Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                               FINANCING AGREEMENT

                       THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.

                                       AND

                                  SIMCALA, INC.

                              DATED: JUNE 15, 2001

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

         THIS FINANCING AGREEMENT is made as of June 15, 2001, by and between
THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC., a New York corporation ("CIT"), with an
office located at 1200 Ashwood Parkway, Suite 150, Atlanta, Georgia 30338, and
SIMCALA, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Borrower"), with a principal place of
business at 1940 Ohio Ferro Road, Mt. Meigs, Alabama 36057.

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS

         Accounts shall have the meaning given to "account" in the UCC.

         Account Debtor shall mean any Person who is or may become obligated
under or on account of an Account.

         Administrative Management Fee shall mean the fee which shall be paid to
CIT in accordance with Section 4.2.3 hereof to offset the expenses and costs
incurred by CIT in connection with record keeping, periodic examinations,
analysis and evaluations of the Collateral.

         Agreement shall mean this Financing Agreement, as amended from time to
time by the parties hereto.

         Applicable Law shall mean all laws, rules and regulations applicable to
the person, conduct, transaction, covenant or Loan Documents in question,
including all applicable common law and equitable principles; all provisions of
all applicable state and federal constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations and
orders of governmental bodies; and orders, judgments and decrees of all courts
and arbitrators.

         Availability Reserve shall mean on any date of determination thereof,
an amount equal to the sum of (i) a reserve equal to three (3) months' rent for
any business location of Borrower with respect to which CIT has not obtained a
Landlord Agreement in the event CIT is requested to make a Revolving Loan as
measured by Eligible Inventory at any such business location; (ii) a reserve for
general inventory shrinkage, whether as a result of theft or otherwise, in an
amount determined by CIT from time to time in its customary credit judgment;
(iii) any amounts which Borrower is obligated to pay pursuant to the provisions
of any of the Loan Documents that CIT elects to pay for the account of Borrower
in accordance with authority contained in any of the Loan Documents; (iv) the LC
Outstandings at any such date; and (v) for so long as an Event of Default
exists, such additional reserves as CIT in its sole and absolute discretion may
elect to impose from time to time, without waiving any such Event of Default or
CIT's entitlement to accelerate the maturity of the Obligations as a consequence
thereof.

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         Average Monthly Loan Balance shall mean, for any month, the amount
obtained by adding the unpaid balance of the sum of the Revolving Loans
outstanding, the face amount of the IDB Standby LC and the face amount of any
other outstanding Letter of Credit at the end of each day for the month in
question and by dividing such sum by the number of days in such month.

         Bank means The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York banking corporation,
and its successors and assigns.

         Board of Governors shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve Board.

         Borrowing Base shall mean as at any date of determination thereof, an
amount equal to the lesser of:

         (a)      $10,000,000, less the face amount of the IDB Standby LC and,
         without duplication, all other LC Outstandings at such date;

                  or

         (b)      an amount equal to:

                  (i)      85% of the net amount of Eligible Accounts
                  outstanding at such date;

                   plus

                  (ii)     60% of the value of Eligible Inventory consisting of
                  raw materials and finished products, with Eligible Inventory
                  being calculated on the basis of the lower of cost or market
                  on a first-in, first-out basis;

                   minus

                   (iii) the Availability Reserve.

         For purposes hereof, the net amount of Eligible Accounts at any time
shall be the face amount of such Eligible Accounts less any and all returns,
rebates, discounts (which may, at CIT's option, be calculated on shortest
terms), credits, allowances, and sales or excise taxes of any nature at any time
issued, owing, claimed by an obligor on an Account, granted, outstanding or
payable in connection with such Accounts at such time.

         Borrowing Base Certificate shall mean a Borrowing Base Certificate in
substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto.

         Business Day shall mean a day on which CIT is open for business in New
York, New York, and which is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks or lending institutions in New York, New York are authorized or
required by law to close.

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         Capital Expenditures for any period shall mean expenditures made or
liabilities incurred for the acquisition of any fixed assets or improvements,
replacements, substitutions or additions thereto which have a useful life of
more than one year, including the total principal portion of Capitalized Lease
Obligations, determined in accordance with GAAP.

         Capitalized Lease Obligation shall mean any Indebtedness represented by
obligations under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial
reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

         Capital Lease shall mean any lease of property (whether real, personal
or mixed) which, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease or
a Capital Expenditure on the balance sheet of Borrower.

         Cash Collateral shall mean cash or cash equivalents comprised of
marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United
States government and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
government having maturities of not more than 12 months from the date of
acquisition or domestic certificates of deposit and time deposits having
maturities of not more than 12 months from the date of acquisition, and any
interest earned thereon, that is deposited with CIT or its bailee in accordance
with this Agreement as security for any of the Obligations to the extent
provided in this Agreement.

         Cash Collateral Account shall mean a demand deposit, money market or
other account established by CIT at such financial institution as CIT may select
in its discretion, which account shall be in CIT's name and subject to CIT's
Lien under this Agreement, but with respect to which accrued interest thereon
shall, for so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, be
paid on a monthly basis to Borrower.

         Cash Equivalents shall mean (a) securities issued or directly and fully
guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United
States of America is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more
than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (b) U.S. dollar denominated
time deposits and certificates of deposit of (i) any domestic commercial bank of
recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (ii)
any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or
the equivalent thereof or from Moody's is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof
(any such bank being an "Approved Bank"), in each case with maturities of not
more than 270 days from the date of acquisition, (c) commercial paper and
variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent
company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any
domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or
P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody's and maturing within six
months of the date of acquisition, (d) repurchase agreements entered into by any
Person with a bank or trust company or recognized securities dealer having
capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by
or fully guaranteed by the United States of America in which such Person shall
have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens)
and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least
100% of the amount of the

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repurchase obligations and (e) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP
as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which are administered by reputable
financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the
portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the
foregoing subdivisions (a) through (d).

         Chase Bank Rate shall mean the rate of interest per annum announced by
The Chase Manhattan Bank from time to time as its prime rate in effect at its
principal office in the City of New York. The prime rate is not intended to be
the lowest rate of interest charged by The Chase Manhattan Bank to its
borrowers.

         Chattel Paper shall have the meaning ascribed to the term "chattel
paper" in the UCC.

         Closing Date shall mean the date that of this Agreement has been duly
executed by the parties hereto and delivered to CIT.

         Collateral shall mean all of the property and interests in property
described in Section 7 of the Agreement, and all other property and interests in
property that now or hereafter secure the payment and performance of any of the
Obligations.

         Consolidated shall mean the consolidation in accordance with GAAP of
the accounts, financial statements and other items to which such term applies.

         Consolidated Balance Sheet shall mean a consolidated balance sheet of
Borrower eliminating all inter-company transactions and prepared in accordance
with GAAP.

         Conversion Event shall mean Borrower's obtaining Revolving Loans the
outstanding balance of which exceed $2,000,000 for five (5) consecutive Business
Days.

         Default shall mean any event specified in Section 11 hereof, whether or
not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any
other condition, event or act, has been satisfied.

         Default Rate shall mean, at any date of determination, the rate of
interest per annum equal to the lesser of (a) the Maximum Rate or (b) the Chase
Bank Rate plus 3%.

         Distribution shall mean and include: (i) the payment of any dividends
or other distributions on capital stock of Borrower (except distributions in
such interests) and (ii) the redemption or acquisition by Borrower of its
capital stock (or any warrant or option for the purchase of any such capital
stock) unless made contemporaneously from the net proceeds of the sale of its
capital stock.

         Documents shall. have the meaning ascribed to the term "documents" in
the UCC

         Dollars and the sign "$" shall refer to currency of the United States
of America.

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         Dominion Account shall mean a special account of CIT established by
Borrower pursuant to the Agreement at a bank selected by Borrower, but
acceptable to CIT in its reasonable discretion, and over which CIT shall have
sole and exclusive access and control for withdrawal purposes.

         Dow shall mean Dow Corning Corporation, a Michigan corporation.

         Early Termination Date shall mean the date on which Borrower terminates
this Agreement which date is prior to the last day of the Original Term.

         Early Termination Fee shall mean the fee payable by Borrower under
Section 6.2.3 hereof in an amount equal to 1% of the maximum amount of the
Revolving Line of Credit if the Early Termination Date occurs after October 15,
2001, but prior to or on the last day of the first year of the Original Term
(June 15, 2001, through June 14, 2002); and .5% of the maximum amount of the
Revolving Line of Credit if the Early Termination Date occurs during the second
year of the Original Term (June 15, 2002, through June 14, 2003).

         EBITDA shall mean for any fiscal quarter of Borrower, without
duplication, the sum of the following for such period determined on a
Consolidated basis: (i) Net Income, plus (ii) depreciation, plus (iii)
amortization, plus (iv) all Interest Expense, plus (v) income tax expense, plus
(vi) other non-cash charges deducted in calculating Net Income (excluding
extraordinary gains and losses).

         Eligible Account shall mean an Account arising in the ordinary course
of Borrower's business from the sale of goods which is payable in Dollars and
which CIT, in its customary credit judgment, deems to be an Eligible Account.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Account shall be an
Eligible Account if: (i) it arises out of a sale made by Borrower to a
subsidiary or an affiliate of Borrower or to a Person controlled by an affiliate
of Borrower; (ii) it is unpaid for more than 60 days after the original due date
shown on the invoice; (iii) it is due or unpaid more than 90 days after the
original invoice date; (iv) 50% or more of the Accounts from the Account Debtor
are not deemed Eligible Accounts hereunder; (v) the total unpaid Eligible
Accounts of any Account Debtor exceeds 20% of the net amount of those Eligible
Accounts the collection of which are not insured (or, if such collections are
insured, CIT has not been named as co-insured or the beneficiary thereof), to
the extent of such excess; (vi) any covenant, representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement with respect to such Account has been breached;
(vii) the Account Debtor is also Borrower's creditor or supplier, or the Account
Debtor has disputed liability with respect to such Account, or the Account
Debtor has made any claim with respect to any other Account due from such
Account Debtor to Borrower, or the Account otherwise is or may become subject to
any rebate (including, without limitation, all rebate reserves as reflected in
Borrower' books and records), right of setoff, counterclaim, reserve or
chargeback, provided that, the Accounts of such Account Debtor shall be
ineligible only to the extent of such rebate (or rebate reserve, as the case may
be), offset, counterclaim, disputed amount, reserve or chargeback; (viii) an
Insolvency Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Account Debtor (other
than Dow, to the extent the payments of Accounts owing by Dow have
administrative priority in the Dow Insolvency Proceeding) (or the Account Debtor
has failed, suspended business or ceased

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to be solvent; (ix) it arises from a sale to an Account Debtor with its
principal office, assets or place of business outside the United States; (x) it
arises from a sale to the Account Debtor on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale,
sale-or-return, sale-on-approval, consignment or any other repurchase or return
basis, unless CIT shall have received from the Account Debtor written assurances
(in substantially the form of Exhibit E attached hereto) that the Account
arising therefrom is due and payable notwithstanding the fact that it has not
yet received delivery of the goods; (xi) the Account Debtor is the United States
of America or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless Borrower
assigns its right to payment of such Account to CIT, in a manner satisfactory to
CIT, so as to comply with the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 (31 U.S.C.
ss.3727 and 41 U.S.C. ss.15); (xii) the Account Debtor is located in a state
imposing conditions on the right of a creditor to collect accounts receivable
unless Borrower has either qualified to transact business in such state as a
foreign entity or filed a Notice of Business Activities Report or other required
report with the appropriate officials in those states for the then current year;
(xiii) the Account is subject to an encumbrance other than a Permitted Lien;
(xiv) the goods giving rise to such Account have not been delivered to and
accepted by the Account Debtor or the services giving rise to such Account have
not been performed by Borrower and accepted by the Account Debtor or the Account
otherwise does not represent a final sale; (xv) the Account is evidenced by
chattel paper or an instrument of any kind, or has been reduced to judgment;
(xvi) Borrower has made any agreement with the Account Debtor for any deduction
therefrom, except for discounts or allowances which are made in the ordinary
course of business for prompt payment and which discounts or allowances are
reflected in the calculation of the face value of each invoice related to such
Account; (xvii) the Account arises out of a contract or order which, by its
terms, purports to forbid, restrict or make void or unenforceable the assignment
by Borrower to CIT of such Account; (xviii) Borrower has made an agreement with
the Account Debtor to extend the time of payment thereof.

         Eligible Inventory shall mean such Inventory of Borrower (other than
labels and supplies) which CIT, in its customary credit judgment, deems to be
Eligible Inventory. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no
Inventory shall be Eligible Inventory unless: (i) it is raw materials or
finished products; (ii) it is in good, new and saleable condition; (iii) it is
not slow-moving, obsolete or unmerchantable; (iv) it meets all standards imposed
by any governmental agency or authority; (v) it conforms in all respects to the
warranties and representations set forth in this Agreement; (vi) it is at all
times subject to CIT's duly perfected, first priority security interest and no
other encumbrances except for Permitted Liens; (vii) it is in Borrower's
possession and control and is not in transit or outside the continental United
States; and (viii) is situated at a location in compliance with this Agreement
and with respect to which CIT has entered into a Landlord Agreement.

         Equipment shall mean all machinery, apparatus, equipment, fittings,
furniture, fixtures, and other tangible personal Property (other than Inventory)
of every kind and description used in Borrower's business operations or owned by
Borrower or in which Borrower has an interest, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired by Borrower and wherever located, and all parts, accessories and
special tools and all increases and accessions thereto and substitutions and
replacements therefor.

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         ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended from time to time and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder from time to time.

         Event(s) of Default shall have the meaning provided for in Section 11
of this Agreement.

         Excess Availability shall mean at any date, the excess, if any, of the
Borrowing Base on such date less: (i) the outstanding principal amount of the
Revolving Loans on such date, plus (ii) the amount of all requested Revolving
Loans and LC Outstandings on such date, plus (iii) the aggregate amount of all
past due accounts payable, rental obligations or other liabilities of Borrower.

         Executive Officers shall mean the Chairman, President, any Vice
President, Treasurer and Secretary.

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

         General Intangibles shall mean all general intangibles of Borrower,
whether now owned or hereafter created or acquired by Borrower, including all
choses in action, causes of action, company or other business records, deposit
accounts, inventions, blueprints, designs, patents, patent applications,
trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, trade secrets, service marks,
goodwill, brand names, copyrights, registrations, licenses, franchises, customer
lists, tax refund claims, computer programs, operational manuals, all claims
under guaranties, security interests or other security held by or granted to
Borrower to secure payment of any of the Accounts by an Account Debtor, all
rights to indemnification and all other intangible property of every kind and
nature (other than Accounts).

         Guarantor shall mean any Persons who may at any time hereafter guaranty
all or any part of the Obligations.

         Guaranty Agreement shall mean any guaranty agreement executed by a
Guarantor in favor of CIT and any other guaranty of the Obligations at any time
or times delivered to CIT

         IDB Documents shall mean documents executed and/or delivered by
Borrower in connection with the $6,000,000 State Industrial Development
Authority Taxable Industrial Revenue (Simcala, Inc. Project) Series 1995, dated
as of January 1, 1995, as amended or modified.

         IDB Standby LC shall mean the letter of credit issued by Bank of
America, N.A. for the account of Borrower in the face amount of $6,147,946,
naming Regions Bank as the beneficiary and securing the Obligations of Borrower
under the IDB Documents.

         Indebtedness shall mean, without duplication, all liabilities,
contingent or otherwise, which are any of the following: (a) obligations in
respect of money (borrowed or otherwise due or owing to third parties) or for
the deferred purchase price of property, services or assets, other

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than Inventory, and (b) lease obligations which, in accordance with GAAP, have
been, or which should be capitalized.

         Insolvency Proceeding shall mean any action, case or proceeding
commenced by or against Borrower, or any agreement of Borrower, for (a) the
entry of an order for relief under any chapter of the U. S. Bankruptcy Code or
other insolvency or debt adjustment law (whether state, federal or foreign), (b)
the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator or other custodian for such
Person or any part of its Property, (c) an assignment or trust mortgage for the
benefit of creditors of such Person, (d) the calling of a meeting of the
creditors of Borrower for the purpose of compromising the debts of Borrower, or
(e) the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of such Person.

