Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                              WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.
                          WOLVERINE TUBE (CANADA) INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                 LIMITED WAIVER

         This LIMITED WAIVER (this "WAIVER") is dated as of February 4, 2002 and
entered into by and among WOLVERINE TUBE INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), WOLVERINE TUBE (CANADA) INC., an Ontario corporation ("WOLVERINE
CANADA"; the Company and Wolverine Canada are each a "BORROWER" and
collectively, the "BORROWERS"), CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as administrative
agent (in such capacity, the "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT"), and the financial
institutions listed on the signature pages hereto (each individually referred to
herein as a "LENDER" and collectively, as "LENDERS"), and is made with reference
to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997, by and among the
Borrowers, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and Mellon Bank, N.A. as the
Documentation Agent, as amended as of June 26, 1998, as of March 10, 1999, as of
June 30, 1999, as of May 31, 2000 and as of August 8, 2001 (such Credit
Agreement, as so amended, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"). Capitalized terms used herein
without definition shall have the same meanings herein as set forth in the
Credit Agreement.

                                 R E C I T A L S

         WHEREAS, at the Borrowers' request the Lenders have from time to time
made Loans to the Borrowers under the Credit Agreement and have issued Letters
of Credit thereunder for the account of the Borrowers;

         WHEREAS, the Borrowers have notified the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders (i) that one or more Events of Default may have occurred as a result of
the Borrowers not being in compliance with the covenants set forth in Sections
7.6A, 7.6B and 7.6C of the Credit Agreement for the Fiscal Quarter ending
December 31, 2001 and (ii) that because of its failure to file its annual report
in a timely manner, one of the Company's Subsidiaries was administratively
dissolved by the Secretary of State of its state of incorporation, and although
it has now been reinstated with retrospective effect as if the dissolution had
never occurred, certain Events of Default may have occurred as a result thereof
during the period before its reinstatement;

         WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested Lenders waive any such Events of
Default and any Event of Default that may occur as a result of the Borrowers not
being in compliance with the covenants set forth in Sections 7.6A, 7.6B and 7.6C
of the Credit Agreement for the Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2002, and
Requisite Lenders desire to grant such waiver on the terms and conditions set
forth herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements,
provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

<PAGE>

SECTION 1. LIMITED WAIVER

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Waiver and in
reliance on the representations, warranties and covenants of the Credit Parties
herein contained, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby waive, (i) for
the period commencing on December 31, 2001 through and including April 16, 2002
(the "WAIVER PERIOD"), compliance with the provisions of subsections 7.6A, 7.6B
and 7.6C of the Credit Agreement with respect to the Fiscal Quarter ending as of
December 31, 2001 and the Fiscal Quarter ending as of March 31, 2002 and (ii)
any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under subsection 8.2) that
may have occurred as a result of Wolverine Finance Company being
administratively dissolved by the Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee
during the period before it received a Certificate of Reinstatement; provided,
that:

                  (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness under the
         Credit Agreement outstanding at any time during the Waiver Period shall
         not exceed $130,000,000 less an amount equal to the aggregate amount of
         any Net Asset Sale Proceeds, Net Securities Proceeds or net proceeds
         from the issuance of any Indebtedness received by Company or any
         Subsidiary on or after the date hereof; provided, that Borrowers shall
         not at any time be permitted to borrow more than necessary to fund its
         projected requirements as set forth in the estimated cash flows dated
         January 25, 2002 attached hereto as Schedule A (the "ESTIMATED CASH
         FLOWS"); it being understood that (i) if Borrowers' actual sales
         collections for any month are less than the projected sales collections
         for such month as set forth in the Estimated Cash Flows, Borrowers may
         borrow an additional amount not to exceed the lesser of (a) the amount
         of such shortfall and (b) 10% of the projected sales collections for
         such month as set forth in the Estimated Cash Flows, subject to the
         limitation on the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding set
         forth above, to fund projected requirements for such month as set forth
         in the Estimated Cash Flows, (ii) Borrowers shall be allowed to borrow
         to fund their requirements during April until April 16, 2002 on a basis
         consistent with February and March, subject to the limitation on the
         aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding set forth above,
         notwithstanding that the Estimated Cash Flows do not set forth
         projected inflows or outflows for April, and (iii) if Borrowers borrow
         less than projected in any month they shall, subject to the limitation
         on the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding set forth above,
         be able to borrow such amounts in the following month to fund projected
         requirements;

                  (b) Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the
         following: (i) as soon as possible and in any event no later than
         February 19, 2002, a cash flow forecast detailing collections,
         payments, availability and any other components requested by
         Administrative Agent or P&M (as defined in subsection (f) below) for
         the subsequent 13 week period, and thereafter, Company shall submit to
         the Administrative Agent on the second Business Day of each calendar
         week, for the preceding calendar week, weekly updates to such forecast,
         including a reconciliation of each past week's performance against
         forecast and adding each new week to such update so that such forecast
         shall be continued as a rolling 13-week forecast and (ii) as soon as
         available and in any event no later than 25 days after the end of each
         calendar

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         month, the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries as at the end of such calendar month and the related
         consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries for such calendar month;

                  (c) (i) on the date hereof, Borrowers (other than Wolverine
         Canada) and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall enter into a security
         agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the "SECURITY
         AGREEMENT"), (ii) on and after the date hereof Borrowers and each
         Subsidiary Guarantor shall take any actions necessary or requested by
         the Administrative Agent to perfect and protect such security interests
         and (iii) Borrowers and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall comply with the
         covenants set forth in Section 5;

                  (d) from and after the date hereof, the Borrowers and the
         Subsidiary Guarantors shall continue to maintain all primary Deposit
         Accounts located in the United States and Canada with one or more
         Lenders and all cash of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors,
         other than cash required for immediate operating needs of business
         outside the United States and Canada, will be held in such accounts;

                  (e) on or after the date hereof, Borrowers shall not and shall
         not permit their Subsidiaries to: (i) take any action that would be
         prohibited under Section 7 of the Credit Agreement during the
         continuance of an Event of Default, (ii) directly or indirectly, make
         or acquire any Investment in any Person described in subsections
         7.3(v), (vi) and (vii) of the Credit Agreement; (iii) directly or
         indirectly, create or become liable with respect to any Contingent
         Obligation under subsections 7.4(vii) and (ix) of the Credit Agreement;
         or (iv) make any Restricted Junior Payment, other than the mandatory
         redemption of the Company's $1.00 par value Cumulative Compounding
         Redeemable Preferred Stock on March 1, 2002 together with accrued and
         unpaid dividends thereon;

                  (f) Borrowers shall, and shall cause their officers, employees
         and Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees to
         cooperate with FTI/Policano & Manzo ("P&M"), financial consultant to
         the Lenders; and

                  (g) on the date hereof, Borrowers shall execute and deliver a
         sixth amendment to the Credit Agreement in the form attached hereto as
         Exhibit II (the "SIXTH AMENDMENT") to (i) effect certain changes to the
         Credit Agreement necessary in light of the grant of security pursuant
         to the Security Agreement, (ii) provide that all the Net Asset Sale
         Proceeds, Net Securities Proceeds or the proceeds of the issuance of
         any Indebtedness shall be applied to the prepayment of Loans and
         reduction of the Commitments, and (iii) provide for an increase in the
         rate of interest payable on the Loans on and after December 31, 2001
         and for interest to be payable monthly.

SECTION 2. LIMITATION OF WAIVER.

         Without limiting the generality of the provisions of subsection 10.6 of
the Credit Agreement, the waiver set forth in Section 1 above shall be limited
precisely as written and

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relates solely to the non-compliance by the Borrowers with the covenants set
forth in subsections 7.6A, 7.6B, 7.6C of the Credit Agreement for the Fiscal
Quarters ending December 31, 2001 and March 31, 2002 and nothing in this Waiver
shall be deemed to:

                  (a) constitute a waiver of by Administrative Agent and the
         Lenders with respect to any other term, provision or condition of the
         Credit Agreement or any other instrument or agreement referred to
         therein or any other Potential Events of Default or Events of Default;
         or

                  (b) prejudice any right or remedy that Administrative Agent or
         any Lender may now have (except to the extent such right or remedy was
         based upon existing defaults that will not exist after giving effect to
         this Waiver) or may have in the future under or in connection with the
         Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or
         agreement referred to therein or under applicable law.

         Except as expressly set forth herein, the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in
full force and effect and in all other respects are hereby ratified and
confirmed.

SECTION 3. BORROWERS' REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         In order to induce Lenders to enter into this Waiver and to waive
compliance with the Credit Agreement in the manner provided herein, each of the
Company and Wolverine Canada hereby represents and warrants to each Lender that
the following statements are true, correct and complete:

                  (a) CORPORATE POWER AND AUTHORITY. The Company and Wolverine
         Canada have all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into
         this Waiver and the Security Agreement and to carry out the
         transactions contemplated by, and perform their obligations under, the
         Credit Agreement.

                  (b) AUTHORIZATION OF AGREEMENTS. The execution and delivery of
         this Waiver and the Security Agreement have been duly authorized by all
         necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and Wolverine
         Canada, as the case may be.

                  (c) NO CONFLICT. The execution and delivery by the Company and
         Wolverine Canada of this Waiver and the Security Agreement do not and
         will not (i) violate any provision of any law or any governmental rule
         or regulation applicable to the Company, Wolverine Canada or any of
         their respective Subsidiaries, the Certificate or Articles of
         Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, Wolverine Canada or any of
         their respective Subsidiaries or any order, judgment or decree of any
         court or other agency of government binding on the Company, Wolverine
         Canada or any of their respective Subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with,
         result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time
         or both) a default under any Contractual Obligation of the Company,
         Wolverine Canada or any of their respective Subsidiaries, (iii) result
         in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the
         properties or assets of the Company, Wolverine Canada or any of their
         respective Subsidiaries (other than

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<PAGE>

         Liens created under any of the Loan Documents in favor of
         Administrative Agent on behalf of Lenders), or (iv) require any
         approval of stockholders or any approval or consent of any Person under
         any Contractual Obligation of the Company, Wolverine Canada or any of
         their respective Subsidiaries.

                  (d) GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS. The execution and delivery by the
         Company and Wolverine Canada of this Waiver and the Security Agreement
         do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval
         of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any federal, state or
         other governmental authority or regulatory body.

                  (e) BINDING OBLIGATION. Each of this Waiver and the Security
         Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and
         Wolverine Canada and is the legally valid and binding obligation of the
         Company and Wolverine Canada enforceable against the Company and
         Wolverine Canada in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited
         by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
         relating to or limiting creditors' rights generally or by equitable
         principles relating to enforceability.

                  (f) INCORPORATION OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES FROM
         CREDIT AGREEMENT. The representations and warranties contained in
         Section 5 of the Credit Agreement, as amended by the Sixth Amendment,
         are and will be true, correct and complete in all material respects on
         and as of the Effective Date (as defined below) to the same extent as
         though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such
         representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date,
         in which case they were true, correct and complete in all material
         respects on and as of such earlier date.

                  (g) ABSENCE OF DEFAULT. No event has occurred and is
         continuing that would constitute (after giving effect to this Waiver)
         an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default.

SECTION 4. RELEASE

         The Borrowers and each other Loan Party, on behalf of itself, and each
of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "RELEASORS") hereby releases, remises,
acquits and forever discharges the Administrative Agent, each Lender and Issuing
Lender and each of their respective employees, agents, representatives,
consultants, attorneys, fiduciaries, servants, officers, directors, partners,
predecessors, successors and assigns, subsidiary corporations, parent
corporations, affiliates, related corporate divisions, participants and assigns
(all of the foregoing hereinafter called the "RELEASED PARTIES"), from any and
all actions and causes of action, judgments, executions, suits, debts, claims,
demands, liabilities, obligations, setoffs, recoupments, counterclaims,
defenses, damages and expenses of any and every character, known or unknown,
suspected or unsuspected, direct and/or indirect, at law or in equity, of
whatsoever kind or nature, whether heretofore or hereafter arising, for or
because of any matter or things done, omitted or suffered to be done by any of
the Released Parties prior to and including the date of execution hereof, and in
any way directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected to this
Waiver, the Credit Agreement, any of the other Loan

                                       5

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Documents or the administration or enforcement of any of such documents (all of
the foregoing hereinafter called the "RELEASED MATTERS"). Each Releasor
acknowledges that the agreements in this Section 4 are intended to be in full
satisfaction of all or any alleged injuries or damages suffered or incurred by
such Releasor arising in connection with the Released Matters and constitute a
complete waiver of any right of setoff or recoupment, counterclaim or defense of
any nature whatsoever which arose prior to the date hereof to payment or
performance of the Obligations. Each Releasor represents and warrants that it
has no knowledge of any claim by it against the Released Parties or of any
facts, or acts or omissions of the Released Parties which on the date hereof
would be the basis of a claim by the Releasors against the Released Parties
which is not released hereby. Each Releasor represents and warrants that it has
not transferred or purported to transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise convey any
of its right, title or interest in any Released Matter to any other person or
entity and that the foregoing constitutes a full and complete release of all
Released Matters. Releasors have granted this release freely, and voluntarily
and without duress.

