Document:

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                                                                 Exhibit 10.9(f)

                             FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE
                     AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

               FIFTH AMENDMENT dated as of July 27, 2001 (this "Amendment") with
respect to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 10, 1999
(as amended, the "Credit Agreement") by and among Applied Graphics Technologies,
Inc. (the "Borrower"), the lenders party thereto (the "Lenders") and Fleet
National Bank (formerly known as BankBoston, N.A.), as agent (the
"Administrative Agent").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

               WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have made
Advances and other financial accommodations to the Borrower which remain
outstanding; and

               WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders amend the Credit Agreement, and the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders are willing to do so, but only on the terms and conditions set forth
herein;

               NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other
good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                  DEFINITIONS

               Section 1.1. Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined herein,
capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned in the Credit Agreement
and the following terms shall have the following meanings:

               "Amendment Fee" has the meaning specified in Section 6.2(b).

               "Business Plan" has the meaning specified in Section 3.1(j).

               "Cash on Hand" means, at any date of determination, the aggregate
        collected cash balances on deposit in the Included Accounts.

               "Documentation Benchmark" means the execution and delivery by the
        Borrower and a bona fide third party of one or more definitive
        agreements (e.g., a merger agreement, a purchase and sale agreement or
        other similar agreement) in respect of the Type A Capital Event or the
        Type B Capital Event, as applicable.

               "Effective Date" means the first date on which the conditions
        precedent specified in Article IV of this Amendment shall have been
        satisfied or the satisfaction thereof shall have been waived in
        accordance with the terms hereof.

               "Employee and Tax-Related Accounts" means the Borrower's and each
        of its Subsidiaries' payroll accounts, medical accounts, insurance
        accounts, payroll tax accounts, and income tax accounts.

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               "Excluded Accounts" means (a) Employee and Tax-Related Accounts,
        but only to the extent that (i) funds held in such accounts do not
        exceed the amount of the next required payroll, medical, insurance or
        tax payment for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as appropriate,
        (ii) funds are not held in payroll accounts more than three days in
        advance of the relevant payroll date and (iii) funds are not held in
        Employee and Tax-Related Accounts (other than payroll accounts) more
        than one week in advance of the date that payment is required by the
        relevant payee, (b) the Ispot Partnership Account, but only to the
        extent that activity in such account complies with the provisions of
        Section 3.1(b), and (c) the accounts of Applied Graphics Technologies
        (UK) Limited, Wace Group Limited and any of their Subsidiaries organized
        under the laws of the United Kingdom or Australia, but only to the
        extent that funds held in such accounts do not exceed a collected cash
        balance on any calculation day of more than GBP 1,500,000 in the United
        Kingdom and AUD 250,000 in Australia.

               "Financial Advisor" has the meaning specified in Section 3.1(f).

               "Foreign Collateral Documents" has the meaning specified in
        Section 3.1(g).

               "Included Account" means any account included in "cash
        equivalents" on the balance sheets of the Borrower or any of its
        Subsidiaries maintained at any bank or other financial institution that
        is a depository account within the Borrower's cash management system,
        except for Excluded Accounts.

               "Investment Bankers" has the meaning specified in Section 3.1(f).

                "Ispot Partnership Account" means Account No. 9399234220
        maintained at Fleet.

               "Ispot Partnership" means the alliance among the Borrower, Gerald
        & Cullen Rapp, Inc. and Showcase-Online LLC, originally created pursuant
        to that certain Agreement for Internet Services, dated July 19, 1996, as
        subsequently modified.

               "Mortgage Instruments" has the meaning specified in Section
        3.1(g).

               "2001 Forecast" means the forecast of the Borrower dated June 25,
        2001, and delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section
        4.1(d).

               "Warrants" means warrants to purchase the common stock of the
        Borrower, as more fully described in Section 6.3, and substantially in
        the form of Exhibit E hereto.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                   AMENDMENTS

               Section 2.1. Amendments to Section 1.1 (Definitions).

                       (a)     Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended by (i) deleting the definitions of "Applicable Margin", "DPG Sale",
"EBITDA", "Excess Cash Flow", "Revolving Credit Advance", "Revolving Credit
Lender", "Revolving Credit Commitments", "Revolving Credit Termination Date",
and (ii) inserting the following definitions in their proper alphabetical order:

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               "APPLICABLE MARGIN" means, at any date of determination thereof:

                       (i)     With respect to Revolving Credit Advances and
        Term Loan A Advances, 3.75% for Eurodollar Rate Advances and 2.50% for
        Prime Rate Advances;

                       (ii)    With respect to Term Loan B Advances, 4.25% for
        Eurodollar Rate Advances and 3.00% for Prime Rate Advances; and

                       (iii)   With respect to Term Loan C Advances, 4.50% for
        Eurodollar Rate Advances and 3.25% for Prime Rate Advances.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that (a) the Borrower fails
        to consummate the Type A Capital Event on or before December 31, 2001,
        the Applicable Margin with respect to each Facility shall be increased
        by 1% over the margin for each such Facility set forth above for the
        period beginning January 1, 2002 through the date of the consummation of
        the Type A Capital Event, and (b) the Borrower fails to consummate the
        Type B Capital Event on or before April 30, 2002, the Applicable Margin
        with respect to each Facility shall be increased by 1% over the margin
        then in effect for each such Facility for the period beginning May 1,
        2002 through the date of the consummation of the Type B Capital Event.

               "AMENDMENT PERIOD REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCE" has the meaning
        specified in Section 2.01(a)(ii).

               "AMENDMENT PERIOD REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENT" means, with
        respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the amount set forth
        opposite such Lender's name on Schedule I as such Lender's Amendment
        Period Revolving Credit Commitment, or, if such Lender has entered into
        one or more Assignments and Acceptances, the amount set forth for such
        Lender in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant
        to Section 8.07(d) as such Lender's "Amendment Period Revolving Credit
        Commitment", as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time
        pursuant to Section 2.05. The aggregate amount of the Lenders' Amendment
        Period Revolving Credit Commitment is $30,000,000.

               "BORROWING BASE" means, at any date of determination, (i) 80% of
        the aggregate amount of Eligible Receivables on such date, less (ii) 80%
        of the then-current Offset Amount, less (iii) reasonable reserves
        established by the Administrative Agent from time to time.

               "BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE" means a certificate of a Responsible
        Officer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the
        Fifth Amendment.

               "CAPPED REVOLVER PERIOD" has the meaning specified in Section
        2.01(a)(iii).

               "DEFERRED AMOUNTS" has the meaning specified in Section
        2.04(b)(iv).

               "DPG SALE" means the sale by the Borrower and Devon Group, Inc.
        of all the capital stock or substantially all of the assets of Portal
        Publications, Ltd. and its Subsidiaries to a bona fide third party.

               "EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum, determined on a
        Consolidated basis without duplication, of (A) net income (or net loss)
        from continued and discontinued operations, plus, (B) to the extent
        deducted (or added) in determining net income for such period: (i)
        preferred dividends or charges for minority interest, (ii) provision for
        taxes (or minus tax benefit), (iii) net interest expense,

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        (iv) losses on the disposal of assets (or minus gains on the disposal of
        assets), (v) restructuring charges including the cost of implementing
        "Phase III" (including any severance or other costs incurred for such
        plans that are not included as part of "restructuring charges" in
        accordance with GAAP) (add-backs under this clause (v) or other
        add-backs made to calculate EBITDA shall not include any allocation of
        departmental expenses or charges from the Borrower or its Subsidiaries),
        (vi) fees and expenses associated with the Fifth Amendment, (vii) fees
        and expenses of non-employee professionals engaged by the Borrower, in
        connection with the Borrower's restructuring, and the Administrative
        Agent on an ongoing basis, including, without limitation, fees and
        expenses associated with clauses (v) and (vi) above, (viii)
        non-operating expense (or minus non-operating income) properly excluded
        from "operating income" in accordance with GAAP, and separately reported
        in filings under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as "Other
        income (expense) - net", (ix) depreciation expense, (x) amortization
        expense, (xi) non-cash expenses related to the granting of stock
        options, asset impairments and other permanent non-cash charges, (xii)
        extraordinary items, including extinguishment of debt, and (xiii)
        cumulative effect of change in accounting principles.

               "EFFECTIVE DATE" has the meaning specified in the Fifth
        Amendment.

               "ELIGIBLE RECEIVABLES" means, at any date of determination, the
        aggregate amount of all Receivables payable to the Borrower or any of
        its Domestic Subsidiaries, other than the following (in each case
        without duplication):

               (a)     accounts owing from account debtors located outside of
        the United States;

               (b)     accounts that are not assignable or for which a first
        priority security interest in such account in favor of the
        Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders has not been
        obtained and fully perfected;

               (c)     accounts subject to any Lien, other than (i) Liens in
        favor of the Administrative Agent for benefit of the Lenders and (ii)
        such other Liens described in clause (i) of the definition of Permitted
        Liens;

               (d)     accounts that do not constitute a legal, valid and
        binding irrevocable payment obligation of the account debtor to pay the
        balance thereof in accordance with its terms or is subject to any
        asserted or contractual defense, setoff, recoupment or counterclaim;

               (e)     accounts of the Borrower's Publishing Division (e.g.,
        Portal Publications Ltd. and its Subsidiaries);

               (f)     accounts of the Borrower's Broadcast Division;

               (g)     accounts for which the account debtor has not been sent
        an invoice;

               (h)     accounts more than 90 days from invoice date;

               (i)     [Intentionally Omitted];

               (j)     accounts from any account debtor which has filed a
        petition for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code (or similar
        action under any successor law or under any comparable law), made a
        general assignment for the benefit of creditors, had filed against it
        any petition or other application for relief under the United States
        Bankruptcy Code (or similar action under any

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        successor law or under any comparable law), called a meeting of its
        creditors for the purpose of obtaining any financial concession or
        accommodation, or had or suffered a receiver or a trustee to be
        appointed for all or a significant portion of its assets or affairs, or,
        to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, is
        otherwise winding up its affairs or has become insolvent; provided,
        however, that Eligible Accounts shall include accounts from any account
        debtor that either (A) relate to periods following the filing of a
        petition for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code with respect
        to such account debtor (except accounts from any account debtor whose
        case is converted post-petition to a case under Chapter 7 of the United
        States Bankruptcy Code pursuant to Section 706 thereof) or (B) the
        payment of which has been approved by final order of a United States
        Bankruptcy Court;

               (k)     accounts that have been placed with an attorney or other
        third party for collection;

               (l)     accounts from affiliates or Subsidiaries of the Borrower
        or any of its Subsidiaries (except, for purposes of this clause (l)
        only, accounts from U.S. News & World Report, L.P., Daily News, L.P. and
        Applied Printing Technologies, L.P.; provided, however, accounts from
        such affiliates shall be reduced to the extent that the Borrower or any
        of its Domestic Subsidiaries are liable for goods sold or services
        rendered by such affiliates);

               (m)     accounts from employees or directors of the Borrower or
        any of its Subsidiaries;

               (n)     accounts from any account debtor from whom 30% or more
        of the account balance is past 90 days from invoice date before giving
        effect to credit-related charge-offs (i.e., excluding normal documented
        credit memos or discounts issued in the ordinary course of business)
        made during the period 60 days ending on the date of determination; and

               (o)     accounts with respect to which the Borrower or any of
        its Subsidiaries have not complied with all material requirements of law
        applicable to such account or affecting the collectability of such
        account.

               "EXISTING REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCE" has the meaning specified in
        Section 2.01(a)(i).

               "EXISTING REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENT" means, with respect to any
        Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the amount set forth opposite such
        Lender's name on Schedule I as such Lender's Existing Credit Commitment,
        or, if such Lender has entered into one or more Assignments and
        Acceptances, the amount set forth for such Lender in the Register
        maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d) as
        such Lender's "Existing Revolving Credit Commitment", as such amount may
        be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.05. The
        aggregate amount of the Lenders' Existing Revolving Credit Commitment is
        $51,000,000.

               "EXCESS CASH FLOW" means, for any period, the difference (if
        positive) between (a) EBITDA and (b) Fixed Charges.

               "FIFTH AMENDMENT" means the Fifth Amendment to the Amended and
        Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2001.

               "FIXED CHARGES" means, for any period, the sum, determined on a
        Consolidated basis without duplication, of (i) cash interest paid or due
        but unpaid by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on all Debt, (ii)
        scheduled payments of principal amounts paid by the Borrower and its
        Subsidiaries on all Debt, including Capitalized Leases, (iii) cash
        Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower and

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        its Subsidiaries, and (iv) the aggregate amount of federal, state, local
        and foreign income taxes paid by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

               "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" has the meaning specified in Section
        4.01(v).

               "MONTHLY COVENANT" has the meaning specified in Section
        2.01(a)(iii).

               "OFFSET AMOUNT" means the greater of (i) $250,000 or (ii) the
        then-current Reset Amount.

               "PHASE III REPORT" has the meaning specified in Section 3.1(i) of
        the Fifth Amendment.

               "REAL PROPERTY" has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(z).

               "RESET AMOUNT" means, at any date of determination, an amount
        equal to (i) 1.5 multiplied by (ii) an amount equal to the lesser of,
        with respect to each account debtor, (x) the aggregate amount of
        Receivables payable to the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries
        from account debtors (other than U.S. News & World Report, L.P., Daily
        News, L.P. and Applied Printing Technologies, L.P.) to which the
        Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries are liable for goods sold
        or services rendered by such account debtors or (y) the aggregate amount
        for which the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries are liable to
        such account debtors.

               "REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCES" means each Existing Revolving Credit
        Advance and each Amendment Period Revolving Credit Advance.

               "REVOLVING CREDIT LENDER" means any Lender that has an Existing
        Revolving Credit Commitment and an Amendment Period Revolving Credit
        Commitment.

               "REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENTS" means, with respect to any
        Revolving Credit Lender, at any time, such Lender's Existing Revolving
        Credit Commitment and Amendment Period Revolving Credit Commitment.

               "REVOLVING CREDIT TERMINATION DATE" means the earlier of (i)
        January 15, 2003 and (ii) the Termination Date.

               "TYPE A CAPITAL EVENT" means (i) any issuance or sale of equity
        securities or junior debt securities or instruments, (ii) any Asset
        Disposition or (iii) any combination of events identified in clauses (i)
        and (ii) above, in any case, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the
        Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, that shall result in a
        payment in cash to the Lenders in an amount not less than $35,000,000.

               "TYPE B CAPITAL EVENT" means (i) any issuance or sale of equity
        securities or junior debt securities or instruments, (ii) any Asset
        Disposition, or (iii) any combination of events identified in clauses
        (i) and (ii) above, in any case, on terms and conditions satisfactory to
        the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, that shall result in
        a payment in cash to the Lenders in an amount not less than $15,000,000,
        provided, that if a Type A Capital Event results in a payment in cash to
        the Lenders in excess of $45,000,000, then such amount in excess of
        $45,000,000 shall be deemed to arise from a Type B Capital Event.

