Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.1

NO._______________                                              $______________

                 18% SENIOR NON-NEGOTIABLE MERGER NOTE DUE 2000

         THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY (THE "SECURITY") HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED
         UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
         "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE OR OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS
         SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED,
         SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED
         OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS
         EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
         SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF,
         (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED
         IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A") OR AN "ACCREDITED
         INVESTOR" AS DEFINED IN RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (2) AGREES
         THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT
         (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO AN
         AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
         SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM
         THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF
         THIS LEGEND.

         Payment of this Note is subject to Certain Off-Set Rights Set Forth in
         a Letter Agreement between The Holder and the Issuer dated as of June
         13, 2000.

         BELL SPORTS CORP., a Delaware corporation, for value received, hereby
promises to pay to _________, or its registered assigns, the principal amount
of ____________________, on October 31, 2000.<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

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

                              INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

                                  by and among

                               BELL SPORTS, INC.,

                               BELL SPORTS CORP.,

                          FIRST UNION INVESTORS, INC.,

                             GARMARK PARTNERS, L.P.

                                       and

                          FLEET CORPORATE FINANCE, INC.

                                   Dated as of

                                 August 11, 2000

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

<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section                                                                                   Page
<S>            <C>                                                                      <C>
SECTION 1.     Definitions...................................................................1
    (a)          Accounting Terms; Financial Statements.....................................25
SECTION 2.     Authorization of Issuance of the Notes and the Warrants......................25
SECTION 3.     Purchase and Sale of Securities..............................................25
SECTION 4.     Note Terms...................................................................26
    (a)          Repayment of Principal.....................................................26
    (b)          Interest...................................................................27
    (c)          Mandatory Redemption.......................................................27
    (d)          Optional Redemption........................................................28
    (e)          Direct Payment.............................................................28
    (f)          Prepayment Applications....................................................29
    (g)          Partial Prepayments........................................................29
    (h)          Purchase of Notes..........................................................29
SECTION 5.A.     Conditions of Initial Closing..............................................29
    (a)          Representations True; No Event of Default..................................29
    (b)          Consummation of the Recapitalization.......................................30
    (c)          Advances Under Credit Agreement............................................30
    (d)          Consent of Third Parties, Governmental Authorities, etc....................30
    (e)          No Adverse Change..........................................................30
    (f)          Financial Information......................................................31
    (g)          Opinions of Counsel........................................................31
    (h)          Delivery of Initial Closing Documents......................................31
    (i)          Payment of Fees and Expenses...............................................33
    (j)          Litigation.................................................................33
    (k)          Ownership Structure........................................................33
    (l)          Equity Investment..........................................................33
    (m)          Bankruptcy.................................................................33
    (n)          Compliance Certificate.....................................................33
    (o)          Existing Indebtedness......................................................33
    (p)          No Legal Impediment........................................................33
    (q)          Certain Agreements.........................................................34
SECTION 5.B.     Conditions of Second Closing...............................................34
    (a)          Indenture Offer and Expiration of Offer Period.............................34
    (b)          Officer's Certificate......................................................34
    (c)          Securities Holders and Registration Rights Agreement.......................34
    (d)          Opinions of Counsel........................................................34
    (e)          Delivery of Second Closing Documents.......................................35
SECTION 6.     Representations and Warranties of the Company................................35
    (a)          Organization, Good Standing and Qualification..............................35
    (b)          Subsidiaries and Investments...............................................35
    (c)          Authorized and Issued Capital..............................................36
    (d)          Authorization..............................................................36
    (e)          Litigation.................................................................36
    (f)          Tax Matters................................................................37
</TABLE>

                                        i

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>            <C>                                                                      <C>
    (g)          Organizational and Governing Documents.....................................37
    (h)          Government Approvals; Consents.............................................37
    (i)          Representations and Warranties in Other Agreements.........................37
    (j)          Disclosure.................................................................38
    (k)          Compliance with Securities Laws............................................38
    (l)          No Brokers.................................................................38
    (m)          Financial Statements.......................................................38
    (n)          Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.........................................39
    (o)          Title To Properties and Assets.............................................39
    (p)          Contracts and Commitments..................................................39
    (q)          Employees..................................................................40
    (r)          Compliance with Laws.......................................................40
    (s)          Transactions with Affiliates...............................................40
    (t)          Hazardous and Toxic Materials..............................................41
    (u)          Solvency...................................................................41
    (v)          Certain Federal Regulations................................................41
    (w)          Recapitalization Documents and Credit Documents............................41
    (x)          Use of Proceeds............................................................41
    (y)          Employee Benefit Plans.....................................................42
    (z)          Intellectual Property......................................................42
    (aa)         Absence of Certain Changes or Events.......................................43
    (bb)         Insurance..................................................................43
SECTION 7.     Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser..............................44
SECTION 8.     Covenants....................................................................45
    (a)          Payment of Notes...........................................................45
    (b)          Use of Proceeds............................................................45
    (c)          Compliance with Agreements.................................................45
    (d)          Maintenance of Office......................................................45
    (e)          Records and Accounts.......................................................45
    (f)          Financial Statements, Certificates and Information.........................45
    (g)          Notices....................................................................47
    (h)          Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties.............................47
    (i)          Insurance..................................................................48
    (j)          Taxes......................................................................48
    (k)          Inspection of Properties and Books, etc....................................48
    (l)          Compliance with Laws, Contracts, Licenses, and Permits.....................49
    (m)          Employee Benefit Plans.....................................................49
    (n)          Further Assurances.........................................................50
    (o)          Additional Subsidiaries....................................................50
    (p)          New Guarantors.............................................................50
SECTION 9.     Financial Covenants..........................................................50
    (a)          Leverage Ratio.............................................................50
    (b)          Fixed Charge Coverage......................................................52
SECTION 10.    Negative Covenants...........................................................52
    (a)          Restrictions on Indebtedness...............................................52
    (b)          Additional Limitations on Indebtedness.....................................55
    (c)          Restrictions on Liens......................................................55
</TABLE>

                                       ii

<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<S>            <C>                                                                      <C>
    (d)          Restrictions on Investments................................................58
    (e)          Distributions and Restricted Payments......................................60
    (f)          Mergers and Consolidations.................................................61
    (g)          Sale and Leaseback.........................................................62
    (h)          Compliance with Environmental Laws.........................................62
    (i)          Employee Benefit Plans.....................................................62
    (j)          Business Activities........................................................63
    (k)          Fiscal Year................................................................63
    (l)          Transactions with Affiliates...............................................63
    (m)          Restrictions on Negative Pledges and Upstream Limitations..................64
    (n)          Inconsistent Agreements....................................................64
    (o)          Modification of Recapitalization Documents and Management Agreement........65
    (p)          Transaction Debt...........................................................65
    (q)          Conduct of Business........................................................65
    (r)          Increase in Senior Indebtedness............................................65
SECTION 11.    Subordination................................................................66
    (a)          Notes Subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness..............................66
    (b)          No Payment on Notes in Certain Circumstances...............................67
    (c)          Notes Subordinated to Prior Payment of All Senior Indebtedness on
                 Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization.................................69
    (d)          Noteholders to Be Subrogated to Rights of Holders of Senior
                 Indebtedness...............................................................70
    (e)          Obligations of the Company Unconditional...................................71
    (f)          Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company
                 or Holders of the Senior Indebtedness......................................71
    (h)          Proofs of Claim............................................................72
SECTION 12.    Events of Default............................................................72
    (a)          Acceleration...............................................................72
    (b)          Other Remedies.............................................................76
    (c)          Rescission of Acceleration.................................................76
SECTION 13.    General......................................................................77
    (a)          Entire Agreement...........................................................77
    (b)          Reimbursement of Expenses..................................................77
    (c)          Survival of Agreements and Representations and Warranties..................78
    (d)          No Waiver..................................................................78
    (e)          Binding Effect; Participations.............................................78
    (f)          Initial Holder.............................................................78
    (g)          Cumulative Powers..........................................................79
    (h)          Loss of Securities; Reissue of Securities in Lesser Denominations..........79
    (i)          Communications.............................................................79
    (j)          Legend.....................................................................80
    (k)          Confidentiality; Public Announcements......................................80
    (l)          Governing Law..............................................................81
    (m)          Headings...................................................................81
    (n)          Multiple Originals.........................................................81
    (o)          Amendment or Waiver........................................................81
</TABLE>

                                       iii

<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<S>            <C>                                                                      <C>
    (p)          Waiver of Jury Trial.......................................................82
    (q)          Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process.............................82
    (s)          Solicitation of Holders of Notes...........................................84
    (t)          Notes held by Company, etc.................................................84
    (u)          Registration of Notes and Warrants.........................................84
    (v)          Transfer and Exchange of Notes.............................................85
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Schedules
---------
<S>                 <C>
Schedule 1(a)         Acquisition EBITDA
Schedule 1(b)         Adjustments to Consolidated EBITDA
Schedule 1(c)         Recapitalization Documents
Schedule 3(d)         Purchase and Sale of Securities
Schedule 5A(f)        Financial Information
Schedule 5A(o)        Miscellaneous Debt
Schedule 6(a)         Organizational Matters
Schedule 6(b)         Subsidiaries and Investments
Schedule 6(c)         Capitalization
Schedule 6(e)         Litigation
Schedule 6(f)         Tax Matters
Schedule 6(h)         Government Approvals
Schedule 6(o)         Title to Properties and Assets
Schedule 6(p)         Material Contracts
Schedule 6(q)         Employees
Schedule 6(s)         Affiliate Contracts
Schedule 6(t)         Environmental Matters
Schedule 6(x)         Use of Proceeds
Schedule 6(z)         Intellectual Property
Schedule 6(aa)        Absence of Certain Changes or Events
Schedule 6(bb)        Insurance
Schedule 8(d)         Office Locations
Schedule 10(a)        Permitted Indebtedness
Schedule 10(c)        Permitted Liens
Schedule 10(d)        Permitted Investments
Schedule 10(l)        Permitted Affiliate Transactions
Schedule 13(i)        Addresses for Notices

Exhibits
--------

Exhibit 1(a)          Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit 1(a)(i)       Form of Covenant Compliance Worksheet
</TABLE>

                                       iv

<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
<S>                 <C>
Exhibit 2(a)          Form of Note
Exhibit 2(b)          Form of Warrant
Exhibit 5A(h)(i)      Form of Opinion of Company Counsel
Exhibit 5A(h)(vi)     Form of Officers' Certificate
Exhibit 5A(h)(vii)    Form of Secretary's Certificate
Exhibit 5A(h)(ix)     Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit 5A(q)(i)      Form of Subsidiary Guaranty
Exhibit 5A(q)(ii)     Form of Parent Guaranty
Exhibit 5B(b)         Form of Officer's Certificate
Exhibit 5B(c)         Form of Securities Holders and Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit 5B(d)         Form of Opinion
</TABLE>

                                        v

<PAGE>   7

                              INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

       THIS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as
of this 11th day of August, 2000, by and among BELL SPORTS, INC., a California
corporation (the "Company"), BELL SPORTS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the
"Parent"), FIRST UNION INVESTORS, INC., a North Carolina corporation ("FUI"),
GARMARK PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("GP"), and FLEET
CORPORATE FINANCE, INC., a Massachusetts corporation.

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

       WHEREAS, the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) are engaged
in the business of designing, marketing and supplying bicycle and other sport
helmets and bicycle accessories;

       WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Purchasers make an investment
in the Company in the form of senior subordinated notes in the aggregate
original principal amount of up to $50,000,000 which shall be accompanied by
common stock purchase warrants representing up to 5.5% of the fully-diluted
equity of the Parent (collectively, the "Subdebt Investment"). The Parent and
the Company will use the proceeds of the Subdebt Investment as set forth under
Section 6(x); and

       WHEREAS, the Parent, the Company and the Purchasers have reached certain
agreements with regard to the foregoing transactions, all upon the terms and
conditions more particularly described herein;

                                    AGREEMENT

       NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises, covenants and
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby mutually covenant,
contract and agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Agreement and unless the context otherwise requires, the
following terms have the meanings indicated below. All capitalized terms used
herein but not defined shall have the meanings given such terms in the Credit
Agreement.

       "14% Discount Notes" means the Parent's 14% Senior Discount Notes issued
pursuant to that certain Debenture Purchase Agreement among the Parent,
Charlesbank Bell Sports Holdings, Limited Partnership and Brentwood Associates
Buyout Fund II, L.P. dated as of August 17, 1998.

       "18% Debentures" means the Parent's 18% Senior Merger Debentures issued
on or about the Initial Closing Date, pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

<PAGE>   8

       "18% Discount Notes" mean the 18% Senior Discount Notes, to be issued if
at all on or about the Second Closing, pursuant to an Indenture, to be entered
into between the Parent, as issuer, and the trustee thereunder, which shall
provide for the issuance of such Indebtedness on the terms and conditions set
forth in that certain term sheet dated June 9, 2000.

       "Acquired Indebtedness" means with respect to any specified Person, (i)
Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is
merged with, into or becomes a Subsidiary of such specified Person, or (ii)
Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such
other Person; provided that such Indebtedness shall not have been (in either
case) incurred by such other Person in connection with, or in anticipation or
contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Subsidiary of such specified
Person or such acquisition, merger or consolidation.

       "Advisory Agreement" means collectively, those certain letter agreements
by and between (i) Andsonica Acquisition Corp. and Chartwell Investments II LLC,
and (ii) the Company and Chartwell Investments II LLC, each dated as of June 13,
2000.

       "Affiliate" means with respect to any Person, a Person (other than a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary) (i) which directly or indirectly controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, (ii) which owns 10%
or more of the equity interests of such Person, (iii) 10% or more of the voting
stock (or in the case of a Person which is not a corporation, 10% or more of the
equity interests) of which is owned by such Person or (iv) who is an executive
officer or director of such Person. The term "control" means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement and without
limitation, each of the Responsible Officers and the Sponsor and its Affiliates
(other than the Purchasers and their respective Affiliates) shall each be deemed
to be an Affiliate of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

       "Agent" shall mean Fleet National Bank and its successors and assigns, in
its capacity as Administrative Agent appointed under Section 17 of the Credit
Agreement and its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity or any other
Person acting in a similar capacity under the Senior Indebtedness.

       "Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble, as amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

       "Asset Sale Offer" has the meaning set forth in Section 10(f)(ii).

       "Authorized Officer" means, with respect to any action specified herein,
any officer of the Company duly authorized by resolution of the Board of
Directors to take such action on its behalf, and whose signature and incumbency
shall have been certified to the Purchasers by the secretary or an assistant
secretary of the Company.

       "Balance Sheet Date" means July 1, 2000.

                                        2

<PAGE>   9

       "Banks" means Fleet National Bank, First Union National Bank, the other
lending institutions listed on Schedule 1 of the Credit Agreement and any other
holder from time to time of Senior Indebtedness.

       "Bell Canada" means Bell Sports Canada, Inc., an Alberta company.

       "Bell Racing Investment" means the equity interest of the Company in Bell
Racing Company consisting of 12,748 common shares.

       "Big Five Accounting Firm" means any of Arthur Andersen & Co. LLP, KPMG
Peat Marwick, Ernst & Young LLP, Deloitte & Touche LLP or PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP or any of their respective successors.

       "Board of Directors" means, with respect to any Person, the Board of
Directors of such Person, or any authorized committee of such Board of
Directors.

       "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, a legal
holiday or a day on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina, Boston,
Massachusetts or New York, New York are required by law to be closed.

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

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

       "Capitalized Leases" means leases under which the Company or any of their
Subsidiaries is the lessee or obligor, the discounted future rental payment
obligations under which are required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of
the lessee or obligor in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

       "Capital Stock" means (i) with respect to any Person that is a
corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock
(whether voting or nonvoting, and whether common or preferred) of such
corporation, and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any
and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity
interests of such Person; and in each case, any and all warrants, rights,
options or other derivative securities to purchase any of the foregoing.

       "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) the
Parent shall at any time, legally or beneficially, directly or indirectly, own
less than 100% of the shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries (except

                                        3

<PAGE>   10

as otherwise permitted under Sections 10(f)(i), 10(f)(ii), 10(l)(i) and
10(l)(ii)); (b) the Parent or the Company or their Domestic Subsidiaries shall
at any time, legally or beneficially, directly or indirectly, own less than 90%
of the shares of Capital Stock of any of the Significant Foreign Subsidiaries,
each as adjusted pursuant to any stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization
or reclassification of the capital of the Company or such other Subsidiary
(except as otherwise permitted under Sections 10(f)(i), 10(f)(ii), 10(l)(i) and
10(l)(ii)); (c) prior to an Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor shall, at any
time, legally or beneficially own less than 50% of the Voting Stock of the
Parent, as adjusted pursuant to any stock split, stock dividend or
recapitalization or reclassification of the Capital Stock of the Parent; (d)
following an Initial Public Offering, any person or group of persons (within the
meaning of Section 13 or Section 14 of the Exchange Act, as amended) other than
the Sponsor shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
the outstanding shares of common stock of the Parent, if at such time the
Sponsor owns less than 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the
Parent; or (e) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months, individuals
who were directors of the Parent (or individuals appointed or elected by such
individuals or nominated for election by such individuals), on the first day of
such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the board of directors of
the Parent.

       "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

       "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any
successor Person thereof.

       "Common Stock" means the Parent's "Common Stock", as such term is defined
in the Parent's Certificate of Incorporation.

       "Company" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

       "Compliance Certificate" means a fully completed and duly executed
certificate in the form of Exhibit 1(a), together with a Covenant Compliance
Worksheet in the form of Exhibit 1(a)(i).

       "Consolidated EBITDA" means for any period with respect to the Company,
the Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period,
plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted from the calculation of
Consolidated Net Income for such period, (a) depreciation and amortization and
other non-cash charges for such period; provided that cash associated with such
non-cash charges shall be deducted from Consolidated EBITDA when actually paid,
(b) income tax expense paid or accrued during such period, (c) Consolidated
Total Interest Expense paid or accrued for such period, each determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (d) amortized debt
discount for such period, (e) the amount of any deduction to Consolidated Net
Income as the result of any grant to any members of the management of such
Person of any capital stock for such period, (f) to the extent required by the
Management Agreement or Section 10(e) hereof to be accrued (and not paid in
cash) for such period, the accrued amount of the Management Fee, (g) charges
related to the premium or penalty paid in connection with redeeming or retiring
any Indebtedness prior to its stated

                                        4

<PAGE>   11

maturity to the extent permitted hereunder and reducing Consolidated Net Income,
and (h) any charges relating to the Recapitalization.

       "Consolidated Fixed Charges" means with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries, for any period, the sum of all scheduled payments of principal on
Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation,
the principal component of Capitalized Lease payments) made or required to be
made in such period, plus Consolidated Total Interest Expense of the Company and
its Subsidiaries for such period; provided, however that for the purposes of
calculating Consolidated Fixed Charges for the calculation made as of the end of
the Reference Period ending on September 30, 2005, December 31, 2005, March 31,
2006, June 30, 2006, September 30, 2006 and December 2006, the calculations
shall exclude for each quarter $5,815,000, $11,630,000, $17,820,000, $17,820,000
$11,630,000, $5,815,000, respectively, of the amortized amount due under the
Term B Loan under the Credit Agreement in effect on the date hereof.

       "Consolidated Net Income (or Deficit)" means the consolidated net income
(or deficit) of any Person and its Subsidiaries, after deduction of all
expenses, taxes, and other proper charges, determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, after eliminating therefrom all
extraordinary or nonrecurring items of income and loss, including any charges
relating to the Recapitalization and write-offs associated therewith and any
non-cash loss incurred in connection with the sale of the Bell Racing
Investment.

       "Consolidated Operating Cash Flow" means with respect to the Company and
its Subsidiaries, for any period, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated EBITDA for
such period, less (b) the sum of (i) cash payments for all income taxes paid
during such period, plus (ii) to the extent not already deducted in the
determination of Consolidated EBITDA, Capital Expenditures paid in cash during
such period to the extent permitted by the Credit Agreement (but excluding Net
Cash Proceeds reinvested in Capital Assets pursuant to Section 10(f)(ii) of this
Agreement) and the non-financed cash portion of the purchase price of Permitted
Acquisitions or Permitted Foreign Acquisitions paid during such period, plus (c)
any management or monitoring fees paid in cash by such Person or its
Subsidiaries during such period, all in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.

       "Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness" means with respect to the
Parent, the Company and their Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of (a) the
aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Parent, the Company and their
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for borrowed money (including, without
limitation, all Indebtedness of the Parent, the Company and their Subsidiaries
evidenced by notes or bonds) or the obtaining of credit or in respect of
Capitalized Leases or in respect of guaranties described in clause (j) of the
definition of Indebtedness, plus (b) the aggregate maximum drawing amount that
the beneficiaries may at any time draw under all outstanding documentary letters
of credit in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate, plus (c) without
duplication, all Indebtedness of the types referred to in (a) and (b) guaranteed
by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, plus (d) the deferred purchase price
of property or services (including securities repurchase agreements but
excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business which are not more than 90 days overdue or which are being
contested in good faith). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parent shall only
be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness with

                                        5

<PAGE>   12

respect to calculations performed in connection with certificates to be
delivered as of the Initial Closing Date and the Second Closing Date. The
calculation of Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness shall be subject to the
following qualifications:

              (i)    solely for the purpose of calculating the Leverage Ratio
       for the Compliance Certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 5A(n),
       the outstanding amount of the Revolving Credit Loan for the purposes of
       determining the amount of Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness shall
       deemed to be $20,000,000;

              (ii)   for calculations made as at October 28, 2000 and as at the
       end of FQ2, FQ3 and FQ4 of Fiscal Year 2001 and for Fiscal Year 2001, the
       outstanding amount of the Revolving Credit Loan for the purposes of
       determining the amount of Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness shall be
       the sum of the amounts outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement
       (as defined in the Credit Agreement in effect on the Initial Closing
       Date) or the Revolving Credit Loan (as defined in the Credit Agreement in
       effect on the Initial Closing Date), as applicable, at the end of each
       Fiscal Month, beginning with the Fiscal Month beginning on July 1, 2000
       and ending on the date of such calculation, divided by the number of
       Fiscal Months elapsed since July 1, 2000; and

              (iii)  for all calculations made after the end of FQ1 of Fiscal
       Year 2002 and thereafter, the outstanding amount of the Revolving Credit
       Loan for purposes of determining the amount of Consolidated Total Funded
       Indebtedness shall be the sum of the amounts of the Revolving Credit Loan
       outstanding at the end of each Fiscal Month for the 12 most recently
       ended Fiscal Months divided by 12.

       "Consolidated Total Interest Expense" means (without duplication) for any
period, the aggregate amount of interest (excluding any original issue discount,
interest paid in kind and amortized debt discount) required to be paid in cash
or accrued by the Company and its Subsidiaries during such period on all
Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding during all or any
part of such period, whether such interest was or is required to be reflected as
an item of expense or capitalized, including payments consisting of interest in
respect of any Capitalized Lease, and including commitment fees, agency fees,
facility fees, balance deficiency fees and similar fees or expenses in
connection with the borrowing of money and after giving effect to adjustments
for Hedging Agreements to the extent consistent with GAAP.

       "Contractual Obligation" means, with respect to a Person, any provision
of (i) any security issued by such Person, including provisions contained in the
articles or certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational or
governing documents of such Person, or (ii) any agreement, franchise, license,
lease, permit, undertaking, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or
other instrument or understanding to which such Person is a party or by which it
or any of its assets or property is bound.

       "Convert Notes" means the 4 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2000,
issued pursuant to that certain Indenture by and between the Parent and Harris
Trust and Savings Bank, as

                                        6

<PAGE>   13

Trustee, dated November 15, 1993, as supplemented by that certain Supplemental
Indenture, dated as of August 17, 1998.

       "Covenant Compliance Worksheet" means a fully completed worksheet in the
form of Exhibit 1(a)(i).

       "Credit Agreement" means that certain revolving credit and term loan
agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Banks, the Agent, First Union
National Bank, as Syndication Agent for the Lenders (the "Syndication Agent"),
General Electric Capital Corporation, as documentation agent, the Parent and the
Company, as amended, modified, supplemented, restated, renewed, refinanced or
replaced from time to time in accordance with Section 11(f).

       "Credit Documents" means the Credit Agreement, the Senior Notes, the
Letter of Credit Applications (as defined in the Credit Agreement), the Letters
of Credit (as defined in the Credit Agreement), the Fee Letter (as defined in
the Credit Agreement), the Subordination Documents (as defined in the Credit
Agreement) and the Security Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and
all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates now or hereafter
executed and delivered to the Agent, the Syndication Agent or any Lender by or
on behalf of the Parent, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries with respect
to the Credit Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case
as amended, modified, supplemented, restated, renewed, refinanced or replaced
from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

       "Credit Parties" means the Parent, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors
and each Domestic Subsidiary that becomes a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty.

