independent certified
public accountants of nationally recognized standing and (ii) if necessary
(because of any audit adjustment or for any other reason), revised copies of the
financial statements with respect to such Fiscal Year previously delivered
pursuant to SECTION 11.1(B)(IV), together with an explanation and reconciliation
of any differences; and

         (b)      Monthly Financial Statements. (a) As soon as available after 
the end of each month, but in any event within 25 days after the end of each
month, copies of the unaudited balance sheet of each Borrower as at the end of
such month and the related unaudited statement of income of each Borrower for
such month and for the portion of the Fiscal Year through such month and (b) as
soon as available after the end of each month, but in any event within 45 days
after the end of each month, copies of the unaudited (i) consolidating and
consolidated balance sheet of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and
(ii) consolidated balance sheet of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
other than the Irish Subsidiary as at the end of such month and the related
unaudited (iii) consolidating and consolidated statements of income and cash
flows for Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and (iv) consolidated
statements of income and cash flows for Ridgeview and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries other than the Irish Subsidiary, for such month, for the Fiscal
Quarter then ended (if such month is the last month in any such Fiscal Quarter)
and for the portion of the Fiscal Year through such month, certified by a
Financial Officer of Ridgeview as presenting fairly the consolidating and
consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Ridgeview and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries (including or



                                       94
<PAGE>   102

excluding the Irish Subsidiary as the case may be and subject to normal year-end
audit adjustments) for the applicable period(s);

all such financial statements to be complete and correct in all material
respects and prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, with respect to interim
financial statements, for the omission of notes and for the effect of normal
year-end audit adjustments and with respect to the financial statements
excluding the effect of the Irish Subsidiary, for such exclusion) applied
consistently throughout the periods reflected therein; and

         (c)      Annual Forecast. As soon as available, but in any event not 
later than 30 days prior to the end of each Fiscal Year beginning with Fiscal
Year 2000, a financial forecast and operating budget of Ridgeview and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for the following Fiscal Year, prepared on a monthly
basis.

         SECTION 11.2  Accountants' Certificate. Together with the financial
statements referred to in SECTION 11.1(A), a certificate of such accountants
addressed to the Agent stating that in making the examination necessary for the
certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention
to lead them to believe that any Default or Event of Default exists and, in
particular, they have no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default or, if
such is not the case, specifying such Default or Event of Default and its
nature.

         SECTION 11.3  Officer's Certificate. At the time that the Borrowers
furnish the financial statements pursuant to SECTION 11.1(B) for any month that
is the last month of a Fiscal Quarter, a certificate of the President or a
Financial Officer of Ridgeview in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT F,

         (a)      setting forth as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal 
Year, as the case may be, the calculations required to establish whether or not
the Borrowers were in compliance with the requirements of SECTIONS 12.1, 12.2,
12.5 AND 12.10, as at the end of each respective period and from and after
September 30, 1999, the calculations necessary to determine the Applicable
Margin,

         (b)      stating that the information on the schedules to this 
Agreement is complete and accurate as of the date of such certificate or, if
such is not the case, attaching to such certificate updated schedules in
accordance with the provisions of SECTION 11.7, and

         (c)      stating that, based on a reasonably diligent examination, no
Default or Event of Default exists, or, if such is not the case, specifying such
Default or Event of Default and its nature, when it occurred, whether it is
continuing and the steps being taken by the Borrowers with respect to such
Default or Event of Default.

         SECTION 11.4  Copies of Other Reports.

         (a)      Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all reports, if any,
submitted to the Borrowers or the Board of Directors of Ridgeview by its
independent public accountants, including, without limitation, any management
report.



                                       95
<PAGE>   103

         (b)      As soon as practicable, copies of all financial statements and
reports that Ridgeview sends to its shareholders generally and of all
registration statements and all regular or periodic reports which any Borrower
shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
commission.

         (c)      From time to time and as soon as reasonably practicable 
following each request, such forecasts, data, certificates, reports, statements,
opinions of counsel, documents or further information regarding the business,
assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations or business
prospects of a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as the Agent or any Lender
may reasonably request and that a Borrower has or (except in the case of legal
opinions relating to the perfection or priority of the Security Interest)
without unreasonable expense can obtain; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Lenders
shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, coordinate examinations of the
Borrowers' records by their respective internal examiners. The rights of the
Agent and the Lenders under this SECTION 11.4 are in addition to and not in
derogation of their rights under any other provision of this Agreement or of any
other Loan Document.

         (d)      If requested by the Agent or any Lender, the Borrowers will 
furnish to the Agent and the Lenders statements in conformity with the
requirements of Federal Reserve Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

         SECTION 11.5  Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Prompt notice of:

         (a)      the commencement, to the extent a Borrower is aware of the 
same, of all proceedings and investigations by or before any governmental or
nongovernmental body and all actions and proceedings in any court or before any
arbitrator against or in any other way relating to or affecting a Borrower, any
of its Subsidiaries or any Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' properties,
assets or businesses, which might, singly or in the aggregate, result in the
occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default, or have a Materially Adverse
Effect,

         (b)      any amendment of the articles or certificate of incorporation 
or by-laws of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,

         (c)      any change in the business, assets, liabilities, financial
condition, results of operations or business prospects of a Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries which has had or may have, singly or in the aggregate, a
Materially Adverse Effect and any change in the executive officers of a
Borrower, and

         (d)      any Default or Event of Default or any event which constitutes
or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute a
default or event of default by a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any
material agreement (other than this Agreement) to which such Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or
any Borrower's or any Subsidiaries' properties may be bound.



                                       96
<PAGE>   104

         SECTION 11.6  ERISA. As soon as possible and in any event within 30 
days after a Borrower knows, or has reason to know, that:

         (a)      any Termination Event with respect to a Benefit Plan has 
occurred or will occur, or

         (b)      the aggregate present value of the Unfunded Vested Accrued 
Benefits under all Benefit Plans is equal to an amount in excess of $0, or

         (c)      a Borrower or any Subsidiary is in "default" (as defined in 
Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA) with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Benefit
Plan required by reason of the Borrower's or such Subsidiary's complete or
partial withdrawal (as described in Section 4203 or 4205 of ERISA) from such
Multiemployer Plan,

a certificate of the President or a Financial Officer of Ridgeview setting forth
the details of such event and the action which is proposed to be taken with
respect thereto, together with any notice or filing which may be required by the
PBGC or other agency of the United States government with respect to such event.

         SECTION 11.7  Revisions or Updates to Schedules. Should any of the
information or disclosures provided on any of the Schedules originally attached
hereto become outdated or incorrect in any material respect, as part of the
officer's certificate required pursuant to SECTION 11.3(B), such revisions or
updates to such Schedule(s) as may be necessary or appropriate to update or
correct such Schedule(s), PROVIDED that no such revisions or updates to any
Schedule(s) shall be deemed to have amended, modified or superseded such
Schedule(s) as attached hereto immediately prior to the submission of such
revised or updated Schedule(s), or to have cured any breach of warranty or
representation resulting from the inaccuracy or incompleteness of any such
Schedule(s), unless and until the Required Lenders in their sole and absolute
discretion, shall have accepted in writing such revisions or updates to such
Schedule(s).



                                       97
<PAGE>   105

                                   ARTICLE 12

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         Until the Revolving Credit Facility has been terminated and all the
Secured Obligations have been paid in full, unless the Required Lenders shall
otherwise consent in the manner set forth in SECTION 16.11, the Borrowers will
not directly or indirectly and, in the case of SECTIONS 12.2 through 12.14, will
not permit the Subsidiaries to:

         SECTION 12.1  Financial Ratios. (a) Minimum Tangible Net Worth. Permit
Tangible Net Worth (i) from the Effective Date through the end of the first
Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 1999 to be less than $10,750,000, (ii) during the
second Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 1999 to be less than $10,500,000, (iii)
during the third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 1999 to be less than $11,500,000,
and (iv) at any time thereafter to be less than $12,000,000, in each case, as
adjusted for Seneca Charges incurred, PLUS, from and after the delivery of
Ridgeview's financial statements referred to in SECTION 11.1(A) for each Fiscal
Year beginning with Fiscal Year 1999, an amount equal to 100%, on a cumulative
basis, of consolidated Net Income (but without deduction for any Net Loss) of
Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year.

         (b)      Fixed Charge Coverage. Permit consolidated Fixed Charge 
Coverage Ratio of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for Fiscal Year
1999 or any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending thereafter to be
less than 1.1 to 1.

         (c)      Minimum Interest Coverage. Permit consolidated Interest 
Coverage Ratio of Ridgeview and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for Fiscal Year
1999 or any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending thereafter to be
less than 1.5 to 1.

