Document:

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

                              INTERSYSTEMS, INC.

                            1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

1. PURPOSES. The purposes of this 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") are to
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to the Directors and Employees
of the Company or its subsidiaries (as defined in Section 2 below) to whom
options may be granted under this Plan, and to promote the success of the
Company's business.

      Options granted hereunder may be either "incentive stock options," as
defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
("ISO's"), or "Non-ISO's," at the discretion of the Board and as reflected in
the terms of the written option agreement.

      The Plan is not intended as an agreement or promise of employment. Neither
the Plan, nor any Option granted pursuant to the Plan, shall confer on any
person any right to continue in the employ of the Company. The right of the
Company to terminate an Employee is not limited by the Plan, nor by any Option
granted pursuant to the Plan, unless such right is specifically described by the
terms of any such Option.

2.    DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

      (a) "Board" shall mean the Committee, if one has been appointed, or the
Board of Directors of the Company, if no Committee is appointed.

      (b) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

      (c) "Committee" shall mean the Committee appointed under Section 4(a)
hereof, or, in the absence of such appointment, the Board of Directors of the
Company.

      (d) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company par value
$.01 per share.

      (e) "Company" shall mean InterSystems, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

      (f) "Continuous Service or Continuous Status as an Employee" shall mean
the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee or
Director. Continuous Status as an Employee or Director shall not be considered
interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of
absence approved by the Board.

      (g) "Director" shall mean any person serving on the Board of Directors.
<PAGE>
      (h) "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers and directors,
employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. The payment
of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to constitute
"employment" by the Company.

      (i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

      (j) "Fair Market Value" shall mean the closing bid price of the Company's
Common Stock as reported on the American Stock Exchange (or if the Common Stock
is not traded on the American Stock Exchange, on the Exchange Quotation System
or Electronic Bulletin Board which reports or quotes the closing prices for a
share of the Company's Common Stock) for any date (or, if no shares of Common
Stock are traded on such date, for the immediately preceding date on which
shares of Common Stock were traded) as reported in the Wall Street Journal (or
if the Wall Street Journal no longer reports such price, any newspaper, trade
journal or quotation service selected by the Committee); or, if no such price
quotation is available, the price which the Committee acting in good faith
determines through any reasonable valuation method that a share of Common Stock
might change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being
under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of
the relevant facts.

      (k) "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean an Option intended to qualify as
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

      (l) "Non-ISO" shall mean an Option granted under the Plan to purchase
stock which is not intended by the Committee to satisfy the requirements of
Section 422 of the Code.

      (m) "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

      (n) "Option Price" shall mean the price per Option Share at which an
Option may be exercised.

      (o) "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an Option.

      (p) "Optionee" shall mean an Employee or Director who receives an Option.

      (q) "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

      (r) "Plan" shall mean this InterSystems, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan, as
amended from time to time.

      (s) "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act.

      (t) "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 11 of the Plan.
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      (u) "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

      (v) "Ten Percent Shareholder" shall mean a person who owns (after taking
into account the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or a Subsidiary.

3. STOCK AUTHORIZED. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan, the
maximum aggregate number of shares which may be Optioned and sold under the Plan
shall not exceed eight hundred seventy-five thousand (875,000) shares of
authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

      If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without
having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto
shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for further
grant under the Plan.

4. ADMINISTRATION.

      (a) Procedure. The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors or
by a Committee of not fewer than two members of the Board of Directors (the
"Committee") to be designated by the Board of Directors of the Company. No
member of the Committee shall be eligible at any time during his or her tenure
to receive Options under the Plan. In addition, no member of the Committee shall
have received any Options under the Plan during the one (1) year period prior to
his or her tenure on the Committee. A majority vote of the members of the
Committee shall be required for all of its actions. The provisions of the
immediately preceding two sentences shall not be applicable to the extent Rule
16b-3 is amended such that similar requirements are no longer applicable for the
exemption offered thereunder.

            A majority of the entire Committee shall constitute a quorum, and
the action of the majority of the Committee members present at any meeting at
which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Committee. All decisions,
determinations, and interpretations of the Committee shall be final and
conclusive on all persons affected thereby and shall, as to Incentive Stock
Options, be consistent with Section 422 of the Code. The Committee shall have
all of the powers and duties set forth herein, as well as such additional powers
and duties as the Board of Directors may delegate to it; provided, however, that
the Board of Directors expressly retains the right in its sole discretion (i) to
elect and to replace the members of the Committee, and (ii) to terminate or
amend this Plan in any manner consistent with applicable law. The Board of
Directors may from time to time elect members of the Committee in substitution
for and in addition to members previously elected, may fill vacancies in the
Committee, however caused, and may discharge the Committee. Duly authorized
actions of the Committee shall constitute actions of the Board of Directors for
the purpose of this Plan and the administration thereof. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein unless the last sentence of the first
paragraph of Section 4(a) is applicable, no member of the Committee shall serve
as such under this Plan unless such person is a "disinterested person" within
the meaning of Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i) of the Exchange Act.
<PAGE>
      (b) Powers of the Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall have the authority, in its discretion: (i) to grant Incentive
Stock Options, in accordance with Section 422 of the Code, or to grant
"Non-ISO's;" (ii) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock; (iii)
to determine the exercise price per share of Options to be granted which
exercise price shall be determined in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Plan;
(iv) to determine the Employees and Directors to whom, and the time or times at
which, Options shall be granted and the number of Shares to be represented by
each Option; (v) to interpret the Plan; (vi) to prescribe, amend and rescind
rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (vii) to determine the terms and
provisions of each Option granted (which need not be identical) and, with the
consent of the holder thereof, modify or amend each Option; (viii) to accelerate
or defer (with the consent of the Optionee) the exercise date of any Option;
(ix) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument
required to effectuate the grant of an Option previously granted by the Board;
and (x) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan.

      (c) Effect of the Committee's Decision. All decisions, determinations and
interpretations of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Optionees and
any other holders of any Options granted under the Plan.

5. ELIGIBILITY. Options may be granted only to consultants, advisors, Employees
and to Directors who are not serving on the Committee, except to the extent
provided in the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 4(a). Any
Employee or Director, consultant or advisor who has been granted an Option may,
if he is otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options.

      Each grant of an Option shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement, and
each Option Agreement shall (1) specify whether the Option is an Incentive Stock
Option or a Non-ISO and (2) incorporate such other terms and conditions as the
Committee acting in its absolute discretion deems consistent with the terms of
this Plan, including, without limitation, a restriction on the number of shares
of stock subject to the Option which first become exercisable during any
calendar year.

      To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the stock of the
Company subject to Incentive Stock Options granted any Optionee which first
become exercisable in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be
treated as Non-ISO's. This $100,000 limitation shall be administered in
accordance with the rules under Section 422(d) of the Code.

6. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN. The effective date of this Plan ("Effective
Date") shall be the date it is adopted by the Board, provided the stockholders
of the Company (acting at a duly called meeting of such stockholders) approve
this Plan within twelve (12) months after such Effective Date. The effectiveness
of Options granted under this Plan prior to the date such shareholder approval
is obtained shall be contingent on such shareholder approval.

      Subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof, no Option shall be granted
under this Plan on or after the earlier of:

      (a) the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date of this Plan in which
event the Plan otherwise thereafter shall continue in effect until all
outstanding Options shall have been surrendered or exercised in full or no
longer are exercisable, or
<PAGE>
      (b) the date on which all of the Common Stock reserved for issuance under
Section 3 of this Plan has (as a result of the exercise or expiration of Options
granted under this Plan) has been issued or no longer is available for use under
this Plan, in which event the Plan also shall terminate on such date.

7. TERM OF OPTION. An Option shall expire on the date specified in such Option,
which date shall not be later than the tenth anniversary of the date on which
the Option was granted, except that if any Employee or Director, at any time an
Incentive Stock Option is granted to him, owns stock representing more than ten
percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of Common Stock (or,
under Section 424(d) of the Code is deemed to own stock representing more than
ten percent of the total combined voting power of all such classes of Common
Stock, by reason of the ownership of such classes of stock, directly or
indirectly, by or for any brother, sister, spouse, ancestor or lineal descendant
of such Employee or Director, or by or for any corporation, partnership, state
or trust of which such Employee or Director is a shareholder, partner or
beneficiary), the Incentive Stock Option granted him shall not be exercisable
after the expiration of five years from the date of grant or such earlier
expiration as provided in the particular Option agreement.

8. EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.

      (a) The Option Price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of
an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Committee, but shall be
subject to the following:

            (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

                  (A) granted to an Employee who, immediately before the grant
of such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock (considering attribution under
Section 424(d) of the Code) representing more than ten percent (10%) of the
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary,
the Option Price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share
on the date of grant.

                  (B) granted to an Employee, the per share exercise price shall
be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on
the date of grant.

            (ii) In the case of an Option granted on or after the effective date
of registration of any class of equity security of the Company pursuant to
Section 12 of the Exchange Act and prior to six months after the termination of
such registration, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than one
hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

      (b) The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise
of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Board
and may consist entirely of cash, check, promissory note, other Shares of Common
Stock having a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate
exercise price of the Shares as to which said option shall be exercised, by
conversion of Shares (in the manner provided in the succeeding sentence), or any
combination of such methods of payment, or such other consideration and method
of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted under Delaware
Law. If the Optionee desires to pay for the Optioned Shares, in whole or in
part, by conversion of Shares, Optionee shall be entitled to receive that number
of Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B)(x)] by (A) where:
<PAGE>
            (A)   = the Fair Market Value of one Share of Common Stock on the
                    date of conversion.

            (B)   = the Option Price for one Share of Common Stock subject to an
                    Option.

            (X)   = the Number of Shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
                    of the Option if exercised for cash;

provided, that if the above calculation results in a negative number, then no
Shares shall be issued or issuable upon conversion of the Option. Any payment
made in Shares of the Company's Common Stock shall be treated as equal to the
Fair Market Value of such Common Stock on the date the properly endorsed
certificate for such Common Stock is delivered to the Committee (or its
delegate).

9.    EXERCISE OF OPTION.

      (a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option granted
hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as
determined by the Committee, including performance criteria with respect to the
Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms of the
Plan.

            An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

            An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of
such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the
Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the
Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the
Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Board, consist of any
consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(b) of the Plan.
Until the issuance, which in no event will be delayed more than thirty (30) days
from the date of the exercise of the Option (as evidenced by the appropriate
entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the
Company), of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or
receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect
to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. No adjustment
will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to
the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in the Plan.

            Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in
the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the
Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the
Option is exercised.

      (b) Termination of Service as an Employee or Director. If the Continuous
Service of any Employee or Director terminates, he may, but only within thirty
(30) days (or such other period of time not exceeding three (3) months as is
determined by the Committee) after the date he ceases to be an Employee or
Director of the Company, exercise his Option to the extent that he was entitled
to exercise it as of the date of such termination. To the extent that he was not
entitled to exercise the Option at the date of such termination, or if he does
not exercise such Option (which he was entitled to exercise) within the time
specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
<PAGE>
      (c) Disability of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b)
above, in the event an Optionee who is at the time of his becoming disabled an
Employee or Director is unable to continue his Continued Service with the
Company as a result of his total and permanent disability (as defined in Section
105(d)(4) of the Code, as amended), he may, but only within three (3) months (or
such other period of time not exceeding twelve (12) months as is determined by
the Committee) from the date of disability, exercise his Option to the extent he
was entitled to exercise it at the date of such disability and to the extent
such Option has not already expired by its terms. To the extent that he was not
entitled to exercise the Option at the date of disability, or if he does not
exercise such Option (which he was entitled to exercise) within the time
specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

      (d) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an Optionee:

            (i) during the term of the Optionee who is at the time of his death
an Employee or Director of the Company and who shall have been in Continuous
Status as an Employee or Director since the date of grant of the Option, the
Option may be exercised, at any time within twelve (12) months following the
date of death, by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to
exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the
right to exercise that would have accrued had the Optionee continued living one
(1) month after the date of death; or

            (ii) within thirty (30) days (or such other period of time not
exceeding three (3) months as is determined by the Committee) after the
termination of Continuous Status as an Employee or Director, the Option may be
exercised, at any time within three (3) months following the date of death, by
the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the
Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to
exercise that had accrued at the date of termination and not yet expired.

10.   TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.

      (a) Incentive Stock Options. The Incentive Stock Options may not be sold,
pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other
than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised,
during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.

      (b) Non-qualified Stock Options. The Committee may, in its discretion,
authorize all or a portion of the options to be granted to the Optionee to be on
terms which permit transfer by such Optionee to (i) the spouse, children or
grandchildren or parents of the Optionee ("Immediate Family Members"), (ii) a
trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of such Immediate Family Members, or
(iii) a partnership or limited liability company in which such Immediate Family
Members are the only partners or members, provided that (x) there is no
consideration paid for any such transfer and (y) subsequent transfers shall be
prohibited except in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution, or by
will. Following transfer, any such options shall continue to be subject to the
same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer,
provided that for purposes of Sections 4, 5, 8 and 9 hereof, the term "Optionee"
shall be deemed to refer to the transferee. The events of termination of
employment of Section 9 hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the
original Optionee, following which the options shall be exercisable by the
transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified at Section 9
hereof.
<PAGE>
11.   ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR MERGER.  Subject to any
required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of shares of
Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option, and the number of shares of
Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to
which no Options have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan
upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well as the price per share of
Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common
Stock resulting from a stock split or the payment of a stock dividend with
respect to the Common Stock or any other increase or decrease in the number of
issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the
Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the
Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of
consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination
in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly
provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price
of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.

      In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or
in the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, the
Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed
action, unless otherwise provided by the Board. The Board may, in the exercise
of its sole discretion in such instances, declare that any Option shall
terminate as of a date fixed by the Board and give each Optionee the right to
exercise his Option as to all or any part of the Optioned Stock, including
Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable.

12. TIME FOR GRANTING OPTIONS. The date of grant of an Option shall, for all
purposes, be the date on which the Board makes the determination granting such
Option. Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee to whom an
Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

13.   AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

      (a) The Board may amend or terminate the Plan from time to time in such
respects as the Board may deem advisable; provided that, the following revisions
or amendments shall require approval of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Company entitled to vote:

            (i) any material increase in the number of Shares subject to the
Plan, other than in connection with an adjustment under Section 11 of the Plan;
or

            (ii) if shareholder approval of such amendment is required for
continued compliance with Rule 16b-3 or Section 422 of the Code.

      (b) Shareholder Approval. Any amendment requiring shareholder approval
under Section 13(a) of the Plan shall be solicited as described in Section 19 of
the Plan.
<PAGE>
      (c) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or termination
of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such Options shall
remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or
terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board,
which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

14. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. The holder of an option shall have no rights as a
stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the option (including, without
limitation, any rights to receive dividends or non-cash distributions with
respect to such shares) until the date of issue of a stock certificate to him or
her for such shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights
for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is issued.

15. CANCELLATION AND NEW GRANT OF OPTIONS, ETC. The Board of Directors shall
have the authority to effect, at any time and from time to time, with the
consent of the affected Optionees, (i) the cancellation of any or all
outstanding options under the Plan and the grant in substitution therefor of new
options under the Plan covering the same or different numbers of shares and
having an option exercise price per share which may be lower or higher than the
exercise price per share of the cancelled options or (ii) the amendment of the
terms of any and all outstanding options under the Plan to provide an option
exercise price per share which is higher or lower than the then-current exercise
price per share of such outstanding options.

16. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to
the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance
and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant
provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and
the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed,
and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with
respect to such compliance.

      As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the
person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such
exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any
present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the
aforementioned relevant provisions of law.

17. RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at
all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

      Inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body
having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be
necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve
the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such
Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
<PAGE>
18. OPTION AGREEMENT. Options shall be evidenced by written Option agreements in
such form as the Committee shall approve. The stock option agreement authorized
under the Plan shall contain such other provisions, including, without
limitation, restrictions upon the exercise of the Option, as the Committee shall
deem advisable. Any such stock option agreement shall contain such limitations
and restrictions upon the exercise of the Option as shall be necessary in order
that such option will be an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of
the Code.

19. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval
by the stockholders of the Company within twelve months before or after the date
the Plan is adopted. If such shareholder approval is obtained at a duly held
stockholders' meeting, it may be obtained by the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company present or represented
and entitled to vote thereon. The approval of such stockholders of the Company
shall be (1) solicited substantially in accordance with Section 14(a) of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or (2)
solicited after the Company has furnished in writing to the holders entitled to
vote substantially the same information concerning the Plan as that which would
be required by the rules and regulations in effect under Section 14(a) of the
Exchange Act at the time such information is furnished.

20. INDEMNIFICATION OF COMMITTEE. In addition to such other rights of
indemnification as they may have as Directors or as members of the Committee,
the members of the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against the
reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred
in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in
connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party
by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the
Plan or any Option granted thereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in
settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal
counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment
in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to
which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such Board
member is liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duties;
provided that within 60 days after institution of any such action, suit or
proceeding a Board member shall in writing offer the Company the opportunity, at
its own expense, to handle and defend the same.

21. APPLICATION OF FUNDS. The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of
Common Stock pursuant to Options will be used for general corporate purposes.

22. NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION. The granting of an Option shall impose no
obligation upon the Optionee to exercise such Option.

23. OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any
other stock option or incentive or other compensation plans in effect for the
Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall the Plan preclude the Company from
establishing any other forms of incentive or other compensation for employees
and directors of the Company or any Subsidiary.

24. SINGULAR, PLURAL; GENDER. Whenever used herein, nouns in the singular shall
include the plural, and the masculine pronoun shall include the feminine gender.

25. HEADINGS, ETC., NO PART OF PLAN. Headings of Articles and Sections hereof
are inserted for convenience and reference; they constitute no part of the Plan.
<PAGE>
26. GOVERNING LAW. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware, except to the extent preempted by
Federal law. The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3. Any provisions
inconsistent with Rule 16b-3 shall be inoperative and shall not affect the
validity of the Plan, unless the Board of Directors shall expressly resolve that
the Plan is no longer intended to comply with Rule 16b-3.<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                  BY AND AMONG

                          EQUINOX BUSINESS CREDIT CORP.

                                   AS BORROWER

                                       AND

                          FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION

                                    AS LENDER

                          DATED AS OF DECEMBER 19, 2001
<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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<S>                                                                                                              <C>
1.       DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION..........................................................................     1
         1.1      Definitions..................................................................................     1
         1.2      Accounting Terms.............................................................................    21
         1.3      Code.........................................................................................    22
         1.4      Construction.................................................................................    22
         1.5      Schedules and Exhibits.......................................................................    22

2.       LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT.............................................................................    22
         2.1      Revolver Advances............................................................................    22
         2.2      Borrowing Procedures and Settlements.........................................................    23
         2.3      Payments.....................................................................................    23
         2.4      Overadvances.................................................................................    25
         2.5      Interest Rates:  Rates, Payments, and Calculations...........................................    25
         2.6      Cash Management..............................................................................    26
         2.7      Crediting Payments...........................................................................    27
         2.8      Designated Account...........................................................................    28
         2.9      Maintenance of Loan Account; Statements of Obligations.......................................    28
         2.10     Fees.........................................................................................    28
         2.11     Capital Requirements.........................................................................    29
         2.12     Letters of Credit............................................................................    30

3.       CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT.........................................................................    32
         3.1      Conditions Precedent to the Initial Extension of Credit......................................    32
         3.2      Conditions Subsequent to the Initial Extension of Credit.....................................    34
         3.3      Conditions Precedent to all Extensions of Credit.............................................    35
         3.4      Term; Extension of Term......................................................................    35
         3.5      Effect of Termination........................................................................    35
         3.6      Early Termination by Borrower................................................................    36

4.       CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST.........................................................................    36
         4.1      Grant of Security Interest...................................................................    36
         4.2      Negotiable Collateral........................................................................    37
         4.3      Collection of Accounts, General Intangibles, and Negotiable Collateral.......................    37
         4.4      Delivery of Additional Documentation Required................................................    37
         4.5      Power of Attorney............................................................................    38
         4.6      Right to Inspect.............................................................................    38
         4.7      Control Agreements...........................................................................    38
</TABLE>

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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5.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................................................    39
         5.1      No Encumbrances..............................................................................    39
         5.2      Eligible Notes Receivable....................................................................    39
         5.3      Eligible Purchased Accounts..................................................................    39
         5.4      Equipment....................................................................................    40
         5.5      Location of Inventory and Equipment..........................................................    40
         5.6      Inventory Records............................................................................    40
         5.7      Location of Chief Executive Office; FEIN.....................................................    40
         5.8      Due Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.............................................    40
         5.9      Due Authorization; No Conflict...............................................................    40
         5.10     Litigation...................................................................................    42
         5.11     No Material Adverse Change...................................................................    42
         5.12     Fraudulent Transfer..........................................................................    42
         5.13     Employee Benefits............................................................................    42
         5.14     Environmental Condition......................................................................    42
         5.15     Brokerage Fees...............................................................................    43
         5.16     Intellectual Property........................................................................    43
         5.17     Leases.......................................................................................    43
         5.18     DDAs.........................................................................................    43
         5.19     Complete Disclosure..........................................................................    43
         5.20     Indebtedness.................................................................................    44
         5.21     ERISA........................................................................................    44

6.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.................................................................................    44
         6.1      Accounting System............................................................................    44
         6.2      Collateral Reporting.........................................................................    44
         6.3      Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates..................................................    46
         6.4      Relationship with Payees.....................................................................    48
         6.5      Title to Property............................................................................    48
         6.6      Maintenance of Properties....................................................................    48
         6.7      Taxes........................................................................................    49
         6.8      Insurance....................................................................................    49
         6.9      Location of Inventory and Equipment..........................................................    50
         6.10     Compliance with Laws.........................................................................    50
         6.11     Leases.......................................................................................    50
         6.12     Brokerage Commissions........................................................................    50
         6.13     Existence....................................................................................    51
         6.14     Environmental................................................................................    51
         6.15     Disclosure Updates...........................................................................    51
</TABLE>