       "Default" means any event or condition that, with the passage of time or
giving of notice, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

       "Default Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

       "Disqualified Stock" means as to any Person, all outstanding Equity
Interests issued by such Person or by any Affiliate of such Person:

              (a)    in respect of which such Person is, or upon the lapse of
       any period of time or occurrence of any event (including consent thereto
       by any creditor of such Person) might become, obligated to pay dividends
       or make distributions except dividends and distributions that are to be
       paid or made solely by issuance of Equity Interests that are issued by
       the Parent and do not constitute Disqualified Stock; or

                                        7

<PAGE>   14

              (b)    that such Person is, or upon the lapse of any period of
       time or occurrence of any event (including consent thereto by any
       creditor of such Person) might become, obligated to redeem, or exchange
       for cash or Indebtedness or any other form of consideration except:

                     (i)    an undertaking to exchange such Equity Interests
              solely for Equity Interests that are issued by the Parent and do
              not constitute Disqualified Stock, and

                     (ii)   an undertaking by the Parent to redeem or offer to
              repurchase preferred Equity Interests issued by it if (A) such
              undertaking is effective only at or after the date which is 91
              days after the Subdebt Maturity Date or in the event of an Initial
              Public Offering of the Parent, provided, that all of the
              Obligations under this Agreement and the other Subdebt Documents
              shall have been satisfied in full in cash on or before the date of
              such Initial Public Offering, (B) by the terms of such
              undertaking, the Parent will become obligated to redeem or offer
              to repurchase such Equity Interests, and such obligation will be
              enforceable against the Parent, only if such redemption or offer
              to purchase is expressly permitted at the time under each
              agreement at any time entered into by the Parent or any Subsidiary
              of the Parent pursuant to which any senior secured Indebtedness of
              the Parent or any such Subsidiary is or may become outstanding,
              and (C) by the terms of such undertaking, if such redemption or
              offer to purchase is not permitted under any agreement governing
              any such Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
              ("Restrictive Indebtedness"), then (x) the Parent may or shall use
              its reasonable efforts to procure the consent of the holders of
              each issue of Restrictive Indebtedness to such redemption or offer
              to purchase and, if such consent is not granted within a
              reasonable time as to any issue of Restrictive Indebtedness, shall
              use its reasonable efforts to retire and to repay such issue of
              Restrictive Indebtedness, in full and in cash, from the cash
              resources of the Parent and its Subsidiaries or from the proceeds
              of the incurrence of new Indebtedness under the terms of which
              such consent is granted and (y) until, as to each outstanding
              issue of Restrictive Indebtedness, such consent is granted by the
              holders of such issue of Restrictive Indebtedness or such issue of
              Restrictive Indebtedness is retired and repaid in full and in
              cash, the obligation of the Parent to redeem or offer to purchase
              such Equity Interests shall not be enforceable and shall be
              automatically suspended and deferred, without any limitation as to
              time (except as otherwise permitted by clause (A) above) and
              without any other consequence whatsoever, except that the right of
              the holders of such Equity Interests to seek specific enforcement
              of the provisions referred to in clause (x) herein shall not be
              suspended or deferred or otherwise abated or impaired.

       "Distribution" means the declaration or payment of any dividend on or in
respect of any shares of any class of capital stock or other equity interests of
any Person, other than dividends payable solely in shares of common stock or
other equity interests of such Person; the purchase, redemption, or other
retirement of any shares of any class of capital stock or other equity interests
of any Person by such Person, directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary of
such Person

                                        8

<PAGE>   15

or otherwise; the return of capital by such Person to its shareholders or other
equity holders as such; or any other distribution on or in respect of any shares
of any class of capital stock or other equity interests of such Person.

       "Dollars" or "$" means dollars of the United States of America.

       "Domestic Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Parent or the Company
which is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

       "Environmental Laws" means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
("RCRA"), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act of 1980 as amended ("CERCLA"), the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act of 1986 ("SARA"), the Federal Clean Water Act, the Federal Clean Air Act,
the Toxic Substances Control Act, or any state or local statute, regulation,
ordinance, order or decree relating to health, safety or the environment.

       "Equity Interest" means with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of
such Person or membership interests, partnership interests (whether general or
limited) or other equity interests in such Person, regardless of type, class,
preference or designation, and all warrants, options, purchase rights,
conversion or exchange rights, voting rights, calls or claims of any character
with respect thereto, outstanding from time to time.

       "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time, and any successor statute and the regulations
promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

       "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) that is a member of a group of which any Credit Party is a member
and which is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code;
provided that the Sponsor will not be an ERISA Affiliate for any purpose under
this Agreement.

       "ERISA Event" with respect to any Person means (i) the occurrence of a
reportable event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to
any Plan of such Person or any of its ERISA Affiliates unless the 30-day notice
requirement with respect to such event has been waived by the PBGC; (ii) the
provision by the administrator of any Plan of such Person or any of its ERISA
Affiliates of a notice of intent to terminate such Plan, pursuant to Section
4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a Plan amendment
referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (iii) the cessation of operations at a
facility of such Person or any of its ERISA Affiliates in the circumstances
described in Section 4068(f) of ERISA; (iv) the failure by such Person or any of
its ERISA Affiliates to make a payment to a Plan required under Section
302(f)(1) of ERISA; (v) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan of such Person or
any of its ERISA Affiliates requiring the provision of security to such Plan,
pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA; or (vi) the institution by the PBGC of
proceedings to terminate a Plan of such Person or any of its ERISA Affiliates,
pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or the occurrence of any event or condition
described in Section 4042 of ERISA that could constitute grounds for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, such Plan.

                                        9

<PAGE>   16

       "Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section 12(a).

       "Excess Proceeds" has the meaning set forth in Section 10(f)(ii).

       "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

       "FCF" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

       "FUI" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

       "Financial Officer" means, with respect to the Company, the chief
financial officer, vice president - finance, principal accounting officer or
treasurer of the Company.

       "Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 5A(f).

       "Fiscal Month" means any one of the three approximately 30 day periods
into which each Fiscal Quarter is divided.

       "Fiscal Quarter" means for the first three fiscal quarters each of the
approximately thirteen week consecutive periods starting at the beginning of the
Fiscal Year and for the fourth fiscal quarter, ending on the Saturday closest to
June 30 of such calendar year.

       "Fiscal Year" the fiscal year of each of the Parent, the Company and each
of their Subsidiaries.

       "Foreign Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary (direct or indirect, existing
on the date hereof or acquired or formed hereafter in accordance with the
provisions hereof) of the Parent or the Company that conducts substantially all
of its business in countries other than the United States of America and that is
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of
America and the States (or the District of Columbia) thereof.

       "Fundamental Change" means any of the following: (i) any sale,
assignment, lease, conveyance, exchange, transfer, sale-leaseback or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, business or properties of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, whether in one or a
series of transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business and
whether or not directly or indirectly or through the sale or other disposition
of Equity Interests of any of the Subsidiaries of the Company and (ii) any (x)
merger, consolidation or other combination to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or (y) liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than (A) those transactions expressly
permitted by Sections 10(f)(i), 10(f)(ii), 10(l)(i) and 10(l)(ii) and (B) those
transactions expressly consented to in writing by each of the Holders.

       "Fundamental Transaction" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c)(ii).

       "Fundamental Transaction Offer" has the meaning set forth in Section
4(c)(ii).

                                       10

<PAGE>   17

       "GP" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

       "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, as set forth in
the statements, opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board,
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied and maintained as in effect
from time to time (subject to the provisions of Section 1(b)).

       "Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state or
other political subdivision thereof and any central bank thereof, any municipal
local, city or county government, and any entity or Person exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

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

       "Hazardous Discharge" has the meaning set forth in Section 6(t).

       "Hazardous Materials" means any hazardous waste, as defined by 42 U.S.C.
Section 6903(5), any hazardous substances as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section
9601(4), any pollutant or contaminant as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 9601(33)
and any toxic substances, oil or hazardous materials or chemicals or substances
regulated by any Environmental Laws.

       "Hedging Agreement" means any interest or foreign currency rate swap,
cap, collar, option, hedge, forward rate or other similar agreement or
arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates, currency
exchange rates or commodity prices.

       "Holder" or "Holders" means the initial Purchasers of the Notes (so long
as such Persons who hold Notes are registered Holders), and any permitted
transferee(s) of any of the Notes whose name has been recorded by the Company in
its ownership register of the Notes in accordance with Section 13 hereof.

       "Holdings" means Bell Sports Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company and its successors and permitted assigns.

       "Indebtedness" means as to any Person and whether recourse is secured by
or is otherwise available against all or only a portion of the assets of such
Person and whether or not contingent, but without duplication:

                     (a)    every obligation of such Person for money borrowed,

                     (b)    every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds,
              debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including
              obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of
              property, assets or businesses,

                                       11

<PAGE>   18

                     (c)    every reimbursement obligation of such Person with
              respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar
              facilities issued for the account of such Person,

                     (d)    every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as
              the deferred purchase price of property or services (including
              securities repurchase agreements but excluding trade accounts
              payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
              business which are not more than 90 days overdue or which are
              being contested in good faith),

                     (e)    every obligation of such Person under any
              Capitalized Lease,

                     (f)    any obligation of such Person to pay any discount,
              interest, fees, indemnities, penalties, recourse, expenses or
              other amounts in connection with any sales by such Person unless
              such sales are on a non-recourse basis (as to collectibility) of
              (i) accounts or general intangibles for money due or to become
              due, (ii) chattel paper, instruments or documents creating or
              evidencing a right to payment of money or (iii) other receivables
              (collectively "receivables"), whether pursuant to a purchase
              facility or otherwise, other than in connection with the
              disposition of the business operations of such Person relating
              thereto or a disposition of defaulted receivables for collection
              and not as a financing arrangement,

                     (g)    any Disqualified Stock,

                     (h)    every obligation of such Person under any forward
              contract, futures contract, swap, option or other financing
              agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, caps,
              floors, collars and similar agreements), the value of which is
              dependent upon interest rates, currency exchange rates,
              commodities or other indices (a "derivative contract"),

                     (i)    every obligation in respect of Indebtedness of any
              other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a
              general partner) to the extent that such Person is liable therefor
              as a result of such Person's ownership interest in or other
              relationship with such entity, except to the extent that the terms
              of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable
              therefor and such terms are enforceable under applicable law,

                     (j)    every obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such
              Person guaranteeing, or having the economic effect of guarantying
              or otherwise acting as surety for, any obligation of a type
              described in any of clauses (a) through (i) (the "primary
              obligation") of another Person (the "primary obligor"), in any
              manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including, without
              limitation, any obligation of such Person (i) to purchase or pay
              (or advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for
              the payment of such primary obligation, (ii) to purchase property,
              securities or services for the purpose of assuring the payment of
              such primary obligation, or (iii) to maintain working capital,
              equity capital or other financial statement condition or liquidity
              of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay
              such primary obligation.

                                       12

<PAGE>   19

                     The "amount" or "principal amount" of any Indebtedness at
              any time of determination represented by (A) any Indebtedness,
              issued at a price that is less than the principal amount at
              maturity thereof, shall be the amount of the liability in respect
              thereof determined in accordance with GAAP, but such Indebtedness
              shall be deemed to be incurred only at the date of the original
              issuance for purposes of any debt incurrence test, (B) any
              Capitalized Lease shall be the principal component of the
              aggregate of the rentals obligation under such Capitalized Lease
              payable over the term thereof that is not subject to termination
              by the lessee, (C) any sale of receivables shall be the amount of
              unrecovered capital or principal investment of the purchaser
              (other than the Company or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries)
              thereof, excluding amounts representative of yield or interest
              earned on such investment, (D) any derivative contract shall be
              the maximum amount of any termination or loss payment required to
              be paid by such Person if such derivative contract were, at the
              time of determination, to be terminated by reason of any event of
              default or early termination event thereunder, whether or not such
              event of default or early termination event has in fact occurred,
              and (E) any equity related purchase obligation shall be the
              maximum fixed redemption or purchase price thereof.

       "Indefinite Blockage Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

       "Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 13(r).

       "Indenture" means the Indenture dated August 17, 1998 between the
Company, as issuer, and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as trustee.

       "Indenture Consent" means the exit consent eliminating substantially all
of the covenants in the Indenture Notes, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Purchasers.

       "Indenture Notes" means the 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due August 15,
2008 issued pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

       "Indenture Offer" means the Change of Control Offer to be made to holders
of the Indenture Notes pursuant to and as defined in Section 4.7 of the
Indenture.

       "Initial Closing Date" means the first date on which the conditions set
forth in Section 5A have been satisfied.

       "Initial Public Offering" means an initial underwritten public offering
of the Company's common stock pursuant to a registration statement filed under
the Securities Act.

       "Insignificant Subsidiaries" means collectively, Bell Sports
International Limited (Jersey), Bell Sports Australia Pty. Limited (Australia),
Bell Sports Europe, SAS (France) and Giro Ireland Limited (Ireland).

                                       13

<PAGE>   20

       "Insolvency Event" means any dissolution, winding up, liquidation,
reorganization, arrangement, protection, relief or composition of any Credit
Party or its debts, whether voluntary or involuntary, total or partial, or in
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, arrangement, reorganization, relief or
other proceedings, or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any
other marshaling of the assets and liabilities such Credit Party (except as
otherwise permitted under Sections 10(f)(i) and 10(f)(ii)).

       "Institutional Investor" means (a) the Purchasers (so long as the
Purchasers are Holders), (b) any holder of a Note holding more than 10% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and (c) any bank,
trust company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, any
pension plan, any investment company, any insurance company, any broker or
dealer, or any other similar financial institution or entity, regardless of
legal form.

       "Intellectual Property" means all technology, know-how and trade secrets
relating to or used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
including (i) the computer programs and software relating to or used in the
business of the Company, together with the operating codes, source codes,
updates, upgrades, modifications, enhancements and any user and technical
documentation or utilities with respect thereto, (ii) all patents, patent
licenses and patent applications, copyrights and copyright applications, trade
secrets, proprietary information, proposals and rights and other intellectual
property rights relating to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
(iii) all trademarks, trade names, service marks and logos (including any
registration and any application for registration of any of the foregoing),
relating to or used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

       "Intellectual Property Licenses" has the meaning set forth in Section
6(z).

       "Investments" means all expenditures made and all liabilities incurred
(contingently or otherwise) for the acquisition of stock or Indebtedness of, or
for loans, advances, capital contributions or transfers of property to, or in
respect of any guaranties (or other commitments as described under
Indebtedness), or obligations of, any Person. In determining the aggregate
amount of Investments outstanding at any particular time: (a) the amount of any
Investment represented by a guaranty shall be taken at not less than the
principal amount of the obligations guaranteed and still outstanding; (b) there
shall be deducted in respect of each such Investment any amount received as a
return of capital (but only by repurchase, redemption, retirement, repayment,
liquidating dividend or liquidating distribution); (c) there shall not be
deducted in respect of any Investment any amounts received as earnings on such
Investment, whether as dividends, interest or otherwise; and (d) there shall not
be deducted from the aggregate amount of Investments any decrease in the value
thereof.

       "Investment Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes,
the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Warrants, the Securities
Holders and Registration Rights Agreement and the Parent's Certificate of
Incorporation and the exhibits and schedules attached hereto.

       "IPO Offer" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c)(i).

                                       14

<PAGE>   21

       "Latest Balance Sheet" means the Company's latest consolidated balance
sheet dated as of July 1, 2000.

       "Leverage Ratio" means, as at any date of determination, the ratio of (a)
Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness outstanding on such date to (b)
Consolidated EBITDA for the Reference Period ending on such date.

       "Like Kind Exchange" means the exchange pursuant to Section 1031 of the
Code of (a) any real property used or to be used in connection with the business
of the Parent, the Company or (b) any other real property to be used in
connection with the business of the Parent or the Company.

       "Losses" has the meaning set forth in Section 13(r).

       "Management Agreement" means the Management Consulting Agreement by and
between the Company and Chartwell Investments II LLC dated as of August 11,
2000.

       "Management Fee" means the Management Fee as defined in the Management
Agreement.

       "Material Adverse Change" means any material adverse change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties, prospects
or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

       "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect upon (i) the
condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, income, properties,
prospects or assets of the Parent, the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, (ii) the ability of the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary,
individually or in the aggregate, to perform their obligations under any of the
Subdebt Documents to which they are a party or (iii) the legality, binding
effect, validity or enforceability of any of the Subdebt Documents or the rights
and remedies of the Holders thereunder.

       "Material Contracts" has the meaning set forth in Section 6(p).

       "Maximum Note Commitment" means $50,000,000.

       "Maximum Warrant Issuance" means 5.5% of the issued and outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock determined on a fully-diluted basis
immediately following the Second Closing, subject to adjustment as provided
therein.

       "Merger" means the merger of Andsonica Acquisition Corp., a Subsidiary of
Holdings, with and into the Parent, as more fully described in the Merger
Agreement.

       "Merger Agreement" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
June 13, 2000, among Holdings, the Parent and Andsonica Acquisition Corp.

       "Mortgaged Property" means any Real Estate which is subject to any
Mortgage.

                                       15

<PAGE>   22

       "Mortgages" means the Mortgage from the Company to the Agent with respect
to the fee interests of the Company in the Real Estate located in York,
Pennsylvania and any mortgage or deed of trust granted by the Parent, the
Company or any of their Subsidiaries in accordance with the Credit Agreement.

       "Multiemployer Plan" means any "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA to which the Parent, the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
makes, is making or is obligated to make contributions or has made or been
obligated to make contributions within the last six (6) years from the date of
this Agreement.

       "Net Cash Proceeds" means the net cash proceeds received by any Person in
respect of any asset sale, equity issuance or debt issuance less, (a) all
reasonable out-of-pocket fees, commissions and other expenses incurred in
connection with such sale or issuance, including the amount (estimated in good
faith by such Person) of income, franchise, sales and other applicable taxes
required to be paid by such Person in connection with such sale or issuance, (b)
repayment of Indebtedness that is required to be repaid in connection with such
asset sale to the extent permitted under this Agreement and (c) required amounts
to be provided by the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be,
as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with
such asset sale including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment
benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters and
liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated with any such asset
sale.

       "Note" or "Notes" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

       "Note Commitment Percentage" means with respect to each Purchaser, the
percentage set forth on Schedule 3(d) attached hereto as to such Purchaser's
percentage of the aggregate original principal amount of the Notes determined
pursuant to Section 3(b).

       "Obligations" means all principal of and interest (including, to the
greatest extent permitted by law, post-petition interest) on the Notes and all
fees, expenses, indemnities and other obligations owing, due or payable at any
time by any Credit Party to a Holder or any other Person entitled thereto, under
this Agreement or any of the other Subdebt Documents.

       "Offer Period" means the period commencing on the date on which the
Indenture Offer is delivered to the holders of the Indenture Notes and ending on
the twentieth Business Day thereafter (which in any event shall be no later than
October 31, 2000), during which the Indenture Offer shall remain outstanding.

       "Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf of the
Parent or the Company by two officers of the Parent or the Company, one of whom
must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the
treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Parent or the Company, as
applicable.

       "Other Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

       "Owned Intellectual Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 6(z).

                                       16

<PAGE>   23

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

       "Parent" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble and its successors and
assigns.

       "Parent's Certificate of Incorporation" means the Parent's Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended (in the form of Exhibit B to the Merger Agreement) and
as in effect on the Initial Closing Date.

       "Parent Guaranty" has the meaning set forth in Section 5A(q)(ii).

       "Payment Blockage Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

       "Payment Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

       "Payment Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

       "Permitted Acquisition" means any acquisition by the Company, or any of
its Domestic Subsidiaries of a material portion of the assets, a division or a
line of business, or all of the capital stock, of a U. S. Person (other than a
Permitted Foreign Acquisition), provided (a) such assets or capital stock are in
a substantially similar line of business to that of the Company; (b) no Default
or Event of Default exists prior to or would result after giving effect to such
acquisition; (c) the seller of such assets or capital stock is not an Affiliate
of the Parent any of its Subsidiaries; (d) the terms of such acquisition are on
an arms-length basis, (e) Sections 8(o) and 8(p) are complied with at the time
of consummation of such acquisition (or concurrently therewith); (f) the Company
has delivered to the Holders a copy of the pro forma compliance certificate,
delivered to the Agent under the Credit Agreement in connection with such
acquisition; (g) the board of directors and (if required by applicable law) the
shareholders, or the equivalent thereof, of the business to be acquired has
approved such acquisition in the event such Permitted Acquisition would result
in a change of control of the acquired Person and such Permitted Acquisition is
not considered "hostile"; (h) the business to be acquired would not subject any
Holder to any additional regulatory or third party approvals in connection with
the exercise of its rights and remedies under this Agreement or any other
Subdebt Document; (i) no contingent liabilities will be incurred or assumed in
connection with such Permitted Acquisition which could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect and any Indebtedness incurred or assumed in
connection with such Permitted Acquisition shall have been permitted to be
incurred or assumed pursuant to Section 10(a), (j) the aggregate amount of the
consideration (including the amount of any assumed Indebtedness) for all
Permitted Acquisitions (or series of related acquisitions) shall not exceed
$15,000,000 in any Fiscal Year, (k) if such acquisition is made by a merger with
the Company, the Company shall be the surviving entity; and (l) the Company
shall have delivered to the Holders a copy of the certificate given to the Agent
under the Credit Agreement in connection with such acquisition showing that the
Person or the assets to be acquired in such acquisition shall have a positive
Consolidated EBITDA (calculated, on a Pro-Forma Basis, for the acquired Person
and its Subsidiaries or assets in the same fashion as Consolidated EBITDA is
calculated for the Company and its Subsidiaries under this Agreement, mutatis
mutandis) for the period of 12 consecutive calendar months prior to such
acquisition.

                                       17

<PAGE>   24

       "Permitted Asset Disposition" means any disposition, exclusive of any
disposition otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 10(f)(ii), by the Parent,
the Company or any of their Subsidiaries of assets, a division or a line of
business, at least 75% of the purchase price of which shall be for cash,
provided (a) that the fair market value of such assets does not exceed
$3,500,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year or $9,000,000 in the aggregate
over the term of this Agreement; (b) no Default or Event of Default exists prior
to or would result after giving effect to such disposition and such disposition
is in compliance with Section 10(f)(ii) hereof; (c) the terms of such
disposition are on an arms-length basis; (d) if the disposition involves
consideration in excess of $3,500,000, the Company has delivered to the Holders
a copy of the pro forma compliance certificate, delivered to the Agent under the
Credit Agreement in connection such disposition; and (e) no contingent
liabilities will be incurred or assumed in connection with such Permitted Asset
Disposition which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

       "Permitted Foreign Acquisition" means any acquisition by the Company, or
any of its Domestic Subsidiaries of a material portion of the assets, a division
or a line of business, or more than 90% of the Capital Stock (by percentage of
votes), of a non-U.S. Person, provided (a) such assets or Capital Stock are in a
substantially similar line of business to that of the Company; (b) no Default or
Event of Default exists prior to or would result after giving effect to such
acquisition; (c) the seller of such assets or Capital Stock is not an Affiliate
of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; (d) the terms of such acquisition are
on an arms length basis; (e) Sections 8(o) and 8(p) are complied with at the
time of consummation of such acquisition (or concurrently therewith); (f) the
Company has delivered to the Holders a copy of the pro forma compliance
certificate, delivered to the Agent under the Credit Agreement in connection
such acquisition; (g) the board of directors and (if required by applicable law)
the shareholders or the equivalent thereof, of the business to be acquired has
approved such acquisition in the event such Permitted Foreign Acquisition would
result in a change of control of the acquired Person and such Permitted Foreign
Acquisition is not considered "hostile"; (h) the business to be acquired would
not subject any Holder to any additional regulatory or third party approvals
(other than technical notices in connection with a foreclosure and transfer of
such acquired entity) under federal or state law in connection with the exercise
of its rights and remedies under this Agreement or any other Subdebt Document;
(i) no contingent liabilities will be incurred or assumed in connection with
such Permitted Foreign Acquisition which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect and any Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection
with such Permitted Foreign Acquisition shall have been permitted to be incurred
or assumed pursuant to Section 10(a); (j) the aggregate amount of the
consideration (including the amount of any assumed Indebtedness) for all
Permitted Foreign Acquisitions (or series of related acquisitions) shall not
exceed $7,500,000 in any Fiscal Year; (k) if such acquisition is made by a
merger with the Company or a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, the Borrower or
the applicable Domestic Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall be the surviving
entity; and (l) the Company shall have delivered to the Holders a copy of the
certificate given to the Agent under the Credit Agreement in connection with
such acquisition showing that the acquired Person and its Subsidiaries or assets
in the same fashion as Consolidated EBITDA is calculated for the Company and its
Subsidiaries under this Agreement, mutatis mutandis) for the period of 12
consecutive calendar months prior to such acquisition.

                                       18

<PAGE>   25

       "Permitted Liens" means the liens, security interest and other
encumbrances permitted by Section 10(c).

       "Person" means any corporation, association, joint venture, partnership,
limited liability company, organization, business, individual, trust, government
or agency or political subdivision thereof or any other legal entity.

       "Plan" means any "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of
Section 3(2) of ERISA that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA
(other than a Multiemployer Plan) and to which the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate may have any liability.

       "Principal" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

       "Pro Forma Basis" means, in connection with any proposed Permitted
Acquisition, Permitted Foreign Acquisition or Permitted Asset Disposition after
the Initial Closing Date, the calculation of compliance with the financial
covenants set forth in Section 9 hereof as required by the terms of the
definition of Permitted Acquisition, Permitted Foreign Acquisition or Permitted
Asset Disposition by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (including the
Person to be acquired) with reference to the audited historical financial
results of such Person and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries for the
applicable Test Period after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such
Permitted Acquisition, Permitted Foreign Acquisition or Permitted Asset
Disposition during the Test Period in the manner provided in the Credit
Agreement and in (a), (b) and (c) below; and, following a Permitted Acquisition,
Permitted Foreign Acquisition or Permitted Asset Disposition, the calculation of
compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 9 for the fiscal
quarter in which such Permitted Acquisition, Permitted Foreign Acquisition or
Permitted Asset Disposition occurred and each of the three fiscal quarters
immediately following such Permitted Acquisition, Permitted Foreign Acquisition
or Permitted Asset Disposition with reference to the audited historical
financial results of the Person so acquired and the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries for the applicable Test Period after giving effect on a pro forma
basis to such Permitted Acquisition, Permitted Foreign Acquisition or Permitted
Asset Dispositions during the Test Period in the manner described in (a), (b)
and (c) below, provided, however, that, in each case, in the event that no
historical financial results are available with respect to the Person or assets
to be acquired, such calculations shall be made with reference to reasonable
estimates of such past performance made by the Company based on existing data
and other available information, such estimates to be agreed upon by the Company
and the Agent under the Credit Agreement:

              (a)    (i) all Indebtedness and any other balance sheet
       adjustments incurred or made in connection with the Permitted Acquisition
       or Permitted Foreign Acquisition or Permitted Asset Disposition shall be
       deemed to have been incurred or made on the first day of the Test Period,
       and (ii) all Indebtedness of the Person acquired or to be acquired in any
       such Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Foreign Acquisition which was or
       will have been repaid in connection with the consummation of the
       Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Foreign Acquisition shall be deemed to
       have been repaid concurrently with the incurrence of the Indebtedness
       incurred in connection with the Permitted Acquisition or Permitted
       Foreign Acquisition and (iii) and any Indebtedness which was repaid in

                                       19

<PAGE>   26

       connection with a Permitted Asset Disposition, shall be deemed to have
       been repaid on the first day of the Test Period;

              (b)    all Indebtedness assumed to have been incurred pursuant to
       the preceding clause (a) shall be deemed to have borne interest at the
       sum of (i) the arithmetic mean of (x) the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in
       the Credit Agreement) for Eurodollar Rate Loans (as defined in the Credit
       Agreement on the date of this Agreement) having an Interest Period (as
       defined in the Credit Agreement on the date of this Agreement) of one
       month in effect on the first day of the Test Period and (y) the
       Eurodollar Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans having an Interest Period of
       one month in effect on the last day of the Test Period plus (ii) the
       Applicable Margin (as applicable and as defined in the Credit Agreement
       on the date of this Agreement) then in effect (after giving effect to the
       Permitted Acquisition, Permitted Foreign Acquisition or Permitted Asset
       Disposition on a Pro Forma Basis); and

              (c)    other reasonable cost savings, expenses and other income
       statement or operating statement adjustments which are attributable to
       the change in ownership [and/or management resulting from such Permitted
       Acquisition, Permitted Foreign Acquisition or Permitted Asset Disposition
       shall be deemed to have been realized on the first day of the Test
       Period.