         (d)      Minimum EBITDA. Permit EBITDA (as adjusted for Seneca Charges
incurred) for (i) the first Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 1999 to be less than
$150,000, (ii) the second Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 1999 to be less than
$800,000, or (iii) the third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 1999 to be less than
$3,000,000.

         SECTION 12.2  Debt. Create, assume, or otherwise become or remain
obligated in respect of, or permit or suffer to exist or to be created, assumed
or incurred or to be outstanding any Debt, except that this SECTION 12.2 shall
not apply to:

         (a)      Debt of the Borrowers represented by the Loans and the Notes,

         (b)      Debt reflected on SCHEDULE 7.1(J), excluding any such Debt 
that is to be paid in full on the Effective Date and any Permitted Purchase
Money Debt and Capitalized Lease Obligations (other than of the Irish
Subsidiary),

         (c)      Permitted Purchase Money Debt and Capitalized Lease 
Obligations in the aggregate (but excluding the Irish Subsidiary) principal
amount of $7,000,000 at any time outstanding, and



                                       98
<PAGE>   106

         (d)      other unsecured Debt not exceeding $200,000 in aggregate 
principal amount at any time outstanding.

         SECTION 12.3  Guaranties. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 12.3, become
or remain liable with respect to any Guaranty of any obligation of any other
Person.

         SECTION 12.4  Investments. Acquire, after the Agreement Date, any
Business Unit or Investment or, after such date, maintain any Investment other
than Permitted Investments.

         SECTION 12.5  Capital Expenditures. Make or incur any Capital
Expenditures (but excluding any Capital Expenditures of the Irish Subsidiary) in
excess of (i) $2,500,000 (of which $1,250,000 shall be Financed Capital
Expenditures) for Fiscal Year 1999 in the aggregate and (ii) $1,200,000 for any
Fiscal Year thereafter, PLUS an amount equal to the excess, if any, of Operating
Cash Flow over an amount equal to 120% of Total Debt Service, in each case for
the preceding Fiscal Year.

         SECTION 12.6  Restricted Distributions and Payments, Etc. Declare or
make any Restricted Distribution or Restricted Payment.

         SECTION 12.7  Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Merge or
consolidate with any other Person or sell, lease or transfer or otherwise
dispose of all or a substantial portion of its assets to any Person other than
sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business.

         SECTION 12.8  Transactions with Affiliates. Effect any transaction with
any Affiliate on a basis less favorable to a Borrower than would be the case if
such transaction had been effected with a Person not an Affiliate.

         SECTION 12.9  Liens. Create, assume or permit or suffer to exist or to
be created or assumed any Lien on any of the Collateral or other assets of the
Borrowers or their Subsidiaries, other than Permitted Liens.

         SECTION 12.10  Operating Leases. Enter into any Operating Lease if the
aggregate annual rental payable under all Operating Leases of the Borrowers
would exceed $700,000 in the aggregate at any time after the Effective Date.

         SECTION 12.11  Real Estate Leases. Enter into any real property lease,
including a renewal lease relating to the Real Estate occupied by a Borrower on
the Effective Date, without the prior written consent of the Agent, on behalf of
the Lenders, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         SECTION 12.12  Benefit Plans. Permit any condition to exist in
connection with any Benefit Plan which might constitute grounds for the PBGC to
institute proceedings to have such Benefit Plan terminated or a trustee
appointed to administer such Benefit Plan, or any other condition, event or
transaction with respect to any Benefit Plan which could result in the
incurrence by any Borrower of any material liability, fine or penalty.



                                       99
<PAGE>   107

         SECTION 12.13  Sales and Leasebacks Enter into any arrangement with any
Person providing for a Borrower's leasing from such Person any real or personal
property which has been or is to be sold or transferred, directly or indirectly,
by any Borrower to such Person.

         SECTION 12.14  Amendments of Other Agreements. Amend in any way the
interest rate or principal amount or schedule of payments of principal and
interest with respect to any Debt (other than the Secured Obligations) other
than to reduce the interest rate or extend the schedule of payments with respect
thereto.

         SECTION 12.15  Minimum Revolving Credit Availability. Permit Revolving
Credit Availability to be less than $1,000,000 at any time.



                                      100
<PAGE>   108

                                   ARTICLE 13

                                     DEFAULT

         SECTION 13.1  Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute
an Event of Default, whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall be
voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any
judgment or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
governmental or nongovernmental body:

         (a)      Default in Payment. The Borrowers shall default in any payment
of principal of or interest on any Loan or any Note when and as due (whether at
maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise).

         (b)      Other Payment Default. The Borrowers shall default in the 
payment, as and when due, of principal of or interest on, any other Secured
Obligation, and such default shall continue for a period of ten days after
written notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by the Agent.

         (c)      Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty made or 
deemed to be made by the Borrowers under this Agreement or any Loan Document, or
any amendment hereto or thereto, shall at any time prove to have been incorrect
or misleading in any material respect when made.

         (d)      Default in Performance. The Borrowers shall default in the
performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement to be
performed by the Borrowers, contained in

                  (i)      ARTICLES 8, 9, 11 or 12, or SECTIONS 10.1 (insofar as
         it requires the preservation of the corporate existence of the
         Borrowers), or 10.8, and the Agent shall have delivered to the
         Borrowers written notice of such default, or

                  (ii)     this Agreement (other than as specifically provided 
         for otherwise in this SECTION 13.1) and such default shall continue for
         a period of 30 days after written notice thereof has been given to the
         Borrowers by the Agent.

         (e)      Debt Cross-Default.

                  (i)      A Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to pay when 
         due and payable the principal of or interest on any Debt (other than
         the Loans) outstanding in an amount in excess of $50,000, or

                  (ii)     the maturity of any such Debt shall have (A) been
         accelerated in accordance with the provisions of any indenture,
         contract or instrument providing for the creation of or concerning such
         Indebtedness, or (B) been required to be prepaid prior to the stated
         maturity thereof, PROVIDED that the acceleration of up to $300,000
         principal amount of Debt owing to the Seneca County (New York)
         Development Authority arising out of the shut-down of Seneca's
         manufacturing operations in Seneca Falls, New York,



                                      101
<PAGE>   109

         shall not constitute an Event of Default, or

                  (iii)    any event shall have occurred and be continuing which
         would permit any holder or holders of such Debt, any trustee or agent
         acting on behalf of such holder or holders or any other Person so to
         accelerate such maturity, and the Borrowers shall have failed to cure
         such default prior to the expiration of any applicable cure or grace
         period.

         (f)      Other Cross-Defaults. A Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries 
shall default in the payment when due, or in the performance or observance, of
any obligation or condition of any agreement, contract or lease (other than this
Agreement, the Security Documents or any such agreement, contract or lease
relating to Debt) if the existence of any such defaults, singly or in the
aggregate, could in the reasonable judgment of the Agent have a Materially
Adverse Effect.

         (g)      Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. Any Borrower or Subsidiary 
shall

                  (i)      commence a voluntary case under the federal 
         bankruptcy laws (as now or hereafter in effect),

                  (ii)     file a petition seeking to take advantage of any 
         other laws, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, winding up or composition for adjustment of debts,

                  (iii)    consent to or fail to contest in a timely and
         appropriate manner any petition filed against it in an involuntary case
         under such bankruptcy laws or other laws,

                  (iv)     apply for or consent to, or fail to contest in a 
         timely and appropriate manner, the appointment of, or the taking of
         possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of itself
         or of a substantial part of its property, domestic or foreign,

                  (v)      admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as 
         they become due,

                  (vi)     make a general assignment for the benefit of 
         creditors, or

                  (vii)    take any corporate action for the purpose of 
         authorizing any of the foregoing.

         (h)      Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. A case or other proceeding 
shall be commenced against any Borrower or Subsidiary in any court of competent
jurisdiction seeking

                  (i)      relief under the federal bankruptcy laws (as now or
         hereafter in effect) or under any other laws, domestic or foreign,
         relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or
         adjustment of debts,

                  (ii)     the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian,
         liquidator or the like of a Borrower, any Subsidiary or of all or any
         substantial part of the assets, domestic or foreign, of a Borrower or
         any Subsidiary,



                                      102
<PAGE>   110

and such case or proceeding shall continue undismissed or unstayed for a period
of 60 consecutive calendar days, or an order granting the relief requested in
such case or proceeding against such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
(including, but not limited to, an order for relief under such federal
bankruptcy laws) shall be entered.

