Document:

EXHIBIT 10.4

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          dated as of July 16, 2001
                                      among

                       AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY,

                       VARIOUS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,

                             FIRSTAR BANK, N.A.,
                              as Syndication Agent,

                                BANK ONE, NA,
                             as Documentation Agent,

                          CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ,
                             FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
                        KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
               COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK
                 B.A., "RABOBANK NEDERLAND", NEW YORK BRANCH,
                             WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.,
                                       and
                           WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
                                  as Co-Agents,

                                       and

                            BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
                             AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                         BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
                   Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page

SECTION 1  DEFINITIONS; OTHER INTERPRETIVE PROVISIONS; ACCOUNTING
PRINCIPLES...................................................................8

   1.1 DEFINITIONS...........................................................8

   1.2 OTHER INTERPRETIVE PROVISIONS........................................24

   1.3 ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES................................................24

SECTION 2 COMMITMENTS OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING PROCEDURES; LETTER OF
CREDIT PROCEDURES...........................................................25

   2.1 COMMITMENTS..........................................................25

    2.1.1 Revolving Loans...................................................25

    2.1.2 Letter of Credit Commitment.......................................25

    2.1.3 Commitment Limits.................................................25

    2.1.4 Valuation of Certain Eurocurrency Loans and Certain Letters
    of Credit...............................................................25

   2.2 REVOLVING LOAN PROCEDURES............................................25

    2.2.1 Various Types of Revolving Loans..................................25

    2.2.2 Borrowing Procedures..............................................26

    2.2.3 Conversion and Continuation Procedures............................26

   2.3  LETTER OF CREDIT PROCEDURES.........................................27

    2.3.1 Issuance of Letters of Credit.....................................27

    2.3.2 Participations in Letters of Credit...............................28

    2.3.3 Reimbursement Obligations.........................................28

    2.3.4 Limitation on the Issuer's Obligations............................29

    2.3.5 Funding by Lenders to the Issuer..................................29

   2.4 SWING LINE LOANS.....................................................29

    2.4.1 Swing Line Loans..................................................30

    2.4.2 Swing Line Loan Procedures........................................30

    2.4.3 Refunding of, or Funding of Participations in, Swing Line
    Loans...................................................................30

    2.4.4 Repayment of Participations.......................................31

   2.5 PARTICIPATION OBLIGATIONS UNCONDITIONAL..............................31

   2.6 WARRANTY.............................................................31
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   2.7 CONDITIONS...........................................................32

   2.8  COMMITMENTS SEVERAL.................................................32

SECTION 3  LOAN ACCOUNTS AND NOTES..........................................32

   3.1 LOAN ACCOUNT.........................................................32

   3.2 NOTES................................................................32

SECTION 4  INTEREST.........................................................32

   4.1 INTEREST RATES.......................................................32

   4.2 INTEREST PAYMENT DATES...............................................33

   4.3 SETTING AND NOTICE OF CERTAIN RATES..................................33

   4.4 COMPUTATION OF INTEREST..............................................33

SECTION 5  FEES.............................................................33

   5.1 NON-USE FEES.........................................................33

   5.2 LETTER OF CREDIT FEES................................................34

   5.3 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT'S AND ARRANGER'S FEES...........................34

SECTION 6 REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF THE COMMITMENTS;......................35

   6.1 REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF THE COMMITMENTS..........................35

    6.1.1 Scheduled Mandatory Reductions of the Aggregate Commitment
    Amount..................................................................35

    6.1.2 Mandatory Reductions of the Aggregate Commitment..................35

    6.1.3 Voluntary Reduction of Commitments................................35

    6.1.4 All Reductions Pro Rata...........................................35

   6.2 PREPAYMENTS..........................................................35

    6.2.1 Mandatory Prepayments Resulting from Commitment Reductions........36

    6.2.2 Mandatory Prepayments Resulting from Currency Fluctuations........36

    6.2.3 Voluntary Prepayments.............................................36

    6.2.4 All Prepayments...................................................36

SECTION 7  MAKING AND PRORATION OF PAYMENTS; SETOFF; TAXES..................36

   7.1 MAKING OF PAYMENTS...................................................36

   7.2 APPLICATION OF CERTAIN PAYMENTS......................................37

   7.3 DUE DATE EXTENSION...................................................37

   7.4 SETOFF...............................................................37
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   7.5 PRORATION OF PAYMENTS................................................37

   7.6 TAXES WITH RESPECT TO PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY........................38

SECTION 8  INCREASED COSTS; SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR EUROCURRENCY LOANS.......39

   8.1 INCREASED COSTS......................................................39

   8.2 BASIS FOR DETERMINING EUROCURRENCY INTEREST RATE INADEQUATE OR
   UNFAIR...................................................................40

   8.3 CHANGES IN LAW RENDERING EUROCURRENCY LOANS UNLAWFUL.................41

   8.4 FUNDING LOSSES.......................................................42

   8.5 RIGHT OF LENDERS TO FUND THROUGH OTHER OFFICES.......................42

   8.6 DISCRETION OF LENDERS AS TO MANNER OF FUNDING........................42

   8.7 MITIGATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES; REPLACEMENT OF AFFECTED LENDER..........42

   8.8 CONCLUSIVENESS OF STATEMENTS; SURVIVAL OF PROVISIONS.................43

SECTION 9  WARRANTIES.......................................................43

   9.1 ORGANIZATION, ETC....................................................44

   9.2 AUTHORIZATION; NO CONFLICT...........................................44

   9.3 VALIDITY AND BINDING NATURE..........................................44

   9.4 FINANCIAL INFORMATION................................................44

   9.5 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE...........................................45

   9.6 LITIGATION AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES................................45

   9.7 OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTIES; LIENS.......................................45

   9.8 SUBSIDIARIES.........................................................45

   9.9 ERISA COMPLIANCE.....................................................45

   9.10 INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT..............................................46

   9.11 PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT..................................46

   9.12 REGULATION U........................................................46

   9.13 TAXES...............................................................46

   9.14 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE............................................46

   9.15 INFORMATION.........................................................47

   9.16 BORDEN BRANDS ACQUISITION...........................................47

SECTION 10  COVENANTS.......................................................47

   10.1 REPORTS, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION.........................47
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    10.1.1 Audit Report.....................................................47

    10.1.2 Quarterly Reports................................................48

    10.1.3 Compliance Certificates..........................................48

    10.1.4 Reports to SEC...................................................48

    10.1.5 Notice of Default, Litigation and ERISA Matters..................48

    10.1.6 Subsidiaries.....................................................49

    10.1.7 Management Reports...............................................49

    10.1.8 Projections......................................................49

    10.1.9 Other Information................................................49

   10.2 BOOKS, RECORDS AND INSPECTIONS......................................49

   10.3 INSURANCE...........................................................49

   10.4 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; PAYMENT OF TAXES..............................50

   10.5 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTENCE, ETC.......................................50

   10.6 FINANCIAL COVENANTS.................................................50

    10.6.1 Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio..............................50

    10.6.2 Maximum Leverage Ratio...........................................50

    10.6.3 Minimum Consolidated Net Worth...................................51

    10.6.4 Minimum Consolidated EBITDA......................................51

   10.7 LIMITATIONS ON DEBT.................................................51

   10.8 LIENS...............................................................51

   10.9 BUSINESS............................................................52

   10.10 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS................................................52

   10.11 INVESTMENTS........................................................53

   10.12 MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, SALES.....................................53

   10.13 USE OF PROCEEDS....................................................53

   10.14 INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS............................................53

   10.15 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.......................................54

   10.16 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.............................................54

   10.17 ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.................................................54

   10.18 UNCONDITIONAL PURCHASE OBLIGATIONS.................................54

   10.19 FURTHER ASSURANCES.................................................54
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   10.20 TRANSFERS TO FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES..................................55

SECTION 11  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT............................................55

   11.1 INITIAL CREDIT EXTENSION............................................55

    11.1.1 Agreement and Notes..............................................55

    11.1.2 Resolutions......................................................55

    11.1.3 Incumbency and Signature Certificates............................56

    11.1.4 Opinion of Counsel for the Company...............................56

    11.1.5 Guaranty.........................................................56

    11.1.6  Pledge Agreement................................................56

    11.1.7  Collateral Partnership Assignment...............................56

    11.1.8 Membership Interest Pledge Agreement.............................56

    11.1.9 Financing Statements.............................................56

    11.1.10  Borden Brands Acquisition Documents............................56

    11.1.11  Other..........................................................56

   11.2 ALL CREDIT EXTENSIONS...............................................56

    11.2.1  No Default......................................................56

    11.2.2  Confirmatory Certificate........................................57

    11.3 Certain Loans......................................................57

SECTION 12  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT..............................57

   12.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT...................................................57

    12.1.1  Non-Payment of the Loans, etc...................................57

    12.1.2  Non-Payment of Other Debt.......................................57

    12.1.3..................................................................57

    Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc.............................................57

    12.1.4  Non-Compliance with Provisions of This Agreement................58

    12.1.5  Warranties......................................................58

    12.1.6  ERISA...........................................................58

    12.1.7  Judgments.......................................................58

    12.1.8  Change in Control...............................................58

    12.1.9  Invalidity of Loan Documents....................................58

   12.2 EFFECT OF EVENT OF DEFAULT..........................................59

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SECTION 13  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT........................................59

   13.1 APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORIZATION.......................................59

   13.2 DELEGATION OF DUTIES................................................60

   13.3 LIABILITY OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT...................................60

   13.4 RELIANCE BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT....................................61

   13.5 NOTICE OF DEFAULT...................................................61

   13.6 CREDIT DECISION.....................................................62

   13.7 INDEMNIFICATION.....................................................62

   13.8 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT IN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.........................63

   13.9 SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT......................................63

   13.10 OTHER AGENTS.......................................................63

   13.11 NON-RECEIPT OF FUNDS BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT...................64

SECTION 14  GENERAL.........................................................64

   14.1 WAIVER; AMENDMENTS..................................................64

   14.2 NOTICES.............................................................65

   14.3 PAYMENTS SET ASIDE..................................................66

   14.4 COSTS, EXPENSES AND TAXES...........................................66

   14.5 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS..............................................67

   14.6 ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS.........................................67

    14.6.1  Assignments.....................................................67

    14.6.2  Participations..................................................68

    14.6.3  Designation of SPVs.............................................69

   14.7 GOVERNING LAW.......................................................70

   14.8 COUNTERPARTS........................................................70

   14.9 JUDGMENT............................................................70

   14.10 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY; EXCULPATION........................71

   14.11 ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY..............71

   14.12 CONFIDENTIALITY....................................................72

   14.13 NO THIRD PARTIES BENEFITTED........................................72

   14.14 FORUM SELECTION AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION........................73

   14.15 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL...............................................73
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   14.16  MISSOURI STATUTORY NOTICE.........................................73

   14.17 ENTIRE AGREEMENT...................................................74

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1.1(a)           Lenders, Commitments and Percentages
SCHEDULE 1.1(b)           Pricing Schedule
SCHEDULE 9.6              Litigation and Contingent Liabilities
SCHEDULE 9.8              Subsidiaries
SCHEDULE 10.7(f)          Debt to be Repaid
SCHEDULE 10.8             Liens
SCHEDULE 10.11            Investments
SCHEDULE 14.2             Addresses for Notices

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EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A      Form of Note
EXHIBIT B      Form of Notice of Borrowing
EXHIBIT C      Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
EXHIBIT D      Form of Guaranty
EXHIBIT E      Form of Pledge Agreement
EXHIBIT F      Form of Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT G      Form of Opinion of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP, counsel
               to the Company and the Guarantors
EXHIBIT H      Form of Assignment Agreement
EXHIBIT I      Form of Collateral Partnership Assignment
EXHIBIT J      Form of Membership Interest Pledge Agreement

<PAGE>

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

      This CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of July 16, 2001 (this "Agreement") is
among AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
various financial institutions (together with their respective successors and
assigns, collectively the "Lenders" and individually each a "Lender") and BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A. ("Bank of America"), as letter of credit issuer and swing line
lender and as administrative agent for the Lenders.

      WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Lenders provide revolving
credit facilities to the Company; and

      WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to extend commitments to make loans to,
and to issue or participate in letters of credit for the account of, the Company
on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained
and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

      SECTION 1  DEFINITIONS; OTHER INTERPRETIVE PROVISIONS; ACCOUNTING
PRINCIPLES.

      1.1   Definitions.  When used herein the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

      Acquisition means any transaction or series of related transactions for
the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of
all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of any business or
division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the capital
stock, partnership interests, membership interests or equity of any Person, or
(c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person
(other than a Person that is a Subsidiary) provided that the Company or the
Subsidiary is the surviving entity.

      Administrative Agent means Bank of America in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder and any successor thereto in such
capacity.

      Affected Lender means any Lender that has given notice to the Company
(which has not been rescinded) of (a) any obligation by the Company to pay any
amount pursuant to Section 7.6 or 8.1 or (b) the occurrence of any circumstance
of the nature described in Section 8.2 or 8.3.

      Affected Loan - see Section 8.3.

      Affiliate of any Person means any other Person which, directly or
indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such
Person.
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      Agent-Related Persons means the Administrative Agent (including any
successor administrative agent arising under Section 13.9), together with its
Affiliates (including, in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as
Administrative Agent, the Arranger), and the officers, directors, employees,
agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons.

      Agent's Payment Office means, with respect to payments in any currency or
notices with respect thereto, the applicable address of the Administrative Agent
set forth on Schedule 14.2 or such other address or addresses as the
Administrative Agent may from time to time specify in accordance with Section
14.2.

      Aggregate Commitment Amount means $300,000,000, as such amount may be
reduced from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

      Aggregate Outstandings means at any time the sum of (a) the aggregate
Dollar Equivalent principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans and Swing
Line Loans and (b) the Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit.

      Agreement - see the Preamble.

      Applicable Asset Sale Proceeds means the Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset
Sale, excluding (i) Net Cash Proceeds from any sale of fixed assets so long as
such Net Cash Proceeds are used within 90 days to purchase other fixed assets
for use in the business of the Company or a Subsidiary and (ii) the first
$5,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof) of Net Cash Proceeds received from
all other Asset Sales in any Fiscal Year.

      Applicable Base Rate Margin - see Schedule 1.1(b).

      Applicable Eurocurrency Margin - see Schedule 1.1(b).

      Arranger means Banc of America Securities LLC.

      Asset Sale means the sale, lease, assignment or other transfer for value
by the Company or any Subsidiary to any Person (other than the Company or any
Subsidiary) of any asset or right of the Company or such Subsidiary (including
any sale or other transfer of stock of any Subsidiary, whether by merger,
consolidation or otherwise, but excluding any sale of inventory in the ordinary
course of business).

      Assignee - see Section 14.6.1.

      Assignment Agreement - see Section 14.6.1.

      Attorney Costs means and includes all reasonable fees and disbursements of
any law firm or other external counsel, the allocated cost of internal legal
services and all disbursements of internal counsel.
<PAGE>

      Available Currency means Dollars, Euros, British Pounds Sterling, Italian
Lire and any other currency that (i) in the opinion of the Administrative Agent
is freely transferable and freely convertible into Dollars, (ii) is requested by
the Company and (iii) is approved by each Lender.

      Bank of America - see the Preamble.

      Base Rate means at any time the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus
0.5% per annum and (b) the rate per annum then most recently publicly announced
by Bank of America as its prime rate. (The "prime rate" is a rate set by Bank of
America based upon various factors, including Bank of America's costs and
desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a
reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below
such announced rate.) Any change in the prime rate announced by Bank of America
shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public
announcement of such change.

      Base Rate Loan means any Revolving Loan which bears interest at or by
reference to the Base Rate.

      Borden Brands Acquisition means the acquisition by the Company of certain
assets pursuant to the Borden Brands Purchase Agreement.

      Borden Brands Purchase Agreement means the Asset Purchase Agreement dated
as of June 1, 2001 among Borden Foods Corporation, BFC Investments, L.P., BF
Foods International Corporation and the Company.

      Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on
which commercial banks are authorized to close under the laws of, or are in fact
closed in, the state where the Agent's Payment Office with respect to payments
in Dollars is located and (i) in the case of a Business Day which relates to a
Eurocurrency Loan denominated in a currency other than Euro or to a Letter of
Credit denominated in a currency other than Dollars, a day on which dealings in
deposits in such currency are carried on in the London interbank market and (ii)
in the case of a Business Day which relates to a Eurocurrency Loan or a Letter
of Credit denominated in Euro, a TARGET Day.

      Capital Lease means, with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other
agreement conveying the right to use) any real or personal property by such
Person which, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease on
the balance sheet of such Person.

      Cash Equivalent Investment means, at any time, (a) any evidence of Debt,
maturing not more than one year after such time, issued or guaranteed by the
United States Government, (b) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year
from the date of issue, which is issued by (i) a corporation (except the Company
or an Affiliate of the Company) organized under the laws of any State of the
United States of America or of the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1
by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, Inc., a division of The McGraw Hill
Companies, Inc., or P-1 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., at the time of
investment or (ii) any Lender (or its holding
<PAGE>

company), (c) any certificate of deposit or bankers' acceptance or Eurocurrency
time deposit, maturing not more than one year after the date of issue, which is
issued by either (i) a financial institution that is a member of the Federal
Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of
not less than $100,000,000 or (ii) any Lender, (d) any repurchase agreement with
a term of one year or less which (i) is entered into with (A) any Lender, or (B)
any other commercial banking institution of the stature referred to in clause
(c)(i), (ii) is secured by a fully perfected Lien in any obligation of the type
described in any of clauses (a) through (c) and (iii) has a market value at the
time such repurchase agreement is entered into of not less than 100% of the
repurchase obligation of such Lender (or other commercial banking institution)
thereunder or (e) investments in money market funds that invest solely in Cash
Equivalent Investments of the types described in clauses (a) through (d).

      Change in Control means an event or series of events by which:

     (a) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit
plan maintained for employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or any Person
acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of
any such plan), becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and
13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a Person shall be
deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such Person has the
right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after
the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the equity
interests of the Company; or

     (b) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members
of the board of directors of the Company cease to be composed of individuals (i)
who were members of such board on the first day of such period, (ii) whose
election or nomination to such board was approved by individuals referred to in
clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at
least a majority of such board or (iii) whose election or nomination to such
board was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above
constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of
such board.

     Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

     Collateral Documents means the Pledge Agreement, the Membership Interest
Pledge Agreement, each Collateral Partnership Assignment and any other agreement
pursuant to which the Company or any Guarantor grants collateral to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders.

     Collateral Partnership Assignment means a Collateral Assignment of
Partnership Interests executed by the Company or a Subsidiary and the
Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit I.

      Commitment means, as to any Lender, (a) such Lender's commitment to make
RevolIving Loans and to participate in Swing Line Loans and in Letters of Credit
in an aggregate amount not
<PAGE>

exceeding the amount set forth for such Lender on Schedule 1.1(a), as adjusted
from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, or (b) such amount as so
adjusted.

      Commitment Reduction Date - see Section 6.1.1.

      Company - see the Preamble.

      Computation Date means the last Business Day of each calendar month and
(a) with respect to matters relating to Loans, each date on which (i) the
Company borrows, converts or continues, as applicable, any Loan; (ii) the Dollar
Equivalent amount of any Eurocurrency Loan of an Affected Lender is required to
be determined under Section 8.3; or (iii) the Aggregate Commitment Amount is
reduced pursuant to Section 6.1; and (b) with respect to matters relating to any
Letter of Credit, each date on which (i) such Letter of Credit is issued or the
amount available to be drawn thereunder changes or (ii) the Aggregate Commitment
Amount is reduced pursuant to Section 6.1.

      Computation Period means any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters
ending on the last day of a Fiscal Quarter.

      Consolidated EBITDA means, with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated Net
Income for such period plus (b) to the extent deducted in determining such
Consolidated Net Income for such period, Interest Expense, income tax expense,
depreciation and amortization; provided that, for purposes of determining
Consolidated EBITDA, (i) the consolidated net income of any Person (or division
or similar business unit) acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary during such
period (plus, to the extent deducted in determining such consolidated net
income, interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization of
such Person (or division or business unit)) shall be included on a pro forma
basis for such period (as if the consummation of each such acquisition and the
incurrence or assumption of any Debt in connection therewith occurred on the
first day of such period) and (ii) the consolidated net income of any Person (or
division or similar business unit) disposed of by the Company or any Subsidiary
during such period (plus, to the extent deducted in determining such
consolidated net income, interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and
amortization of such Person (or division or business unit)) shall be excluded on
a pro forma basis for such period (assuming the consummation of such disposition
occurred on the first day of such period).

      Consolidated Net Income means, with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for such period.

      Consolidated Net Worth means the Company's consolidated stockholders'
equity.

      Credit Extension means the making of any Loan or the issuance of any
Letter of Credit.

      Debt of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of
such Person for borrowed money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes or similar instruments, (b) all obligations of such Person as lessee under
Capital Leases which have been recorded as
<PAGE>

liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person, (c) all obligations of such
Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than
prepaid interest and trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business),
(d) all indebtedness secured by a Lien on the property of such Person, whether
or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person (it being
understood that if such Person has not assumed or otherwise become personally
liable for any such indebtedness, the amount of the Debt of such Person in
connection therewith shall be limited to the lesser of the face amount of such
indebtedness or the fair market value of all property of such Person securing
such indebtedness), (e) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, with respect
to the face amount of all letters of credit (whether or not drawn) and banker's
acceptances issued for the account of such Person (including the Letters of
Credit), (f) the net liabilities of such Person under all Hedging Agreements to
which it is a party and (g) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person.

      Debt Issuance means any issuance of Debt by the Company which is not
permitted by any provision of Section 10.7 other than clause (g).

      Debt to be Repaid means the Debt listed on Schedule 10.7(f).

      Dollar Equivalent means, at any time, (a) as to any amount denominated in
Dollars, the amount thereof at such time, and (b) as to any amount denominated
in any other Available Currency, the equivalent amount in Dollars as determined
by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate for the
purchase of Dollars with such Available Currency on the most recent Computation
Date or such other date as is specified herein.

      Dollars and $ mean lawful money of the United States of America.

      Effective Date - see Section 11.1.

      Environmental Laws means all laws relating to environmental, health,
safety and land use matters applicable to any property.

      Equity Issuance means the issuance of equity securities or interests by
the Company or any Subsidiary (other than issuances of equity securities or
interests by any Subsidiary to the Company or any other Subsidiary).

      ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and any
successor statute of similar import, together with the regulations thereunder,
in each case as in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA
also refer to any successor sections.

      ERISA Affiliate means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 414(b) or
(c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of
provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

      ERISA Event means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan,
(b) a withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan
subject to Section 4063
<PAGE>

of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined
in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as
such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA, (c) a complete or partial
withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or
notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, (d) the filing of a
notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a
termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of
proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (e)
an event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds
under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan or (f) the
imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums
due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Company or any
ERISA Affiliate.

      Euro means the single currency of the participating member states of the
European Union.

      Eurocurrency Loan means any Revolving Loan which bears interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate (Reserve Adjusted).

      Eurocurrency Office means, with respect to any Lender, the office or
offices of such Lender which shall be making or maintaining the Eurocurrency
Loans of such Lender hereunder or, if applicable, such other office or offices
through which such Lender determines the Eurocurrency Rate. A Eurocurrency
Office of any Lender may be, at the option of such Lender, either a domestic or
foreign office.

      Eurocurrency Rate means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan for any
Interest Period, (i) the rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the
nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to
be the offered rate which appears on the page of the Telerate Screen which
displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate (such
page currently being page number 3750) for deposits (for delivery two Business
Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period) in the applicable currency
with a term equivalent to the applicable Interest Period, determined as of
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such date of determination, or (ii) if
the rate referenced in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on such page or
service or if such page or service shall cease to be available, the rate per
annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal
to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on
such other page or other service which displays an average British Bankers
Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits (for delivery two Business
Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period) in the applicable currency
with a term equivalent to such Interest Period determined as of approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, on such date of determination, or (iii) if the rates
referenced in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are not available, the rate per
annum equal to the offered quotation rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to the
nearest five decimal places) to first class banks in the London interbank market
by the Administrative Agent for deposits (for delivery two Business Days prior
to the beginning of such Interest Period) of amounts in same day funds
comparable to the principal amount of the Eurocurrency Loan of Bank of America
included in the Eurocurrency
<PAGE>

borrowing for which the Eurocurrency Rate is then being determined with a
maturity comparable to such Interest Period as of approximately 11:00 a.m.,
London time, on such date of determination.

      Eurocurrency Rate (Reserve Adjusted) means, with respect to any
Eurocurrency Loan for any Interest Period, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the nearest 1/10,000 of 1%) determined pursuant to the following
formula:

               Eurocurrency Rate     =      Eurocurrency Rate
            (Reserve Adjusted)                1-Eurocurrency
                                                              Reserve Percentage

      Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage means, with respect to any Eurocurrency
Loan for any Interest Period, a percentage (expressed as a decimal) equal to the
daily average during such Interest Period of the percentage in effect on each
day of such Interest Period, as prescribed by the FRB, for determining the
aggregate maximum reserve requirements applicable to "Eurocurrency Liabilities"
pursuant to Regulation D of the FRB or any other then applicable regulation of
the FRB which prescribes reserve requirements applicable to "Eurocurrency
Liabilities" as presently defined in such Regulation D.

      Eurodollar Loan means a Eurocurrency Loan denominated in Dollars.

      Event of Default means any of the events described in Section 12.1.

      Existing Credit Facility means the Credit Agreement dated as of October
30, 1992, amended and restated as of July 1, 1994, as further amended and
restated as of February 26, 1996, as further amended and restated as of April
11, 1997, as further amended and restated as of October 17, 1997 and as further
amended and restated as of April 26, 2000 among the Company, various financial
institutions and Bankers Trust Company, as agent.

