Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                                                                  CONFORMED COPY

DATED                             15 NOVEMBER                               2001
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                               DDI EUROPE LIMITED

                   (formerly known as MCM ELECTRONICS LIMITED)

                                     - and -

                      THE ADDITIONAL BORROWERS NAMED HEREIN

                                     - and -

                    THE OTHER CHARGING COMPANIES NAMED HEREIN

                                     - and -

                THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND

  (in its various capacities as the Arranger, the Agent, the Security Trustee,
                     the Bank and the Working Capital Bank)

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

                         AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT DEED

                 relating to a Facilities Agreement dated 27 May
                                      1999

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

<PAGE>

                                    CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>
1.   INTERPRETATION........................................................................................2

2.   EFFECTIVE DATE........................................................................................2

3.   AMENDMENT AND  RESTATEMENT  OF FACILITIES  AGREEMENT AND  CANCELLATION  OF ORIGINAL
     WORKING  CAPITAL FACILITY.............................................................................2

4.   CONFIRMATION..........................................................................................2

5.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................................................2

6.   EXPENSES..............................................................................................2

7.   MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................................................3

SCHEDULE 1.................................................................................................4

     Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement.............................................................4

SCHEDULE 2...............................................................................................104

     Conditions Precedent................................................................................104
</TABLE>

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<PAGE>

THIS DEED is made on 15 November 2001

BETWEEN

(1)  DDI EUROPE LIMITED (formerly known as MCM ELECTRONICS LIMITED) (registered
     in England and Wales under company number 3731403) ("Principal Borrower");

(2)  DDI GROUP LIMITED (Registered No.:445250), CLASSICAL CIRCUITS LIMITED
     (Registered No.:1034995), DDI TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED (Registered No.:
     1336602), PRETAN ENGINEERING LIMITED (Registered No.: 2407995), INTEGRATED
     DESIGNS & SYSTEMS LIMITED (Registered No.: 2624416), DYNAMIC DETAILS
     LIMITED (Registered No.: 3232495), ZLIN ELECTRONICS LIMITED (Registered
     No.: 1338479), DDI PRECISION LIMITED (Registered No.:2900127), DDI
     INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (Registered No.: 3328896), DDI SALES LIMITED
     (Registered No.: 3292688) and THOMAS WALTER LIMITED (Registered No.:
     1415705) (the "Additional Borrowers" and together with the Principal
     Borrower, the "Borrowers");

(3)  DDI GROUP LIMITED, CLASSICAL CIRCUITS LIMITED, DDI TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED,
     PRETAN ENGINEERING LIMITED, INTEGRATED DESIGNS & SYSTEMS LIMITED, DYNAMIC
     DETAILS LIMITED, ZLIN ELECTRONICS LIMITED, DDI PRECISION LIMITED, DDI
     INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, DDI SALES LIMITED, BWMP (HOLDINGS) LIMITED, REDLAB
     LIMITED, KRIZANTEM LIMITED and THOMAS WALTER LIMITED (the "Other Charging
     Companies" and, together with the Principal Borrower, the "Charging
     Companies");

(4)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND as arranger (the
     "Arranger");

(5)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND as agent for the Senior
     Lenders (the "Agent");

(6)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND as Security Trustee for
     the Security Beneficiaries (the "Security Trustee");

(7)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND and any other bank which
     has a Participation in the Term Loan Facility (the "Banks"); and

(8)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND as provider of the Working
     Capital Facility (the "Working Capital Bank").

WHEREAS:

A.   By a facilities agreement dated 27 May 1999 made between the Principal
     Borrower and The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland (in its
     various capacities) (the "Facilities Agreement"), it agreed to make
     available certain term loan facilities on the terms and conditions of the
     Facilities Agreement.

B.   The Additional Borrowers subsequently acceded to the Facilities Agreement
     and each became a Borrower (as defined in the Facilities Agreement).

C.   The parties to the Facilities Agreement have agreed to amend and restate
     the terms of the Facilities Agreement upon the terms set out below, to
     repay the Original Working Capital Facility and cancel the Original Working
     Capital Facility Letter and to enter into the 2001 Working Capital Facility
     Letter.

IT IS AGREED as follows:

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                                                                               1

<PAGE>

1.   INTERPRETATION

     1.1. In this Deed (including the recitals) words and expressions defined in
          the Facilities Agreement (as amended and restated by this Deed) shall
          (unless otherwise defined) have the same meanings when used in this
          Deed; and

          "2001 Debenture" means the composite guarantee and debenture in the
          agreed terms to be entered into by all the Charging Companies in
          favour of the Security Trustee as trustee for the Security
          Beneficiaries on or before the date first written above; and

          "Effective Date" means the date upon which all of the conditions in
          referred to in the first sentence of Clause 2 have been satisfied or
          waived by the Agent.

     1.2. The interpretation section of Clause 1.2 of the Facilities Agreement
          (as amended and restated by this Deed) shall be included in this Deed,
          subject to necessary changes.

2.   EFFECTIVE DATE

     Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Deed, this Deed (other than
     Clause 6) shall have no effect unless the Agent shall have received (or
     waived the receipt of) each of the documents referred to in Schedule 2 in
     form and substance satisfactory to it.

3.   AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF FACILITIES AGREEMENT AND CANCELLATION OF
     ORIGINAL WORKING CAPITAL FACILITY

     3.1  With effect from the Effective Date the Facilities Agreement shall be
          amended and restated so as to take effect in the form set out in
          Schedule 1 to this Deed.

     3.2  The Borrowers agree that the Original Working Capital Facility has
          been cancelled and that amounts may not be redrawn thereunder.

4.   CONFIRMATION

     4.1. The parties confirm that the Facilities Agreement remains in full
          force and effect save as amended by this Deed.

     4.2. Each Charging Company confirms that the Security Documents to which it
          is a party remain and will remain in full force and effect
          notwithstanding the amendments effected by this Deed and that they
          shall continue to guarantee or, as the case may be, act as security
          for liabilities incurred in connection, inter alia, with the
          Facilities.

5.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     5.1. On the Effective Date each Obligor that is a party to this Agreement
          shall make the representations and warranties set out in Clauses
          22.1.1 to Clause 22.1.12 as provided for in the Facilities Agreement
          (as amended and restated hereby) to each of the Senior Lenders.

     5.2. Each Borrower acknowledges that each of the Senior Lenders is relying
          on the accuracy of such representations and warranties for the
          purposes of determining to enter into this Deed.

6.   EXPENSES

     6.1. The Principal Borrower shall discharge, by payment direct to the
          Agent's solicitors DLA, all costs and expenses (including, without
          limitation, legal fees, registration costs and VAT)

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                                                                               2

<PAGE>

          reasonably incurred by the Agent in connection with the negotiation,
          preparation and execution of this Deed and any documents negotiated,
          prepared or executed in connection with this Deed (including, without
          limitation and for the avoidance of doubt, documentation necessary in
          order to register the security interests created in connection with
          the transactions referred to in this Deed).

7.   MISCELLANEOUS

     7.1. This Deed may be signed in any number of counterparts and this shall
          have the same effect as though the signatures thereon were on a single
          copy of this Deed.

     7.2. The parties do not intend that any provision of this Deed should be
          enforceable pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act
          1999.

     7.3. Nothing in this Deed shall require any party to it to do any act that
          would be in breach of s.151 Companies Act 1985.

     7.4. For the avoidance of doubt, the effect of this Deed shall be to reduce
          the Margin to 1.5 per cent. per annum from 15 October 2001 and
          interest that accrued (including, interest accrued but unpaid as at 15
          October 2001) prior to 15 October 2001 shall be paid at the rate
          stated in the Facilities Agreement prior to its amendment and
          restatement pursuant to this Deed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have caused this Deed to be duly executed on the
date first written above.

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                                                                               3

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 1

                    Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement

DATED                           As of 27 May                                1999
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                             MCM ELECTRONICS LIMITED
                    (subsequently called DDI Europe Limited)

                                     - and -

                THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND
           (in its various capacities as the Arranger, the Agent, the
                                Security Trustee,
                     the Bank, and the Working Capital Bank)

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

                              FACILITIES AGREEMENT
              relating to the provision of Term Loan Facilities and
                 a Working Capital Facility to MCM Electronics
                     Limited (subsequently called DDI Europe
                          Limited) and its Subsidiaries

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

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                                                                               4

<PAGE>

                                 CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                       <C>
1.   DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION........................................................................9

2.   THE FACILITIES.......................................................................................31

3.   PURPOSE..............................................................................................32

4.   MAXIMUM AMOUNTS......................................................................................33

5.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.................................................................................33

6.   CONDITIONS SUBSEQUENT................................................................................35

7.   AVAILABILITY OF THE TERM LOAN FACILITIES.............................................................37

8.   AVAILABILITY OF THE WORKING CAPITAL FACILITY.........................................................38

9.   INTEREST PERIODS.....................................................................................38

10.  INTEREST.............................................................................................38

11.  BREAK COSTS..........................................................................................41

12.  REPAYMENT............................................................................................41

13.  PREPAYMENT...........................................................................................43

14.  PREPAYMENT AND/OR CANCELLATION OF THE FACILITIES.....................................................44

15.  PAYMENTS.............................................................................................44

16.  TAXES................................................................................................46

17.  INCREASED COST.......................................................................................47

18.  CHANGE IN LAW OR REGULATIONS.........................................................................49

19.  MITIGATION...........................................................................................49

20.  FINANCIAL RATIOS.....................................................................................49

21.  COVENANTS............................................................................................51

22.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................................................................67

23.  DEFAULT..............................................................................................70

24.  FEES.................................................................................................76

25.  COSTS AND EXPENSES...................................................................................76

26.  STAMP DUTY...........................................................................................77
</TABLE>

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                                                                               5

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                       <C>
27.  ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS............................................................................77

28.  AGENCY PROVISIONS....................................................................................79

29.  DECISIONS............................................................................................82

30.  SET-OFF..............................................................................................83

31.  CALCULATIONS AND EVIDENCE OF DEBT....................................................................84

32.  REDISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENTS...........................................................................84

33.  NOTICES..............................................................................................85

34.  INVALIDITY OF PROVISIONS.............................................................................85

35.  WAIVER...............................................................................................86

36.  COUNTERPARTS.........................................................................................86

37.  GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION.......................................................................86

38.  EURO.................................................................................................86

SCHEDULE 1................................................................................................87

The Banks and their Commitments...........................................................................87

SCHEDULE 2................................................................................................88

Financial Definitions.....................................................................................88

SCHEDULE 3................................................................................................92

Form of Notice of Drawdown................................................................................92

SCHEDULE 4................................................................................................94

Conditions Precedent......................................................................................94

Part I - Conditions Precedent to be satisfied before the issue of Press Release...........................94

Part II - Conditions Precedent to be satisfied on or before first Drawdown................................96

Part III - Conditions Precedent for the Granting of Security..............................................96

SCHEDULE 5................................................................................................98

Deed of Accession.........................................................................................98

SCHEDULE 6................................................................................................99

Form of Transfer Certificate for a Bank...................................................................99
</TABLE>

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<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>
SCHEDULE 7...............................................................................................101

The Group Companies......................................................................................101

Part I - Initial Charging Companies......................................................................101

Part II - Dormant Companies..............................................................................102
</TABLE>

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                                                                               7

<PAGE>

                          DOCUMENTS IN THE AGREED TERMS

Accountants Report
Articles
Board Resolutions
Business Plan
Directors and Secretary's Certificate
Environmental Reports
Existing Lender Comfort Letters
Financial Model
First Debenture
Flow of Funds Statement
Insurance Report
Intercreditor Agreement
Intra Group Loan Agreement
Investment Agreement
Keyman Insurance Assignment
Legal Charge
Legal Due Diligence Report
Managers References
Market Report
New Issuance Instrument
Offer Document
Offer Expenses Estimate
Opening Consolidated Balance Sheet
Pensions Report
Pre Press Release Letter
Press Release
Pro Forma Financial Assistance Documents
Property Valuation
Receiving Bank Instruction Letter
Report on Title
Second Debenture
Security Trust Deed
Service Agreements
Summary of Existing Borrowings Being Refinanced
Third Debenture

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                                                                               8

<PAGE>

THIS AGREEMENT is dated 27 May 1999 and is made

BETWEEN

(1)  MCM ELECTRONICS LIMITED (subsequently called DDI Europe Limited) a company
     registered in England and Wales under number 3731403 ("the Principal
     Borrower");

(2)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND as arranger ("the
     Arranger");

(3)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND as agent for the Senior
     Lenders ("the Agent");

(4)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND as Security Trustee for
     the Security Beneficiaries ("the Security Trustee");

(5)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND and any other bank which
     has a Participation in the Term Loan Facility ("the Banks");

(6)  THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND as provider of the Working
     Capital Facility ("the Working Capital Bank")

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:-

1    DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

     1.1  Definitions

          In this Agreement:

          "Accountants Report" means the accountants report prepared by Deloitte
          & Touche dated on or about the date hereof relating to the Target
          Group addressed (inter alios) to the Agent (for itself and on behalf
          of the Senior Lenders);

          "Accounting Period" shall have the same meaning given to the term
          "Accounting Reference Period" by Section 224 of the Companies Act
          1985;

          "Adjusted Net Worth" is defined in Schedule 2 (Financial Definitions);

          "Advance" means the principal amount of each loan made or to be made
          to the Borrowers under the Term Loan Facilities. The expressions "Term
          Loan Advance" and "Advances" shall be construed accordingly;"All
          Outstanding Amounts" means all amounts from time to time outstanding
          to the Senior Lenders or any of them under the Banking Documents;

          "Amendment and Restatement Deed" means the amendment and restatement
          agreement made between, inter alios, the Principal Borrower and the
          Agent dated on or about 15 November 2001;

          "Amendment and Restatement Effective Date" has the meaning given to
          "Effective Date" in the Amendment and Restatement Deed;

          "Annual Budget" means the annual budget to be provided to the Agent in
          accordance with Clause 21.4 (Annual Budget);

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<PAGE>

          "A Ordinary Shares" means the A ordinary shares of 1p each in the
          capital of the Principal Borrower;

          "Applicable Taxes" means all Taxes (whether or not collectable by
          deduction or withholding) imposed by or in the jurisdiction in which
          the relevant Charging Company is resident or any other country through
          or out of which the relevant payment is made on any payment by any
          Charging Company, or by any Agent to any Bank, under any Banking
          Document, other than:

          (i)  Taxes (not being withholding Taxes) imposed on the overall net
               income or gains of a Bank by the jurisdiction in which its
               principal office is located or on the overall net income or gains
               of a Bank's Facility Office by the jurisdiction in which that
               Facility Office is located; and

          (ii) Taxes imposed on that payment which would not have been imposed
               on that payment if the Bank to which or for whose account that
               payment was made had been at the date of payment a Qualifying
               Lender;

          "Articles" means the articles of association of the Principal Borrower
          as the same are amended from time to time in the agreed terms;

          "Assumed Senior Interest" is defined in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "Audited Accounts" means, in relation to any member of the Group, the
          latest available audited consolidated accounts of that company;

          "Auditors" means KPMG or such other firm of accountants as shall be
          appointed from time to time in accordance with Clause 21.11.10
          (Appointment of Auditors) of this Agreement;

          "Available Share Purchase Facility" means the aggregate amount of the
          Tranche A Term Loan Facility and the Tranche B Term Loan Facility less
          the aggregate of (but without double counting):-

          (i)  any cancellation or reduction of the aggregate Tranche A and
               Tranche B Term Loan Facilities pursuant to this Agreement;

          (ii) the balance on the Payments Account Overdraft;

          (iii)the Tranche A and Tranche B Term Loans; and

          (iv) any Tranche A or Tranche B Term Loan Advance which has been
               requested by the Principal Borrower in accordance with the terms
               of this Agreement but not yet advanced by the Banks (except where
               such Term Loan Advance is being made available to repay all or
               part of the balance on the Payments Account Overdraft);

          "Available Term Loan Facility" means the aggregate amount of the
          Tranche A Term Loan Facility, the Tranche B Term Loan Facility less
          the aggregate of (but without double counting):-

          (i)  any cancellation or reduction of the aggregate Term Loan
               Facilities pursuant to this Agreement;

          (ii) the balance on the Payments Account Overdraft;

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                                                                              10

<PAGE>

          (iii)the Term Loans; and

          (iv) any Term Loan Advance which has been requested by the Principal
               Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement but not
               yet advanced by the Banks (except where such Term Loan Advance is
               being made available to repay all or part of the balance on the
               Payments Account Overdraft);

          "Banking Documents" means this Agreement, the Working Capital Facility
          Letter, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement, the
          Hedging Documents, any Deed of Accession, any Transfer Certificate,
          the New Issuance Certificate and any other document for the time being
          between any Obligor and any Senior Lender expressed to be supplemental
          thereto (except that the Hedging Documents will only be deemed to be a
          Banking Document for the purposes of this Agreement after they have
          been executed and delivered to the Agent in accordance with Clause 6
          (Conditions Subsequent) of this Agreement);

          "Bank of Scotland" means The Governor and Company of the Bank of
          Scotland;

          "Banks" means Bank of Scotland and any other bank which has a
          Participation in the Term Loan Facility or, where the context admits,
          in the Working Capital Facility, or any person who has an interest in
          any warrant issued pursuant to the New Issuance Instrument;

          "Base Rate" means the base rate for the time being in force of Bank of
          Scotland;

          "Borrower" means the Principal Borrower and any other Group Company
          which has for the time being been approved in writing by the Banks and
          which has executed and delivered a deed of accession substantially in
          the form of Schedule 5 (Deed of Accession) and "Borrowers" means all
          or any of them from time to time;

          "Borrowers' Solicitors" means edge ellison;

          "Borrowings" has the meaning specified in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "Business Day" means a day on which the relevant London interbank
          markets are open for business in London;

          "Business Plan" means the business plan in the agreed terms;

          "Capex Budget" means the capital expenditure budget which has been
          approved by the Agent for each Accounting Period of the Principal
          Borrower and which has been delivered to the Agent in accordance with
          Clause 21.5 (Capex Budget) except that for the period to 31 March 2000
          the Capex Budget shall be in accordance with the Business Plan;

          "Cash Collateral Account" means any interest bearing account with the
          Agent or any of the Banks (bearing interest at the best rate available
          from the Agent or the relevant Bank (as the case may be) in respect of
          such amount for the relevant period) in accordance with the provisions
          of this Agreement into which certain sums are to be paid to be held as
          security for the obligations of the Borrowers and/or any of them under
          the Banking Documents;

          "Cash Collateral Charge" means a charge in a form reasonably required
          by the Agent and granted or to be granted to the Security Trustee by
          the Borrowers or any of them (as the Agent may require) in relation to
          a Cash Collateral Account;

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                                                                              11

<PAGE>

          "Certain Funds Period" means the period commencing on the date hereof
          and ending on the earlier of:

          (i)  the date which falls four months after the date of posting of the
               Offer Document if the Principal Borrower is not then entitled to
               purchase all outstanding shares in Target pursuant to Sections
               428-430(F) of the Companies Act 1985;

          (ii) the date on which the Offer lapses or is withdrawn;

          (iii)the date which falls 77 days after the date on which the
               Principal Borrower is first entitled to exercise any of its
               rights under Sections 428-430(F) Companies Act 1985;

          (iv) the date which falls 21 days after the Offer has closed (unless
               at that time the period in (iii) above is still running);

          "Change of Control" means a change such that:-

          (i)  any single person, or group of persons acting in concert,
               acquires Control of the Principal Borrower (excluding the Initial
               Investors); or

          (ii) the Initial Investors cease to have Control of the Principal
               Borrower;

          "Charging Company" means each of the Initial Charging Companies
          together with any Group Company which is for the time being a party to
          any Security Document by reason of Clause 21.13.9 (Security from
          Non-Charging Companies);

          "Charging Group" means all the Charging Companies together with any
          other Group Company for the time being which are required to provide
          security for the benefit of the Security Beneficiaries pursuant to
          Clause 21.13.9 (Security from Non-Charging Companies);

          "Code" means The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers;

          "Collection Account Letters" means the letters in the agreed terms
          relating to the operation of the Group's bank accounts with the Banks;

          "Commitment" means the commitment of the Arranger as set out in
          Schedule 1 (The Banks and the Commitments) to provide:-

          (i)  up to(pound)17,250,000 in respect of the Tranche A Term Loan
               Facility including the Payments Account Overdraft;

          (ii) prior to the Amendment and Restatement Effective Date up to
               (pound)2,500,000 in respect of the Tranche B Term Loan Facility
               including the Payments Account Overdraft and thereafter,
               (pound)750,000; and

          (iii) prior to the Amendment and Restatement Effective Date up to
               (pound)4,000,000 in respect of the Original Working Capital
               Facility and thereafter, in respect of the 2001 Working Capital
               Facility (pound)10,000,000;

          and after syndication the amount of the Term Loan Facilities which the
          Banks are committed from time to time to provide in each case as the
          same may be transferred cancelled reduced varied or terminated in
          accordance with this Agreement and "Term Loan Commitment" shall

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                                                                              12

<PAGE>

          be construed accordingly. "Total Commitments" means the aggregate of
          all such commitments;

          "Commitment Period" means, in relation to:-

          (i)  the Tranche A and Tranche B Term Loan Facilities, the period
               beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the last
               day of the Certain Funds Period or such earlier date upon which
               the relevant Facility has been cancelled or finally repaid and
               discharged in accordance with this Agreement; and

          (ii) not restated;

          (iii)the Original Working Capital Facility, the period of three years
               commencing on the Completion Date;

          (iv) the 2001 Working Capital Facility, the period of one year
               commencing on the Amendment and Restatement Effective Date;

          "Completion Date" means the date of the first Advance under a Term
          Loan Facility;

          "Control" in relation to a body corporate, means the right, by virtue
          of holding shares in such body corporate, or by virtue of any contract
          or other arrangement with any holder of shares in such body corporate,
          to exercise or control the exercise of more than 50 per cent of the
          total voting rights conferred upon the holders of the entire issued
          share capital for the time being of that body corporate and
          "Controlled" shall be construed accordingly;

          "Deed of Intercreditor Accession" means deeds by which the Initial
          Charging Companies accede to the Intercreditor Deed;

          "Deed of Accession" means a deed substantially in the form set out in
          Schedule 5 (Deed of Accession);

          "Deed of Adherence" means a deed in the agreed terms by which the
          Initial Charging Companies accede to the Security Trust Deed;

          "Disclosure Letter" means the disclosure letter to the Investment
          Agreement (if any);

          "Disposal" means any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal of all or
          any part of the assets of any Group Company;

          "Dividends" means any dividends payable in respect of any of the
          Shares of the Principal Borrower;

          "Dormant Company" means together (i) each Group Company identified as
          a Dormant Company in Schedule 7 Part II (Dormant Companies) and (ii)
          each other Group Company which is not a Charging Company, does not
          trade, is not required to make entries into its accounting records in
          accordance with Section 221 Companies Act 1985 and does not hold or
          own any material assets or property (including intellectual property
          and/or tax losses);

          "Drawdown" means the making of a Term Loan Advance and/or the issue of
          a Loan Note Guarantee;

          "Drawdown Date" means the date of a Drawdown;

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<PAGE>

          "EBIT" has the meaning specified in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "EBITDA" has the meaning specified in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "Environmental Claims" means any claim arising as a result of:

          (i)  any breach of Environmental Laws; or

          (ii) any circumstances giving rise to any remedy or penalty that may
               be enforced either by public or private law or imposed against
               any Group Company as a result of Environmental Contamination; or

          (iii)any application for any judicial or administrative order or
               proceeding in respect of Environmental Contamination; or

          (iv) any other remedial action that any Group Company is obliged to
               undertake pursuant to Environmental Laws in respect of
               Environmental Contamination;

          "Environmental Consents" means all licences, authorisations, consents
          or permits of any kind required by any Group Company to operate its
          business under Environmental Laws to which such Group Company is
          subject;

          "Environmental Contamination" means any release, leakage or spillage
          of any toxic, poisonous, noxious or polluting matter or hazardous or
          dangerous substance or thing at or from any site owned or occupied by
          any Group Company and the consequences thereof;

          "Environmental Laws" means all legislation, regulations or orders
          concerning protection of the environment for the time being in force
          which are capable of enforcement in relation to any Group Company in
          the jurisdiction of incorporation of such Group Company;

          "Environmental Reports" means the environmental report in respect of
          the Properties in the agreed terms prepared by Aspinwall & Co
          addressed (inter alia) to the Agent (for itself and on behalf of the
          Senior Lenders);

          "Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Clause 23
          (Default);

          "Existing Borrowings being Refinanced" has the meaning set out in
          Clause 21.11.1 (Borrowings);

          "Existing Lender Comfort Letters" means the letters in agreed terms
          between the Target and each of the Existing Lenders;

          "Existing Lenders" means National Westminster Bank Plc;

          "Facilities" means any or all of the Term Loan Facilities and the
          Working Capital Facility and any other facilities from time to time
          granted by the Banks or the Working Capital Bank;

          "Facility Office" in relation to each Senior Lender means the office
          in the United Kingdom through which it is acting and through which it
          will participate in the Facilities for the purpose of this Agreement;

          "Final Repayment Date" means in relation to:-

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                                                                              14

<PAGE>

          (i)  the Tranche A Term Loan Facility, 30th September 2007;

          (ii) the Tranche B Term Loan Facility, 30th December 2007; and

          (iii) not restated;

          (iv) the Working Capital Facility, the first anniversary of the
               Amendment and Restatement Effective Date;

          or such earlier date or dates by which the Term Loans are required to
          be repaid in full pursuant to this Agreement;

          "Financial Assistance Auditors" means KPMG;

          "Financial Event of Default" means any of the following:-

          (i)  an Event of Default arising under any of Clauses 23.1.1, 23.1.2,
               23.1.10, 23.1.11, 23.1.12, 23.1.13, 23.1.14, 23.1.15, , 23.1.17,
               23.1.18 or 23.1.24 (but not if the Event of Default arises only
               under head (iv) of the definition of Material Adverse Effect); or

          (ii) the Borrower failing to comply with the provisions of any of
               Clauses 21.1, 21.2, 21.3 or 21.4; or

          (iii)the Borrower being in breach of any of the Financial Ratios;

          "Financial Model" means the financial model in the agreed terms;

          "Financial Ratios" means the ratios and covenants set out in Clause
          20;

          "First Debenture" means the debenture in the agreed terms to be issued
          by the Principal Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee to secure
          the obligations of the Principal Borrower to the Security
          Beneficiaries;

          "Flotation" means the admission of any part of the share capital of
          the Principal Borrower to the Official List of the London Stock
          Exchange or to trading on NASDAQ or EASDAQ or any other recognised
          investment exchange;

          "Flow of Funds Statement" means the Flow of Funds Statement in the
          agreed terms;

          "Full Drawdown Date" means the earlier of (a) the date on which the
          Share Purchase Term Loan Facilities are fully drawn and (b) 1 July
          1999;

          "GAAP" is defined in Schedule 2 (Financial Definitions);

          "Gross Asset Cover Percentage" is defined in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "Group" means at any time the Principal Borrower and its Subsidiaries
          for the time being and "Group Company" means any of them;

          "Hedging Arrangements" means the interest rate cap, struck at a rate
          of 6 1/2% with the Hedging Counterparty in respect of the Term Loans
          which the Agent shall reasonably require in respect of at least one
          half of the Facilities ((pound)13,375,000) for a period of 3 years,
          such arrangements being on commercial terms which are substantially in
          line with those generally

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                                                                              15

<PAGE>

          available to companies of a standing similar to the Principal Borrower
          in the market at the time of quotation for arrangements of such type;

          "Hedging Counterparty" means Bank of Scotland Treasury Services plc
          but if a cap is purchased then it shall mean Bank of Scotland Treasury
          Services plc or such other bank of reasonable standing acceptable to
          the Agent (acting reasonably) which provides the cap but only if Bank
          of Scotland Treasury Services plc shall have been unwilling to match
          the terms quoted by such other bank;

          "Hedging Documents" means the documents executed in pursuance of the
          Hedging Arrangements;

          "Indebtedness" shall be construed to include any obligation (whether
          incurred as principal or surety) for the payment or repayment of
          money, whether present or future, actual or contingent;

          "Information Documents" means the Accountants Report, Business Plan,
          the Financial Model, the Summary of Existing Borrowings being
          Refinanced, the Legal Due Diligence Report, the Report on Title, the
          Market Report, the Property Valuation, the Environmental Reports and
          the Pensions Report;

          "Initial Charging Companies" means the Principal Borrower and the
          Companies listed in Part I of Schedule 7 (The Initial Charging
          Companies):

          "Initial Investors" means:

          (i)  each of the Investors as defined in the Investment Agreement so
               long as it remains a party to the Investment Agreement; and

          (ii) any transferee who is a Qualifying Investor;

          "in the agreed terms" means in the terms of the relevant documents
          initialled by or on behalf of the Agent and by or on behalf of the
          Principal Borrower;

          "Insurance Brokers" means such brokers as shall be agreed by the
          Agent, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld;

          "Insurance Report" means the insurance report in the agreed terms
          prepared by the Insurance Brokers addressed (inter alia) to the Agent
          (for itself and on behalf of the Senior Lenders) confirming the
          adequacy and details of the insurance in place at the Completion Date
          and that all premiums have been paid;

          "Intellectual Property Rights" means all and any inventions patents
          applications for patents registered designs applications for
          registered designs trade and service marks whether registered or
          unregistered applications for trade and service marks trade names
          design rights licences copyrights of all descriptions (and rights by
          whatever name called affording equivalent or similar protection)
          confidential information know-how trade secrets research and
          development information design standards specifications computer
          software tables of data bills of material calculations formulae
          product codings and designations and rights under the International
          Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property 1983 (and
          licences and permissions granted in respect of any of the aforesaid)
          (in each case wherever the same may be located) and any other property
          in the nature of intellectual property;

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                                                                              16

<PAGE>

          "Intercreditor Agreement" means the deed in the agreed terms between,
          inter alios, the Bank of Scotland as Senior Agent, the Security
          Trustee, a Bank, the Working Capital Bank and Hedging Counterparty
          (1-5) the Managers (6) the Initial Investors (7) and the Charging
          Companies (8) which regulates the respective rights and obligations of
          the parties thereto with respect to the Facilities;

          "Interest on the Subordinated Loans" means interest payable in respect
          of the Subordinated Loans in accordance with the terms of the
          Investment Agreement;

          "Interest Payment Date" means in respect of any Advance the last day
          of the Interest Period applicable thereto;

          "Interest Period" means, for the purpose of determining the rate of
          interest applicable to any Advance a period of one, three, or six
          months or such other periods as the Agent may permit as determined
          from time to time in accordance with Clause 9 (Interest Periods);

          "Intra-Group Loan Agreement" means the loan agreement in the agreed
          terms to be entered into between the Principal Borrower and the Target
          Group;

          "Investment" in relation to any Joint Venture (each an "Investee")
          means the aggregate of the following:

          (i)  all monies subscribed or invested by a UK Company for shares,
               bonds, loan notes, debentures or other shareholder or financial
               instruments of an Investee;

          (ii) all expenditure incurred in relation to loans, gifts, or capital
               contributions to an Investee by a UK Company (including the
               amount by which any transfer of assets or assumption of
               liabilities represents an undervalue for the UK Company);

          (iii)all liabilities of an Investee for which a UK Company is liable
               as guarantor, surety or indemnifier;

          "Investment Agreement" means the investment agreement of even date
          herewith made between the Principal Borrower (1) M Malone, M Glanfield
          and J Calvert (2) NatWest Equity Partners (3) and The European Private
          Equity Fund, The European Private Equity Fund 'B; T he European
          Private Equity Fund 'C', T he European Private Equity Fund 'D; NatWest
          Equity Partners No. 4 Fund and the NatWest Equity Partners Partnership
          together with all other documents to be executed or delivered in
          accordance with the terms thereof;

          "Investors" means (i) each of the Investors as defined in the
          Investment Agreement so long as it remains a party to the Investment
          Agreement and (ii) any transferee of it who is for the time being a
          party to the Investment Agreement or who is for the time being bound
          by the terms thereof;

          "Joint Venture" means any joint venture entity whether in the form of
          a company, incorporated firm, partnership, joint venture, association,
          partnership or other joint enterprise in which in any such case one or
          more Group Companies have an interest of less than 100%;

          "Keymen" means Martin Glanfield, Martin Malone and John Calvert;

          "Keyman Insurance Assignment" means the keyman assurance assignment in
          the agreed terms entered into between the Target and the Security
          Trustee relating to the assignment of