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                       (b)     The definition of "Capital Expenditures"
contained in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting
immediately after the word "improvements" therein the following:

        "and including, without limitation, purchased software".

                       (c)     The definition of "Interest Expense" contained
in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting clause (iv)
of said definition in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

        "(iv) the net payment, if any, payable in connection with Hedge
        Agreements less the net credit, if any, receivable in connection with
        Hedge Agreements (but excluding, for the purposes of calculating the
        financial covenants contained in Sections 5.04(b) and (c) only,
        permanent non-cash charges and non-cash credits associated in each case
        with changes, during, and as of the end of, such period, in the fair
        value of such Hedge Agreements) and".

                       (d)     The definition of "Interest Period" contained in
Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the reference
to "one, two, three or six months" in the second sentence thereof with "one or
two months".

               Section 2.2. Amendment to Section 2.01 (The Advances). Section
2.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting Section 2.01(a) in
its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

        "      (a)     THE REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCES.

                       (i)     Each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees,
        on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make advances
        (each an "EXISTING REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCE") to the Borrower from time
        to time on any Business Day during the period from the Initial Funding
        Date until the Revolving Credit Termination Date; provided, however,
        that no Lender shall make any Existing Revolving Credit Advance if,
        after giving effect thereto, such Lender's then outstanding Existing
        Revolving Credit Advances would exceed such Lender's Existing Revolving
        Credit Commitment; provided, further, that no Lender shall make any
        Existing Revolving Credit Advance until such time as the aggregate
        amount of outstanding Amendment Period Revolving Credit Advances has
        been reduced to $0. The aggregate amount of Existing Revolving Credit
        Advances on the Effective Date shall be no greater than $51,000,000.

                       (ii)    Each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees, on
        the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make advances (each
        an "AMENDMENT PERIOD REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCE") to the Borrower from
        time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Initial
        Funding Date until the Revolving Credit Termination Date; provided,
        however, that no Lender shall make any Amendment Period Revolving Credit
        Advance if, after giving effect thereto, (A) the aggregate total of all
        outstanding Amendment Period Revolving Credit Advances would exceed the
        Borrowing Base then in effect, (B) such Lender's then outstanding
        Amendment Period Revolving Credit Advances would exceed such Lender's
        Amendment Period Revolving Credit Commitment or (C) the aggregate amount
        of outstanding Existing Revolving Credit Advances shall be less than the
        aggregate Existing Revolving Credit Commitment.

                       (iii)   Each Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be in an
        aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in
        excess thereof (other than a Borrowing the proceeds of which shall be
        used solely to repay or prepay in full outstanding Swing Line Advances

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        or outstanding Letter of Credit Advances) and shall consist of Revolving
        Credit Advances made simultaneously by the Revolving Credit Lenders
        ratably according to their Revolving Credit Commitments. Subject to
        clauses (i) and (ii) above, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
        Revolving Credit Advances; provided, however, that, notwithstanding
        anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event that
        the Borrower fails to comply with the Minimum Consolidated EBITDA
        covenant set forth in Section 5.04(e) as at the last day of any month
        other than March, June, September or December (a "MONTHLY COVENANT"), no
        Lender shall be required to make, and the Borrower shall not be
        permitted to borrow, any Revolving Credit Advance until such time as (A)
        the Borrower shall be in compliance with all financial covenants
        (including the most recent Monthly Covenant) set forth in Sections 5.04
        (a) through (e) and (B) all other conditions to borrowing set forth in
        Section 3.03 shall have been satisfied; provided, however, that,
        notwithstanding the foregoing, during any period for which the Borrower
        is in breach of a Monthly Covenant but no Default or Event of Default
        shall then exist (the "CAPPED REVOLVER PERIOD"), the Borrower shall be
        permitted to repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Advances so long as the
        aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Advances outstanding at any time
        during such Capped Revolver Period shall not exceed the lesser of (x)
        the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Advances outstanding as at the
        time of the reporting of the breach of such Monthly Covenant and (y) the
        average daily Revolving Credit Advances outstanding during the month
        immediately preceding the month during which the breach of such Monthly
        Covenant is reported."

               Section 2.3. Amendment to Section 2.02 (Making the Advances).
Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the
following proviso immediately before the period at the end of the second
sentence thereof:

        "; provided, however, that no such Notice of Borrowing will be deemed
        effective until receipt by the Administrative Agent of the most recent
        Borrowing Base Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section
        5.03(q)."

               Section 2.4. Amendment to Section 2.04 (Repayment of Advances).
Section 2.04(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting at the
end thereof the following new Section 2.04(b)(iv):

        "              (iv)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
        contained in clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 2.04(b), the
        principal payments on the Term Loan Advances due on July 1, 2001,
        October 1, 2001, January 1, 2002 and April 1, 2002 shall be deferred and
        shall be payable as provided in this clause (iv) (as such principal
        payments become due and are actually deferred, the "Deferred Amounts").
        The Deferred Amounts (except to the extent otherwise paid or deemed paid
        from the Type A Capital Event, the Type B Capital Event or Excess Cash
        Flow) in an aggregate amount up to $10,000,000 shall be amortized on a
        monthly basis, commencing July 1, 2002, and payable in monthly amounts
        equal to the lesser of (i) $277,778 or (ii) 1/36 of the aggregate amount
        of such Deferred Amounts. Any Deferred Amounts in excess of $10,000,000
        shall be due and payable on January 15, 2003."

               Section 2.5. Amendment to Section 2.06 (Prepayments and
Repayments). Section 2.06 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting
at the end thereof the following new Section 2.06(f):

        "      (f)     BORROWING BASE. The Borrower shall from time to time
        prepay the Amendment Period Revolving Credit Advances in such amounts as
        shall be necessary so that at all times the aggregate outstanding amount
        of the Amendment Period Revolving Credit Advances shall not exceed the
        Borrowing Base then in effect."

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               Section 2.6. Amendment to Section 2.07 (Interest). Section 2.07
of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting Section 2.07(a)(ii) in its
entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

        "              (ii)    EURODOLLAR RATE ADVANCES. During such periods as
        such Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all
        times during each Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of (x) the
        Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period for such Advance plus (y) the
        Applicable Margin for such Advance in effect on the first day of such
        Interest Period, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest
        Period."

               Section 2.7. Amendment to Section 4.01(f). Section 4.01(f) of
the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the last reference to
"September 30, 1998" therein and inserting in lieu thereof a reference to "June
30, 2001".

        Section 2.8. Amendment to Section 4.01(s). Section 4.01(s) is hereby
amended by deleting said Section 4.01(s) in its entirety and inserting in lieu
thereof the following:

        "[Intentionally Omitted]".

               Section 2.9. Amendment to Section 4.01(v). Section 4.01(v) of the
Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting said Section 4.01(v) in its
entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

        "      (v)     Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any
        intellectual property material to its business other than as set forth
        in Schedule 2 to the Fifth Amendment (the "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY"). With
        respect to any Intellectual Property, the loss, impairment or
        infringement of which might have a Material Adverse Effect:

                       (i)     such Intellectual Property is subsisting and has
               not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part;

                       (ii)    to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, such
               Intellectual Property is valid and enforceable;

                       (iii)   the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have made all
               necessary filings and recordations with the appropriate
               recordation office to protect their respective interests in such
               Intellectual Property, including without limitation, recordations
               of all such interests in the intellectual property in the United
               States Patent and Trademark Office; and

                       (iv)    to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, the
               Borrower and its Subsidiaries are the exclusive owners of the
               entire and unencumbered right, title and interest in and to such
               Intellectual Property (except for Liens created under the Loan
               Documents) and, to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, no
               claim has been made that the use of such intellectual property
               does or may violate the asserted rights of any third party,
               except as set forth on Schedule 2."

               Section 2.10. Amendment to Section 4.01 (Representations and
Warranties). Section 4.01 is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the
following new Sections 4.01(z) and (aa):

        "      (z)     Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any
        real property in fee other than as set forth in Schedule 1 to the Fifth
        Amendment (the "REAL PROPERTY"). The Borrower and each of its
        Subsidiaries own all of the Real Property, free and clear of all Liens
        other than the Liens permitted pursuant to Section 5.02(b).

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               (aa) Except as heretofore disclosed to the Administrative Agent,
        none of Gallions Estates Ltd., Wace UK Holdings Limited, Wace Corporate
        Packaging Limited, Wace (Wiltshire) Ltd. or Wace Group Services Limited
        own, directly or indirectly, any assets or other property or conduct any
        business, and shall not after the Effective Date of the Fifth Amendment,
        own, directly or indirectly, any assets or other property or conduct any
        business.".

               Section 2.11. Amendment to Section 5.02(b) (Debt).  Section
5.02(b) is hereby amended by:

               (a)     inserting immediately before the first semi-colon in
Section 5.02(b)(iii)(E), and immediately after the word "Businesses" in Section
5.02(b)(iii)(G) the following:

        "outstanding on the Effective Date of the Fifth Amendment";

               (b)     deleting Section 5.02(b)(iii)(H) in its entirety and
inserting in lieu thereof the following:

        "[Intentionally Omitted]"; and

               (c)     inserting immediately at the end of Sections 5.02(b) the
following:

        "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section
        5.02(b), in the event that Debt incurred pursuant to Sections
        5.02(b)(iii)(A) and (B) following the Effective Date of the Fifth
        Amendment exceeds $2,500,000, then the Amendment Period Revolving Credit
        Commitment shall be deemed to be permanently reduced by an amount equal
        to 50% of the amount of such excess.".

               Section 2.12. Amendment to Section 5.02(d) (Fundamental
Changes). Section 5.02(d) is hereby amended by inserting immediately before the
period in Section 5.02(d)(iii) the following:

        "prior to the Effective Date of the Fifth Amendment".

               Section 2.13. Amendment to Section 5.02(e) (Sales, Etc., of
Assets). Section 5.02(e) is hereby amended by:

               (a)     deleting Section 5.02(e)(iv) in its entirety and
inserting in lieu thereof the following:

        "      (iv)    (x) prior to the Effective Date of the Fifth Amendment,
        any sales, leases, licenses, transfers or other dispositions of
        intellectual property in the ordinary course of business, (y) on or
        after the Effective Date of the Fifth Amendment, leases or licenses of
        intellectual property in the ordinary course of business; provided, that
        such leases or licenses could not be reasonably expected to have a
        Material Adverse Effect and (z) notwithstanding anything to the contrary
        set forth in clause (y) above, sales of intellectual property in
        connection with the DPG Sale;" and

               (b)     deleting Section 5.02(e)(v) in its entirety and inserting
in lieu thereof the following:

        "      (v)     (x) prior to the Effective Date of the Fifth Amendment,
        any sales of properties resulting from the Transaction or any sale of
        real property, (y) on or after the Effective Date of the Fifth
        Amendment, any individual sale or series of related sales of real
        property to a bona fide third party in an amount up to $2,000,000;
        provided, however, (A) each such sale shall be for not less than fair
        market value as evidenced by a broker's letter as to value and (B) the
        aggregate amount of

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11

        such sales shall not exceed $10,000,000 and (z) notwithstanding anything
        to the contrary set forth in clause (y) above, sales of real property in
        connection with the DPG Sale;".

               Section 2.14. Amendment to Section 5.02(f) (Investments in Other
Persons). Section 5.02(f) is hereby amended by deleting Sections 5.02(f)(ix) and
(xi) in their entirety.

               Section 2.15. Amendment to Section 5.02(g) (Dividends). Section
5.02(g) is hereby amended by inserting immediately before the period in Section
5.02(g)(iv) the following:

        "prior to the Effective Date of the Fifth Amendment".

               Section 2.16. Amendment to Section 5.02(q) (Issuance of Stock).
Section 5.02(q) is hereby amended by deleting the word "and" at the end of
Section 5.02(q)(F), replacing the period at the end of Section 5.02(q)(G) with
"; and" and inserting at the end of Section 5.02(q) the following new Section
5.02(q)(H):

        "                      (H) subject to the provisions of the Fifth
        Amendment, the Warrants (as defined therein) and any stock issued
        pursuant to the Warrants.".

               Section 2.17. Amendment to Section 5.02(p) (Capital
Expenditures). Section 5.02(p) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting said Section 5.02(p) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:

        "      (p)     CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. Make or commit to make, or permit
        any of its Subsidiaries to make or commit to make, any Capital
        Expenditures except that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be
        permitted to make or commit to make Capital Expenditures (i) during the
        period beginning July 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001 in an aggregate
        amount up to $8,500,000 and (ii) during fiscal year 2002 in an aggregate
        amount up to $14,600,000; provided, however, amounts in an aggregate
        amount up to $2,500,000 permitted to be expended in the period
        identified in clause (i) that are not expended in such period shall be
        permitted to be expended during fiscal year 2002."

               Section 2.18. Amendment to Section 5.03(b) (Monthly Financials).
Section 5.03(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting said
Section 5.03(b) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

        "      (b)     PERIODIC REPORTING. On or before:

                       (i)     the first and third Tuesday of each month, a
        sixteen week rolling cash flow forecast which shall detail all sources
        and uses of cash on a weekly basis and shall report any variances from
        the prior report, and which, to the extent necessary, shall be
        reforecast in its entirety as of the end of each month (including a
        variance analysis with respect to such reforecast);

                       (ii)    the tenth Business Day of each month (or, in the
        case of July 2001 and August 2001, the fifteenth Business Day), a
        "Financial Statement Highlights" indicating revenue, gross profit and
        operating income for each operating division and on a consolidated basis
        for the preceding month, and year to date, in each case compared to (A)
        the 2001 Forecast (as defined in the Fifth Amendment), for each month
        ending during the period from the Effective Date through December 31,
        2001, and (B) the Business Plan (as defined in the Fifth Amendment) for
        each month ending after December 31, 2001; and

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12

                       (iii)   the last Business Day of each month, (A)
        consolidating and consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for
        the preceding month and year to date, (B) an accounts receivable aging
        summary of the Borrower and its major Subsidiaries reconciled to the
        consolidated balance sheet, and (C) an accounts payable summary of the
        Borrower and its major Subsidiaries reconciled to the consolidated
        balance sheet, in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to the
        Administrative Agent and the Lenders;

        all of the foregoing to be in reasonable detail and, with respect to
        clause (iii) above, duly certified by a Responsible Officer of the
        Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to
        normal year-end audit adjustments and quarter-end review adjustments and
        the absence of footnotes).".

               Section 2.19. Amendment to Section 5.03 (Reporting Requirements).
Section 5.03 is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new
Sections 5.03(q) and (r):

        "      (q)     BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE.  On or before Wednesday of
        each week, a Borrowing Base Certificate detailing the Borrowing Base as
        of Friday of the preceding week.

