Document:

Lakeland Industries, Inc.              EXHIBIT 10.7
                                                                      (19 pages)

                              Employment Agreement

     This agreement ("Agreement") has been entered into this 1st day of February
2004, by and between Lakeland Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Company"), and Christopher J. Ryan, and individual ("Executive").

                            IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

          1.1  DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the following words
               and phrases, whether or not capitalized, shall have the meanings
               specified below, unless the context plainly requires a different
               meaning.

               1.1(a) "ACCRUED COMPENSATION" has the meaning set forth in
                      Section 4.5 of this Agreement.

               1.1(b) "ACCRUED OBLIGATIONS" has the meaning set forth in Section
                      4.1 (a) of this Agreement.

               1.1(c) "ANNUAL BASE SALARY" has the meaning set forth in Section
                      2.4 (a) of this Agreement.

               1.1(d) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

               1.1(e) "CAUSE" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3 of this
                      Agreement.

               1.1(f) "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means:

                    (i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group, or a
                    Person (within the meaning of Section 13 (d) (3) or 14 (d)
                    (2) of the Exchange Act) of ownership of 30% or more of
                    either (a) the then outstanding shares of common stock of
                    the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (b)
                    the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
                    securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
                    election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting
                    Securities"); or

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                    (ii) Individuals who, as the date hereof, constitute the
                    Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
                    constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided,
                    however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent
                    to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
                    election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a
                    vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising
                    the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such
                    individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
                    excluding, as a member of the Incumbent Board, any such
                    individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
                    result of either an actual or threatened election contest
                    (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A
                    promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or
                    threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on
                    behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

                    (iii) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a
                    reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case,
                    unless, following such reorganization, merger or
                    consolidation, (a) more than 50% of, respectively, the then
                    outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
                    resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation
                    and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
                    securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in
                    the election of directors is then beneficially owned,
                    directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the
                    individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners,
                    respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
                    Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to
                    such reorganization, merger or consolidation in
                    substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
                    immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
                    consolidation, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
                    Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be,
                    (b) no Person beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30%
                    or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
                    common stock of the corporation resulting from such
                    reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
                    voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
                    such corporation, entitled to vote generally in the election
                    of directors and (c) at least a majority of the members of
                    the board of directors of the corporation resulting from
                    such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of
                    the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the
                    initial agreement providing for such reorganization, merger
                    or consolidation; or

                    (iv) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of (a) a
                    complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (b)
                    the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
                    the assets of the

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                    Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to which
                    following such sale or other disposition, (1) more than 50%
                    of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
                    stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of
                    the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation
                    entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is
                    then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
                    substantially all of the individuals and entities who were
                    the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
                    Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting
                    Securities immediately prior to such sale or other
                    disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
                    ownership, immediately prior to such sales or other
                    disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
                    Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be,
                    (2) no Person beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30%
                    or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
                    common stock of such corporation and the combined voting
                    power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
                    corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
                    directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
                    board of directors of such corporation were members of the
                    Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
                    agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale or
                    other disposition of assets of the Company.

     1.1(g) "COMPANY" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this
          Agreement and, with regard to successors, in Section 6.2 of this
          Agreement.

     1.1(h) "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     1.1(i) "CURRENT TARGET BONUS" has the meaning set forth in Section 4. (a)
          of this Agreement.

     1.1(j) "DATE OF TERMINATION" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6 of
          this Agreement.

     1.1(k) "DISABILITY" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2 of this
          Agreement.

     1.1(l) "DISABILITY EFFECTIVE DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2
          of this Agreement.

     1.1(m) "DISPOSITION OF A MAJOR PART" means:

                    (i) when used with reference to the stock of an Operating
                    Line of Business that is or becomes a separate corporation,
                    limited liability

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                    corporation, partnership or other business entity, the sale,
                    exchange, transfer, distribution or other disposition of the
                    ownership, either beneficially or of record or both, by the
                    Company of more than 50% of either (a) the then outstanding
                    shares of common stock (or the equivalent equity interests)
                    of such Operating Line of Business, or (b) the combined
                    voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
                    such Operating Line of Business entitled to vote generally
                    in the election of the Board or the equivalent governing
                    body of the Operating Line of Business;

                    (ii) when used with reference to the merger or consolidation
                    of an Operating Line of Business that is or becomes a
                    separate corporation, limited liability corporation,
                    partnership or other business entity, any such transaction
                    that results in the Company owning, either beneficially or
                    of record or both, less that 50% of either (a) the then
                    outstanding shares of common stock (or the equivalent equity
                    interests) of such Operating Line of Business, or (b) the
                    combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
                    securities of such Operating Lines of Business entitled to
                    vote generally in the election of the Board or the
                    equivalent governing body of the Operating Line of Business;
                    or

                    (iii) when used with reference to the assets of an Operating
                    Line of Business, the sale, exchange, transfer, liquidation,
                    distribution or other disposition of assets of such
                    Operating Line of Business (a) having a fair market value
                    (as determined by the Incumbent Board) aggregating more than
                    50% of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets
                    of such Operating Line of Business as of the Triggering
                    Transaction Date, (b) accounting for more than 50% of the
                    aggregate book value (net of depreciation and amortization)
                    of all of the assets of such Operating Line of Business, as
                    would be shown on a balance sheet for such Operating Line of
                    Business, prepared in accordance with generally accepted
                    accounting principles then in effect, as of the Triggering
                    Transaction Date; or (c) accounting for more than 50% of the
                    net income of such Operating Line of Business, as would be
                    shown on an income statement, prepared in accordance with
                    generally accepted accounting principles then in effect, for
                    the 12 months ending on the last day of the month
                    immediately preceding the month in which the Triggering
                    Transaction Date occurs.

     1.1 (n) "EFFECTIVE DATE" means the date of this Agreement.

     1.1 (o) "EMPLOYMENT PERIOD" means the period beginning on the Effective
     Date and ending on the later of (i) February 1, 2006, or (ii) February 1 of
     any succeeding fiscal year during which notice is given by

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     either party (as described in Section 1.1 (dd) of this Agreement) of such
     party's intent not to renew this Agreement.

     1.1(p) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended.

     1.1(q) "EXCISE TAX" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 (e) of this
     Agreement.

     1.1(r) "GOOD REASON" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4 of this
     Agreement.

     1.1(s) "GROSS-UP PAYMENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 (i) of
     this Agreement.

     1.1(t) "INCENTIVE BONUS" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 (b) of
     this Agreement.

     1.1(u) "NOTICE OF TERMINATION" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5 of
     this Agreement.

     1.1(w) "OPERATING LINES OF BUSINESS" means the following lines of business
     of the Company, whether operated as a division or as a separate subsidiary:
     (i) provides disposable and woven protective apparel and accessory items
     manufacturing and marketing, which manufactures and sell uniforms, gloves,
     chemical suits, fire turnout and aluminized fire protective apparel, PVC
     aprons, medical disposable gowns and all nature of safety apparel to a wide
     variety of distributors, institutions and businesses in the United States,
     Canada and internationally.

     1.1(x) "OTHER BENEFITS" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1 (d) of
     this Agreement.

     1.1 y) "OUTSTANDING COMPANY COMMON STOCK" has the meaning set forth in
     Section 1.1 (f) (i) of this Agreement.

     1.1 (z) "OUTSTANDING COMPANY VOTING SECURITIES" has the meaning set forth
     in Section 1.1 (f) (i) of this Agreement.

     1.1 (aa) "PAYMENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 (e) of this
     Agreement

     1.1 (bb) "PERSON" has the meaning set forth in Sections 13 (d) and 14 (d)
     of the Exchange Act.

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     1.1 (cc) "SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 (e)
     of this Agreement.

     1.1 (dd) "TERM" means the period that begins on the Effective Date and ends
     on the earlier of: (i) the Date of Termination as defined in Section 3.6 of
     this Agreement, or (ii) the close of business on the later of February
     1,2006 or February 1 of any renewal term as set forth in Section 2.1 of
     this Agreement.

     1.1 (ee) "TRIGGERING TRANSACTION" means (i) a Change of Control of the
     Company or (ii) a Disposition of a Major Part of two or more of the
     Company's Operating Lines of Business.

     1.1 (ff) "TRIGGERING TRANSACTION DATE" shall mean the date of the
     Triggering Transaction.

     1.2 GENDER AND NUMBER. When appropriate, pronouns in this Agreement used in
the masculine gender include the feminine gender, words in the singular include
the plural, and words in the plural include the singular.

     1.3 HEADINGS. All headings in this Agreement are included solely for ease
of reference and do not bear on the interpretation of the text. Accordingly, as
used in this Agreement, the terms "Article" and "Section" mean the text that
accompanies the specified Article and Section of the Agreement.

     1.4 APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to its
conflict of law principles.

SECTION 2: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.

     2.1 PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT. The Executive shall remain in the employ of the
Company throughout the Term of this Agreement in accordance with the terms and
provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement will automatically renew for two
year periods unless either party gives the other written notice, by October 28,
2005, or October 28 of any succeeding year, of such party's intent not to renew
this Agreement.

          2.2 POSITIONS AND DUTIES.

          2.2 (a) Throughout the Term of this Agreement, the Executive shall
          serve as a Director of the Board and President, General Counsel and
          Secretary of the Company, subject to reasonable directions and
          nominations of the Board. The Executive shall have such authority and
          shall perform such duties as are specified by the By-laws of the
          Company for the office to which he has been appointed hereunder and
          shall so serve, subject to the control exercised by the Board from
          time to time. Additionally, each year

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          throughout the Term of the Executive's service as a Director, the
          Executive shall be nominated to serve as member of the Board.

          2.2 (b) Throughout the Term of this Agreement (but excluding any
          periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is
          entitled), the Executive shall devote reasonable attention and time
          during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the
          Company and shall use his reasonable best efforts to perform
          faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities as are assigned to
          him under or in accordance with this Agreement; provided that, it
          shall not be a violation of this paragraph for the Executive to (i)
          serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (ii)
          deliver lectures or fulfill speaking engagements, or (iii) manage
          personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly
          interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as
          an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement or
          violate the Company's conflict of interest policy as in effect
          immediately prior to the Effective Date.

     2.3 SITUS OF EMPLOYMENT. Throughout the Term of this Agreement, the
Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was
employed immediately prior to the Effective Date, or any office of the Company
which is located in the greater Long Island areas. It is understood and agreed
by the Executive that the Executive will be required at the discretion of the
Board of Directors, to engage in substantial business travel.

     2.4 COMPENSATION.
         2.4 (a) ANNUAL BASE SALARY. For the first year within the Term of this
         Agreement, the Executive shall receive an annual salary ("Annual Base
         Salary") of $295,000 between February 1, 2004 and February 1, 2005;
         $335,000 between February 1, 2005 and February 1, 2006 which shall be
         paid in equal or substantially equal semi-monthly installments. During
         the Term of this Agreement, the Annual Base Salary payable to the
         Executive shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased
         at the discretion of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the
         Board but shall not be reduced.

         2.4(b) INCENTIVE BONUSES. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the
         Executive shall be awarded the opportunity to earn an incentive bonus
         on an annual basis ("Incentive Bonus") under an incentive compensation
         plan which equals $2500.00 for each penny of additional after tax
         earnings incrementally earned over the prior year's fiscal earnings,
         which shall be calculated from the Company's certified audited
         financial statements. During the Term of this Agreement, the annual
         target Incentive Bonus which the Executive will have the opportunity to
         earn shall be reviewed at least annually and be increased at the
         discretion of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board, but
         in no case shall such target

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         annual Incentive Bonus which the Executive will have the opportunity to
         earn be reduced below Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).

         2.4 (c) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. Throughout the Term of
         this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
         incentive, savings and retirement plans generally available to other
         peer executives of the Company.

         2.4 (d) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. Throughout the Term of this Agreement
         (and thereafter, subject to Sections 4.1 (c) hereof), the Executive and
         /or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for
         participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit
         plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company
         (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental,
         disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental
         death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent
         generally available to other peer executives of the Company. As it
         affects Sections 2.4(c) and 2.4(d) above, the Company shall always have
         the right to alter its benefit plan providers.

         2.4 (e) EXPENSES. Throughout the Term of this Agreement, the Executive
         shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
         expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the policies,
         practices and procedures generally applicable to other peer executives
         of the Company. The Executive agrees to submit receipts and or vouchers
         in support of all requests for reimbursement.

         2.4 (f) FRINGE BENEFITS. Throughout the Term of this Agreement, the
         Executive shall be entitled to the lease of an automobile bi-annually
         or Company purchase for a 4-year period, title to remain in the Company
         and whole life insurance in the face amount of $500,000 paid by the
         Company. Executive agrees where necessary to be responsible for any and
         all federal, state and local taxes owning as a result of such life
         insurance being provided.

         2.4 (g) VACATION. Throughout the Term of this Agreement, the Executive
         shall be entitled to paid vacation for four (4) weeks each year.

SECTION 3: TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

         3.1 DEATH. The Executive's employment shall terminate automatically
upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period.

         3.2. DISABILITY. If the Company determines in good faith that the
Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant
to the definition of Disability set forth below), the Company may give to the
Executive written notice in accordance with Section 7.2 of its intention to
terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the

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Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the
thirtieth (30th) day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the
"Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the thirty (30) days after
such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of
the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean
that the Executive has been unable to perform the services required of the
Executive hereunder on a full-time basis for a period of one hundred eighty
(180) consecutive business days by reason of a physical and/or mental condition.
"Disability" shall be deemed to exist when certified by a physician paid for and
selected by the Company and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal
representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld
unreasonably). The Executive will submit to such medical or psychiatric
examinations and tests as such physician deems necessary to make any such
Disability determination.

