Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.25

                             FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE
                     AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

         FIFTH AMENDMENT, dated as of March 17, 2000 (the "Amendment"), to the
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 12, 1997 (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the
"Credit Agreement"), among INTERNATIONAL WIRE GROUP, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"), INTERNATIONAL WIRE HOLDING COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation ("Holdings"), CAMDEN WIRE CO., INC., a New York corporation
("Camden"), the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time
parties thereto (the "Lenders") and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking
corporation, as administrative agent for the Lenders thereunder (in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent"), and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as
documentation agent for the Lenders thereunder (in such capacity, the
"Documentation Agent"). Unless otherwise defined herein, terms which are defined
in the Credit Agreement and used herein are so used as so defined.

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Borrower, Holdings, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent
and the Documentation Agent are parties to the Credit Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders agree to amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, as more
fully described herein; and

         WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are willing to amend
such provisions of the Credit Agreement, but only upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein;

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

         1. Amendments to Section 1.1.

                  (a) Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
inserting the following definition in the appropriate alphabetical order:

                  "'WHB Sale': the sale to Viasystems Group, Inc. or one of its
         subsidiaries in exchange for consideration of approximately $210
         million in cash, of all of the outstanding shares of Wirekraft
         Industries, Inc., which embodies the business of manufacturing and
         assembling wire harness products."

                  "'Supply Agreement': a supply agreement entered into between
         Holdings or one of its Subsidiaries and Viasystems Group, Inc. or one
         of its Subsidiaries providing for the supply of wire harness products."

<PAGE>   2
                                                                               2

                  (b) Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the definition of "Interest Rate Agreement" in its entirety and
substituting in lieu thereof the following new definition:

                  "'Interest Rate Agreement': any interest rate protection
         agreement, interest rate, commodity or currency future, interest rate
         option, interest rate cap or other interest rate, commodity or currency
         hedge arrangement, to or under which Holdings or its Subsidiaries is a
         party or a beneficiary on the date hereof or becomes a party or a
         beneficiary after the date hereof."

                  (c) Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
adding the following language after the word "year" at the end of clause (ix) in
the definition of "Excess Cash Flow":

                  "; provided that increases or decreases in Consolidated
          Working Capital as a result of an acquisition or disposition of any
          business or assets shall be excluded from the calculation of Excess
          Cash Flow"

         2. Amendment to Section 1. Section 1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended by inserting the following new Section 1.3 at the end thereof:

                  "1.3 Construction. For the purposes of computing the covenants
         contained in Section 8.1 hereunder, as of the end of any fiscal quarter
         of any fiscal year, all components of such financial covenants for the
         four fiscal quarter period ending at the end of such fiscal quarter
         shall include or exclude, as the case may be, without duplication, such
         components of such financial covenants attributable to any business or
         assets that have been acquired or disposed of by the Borrower or any of
         its Subsidiaries (including through acquisitions permitted under this
         Agreement) after the first day of such four fiscal quarter period and
         prior to the end of such period, as determined in good faith by the
         Borrower on a pro forma basis for such period as if such acquisition or
         disposition had occurred on the first day of such period (including, as
         permitted under GAAP or Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange
         Commission, cost savings that would have been realized had such
         acquisition or disposition occurred on such day). For purposes of
         computing the financial covenant contained in Section 8.1(a) (and any
         financial calculations required to be made or included within such
         financial covenant), there shall not be included any pro forma
         Consolidated EBITDA or cash interest expense attributable to any
         business or assets acquired prior to the date of such acquisition."

         3. Amendment to Section 2.12(b). The Credit Agreement is hereby amended
by deleting Section 2.12(b) in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the
following new Section 2.12(b):

                  "(b) Unless the Required Lenders (and Tranche A Term Loan
         Lenders and Tranche B Term Loan Lenders having in the aggregate at
         least a majority of the outstanding Term Loans) and the Borrower shall
         otherwise agree, if the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall
         receive Net Cash Proceeds from (i) any Asset Sale (excluding the

<PAGE>   3
                                                                               3

         WHB Sale, but including the sale and leaseback of assets and any sale
         of accounts receivable in connection with a receivable financing
         transaction) such Net Cash Proceeds shall, on the first Business Day
         after receipt, be applied toward the prepayment of the Loans and
         reduction of Commitments as set forth in paragraph (d) of this
         subsection 2.12 and (ii) the WHB Sale, only that portion of the Net
         Cash Proceeds received therefrom which is equal to the aggregate unpaid
         principal amount of the Term Loans shall be required to be applied
         toward the prepayment of such Term Loans and any excess thereof shall
         be returned to the Borrower; provided that, in the case of the WHB
         Sale, any Tranche A Term Loan Lender may decline its prepayment by
         giving prior notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of its
         determination to do so (and, if any such notice is given, the Tranche A
         Term Loans of such Tranche A Term Loan Lender shall remain
         outstanding), and any prepayment so declined shall be returned to the
         Borrower.