               (r)     RESET AMOUNT CERTIFICATE. On or before the 10th Business
        Day following the end of each fiscal quarter, a certificate of a
        Responsible Officer of the Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory
        to the Administrative Agent, detailing the Reset Amount as of the last
        day of the preceding fiscal quarter.".

               Section 2.20. Amendment to Section 5.04(a) (Consolidated Total
Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio). Section 5.04(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended by deleting said Section 5.04(a) in its entirety and inserting in lieu
thereof the following:

        "      (a)     CONSOLIDATED TOTAL FUNDED DEBT TO EBITDA RATIO. Maintain
        a ratio of (i) Total Funded Debt to (ii) EBITDA as at the last day of
        each fiscal quarter of the Borrower of not more than the ratios set
        forth below (calculated on the basis of (x) annualized amounts,
        cumulatively from and including the fiscal quarter beginning April 1,
        2001, in the case of any fiscal quarter ending on or before December 31,
        2001, and (y) the cumulative aggregate amounts for the immediately
        preceding four full fiscal quarters, in the case of any fiscal quarter
        ending after December 2001):

               Period Ending In:                          Ratio:
               ----------------                           -----

               September 2001                             9.14:1.00
               December 2001                              7.82:1.00
               March 2002                                 7.88:1.00
               June 2002                                  8.33:1.00
               September 2002                             9.05:1.00
               December 2002                              8.62:1.00".

               Section 2.21. Amendment to Section 5.04(b) (Consolidated Senior
Debt to EBITDA Ratio). Section 5.04(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
by deleting said Section 5.04(b) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof
the following:

        "      (b)     ADJUSTED INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO. Maintain a ratio of (i)
        EBITDA to (ii) Interest Expense plus Capital Expenditures as at the last
        day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower of not less than the ratios
        set forth below (calculated on the basis of cumulative aggregate amounts
        (x) for the period from April 1, 2001 to the last day of such fiscal
        quarter, in the case of any fiscal quarter

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

        ending on or before December 31, 2001, and (y) for the immediately
        preceding four full fiscal quarters, in the case of any fiscal quarter
        ending after December 2001):

               Period Ending In:                          Ratio:
               ----------------                           -----

               September 2001                             0.69:1.00
               December 2001                              0.67:1.00
               March 2002                                 0.65:1.00
               June 2002                                  0.68:1.00
               September 2002                             0.66:1.00
               December 2002                              0.70:1.00".

               Section 2.22. Amendment to Section 5.04(c) (Interest Coverage
Ratio). Section 5.04(c) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
said Section 5.04(c) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:

        "      (c)     INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO. Maintain a ratio of (i) EBITDA
        to (ii) Interest Expense as at the last day of each fiscal quarter of
        the Borrower of not less than the ratios set forth below (calculated on
        the basis of cumulative aggregate amounts (x) for the period from April
        1, 2001 to the last day of such fiscal quarter, in the case of any
        fiscal quarter ending on or before December 31, 2001, and (y) for the
        immediately preceding four full fiscal quarters, in the case of any
        fiscal quarter ending after December 2001):

               Period Ending In:                          Ratio:
               ----------------                           -----

               September 2001                             1.14:1.00
               December 2001                              1.10:1.00
               March 2002                                 1.07:1.00
               June 2002                                  1.09:1.00
               September 2002                             1.06:1.00
               December 2002                              1.13:1.00".

               Section 2.23. Amendment to Section 5.04(d) (Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio). Section 5.04(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
said Section 5.04(d) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:

        "      (d)     FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO. Maintain a ratio of (i)
        EBITDA to (ii) Fixed Charges, as at the last day of each fiscal quarter
        of the Borrower of not less than the ratios set forth below (calculated
        on the basis of cumulative aggregate amounts (x) for the period from
        April 1, 2001 to the last day of such fiscal quarter, in the case of any
        fiscal quarter ending on or before December 31, 2001, and (y) for the
        immediately preceding four full fiscal quarters, in the case of any
        fiscal quarter ending after December 2001):

               Period Ending In:                          Ratio:
               ----------------                           -----

               September 2001                             0.48:1.00
               December 2001                              0.47:1.00
               March 2002                                 0.49:1.00
               June 2002                                  0.56:1.00
               September 2002                             0.49:1.00
               December 2002                              0.48:1.00".

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

               Section 2.24. Amendment to Section 5.04(e) (Minimum Net Worth).
Section 5.04(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting said
Section 5.04(e) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

        "      (e)     MINIMUM CONSOLIDATED EBITDA . Maintain cumulative EBITDA
        as at the last day of each month of not less than the amounts set forth
        below for each such period (calculated on the basis of cumulative
        aggregate amounts (x) for the period from April 1, 2001 to the last day
        of such month, in the case of any month through February 2002 and (y)
        for the immediately preceding twelve full months, in the case of any
        month occurring after February 2002):

               Period Ending In:             Minimum Consolidated EBITDA:
               ----------------              ---------------------------

               July 2001                     $9,400,000
               August 2001                   $12,200,000
               September 2001                $15,200,000
               October 2001                  $18,400,000
               November 2001                 $21,100,000
               December 2001                 $22,300,000
               January 2002                  $22,500,000
               February 2002                 $24,000,000
               March 2002                    $28,000,000
               April 2002                    $28,200,000
               May 2002                      $28,400,000
               June 2002                     $28,000,000
               July 2002                     $27,500,000
               August 2002                   $26,800,000
               September 2002                $26,100,000
               October 2002                  $25,700,000
               November 2002                 $26,000,000
               December 2002                 $26,700,000;

        provided, however, that for the purposes of this Section 5.04(e) only,
        (i) for all periods from the date that the Borrower shall consummate the
        DPG Sale and prior to December 31, 2001, EBITDA shall be deemed to
        include the projected positive EBITDA of Portal Publications, Ltd. and
        its Subsidiaries for such periods as heretofore provided to the
        Administrative Agent which amounts shall be prorated for partial months
        (provided, however, that EBITDA of Portal Publications, Ltd. and its
        Subsidiaries for any month shall in no event exceed the projected amount
        for such month as heretofore provided to the Administrative Agent) and
        (ii) for all monthly periods beginning January 1, 2002 and thereafter,
        EBITDA shall not include the EBITDA, if any, of Portal Publications,
        Ltd. and its Subsidiaries.".

               Section 2.25. Amendment to Section 6.01 (Events of Default).
Sections 6.01(c) and (d) are hereby amended by inserting immediately after the
word "agreement" in each of said subsections the following:

        "(but excluding any Monthly Covenant)"

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

               Section 2.26. Amendment to Section 8.01 (Amendments, Etc.).
Section 8.01(a)(ii) is hereby amended by inserting immediately before the
semi-colon at the end thereof the following:

        "(except, in each case, as may be required in order to effectuate the
        Type A Capital Event or the Type B Capital Event)".

               Section 2.27. Amendment to Section 8.02 (Notices). Sections
8.02(i) and (ii) are hereby amended in their entirety by deleting said Sections
8.02(i) and (ii) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

               "(i)    if to the Borrower:

                       Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc.
                       450 West 33rd Street
                       11th Floor
                       New York, New York 10001
                       Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
                       Telephone No.:  (212) 716-6730
                       Facsimile No.: (212) 716-6786

                       with a copy to:

                       Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc.
                       450 West 33rd Street
                       3rd Floor
                       New York, New York 10001
                       Attention:  Chief Legal Officer
                       Telephone No.:  (212) 210-6345
                       Facsimile No.:   (212) 210-2312

               (ii)    if to the Administrative Agent:

                       Fleet National Bank
                       777 Main Street
                       Hartford, CT 06115
                       Attention: Ralph C. Palma
                       Telephone No.: (860) 986-5642
                       Facsimile No.: (860) 986-2435

                       with a copy to:

                       Mayer Brown & Platt
                       1675 Broadway
                       New York, New York 10019
                       Attention:  Brian Trust, Esq.
                       Telephone No.: (212) 506-2570
                       Facsimile No.: (212) 262-1910"

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16

               Section 2.28. Amendment to the Credit Agreement. The Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by replacing Schedule I with the Schedule I attached
hereto as Exhibit A.

                                  ARTICLE III
                                   AGREEMENTS

               Section 3.1. Agreements.

               (a)     Excess Cash Flow. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth in Section 2.06(b) or (c) of the Credit Agreement, (i) (A)
the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent, within 45 days after June
30 of each year and within 90 days after December 31 of each year, a certificate
of a Responsible Officer, certifying in reasonable detail as to Excess Cash Flow
measured as of the end of such fiscal half year and (B) within one Business Day
of the delivery of such certificate, prepay the Deferred Amounts and Advances in
an amount equal to such Excess Cash Flow, and (ii) any prepayments of Excess
Cash Flow pursuant to clause (i) above shall be applied, first, to the
prepayment of the Deferred Amounts and second, to the prepayment of the Advances
(in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.06(c)(ii) of the Credit
Agreement).

               (b)     Cash on Hand Limitation. The Borrower shall furnish to
the Administrative Agent, no later than 12:00 p.m. (New York time) on each
Tuesday, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying in
reasonable detail as to Cash on Hand measured as of the preceding Friday. The
Borrower shall, by the close of business each Wednesday, prepay the Advances in
an amount equal to the amount of Cash on Hand in excess of $5,000,000 as of the
preceding Friday. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section
2.06(b) or (c) of the Credit Agreement, prepayments pursuant to this Section
3.1(b) shall be applied, first, to prepay Amendment Period Revolving Credit
Advances then outstanding until such Amendment Period Revolving Credit Advances
are paid in full and, second, to prepay Existing Revolving Credit Advances then
outstanding until such Existing Revolving Credit Advances are paid in full. Each
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries represents and covenants that it owns or
will own no depository accounts other than the Included Accounts and the
Excluded Accounts. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries further represents
and covenants that, as of the Effective Date, the balance in the Ispot
Partnership Account is not greater than $500,000 and, as of such date, no
advances shall be made to the Ispot Partnership, no repayments of indebtedness
or intercompany payables shall be made to the Ispot Partnership and no purchases
shall be made from the Ispot Partnership except normal trade transactions on an
arms-length basis.

               (c)     Capital Events. The Borrower shall use its best efforts
to consummate the Type A Capital Event on or before October 31, 2001. The
Borrower shall use its best efforts to consummate the Type B Capital Event on or
before February 28, 2002. It is understood that the failure to consummate the
Type A Capital Event or the Type B Capital Event by such dates shall not
constitute a Default or Event of Default.

               (d)     Application of Proceeds of Certain Events.

                       (i)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
        forth in Sections 2.06(b) or (c) of the Credit Agreement, (A) the
        proceeds of the Type A Capital Event and the Type B Capital Event, in
        aggregate amount up to $50,000,000, shall be applied, first, to the
        prepayment of the Deferred Amounts (and to amounts to be deferred within
        30 days of the consummation of a Capital Event) and, second, to the
        prepayment of the Advances in accordance with Section 2.06(c)(i) of the
        Credit Agreement, and (B) the proceeds of (1) the Type A Capital Event
        and the Type B Capital Event, in an aggregate amount in excess of
        $50,000,000 and (2) any issuance or sale of equity

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17

        securities or junior debt securities or instruments or of any Asset
        Disposition (in each case, other than in connection with the Type A
        Capital Event or the Type B Capital Event), in each case, shall be
        applied, first, on a pro rata basis to the prepayment in full of the
        Term Loan Advances and the Existing Revolving Credit Advances then
        outstanding (which prepayments shall permanently reduce the Existing
        Revolving Credit Commitment) until such Advances are paid in full,
        second, to the prepayment of the Letter of Credit Advances then
        outstanding under the Existing Revolving Credit Commitments, until all
        such Letter of Credit Advances are paid in full, third, to the
        prepayment of the Amendment Period Revolving Credit Advances then
        outstanding (which prepayments shall permanently reduce the Amendment
        Period Revolving Credit Commitment) until all such Advances are paid in
        full, fourth, to the prepayment of the Letter of Credit Advances then
        outstanding under the Amendment Period Revolving Credit Commitments,
        until all such Letter of Credit Advances are paid in full, and fifth, by
        depositing such amount in the L/C Cash Collateral Account, to cash
        collateralize 100% of the Available Amount of the Letters of Credit then
        outstanding.

                       (ii)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
        forth in Section 20(b) of the Security Agreement, all cash proceeds
        received in respect of any realization upon the Collateral, after an
        Event of Default and upon an acceleration of the indebtedness as a
        result therefrom, shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of all
        Amendment Period Revolving Credit Advances then outstanding (which
        prepayments shall permanently reduce the Amendment Period Revolving
        Credit Commitment), second, to the prepayment of the Letter of Credit
        Advances then outstanding under the Amendment Period Revolving Credit
        Commitments, until all such Letter of Credit Advances are paid in full,
        third, on a pro rata basis to the prepayment in full of the Term Loan
        Advances and the Existing Revolving Credit Advances then outstanding
        (which prepayments shall permanently reduce the Existing Revolving
        Credit Commitment) until such Advances are paid in full, fourth, to the
        prepayment of the Letter of Credit Advances then outstanding under the
        Existing Period Revolving Credit Commitments, until all such Letter of
        Credit Advances are paid in full, and fifth, by depositing such amount
        in the L/C Cash Collateral Account, to cash collateralize 100% of the
        Available Amount of the Letters of Credit then outstanding.

               (e)     Cash Management System; Certain Debits. The Borrower
        shall maintain its cash management system at the Administrative Agent or
        otherwise pursuant to depositary agreements in form and substance
        satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall
        be entitled, upon one Business Day's notice, to debit any operating
        account of the Borrower to collect costs and expenses to which the
        Administrative Agent is entitled pursuant to Section 8.04 of the Credit
        Agreement or Sections 3.1(h) and 6.2 of this Amendment.

               (f)     Financial Advisor; Investment Bankers. The Borrower shall
        (i) at all times continue the retention of The Recovery Group, or
        another financial advisor reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
        Agent and the Required Lenders (the "Financial Advisor"), (ii) until the
        consummation of the Type A Capital Event, continue the retention of
        Veronis Suhler, or another investment banker reasonably acceptable to
        the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders with respect to the
        scope of engagement set forth in that certain engagement letter between
        the Borrower and Veronis Suhler dated April 11, 2001 and (iii) retain on
        or before August 1, 2001 and thereafter continue the retention of an
        investment banker reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and
        the Required Lenders (the investment bankers retained pursuant to
        clauses (ii) and (iii), the "Investment Bankers"). Upon request, the
        Administrative Agent, the Lenders and their advisors shall be provided
        reasonable access to the Financial Advisor and the Investment Bankers
        and shall receive copies of all information provided to or from any of
        them.