         3.3 TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment during the Employment Period for "Cause", which shall mean
termination based upon: (i) the Executive's willful and continued failure to
substantially perform his duties with the Company (other than as a result of
incapacity due to physical or mental condition), after a written demand for
substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Company, which
specifically identifies the manner in which the Executive has not substantially
performed his duties, (ii) the Executive's commission of an act constituting a
criminal offense involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or breach of trust, or
(iii) the Executive's material breach of any provision of this Agreement. For
purposes of this Section, no act, or failure to act on the Executive's part
shall be considered "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, without good
faith and without reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the best
interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not
be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until (i) he receives a
Notice of Termination from the Company, (ii) he is given the opportunity, with
counsel to be heard before the Board, and (iii) the Board finds, in its good
faith opinion, the Executive was guilty of the conduct set forth in the Notice
of Termination.

         3.4 GOOD REASON. The Executive may terminate his employment with the
Company for "Good Reason", which shall mean:

         3.4 (a) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in
         any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices,
         titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or
         responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2.2 (a) or any other action
         by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position,
         authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any
         action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company
         promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

         3.4 (b) (i) in the event of and after the occurrence of a Triggering
         Transaction, the failure by the Company to continue in effect any
         benefit or compensation plan, stock ownership plan, life insurance
         plan, health and accident plan or disability plan to which the
         Executive is entitled as specified in Section 2.4, (ii) the taking of
         any action by the Company which

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         would adversely affect the Executive's participation in, or materially
         reduce the Executive's benefits under, any plans described in Section
         2.4, or deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by
         the Executive as described in Section 2.4 (f), or (iii) the failure by
         the Company to provide the Executive with paid vacation to which the
         Executive is entitled as described in Section 2.4 (g).

         3.4 (c) in the event of and after the occurrence of a Triggering
         Transaction, the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any
         office or location other than that described in Section 2.3;

         3.4 (d) a material breach by the Company of any provision of this
         Agreement; Such breach by the Company shall require Executive to
         provide the Company a written notice describing with specificity the
         nature of the contractual breach and the Company shall have 30 days to
         cure such breach.

         3.4 (e) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's
         employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or

         3.4 (f) within a period ending at the close of business on the date one
         (1) year after the Triggering Transaction Date of any Change in
         Control, if the Company has failed to comply with and satisfy Section
         6.2 on or after such Triggering Transaction Date.

         For purposes of this Section, any good faith determination of "Good
         Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive.

         3.5 NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for Cause or
Disability, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice
of Termination to the other party, given in accordance with Section 7.2. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice
which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied
upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts
and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) if the Date of
Termination (as defined in Section 3.6 hereof) is other than the date of receipt
of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more
than thirty (30) days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the
Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or
circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not
waive any right of the Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude the
Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing
the Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.

         3.6 DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the
Executive for Good Reason, the Date of Termination shall be the date of receipt
of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case
may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated

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by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of
death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be, or
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for
Cause, death, or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of
receipt of the Notice of Termination; provided that if within thirty (30) days
after any Notice of Termination is given, the party receiving such Notice of
Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the
termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is
finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, or by a
final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time
for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected).

SECTION  4: CERTAIN BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION.

         4.1 TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR FOR GOOD REASON NOT IN CONNECTION WITH
A TRIGGERING TRANSACTION. If, prior to a Triggering Transaction during the
Employment Period (except in the event that one of the following terminations of
employment occurs within the six-month period prior to the earlier of (a) a
Triggering Transaction or (b) the execution of a definitive agreement or
contract that eventually results in a Triggering Transaction, which shall result
in the payment of severance benefits set forth in Section 4.2 of this
Agreement): (i) the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment without
Cause, or (ii) the Executive shall terminate employment with the Company for
Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to the payment of the benefits
provided below as of the Date of Termination:

         4.1 (a) Accrued Obligations. Within thirty (30) days after the Date of
                 -------------------
         Termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the sum of (1) the
         Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the
         extent not previously paid, (2) the accrued benefit payable to the
         Executive under any deferred compensation plan, program or arrangement
         in which the Executive is a participant subject to the computation of
         benefits provisions of such plan, program or arrangement, and (3) any
         accrued vacation pay; in each case to the extent not previously paid
         (the "Accrued Obligation").

                  In addition, on the date that Incentive Bonuses are paid to
         other peer executives for the year in which the Executive's employment
         is terminated, the Executive will be paid an amount equal to the
         product of the Current Target Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the
         numerator of which is the number of days during the fiscal year for
         which the Incentive Bonus is paid prior to the Date of Termination and
         denominator of which is 365. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
         "Current Target Bonus" means the Incentive Bonus that would have been
         paid to the Executive for the fiscal year in which the termination of
         employment occurred, if the Executive's employment had not been so
         terminated and the Executive had earned 100% of the Incentive Bonus
         that he could have earned for that year.

         4.1 (b) Annual Base Salary and Target Bonus Continuation. For the
                 ------------------------------------------------
         remainder of the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the

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         Executive, the Executive's then-current Annual Base Salary and Current
         Target Bonus as would have been paid to the Executive had the Executive
         remained in the Company's employ throughout the Employment Period;
         provided that in all cases the Executive shall receive, at minimum, the
         then-current Annual Base Salary and Current Target Bonus for the
         remainder of the Employment Period, or for a period beginning on the
         Date of Termination and ending two years thereafter, whichever is
         longer. The Company at any time may elect to pay the balance of such
         payments then remaining in a lump sum, in which case the total of such
         payments shall be discounted to present value on the basis of the
         applicable Federal short-term monthly rate as determined according to
         Code Section 1274 (s) for the month in which the Executive's Date of
         Termination occurred.

         4.1 (c) Medical and Health Benefit Continuation. For a period of two
                 ---------------------------------------
         years beginning on the Date of Termination, or such longer period as
         any plan, program, practice or policy may provide, the Company shall
         continue medical and health benefits to the Executive and/or the
         Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been
         provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and
         policies described in Section 2.4 (d) if the Executive's employment had
         not been terminated, in accordance with the plans, practices, programs
         or policies of the Company as those provided generally to other peer
         executives and their families; provided, however, that if the Executive
         becomes re-employed with another employer and is eligible to receive
         medical or health benefits under another employer-provided plan, the
         medical and health benefits described herein shall be secondary to
         those provided under such other plan during such applicable period of
         eligibility. In the event Executive is able to obtain medical and
         health care coverage from a third party for the duration of such
         coverage period that is at least as good in all material respects as
         that described in the immediately preceding sentence, Executive agrees
         to accept, in lieu of such Company provided medical and health
         benefits, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal in value to the
         entire cost to Executive on an after-tax basis of such alternate
         medical and health care coverage.

         4.1 (d) Other Benefits. To the extent not previously paid or provided,
                 --------------
         the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive and/or the
         Executive's family any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or
         provided for which the Executive and/or the Executive's family is
         eligible to receive pursuant to this Agreement and under any plan,
         program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company as
         those provided generally to other peer executives and their families
         ("Other Benefits").

         4.2 BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION IN CONNECTION WITH A TRIGGERING
TRANSACTION. If (a) a Triggering Transaction occurs during the Employment Period
and within three years after the Triggering Transaction Date (i) the Company
shall

                                       12
<PAGE>

terminate the Executive's employment without Cause, or (ii) the Executive shall
terminate employment with the Company for Good Reason, or alternatively, (b) if
one of the above-described terminations of employment occurs within the
six-month period prior to the earlier of (i) a Triggering Transaction or (ii)
the execution of a definitive agreement or contract that eventually results in a
Triggering Transaction, then the Executive shall become entitled to the payment
of the benefits as provided below as of either (y) the Date of Termination, in
the case where the sequence of the requisite events is as set forth in
subsection (a) above or (z) the Triggering Transaction Date, in the case where
the sequence of the requisite events occurred as set forth in subsection (b)
above (the relevant date for purposes of entitlement to the benefits set forth
in this Section 4.2 is hereinafter referred to as the "Entitlement Date"):

                           4.2 (a) Accrued Obligations. Within thirty (30) days
                                   -------------------
                           after the Entitlement Date, the Company shall pay to
                           the Executive the Accrued Obligation.

                           In addition, on the date that Incentive Bonuses are
                  paid for the year in which the Executive's employment is
                  terminated, the Executive will be paid an amount equal to the
                  product of the Current Target Bonus multiplied by a fraction,
                  the numerator of which is the number of days during the fiscal
                  year for which the Incentive Bonus is paid prior to the Date
                  of Termination and the denominator of which is 365.

                           4.2 (b) Severance Amount. Within thirty (30) days
                                   ----------------
                           after the Entitlement Date, the Company shall pay to
                           the Executive as liquidated damages severance pay in
                           a lump sum, in cash, an amount equal to 2.99 times an
                           amount equal to his then-current Annual Base Salary
                           and Current Target Bonus.

                           4.2 (c) Stock Options. To the extent not otherwise
                                   -------------
                           provided for under the terms of the Company's stock
                           option plans or the Executive's stock option
                           agreements, all stock options held by the Executive
                           that have not expired in accordance with their
                           respective terms shall vest and become fully
                           exercisable as of the Entitlement Date.

                           4.2 (d) Other Benefits. To the extent not previously
                                   --------------
                           paid or provided, the Company shall timely pay or
                           provide to the Executive and/or the Executive's
                           family any Other Benefits required to be paid or
                           provided for which the Executive and/or the
                           Executive's family is eligible to receive pursuant to
                           this Agreement and under any plan, program, policy or
                           practice or contract or agreement of the Company to
                           be implemented by the Company during the term of this
                           Agreement, such as deferred compensation or
                           retirement plans.

                                       13
<PAGE>

                           4.2 (e)Excess Parachute Payment. Anything in this
                                  ------------------------
                           Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
                           event that it shall be determined that any payment or
                           distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of
                           Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or
                           distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
                           or otherwise but determined without regard to any
                           additional payments required under this Section 4.2
                           (e) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax
                           imposed by Code Section 4999 (or any successor
                           provision) or any interest or penalties are incurred
                           by the Executive with respect to such excise tax
                           (such excise tax, together with any such interest and
                           penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to
                           as the "Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be
                           entitled to receive an additional payment (a
                           "Gross-up Payment:) in an amount such that after
                           payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any
                           interest or penalties imposed with respect to such
                           taxes), including, without limitation, any income
                           taxes (and any interest or penalties imposed with
                           respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the
                           Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of
                           the Gross-Up Payment on an after-tax basis equal to
                           the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payment.

                           The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of
                           any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if
                           successful, would require the payment by the Company
                           of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be
                           given as soon as practicable but no later than thirty
                           (30) business days after the Executive is informed in
                           writing of such claim by the Internal Revenue Service
                           and the notification shall apprise the Company of the
                           nature of the claim and the date on which such claim
                           is required to be paid. The Executive shall not pay
                           such claim prior to the expiration of a thirty (30)
                           day period following the date on which the Executive
                           has given such notification to the Company (or such
                           shorter period ending on the date that any payment of
                           taxes with respect to such claim is required). If the
                           Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to
                           the expiration of such period that it desires to
                           contest such claim, the Executive shall cooperate
                           with the Company in so contesting; provided, however,
                           that the Company shall bear and pay all costs and
                           expenses, (including additional interest and
                           penalties) incurred in connection with such contest,
                           on an after-tax basis to the Executive.

         4.3 DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
Executive's death during the employment Period (either prior or subsequent to a
Triggering Transaction), this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement, other
than for (i) payment of Accrued Obligations (as defined in Section 4.1 (a))
(which shall be paid to the Executive's estate or

                                       14
<PAGE>

beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the
Date of Termination) and (ii) the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits
(as defined in Section 4.1 (d)), including death benefits pursuant to the terms
of any plan, policy, or arrangement of the Company.

         4.4 DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason
of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period (either prior or
subsequent to a Triggering Transaction), this Agreement shall terminate without
further obligations to the Executive, other than for (i) payment of Accrued
Obligations as defined in Section 4.1 (a)) which shall be paid to the Executive
in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination) and
(ii) the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits (as defined in Section
4.1 (d)) including Disability benefits pursuant to the terms of any plan, policy
or arrangement of the Company.

         4.5 TERMINATION FOR CAUSE; OTHER THAN GOOD REASON. If the Executive's
employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period (either
prior or subsequent to a Triggering Transaction), this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligations to pay
to the Executive his Accrued Compensation (as defined in this Section). If the
Executive terminates employment with the Company during the Employment Period,
(excluding a termination for Good Reason), this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive, other than for the payment of
Accrued Compensation (as defined in this Section) and the timely payment or
provision of Other Benefits (as defined in Section 4.1 (d)). In such case, all
Accrued Compensation shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within
thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination.

         For the purpose of this Section, the term "Accrued Compensation" means
the sum of (i) the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of
Termination to the extent not previously paid, (ii) any compensation previously
deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings
thereon), and (iii) any accrued vacation pay in each case to the extent not
previously paid.

         4.6 NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS; SUPERSESSION OF CERTAIN BENEFITS. Except
as provided in Section 4.1 (c) and in this Section 4.6, nothing in this
Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future
participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company
and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or
otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any contract or
agreement with the Company. Amounts which are vested benefits of which the
Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or
program of, or any contract or agreement with, the Company at or subsequent to
the Date of Termination, shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy,
practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by
this Agreement.

         4.7 FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments
provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or

                                       15
<PAGE>

action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event
shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other
action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of
the provisions of this Agreement and, except as provided in Sections 4.1 (c),
such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other
employment. In the event of and after the occurrence of a Triggering
Transaction, the Company agrees to pay promptly as incurred, to the full extent
permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably
incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the
Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or
liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance
thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executive regarding the
amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on
any delayed payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Code Section
7872 (f) (2) (A).