         Instrument shall have the meaning ascribed to the term "instrument" in
the UCC.

         Interest Coverage Ratio shall mean, with respect to any measurement
period, the ratio of (a) EBITDA for such period to (b) cash Interest Expense for
such period with respect to total Indebtedness.

         Interest Expense shall mean for any period the amount which would, in
conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption "interest expense" or
any like caption on an income statement of Borrower.

         Inventory shall mean all of Borrower's present and hereafter acquired
inventory as defined in the UCC and any and all merchandise and goods, and all
additions, substitutions and replacements thereof, wherever located, together
with all goods wherever located, and materials used or usable in manufacturing,
processing, packaging or shipping same; in all stages of production- from raw
materials through work-in-process to finished goods and all proceeds thereof of
whatever sort.

         Investment Property shall mean all Securities (whether certified or
uncertified), security entitlements, securities accounts, commodity contracts
and commodity accounts.

         Issuing Bank shall mean a bank that has issued or been requested to
issue a Letter of Credit for the account of Borrower.

         Landlord Agreement shall mean a written agreement between CIT and
landlords or mortgagees in respect of such leased business locations of Borrower
that CIT may deem necessary or appropriate to assure access to, and the priority
of CIT's lien in, the Collateral located thereon.

         LC Application shall mean an application to an Issuing Bank, in the
form approved by such Issuing Bank and duly executed by Borrower and CIT as
co-applicants, for the issuance of a Letter of Credit.

         LC Conditions shall mean the following conditions, the satisfaction of
each of which is required before CIT shall be obligated to execute any LC
Application in connection with a request to an Issuing Bank for the issuance of
a Letter of Credit: (i) no Default or Event of

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         Default exists; (ii) after giving effect to the issuance of the
requested Letter of Credit and each Letter of Credit to be issued and for which
an LC Application has been signed by CIT, the LC Outstandings comprised of
standby Letters of Credit do not exceed $6,147,946, the LC Outstandings
comprised of documentary Letters of Credit do not exceed $500,000, no
Out-of-Formula Condition would exist, and, if no Revolving Loans are
outstanding, the LC Outstandings do not exceed the Borrowing Base; (iii) the
expiry date of the Letter of Credit does not extend beyond 30 days prior to the
Termination Date or 30 days prior to the last day of any renewal period
thereafter; and (iv) the currency in which payment is to be made under the
Letter of Credit is Dollars.

         LC Documents shall mean any and all agreements, instruments and
documents (other than an LC Application or an LC Guaranty) required by the
Issuing Bank to be executed by Borrower or any other Person and delivered to
such Issuing Bank for the issuance of a Letter of Credit.

         LC Guaranty shall mean the guaranty delivered by CIT to an Issuing Bank
of Borrower's reimbursement obligation under such Issuing Bank's reimbursement
agreement, application for Letter of Credit or other like document.

         LC Guaranty Fee shall mean the fees payable by Borrower under Section
4.2.4 for: (i) issuing a LC Guaranty and/or (ii) otherwise aiding Borrower in
obtaining Letters of Credit pursuant to section 3.3 hereof.

         LC Outstandings shall mean, on any date of determination thereof, an
amount (in Dollars) equal to the sum of (i) all amounts then due and payable by
Borrower on such date by reason of any payment made on or before such date by
CIT under any LC Guaranty, plus (ii) the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters
of Credit then outstanding or to be issued by an Issuing Bank under an LC
Application theretofore submitted to such Issuing Bank, less (iii) the amount of
Cash Collateral held by CIT in a Cash Collateral Account with respect thereto.

         LC Request shall mean a written request from Borrower to CIT for CIT to
join with Borrower in the execution of an LC Application for the issuance of a
Letter of Credit, which request shall specify the identity and address of the
intended beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit, the purpose for issuance
of the requested Letter of Credit, the proposed amount, issuance date and expiry
date of the requested Letter of Credit, the conditions to payment under the
requested Letter of Credit, and whether the requested Letter of Credit may be
drawn upon in a single or multiple draws.

         Letter of Credit shall mean a standby or documentary letter of credit
issued with the assistance of CIT by an Issuing Bank for or on behalf of
Borrower pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof, including, without limitation, the IDB
Standby LC.

         Lien shall mean any interest in property securing an obligation owed
to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such
interest is based on common law, statute or contract. The term "Lien" shall also
include reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights-of-way,
covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and other title exceptions

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and encumbrances affecting property. For the purpose of the Agreement, Borrower
shall be deemed to be the owner of any property which it has acquired or holds
subject to a conditional sale agreement or other arrangement pursuant to which
title to the property has been retained by or vested in some other person for
security purposes.

         Line of Credit Fee shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4.2.2 of this Agreement.

         Loan Account shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.7 of this
Agreement.

         Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Note, any Guaranty
Agreement, the LC Documents and any other documents and the ancillary loan and
security agreements executed from time to time in connection with this
Agreement, as the same may be renewed, amended, extended, increased or
supplemented from time to time.

         Loans shall mean all loan, advances and the financial accommodations of
any kind made by CIT to Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

         Margin Stock shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Regulation
U and Regulation G of the Board of Governors.

         Material Adverse Effect - the effect of any event or condition which,
alone or when taken together with other events or conditions occurring or
existing concurrently therewith, (a) has a material adverse effect upon the
business, operations, properties, condition (financial or otherwise) or business
prospects of Borrower; (b) has or may be reasonably expected to have any
material adverse effect upon the value of the whole or any material part of the
Collateral, the Liens of CIT with respect to the Collateral or any material part
thereof or the priority of such Liens; (c) materially impairs the ability of
Borrower or Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents, including repayment of the Obligations when due; or (d
materially impairs the ability of CIT to enforce or collect the Obligations or
realize upon any of the Collateral in accordance with the Loan Documents and
Applicable Law.

         Maximum Rate shall mean the maximum non-usurious rate of interest
permitted by Applicable Law that at any time, or from time to time, may be
contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the debt in question or,
to the extent that at any time Applicable Law may thereafter permit a higher
maximum non-usurious rate of interest, then such higher rate. Notwithstanding
any other provision hereof, the Maximum Rate shall be calculated on a daily
basis (computed on the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days).

         Money Borrowed shall mean (i) debt arising from the lending of money by
any other person to Borrower; (ii) debt, whether or not in any such case arising
from the lending of money by another person to Borrower, (A) which is
represented by notes payable or drafts accepted that evidence extensions of
credit, (B) which constitutes obligations evidence by bonds, debentures, note or
similar instruments, or (C) upon which interest charges are customarily paid
(other than accounts payable) or that was issued or assumed as full or partial

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payment for property; (iii) debt constituting Capitalized Lease Obligations;
(iv) reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit or guaranties
of letters of credit and (v) debt of Borrower under any guaranty of obligations
that would constitute debt for Money Borrowed under clauses (i) through (iii)
hereof by Borrower.

         Net Income (Loss) shall mean for any applicable period, the aggregate
net income (or loss) of Borrower from continuing operations (excluding any
income (or loss) included therein resulting from extraordinary items) determined
in accordance with GAAP.

         Net Proceeds shall mean, with respect to a disposition of any
Collateral, proceeds (including cash receivable (when received) by way of
deferred payment) received by Borrower from the sale, lease, transfer or other
disposition of any Property, including insurance proceeds and awards of
compensation received with respect to the destruction or condemnation of all or
part of such Property, net of: (i) the reasonable and customary costs of such
sale, lease, transfer or other disposition (including legal fees and sales
commissions); and (ii) amounts applied to repayment of Indebtedness (other than
the Obligations) secured by a Permitted Lien on the Collateral disposed of that
is senior to CIT's Liens with respect to such Collateral.

         Note shall mean the Revolving Credit Note, as hereafter amended,
modified or restated.

         Obligations shall mean all indebtedness owing to CIT by Borrower under
this Agreement, any other Loan Documents or under any other agreement or
arrangement now or hereafter entered into between Borrower and CIT; any and all
indebtedness and obligations which may at any time be owing by Borrower to CIT
howsoever arising, whether now in existence or incurred by Borrower from time to
time hereafter; whether secured by a Lien in any of Borrower's assets or
property or the assets or property of any other Person; whether such
indebtedness is absolute or contingent, joint or several, matured or unmatured,
direct or indirect and whether Borrower is liable to CIT for such indebtedness
as principal, surety, endorser, guarantor or otherwise. Obligations shall also
include indebtedness or obligations incurred by, or imposed on, CIT as a result
of environmental claims arising out of Borrower's operation, premises or waste
disposal practices or sites; Borrower's liability to CIT as maker or endorser on
any promissory note or other instrument for the payment of money; Borrower's
liability to CIT under any instrument of guaranty or indemnity, or arising under
any guaranty, endorsement or undertaking which CIT may make or issue to other
Persons for Borrower's account, including any accommodation extended with
respect to applications for letters of credit, CIT's acceptance of drafts or
CIT's endorsement of notes or other instruments for Borrower's account and
benefit.

         Operating Leases shall mean all leases of property (whether real,
personal or mixed) other than Capital Leases.

         Original Term shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
6.1 hereof.

         Other Collateral shall mean all now owned and hereafter acquired
deposit accounts maintained with any bank or financial institutions representing
the direct or indirect proceeds of Collateral; all cash and other monies and
property in the possession or control of CIT; all

                                       11
<PAGE>
books, records, ledger cards, disks and related data processing software at any
time evidencing or containing information relating to any of the Collateral
described herein or otherwise necessary or helpful in the collection thereof or
realization thereon, and all cash and non-cash proceeds of the foregoing.

         Out-of-Formula Condition shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.1 of the Agreement.

         Out-of-Formula Loan shall mean a Revolving Loan made when an
Out-of-Formula Condition exists or the amount of any Revolving Loan which when
funded results in an Out-of-Formula Condition.

         Out-of-Pocket Expenses shall mean all of CIT's present and future
reasonable expenses incurred relative to this Agreement or any other Loan
Documents, whether incurred heretofore or hereafter, which expenses shall
include, without being limited to, the cost of record searches, all costs and
expenses incurred by CIT in opening bank accounts, depositing checks, receiving
and transferring funds, and any charges imposed on CIT due to "insufficient
funds" of deposited checks and CIT's standard fee relating thereto, any
applicable counsel fees and disbursements and taxes relative to the filing of
financing statements, and all expenses, costs and fees set forth in Section 4.4
of this Agreement.

         Parent shall mean Simcala Holdings, Inc., a Georgia corporation.

         Participant shall mean each Person who shall be granted the right by
CIT to participate in any of the Loans described in the Agreement and who shall
have entered into a participation agreement in form and substance satisfactory
to CIT.

         Payment Items - all checks, drafts, or other items of payment payable
to a Borrower, including proceeds of any of the Collateral.

         Permitted Indebtedness shall mean: (a) current Indebtedness maturing in
less than one year and incurred in the ordinary course of business for raw
materials, supplies, equipment, services, taxes or labor; (b) the Indebtedness
secured by the Purchase Money Liens; (c) Indebtedness of Borrower which is
subordinated to the prior payment and satisfaction of Borrower's Obligations to
CIT by means of a subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to
CIT; (d) deferred taxes and other expenses incurred in the ordinary course of
business; (e) other Indebtedness existing on the date of execution of this
Agreement and listed in the most recent financial statement delivered to CIT or
otherwise disclosed to CIT in writing prior to the Closing Date; (f)
Indebtedness for Capital Leases and Capital Expenditures permitted pursuant to
Section 9.4.11 hereof; (g) the replacement, refinancing or renewal of any of the
above so long as the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased; (h)
obligations in respect of performance bonds and completion guarantees provided
by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in the ordinary course of
business; and (i) other Indebtedness not otherwise permitted by clauses (a)
through (h) above in an amount not exceeding in the aggregate at any time
$500,000.

                                       12
<PAGE>

         Permitted Liens shall mean: (a) Liens at any time granted in favor of
CIT; (b) Liens for Taxes (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the
provisions of ERISA) incurred in the ordinary course of Borrower's business and
not yet due or being Properly Contested; (c) Liens arising in the ordinary
course of Borrower's business by operation of law or regulation, but only if
payment in respect of any such Lien is not at the time required or the debt
secured by any such Lien is being Properly Contested and such Liens do not
materially detract from the value of the Property of Borrower or materially
impair the use thereof in the operation of Borrower's business; (d) Purchase
Money Liens securing purchase money indebtedness incurred consistently with the
terms of this Agreement; (e) Liens securing debt of a Subsidiary of Borrower to
Borrower or to another such Subsidiary; (f) Liens arising by virtue of the
rendition, entry or issuance against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any
Property of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, of any judgment, writ, order,
or decree for so long as each such Lien is in existence for less than 30
consecutive days after it first arises or is being Properly Contested and is at
all times junior in priority to the Liens in favor of CIT; and (g) such other
Liens as appear on Schedule 9.4.5 hereto; (h) such other Liens as CIT may
hereafter approve in writing and (i) Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses
(a) through (h) above which are junior in priority to the Liens in favor of CIT
securing the Obligations and which secure obligations in an amount not exceeding
in the aggregate at any time $100,000.

         Person shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, limited liability partnership, joint stock company, land
trust, business trust, unincorporated organization or other form of business
entity, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

         Properly Contested shall mean in the case of any Indebtedness of
Borrower (including any Tax) that is not paid as and when due or payable by
reason of Borrower's bona fide dispute concerning its liability to pay same or
concerning the amount thereof, (i) such Indebtedness and any Liens securing same
are being properly contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly
instituted and diligently conducted; (ii) Borrower has established appropriate
reserves as shall be required in conformity with GAAP; (iii) the non-payment of
such Indebtedness during the period being contested by Borrower will not have a
Material Adverse Effect and does not and will not result in a forfeiture of,
foreclosure upon or loss of any assets of Borrower; (iv) no Lien is imposed upon
any of Borrower's assets with respect to such Indebtedness unless such Lien is
at all times junior and subordinate in priority to the Liens in favor of CIT
(except only with respect to property taxes that have priority as a matter of
applicable state law) and enforcement of such Lien is stayed during the period
prior to the final resolution or disposition of such dispute; (v) if the
Indebtedness results from the entry, rendition or issuance against Borrower or
any of its assets of a judgment, writ, order or decree, such judgment, writ,
order or decree is stayed pending a timely appeal or other judicial review and
Borrower shall have established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP for
such judgment, writ, order or decree or the same is either fully insured against
by an insurer that has not denied or reserved rights with respect to coverage or
has been bonded to CIT's satisfaction; and (vi) if such dispute or contest is
abandoned, settled or determined adversely to Borrower, Borrower forthwith pays
such Indebtedness and all penalties and interest in connection therewith.

                                       13
<PAGE>

         Purchase Money Liens shall mean Liens on any item of equipment acquired
after the date of this Agreement provided that (a) each such Lien shall attach
only to the property to be acquired, (b) a description of the property so
acquired is furnished to CIT, and (c) the debt incurred in connection with such
acquisitions shall not exceed in the aggregate the amount permitted by this
Agreement for Capital Expenditures for any fiscal year.

         Renewal Term shall mean any applicable period of the Original Term when
this Agreement shall have been renewed by CIT in its sole discretion.

         Restricted Investment shall mean any acquisition of Property by
Borrower in exchange for cash or other Property, whether in the form of an
acquisition of equity interests or Indebtedness, or the purchase or acquisition
by Borrower of any other Property, or a loan, advance, capital contribution or
subscription, except acquisitions of the following: (i) fixed assets to be used
in the business of Borrower so long as the acquisition costs thereof constitute
Capital Expenditures permitted hereunder; (ii) goods held for sale or lease or
to be used in the manufacture of goods or the provision of services by Borrower
in the ordinary course of business; (iii) current assets (as defined under GAAP)
arising from the sale or lease of goods or the rendition of services in the
ordinary course of business; (iv) investments in Subsidiaries to the extent
existing on the Closing Date; and (v) cash or cash equivalents to the extent
they are not subject to rights of offset in favor of any Person other than CIT.