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                                                                              17

<PAGE>

          the insurance policies ("Keyman Policies") to be taken out in respect
          of the death and critical illness of the Keymen upon the following
          terms:

Keyman                      Amount                                Term

Martin Glanfield            (pound)2,000,000                      5 years

Martin Malone               (pound)3,000,000                      5 years

John Calvert                (pound)1,000,000                      5 years

          "Keystone Events of Default" has the meaning given in Clause 5.1
          (Conditions to the Obligations of the Senior Lenders);

          "Legal Due Diligence Report" means the legal due diligence report
          dated on or around the date of this agreement prepared by the
          Borrower's Solicitors and addressed (inter alia) to the Agent (for
          itself and on behalf of the Senior Lenders);

          "Legal Charge" means a first legal charge in the agreed terms to be
          given by Zlin Electronics Limited in respect of its Freehold property
          shortly known as land on the east side of Alexandra Way, Ashchurch
          Road, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire (Title No GR 117211);

          "LIBOR" means, in respect of any Advance or unpaid sum for a
          particular period:-

          (i)  the rate per annum for sterling deposits for a period comparable
               to the relevant period which appears on page 3750 of the Telerate
               Service (or any page replacing page 3750) (or, in the absence
               thereof, the relevant page of the Reuters screen applicable
               thereto) at or about 11:00am on the first day of that period; or

          (ii) if no such rate appears on the relevant page, the rate (rounded
               upwards to the nearest four decimal places) certified by the
               Agent as the average of rates at which sterling deposits in an
               amount comparable to the Advance or unpaid sum quoted to the
               Agent are being offered by the Banks on the London Interbank
               Sterling Market at or about 11.00 a.m. on the first day of the
               relevant Interest Period for a period comparable to the relevant
               Interest Period and for delivery on the first day thereof;

          "Majority Banks" means one or more of the Banks the aggregate of whose
          Participation Amounts equals or at that time exceeds 66 2/3% of the
          aggregate of the Participation Amounts of all of the Banks;

          "Managers References" means references in the agreed form in respect
          of the Managers;

          "Management Accounts" means the management accounts of the Group and
          each of the Group Companies (in a format agreed with the Agent) which
          the Principal Borrower is required to produce pursuant to Clause 21.1
          (Financial Information) and which shall include without limitation:

          (i)  a profit and loss statement including numbers showing performance
               in the relevant Monthly Accounting Period, performance in the
               year to date, and a comparison of actual performance against
               budgeted performance as set out in the Annual Budget;

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                                                                              18

<PAGE>

          (ii) a balance sheet including numbers showing performance in the
               relevant Monthly Accounting Period, performance in the year to
               date, and a comparison of actual performance against budgeted
               performance as set out in the Annual Budget;

          (iii)a cash flow statement including numbers showing performance in
               the relevant Monthly Accounting Period, performance in the year
               to date, and a comparison of actual performance against budgeted
               performance as set out in the Annual Budget;

          (iv) a cashflow forecast (prepared on a basis acceptable to the Agent)
               as at the end of each Quarterly Period for the 6 months
               thereafter;

          (v)  in the Management Accounts referable to the relevant period of
               testing only, a schedule demonstrating in reasonable detail
               (together with appropriate workings and calculations) whether or
               not the financial covenants set out in Clause 20.1 (Financial
               Covenants) have been complied with in relation to the relevant
               period;

          "Managers" means each of the Managers as defined in the Investment
          Agreement;

          "Margin" means:-

          (i)  in relation to the Tranche A Term Loan Facility, 2% per annum
               prior to 15 October 2001, and thereafter, 1.5% per annum; and

          (ii) in relation to the Tranche B Term Loan Facility, 3.5% per annum
               prior to 15 October 2001, and thereafter, 1.5% per annum;

          or such other percentage as may be established from time to time in
          accordance with this Agreement;

          "Market Report" means the market report in the agreed terms prepared
          by Arthur D Little Limited addressed (inter alia) to the Agent (for
          itself and on behalf of the Senior Lenders);

          "Material Adverse Effect" means any event or circumstance which has or
          could reasonably be expected to:

          (i)  have a material adverse effect on the ability of any Obligor to
               perform its payment obligations under any of the Banking
               Documents; or

          (ii) have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Borrowers to
               comply with the financial covenants contained in clause 20
               (Financial Ratios); or

          (iii)have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or
               financial condition of the Group or any substantial part of the
               Group; or

          (iv) result in any Banking Document not being legal, valid and binding
               on, and enforceable substantially in accordance with its material
               terms against any party to that Banking Document and/or, in the
               case of Security Documents not providing to the Security Trustee
               (or other holder of the security interest(s) created by that
               Security Document) for itself and on behalf of the Security
               Beneficiaries, perfected and enforceable security over the assets
               purported to be covered by that Security Document;

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                                                                              19

<PAGE>

          in each case in a manner and to an extent reasonably considered by the
          Majority Banks to be materially adverse to the interests of the Senior
          Lenders under the Banking Documents;

          "Material Company" means the Principal Borrower and any other Charging
          Company and any Material Subsidiary (if not a Charging Company);

          "Material Subsidiary" means:-

          (i)  any Group Company whose sales, assets, net worth or earnings is
               not less than 5% of the aggregate sales, assets, net worth or
               earnings of the Group; or

          (ii) a company (being itself a subsidiary of the Principal Borrower)
               which is a holding company of such a member or which is a holding
               company of members of the Group and which on a consolidated basis
               has sales, assets, net worth or earnings of not less than 5% of
               the aggregate sales, assets, net worth or earnings of the Group;

          "Millennium Compliance" means the ability of the Target Group to
          procure that its systems are Millennium Compliant in all material
          respects by 31st December 1999;

          "Millennium Compliant" means that when correctly operated without
          being connected to a system which is not Millennium Compliant (i) the
          date change at the end of 1999 will not cause the computer and
          information technology system of any member of the Target Group to
          malfunction, end abruptly, provide invalid results or adversely affect
          the business of any member of the Target Group, (ii) neither the
          performance nor functionality of the computer and information
          technology systems of any member of the Group is or will be affected
          by dates before, during or after the year 2000, and (iii) in
          particular (but without limitation) in respect of the computer and
          information technology systems of any member of the Target Group:-

          (a)  no value for current date causes or will cause any interruption
               in operation;

          (b)  date-based functionality behaves and will behave consistently for
               dates before, during and after the year 2000;

          (c)  in all interfaces and data storage, the century in any date is
               and will be specified either explicitly or by unambiguous
               algorithms or inferencing rules; and

          (d)  the year 2000 is and will be recognised as a leap year;

          "Minimum Transfer Amount" means in relation to the Tranche A Term Loan
          (pound)1,000,000, and in relation to the Tranche B Term Loan,
          (pound)250,000;

          "MLA Rate" in relation to each Advance or overdue amount denominated
          in Sterling means, for the Interest Period relating to that Advance or
          overdue amount, the cost imputed to each Bank participating in such
          Advance or overdue amount through a facility office in the United
          Kingdom of compliance with the requirements of the Bank of England as
          to special deposits or cash ratio deposits or any charge imposed by
          the Financial Services Authority (or other authority which replaces
          it) in respect of eligible liabilities (as defined by the Bank of
          England Act 1998 or by the Bank of England) during that Interest
          Period, expressed as a percentage rate per annum and determined by
          such Bank in accordance with usual market practice;

          "month" means unless otherwise agreed between the Principal Borrower
          and the Agent a period starting on one day in a calendar month and
          ending on the nearest preceding Business

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                                                                              20

<PAGE>

          Day in the next calendar month save that where a period starts on the
          last Business Day in a calendar month that period shall end on the
          last Business Day in the next calendar month;

          "Monthly Accounting Period" means in each Accounting Period each
          successive calendar month (or, if altered, each period of four or five
          successive weeks), the first of which commences on the first day of
          such Accounting Period and the last of which ends on the last day of
          such Accounting Period except that the first Monthly Accounting Period
          shall be the period beginning on the Completion Date and ending on or
          about the last day of the month in which the Relevant Date falls or if
          this is less than four (or five as the case may be) weeks on or about
          the last day of the immediately following month;

          "Net Borrowings" is defined in Schedule 2 (Financial Definitions);

          "Net Security Value of Stock" is defined in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "Notice of Drawdown" means a notice substantially in the form set out
          in Schedule 3 (Notice of Drawdown) duly completed and signed by the
          relevant Borrower;

          "Obligor" means each of the Principal Borrower, Target and any Group
          Company which is expressed (or required by this Agreement) to be a
          party to any Banking Document;

          "Offer" means the recommended offer proposed to be made by
          PriceWaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the Principal Borrower
          substantially on the terms set out in the Press Release, to acquire
          the whole of the ordinary share capital (whether in issue or falling
          to be allotted) of Target not already owned by the Principal Borrower,
          as such offer may, subject to the prior written consent of the Agent
          (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), be amended,
          added to, revised, renewed or waived from time to time;

          "Offer Costs" means all costs, fees and expenses (and Taxes thereon)
          and all stamp, documentary, registration or similar Tax incurred by or
          on behalf of the Principal Borrower and Target in connection with the
          Offer including the preparation, negotiation and entry into of this
          Agreement and all other documentation in relation to the Offer up to a
          maximum of (pound)2,434,000;

          "Offer Document" means the document substantially in the agreed terms
          to be despatched to shareholders of Target in connection with the
          Offer;

          "Opening Cash Statement" is defined in clause 6.6;

          "Ordinary Shares" means the ordinary shares in the capital of the
          Principal Borrower;

          "Original Working Capital Facility" means the overdraft and ancillary
          facilities of up to (pound)4,000,000 made or to be made available in
          accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Original Working
          Capital Facility Letter or as the case may be or as the context
          requires the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding;

          "Original Working Capital Facility Letter" means the letter dated
          today between Bank of Scotland and the Principal Borrower setting out
          the terms and conditions upon and subject to which Bank of Scotland
          has agreed to make available to the Principal Borrower and other
          Borrowers the Original Working Capital Facility (as amended from time
          to time);

          "Participation" means, in relation to a Bank, its right, title,
          interest and obligations in relation to the Term Loan Facilities
          including without limitation (i) its right to receive its
          Participation

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                                                                              21

<PAGE>

          Proportion of principal and interest in respect of the Term Loans; and
          (ii) its obligation to participate in its Participation Proportion in
          any amounts to be advanced or paid by the Banks under or pursuant to
          or in connection with this Agreement;

          "Participation Amount" means in relation to a Bank its Participation
          Proportion of the Term Loan Advances for the time being outstanding,
          or if no Term Loan Advance shall then be outstanding under the Term
          Loan Facility, its Term Loan Commitment;

          "Participation Proportion" means, in relation to a Bank, at any time,
          in respect of any Facility, the proportion which that Bank's
          Commitment in respect of that Facility bears to the aggregate amount
          of all the Commitments in respect of that Facility at that time;

          "Payments Account Overdraft" means an on demand overdraft facility to
          be provided by the Bank of Scotland in an amount equal to the Tranche
          A and Tranche B Term Loan Facilities made available to the Principal
          Borrower pursuant to Clause 2 (Facilities) hereof;

          "Pensions Report" means the pensions report in the agreed terms
          prepared by KPMG addressed (inter alia) to the Agent (for itself and
          on behalf of the Senior Lenders)

          "Permitted Borrowings" means:-

          (i)  Borrowings under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of
               doubt, any outstandings under the BACS Facility);

          (ii) the Subordinated Loans;

          (iii)Borrowings between Charging Companies and, from the Amendment
               and Restatement Effective Date, unsecured Borrowings of up to
               (pound)5,000,000 from DDI Corp.;

          (iv) Borrowings in any Accounting Period in respect of finance leases
               or contracts for hire purchase where the aggregate capital amount
               outstanding at any time does not in aggregate exceed
               (pound)2,000,000 for the Group;

          (v)  Borrowings under the Hedging Documents;

          (vi) any other Borrowings to which the Majority Banks have given their
               prior written consent;

          (vii)any other Borrowings not exceeding in any Accounting Period in
               aggregate(pound)100,000; and

          (viii)any Borrowings existing at the Relevant Date pending the
               repayment or discharge thereof pursuant to Clause 21.11.1
               (Borrowings) of this Agreement up to a maximum of
               (pound)2,900,000;

          (ix) the Variable Rate Loan Notes 2003 (series 3);

          (x)  the Variable Rate Guaranteed Loan Notes 2004 (series 1);

          (xi) (until the date falling two months after the Relevant Dates) any
               counter indemnity given in respect of the guarantee of the
               Variable Rate Guaranteed Loan Notes 2004 (series 1);

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                                                                              22

<PAGE>

          (xii)guarantees, indemnities (including counter indemnities) or bonds
               given in the ordinary course of and for the purposes of the
               business;

          "Permitted Disposals" means:-

          (i)  Disposals by any Group Company of assets (including cash) in the
               ordinary course of the trading or business activities of that
               Group Company on arm's length terms and for full consideration;
               or

          (ii) Disposals by one Charging Company to another Charging Company; or

          (iii)provided no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has
               occurred which has not been waived by the Agent or remedied
               Disposals (other than of any shares in Group Companies and those
               falling in any other category of this definition) on arm's length
               terms by Group Companies, in respect of which the disposal value
               of any single item does not exceed (pound)50,000 and provided
               that the aggregate value in respect of all such disposals by all
               Group Companies in any Accounting Period does not exceed
               (pound)250,000; or

          (iv) provided no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has
               occurred which has not been waived by the Agent or remedied
               Disposals of assets (other than Intellectual Property Rights and
               any real or heritable property or any interest in real property)
               in exchange for other assets, in the reasonable opinion of the
               person effecting the disposal comparable or superior as to type,
               value and quality; or

          (v)  provided no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has
               occurred which has not been waived by the Agent or remedied
               Disposals on arm's length terms of surplus obsolete or redundant
               plant equipment or other assets not required for the efficient
               operation of its business; or

          (vi) provided no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has
               occurred which has not been waived by the Agent or remedied
               Disposals of capital assets (other than Intellectual Property
               Rights and any interest in shares) when the proceeds of the
               disposal are reinvested in other capital assets which are in the
               reasonable opinion of the person effecting the Disposal
               comparable or superior as to type, value and quality or in such
               other assets as the Majority Banks may agree within 9 months of
               the disposal occurring provided that forthwith upon receipt of
               such disposal proceeds, such proceeds shall be paid over to and
               be held by the Security Trustee in a Cash Collateral Account
               pending such reinvestment and (in the absence of such
               reinvestment the disposal proceeds shall be applied to prepay the
               Term Loan in accordance with Clause 13.3 (Proceeds of Disposals);
               or

          (vii)Disposals to which the Agent (acting on the instructions of the
               Majority Banks unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement)
               has given its prior written consent; or

          (viii) Disposals contracted or committed for prior to the Relevant
               Date provided they are in the ordinary course of business or were
               fully disclosed in the Business Plan; or

          (ix) Disposals of cash for any purpose not restricted by this
               Agreement; or

          (x)  Disposals by any Group Company by the temporary application of
               funds, not immediately required in the disposing entity's
               business, in the purchase or making of short term investments, or
               the realisation of such investments; or

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                                                                              23

<PAGE>

          (xi) Disposals by any Group Company by the application of the proceeds
               of any insurance recovery in or towards the reinstatement or
               replacement of the asset in respect of which the same were paid;
               or

          (xii)The Disposal of Finishing Technologies Limited and/or Osborne
               Electronic Limited (limited to assets in those companies at the
               date of this agreement or acquired in the ordinary course of
               business hereafter) on terms set out in the Business Plan or such
               other terms approved by the Agent;

          Permitted Investment" means:

          (i)  Investments in any Charging Company;

          (ii) any other Investment to the extent that the amounts of
               Investments made after the date of this Agreement do not exceed
               in any Accounting Period (pound)25,000 individually or
               (pound)50,000 in aggregate while the Term Loans or any part
               thereof shall be outstanding, provided that the maximum aggregate
               investment in any single Joint Venture, company, partnership,
               firm, business, consortium or other enterprise or entity shall
               not exceed at any time (pound)50,000;

          "Permitted Security Interest" means:-

          (i)  a lien or right of set-off arising between Charging Companies or
               in the ordinary course of business solely by operation of law (or
               by contractual provisions having a substantially similar effect);

          (ii) any Security Interest arising by operation of law with respect to
               Taxes;

          (iii)any Security Interest over goods and documents of title to goods
               arising in the ordinary course of letter of credit and other
               documentary credit transactions entered into in the ordinary
               course of trading;

          (iv) any Security Interest arising by virtue of any bankers lien,
               right of set-off or netting arrangements relating to balances on
               bank accounts which bank accounts are permitted by this
               Agreement;

          (v)  any Security Interest which the Agent (acting on the instructions
               of the Majority Banks) has at any time in writing agreed shall be
               a Permitted Security Interest;

          (vi) any Security Interest arising under the Banking Documents;

          (vii)any Security Interest over any asset arising in the ordinary
               course of business as a result of a title-retention or title
               transfer provision in the contract relating to the acquisition of
               that asset;

          (viii)any Security Interest existing at the Relevant Date provided
               that within 42 days after the Relevant Date all indebtedness
               secured by any such Security Interest (except for any Security
               Interests falling within any other category in this definition of
               Permitted Security Interests) shall be repaid by the relevant
               borrower and all such Security Interests shall be fully and
               effectively discharged;

          (ix) hire purchase, leases (including finance leases), deferred
               purchase arrangements and like arrangements if, and insofar as,
               they are not prohibited by this Agreement;

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                                                                              24

<PAGE>

          "Potential Event of Default" means any event which, with the giving of
          notice and/or the lapse of time would constitute an Event of Default;

          "Potential Financial Event of Default" means an event which, with the
          giving of notice under this Agreement and/or lapse of time, would
          constitute a Financial Event of Default;

          "Prepayment Fee Percentage" means:-

          (i)  in respect of any prepayment of the Tranche A Term Loan Facility
               within 2 years of the date of first Drawdown of that Facility, 1%
               of the amount prepaid;

          (ii) in respect of any prepayment of the Tranche B Term Loan Facility
               within 2 years of the date of first Drawdown of the Tranche B
               Term Loan Facility, 3% of the amount prepaid; and

          (iii)in respect of any prepayment of the Tranche B Term Loan Facility
               on or after the second anniversary but before the third
               anniversary of the date of first Drawdown of the Tranche B Term
               Loan Facility, 1.5% of the amount prepaid;

          "Prepayment Notice" means an irrevocable written notice served by a
          Borrower on the Agent giving not less than 10 days (in the case of a
          prepayment of the Tranche A Term Loan Facility) or 30 days (in the
          case of a prepayment of the Tranche B Term Loan Facility) notice that
          a Borrower wishes to prepay the whole or any permitted part of the
          relevant Term Loan;

          " Pre Press Release Letter" means the letter from the Financial
          Assistance Auditors in the agreed terms;

          "Press Release" means a press announcement to be released by the
          Principal Borrower announcing the terms of the Offer;

          "Pro Forma Financial Assistance Documents" means the documents
          relating to financial assistance substantially in the agreed form or
          with such amendments thereto as the Agent may reasonably require in
          accordance with best practice having regard to the circumstances
          prevailing at the time of the intended execution of such documents;

          "Projected EBITD" means for any relevant period the projected EBITD as
          shown by, or reasonably determined by the Agent from the information
          contained in, the Business Plan;

          "Properties" means all interests of the Group Companies in any
          property;

          "Property Report" means a report on the Properties in the agreed terms
          prepared by Messrs Chestertons;

          "Qualifying Investor" means

          (a)  a subsidiary of an Initial Investor; or

          (b)  a member of the British Venture Capital Association; or

          (c)  an investment fund managed by a member of the British Venture
               Capital Association; or

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                                                                              25

<PAGE>

          (d)  in the case of a transfer by an investment fund managed by a
               member of the British Venture Capital Association, a member of
               that investment fund; or

          (e)  a Qualifying Bank; or

          (f)  a financial institution specialising in the provision of
               mezzanine loan funding or a Subsidiary thereof or an investment
               fund managed thereby; or

          (g)  an individual approved by the Agent, such approval not to be
               unreasonably withheld

          who has previously or simultaneously agrees with the then parties
          thereto to be bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement
          as an Investor by entering into a suitable deed of accession;

          "Qualifying Lender" means a bank as defined in Section 840A Taxes Act
          1988 for the purposes of Section 349 of that Act which is within the
          charge to UK corporation tax as respects any interest payable or paid
          to it pursuant to any Banking Document and to which it is beneficially
          entitled at the time that such interest is paid;

          "Quarter Day" 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December;

          "Quarterly Period" means in each Accounting Period each period of
          three successive Monthly Accounting Periods, the first of which
          commences on the first day of such Accounting Period and the last of
          which ends on the last day of such Accounting Period except that the
          first Quarterly Period shall be the period beginning on the Completion
          Date and ending on the next Quarter Day unless such Quarter Day is
          less than 90 days after the Completion Date in which case the
          immediately following Quarter Day;

          "Receiving Bank" means the Bank of Scotland as receiving bank in
          connection with the Offer;

          "Receiving Bank Account" means an account with the Receiving Bank in
          the name of the Principal Borrower to receive the proceeds of
          subscriptions for shares of the Principal Borrower and the
          Subordinated Loans;

          "Receiving Bank Instruction Letter" means the instruction letter in
          the agreed terms between the Principal Borrower and the Receiving
          Bank;

          "Relevant Date" means the date on which the Offer is declared or
          becomes unconditional in all respects following acceptances of the
          Offer having been received and not withdrawn in respect of, and/or the
          Principal Borrower having otherwise acquired or agreed to acquire in
          the open market or by private treaty, 90% or more of the Target Shares
          to which the Offer relates (or such lower percentage in excess of 50%
          as the Agent may otherwise agree with the Principal Borrower) PROVIDED
          THAT an acquisition of Target Shares otherwise than pursuant to the
          Offer must be treated as an acceptance of the Offer for the purposes
          of Section 429(8) of the Companies Act 1985 and in any event must have
          been acquired in accordance with the Code;

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                                                                              26

<PAGE>

          "Repayment Dates" means in relation to each Tranche A and Tranche B
          Term Advance, each date referred to in Clauses 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3
          respectively;

          "Report on Title" means the report on title in the agreed terms
          prepared by the Principal Borrower's solicitors in respect of the
          Properties and addressed (inter alia) to the Agent (for itself and on
          behalf of the Senior Lenders);

          "Reservations" means the principle that equitable remedies are
          remedies which may be granted or refused at the discretion of the
          court, the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy,
          insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoria,
          administration and other laws generally affecting the rights of
          creditors, the time barring of claims under the Limitation Acts, the
          possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or to
          indemnify against non-payment of UK stamp duty may be void, defences
          of set-off or counterclaim and similar principles and similar matters
          arising under the laws of any foreign jurisdictions in which the
          relevant obligations may have to be performed;

          "Second Debenture" means the guarantee and debenture in the agreed
          terms to be issued by each of the Initial Charging Companies (other
          than the Principal Borrower) in favour of the Security Trustee to
          secure their respective obligations to the Security Beneficiaries;

          "Security Beneficiaries" means the Agent, the Banks, the Working
          Capital Bank, the Hedging Counterparty (provided the Hedging
          Counterparty is Bank of Scotland or Bank of Scotland Treasury Services
          plc );

          "Security Documents" means the First Debenture, the Second Debenture
          and the Third Debenture, the Keyman Insurance Assignment, the Legal
          Charge, the Security Trust Deed and any other documents entered into
          from time to time by any Group Company to secure for the benefit of
          the Security Beneficiaries or any of them any liabilities owed by any
          Group Company under or in connection with the Banking Documents to
          some or all of the Senior Lenders;

          "Security Interest" includes any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge,
          assignment by way of security, hypothecation, security interest,
          standard security, assignation in security, bond and floating charge
          or any other security agreement or arrangement entered into for the
          purpose and having the effect of providing security (excluding
          retention of title clauses) whether relating to existing or future
          assets (including, without limitation the deposit of monies or
          property with a person with the primary intention of affording such
          person a right of set-off or lien);

          "Security Trust Deed" means the security trust deed in the agreed
          terms to be entered into between the Security Beneficiaries, the
          Security Trustee, the Principal Borrower and the Charging Companies;

          "Security Trustee" means the person described as such in the Security
          Trust Deed;

          "Senior Interest" is defined in Schedule 2 (Financial Definitions);

          "Senior Lenders" means the Banks, the Working Capital Bank and the
          Hedging Counterparty (provided the Hedging Counterparty is Bank of
          Scotland or Bank of Scotland Treasury Services plc);

          "Service Agreements" means service agreements in the agreed form in
          respect of the Keymen;

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                                                                              27

<PAGE>

          "Share Purchase Term Loan Facilities" means the Tranche A Term Loan
          Facility and the Tranche B Term Loan Facility;

          "Shares of the Principal Borrower" means any of the shares of the
          Principal Borrower, including without limitation the Ordinary Shares
          and the A Ordinary Shares;

          "Six Monthly Period" means in each Accounting Period, each of the two
          periods of six successive Monthly Accounting Periods, the first of
          which commences on the first day of such Accounting Period and the
          second of which ends on the last day of such Accounting Period, except
          that the first Six Monthly Period shall be the Six Monthly Accounting
          Period beginning on the Completion Date and ending on the second
          Quarter Day following the Completion Date;

          "Sterling" and "(pound)" means the lawful currency for the time being
          of the United Kingdom;

          "Stock" is defined in Schedule 2 (Financial Definitions);

          "Strategic Sale" means a sale of the whole or a substantial part
          (being more than 90% of the consolidated gross assets)of the business
          assets and undertaking of the Group (taken as a whole);

          "Subordinated Investors Loan" means the loan made by the Investors to
          the Principal Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Investment
          Agreement;

          "Subordinated Lenders" means the Investors and the Managers;

          "Subordinated Loans" means the Subordinated Investors Loan and the
          Subordinated Managers Loan;

          "Subordinated Managers Loan" means the loan made by the Managers to
          the Principal Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Investment
          Agreement;

          "Subsidiary" means:-

          (i)  a subsidiary as defined in Section 736 of the Companies Act,
               1985; and

          (ii) for the purposes of Clause 20 (Financial Ratios) only a
               subsidiary undertaking as defined in Section 258 of the Companies
               Act 1985;

          "Summary of Borrowings being Refinanced" means the summary of the
          existing banking facilities used by and available to the Target Group
          as at the Completion Date in the agreed terms prepared by the Target
          Group's existing bankers or such other party as Bank of Scotland shall
          agree and including confirmation that no events of default are
          outstanding or have been waived;

          "Target" means Symonds Plc, a company incorporated in England and
          Wales with registered number 445250;

          "Target Group" means, at any time, Target and its Subsidiaries at that
          time;

          "Target Group Share Schemes" means the Approved Executive Share Option
          Scheme of Target;

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                                                                              28

<PAGE>

          "Target Shares" means the existing unconditionally allotted or issued
          and fully paid shares of (pound)1 each in Target and any further such
          shares which are unconditionally allotted or issued fully paid or
          credited as fully paid whilst the Offer remains open for acceptance
          whether pursuant to the exercise of options granted under the Target
          Group Share Schemes or otherwise;

          "Taxes" means all present and future taxes, levies, duties,
          withholdings or similar charges of whatever nature and wherever levied
          or assessed, together with interest thereon and any penalties in
          respect thereof and "Taxation" shall be construed accordingly;

          "Term Loan Facilities" means prior to the Amendment and Restatement
          Effective Date, the Tranche A Term Loan Facility, the Tranche B Term
          Loan Facility and the Tranche C Term Loan Facility and thereafter, the
          Tranche A Term Loan Facility and the Tranche B Term Loan Facility, and
          "Term Loan Facility" means any of them;

          "Term Loans" means prior to the Amendment and Restatement Effective
          Date the Tranche A Term Loan, the Tranche B Term Loan and the Tranche
          C Term Loan and thereafter, the Tranche A Term Loan and the Tranche B
          Term Loan, and "Term Loan" means any of them as the context requires;

          "Third Debenture" means the composite guarantee and debenture in the
          agreed terms to be entered into by all the Charging Companies (other
          than the Principal Borrower) in favour of the Security Trustee as
          trustee for the Security Beneficiaries and the expression "the
          Debenture" shall where appropriate include any further guarantee and
          debenture or other security executed or to be executed by one or more
          Charging Companies in favour of the Security Trustee as trustee for
          the Security Beneficiaries securing any liabilities incurred by any
          Group Company from time to time;

          "Third Debenture Date" means the date the Third Debenture is delivered
          to the Security Trustee;

          "Total Assets" is defined in Schedule 2 (Financial Definitions);

          "Total Debt" has the meaning specified in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "Total Debt Service" has the meaning specified in Schedule 2
          (Financial Definitions);

          "Total Interest" has the meaning specified in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "Trade Debtors" has the meaning specified in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "Tranche A Term Loan" means the principal amount of each advance made
          or to be made under the Tranche A Term Loan Facility as from time to
          time reduced by repayment or prepayment;

          "Tranche A Term Loan Facility" means the term loan facility in the
          maximum principal amount of (pound)17,250,000 made available to the
          Borrowers pursuant to Clause 2 (The Facilities);

          "Tranche B Term Loan" means the principal amount of each advance made
          or to be made under the Tranche B Term Loan Facility as from time to
          time reduced by repayment or prepayment;

          "Tranche B Term Loan Facility" means the term loan facility in the
          maximum principal amount of (pound)2,500,000 made available to the
          Borrowers pursuant to Clause 2 (The Facilities);

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                                                                              29

<PAGE>

          "Transaction Documents" means together the Offer Document, the
          Investment Agreement, the Articles, and the Banking Documents;

          "Transfer Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form
          set out in Schedule 6 (Form of Transfer Certificate for a Bank);

          "Transferee" means a bank or other financial institution to which a
          Bank seeks to transfer all or part of its rights and obligations
          hereunder in accordance with Clause 27 (Assignments and Transfers);

          "TUPE Payment" means the aggregate of all costs due to Osborne
          Electronic Limited employees and ex-employees arising out of the
          termination of their employment prior to the date of this Agreement
          and paid pursuant to TUPE legislation;

          "2001 Working Capital Facility" means the overdraft and ancillary
          facilities of up to (pound)10,000,000 made or to be made available in
          accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the 2001 Working
          Capital Facility Letter or as the case may be or as the context
          requires the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding;

          "2001 Working Capital Facility Letter" means the letter dated on or
          about the date of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement between,
          amongst others, Bank of Scotland and the Principal Borrower setting
          out the terms and conditions upon and subject to which Bank of
          Scotland has agreed to make available to the Principal Borrower and
          other Borrowers the 2001 Working Capital Facility (as amended from
          time to time);

          "UK Company" means any Group Company which is incorporated in England
          and Wales or Scotland and "UK Companies" means all or any of them;

          "Whitewashability Certificate" is defined in Schedule 4, Part I,
          clause 4.3;

          "Whitewash Directors" means the directors of the Principal Borrower at
          the date of the issue of the Press Release and all those who are
          intended to be or may be directors of the Principal Borrower and/or
          the Initial Charging Companies at the time of intended execution of
          the Pro Forma Financial Assistance Documents;

          "Working Capital" has the meaning specified in Schedule 2 (Financial
          Definitions);

          "Working Capital Facility" means the 2001 Working Capital Facility or
          the Original Working Capital Facility, as the context requires;

          "Working Capital Facility Letter" means the 2001 Working Capital
          Facility Letter or the Original Working Capital Facility Letter, as
          the context requires (as amended from time to time);

     1.2. Interpretation

          1.2.1. Save where the contrary is indicated, any reference in this
               Agreement to:-

                    (i)  this Agreement or any document include references to
                         this Agreement or such other document as varied,
                         supplemented, novated and/or replaced in any manner
                         from time to time;

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                                                                              30

<PAGE>

                    (ii) any statutory provision shall be deemed to include
                         references to such statutory provision as from time to
                         time re-enacted, amended, extended or replaced;

                    (iii) the Principal Borrower, any Group Company, any
                         Borrower, any Charging Company, the Agent, any Bank,
                         the Senior Lenders, the Security Trustee, the
                         Investors, the Subordinated Lenders or any Security
                         Beneficiary shall, where relevant, be deemed to include
                         their respective successors or assignees;

                    (iv) the singular shall include the plural and vice versa.

          1.2.2. Headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall
               not affect its interpretation.

          1.2.3. The words "including" or "in particular" are to be construed as
               being by way of illustration or emphasis only and are not to be
               construed as, nor shall they take effect as, limiting the
               generality of any preceding words.