      Existing Euro Loans - see Section 11.1.

      Existing Letter of Credit means letter of credit numbered S040375 issued
for the account of the Company by Bank of America (as successor to Boatmen's
First National Bank).

      Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate set forth in the weekly
statistical release designated as H.15(519), or any successor publication,
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (including any such successor,
"H.15(519)") on the preceding Business Day opposite the caption "Federal Funds
(Effective)" or, if for any relevant day such rate is not so published on any
such preceding Business Day, the rate for such day will be the arithmetic mean
as determined by the Administrative Agent of the rates for the last transaction
in overnight Federal funds arranged prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on
that day by each of three leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New
York City selected by the Administrative Agent.

      Fiscal Quarter means a fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year.
<PAGE>

      Fiscal Year means the fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
which shall be a 52-week period ending on or about September 30 of each year.
References to a Fiscal Year with a number corresponding to any calendar year
(e.g., "Fiscal Year 2001") refer to the Fiscal Year ending on or about September
30 of such calendar year.

      Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, for any Computation Period, the ratio
of (a) the result of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such Computation Period less
(ii) depreciation for such Computation Period less (iii) cash income tax expense
for such Computation Period less (iv) cash dividends paid by the Company during
such Computation Period to (b) the sum of (i) Interest Expense to the extent
payable in cash during such Computation Period plus (ii) the amount of all
reductions of the Aggregate Commitment Amount required to be made on any
Commitment Reduction Date during such Computation Period plus (iii) the actual
aggregate amount of all scheduled principal payments on Debt (other than Debt
hereunder) required to be made (and actually made) by the Company and its
Subsidiaries during such Computation Period; provided that in calculating
Interest Expense for any Computation Period, any Debt incurred or assumed in
connection with the acquisition of any Person (or division or similar business
unit) shall be assumed to have been incurred or assumed on the first day of such
period (with a corresponding increase in Interest Expense) and any Debt assumed
by any Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary) in connection with the
disposition of any Person (or division or similar business unit) disposed of by
the Company or any Subsidiary during such period shall be assumed to have been
repaid on the first day of such period (with a corresponding decrease in
Interest Expense).

      Foreign Subsidiary means any Subsidiary which (a) is organized under the
laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any state or
territory thereof and (b) does substantially all of its business (other than
export sales to the United States) outside of the United States of America or
any state or territory thereof.

      FRB means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any
successor thereto.

      Funded Debt means all Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined
on a consolidated basis, excluding (i) contingent obligations in respect of
undrawn letters of credit and Guaranty Obligations (except, in each case, to the
extent constituting Guaranty Obligations in respect of Debt of a Person other
than the Company or any Subsidiary) and (ii) Hedging Obligations.

      GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from time to
time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and
pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with
similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting
profession), which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of
determination.
<PAGE>

      Governmental Authority means any nation or government, any state or other
political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or
regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government,
and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or
capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

      Group - see Section 2.2.1.

      Guarantor means each Subsidiary that is a party to the Guaranty.

      Guaranty means the Guaranty executed by certain Subsidiaries of the
Company in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, substantially in
the form of Exhibit D.

      Guaranty Obligation means, as to any Person, any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person guarantying or having the economic effect of
guarantying any Debt or other obligation payable or performable by another
Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly,
and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase
or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or
other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for
the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Debt or other obligation
of the payment or performance of such Debt or other obligation, (iii) to
maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement
condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary
obligor to pay such Debt or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the
purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligees in respect of such Debt or
other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such
obligees against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided that
the term "Guaranty Obligation" shall not include endorsements of instruments for
deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any
Guaranty Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or
determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in
respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made or, if not stated or
determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as
determined by the guarantying Person in good faith.

      Hazardous Material means any hazardous, toxic or dangerous substance or
material defined as such in (or for purposes of) the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act, any so-called "Superfund" or
"Superlien" law or any other Federal, state or local statute, law, ordinance,
code, regulation or order, or any other requirement of any Governmental
Authority regulating, relating to, or imposing liability for, or standards of
conduct concerning, any hazardous, toxic or dangerous waste, substance or
material as now or any time hereafter in effect and applicable to any real
property owned by or leased to the Company or any Subsidiary or on which the
Company or any Subsidiary carries on any of its operations (provided that no
such state or local statute, law, ordinance, code, regulation, order or other
requirement shall be deemed to have extraterritorial application).

      Hedging Agreement means any interest rate, currency or commodity swap
agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, foreign
exchange agreement, forward
<PAGE>

rate agreement or other agreement designed to protect a Person against
fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices.

      Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any Person, all liabilities of
such Person under Hedging Agreements.

      Indemnified Liabilities - see Section 14.10.

      Indemnified Person - see Section 14.10.

      Interest Expense means for any period the consolidated interest expense of
the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period.

      Interest Period means, as to any Eurocurrency Loan, the period commencing
on the date such Loan is borrowed (or, in the case of a Eurodollar Loan,
converted from a Base Rate Loan), or on the expiration of the immediately
preceding Interest Period for such Loan, as applicable, and ending on the date
one, two, three, six or, if available to all Lenders, twelve months thereafter
as selected by the Company in its related notice of borrowing, conversion or
continuation, as the case may be; provided that:

            (i)   if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is
      not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the
      immediately following Business Day, unless the result of such extension
      would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month, in
      which event such Interest Period shall end on the preceding Business Day;

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

            (iii) no Interest Period for any Loan shall extend beyond the
      scheduled Termination Date; and

            (iv) the Company may not select any Interest Period which would
      extend beyond any Commitment Reduction Date if, after giving effect to
      such selection, the aggregate principal amount of all Eurocurrency Loans
      having Interest Periods ending after such date plus the aggregate Stated
      Amount of all Letters of Credit scheduled to remain outstanding after such
      date (assuming no drawings are made thereunder) would exceed the Aggregate
      Commitment Amount scheduled to be in effect after giving effect to the
      reduction on such date.

      Investment means, with respect to any Person, (a) any loan or advance made
by such Person to any other Person (excluding (i) advances to, and deposits
with, contractors and suppliers and (ii) trade accounts payable, in each case in
the ordinary course of business consistent with the past practice of the Company
and its Subsidiaries) and (b) any ownership or
<PAGE>

similar interest held by such Person in any other Person. The amount of any
Investment shall be the original principal or capital amount thereof less all
returns of principal or equity thereon (and without adjustment by reason of the
financial condition of such other Person) and shall, if made by the transfer or
exchange of property other than cash, be deemed to have been made in an original
principal or capital amount equal to the fair market value of such property.

      IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

      Issuer means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of one or more
Letters of Credit hereunder, together with any replacement letter of credit
issuer under Section 13.9.

      LC Fee Rate - see Schedule 1.1(b).

      Lender - see the Preamble. References to the "Lenders" shall include (a)
the Issuer and (b) the Swing Line Lender; for purposes of clarification only, to
the extent that Bank of America (or any successor Issuer or Swing Line Lender)
may have rights or obligations in addition to those of the other Lenders due to
its status as Issuer or Swing Line Lender, its status as such will be
specifically referenced.

      Letter of Credit - see Section 2.1.2.

      Letter of Credit Application means a letter of credit application in the
form then used by the Issuer for the type of letter of credit requested.

      Leverage Ratio means, for any Computation Period, the ratio of (a) Funded
Debt as of the last day of such Computation Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA
for such Computation Period.

      Lien means, when used with respect to any Person, any interest granted by
such Person in any real or personal property, asset or other right owned or
being purchased or acquired by such Person which secures payment or performance
of any obligation and shall include any mortgage, lien, encumbrance, charge,
assignment by way of security or other security interest of any kind, whether
arising by contract, as a matter of law, by judicial process or otherwise.

      Loan means a Revolving Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

      Loan Documents means this Agreement, the Guaranty, the Collateral
Documents, the Notes and the Letter of Credit Applications.

      Margin Stock means "margin stock" as defined in Regulation U of the FRB.

      Material Adverse Effect means, relative to any event or occurrence of
whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation,
arbitration or governmental proceeding), a material adverse effect on (a) the
business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations, condition
(financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole or (b) the ability of the Company or any Guarantor to timely and
fully perform any of its
<PAGE>

payment or other material obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document to which it is a party.

      Membership Interest Pledge Agreement means the Membership Interest Pledge
Agreement among the Company, various Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent,
substantially in the form of Exhibit J.

      Multiemployer Plan means any employee benefit plan of the type described
in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding three
calendar years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

      Net Cash Proceeds means:

      (a)   with respect to any Asset Sale, the aggregate cash proceeds
(including cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal
pursuant to a note, installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when
received) received by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to such Asset Sale,
net of (i) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including sales
commissions and legal, accounting and investment banking fees), (ii) taxes paid
or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax
credit or deduction and any tax sharing arrangement), (iii) amounts required to
be applied to the repayment of any Debt secured by a Lien on the asset subject
to such Asset Sale, (iv) in the case of the sale of the stock of any Subsidiary,
any Debt of such Subsidiary which is required to be repaid as a result of or in
connection with such sale (other than the Loans) and (v) any reserve for
adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset (until such amount is
available to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary); and

      (b)   with respect to any Debt Issuance or Equity Issuance, the
aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to
such issuance, net of the direct costs relating to such issuance (including
filing costs, sales and underwriter's commissions and legal, accounting and
investment banking fees).

      Non-Use Fee Rate - see Schedule 1.1(b).

      Note - see Section 3.2.

      Overnight Rate means, for any day, the rate of interest per annum at which
overnight deposits in the applicable currency, in an amount approximately equal
to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be
offered for such day by the relevant branch of Bank of America to major banks in
the applicable London interbank market. The Overnight Rate for any day which is
not a Business Day shall be the Overnight Rate for the preceding Business Day.

      Participant - see Section 14.6.2.
<PAGE>

      PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

      Pension Plan means any "employee pension benefit plan" (as such term is
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is
subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Company or
any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate contributes
or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer plan
(as described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made contributions at any time
during the immediately preceding five plan years.

      Percentage means, for any Lender, the percentage set forth opposite such
Lender's name on Schedule 1.1(a), as adjusted by any assignment pursuant to
Section 14.6.1; provided that if and so long as any Lender fails to fund its
participation in any Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan when required by
Section 2.3.2 or 2.4.3, such Lender's Percentage shall be deemed for purposes of
this definition to be reduced to the extent of the defaulted amount and the
Percentage of the Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, shall be
deemed for purposes of this definition to be increased to such extent.

      Permitted Acquisition means any Acquisition by the Company or any
Subsidiary with respect to which each of the following requirements shall have
been satisfied:

      (a)   the assets to be acquired are for use, or the Person to be
acquired is, in the same or a similar line of business as the Company and its
Subsidiaries;

      (b)   in the case of the Acquisition of a Person, such Acquisition has
been approved and recommended by the board of directors or other governing body
of such Person;

      (c)   no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default shall exist on
the date of such Acquisition, either before and after giving effect to such
Acquisition;

      (d)   the Company is in pro forma compliance with all financial
covenants set forth in Section 10.6 after giving effect to such Acquisition;

      (e)   if the cash consideration for such Acquisition is more than
$5,000,000, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, not
less than 10 Business Days prior to the closing of such Acquisition, a
certificate demonstrating (i) compliance with clause (d) above and (ii) that the
Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Acquisition will
be at least 0.25 to 1.0 less than the applicable level set forth in Section
10.6.2 for the Computation Period ending on the last day of the Fiscal Quarter
in which such Acquisition occurs;

      (f)   if the cash consideration for such Acquisition is more than
$30,000,000, the Required Lenders shall have approved such Acquisition; and

      (g)   if, after giving effect to such Acquisition, the cash
consideration for all Acquisitions completed on or after the Effective Date
(excluding the Borden Brands Acquisition)
<PAGE>

will for the first time exceed $75,000,000, the Required Lenders shall have
approved such Acquisition.

      Permitted Restricted Payments - see Section 10.10.

      Person means any natural person, corporation, company, partnership,
limited liability company, trust, association, governmental authority or unit,
or any other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other
capacity.

      Plan means any "employee benefit plan" (as such term is defined in Section
3(3) of ERISA) established by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.

      Pledge Agreement means the Pledge Agreement among the Company, various
Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit
E.

      Reportable Event means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of
ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

      Required Lenders means Lenders having Percentages aggregating 51% or more.

      Revolving Loan - see Section 2.1.1.

      SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

      Signing Date means the date on which this Agreement has been executed and
delivered by all of the initial parties hereto.

      Specified Proceeds means $25,000,000 of Net Cash Proceeds received from
the first Debt Issuance of $75,000,000 or more after the date hereof which meets
all of the requirements of Section 10.7(g).

      Spot Rate for a currency means the rate quoted by Bank of America as the
spot rate for the purchase by Bank of America of such currency with another
currency in accordance with its customary procedures at approximately 11:00
a.m., Chicago time, on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which
the foreign exchange computation is made.

      Stated Amount means, with respect to any Letter of Credit at any date of
determination, the sum of the maximum Dollar Equivalent amount available to be
drawn thereunder at any time during the remaining term of such Letter of Credit
under any and all circumstances plus the aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount of
all unreimbursed payments and disbursements previously made under such Letter of
Credit.

      Subsidiary of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the
shares of stock or other equity interests having ordinary voting power for the
election of the board of directors or other governing body (other than
securities or interests having such power only by reason of the
<PAGE>

happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the
management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one
or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all
references herein to a "Subsidiary" shall refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.

      Swing Line Lender means Bank of America in its capacity as swing line
lender hereunder, together with any replacement swing line lender arising under
Section 13.9.

      Swing Line Loan - see Section 2.4.1.

      Taxes means any present or future income, excise or stamp taxes and any
other taxes, fees, duties, withholdings or other charges of any nature
whatsoever imposed by any taxing authority, excluding franchise taxes and taxes
imposed on or measured by the gross or net income or receipts of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender.

      TARGET Day means a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time
Gross Settlement Express Transfer system (or any successor) is open for
business.

      Termination Date means October 2, 2006 or such earlier date on which the
Commitments terminate pursuant to Section 6 or 12.

      Type of Loan or Borrowing refers to the interest rate basis for a
Revolving Loan or a borrowing of Revolving Loans. The "Types" of Revolving Loans
or borrowings are Eurocurrency Loans or borrowings and Base Rate Loans or
borrowings.

      Unfunded Pension Liability means the excess of a Pension Plan's benefit
liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that
Pension Plan's assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for
funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable
plan year.

      Unmatured Event of Default means any event which if it continues uncured
will, with lapse of time or notice or lapse of time and notice, constitute an
Event of Default.

      Wholly-Owned Subsidiary means a Subsidiary of which the Company and/or its
Subsidiaries own, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock (other than directors' qualifying shares) or other equity
interests.

      1.2   Other Interpretive Provisions.  (a) The meanings of defined terms
are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.

     (b)  (i) The term "documents" includes any and all instruments,
     documents, agreements, certificates, indentures, notices and other
     writings, however evidenced.

          (ii) The term "including" is not limiting and means "including without
     limitation."
<PAGE>

          (iii) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to
     a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including", the
     words "to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding" and the word "through"
     means "to and including."

          (iv) For the purposes of calculating interest and non-use fees, the
     principal of a Loan shall be deemed to be outstanding on the date a Loan is
     made but not on the date paid so long as it is paid by the time required by
     Section 7.1 (and is not paid on the date it is made).

      (c)   Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to
agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be
deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto, but
only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by
the terms of any Loan Document and (ii) references to any statute or regulation
are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions
consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such statute
or regulation.

      (d)   The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

      (e)   This Agreement and other Loan Documents may use several different
limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All
such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall each be
performed in accordance with their terms.

      1.3   Accounting Principles. Unless the context otherwise clearly
requires, all accounting terms not expressly defined herein shall be construed,
and all financial computations required under this Agreement shall be made, in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied; provided that if the Company
notifies the Administrative Agent that the Company wishes to amend any covenant
in Section 10.6 to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation
of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company that the
Required Lenders wish to amend any covenant in Section 10.6 for such purpose),
then the Company's compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the
basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became
effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in
a manner satisfactory to the Company and the Required Lenders.

      SECTION 2   COMMITMENTS OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING PROCEDURES; LETTER OF
                  CREDIT PROCEDURES.

      2.1   Commitments. On and subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, each of the Lenders, severally and for itself alone, agrees to make
loans to, and to issue or participate in letters of credit for the account of,
the Company as follows:

      2.1.1 Revolving Loans. Each Lender agrees to make loans to the Company on
a revolving basis (collectively "Revolving Loans" and individually each a
"Revolving Loan")
<PAGE>

from time to time before the Termination Date in such Lender's Percentage of
such aggregate amounts as the Company may from time to time request from all
Lenders.

      2.1.2 Letter of Credit Commitment. (a) The Issuer will issue letters of
credit, in each case containing such terms and conditions as are permitted by
this Agreement and are otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer
(collectively with the Existing Letter of Credit, the "Letters of Credit" and
individually each a "Letter of Credit"), at the request of and for the account
of the Company (or jointly for the account of the Company and a Subsidiary) from
time to time before the Termination Date; and (b) as more fully set forth in
Section 2.3, each Lender agrees to purchase a participation in each Letter of
Credit.

      2.1.3 Commitment Limits. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, (a) the Aggregate Outstandings shall not at any time exceed the
Aggregate Commitment Amount, (b) the Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit
shall not at any time exceed $20,000,000 and (c) the aggregate outstanding
Dollar Equivalent principal amount of all Eurocurrency Loans denominated in a
currency other than Dollars shall not exceed at any time $100,000,000.

      2.1.4 Valuation of Certain Eurocurrency Loans and Certain Letters of
Credit. The Administrative Agent will determine the Dollar Equivalent amount of
each Eurocurrency Loan and each Letter of Credit denominated in a currency other
than Dollars on each Computation Date, and such determination shall be
conclusive absent demonstrable error.

      2.2   Revolving Loan Procedures.

      2.2.1 Various Types of Revolving Loans. Each Revolving Loan shall be
either a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Loan, as the Company shall specify in
the related notice of borrowing or conversion pursuant to Section 2.2.2 or
2.2.3. Eurocurrency Loans having the same Interest Period are sometimes called a
"Group" or collectively "Groups". Base Rate Loans and Eurocurrency Loans may be
outstanding at the same time; provided that (i) not more than 18 different
Groups of Eurocurrency Loans shall be outstanding at any one time and (ii) the
aggregate principal amount of each Group of Eurocurrency Loans shall at all
times be a Dollar Equivalent of at least $500,000 and an integral multiple of
100,000 units of the applicable currency. All borrowings, conversions and
repayments of Revolving Loans shall be effected so that each Lender will have a
pro rata share (according to its Percentage) of all Types and Groups of
Revolving Loans.

      2.2.2 Borrowing Procedures. The Company shall give written or telephonic
(followed promptly by written confirmation thereof) notice to the Administrative
Agent of each proposed borrowing of Revolving Loans not later than 10:00 a.m.,
Chicago time, (a) in the case of a Base Rate borrowing, on the proposed date of
such borrowing, (b) in the case of a Eurodollar borrowing, at least three
Business Days prior to the proposed date of such borrowing, and (c) in the case
of a Eurocurrency borrowing in a currency other than Dollars, at least four
Business Days prior to the proposed date of such borrowing. Each such notice
shall be effective upon receipt by the Administrative Agent, shall be
irrevocable, and shall specify the date, amount and Type of borrowing and, in
the case of a Eurocurrency borrowing, the initial Interest Period
<PAGE>

therefor and the applicable currency thereof. Promptly upon receipt of such
notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender thereof. Not later
than 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the date of a proposed borrowing, each Lender
shall provide the Administrative Agent at the office specified by the
Administrative Agent with (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency borrowing in a
currency other than Dollars, the applicable currency in immediately available
funds, or (b) in the case of a Base Rate borrowing or a Eurodollar borrowing,
Dollars in immediately available funds, in each case in the amount equal to such
Lender's Percentage of such borrowing and, so long as the Administrative Agent
has not received written notice that the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 11 with respect to such borrowing have not been satisfied, the
Administrative Agent shall promptly pay over the requested amount to the
Company. Each borrowing of Revolving Loans shall be on a Business Day. Each Base
Rate borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or an integral
multiple thereof. Each other borrowing shall be in the applicable amount
required for a Group pursuant to Section 2.2.1.

      2.2.3 Conversion and Continuation Procedures.  (a)  Subject to the
provisions of Section 2.2.1, the Company may, upon irrevocable written notice
to the Administrative Agent in accordance with clause (b) below:

            (i)   elect, as of any Business Day, to convert any outstanding
      Base Rate Loan into a Eurodollar Loan or any outstanding Eurodollar Loan
      into a Base Rate Loan; or

            (ii) elect, as of the last day of the applicable Interest Period, to
      continue any Group of Eurocurrency Loans having an Interest Period
      expiring on such day (or any part thereof in the applicable amount
      required for a Group pursuant to Section 2.2.1) for a new Interest Period
      in the same currency.

      (b)   The Company shall give written or telephonic (followed promptly by
written confirmation thereof) notice to the Administrative Agent of each
proposed conversion or continuation not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, (i)
in the case of conversion of Eurodollar Loans into Base Rate Loans, on the
proposed date of such conversion, (ii) in the case of a conversion of Base Rate
Loans into or continuation of Eurodollar Loans, at least three Business Days
prior to the proposed date of such conversion or continuation, and (iii) in the
case of continuation of Eurocurrency Loans in a currency other than Dollars, at
least four Business Days prior to the proposed date of such continuation,
specifying in each case:

            (1)  the proposed date of conversion or continuation;

            (2)  the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loans to be converted
            or continued;

            (3)  the Type of Revolving Loans resulting from the proposed
      conversion or continuation; and

            (4) in the case of a continuation of Eurocurrency Loans denominated
      in a currency other than Dollars or conversion into, or continuation of,
      Eurodollar Loans, the duration of the requested Interest Period therefor.
<PAGE>

      (c)   If upon expiration of any Interest Period applicable to
Eurocurrency Loans, the Company has failed to select timely a new Interest
Period to be applicable to such Eurocurrency Loans, the Company shall be deemed
to have elected to continue such Eurocurrency Loans for a one-month Interest
Period.

      (d)   The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its
receipt of a notice of conversion or continuation pursuant to this Section 2.2.3
or, if no timely notice is provided by the Company, of the details of any
automatic continuation or conversion.

      (e)   Unless the Required Lenders otherwise consent, during the
existence of any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default, the Company may
not elect to have a Revolving Loan converted into or continued as a Eurodollar
Loan.

      2.3    Letter of Credit Procedures

      2.3.1 Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Company shall give written notice
to the Administrative Agent of the proposed issuance (which, for purposes of
this Agreement shall, whenever appropriate, include any increase in the amount
available to be drawn under or extension of the term of any Letter of Credit) of
each Letter of Credit on a Business Day which is at least three Business Days
(or such lesser period as the Issuer may agree) prior to the proposed date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit; provided that the Company shall not be
required to give written notice of the extension of the term of a Letter of
Credit which has an "evergreen" or automatic renewal provision. Each such notice
shall be accompanied by a Letter of Credit Application, duly executed by the
Company and in all respects reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer, together with
such other documentation as the Issuer may reasonably request in support
thereof, it being understood that (a) each Letter of Credit Application shall
specify, among other things, the date on which the proposed Letter of Credit is
to be issued, the expiration date of such Letter of Credit (which shall not be
later than 22 days prior to the scheduled Termination Date), the face amount of
such Letter of Credit, the currency in which such Letter of Credit is to be
denominated (which shall be an Available Currency), the name and address of the
beneficiary of such Letter of Credit and whether such Letter of Credit is to be
transferable in whole or in part; and (b) the Company shall not request, and the
Issuer shall not issue, any Letter of Credit if the aggregate Stated Amount of
all Letters of Credit having expiration dates after any Commitment Reduction
Date plus the aggregate principal amount of all Eurocurrency Loans having
Interest Periods ending after such date would exceed the Aggregate Commitment
Amount scheduled to be in effect after giving effect to the reduction on such
date. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 11 with respect to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, the Issuer
shall issue such Letter of Credit on the requested issuance date. With respect
to any Letter of Credit which contains any "evergreen" or automatic renewal
provision, each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to any such extension
or renewal unless such Lender shall have provided to the Administrative Agent,
not less than 30 days prior to the last date on which the Issuer can in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Letter of Credit decline to extend
or renew such Letter of Credit, written notice that it declines to consent to
any extension or renewal.
<PAGE>

      2.3.2 Participations in Letters of Credit. Concurrently with the issuance
of each Letter of Credit, the Issuer shall be deemed to have sold and
transferred to each other Lender, and each other Lender shall be deemed
irrevocably and unconditionally to have purchased and received from the Issuer
without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation, to the
extent of such other Lender's Percentage, in such Letter of Credit and the
Company's reimbursement obligations with respect thereto. For the purposes of
this Agreement, the unparticipated portion of each Letter of Credit shall be
deemed to be the Issuer's "participation" therein. The Administrative Agent
hereby agrees, upon request of any Lender, to deliver to such Lender a list of
all outstanding Letters of Credit, together with such information related
thereto as such Lender may reasonably request.