         4.8 RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES. If there shall be any dispute between the
Company and the Executive (i) in the event of any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company, whether such termination was for Cause, or (ii) in
the event of any termination of employment by the Executive, whether Good Reason
existed, then, unless and until there is a final, non-appealable judgment by a
court of competent jurisdiction declaring that such termination was for Cause or
that the determination by the Executive of the existence of Good Reason was not
made in good faith, the Company shall pay all amounts, and provide all benefits,
to the Executive and/or the Executive's family or other beneficiaries, as the
case may be, that the Company would be required to pay or provide pursuant to
Section 4.1 as though such termination were by the Company without Cause or by
the Executive with Good Reason; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to pay any disputed amounts pursuant to this Section except upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay all such
amounts to which the Executive is ultimately adjudged by such court not to be
entitled.

SECTION  5: NON-COMPETITION.

         5.1 NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT

         5.1(a) It is agreed that during the period beginning on the date the
         Term of this Agreement expires and ending two (2) years thereafter, the
         Executive shall not, without prior written approval of the Board,
         become an officer, employee, agent, partner, consultant,
         beneficial/owner, agent, investor, or director or any business
         enterprise in substantial direct competition (as defined in Section 5.1
         (b)) with the Company; provided that, if the Executive is terminated by
         the Company without Cause or if the Executive terminates his employment
         for Good Reason, then he will not be subject to the restrictions of
         this Section.

         5.1 (b) For purposes of Section 5.1, a business enterprise with which
         the Executive becomes associated as an officer, employee, agent,
         partner, consultant, beneficial/owner, agent, investor or director
         shall be considered in substantial direct competition, if such entity
         competes with the Company

                                       16
<PAGE>

         in any business in which the Company is engaged and is within the
         Company's market area as of the date that the Employment Period
         expires.

         5.1 (c) The above constraint shall not prevent the Executive from
         making passive investments, not to exceed five percent (5%), in any
         enterprise.

         5.1 (d) The Executive agrees that the foregoing restrictions, in the
         absence of a Triggering Transaction, are reasonable and may not prevent
         the Executive from earning a livelihood, and further more, if any court
         of competent jurisdiction deems any of the provisions of the foregoing
         invalid, this Agreement shall be enforced to the full extent that such
         other provisions are valid and such court may modify such restrictions
         to afford the Company the maximum applicable protection permitted under
         the law.

         5.1(e) Should Executive be adjudicated by a court of competent
         jurisdiction to be in violation of this Section 5.1, all amounts owed
         Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be forfeited, and the
         Company shall be entitled to injunctive or such other equitable relief
         as is necessary to restrain Executive's breaching conduct.

         5.2 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information,
knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies,
and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive
during the Executive's employment by the Company and which shall not be or
become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives
of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company, or as may otherwise be required by law or
legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to
anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an
asserted violation of the provisions of this Section constitute a basis for
deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under
this Agreement.

SECTIONS 6: SUCCESSORS.

         6.1 SUCCESSORS OF EXECUTIVE. This Agreement is personal to the
Executive and , without the prior written consent of the Company, the rights
(but not the obligations) shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives.

         6.2 SUCCESSORS OF COMPANY. The Company will require any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume
expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession
had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain

                                       17
<PAGE>

such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a
breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to terminate the
Agreement at his option on or after the Triggering Transaction Date for Good
Reason. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as
hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets which
assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

SECTION 7: MISCELLANEOUS.

         7.1 OTHER AGREEMENTS. The Board may, from time to time, in the future,
provide other incentive programs and bonus arrangements to the Executive with
respect to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that will be in addition to the
benefits required to be paid in the designated circumstances in connection with
the occurrence of a Triggering Transaction. Such additional incentive programs
and/or bonus arrangements will affect or abrogate the benefits to be paid under
this Agreement only in the manner and to the extent explicitly agreed to by the
Executive in any such subsequent program or arrangement.

         7.2 NOTICE. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the
respective addresses as set forth below; provided that all notices to the
Company shall be directed to the attention of the Chairman of the Board, or to
such other address as one party may have furnished to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective
only upon receipt.

             Notice to Executive:
             ------------------------
             Christopher J. Ryan
             136 West Bayberry Road
             Islip, NY 11751

             Notice to Company:
             -----------------------
             Lakeland Industries, Inc.
             711-2 Koehler Ave.
             Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

         7.3 VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforce ability of any other
provision of this Agreement.

         7.4 WAIVER. The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon
strict compliance with any provision hereof or any other provision of this
Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may
have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to
terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 3.4 shall not be deemed
to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of
this Agreement.

                                       18
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and, the Company, pursuant to the
authorization from its Board, have caused this Agreement to be executed in its
name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. This
agreement may be countersigned separately by individual members of the
Compensation Committee.

                                              By: /s/Christopher J. Ryan
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                     Christopher J. Ryan

                                              Members BOD Compensation Committee

                                              By: /s/ Eric O. Hallman
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                      Eric O. Hallman

                                              By: /s/ John J. Collins
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                      John J. Collins

                                              By: /s/ Walter J. Raleigh
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                      Walter J. Raleigh

                                       19[GRAPHIC OMITTED]         WCMA(R)REDUCING REVOLVERsm LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                                          EXHIBIT 10.8

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

WCMA REDUCING REVOLVERsm Loan and Security Agreement NO. 849-02005 ("Loan
Agreement") dated as of January 21, 2004, between LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC., a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware
having its principal office at 711-2 Koehler Avenue, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-7410
("Customer"), and MERRILL LYNCH BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware having its
principal office at 222 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60601 ("MLBFS").

Pursuant to that certain Working Capital Management(R) Account Agreement No.
849-02005 and the accompanying Program Description (as the same may be, or have
been, amended, modified or supplemented, the "WCMA Agreement") between Customer
and MLBFS' affiliate, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
("MLPF&S"), Customer opened, or shall prior to the Activation Date open, a
Working Capital Management Account pursuant to the "WCMA Service" and the "WCMA
Program" described in the WCMA Agreement and any documents incorporated therein.
The WCMA Agreement is by this reference incorporated as a part hereof. In
conjunction therewith, Customer has requested that MLBFS make a reducing
revolving credit facility available to Customer (the "Reducing Revolver") in the
amount and upon the terms hereafter specified, and, subject to the terms and
conditions hereafter set forth, MLBFS has agreed to provide a Reducing Revolver
for Customer.

Accordingly, and in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants of
the parties hereto, Customer and MLBFS hereby agree as follows:

                             Article I. DEFINITIONS

1.1 Specific Terms. In addition to terms defined elsewhere in this Loan
Agreement, when used herein the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

"Activation Date" shall mean the date upon which MLBFS shall cause the WCMA Line
of Credit to be fully activated under MLPF&S' computer system as part of the
WCMA Program.

"Bankruptcy Event" shall mean any of the following: (i) a proceeding under any
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt,
liquidation, winding up or receivership law or statute shall be commenced, filed
or consented to by any Credit Party; or (ii) any such proceeding shall be filed
against any Credit Party and shall not be dismissed or withdrawn within sixty
(60) days after filing; or (iii) any Credit Party shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) any Credit Party shall
generally fail to pay or admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they
become due; or (v) any Credit Party shall be adjudicated a bankrupt or
insolvent; or (vi) any Credit Party shall take advantage of any other law or
procedure for the relief of debtors or shall take any action for the purpose of
or with a view towards effecting any of the foregoing; or (vii) a receiver,
trustee, custodian, fiscal agent or similar official for any Credit Party or for
any substantial part of any of their respective property or assets shall be
sought by such Credit Party or appointed.

"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, federal holiday
or other day on which the New York Stock Exchange is regularly closed.

"Business Guarantor" shall mean every Guarantor that is not a natural person.

"Certificate of Compliance" shall mean, as applicable, that duly executed
certificate, substantially the same form as Exhibit B attached hereto to the
extent such certificate shall be applicable, of the president, chief financial
officer or chief executive officer of Customer, certifying as to the matters set
forth in such certificate.

"Closing Date" shall mean the date upon which all conditions precedent to MLBFS'
obligation to make the Loan shall have been met to the satisfaction of MLBFS.

"Collateral" shall mean all Accounts, Chattel Paper, Contract Rights, Inventory,
General Intangibles, Deposit Accounts, Documents, Instruments, Investment
Property and Financial Assets of Customer, howsoever arising, whether now owned
or existing or hereafter acquired or arising, and wherever located; together
with all parts thereof (including spare parts), all accessories and accessions
thereto, all books and records (including computer records) directly related
thereto, all proceeds thereof (including, without limitation, proceeds in the
form of Accounts and insurance proceeds), and the additional collateral
described in Section 4.6 (b) hereof.

"Commitment Expiration Date" shall mean February 16, 2004.

"Commitment Fee" shall mean a fee of $15,000.00 due to MLBFS in connection with
this Loan Agreement.

"Credit Party" and "Credit Parties" shall mean, individually or collectively,
the Customer, all Guarantors and all Pledgors.

"Default" shall mean either an "Event of Default" as defined in Section 4.5
hereof, or an event which with the giving of notice, passage of time, or both,
would constitute such an Event of Default.

                                       1
<PAGE>

"Default Rate" shall mean an annual interest rate equal to the lesser of: (i)
two percentage points over the Interest Rate; or (ii) the highest interest rate
allowed by applicable law.

"EBITDA" shall mean Customer's and Business Guarantors' income before interest
(Including payments in the nature of interest under capital leases), taxes,
depreciation and amortization, all as determined on Customer's and Business
Guarantors' regular consolidated financial statements prepared in a manner
consistent with the terms hereof.

"Event of Loss" shall mean the occurrence whereby any tangible Collateral is
damaged beyond repair, lost, totally destroyed or confiscated.

"Excess Interest" shall mean any amount or rate of interest (including the
Default Rate and, to the extent that they may be deemed to constitute interest,
any prepayment fees, late charges and other fees and charges) payable, charged
or received in connection with any of the Loan Documents which exceeds the
maximum amount or rate of interest permitted under applicable law.

"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" shall mean the ratio of (i) income before interest
(including payments in the nature of interest under capital leases), taxes,
depreciation and amortization, less internally financed capital expenditures, to
(ii) the sum of the aggregate principal and interest paid or accrued, the
aggregate rental under capital leases paid or accrued, any dividends and other
distributions paid or payable to shareholders and taxes paid in cash, all as
determined on a trailing 12-month basis from the regular consolidated financial
statements of Customer and Business Guarantors prepared in a manner consistent
with the terms hereof.

"GAAP" shall mean the generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the
United States of America from time to time.

"General Funding Conditions" shall mean each of the following conditions
precedent to the obligation of MLBFS to make the Loan or any Subsequent WCMA
Loan hereunder: (i) Customer shall have validly subscribed to and continued to
maintain the WCMA Account with MLPF&S, and the WCMA Account shall then be
reflected as an active "commercial" WCMA Account (i.e., one with line of credit
capabilities) on MLPF&S' WCMA computer system; (ii) no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the making of
the Loan or such Subsequent WCMA Loan by MLBFS; (iii) there shall not have
occurred and be continuing any material adverse change in the business or
financial condition of any Credit Party; (iv) all representations and warranties
of all of the Credit Parties herein or in any of the Loan Documents shall then
be true and correct in all material respects; (v) MLBFS shall have received this
Loan Agreement and all of the other Loan Documents, duly executed and filed or
recorded where applicable, all of which shall be in form and substance
satisfactory to MLBFS; (vi) the Commitment Fee shall have been paid in full;
(vii) MLBFS shall have received, as and to the extent applicable, copies of
invoices, bills of sale, loan payoff letters and/or other evidence satisfactory
to it that the proceeds of the Loan will satisfy the Loan Purpose; (viii) MLBFS
shall have received evidence satisfactory to it as to the ownership of the
Collateral and the perfection and priority of MLBFS' liens and security
interests thereon, as well as the ownership of and the perfection and priority
of MLBFS' liens and security interests on any other collateral for the
Obligations furnished pursuant to any of the Loan Documents; (ix) MLBFS shall
have received evidence satisfactory to it of the insurance required hereby or by
any of the Loan Documents; and (x) any additional conditions specified in the
"WCMA Reducing Revolver Loan Approval" letter executed by MLBFS with respect to
the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been met to the satisfaction of
MLBFS.

"Guarantor" shall mean each Person obligated under a guaranty, endorsement or
other undertaking by which such Person guarantees or assumes responsibility in
any capacity for the payment or performance of any of the Obligations.

"Individual Guarantor" shall mean each Guarantor who is a natural person.

"Intangible Assets" shall mean the total amount of goodwill, patents, trade
names, trade or service marks, copyrights, experimental expense, organization
expense, unamortized debt discount and expense, the excess of cost of shares
acquired over book value of related assets, and such other assets as are
properly classified as "intangible assets" of Customer and Business Guarantors
determined in accordance with GAAP.

"Interest Due Date" shall mean the first Business Day of each calendar month
during the term hereof.

"Interest Rate" shall mean a variable per annum rate equal to the sum of (i)
2.50% per annum, and (ii) the interest rate from time to time published in the
"Money Rates" section of The Wall Street Journal as the one-month London
Interbank Offered Rate (the "One-Month LIBOR"). Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary, if more than one rate is so published, then the interest rate shall be
the highest of such published rates. The Interest Rate will change as of the
date of publication in The Wall Street Journal of a One-Month LIBOR that is
different from that published on the preceding Business Day. In the event that
The Wall Street Journal shall, for any reason, fail or cease to publish the
One-Month LIBOR, MLBFS will choose a reasonably comparable index or source to
use as the basis for the Interest Rate.

"Loan" shall mean the specific Reducing Revolver by MLBFS to Customer pursuant
to this Agreement for the Loan Purpose and in the Loan Amount.

"Loan Amount" shall mean an amount equal to the lesser of: (i) 100% of the
amount required by Customer to satisfy or fulfill the Loan Purpose, (ii) the
aggregate amount which Customer shall request be advanced by MLBFS on account of
the Loan Purpose on the Closing Date, or (iii) $3,000,000.00.