         4. Amendment to Section 8.1. Section 8.1(b) is hereby amended by
         deleting the portion of the table set forth therein covering the
         periods below and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>     <C>
                  "2000             1st     76,500,000
                                    2nd     77,500,000
                                    3rd     78,500,000
                                    4th     79,500,000

                  2001              1st     80,500,000
                                    2nd     82,000,000
                                    3rd     83,000,000
                                    4th     84,000,000

                  2002              1st     85,500,000
                                    2nd     86,500,000
                                    3rd     87,500,000
                                    4th     88,500,000

                  2003              1st     90,000,000
                                    2nd     91,500,000
                                    3rd     92,500,000
                                    4th     93,500,000"
</TABLE>

         5. Amendment to Section 8.6. Section 8.6 of the Credit Agreement is
hereby amended by (a) deleting "and" from the end of clause (h) thereof; (b)
deleting the period at the end of clause (i) thereof and replacing it with ";
and"; and (c) adding the following new clause (j) at the end thereof:

                  "(j) the WHB Sale."

         6. Amendment to Section 8.11. Section 8.11 is hereby amended by (a)
deleting the word "and" at the end of clause (iii) therein, (b) deleting the
period at the end of clause (iv)

<PAGE>   4
                                                                               4

therein and inserting in lieu thereof "; and"; and (c) inserting the following
new clause at the end thereof:

                  "(v) the Supply Agreement."

         6. Conditions to Effectiveness of this Amendment. This Amendment shall
become effective on and as of the date of the WHB Sale upon the satisfaction of
the following conditions precedent:

         (a) Amendment. The Administrative Agent shall have received this
Amendment, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each of the
Borrower, Holdings and Camden and by the Revolving Credit Lenders the Revolving
Credit Commitment Percentages of which are at least a majority and any Term Loan
Lender remaining after giving effect to the prepayment of the Term Loans.

         (b) No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the transactions
contemplated herein.

         (c) Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and
warranties made by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries in or pursuant to
the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as
of the date hereof as if made on and as of the date hereof, except for any
representation and warranty which is expressly made as of an earlier date, which
representation and warranty shall have been true and correct in all material
respects as of such earlier date.

         7.  Miscellaneous.

         (a) Effect. Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the
representations, warranties, terms, covenants and conditions of the Loan
Documents shall remain unamended and not waived and shall continue to be in full
force in effect.

         (b) Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the
parties to this Amendment on any number of separate counterparts, and all of
said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument. A set of the copies of this Amendment signed by all the parties
shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

         (c) Severability. Any provision of this Amendment which is prohibited
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         (d) Integration. This Amendment and the other Loan Documents represent
the agreement of the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises,
undertakings, representations or warranties by

<PAGE>   5
                                                                               5

the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to the subject matter hereof not
expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

         (e) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY NOTES AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.

               [THE REST OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

<PAGE>   6

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

                                    INTERNATIONAL WIRE GROUP, INC.,
                                      as Borrower

                                    By: /s/ DAVID M. SINDELAR
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: David M. Sindelar
                                       Title:

                                    INTERNATIONAL WIRE HOLDING
                                    COMPANY, as Guarantor

                                    By: /s/ DAVID M. SINDELAR
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: David M. Sindelar
                                       Title:

                                    CAMDEN WIRE CO., INC.