               (g)     Mortgage Instruments; Foreign Collateral Documents;
        Intellectual Property Documents. (i) As soon as possible after the
        Effective Date, and in no event later than August 31, 2001, the Borrower
        and its Subsidiaries shall deliver to the Administrative Agent for the
        ratable benefit of the Lenders

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18

        (A) one or more security agreements and guarantees duly executed by each
        Foreign Subsidiary identified in Schedule 3 hereto, together with all
        documents and instruments necessary to perfect the security interests
        granted in such security agreements and such legal opinions as the
        Administrative Agent may reasonably request (the "Foreign Collateral
        Documents") and (B) one or more security agreements duly executed by the
        Borrower and its Subsidiaries as may be necessary to grant the
        Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders security
        interests in the Intellectual Property, together with all documents and
        instruments necessary to perfect the security interests (the "IP
        Collateral Documents"); and (ii) as soon as possible after the Effective
        Date, and in no event later than September 28, 2001, the Borrower and
        its Subsidiaries shall deliver to the Administrative Agent for the
        ratable benefit of the Lenders fully executed and notarized mortgages,
        deeds of trust or deeds to secure debt, as applicable (the "Mortgage
        Instruments"), with respect to the Real Property. The Mortgage
        Instruments, the Foreign Collateral Documents and the IP Collateral
        Documents shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the
        Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.

               (h)     Administrative Agent's Advisors. The Borrower shall
        cooperate in all respects with any financial advisor retained by the
        Administrative Agent and shall pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent
        for all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
        connection therewith.

               (i)     Phase III Report. The Borrower shall deliver to the
        Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as soon as available, but in any
        event not later than August 31, 2001, a written report describing in
        detail the initiatives to be considered in "Phase III" as described in
        the Borrower's presentation to the Lenders dated May 22, 2001 (the
        "Phase III Report"). The Phase III Report shall be in form and substance
        satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.
        Promptly following the delivery of the Phase III Report, the Borrower
        and the Financial Advisor shall, from time to time at the request of the
        Administrative Agent, consult with the Administrative Agent, the Lenders
        and their advisors with regard to all aspects of the implementation of
        the Phase III initiatives. The Borrower shall use best efforts to
        implement the Phase III initiatives as soon as practicable. The Borrower
        and the Financial Advisor shall participate on bi-weekly (or more
        frequently as the Administrative Agent shall request) conference calls
        with the Administrative Agent and its advisors regarding the analysis
        and implementation of the Phase III initiatives.

               (j)     Business Plan. The Borrower shall deliver to the
        Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or before October 31, 2001 a
        detailed business plan which plan shall be prepared on a "bottom-up"
        basis for each of the operating divisions of the Borrower (and
        reflecting, in particular, the operations of each business unit of each
        such operating division) (the "Business Plan"). The Business Plan shall
        identify and reflect the timing of the implementation of the "Phase III"
        action items and shall include, on a monthly basis, for the fifteen
        month period beginning October 1, 2001, (i) profit and loss statements,
        (ii) balance sheets, (iii) consolidated forecasts detailing cash flow
        and collateral levels. The Business Plan shall identify, among other
        things, (x) all sources of revenue and expenses, including without
        limitation, intended executive compensation and (y) the nature of all
        proposed Capital Expenditures. The Business Plan shall be in form and
        substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

               Section 3.2. Agreements Deemed Agreements under the Credit
Agreement. For purposes of the Credit Agreement, the agreements of the Borrower
contained in this Article III shall be deemed to be, and shall be, agreements
under the Credit Agreement. Any breach on the part of the Borrower in respect of
any agreement contained in Sections 3.1(a), (b), (g), (i) or (j) shall
constitute an Event of Default.

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                 EFFECTIVE DATE

               Section 4.1. Effective Date. This Amendment shall become
effective as of the date hereof upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of the
following:

               (a)     counterparts of this Amendment, duly executed and
delivered by the Borrower, each of the Subsidiaries listed on the signature
pages hereto, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;

               (b)     that portion of the Amendment Fee due on the Effective
Date, along with the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Administrative
Agent's professionals that have been invoiced as of July 27, 2001;

               (c)     evidence that outstanding Revolving Credit Advances
shall not be greater than $51,000,000;

               (d)     a copy of the 2001 Forecast;

               (e)     such legal opinions (including opinions from counsel to
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and from such local counsel as may be required
by the Administrative Agent), documents, and instruments as are customary for
transactions of this type or as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may
reasonably request;

               (f)     a guaranty supplement duly executed by each Domestic
Subsidiary identified in Schedule 3 hereto, in form and substance substantially
similar to that set forth in Exhibit C to this Amendment;

               (g)     a security agreement supplement duly executed by each
Domestic Subsidiary identified in Schedule 3 hereto, in form and substance
substantially similar to that set forth in Exhibit D to this Amendment, together
with all documents and instruments necessary to perfect the security interests
granted in such security agreements; and

               (h)     as may be requested by the Administrative Agent,
certified copies of the charter and by-laws (or equivalent documents), of each
Subsidiary identified in Schedule 3 hereto and of all corporate authority for
each such Subsidiary (including, without limitation, board of director
resolutions and evidence of the incumbency of officers) with respect to the
execution, delivery and performance of each Loan Document to which such
Subsidiary is intended to be a party and each other document to be delivered by
such Subsidiary from to time in connection herewith and with the extensions of
credit under the Credit Agreement (and the Administrative Agent and each Lender
may conclusively rely on such certificate until it receives notice in writing
from such Subsidiary to the contrary).

                                   ARTICLE V
                                 INTERPRETATION

               Section 5.1. Continuing Effect of the Credit Agreement. The
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby acknowledges and
agrees that the Credit Agreement shall continue to be and shall remain unchanged
and in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, except as expressly
modified hereby. Any terms or conditions contained in this Amendment shall
control over any inconsistent terms or conditions in the Credit Agreement or the
other Loan Documents.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20

               Section 5.2. No Waiver. Nothing contained in this Amendment shall
be construed or interpreted or is intended as a waiver of any Default or Event
of Default or of any rights, powers, privileges or remedies that the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders have or may have under the Credit Agreement,
any other related document or applicable law on account of such Default or Event
of Default.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

               Section 6.1. Representations and Warranties. The Borrower hereby
represents and warrants as of the date hereof that, after giving effect to this
Amendment, (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
and (b) all representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in the
Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
date hereof (or if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to
have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date).

               Section 6.2. Fees and Expenses.

               (a)     The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent
on demand all reasonable expenses including reasonable attorney's fees and
expenses of the Administrative Agent, incurred by the Administrative Agent, in
connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Fifth
Amendment.

               (b)     The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for
the account of each Lender on a pro rata basis, an amendment fee (the "Amendment
Fee") payable as follows: (i) $2,000,000 in cash on the Effective Date, (ii)
$500,000 in cash on November 1, 2001 only in the event the Borrower shall have
failed to achieve the Documentation Benchmark with respect to the Type A Capital
Event on or before October 31, 2001, (iii) $1,000,000 in cash on January 15,
2003 in the event that (A) the Borrower shall have failed to consummate the Type
A Capital Event on or before December 31, 2001 and (B) the Borrower shall not
have paid in full, in cash, all Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders under the Credit Agreement on or before January 15, 2003, (iv)
$500,000 in cash on March 1, 2002 in the event the Borrower shall have failed to
achieve the Documentation Benchmark with respect to the Type B Capital Event on
or before February 28, 2002 and (v) in addition to any fee owing pursuant to
clause (iii) above, $1,000,000 in cash on January 15, 2003 in the event that (A)
the Borrower shall have failed to consummate the Type B Capital Event on or
before April 30, 2002 and (B) the Borrower shall not have paid, in full, in
cash, all Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under
the Credit Agreement on or before January 15, 2003. The Amendment Fee shall be
deemed earned in full on the Effective Date.

               Section 6.3. Warrants. In the event the Borrower shall have
failed to achieve the Documentation Benchmark with respect to the Type A Capital
Event on or before December 31, 2001, the Borrower shall issue to the Lenders,
on January 1, 2002, detachable and freely transferable five year Warrants for
the purchase of common stock of the Borrower representing in the aggregate 5% of
the fully diluted common stock upon the Effective Date; provided, however, that
in the event the Borrower shall have consummated the Type A Capital Event on or
before February 28, 2002, such Warrants shall be cancelled. In addition to any
Warrants issued pursuant to the preceding sentence, in the event the Borrower
shall have failed to achieve the Documentation Benchmark with respect to the
Type B Capital Event on or before April 30, 2002, the Borrower shall issue to
the Lenders, on May 1, 2002, Warrants representing in the aggregate 5% of the
fully diluted common stock upon the Effective Date; provided, however, that in
the event the Borrower shall have consummated the Type B Capital Event on or
before June 30, 2002, such Warrants shall be cancelled. All such Warrants would
be exercisable on the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the issuance
thereof or (ii) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default at a nominal strike
price.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21

               Section 6.4. Confirmation of Indebtedness. The Borrower and the
Subsidiary Guarantors hereby confirm and acknowledge that, as of the Effective
Date, (i) the Borrower is truly and justly indebted to the Lenders, without
defense, counterclaim or offset of any kind, (ii) the Borrower is liable to the
Lenders in respect of Advances made under the Credit Agreement, as of July 24,
2001, in the aggregate principal amount of $250,635,275.34 (exclusive of Letters
of Credit) and (iii) each Subsidiary Guarantor is contingently liable to the
Lenders in respect of such amount.

               Section 6.5. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by the
parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, and all of said
counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.

               Section 6.6. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
(WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES).

               Section 6.7. Reservation of Rights. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Amendment, the Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders do not waive, and expressly reserve, the right to
exercise, at any time, any and all of their rights and remedies under the Credit
Agreement, any other related document and applicable law on account of any
Default or Event of Default.

               Section 6.8. Waiver. The Loan Parties hereby release, waive, and
forever relinquish all claims, demands, obligations, liabilities and causes of
action of whatever kind or nature, whether known or unknown, which any of them
has, may have, or might assert at the time of execution of this Amendment or in
the future against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and/or their respective
parents, affiliates, participants, officers, directors, employees, agents,
attorneys, accountants, consultants, successors and assigns (collectively, the
"Lender Group"), directly or indirectly, which occurred, existed, was taken,
permitted or begun prior to the execution of this Amendment, arising out of,
based upon, or in any manner connected with (i) any transaction, event,
circumstance, action, failure to act or occurrence of any sort or type, whether
known or unknown, with respect to the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document
and/or the administration thereof or the obligations created thereby, (ii) any
discussions, commitments, negotiations, conversations or communications with
respect to the refinancing, restructuring or collection of any obligations
related to the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the
administration thereof or the obligations created thereby, or (iii) any matter
related to the foregoing.

               Section 6.9. Consents. Each of the Administrative Agent and each
Lender hereby consents to (a) the DPG Sale for aggregate net cash consideration
in an amount not less than fair market value, and (b) the release by the
Administrative Agent of (i) all security interests held by it for the benefit of
the Lenders in the assets and/or stock that are the subject of the DPG Sale and
(ii) Portal Publications, Ltd. and its Subsidiaries from their obligations under
the Subsidiary Guaranty.

               Section 6.10. Fuji Letter. The Borrower and each Lender hereby
agree that, as of the Effective Date, that certain letter agreement, dated
December 8, 2000, from Fleet National Bank, as Administrative Agent and Lender,
to Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc., shall be of no further force or effect.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22

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

                               APPLIED GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                               MIRAMAR EQUIPMENT, INC.
                               DEVON GROUP, INC.
                               BLACK DOT GRAPHICS, INC.
                               ORENT GRAPHICARTS, INC.
                               TYPO-GRAPHICS, INC.
                               AMBROSI & ASSOCIATES, INC.
                               WEST COAST CREATIVE, INC.
                               ABD GROUP, INC.
                               MERIDIAN RETAIL, INC.
                               TAPROOT INTERACTIVE, INC.
                               PROOF POSITIVE/FARROWLYNE
                                  ASSOCIATES, INC.
                               ONE 2 ONE, INC.
                               PORTAL PUBLICATIONS, LTD.
                               THE WINN ART GROUP, LTD.
                               COLOR CONTROL, INC.
                               AGILE ENTERPRISE, INC.
                               AGT SYSTEM SERVICES, INC.
                               RETAIL PROFIT SOLUTIONS, INC.

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   23

                           FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Administrative Agent

                           By:
                                -----------------------------------
                                Title:

                           FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as a Lender, Issuing Bank
                              and Swing Line Bank

                           By:
                                -----------------------------------
                                Title:

                           BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender

                           By:
                                -----------------------------------
                                Title:

                           FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, N.A., as a Lender

                           By:
                                -----------------------------------
                                Title:

                           THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as a Lender

                           By:
                                -----------------------------------
                                Title:

                                      -23-
<PAGE>   24

                               THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as a Lender

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                               SOVEREIGN BANK, as a Lender

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                               MELLON BANK, N.A., as a Lender

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                               SUNTRUST BANK, N.A., as a Lender

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                               CITIZENS BANK OF MASSACHUSETTS, as a Lender

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                               THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Lender

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   25

                               BHF (USA) CAPITAL CORPORATION, as a Lender

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                               By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Title:

                                      -25-
<PAGE>   26

                                                                      Schedule 1

                                  REAL PROPERTY

1.      Property located at 225 West Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610
        owned by WUSA RE, Inc.

2.      Property located at 114 S. Racine Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607 owned
        by Ambrosi & Associates, Inc.

3.      Property located at 113 N. May Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607 owned by
        Ambrosi & Associates, Inc.

4.      Property located at 6120 Factory Road, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60039
        owned by Black Dot Graphics, Inc.

5.      Property located at 6210 Factory Road, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60039
        owned by Black Dot Graphics, Inc.

6.      Property located at 6209 Official Road, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60039
        owned by Black Dot Graphics, Inc.

7.      Property located at 6115 Official Road, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60039
        owned by Black Dot Graphics, Inc.

8.      Property located at 1001 W. North Street, Pontiac, Illinois 61764 owned
        by AGT.

9.      Property located at 2000 Judson, Lincoln, Nebraska 68521 owned by Orent
        Graphic Arts, Inc.

10.     Property located at 4805 G Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68117 owned by Orent
        Graphic Arts, Inc.

11.     Property located at 2602 East Livingston Street, Orlando, Florida 32803
        owned by Typo-Graphics, Inc.

12.     Property located at 3820 150 Avenue NE, Redmond, Washington 98052 owned
        by Color Control, Inc.

13.     Property located at 3116 West Avenue 32, Los Angeles, California 90065
        owned by AGT.

14.     Property located at 201 Alameda del Prado, Novato, California owned by
        Portal Publications, Inc.

<PAGE>   27

                                                                      Schedule 2

                              INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Patents and Patent Applications

1.      Appartatus and Method for Processing Images Using a Reciprocating Easel,
        US Patent Serial Number 08/708,751.

2.      Appartatus and Method for Processing Images Using a Reciprocating Easel,
        Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/US97114999.