"Loan Documents" shall mean this Loan Agreement, any indenture, any guaranty of
any of the Obligations and all other security and other instruments,
assignments, certificates, certifications and agreements of any kind relating to
any of the Obligations, whether obtained, authorized, authenticated, executed,
sent or received concurrently with or subsequent to this Loan Agreement, or
which evidence the creation, guaranty or collateralization of any of the
Obligations or the granting or perfection of liens or security interests upon
any Collateral or any other collateral for the Obligations, including any
modifications, amendments or restatements of the foregoing.

"Loan Purpose" shall mean the purpose for which the proceeds of the Loan will be
used, to wit: to finance working capital needs.

                                       2
<PAGE>

"Location of Tangible Collateral" shall mean the address of Customer set forth
at the beginning of this Loan Agreement, together with any other address or
addresses set forth on an exhibit hereto as being a Location of Tangible
Collateral.

"Maximum WCMA Line of Credit" shall mean the maximum aggregate line of credit
which MLBFS will extend to Customer subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
as the same shall be reduced each month in accordance with the terms hereof. On
the Closing Date, the Maximum WCMA Line of Credit will equal the Loan Amount.

"MLBFS Debt to EBITDA Ratio" shall mean the ratio of (a) the aggregate
outstanding indebtedness of Customer to MLBFS under this Loan Agreement and
under each other agreement, instrument or document heretofore or hereafter
executed by Customer for the benefit of MLBFS in connection with a loan or
credit facility by MLBFS, to (b) Customer's income before interest (including
payments in the nature of interest under capital leases), taxes, depreciation
and amortization, all as determined on Customer's consolidated financial
statements prepared in a manner consistent with the terms hereof.

"Obligations" shall mean all liabilities, indebtedness and other obligations of
Customer to MLBFS, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether now existing
or hereafter arising, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or
to become due, primary or secondary or joint or several, and, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, shall include principal, accrued interest
(including without limitation interest accruing after the filing of any petition
in bankruptcy), all advances made by or on behalf of MLBFS under the Loan
Documents, collection and other costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of
MLBFS, whether incurred before or after judgment, and all present and future
liabilities, indebtedness and obligations of Customer under the Loan Documents
and under that certain WCMA Note, Loan and Security Agreement No. 849-07230.

"Permitted Liens" shall mean with respect to the Collateral: (i) liens for
current taxes not yet due and payable, other non-consensual liens arising in the
ordinary course of business for sums not due, and, if MLBFS' rights to and
interest in the Collateral are not materially and adversely affected thereby,
any such liens for taxes or other non-consensual liens arising in the ordinary
course of business being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(ii) liens in favor of MLBFS; (iii) liens which will be discharged with the
proceeds of the initial WCMA Loan; and (iv) any other liens expressly permitted
in writing by MLBFS.

"Person" shall mean any natural person and any corporation, partnership
(general, limited or otherwise), limited liability company, trust, association,
joint venture, governmental body or agency or other entity having legal status
of any kind.

"Pledgor" shall mean each Person who at any time provides collateral, or
otherwise now or hereinafter agrees to grant MLBFS a security interest in any
assets as security for Customer's Obligations.

"Subsequent WCMA Loan" shall mean each WCMA Loan other than the Loan, including,
without limitation, each WCMA Loan to pay accrued interest.

"Tangible Net Worth" shall mean Customer's and Business Guarantors' combined net
worth as shown on the Customer's and Business Guarantors' regular financial
statements, prepared in a manner consistent with the terms hereof, but excluding
an amount equal to: (i) any assets which are ordinarily classified as
'intangible' in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and
(ii) any amounts, now or hereafter, directly or indirectly, owing to Customer
and Business Guarantors by officers, shareholders or affiliates of Customer or
Business Guarantors.

"Termination Date" shall mean the first to occur of: (i) the last Business Day
of the thirty-sixth (36th) full calendar month following the Closing Date, or
(ii) if earlier, the date of termination of the WCMA Line of Credit pursuant to
the terms hereof.

"WCMA Account" shall mean and refer to the Working Capital Management Account of
Customer with MLPF&S identified as WCMA Account No. 849-02005 and any successor
Working Capital Management Account of Customer with MLPF&S.

"WCMA Line of Credit" shall mean the line of credit funded by MLBFS through the
WCMA Account.

"WCMA Loan" shall mean each advance made by MLBFS pursuant to the WCMA Line of
Credit, including the Loan and each Subsequent WCMA Loan.

"WCMA Loan Balance" shall mean an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal
balance of all WCMA Loans.

"UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code of Illinois as in effect in
Illinois from time to time.

1.2 Other Terms. Except as otherwise defined herein: (i) all terms used in this
Loan Agreement which are defined in the UCC shall have the meanings set forth in
the UCC, and (ii) capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the WCMA
Agreement (including, without limitation, "Money Accounts", "Minimum Money
Accounts Balance", and "WCMA Directed Reserve Program") shall have the meanings
set forth in the WCMA Agreement; and (iii) accounting terms not defined herein
shall have the meaning ascribed to them in GAAP.

1.3 UCC Filing. Customer hereby authorizes MLBFS to file a record or records (as
defined or otherwise specified under the UCC), including, without limitation,
financing statements, in all jurisdictions and with all filing offices as MLBFS
may determine, in its sole discretion, are necessary or advisable to perfect the
security interest granted to MLBFS herein. Such financing statements may
describe the Collateral in the same manner as described herein or may contain an
indication or description of collateral that describes such property in any
other manner as MLBFS may determine, in its sole discretion, is necessary,
advisable or prudent to ensure the perfection of the security interest in the
Collateral granted to the MLBFS herein.

                              Article II. THE LOAN

2.1 Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, MLBFS hereby agrees
to make the Loan to Customer, and Customer hereby agrees to borrow the Loan from
MLBFS. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1 hereof, the entire proceeds
of the Loan will be disbursed by MLBFS out of the

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WCMA Line of Credit either directly to the applicable third party or parties on
account of the Loan Purpose or to reimburse Customer for amounts directly
expended by it for the Loan Purpose; all as directed by Customer in a Closing
Certificate to be executed and delivered to MLBFS prior to the date of funding.

2.2 Conditions of MLBFS' Obligation. The Closing Date and MLBFS' obligations to
activate the WCMA Line of Credit, as hereafter set forth, and make the Loan on
the Closing Date are subject to the prior fulfillment of each of the following
conditions: (a) not less than two Business Days prior to any requested funding
date, MLBFS shall have received a Closing Certificate, duly executed by
Customer, setting forth, among other things, the amount of the Loan and the
method of payment and payee(s) of the proceeds thereof; (b) after giving effect
to the Loan, the WCMA Loan Balance will not exceed either the Maximum WCMA Line
of Credit or the Loan Amount; (c) the Commitment Expiration Date shall not then
have occurred; and (d) each of the General Funding Conditions shall then have
been met or satisfied to the reasonable satisfaction of MLBFS.

2.3 Commitment Fee. In consideration of the agreement by MLBFS to extend the
Loan and any Subsequent WCMA Loans to Customer in accordance with and subject to
the terms hereof, Customer has paid or shall, on or before the Closing Date pay,
the Commitment Fee to MLBFS. Customer acknowledges and agrees that the
Commitment Fee has been fully earned by MLBFS, and that it will not under any
circumstances be refundable.

2.4 Use of Loan Proceeds. Unless otherwise agreed by MLBFS in writing, the
proceeds of the Loan shall be used solely for the Loan Purpose. The Proceeds of
each Subsequent WCMA Loan initiated by Customer shall be used by Customer solely
for working capital in the ordinary course of its business, or, with the prior
written consent of MLBFS, for other lawful business purposes of Customer not
prohibited hereby. Customer agrees that under no circumstances will the proceeds
of the Loan or any Subsequent WCMA Loan be used: (i) for personal, family or
household purposes of any person whatsoever, or (ii) to purchase, carry or trade
in securities, or repay debt incurred to purchase, carry or trade in securities,
whether in or in connection with the WCMA Account, another account of Customer
with MLPF&S or an account of Customer at any other broker or dealer in
securities, or (iii) unless otherwise consented to in writing by MLBFS, to pay
any amount to Merrill Lynch and Co., Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, other than
Merrill Lynch Bank USA, Merrill Lynch Bank & Trust Co. or any subsidiary of
either of them (including MLBFS and Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation).

                      Article III. THE WCMA LINE OF CREDIT

3.1 Activation of the WCMA Line of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, on the Closing Date MLBFS will activate a WCMA Line of Credit for
Customer in the Loan Amount. The Loan will be funded out of the WCMA Line of
Credit immediately after such activation (or, if and to the extent otherwise
expressly contemplated in the definition of Loan Purpose or otherwise directed
in the Closing Certificate and hereafter expressly agreed by MLBFS, all or part
of the Loan may be made available as a WCMA Line of Credit and funded by
Customer.)

3.2 Subsequent WCMA Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, during
the period from and after the Closing Date to the Termination Date: (a) Customer
may repay the WCMA Loan Balance in whole or in part at any time without premium
or penalty, and request a re-borrowing of amounts repaid on a revolving basis,
and (b) in addition to Subsequent WCMA Loans made automatically to pay accrued
interest, as hereafter provided, MLBFS will make such Subsequent WCMA Loans as
Customer may from time to time request or be deemed to have requested in
accordance with the terms hereof. Customer may request Subsequent WCMA Loans by
use of WCMA Checks, FTS, Visa(R) charges, wire transfers, or such other means of
access to the WCMA Line of Credit as may be permitted by MLBFS from time to
time; it being understood that so long as the WCMA Line of Credit shall be in
effect, any charge or debit to the WCMA Account which but for the WCMA Line of
Credit would under the terms of the WCMA Agreement result in an overdraft, shall
be deemed a request by Customer for a Subsequent WCMA Loan.

3.3 Conditions of Subsequent WCMA Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, MLBFS
shall not be obligated to make any Subsequent WCMA Loan, and may without notice
refuse to honor any such request by Customer, if at the time of receipt by MLBFS
of Customer's request: (a) the making of such Subsequent WCMA Loan would cause
the Maximum WCMA Line of Credit, as reduced pursuant to the provisions of
Section 3.6 hereof, to be exceeded; or (b) the Termination Date shall have
occurred; or (c) an event shall have occurred and be continuing which shall have
caused any of the General Funding Conditions to not then be met or satisfied to
the reasonable satisfaction of MLBFS. The making by MLBFS of any Subsequent WCMA
Loan (including, without limitation, the making of a Subsequent WCMA Loan to pay
accrued interest or late charges, as hereafter provided) at a time when any one
or more of said conditions shall not have been met shall not in any event be
construed as a waiver of said condition or conditions or of any Default, and
shall not prevent MLBFS at any time thereafter while any condition shall not
have been met from refusing to honor any request by Customer for a Subsequent
WCMA Loan.

3.4 WCMA Note. Customer hereby promises to pay to the order of MLBFS, at the
times and in the manner set forth in this Loan Agreement, or in such other
manner and at such place as MLBFS may hereafter designate in writing: (a) the
WCMA Loan Balance; (b) interest at the Interest Rate on the outstanding WCMA
Loan Balance (computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a
year consisting of 360 days), from and including the date on which the Loan is
made until the date of payment of all WCMA Loans in full; and (c) on demand, all
other sums payable pursuant to this Loan Agreement, including, but not limited
to, any late charges. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, Customer
hereby waives presentment, demand for payment, protest and notice of protest,
notice of dishonor, notice of acceleration, notice of intent to accelerate and
all other notices and formalities in connection with this WCMA Note and this
Loan Agreement.

3.5 Interest. (a) An amount equal to accrued interest on the daily WCMA Loan
Balance shall be payable by Customer monthly on each Interest Due Date,
commencing with the first Interest Due Date after the Closing Date shall occur.
Unless otherwise hereafter directed in writing by MLBFS on or after the
Termination Date, such interest will be automatically charged to the WCMA
Account on the applicable Interest Due Date, and, to the extent not paid with
free credit balances or the proceeds of sales of any Money Accounts then in the
WCMA Account, as hereafter provided, such interest will be paid by a Subsequent
WCMA Loan and added to the WCMA Loan Balance. All interest shall be computed for
the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year consisting of 360 days.

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<PAGE>

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default, but without
limiting the rights and remedies otherwise available to MLBFS hereunder or
waiving such Default, the interest payable by Customer hereunder shall at the
option of MLBFS accrue and be payable at the Default Rate. The Default Rate,
once implemented, shall continue to apply to the Obligations under this Loan
Agreement and be payable by Customer until the date MLBFS gives written notice
that such Default has been cured to the satisfaction of MLBFS.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any of the Loan Documents,
no provision of the Loan Documents shall require the payment or permit the
collection of Excess Interest. If any Excess Interest is provided for, or is
adjudicated as being provided for, in the Loan Documents, then: (i) Customer
shall not be obligated to pay any Excess Interest; and (ii) any Excess Interest
that MLBFS may have received hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents shall,
at the option of MLBFS, be either applied as a credit against the then unpaid
WCMA Loan Balance, or refunded to the payor thereof.

3.6 Periodic Reduction of Maximum WCMA Line of Credit. Commencing on the last
Business Day of the first full calendar month following the Closing Date, and
continuing on the last Business Day of each calendar month thereafter to and
including the last Business Day of the thirty-fifth (35th) such calendar month,
the Maximum WCMA Line of Credit shall be reduced by an amount equal to
one-thirty-sixth (1/36th) of the Loan Amount per month. Unless the WCMA Line of
Credit shall have been earlier terminated pursuant to the terms hereof, on the
last Business Day of the thirty-sixth (36th) such calendar month, the WCMA Line
of Credit shall, without further action of either of the parties hereto, be
terminated, Customer shall pay to MLBFS the entire WCMA Loan Balance, if any,
and all other Obligations, and the WCMA Account, at the option of Customer, will
either be converted to a WCMA Cash Account (subject to any requirements of
MLPF&S) or terminated. No failure or delay on the part of MLBFS in entering into
the WCMA computer system any scheduled reduction in the Maximum WCMA Line of
Credit pursuant to this Section shall have the effect of preventing or delaying
such reduction.