      2.3.3 Reimbursement Obligations. The Company unconditionally and
irrevocably agrees to reimburse the Issuer for each payment or disbursement made
by the Issuer under any Letter of Credit honoring any demand for payment made by
the beneficiary thereunder, in each case on the date that such payment or
disbursement is made and in the currency of such payment or disbursement. Any
amount not reimbursed on the date of such payment or disbursement shall bear
interest from and including the date of such payment or disbursement to but not
including the date that the Issuer is reimbursed by the Company therefor,
payable on demand, at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of any amount
denominated in Dollars, the Base Rate from time to time in effect plus the
Applicable Base Rate Margin plus the Applicable Eurocurrency Margin plus,
beginning on the first Business Day after demand by the Issuer, 2%, or (y) in
the case of any amount denominated in any other currency, at the Overnight Rate
from time to time in effect plus the Applicable Eurocurrency Margin plus,
beginning on the first Business Day after demand by the Issuer, 2%. The Issuer
shall notify the Company whenever any demand for payment is made under any
Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereunder; provided that the failure of the
Issuer to so notify the Company shall not affect the rights of the Issuer or the
Lenders in any manner whatsoever.

      2.3.4 Limitation on the Issuer's Obligations. In determining whether to
pay under any Letter of Credit, the Issuer shall not have any obligation to the
Company or any Lender other than to confirm that all documents required to be
delivered under such Letter of Credit appear to have been delivered and appear
to comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit. Any
action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuer under or in connection with
any Letter of Credit, if taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence and
willful misconduct, shall not impose upon the Issuer any liability to the
Company or any Lender and shall not reduce or impair the Company's reimbursement
obligations set forth in Section 2.3.3 or the obligations of the Lenders
pursuant to Section 2.3.5.

      2.3.5 Funding by Lenders to the Issuer. If the Issuer makes any payment or
disbursement under any Letter of Credit and the Company has not reimbursed the
Issuer in full for such payment or disbursement by 12:00 noon, Chicago time, on
the date of such payment or disbursement, or if any reimbursement received by
the Issuer from the Company is or must be returned or rescinded upon or during
any bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, each other Lender
shall be obligated to pay to the Issuer, in full or partial payment of the
purchase price of its participation in such Letter of Credit, its pro rata share
(according to its
<PAGE>

Percentage) of such payment or disbursement (but no such payment shall diminish
the obligations of the Company under Section 2.3.3), and the Administrative
Agent shall promptly notify each other Lender thereof. Each other Lender
irrevocably and unconditionally agrees, severally and for itself alone, to so
pay to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the Issuer's
account the amount of such other Lender's Percentage of such payment or
disbursement.

      If and to the extent any Lender shall not have made the amount referred to
above available to the Administrative Agent by 2:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the
Business Day on which such Lender receives notice from the Administrative Agent
of such payment or disbursement, such Lender agrees to pay interest on such
amount to the Administrative Agent for the Issuer's account forthwith on demand
for each day from and including the date such amount was to have been delivered
to the Administrative Agent to but excluding the date such amount is paid, at a
rate per annum equal to (a) in the case of any amount denominated in Dollars,
(i) for the first three days after demand, the Federal Funds Rate from time to
time in effect and (ii) thereafter, the Base Rate from time to time in effect
and (b) in the case of any amount denominated in any other currency, the
Overnight Rate from time to time in effect plus, beginning on the third day
after demand, 2%. Any Lender's failure to make available to the Administrative
Agent its Percentage of any such payment or disbursement shall not relieve any
other Lender of its obligation hereunder to make available to the Administrative
Agent such other Lender's Percentage of such payment, but no Lender shall be
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make available to the
Administrative Agent such other Lender's Percentage of any such payment or
disbursement.

      2.4   Swing Line Loans.

      2.4.1 Swing Line Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Swing Line Lender may from time to time, in its discretion, make
loans to the Company (collectively "Swing Line Loans" and individually each a
"Swing Line Loan") in accordance with this Section 2.4 in an aggregate principal
amount not at any time exceeding $20,000,000; provided that the Aggregate
Outstandings shall not at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount.
Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.4 may be borrowed, repaid and (subject to
the agreement of the Swing Line Lender) reborrowed until the Termination Date.

      2.4.2 Swing Line Loan Procedures. The Company shall give written or
telephonic notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly inform the
Swing Line Lender) of each proposed Swing Line Loan not later than 12:00 noon,
Chicago time, on the proposed date of such Swing Line Loan. Each such notice
shall be effective upon receipt by the Administrative Agent and shall specify
the date and amount of such Swing Line Loan, which shall be $500,000 or a higher
integral multiple of $100,000. So long as the Swing Line Lender has not received
written notice that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 11 with
respect to the making of such Swing Line Loan have not been satisfied, the Swing
Line Lender may make the requested Swing Line Loan. If the Swing Line Lender
agrees to make the requested Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender shall pay
over the requested amount to the Company on the requested borrowing date.
Concurrently with the making of any Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender shall
be
<PAGE>

deemed to have sold and transferred, and each other Lender shall be deemed to
have purchased and received from the Swing Line Lender, an undivided interest
and participation to the extent of such Lender's Percentage in such Swing Line
Loan (but such participation shall remain unfunded until required to be funded
pursuant to Section 2.4.3).

      2.4.3 Refunding of, or Funding of Participations in, Swing Line Loans. The
Swing Line Lender may at any time, in its sole discretion, on behalf of the
Company (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to act on its
behalf for such purpose) deliver a notice to the Administrative Agent requesting
that each Lender (including the Swing Line Lender in its individual capacity)
make a Revolving Loan (which shall be a Base Rate Loan) in such Lender's
Percentage of the aggregate amount of Swing Line Loans outstanding on such date
for the purpose of repaying all Swing Line Loans (and, upon receipt of the
proceeds of such Loans, the Administrative Agent shall apply such proceeds to
repay Swing Line Loans); provided that if the conditions precedent to a
borrowing of Loans are not then satisfied or for any other reason the Lenders
may not then make Revolving Loans, then instead of making Revolving Loans each
Lender (other than the Swing Line Lender) shall become immediately obligated to
fund its participation in all outstanding Swing Line Loans and shall pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender an amount equal to
such Lender's Percentage of such Swing Line Loans. If and to the extent any
Lender shall not have made such amount available to the Administrative Agent by
2:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the Business Day on which such Lender receives
notice from the Administrative Agent of its obligation to fund its participation
in Swing Line Loans, such Lender agrees to pay interest on such amount to the
Administrative Agent for the Swing Line Lender's account forthwith on demand for
each day from the date such amount was to have been delivered to the
Administrative Agent to the date such amount is paid, at a rate per annum equal
to (a) for the first three days after demand, the Federal Funds Rate from time
to time in effect and (b) thereafter, the Base Rate from time to time in effect.
Any Lender's failure to make available to the Administrative Agent its
Percentage of the amount of all outstanding Swing Line Loans shall not relieve
any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to make available to the
Administrative Agent such other Lender's Percentage of such amount, but no
Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make
available to the Administrative Agent such other Lender's Percentage of any such
amount. The Swing Line Lender shall promptly notify the Company of any notice
given to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the first sentence of this Section
2.4.3, but any failure to so notify the Company shall not affect the
effectiveness of such notice or impose any liability on the Swing Line Lender or
any other Person.

      2.4.4 Repayment of Participations. Upon (and only upon) receipt by the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender of immediately
available funds from or on behalf of the Company (a) in reimbursement of any
Swing Line Loan with respect to which a Lender has paid the Administrative Agent
for the account of the Swing Line Lender the amount of such Lender's
participation therein or (b) in payment of any interest on a Swing Line Loan (to
the extent attributable to the period on or after the date such Lender funded
its participation therein), the Administrative Agent will pay to such Lender its
pro rata share (according to its Percentage) thereof (and the Swing Line Lender
shall receive the amount otherwise payable to
<PAGE>

any Lender which did not so pay the Administrative Agent the amount of such
Lender's participation in such Swing Line Loan).

      2.5   Participation Obligations Unconditional. (a) Each Lender's
obligation to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
Swing Line Lender the amount of its participation interest in any Swing Line
Loan as provided in Section 2.4.3 shall be absolute and unconditional and shall
not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing
Line Lender or any other Person, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of an Event
of Default or Unmatured Event of Default, (iii) any adverse change in the
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company or any Subsidiary, (iv) any
termination of the Commitments or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event
whatsoever.

      (b)   Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) above, no Lender
shall be required to purchase a participation interest in any Swing Line Loan
if, prior to the making by the Swing Line Lender of such Swing Line Loan, the
Swing Line Lender received written notice from such Lender specifying that one
or more of the conditions precedent to the making of such Swing Line Loan were
not satisfied and, in fact, such conditions precedent were not satisfied at the
time of the making of such Swing Line Loan.

      2.6   Warranty. Each notice of borrowing pursuant to Section 2.2, each
request for a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.4.2 and the delivery of each
Letter of Credit Application pursuant to Section 2.3 shall automatically
constitute a warranty by the Company to the Administrative Agent and each Lender
to the effect that on the date of the requested borrowing or Swing Line Loan or
the issuance of the requested Letter of Credit, as the case may be, (a) the
warranties of the Company contained in Section 9 shall be true and correct in
all material respects as of such requested date as though made on the date
thereof (except to the extent that any warranty relates to an earlier date, in
which case such warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date) and
(b) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default shall have then occurred
and be continuing or will result therefrom.

      2.7   Conditions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
(a) no Lender shall be obligated to make any Loan, (b) no Lender shall be
obligated to convert into, or permit the continuation at the end of the
applicable Interest Period of, any Eurodollar Loan and (c) the Issuer shall not
be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit if, in any such case, an Event of
Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists or would result therefrom.

      2.8   Commitments Several. The failure of any Lender to make a requested
Revolving Loan on any date shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation
(if any) to make a Revolving Loan on such date, but no Lender shall be
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any Revolving Loan to be
made by such other Lender.

      SECTION 3  LOAN ACCOUNTS AND NOTES.
<PAGE>

      3.1   Loan Account. The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by
one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender in the ordinary course
of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and
each Lender shall be rebuttable presumptive evidence of the amount of the Loans
made by the Lenders to the Company, and the interest and payments thereon. Any
failure so to record or any error in so recording shall not, however, limit or
otherwise affect the obligation of the Company hereunder to pay all amounts
owing with respect to each Loan.

      3.2   Notes. Upon the request of any Lender made through the
Administrative Agent (and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, so long as the
issuance of such Note shall not result in the imposition of any stamp,
withholding or other tax), the Loans made by such Lender to the Company may be
evidenced by a promissory note (individually each a "Note" and collectively for
all Lenders the "Notes") substantially in the form of Exhibit A instead of loan
accounts. Each such Lender may record on the schedules annexed to the applicable
Note the date and amount of each applicable Loan made by it and the amount of
each payment of principal made by the Company with respect thereto, and such
Lender's record shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error; provided that the
failure of a Lender to make, or an error in making, a notation on any Note with
respect to any Loan shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the
Company to repay each Loan together with interest thereon.

      SECTION 4  INTEREST.

      4.1   Interest Rates. (a) The Company promises to pay interest on the
unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan, for the period commencing on the
date of such Revolving Loan until such Revolving Loan is paid in full, (i) at
all times such Revolving Loan is a Base Rate Loan, at a rate per annum equal to
the Base Rate from time to time in effect plus the Applicable Base Rate Margin;
and (ii) at all times such Revolving Loan is a Eurocurrency Loan, at a rate per
annum equal to the sum of the Eurocurrency Rate (Reserve Adjusted) applicable to
each Interest Period for such Revolving Loan plus the Applicable Eurocurrency
Margin from time to time in effect.

      (b)   The Company promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal
amount of each Swing Line Loan, for the period commencing on the date of such
Swing Line Loan until such Swing Line Loan is paid in full, at a rate per annum
equal to the Base Rate from time to time in effect plus the Applicable Base Rate
Margin from time to time in effect.

      (c)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, at the
request of the Required Lenders at any time an Event of Default exists, the
interest rate applicable to each Loan shall be increased by 2% for so long as
such Event of Default continues or, notwithstanding Section 14.1, until the
Required Lenders otherwise notify the Administrative Agent in writing.

      4.2   Interest Payment Dates. Accrued interest on each Base Rate Loan
and Swing Line Loan shall be payable on the last day of each calendar quarter
and at maturity. Accrued interest on each Eurocurrency Loan shall be payable on
the last day of each Interest Period relating to such Revolving Loan (and, in
the case of each Eurocurrency Loan with an Interest
<PAGE>

Period in excess of three months, on each three-month anniversary of the first
day of such Interest Period) and at maturity. After maturity, accrued interest
on all Loans shall be payable on demand.

      4.3   Setting and Notice of Certain Rates. The applicable Eurocurrency
Rate for each Interest Period shall be determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and notice thereof shall be given
by the Administrative Agent promptly to the Company and each Lender. Each
determination of the applicable Eurocurrency Rate by the Administrative Agent
shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto, in the absence of
demonstrable error. The Administrative Agent shall, upon written request of the
Company or any Lender, deliver to such Person a statement showing the
computations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any applicable
Eurocurrency Rate.

      4.4   Computation of Interest. Interest on any Loan bearing interest
based upon Bank of America's prime rate or denominated in British Pounds
Sterling shall be computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of
a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable. All other interest shall be computed
for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year of 360 days.

      SECTION 5  FEES.

      5.1   Non-Use Fees. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of each Lender a non-use fee for the period from the
Signing Date to the Termination Date at a rate per annum equal to the Non-Use
Fee Rate on the amount equal to (i) the Commitment of such Lender minus (ii) the
sum of the Dollar Equivalent principal amount of the outstanding Revolving Loans
of such Lender plus such Lender's Percentage of the Stated Amount of all
outstanding Letters of Credit.

      (b)   Non-use fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of each
calendar quarter and on the Termination Date for any period then ending for
which such non-use fees shall not have been theretofore paid. Non-use fees shall
be computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year of 360
days. Solely for the purposes of calculating non-use fees, Swing Line Loans
shall not constitute usage of the Commitment.

      5.2   Letter of Credit Fees.

      (a)   The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Lenders pro rata according to their respective Percentages a
letter of credit fee for each Letter of Credit at a rate per annum equal to the
applicable LC Fee Rate (computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the
basis of a year of 360 days) multiplied by the Dollar Equivalent amount
available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit, payable in arrears on the
last day of each calendar quarter and on the Termination Date (and, with respect
to any Letter of Credit which remains outstanding after the Termination Date,
thereafter on demand) for the period from the
<PAGE>

date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit to the date such payment is due
or, if earlier, the date on which such Letter of Credit expired or was
terminated.

      (b)   In addition, with respect to each Letter of Credit, the Company
agrees to pay to the Issuer (i) such fees and expenses as the Issuer customarily
requires in connection with the issuance, negotiation, processing and/or
administration of letters of credit in similar situations and (ii) a fronting
fee in an amount separately agreed to by the Company and the Issuer.

      5.3   Administrative Agent's and Arranger's Fees. The Company agrees to
pay to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger such fees at such times and in
such amounts as are mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Administrative
Agent and the Arranger, respectively.

<PAGE>

      SECTION 6   REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF THE COMMITMENTS;
                  PREPAYMENTS.

      6.1   Reduction or Termination of the Commitments.

      6.1.1 Scheduled Mandatory Reductions of the Aggregate Commitment Amount.
The Aggregate Commitment Amount shall be reduced on each of the following dates
(each a "Commitment Reduction Date") by the amount set forth opposite such
Commitment Reduction Date:

       Commitment Reduction Date                 Amount of Reduction
       -------------------------                 -------------------
     First day of Fiscal Year 2003                   $25,000,000
     First day of Fiscal Year 2004                   $25,000,000
     First day of Fiscal Year 2005                   $30,000,000
     First day of Fiscal Year 2006                        $30,000,000.

      6.1.2 Mandatory Reductions of the Aggregate Commitment Amount.
Concurrently with the receipt by the Company or any Subsidiary of any Applicable
Asset Sale Proceeds or the Net Cash Proceeds from any Debt Issuance (excluding
any Specified Proceeds), the Aggregate Commitment Amount shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the excess of all Applicable Asset Sale Proceeds and all such
Net Cash Proceeds received since the Signing Date over all reductions of the
Aggregate Commitment Amount made pursuant to this Section 6.1.2 since the
Signing Date (rounded down, if necessary, to an integral multiple of $500,000).
No reduction of the Aggregate Commitment Amount pursuant to this Section 6.1.2
shall reduce the amount of any reduction of the Aggregate Commitment Amount
scheduled to be made on any Commitment Reduction Date pursuant to Section 6.1.1.

      6.1.3 Voluntary Reduction of Commitments. The Company may from time to
time on at least five Business Days' prior written notice received by the
Administrative Agent (which shall promptly advise each Lender thereof)
permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment Amount to an amount not less than
the Aggregate Outstandings; provided that any such reduction shall be in the
amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company may at any
time on like notice terminate the Commitments upon payment in full of all Loans
and all other obligations of the Company hereunder and the cash
collateralization in full, pursuant to documentation in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuer, of all
obligations arising with respect to the Letters of Credit.

      6.1.4 All Reductions Pro Rata.  All reductions of the Commitments shall
be pro rata among the Lenders according to their respective Percentages.

      6.2   Prepayments.

      6.2.1 Mandatory Prepayments Resulting from Commitment Reductions. On each
date on which the Aggregate Commitment Amount is reduced pursuant to Section
6.1.1, 6.1.2 or
<PAGE>

6.1.3, the Company shall prepay Loans in the amount necessary (if any) so that
the Aggregate Outstandings will not exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount as
reduced on such date.

      6.2.2 Mandatory Prepayments Resulting from Currency Fluctuations. If on
any Computation Date the Administrative Agent determines that the Aggregate
Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount due to a change in
applicable rates of exchange between Dollars and any applicable currency, then
(i) the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and (ii) the
Company shall promptly (subject to the notice requirements of Section 6.2.4)
prepay Loans in an amount so that the Aggregate Outstandings are equal to or
less than the Aggregate Commitment Amount; provided that no prepayment shall be
required under this clause (ii) on any day which is a Computation Date solely
because it is the last Business Day of a month unless the Aggregate Outstandings
exceed the Commitment Amount by a Dollar Equivalent amount of $500,000 or more.

      6.2.3 Voluntary Prepayments.  Subject to Section 6.2.4, the Company may
from time to time prepay Loans in whole or in part, without premium or
penalty.

      6.2.4 All Prepayments. The Company shall give the Administrative Agent
(which shall promptly advise each Lender or, in the case of prepayment of Swing
Line Loans, the Swing Line Lender) notice of each prepayment not later than (a)
10:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the date of a prepayment of Base Rate Loans, (b)
12:00 noon, Chicago time, on the date of a prepayment of a Swing Line Loan and
(c) 3:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the third Business Day preceding the day of a
prepayment of Eurocurrency Loans, in each case specifying the Loans to be
prepaid and the day (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of such
prepayment. Each partial prepayment of Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 6.2.3
shall be in a Dollar Equivalent principal amount of at least $500,000 and an
integral multiple of 100,000 units of the applicable currency. Each partial
prepayment of Swing Line Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a
higher integral multiple of $100,000. After giving effect to any partial
prepayment, the aggregate principal amount of each Group of Eurocurrency Loans
shall be in a Dollar Equivalent principal amount of at least $500,000 and an
integral multiple of 100,000 units of the applicable currency. Any prepayment of
a Eurocurrency Loan shall include accrued interest to the date of prepayment on
the principal amount being repaid and, if made on a day other than the last day
of an Interest Period therefor, shall be subject to Section 8.4.

      SECTION 7  MAKING AND PRORATION OF PAYMENTS; SETOFF; TAXES.

      7.1   Making of Payments. All payments of principal of or interest on
the Notes, and of all non-use fees and Letter of Credit fees, shall be made by
the Company to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds and in
the applicable currency at the Agent's Payment Office not later than 12:00 noon,
Chicago time, on the date due, and funds received after that hour shall be
deemed to have been received by the Administrative Agent on the next following
Business Day. The Company hereby authorizes Bank of America to charge any demand
deposit account maintained with Bank of America for the amount of any such
payment to be made by the Company on the due date therefor and to pay such
amount to the Administrative Agent, but Bank of America's failure to so charge
any such account shall in no way affect the obligation of
<PAGE>

the Company to make any such payment. The Administrative Agent shall promptly
remit to each Lender its share (if any) of all such payments received in
collected funds by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender.

      All payments under Sections 8.1 and 8.4 shall be made by the Company to
the Administrative Agent at the Agent's Payment Office for the account of the
Lender entitled thereto.

      7.2   Application of Certain Payments. Each payment of principal shall
be applied to such Loans as the Company shall direct by notice to be received by
the Administrative Agent on or before the date of such payment or, in the
absence of such notice, as the Administrative Agent shall determine in its
discretion. Concurrently with each remittance to any Lender of its share of any
such payment, the Administrative Agent shall advise such Lender as to the
application of such payment.

      7.3   Due Date Extension. If any payment of principal or interest with
respect to any of the Loans, or of non-use fees or Letter of Credit fees, falls
due on a day which is not a Business Day, then such due date shall be extended
to the next following Business Day (unless, in the case of a Eurocurrency Loan,
such next following Business Day is the first Business Day of a calendar month,
in which case such due date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day) and
additional interest (in the case of principal) or fees, as the case may be,
shall accrue and be payable for the period of any such extension.

      7.4   Setoff. The Company agrees that the Administrative Agent and each
Lender have all rights of set-off and bankers' lien provided by applicable law,
and in addition thereto, the Company agrees that at any time any payment or
other amount owing by the Company under this Agreement is then due to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Administrative Agent and each Lender may
apply to the payment of such payment or other amount any and all balances,
credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of the Company then or thereafter with the
Administrative Agent or such Lender.

      7.5   Proration of Payments. If any Lender shall obtain any payment or
other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of offset or
otherwise) on account of principal of or interest on any Loan (or on account of
its participation in any Credit Extension) in excess of its pro rata share of
payments and other recoveries obtained by all Lenders on account of principal of
and interest on Loans (or such participations) then held by them (other than in
respect of an Affected Loan or any payment to the Swing Line Lender in respect
of a Swing Line Loan, or as a result of replacement of a Lender pursuant to
Section 8.7), such Lender shall purchase from the other Lenders such
participation in the Loans (or sub-participations in Credit Extensions) held by
them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess
payment or other recovery ratably with each of them; provided that if all or any
portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter recovered from
such purchasing Lender, the purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price
restored to the extent of such recovery.
<PAGE>

      7.6   Taxes with respect to Payments by the Company. (a) All payments by
the Company hereunder to the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall be made
free and clear of and without deduction for any present or future Taxes. If any
deduction or withholding from any payment to be made by the Company hereunder is
required in respect of any Taxes in respect of payments to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender, then the Company will:

            (i)   pay directly to the relevant authority the full amount
      required to be so withheld or deducted;

            (ii)  promptly forward to the Administrative Agent an
      official receipt or other documentation satisfactory to the Administrative
      Agent evidencing such payment to such authority; and

            (iii)  except to the extent that such deduction or
      withholding results from the breach by any Lender of its agreement
      contained in clause (b) below, or would not be required if such Person's
      representation and warranty contained in clause (c) below were true, pay
      such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amount
      received by such Lender after such deduction or withholding (including any
      required deduction or withholding on such additional amounts) shall equal
      the amount such Person would have received had no such deduction or
      withholding been made.

Moreover, if any Taxes are directly asserted against the Administrative Agent or
any Lender with respect to any payment received by the Administrative Agent or
such Lender from the Company hereunder, the Administrative Agent or such Lender
may pay such Taxes and the Company will, within 10 days after demand by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender (which demand shall be accompanied by a
statement setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for and a calculation of
the amount of such demand, a copy of which shall be furnished to the
Administrative Agent), pay such additional amount (including any penalty,
interest and expense) as is necessary in order that the net amount received by
such Person after the payment of such Taxes (including any Taxes on such
additional amount) shall equal the amount such Person would have received had
such Taxes not been asserted (except to the extent that such Taxes (including
any penalty, interest and expense and any Taxes on any such additional amount)
result from such Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct or from the
breach by such Person of its agreement contained in clause (b) below or would
not be asserted if such Person's representation and warranty contained in clause
(c) below were true). For purposes of this Section 7.6, a distribution hereunder
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to or for the account of any Lender of
any amount received from the Company shall be deemed a payment by the Company.

      (b)   Each Lender agrees (to the extent it is permitted to do so under
applicable law) to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the
Company such documents as may be necessary or appropriate from time to time in
order to properly claim any available exemption (whether partial or complete)
from withholding and deduction of any Taxes which are levied or imposed by a
Governmental Authority in respect of payments by the Company hereunder to (or
for the benefit of) such Lender.
<PAGE>

      (c)   Each Lender represents and warrants to the Company and the
Administrative Agent that, as of the date of this Agreement (or in the case of
any Assignee which is a Lender, as of the effective date of the assignment to
such Assignee, or in the case of any transfer of any rights under a Loan from a
Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender or from one office to another of a Lender,
as of the effective date of such transfer), it is entitled to receive payments
hereunder from the Company without deduction or withholding for or on account of
any Taxes which are levied or imposed by any Governmental Authority.

      (d)   Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6, if
any Lender fails to notify the Company of any event or circumstance which will
entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 7.6 within 120 days
after such Lender obtains knowledge of such event or circumstance, then such
Lender shall not be entitled to compensation from the Company for any amount
arising prior to the date which is 120 days before the date on which such Lender
notifies the Company of such event or circumstance.

      SECTION 8  INCREASED COSTS; SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR EUROCURRENCY LOANS.