          1.2.4. Where the expression "such consent not to be unreasonably
               withheld or delayed" or similar is used in this Agreement in
               relation to any consent or other approval from the Agent or any
               of the Senior Lenders such expression shall be construed on the
               basis of what is reasonable in relation to the interests of the
               Senior Lenders applying usual lending criteria.

2.   THE FACILITIES

     2.1. Commitments: Subject to the terms of this Agreement:-

          (i)  Bank of Scotland agrees to make the Payments Accounts Overdraft
               and the Banks agree to make the Share Purchase Term Loan
               Facilities available to the Principal Borrower;

          (ii) not restated;

          (iii) the Working Capital Bank agrees to make the Working Capital
               Facility available to the Borrowers.

     2.2. Proportionate Participation: Each of the Banks agrees to participate
          in Advances made pursuant to the Term Loan Facilities in each case in
          its Participation Proportion for that Facility, up to an aggregate
          maximum principal amount not exceeding its Commitment in respect of
          that Facility.

     2.3. Obligations Several: The obligations of each Senior Lender under this
          Agreement shall be several. Failure of a Senior Lender to carry out
          its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other party hereto of
          any of its obligations hereunder. Neither the Agent nor any Senior
          Lender shall be responsible for the obligations of any other Senior
          Lender. The Agent shall, however, promptly after becoming aware of the
          same give the Principal Borrower notice of any failure by a Senior
          Lender to carry out any payment obligation.

     2.4. Rights Several: After the Final Repayment Date for the Facilities or
          after the Agent shall have made any declaration referred to in Clause
          23.2 (Rights on a Default) each Senior Lender shall

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                                                                              31

<PAGE>

          have a separate cause of action against the Borrowers in respect of
          any sums due to the Senior Lender in respect of the Facilities which
          shall not have been repaid.

     2.5. Separate Rights of Protection: Subject to the terms and conditions of
          this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, each Senior Lender may
          separately protect and enforce its rights hereunder, and it shall not
          be necessary for any other Senior Lender or the Agent to be joined as
          an additional party in any proceedings for such purpose.

3.   PURPOSE

     3.1. The Payment Accounts Overdraft: The Payment Accounts Overdraft may be
          used as and when required by the Principal Borrower to fund any cash
          consideration payable by the Principal Borrower to shareholders of
          Target after the Relevant Date. The Payment Accounts Overdraft shall
          at all times, and notwithstanding any other provision of this
          Agreement, be repayable on demand. The Payment Accounts Overdraft
          shall be reduced to zero on each occasion it reaches(pound)250,000 or
          more by a drawing under first the Tranche B Term Loan Facility and
          thereafter the Tranche A Term Loan Facility and it shall in any event
          be reduced to zero by the end of the Commitment Period for the Share
          Purchase Term Loan Facilities. No drawing under the Payment Accounts
          Overdraft shall be permitted if the amount of such drawdown would
          exceed the Available Share Purchase Facility.

     3.2. The Share Purchase Term Loan Facilities: Each Advance under the Share
          Purchase Term Loan Facilities will be applied in or towards:

          (i)  financing or refinancing the consideration payable by the
               Principal Borrower for the Target Shares being acquired by the
               Principal Borrower either pursuant to the Offer or in the open
               market or by private treaty, PROVIDED THAT an acquisition of
               Target Shares otherwise than pursuant to the Offer must be
               treated as an acceptance of the Offer for the purposes of
               s.429(8) of the Companies Act 1985 and in any event must be made
               in accordance with the Code (and after the Relevant Date, in the
               open market or by private treaty); and/or

               (ii) financing or refinancing the Offer Costs; and/or

               (iii) financing or refinancing the consideration payable by the
                    Principal Borrower (including the discharge of the Payments
                    Account Overdraft referred to in Clause 3.1) pursuant to the
                    implementation of the procedures contained in Sections
                    428-430F of the Companies Act 1985; and/or

               (iv) financing or refinancing the consideration payable to
                    participants in the Target Group Share Scheme pursuant to
                    any relevant offer on terms approved by the Agent (acting on
                    the instructions of the Banks); and/or

               (v)  repaying the Existing Borrowings being Refinanced.

     3.3. Not restated;

     3.4. The Working Capital Facility: The Working Capital Facility shall be
          used for:-

          (i)  the general corporate purposes of the Borrowers; and/or

          (ii) for such other purposes as the Working Capital Bank may from time
               to time agree in writing;

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                                                                              32

<PAGE>

     subject always to any restrictions in the Working Capital Facility Letter.

     3.5. Unlawful Financial Assistance: None of the Facilities shall be used
          for any purpose which would be contrary to the provisions of s151
          Companies Act 1985, unless the provisions of s155 to s158 of that Act
          are actually complied with.

     3.6. Application: Without prejudice to the respective obligations of the
          Principal Borrower and the Borrowers under this Clause 3 (Purpose),
          neither the Agent, the Arranger, the Banks nor the Working Capital
          Bank nor any of them shall be obliged nor be under any duty to concern
          themselves as to the application of amounts drawndown hereunder.

4.   MAXIMUM AMOUNTS

     4.1. Maximum Amounts: Notwithstanding any other provision of this
          Agreement:-

          4.1.1. the Tranche A Term Loan shall in aggregate not
               exceed(pound)17,250,000;

          4.1.2. the Tranche B Term Loan shall in aggregate not
               exceed(pound)2,500,000 prior to the Amendment and Restatement
               Effective Date and thereafter(pound)750,000; and

          4.1.3. not restated;

5.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     5.1. Conditions to the Obligations of the Senior Lenders: The Senior
          Lenders will not be obliged to advance monies under the Facilities:

          (i)  until the Offer shall have become or is declared unconditional in
               all respects following acceptances of the Offer having been
               received and not withdrawn in respect of and/or the Principal
               Borrower having otherwise acquired or agreed to acquire in the
               open market or by private treaty, 90% or more of the Target
               Shares to which the Offer relates (or such lower percentage in
               excess of 50% as the Agent may otherwise agree with the Principal
               Borrower) PROVIDED THAT an acquisition of Target Shares otherwise
               than pursuant to the Offer must be treated as an acceptance of
               the Offer for the purposes of s.429(8) of the Companies Act 1985
               and in any event must be made in accordance with the Code;

          (ii) unless prior to the issue of the Press Release the Agent has
               received (or waived its requirements to receive) all of the
               documents and evidence listed in Part I of Schedule 4 (Conditions
               Precedent) each in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent
               and the Agent upon being requested to do so shall provide written
               confirmation to the Principal Borrower that the same have been
               satisfied; and

          (iii) unless on or prior to the first Drawdown or other utilisation of
               the Facilities, the Agent has received (or waived its
               requirements to receive) all of the documents and evidence listed
               in Part II of Schedule 4 (Conditions Precedent) each in a form
               and substance satisfactory to the Agent;

          (iv) unless the Offer is posted within 28 days of the date of this
               Agreement;

          (v)  if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing either
               under or in respect of any of the following Clauses or (whether
               or not under such Clauses) arising from a wilful act or omission
               of the Principal Borrower and which has not been remedied within

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                                                                              33

<PAGE>

               any applicable grace period but relating only to the Principal
               Borrower (and for the avoidance of doubt not to any member of the
               Target Group) and which, in any case, would have a Material
               Adverse Effect ("the Keystone Events of Default"):

               21.11.7 (Variation or Extension of the Offer)

               23.1.10 (Enforcement Proceedings) (but only if the Principal
               Borrower can as a result of the default invoke Condition 8(g) of
               the Offer

               23.1.11 (Inability to Pay Debts)

               23.1.12 (Insolvency Proceedings)

               23.1.13 (Appointment of Insolvency Practitioner)

               23.1.14 (Administration Order);

               For the avoidance of doubt, throughout the Certain Funds Period,
               the Principal Borrower shall be entitled to drawdown Advances
               under the Term Loan Facilities and amounts by way of overdraft
               under the Payment Accounts Overdraft and the Banks shall be
               obliged to make Advances available in accordance with this
               Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any Event of Default
               or Potential Event of Default or any breach of any of the other
               Banking Documents, save for the Keystone Events of Default.

     5.2. Conditions for Drawdowns:

          5.2.1. The obligations of the Banks to permit any Drawdown of the
               Tranche A Term Loan Facility is subject to the further condition
               precedent that the Tranche B Term Loan Commitment shall have been
               fully drawn prior to or contemporaneously with such Drawdown.

          5.2.2. The obligation of the Working Capital Bank to permit any
               utilisation of the Working Capital Facility by any Borrower
               (other than the Principal Borrower) is subject to the further
               condition precedent that at the time of first utilisation, the
               Borrowers (other than the Principal Borrower) have (save as
               otherwise permitted by the Agent in writing) complied with their
               obligations under (i) Clause 6.2 (Security) to deliver to the
               Agent the executed Second Debenture, Keyman Insurance Assignment
               and Deeds of Accession and (ii) under Clause 21.11.1 (Borrowings)
               to refinance the Existing Borrowings being Refinanced and any
               Security Interests relating thereto.

          5.2.3. The obligation of the Working Capital Bank to permit any
               utilisation of the Working Capital Facility by the Principal
               Borrower is subject to the further condition precedent that the
               Borrowers' obligations under clauses 21.13.7 (Re-registration as
               a Private Company) and 21.13.8 (Security from the Target Group)
               shall first have been complied with in full.

          5.2.4. The obligations of the Banks to permit any Drawdown of any Term
               Loan Facility by any Borrower other than the Principal Borrower
               are subject to the further conditions precedent that the
               Borrowers' obligations under clauses 21.13.7 (Re-registration as
               a Private Company) and 21.13.8 (Security from the Target Group)
               and in particular the obligation to deliver the Third Debenture
               to the Agent pursuant to clause 21.13.8 (iii) shall first have
               been complied with in full.

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                                                                              34

<PAGE>

          5.2.5. Subject to the provisions of clause 23.3 (The Certain Funds
               Period) the obligations of the Banks and the Working Capital Bank
               (as the case may be) to permit any Drawdown of a Term Loan
               Facility or utilisation of the Working Capital Facility are
               subject to the further conditions precedent that:-

               (i)  at the time of the Drawdown the representations and
                    warranties deemed to be repeated by virtue of Clause 22.2
                    (Deemed Repetition of Representations and Warranties) are
                    true and correct in all material respects; and

               (ii) at the time of any utilisation and/or the giving of any
                    Notice of Drawdown and on each Drawdown Date no Event of
                    Default or Potential Event of Default is outstanding or
                    would result from the making of the relevant Advances or
                    utilisation.

          5.2.6. Not restated.

     5.3. Undertakings pending Completion: the Principal Borrower undertakes to
          the Senior Lenders to use all reasonable endeavours to procure the
          satisfaction of the conditions precedent to this Agreement as soon as
          reasonably practicable following the execution of this Agreement.
          Prior to the Completion Date, the Principal Borrower undertakes:

          (i)  to inform the Agent forthwith of all matters of which it becomes
               aware concerning the Target Group which would give rise to a
               Material Adverse Effect and to consult fully with the Agent
               concerning all material matters reasonably raised by the Agent
               concerning the Target Group;

          (ii) not to waive, agree or accept any waiver of the conditions of the
               Offer which would give rise to a Material Adverse Effect without
               the previous written consent of the Agent (acting on the
               instructions of all of the Banks). In giving or withholding its
               consent to any waiver or amendment of any conditions of the Offer
               the Agent will treat itself as being bound by Rule 13 of the City
               Code of Takeovers and Mergers as if it were the Principal
               Borrower and subject to the jurisdiction of the Takeover Panel;

          (iii) to notify the Agent immediately upon becoming aware of any
               matters which are reasonably likely to result in any of the
               conditions of the Offer not being satisfied or the Offer not
               proceeding.

     5.4. Lapse:

          5.4.1. The Principal Borrower shall procure that the Press Release is
               not issued until the conditions precedent set out in Part I of
               Schedule 4 (Conditions Precedent) have been satisfied or duly
               waived by the Agent. If the Press Release has not been issued by
               the date 14 days after the signing of this Agreement, then this
               Agreement shall lapse and be of no further force and effect and
               the parties shall be under no further obligation to each other in
               respect of this Agreement.

          5.4.2. Any lapse or withdrawal of the Offer for any reason will result
               in the automatic cancellation and reduction to zero of the
               Commitments.

6.   CONDITIONS SUBSEQUENT

     6.1. Not Restated.

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                                                                              35

<PAGE>

     6.2. Security: The Principal Borrower shall within 28 days after the
          Relevant Date procure that each of the Initial Charging Companies
          (other than the Principal Borrower) shall execute and deliver to the
          Security Trustee the Second Debenture and the Initial Charging
          Companies (other than the Principal Borrower) shall execute and
          deliver to the Agent, Deeds of Accession, Deeds of Intercreditor
          Accession and Deeds of Adherence together with each of the documents
          listed in Part III of Schedule 4 (Conditions Precedent for the
          Granting of Security) duly completed and executed. For the avoidance
          of doubt the provisions of the Second Debenture to be delivered
          pursuant to this provision shall not take effect to the extent that to
          do so would constitute financial assistance for the purposes of s.151
          Companies Act 1985 unless and until the requirements of s.155-158
          Companies Act 1985 are complied with, as envisaged by Clause 21.13.8
          (Security from the Target Group).

     6.3. Shares in Target: The Principal Borrower shall:-

          (i)  procure that within 21 days after the Relevant Date share
               certificates and stock transfer forms executed in blank (or such
               other equivalent documentary evidence of title as may be
               necessitated by the application of the Crest settlement system)
               in respect of the shares of Target acquired by the Principal
               Borrower (whether acquired pursuant to the Offer or otherwise)
               are delivered to the Security Trustee by way of security except
               that if the Principal Borrower has not paid for any shares
               because the share certificates or letters of indemnity were not
               available, then the share certificates and blank stock transfer
               forms (or such other documentation) in respect of those shares
               shall be delivered to the Security Trustee within six weeks of
               the Principal Borrower having received the relevant certificates
               or letters of indemnity; and

          (ii) procure that as soon as possible after the Principal Borrower
               acquires other shares in Target share certificates and stock
               transfer forms executed in blank in respect of those shares of
               Target (or such other equivalent documentary evidence as may be
               necessitated by the application of the Crest settlement system)
               are delivered by way of security to the Security Trustee to be
               held by the Security Trustee in accordance with the Security
               Documents.

     6.4. New Articles of Target: The Principal Borrower shall deliver to the
          Agent as soon as practicable after the same are adopted a certified
          copy of the new subsidiary articles of association (if any) (in a form
          satisfactory to the Agent) adopted by Target.

     6.5. Investment Agreement: The Principal Borrower shall promptly enforce
          its rights to require any party to the Investment Agreement to
          subscribe for shares in the Principal Borrower as soon as such person
          is required to do so by the Investment Agreement.

     6.6. Statement of Opening Cash Position: The Principal Borrower shall by 1
          August 1999, deliver to the Agent a detailed Statement ("Opening Cash
          Statement") showing the cash position of the Target Group as at 30
          June 1999 reconciled against the projected cash position as stated in
          the Business Plan and calculated on the same basis. For the avoidance
          of doubt the Opening Cash Statement shall exclude any monies provided
          directly or indirectly by any of the Banks (save, on a pound for pound
          basis, any monies drawn under the Share Purchase Term Facilities and
          actually used to repay in whole or part the Existing Borrowings being
          Refinanced), the Working Capital Bank, the Investors or (on or after
          the date hereof) the Managers.

     6.7. Opening Consolidated Balance Sheet: The Principal Borrower shall
          provide to the Agent an opening consolidated balance sheet within 30
          days of receipt of all the Subordinated Loans or (if earlier) by 1
          August 1999.

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<PAGE>

7.   AVAILABILITY OF THE TERM LOAN FACILITIES

     7.1. Availability during Commitment Period: Subject to the restrictions
          contained in Clause 3.1 (Purpose: Payments Account Overdraft), Clause
          3.2 (Purpose: The Share Purchase Term Loan Facilities) and Clause 3.5
          (Unlawful Financial Assistance) and subject to Clause 5.1 (Conditions
          Precedent) the Payments Account Overdraft and Share Purchase Term Loan
          Facilities shall be made available to the Principal Borrower during
          the Commitment Period for the Share Purchase Term Loan Facilities. At
          the end of the Commitment Period for the Share Purchase Term Loan
          Facilities, any balance on the Payments Account Overdraft shall be
          cleared by a final Drawdown on the Share Purchase Term Loan Facilities
          and any undrawn amount of the Share Purchase Term Loan Facilities
          and/or the Payments Account Overdraft undrawn thereafter shall be
          cancelled, and the limit of the Share Purchase Term Loan Facilities
          shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the Bank of Scotland
          shall demand repayment of the Payments Account Overdraft there shall
          be an automatic drawdown of the Share Purchase Term Loan Facilities of
          such amount as may be required to clear Payment Accounts Overdraft.
          The Tranche B Term Loan shall be drawndown in full before the Tranche
          A Term Loan is drawn.

     7.2. Available Term Loan Facility: No Notice of Drawdown under the Term
          Loan Facilities shall be served if;

          7.2.1. the amount of the proposed Advance is in excess of the
               Available Term Loan Facility; or

          7.2.2. the amount of the proposed Advance (or where Advances are
               requested under more than one Term Loan Facility, the aggregate
               of such Advances) is less than (pound)1,000,000 or is not a
               multiple of (pound)1,000,000 or is not to clear the final balance
               on the Payments Account Overdraft or for such other amount as the
               Agent (acting reasonably) shall permit; or

          7.2.3. the number of Advances for the time being outstanding under
               each of the Term Loan Facilities after the making of the proposed
               Advance would exceed four provided that there shall be permitted
               in addition to such number of Advances as many other Advances as
               may be required to clear the Payments Account Overdraft.

          7.2.4. the number of different dates on which Interest Periods for
               Advances are due to expire shall not at any time exceed 4.

     7.3. Not restated.

     7.4. Notice of Drawdown Required: A Drawdown under any of the Term Loan
          Facilities may not be made unless a Notice of Drawdown has been
          delivered to the Agent not later than noon one Business Day before the
          proposed Drawdown Date or such other time as the Agent shall agree.
          The first Notice of Drawdown under the Term Loan Facilities shall
          confirm that:

          (i)  the Subordinated Loans have been (or will simultaneously with
               Drawdown be) paid to the Principal Borrower in an amount
               of(pound)14,205,000;

          (ii) the following proceeds of subscription for shares in the
               Principal Borrower have been (or will simultaneously with
               Drawdown be) received in cash by the Principal Borrower or in
               respect of certain of the Ordinary Shares to be subscribed by the
               Managers, the Receiving Bank has received irrevocable letters of
               instruction

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                                                                              37

<PAGE>

               authorising an equivalent amount of the proceeds to be received
               in respect of such Managers' Target Shares to be used to
               subscribe for the relevant Ordinary Shares:-

               Ordinary Shares   (pound)1,240,000

               -----------

               TOTAL             (pound)1,240,000
                                 ================

8.   AVAILABILITY OF THE WORKING CAPITAL FACILITY

     The Working Capital Facility shall be made available on the terms of the
     Working Capital Facility Letter.

9.   INTEREST PERIODS

     9.1. Interest Periods: Except as stipulated in Clause 10.7 (Market
          Disruption) and subject to Clause 10.8 (Default Interest), the
          Interest Periods for each Advance shall where all or part of the Term
          Loans are the subject of the Hedging Arrangements be periods of such
          duration as shall equate to the interest periods (if any) applicable
          to the Hedging Arrangements at least as regards the amount of the Term
          Loans so hedged or in the absence of any Hedging Arrangements
          applicable to the Term Loans, periods of one, three or six months'
          duration as the relevant Borrower shall select or such other periods
          as the Agent (acting reasonably) shall permit (in each case as
          selected by such Borrower by giving not less than one Business Day
          prior notice to the Agent), except in relation to the Drawdown of the
          Advances on the Completion Date in respect of which notice must be
          given to the Agent before noon on the Completion Date PROVIDED THAT:

          9.1.1. if the relevant Borrower fails to give a notice of selection in
               accordance with the above, the duration of the relevant Interest
               Period shall be one month;

          9.1.2. if the relevant Borrower so elects, but subject always to the
               other provisions of this Agreement, it may divide an Advance into
               two or more parts and designate different Interest Periods for
               such parts and each part of an Advance so divided shall
               thereafter constitute a separate Advance;

          9.1.3. any Interest Period that would otherwise end at any time after
               the Final Repayment Date shall end on that date; and

          9.1.4. the relevant Borrower shall select the duration of Interest
               Periods so as to ensure that each Repayment Date is also the last
               day of an Interest Period for an Advance or Advances in an
               aggregate principal amount at least equal to that part of the
               Term Loan Facilities repayable on such Repayment Date and, to the
               extent that the relevant Borrower does not do so, the Agent is
               authorised to shorten an Interest Period for an Advance in order
               to comply with this provision.

10.  INTEREST

     10.1. Rate of Interest:

          10.1.1. Payments Account Overdraft: The rate of interest on the
               Payments Account Overdraft shall be the Margin applicable to the
               Tranche B Term Loan Facility (until

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<PAGE>

               the Tranche B Term Loan Facility has been drawndown in full in
               which case the Margin shall thereafter be the Margin applicable
               to the Tranche A Term Loan) plus Bank of Scotland's base rate
               applicable from time to time.

          10.1.2. Term Loans: The rate of interest on each Advance in any
               Interest Period shall be a rate per annum equal to the aggregate
               of:

                    (i)  the applicable Margin;

                    (ii) LIBOR; and

                    (iii) the MLA Rate (if any).

     10.2. Basis of Calculation: Interest shall be calculated by reference to
          the number of days elapsed and on the basis of a 365 day year.

     10.3. Payment: The Borrowers shall pay interest in arrears on each Advance
          and such interest shall be paid to the Agent for the account of the
          Banks on each Interest Payment Date relating to such Advance and on
          the Final Repayment Date for the relevant Facility (except that if an
          Interest Period is longer than six months then accrued interest shall
          be paid on the first Business Day falling six months after the first
          day of the Interest Period and also on the last day of such period).

     10.4. Margin Reduction: Subject to Clause 10.6 (Increase of Margin), the
          Margin for the Term Loans (the "Relevant Margin") after the Amendment
          and Restatement Effective Date shall be 1.5% unless Total Debt
          calculated as at any Quarter Day in respect of the preceding 12 month
          period is less than 200 per cent. of EBITDA. In the event that it is,
          then the Relevant Margin in respect of each day of the Quarterly
          Period commencing on such Quarter Day shall be deemed to be 1.25 per
          cent., if the Total Debt so calculated was less than 200 per cent. of
          EBITDA but greater than or equal to 150 per cent. of EBITDA, and 1 per
          cent, if Total Debt was calculated to be less than 150 per cent. of
          EBITDA, provided that: [AK and MW to discuss]

          10.4.1. the Relevant Margin shall never be reduced below 1% (one per
                  cent);

          10.4.2. there shall be no reduction in Relevant Margin and any
               existing reduction shall cease to be applicable if an Event of
               Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is
               continuing unwaived PROVIDED THAT if the only reason for the
               Principal Borrower not receiving a reduction in the Margin is the
               subsistence of a Potential Event of Default, the Principal
               Borrower shall receive the benefit of such reduction in the
               Margin as soon as it has demonstrated to the Agent that the
               relevant Potential Event of Default has been remedied such that
               no Event of Default actually occurs and at the relevant time no
               other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unwaived;
               and

          10.4.3.

               if the Audited Accounts indicate that the Relevant Margin
               reduction should not have been made at any time then an
               additional charge for the relevant period of the reduced Relevant
               Margin shall be payable by the Borrowers within 5 Business Days
               of the delivery of such Audited Accounts, in an amount equal to
               the interest payments that would have been paid at the relevant
               higher Relevant Margin less an amount

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                                                                              39

<PAGE>

               equal to the interest payment actually paid for the relevant
               period.

     10.5. Temporary Restitution of Relevant Margin:

          The Relevant Margin shall be 1.5% (if not already such rate) if and
          for so long as:

          (i)  the Principal Borrower fails to produce the Audited Accounts or
               the Management Accounts in accordance with Clause 21.1 (Financial
               Information); and/or

          (ii) any other Event of Default has occurred which has not been waived
               by the Agent or remedied.

          The date on which such increase (if any) shall take effect shall be
          the date on which the Principal Borrower was due to deliver the
          Audited Accounts or the Management Accounts in accordance with Clause
          21.1 (Financial Information) whether or not an Event of Default has
          been declared, or the date upon which the Agent notifies the Principal
          Borrower that an Event of Default has occurred which has not at the
          date of such notification been waived by the Agent or remedied. In
          either event such temporary increase in the Relevant Margin shall
          cease to take effect when any such breach or Event of Default is
          waived or remedied and the Relevant Margin shall revert to the level
          that would have been applicable had the failure or other Event of
          Default not occurred.

     10.6. Increase of Margin: If within 90 days after the Relevant Date, the
          Principal Borrower has failed to procure the satisfaction by Target
          and the Initial Charging Companies (other than the Principal Borrower)
          of the requirements of s.151-158 Companies Act 1985 in relation to the
          Third Debenture required to be given by Target and the Initial
          Charging Companies (other than the Principal Borrower) or has
          otherwise failed to provide in favour of the Security Trustee the
          Third Debenture duly executed by each of Target and the Charging Group
          and which is fully perfected and enforceable (subject to the
          Reservations) the Margin shall, notwithstanding any other provisions
          of this Agreement, be increased to 3% (three per cent) for the Tranche
          A Term Loan Facility and the Tranche B Term Loan Facility for so long
          as such failure continues.

     10.7. Market Disruption: If by reason of circumstances affecting the London
          Interbank Market generally, adequate and fair means do not exist for
          ascertaining LIBOR, a substitute rate shall be adopted by each Bank
          which fairly expresses the cost to such Bank of funding an Advance
          from whatever sources it may reasonably select after consultation with
          the Principal Borrower.

     10.8. Default Interest:

          10.8.1. If any Borrower fails to pay any sum due under this Agreement
               on its due date for payment the relevant Borrower shall on demand
               by the Agent pay interest on that sum from the due date to the
               date of actual payment (as well after as before judgement) at a
               rate per annum determined by the Agent to be the aggregate of:

               10.8.1.1. LIBOR determined on a basis the Agent may reasonably
                         select;

               10.8.1.2. the highest Margin applicable to the Facilities on the
                         date of such demand;

               10.8.1.3. the MLA Rate (if any); and

               10.8.1.4. 2% (two per cent).

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                                                                              40

<PAGE>

          10.8.2. If by reason of a Financial Event of Default the Agent becomes
               entitled to exercise its rights under Clause 23.2 (Rights on a
               Default) then, whether or not the Agent exercises any such rights
               the rate of interest on each Advance shall thenceforth (until
               remedied to the satisfaction of the Agent or waived) be a rate
               per annum equal to the aggregate of the following (in lieu of the
               rate prescribed by Clause 10.1.2):-

               10.8.2.1. the applicable Margin;

               10.8.2.2. LIBOR;

               10.8.2.3. the MLA Rate (if any); and

               10.8.2.4. 2% (two percent)

11.  BREAK COSTS

     11.1. Amount Payable: If any Bank or the Agent on its behalf receives or
          recovers (including without limitation after an Event of Default), all
          or part of that Bank's share of an Advance otherwise than on the last
          day of the applicable Interest Period and otherwise than as a result
          of the operation of Clause 18 (Change in Law or Regulations), the
          Borrowers shall pay to the Agent on demand for the account of that
          Bank such additional amount, certified by that Bank, (together with a
          brief calculation thereof) as is necessary to compensate it for losses
          (other than loss of Margin) (if any) and reasonable expenses sustained
          or incurred in liquidating or re-deploying funds acquired or committed
          to make, fund or maintain its Participation in such Advance for such
          Interest Period.

     11.2. Funding Indemnity: The Borrowers jointly and severally undertake to
          indemnify each Senior Lender against any loss it may suffer as a
          result of its funding an Advance or other utilisation of the
          Facilities requested by any Borrower but not made by reason of the
          operation of the provisions of this Agreement (and, for the avoidance
          of doubt, not because of any act or omission of any Senior Lender or
          the Agent).

12.  REPAYMENT

     12.1. Repayment of the Tranche A Term Loan:

          12.1.1. The Principal Borrower shall make the following repayments of
                  the Tranche A Term Loan on the dates referred to below:-

Repayment Date                         Amount of Repayment
(last Business Day of the following
months)

06.2000                                (pound)   500,000

09.2000                                (pound)   500,000

12.2000                                (pound)   500,000

03.2001                                (pound)   500,000

06.2001                                (pound)   500,000

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                                                                              41

<PAGE>

09.2001                                (pound)   500,000

12.2001                                (pound)         0

03.2002                                (pound)         0

06.2002                                (pound)         0

09.2002                                (pound)         0

12.2002                                (pound)         0

03.2003                                (pound)   750,000

06.2003                                (pound)   750,000

09.2003                                (pound)   750,000

12.2003                                (pound)   750,000

03.2004                                (pound)   750,000

06.2004                                (pound)   750,000

09.2004                                (pound)   750,000

12.2004                                (pound)   750,000

03.2005                                (pound)   750,000

06.2005                                (pound)   750,000

09.2005                                (pound)   750,000

12.2005                                (pound)   750,000

03.2006                                (pound)   750,000

06.2006                                (pound)   750,000

09.2006                                (pound)   750,000

12.2006                                (pound)   750,000

03.2007                                (pound)   750,000

06.2007                                (pound)   750,000

09.2007                                (pound)   750,000
                                       -----------------
                                       (pound)17,250,000

          12.1.2. The Principal Borrower shall not be entitled to reborrow any
                  amount repaid in accordance with this Clause 12.1.

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<PAGE>

     12.2. Repayment of the Tranche B Term Loan

          12.2.1. The Borrowers shall make the following repayment of the
                  Tranche B Term Loan on the date referred to below:

                  Repayment Date                        Amount of Repayment

                  The last Business Day in December     (pound)750,000
                  2007

          12.2.2. The Principal Borrower shall not be entitled to reborrow any
                  amount repaid in accordance with Clause 12.2.

     12.3. Repayment of the Tranche C Term Loan

          Not Restated.

     12.4. Mandatory Repayment: Notwithstanding any other provision of this
          Agreement, if there is:-

          12.4.1.1.1.1. a Change of Control; or

          12.4.1.1.1.2. a Flotation; or

          12.4.1.1.1.3. a Strategic Sale;

          then the Agent shall (but subject always to the provisions of clauses
          5.1(v) and 23.3), at the request of the Majority Banks, by notice in
          writing to the Principal Borrower, demand the repayment of all amounts
          for the time being outstanding in respect of the Facilities

          If such demand is made the Facilities shall be cancelled and All
          Outstanding Amounts shall become immediately due and payable by the
          relevant Borrowers together with all interest, fees and other amounts
          payable hereunder in respect thereof.

          For the purposes of this Clause 12.4, a Change of Control shall be
          deemed to have occurred if the Principal Borrower becomes a direct
          subsidiary of any company (other than in consequence of a
          reorganisation or amalgamation which is not materially prejudicial to
          the interests of the Banks) which does not, if so requested by the
          Agent in writing, become a guarantor of the obligations of the
          Principal Borrower and its Subsidiaries as if Clause 21.13.9 had been
          applicable.

13.  PREPAYMENT

     13.1. Voluntary Prepayment: The Principal Borrower may at any time (but
          subject always to Clause 11 (Break Costs)) elect to prepay any Term
          Loan by giving the Agent an appropriate Prepayment Notice PROVIDED
          THAT the Principal Borrower shall not make any prepayment of the
          Tranche B Term Loan until all other Facilities have been repaid (if
          drawn) or cancelled (if undrawn). If the prepayment is of part only of
          the Term Loans it must be in an amount of not less than (pound)250,000
          and be a multiple of (pound)250,000. The relevant Borrower shall be
          obliged to make such prepayment on the date specified in the relevant
          Prepayment Notice.

     13.2. Accrued Interest on Prepayments: All prepayments under this Agreement
          shall be made together with accrued interest thereon and all other
          amounts due and payable hereunder in relation thereto.