                                      -ii-
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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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         6.16     Collateral Access............................................................................    51
         6.17     Notice of Modification.......................................................................    51
         6.18     ERISA Compliance.............................................................................    52

7.       NEGATIVE COVENANTS....................................................................................    52
         7.1      Indebtedness.................................................................................    52
         7.2      Liens........................................................................................    53
         7.3      Restrictions on Fundamental Changes..........................................................    53
         7.4      Disposal of Assets...........................................................................    53
         7.5      Change Name..................................................................................    53
         7.6      Guarantee....................................................................................    53
         7.7      Nature of Business...........................................................................    53
         7.8      Prepayments and Amendments...................................................................    54
         7.9      Change of Control............................................................................    54
         7.10     Approved Forms; Required Procedures..........................................................    54
         7.11     Distributions................................................................................    54
         7.12     Accounting Methods...........................................................................    54
         7.13     Investments..................................................................................    54
         7.14     Transactions with Affiliates.................................................................    55
         7.15     Suspension...................................................................................    55
         7.16     Compensation.................................................................................    55
         7.17     Use of Proceeds..............................................................................    55
         7.18     Change in Location of Chief Executive Office; Inventory and Equipment with Bailees...........    55
         7.19     Securities Accounts..........................................................................    55
         7.20     Financial Covenants..........................................................................    56
         7.21     ERISA COMPLIANCE.............................................................................    56

8.       EVENTS OF DEFAULT.....................................................................................    57

9.       LENDER'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES..........................................................................    58
         9.1      Rights and Remedies..........................................................................    58
         9.2      Remedies Cumulative..........................................................................    61

10.      TAXES AND EXPENSES....................................................................................    61

11.      WAIVERS; INDEMNIFICATION..............................................................................    61
         11.1     Demand; Protest..............................................................................    61
         11.2     Lender's Liability for Collateral............................................................    61
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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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         11.3     Indemnification..............................................................................    62

12.      NOTICES...............................................................................................    62

13.      CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER............................................................    64

14.      ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS; SUCCESSORS............................................................    65
         14.1     Assignments and Participations...............................................................    65
         14.2     Successors...................................................................................    67

15.      AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS...................................................................................    67
         15.1     Amendments and Waivers.......................................................................    67
         15.2     No Waivers; Cumulative Remedies..............................................................    67

16.      GENERAL PROVISIONS....................................................................................    67
         16.1     Effectiveness................................................................................    67
         16.2     Section Headings.............................................................................    67
         16.3     Interpretation...............................................................................    67
         16.4     Severability of Provisions...................................................................    68
         16.5     Withholding Taxes............................................................................    68
         16.6     Amendments in Writing........................................................................    68
         16.7     Counterparts; Telefacsimile Execution........................................................    68
         16.8     Revival and Reinstatement of Obligations.....................................................    69
         16.9     Integration..................................................................................    69

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<PAGE>
                             EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
Exhibit A-1                     Approved Forms
Exhibit B-1                     Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit C-1                     Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit R-1                     Required Procedures

Schedule P-1                    Permitted Liens
Schedule 2.6(a)                 Cash Management Banks
Schedule 5.5                    Locations of Inventory and Equipment
Schedule 5.7                    Chief Executive Office; FEIN
Schedule 5.8(b)                 Capitalization of Borrower
Schedule 5.10                   Litigation
Schedule 5.14                   Environmental Matters
Schedule 5.16                   Intellectual Property
Schedule 5.18                   Demand Deposit Accounts
Schedule 5.20                   Permitted Indebtedness
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

      THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is entered into as of
December 19, 2001, between FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION, a California
corporation ("Lender") and EQUINOX BUSINESS CREDIT CORP., a New Jersey
corporation ("Borrower").

      The parties agree as follows:

1.    DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

      1.1 DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following definitions:

            "Account Debtor" means any Person who is or who may become, in the
ordinary course of Borrower's business, obligated under, with respect to, or on
account of, an Account, chattel paper, or a General Intangible.

            "Accounts" means all of Borrower's now owned or hereafter acquired
right, title, and interest with respect to "accounts" (as that term is defined
in the Code), and any and all supporting obligations in respect thereof.

            "Additional Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

            "Advances" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

            "Adjusted Revolver Usage" means, as of any date of determination,
the sum of (a) the then extant amount of outstanding Advances, plus (b) the then
extant amount of the Letter of Credit Usage.

            "Affiliate" means, as applied to any Person, any other Person who
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For
purposes of this definition, "control" means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person,
whether through the ownership of Capital Stock, by contract, or otherwise;
provided, however, that, in any event unless Lender, in its sole and absolute
discretion, provides its specific express written consent otherwise: (a) any
Person which owns directly or indirectly ten percent (10.0%) or more of the
securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other
members of the governing body of a Person or ten percent (10.0%) or more of the
partnership or other ownership interests of a Person (other than as a limited
partner of such Person) shall be deemed to control such Person, (b) each
director (or comparable manager) of a Person shall be deemed to be an Affiliate
of such Person, and (c) each partnership or joint venture in which a Person is a
partner or joint venturer shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of such Person.

            "Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
<PAGE>
            "Applicable Prepayment Premium" means, as of any date of
determination, an amount equal to: (a) one percent (1.0%) multiplied by the
number years remaining during the term of this Agreement (a part of a year shall
be calculated as a full year) multiplied by (b) the Maximum Revolver Amount.

            "Application" means an application, in such form as Issuing Bank may
specify from time to time, requesting Issuing Bank to open a letter of credit.

            "Approved Forms" means those loan agreements, purchase agreements,
security agreements, promissory notes, participation agreements, repurchase
agreements, and other documents approved by Lender and Lender's Counsel and
attached hereto collectively as Exhibit A-1, used by Borrower in the conduct of
its financing business.

            "Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.1(a).

            "Authorized Person" means any officer or other employee of Borrower.

            "Availability" means, as of any date of determination, the amount
that Borrower is entitled to borrow as Advances under Section 2.1 (after giving
effect to all then outstanding Obligations and all sublimits and reserves
applicable hereunder), provided that if such date of determination is not a
Business Day, such amount shall be calculated as of the close of business on the
immediately preceding Business Day.

            "Bankruptcy Code" means the United States Bankruptcy Code, as in
effect from time to time.

            "Base Rate" means the rate of interest announced within Wells Fargo
at its principal office in San Francisco as its "prime rate", with the
understanding that the "prime rate" is one of Wells Fargo's base rates (not
necessarily the lowest of such rates) and serves as the basis upon which
effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference
thereto and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such
internal publication or publications as Wells Fargo may designate.

            "Base Rate Loan" means each portion of an Advance that bears
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate.

            "Base Rate Margin" means one and one-quarter (1.25) percentage
point.

            "Benefit Plan" means a "defined benefit plan" (as defined in Section
3(35) of ERISA) for which Borrower or any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate of
Borrower has been an "employer" (as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA) within the
past six years.

            "Board of Directors" means the board of directors (or comparable
managers)

                                       2
<PAGE>
of Borrower or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf
of the board.

            "Books" means Borrower's now owned or hereafter acquired books and
records (including all of its Records indicating, summarizing, or evidencing its
assets (including the Collateral) or liabilities, all of its Records relating to
its business operations or financial condition, and all of its goods or General
Intangibles related to such information).

            "Borrower" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.

            "Borrowing" means a borrowing hereunder of an Advance.

            "Borrowing Base" means the amount equal to (a) eighty-five percent
(85.0%) (or such percentage as determined by Lender from time to time in
Lender's Permitted Discretion) of the net amount advanced by Borrower on
Eligible Purchased Accounts and Eligible Notes Receivable, minus (b) the
reserves established by Lender in accordance with Section 2.1(b).

            "Borrowing Base Certificate" means a certificate in the form of
Exhibit B-1.

            "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or
other day on which national banks are authorized or required to close.

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

            "Capital Stock" means (i) with respect to any Person that is a
corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
(however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, and (ii) with
respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership or
other equity interests of such Person.

            "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means any Indebtedness represented by
obligations under a Capital Lease.

            "Cash Equivalents" means (a) marketable direct obligations issued or
unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or issued by any agency thereof
and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case
maturing within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof, (b) marketable
direct obligations issued by any state of the United States or any political
subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing
within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of
acquisition, having the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody's,
(c) commercial paper maturing no more than 1 year from the date of acquisition
thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of A-1 or P-1, or
better, from S&P or Moody's, (d) certificates of deposit or bankers' acceptances
maturing within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof either (i) issued by
any bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state

                                       3
<PAGE>
thereof which bank has a rating of A or A2, or better, from S&P or Moody's, or
(ii) certificates of deposit less than or equal to $100,000 in the aggregate
issued by any other bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
and (e) money market funds or mutual funds that invest solely in obligations
described in items (a) through (d) above.

            "Cash Management Bank" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).

            "Cash Management Account" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.6(a).

            "Cash Management Agreements" means those certain depository account
agreements, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, each of which is among
Borrower, Lender, and one of the Cash Management Banks.

            "Change of Control" means, with respect to any Person on or after
the Closing Date, that any change in the composition of such Person's owners of
Capital Stock as of the Closing Date shall occur which would result in any
stockholder or group acquiring forty-nine and nine/tenths percent (49.9%) or
more of any class of Capital Stock of such Person, or that any Person (or group
of Persons acting in concert) shall otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly
(including through Affiliates), the power to elect a majority of the board of
directors of such Person or otherwise direct the management or affairs of such
Person by obtaining proxies, entering into voting agreements or trusts,
acquiring securities, or otherwise.

            "Closing Date" means the date of the making of the initial Advance
(or other extension of credit) hereunder.

            "Closing Date Business Plan" means the set of Projections of
Borrower for the 3 year period following the Closing Date (on a year by year
basis), in form and substance (including as to scope and underlying assumptions)
satisfactory to Lender.

            "Code" means the California Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect
from time to time.

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

            (a) Accounts,

            (b) Books,

            (c) Cash Equivalents,

            (d) Collections,

                                       4
<PAGE>
            (e) Contracts,

            (f) Equipment,

            (g) General Intangibles,

            (h) Instruments,

            (i) Inventory,

            (j) Investment Property,

            (k) Negotiable Collateral,

            (l) Patents,

            (m) Patent Licenses,

            (n) Real Property (excluding Borrower's leasehold interests in real
property for its offices),

            (o) Trade Secrets,

            (p) Trademarks,

            (q) Trademarks Licensing,

            (r) Copyrights,

            (s) Copyright Licenses,

            (t) all books and records pertaining to the Collateral,

            (u) money, cash or other assets of Borrower that now or hereafter
come into the possession, custody, or control of Lender, and

            (v) the proceeds and products, whether tangible or intangible, of
any of the foregoing, including proceeds of insurance covering any or all of the
foregoing, and any and all Accounts, Books, Cash Equivalents, Collections,
Contracts, Equipment, General Intangibles, Instruments, Inventory, Investment
Property, Negotiable Collateral, Real Property, money, deposit accounts, or
other tangible or intangible property resulting from the sale, exchange,
collection, or other disposition of any of the foregoing, or any portion thereof
or interest therein, and the proceeds thereof.

            "Collateral Access Agreement" means a landlord waiver, bailee
letter, or

                                       5
<PAGE>
acknowledgement agreement of any lessor, warehouseman, processor,
consignee, or other Person in possession of, having a Lien upon, or having
rights or interests in the Equipment or Inventory, in each case, in form and
substance satisfactory to Lender.

            "Collateral Agency Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.2.

            "Collateral Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

            "Collections" means all cash, checks, notes, instruments, and other
items of payment (including insurance proceeds, proceeds of cash sales, rental
proceeds, and tax refunds) of Borrower.

            "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the
form of Exhibit C-1 delivered by the chief financial officer of Borrower to
Lender.

            "Consolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to any fiscal period,
Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' consolidated net earnings (or loss), minus any
expense of Guarantor for which Borrower is liable which is not already reflected
in such consolidated net earnings (or loss), plus interest expense, income
taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other non-cash expenses for such
period, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

            "Consolidated Net Interest Expense" means, with respect to any
Person for any period, gross interest expense of such Person and its
Subsidiaries for such period determined in conformity with GAAP (including,
without limitation, interest expense paid to Affiliates of such Person), less
(i) the sum of (A) interest income for such period and (B) gains for such period
on Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in interest income above and
to the extent not deducted in the calculation of such gross interest expense),
plus (ii) the sum of (A) losses for such period on Hedging Agreements (to the
extent not included in such gross interest expense) and (B) the upfront costs or
fees for such period associated with Hedging Agreements (to the extent not
included in gross interest expense), each determined on a consolidated basis and
in accordance with GAAP for such Person and its Subsidiaries.

            "Continuing Director" means (a) any member of the Board of Directors
who was a director (or comparable manager) of Borrower on the Closing Date, and
(b) any individual who becomes a member of the Board of Directors after the
Closing Date if such individual was appointed or nominated for election to the
Board of Directors by a majority of the Continuing Directors, but excluding any
such individual originally proposed for election in opposition to the Board of
Directors in office at the Closing Date in an actual or threatened election
contest relating to the election of the directors (or comparable managers) of
Borrower (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act) and
whose initial assumption of office resulted from such contest or the settlement
thereof.

            "Control Agreement" means a control agreement, in form and substance

                                       6
<PAGE>
satisfactory to Lender, executed and delivered by Borrower, Lender, and the
applicable securities intermediary with respect to a Securities Account or bank
with respect to a deposit account.

            "Daily Balance" means, with respect to each day during the term of
this Agreement, the amount of an Obligation owed at the end of such day.

            "DDA" means any checking or other demand deposit account maintained
by Borrower.

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

            "Designated Account" means account number 2000004677796 of Borrower
maintained with Borrower's Designated Account Bank, or such other deposit
account of Borrower (located within the United States) that has been designated
as such, in writing, by Borrower to Lender.

            "Designated Account Bank" means First Union National Bank, 1123
Third Avenue, Spring Lake, New Jersey, 07762.

            "Disbursement Letter" means an instructional letter executed and
delivered by Borrower to Lender regarding the extensions of credit to be made on
the Closing Date, the form and substance of which is satisfactory to Lender.

            "Dollars" or "$" means United States dollars.

            "Due Diligence Letter" means the due diligence letter sent by
Lender's counsel to Borrower, together with Borrower's completed responses to
the inquiries set forth therein, the form and substance of such responses to be
satisfactory to Lender.

            "Eligible Notes Receivable" means all Notes Receivables of the
Borrower other than:

            (a) any Note Receivable or portion thereof which does not conform to
the Required Procedures;

            (b) any sold participation (to the extent, if any, participations
may be sold under the terms of this Agreement);

            (c) any portion of Borrower's advances to Payees that represent
advance rates in excess of (i) eighty-five percent (85.0%) of eligible accounts
receivable, (ii) fifty percent (50.0%) of eligible inventory at cost, (iii) the
greater of eighty-five percent (85.0%) of the forced liquidation value, or
sixty-five percent (65.0%) of the orderly liquidation value,

                                       7
<PAGE>
of fixed assets, (iv) sixty-five percent (65.0%) of the fair market value of
real property; provided, commencing one hundred eighty-one (181) days after the
Closing Date, the total amount of Borrower's advances to Payees based upon fixed
assets and real property shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of
Borrower's total advances to Payees, (v) one hundred percent (100%) (or such
other percentage as determined by Lender from time to time in Lender's Permitted
Discretion) of cash or certificates of deposit issued by financial institutions
acceptable to Lender in its sole and absolute discretion, in which the Borrower
has a first priority perfected security interest, and, (vi) ninety percent (90%)
(or such percentage as determined by Lender from time to time in Lender's
Permitted Discretion) of the face amount of marketable securities (the value of
which shall be determined on a mark-to-market basis daily, using such reporting
services, times of valuation and other criteria as Lender shall determine in its
sole and absolute discretion) and letters of credit (which are issued by banks
and on terms acceptable to Lender in its sole and absolute discretion) in which
(including the proceeds thereof) the Borrower has a first priority perfected
security interest;

            (d) any term promissory notes other than term promissory notes which
are not payable in full within thirty-six (36) months;

            (e) any Note Receivable collateralized by purchase orders (except
Eligible Purchase Order Collateral), pre-billed accounts receivable, progress
billing accounts receivable or related party accounts receivable; and

            (f) any Note Receivable collateralized by medical or healthcare
accounts receivable;

            (g) any portion of any funded loan from any Payee, or any group of
Payees which are Affiliates, which exceeds $3,000,000.00;

            (h) commencing upon the earlier of (a) one hundred eighty (180) days
after the Closing Date, and (b) the date on which the aggregate amount of
Borrower's Notes Receivable equals $15,000,000.00, any Note Receivable, or group
of Notes Receivable owed by Payees which are Affiliates, the aggregate principal
balance of which exceed twenty percent (20.0%) of the aggregate principal
balance of all Notes Receivable; Lender may, in its sole and absolute
discretion, increase this ratio to thirty percent (30.0%);

            (i) any Note Receivable owed by any Payee organized or having its
principal office outside the United States (including Puerto Rico) or Canada.

            Any Note Receivable with interest or principal payments more than
thirty (30) days past due in accordance with the original terms of such Note
Receivable will be subject to adjustment of advance rates and/or establishment
of payment reserves. Lender agrees to review any Note Receivable after the
obligor(s) thereunder file for bankruptcy to determine, in Lender's sole and
absolute discretion, if the Note Receivable is adequately collateralized.

                                       8
<PAGE>
If a collateral shortfall is determined, by Lender in Lender's sole and absolute
discretion, to exist, that portion of the loan would be considered ineligible.
In addition, Lender retains the right to modify any standards of eligibility set
forth in this definition of "Eligible Notes Receivable" and to establish
reserves against valuation under the revolving loan provided for in Section 2.1.

            "Eligible Purchase Order Collateral" means Purchased Accounts and
Notes Receivable secured by a first priority perfected security interest in
purchase orders which are (i) for finished goods inventory or (ii) secured by a
letter of credit, not to exceed an aggregate amount for all such Purchased
Accounts and Notes Receivable of $100,000.00.

            "Eligible Purchased Accounts" means those Purchased Accounts
purchased by Borrower in the ordinary course of its business in which Lender has
been granted a first priority security interest and that comply with each of the
representations and warranties respecting Eligible Purchased Accounts made by
Borrower in the Loan Documents, and that are not excluded as ineligible by
virtue of one or more of the criteria set forth below; provided, however, that
such criteria may be fixed and revised from time to time by Lender in Lender's
sole and absolute discretion to address the results of any audit performed by
Lender from time to time after the Closing Date. In determining the amount to be
included, Eligible Purchased Accounts shall be calculated net of unapplied cash
remitted to Borrower. Eligible Purchased Accounts shall not include the
following:

            (a) any Purchased Account which does not conform to the Required
Procedures;

            (b) any portion of any Purchased Account which represents a
contractual advance greater than eighty-five percent (85.0%) of such Purchased
Account's net invoice amount;

            (c) any portion of any Purchased Account from a single Account
Debtor which exceeds twenty percent (20.0%) of the total of all Purchased
Accounts; Lender may, in its sole and absolute discretion, increase this ratio
to thirty-five percent (35.0%);

            (d) any portion of any Purchased Account in excess of the advance
percentage agreed upon between Borrower and Payee;

            (e) any Purchased Accounts owed by any Account Debtor, or any group
of Account Debtors which are Affiliates, with an aggregate outstanding balance
exceeding $350,000.00, unless otherwise consented to, in writing, by Lender in
its sole and absolute discretion;

            (f) any Purchased Account generated by a single Payee which exceeds
thirty-five percent (35%) of the total of all Purchased Accounts; Lender may, in
its sole and

                                       9
<PAGE>
absolute discretion, increase this ratio to fifty percent (50.0%);

            (g) any factored purchase orders (except Eligible Purchase Order
Collateral), pre-billed accounts receivable, progress billing accounts
receivable or related-party accounts receivable;

            (h) any Account which is unpaid ninety-one (91) or more days past
its due date, or one hundred twenty-one (121) days past its invoice date. Lender
may include, in its sole and absolute discretion, any Account which is more than
one hundred twenty-one (121) days, but not more than one hundred eighty (180)
days, past its invoice date.

            (i) all or any portion of any Purchased Accounts from an Account
Debtor in bankruptcy, except as permitted by Lender, in its sole and absolute
discretion;

            (j) any medical or healthcare Purchased Accounts;

            (k) any Purchased Accounts owed by any Account Debtor or sold by any
Payee organized or having its principal office outside the United States or
Canada; and

            (l) any Purchased Accounts of an Account Debtor, where more than
fifty percent (50.0%) of the total of all Purchased Accounts of such Account
Debtor fail to satisfy the criteria for Eligible Purchased Accounts.

            Lender retains the right to modify any standards of eligibility set
forth in this definition of "Eligible Purchased Accounts" and to establish
reserves against valuation under the revolving loan provided for in Section 2.1.

            "Environmental Actions" means any complaint, summons, citation,
notice, directive, order, claim, litigation, investigation, judicial or
administrative proceeding, judgment, letter, or other communication from any
Governmental Authority, or any third party involving violations of Environmental
Laws or releases of Hazardous Materials from (a) any assets, properties, or
businesses of Borrower or any predecessor in interest, (b) from adjoining
properties or businesses, or (c) from or onto any facilities which received
Hazardous Materials generated by Borrower or any predecessor in interest.

            "Environmental Law" means any applicable federal, state, provincial,
foreign or local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, binding and
enforceable guideline, binding and enforceable written policy, or rule of common
law now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, or any judicial or
administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative
order, consent decree or judgment, to the extent binding on Borrower, relating
to the environment, employee health and safety, or Hazardous Materials,
including CERCLA; RCRA; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 USC Section
1251 et seq; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 USC, Section 2601 et seq; the
Clean Air Act, 42 USC Section 7401 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 USC.
Section 3803 et seq.; the Oil Pollution Act of 1990,

                                       10
<PAGE>
33 USC. Section 2701 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and the Community
Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 USC. Section 11001 et seq.; the Hazardous Material
Transportation Act, 49 USC Section 1801 et seq.; and the Occupational Safety and
Health Act, 29 USC. Section 651 et seq. (to the extent it regulates occupational
exposure to Hazardous Materials); any state and local or foreign counterparts or
equivalents, in each case as amended from time to time.