SECTION 5. POST-CLOSING COVENANTS

         Borrowers and Subsidiary Guarantors shall take or cause to be taken all
such actions, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered all such
agreements, documents and instruments, and make or cause to be made all such
filings that may be necessary or, in the opinion of Administrative Agent,
desirable in order to create in favor of Administrative Agent, for the benefit
of Lenders, a valid and (upon such filing) perfected first priority security
interest in the collateral pledged under the Security Agreement (the
"COLLATERAL"). Without limitation of the foregoing, Company and each Subsidiary
Guarantor shall:

                  (a) on the date hereof, deliver to Administrative Agent UCC
         financing statements, duly executed by each applicable Loan Party with
         respect to all Collateral of such Loan Party, for filing in all
         jurisdictions as may be necessary or, in the opinion of Administrative
         Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests created in such
         Collateral pursuant to the Security Agreement;

                  (b) cause to be delivered to Administrative Agent, promptly
         and in any event by the close of business on February 15, 2002 (or such
         later date as Administrative Agent may agree), an opinion of counsel to
         the Loan Parties under the laws of each applicable jurisdiction with
         respect to the enforceability of the Security Agreement and the Sixth
         Amendment, creation and perfection of the security interests in favor
         of Administrative Agent in such Collateral and such other matters
         governed by the laws of such jurisdiction regarding such security
         interests as Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in form
         and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent; and

                  (c) on the date hereof, deliver to Administrative Agent (i)
         resolutions of the governing body of each Loan Party approving and
         authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Waiver, the
         Sixth Amendment, the Security Agreement and any other document to be
         delivered in connection with this Waiver, certified as of the date
         hereof by the secretary or similar officer of such Person as being in
         full force and effect without modification or amendment, (ii) signature
         and

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         incumbency certificates of the officers of each Loan Party that is
         executing this Waiver, the Sixth Amendment, the Security Agreement or
         any other documents delivered in connection with this Waiver to which
         such Loan Party is a party and (iii) an Officer's Certificate, in form
         and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, certifying, after
         giving effect to this Waiver, (i) as to the absence of any event
         occurring and continuing that constitutes a Default or an Event of
         Default and (ii) that the representations and warranties in Section 5
         of the Credit Agreement are true, correct and complete in all material
         respects on and as of the date hereof to the same extent as though made
         on and as of that date (or, to the extent such representations and
         warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, that such
         representations and warranties were true, correct and complete in all
         material respects on and as of such earlier date) and that each Loan
         Party shall have performed in all material respects all agreements and
         satisfied all conditions which this Waiver and the Credit Agreement
         provides shall be performed or satisfied by it on or before the date
         hereof.

SECTION 6. MISCELLANEOUS

                  (a) FEES AND EXPENSES. By its execution hereof, the Borrowers
         (i) hereby acknowledge that the Administrative Agent intends to retain,
         at Borrowers' expense, P&M as its financial consultant and the
         Borrowers agree to pay the costs and expenses of such financial
         consultant upon demand and (ii) agree that on and after the date
         hereof, all costs and expenses of the Lenders shall be paid by
         Borrowers pursuant to Section 10.2(v) of the Credit Agreement
         notwithstanding the existence or non-existence of any Event of Default
         or the waiver of any Event of Default hereunder.

                  (b) HEADINGS. Section and subsection headings in this Waiver
         are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not
         constitute a part of this Waiver for any other purpose or be given any
         substantive effect.

                  (c) APPLICABLE LAW. THIS WAIVER AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
         OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED
         AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
         YORK (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL
         OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK), WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS
         OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

                  (d) COUNTERPARTS; EFFECTIVENESS. This Waiver may be executed
         in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in
         separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered
         shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall
         constitute but one and the same instrument; signature pages may be
         detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single
         counterpart so that all signature pages are physically attached to the
         same document. This Waiver shall be deemed effective as of December 31,
         2001 upon (i) the execution of a counterpart hereof by the Borrowers,
         the Subsidiary Guarantors and Requisite Lenders, (ii) receipt by the
         Company and the Administrative Agent of written or telephonic
         notification of such execution and authorization of delivery

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         thereof and (iii) receipt by the Administrative Agent for distribution
         to each Lender executing this Waiver, of a waiver fee in an amount
         equal to 0.10% of the Loan Exposure of such Lender (the "EFFECTIVE
         DATE").

SECTION 7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT BY GUARANTORS

         Each of Tube Forming L.P., Small Tube Manufacturing Corp., Wolverine
Finance Company and Wolverine Joining Technologies, Inc. hereby acknowledges
that it has read this Waiver and consents to the terms hereof and further hereby
confirms and agrees that, notwithstanding the effectiveness of this Waiver, the
obligations of such Loan Party under each of the Loan Documents to which it is a
party shall not be impaired and each of the Loan Documents to which it is a
party are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby
confirmed and ratified in all respects.

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Waiver to be
duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the date first written above.

                                 WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.

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

                                 Notice Address:
                                 Wolverine Tube, Inc.
                                 200 Clinton Avenue, Suite 1000
                                 Huntsville, AL  35801
                                 Attention:  James E. Deason

                                       S-1

<PAGE>

                                 WOLVERINE TUBE (CANADA) INC.

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

                                 Notice Address:

                                 Wolverine Tube, Inc.
                                 200 Clinton Avenue, Suite 1000
                                 Huntsville, AL  35801
                                 Attention: James E. Deason

                                      S-2

<PAGE>

                                 TUBE FORMING L.P.,
                                 a Delaware limited partnership

                                 By: WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.

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

                                 Notice Address:

                                 Wolverine Tube, Inc.
                                 200 Clinton Avenue, Suite 1000
                                 Huntsville, AL  35801
                                 Attention:  James E. Deason

                                      S-3

<PAGE>

                                  SMALL TUBE MANUFACTURING CORP.,
                                  a Delaware corporation

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

                                  Notice Address:

                                  Wolverine Tube, Inc.
                                  200 Clinton Avenue, Suite 1000
                                  Huntsville, AL  35801
                                  Attention:  James E. Deason

                                      S-4

<PAGE>

                                  WOLVERINE FINANCE COMPANY,
                                  a Tennessee corporation

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

                                  Notice Address:

                                  Wolverine Tube, Inc.
                                  200 Clinton Avenue, Suite 1000
                                  Huntsville, AL  35801
                                  Attention: James E. Deason

                                      S-5

<PAGE>

                                  WOLVERINE JOINING TECHNOLOGIES,
                                  INC., a Delaware corporation

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

                                  Notice Address:

                                  Wolverine Tube, Inc.
                                  200 Clinton Avenue, Suite 1000
                                  Huntsville, AL  35801
                                  Attention:  James E. Deason

                                      S-6

<PAGE>

                                  CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON,
                                  as the Administrative Agent

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

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

                                  Notice Address:

                                  Credit Suisse First Boston
                                  11 Madison Avenue
                                  New York, NY  10010-3629
                                  Attention:  Sharon Meadows

                                      S-7

<PAGE>

                                   CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON,
                                   as a Lender

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

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

                                   Notice Address:

                                   Credit Suisse First Boston
                                   11 Madison Avenue
                                   New York, NY  10010-3629
                                   Attention:  Sharon Meadows

                                      S-8

<PAGE>

                                   MELLON BANK, N.A.,

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

                                   Notice Address:

                                   Mellon Bank, N.A.
                                   Three Mellon Bank Center
                                   23rd Floor
                                   Pittsburgh, PA  15259-0003
                                   Attention:  Loan Administration

                                   Copy to:

                                   Mellon Bank, N.A.
                                   One Mellon Bank Center
                                   Pittsburgh, PA  15258-0001
                                   Attention:  Roger N. Stanier

                                      S-9

<PAGE>

                                  CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH
                                  as a Lender

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

                                  Notice Address:

                                  Credit Lyonnais New York Branch
                                  2200 Ross Avenue
                                  Suite 4400W
                                  Dallas, TX  75201
                                  Attention:  David Cagle

                                      S-10

<PAGE>

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
                             f/k/a Bank of America National Trust and Savings
                             Association, (successor by merger to Bank of
                             America Illinois), successor by merger to Bank of
                             America, N.A., f/k/a NationsBank, N.A., (successor
                             by merger to NationsBank, N.A. (South))

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

                             Notice Address:

                             Bank of America
                             101 South Tryon Street
                             Charlotte, NC 28255-0001
                             Attention:  Michael McKenney

                                      S-11

<PAGE>

                                  THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
                                  as a Lender

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

                                  Notice Address:

                                  The Bank of Nova Scotia
                                  Suite 2700
                                  600 Peachtree Street NE
                                  Atlanta, GA  30308
                                  Attention:  Pat Brown

                                      S-12

<PAGE>

                                  FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
                                  as a Lender

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

                                  Notice Address:

                                  Wachovia, Inc.
                                  201 South College Street, 24th Floor
                                  Charlotte, NC  28288-1183
                                  Attention: Ron Ferguson

                                      S-13

<PAGE>

                                    SUNTRUST BANK (successor in interest to
                                    SunTrust Bank, Nashville, N.A.)
                                    as a Lender

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

                                    Notice Address:

                                    Suntrust Bank
                                    Corporate & Investment Banking
                                    3rd Floor
                                    201 4th Avenue North
                                    Nashville, TN  37219
                                    Attention:  Jim Sloan

                                      S-14

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A
                              ESTIMATED CASH FLOWS

                                    EXHIBIT I

                          [FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT]

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

         This SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is dated as of February 4,
2002 and entered into by and among WOLVERINE TUBE, INC., a Delaware corporation
("COMPANY"), each of THE UNDERSIGNED DIRECT AND INDIRECT SUBSIDIARIES of Company
(each of such undersigned Subsidiaries being a "SUBSIDIARY GRANTOR" and
collectively "SUBSIDIARY GRANTORS") and each ADDITIONAL GRANTOR that may become
a party hereto after the date hereof in accordance with Section 18 hereof (each
of the Company, each Subsidiary Grantor, and each Additional Grantor being a
"GRANTOR" and collectively the "GRANTORS") and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as
Administrative Agent for and representative of the financial institutions
("LENDERS") party to the Credit Agreement referred to below and the holders from
time to time of the Company's 7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2008 (the "NOTEHOLDERS")
(in such capacity herein called "SECURED PARTY").

                             PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

         A. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997 (said
Credit Agreement, as amended to the date hereof and as it may hereafter be
further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time,
being the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"; the terms defined therein and not otherwise
defined herein being used herein as therein defined), by and among the Company,
Wolverine Tube (Canada) Inc. ("WOLVERINE CANADA"; and together with the Company,
the "BORROWERS"), the financial institutions listed therein as Lenders, Mellon
Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and Credit Suisse First Boston, as
Administrative Agent (in such capacity, "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT"), Lenders have
made certain commitments, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
Credit Agreement, to extend certain credit facilities to Borrowers.

         B. Subsidiary Grantors have executed and delivered that certain
Subsidiary Guaranty dated as of April 30, 1997 (said Subsidiary Guaranty, as
amended to the date hereof and as it may hereafter be further amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, being the "SUBSIDIARY
GUARANTY") in favor of Secured Party for the benefit of Lenders, pursuant to
which each Subsidiary Grantor has guarantied the prompt payment and performance
when due of all obligations of the Company under the Credit Agreement, including
without limitation the obligation of the Company to make payments thereunder in
the event of early termination thereof.

         C. It is a condition precedent to the execution and delivery by Lenders
of that certain Limited Waiver dated as of February 4, 2002 (the "WAIVER"),
among the Borrowers, the

                                    Sch. A-1

<PAGE>

Administrative Agent and the Lenders, that Grantors listed on the signature
pages hereof shall have granted the security interests and undertaken the
obligations contemplated by this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to induce
Lenders to enter into the Waiver and to continue to make Loans and other
extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, each
Grantor hereby agrees with Secured Party as follows:

                  SECTION 1. GRANT OF SECURITY.

         Each Grantor hereby assigns to Secured Party, and hereby grants to
Secured Party a security interest in, all of such Grantor's right, title and
interest in and to the following, in each case whether now or hereafter
existing, whether tangible or intangible, or in which such Grantor now has or
hereafter acquires an interest and wherever the same may be located (the
"COLLATERAL"):

                  (a) all inventory in all of its forms located in the United
States, including but not limited to (i) all goods held by such Grantor for sale
or lease or to be furnished under contracts of service or so leased or
furnished, (ii) all raw materials, work in process, finished goods, and
materials used or consumed in the manufacture, packing, shipping, advertising,
selling, leasing, furnishing or production of such inventory or otherwise used
or consumed in such Grantor's business, (iii) all goods in which such Grantor
has an interest in mass or a joint or other interest or right of any kind, and
(iv) all goods which are returned to or repossessed by such Grantor and all
accessions thereto and products thereof (collectively the "INVENTORY") and all
negotiable and non-negotiable documents of title (including, without limitation,
documents, warehouse receipts, dock receipts and bills of lading) issued by any
Person covering any Inventory (any such negotiable document of title being a
"NEGOTIABLE DOCUMENT OF TITLE");

                  (b) all accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, documents,
instruments, letter-of-credit rights and other rights and obligations of any
kind owned by or owing to such Grantor and all rights in, to and under all
security agreements, leases and other contracts securing or otherwise relating
to any such accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, documents, instruments,
letter-of-credit rights or other rights and obligations (any and all such
accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, documents, instruments,
letter-of-credit rights and other rights and obligations being the "ACCOUNTS",
and any and all such security agreements, leases, and other contracts being the
"RELATED CONTRACTS");

                  (c) all purchase orders relating to Inventory (whether for
metals, fabrication or otherwise), any Hedge Agreements described in subsection
7.4(v) of the Credit Agreement and any other hedge arrangements relating to the
Inventory, as each such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time (said agreements, as so amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified, being referred to herein individually as an
"ASSIGNED AGREEMENT" and collectively as the "ASSIGNED AGREEMENTS"), including,
without limitation, (i) all rights of such Grantor to receive moneys due or to
become due under or pursuant to the Assigned Agreements, (ii) all rights of such
Grantor to receive proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty or guaranty
with respect to the Assigned Agreements, (iii) all claims of such Grantor for
damages arising out of any breach of or default under the Assigned

                                       2

<PAGE>

Agreements, and (iv) all rights of such Grantor to terminate, amend, supplement,
modify or exercise rights or options under the Assigned Agreements, to perform
thereunder and to compel performance and otherwise exercise all remedies
thereunder;

                  (d) all books, records, ledger cards, files, correspondence,
computer programs, tapes, disks and related data processing software that at any
time evidence or contain information relating to any of the Collateral or are
otherwise necessary or helpful in the collection thereof or realization
thereupon; and

                  (e) all proceeds, products, rents and profits of or from any
and all of the foregoing Collateral and, to the extent not otherwise included,
all payments under insurance (whether or not Secured Party is the loss payee
thereof), or any indemnity, warranty or guaranty, payable by reason of loss or
damage to or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing Collateral. For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "PROCEEDS" includes whatever is receivable
or received when Collateral or proceeds are sold, exchanged, collected or
otherwise disposed of, whether such disposition is voluntary or involuntary.

         Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the
Collateral include, and no Grantor shall be deemed to have granted a security
interest in any of such Grantor's rights or interests in any license, contract
or agreement to which such Grantor is a party or any of its rights or interests
thereunder to the extent, but only to the extent, that such a grant would, under
the terms of such license, contract or agreement or otherwise, result in a
breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under any license, contract or
agreement to which such Grantor is a party (other than to the extent that any
such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code,
as it exists on the date of this Agreement or as it may hereafter be amended, in
the State of New York (the "UCC") or any other applicable law (including the
Bankruptcy Code) or principles of equity); provided, that immediately upon the
ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such provision, the Collateral
shall include, and such Grantor shall be deemed to have granted a security
interest in, all such rights and interests as if such provision had never been
in effect.

         Each item of Collateral listed in this Section 1 that is defined in
Articles 8 or 9 of the UCC shall have the meaning set forth in the UCC, it being
the intention of the Grantors that the description of the Collateral set forth
above be construed to include the broadest possible range of assets, except for
assets expressly excluded as set forth above.

                  SECTION 2. SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS.

         This Agreement secures, and the Collateral assigned by each Grantor is
collateral security for, the prompt payment or performance in full when due,
whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration,
demand or otherwise (including without limitation the payment of amounts that
would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section
362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code), of all Secured Obligations of such Grantor.
"SECURED OBLIGATIONS" means:

                  (a) (i) with respect to the Company, all obligations and
liabilities of every nature of the Company hereafter existing under or arising
out of or in connection with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents
with respect to any Loans made or Letters of Credit

                                       3

<PAGE>

issued on or after the date hereof (but excluding any continuations or
conversions of Loans outstanding on the date hereof) and any other obligations
or liabilities arising out of or in connection with the Credit Agreement on or
after the date hereof and (ii) with respect to each Subsidiary Grantor and
Additional Grantor, all obligations and liabilities of every nature of such
Grantors hereafter existing under or arising out of or in connection with the
Subsidiary Guaranty with respect to any Loans made or Letters of Credit issued
on or after the date hereof (but excluding any continuations or conversions of
Loans outstanding on the date hereof) and any other obligations or liabilities
arising out of or in connection with the Credit Agreement on or after the date
hereof (collectively, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT OBLIGATIONS"); and

                  (b) only to the extent required by Section 4.3 of the Senior
Note Indenture, any and all obligations of the Company and the Grantors in
respect of the Company's 7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2008 now or hereafter
outstanding (collectively, the "NOTE OBLIGATIONS"),

in each case together with all extensions or renewals thereof, whether for
principal, interest (including without limitation interest that, but for the
filing of a petition in bankruptcy with respect to Company or any other Grantor,
would accrue on such obligations, whether or not a claim is allowed against
Company or such Grantor for such interest in the related bankruptcy proceeding),
reimbursement of amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, fees, expenses,
indemnities or otherwise, whether voluntary or involuntary, direct or indirect,
absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, whether or not jointly owed
with others, and whether or not from time to time decreased or extinguished and
later increased, created or incurred, and all or any portion of such obligations
or liabilities that are paid, to the extent all or any part of such payment is
avoided or recovered directly or indirectly from Secured Party or any Lender as
a preference, fraudulent transfer or otherwise, and all obligations of every
nature of Grantors now or hereafter existing under this Agreement; provided that
the Collateral shall secure solely the Credit Agreement Obligations to the
extent permitted by Section 4.3(i) of the Senior Note Indenture, and to the
extent the amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money so secured would exceed the
maximum amount permitted to be so secured by Section 4.3(i) of the Senior Note
Indenture, the Collateral shall secure the shall secure the Credit Agreement
Obligations equally and ratably with the Note Obligations, but only to the
extent required by Section 4.3 of the Senior Note Indenture and only for so long
as the Credit Agreement Obligations are secured by the Lien hereunder.

             SECTION 3. GRANTORS REMAIN LIABLE.

         Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) each
Grantor shall remain liable under any contracts and agreements included in the
Collateral, to the extent set forth therein, to perform all of its duties and
obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been
executed, (b) the exercise by Secured Party of any of its rights hereunder shall
not release any Grantor from any of its duties or obligations under the
contracts and agreements included in the Collateral, and (c) Secured Party shall
not have any obligation or liability under any contracts, licenses, and
agreements included in the Collateral by reason of this Agreement, nor shall
Secured Party be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of any
Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for
payment assigned hereunder.

                                       4

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         Each Grantor represents and warrants as follows:

                  (a) OWNERSHIP OF COLLATERAL. Except as expressly permitted by
the Credit Agreement and for the security interest created by this Agreement,
such Grantor owns the Collateral owned by such Grantor free and clear of any
Lien. Except as expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement and such as may have
been filed in favor of Secured Party relating to this Agreement, no effective
financing statement or other instrument similar in effect covering all or any
part of the Collateral is on file in any filing or recording office.

                  (b) LOCATIONS OF INVENTORY. All of the Inventory is, as of the
date hereof, or in the case of an Additional Grantor, the date of the applicable
counterpart entered into pursuant to Section 18 (each, a "COUNTERPART") located
at the places specified in Schedule 4(b), except for Inventory which, in the
ordinary course of business, is in transit either (i) from a supplier to a
Grantor, (ii) between the locations specified in Schedule 4(b), or (iii) to
customers of a Grantor.

                  (c) NEGOTIABLE DOCUMENTS OF TITLE. No Negotiable Documents of
Title are outstanding with respect to any of the Inventory.

                  (d) OFFICE LOCATIONS; TYPE AND JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION.
The chief place of business, the chief executive office and the office where
such Grantor keeps its records regarding the Accounts and all originals of all
chattel paper that evidence Accounts are, as of the date hereof, and, except as
set forth on Schedule 4(d), have been for the four month period preceding the
date hereof, or, in the case of an Additional Grantor, the date of the
applicable Counterpart, located at the locations set forth on Schedule 4(d);
such Grantor's type of organization (i.e. corporation, limited partnership,
etc.), jurisdiction of organization and organization number provided by the
applicable government authority of the jurisdiction of organization are listed
on Schedule 4(d);

                  (e) NAMES. No Grantor (or predecessor by merger or otherwise
of such Grantor) has, within the four month period preceding the date hereof,
or, in the case of an Additional Grantor, the date of the applicable
Counterpart, had a different name from the name of such Grantor listed on the
signature pages hereof, except the names listed in Schedule 4(e) annexed hereto.

                  (f) DELIVERY OF CERTAIN COLLATERAL. All certificates or
instruments (excluding checks) evidencing, comprising or representing the
Collateral have been delivered to Secured Party duly endorsed or accompanied by
duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank.

                  (g) PERFECTION. The security interests in the Collateral
granted to Secured Party for the ratable benefit of the Lenders hereunder
constitute valid security interests in the Collateral, securing the payment of
the Secured Obligations. Upon (i) the filing of properly completed UCC financing
statements naming each Grantor as "debtor", naming Secured Party as "secured
party" and describing the Collateral in the filing offices with respect to such
Grantor set forth on Schedule 4(g) and (ii) in the case of the Collateral
evidenced by instruments, delivery of such instruments to Secured Party, duly
endorsed or accompanied by duly executed instruments

                                       5

<PAGE>

of assignment or transfer in blank, the security interests in the Collateral
granted to Secured Party for the ratable benefit of the Lenders will constitute
perfected security interests therein prior to all other Liens (except for
Permitted Encumbrances), and all filings and other actions necessary or
desirable to perfect and protect such security interest have been duly made or
taken.

                  SECTION 5. FURTHER ASSURANCES.

                  GENERALLY. Each Grantor agrees that from time to time, at the
expense of Grantors, such Grantor will promptly execute and deliver all further
instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or
desirable, or that Secured Party may request, in order to perfect and protect
any security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable
Secured Party to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with
respect to any Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
each Grantor will: (i) at the request of Secured Party, mark conspicuously each
item of chattel paper included in the Accounts, each Related Contract and, at
the request of Secured Party, each of its records pertaining to the Collateral,
with a legend, in form and substance satisfactory to Secured Party, indicating
that such Collateral is subject to the security interest granted hereby, (ii) at
the request of Secured Party, deliver and pledge to Secured Party hereunder all
promissory notes and other instruments (including checks) and all original
counterparts of chattel paper constituting Collateral, duly endorsed and
accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment, all in form
and substance satisfactory to Secured Party, (iii) (A) execute and file such
financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, (B) execute and
deliver, and cause to be executed and delivered, agreements establishing that
Secured Party has control of specified items of Collateral and (C) deliver such
other instruments or notices, in each case, as may be necessary or desirable, or
as Secured Party may request, in order to perfect and preserve the security
interests granted or purported to be granted hereby, (iv) furnish to Secured
Party from time to time statements and schedules further identifying and
describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the
Collateral as Secured Party may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail,
(v) at any reasonable time, upon request by Secured Party, exhibit the
Collateral to and allow inspection of the Collateral by Secured Party, or
persons designated by Secured Party, (vi) at Secured Party's request, appear in
and defend any action or proceeding that may affect such Grantor's title to or
Secured Party's security interest in all or any part of the Collateral, and
(vii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary consents of
third parties to the assignment and perfection of a security interest to Secured
Party with respect to any Collateral, including any landlord waiver, mortgagee
waiver, bailee letter or any similar acknowledgement or agreement of any
landlord, mortgagee in respect of any real property where any Collateral is
located or any warehouseman or processor in possession of any Inventory of any
Grantor. Each Grantor hereby authorizes Secured Party to file one or more
financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relative to all or
any part of the Collateral without the signature of any Grantor. Each Grantor
agrees that a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or of
a financing statement signed by such Grantor shall be sufficient as a financing
statement and may be filed as a financing statement in any and all
jurisdictions.

                                       6

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 6. CERTAIN COVENANTS OF GRANTORS.

         Each Grantor shall:

                  (a) not use or permit any Collateral to be used unlawfully or
in violation of any provision of this Agreement or any applicable statute,
regulation or ordinance or any policy of insurance covering the Collateral;

                  (b) notify Secured Party of any change in such Grantor's name,
identity or corporate structure within 15 days of such change;

                  (c) give Secured Party 30 days' prior written notice of any
change in such Grantor's chief place of business, chief executive office or
residence or the office where such Grantor keeps its records regarding the
Accounts and all originals of all chattel paper that evidence Accounts or a
reincorporation, reorganization or other action that results in a change of the
jurisdiction of organization of such Grantor;

                  (d) if Secured Party gives value to enable such Grantor to
acquire rights in or the use of any Collateral, use such value for such
purposes; and

                  (e) except as expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement, pay
promptly when due all property and other taxes, assessments and governmental
charges or levies imposed upon, and all claims (including claims for labor,
services, materials and supplies) against, the Collateral, except to the extent
the validity thereof is being contested in good faith; provided that such
Grantor shall in any event pay such taxes, assessments, charges, levies or
claims not later than five days prior to the date of any proposed sale under any
judgment, writ or warrant of attachment entered or filed against such Grantor or
any of the Collateral as a result of the failure to make such payment.

                  SECTION 7. SPECIAL COVENANTS WITH RESPECT TO INVENTORY.

         Each Grantor shall:

                  (a) keep the Inventory owned by such Grantor at the places
therefor specified on Schedule 4(b) or, upon 30 days' prior written notice to
Secured Party, at such other places in jurisdictions where all action that may
be necessary or desirable, or that Secured Party may request, in order to
perfect and protect any security interest granted or purported to be granted
hereby, or to enable Secured Party to exercise and enforce its rights and
remedies hereunder, with respect to such Inventory shall have been taken;

                  (b) keep correct and accurate records of Inventory owned by
such Grantor, itemizing and describing the kind, type and quantity of such
Inventory, such Grantor's cost therefor and (where applicable) the current list
prices for such Inventory;

                  (c) if any Inventory is in possession or control of any of
such Grantor's agents or processors, if the aggregate book value of all such
Inventory exceeds $1,000,000, and in any event upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default (as defined in Section 13), instruct such agent

                                       7

<PAGE>

or processor to hold all such Inventory for the account of Secured Party and
subject to the instructions of Secured Party;

                  (d) at its own expense, maintain insurance with respect to the
Inventory in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement; and

                  (e) promptly upon the issuance and delivery to Grantor of any
Negotiable Document of Title deliver such Negotiable Document of Title to Agent.

                  SECTION 8. SPECIAL COVENANTS WITH RESPECT TO ACCOUNTS AND
                             RELATED CONTRACTS.

                  (a) Each Grantor shall keep its chief place of business and
chief executive office and the office where it keeps its records concerning the
Accounts and Related Contracts, and all originals of all chattel paper that
evidence Accounts, at the locations therefor set forth on Schedule 4(d), upon 30
days' prior written notice to Secured Party, at such other location in a
jurisdiction where all action that may be necessary or desirable, or that
Secured Party may request, in order to perfect and protect any security interest
granted or purported to be granted hereby, or to enable Secured Party to
exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder, with respect to such
Accounts and Related Contracts shall have been taken. Each Grantor will hold and
preserve such records and chattel paper and will permit representatives of
Secured Party at any time during normal business hours to inspect and make
abstracts from such records and chattel paper, and each Grantor agrees to render
to Secured Party, at Grantor's cost and expense, such clerical and other
assistance as may be reasonably requested with regard thereto. Promptly upon the
request of Secured Party, each Grantor shall deliver to Secured Party complete
and correct copies of each Related Contract.

                  (b) Each Grantor shall, for not less than three (3) years from
the date on which each Account of such Grantor arose, maintain (i) complete
records of such Account, including records of all payments received, credits
granted and merchandise returned, and (ii) all documentation relating thereto.