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<PAGE>

     13.3. Proceeds of Disposals: The proceeds of Permitted Disposals by any
          Group Company may be retained by that Company except where the Agent's
          consent (or that of the relevant Senior Lenders) to any such disposal
          otherwise requires. Where any such proceeds are to be applied to
          reduce the Facilities the net proceeds (after taking into account any
          Taxes or reasonable expenses relating to such Disposal) shall (to the
          extent in each case such reduction shall not be in breach of any
          applicable law prohibiting financial assistance PROVIDED THAT the
          Principal Borrower shall be under an obligation to use its best
          endeavours to procure the compliance by the relevant Group Company
          with such applicable laws or regulations relating thereto which would
          permit such financial assistance to be given) be applied (unless the
          Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Banks otherwise
          agrees) to reduce the Facilities in the following order:-

          13.3.1.1.1.1. the Tranche A Term Loan;

          13.3.1.1.1.2. the Tranche B Term Loan; and

          13.3.1.1.1.3. the Working Capital Facility;

          in each case against such Advances as the Borrowers may select and
          advise the Agent, subject always to the order specified above. Any
          amount repaid pursuant to this Clause 13.3 will reduce the relevant
          Facility by the amount repaid. For the avoidance of doubt, no
          prepayment fee shall be payable in respect of a prepayment made under
          this Clause 13.3. With the consent of the Agent, such consent not to
          be unreasonably withheld or delayed, such proceeds may, instead of
          being applied immediately to reduce the Facilities, be so applied on
          the next Interest Payment Date or Dates. When the Term Loans have been
          repaid in full any surplus arising from Disposals shall be held in a
          Cash Collateral Account to secure the Working Capital Facility until
          the Working Capital Facility is demanded or cancelled and thereafter
          shall be freely available to the depositing Borrower.

     13.4. When any prepayment of the Term Loans is made the amount so prepaid
          shall if it is compulsory be applied to reduce the remaining scheduled
          repayments the Term Loans.

     13.5. Not restated.

14.  PREPAYMENT AND/OR CANCELLATION OF THE FACILITIES

     14.1. Not restated.

     14.2. Effect of Cancellation: Any cancellation of the Facility in part
          shall reduce the Commitment of each Bank in relation to the Facility
          pro rata to its then existing Commitment in respect of that Facility.
          No amounts cancelled shall be reinstated or be available for
          re-drawing. The Principal Borrower may not cancel the whole or any
          part of the Facilities except in accordance with this Clause 14.

     14.3. Not Restated.

15.  PAYMENTS

     15.1. Payments to be made without Deduction: Subject to Clause 16.1
          (Grossing Up of Payments) all payments to be made by the Borrowers in
          respect of the Facilities (whether of principal, interest, fees or
          otherwise) shall be made free and clear of and without any deduction
          for or on account of any set-off or counterclaim or (except to the
          extent compelled by law) any deduction on account of any Applicable
          Taxes.

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                                                                              44

<PAGE>

     15.2. Payments by the Borrowers: Each payment due to the Senior Lenders
          and/or the Agent from the Borrowers or any of them under this
          Agreement (whether of principal interest fees or otherwise) shall be
          made in Sterling to the Agent (for the account of the Senior Lenders
          or the Agent as the case may be) in immediately available freely
          transferable cleared funds not later than 11.00 a.m. on the due date
          to such account at such branch in the United Kingdom as the Agent
          shall have notified to the Principal Borrower.

     15.3. Payments by the Agent: Where any sum is to be paid under this
          Agreement to the Agent for the account of the Senior Lenders, the
          Agent shall not be obliged to pay the same to the Senior Lenders until
          it is satisfied that it has actually received such sum. It may,
          however, assume that it has received such sum and, if it does make
          such a payment when in fact it had not actually received the relevant
          sum, the Senior Lender to which such payment has been made shall
          forthwith on demand refund the amount of such payment to the Agent
          together with interest thereon at the rate determined by the Agent as
          being the cost to the Agent of funding such amount for the period
          until receipt by the Agent thereof.

     15.4. Distribution of Payments: Unless otherwise provided in this
          Agreement, all payments made to the Agent by the Borrowers (or any of
          them) for the account of the Banks shall be promptly distributed by
          the Agent among the Banks in the same proportions as their respective
          Participations in the relevant Advance and in like funds as they are
          received by the Agent.

     15.5. Partial Payments: In the case of a partial payment by the Borrowers
          in respect of any sums due to the Banks hereunder, the Agent may
          appropriate such payment towards such of the obligations of the
          Borrowers under this Agreement as the Agent may decide or the Banks
          shall direct but in either case always pro-rata to the respective
          Participations of the Banks. The Borrowers waive any right to make an
          appropriation in respect of a partial payment. Any appropriation by
          the Agent or the Banks shall apply to the exclusion of any actual or
          purported appropriation by any Borrower.

     15.6. Business Days: If any date for payment of any sum due is not a
          Business Day then such payment shall be made on the next following
          Business Day or, if that Business Day would fall in the following
          month, such payment shall be made on the preceding Business Day.

     15.7. Advances under the Term Loan Facilities: All amounts to be advanced
          to the Principal Borrower under the Term Loan Facilities, other than
          amounts in relation to:

          (i)  Offer Costs, which shall be made to the account of the Principal
               Borrower notified to the Agent in writing within 10 days from the
               date of this Agreement;

          (ii) amounts due to shareholders of Target pursuant to the provisions
               of Sections 428-430F of the Companies Act 1985, which shall be
               paid to Target to be held in accordance with Section 430 of the
               Companies Act 1985;

          (iii) payments to reduce the Payments Account Overdraft;

          (iv) share scheme payments contemplated by Clause 3.2(iv); or

          (v)  payments to repay Existing Borrowings being Refinanced;

          shall, save as the Principal Borrower and the Agent may otherwise
          agree, be transferred to the Receiving Bank Account against receipt of
          forms of acceptance and share certificates or documents of title or an
          acceptable indemnity in lieu thereof relating to the Target Shares in
          respect of which payment is to be made pursuant to the Offer.

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<PAGE>

     15.8. Cash Collateral Accounts:

          15.8.1. Whenever any Borrower is required under the terms of this
               Agreement to provide an amount by way of cash cover or cash
               collateral or elects so to do it shall do so by paying such
               amount as the Agent may direct for the credit of a Cash
               Collateral Account;

          15.8.2. Amounts standing to the credit of a Cash Collateral Account
               shall bear interest at 0.25% below Base Rate. Such interest
               shall:-

               15.8.2.1.1.1. be added to the balance on the Cash Collateral
                    Account unless the Agent holding such deposit otherwise
                    allows;

               15.8.2.1.1.2. if an Event of Default or a Potential Event of
                    Default shall have occurred and is continuing, at the
                    discretion of the Agent, either accrue to the Cash
                    Collateral Account or be applied by the Agent in discharge
                    of interest or other amounts then due hereunder;

          15.8.3. The Agent may direct the Borrowers or any of them to subdivide
               the Cash Collateral Account, whether by opening associated
               accounts which shall also be Cash Collateral Accounts, for the
               purpose of segregating amounts of cash cover;

          15.8.4. Whenever a Cash Collateral Account is established or further
               monies placed in a Cash Collateral Account, each Borrower shall,
               if so required by the Agent, forthwith either:-

               (i)  enter into a Cash Collateral Charge in respect of such Cash
                    Collateral Account; and/or

               (ii) enter into a letter of agreement in relation to such Cash
                    Collateral Account conferring set-off and similar rights in
                    favour of the Agent on behalf of the Senior Lenders. Without
                    prejudice to the provisions of this Clause 15.8 if a Cash
                    Collateral Account is established with the Agent then:-

                    (a)  following the occurrence of an Event of Default the
                         Agent shall be entitled to set-off the credit balance
                         on any Cash Collateral Account against the relevant
                         Group Company's obligations to the Senior Lenders under
                         the Banking Documents;

                    (b)  the amounts standing to the credit of the Cash
                         Collateral Account shall not be repayable to the
                         relevant Group Company (save as otherwise provided
                         herein or in any of the other Banking Documents) unless
                         and until all outstanding payments and liabilities
                         under this Agreement have been repaid and discharged in
                         full; and

                    (c)  the relevant Group Company shall not be entitled to
                         assign, charge or otherwise deal with the Cash
                         Collateral Account or any credit balances thereon
                         except to the extent necessary to comply with this
                         Clause 15.8.4

16.  TAXES

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                                                                              46

<PAGE>

     16.1. Grossing Up of Payments: If any Borrower is compelled by law to
          withhold or deduct any applicable Taxes from any sum payable hereunder
          otherwise than as a result of a Bank not being or ceasing to be a
          Qualifying Lender:

          16.1.1. the sum so payable by the relevant Borrower shall be increased
               ("the Increased Amount") so as to result in the receipt by the
               Agent and/or each Senior Lender (as the case may be) to whom such
               sum is due of a net amount equal to the full amount expressed to
               be payable hereunder;

          16.1.2. the relevant Borrower shall deliver to the Agent as soon as
               reasonably practicable, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
               Agent evidencing the payment by the relevant Borrower to the
               appropriate authority of all amounts so required to be withheld
               or deducted; and

          16.1.3. if as a result of any additional payment by any Borrower under
               Clause 16.1.1 the Agent and/or any Senior Lender obtains any tax
               credit (not otherwise taken into account in determining the
               amount necessary to compensate the Agent or Senior Lender
               pursuant to Clause 16.1.1) then the Agent or that Senior Lender
               (as the case may be) shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to
               such tax credit;

               provided that Increased Amounts shall only be payable by any
               Borrower to any person under this Clause if and so long as such
               person is and continues to be a Qualifying Lender.

     16.2. Exemptions from Gross Up: No Increased Amount will be payable to a
          Bank under Clause 16.1 in respect of Applicable Taxes to the extent
          that (i) such Bank fails to take all reasonable steps to comply with
          any certification, identification, information, documentation or other
          reporting requirement if such compliance is required by law,
          regulation, administrative practice or an applicable treaty as a
          precondition to exemption from or reduction in the rate of deduction
          or withholding of any taxes for which the relevant Borrower is
          required to pay Increased Amounts pursuant to Clause 16.1 as soon as
          practicable after the relevant Borrower shall have notified the
          relevant Bank in writing that it would be required to comply with such
          requirement or (ii) such Applicable Tax constitutes fines or penalties
          imposed solely as a result of a Bank's act or omission.

17.  INCREASED COST

     17.1. Compensation for Increased Cost: If as a result of:-

          (i)  the enactment of or change in any applicable law, regulation, or
               directive or in the interpretation thereof, in each case, after
               the date hereof; or

          (ii) compliance by any Senior Lender with any request (whether or not
               having the force of law but if not having the force of law, being
               a regulation, treaty, official directive, official request or
               rule with which it is the practice of banks to comply) of any
               central fiscal monetary or regulatory authority issued after the
               date hereof; or

          (iii) the imposition or modification after the date hereof of any
               capital adequacy requirements applicable to any Senior Lender and
               affecting banks generally; or

          (iv) any Senior Lender becoming subject to any Tax in respect of its
               participation in the Facilities or any change in the basis of
               Taxation of any payment made or to be made to any Senior Lender
               under the Banking Documents, in each case, occurring after the

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                                                                              47

<PAGE>

               date hereof (except in each case for Tax on the overall net
               income or profits of that Senior Lender) any of the following
               consequences follow:-

               (a)  a Senior Lender incurs an increased cost as a result of its
                    having entered into any of the Banking Documents or
                    performing its obligations thereunder or as a result of
                    assuming or maintaining its Commitment or Participation in
                    the Facilities; or

               (b)  any sum received or receivable by a Senior Lender under any
                    of the Banking Documents or the effective return to it
                    thereunder is reduced (except on account of Tax on its
                    overall net income or profit);

               (c)  a Senior Lender having by law to make any payment (except on
                    account of Tax on its overall net income) or forego any
                    interest or return calculated by reference to any amount
                    received or receivable by it under the Banking Documents;

               the Borrowers shall indemnify each Senior Lender against such
               increased cost, reduction, payment or foregone interest or other
               return (except to the extent the Borrowers have compensated the
               Senior Lender by virtue of any other provisions of this Agreement
               or would have compensated the Senior Lender but for the operation
               of the proviso to Clause 16.1) and, accordingly, the Borrowers
               shall, from time to time on demand (whenever made) pay to the
               Agent for the account of the relevant Senior Lender the amount
               certified by such Senior Lender to be necessary to indemnify it
               on such a basis in a certificate setting out the calculation of
               the amount in reasonable detail but so that the Borrowers will
               not be liable to pay any sum under this Clause to a Senior Lender
               which is not or ceases to be a Qualifying Lender in excess of the
               amount they would have paid hereunder if the Senior Lender had at
               all times been a Qualifying Lender.

     17.2. Limitations on Increased Costs Claims: No Borrower shall be obliged
          to compensate any Bank under Clause 17.1 (Compensation for Increased
          Cost) in respect of any increased cost which is:

          (i)  compensated for by payment of the MLA Rate;

          (ii) attributable to any change in the rate of tax on the overall net
               income of any Bank;

          (iii) attributable to any Bank incurring after the date of this
               Agreement, a commitment to lend (or lending pursuant to any such
               commitment) in breach of any requirement in force at that time of
               any central bank or other fiscal, monetary or other authority
               having jurisdiction over the Bank;

          (iv) incurred by the Bank where that Bank fails to notify the relevant
               Borrower of the increased costs within six months of it becoming
               aware of the same; or

          (v)  (for the avoidance of doubt) arising as a result of the
               implementation of the paper entitled "International Convergence
               of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards" dated July 1988 and
               prepared by the Basle Committee on Banking Regulations and
               Supervision, as amended in November 1991, in the manner in which
               it is required or proposed to be and/or is being implemented at
               the date hereof.

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                                                                              48

<PAGE>

18.  CHANGE IN LAW OR REGULATIONS

     Illegality: If, as the result of the introduction of, or any change in, any
     applicable law, regulation directive or regulatory requirement or any
     change in the interpretation or application thereof, in each case after the
     date hereof it becomes unlawful for a Senior Lender to maintain or give
     effect to its obligations as contemplated by any of the Banking Documents,
     then the Senior Lender shall as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter,
     inform the Agent and the Principal Borrower to that effect whereupon its
     obligation to permit the Facilities to remain outstanding shall forthwith
     terminate and the Borrowers shall prepay, on the latest available date
     permitted by the relevant law, regulation or directive or requirement to
     the Senior Lender all sums as shall be outstanding to that Senior Lender
     together with accrued interest thereon.

19.  MITIGATION

     19.1. Mitigation: If any of the Borrowers becomes obliged to pay any
          additional amounts (or in the case of Clause 18 (Change in Law or
          Regulations) to prepay) to the Agent or any Senior Lender pursuant to
          Clauses 10.7 (Market Disruption), 16 (Taxes), 17 (Increased Cost) or
          18 (Change in Law or Regulations), each Senior Lender to whom such
          additional amounts or prepayment (as the case may be) are payable
          shall, without prejudice to the provisions of those Clauses take such
          steps after consultation with the relevant Borrower in relation to the
          Borrowers and/or the provision of the Facilities as may be reasonable
          to avoid or mitigate the payment of such additional amounts or
          prepayment (as the case may be).

     19.2. Right to Prepay: If any of the Borrowers becomes obliged pursuant to
          Clause 10.7 (Market Disruption), Clause 16 (Taxes), Clause 17
          (Increased Cost) or Clause 18 (Change in Law or Regulations) to make
          any additional payments(or in the case of Clause 18 (Change in Law or
          Regulations) to prepay), then, for so long as the circumstances giving
          rise to such payment continue, the Borrowers may prepay in accordance
          with Clause 13.1 (Voluntary Prepayment) the whole but not part of the
          Participation in the Facilities of any Senior Lender to whom such
          additional payments are payable or illegality relates, together with
          all accrued interest and all other sums payable hereunder for the
          account of such Senior Lender.

20.  FINANCIAL RATIOS

     20.1. Financial Covenants: The Principal Borrower shall procure that:-

          20.1.1. During the term of the Facilities and so long as any part of
                  the Term Loans remain outstanding:

                  The Adjusted Net Worth: the Adjusted Net Worth, to be
                  measured by reference to the relevant Audited Accounts and
                  Management Accounts (as appropriate) at the end of each
                  Quarterly Period, will be greater than the amount set out
                  opposite such period:

Period                                                                (pound)

At all times after the Amendment and Restatement            (pound)25,000,000
Effective Date

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                                                                              49

<PAGE>

          20.1.2. During the term of the Facilities and so long as the Term
                  Loans remain outstanding:-

               20.1.2.1. Assumed Senior Interest Cover: the EBIT to Assumed
                    Senior Interest at the end of each period referred to below
                    shall equal or exceed the ratio set out opposite such period
                    such ratio to be measured by reference to the Management
                    Accounts and calculated on a rolling 12 month basis by
                    reference to the twelve months ending on the last day of the
                    relevant period except that the first occasion on which this
                    covenant shall be tested shall be 31 March 2000 by reference
                    to the Management Accounts in respect of the period from the
                    Full Drawdown Date to 31 March 2000;

Period                                                     Ratio

the Full Drawdown Date to 31 March 2000                      2.5:1

1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000                                 2. 5:1

1 October 1999 to 30 September 2000                         2.75:1

1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000                           2.9:1

1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001                                  3:1

1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001                                  3.3:1

1 October 2000 to 30 September 2001                         3.75:1

1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001                             4:1

1  April   2001  to  31   March   2002   and                   4:1
thereafter,    each    period    of   twelve
consecutive   Monthly   Accounting   Periods
ending  on  30  June,   30   September,   31
December or 31 March

               20.1.2.2. Total Debt to EBITDA: the ratio of Total Debt to EBITDA
                    at the end of each period referred to below shall be less
                    than the ratio set out opposite such period such ratio to be
                    measured by reference to the relevant Management Accounts
                    and where applicable, the Audited Accounts and calculated on
                    a rolling 12 month basis by reference to the twelve months
                    ending on the last day of the relevant period;

Period                               Ratio

Each period of twelve
consecutive                          3:1
Monthly Accounting Periodsending
on 30 September, 31 December, 31

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                                                                              50

<PAGE>

Period                               Ratio

March or 30 June

     20.2. Verification:

          20.2.1. The Principal Borrower shall, unless the Agent agrees to the
               contrary, each year instruct the Auditors, at the same time that
               the Principal Borrower delivers the Audited Accounts to the
               Senior Lenders, to deliver to the Agent a certificate addressed
               to the Agent (for itself and as agent for the Senior Lenders)
               certifying whether or not the financial covenants in Clause 20.1
               (Financial Covenants) have been complied with at the end of the
               Accounting Period covered by the Audited Accounts and such
               certificate shall have annexed to it brief particulars of the
               supporting numbers and ratios and may contain such qualifications
               and assumptions as the Auditors shall reasonably consider
               appropriate.

          20.2.2. The Agent may (and only if it has reasonable grounds believing
               that the covenants contained in Clause 20.1 have not been
               complied with.) require the Auditors to verify compliance with
               the same or the Agent may (and only if after consultation with
               the Investors it has reasonable grounds for forming that belief)
               require the Auditors or, as the Agent shall determine, an
               independent firm of accountants acceptable to the Agent to carry
               out an appropriate investigation into the financial affairs of
               the Group and give a certificate in a form and content
               satisfactory to the Agent certifying such matters as the Agent
               may reasonably request for the relevant period. The costs of
               compliance with such requirements shall be borne by the Principal
               Borrower only once in any Accounting Period so that any
               additional third party costs shall be borne by the Banks.

          20.2.3. At the same time that the Principal Borrower delivers the
               Management Accounts to the Agent for those periods by reference
               to which the financial covenants are to be tested, the Principal
               Borrower shall deliver to the Agent a certificate (addressed to
               the Agent, for itself and as agent for the Senior Lenders)
               certifying whether or not the financial covenants in Clause 20.1
               (Financial Covenants) have been complied with at the end of the
               relevant testing period and such certificate shall have annexed
               to it brief particulars of the supporting numbers and ratios.

21.  COVENANTS

     During the term of the Facilities and for so long as the Term Loans or any
     other monies under this Agreement remain outstanding:

     21.1. Financial Information: The Principal Borrower shall unless the Agent
          (acting on the instructions of all the Banks) otherwise agrees in
          writing:-

     21.1.1. deliver to the Agent for distribution to the Senior Lenders copies
          in sufficient numbers for all of them of:-

          (i)  Audited Accounts of the Principal Borrower: the audited
               -------------------------------------------
               consolidated profit and loss account, balance sheet and cashflow
               statements of the Principal Borrower for each Accounting Period
               ending after the date hereof as soon as the same are available
               but in any event not later than 120 days, from the end of the
               Accounting Period to which the accounts relate;

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                                                                              51

<PAGE>

          (ii) Audited Accounts of Group Companies: the audited profit and loss
               ------------------------------------
               accounts, balance sheets and cashflow statements of any Group
               Company for each Accounting Period ending after the date hereof
               as soon as the same are available but in any event not later than
               120 days, from the end of the Accounting Period to which they
               relate;

          (iii) Management Accounts:
                --------------------

               (aa) Management Accounts for the Group on a consolidated basis
                    within 30 days after the end of each Monthly Accounting
                    Period, except that the first such consolidated Management
                    Accounts shall be produced in respect of the Monthly
                    Accounting Period commencing immediately after the Relevant
                    Date PROVIDED THAT in relation to the Monthly Accounting
                    Period in which the Relevant Date occurs, the Principal
                    Borrower shall also deliver to the Agent Management Accounts
                    for each prior Monthly Accounting Period in the then current
                    Accounting Period incorporating a comparison of actual
                    EBITDA against budgeted EBITDA for that period;

               (bb) Management Accounts for each Group Company within 45 days
                    after the end of each Six Monthly Period, except that the
                    first such Management Accounts shall be produced in respect
                    of the period commencing at the start of the then current
                    Accounting Period;

               such Management Accounts to be approved (without personal
               liability on their part) by two directors for and on behalf of
               the Principal Borrower as being a fair and reasonable view of the
               financial condition and trading performance of the Group within
               the normal constraints of management information;

          (iv) Commercial Briefing: at the same time as the delivery of the
               --------------------
               Management Accounts, a written report by the managing director
               (or in his absence the finance director) of the Principal
               Borrower commenting on the performance of each operating Group
               Company (including the numbers relating to the key performance
               indicators) the main operational and financial issues arising in
               or applicable to the period and explaining any material variances
               against the Budget for the Accounting Period to date detailing
               any off-balance sheet financing arrangements together with such
               other reports information and statistics as the Agent may from
               time to time reasonably require;

          (v)  Other Information: any other information material to the business
               ------------------
               or financial condition of any Group Company which the Agent or
               the Majority Banks may, after consultation with the Investors,
               reasonably request from time to time.

     21.2. Preparation of Financial Information: The Principal Borrower shall
          (unless the Agent otherwise consents in writing):-

          21.2.1. Consistent Basis of Preparation: ensure that subject to Clause
               21.3 (Variations in Accounting Treatment), all accounts and other
               financial information submitted to the Agent are prepared using
               accounting bases, policies, practices and procedures

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                                                                              52

<PAGE>

               ("accounting principles") consistent (so far as applicable) in
               all material respects and in accordance with generally accepted
               United Kingdom accounting principles or, to the extent they are
               not, that the differences are highlighted and explained;

          21.2.2. Restriction on Changing Accounting Reference Date: ensure that
               no Group Company shall alter its Accounting Period without first
               notifying the Agent (in which event the Agent and the Principal
               Borrower shall seek to agree, and thereafter implement, such
               changes to the financial covenants contained in this Agreement as
               may be necessary to reflect such change but in the absence of
               such agreement as the Auditors after consultation with the Agent
               shall consider appropriate and notify to the Agent and the
               Principal Borrower) and the Principal Borrower shall procure that
               the accounting reference dates of each Group Company shall be the
               same.

     21.3. Variations in Accounting Treatment: If:

          (i)  any accounts (so far as is applicable) delivered to the Agent
               hereunder have not been prepared in accordance with generally
               accepted United Kingdom accounting principles in force as at the
               date hereof ("Present UK GAAP"); or

          (ii) any accounts delivered to the Agent hereunder have not been
               prepared in accordance with the accounting principles which were
               applied in the immediately preceding equivalent accounts,
               (including without limitation any change in depreciation policy);

               the Principal Borrower shall promptly so advise the Agent and
               provide reasonable details of the differences and the reasons
               therefor and, for the purpose of the covenants contained in
               Clause 20 (Financial Ratios) the Agent and the Principal Borrower
               shall seek to agree such changes (if any) to such financial
               covenants as will reflect fairly and reasonably the changes which
               have been made but in the absence of such agreement:-

               (a)  the Principal Borrower may provide the Agent as soon as
                    reasonably practicable with revised accounts prepared by the
                    Principal Borrower showing what the position would have been
                    had the accounts in question been prepared in accordance
                    with Present UK GAAP. The Agent may consult with the
                    Auditors (subject to the agreement of satisfactory terms of
                    engagement between the Auditors the Principal Borrower and
                    the Agent) in respect of such changes in accounting
                    principles and require the Auditors to confirm that the
                    revised accounts properly reflect the adjustments that need
                    to be made to restate the accounts on a basis consistent
                    with the immediately preceding accounts; and/or

               (b)  either the Agent or the Principal Borrower may instruct the
                    Auditors (subject to the agreement of satisfactory terms of
                    engagement between the Auditors the Principal Borrower and
                    the Agent) to make such changes to the financial covenants
                    as they consider appropriate to reflect fairly and
                    reasonably the changes which have been made.

     21.4. Annual Budget: The Principal Borrower shall not later than four weeks
          before the beginning of (a) the Accounting Period commencing on 1
          April 2000 and (b) each Accounting Period thereafter submit to the
          Agent itemised company and consolidated capital and revenue budgets
          and cashflow and balance sheet forecasts for the Group in a format
          acceptable to the Agent acting reasonably and shall discuss with the
          Agent the calculations and workings relating to such budgets provided
          that, in respect of the Accounting Period beginning on 1 January 2002,

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                                                                              53

<PAGE>

          such budgets and forecasts need not be delivered by the Principal
          Borrower to the Agent until 31 January 2002. The Principal Borrower
          shall make a presentation to the Banks in relation to such Annual
          Budget at such time as the Agent may reasonably require. For the
          period to 31 March 2000 , the Annual Budget shall be the Financial
          Model to the extent that it relates to such period.

     21.5. Capex Budget

          21.5.1. The Principal Borrower shall each year submit to the Agent for
               approval (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) at the same
               time as the Principal Borrower submits the Annual Budget, a Capex
               Budget in a format and content acceptable to the Agent, acting
               reasonably, showing, inter alia:-

               (i)  the maximum aggregate amount of capital expenditure to be
                    incurred by each Group Company during the relevant
                    Accounting Period and the class or classes of assets to be
                    acquired;

               (ii) the amount and nature of any capital expenditure approved in
                    the immediately preceding Capex Budget which has not been
                    incurred in the Accounting Period to which that Capex Budget
                    relates but which a Group Company is committed to incur in
                    the next Accounting Period; and

          21.5.2. The overall amount of the Capex Budget once approved by the
               Agent shall not be amended by the Principal Borrower without the
               prior written consent of the Agent, such consent not to be
               unreasonably withheld or delayed.

     21.6. Capital Expenditure: The Principal Borrower shall procure that the
          aggregate capital expenditure of the Group shall not, without the
          prior written consent of the Agent, (such consent not to be
          unreasonably withheld or delayed) exceed by more than 10% the
          projected aggregate capital expenditure for all Group Companies for
          that Accounting Period contained in the Capex Budget.

     21.7. Other Asset Acquisitions: The Principal Borrower shall procure that
          no Group Company shall without the consent of the Agent acting on the
          instructions of the Majority Banks (such consent not to be
          unreasonably withheld or delayed) incur or agree to incur any
          expenditure in excess of (pound)50,000 in any Accounting Period on the
          acquisition of assets or businesses other than:-

          (i)  expenditure incurred in the normal course of trading;

          (ii) expenditure permitted pursuant to Clause 21.6 (Capital
               Expenditure)or Clause 21.11.3 (Joint Enterprises and other
               Investments);

          (iii) expenditure incurred in connection with the acquisition of the
               Target;

          (iv) expenditure in connection with any permitted short term
               investments referred to in sub-clause (xi) of the definition of
               Permitted Disposals.

     21.8. Disposals: The Principal Borrower shall not (and shall procure that
          no other Group Company shall) without the prior written consent of the
          Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Banks make or agree
          to make a Disposal other than a Permitted Disposal.

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                                                                              54

<PAGE>

          No Charging Company shall be entitled to dispose of any assets which
          are subject to a fixed charge or other fixed security without giving
          prior notice to and receiving consent from the Agent acting on the
          instructions of the Majority Banks, but the Agent shall be obliged to
          promptly give such consent and execute any relevant release (of
          security or otherwise) in relation to Permitted Disposals (without any
          requirement that such proceeds of such Disposal be applied to reduce
          the Facilities save in relation to a Permitted Disposal arising under
          paragraph (vii) of the definition of Permitted Disposals) without
          reference to the Senior Lenders unless it is actually aware of the
          occurrence of an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default
          which, in either case, has not been waived by the Agent or remedied;

     21.9. Not Restated

     21.10. Reduction of Capital: The Principal Borrower shall not (without the
          prior written consent of the Agent acting on the instructions of the
          Majority Banks):

          (i)  make any distribution of capital (whether in cash or in specie)
               to its members; or

          (ii) redeem or purchase any of its shares other than in connection
               with syndication to a Syndicate (as defined in the Investment
               Agreement and Articles); or

          (iii) otherwise reduce its capital with the exception of the
               application of transaction costs and/or goodwill to share premium
               account.

               unless and until there has occurred or will contemporaneously
               occur the permanent repayment of All Outstanding Amounts and the
               cancellation of the Facilities;

     21.11. Other Restrictions subject to Majority Banks' Consent: The Principal
          Borrower shall not (and shall procure that no other Group Company
          shall) without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the
          instructions of the Majority Banks save for Clause 21.11.7 (Variation
          or Extension of the Offer) which shall require the instructions of all
          of the Banks):

          21.11.1. Borrowings: incur Borrowings other than Permitted Borrowings.
                   ----------
               The Principal Borrower shall procure that as soon as reasonably
               practical and in any event within 42 days after the Relevant Date
               all Borrowings falling under sub-clause (viii) of the definition
               of "Permitted Borrowings" but not covered by any other sub-clause
               of Permitted Borrowings shall be repaid or discharged ("the
               Existing Borrowings being Refinanced"). Where the Existing
               Borrowing being Refinanced include any guarantees or other
               contingent liabilities and the Banks or Working Capital Bank
               agree to provide replacement guarantees or counter indemnities
               (or other similar instruments entailing the Banks or Working
               Capital Bank incurring contingent liabilities) ("Replacement
               Instruments") the relevant Borrowers whose obligations are being
               guaranteed or counter indemnified shall, as a precondition to
               such Replacement Instruments being issued, drawdown from the Term
               Loan Facilities or the Working Capital Facility as appropriate, a
               sum equal to the maximum potential liability under the
               Replacement Instruments and place it with the Agent in a separate
               nominated deposit account. That account shall be treated as if it
               were a Cash Collateral Account. The fee for each Replacement
               Instrument shall be equal to the Margin for the Facility from
               which the cash-backing is drawn;

          21.11.2. Security Interests: create or permit to subsist any Security
                   ------------------
               Interest(other than Permitted Security Interests) over any of its
               assets from time to time;

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                                                                              55

<PAGE>

          21.11.3. Joint Enterprises, Other Investments and Change of Business:
                   -----------------------------------------------------------
               merge or consolidate with any other entity or enter into or
               voluntarily terminate any Joint Venture and not make any
               Investment of any type (including by paying purchase
               consideration of any type or assuming any liability) in any
               corporate entity, Joint Venture, partnership or other entity
               other than Permitted Investments, or materially change the nature
               of its business;

          21.11.4. Loans and Guarantees: make any loans or grant any credit or
                   --------------------
               give or permit to subsist any guarantee of any of the
               indebtedness of any person or make any repayments in relation to
               any existing loans, indebtedness or guarantees other than:-

               (i)  normal trade credit;

               (ii) loans and the granting of credit to Charging Companies
                    (including for the avoidance of doubt the repayment of such
                    loans or indebtedness);

               (iii) guarantees given to a third party by one Charging Company
                    in respect of the performance obligations of another Group
                    Company or Group Companies;

               (iv) loans and the granting of credit or the giving of guarantees
                    which have been approved in writing by the Majority Banks;

               (v)  loans and guarantees to or for the benefit of employees of
                    UK Companies not exceeding in aggregate at any
                    time(pound)50,000;

               (vi) loans and guarantees made or given by the Target Group prior
                    to the Relevant Date, provided that:

                    (a)  the Principal Borrower shall use its reasonable
                         endeavours to procure the prompt repayment or release
                         of such loans or guarantees;

                    (b)  the terms and conditions are not amended to the
                         material prejudice of the Target Group, and the
                         principal amount of such loans and guarantees is not
                         voluntarily increased after the Relevant Date;

               (vii) any other loans and/or guarantees to UK Companies not
                    exceeding in aggregate(pound)100,000 in any Accounting
                    Period;

               (viii) repayment of Existing Borrowings being Refinanced;

               (ix) repayment of the loan notes described in paragraphs (ix) and
                    (x) of the definition of "Permitted Borrowings"

          21.11.5. Factoring and Invoice Discounting: enter into any factoring
                   ---------------------------------
               or invoice discounting arrangements or any other arrangements to
               sell or dispose of, or whereby any person shall otherwise acquire
               or gain the right to acquire, any right, title or interest in any
               of the trade debts of the Group;

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          21.11.6. Shares and Interests in Shares:
                   -------------------------------

                    (i)

                              (a)  issue in the case of any Group Company other
                                   than the Principal Borrower any shares after
                                   the Relevant Date other than shares to a
                                   Charging Company; or

                              (b)  in the case of the Principal Borrower issue
                                   any shares other than the ordinary shares
                                   having the same rights as the Ordinary Shares
                                   under the Articles or shares which carry the
                                   same rights to receive payment of any
                                   dividends, distributions or redemption
                                   premiums as those shares in issue on the
                                   Relevant Date or issued pursuant to the
                                   Investment Agreement.