      8.1   Increased Costs. (a) If, after the date hereof, the adoption of
any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in any applicable law,
rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration of any
applicable law, rule or regulation by any Governmental Authority charged with
the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or
any Eurocurrency Office of such Lender) with any request or directive (whether
or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority:

            (i)   shall subject any Lender (or any Eurocurrency Office of such
      Lender) to any tax, duty or other charge with respect to its Eurocurrency
      Loans, its Note or its obligation to make Eurocurrency Loans, or shall
      change the basis of taxation of payments to any Lender of the principal of
      or interest on its Eurocurrency Loans or any other amount due under this
      Agreement in respect of its Eurocurrency Loans or its obligation to make
      Eurocurrency Loans (except for (x) franchise taxes and taxes imposed on or
      measured by the gross or net income or receipts of such Lender or its
      applicable Eurocurrency Office, (y) any Taxes referred to in Section 7.6
      and (z) any tax, duty or other charge to the extent resulting from such
      Lender's gross negligence or willful misconduct); or

            (ii)  shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve
      (including any reserve imposed by the FRB, but excluding any reserve
      included in the determination of interest rates pursuant to Section 4),
      special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or
      for the account of, or credit extended by any Lender (or any Eurocurrency
      Office of such Lender); or

            (iii)  shall impose on any Lender (or its applicable
      Eurocurrency Office) any other condition affecting its Eurocurrency Loans,
      its Note or its obligation to make Eurocurrency Loans;
<PAGE>

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to (or in the
case of Regulation D of the FRB, to impose a cost on) such Lender (or any
Eurocurrency Office of such Lender) of making or maintaining any Eurocurrency
Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender
(or its applicable Eurocurrency Office) under this Agreement or under its Note
with respect thereto, then within 10 days after demand by such Lender (which
demand shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth in reasonable detail
the basis for and a calculation of the amount of such demand, a copy of which
shall be furnished to the Administrative Agent), the Company shall pay directly
to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender
for such increased cost or such reduction.

      (b)   If any Lender shall reasonably determine that any change in, or
the adoption or phase-in of, any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding
capital adequacy, or any change in the interpretation or administration of any
such law, rule or regulation by any Governmental Authority charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or any
Eurocurrency Office of such Lender) or any Person controlling such Lender with
any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the
force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, has or would have the effect
of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's or such controlling Person's
capital as a consequence of such Lender's obligations hereunder (including such
Lender's Commitment) to a level below that which such Lender or such controlling
Person could have achieved but for such change, adoption, phase-in or compliance
(taking into consideration such Lender's or such controlling Person's policies
with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender or such
controlling Person to be material, then from time to time, within 10 days after
demand by such Lender (which demand shall be accompanied by a statement setting
forth in reasonable detail the basis for and a calculation of the amount of such
demand, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Administrative Agent), the
Company shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender or such controlling Person for such reduction.

      (c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.1, if
any Lender fails to notify the Company of any event or circumstance which will
entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 8.1 within 120 days
after such Lender obtains knowledge of such event or circumstance, then such
Lender shall not be entitled to compensation from the Company for any amount
arising prior to the date which is 120 days before the date on which such Lender
notifies the Company of such event or circumstance.

      8.2   Basis for Determining Eurocurrency Interest Rate Inadequate or
Unfair.  If with respect to any Interest Period:

      (a)   the Administrative Agent reasonably determines (which
determination shall be binding and conclusive on the Company) that, by reason of
circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do
not exist for ascertaining the applicable Eurocurrency Rate; or

      (b)   Lenders having an aggregate Percentage of 40% or more advise the
Administrative Agent that the Eurocurrency Rate (Reserve Adjusted) as determined
by the
<PAGE>

Administrative Agent will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such
Lenders of maintaining or funding the applicable Loans for such Interest Period
(taking into account any amount to which such Lenders may be entitled under
Section 8.1), or that the making or funding of Eurocurrency Loans has become
impracticable as a result of an event occurring after the date of this Agreement
which in the opinion of such Lenders materially affects such Loans,

then the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the other parties thereof
and, so long as such circumstances shall continue, (i) no Lender shall be under
any obligation to make, continue or convert into Eurocurrency Loans in the
currency so affected, (ii) if the Loans so affected are Eurodollar Loans, on the
last day of the current Interest Period therefor, such Loans shall, unless then
repaid in full, automatically convert to Base Rate Loans, and (iii) if the Loans
so affected are Eurocurrency Loans denominated in a currency other than Dollars,
on the last day of the current Interest Period for each Eurocurrency Loan in
such currency, such Loan shall be repaid in full.

      8.3   Changes in Law Rendering Eurocurrency Loans Unlawful. If any
change in (including the adoption of any new) applicable laws or regulations, or
any change in the interpretation of applicable laws or regulations by any
Governmental Authority or other regulatory body charged with the administration
thereof, should make it (or in the good faith judgment of any Lender cause a
substantial question as to whether it is) unlawful for any Lender to make,
maintain or fund Eurocurrency Loans in any currency, then such Lender shall
promptly notify each of the other parties hereto and, so long as such
circumstances shall continue, (a) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, (i) such
Lender shall have no obligation to make, continue or convert into Eurodollar
Loans (but shall make Base Rate Loans concurrently with the making or
continuation of or conversion into Eurodollar Loans by the applicable Lenders
which are not so affected, in each case in an amount equal to such Lender's
Percentage of all Eurodollar Loans which would be made, continued or converted
into at such time in the absence of such circumstances), and (ii) on the last
day of the current Interest Period for each Eurodollar Loan of such Lender (or,
in any event, if such Lender so requests, on such earlier date as may be
required by the relevant law, regulation or interpretation), such Eurodollar
Loan shall, unless then repaid in full, automatically convert to a Base Rate
Loan; and (b) in the case of Eurocurrency Loans denominated in a currency other
than Dollars, (i) such Lender shall have no obligation to make or continue such
Eurocurrency Loans in the currency so affected (but, if permitted by applicable
law, shall make Eurodollar Loans concurrently with the making or continuation of
Eurocurrency Loans in the applicable currency affected by the Lenders which are
not so affected, in each case in an amount equal to such Lender's Percentage of
the Dollar Equivalent amount of the Eurocurrency Loans in the currency so
affected which would be made or continued at such time in the absence of such
circumstances) and (ii) on the last day of the current Interest Period for each
Eurocurrency Loan by such Lender in the currency so affected (or, in any event,
if such Lender so requests, on such earlier date as may be required by the
relevant law, regulation or interpretation), such Eurocurrency Loan shall be
repaid in full (subject to the Company's right to borrow Eurocurrency Loans in
other currencies in accordance with, and upon satisfaction of the conditions of,
this Agreement). Each Base Rate Loan made by a Lender which, but for the
circumstances described in the foregoing sentence, would be
<PAGE>

a Eurocurrency Loan, and each Eurodollar Loan which, but for the circumstances
described in the foregoing sentence, would be a Eurocurrency Loan in another
currency (any such Base Rate Loan or Eurocurrency Loan, an "Affected Loan"),
shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, remain outstanding
for the same period (and be continued for such Interest Periods) as the Group of
Eurocurrency Loans of which such Affected Loan would be a part absent such
circumstances.

      8.4   Funding Losses. The Company hereby agrees that, upon demand by any
Lender (which demand shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the basis
for the calculations of the amount being claimed, a copy of which shall be
furnished to the Administrative Agent), the Company will indemnify such Lender
against any net loss or expense which such Lender may sustain or incur
(including any net loss or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or
reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund or
maintain any Eurocurrency Loan), as reasonably determined by such Lender, as a
result of (a) any payment or prepayment or conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan
of such Lender on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period for such
Loan (including any conversion pursuant to Section 8.3) or (b) any failure of
the Company to borrow, convert or continue any Loan on a date specified therefor
in a notice of borrowing, conversion or continuation pursuant to this Agreement.
For this purpose, all notices to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this
Agreement shall be deemed to be irrevocable.

      8.5   Right of Lenders to Fund through Other Offices. Each Lender may,
if it so elects, fulfill its commitment as to any Eurocurrency Loan by causing a
foreign branch or affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that in
such event for the purposes of this Agreement such Loan shall be deemed to have
been made by such Lender and the obligation of the Company to repay such Loan
shall nevertheless be to such Lender and shall be deemed held by it, to the
extent of such Loan, for the account of such branch or affiliate.

      8.6   Discretion of Lenders as to Manner of Funding. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, each Lender shall be entitled to
fund and maintain its funding of all or any part of its Loans in any manner it
sees fit, it being understood, however, that for the purposes of Section 8.4 all
determinations hereunder shall be made as if such Lender had actually funded and
maintained each Eurocurrency Loan during each Interest Period for such Loan
through the purchase of deposits having a maturity corresponding to such
Interest Period and bearing an interest rate equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for
such Interest Period.

      8.7   Mitigation of Circumstances; Replacement of Affected Lender. (a)
Each Lender shall promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent of
any event of which it has knowledge which will result in, and will use
reasonable commercial efforts available to it (and not, in such Lender's good
faith judgment, otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender) to mitigate or avoid,
(i) any obligation by the Company to pay any amount pursuant to Section 7.6 or
8.1 or (ii) the occurrence of any circumstances of the nature described in
Section 8.2 or 8.3 (and, if any Lender has given notice of any such event
described in clause (i) or (ii) above and thereafter such event ceases to exist,
such Lender shall promptly so notify the Company and the Administrative Agent).
Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender will designate a different
Eurocurrency Office if such designation will avoid (or reduce the cost to the
Company of) any
<PAGE>

event described in clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence and such
designation will not, in such Lender's judgment, be otherwise disadvantageous to
such Lender.

      (b)   At any time any Lender is an Affected Lender, the Company may
replace such Affected Lender (and any affiliate thereof) as a party to this
Agreement with one or more other banks or financial institutions reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such banks or financial institutions
to have Commitments in an aggregate amount equal to the amount previously held
by the Affected Lender (provided that the amount of the Commitment held by each
such bank or financial institution shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent); and upon notice from the Company, such Affected Lender
(and any affiliate thereof) shall assign pursuant to an Assignment Agreement,
and without recourse or warranty, its Commitment, its Revolving Loans, its
Notes, its participation in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and all of
its other rights and obligations hereunder to such replacement banks or other
financial institutions for a purchase price equal to the sum of the principal
amount of the Revolving Loans so assigned, all accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, its ratable share of all accrued and unpaid non-use fees and Letter of
Credit fees and all other obligations owed to such Affected Lender (or any
affiliate thereof) hereunder and, concurrently therewith, the Company shall pay
to such Affected Lender any amount payable under Section 8.4 as a result of such
Affected Lender (or any affiliate thereof) receiving payment of any Eurocurrency
Loan prior to the end of an Interest Period therefor.

      8.8   Conclusiveness of Statements; Survival of Provisions.
Determinations and statements of any Lender pursuant to Section 7.6, 8.1, 8.2,
8.3 or 8.4 shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error. Lenders may use
reasonable averaging and attribution methods in determining compensation under
Sections 8.1 and 8.4, and the provisions of such Sections shall survive the
expiration or termination of the Commitments, the repayment of the Loans and all
other obligations of the Company hereunder, the expiration or termination of the
Letters of Credit and the termination of this Agreement.

      SECTION 9  WARRANTIES.

      To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this
Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make Credit Extensions hereunder, the
Company warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

      9.1   Organization, etc. The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
each Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent such
concept is applicable, in good standing under the jurisdiction of its
organization, each of the Company and each Subsidiary is duly qualified to do
business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business makes such
qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified would not
have a Material Adverse Effect, and each of the Company and each Subsidiary has
full power and authority to own its property and conduct its business as
presently conducted by it.
<PAGE>

      9.2   Authorization; No Conflict. The execution and delivery by the
Company of this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party,
the borrowings hereunder, the execution and delivery by each Guarantor of each
Loan Document to which it is a party and the performance by each of the Company
and each Guarantor of its obligations under each Loan Document to which it is a
party are within the powers of the Company and each Guarantor, have been duly
authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and each Guarantor
(including any necessary shareholder action), have received all necessary
governmental approval (if any shall be required), and do not and will not (a)
violate any provision of law or any order, decree or judgment of any court or
other Governmental Authority which is binding on the Company or any Guarantor,
(b) contravene or conflict with, or result in a breach of, any provision of the
articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational
documents of the Company or any Guarantor or of any agreement, indenture,
instrument or other document which is binding on the Company, any Guarantor or
any other Subsidiary or (c) result in, or require, the creation or imposition of
any Lien on any property of the Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary.

      9.3   Validity and Binding Nature. Each of this Agreement and each other
Loan Document to which the Company is a party is, or upon the execution and
delivery thereof will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except
that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally and by
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in
equity or at law); and each Loan Document to which any Guarantor is a party is,
or upon the execution and delivery thereof will be, the legal, valid and binding
obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance
with its terms, except that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).

      9.4   Financial Information. The audited consolidated financial
statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for Fiscal Years 1999 and 2000,
the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Quarters ended December 29, 2000 and March 31, 2001
and the preliminary unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company
and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Quarter ended June 29, 2001, copies of which
have been delivered to each Lender, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
in all material respects and present fairly the consolidated financial condition
of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole as at such date and the
results of their operations for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, for the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit
adjustments).

      9.5   No Material Adverse Change. Since September 29, 2000, no events
have occurred which, individually or in the aggregate, have had or are
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
<PAGE>

      9.6   Litigation and Contingent Liabilities. No litigation (including
derivative actions), arbitration proceeding or governmental proceeding is
pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened against the Company or any
Subsidiary which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect except
as set forth in Schedule 9.6. Other than any liability incident to such
litigation or proceedings, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any
material contingent liabilities which are not provided for or disclosed in the
financial statements referred to in Section 9.4 or listed in Schedule 9.6.

      9.7   Ownership of Properties; Liens. The Company and its Subsidiaries
own good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all of their
respective properties and assets, real and personal, tangible and intangible, of
any nature whatsoever (including patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks
and copyrights), free and clear of all Liens, charges and claims (including
infringement claims with respect to patents, trademarks, copyrights and the
like) except as permitted pursuant to Section 10.8.

      9.8   Subsidiaries.  The Company has no Subsidiaries except those
listed in Schedule 9.8.

      9.9   ERISA Compliance. (a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or
state laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the
Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an
application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with
respect thereto and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred which
would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. Each of the Company and
each ERISA Affiliate has made all required contributions to each Plan subject to
Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension
of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made
with respect to any Plan.

      (b)   There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or actions by any Governmental
Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation
of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted
or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

      (c)   (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to
occur, (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability, (iii) neither
the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to
incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan
(other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA), (iv)
neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects
to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of
notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under
Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan, and (v)
neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that
could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
<PAGE>

      9.10  Investment Company Act.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment
company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

      9.11 Public Utility Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary is a "holding company", or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company", or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company"
of a "holding company", within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935.

      9.12 Regulation U. The Company is not engaged principally, or as one of
its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

      9.13 Taxes. Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has filed all U.S.
federal tax returns and all other material tax returns and reports required by
law to have been filed by it and has paid all taxes and governmental charges
thereby shown to be owing, except for any such taxes or charges which are being
diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its
books.

      9.14 Environmental Compliance. (a) The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
Environmental Laws. There are no material past, pending or, to the best
knowledge of the Company, threatened claims under any Environmental Law against
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any real property at any time owned,
leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no
facts, circumstances, conditions or occurrences with respect to any real
property at any time owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      (b)   No Hazardous Materials have at any time been generated, released
on or from, used, treated or stored on, or transported to or from any real
property at any time owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries except in material compliance with Environmental Laws.

      9.15 Information. All written information heretofore or contemporaneously
herewith furnished by the Company or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent
or any Lender for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby is, and all written information hereafter
furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender pursuant hereto or in connection herewith will be, true and
accurate in every material respect on the date as of which such information is
dated or certified, and none of such information is or will be incomplete by
omitting to state any material fact necessary to make such information not
misleading.

      9.16 Borden Brands Acquisition. (a) The Borden Brands Acquisition complies
in all material respects with all applicable legal requirements, and all
necessary governmental,
<PAGE>

regulatory, shareholder and other consents and approvals required for the
consummation of the Borden Brands Acquisition have been, or prior to the
consummation thereof will be, duly obtained and in full force and effect.

      (b)   The consummation by the Company of the Borden Brands Acquisition
will not violate any statute or regulation of the United States or any other
applicable jurisdiction, or any order, judgment or decree of any court or other
Governmental Authority, or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under,
any material agreement, indenture, instrument or other document, or any
judgment, order or decree, affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(including any entity which will be a Subsidiary after giving effect to the
Borden Brands Acquisition).

      SECTION 10  COVENANTS.

      Until the expiration or termination of the Commitments and thereafter
until all obligations of the Company hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents are paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been terminated, the
Company agrees that, unless at any time the Required Lenders shall otherwise
expressly consent in writing, it will:

      10.1  Reports, Certificates and Other Information.  Furnish to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender:

      10.1.1    Audit Report. Promptly when available and in any event
within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, a copy of the annual audit
report of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, including
therein consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of
the end of such Fiscal Year and consolidated statements of earnings and cash
flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, which audit
report shall be without qualification as to going concern or scope and shall be
prepared by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent auditors of recognized
standing selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Required
Lenders, together with (a) a written statement from such auditors to the effect
that in making the audit necessary for the signing of such audit report by such
accountants, they have not become aware of any Event of Default or Unmatured
Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing under Section 10.6, 10.7,
10.10, 10.11 or 10.12, insofar as such Sections relate to accounting matters or
require computations to be made which are ordinarily made by accountants or, if
they have become aware of any such event, describing it in reasonable detail and
(b) a certificate of the chief financial officer or the chief executive officer
of the Company certifying that such financial statements fairly present the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of the dates and periods indicated.

      10.1.2    Quarterly Reports. Promptly when available and in any event
within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter (except the last Fiscal
Quarter) of each Fiscal Year, consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and consolidated statements of
earnings and consolidated statements of cash flow for such Fiscal Quarter and
for the period beginning with the first day of such Fiscal Year and ending on
the last day of such Fiscal Quarter, together with a certificate of the chief
financial officer or the chief
<PAGE>

executive officer of the Company certifying that such financial statements
fairly present the financial condition and results of operations of the Company
and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and periods indicated, subject to the
absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

      10.1.3    Compliance Certificates. Contemporaneously with the
furnishing of a copy of each annual audit report pursuant to Section 10.1.1 and
of each set of quarterly statements pursuant to Section 10.1.2, a duly completed
certificate in the form of Exhibit F, with appropriate insertions, dated the
date of such annual report or such quarterly statement and signed by the chief
financial officer or the chief executive officer of the Company, containing a
computation of each of the financial ratios and restrictions set forth in this
Section 10 and to the effect that such officer has not become aware of any Event
of Default or Unmatured Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing or,
if there is any such event, describing it and the steps, if any, being taken to
cure it.

      10.1.4    Reports to SEC and to Shareholders. Within five days of the
filing or sending thereof, a copy of any annual, periodic or special report or
registration statement (inclusive of exhibits thereto) filed with the SEC or any
securities exchange and any report, proxy statement or other communication to
the Company's shareholders generally.

      10.1.5    Notice of Default, Litigation and ERISA Matters. Promptly
upon becoming aware of any of the following, written notice describing the same
and the steps being taken by the Company or the Subsidiary affected thereby with
respect thereto: (a) the occurrence of an Event of Default or an Unmatured Event
of Default; (b) any litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or
proceeding not previously disclosed by the Company to the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders which has been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company,
is threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or to which any of the
properties of any thereof is subject which has had or is reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) any material adverse development which
occurs in any litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or
proceeding previously disclosed pursuant to clause (b); (d) any ERISA Event; and
(e) the occurrence of any other event or circumstance (including any violation
of any Environmental Law) and which has had or is reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

      10.1.6      Subsidiaries.  Promptly upon the occurrence thereof, a
written report of any change in the list of its Subsidiaries.

      10.1.7    Management Reports. Promptly upon the request of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of all detailed financial and
management reports submitted to the Company by independent auditors in
connection with each annual or interim audit made by such auditors of the books
of the Company.

      10.1.8    Projections. As soon as practicable and in any event within
90 days after the commencement of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated plan and
financial forecast for such Fiscal Year, including (a) a forecasted consolidated
balance sheet and a consolidated statement of cash
<PAGE>

flow of the Company for such Fiscal Year and (b) forecasted consolidated
statements of income and cash flows of the Company for each month of such Fiscal
Year.

      10.1.9 Other Information. From time to time such other information
concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries as any Lender or the Administrative
Agent may reasonably request.

      10.2 Books, Records and Inspections. (i) Keep, and cause each Subsidiary
to keep, its books and records in accordance with sound business practices
sufficient to allow the Company to prepare its financial statements in
accordance with GAAP; (ii) permit, and cause each Subsidiary to permit, on
reasonable notice and at reasonable times and intervals (or at any time without
notice during the existence of an Event of Default), any Lender or the
Administrative Agent or any representative thereof to inspect the properties and
operations of the Company and of such Subsidiary; and (iii) permit, and cause
each Subsidiary to permit, on reasonable notice and at reasonable times and
intervals (or at any time without notice during the existence of an Event of
Default), any Lender or the Administrative Agent or any representative thereof
to visit any or all of its offices, to discuss its financial matters with its
officers and its independent auditors (and the Company hereby authorizes such
independent auditors to discuss such financial matters with any Lender or the
Administrative Agent or any representative thereof), and to examine (and,
photocopy extracts from) any of its books or other corporate records. The
Company agrees to pay the fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the Company's
auditors incurred in connection with any reasonable exercise of the rights of
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to this Section.

      10.3 Insurance. Maintain, and cause each Subsidiary to maintain, with
reputable, financially sound insurance companies, insurance to such extent and
against such hazards and liabilities as is customarily maintained by companies
similarly situated (and, in any event, such insurance as may be required by any
law or governmental regulation or any court order or decree) and, upon request
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, furnish to the Administrative Agent
or such Lender a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the nature and
extent of all insurance maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

      10.4 Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes. (a) Comply, and cause each
Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all material applicable laws
(including ERISA and Environmental Laws), rules, regulations, decrees, orders,
judgments, licenses and permits; and (b) pay, and cause each Subsidiary to pay,
prior to delinquency all taxes and other governmental charges against it or any
of its property; provided that the foregoing shall not require the Company or
any Subsidiary to pay any such tax or charge so long as it shall contest the
validity thereof in good faith by appropriate proceedings and shall set aside on
its books adequate reserves with respect thereto.

      10.5 Maintenance of Existence, etc. Maintain and preserve, and (subject to
Section 10.12) cause each Subsidiary to maintain and preserve, (a) its existence
and, to the extent applicable, good standing in the jurisdiction of its
organization and (b) its qualification and, to
<PAGE>

the extent applicable, good standing as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction
where the nature of its business makes such qualification necessary (except in
those instances in which the failure to be qualified or in good standing would
not (i) if cured, foreclose access to the courts of such jurisdiction in respect
of events occurring prior to such cure or (ii) be reasonably likely to result in
a Material Adverse Effect).

      10.6  Financial Covenants.

      10.6.1      Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Not permit the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio for any Computation Period to be less than the
applicable ratio set forth below for such Computation Period:

         Computation Period Ending          Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
        ---------------------------         -----------------------------------
    Last day of Fiscal Year 2001 through                 1.10 to 1
        last day of Fiscal Year 2003
          During Fiscal Year 2004                        1.15 to 1
          During Fiscal Year 2005                        1.20 to 1
                 Thereafter                              1.25 to 1.

      10.6.2      Maximum Leverage Ratio.  Not permit the Leverage Ratio for
any Computation Period to exceed the applicable ratio set forth below for
such Computation Period:

         Computation Period Ending                Maximum Leverage Ratio
         -------------------------                ----------------------
 Last day of Fiscal Year 2001 through last               3.25 to 1
 day of third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year
                    2002
 Last day of Fiscal Year 2002 through last               3.00 to 1
 day of third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year
                    2003
 Last day of Fiscal Year 2003 through last               2.75 to 1
 day of third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year
                    2004
 Last day of Fiscal Year 2004 through last               2.50 to 1
 day of third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year
                    2005
                 Thereafter                             2.25 to 1.

      10.6.3    Minimum Consolidated Net Worth. Not at any time permit
Consolidated Net Worth to be less than the result of (a) $225,000,000 plus (b)
75% of Consolidated Net Income earned in each Fiscal Quarter ending after July
1, 2001 (with no deduction for a net loss in any such Fiscal Quarter) plus (c)
75% of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Equity Issuance after the Effective Date
minus (d) 100% of the aggregate amount of Permitted Restricted Payments made by
the Company and its Subsidiaries since the Effective Date.

      10.6.4    Minimum Consolidated EBITDA. Not permit Consolidated EBITDA
for any Computation Period to be less than (a) for any Computation Period ending
on or before the last day of Fiscal Year 2002, $70,000,000 and (b) for any
Computation Period ending thereafter, the
<PAGE>

greater of (i) the amount of Consolidated EBITDA required by this Section 10.6.4
for the Computation Period ending on the last day of the Fiscal Year immediately
preceding the last day of such Computation Period (the "Preceding Fiscal Year
End") or (ii) 80% of actual Consolidated EBITDA for the Fiscal Year ending on
the Preceding Fiscal Year End.

      10.7 Limitations on Debt. Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt, except (a) obligations arising under
the Loan Documents; (b) Debt in respect of Capital Leases or hereafter incurred
in connection with Liens permitted by Section 10.8(e); provided that the
aggregate amount of all such Debt shall not at any time exceed a Dollar
Equivalent amount of $30,000,000; (c) Debt of Subsidiaries to the Company or to
other Subsidiaries; (d) Hedging Obligations incurred by the Company or any
Subsidiary to hedge bona fide business risks (and not for speculation); (e)
Guaranty Obligations in respect of any obligation of the Company or any
Subsidiary not prohibited under this Agreement; (f) Debt to be Repaid; provided
that all Debt to be Repaid shall be repaid on or before the Effective Date; (g)
Debt of the Company which has no scheduled amortization prior to the 91st day
after the scheduled Termination Date; provided that (i) to the extent the
holders of such Debt have the benefit of the guaranty of, or the pledge of stock
of, any Subsidiary, such holders shall have entered into intercreditor
arrangements with the Administrative Agent pursuant to documentation reasonably
satisfactory to the Required Lenders and (ii) the Net Cash Proceeds of the
issuance of any such Debt shall be applied to reduce the Aggregate Commitment
Amount to the extent required herein; and (h) other Debt not at any time
exceeding a Dollar Equivalent amount of $15,000,000.