         Revolving Credit Note shall mean the Revolving Credit Note to be
executed by Borrower on or about the Closing Date in favor of CIT to evidence
the Revolving Credit Loans which shall be in the form of Exhibit A to the
Agreement.

         Revolving Line of Credit shall mean the commitment of CIT to make
Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement, up to an
aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time.

         Revolving Loans shall mean the revolving loans made from time to time
to Borrower by CIT pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

         Secured Obligations shall mean with respect to any period but without
duplication (i) the Obligations, (ii) Indebtedness secured by Purchase Money
Liens, (iii) Indebtedness secured under the IDB Documents, and (iv) all other
Indebtedness secured by any property of Borrower.

         Secured Obligations/EBITDA Ratio shall mean with respect to any fiscal
period of Borrower the ratio of (a) Borrower's total Secured Obligations as of
the last day of such period to (b) EBITDA for such period.

         Security shall have the same meaning as in Section 2(1) of the
Securities Act of 1933.

         Senior Notes shall mean those certain 9 and 5/8ths% Senior Notes due on
or about April 15, 2006 issued by Borrower pursuant to that certain Indenture
dated as of March 31, 1998, among Borrower and the Bank of New York (as the
successor trustee to IBJ Schroeder Bank and Trust Company), as Trustee, in an
original aggregate amount of $75,000,000.

                                       14
<PAGE>

         Solvent shall mean, at any date of determination, as to Borrower,
Borrower (i) owns Property whose fair saleable value is greater than the amount
required to pay all of Borrower's Indebtedness (including contingent debts),
(ii) is able to pay all of its Indebtedness as such Indebtedness matures, (iii)
has capital sufficient to carry on its business and transactions and all
business and transactions in which it is about to engage; and (iv) is not
"insolvent" within the meaning of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code.

         Subordinated Debt shall mean the indebtedness owing by Borrower to the
Subordinating Creditor which has been subordinated to the Obligations pursuant
to written agreements with CIT.

         Taxes shall mean any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties,
fees, assessments, deductions, withholdings or other charges of whatever nature,
including income, receipts, excise, property, sales, transfer, license, payroll,
withholding, social security and franchise taxes now or hereafter imposed or
levied by the United States, or any state, local or foreign government or by any
department, agency or other political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein and all interest, penalties, additions to tax and similar liabilities
with respect thereto.

         Termination Date shall mean the date on which the Agreement is or may
be terminated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement.

         Total Assets shall mean Borrower's total assets determined in
accordance with GAAP, on a basis consistent with the latest audited statements
of Borrower.

         UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to
time in the State of Georgia.

SECTION 2.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         2.1.     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO INITIAL LOANS. The obligation of CIT
to make the initial Revolving Loan hereunder is subject to the satisfaction of
each of the following conditions precedent, in each case in form and substance
acceptable to CIT:

         2.1.1.   Documentation. CIT shall have received, in form and substance
satisfactory to CIT and its counsel, a duly executed counterpart of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such additional documents,
instruments and certificates as CIT and its counsel shall reasonably require in
connection therewith from time to time.

         2.1.2.   Availability. CIT shall have determined that immediately after
CIT has made the initial Loans contemplated hereby, and paid (or made provision
for payment of) all closing costs incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, Excess Availability shall not be less than $1,000,000.

                                       15
<PAGE>

                  2.1.3.   Evidence of Perfection and Priority of Liens in
Collateral. CIT shall have received copies of all filing receipts or
acknowledgments issued by any governmental authority to evidence any filing or
recordation necessary to perfect the Liens of CIT in the Collateral and evidence
in form satisfactory to CIT that such Liens constitute valid and perfected
Liens, and that there are no other Liens upon any Collateral except for
Permitted Liens.

                  2.1.4.   Articles of Incorporation. CIT shall have received a
copy of the Articles or Certificate of Incorporation of Borrower, and all
amendments thereto, certified by the Secretary of State or other appropriate
official of the jurisdiction of Borrower's incorporation.

                  2.1.5.   Certain Good Standing Certificates. CIT shall have
received good standing certificates for Borrower, issued by the Secretary of
State of Delaware and each other state where Borrower is qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation, including Alabama.

                  2.1.6.   Opinion Letters. CIT shall have received a favorable,
written opinion of Alston & Bird, LLP, counsel to Borrower, as to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the matters set forth in Exhibit
D attached hereto.

                  2.1.7.   Insurance. CIT shall have received copies of the
casualty insurance policies of Borrower, together with loss payable endorsements
on CIT's standard form of loss payee endorsement naming CIT as loss payee and
copies of Borrower's liability insurance policies, together with endorsements
naming CIT as a co-insured.

                  2.1.8.   Financial Statements. CIT shall have received
audited, year-end financial statements of Borrower for the fiscal year ending on
or about December 31, 2000. and interim financial statements of Borrower for the
fiscal quarter ending on or about March 31, 2001.

                  2.1.9.   Landlord Agreements. CIT shall have received all
landlord, mortgagee waivers or warehouseman agreements with respect to all
premises leased by Borrower and which are disclosed on Schedule 8.1.1 hereto.

                  2.1.10.  Disbursement Letter; Borrowing Base Certificate. CIT
shall have received written instructions from Borrower directing application of
the proceeds of the Loans made pursuant to this Agreement and an initial
Borrowing Base Certificate from Borrower in form satisfactory to CIT.

                  2.1.11.  Cash Budget. CIT shall have received and found
acceptable a 12 month cash budget of Borrower based on reasonable operating
assumptions and GAAP.

                  2.1.12.  Cash Collateral. CIT shall have received Cash
Collateral in the Cash Collateral Account in an amount not less than the undrawn
principal amount of the IDB Standby LC or any letter of Credit issued in
replacement or substitution thereof.

                  2.1.13.  IDB Documentation. CIT and Borrower shall have
received such assurances, consents or acknowledgements from the holder and/or
the trustee of the IDB Document as may

                                       16
<PAGE>
be required under the IDB Documents or reasonably requested by CIT in connection
with the issuance of a LC Guaranty in favor of Bank of America, N.A. securing
the IDB Standby LC.

         2.2.     CONDITIONS TO ALL EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT . Except to the extent
expressly set forth in this Agreement, the agreement of CIT to make any
extension of credit requested to be made by it to Borrower on any date
(including without limitation, the initial Revolving Loan) is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

                  2.2.1.   Accuracy of Representations. Each of the
representations and warranties made by Borrower in or pursuant to this Agreement
shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date as if
made on and as of such date (except for those which expressly relate to an
earlier date and except for changes in facts or circumstances that make such
representations and warranties untrue but that, in and of themselves, do not
constitute, and/or have not resulted in the occurrence of, a Default or Event of
Default).

                  2.2.2.   No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing on such date or, after giving effect to the extension
of credit requested to be made on such date, would exist or occur.

                  2.2.3.   No Litigation. No action, proceeding, investigation,
regulation or legislation shall have been instituted, threatened or proposed
before any court, governmental agency or legislative body to enjoin, restrain or
prohibit, or to obtain damages in respect of, or which is related to or arises
out of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.

                  2.2.4.   No Material Adverse Effect. No event shall have
occurred and no condition shall exist which has or may be reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

Each request by Borrower hereunder for a Loan hereunder shall constitute a
representation and warranty by Borrower as of the date of such Loan that each of
the representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement have
been satisfied and are true and correct in all material respects, except as
Borrower and CIT may otherwise agree in writing.

SECTION 3.  CREDIT FACILITIES

     Subject to the terms and conditions of, and in reliance upon the
representations and warranties made in, this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, CIT agrees to make a total credit facility of up to $10,000,000
available upon Borrower's request therefor, as follows:

         3.1.     REVOLVING LOAN FACILITY. CIT agrees, during the term of this
Agreement and for so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to make
Revolving Loans to Borrower from time to time, as requested by Borrower in the
manner set forth in Section 5.1.1 hereof, up to a maximum principal amount at
any time outstanding equal to the Borrowing Base at such time. The proceeds of
the Revolving Loans shall be used by Borrower solely for one or more of the
following purposes: (i) [all obligations and expenses owing to [Bank of America,
N.A.]]; (ii) all fees and expenses payable to CIT under the Agreement, and (iii)
after the Closing Date,

                                       17
<PAGE>

any debt incurred in the ordinary course of Borrower's business to the extent
not prohibited by this Agreement, Capital Expenditures to the extent permitted
by the Loan Documents, and any of the Obligations. In no event shall any
proceeds of any Revolving Loans be used to purchase or to carry, or to reduce,
retire or refinance any debt incurred to purchase or carry, any Margin Stock.
The Revolving Loans shall be evidenced by the Revolving Credit Note which shall
be executed and delivered by Borrower on the Closing Date. If the unpaid balance
of Revolving Loans outstanding at any time should exceed the Borrowing Base at
such time (an "Out-of-Formula Condition"), such Revolving Loans shall
nevertheless constitute Obligations that are secured by the Collateral and
entitled to all of the benefits of the Loan Documents. In the event that CIT is
willing in its sole and absolute discretion to make Out-of-Formula Loans, such
Out-of-Formula Loans shall be payable on demand and shall bear interest as
provided in this Agreement for Revolving Loans generally or at such higher rate
of interest as CIT may require as a condition to making any such Out-of-Formula
Loans.

         3.2.     [RESERVED]

                                       18
<PAGE>

         3.3.     LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY. CIT agrees, during the term of this
Agreement and for so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to endeavor
to procure from Issuing Bank one or more Letters of Credit upon Borrower's
request therefor, subject to the following terms and conditions:

                  3.3.1    Borrower acknowledges that Issuing Bank's willingness
to issue any Letter of Credit is conditioned upon Issuing Bank's receipt of (a)
the LC Guaranty duly executed and delivered to Issuing Bank by CIT, (b) an LC
Application with respect to the requested Letter of Credit and (c) such other
instruments and agreements as Issuing Bank may customarily require for the
issuance of a letter of credit of equivalent type and amount as the requested
Letter of Credit. CIT shall have no obligation to execute any LC Guaranty or to
join with Borrower in executing an LC Application unless (x) CIT receives from
Borrower, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date on which Borrower
desires to submit such LC Application to Issuing Bank, an LC Request, and (y)
each of the LC Conditions is satisfied on the date of CIT's receipt of the LC
Request and at the time of the requested execution of the LC Application. In no
event shall CIT have any liability or obligation to Borrower for any failure or
refusal by an Issuing Bank to issue, for such Issuing Bank's delay in issuing,
or for any error of such Issuing Bank in issuing any Letter of Credit.

                  3.3.2    Letters of Credit may be requested hereunder by
Borrower only if they are to be used (a) to support obligations of Borrower
incurred in the ordinary course of its business, as presently conducted or (b)
for such other purposes as CIT may approve from time to time.

                  3.3.3    Borrower shall comply with all of the terms and
conditions imposed on Borrower by Issuing Bank, whether such terms and
conditions are contained in an LC Application or in any agreement with respect
thereto, and subject to the rights of Issuing Bank, CIT shall have the same
rights and remedies that Issuing Bank has under any agreements that Borrower may
have with Issuing Bank in addition to any rights and remedies contained in any
of the Loan Documents. Borrower agrees to reimburse Issuing Bank for any draw
under any Letter of Credit immediately upon demand, and to pay Issuing Bank the
amount of all other liabilities and obligations payable to Issuing Bank under or
in connection with any Letter of Credit immediately when due, irrespective of
any claim, setoff, defense or other right that Borrower may have at any time
against Issuing Bank or any other Person, but without waiving any claim Borrower
may have against Issuing Bank in connection therewith. If CIT shall pay any
amount under the LC Guaranty with respect to any Letter of Credit, then Borrower
shall be absolutely and unconditionally obligated to pay to CIT, on the first
Business Day following the date on which payment was made by CIT under such LC
Guaranty, an amount equal to the amount paid by CIT under such LC Guaranty
together with interest from and after the date of CIT's payment under such LC
Guaranty until payment in full is made by Borrower at a variable rate per annum
in effect from time to time hereunder for Revolving Loans. Borrower agrees that
any claim made upon CIT by Issuing Bank under an LC Guaranty shall be conclusive
on CIT and Borrower shall forthwith satisfy and discharge any such claim, on
demand, failing which Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse CIT for any
payment made by CIT under an LC Guaranty in connection with such claim as
hereinabove provided.

                  3.3.4    Borrower assumes all risks of the acts, omissions or
misuses of any Letter of

                                       19
<PAGE>

Credit by the beneficiary thereof. The obligation of Borrower to reimburse CIT
for any payment made by CIT under an LC Guaranty shall be absolute,
unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid without regard to any lack of
validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, the existence of any claim,
setoff, defense or other right which Borrower may have at any time against a
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, or untimely or improper honor by Issuing
Bank of any draw request under a Letter of Credit. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, if presentation of a demand, draft or certificate
or other document does not comply with the terms of a Letter of Credit and
Borrower contends that, as a consequence of such noncompliance it has no
obligation to reimburse Issuing Bank for any payment made with respect thereto,
Borrower shall nevertheless be obligated to reimburse CIT for any payment made
under the LC Guaranty with respect to such Letter of Credit, but without waiving
any claim Borrower may have against Issuing Bank in connection therewith.

                  3.3.5    If any LC Outstandings, whether or not then due or
payable, shall for any reason be outstanding (i) at any time that an Event of
Default exists, (ii) on any date that an Out-of Formula Condition exists, or
(iii) on the effective date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
6 hereof, then Borrower shall, upon demand, forthwith deposit with CIT, in cash,
an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount of all LC Outstandings then
outstanding or, in the event an Out-of Formula Condition exists, payment to the
extent of the Out-of Formula Condition. If Borrower fails to make such deposit
on CIT's demand therefor, CIT may advance such amount as a Revolving Loan
(whether or not an Out-of-Formula Condition is created thereby). Such cash
(together with any interest accrued thereon) shall be held by CIT in the Cash
Collateral Account and may be invested, in CIT's discretion, in cash or, as
determined by CIT, cash equivalents. Borrower hereby pledges, and grants to CIT
a security interest in, all of Borrower's right, title and interest in the Cash
Collateral Account and all Cash Collateral held in the Cash Collateral Account
from time to time and all proceeds thereof, as security for the payment of the
LC Outstandings, whether or not then due or payable. From time to time after
cash is deposited in the Cash Collateral Account, CIT may apply any Cash
Collateral then held in the Cash Collateral Account to the payment of any
amounts, in such order as CIT may elect, as shall be or shall become due and
payable by Borrower to CIT with respect to the Obligations which may then be
outstanding. Neither Borrower nor any other Person claiming by, through or under
or on behalf of Borrower shall have any right to withdraw any of the funds held
in the Cash Collateral Account, including any accrued interest, provided that
upon termination of all Letters of Credit and the payment and satisfaction in
full of the LC Outstandings, any Cash Collateral remaining in the Cash
Collateral Account shall be returned to Borrower unless an Event of Default then
exists (in which event CIT may apply such funds to the payment of any other
Obligations outstanding) and after payment in full of all Obligations, all such
Cash Collateral shall be refunded to the Borrower. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, CIT shall invest any Cash Collateral in Cash Equivalents mutually
agreed to by CIT and Borrower and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, CIT shall remit to Borrower on a monthly basis, all interest and
other income earned on such investments, to such account as Borrower shall
direct.

                  3.3.6    No Letter of Credit shall be extended or amended in
any respect that is not solely ministerial, unless all of the LC Conditions are
met as though a new Letter of Credit were being requested and issued.

                                       20
<PAGE>

                  3.3.7    CIT shall not be responsible for: the existence,
character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of the goods
purporting to be represented by any documents; any difference or variation in
the character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of the
goods from that expressed in the documents; the validity, sufficiency or
genuineness of any documents or of any endorsements thereon, even if such
documents should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
insufficient, fraudulent or forged; the time, place, manner or order in which
shipment is made; partial or incomplete shipment, or failure or omission to ship
any or all of the goods referred to in the Letters of Credit or documents; any
deviation from instructions; delay, default, or fraud by the shipper and/or
anyone else in connection with the Collateral or the shipping thereof; or any
breach of contract between the shipper or vendors and Borrower. Furthermore,
without being limited by the foregoing, CIT shall not be responsible for any act
or omission with respect to or in connection with any Collateral.