                    (ii) incorporate any company as a subsidiary other than a
                         new company which is a wholly owned subsidiary and
                         becomes a Charging Company upon becoming a Subsidiary
                         other than any Dormant Company; or

                    (iii) acquire after the Relevant Date or dispose of any
                         interest in any shares or securities of any company
                         other than (a) the disposal of shares in a company
                         whose only asset is an asset which may be disposed of
                         as a Permitted Disposal (b) any shares in Target;

          21.11.7. Variation or Extension of the Offer: (i) waive, vary or agree
                   -----------------------------------
               to the waiver or variation of any material terms and conditions
               of the Offer in any manner which would give rise to a Material
               Adverse Effect which shall, in any event, and without limitation
               be deemed to be the case in relation to any proposed increase in
               the price of the Offer or any alteration to the level of
               acceptances at which the Offer may be declared unconditional as
               to acceptances or the triggering of an obligation to effect a
               cash offer pursuant to the provisions of Rule 9 of the City Code
               on Takeovers and Mergers; or (ii) prior to the Offer becoming
               unconditional extend the Offer beyond 81 days from the date on
               which the Offer Document is posted or such later date as the
               Agent and the Panel On Takeovers and Mergers shall agree. In
               giving or withholding its consent to any waiver or amendment of
               any conditions of the Offer the Agent will treat itself as being
               bound by Rule 13 of the City Code of Takeovers and Mergers as if
               it were the Principal Borrower and subject to the jurisdiction of
               the Takeover Panel/

          21.11.8. Amendments to Principal Contracts: make any amendment to,
                   ---------------------------------
               waive, supplement or vary the terms of the Investment Agreement
               in any material respect if such amendment would increase the
               amount or affect the timing of entitlement to or receipt of any
               dividend or payment (whether of interest or capital) or any other
               benefit accruing or due to the Investors or Managers which can be
               calculated in monetary terms.

          21.11.9. Amendment of Memorandum and Articles:
                   ------------------------------------

               (i)  make any material amendment to, waive, supplement or vary in
                    any material respect the memorandum of association or other
                    constitutional documents of any Group Company in a manner
                    which would increase the amount or affect the timing of
                    entitlement or receipt of any dividend or payment (whether
                    of interest or to, capital) or any other benefit accruing or

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<PAGE>

                    due to the Investors or Managers which can be calculated in
                    monetary terms; or

               (ii) make any material amendment to the Articles of Association
                    or other constitutional documents of any Group Company so as
                    to confer any right to receive dividends or distributions or
                    any redemption of capital or any other redemption of the
                    subscription price or premium thereon which is not
                    restricted by reference to this Agreement;

          21.11.10. Appointment of Auditors: change the Auditors of the
                    -----------------------
               Principal Borrower or any other Group Company unless the proposed
               new Auditors are a firm of international standing;

          21.11.11. Other Bank Accounts: open or maintain any account with any
                    -------------------
               recognised bank or building society other than:

               (i)  an account with the Bank of Scotland or any of its
                    subsidiaries; or

               (ii) any account existing at the Relevant Date in the name of or
                    for the benefit of any company in the Target Group, provided
                    that such accounts are closed within two months after the
                    Relevant Date or as soon as practicable thereafter;

          21.11.12. Announcements: except to the extent, if any, required by
                    -------------
               law, or by the Code or by the Takeover Panel or The Stock
               Exchange make or authorise the making of any announcement or
               issue or authorise the issue of any publicity material concerning
               the transactions contemplated by the Banking Documents (other
               than general announcements where the only details of such
               transactions disclosed are the identity of the Senior Lenders and
               the type and, amount of the Facilities) without the prior written
               approval of the Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably
               withheld or delayed);

     21.12. Ring-fencing Arrangements: The Principal Borrower will:-

          (i)  ensure that the business of the Charging Companies is carried on
               independently from and at arm's length to the businesses carried
               on by the other Group Companies and, in particular, that:

               (a)  any material services or material assets provided to a
                    non-Charging Company by a Charging Company (other than the
                    making available of management time and management services
                    by individuals who have a group head office function and
                    other than Permitted Investments) are only provided to the
                    extent required for the proper operation of the business of
                    such non-Charging Company and are provided on arm's length
                    terms for full market consideration payable in cash by such
                    non-Charging Company or on terms which would apply to any
                    transactions on arm's length terms in the market generally;

               (b)  no Charging Company acquires any assets or receives any
                    services from a non-Charging Company except to the extent
                    that they are required for the proper operation of that
                    Charging Company's business and are not acquired at greater
                    than a fair value;

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                                                                              58

<PAGE>

               PROVIDED THAT this sub-clause shall not operate to affect
               commercial arrangements and/or licensing and/or technology
               sharing arrangement in place at the date hereof;

          (ii) ensure that no Charging Company shall (without the prior written
               consent of the Agent) and save for any Permitted Investment and
               as permitted pursuant to Clause 21.11.4(iii), (v), (vi), (vii),
               (viii) and (x):-

               (a)  make any loan (except loans needed to enable the Group
                    Companies to give financial assistance to each other which
                    is properly legalised as contemplated herein), grant any
                    credit or give or permit to subsist any security, guarantee,
                    indemnity or financial accommodation to or for the benefit
                    of any Group Company which is not a Charging Company, other
                    than amounts of credit incurred in the normal course of
                    trading activities;

               (b)  make any cash payments (save as otherwise permitted by any
                    other provision of this Clause) to any Group Company which
                    is not a Charging Company in excess of (pound)50,000 in
                    aggregate for all such Group Companies in any Accounting
                    Period;

               (c)  subscribe for any shares, loan notes, debentures, commercial
                    paper or other financial instrument issued or proposed to be
                    issued by any Group Company which is not a Charging Company.

     21.13. Positive Obligations: The Principal Borrower shall (unless the Agent
            otherwise consents in writing):

          21.13.1. Binding Obligations: subject to the Reservations ensure that
                   -------------------
               all of the obligations of any Group Company under the Banking
               Documents will at all times constitute direct, enforceable and
               binding obligations of such Group Company;

          21.13.2. Priority of Facilities: take all reasonable steps requested
                   ----------------------
               by the Agent to ensure that the claims of the Security
               Beneficiaries under the Security Documents will at all times
               (save to the extent that such security constitutes financial
               assistance for the purpose of Section 151 Companies Act 1985 in
               which case immediately after the requirements of Sections 155-158
               Companies Act 1985 are complied with as envisaged by Clause
               21.13.8 (Security from the Target Group)) rank in priority to all
               present and future indebtedness of any Charging Company (except
               for such indebtedness as is entitled to priority by operation of
               law or any Permitted Security Interests);

          21.13.3. Compliance with Laws: procure that each Group Company shall
                   --------------------
                   use its reasonable endeavours:-

               (i)  at all times to comply with all laws and regulations
                    applicable to it and which are necessary in relation to the
                    conduct of its business where failure to do so would have a
                    Material Adverse Effect;

               (ii) to make or obtain, keep in full force and effect and comply
                    with all governmental and other regulatory consents,
                    licences, exemptions, clearances, filings, registrations and
                    authorisations required for the conduct of its business and
                    the validity, enforceability and admissibility in evidence
                    of each of the Banking Documents where, in each case,
                    failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect:

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                                                                              59

<PAGE>

               (iii)promptly and in any event within any relative period laid
                    down in any applicable statute, law or regulation to make
                    all necessary declarations and deliver all necessary forms
                    and documents required to be delivered to, filed or
                    registered in connection with the Transaction Documents and
                    any of the transactions contemplated thereunder where, in
                    each case, failure to do so would have a Material Adverse
                    Effect;

          21.13.4. Taxes: procure that each Group Company will, pay all material
                   -----
               Taxes due and payable by it or that Group Company within a
               reasonable time of the relevant due date (save to the extent that
               payment of the same is being contested in good faith and adequate
               reserves are being maintained for those Taxes) where failure to
               do so would have a Material Adverse Effect;

          21.13.5. Notification of Events of Default: notify the Agent of any
                   ---------------------------------
               Event of Default or Potential Event of Default as soon as
               reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the occurrence
               thereof, and of the steps being taken to remedy the same;

          21.13.6. Insurance: procure that each Group Company shall effect and
                   ---------
               maintain adequate insurances (on terms commonly available in the
               relevant insurance markets provided always such insurance is
               available at commercially reasonable premiums) in relation to its
               business and assets with reputable underwriters or insurers
               against such risks as are usual for companies carrying on a
               business such as that carried on by any Group Company whose
               practice is not to self insure and in an amount equal to the full
               replacement cost of such assets. The Principal Borrower shall
               procure that the interest of the Security Trustee on behalf of
               the Security Beneficiaries is noted thereon as soon as
               practicable after such request. The Principal Borrower shall from
               time to time upon request supply the Agent with copies of all
               such insurance policies or certificates of insurance or premium
               receipts in respect thereof or such other evidence of the
               existence of such policies as may be reasonably acceptable to the
               Agent;

          21.13.7. Re-Registration as a Private Company: procure that within 77
                   ------------------------------------
               days of the date of the Relevant Date a special resolution of
               Target is passed to entitle Target to be re-registered as a
               private company pursuant to s.53 Companies Act 1985 and the
               Principal Borrower shall procure that such resolution is duly
               passed, and undertakes to take all such action as may be
               reasonably necessary to ensure that the requirements of s.53
               Companies Act 1985 are complied with promptly, and to use its
               best endeavours to procure that the Registrar of Companies is
               able to issue Target with a certificate of re-registration as a
               private company ("the Certificate of Re-Registration");

          21.13.8. Security from the Target Group: procure that:
                   ------------------------------

               (i)  as soon as reasonably practicable but within any event
                    within 28 days of the issue by the Registrar of Companies of
                    the Certificate of Re-Registration of Target, each of the
                    Initial Charging Companies shall duly pass any such special
                    resolutions as shall be required to comply with s.155
                    Companies Act 1985 in relation to the Third Debenture , the
                    Legal Charge, the Keyman Insurance Assignment and the
                    Intra-Group Loan Agreement ("the Financial Assistance")
                    provided that this limit shall be extended to 40 days if the
                    meeting to pass such special resolutions cannot practicably
                    be held on short notice;

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                                                                              60

<PAGE>

               (ii) as soon as practicable after the requirements of s.151-158
                    Companies Act 1985 can be satisfied (but in any event within
                    7 days of the expiry of the 4 week period during which any
                    shareholder may apply for the cancellation of any special
                    resolution pursuant to s.158 Companies Act 1985 provided no
                    such shareholder application is made) each of the Initial
                    Charging Companies (other than the Principal Borrower) shall
                    take whatever steps may be necessary (including the
                    elimination of any net asset deficiency in any Charging
                    Company) to put themselves in a position to comply with the
                    requirements of s151-158 Companies Act 1985 and enter into
                    such documents as the Agent may reasonably require for such
                    Initial Charging Companies (other than the Principal
                    Borrower) to guarantee and secure any monies due to the
                    Security Beneficiaries under the Banking Documents,
                    including without limitation the execution and delivery of
                    the Third Debenture (in addition to the Second Debenture
                    each may already have executed and delivered pursuant to
                    Clause 6.2 (Security) hereof, the Legal Charge, the Keyman
                    Insurance Assignment and the Intra-Group Loan Agreement;

               (iii) the requirements of s.151-158 Companies Act 1985 are
                    satisfied in relation to the giving of the Financial
                    Assistance;

               (iv) each Initial Charging Company (other than the Principal
                    Borrower) (and where applicable each of their directors)
                    shall as soon as practicable after they are legally in a
                    position to do so (but in any event within 7 days of the
                    expiry of the 4 week period during which any shareholder may
                    apply for the cancellation of any special resolution
                    pursuant to s.158 Companies Act 1985 provided no such
                    shareholder application is made) duly execute all such
                    documents and make or obtain all such declarations,
                    approvals, consents, filings and registrations as the Agent
                    may reasonably require for the efficacy, validity or
                    enforceability of the Financial Assistance, including
                    without limitation duly completed, executed and/or sworn Pro
                    Forma Financial Assistance Documents adapted to meet the
                    circumstances;

               (v)  as soon as practicable after the Relevant Date (but in any
                    event within 7 days of the expiry of the 4 week period
                    during which any shareholder may apply for the cancellation
                    of a special resolution pursuant to s.158 Companies Act 1985
                    provided no such shareholder application is made) each
                    Initial Charging Company shall take such other steps as the
                    Agent may reasonably require (including, without limitation,
                    ensuring that each relevant Group Company has positive net
                    assets and appropriate commitments of financial support) to
                    ensure that all relevant legal requirements are satisfied in
                    relation to the giving of the Financial Assistance;

               (vi) notwithstanding the requirements of sub-clauses (i) to (v)
                    above the Third Debenture , the Legal Charge and the Keyman
                    Insurance Assignment duly executed by the Initial Charging
                    Companies as first ranking securities and the Intra Group
                    Loan Agreement are delivered to the Agent within both 150
                    days of the Offer being posted, and within 90 days of the
                    Relevant Date or, if the Principal Borrower has been unable
                    to implement the procedures in Sections 428-430F of the
                    Companies Act 1983, within both 180 days of the Offer being
                    posted, and 120 days of the Relevant Date.

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                                                                              61

<PAGE>

          21.13.9. Security from Non-Charging Companies: subject to Clause
                   ------------------------------------
               21.13.8 (Security from the Target Group) procure that any Group
               Company (other than a Dormant Company) which is not for the time
               being a Charging Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable
               and in any event within 28 days of being so required by the Agent
               (but only if and to the extent permitted by law):

               (i)  enter into such documents as the Agent may reasonably
                    require for such Group Company to guarantee and secure any
                    monies due to the Security Beneficiaries under the Banking
                    Documents;

               (ii) obtain or make all such approvals, declarations, consents,
                    filings and registrations as are necessary for the efficacy,
                    validity or enforceability of such guarantee and/or
                    security; and

               (iii) take such other steps as the Agent may reasonably require
                    to ensure that all relevant legal requirements are satisfied
                    such that the action referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii)
                    above is lawful;

          21.13.10. Dormant Companies: procure that, save with the prior written
                    -----------------
               consent of the Agent, or unless a Dormant Company becomes a
               Charging Company and a party to the Debenture, no Dormant Company
               shall commence trading (whether for its own account or for that
               of another) after the Relevant Date or the date it becomes a
               member of the Group (if later) or incur any further material
               liabilities or hold or acquire (whether legally or beneficially)
               any material assets or property after such date;

          21.13.11. Compliance with Environmental Laws
                    ----------------------------------

               (i)  comply and shall ensure that each Group Company will comply
                    with all Environmental Laws applicable to the operations or
                    premises of any Group Company and obtain from the
                    appropriate authorities all Environmental Consents required
                    in respect thereto where failure to comply or to obtain such
                    consent would have a Material Adverse Effect;

               (ii) procure that each Group Company shall carry out any
                    environmental audit or site investigation at the Properties
                    required by Environmental Laws or if required to do so by
                    the Agent where the Agent reasonably believes that:

                    (a)  a breach of any of the Environmental Laws which would
                         give rise to a Material Adverse Effect has or is likely
                         to occur; or

                    (b)  the value of the Properties is likely to be materially
                         and adversely affected by any matter or thing on, under
                         or adjacent to the Properties which is likely to result
                         in an Environmental Contamination or constitute a
                         material environmental risk (whether or not that matter
                         or thing constitutes an immediate breach of any
                         Environmental Laws); or

                    (c)  an Event of Default is subsisting and the Agent or the
                         Senior Lenders are contemplating the enforcement of any
                         of the Security Documents affecting the Properties;

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                                                                              62

<PAGE>

               (iii) notify the Agent in writing to the extent that the same
                    would have a Material Adverse Effect if:

                    (a)  any Group Company receives any written notice that it
                         is not in compliance with any applicable Environmental
                         Laws; or

                    (b)  any Group Company becomes aware that there exists any
                         Environmental Claim pending or threatened against it;
                         or

                    (c)  there occurs any release, emission, discharge or
                         disposal of any substance which could reasonably be
                         expected to form the basis of any material
                         Environmental Claim against any Group Company;

                    and the Principal Borrower shall promptly thereafter provide
                    to the Agent a report specifying in detail the nature of
                    such event and the actions which the relevant Group Company
                    intends to take in response thereto. Upon a reasonable
                    request from the Agent the Principal Borrower shall submit
                    to the Agent at reasonable intervals thereafter an updated
                    report providing any update of the situation resulting from
                    such event;

          21.13.12. Valuations: at any time while an Event of Default is
                    ----------
               subsisting if so requested by the Agent acting reasonably obtain
               a valuation of the assets and properties of the Charging
               Companies from an independent valuer acceptable to the Agent. The
               cost of such valuation shall be borne by the Principal Borrower;

          21.13.13. Details of Litigation: promptly upon becoming aware thereof
                    ---------------------
               advise the Agent of the details of any litigation or
               administrative proceeding which is pending or threatened against
               any Group Company and which or which would involve liability or
               potential liability or alleged liability of(pound)100,000 or its
               equivalent in Sterling (at the Agent's spot rate of exchange);

          21.13.14. Funding of Pension Schemes: procure that all the
                    --------------------------
               occupational pension schemes of the Group are at all times
               maintained properly funded (or to the extent not fully funded
               contribution rates are adjusted appropriately) in accordance with
               the advice given from time to time by the actuaries of such
               schemes and to the extent that failure to do so would have a
               Material Adverse Effect;

          21.13.15. Intellectual Property Rights: procure that each member of
                    ----------------------------
               the Group will:-

               (i)  make such registrations and pay such fees, registration
                    taxes and similar amounts as are necessary to keep those
                    registered Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Group
                    which are material to the business of a member of the Group
                    ("the Material Rights") in force and to record its interest
                    in those Intellectual Property Rights;

               (ii) to the extent it is within its control take such steps as
                    are necessary and commercially reasonable (including,
                    without limitation, the institution of legal proceedings) to
                    prevent third parties infringing the Material Rights and
                    (without prejudice to paragraph (i) above) take such other

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                                                                              63

<PAGE>

                    steps as are reasonably practicable to maintain and preserve
                    its interests in those Material Rights;

               (iii) promptly upon being required to do so by the Agent, comply
                    with all reasonable instructions of the Agent which the
                    Agent is entitled to give under the Security Documents in
                    respect of its Material Rights;

               (iv) not sell, transfer, lease, licence or otherwise dispose of
                    all or any part of its interest in the Material Rights
                    save:-

                    (a)  as effected pursuant to any of the Security Documents;
                         or

                    (b)  as permitted with the prior written consent of the
                         Agent; or

                    (c)  for any licence arrangements in respect of those rights
                         entered into with members of the Group for so long as
                         they remain members of the Group; or

                    (d)  in the ordinary course of business;

               (v)  not permit any registration of any of the Intellectual
                    Property Rights to be abandoned, cancelled or lapsed or to
                    be liable to any claim of abandonment for non-use or
                    otherwise if to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.

          21.13.16. The Offer:
                    ---------

               (i)  ensure that the terms and conditions of the Press Release
                    and the Offer Document comply in all material respects with
                    all applicable laws and regulations and the Code and that
                    the terms and conditions of the Offer Document are
                    consistent in all material respects with the terms of the
                    Press Release;

               (ii) not to issue the Press Release or any press announcements
                    relating to the Offer save as required by the Panel or
                    London Stock Exchange Limited without the approval of the
                    Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or
                    delayed) and to keep the Agent advised of the progress of
                    the Offer and of all material matters affecting or
                    reasonably likely to affect the interests of the Banks
                    arising in connection with the Offer and the Principal
                    Borrower shall provide the Agent with any information and
                    copies of professional advice received, as the Agent may
                    reasonably request;

               (iii)disclose to the Agent all information which has come to its
                    attention which is relevant to any decision whether or not
                    to waive (or to consent to the waiver of) any condition of
                    the Offer;

               (iv) promptly deliver to the Agent copies of the Offer Document
                    and press announcements made by or on behalf of the
                    Principal Borrower in relation to the Offer, all written
                    public statements made by or on behalf of Target in response
                    to or otherwise commenting on the Offer, and other public
                    documents issued by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, the
                    Office of Fair Trading or the Competition Commission or any
                    other regulatory authority in

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                                                                              64

<PAGE>

                    relation to the Offer, the Offer Document or the
                    transactions contemplated herein or therein;

               (v)  ensure that it shall not and shall use its best endeavours
                    to procure that no person acting in concert with it (as
                    defined in the Code) shall become obliged to make an offer
                    to the shareholders of Target under Rule 9 of the Code, and
                    ensure that neither it nor persons acting in concert with it
                    acquire any shares in Target at a price above the Offer
                    price which may result in an obligation to increase the
                    Offer price;

               (vi) ensure that at all times all laws and directives applicable
                    in relation the Offer or any documents connected thereto are
                    complied with and that, as and when necessary all consents
                    from all governmental and other regulatory authorities
                    required in connection therewith (including (without
                    limitation), the Financial Services Act 1986, applicable
                    rules of any self-regulatory organisation deriving authority
                    from the Securities and Investments Board or the Financial
                    Services Authority and the rules of London Stock Exchange)
                    are obtained, maintained and/or renewed

               (vii) subject to compliance by the Banks with their obligations
                    pursuant to the terms of this Agreement ensure that all its
                    obligations pursuant to the Offer are complied with and
                    performed, use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the
                    conditions attached to the Offer (save for those that are
                    waived with the consent of the Agent) are satisfied as soon
                    as reasonably practicable and declare the Offer
                    unconditional in all respects immediately such conditions
                    are satisfied (or, with the consent of the Agent, waived as
                    aforesaid);

               (viii) after the Relevant Date use its best endeavours to acquire
                    all of the issued share capital of Target as soon as
                    reasonably practicable either pursuant to or otherwise on
                    the same terms as the terms of the Offer;

               (ix) promptly and in any event no later than 20 Business Days
                    after unconditionally acquiring 90% of the Target Shares the
                    subject of the Offer serve notices under Section 429(2) of
                    the Companies Act 1985 (in respect of acquiring minority
                    shareholdings). Without prejudice to the Principal
                    Borrower's obligations under this covenant, if the Principal
                    Borrower (or the Receiving Bank on its behalf) shall not
                    have sent out notices under Section 429(2) of the Companies
                    Act 1985 within 20 Business Days of being entitled to do so,
                    the Agent shall be entitled to do so on the Principal
                    Borrower's behalf and the Principal Borrower hereby
                    irrevocably appoints the Agent as its agent to take all
                    necessary action to do so;

               (x)  within seven days of the date on which acceptances of the
                    Offer are received from holders of not less than 90% of the
                    Target shares to which the offer relates, or if earlier, 120
                    days after the date on which the Offer Document is posted
                    give notice to close the Offer in accordance with the Code
                    PROVIDED THAT the Offer may be kept open during the period
                    required to acquire shares in Target under Section 430
                    Companies Act 1985 following the service of valid notices
                    under Section 429(2) of the Companies Act 1985.

               (xi) immediately on acquisition by it of any of the Target Shares
                    (whether or not pursuant to the Offer) procure the delivery
                    to the Security Trustee of all
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                                                                              65

<PAGE>

                    copies of receipts and acknowledgements (whether or not
                    documents of title) and all documents of title in respect of
                    such Target Shares and give to the Receiving Bank
                    irrevocable instructions accordingly;

               (xii) ensure that, without the prior written consent of the
                    Agent, the Principal Borrower shall not make any acquisition
                    of Target Shares prior to the Offer Document being posted;
                    and

               (xiii) not without the consent of the Agent (acting on the
                    instructions of the Banks) waive or amend any conditions of
                    the Offer or (unless the Offer shall have become
                    unconditional) extend (prior to the Offer becoming
                    unconditional) the Offer beyond 81 days from the date when
                    the Offer is posted. In giving or withholding its consent to
                    any waiver or amendment of any conditions of the Offer the
                    Agent will treat itself as being bound by Rule 13 of the
                    City Code of Takeovers and Mergers as if it were the
                    Principal Borrower and subject to the jurisdiction of the
                    Takeover Panel.

     21.14. Stamp Duty: The Principal Borrower shall pay or procure the payment
          of stamp duty in respect of any Target Shares acquired within 30 days
          of payment of the purchase price in respect thereof.

     21.15. Performance of Obligations: Each of the Borrowers shall give written
          notice to the Agent (as soon as reasonably practicable upon becoming
          aware of the same) of any occurrence (including without limitation any
          material third party claim or liability or any dispute involving any
          major customer) which would or would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     21.16. Service Agreements: The Principal Borrower shall use its best
          endeavours to procure the completion of the Service Agreements as soon
          as reasonably practicable after the Relevant Date.

     21.17. Further Assurance: The Principal Borrower shall do all such things
          (and shall procure that the Obligors shall do all such things within
          its or their control) as the Agent (or any receiver or similar
          insolvency official in the relevant jurisdiction) may reasonably
          request from time to time to perfect or remedy any defects in the
          Transaction Documents as has rendered any of the same ineffective
          invalid or unenforceable or otherwise to make the Transaction
          Documents effective valid and enforceable and the Principal Borrower
          and/or the Obligors concerned shall meet all reasonable costs incurred
          in connection with the same save insofar as such costs have been
          necessitated solely by reason of the negligence of any of the Agent,
          the Security Trustee or any of the Senior Lenders or their respective
          advisers.

     21.18. Receiving Bank Account: The Principal Borrower shall procure that
          all proceeds of subscription for shares in the Principal Borrower and
          the Subordinated Loan Notes shall be paid into the Receiving Bank
          Account and shall not be paid out of such Receiving Bank Account
          without the consent of the Agent which consent shall be given so long
          as the purpose for which any request to withdraw funds from such
          account is made is one of those set out in Clause 3.2 (Purpose: The
          Share Purchase Term Facilities).

     21.19. Reports on Title: The Principal Borrower shall after the Relevant
          Date procure that as soon as reasonably practicable following a
          written request made at any time and from time to time by the Agent
          reports on title prepared by the Principal Borrower's solicitors on
          any Properties being charged to the Security Trustee under the
          relevant Security Document which the Agent (acting reasonably)
          considers of material value shall be delivered to the Agent.

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                                                                              66

<PAGE>

     21.20. Not Restated

     21.21. Millennium Compliance: The Principal Borrower shall procure that (so
          far as it has not already done so) as soon as practicable after the
          Relevant Date the Target Group develops and implements a comprehensive
          detailed programme which will ensure that its computer and technology
          systems are Millennium Compliant.

22.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     22.1. Representations and Warranties: The Borrowers acknowledge that each
          of the Senior Lenders has or will have entered into the Banking
          Documents to which it is a party and participated in the Facilities in
          full reliance on the representations and warranties by the Borrowers,
          but subject to any matters expressly disclosed in the Information
          Documents (but for the avoidance of doubt the directors of the
          Borrowers shall not incur any personal liability in respect of any
          breach of any of the representations and warranties) set out below:-

          22.1.1. Valid Incorporation: each Obligor is a limited company duly
                  -------------------
               organised, validly existing and registered under the laws of the
               jurisdiction in which it is incorporated;

          22.1.2. Powers and Approvals to carry on Business: each Obligor has
                  -----------------------------------------
               the power and authorities and all necessary governmental and
               other consents, approvals, licences to own its property and
               assets and carry on its business;

          22.1.3. Authority to Perform Transaction Documents: each Obligor when
                  ------------------------------------------
               executing the same is empowered to enter into and perform its
               respective obligations under the Transaction Documents to which
               it is a party and has taken all necessary action to authorise the
               execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents
               to which it is a party;

          22.1.4. Borrowing Powers: no limit on the powers of any Obligor
                  ----------------
               contained in any of its constitutional documents will be exceeded
               as a result of the borrowings, grant of security and giving of
               guarantees contemplated by the Banking Documents to which it is a
               party;

          22.1.5. Validity of Obligations: subject to all applicable insolvency
                  -----------------------
               laws and the Reservations, the Transaction Documents will when
               executed constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of those
               Obligors which are expressed to be parties to the Transaction
               Documents;

          22.1.6. No resulting breach of other Documents: neither the execution
                  --------------------------------------
               nor the performance of the Banking Documents by any Obligor which
               is a party thereto will result in any breach by any of them of
               any provision of any deed, agreement or obligation of such
               Obligor would have a Material Adverse Effect;

          22.1.7. No Material Litigation: except as notified in writing to the
                  ----------------------
               Agent from time to time, no Obligor is involved in or engaged in
               any material litigation, arbitration or other legal proceedings
               nor, so far as the Borrowers are aware, are there any
               circumstances likely to give rise to any such litigation,
               arbitration or proceedings which have not been notified to the
               Agent which, if adversely determined, would have a Material
               Adverse Effect;

          22.1.8. Borrowings and Security Interests: no Security Interest other
                  ---------------------------------
               than a Permitted Security Interest, exists over any material part
               of the undertakings or assets of any Group

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                                                                              67

<PAGE>

               Company and no Group Company has any Borrowings other than
               Permitted Borrowings;

          22.1.9. Accounts: the latest Audited Accounts prepared after the
                  --------
               Relevant Date have been prepared in accordance with generally
               accepted accounting principles which have been consistently
               applied (or if not consistently applied, such inconsistency has
               been notified to the Agent) and such Audited Accounts represent a
               true and fair view of the financial position of the companies in
               the Group for the Accounting Period for which such Accounts were
               prepared;

          22.1.10. Management Accounts: the Management Accounts:-
                   -------------------

               (i)  fairly represent the financial condition and operations of
                    the Group as at the date up to which they have been prepared
                    and for the period for which such Management Accounts
                    relate; and

               (ii) were or will when the same are produced be prepared on a
                    basis substantially in accordance with the accounting
                    principles used in the latest available Audited Accounts
                    (other than in the event of any change notified to the
                    Agent);

                    in each case within the reasonable parameters which may be
                    expected of management accounts not the subject of audit
                    procedures;

          22.1.11. Environmental Matters
                   ---------------------

               (i)  each Group Company is and has been in full compliance with
                    all material applicable Environmental Laws where failure to
                    do so would have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no
                    circumstances known to any Group Company that may prevent or
                    interfere with such compliance in the future where failure
                    to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect;

               (ii) each Group Company has been and is in compliance with the
                    terms of all Environmental Consents necessary for the
                    ownership and operation of its facilities and businesses as
                    presently owned and operated to the extent required so as
                    not to have a Material Adverse Effect;

               (iii) there is no Environmental Claim pending nor to the
                    knowledge of any Group Company, after due inquiry,
                    threatened, which is material to such Group Company and
                    there are to the knowledge of any Group Company no past or
                    present acts, omissions, events or circumstances that could
                    form the basis of any Environmental Claim, against any Group
                    Company in each case which would have a Material Adverse
                    Effect;

          22.1.12. Tax Liabilities: each Group Company is in compliance in all
                   ---------------
               material respects with all Taxation laws in all jurisdictions in
               which any of them is subject to Taxation; no claims are being
               asserted against any Group Company with respect to non-compliance
               with Taxation laws which would, if adversely determined, have a
               Material Adverse Effect;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              68

<PAGE>

          22.1.13. Subsidiaries:
                   ------------

               (i)  as at the date hereof, the Principal Borrower has no
                    Subsidiaries;

               (ii) so far as the Principal Borrower is aware, the Subsidiaries
                    of Target as at the date hereof are those companies listed
                    in Schedule 7 (The Group Companies) other than the Target;

          22.1.14. Information Documents:
                   ---------------------

               (i)  all information provided by the Principal Borrower or its
                    advisers (as updated, if applicable, prior to the date
                    hereof), in the Information Documents:-

                    (a)  is true and accurate in all material respects insofar
                         as it relates to factual information concerning the
                         Principal Borrower;

                    (b)  insofar as it relates to factual information concerning
                         the Target Group, is information which the Principal
                         Borrower has no reason to believe provides a view or
                         assessment of the Target Group which is materially
                         inaccurate or misleading in the context of the Target
                         Group taken as a whole; and

                    (c)  in respect of the projections and assumptions of the
                         Target Group fairly represents (consistently with the
                         assumptions stated therein) the views and expectations
                         of the Principal Borrower formed in good faith (after
                         such proper investigation and consideration as was
                         practicable in the circumstances) in as far as they
                         consist of statements of opinion and financial
                         projections relating to the Target Group after the
                         Relevant Date;

               (ii) so far as the Principal Borrower is aware there is nothing
                    contained in any of the Information Documents which would
                    materially prevent, inhibit, restrict or delay any Group
                    Company from putting into effect or pursuing any of the
                    proposals or plans contained in the Financial Model in any
                    material respect or from carrying on business in a
                    materially different manner to that contemplated in those
                    documents;

               (iii) there is nothing contained in any of the Information
                    Documents which is reasonably likely to cause the Financial
                    Model to be materially inaccurate in any material respect or
                    the assumptions on which they have been based to be other
                    than fair and reasonable;

          22.1.15. Disclosures: there is no disclosure made in respect of the
                   -----------
               Investment Agreement which the Principal Borrower believes is
               reasonably likely to have a material detrimental effect on any of
               the information, projections, prospects, forecasts and estimates
               contained in the Financial Model;

          22.1.16. New Company: prior to the date hereof, the Principal Borrower
                   -----------
               has not traded or undertaken any commercial activities of any
               kind and save as contemplated by, or otherwise in connection with
               this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents

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                                                                              69

<PAGE>

               and the transactions contemplated thereby including the Offer,
               the Principal Borrower has no liabilities or obligations, actual
               or contingent;

          22.1.17. Service Agreements: all relevant parties have confirmed their
                   ------------------
               willingness to enter into the Service Agreements;

          22.1.18. Millennium Compliance: to the best of the Principal Borrowers
                   ---------------------
               knowledge information and belief the Target Group has developed
               and implemented a comprehensive detailed programme which will
               ensure that its computer and technology systems are Millennium
               Compliant.