       "Projections" has the meaning set forth in Section 6(m).

       "Purchasers" means, FUI, GP and FCF (so long as such Persons hold Notes
and/or Warrants) and their permitted successor(s) and assign(s) and any
permitted assignee(s) or transferee(s) of all or any portion of the Notes and/or
the Warrants in accordance with the terms hereof.

       "Purchasers' Fee Letter" means the letter agreement dated June 9, 2000
addressed to the Company from the Purchasers, as amended, modified or otherwise
supplemented.

       "Qualified Initial Public Offering" means an Initial Public Offering that
generates net proceeds to the Company and selling stockholders of at least
$35,000,000.

       "Real Estate" means all real property at any time of determination owned
or leased (as lessee or sublessee) by the Parent, the Company or any of their
Subsidiaries.

       "Recapitalization" means the Merger, the recapitalization of the Parent
and the other related transactions in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the Recapitalization Documents, pursuant to which the Sponsor and its
Affiliates will acquire 94% of the stock of the Parent, refinance the Parent's
and Company's existing senior credit facility and pay associated fees and
expenses.

       "Recapitalization Documents" means those documents executed by the
Parent, the Company and certain other Persons in connection with the
Recapitalization, including (i) the Merger Agreement, (ii) the Securities
Agreement, among the Parent, Andsonica Acquisition Corp.

                                       20

<PAGE>   27

Holdings, and the Security Holders listed therein, dated as of June 13, 2000,
(iii) the Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreement among Brentwood Private
Equity L.L.C., Charlesbank Capital Partners L.L.C., Holdings, and the Parent
dated as of June 13, 2000, (iv) the 18% Senior Debentures, and (v) the other
documents listed on Schedule 1(c) hereto.

       "Redemption Price" means the amount of Notes being redeemed multiplied by
the applicable price percentage set forth below, as such amount may be reduced
by the applicable Holder in its sole discretion, in each case plus accrued
interest on the principal redeemed:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
                      Year                                 Redemption Price Percentage
                      ----                                 ---------------------------
------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>
Second Closing Date through August 15, 2002                            104%
------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
August 15, 2002 through August 15, 2003                                102%
------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
August 15, 2003 and thereafter                                         100%
------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

       "Reference Period" means a period of four full consecutive Fiscal
Quarters calculated on a trailing 12 months basis, of a Person ending on the
relevant date, provided, however, that:

              (a)    solely for purposes of determining Consolidated Fixed
       Charges at the end of each Fiscal Quarter after July 1, 2000 through the
       Fiscal Quarter ended June 30, 2001, the Reference Period for Consolidated
       Fixed Charges and Consolidated Total Interest Expense only (and not as a
       component of the computation of figures for Consolidated EBITDA, or
       Consolidated Operating Cash Flow) shall be such shorter period of four,
       seven or ten full Fiscal Months elapsed since August 26, 2000, with the
       relevant amount applicable to such shorter period annualized for the
       period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters for which the applicable
       covenant or test calculation is being performed by multiplying such
       relevant amount by a fraction whose numerator is 12 and whose denominator
       is such actual number of elapsed full Fiscal Months; and

              (b)    for the purposes of the Leverage Ratio tested on October
       28, 2000, December 31, 2000, March 31, 2001 and June 28, 2001, Reference
       Period shall mean with respect to the Consolidated EBITDA, the prior 12
       Fiscal Month period.

       "Related Party" or "Related Parties" means spouses, lineal ancestors or
descendants, natural or adopted, and spouses of lineal ancestors or descendants,
or trusts for the sole benefit of any of such Persons.

       "Required Holders" means the Holders of at least 66% of the outstanding
principal of the Notes; provided, however, in the event that GP and FUI each
sell 15% or more of the aggregate principal amount of their Notes held
immediately after the Second Closing, the term "Required Holders" means the
Holders of at least 51% of the outstanding principal of the Notes and, provided,
further, in the event either GP or FUI (but not the other) sells 15% or more of
the aggregate principal amount of its Note held immediately after the Second
Closing, the term "Required Holders" means the Holders of at least 51% of the
outstanding principal of the Notes, provided that the non-seller is included in
the 51%.

       "Requirement of Law" means, with respect to any Person, the charter,
articles or certificate of incorporation, formation or organization, partnership
or operating agreements and bylaws or other organizational or governing
documents of such Person, and any statute, law, treaty, rule,

                                       21

<PAGE>   28

regulation, order, decree, writ, injunction or determination of any arbitrator
or court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding
upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its
property is subject or otherwise pertaining to any or all of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the other Investment Documents.

       "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Company, the president,
the chief executive officer, any other executive officer, or any Financial
Officer of the Company, and any other officer or similar official thereof
responsible for the administration of the obligations of the Company in respect
of this Agreement.

       "Restricted Payment" means in relation to the Parent, the Company and
each of their Subsidiaries, any (a) Distribution or (b) payment or prepayment by
the Parent or its Subsidiaries to the Parent's or any Subsidiary's shareholders
(or other equity holders) or to any Affiliate of the Parent or such Subsidiary's
shareholders.

       "Second Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(d).

       "Second Closing Date" means the first date on which the conditions stated
in Section 5B have been satisfied with respect to the Second Closing, and the
Notes and Warrants are to be issued, which date shall not in any event be later
than October 31, 2000.

       "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

       "Securities Holders and Registration Rights Agreement" has the meaning
set forth in Section 5B(c)(i).

       "Sellers" means the stockholders of the Parent immediately prior to the
Merger.

       "Senior Indebtedness" means all Indebtedness of the Credit Parties
pursuant to and arising under the Credit Documents (whether for principal,
interest (including interest, fees and expenses accruing after the occurrence of
an Insolvency Event whether or not the same is allowed or allowable as a claim)
prepayment premium, fees, expenses, collateral protection expenses, enforcement
costs or otherwise) and any other obligations of the Credit Parties arising out
of or in connection with the Credit Documents; provided, that the aggregate
amount of principal constituting Senior Indebtedness shall not exceed
$200,000,000 at any one time outstanding unless incurred in compliance with the
following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing,
"Senior Indebtedness" shall not include that portion of Indebtedness (and any
interest thereon) pursuant to and arising under the Credit Documents that is
incurred in excess of the aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 in
violation of Section 10(r) and/or Section 11(f). To the extent any payment of
Senior Indebtedness (whether by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of set-off or
otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required
to be paid to a trustee, receiver or similar party under any bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then if such
payment is recovered by or paid over to, such trustee, receiver or other similar
party, the

                                       22

<PAGE>   29

Senior Indebtedness or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be
deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

       "Senior Notes" means the Term Notes and the Revolving Credit Notes (as
such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement).

       "Significant Foreign Subsidiaries" means Significant Subsidiaries that
are also Foreign Subsidiaries.

       "Significant Subsidiaries" means all Subsidiaries of the Parent and the
Company other than the Insignificant Subsidiaries.

       "Solvent" means as to any Person on any particular date, that such Person
(i) does not have unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now
conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, (ii) is able to pay its
debts as they become due in the ordinary course of business, (iii) has assets
with a present fair saleable value taken on a going concern basis greater than
its total stated liabilities and identified contingent liabilities, including
any amounts necessary to satisfy preferential rights of shareholders and (iv)
does not intend to, and does not believe it will, incur debts and liabilities
beyond its ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature.

       "Sponsor" means Chartwell Investments II LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company and its successors and permitted assigns and its Affiliates.

       "Standstill Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

       "Subdebt Investment" has the meaning set forth in the Statement of
Purpose.

       "Subdebt Maturity Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

       "Subdebt Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes, the
Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty and the exhibits and schedules (other
than the Warrants, the Securities Holders and Registration Rights Agreement and
the Parent's Certificate of Incorporation) attached thereto.

       "Subordinated Debt" means unsecured Indebtedness of the Credit Parties
which Indebtedness is expressly subordinated and made junior to the payment and
performance in full of the Obligations.

       "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other
Person of which more than 50% of the outstanding Capital Stock having ordinary
voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, board of managers or
other governing body of such Person, is at the time, directly or indirectly,
owned or controlled by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or
a combination thereof (irrespective of whether, at the time, securities of any
other class or classes of any such corporation or other Person shall or might
have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

                                       23

<PAGE>   30

       "Subsidiary Guarantor" has the meaning set forth in Section 5A(q)(i).

       "Subsidiary Guaranty" has the meaning set forth in Section 5A(g)(i).

       "Test Period" means (a) in connection with the calculation of financial
covenant compliance on a Pro Forma Basis as required in connection with any
proposed Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Foreign Acquisition, the period of
four fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to such Permitted Acquisition or
Permitted Foreign Acquisition, and (b) in connection with the calculation of the
financial covenants set forth in Section 9 hereof following any Permitted
Acquisition or Permitted Foreign Acquisition, the period of all fiscal quarters
(and any portion of a fiscal quarter) prior to the date of such Permitted
Acquisition or Permitted Foreign Acquisition included in the calculation of such
financial covenant.

       "Total Voting Power" means, with respect to any Person, the total number
of votes which may be cast in the election of directors of such Person at any
meeting of stockholders of such Person if all securities entitled to vote in the
election of directors of such Person (on a fully diluted basis, assuming the
exercise, conversion or exchange of all rights, warrants, options and securities
exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into, such voting securities)
were present and voted at such meeting (other than votes that may be cast only
upon the happening of a contingency).

       "Transaction Debt" means the Convert Notes, the 11% Notes, the 14% Senior
Discount Notes, the 18% Senior Discount Notes and the 18% Senior Debentures.

       "Transaction Documents" means this Agreement, the Parent's Certificate of
Incorporation, the Notes, the Warrants, the Securities Holders and Registration
Rights Agreement, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Credit
Documents, the Recapitalization Documents and all other agreements, exhibits,
documents and schedules related thereto.

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

       "Warrant Percentage" means with respect to each Purchaser, the percentage
set forth on Schedule 3(d) attached hereto as to such Purchaser's percentage of
the Warrants entitling the holders thereof to purchase the aggregate amount of
shares of the Company's Common Stock as determined pursuant to Section 3(b).

       "Warrants" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

       "Wholly Owned" means, with respect to any Subsidiary of any Person, that
100% of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Subsidiary is owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person unless it is a Requirement of Law that any third
party who is a member of the board of directors (or any equivalent body) holds
shares of such Subsidiary's outstanding Capital Stock, in which

                                       24

<PAGE>   31

case, the percentage of shares of such Subsidiary's outstanding Capital Stock
that does not have to be held as a Requirement of Law by such board member(s) is
owned directly or indirectly, by such Person.

       (a)    Accounting Terms; Financial Statements. Except as specifically
provided otherwise in this Agreement, all accounting terms used herein that are
not specifically defined shall have the meanings customarily given them in
accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, for purposes of calculation of the financial covenants set forth in
Section 9, all accounting determinations and computations hereunder shall be
made in accordance with GAAP as in effect as of the date of this Agreement
applied on a basis consistent with the basis used in preparing the most recent
Financial Statements of the Company referred to in Section 6(m). In the event
that any changes in GAAP after such date are required to be applied to the
Company and would affect the computation of the financial covenants contained in
Section 9, such changes shall be followed only from and after the date this
Agreement shall have been amended to take into account any such changes.

SECTION 2. AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUANCE OF THE NOTES AND THE WARRANTS. The Company
and the Parent has authorized the issuance to the Purchasers of the Company's
senior subordinated promissory notes in an aggregate original principal amount
of up to $50,000,000 to be dated the date of issuance thereof, to mature on
August 15, 2008 to bear interest on the unpaid balance thereof, from the date
thereof until the principal shall have become due and payable, at the rate
specified in Section 4(a) and to be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2(a)
(the "Notes"), which shall be accompanied by common stock purchase warrants, in
substantially the form of Exhibit 2(b), entitling the holders thereof to
purchase shares of Common Stock representing 5.5% (as reduced per Section 3(b))
of the issued and outstanding shares of the Parent's Common Stock determined on
a fully-diluted basis immediately following the Second Closing, subject to
adjustment as provided therein (the "Warrants").

SECTION 3. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES.

       (a)    Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, and in
reliance upon the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company and
the Parent contained herein, at the Second Closing, the Company and the Parent
shall sell to each Purchaser and each Purchaser shall purchase, severally and
not jointly, from the Company and the Parent the amount of its Note Commitment
Percentage of the principal amount and accompanying Warrant Percentage
determined pursuant to Section 3(b). The obligations of the Purchasers hereunder
are several and not joint obligations, and no Purchaser shall have any liability
to any Person for the performance or non-performance by the other Purchasers
hereunder.

       (b)    Determination of Amount of Notes and Warrants. The aggregate
amount of the Notes and the Warrants to be issued at the Second Closing shall be
determined as follows:

              (i)    If the holders of 90% or more of the outstanding Indenture
       Notes have accepted the Indenture Offer at the end of the Offer Period,
       the aggregate amount of the Notes shall be in the amount of the Maximum
       Note Commitment and the aggregate amount of the Warrants shall be in the
       amount of the Maximum Warrant Issuance.

                                       25

<PAGE>   32

              (ii)   If the holders of less than 90% of the outstanding
       Indenture Notes have accepted the Indenture Offer at the end of the Offer
       Period (A) the Maximum Note Commitment, the Maximum Term B Commitment and
       the Maximum Term A Commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement) shall
       be reduced dollar for dollar by an amount equal to the sum of (1) the
       aggregate amount of the Indenture Notes that would remain outstanding
       after giving effect to the Indenture Offer and (2) the aggregate amount
       of the 18% Discount Notes that would remain outstanding after giving
       effect to the Second Closing, which reduction would be made first to
       reduce the Maximum Note Commitment. Furthermore, in the event of such
       reduction of the Maximum Note Commitment, the Maximum Warrant Issuance
       shall also be reduced on a pro rata basis.

       (c)    The Company, the Parent and the Purchasers hereby acknowledge and
agree that each Note and accompanying Warrant to be issued are part of an
investment unit within the meaning of Section 1273(c)(2) of the Code. The
Company, the Parent and each Purchaser hereby further acknowledge and agree
that, for United States federal income tax purposes, the parties shall agree
within five days after the Second Closing on the issue price of each Note within
the meaning of Section 1273(b) of the Code, which issue price will be determined
pursuant to Section 1.1273-2(h)(1) of the Treasury Regulations. The Company, the
Parent and the respective Purchasers agree to use such issue prices and
allocations for all income tax purposes with respect to the issuance of their
respective Notes and the Warrants.

       (d)    The closing of the issuance, purchase and sale of the Notes and
the Warrants (the "Second Closing") shall take place at the offices of Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., 1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Suite 400,
Washington, D.C. 20036 at 10 a.m. local time on the Second Closing Date, or at
such other time and place as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the
Company, the Parent and the Purchasers; provided, however, that the Second
Closing shall take place no later than October 31, 2000. At the Second Closing,
the Company and the Parent, respectively, will issue, sell and deliver to each
Purchaser the Notes and the Warrants in the amount of such Purchaser's Note
Commitment Percentage and Warrant Percentage described on Schedule 3(d), and
each Purchaser will, severally and not jointly, pay to the Company and the
Parent the respective purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately
available funds pursuant to written instructions delivered to such Purchaser by
the Company and the Parent prior to the Second Closing.

SECTION 4. NOTE TERMS.

       (a)    Repayment of Principal. Unless otherwise required or permitted to
be sooner paid pursuant to the provisions hereof and of the Notes, the Company
shall repay the unpaid principal amount of the Notes (the "Principal") in full
on August 15, 2008 (the "Subdebt Maturity Date").

       (b)    Interest.

              (i)    Interest. So long as no Event of Default has occurred and
       is continuing, the Principal shall bear interest from the date hereof
       until paid, computed on the basis of a 365-day year, at a fixed annual
       rate of 13%.

                                       26

<PAGE>   33

              (ii)   Periodic Interest Payments. Accrued interest shall be due
       and payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of each April, July,
       October and January of each year, commencing on October 15, 2000
       (provided, however, that if the Second Closing Date occurs on or after
       September 16, 2000, then payments shall commence on January 15, 2001). In
       addition, all accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid upon the payment
       in full of the Principal and, if payment in full is not paid when due,
       thereafter on demand.

              (iii)  Default Interest Rate. After the occurrence and during the
       continuance of any Event of Default, (A) if the Event of Default is of
       the type designated in Section 12(a)(i) and/or (B) if the Event of
       Default is of any type other than designated in Section 12(a)(i) and if
       the Holders deliver a written notice to the Company so specifying, the
       Company's obligations under the Notes shall bear interest from the date
       of the occurrence of the Event of Default specified in clause (A) of this
       Section 4(b)(iii) or from the date of the notice specified in clause (B)
       of this Section 4(b)(iii) (as applicable), payable quarterly as stated in
       Section 4(b)(ii) (or, at the option of the Holder, on demand), at the
       rate of 15% per annum.

              (iv)   Savings Clause. In no contingency or event shall the
       interest rate charged pursuant to the terms of this Agreement exceed the
       highest rate permissible under any law which a court of competent
       jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In
       the event that such a court determines that the Holders have received
       interest hereunder in excess of the highest applicable rate, the amount
       of such excess interest shall be applied against the Principal then
       outstanding, and any excess interest remaining after such application
       shall be refunded to the Company.

       (c)    Mandatory Redemption.

              (i)    Initial Public Offering. The Company promptly shall make an
       offer (the "IPO Offer") to the Holders to redeem all of the Notes upon
       the occurrence of a Qualified Initial Public Offering. The notice of any
       IPO Offer shall be delivered promptly but in no event later than five
       Business Days prior to consummation of the Qualified Initial Public
       Offering. The IPO Offer shall (A) describe the facts and circumstances of
       the Initial Public Offering in reasonable detail, (B) make reference to
       this Section 4(c)(i) and the right of the Purchasers to require the
       Company to redeem all of the outstanding Notes, (C) offer to redeem the
       outstanding Notes, together with accrued interest to the date of
       redemption, and (D) specify a date for such Qualified Initial Public
       Offering. Subject to Section 11, the Company on the date of consummation
       of such Qualified Initial Public Offering shall redeem the Notes as to
       which the offer was accepted, and the price of such Notes payable upon
       the occurrence of an Qualified Initial Public Offering shall be an amount
       equal to the Redemption Price of the outstanding principal amount of the
       Notes.

              (ii)   Change of Control/Fundamental Transaction. The Company
       promptly shall make an offer (the "Fundamental Transaction Offer") to
       redeem all of the Notes upon the occurrence of (A) a Change of Control or
       (B) any Fundamental Change (any of the foregoing, a "Fundamental
       Transaction"). The notice of any Fundamental

                                       27

<PAGE>   34

       Transaction Offer shall be delivered promptly but in no event later than
       five Business Days prior to consummation of the Fundamental Transaction;
       provided, however, that, at any time after the consummation of an Initial
       Public Offering, (x) the notice of the occurrence of the Change of
       Control shall be delivered promptly but in no event any later than three
       Business Days after a Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge of
       such Change of Control and (y) the Fundamental Transaction Offer (in
       connection with such Change of Control) shall be commenced no later than
       15 days after the consummation of such Change of Control. The Fundamental
       Transaction Offer shall (1) describe the facts and circumstances of the
       Fundamental Transaction in reasonable detail, (2) make reference to this
       Section 4(c)(ii) and the right of the Purchasers to require the Company
       to redeem all of the outstanding Notes, (3) offer to redeem all of the
       outstanding Notes, together with accrued interest to the date of
       redemption, and (4) specify a date for such Fundamental Transaction.
       Subject to Section 11 hereof, the Company on the date of the consummation
       of such Fundamental Transaction shall redeem the Notes, and the price of
       the Notes payable upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction shall
       be an amount equal to the Redemption Price of the outstanding principal
       amount of the Notes.

       (d)    Optional Redemption. Subject to Section 11 hereof, the Company
shall have the right at any time after the first anniversary of the Second
Closing, upon the notice provided for below, to redeem the Notes in whole or in
part; provided, however, that redemption shall be allocated to all of the Notes
outstanding at the time in proportion to the respective outstanding principal
amounts thereof. In the event of an optional redemption made under this Section
4(d), the Company shall give the Holders irrevocable written notice of such
redemption not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date,
specifying (i) such redemption date, (ii) the principal amount of the Notes to
be prepaid on such date, and (iii) the accrued interest applicable to the
redemption, and stating that such redemption is to be made pursuant to this
Section 4(d); provided, however, that the Company may withdraw such offer at any
time prior to the redemption date so long as any Holder's other rights under the
Subdebt Documents shall not have been prejudiced in any material respect by
reliance upon such offer of redemption. The price of the Notes payable upon an
optional redemption pursuant to this Section 4(d) shall be an amount equal to
the Redemption Price of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes to be
redeemed.

       (e)    Direct Payment. All payments of principal and interest due from
the Company hereunder shall be due, without any presentment thereof, directly to
the Holders, at the Holders' respective addresses set forth in Schedule 13(i)
hereto or such other address in the United States as the Holders may from time
to time designate in writing to the Company or, if a bank account with a United
States bank is designated for a Holder on Schedule 13(i) hereto or in any
written notice to the Company from such Holder, the Company will make such
payments in immediately available funds to such bank accounts, no later than
11:00 a.m. Charlotte, North Carolina time on the date due, marked for attention
as indicated, or in such other manner or to such other account in any United
States bank as such Holder may from time to time direct in writing.

       (f)    Prepayment Applications. Subject to Section 11, all optional
prepayments and mandatory prepayments under this Section 4 shall be applied
first to all costs, expenses, indemnities and other amounts payable hereunder
and under the applicable Notes, then to

                                       28

<PAGE>   35

payment of default interest, if any, then to payment of premium, if any, then to
payment of accrued interest and thereafter to payment of principal.

       (g)    Partial Prepayments.

              (i)    In the case of each partial prepayment of the Notes, the
       principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all
       of the Notes at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as
       practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not
       theretofore called for prepayment.

              (ii)   Upon any partial prepayment of the Notes pursuant to
       Section 4(d) or purchase of Notes permitted by Section 4(h), the
       principal amount of each required prepayment of the Notes under Section
       4(c) on and after the date of such prepayment or purchase shall be
       reduced in the same proportion as the aggregate unpaid principal amount
       of the Notes is reduced as a result of such partial prepayment or
       purchase. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "purchase"
       shall include any purchase, redemption, prepayment or other acquisition
       of outstanding notes in accordance with Section 4(h).

       (h)    Purchase of Notes. The Company will not and will not permit any
Affiliate to purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire, directly or
indirectly, any of the outstanding Notes except (i) upon the payment or
prepayment of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the
Notes, (ii) pursuant to an offer to so purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise
acquire all or a portion of the Notes then outstanding made on the same terms to
all Holders of Notes then outstanding and in accordance with the terms of such
offer, or (iii) in connection with the exercise of a Warrant in accordance with
the terms therein. The Company will promptly cancel all Notes acquired by the
Company, the Parent or any Subsidiary pursuant to any payment, prepayment or
purchase of Notes pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no Notes may
be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.

SECTION 5.A. CONDITIONS OF INITIAL CLOSING. A Purchaser's obligations to enter
into, execute and deliver this Agreement on the Initial Closing Date are
subject, in each case, to such Purchaser determining, in its sole discretion,
that the following conditions have been satisfied (or such Purchaser waiving in
writing the conditions that it has determined have not been satisfied), on or
before the Initial Closing Date:

       (a)    Representations True; No Event of Default. Each of the
representations and warranties of any of the Parent, the Company and each of
their Subsidiaries contained in this Agreement shall be true as of the date as
of which they were made with the same effect as if made at and as of that time
(except to the extent of changes resulting from transactions contemplated or
permitted by this Agreement and changes occurring in the ordinary course of
business that singly or in the aggregate are not materially adverse, and to the
extent that such representations and warranties relate expressly to an earlier
date), and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
The Purchasers shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by an
Authorized Officer of the Company to such effect.

                                       29

<PAGE>   36

       (b)    Consummation of the Recapitalization. Each Purchaser shall have
reviewed and approved in its sole discretion all of the Recapitalization
Documents. There shall not have been any material modification, amendment,
supplement or waiver to the Recapitalization Documents without the prior written
consent of each Purchaser, including, but not limited to, any modification,
amendment, supplement or waiver relating to the amount or type of consideration
to be paid in connection with the Recapitalization and the contents of all
disclosure schedules and exhibits. The elements of the Recapitalization
constituting the closing shall have been consummated in accordance with the
terms of the Recapitalization Documents (without waiver of any conditions
precedent to the obligations of the buyer thereunder).

       (c)    Advances Under Credit Agreement. The Company and the Parent shall
have entered into the Credit Agreement, and such Credit Agreement shall be in
full force and effect. On the Initial Closing Date, the Banks thereunder shall
make the advances required to be made on the Initial Closing Date in the full
amount contemplated therein in connection with the Merger, and to refinance the
Company's existing senior credit facilities and pay associated fees and
expenses, all on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to such Purchaser.