         (i)      Loan Documents. Any event of default or "Event of Default" 
under any other Loan Document shall occur or a Borrower shall default in the
performance or observance of any material term, covenant, condition or agreement
contained in, or the payment of any other sum covenanted to be paid by the
Borrowers under, any such Loan Document or any provision of this Agreement, or
of any other Loan Document after delivery thereof hereunder, shall for any
reason cease to be valid and binding (other than a nonmaterial provision
rendered unenforceable by operation of law), or a Borrower or other party
thereto (other than the Lender) shall so state in writing, or this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, after delivery thereof hereunder, shall for any reason
(other than any action taken independently by the Agent or any Lender and except
to the extent permitted by the terms thereof) cease to create a valid, perfected
and, except as otherwise expressly permitted herein, first priority Lien on, or
security interest in, any of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby.

         (j)      Judgment. A final, unappealable judgment or order for the 
payment of money in an amount that exceeds the uncontested insurance available
therefor by $100,000 or more shall be entered against a Borrower by any court
and such judgment or order shall continue undischarged or unstayed for 30 days.

         (k)      Attachment. A warrant or writ of attachment or execution or 
similar process which exceeds $100,000 in value shall be issued against any
property of a Borrower and such warrant or process shall continue undischarged
or unstayed for 30 days.

         (l)      ERISA. Any ERISA Event in respect of which the liability of a
Borrower is likely to exceed $100,000 shall occur.

         (m)      Qualified Audits. The independent certified public accountants
retained by Ridgeview shall refuse to deliver an opinion in accordance with
SECTION 11.1(A) with respect to the annual financial statements of Ridgeview and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

         (n)      Change of Control. (i) Ridgeview shall cease to own, 
beneficially and of record, 100% of the outstanding capital stock of each of
Seneca and Tri-Star or such ownership shall cease to vest in it voting control
of either Seneca or Tri-Star or (ii) any Person or Persons acting in concert
(other than Hugh R. Gaither, members of his immediate family or any trusts
established for his or their benefit) shall acquire 25% or more of the issued
and outstanding capital stock of Ridgeview.

         (o)      Change in Management. Hugh R. Gaither shall for any reason 
cease to be the President of Ridgeview and 90 days shall have elapsed during
which time no replacement satisfactory to the Required Lenders in their
reasonable judgment shall have been appointed.



                                      103
<PAGE>   111

         SECTION 13.2  Remedies.

         (a)      Automatic Acceleration and Termination of Facilities. Upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default specified in SECTION 13.1(G) or (H), (i) the
principal of and the interest on the Loans and any Note at the time outstanding,
and all other amounts owed to the Agent or the Lenders under this Agreement or
any of the other Loan Documents and all other Secured Obligations, shall
thereupon become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest, or other
notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived, anything in this
Agreement or any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, and (ii)
the Revolving Credit Facility and the right of the Borrowers to request
Borrowings under this Agreement shall immediately terminate.

         (b)      Other Remedies. If any Event of Default shall have occurred, 
and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Agent may, and at the
direction of the Required Lenders in their sole and absolute discretion shall,
do any of the following:

                  (i)      declare the principal of and interest on the Loans 
         and any Note at the time outstanding, and all other amounts owed to the
         Agent or the Lenders under this Agreement or any of the other Loan
         Documents and all other Secured Obligations, to be forthwith due and
         payable, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable
         without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all
         of which are expressly waived, anything in this Agreement or the Loan
         Documents to the contrary notwithstanding;

                  (ii)     terminate the Revolving Credit Facility and any other
         right of the Borrowers to request borrowings hereunder;

                  (iii)    notify, or request the Borrowers to notify, in 
         writing or otherwise, any Account Debtor or obligor with respect to any
         one or more of the Receivables to make payment to the Agent, for the
         benefit of the Lenders, or any agent or designee of the Agent, at such
         address as may be specified by the Agent and if, notwithstanding the
         giving of any notice, any Account Debtor or other such obligor shall
         make payments to the Borrowers, the Borrowers shall hold all such
         payments it receives in trust for the Agent, for the account of the
         Lenders, without commingling the same with other funds or property of,
         or held by, the Borrowers, and shall deliver the same to the Agent or
         any such agent or designee of the Agent immediately upon receipt by the
         Borrowers in the identical form received, together with any necessary
         endorsements;

                  (iv)     settle or adjust disputes and claims directly with
         Account Debtors and other obligors on Receivables for amounts and on
         terms which the Agent considers advisable and in all such cases only
         the net amounts received by the Agent, for the account of the Lenders,
         in payment of such amounts, after deductions of costs and attorneys'
         fees, shall constitute Collateral and the Borrowers shall have no
         further right to make any such settlements or adjustments or to accept
         any returns of merchandise;

                  (v)      enter upon any premises in which Inventory or 
         Equipment may be located 



                                      104
<PAGE>   112

         and, without resistance or interference by the Borrowers, take physical
         possession of any or all thereof and maintain such possession on such
         premises or move the same or any part thereof to such other place or
         places as the Agent shall choose, without being liable to the Borrowers
         on account of any loss, damage or depreciation that may occur as a
         result thereof, so long as the Agent shall act reasonably and in good
         faith;

                  (vi)     require the Borrowers to and the Borrowers shall, 
         without charge to the Agent or any Lender, assemble the Inventory and
         Equipment and maintain or deliver it into the possession of the Agent
         or any agent or representative of the Agent at such place or places as
         the Agent may designate and as are reasonably convenient to both the
         Agent and the applicable Borrower;

                  (vii)    at the expense of the Borrowers, cause any of the
         Inventory and Equipment to be placed in a public or field warehouse,
         and the Agent shall not be liable to the Borrowers on account of any
         loss, damage or depreciation that may occur as a result thereof, so
         long as the Agent shall act reasonably and in good faith;

                  (viii)   without notice, demand or other process, and without
         payment of any rent or any other charge, enter any of the Borrowers'
         premises and, without breach of the peace, until the Agent, on behalf
         of the Lenders, completes the enforcement of its rights in the
         Collateral, take possession of such premises or place custodians in
         exclusive control thereof, remain on such premises and use the same and
         any of the Borrowers' Equipment, for the purpose of (A) completing any
         work in process, preparing any Inventory for disposition and disposing
         thereof, and (B) collecting any Receivable, and the Agent for the
         benefit of the Lenders is hereby granted a license or sublicense and
         all other rights as may be necessary, appropriate or desirable to use
         the Intellectual Property in connection with the foregoing, and the
         rights of the Borrowers under all licenses, sublicenses and franchise
         agreements shall inure to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders
         (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any use of any federally registered trademarks
         as to any goods shall be subject to the control as to the quality of
         such goods of the owner of such trademarks and the goodwill of the
         business symbolized thereby);

                  (ix)     exercise any and all of its rights under any and all 
         of the Security Documents;

                  (x)      apply any Collateral consisting of cash to the 
         payment of the Secured Obligations in any order in which the Agent, on
         behalf of the Lenders, may elect or use such cash in connection with
         the exercise of any of its other rights hereunder or under any of the
         Security Documents;

                  (xi)     establish or cause to be established one or more
         Lockboxes or other arrangement for the deposit of proceeds of
         Receivables, and, in such case, the Borrowers shall cause to be
         forwarded to the Agent at the Agent's Office, on a daily basis, copies
         of all checks and other items of payment and deposit slips related
         thereto deposited in such Lockboxes, together with collection reports
         in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent; and



                                      105
<PAGE>   113

                  (xii)    exercise all of the rights and remedies of a secured
         party under the Uniform Commercial Code and under any other Applicable
         Law, including, without limitation, the right, without notice except as
         specified below and with or without taking possession thereof, to sell
         the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or
         private sale, at any location chosen by the Agent, for cash, on credit
         or for future delivery, and at such price or prices and upon such other
         terms as the Agent may deem commercially reasonable. The Borrower agree
         that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least
         ten (10) days' notice to the Borrowers of the time and place of any
         public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made
         shall constitute reasonable notification, but notice given in any other
         reasonable manner or at any other reasonable time shall constitute
         reasonable notification. The Agent shall not be obligated to make any
         sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The
         Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by
         announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may,
         without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was
         so adjourned.

         SECTION 13.3  Application of Proceeds. All proceeds from each sale of,
or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral following an Event
of Default shall be applied or paid over as follows:

         (a)      First: to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with such sale or other realization, including reasonable attorneys'
fees,

         (b)      Second: to the payment of the Secured Obligations (with the
Borrowers remaining jointly and severally liable for any deficiency) as the
Agent may elect,

         (c)      Third: the balance (if any) of such proceeds shall be paid to 
the Borrowers, subject to any duty imposed by law, or otherwise to whomsoever
shall be entitled thereto.

THE BORROWERS SHALL REMAIN LIABLE, JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY, AND WILL PAY, ON
DEMAND, ANY DEFICIENCY REMAINING IN RESPECT OF THE SECURED OBLIGATIONS, TOGETHER
WITH INTEREST THEREON AT A RATE PER ANNUM EQUAL TO THE HIGHEST RATE THEN PAYABLE
HEREUNDER ON SUCH SECURED OBLIGATIONS, WHICH INTEREST SHALL CONSTITUTE PART OF
THE SECURED OBLIGATIONS.