3.7 Mandatory Payments. CUSTOMER AGREES THAT IT WILL, WITHOUT DEMAND, INVOICING
OR THE REQUEST OF MLBFS, FROM TIME TO TIME MAKE SUFFICIENT PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT
OF THE WCMA LOAN BALANCE TO ASSURE THAT THE WCMA LOAN BALANCE WILL NOT AT ANY
TIME EXCEED THE MAXIMUM WCMA LINE OF CREDIT, AS REDUCED EACH MONTH PURSUANT TO
SECTION 3.6 HEREOF.

3.8 Method of Making Payments. All payments required or permitted to be made
pursuant to this Loan Agreement shall be made in lawful money of the United
States. Unless otherwise hereafter directed by MLBFS, such payments may be made
by the delivery of checks (other than WCMA Checks), or by means of FTS or wire
transfer of funds (other than funds from the WCMA Line of Credit) to MLPF&S for
credit to the WCMA Account. Payments to MLBFS from funds in the WCMA Account
shall be deemed to be made by Customer upon the same basis and schedule as funds
are made available for investment in the Money Accounts in accordance with the
terms of the WCMA Agreement. The acceptance by or on behalf of MLBFS of a check
or other payment for a lesser amount than shall be due from Customer, regardless
of any endorsement or statement thereon or transmitted therewith, shall not be
deemed an accord and satisfaction or anything other than a payment on account,
and MLBFS or anyone acting on behalf of MLBFS may accept such check or other
payment without prejudice to the rights of MLBFS to recover the balance actually
due or to pursue any other remedy under this Loan Agreement or applicable law
for such balance. All checks accepted by or on behalf of MLBFS in connection
with this Loan Agreement are subject to final collection.

3.9 Irrevocable Instructions to MLPF&S. In order to minimize the WCMA Loan
Balance, Customer hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs MLPF&S, effective on
the Closing Date and continuing thereafter so long as this Loan Agreement shall
be in effect: (a) to immediately and prior to application for any other purpose
pay to MLBFS to the extent of any WCMA Loan Balance or other amounts payable by
Customer hereunder all available free credit balances from time to time in the
WCMA Account; and (b) if such available free credit balances are insufficient to
pay the WCMA Loan Balance and such other amounts, and there are in the WCMA
Account at any time any investments in Money Accounts (other than any
investments constituting any Minimum Money Accounts Balance under the WCMA
Directed Reserve Program), to immediately liquidate such investments and pay to
MLBFS to the extent of any WCMA Loan Balance and such other amounts the
available proceeds from the liquidation of any such Money Accounts.

3.10 Late Charge. Any payment or deposit required to be made by Customer
pursuant to the Loan Documents not paid or made within ten (10) days of the
applicable due date shall be subject to a late charge in an amount equal to the
lesser of: (a) 5% of the overdue amount, or (b) the maximum amount permitted by
applicable law. Such late charge shall be payable on demand, or, without demand,
may in the sole discretion of MLBFS be paid by a Subsequent WCMA Loan and added
to the WCMA Loan Balance in the same manner as provided herein for accrued
interest with respect to the WCMA Line of Credit.

3.11 Prepayment. Customer may prepay the Loan and any Subsequent WCMA Loan at
any time in whole or in part without premium or penalty.

3.12 Option of Customer to Terminate. Customer will have the option to terminate
the WCMA Line of Credit at any time upon written notice to MLBFS. Concurrently
with any such termination, Customer shall pay to MLBFS the entire WCMA Loan
Balance and all other Obligations.

3.13 Limitation of Liability. MLBFS shall not be responsible, and shall have no
liability to Customer or any other party, for any delay or failure of MLBFS to
honor any request of Customer for a WCMA Loan or any other act or omission of
MLBFS, MLPF&S or any of their affiliates due to or resulting from any system
failure, error or delay in posting or other clerical error, loss of power, fire,
Act of God or other cause beyond the reasonable control of MLBFS, MLPF&S or any
of their affiliates unless directly arising out of the willful wrongful act or
active gross negligence of MLBFS. In no event shall MLBFS be liable to Customer
or any other party for any incidental or consequential damages arising from any
act or omission by MLBFS, MLPF&S or any of their affiliates in connection with
the WCMA Line of Credit or this Loan Agreement.

3.14 Statements. MLPF&S will include in each monthly statement it issues under
the WCMA Program information with respect to WCMA Loans and the WCMA Loan
Balance. Any questions that Customer may have with respect to such information
or the Loan should be directed to MLBFS; and any questions with respect to any
other matter in such statements or about or affecting the WCMA Program should be
directed to MLPF&S.

                         Article IV. GENERAL PROVISIONS

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4.1 Representations and Warranties.

Customer represents and warrants to MLBFS that:

(a) Organization and Existence. Customer is a corporation, duly organized and
validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is
qualified to do business and in good standing in each other state where the
nature of its business or the property owned by it make such qualification
necessary; and, where applicable, each Business Guarantor is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its
formation and is qualified to do business and in good standing in each other
state where the nature of its business or the property owned by it make such
qualification necessary.

(b) Execution, Delivery and Performance. Each Credit Party has the requisite
power and authority to enter into and perform the Loan Documents. The Customer
holds all necessary permits, licenses, certificates of occupancy and other
governmental authorizations and approvals required in order to own or operate
the Customer's business. The execution, delivery and performance by Customer of
this Loan Agreement and by each of the other Credit Parties of such of the other
Loan Documents to which it is a party: (i) have been duly authorized by all
requisite action, (ii) do not and will not violate or conflict with any law,
order or other governmental requirement, or any of the agreements, instruments
or documents which formed or govern any of the Credit Parties, and (iii) do not
and will not breach or violate any of the provisions of, and will not result in
a default by any of the Credit Parties under, any other agreement, instrument or
document to which it is a party or is subject.

(c) Notices and Approvals. Except as may have been given or obtained, no notice
to or consent or approval of any governmental body or authority or other third
party whatsoever (including, without limitation, any other creditor) is required
in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Credit Party of
such of the Loan Documents to which it is a party.

(d) Enforceability. The Loan Documents to which any Credit Party is a party are
the respective legal, valid and binding obligations of such Credit Party,
enforceable against it or them, as the case may be, in accordance with their
respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy and
other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or by general
principles of equity.

(e) Collateral. Except for priorities afforded to any Permitted Liens: (i)
Customer has good and marketable title to the Collateral, (ii) none of the
Collateral is subject to any lien, encumbrance or security interest, and (iii)
upon the filing of all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements
authenticated or otherwise authorized by Customer with respect to the Collateral
in the appropriate jurisdiction(s) and/or the completion of any other action
required by applicable law to perfect its liens and security interests, MLBFS
will have valid and perfected first liens and security interests upon all of the
Collateral.

(f) Financial Statements. Except as expressly set forth in Customer's or any
Business Guarantor's financial statements, all financial statements of Customer
and each Business Guarantor furnished to MLBFS have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, are true
and correct in all material respects, and fairly present the financial condition
of it as at such dates and the results of its operations for the periods then
ended (subject, in the case of interim unaudited financial statements, to normal
year-end adjustments); and since the most recent date covered by such financial
statements, there has been no material adverse change in any such financial
condition or operation. All financial statements furnished to MLBFS of any
Guarantor other than a Business Guarantor are true and correct in all material
respects and fairly represent such Guarantor's financial condition as of the
date of such financial statements, and since the most recent date of such
financial statements, there has been no material adverse change in such
financial condition.

(g) Litigation; Compliance With All Laws. No litigation, arbitration,
administrative or governmental proceedings are pending or, to the knowledge of
Customer, threatened against any Credit Party, which would, if adversely
determined, materially and adversely affect (i) such Credit Party's interest in
the Collateral or the liens and security interests of MLBFS hereunder or under
any of the Loan Documents, or (ii) the financial condition of such Credit Party
or its continued operations. Each Credit Party is in compliance in all material
respects with all laws, regulations, requirements and approvals applicable to
such Credit Party.

(h) Tax Returns. All federal, state and local tax returns, reports and
statements required to be filed by any Credit Party have been filed with the
appropriate governmental agencies and all taxes due and payable by any Credit
Party have been timely paid (except to the extent that any such failure to file
or pay will not materially and adversely affect (i) either the liens and
security interests of MLBFS hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents, (ii)
the financial condition of any Credit Party or (iii) its continued operations).

(i) Collateral Location. All of the tangible Collateral is located at a Location
of Tangible Collateral.

(j) No Default. No "Default" or "Event of Default" (each as defined in this Loan
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents) has occurred and is continuing.

(k) No Outside Broker. Except for employees of MLBFS, MLPF&S or one of their
affiliates, Customer has not in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby directly or indirectly engaged or dealt with, and was not introduced or
referred to MLBFS by, any broker or other loan arranger.

Each of the foregoing representations and warranties: (i) has been and will be
relied upon as an inducement to MLBFS to make any WCMA Loan, and (ii) is
continuing and shall be deemed remade by Customer on the Closing Date, and
concurrently with each request by Customer for a Subsequent WCMA Loan.

4.2 Financial and Other Information.

(a) Customer shall furnish or cause to be furnished to MLBFS during the term of
this Loan Agreement all of the following:

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(i) Borrowing Base Certificate. Within 45 days after the close of each fiscal
quarter of Customer, a Borrowing Base Certificate, duly executed by an
authorized officer of Customer, in the form of Exhibit B-1 attached hereto, or
such other form as reasonably required by MLBFS from time to time;

(ii) Certificate of Compliance. Within 45 days after the close of each fiscal
quarter of Customer, a Certificate of Compliance, duly executed by an authorized
officer of Customer, in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, or such other
form as reasonably required by MLBFS from time to time;

(iii) A/R Agings. Within 15 days after the close of each fiscal month of
Customer, a copy of the Accounts Receivable Aging of Customer as of the end of
such fiscal month;

(iv) Inventory Reports. Within 15 days after the close of each fiscal month of
Customer, a copy of the Inventory Report (as and to the extent applicable,
breaking out Inventory by location, and separately reporting any work in
process) of Customer as of the end of such fiscal month;

(i) SEC Reports. Customer shall furnish, or cause to be furnished to MLBFS, not
later than 10 days after the date of filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), a copy of each 10-K, 10-Q and other report required to be
filed with the SEC during the term hereof by Customer; and

(ii) Other Information. Such other information as MLBFS may from time to time
reasonably request relating to Customer, any Credit Party or the Collateral.

(b) General Agreements With Respect to Financial Information. Customer agrees
that except as otherwise specified herein or otherwise agreed to in writing by
MLBFS: (i) all annual financial statements required to be furnished by Customer
to MLBFS hereunder will be prepared by either the current independent
accountants for Customer or other independent accountants reasonably acceptable
to MLBFS, and (ii) all other financial information required to be furnished by
Customer to MLBFS hereunder will be certified as correct in all material
respects by the party who has prepared such information, and, in the case of
internally prepared information with respect to Customer or any Business
Guarantor, certified as correct by their respective chief financial officer.

4.3 Other Covenants. Customer further covenants and agrees during the term of
this Loan Agreement that:

(a) Financial Records; Inspection. Each Credit Party (other than any Individual
Guarantor) will: (i) maintain at its principal place of business complete and
accurate books and records, and maintain all of its financial records in a
manner consistent with the financial statements heretofore furnished to MLBFS,
or prepared on such other basis as may be approved in writing by MLBFS; and (ii)
permit MLBFS or its duly authorized representatives, upon reasonable notice and
at reasonable times, to inspect its properties (both real and personal),
operations, books and records.

(b) Taxes. Each Credit Party will pay when due all taxes, assessments and other
governmental charges, howsoever designated, and all other liabilities and
obligations, except to the extent that any such failure to file or pay will not
materially and adversely affect either the liens and security interests of MLBFS
hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents, the financial condition of any
Credit Party or its continued operations.

(c) Compliance With Laws and Agreements. No Credit Party will violate (i) any
law, regulation or other governmental requirement, any judgment or order of any
court or governmental agency or authority; (ii) any agreement, instrument or
document which is material to its operations or to the operation or use of any
Collateral, in each case as contemplated by the Loan Documents; or (iii) any
agreement, instrument or document to which it is a party or by which it is
bound, if any such violation will materially and adversely affect either the
liens and security interests of MLBFS hereunder or under any of the Loan
Documents, the financial condition of any Credit Party , or its continued
operations.

(d) No Use of Merrill Lynch Name. No Credit Party will directly or indirectly
publish, disclose or otherwise use in any advertising or promotional material,
or press release or interview, the name, logo or any trademark of MLBFS, MLPF&S,
Merrill Lynch and Co., Incorporated or any of their affiliates.

(e) Notification By Customer. Customer shall provide MLBFS with prompt written
notification of: (i) any Default; (ii) any material adverse change in the
business, financial condition or operations of any Credit Party; (iii) any
information which indicates that any financial statements of any Credit Party
fail in any material respect to present fairly the financial condition and
results of operations purported to be presented in such statements; (iv) any
threatened or pending litigation involving any Credit Party; (v) any casualty
loss, attachment, lien, judicial process, encumbrance or claim affecting or
involving $25,000 or more of any Collateral; and (vi) any change in Customer's
outside accountants. Each notification by Customer pursuant hereto shall specify
the event or information causing such notification, and, to the extent
applicable, shall specify the steps being taken to rectify or remedy such event
or information.

(f) Entity Organization. Each Credit Party which is an entity will (i) remain
(A) validly existing and in good standing in the state of its organization and
(B) qualified to do business and in good standing in each other state where the
nature of its business or the property owned by it make such qualification
necessary, and (ii) maintain all governmental permits, licenses and
authorizations. Customer shall give MLBFS not less than 30 days prior written
notice of any change in name (including any fictitious name) or chief executive
office, place of business, or as applicable, the principal residence of any
Credit Party.