       (d)    Consent of Third Parties, Governmental Authorities, etc. The
Company and the Parent shall have presented evidence satisfactory to such
Purchaser to the effect that (i) all consents, waivers and amendments required
in connection with the consummation of the transactions related to this
Agreement and the other Investment Documents and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby have been obtained (other than those which if not obtained
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), (ii) the transactions related to
the Subdebt Investment and the Recapitalization shall not, with or without
notice or the passage of time, violate, constitute or trigger, the occurrence of
an event of default or give rise to any right of acceleration, modification or
cancellation with respect to, any material Contractual Obligations of the
Company, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries (other than the debt to be
repaid or modified as contemplated by the Recapitalization Documents) and (iii)
none of the Company, the Parent nor any of their Subsidiaries is in violation of
or default under or with respect to any of their material Contractual
Obligations (other than the debt to be repaid or modified as contemplated by the
Recapitalization Documents).

       (e)    No Adverse Change. Since July 1, 2000, no Material Adverse Change
shall have occurred, and there is no event, condition or state of facts which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

       (f)    Financial Information. The Company shall have provided such
Purchaser with such financial information relative to the Company's financial
condition which may be reasonably requested by such Purchaser, which information
shall include, at a minimum, the financial statements and other information
listed on Schedule 5A(f) (collectively, the "Financial Statements").

       (g)    Opinions of Counsel. Such Purchaser shall have received (i) from
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., legal counsel for the Parent, the
Company and the Sponsor, a favorable opinion as of the Initial Closing Date,
substantially in the form of Exhibit 5A(g)(i), (ii) from Sidley & Austin, legal
counsel for the Sellers, a favorable opinion, on which such Purchaser shall have
the express right to rely, dated as of the Initial Closing Date, as to the

                                       30

<PAGE>   37

Recapitalization Documents, and (iii) from Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld,
L.L.P, legal counsel for the Parent, the Company and the Sponsor, a favorable
opinion, on which such Purchaser shall have the express right to rely, dated as
of the Initial Closing Date, as to the Credit Documents.

       (h)    Delivery of Initial Closing Documents. Such Purchaser shall have
received the following closing documents, in form and substance satisfactory to
such Purchaser, and all of which shall, except as specified below, be fully
executed originals:

              (i)    this Agreement;

              (ii)   a copy of the Credit Documents, certified by the secretary
       or an assistant secretary of the Company to be true, correct and
       complete;

              (iii)  a copy of the Recapitalization Documents, certified by the
       secretary or an assistant secretary of the Parent to be true, correct and
       complete;

              (iv)   copies of long form certificates of the Secretary of State
       of the jurisdictions of incorporation, formation or organization of
       Holdings, the Parent, the Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors
       as to the good standing of the Company and each of the Subsidiary
       Guarantors in such jurisdictions as of a date within ten Business Days
       prior to the Initial Closing Date;

              (v)    copies of certificates of the Secretary of State of each
       jurisdiction in which the Parent, Holdings, the Company and each of the
       Subsidiary Guarantors are qualified to do business as to their good
       standing in such jurisdictions and, where available, certificates of the
       relevant state taxing authorities as to the payment by such Person of all
       taxes in such jurisdictions;

              (vi)   certificate, dated as of the Initial Closing Date, of the
       chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company,
       substantially in the form of Exhibit 5A(h)(vi), stating that the
       conditions specified in Section 5A have been fully satisfied;

              (vii)  certificates, dated as of the Initial Closing Date,
       substantially in the form of Exhibit 5A(h)(vii), of the respective
       secretaries of the Parent, the Company and each of their Domestic
       Subsidiaries certifying (A) that the copies of the certificate or
       articles of incorporation, formation or organization and bylaws or other
       organizational and governing documents of the Company and each of its
       Domestic Subsidiaries, attached thereto and as amended to date, are true,
       complete and correct, (B) that the copies of the resolutions of the
       directors, managers, partner, members and shareholders of the Company and
       the Parent authorizing the transactions contemplated (to the extent
       applicable to such Person) by this Agreement and each of the Transaction
       Documents (including the issuance of the Notes and the Warrants) and
       reserving shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
       attached thereto are true, complete and correct, (C) as to the incumbency
       of each Person executing this Agreement and each of the Investment
       Documents on behalf of the Company and the Parent or any of their
       Domestic Subsidiaries, and (D) as to any other matters reasonably
       requested by such Purchaser.

                                       31

<PAGE>   38

              (viii) copies of the consents, waivers and amendments to be
       obtained by the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 5A(d), the
       Financial Statements to be provided by the Company pursuant to the
       provisions of Section 5A(f) and the insurance policies to be maintained
       by the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 8(i);

              (ix)   (A) certificate, dated as of the Initial Closing Date,
       substantially in the form of Exhibit 5A(h)(ix), of the Company certifying
       that the Parent, the Company and the Company's Subsidiaries, taken as a
       whole, are solvent;

              (x)    (A) an updated phase one environmental assessment on the
       real property at Rantoul, Illinois and (B) a phase one environmental
       assessment on the real property at Memphis, Tennessee (if manufacturing
       or related activities were ever conducted on such real property), which
       shall be the copies of the same environmental assessments provided to the
       Banks;

              (xi)   results of searches of Uniform Commercial Code, federal and
       state tax lien, fixture and judgment lien filings in the jurisdiction of
       the chief executive office of the Company, the Parent and each of its
       Subsidiaries or such other jurisdictions as may be requested by such
       Purchaser together with copies of such filings and the attachments
       thereto in all such jurisdictions;

              (xii)  to the extent not provided for herein, true, complete and
       correct copies of all Transaction Documents; and

              (xiii) any and all other documents, certificates, and assurances
       which may be reasonably requested by such Purchaser in connection with
       its commitments as set forth herein.

       (i)    Payment of Fees and Expenses. The Company shall have paid at the
Initial Closing via wire transfer of immediately available funds (i) all fees,
if any, owing to such Purchaser pursuant to the Purchasers' Fee Letter and (ii)
all expenses of such Purchaser pursuant to Section 13(b), including attorneys'
fees and expenses.

       (j)    Litigation. There shall not exist any pending litigation or
investigation affecting or relating to the Company, the Parent or any of their
Subsidiaries, this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents that in the
reasonable judgment of such Purchaser could have a Material Adverse Effect that
has not been settled, dismissed, vacated, discharged or terminated prior to the
Initial Closing Date.

       (k)    Ownership Structure. The capital and ownership structure of the
Credit Parties (after giving effect to the Recapitalization and the Transaction
Documents) shall be as described in Schedule 6(b) and Schedule 6(c). Such
Purchaser shall be satisfied with the management structure, legal structure,
voting control, tax matters, accounting practices, liquidity, total leverage and
total capitalization of the Credit Parties as of the Initial Closing Date.

                                       32

<PAGE>   39

       (l)    Equity Investment. The Parent shall have received equity capital
in an amount not less than $107,000,000 (comprised of $37,500,000 purchased by
the Sponsor and its Affiliates, $63,500,000 purchased by other outside
investors, and $6,000,000 purchased by certain management of the Parent and
current equity holders of the Parent) on terms and conditions acceptable to such
Purchaser.

       (m)    Bankruptcy. There shall exist no Insolvency Event or other
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to any Credit Party.

       (n)    Compliance Certificate. The Company shall have provided such
Purchaser a compliance certificate showing (i) Leverage Ratio as of the date of
this Agreement of not greater than 4.5 to 1, and (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for
the Fiscal Year ended July 1, 2000 of at least $40,300,000.

       (o)    Existing Indebtedness. The Company, the Parent and any of their
Subsidiaries shall have satisfied in full any existing indebtedness (other than
the Indenture Notes, the Convert Notes, the 14% Discount Notes, the 18%
Debentures and other miscellaneous debt listed on Schedule 5A(o) attached
hereto) and all liens and guarantees in connection therewith shall have been
released (or shall be contemporaneously released) and the Purchaser shall have
received evidence thereof to satisfy each Purchaser in its sole discretion.

       (p)    No Legal Impediment. No change shall have occurred in any law or
regulations thereunder or interpretations thereof that, in the reasonable
opinion of any Purchaser, would make it illegal for the Company and the Parent
to sell and issue the Notes and/or the Warrants or to perform their obligations
thereunder.

       (q)    Certain Agreements. The following agreements shall have been
entered into by the appropriate parties, shall have been delivered to the
Purchasers, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to each Purchaser and
shall be in full force and effect:

              (i)    Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, in the form of Exhibit
       5A(q)(i) (the "Subsidiary Guaranty") made by each Domestic Subsidiary of
       the Company (each such Domestic Subsidiary, a "Subsidiary Guarantor") in
       favor of the Holders; and

              (ii)   Parent Guaranty Agreement, in the form of Exhibit 5A(q)(ii)
       (the "Parent Guaranty"), made by the Parent in favor of the Holders.

SECTION 5.B. CONDITIONS OF SECOND CLOSING. A Purchaser's obligations to purchase
and pay for the Notes and the Warrants at the Second Closing are subject to such
Purchaser determining, in its sole discretion, that the following conditions
have been satisfied (or such Purchaser waiving in writing the conditions that it
has determined have not been satisfied), on or before October 31, 2000:

       (a)    Indenture Offer and Expiration of Offer Period. The Offer Period
shall have expired and such Purchaser shall have received from the Company a
certificate of the Company signed by an Authorized Officer of the Company
representing to such occurrence and setting forth in reasonable detail (i) an
accounting of the results of the Indenture Offer and requests for

                                       33

<PAGE>   40

Indenture Consents, including, without limitation, the amount of the Indenture
Notes to be repurchased and whether a majority of the Indenture Consents were
received and (ii) the sources and uses of funds on the Second Closing,
including, without limitation, the types and amount of Subordinated Debt to be
repurchased or, as the case may be, issued on the Second Closing. Such
certificate shall be in form and substance satisfactory to such Purchaser.

       (b)    Officer's Certificate. The Purchaser shall have received an
officer's certificate from an Authorized Officer of the Company in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit 5B(b).

       (c)    Securities Holders and Registration Rights Agreement. The
Securities Holders and Registration Rights Agreement, in the form of Exhibit
5B(c) (the "Securities Holders and Registration Rights Agreement"), by and among
the Parent, Holdings and the Purchasers shall have been entered into by the
appropriate parties, shall have been delivered to the Purchasers, shall be in
form and substance identical to Exhibit 5B(c) and shall be in full force and
effect.

       (d)    Opinions of Counsel. Such Purchaser shall have received from Akin,
Gump, Straus, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., legal counsel for the Parent, the Company
and the Sponsor, a favorable opinion as of the Second Closing Date,
substantially in the form of Exhibit 5B(d).

       (e)    Delivery of Second Closing Documents. Such Purchaser shall have
received the following closing documents, in the form attached hereto, and all
of which shall be fully executed originals:

              (i)    the Notes; and

              (ii)   the Warrants.

SECTION 6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. In order to induce the
Purchasers to enter into this Agreement, each of the Company and the Parent
hereby represents and warrants to the Purchasers that, before and after giving
effect to the Recapitalization and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, as of the date hereof:

       (a)    Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of the Parent
and the Company is a limited liability company or corporation duly incorporated
or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and
California, respectively. Each of the Company's Subsidiaries has (i) in the case
of any Subsidiary which is a corporation, all required corporate power and
authority, (ii) in the case of any Subsidiary which is a partnership, all
required power and authority under its partnership agreement and the applicable
state partnership statute, (iii) in the case of any Subsidiary which is a
limited liability company, all required power and authority under its limited
liability company agreement and the applicable state limited liability company
statute, in each case to own its property and to carry on its business as
presently conducted and (iv) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, all
requisite corporate (or similar business entity) power. Each Credit Party is
qualified and authorized to do business in, and is in good standing as a foreign
corporation (or similar business entity) in, all other jurisdictions in which
such qualification or authorization is necessary for the conduct of the
businesses in which such Credit Party is now

                                       34

<PAGE>   41

engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material
Adverse Effect. Schedule 6(a) lists with respect to each Credit Party (i) its
jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, (ii) all states in
which it is qualified to do business and (iii) all material licenses and permits
of Governmental Authorities held by it. The licenses, permits and other rights
and privileges listed on Schedule 6(a) constitute all the material licenses,
permits and other rights and privileges required for each of the Credit Parties
to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted,
except for those the failure to obtain would not reasonably be likely,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

       (b)    Subsidiaries and Investments. No Credit Party has any
Subsidiaries, other than the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 6(b). Except for
such Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 6(b), no Credit Party (i) owns or controls
any securities having equity participation or similar rights in any Person or
(ii) is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement.

       (c)    Authorized and Issued Capital. The authorized capitalization of
each Credit Party is set forth on Schedule 6(c). Except as set forth on Schedule
6(c), each Credit Party has not issued any other shares of its Capital Stock and
there are no further subscriptions, contracts or agreements for the issuance or
purchase of any other or additional equity interest in the Credit Parties,
either in the form of options, agreements, warrants, calls, convertible or
exchangeable securities or other similar rights, other than the Warrants. All
the outstanding shares of Capital Stock will have been duly and validly
authorized and issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable and will have
been offered, issued, sold and delivered in compliance with applicable federal
and state securities laws. The number of shares of the Parent's Capital Stock
reserved for issuance as set forth on Schedule 6(c) is not subject to adjustment
by reason of the issuance of the Warrants or the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise thereof. None of the Credit Parties is a party to any "phantom
stock", employee stock option plan, other equity-based incentive plan or similar
agreement, except as set forth on Schedule 6(c) and after giving effect to the
Recapitalization. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(c) and after giving effect
to the Recapitalization, (i) there are no preemptive or similar rights to
purchase or otherwise acquire Equity Interests of, or interests in, the Credit
Parties pursuant to any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation applicable
to the Credit Parties and (ii) no registration rights under the Securities Act
have been granted by the Credit Parties with respect to its equity securities or
interests.

       (d)    Authorization. The execution and delivery by each of the Company,
and the Parent of this Agreement and each Investment Document to which it is a
party, the performance by the Company, and the Parent of their obligations
hereunder and thereunder, and the issuance to the Purchaser of the Notes and the
Warrants, as herein provided, have been duly authorized by all necessary action
of the Parent, and the Company and their respective Boards of Directors and
shareholders or managers and members, as appropriate, so that when issued and
delivered (i) the Notes and the Warrants will each constitute the legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Company and the Parent, as applicable, enforceable
in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium,
fraudulent conveyance or other similar law of general applicability relating to
or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles; (ii) the Common Stock to be issued upon the exercise of
any Warrant will be validly authorized and, when issued upon due exercise of
such Warrant, will be fully paid and nonassessable; (iii) this Agreement and
each of the

                                       35

<PAGE>   42

Investment Documents to which it is a party will constitute the legal, valid and
binding agreements of each Credit Party, enforceable against it in accordance
with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium,
fraudulent conveyance or other similar law of general applicability relating to
or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles; and (iv) neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and each of the Investment Documents to which it is a party, and the
performance by each of the Parent and the Company of its obligations hereunder
and thereunder, nor the issuance of the Notes and the Warrants, will be in
contravention of any Requirement of Law applicable to any Credit Party or any
Contractual Obligation to which any Credit Party may be subject, except where
such contravention could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

       (e)    Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(e), there is no
litigation or proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the
Parent or the Company, threatened against or affecting any Credit Party, or any
of their respective officers, directors, managers, partners, members or
shareholders, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

       (f)    Tax Matters. The Parent, the Company and each of their
Subsidiaries (i) have made or filed all federal and state income and all other
tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which any
of them is subject, (ii) have paid all taxes and other governmental assessments
and charges shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and
declarations, in each case prior to any date on which any fee or penalty for
non-payment thereof could be imposed (or any such fee or penalty has been paid)
except those being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and
(iii) have set aside on their books provisions reasonably adequate for the
payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such
returns, reports or declarations apply. Except as disclosed on Schedule 6(f),
and adequately reserved for as set forth in clause (iii) above, there are no
other unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due for the taxing
authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company know of no basis
for any such claim. The Borrowing Base Report provided to the Agent and the
Purchasers at the Initial Closing sets forth the amount of reserves established
by the Parent, the Company and each of their Subsidiaries to cover the Parent's,
the Company's or such Subsidiary's sales or use tax obligations in each
jurisdiction where the Parent, the Company or such Subsidiary is required to pay
such taxes. Such reserves are adequate for the payment of all such obligations.

       (g)    Organizational and Governing Documents. The certificates or
articles of incorporation, formation or organization, partnership or operating
agreements and bylaws of each Credit Party furnished to the Purchasers pursuant
to Section 5A(h) are true and complete copies and are in full force and effect,
without further changes, amendments or modification.

       (h)    Government Approvals; Consents. Except as have been made or
obtained or could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
or as set forth on Schedule 6(h), no Credit Party is required to obtain any
order, consent, approval or authorization of, or make any declaration or filing
with, any Governmental Authority or other Person in connection with (i) the
negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any of the
other Investment Documents, (ii) the offer, issuance, sale and delivery to the
Purchasers of the Notes and

                                       36

<PAGE>   43

the Warrants, or (iii) the consummation of any other transaction contemplated by
this Agreement or any of the Investment Documents.

       (i)    Representations and Warranties in Other Agreements. The
representations and warranties made by each Credit Party in the Credit Agreement
are true and correct in all material respects (except where any such
representation and warranty is stated as being true only as of a specific date,
in which case such representation and warranty was true and correct in all
material respects on such date).

       (j)    Disclosure. The written statements or materials furnished by or on
behalf of any Credit Party to the Purchaser in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby (other than the Projections and other
budgets and estimates), do not contain any untrue statement of any material
fact, taken as a whole, as of the date which such information is dated or
certified, or omits to state any material fact, that is necessary in order to
make the statements contained herein or therein, taken as a whole, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, complete and not materially
misleading. There exists no undisclosed fact or circumstance which, to the
knowledge of any Credit Party, would reasonably be likely to result in a
Material Adverse Effect (other than general market, financial and business
conditions applicable to the economy as a whole).

       (k)    Compliance with Securities Laws. Assuming the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of each Purchaser contained in Section 7 hereof,
the offer and sale of the Notes and the Warrants, and the Common Stock to be
issued upon exercise of the Warrants, are not required to be registered pursuant
to the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act. None of the Parent, the
Company or any agent on its behalf has solicited or will solicit any offers to
sell or has offered to sell or will offer to sell all or any part of the Notes
and/or the Warrants, and the Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the
Warrants, to any Person so as to bring the sale of Notes and the Warrants, and
the Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants, by the Parent and
the Company within the registration provisions of the Securities Act or any
state securities laws. All prior offerings and sales of securities of the Credit
Parties were in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities
laws.

       (l)    No Brokers. Neither the Parent nor the Company has dealt with any
broker, finder, commission agent or other similar Person in connection with the
offer and sale of the Notes and the Warrants by the Parent and the Company to
the Purchasers, and neither the Parent nor the Company is under any obligation
to pay any broker's fee, finder's fee or commission in connection with such
transactions (other than pursuant to the Purchasers' Fee Letter).

       (m)    Financial Statements.

              (i)    The audited Financial Statements, complete and correct
       copies of which have previously been furnished to the Purchasers by the
       Company, present fairly and accurately in all material respects the
       consolidated financial condition, results of operations and changes in
       financial position of the Company and it Subsidiaries in accordance with
       GAAP, consistently applied, as of the dates and for the periods set forth
       therein. The unaudited Financial Statements, complete and correct copies
       of which have previously been

                                       37

<PAGE>   44

       furnished to the Purchasers by the Company, present fairly and accurately
       in all material respects the consolidated financial condition and results
       of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for
       the periods set forth therein, subject only to the lack of footnote
       disclosure and changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments, none
       of which, alone or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse
       Effect. Since July 1, 2000, there has been no Material Adverse Change.

              (ii)   As an inducement to the Purchasers to enter into this
       Agreement and the other Investment Documents, the Company has caused to
       be provided to the Purchasers the projections listed on Schedule 5A(f)
       (the "Projections") prepared by the Company. The Projections disclose all
       assumption made with respect to general economic, financial and market
       conditions used in formulating such projections. As of the Initial
       Closing Date, to the knowledge of the Parent, the Company or any of their
       Subsidiaries, no facts existed that materially change any of such
       projections in the aggregate. The Projections are based upon reasonable
       estimates and assumptions in light of the circumstances under which they
       were made, have been prepared on the basis of assumptions stated therein
       and reflect the reasonable estimates of the Parent and the Company of the
       results of operations and other information projected therein, provided
       that, with respect to the projected financial information, the Parent and
       the Company represent only that such information was prepared in good
       faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. Any
       forward looking statements contained therein are inherently subject to
       risk and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy,
       and some of which might not be anticipated. Future events and actual
       results, financial or otherwise, could differ materially from those set
       forth therein or contemplated by the forward looking statements contained
       therein.

       (n)    Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. No Credit Party has any
material obligation or liability (whether accrued, absolute, contingent,
unliquidated or otherwise, whether or not known to a Credit Party, whether due
or to become due and regardless of when asserted) which would be required to be
disclosed under GAAP on the Company's Financial Statements, other than (i)
liabilities set forth on the Latest Balance Sheet (including any notes thereto),
(ii) liabilities and obligations which have arisen after the date of the Latest
Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business and which do not individually
or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) obligations
expressly disclosed in the other schedules and exhibits attached to this
Agreement.

       (o)    Title To Properties and Assets. Except as indicated on Schedule
6(o) hereto, the Parent, the Company and each of their Subsidiaries own all of
the assets reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Parent, the
Company and each of their Subsidiaries as at July 1, 2000 or acquired since that
date (except property and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary
course of business since that date), subject to no rights of others, including
any mortgages, leases, conditional sales agreements, title retention agreements,
liens or other encumbrances except Permitted Liens and liens being released on
or prior to the Initial Closing Date. No Credit Party is in material violation
of any zoning, building or safety ordinance, regulation or requirement or other
law or regulation applicable to the operation of its owned or leased properties
other than those violations which could not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
The Affiliates of the Company (other than its Subsidiaries) do not own or lease
any properties or assets that are used by a Credit Party except as set forth on
Schedule 6(o).

                                       38

<PAGE>   45

       (p)    Contracts and Commitments. Schedule 6(p) lists, as of the Initial
Closing Date, each "material contract" (within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of
the Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) to which any Credit Party is a party,
by which it or its respective properties are bound or to which it is subject,
other than purchase orders in the ordinary course of business (collectively, the
"Material Contracts"), and also indicates the parties thereto. As of the Initial
Closing Date and after giving effect to Recapitalization, (i) each Material
Contract is in full force and effect and is enforceable by the Credit Party that
is a party thereto in accordance with its terms and (ii) no Credit Party (nor,
to the knowledge of a Credit Party, any other party thereto) is in breach of or
default under any Material Contract in any material respect or has given notice
of termination or cancellation of any Material Contract.

       (q)    Employees. Set forth on Schedule 6(q) is a complete list of all
employment agreements between a Credit Party and any employee of a Credit Party.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6(q), no Credit Party is aware that any
executive or key senior employee of a Credit Party or any group of employees of
a Credit Party has any plans to terminate employment with such Credit Party.
With respect to employees who are terminating their employment, Schedule 6(q)
provides a true and correct summary of all severance benefits being provided by
a Credit Party to such employees. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(q), neither
any Credit Party nor, to the Credit Parties' knowledge, any of its or their
employees, is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality,
employment, consulting, collective bargaining or similar agreement relating to,
affecting or in conflict with, the present or proposed business activities of a
Credit Party or any such Person's right to participate in the affairs of a
Credit Party.

       (r)    Compliance with Laws. No Credit Party has violated any Requirement
of Law, which violation would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, and no Credit Party has received notice of any such violation.

       (s)    Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth on Schedule
6(s), there are no Contractual Obligations of a Credit Party to any of the
officers, directors, managers, shareholders, members, employees, Affiliates or
their respective Affiliates, or Related Parties, of a Credit Party other than
(i) for payment of compensation for services rendered and indemnity, (ii)
reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of a Credit Party,
(iii) for standard employee benefits made generally available to all employees
of the Company (including stock option agreements outstanding under any stock
option plan approved by the Board of Directors of the Company) and (iv) pursuant
to any of the Transaction Documents. Except to the extent disclosed to the
Purchasers prior to the date hereof, none of the officers, directors, managers,
shareholders, members, employees, Affiliates, or their respective Affiliates or
Related Parties, of any Credit Party has incurred Indebtedness to a Credit Party
or has any direct or indirect material ownership interest in any Person with
which a Credit Party is affiliated or, to the Credit Parties' best knowledge,
with which a Credit Party has a business relationship except that such Person
may own stock in publicly traded companies. Other than as set forth on Schedule
6(s), no officer, director, manager, shareholder, member, employee, Affiliate,
or any of their respective Affiliates or Related Parties, of a Credit Party, is,
directly or indirectly, a party to or otherwise interested in any material
Contractual Obligation with a Credit Party. Except as may be expressly disclosed
in notes to the Financial

                                       39

<PAGE>   46

Statements or permitted by Section 10, no Credit Party is a guarantor or
indemnitor of any Indebtedness of any other Person.

       (t)    Hazardous and Toxic Materials. Except as set forth on Schedule
6(t), there has been no complaint, order, citation or notice received by a
Credit Party with regard to air emissions, Hazardous Discharges (as defined
below) or other environmental, health or safety matters affecting any of the
premises owned or leased by a Credit Party or the businesses therein conducted.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6(t), there has been no spill, discharge,
release or cleanup of any Hazardous Material with respect to such premises
(except spills, discharges or releases in the ordinary course of business and
permitted by applicable Environmental Law (as defined below)) ("Hazardous
Discharge") that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
To the extent the premises owned or leased by a Credit Party are used for the
handling, storage, transportation or disposal of Hazardous Materials, such use
is in accordance with applicable Environmental Law in all material respects and,
except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
the Credit Parties have obtained all necessary permits, licenses and approvals
in connection with applicable Environmental Law. Except as set forth on Schedule
6(t), no underground or above-ground storage tanks or surface impoundments are
located on any of the premises owned or leased by a Credit Party with respect to
which any Credit Party could reasonably be expected to incur a material
liability under any Environmental Laws or other Requirement of Law.

       (u)    Solvency. After giving effect to the Recapitalization and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction
Documents, the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, are Solvent.