            "Environmental Liabilities and Costs" means all liabilities,
monetary obligations, Remedial Actions, losses, damages, punitive damages,
consequential damages, treble damages, costs and expenses (including all
reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, experts, or consultants,
and costs of investigation and feasibility studies), fines, penalties,
sanctions, and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand by any
Governmental Authority or any third party, and which relate to any Environmental
Action.

            "Environmental Lien" means any Lien in favor of any Governmental
Authority for Environmental Liabilities and Costs.

            "Equipment" means all of Borrower's now owned or hereafter acquired
right, title, and interest with respect to equipment, machinery, machine tools,
motors, furniture, furnishings, fixtures, vehicles (including motor vehicles),
tools, parts, goods (other than consumer goods, farm products, or Inventory),
wherever located, including all attachments, accessories, accessions,
replacements, substitutions, additions, and improvements to any of the
foregoing.

            "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended, and any successor statute thereto.

            "ERISA Affiliate" means (a) any Person subject to ERISA whose
employees are treated as employed by the same employer as the employees of
Borrower under IRC Section 414(b), (b) any trade or business subject to ERISA
whose employees are treated as employed by the same employer as the employees of
Borrower under IRC Section 414(c), (c) solely for purposes of Section 302 of
ERISA and Section 412 of the IRC, any organization subject to ERISA that is a
member of an affiliated service group of which Borrower is a member under IRC
Section 414(m), or (d) solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section
412 of the IRC, any Person subject to ERISA that is a party to an arrangement
with Borrower and whose employees are aggregated with the employees of Borrower
under IRC Section 414(o).

            "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

            "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in
effect from time to time.

            "Fee Letter" means that certain fee letter, dated as of even date
herewith,

                                       11
<PAGE>
between Borrower and Lender.

            "FEIN" means Federal Employer Identification Number.

            "Financed Receivables" means all currently existing and hereafter
arising accounts receivable, contract rights, general intangibles and all other
forms of obligations providing security to Borrower for the lending of money to
Payees, and any and all credit insurance, guaranties, or security therefor.

            "Financing Documents" means all loan agreements, purchase
agreements, security agreements, promissory notes, participation agreements,
repurchase agreements, or other documents, in each case which shall be in the
form of an Approved Form, executed or delivered to Borrower by Payees or
guarantors or creditors of such Payees in connection with the Notes Receivable,
Purchased Accounts and Financed Receivables.

            "Funding Date" means the date on which a Borrowing occurs.

            "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect
from time to time in the United States, consistently applied.

            "General Intangibles" means all of Borrower's now owned or hereafter
acquired right, title, and interest with respect to general intangibles
(including payment intangibles, contract rights, rights to payment, rights
arising under common law, statutes, or regulations, choses or things in action,
goodwill, patents, trade names, trademarks, servicemarks, copyrights,
blueprints, drawings, purchase orders, customer lists, monies due or recoverable
from pension funds, route lists, rights to payment and other rights under any
royalty or licensing agreements, infringement claims, computer programs,
information contained on computer disks or tapes, software, literature, reports,
catalogs, money, deposit accounts, insurance premium rebates, tax refunds, and
tax refund claims), and any and all supporting obligations in respect thereof,
and any other personal property other than goods, Accounts, Investment Property,
and Negotiable Collateral.

            "Governing Documents" means, with respect to any Person, the
certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, or other organizational
documents of such Person.

            "Governmental Authority" means any federal, state, local, or other
governmental or administrative body, instrumentality, department, or agency or
any court, tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission,
or other similar dispute-resolving panel or body.

            "Guarantor" means EquiFin, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

            "Guaranty" means that certain general continuing guaranty executed
and

                                       12
<PAGE>
delivered by Guarantor in favor of Lender, in form and substance satisfactory to
Lender.

            "Hazardous Materials" means (a) substances that are defined or
listed in, or otherwise classified pursuant to, any applicable laws or
regulations as "hazardous substances," "hazardous materials," "hazardous
wastes," "toxic substances," or any other formulation intended to define, list,
or classify substances by reason of deleterious properties such as ignitability,
corrosivity, reactivity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, or "EP
toxicity", (b) oil, petroleum, or petroleum derived substances, natural gas,
natural gas liquids, synthetic gas, drilling fluids, produced waters, and other
wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil,
natural gas, or geothermal resources, (c) any flammable substances or explosives
or any radioactive materials, and (d) asbestos in any form or electrical
equipment that contains any oil or dielectric fluid containing levels of
polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per million.

            "Hedging Agreement" means any interest rate, foreign currency,
commodity or equity swap, collar, cap, floor or forward rate agreement, or other
agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in interest
rates or currency, commodity or equity values (including, without limitation,
any option with respect to any of the foregoing and any combination of the
foregoing agreements or arrangements), and any confirmation executed in
connection with any such agreement or arrangement.

            "Indebtedness" means (a) all obligations of Borrower for borrowed
money, (b) all obligations of Borrower evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or
other similar instruments and all reimbursement or other obligations of Borrower
in respect of letters of credit, bankers acceptances, interest rate swaps, or
other financial products, (c) all obligations of Borrower under Capital Leases,
(d) all obligations or liabilities of others secured by a Lien on any asset of
Borrower, irrespective of whether such obligation or liability is assumed, (e)
all obligations of Borrower for the deferred purchase price of assets (other
than trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of Borrower's business and
repayable in accordance with customary trade practices), and (f) any obligation
of Borrower guaranteeing or intended to guarantee (whether directly or
indirectly guaranteed, endorsed, co-made, discounted, or sold with recourse to
Borrower) any obligation of any other Person.

            "Indemnified Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3.

            "Indemnified Person" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3.

            "Insolvency Proceeding" means any proceeding commenced by or against
any Person under any provision of the Bankruptcy Code or under any other state
or federal bankruptcy or insolvency law, assignments for the benefit of
creditors, formal or informal moratoria, compositions, extensions generally with
creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar
relief.

            "Intangible Assets" means, with respect to any Person, that portion
of the book

                                       13
<PAGE>
value of all of such Person's assets that would be treated as intangibles under
GAAP.

            "Interest Coverage Ratio" means, for any period, the ratio of (i)
Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, to
(ii) Consolidated Net Interest Expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, to
the extent paid or required to be paid in cash, for such period. In determining
the Interest Coverage Ratio for a particular period (A) pro forma effect will be
given to: (1) the incurrence, repayment or retirement of any Indebtedness by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries since the first day of such period as if such
Indebtedness was incurred, repaid or retired on the first day of such period and
(2) the acquisition (whether by purchase, merger or otherwise) or disposition
(whether by sale, merger or otherwise) of any property or assets acquired or
disposed of by any of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries since the first day of
such period, as if such acquisition or disposition occurred on the first day of
such period; (B) interest on Indebtedness bearing a floating interest rate will
be computed as if the rate in effect on the date of computation had been the
applicable rate for the entire period; (C) if such Indebtedness bears, at the
option of the Borrower, a fixed or floating rate of interest, interest thereon
will be computed by applying, at the option of the Borrower, either the fixed or
floating rate; and (D) the amount of Indebtedness under a revolving credit
facility will be computed based upon the average daily balance of such
Indebtedness during such period.

            "Inventory" means all Borrower's now owned or hereafter acquired
right, title, and interest with respect to inventory, including goods held for
sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service, goods that are
leased by Borrower as lessor, goods that are furnished by Borrower under a
contract of service, and raw materials, work in process, or materials used or
consumed in Borrower's business.

            "Investment" means, with respect to any Person, any investment by
such Person in any other Person (including Affiliates) in the form of loans,
guarantees, advances, or capital contributions (excluding (a) commission,
travel, and similar advances to officers and employees of such Person made in
the ordinary course of business, and (b) bona fide Accounts arising from the
sale of goods or rendition of services in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice), purchases or other acquisitions for
consideration of Indebtedness or Capital Stock, and any other items that are or
would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance
with GAAP.

            "Investment Property" means all of Borrower's now owned or hereafter
acquired right, title, and interest with respect to "investment property" as
that term is defined in the Code, and any and all supporting obligations in
respect thereof.

            "IRC" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect from
time to time.

            "Issuing Bank" means Wells Fargo. No other Issuing Bank shall be
named

                                       14
<PAGE>
except in Lender's sole and absolute discretion.

            "L/C" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a).

            "L/C Disbursement" means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant
to a Letter of Credit.

            "Lender" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.

            "Lender's Account" means an account at a bank designated by Lender
from time to time as the account into which Borrower shall make all payments to
Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; unless and until
Lender notifies Borrower to the contrary, Lender's Account shall be that certain
deposit account bearing account number 323-266193 and maintained by Lender with
JP Morgan Chase Bank, 4 New York Plaza, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10004,
ABA Number 021000021.

            "Lender's Counsel" means Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C. or any
other counsel appointed by Lender.

            "Lender Expenses" means all (a) costs or expenses (including taxes,
and insurance premiums) required to be paid by Borrower under any of the Loan
Documents that are paid or incurred by Lender, (b) fees or charges paid or
incurred by Lender in connection with Lender's transactions with Borrower,
including, fees or charges for photocopying, notarization, couriers and
messengers, telecommunication, public record searches (including tax lien,
litigation, and UCC searches and including searches with the patent and
trademark office, the copyright office, or the department of motor vehicles),
filing, recording, publication, appraisal (including periodic Collateral
appraisals or business valuations to the extent of the fees and charges
contained in this Agreement), real estate surveys, real estate title policies
and endorsements, and environmental audits, (c) costs and expenses incurred by
Lender in the disbursement of funds to Borrower (by wire transfer or otherwise),
(d) charges paid or incurred by Lender resulting from the dishonor of checks,
(e) reasonable costs and expenses paid or incurred by Lender to correct any
default or enforce any provision of the Loan Documents, or in gaining possession
of, maintaining, handling, preserving, storing, shipping, selling, preparing for
sale, or advertising to sell the Collateral, or any portion thereof,
irrespective of whether a sale is consummated, (f) audit fees and expenses of
Lender related to audit examinations of the Books to the extent of the fees and
charges contained in this Agreement, (g) reasonable costs and expenses of third
party claims or any other suit paid or incurred by Lender in enforcing or
defending the Loan Documents or in connection with the transactions contemplated
by the Loan Documents or Lender's relationship with Borrower or any guarantor of
the Obligations, (h) Lender's reasonable fees and expenses (including attorneys'

                                       15
<PAGE>
fees) incurred in advising, structuring, drafting, reviewing, administering, or
amending the Loan Documents, and (i) Lender's reasonable fees and expenses
(including attorneys' fees) incurred in terminating, enforcing (including
attorneys' fees and expenses incurred in connection with a "workout," a
"restructuring," or an Insolvency Proceeding concerning Borrower or in
exercising rights or remedies under the Loan Documents), or defending the Loan
Documents, irrespective of whether suit is brought, or in taking any Remedial
Action concerning the Collateral.

            "Lender's Liens" means the Liens granted by Borrower to Lender under
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

            "Lender-Related Person" means Lender, Lender's Affiliates, and the
officers, directors, employees, and agents of Lender.

            "Letter of Credit" means an L/C.

            "Letter of Credit Usage" means, as of any date of determination, the
aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit.

            "Leverage Ratio" means the ratio of (i) all liabilities of Borrower,
excluding Subordinated Debt, to (ii) Tangible Net Worth plus Subordinated Debt.

            "Lien" means any interest in an asset securing an obligation owed
to, or a claim by, any Person other than the owner of the asset, whether such
interest shall be based on the common law, statute, or contract, whether such
interest shall be recorded or perfected, and whether such interest shall be
contingent upon the occurrence of some future event or events or the existence
of some future circumstance or circumstances, including the lien or security
interest arising from a mortgage, deed of trust, encumbrance, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security agreement, conditional
sale or trust receipt, or from a lease, consignment, or bailment for security
purposes and also including reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements,
rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases, and other title
exceptions and encumbrances affecting Real Property.

            "Loan Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.

            "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Applications, the Cash
Management Agreements, the Control Agreements, the Disbursement Letter, the Due
Diligence Letter, the Fee Letter, the Guarantees, the Lockbox Agreement, the
Officers' Certificate, the Stock Pledge Agreements, the Servicing Agreement, any
note or notes executed by Borrower in connection with this Agreement and payable
to Lender, and any other agreement entered into, now or in the future, by
Borrower and Lender in connection with this Agreement.

            "Lockbox Agreement" means a lockbox agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Lender, regarding the collection and distribution of
Collections received by Borrower from Payees to Lender's Account.

                                       16
<PAGE>
            "Material Adverse Change" means (a) a material adverse change in the
business, prospects, operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or
condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrower, (b) a material impairment of
Borrower's ability to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which
it is a party or of Lender's ability to enforce the Obligations or realize upon
the Collateral, or (c) a material impairment of the enforceability or priority
of Lender's Liens with respect to the Collateral as a result of an action or
failure to act on the part of Borrower.

            "Maturity Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.

            "Maximum Revolver Amount" means $20,000,000.00.

            "Negotiable Collateral" means all of Borrower's now owned and
hereafter acquired right, title, and interest with respect to letters of credit,
letter of credit rights, instruments, promissory notes, drafts, documents, and
chattel paper (including electronic chattel paper and tangible chattel paper),
and any and all supporting obligations in respect thereof.

            "New Funds" means that portion of the Subordinated Debt described as
item 1 in Schedule 5.20 which represents money advanced by Guarantor to Borrower
on or after the date of this Agreement.

            "New Funds Payment" means a payment, or payments, of interest on the
New Funds. The New Funds Payment shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(i) the New Funds shall be in an amount of at least $700,000.00, and (ii) the
New Funds Payment in any year shall never exceed ten percent (10.0%) of
Borrower's after-tax profits.

            "Notes Receivable" means revolving credit loans and term loans to
Payees evidenced by promissory notes which are secured by a first priority
security interest in favor of Borrower and in which promissory notes Lender has
been granted a first priority security interest.

            "Obligations" means all loans, Advances, L/C Disbursements, debts,
principal, interest (including any interest that, but for the provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued), premiums, liabilities (including all
amounts charged to Borrower's Loan Account pursuant hereto), obligations, fees
(including the fees provided for in the Fee Letter), charges, costs, Lender
Expenses (including any fees or expenses that, but for the provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued), lease payments, guaranties, covenants, and
duties of any kind and description owing by Borrower to Lender pursuant to or
evidenced by the Loan Documents and irrespective of whether for the payment of
money, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due,
now existing or hereafter arising, and including all interest not paid when due
and all Lender Expenses that Borrower is required to pay or reimburse by the
Loan Documents, by law, or otherwise. Any reference in this Agreement or in the
Loan Documents to the Obligations shall include all

                                       17
<PAGE>
amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals replacements,
substitutions, and supplements, thereto and thereof, as applicable, both prior
and subsequent to any Insolvency Proceeding.

            "Officers' Certificate" means the representations and warranties of
officers of the Borrower on behalf of the Borrower in a form submitted by Lender
to Borrower, together with Borrower's completed responses to the inquiries set
forth therein, the form and substance of such responses to be satisfactory to
Lender.

            "Overadvance" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

            "Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.1(d).

            "Payee" means any Person (i) who has sold and assigned or may
hereafter sell and assign Purchased Accounts to Borrower or (ii) to whom
Borrower has extended or may hereafter extend loans or other financial
accommodations evidenced by Notes Receivable and secured by Financed Receivables
or other satisfactory collateral in accordance with the Required Procedures.

            "Permitted Discretion" means a determination made in good faith and
in the exercise of reasonable (from the perspective of a secured asset-based
lender) business judgment.

            "Permitted Dispositions" means (a) loans by Borrower to borrowers in
the ordinary course of Borrower's business, (b) the use or transfer of money or
Cash Equivalents by Borrower in a manner that is not prohibited by the terms of
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (c) the licensing by Borrower, on a
non-exclusive basis, of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual
property rights in the ordinary course of Borrower's business, (d) the sale by
Borrower of Equipment or other tangible assets which are obsolete or inoperable,
(e) the sale by Borrower, from time to time, of Notes Receivable and Purchased
Accounts, provided the proceeds of such sales are promptly deposited in an
account which is subject to a Control Agreement, and (f) the sale by Borrower,
from time to time, of collateral pledged by Payees to secure Notes Receivable
and Purchased Accounts to which collateral Borrower has acquired title through
foreclosure or disposition in lieu of foreclosure, provided the proceeds of such
sales are promptly deposited in an account which is subject to a Control
Agreement.

            "Permitted Investments" means (a) investments in Cash Equivalents,
(b) investments in negotiable instruments for collection, and (c) advances made
in connection with purchases of goods or services in the ordinary course of
business.

            "Permitted Liens" means (a) Lender's Liens, (b) Liens for unpaid
taxes that either (i) are not yet delinquent, or (ii) do not constitute an Event
of Default hereunder and are the subject of Permitted Protests, (c) Liens set
forth on Schedule P-1, (d) the interests of

                                       18
<PAGE>
lessors under operating leases, (e) purchase money Liens or the interests of
lessors under Capital Leases to the extent that such Liens or interests secure
Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness and so long as such Lien attaches only to
the asset purchased or acquired and the proceeds thereof, (f) Liens arising by
operation of law in favor of warehousemen, landlords, carriers, mechanics,
materialmen, laborers, or suppliers, incurred in the ordinary course of business
of Borrower and not in connection with the borrowing of money, and which Liens
either (i) are for sums not yet delinquent, or (ii) are the subject of Permitted
Protests, (g) Liens arising from deposits made in connection with obtaining
worker's compensation or other unemployment insurance, (h) Liens or deposits to
secure performance of bids, tenders, or leases incurred in the ordinary course
of business of Borrower and not in connection with the borrowing of money, (i)
Liens granted as security for surety or appeal bonds in connection with
obtaining such bonds in the ordinary course of business of Borrower, (j) Liens
resulting from any judgment or award that is not an Event of Default hereunder,
(k) with respect to any Real Property, easements, rights of way, and zoning
restrictions that do not materially interfere with or impair the use or
operation thereof by Borrower, and (l) Liens on depository and investment
accounts in favor of the bank, securities intermediary or other Person
maintaining such accounts, as to which accounts Lender has a valid, first
priority Lien and such bank, securities intermediary or other Person has waived
or subordinated any Lien in favor of Lender.

            "Permitted Protest" means the right of Borrower to protest any Lien
(other than any such Lien that secures the Obligations), taxes (other than
payroll taxes or taxes that are the subject of a United States federal tax
lien), or rental payment, provided that (a) a reserve with respect to such
obligation is established on the Books in such amount as is required under GAAP,
(b) any such protest is instituted promptly and prosecuted diligently by
Borrower in good faith, and (c) Lender is satisfied that, while any such protest
is pending, there will be no impairment of the enforceability, validity, or
priority of any of the Lender's Liens.

            "Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness" means, as of any date of
determination, Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred after the Closing Date in an
aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time not in excess of
$100,000.00.

            "Person" means natural persons, corporations, limited liability
companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability
partnerships, joint ventures, trusts, land trusts, business trusts, or other
organizations, irrespective of whether they are legal entities, and governments
and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.

            "Personal Property Collateral" means all Collateral other than Real
Property.

            "Projections" means Borrower's forecasted (a) balance sheets, (b)
profit and loss statements, and (c) cash flow statements, all prepared on a
basis consistent with Borrower's historical financial statements, if any,
together with appropriate supporting

                                       19
<PAGE>
details and a statement of underlying assumptions.

            "Purchase Money Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (other than the
Obligations, but including Capitalized Lease Obligations), incurred at the time
of, or within twenty (20) days after, the acquisition of any fixed assets for
the purpose of financing all or any part of the acquisition cost thereof.

            "Purchased Accounts" means all currently existing and hereafter
arising Accounts, contract rights, General Intangibles and all other forms of
obligations owing to a Payee that Borrower has purchased, whether such purchase
transaction is a true sale or a financing transaction, or in which Borrower has
been granted a security interest, and any and all credit insurance, guaranties,
or security therefor.

            "Real Property" means any estates or interests in real property now
owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower and the improvements thereto.

            "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or
which is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in
perceivable form.

            "Remedial Action" means all actions taken to (a) clean up, remove,
remediate, contain, treat, monitor, assess, evaluate, or in any way address
Hazardous Materials in the indoor or outdoor environment, (b) prevent or
minimize a release or threatened release of Hazardous Materials so they do not
migrate or endanger or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the
indoor or outdoor environment, (c) perform any pre-remedial studies,
investigations, or post-remedial operation and maintenance activities, or (d)
conduct any other actions authorized by 42 USC  Section  9601.

            "Required Procedures" means those procedures, including underwriting
standards, as set forth on Exhibit R-1 attached hereto, to be followed by
Borrower when purchasing Purchased Accounts or financing Financed Receivables
from Payees.

            "Revolver Usage" means, as of any date of determination, the sum of
(a) the then extant amount of outstanding Advances, plus (b) the then extant
amount of the Letter of Credit Usage.

            "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and
any successor thereto.

            "Securities Account" means a "securities account" as that term is
defined in the Code.

            "Servicing Agreement" means that servicing agreement executed and
delivered by Borrower and Lender, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.

                                       20
<PAGE>
            "Solvent" means, with respect to any Person on a particular date,
that such Person is not insolvent (as such term is defined in the Uniform
Fraudulent Transfer Act).

            "Stock Pledge Agreement" means each of those stock pledge
agreements, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, executed and delivered
by Guarantor to Lender with respect to the pledge of all of the Capital Stock of
Borrower owned by Guarantor.

            "Subsidiary" of a Person means a corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, or other entity in which that Person directly or indirectly
owns or controls the shares of Capital Stock having ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors (or appoint other comparable
managers) of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other
entity.