                  (c) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (c), each
Grantor shall continue to collect, at its own expense, all amounts due or to
become due to such Grantor under the Accounts and Related Contracts. In
connection with such collections, each Grantor may take (and, at Secured Party's
direction, shall take) such action as such Grantor or Secured Party may deem
necessary or advisable to enforce collection of amounts due or to become due
under the Accounts; provided, however, that Secured Party shall have the right
at any time, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of
Default or a Potential Event of Default and upon written notice to such Grantor
of its intention to do so, to notify the account debtors or obligors under any
Accounts of the assignment of such Accounts to Secured Party and to direct such
account debtors or obligors to make payment of all amounts due or to become due
to such Grantor thereunder directly to Secured Party, to notify each Person
maintaining a lockbox or similar arrangement to which account debtors or
obligors under any Accounts have been directed to make payment to remit all
amounts representing collections on checks and other payment items from time to
time sent to or deposited in such lockbox or other arrangement directly to
Secured Party and, upon such notification and at the expense of Grantors, to
enforce collection of any such Accounts and to adjust, settle or compromise the
amount or payment thereof, in the

                                       8

<PAGE>

same manner and to the same extent as such Grantor might have done. After
receipt by such Grantor of the notice from Secured Party referred to in the
proviso to the preceding sentence, (i) all amounts and proceeds (including
checks and other instruments) received by such Grantor in respect of the
Accounts and the Related Contracts shall be received in trust for the benefit of
Secured Party hereunder, shall be segregated from other funds of such Grantor
and shall be forthwith paid over or delivered to Secured Party in the same form
as so received (with any necessary endorsement) to be held as cash Collateral
and applied as provided by Section 14, and (ii) such Grantor shall not adjust,
settle or compromise the amount or payment of any Account, or release wholly or
partly any account debtor or obligor thereof, or allow any credit or discount
thereon.

                  SECTION 9. SPECIAL COVENANTS WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSIGNED
                             AGREEMENTS.

                  (a) Each Grantor shall at its expense:

                  (i) if consistent with sound business practices, perform and
observe all terms and provisions of the Assigned Agreements to be performed or
observed by it, maintain the Assigned Agreements in full force and effect,
enforce the Assigned Agreements in accordance with their terms, and take all
such action to such end as may be from time to time requested by Secured Party;
and

                  (ii) upon the reasonable request of Secured Party, furnish to
Secured Party, promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all notices, requests
and other documents received by such Grantor under or pursuant to the Assigned
Agreements, and from time to time (A) furnish to Secured Party such information
and reports regarding the Assigned Agreements as Secured Party may reasonably
request and (B) upon request of Secured Party make to the parties to such
Assigned Agreements such demands and requests for information and reports or for
action as such Grantor is entitled to make under the Assigned Agreements.

                  (b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, no Grantor shall:

                  (i) cancel or terminate any of the Assigned Agreements or
consent to or accept any cancellation or termination thereof;

                  (ii) amend or otherwise modify the Assigned Agreements or give
any consent, waiver or approval thereunder;

                  (iii) waive any default under or breach of the Assigned
Agreements;

                  (iv) consent to or permit or accept any prepayment of amounts
to become due under or in connection with the Assigned Agreements, except as
expressly provided therein; or

                  (v) take any other action in connection with the Assigned
Agreements that could reasonably be expected to materially impair the value of
the interest or rights of such Grantor thereunder or that could reasonably be
expected to materially impair the interest or rights of Secured Party.

                                       9

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 10. SECURED PARTY APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT.

         Each Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints Secured Party as such
Grantor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such
Grantor and in the name of such Grantor, Secured Party or otherwise, from time
to time in Secured Party's discretion to take any action and to execute any
instrument that Secured Party may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement, including without limitation:

                  (a) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, to obtain and adjust insurance required to be maintained by such
Grantor or paid to Secured Party pursuant to Section 7;

                  (b) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, to ask for, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compound, receive and
give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in
respect of any of the Collateral;

                  (c) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, to receive, endorse and collect any drafts or other instruments,
documents and chattel paper in connection with clauses (a) and (b) above;

                  (d) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings
that Secured Party may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of
the Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of Secured Party with respect
to any of the Collateral;

                  (e) to pay or discharge taxes or Liens (other than Liens
permitted under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement) levied or placed upon or
threatened against the Collateral, the legality or validity thereof and the
amounts necessary to discharge the same to be determined by Secured Party in its
sole discretion, any such payments made by Secured Party to become obligations
of such Grantor to Secured Party, due and payable immediately without demand;

                  (f) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, to sign and endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of
lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments,
verifications and notices in connection with Accounts and other documents
relating to the Collateral; and

                  (g) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default, generally to sell, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect
to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as
though Secured Party were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to
do, at Secured Party's option and Grantors' expense, at any time or from time to
time, all acts and things that Secured Party deems necessary to protect,
preserve or realize upon the Collateral and Secured Party's security interest
therein in order to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and
effectively as such Grantor might do.

                                       10

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 11. SECURED PARTY MAY PERFORM.

         If any Grantor fails to perform any agreement contained herein, Secured
Party may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the
expenses of Secured Party incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by
Grantors under Section 15(b).

                  SECTION 12. STANDARD OF CARE.

         The powers conferred on Secured Party hereunder are solely to protect
its interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise
any such powers. Except for the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of
any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received
by it hereunder, Secured Party shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to
the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or
any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. Secured Party shall be deemed to
have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of Collateral in
its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to
that which Secured Party accords its own property.

                  SECTION 13. REMEDIES.

         If any Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) shall have
occurred and be continuing, Secured Party may exercise in respect of the
Collateral, in addition to all other rights and remedies provided for herein or
otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party on
default under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected
Collateral), and also may (i) require each Grantor to, and each Grantor hereby
agrees that it will at its expense and upon request of Secured Party forthwith,
assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by Secured Party and make it
available to Secured Party at a place to be designated by Secured Party that is
reasonably convenient to both parties, (ii) enter onto the property where any
Collateral is located and take possession thereof with or without judicial
process, (iii) prior to the disposition of the Collateral, store, process,
repair or recondition the Collateral or otherwise prepare the Collateral for
disposition in any manner to the extent Secured Party deems appropriate, (iv)
take possession of any Grantor's premises or place custodians in exclusive
control thereof, remain on such premises and use the same and any of such
Grantor's equipment for the purpose of completing any work in process, taking
any actions described in the preceding clause (iii) and collecting any Secured
Obligation and, (v) without notice except as specified below, sell the
Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale,
at any of Secured Party's offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for
future delivery, at such time or times and at such price or prices and upon such
other terms as Secured Party may deem commercially reasonable. Secured Party or
any Lender may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any such sale
and Secured Party, as agent for and representative of Lenders (but not any
Lender in its individual capacity unless Requisite Lenders shall otherwise agree
in writing), shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement
or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold
at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Secured Obligations as a
credit on account of the purchase price for any Collateral payable by Secured
Party at such sale. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold
absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each
Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) all rights of
redemption, stay and/or appraisal which it now has or may at any time in the
future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.
Each Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be

                                       11

<PAGE>

required by law, at least ten days' notice to such Grantor of the time and place
of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall
constitute reasonable notification. Secured Party shall not be obligated to make
any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. Secured
Party may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement
at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice,
be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. Each Grantor hereby
waives any claims against Secured Party arising by reason of the fact that the
price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less
than the price which might have been obtained at a public sale, even if Secured
Party accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to
more than one offeree. If the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the
Collateral are insufficient to pay all the Secured Obligations, Grantors shall
be jointly and severally liable for the deficiency and the fees of any attorneys
employed by Secured Party to collect such deficiency. Each Grantor further
agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section will
cause irreparable injury to Secured Party, that Secured Party has no adequate
remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that each and
every covenant contained in this Section shall be specifically enforceable
against such Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert
any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except
for a defense that no default has occurred giving rise to the Secured
Obligations becoming due and payable prior to their stated maturities.

                  SECTION 14. APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS.

         Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, all proceeds
received by Secured Party in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other
realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied in the
following order of priority:

                  FIRST: To the payment of all costs and expenses of such sale,
         collection or other realization, including reasonable compensation to
         Secured Party and its agents and counsel, and all other expenses,
         liabilities and advances made or incurred by Secured Party in
         connection therewith, and all amounts for which Secured Party is
         entitled to indemnification hereunder and all advances made by Secured
         Party hereunder for the account of Grantors, and to the payment of all
         costs and expenses paid or incurred by Secured Party in connection with
         the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder;

                  SECOND: To the extent permitted by Section 4.3(i) of the
         Senior Note Indenture, to the payment of the Credit Agreement
         Obligations;

                  THIRD: To the extent required by Section 4.3 of the Senior
         Note Indenture, to the Credit Agreement Obligations on the one hand and
         the Note Obligations on the other hand, equally and ratably as provided
         in the Senior Note Indenture; and

                  FOURTH: To the payment to or upon the order of Company, or to
         whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of
         competent jurisdiction may direct, of any surplus then remaining from
         such proceeds.

                                       12

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 15. INDEMNITY AND EXPENSES.

                  (a) Grantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify Secured
Party and each Lender from and against any and all claims, losses and
liabilities in any way relating to, growing out of or resulting from this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation
enforcement of this Agreement), except to the extent such claims, losses or
liabilities result solely from Secured Party's or such Lender's gross negligence
or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction.

                  (b) Grantors jointly and severally agree to pay to Secured
Party upon demand the amount of any and all costs and expenses, including the
reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and of any experts and agents, that
Secured Party may incur in connection with (i) the administration of this
Agreement, (ii) the custody, preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of,
collection from, or other realization upon, any of the Collateral, (iii) the
exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of Secured Party hereunder, or (iv)
the failure by any Grantor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.

                  (c) The obligations of Grantors in this Section 15 shall (i)
survive the termination of this Agreement and the discharge of Grantors' other
obligations under this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and (ii), as to any Grantor that is a party to a Subsidiary Guaranty,
be subject to the provisions of Section 2.2(a) thereof.

                  SECTION 16. CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF LOANS;
                              TERMINATION AND RELEASE.

                  (a) This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest
in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the
payment in full of the Secured Obligations, the cancellation or termination of
the Commitments and the cancellation or expiration of all outstanding Letters of
Credit, (ii) be binding upon Grantors and their respective successors and
assigns, and (iii) inure, together with the rights and remedies of Secured Party
hereunder, to the benefit of Secured Party and its successors, transferees and
assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (iii), but
subject to the provisions of subsection 10.1 of the Credit Agreement, any Lender
may assign or otherwise transfer any Loans held by it to any other Person, and
such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect
thereof granted to Lenders herein or otherwise.

                  (b) Upon the payment in full of all Secured Obligations, the
cancellation or termination of the Commitments and the cancellation or
expiration of all outstanding Letters of Credit, the security interest granted
hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the
applicable Grantors. Upon any such termination Secured Party will, at Grantors'
expense, execute and deliver to Grantors such documents as Grantors shall
reasonably request to evidence such termination. In addition, upon the proposed
sale, transfer or other disposition of any Collateral by a Grantor in accordance
with the Credit Agreement for which such Grantor desires to obtain a security
interest release from Secured Party, such Grantor shall deliver an Officer's
Certificate (x) stating that the Collateral subject to such disposition is being
sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in compliance with the terms of the
Credit Agreement and (y) specifying the Collateral being sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of in the proposed transaction. Upon the receipt of such
Officer's Certificate, Secured Party shall, at Grantor's

                                       13

<PAGE>

expense, so long as Secured Party has no reason to believe that the Officer's
Certificate delivered by such Grantor with respect to such sale is not true and
correct, execute and deliver such releases of its security interest in such
Collateral which is to be so sold, transferred or disposed of, as may be
reasonably requested by such Grantor.

                  SECTION 17. SECURED PARTY AS AGENT.

                  (a) Secured Party has been appointed to act as Secured Party
hereunder by Lenders and, by their acceptance of the benefits hereof,
Noteholders. Secured Party shall be obligated, and shall have the right
hereunder, to make demands, to give notices, to exercise or refrain from
exercising any rights, and to take or refrain from taking any action (including
without limitation the release or substitution of Collateral), solely in
accordance with this Agreement and the Credit Agreement; provided that Secured
Party shall exercise, or refrain from exercising, any remedies provided for in
Section 13 in accordance with the instructions of Requisite Lenders.

                  (b) Secured Party shall at all times be the same Person that
is Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement. Written notice of
resignation by Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection 9.5 of the Credit
Agreement shall also constitute notice of resignation as Secured Party under
this Agreement; removal of Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection 9.5 of
the Credit Agreement shall also constitute removal as Secured Party under this
Agreement; and appointment of a successor Administrative Agent pursuant to
subsection 9.5 of the Credit Agreement shall also constitute appointment of a
successor Secured Party under this Agreement. Upon the acceptance of any
appointment as Administrative Agent under subsection 9.5 of the Credit Agreement
by a successor Administrative Agent, that successor Administrative Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges
and duties of the retiring or removed Secured Party under this Agreement, and
the retiring or removed Secured Party under this Agreement shall promptly (i)
transfer to such successor Secured Party all sums, securities and other items of
Collateral held hereunder, together with all records and other documents
necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance of the duties of the
successor Secured Party under this Agreement, and (ii) execute and deliver to
such successor Secured Party such amendments to financing statements, and take
such other actions, as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the
assignment to such successor Secured Party of the security interests created
hereunder, whereupon such retiring or removed Secured Party shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any retiring or
removed Administrative Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Secured
Party, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to its benefit as to any
actions taken or omitted to be taken by it under this Agreement while it was
Secured Party hereunder.

                  SECTION 18. ADDITIONAL GRANTORS.

         The initial Subsidiary Grantors hereunder shall be such of the
Subsidiaries of Company as are signatories hereto on the date hereof. From time
to time subsequent to the date hereof, additional Subsidiaries of Company may
become parties hereto as additional Grantors (each an "ADDITIONAL GRANTOR"), by
executing a Counterpart substantially in the form of Exhibit I annexed hereto.
Upon delivery of any such Counterpart to Secured Party, notice of which is
hereby waived by Grantors, each such Additional Grantor shall be a Grantor and
shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Additional Grantor were an original
signatory hereto. Each Grantor

                                       14

<PAGE>

expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or
diminished by the addition or release of any other Grantor hereunder, nor by any
election of Administrative Agent not to cause any Subsidiary of Company to
become an Additional Grantor hereunder. This Agreement shall be fully effective
as to any Grantor that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any
other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Grantor hereunder.

                  SECTION 19. AMENDMENTS; ETC.