       (v)    Certain Federal Regulations. Neither the Company nor any Person
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company is an
"investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended. The Company is not an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or
"principal underwriter" for, an "investment company," as such terms are defined
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company is not engaged
principally or as one of its activities in the business of extending credit for
the purpose of "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" (as each such term
is defined or used in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System). No part of the proceeds of the Notes will be used for
purchasing or carrying margin stock or for any purpose which violates, or which
would be inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulations U or X of such Board
of Governors. Since its date of incorporation, the Company has not been, and is
not, a "United States real property holding corporation," as defined in Section
897(c)(2) of the Code and in Section 1.897-2(b) of the Treasury Regulations
issued thereunder.

       (w)    Recapitalization Documents and Credit Documents. The
Recapitalization Documents and Credit Documents delivered to the Purchasers
pursuant to Section 5(A)(i) comprise a full and complete copy of all agreements
between the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof and all
transactions related thereto, and there are no agreements or understandings,
oral or written, or side agreements not contained therein that relate to or
modify the substance thereof (except as otherwise previously disclosed to the
initial Purchasers).

                                       40

<PAGE>   47

       (x)    Use of Proceeds. The proceeds from the issuance of the Notes and
the Warrants will be used for the purposes set forth on Schedule 6(x).

       (y)    Employee Benefit Plans. Except as set forth in Schedule 6(y), the
Company does not maintain or contribute to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6(y), no ERISA Event has occurred with respect
to any Plan and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder. Except
as set forth on Schedule 6(y), no ERISA Event has occurred as to which the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate was required to file a report with the PBGC, and
the present value of all benefit liabilities under each Plan (based on those
assumptions used to fund such Plan) did not, as of the last annual valuation
date applicable thereto, exceed the value of the assets of such Plan. Except as
set forth on Schedule 6(y), the Company and its ERISA Affiliates are not
required to make, or accrue an obligation to make, contributions to any
Multiemployer Plan and, during the past five years, neither the Company nor any
ERISA Affiliate has made, has been required to make, or accrued an obligation to
make, any contribution to any Multiemployer Plan. No liability exists with
respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan of the Company or any of its ERISA
Affiliates which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

       (z)    Intellectual Property.

              (i)    Schedule 6(z) sets forth a complete and correct list of all
       Intellectual Property that is owned by a Credit Party and which has been
       duly registered with, filed in or issued by, as the case may be, the
       United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright
       Office or other filing offices, domestic or foreign (the "Owned
       Intellectual Property") and identifies the office with which such filing
       was made. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(z), to the knowledge of the
       Credit Parties, the Owned Intellectual Property constitutes all
       Intellectual Property used by, and necessary for the conduct of the
       business of, the Credit Parties (other than Intellectual Property used
       pursuant to Intellectual Property Licenses). Except as set forth on
       Schedule 6(z), to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, the Owned
       Intellectual Property does not infringe the rights of any other Person in
       respect of any Intellectual Property in a manner that could reasonably be
       expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on
       Schedule 6(z), none of the Owned Intellectual Property is being infringed
       by any other Person in a manner that could reasonably be expected to have
       a Material Adverse Effect. Neither a Credit Party nor, to the knowledge
       of the Credit Parties, any of a Credit Party's employees or consultants
       has any agreements or arrangements with former employers of such
       employees or consultants relating to any Intellectual Property of such
       employers, which interfere or conflict with the performance of such
       employee's or consultant's duties for a Credit Party or results in any
       former employers of such employees and consultants having any rights in,
       or claims on, the Owned Intellectual Property. To the knowledge of the
       Credit Parties, the activities of each Credit Party's employees and
       consultants on behalf of such Credit Party do not violate any agreements
       or arrangements which any such employees or consultants have with former
       employers or current or former clients. Each Owned Intellectual Property
       registration and filing listed in Schedule 6(z) is in full force and
       effect.

              (ii)   Schedule 6(z) sets forth a complete and correct list of all
       material Contractual Obligations (A) pursuant to which the use by any
       Person of material Intellectual

                                       41

<PAGE>   48

       Property is licensed or permitted by a Credit Party and (B) pursuant to
       which the use by a Credit Party of material Intellectual Property is
       licensed or permitted by any other Person (collectively, the
       "Intellectual Property Licenses"). All Intellectual Property Licenses (A)
       are in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and (B) are
       free and clear of any liens (other than Permitted Liens or liens being
       released on or prior to the Initial Closing). To the Credit Parties'
       knowledge, neither a Credit Party nor any of the other parties thereto is
       in default under any of the Intellectual Property Licenses, and no such
       default is currently threatened. There is no claim or demand of any
       Person pertaining to, or any proceeding which is pending or, to the
       knowledge of the Credit Parties, threatened, that challenges the rights
       of a Credit Party in respect of any Intellectual Property, Owned
       Intellectual Property or any of the Intellectual Property Licenses.
       Except as set forth on Schedule 6(z), to the Credit Parties' knowledge,
       none of the Owned Intellectual Property or any Intellectual Property
       Licenses are subject to any outstanding order, ruling, decree, judgment
       or stipulation by or with any court, tribunal, arbitrator or other
       Governmental Authority. The Credit Parties have taken commercially
       reasonable steps to maintain and protect their trade secrets.

       (aa)   Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth in
Schedule 6(aa) or pursuant to the Transaction Documents and the transaction
contemplated thereby, since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet, each Credit
Party has conducted its business only in the ordinary course consistent with its
past practices, and no Credit Party has (i) incurred, or agreed to incur,
material Indebtedness, (ii) experienced any damage, destruction or loss that, to
the extent not covered by insurance, has had or reasonably would be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) declared, set aside or paid any dividend
or other distribution (whether in cash, equity securities, interests or
property) in respect of its equity securities, (iv) entered into any material
Contractual Obligation involving any director, officer, manager, shareholder,
member, employee, Affiliate or their respective Affiliates or Related Parties of
a Credit Party, (v) granted or committed to grant to any director, officer,
manager, member, employee or Affiliate of a Credit Party any material increase
in compensation or benefits, (vi) granted or committed to grant to any director,
officer, manager, employee or Affiliate of a Credit Party any increase in or
right to severance or termination pay or any other compensation or benefits
payable upon a change in control of any such entity or (vii) taken any action
that, if taken after the Initial Closing Date hereof, reasonably would be
expected to constitute a Default or Event of Default.

       (bb)   Insurance. Schedule 6(bb) sets forth a true and complete summary
of all insurance policies or arrangements carried or maintained by the Credit
Parties as of the Initial Closing Date, indicating in each case the insurer,
amount and type of coverage. The assets, properties and business of the Credit
Parties are insured against such hazards and liabilities, under such coverages
and in such amounts, as are customarily maintained by prudent companies
similarly situated and under policies issued by insurers of recognized
responsibility.

SECTION 7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER. Each Purchaser
severally and not jointly represents and warrants to the Company as to itself
only as follows:

       (a)    It is an "accredited investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501
of the Securities Act and that, in making the purchases contemplated herein, it
is specifically understood and agreed that

                                       42

<PAGE>   49

such Purchaser is acquiring the Notes and the Warrants for the purpose of
investment and not with a view towards the sale or distribution thereof within
the meaning of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the disposition of
such Purchaser's property shall at all times be and remain within its control.

       (b)    It understands that the Notes and the Warrants will not be
registered under the Securities Act, by reason of their issuance by the Company
and the Parent in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, and that it must hold the Notes and the Warrants indefinitely
unless a subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the Securities Act
and applicable state securities laws or is exempt from registration.

       (c)    It understands that the exemption from registration afforded by
Rule 144 (the provisions of which are known to the such Purchaser) promulgated
by the Commission under the Securities Act depends on the satisfaction of
various conditions, including the requirement that the Company or the Parent, as
applicable, has been subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or
Section 15 of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days, and that, if applicable,
Rule 144 affords the basis for sales only in limited amounts and that each of
the Company and the Parent does not now qualify under Rule 144 and may not ever
qualify.

       (d)    It has not employed any broker or finder in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

       (e)    It has been furnished with or has had access to the information it
has requested from the Company and the Parent and has had an opportunity to
discuss with the management of the Company the business and financial affairs of
the Parent, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries, and has generally
such knowledge and experience in business and financial matters and with respect
to investments in securities or privately held companies so as to enable it to
understand and evaluate the risks of such investment and form an investment
decision with respect thereto; provided, however, that the foregoing shall in no
way affect, diminish or derogate from the representations and warranties made by
the Company and the Parent hereunder or the right of such Purchaser to rely
thereon and to seek indemnification hereunder.

       (f)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other
Investment Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all
necessary action of the Purchaser, do not conflict with or result in a breach of
any of the Purchaser's governing documents or any Contractual Obligation or any
Requirement of Law and constitute legal, valid and binding agreements of the
Purchaser enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms
except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar
laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.

                                       43

<PAGE>   50

SECTION 8. COVENANTS. Each of the Parent and the Company, jointly and severally,
covenants and agrees with the Holders that, until the payment in full of all
principal and interest under the Notes together with all Obligations and all
amounts then due and owing under the other Subdebt Documents:

       (a)    Payment of Notes. The Company will duly and punctually pay the
principal of, and interest and any premium on, any Note when the same becomes
due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,
acceleration, demand or otherwise).

       (b)    Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the proceeds of the sale of
the Notes and the Warrants solely for the purposes set forth on Schedule 6(x).

       (c)    Compliance with Agreements. The Parent and the Company will
perform and observe, and will cause each other Credit Party to perform and
observe, all of their respective material obligations set forth in this
Agreement and the other Subdebt Documents to which it is a party.

       (d)    Maintenance of Office. Each of the Credit Parties will maintain
its chief executive office in the locations set forth on Schedule 8(d), or at
such other place in the United States of America as such Person shall designate
upon written notice to the Holders, where notices, presentations and demands to
or upon such Person in respect of the Subdebt Documents may be given or made.

       (e)    Records and Accounts. Each of the Parent and the Company will (i)
keep, and cause each of their Subsidiaries to keep, true and accurate records
and books of account in which full, true and correct entries will be made in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (ii) maintain adequate
accounts and reserves for all taxes (including income taxes), depreciation,
depletion, obsolescence and amortization of its properties and the properties of
its Subsidiaries, contingencies, and other reserves, and (iii) at all times
engage PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other Big Five Accounting Firm as the
independent certified public accountants of the Credit Parties and will not
permit more than 90 days to elapse between the cessation of such firm's (or any
successor firm's) engagement as the independent certified public accountants of
the Parent, the Company and each of their Subsidiaries and the appointment in
such capacity of another Big Five Accounting Firm.

       (f)    Financial Statements, Certificates and Information. The Company
will deliver to each of the Holders:

              (i)    as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
       ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, the consolidated and
       consolidating balance sheets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, each as
       at the end of such year, and the related consolidated and consolidating
       statements of income and consolidated and consolidating statements of
       cash flow for such year, each setting forth in comparative form the
       figures for the previous Fiscal Year and all such consolidated and
       consolidating statements to be in reasonable detail, prepared in
       accordance with GAAP, and certified as to consolidated statements by
       PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other Big Five Accounting Firm, together

                                       44

<PAGE>   51

       with a written statement from such accountants to the effect that they
       have read a copy of this Agreement, and that, in making the examination
       necessary to said certification, they have obtained no knowledge of any
       Default or Event of Default, or, if such accountants shall have obtained
       knowledge of any then existing Default or Event of Default they shall
       disclose in such statement any such Default or Event of Default; provided
       that such accountants shall not be liable to the Holders for failure to
       obtain knowledge of any Default or Event of Default;

              (ii)   as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 45
       days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of the
       Company, copies of the unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance
       sheets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, each as at the end of such
       quarter, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of
       income and consolidated statements of cash flow for the portion of the
       Fiscal Year then elapsed, all in reasonable detail and prepared in
       accordance with GAAP, together with a certification by the principal
       financial or accounting officer of the Company that the information
       contained in such financial statements fairly presents the consolidated
       financial position of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and the
       consolidating financial position of the Parent and each of the
       Significant Subsidiaries on the date thereof (subject to year-end
       adjustments in conformity with rules for interim financial reporting and
       lack of footnotes) (solely for the purposes of this clause (ii)
       consolidating reporting shall be limited to the Parent, the Company and
       Significant Subsidiaries);

              (iii)  as soon as practicable, but in any event within 30 days
       after the end of each month in each Fiscal Year, unaudited monthly
       consolidated financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for
       such month, each prepared in accordance with GAAP, together with a
       certification by the principal financial or accounting officer of the
       Company that the information contained in such financial statements
       fairly presents the financial condition of the Parent, the Company and
       each of their Subsidiaries on the date thereof (subject to year-end
       adjustments in conformity with rules for interim financial reporting and
       lack of footnotes);

              (iv)   simultaneously with the delivery of the financial
       statements referred to in subsections (i) and (ii) above, a Compliance
       Certificate with respect to the period covered by such financial
       statements together with a Covenant Compliance Worksheet reflecting the
       computation of the financial covenants set forth in Section 9 as of the
       last day of the period covered by such financial statements and (if
       applicable) reconciliations to reflect changes in GAAP since the Balance
       Sheet Date;

              (v)    contemporaneously with the filing or mailing thereof,
       copies of all material of a financial nature filed with the Commission or
       sent to the stockholders of the Company;

              (vi)   not later than 90 days after the commencement of each
       Fiscal Year, the budget of the Parent, the Company and each of their
       Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year; and

                                       45

<PAGE>   52

              (vii)  from time to time such other financial data and information
       (including accountants, management letters) as the Holders may reasonably
       request so long as such requests do not cause an undue burden on the
       Company or its management.

       (g)    Notices.

              (i)    Defaults. The Company will promptly notify the Holders in
       writing of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default. If any
       Person shall give any notice or take any other action in respect of a
       claimed default (whether or not constituting an Event of Default) under
       this Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other note, evidence of
       Indebtedness, indenture or other obligation in a principal amount not
       less than $500,000 to which or with respect to which the Parent, the
       Company or any of their Subsidiaries is a party or obligor, whether as
       principal, guarantor, surety or otherwise, the Company shall forthwith
       give written notice thereof to the Holders, describing the notice or
       action and the nature of the claimed default.

              (ii)   Environmental Events. The Company will promptly give notice
       to the Holders (i) of any violation of any Environmental Law that the
       Parent, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries reports in writing or is
       reportable by such Person in writing (or for which any written report
       supplemental to any oral report is made) to any federal, state or local
       environmental agency and (ii) upon becoming aware thereof, of any
       inquiry, proceeding, investigation, or other action, including a written
       notice from any agency of potential environmental liability, of any
       federal, state or local environmental agency or board, that is reasonably
       likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

              (iii)  Notice of Litigation and Judgments. The Parent and the
       Company will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to, give notice
       to the Holders in writing within 15 days of becoming aware of any
       litigation or proceedings threatened in writing or any pending litigation
       and proceedings affecting the Credit Parties or to which a Credit Party
       is or becomes a party involving an uninsured claim against a Credit Party
       that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and
       stating the nature and status of such litigation or proceedings. The
       Parent and the Company will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries
       to, give notice to the Holders, in writing, in form and detail
       satisfactory to the Holders, within ten days of any judgment not covered
       by insurance, final or otherwise, against a Credit Party in an amount in
       excess of $1,000,000.

       (h)    Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties. The Parent and the
Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in
full force and effect its corporate existence, material rights and franchises
and those of its Significant Subsidiaries except that to the extent that the
failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Each (i) will cause all of its properties and those of its Subsidiaries
used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of its
Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working
order subject to ordinary wear and tear and supplied with all necessary
equipment, (ii) will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals,
replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of
the Parent or the Company, as the case may be, that may be necessary so that the
business carried on in

                                       46

<PAGE>   53

connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times,
and (iii) will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, continue to engage
primarily in the businesses now conducted by them and in related businesses;
provided that nothing in this Section 8(h) shall prevent the Parent or the
Company from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any of its
properties or those of their Subsidiaries if such discontinuance is, in the
judgment of the Parent or Company, as the case may be, desirable in the conduct
of its or their business and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely
affect the business of the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis.

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

       (j)    Taxes. The Parent and the Company will, and will cause each of
their Subsidiaries to, duly pay and discharge, or cause to be paid and
discharged, before the same shall become overdue, all taxes, assessments and
other governmental charges (other than taxes, assessments and other governmental
charges imposed by foreign jurisdictions that in the aggregate are not material
to the business or assets of the Parent or the Company on an individual basis or
of the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis) imposed upon them and their real
properties, sales and activities, or any part thereof, or upon the income or
profits therefrom, as well as all claims for labor, materials, or supplies that
if unpaid might by law become a lien or charge upon any of its property;
provided that any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim need not be paid
if the validity or amount thereof shall currently be contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and if the Credit Party shall have set aside on its
books adequate reserves with respect thereto; and provided further that the
Credit Party will pay all such taxes, assessments, charges, levies or claims
forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any lien that may
have attached as security therefor.

       (k)    Inspection of Properties and Books, etc.

              (i)    General. The Parent and the Company shall permit the
       Holders' designated representatives to visit and inspect any of the
       properties of the Credit Parties, to examine the books of account of the
       Credit Parties (and to make copies thereof and extracts therefrom), and
       to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Credit Parties with,
       to be advised as to the same by, its and their officers, all at such
       reasonable times and intervals as the Holders may reasonably request;
       provided, however, that the Holders shall endeavor to conduct all such
       visits, inspections, examinations and discussions shall be done by the
       Holders collectively as a group, and, provided, further, that, upon the
       occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, the preceding proviso shall
       no longer be in effect.

                                       47

<PAGE>   54

              (ii)   Environmental Assessments. The Parent and the Company shall
       provide the Holders with copies of all environmental assessments and
       audits which are provided to the Agent and/or the Banks under the Credit
       Documents.

              (iii)  Communication with Accountants. The Parent and the Company
       authorize the Holders to communicate directly with the Parent's and the
       Company's independent certified public accountants and authorizes such
       accountants to disclose to the Holders any and all financial statements
       and other supporting financial documents and schedules including copies
       of any management letter with respect to the business, financial
       condition and other affairs of the Credit Parties; provided, however,
       that the Holders shall endeavor to conduct all such communications
       collectively as a group, and, provided, further, that, upon the
       occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, the preceding proviso shall
       no longer be in effect. At the request of the Holders, the Parent or the
       Company, as the case may be, shall deliver a letter addressed to such
       accountants instructing them to comply with the provisions of this
       Section 8(k)(iii).

       (l)    Compliance with Laws, Contracts, Licenses, and Permits. The Parent
and the Company will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries (i) to comply
with the provisions of their charter documents and by-laws, and (ii) except
where the failure to so comply would not be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect, to comply with (A) the applicable laws and regulations wherever
their business is conducted, including all Environmental Laws, (B) all
agreements and instruments by which they or any of their properties may be bound
and (C) all applicable decrees, orders, and judgments. If any authorization,
consent, approval, permit or license from any officer, agency or instrumentality
of any Governmental Authority shall become necessary or required in order that a
Credit Party may fulfill any of its Obligations hereunder or any of the other
Subdebt Documents to which such Credit Party is a party, each of the Parent, and
the Company will, or (as the case may be) will cause such Subsidiary to,
immediately take or cause to be taken all reasonable steps within the power of
such Credit Party to obtain such authorization, consent, approval, permit or
license and furnish the Holders with evidence thereof.

       (m)    Employee Benefit Plans. The Parent or the Company, as applicable,
will (i) promptly upon request of the Holders, furnish to the Holders a copy of
the most recent actuarial statement required to be submitted under Section
103(d) of ERISA and Annual Report, Form 5500, with all required attachments, in
respect of each Guaranteed Pension Plan (ii) promptly upon receipt or dispatch,
furnish to the Holders any notice, report or demand sent or received in respect
of a Guaranteed Pension Plan under Sections 302, 4041, 4042, 4043, 4063, 4065,
4066 and 4068 of ERISA, or in respect of a Multiemployer Plan, under Sections
4041A, 4202, 4219, 4242, or 4245 of ERISA and (iii) promptly upon learning of
any action, event, or circumstance which would give rise to a violation of
Section 10(i) hereof if the definition of Guaranteed Pension Plan for purposes
of that Section included plans of ERISA Affiliates, furnish to the Holders a
written notice from the Chief Financial Officer of the Company describing such
plan and that action, event or circumstances, and such other information as the
Holders may request.

       (n)    Further Assurances. The Parent and the Company will, and will
cause each of their Subsidiaries to, cooperate with the Holders and execute such
further instruments and

                                       48

<PAGE>   55

documents as the Holders shall reasonably request to carry out to their
satisfaction the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other
Subdebt Documents.

       (o)    Additional Subsidiaries. If, after the Initial Closing Date, a
Credit Party creates or acquires, either directly or indirectly, any Subsidiary,
it will immediately notify the Holders of such creation or acquisition, as the
case may be, and provide the Holders with an updated Schedule 6(b) and take all
other action required by Section 8(p) hereof.

       (p)    New Guarantors. The Company and the Parent will cause each
Domestic Subsidiary created, acquired or otherwise existing, on or after the
Initial Closing Date to immediately become a Subsidiary Guarantor and shall
cause such Domestic Subsidiary to execute and deliver to the Holders, (i) a
joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty, and (ii) further instruments and documents
as the Holders may require in order to guarantee the payment in full of the
Notes, together with legal opinions in form and substance satisfactory to the
Holders to be delivered to the Holders opining as to authorization, validity and
enforceability of such Subsidiary Guaranty.

SECTION 9. FINANCIAL COVENANTS. Each of the Parent and the Company, jointly and
severally, covenants and agrees with the Holders that, until the payment in full
of all principal and interest under the Notes together with all Obligations and
all amounts then due and owing under the other Subdebt Documents:

       (a)    Leverage Ratio. The Company will not, as of the end of any
Reference Period ending on October 28, 2000 or on the last day of any Fiscal
Quarter described in the table set forth below, permit the Leverage Ratio for
such Reference Period to exceed the ratio set forth opposite such date or Fiscal
Quarter in such table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                           QUARTER                         RATIO
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
<S>                                               <C>
                       October 28, 2000                  5.50:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 2 2001                      5.50:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 3 2001                      5.50:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 4 2001                      5.25:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 1 2002                      5.25:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 2 2002                      5.25:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 3 2002                      5.25:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
</TABLE>

                                       49

<PAGE>   56

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                           QUARTER                         RATIO
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
<S>                                               <C>
                          FQ 4 2002                      5.00:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 1 2003                      4.75:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 2 2003                      4.75:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 3 2003                      4.75:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 4 2003                      4.50:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 1 2004                      4.25:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 2 2004                      4.25:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 3 2004                      4.25:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 4 2004                      4.25:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 1 2005                      4.00:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 2 2005                      4.00:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 3 2005                      4.00:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          FQ 4 2005                      3.75:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
                          Thereafter                     3.50:1.00
               --------------------------------- --------------------------
</TABLE>

       (b)    Fixed Charge Coverage. The Parent and the Company will not, as of
the end of any Reference Period ending on or after December 30, 2000, permit the
ratio of Consolidated Operating Cash Flow for such Reference Period to
Consolidated Fixed Charges for such Reference Period to be less than 1.0:1.

SECTION 10.          NEGATIVE COVENANTS. Each of the Parent and the Company,
jointly and severally, covenants and agrees with the Holders that, until the
payment in full of all principal and interest under the Notes together with all
Obligations and all amounts due and owing under the other Subdebt Documents:

                                       50

<PAGE>   57

       (a)    Restrictions on Indebtedness. Neither the Parent nor the Company
will, nor will either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume,
guarantee or be or remain liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to any
Indebtedness other than:

              (i)    Senior Indebtedness incurred under and pursuant to the
       Credit Documents up to an aggregate principal amount of up to (A)
       $200,000,000, or (B) such greater principal amount as is permitted
       pursuant to the provisions of Section 10(r) and Section 11(f);

              (ii)   Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries resulting
       from endorsements for collection, deposit or negotiation and warranties
       of products or services, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of
       business;

              (iii)  the Notes, the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Parent Guaranty;

              (iv)   purchase money Indebtedness incurred in connection with the
       acquisition after the date hereof of any real or personal property by the
       Parent, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries or under any Capitalized
       Lease, and any refunding, refinancing, modification and amendment
       thereof, which does not have the effect of increasing the principal
       amount thereof (or accreted value thereof) plus accrued and unpaid
       interest on the Indebtedness so refunded, refinanced, modified or amended
       (plus the amount of necessary fees and expenses incurred in connection
       therewith and any premiums paid on the Indebtedness repaid), provided
       that such Indebtedness is incurred within 90 days following such
       acquisition, it does not exceed 100% of the purchase price thereof and
       the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness of the Parent, the
       Company and each of their Subsidiaries shall not exceed the outstanding
       aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 at any one time, and provided,
       further, that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted
       under Section 10(a)(iv), Section 10(a)(xi)(A), Section 10(a)(xv) and
       Section 10(a)(xvi) shall not collectively exceed the amount of
       $20,000,000 at any one time;

              (v)    Indebtedness existing on the date of this Agreement and
       listed and described on Schedule 10(a) hereto; and any refunding,
       refinancing, modification and amendment thereof, which does not have the
       effect of increasing the principal amount thereof (or accreted value
       thereof) plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness so
       refunded, refinanced, modified or amended (plus the amount of necessary
       fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith and any premiums paid
       on the Indebtedness repaid) and which is otherwise on terms and
       conditions not materially less favorable to the Company, its
       Subsidiaries, and the Holders than the terms of the Indebtedness being
       refinanced; provided, that, any refunding, refinancing, modifications and
       amendments of any Transaction Debt listed on Schedule 10(a) shall be on
       terms no less materially favorable to the Company, the Subsidiaries or
       the Holders, as reasonably determined by the Holders, than the terms of
       the Indebtedness being refinanced (other than as specifically
       contemplated by the Merger Agreement to occur on or prior to the Second
       Closing Date);

                                       51

<PAGE>   58

              (vi)   subordinated unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent to the
       Sponsor and its Affiliates in an aggregate principal amount (when
       incurred) not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding, the terms
       and conditions of which either (A) shall be reasonably satisfactory to
       the Holders or (B) shall be expressly subordinated and junior in right
       and time of payment to the Obligations and that is evidenced by written
       agreement(s) which provide, at a minimum, that such Indebtedness (1)
       shall bear interest which is only payable in kind and not in cash until
       after the Subdebt Maturity Date, (2) shall not require any payment of
       principal (scheduled, by maturity or otherwise) prior to 91 days after
       the Subdebt Maturity Date and (3) shall have covenants that, taken as a
       whole, are materially less restrictive than those contained in this
       Agreement;

              (vii)  Indebtedness of the Company, the Parent (solely to the
       extent permitted under Section 10(e)) or a Domestic Subsidiary, to the
       Company or the Parent or another Domestic Subsidiary of either the
       Company or the Parent, so long as such Indebtedness is subordinated to
       the prior payment in full of the Obligations pursuant to terms of the
       Intercompany Subordination Agreement;

              (viii) Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary to (A) another Foreign
       Subsidiary, (B) the Parent, so long as the underlying loan is funded
       solely with the proceeds of the Indebtedness described in subparagraph
       (vi) above or funded with an equity investment in the Parent, or (C) the
       Company or a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, so long as (1) such
       Indebtedness is subordinated to the prior payment in full of the
       Obligations pursuant to terms of the Intercompany Subordination Agreement
       and (2) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness on or after
       the Initial Closing Date under this Section 10(a)(viii)(C) does not
       exceed in each case, in the aggregate outstanding at any one time, the
       sum of (x) $10,000,000 with respect to the Indebtedness solely of Bell
       Canada, plus (y) $3,000,000 with respect to the Indebtedness of any
       Significant Foreign Subsidiaries (including Bell Canada);

              (ix)   (A) prior to the Second Closing Date, Indebtedness under
       the Indenture Notes, the Convert Notes, the 14% Discount Notes and the
       18% Debentures and (B) on and after, and only to the extent not
       repurchased on, the Second Closing Date, Indebtedness under the Indenture
       Notes, the Convert Notes and the 18% Discount Notes; provided that no
       Indebtedness under the Convert Notes shall exist after November 15, 2000;

              (x)    Indebtedness under any Hedging Agreement permitted to be
       maintained under the Credit Agreement.