Trademarks and Trademark Applications

1.      AGT

2.      Applied Graphics Technologies

3.      APT

4.      APT (stylized)

5.      Applied Printing Technologies

6.      ArtOnCall

7.      ArtOnCall and design

8.      Digital Link

9.      Digital Originals

10.     Gore Graphics

11.     Gore Graphics and design

12.     Spotlink

13.     Black Dot (stylized)

14.     Black Dot Group

15.     Customizing Your Cultural Experience

16.     Digizine and design

17.     Digizine (stylized)

<PAGE>   28

18.     Seven and Penguin design (pending)(1)

19.     Seven and Lightbulb design

20.     Seven and Zebra design

21.     Seven and Strawberry design

22.     Seven

23.     Seven and Fish design

24.     Seven and Knife design

25.     Seven and Marble design

26.     Wace USA

27.     The Image Network

28.     G.S. Imaging Services

29.     GS (stylized)

30.     Hexagon design

31.     Jahn & Ollier

32.     Pleasing Colour

33.     Techtron and design

34.     Techtron Imaging Network

35.     Digizine (Australia)

36.     Digital Link (Canada)

37.     Digizine (Canada)

38.     ArtOnCall and design (EC)

39.     Digizine (EC)

40.     Digital Link (Germany)

41.     Digital Link (Israel)

-----------------------
(1)     Penguin Books has filed a challenge with the PTO with respect to the use
of this mark.

<PAGE>   29

42.     Digizine (Japan)

43.     Digital Link (Mexico)

44.     Digitizine (Mexico)

45.     Digizine (New Zealand)

46.     Digital Link (Norway)

47.     Digizine (Singapore)

48.     Digital Link (Sweden)

49.     8 marks of Seven (listed as items 18-25 of this schedule) filed with the
        EC trademark office (pending)(2)

-----------------------
(2)     ProsibenSAT Gmbh is challenging these marks.

<PAGE>   30

                                                                      Schedule 3

                              JOINING SUBSIDIARIES

1.      Seven Worldwide, Inc.

2.      WUSA Re, Inc.

3.      R.E. Graphics, Inc.

4.      Applied Graphics Technologies (UK) Limited

5.      Devon Publishing Limited

6.      Portal Aird Publications Pty., Ltd.

7.      Seven Australia Pty. Limited

8.      Canadian Art Prints, Inc.

9.      Seven Sydney Pty., Ltd.

<PAGE>   31

                                EXHIBIT A TO THE
                                 FIFTH AMENDMENT

                                   Schedule I

                                   COMMITMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Existing    Additional      Total
                             Tranche A    Tranche B    Tranche C                Letter of    Revolving    Revolving    Revolving
                             Term Loan    Term Loan    Term Loan   Swing Line    Credit       Credit       Credit        Credit
          Lender             Commitment   Commitment   Commitment  Commitment  Commitment   Commitments  Commitments  Commitments
          ------             ----------   ----------   ----------  ----------  ----------   -----------  -----------  -----------

<S>                         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Fleet National Bank         $10,256,183  $56,864,066  $40,983,619  $5,000,000  $10,000,000  $10,189,800  $6,010,200   $16,200,000

Bank of America             $10,939,928                                                     $6,793,200   $4,006,800   $10,800,000

First Union Nat'l Bank       $9,116,607                                                     $5,661,000   $3,339,000    $9,000,000

The Chase Manhattan Bank     $9,116,607                                                     $5,611,000   $3,339,000    $9,000,000

The Bank of New York         $9,116,607                                                     $5,611,000   $3,339,000    $9,000,000

Sovereign Bank               $7,293,286                                                     $4,528,800   $2,671,200    $7,200,000

Mellon Bank                  $5,469,964                                                     $3,396,600   $2,003,400    $5,400,000

Suntrust Bank                $5,469,964                                                     $3,396,600   $2,003,400    $5,400,000

Citizens Bank                $5,469,964                                                     $3,396,600   $2,003,400    $5,400,000

The Bank of Nova Scotia     $3,3646,643                                                     $2,264,400   $1,335,600    $3,600,000

BHF (USA) Capital            $6,153,710   $4,610,600
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   32

                                                                       EXHIBIT E

                                EXHIBIT B TO THE
                                 FIFTH AMENDMENT

                       FORM OF BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE

                                                                           ,
                                                                   --------  ---

Fleet National Bank,
as Administrative Agent
777 Main Street
Hartford, CT  06115

Attention:     Ralph C. Palma

        This Certificate is delivered pursuant to the provisions of the Amended
and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 10, 1999 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Credit Agreement") among Applied
Graphics Technologies, Inc. (the "Borrower"), the several banks and other
financial institutions from time to time party to the Credit Agreement (the
"Lenders") and Fleet National Bank (the "Administrative Agent"). Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

        The undersigned hereby certifies that [s]he is an officer of the
Borrower and that, as such, is authorized to execute this Certificate on behalf
of the Borrower and further certifies that:

               (a)     for purposes of this Certificate, the date of
                       determination of the Borrowing Base is ______, _____ and

               (b)     the amounts set forth below are a true and correct
                       statement of the calculation of the Borrowing Base in
                       accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement.

        Gross Receivables
                                                                      ----------

        Accounts excluded from Eligible Receivables:

               1.      accounts owing from account debtors
        located outside of the United States                          ----------

               2.      accounts that are not assignable or for
        which a first priority security interest in such account      ----------
        in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of
        the Lenders has not been obtained and fully perfected

               3.      accounts subject to any Lien, other than
        (i) Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for            ----------
        benefit of the Lenders and (ii) such other Liens
        described in clause (i)

<PAGE>   33

        of the definition of Permitted Liens

               4.      accounts that do not constitute a legal,
        valid and binding irrevocable payment obligation of the       ----------
        account debtor to pay the balance thereof in accordance
        with its terms or is subject to any asserted or
        contractual defense, setoff, recoupment or counterclaim

               5.      accounts of the Borrower's Publishing
        Division (e.g., Portal Publications Ltd. and its              ----------
        Subsidiaries)

               6.      accounts of the Borrower's Broadcast
        Division                                                      ----------

               7.      accounts for which the account debtor has
        not been sent an invoice                                      ----------

               8.      accounts more than 90 days from invoice
        date                                                          ----------

               9.      accounts from any account debtor which
        has filed a petition for relief under the United States       ----------
        Bankruptcy Code (or similar action under any successor
        law or under any comparable law), made a general
        assignment for the benefit of creditors, had filed
        against it any petition or other application for relief
        under the United States Bankruptcy Code (or similar
        action under any successor law or under any comparable
        law), called a meeting of its creditors for the purpose
        of obtaining any financial concession or accommodation,
        or had or suffered a receiver or a trustee to be
        appointed for all or a significant portion of its assets
        or affairs, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any
        of its Subsidiaries, is otherwise winding up its affairs
        or has become insolvent; provided, however, that Eligible
        Accounts shall include accounts from any account debtor
        that either (A) relate to periods following the filing of
        a petition for relief under the United States Bankruptcy
        Code with respect to such account debtor (except accounts
        from any account debtor whose case is converted
        post-petition to a case under Chapter 7 of the United
        States Bankruptcy Code pursuant to Section 706 thereof)
        or (B) the payment of which has been approved by final
        order of a United States Bankruptcy Court

               10.     accounts that have been placed with an
        attorney or other third party for collection                  ----------

               11.     accounts from affiliates or Subsidiaries
        of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (except, for       ----------
        purposes of this item 11 only, accounts from U.S. News &
        World Report, L.P., Daily News, L.P. and Applied Printing
        Technologies, L.P.; provided, however, accounts from such
        affiliates shall be reduced to the extent that the
        Borrower or

                               -2-
<PAGE>   34

        any of its Domestic Subsidiaries are liable for goods
        sold or services rendered by such affiliates)

               12.     accounts from employees or directors of
        the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries                       ----------

               13.     accounts from any account debtor from
        whom 30% or more of the account balance is past 90 days       ----------
        from invoice date before giving effect to credit-related
        charge-offs (i.e., excluding normal documented credit
        memos or discounts issued in the ordinary course of
        business) made during the period 60 days ending on the
        date of determination

               14.     accounts with respect to which the
        Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries have not complied         ----------
        with all material requirements of law applicable to such
        account or affecting the collectability of such account

        Eligible Receivables:
                                                                      ----------

        Offset Amount for such date: the greater of (i) $250,000
        and (ii) an amount equal to (A) 1.5 multiplied by (B) an      ----------
        amount equal to the lesser of, with respect to each
        account debtor (x) the aggregate amount of Receivables
        payable to the Borrower or any of its Domestic
        Subsidiaries from account debtors (other than U.S. News &
        World Report, L.P., Daily News, L.P. and Applied Printing
        Technologies, L.P.) to which the Borrower or any of its
        Domestic Subsidiaries are liable for goods sold or
        services rendered by such account debtors and (y) the
        aggregate amount for which the Borrower or any of its
        Domestic Subsidiaries are liable to such account debtors.

        Less any reasonable reserves established by the
        Administrative Agent from time to time:                       ----------

        Borrowing Base for such date: 80% of Eligible
        Receivables, less 80% of the Offset Amount for such date,     ----------
        less any reasonable reserves established by the
        Administrative Agent from time to time:

        Aggregate Outstanding Amount of Amendment Period
        Revolving Credit Advances:                                    ----------

        Excess (Deficit):
                                                                      ----------

                               -3-
<PAGE>   35

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto executed this certificate on behalf of
the Borrower:

                                      -------------------------------------
                                      Name:
                                      Title:

                               -4-
<PAGE>   36

                                EXHIBIT C TO THE
                                 FIFTH AMENDMENT

                           FORM OF GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT

                                                                          ,
                                                            --------------  ----

Fleet National Bank, as Administrative Agent
777 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06115
Attention: Ralph C. Palma

        Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 10, 1999, among
        Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
        "Borrower"), the Lenders party thereto, and Fleet National Bank
        (formerly known as BankBoston, N.A.)., as Initial Issuing Bank, as Swing
        Line Bank and as Administrative Agent (as amended, the "Credit
        Agreement")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Reference is made to the above-defined Credit Agreement and to the
Guaranty referred to therein (such Guaranty, as in effect on the date hereof and
as it may hereafter be amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to
time, the "Guaranty"). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Guaranty.

        The undersigned hereby jointly and severally, unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all of the Guaranteed Obligations and
agrees to pay any and all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees
and expenses) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party on
the terms set forth in the Guaranty as if it were an original party thereto. On
and after the date hereof, each reference in the Guaranty to "Guarantor" shall
also mean and be a reference to the undersigned.

        The undersigned hereby agrees to be bound as a Guarantor by all of the
terms and provisions of the Guaranty to the same extent as each other Guarantor.

        THIS GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS
CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES).

        THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN
ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR
OTHERWISE, IN EQUITY OR AT LAW) ARISING OUT OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF ANY

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   37

        SECURED PARTY IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR
        ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     [ADDITIONAL GRANTOR]

                                     By:
                                         -----------------------------------

                                     Title:
                                            --------------------------------

                                     Address:
                                              ------------------------------

                                              ------------------------------

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   38

                                EXHIBIT D TO THE
                                 FIFTH AMENDMENT

                      FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

                                                                          ,
                                                            --------------  ----

Fleet National Bank, as Administrative Agent
777 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06115
Attention: Ralph C. Palma

        Security Agreement, dated as of June 3, 1999, made by Applied Graphics
        Technologies, Inc. and the other Grantors party thereto, to Fleet
        National Bank (formerly known as BankBoston, N.A.), as Administrative
        Agent for the Secured Parties

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Reference is made to the above-captioned Security Agreement (such
Security Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof and as it may hereafter be
amended, supplemented, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Security Agreement"). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Security Agreement.

        The undersigned hereby agrees, as of the date first above written, to
become a Grantor under the Security Agreement as if it were an original party
thereto and agrees that each reference in the Security Agreement to "Grantor"
shall also mean and be a reference to the undersigned.

        The undersigned hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative Agent,
for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the ratable benefit of the
Lenders, the Swing Line Bank and the Issuing Bank, and hereby grants to the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the
ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as security for the Secured Obligations,
a lien on, and security interest in, all of the right, title and interest of the
undersigned, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in and to the Collateral
owned by the undersigned, including, but not limited to, the property listed on
the attached supplements to Schedules I through III to the Security Agreement.
The undersigned hereby certifies that such supplements have been prepared by the
undersigned in substantially the form of such Schedules and are true, accurate
and complete as of the date hereof.

        The undersigned hereby makes each representation and warranty set forth
in Section 8 of the Security Agreement (as modified by the attached supplements
to the Schedules to the Security Agreement) to the same extent as each other
Grantor and hereby agrees to be bound as a Grantor by all of the terms and
provisions of the Security Agreement to the same extent as each other Grantor.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   39

        THIS LETTER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS
PROVISIONS).

        THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN
ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR
OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS (AS DEFINED IN THE CREDIT
AGREEMENT), THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE ISSUING BANK IN THE NEGOTIATION,
ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     [ADDITIONAL GRANTOR]

                                     By:
                                         -----------------------------------

                                     Title:
                                            --------------------------------

                                     Address:
                                              ------------------------------

                                              ------------------------------

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   40

                                                                       EXHIBIT E

                                EXHIBIT E TO THE
                                 FIFTH AMENDMENT

                                 FORM OF WARRANT

THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE
OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE
SECURITIES LAW, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS
THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS
AVAILABLE AND IF AN EXEMPTION SHALL BE APPLICABLE, THE WARRANT HOLDER SHALL HAVE
DELIVERED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH
REGISTRATION IS NOT NECESSARY.

Date of Issuance: [January 1] [May 1], 2002              Number of Shares: _____
                                                         (subject to adjustment)

                         WARRANT CERTIFICATE TO PURCHASE
                                 COMMON STOCK OF

                       APPLIED GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

        This Warrant Certificate (the "Warrant Certificate") is to certify that
[NAME OF LENDER] or its registered assigns (the "Warrantholder") is entitled, at
any time during the period beginning on the Exercise Date (as defined in Section
1.2) and ending on the date that is 180 days after the Exercise Date (the
"Expiration Date"), to purchase, at the Exercise Price (as hereinafter defined),
shares (as may be modified pursuant to Section 5, the "Initial Exercise Amount")
of common stock ("Company Common Stock") of Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). Unless earlier exercised in full and
subject to the conditions set forth herein, this Warrant Certificate shall
expire on the Expiration Date. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of March 10, 1999 among the Company, the lenders party
thereto, and Fleet National Bank, as Administrative Agent (as amended, the
"Credit Agreement").

        1.     Exercise of Warrant.

               1.1     This Warrant Certificate is exercisable by the
Warrantholder at the Exercise Price per share of Company Common Stock issuable
hereunder, payable in cash, by certified or official bank check. Upon surrender
of this Warrant Certificate with the attached Subscription Form duly completed
and executed, together with any required payment of the Exercise Price for the
shares of Company Common Stock being purchased, at the Company's principal
executive offices presently located at 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York
10001, the Warrantholder shall be entitled to receive a certificate or
certificates for the shares of Company Common Stock so purchased.