                  3.3.8    In addition to and without limiting any other right
or remedy of CIT contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan
Documents, CIT shall be fully subrogated to the rights and remedies of Issuing
Bank under any agreement made between Borrower and Issuing Bank, including each
LC Application, relating to the issuance of any Letter of Credit, each such
agreement being incorporated herein by reference, and CIT shall be entitled to
exercise all such rights and remedies thereunder and under Applicable Law in
such regard as fully as if it were Issuing Bank. If any Letter of Credit is
drawn upon to discharge any obligation of Borrower to the beneficiary of such
Letter of Credit, in whole or in part, CIT shall be fully subrogated to the
rights of such beneficiary with respect to the obligation of Borrower to such
beneficiary discharged with the proceeds of such Letter of Credit.

SECTION 4. INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES

         4.1.     INTEREST.

                  4.1.1.   Rates of Interest. Borrower agrees to pay interest in
respect of all unpaid principal amounts of the Loans from the respective dates
such principal amounts are advanced until paid (whether at stated maturity, on
acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum equal to .25% plus the Chase Bank
Rate in effect from time to time. The applicable rate of interest for all Loans
(or portions thereof) bearing interest based upon the Chase Bank Rate shall be
increased or decreased, as the case may be, by an amount equal to any increase
or decrease in the Chase Bank Rate, with such adjustments to be effective as of
the opening of business on the day that any such change in the Chase Bank Rate
becomes effective. Interest on each Loan shall accrue from and including the
date on which such Loan is made to (but excluding) the date of any repayment
thereof; provided, however, that, if a Revolving Loan is repaid on the same day
it is made, one day's interest shall be paid on such Revolving Loan. The Chase
Bank Rate on the date hereof is 7.0% per annum.

                  4.1.2.   Default Rate. Interest shall accrue at the Default
Rate (i) with respect to the principal amount of any portion of the Obligations
(and, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, all past due interest) that is
not paid on the due date thereof (whether due at stated

                                       21
<PAGE>

maturity, on demand, upon acceleration or otherwise) until paid in full, and
(ii) with respect to the principal amount of all of the Obligations (and, to the
extent permitted by Applicable Law, all past due interest) upon the earlier to
occur of (x) Borrower's receipt of notice of CIT's election to charge the
Default Rate based upon the existence of any Event of Default or (y) the
commencement by or against Borrower of an Insolvency Proceeding. Borrower
acknowledges that the cost and expense to CIT attendant upon the occurrence of
an Event of Default are difficult to ascertain or estimate and that the Default
Rate is a fair and reasonable estimate to compensate CIT for such added cost and
expense.

         4.2.     FEES.

                  4.2.1.   Loan Facility Fee. Borrower shall pay to CIT a loan
facility fee of $100,000, which shall be deemed fully earned as of the Closing
Date.

                  4.2.2.   Line of Credit Fee. Borrower shall pay to CIT each
month, on the first day of the month and on the Termination Date, commencing on
earlier of (i) September 1, 2001, or (ii) the first day of the month next
following the date on which a new Letter of Credit is issued securing Borrower's
obligations under the IDB Documents or an LC Guaranty is issued in favor of Bank
of America, N.A. in connection with the IDB Standby LC, a fee equal to .375% per
annum of the amount by which the Average Monthly Loan Balance for the
immediately preceding month is less than the maximum dollar amount of the
Revolving Line of Credit in effect at any date of determination.

                  4.2.3.   Administrative Management Fee. Borrower shall pay to
CIT a Administrative Management Fee in the amount of $15,000 which shall be
deemed fully earned as of the Closing Date and on each Anniversary Date
thereafter.

                  4.2.4.   LC Guaranty Fees. In addition to Borrower's
obligation to pay to an Issuing Bank all nominal fees and normal and customary
charges associated with the issuance and administration of each Letter of
Credit, Borrower shall pay to CIT:

                  (i)      for CIT's LC Guaranty of each standby Letter of
         Credit, a fee equal to 1% per annum of the aggregate face amount of
         such Letter of Credits which are fully cash collateralized and 3% per
         annum of the aggregate face amount of such Letters of Credit which are
         not fully cash collateralized, which fees shall accrue and be payable
         monthly in arrears on the first Business Day of each month after the
         issuance date of such Letter of Credit for so long as such Letter of
         Credit and any renewal or extension thereof remains outstanding; and

                  (ii)     for CIT's LC Guaranty of each documentary Letter of
         Credit, a fee equal to 3% per annum of the face amount of each such
         Letter of Credit, and each extension thereof, which fees shall accrue
         and be payable monthly in arrears on the first Business Day of each
         month after the issuance date of such Letter of Credit for so long as
         such Letter of Credit and any renewal or extension thereof remains
         outstanding.

                                       22
<PAGE>

                  4.2.5.   Audit, Appraisal and Other Fees. Borrower shall
reimburse CIT for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by CIT in
connection with all audits and appraisals of Borrower's books and records and
such other matters pertaining to Borrower or any Collateral as CIT shall deem
appropriate up to an amount equal to $750 per day per auditor, provided that for
so long as any Default or Event of Default shall exist, CIT may retain an
independent accounting firm to conduct any such audit or appraisal, and Borrower
shall reimburse CIT for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by CIT in
connection therewith. CIT may retain from time to time an accounting or audit
firm to conduct a physical count of Borrower's Inventory no more frequently than
once during any fiscal year of Borrower and, for so long as no Event of Default
shall exist, Borrower shall have no obligation to reimburse CIT for any charges
or expenses incurred by CIT in connection therewith.

                  4.2.6.   Collection Monitoring Fee. At all times before the
occurrence of the Conversion Event, Borrower shall pay to CIT on the first day
of each month after the Closing Date a collection monitoring fee in an amount
computed pursuant to the following formula:

                  MC x (Chase Bank Rate + .25%)  multiplied by .5
                  ----------------------------
                               360

                  where

                  MC = aggregate monthly collections of Borrower from Accounts

                  From and after the Conversion Event, Borrower shall pay to CIT
on the first day of each month after the occurrence of the Conversion Event a
collection monitoring fee in an amount computed in accordance with the following
formula:

                  MC x (Chase Bank Rate + .25%)
                  ----------------------------
                              360

                  where

                  MC = see above

                  4.2.7.   General Provisions Relating to Fees. All fees shall
be fully earned by CIT when due and payable and, except as otherwise set forth
herein or required by Applicable Law, shall not be subject to refund, rebate or
proration. All fees provided for in Section 4.2 hereof are and shall be deemed
to be for compensation for services and are not, and shall not be deemed to be,
interest or any other charge for the use, forbearance or detention of money.

         4.3.     COMPUTATION OF INTEREST AND FEES. All interest, fees and other
charges hereunder shall be calculated daily and shall be computed on the actual
number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days. For the purpose of computing
interest hereunder, all payments received by CIT shall be deemed applied by CIT
on account of the Obligations (subject to final payment of any Payment Items)
and CIT shall be deemed to have received such payment on the date specified in
Section 5.5 hereof.

                                       23
<PAGE>

         4.4.     REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. If, at any time or times regardless
of whether or not an Event of Default then exists, CIT incurs legal or
accounting expenses or any other Out-of-Pocket Expenses in connection with (i)
the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents, any amendment of or modification of this Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents; (ii) the administration of this Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; (iii)
any litigation, contest, dispute, suit, proceeding or action (whether instituted
by CIT, Borrower or any other Person) in any way relating to the Collateral,
this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or Borrower's affairs; (iv)
any attempt to enforce any rights of CIT against Borrower or any other Person
which may be obligated to CIT by virtue of this Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents, including the Account Debtors; or (v) any attempt to inspect,
verify, protect, preserve, perfect or continue the perfection of CIT's Liens
upon, restore, collect, sell, liquidate or otherwise dispose of or realize upon
the Collateral; then all such legal and accounting expenses, other costs and
Out-of-Pocket Expenses shall be charged to Borrower. All amounts chargeable to
Borrower under this Section 4.4 shall be Obligations secured by all of the
Collateral, shall be payable on demand to CIT. Borrower shall also reimburse CIT
for expenses incurred by CIT in its administration of the Collateral to the
extent and in the manner provided in Section 8 hereof.

         4.5.     BANK CHARGES. Borrower shall pay to CIT, on demand, any and
all fees, costs or expenses which CIT pays to a bank or other similar
institution arising out of or in connection with (i) the forwarding to Borrower
or any other Person on behalf of Borrower, by CIT or any Participant, of
proceeds of Loans made by CIT to Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and (ii)
the depositing for collection, by CIT, of any check or item of payment received
or delivered to CIT on account of the Obligations. Borrower acknowledges and
agrees that CIT may charge such costs, fees and expenses to Borrower based upon
CIT's good faith estimate of such costs, fees and expenses as they are incurred
by CIT, subject to later adjustment for the amount actually incurred.

         4.6.     MAXIMUM INTEREST. Regardless of any provision contained in
this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, in no contingency or event
whatsoever shall the aggregate of all amounts that are contracted for, charged
or received by CIT pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents and that are deemed interest under Applicable Law exceed the
Maximum Rate. No agreements, conditions, provisions or stipulations contained in
this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the exercise by CIT of the
right to accelerate the payment or the maturity of all or any portion of the
Obligations, or the exercise of any option whatsoever contained in any of the
Loan Documents, or the prepayment by Borrower of any of the Obligations, or the
occurrence of any contingency whatsoever, shall entitle CIT to charge or receive
in any event, interest or any charges, amounts, premiums or fees deemed interest
by Applicable Law (such interest, charges, amounts, premiums and fees referred
to herein collectively as "Interest") in excess of the Maximum Rate and in no
event shall Borrower be obligated to pay Interest exceeding such Maximum Rate,
and all agreements, conditions or stipulations, if any, which may in any event
or contingency whatsoever operate to bind, obligate or compel Borrower to pay
Interest exceeding the Maximum Rate shall be without binding force or effect, at
law or in equity, to the extent only of the excess of Interest over such Maximum
Rate. If any Interest is charged or received in excess of the Maximum

                                       24
<PAGE>

Rate ("Excess"), Borrower acknowledges and stipulates that any such charge or
receipt shall be the result of an accident and bona fide error, and such Excess,
to the extent received, shall be applied first to reduce the principal
Obligations and the balance, if any, returned to Borrower, it being the intent
of the parties hereto not to enter into a usurious or otherwise illegal
relationship. The right to accelerate the maturity of any of the Obligations
does not include the right to accelerate any interest that has not otherwise
accrued on the date of such acceleration, and CIT does not intend to collect any
unearned interest in the event of any such acceleration. Borrower recognizes
that, with fluctuations in the rates of interest set forth in Section 4.1.1 of
this Agreement, or in the Notes and the Maximum Rate, such an unintentional
result could inadvertently occur. All monies paid to CIT hereunder or under any
of the other Loan Documents, whether at maturity or by prepayment, shall be
subject to any rebate of unearned interest as and to the extent required by
Applicable Law. The provisions of this Section shall be deemed to be
incorporated into every Loan Document (whether or not any provision of this
Section is referred to therein). All such Loan Documents and communications
relating to any Interest owed by Borrower and all figures set forth therein
shall, for the sole purpose of computing the extent of Obligations, be
automatically recomputed by Borrower, and by any court considering the same, to
give effect to the adjustments or credits required by this Section 4.6.

SECTION 5. LOAN ADMINISTRATION

         5.1.     MANNER OF BORROWING REVOLVING LOANS. Borrowings under the
credit facility established pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof shall be as follows:

                  5.1.1.   Notice of Borrowing.

                  (i)      Whenever Borrower desires to obtain a Revolving Loan
under Section 3.1 of this Agreement, Borrower shall give CIT prior written
notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of such Borrowing
request (a "Notice of Borrowing") and deliver to CIT an accurate and complete
Borrowing Base Certificate as of such date. Such Notice of Borrowing and
Borrowing Base Certificate shall be given by Borrower to CIT no later than 12:00
noon on the Business Day of the requested funding date of such Borrowing.
Notices received after 12:00 noon shall be deemed received on the next Business
Day. Each Notice of Borrowing (or telephonic notice thereof) shall be
irrevocable and shall specify (a) the principal amount of the requested
Revolving Loan, (b) the date of such Loan (which shall be a Business Day), and
(c) the account of Borrower to which the proceeds of such Loan are to be
disbursed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after CIT's notice to
Borrower of the occurrence of the Conversion Event, Borrower shall have no
further obligation to deliver to CIT a Borrowing Base Certificate with each
Notice of Borrowing, but in lieu thereof Borrower shall deliver to CIT an
accurate and complete Borrowing Base Certificate on the first Business Day of
each week current through the last Business Day of the preceding week.

                  (ii)     Unless payment is otherwise timely made by Borrower,
the becoming due of any amount required to be paid under this Agreement or any
of the other Loan Documents as principal, accrued interest, fees or other
charges shall be deemed irrevocably to be a request for Revolving Loans on the
due date of, and in an aggregate amount required to

                                       25
<PAGE>

pay, such principal, accrued interest, fees or other charges, and the proceeds
of such Revolving Loans may be disbursed by way of direct payment of the
relevant Obligation. CIT shall have no obligation to Borrower to honor any
deemed request for a Revolving Loan, but may do so in its discretion without
regard to the existence or creation of, and without being deemed to have waived,
any Default, Event of Default or Out-of-Formula Condition.

                  (iii)    As an accommodation to Borrower, CIT may permit
telephonic requests for Borrowings and electronic transmittal of instructions,
authorizations, agreements or reports to CIT by Borrower. Unless Borrower
specifically directs CIT in writing not to accept or act upon telephonic or
electronic communications from Borrower, CIT shall not have any liability to
Borrower for any loss or damage suffered by Borrower as a result of CIT's
honoring of any requests, execution of any instructions, authorizations or
agreements or reliance on any reports communicated to it telephonically or
electronically and reasonably purporting to have been sent to CIT by Borrower
and CIT shall not have any duty to verify the origin of any such communication
or the identity or authority of the Person sending it.

                  5.1.2.   Disbursement Authorization. Borrower hereby
irrevocably authorizes CIT to disburse the proceeds of each Revolving Loan
requested, or deemed to be requested pursuant to Section 5.1.1, as follows: (i)
the proceeds of each Revolving Loan requested under Section 5.1.1(i) shall be
disbursed by CIT in accordance with the terms of the written disbursement letter
from Borrower in the case of the initial Borrowing, and, in the case of each
subsequent Borrowing, by wire transfer to such bank account as may be agreed
upon by Borrower and CIT from time to time or elsewhere if pursuant to a written
direction from Borrower; and (ii) the proceeds of each Revolving Loan requested
under Section 5.1.1(ii) shall be disbursed by CIT by way of direct payment of
the relevant interest or other Obligation.

         5.2.     REPAYMENT OF REVOLVING LOANS.

                  5.2.1.   Payment of Principal. At all times prior to
Borrower's receipt of notice from CIT of the occurrence of the Conversion Event,
the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Loans shall be due and
payable in Dollars, without any offset or counterclaim by Borrower to CIT
immediately upon (a) receipt by Borrower of any proceeds of any of the
Collateral from time to time, to the extent of the lesser of the (i) outstanding
principal balance of the Revolving Loans or (ii) the amount of such proceeds,
and (b) on the Termination Date. On the Business Day next following Borrower's
receipt of notice from CIT of the occurrence of the Conversion Event and at all
times thereafter, the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Loans shall
be due and payable in Dollars, without any offset or counterclaim by Borrower to
CIT immediately upon (a) receipt by Borrower or CIT of any proceeds of any of
the Collateral from time to time, to the extent of such proceeds, and (b) the
Termination Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere
in this Agreement, if an Out-of-Formula Condition shall exist, Borrower shall,
on demand, repay the outstanding Revolving Loans in an amount sufficient to
reduce the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans by an amount
equal to such excess.