         SECTION 13.4  Power of Attorney. In addition to the authorizations
granted to the Agent under SECTION 9.13 or under any other provision of this
Agreement or of any other Loan Document, during the continuance of an Event of
Default, each Borrower hereby irrevocably designates, makes, constitutes and
appoints the Agent (and all Persons designated by the Agent from time to time)
as the Borrowers' true and lawful attorney, and agent in fact, and the Agent, or
any agent of the Agent, may, without notice to the Borrowers, and at such time
or times as the Agent or any such agent in its sole discretion may determine, in
the name of a Borrower, the Agent or the Lenders,

         (a)      demand payment of the Receivables,

         (b)      enforce payment of the Receivables by legal proceedings or
otherwise,



                                      106
<PAGE>   114

         (c)      exercise all of any Borrower's rights and remedies with 
respect to the collection of Receivables,

         (d)      settle, adjust, compromise, extend or renew any or all of the
Receivables,

         (e)      settle, adjust or compromise any legal proceedings brought to
collect the Receivables,

         (f)      discharge and release the Receivables or any of them,

         (g)      prepare, file and sign the name of a Borrower on any proof of 
claim in bankruptcy or any similar document against any Account Debtor,

         (h)      prepare, file and sign the name of a Borrower on any notice of
Lien, assignment or satisfaction of Lien, or similar document in connection with
any of the Collateral,

         (i)      endorse the name of a Borrower upon any chattel paper, 
document, instrument, notice, freight bill, bill of lading or similar document
or agreement relating to the Receivables, the Inventory or any other Collateral,

         (j)      use the stationery of the Borrowers and sign the name of the
Borrowers to verifications of the Receivables and on any notice to the Account
Debtors,

         (k)      open the Borrowers' mail,

         (l)      notify the post office authorities to change the address for
delivery of the Borrowers' mail to an address designated by the Agent, and

         (m)      use the information recorded on or contained in any data 
processing equipment and computer hardware and software relating to the
Receivables, Inventory or other Collateral to which any Borrower has access.

         SECTION 13.5  Miscellaneous Provisions Concerning Remedies.

         (a)      Rights Cumulative. The rights and remedies of the Agent and 
the Lenders under this Agreement, the Notes and each of the Loan Documents shall
be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which it or they would
otherwise have. In exercising such rights and remedies the Agent and the Lenders
may be selective and no failure or delay by the Agent or any Lender in
exercising any right shall operate as a waiver of it, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any power or right preclude its other or further exercise or
the exercise of any other power or right.

         (b)      Waiver of Marshalling. Each Borrower hereby waives any right 
to require any marshalling of assets and any similar right.

         (c)      Limitation of Liability. Nothing contained in this ARTICLE 13 
or elsewhere in this Agreement or in any of the Loan Documents shall be
construed as requiring or obligating the 



                                      107
<PAGE>   115

Agent, any Lender or any agent or designee of the Agent or any Lender to make
any demand, or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any
payment received by it, or to present or file any claim or notice or take any
action, with respect to any Receivable or any other Collateral or the monies due
or to become due thereunder or in connection therewith, or to take any steps
necessary to preserve any rights against prior parties, and the Agent, the
Lenders and their agents or designees shall have no liability to the Borrowers
for actions taken pursuant to this ARTICLE 13, any other provision of this
Agreement or any of the Loan Documents so long as the Agent or such Lender shall
act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner.

         (d)      Appointment of Receiver. In any action under this ARTICLE 13, 
the Agent shall be entitled during the continuance of an Event of Default, to
the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to the appointment of a
receiver, without notice of any kind whatsoever, to take possession of all or
any portion of the Collateral and to exercise such power as the court shall
confer upon such receiver.

         SECTION 13.6  Trademark License. Each Borrower hereby grants to the
Agent for its benefit as Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, the
nonexclusive right and license to use the Trademarks described in any Trademark
Security Agreement for the purposes set forth in SECTION 13.2(B)(VIII) and for
the purposes of enabling the Agent to realize on the Collateral and to permit
any purchaser of any portion of the Collateral through a foreclosure sale or any
other exercise of the Agent's rights and remedies under this Agreement and the
other Security Documents to use, sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral
bearing any such Trademark. Such right and license is granted free of charge,
without the requirement that any monetary payment whatsoever be made to the
Borrowers or any other Person by the Lenders or the Agent or any purchaser or
purchasers of the Collateral. Each Borrower hereby represents, warrants,
covenants and agrees that it presently has, and shall continue to have, the
right, without the approval of consent of others, to grant the license set forth
in this SECTION 13.6.



                                      108
<PAGE>   116

                                   ARTICLE 14

                                   ASSIGNMENTS

         SECTION 14.1  Successors and Assigns; Participations.

         (a)      This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit 
of the Borrowers, the Lenders, the Agent, all future holders of the Notes, and
their respective successors and assigns, except that no Borrower may assign or
transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior
written consent of each Lender.

         (b)      Each Lender may, with the consent (i) of the Agent and (ii) as
long as no Event of Default exists, of the Borrowers (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a
portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all or a portion of the Loans at the time owing
to it and the Notes held by it); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) each such
assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all the
assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, (ii) the amount
of the Commitment of the assigning Lender that is subject to each such
assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect
to such assignment is delivered to the Agent) shall in no event be less than
$4,000,000, (iii) in the case of a partial assignment, the amount of the
Commitment that is retained by the assigning Lender (determined as of the date
the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to
the Agent) shall in no event be less than $4,000,000, (iv) the parties to each
such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for its acceptance and
recording in the Register an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any Note
or Notes subject to such assignment and such assignee's pro rata share of the
Agent's syndication expenses, (v) such assignment shall not, without the consent
of the Borrowers, require the Borrowers to file a registration statement with
the Securities and Exchange Commission or apply to or qualify the Loans or the
Notes under the blue sky laws of any state, and (vi) the representation
contained in SECTION 14.2 hereof shall be true with respect to any such proposed
assignee. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and
after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, which
effective date, unless otherwise agreed among all parties to such Assignment and
Acceptance, shall be at least five Business Days after the execution thereof,
(A) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent provided
in such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender
hereunder, and (B) the Lender assignor thereunder shall, to the extent provided
in such assignment, be released from its obligations under this Agreement.

         (c)      By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the
Lender assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with
each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than the
representation and warranty that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the
interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim, such Lender
assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with
respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in
connection with this Agreement or the execution, legality, validity,
enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement



                                      109
<PAGE>   117

or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such Lender
assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with
respect to the financial condition of the Borrowers or the performance or
observance by the Borrowers of any of its obligations under this Agreement or
any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee
confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of
the financial statements referred to in SECTION 7.1(N) and such other documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent, such Lender assignor or any
other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not taking action under this Agreement; (v) such assignee confirms that it is an
Eligible Assignee; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agent to take
such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agent by the
terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with
their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are
required to be performed by it as a Lender.

         (d)      The Agent shall maintain a copy of each Assignment and 
Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and
addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment and Proportionate Share of, and
principal amount of the Loans and owing to, each Lender from time to time (the
"Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in the absence of
manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders may treat each
person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all
purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by
the Borrowers or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.

         (e)      Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by 
an assigning Lender and an Eligible Assignee together with any Note or Notes
subject to such assignment, the Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance
has been completed and is in the form of EXHIBIT D, (i) accept such Assignment
and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register,
(iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrowers, and (iv)
promptly deliver a copy of such Acceptance and Assignment to the Borrowers.
Within five Business Days after receipt of notice, the Borrowers shall execute
and deliver to the Agent in exchange for the surrendered Note or Notes a new
Note or Notes to the order of such Eligible Assignee in amounts equal to the
Commitment assumed by such Eligible Assignee pursuant to such Assignment and
Acceptance and a new Note or Notes to the order of the assigning Lender in an
amount equal to the Commitment retained by it hereunder. Such new Note or Notes
shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of such surrendered Note or Notes, shall be dated the effective date of
such Assignment and Acceptance and shall otherwise be in substantially the form
of the assigned Notes. Each surrendered Note or Notes shall be cancelled and
returned to the Borrowers.