<PAGE>   41

               1.2     The purchase rights represented by this Warrant
Certificate are exercisable at the option of the Warrantholder, in whole or in
part (but not as to fractional shares of Company Common Stock), during the
period beginning on the earlier of (i) January 15, 2003 or (ii) the occurrence
of an Event of Default (but in no event earlier than [March 1, 2002] [July 1,
2002]) (the "Exercise Date") and ending on the Expiration Date.

               1.3     In the case of the purchase of less than all the shares
of Company Common Stock purchasable under this Warrant Certificate, the Company
shall cancel this Warrant Certificate upon the surrender hereof and shall
execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate as soon as practicable to the
Warrantholder of like tenor for the balance of the shares of Company Common
Stock purchasable hereunder.

               1.4     In the event that the Company shall have consummated the
[Type A Capital Event] [Type B Capital Event] on or before [February 28, 2002]
[June 30, 2002], this Warrant Certificate, and the rights hereunder, shall
terminate and be of no further force and effect as of the date of such
consummation.

        2.     Issuance of Stock Certificates.

               2.1     The issuance of certificates for shares of Company
Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant Certificate shall be made as soon
as practicable thereafter or in any event within twenty (20) days of such
exercise without charge to the Warrantholder, including, without limitation, any
tax that may be payable in respect thereof, and such certificates shall (subject
to the provisions of this Section 2) be issued in the name of, or in such names
as may be directed by, the Warrantholder; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to pay any income tax to which the Warrantholder may be
subject in connection with the issuance of this Warrant Certificate or of shares
of Company Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant Certificate; provided,
further, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax that may be
payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any
such certificate in a name other than that of the Warrantholder and the Company
shall not be required to issue or deliver such certificates unless or until the
person or persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Company
the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the
Company that such tax has been paid.

               2.2     All shares of Company Common Stock issued upon the
exercise of this Warrant Certificate shall be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

               2.3     Each person in whose name any such certificate for
shares of Company Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to
have become the holder of record of such shares on the date on which the Warrant
Certificate was surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price and any applicable
taxes was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate, except
that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the stock
transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have
become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding
date on which the stock transfer books are open.

        3.     Restrictions on Transfer.

               3.1     Investment Representation and Transfer Restriction
Legend. The Warrantholder, by acceptance of this Warrant Certificate, represents
and warrants to the Company that it is acquiring this Warrant Certificate and
the shares of Company Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise hereof (the
"Warrant Shares") for investment purposes only and not with a view towards the
resale or other

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   42

distribution thereof. Each certificate representing Warrant Shares, unless at
the same time of exercise such Warrant Shares are registered under the Act,
shall bear a legend in substantially the following form on the face thereof:

               THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
               ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES
               LAW, AND MAY NOT BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
               UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION
               FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE AND IF AN EXEMPTION SHALL BE
               APPLICABLE, THE WARRANT HOLDER SHALL HAVE DELIVERED AN OPINION OF
               COUNSEL REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH
               REGISTRATION IS NOT NECESSARY.

        Any certificate issued at any time in exchange or substitution for any
certificate bearing such legend (except a new certificate issued upon completion
of a distribution under a registration statement covering the securities
represented thereby) shall also bear such legend unless, in the opinion of
counsel to the Company, the securities represented thereby may be transferred as
contemplated by such Warrantholder without violation of the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.

        4.     Exercise Price and Exercise Amount.

               4.1     Exercise Price. The exercise price of this Warrant
Certificate shall be $0.01 per share of Company Common Stock (the "Exercise
Price").

               4.2     Exercise Amount. The term "Exercise Amount" shall mean
the Initial Exercise Amount or the adjusted Exercise Amount determined pursuant
to Section 5 depending upon the context.

        5.     Adjustment of Exercise Amount and Number of Shares.

               5.1     The Exercise Amount specified in Section 4.2 shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as follows:

               (a)     Adjustment for Stock Splits and Combinations. If the
        Company shall at any time or from time to time after the date this
        Warrant Certificate was granted (the "Original Issue Date") effect a
        subdivision of the outstanding Company Common Stock, the Exercise Amount
        then in effect immediately before the subdivision shall be
        proportionately increased and the Exercise Price then in effect
        immediately before the subdivision shall be proportionately reduced. If
        the Company shall at any time or from time to time after the Original
        Issue Date combine the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, the
        Exercise Amount then in effect immediately before the combination shall
        be proportionately decreased and the Exercise Price then in effect
        immediately before the combination shall be proportionately increased.
        Any adjustment under this paragraph shall become effective at the close
        of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes
        effective.

               (b)     Adjustment for Certain Dividends and Distributions. In
        the event the Company at any time, or from time to time, after the
        Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the
        determination of holders of Company Common Stock entitled to receive, a
        dividend or other distribution payable in additional shares of Company
        Common Stock, then in each such event the Exercise Amount then in effect
        shall be increased as of the time of such issuance or, in

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   43

        the event such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of
        business on such record date, to an amount equal to the amount
        determined by multiplying the Exercise Amount then in effect by a
        fraction:

                       (i)     the numerator of which shall be the total number
               of shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
               immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of
               business on such record date plus the number of shares of
               Company Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or
               distribution; and

                       (ii)    the denominator of which shall be the total
               number of shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
               immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of
               business on such record date;

        provided, however, if such record date shall have been fixed and such
        dividend is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on
        the date fixed therefor, the Exercise Amount shall be recomputed
        accordingly as of the close of business on such record date and
        thereafter the Exercise Amount shall be adjusted pursuant to this
        paragraph as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or
        distributions.

               (c)     Adjustments for Other Dividends and Distributions. In
        the event the Company at any time or from time to time after the
        Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the
        determination of holders of Company Common Stock entitled to receive, a
        dividend or other distribution payable in securities of the Company or
        any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof other than shares of Company Common
        Stock, then and in each such event provision shall be made so that the
        Warrantholder shall receive upon exercise thereof, in addition to the
        number of shares of Company Common Stock receivable thereupon, the
        amount and type of securities that it would have received had its
        Warrant Certificate been exercised for shares of Company Common Stock on
        the date of such event and had it thereafter, during the period from the
        date of such event to and including the actual exercise date, retained
        such securities receivable by it as aforesaid during such period giving
        application to all adjustments called for during such period. In the
        event of the spinoff or other creation of a subsidiary or affiliate of
        the Company whose assets consist in whole or in part of a significant
        component of the Company's business (a "Spinoff Transaction"), the
        Warrantholder shall be entitled to receive, without any requirement that
        this Warrant be exercised, Warrants (the "New Warrants") with terms
        substantially equivalent to the terms of this Warrant Certificate, to
        purchase the amount and type of securities (the "Spinoff Securities")
        that it would have received in such Spinoff Transaction had this Warrant
        been exercised immediately prior to such Spinoff Transaction. The
        exercise price of the New Warrants (the "New Warrant Exercise Price")
        shall be equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the
        Spinoff Transaction multiplied by the product of (A) the relative value
        per share of the business or assets subject to the Spinoff Transaction
        as compared to the total value per share of the Company at the time of
        the Spinoff Transaction (as determined in good faith by the Board) times
        (B) one (1) minus the percentage of such business or assets retained by
        the Company, if any. The Exercise Price shall thereafter be reduced by
        the amount of the New Warrant Exercise Price such that the sum of the
        New Warrant Exercise Price plus the Exercise Price shall not exceed the
        Exercise Price as in effect immediately prior to the Spinoff
        Transaction. In the event a Spinoff Transaction involves a third party
        whose contribution to the entity or business subject to the Spinoff
        Transaction is other than cash or other consideration to the Company,
        the Board, in good faith, shall determine the appropriate adjustment in
        the application of the provisions in this Section 5 with respect to the
        rights and interest thereafter of the Warrantholder.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   44

               (d)     Adjustment for Reclassification, Exchange, or
        Substitution. If the Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this
        Warrant Certificate shall be changed into the same or a different number
        of shares of any class or classes of stock, whether by capital
        reorganization, reclassification, or otherwise (other than a subdivision
        or combination of shares or stock dividend provided for above, or a
        reorganization, merger, consolidation, or sale of assets provided for
        below), then and in each such event the Warrantholder shall have the
        right thereafter to exercise this Warrant Certificate for the kind and
        amount of shares of stock and other securities and property receivable
        upon such reorganization, reclassification, or other change, by holders
        of the number of shares of Company Common Stock into which this Warrant
        Certificate was exercisable immediately prior to such reorganization,
        reclassification, or change, all subject to further adjustment as
        provided herein.

               (e)     Adjustment for Merger or Reorganization, etc. In case of
        any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another Person
        or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to
        another Person, this Warrant Certificate shall thereafter be exercisable
        for the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or
        property to which a holder of the number of shares of Company Common
        Stock of the Company deliverable upon exercise of this Warrant
        Certificate would have been entitled upon such consolidation, merger or
        sale; and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good
        faith by the Board) shall be made in the application of the provisions
        in this Section 5 with respect to the rights and interest thereafter of
        the Warrantholder, to the end that the provisions set forth in this
        Section 5 (including provisions with respect to changes in and other
        adjustments of the Exercise Amount) shall thereafter be applicable, as
        nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to any shares of stock or other
        property thereafter deliverable upon exercise of this Warrant
        Certificate.

               (f)     No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of its
        Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of
        assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities
        or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or
        performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by
        the Company but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying
        out of all the provisions of this Section 5 and in the taking of all
        such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the
        exercise rights of the Warrantholder against impairment.

               (g)     Certificate as to Amendments. Upon the occurrence of
        each adjustment or readjustment of the Exercise Price pursuant to this
        Section 5, the Company at its expense shall promptly compute such
        adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms thereof and
        furnish to each Warrantholder a certificate setting forth such
        adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which
        such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Company shall, upon the
        written request at any time of any Warrantholder, furnish or cause to be
        furnished to such holder a similar certificate setting forth (i) such
        adjustments and readjustments, (ii) the Exercise Amount then in effect,
        and (iii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock and the amount,
        if any, of other property which then would be received upon exercise of
        this Warrant Certificate.

               (h)     Notice of Record Date. In the event:

                       (i)     that the Company declares a dividend (or any
               other distribution) on its Company Common Stock payable in
               Company Common Stock or other securities of the Company;

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   45

                       (ii)    that the Company subdivides or combines its
               outstanding shares of Company Common Stock;

                       (iii)   of any reclassification of the Company Common
               Stock (other than a subdivision or combination of its
               outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or a stock dividend
               or stock distribution thereon), or of any consolidation or
               merger of the Company into or with another corporation, or of
               the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
               Company; or

                       (iv)    of the involuntary or voluntary dissolution,
               liquidation or winding up of the Company;

        then the Company shall cause to be filed at its principal office or at
        the office of the transfer agent of the Company Common Stock, and shall
        cause to be mailed to the Warrantholders at their last addresses as
        shown on the records of the Company or such transfer agent, at least 15
        days prior to the record date specified in (A) below or 30 days before
        the date specified in (B) below, a notice stating

                       (A)     the date as of which the holders of Company
                               Common Stock of record to be entitled to such
                               dividend, distribution, subdivision or
                               combination are to be determined, or

                       (B)     the date on which such reclassification,
                               consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution,
                               liquidation or winding up is expected to become
                               effective, and the date as of which it is
                               expected that holders of Company Common Stock of
                               record shall be entitled to exchange their
                               shares of Company Common Stock for securities or
                               other property deliverable upon such
                               reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
                               dissolution or winding up.

        6.     Exchange and Replacement of Warrant Certificate.

               6.1     On surrender for exchange of this Warrant Certificate,
or any Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates issued upon subdivision,
exercise, or transfer in whole or in part of this Warrant Certificate, properly
endorsed, to the Company, the Company at its expense will issue and deliver to
or on the order of the holder thereof a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant
Certificates of like tenor, in the name of such holder or as such holder (on
payment by such holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may direct, calling in
the aggregate on the face or faces thereof for the number of shares of Company
Common Stock called for on the face or faces of the Warrant Certificate or
Warrant Certificates so surrendered.

               6.2     In the event this or any subsequently issued Warrant
Certificate is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the Company may, upon
receipt of a proper affidavit (and surrender of any mutilated Warrant
Certificate) and an indemnity agreement or security reasonably satisfactory in
form and amount to the Company, in each instance protecting the Company, issue a
new Warrant Certificate of like denomination, tenor and date as the Warrant
Certificate so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed. Any such new Warrant
Certificate shall constitute an original contractual obligation of the Company,
whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed Warrant
Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   46

        7.     Elimination of Fractional Interests.

               7.1     The Company shall not issue any fraction of a share in
connection with the exercise of this Warrant Certificate, but in any case where
the Warrantholder would, except for the provisions of this Section 7, be
entitled under the terms of this Warrant Certificate to receive a fraction of a
share upon the exercise of this Warrant Certificate, the Company shall, upon the
exercise of the Warrant Certificate for the largest number of full shares then
called for thereby and receipt of the Exercise Price thereof, pay a sum in cash
equal to the Fair Market Value of such fraction of a share on the day preceding
such exercise. The Warrantholder expressly waives its rights to receive any
fraction of a share or a Warrant Certificate representing a fractional share
upon exercise thereof.

               7.2     If the taking of any action would cause an adjustment in
the Exercise Price so that the exercise of this Warrant Certificate while such
Exercise Price is in effect would cause shares to be issued at a price below
their then par value, the Company will take such action as may, in the opinion
of its counsel, be necessary in order that it may validly and legally issue
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Company Common Stock upon the exercise of
this Warrant Certificate.

        8.     Reservation of Shares.

        The Company will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Company Common Stock the number of whole
shares of Company Common Stock sufficient to permit the exercise in full of this
Warrant Certificate.

        9.     Rights of Warrantholder.

        The Company may deem and treat the person in whose name this Warrant
Certificate is registered with it as the absolute owner for all purposes
whatever (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon
made by anyone other than the Company) and the Company shall not be affected by
any notice to the contrary. The terms "Warrantholder" and "holder of the Warrant
Certificate" and all other similar terms used herein shall mean only such
person(s) in whose name(s) this Warrant Certificate if properly registered on
the Company's books. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, no person, entity
or group may become a Warrantholder other than the Warrantholder unless and
until (a) the provisions of Section 3.1 hereof have been complied with, (b) the
Company has received an assignment transferring all right, title and interest in
and to this Warrant Certificate, and (c) such person, entity or group represents
and warrants in writing that it will be the sole legal and beneficial owner
thereof.