                                    By: /s/ DAVID M. SINDELAR
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: David M. Sindelar
                                       Title:

                                    THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
                                      Administrative Agent and as a Lender,
                                      as Swing Line Lender and as Issuing Lender

                                    By: /s/ JONATHAN E. TWICHELL
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: Jonathan E. Twichell
                                       Title: Vice President

                                    BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as
                                      Documentation Agent and as a Lender

                                    By: /s/ VICTORIA MUNSELL
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: Victoria Munsell
                                       Title: Managing Director

<PAGE>   7

                                    ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

                                    By: /s/ LAURIS D. FLOM
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: Lauris D. Flom
                                       Title: Group Vice President

                                    By: /s/ THOMAS M. TOERPE
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: Thomas M. Toerpe
                                       Title: Vice President

                                    THE BANK OF NEW YORK

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

                                    BANK OF SCOTLAND

                                    By: /s/ ANNE GLYNN
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: Anne Glynn
                                       Title: Senior Vice President

                                    BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI

                                    By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: [Illegible]
                                       Title: Vice President

                                    CITY NATIONAL BANK

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

                                    CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ

                                    By: /s/ CHARLES HIATT
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: Charles Hiatt
                                       Title: Vice President
                                              Manager

                                    By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: [Illegible]
                                       Title: Vice President
                                              Senior Relationship
                                              Manager

<PAGE>   8

                                    EATON VANCE

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

                                    FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK N.C.

                                    By: /s/ THIERRY A. RIEK
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Thierry A. Riek
                                       Title: Vice President and Director

                                    GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION

                                    By: /s/ GREGORY HONG
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Gregory Hong
                                       Title: Duly Authorized Signatory

                                    HELLER FINANCIAL, INC.

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

                                    IMPERIAL BANK

                                    By: /s/ RENEE FISHER
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Renee Fisher
                                       Title: Assistant Vice President

<PAGE>   9

                                    THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN, LIMITED

                                    By: /s/ TAKUYA HONJO
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Takuya Honjo
                                       Title: Deputy General Manager

                                    INVESCO

                                    By: /s/ KATHLEEN A. LENARCIC
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Kathleen A. Lenarcic
                                       Title: Authorized Signatory

                                    THE MITSUBISHI TRUST AND BANKING CORPORATION

                                    By: /s/ BEATRICE E. KOSSODO
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Beatrice E. Kossodo
                                       Title: Senior Vice President

                                    NATEXIS BANQUE BFCE

                                    By: /s/ GARY KANIA
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Gary Kania
                                       Title: Vice President

                                    By: /s/ FRANK H. MADDEN
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Frank H. Madden
                                       Title: Vice President and Group Manager

                                    PARIBAS CAPITAL FUNDING LLC

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

<PAGE>   10

                                    TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, as
                                      Attorney-in-Fact for Integon Life
                                      Insurance Corporation

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

                                    TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, as
                                      Attorney-in-Fact for Occidental Life
                                      Insurance Company of North Carolina

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

                                    TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, as
                                      Attorney-in-Fact for Pennsylvania Life
                                      Insurance Company

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

                                    TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, as
                                      Attorney-in-Fact for United Companies Life
                                      Insurance Company

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

                                    VAN KAMPEN PRIME RATE INCOME TRUST
                                      By: Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.

                                    By: /s/ DARVIN D. PIERCE
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Darvin D. Pierce
                                       Title: Vice President

<PAGE>   11

                                    VAN KAMPEN CLO I, LIMITED
                                      By: Van Kampen Management, Inc., as
                                      Collateral Manager

                                    By: /s/ DARVIN D. PIERCE
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Darvin D. Pierce
                                       Title: Vice President

                                    VAN KAMPEN SENIOR INCOME TRUST
                                      By: Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.

                                    By: /s/ DARVIN D. PIERCE
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Darvin D. Pierce
                                       Title: Vice President

<PAGE>   12

                                    CAPTIVA II FINANCE LTD.

                                    By: /s/ JOHN CULLINANE
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:   John Cullinane
                                       Title:  Director

<PAGE>   13

                                    KZH CRESCENT LLC

                                    By: /s/ SUSAN LEE
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Susan Lee
                                       Title: Authorized Agent

                                    KZH CRESCENT-3 LLC

                                    By: /s/ SUSAN LEE
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Susan Lee
                                       Title: Authorized Agent

<PAGE>   14

                                    SEQUILS I, LTD.
                                      By: TCW Advisors, Inc., as its Collateral
                                          Manager

                                    By: /s/ JUSTIN L. DRISCOLL
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Justin L. Driscoll
                                       Title: Senior Vice President

                                    By: /s/ JONATHAN R. INSULL
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Jonathan R. Insull
                                       Title: Vice President

                                    UNITED OF OMAHA LIFE INSURANCE CO.
                                      By: TCW Asset Management Company, its
                                          Investment Manager

                                    By: /s/ JONATHAN R. INSULL
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Jonathan R. Insull
                                       Title: Vice President<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