     22.2. Deemed Repetition of the Representations: The representations and
          warranties shall be made on the date of this Agreement and (if
          different) on the Completion Date and all the representations and
          warranties contained in Clause 22.1 shall survive the completion of
          this Agreement and the Drawdown of the Term Loans and, except for
          those representations in sub-clauses 22.1.13 (Subsidiaries) to 22.1.16
          (New Company) inclusive which shall not be repeated shall be deemed to
          be repeated at the time of:-

          22.2.1. the first day of each Interest Period; and

          22.2.2. the last day of each Quarterly Period;

          in each case with reference to the facts and circumstances subsisting
          at the time at which they are repeated.

     22.3. Reliance on the Representations and Warranties: The parties
          acknowledge that the Senior Lenders are relying on the representations
          and warranties contained in Clause 22.1 and the documentation they
          have examined in relation to the conditions precedent set out in
          Schedule 4 and are not relying on any other information of which the
          Senior Lenders or any of them or their respective agents or advisers
          may have actual or constructive knowledge.

23.  DEFAULT

     23.1. Default: Each of the events set out below is an Event of Default:-

          23.1.1. Non-Payment: the failure by any Borrower to pay within three
                  -----------
               days of the due date for payment any amount payable under the
               terms of the Banking Documents;

          23.1.2. Breach of Financial Covenant: if the Principal Borrower is in
                  ----------------------------
               breach of the covenants contained in Clause 20.1 (Financial
               Covenants);

          23.1.3. Breach of Provisions relating to the Offer: if there is a
                  ------------------------------------------
               breach in any material respect of Clause 21.11.7 (Variation of
               the Offer) of this Agreement;

          23.1.4. Breach of Other Obligations: if there is a breach in any
                  ---------------------------
               material respect of any of the following provisions of this
               Agreement:

               Clause 21.1.1 (i) - (iii) (Audited Accounts and Management
               Accounts);

               Clause 21.8 (Disposals);

               Clause 21.9 (Interest, Dividends and Distributions);

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                                                                              70

<PAGE>

               Clause 21.10 (Reduction of Capital);

               Clause 21.11.2 (Security Interests); and

               Clause 21.13.9 (Security from Non-Charging Companies);

          23.1.5. Other Provisions of this Agreement: if any Obligor fails to
                  ----------------------------------
               comply in any material respect with any other provisions of this
               Agreement to which it is a party and if such breach is capable of
               remedy, such failure is not remedied to the reasonable
               satisfaction of the Agent within 10 Business Days of notice to
               the Principal Borrower from the Agent requiring such breach to be
               remedied;

          23.1.6. Banking Documents: if any Obligor fails to comply in any
                  -----------------
               material respect with any material provisions of any Banking
               Document to which it is a party other than this Agreement and if
               such breach is capable of remedy, such failure is not remedied to
               the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent within 10 Business Days
               of notice to the Principal Borrower from the Agent requiring such
               breach to be remedied;

          23.1.7. Misrepresentation: if any representation, warranty or
                  -----------------
               statement made by any Obligor in any Banking Document to which it
               is a party or in any document delivered under any of them proves
               to be incorrect in any material respect (in the reasonable
               opinion of the Agent) when made or repeated by reference to the
               facts and circumstances then subsisting and, if the circumstances
               causing such misrepresentation are, in the reasonable opinion of
               the Agent, capable of remedy within such period, after receipt by
               the relevant Obligor of written notice from the Agent to such
               Obligor requiring the circumstances causing such
               misrepresentation to be remedied, such Obligor shall have failed
               to remedy such circumstances within 10 Business Days of receipt
               of such notice;

          23.1.8. Unlawfulness
                  ------------

               (i)  if it becomes unlawful for any Obligor to perform all or any
                    of its obligations under any Banking Document to which it is
                    a party and the result thereof would have a Material Adverse
                    Effect; or

               (ii) any Banking Document is not or ceases to be legal, valid and
                    binding in any material respect on any Obligor which is a
                    party to it; or

               (iii) any Obligor shall initiate any action with a view to any of
                    the Security Documents to which it is a party being declared
                    void by any competent judicial authority; or

               (iv) the admissibility, validity or enforceability of any of the
                    Banking Documents shall be contested or repudiated by any
                    Obligor thereto.

          23.1.9. Cross Default: if any Borrowings (other than under the
                  -------------
               Subordinated Loan Notes) of any Material Company in excess
               of(pound)100,000:

               (i)  are not paid when due or within any contractual grace
                    period; or

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                                                                              71

<PAGE>

               (ii) are declared to be or otherwise become due and payable prior
                    to their specified maturity by reason of a default on the
                    part of the Material Company; or

               (iii) are placed on demand by reason of a default or event of
                    default;

                    unless the obligation to pay such Borrowings is being
                    disputed on bona fide grounds by the relevant Material
                    Company.

          23.1.10. Enforcement Proceedings: if a creditor attaches or takes
                   -----------------------
               possession of, or a distress, execution, diligence, sequestration
               or other process is levied or enforced upon or sued out against,
               any material part of the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues
               of any Material Company in respect of a claim or claims which
               aggregate more than (pound)100,000 and is not discharged within
               28 days or is not being contested in good faith to the
               satisfaction of the Agent (acting reasonably).

          23.1.11. Inability to Pay Debts: if any Material Company:-
                   ----------------------

               (i)  suspends payment of its debts or threatens to stop payment
                    of its debts generally or is unable to pay its debts or is
                    deemed unable to pay its debts (within the meaning of
                    Section 123(1) of the Insolvency Act 1986) (other than
                    Section 123(1)(a));

               (ii) proposes a voluntary arrangement under Part I of the
                    Insolvency Act 1986; or

               (iii) enters into any composition or other arrangement for the
                    benefit of its creditors generally.

          23.1.12. Insolvency Proceedings: if any Material Company (save with
                   ----------------------
               the prior written consent of the Agent) takes any action or any
               legal proceedings are initiated or are consented to by any member
               of such Material Company or any petition is presented for:

               (i)  a general reconstruction or rescheduling of its debts or for
                    any process giving protection against creditors generally;

               (ii) its winding-up or dissolution other than:-

                    (a)  in the course of a dispute being contested on
                         reasonable grounds and in good faith by the Material
                         Company and where applicable the advertisement of any
                         petition is prevented within 14 days of date of
                         presentation; or

                    (b)  a solvent reconstruction on terms previously approved
                         by the Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably
                         withheld or delayed);

          23.1.13. Appointment of Insolvency Practitioner: if a liquidator,
                   --------------------------------------
               provisional liquidator, trustee, receiver, administrative
               receiver or similar officer is appointed over the whole or any
               part of the undertakings, assets, rights or revenues of any
               Material Company;

          23.1.14. Administration Order: if a petition is presented for the
                   --------------------
               granting of an administration order in respect of any Material
               Company unless the Agent is of the opinion (acting

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              72

<PAGE>

               reasonably) that the petition is frivolous or vexatious or such
               petition is discharged or stayed within 14 days of presentation;

          23.1.15. Analogous Proceedings: if there occurs in any country or
                   ---------------------
               territory in relation to any Material Company or any material
               part of its assets or business, any event which, in the
               reasonable opinion of the Majority Banks, reasonably appears to
               correspond in that country or territory with any of the events
               referred to in sub-clause 23.1.10 (Enforcement Proceedings) to
               23.1.14 (Administration Order) inclusive;

          23.1.16. Security becoming Enforceable: if the security created by any
                   -----------------------------
               Security Interest created by any Obligor and securing an amount
               equal to or exceeding(pound)50,000 becomes enforceable;

          23.1.17. Cessation of Business: if any Material Company ceases (except
                   ---------------------
               with the prior written consent of the Agent or other than by way
               of a disposal on arm's length terms for cash consideration which
               is then applied in accordance with Clause 13.3 (Proceeds of
               Disposals) (if required)) to carry on a material part of its
               business or shall suspend all or a substantial part of its
               operations except where such businesses or operations are
               transferred to a Charging Company;

          23.1.18. Rescission of Investment Agreement: if any party to the
                   ----------------------------------
               Investment Agreement rescinds or purports to rescind any such
               Agreement if such rescission is reasonably likely to have a
               Material Adverse Effect;

          23.1.19. Warranty Claim against the Principal Borrower under the
                   -------------------------------------------------------
               Investment Agreement: if any Investor brings a claim against the
               --------------------
               Principal Borrower in respect of any breach of any of the
               representations and warranties provided to the Investors under
               the Investment Agreement;

          23.1.20. Intercreditor Agreement: if:
                   -----------------------

               (i)  any Obligor or any Investor fails to comply with its
                    material obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement; or

               (ii) the Intercreditor Agreement is not or ceases to be binding
                    on or enforceable (subject to the Reservations) against any
                    Obligor which is a party to it or on any Investor or shall
                    otherwise not be effective;

                    and in each case in the reasonable opinion of the Majority
                    Banks, the interests of the Banks under the Banking
                    Documents or any of them shall be materially prejudiced
                    thereby;

          23.1.21. Material Litigation: if any Material Company is or becomes
                   -------------------
               involved in or engages in any litigation, arbitration or legal
               proceedings including any Environmental Claims where such
               proceedings have a reasonable likelihood of being adversely
               determined against such Material Company and which would, if so
               adversely determined, be reasonably likely to have a Material
               Adverse Effect;

          23.1.22. Auditors' Qualification: if the Auditors qualify their report
                   -----------------------
               on the Audited Accounts unless in the reasonable opinion of the
               Agent such qualification is not material in the context of the
               Banking Documents;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              73

<PAGE>

          23.1.23. Seizure of Assets: if the whole or a substantial part of the
                   -----------------
               assets of any Material Company shall be seized or sequestrated by
               any governmental or other authority or if any Material Company
               shall be legally restrained from using the whole or a substantial
               part of its assets in its business and it is reasonably likely to
               have a Material Adverse Effect; or

          23.1.24. Material Adverse Change: any event occurs or circumstances
                   -----------------------
               arise which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

          23.1.25. Change of Control: if there is a Change of Control after the
                   -----------------
               Relevant Date.

          23.1.26. Change of Ownership: if after the Relevant Date:
                   -------------------

               23.1.26.1. save for any Permitted Disposal any member of Target
                    Group ceases to be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Target
                    (as that term is defined in Section 736 of the Companies Act
                    1985);

               23.1.26.2. the Principal Borrower disposes of any of its shares
                    in Target.

          23.1.27. Not restated.
                   ------------

     23.2. Rights on a Default

          23.2.1. Rights of the Agent and the Majority Banks: Subject to Clause
                  ------------------------------------------
               23.3, the Agent may, in its sole discretion, and if so instructed
               by the Majority Banks shall (without prejudice to any rights of
               the Agent or any Senior Lender) upon and at any time after the
               happening of an Event of Default, so long as the same is
               continuing by notice in writing to the Principal Borrower:-

               (i)  cancel any unutilised amount of the Facilities and any
                    obligation of the Senior Lenders to make any Advance provide
                    any Loan Note Guarantee or provide any other Facility shall
                    be terminated whereupon the Commitments of the Senior
                    Lenders in respect of the Facilities shall be reduced to
                    zero; and/or

               (ii) declare the Term Loans and/or the Working Capital Facility
                    to be immediately due and payable whereupon the Borrowers
                    shall forthwith repay the same together with all interest,
                    fees and other amounts payable hereunder (including without
                    limitation any amount payable pursuant to Clause 11 (Break
                    Costs)); and/or

               (iii) declare the Term Loans and/or the Working Capital Facility
                    to be due and payable on demand, whereupon the Term Loans
                    and all interest and other sums payable under this Agreement
                    shall at all times after such declaration be due and payable
                    forthwith on demand by the Agent; and/or

               (iv) suspend the right of the Borrowers to make any utilisation
                    of the Facilities; and/or

               (v)  declare that the Security Documents (or any of them) shall
                    have become enforceable; and/or

               (vi) call for cash cover from any Borrower in respect of any
                    contingent or future liability assumed by the Senior Lenders
                    in respect of the Facilities

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              74

<PAGE>

                    whereupon the amount of such call shall become immediately
                    due and payable;

               (vii) require the Borrowers to charge by way of first fixed
                    charge any cash cover called for to secure to the Agent on
                    behalf of the Senior Lenders the repayment of any sums which
                    the Senior Lenders are, or may become liable to pay in
                    connection with the Facilities; and/or

               (viii) require the Principal Borrower to close the Offer at the
                    first available opportunity.

          23.2.2. Call for Cash Cover: "call for cash cover" means:-
                  -------------------

               in relation to any call made by the Agent in respect of the
               Senior Lenders' contingent liability under the Facilities, that
               the Borrowers or any of them shall be obliged to pay to the Agent
               for the credit of a blocked deposit account with the Agent a sum
               which is equal to the total amount of the liabilities (including
               contingent and future liabilities) assumed by the Senior Lenders
               in respect of the Facilities which sum shall become immediately
               due and payable upon such call being made and such sum shall be
               available for application (and in respect of which the Agent
               and/or the Senior Lenders are authorised to make applications) in
               respect of claims made upon the Senior Lenders in respect of any
               liabilities (including contingent and future liabilities) under
               the Facilities;

               and "cash cover" means the payment of sums to the credit of the
               blocked deposit account(s) aforesaid from time to time in respect
               of the relevant liabilities assumed by the Senior Lenders.

     23.3. The Certain Funds Period: Prior to the end of the Certain Funds
          Period, unless a Keystone Event of Default has occurred which is
          continuing, the Banks shall not be entitled:-

          (i)  to exercise any rights of rescission or

          (ii) to terminate, suspend or cancel the Facilities or

          (iii) to refuse to make any Advance or

          (iv) to require repayment of the Term Loan Facilities

          in   consequence of:-

          (a)  any of the representations and warranties of the Obligors in any
               Banking Document being or being proved to have been incorrect in
               any respect or

          (b)  any Obligor having failed to perform, observe or comply with any
               of its covenants or other obligations or agreements in any
               Banking Documents or

          (c)  the occurrence of any Event of Default or Potential Event of
               Defaults

          (d)  the fact that an Event of Default (other than a Keystone Event of
               Default) would occur as a result of the making of an Advance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              75

<PAGE>

     23.4. Indemnity for Default: Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions
          of this Clause, the Borrowers indemnify each Senior Lender and the
          Agent against any loss or expense which such Senior Lender and the
          Agent may sustain or incur as a consequence of the occurrence of any
          Event of Default or any event specified in Clause 12.4 (Mandatory
          Repayment) including any break costs payable pursuant to Clause 11
          (Break Costs).

     23.5. Investigations and Reports: Without prejudice to any other rights and
          remedies of the Senior Lenders, at any time after the occurrence of a
          breach of any of the financial covenants contained in Clause 20.1
          (Financial Covenants) (which breach will be deemed cured for the
          purposes of this Clause if the Principal Borrower proves compliance
          with such covenants on a subsequent testing date), the Majority Banks
          may while such breach is continuing commission any accounting, legal,
          property valuation, actuarial, environmental, insurance or other
          report or investigation as they consider necessary or appropriate to
          assist with the evaluation of their position or their exposure in
          relation to the Facilities or the Group or any assets of the Group,
          and the Borrowers jointly and severally undertake to pay on demand on
          a full indemnity basis, all actual costs and expenses including out of
          pocket expenses, fees and value added tax thereon incurred by the
          Agent and/or the Senior Lenders in connection with the preparation of
          such reports or the carrying out of such investigations and any advice
          given to the Agent and/or Senior Lenders with respect thereto;

24.  FEES

     The  following fees shall be paid:

     24.1. Underwriting Fee: The Principal Borrower shall on the earlier of the
          Completion Date and 21 days after the Relevant Date pay to the Agent
          for its own account an underwriting fee in accordance with the letter
          agreed between us. For the avoidance of doubt the underwriting fee
          shall be payable by the Principal Borrower if the offer is declared
          unconditional in all respects, irrespective of whether or not drawdown
          of the Facilities takes place.

     24.2. Agency Fee: If at any time the Banks are two or more in number, the
          Principal Borrower shall pay to the Agent for its own account an
          agency fee of (pound)15,000 per annum exclusive of value added tax,
          such fee to accrue on a day to day basis and shall be payable annually
          in advance from the date of notification of syndication for so long as
          any of the Term Loans remain outstanding.

     24.3. Non-Utilisation Fees: The Principal Borrower shall pay to the Agent
          for the account of each Bank (pro rata to their Commitments in respect
          of the relevant Facility) a non-utilisation fee on the amount of the
          Available Term Loan Facility from day to day during the period
          beginning on the date hereof and ending on the last date of the
          relevant Commitment Period for the Term Loan Facility at a rate per
          annum equal to 75 basis points on the Available Tranche A Term Loan
          Facility and on the Available Tranche B Term Loan Facility. Such
          non-utilisation fee shall be calculated on the actual number of days
          elapsed and a 365 day year. The non-utilisation fee shall be payable
          in arrears on the last business day of each successive Quarterly
          Period and on the relevant Final Repayment Date. The non-utilisation
          fee shall not be payable if the Offer does not become unconditional in
          all respects.

25.  COSTS AND EXPENSES

     25.1. Expenses in connection with the Amendment of the Banking Documents:
          The Principal Borrower shall pay on demand and on a full indemnity
          basis in connection with any actual or reasonably proposed amendment
          or extension of or waiver or consent under the Banking Documents.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              76

<PAGE>

     25.2. Expenses of Enforcement or Preservation of the Banking Documents: The
          Borrowers severally undertake to pay on demand at any time and from
          time to time after the date 21 days after the Relevant Date and on a
          full indemnity basis, all actual costs and expenses including out of
          pocket expenses, legal fees (and any value added or similar tax
          thereon), incurred by the Agent, the Security Trustee and/or the
          Senior Lenders in contemplation of or otherwise in connection with the
          enforcement (or attempted enforcement) or preservation (or attempted
          preservation) of any of their respective rights under the Banking
          Documents or otherwise in respect of any sum from time to time owing
          under the Banking Documents.

     25.3. Payment by Deduction: The Agent shall be entitled to settle (to the
          extent not already discharged) all fees, expenses and other sums due
          and payable by any Borrower under Clause 24 (Fees) and Clause 25
          (Costs and Expenses) the amount of which have been agreed by the
          Principal Borrower) out of and by deduction from the relevant
          Borrowers' account.

     25.4. Indemnity for the Agent: If any of the Borrowers fails to perform any
          of its obligations under Clause 23.4 (Indemnity for Default), Clause
          25 (Costs and Expenses) or Clause 26 (Stamp Duty), each Bank shall, in
          the proportion borne by its share of the Total Commitments (if no
          Advances have been made) (or, if the Term Loans have been repaid in
          full, its share of the Term Loans immediately prior to the final
          repayment thereof), indemnify the Agent against any loss incurred by
          it as a result of such failure and the Borrowers shall forthwith
          reimburse each Bank for any payment made by it pursuant to this
          Clause.

26.  STAMP DUTY

     The Borrowers shall pay on the Relevant Date all present and thereafter all
     future stamp, registration and similar taxes or charges which are payable
     or determined to be payable in connection with the execution, delivery,
     performance or enforcement of any Banking Document (other than stamp duty
     on any assignment or transfer pursuant to Clause 27.3) or any judgement
     given in connection therewith and shall indemnify the Agent and the Senior
     Lenders against any and all liabilities including penalties with respect to
     or resulting from its delay or omission to pay any such stamp, registration
     and similar taxes or charges.

27.  ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS

     27.1. Benefit of Agreement: This Agreement shall be binding upon and enure
          to the benefit of each party hereto and its successors and permitted
          assigns.

     27.2. Assignments and Transfers by the Borrowers: The Borrowers shall not
          be entitled to assign or transfer all or any of their rights, benefits
          and obligations hereunder.

     27.3. Assignments and Transfers by Banks

          27.3.1. Any Bank may after consultation with the Principal Borrower
               and the Agent at any time assign all or any of its rights and
               benefits hereunder or transfer in accordance with Clause 27.3.2
               all or any of its rights, benefits and obligations hereunder to a
               Qualifying Lender PROVIDED that:

               (i)  at the same time it assigns or transfers an equivalent
                    proportion of its rights, benefits and obligations under the
                    Banking Documents including, without limitation, the
                    Intercreditor Agreement to the assignee or transferee and
                    the assignee or transferee undertakes to be bound by the
                    terms of the Banking Documents as a Bank (or, as the case
                    may be, Senior Lender) under these documents; and

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               (ii) any such transfer shall be in respect of the same proportion
                    of that Bank's obligations in respect of the Term Loan
                    Facilities as it is of its Participation in the relevant
                    Facility; and

               (iii) the transfers are in minimum amounts of the Minimum
                    Transfer Amount or higher amounts being multiples of the
                    Minimum Transfer Amount or all of its Participation.

          27.3.2. If any Bank assigns all or any of its rights and benefits
               hereunder and under the Banking Documents in accordance with
               Clause 27.3.1, then, unless and until the assignee has agreed
               with the Principal Borrower, the Agent and the other Senior
               Lenders that it shall be under the same obligations towards each
               of them as it would have been under if it had been a party hereto
               and to the Banking Documents as a Bank, the Borrowers, the Agent
               and the other Senior Lenders shall not be obliged to recognise
               such assignee as having the rights against each of them which it
               would have had if it had been such a party hereto.

          27.3.3. If any Bank wishes to transfer all or any of its rights,
               benefits and/or obligations hereunder and under the Banking
               Documents as contemplated in Clause 27.3.1, then, subject as
               provided therein, such transfer may be effected by the delivery
               to the Agent of a duly completed and duly executed Transfer
               Certificate in which event, on the later of the Transfer Date
               specified in the Transfer Certificate and the fifth business day
               following the date of the delivery thereof to the Agent (unless
               the Agent agrees a shorter period):

               (i)  to the extent that in such Transfer Certificate the Bank
                    party thereto seeks to transfer its rights and/or its
                    obligations hereunder and thereunder, the Borrowers and such
                    Bank shall each be discharged from further obligations to
                    the other hereunder and their respective rights against each
                    other shall be cancelled (such rights and obligations being
                    referred to in this Clause as "discharged rights and
                    obligations");

               (ii) the Borrowers and the Transferee party thereto shall each
                    assume obligations towards each other and/or acquire rights
                    against each other which differ from the discharged rights
                    and obligations only insofar as the Borrowers and such
                    Transferee have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of
                    the Borrowers and such Bank; and

               (iii) the Agent, the Security Trustee, such Transferee and the
                    other Senior Lenders shall acquire the same rights and
                    assume the same obligations between themselves as they would
                    have acquired and assumed had such Transferee been an
                    original party hereto and thereto as a Bank with the rights
                    and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of
                    such transfer.

     27.4. Notwithstanding the above, Bank of Scotland as the original Bank
          agrees with the Principal Borrower that it will retain a Participation
          of at least sixty six and two thirds per cent of the Term Loans.

     27.5. Disclosure of Information: Subject to first notifying the Principal
          Borrower in writing of the person to whom the information is to be
          disclosed, the Agent or any Bank may disclose to any actual or
          potential assignee or Transferee or to any person who may otherwise
          enter into contractual relations with the Agent or such Bank provided
          that it is a permitted assignee or

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          transferee in relation to this Agreement such information about the
          Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as the Agent or such Bank shall
          consider appropriate PROVIDED that it shall require the actual or
          potential assignee or Transferee to keep such information confidential
          save as required by statute or court of law or as may be required to
          be disclosed to the Bank of England or similar monetary or regulatory
          authority in accordance with whose instructions such bank, assignee or
          transferee is accustomed to acting or as may be required by the
          Takeover Panel or The Stock Exchange or to its professional advisers
          on a confidential basis or where such information has come into the
          public domain.

     27.6. Secondary Sell Down: If a Transferee wishes to assign or transfer or
          grant any subparticipations in respect of any rights benefits and
          obligations hereunder to a Bank which is not an original Transferee
          from the Arranger it shall do so only after the prior approval of the
          Agent after consultation with the Principal Borrower.

28.  AGENCY PROVISIONS

     28.1. The Agent and the Senior Lenders

          28.1.1. Each Senior Lender hereby appoints the Agent to act as its
               agent in connection with this Agreement and the other Banking
               Documents and authorises the Agent to exercise such rights,
               powers and discretions as are specifically delegated to it by the
               terms of the Banking Documents together with all such rights,
               powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto and
               each Senior Lender expressly authorises the Agent to enter into
               the Intercreditor Agreement on its behalf and the Banks authorise
               the Agent to enter into such amendments and variations thereto as
               may be agreed by the Majority Banks;

          28.1.2. In acting as Agent or Security Trustee for the Banks, the
               relevant division of the Agent or, as the case may be, the
               Security Trustee, shall be treated as a separate entity from any
               other of its divisions or departments and despite the provisions
               of this Clause , if the Agent or Security Trustee acts for or
               transacts business with any Obligor in any capacity in relation
               to any other matter (including as a Bank under this Agreement)
               any information given by any Obligor to the Agent or Security
               Trustee in such other capacity may be treated as confidential by
               the Agent or the Security Trustee;

          28.1.3. The Agent may:

               (i)  assume that:

                    (a)  any representation made by any Obligor in connection
                         with any Banking Document is true;

                    (b)  no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has
                         occurred; and

                    (c)  no Obligor is in breach of or default under its
                         obligations under any Banking Document;

                    unless it has actual knowledge or actual notice to the
                    contrary;

               (ii) assume that the Facility Office of each Senior Lender is
                    that specified in this Agreement (or, in the case of a
                    Transferee, at the end of the Transfer Certificate to which
                    it is a party as Transferee) until it has received from

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                    such Senior Lender a notice designating some other office of
                    such Senior Lender to replace its Facility Office and the
                    Agent may act upon any such notice until the same is
                    superseded by a further such notice;

               (iii) engage and pay for the advice or services of any lawyers,
                    accountants, surveyors or other experts whose advice or
                    services may to it seem necessary, expedient or desirable
                    and rely upon any advice so obtained;

               (iv) rely as to any matters of fact which might reasonably be
                    expected to be within the knowledge of any Obligor upon a
                    certificate signed by or on behalf of the Obligor;

               (v)  rely upon any communication or document believed by it to be
                    genuine;

               (vi) refrain from exercising any right, power or discretion
                    vested in it as agent or trustee under any Banking Document
                    unless and until instructed by the Banks and the Majority
                    Banks (as the case may be) as to whether or not such right,
                    power or discretion is to be exercised and, if it is to be
                    exercised, as to the manner in which it should be exercised;
                    and

               (vii) refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of
                    the Senior Lenders or any of them to begin any legal action
                    or proceeding arising out of or in connection with any
                    Banking Document until it shall have received such security
                    as it may require (whether by way of payment in advance or
                    otherwise) for all costs, claims, expenses (including legal
                    fees) and liabilities which it will or may expend or incur
                    in complying with such instructions;

          28.1.4. The Agent shall:

               (i)  promptly inform each Senior Lender of the contents of any
                    notice or document received by it under any Banking
                    Document;

               (ii) promptly notify each Senior Lender of the occurrence of any
                    Event of Default or any default by any Obligor in the due
                    performance of or compliance with its obligations under any
                    Banking Document of which the Agent has actual knowledge or
                    actual notice;

               (iii) save as otherwise provided herein, act as agent and trustee
                    respectively under the Banking Documents in accordance with
                    any instructions given to it by the Banks or the Majority
                    Banks (as this Agreement may require), which instructions
                    shall be binding on the Banks; and

               (iv) without prejudice to any liability of the Senior Lenders or
                    the Agent to any Obligor arising out of any breach of any
                    requirement of any Banking Document that any consent or
                    approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, if
                    so instructed by the Banks or the Majority Banks (as this
                    Agreement may require), refrain from exercising any right,
                    power or discretion vested in it as agent hereunder or as
                    trustee under any Banking Document;

          28.1.5. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary expressed or implied
               herein, the Agent shall not:

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               (i)  be bound to enquire as to:

                    (a)  whether or not any representation made by any Obligor
                         in connection with any Banking Document is true;

                    (b)  the occurrence or otherwise of any event which is an
                         Event of Default or Potential Default;

                    (c)  the performance by any Obligor of its obligations under
                         any Banking Document to which it is expressed to be a
                         party;

                    (d)  any breach of or default by any Obligor of or under its
                         obligations under any Banking Document to which it is
                         expressed to be a party;

               (ii) be bound to account to any Senior Lender for any sum or the
                    profit element of any sum received by it for its own
                    account;

               (iii) be bound to disclose to any other person any information
                    relating to any member of the Group if such disclosure would
                    or might in its opinion constitute a breach of any law or
                    regulation or be otherwise actionable at the suit of any
                    person; or

               (iv) be under any obligations other than those for which express
                    provision is made herein or in English law generally;

          28.1.6. Each Bank shall, from time to time on demand by the Agent,
               indemnify the Agent in the proportion borne by its share of the
               Facilities or, if no Advances have been made, its Commitment to
               the Term Loan Facilities or, if the Term Loans have then been
               repaid or cash collateralised in full, its share of the Term
               Loans immediately prior to the final repayment thereof against
               any and all costs, claims, expenses (including legal fees) and
               liabilities which the Agent may incur, otherwise than by reason
               of its own negligence or wilful misconduct, in acting in its
               capacity as Agent under the Banking Documents;

          28.1.7. The Agent accepts no responsibility for the accuracy and/or
               completeness of any information supplied by any member of the
               Group in connection herewith or for the legality, validity,
               effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Banking Document
               and the Agent shall be under no liability as a result of taking
               or omitting to take any action in relation to any Banking
               Document, save in the case of negligence or wilful misconduct;

          28.1.8. Each of the Senior Lenders agrees that it will not assert or
               seek to assert against any director, officer or employee of the
               Agent any claim it might have against any of them in respect of
               the matters referred to in Clause 28.1.7;

          28.1.9. The Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to and
               generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with
               any member of the Group;

          28.1.10. The Agent shall not be treated for any purposes as having
               actual knowledge of any matter of which the corporate finance or
               any other division outside the corporate lending or loan
               administration departments of the entity for the time being
               acting as the Agent may become aware in the context of corporate
               finance or advisory activities from time to time undertaken by
               such entity for any Group Company;

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          28.1.11. The Agent may following consultation with the Principal
               Borrower resign its appointment hereunder at any time without
               assigning any reason therefor by giving not less than 30 days'
               prior written notice to that effect to each of the other parties
               hereto PROVIDED that no such resignation shall be effective until
               a successor for the Agent is appointed in accordance with the
               succeeding provisions of this Clause 28;

          28.1.12. If the Agent gives notice of its resignation pursuant to
               Clause 28.1.1, then following consultation by the Senior Lenders
               with the Principal Borrower another Senior Lender (acceptable to
               the Principal Borrower acting reasonably) failing which any
               reputable and experienced bank or other financial institution may
               be appointed as a successor to the Agent by the Senior Lenders
               during the period of such notice but, if no such successor is so
               appointed and the Agent (by reason of conflict of interest or
               duty, or principles of law) is obliged to retire as Agent, the
               Agent may appoint such a successor itself after further
               consultation with the Principal Borrower whose representations
               the Agent will take into account;

          28.1.13. If a successor to the Agent is appointed under the provisions
               of Clause 28.1.12, then (i) the retiring Agent shall be
               discharged from any further obligation hereunder but shall remain
               entitled to the benefit of the provisions of this Clause 28.1.13
               and (ii) its successor and each of the other parties hereto shall
               have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they
               would have had if such successor had been a party hereto;

          28.1.14. It is understood and agreed by each Senior Lender that it has
               itself been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for
               making its own independent appraisal of and investigations into
               the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs,
               status and nature of the Borrowers and the Group and,
               accordingly, each Senior Lender warrants to the Agent that it has
               not relied and will not hereafter rely on the Agent:

               (i)  to check or enquire on its behalf into the adequacy,
                    accuracy or completeness of any information provided by or
                    in relation to any member of the Group in connection with
                    any Banking Document or the transactions therein
                    contemplated (whether or not such information has been or is
                    hereafter circulated to such Senior Lender by the Agent); or

               (ii) to assess or keep under review on its behalf the financial
                    condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status or
                    nature of the Borrowers or any other member of the Group.