         (f)      Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or 
other entities in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement (including, without limitation, all or



                                      110
<PAGE>   118

a portion of its Commitment hereunder and the Loans owing to it and the Notes
held by it); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) such Lender's obligations under this
Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment hereunder) shall remain
unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties
hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain
the holder of the Notes held by it for all purposes of this Agreement, (iv) the
Borrowers, the Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and
directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement; PROVIDED, that such Lender may agree with any
participant that such Lender will not, without such participant's consent, agree
to or approve any waivers or amendments which would reduce the principal of or
the interest rate on any Loans, extend the term or increase the amount of the
commitments of such participant, reduce the amount of any fees to which such
participant is entitled, extend any scheduled payment date for principal or
release Collateral securing the Loans (other than Collateral disposed of
pursuant to SECTION 9.7 hereof or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement or the Security Documents), and (vi) any such disposition shall not,
without the consent of the Borrowers, require any Borrower to file a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to apply to
qualify the Loans or the Notes under the blue sky law of any state. The Lender
selling a participation to any bank or other entity that is not an Affiliate of
such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to give prompt notice thereof to the
Borrowers.

         (g)      Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment, proposed
assignment, participation or proposed participation pursuant to this SECTION
14.1, disclose to the assignee, participant, proposed assignee or proposed
participant, any information relating to the Borrowers furnished to such Lender
by or on behalf of the Borrowers, PROVIDED that, prior to any such disclosure,
each such assignee, proposed assignee, participant or proposed participant shall
agree with the Borrowers or such Lender (which in the case of an agreement with
only such Lender, the Borrowers shall be recognized as a third party beneficiary
thereof) to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information
relating to the Borrowers received from such Lender.

         SECTION 14.2  Representation of Lenders. Each Lender hereby represents
that it will make each Loan hereunder as a commercial loan for its own account
in the ordinary course of its business; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that subject to
SECTION 14.1 hereof, the disposition of the Notes or other evidence of the
Secured Obligations held by any Lender shall at all times be within its
exclusive control.



                                      111
<PAGE>   119

                                   ARTICLE 15

                                      AGENT

         SECTION 15.1  Appointment of Agent. Each of the Lenders hereby
irrevocably designates and appoints (i) BankBoston as the Agent of such Lender
and (ii) GECC as the Co-Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Agent, as the Agent for such Lender,
to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are
expressly delegated to the Agent by the terms of this Agreement and such other
Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, the Agent shall not have any duties or
responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and therein, or any
fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions,
responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents or otherwise exist against the Agent.

         SECTION 15.2  Delegation of Duties. The Agent may execute any of its
duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by or through agents or
attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all
matters pertaining to such duties. The Agent shall not be responsible for the
negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with
reasonable care.

         SECTION 15.3  Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Agent nor any of its
trustees, officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or
Affiliates shall be (i) liable to any Lender (or any Lender's participants) for
any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or
in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (except for its or
such Person's own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) responsible
in any manner to any Lender (or any Lender's participants) for any recitals,
statements, representations or warranties made by the Borrowers or any officer
thereof contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or in any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in,
or received by the Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents or for the existence, value, validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents or any Collateral or Lien or other interest therein or for any failure
of the Borrowers to perform their obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Agent
shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to
the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or
conditions of, this Agreement, or to inspect the properties, books or records of
the Borrowers.

         SECTION 15.4  Reliance by Agent. The Agent shall be entitled to rely,
and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any Note, writing, resolution,
notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy,
telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation
believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made
by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel
(including, without limitation, counsel to the Borrowers), independent
accountants and other



                                      112
<PAGE>   120

experts selected by the Agent. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any
Note as the owner thereof for all purposes unless such Note shall have been
transferred in accordance with SECTION 14.1. The Agent shall be fully justified
in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the
Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and shall be indemnified to its
satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may
be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The
Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from
acting, under this Agreement and the Notes in accordance with a request of the
Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act
pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future holders of
the Notes.

         SECTION 15.5  Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default
hereunder unless the Agent has received notice from a Lender or the Borrowers
referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and
stating that such notice is a "notice of default". In the event that the Agent
receives such a notice, the Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the
Lenders. The Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event
of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders; PROVIDED
that unless and until the Agent shall have received such directions, the Agent
may (but shall not be obligated to) continue making Revolving Credit Loans to
the Borrowers on behalf of the Lenders in reliance on the provisions of SECTION
5.7 and take such other action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect
to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best
interests of the Lenders.

         SECTION 15.6  Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender
expressly acknowledges that neither the Agent, the Co-Agent nor any of their
officers, directors, counsel, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates
has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Agent or
the Co-Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the
Borrowers, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the
Agent or the Co-Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Agent and the
Co-Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or the
Co-Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it
has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the
business, operations, property, financial (and other) condition and
creditworthiness of the Borrowers and made its own decision to make its Loans
hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it
will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or the Co-Agent or any
other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals
and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform
itself as to the business, operations, property, financial (and other) condition
and creditworthiness of the Borrowers. Except for notices, reports and other
documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Agent
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, the Agent and the Co-Agent shall
not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or
other information concerning the business, operations, property, financial (and
other) condition or 



                                      113
<PAGE>   121

creditworthiness of the Borrowers which may come into the possession of the
Agent or the Co-Agent or any of their officers, directors, employees, agents,
attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates.

         SECTION 15.7  Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Agent
in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrowers and
without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), ratably according to
their respective Commitment Percentages, from and against any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever which may at any time
(including, without limitation, at any time following the payment of the Notes)
be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to
or arising out of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or any documents
contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under
or in connection with any of the foregoing; PROVIDED that no Lender shall be
liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
resulting solely from the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct or
resulting solely from transactions or occurrences that occur at a time after
such Lender has assigned all of its interests, rights and obligations under this
Agreement pursuant to SECTION 14.1 or, in the case of a Lender to which an
assignment is made hereunder pursuant to SECTION 14.1, at a time before such
assignment. The agreements in this subsection shall survive the payment of the
Notes, the Secured Obligations and all other amounts payable hereunder and the
termination of this Agreement.

         SECTION 15.8  Agent in Its Individual Capacity. The institution at the
time acting as the Agent and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits
from and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrowers or any
Affiliate or Subsidiary of the Borrowers as if it were not the Agent hereunder.
With respect to its Commitment, the Loans made or renewed by it and any Note
issued to it and any Letter of Credit issued by it, such institution shall have
and may exercise the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents and shall be subject to the same obligations and liabilities as
and to the extent set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents for any other
Lender. The terms "Lenders" and "Required Lenders" or any other term shall,
unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include such institution in its
individual capacity as a Lender or one of the Required Lenders.

         SECTION 15.9  Successor Agent; Co-Agents.

         (a)      The Agent may resign as Agent upon 30 days' notice to the 
Lenders; PROVIDED, HOWEVER that such resignation shall not take effect until a
successor agent has been appointed. If the Agent shall resign as Agent under
this Agreement, then the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a
successor agent for the Lenders which successor agent shall be approved by the
Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), whereupon such
successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Agent, and
the term "Agent" shall mean such successor agent effective upon its appointment,
and 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 or any holders of the Notes. If the Required
Lenders have failed to appoint a successor Agent within 30 days of the
resignation 



                                      114
<PAGE>   122

notice given by the Agent as provided above, then the Agent shall be entitled to
appoint a successor agent from among the Lenders. After any retiring Agent's
resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of SECTION 15.7 shall inure to
its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was
Agent under this Agreement.

         (b)      It is intended that there shall be no violation of any 
Applicable Law denying or restricting the right of financial institutions to
transact business as agent in any jurisdiction. It is recognized that, in case
of litigation under any of the Loan Documents, or in case the Agent deems that
by reason of present or future laws of any jurisdiction the Agent might be
prohibited from or restricted in exercising any of the powers, rights or
remedies granted to the Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under any of the Loan
Documents or from holding title to or a Lien upon any Collateral or from taking
any other action which may be necessary or desirable hereunder or under any of
the Loan Documents, the Agent may appoint an additional individual or
institution as a separate collateral agent or co-collateral agent which is not
so prohibited from or restricted in taking any of such actions or exercising any
of such powers, rights or remedies. If the Agent shall appoint an additional
individual or institution as a separate collateral agent or co-collateral agent
as provided above, each and every remedy, power, right, claim, demand or cause
of action intended by any of the Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in
or conveyed to the Agent with respect thereto shall be exercisable by and vested
in such separate collateral agent or co-collateral agent, but only to the extent
necessary to enable such separate collateral agent or co-collateral agent to
exercise such powers, rights and remedies, and every covenant and obligation
necessary to the exercise thereof by such separate collateral agent or
co-collateral agent shall run to and be enforceable by either of them. Should
any instrument from the Lenders be required by the separate collateral agent or
co-collateral agent so appointed by Agent in order more fully and certainly to
vest in and confirm to him or it such rights, powers, duties and obligations,
including without limitation indemnification of such collateral agent or
co-collateral agent, any and all of such instruments shall, on request, be
executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Lenders. In case any separate
collateral agent or co-collateral agent, or a successor to either, shall die,
become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the estates, properties,
rights, powers, duties and obligations of such separate collateral agent or
co-collateral agent, so far as permitted by Applicable Law, shall vest in and be
exercised by the Agent until the appointment of a new collateral agent or
successor to such separate collateral agent or co-collateral agent.