        10.    Notices.

        Any notice or demand authorized by this Warrant Certificate to be given
or made by the Warrantholder to or on the Company or to be given or made by the
Company to or on the Warrantholder shall be sufficiently given or made if sent
in writing by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

               (a)     If to the Warrantholder, to the address for such holder
        as shown on the books of the Company; or

               (b)     If to the Company, at the address set forth in Section
        8.02 of the Credit Agreement or at such other address as the registered
        holder or the Company may hereafter have advised the other.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   47

        11.    Successors.

               All the covenants, agreements, representations and warranties
contained in this Warrant Certificate shall bind the parties hereto and their
respective heirs, executors, administrators, distributees, successors and
assigns.

        12.    Headings.

               The Section headings in this Warrant Certificate have been
inserted for purposes of convenience only and shall have no substantive effect.

        13.    Law Governing.

               This Warrant Certificate is delivered in the State of New York
and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and governed by, the
laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to the choice of law
principle of such state), regardless of the jurisdiction of creation or domicile
of the Company or its successors or of the holder at any time hereof.

        14.    Remedies.

               The Company stipulates that the remedies at law of the holder of
this Warrant Certificate in the event of any default or threatened default by
the Company in the performance of or compliance with any of the terms of this
Warrant Certificate are not and will not be adequate, and that such terms may be
specifically enforced by a decree for the specific performance of any agreement
contained herein or by an injunction against a violation of any of the terms
hereof or otherwise.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   48

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Warrant
Certificate by its duly authorized officer as of the day and year first above
written.

                                            APPLIED GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                            By:
                                               -------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   49

                                SUBSCRIPTION FORM

                      (To Be Executed By The Warrantholder
                  In Order to Exercise The Warrant Certificate)

        The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the enclosed
Warrant Certificate, hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right to purchase
________ shares of Company Common Stock of APPLIED GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
covered by such Warrant Certificate, and herewith tenders _________ having a
fair market value of $________ in full payment of the Exercise Price for such
shares (which may include foregoing receipt of ___ shares of Company Common
Stock as per Section 1.1 of the Warrant Certificate).

                                            By:
                                                -------------------------------
                                                          Signature

                                                       ------------------------
                                                                 Name

                                                       ------------------------
                                                                Address

                                                       ------------------------<PAGE>   1
                              TERMINATION AGREEMENT             EXHIBIT 10.16a

        TERMINATION AGREEMENT dated as of May 3, 2001, by and between SELECTIVE
INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA (the "Company"), a New Jersey corporation, having
an office at 40 Wantage Avenue, Branchville, New Jersey 07826, and SHARON R.
COOPER, (the "Executive"), having an address at 17 Starrett Court, Sparta, New
Jersey 07871.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

        WHEREAS, the Company recognizes the Executive to be a valuable
management employee of the Company; and

        WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that a change in control of Selective
Insurance Group, Inc., the Company's parent corporation ("Selective"), could
occur in the future, and that it is of importance to the Company and to
Selective and its stockholders to provide for the continuity of management and
its uninterrupted attention and dedication to the business affairs of the
Company; and

        WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
determined that appropriate steps should be taken to encourage the continued
attention and dedication of principal members of the Company's management to
their assigned duties in circumstances arising from the possibility of a change
in control of Selective; and

        WHEREAS, the Company has determined that an arrangement of the type set
forth herein will serve the purpose of attracting desirable persons for
executive positions with the Company, will induce the Executive to remain with
the Company, and will enhance the Executive's ability to assess and advise the
Board as to whether any proposal involving a change in the control would be in
the best interests of the Company, Selective and its shareholders and to take
such other action regarding such proposal without being influenced by the
prospects of his own future employment with the Company; and

        WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to set forth their
agreements as to the subject and procedures contemplated hereunder
acknowledging, however, that this Agreement supplements any employment agreement
that may be in effect from time to time between the

<PAGE>   2

Executive and the Company and sets forth the severance benefits which the
Company agrees will be provided to the Executive in the event the Executive's
employment with the Company is terminated subsequent to a change of control of
Selective under the circumstances hereinbelow described.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

        1.     TERM OF AGREEMENT.

        The term of this Agreement (the "Term") shall commence on the date
hereof and shall continue in effect until May 3, 2004, provided, however, that
commencing on May 3, 2004, and each May 3rd thereafter (each such May 3rd being
hereinafter referred to as an "Extension Date"), the Term shall automatically be
extended for one (1) additional year, unless at least twenty-four (24) months
prior to an Extension Date, the Company or the Executive shall have given
written notice in the manner hereinafter prescribed that the Term shall not be
extended as of the next Extension Date; and, provided further, that if a "Change
in Control" of Selective, as defined in Section 2 hereof, shall have occurred
during the term, as the same may be extended, this Agreement shall terminate on
the last day of the twenty-four (24) month period commencing on the date that
such Change in Control shall have occurred. Notwithstanding anything in this
Section 1 to the contrary, this Agreement shall terminate if the Executive or
the Company terminates the Executive's employment prior to the date on which a
Change in Control shall occur.

        2.     CHANGE IN CONTROL.

               (a) For the purposes of this Agreement, a "change in control of
Selective" (a "Change in Control") shall mean the occurrence of an event of a
nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 1(a) of a
Current Report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to
Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") provided, however, that a Change in Control shall, in any event,
conclusively be deemed to have occurred upon the first to occur of any one of
the following events:

                      (i) The acquisition by any person or group, including,
               without limitation, any current shareholder or shareholders of
               Selective, of securities of Selective resulting in such person's
               or

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

               group's owning of record or beneficially twenty-five percent
               (25%) or more, of any class of voting securities of Selective;

                      (ii) The acquisition by any person or group, including,
               without limitation, any current shareholder or shareholders of
               Selective, of securities of Selective resulting in such person's
               or group's owning of record or beneficially twenty percent (20%)
               or more, but less than twenty-five percent (25%), of any class of
               voting securities of Selective, if the Board adopts a resolution
               that such acquisition constitutes a Change in Control;

                      (iii)  The sale or disposition of all or substantially all
               of the assets of Selective;

                      (iv) The reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
               consolidation or other business combination involving Selective
               the result of which is the ownership by the shareholders of
               Selective of less than eighty percent (80%) of those voting
               securities of the resulting or acquiring entity having the power
               to elect a majority of the board of directors of such entity; or

                      (v) A change in the membership in the Board of Directors
               of Selective (the "Selective Board") which, taken in conjunction
               with any other prior or concurrent changes, results in twenty
               percent (20%) or more of the Selective Board's membership being
               persons not nominated by Selective's management or Selective's
               Board as set forth in Selective's then most recent proxy
               statement, excluding changes resulting from substitutions by
               Selective's Board because of retirement or death of a director or
               directors, removal of a director or directors by Selective's
               Board or resignation of a director or directors due to
               demonstrated disability or incapacity.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

               (b)    Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing Section 2(a) to
the contrary, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred for the
purposes of this Agreement by virtue of any transaction which results in the
Executive, or a group of persons which includes the Executive, acquiring,
directly or indirectly, voting securities of Selective.

               (c)    For the purpose of Section 2(a) the following definitions
shall apply:

                      (i)    the terms "person" and "beneficial  owner" shall
               have the meanings set forth in Regulation 13D under the Exchange
               Act, as such Regulation exists on the date hereof;

                      (ii)   the term "voting security" shall include any
               security that has, or may have upon an event of default or in
               respect to any transaction, a right to vote on any matter upon
               which the holder of any class of common stock of Selective would
               have a right to vote;

                      (iii)  the term "group" shall have the meaning set forth
               in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act; and

                      (iv)   the term "substantially all of the assets of
               Selective" shall mean more than fifty percent (50%) of
               Selective's assets on a consolidated basis, as shown in
               Selective's most recent audited balance sheet.

        3.     CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

               Notwithstanding any termination date as may be specified in any
employment agreement in effect from time to time between the Company and the
Executive, in the event of a Change in Control, the Company agrees to continue
to employ the Executive, and, subject to the provisions of Section 4 hereof, the
Executive agrees to continue in the employ of the Company, in the capacity in
which the Executive was serving, and with the duties, responsibilities and
status of the Executive immediately prior to such Change in Control or in such
other capacity as shall be agreeable to the Executive, for a term commencing on
the date on which the Change in Control shall have occurred and ending three (3)
years after the date on which the Change in Control shall have occurred.
Commencing on the date three (3) years after the date on which the Change in
Control shall have occurred and each anniversary date of the Change in Control
thereafter (each

                                      -4-

<PAGE>   5

such date being hereinafter referred to as a "Renewal Date"), the term of the
Executive's employment shall automatically be renewed for one (1) additional
year unless at least twenty-four (24) months prior to a Renewal Date the Company
or the Executive shall have given written notice in the manner hereinafter
prescribed that such employment shall not be renewed as of such Renewal Date.
The provisions of this Section 3 shall survive any termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 1 hereof after a Change in Control and shall continue in
full force and effect.

        4.     TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING CHANGE IN CONTROL.

               The Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided in
Section 5 hereof upon the termination of his employment during the term of this
Agreement, as the same may be extended, after a Change in Control has occurred,
unless such termination is: (a) due to the Executive's death or Retirement, (b)
by the Company for Cause or Disability, or (c) by the Executive other than for
Good Reason (as such foregoing capitalized terms are hereinafter defined).

                      (i)    Termination by the Executive or by the Company of
               the Executive's employment based on "Retirement" shall mean
               termination: (A) at such age as shall be established by the
               Board prior to a Change in Control for mandatory or normal
               retirement of Company executives in general, which shall not be
               less than age 65, or (B) at any other retirement age set by
               mutual agreement of the Company and the Executive and approved
               by the Board.

                      (ii)   Termination by the Company of the Executive's
               employment based on "Disability" shall mean termination because
               of the Executive's physical injury or physical or mental illness
               which causes him to be absent from his duties with the Company on
               a full-time basis for a continuous period in excess of the
               greater of: (A) the period of disability constituting permanent
               disability as specified under the Company's long-term disability
               insurance coverage applicable to the Executive prior to a Change
               in Control or (B) six (6) calendar months, unless within thirty
               (30) days after Notice of Termination (as hereinafter defined) is
               thereafter given the

                                      -5-

<PAGE>   6

               Executive shall have returned to the full-time performance of his
               duties.

                      (iii)  Termination by the Company of the Executive's
               employment based on "Cause" shall mean termination upon: (A) the
               Executive's conviction of a felony (as evidenced by a binding and
               final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
               jurisdiction, in effect after exhaustion or lapse of all rights
               of appeal), (B) the continued willful failure by the Executive to
               perform substantially his duties with the Company (other than any
               such failure resulting from his incapacity due to physical injury
               or physical or mental illness) for a period of thirty (30) days
               after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to the
               Executive by the Board of Directors of the Company which
               specifically identifies the manner in which the Board of
               Directors believes that the Executive has not substantially
               performed his duties, or (C) willful misconduct in the
               performance of the Executive's duties and obligations to the
               Company which constitute common law fraud or other gross
               malfeasance of duty; provided, however, that no termination for
               Cause pursuant to clauses (B) or (C) shall occur unless and until
               there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a
               resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
               sixty-six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the entire
               membership of the Board, excluding the Executive, at a meeting of
               the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable
               notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive,
               together with his counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding
               that in good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty
               of the conduct set forth in such clause (B) or (C) and specifying
               the particulars thereof in reasonable detail. For purposes of
               this clause (iii), no act, or

                                      -6-

<PAGE>   7

               failure to act, on the part of the Executive shall be considered
               "willful" unless done or omitted to be done by the Executive in
               bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or
               omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the
               Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given
               pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon
               the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively
               presumed to have been done or omitted to have been done by the
               Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.

                      (iv)   Termination by the Executive of his employment for
               "Good Reason" shall mean (A) termination by the Executive based
               on: (1) any reduction in his base salary below the annualized
               rate in effect on the date preceding the date on which a Change
               in Control shall have occurred or the Company's failure to
               increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last increase in
               base salary) the Executive's base salary after a Change in
               Control in an amount which at least equals, on a percentage
               basis, changes in the Consumer Price Index, all items, for New
               Jersey in the preceding twelve (12) months; or (2) a failure by
               the Company to continue in effect, or the material reduction of
               any of Executive's benefits under, any Plan (as hereinafter
               defined) in which the Executive was participating on the date
               preceding the date on which a Change in Control shall have
               occurred (or Plans providing the Executive with at least
               substantially similar benefits) other than as a result of the
               normal expiration of any such Plan in accordance with its terms
               as in effect on the date preceding the date on which a Change in
               Control shall have occurred, or the taking of any action, or the
               failure to act, by the Company which would adversely affect the
               Executive's continued participation in any of such Plans on at
               least as favorable a

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

               basis to him as was the case on the date preceding the date on
               which a Change in Control shall have occurred or which would
               materially reduce the Executive's benefits in the future under
               any such Plans or deprive the Executive of any material benefit
               enjoyed by him at the time of the Change in Control; or (3)
               without the Executive's express prior written consent, the
               assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent with his
               positions, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company
               immediately prior to a Change in Control, or any diminution in
               the Executive's responsibilities as an executive of the Company
               as compared with those he had as an executive of the Company
               immediately prior to a Change in Control, or any change in the
               Executive's titles or office as in effect immediately prior to a
               Change in Control, or any removal of the Executive from, or
               failure to re-elect him to, any of such positions, except in
               connection with the termination of the Executive's employment for
               Cause, Disability or Retirement or as a result of the Executive's
               death or by his termination of his employment other than for Good
               Reason; or (4) without the Executive's express prior written
               consent, the imposition of a requirement by the Company that the
               Executive be based anywhere other than where the Executive's
               office is located on the date preceding the date on which a
               Change in Control shall have occurred; or (5) without the
               Executive's express prior written consent, any reduction in the
               number of paid vacation days to which the Executive was entitled
               as of the date preceding the date on which a Change in Control
               shall have occurred; or (6) a failure by the Company to provide
               the Executive with office, secretarial, computer and other
               support services and facilities consistent with his position in
               the Company and substantially equivalent to those available to
               the Executive on the date preceding the date on which a Change in

                                      -8-

<PAGE>   9

               Control shall have occurred; or (7) the failure by the Company to
               obtain from any successor to the business of the Company, as set
               forth in Section 13, the assent to this Agreement, as described
               in such Section 13; or (8) subsequent to a Change in Control, any
               purported termination of the Executive's employment which is not
               effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination (as hereinafter
               defined) satisfying the requirements of Section 4(v) (and, if
               applicable, Section 4(iii)), and for purposes of this Agreement
               no such purported termination shall be effective; or (9) any
               breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of any
               employment agreement between the Company and the Executive or any
               agreement between the Company and the Executive providing for
               incentive compensation, stock options, stock appreciation rights,
               stock bonuses, pension benefits, group insurance or any similar
               benefits; or (10) any requirement by the Company that the
               Executive be absent from Executive's office on business travel or
               otherwise more than forty-five (45) days in any calendar year or
               for more than fourteen (14) consecutive days at any time, or (B)
               a voluntary termination by the Executive upon Notice of
               Termination given by the Executive to the Company no later than
               six (6) months after the occurrence of a Change in Control,
               provided that Executive shall not thereafter violate the
               provisions of any agreement between the Executive and the Company
               relating to nondisclosure of confidential information or
               noncompetition with the Company. For purposes of this Agreement,
               a "Plan" shall mean any plan, contract, authorization or
               arrangement, whether or not set forth in any formal written
               documents, providing for compensation, incentive compensation,
               non-qualified supplemental retirement benefits, stock options
               (whether or not in tandem with stock appreciation rights), stock

                                      -9-

<PAGE>   10

               appreciation rights, long-term incentives, stock bonuses or
               restricted stock grants or any employee benefit plan such as a
               pension, retirement, profit sharing, medical, disability,
               accident, life insurance plan or a relocation plan or policy or
               any other plan, program, policy or arrangement of the Company
               intended to benefit the Executive or employees of the Company
               generally.