              (xi)   (A) Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) either
       acquired or incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or
       Permitted Foreign Acquisitions, the terms and conditions of which may be
       senior secured to or parri passu in right of payment with the
       Obligations, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $7,500,000 at
       any time outstanding, (B) unsecured Indebtedness either acquired or
       incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or Permitted Foreign
       Acquisitions after the date hereof of any equity interest in, or assets
       of any Person, the terms and conditions of

                                       52

<PAGE>   59

       which may be parri passu in right of payment with the Obligations, in an
       aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,500,000 at any time
       outstanding, and (C) junior subordinated unsecured Indebtedness, either
       acquired or incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or
       Permitted Foreign Acquisitions after the date hereof of any equity
       interest in, or assets of any Person, the terms and conditions of which
       shall be expressly subordinate in right of payment and other rights to
       the Obligations, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
       $5,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided, however, that the aggregate
       principal amount of Indebtedness permitted under Section 10(a)(iv),
       Section 10(a)(xi)(A), Section 10(a)(xv) and Section 10(a)(xvi) shall not
       collectively exceed the amount of $20,000,000 at any one time;

              (xii)  Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other
       financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument
       inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against
       insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however,
       that such Indebtedness is extinguished within three Business Days of
       incurrence;

              (xiii) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a
       Subsidiary of the Company providing for indemnification, adjustment of
       purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred in
       connection with a Permitted Asset Disposition, other than guarantees of
       Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such
       business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such
       acquisition; provided, that such Indebtedness not exceed the amounts set
       aside by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company as a reserve, in
       accordance with GAAP, other than such Indebtedness which is not reflected
       on the balance sheet of the Company or any Subsidiary or referenced in a
       footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the
       balance sheet, against any liabilities associated with such Permitted
       Asset Disposition including, without limitation, pension and other
       post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental
       matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated
       with any such Permitted Asset Disposition;

              (xiv)  Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
       respect of performance bonds, bankers' acceptances, workers' compensation
       claims, surety or appeal bonds, payment obligations in connection with
       self-insurance or similar obligations, and bank overdrafts;

              (xv)   additional Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries
       in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $6,000,000 at any one time
       outstanding; provided, however, that the aggregate outstanding principal
       amount of Indebtedness permitted under Section 10(a)(iv), Section
       10(a)(xi)(A), Section 10(a)(xv) and Section 10(a)(xvi) shall not
       collectively exceed the amount of $20,000,000 at any one time
       outstanding; and

              (xvi)  Indebtedness of the Foreign Subsidiaries (excluding any
       intercompany debt permitted under clause (viii), but including any
       existing Indebtedness scheduled under clause (v)) in an aggregate
       principal amount not to exceed $3,000,000 at any one

                                       53

<PAGE>   60

       time outstanding; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount
       of Indebtedness permitted under Section 10(a)(iv), Section 10(a)(xi)(A),
       Section 10(a)(xv) and Section 10(a)(xvi) shall not collectively exceed
       the amount of $20,000,000 at any one time.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Parent nor the Company will, nor will
either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume, or guarantee,
contingently or otherwise, with respect to any Indebtedness under Section
10(a)(iv), Section 10(a)(xi)(A), Section 10(a)(xi)(B) and Section 10(a)(xv)
after a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Notwithstanding Sections 10(a)(i)-(xvi), the Parent, the Company and each of
their Subsidiaries shall not at any time incur Indebtedness in excess of the
levels permitted under the covenants contained in Section 4.10 of the Indenture,
for so long as such covenants are in full force and effect. All Indebtedness
incurred hereunder is intended to be Indebtedness incurred under the first
paragraph of Section 4.10 of the Indenture.

       (b)    Additional Limitations on Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 10(a), the Company shall not incur any Indebtedness that
is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness arising
under the Credit Agreement and senior in any respect in right of payment to any
Indebtedness arising under the Subdebt Documents (including the Obligations).

       (c)    Restrictions on Liens.

              (i)    Permitted Liens. Neither the Parent nor the Company will,
       nor will either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (A) create or incur or
       suffer to be created or incurred or to exist any lien, encumbrance,
       mortgage, pledge, charge, restriction or other security interest of any
       kind upon any of its property or assets of any character whether now
       owned or hereafter acquired, or upon the income or profits therefrom; (B)
       transfer any of such property or assets or the income or profits
       therefrom for the purpose of subjecting the same to the payment of
       Indebtedness or performance of any other obligation in priority to
       payment of its general creditors; (C) acquire, or agree or have an option
       to acquire, any property or assets upon conditional sale or other title
       retention or purchase money security agreement, device or arrangement;
       (D) suffer to exist for a period of more than 30 days after the same
       shall have been incurred any Indebtedness or claim or demand against it
       that if unpaid might by law or upon bankruptcy or insolvency, or
       otherwise, be given any priority whatsoever over its general creditors;
       (E) sell, assign, pledge or otherwise transfer any "receivables" as
       defined in clause (g) of the definition of the term "Indebtedness," with
       or without recourse; provided that the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
       may create or incur or suffer to be created or incurred or to exist:

                     (1)    liens in favor of the Parent or the Company on all
              or part of the assets of their Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness
              owing by such Subsidiaries to the Parent or the Company;

                     (2)    subject to Section 8(j), liens to secure taxes,
              assessments and other government charges in respect of obligations
              not overdue or being contested in good faith or liens on
              properties to secure claims for labor, material or supplies in

                                       54

<PAGE>   61

              respect of obligations not overdue or which are being contested in
              good faith and for which reserves have been set aside on the books
              of such Person;

                     (3)    deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to
              secure payment of, workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance,
              old age pensions or other social security obligations;

                     (4)    liens on properties in respect of judgments or
              awards that have been in force for less than the applicable period
              for taking an appeal so long as execution is not levied thereunder
              or in respect of which the Parent or such Subsidiary shall at the
              time in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for
              review and in respect of which a stay of execution shall have been
              obtained pending such appeal or review;

                     (5)    liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and
              materialmen, and other like liens on properties, (x) in existence
              less than 160 days from the date of creation thereof in respect of
              obligations not overdue or (y) if the validity or amount thereof
              shall currently be contested in good faith by appropriate
              proceedings and if the Parent, the Company or such Subsidiary
              shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect
              thereto; provided that the Parent, the Company and each Subsidiary
              of the Parent or the Company will pay any such claims forthwith
              upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any lien that
              may have attached as security therefor;

                     (6)    encumbrances on Real Estate consisting of easements,
              rights of way, zoning restrictions, restrictions on the use of
              real property and defects and irregularities in the title thereto,
              landlord's or lessor's liens under leases to which the Company or
              a Subsidiary of the Company is a party, and other minor liens or
              encumbrances none of which in the opinion of the Company
              interferes materially with the use of the property affected in the
              ordinary conduct of the business of the Parent, the Company and
              each of their Subsidiaries, which defects do not individually or
              in the aggregate have a materially adverse effect on the business
              of the Company individually or of the Parent, the Company and each
              of their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;

                     (7)    liens existing on the date hereof and listed on
              Schedule 10(c) hereto;

                     (8)    purchase money security interests in or purchase
              money mortgages on real or personal property acquired after the
              date hereof to secure purchase money Indebtedness of the type and
              amount permitted by Sections 10(a)(iv) and (xv), incurred in
              connection with the acquisition of such property, which security
              interests or mortgages cover only the real or personal property so
              acquired (and the proceeds thereof);

                                       55

<PAGE>   62

                     (9)    liens and encumbrances on each Mortgaged Property as
              and to the extent permitted by the Mortgage applicable thereto;

                     (10)   liens securing Senior Indebtedness under the Credit
              Documents and obligations under the Hedging Agreements;

                     (11)   liens encumbering deposits made to secure
              obligations arising from statutory or regulatory requirements of
              the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including rights of offset
              and set-off;

                     (12)   transfers of receivables permitted by Section
              10(f)(ii) only to the extent such transfer constitutes a "true
              sale";

                     (13)   liens securing Indebtedness of the type and amount
              permitted by Section 10(a)(xi)(A); provided that (A) such liens
              secured such Acquired Indebtedness at the time of and prior to the
              incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the Company or a
              Subsidiary of the Company and were not granted in connection with,
              or in anticipation of, the occurrence of such Acquired
              Indebtedness by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company; and
              (B) such liens do not extend to or cover any property or assets of
              the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than the property or
              assets that secured the Acquired Indebtedness prior to the time
              such Indebtedness became Acquired Indebtedness of the Company or a
              Subsidiary of the Company and are not more materially favorable to
              the lienholders than those securing the Acquired Indebtedness
              prior to the incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the
              Company or a Subsidiary of the Company;

                     (14)   liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code
              financing statements regarding operating leases limited to those
              assets which are the subject of the operating leases and statutory
              landlord's liens not securing Indebtedness;

                     (15)   liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities
              arising as a matter of law to secure payment of custom duties in
              connection with the importation of goods;

                     (16)   liens securing Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries
              permitted by Section 10(a)(xvi);

                     (17)   liens securing Indebtedness of Permitted
              Acquisitions in accordance with Section 10(a)(xi)(A) and Permitted
              Foreign Acquisitions in accordance with Section 10(a)(xi); and

                     (18)   liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section
              10(a)(xv) solely to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes
              Indebtedness which is permitted in Sections 10(a)(i), 10(a)(iv),
              10(a)(viii), 10(a)(x), 10(a)(xi) or 10(a)(xvi).

                                       56
<PAGE>   63

       (d)    Restrictions on Investments. Neither the Parent nor the Company
will, nor will either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make or permit to exist
or to remain outstanding any Investment except:

              (i)    Investments in marketable direct or guaranteed obligations
       of the United States of America or any OECD country that mature within
       one year from the date of purchase by the Company;

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

              (iii)  Investments in securities commonly known as "commercial
       paper" issued by a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
       the United States of America or any state thereof or any OECD country
       that at the time of purchase have been rated and the ratings for which
       are not less than "P 1" if rated by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., and
       not less than "A 1" if rated by Standard and Poor's Ratings Group;

              (iv)   Investments existing on the date hereof and listed on
       Schedule 10(d) hereto;

              (v)    Investments with respect to Indebtedness permitted by
       Section 10(a)(vii) so long as such entities (if not the Company or the
       Parent) remain Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company;

              (vi)   (A) Investments not to exceed in the aggregate outstanding
       at any one time the sum of (1) $10,000,000 with respect to (x) any
       Investments in connection with Indebtedness permitted under Section
       10(a)(viii)(C) plus (y) any other Investments solely in Bell Canada and
       (2) $5,000,000 with respect to (x) any Investments in connection with the
       Indebtedness permitted under Section 10(a)(viii)(C) plus (y) any
       Investments in Significant Foreign Subsidiaries (including Bell Canada),
       and (B) Investments by the Parent in any Significant Foreign Subsidiary
       solely with funds obtained from the Sponsor pursuant to Section
       10(a)(vi), not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any
       one time, in each case so long as such entities remain Foreign
       Subsidiaries;

              (vii)  Investments consisting of the Parent Guaranty, the
       Subsidiary Guaranty or Investments by the Parent or the Company in any
       Domestic Subsidiary so long as such Domestic Subsidiary is a Guarantor
       hereunder;

              (viii) Investments consisting of promissory notes or other
       non-cash consideration received as proceeds of asset dispositions
       permitted by Section 10(f)(ii);

              (ix)   Investments consisting of loans and advances to employees
       for moving, entertainment, travel and other similar expenses in the
       ordinary course of business not to exceed $1,750,000 in the aggregate at
       any time outstanding;

                                       57
<PAGE>   64

              (x)    Investment consisting of loans to employees, directors and
       officers for the purchase of the capital stock of the Parent, not to
       exceed $1,250,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time;

              (xi)   other Investments (other than Investments in Foreign
       Subsidiaries) not to exceed the sum of $5,500,000 in the aggregate at any
       one time outstanding;

              (xii)  Investments consisting of loans and advances to officers
       and employees relating to the corporate relocation to Dallas not to
       exceed $1,250,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

              (xiii) Investments in capital stock or other equity interests from
       any employee upon or related to termination of employment of such
       employee, the aggregate amount of which shall not exceed $1,250,000 in
       any Fiscal Year or $6,250,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding;

              (xiv)  Investment in securities of trade debtors or customers
       received in settlement of debts owing to the Company or any of its
       Subsidiaries as a result of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or a
       similar arrangement or upon the foreclosure or enforcement of any lien or
       other encumbrance, mortgage, pledge, charge, restriction or other
       security interest in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary; and

              (xv)   Investments in Permitted Acquisitions or Permitted Foreign
       Acquisitions, and Investments held by such Persons at the time of
       acquisition, provided such Investments were not made by such acquired
       Persons in anticipation of such Permitted Acquisition or Permitted
       Foreign Acquisition.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Parent nor the Company will, nor will
either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Investments under Sections
10(d)(x), 10(d)(xi) and 10(d)(xiii) after a Default or an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing.

       (e)    Distributions and Restricted Payments. None of the Parent, the
Company nor any Subsidiary will make any Distributions or Restricted Payments
other than: (i) Distributions or Restricted Payments (A) by any Subsidiary of
the Company to the Company, and (B) solely to the extent funded by the Sponsor
and its Affiliates to the Parent or its Subsidiaries after the Initial Closing
Date for the purpose of an acquisition otherwise permitted under Section
10(f)(i) and not used by such Person for such purpose, in the amount of unused
portion of such funding back to the Parent and then to the Sponsor and its
Affiliates; (ii) Distributions contemplated by the Recapitalization not to
exceed amounts previously disclosed to the Holders and amounts otherwise payable
under the Advisory Agreement and distributions in connection with the payoff of
the Convert Notes; (iii) so long as no Default under Section 12(a)(i) has
occurred or is continuing or would result therefrom, payments of the Management
Fee to the Sponsor which are due and payable pursuant to the Management
Agreement, not to exceed in any Fiscal Year the greater of (x) $800,000 and (y)
2% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries determined
as of the end of such Fiscal Year; provided, that so long as a Default

                                       58
<PAGE>   65

under Section 12(a)(i) is continuing, the payment of such Management Fee shall
be suspended and shall accrue until such Default is no longer continuing or has
been cured or waived in which case all accrued and unpaid Management Fee may be
paid; (iv) Distributions in the form of cash dividends to the Parent to permit
the Parent to pay income, franchise and other customary taxes and governmental
levies owed or payable by the Parent or to Holdings, for payment of the
consolidated tax liability of Holdings if and when required to be paid by
Holdings in an amount equal to what would have been the Parent's "separate
return" tax liability if its tax liability were determined on a non-consolidated
basis, provided such dividends or payments shall not be made more than five
Business Days prior to the date such payments are paid by the Parent; (v) so
long as no Default under Section 12(a)(i) has occurred or is continuing or would
result therefrom, Distributions to the Parent or Holdings to permit the Parent
or Holdings to pay ordinary course fees and expenses (other than management
fees) of the Parent or Holdings, provided such dividends or payments shall not
be made more than five Business Days prior to the date such payments are paid by
the Parent or Holdings and shall not exceed $300,000 in the aggregate in any
Fiscal Year; (vi) payment of all transaction expenses of the Recapitalization in
an aggregate amount not in excess of the amount previously disclosed to the
Holders, (vii) payment of expenses of the Sponsor pursuant to the Management
Agreement; (viii) Distributions in connection with Investments permitted under
Sections 10(d)(ix), 10(d)(x), 10(d)(xii) and 10(d)(xiii) (officer and
employee-related investments); and (ix) Distibutions which are transactions
permitted under Section 10(l)(2) (purchase pursuant to shareholder, registration
rights or purchase agreements scheduled hereunder).

       (f)    Mergers and Consolidations.

              (i)    Mergers and Acquisitions. Neither the Parent nor the
       Company will, nor will either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, become a
       party to any merger or consolidation, or agree to or effect any stock
       acquisition or acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of
       any Person, product line or division (other than the acquisition of
       assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices)
       except (A) the merger or consolidation (including any voluntary
       dissolution or liquidation and the distribution of assets in connection
       therewith) of one or more of the Subsidiaries of the Parent with and into
       the Company, (B) the merger or consolidation (including any voluntary
       dissolution or liquidation and the distribution of assets in connection
       therewith) of (1) two or more Domestic Subsidiaries of the Parent (other
       than the Company) with each other or (2) two or more Foreign Subsidiaries
       of the Parent with each other, (C) any Permitted Acquisition or a
       Permitted Foreign Acquisition or (D) complies with the provisions of
       Section 4(c)(ii).

              (ii)   Disposition of Assets. Neither the Parent nor the Company
       will, nor will either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, become a party
       to or agree to or effect any disposition of assets, except (A) the sale
       of inventory, the licensing of intellectual property and the disposition
       of obsolete assets, in each case in the ordinary course of business
       consistent with past practices; (B) to the extent such transaction would
       be prohibited by this Section 10(f)(ii), the sale, transfer or other
       disposition of cash, marketable securities or cash equivalents, provided
       that the same is otherwise permitted under this Agreement; (C) the sale
       of accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course

                                       59
<PAGE>   66

       of business in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and
       not in connection with any financing transaction; (D) the sale of assets
       by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries, to the extent the same is
       otherwise permitted under Section 10(l); (E) any Permitted Asset
       Dispositions; and (F) the sale of the Bell Racing Investment. Within 365
       days after the receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds from a Permitted Asset
       Disposition, the Parent or the Company, as applicable, may apply such Net
       Cash Proceeds, at its option, (A) to permanently reduce Senior
       Indebtedness (and correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto
       in the case of any reduction of borrowings under the Credit Agreement),
       (B) to the acquisition of a controlling interest in another business, the
       making of a capital expenditure or the acquisition of other long-term
       assets, in each case, in the same or a similar line of business as the
       Company was engaged in on the date of this Agreement or (C) to reimburse
       the Parent or the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, for
       expenditures made, and costs incurred, to repair, rebuild, replace or
       restore property subject to loss, damage or taking to the extent that the
       Net Cash Proceeds consist of insurance proceeds received on account of
       such loss, damage or taking. Pending the final application of any such
       Net Cash Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce Senior Indebtedness
       or otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in any manner that is not
       prohibited by this Agreement. Any Net Cash Proceeds from Permitted Asset
       Disposition that are not applied or invested as provided in the second
       sentence of this clause (ii) will be deemed to constitute "Excess
       Proceeds." Within ten Business Days of when the aggregate amount of
       Excess Proceeds exceeds $2,500,000, the Company shall make an asset sale
       offer (the "Asset Sale Offer") to purchase the maximum principal amount
       of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer
       price in cash in an amount equal to the Redemption Price, in accordance
       with the procedures set forth in this Agreement. To the extent that the
       aggregate amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is
       less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess
       Proceeds for general corporate purposes. If the aggregate principal
       amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of
       Excess Proceeds, the Notes shall be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon
       completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall
       be reset at zero.

       (g)    Sale and Leaseback. Neither the Parent nor the Company will, nor
will either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement,
directly or indirectly, whereby the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
shall sell or transfer any property owned by it in order, then or thereafter, to
lease such property or lease other property that the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company intends to use for substantially the same purpose as the property
being sold or transferred.

       (h)    Compliance with Environmental Laws. Neither the Parent nor the
Company will, nor will either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, otherwise
conduct any activity at any Real Estate or use any Real Estate in any manner
that would violate any Environmental Law, or bring such Real Estate in violation
of any Environmental Law, which could result in a Material Adverse Effect.

       (i)    Employee Benefit Plans. Neither the Parent, the Company nor any
ERISA Affiliate will:

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<PAGE>   67

              (i)    knowingly engage in any "prohibited transaction" within
       the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code which
       could result in a material liability for the Parent or any of its
       Subsidiaries; or

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

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

              (iv)   amend any Guaranteed Pension Plan in circumstances
       requiring the posting of security pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA or
       Section 401(a)(29) of the Code; or

              (v)    permit or take any action which would result in the
       aggregate benefit liabilities (with the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA)
       of all Guaranteed Pension Plans exceeding the value of the aggregate
       assets of such Plans by more than $3,000,000, disregarding for this
       purpose the benefit liabilities and assets of any such Plan with assets
       in excess of benefit liabilities;

if, in the aggregate, the occurrence of any or all events in clauses (i) through
(v) above could have a Material Adverse Effect.

       (j)    Business Activities. Neither the Parent nor the Company will, nor
will either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage directly or indirectly
(whether through Subsidiaries or otherwise) in any type of business other than
the businesses conducted by them on the Initial Closing Date and in related
businesses or businesses complementary or ancillary thereto.

       (k)    Fiscal Year.  Neither the Parent nor the Company will, nor will
either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, change its Fiscal Year.

       (l)    Transactions with Affiliates. Except for (i) the transactions
described in Section 6(s), (ii) transactions specifically permitted under
Sections 10(a)(vii), 10(a)(viii), 10(d)(vi), 10(d)(ix), 10(d)(x), 10(d)(xii) and
10(d)(xiii), (iii) transactions by and among the Company and its Domestic
Subsidiaries, (iv) transactions between (A) the Company or any Domestic
Subsidiary and (B) Bell Canada or any other Significant Foreign Subsidiary,
which transactions are not below cost, and (v) transactions among Significant
Foreign Subsidiaries, neither the Parent nor the Company will, nor will either
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any transaction with any Affiliate
(other than for services, reasonable fees, expenses and compensation paid to,
and indemnity provided for, as employees, officers and directors), including any
contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of
services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from,
or otherwise requiring payments to or from any such Affiliate or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any corporation,

                                       61
<PAGE>   68

partnership, trust or other entity in which any such Affiliate has a substantial
interest or is an officer, director, trustee or partner, on terms more favorable
to the Company, the Parent or any Domestic Subsidiary than would have been
obtainable on an arm's-length basis in the ordinary course of business, except
for the following:

              (1)    the agreements as in effect as of the Initial Closing Date
       and set forth on Schedule 10(l), or any amendment thereto or any
       transaction contemplated thereby, including pursuant to any amendment
       thereto, or any replacement agreement thereto so long as such amendment
       or replacement agreement in the opinion of the Required Holders is not on
       terms less favorable to any of the Holders or the Company in any material
       respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Initial Closing
       Date;

              (2)    the existence of, or the performance by the Parent or any
       of its Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, the
       shareholders' agreements, registration rights agreements or purchase
       agreements related thereto and set forth on Schedule 10(l), to which it
       is a party as of the Initial Closing Date; provided, however, that the
       existence of, or the performance by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
       of obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement
       entered into after the Initial Closing Date shall only be permitted by
       this clause (ii) to the extent that the terms of any such amendments or
       new agreement in the opinion of the Required Holders are not on terms
       less favorable to any of the Holders or the Company in any material
       respect;

              (3)    so long as no Event of Default is continuing, loans to
       officers and employees of the Parent and its Subsidiaries to purchase
       capital stock of the Parent or to exercise the management options
       permitted under Section 10(d)(x); and

              (4)    the sale of capital stock of the Parent to Affiliates of
       the Parent.