         SECTION 15.10  Notices from Agent to Lenders. The Agent shall promptly,
upon receipt thereof, forward to each Lender copies of any updated Schedules and
of any written notices, reports or other information supplied to it by the
Borrowers or any Subsidiary (but which such Person is not required to supply
directly to the Lenders). Except to the extent expressly provided in this
Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, the Agent shall not be obligated to
deliver or disclose to any Lender any of the Agent's internal reports, analysis
or investigation or any records or other information in its possession relating
to the Borrowers or any of the Subsidiaries or the Affiliates of the Borrowers.

         SECTION 15.11  Co-Agent. For avoidance of doubt, it is expressly
acknowledged and agreed by the Agent and each Lender for the benefit of GECC as
the Co-Agent that other than any rights or obligations explicitly reserved to or
imposed upon the Co-Agent under this



                                      115
<PAGE>   123

Agreement, the Co-Agent, in such capacity, has no rights or obligations
hereunder nor shall the Co-Agent, in such capacity, be responsible or
accountable to any other party hereto for any action or failure to act
hereunder, other than in connection with such explicitly reserved rights or such
obligations and then only for claims, damages, losses (other than consequential
losses) and other liabilities arising out of the Co-Agent's own gross negligence
or willful misconduct.



                                      116
<PAGE>   124

                                   ARTICLE 16

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 16.1  Notices.

         (a)      Method of Communication. Except as specifically provided in 
this Agreement or in any of the Loan Documents, all notices and the
communications hereunder and thereunder shall be in writing or by telephone
confirmed in writing. Notices in writing shall be delivered personally or sent
by certified or registered mail, postage pre-paid, or by overnight courier,
telex or facsimile transmission and shall be deemed received in the case of
personal delivery, when delivered, in the case of mailing, when receipted for,
in the case of overnight delivery, on the next Business Day after delivery to
the courier, and in the case of telex and facsimile transmission, upon
transmittal, PROVIDED that in the case of notices to the Agent, notice shall be
deemed to have been given only when such notice is actually received by the
Agent. A telephonic notice to the Agent, as understood by the Agent, will be
deemed to be the controlling and proper notice in the event of a discrepancy
with or failure to receive a confirming written notice.

         (b)      Addresses for Notices. Notices to any party shall be sent to 
it at the following addresses, or any other address of which all the other
parties are notified in writing by such first party:

                  If to the Borrower:    Ridgeview, Inc.
                                         2101 N. Main Street
                                         P.O. Box 8
                                         Newton, North Carolina  28658
                                         Attention:
                                         Facsimile No.:  (828) 464-2994

                  with a copy to:        Moore & Van Allen, PLLC
                                         100 North Tryon Street
                                         47th Floor
                                         Charlotte, North Carolina  28202
                                         Attention:  Dumont Clarke, IV
                                         Facsimile No.:  (704) 331-1159

                  If to the Agent:       BankBoston, N.A.
                                         115 Perimeter Center Place
                                         Suite 500
                                         Atlanta, Georgia  30346
                                         Attention:  Roger N. Arsham
                                         Facsimile No.:  (770) 393-4166

                  If to the Co-Agent:    General Electric Capital Corporation
                                         3379 Peachtree Road, N.E.



                                      117
<PAGE>   125

                                         Suite 600
                                         Atlanta, Georgia  30326
                                         Attention: Elaine L. Moore
                                         Facsimile: (404) 262-9032


                  If to a Lender:        At the address of such Lender set forth
                                         on the signature pages hereof.

         (c)      Agent's Office. The Agent hereby designates its office located
at 100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, or any subsequent office
which shall have been specified for such purpose by written notice to the
Borrowers, as the office to which payments due are to be made and at which Loans
will be disbursed.

         SECTION 16.2  Expenses. The Borrowers agree, jointly and severally, to
pay or reimburse on demand all costs and expenses incurred by (a) the Agent,
including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel,
in connection with:

                  (i)      the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery,
         administration, enforcement and termination of this Agreement and each
         of the other Loan Documents, whenever the same shall be executed and
         delivered, including, without limitation

                           (A)      the out-of-pocket costs and expenses 
                  incurred in connection with the administration and
                  interpretation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

                           (B)      the costs and expenses of appraisals of the
                  Collateral;

                           (C)      the costs and expenses of lien and title 
                  searches and title insurance;

                           (D)      the costs and expenses of environmental 
                  reports with respect to the Real Estate; and

                           (E)      taxes, fees and other charges for recording 
                  the Mortgages, filing the Financing Statements and
                  continuations and the costs and expenses of taking other
                  actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Security
                  Interests.

                  (ii)     filing continuations with respect to Financing 
         Statements and the costs and expenses of taking other reasonable
         actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Security Interests that
         the Borrowers do not take, after demand by the Agent;

                  (iii)    the preparation, execution and delivery of any 
         waiver, amendment, supplement or consent by the Agent and the Lenders
         relating to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents;

                  (iv)     costs and expenses of forwarding loan proceeds,
         collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and
         maintaining each Controlled Disbursement 



                                      118
<PAGE>   126

         Account, Agency Account and Lockbox;

                  (v)      costs of inspections and verifications of the 
         Collateral, including, without limitation, standard per diem fees,
         travel, lodging, and meals for inspections of the Collateral and the
         Borrower's operations and books and records by the Agent's agents;

         (b)      the Agent and, if a Default has occurred, the Co-Agent or any
Lender, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel, in connection with:

                  (i)      sums paid or incurred to pay any amount or take any 
         action required of the Borrowers under the Loan Documents that the
         Borrowers fail to pay or take;

                  (ii)     costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the 
         Collateral;

                  (vi)     consulting with one or more Persons, including
         appraisers, accountants and lawyers, concerning the value of any
         Collateral for the Secured Obligations or related to the nature, scope
         or value of any right or remedy of the Agent or any Lender hereunder or
         under any of the Loan Documents, including any review of factual
         matters in connection therewith, which expenses shall include the fees
         and disbursements of such Persons reasonably incurred; and

                  (vii)    costs and expenses paid or incurred to obtain payment
         of the Secured Obligations, enforce the Security Interests, sell or
         otherwise realize upon the Collateral, and otherwise enforce the
         provisions of the Loan Documents, or to prosecute or defend any claim
         in any way arising out of, related to or connected with, this Agreement
         or any of the Loan Documents, which expenses shall include the
         reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and of experts and other
         consultants retained by the Agent or any Lender.

The foregoing shall not be construed to limit any other provisions of the Loan
Documents regarding costs and expenses to be paid by the Borrowers. The
Borrowers hereby authorize the Agent and the Lenders to debit the Ridgeview's
Loan Account (by increasing the principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loan)
in the amount of any such costs and expenses owed by the Borrowers when due.

         SECTION 16.3  Stamp and Other Taxes. The Borrowers will pay any and all
stamp, registration, recordation and similar taxes, fees or charges and shall
indemnify the Agent, the Co-Agent and the Lenders against any and all
liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay in the payment or
omission to pay any such taxes, fees or charges, which may be payable or
determined to be payable in connection with the execution, delivery, performance
or enforcement of this Agreement and any of the Loan Documents or the perfection
of any rights or security interest thereunder, including, without limitation,
the Security Interest.

         SECTION 16.4  Setoff. In addition to any rights now or hereafter 
granted under Applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights,
during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender, any participant
with such Lender in the Loans and each Affiliate



                                      119
<PAGE>   127

of each Lender are hereby authorized by the Borrowers at any time or from time
to time, without notice to the Borrowers or to any other Person, any such notice
being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any
and all deposits (general or special, including, but not limited to,
indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured)
and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by any Lender or any
Affiliate of any Lender or any participant to or for the credit or the account
of the Borrowers against and on account of the Secured Obligations irrespective
or whether or not

         (a)      the Agent or such Lender shall have made any demand under this
Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, or

         (b)      the Agent or such Lender shall have declared any or all of the
Secured Obligations to be due and payable as permitted by SECTION 13.2 and
although such Secured Obligations shall be contingent or unmatured.