      10.8 Liens. Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, create or permit to
exist any Lien on any of its real or personal properties, assets or rights of
whatsoever nature (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), except (a) Liens
for taxes or other governmental charges not at the time delinquent or thereafter
payable without penalty or being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and, in each case, for which it maintains adequate reserves; (b)
Liens arising in the ordinary course of business (such as (i) Liens of carriers,
warehousemen, mechanics, landlords and materialmen and similar Liens and (ii)
Liens incurred in connection with worker's compensation, unemployment
compensation and other types of social security (excluding Liens arising under
ERISA) or in connection with surety bonds (other than bonds relating to
litigation), bids, performance bonds and similar obligations) for sums not
overdue or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and not
involving any deposits or advances or borrowed money or the deferred purchase
price of property or services, and, in each case, for which it maintains
adequate reserves; (c) Liens identified on Schedule 10.8; provided that the
Company causes the release of all Liens identified in the footnotes on such
Schedule 10.8 within the applicable time period specified thereon; (d) Liens
arising under Capital Leases on the property leased to the extent permitted by
Section 10.7(b); (e) purchase money security interests on any property securing
Debt incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of
acquiring such property; provided that any such Lien attaches to such property
within 60 days of the acquisition thereof and such Lien attaches solely to the
property so acquired or, in the case of a Lien in favor of a vendor, all
property purchased by the Company or the applicable Subsidiary from such vendor;
(f) attachments, judgments and other similar Liens, for sums not exceeding a
Dollar Equivalent amount of $2,500,000 arising in connection with court
<PAGE>

proceedings; provided that the execution or other enforcement of such Liens is
effectively stayed and the claims secured thereby are being actively contested
in good faith and by appropriate proceedings; (g) easements, rights of way,
restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar Liens
not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (h) Liens
securing obligations of a Subsidiary to the Company or to a Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary; (i) leases or subleases granted by the Company or any Subsidiary in
the ordinary course of its business; (j) extensions, renewals or replacements of
any Lien permitted by the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.8, but only if
the principal amount of any Debt secured thereby immediately prior to such
extension, renewal or replacement is not increased and such Lien is not extended
to any other property; (k) Liens arising under the Collateral Documents; and (l)
other Liens, in addition to Liens permitted by clauses (a) through (k), securing
obligations not at any time exceeding a Dollar Equivalent amount of $5,000,000.

      10.9 Business. Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any
material business other than the businesses in which the Company and its
Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of this Agreement and reasonable extensions
thereof.

      10.10 Restricted Payments. Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, (a)
declare or pay any dividend or distribution on any of its capital stock, (b)
purchase or redeem any capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary (or any
warrants, options or other rights in respect thereof), (c) make any other
distribution to shareholders of the Company or any Subsidiary, (d) pay any
management fees or similar fees to any of its shareholders (other than payments
for the fair market value of services rendered), (e) prepay, purchase, defease
or redeem any subordinated Debt or (f) set aside funds for any of the foregoing;
provided that (i) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends, or make other
distributions, to the Company or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, (ii) the Company
may declare and pay dividends, or make other distributions, payable solely in
the Company's common stock, and (iii) so long as no Event of Default or
Unmatured Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, the Company may
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of its capital stock or warrants or
options to acquire any such shares, or pay cash dividends on its capital stock,
in each case so long as the aggregate amount of all purchases, redemptions,
other acquisitions and cash dividends made pursuant to this clause (iii)
(collectively "Permitted Restricted Payments") during the term of this Agreement
shall not exceed $40,000,000.

      10.11 Investments. Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, make, incur,
assume or suffer to exist any Investment in any other Person, except (a)
Investments existing on the Effective Date and identified in Schedule 10.11; (b)
Cash Equivalent Investments; (c) Investments by the Company in its Subsidiaries
or by any Subsidiary in any other Subsidiary in the form of contributions to
capital or loans or advances; (d) loans or advances or capital contributions
made by any Subsidiary to the Company; (e) advances made to employees for travel
and similar expenses in the normal course of business; (f) the Borden Brands
Acquisition; (g) Investments made to consummate Permitted Acquisitions; (h)
Investments arising in connection with Hedging Agreements entered into to hedge
bona fide business risks (and not for speculation); and (i) other Investments
not to exceed at any time $5,000,000 in the aggregate.
<PAGE>

      10.12 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales. Not, and not permit any Subsidiary
to, be a party to any merger or consolidation, or purchase or otherwise acquire
all or substantially all of the assets or any stock of any class of, or any
partnership, limited liability company or joint venture interest in, any other
Person, or, except in the ordinary course of its business, sell, transfer,
convey or lease any of its assets, or sell or assign with or without recourse
any receivables, except for (i) any such merger or consolidation, sale,
transfer, conveyance, lease or assignment of or by any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
into the Company or into, with or to any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (ii) any such
purchase or other acquisition by the Company or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of
the assets or stock of any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (iii) any merger or
consolidation to effect, or any acquisition which constitutes, an Investment
permitted by Section 10.11; and (iv) the sale or disposal of assets by the
Company and its Subsidiaries so long as the aggregate book value of such assets
sold during any Fiscal Year does not exceed $5,000,000.

      10.13 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans to refinance existing
Debt, for working capital, for capital expenditures and for other general
corporate purposes (including the Borden Brands Acquisition and other Permitted
Acquisitions); and not use or permit any proceeds of any Loan to be used, either
directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or
ultimate, of "purchasing or carrying" any Margin Stock.

      10.14 Inconsistent Agreements. Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to,
enter into any agreement containing any provision which would be violated or
breached by any borrowing, or the obtaining of any Letter of Credit, by the
Company hereunder or by the performance by the Company or any Subsidiary of any
of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

      10.15 Transactions with Affiliates. Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to,
enter into or permit to exist any transaction, arrangement or contract with any
of its Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) which is on
terms which are less favorable than are obtainable from a Person which is not
one of its Affiliates other than transactions, arrangements or contracts
providing for (a) the payment by the Company of reasonable and customary fees to
and expenses of members of its Board of Directors, (b) the payment by the
Company or any Subsidiary of Permitted Restricted Payments or (c) the making of
Investments by the Company or any Subsidiary permitted by this Agreement.

      10.16 Employee Benefit Plans.  Maintain, and cause each Subsidiary to
maintain, each Plan in compliance with all applicable requirements of law and
regulations.

      10.17 Environmental Laws. (a) Comply, and cause each Subsidiary to comply,
in a reasonable and cost-effective manner, with any valid judicial or
administrative order requiring the performance at any real property owned,
operated or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary of activities in response to
the release or threatened release of a Hazardous Material except for the period
of time that the Company or such Subsidiary is diligently in good faith
contesting such order, (b) notify the Administrative Agent within 30 days after
the receipt of any
<PAGE>

written claim, demand, proceeding, action or notice of liability by any Person
arising out of or relating to the release or threatened release of a Hazardous
Material and (c) notify the Administrative Agent within 30 days after any
release, threatened release or disposal of Hazardous Material reported to any
Governmental Authority at any real property owned, operated or leased by the
Company or any Subsidiary.

      10.18 Unconditional Purchase Obligations. Not, and not permit any
Subsidiary to, enter into or be a party to any contract for the purchase of
materials, supplies or other property or services if such contract requires that
payment be made by it regardless of whether or not delivery is ever made of such
materials, supplies or other property or services.

      10.19 Further Assurances. Take, and cause each Subsidiary to take, such
actions as are necessary, or as the Administrative Agent (or the Required
Lenders acting through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request, from
time to time (including the execution and delivery of guaranties, pledge
agreements, financing statements, and other documents, the filing of any of the
foregoing, the delivery of stock certificates and other collateral with respect
to which perfection is obtained by possession and stock powers or other
documents related thereto, and the delivery of opinions of counsel with respect
to any of such documents) to ensure that (i) the obligations of the Company
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and any Hedging Obligations of the
Company owing to any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender are guaranteed by all
Subsidiaries (other than Foreign Subsidiaries) of the Company and secured by
pledge of the stock or other equity interests of all Subsidiaries of the
Company; provided that (a) neither the Company nor any domestic Subsidiary shall
be required to pledge more than 65% of the stock of any Foreign Subsidiary; (b)
AIPC Sales Co. will not be required to complete the pledge of its equity
interest in IAPC CV until September 14, 2001 and (c) no Foreign Subsidiary shall
be required to pledge the stock of any other Foreign Subsidiary.

      10.20 Transfers to Foreign Subsidiaries. Not, and not permit any Guarantor
to, sell, transfer, or convey balance sheet assets (other than cash) with an
aggregate net book value in excess of $3,000,000 to Foreign Subsidiaries after
the Signing Date.

      SECTION 11  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.  The obligation of each Lender to
make any Credit Extension is subject to the following conditions precedent:

      11.1 Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each Lender to make its
initial Loan or of the Issuer to issue the initial Letter of Credit hereunder
(whichever first occurs) is subject to the conditions precedent that (a) each of
the conditions precedent specified in Section 11.2 and, if applicable, 11.3
shall have been satisfied, (b) the Administrative Agent shall have received all
amounts which are then due and payable pursuant to Section 5, and (c) the
Administrative Agent shall have received (i) evidence that the Company has
terminated the commitments under the Existing Credit Facility, that all
obligations under the Existing Credit Facility (other than (x) the Existing
Letter of Credit and (y) loans which are denominated in Euros ("Existing Euro
Loans") and which, in the aggregate, do not exceed a Dollar Equivalent amount of
$70,000,000), that arrangements have been made to pay all Existing Euro Loans
not later than the Business Day following the Effective Date and that all
collateral securing the Existing Credit Facility has been
<PAGE>

(or concurrently with the payment of the Existing Euro Loans will be) released,
(ii) evidence that the Borden Brands Acquisition will be completed concurrently
with the initial Credit Extension on the terms set forth in the Borden Brands
Purchase Agreement (without giving effect to any material amendment or other
modification thereto after June 1, 2001 unless such amendment or modification
has been approved in writing by the Administrative Agent) and (iii) all of the
following, each duly executed and dated the date of the initial Credit Extension
(or such earlier date as shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and each (except
for the Notes, of which only the originals shall be signed) in sufficient number
of signed counterparts to provide one for the Administrative Agent and each
Lender (the date on which all of the conditions precedent shall have been
satisfied, the "Effective Date"):

      11.1.1    Agreement and Notes. Counterparts of this Agreement executed
by each of the parties hereto (it being understood that the Administrative Agent
may rely on a facsimile copy of the applicable signature page of this Agreement
in determining whether any party hereto has executed and delivered a counterpart
hereof) and a Note for each Lender which has requested a Note.

      11.1.2    Resolutions. Certified copies of resolutions of the Board of
Directors of the Company and each Guarantor authorizing or ratifying the
execution, delivery and performance by such Person of the Loan Documents to
which such Person is a party.

      11.1.3    Incumbency and Signature Certificates. A certificate of the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or other appropriate officer) of the
Company and each Guarantor certifying the names of the officer or officers of
such Person authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which such Person is a
party, together with a sample of the true signature of each such officer (it
being understood that the Administrative Agent and each Lender may conclusively
rely on each such certificate until formally advised by a like certificate of
any changes therein).

      11.1.4    Opinion of Counsel for the Company. The opinion of Blackwell
Sanders Peper Martin LLP, counsel to the Company and the Guarantors,
substantially in the form of Exhibit G.

      11.1.5      Guaranty.  The Guaranty executed by each Subsidiary that is
not a Foreign Subsidiary.

      11.1.6 Pledge Agreement. The Pledge Agreement executed by the Company and
each applicable Subsidiary, together with all stock certificates and other
documents required to be delivered pursuant thereto.

      11.1.7  Collateral Partnership Assignment.  Collateral Assignments of
Partnership Interests executed by the Company and AIPC Sales Co.

      11.1.8 Membership Interest Pledge Agreement.  The Membership Interest
Pledge Agreement executed by the Company and AIPC Finance, Inc.
<PAGE>

      11.1.9      Financing Statements.  Uniform Commercial Code financing
statements executed by the Company, AIPC Sales Co. and AIPC Finance, Inc.
with respect to the collateral pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, the
Membership Interest Pledge Agreement and/or the Collateral Partnership
Assignment, as applicable.

      11.1.10  Borden Brands Acquisition Documents.  A certified copy of the
Borden Brands Purchase Agreement and all material documents related thereto.

      11.1.11  Other.  Such other documents as the Administrative Agent or
any Lender may reasonably request.

      11.2  All Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to make any
Credit Extension is subject to the following further conditions precedent
that:

      11.2.1 No Default. (a) No Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing or will result from the making of such Credit
Extension and (b) the warranties of the Company contained in Section 9
(excluding, except in the case of the initial Credit Extension, (i) the second
sentence of Section 9.6 and (ii) Section 9.8) are true and correct in all
material respects as of the date of the making of such requested Credit
Extension, with the same effect as though made on such date (except to the
extent that any warranty relates to an earlier date, in which case such warranty
shall be true and correct as of such earlier date).

      11.2.2 Confirmatory Certificate. If requested by the Administrative Agent
or any Lender, the Administrative Agent shall have received (in sufficient
counterparts to provide one to each Lender) a certificate dated the date of the
making of such Credit Extension and signed by a duly authorized representative
of the Company as to the matters set out in Section 11.2.1 (it being understood
that each request by the Company for the making of a Credit Extension shall be
deemed to constitute a representation and warranty that the conditions precedent
set forth in Section 11.2.1 will be satisfied at the time of the making of such
Credit Extension), together with such other documents as the Administrative
Agent may reasonably request in support thereof.

      11.3 Certain Loans. The obligation of each Lender to make the first Credit
Extension which would result in the Aggregate Outstandings exceeding a Dollar
Equivalent amount of $170,000,000 is subject to the condition precedent that all
Existing Euro Loans shall have been (or upon application of the proceeds of such
Credit Extension will be) paid in full.

      SECTION 12  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT.

      12.1  Events of Default.  Each of the following shall constitute an
Event of Default under this Agreement:

      12.1.1 Non-Payment of the Loans, etc. Default in the payment when due of
the principal of any Loan; or default, and continuance thereof for five days, in
the payment when due of any interest, fee, reimbursement obligation with respect
to any Letter of Credit or other amount payable by the Company hereunder or
under any other Loan Document.
<PAGE>

      12.1.2 Non-Payment of Other Debt. Any default shall occur under the terms
applicable to any Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary in an aggregate Dollar
Equivalent amount (for all Debt so affected) exceeding $2,500,000 and such
default shall (a) consist of the failure to pay such Debt when due (subject to
any applicable grace period), whether by acceleration or otherwise, or (b)
accelerate the maturity of such Debt or permit the holder or holders thereof, or
any trustee or agent for such holder or holders, to cause such Debt to become
due and payable prior to its expressed maturity.

      12.1.3 Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc. The Company or any Subsidiary becomes
insolvent or generally fails to pay, or admits in writing its inability or
refusal to pay, debts as they become due; the Company or any Subsidiary applies
for, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
receiver and manager, administrator, liquidator, provisional liquidator or other
custodian for the Company or such Subsidiary or any property thereof, or makes a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors or, in the absence of such
application, consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver, receiver and manager,
administrator, liquidator, provisional liquidator or other custodian is
appointed for the Company or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the
property of any thereof and is not discharged within 60 days; any bankruptcy,
reorganization, debt arrangement, or other case or proceeding under any
bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any dissolution or liquidation proceeding
(except the voluntary dissolution, not under any bankruptcy or insolvency law,
of a Subsidiary), is commenced in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary, and
if such case or proceeding is not commenced by the Company or such Subsidiary,
it is consented to or acquiesced in by the Company or such Subsidiary, or
remains for 60 days undismissed; or the Company or any Subsidiary takes any
corporate action to authorize, or in furtherance of, any of the foregoing.

      12.1.4 Non-Compliance with Provisions of This Agreement. Failure by the
Company to comply with or to perform any covenant set forth in Section 10.1.5,
Sections 10.6 through 10.8 or Sections 10.10 through 10.14; or failure by the
Company to comply with or to perform any other provision of this Agreement (and
not constituting an Event of Default under any of the other provisions of this
Section 12) and continuance of such failure for 30 days after notice thereof to
the Company from the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

      12.1.5 Warranties. Any warranty made by the Company herein is false or
misleading in any material respect, or any schedule, certificate, financial
statement, report, notice or other writing furnished by the Company to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender is false or misleading in any material
respect on the date as of which the facts therein set forth are stated or
certified.

      12.1.6 ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or
Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result
in liability of the Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan,
Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000,
or (ii) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the
expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect
to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer
Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000.
<PAGE>

      12.1.7 Judgments. Final judgments which exceed an aggregate Dollar
Equivalent amount of $2,500,000 shall be rendered against the Company or any
Subsidiary and shall not have been discharged or vacated or had execution
thereof stayed pending appeal within 30 days after entry or filing of such
judgments.

      12.1.8  Change in Control.  A Change in Control shall occur.

      12.1.9 Invalidity of Loan Documents. (a) The Guaranty shall cease to be in
full force and effect with respect to any Guarantor (other than as a result of
such Guarantor ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Company as a result of a
transaction permitted hereby), any Guarantor shall fail (subject to any
applicable grace period) to comply with or to perform any applicable provision
of the Guaranty, or any Guarantor (or any Person by, through or on behalf of
such Guarantor) shall contest in any manner the validity, binding nature or
enforceability of the Guaranty with respect to such Guarantor.

      (b)   Any Collateral Document shall cease to be in full force and effect
with respect to the Company or any Guarantor (other than as a result of such
Guarantor ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Company as a result of a transaction
permitted hereby), the Company or any Guarantor shall fail (subject to any
applicable grace period) to comply with or to perform any applicable provision
of any Collateral Document to which such entity is a party, or the Company or
any Guarantor (or any Person by, through or on behalf of the Company or such
Guarantor) shall contest in any manner the validity, binding nature or
enforceability of any Collateral Document.

      12.2 Effect of Event of Default. If any Event of Default described in
Section 12.1.3 shall occur, the Commitments (if they have not theretofore
terminated) shall immediately terminate and the Notes and all other obligations
hereunder shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall become
immediately obligated to deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in
a Dollar Equivalent amount equal to the outstanding face amount of all Letters
of Credit, all without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind; and
in the case of any other Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall, upon
written request of the Required Lenders, declare the Commitments (if they have
not theretofore terminated) to be terminated and/or declare all Notes and all
other obligations hereunder to be due and payable and/or demand that the Company
immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in a Dollar
Equivalent amount equal to the outstanding face amount of all Letters of Credit,
whereupon the Commitments (if they have not theretofore terminated) shall
immediately terminate and/or all Notes and all other obligations hereunder shall
become immediately due and payable and/or the Company shall immediately become
obligated to deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in a Dollar
Equivalent amount equal to the face amount of all Letters of Credit, all without
presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the effect as an Event of Default of any event described in Section
12.1.1 or 12.1.3 may be waived by the written concurrence of all of the Lenders,
and the effect as an Event of Default of any other event described in this
Section 12 may be waived by the written concurrence of the Required Lenders. Any
cash collateral delivered hereunder shall be held by the Administrative Agent
and applied to obligations arising in connection with any
<PAGE>

drawing under a Letter of Credit. After the expiration or termination of all
Letters of Credit, such cash collateral shall be applied by the Administrative
Agent to any remaining obligations of the Company hereunder and any excess shall
be delivered to the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

      SECTION 13  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.

      13.1 Appointment and Authorization. (a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably
(subject to Section 13.9) appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative
Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement,
each other Loan Document and each other document executed by the Company in
connection with this Agreement and to exercise such powers and perform such
duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement, any
other Loan Document or any other document executed by the Company in connection
with this Agreement, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in
this Agreement, in any other Loan Document or any other document executed by the
Company in connection with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not
have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth herein, nor
shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary
relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions,
responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this
Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other document executed by the Company
in connection with this Agreement or otherwise exist against the Administrative
Agent.

      (b)   The Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to all
Letters of Credit and the documents associated therewith until such time and
except for so long as the Administrative Agent may agree at the request of the
Lenders to act for the Issuer with respect thereto; provided that the Issuer
shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative
Agent in this Section 13 with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by
the Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued or proposed to be issued
by it and the Letter of Credit Applications and related documents as fully as if
the term "Administrative Agent", as used in this Section 13, included the Issuer
with respect to such acts or omissions and (ii) as additionally provided in this
Agreement with respect to the Issuer.

      13.2 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its
duties under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other document
executed by the Company in connection with this Agreement by or through agents,
employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel
concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall
not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or
attorney-in-fact that it selects with reasonable care.

      13.3 Liability of Administrative Agent. None of the Agent-Related Persons
shall (i) be liable to any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by
any of them under or in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document
or any other document executed by the Company in connection with this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or
willful misconduct), or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any
<PAGE>

of the Lenders for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by
the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, or any officer
thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or in any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in,
or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this
Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other document executed by the Company
or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company in connection with this Agreement,
or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of
this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other document executed by the
Company in connection with this Agreement, or for any failure of the Company or
any other party to any such document to perform its obligations hereunder or
thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender
to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the
agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Company or any
Affiliate thereof. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any
Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or
performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or
records of the Company or any Affiliate thereof.

      13.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent shall
be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing,
resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
facsimile, telex or telephone message, statement or other document or
conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed,
sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of
legal counsel (including counsel to the Company), independent accountants and
other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent
shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this
Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any other document executed by the
Company in connection with this Agreement unless it shall first receive such
advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it
so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders
against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason
of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall
in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under
this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other document executed by the
Company in connection with this Agreement in accordance with a request or
consent of the Required Lenders and such request and any action taken or failure
to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Lenders. Where this
Agreement expressly permits or prohibits an action unless the Required Lenders
otherwise determine, the Agent shall, and in all other instances, the Agent may,
but shall not be required to, initiate any solicitation for the consent or a
vote of the Lenders.

      (b)   For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions
specified in Section 11, each Lender that has executed this Agreement shall be
deemed (absent timely written notice from such Lender to the contrary) to have
consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with each document or
other matter either sent by the Administrative Agent to such Lender for consent,
approval, acceptance or satisfaction, or required thereunder to be consented to
or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to such Lender.
<PAGE>

      13.5 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to
have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Unmatured
Event of Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal,
interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Lenders unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
written notice from a Lender or the Company referring to this Agreement,
describing such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default and stating that
such notice is a "notice of default". The Administrative Agent will notify the
Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take
such action with respect to such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default
as may be requested by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 12;
provided that, unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such
request, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such
action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of
Default or Unmatured Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best
interest of the Lenders.

      13.6 Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that none of the
Agent-Related Persons has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no
act by the Administrative Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the
affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to constitute any
representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender. Each
Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and
without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and
investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and
other condition and creditworthiness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and
all applicable bank regulatory laws relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend
credit to the Company hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will,
independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on
such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,
continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or
not taking action under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any other
documents executed by the Company in connection with this Agreement, and to make
such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business,
prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Company. Except for notices, reports and other documents
expressly herein required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative
Agent, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to
provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business,
prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or
creditworthiness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which may come into
the possession of any of the Agent-Related Persons.

      13.7 Indemnification. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby
are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand the Agent-Related
Persons (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Company and without
limiting the obligation of the Company to do so), pro rata according to their
respective Percentages, from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities;
provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related
Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such
Person's bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation
of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent upon
demand for its ratable share of any
<PAGE>

costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the
Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution,
closing, delivery, ongoing administration, modification, amendment or
enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of,
or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement,
any other Loan Document, any other document executed by the Company in
connection with this Agreement, or any document contemplated by or referred to
herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such
expenses by or on behalf of the Company. The undertaking in this Section shall
survive the expiration or termination of the Commitments, the repayment of the
Loans and all other obligations of the Company hereunder, the expiration or
termination of the Letters of Credit, the termination of this Agreement and the
resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent.

      13.8 Administrative Agent in Individual Capacity. The Administrative Agent
and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account
of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in
any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business
with the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates as though the
Administrative Agent were not the Administrative Agent, the Issuer or the Swing
Line Lender hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The
Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, the Administrative Agent
or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Company or its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including information that may be subject to
confidentiality obligations in favor of the Company or such Subsidiary or
Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no
obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to their respective
Loans (if any), the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates shall have the same
rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the
same as though Bank of America were not the Administrative Agent, the Issuer and
the Swing Line Lender hereunder, and the terms "Lender" and "Lenders" include
Bank of America (and any applicable Affiliate thereof) in such capacity, as
applicable.

      13.9 Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may, and at
the request of the Required Lenders shall, resign as Administrative Agent upon
30 days' notice to the Lenders and the Company. If the Administrative Agent
resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the
Lenders a successor administrative agent for the Lenders. If no successor
administrative agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation
of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after
consulting with the Lenders and the Company, a successor administrative agent
from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor
administrative agent hereunder, such successor administrative agent shall
succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative
Agent and the term "Administrative Agent" shall mean such successor
administrative agent and the retiring Administrative Agent's appointment, powers
and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated. After any retiring
Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the
provisions of this Section 13, Section 14.6 and Section 14.10 shall inure to its
benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was
Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor administrative agent
has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date which is 30 days
following a retiring Administrative Agent's notice of resignation, the retiring
Administrative Agent's resignation
<PAGE>

shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all
of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as
the Required Lenders appoint a successor administrative agent as provided for
above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, Bank of America shall not be
required to resign as the Administrative Agent at the request of the Required
Lenders unless Bank of America shall also simultaneously be replaced as "Issuer"
and as "Swing Line Lender" hereunder pursuant to documentation in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Bank of America.