       (m)    Restrictions on Negative Pledges and Upstream Limitations. Neither
the Parent nor the Company will, nor will either permit any of its Subsidiaries
to (i) enter into or permit to exist any arrangement or agreement (excluding the
Credit Documents and the Subdebt Documents) which directly or indirectly
prohibits the Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries from
creating, assuming or incurring any lien upon its properties, revenues or assets
or those of any of its Subsidiaries whether now owned or hereafter acquired or
(ii) enter into any agreement, contract or arrangement (other than the Credit
Documents and the Subdebt Documents) restricting the ability of any Subsidiary
to pay or make dividends or distributions in cash or kind to the Company, to
make loans, advances or other payments of whatsoever nature to the Company, or
to make transfers or distributions of all or any part of its assets to the
Company; in each case other than (A) (1) restrictions on specific assets which
assets are the subject of purchase money security interests, (2) customary
restrictions contained in leases, software licenses and joint venture agreements
which restrict the assignment of such agreements and/or rights thereunder and
restrictions contained in indentures and other licenses and agreements in
existence on the Initial Closing Date, and (3) customary restrictions contained
in contracts for the sale of goods which restrict the assignment of performance
of such contracts, in each case entered in the ordinary course of business, (B)
restrictions on the creation of Liens

                                       62
<PAGE>   69

pursuant to agreements governing Indebtedness incurred as purchase money
Indebtedness or Capitalized Lease obligations and any Indebtedness incurred to
refinance such Indebtedness or obligations, provided that such restrictions are
limited to the property or assets secured by such Liens and financed with such
Indebtedness or obligations, and provided further, that such Liens and
Indebtedness are permitted pursuant to Section 10(a)(iv) or Section 10(c)(i)(8),
respectively, (C) as a result of applicable statutory restrictions, (D) the
Senior Indebtedness, (E) agreements acquired in connection with a Permitted
Acquisition or a Permitted Foreign Acquisition, provided such agreements were
not entered into in anticipation or contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition
or a Permitted Foreign Acquisition, (F) agreements in connection with
Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary permitted under Section 10(a)(xvi), which
prohibit such Foreign Subsidiary from creating, assigning or incurring any lien
upon its properties, revenues or assets, and (G) restrictions related to
Indebtedness permitted under Section 10(a) or 10(m)(E), which are materially
less restrictive than the restrictions contained in this Agreement.

       (n)    Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Parent nor the Company will,
nor will either permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement
containing any provision which would be violated or breached by the performance
by the Parent, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries of their respective
obligations hereunder or under any of the Subdebt Documents (other than Credit
Documents in effect on the date hereof, as amended in accordance with Section
11(f)).

       (o)    Modification of Recapitalization Documents and Management
Agreement. Neither the Parent nor the Company will, nor will either permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, consent to or agree to any amendment, supplement or
other modification to the Recapitalization Documents (other than the Transaction
Debt in accordance with Section 10(p) and the Credit Documents in accordance
with Section 10(r) and Section 11(f)), Management Agreement or either of the
Advisory Agreements without the prior written consent of the Required Holders
unless such amendment, supplement or modification would not have any material
adverse effect on the Holders' rights under the Subdebt Documents or the
Parent's, the Company's or any of their Subsidiaries' obligations under the
Subdebt Documents.

       (p)    Transaction Debt. Neither the Parent nor the Company will, nor
will either permit any of is Subsidiaries to, amend, supplement or otherwise
modify the terms of any of the Transaction Debt or the 14% Discount Notes or
prepay or purchase any of the Transaction Debt except with respect to the
repayments of and amendment to the 11% Notes contemplated by Section 3(b), the
refinancing of the 14% Discount Notes and the 18% Debentures in connection with
the Second Closing and the repayment of the Convert Notes on or prior to
November 15, 2000.

       (q)    Conduct of Business. The Parent will not own any significant
assets or conduct any activities, business or operations other than the
ownership of 100% of the equity interests of the Company.

       (r)    Increase in Senior Indebtedness. The Credit Parties shall not
enter into any Contractual Obligation, or amend, replace, refinance, renew,
extend or otherwise modify any existing Contractual Obligation, to:

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<PAGE>   70

              (A)    increase (by fundings, commitments or otherwise) the
       aggregate principal amount of Senior Indebtedness from $200,000,000 to
       $205,000,000, unless (i) the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Credit
       Agreement in effect on the date hereof) shall not be increased in excess
       of 175 basis points over the highest rates set forth in the Credit
       Agreement (in effect as of the Initial Closing Date) plus any increased
       rate of interest chargeable following the occurrence of an Event of
       Default under the Credit Agreement (in effect as of the Initial Closing
       Date), (ii) the maturity date (or due date) for any Senior Indebtedness
       shall be before February 15, 2008, (iii) the remaining weighted average
       life of maturity for any Senior Indebtedness shall not be shortened by
       more than 30% of the weighted average life to maturity in effect at the
       time, (iv) immediately after giving effect to such amendment,
       replacement, refinance, renewal, extension or modification, no Default or
       Event of Default shall exist, and (v) none of the Credit Parties shall be
       the subject of any prohibition or limitation of making regularly
       scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the Notes (other than
       the existence (but not exercise) of the subordination provisions set
       forth in Section 11); or

              (B)    (1) increase (by fundings, commitments or otherwise) the
       aggregate principal amount of Senior Indebtedness by $20,000,000, unless
       (i) the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Credit Agreement in effect
       on the date hereof) shall not be increased in excess of 175 basis points
       over the highest rates set forth in the Credit Agreement (in effect as of
       the Initial Closing Date) plus any increased rate of interest chargeable
       following the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Credit
       Agreement (in effect as of the Initial Closing Date), (ii) the maturity
       date (or due date) for any Senior Indebtedness shall be before February
       15, 2008, (iii) immediately after giving effect to such amendment,
       replacement, refinance, renewal, extension or modification, no Default or
       Event of Default shall exist, (iv) none of the Credit Parties shall be
       the subject of any prohibition or limitation of making regularly
       scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the Notes (other than
       the existence (but not exercise) of the subordination provisions set
       forth in Section 11), and (v) the Company has elected (by giving written
       notice to the Holders no less than three days after such election) to use
       any of the Indebtedness baskets under Sections 10(a)(iv), 10(a)(xi),
       10(a)(xv) or 10(a)(xvi) to incur Senior Indebtedness under the Credit
       Agreement, and, as consequence of such election, the available
       Indebtedness basket under the applicable subsection(s) of Section 10 set
       forth above shall be reduced on a dollar for dollar basis in accordance
       with the written notice (and the Company may correspondingly elect (by
       giving written notice to the Holders no less than three days after such
       election) to not incur Senior Indebtedness under the Credit Documents in
       accordance with this Section 10(r)(B)(1)(iv) and the Indebtedness baskets
       under Sections 10(a)(iv), 10(a)(xi), 10(a)(xv) and 10(a)(xvi), as
       applicable, shall be reinstated on a dollar for dollar basis); or

              (B)    (2) increase (by fundings, commitments or otherwise) the
       aggregate principal amount of Senior Indebtedness in excess of
       $200,000,000, unless (i) the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Credit
       Agreement in effect on the date hereof) shall not be increased in excess
       of 175 basis points over the highest rates set forth in the Credit
       Agreement (in effect as of the Initial Closing Date) plus any increased
       rate of interest chargeable following the occurrence of an Event of
       Default under the Credit Agreement (in effect as of the Initial Closing
       Date), (ii) the maturity date (or due date) for any Senior Indebtedness
       shall be

                                       64
<PAGE>   71

       before February 15, 2008, (iii) the remaining weighted average life of
       maturity for any Senior Indebtedness shall not be shortened by more than
       30% of the weighted average life to maturity in effect at the time, (iv)
       immediately after giving effect to such amendment, replacement,
       refinance, renewal, extension or modification, no Default or Event of
       Default shall exist, (v) none of the Credit Parties shall be the subject
       of any prohibition or limitation of making regularly scheduled payments
       of principal of and interest on the Notes, and (vi) the Leverage Ratio
       does not exceed 3.25:1.00 before and after giving effect to such increase
       in Senior Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis.

SECTION 11. SUBORDINATION

       (a)    Notes Subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary, the Company, for itself
and its successors, and each Holder, by its acceptance of the Notes, agrees that
on the terms and conditions herein (i) the payment of the principal of and
interest on the Notes or any Obligations and (ii) any payment on account of the
acquisition or redemption (including, without limitation, premiums, liquidated
damages, fees, expenses and indemnities) of the Notes by the Company is
subordinated, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Section 11, to
the prior payment in full in cash of all the Senior Indebtedness of the Company
and that these subordination provisions are for the benefit of the holders of
the Senior Indebtedness. This Section 11 shall constitute a continuing offer to
all Persons who, in reliance upon such provisions, become holders of, or
continue to hold, Senior Indebtedness, and such provisions are made for the
benefit of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, and such holders are made
obligees hereunder and any one or more of them may enforce such provisions.

       (b)    No Payment on Notes in Certain Circumstances.

              (i)    No payment shall be made by or on behalf of the Company on
       account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes or
       any Obligations or to defease or acquire any of the Notes for cash or
       property, or on account of the redemption provisions of the Notes during
       the period (the "Indefinite Blockage Period") beginning on the date of
       any default in payment (a "Payment Default") of any principal of,
       premium, if any, or interest on any Senior Indebtedness or any obligation
       owing under or in respect of Senior Indebtedness, and ending on the
       earliest of (A) the date that all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full in
       cash, (B) the date on which the Senior Indebtedness to which such Payment
       Default relates is paid in full in cash or such default is cured, and (C)
       the date on which such Payment Default is waived in writing in accordance
       with the instruments governing such Senior Indebtedness by the holders of
       such Senior Indebtedness (or any requisite percentage thereof).

              (ii)   If an event of default other than a Payment Default (an
       "Other Default") with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, as such event
       of default is defined in the instrument under which it is outstanding,
       has occurred, is continuing and permits the holders (or any requisite
       percentage thereof) to declare such Senior Indebtedness due and payable
       prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and
       payable, then during the period (the "Payment Blockage Period")
       commencing on the date that the

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       Company and the Holders receive written notice (a "Default Notice") of
       such Other Default from the holders of Senior Indebtedness (or the Agent)
       and ending on the earliest of: (A) 179 days after such date, (B) the
       date, if any, on which the Senior Indebtedness to which such Other
       Default relates is paid in full in cash or such Other Default is cured or
       waived in writing in accordance with the instruments governing such
       Senior Indebtedness by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any
       requisite percentage thereof), and (C) the date on which the Company and
       the Holders of the Notes receive from the holders of such Senior
       Indebtedness (or their representative) that commenced the Payment
       Blockage Period (or other Holders of the Notes comprising the requisite
       percentage thereof) written notice that the Payment Blockage Period has
       been terminated, no payment shall be made by or on behalf of the Company
       on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the
       Notes or any Obligations, or to defease or acquire any of the Notes for
       cash or property, or on account of the redemption provisions of the Notes
       or on account of any fees and expenses relating to the Notes or this
       Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, only
       one Payment Blockage Period may be commenced within any period of 365
       consecutive days.

       (iii)  For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Standstill Period" shall
       mean a period which commences on the commencement date of any Indefinite
       Blockage Period or the date that the Company and the Holders of the Notes
       receive a Default Notice, as the case may be, and ends on the earliest to
       occur of (A) the termination of the Indefinite Blockage Period relating
       to such Payment Notice or the termination of the Payment Blockage Period
       relating to such Default Notice, as the case may be, (B) the acceleration
       of the Senior Indebtedness to which such Payment Notice or Default
       Notice, as the case may be, relates, (C) an Event of Default specified in
       clause (a)(vi) or (a)(vii) of Section 12, (D) 179 days after the
       commencement date of any Indefinite Blockage Period or the receipt by the
       Company and the Holders of the Notes of such Default Notice, as the case
       may be, (E) the waiver or amendment by or on behalf of the lenders under
       the Credit Documents (or any requisite percentage thereof) of the
       restrictions, during such Standstill Period, on asset sales or
       dispositions or an Initial Public Offering by the Company or any of its
       Subsidiaries so as to permit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
       transfer or apply the Net Cash Proceeds from such asset sales or
       dispositions or an Initial Public Offering to or for the benefit of any
       holders of long-term Indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries
       other than to repay obligations under the Credit Documents, (F) the
       waiver or amendment, during such Standstill Period, by or on behalf of
       the lenders under the Credit Documents (or any requisite percentage
       thereof) of the prohibition on the creation or existence of liens on
       property, revenue or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries so
       as to permit the creation or existence of liens (including judgment
       liens) securing payment of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
       Subsidiaries which ranks pari passu with the Notes or is subordinate or
       junior in right of payment to the Notes, (G) assets constituting more
       than 10% of the aggregate assets (calculated on a book-value basis) of
       the Company and its Subsidiaries are sold or otherwise disposed of (other
       than to a Person which is either wholly-owned by the Company or a
       wholly-owned Subsidiary thereof) outside of the ordinary course of
       business for less than fair value or an agreement or other arrangement
       for such sale or disposition is entered into, the Board of Directors of
       the Company or such Subsidiary authorizes or approves such agreement,
       arrangement,

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<PAGE>   73

       sale or disposition, (H) any payment or distribution of any character
       (other than payments of trade payables, capitalized leases and accrued
       expenses in the ordinary course of business), whether in cash, securities
       or other property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be made
       to or received by any holder of any indebtedness which is on the same
       level of priority with or junior and subordinate in right of payment to
       the Notes or an agreement or other arrangement for such payment or
       distribution is entered into, or the Board of Directors of the Company or
       any Subsidiary authorizes or approves such agreement, arrangement,
       payment or distribution or (I) such time as the holders of Senior
       Indebtedness (or any requisite percentage thereof) consent in writing to
       the termination of the Standstill Period. In addition, any Holder of
       Notes may take any action to the extent necessary in order to toll the
       running of any applicable statute of limitations that might otherwise
       prevent such Holder from making claims in respect of, or to otherwise
       preserve such Holder's rights with respect to, the Notes. During the
       Standstill Period, such Holders shall be prohibited from accelerating the
       Notes and shall be prohibited from enforcing any of their default
       remedies with respect thereto (including any right to sue the Company or
       to file or participate in the filing of any involuntary bankruptcy
       petition against the Company) until the Standstill Period relating to
       such Indefinite Blockage Period or Default Notice, as the case may be,
       shall cease to be in effect. Upon the termination of any Standstill
       Period, then the Holders of the Notes may (subject to Section 11(b)(iv)
       below), at their sole election, exercise any and all remedies (including
       acceleration of the maturity of the Notes) available to them under this
       Agreement or applicable law; provided that the Indefinite Blockage Period
       or the Payment Blockage Period, as the case may be, (if not also
       terminated) shall continue for its full period notwithstanding the
       termination of the Standstill Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
       during any consecutive 365-day period, (i) there may be no more than two
       Standstill Periods and (ii) the aggregate number of days in which
       Standstill Periods are in effect shall not exceed 179 days.

              (iv)   In furtherance of the provisions of Section 11(a), in the
       event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
       11(b), any payment or distribution of assets on account of principal of,
       premium, if any, or interest on the Notes or Obligations or to defease or
       acquire any of the Notes for cash, property or securities, or on account
       of the redemption provisions of the Notes shall be made by the Company
       and received by any Holder, at a time when such payment or distribution
       was prohibited by the provisions of this Section 11(b) then, unless such
       payment or distribution is no longer prohibited by this Section 11(b),
       such payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust by such
       Holder for the benefit of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, and
       shall be promptly paid or delivered by such Holders (and in any event
       within [four] Business Days of receipt thereof) to the holders of the
       Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid or their representative or
       representatives, ratably according to the aggregate amounts on account of
       the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent
       necessary to enable payment in full in cash, of all Senior Indebtedness
       remaining unpaid, after giving effect to all concurrent payments and
       distributions, to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

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<PAGE>   74

       The Company shall give written notice to the Holders within three days of
receipt of notice of any default or event of default, and any cure or waiver
thereof, or any acceleration under any Senior Indebtedness or under any
agreement pursuant to which Senior Indebtedness may have been issued. Holders
shall give written notice to the Agent of any Default or Event of Default
hereunder, and any cure or waiver thereof, and five Business Days prior written
notice to the Agent of any acceleration or enforcement action hereunder.

       (c)    Notes Subordinated to Prior Payment of All Senior Indebtedness on
Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization. Upon any distribution of assets of
the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, total or partial liquidation or
reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, in bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding or upon assignment for the
benefit of creditors:

              (i)    the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be
       entitled to receive payments in full in cash of the Senior Indebtedness,
       before the Holders are entitled to receive any payment on account of the
       principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, fees, expenses,
       liquidated damages or indemnities (other than principal, interest or
       premium paid with in-kind securities);

              (ii)   any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any
       kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than
       principal, interest or premium paid with in-kind securities), to which
       the Holders would be entitled except for the provisions of this Section
       11, shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person
       making such a payment or distribution, directly to the holders of Senior
       Indebtedness or their representative, ratably according to the respective
       amounts of Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent
       necessary to make payment in full in cash of all such Senior Indebtedness
       remaining unpaid after giving effect to all concurrent payments and
       distributions to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and

              (iii)  in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any
       payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or
       character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by
       the Holders on account of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
       the Notes, fees, expenses, liquidated damages or indemnities (other than
       principal, interest or premium paid with in-kind securities), as the case
       may be, before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full in cash, such
       payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust by such
       Holder for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, or
       their respective representative, ratably according to the respective
       amounts of Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent
       necessary to make payment in full in cash of all such Senior Indebtedness
       remaining unpaid after giving effect to all concurrent payments and
       distributions to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

       The Company shall give written notice to the Holders within three days of
receipt of notice of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization
of the Company or assignment for the benefit of creditors by the Company.

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<PAGE>   75

       (d)    Noteholders to Be Subrogated to Rights of Holders of Senior
Indebtedness.

              (i)    Subject to the payment in full of in cash all Senior
       Indebtedness, the Holders of the Notes shall be subrogated to the rights
       of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or
       distributions of assets of the Company applicable to the Senior
       Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Notes shall be paid in full
       in cash, and for the purpose of such subrogation no such payments or
       distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by or on behalf
       of the Company, or by or on behalf of the Holders by virtue of this
       Section 11, which otherwise would have been made to the Holders shall, as
       between the Company and the Holders, be deemed to be payment by the
       Company, to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness, it being
       understood that the provisions of this Section 11 are and are intended
       solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on
       the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness , on the other
       hand.

              (ii)   If any payment or distribution to which the Holders would
       otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Section 11
       shall have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11,
       to the payment of amounts payable under the Senior Indebtedness, then the
       Holders shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Senior
       Indebtedness any payments or distributions received by such holders of
       the Senior Indebtedness in excess of the amount sufficient to pay all
       amounts payable under or in respect of such Senior Indebtedness in full
       in cash.

       (e)    Obligations of the Company Unconditional. Nothing contained in
this Section 11 or elsewhere in this Agreement or in the Notes is intended to or
shall impair, as between the Company and the Holders, the obligation of the
Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders the
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes as and when the same
shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to
or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of the Company
other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or
in the Notes prevent any Holder from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted
by applicable law upon default under this Agreement, subject to the rights, if
any, under this Section 11, of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness in respect
of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any
such remedy or other restrictions set forth in this Section 11. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 11 or elsewhere in this Agreement or in
the Notes, upon any distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this
Section 11, the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made
by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding up,
liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the
liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the
Holders for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in
such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Indebtedness
of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts
paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this
Section 11.

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<PAGE>   76

       (f)    Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the
Company or Holders of the Senior Indebtedness. No right of any present or future
holders of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination provisions contained
in this Section 11 shall at any time be prejudiced or impaired by any act or
failure to act on the part of the Company or by any noncompliance by the Company
with the terms of this Agreement. The holders of the Senior Indebtedness, may
amend, replace, refinance, renew, extend or modify the terms of the Senior
Indebtedness or any security therefor and release, sell or exchange such
security and otherwise deal freely with the Company all without affecting the
liabilities and obligations of the parties to this Agreement or the Holders;
provided that, immediately after giving effect to the occurrence of any of the
foregoing, all of the following conditions are met:

              (i)    the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Credit Agreement
       in effect on the date hereof) shall not be increased in excess of 175
       basis points over the highest rates set forth in the Credit Agreement (in
       effect as of the Initial Closing Date) plus any increased rate of
       interest chargeable following the occurrence of an Event of Default under
       the Credit Agreement (in effect as of the Initial Closing Date);

              (ii)   the maturity date (or due date) for any principal amount of
       Senior Indebtedness shall not be on or after February 15, 2008; and

              (iii)  the remaining weighted average life of maturity of any
       Senior Indebtedness shall not be shortened by more than 30% of the
       remaining weighted average life of maturity in effect at the time;

provided, further, that nothing in clauses (i) through (iii) above shall be
construed to restrict the administration or other matters of a ministerial
nature with respect to the Senior Indebtedness.

       (g)    Not to Prevent Events of Default. The failure to make a payment on
account of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes by reason of
any provision of this Section 11 shall not be construed as preventing the
occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default under this Agreement or in any
way prevent the Holders from exercising any right hereunder other than as
provided in this Section 11.

       (h)    Proofs of Claim. If, while any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding,
any Insolvency Event occurs, the Holders shall duly and promptly take such
action as the holder of the Senior Indebtedness of the Agent may request to
collect any payment with respect to the Subordinated Debt or the Notes for the
account of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and to file appropriate claims
or proofs of claim in respect of the Subordinated Debt and the Notes. Upon the
failure of any Holder to take any such action as of the 30th Business Day
preceding the bar date therefor, each holder of Senior Indebtedness is hereby
irrevocably authorized and empowered (in its own name, by the Agent or
otherwise), but shall have no obligation, to demand, sue for, collect and
receive every payment or distribution referred to in respect of this Agreement
or the Notes and to file claims and proofs of claim and take such other action
as it may deem necessary or advisable for the exercise or enforcement of any of
the rights or interests of such Holder with respect to this Agreement or the
Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Agent nor any holder of any
Senior Indebtedness shall have any right whatsoever to vote any claim that the
Holders may have in such proceeding to

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<PAGE>   77

accept or reject any plan or partial or complete liquidation, reorganization,
arrangement, composition or extension; provided that the Holders shall not vote
with respect to any such plan or take any other action in any way so as to
contest (i) the validity of any Senior Indebtedness or any collateral therefor
or guaranties thereof, (ii) the relative rights and duties of any holders of any
Senior Indebtedness established in any instruments or agreements creating or
evidencing any of the Senior Indebtedness with respect to any such collateral or
guaranties or (iii) the Holders' obligations and agreements set forth in this
Section 11.

SECTION 12. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

       (a)    Acceleration. If any of the following events shall occur and be
continuing for any reason whatsoever (and whether such occurrence shall be
voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by operation of law or
otherwise):

              (i)    Payment Defaults.

                     (A)    The Company fails to make payment of or repurchase
              any principal on any Note when the same shall become due and
              payable whether at maturity or a date fixed for prepayment or by
              acceleration or otherwise; or

                     (B)    The Company fails to make payment of any interest on
              any Note or any fees provided for hereunder or under any Note when
              the same shall become due and payable, and such failure continues
              for a period of five Business Days;

              (ii)   Default in Other Agreements.