            "Subordinated Debt" means the Indebtedness of Borrower owing to
other Persons which is subordinated in right of payment to payment of the
Obligations and in priority of security to the Lender's Liens, upon terms and
conditions and pursuant to documentation satisfactory to Lender, in its sole and
absolute discretion.

            "Subordination Agreement" means that certain subordination agreement
executed and delivered by Guarantor in favor of Lender, in form and substance
satisfactory to Lender.

            "Tangible Net Worth" means, as of any date of determination, the
result of (a) Borrower's total stockholder's equity, minus (b) the sum of (i)
all Intangible Assets of Borrower, (ii) all of Borrower's prepaid expenses, and
(iii) all amounts due to Borrower from Affiliates.

            "Total Eligible Collateral" means Eligible Notes Receivable plus
Eligible Purchased Accounts.

            "Taxes" has the meaning set forth in Section 16.5.

            "Validity Agreements" means those certain validity agreements
executed and delivered by each Validity Officer.

            "Validity Officer" means Allen H. Vogel and Walter M. Craig, Jr.
and, collectively, "Validity Officers".

            "Voidable Transfer" has the meaning set forth in Section 16.8.

            "Wells Fargo" means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a
national banking association.

      1.2 ACCOUNTING TERMS. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein
shall

                                       21
<PAGE>
be construed in accordance with GAAP. When used herein, the term "financial
statements" shall include the notes and schedules thereto. Whenever the term
"Borrower" is used in respect of a financial covenant or a related definition,
it shall be understood to mean Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

      1.3 CODE. Any terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the Code
shall be construed and defined as set forth in the Code unless otherwise defined
herein.

      1.4 CONSTRUCTION. Unless the context of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document clearly requires otherwise, references to the plural include the
singular, references to the singular include the plural, the term "including" is
not limiting, and the term "or" has, except where otherwise indicated, the
inclusive meaning represented by the phrase "and/or." The words "hereof,"
"herein," "hereby," "hereunder," and similar terms in this Agreement or any
other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such other Loan Document, as the
case may be, as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement or
such other Loan Document, as the case may be. Section, subsection, clause,
schedule, and exhibit references herein are to this Agreement unless otherwise
specified. Any reference in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents to any
agreement, instrument, or document shall include all alterations, amendments,
changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions,
joinders, and supplements, thereto and thereof, as applicable (subject to any
restrictions on such alterations, amendments, changes, extensions,
modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements
set forth herein). Any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to
include such Person's successors and assigns. Any requirement of a writing
contained herein or in the other Loan Documents shall be satisfied by the
transmission of a Record and any Record transmitted shall constitute a
representation and warranty as to the accuracy and completeness of the
information contained therein.

      1.5 SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS. All of the schedules and exhibits attached to
this Agreement shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference.

2.    LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT.

      2.1 REVOLVER ADVANCES.

            (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and
during the term of this Agreement, Lender agrees to make advances ("Advances")
to Borrower in an amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed an amount
equal to the lesser of (i) the Maximum Revolver Amount less the Letter of Credit
Usage, or (ii) the Borrowing Base less the Letter of Credit Usage.

            (b) Anything to the contrary in this Section 2.1 notwithstanding,
Lender shall have the right to establish reserves in such amounts, and with
respect to such matters, as Lender in its Permitted Discretion shall deem
necessary or appropriate, against the

                                       22
<PAGE>
Borrowing Base, including reserves with respect to (i) sums that Borrower is
required to pay (such as taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, or, in the case
of leased assets, rents or other amounts payable under such leases) and has
failed to pay under any Section of this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
and (ii) amounts owing by Borrower to any Person to the extent secured by a Lien
on, or trust over, any of the Collateral (other than any existing Permitted Lien
set forth on Schedule P-1 which is specifically identified thereon as entitled
to have priority over the Lender's Liens), which Lien or trust, in the Permitted
Discretion of Lender likely would have a priority superior to the Lender's Liens
(such as Liens or trusts in favor of landlords, warehousemen, carriers,
mechanics, materialmen, laborers, or suppliers, or Liens or trusts for ad
valorem, excise, sales, or other taxes where given priority under applicable
law) in and to such item of the Collateral.

            (c) Lender shall have no obligation to make additional Advances
hereunder to the extent such additional Advances would cause the outstanding
Advances to exceed the Maximum Revolver Amount minus the Letter of Credit Usage.

            (d) Amounts borrowed pursuant to this Section may be repaid and,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, reborrowed at any time
during the term of this Agreement.

      2.2   BORROWING PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENTS.

            (a) PROCEDURE FOR BORROWING. Each Borrowing shall be made by a
request by an Authorized Person delivered to Lender (which notice must be
received by Lender no later than 10:00 a.m. (California time) on the Business
Day that is the requested Funding Date specifying (i) the amount of such
Borrowing, and (ii) the requested Funding Date, which shall be a Business Day.
At Lender's election, in lieu of delivering the above-described request in
writing, any Authorized Person may give Lender telephonic notice of such request
by the required time, with such telephonic notice to be confirmed in writing
within 24 hours of the giving of such notice. For any request which includes
initial funding to a new Payee, Borrower shall submit a copy of Borrower's
credit committee approval for such Payee.

            (b) MAKING OF ADVANCES. If Lender has received a timely request for
a Borrowing in accordance with the provisions hereof, and subject to the
satisfaction of the applicable terms and conditions set forth herein, Lender
shall make the proceeds of such Advance available to Borrower on the applicable
Funding Date by transferring immediately available funds equal to such proceeds
to Borrower's Designated Account.

      2.3   PAYMENTS.

            (a)   PAYMENTS BY BORROWER.

                  (i) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
            payments by Borrower shall be made to Lender's Account and shall be
            made in

                                       23
<PAGE>
            immediately available funds, no later than 11:00 a.m. (California
            time) on the date specified herein. Any payment received by Lender
            later than 11:00 a.m. (California time) shall be deemed to have been
            received on the following Business Day and any applicable interest
            or fee shall continue to accrue until such following Business Day.

            (b)   APPLICATION AND REVERSAL OF PAYMENTS.

                  (i) Subject to Section 2.3(b)(ii), all payments shall be
            remitted to Lender and all such payments (other than payments
            received while no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
            continuing and which relate to the payment of principal or interest
            of specific Obligations or which relate to the payment of specific
            fees), and all proceeds of Accounts or other Collateral received by
            Lender, shall be applied as follows:

                        (A) first, to pay any Lender Expenses then due to Lender
                  under the Loan Documents, until paid in full,

                        (B) second, to pay any fees then due to Lender under the
                  Loan Documents until paid in full,

                        (C) third, ratably to pay interest due in respect of the
                  Advances until paid in full,

                        (D) fourth, to pay the principal of all Advances until
                  paid in full,

                        (E) fifth, to pay any other Obligations until paid in
                  full,

                        (F) sixth, if any Event of Default has occurred, to
                  Lender, for the benefit of Issuing Bank, as cash collateral in
                  an amount up to one hundred five percent (105.00%) of the then
                  extant Letter of Credit Usage until paid in full, and

                        (G) sixth, to Borrower (to be wired to the Designated
                  Account) or such other Person entitled thereto under
                  applicable law.

                  (ii) In each instance, so long as no Default or Event of
            Default has occurred and is continuing, Section 2.3(b)(i) shall not
            be deemed to apply to any payment by Borrower specified by Borrower
            to be for the payment of specific Obligations then due and payable
            (or prepayable) under any provision of this Agreement.

                  (iii) For purposes of the foregoing, "paid in full" means
            payment of

                                       24
<PAGE>
            all amounts owing under the Loan Documents according to the terms
            thereof, including loan fees, service fees, professional fees,
            interest (and specifically including interest accrued after the
            commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding), default interest,
            interest on interest, and expense reimbursements, whether or not the
            same would be or is allowed or disallowed in whole or in part in any
            Insolvency Proceeding.

                  (iv) In the event of a direct conflict between the priority
            provisions of this Section 2.3 and other provisions contained in any
            other Loan Document, it is the intention of the parties hereto that
            such priority provisions in such documents shall be read together
            and construed, to the fullest extent possible, to be in concert with
            each other. In the event of any actual, irreconcilable conflict that
            cannot be resolved as aforesaid, the terms and provisions of this
            Section 2.3 shall control and govern.

      2.4 OVERADVANCES. If, at any time or for any reason, the amount of
Obligations owed by Borrower to Lender pursuant to Section 2.1 is greater than
either the Dollar or percentage limitations set forth in Section 2.1, (an
"Overadvance"), Borrower immediately shall pay to Lender, in cash, the amount of
such excess, which amount shall be used by Lender to reduce the Obligations in
accordance with the priorities set forth in Section 2.3(b). In addition,
Borrower hereby promises to pay the Obligations (including principal, interest,
fees, costs, and expenses) in Dollars in full to Lender as and when due and
payable under the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

      2.5 INTEREST RATES: RATES, PAYMENTS, AND CALCULATIONS.

            (a) INTEREST RATES. Except as provided in clause (b) below, all
Obligations that have been charged to the Loan Account pursuant to the terms
hereof shall bear interest on the Daily Balance thereof at a per annum rate
equal to the Base Rate plus the Base Rate Margin.

            (b) DEFAULT RATE. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, all
Obligations that have been charged to the Loan Account pursuant to the terms
hereof shall bear interest on the Daily Balance thereof at a per annum rate
equal to four (4.00) percentage points above the per annum rate otherwise
applicable hereunder.

            (c) PAYMENT. Interest and all other fees payable hereunder shall be
due and payable, in arrears, on the first day of each month at any time that
Obligations or any obligation to extend credit hereunder are outstanding.
Borrower hereby authorizes Lender, from time to time without prior notice to
Borrower, to charge such interest and fees, all Lender Expenses (as and when
incurred), the fees and costs provided for in Section 2.10 (as and when accrued
or incurred), and all other payments as and when due and payable under any Loan
Document to Borrower's Loan Account, which amounts thereafter constitute

                                       25
<PAGE>
Advances hereunder and shall accrue interest at the rate then applicable to
Advances hereunder. Any interest not paid when due shall be compounded by being
charged to Borrower's Loan Account and shall thereafter constitute Advances
hereunder and shall accrue interest at the rate then applicable to Advances.

            (d) COMPUTATION. All interest and fees chargeable under the Loan
Documents shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number
of days elapsed. In the event the Base Rate is changed from time to time
hereafter, the rates of interest hereunder based upon the Base Rate
automatically and immediately shall be increased or decreased by an amount equal
to such change in the Base Rate.

            (e) INTENT TO LIMIT CHARGES TO MAXIMUM LAWFUL RATE. In no event
shall the interest rate or rates payable under this Agreement, plus any other
amounts paid in connection herewith, exceed the highest rate permissible under
any law that a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination,
deem applicable. Borrower and Lender, in executing and delivering this
Agreement, intend legally to agree upon the rate or rates of interest and manner
of payment stated within it; provided, however, that, anything contained herein
to the contrary notwithstanding, if said rate or rates of interest or manner of
payment exceeds the maximum allowable under applicable law, then, ipso facto, as
of the date of this Agreement, Borrower is and shall be liable only for the
payment of such maximum as allowed by law, and payment received from Borrower in
excess of such legal maximum, whenever received, shall be applied to reduce the
principal balance of the Obligations to the extent of such excess.

      2.6   CASH MANAGEMENT.

            (a) Borrower shall (i) establish and maintain cash management
services of a type and on terms satisfactory to Lender at one or more of the
banks set forth on Schedule 2.6(a) (each, a "Cash Management Bank"), and shall
request in writing and otherwise take such reasonable steps to ensure that all
of its Account Debtors forward payment of the amounts owed by them directly to
the post office box set forth on Schedule 2.6(a) attached hereto, and (ii)
deposit or cause to be deposited promptly, and in any event no later than the
first Business Day after the date of receipt thereof, all Collections into a
bank account in Lender's name (a "Cash Management Account") at one of the Cash
Management Banks.

            (b) Each Cash Management Bank shall establish and maintain Cash
Management Agreements with Lender and Borrower, in form and substance acceptable
to Lender. Each such Cash Management Agreement shall provide, among other
things, that (i) all items of payment deposited in such Cash Management Account
and proceeds thereof are held by such Cash Management Bank as agent or
bailee-in-possession for Lender, (ii) the Cash Management Bank has no rights of
setoff or recoupment or any other claim against the applicable Cash Management
Account other than for payment of its service fees and other

                                       26
<PAGE>
charges directly related to the administration of such Cash Management Account
and for returned checks or other items of payment, and (iii) it immediately will
forward by daily sweep all amounts in the applicable Cash Management Account to
Lender's Account.

            (c) So long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, Borrower may amend Schedule 2.6(a) to add or replace a Cash
Management Bank or Cash Management Account; provided, however, that (i) such
prospective Cash Management Bank shall be satisfactory to Lender and Lender
shall have consented in writing in advance to the opening of such Cash
Management Account with the prospective Cash Management Bank, and (ii) prior to
the time of the opening of such Cash Management Account, Borrower and such
prospective Cash Management Bank shall have executed and delivered to Lender a
Cash Management Agreement. Borrower shall close any of its Cash Management
Accounts (and establish replacement cash management accounts in accordance with
the foregoing sentence) promptly and in any event within thirty (30) days of
notice from Lender that the creditworthiness of any Cash Management Bank is no
longer acceptable in Lender's reasonable judgment, or as promptly as practicable
and in any event within sixty (60) days of notice from Lender that the operating
performance, funds transfer, or availability procedures or performance of the
Cash Management Bank with respect to Cash Management Accounts or Lender's
liability under any Cash Management Agreement with such Cash Management Bank is
no longer acceptable in Lender's reasonable judgment.

            (d) The Cash Management Accounts shall be cash collateral accounts,
with all cash, checks and similar items of payment in such accounts securing
payment of the Obligations, and in which Borrower is hereby deemed to have
granted a Lien to Lender.

            (e) Borrower shall establish and maintain a payroll account, which
shall be separate from all other bank accounts of Borrower, which shall be the
source of payment for all payroll and like compensation to Borrower's employees,
from which Borrower shall pay all federal, state and municipal taxes and
impositions due in respect of wages.

      2.7 CREDITING PAYMENTS. The receipt of any payment item by Lender (whether
from transfers to Lender by the Cash Management Banks pursuant to the Cash
Management Agreements or otherwise) shall not be considered a payment on account
unless such payment item is a wire transfer of immediately available federal
funds made to Lender's Account or unless and until such payment item is honored
when presented for payment. Should any payment item not be honored when
presented for payment, then Borrower shall be deemed not to have made such
payment and interest shall be calculated accordingly. Anything to the contrary
contained herein notwithstanding, any payment item shall be deemed received by
Lender only if it is received into Lender's Account on a Business Day on or
before 11:00 a.m. (California time). If any payment item is received into
Lender's Account on a non-Business Day or after 11:00 a.m. (California time) on
a Business Day, it shall be deemed to have been received by Lender as of the
opening of business on the immediately following

                                       27
<PAGE>
Business Day.

      2.8 DESIGNATED ACCOUNT. Lender is authorized to make the Advances under
this Agreement based upon telephonic or other instructions received from anyone
purporting to be an Authorized Person, or without instructions if pursuant to
Section 2.5(c). Borrower agrees to establish and maintain the Designated Account
with the Designated Account Bank for the purpose of receiving the proceeds of
the Advances requested by Borrower and made by Lender hereunder. Unless
otherwise agreed by Lender and Borrower, any Advance requested by Borrower and
made by Lender hereunder shall be made to the Designated Account.

      2.9 MAINTENANCE OF LOAN ACCOUNT; STATEMENTS OF OBLIGATIONS. Lender shall
maintain an account on its books in the name of Borrower (the "Loan Account") on
which Borrower will be charged with all Advances made by Lender to Borrower or
for Borrower's account, and with all other payment Obligations hereunder or
under the other Loan Documents, including, accrued interest, fees and expenses,
and Lender Expenses. In accordance with Section 2.7, the Loan Account will be
credited with all payments received by Lender from Borrower or for Borrower's
account, including all amounts received in the Lender's Account from any Cash
Management Bank. Lender shall render statements regarding the Loan Account to
Borrower, including principal, interest, fees, and including an itemization of
all charges and expenses constituting Lender Expenses owing, and such statements
shall be conclusively presumed to be correct and accurate and constitute an
account stated between Borrower and Lender unless, within thirty (30) days after
receipt thereof by Borrower, Borrower shall deliver to Lender written objection
thereto describing the error or errors contained in any such statements.

      2.10 FEES. Borrower shall pay to Lender the following fees and charges,
which fees and charges shall be non-refundable when paid (irrespective of
whether this Agreement is terminated thereafter):

            (a) CLOSING FEE. A closing fee in the amount of $200,000.00 earned
at the Closing Date and payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments of
$16,666.66 each on the first Business Day of each month;

            (b) LOAN ADMINISTRATION FEE. A loan administration fee in the amount
of $2,000.00 per month, due and payable on the first Business Day of each month;

            (c) UNUSED LINE FEE. An unused line fee in an amount equal to
one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum times the result of (a) the Maximum
Revolver Amount, less (b) the sum of the average Daily Balance of Advances that
were outstanding during the immediately preceding payment period, plus (c) the
sum of the average Daily Balance of Letter of Credit Usage outstanding during
the immediately preceding payment period. During the first twelve (12) months of
the loan, such fee shall be paid semi-annually,

                                       28
<PAGE>
in arrears, six (6) months after the Closing Date and one (1) year after the
Closing Date; thereafter, such fee shall be paid monthly, in arrears, on the
first Business Day of each month;

            (d) FEE LETTER FEES. As and when due and payable under the terms of
the Fee Letter, Borrower shall pay to Lender the fees set forth in the Fee
Letter;

            (e) AUDIT, APPRAISAL, AND VALUATION CHARGES. Audit, appraisal, and
valuation fees and charges as follows (i) a fee of $850.00 per day, per auditor,
plus out-of-pocket expenses for each financial audit of Borrower performed by
personnel employed by Lender, and (ii) the actual charges and expenses paid or
incurred by Lender, or any third Persons engaged by Lender, to perform financial
audits of Borrower, to appraise the Collateral, or any portion thereof, or to
assess Borrower's business valuation. Notwithstanding the foregoing and in the
event no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing, Borrower
shall not be required to pay audit fees and charges for audits in excess of four
(4) times per calendar year during the term of this Agreement; and

            (f) LETTER OF CREDIT FEES. Contemporaneously with the issuance of
any Letter of Credit, Borrower shall pay to Lender for the account of Issuing
Bank a fee equal to (i) 1.825% per annum, times (b) each year, or part of a
year, for the term of such Letter of Credit, times (c) the face amount of such
Letter of Credit. In addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, Borrower
shall pay or reimburse Issuing Bank for such normal and customary costs and
expenses as are incurred or charged by Issuing Bank in issuing, effecting
payment under or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit.

      2.11 CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS. If, after the date hereof, Lender determines
that (i) the adoption of or change in any law, rule, regulation or guideline
regarding capital requirements for banks or bank holding companies, or any
change in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental
Authority charged with the administration thereof, or (ii) compliance by Lender
or its parent bank holding company with any guideline, request, or directive of
any such entity regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of
law), will have the effect of reducing the return on Lender's or such holding
company's capital as a consequence of Lender's obligations hereunder to a level
below that which Lender or such holding company could have achieved but for such
adoption, change, or compliance (taking into consideration Lender's or such
holding company's then existing policies with respect to capital adequacy and
assuming the full utilization of such entity's capital) by any amount deemed by
Lender to be material, then Lender may notify Borrower thereof. Following
receipt of such notice, Borrower agrees to pay Lender on demand the amount of
such reduction of return of capital as and when such reduction is determined,
payable within ninety (90) days after presentation by Lender of a statement in
the amount and setting forth in reasonable detail Lender's calculation thereof
and the assumptions upon which such calculation was based (which statement shall
be deemed true and correct absent manifest error). In determining such amount,
Lender may use any reasonable averaging and

                                       29
<PAGE>
attribution methods.

      2.12 LETTERS OF CREDIT.

            (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
Lender agrees to cause Issuing Bank to issue letters of credit for the account
of Borrower or a Payee (each, an "L/C") with respect to letters of credit issued
by Issuing Bank for the account of Borrower. To request the issuance of an L/C
(or the amendment, renewal, or extension of an outstanding L/C), Borrower shall
hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if
arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing
Bank and Lender (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance,
amendment, renewal, or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of an L/C, or
identifying the L/C to be amended, renewed, or extended, the date of issuance,
amendment, renewal, or extension, the date on which such L/C is to expire, the
amount of such L/C, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, and such
other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew, or extend such
L/C. The Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue a Letter of Credit if
any of the following would result after giving effect to the requested Letter of
Credit:

                  (i) the Letter of Credit Usage would exceed the Borrowing Base
            less the then extant amount of outstanding Advances, or

                  (ii) the Letter of Credit Usage would exceed the Maximum
            Revolver Amount less the then extant amount of outstanding Advances.

            Each Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date no later than thirty
(30) days prior to the Maturity Date and all such Letters of Credit shall be in
form and substance acceptable to the Issuing Bank (in the exercise of its sole
and absolute discretion), including the requirement that the amounts payable
thereunder must be payable in Dollars. If Issuing Bank is obligated to advance
funds under a Letter of Credit, Borrower immediately shall reimburse such L/C
Disbursement to Issuing Bank by paying to Lender an amount equal to such L/C
Disbursement not later than 11:00 a.m., California time, on the date that such
L/C Disbursement is made, if Borrower shall have received written or telephonic
notice of such L/C Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., California time, on such
date, or, if such notice has not been received by Borrower prior to such time on
such date, then not later than 11:00 a.m., California time, on (i) the Business
Day that Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to
10:00 a.m., California time, on the date of receipt, and, in the absence of such
reimbursement, the L/C Disbursement immediately and automatically shall be
deemed to be an Advance hereunder and, thereafter, shall bear interest at the
rate then applicable to Advances. To the extent an L/C Disbursement shall be
deemed to be an Advance hereunder, Borrower's obligation to reimburse such L/C
Disbursement shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Advance. Promptly
following receipt by Lender of any payment from Borrower pursuant to this
paragraph, Lender shall distribute such payment

                                       30
<PAGE>
to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lender has made payments pursuant to
Section 2.12(c) to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to Lender and the Issuing
Bank as their interest may appear.