      13.10 Other Agents. No Lender identified on the signature pages of this
Agreement or any related document as the "Syndication Agent," "Documentation
Agent" or "Co-Agent" shall have any right, power, obligation, liability,
responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all
Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender so identified as the
"Syndication Agent," "Documentation Agent" or "Co-Agent" shall have or be deemed
to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges
that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders so identified
in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action
hereunder.

      13.11 Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Company
or a Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Administrative Agent prior to the
date on which it is scheduled to make payment to the Administrative Agent of (a)
in the case of a Lender, the proceeds of a Loan or (b) in the case of the
Company, a payment of principal, interest or fees for the account of any Lender,
that it does not intend to make such payment, the Administrative Agent may
assume that such payment has been made. The Administrative Agent may, but shall
not be obligated to, make the amount of such payment available to the intended
recipient in reliance upon such assumption. If such Lender or the Company, as
the case may be, has not in fact made such payment to the Administrative Agent,
the recipient of such payment shall, on demand by the Administrative Agent,
repay to the Administrative Agent the amount so made available together with
interest thereon in respect of each day during the period commencing on the date
such amount was so made available by the Administrative Agent until the date the
Administrative Agent recovers such amount at a rate per annum equal to (i) in
the case of payment by a Lender, the Federal Funds Rate for such day for the
first three days and, thereafter, the interest rate applicable to the relevant
Loan or (ii) in the case of payment by the Company, the interest rate applicable
to the relevant Loan (or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (x) in the
case of interest payable in Dollars and fees, the Base Rate plus the Applicable
Base Rate Margin, and (y) in the case of interest payable in any other currency,
the Overnight Rate plus the Applicable Eurocurrency Margin).

      SECTION 14  GENERAL.

      14.1 Waiver; Amendments. No delay on the part of the Administrative Agent
or any Lender in the exercise of any right, power or remedy shall operate as a
waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any of them of any
right, power or remedy preclude other or further exercise thereof, or the
exercise of any other right, power or remedy. No amendment, modification or
waiver of, or consent with respect to, any provision of this Agreement or the
Notes shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and
signed and delivered by the Administrative Agent and signed and delivered
<PAGE>

by Lenders having an aggregate Percentage of not less than the aggregate
Percentage expressly designated herein with respect thereto or, in the absence
of such designation as to any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, by the
Required Lenders, and then any such amendment, modification, waiver or consent
shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose
for which given. No amendment, modification, waiver or consent shall (i) extend
any Commitment Reduction Date or reduce the amount of the scheduled reduction on
any such date or extend the date fixed for any scheduled payment of any
principal of or interest on the Loans, any reimbursement obligation in respect
of any Letter of Credit, any fees payable hereunder or any amount payable
pursuant to Section 7.6 or Section 8, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any
Loan, the rate of interest thereon, any fees payable hereunder or any amount
payable pursuant to Section 7.6 or Section 8, (iii) release the Guaranty (other
than with respect to a Guarantor which ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of
a transaction permitted hereunder) or all or substantially all of the collateral
granted under the Collateral Documents, or (iv) change the aggregate Percentage
required to effect an amendment, modification, waiver or consent without, in
each case, the consent of each Lender affected thereby. No amendment,
modification, waiver or consent shall extend the term of or increase the amount
of any Commitment of any Lender without the consent of such Lender. No provision
of Section 13 shall be amended, modified or waived without the consent of the
Administrative Agent. No provision affecting the rights and duties of the Issuer
under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application or relating to any
Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it shall be amended, modified or
waived without the consent of the Issuer. No provision affecting the rights and
duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement shall be amended, modified
or waived without the consent of the Swing Line Lender.

      14.2 Notices. (a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all
notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing
(including by facsimile transmission) and mailed, faxed or delivered to the
address, facsimile number or (subject to subsection (c) below) electronic mail
address specified for notices on Schedule 14.2 or, in the case of the Company,
the Administrative Agent, the Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to such other
address as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties,
and in the case of any other party, to such other address as shall be designated
by such party in a notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent, the Issuer
and the Swing Line Lender. All such notices and other communications shall be
deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by
the intended recipient and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when
signed for by the intended recipient, (B) if delivered by mail, four Business
Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid, (C) if delivered by facsimile,
when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone, and (D) if delivered by
electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of
subsection (c) below), when delivered; provided that notices and other
communications to the Administrative Agent, the Issuer and the Swing Line Lender
pursuant to Sections 2 and 6 shall not be effective until actually received by
such Person. Any notice or other communication permitted to be given, made or
confirmed by telephone hereunder shall be given, made or confirmed by means of a
telephone call to the intended recipient at the number specified on Schedule
14.2 or such other telephone number as shall have been specified pursuant to the
procedures above, it being understood that a voicemail message shall not be
effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.
<PAGE>

      (b)   Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures. Loan
Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile. The effectiveness of
any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable law, have the
same force and effect as manually-signed originals and shall be binding on the
Company, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The Administrative Agent may
also require that any such documents and signatures be confirmed by a
manually-signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or
deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any facsimile document or
signature.

      (c)   Limited Use of Electronic Mail. Electronic mail and internet and
intranet websites may be used only to distribute routine communications, such as
financial statements and other information, and to distribute Loan Documents for
execution by the parties thereto, and shall not constitute effective notice for
any other purpose.

      (d)   Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative
Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices
(including telephonic notices of borrowing, conversion and continuation)
purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company even if (i) such notices were
not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or
followed by any other form of notice specified herein or (ii) the terms thereof,
as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The
Company shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all
losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such
Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company, except
to the extent resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
applicable Indemnified Person. All telephonic notices to and other
communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the
Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such
recording.

      14.3 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment to
the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, or the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders exercise their right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of
such set-off or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be
fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any
settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its
discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in
connection with any insolvency proceeding or otherwise, then (a) to the extent
of such recovery the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be
satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such
payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Lender
severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its pro rata
share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent.

      14.4 Costs, Expenses and Taxes. The Company agrees to pay on demand all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the
Arranger (including Attorney Costs) in connection with the preparation,
negotiation, execution, closing, delivery and ongoing administration of this
Agreement, the other Loan Documents and all other documents provided for herein
or delivered or to be delivered hereunder or in connection herewith (including
any amendment, supplement or waiver to any Loan Document), and all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the

<PAGE>

Administrative Agent and each Lender after an Event of Default in connection
with the enforcement of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any such
other documents. In addition, the Company agrees to pay, and to save the
Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders harmless from all liability
for, any stamp or other taxes which may be payable in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the borrowings hereunder, the issuance
of the Notes or the execution and delivery of any other Loan Document or any
other document provided for herein or delivered or to be delivered hereunder or
in connection herewith. All obligations provided for in this Section 14.4 shall
survive the expiration or termination of the Commitments, the repayment of the
Loans and all other obligations of the Company hereunder, the expiration or
termination of the Letters of Credit and the termination of this Agreement.

      14.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective
successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, the
Lenders and the Administrative Agent and the permitted successors and assigns of
the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

      14.6  Assignments; Participations.

      14.6.1 Assignments. Any Lender may, with the prior written consents of the
Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld and shall
not be required if an Event of Default exists) and the Administrative Agent, at
any time assign and delegate to one or more commercial banks or other Persons
(any Person to whom such an assignment and delegation is to be made being herein
called an "Assignee") all or any fraction of such Lender's Commitment and such
Lender's Loans and other rights and obligations hereunder in respect thereof
(which assignment and delegation shall be of a constant, and not a varying,
percentage of the assigning Lender's Commitment and Loans and other rights and
obligations), in each case in a minimum aggregate amount equal to the lesser of
(a) the assigning Lender's remaining Commitment and (b) $1,000,000; provided
that (i) no assignment and delegation may be made to any Person if, at the time
of such assignment and delegation, the Company would be obligated to pay any
greater amount under Section 7.6 or Section 8 to the Assignee than the Company
is then obligated to pay to the assigning Lender under such Sections, (ii) the
consent of the Company shall not be required in the case of an assignment from a
Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender, and (iii) the Company and the
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to continue to deal solely and directly
with such Lender in connection with the interests so assigned and delegated to
an Assignee until the date when all of the following conditions shall have been
met:

            (x) five Business Days (or such lesser period of time as the
      Administrative Agent and the assigning Lender shall agree) shall have
      passed after written notice of such assignment and delegation, together
      with payment instructions, addresses and related information with respect
      to such Assignee, shall have been given to the Company and the
      Administrative Agent by such assigning Lender and the Assignee;

            (y) the assigning Lender and the Assignee shall have executed and
      delivered to the Company and the Administrative Agent an assignment
      agreement substantially in the
<PAGE>
      form of Exhibit H (an "Assignment Agreement"), together with any documents
      required to be delivered thereunder, which Assignment Agreement shall have
      been accepted by the Administrative Agent; and

            (z) the assigning Lender or the Assignee shall have paid the
      Administrative Agent a processing fee of $3,500.

From and after the date on which the conditions described above have been met,
(x) such Assignee shall have all rights and obligations hereunder in respect of
the interests so assigned (and, if such Assignee was not previously a Lender
hereunder, shall automatically become a party hereto), (y) the assigning Lender,
to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned and
delegated by it pursuant to such Assignment Agreement, shall be released from
its obligations hereunder and (z) upon the distribution by the Administrative
Agent to the Company and the Lenders of a new Schedule 1.1(a) which reflects
such assignment and delegation, Schedule 1.1(a) hereto shall be deemed to be
automatically amended in the form of such new Schedule 1.1(a). Within five
Business Days after the effectiveness of any assignment and delegation to an
Assignee which was not previously a party hereto, the Company shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent (for delivery to such Assignee) a new Note
dated the effective date of such assignment. If any assigning Lender assigns all
of its rights and obligations hereunder, such assigning Lender shall mark its
Note or Notes "canceled" and deliver such Note or Notes to the Company. Any
attempted assignment and delegation not made in accordance with this Section
14.6.1 shall be null and void.

      Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 14.6.1 or any
other provision of this Agreement, any Lender may at any time assign all or any
portion of its Loans and its Note to a Federal Reserve Bank (but no such
assignment shall release any Lender from any of its obligations hereunder).

      14.6.2 Participations. Any Lender may at any time sell to one or more
commercial banks or other Persons participating interests in any Loan owing to
such Lender, the Note held by such Lender, the Commitment of such Lender, the
participation interest of such Lender in any Letter of Credit or any other
interest of such Lender hereunder (any Person purchasing any such participating
interest being called a "Participant"). In the event of a sale by a Lender of a
participating interest to a Participant, (x) such Lender shall remain the holder
of its Note for all purposes of this Agreement, (y) the Company and the
Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender
in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations hereunder and (z) all
amounts payable by the Company shall be determined as if such Lender had not
sold such participation and shall be paid directly to such Lender. No
Participant shall have any direct or indirect voting rights hereunder except
with respect to any of the events described in the third sentence of Section
14.1. Each Lender agrees to incorporate the requirements of the preceding
sentence into each participation agreement which such Lender enters into with
any Participant. The Company agrees that if amounts outstanding under this
Agreement and the Notes are due and payable (as a result of acceleration or
otherwise), each Participant shall be deemed to have the right of setoff in
respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement and
any Note and with respect to any Letter of Credit to
<PAGE>

the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing
directly to it as a Lender under this Agreement or such Note; provided that such
right of setoff shall be subject to the obligation of each Participant to share
with the Lenders, and the Lenders agree to share with each Participant, as
provided in Section 7.5. The Company also agrees that each Participant shall be
entitled to the benefits of Section 7.6 and Section 8 as if it were a Lender
(provided that no Participant shall receive any greater compensation pursuant to
Section 7.6 or Section 8 than would have been paid to the participating Lender
if no participation had been sold).

      14.6.3      Designation of SPVs.

      (a)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any
Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an
"SPV", identified as such in writing from time to time by such Granting Lender
to the Administrative Agent and the Company) the option to fund all or any part
of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to fund
pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a
commitment by any SPV to fund any Loan, (ii) if an SPV elects not to exercise
such option or otherwise fails to fund all or any part of such Loan, the
Granting Lender shall be obligated to fund such Loan pursuant to the terms
hereof, (iii) no SPV shall exercise any voting rights pursuant to Section 14.1
(such voting rights to be exercised instead by such Granting Lender) and (iv)
with respect to notices, payments and other matters hereunder, the Company, the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not be obligated to deal with an SPV,
but may limit their communications and other dealings relevant to such SPV to
the applicable Granting Lender. The funding of any Loan hereunder by an SPV
hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent
that, and as if, such Loan were funded by such Granting Lender.

      (b)   As to any Loans or portion thereof made by it, each SPV shall have
all the rights that its applicable Granting Lender making such Loan or portion
thereof would have had under this Agreement; provided, however, that each SPV
shall have granted to its Granting Lender an irrevocable power of attorney to
deliver and receive all communications and notices under this Agreement (and any
related documents) and to exercise on such SPV's behalf, all of such SPV's
voting rights under this Agreement. No additional Note shall be required to
evidence the Loan or portion thereof made by an SPV; and the related Granting
Lender shall be deemed to hold its Note as agent for such SPV to the extent of
the Loan or portion thereof funded by such SPV. In addition, any payments for
the account of any SPV shall be paid to its Granting Lender as agent for such
SPV.

      (c)   Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPV shall be liable for
any indemnity or payment under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise
be liable for so long as, and to the extent, the Granting Lender provides such
indemnity or makes such payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party
hereto hereby agrees (which agreements shall survive the termination of this
Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the
payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness
of any SPV, it
<PAGE>

will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against,
such SPV any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation
proceedings under the laws of the United States or any state thereof.

      (d)   In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Agreement, any SPV may (i) at any time and without paying any processing
fee therefor, assign or participate all or a portion of its interest in any Loan
to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions providing liquidity
and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPV to support the funding
or maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public
information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer
or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancements to such
SPV. This Section 14.6.3 may not be amended without the written consent of any
Granting Lender affected thereby.

      14.7 Governing Law. This Agreement and each Note shall be a contract made
under and governed by the laws of the State of Illinois applicable to contracts
made and to be performed entirely within such State. Whenever possible each
provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement
shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this
Agreement. All obligations of the Company and rights of the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders expressed herein or in any other Loan Document shall be in
addition to and not in limitation of those provided by applicable law.

      14.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts and
each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Agreement.

      14.9 Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any
court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or under any other Loan
Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall
be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative
Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business
Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the
Company in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or
any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall, notwithstanding any
judgment in a currency (the "Judgment Currency") other than that in which such
sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this
Agreement (the "Agreement Currency"), be discharged only to the extent that on
the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender of
any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent
or such Lender may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the
Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement
Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative
Agent or such Lender in the Agreement Currency, the Company agrees, as a
separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the
Administrative Agent or such Lender
<PAGE>

against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is
greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or such Lender
in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender agrees to return the
amount of any excess to the Company (or to any other Person who may be entitled
thereto under applicable law).

      14.10 Indemnification by the Company; Exculpation. Whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company shall indemnify
and hold the Agent-Related Persons and each Lender and each of their respective
officers, directors, employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (each, an
"Indemnified Person") harmless from and against any and all liabilities,
obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs,
charges, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs) of any kind or
nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against any such Person in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement
or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, or any action taken or omitted by any such
Person under or in connection with any of the foregoing, including with respect
to any investigation, litigation or proceeding (including any bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding or any appellate proceeding) related to or arising out of
this Agreement or the Loans or Letters of Credit or the use of the proceeds
thereof, or related to any transactions entered into in connection herewith,
whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party thereto (all the foregoing,
collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities"); provided that the Company shall
not have any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Person with respect to (a)
Indemnified Liabilities resulting from the bad faith, gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person or (b) any taxes for which the
Company is not liable pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.6. The Company
agrees that none of the Indemnified Persons shall be liable to the Company for
any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection
with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other document executed by
the Company in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby (except to the extent resulting from its own gross negligence or willful
misconduct or a breach of the express terms of this Agreement), and the Company
further agrees that in no event shall any Indemnified Person be liable to the
Company for any punitive or exemplary damages as a result of any such action
taken or omitted. All obligations and agreements in this Section 14.10 shall
survive the expiration or termination of the Commitments, the repayment of the
Loans and all other obligations of the Company hereunder, the expiration or
termination of the Letters of Credit, and the termination of this Agreement.

      14.11 Economic and Monetary Union in the European Community.

      (a)   If, as a result of the implementation of the European economic and
monetary union ("EMU"), any currency available for borrowing under this
Agreement (a "national currency") and the Euro are at the same time both
recognized by the central bank or comparable Governmental Authority of the state
issuing such currency as lawful currency of such state, then any amount borrowed
hereunder by the Company in such national currency shall be payable in such
national currency and any amount borrowed hereunder in the Euro shall be payable
in the Euro. After the European Central Lender and/or the comparable
Governmental Authority ceases to recognize any national currency, then the
amount so payable shall be determined by
<PAGE>

redenominating or converting such national currency into the Euro at the
exchange rate officially fixed by the European Central Lender for the purpose of
implementing the EMU. Prior to the occurrence of the event or events described
above, each amount payable hereunder in any such national currency will, except
as otherwise provided herein, continue to be payable only in that national
currency.

      (b)   The Company shall from time to time, at the request of any Lender,
pay to such Lender the amount of any losses, damages, liabilities, claims,
reduction in yield, additional expense or increased cost incurred by, or of any
reduction in any amount payable to or in the effective return on its capital to,
or any decrease or delay in the payment of interest or other return foregone by,
such Lender or any of its Affiliates as a result of any political, tax,
liquidity, currency exchange or market risk resulting from the introduction of,
changeover to or operation of the Euro in any applicable nation or Eurocurrency
market.

     (c) In addition, this Agreement will be amended to the extent determined
Administrative Agent (acting reasonably and in consultation with the Company) to
be necessary to reflect such implementation of the EMU and change in currency
and to put the Lenders and the Company in the same position, so far as possible,
that they would have been in if such implementation and change in currency had
not occurred. Except as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Section
14.11, no such implementation or change in currency nor any economic
consequences resulting therefrom shall (i) give rise to any right to terminate
prematurely, contest, cancel, rescind, alter, modify or renegotiate the
provisions of this Agreement or (ii) discharge, excuse or otherwise affect the
performance of any obligation of the Company under this Agreement or any Note.

      14.12 Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent, the Issuer and the
Lenders shall hold all non-public information obtained pursuant to the
requirements of this Agreement in accordance with their customary procedures for
handling confidential information of this nature and in accordance with safe and
sound banking practices and, in any event, may make disclosure on the same
confidential basis as provided for herein that is reasonably required by any
actual or bona fide potential transferee or participant in connection with the
contemplated transfer of any Loan or participation therein or in any Letter of
Credit or as required or requested by any governmental agency or representative
thereof or pursuant to legal process; provided that, unless specifically
prohibited by applicable law or court order, each of the Administrative Agent
and each Lender shall notify the Company of any request by any governmental
agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with
an examination of the financial condition of the Administrative Agent or such
Lender by such governmental agency) for disclosure of any such non-public
information prior to disclosure of such information.

      14.13 No Third Parties Benefitted. This Agreement is made and entered into
for the sole protection and legal benefit of the Company, the Lenders, the
Administrative Agent, the Agent-Related Persons and the Indemnified Persons, and
their permitted successors and assigns, and no other Person shall be a direct or
indirect legal beneficiary of, or have any direct or indirect cause of action or
claim in connection with, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.
<PAGE>

      14.14 Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction. ANY LITIGATION BASED
HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURTS OF
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS; PROVIDED THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY
PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT, AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT'S OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF
ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. EACH OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT, THE COMPANY AND EACH LENDER HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND OF THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH
LITIGATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE. THE COMPANY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE
SERVICE OF PROCESS BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, OR BY PERSONAL SERVICE
WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. THE COMPANY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH
IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION
BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH
LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

      14.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COMPANY,
THE ISSUER AND EACH LENDER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, ANY
NOTE, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR
AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION
HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR ARISING FROM ANY LENDING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE FOREGOING, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR
PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.

      14.16       MISSOURI STATUTORY NOTICE.  The Following notice is given
to comply with Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 432.045:

ORAL AGREEMENTS OR COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT OR TO FORBEAR FROM
ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT INCLUDING PROMISES TO EXTEND OR RENEW SUCH DEBT
ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE. TO PROTECT YOU (BORROWER(S)) AND US (CREDITOR) FROM
MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT, ANY AGREEMENTS WE REACH COVERING SUCH
MATTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS WRITING, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE
STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, EXCEPT AS WE MAY LATER AGREE IN WRITING
TO MODIFY IT.
<PAGE>

      14.17 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the other Loan
Documents (and any fee letter between the Company and the Administrative Agent
and/or the Arranger), embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the
Company, the Lenders, the Issuer and the Administrative Agent, and supersedes
all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings of such Persons,
verbal or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

                     [SIGNATURES BEGIN ON THE NEXT PAGE]

<PAGE>

Delivered as of the day and year first above written.

                             AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY

                             By: /s/ Warren Schmidgall
                                 ---------------------
                             Title: Senior Vice President/
                                Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent

                             By: /s/ David A. Johanson
                                 ---------------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

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

                             By /s/Thomas R. Mahoney
                                --------------------
                             Title: Senior Vice President

<PAGE>

                             BANK ONE, WISCONSIN, as Documentation Agent and
                             as a Lender

                             By /s/Cindy L. Wavrunck
                                --------------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                             FIRSTAR BANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent and as
                             a Lender

                             By /s/ Bruce A. Easterly
                                ---------------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                             CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ, as Co-Agent and as a
                             Lender

                             By  /s/ Alan I. Schmelzer
                                ----------------------
                             Title: Vice President, Senior Relationship
                                    Manager

                             By /s/ Theodore D. Tice
                                ----------------------
                             Title: Vice President, Senior Relationship
                                    Manager

<PAGE>

                             FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Co-Agent and as a Lender

                             By /s/Lori H. Jou
                                --------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                             KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Agent and as
                             a Lender

                             By /s/ Mary K. Young
                                -----------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                             COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK
                             B.A., "RABOBANK NEDERLAND", NEW YORK BRANCH, as
                             Co-Agent and as a Lender

                             By /s/ W. Jeffrey Vollack
                                ----------------------
                             Title: Senior Credit Officer, Senior Vice
                                    President

                             By /s/ Thomas F. Kelly
                                -------------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                             WACHOVIA BANK, N.A., as Co-Agent and as a Lender

                             By /s/ Andrew B. Deskins
                                -----------------------
                             Title: Senior Vice President

<PAGE>

                             WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Co-Agent and as a
                             Lender

                             By /s/ Peter Arendt
                                --------------------
                             Title:  Vice President

<PAGE>

                             BANCA NAZIONALE DEL LAVORO S.P.A.

                             By /s/ Leonardo Valentini
                                ----------------------
                             Title: First Vice President

                             By /s/ Juan J. Cortes
                                ------------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                             By /s/ John-Paul Marotta
                                ---------------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                             COMERICA BANK

                             By /s/Neran Shaya
                                ---------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                             COMMERCE BANK, N.A.

                             By /s/Lance Holden
                                ---------------
                              Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                             SUNTRUST BANK

                             By /s/  Michael Pugsley
                                -----------------------
                             Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                               UNICREDITO ITALIANO

                             By /s/ Christopher J. Eldin
                                -------------------------
                             Title: First Vice President & Deputy Manager

                             By /s/ Nicola Longo Dente
                                -----------------------
                             Title: First Vice President

<PAGE>

                             UMB BANK, N.A.

                             By /s/ David A. Proffitt
                                ---------------------
                             Title: Senior Vice President

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 1.1(a)

                      LENDERS, COMMITMENTS AND PERCENTAGES

                                                 Amount of
Name of Lender                                   Commitment       Percentage
--------------                                   ----------       ----------
Bank of America, N.A.                              $29,000,000    9.666666667%
Bank One, Wisconsin                                $27,000,000    9.000000000%
Firstar Bank, N.A.                                 $27,000,000    9.000000000%
Credit Agricole Indosuez                           $22,000,000    7.333333333%
Fleet National Bank                                $22,000,000    7.333333333%
KeyBank National Association                       $22,000,000    7.333333333%
Cooperatieve Centrale                              $22,000,000    7.333333333%
Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., "Rabobank
Nederland", New York Branch
Wachovia Bank, N.A.                                $22,000,000    7.333333333%
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.                             $22,000,000    7.333333333%
Banca Nazionale Del Lavoro S.p.A.                  $15,000,000    5.000000000%
The Bank of New York                               $15,000,000    5.000000000%
Comerica Bank                                      $10,000,000    3.333333333%
Commerce Bank, N.A.                                $10,000,000    3.333333333%
SunTrust Bank                                      $15,000,000    5.000000000%
UniCredito Italiano                                $10,000,000    3.333333333%
UMB Bank, N.A.                                     $10,000,000    3.333333333%
                                             ----------------------------------
TOTALS                                            $300,000,000   100.00000000%

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 1.1(b)

      PRICING SCHEDULE

       The Applicable Eurocurrency Margin, the Applicable Base Rate Margin, the
Non-Use Fee Rate and the LC Fee Rate shall be determined based on the applicable
Leverage Ratio as set forth below.

Level      Applicable Eurocurrency   Applicable Base   Non-Use Fee Rate
-----        Margin/LC Fee Rate for    Rate Margin     ----------------
              Letters of Credit      -------------
              ------------------

Level I            0.625%                0.000%             0.150%
Level II           0.750%                0.000%             0.175%
Level III          0.875%                0.000%             0.200%
Level IV           1.000%                0.000%             0.225%
Level V            1.250%                0.000%             0.275%
Level VI           1.625%                0.375%             0.350%

         Level I applies when the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 1.00
to 1.