         No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by any Grantor therefrom, shall
in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by
Secured Party and, in the case of any such amendment or modification, by
Grantors; provided this Agreement may be modified by the execution of a
Counterpart by an Additional Grantor in accordance with Section 18 and Grantors
hereby waive any requirement of notice of or consent to any such amendment. Any
such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for
the specific purpose for which it was given.

                  SECTION 20. NOTICES.

         Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be
given shall be in writing and may be personally served or sent by telefacsimile
or United States mail or courier service and shall be deemed to have been given
when delivered in person or by courier service, upon receipt of telefacsimile,
or three Business Days after depositing it in the United States mail with
postage prepaid and properly addressed; provided that notices to Secured Party
shall not be effective until received. For the purposes hereof, the address of
each party hereto shall be as provided in subsection 10.8 of the Credit
Agreement or as set forth under such party's name on the signature pages hereof
or such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice
delivered to the other parties hereto.

                  SECTION 21. FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER; REMEDIES
                              CUMULATIVE.

         No failure or delay on the part of Secured Party in the exercise of any
power, right or privilege hereunder shall impair such power, right or privilege
or be construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall
any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude
any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege.
All rights and remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not
exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

                  SECTION 22. SEVERABILITY.

         In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such
provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.

                                       15

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 23. HEADINGS.

         Section and subsection headings in this Agreement are included herein
for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this
Agreement for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.

                  SECTION 24. GOVERNING LAW; TERMS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

         THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH,
THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION
5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK), WITHOUT REGARD
TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE UCC PROVIDES THAT
THE PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTEREST HEREUNDER, OR REMEDIES HEREUNDER, IN
RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR COLLATERAL ARE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION
OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Unless otherwise defined herein or in the
Credit Agreement, terms used in Articles 8 and 9 of the UCC are used herein as
therein defined. The rules of construction set forth in subsection 1.3 of the
Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this Agreement mutatis mutandis.

                  SECTION 25. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS.

         ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY GRANTOR ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR ANY OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY
STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE STATE, COUNTY AND CITY
OF NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, EACH GRANTOR, FOR
ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (I) ACCEPTS GENERALLY
AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS; (II)
WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS; (III) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL
PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR
CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO SUCH GRANTOR AT ITS ADDRESS
PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 20 (IV) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN
CLAUSE (III) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER SUCH
GRANTOR IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES
EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; (V) AGREES THAT SECURED PARTY
RETAINS THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO
BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SUCH GRANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION;
AND (VI) AGREES THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 25 RELATING TO JURISDICTION
AND VENUE SHALL BE BINDING AND ENFORCEABLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE
UNDER NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1402 OR OTHERWISE.

                                       16

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 26. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

         GRANTORS AND SECURED PARTY HEREBY AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE
RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT
OF THIS AGREEMENT. The scope of this waiver is intended to be all encompassing
of any and all disputes that may be filed in any court and that relate to the
subject matter of this transaction, including without limitation contract
claims, tort claims, breach of duty claims, and all other common law and
statutory claims. Each Grantor and Secured Party acknowledge that this waiver is
a material inducement for Grantors and Secured Party to enter into a business
relationship, that Grantors and Secured Party have already relied on this waiver
in entering into this Agreement and that each will continue to rely on this
waiver in their related future dealings. Each Grantor and Secured Party further
warrant and represent that each has reviewed this waiver with its legal counsel,
and that each knowingly and voluntarily waives its jury trial rights following
consultation with legal counsel. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY
NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN
WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 26 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,
RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT. In the event of
litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the
court.

                  SECTION 27. COUNTERPARTS.

         This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and by
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts
together shall constitute but one and the same instrument; signature pages may
be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single
counterpart so that all signature pages are physically attached to the same
document.

                  SECTION 28. MISCELLANEOUS.

         Lenders and Secured Party shall have no obligation to disclose or
discuss with any Grantor their assessment, or such Grantor's assessment, of the
financial condition of the Borrowers. Each Grantor has adequate means to obtain
information from the Borrowers on a continuing basis concerning the financial
condition of the Borrowers and their ability to perform their obligations under
the Loan Documents, and such Grantor assumes the responsibility for being and
keeping informed of the financial condition of the Borrowers and of all
circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Secured Obligations.
Each Grantor hereby waives and relinquishes any duty on the part of Secured
Party or any Lender to disclose any matter, fact or thing relating to the
business, operations or condition of the Borrowers now known or hereafter known
by Secured Party or any Lender.

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

                                       17

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantors and Secured Party have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers
thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

                                   WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.

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

                                   TUBE FORMING L.P.

                                       By: WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.

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

                                   SMALL TUBE MANUFACTURING CORP.

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

                                   WOLVERINE FINANCE COMPANY

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

                                   WOLVERINE JOINING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

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

                                      S-1

<PAGE>

                                   CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON,
                                   as Secured Party

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

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

                                      S-2

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 4(B)
                                       TO
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                     4(b)-1

                                     4(g)-1

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 4(D)
                                       TO
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

             OFFICE LOCATIONS, TYPE AND JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION

                                      (d)-1

                                     4(g)-2

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 4(E)
                                       TO
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                   OTHER NAMES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME OF GRANTOR                                                    OTHER NAMES
---------------                                                    -----------
<S>                                                                <C>
</TABLE>

                                     4(e)-1

                                    (4(g)-3

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 4(G)
                                       TO
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

                                 FILING OFFICES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
GRANTOR                                                       FILING OFFICES
-------                                                       --------------
<S>                                                           <C>
</TABLE>

                                     4(g)-1

                                     4(g)-4
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT I TO
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

                              [FORM OF COUNTERPART]

         COUNTERPART (this "COUNTERPART"), dated _______, is delivered pursuant
to Section 18 of the Security Agreement referred to below. The undersigned
hereby agrees that this Counterpart may be attached to the Security Agreement,
dated as of [_____], 2002 (as it may be from time to time amended, modified or
supplemented, the "SECURITY AGREEMENT"; capitalized terms used herein not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed therein), among
Wolverine Tube, Inc., Wolverine Tube (Canada) Inc., the other Grantors named
therein, and Credit Suisse First Boston, as Secured Party. The undersigned by
executing and delivering this Counterpart hereby becomes a Grantor under the
Security Agreement in accordance with Section 18 thereof and agrees to be bound
by all of the terms thereof. [Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the undersigned hereby:

                  (i)      authorizes the Secured Party to add the information
         set forth on the Schedules to this Agreement to the correlative
         Schedules attached to the Security Agreement(1);

                  (ii)     agrees that all Collateral of the undersigned,
         including the items of property described on the Schedules hereto,
         shall become part of the Collateral and shall secure all Secured
         Obligations; and

                  (iii)    makes the representations and warranties set forth in
         the Security Agreement, as amended hereby, to the extent relating to
         the undersigned.]

                                         [NAME OF ADDITIONAL GRANTOR]

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

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

(1) The Schedules to the Counterpart should include copies of all Schedules that
identify collateral to be granted by the Additional Grantor.

                                    Exh. I-1

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT II
                   FORM OF SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

                              WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.
                          WOLVERINE TUBE (CANADA) INC.

                       SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "AMENDMENT") is dated as
of February 4, 2002 and entered into by and among, WOLVERINE TUBE INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), WOLVERINE TUBE (CANADA) INC., an Ontario
corporation ("WOLVERINE CANADA"; the Company and Wolverine Canada are each a
"BORROWER" and collectively, the "BORROWERS"), CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as
administrative agent (in such capacity, the "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT"), the
financial institutions listed on the signature pages hereto (each individually
referred to herein as a "LENDER" and collectively, as "LENDERS") and solely for
the purposes of Sections 2 and 3(a), the Subsidiary Guarantors, and is made with
reference to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997, by and
among the Borrowers, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and Mellon Bank,
N.A., as the Documentation Agent, as amended as of June 26, 1998, as of March
10, 1999, as of June 30, 1999, as of May 31, 2000 and August 8, 2001 (such
Credit Agreement, as so amended, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"). Capitalized terms used
herein without definition shall have the same meanings herein as set forth in
the Credit Agreement.

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Limited Waiver dated as of February
4, 2002 (the "LIMITED WAIVER"), the Lenders waived one or more Events of Default
that may have occurred or may occur, as applicable, as a result of (i) the
temporary administrative dissolution of a Subsidiary and (ii) the Borrower not
being in compliance with the covenants set forth in Sections 7.6A, 7.6B and 7.6C
of the Credit Agreement for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2001 and for
the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2002; and

         WHEREAS, in connection with and upon the effectiveness of the Limited
Waiver, the Loan Parties and the Lenders have agreed to amend the Credit
Agreement as more particularly described herein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements,
provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

   AMENDMENTS TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

                  Amendments to Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement: Provisions
Relating to Defined Terms

                           Section  1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended by adding thereto the following definitions, which shall be inserted in
proper alphabetical order:

<PAGE>
                  "COLLATERAL" means the "Collateral" as defined in the
                  Security Agreement.

                  "COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS" means the Security Agreement and
                  all other instruments or documents delivered by any Loan
                  Party pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Loan
                  Documents in order to grant to Administrative Agent, on
                  behalf of Lenders, a Lien on any property of that Loan
                  Party as security for the Obligations.

                  "FIRST PRIORITY" means, with respect to any Lien
                  purported to be created in any Collateral pursuant to any
                  Collateral Document, that (i) except for the Liens
                  permitted under subsection 7.2, such Lien has priority
                  over any other Lien on such Collateral and (ii) such Lien
                  is the only Lien (other than Permitted Encumbrances) to
                  which such Collateral is subject.

                  "ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS" means the documents (including
                  Bylaws, if applicable) pursuant to which a Person that is
                  a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability
                  company is organized.

                  "SECURITY AGREEMENT" means the Security Agreement dated
                  as of February 4, 2002, among the Company, the Subsidiary
                  Guarantors and Administrative Agent, as Secured Party, as
                  such Security Agreement may thereafter be amended,
                  restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
                  time.

                  "SENIOR NOTE INDENTURE" means that certain Indenture
                  dated as of August 4, 1998, by and between Company and
                  First Union National Bank, as Trustee.

                  "SIXTH AMENDMENT" means that certain Sixth Amendment to
                  the Credit Agreement dated as of February 4, 2002, by and
                  among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Lenders
                  and the Administrative Agent.

                  "SIXTH AMENDMENT EFFECTIVE DATE" has the meaning set
                  forth in Section 4 of the Sixth Amendment.

                           Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further
         amended by deleting the definitions of "Applicable Margin", "Base Rate"
         and "Interest Payment Date" in their entirety and substituting therefor
         the following:

                  "APPLICABLE MARGIN" means (x) 3.00% for Eurodollar Rate
                  Loans (with effect from the first day of the Interest
                  Period of any Eurodollar Rate Loan in effect on the Sixth
                  Amendment Effective Date) and (y) 2.00% for Base Rate
                  Loans.

                  "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE" means (i) with respect to Base
                  Rate Loans, the last Business Day of each month and (ii)
                  with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, the last day of
                  the Interest Period

                                         2

<PAGE>

                  applicable to such Loan; provided, that in the case of
                  any Interest Period which is greater than one month,
                  "Interest Payment Date" shall also include the date that
                  is one month from the commencement of such Interest
                  Period and the last Business Day of each subsequent month
                  during the applicable Interest Period.

                           Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further
         amended by, in the definition of "Loan Documents", inserting the phrase
         "the Collateral Documents," immediately after the phrase "the Notes,".

                  Amendments to Section 2: Amounts and Terms of Commitments and
Loans

                           Rate of Interest. Subsection 2.2A is hereby amended
         by deleting clause (a) in the second paragraph thereof in its entirety
         and substituting therefor the following:

         "(a) if a Base Rate Loan, then the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin
(with effect from December 31, 2001); or"

                           Prepayments and Reductions in Commitments.

                  Subsections 2.4A(iii)(a) and 2.4A(iii)(c) of the Credit
Agreement are each hereby amended by deleting the proviso contained therein in
its entirety.

                  Subsection 2.4A(iii)(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended by deleting the last proviso contained therein in its entirety.

                           Additional Mandatory Prepayments and Mandatory
         Reductions. Subsection 2.4(A)(iii) is hereby amended by adding at the
         end thereof the following new subsection 2.4(A)(iii)(g):

                  "(g) Prepayments and Reductions Due to Issuance of
                  Indebtedness. From and after the Sixth Amendment Effective
                  Date, no later than the first Business Day following the date
                  of receipt by any Borrower or any of its respective
                  Subsidiaries of any proceeds from the issuance of any
                  Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness incurred under this
                  Agreement, the Borrowers shall prepay the Loans and the
                  Revolving Loan Commitments shall be permanently reduced in an
                  aggregate amount equal to such proceeds (net of reasonable
                  costs and expenses associated therewith, including reasonable
                  legal fees and expenses)."

                                        3

<PAGE>

                  Amendments to Section 5: Representations and Warranties

                           Solvency. Subsection 5.15 of the Credit Agreement is
         hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following proviso:

         "; provided, that, with respect to WRI, Indebtedness of WRI to the
Borrowers and their other Subsidiaries shall be excluded for the purposes of
determining whether WRI is Solvent"

                           Additional Representations and Warranties. Section 5
         of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof
         the following new subsection 5.17:

                  "5.17 MATTERS RELATING TO COLLATERAL.

                  (a) The execution and delivery of the Collateral Documents by
              the Loan Parties, together with the actions taken on or prior to
              the date hereof pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Limited Waiver
              dated as of February 4, 2002, among the Borrowers, the Lenders and
              Administrative Agent and subsection 6.8 hereof are effective to
              create in favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of
              Lenders, as security for the respective Secured Obligations (as
              defined in the Security Agreement in respect of any Collateral), a
              valid and perfected First Priority Lien on all of the Collateral,
              and all filings and other actions necessary or desirable to
              perfect and maintain the perfection and First Priority status of
              such Liens have been duly made or taken and remain in full force
              and effect, other than the filing of any UCC financing statements
              delivered to Administrative Agent for filing (but not yet filed)
              and the periodic filing of UCC continuation statements in respect
              of UCC financing statements filed by or on behalf of
              Administrative Agent.