            (b) [Intentionally deleted.].

            (c) Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify, save, defend, and hold
Lender and Issuing Bank harmless from any loss, cost, expense, or liability, and
reasonable attorneys fees incurred by Lender or Issuing Bank arising out of or
in connection with any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that Borrower shall
not be obligated hereunder to indemnify Issuing Bank for any loss, cost,
expense, or liability that is caused by the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Issuing Bank. Borrower agrees to be bound by Issuing Bank's
regulations and interpretations of any L/C issued by Issuing Bank to or for
Borrower's account, even though this interpretation may be different from
Borrower's own, and Borrower understands and agrees that Lender shall not be
liable for any error, negligence, or mistake, whether of omission or commission,
in following Borrower's instructions or those contained in the Letter of Credit
or any modifications, amendments, or supplements thereto.

            (d) [Intentionally deleted.].

            (e) [Intentionally deleted].

            (f) If by reason of (i) any change in any applicable law, treaty,
rule, or regulation or any change in the interpretation or application thereof
by any Governmental Authority, or (ii) compliance by Issuing Bank or Lender with
any direction, request, or requirement (irrespective of whether having the force
of law) of any Governmental Authority or monetary authority including,
Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board as from time to time in effect (and
any successor thereto):

                  (i) any reserve, deposit, or similar requirement is or shall
            be imposed or modified in respect of any Letter of Credit issued
            hereunder, or

                  (ii) there shall be imposed on Issuing Bank or Lender any
            other condition regarding any Letter of Credit issued pursuant
            hereto;

and the result of the foregoing is to increase, directly or indirectly, the cost
to Issuing Bank or Lender of issuing, making, guaranteeing, or maintaining any
Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount receivable in respect thereof by
Lender, then, and in any such case, Lender may, at any time within a reasonable
period after the additional cost is incurred or the amount received is reduced,
notify Borrower, and Borrower shall pay on demand such amounts as Lender may
specify to be necessary to compensate Lender for such additional cost or reduced
receipt, together with interest on such amount from the date of such demand
until payment in full thereof at the rate then applicable hereunder. The
determination by Lender of any amount due pursuant to this Section, as set forth
in a certificate setting forth the

                                       31
<PAGE>
calculation thereof in reasonable detail, shall, in the absence of manifest or
demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all of the parties
hereto.

            (g) [Intentionally deleted.].

3.    CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT.

      3.1 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE INITIAL EXTENSION OF CREDIT. The
obligation of Lender to make the initial Advance (or otherwise to extend any
credit provided for hereunder), is subject to the fulfillment, to the
satisfaction of Lender, of each of the conditions precedent set forth below:

            (a) the Closing Date shall occur on or before December 19, 2001;

            (b) Lender shall have received all financing statements required by
Lender, duly executed by Borrower, and Lender shall have received searches
reflecting the filing of all such financing statements, showing the Lender's
Liens in a first priority position;

            (c) Lender shall have received each of the following documents, in
form and substance satisfactory to Lender, duly executed, and each such document
shall be in full force and effect:

                  (i) the Lockbox Agreement,

                  (ii) the Control Agreements,

                  (iii) the Disbursement Letter,

                  (iv) the Due Diligence Letter,

                  (v) the Fee Letter,

                  (vi) the Guaranty,

                  (vii) the Validity Agreements,

                  (viii) the Cash Management Agreements,

                  (ix) the Servicing Agreement,

                  (x) the Officers' Certificate,

                  (xi) the Stock Pledge Agreements, covering one hundred percent
            (100%) of the Capital Stock of Borrower owned by Guarantor, together
            with all certificates representing the shares of Capital Stock
            pledged thereunder, as

                                       32
<PAGE>
            well as stock powers with respect thereto endorsed in blank,

                  (xii) the Collateral Agency Agreement,

                  (xiii) the Subordination Agreements, and

                  (xiv) the Approved Forms.

            (d) Lender shall have received a certificate from the Secretary of
Borrower attesting to the resolutions of Borrower's Board of Directors
authorizing its execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party and authorizing specific
officers of Borrower to execute the same;

            (e) Lender shall have received copies of Borrower's Governing
Documents, as amended, modified, or supplemented to the Closing Date, certified
by the Secretary of Borrower;

            (f) Lender shall have received a certificate of status with respect
to Borrower, dated within ten (10) days of the Closing Date, such certificate to
be issued by the appropriate officer of the jurisdiction of organization of
Borrower, which certificate shall indicate that Borrower is in good standing in
such jurisdiction;

            (g) Lender shall have received certificates of status with respect
to Borrower, each dated within thirty (30) days of the Closing Date, such
certificates to be issued by the appropriate officer of the jurisdictions (other
than the jurisdiction of organization of Borrower) in which its failure to be
duly qualified or licensed would constitute a Material Adverse Change, which
certificates shall indicate that Borrower is in good standing in such
jurisdictions;

            (h) Lender shall have received a certificate of insurance, together
with the endorsements thereto, as are required by Section 6.8, the form and
substance of which shall be satisfactory to Lender;

            (i) Lender shall have received an opinion of Borrower's counsel in
form and substance satisfactory to Lender;

            (j) Lender shall have received satisfactory evidence (including a
certificate of the chief financial officer of Borrower) that all tax returns
required to be filed by Borrower have been timely filed and all taxes upon
Borrower or its properties, assets, income, and franchises (including Real
Property taxes and payroll taxes) have been paid prior to delinquency, except
such taxes that are the subject of a Permitted Protest;

            (k) Lender shall have completed its business, legal, and collateral
due diligence, including a collateral audit and review of Borrower's books and
records and

                                       33
<PAGE>
verification of Borrower's representations and warranties to Lender, the results
of which shall be satisfactory to Lender;

            (l) Lender shall have received completed reference checks with
respect to Borrower's senior management, the results of which are satisfactory
to Lender in its sole and absolute discretion;

            (m) Lender shall have received Borrower's Closing Date Business
Plan;

            (n) Borrower shall pay all Lender Expenses incurred in connection
with the transactions evidenced by this Agreement;

            (o) Borrower shall have received all licenses, approvals or evidence
of other actions required by any Governmental Authority in connection with the
execution and delivery by Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document
or with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;

            (p) Lender shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that
Borrower has received and retained capital contributions of at least
$3,000,000.00 on or prior to the Closing Date;

            (q) After giving effect to the Advances to be made on the Closing
Date, Availability shall be at least $750,000.00;

            (r) Borrower shall have submitted proposed Approved Forms and
Required Procedures to Lender, which shall have been approved by Lender and
Lender's Counsel in their sole and absolute discretion;

            (s) all other documents and legal matters in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been delivered, executed,
or recorded and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.

      3.2 CONDITIONS SUBSEQUENT TO THE INITIAL EXTENSION OF CREDIT. The
obligation of Lender to continue to make Advances (or otherwise extend credit
hereunder) is subject to the fulfillment, on or before the date applicable
thereto, of each of the following conditions subsequent (the failure by Borrower
to so perform or cause to be performed constituting an Event of Default):

            (a) Borrower shall deliver to Lender, within thirty (30) days of the
Closing Date, certified copies of the policies of insurance, together with the
endorsements thereto, as are required by Section 6.8(a), the form and substance
of which shall be satisfactory to Lender and its counsel.

            (b) Borrower shall deliver to Lender a certificate of insurance,
together

                                       34
<PAGE>
with the endorsements thereto, relating to coverages for larceny,
embezzlement and criminal misappropriation, as are required by Section 6.8, the
form and substance of which shall be satisfactory to Lender;

            (c) Borrower shall use its best efforts to deliver to Lender, within
ninety (90) days following the Closing Date and subject to the cost limitations
set forth in Section 6.8(d), certified copies of the policies of insurance,
together with the endorsements thereto, as are required by Section 6.8(d), the
form and substance of which shall be satisfactory to Lender and its counsel.

      3.3 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ALL EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT. The obligation of
Lender to make all Advances (or to extend any other credit hereunder) shall be
subject to the following conditions precedent:

            (a) the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects
on and as of the date of such extension of credit, as though made on and as of
such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate
solely to an earlier date),

            (b) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such extension of credit, nor shall either result from
the making thereof,

            (c) no injunction, writ, restraining order, or other order of any
nature prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the extending of such credit shall
have been issued and remain in force by any Governmental Authority against
Borrower, Lender, or any of their Affiliates,

            (d) no Material Adverse Change shall have occurred.

      3.4 TERM; EXTENSION OF TERM. This Agreement shall become effective upon
the execution and delivery hereof by Borrower and Lender and shall continue in
full force and effect for a term ending on December 19, 2004 (the "Maturity
Date"). The foregoing notwithstanding, Lender shall have the right to terminate
its obligations under this Agreement immediately and without notice upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default which Lender, in its sole and absolute
discretion, deems material.

      3.5 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. On the date of termination of this Agreement,
all Obligations immediately shall become due and payable without notice or
demand. No termination of this Agreement, however, shall relieve or discharge
Borrower of its duties, Obligations, or covenants hereunder and the Lender's
Liens in the Collateral shall remain in effect until all Obligations have been
fully and finally discharged and Lender's obligations to provide additional
credit hereunder have been terminated. When this Agreement has been terminated
and all of the Obligations have been fully and finally discharged and Lender's
obligations to provide additional credit under the Loan Documents have been
terminated

                                       35
<PAGE>
irrevocably, Lender will, at Borrower's sole expense, execute and deliver any
UCC termination statements, lien releases, mortgage releases, re-assignments of
trademarks, discharges of security interests, and other similar discharge or
release documents (and, if applicable, in recordable form) as are reasonably
necessary to release, as of record, the Lender's Liens and all notices of
security interests and liens previously filed by Lender with respect to the
Obligations.

      3.6 EARLY TERMINATION BY BORROWER. Borrower has the option, at any time
upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to Lender, to terminate this
Agreement by paying to Lender, in cash, the Obligations (including either (i)
providing cash collateral to be held by Lender for the benefit of Issuing Bank
in an amount equal to one hundred five percent (105.00%) of the then extant
Letter of Credit Usage, or (ii) causing the original Letters of Credit to be
returned to Issuing Bank) in full, together with the Applicable Prepayment
Premium. If Borrower has sent a notice of termination pursuant to the provisions
of this Section, then Lender's obligations to extend credit hereunder shall
terminate and Borrower shall be obligated to repay the Obligations (including
either (i) providing cash collateral to be held by Lender for the benefit of
Issuing Bank in an amount equal to one hundred five percent (105.00%) of the
then extant Letter of Credit Usage, or (ii) causing the original Letters of
Credit to be returned to Issuing Bank), in full, together with the Applicable
Prepayment Premium, on the date set forth as the date of termination of this
Agreement in such notice. In the event of the termination of this Agreement and
repayment of the Obligations at any time prior to the Maturity Date, for any
other reason, including (a) termination upon the election of Lender to terminate
after the occurrence of an Event of Default, (b) foreclosure and sale of
Collateral, (c) sale of the Collateral in any Insolvency Proceeding, or (d)
restructure, reorganization, or compromise of the Obligations by the
confirmation of a plan of reorganization or any other plan of compromise,
restructure, or arrangement in any Insolvency Proceeding, then, in view of the
impracticability and extreme difficulty of ascertaining the actual amount of
damages to Lender or profits lost by Lender as a result of such early
termination, and by mutual agreement of the parties as to a reasonable
estimation and calculation of the lost profits or damages of Lender, Borrower
shall pay the Applicable Prepayment Premium to Lender, measured as of the date
of such termination.

4.    CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST.

      4.1 GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST. Borrower hereby grants to Lender a
continuing security interest in all of its right, title, and interest in all
currently existing and hereafter acquired or arising Collateral in order to
secure prompt repayment of any and all of the Obligations in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Loan Documents and in order to secure prompt
performance by Borrower of each of its covenants and duties under the Loan
Documents. The Lender's Liens in and to the Collateral shall attach to all
Collateral without further act on the part of Lender or Borrower. Anything
contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary
notwithstanding, except for Permitted Dispositions and expenditures of cash for
operating, capital, office, accounting, legal and

                                       36
<PAGE>
similar expenses in the ordinary course of Borrower's business, Borrower has no
authority, express or implied, to dispose of any item or portion of the
Collateral.

      4.2 NEGOTIABLE COLLATERAL. In the event that any Collateral, including
proceeds, is evidenced by or consists of Negotiable Collateral, and if and to
the extent that perfection or priority of Lender's security interest is
dependent on or enhanced by possession, Borrower, immediately upon the request
of Lender, shall endorse and deliver physical possession of such Negotiable
Collateral to Lender; provided, however, Borrower may deliver Negotiable
Collateral to a third party custodian (the "Collateral Agent") acceptable to
Lender in Lender's sole and absolute discretion pursuant to a Collateral Agency
Agreement in form and substance acceptable to Lender in Lender's sole and
absolute discretion.

      4.3 COLLECTION OF ACCOUNTS, GENERAL INTANGIBLES, AND NEGOTIABLE
COLLATERAL. At any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default, Lender or
Lender's designee may (a) notify Account Debtors of Borrower that the Accounts,
chattel paper, or General Intangibles have been assigned to Lender or that
Lender has a security interest therein, or (b) collect the Accounts, chattel
paper, or General Intangibles directly and charge the collection costs and
expenses to the Loan Account. Borrower agrees that it will hold in trust for
Lender, as Lender's trustee, any Collections that it receives and immediately
will deliver said Collections to Lender or a Cash Management Bank in their
original form as received by Borrower.

      4.4 DELIVERY OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED. At any time upon the
request of Lender, Borrower shall execute and deliver to Lender, any and all
financing statements, original financing statements in lieu of continuation
statements, fixture filings, security agreements, pledges, assignments,
mortgages, deeds of trust, endorsements of certificates of title, and all other
documents (the "Additional Documents") that Lender may request in its Permitted
Discretion, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, to perfect and
continue perfected or better perfect the Lender's Liens in the Collateral
(whether now owned or hereafter arising or acquired), to create and perfect
Liens in favor of Lender in any Real Property, and in order to fully consummate
all of the transactions contemplated hereby and under the other Loan Documents.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Borrower authorizes Lender to
execute any such Additional Documents in Borrower's name and authorizes Lender
to file such executed Additional Documents in any appropriate filing office. In
addition, on such periodic basis as Lender shall require, Borrower shall (a)
provide Lender with a report of all new patentable, copyrightable, or
trademarkable materials acquired or generated by Borrower during the prior
period, (b) cause all patents, copyrights, and trademarks acquired or generated
by Borrower that are not already the subject of a registration with the
appropriate filing office (or an application therefor diligently prosecuted) to
be registered with such appropriate filing office in a manner sufficient to
impart constructive notice of Borrower's ownership thereof, and (c) cause to be
prepared, executed, and delivered to Lender supplemental schedules to the
applicable Loan Documents to identify such patents, copyrights, and trademarks
as being subject to the security interests

                                       37
<PAGE>
created thereunder.

      4.5 POWER OF ATTORNEY. Borrower hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes, and
appoints Lender (and any of Lender's officers, employees, or agents designated
by Lender) as Borrower's true and lawful attorney, with power to (a) if Borrower
refuses to, or fails timely to execute and deliver any of the documents
described in Section 4.4, sign the name of Borrower on any of the documents
described in Section 4.4, (b) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, sign Borrower's name on any invoice or bill of lading
relating to the Collateral, drafts against Account Debtors, or notices to
Account Debtors, (c) send requests for verification of Accounts, (d) endorse
Borrower's name on any Collection item that may come into Lender's possession,
(e) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, make,
settle, and adjust all claims under Borrower's policies of insurance and make
all determinations and decisions with respect to such policies of insurance, (f)
at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, take
control, in any manner, of any item of payment or proceeds relating to any
Collateral, (g) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, prepare, file, and sign Borrower's name to a proof of claim in
bankruptcy or similar document against any Account Debtor or Payee, or to any
notice of lien, assignment, or satisfaction of lien or similar document in
connection with any of the Collateral, (h) at any time that an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed
to Borrower, and notify postal authorities to change the address for delivery
thereof to such address as Lender may designate, (i) at any time that an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, use the information recorded on or
contained in any data processing equipment, computer hardware, and software
relating to the Collateral, (j) at any time that an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, settle and adjust disputes and claims respecting the
Accounts, chattel paper, or General Intangibles directly with Account Debtors,
for amounts and upon terms that Lender determines to be reasonable, and Lender
may cause to be executed and delivered any documents and releases that Lender
determines to be necessary, and (k) do all other acts and things necessary, in
Lender's determination, to fulfill Borrower's obligations under this Agreement.
The appointment of Lender as Borrower's attorney, and each and every one of its
rights and powers, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable until all of
the Obligations have been fully and finally repaid and performed and Lender's
obligations to extend credit hereunder are terminated.

      4.6 RIGHT TO INSPECT. Lender and its officers, employees, or agents shall
have the right, from time to time hereafter to inspect the Books and to check,
test, and appraise the Collateral in order to verify Borrower's financial
condition or the amount, quality, value, condition of, or any other matter
relating to, the Collateral.

      4.7 CONTROL AGREEMENTS. Borrower agrees that it will not transfer assets
out of any Securities Accounts other than as permitted under Section 7.19 and,
if to another securities intermediary, unless each of Borrower, Lender, and the
substitute securities intermediary have entered into a Control Agreement. No
arrangement contemplated hereby

                                       38
<PAGE>
or by any Control Agreement in respect of any Securities Accounts or other
Investment Property shall be modified by Borrower without the prior written
consent of Lender. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default
or Event of Default, Lender may notify any securities intermediary to liquidate
the applicable Securities Account or any related Investment Property maintained
or held thereby and remit the proceeds thereof to the Lender's Account.

5.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

      In order to induce Lender to enter into this Agreement, Borrower makes the
following representations and warranties to Lender which shall be true, correct,
and complete, in all material respects, as of the date hereof, and shall be
true, correct, and complete, in all material respects, as of the Closing Date,
and at and as of the date of the making of each Advance (or other extension of
credit) made thereafter, as though made on and as of the date of such Advance
(or other extension of credit) (except to the extent that such representations
and warranties relate solely to an earlier date) and such representations and
warranties shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement:

      5.1 NO ENCUMBRANCES. Borrower has good and indefeasible title to the
Collateral, free and clear of Liens except for Permitted Liens.

      5.2 ELIGIBLE NOTES RECEIVABLE. The Eligible Notes Receivable are bona fide
existing obligations created by the lending of money in the ordinary course of
Borrower's business, unconditionally owed to Borrower without defenses,
disputes, offsets, counterclaims, or rights of return or cancellation and
secured by bona fide Financed Receivables or other satisfactory collateral in
accordance with the Required Procedures. Borrower has not received notice of
actual or imminent bankruptcy, insolvency, or material impairment of the
financial condition of any Payee regarding any Eligible Note Receivable.
Borrower has not received notice of any actual or threatened litigation
regarding the validity or enforceability of any Eligible Note Receivable,
Financed Receivable or any lien on other collateral securing any Eligible Note
Receivable. Each Eligible Note Receivable strictly complies with the
representations and warranties respecting Financed Receivables made by the
applicable Payee to Borrower. With regard to each Eligible Note Receivable,
Borrower has duly filed financing statements against the applicable Payee in all
applicable jurisdictions, and upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, such
financing statements shall be promptly assigned to Lender, for the benefit of
Lender.

      5.3 ELIGIBLE PURCHASED ACCOUNTS. The Eligible Purchased Accounts are bona
fide existing obligations created by the sale or rental, and delivery of goods
or the rendition of services in the ordinary course of the applicable Payee's
business, unconditionally owed to the applicable Payee without defenses,
disputes, offsets, counterclaims, or rights of return or cancellation. The
property giving rise to the Eligible Purchased Accounts has been delivered by
the applicable Payee. Borrower has not received notice of actual or imminent
bankruptcy,

                                       39
<PAGE>
insolvency, or material impairment of the financial condition of any Account
Debtor with respect to any Eligible Purchased Account. Borrower has not received
notice of any actual or threatened litigation regarding the validity or
enforceability of any Purchased Account. Each Eligible Purchased Account
strictly complies with the representations and warranties respecting Purchased
Accounts made by the applicable Payee under the Financing Documents.

      5.4 EQUIPMENT. All of the Equipment is used or held for use in Borrower's
business and is fit for such purposes.

      5.5 LOCATION OF INVENTORY AND EQUIPMENT. The Inventory and Equipment are
not stored with a bailee, warehouseman, or similar party and are located only at
the locations identified on Schedule 5.5.

      5.6 INVENTORY RECORDS. Borrower keeps correct and accurate records
itemizing and describing the type, quality, and quantity of any Inventory coming
into the possession of Borrower and the book value thereof.

      5.7 LOCATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE; FEIN. The chief executive office
of Borrower is located at the address indicated in Schedule 5.7 and Borrower's
FEIN is identified in Schedule 5.7.

      5.8 DUE ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION; SUBSIDIARIES.

            (a) Borrower is duly organized and existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and qualified to do
business in any state where the failure to be so qualified reasonably could be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Borrower is not required to
obtain any licenses, permits or approvals from any Governmental Authority in
order to engage in its line of business.

            (b) Set forth on Schedule 5.8(b), is a complete and accurate
description of the authorized Capital Stock of Borrower, by class, and, as of
the Closing Date, a description of the number of shares of each such class that
are issued and outstanding. Other than as described on Schedule 5.8(b), there
are no subscriptions, options, warrants, or calls relating to any shares of
Borrower's Capital Stock, including any right of conversion or exchange under
any outstanding security or other instrument. Borrower is not subject to any
obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or
retire any shares of its Capital Stock or any security convertible into or
exchangeable for any of its Capital Stock.

            (c) Borrower has no direct or indirect Subsidiaries.