         Level II applies when the Leverage Ratio is greater than 1.00 to 1 but
less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.

         Level III applies when the Leverage Ratio is greater than 1.50 to 1 but
less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.

         Level IV applies when the Leverage Ratio is greater than 2.00 to 1 but
less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.

         Level V applies when the Leverage Ratio is greater than 2.50 to 1 but
less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.

         Level VI applies when the Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.00 to 1.

         Initially, the applicable Level shall be Level V. Beginning with
September 28, 2001, the applicable Level shall be adjusted, to the extent
applicable, 45 days (or, in the case of the last Fiscal Quarter of any Fiscal
Year, 90 days) after the end of each Fiscal Quarter based on the Leverage Ratio
as of the last day of such Fiscal Quarter; provided that if the Company fails to
deliver the financial statements required by Section 10.1.1 or 10.1.2, as
applicable, by the due date therefor, Level VI shall apply from such due date
until such financial statements are delivered. Any adjustment to a Level shall
apply immediately for all outstanding Loans and Letters of Credit.

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 14.2
                              ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY

4100 North Mulberry Drive
Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64116
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: (816) 584-4636
Facsimile: (816) 584-5736

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

For notices of borrowing and payments:

901 Main Street
Dallas, TX
Attention: Monica Barnes
Telephone: (214) 209-9289
Facsimile: (314) 290-9442

For notices regarding Standby Letters of Credit:

Trade Operations - Los Angeles
333 S. Beaudry Avenue, 23rd Floor
Mail Code CA9-703-19-23
Los Angeles, CA 90017-1466
Attention: Ben Cortes
Telephone: (213) 345-5230
Facsimile: (213) 345-6710

For notices regarding Commercial Letters of Credit:

Trade Operations - Los Angeles
333 S. Beaudry Avenue, 23rd Floor
Mail Code CA9-703-19-15
Los Angeles, CA 90017-1466
Attention: Frantz Bellevue
Telephone: (213) 345-6616
Facsimile: (213) 345-9665

<PAGE>

For all other administrative matters:

231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60697
Mail Code IL1-231-08-30
Attention: David A. Johanson
Telephone: (312) 828-7933
Facsimile: (877) 207-0485
Email: David.Johanson@bankofamerica.com

For all other notices:

1200 Main St.
MO8-060-12-12
Kansas City, MO 64105-1702
Attention: Thomas R. Mahoney
Telephone: (816) 979-7921
Facsimile: (861) 979-7561
Email: Tom.Mahoney@bankofamerica.com

BANK ONE, WISCONSIN

For notices of borrowing and payments:

401 W. Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Attention: Jenny Fox
Telephone: (502) 566-8373
Facsimile: (502) 566-8994

For all other notices:

111 E. Wisconsin Avenue
P.O. Box 2033
Milwaukee, WI 53201
Attention: Cindy L. Wavrunck
Telephone: (414) 765-2109
Facsimile: (414) 765-2176
Email: cindy_l_wavrunck@bankone.com

<PAGE>

FIRSTAR BANK, N.A.

For notices of borrowing and payments:

1850 Osborn Avenue
Oshkosh, WI 54902
Attention: Connie Sweeney
Telephone: (920) 426-7604
Facsimile: (920) 426-7993

For all other notices:

1101 Walnut, 7th Floor
Kansas City, MO 64106
Attention: Bruce Easterly
Telephone: (816) 871-2174
Facsimile: (816) 871-2226
Email: bruce.a.easterly@firstar.com

CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ

For notices of borrowing and payments:

55 East Monroe
47th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Attention: Natalie Klotz
Telephone: (312) 917-7498
Facsimile: (502) 372-4421
Email: nklotz@us.ca-indosuez.com

For all other notices:

55 East Monroe
47th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Attention: Alan Schmelzer
Telephone: (312) 917-7455
Facsimile: (502) 372-3455
Email: aschmelz@us.ca-indosuez.com

<PAGE>

FLEET NATIONAL BANK

For notices of borrowing and payments:

100 Federal Street
Mail Code MA DE 10008H
Boston, MA 02110
Attention: Michael Butler
Telephone: (617) 434-5777
Facsimile: (617) 434-9933
Email: michael_c_butler@fleet.com

For all other notices:

100 Federal Street
Mail Code MA DE 10008H
Boston, MA 02110
Attention: Lori H. Jou
Telephone: (617) 434-3898
Facsimile: (617) 434-0637
Email: lori_h_jou@fleet.com

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

For notices of borrowing and payments:

127 Public Square
Cleveland, OH 44114
Attention: Kathy Koenig
Telephone: (216) 689-4228
Facsimile: (216) 689-4981

For all other notices:

127 Public Square
Cleveland, OH 44114
Attention: Mary K. Young
Telephone: (216) 689-4443
Facsimile: (216) 689-4981

<PAGE>

COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A., "RABOBANK NEDERLAND",
NEW YORK BRANCH

For notices of borrowing and payments:

10 Exchange Place, 16th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Attention: Clemencia Stewart
Telephone: (201) 499-5245
Facsimile: (201) 499-5328

For all other notices:

300 S. Wacker Drive
Suite 3500
Chicago, IL 60606
Attention: Tom Kelly
Telephone: (312) 408-8222
Facsimile: (312) 408-8240

WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.

For notices of borrowing and payments:

191 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30303-1757
Attention: Yolanda Pearison
Telephone: (404) 332-4295
Facsimile: (404) 332-6898
Email: Yolanda.pearison@wachovia.com

For all other notices:

191 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30303-1757
Attention: Andrew B. Deskins
Telephone: (404) 332-1213
Facsimile: (404) 332-4136
Email: Andrew.deskins@wachovia.com

<PAGE>

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

For notices of borrowing and payments:

1740 Broadway
Denver, CO 80274
Attention: James Carpinelli
Telephone: (303) 863-5357
Facsimile: (303) 863-2729
Email: James.A.Carpinelli@wellsfargo.com

For all other notices:

4100 N. Mulberry
Suite 105
Kansas City, MO 64116
Attention: Peter Arendt
Telephone: (816) 506-5334
Facsimile: (816) 587-9537
Email: arendtph@wellsfargo.com

BANCA NAZIONALE DEL LAVORO S.P.A.

For notices of borrowing and payments:

25 West 51st Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Anna Hernandez
Telephone: (212) 314-0679
Facsimile:(212) 765-2978

For all other notices:

25 West 51st Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Juan J. Cortes
Telephone: (212) 314-0295
Facsimile: (212) 765-2978
Email: Juan.Cortes@BNLMAIL.com

<PAGE>

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

For notices of borrowing and payments:

1 Wall Street
New York, NY 10286
Attention: Millie Hall
Telephone: (212) 635-6687
Facsimile: (212) 635-7923

For all other notices:

1 Wall Street
New York, NY 10286
Attention: John-Paul Marotta
Telephone: (212) 635-8204
Facsimile: (212) 635-1208

COMERICA BANK

For notices of borrowing and payments:

500 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
Attention: Stepahnie Williams
Telephone: (313) 222-3904
Facsimile: (312) 222-9516
Email: stepahnie_c_williams@comerica.com

For all other notices:

500 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
Attention: Neran Shaya
Telephone: (313) 222-3070
Facsimile: (312) 222-9516
Email: neran_shaya@comerica.com

<PAGE>

COMMERCE BANK, N.A.

For notices of borrowing and payments:

1000 Walnut Street
BB17-3
Kansas City, MO 64106
Attention: Diane Jones
Telephone: (816) 234-2702
Facsimile: (816) 234-7891

For all other notices:

1000 Walnut Street
BB17-3
Kansas City, MO 64106
Attention: Lance Holden
Telephone: (816) 234-21935
Facsimile: (816) 234-7290
Email: lance.holden@commercebank.com

SUNTRUST BANK

For notices of borrowing and payments:

303 Peachtree Street, NE
10th Floor
MC 1941
Atlanta, GA 30308
Attention: Michelle Wood-Welch
Telephone: (404) 588-8038
Facsimile: (404) 230-1940
Email: michelle.wood@suntrust.com

For all other notices:

303 Peachtree Street, NE
3rd Floor, MC 1905
Atlanta, GA 30308
Attention: Michael Pugsley
Telephone: (404) 724-3635
Facsimile: (404) 230-5305
Email: michael.pugsley@suntrust.com

UNICREDITO ITALIANO GROUP
<PAGE>

For notices of borrowing and payments:

375 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10152
Attention: Angie Blanco
Telephone: (212) 546-9616/9615
Facsimile: (212) 546-9675

For all other notices:

375 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10152
Attention: Christopher J. Eldin
Telephone: (212) 546-9611
Facsimile: (212) 546-9665
Email: NewYorkBranch@Gruppocredit.it

UMB BANK, N.A.

For notices of borrowing and payments:

928 Grand Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64106
Attention: Vaughnda Ritchie
Telephone: (816) 860-7019
Facsimile: (816) 860-7796
Email: vaughnda.ritchie@umb.com

For all other notices:

1010 Grand Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64106
Attention: David Proffitt
Telephone: (816) 860-7935
Facsimile: (816) 860-7143
Email: david.proffitt@umb.comExhibit 10.5

                        AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY
             2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AS AMENDED FEBRUARY 2001

                                    SECTION 1
                              PURPOSE AND DURATION

     1.1 Establishment; Effective Date. American Italian Pasta Company hereby
establishes an incentive compensation plan. This Plan permits the grant of
Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock,
Performance Units and Performance Shares. This Plan shall be effective on the
date of its adoption by the Company's Board of Directors, subject to approval of
the Company's stockholders.

     1.2 Purpose of this Plan. This Plan is intended to attract, motivate, and
retain (a) employees of the Company and its Affiliates, (b) consultants who
provide significant services to the Company and its Affiliates, and (c) members
of the Board of Directors of the Company who are employees of neither the
Company nor any Affiliate. This Plan also is designed to further the growth and
financial success of the Company and its Affiliates by aligning the interests of
the Participants, through the ownership of Shares and through other incentives,
with the interests of the Company's stockholders.

                                    SECTION 2
                                   DEFINITIONS

      The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a
different meaning is plainly required by the context:

      "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Reference to a specific section of the 1934 Act or regulation thereunder shall
include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such
section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation
amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

      "Affiliate" means any corporation or any other entity (including, but not
limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) controlling, controlled by or under
common control with the Company.

      "Affiliated SAR" means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related
Option, and that automatically will be deemed to be exercised at the same time
that the related Option is exercised.

      "Award" means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of
Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock,
Performance Units or Performance Shares.

      "Award Agreement" means the written agreement setting forth the terms and
provisions applicable to each Award granted under this Plan.
<PAGE>

      "Board" or "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.

      "Board Member" means any individual who is a member of the Board of
Directors of the Company.

      "Cause" means, unless otherwise defined in any employment agreement with
the Participant or Award Agreement, any one or more of the following:

          (A)  A Participant's plea of guilty or no contest to, or finding of
               guilty for, commission of a crime that, in the judgment of the
               Committee, may result in injury to the Company or a Subsidiary or
               to the reputation of the Company or a Subsidiary;

          (B)  The material violation by the Participant of written policies or
               established practices of the Company or a Subsidiary including,
               but not limited to, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment
               policies and practices;

          (C)  In the good faith belief of the Company, the habitual neglect by
               the Participant in the performance of his or her duties to the
               Company or a Subsidiary after notice by the Committee and thirty
               days to cure;

          (D)  Action or inaction by the Participant in connection with his or
               her duties to the Company or a Subsidiary resulting, in the
               judgment of the Committee, in a material injury to the Company or
               a Subsidiary or to the reputation of the Company or a Subsidiary;

          (E)  The rendering of services by the Participant for any organization
               or business engaging directly or indirectly in any business that
               is or becomes competitive with the Company or a Subsidiary or
               which organization or business, or the rendering of services to
               such organization or business, is or becomes otherwise
               prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company
               or a Subsidiary;

          (F)  Any attempt by the Participant directly or indirectly to induce
               any employee of the Company or a Subsidiary to be employed or
               perform services elsewhere or any attempt directly or indirectly
               to solicit (other than for the account of the Company or a
               Subsidiary) the trade or business of any current or prospective
               customer, supplier, or partner of the Company or a Subsidiary; or

          (G)  Any other conduct or act determined by the Committee to be
               injurious, detrimental, or prejudicial to any interest of the
               Company or a Subsidiary, including, but not limited to, the
               reputation of the Company or a Subsidiary.

      "Change in Control" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 12.3.
<PAGE>

      "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a
specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section
or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any
comparable   provision of any future legislation or regulation amending,
supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

      "Committee" means the committee appointed by the Board (pursuant to
Section 3.1) to administer this Plan.

      "Common Stock" means the Class A Convertible Common Stock, $.001 par
value, of the Company.

      "Company" means American Italian Pasta Company, a Delaware corporation,
and any successor thereto. With respect to the definition of Performance Goals,
the Committee in its sole discretion may determine that "Company" means American
Italian Pasta Company,   and/or any of its consolidated subsidiaries.

      "Consultant" means any consultant, independent contractor or other person
who provides significant services to the Company or its Affiliates, but who is
neither an Employee nor a Board Member.

      "Disability" means a permanent and total disability within the meaning of
Code section 22(e)(3), provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive
Stock Options, the Committee in its sole discretion may determine whether a
permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and
non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Committee from time to time.

      "Employee" means any employee of the Company or of an Affiliate, whether
such employee is so employed at the time this Plan is adopted or becomes so
employed subsequent to the adoption of this Plan.

      "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended. Reference to a specific section of ERISA or regulation thereunder shall
include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such
section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation
amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

      "Exercise Price" means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a
Participant pursuant to the exercise of an Option.

      "Fair Market Value" means (A) with respect to any property other than
Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or
procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee, and (B)
with respect to Shares, unless otherwise determined in the good faith discretion
of the Committee, as of any date, (i) the closing price on the date of
determination on the New York Stock Exchange (or, if no sale of Shares was
reported for such date, on the next preceding date on which a sale of Shares was
reported), (ii) if the Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the
closing price of the Shares on such other national
<PAGE>

exchange on which the Shares are principally traded or as reported by the
National Market System, or similar organization, or if no such quotations are
available, the average of the high bid and low asked quotations in the
over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau
Incorporated or similar organizations; or (iii) in the event that there shall be
no public market for the Shares, the fair market value of the Shares as
determined (which determination shall be conclusive) in good faith by the
Committee, based upon the value of the Company as a going concern, as if such
Shares were publicly owned stock, but without any discount with respect to
minority ownership.

      "Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Company.

      "Freestanding SAR" means a SAR that is granted independently of any
Option.

      "Grant Date" means, with respect to an Award, the date that the Award was
granted.

      "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option to purchase Shares which is
designated as an Incentive Stock Option and is intended to meet the requirements
of section 422 of the Code.

      "Nonemployee Board Member" means a Board Member who is not an employee of
the Company or of any Affiliate.

      "Nonqualified Stock Option" means an Option to purchase Shares which is
not an Incentive Stock Option.

      "Option" means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

      "Participant" means an Employee, Consultant or Nonemployee Board Member.

      "Performance Goals" means the goal(s) (or combined goal(s)) determined by
the Committee (in its sole discretion) to be applicable to a Participant with
respect to an Award. For Awards that are intended to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under   section 162(m) of the Code, as
determined by the Committee, the Performance Goals applicable to an Award may
provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement using one or more of the
following predetermined measurements:   (a) earnings (either in the aggregate
or on a per-share basis); (b) net income (before or after taxes); (c) operating
income; (d) cash flow; (e) return measures (including return on assets, equity
or sales); (f) earnings before or after taxes, and before or after depreciation
and amortization; (g) gross revenues; (h) share price (including growth measures
and total stockholder return or attainment by the Shares of a specified value
for a specified period of time); (i) reductions in expense levels in each case
where applicable determined either in a Company-wide basis or in respect of any
one or more business units; (j) net economic value; or (k) market share. The
Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from Award to
Award.

      "Performance Period" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 8.3.

      "Performance Share" means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to
Section 8.
<PAGE>

      "Performance Unit" means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to
Section 8.

      "Period of Restriction" means the period during which the transfer of
Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and, therefore, the
Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. As provided in Section
7, such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of
target levels of performance or the occurrence of other events as determined by
the Committee in its sole discretion.

      "Plan" means the American Italian Pasta Company 2000 Equity Incentive
Plan, as set forth in this instrument and as hereafter amended from time to
time.

      "Reload Option" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 5.9.

      "Restricted Stock" means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to
Section 7.

      "Retirement" means, in the case of an Employee, a Termination of Service
by reason of the Employee's retirement pursuant to any retirement program
instituted by the Company or any Affiliate employer or as otherwise agreed to by
the Employer or the applicable Affiliate employer. With respect to a Consultant,
no Termination of Service shall be deemed to be on account of "Retirement". With
respect to a Nonemployee Board Member, "Retirement" means termination of service
on the Board at or after age sixty-five (65).

      "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, and any
future regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such regulation.

      "Section 16 Person" means a person who, with respect to the Shares, is
subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act.

      "Shares" means the shares of Common Stock of the Company.

      "Stock Appreciation Right" or "SAR" means an Award, granted alone or in
connection with a related Option, that is designated as a SAR pursuant to
Section 6.

      "Subsidiary" means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last
corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%)
or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the
other corporations in such chain.

      "Tandem SAR" means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related
Option, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase
an equal number of Shares under the related Option (and when a Share is
purchased under the Option, the SAR shall be canceled to the same extent).

      "Termination of Service" means (a) in the case of an Employee, a cessation
of the employee-employer relationship between an employee and the Company or an
Affiliate for any reason, including, but not limited to, a cessation by
resignation, discharge, death, Disability, Retirement or the disaffiliation of
an Affiliate, but excluding any such cessation where there is a simultaneous
reemployment by the Company or an Affiliate, and (b) in the case of a Board
Member or Consultant, a cessation of the service relationship between a Board
Member or Consultant and the Company or an Affiliate for any reason, including,
but not limited to, a cessation by resignation, discharge, death, Disability,
<PAGE>

Retirement (with respect to a Board Member) or the disaffiliation of an
Affiliate, but excluding any such cessation where there is a simultaneous
reengagement of the Board Member or Consultant by the Company or an Affiliate.

                                   SECTION 3
                                 ADMINISTRATION

     3.1 The Committee. Subject to Section 3.2, the Plan shall be administered
by the Board, or a committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan. Any
references herein to "Committee" are references to the Board, or a committee
established by the Board, as applicable. To the extent the Board considers it
desirable to comply with or qualify under Rule 16b-3 or meet the
performance-based exception under section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee
shall consist of two or more directors of the Company, all of whom qualify as
"outside directors" as defined for purposes of the regulations under Code
section 162(m) and "non-employee directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.
The number of members of the Committee shall from time to time be increased or
decreased, and shall be subject to such conditions, in each case as the Board
deems appropriate to permit transactions in Shares pursuant to the Plan to
satisfy such conditions of Rule 16b-3 and Code section 162(m) as then in effect.

     3.2 Authority of the Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the
Plan, the Committee has full and final authority and sole discretion as follows:

          (a) To determine when, to whom and in what types and amounts Awards
     should be granted and the terms and conditions applicable to each Award,
     and whether or not specific Awards shall be granted in connection with
     other specific Awards, and if so whether they shall be exercisable
     cumulatively with, or alternatively to, such other specific Awards;

          (b) To construe and interpret the Plan and to make all determinations
     necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan;

          (c) To make, amend and rescind rules relating to the Plan, including
     rules with respect to the exercisability and nonforfeitability of Awards
     upon the Termination of Service of a Participant;

          (d) To determine the terms and conditions of all Award Agreements
     (which need not be identical) and, with the consent of the Participant, to
     amend any such Award Agreement at any time, provided that the consent of
     the Participant shall not be required for any amendment which (A) does not
     adversely affect the rights of the Participant, or (B) is necessary or
     advisable (as determined by the Committee) to carry out the purpose of the
     Award as a result of any new or change in existing applicable law;
<PAGE>

          (e) To cancel, with the consent of the Participant, outstanding Awards
     and to grant new Awards in substitution therefor;

          (f) To accelerate the exercisability (including exercisability within
     a period of less than six months after the Grant Date) of, and to
     accelerate or waive any or all of the terms and conditions applicable to,
     any Award or any group of Awards for any reason and at any time, including
     in connection with a Termination of Service;

          (g) To make such adjustments or modifications to Awards to
     Participants working outside the United States as are advisable to fulfill
     the purposes of the Plan;

          (h) To impose such additional terms and conditions upon the grant,
     exercise or retention of Awards as the Committee may, before or
     concurrently with the grant thereof, deem appropriate, including limiting
     the percentage of Awards which may from time to time be exercised by a
     Participant; and

          (i) To take any other action with respect to any matters relating to
     the Plan for which it is responsible.

     3.3 Delegation by the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion and
on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or any part of
its authority and powers under this Plan to one or more Board Members or
officers of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate
its authority and powers in any way which would jeopardize this Plan's or any
Award's qualification under Rule 16b-3 or Code section 162(m).

     3.4 Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the
Committee, the Board and any delegate of the Committee pursuant to Section 3.3
shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, and shall be given the
maximum deference permitted by law.

                                   SECTION 4
                 SHARES SUBJECT TO THIS PLAN; GENERAL CONDITIONS

     4.1 Number of Shares. The Shares for which Awards may be granted under the
Plan shall be subject to the following:

          (a) The Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan
     shall be Shares currently authorized but unissued or currently held or
     subsequently acquired by the Company as treasury shares, including Shares
     purchased in the open market or in private transactions.

          (b) Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3 and to
     the following provisions of this Section 4.1, the maximum number of Shares
     that may be delivered to Participants and their beneficiaries under the
     Plan shall be equal to the sum of: (i) 1,000,000 Shares; and (ii) any
     Shares available for future awards under the Company's 1997 Equity
     Incentive Plan (the "Prior Plan") as of the effective date of this Plan,
     and any Shares that are represented by awards granted under the Prior Plan
     which
<PAGE>

     are forfeited, expire or are canceled without delivery of Shares or which
     result in the forfeiture of Shares back to the Company.

          (c) If the Exercise Price of, or the tax withholding with respect to
     any Award granted under the Plan or the Prior Plan is satisfied by
     tendering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or by
     attestation), such Shares shall also be available for delivery under the
     Plan.

          (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.1, in
     no event, shall grants of Incentive Stock Options exceed 1,000,000 Shares.

     4.2 Lapsed Awards. If an Award is settled in cash, or is canceled,
terminates, expires or lapses for any reason (with the exception of the
termination of a Tandem SAR upon exercise of the related Option, or the
termination of a related Option upon exercise of the corresponding Tandem SAR),
any Shares subject to such Award thereafter shall be available to be the subject
of another Award. With respect to an Award that is intended to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under section 162(m) of the Code, if an Award
is cancelled, the Shares subject to the Award continue to count against the
maximum number of Shares under an Award which may be granted to a Participant in
any fiscal year.

     4.3 Adjustments in Awards and Authorized Shares. In the event of any
merger, reorganization, consolidation, _ recapitalization, _ separation,
liquidation, stock dividend, stock split, Share combination, or other change in
the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares, the Committee shall
adjust the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under this Plan,
the number, class and price of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, and the
numerical limits of Sections 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1, or if deemed
appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding
Award, in such a manner as the Committee (in its sole discretion) shall
determine to be advisable or appropriate to prevent the dilution or diminution
of such Awards. In each case, with respect to Awards of Incentive Stock Options
no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such authority would
cause the Plan to violate section 422(b)(1) of the Code or any successor
provision thereto. Notwithstanding the preceding, the number of Shares subject
to any Award always shall be a whole number.

     4.4 Buy-Out Provision. The Committee may at any time offer on behalf of the
Company to buy out, for a payment in cash or Shares, an Award previously
granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall establish and communicate to the applicable Participant at the
time such offer is made.

     4.5 Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Committee may impose such
restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Award as it
may deem advisable or appropriate in its sole discretion, including, but not
limited to, restrictions related to applicable Federal securities laws, the
requirements of any national securities exchange or system upon which Shares are
then listed or traded, and any blue sky or state securities laws.
<PAGE>

     4.6 Cancellation and Rescission of Awards.

          (a) Unless the Award Agreement specifies otherwise, the Committee may
     cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict any
     unexercised Award at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with
     all applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan or if the
     Participant has a Termination of Service for Cause.

          (b) Upon exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award, the
     Participant shall certify in a manner acceptable to the Company that he or
     she is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan. In the
     event a Participant fails to comply with the provisions of this Section 4.6
     prior to, or during the six months after, any exercise, payment or delivery
     pursuant to an Award, such exercise, payment or delivery may be rescinded
     by the Company within two years thereafter. In the event of any such
     rescission, the Participant shall pay to the Company the amount of any gain
     realized or payment received as a result of the rescinded exercise, payment
     or delivery in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be
     required, and the Company shall be entitled to set-off against the amount
     of any such gain any amount owed to the Participant by the Company.

     4.7 Loans and Guarantees. The Committee may in its discretion allow a
Participant to defer payment to the Company of all or any portion of (i) the
Exercise Price of an Option, (ii) the purchase price of Restricted Stock, if
any, or (iii) subject to applicable law, any taxes associated with the exercise,
nonforfeitability of, or payment of benefits in connection with, an Award, or
cause the Company to guarantee a loan from a third party to the Participant, in
an amount equal to all or any portion of such Exercise Price, or any related
taxes. Any such payment deferral or guarantee by the Company shall be on such
terms and conditions as the Committee may determine.

                                   SECTION 5
                                  STOCK OPTIONS

     5.1 Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan,
Options may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine the number of Shares subject to each Option;
provided, however, that during any Fiscal Year, no Participant shall be granted
Options covering more than 500,000 Shares. The Committee may grant Incentive
Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, or any combination thereof.