                      (v)    Any termination of the Executive's employment by
               the Company or by the Executive shall be communicated by a Notice
               of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this
               Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice
               given in the manner hereinafter prescribed which shall indicate
               the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon
               and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
               circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
               Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and shall
               specify the date of termination in accordance with this
               Agreement.

                      (vi)   "Date of Termination" following a Change in
               Control shall mean: (A) if the employment is to be terminated by
               the Company for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of
               Termination is given (provided that the Executive shall not have
               returned to the performance of the Executive's duties on a
               full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), or (B) if
               the employment is to be terminated by either party for any other
               reason, the date on which Notice of Termination is given.

                      (vii)  In the event of dispute as to the Executive's
                             termination under Section 4(iv) the matter shall
                             be forthwith submitted to binding arbitration as
                             hereinafter provided.

                                      -10-

<PAGE>   11

        5.     PAYMENT OF BENEFITS.

        (a)    If an event has occurred pursuant to Section 4 hereof which
entitles the Executive to the benefits and rights set forth in this Section 5,
the Executive shall receive from the Company, or from the Escrow Agent (as
hereinafter defined), as the case may be, within five (5) days following the
Date of Termination (except as otherwise provided) all of the following
benefits, other than those benefits which he specifically elects by written
notice to the Company or to the Escrow Agent, as the case may be, not to
receive:

                      (i) earned but unpaid base salary through the Date of
               Termination at the rate in effect immediately prior to the time a
               Notice of Termination is given plus any incentive compensation,
               benefits or awards (including both the cash and stock components)
               which pursuant to the terms of any Plans have been accrued,
               earned or have become payable, but which have not yet been paid
               to the Executive (including any amounts which previously had been
               deferred at the Executive's request); and

                      (ii) as severance pay and in lieu of any further salary
               for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination (including any
               payments of salary provided for by any employment agreement with
               the Company), an amount in cash equal to the Executive's
               "annualized includible compensation for the base period" (as
               defined in Section 280G(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of
               1986, as amended (the "Code")), multiplied by a factor of 2.99.

        (b)    If an event has occurred pursuant to Section 4 hereof which
entitles the Executive to the benefits and rights set forth in this Section 5,
the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits of any stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock grants, stock bonuses or other benefits
theretofore granted by the Company to the Executive under any Plan, whether or
not provided for in any agreement with the Company, provided, however, that,
except to the extent requiring approval of Selective's stockholders, (i) all
unvested stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock grants,
stock bonuses, long-term incentives and similar benefits shall be deemed to be
vested in full on the Date of Termination, notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary or any provision requiring any act or acts by the Executive in any
agreement with the Company or Selective or any

                                      -11-

<PAGE>   12

Plan, and (ii) to the extent that any such stock options, stock appreciation
rights, restricted stock grants, stock bonuses, long-term incentives or similar
benefits shall require by its terms the exercise thereof by the Executive, the
last date to exercise the same shall, notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary in any agreement or any Plan, shall be the later to occur of (A) the
last date provided for such exercise in any agreement or Plan evidencing any
such stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock grants, stock
bonuses, long-term incentives or similar benefits or (B) the close of business
on the date which shall be one hundred twenty (120) days after the Date of
Termination and (iii) if the vesting pursuant hereto of any such stock options,
stock appreciation rights, restricted stock grants, stock bonuses, long-term
incentives or similar benefits shall have the effect of subjecting the Executive
to liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or any similar provision of
law, the vesting date thereof shall be deemed to be the first day after the
Termination Date on which such vesting may occur without subjecting the
Executive to such liability.

     (c)  If an event has occurred pursuant to Section 4 hereof which entitles
the Executive to the benefits and rights set forth in this Section 5, the
Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for the continued benefit of
the Executive and his dependents for a period terminating on the earliest of:
(i) three (3) years after the Date of Termination or (ii) the commencement date
of equivalent benefits from a new employer, all insured and self-insured
employee welfare benefit Plans in which the Executive was entitled to
participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that the
Executive's continued participation is not barred under the general terms and
provisions of such Plans. In the event that the Executive's participation in any
such Plan is barred by its terms, the Company, at its sole cost and expense,
shall arrange to have issued for the benefit of the Executive and his dependents
individual policies of insurance providing benefits substantially similar (on an
after-tax basis) to those which the Executive otherwise would have been entitled
to receive under such Plans pursuant to this Section 5(c). If, at the end of
three (3) years after the Termination Date, the Executive has not previously
received or is not receiving equivalent benefits from a new employer, or is not
otherwise receiving such benefits, the Company shall arrange, at its sole cost
and expense, to enable him to convert his and his dependents' coverage

                                      -12-

<PAGE>   13

under such Plans to individual policies or programs upon the same terms as
employees of the Company may apply for such conversions upon termination of
employment.

     (d)  Except as specifically provided in Section 5(c) above, the amount of
any payment provided for in this Section 5 shall not be reduced, offset or
subject to recovery by the Company by reason of any compensation earned by the
Executive as the result of employment by another employer after the Date of
Termination, or otherwise. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate any
amounts payable or benefits provided under this Agreement by seeking or
accepting other employment.

     (e)  The rights and benefits provided herein shall be in addition to, and
not (except as provided in this Agreement) to the exclusion of, any other rights
and benefits that may be available to the Executive in regard to or arising out
of the termination of the Executive's employment, including claims for breach of
contract or for violation of relevant employment, worker's compensation or
employee benefits laws. The prosecution or enforcement of rights granted by this
Agreement or the election to take benefits under this Agreement shall in no
manner constitute an election of rights or remedies by the Executive other than
in respect of this Agreement.

     (f)  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any of
the payments or benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other
payments or benefits which the Executive has the right to receive from the
Company (including, without limitation, any amounts payable under any employment
contract with the Company), would constitute a "parachute payment" (as defined
in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), the payments and benefits due to the
Executive shall be reduced, in such order of priority and amount as the
Executive shall elect, to the largest amount as will result in no portion of
such payments being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Code. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, any dispute or
controversy regarding whether any payments under this Agreement must be reduced
pursuant to this Section 5(f) shall be conclusively settled by an independent
accounting firm acceptable to each of the parties hereto, or, if no firm is
acceptable to both parties hereto, each of the Executive and the Company shall
select an accounting firm acceptable to it, and such accounting firms shall
together designate an independent accounting firm to settle such dispute or
controversy, and such settlement shall be binding upon both parties, provided,
however, that any

                                      -13-

<PAGE>   14

accounting firm designated to settle any dispute or controversy hereunder shall
not have been previously retained by either party for a period of a least two
(2) years subsequent to the date of this settlement of such dispute or
controversy. The Company or the Escrow Agent, as the case may be, may withhold
from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other
taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or
ruling.

     (g)  In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine
that any portion of the payment and benefits paid to the Executive pursuant to
this Agreement shall have constituted a "parachute payment" (as defined in
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) and subject to an excise tax under Section
4999(a) of the Code, the Company shall pay to the Executive in cash such
additional amount as is necessary so that the total amount received by the
Executive under this Agreement, after payment of any applicable taxes on such
total amount (including, without limitation, federal, state or local income
taxes, any taxes imposed by Section 4999(a) of the Code and any taxes in respect
of any amount payable to the Executive under this Section 5(g)) shall not be
less than the net after tax amount that the Executive would have been entitled
to receive under this Agreement had such excise tax under Section 4999(a) not
been imposed. The Company shall pay such additional amount to the Executive
within thirty (30) days after the Executive gives written notice to the Company
that such determination has been made by a court of competent jurisdiction.

     6.   ESCROW OF BENEFITS.

     (a)  At any time after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company
shall, upon the written request of the Executive, promptly deliver to a bank or
other institution acceptable to the Executive, as escrow agent (the "Escrow
Agent"), an amount of cash or certificates of deposit, treasury bills or
irrevocable letters of credit adequate to fully fund the obligations of the
Company under this Agreement.

     (b)  The escrow agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Escrow
Agent shall provide that amounts payable to the Executive under this Agreement
shall be paid by the Escrow Agent to the Executive five (5) days after written
demand therefore by the Executive to the Escrow Agent, with a copy to the
Company, certifying that such amounts are due and payable under this Agreement
because of the occurrence of an event specified under Section 4 hereof. Such
escrow agreement or arrangements shall also provide that if the Company shall,
prior to

                                      -14-

<PAGE>   15

payment by the Escrow Agent, object in writing to the Escrow Agent, with a copy
to the Executive, as to the payment of any amounts demanded by the Executive
under this Agreement, certifying that such amounts are not due and payable to
the Executive because an event specified in Section 4 hereof has not occurred,
such dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration as hereinafter set forth.

     (c)  Such escrow agreement or arrangements shall further provide that any
dispute described in Section 6(b) hereof shall be forthwith submitted to binding
arbitration as hereinafter provided.

     7.   ARBITRATION.

     Any disputes arising under Section 4(iv) or Section 6(b) hereof shall be
forthwith submitted to binding arbitration by three (3) arbitrators in Newark,
New Jersey, under the expedited rules of the American Arbitration Association
then obtaining. One such arbitrator shall be selected by each of the Company and
the Executive, and the two arbitrators so selected shall select the third
arbitrator. Selection of all three arbitrators shall be made within thirty (30)
days after the date the dispute arose. Such arbitration shall be limited solely
to a determination of whether or not an event has occurred pursuant to Section 4
of this Agreement which entitles the Executive to the benefits and rights set
forth in Section 5 of this Agreement. The written decision of the arbitrators
shall be rendered within ninety (90) days after selection of the third
arbitrator. The decision of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on the
Company and the Executive and may be entered by either party in any court having
jurisdiction.

     8.   ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS.

     The Company, and any survivor of any business combination with the Company
causing rights to accrue to the Executive under this Agreement, shall pay all
the Executive's legal, accounting and arbitration fees and expenses and costs as
they become due, which the Executive may become obligated to pay in obtaining,
enforcing, retaining or defending any right or benefit provided by this
Agreement, whether in respect of any enforcement undertaken or demand made by
the Executive that is successful or in respect of any enforcement undertaken or
demand made in good faith by the Executive that is not successful. If judgment
is rendered against any of such persons, it will pay the Executive, unless
expressly included in the judgment, prejudgment interest

                                      -15-

<PAGE>   16

from the date of the Notice of Termination at the prime rate being charged by
Midlantic National Bank on the date of the Notice of Termination.

     9. EXECUTIVE'S COMMITMENT.

     The Executive agrees that subsequent to his period of employment with the
Company, he will not at any time communicate or disclose to any unauthorized
person, without the written consent of the Company, any proprietary or
confidential information concerning the business affairs, products or customers
of the Company which, if disclosed, would have a material adverse effect upon
the business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole; it being understood, however, that the obligations of this Section 9
shall not apply to the extent that the aforesaid matters: (a) are disclosed in
circumstances where the Executive is legally required to do so or (b) become
generally known to and available for use by the public otherwise than by the
Executive's wrongful act or omission.

     10. SEVERABILITY.

     If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this
Agreement would be, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under
applicable law, then such provision (or any part thereof) shall be deemed
modified to the extent necessary to render it valid while most nearly preserving
its original intent; no provision (or any part thereof) of this Agreement shall
be affected by another provision (or any part thereof) of this Agreement being
held invalid.

     11. NOTICE.

     For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, requests, demands and all
other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i) when delivered personally, or (ii)
three (3) days after having been mailed by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, or (iii) one (1) day after having been sent by telegraph or
mailed by express mail or other overnight courier service, postage, telegraph,
courier and registry fees, as the case may be, prepaid and addressed to the
addresses set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement or to such other
address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance
herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt. All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the
President of the Company.

                                      -16-

<PAGE>   17

     12. MERGER; AMENDMENT; WAIVER.

     (a) This Agreement supersedes all other agreements, arrangements and
understandings, and merges all negotiations and discussions, with respect to the
subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not, except
to the extent specifically provided herein, supersede or limit the rights,
duties or obligations that the Executive may have under any written employment
agreement with the Company.

     (b) This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a writing signed by
both parties. No further agreement between the parties shall be deemed to
supersede, amend or modify this Agreement unless a statement to that effect is
made in such future agreement or the enforcement of such agreement would give
rise to conflicting obligations between the Executive on the one hand and the
Company, its successor or other bound party on the other hand; in the latter
case, however, this Agreement shall be deemed to be superseded, amended or
modified only to the extent necessary to avoid such conflict.

     (c) The waiver of the non-performance of any obligation under this
Agreement shall apply to that non-performance only and shall not constitute a
waiver, modification or amendment of this provision giving rise to such
obligation.

     13. SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT.

     (a) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
merger, consolidation or other combination other than a sale of assets) to the
business of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it
if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such
agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall constitute
Good Reason for termination by the Executive of his employment, and, if a Change
in Control shall have occurred, the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits
set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement, except that for purposes of
implementing the foregoing, the date. On which any such succession becomes
effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination. As used in this Agreement,
the "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined, and any successor
and assign to its business as

                                      -17-

<PAGE>   18

aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section
13 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this
Agreement by operation of law.

     (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devises and legatees of the Executive. If the Executive should die
while any amount would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to
live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee
or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to his estate.

     14. GOVERNING LAW.

     This Agreement is being made in the State of New Jersey and shall be
governed by, and interpreted and construed with reference to, the laws of New
Jersey.

     15. HEADINGS.

     Headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.

     16. COUNTERPARTS.

     This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereunder have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.

                              SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA

                              BY:/s/ GREGORY E. MURPHY
                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                   GREGORY E. MURPHY,
                                   CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                   OFFICER

                                /s/ SHARON R. COOPER
                              ------------------------------------------------
                              SHARON R. COOPER

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19

     In consideration of the covenants of the Executive hereinabove set forth,
Selective hereby guarantees to the Executive the full performance by the Company
of all of its obligations under the foregoing Termination Agreement.

                              SELECTIVE INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

                              BY:  /s/ GREGORY E. MURPHY
                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                   GREGORY E. MURPHY,
                                   CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                   OFFICER

                                      -19-

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