                  5.2.2.   Payment of Interest. Interest accrued on the
Revolving Loans shall be due and payable on (i) the first calendar day of each
month (for the immediately preceding month),

                                       26
<PAGE>

computed through the last calendar day of the preceding month, with respect to
any Revolving Loan and (ii) on the Termination Date.

         5.3.     [RESERVED]

         5.4.     PAYMENT OF OTHER OBLIGATIONS. The balance of the Obligations
requiring the payment of monies shall be payable by Borrower to CIT in Dollars
and without offset, defense or counterclaim, as and when provided in the Loan
Documents, or, if no date of payment is otherwise specified in the Loan
Documents, on demand.

         5.5.     APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS AND COLLECTIONS. All Payment Items
received by CIT in the Dominion Account by 12:00 noon, New York, New York time,
on any Business Day shall be deemed received and applied to the Loan Account on
that Business Day. All Payment Items received after 12:00 noon, New York, New
York time, on any Business Day shall be deemed received on the following
Business Day. Borrower irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of
any and all payments and collections at any time or times hereafter received by
CIT from or on behalf of Borrower, and Borrower does hereby irrevocably agree
that CIT shall have the continuing exclusive right to apply and reapply any and
all such payments and collections received at any time or times hereafter by CIT
or its agent against the Obligations, in such manner as CIT may deem advisable,
notwithstanding any entry by CIT upon any of its books and records. If as the
result of collections as authorized by Section 8.2.6 hereof a credit balance
exists in the Loan Account, such credit balance shall not accrue interest in
favor of Borrower, but shall be available to Borrower at any time or times for
so long as no Default or Event of Default exists.

         5.6.     ALL LOANS TO CONSTITUTE ONE OBLIGATION. The Loans shall
constitute one general Obligation of Borrower and (unless and to the extent
otherwise expressly provided in any of the Security Documents) shall be secured
by CIT's Lien upon all of the Collateral.

         5.7.     LOAN ACCOUNT. CIT shall establish an account on its books (the
"Loan Account") and shall enter all Loans as debits to the Loan Account and
shall also record in the Loan Account all payments made by Borrower on any
Obligations and all proceeds of Collateral which are finally paid to CIT, and
may record therein, in accordance with customary accounting practice, other
debits and credits, including interest and all charges and expenses properly
chargeable to Borrower.

         5.8.     STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT. CIT will account to Borrower monthly
with a statement of Loans, charges and payments made pursuant to this Agreement,
and such accounting rendered by CIT shall be deemed final, binding and
conclusive upon Borrower unless CIT is notified by Borrower in writing to the
contrary within 30 days after the date each accounting is deemed to have been
sent pursuant to Section 12.9. Such notice shall only be deemed an objection to
those items specifically objected to therein.

                                       27
<PAGE>

         5.9.     MARSHALLING; PAYMENTS SET ASIDE. CIT shall be under no
obligation to marshall any assets in favor of Borrower or against or in payment
of any or all of the Obligations. To the extent that Borrower makes a payment to
CIT or CIT receives payment from the proceeds of any Collateral or exercises its
right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff
(or any part thereof) are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or
preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any
other Person, then to the extent of any such recovery, the obligation or part
thereof originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights and remedies
therefor, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such
payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred. The
provisions of the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 5.9 shall
survive any termination of this Agreement and payment in full of the
Obligations.

SECTION 6. TERM AND TERMINATION

         6.1.     TERM OF AGREEMENT. Subject to CIT's right to cease making
Loans to Borrower upon or after the occurrence of any Default or Event of
Default, this Agreement shall be in effect from the date hereof through June 14,
2003 (the "Original Term") , unless sooner terminated as provided in Section 6.2
hereof and this Agreement shall automatically renew itself for one year periods
thereafter ("Renewal Term") unless terminated as provided in Section 6.2 hereof.

         6.2.     TERMINATION.

                  6.2.1.   Termination by CIT. Upon at least 30 days prior
written notice to Borrower, CIT may terminate this Agreement as of the last day
of the Original Term or any applicable Renewal Term and CIT may terminate this
Agreement with or without notice upon or after the occurrence of an Event of
Default. This Agreement shall automatically terminate as provided in Section
11.2 hereof.

                  6.2.2.   Termination by Borrower. Upon at least 30 days prior
written notice to CIT, Borrower may, at its option, terminate this Agreement;
provided, however, no such termination by Borrower shall be effective until
Borrower has satisfied all of the Obligations. For purposes hereof, the
Obligations shall not be deemed to have been satisfied until all Obligations for
the payment of money have been paid to CIT in same day funds and all Obligations
that are at the time in question contingent (including, all LC Outstandings that
exist by virtue of an outstanding Letter of Credit) have been cash
collateralized in an amount equal to 110% of the face amount of such contingent
Obligations in favor and to the satisfaction of CIT or CIT has received as
beneficiary a letter of credit in form and from an issuing bank acceptable to
CIT and providing for direct payment to CIT of all such contingent Obligations
at the time they become fixed (including reimbursement of all sums paid by CIT
under any LC Guaranty). Any notice of termination given by Borrower shall be
irrevocable unless CIT otherwise agrees in writing. Borrower may elect to
terminate this Agreement in its entirety only. No section of this Agreement may
be terminated singly.

                                       28
<PAGE>

                  6.2.3.   Early Termination Charges. On the effective date of
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.2.2, Borrower shall pay to
CIT (in addition to the then outstanding principal, accrued interest, fees and
other charges owing under the terms of this Agreement and any of the other Loan
Documents), as liquidated damages for the loss of the bargain and not as a
penalty, an amount equal to the applicable Early Termination Fee. If termination
occurs prior to October 15, 2001, or on the last day of the Original Term or
thereafter no Early Termination Fee shall be payable.

                  6.2.4.   Effect of Termination. All of the Obligations shall
be immediately due and payable upon the effective date of termination by CIT or,
in the case of a termination by Borrower, upon the date specified in Borrower's
notice of termination of this Agreement as the effective date of such
termination. On the effective date of any termination (whether by CIT or
Borrower), CIT shall have no obligation to make any Loans, join in any LC
Application or issue any LC Guaranty or otherwise to extend credit to or for the
direct or indirect benefit of Borrower. All undertakings, agreements, covenants,
warranties and representations of Borrower contained in the Loan Documents shall
survive any such termination, and CIT shall retain its Liens in the Collateral
and all of its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents notwithstanding such
termination, until Borrower has satisfied all of the Obligations.
Notwithstanding the payment in full of the Obligations, CIT shall not be
required to terminate its security interests in the Collateral unless, with
respect to any loss or damage CIT may incur as a result of dishonored checks or
instruments received by CIT from Borrower or any Account Debtor and applied to
the Obligations, CIT shall, at its option, (i) have received a written
agreement, executed by Borrower and by any Person whose loans or other advances
to Borrower are used in whole or in part to satisfy the Obligations,
indemnifying CIT from any such loss or damage; or (ii) have retained such
monetary reserves and Liens on the Collateral for such period of time as CIT, in
its reasonable discretion, may deem necessary to protect CIT from any such loss
or damage. All obligations of Borrower pursuant to this Agreement to indemnify
CIT shall in all events survive any termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 7. COLLATERAL SECURITY

         7.1.     GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN COLLATERAL. To secure the prompt
payment and performance to CIT of all of the Obligations, Borrower hereby grants
to CIT a continuing security interest in and Lien upon all of the following
property and interests in property of Borrower, whether now owned or existing or
hereafter created, acquired or arising and wheresoever located:

                  (a)      All Accounts;

                  (b)      All Inventory;

                  (c)      All Instruments;

                  (d)      All Chattel Paper;

                  (e)      All Documents;

                                       29
<PAGE>

                  (f)      All General Intangibles;

                  (g)      All Investment Property (but excluding any portion
         thereof that constitutes Margin Stock);

                  (h)      All monies now or at any time or times hereafter in
         the possession or under the control of CIT or a bailee or affiliate of
         CIT;

                  (i)      All accessions to, substitutions for and all
         replacements, products and cash and non-cash proceeds of (a) through
         (h) above, including proceeds of and unearned premiums with respect to
         insurance policies insuring any of the Collateral; and

                  (j) All books and records (including customer lists, files,
         correspondence, tapes, computer programs, print-outs, and other
         computer materials and records) of Borrower pertaining to any of (a)
         through (i) above.

         7.2.     LIEN PERFECTION; FURTHER ASSURANCES. Borrower shall execute
such UCC-1 financing statements and such other instruments, assignments or
documents and take such other action as may be reasonably requested by CIT to
perfect its Lien in the Collateral. Unless prohibited by Applicable Law,
Borrower hereby authorizes CIT to execute and file any such financing statement
on Borrower's behalf. The parties agree that a carbon, photographic or other
reproduction of this Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing statement and
may be filed in any appropriate office in lieu thereof. At CIT's request,
Borrower shall also promptly execute or cause to be executed and shall deliver
to CIT any and all documents, instruments and agreements deemed necessary by CIT
to give effect to or carry out the terms or intent of the Loan Documents.

SECTION 8. COLLATERAL ADMINISTRATION

         8.1.     GENERAL.

                  8.1.1.   Location of Collateral. All tangible items of
Collateral, other than Inventory in transit, shall at all times be kept by
Borrower and its Subsidiaries at one or more of the business locations set forth
in Schedule 8.1.1 hereto and shall not be moved therefrom, without the prior
written consent of CIT.

                  8.1.2.   Insurance of Collateral; Insurance and Condemnation
Proceeds.

         (i)      Borrower shall maintain and pay for insurance upon all
         Collateral, wherever located, covering casualty, hazard, public
         liability, theft, malicious mischief, and such other risks in such
         amounts and with such insurance companies as are reasonably
         satisfactory to CIT All proceeds payable under each such policy shall
         be payable to CIT. Borrower shall deliver the originals or certified
         copies of such policies to CIT with satisfactory CIT's loss payable
         endorsements reasonably satisfactory to CIT, naming CIT as sole loss
         payee, assignee or additional insured, as appropriate. Each policy of
         insurance or endorsement

                                       30
<PAGE>

         shall contain a clause requiring the insurer to give not less than 30
         days prior written notice to CIT in the event of cancellation of the
         policy for any reason whatsoever and a clause specifying that the
         interest of CIT shall not be impaired or invalidated by any act or
         neglect of Borrower or the owner of the Property or by the occupation
         of the premises for purposes more hazardous than are permitted by said
         policy. If Borrower fails to provide and pay for such insurance, CIT
         may, at its option, but shall not be required to, procure the same and
         charge Borrower therefor. Borrower agrees to deliver to CIT, promptly
         as rendered, true copies of all reports made in any reporting forms to
         insurance companies. For so long as no Event of Default exists,
         Borrower shall have the right to settle, adjust and compromise any
         claim with respect to any insurance maintained by Borrower provided
         that all proceeds thereof are applied in the manner specified in this
         Agreement, and CIT agrees promptly to provide any necessary endorsement
         to any checks or drafts issued in payment of any such claim. At any
         time that an Event of Default exists, only CIT shall be authorized to
         settle, adjust and compromise such claims. CIT shall have all rights
         and remedies with respect to such policies of insurance as are provided
         for in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

                  (ii)     Any proceeds of insurance referred to in this Section
         8.1.2 and any condemnation awards that are paid to CIT in connection
         with a condemnation of any of the Collateral shall be paid to CIT and
         to the payment of the Revolving Loans and then to any other Obligations
         outstanding.

                  8.1.3.   Protection of Collateral. All expenses of protecting,
storing, warehousing, insuring, handling, maintaining and shipping the
Collateral, all Taxes imposed by any Applicable Law on any of the Collateral or
in respect of the sale thereof, and all other payments required to be made by
CIT to any Person to realize upon any Collateral shall be borne and paid by
Borrower. If Borrower fails to promptly pay any portion thereof when due, CIT
may, at its option, but shall not be required to, pay the same and charge
Borrower therefor. CIT shall not be liable or responsible in any way for the
safekeeping of any of the Collateral or for any loss or damage thereto (except
for reasonable care in the custody thereof while any Collateral is in CIT's
actual possession) or for any diminution in the value thereof, or for any act or
default of any warehouseman, carrier, forwarding agency, or other Person
whomsoever, but the same shall be at Borrower's sole risk.

                  8.1.4.   Defense of Title to Collateral. Borrower shall at all
times defend Borrower's title to the Collateral and CIT's Liens therein against
all Persons and all claims and demands whatsoever.

         8.2.     ADMINISTRATION OF ACCOUNTS.

                  8.2.1.   Records, Schedules and Assignments of Accounts.
Borrower shall keep accurate and complete records of its Accounts and all
payments and collections thereon and shall submit to CIT on such periodic basis
as CIT shall request a sales and collections report for the preceding period, in
form satisfactory to CIT On or before the last day of each month from and after
the date hereof, (unless the Conversion Event shall have occurred, in which
case, on or before the 15th day of each month thereafter), Borrower shall
deliver to CIT, in form

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<PAGE>

acceptable to CIT, (i) a detailed aged trial balance of all Accounts existing as
of the last day of the preceding month, specifying the names, addresses, face
value, dates of invoices and due dates for each Account Debtor obligated on an
Account so listed ("Schedule of Accounts"), (ii) a detailed accounts payable
aging, specifying the names, amounts owed and due dates for each account payable
of Borrower so listed, (iii) upon CIT's request therefor, copies of proof of
delivery and the original copy of all documents, including repayment histories
and present status reports relating to the Accounts and accounts payable so
scheduled and (iv) such other matters and information relating to the status of
then existing Accounts and accounts payable as CIT shall reasonably request. At
CIT's request, Borrower shall deliver to CIT copies of invoices or invoice
registers related to all of its Accounts.

                  8.2.2.   Discounts, Allowances, Disputes. If Borrower grants
any discounts, allowances or credits that are not shown on the face of the
invoice for the Account involved, Borrower shall report such discounts,
allowances or credits, as the case may be, to CIT as part of the next required
Schedule of Accounts. If any amounts due and owing in excess of $50,000 are in
dispute between Borrower and any Account Debtor, Borrower shall provide CIT with
written notice thereof at the time of submission of the next Schedule of
Accounts, explaining in detail the reason for the dispute, all claims related
thereto and the amount in controversy. Upon and after the occurrence of an Event
of Default, CIT shall have the right to settle or adjust all disputes and claims
directly with the Account Debtor and to compromise the amount or extend the time
for payment of the Accounts upon such terms and conditions as CIT may deem
advisable, and to charge the deficiencies, costs and expenses thereof, including
attorneys' fees, to Borrower.

                  8.2.3.   Taxes. If an Account includes a charge for any Tax
payable to any governmental taxing authority, CIT is authorized, in its sole
discretion, to pay the amount thereof to the proper taxing authority for the
account of Borrower and to charge Borrower therefor; provided, however, that CIT
shall not be liable for any Taxes that may be due by Borrower.

                  8.2.4.   Account Verification. Whether or not a Default or an
Event of Default exists, any of CIT's officers, employees or agents shall have
the right, at any time or times hereafter, in the name of CIT, any designee of
CIT or Borrower, to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to
any Accounts by mail, telephone, telegraph or otherwise in accordance with
Applicable Law. Borrower shall cooperate fully with CIT in an effort to
facilitate and promptly conclude any such verification process.

                  8.2.5.   Maintenance of Dominion Account. Borrower shall
maintain a Dominion Account pursuant to an arrangement acceptable to CIT and
with such banks as may be selected by Borrower and be acceptable to CIT. Upon
notification from CIT of the occurrence of the Conversion Event, Borrower shall
immediately thereafter issue to each such bank an irrevocable letter of
instruction (in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit ___) directing
such bank to deposit all payments or other remittances received in the lockbox
to the Dominion Account for application on account of the Obligations. All funds
deposited in the Dominion Account shall immediately become the property of CIT
and Borrower shall obtain the agreement by such banks in favor of CIT to waive
any offset rights against the funds so

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deposited. CIT assumes no responsibility for such arrangement, including any
claim of accord and satisfaction or release with respect to deposits accepted by
any bank thereunder.