29.  DECISIONS

     29.1. Matters requiring Unanimous Agreement of the Banks:

          29.1.1. Any question which would:-

               29.1.1.1.1.1. increase or extend the period of any Participation
                    of any Bank;

               29.1.1.1.1.2. reduce the Margin other than in accordance with
                    this Agreement;

               29.1.1.1.1.3. extend the Commitment Period or the Final Repayment
                    Date for the Term Loan Facilities;

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<PAGE>

               29.1.1.1.1.4. reduce the amount of or extend the time for payment
                    of principal, interest, fee or any other sum payable
                    hereunder in respect of the Term Loan Facilities;

               29.1.1.1.1.5. vary the provisions of Clause 23 (Default);

               29.1.1.1.1.6. materially vary the Intercreditor Agreement or any
                    of the Security Documents, (provided always that whether
                    such variation is material shall be determined by the Agent
                    solely acting reasonably);

               29.1.1.1.1.7. change the definition of Majority Banks or change
                    this Clause 29;

               29.1.1.1.1.8. prior to the Offer becoming unconditional, extend
                    the Offer beyond 81 days from the date on which the Offer
                    Document is posted (or to such later date as the Agent and
                    the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers shall agree), or waive or
                    amend any condition of the Offer;

               shall be determined only with the unanimous agreement of all of
               the Banks;

          29.1.2. Any consent or approval to be given by the Agent for the
               purposes of Clause 3.2 (iv) (The Term Loan Facility), Clause 5.3
               (Undertakings pending Completion) or Clause 21.9 (Interest,
               Dividends and Distributions) shall be given by the Agent acting
               on the instructions of all of the Banks.

     29.2. Matters to be decided by the Majority Banks: Any question as to the
          exercise of the Agent's discretion which is not expressed in the
          Agreement to be determinable by all the Banks shall be resolved by the
          Majority Banks.

     29.3. Matters to be decided by the Senior Lenders: Save for any variations
          or releases necessary to complete any Permitted Disposals any question
          which relates to the release or material variation of any security
          held by the Security Trustee on behalf of the Senior Lenders shall be
          decided by the unanimous consent of the Banks, failing which no such
          release or variation may be effected.

30.  SET-OFF

     30.1. Right of Set-Off: The Agent, the Security Trustee and each Senior
          Lender shall have the right at any time or times after demand has been
          made under Clause 23 (Default):-

          (i)  to combine or consolidate all or any sums of money now or
               hereafter standing to the credit of the then existing accounts of
               the Borrowers with the Agent, the Security Trustee and/or that
               Senior Lender with the liabilities of the Borrowers or any of
               them to the Agent, the Security Trustee and/or that Senior
               Lender; and/or

          (ii) to set-off or transfer any sum or sums standing to the credit of
               any one or more of such accounts in or towards satisfaction of
               any of the liabilities of any of the Borrowers to the Agent, the
               Security Trustee and/or that Senior Lender on any other account
               or in any other respect;

               whether in either case such liabilities be actual, contingent,
               primary, collateral, several or joint and shall promptly notify
               the relevant Borrower of such application.

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<PAGE>

     30.2. Authority in favour of the Agent, the Security Trustee and each
          Senior Lender: Each of the Borrowers irrevocably authorises the Agent,
          the Security Trustee and each Senior Lender in its name and at its
          expense to perform such acts and sign such documents as may be
          required to give effect to any set-off or transfer pursuant to Clause.

     30.3. Rights Cumulative: The provisions of this Clause 30 (Set-Off) shall
          be in addition to and without prejudice to such rights of set-off,
          combination, consolidation, lien and other rights whatsoever conferred
          on the Agent, the Security Trustee and/or the Senior Lenders by law.
          Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Clause 30 no
          proprietary interest or charge or other security shall be created by
          this Clause.

31.  CALCULATIONS AND EVIDENCE OF DEBT

     31.1. Agent to maintain Accounts: The Agent will maintain and keep accounts
          showing the aggregate amount of all sums advanced from time to time by
          the Banks hereunder and all payments made from time to time by the
          Borrowers in respect thereof. The accounts kept by the Agent shall
          constitute prima facie evidence of the Advances made by the Banks
          pursuant to this Agreement.

     31.2. Certificates:

          31.2.1. a certificate of the Agent as to any interest rate for the
               purposes of this Agreement or the MLA Rate ; or

          31.2.2. a certificate of a Senior Lender as to (i) any amount by which
               a sum is to be increased under Clause 16.1 (Grossing Up of
               Payments); (ii) any increased cost claimed under Clause 17.1
               (Compensation for Increased Cost); or (iii) any broken Interest
               Period costs payable under Clause 11 (Break Costs);

               shall constitute prima facie evidence thereof.

32.  REDISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENTS

     32.1. Procedure for Redistribution: If at any time prior to the enforcement
          by the Agent or the Security Trustee of any of the Security Documents
          a Bank ("a Receiving Bank") receives or recovers any amount or is
          deemed to receive and recover any amount (whether by exercising a
          right of set-off or banker's lien, voluntary payment or otherwise in
          respect of its share of any sum ("the relevant sum") due from any of
          the Borrowers hereunder for the account of the Receiving Bank and one
          or more other Banks an in a greater proportion than that received or
          recovered by any of such other Banks:-

          32.1.1. the Receiving Bank shall forthwith inform the Agent and pay to
               the Agent, within five Business Days after receipt of the amount
               so received or recovered, an amount equal thereto;

          32.1.2. there shall then fall due from the Borrowers to the Receiving
               Bank an amount equal to the amount so paid by the Receiving Bank,
               which shall be treated for the purposes of Clause 32.1.1 as if it
               were an unpaid part of the Receiving Bank's share of the relevant
               sum; and

          32.1.3. the Agent shall on behalf of the Borrowers pay to each Bank to
               whom the relevant sum was due that part of the amount so received
               or recovered as would have been

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               payable to such Bank if such amount had been paid by the
               Borrowers to the Agent for account of those Banks.

     32.2. Repayments compelled by law: If any Bank is compelled by law to repay
          to any of the Borrowers any amount corresponding to an amount
          distributed to it pursuant to Clause 32, the Banks shall make such
          payments and take such other steps as the Agent shall determine to be
          just and equitable to restore them to the position they would have
          been in if such amount had not been so distributed.

     32.3. Provisions not applicable to the Hedging Counterparty: For the
          avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Clause 32 shall not apply
          to amounts received by or on behalf of the Hedging Counterparty under
          the Hedging Documents.

33.  NOTICES

     33.1. Communications to be in writing: All communications to be made
          hereunder shall be made in writing.

     33.2. Address for service of the Borrowers: Any notices, proceedings or
          other documents to be served on any of the Borrowers pursuant to this
          Agreement shall be addressed to it care of the Principal Borrower at
          its registered office for the time being marked for the attention of
          the Managing Director or at such other address as the Principal
          Borrower may hereafter advise the Agent in writing.

     33.3. Address for service of the Banks, the Agent and the Security Trustee:
          Any notice to the Senior Lenders and/or the Agent shall be sent to the
          Agent. The address for service of The Governor and Company of the Bank
          of Scotland in its various capacities under this Agreement shall be
          its address set out in Schedule 1 (The Banks and their Commitments) or
          such other address as it may advise the other parties in writing from
          time to time.

     33.4. Time Notices deemed to be given to the Borrowers: Any notice to the
          Borrowers shall be deemed to have been given:-

          33.4.1. if posted, on the second Business Day following the day on
               which it has been properly despatched by first class mail (on the
               fourth Business Day in the case of airmail, if appropriate)
               postage prepaid; and

          33.4.2. if sent by facsimile (subject to evidence of effective
               transmission) on the Business Day on which transmitted; or

          33.4.3. if lodged by hand, at the time of actual delivery thereof at
               the address referred to above if delivered on a Business Day.

     33.5. Time Notices deemed to be given to the Agent, the Security Trustee,
          Hedging Counterparty and the Banks: Any notice to the Agent, the
          Security Trustee, the Hedging Counterparty or the Banks shall be
          deemed to have been given only on actual receipt by the intended
          recipient who will promptly acknowledge receipt of any such notice.

34.  INVALIDITY OF PROVISIONS

     If at any time any provision hereof is or becomes illegal, invalid or
     unenforceable in any respect neither the legality, validity nor
     enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall in any way be
     affected or impaired thereby.

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<PAGE>

35.  WAIVER

     No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising on the part of the Agent,
     or the Security Trustee or any Senior Lender any right, power or privilege
     hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial
     exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or
     further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or right. The
     rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any
     rights or remedies provided by law.

36.  COUNTERPARTS

     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
     different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
     executed and delivered to the Agent shall be an original, but all the
     counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Upon
     receipt by the Agent of counterparts executed by all the parties hereto,
     the Agent shall forthwith date each such counterpart and give notice in
     writing of such delivery and dating to all the other parties hereto.

37.  GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

     37.1. English Law: This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
          accordance with the laws of England.

     37.2. Non-exclusive Jurisdiction of the English Courts: Each of the
          Borrowers agrees for the benefit of the Agent and the Senior Lenders
          that the courts of England shall have jurisdiction to hear and
          determine any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes
          which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and each
          of the Banking Documents to which it is expressed to be a party and,
          for such purposes, irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive
          jurisdiction of such courts.

38.  EURO

     If the United Kingdom moves to the third stage of EMU, the Agent shall
     after consultation with the Principal Borrower be entitled to make such
     changes to this Agreement as it reasonably considers are necessary to
     reflect the changeover to the euro (including, without limitation, the
     rounding (up or down) of fixed monetary amounts to convenient fixed amounts
     in the euro and amending any provisions to reflect the market conventions
     for a euro facility of the kind contemplated in this Agreement).

AS WITNESS the hands of the authorised signatories of the parties hereto the day
and year first above written.

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<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 1

                         The Banks and their Commitments

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Bank                                       Facility                        Commitment
<S>                                        <C>                             <C>
The Governor and Company of the Bank of    Tranche A Term Loan Facility    (pound)17,250,000
Scotland
55 Temple Row                              Tranche B Term Loan Facility    (pound)2,500,000
Birmingham                                 (prior to the Amendment and
B2 5LS                                     Restatement Effective Date)

                                           Tranche B Term Loan Facility    (pound)750,000
                                           (after the Amendment and
                                           Restatement Effective Date)

                                           Original Working Capital        (pound)4,000,000
                                           Facility

                                           2001 Working Capital            (pound)10,000,000
                                           Facility
</TABLE>

The address of The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland for service of
notices on it in its capacities as Arranger, Agent and Security Trustee shall be
55 Temple Row, Birmingham B2 5LS.

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                                   SCHEDULE 2

                              Financial Definitions

"Adjusted Net Worth" means:
 ------------------

the aggregate of:

(i)  the amount paid up or credited as paid up on the issued share capital of
     the Principal Borrower including any amount credited to its share premium
     account; and

(ii) the credit or debit balance in respect of consolidated Group accumulated
     profit and loss reserves or other capital and revenue reserves, after
     accruing for any dividend or other distributions declared or made by any
     member of the Group (other than to another member of the Group) for the
     relevant period and after accounting for tax on the profits for the
     relevant period, as reported in the latest Audited Accounts or monthly
     Management Accounts as applicable;

but excluding any reserves derived from any revaluation or write-up of book
values in respect of any property or assets since the date hereof.

"Assumed Senior Interest" in respect of any testing period means the higher of
(a) the actual Senior Interest for that period, or (b) the Senior Interest that
would have arisen during that period if the Share Acquisition Terms Facilities
had been fully drawn on the 1 July 1999.

"Borrowings" means in relation to any person at any time (and without double
counting) the principal amount (including capitalised interest) of any
indebtedness incurred in respect of:-

(i)  monies borrowed or raised by reference to the amount repayable (other than
     intra Group borrowings); and

(ii) the capital element of conditional purchase agreements, hire purchase
     agreements and finance lease commitments computed in accordance with
     statement of standard accounting practice No. 21 of The Institute of
     Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; and

(iii) any debenture, loan stock, notes or bonds (not being performance bonds),
     commercial paper or similar instrument or acceptance credit, bill
     discounting or note purchase facility including the Subordinated Loans; and

(iv) the acquisition cost of assets or services to the extent payable more than
     six months after the time of acquisition or possession thereof by the party
     liable where the primary purpose of deferment of payment is agreed in order
     to enable a Group Company to finance the acquisition cost; and

(v)  any guarantee (other than guarantees of the obligations of other Group
     Companies), counter-indemnity obligation letter of credit, standby letter
     of credit or other assurance against financial loss in respect of
     indebtedness falling within this definition: and

(vi) receivables sold, assigned or discounted to the extent that any Group
     Company is under any obligation to repurchase or make good any loss
     relating to such receivables; and

(vii) any net liability incurred and due or to become due under any interest
     rate management agreement; and

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              88

<PAGE>

(viii) for the purposes of Clause 23.1.9 (Cross Default) only any forward
     foreign exchange contracts entered into with indebtedness calculated at the
     rate of 10% of the contract value for contracts of up to twelve months
     duration and 20% of the contract value for contracts in excess of twelve
     months; and

(ix) any other transaction having substantially the same commercial effect as
     any of the foregoing.

"EBIT" in respect of any period means the consolidated profits of the Group for
that period, before the deduction or addition of all interest payable or
receivable and corporation tax on the overall income of the Group payable in
respect of the financial period to which the relevant profit and loss accounts
relate, and after:

(i)  adding back an amount equal to any amortisation charged during such period;

(ii) adding back any and all costs (including issue costs) and fees incurred in
     respect of acquisitions and charged to the profit and loss account for the
     relevant period, in accordance with FRS4 or otherwise;

(iii) excluding any profit or loss arising on any disposal write down or
     revaluation of assets; and

(iv) the deduction of extraordinary and exceptional items;

"EBITDA" in respect of any period means the consolidated profits of the Group
for that period, before the deduction or addition of all interest payable or
receivable and corporation tax on the overall income of the Group payable in
respect of the financial period to which the relevant profit and loss accounts
relate, and after:

(i)  adding back an amount equal to any depreciation and any amortisation
     charged during such period;

(ii) adding back any and all costs (including issue costs) and fees incurred in
     respect of acquisitions and charged to the profit and loss account for the
     relevant period, in accordance with FRS4 or otherwise; and

(iii) excluding any profit or loss arising on any disposal write down or
     revaluation of assets;

"Excluded Sums" means sums standing to the credit of a Group Company, whether in
the Cash Collateral Account or elsewhere, which are held by the Banks, the
Working Capital Bank or National Westminster Bank plc as cash-backing for any
contingent liability.

"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principals and practices in the UK;

"Gross Asset Cover Percentage" means at any time the Total Assets of the Group
expressed as a percentage of the Net Borrowings of the Group.

"Net Borrowings" means total Borrowings of the Borrowers under the Facilities
Agreement and the Working Capital Facility Letter, less sums, other than
Excluded Sums, standing at credit of all accounts of the Group with the Banks
and the Working Capital Bank from time to time in respect of which they have
valid and enforceable rights of set-off.

"Net Security Value of Stock" means all Stock valued in accordance with GAAP;

"Senior Debt" means at any time the aggregate at that time of:-
 -----------

(i)  the Term Loans;

(ii) the amount outstanding under the Working Capital Facility;

"Senior Financing Costs" means the aggregate of:-
 ----------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              89

<PAGE>

(i)  Senior Interest; and

(ii) scheduled repayments of the Term Loans;

"Senior Interest" means, in relation to any specified period, the aggregate
 ---------------
amount of interest, commission and other recurrent financial expenses
attributable to the total Borrowings of the Group from the Banks and the Working
Capital Bank and interest in respect of hire purchase and/or finance leasing
charged for such period less interest received on sums standing to credit of all
accounts of the Group with the Banks and the Working Capital Bank from time to
time, but excluding interest received on Excluded Sums;

"Stock" means all marketable stock in trade and all raw materials, working in
 -----
progress, goods in progress, finished goods, materials and supplies of every
nature and description (less provision for obsolete or slow moving Stock) of
each Group Company, all as may be properly included as "stock" in accordance
with GAAP (but excluding any of the above held in trust);

"Total Assets" means from time to time the aggregate value (adjusted by the
 ------------
Agent to accord with GAAP) and applied in regard to the Borrowers Management
Accounts and Audited Accounts, and to reflect any material adverse change in the
financial or trading position of any Group Company of all Trade Debtors and the
Net Security Value of Stock and all of the investments and other assets of each
Group Company properly included as "tangible fixed assets" net of hire purchase
and finance lease balances in accordance with GAAP but excluding any tangible
assets held on trust;

"Total Debt" means, at any time, the principal amount of all Borrowings of the
-----------
Group;

"Total Debt Service" means in relation to any specified period the aggregate of
 ------------------
Total Interest, scheduled repayments due on the total Borrowings of the Group,
loan note/loan stock repayments (but excluding repayments made under the
Variable Rate Guarantee Loan Notes 2004 series 1 and the Variable Rate Loan
Notes 2003 series 3 up to a maximum of (pound)802,000), and sums due or payable
under the Investment Agreement from time to time;

"Total Interest" means, in relation to any specified period, the aggregate
 --------------
amount of interest, commission and other recurrent financial expenses
attributable to the Borrowings of the Group (including Dividends) paid or due to
be paid in such period less interest received on sums standing to the credit of
all accounts of the Group with the Banks and the Working Capital Bank;

"Trade Debtors" means debts due to each Group Company in the ordinary course of
business outstanding for not more than 90 days from the date of invoice (or such
other period agreed with the Agent) and which are not bad or doubtful (or
determined by the Agent to be bad or doubtful) but excluding:

(i)  any debt owed by another Group Company;

(ii) any debt owed by any person who is also a creditor of a Group Company to
     the extent of the amount owed by that Group Company to the creditor;

(iii) any debt which has been assigned or charged to or is held in trust for any
     third party or is subject to any fracturing or invoiced discounting or
     similar letter; and subject to

(iv) any adjustments the Agent may from time to time consider to be appropriate
     in the context of the business of each Group Company and the Facilities.

"Working Capital" means:-
 ---------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              90

<PAGE>

(i)  the aggregate amount receivable by any Group Company from good trade
     debtors, other debtors and prepayments; plus

(ii) stock and work-in-progress; less

(iii) any amounts due to trade creditors and other creditors (not including
     amounts accrued but unpaid in respect of Dividends and/or the Subordinated
     Loan Notes or to the Senior Lenders) within one year (to include for the
     avoidance of doubt accruals, deferred income and PAYE, and VAT); and
     excluding

(iv) corporation tax (including any advance corporation tax) dividends,
     interest, and any amounts accounted for as a provision for liabilities and
     charges in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
     (including deferred tax).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              91

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 3

                           Form of Notice of Drawdown

To :     [    ]
          ----

Dated :  [    ] 1999
          ----

Dear Sirs,

We refer to the Facilities Agreement ("the Facilities Agreement") dated
                                                                        --------
1999 between (1) the Principal Borrower, (2)-(7) The Governor and Company of the
Bank of Scotland. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement shall have the same
meaning in this notice.

We hereby confirm that we have received confirmation from the Receiving Bank
that payment for [number] of [ ] Shares acquired pursuant to the Offer is to be
made on [date]. Payment is to be effected by a cash payment of (pound)[    ]
                                                                       ----
("the Cash Amount"). A [Receiving Bank Certificate is attached] and we hereby
irrevocably instruct you to pay the Cash Amount of this Advance on our behalf to
the Receiving Bank.

We hereby request a Drawdown of an Advance under the Tranche [A/B/C] Term Loan
Facility in the Amount of (pound)[     ] ([      ] sterling).
                                  -----    ------

For the purposes of Clause 9 of the Facilities Agreement the Interest Period in
respect thereof shall be of [     ] duration. Please make such Advance available
                             -----
as soon as possible after satisfaction of all conditions governing the
availability thereof [by way of a banker's draft in favour of "[     ]"] [by
                                                                -----
crediting the following account:-

          Account Name:

          Bank:

          Sort Code:

          Account No:                  ]

We confirm that:

(i)  of the amount of(pound)[        ] being drawn down under the Tranche [A/B]
                             --------
     Term Loan Facility:-

     (a)(pound)[       ] is in respect of the consideration payable for [      ]
                -------                                                  ------
     [       ] Shares as referred to above;
      -------

     (b)(pound)[       ] is in respect of Offer Costs payable to [details];
                -------

     (c)  [other - specify];

[*(ii) at the date hereof:-

     (a)  no Keystone Events of Default have occurred and are continuing;]

**(iii) each of the representations and warranties/contained in Clause 22.1
     deemed repeated by virtue of Clause 22.2 are true and correct in all
     material respects on the date hereof and will be true and correct in all
     material respects on the date on which the Advance is made; and

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              92

<PAGE>

**(iv) on the date on which the requested Advance is made and immediately after
     the making of that Advance there will exist no Event of Default and no
     Potential Event of Default.

Yours faithfully,

for and on behalf of
[the Principal Borrower]

*    include for drawings during the Certain Funds Period

**   include for drawings after the Certain Funds Period

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              93

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 4

                              Conditions Precedent

 Part I - Conditions Precedent to be satisfied before the issue of Press Release

1.   The following documents duly executed by each of the relevant parties
     thereto:-

     (i)  this Agreement;

     (ii) the First Debenture;

     (iii) the Intercreditor Agreement; and

     (iv) the Security Trust Deed;

2.   A certified copy of the following documents duly executed by the relevant
     parties thereto:

     (i)  the Investment Agreement;

3.   A certified copy of the following documents in the agreed form:-

     (i)  the Press Release substantially in the form in which it is to be
          issued;

     (ii) the latest draft of the Offer Document;

     (iii) the Pro Forma Financial Assistance Documents;

     (iv) a provisional estimate of Expenses of the Offer;

     (v)  the Second Debenture, Third Debenture, Legal Charge, Keyman Insurance
          Assignment and Intra-Group Loan Agreement;

     (vi) Receiving Bank Instruction Letter;

     (vii) the Flow of Funds Statement; and

     (viii) the Service Agreements.

4.   In respect of the Principal Borrower:-

     4.1  a certified copy of its Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum
          and Articles of Association;

     4.2  a certificate (without personal liability) of a director and the
          secretary of the Principal Borrower to the effect that the requisite
          board resolutions in the agreed terms have been duly and properly
          passed at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the Principal
          Borrower:-

          (i)  authorising the execution, delivery and performance on behalf of
               the Principal Borrower of those of the Banking Documents to which
               the Principal Borrower is a party; and

          (ii) authorising a named person or persons specified therein to sign
               on behalf of the Principal Borrower those of the Banking
               Documents to which the Principal Borrower is a party and to give
               any notices or certificates required in connection therewith and

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              94

<PAGE>

               confirming that such resolutions are still in effect and have not
               been varied or rescinded;

          (iii) such certificate having annexed thereto a certified copy of the
               relevant resolution of the board of directors.

     In addition, such certificate shall confirm that on the date of the issue
     of the Press Release:-

          (a)  the aggregate of the Borrowings of the Principal Borrower
               (including borrowings under any of the Banking Documents) do not
               or, as the case may be, would not, if fully drawn, exceed any
               borrowing limit contained in the Principal Borrower's
               constitutional documents;

          (b)  the execution of the Banking Documents by the Principal Borrower
               is lawful and complies with its constitution;

          (c)  the matters represented and warranted by the Principal Borrower
               in Clause 22 (Representations and Warranties) are true and
               correct in all material respects and will be true and correct in
               all material respects immediately after the issue of the Press
               Release and no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is
               outstanding or would result from the issue of the Press Release;

     4.3  a certificate ("the Whitewashability Certificate") of Martin Glanfield
          and Martin Malone confirming that:-

          (i)  as at the date of the Press Release each of the Initial Charging
               Companies (excluding Symonds Precision Engineering Limited) has
               net assets;

          (ii) those net assets would not be materially reduced by the giving of
               the financial assistance contemplated by the Pro Forma Financial
               Assistance Documents (or to the extent that they would be
               reduced, the financial assistance could be provided out of
               distributable profits);

          (iii) they know of no reason, whether disclosed in the Information
               Documents or not, and including issues relating to Millennium
               Compliance, why they, the Principal Borrower and the Initial
               Charging Companies should not be able to enter into the Pro Forma
               Financial Assistance Documents on the re-registration of Target
               as a private company, following the Relevant Date.

5.   Written instructions from the Principal Borrower to the Agent (conditional
     upon the occurrence of the Relevant Date) authorising and instructing the
     Agent to debit the account of the Principal Borrower with the Agent with
     the underwriting fee and agency fee payable to the Agent in accordance with
     Clauses 24.1 and 24.2;

6.   A certified copy of each of the Information Documents;

7.   Pre Press Release Letter;

8.   Summary of Existing Borrowings being Refinanced;

9.   Management Accounts for the Target Group in respect of the period ending 30
     April 1999;

10.  The New Issuance Instrument and a supporting board minute in the agreed
     terms to effect the issue of the necessary warrants and register Uberior
     Trading Limited as the holder thereof;

11.  Forecast opening consolidated balance sheet of the Principal Borrower in
     the agreed terms;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              95

<PAGE>

12.  Evidence acceptable to Bank of Scotland that the operating profit of the
     Target Group or the Accounting Period which ended on 31st March 1999
     exceeded(pound)3,900,000;

13.  The Managers References.

   Part II - Conditions Precedent to be satisfied on or before first Drawdown

1.   A certificate from the Principal Borrower confirming that the conditions
     precedent to the Investment Agreement have been, or will, simultaneously
     with the initial Drawdown be satisfied, that no material conditions or
     obligations contained therein have been waived or modified except with the
     consent of the Agent and that none of the parties thereto has, at the
     relevant Drawdown Date, any right to rescind any such agreements;

2.   Receipt by the Principal Borrower into the Receiving Bank Account of
     (pound)15,444,700 by way of subscription for Ordinary Shares and/or the
     Subordinated Loans PROVIDED THAT irrevocable letters of instruction are
     received by the Receiving Bank from certain of the Managers for the amount
     of (pound)373,033 representing the amount which they shall subscribe in the
     Principal Borrower following receipt of such funds in respect of their
     acceptance of the Offer for the Target Shares, authorising the Receiving
     Bank to apply such proceeds for the purposes of a deemed subscription for
     shares in the Principal Borrower;

3.   A certificate from the Principal Borrower confirming that save for such
     increase as has been made with the prior written consent of the Agent
     (acting on the instructions of all of the Banks), there has been no
     increase in the amount of the Offer;

4.   A certified copy of:-

     (i)  the press announcement confirming that the Offer has become or been
          declared unconditional in all respects following acceptances of the
          Offer having been received and not withdrawn in respect of more than
          such percentage of the Target Shares as is required by Clause 5.1(i)
          hereof;

     (ii) the Offer Document.

5.   Bank Mandates duly completed by the relevant Borrowers.

6.   Executed Receiving Bank Instruction Letter.

7.   The Insurance Report.

8.   The Existing Lender Comfort Letter showing an aggregate amount owing to
     Existing Lenders below (pound)2,900,000 as at the Relevant Date.

9.   Bank Mandates for the Principal Borrower;

10.  A Collection Account Letter executed by each Charging Company.

11.  An ISDA Master Agreement incorporating Bank of Scotland's standard terms
     and amendments duly executed by the Principal Borrower;

          Part III - Conditions Precedent for the Granting of Security

1.   In respect of each Charging Company:-

     1.1  a certified copy of its Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum,
          Articles of Association or other constitutional documents;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              96

<PAGE>

     1.2  a certificate (without personal liability) of a director and the
          secretary of each Charging Company to the effect that the requisite
          board resolutions in the agreed terms have been duly and properly
          passed at a duly convened and constituted meeting of that Charging
          Company;

          (i)  authorising the execution, delivery and performance on behalf of
               that Charging Company of those of the Banking Documents to which
               that Charging Company is a party; and

          (ii) authorising a named person or persons specified therein to sign
               on behalf of that Charging Company those of the Banking Documents
               to which that Charging Company is a party and to give any notices
               or certificates required in connection therewith and confirming
               that such resolutions are still in effect and have not been
               varied or rescinded;

          such certificate having annexed thereto a certified copy of the
          relevant resolution of the board of directors.

          In addition, such certificate shall confirm that on the date of
          execution of the relevant Security Document

          (a)  the aggregate of the Borrowings of that Charging Company
               (including borrowings under any of the Banking Documents) do not
               or, as the case may be, would not, if fully drawn, exceed any
               borrowing limit contained in that Charging Company's
               constitutional documents;

          (b)  the execution of the Banking Documents by that Charging Company
               is lawful and complies with its constitution.

     1.3  evidence satisfactory to the Agent that (to the extent necessary) all
          the requirements of s151-158 Companies Act 1985 (or comparable
          restrictions in the relevant jurisdiction) have been satisfied in
          respect of the Banking Documents to which that Charging Company is (or
          is to be) a party.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              97

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 5

                                Deed of Accession

THIS DEED is made on                     19

(1)  [                           ] ("the new Borrower")
      ---------------------------

(2)  [                           ] ("the Principal Borrower") on behalf of
      ---------------------------
     itself and the Borrowers for the time being under the Facilities Agreement;
     and

(3)  [                           ] as agent ("the Agent") on behalf of itself
      ---------------------------
     and the Senior Lenders (as defined in the Facilities Agreement referred to
     below).

WHEREAS this Deed is supplemental to the Facilities Agreement dated       1999
                                                                    ------
and made between the Principal Borrower and The Governor and Company of the Bank
of Scotland in its various capacities ("the Facilities Agreement").

NOW THIS DEED WITNESSES:-

1.   Accession of New Borrower

     In consideration of the Senior Lenders through the Agent agreeing to the
     new Borrower becoming an additional borrower under the Facilities Agreement
     and by the execution of this Deed the new Borrower agrees to observe and be
     bound by the terms and provisions of the Facilities Agreement insofar as
     they apply to the new Borrower as if it were an original party to the
     Facilities Agreement as a Borrower PROVIDED THAT the new Borrower shall not
     be required to enter into any guarantee or give any security to secure any
     liabilities under the Facilities Agreement other than in respect of any
     monies actually borrowed by it and interest and charges payable by it in
     respect thereof and shall only have several obligations in respect of its
     own borrowings, and interest and charges thereon, and the Senior Lenders
     shall not be entitled to set off any liabilities of any of the other
     Borrowers against any sum outstanding to the credit of the new Borrower's
     accounts unless and until the requirements of s151-158 Companies Act 1985
     have been complied with to the extent applicable (if at all) so as to make
     the entering into of any guarantee or additional security or acceptance of
     joint obligations or set off lawful.