      5.9 DUE AUTHORIZATION; NO CONFLICT.

            (a) The execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower of this

                                       40
<PAGE>
Agreement and the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly
authorized by all necessary action on the part of Borrower.

            (b) The execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower of this
Agreement and the Loan Documents to which it is a party do not and will not (i)
violate any provision of federal, state, or local law or regulation applicable
to Borrower, the Governing Documents of Borrower, or any order, judgment, or
decree of any court or other Governmental Authority binding on Borrower, (ii)
conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of
time or both) a default under any material contractual obligation of Borrower,
(iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien of any nature
whatsoever upon any properties or assets of Borrower, other than Permitted
Liens, or (iv) require any approval of Borrower's interestholders or any
approval or consent of any Person under any material contractual obligation of
Borrower.

            (c) Other than the filing of financing statements and fixture
filings, the execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower of this Agreement
and the Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party do not and will not require
any registration with, consent, or approval of, or notice to, or other action
with or by, any Governmental Authority or other Person.

            (d) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Borrower is
a party, and all other documents contemplated hereby and thereby, when executed
and delivered by Borrower will be the legally valid and binding obligations of
Borrower, enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their respective
terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to
or limiting creditors' rights generally.

            (e) The Lender's Liens are validly created, perfected, and first
priority Liens, subject only to Permitted Liens.

            (f) The execution, delivery, and performance by each Guarantor of
the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all
necessary action on the part of such Guarantor.

            (g) The execution, delivery, and performance by each Guarantor of
the Loan Documents to which it is a party do not and will not (i) violate any
provision of federal, state, or local law or regulation applicable to such
Guarantor, or any order, judgment, or decree of any court or other Governmental
Authority binding on such Guarantor, (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of,
or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any
material contractual obligation of such Guarantor, (iii) result in or require
the creation or imposition of any Lien of any nature whatsoever upon any
properties or assets of such Guarantor, other than Permitted Liens, or (iv)
require any approval or consent of any Person under any material contractual
obligation of Guarantor.

                                       41
<PAGE>
            (h) The execution, delivery, and performance by each Guarantor of
the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party do not and will not
require any registration with, consent, or approval of, or notice to, or other
action with or by, any Governmental Authority or other Person.

            (i) The Loan Documents to which each Guarantor is a party, and all
other documents contemplated hereby and thereby, when executed and delivered by
such Guarantor will be the legally valid and binding obligations of such
Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with their
respective terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles
or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws
relating to or limiting creditors' rights generally.

      5.10 LITIGATION. Other than those matters disclosed on Schedule 5.10,
there are no actions, suits, or proceedings pending or, to the best knowledge of
Borrower, threatened against Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries, as
applicable, except for (a) matters that are fully covered by insurance (subject
to customary deductibles), and (b) matters arising after the Closing Date that,
if decided adversely to Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable,
reasonably could not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

      5.11 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. All financial statements relating to
Borrower that have been delivered by Borrower to Lender, except Projections,
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited
financial statements, for the lack of footnotes and being subject to year-end
audit adjustments) and present fairly in all material respects, Borrower's
financial condition as of the date thereof and results of operations for the
period then ended. There has not been a Material Adverse Change with respect to
Borrower since the date of the latest financial statements submitted to Lender
on or before the Closing Date.

      5.12 FRAUDULENT TRANSFER.

            (a) Borrower is Solvent.

            (b) No transfer of property is being made by Borrower and no
obligation is being incurred by Borrower in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the intent to
hinder, delay, or defraud either present or future creditors of Borrower.

      5.13 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. None of Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any
of their ERISA Affiliates maintains or contributes to any Benefit Plan, except
that Guarantor maintains a Benefit Plan in which Borrower's employees may
participate.

      5.14 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.14, (a) to
Borrower's knowledge, none of Borrower's assets has ever been used by Borrower
or by previous owners or operators in the disposal of, or to produce, store,
handle, treat, release, or

                                       42
<PAGE>
transport, any Hazardous Materials, where such production, storage, handling,
treatment, release or transport was in violation, in any material respect, of
applicable Environmental Law, (b) to Borrower's knowledge, none of Borrower's
properties or assets has ever been designated or identified in any manner
pursuant to any environmental protection statute as a Hazardous Materials
disposal site, (c) Borrower has not received notice that a Lien arising under
any Environmental Law has attached to any revenues or to any Real Property owned
or operated by Borrower, and (d) Borrower has not received a summons, citation,
notice, or directive from the Environmental Protection Agency or any other
federal or state governmental agency concerning any action or omission by
Borrower resulting in the releasing or disposing of Hazardous Materials into the
environment.

      5.15 BROKERAGE FEES. Except for Berwind Financial Group, L.P. and Jeff
Lipkin, Borrower has not utilized the services of any broker or finder in
connection with Borrower's obtaining financing from Lender under this Agreement
and no brokerage commission or finders fee is payable by Borrower in connection
herewith except to Berwind Financial Group, L.P. and Jeff Lipkin.

      5.16 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Borrower owns, or holds licenses in, all
trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, and licenses that
are necessary to the conduct of its business as currently or proposed to be
conducted. Attached hereto as Schedule 5.16 is a true, correct, and complete
listing of all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark
applications, copyrights, and copyright registrations as to which Borrower is
the owner or is an exclusive licensee.

      5.17 LEASES. Borrower enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all
leases material to the business of Borrower and to which it is a party or under
which it is operating. All of such leases are valid and subsisting and no
material default by Borrower exists under any of them.

      5.18 DDAs. Set forth on Schedule 5.18 are all of Borrower's DDAs,
including, with respect to each depository (i) the name and address of such
depository, and (ii) the account numbers of the accounts maintained with such
depository.

      5.19 COMPLETE DISCLOSURE. All factual information (taken as a whole)
furnished by or on behalf of Borrower in writing to Lender (including all
information contained in the Schedules hereto or in the other Loan Documents)
for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents,
or any transaction contemplated herein or therein is, and all other such factual
information (taken as a whole) hereafter furnished by or on behalf of Borrower
in writing to Lender will be, true and accurate, in all material respects, on
the date as of which such information is dated or certified and not incomplete
by omitting to state any fact necessary to make such information (taken as a
whole) not misleading in any material respect at such time in light of the
circumstances under which such information was provided. On the Closing Date,
the Closing Date Business Plan represents, and as of the date

                                       43
<PAGE>
on which any other Projections are delivered to Lender, such additional
Projections represent, Borrower's good faith best estimate of its future
performance for the periods covered thereby.

      5.20 INDEBTEDNESS. Set forth on Schedule 5.20 is a true and complete list
of all Indebtedness of Borrower outstanding immediately prior to the Closing
Date that is to remain outstanding after the Closing Date and such Schedule
accurately reflects the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness and the
principal terms thereof.

      5.21 ERISA. Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Guarantor are in compliance
in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, and no
"reportable event," as such term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has
occurred with respect to any Plan of Borrower or any Subsidiary or Guarantor.

6.    AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

      Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any credit hereunder shall
be available and until full and final payment of the Obligations, Borrower shall
and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to do all of the following:

      6.1 ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. Maintain a system of accounting that enables
Borrower to produce financial statements in accordance with GAAP and maintain
records pertaining to the Collateral that contain information as from time to
time reasonably may be requested by Lender.

      6.2 COLLATERAL REPORTING. Provide Lender with the following documents at
the following times in form satisfactory to Lender:

Daily             (a) a Schedule of Purchased Accounts and Notes Receivable
                  balances and a checklist evidencing the completion of each of
                  the Required Procedures and a certificate of an officer of
                  Borrower attesting to the completion of the Required
                  Procedures,

                  (b) a calculation of the Borrowing Base as of such date, if an
                  Advance is requested on that day,

                  (c) notice of all disputes or claims with respect to Purchased
                  Accounts and Notes Receivable,

Weekly            (d) a report regarding the concentration of Purchased
                  Accounts,

                                       44
<PAGE>
Monthly (not      (e) a detailed calculation of the Borrowing Base (including
later than the    detail regarding those Purchased Accounts that are not
10th day of       Eligible Purchased Accounts and those Notes Receivable that
each month)       are not Eligible Notes Receivable), and reconciled to the
                  daily Borrowing Base calculation,

                  (f) with respect to all Purchased Accounts, a client summary
                  for Borrower, a client summary for each Payee and an invoice
                  aging report grouped by Payee,

                  (g) with respect to all Notes Receivable, a loan status report
                  and collateral loan ledger, including detail for all
                  outstanding Notes Receivable,

                  (h) a summary aging, by vendor, of Borrower's accounts payable
                  and any book overdraft,

                  (i) with respect to each Payee, any internal notes, memoranda
                  and related information, as well as completed collateral exams
                  (including workpapers) relating to such Payee,

Quarterly         (j) a detailed list of Payees,

                  (k) a portfolio review, containing such information as Lender
                  shall request

Upon request by
Lender            (l) copies of invoices in connection with the Notes Receivable
                  or Purchased Accounts, as the case may be, customer
                  statements, credit memos, remittance advices and reports,
                  deposit slips, shipping and delivery documents in connection
                  with the Notes Receivable or Purchased Accounts, as the case
                  may be, and, for Equipment acquired by Borrower, purchase
                  orders and invoices, and

                  (m) such other reports as to the Collateral, or the financial
                  condition of Borrower, as Lender may reasonably request.

      In addition, Borrower agrees to cooperate fully with Lender to facilitate
and implement a system of electronic collateral reporting in order to provide
electronic reporting of each of the items set forth above. Such documents may be
signed by the Validity Officers or a duly authorized representative of Borrower
other than the Validity Officers; each Validity Officer shall have such
liability as may be set forth in his respective Validity Agreement, and any such
duly authorized representative other than the Validity Officers shall have no
personal liability for the validity of any statement contained in such
documents,

                                       45
<PAGE>
absent fraud.

      6.3 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, REPORTS, CERTIFICATES. DELIVER TO LENDER:

            (a) as soon as available, but in any event within thirty (30) days
after the end of each month during each of Borrower's fiscal years,

                  (i) a company prepared consolidated balance sheet, income
            statement, and statement of cash flow covering Borrower's and its
            Subsidiaries' operations during such period,

                  (ii) a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of
            Borrower to the effect that:

                        (A) the financial statements delivered hereunder have
                  been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except for the lack of
                  footnotes and being subject to year-end audit adjustments) and
                  fairly present in all material respects the financial
                  condition of Borrower and its Subsidiaries,

                        (B) the representations and warranties of Borrower
                  contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are
                  true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
                  date of such certificate, as though made on and as of such
                  date (except to the extent that such representations and
                  warranties relate solely to an earlier date), and

                        (C) there does not exist any condition or event that
                  constitutes a Default or Event of Default (or, to the extent
                  of any non-compliance, describing such non-compliance as to
                  which he or she may have knowledge and what action Borrower
                  has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect
                  thereto), and

                  (iii) for each month that is the date on which a financial
            covenant in Section 7.20 is to be tested, a Compliance Certificate
            demonstrating, in reasonable detail, compliance at the end of such
            period with the applicable financial covenants contained in Section
            7.20,

            (b) as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred twenty
(120) days after the end of each of Borrower's fiscal years, financial
statements of Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each such fiscal year, audited
by independent certified public accountants reasonably acceptable to Lender and
certified, without any qualifications, by such accountants to have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP (such audited financial statements to include a balance
sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flow and, if

                                       46
<PAGE>
prepared, such accountants' letter to management),

            (c) as soon as available, but in any event within thirty (30) days
prior to the start of each of Borrower's fiscal years, copies of Borrower's
Projections, in form and substance (including as to scope and underlying
assumptions) satisfactory to Lender, in its Permitted Discretion, for the
forthcoming three (3) years, year by year, and for the forthcoming fiscal year,
month by month, certified by the chief financial officer of Borrower as being
such officer's good faith best estimate of the financial performance of Borrower
during the period covered thereby,

            (d) if and when filed by Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be,
as soon as available, but in any event within five (5) days after the date of
filing:

                  (i) Form 10-Q quarterly reports, Form 10-K annual reports, and
            Form 8-K current reports,

                  (ii) any other filings made by Borrower with the SEC,

                  (iii) copies of Borrower's federal income tax returns, and any
            amendments thereto, filed with the Internal Revenue Service, and

                  (iv) any other information that is provided by Borrower to its
            shareholders generally,

            (e) if and when filed by Borrower and as requested by Lender,
satisfactory evidence of payment of applicable excise taxes in each jurisdiction
in which (i) Borrower conducts business or is required to pay any such excise
tax, (ii) where Borrower's failure to pay any such applicable excise tax would
result in a Lien on the properties or assets of Borrower, or (iii) where
Borrower's failure to pay any such applicable excise tax reasonably could be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,

            (f) as soon as Borrower has knowledge of any event or condition that
constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, notice thereof and a statement of
the curative action that Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto,

            (g) on or before December 1 of each year, Borrower shall deliver to
Lender Projections of Borrower on a monthly basis for the next calendar year, in
form and substance (including as to scope and underlying assumptions)
satisfactory to Lender, and

            (h) upon the request of Lender, any other report reasonably
requested relating to the financial condition of Borrower including, without
limitation, a certificate of Borrower's independent certified public accountants
(reasonably acceptable to Lender) addressed to Lender stating that such
accountants do not have knowledge of the existence of

                                       47
<PAGE>
any Default or Event of Default under Section 7.20.

      In addition to the financial statements referred to above, Borrower agrees
to deliver financial statements prepared on both a consolidated and
consolidating basis and agrees that no Subsidiary of Borrower will have a fiscal
year different from that of Borrower. Borrower agrees that its independent
certified public accountants are authorized to communicate with Lender and to
release to Lender whatever financial information concerning Borrower Lender
reasonably may request. Borrower waives the right to assert a confidential
relationship, if any, it may have with any accounting firm or service bureau in
connection with any information requested by Lender pursuant to or in accordance
with this Agreement, and agrees that Lender may contact directly any such
accounting firm or service bureau in order to obtain such information.

      6.4 RELATIONSHIP WITH PAYEES. Borrower shall maintain credit, document and
legal files with respect to all Payees, consistent with stated policies and
procedures. Borrower shall obtain credit reports with respect to all Account
Debtors of any Payee whose accounts receivable are equal to or exceed twenty
percent (20.00%) of the applicable Payee's aggregate accounts receivable.
Borrower shall deliver to Lender as soon as available, copies of all write-ups,
credit reports, term sheets, and other information pertaining to Borrower's
transactions with existing or prospective Payees. Borrower shall maintain the
contractual right to audit each Payee's books and records, and to receive from
each Payee its unaudited quarterly financial statements within sixty (60) days
after the end of such Payee's fiscal quarters and its audited or unaudited, as
the case may be, annual financial statements or duly prepared and certified tax
returns within one hundred twenty (120) days following the end of such Payee's
fiscal years. Borrower shall promptly notify Lender of (a) any material default
or material event of default under the Financing Documents, (b) any other
default or event of default under the Financing Documents which continues
uncured or for which a waiver has not been granted by Borrower with respect
thereto, for a period of sixty (60) days following Borrower's obtaining
knowledge thereof, or (c) the occurrence of any other event which may impair the
prospect of payment of any Purchased Account or Note Receivable or any
underlying Finance Receivable.

      6.5 TITLE TO PROPERTY. Upon Lender's request, Borrower immediately shall
deliver to Lender, properly endorsed, any and all evidences of ownership of,
certificates of title, or applications for title to any items of personal
property, including any Equipment.

      6.6 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES. Maintain and preserve all of its properties
which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct to its business in good
working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and comply at all
times with the provisions of all leases to which it is a party as lessee so as
to prevent any loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder. Borrower shall not
permit any item of Personal Property Collateral to become a fixture to real
estate or an accession to other property, and such Personal Property Collateral

                                       48
<PAGE>
shall at all times remain personal property.

      6.7 TAXES. Cause all assessments and taxes, whether real, personal, or
otherwise, due or payable by, or imposed, levied, or assessed against Borrower
or any of its assets to be paid in full, before delinquency or before the
expiration of any extension period, except to the extent that the validity of
such assessment or tax shall be the subject of a Permitted Protest. Borrower
will make timely payment or deposit of all tax payments and withholding taxes
required of it by applicable laws, including those laws concerning F.I.C.A.,
F.U.T.A., state disability, and local, state, and federal income taxes, and
will, upon request, furnish Lender with proof satisfactory to Lender indicating
that Borrower has made such payments or deposits. Upon request, Borrower shall
deliver satisfactory evidence of payment of applicable excise taxes in each
jurisdiction in which Borrower is required to pay any such excise tax.

      6.8 INSURANCE.

            (a) At Borrower's expense, maintain insurance respecting its assets
wherever located, covering loss or damage by fire, theft, explosion, and all
other hazards and risks as ordinarily are insured against by other Persons
engaged in the same or similar businesses. Borrower also shall maintain business
interruption and public liability insurance, as well as insurance against
larceny, embezzlement, and criminal misappropriation. All such policies of
insurance shall be in such amounts and with such insurance companies as are
reasonably satisfactory to Lender. Borrower shall deliver copies of all such
policies to Lender with a satisfactory lender's loss payable endorsement naming
Lender as sole loss payee or additional insured, as appropriate. Each policy of
insurance or endorsement shall contain a clause requiring the insurer to give
not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice to Lender in the event of
cancellation of the policy for any reason whatsoever.

            (b) Borrower shall give Lender prompt notice of any loss covered by
such insurance. Lender shall have the exclusive right to adjust any losses
payable under any such insurance policies, without any liability to Borrower
whatsoever in respect of such adjustments. Any monies received as payment for
any loss under any insurance policy mentioned above (other than liability
insurance policies) or as payment of any award or compensation for condemnation
or taking by eminent domain, shall be paid over to an account controlled by
Lender to be applied at the option of Borrower either to (i) the prepayment of
the Obligations or (ii) under staged payment terms reasonably satisfactory to
Lender, for application to the cost of repairs, replacements, or restorations.
Any such repairs, replacements, or restorations shall be effected with
reasonable promptness and shall be of a value at least equal to the value of the
items of property destroyed prior to such damage or destruction.

            (c) Borrower will not take out separate insurance concurrent in form
or contributing in the event of loss with that required to be maintained under
this Section 6.8,

                                       49
<PAGE>
unless Lender is included thereon as named insured with the loss payable to
Lender under a lender's loss payable endorsement or its equivalent. Borrower
immediately shall notify Lender whenever such separate insurance is taken out,
specifying the insurer thereunder and full particulars as to the policies
evidencing the same, and copies of such policies promptly shall be provided to
Lender.

            (d) At its expense, not to exceed an aggregate annual amount of
$10,000.00, and subject to the terms of Section 3.2, obtain and maintain key-man
life insurance policies with respect to the following individuals and in the
following amounts:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      Name                               Amount
                      ----                               ------
<S>                                                      <C>
                      Walter M. Craig, Jr.               $1,000,000.00
                      Allen H. Vogel                     $1,000,000.00
</TABLE>

Borrower will use its best efforts to obtain such insurance within ninety (90)
days of the Closing Date, but Borrower's failure to obtain such insurance shall
not constitute an Event of Default. Borrower shall furnish Lender with an
"Absolute Assignment" of each such key-man life insurance policy, shall record
each such "Absolute Assignment" with the issuer of the respective policy, and
shall furnish proof of such issuer's acceptance of such assignment. All proceeds
payable under such key man life insurance policies shall be payable to Lender to
be applied on account of the Obligations in accordance with Section 2.3(b).

      6.9 LOCATION OF INVENTORY AND EQUIPMENT. Keep the Inventory and Equipment
only at the locations identified on Schedule 5.5; provided, however, that
Borrower may amend Schedule 5.5 so long as such amendment occurs by written
notice to Lender not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date on which
Inventory or Equipment is moved to such new location, so long as such new
location is within the continental United States, and so long as, at the time of
such written notification, Borrower provides any financing statements or fixture
filings necessary to perfect and continue perfected the Lender's Liens on such
assets and also provides to Lender a Collateral Access Agreement.

      6.10 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Comply with the requirements of all applicable
laws, rules, regulations, and orders of any Governmental Authority, including
the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act, other than
laws, rules, regulations, and orders the non-compliance with which, individually
or in the aggregate, would not result in and reasonably could not be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change.

      6.11 LEASES. Pay when due all rents and other amounts payable under any
leases to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower's properties and assets
are bound, unless such payments are the subject of a Permitted Protest.

      6.12 BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS. Pay any and all brokerage commission or
finders

                                       50
<PAGE>
fees incurred in connection with or as a result of Borrower's obtaining
financing from Lender under this Agreement. Borrower agrees and acknowledges
that payment of all such brokerage commissions or finders fees shall be the sole
responsibility of Borrower, and Borrower agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold
Lender harmless from and against any claim of any broker or finder arising out
of Borrower's obtaining financing from Lender under this Agreement.

      6.13 EXISTENCE. At all times preserve and keep in full force and effect
Borrower's valid existence and good standing and any rights and franchises
material to Borrower's businesses.

      6.14 ENVIRONMENTAL.

            (a) Keep any property either owned or operated by Borrower free of
any Environmental Liens or post bonds or other financial assurances sufficient
to satisfy the obligations or liability evidenced by such Environmental Liens,
(b) comply, in all material respects, with Environmental Laws and provide to
Lender documentation of such compliance which Lender reasonably requests, (c)
promptly notify Lender of any release of a Hazardous Material in any reportable
quantity from or onto property owned or operated by Borrower and take any
Remedial Actions required to abate said release or otherwise to come into
compliance with applicable Environmental Law, and (d) promptly provide Lender
with written notice within ten (10) days of the receipt of any of the following:
(i) notice that an Environmental Lien has been filed against any of the real or
personal property of Borrower, (ii) commencement of any Environmental Action or
notice that an Environmental Action will be filed against Borrower, and (iii)
notice of a violation, citation, or other administrative order which reasonably
could be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

      6.15 DISCLOSURE UPDATES. Promptly and in no event later than five (5)
Business Days after obtaining knowledge thereof, (a) notify Lender if any
written information, exhibit, or report furnished to Lender contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which made, and (b) correct any defect or error that may be
discovered therein or in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgement,
filing, or recordation thereof.