                  8.2.6.   Collection of Accounts; Proceeds of Collateral.
Borrower and CIT shall maintain a lockbox arrangement ("Lockbox") with Bank of
America, N.A. ("Collecting Bank"). All payment items received by Borrower in
respect of Accounts, together with the proceeds of any other Collateral, shall
be held as CIT's property by Borrower as trustee of an express trust for CIT's
benefit and Borrower shall immediately deposit same in kind in the Lockbox.
Borrower and CIT shall jointly issue to the Collecting Bank a letter of
instruction directing the Collecting Bank to deposit all payments or other
remittances received in the Lockbox to such accounts of Borrower as Borrower may
instruct for so long as such Collecting Bank shall not have received from CIT
notice of the occurrence of a Conversion Event. After receipt of notice from CIT
of the occurrence of the Conversion Event, Collecting Bank shall thereafter
deposit all such payments or other remittances received in the Dominion Account.
Promptly after notice from CIT of the occurrence of the Conversion Event,
Borrower shall notify all Account Debtors to remit all payments due Borrower to
the Lockbox. CIT retains the right at all times after the occurrence of a
Default or an Event of Default to notify Account Debtors that Accounts have been
assigned to CIT and to collect Accounts directly in its own name and to charge
to Borrower the collection costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees.

         8.3.     ADMINISTRATION OF INVENTORY.

                  8.3.1.   Records and Reports of Inventory. Borrower shall keep
accurate and complete records of its Inventory. Borrower shall furnish CIT
Inventory reports in form and detail satisfactory to CIT at such times as CIT
may request, but at least once each month, not later than the last day of such
month, unless the Conversion Event shall have occurred, in which case, such
report shall be furnished to CIT on or before the 15th day of each month
thereafter. Borrower shall conduct a physical inventory no less frequently than
annually and shall provide to CIT a report based on each such physical inventory
promptly thereafter, together with such supporting information as CIT shall
request.

                  8.3.2.   Returns of Inventory. Borrower shall not return any
Eligible Inventory to a supplier or vendor thereof, or any other Person, whether
for cash, credit against future purchases or then existing payables, or
otherwise, unless (i) such return is in the ordinary course of business of
Borrower and such Person, (ii) no Default or Event of Default exists or would
result therefrom, (iii) the return of such Inventory will not result in an
Out-of-Formula Condition, or , if an Out-of-Formula Condition exists, there
shall be a concurrent repayment of the Revolving Loans such that the
Out-of-Formula Condition no longer exists, (iv) if the aggregate cost basis of
all Eligible Inventory returned in any month exceeds $50,000, Borrower promptly
notifies CIT thereof, and (v) any payments received by Borrower in connection
with any such return is promptly turned over to CIT for application to the
Obligations.

         8.4.     PAYMENT OF CHARGES. All amounts chargeable to Borrower under
this Section 8 shall be Obligations secured by all of the Collateral and shall
be payable on demand.

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<PAGE>

SECTION 9. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

         9.1.     GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. To induce CIT to enter
into this Agreement and to make advances hereunder, Borrower warrants and
represents to CIT and covenants with CIT that:

                  9.1.1.   Incorporation and Qualification. Borrower is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Borrower is duly qualified and is
authorized to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in
each state or jurisdiction listed on Schedule 9.1.1 hereto and in all other
states and jurisdictions where the character of its Properties or the nature of
its activities make such qualification necessary except where the failure to so
qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  9.1.2.   Corporate Power and Enforceability. Borrower is duly
authorized and empowered to enter into, execute, deliver and perform this
Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party. This
Agreement is, and each of the other Loan Documents when delivered under this
Agreement will be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of Borrower enforceable
against it in accordance with their respective terms.

                  9.1.3.   Corporate Names. Borrower has not been known as or
used any corporate, fictitious or trade names except those listed on Schedule
9.1.3 hereto.

                  9.1.4.   Business Locations. Borrower's chief executive office
and other places of business are as listed on Schedule 8.1.1 hereto. During the
preceding five-year period, neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has had
an office, place of business or agent for service of process other than as
listed on Schedule 8.1.1. Except as shown on Schedule 8.1.1, no Inventory is
stored with a bailee, warehouseman or similar Person, nor is any Inventory
consigned to any Person.

                  9.1.5.   Title to Properties; Priority of Liens. Borrower has
good, indefeasible and marketable title to and fee simple ownership of, or valid
and subsisting leasehold interests in, all of its real property, and good title
to all of the Collateral and all of its other property, in each case free and
clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens.

                  9.1.6.   Status of Accounts. To the best of the Borrower's
knowledge, each Account included by Borrower as an Eligible Account in any
Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to CIT enumerated in clauses (i) through
(xviii) of the definition of Eligible Accounts, except as otherwise disclosed in
such Borrowing Base Certificate or as disclosed in a timely manner in a
subsequent Borrowing Base Certificate or otherwise in writing to CIT, is an
Eligible Account.

                  9.1.7.   Solvent Financial Condition. Borrower is now and,
after giving effect to the Loans to be made and each LC Guaranty issued in for
of the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Agreement, and at all times will be,
Solvent.

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<PAGE>

                  9.1.8.   Surety Obligations. Neither Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries is obligated as surety or indemnitor under any surety or similar
bond or other contract issued or entered into any agreement to assure payment,
performance or completion of performance of any undertaking or obligation of any
Person.

                  9.1.9.   Taxes. Borrower's federal tax identification number
is 34-1780941. Borrower has filed all federal, state and local tax returns,
information returns and other reports it is required by law to file and has
paid, or made provision for the payment of, all Taxes upon it, its income and
properties as and when such Taxes are due and payable, except to the extent
being Properly Contested.

                  9.1.10.  Brokers. There are no claims for brokerage
commissions, finder's fees or investment banking fees in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  9.1.11.  Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Licenses. All the
patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights, licenses and other
similar rights owned by Borrower are listed on Schedule 9.1.11 hereto.

                  9.1.12.  Compliance with Laws. Borrower has duly complied
with, and its properties, business operations and leaseholds are in compliance
in all material respects with, the provisions of all Applicable Law (except to
the extent that any such noncompliance with Applicable Law would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect) and there have been no citations,
notices or orders of noncompliance issued to Borrower under any such law, rule
or regulation. No Inventory has been produced in violation of the Fair Labor
Standards Act (29 U.S.C. ss. 201 et seq.), as amended.

                  9.1.13.  Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 9.1.13
hereto, there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending, or
to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened, against or affecting Borrower, or the
business, operations, properties, prospects, profits or condition of Borrower,
none of which if resolved adversely to Borrower would have Material Adverse
Effect. Borrower is not in default with respect to any order, writ, injunction,
judgment, decree or rule of any court, governmental authority or arbitration
board or tribunal.

                  9.1.14.  No Defaults. No event has occurred and no condition
exists which would, upon or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or Borrower's performance hereunder, constitute a Default or an Event of
Default. Borrower is not in default, and no event has occurred and no condition
exists which constitutes, or which with the passage of time or the giving of
notice or both would constitute, a default in the payment of any debt to any
Person for Money Borrowed.

         9.2.     AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. During the term of this Agreement, and
thereafter for so long as there are any Obligations to CIT, Borrower covenants
that, unless otherwise consented to by CIT in writing, it shall:

                  9.2.1.   Visits and Inspections. Permit representatives of
CIT, from time to time, as often as may be reasonably requested, but only during
normal business hours, to visit and

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<PAGE>

inspect the Collateral, inspect, audit and make extracts from Borrower's books
and records, and discuss with Borrower's officers, its employees and its
independent accountant, Borrower's business, assets, liabilities, financial
condition, business prospects and results of operations.

                  9.2.2.   Notices. Notify CIT in writing promptly after
Borrower's obtaining knowledge thereof (i) of the occurrence of any event or the
existence of any fact which renders any representation or warranty in this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents inaccurate, incomplete or
misleading in any material respect; (ii) of the commencement of any litigation
affecting Borrower or any of its properties, whether or not the claim is
considered by Borrower to be covered by insurance, and of the institution of any
administrative proceeding which if determined adversely to Borrower would have a
Material Adverse Effect; (iii) at least 60 days prior thereto, of Borrower's
opening of any new office or place of business or Borrower's closing of any
existing office or place of business; (iv) of any labor dispute to which
Borrower may become a party, any strikes or walkouts relating to any of its
plants or other facilities, and the expiration of any labor contract to which it
is a party or by which it is bound; (v) of any material default by Borrower
under any note, indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease, deed, guaranty or
other similar agreement relating to any debt of Borrower exceeding $250,000; or
(vi) of the existence of any Default or Event of Default. Borrower also agrees
to advise CIT promptly in writing of any notices Borrower receives from any
local, state or federal authority advising Borrower of any material
environmental liability (actual or potential) stemming from Borrower's
operations, its premises, its waste disposal practices, or waste disposal sites
used by Borrower and to provide CIT with copies of all such notices. Upon
receipt by Borrower of any such notice CIT shall be entitled to establish an
additional Availability Reserve in such amount as CIT may deem reasonably
appropriate.

                  9.2.3.   Taxes. Pay and discharge all Taxes prior to the date
on which such Taxes become delinquent or penalties attach thereto, except and to
the extent only that such Taxes are being Properly Contested.

                  9.2.4.   Compliance with Laws. Comply with all Applicable Law,
including all laws, statutes, regulations and ordinances regarding the
collection, payment and deposit of Taxes, and all ERISA and environmental laws,
and obtain and keep in force any and all governmental approvals necessary to the
ownership of its properties or to the conduct of its business, which violation
or failure to obtain might have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  9.2.3.   Maintenance of Cash Collateral. Maintain in the Cash
Collateral Account at all times Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover
all undrawn balances under the IDB Standby LC.

         9.3.     DELIVERY OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; ETC.

                  9.3.1.   Financial Statements. Until termination of this
Agreement and payment and satisfaction of all Obligations due hereunder,
Borrower shall deliver to CIT: (a) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal
year of Borrower, a Consolidated Balance Sheet and statements of profit and
loss, cash flow and reconciliation of surplus of Borrower and all consolidated
subsidiaries as at the close of such year, audited by independent public
accountants selected by

                                       36
<PAGE>

Borrower and satisfactory to CIT; (b) within 60 days after the end of each
fiscal year of Borrower, a Consolidated Balance Sheet and statements of profit
and loss, cash flow and reconciliation of surplus of Borrower and all
consolidated subsidiaries as at the close of such year, as prepared internally
by Borrower; (c) within 30 days after the end of each month (i) a Consolidated
Balance Sheet as at the end of such month and statements of profit and loss,
cash flow and surplus of Borrower and all subsidiaries for such month, certified
by an authorized financial or accounting officer of Borrower and (ii) a
Borrowing Base Certificate, or if Borrower issued a Borrowing Base Certificate
during such month, a reconciliation from the most recent Borrowing Base
Certificate issued to CIT during such month with the interim financial statement
issued with respect to such month; (d) promptly after the sending or filing
thereof, as the case may be, copies of any proxy statements, financial
statements or reports which Borrower has made generally available to its
shareholders and copies of any regular, periodic and special reports or
registration statements which Borrower files with the Securities and Exchange
commission or any other governmental authority which may be substituted
therefor, or any national securities exchange; and (e) from time to time, such
further information regarding the business affairs and financial condition of
Borrower as CIT may reasonably request, including without limitation annual cash
flow projections and related items in form satisfactory to CIT.

                  9.3.2.   Compliance Certificate. Concurrently with the
delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 9.3.1 above, Borrower shall
deliver to CIT a completed Compliance Certificate, in substantially the form of
Exhibit C attached hereto, signed by an Executive Officer.

         9.4.     NEGATIVE COVENANTS. During the term of this Agreement, and
thereafter for so long as there are any Obligations to CIT, Borrower covenants
that, unless CIT has first consented thereto in writing, it shall not:

                  9.4.1.   Fundamental Changes. Enter into any transaction to
merge, reorganize, consolidate or amalgamate with any Person, or liquidate, wind
up or dissolve itself.

                  9.4.2.   Loans. Make any loans or other advances of money to
any Person other than to an officer, director or employee of Borrower for
salary, travel advances, advances against commissions and other similar advances
in the ordinary course of business.

                  9.4.3.   Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume, or suffer to
exist any Indebtedness except Permitted Indebtedness.

                  9.4.4.   Affiliate Transactions. Enter into, or be a party to
any transaction with any affiliate or stockholder, except (i) the transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents; (ii) payment of customary directors' fees
and indemnities; (iii) transactions with affiliates that were consummated prior
to the date hereof and have been disclosed to CIT prior to the Closing Date; and
(iv) in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of
Borrower's business and upon fair and reasonable terms which are fully disclosed
to CIT, consistent with past practices and are no less favorable to Borrower
than would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an
affiliate or stockholder of Borrower.

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<PAGE>

                  9.4.5.   Limitation on Liens. Create or suffer to exist any
Lien upon any of its property, income or profits, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, except for Permitted Liens.

                  9.4.6.   Distributions. Declare or make any Distributions,
except (i) payments to the Parent pursuant to a tax sharing agreement under
which the Borrower is allocated its proportionate share of the tax liability of
the affiliated group of corporations that file consolidated federal income tax
returns (or that file state or local income tax returns on a consolidated
basis), (ii) provided that no Default or Event of Default exists either before
or after giving effect thereto, (A) payments to the Parent in an amount not to
exceed the amount of the Borrower's federal and state income tax liability that
the Borrower would owe if it were filing a separate income tax return as a stand
alone company (or, if there any Subsidiaries of the Borrower, the amount of the
federal and state income tax liability for which the Borrower and such
Subsidiaries would be liable if the Borrower and such subsidiaries were filing a
separate consolidated (or combined) income tax return); provided, that any such
payment shall not exceed the tax liability of the Parent that is actually then
due and payable, (B) loans, advances, dividends or distributions by the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries to the Parent to pay for corporate, administrative
and operating expenses in the ordinary course of business, including payment of
directors' and officers' liability insurance premiums, directors' fees in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 in any fiscal year and (C) loans,
advances, dividends or distributions by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
to the Parent not to exceed an amount necessary to permit the Parent to pay its
costs (including all professional fees and expenses) incurred to comply with its
reporting obligations under federal or state laws or in connection with
reporting or other obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000 in any fiscal year.

                  9.4.7.   Disposition of Assets. Sell, lease or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties, including any disposition of property as part
of a sale and leaseback transaction, except (i) sales of Inventory in the
ordinary course of business for so long as no Event of Default exists hereunder,
(ii) other dispositions expressly authorized by the Loan Documents, (iii) sales
of absolete or unnecessary equipment, and (iv) for so long as no Event of
Default exists or would be caused thereby, sales or dispositions of other
property of Borrower not comprising Collateral and not to exceed $1,000,000 in
fair market value during any fiscal year of Borrower.

                  9.4.8.   Bill-and-Hold Sales, Etc. Make a sale to any customer
on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale and return, sale on approval or
consignment basis, or any sale on a repurchase or return basis, which sales are
designated as being billed but unshipped in all appropriate Borrowing Base
Certificates submitted to CIT.

                  9.4.9.   Tax Consolidation. File or consent to the filing of
any consolidated income tax return with any Person other than Parent.

                  9.4.10.  Fiscal Year. Establish a fiscal year different from
the fiscal year utilized as of the date of this Agreement.

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<PAGE>

                  9.4.11.  Leases and Capital Expenditures. Contract for,
purchase, make expenditures for, lease pursuant to a Capital Lease or otherwise
incur Capital Expenditures in excess of $3,000,000 in the aggregate during any
fiscal year of Borrower; provided, however, that if, at the end of any fiscal
year of Borrower (a "Base Year"), the amount of Capital Expenditures made by
Borrower during such Base Year is less than $3,000,000 (the amount of such
difference being the "Carryover Amount"), Borrower shall be entitled to make
additional Capital Expenditures in its next succeeding fiscal year in an amount
equal to the lesser of (i) the Carryover Amount and (ii) $1,000,000.

                  9.4.12.  Conduct of Business. Engage in any business other
than the business engaged in by it on the Closing Date and any business or
activities which are substantially similar, related or incidental thereto.