2.   Interpretation

     This Deed shall be read as one with the Facilities Agreement so that any
     reference therein to "this Agreement" "hereunder" and similar expressions
     shall include and be deemed to include this Deed.

3.   Conditions Precedent

     The obligations of the Agent and each Senior Lender hereunder are subject
     to the condition that the Agent is satisfied that all appropriate
     conditions precedent have been fulfilled by the new Borrower and that the
     new Borrower has executed security documentation acceptable to the Agent.

4.   Notices

     The new Borrower's address for notices and demands under the Facilities
     Agreement is care of the Principal Borrower (marked for the attention of
     [X]).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              98

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 6

                     Form of Transfer Certificate for a Bank

TO:  The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland for itself and on behalf
     of the other

     parties to the Facilities Agreement mentioned below

                              Transfer Certificate
                              --------------------

relating to the Facilities Agreement ("the Facilities Agreement")          dated
                                                                 ----------
1999 whereby inter alia Term Loan Facilities were made available to inter alia
the Principal Borrower and certain Group Companies.

Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement shall (unless otherwise defined
herein) have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate.

1.   [Transferor Bank] ("the Bank"):-

     (i)  confirms that the details appearing in the Schedule hereto under the
          heading "Participation" accurately summarise the amount of the Term
          Loans and the Commitment in relation to the Term Loan Facility which
          is to be transferred and novated hereunder;

     (ii) requests [Transferee Bank] ("the Transferee") to accept and procure
          the transfer to and novation by the Transferee of the amount of the
          Term Loans, the Commitment in relation to the Term Loan Facilities
          specified in the Schedule hereto by duly executing and delivering this
          Transfer Certificate to the Agent at its address for the service of
          notices specified in the Facilities Agreement.

2.   The Transferee hereby requests the Agent to accept this Transfer
     Certificate as being delivered to the Agent pursuant to and for the
     purposes of Clause 27 of the Facilities Agreement so as to take effect in
     accordance with the terms thereof on [date of transfer] [subject only to
     there having been credited to the account of the Bank (details below) the
     sum of (pound)[   ]:-
                    ---

[Details of Account]

3.   The Transferee confirms that it has received a copy of the Facilities
     Agreement and the Banking Documents together with such other documents and
     information as it has required in connection with this transaction and that
     it has not relied and will not hereafter rely on the Bank to check or
     enquire on its behalf into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy,
     accuracy or completeness of any such documents or information and further
     agrees that it has not relied and will not rely on the Bank or to assess or
     keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness,
     condition, affairs, status or nature of any Group Company or of any other
     party to the Banking Documents.

4.   The Transferee hereby undertakes with the Agent, the Banks and each of the
     other parties to the Facilities Agreement that it will perform in
     accordance with their terms all those obligations which by the terms of the
     Facilities Agreement will be assumed by it after delivery of this Transfer
     Certificate to the Agent and satisfaction of the conditions (if any)
     subject to which this Transfer Certificate is expressed to take effect.

5.   The Bank makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility
     for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of
     any Banking Document or any document relating thereto or for the financial
     condition of any Group Company or for the performance and observance by any
     Group Company of any of its obligations under any Banking Document or any
     documents relating thereto and any and all such conditions and warranties,
     whether express or implied by law or otherwise, are hereby excluded.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              99

<PAGE>

6.   This Transfer Certificate and the rights and obligations of the parties
     hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English
     law.

                                    Schedule
                                    --------

                 Details of the Participation being transferred
                 ----------------------------------------------

Amount of the Tranche A Term Loan and the Tranche B Term Loan including the Term
Loan Commitment being transferred and novated to the Transferee:

Lending office address of the Transferee and address for service of notices on
the Transferee:

Sort Code:

Account No:

IN WITNESS whereof the parties hereto have caused this Deed to be duly executed
on the date first written above.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             100

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 7

                               The Group Companies

                       Part I - Initial Charging Companies

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Company Registration Number

<S>                                                                               <C>
Symonds PLC (subsequently called DDI Group Limited)                                445250

Classical Circuits Limited                                                        1034995

Calne Electronics Limited (subsequently called DDI Technologies                   1336602
Limited)

Pretan Engineering Limited                                                        2407995

Integrated Designs & Systems Limited                                              2624416

Osborne Group Holdings Limited (subsequently called Dynamic                       3232495
Details Limited)

Garner Osborne Circuits Limited (subsequently called                              2641343
Taylate Limited)

Osborne Electronics Limited (unless the subject of a                              2725420
prior close-down such that it becomes a Dormant Company) (subsequently
called DDI Electronics Limited)

Osborne Precision SheetMetal Limited                                              2746716

Zlin Electronics Limited                                                          1338479

Symonds Engineering (Precision) Limited                                           2900127
(subsequently called DDI Precision Limited)

Symonds Electronics International Limited (subsequently called DDI                3328896
International Limited)

Finishing Technology Limited (unless the subject of a prior Permitted             2859128
Disposal)
</TABLE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             101

<PAGE>

                           Part II - Dormant Companies

BEMS Limited

Osborne Electronics Limited (if the subject of a close-
down such that it becomesa Dormant Company)

Osborne SMT Limited

HBH Group Limited

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             102

<PAGE>

THIS DOCUMENT has been executed as an Agreement by each of the parties to it.

The Principal Borrower
----------------------

SIGNED for and on behalf of                      ) John Calvert
MCM ELECTRONICS LIMITED                          )
(subsequently called DDI Europe Limited)

                                                    Director Martin Glanfield

As Arranger, Agent, Bank, Guaranteeing Bank and Security Trustee
----------------------------------------------------------------

SIGNED for and on behalf of                      ) Peter Naylor
THE GOVERNOR                                     )
AND COMPANY OF THE BANK                          )
OF SCOTLAND by its duly                          )
authorised attorney

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             103

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 2

                              Conditions Precedent

1.   The duplicate of this Deed signed on behalf of the Borrowers and the
     Charging Companies;

2.   A certified copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the
     Borrowers and the Charging Companies approving the entering into this Deed,
     the 2001 Working Capital Facility Letter, the 2001 Debenture and any
     document to be entered into pursuant to paragraph 7 below and authorising a
     specified person or persons to sign this Deed and any documents required
     under this Deed on its behalf;

3.   Confirmation to the Agent's satisfaction that no Event of Default or
     Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

4.   The representations and warranties in Clauses 22.1.1 to 22.1.12 (inclusive)
     of the Facilities Agreement (as amended and restated hereby) are true with
     respect to the facts and circumstances then existing.

5.   Repayment of the Original Working Capital Facility.

6.   Execution of the 2001 Working Capital Facility Letter and the 2001
     Debenture.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             104

<PAGE>

EXECUTED as a DEED (but not                  )
delivered until the date hereof) by DDI      )
EUROPE ) LIMITED acting by:                  )

                                             Director                M Malone

                                             Director/Secretary      M Glanfield

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by DDI GROUP LIMITED                             )
acting by:                                       )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by CLASSICAL CIRCUITS LIMITED                    )
acting by:                                       )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by DDI TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED                      )
acting by:                                       )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             105

<PAGE>

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by PRETAN ENGINEERING LIMITED                    )
acting by:                                       )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by INTEGRATED DESIGNS & SYSTEMS                  )
LIMITED acting by:                               )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by DYNAMIC DETAILS LIMITED acting by:            )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by ZLIN ELECTRONICS LIMITED                      )
acting by:                                       )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by DDI PRECISION LIMITED acting by:              )
                                                 )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             106

<PAGE>

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by DDI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED                     )
acting by:                                       )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by DDI SALES LIMITED                             )
acting by:                                       )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  P Fowler

EXECUTED as a Deed (but not                      )
delivered until the date hereof)                 )
by THOMAS WALTER LIMITED                         )
acting by:                                       )

                                                 Director            M Malone

                                                 Director/Secretary  M Glanfield

SIGNED as a deed by Andrew Morris                )
as duly appointed attorney of                    )
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland )        A Morris
in the presence of:                              )
                                                 )
Michael I Winning
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B2 4DL

Solicitor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             107<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                                                                  CONFORMED COPY

                                                                Bank of Scotland
                                                                   55 Temple Row
                                                                      Birmingham
                                                                          B2 5LS

The Directors
DDI EUROPE LIMITED
Green Lane Business Park
Green Lane
Tewkesbury
Gloucestershire
GL20 8DN
(Registered No.: 3731403)
(the "Parent")                                Telephone:       0121 255 2580
                                              Direct Line:     0121 255 2599
                                              Fax:             0121 255 2572

The Directors
DDI GROUP LIMITED (Registered No.:445250), CLASSICAL CIRCUITS
LIMITED (Registered No.:1034995), DDI TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED (Registered No.:
1336602), PRETAN ENGINEERING LIMITED (Registered No.: 2407995), INTEGRATED
DESIGNS & SYSTEMS LIMITED (Registered No.: 2624416), DYNAMIC DETAILS LIMITED
(Registered No.: 3232495), ZLIN ELECTRONICS LIMITED (Registered No.: 1338479),
DDI PRECISION LIMITED (Registered No.:2900127), DDI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
(Registered No.: 3328896), DDI SALES LIMITED (Registered No.: 3292688) and
THOMAS WALTER LIMITED (Registered No.: 1415705)
Each with its registered office at:
Green Lane Business Park
Green Lane
Tewkesbury
Gloucestershire
GL20 8DN
(each, a "Subsidiary")

                                                                15 November 2001

Dear Sirs

WORKING CAPITAL

We are pleased to offer you (each a "Borrower" and together the "Borrowers") a
working capital facility (the "Working Capital") on the terms set out in this
letter. This offer is open for acceptance by the Borrowers until the date seven
days after the date of this letter when it will lapse. If accepted, this letter
and its Schedules will form the agreement between the Borrowers and BoS for the
Working Capital. Definitions are given in Clause 16 below.

1.   Conditions Precedent
     --------------------

     The Working Capital may not be drawn or utilised:

     1.1  by the Parent to pay any amount in respect of the Term Loans (as
          defined in the Facilities Agreement);

     1.2  unless each Borrower has accepted this letter and any Borrower which
          has not accepted will not be permitted to draw or utilise it;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               1

<PAGE>

     1.3  unless an account mandate from each Borrower has been received by BoS;
          and

     1.4  by any Borrower that has not entered into the Third Debenture or the
          2001 Debenture.

2.   Working Capital
     ---------------

     2.1  The Working Capital may be drawn as:

          2.1.1 Overdraft (the "Overdraft");

          or   be utilised for:

          2.1.2 Business Visa (the amount so utilized from time to time, the
               "Business Visa Utilization");

          2.1.3 Guarantees ;

          2.1.4 Letters of Credit ;

          2.1.5 Currency Borrowings;

          on   the terms and conditions set out below.

     2.2  In addition to the Working Capital facilities specified above and not
          taken into account in relation to calculation of the limit specified
          below, BoS will also make the following payment system(s) and
          facilities available to the Borrowers on the terms and conditions set
          out in Schedule 1:

          2.2.1 BACS facilities up to(pound)3,000,000 (the "BACS Limit");

          2.2.2 CHAPS facilities with a daylight limit of(pound)500,000;

          2.2.3 CHOBS facilities with a daylight limit of(pound)250,000; and/or

          2.2.4 Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts facilities up to
               (pound)3,000,000 (the "FFEC Limit").

     2.3  Limit
          -----

          2.3.1 The total limit applicable to the Working Capital is
               (pound)10,000,000 (the "Limit").

          2.3.2 The Borrowers may operate a number of current accounts on which
               the Working Capital may be drawn. BoS may refuse to pay any
               cheques, orders or withdrawals on any one or more of the
               Borrowers' current accounts where payment would result in the
               Limit (taking into account the notional offsets referred to
               below) being exceeded.

          2.3.3 To ascertain compliance with that part of the Limit which is
               only attributable to the Overdraft, BoS will notionally set off
               (1) those of the Borrowers' current account credit balances over
               which BoS considers it has a valid right of set off against (2)
               the Borrowers' current account debit balances.

          2.3.4 To ascertain compliance with the Limit, the total indebtedness
               of the Borrowers to BoS in respect of the Working Capital shall
               be calculated by adding together:

               (1)  the net balances on the Borrowers' current accounts
                    calculated in accordance with Clause 2.3.3 above;

               (2)  the Business Visa Utilization;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               2

<PAGE>

               (3)  the aggregate amount of BoS exposure under all guarantees
                    issued by BoS under this letter;

               (4)  the aggregate amount of BoS exposure under all Letters of
                    Credit issued by BoS under this letter; and

               (5)  the sterling equivalent of all currency borrowings
                    calculated in accordance with this letter.

          2.3.5 The Borrowers must at all times provide sufficient funds to
               ensure that the Limit is not exceeded. If the Limit is likely to
               be exceeded, the Parent must notify BoS and advise which
               cheque(s) are to be honoured in the case of competition. If the
               Parent fails to do so BoS may, in its discretion, refuse to pay a
               cheque or allow any other drawing or utilisation under this
               letter which would have the effect of exceeding the Limit. If BoS
               does pay a cheque or allows a utilisation of the Working Capital
               so as to exceed the Limit, that does not mean that the Limit has
               changed or that BoS will agree to pay any other cheque or meet
               any other payment instruction which would have the effect of
               exceeding the Limit.

          2.3.6 Unless otherwise agreed with BoS, any debit balance over the
               Limit and, where the Working Capital has ceased to be available
               (whether on the Review Date or by earlier demand) the total debit
               balance of the Working Capital, will attract interest at the BoS
               unauthorised rate which will be three and a half per cent (3.50
               %) per annum over the BoS base rate as that rate fluctuates.

          2.3.7 From the date of this letter, each Borrower ceases to be
               entitled to use any working capital facilities of the type
               specified in this letter previously made available by BoS and any
               existing utilisation of them shall, to the extent not repaid or
               discharged, be taken into account when assessing compliance with
               the Limit.

     2.4  Availability
          ------------

          2.4.1 BoS shall review the Working Capital annually (the last Business
               Day before each anniversary of the date of this letter being the
               "Review Date"). On the Review Date, the Working Capital will
               cease to be available unless BoS has agreed in writing to its
               renewal or extension. In ascertaining whether or not the Working
               Capital will be renewed or extended, BoS will require the
               Borrowers to deliver the financial information required by clause
               11 by way of financial information prior to that decision being
               made.

          2.4.2 In accordance with normal banking practice, the Overdraft will
               be payable on demand.

          2.4.3 In some circumstances, BoS may demand payment before the Review
               Date. This may happen if BoS considers that:

               2.4.3.1 any of the terms or conditions of this letter have been
                    breached; or

               2.4.3.2 the financial condition of any Borrower or any guarantor
                    of any Borrower has altered in any material way; or

               2.4.3.3 the Working Capital was agreed on the basis of incorrect
                    or incomplete information from the Borrowers; or

               2.4.3.4 the basis upon which the Working Capital was agreed by
                    BoS has altered in any material way.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               3

<PAGE>

          2.4.4 If repayment of the Overdraft is demanded, any other utilisation
               will cease to be available (save in respect of payments already
               instructed by a Borrower in respect of BACS, CHAPS or CHOBS and
               not yet debited to the relevant Borrower's account) and BoS will
               be entitled to request the Borrowers to lodge a sufficient amount
               as security for all other outstanding liabilities under this
               letter (whether actual or contingent) and the Borrowers shall
               immediately comply with that request. Any determination by BoS of
               any amount of principal, interest, commission or charges or an
               applicable interest rate shall, in the absence of manifest error,
               be conclusive and binding on the Borrowers.

3.   Overdraft
     ---------

     3.1  The rate of interest applicable to the Overdraft shall be the annual
          rate which is the sum of (1) one and a half per cent. (1.5%) and (2)
          BoS base rate as that rate fluctuates. Interest will be calculated by
          BoS on a day to day basis on the cleared daily debit balance of the
          amount drawn down and will be debited to the relevant Borrower's
          current accounts monthly in arrears on the Standard Application Dates.
          A notice of the accrued interest will be issued each month and
          interest applied 14 days after the date of that notice.

     3.2  Interest at one and a half per cent. (1.5%) per annum over BoS base
          rate as that rate fluctuates will accrue on the cleared credit
          balances on any current accounts held with BoS of each Borrower in
          respect of which BoS considers it has a valid right of set off (the
          "Credit Balances") calculated on a daily basis and set off monthly in
          arrears on the Standard Application Dates against the interest due on
          the Working Capital, provided that interest on the Credit Balances
          will be calculated as follows:

          3.2.1 Where the aggregate amount of the Credit Balances is less than
               or equal to the aggregate amount of the debit balances on any
               current account held with BoS of each Borrower (the "Debit
               Balances"), interest will be calculated on the full amount of the
               Credit Balances; and

          3.2.2 where the aggregate amount of the Credit Balances is greater
               than the aggregate amount of the Debit Balances, interest will be
               calculated on an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the
               Debit Balances.

4.   Business Visa
     -------------

     Facilities may be drawn by the use of BoS Business Visa Cards subject to
     the published terms and conditions and charges applicable to BoS Business
     Visa Cards from time to time.

5.   Guarantees
     ----------

     5.1  On request by a Borrower, BoS will issue guarantees or performance
          bonds on its behalf. Before BoS issues a guarantee or bond on behalf
          of a Borrower:

          5.1.1 BoS must have approved the terms of the guarantee or bond; and

          5.1.2 that Borrower shall have executed and delivered to BoS a counter
               indemnity in a form acceptable to BoS agreeing to indemnify BoS
               against any claim under the guarantee or bond and authorising BoS
               to debit the amount of a claim to any of the Borrowers' accounts.

     5.2  A charge of one and a half per cent (1.5%) of BoS outstanding
          liabilities (whether actual or contingent) from time to time under the
          guarantees shall be payable by the Borrowers in respect of guarantees
          or performance bonds issued by BoS on its behalf. This charge will be
          payable quarterly in advance on such dates as may be intimated by BoS.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               4

<PAGE>

6.   Letters of Credit
     -----------------

     6.1  On receipt of an acceptable written application, BoS will issue
          Letters of Credit (up to in aggregate the Letters of Credit Limit) on
          behalf of a Borrower under the terms of the Uniform Customs and
          Practice for Documentary Credits (as revised from time to time) and
          otherwise on BoS standard terms and conditions (which will be set out
          in the BoS application for the documentary credit, a copy of which
          will be provided to the relevant Borrower if so requested).

     6.2  Charges will be payable for the issue of Letters of Credit in
          accordance with the tariffs applicable to those services issued to the
          Borrowers from time to time.

7.   Currency Borrowings
     -------------------

     7.1  A Borrower may borrow such part of the Working Capital in any optional
          currency (which means, for the purpose of this Letter, any currency
          which is freely transferable and convertible into Sterling and is
          approved by BoS) on giving BoS two days prior written notice.

     7.2  Currency borrowings shall be repayable on demand.

     7.3  The Borrowers shall pay interest in regard to currency borrowings
          drawn down at a rate equal to the cost of funds incurred by BoS for
          purchasing such currencies plus one and a half per cent (1.5%) per
          annum, such interest payable in arrears. The relevant interest rate
          will be set by BoS on a weekly basis and calculated and accrued daily.
          Interest will be debited to the relevant Borrower's currency current
          account with BoS half yearly in February and August in each year or on
          such other dates in each year as BoS shall notify to the Borrowers.

     7.4  All sums payable under this letter shall be paid in the currency in
          which they are due and owing.

     7.5  If the Borrowers fail to pay any amount due under the currency
          borrowings on demand BoS may at any time purchase so much of an
          optional currency as BoS considers necessary or desirable to cover the
          currency borrowings at the then prevailing BoS spot rate of exchange
          and the Borrowers shall indemnify BoS against the full Sterling price
          (including all costs, charges and expenses) paid by it.

     7.6  Whenever the "sterling equivalent" of any currency borrowings require
          to be calculated, it shall be calculated at the BoS spot rate of
          exchange for such currency on the applicable day at such time as BoS
          may select.

8.   Termination
     -----------

     Each of the utilisations above including the facilities made available
     under Clause 2.2 shall immediately cease to be available if BoS makes a
     demand for payment under Clauses 2.4.2 or 7.2 or gives notice to the Parent
     that they are withdrawn.

9.   Other Borrowers
     ---------------

     The Working Capital shall not be available to any other person (whether a
     subsidiary of the Parent or not) unless with the express written agreement
     of BoS and after having provided BoS with whatever security it requires in
     respect of that person and its assets.

10.  Security
     --------

     The Working Capital will be secured by the Security Documents and any other
     security granted by any Group Company in favour of BoS from time to time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               5

<PAGE>

11.  Financial Information
     ---------------------

     The Borrowers will supply the financial information specified in the
     Facilities Agreement which will also be required by BoS prior to its
     agreeing to any renewal of the Working Capital.

12.  Obligations
     -----------

     The obligations of each Borrower in relation to the Working Capital are
     joint and several.

13.  Notices
     -------

     All notices or communications to or between the parties will be in writing
     and:

     13.1 will be by first class prepaid post or by telefax transmission,
          authenticated to the satisfaction of BoS and if by letter, receipt
          will be deemed forty-eight hours after posting (unless hand delivered
          and then at time of delivery) and if by fax, when sent (provided a
          transmission report is received);

     13.2 if given to BoS, it will be given at the address at the head of this
          letter or at any other address in the UK BoS may designate at any time
          by notice to the Parent;

     13.3 if given to the Borrowers it will be deemed to be duly given if given
          only to the Parent at the above address or at any other UK address
          that it designates by notice to BoS;

     13.4 BoS may rely upon any communication by telephone or fax or purporting
          to be on behalf of any Borrower, by anyone notified to BoS as being
          authorised, without enquiry as to authority or identity. The Borrowers
          agree to indemnify BoS against any liability incurred or sustained by
          BoS as a result; and

     13.5 in order to prove that a notice or demand has been made, BoS need only
          establish that the notice or demand was properly addressed and posted
          or transmitted.

14.  Fees and Expenses
     -----------------

     14.1 The Borrowers will pay to BoS an arrangement fee of(pound)15,000
          payable on acceptance of this letter.

     14.2 The Borrowers will meet or reimburse to BoS (on a full indemnity
          basis) all reasonable legal, accountancy, valuation, due diligence and
          other fees, costs and expenses or tax charged to or incurred by BoS
          (which shall include any fees and expenses of external solicitors
          engaged by BoS in relation to the Security Documents) in connection
          with this letter and the Security Documents (including the enforcement
          or preservation of BoS rights).

15.  Third Party Rights
     ------------------

     A person who is not party to this letter shall have no right under the
     Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this
     letter. This Clause does not affect any right or remedy of any person which
     exists or is available otherwise than pursuant to that Act.

16.  Accession to Facilities Agreement
     ---------------------------------

     As Agent of the Senior Lenders, BoS agrees that, to the extent that any
     Subsidiary (as defined above) has not previously acceded to the Facilities
     Agreement so as to become a Borrower thereunder, by the execution of this
     letter each Subsidiary that has not so acceded shall so accede and each
     such Subsidiary agrees to observe and be bound by the terms and provisions
     of the Facilities Agreement insofar as they apply to it as if it were an
     original party to the Facilities Agreement as a Borrower (as defined
     therein).

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                                                                               6

<PAGE>

17.  Interpretation and Definitions
     ------------------------------

     The definitions given in the Facilities Agreement and in Schedule 2 of this
     letter shall apply in this letter save where the context requires
     otherwise.

18.  Law
     ---

     This letter will be governed by and construed according to English law and
     each of the Borrowers submits to the jurisdiction of the English Courts.

Yours faithfully

For and on behalf of
THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF
THE BANK OF SCOTLAND

Agreed and accepted on behalf of             Agreed and accepted on behalf of
DDI EUROPE LIMITED                           DDI GROUP LIMITED
acting by                                    acting by

M Malone       Director                      M Malone       Director

M Glanfield    Director/Secretary            P Fowler       Director/Secretary

Date:          15 November 2001              Date:          15 November 2001

Agreed and accepted on behalf of             Agreed and accepted on behalf of
CLASSICAL CIRCUITS LIMITED                   DDI TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
acting by                                    acting by

M Malone       Director                      M Malone       Director

P Fowler       Director/Secretary            P Fowler       Director/Secretary

Date:          15 November 2001              Date:          15 November 2001

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               7

<PAGE>

Agreed and accepted on behalf of             Agreed and accepted on behalf of
PRETAN ENGINEERING LIMITED                   INTEGRATED DESIGNS & SYSTEMS
                                             LIMITED
acting by                                    acting by

M Malone       Director                      M Malone       Director

P Fowler       Director/Secretary            P Fowler       Director/Secretary

Date:          15 November 2001              Date:          15 November 2001

Agreed and accepted on behalf of             Agreed and accepted on behalf of
DYNAMIC DETAILS LIMITED                      ZLIN ELECTRONICS LIMITED
acting by                                    acting by

M Malone       Director                      M Malone       Director

P Fowler       Director/Secretary            P Fowler       Director/Secretary

Date:          15 November 2001              Date:          15 November 2001

Agreed and accepted on behalf of             Agreed and accepted on behalf of
DDI PRECISION LIMITED                        DDI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
acting by                                    acting by

M Malone       Director                      M Malone       Director

P Fowler       Director/Secretary            P Fowler       Director/Secretary

Date:          15 November 2001              Date:          15 November 2001

Agreed and accepted on behalf of             Agreed and accepted on behalf of
DDI SALES LIMITED                            THOMAS WALTER LIMITED
acting by                                    acting by

M Malone       Director                      M Malone       Director

P Fowler       Director/Secretary            M Glanfield    Director/Secretary

Date:          15 November 2001              Date:          15 November 2001

IMPORTANT NOTICE: As with any legally binding agreement, we recommend that you
consult your solicitor or other independent legal adviser before accepting this
letter.

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                                                                               8

<PAGE>

This is the Schedule 1 referred to in the preceding facility letter between BoS
and, amongst others, DDI EUROPE LIMITED dated 15 November, 2001.

                                   SCHEDULE 1

                                SETTLEMENT LIMITS

1.   BACS Facility
     -------------

     1.1  BACS Limit (pound)3,000,000.

     1.2  Purpose
          -------

          TheBACS facility may only be used by the Borrowers to make fund
          transfers utilising the Bankers Automated Clearing System, subject to
          sufficient funds being made available by the Borrowers to cover the
          BACS payments by close of business on the day on which each of those
          payments is debited to their relevant accounts without exceeding the
          Limit specified in 2.2.1.

     1.3  Terms and Conditions
          --------------------

          The BACS facility shall be made available to the Borrowers subject to:

          1.3.1 the terms and conditions of the Bankers Automated Clearing
               System operated by BACS Limited; and

          1.3.2 its rules of operation as agreed between BoS and the Borrowers
               from time to time.

     1.4  Throughout the duration of the Working Capital, BoS shall be entitled
          to vary both the limit and the terms and conditions referred to above
          by notice to the Borrowers.

2.   CHAPS Facility
     --------------

     2.1  CHAPS daylight limit (pound)500,000.

     2.2  Purpose
          -------

          TheCHAPS facility may only be used by the Borrowers to make fund
          transfers utilising the automated money transmission systems available
          from BoS, subject to sufficient funds being made available by the
          Borrowers to cover each of those CHAPS payments by close of business
          on the same day without exceeding the Limit specified in 2.2.1.

     2.3  Terms and Conditions
          --------------------

          TheCHAPS facility shall be made available to the Borrowers subject to
          the standard terms and conditions of the Clearing House Automated
          Payments System as advised by BoS.

     2.4  Throughout the duration of the Working Capital, BoS shall be entitled
          to vary both the limit and the terms and conditions referred to above
          by notice to the Borrowers.

3.   CHOBS Facility
     --------------

     3.1  CHOBS daylight limit (pound)250,000.

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                                                                               9

<PAGE>

     3.2  Purpose
          -------

          The CHOBS facility may only be used by the Borrowers to make fund
          transfers utilising the BoS Corporate Home and Office Banking System,
          subject to sufficient funds being made available by the Borrowers to
          cover each of those CHOBS payments by close of business on the same
          day without exceeding the Limit specified in 2.2.1.

     3.3  Terms and Conditions
          --------------------

          The CHOBS facility shall be made available to the Borrowers subject
          to:

          3.3.1 the terms of and conditions of the BoS Corporate Home and Office
               Banking System; and

          3.3.2 the rules of operation thereof as agreed between BoS and the
               Borrowers from time to time.

     3.4  Throughout the duration of the Working Capital, BoS shall be entitled
          to vary both the limit and the terms and conditions referred to above
          by notice to the Borrowers.

4.   Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts Facility
     -------------------------------------------

     4.1  FFEC Limit: (pound)3,000,000.

     4.2  Purpose
          -------

          A Borrower may enter into Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts (up to in
          aggregate the FFEC Limit) with BoS for the purchase or sale of any
          freely convertible currency and with a maturity period of up to twelve
          months.

     4.3  Terms and Conditions
          --------------------

          The Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts facility shall be made
              ----------------------------------
          available to the Borrowers subject to the following:

          4.3.1 for the purpose of calculating utilisations of this facility,
               BoS will assess its risk at 10% of the face value of each
               contract for a duration of up to 12 months and 20% in respect of
               contracts for more than 12 months unless BoS advises the relevant
               Borrower otherwise.;

          4.3.2 the Borrowers must ensure that each of them make sufficient
               funds (either in Sterling or in the appropriate foreign currency)
               available to meet their obligations under each of the Forward
               Foreign Exchange Contracts as and when they fall due. In the
               event that the Borrowers fail to do so, the Borrowers shall be
               liable to BoS in respect of the difference between (1) the
               Sterling equivalent of the amount the Borrowers were due to pay
               BoS on completion of the relevant Forward Foreign Exchange
               Contract and (2) (if less) the Sterling equivalent of the amount
               which BoS would have received by completing that contract at the
               prevailing spot rate of exchange for the relevant currency on the
               date of completion of the contract;

          4.3.3 whenever the sterling equivalent of any currency amounts require
               to be calculated, it shall be calculated at the BoS spot rate of
               exchange for such currency on the applicable day at such time as
               BoS may select; and

          4.3.4 charges will be payable for the issue of Forward Foreign
               Exchange Contracts in accordance with the tariffs applicable to
               those services issued to the Borrowers from time to time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              10

<PAGE>

     4.4  Throughout the duration of the Working Capital, BoS shall be entitled
          to vary both the limit and the terms and conditions referred to above
          by notice to the Borrowers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              11

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 2

                                   DEFINITIONS

"2001 Debenture" has the meaning given to it in the Amendment and Restatement
Deed to be entered into, inter alios, between BoS and the Parent on or after the
date hereof.

"BoS" means The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland and its successors,
assignees and transferees.

"Facilities Agreement" means the facilities agreement entered into between the
Parent and BoS on 27 May 1999 (as modified, amended, supplemented or restated
from time to time).

"Financial Statements" means the audited annual profit and loss account and
balance sheet of the relevant company for each of its financial years
(consolidated for each financial year during which that company has a
Subsidiary) together with related directors' and auditors' reports.

"Group" means the Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries which is not dormant
and "Group Company" is construed accordingly.

"Relevant Margin" has the meaning given to it in the Facilities Agreement.

"Schedules" means the Schedules attached to this letter.

"Security Documents" has the meaning given to it in the Facilities Agreement.

"Standard Application Dates" means the last business day in each month or such
other dates as BoS may advise the Borrowers from time to time.

"Subsidiary" and "holding company" shall have the meanings given to them in
section 736 of the Companies Act 1985 (including any Subsidiary acquired after
the date of this Letter) and "Subsidiaries" shall mean all or any of them, as
appropriate.

"Third Debenture" has the meaning given to it in the Facilities Agreement.

Any references to an Act of Parliament is to the Act as amended, substituted,
modified or re-enacted from time to time.

A reference to "including" shall not be construed as limiting the generality of
the words preceding it.

References to this letter and to any provisions of it or to any other document
referred to in this letter shall be construed as references to it in force for
the time being and as amended, varied, supplemented, restated, substituted or
novated from time to time.

References to statutes, statutory provisions and other legislation shall include
all amendments, modifications and re-enactments for the time being in force.

Words importing the singular are to include the plural and vice versa.

References to a person are to be construed to include references to a
corporation, firm, company, partnership, joint venture, unincorporated body of
persons, individual or any state or any agency of a state, whether or not a
separate legal entity.

References to any person are to be construed to include that person's assignees
or transferees or successors in title, whether direct or indirect.

Clause headings are for ease of reference only and are not to affect the
interpretation of this letter.

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