                                                    DECEMBER 21, 2000

$250,000.00

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Frank R. DiPietro ("Obligor")
hereby promises to pay to the order of SIPEX Corporation, a Massachusetts
corporation ("Lender"), at its principal office at 22 Linnell Street, Billerica,
MA 01821 or at such other place as may be designated from time to time in
writing by Lender, the principal sum of TWO HUNDERED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
AND NO CENTS ($250,000.00) together with interest in arrears from and including
the date hereof on the unpaid principal balance hereunder at the rate of eight
percent (8%) per annum. In the case of prepayment, interest shall be calculated
at 8% based on daily compounding on the basis of actual number of days elapsed
over a year of 360 days. All payments received by Lender hereunder will be
applied first to costs of collection, if any, then to interest and the balance
to principal. Principal and interest shall be payable in lawful money of the
United States of America.

         Principal and interest hereunder shall be paid on the first anniversary
of the date hereof. This Promissory Note may be prepaid at any time, without
premium or penalty, in whole or in part. Any prepayment of principal shall be
accompanied by a payment of accrued interest in respect of the principal being
prepaid.

         This Note is issued pursuant to, secured by and entitled to the
benefits of a pledge of securities pursuant to that certain Pledge and Security
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by the Obligor in favor of the Lender
(the "Pledge Agreement").

         This Promissory Note shall, at the option of the holder hereof, become
due and payable without notice or demand, upon the happening of any one of the
following specified events (each, an "Event of Default"): (1) failure to pay any
amount as herein set forth; (2) default in the performance of any other
obligation to Lender, which default is not cured within thirty (30) days after
written notice of such default from Lender; (3) insolvency (however evidenced)
or the commission of any act of insolvency; (4) the making of a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors; (5) the filing of any petition or the
commencement of any proceeding by Obligor or any endorser or guarantor of this
Promissory Note for any relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or any
laws relating to the relief of debtors, readjustment of indebtedness,
reorganizations, compositions, or extensions; (6) the filing of any petition or
the commencement of any proceeding against Obligor or any endorser or guarantor
of this Promissory Note for any relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws,
or any laws relating to the relief of debtors, readjustment of indebtedness,
reorganizations, compositions, or extensions, which proceeding is not dismissed
within sixty (60) days; (7) upon the termination of Holder's employment at SIPEX
Corporation; or (8) the past or future making of a false representation or
warranty by Obligor in connection with any loan or loans by Lender.

         If this Promissory Note is not paid in accordance with its terms,
Obligor shall pay to Lender, in addition to principal and accrued interest
thereon, all costs of collection of the principal and accrued interest,
including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs and other
costs for the enforcement of payment of this Promissory Note.

<PAGE>   2

                                      -2-

         No waiver of any obligation of Obligor under this Promissory Note shall
be effective unless it is in a writing signed by Lender. A waiver by Lender of
any right or remedy under this Promissory Note on any occasion shall not be a
bar to exercise of the same right or remedy on any subsequent occasion or of any
other right or remedy at any time.

         Any notice required or permitted under this Promissory Note shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date of delivery, if
personally delivered to the party to whom notice is to be given, or on the third
business day after mailing, if mailed to the party to whom notice is to be
given, by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and
addressed to the addressee at the address of the addressee set forth herein, or
to the most recent address, specified by written notice, given to the sender
pursuant to this paragraph.

         This Promissory Note is delivered in and shall be enforceable in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and shall be
construed in accordance therewith, and shall have the effect of a sealed
instrument.

         Obligor and every indorser or guarantor of this Promissory Note hereby
expressly waives presentment, demand, and protest, notice of demand, dishonor
and nonpayment of this Promissory Note, and all other notices or demands of any
kind in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or
enforcement hereof, and hereby consents to any delays, extensions of time,
renewals, waivers or modifications that may be granted or consented to by the
holder hereof with respect to the time of payment or any other provision hereof.

         In the event any one or more of the provisions of this Promissory Note
shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in whole
or in part or in any respect, or in the event that any one or more of the
provisions of this Promissory Note operate or would prospectively operate to
invalidate this Promissory Note, then and in any such event, such provision(s)
only shall be deemed null and void and shall not affect any other provision of
this Promissory Note and the remaining provisions of this Promissory Note shall
remain operative and in full force and effect and in no way shall be affected,
prejudiced, or disturbed thereby.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Promissory Note has been executed and
delivered at the place and on the date set forth above by the Obligor.

                                                  OBLIGOR:

                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Frank R. DiPietro

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