(g) Merger, Change in Business. Except upon the prior written consent of MLBFS,
Customer shall not cause or permit any Credit Party to (i) be a party to any
merger or consolidation with, or purchase or otherwise acquire all or
substantially all of the assets of, or any material stock, partnership, joint
venture or other equity interest in, any Person, or sell, transfer or lease all
or any substantial part of its assets; (ii) engage in any material business
substantially different from its business in effect as of the date of
application by Customer for credit from MLBFS, or cease operating any such
material business; or (iii) cause or permit any other Person to assume or
succeed to any material business or operations of such Credit Party.

(h) Minimum Tangible Net Worth. Customer's and Business Guarantors' combined
Tangible Net Worth shall, at all times, exceed $22,500,000.00.

(i) Debt To Tangible Net Worth. The ratio of Customer's and Business Guarantors'
combined Debt to Tangible Net Worth shall not at any time exceed 1.50 to 1.00.

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<PAGE>

(j) No Additional Debt. Except upon the prior written consent of MLBFS, Customer
shall not, directly or indirectly, incur or permit to exist any debt of Customer
or any Business Guarantor for borrowed money or the lease under a capital lease
or deferred purchase price of real or personal property other than: (i) debt to
MLBFS and (ii) debt existing as of the date of and reflected on the last
financial statements of Customer and Business Guarantors submitted to MLBFS
prior to the date hereof and not refinanced by MLBFS (including a $200,000 Line
of Credit extended to Lakeland's Chinese subsidiary from China Construction
Bank).

(k) Customer Relationship. Customer shall notify MLBFS of the occurrence of any
materially negative change in its relationship with its principal supplier,
DuPont.

(l) MLBFS Debt To EBITDA Ratio. Customer's MLBFS Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall not
at any time exceed 4.50 to 1.00.

(m) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Customer's and Business Guarantors' combined
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall, at all times, not be less than 1.10 to 1.00.

4.4 Collateral

(a) Pledge of Collateral. To secure payment and performance of the Obligations,
Customer hereby pledges, assigns, transfers and sets over to MLBFS, and grants
to MLBFS first liens and security interests in and upon all of the Collateral,
subject only to priorities afforded to Permitted Liens.

(b) Liens. Except upon the prior written consent of MLBFS, Customer shall not
create or permit to exist any lien, encumbrance or security interest upon or
with respect to any Collateral now owned or hereafter acquired other than
Permitted Liens.

(c) Performance of Obligations. Customer shall perform all of its obligations
owing on account of or with respect to the Collateral; it being understood that
nothing herein, and no action or inaction by MLBFS, under this Loan Agreement or
otherwise, shall be deemed an assumption by MLBFS of any of Customer's said
obligations.

(d) Sales and Collections. Customer shall not sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any Collateral, except that so long as no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, Customer may in the ordinary course of its business:
(i) sell any Inventory normally held by Customer for sale, (ii) use or consume
any materials and supplies normally held by Customer for use or consumption, and
(iii) collect all of its Accounts.

(e) Account Schedules. Upon the request of MLBFS, which may be made from time to
time, Customer shall deliver to MLBFS, in addition to the other information
required hereunder, a schedule identifying, for each Account and all Chattel
Paper subject to MLBFS' security interests hereunder, each Account Debtor by
name and address and amount, invoice or contract number and date of each invoice
or contract. Customer shall furnish to MLBFS such additional information with
respect to the Collateral, and amounts received by Customer as proceeds of any
of the Collateral, as MLBFS may from time to time reasonably request.

(f) Location. Except for movements required in the ordinary course of Customer's
business, Customer shall give MLBFS 30 days' prior written notice of the placing
at or movement of any tangible Collateral to any location other than a Location
of Tangible Collateral. In no event shall Customer cause or permit any material
tangible Collateral to be removed from the United States without the express
prior written consent of MLBFS. Customer will keep its books and records at its
principal office address specified in the first paragraph of this Loan
Agreement. Customer will not change the address where books and records are
kept, or change its name or taxpayer identification number. Customer will place
a legend acceptable to MLBFS on all chattel paper that is Collateral in the
possession or control of Customer from time to time indicating that MLBFS has a
security interest therein.

(g) Insurance. Customer shall insure all of the tangible Collateral under a
policy or policies of physical damage insurance for the full replacement value
thereof against such perils as MLBFS shall reasonably require and also providing
that losses will be payable to MLBFS as its interests may appear pursuant to a
lender's or mortgagee's long form loss payable endorsement and containing such
other provisions as may be reasonably required by MLBFS. Customer shall further
provide and maintain a policy or policies of commercial general liability
insurance naming MLBFS as an additional party insured. Customer and each
Business Guarantor shall maintain such other insurance as may be required by law
or is customarily maintained by companies in a similar business or otherwise
reasonably required by MLBFS. All such insurance policies shall provide that
MLBFS will receive not less than 10 days prior written notice of any
cancellation, and shall otherwise be in form and amount and with an insurer or
insurers reasonably acceptable to MLBFS. Customer shall furnish MLBFS with a
copy or certificate of each such policy or policies and, prior to any expiration
or cancellation, each renewal or replacement thereof.

(h) Event of Loss. Customer shall at its expense promptly repair all repairable
damage to any tangible Collateral. In the event that there is an Event of Loss
and the affected Collateral had a value prior to such Event of Loss of
$25,000.00 or more, then, on or before the first to occur of (i) 90 days after
the occurrence of such Event of Loss, or (ii) 10 Business Days after the date on
which either Customer or MLBFS shall receive any proceeds of insurance on
account of such Event of Loss, or any underwriter of insurance on such
Collateral shall advise either Customer or MLBFS that it disclaims liability in
respect of such Event of Loss, Customer shall, at Customer's option, either
replace the Collateral subject to such Event of Loss with comparable Collateral
free of all liens other than Permitted Liens (in which event Customer shall be
entitled to utilize the proceeds of insurance on account of such Event of Loss
for such purpose, and may retain any excess proceeds of such insurance), or
permanently prepay the Obligations by an amount equal to the actual cash value
of such Collateral as determined by either the insurance company's payment (plus
any applicable deductible) or, in absence of insurance company payment, as
reasonably determined by MLBFS; it being further understood that any such
permanent prepayment shall cause an immediate permanent reduction in the Maximum
WCMA Line of Credit in the amount of such prepayment and shall not reduce the
amount of any future reductions in the Maximum WCMA Line of Credit that may be
required hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at the time of occurrence
of such Event of Loss or any time thereafter prior to replacement or line
reduction, as aforesaid, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing hereunder, then MLBFS may at its sole option, exercisable at any time
while such Event of Default shall be continuing, require Customer to either
replace such Collateral or prepay the Obligations and reduce the Maximum WCMA
Line of Credit, as aforesaid.

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(i) Notice of Certain Events. Customer shall give MLBFS immediate notice of any
attachment, lien, judicial process, encumbrance or claim affecting or involving
$25,000.00 or more of the Collateral.

(j) Indemnification. Customer shall indemnify, defend and save MLBFS harmless
from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) of any
nature whatsoever which may be asserted against or incurred by MLBFS arising out
of or in any manner occasioned by (i) the ownership, collection, possession, use
or operation of any Collateral, or (ii) any failure by Customer to perform any
of its obligations hereunder; excluding, however, from said indemnity any such
claims, liabilities, etc. arising directly out of the willful wrongful act or
active gross negligence of MLBFS. This indemnity shall survive the expiration or
termination of this Loan Agreement as to all matters arising or accruing prior
to such expiration or termination.

4.5 Events of Default.

The occurrence of any of the following events shall constitute an "Event of
Default" under this Loan Agreement:

(a) Failure to Pay. (i) Customer shall fail to deposit into the WCMA Account an
amount sufficient to assure that the WCMA Loan Balance does not exceed the
Maximum WCMA Line of Credit (ii) Customer shall fail to pay to MLBFS or deposit
into the WCMA Account when due any other amount owing or required to be paid or
deposited by Customer under the Loan Documents, or (iii) Customer shall fail to
pay when due any other Obligations; and any such failure as described in this
subparagraph shall continue for more than five (5) Business Days after such
failure.

(b) Failure to Perform. Any Credit Party shall default in the performance or
observance of any covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed
under any of the Loan Documents (not constituting an Event of Default under any
other clause of this Section), and such default shall continue unremedied for
ten (10) Business Days (i) after written notice thereof shall have been given by
MLBFS to Customer, or (ii) from Customer's receipt of any notice or knowledge of
such default from any other source.

(c) Breach of Warranty. Any representation or warranty made by any Credit Party
contained in any of the Loan Documents shall at any time prove to have been
incorrect in any material respect when made.

(d) Default Under Other ML Agreement. A default or event of default by any
Credit Party shall occur under the terms of any other agreement, instrument or
document with or intended for the benefit of MLBFS, MLPF&S or any of their
affiliates, and any required notice shall have been given and required passage
of time shall have elapsed, or the WCMA Agreement shall be terminated for any
reason.

(e) Bankruptcy Event. Any Bankruptcy Event shall occur.

(f) Material Impairment. Any event shall occur which shall reasonably cause
MLBFS to in good faith believe that the prospect of full payment or performance
by the Credit Parties of any of their respective liabilities or obligations
under any of the Loan Documents has been materially impaired. The existence of
such a material impairment shall be determined in a manner consistent with the
intent of Section 1-208 of the UCC.

(g) Default Under Other Agreements. Any event shall occur which results in any
default of any material agreement involving any Credit Party or any agreement
evidencing any indebtedness of any Credit Party of $100,000.00 or more.

(h) Collateral Impairment. The loss, theft or destruction of any Collateral, the
occurrence of any material deterioration or impairment of any Collateral or any
material decline or depreciation in the value or market price thereof (whether
actual or reasonably anticipated), which causes any Collateral, in the sole
opinion of MLBFS, to become unsatisfactory as to value or character; or any
levy, attachment, seizure or confiscation of the Collateral which is not
released within ten (10) Business Days.

(i) Contested Obligation. (i) Any of the Loan Documents shall for any reason
cease to be, or are asserted by any Credit Party not to be a legal, valid and
binding obligations of any Credit Party, enforceable in accordance with their
terms; or (ii) the validity, perfection or priority of MLBFS' first lien and
security interest on any of the Collateral is contested by any Person; or (iii)
any Credit Party shall or shall attempt to repudiate, revoke, contest or
dispute, in whole or in part, such Credit Party's obligations under any Loan
Document.

(j) Judgments. A judgment shall be entered against any Credit Party in excess of
$25,000 and the judgment is not paid in full and discharged, or stayed and
bonded to the satisfaction of MLBFS.

(k) Change in Control/Change in Management. (i) Any direct or indirect sale,
conveyance, assignment or other transfer of or grant of a security interest in
any ownership interest of any Credit Party which results, or if any rights
related thereto were exercised would result, in any change in the identity of
the individuals or entities in control of any Credit Party; or (ii) the owner(s)
of the controlling equity interest of the Customer on the date hereof shall
cease to own and control such Credit Party; or (iii) the Person (or a
replacement who is satisfactory to MLBFS in its sole discretion) who is the
chief executive officer or holds such similar position, or any senior manager of
such Credit Party on the date hereof shall for any reason cease to be the chief
executive officer or senior manager of such Credit Party.

(l) Withdrawal, Death, etc. The incapacity, death, withdrawal, dissolution, or
the filing of dissolution of: (i) any Credit Party; or (ii) any controlling
shareholder, partner, or member of any Credit Party.

4.6 Remedies.

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<PAGE>

(a) Remedies Upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, MLBFS may at its sole option do any one or more or all of the
following, at such time and in such order as MLBFS may in its sole discretion
choose:

(i) Termination. MLBFS may without notice terminate its obligation to extend any
credit to or for the benefit of Customer (it being understood that upon the
occurrence of any Bankruptcy Event all such obligations shall automatically
terminate without any action on the part of MLBFS).

(ii) Acceleration. MLBFS may declare the WCMA Loan Balance and all other
Obligations to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon all such amounts shall be
immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand for payment, protest
and notice of protest, notice of dishonor, notice of acceleration, notice of
intent to accelerate or other notice or formality of any kind, all of which are
hereby expressly waived; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any
Bankruptcy Event the WCMA Loan Balance and other Obligations shall automatically
become due and payable without any action on the part of MLBFS.

(iii) Exercise Other Rights. MLBFS may exercise any or all of the remedies of a
secured party under applicable law and in equity, including, but not limited to,
the UCC, and any or all of its other rights and remedies under the Loan
Documents.

(iv) Possession. MLBFS may require Customer to make the Collateral and the
records pertaining to the Collateral available to MLBFS at a place designated by
MLBFS which is reasonably convenient to Customer, or may take possession of the
Collateral and the records pertaining to the Collateral without the use of any
judicial process and without any prior notice to Customer.

(v) Sale. MLBFS may sell any or all of the Collateral at public or private sale
upon such terms and conditions as MLBFS may reasonably deem proper, whether for
cash, on credit, or for future delivery, in bulk or in lots. MLBFS may purchase
any Collateral at any such sale free of Customer's right of redemption, if any,
which Customer expressly waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law.
The net proceeds of any such public or private sale and all other amounts
actually collected or received by MLBFS pursuant hereto, after deducting all
costs and expenses incurred at any time in the collection of the Obligations and
in the protection, collection and sale of the Collateral, will be applied to the
payment of the Obligations, with any remaining proceeds paid to Customer or
whoever else may be entitled thereto, and with Customer and each Guarantor
remaining jointly and severally liable for any amount remaining unpaid after
such application.

(vi) Delivery of Cash, Checks, Etc. MLBFS may require Customer to forthwith upon
receipt, transmit and deliver to MLBFS in the form received, all cash, checks,
drafts and other instruments for the payment of money (properly endorsed, where
required, so that such items may be collected by MLBFS) which may be received by
Customer at any time in full or partial payment of any Collateral, and require
that Customer not commingle any such items which may be so received by Customer
with any other of its funds or property but instead hold them separate and apart
and in trust for MLBFS until delivery is made to MLBFS.