                  9.4.13.  Restricted Investments. Make any Restricted
Investment, other than investments consisting of capital stock, obligations,
securities or other property received by Borrower in settlement of Accounts from
bankrupt Account Debtors.

                  9.4.14.  Senior Notes. Agree to, consent or permit any
amendment or modification to any of the provisions of the Senior Notes or to the
Indenture pursuant to which they were issued.

SECTION 10. FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

         During the term of this Agreement, and thereafter for so long as there
are any Obligations outstanding, Borrower covenants that it shall:

         10.1.    INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO. Not permit Borrower's Interest
Coverage Ratio to be less than (i) .60 to 1.0 as of the last day of the fiscal
quarter of Borrower ending June 30, 2001, (ii) .75 to 1.0 as of the last day of
the fiscal quarter of Borrower ending September 30, 2001, (iii) .85 to 1.0 as of
the last day of the fiscal quarter of Borrower ending December 31, 2001, and on
the last day of each fiscal quarter of Borrower thereafter through and including
the last day of the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2003, and (iv) 1.0 to 1.0 as
of the last day of the fiscal quarter of Borrower ending June 30, 2003, and on
the last day of each fiscal quarter of Borrower thereafter. On any applicable
date, Borrower's Interest Coverage Ratio shall be measured over the period of
four (4) fiscal quarters ending on such date.

         10.2.    SECURED OBLIGATIONS/EBITDA RATIO. Permit Borrower's Secured
Obligations/EBITDA Ratio to be greater than 2.25 to 1.0 as of the last day of
the fiscal quarter of Borrower ending June 30, 2001, (ii) 2.0 to 1.0 as of the
last day of the fiscal quarter of Borrower ending September 30, 2001, (iii) 1.5
to 1.0 as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of Borrower ending December 31,
2001, and on the last day of each fiscal quarter of Borrower thereafter. On any
applicable date, Borrower's Secured Obligations/EBITDA Ratio shall be measured
over the period of four (4) fiscal quarters ending on such date.

SECTION 11. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

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<PAGE>

         11.1.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT. The occurrence of any one or more of the
following events or conditions shall constitute an "Event of Default" under this
Agreement:

                  11.1.1.  The failure of Borrower to pay any of the Obligations
on or within five (5) days of the due date thereof, provided that nothing
contained herein shall prohibit CIT from charging such amounts to Borrower's
Loan Account on the due date thereof;

                  11.1.2.  Any representation, warranty or other statement made
or furnished to CIT by or on behalf of Borrower in this Agreement, any of the
other Loan Documents or any instrument, certificate or financial statement
furnished in compliance with or in reference thereto proves to have been false
or misleading in any material respect when made or furnished or when reaffirmed
pursuant to this Agreement.

                  11.1.3.  The commencement by or against Borrower of any
Insolvency Proceeding;

                  11.1.4.  Borrower shall fail or neglect to perform, keep or
observe any covenant contained in Sections 7.2, 8.1, 8.2, 9.2.1, 9.3, 9.4 or 10
of this Agreement or Borrower shall fail or neglect to perform, keep or observe
any other covenant contained in this Agreement (other than a covenant a default
in the performance or observance of which is dealt with specifically elsewhere
in this Section 11.1) and the breach of such other covenant is not cured to
CIT's reasonable satisfaction within 15 days after the sooner to occur of
Borrower's receipt of notice of such breach from CIT or the date on which such
failure or neglect first becomes known to any Executive Officer of Borrower,
provided, however, that such notice and opportunity to cure shall not apply in
the case of any failure to perform, keep or observe any covenant which is not
capable of being cured at all or within such 15-day period or which is a willful
and knowing breach by Borrower.

                  11.1.5.  Borrower shall (i) engage in any "prohibited
transaction" as defined in ERISA, (ii) have any "accumulated funding deficiency"
as defined in ERISA, (iii) have any Reportable Event as defined in ERISA, (iv)
terminate any defined benefit Plan, as defined in ERISA, to the extent such
termination gives rise to any funding obligations or penalties which are not
timely paid, or (v) be engaged in any proceeding in which the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation shall seek appointment, or is appointed, as trustee or
administrator of any such Plan, as defined in ERISA, and with respect to this
Section 11.1.5 such event or condition (x) remains uncured for a period of
thirty (30) days from date of occurrence and (y) could, in the reasonable
opinion of CIT, subject Borrower to any tax, penalty or other liability material
to the business, operations or financial condition of Borrower;

                  11.1.6.  The occurrence of an event of default pursuant to (i)
any of the other Loan Documents and such default shall continue beyond any
applicable grace period; or (ii) any other document or agreement of Borrower
evidencing Indebtedness of Borrower for Money Borrowed in excess of the amount
of $250,000;

                  11.1.7.  Any material loss, theft, damage or destruction of
any of the Collateral not fully covered (subject to such deductibles as CIT
shall have permitted) by insurance.

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<PAGE>

                  11.1.8.  There shall occur a cessation of a substantial part
of the business of Borrower for a period which may be reasonably expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect; or Borrower shall suffer the loss or revocation
of any material license or permit now held or hereafter acquired by Borrower; or
Borrower shall be enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by court,
governmental or administrative order from conducting all or any material part of
its business affairs; or any material part of the Collateral shall be taken
through condemnation or the value of such property shall be materially impaired
through condemnation.

                  11.1.9.  Borrower or any affiliate, shall challenge or contest
in any action, suit or proceeding the validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, the legality or enforceability of
any of the Obligations or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security
interest granted to CIT.

                  11.1.10. Any Executive Officers of Borrower shall be
criminally indicted or convicted under any law that could reasonably be expected
to lead to a forfeiture of any material portion of the property of Borrower.

                  11.1.11. A judgment or order for the payment of money in an
amount that exceeds the uncontested insurance available therefore, if any, by
$100,000 or more shall be entered against the Borrower by an court and such
judgment or order shall either continue undischarged, unstayed or unbonded for
30 days (or such longer period as may be expressly permitted by Applicable Law)
or shall result in the creation of a Lien upon any asset of Borrower that is not
a Permitted Lien.

                  11.1.12. The occurrence of an "Event of Default" under and as
defined in the Senior Notes or the Indenture pursuant to which they were issued.

         11.2.    ACCELERATION; TERMINATION. Without in any way limiting the
right of CIT to demand payment of any portion of the Obligations payable on
demand in accordance with Section 5.2 hereof, upon or at any time after the
occurrence of an Event of Default and for so long as such Event of Default shall
exist, CIT may in its discretion declare the principal of and any accrued
interest on the Loans and all other Obligations to be, whereupon the same shall
become without further notice or demand (all of which further notice and demand
Borrower expressly waives), forthwith due and payable and Borrower shall
forthwith pay to CIT the entire principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on
the Loans and other Obligations plus reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses if
such principal and interest are collected by or through an attorney-at-law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
specified in Section 11.1.3 hereof all of the Obligations shall become
automatically due and payable without declaration, notice or demand by CIT and
this Agreement shall automatically terminate as if terminated by CIT pursuant to
Section 6.2.1 and with the effect set forth in Section 6.2.4 hereof.

         11.3.    OTHER REMEDIES. Immediately upon the occurrence of any Event
of Default, CIT may to the extent permitted by law: (a) remove from any premises
where same may be located any and all documents, instruments, files and records,
and any receptacles or cabinets containing same, relating to the Accounts, or
CIT may use, at Borrower's expense, such of

                                       41
<PAGE>

Borrower's personnel, supplies or space at Borrower's places of business or
otherwise, as may be necessary to properly administer and control the Accounts
or the handling of collections and realizations thereon; (b) bring suit, in the
name of Borrower or CIT, and generally shall have all other rights respecting
said Accounts, including without limitation the right to: accelerate or extend
the time of payment, settle, compromise, release in whole or in part any amounts
owing on any Accounts and issue credits in the name of Borrower or CIT; (c)
sell, assign and deliver the Collateral and any returned, reclaimed or
repossessed merchandise, with or without advertisement, at public or private
sale, for cash, on credit or otherwise, at CIT's sole option and discretion, and
CIT may bid or become a purchaser at any such sale, free from any right of
redemption, which right is hereby expressly waived by Borrower; (d) foreclose
the security interests created herein by any available judicial procedure, or to
take possession of any or all of the Inventory without judicial process, and to
enter any premises where any Inventory may be located for the purpose of taking
possession of or removing the same; (e) require Borrower to deposit with CIT
funds equal to the LC Outstandings and, if Borrower fails promptly to make such
deposit, CIT may advance such amount as a Revolving Loan (whether or not an
Out-of-Formula Condition exists or is created thereby); and (f) exercise any
other rights and remedies provided in law, in equity, by contract or otherwise.
Any such deposit or advance shall be held by CIT as a reserve to fund future
payments on the LC Guaranty. At such time as all LC Guaranties have been paid or
terminated and all Letters of Credit have been drawn upon or expired, any
amounts remaining in such reserve shall be applied against any outstanding
Obligations, or, if all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full,
returned to Borrower. CIT shall have the right, without notice or advertisement,
to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral
whether in its then condition or after further preparation or processing, in the
name of Borrower or CIT, or in the name of such other party as CIT may
designate, either at public or private sale or at any broker's board, in lots or
in bulk, for cash or for credit, with or without warranties or representations,
and upon such other terms and conditions as CIT in its sole discretion may deem
advisable, and CIT shall have the right to purchase at any such sale. If any
Inventory shall require rebuilding, repairing, maintenance or preparation, CIT
shall have the right, at its option, to do such of the aforesaid as is
necessary, for the purpose of putting the Inventory in such saleable form as CIT
shall deem appropriate. Borrower agrees, at the request of CIT, to assemble the
Inventory and to make it available to CIT at premises of Borrower or elsewhere
and to make available to CIT the premises and facilities of Borrower for the
purpose of CIT's taking possession of, removing or putting the Inventory in
saleable form. However, if notice of intended disposition of any Collateral is
required by law, it is agreed that ten (10) days notice shall constitute
reasonable notification and full compliance with the law. The net cash proceeds
resulting from CIT's exercise of any of the foregoing rights, (after deducting
all charges, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees) shall be
applied by CIT to the payment of the Obligations, whether due or to become due,
in such order as CIT may elect, and Borrower shall remain liable to CIT for any
deficiencies, and CIT in turn agrees to remit to Borrower or its successors or
assigns, any surplus resulting therefrom. The enumeration of the foregoing
rights is not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise of any right shall not
preclude the exercise of any other rights, all of which shall be cumulative.

                                       42
<PAGE>

SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS

         12.1.    POWER OF ATTORNEY. Borrower hereby constitutes CIT or any
person or agent CIT may designate as its attorney-in-fact, at Borrower's cost
and expense, to exercise all of the following powers, which being coupled with
an interest, shall be irrevocable until all of Borrower's Obligations to CIT
have been paid in full: (a) to receive, take, endorse, sign, assign and deliver,
all in the name of CIT or Borrower, any and all checks, notes, drafts, and other
documents or instruments relating to the Collateral; (b) to receive, open and
dispose of all mail addressed to Borrower and to notify postal authorities to
change the address for delivery thereof to such address as CIT may designate;
(c) to request from customers indebted on Accounts at any time, in the name of
CIT or Borrower or that of CIT's designee, information concerning the amounts
owing on the Accounts; (d) to transmit to customers indebted on Accounts notice
of CIT's interest therein and to notify customers indebted on Accounts to make
payment directly to CIT for Borrower's account; and (e) to take or bring, in the
name of CIT or Borrower, all steps, actions, suits or proceedings deemed by CIT
necessary or desirable to enforce or effect collection of the Accounts.

Notwithstanding anything hereinabove contained to the contrary, the powers set
forth in (b), (d) and (e) above may only be exercised after the occurrence of an
Event of Default.

         12.2.    ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
together with all other instruments, agreements and certificates executed by the
parties in connection therewith or with reference thereto, embody the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties hereto and thereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements,
understandings and inducements, whether express or implied, oral or written.
Each of the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto are incorporated into this
Agreement and by this reference made a part hereof.

         12.3.    INDEMNITY. Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and defend CIT
and hold CIT harmless from and against any claims against CIT as the result of
Borrower's failure to observe, perform or discharge Borrower's duties hereunder.
In addition, Borrower shall indemnify and defend CIT against and save CIT
harmless from all claims of any Person with respect to the Collateral. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, these indemnities shall extend to any
claims asserted against CIT by any Person under any environmental laws or
similar laws by reason of Borrower's or any other Person's failure to comply
with laws applicable to solid or hazardous waste materials or other toxic
substances. Additionally, if any Taxes (excluding Taxes imposed upon or measured
solely by the net income of CIT, but including, any intangibles tax, stamp tax,
recording tax or franchise tax) shall be payable by CIT or Borrower on account
of the execution or delivery of this Agreement, or the execution, delivery,
issuance or recording of any of the other Loan Documents, or the creation of any
of the Obligations hereunder, by reason of any existing or hereafter enacted
federal, state, foreign or local statute, rule or regulation, Borrower will pay
(or will promptly reimburse CIT for the payment of) all such Taxes, including
any interest and penalties thereon, and will indemnify, defend and hold CIT
harmless from and against liability in connection therewith. Notwithstanding any
contrary provision in this Agreement, the obligation of Borrower under this
Section 13.4 shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the
termination of this Agreement.

                                       43
<PAGE>

         12.4.    MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT; SALE OF INTEREST. This Agreement
may not be modified, altered or amended, except by an agreement in writing
signed by Borrower and CIT. Borrower may not sell, assign or transfer any
interest in this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents, or any of the
Obligations, or any portion thereof, including Borrower's rights, title,
interests, remedies, powers, and duties hereunder or thereunder. Borrower hereby
consents to CIT's participation, sale, assignment, transfer or other
disposition, at any time or times hereafter, of the Obligations, this Agreement
and any of the other Loan Documents, or of any portion hereof or thereof,
including CIT's rights, title, interests, remedies, powers, and duties hereunder
or thereunder.

         12.5.    SEVERABILITY; ETC. Wherever possible, each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
Applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or
invalid under Applicable Law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the
extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of
such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of
the other Loan Documents are hereby made cumulative with the provisions of this
Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.2 hereof and except as
otherwise provided in any of the other Loan Documents by specific reference to
the applicable provision of this Agreement, if any provision contained in this
Agreement is in direct conflict with, or inconsistent with, any provision in any
of the other Loan Documents, the provision contained in this Agreement shall
govern and control.

         12.6.    EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement 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 to be
an original and all of which counterparts taken together shall constitute but
one and the same instrument.

         12.7.    CREDIT INQUIRIES. Borrower hereby authorizes CIT (but CIT
shall have no obligation) to respond to usual and customary credit inquiries
from third parties concerning Borrower.

         12.8.    TIME OF ESSENCE. Time is of the essence of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents.

         12.9.    NOTICES. All notices, requests and demands to or upon a party
hereto shall be in writing and shall be sent by certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested, personal delivery against receipt or by telecopier or
other facsimile transmission and shall be deemed to have been validly served,
given or delivered when delivered against receipt or three Business Days after
deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of facsimile
transmission, when received at the office where the noticed party's telecopier
is located, addressed as follows:

                                       44
<PAGE>

     (a) if to CIT, at:             The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc.
                                    1200 Ashwood Parkway, Suite 150
                                    Atlanta, Georgia 30338
                                    Attn: Credit Manager
                                    Telecopier No.: 770.522.7673

     (b) if to Borrower at:         Simcala, Inc.
                                    1940 Ohio Ferro Road
                                    Mt. Meigs, Alabama  36057
                                    Attn: Mr. C.E. Boardwine
                                    Telecopier No.: (334) 215-8969

     with a copy to:                Alston & Bird LLP
                                    One Atlantic Center
                                    1201 West Peachtree Street
                                    Atlanta, Georgia 30309
                                    Attn: Sydney Nurkin, Esq.
                                    Telecopier No: (404) 881-7777

or to such other address as each party may designate for itself by like notice
given in accordance with this Section 12.9.