                  (b) No Governmental Authorization and no notice to or filing
              with, any governmental authority is required for either (i) the
              pledge or grant by any Loan Party of the Liens purported to be
              created in favor of Administrative Agent pursuant to any of the
              Collateral Documents or (ii) the exercise by Administrative Agent
              of any rights or remedies in respect of any Collateral (whether
              specifically granted or created pursuant to any of the Collateral
              Documents or created or provided for by applicable law), except
              for filings or recordings contemplated by Section 5.17(a) and
              except as may be required, in connection with the disposition of
              any Pledged Collateral, by laws generally affecting the offering
              and sale of securities.

                  (c) Except such as may have been filed in favor of
              Administrative Agent as contemplated by Section 5.17(a) and to
              evidence permitted lease obligations and other Liens permitted
              pursuant to Section 7.2, no effective UCC financing statement,
              fixture filing or other instrument similar in effect covering all
              or any part of the Collateral is on file in any filing or
              recording office.

                  (d) All information supplied to Administrative Agent by or on
              behalf of any Loan Party with respect to any of the Collateral (in
              each case taken as a whole

                                       4

<PAGE>

         with respect to any particular Collateral) is accurate and complete
         in all material respects."

                  Amendment to Section 7: Negative Covenants

                           Liens and Related Matters. Subsection 7.2A of the
Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the "and" at the end of
clause (iv) therein, (ii) deleting the "." at the end of clause (v) therein and
substituting therefore "; and", and (iii) adding at the end thereof the
following new clause (vi):

"(vi)    Liens granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents."

                  Amendment to Section 8: Events of Default

                           Invalidity of Guaranties; Failure of Security;
Repudiation of Obligations. Subsection 8.13 of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended by deleting such subsection in its entirety and substituting the
following therefor:

                  "8.13 INVALIDITY OF GUARANTIES; FAILURE OF SECURITY;
         REPUDIATION OF OBLIGATIONS.

                  At any time after the execution and delivery thereof, (i) any
         Guaranty for any reason, other than the satisfaction in full of all
         Obligations, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in
         accordance with its terms) or shall be declared to be null and void,
         (ii) any Collateral Document shall cease to be in full force and effect
         (other than by reason of a release of Collateral thereunder in
         accordance with the terms hereof or thereof, the satisfaction in full
         of the Obligations or any other termination of such Collateral Document
         in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof) or shall be declared
         null and void, or Administrative Agent shall not have or shall cease to
         have a valid and perfected First Priority Lien in any Collateral
         purported to be covered thereby, in each case for any reason other than
         the failure of Administrative Agent or any Lender to take any action
         within its control, or (iii) any Loan Party shall contest the validity
         or enforceability of any Loan Document in writing or deny in writing
         that it has any further liability, including with respect to future
         advances by Lenders, under any Loan Document to which it is a party:"

                  Amendment to Section 9: The Administrative Agent

                           Collateral Documents and Guaranties. Subsection 9.6
of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such subsection in its
entirety and substituting the following therefor:

                  "9.6 COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS AND GUARANTIES.

                  Each Lender hereby further authorizes Administrative Agent, on
         behalf of and for the benefit of Lenders, to enter into each Collateral
         Document as secured party and to be the agent for and representative of
         Lenders under each Guaranty,

                                       5

<PAGE>

         and each Lender agrees to be bound by the terms of each Collateral
         Document and Guaranty; provided that Administrative Agent shall not (i)
         enter into or consent to any material amendment, modification,
         termination or waiver of any provision contained in any Collateral
         Document or Guaranty or (ii) release any Collateral (except as
         otherwise expressly permitted or required pursuant to the terms of this
         Agreement or the applicable Collateral Document), in each case without
         the prior consent of Requisite Lenders (or, if required pursuant to
         subsection 10.6, all Lenders); provided further, however, that, without
         further written consent or authorization from Lenders, Administrative
         Agent may execute any documents or instruments necessary to (a) release
         any Lien encumbering any item of Collateral that is the subject of a
         sale or other disposition of assets permitted by this Agreement or to
         which the applicable Lenders have otherwise consented pursuant to the
         provisions of subsection 10.6, (b) release any Subsidiary Guarantor
         from the Subsidiary Guaranty if all of the Capital Stock of such
         Subsidiary Guarantor is sold to any Person (other than an Affiliate of
         the Borrowers) pursuant to a sale or other disposition permitted
         hereunder or to which Requisite Lenders have otherwise consented or (c)
         subordinate the Liens of Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, to
         any Liens permitted by subsection 7.2. Anything contained in any of the
         Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, each Borrower,
         Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby agree that (1) no Lender
         shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral
         under any Collateral Document or to enforce any Guaranty, it being
         understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the
         Collateral Documents and the Guaranties may be exercised solely by
         Administrative Agent for the benefit of Lenders in accordance with the
         terms thereof, and (2) in the event of a foreclosure by Administrative
         Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale,
         Administrative Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser of any or all
         of such Collateral at any such sale and Administrative Agent, as agent
         for and representative of Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its
         or their respective individual capacities unless Requisite Lenders
         shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of
         bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all
         or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use
         and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase
         price for any collateral payable by Administrative Agent at such sale."

                           Appointment of Supplemental Collateral Agent. Section
9 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the
following new subsection 9.7:

                  "9.7 APPOINTMENT OF SUPPLEMENTAL COLLATERAL AGENTS. It is the
         purpose of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall
         be no violation of any law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting
         the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business
         as agent or trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case
         of litigation under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents,
         and in particular in case of the enforcement of any of the Loan
         Documents, or in case Administrative Agent deems that by reason of

                                       6

<PAGE>

         any present or future law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any
         of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the other
         Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or
         necessary in connection therewith, it may be necessary that
         Administrative Agent appoint an additional individual or institution as
         a separate trustee, co-trustee, collateral agent or collateral co-agent
         (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein
         individually as a "SUPPLEMENTAL COLLATERAL AGENT" and collectively as
         "SUPPLEMENTAL COLLATERAL AGENTS").

                  In the event that Administrative Agent appoints a Supplemental
         Collateral Agent with respect to any Collateral, (i) each and every
         right, power, privilege or duty expressed or intended by this Agreement
         or any of the other Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in or
         conveyed to Administrative Agent with respect to such Collateral shall
         be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Collateral Agent to the
         extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental
         Collateral Agent to exercise such rights, powers and privileges with
         respect to such Collateral and to perform such duties with respect to
         such Collateral, and every covenant and obligation contained in the
         Loan Documents and necessary to the exercise or performance thereof by
         such Supplemental Collateral Agent shall run to and be enforceable by
         either Administrative Agent or such Supplemental Collateral Agent, and
         (ii) the provisions of this Section 9 and of Subsection 10.3 that refer
         to Administrative Agent shall inure to the benefit of such Supplemental
         Collateral Agent and all references therein to Administrative Agent
         shall be deemed to be references to Administrative Agent and/or such
         Supplemental Collateral Agent, as the context may require.

                  Should any instrument in writing from any Borrower or any
         other Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Collateral Agent so
         appointed by Administrative Agent for more fully and certainly vesting
         in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and
         duties, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute,
         acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon
         request by Administrative Agent. In case any Supplemental Collateral
         Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting,
         resign or be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of
         such Supplemental Collateral Agent, to the extent permitted by law,
         shall vest in and be exercised by Administrative Agent until the
         appointment of a new Supplemental Collateral Agent."

                  Amendments to Section 10: Miscellaneous

                           Expenses. Subsection 10.2 of the Credit Agreement is
hereby amended by deleting the "and" at the end of clause (iv) therein and
adding at the end thereof the following new clauses (vi) and (vii):

                  "; (vi) all the actual costs and reasonable expenses of
         creating and perfecting Liens in favor of Administrative Agent on
         behalf of Lenders pursuant to any

                                       7

<PAGE>

                  Collateral Document, including filing and recording fees,
                  expenses and taxes, stamp or documentary taxes, search fees,
                  title insurance premiums, and reasonable fees, expenses and
                  disbursements of counsel to Administrative Agent and of
                  counsel providing any opinions that Administrative Agent or
                  Requisite Lenders may request in respect of the Collateral
                  Documents or the Liens created pursuant thereto; and (vii) the
                  costs incurred by Administrative Agent in connection with the
                  custody or preservation of any of the Collateral"

                           Indemnification. Subsection 10.3 of the Credit
         Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the parenthetical "(including
         any collection from, or enforcement of, the Guaranties)" contained in
         the second paragraph thereof and substituting therefor:

         "(including any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon any
of the Collateral or the enforcement of the Guaranties)"

                           Set-Off. Subsection 10.4 of the Credit agreement is
         hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety and substituting
         therefore the following:

         "10.4    SET-OFF.

                  In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under
applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the
occurrence of any Event of Default each Lender is hereby authorized by the
Borrowers at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Borrowers or
to any other Person, any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off
and to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits (general or special,
including Indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or
unmatured, but not including trust accounts) and any other Indebtedness at any
time held or owing by that Lender or any Affiliate of such Lender to or for the
credit or the account of the Borrowers against and on account of the obligations
and liabilities of the Borrowers to that Lender (or any Affiliate of such
Lender) under this Agreement, the Letters of Credit and participations therein
and the other Loan Documents, including all claims of any nature or description
arising out of or connected with this Agreement, the Letters of Credit and
participations therein or any other Loan Document, irrespective of whether or
not (i) that Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or (ii) the principal
of or the interest on the Loans or any amounts in respect of the Letters of
Credit or any other amounts due hereunder shall have become due and payable
pursuant to Section 8 and although said obligations and liabilities, or any of
them, may be contingent or unmatured."

                           Amendments and Waivers.

                  Subsection 10.6 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
         inserting immediately after the phrase "or the amount of any fees
         payable hereunder;" the following:

         "release any Lien granted in favor of Administrative Agent with respect
to all or substantially all of the Collateral;"

                                       8

<PAGE>

                           Subsection 10.6 of the Credit Agreement is hereby
         further amended by adding the following proviso at the end of the first
         sentence thereof:

         "provided, further that any release of a substantial portion of the
Collateral shall be effective only if evidenced by a writing signed by or on
behalf of Lenders having or holding 75% or more of the aggregate Loan Exposure
of all Lenders"

   LOAN PARTIES' REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Amendment, each Loan
Party represents and warrants to the Lenders that the following statements are
true, correct and complete:

                           Power and Authority. Each Loan Party has all
         requisite power and authority to enter into this Amendment and to carry
         out the transactions contemplated by this Amendment.

                           Authorization of Amendment. The execution and
         delivery of this Amendment and the performance of the Loan Parties
         hereunder has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part
         of each Loan Party.

                           No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this
         Amendment by each Loan Party and the performance by such Loan Party of
         this Amendment and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
         hereby do not and will not (i) violate any provision of any law or any
         governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Loan Parties or any
         of their respective Subsidiaries, the Organizational Documents of the
         Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any order,
         judgment or decree of any court or other agency of government binding
         on any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries,
         (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due
         notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any material contract,
         indenture, agreement or other instrument or document to which any Loan
         Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the properties
         or assets of such Loan Party or its Subsidiaries are bound, (iii)
         result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of
         the properties or assets of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries
         (other than Liens created under any of the Loan Documents in favor of
         the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders), or (iv) require any
         approval of stockholders or any approval or consent of any Person under
         any contract of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

                           Governmental Consents. The execution and delivery of
         this Amendment by each Loan Party and the performance by such Loan
         Party of this Amendment does not and will not require any registration
         with, consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with or
         by, any federal, state or other governmental authority or regulatory
         body.

                           Binding Obligation. This Amendment is the legally
         valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party enforceable against
         each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to the
         effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,

                                       9

<PAGE>

         reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors
         generally and general principles of equity.

                           Incorporation of Representations and Warranties. The
         representations and warranties contained in the Loan Documents are and
         will be true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as
         of the date hereof to the same extent as though made on and as of such
         date, except to the extent such representations and warranties
         specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case they were true,
         correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier
         date.

                           Absence of Default. After giving effect to this
         Amendment and the Limited Waiver, no Potential Event of Default or
         Event of Default exists.

     ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONSENT

                  Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that (i)
         notwithstanding the conditions to effectiveness set forth in this
         Amendment, the consent of such Guarantor is not required by the terms
         of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document and (ii) nothing in
         the Credit Agreement, this Amendment or any other Loan Document shall
         be deemed to require the consent of such Guarantor to any future
         amendments to or modifications of or standstill agreements with respect
         to the Credit Agreement.

     MISCELLANEOUS

                           Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement and
         the Other Loan Documents.

                           On and after the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, each
                  reference in the Credit Agreement to "this Agreement",
                  "hereunder", "hereof", "herein" or words of like import
                  referring to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the
                  other Loan Documents to the "Credit Agreement", "thereunder",
                  "thereof" or words of like import referring to the Credit
                  Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Amended
                  Agreement.

                           Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, the
                  Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in
                  full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

                           The execution, delivery and performance of this
                  Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein,
                  constitute a waiver of any provision of, or operate as a
                  waiver of any right, power or remedy of Agent or any Lender
                  under, the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan
                  Documents.

                  Headings. Section and subsection headings in this Amendment
         are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not
         constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose or be given
         any substantive effect.

                                       10

<PAGE>

                           Applicable Law. THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
         OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
         CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE
         STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5-1401 OF THE
         GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK), WITHOUT REGARD TO
         CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

                           Counterparts; Effectiveness; Facsimile Signature
         Pages. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and
         by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
         when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all
         such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same
         instrument; signature pages may be detached from multiple separate
         counterparts and attached to a single counterpart so that all signature
         pages are physically attached to the same document. This Amendment
         shall become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by
         Company, Wolverine Canada, each Subsidiary Guarantor and Requisite
         Lenders and receipt by Company and Agent of written or telephonic
         notification of such execution and authorization of delivery thereof
         (the "SIXTH AMENDMENT EFFECTIVE DATE").

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

                                       11

<PAGE>

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

BORROWERS:                           WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.,
                                     a Delaware corporation

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

                                     WOLVERINE TUBE (CANADA) INC.,
                                     an Ontario corporation

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

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:               TUBE FORMING L.P.,
                                     a Delaware limited partnership

                                     By: WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.