(vii) Notification of Account Debtors. MLBFS may notify any Account Debtor that
its Account or Chattel Paper has been assigned to MLBFS and direct such account
debtor to make payment directly to MLBFS of all amounts due or becoming due with
respect to such Account or Chattel Paper; and MLBFS may enforce payment and
collect, by legal proceedings or otherwise, such Account or Chattel Paper.

(viii) Control of Collateral. MLBFS may otherwise take control in any lawful
manner of any cash or non-cash items of payment or proceeds of Collateral and of
any rejected, returned, stopped in transit or repossessed goods included in the
Collateral and endorse Customer's name on any item of payment on or proceeds of
the Collateral.

(b) Set-Off. MLBFS shall have the further right upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of an Event of Default to set-off, appropriate and apply toward
payment of any of the Obligations, in such order of application as MLBFS may
from time to time and at any time elect, any cash, credit, deposits, accounts,
financial assets, investment property, securities and any other property of
Customer which is in transit to or in the possession, custody or control of
MLBFS, MLPF&S or any agent, bailee, or affiliate of MLBFS or MLPF&S. Customer
hereby collaterally assigns and grants to MLBFS a continuing security interest
in all such property as Collateral and as additional security for the
Obligations. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default, MLBFS shall have all rights in such property available to collateral
assignees and secured parties under all applicable laws, including, without
limitation, the UCC.

(c) Power of Attorney. Effective upon the occurrence and during the continuance
of an Event of Default, Customer hereby irrevocably appoints MLBFS as its
attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, in its place and stead and in
its name or in the name of MLBFS, to from time to time in MLBFS' sole discretion
take any action and to execute any instrument which MLBFS may deem necessary or
advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Loan Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, including, but not limited to, to receive, endorse and collect all
checks, drafts and other instruments for the payment of money made payable to
Customer included in the Collateral. The powers of attorney granted to MLBFS in
this Loan Agreement are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable until the
Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and fully satisfied and all
obligations of MLBFS under this Loan Agreement have been terminated.

(d) Remedies are Severable and Cumulative. All rights and remedies of MLBFS
herein are severable and cumulative and in addition to all other rights and
remedies available in the Loan Documents, at law or in equity, and any one or
more of such rights and remedies may be exercised simultaneously or
successively.

(e) No Marshalling. MLBFS shall be under no duty or obligation to (i) preserve,
protect or marshall the Collateral; (ii) preserve or protect the rights of any
Credit Party or any other Person claiming an interest in the Collateral; (iii)
realize upon the Collateral in any particular order or manner, (iv) seek
repayment of any Obligations from any particular source; (v) proceed or not
proceed against any Credit Party pursuant to any guaranty or security agreement
or against any Credit Party under the Loan Documents, with or without also
realizing on the

                                       10
<PAGE>

Collateral; (vi) permit any substitution or exchange of all or any part of the
Collateral; or (vii) release any part of the Collateral from the Loan Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents, whether or not such substitution or release
would leave MLBFS adequately secured.

(f) Notices. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Customer hereby
irrevocably waives and releases MLBFS of and from any and all liabilities and
penalties for failure of MLBFS to comply with any statutory or other requirement
imposed upon MLBFS relating to notices of sale, holding of sale or reporting of
any sale, and Customer waives all rights of redemption or reinstatement from any
such sale. Any notices required under applicable law shall be reasonably and
properly given to Customer if given by any of the methods provided herein at
least 5 Business Days prior to taking action. MLBFS shall have the right to
postpone or adjourn any sale or other disposition of Collateral at any time
without giving notice of any such postponed or adjourned date. In the event
MLBFS seeks to take possession of any or all of the Collateral by court process,
Customer further irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any
bonds and any surety or security relating thereto required by any statute, court
rule or otherwise as an incident to such possession, and any demand for
possession prior to the commencement of any suit or action.

4.7 Miscellaneous.

(a) Non-Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of MLBFS in exercising any
right, power or remedy pursuant to the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver
thereof, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy
shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any
other right, power or remedy. Neither any waiver of any provision of any of the
Loan Documents, nor any consent to any departure by Customer therefrom, shall be
effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by MLBFS. Any waiver of
any provision of any of the Loan Documents and any consent to any departure by
Customer from the terms thereof shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which given. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, no notice to or demand on Customer shall in any case entitle
Customer to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.

(b) Disclosure. Customer hereby irrevocably authorizes MLBFS and each of its
affiliates, including without limitation MLPF&S, to at any time (whether or not
an Event of Default shall have occurred) obtain from and disclose to each other,
and to any third party in connection with Section 4.7 (g) herein, any and all
financial and other information about Customer. In connection with said
authorization, the parties recognize that in order to provide a WCMA Line of
Credit certain information about Customer is required to be made available on a
computer network accessible by certain affiliates of MLBFS, including MLPF&S.
Customer further irrevocably authorizes MLBFS to contact, investigate, inquire
and obtain consumer reports, references and other information on Customer from
consumer reporting agencies and other credit reporting services, former or
current creditors, and other persons and sources (including, without limitation,
any Affiliate of MLBFS) and to provide to any references, consumer reporting
agencies, credit reporting services, creditors and other persons and sources
(including, without limitation, affiliates of MLBFS) all financial, credit and
other information obtained by MLBFS relating to the Customer.

(c) Communications. Delivery of an agreement, instrument or other document may,
at the discretion of MLBFS, be by electronic transmission. Except as required by
law or otherwise provided herein or in a writing executed by the party to be
bound, all notices demands, requests, accountings, listings, statements, advices
or other communications to be given under the Loan Documents shall be in writing
and shall be served either personally, by deposit with a reputable overnight
courier with charges prepaid, or by deposit in the United States mail by
certified mail return receipt required. Notices may be addressed to Customer as
set forth at its address shown in the preamble hereto, or to any office to which
billing or account statements are sent; to MLBFS at its address shown in the
preamble hereto, or at such other address designated in writing by MLBFS. Any
such communication shall be deemed to have been given upon, in the case of
personal delivery the date of delivery, one Business Day after deposit with an
overnight courier, two (2) Business Days after deposit in the United States by
certified mail (return receipt required), or receipt of electronic transmission
(which shall be presumed to be three hours after the time of transmission unless
an error message is received by the sender), except that any notice of change of
address shall not be effective until actually received.

(d) Fees, Expenses and Taxes. Customer shall pay or reimburse MLBFS for: (i) all
UCC, real property or other filing, recording, and search fees and expenses
incurred by MLBFS in connection with the verification, perfection or
preservation of MLBFS' rights hereunder or in any Collateral or any other
collateral for the Obligations; (ii) any and all stamp, transfer, mortgage,
intangible, document, filing, recording and other taxes and fees payable or
determined to be payable in connection with the borrowings hereunder or the
execution, delivery, filing, and/or recording of the Loan Documents and any
other instruments or documents provided for herein or delivered or to be
delivered hereunder or in connection herewith; and (iii) all fees and
out-of-pocket expenses (including, attorneys' fees and legal expenses) incurred
by MLBFS in connection with the preparation, execution, administration,
collection, enforcement, protection, waiver or amendment of this Loan Agreement,
the other Loan Documents and such other instruments or documents, and the rights
and remedies of MLBFS thereunder, and all other matters in connection therewith.
Customer hereby authorizes MLBFS, at its option, to either cause any and all
such fees, expenses and taxes to be paid with a WCMA Loan, or invoice Customer
therefore (in which event Customer shall pay all such fees, expenses and taxes
within 5 Business Days after receipt of such invoice). The obligations of
Customer under this paragraph shall survive the expiration or termination of
this Loan Agreement and the discharge of the other Obligations.

(e) Right to Perform Obligations. If Customer shall fail to do any act or thing
which it has covenanted to do under any of the Loan Documents or any
representation or warranty on the part of Customer contained in the Loan
Documents shall be breached, MLBFS may, in its sole discretion, after 5 Business
Days written notice is sent to Customer (or such lesser notice, including no
notice, as is reasonable under the circumstances), do the same or cause it to be
done or remedy any such breach, and may expend its funds for such purpose. Any
and all reasonable amounts so expended by MLBFS shall be repayable to MLBFS by
Customer upon demand, with interest at the Interest Rate during the period from
and including the date funds are so expended by MLBFS to the date of repayment,
and all such amounts shall be additional Obligations. The payment or performance
by MLBFS of any of Customer's obligations hereunder shall not relieve Customer
of said obligations or of the consequences of having failed to pay or perform
the same, and shall not waive or be deemed a cure of any Default.

(f) Further Assurances. Customer agrees to do such further acts and things and
to execute and deliver to MLBFS such additional agreements, instruments and
documents as MLBFS may reasonably require or deem advisable to effectuate the
purposes of the Loan Documents, to confirm the WCMA Loan

                                       11
<PAGE>

Balance, or to establish, perfect and maintain MLBFS' security interests and
liens upon the Collateral, including, but not limited to: (i) executing
financing statements or amendments thereto when and as reasonably requested by
MLBFS; and (ii) if in the reasonable judgment of MLBFS it is required by local
law, causing the owners and/or mortgagees of the real property on which any
Collateral may be located to execute and deliver to MLBFS waivers or
subordinations reasonably satisfactory to MLBFS with respect to any rights in
such Collateral.

(g) Binding Effect. The Loan Documents shall be binding upon, and shall inure to
the benefit of MLBFS, Customer and their respective successors and assigns.
MLBFS reserves the right, at any time while the Obligations remain outstanding,
to sell, assign, syndicate or otherwise transfer or dispose of any or all of
MLBFS' rights and interests under the Loan Documents. MLBFS also reserves the
right at any time to pool the WCMA Loan with one or more other loans originated
by MLBFS or any other Person, and to securitize or offer interests in such pool
on whatever terms and conditions MLBFS shall determine. Customer consents to
MLBFS releasing financial and other information regarding Credit Parties, the
Collateral and the WCMA Loan in connection with any such sale, pooling,
securitization or other offering. Customer shall not assign any of its rights or
delegate any of its obligations under any of the Loan Documents without the
prior written consent of MLBFS. Unless otherwise expressly agreed to in a
writing signed by MLBFS, no such consent shall in any event relieve Customer of
any of its obligations under this Loan Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents.

(h) Interpretation; Construction. (i) Captions and section and paragraph
headings in this Loan Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience,
and shall not affect the interpretation hereof; (ii) no provision of this Loan
Agreement shall be construed against a particular Person or in favor of another
Person merely because of which Person (or its representative) drafted or
supplied the wording for such provision; and (iii) where the context requires:
(a) use of the singular or plural incorporates the other, and (b) pronouns and
modifiers in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall be deemed to refer
to or include the other genders.

(i) Governing Law. This Loan Agreement and, unless otherwise expressly provided
therein, each of the Loan Documents, shall be governed in all respects by the
laws of the State of Illinois, not including its conflict of law provisions.

(j) Severability of Provisions. Whenever possible, each provision of this Loan
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be interpreted in such manner as to
be effective and valid under applicable law. Any provision of the Loan Documents
which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of the Loan
Documents or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

(k) Term. This Loan Agreement shall become effective on the date accepted by
MLBFS at its office in Chicago, Illinois, and, subject to the terms hereof,
shall continue in effect so long thereafter as: (i) the WCMA Line of Credit
shall be in effect, (ii) there shall be any moneys outstanding under this Loan
Agreement, or (iii) there shall be any other Obligations outstanding. Customer
hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Loan Agreement by MLBFS.

(l) Exhibits. The exhibits to this Loan Agreement are hereby incorporated and
made a part hereof and are an integral part of this Loan Agreement

(m) Counterparts. This Loan Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts which, when taken together, constitute one and the same agreement.

(n) Jurisdiction; Waiver. Customer acknowledges that this Loan Agreement is
being accepted by MLBFS in partial consideration of MLBFS' right and option, in
its sole discretion, to enforce the Loan Documents in either the State of
Illinois or in any other jurisdiction where Customer or any Collateral may be
located. Customer irrevocably submits itself to jurisdiction in the State of
Illinois and venue in any state or federal court in the County of Cook for such
purposes, and Customer waives any and all rights to contest said jurisdiction
and venue and the convenience of any such forum, and any and all rights to
remove such action from state to federal court. Customer further waives any
rights to commence any action against MLBFS in any jurisdiction except in the
County of Cook and State of Illinois. Customer agrees that all such service of
process shall be made by mail or messenger directed to it in the same manner as
provided for notices to Customer in this Loan Agreement and that service so made
shall be deemed to be completed upon the earlier of actual receipt or three (3)
days after the same shall have been posted to Customer or Customer's agent.
Nothing contained herein shall affect the right of MLBFS to serve legal process
in any other manner permitted by law or affect the right of MLBFS to bring any
action or proceeding against Customer or its property in the courts of any other
jurisdiction. Customer waives, to the extent permitted by law, any bond or
surety or security upon such bond which might, but for this waiver, be required
of MLBFS. Customer further waives the right to bring any non-compulsory
counterclaims.

(o) Jury Waiver. MLBFS and Customer hereby each expressly waive any and all
rights to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim brought by
either of the parties against the other party with respect to any matter
relating to, arising out of or in any way connected with the Loan, the
Obligations, this Loan Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents and/or any of
the transactions which are the subject matter of this Loan Agreement.

(p) Integration. This Loan Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents,
constitutes the entire understanding and represents the full and final agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be
contradicted by evidence of prior written agreements or prior, contemporaneous
or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. There are no unwritten oral
agreements of the parties. Without limiting the foregoing, Customer acknowledges
that: (i) no promise or commitment has been made to it by MLBFS, MLPF&S or any
of their respective employees, agents or representatives to make any WCMA Loan
on any terms other than as expressly set forth herein, or to make any other loan
or otherwise extend any other credit to Customer or any other party; and (ii)
except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Loan Agreement supersedes
and replaces any and all proposals, letters of intent and approval and
commitment letters from MLBFS to Customer, none of which shall be considered a
Loan Document. No amendment or modification of any of the Loan Documents to
which Customer is a party shall be effective unless in writing signed by both
MLBFS and Customer.