         SECTION 16.5  Litigation. THE BORROWERS, THE AGENT AND EACH LENDER
HEREBY KNOWINGLY, INTENTIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR NATURE IN ANY COURT IN WHICH AN ACTION MAY
BE COMMENCED BY OR AGAINST ANY BORROWER, THE AGENT OR SUCH LENDER ARISING OUT OF
THIS AGREEMENT, THE COLLATERAL OR ANY ASSIGNMENT THEREOF OR BY REASON OF ANY
OTHER CAUSE OR DISPUTE WHATSOEVER BETWEEN ANY BORROWER AND THE AGENT OR ANY
LENDER OF ANY KIND OR NATURE. THE BORROWERS, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY
AGREE THAT THE FEDERAL COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA OR, AT THE
OPTION OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER, ANY COURT IN WHICH THE AGENT OR SUCH LENDER
SHALL INITIATE LEGAL OR EQUITABLE PROCEEDINGS AND WHICH HAS SUBJECT MATTER
JURISDICTION OVER THE MATTER IN CONTROVERSY, SHALL HAVE NONEXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION TO HEAR AND DETERMINE ANY CLAIMS OR DISPUTES BETWEEN THE BORROWERS
AND THE AGENT OR SUCH LENDER, PERTAINING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY MATTER ARISING THEREFROM. EACH
BORROWER EXPRESSLY SUBMITS AND CONSENTS IN ADVANCE TO SUCH JURISDICTION IN ANY
ACTION OR PROCEEDING COMMENCED IN SUCH COURTS, HEREBY WAIVING PERSONAL SERVICE
OF THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT, OR OTHER PROCESS OR PAPERS ISSUED THEREIN AND
AGREEING THAT SERVICE OF SUCH SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS OR PAPERS
MAY BE MADE REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL ADDRESSED TO SUCH BORROWER AT THE
ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 16.1. THE NONEXCLUSIVE CHOICE OF FORUM SET FORTH IN
THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO PRECLUDE THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT
OBTAINED IN SUCH FORUM OR THE TAKING OF ANY ACTION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT TO
ENFORCE SAME IN ANY APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION.

         SECTION 16.6  Waiver of Rights. EACH BORROWER HEREBY KNOWINGLY,
INTENTIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS WHICH SUCH 



                                      120
<PAGE>   128

BORROWER HAS UNDER CHAPTER 14 OF TITLE 44 OF THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA OR
UNDER ANY SIMILAR PROVISION OF APPLICABLE LAW TO NOTICE AND TO A JUDICIAL
HEARING PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF A WRIT OF POSSESSION ENTITLING THE AGENT OR ANY
LENDER, OR THE SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF THE AGENT OR SUCH LENDER TO POSSESSION
OF THE COLLATERAL UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE
FOREGOING AND WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OTHER RIGHT WHICH THE AGENT OR THE LENDERS
MAY HAVE, EACH BORROWER CONSENTS THAT IF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER FILES A
PETITION FOR AN IMMEDIATE WRIT OF POSSESSION IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTIONS
44-14-261 AND 44-14-262 OF THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA OR UNDER ANY SIMILAR
PROVISION OF APPLICABLE LAW, AND THIS WAIVER OR A COPY HEREOF IS ALLEGED IN SUCH
PETITION AND ATTACHED THERETO, THE COURT BEFORE WHICH SUCH PETITION IS FILED MAY
DISPENSE WITH ALL RIGHTS AND PROCEDURES HEREIN WAIVED AND MAY ISSUE FORTHWITH AN
IMMEDIATE WRIT OF POSSESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 14 OF TITLE 44 OF THE
OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY SIMILAR PROVISION OF
APPLICABLE LAW, WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF AN ACCOMPANYING BOND AS OTHERWISE
REQUIRED BY SECTION 44-14-263 OF THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA OR BY ANY SIMILAR
PROVISION UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. EACH BORROWER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS
READ AND FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE TERMS OF THIS WAIVER AND THE EFFECT HEREOF.

         SECTION 16.7  Consent to Advertising and Publicity. With the prior
written consent of the Borrowers, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, may issue and disseminate to the
public information describing the credit accommodation entered into pursuant to
this Agreement, including the name and address of the Borrowers, the amount,
interest rate, maturity, collateral for and a general description of the credit
facilities provided hereunder and of the Borrowers' business.

         SECTION 16.8  Reversal of Payments. The Agent and each Lender shall 
have the continuing and exclusive right to apply, reverse and re-apply any and
all payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations in a manner consistent
with the terms of this Agreement. To the extent the Borrowers make a payment or
payments to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, or any Lender receives
any payment or proceeds of the Collateral for the Borrowers' benefit, which
payment(s) or proceeds or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated,
declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be
repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state
or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such
payment or proceeds received, the Secured Obligations or part thereof intended
to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect, as if
such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Agent or such Lender.

         SECTION 16.9  Injunctive Relief. The Borrowers recognize that, in the
event the Borrowers fail to perform, observe or discharge any of their
obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy at law may prove to
be inadequate relief to the Agent and the Lenders; 



                                      121
<PAGE>   129

therefore, the Borrowers agree that if any Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, the Agent and the Lenders, if the Agent or any Lender so
requests, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief without
the necessity of proving actual damages.

         SECTION 16.10  Accounting Matters. All financial and accounting
calculations, measurements and computations made for any purpose relating to
this Agreement, including, without limitation, all computations utilized by the
Borrowers to determine whether it is in compliance with any covenant contained
herein, shall, unless this Agreement otherwise provides or unless Required
Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, be performed in accordance with
GAAP.

         SECTION 16.11  Amendments.

         (a)      Except as set forth in SUBSECTION (B) below, any term, 
covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents may be amended or waived, and any departure therefrom may be consented
to by the Required Lenders, if, but only if, such amendment, waiver or consent
is in writing signed by the Required Lenders and, in the case of an amendment
(other than an amendment described in SECTION 16.11(D)), by the Borrowers,
PROVIDED that no such amendment, unless consented to by the Agent or the
Co-Agent, shall alter or affect the rights or responsibilities of the Agent or
the Co-Agent (as the case may be), and in any such event, the failure to
observe, perform or discharge any such term, covenant, agreement or condition
(whether such amendment is executed or such waiver or consent is given before or
after such failure) shall not be construed as a breach of such term, covenant,
agreement or condition or as a Default or an Event of Default. Unless otherwise
specified in such waiver or consent, a waiver or consent given hereunder shall
be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for
which given. In the event that any such waiver or amendment is requested by the
Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders may require and charge a fee in connection
therewith and consideration thereof in such amount as shall be determined by the
Agent and the Required Lenders in their discretion.

         (b)      Without the prior unanimous written consent of the Lenders,

                  (i)      no amendment, consent or waiver shall (A) affect the
         amount or extend the time of the obligation of any Lender to make Loans
         or (B) extend the originally scheduled time or times of payment of the
         principal of any Loan or (C) alter the time or times of payment of
         interest on any Loan or of any fees payable for the account of the
         Lenders or (D) alter the amount of the principal of any Loan or the
         rate of interest thereon or (E) alter the amount of any commitment fee
         or other fee payable hereunder for the account of the Lenders or (F)
         permit any subordination of the principal of or interest on any Loan or
         (G) permit the subordination of the Security Interests in any
         Collateral,

                  (ii)     no Collateral having an aggregate value greater than
         $500,000 shall be released by the Agent in any 12-month period other
         than as specifically permitted in this Agreement or the Security
         Documents nor shall any Collateral be released at a time when the Agent
         is entitled to exercise remedies hereunder upon default, nor shall any
         other Loan Party (including any guarantor) be released from its
         liability for the Secured 



                                      122
<PAGE>   130

         Obligations,

                  (iii)    except to the extent expressly provided in SECTION 
         5.7, the definitions "Borrowing Base", "Eligible Inventory", "Eligible
         Receivables", "Proportionate Share", and "Ratable Share" shall not be
         amended,

                  (iv)     none of the provisions of this SECTION 16.11, the
         definitions "Lenders" or "Required Lenders", or the provisions of
         ARTICLE 13 shall be amended, and

                  (v)      neither the Agent nor any Lender shall consent to any
         amendment to or waiver of the amortization, deferral or subordination
         provisions of or any instrument or agreement evidencing or relating to
         obligations of the Borrowers that are expressly subordinate to any of
         the Secured Obligations if such amendment or waiver would be adverse to
         the Lenders in their capacities as Lenders hereunder;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Required Lenders shall have the right to waive any Default or Event of Default
and the consequences hereunder of such Default or Event of Default provided only
that such Default or Event of Default does not arise under SECTION 13.1(G) OR
(H) or out of a breach of or failure to perform or observe any term, covenant or
condition of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than the
provisions of ARTICLE 13 of this Agreement) the amendment of which requires the
unanimous consent of the Lenders. The Required Lenders shall have the right,
with respect to any Default or Event of Default that may be waived by them, to
enter into an agreement with the Borrowers or the Guarantor providing for the
forbearance from the exercise of any remedies provided hereunder or under the
other Loan Documents without thereby waiving any such Default or Event of
Default.