      6.16 COLLATERAL ACCESS. Borrower agrees to execute and maintain in full
force and effect collateral access agreements with all Payees in connection with
all Notes Receivable. Borrower shall assign all of its rights under such
collateral access agreements to Lender and shall take all further action to
ensure Lender has access to such collateral.

      6.17 NOTICE OF MODIFICATION. Borrower shall use its best efforts to
provide advance written notice, but in any event shall provide prompt written
notice, to Lender of any modification to any existing Note Receivable.

                                       51
<PAGE>
      6.18 ERISA COMPLIANCE. Borrower will, and will cause Guarantor to,
promptly furnish to Lender (i) if requested by Lender, promptly after the filing
thereof with the United States Secretary of Labor or the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation, copies of each annual and other report with respect to
each Plan or any trust created thereunder, and (ii) immediately upon becoming
aware of the occurrence of any "reportable event," as such term is defined in
Section 4043 of ERISA, or of any "prohibited transaction," as such term is
defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, in
connection with any Plan or any trust created thereunder, a written notice
signed by the president or the principal financial officer of Borrower or
Guarantor, as the case may be, specifying the nature thereof, what action
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor is taking or proposes to take
with respect thereto, and, when known, any action taken by the Internal Revenue
Service with respect thereto. Borrower will fund, or will cause its Subsidiaries
or Guarantor to fund, all current service pension liabilities as they are
incurred under the provisions of all Plans from time to time in effect for the
benefit of employees of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor, and
comply with all applicable provisions of ERISA.

7.    NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

      Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any credit hereunder shall
be available and until full and final payment of the Obligations, Borrower will
not and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the following:

      7.1 INDEBTEDNESS. Create, incur, assume, permit, guarantee, or otherwise
become or remain, directly or indirectly, liable with respect to any
Indebtedness, except:

            (a) Indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents,

            (b) Subordinated Debt set forth on Schedule 5.20 in an aggregate
maximum amount at any one time not to exceed $3,500,000.00; provided, any
payment on such Subordinated Debt shall be subject to the following
restrictions: (i) no uncured Event of Default shall have occurred, (ii) such
payment shall not create an Event of Default, (iii) such payments shall be for
interest (including the New Funds Payment) only, and (iv) after giving effect to
any payment on Subordinated Debt, Availability shall be at least $250,000.00,

            (c) Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness, and

            (d) refinancings, renewals, or extensions of Indebtedness permitted
under clauses (b) and (c) of this Section 7.1 (and continuance or renewal of any
Permitted Liens associated therewith); provided, in connection with the
refinancing of any Indebtedness permitted under clause (b): (i) the terms and
conditions of such refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not, in Lender's
judgment, materially impair the prospects of repayment of the Obligations by
Borrower or materially impair Borrower's creditworthiness, (ii) such

                                       52
<PAGE>
refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not result in an increase in the
principal amount of, or interest rate with respect to, the Indebtedness so
refinanced, renewed, or extended, (iii) such refinancings, renewals, or
extensions do not result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity of the
Indebtedness so refinanced, renewed, or extended, nor are they on terms or
conditions that, taken as a whole, are materially more burdensome or restrictive
to Borrower, and (iv) if the Indebtedness that is refinanced, renewed, or
extended was subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, then the terms
and conditions of the refinancing, renewal, or extension Indebtedness must
include subordination terms and conditions that are at least as favorable to
Lender as those that were applicable to the refinanced, renewed, or extended
Indebtedness.

      7.2 LIENS. Create, incur, assume, or permit to exist, directly or
indirectly, any Lien on or with respect to any of its assets, of any kind,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom,
except for Permitted Liens (including Liens that are replacements of Permitted
Liens to the extent that the original Indebtedness is refinanced, renewed, or
extended under Section 7.1(d) and so long as the replacement Liens only encumber
those assets that secured the refinanced, renewed, or extended Indebtedness).

      7.3 RESTRICTIONS ON FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES.

            (a) Enter into any merger, consolidation, reorganization, or
recapitalization, or reclassify its Capital Stock.

            (b) Liquidate, wind up, or dissolve itself (or suffer any
liquidation or dissolution).

            (c) Convey, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, or otherwise
dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or any
substantial part of its assets.

      7.4 DISPOSAL OF ASSETS. Other than Permitted Dispositions, convey, sell,
lease, license, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of Borrower's
assets.

      7.5 CHANGE NAME. Change Borrower's name, FEIN, corporate structure, or
identity, or add any new fictitious name.

      7.6 GUARANTEE. Guarantee or otherwise become in any way liable with
respect to the obligations of any third Person except by endorsement of
instruments or items of payment for deposit to the account of Borrower or which
are transmitted or turned over to Lender.

      7.7 NATURE OF BUSINESS. Make any change in the principal nature of its
business.

                                       53
<PAGE>
      7.8 PREPAYMENTS AND AMENDMENTS.

            (a) Except in connection with a refinancing permitted by Section
7.1(d), prepay, redeem, defease, purchase, or otherwise acquire any Indebtedness
of Borrower, other than the Obligations in accordance with this Agreement, and

            (b) Except in connection with a refinancing permitted by Section
7.1(d), directly or indirectly, amend, modify, alter, increase, or change any of
the terms or conditions of any agreement, instrument, document, indenture, or
other writing evidencing or concerning Indebtedness permitted under Sections
7.1(b).

      7.9 CHANGE OF CONTROL. Cause, permit, or suffer, directly or indirectly,
any Change of Control.

      7.10 APPROVED FORMS; REQUIRED PROCEDURES. Make any material changes or
revisions to (i) the Approved Forms, or use any agreements, forms, or other
documents other than the Approved Forms in the lending of money to Payees or the
purchase of Purchased Accounts from Payees, or (ii) the Required Procedures. In
the event Borrower makes any immaterial changes or revisions to (i) the Approved
Forms, or uses any agreements, forms, or other documents other than the Approved
Forms in the lending of money to Payees or the purchase of Purchased Accounts
from Payees, or (ii) the Required Procedures, Borrower shall promptly provide
notice to Lender and copies to Lender of all revisions to the Approved Forms or
Required Procedures, as the case may be.

      7.11 DISTRIBUTIONS. Make any distribution or declare or pay any dividends
(in cash or other property, other than common stock) on, or purchase, acquire,
redeem, or retire any of Borrower's Capital Stock, of any class, whether now or
hereafter outstanding.

      7.12 ACCOUNTING METHODS. Modify or change its method of accounting (other
than as may be required to conform to GAAP) or enter into, modify, or terminate
any agreement currently existing, or at any time hereafter entered into with any
third party accounting firm or service bureau for the preparation or storage of
Borrower's accounting records without said accounting firm or service bureau
agreeing to provide Lender information regarding the Collateral or Borrower's
financial condition.

      7.13 INVESTMENTS. Except for Permitted Investments, directly or
indirectly, make or acquire any Investment or incur any liabilities (including
contingent obligations) for or in connection with any Investment; provided,
however, that Borrower shall not have Permitted Investments (other than in the
Cash Management Accounts) in excess of $50,000.00 outstanding at any one time
unless Borrower and the applicable securities intermediary or bank have entered
into Control Agreements governing such Permitted Investments, as Lender shall
determine in its Permitted Discretion, to perfect (and further establish) the
Lender's Liens in such Permitted Investments. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, Borrower shall not be required to enter into a
Control Agreement in

                                       54
<PAGE>
connection with its payroll account.

      7.14 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Directly or indirectly enter into or
permit to exist any transaction with any Affiliate of Borrower except for
transactions that are in the ordinary course of Borrower's business, upon fair
and reasonable terms, that are fully disclosed to Lender, and that are no less
favorable to Borrower than would be obtained in an arm's length transaction with
a non-Affiliate.

      7.15 SUSPENSION. Suspend or go out of a substantial portion of its
business.

      7.16 COMPENSATION. Increase the annual fee or per-meeting fees paid to the
members of its Board of Directors during any year by more than fifteen percent
(15%) over the prior year; pay or accrue base cash compensation (which, for
purposes of this Section 7.16, shall not include bonus compensation under any
employment agreements), during any year, to its officers and senior management
employees in an aggregate amount in excess of one hundred twenty-five percent
(125%) of that paid or accrued in the prior year.

      7.17 USE OF PROCEEDS. Use the proceeds of the Advances for any purpose
other than (a) on the Closing Date, to pay transactional fees, costs, and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents,
and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (b) thereafter, (i) to
finance newly purchased Eligible Purchased Accounts, (ii) to finance newly
purchased Eligible Notes Receivable, (iii) to continue to make advances under
existing Eligible Notes Receivable, and (iv) for working capital purposes, each
consistent with the terms and conditions hereof, for its lawful and permitted
purposes.

      7.18 CHANGE IN LOCATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE; INVENTORY AND EQUIPMENT
WITH BAILEES. Relocate its chief executive office to a new location without
providing thirty (30) days prior written notification thereof to Lender and so
long as, at the time of such written notification, Borrower provides any
financing statements or fixture filings necessary to perfect and continue
perfected the Lender's Liens and also provides to Lender a Collateral Access
Agreement with respect to such new location. The Inventory and Equipment shall
not at any time now or hereafter be stored with a bailee, warehouseman, or
similar party without Lender's prior written consent.

      7.19 SECURITIES ACCOUNTS. Except as provided in Section 7.13, establish or
maintain any Securities Account unless Lender shall have received a Control
Agreement in respect of such Securities Account. Borrower shall not transfer
assets out of any Securities Account; provided, however, that, so long as no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom,
Borrower may use such assets (and the proceeds thereof) to the extent not
prohibited by this Agreement.

                                       55
<PAGE>
      7.20 FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

            (a) Fail to maintain:

                  (i) MINIMUM INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO. Commencing at the end of
            the fifteenth (15th) month following the Closing Date, an Interest
            Coverage Ratio as of the end of each month, quarter or year, as the
            case may be, of not less than 1.10:1.00; commencing at the end of
            the twenty-seventh (27th) month following the Closing Date, an
            Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of each month, quarter or
            year, as the case may be, of not more than 1.25:1.00;

                  (ii) TANGIBLE NET WORTH. Tangible Net Worth plus the amount of
            all Subordinated Debt as of the end of each month, quarter or year,
            as the case may be, of at least $3,000,000.00.

                  (iii) LEVERAGE. Leverage Ratio as of the end of each month,
            quarter or year, as the case may be, of not more than 5.00:1.00.

            (b) Make:

                  (i) CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. Capital expenditures in any fiscal
            year in excess of the amount set forth in the following table for
            the applicable period:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

       Fiscal Year 2002              Fiscal Year 2003             Fiscal Year 2004
       ----------------              ----------------             ----------------
<S>                                  <C>                          <C>
         $150,000.00                    $200,000.00                  $500,000.00
</TABLE>

      7.21 ERISA COMPLIANCE. Borrower will not at any time permit any Plan
maintained by it or any Subsidiary or Guarantor to:

            (a) engage in any "prohibited transaction" as such term is defined
in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

            (b) incur any "accumulated funding deficiency" as such term is
defined in Section 302 of ERISA; or

            (c) terminate any such Plan in a manner which could result in the
imposition of a Lien on the Property of Borrower or any Subsidiary or Guarantor
pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA.

                                       56
<PAGE>
8.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

      Any one or more of the following events shall constitute an event of
default (each, an "Event of Default") under this Agreement:

      8.1 If Borrower fails to pay when due and payable, or when declared due
and payable, all or any portion of the Obligations (whether of principal,
interest [including any interest which, but for the provisions of the Bankruptcy
Code, would have accrued on such amounts], fees and charges due Lender,
reimbursement of Lender Expenses, or other amounts constituting Obligations);

      8.2 If Borrower fails to perform, keep, or observe any term, provision,
condition, covenant, or agreement contained in this Agreement or in any of the
other Loan Documents;

      8.3 If any material portion of Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries'
assets is attached, seized, subjected to a writ or distress warrant, levied
upon, or comes into the possession of any third Person;

      8.4 If an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries;

      8.5 If an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against Borrower, or any of
its Subsidiaries, and any of the following events occur: (a) Borrower or the
Subsidiary consents to the institution of such Insolvency Proceeding against it,
(b) the petition commencing the Insolvency Proceeding is not timely
controverted, (c) the petition commencing the Insolvency Proceeding is not
dismissed within sixty (60) calendar days of the date of the filing thereof;
provided, however, that, during the pendency of such period, Lender shall be
relieved of its obligations to extend credit hereunder, (d) an interim trustee
is appointed to take possession of all or any substantial portion of the
properties or assets of, or to operate all or any substantial portion of the
business of, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (e) an order for relief
shall have been entered therein;

      8.6 If Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is enjoined, restrained, or in
any way prevented by court order from continuing to conduct all or any material
part of its business affairs;

      8.7 If a notice of Lien, levy, or assessment is filed of record with
respect to any of Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' assets by any
Governmental Authority, or if any taxes or debts owing at any time hereafter to
any one or more of such entities becomes a Lien, whether choate or otherwise,
upon any of Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' assets and the same is not
paid before such payment is delinquent, unless subject to a Permitted Protest;
provided, any such Lien, levy, or assessment in an amount less than $10,000.00
which has been promptly disclosed to Lender shall not constitute an Event of
Default;

                                       57
<PAGE>
      8.8 If a judgment or other claim becomes a Lien or encumbrance upon any
material portion of Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' assets; provided, any
such judgment or other claim in an amount less than $10,000.00 which has been
promptly disclosed to Lender shall not constitute an Event of Default;

      8.9 If there is a default in any material indebtedness owed by Borrower
and such default (a) occurs at the final maturity of the obligations thereunder,
or (b) results in a right by the other party thereto, irrespective of whether
exercised, to accelerate the maturity of Borrower's or its Subsidiaries'
obligations thereunder, to terminate such agreement, or to refuse to renew such
agreement pursuant to an automatic renewal right therein;

      8.10 If Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries makes any payment on account
of Indebtedness that has been contractually subordinated in right of payment to
the payment of the Obligations, except to the extent such payment is permitted
by the terms of the subordination provisions applicable to such Indebtedness;

      8.11 If any material misstatement or misrepresentation exists now or
hereafter in any warranty, representation, statement, or Record made to Lender
by Borrower, its Subsidiaries, or any officer, employee, agent, or director of
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

      8.12 If the obligation of any Guarantor under any Guaranty is limited or
terminated by operation of law or by such Guarantor thereunder; or

      8.13 If this Agreement or any other Loan Document that purports to create
a Lien, shall, for any reason, fail or cease to create a valid and perfected
and, except to the extent permitted by the terms hereof or thereof, first
priority Lien on or security interest in the Collateral covered hereby or
thereby; or

      8.14 Any provision of any Loan Document shall at any time for any reason
be declared to be null and void, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall
be contested by Borrower, or a proceeding shall be commenced by Borrower, or by
any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over Borrower, seeking to
establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof, or Borrower shall deny
that Borrower has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any
Loan Document.

9.    LENDER'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

      9.1 RIGHTS AND REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default,
Lender (at its election but without notice of its election and without demand)
may do any one or more of the following, all of which are authorized by
Borrower:

            (a) declare all Obligations, whether evidenced by this Agreement, by
any

                                       58
<PAGE>
of the other Loan Documents, or otherwise, immediately due and payable;

            (b) cease advancing money or extending credit to or for the benefit
of Borrower under this Agreement, under any of the Loan Documents, or under any
other agreement between Borrower and Lender;

            (c) terminate this Agreement and any of the other Loan Documents as
to any future liability or obligation of Lender, but without affecting any of
the Lender's Liens in the Collateral and without affecting the Obligations;

            (d) settle or adjust disputes and claims directly with Account
Debtors for amounts and upon terms which Lender considers advisable, and in such
cases, Lender will credit Borrower's Loan Account with only the net amounts
received by Lender in payment of such disputed Accounts after deducting all
Lender Expenses incurred or expended in connection therewith;

            (e) without notice to or demand upon Borrower or any Guarantor, make
such payments and do such acts as Lender considers necessary or reasonable to
protect its security interests in the Collateral. Borrower agrees to assemble
the Personal Property Collateral if Lender so requires, and to make the Personal
Property Collateral available to Lender at a place that Lender may designate
which is reasonably convenient to both parties. Borrower authorizes Lender to
enter the premises where the Personal Property Collateral is located, to take
and maintain possession of the Personal Property Collateral, or any part of it,
and to pay, purchase, contest, or compromise any Lien that in Lender's
determination appears to conflict with the Lender's Liens and to pay all
expenses incurred in connection therewith and to charge Borrower's Loan Account
therefor. With respect to any of Borrower's owned or leased premises, Borrower
hereby grants Lender a license to enter into possession of such premises and to
occupy the same, without charge, in order to exercise any of Lender's rights or
remedies provided herein, at law, in equity, or otherwise;

            (f) without notice to Borrower (such notice being expressly waived),
and without constituting a retention of any collateral in satisfaction of an
obligation (within the meaning of the Code), set off and apply to the
Obligations any and all (i) balances and deposits of Borrower held by Lender
(including any amounts received in the Cash Management Accounts), or (ii)
indebtedness at any time owing to or for the credit or the account of Borrower
held by Lender;

            (g) hold, as cash collateral, any and all balances and deposits of
Borrower held by Lender, and any amounts received in the Cash Management
Accounts, to secure the full and final repayment of all of the Obligations;

            (h) ship, reclaim, recover, store, finish, maintain, repair, prepare
for sale, advertise for sale, and sell (in the manner provided for herein) the
Personal Property Collateral. Borrower hereby grants to Lender a license or
other right to use, without charge,

                                       59
<PAGE>
Borrower's labels, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trade names, trademarks,
service marks, and advertising matter, or any property of a similar nature, as
it pertains to the Personal Property Collateral, in completing production of,
advertising for sale, and selling any Personal Property Collateral and
Borrower's rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall inure to
Lender's benefit;

            (i) sell the Personal Property Collateral at either a public or
private sale, or both, by way of one or more contracts or transactions, for cash
or on terms, in such manner and at such places (including Borrower's premises)
as Lender determines is commercially reasonable, provided that the Personal
Property Collateral need not be present at any such sale;

            (j) Lender shall give notice of the disposition of the Personal
Property Collateral as follows:

                  (i) Lender shall give Borrower a notice in writing of the time
            and place of public sale, or, if the sale is a private sale or some
            other disposition other than a public sale is to be made of the
            Personal Property Collateral, then the time on or after which the
            private sale or other disposition is to be made; and

                  (ii) the notice shall be personally delivered or mailed,
            postage prepaid, to Borrower as provided in Section 12, at least ten
            (10) days before the earliest time of disposition set forth in the
            notice; no notice needs to be given prior to the disposition of any
            portion of the Personal Property Collateral that is perishable or
            threatens to decline speedily in value or that is of a type
            customarily sold on a recognized market;

            (k) Lender may credit bid and purchase at any public sale;

            (l) Lender may seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take
possession of all or any portion of the Collateral or to operate same and, to
the maximum extent permitted by law, may seek the appointment of such a receiver
without the requirement of prior notice or a hearing;

            (m) Lender may assume or assign collection of the Purchased Accounts
or Financed Receivables to any third party;

            (n) Lender shall have all other rights and remedies available at law
or in equity or pursuant to any other Loan Document; and

            (o) any deficiency that exists after disposition of the Personal
Property Collateral as provided above will be paid immediately by Borrower. Any
excess will be

                                       60
<PAGE>
returned, without interest and subject to the rights of third Persons, by Lender
to Borrower.

      9.2 REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. The rights and remedies of Lender under this
Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and all other agreements shall be
cumulative. Lender shall have all other rights and remedies not inconsistent
herewith as provided under the Code, by law, or in equity. No exercise by Lender
of one right or remedy shall be deemed an election, and no waiver by Lender of
any Event of Default shall be deemed a continuing waiver. No delay by Lender
shall constitute a waiver, election, or acquiescence by it.

10.   TAXES AND EXPENSES.

      If Borrower fails to pay any monies (whether taxes, assessments, insurance
premiums, or, in the case of leased properties or assets, rents or other amounts
payable under such leases) due to third Persons, or fails to make any deposits
or furnish any required proof of payment or deposit, all as required under the
terms of this Agreement, then, Lender, in its sole and absolute discretion and
upon provision of prior or subsequent notice to Borrower, may do any or all of
the following: (a) make payment of the same or any part thereof, (b) set up such
reserves in Borrower's Loan Account as Lender deems necessary to protect Lender
from the exposure created by such failure, or (c) in the case of the failure to
comply with Section 6.8 hereof, obtain and maintain insurance policies of the
type described in Section 6.8 and take any action with respect to such policies
as Lender deems prudent. Any such amounts paid by Lender shall constitute Lender
Expenses and any such payments shall not constitute an agreement by Lender to
make similar payments in the future or a waiver by Lender of any Event of
Default under this Agreement. Lender need not inquire as to, or contest the
validity of, any such expense, tax, or Lien and the receipt of the usual
official notice for the payment thereof shall be conclusive evidence that the
same was validly due and owing.

11.   WAIVERS; INDEMNIFICATION.

      11.1 DEMAND; PROTEST. Borrower waives demand, protest, notice of protest,
notice of default or dishonor, notice of payment and nonpayment, notice of
intent to accelerate maturity, notice of acceleration of maturity, nonpayment at
maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension, or renewal of documents,
instruments, chattel paper, and guarantees at any time held by Lender on which
Borrower may in any way be liable.

      11.2 LENDER'S LIABILITY FOR COLLATERAL. Borrower hereby agrees that: (a)
so long as Lender complies with its obligations, if any, under the Code, Lender
shall not in any way or manner be liable or responsible for: (i) the safekeeping
of the Collateral, (ii) any loss or damage thereto occurring or arising in any
manner or fashion from any cause, (iii) any diminution in the value thereof, or
(iv) any act or default of any carrier, warehouseman, bailee, forwarding agency,
or other Person, and (b) all risk of loss, damage, or destruction of

                                       61
<PAGE>
the Collateral shall be borne by Borrower.