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

                                     SMALL TUBE MANUFACTURING CORP.,
                                     a Delaware corporation

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

                                      S-1

<PAGE>

                                     WOLVERINE FINANCE COMPANY,
                                     a Tennessee corporation

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

                                     WOLVERINE JOINING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                                     a Delaware corporation

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

                                      S-2

<PAGE>

LENDERS:                   CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON,
                           individually in its capacity as a Lender and in
                           its capacity as Administrative Agent

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

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

                           MELLON BANK, N.A.,

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

                           CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH,
                           as a Lender

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

                           BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
                           f/k/a/ Bank of America National Trust and Savings
                           Association, (successor by merger to Bank of
                           America Illinois), successor by merger to Bank of
                           America, N.A., f/k/a/ NationsBank, N.A., (successor
                           by merger to NationsBank, N.A. (South)), as a
                           Lender

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

                                   Exh. II-1

<PAGE>

                           THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
                           as a Lender

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

                           FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                           as a Lender

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

                           SUNTRUST BANK,
                           (successor in interest to SunTrust Bank, Nashville,
                           N.A.), as a Lender

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

                                      S-2<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT (10)-13

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made this 16th day of
January, 2001, by and among THE BANC CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), THE BANK, an Alabama banking corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company (the "Bank"), and F. HAMPTON McFADDEN, JR., an individual
resident of Alabama (the "Executive").

                                    RECITALS:

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as Executive Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company and Executive Vice
President and General Counsel of The Bank on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth; and

         WHEREAS, the Executive desires to accept such employment on the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally
bound, do hereby agree as follows:

         1. Employment. The Company shall employ the Executive, and the
Executive shall serve the Company as Executive Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary of the Company and Executive Vice President and General Counsel of
The Bank, and any other position agreed upon by the parties, upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein. The Executive shall have such authority and
responsibilities consistent with his position and which may be set forth in the
Company's or The Bank's bylaws or assigned by the Company's Board of Directors
from time to time. The Executive shall devote his business time, attention,
skill and efforts to the performance of his duties hereunder, except during
periods of illness or periods of vacation and leaves of absence consistent with
Company policy. The Executive may devote reasonable periods of time to serve as
a director or advisor to other organizations, to charitable and community
activities and to managing his personal investments, provided that such
activities do not materially interfere with the performance of his duties
hereunder and are not in conflict or competitive with, or adverse to, the
interests of the Company.

         2. Term. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, the Executive's
employment under this Agreement shall be for a continuing term (the "Term") of
three years which shall be extended automatically (without further action of the
Company or the Executive) each day for an additional day so that the remaining
term shall continue to be three years; provided that either party may at any
time, by written notice to the other, fix the Term to a finite term of three
years, without further automatic extension, commencing with the date of such
notice.

                                       1

<PAGE>

         3.       Compensation and Benefits.

                  (a)      Executive shall receive a base salary of $190,000 per
annum, pro rated for work done pursuant to this Agreement between the date of
its signing and December 31, 2001. The base salary shall be paid monthly.
Beginning January 16, 2001, the Company shall pay the Executive a salary at a
rate of not less than $190,000 per annum through December 31, 2001, $205,000 per
annum for the second full calendar year of this Agreement (through December 31,
2002) and $220,000 per annum for the third full calendar year of this Agreement
(through December 31, 2003); provided, however, that in the event of a Change in
Control, the Executive's base salary shall be the greater of $220,000 or the
Executive's then current base salary beginning on the date the Change in Control
takes effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control occurs prior
to December 31, 2002, for purposes of calculating the Change in Control Payment
required to be made to the Executive under Section 3(i) of this Agreement, the
Executive's base salary shall be deemed to be the greater of $220,000 or the
Executive's then current base salary. The Company's Board of Directors (or its
compensation committee) shall review the Executive's salary at least annually
and may increase the Executive's base salary if it determines in its sole
discretion that an increase is appropriate.

                  (b)      The Executive shall participate in a management
incentive program and shall receive quarterly payments of five percent (5%) of
his annual base salary then in effect. (For example, in the calendar year 2001
the Executive shall be entitled to receive a payment of $9,500 on each of March
31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2001). The first quarterly bonus
payment shall be due March 31, 2001 for the quarter then ended, and shall be pro
rated for the number of days the Executive actually worked during such quarter.
In addition, the Company's Board of Directors shall annually consider the
Executive's performance, and determine if any additional bonus is appropriate.

                  (c)      The Executive is hereby granted a stock option (the
Option) to acquire fifty-thousand (50,000) shares of the common stock of the
Company, par value $0.001 per share, pursuant to and in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Second Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Incentive
Plan of The Banc Corporation. The exercise price of the Option shall be $5.68
per share, which is not less than the fair market value of a share of common
stock of the Company as of the date of the grant. The Option shall vest
according to the following schedule: (i) 20% shall vest immediately upon
execution of this Agreement; (ii) 20% shall vest on the first anniversary of the
execution of this Agreement; (iii) 20% shall vest on the second anniversary of
the execution of this Agreement; (iv) 20% shall vest on the third anniversary of
the execution of this Agreement; and (v) 20% shall vest on the fourth
anniversary of the execution of this Agreement. The expiration of the Option is
January 16, 2011. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in
and be eligible for the grant of stock options, restricted stock and other
awards under any other stock option or similar plan the Company may adopt in the
future.

                                       2

<PAGE>

                  (d)      The Executive shall participate in all retirement,
welfare, deferred compensation, life and health insurance and other benefit
plans or programs of the Company now or hereafter applicable to the Executive or
applicable generally to employees of the Company or to a class of employees that
includes senior executives of the Company, whether or not Executive is covered
under any similar plan or plans, the premium or provision of which are paid by
third parties, including the deferred compensation plan and Deferred
Compensation Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A. During any period during
the Term that the Executive is subject to a Disability, and during the 180 day
period of physical or mental infirmity leading up to the Executive's Disability,
the amount of the Executive's compensation provided under this Section 3 shall
be reduced by the sum of the amounts, if any, paid to the Executive for the same
period under any disability benefit or pension plan of the Company. The Company
shall purchase a life insurance policy in the face amount of $1,000,000 and
disability insurance with a benefit of up to a maximum of $25,000 per month;
assuming Executive qualifies for such an amount of disability insurance under
such benefit programs or plans. Executive shall also be reimbursed by the
Company up to $10,000 per annum for medical expenses not covered by insurance.

                  (e)      The Company shall provide to the Executive an
automobile owned or leased by the Company of a make and model appropriate to the
Executive's status or, in lieu thereof, at the Executive's option, shall provide
the Executive with an annual allowance of not less than $15,000 to partially
cover the cost of the business use of an automobile owned or leased by the
Executive.

                  (f)      The Company shall reimburse the Executive's
reasonable expenses for initiation fees, dues and capital assessments for
athletic, country and dining club memberships currently held by the Executive;
provided that if the Executive during the term of his employment with the
Company ceases his membership in any such clubs and any bonds or other capital
payments made by the Company are repaid to the Executive, the Executive shall
pay over such payments to the Company.

                  (g)      The Company shall reimburse the Executive for travel,
seminar and other expenses related to the Executive's duties which are incurred
and accounted for in accordance with the historic practices of the Company.

                  (h)      Executive shall be entitled to four weeks of paid
vacation per year.

                                       3

<PAGE>

                  (i)      The Company and The Bank shall provide professional
malpractice insurance in such amounts as they deem reasonable.

         4.       Termination.

                  (a)      The Executive's employment under this Agreement may
be terminated prior to the end of the Term only as follows:

                           (i)      Upon the death of the Executive;

                           (ii)     By the Company due to the Disability of the
Executive upon delivery of a Notice of Termination to the Executive;

                           (iii)    By the Company for Cause upon delivery of a
Notice of Termination to the Executive;

                           (iv)     By the Executive for Good Reason upon
delivery of a Notice of Termination to the Company after any occurrence of a
Change in Control or in the event of a Constructive Termination; and

                           (v)      By the Executive at any time upon delivery
of ninety (90) days notice to the Company.

                  (b)      If the Executive's employment with the Company shall
be terminated during the Term (i) by reason of the Executive's death, or (ii) by
the Company for Disability or Cause, the Company shall pay to the Executive (or
in the case of his death, the Executive's estate) within fifteen days after the
Termination Date a lump sum cash payment equal to the Accrued Compensation and,
if such termination is other than by the Company for Cause, the Pro Rata Bonus.

                  (c)      If the Executive's employment with the Company shall
be terminated by the Company in violation of this Agreement, by the Executive
for Good Reason or in the event of a Constructive Termination, or with respect
to Sections 4 (c) (iii) and (iv), by the expiration of the Term, in addition to
other rights and remedies available in law or equity, the Executive shall be
entitled to the following:

                           (i)      The Company shall pay the Executive in cash
within fifteen days of the Termination Date an amount equal to all Accrued
Compensation and the Pro Rata Bonus;

                           (ii)     The Company shall pay to the Executive in
cash at the end of each of the thirty-six consecutive months following the
Termination Date an amount equal to one-twelfth of the sum of the Base Amount
(including any increases in base salary called for by Section 3(a) of this
Agreement) plus the Bonus Amount (including any increases in bonus amount called
for by Section 3(b) of this Agreement) plus all benefits provided in Section 3
of this Agreement and all Director's fees, including retainers, to which the
Executive would be

                                       4

<PAGE>

entitled for the same period, or within 30 days, at the Executive's option, a
lump sum equal to the present value of the payments due under this paragraph
(c)(ii); provided, however, that such lump sum amount shall be reduced to its
net present value assuming an interest rate equal to six percent (6%) and 36
equal monthly payments commencing on the Termination Date;

                           (iii)    For the period from the Termination Date
through the date that Executive attains the age of 70 (the "Continuation
Period"), the Company shall at its expense continue on behalf of the Executive
and his dependents and beneficiaries the life insurance, disability, medical,
dental and hospitalization benefits provided (x) to the Executive at any time
during the 90-day period prior to the Change in Control or at any time
thereafter or (y) to other similarly situated executives who continue in the
employ of the Company during the Continuation Period. The coverage and benefits
(including deductibles and costs) provided in this Section 4(c)(iii) during the
Continuation Period shall be no less favorable to the Executive and his
dependents and beneficiaries than the most favorable of such coverages and
benefits during any of the periods referred to in clauses (x) and (y) above. The
Company's obligation hereunder with respect to the foregoing benefits shall be
limited to the extent that the Executive obtains any such benefits pursuant to a
subsequent employer's benefit plans, in which case the Company may reduce the
coverage of any benefits it is required to provide the Executive hereunder as
long as the aggregate coverages and benefits of the combined benefit plans are
no less favorable to the Executive than the coverages and benefits required to
be provided hereunder. This Section 4(c)(iii) shall not be interpreted so as to
limit any benefits to which the Executive or his dependents or beneficiaries may
be entitled under any of the Company's employee benefit plans, programs,
deferred compensation plans or practices following the Executive's termination
of employment, including without limitation, retiree medical and life insurance
benefits; and

                           (iv)     On the earlier of the expiration of the Term
or the Termination Date, the restrictions on any outstanding awards (including
stock options or restricted stock) granted to the Executive under any Company
stock option plan, including the Option granted to Executive under Section 3c of
this Agreement, or under any other incentive or deferred compensation plan or
arrangement including the Deferred Compensation Agreement shall lapse and such
incentive or deferred compensation award shall become 100% vested, all stock
options and stock appreciation rights granted to the Executive shall be
immediately exercisable and shall be 100% vested. The period in which Executive
may exercise any option granted shall be the full term of such option.

                  (d)      The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment
or otherwise, and no such payment shall be offset or reduced by the amount of
any compensation or benefits provided to the Executive in any subsequent
employment except as provided in Section 4(c)(iii) of this Agreement.

                  (e)      In the event that any payment or benefit (within the
meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code")) to the Executive (or for his benefit) paid or payable or
distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this

                                       5

<PAGE>

Agreement or otherwise in connection with, or arising out of, his relationship
with the Company or a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or
of a substantial portion of its assets (a "Payment" or "Payments"), would be
subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any interest
or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to any such excise or
other taxes (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax" and any other tax
together with any such interest and penalties are herein referred to as "Other
Taxes"), then the Executive will be entitled to receive an additional payment (a
"Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all
taxes (including any interest or penalties, other than interest and penalties
imposed by reason of the Executive's failure to file timely a tax return or pay
taxes shown due on his return, imposed with respect to such Other Tax and the
Excise Tax), including any Excise Tax or Other Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up
Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the
Excise Tax or Other Taxes imposed upon the Payments.

         (f)      The severance pay and benefits provided for in this Section 4
shall be in lieu of any other severance or termination pay to which the
Executive may be entitled under any Company severance or termination plan,
program, practice or arrangement. The Executive's entitlement to any other
compensation or benefits shall be determined in accordance with the Company's
employee benefit plans and other applicable programs, policies and practices
then in effect.

         5.       Trade Secrets. The Executive shall not, at any time, either
during the Term of his employment or after the Termination Date, if such
Termination is for cause, use or disclose any Trade Secrets of the Company,
except in fulfillment of his duties as the Executive during his employment, for
so long as the pertinent information or data remain Trade Secrets, whether or
not the Trade Secrets are in written or tangible form.

         6.       Non-competition.

                  (a)      In the event the Executive's employment under this
Agreement shall terminate pursuant to Section 4(a)(iii) of this Agreement during
the Term and the Company has met, or is current with, its obligations under
Section 4 of this Agreement, for one year following such termination, the
Executive shall not, in any county where the Company or its majority-owned
subsidiaries has a bank branch that accepts deposits that are insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") at the time of such termination,
physically work or perform services as a consultant to, or serve as a member of
management or as an employee of a financial institution whose deposits are
insured by the FDIC. Bank branches of Successors and Assigns of the Company
shall not be considered in determining the prohibited geographical area.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 6 shall not apply at any time after
a Change in Control shall have occurred. Furthermore, it is expressly
acknowledged, agreed and understood that this Section 6 shall not restrict or
prohibit the Executive from providing legal advice or services, nor from
advising or acting as a consultant to any financial institution regarding the
sale of such financial institution (or its assets or liabilities) or the
acquisition by any such financial institution of another financial institution
(or its assets or liabilities).