                     (A)    An Event of Default (as defined in the Credit
              Agreement) under the Credit Agreement occurs and, as a consequence
              thereof, any or all of the Senior Indebtedness has become, or has
              been declared, due and payable before its stated maturity by
              acceleration or otherwise; or

                     (B)    The failure of the Company or any other Credit Party
              to pay when due or within any applicable grace period any
              principal or interest on Indebtedness (other than the Senior
              Indebtedness arising under the Credit Documents), or breach or
              default of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to
              any Indebtedness (other than the Senior Indebtedness arising under
              the Credit Documents and other than any defaults arising solely as
              a result of defaults under the Senior Indebtedness), if the effect
              of such breach or default is to cause or to permit the holder or
              holders then to cause, such Indebtedness having an amount,
              individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $5,000,000 to
              become or be declared due or to be prepaid, redeemed, purchased or
              defeased prior to their stated maturity by acceleration or
              otherwise;

              (iii)  Breach of Certain Provisions. The failure of the Company or
       the Parent to perform or comply with any term or condition contained in
       Sections 8(a), 8(b), 8(g)(i), the first sentence of 8(h) (as it relates
       to the Parent or the Company), 8(k) (as it relates to the Parent or the
       Company), 8(o), 8(p), 9 or 10 (other than 10(h) and 10(o));

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<PAGE>   78

              (iv)   Breach of Warranty. Any representation, warranty,
       certification or other statement made by the Company, the Parent or any
       of their Subsidiaries in any Subdebt Document or in any statement or
       certificate at any time given by such Person in writing pursuant or in
       connection with any Subdebt Document is false in any material respect on
       the date made;

              (v)    Other Defaults Under Subdebt Documents. The Company, the
       Parent or any of their Subsidiaries defaults in the performance of or
       compliance with any term contained in any Subdebt Documents and such
       default is not remedied or waived within 15 days after the earlier of
       receipt by the Company of notice from any Holder or any responsible
       officer of the Company obtains knowledge of such default (other than
       occurrences described in other provisions of this Section 12(a) for which
       a different grace or cure period is specified or which constitute
       immediate Events of Default);

              (vi)   Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc. A
       decree or order is entered appointing any such trustee, custodian,
       liquidator or receiver or adjudicating the Parent, the Company or any of
       their Subsidiaries bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition in any
       such case or other proceeding, or a decree or order for relief is entered
       in respect of the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Parent or
       the Borrower in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code as now or
       hereafter constituted;

              (vii)  Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc. The
       Parent, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries shall make an assignment
       for the benefit of creditors, or admit in writing its inability to pay or
       generally fail to pay its debts as they mature or become due, or shall
       petition or apply for the appointment of a trustee or other custodian,
       liquidator or receiver of the Parent, the Company or any of their
       Subsidiaries or of any substantial part of the assets of the Parent, the
       Company or any of their Subsidiaries or shall commence any case or other
       proceeding relating to the Parent, the Company or any of their
       Subsidiaries under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
       insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar
       law of any jurisdiction, now or hereafter in effect, or shall take any
       action to authorize or in furtherance of any of the foregoing, or if any
       such petition or application shall be filed or any such case or other
       proceeding shall be commenced against the Parent, the Company or any of
       their Subsidiaries and the Parent, the Company or any of their
       Subsidiaries shall indicate its approval thereof, consent thereto or
       acquiescence therein or such petition or application shall not have been
       dismissed within 45 days following the filing thereof;

              (viii) Governmental. Any lien, levy or assessment is filed or
       recorded with respect to or otherwise imposed upon all or any material
       part of the assets of the Company, the Parent or any of their
       Subsidiaries by the United States or any department or instrumentality
       thereof or by any state, county, municipality or other governmental
       agency (other than Permitted Liens);

              (ix)   Judgment and Attachments. Any money judgment(s), writ(s) or
       warrant(s) of attachment, execution or similar process in excess of an
       aggregate of $4,000,000 (to the extent not covered by insurance) is
       entered or filed against the

                                       72
<PAGE>   79

       Company, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries, or any of their
       respective assets, and remains undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or
       unstayed for a period of 30 days;

              (x)    Dissolution. Any order, judgment or decree is entered
       against the Company, the Parent or any of their Significant Subsidiaries
       (other than Foreign Subsidiaries) decreeing the dissolution or split up
       of the Company, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries (other than
       Foreign Subsidiaries) and such order remains undischarged or unstayed for
       a period in excess of 15 days (excluding any voluntary dissolution or
       liquidation and the distribution of assets in connection therewith to the
       Company or any Subsidiaries thereof or as permitted by Section 10(f)); or
       any order, judgment or decree is entered against any Foreign Subsidiary
       directing the dissolution or split up of such Foreign Subsidiary and such
       order remains undischarged or unstayed for a period in excess of 30 days
       (excluding any voluntary dissolution or liquidation and the distribution
       of assets in connection therewith to the Company or any Subsidiaries
       thereof or as permitted by Section 10(f));

              (xi)   Injunction. The Company, the Parent or any Subsidiary is
       enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by the order of any
       Governmental Authority from conducting all or any material part of its
       business and such order continues for more than 30 days;

              (xii)  ERISA; Pension Plans. (A) The Company, the Parent or any of
       its ERISA Affiliates fails to make full payment when due of all amounts
       which, under the provisions of any Plans or any applicable provisions of
       the Code, any such Person is required to pay as contributions thereto and
       such failure results in or is likely to result in a Material Adverse
       Effect; or (B) an accumulated funding deficiency in excess of $5,000,000
       occurs or exists, whether or not waived, with respect to any such
       employee benefit plans; or (C) any employee benefit plan loses its status
       as a qualified Plan under the Code that results in or could reasonably be
       expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

              (xiii) Environmental Matters. The Company, the Parent or any of
       their Subsidiaries fails to: (A) obtain or maintain any operating
       licenses or permits required by environmental authorities; (B) begin,
       continue or complete any remediation activities as required by any
       environmental authorities; (C)store or dispose of any hazardous materials
       in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations; or (D)
       comply with any other environmental laws; if any of the foregoing
       failures could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

              (xiv)  Invalidity of Subdebt Documents. Any of the Subdebt
       Documents for any reason, other than a partial or full release in
       accordance with the terms thereof, ceases to be in full force and effect
       or is declared to be null and void, or the Company, the Parent or any of
       their Subsidiaries denies that it has any further liability under any
       material provision of any of the Subdebt Documents to which it is party,
       or gives notice to such effect;

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              (xv)   Damage; Strike; Casualty. Any material damage to, or loss,
       theft or destruction of, any material assets of the Company, the Parent
       and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not insured, or any
       strike, lockout, labor dispute, embargo, condemnation, act of God or
       public enemy, or other casualty which causes, for more than 30
       consecutive days, the cessation or substantial curtailment of revenue
       producing activities at any facility of the Company, the Parent or any of
       their Subsidiaries, if any such event or circumstance could reasonably be
       expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

              (xvi)  Licenses and Permits. The loss, suspension or revocation
       of, or failure to renew, any license or permit now held or hereafter
       acquired by the Company, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries, or any
       other action shall be taken by any Governmental Authority in response to
       any alleged failure by the Company, the Parent or any of their
       Subsidiaries to be in compliance with applicable Requirements of Law if
       such loss, suspension, revocation or failure to renew or action,
       individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
       Material Adverse Effect;

then (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified in subsections (vi) and
(vii) of this Section 12(a) (insofar as such subsections relate to the Parent,
the Company or any Significant Subsidiary), all of the Notes shall automatically
become immediately due and payable, together with interest accrued thereon,
without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived by the Company, and (ii) if such event is any other Event of
Default, the Required Holders may, at their option, declare by notice in writing
to the Company all of the Notes to be, and all of the Notes shall thereupon be
and become, immediately due and payable, together with interest accrued thereon
without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby waived by the Company. The principal amount of the Notes payable upon
an Event of Default and acceleration pursuant to this Section 12 shall be an
amount equal to the Redemption Price of the outstanding principal amount of the
Notes.

       (b)    Other Remedies. If any Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, subject to the provisions of Section 11, any Holder may proceed to
protect and enforce its rights under this Agreement and the Notes by exercising
such remedies as are available under applicable law, either by suit in equity or
by action at law, or both, whether for specific performance of any covenant or
other agreement contained in this Agreement or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted in this Agreement. No remedy conferred in this Agreement upon the
Holder or any Holder is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each
and every such remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other remedy
conferred herein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute
or otherwise. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
no Holder may exercise any remedy under this Section 12(b) or otherwise, unless
such action is taken or approved in writing by the Required Holders at the time
of such action or unless the Required Holders have waived such requirement in
whole or in part with respect to such Holder.

       (c)    Rescission of Acceleration. The provisions of Sections 12(a) and
12(b) are subject to the condition that if the principal of and accrued interest
on the Notes have been declared immediately due and payable by reason of the
occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 12(a), other than
subsections (vi) and (vii), the Required Holders may, by

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<PAGE>   81

written instrument filed with the Company, rescind and annul such declaration
and the consequences thereof, provided that at the time such declaration is
annulled and rescinded:

              (i)    no judgment or decree has been entered for the payment of
       any monies due pursuant to the Notes or this Agreement;

              (ii)   all arrears of interest upon all the Notes and all other
       sums payable under the Notes and under this Agreement (except any
       principal or interest on the Notes which has become due and payable
       solely by reason of such declaration under Section 12(a)) shall have been
       duly paid, unless the same specifically has been waived in writing by the
       Required Holders; and

              (iii)  each and every other Event of Default shall have been made
       good, cured or waived;

and provided, further, that no such rescission and annulment shall extend to or
affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

       In the event of an acceleration based upon an Event of Default set forth
in Section 12(a)(ii)(B) hereof, such declaration of acceleration shall be
automatically annulled if the holders of the Indebtedness which is the subject
of such failure to pay at maturity or acceleration have rescinded their
declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness or such failure to
pay at maturity shall have been cured or waived within 15 days thereof and no
other Event of Default has occurred during such period of 15 days which has not
been cured, paid or waived.

SECTION 13. GENERAL. As further and special provisions set forth under this
Agreement, the parties hereto further warrant, covenant, contract and agree each
with the other as follows:

       (a)    Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Investment Documents and
other documents referred to herein and therein constitute the entire
understanding among the parties as to the subject matter specifically referred
to herein or therein.

       (b)    Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company agrees (a) whether or not
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be consummated, to pay
upon demand all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of each Purchaser
(including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to
each Purchaser) in connection with (i) such Purchaser's due diligence
investigation in connection with, and the preparation, negotiation, execution,
delivery of, this Agreement and the other Investment Documents, and any
amendment, modification or waiver hereof or thereof or consent with respect
hereto or thereto and (ii) the administration, monitoring and review of the
Notes (including, without limitation, out-of-pocket expenses for travel, meals,
long-distance telephone calls, wire transfers, facsimile transmissions and
copying and with respect to the engagement of appraisers, consultants, auditors
or similar Persons by such Purchaser (so long as the Purchaser is a Holder) at
any time, whether before or after the Initial Closing, to render opinions
concerning the Company's financial condition), (b) to pay upon demand all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of each Holder (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) in connection with (x) any
refinancing or restructuring of the Notes, whether in the nature of a

                                       75
<PAGE>   82

"work-out," in any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding or otherwise and whether
or not consummated, and (y) the enforcement, attempted enforcement or
preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or any of the other
Subdebt Documents by the Holders or the other Investment Documents by the
Purchasers, whether in any action, suit or proceeding (including any bankruptcy
or insolvency proceeding) or otherwise, and (c) to pay and hold each Purchaser
harmless from and against all liability for any intangibles, documentary, stamp
or other similar taxes, fees and excises, if any, including any interest and
penalties, and any finder's or brokerage fees, commissions and expenses (other
than any fees, commissions or expenses of finders or brokers engaged by such
Purchaser), that may be payable in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the other Investment Documents.

       (c)    Survival of Agreements and Representations and Warranties. All
representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Notes and Warrants, the purchase or transfer
by any Purchaser of any Note or Warrant or portion thereof or interest therein
and the payment of any Note or exercise or expiration of any Warrant, and may be
relied upon by any subsequent holder of a Note or Warrant, regardless of any
investigation made at any time by or on behalf of such Purchaser or any other
holder of a Note or Warrant; provided, that transferees of the Warrants who (or
whose Affiliates) do not also hold a Note(s) shall only be entitled to rely on
the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 6(a) 6(b), 6(c), 6(d),
6(h), 6(j), 6(k), 6(m) and 6(r). All statements contained in any certificate or
other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to this
Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties of the Company under
this Agreement.

       (d)    No Waiver. No delay by or on behalf of a Purchaser or Holder in
exercising any rights conferred hereunder to such Purchaser or Holder, as
applicable, and no course of dealing between a Purchaser or a Holder and the
Company shall operate as a waiver of any right granted hereunder, unless
expressly waived in writing by the party whose waiver is alleged.

       (e)    Binding Effect; Participations. All covenants, representations,
warranties and other stipulations in this Agreement and other documents referred
to herein, given by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto, shall bind and
inure to the benefit of the respective successors, heirs, personal
representatives and assigns of the parties hereto, except that (i) the Company
and the Parent may not assign or transfer any of their rights or obligations
under this Agreement or any of the other Subdebt Documents without the prior
written consent of the Required Holders (other than a transfer in accordance
with the provisions of Sections 4(c)(ii) and 10(f)) and (ii) the transfers of
Warrants shall also be subject to Section 13(c). This Agreement, the Notes and
any of the other Subdebt Documents may be endorsed, assigned and transferred in
whole or part by a Holder at any time after the Second Closing. A Holder may
assign, endorse or transfer in whole or in part a, or grant participations in a,
Note, this Agreement and the other Subdebt Documents (or any portion thereof) at
any time after the Second Closing, provided that FCF and its assigns may only
assign portions of its Note in principal aggregate increments of at least 50% of
the respective aggregate amount of Notes purchased by FCF as of the Second
Initial Closing and each of FUI and GP and their respective assigns may only
assign portions of their respective Notes in principal aggregate increment of at
least 50% of their respective aggregate amount of Notes purchased by FUI or GP
as

                                       76
<PAGE>   83

of the Second Initial Closing. Each Holder shall notify the Company in writing
of any such endorsement, assignment or transfer by such Holder.

       (f)    Initial Holder. The Company and the Parent shall be entitled to
treat and deal with the respective Purchasers, and shall not be required to
recognize any other Person as the holder of a Note or a Warrant, except after
production of such Note or the such Warrant duly endorsed for transfer, together
with such documentation as the Company and the Parent may reasonably require
concerning compliance with federal or state securities laws, or after receipt by
the Company of written notice from the Person theretofore entitled to be treated
as the holder advising the Company or the Parent of the transfer of such Note or
such Warrant, respectively, to such other Person and stating the latter's
address, together with such documentation as the Company or the Parent may
reasonably require concerning compliance with federal or state securities laws.

       (g)    Cumulative Powers. No remedy herein conferred upon a Purchaser or
any holder of a Note or a Warrant is intended to be exclusive of any other
remedy, and each such remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other
remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law, or in equity or by
statute or otherwise.

       (h)    Loss of Securities; Reissue of Securities in Lesser Denominations.
Upon:

              (i)    receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Company or the
       Parent of loss, theft, mutilation or destruction of (A) any Note or (B)
       any Warrant, respectively, and

              (ii)   in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon
       delivery of indemnity in such form and amount as shall be reasonably
       satisfactory to the Company, or the Parent or in the event of such
       mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of such Note or Warrant,

the Company or the Parent will make and deliver a new Note or Warrant
accordingly of like tenor, in lieu of such lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed
Note or Warrant. In addition, upon request of any Holder of a Note, and upon
surrender of such Note, and compliance with any restrictive legends and Section
13(e) hereof, the Company will reissue, in lesser denominations to parties
designated by such Holder, new Notes in the equivalent amounts of such Notes
surrendered.

       (i)    Communications. All communications and notices provided for
hereunder shall be sent by personal delivery, nationally recognized overnight
courier, facsimile or registered or certified mail, to the Notes, the Parent and
the Company at their respective addresses set forth on Schedule 13(i), or to
such other address with respect to any party as such party shall notify the
other parties hereto in writing. Any notice required to be given hereunder by
one party to another shall be deemed to have been received (i) when delivered,
if personally delivered or sent via facsimile, or (ii) one day following
delivery to a nationally recognized overnight courier or (iii) on the third
business day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such
communication is posted, if sent by certified or registered mail. Except as
otherwise provided for herein, all reasonable requests for disclosure or other
provision of information to be made or otherwise given by the Company shall be
completed no later than 10 days following the receipt by the Company of a
written request therefor in the manner described in this Section.

                                       77
<PAGE>   84

       (j)    Legend.

              (i)    The Notes, the Warrants and each certificate, if any,
       representing the Common Stock issued upon exercise of a Warrant will bear
       a legend in substantially the following form:

              THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE OR INSTRUMENT HAVE
              NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
              OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED UNLESS
              THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED A WRITTEN OPINION FROM COUNSEL IN FORM
              AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY STATING THAT SUCH
              TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL
              AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

              (ii)   The Warrants and each certificate, if any, representing
       Common Stock issued upon exercise of a Warrant will bear a legend in
       substantially the following form:

              THE TRANSFER OF SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS WARRANT IS SUBJECT
              TO TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER CONDITIONS
              SPECIFIED IN THE SECURITIES HOLDERS AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS
              AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF _________ ___, 2000 AND AS AMENDED FROM
              TIME TO TIME, AMONG THE COMPANY AND CERTAIN SECURITYHOLDERS.

              (iii)  The Notes shall bear a legend in substantially the
       following form:

              THIS NOTE IS SUBORDINATED TO THE PRIOR PAYMENT IN CASH OF ALL
              SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS, AS DEFINED IN THAT CERTAIN INVESTMENT
              AGREEMENT DATED AS OF ______ ___, 2000, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED
              FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN THE AGREEMENT.

       (k)    Confidentiality; Public Announcements.

              (i)    Each Purchaser shall use its best efforts not to make
       public disclosure of any information designated by the Company in writing
       as confidential, including financial terms and financial and
       organizational information contained in any documents, statements,
       certificates, materials or information furnished, or to be furnished, by
       the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
       Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be construed,
       now or in the future, to apply to any information reflected in any
       recorded document, information which is independently developed by a
       Purchaser, information obtained from sources other than the Company or
       information that is or becomes in the public domain, nor shall it be
       construed to prevent a Purchaser from (i) making any disclosure of any
       information (A) if required to do so by any Requirement of Law, (B) to
       any Governmental Authority having or claiming authority to regulate or
       oversee

                                       78
<PAGE>   85

       any aspect of such Purchaser's business or that of the corporate holdings
       or affiliates of such Purchaser in connection with the exercise of such
       authority or claimed authority, or (C) pursuant to subpoena; or (ii) to
       the extent such Purchaser or its counsel deems necessary or appropriate
       to do so to effect or preserve its security for any applicable investment
       or financing or to enforce any remedy provided herein or in any
       applicable investment or financing documents or otherwise available by
       law; or (iii) making, on a confidential basis, such disclosures as such
       Purchaser deems necessary or appropriate to such Purchaser's legal
       counsel or accountants (including outside auditors); or (iv) making such
       disclosures as the Purchaser reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to
       any bank or financial institution or other entity, and/or counsel to or
       other representatives of such bank or financial institution or other
       entity, to which such Purchaser in good faith desires to sell an interest
       in any applicable investment or financing; provided, however, that such
       bank, financial institution or other entity or counsel to or
       representative thereof, agrees to take reasonable steps to maintain the
       confidentiality of such disclosures.

              (ii)   The Purchasers shall have the right to review and approve,
       such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, any public announcement or
       public filing made after the Initial Closing Date relating to the Notes,
       the Warrants or to the Purchasers in any way before any such announcement
       or filing is announced or filed, provided, however, no review or approval
       shall be required for any such announcement or filing required to be
       announced or filed by law. In addition, each Purchaser shall provide the
       Company an opportunity to review and approve any public announcement
       issued by such Purchaser specifically relating to the Notes, such
       approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however,
       no review or approval shall be required for any such announcement or
       filing required to be announced or filed by law.

       (l)    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by
the laws of the State of New York.

       (m)    Headings. The descriptive section headings herein have been
inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise
affect the construction of any provisions hereof.

       (n)    Multiple Originals. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously
in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and it
shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account
for more than one such counterpart.

       (o)    Amendment or Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, and the
Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein
required to be performed by it, if the Company shall obtain the prior written
consent of the Required Holders to such amendment, action or omission to act;
except that (i) no amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of Section 2, 3,
5A, 5B, 6 or 7 hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), will be
effective as to a Holder unless consented to by such Holder in writing, and (ii)
no such amendment or waiver may, without the written consent of the Holder of
each Note at the time outstanding affected thereby, (A) subject to the
provisions of Section 12 relating to acceleration or rescission, change the
amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal of, or reduce the rate
or change

                                       79
<PAGE>   86

the time of payment or method of computation of interest on the Notes, (B)
change the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes the Holders of which
are required to consent to any such amendment or waiver, or (C) amend any of
Sections 4, 12(a)(i), 12(b), 12(c), 13(o) or 13(k).

       (p)    Waiver of Jury Trial. THE HOLDERS, THE PARENT AND THE COMPANY EACH
HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED
BY APPLICABLE LAW) ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER,
RELATING TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND AGREE THAT ANY SUCH DISPUTE
SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY. THIS PROVISION IS A
MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT.

       (q)    Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process. All judicial
proceedings brought against the Company with respect to this Agreement, the
Notes or any of the other Subdebt Documents may be brought in any state or
federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York, and, by
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company accepts, for itself and in
connection with its properties, generally and unconditionally, the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any
final judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement from which no
appeal has been taken or is available. The Company irrevocably agrees that all
service of process in any such proceedings in any such court may be effected by
mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially
similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to it at its address set forth in
Schedule 13(i) or at such other address of which the Purchasers shall have been
notified pursuant thereto, such service being hereby acknowledged by the Company
to be effective and binding service in every respect. Each of the parties hereto
irrevocably waives any objection, including, without limitation, any objection
to the laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens which it
may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or proceeding in
any such jurisdiction. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of a Purchaser to
bring proceedings against the Company in the court of any other jurisdiction.

       (r)    Indemnification.

              (i)    The Parent and the Company, without limitation as to time,
       will jointly and severally defend and indemnify each Purchaser and its
       officers, directors, managers, employees, attorneys and agents (each, an
       "Indemnified Party") against, and hold each Indemnified Party harmless
       from, all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including the
       costs of preparation and attorneys' fees and expenses) (collectively, the
       "Losses") incurred by any Indemnified Party as a result of, or arising
       out of, or relating to (A) any misrepresentation or breach of any
       representation or warranty made by the Company or the Parent herein, (B)
       any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Parent and the
       Company or any of their Subsidiaries contained in any of the Investment
       Documents or (C) any investigation or proceeding against the Parent ,the
       Company or any Indemnified Party and arising out of or in connection with
       this Agreement or any of the Investment Documents, whether or not the
       transactions contemplated by this Agreement are

                                       80
<PAGE>   87

       consummated, which investigation or proceeding requires the participation
       of, or is commenced or filed against, any Indemnified Party because of
       this Agreement, any other Investment Document or such other documents and
       the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than any Losses
       resulting from action on the part of such Indemnified Party which is
       finally determined in such proceeding to be primarily and directly a
       result of such Indemnified Party's gross negligence or willful
       misconduct. Each of the Parent and the Company agrees to reimburse each
       Indemnified Party promptly for all such Losses as they are incurred by
       such Indemnified Party in connection with the investigation of,
       preparation for or defense of any pending or threatened claim or any
       action or proceeding arising therefrom. Each Indemnified Party agrees to
       reimburse the Parent or the Company for any payments made by the Parent
       or the Company to such Indemnified Party pursuant to this paragraph for
       Losses which are finally determined in such proceeding to primarily and
       directly result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
       Indemnified Party. The obligations of the Parent or the Company under
       this Section 13(r)(i) will survive any transfer of the Notes, the
       Warrants or the Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Warrants by the
       Purchasers and the termination of this Agreement. In the event that the
       foregoing indemnity is unavailable or insufficient to hold an Indemnified
       Party harmless, then the Parent or the Company will contribute to amounts
       paid or payable by such Indemnified Party in respect of such Indemnified
       Party's Losses in such proportions as appropriately reflect the relative
       benefits received by and fault of the Parent or the Company and such
       Indemnified Party in connection with the matters as to which such Losses
       relate and other equitable considerations.

              (ii)   If any action, proceeding or investigation is commenced, as
       to which any Indemnified Party proposes to demand such indemnification,
       it shall notify the Company with reasonable promptness; provided,
       however, that any failure by such Indemnified Party to notify the Company
       shall not relieve the Parent or the Company from its obligations
       hereunder except to the extent the Company is prejudiced thereby. The
       Company shall be entitled to assume the defense of any such action,
       proceeding or investigation, including the employment of counsel and the
       payment of all fees and expenses. The Indemnified Party shall have the
       right to employ separate counsel in connection with any such action,
       proceeding or investigation and to participate in the defense thereof,
       but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid by the
       Indemnified Party, unless (A) the Parent or the Company has failed to
       assume the defense and employ counsel as provided herein, (B) the Parent
       or the Company has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses of
       separate counsel or (C) an action, proceeding, or investigation has been
       commenced against both the Indemnified Party, on the one hand, and/or the
       Parent or the Company, on the other hand, and representation of both the
       Parent or the Company, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the
       other hand, by the same counsel would be inappropriate because of actual
       or potential conflicts of interest among the parties. In the case of any
       circumstance described in clauses (A), (B) or (C) of the immediately
       preceding sentence, the Parent or the Company shall be jointly and
       severally responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of such
       separate counsel; provided, however, that the Parent or the Company shall
       not in any event be required to pay the fees and expenses of more than
       one separate counsel (and, if deemed necessary by such separate counsel,
       appropriate local counsel who shall report to such separate counsel) for
       all Indemnified Parties. The Parent or the Company shall be liable

                                       81
<PAGE>   88

       only for settlement of any claim against an Indemnified Party made with
       the Parent or the Company's written consent.

       (s)    Solicitation of Holders of Notes.

              (i)    Solicitation. The Company will provide each Holder of the
       Notes (irrespective of the amount of Notes then owned by it) with
       sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a
       decision is required, to enable such Holder to make an informed and
       considered decision with respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or
       consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or of the Notes. The
       Company will deliver executed or true and correct copies of each
       amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to the provisions of this
       Section 13(o) to each Holder of outstanding Notes promptly following the
       date on which it is executed and delivered by, or receives the consent or
       approval of, the requisite Holders of Notes.

              (ii)   Payment. The Company will not directly or indirectly pay or
       cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or
       additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any security, to any
       Holder of Notes as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering
       into by any Holder of Notes or any waiver or amendment of any of the
       terms and provisions hereof unless such remuneration is concurrently
       paid, or security is concurrently granted, on the same terms, ratably to
       each Holder of Notes then outstanding even if such Holder did not consent
       to such waiver or amendment (unless all such Holders were given an equal
       opportunity to consent to such waiver or amendment).

       (t)    Notes held by Company, etc. Solely for the purpose of determining
whether the Holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal
amount of Notes then outstanding approved or consented to any amendment, waiver
or consent to be given under this Agreement, or have directed the taking of any
action provided herein to be taken upon the direction of the Holders of a
specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then
outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by the Company or any of its
Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

       (u)    Registration of Notes and Warrants. The Company and the Parent, as
applicable, shall keep at its principal executive office a register for the
registration and registration of transfers of Notes and Warrants. The name and
address of each Holder of one or more Notes or Warrants, each transfer thereof
and the name and address of each transferee of one or more Notes or Warrants
shall be registered in such register. Prior to due presentment for registration
of transfer, the Person in whose name any Note or Warrant shall be registered
shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes
hereof, and the Company or the Parent, as applicable, shall not be affected by
any notice or knowledge to the contrary. The Company shall give to any Holder of
a Note that is an Institutional Investor promptly upon request therefor, a
complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of all registered holders
of Notes.

       (v)    Transfer and Exchange of Notes. Upon surrender of any Note at the
principal executive office of the Company for registration of transfer or
exchange (and in the case of a

                                       82
<PAGE>   89

surrender for registration of transfer, accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer duly executed by the registered Holder of such Note or his attorney
duly authorized in writing and accompanied by the address for notices of each
transferee of such Note or part thereof), the Company shall execute and deliver,
at the Company's expense (except as provided below), one or more new Notes (as
requested by the Holder thereof) in exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the surrendered Note, subject to
the limitations of Section 13(e) and the restrictions set forth in Section
13(j). Each such new Note shall be payable to such Person as such holder may
request and shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2(a). Each such new
Note shall be dated and bear interest from the date to which interest shall have
been paid on the surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if
no interest shall have been paid thereon. The Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental charge imposed in respect
of any such transfer of Notes. Any transferee, by its acceptance of a Note
registered in its name (or the name of its nominee), shall be deemed to have
made the representations set forth in Section 7.

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

                                       83
<PAGE>   90

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers as of the
day and year first above written.

                            COMPANY:

                                BELL SPORTS, INC.
                                a California corporation

                                By: /s/ Lori A. Sherwood
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                Title:  Secretary

                            PARENT:

                                BELL SPORTS CORP.
                                a Delaware corporation

                                By: /s/ Lori A. Sherwood
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                Title:  Secretary

<PAGE>   91

                            PURCHASERS:

                                FIRST UNION INVESTORS, INC.
                                a North Carolina corporation

                                By:  /s/ Braxton B. Comer
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                Title:   Managing Director

                                GARMARK PARTNERS, L.P.
                                a Delaware limited partnership

                                By:  /s/ Mark G.Solow
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                Title:  Managing Principal

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

                                FLEET CORPORATE FINANCE, INC.
                                a Massachusetts corporation

                                By:  /s/ Michael D. Browne
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                Name:    Michael D. Browne
                                Title:   Managing Director

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