      11.3 INDEMNIFICATION. Borrower shall pay, indemnify, defend, and hold the
Lender-Related Persons, each Participant, and each of their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, and attorneys-in-fact (each, an "Indemnified
Person") harmless (to the fullest extent permitted by law) from and against any
and all claims, demands, suits, actions, investigations, proceedings, and
damages, and all reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements and other costs
and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith (as and when they are
incurred and irrespective of whether suit is brought), at any time asserted
against, imposed upon, or incurred by any of them (a) in connection with or as a
result of or related to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance, or
administration of this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents, or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and (b) with respect to any
investigation, litigation, or proceeding related to this Agreement, any other
Loan Document, or the use of the proceeds of the credit provided hereunder
(irrespective of whether any Indemnified Person is a party thereto), or any act,
omission, event, or circumstance in any manner related thereto (all the
foregoing, collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities"). The foregoing to the
contrary notwithstanding, Borrower shall have no obligation to any Indemnified
Person under this Section 11.3 with respect to any Indemnified Liability that
(a) a court of competent jurisdiction finally determines to have resulted from
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person, or (b)
involves a dispute between Lender and any of its Affiliates, Participants or
Assignees or prospective Participants or Assignees, which does not involve any
act or omission of Borrower. This provision shall survive the termination of
this Agreement and the repayment of the Obligations. If any Indemnified Person
makes any payment to any other Indemnified Person with respect to an Indemnified
Liability as to which Borrower was required to indemnify the Indemnified Person
receiving such payment, the Indemnified Person making such payment is entitled
to be indemnified and reimbursed by Borrower with respect thereto. WITHOUT
LIMITATION, THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO EACH INDEMNIFIED PERSON WITH
RESPECT TO INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES WHICH IN WHOLE OR IN PART CAUSED BY OR ARISE
OUT OF ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR OF ANY OTHER
PERSON.

12.   NOTICES.

      Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices or demands by
Borrower or Lender to the other relating to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall be in writing and (except for financial statements and other
informational documents which may be sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid)
shall be personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid, return receipt requested), overnight courier, electronic mail (at such
email addresses as Borrower or Lender, as applicable, may designate to each
other in accordance herewith), or telefacsimile to Borrower or Lender, as the
case

                                       62
<PAGE>
may be, at its address set forth below:

                  If to Borrower:           EQUINOX BUSINESS CREDIT CORP.
                                            1011 Highway 71, Suite 200
                                            Spring Lake, New Jersey  07762
                                            Attn:  Mr. Allen H. Vogel
                                            Fax No. 732.282.1811

                  with copies to:           EQUIFIN, INC.
                                            1011 Highway 71, Suite 200
                                            Spring Lake, New Jersey  07762
                                            Attn:  Mr. Walter M. Craig, Jr.
                                            Fax No. 732.282.1811

                                            and

                                            ST. JOHN & WAYNE, L.L.C.
                                            Two Penn Plaza East
                                            Newark, New Jersey  07105
                                            Attn:  Lee A. Albanese, Esq.
                                            Fax No. 973.491.3555

                  If to Lender:             FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                            2450 Colorado Ave., Suite 3000 West
                                            Santa Monica, CA  90404
                                            Attn: Senior Executive Vice
                                                  President
                                            Financial Services Funding Division
                                            Fax No. 310.453.7444

                                            and

                                            FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                            13727 Noel Road
                                            Suite 1020
                                            Dallas, Texas  75240
                                            Attn: Mr. Sam V. LoBosco
                                            Fax No. 972.387.4375

                                       63
<PAGE>
                  with copies to:           WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.
                                            2400 Bank One Center
                                            910 Travis Street
                                            Houston, Texas  77002
                                            Attn:  Nelson R. Block, Esq.
                                            Fax No. 713.650.2400

      Lender and Borrower may change the address at which they are to receive
notices hereunder, by notice in writing in the foregoing manner given to the
other party. All notices or demands sent in accordance with this Section 12,
shall be deemed received on the earlier of the date of actual receipt or three
(3) Business Days after the deposit thereof in the mail. Borrower acknowledges
and agrees that notices sent by Lender in connection with the exercise of
enforcement rights against Collateral under the provisions of the Code shall be
deemed sent when deposited in the mail or personally delivered, or, where
permitted by law, transmitted by telefacsimile or any other method set forth
above.

13.   CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER.

            (a) THE VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS
(UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY IN ANOTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN RESPECT
OF SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT), THE CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT
HEREOF AND THEREOF, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO WITH
RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS ARISING HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO OR
THERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

            (b) THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE TRIED AND
LITIGATED ONLY IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF LOS
ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING
ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT, AT LENDER'S
OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE LENDER ELECTS TO BRING SUCH
ACTION OR WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. BORROWER AND
LENDER WAIVE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT EACH MAY
HAVE TO ASSERT THE DOCTRINE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS OR TO OBJECT TO VENUE TO THE
EXTENT ANY PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION 13(b).

            (c) BORROWER AND LENDER HEREBY WAIVE THEIR

                                       64
<PAGE>
RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR
ARISING OUT OF ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
THEREIN, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL
OTHER COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY CLAIMS. BORROWER AND LENDER REPRESENT THAT EACH
HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER AND EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY
TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A
TRIAL BY THE COURT.

14.   ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS; SUCCESSORS.

      14.1  ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS.

            (a) Lender may assign and delegate to one or more assignees (each an
"Assignee") all, or any ratable part of all, of the Obligations and the other
rights and obligations of Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents;
provided, however, that Borrower may continue to deal solely and directly with
Lender in connection with the interest so assigned to an Assignee until (i)
written notice of such assignment, together with payment instructions,
addresses, and related information with respect to the Assignee, have been given
to Borrower by Lender and the Assignee, and (ii) Lender and its Assignee have
delivered to Borrower an appropriate assignment and acceptance agreement.

            (b) From and after the date that Lender provides Borrower with such
written notice and executed assignment and acceptance agreement, (i) the
Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such assignment and
acceptance agreement, shall have the assigned and delegated rights and
obligations of Lender under the Loan Documents, and (ii) Lender shall, to the
extent that rights and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents
have been assigned and delegated by it pursuant to such assignment and
acceptance agreement, relinquish its rights (except with respect to Section 11.3
hereof) and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and in the
case of an assignment and acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of
Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, Lender shall cease to be a party hereto and thereto), and such
assignment shall affect a novation between Borrower and the Assignee.

            (c) Immediately upon Borrower's receipt of such fully executed
assignment and acceptance agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed to be
amended to the extent, but only to the extent, necessary to reflect the addition
of the Assignee and the resulting adjustment of the rights and duties of Lender
arising therefrom.

            (d) Lender may at any time sell to one or more commercial banks,
financial

                                       65
<PAGE>
institutions, or other Persons not Affiliates of such Lender (a "Participant")
participating interests in the Obligations and the other rights and interests of
Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that (i)
Lender shall remain the "Lender" for all purposes of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents and the Participant receiving the participating interest in
the Obligations and the other rights and interests of Lender shall not
constitute a "Lender" hereunder or under the other Loan Documents and Lender's
obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) Lender shall
remain solely responsible for the performance of such obligations, (iii)
Borrower and Lender shall continue to deal solely and directly with each other
in connection with Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents, (iv) Lender shall not transfer or grant any participating
interest under which the Participant has the right to approve any amendment to,
or any consent or waiver with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, except to the extent such amendment to, or consent or waiver with
respect to this Agreement or of any other Loan Document would (A) extend the
final maturity date of the Obligations hereunder in which such Participant is
participating, (B) reduce the interest rate applicable to the Obligations
hereunder in which such Participant is participating, (C) release all or a
material portion of the Collateral or guaranties (except to the extent expressly
provided herein or in any of the Loan Documents) supporting the Obligations
hereunder in which such Participant is participating, (D) postpone the payment
of, or reduce the amount of, the interest or fees payable to such Participant
through Lender, or (E) change the amount or due dates of scheduled principal
repayments or prepayments or premiums, and (v) all amounts payable by Borrower
hereunder shall be determined as if Lender had not sold such participation,
except that, if amounts outstanding under this Agreement are due and unpaid, or
shall have been declared or shall have become due and payable upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, each Participant shall be deemed to have the
right of set-off in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under
this Agreement to the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest
were owing directly to it as Lender under this Agreement. So long as no Event of
Default has occurred, Lender shall not sell participating interests in the
aggregate in excess of fifty percent (50%); provided, this restriction shall not
apply to any transaction in which a controlling interest in the Capital Stock of
Lender or either of its parent companies, The Foothill Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, or Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation, has been sold.
The rights of any Participant only shall be derivative through Lender and no
Participant shall have any rights under this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents or any direct rights as to Borrower, the Collections, the Collateral,
or otherwise in respect of the Obligations. No Participant shall have the right
to participate directly in the making of decisions by Lender.

            (e) In connection with any such assignment or participation or
proposed assignment or participation, a Lender may disclose all documents and
information which it now or hereafter may have relating to Borrower or
Borrower's business.

            (f) Any other provision in this Agreement notwithstanding, Lender
may at any time create a security interest in, or pledge, all or any portion of
its rights under and

                                       66
<PAGE>
interest in this Agreement in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance
with Regulation A of the Federal Reserve Bank or U.S. Treasury Regulation 31 CFR
Section 203.14, and such Federal Reserve Bank may enforce such pledge or
security interest in any manner permitted under applicable law.

      14.2 SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
respective successors and assigns of each of the parties; provided, however,
that Borrower may not assign this Agreement or any rights or duties hereunder
without Lender's prior written consent and any prohibited assignment shall be
absolutely void ab initio. No consent to assignment by Lender shall release
Borrower from its Obligations. Lender may assign this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents and its rights and duties hereunder and thereunder pursuant to
Section 14.1 hereof and, except as expressly required pursuant to Section 14.1
hereof, no consent or approval by Borrower is required in connection with any
such assignment.

15.   AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS.

      15.1 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No amendment or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent with respect to any
departure by Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall be in
writing and signed by Lender and Borrower and then any such waiver or consent
shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose
for which given.

      15.2 NO WAIVERS; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. No failure by Lender to exercise any
right, remedy, or option under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or
delay by Lender in exercising the same, will operate as a waiver thereof. No
waiver by Lender will be effective unless it is in writing, and then only to the
extent specifically stated. No waiver by Lender on any occasion shall affect or
diminish Lender's rights thereafter to require strict performance by Borrower of
any provision of this Agreement. Lender's rights under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents will be cumulative and not exclusive of any other right or
remedy that Lender may have.

16.   GENERAL PROVISIONS.

      16.1 EFFECTIVENESS. This Agreement shall be binding and deemed effective
when executed by Borrower and Lender.

      16.2 SECTION HEADINGS. Headings and numbers have been set forth herein for
convenience only. Unless the contrary is compelled by the context, everything
contained in each Section applies equally to this entire Agreement.

      16.3 INTERPRETATION. Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or
ambiguity herein shall be construed against Lender or Borrower, whether under
any rule of construction or otherwise. On the contrary, this Agreement has been
reviewed by all parties and shall be

                                       67
<PAGE>
construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so
as to accomplish fairly the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto.

      16.4 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. Each provision of this Agreement shall be
severable from every other provision of this Agreement for the purpose of
determining the legal enforceability of any specific provision.

      16.5 WITHHOLDING TAXES. All payments made by Borrower hereunder or under
any note will be made without setoff, counterclaim, or other defense, except as
required by applicable law other than for Taxes (as defined below). All such
payments will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding
for, any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments or
other charges of whatever nature now or hereafter imposed by any jurisdiction
(other than the United States) or by any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein (other than of the United States) with respect to
such payments (but excluding, any tax imposed by any jurisdiction or by any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (i) measured by or
based on the net income or net profits of Lender, or (ii) to the extent that
such tax results from a change in the circumstances of Lender, including a
change in the residence, place of organization, or principal place of business
of Lender, or a change in the branch or lending office of Lender participating
in the transactions set forth herein) and all interest, penalties or similar
liabilities with respect thereto (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, fees, assessments or other charges being referred to collectively as
"Taxes"). If any Taxes are so levied or imposed, Borrower agrees to pay the full
amount of such Taxes, and such additional amounts as may be necessary so that
every payment of all amounts due under this Agreement or under any note,
including any amount paid pursuant to this Section 16.5 after withholding or
deduction for or on account of any Taxes, will not be less than the amount
provided for herein; provided, however, that Borrower shall not be required to
increase any such amounts payable to Lender if the increase in such amount
payable results from Lender's own willful misconduct or gross negligence.
Borrower will furnish to Lender as promptly as possible after the date the
payment of any Taxes is due pursuant to applicable law certified copies of tax
receipts evidencing such payment by Borrower.

      16.6 AMENDMENTS IN WRITING. This Agreement only can be amended by a
writing signed by Lender and Borrower.

      16.7 COUNTERPARTS; TELEFACSIMILE EXECUTION. This Agreement may be executed
in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts,
each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original,
and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one and the same
Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by
telefacsimile shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed
counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of
this Agreement by telefacsimile also shall deliver an original executed
counterpart of this Agreement but the failure to deliver an original executed

                                       68
<PAGE>
counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of
this Agreement. The foregoing shall apply to each other Loan Document mutatis
mutandis.

      16.8 REVIVAL AND REINSTATEMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. If the incurrence or
payment of the Obligations by Borrower or any Guarantor or the transfer to
Lender of any property should for any reason subsequently be declared to be void
or voidable under any state or federal law relating to creditors' rights,
including provisions of the Bankruptcy Code relating to fraudulent conveyances,
preferences, or other voidable or recoverable payments of money or transfers of
property (collectively, a "Voidable Transfer"), and if Lender is required to
repay or restore, in whole or in part, any such Voidable Transfer, or elects to
do so upon the reasonable advice of its counsel, then, as to any such Voidable
Transfer, or the amount thereof that Lender is required or elects to repay or
restore, and as to all reasonable costs, expenses, and attorneys fees of Lender
related thereto, the liability of Borrower or such Guarantor automatically shall
be revived, reinstated, and restored and shall exist as though such Voidable
Transfer had never been made.

      16.9 INTEGRATION. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents,
reflects the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified by
any other agreement, oral or written, before the date hereof.

                           [Signature page to follow.]

                                       69
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                        EQUINOX BUSINESS CREDIT CORP.
                                        a New Jersey Corporation

                                        By: ______________________________

                                        Name:_____________________________

                                        Title:____________________________

                                        FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                                        a California corporation

                                        By: ______________________________

                                        Name:_____________________________

                                        Title:____________________________

                                       70
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT A-1

                                 Approved Forms

                               Factoring Documents

1.       Agreement to Sell and Purchase Accounts
2.       Guaranty
3.       Covenant of Validity Against Direct Collects and Deficiencies
4.       Validity Guaranty
5.       Transfer Agreement
6.       Pledge and Security Agreement
7.       Certified Corporate Resolutions
8.       Limited Power of Attorney
9.       Special Power of Attorney and Designation of Receiver
10.      Instruction Letter to Bank
11.      Authorization to sign Bills of Sale
12.      Affiliates Funding Letter

                          Asset-Based Lending Documents

1.       Financing Transaction Checklist
2.       Loan and Security Agreement
3.       Accountants Access Letter
4.       Warehouse Letter
5.       Processor Letter
6.       Payment Direction Letter
7.       Secretary's Certificate
8.       Secretary's Certificate for a Corporate Guarantor
9.       Guaranty (Individual)
10.      Guaranty (Corporate)
11.      Landlord's Waiver and Consent
12.      Questionnaire
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT B-1

                       Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT C-1

                         Form of Compliance Certificate
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT R-1

                               Required Procedures

                  The Required Procedures are set forth in the
                "Equinox Financial Corp. Loan Operations Manual"
                          in effect on the Closing Date
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE P-1

                                 Permitted Liens

                  Liens in favor of depositories and securities intermediaries
            under Accounts permitted under the Agreement which have been
            subordinated to Lender on terms satisfactory to Lender in its
            Permitted Discretion.
<PAGE>
                                 SCHEDULE 2.6(a)

                              Cash Management Banks

                            First Union National Bank
                                1123 Third Avenue
                          Spring Lake, New Jersey 07762
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 5.5

                      Locations of Inventory and Equipment

      1.    1011 Highway 71
            Spring Lake, New Jersey 07762

      2.    3507 East Frontage Road, Suite 115
            Tampa, Florida 33607
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 5.7

                          Chief Executive Office; FEIN

      1.    Chief Executive Office:

            1011 Highway 71
            Spring Lake, New Jersey 07762

      2.    FEIN:

<PAGE>
                                 SCHEDULE 5.8(b)

                           Capitalization of Borrower

      1.    Authorized Shares of Capital Stock:

            200 shares of common stock with no par value

      2.    Issued and Outstanding Shares:

            100 shares of common stock

      3.    Other Rights in Capital Stock:

            Up to 19% of the authorized common stock may be issued to Allen H.
            Vogel and/or other employees of Borrower.
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 5.10

                             Litigation of Borrower

                                      None
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 5.14

                              Environmental Matters

                                      None
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 5.16

                              Intellectual Property

                                      None
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 5.18

                             Demand Deposit Accounts

      1.    Payroll Account:

            First Union National Bank
            1123 Third Avenue
            Spring Lake, New Jersey  07762

            ABA No.:  031201467

      2.    Depository Account:

            First Union National Bank
            1123 Third Avenue
            Spring Lake, New Jersey  07762

            ABA No.:  031201467

<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 5.20

                             Permitted Indebtedness

      1.    Subordinated Note in the original principal amount of $3,500,000.00
            executed by Borrower payable to the order of Guarantor.

<PAGE>
                 FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
                 ----- --------- -- ---- --- -------- ---------

     THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is
entered into as of March 1, 2002 by and between EQUINOX BUSINESS CREDIT CORP.,
a New Jersey corporation ("Borrower") and FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION, a
California corporation ("Lender").

     1.   RECITALS. Borrower and Lender have entered into that certain Loan and
Security Agreement (hereinafter, together with all amendments, modifications and
supplements thereto, collectively called the "Loan Agreement") dated December
19, 2001, pursuant to which Lender has made, and continues to make, revolving
credit loans to Borrower. Borrower has requested that Lender modify the Tangible
Net Worth covenant, and Lender has agreed to such modification, pursuant to the
terms of this Amendment.

     2.   DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall
have the meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement.

     3.   AMENDMENT. The Loan Agreement is hereby modified, by modifying
Subsection 7.20(a)(ii), to read in full as follows:

          (ii)      TANGIBLE NET WORTH. Tangible Net Worth plus the amount of
     all Subordinated Debt as of the end of each month, quarter, or year, as the
     case may be, in the amounts, during the periods, set forth below:

          12/19/01 through 04/30/02          $2,500,000.00
          05/01/02 through 05/31/02          $2,600,000.00
          06/01/02 through 06/30/02          $2,700,000.00
          07/01/02 through 07/31/02          $2,850,000.00
          08/01/02 and thereafter            $3,000,000.00.

     4.   NO OTHER MODIFICATIONS; RENEWAL AND EXTENSION. Except as set forth
herein, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents have not been amended,
modified, waived or released, are agreed to be valid and enforceable and in
full force and effect. All Lender's Liens securing the Obligations are hereby
carried forward, renewed and extended to secure the Obligations.

     5.   CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER. THE VALIDITY OF THIS
AMENDMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE
CONTRARY IN ANOTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN RESPECT OF SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT), THE
CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF AND THEREOF, AND THE
RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS ARISING
HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO OR THERETO SHALL BE
<PAGE>
DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

     (b)  THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AMENDMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE TRIED AND
LITIGATED ONLY IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF LOS
ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING
ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT, AT
LENDER'S OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE LENDER ELECTS TO BRING
SUCH ACTION OR WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. BORROWER
AND LENDER WAIVE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT EACH
MAY HAVE TO ASSERT THE DOCTRINE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS OR TO OBJECT TO VENUE
TO THE EXTENT ANY PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION 5.

     (c)  BORROWER AND LENDER HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY
TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF ANY OF THE
LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN, INCLUDING
CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR
STATUTORY CLAIMS. BORROWER AND LENDER REPRESENT THAT EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS
WAIVER AND EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING
CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, A COPY OF THIS
AMENDMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

     6.   EFFECTIVENESS. This Amendment shall be binding and deemed effective
when executed by Borrower and Lender.

     7.   SECTION HEADINGS. Headings and numbers have been set forth herein for
convenience only. Unless the contrary is compelled by the context, everything
contained in each Section applies equally to this entire Amendment.

     8.   INTERPRETATION. Neither this Amendment nor any uncertainty or
ambiguity herein shall be construed against Lender or Borrower, whether under
any rule of construction or otherwise. On the contrary, this Amendment has been
reviewed by all parties and shall be construed and interpreted according to the
ordinary meaning of the words used so as to accomplish fairly the purposes and
intentions of all parties hereto.

     9.   SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. Each provision of this Amendment shall be
severable from every other provision of this Amendment for the purpose of
determining the legal enforceability of any specific provision.

<PAGE>
     10.  AMENDMENTS IN WRITING. This Amendment only can be amended by a
writing signed by Lender and Borrower.

     11.  COUNTERPARTS; TELEFACSIMILE EXECUTION. This Amendment may be executed
in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate
counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be
an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one
and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment
by telefacsimile shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original
executed counterpart of this Amendment. Any party delivering an executed
counterpart of this Amendment by telefacsimile also shall deliver an original
executed counterpart of this Amendment but the failure to deliver an original
executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding
effect of this Amendment.

     12.  INTEGRATION. This Amendment, together with the other Loan Documents,
reflects the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified by
any other agreement, oral or written, before the date hereof.

     EXECUTED as of the date set forth above.

                                                  EQUINOX BUSINESS CREDIT CORP.

                                                  By:__________________________
                                                  Name:________________________
                                                  Title:_______________________

                                                  FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION

                                                  By:__________________________
                                                  Name:________________________
                                                  Title:_______________________

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