         12.10.   GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED, EXECUTED
AND DELIVERED AT AND SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF GEORGIA: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF ANY OF THE COLLATERAL SHALL BE
LOCATED IN ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN GEORGIA, THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
SHALL GOVERN THE METHOD, MANNER AND PROCEDURE FOR FORECLOSURE OF CIT'S LIEN UPON
SUCH COLLATERAL AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF CIT'S OTHER REMEDIES IN RESPECT OF SUCH
COLLATERAL TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION ARE DIFFERENT FROM
OR INCONSISTENT WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES
PERSONAL SERVICE OF THE SUMMONS, COMPLAINT AND OTHER PROCESS ISSUED IN ANY SUCH
ACTION OR SUIT AND AGREES THAT SERVICE OF SUCH SUMMONS, COMPLAINT AND OTHER
PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL ADDRESSED TO BORROWER AT THE
ADDRESS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED
COMPLETED UPON THE EARLIER OF BORROWER'S ACTUAL RECEIPT THEREOF OR 3 DAYS AFTER
DEPOSIT IN THE U.S. MAILS, PROPER POSTAGE PREPAID. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE DEEMED OR OPERATE TO AFFECT THE RIGHT OF CIT TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN
ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

         12.11.   WAIVERS BY BORROWER. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, BORROWER WAIVES (I) THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY (WHICH CIT HEREBY
ALSO WAIVES) IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM OF ANY KIND ARISING
OUT OF OR RELATED TO ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, THE OBLIGATIONS OR THE
COLLATERAL; (II) PRESENTMENT, DEMAND AND PROTEST AND NOTICE OF PRESENTMENT,
PROTEST, DEFAULT, NON PAYMENT, MATURITY, RELEASE, COMPROMISE, SETTLEMENT,
EXTENSION OR RENEWAL OF ANY OR ALL COMMERCIAL PAPER, ACCOUNTS, CONTRACT RIGHTS,
DOCUMENTS, INSTRUMENTS, CHATTEL PAPER AND GUARANTIES AT ANY TIME HELD BY CIT ON
WHICH

                                       45
<PAGE>

BORROWER MAY IN ANY WAY BE LIABLE AND HEREBY RATIFIES AND CONFIRMS WHATEVER CIT
MAY DO IN THIS REGARD; (III) NOTICE PRIOR TO TAKING POSSESSION OR CONTROL OF THE
COLLATERAL OR ANY BOND OR SECURITY WHICH MIGHT BE REQUIRED BY ANY COURT PRIOR TO
ALLOWING CIT TO EXERCISE ANY OF CIT'S REMEDIES; (IV) THE BENEFIT OF ALL
VALUATION, APPRAISEMENT AND EXEMPTION LAWS; AND (V) NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE HEREOF.
BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE FOREGOING WAIVERS ARE A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO
CIT'S ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT CIT IS RELYING UPON THE FOREGOING
WAIVERS IN ITS FUTURE DEALINGS WITH BORROWER. BORROWER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS
THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THE FOREGOING WAIVERS WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND HAS
KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVED ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION
WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A
WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

         Upon any disposition of Collateral permitted by this Agreement, CIT
shall execute such UCC partial releases or other quitclaims as Borrower shall
reasonably request to effect such disposition.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date set
forth above.

                                    SIMCALA, INC.

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

                                    This Agreement shall not be effective until
                                    accepted by CIT in Atlanta, Georgia.

                                    THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.

                                    By:
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Title:  Vice President

                                       46<PAGE>
                                                              September 11, 2001

SIMCALA, INC.
1940 Ohio Ferro Road
Mt. Meigs, AL 36057

Attention:  C. Edward Boardwine
            President and Chief Executive Officer

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         1.       Retention. This letter agreement (the "Agreement") confirms
that SIMCALA, INC. (the "Company"), has engaged Jefferies & Company, Inc.
("Jefferies") to act as exclusive financial advisor to the Company in connection
with a restructuring of its 9 5/8% Senior Notes due 2006 (the "Old Notes") and
any of its other indebtedness (together with the Old Notes, the "Old
Securities") accomplished through (a) any offer by the Company with respect to
the Old Notes being repurchased by the Company at a price satisfactory to the
Company, (b) a solicitation of votes, approvals, or consents, including with
respect to a prepackaged, pre-negotiated or other plan of reorganization
pursuant to Chapter 11 of the United States Code (a) prepackaged or
pre-negotiated plan, collectively, a "Pre-Arranged Chapter 11") resulting in a
Pre-Arranged Chapter 11 being filed on terms satisfactory to the Company, (c) a
solicitation of votes, approvals or consents with respect to a plan of
reorganization proposed by the Company, as debtor-in-possession, pursuant to a
reorganization proceeding instituted by the Company pursuant to Chapter 11 of
the United States Code, other than a Pre-Arranged Chapter 11 (a "Conventional
Chapter 11"), (d) an offer to exchange the Old Notes on terms satisfactory to
the Company, (e) any negotiation of, modifications to, or suspensions of, the
obligations to pay principal and interest on the Old Notes, or any amendments
thereof resulting in revised terms of the Old Notes satisfactory to the Company
or (f) the liquidation or sale of the Company or its assets either through a
Conventional Chapter 11 or through Chapter 7 of the United States Code (each of
the above, individually and collectively, the "Restructuring"). During the Term
of the Agreement (as defined in Section 19), the Company agrees that it will
not, directly or indirectly, contact, approach or negotiate with any person or
persons with respect to any Restructuring, other than through Jefferies as
agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Jefferies acknowledges and agrees that CGW
Southeast Management, LLC and affiliates thereof will continue to act as a
financial advisor to the Company consistent with past practices (and that such
advisory services are not in breach of the terms of this Agreement), and that
the Company may engage other advisors for purposes other than to consult on
Restructurings related to the Old Notes.

         In connection with the Restructuring, Jefferies will perform the
following financial advisory services, among others, for the Company: (a) become
familiar, to the extent Jefferies deems appropriate, with and analyze the
business, operations, properties, financial condition and prospects of the
Company; (b) advise the Company on the current
<PAGE>

state of the "restructuring market"; (c) assist and advise the Company in
developing a general strategy for accomplishing the Restructuring; (d) assist
and advise the Company in evaluating and analyzing a Restructuring including the
value of the securities, if any, that may be issued to certain creditors under
any Restructuring plan; (e) assist in solicitation to repurchase or exchange old
Notes; (f) if necessary, assist in auction or sale of the Company or its assets
in Chapter 11; and (g) render such other financial advisory services as may from
time to time be agreed upon by the Company and Jefferies.

         2.       Information on the Company. In connection with Jefferies'
activities hereunder, the Company will furnish Jefferies and its counsel with
all material and information regarding the business and financial condition of
the Company as Jefferies shall reasonably request (all such information so
furnished being the "Information"), and if necessary, with solicitation
materials with respect to the Old Securities and the Company and/or with an
information memorandum with respect to the Restructuring and the Company (such
solicitation materials and information memorandum, including all exhibits or
supplements thereto, the "Offering Materials"). The Company recognizes and
confirms that Jefferies: (a) will use and rely solely on the Information, the
Offering Materials and on information available from generally recognized public
sources in performing the services contemplated by this Agreement without having
independently verified the same; (b) is authorized as the Company's exclusive
financial advisor to transmit to any potential participant in any Restructuring
any solicitation materials, and the forms of exchange agreements and other legal
documents necessary or advisable in connection with the Restructuring; (c) does
not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the Information,
Offering Materials or such other information; (d) will not make an appraisal of
any assets or liabilities of the Company; and (e) retains the right to continue
to perform due diligence on the Company during the course of the engagement.
Except as specifically contemplated in the Agreement, Jefferies agrees to keep
the Information confidential so long as it is and remains non-public, unless
disclosure is required by law or requested by any governmental, regulatory or
self-regulatory agency or body and Jefferies will not make use thereof, except
in connection with its services hereunder for the Company.

         3.       Use of Name. The Company agrees that any reference to
Jefferies in any release, communication, or other material is subject to
Jefferies' prior written approval. If Jefferies resigns prior to the
dissemination of any such release, communication or material, no reference shall
be made therein to Jefferies, despite any prior written approval that may have
been given therefor, except as otherwise required by law.

         4.       Use of Advice. No statements made or advice rendered by
Jefferies in connection with the services performed by Jefferies pursuant to
this Agreement will be quoted by, nor will any such statements or advice be
referred to, in any report, document, release or other communication, whether
written or oral, prepared, issued or transmitted by, the Company or any person
or corporation controlling, controlled by or under common control with, the
Company or any director, officer, employee, agent or representative of any such
person, without the prior written authorization of Jefferies, except to the
extent required by law (in which case the appropriate party shall so advise

                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>

Jefferies in writing prior to such use and shall consult with Jefferies with
respect to the form and timing of disclosure).

         5.       Compensation. In payment for services rendered and to be
rendered hereunder by Jefferies, the Company agrees to pay to Jefferies as
follows:

                  (a)      Upon the consummation of a Restructuring the Company
shall pay Jefferies a fee (the "Success Fee") equal to the following:

                           (i)      If the Restructuring is consummated through
                                    a Conventional Chapter 11, a fee of
                                    $500,000;

                           (ii)     If the Restructuring is consummated through
                                    a Pre-Arranged Chapter 11, a fee of
                                    $750,000; and

                           (iii)    If the Restructuring is consummated through
                                    any other method (other than through (i) or
                                    (ii) above), a fee of $850,000.

                  (b)      In addition to the compensation set forth in Section
5(a), the Company shall pay to Jefferies a monthly cash retainer fee (the
"Retainer Fee") in the amount of $100,000 for the first three (3) months of the
engagement and $75,000 for each month thereafter. The first Retainer Fee shall
be payable upon the signing of this Agreement, and such amount shall be pro
rated for the first month starting with the date of this Agreement. Thereafter,
the Retainer Fee shall be paid on the first business day of each month, but upon
termination of this Agreement, the last Retainer Fee shall be prorated for the
final month ending with the date the Agreement is terminated, and Jefferies
shall refund the amount of the last Retainer Fee attributed to the portion of
the month occurring after termination.

                  (c)      In addition to the compensation to be paid to
Jefferies as provided in Section 5(a) and 5(b) hereof, without regard to whether
any Restructuring is consummated or this Agreement expires or is terminated, the
Company shall pay to, or on behalf of, Jefferies, promptly as billed, all
reasonable disbursements and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Jefferies in
connection with its services to be rendered hereunder (including, without
limitation, travel and lodging expenses, word processing charges, messenger and
duplicating services, facsimile expenses and other customary expenditures).

                  (d)      If pursuant to Section 17, Jefferies resigns or the
Company terminates Jefferies' services for any reason, Jefferies shall be
entitled to receive the amounts payable pursuant to Sections 5(a), 5(b), and
5(c) hereof up to and including the effective date of such termination or
resignation, as the case may be. If Jefferies' services hereunder are terminated
by the Company or this Agreement expires, and the Company thereafter completes a
Restructuring (other than through a Conventional Chapter 11) within one year of
such termination or expiration, then the Company shall pay Jefferies

                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>

concurrently with the closing of such Restructuring transaction in cash the fees
as outlined in Section 5(a).

                  (e)      No fee paid or payable to Jefferies or any of its
affiliates shall be credited against any other fee paid or payable to Jefferies
or any of its affiliates.

         6.       Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to Jefferies that (a) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company; and, assuming the due execution by Jefferies,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, and (b) the Information and
the Offering Materials will not, when delivered nor at the consummation of any
Restructuring, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company shall
advise Jefferies promptly of the occurrence of any event or any other change
prior to the closing of any Restructuring which results in the Information or
the Offering Materials containing any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitting to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.

         7.       Indemnity; Limitation of Liability. In partial consideration
of the services to be rendered hereunder the Company shall indemnify Jefferies
and certain other Indemnified Persons (as defined in Schedule A hereto) in
accordance with Schedule A attached hereto. The Company shall not, and shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause its affiliates and their respective
directors and officers, shareholders, employees and agents not to initiate any
action or proceeding against Jefferies or any other Indemnified Person in
connection with this engagement or any Restructuring unless such action or
proceeding is based solely upon the bad faith or gross negligence of Jefferies
or any such Indemnified Person. The parties hereto agree that Jefferies and the
Indemnified Persons shall not, and shall not be deemed to, owe any fiduciary
duties to the Company under this Agreement or otherwise.

         8.       Survival of Certain Provisions. The indemnity and contribution
agreements contained in Schedule A to this Agreement and the provisions of
Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 14 and 15 of this Agreement and this Section 8
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (a) any
investigation made by or on behalf of Jefferies, or by or on behalf of any
affiliate of Jefferies or any person controlling either, (b) the resignation of
Jefferies or any termination of Jefferies' services or (c) any amendment,
expiration or termination of this Agreement, and shall be binding upon, and
shall inure to the benefit of, any successors, assigns, heirs and personal
representatives of the Company, Jefferies, and the Indemnified Persons.

         9.       Conditions of Engagement. It is understood that the execution
of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed as obligating Jefferies to
purchase or place any securities of the Company. Without limiting the foregoing,
Jefferies' services to be performed hereunder are subject to certain conditions,
including, among others, (i)

                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>

satisfactory completion of due diligence on the Company by Jefferies, (ii)
market conditions, and (iii) no adverse change in the condition of the Company.

         10.      Notices. Notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be mailed or delivered (a) if to
the Company, at the address set forth above, and (b) if to Jefferies, at the
offices of Jefferies at 11100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1000, Los Angeles,
California 90025, Attention: Jerry M. Gluck, Executive Vice President and
General Counsel.

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

         12.      Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party
hereto without the prior written consent of the other, to be given in the sole
discretion of the party from whom such consent is being requested. Any attempted
assignment of this Agreement made without such consent may be void, at the
option of the non-assigning party.

         13.      Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement has been and is made
solely for the benefit of the Company, Jefferies and the other Indemnified
Persons referred to in Schedule A hereof and their respective successors and
assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue
of this Agreement.

         14.      Construction and Choice of Law. This Agreement incorporates
the entire understanding of the parties and supersedes all previous agreements
relating to the subject matter hereof should they exist. This Agreement and any
issue arising out of or relating to the parties' relationship hereunder shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

         15.      Jurisdiction and Venue. Each party hereto consents
specifically to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts of the United
States sitting in the Southern District of New York, or if such federal court
declines to exercise jurisdiction over any action filed pursuant to this
Agreement, the courts of the State of New York sitting in the County of New
York, and any court to which an appeal may be taken in connection with any
action filed pursuant to this Agreement, for the purposes of all legal
proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement. In connection with the
foregoing consent, each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
court's exercise of personal jurisdiction over each party to this Agreement or
the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim
that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. Each party further irrevocably waives its right to a trial
by jury and consents that service of process may be effected in any manner
permitted under the laws of the State of New York.

                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>

         16.      Headings. The section headings in this Agreement have been
inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not part of this
Agreement.

         17.      Press Announcements. At any time after the consummation or
other public announcement of any Restructuring, Jefferies may place an
announcement in such newspapers and publications as it may choose, stating that
Jefferies has acted as exclusive financial advisor to the Company in connection
with the Restructuring.

         18.      Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified or amended
except in a writing duly executed by the parties hereto.

         19.      Term. This Agreement shall be in effect until the first
anniversary of the date hereof, unless extended by written consent of the
parties or earlier terminated as provided below. Jefferies and the Company shall
each have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the
expiration of the term of this Agreement by giving not less than 30 days written
notice to the other party. The period that this Agreement is in effect until its
expiration or termination is the "Term." The foregoing notwithstanding, this
agreement may be amended and the parties' obligations hereunder may be suspended
upon the mutual written agreement of the parties hereto.

                                     - 6 -
<PAGE>

         Please sign and return an original and one copy of this letter to the
undersigned to indicate your acceptance of the terms set forth herein, whereupon
this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between the
Company and Jefferies as of the date first above written.

                                        Sincerely,

                                        JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.

                                        By
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Bill Derrough
                                          Managing Director

Accepted and Agreed:

SIMCALA, INC.

By
  ----------------------------------------
  C. Edward Boardwine
  President and Chief Executive Officer

                                     - 7 -

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