     5.2 Award Agreement. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement
that shall specify the Exercise Price, the expiration date of the Option, the
number of Shares to which the Option pertains, any conditions to exercise of the
Option and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the
Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock
Option.
<PAGE>

     5.3 Exercise Price. Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.3, the
Exercise Price for each Option shall be determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion.

          5.3.1 Non-Qualified Stock Options. In the case of a Nonqualified Stock
     Option, the Exercise Price may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a
     Share on the Grant Date; provided however, that the Committee may, where a
     Nonqualified Stock Option is issued in lieu of a Participant's salary or
     cash bonus, set the Exercise Price at no less than 85% of the Fair Market
     Value of a Share on the Grant Date.

          5.3.2 Nonqualified Stock Options. In the case of a Nonqualified Stock
     Option, the Exercise Price may be less than the Fair Market Value of a
     Share on the Grant Date.

          5.3.3 Incentive Stock Options. In the case of an Incentive Stock
     Option, the Exercise Price shall be not less than one hundred percent
     (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date; provided,
     however, that if on the Grant Date, the Employee (together with persons
     whose stock ownership is attributed to the Employee pursuant to section
     424(d) of the Code) owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total
     combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries, the Exercise Price shall be not less than one hundred ten
     percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.

          5.3.4 Substitute Options. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections
     5.3.1 and 5.3.2, in the event that the Company or an Affiliate consummates
     a transaction described in section 424(a) of the Code (e.g., the
     acquisition of property or stock from an unrelated corporation), persons
     who become Participants on account of such transaction may be granted
     Options in substitution for options granted by such former employer or
     recipient of services. If such substitute Options are granted, the
     Committee, in its sole discretion and consistent with section 424(a) of the
     Code, may determine that such substitute Options shall have an exercise
     price less than one hundred (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares
     on the Grant Date.

     5.4 Expiration of Options.

          5.4.1 Expiration Dates. Except as provided in Section 5.8 regarding
     Incentive Stock Options, each Option shall terminate upon the earlier of
     the first to occur of the following events:

               (a) The date(s) for termination of the Option set forth in the
          Award Agreement; or

               (b) The expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date.

          5.4.2 Committee Discretion. Subject to the limits of Section 5.4.1,
     the Committee, in its sole discretion, (a) shall provide in each Award
     Agreement when each Option expires and becomes unexercisable, and (b) may,
     after an Option is granted,
<PAGE>

     extend the maximum term of the Option (subject to Section 5.8 regarding
     Incentive Stock Options).

     5.5 Exercisability of Options. Options granted under this Plan shall be
exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as
the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. After an Option is
granted, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the
exercisability of the Option. If the Committee provides that any Option is
exercisable only in installments, the Committee may at any time waive such
installment exercise provisions, in whole or in part, based on such factors as
the Committee may determine.

     5.6 Termination of Service. Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent
to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option following
Termination of Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole
discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement, need not
be uniform among all Options granted under the Plan, and may reflect
distinctions based on the reasons for Termination of Service.

     5.7 Payment. Options shall be exercised by the Participant's delivery of a
written notice of exercise to the Secretary of the Company (or its designee),
setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be
exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares.

     Upon the exercise of any Option, the Exercise Price shall be payable to the
Company in full in cash or its equivalent. The Committee, in its sole
discretion, also may permit exercise (a) by tendering previously acquired Shares
having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total
Exercise Price, or (b) by any other means which the Committee, in its sole
discretion, determines (i) to provide legal consideration for the Shares, and
(ii) to be consistent with the purposes of this Plan.

     As soon as practicable after receipt of a written notification of exercise
and full payment for the Shares purchased, the Company shall deliver to the
Participant (or the Participant's designated broker), Share certificates (which
may be in book entry form) representing such Shares.

     5.8 Certain Additional Provisions for Incentive Stock Options.

          5.8.1 Exercisability. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on
     the Grant Date(s)) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock
     Options are exercisable for the first time by any Employee during any
     calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall
     not exceed $100,000.

          5.8.2 Termination of Service. No Incentive Stock Option may be
     exercised more than three (3) months after the Participant's Termination of
     Service for any reason other than Disability or death, unless (a) the
     Participant dies during such three-month period, and (b) the Award
     Agreement or the Committee permits later exercise. No Incentive Stock
     Option may be exercised more than one (1) year after the Participant's
     termination of employment on account of Disability, unless (a) the
     Participant dies during
<PAGE>

     such one-year period, and (b) the Award Agreement or the Committee permits
     later exercise.

               5.8.3 Company and Subsidiaries Only. Incentive Stock Options may
          be granted only to persons who are employees of the Company or a
          Subsidiary on the Grant Date.

               5.8.4 Expiration. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised
          after the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date; provided,
          however, that if the Option is granted to an Employee who, together
          with persons whose stock ownership is attributed to the Employee
          pursuant to section 424(d) of the Code, owns stock possessing more
          than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
          the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Option may not be
          exercised after the expiration of five (5) years from the Grant Date.

               5.8.5 Nontransferable. Each Incentive Stock Option shall by its
          terms not be assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws
          of descent and distribution and may be exercised, during the
          Participant's lifetime, only by the Participant; provided, however,
          that the Participant may, to the extent provided in the Plan in any
          manner specified by the Committee, designate in writing a beneficiary
          to exercise his or her Incentive Stock Option after the Participant's
          death.

     5.9 Repricing of Options. The Company may not reprice, replace or regrant
an outstanding Option either in connection with the cancellation of such Option
or by amending an Award Agreement to lower the Exercise Price of such Option.

     5.10 Grant of Reload Options. The Committee may in connection with the
grant of an Option, in the Award Agreement, provide that a Participant who (i)
is a Participant when he or she exercises an Option (the "Exercised Option"),
(ii) has not received a Reload Option (as defined below) within the six (6)
months prior to such exercise, and (iii) satisfies the Exercise Price or any
required tax withholding applicable thereto with Shares which have been held by
the Participant for at least six (6) months, shall automatically be granted,
subject to Section 3, an additional Option ("Reload Option") in an amount equal
to the sum ("Reload Number") of the number of Shares tendered to exercise the
Exercised Option plus, if so provided by the Committee, the number of Shares, if
any, retained by the Company in connection with the exercise of the Exercised
Option to satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding requirements;
provided that no Reload Option shall be granted in connection with the exercise
of an Option that has been transferred by the initial Participant thereof. All
Reload Options shall be Nonqualified Stock Options.

     5.11 Conditions on Reload Options. Reload Options shall be subject to the
following terms and conditions:

          (a) The Grant Date for each Reload Option shall be the date of
     exercise of the Exercised Option to which it relates.
<PAGE>

          (b) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Reload Option
     shall be fully vested and may be exercised at any time during the remaining
     term of the Exercised Option (subject to earlier termination thereof as
     provided in the Plan or in the applicable Award Agreement).

          (c) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the terms of the
     Reload Option shall be the same as the terms of the Exercised Option to
     which it relates, except that the Exercise Price for the Reload Option
     shall, in every case, be 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the
     Grant Date of the Reload Option.

          (d) Each Award Agreement shall state whether the Committee has
     authorized Reload Options with respect to the underlying Stock Options.
     Upon the exercise of an Underlying Stock Option or other Reload Option, the
     Reload Option will be evidenced by an amendment to the underlying Award
     Agreement or a new Award Agreement.

          (e) No additional Reload Options shall be granted to Participants when
     Stock Options and/or Reload Options are exercised pursuant to the terms of
     this Plan following Termination of Service with the Company or a
     Subsidiary.

                                   SECTION 6
                            STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

     6.1 Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, an SAR
may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be
determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee may grant
Affiliated SARs, Freestanding SARs, Tandem SARs, or any combination thereof.

          6.1.1 Number of Shares. The Committee shall have complete discretion
     to determine the number of SARs granted to any Participant, provided that
     during any Fiscal Year, no Participant shall be granted SARs covering more
     than 500,000 Shares.

          6.1.2 Exercise Price and Other Terms. The Committee, subject to the
     provisions of this Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the
     terms and conditions of SARs granted under this Plan; provided, however,
     that the exercise price of a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than one
     hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant
     Date. The exercise price of Tandem or Affiliated SARs shall equal the
     Exercise Price of the related Option.

     6.2 Exercise of Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part
of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to
exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be
exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option is then
exercisable. With respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an
Incentive Stock Option: (a) the Tandem SAR shall expire no later than the
expiration of the underlying Incentive Stock Option; (b) the value of the payout
with respect to the Tandem SAR shall be for no more than one hundred percent
(100%) of the difference between the Exercise Price of the underlying Incentive
Stock Option and the Fair Market Value
<PAGE>

of the Shares subject to the underlying Incentive Stock Option at the time the
Tandem SAR is exercised; and (c) the Tandem SAR shall be exercisable only when
the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Incentive Stock Option
exceeds the Exercise Price of the Incentive Stock Option.

     6.3 Exercise of Affiliated SARs. An Affiliated SAR shall be deemed to be
exercised upon the exercise of the related Option. The deemed exercise of an
Affiliated SAR shall not necessitate a reduction in the number of Shares subject
to the related Option.

     6.4 Exercise of Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable
on such terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall
determine.

     6.5 SAR Agreement. Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement
that shall specify the exercise price, the term of the SAR, the conditions of
exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine.

     6.6 Expiration of SARs. An SAR granted under this Plan shall expire upon
the date determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, as set forth in
the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms and provisions of
Section 5.4 also shall apply to SARs.

     6.7 Payment of SAR Amount. Upon exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be
entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by
multiplying:

          (a) The positive difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share
     on the date of exercise over the exercise price; by

          (b) The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

     At the sole discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may
be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in any combination thereof.

                                   SECTION 7
                                RESTRICTED STOCK

     7.1 Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of this
Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of
Restricted Stock to Participants in such amounts as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall
determine the number of Shares to be granted to each Participant; provided,
however, that during any Fiscal Year, no Participant shall receive more than
500,000 Shares of Restricted Stock. The Committee shall determine the amount, if
any, that a Participant shall pay for Restricted Stock, subject to applicable
requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Restricted Stock which is
awarded to a Participant as an incentive for such Participant to remain employed
by the Company shall have a minimum three year Period of Restriction. Restricted
Stock awarded to a Participant as an incentive for such Participant's
performance as an employee shall have a minimum one year Period of Restriction.

<PAGE>

     7.2 Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock shall be
evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period of Restriction,
the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. Unless the Committee, in its
sole discretion, determines otherwise, Shares of Restricted Stock shall be held
by the Company as escrow agent until the end of the applicable Period of
Restriction.

     7.3 Transferability. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, in
its sole discretion, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred,
gifted, bequeathed, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated,
voluntarily or involuntarily, until the end of the applicable Period of
Restriction.

     7.4 Other Restrictions. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose
such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable
or appropriate in accordance with this Section 7.4.

          7.4.1 General Restrictions. The Committee may set restrictions based
     upon (a) the achievement of specific performance objectives (Company-wide,
     divisional or individual), (b) applicable Federal or state securities laws,
     or (c) any other basis determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

          7.4.2 Section 162(m) Performance Restrictions. For purposes of
     qualifying grants of Restricted _ Stock as _ "performance-based
     compensation" under section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee, in its sole
     discretion, may set restrictions based upon the achievement of Performance
     Goals. The Performance Goals shall be set by the Committee on or before the
     latest date permissible to enable the Restricted Stock to qualify as
     "performance-based compensation" under section 162(m) of the Code. In
     granting Restricted Stock that is intended to qualify under Code section
     162(m), the Committee shall follow any procedures determined by it in its
     sole discretion from time to time to be necessary, advisable or appropriate
     to ensure qualification of the Restricted Stock under Code section 162(m)
     (e.g., in determining the Performance Goals).

          7.4.3 Legend on Certificates. The Committee, in its sole discretion,
     may legend the certificates representing Restricted Stock to give
     appropriate notice of such restrictions. For example, the Committee may
     determine that some or all certificates representing Shares of Restricted
     Stock shall bear the following legend:

          "THE SALE OR OTHER TRANSFER OF THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS
          CERTIFICATE, WHETHER VOLUNTARY, INVOLUNTARY, OR BY OPERATION OF LAW,
          IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE
          AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY 2001 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AND IN A
          RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT. A COPY OF THIS PLAN AND SUCH
<PAGE>

          RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SECRETARY OF
          AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY."

     7.5 Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section
7, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under
this Plan shall be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the end of
the applicable Period of Restriction. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may
accelerate the time at which any restrictions shall lapse and remove any
restrictions. After the end of the applicable Period of Restriction, the
Participant shall be entitled to have any legend or legends under Section 7.4.3
removed from his or her Share certificate, and the Shares shall be freely
transferable by the Participant.

     7.6 Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding
Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights
with respect to those Shares, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides
otherwise.

     7.7 Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction,
Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock shall be entitled to receive all
dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares unless
otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement. If any such dividends or
distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares shall be subject to the same
restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted
Stock with respect to which they were paid.

     7.8 Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the
applicable Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not
lapsed shall revert to the Company and thereafter shall be available for grant
under this Plan.

     7.9 Termination of Service. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall set
forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive
unvested Restricted Stock following his or her Termination of Service. Such
provision shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be
included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be
uniform among all Restricted Stock issued pursuant to the Plan and may reflect
distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
<PAGE>

                                   SECTION 8
                    PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES

     8.1 Grant of Performance Units/Shares. Performance Units and Performance
Shares may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time, as
shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee
shall have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units
and Performance Shares granted to each Participant; provided, however, that
during any Fiscal Year, (a) no Participant shall receive Performance Units
having an initial value greater than the value of 250,000 Shares, and (b) no
Participant shall receive more than 250,000 Performance Shares.

     8.2 Value of Performance Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit shall have an
initial value that is established by the Committee on or before the Grant Date.
Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the Grant Date.

     8.3 Performance Objectives and Other Terms. The Committee shall set
performance objectives in its sole discretion which, depending on the extent to
which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units or
Performance Shares, or both, that will be paid out to the Participants. The time
period during which the performance objectives must be met shall be called the
"Performance Period". Each Award of Performance Units or Performance Shares
shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Performance
Period, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine. A Performance Period may not be less than one year.

          8.3.1 General Performance Objectives. The Committee may set
     performance objectives based upon (a) the achievement of Company-wide,
     divisional or individual goals, (b) applicable Federal or state securities
     laws, or (c) any other basis determined by the Committee in its discretion.

          8.3.2 Section 162(m) Performance Objectives. For purposes of
     qualifying grants of Performance Units or Performance Shares as
     "performance-based compensation" under section 162(m) of the Code, the
     Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine that the performance
     objectives applicable to Performance Units or Performance Shares, as the
     case may be, shall be based on the achievement of Performance Goals. The
     Performance Goals shall be set by the Committee on or before the latest
     date permissible to enable the Performance Units or Performance Shares, as
     the case may be, to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under
     section 162(m) of the Code. In granting Performance Units or Performance
     Shares which are intended to qualify under Code section 162(m), the
     Committee shall follow any procedures determined by it from time to time to
     be necessary or appropriate in its sole discretion to ensure qualification
     of the Performance Units or Performance Shares, as the case may be, under
     Code section 162(m) (e.g., in determining the Performance Goals).

     8.4 Earning of Performance Units/Shares. After the applicable Performance
Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units or Performance Shares shall be
entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units or Performance
Shares, as the case may be, earned
<PAGE>

by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function
of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives have been
achieved. After the grant of a Performance Unit or Performance Share, the
Committee, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance
objectives for such Performance Unit or Performance Share.

     8.5 Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares. Payment of
earned Performance Units or Performance Shares shall be made as soon as
practicable after the end of the applicable Performance Period. The Committee,
in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units or Performance Shares
in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal
to the value of the earned Performance Units or Performance Shares, as the case
may be, at the end of the applicable Performance Period), or in any combination
thereof.

     8.6 Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares. On the earlier of the date
set forth in the Award Agreement or the Participant's Termination of Service
(other than by death, Disability or, with respect to an Employee, Retirement),
all unearned or unvested Performance Units or Performance Shares shall be
forfeited to the Company, and thereafter shall be available for grant under this
Plan. In the event of a Participant's death, Disability or, with respect to an
Employee, Retirement, prior to the end of a Performance Period, the Committee
shall reduce his or her Performance Units or Performance Shares proportionately
based on the date of such Termination of Service.

                                   SECTION 9
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     9.1 Deferrals. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a
Participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares
that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award. Any such
deferral election shall be subject to such rules and procedures as shall be
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

     9.2 No Effect on Employment or Service. Nothing in this Plan shall
interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any
Participant's employment or service at any time, with or without Cause. For
purposes of this Plan, transfer of employment of a Participant between the
Company and any of its Affiliates (or between Affiliates) shall not be deemed a
Termination of Service. Employment or secure relationship with the Company and
its Affiliates is on an at-will basis only, unless otherwise provided by an
applicable written employment or service agreement between the Participant and
the Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be.

     9.3 Participation. No Participant shall have the right to be selected to
receive an Award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to
receive a future Award.

     9.4 Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the
Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Company against and from (a) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including
attorneys' fees) that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her
in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit
<PAGE>

or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be
involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under this Plan or any
Award Agreement, and (b) from any and all amounts paid by him or her in
settlement thereof, with the Company's prior written approval, or paid by him or
her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit or
proceeding against him or her; provided, however, that he or she shall give the
Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before
he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The
foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of
indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, by contract, as a matter of law or
otherwise, or under any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or
hold them harmless.

     9.5 Successors. All obligations of the Company under this Plan, with
respect to Awards granted hereunder, shall be binding on any successor to the
Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or
indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially
all of the business or assets of the Company.

     9.6 Beneficiary Designations. If permitted by the Committee, a Participant
under this Plan may name a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom any vested but
unpaid Award shall be paid in the event of the Participant's death. Each such
designation shall revoke all prior designations by the Participant and shall be
effective only if given in a form and manner acceptable to the Committee. In the
absence of any such designation, any vested benefits remaining unpaid at the
Participant's death shall be paid to the Participant's estate and, subject to
the terms of this Plan and of the applicable Award Agreement, any unexercised
vested Award may be exercised by the administrator or executor of the
Participant's estate.

     9.7 Transferability of Awards. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee
in an Award Agreement, no Award granted under this Plan may be sold,
transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other
than by will, by the laws of descent and distribution, or to the limited extent
provided in Section 9.6.

     9.8 No Rights as Stockholder. Except to the limited extent provided in
Sections 7.6 and 7.7, no Participant (nor any beneficiary thereof) shall have
any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to
any Shares issuable pursuant to an Award (or the exercise thereof), unless and
until certificates representing such Shares shall have been issued, recorded on
the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered
to the Participant (or his or her beneficiary).

<PAGE>

                                   SECTION 10
                       AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND DURATION

     10.1 Amendment, Suspension, or Termination. The Board, in its sole
discretion, may amend or terminate this Plan, or any part thereof, at any time
and for any reason; provided, however, that the Board will obtain stockholder
approval for any amendment which materially increases the number of Shares which
may be delivered to Participants under this Plan, materially changes the
categories of Participants who may participate in this Plan, and any other
amendment which would require stockholder approval pursuant to the rules of the
New York Stock Exchange, any other applicable national security exchange, or any
applicable laws or regulations.

     10.2 No Award may be granted during any period of suspension or after
termination of this Plan.

     10.3 Duration of this Plan. This Plan shall become effective on the date
specified herein, and subject to Section 10.1 (regarding the Board's right to
amend or terminate this Plan), shall remain in effect thereafter; provided,
however, that without further stockholder approval, no Incentive Stock Option
may be granted under this Plan after the tenth anniversary of the effective date
of this Plan.

                                   SECTION 11
                                 TAX WITHHOLDING

     11.1 Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash
pursuant to an Award (or the exercise thereof), the Company shall have the power
and the right to deduct or withhold from any amounts due to the Participant from
the Company, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount
sufficient to satisfy Federal, state and local taxes (including the
Participant's FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such
Award (or the exercise thereof).

     11.2 Withholding Arrangements. The Committee, in its sole discretion and
pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a
Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part, by
(a) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares, or (b)
delivering to the Company Shares then owned by the Participant having a Fair
Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The amount of the
withholding requirement shall be deemed to include any amount that the Committee
agrees may be withheld at the time any such election is made, not to exceed the
amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income
tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Award on the date
that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. The Fair Market Value
of the Shares to be withheld or delivered shall be determined as of the date
that the taxes are required to be withheld.
<PAGE>

     11.3 Notification under Code section 83(b). If the Participant, in
connection with the exercise of any Option, or the grant of Restricted Stock,
makes the election permitted under section 83(b) of the Code to include in such
Participant's gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in
section 83(b) of the Code, then such Participant shall notify the Company of
such election within 10 days after filing the notice of the election with the
Internal Revenue Service, in addition to any filing and notification required
pursuant to regulations issued under section 83(b) of the Code. The Committee
may, in connection with the grant of an Award or at any time thereafter,
prohibit a Participant from making the election described above.

                                   SECTION 12
                                CHANGE IN CONTROL

     12.1 Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control of the Company,
all Awards granted under this Plan that then are outstanding and not then
exercisable or are subject to restrictions, shall, except as provided in Section
12.2, or unless otherwise provided for in the Award Agreements applicable
thereto, become immediately exercisable, and all restrictions shall be removed,
as of the first date that the Change in Control has been deemed to have
occurred, and shall remain as such for the remaining life of the Award as
provided herein and within the provisions of the related Award Agreements.

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in the event that the Committee is
advised by the Company's independent auditors that the effect of the preceding
sentence would be to preclude the ability of the Company to account for an
acquisition or merger transaction as a pooling of interests, the Committee may
declare the preceding sentence to be inoperable to such extent as the Committee,
in its sole discretion, deems advisable.

     12.2 Adjustments upon Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a Change in
Control under Section 12.3(c) or (d)(ii) (a "Section 12.2 Event") and the
successor corporation does not either (i) assume each outstanding Award or (ii)
substitute an equivalent award by the successor corporation or a Parent or
Subsidiary of the successor corporation, then the Award shall fully vest and
become immediately exercisable and the Committee shall notify the Participant
that the Award shall be exercisable for a period of twenty-five (25) days from
the date of such notice, and the Award shall terminate upon the expiration of
such period unless exercised. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Award
shall be considered assumed if, following the Section 10.2 Event, the Award
confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award
immediately prior to the Section 12.2 Event, equal consideration (whether stock,
cash, or other securities or property) as received in the Section 12.2 Event by
holders of each Share of common stock held on the effective date of the
transaction (and if holders of Shares were offered a choice of consideration,
the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Section
12.2 Event was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its
Parent, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation,
provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Award, for
each Share subject to the award, to be cash and/or other securities equal in
fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of common
stock in the merger or sale of assets.
<PAGE>

     12.3 Definition. For purposes of this Section 12, a Change in Control of
the Company shall be deemed to have occurred if the conditions set forth in any
one or more of the following shall have been satisfied, unless such condition
shall have received prior approval of a majority vote of the Continuing
Directors, as defined below, indicating that this Section 12 shall not apply
thereto:

          (a) any "person", as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
     the 1934 Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary
     holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any
     corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the
     Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock
     of the Company), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
     13(d)(3) under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of
     the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the Company's
     then outstanding securities or 51% or more of the combined voting power of
     the Company's then outstanding securities;

          (b) during any period of two consecutive years (not including any
     period prior to the Effective Date of this Plan), individuals ("Existing
     Directors") who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of
     Directors, and any new board member (an "Approved Director") (other than a
     board member designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with
     the Company to effect a transaction described in paragraph (a), (b) or (c)
     of this Section 12.3) whose election by the Board of Directors or
     nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was approved by a
     vote of a least two-thirds (2/3) of the board members then still in office
     who either were board members at the beginning of the period or whose
     election or nomination for election previously was so approved (Existing
     Directors together with Approved Directors constituting "Continuing
     Directors"), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
     Board of Directors; or

          (c) the consummation of the merger or consolidation of the Company
     with any other corporation, other than a merger with a wholly-owned
     subsidiary, the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, or
     the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, unless, in the case of a
     merger or consolidation, (x) the directors in office immediately prior to
     such merger or consolidation will constitute at least majority of the Board
     of the surviving corporation of such merger or consolidation and any parent
     (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such
     corporation, or (y) the voting securities of the Company outstanding
     immediately prior thereto represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
     being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than
     66-2/3% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the
     Company or such surviving entity and are owned by all or substantially all
     of the persons who were the holders of the voting securities of the Company
     immediately prior to the transaction in substantially the same proportions
     as such holders owned such voting securities immediately prior to the
     transaction; or
<PAGE>

          (d) the stockholders of the Company approve (i) a plan of complete
     liquidation of the Company or (ii) an agreement for the sale or disposition
     by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets (or any
     transaction having a similar effect).

                                   SECTION 13
                               LEGAL CONSTRUCTION

     13.1 Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context,
any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall
include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.

     13.2 Severability. In the event any provision of this Plan shall be held
illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the remaining parts of this Plan, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced
as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

     13.3 Requirements of Law. The grant of Awards and the issuance of Shares
under this Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations,
and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities
exchanges as may be required from time to time.

     13.4 Securities Law Compliance. With respect to Section 16 Persons, Awards
under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule
16b-3. To the extent any provision of this Plan, Award Agreement or action by
the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the
extent permitted by law and deemed advisable or appropriate by the Committee in
its sole discretion.

     13.5 Governing Law. This Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed
in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding
its conflict of laws provisions).

     13.6 Captions. Captions are provided herein for convenience of reference
only, and shall not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this
Plan.
                                                    Adopted December 12, 2000

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