                                       12
<PAGE>

(q) Survival. All representations, warranties, agreements and covenants
contained in the Loan Documents shall survive the signing and delivery of the
Loan Documents, and all of the waivers made and indemnification obligations
undertaken by Customer shall survive the termination, discharge or cancellation
of the Loan Documents.

(r) Customer's Acknowledgments. The Customer acknowledges that the Customer: (i)
has had ample opportunity to consult with counsel and such other parties as
deemed advisable prior to signing and delivering this Loan Agreement and the
other Loan Documents; (ii) understands the provisions of this Loan Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, including all waivers contained therein; and (iii)
signs and delivers this Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents freely and
voluntarily, without duress or coercion.

This Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents are executed under seal and are
intended to take effect as sealed instruments.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Loan Agreement has been executed as of the day and year
first above written.

LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:   /s/Christopher J. Ryan                 /s/James M. McCormick
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Signature (1)                      Signature (2)
  Christopher J. Ryan                          James M. McCormick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Printed Name                       Printed Name
  President & Secretary                         Treasurer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Title                              Title

Accepted at Chicago, Illinois:
MERRILL LYNCH BUSINESS FINANCIAL
SERVICES INC.

By:  /s/Kathy Thomas
     ---------------

                                       13

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
ATTACHED TO AND HEREBY MADE A PART OF WCMA  Reducing  Revolver LOAN AND SECURITY
AGREEMENT NO. 849-02005 BETWEEN MERRILL LYNCH BUSINESS  FINANCIAL  SERVICES INC.
AND LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC.
================================================================================

Additional Locations of Tangible Collateral:

3420 Valley Avenue S.W.
Decatur, Alabama

202 Pride Lane S.W.
Decatur, Alabama

2401 Southwest Parkway
St. Joseph, Missouri

<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                                            CLOSING CERTIFICATE
================================================================================

The undersigned, LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC., a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the State of Delaware ("Customer"), as a primary inducement to
MERRILL LYNCH BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. ("MLBFS") to make a loan to
Customer (the "Loan") pursuant to that certain WCMA REDUCING REVOLVERsm LOAN AND
SECURITY AGREEMENT No. 849-02005 between Customer and MLBFS dated as of January
21, 2004 (the "Loan Agreement") DOES HEREBY REPRESENT, WARRANT AND AGREE AS
FOLLOWS:

1. All of Customer's representations and warranties in the Loan Agreement are
true and correct and remade as of the date hereof, and, without limiting the
foregoing: (i) subject only to the priority afforded to the "Permitted Liens"
(as defined in the Loan Agreement), MLBFS has a first lien and security interest
upon all of the "Collateral" under the Loan Agreement (including any Collateral
financed or refinanced with the proceeds of the Loan), and (ii) the Loan is
being applied on account of and will satisfy the "Loan Purpose" under the Loan
Agreement.

2. There has not occurred any event which constitutes a "Default" under the Loan
Agreement.

3. There has not occurred any material adverse change in the business or
financial condition of Customer or any of the other Credit Parties obligations
to MLBFS since the date of the last financial statements submitted to MLBFS.

15,000
4. MLBFS is hereby authorized and directed to disburse the proceeds of the Loan
in the amount of $_________________, by:
[_]check    [_]wire transfer    [_]Xdeposit   as follows:

Please make available $3,000,000.00 in Customer's WCMA Account No. 849-02005.

               11
Dated this  11  day of  February , 2004
           ----        ----------------
LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:     /s/Christopher J. Ryan                    /s/James M. McCormick
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Signature (1)                        Signature (2)

    Christopher J. Ryan                           James M. McCormick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Printed Name                       Printed Name

                President                              Treasurer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Title                                  Title

<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                                     BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE
================================================================================

To:  Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services Inc. ("MLBFS")
     222 North LaSalle Street
     17th Floor
     Chicago, IL 60601

The undersigned, on behalf of LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC. ("Customer"), hereby
certifies to MLBFS that: (i) he/she is an officer authorized to execute and
deliver this certificate on behalf of Customer, and is familiar with the
business and financial condition of the Customer; (ii) the financial statements
delivered with this Certificate fairly present in all material respects the
results of operations and financial condition of Customer; and (iii) to the best
of my knowledge and belief, after reasonable investigation, each of the
following statements is true and correct as of the date hereof: (a) no Event of
Default, or event which with the giving of notice, passage of time, or both,
would constitute and Event of Default, has occurred or is continuing, (b) no
material adverse change in the financial condition of Customer has occurred or
is continuing, and (c) the attached annexations, which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference, are accurate, true and correct, and do not fail to state
any material fact known (or should have been known) to Customer which would, but
for the lapse of time, make any such statement or calculation false in any
respect.

Date: 2/4/04
    --------

LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC.

By: /s/Christopher J. Ryan              s/James M. McCormick
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Signature (1)                      Signature (2)

Christopher J. Ryan                        James M. McCormick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Printed Name                Printed Name
President & Secretary                          Treasurer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Title                          Title

     INSTRUCTIONS: In accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement (to which
     this original form of Borrowing Base Certificate is attached as Exhibit
     B-1), this Borrowing Certificate and the attached Annexations must be
     completed by you within 45 DAYS after the close of each fiscal quarter.
     MLBFS expects you to make copies of this original form of Borrowing Base
     Certificate and send them to MLBFS without notification or reminder.
     Additional copies will be provided to you upon request.

<PAGE>

                        BORROWING BASE CALCULATION ANNEX
          TO BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE (Exhibit B-1 to Loan Agreement)

As set forth in the Loan Agreement, the "Maximum WCMA Line of Credit" shall
mean, as of any date of determination thereof, an amount $3,000,000.00
As of 10/31/03 (insert quarter-end date):
      ---------

     1.                                              23,140,157
Total Collateral Borrowing Base available                   $_____________

<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                                         COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
================================================================================

To:  Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services Inc. ("MLBFS")
     222 North LaSalle Street
     17th Floor
     Chicago, IL 60601

The undersigned, on behalf of LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC. ("Customer"), hereby
certifies to MLBFS that: (i) he/she is an officer authorized to execute and
deliver this certificate on behalf of Customer, and is familiar with the
business and financial condition of the Customer; (ii) the financial statements
delivered with this Certificate fairly present in all material respects the
results of operations and financial condition of Customer; and (iii) to the best
of my knowledge and belief, after reasonable investigation, each of the
following statements is true and correct as of the date hereof: (a) no Event of
Default, or event which with the giving of notice, passage of time, or both,
would constitute and Event of Default, has occurred or is continuing, (b) no
material adverse change in the financial condition of Customer has occurred or
is continuing, and (c) the attached annexations, which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference, are accurate, true and correct, and do not fail to state
any material fact known (or should have been known) to Customer which would, but
for the lapse of time, make any such statement or calculation false in any
respect.

Date: February 4, 2004
      ----------------

LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC.

By: /s/Christopher J. Ryan
   ----------------------------
                  Signature (1)
Christpoher J. Ryan
-------------------------------
                  Printed Name
President and Secretary
-------------------------------
                  Title

================================================================================
     INSTRUCTIONS: In accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement (to which
     this original form of Compliance Certificate is attached as Exhibit B),
     this Compliance Certificate and the attached Annexations must be completed
     by you within 45 days after the close of each fiscal quarter. MLBFS expects
     you to make copies of this original form of Compliance Certificate and send
     them to MLBFS without notification or reminder. Additional copies will be
     provided to you upon request.
================================================================================

<PAGE>

                                                        Private Client Group

                                                        Merrill Lynch Business
                                                        Financial Services Inc.
                                                        222 North LaSalle Street
                                                        17th Floor
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                                       Chicago, Illinois 60601
                                                        312.499.3276
                                                        FAX: 312.269.1348

                                                        January 21, 2004

Mr. Christopher J. Ryan
 Lakeland Industries, Inc.
 711-2 Koehler Avenue
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-7410

                  Re: WCMA Reducing Revolversm Loan Approval

Dear Mr. Ryan,

As I believe you know, we have approved the request of Lakeland Industries, Inc.
("Customer") for a WCMA Reducing Revolversm Loan ("Reducing Revolver") upon the
terms and conditions set forth in the enclosed documents ("Loan Documents").

For your information, the following are some of the principal terms of the
approval:

Description: A Reducing Revolver is a term loan facility funded out of a line of
credit in the amount of the initial loan provided in connection with a Merrill
Lynch WCMA Account. The line of credit will be reduced each month by the amount
that would be payable on account of principal if the Reducing Revolver were a
conventional term loan amortized over the same term and in the same manner as
the Reducing Revolver; and the borrower will be required to make sufficient
deposits into the WCMA Account to assure that the line of credit, as reduced
each month is not exceeded. Absent a prepayment by the borrower, this structure
results in required monthly payments for the Reducing Revolver that are
substantially the same as the required monthly payments for a conventional term
loan with the same term and amortization. However, because the Reducing Revolver
is funded out of a line of credit, any amounts prepaid may (subject to the terms
and conditions set forth in the Loan Documents) be re-borrowed on a revolving
basis so long as the line of credit, as reduced each month, is not thereby
exceeded. The structure of the Reducing Revolver therefore enables the borrower
at its option to use any free cash balances that it may have from time to time
to reduce interest expense on the Reducing Revolver without impairing its
working capital.

Loan Purpose: The purpose of the Reducing Revolver is to finance working capital
needs.

Maximum Loan Amount: An amount equal to the lesser of: (i) 100% of the amount
required by Customer to satisfy or fulfill the Loan Purpose, (ii) the aggregate
amount which Customer shall request be advanced by MLBFS on account of the Loan
Purpose on the Closing Date, or (iii) $3,000,000.00.

Term: 36-months from the first day of the calendar month immediately following
the date of funding. Amortization of the Reducing Revolver (i.e., monthly Line
of Credit reductions) will be based upon a term of 36 months, with a balloon
payment due at maturity.

Interest Rate: Variable at a per annum rate equal to the sum of 2.50% and the
"One-Month LIBOR" (as published in The Wall Street Journal), based upon actual
days elapsed over a 360-day year. Interest will generally be charged to the line
of credit each month and funded as an additional loan under the Reducing
Revolver facility.

Commitment Fee: $15,000.00.

<PAGE>

Please refer to the Loan Documents for a complete description and statement of
the terms of the WCMA Reducing Revolver Loan.

In addition to conditions set forth in the Loan Documents, our approval is
subject to:

(a) Our receipt of all of the Loan Documents together with any additional
documents contemplated thereby or otherwise reasonably required by us, all of
which shall be duly executed and, if applicable, recorded, and all of which
shall be in form and substance satisfactory to us.

(b) Acceptance by us in writing of the executed Loan Documents at our office in
Chicago after review and a final determination by us of the consistency of the
Loan Documents with our original internal credit approval. (Without limiting the
foregoing, it should be understood that prior to such acceptance we are not
bound by any clerical or other errors in or omissions from the Loan Documents.)

(c) Our continuing satisfaction with the financial condition of Customer and
each guarantor of Customer's obligations to us.

(d) There not occurring any event which under the terms of the Loan Documents
would constitute a Default.

(e) Evidence satisfactory to us of the perfection and priority of any liens
required by us in the Loan Documents.

(f) Our receipt of a Certificate of Insurance satisfactory to us evidencing a
policy or policies of physical damage insurance on the tangible collateral
described in the Loan Documents, and providing that losses shall be payable to
us as our interests may appear pursuant to a Lender's Loss Payable Endorsement,
and that we shall receive not less than 10 days prior notice of any cancellation
or material amendment.

Our approval will remain open subject to said conditions until February 16,
2004, after which time it shall be void.

Note that as set forth above the Loan Documents require a Commitment Fee of
$15,000.00. If this fee has not yet been paid, please furnish your check to
cover this fee at the time you return the executed Loan Documents. Note further
that under the terms of the Loan Documents Customer is responsible for UCC
filing and search fees and expenses and any taxes in connection with the Loan
Documents and/or such filing.

Please note that in order to help the government fight the funding of terrorism
and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions
to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens
an account. Therefore, prior to opening an account, you have been or will be
asked for identifying information, such as (and as applicable): name, address,
date of incorporation, date of birth and other information that will allow MLBFS
to identify you. MLBFS also may have asked or may ask to see documentation such
as Articles of Incorporation, Partnership Agreements, driver's licenses and/or
other identifying documents.

FINALLY, NOTE THAT ACCRUED INTEREST UNDER A WCMA LINE OF CREDIT IS ORDINARILY
PAID WITH A WCMA LOAN, WITH THE FIRST SUCH WCMA LOAN FOR ACCRUED INTEREST
CHARGED ON THE FIRST BUSINESS DAY OF THE CALENDAR MONTH IN WHICH THE LOAN IS
FUNDED. THEREFORE, TO AVOID EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM WCMA LINE OF CREDIT, PLEASE
PLAN UPON MAKING A DEPOSIT INTO THE WCMA ACCOUNT, AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO PAY
SUCH INTEREST, PRIOR TO THE END OF SUCH MONTH. ADDITIONAL DEPOSITS WILL HAVE TO
BE MADE EACH MONTH THEREAFTER AS BOTH INTEREST IS CHARGED AND THE WCMA LINE OF
CREDIT IS REDUCED, AS PROVIDED IN THE LOAN DOCUMENTS.

To assist you in completing the Loan Documents, we have affixed a "Sign Here"
sticker to each page requiring a signature, and have penciled an "x" in front of
each signature line.

In order to minimize signature requirements, we normally seek only one copy of
each of the Loan Documents. After the Loan has been funded, we will return a
fully executed duplicate copy for your records.

<PAGE>

If you have any questions about our approval or the structure or terms of the
facility, please call me at 312-499-3276.

Very truly yours,

MERRILL LYNCH BUSINESS
FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.

By: /s/Lisa Hopkins
   ------------------
       Lisa Hopkins
       Vice President

cc:  Wayne J Dedrick

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