         (c)      The making of Loans hereunder by the Lenders during the 
existence of a Default or Event of Default shall not be deemed to constitute a
waiver of such Default or Event of Default.

         (d)      Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or the other 
Loan Documents to the contrary, no consent, written or otherwise, of the
Borrowers shall be necessary or required in connection with any amendment to
ARTICLE 15 or SECTION 5.7, and any amendment to such provisions may be effected
solely by and among the Agent and the Lenders, PROVIDED that no such amendment
shall impose any obligation on the Borrowers.

         SECTION 16.12  Assignment. All the provisions of this Agreement shall 
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrowers may not assign or
transfer any of its rights under this Agreement.

         SECTION 16.13  Performance of Borrowers' Duties.

         (a)      The Borrowers' obligations under this Agreement and each of 
the Loan Documents shall be performed by the Borrowers at their sole cost and
expense.

         (b)      If any Borrower shall fail to do any act or thing which it has
covenanted to do



                                      123
<PAGE>   131

under this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, the Agent, on behalf of the
Lenders, may (but shall not be obligated to) do the same or cause it to be done
either in the name of the Agent or the Lenders or in the name and on behalf of
the Borrowers, and the Borrowers hereby irrevocably authorize the Agent so to
act.

         SECTION 16.14  Indemnification. The Borrowers agree to reimburse the
Agent, the Co-Agent and the Lenders for all costs and expenses, including
reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, incurred, and to indemnify and hold
the Agent, the Co-Agent and the Lenders harmless from and against all losses
suffered by, the Agent or any Lender in connection with

         (a)      the exercise by the Agent, the Co-Agent or any Lender of any 
right or remedy granted to it under this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents,

         (b)      any claim, and the prosecution or defense thereof, arising out
of or in any way connected with this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, and

         (c)      the collection or enforcement of the Secured Obligations or 
any of them,

other than such costs, expenses and liabilities arising out of the Agent's, the
Co-Agent's or any Lender's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         SECTION 16.15  All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of attorney
and other authorizations granted to the Agent and the Lenders and any Persons
designated by the Agent or the Lenders pursuant to any provisions of this
Agreement or any of the Loan Documents shall be deemed coupled with an interest
and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Secured Obligations remain unpaid
or unsatisfied.

         SECTION 16.16  Survival. Notwithstanding any termination of this 
Agreement,

         (a)      until all Secured Obligations have been irrevocably paid in 
full or otherwise satisfied, the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, shall
retain its Security Interest and shall retain all rights under this Agreement
and each of the Security Documents with respect to such Collateral as fully as
though this Agreement had not been terminated,

         (b)      the indemnities to which the Agent and the Lenders are 
entitled under the provisions of this ARTICLE 16 and any other provision of this
Agreement and the Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and
shall protect the Agent and the Lenders against events arising after such
termination as well as before, and

         (c)      in connection with the termination of this Agreement and the
release and termination of the Security Interests, the Agent, on behalf of
itself as agent and the Lenders, may require such assurances and indemnities as
it shall reasonably deem necessary or appropriate to protect the Agent and the
Lenders against loss on account of such release and termination, including,
without limitation, with respect to credits previously applied to the Secured
Obligations that may subsequently be reversed or revoked.



                                      124
<PAGE>   132

         SECTION 16.17  Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles,
Sections and subsections in this Agreement are for convenience only, and neither
limit nor amplify the provisions of this Agreement.

         SECTION 16.18  Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this
Agreement or any Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent
of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of
such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the
validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         SECTION 16.19  Governing Law. This Agreement, the Notes and the 
Security Documents (except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth therein)
shall be deemed to have been made in the State of Georgia and the validity,
construction, interpretation and enforcement hereof and thereof and the rights
of the parties hereto and thereto shall be determined under, governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Georgia, without
regard to principles of conflicts of law, except that the waiver contained in
the first sentence of SECTION 16.5 shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the internal laws of the jurisdiction in which any such action or
proceeding is commenced.

         SECTION 16.20  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall be
binding upon all parties, their successors and assigns, and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         SECTION 16.21  Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement, each of the
Loan Documents and all documents relating thereto, including, without
limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be
executed, (b) documents received by the Agent or any Lender, and (c) financial
statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished
to the Agent or any Lender, may be reproduced by the Agent or such Lender by any
photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other
similar process and such Person may destroy any original document so produced.
Each party hereto stipulates that, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law,
any such reproduction shall be as admissible in evidence as the original itself
in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original shall
be in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by the Agent or
such Lender in the regular course of business), and any enlargement, facsimile
or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.

         SECTION 16.22  Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect
from the Agreement Date through the Termination Date and thereafter until all
Secured Obligations shall have been irrevocably paid and satisfied in full. No
termination of this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the
parties hereto arising prior to such termination.

         SECTION 16.23  Pro-Rata Participation.

         (a)      Each Lender agrees that if, as a result of the exercise of a 
right of setoff, banker's lien or counterclaim or other similar right or the
receipt of a secured claim it receives any



                                      125
<PAGE>   133

payment in respect of the Secured Obligations, it shall promptly notify the
Agent thereof (and the Agent shall promptly notify the other Lenders). If, as a
result of such payment, such Lender receives a greater percentage of the Secured
Obligations owed to it under this Agreement than the percentage received by any
other Lender, such Lender shall purchase a participation (which it shall be
deemed to have purchased simultaneously upon the receipt of such payment) in the
Secured Obligations then held by such other Lenders so that all such recoveries
of principal and interest with respect to all Secured Obligations owed to each
Lender shall be pro rata on the basis of its respective amount of the Secured
Obligations owed to all Lenders, PROVIDED that if all or part of such
proportionately greater payment received by such purchasing Lender is thereafter
recovered by or on behalf of the Borrowers from such Lender, such purchase shall
be rescinded and the purchase price paid for such participation shall be
returned to such Lender to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

         (b)      Each Lender which receives such a secured claim shall, to the
extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a
manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders entitled under this SECTION
16.24 to share in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

         (c)      The Borrowers expressly consent to the foregoing arrangements 
and agree that any holder of a participation in any Secured Obligation so
purchased or otherwise acquired of which the Borrowers have received notice may
exercise any and all rights of banker's lien, set-off or counterclaim with
respect to any and all monies owing by the Borrowers to such holder as fully as
if such holder were a holder of such Secured Obligation in the amount of the
participation held by such holder.



                                      126
<PAGE>   134

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized officers in several counterparts all as of the
day and year first written above.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>  
[Corporate Seal]                                             BORROWERS:

Attest:                                                      RIDGEVIEW, INC.


By:                                                          By:
   --------------------------------------                       --------------------------------------
   Name:                                                     Name:
        ---------------------------------                         ------------------------------------
   Title:                                                    Title:
         --------------------------------                          -----------------------------------


[Corporate Seal]

Attest:                                                      SENECA KNITTING MILLS
                                                              CORPORATION

By:
   --------------------------------------                    
   Name:                                                     By:
        ---------------------------------                       --------------------------------------
     Title:                                                  Name:
           ------------------------------                         ------------------------------------
                                                             Title:
                                                                   -----------------------------------

[Corporate Seal]

Attest:                                                      TRI-STAR HOSIERY MILLS, INC.


By:                                                          By:
   --------------------------------------                       --------------------------------------
   Name:                                                     Name:
        ---------------------------------                         ------------------------------------
   Title:                                                    Title:
         --------------------------------                          -----------------------------------


                                                             AGENT:

                                                             BANKBOSTON, N.A.


                                                             By:
                                                                --------------------------------------
                                                                Name:
                                                                     ---------------------------------
                                                                Title:
                                                                      --------------------------------
</TABLE>



                                      127
<PAGE>   135

                                       CO-AGENT:

                                       GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL 
                                       CORPORATION


                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                       LENDERS:

                                       BANKBOSTON, N.A.


                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                       Address:  115 Perimeter Center Place
                                                 Suite 500
                                                 Atlanta, Georgia  30346
                                                 Attn:  Roger N. Arsham
                                                 Facsimile No.:(770) 393-4166

                                       GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL 
                                       CORPORATION


                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------

                                       Address:  3379 Peachtree Road, N.E.
                                                 Suite 600
                                                 Atlanta, Georgia  30326
                                                 Attn:  Kathy Plisko
                                       Facsimile No.:(404) 262-9032



                                      128
<PAGE>   136

                                       CITIZENS BUSINESS CREDIT, a Division of 
                                       Citizens Leasing Corporation, a Rhode 
                                       Island corporation


                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------


                                        Address:
                                                   100 Galleria Parkway
                                                   Suite 1655
                                                   Atlanta, Georgia  30339
                                                   Attn:  William Benning
                                                   Facsimile No.:(770) 850-4895



                                      129