                                       6

<PAGE>

                  (b)      The parties have entered into this Section 6 in good
faith and for the reasons set forth in the recitals hereto and assume that this
Agreement is legally binding. If, for any reason, this Agreement is not binding
because of its geographical scope or because of its term, then the parties agree
that this Agreement shall be deemed effective to the widest geographical area
and/or the longest period of time (but not in excess of one year) as may be
legally enforceable.

                  (c)      The Executive acknowledges that the rights and
privileges granted to the Company in this Section 6 are of special and unique
character, which gives them a peculiar value, the loss of which may not be
reasonably or adequately compensated for by damages in an action of law, and
that a breach of this Section 6 by the Executive will cause the Company great
and irreparable injury and damage. Accordingly, the Executive hereby agrees that
the Company shall be entitled to remedies of injunction, specific performance or
other equitable relief to prevent a breach of this Section 6 by the Executive.
This provision shall not be construed as a waiver of any other rights or
remedies the Company may have for damages or otherwise.

         7.       Successors; Binding Agreement.

                  (a)      This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure
to the benefit of the Company, its Successors and Assigns and the Company shall
require any Successors and Assigns to expressly assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken place.

                  (b)      Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest
hereunder shall be assignable or transferable by the Executive, his
beneficiaries or legal representatives, except by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive's legal personal representative.

         8.       Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay all legal fees and
related expenses (including but not limited to the costs of experts, accountants
and counsel) incurred by the Executive as they become due as a result of (a) the
Executive's termination of employment (including all such fees and expenses, if
any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination of employment) and
(b) the Executive seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by
this Agreement.

         9.       Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all
other communications provided for in the Agreement (including the Notice of
Termination) shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
when personally delivered or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses last given by each party
to the other, provided that all notices to the Company shall be directed to the
attention of the Board of Directors with a copy to the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
received on the date of delivery thereof.

                                       7

<PAGE>

         10.      Settlement of Claims. The Company's obligation to make the
payments provided for in this Agreement and to otherwise perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without
limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which
the Company may have against the Executive or others. The Company may, however,
withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city
or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental
regulation or ruling.

         11.      Modification and Waiver. No provisions of this Agreement may
be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge
is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and the Company. No waiver
by any party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or
compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by
such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

         12.      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama
without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Any action
brought by any party to this Agreement shall be brought and maintained in a
court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Alabama.

         13.      Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

         14.      Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements, if
any, understandings and arrangements, oral or written, between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         15.      Headings. The headings of Sections herein are included solely
for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation
of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

         16.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         17.      Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:

                  (a)      "Accrued Compensation" shall mean an amount which
shall include all amounts earned or accrued through the Termination Date but not
paid as of the Termination Date including without limitation, (i) base salary,
(ii) reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the
Executive on behalf of the Company during the period ending on the Termination
Date, and (iii) bonuses and incentive compensation, including stock options and
deferred compensation, (other than the Pro Rata Bonus).

                                       8

<PAGE>

                  (b)      "Base Amount" shall mean the greater of the
Executive's annual base salary (i) at the rate in effect on the Termination Date
or (ii) at the highest rate in effect at any time during the ninety day period
prior to the Change in Control, and shall include all amounts of his base salary
that are deferred under the qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans
of the Company or any other agreement or arrangement.

                  (c)      "Bonus Amount" shall mean the greater of (i) the most
recent annual bonus paid or payable to the Executive, or, if greater, the annual
bonus paid or payable for the year ended prior to the fiscal year during which a
Change in Control occurred, (ii) the average of the annual bonuses paid or
payable during the three full fiscal years ended prior to the Termination Date
or, if greater, the three full fiscal years ended prior to the Change in Control
(or, in each case, such lesser period for which annual bonuses were paid or
payable to the Executive), or (iii) the bonuses scheduled to be paid quarterly
during the applicable year during the Term under Section 3(a) of this Agreement.

                  (d)      The termination of the Executive's employment shall
be for "Cause" if it is a result of:

                           (i)      any act that (A) constitutes, on the part of
the Executive, fraud, or gross malfeasance of duty and (B) is demonstrably
likely to lead to material injury to the Company or resulted or was intended to
result in direct or indirect material gain to or personal enrichment of the
Executive; or

                           (ii)     the conviction (from which no appeal may be
or is timely taken) of the Executive of a felony; or

                           (iii)    the suspension or removal of the Executive
by federal or state banking regulatory authorities acting under lawful authority
pursuant to provisions of federal or state law or regulation which may be in
effect from time to time; provided, however, that in the case of clause (i)
above, such conduct shall not constitute Cause:

                           (1)      unless (A) there shall have been delivered
to the Executive a written notice setting forth with specificity the reasons
that the Company's Board of Directors believes the Executive's conduct
constitutes the criteria set forth in clause (i), (B) the Executive shall have
been provided the opportunity to be heard in person by the Company"s Board of
Directors (with the assistance of the Executive's counsel if the Executive so
desires), and (C) after such hearing, the termination is evidenced by a
resolution adopted in good faith by two-thirds of the members of the Company's
Board of Directors (other than the Executive); or

                           (2)      if such conduct (A) was believed by the
Executive in good faith to have been in or not opposed to the interests of the
Company, and (B) was not intended to and did not result in the direct or
indirect gain to or personal enrichment of the Executive.

                  (e)      A "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence
during the Term of any of the following events:

                                       9

<PAGE>

                           (i)      An acquisition of any voting securities of
the Company or The Bank (the "Voting Securities") by any "Person" (as the term
person is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act")) immediately after which such Person has
"Beneficial Ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
1934 Act) of 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's or The
Bank's then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that in
determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, Voting Securities which
are acquired in a "Non-Control Acquisition" (as hereinafter defined) shall not
constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control. A "Non-Control
Acquisition" shall mean an acquisition by (1) an employee benefit plan (or a
trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (x) the Company or (y) any
corporation or other Person of which a majority of its voting power or its
equity securities or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the
Company, (2) the Company or any Subsidiary (a "Subsidiary"), or (3) any Person
in connection with a "Non-Control Transaction" (as hereinafter defined).

                           (ii)     The individuals who, as of the date of this
Agreement, are members of the Board of Directors of the Company or The Bank
(each, an "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least
two-thirds of the Board or Directors of the Company or The Bank, as applicable;
provided, however, that if the election, or nomination for election by the
Company's or the Bank"s stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote
of at least two-thirds of the applicable Incumbent Board, such new director
shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be considered as a member of such
Incumbent Board; provided, further, however, that no individual shall be
considered a member of an Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed
office as a result of either an actual or threatened "Election Contest" (as
described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the 1934 Act) or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
than the Board (a "Proxy Contest") including by reason of any agreement intended
to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest; or

                           (iii)    Approval by stockholders of the Company of:

                                    (1)      A merger, consolidation or
reorganization involving the Company, unless

                                             (a)      the stockholders of the
Company, immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization, own,
directly or indirectly, immediately following such merger, consolidation or
reorganization, at least two-thirds of the combined voting power of the
outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger or
consolidation or reorganization (the "Surviving Corporation") in substantially
the same proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities immediately
before such merger, consolidation or reorganization, and

                                             (b)      the individuals who were
members of the Company's Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of
the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation or reorganization
constitute at least two-thirds of the members of the

                                       10

<PAGE>

board of directors of the Surviving Corporation. (A transaction described in
clauses (a) and (b) shall herein be referred to as a "Non-Control
Transaction.");

                                    (2)     A complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company; or

                                    (3)     An agreement for the sale or other
disposition  of all or  substantially  all of the assets of the Company to any
Person.

                           (iv)     Approval by stockholders of the Bank of:

                                    (1)     A merger, consolidation or
reorganization involving the Bank;

                                    (2)     A complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Bank; or

                                    (3)     An  agreement for the sale or other
disposition  of all or  substantially  all of the  assets  of the Bank to any
Person.

                           (v)      James A. Taylor ceases to be Chairman of the
Board or Chief Executive Officer of the Company or any successor corporation,
other than due to removal for cause.

                           (vi)     Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, if, prior to a Change in Control, the Company
terminates the Executive's employment for any reason other then Cause, and the
Executive reasonably demonstrates that such termination (A) was at the request
of a third party who has indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably
calculated to effect a Change in Control and who effectuates a Change in Control
(a "Third Party") or (B) otherwise occurred in connection with, or in
anticipation of, a Change in Control which actually occurs, then for all
purposes of this Agreement, the date of a Change in Control with respect to the
Executive shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination
of the Executive's employment.

                  (f)      "Constructive Termination" shall mean Executive's
voluntary Termination of Service within ninety (90) days following the
occurrence of one or more of the following events, except if such event is
approved in writing by Executive prior to its occurrence:

                           (i)      A material  breach of this Agreement by the
Company that is not remedied within thirty (30) business days after receiving
written notification by Executive of such failure; or

                           (ii)     A material reduction in Executive's title or
responsibilities unless replaced with a new title or new responsibilities of
comparable stature or value to the Company within thirty (30) business days.

                                       11

<PAGE>

                  (g)      "Continuation Period" shall have the meaning ascribed
to it in Section 4(c)(iii) of this Agreement.

                  (h)      "Disability" shall mean a physical or mental
infirmity which impairs the Executive's ability to substantially perform his
duties with the Company for a period of 180 consecutive days, as determined by
an independent physician selected with the approval of both the Company and the
Executive; provided, however, that in no event shall the Executive be deemed to
have a Disability for purposes of this Agreement unless and until such time as
the Executive is entitled to receive payments under the disability insurance
policy referred to in the penultimate sentence of Section 3(d) of this
Agreement.

                  (i)      "Good Reason" shall mean the occurrence after a
Change in Control of any of the events or conditions described in subsections
(i) through (viii) hereof:

                           (i)      a change in the Executive's status, title,
position or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) which, in
the Executive's reasonable judgment, represents an adverse change from his
status, title, position or responsibilities as in effect at any time within
ninety days preceding the date of a Change in Control or at any time thereafter;
the assignment to the Executive of any duties or responsibilities which, in the
Executive's reasonable judgment, are inconsistent with his status, title,
position or responsibilities as in effect at any time within ninety days
preceding the date of a Change in Control or at any time thereafter; any removal
of the Executive from or failure to reappoint or reelect him to any of such
offices or positions, except in connection with the termination of his
employment for Disability, Cause, as a result of his death or by the Executive
other than for Good Reason, or any other change in condition or circumstances
that in the Executive's reasonable judgment makes it materially more difficult
for the Executive to carry out the duties and responsibilities of his office
than existed at any time within ninety days preceding the date of Change in
Control or at any time thereafter;

                           (ii)     a reduction in the Executive's base salary
or any failure to pay the Executive any compensation or benefits to which he is
entitled within five days of the date due;

                           (iii)    the Company's requiring the Executive to be
based at any place outside a 30-mile radius from the executive offices occupied
by the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control, except for
reasonably required travel on the Company's business which is not materially
greater than such travel requirements prior to the Change in Control;

                           (iv)     the failure by the Company to (A) continue
in effect (without reduction in benefit level and/or reward opportunities) any
material compensation or employee benefit plan in which the Executive was
participating at any time within ninety days preceding the date of a Change in
Control or at any time thereafter, unless such plan is replaced with a plan that
provides substantially equivalent compensation or benefits to the Executive or
(B) provide the Executive with compensation and benefits, in the aggregate, at
least equal (in terms of benefit levels and/or reward

                                       12

<PAGE>

opportunities) to those provided for under each other employee benefit plan,
program and practice in which the Executive was participating at any time within
ninety days preceding the date of a Change in Control or at any time thereafter;

                           (v)      the insolvency or the filing (by any party,
including the Company) of a petition for bankruptcy of the Company, which
petition is not dismissed within sixty days;

                           (vi)     any material breach by the Company of any
provision of this Agreement;

                           (vii)    any purported termination of the Executive's
employment for Cause by the Company which does not comply with the terms of this
Agreement; or

                           (viii)   the failure of the Company to obtain an
agreement, satisfactory to the Executive, from any Successors and Assigns to
assume and agree to perform this Agreement.

                  Any event or condition described in clause (i) through (viii)
above which occurs prior to a Change in Control but which the Executive
reasonably demonstrates (A) was at the request of a Third Party, or (B)
otherwise arose in connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control
which actually occurs, shall constitute Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement, notwithstanding that it occurred prior to the Change in Control. The
Executive's right to terminate his employment for Good Reason shall not be
affected by his incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

                  (j)      "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice
of termination from the Company or the Executive which specifies an effective
date of termination, indicates the specific termination provision in this
Agreement relied upon, and sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision of indicated.

                  (k)      "Incentive Stock Option Plan" shall mean any
incentive Stock Option Plan adopted by the Company's Board of Directors.

                  (l)      "Pro Rata Bonus" shall mean an amount equal to the
Bonus Amount multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
days in the applicable year through the Termination Date and the denominator of
which is 365.

                  (m)      "Successors and Assigns" shall mean a person,
corporation or other entity acquiring all or substantially all the assets and
business of the Company (including this Agreement), whether by operation of law
or otherwise.

                  (n)      "Termination Date" shall mean, in the case of the
Executive's death, his date of death, and in all other cases, the date specified
in the Notice of Termination.

                                       13

<PAGE>

                  (o)      "Trade Secrets" shall mean any information, including
but not limited to technical or non-technical data, a formula, a pattern, a
compilation, a program, a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a process,
financial data, financial plans, product plans, information on customers, or a
list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, which: (i) derives economic
value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being
readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic
value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are
reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

                                       14

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be
executed and its seal to be affixed hereunto by its officers thereunto duly
authorized, and the Executive has signed and sealed this Agreement, effective as
of the date first above written.

                                                  THE BANK

                                  By:
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Its:
                                       ----------------------------------------

                                             THE BANC CORPORATION

                                  By:
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Its:
                                       ----------------------------------------

ATTEST:

------------------------------------
Corporate Secretary

( CORPORATE SEAL )

                                  EXECUTIVE:

                                  ------------------------------------------
                                           F. Hampton McFadden, Jr.

                                       15

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