Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.2.4

                           AMENDMENT NO. 4 AND WAIVER

         AMENDMENT NO. 4 AND WAIVER (this "Amendment") dated as of March 26,
2001, among CR BRIGGS CORPORATION (the "Company"), a corporation organized under
the laws of the State of Colorado, the Lenders named on the signature pages
hereof, and BNP PARIBAS, as successor-in-interest to Banque Paribas, New York
Branch, in its capacity as agent for the Lenders (the "Agent").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company, the Lenders and the Agent have entered into the
Loan Agreement dated as of December 6, 1995, and amended as of April 8, 1998,
August 19, 1998 and July 8, 1999 (as amended, modified and supplemented from
time to time, the "Loan Agreement"), providing for certain Loans to be made to
the Company by the Lenders to finance the acquisition and construction of the
Project;

         WHEREAS, Canyon Resources Corporation (the "Guarantor"), the Company
and the Agent have entered into the Guarantee, Equity Contribution and Pledge
Agreement dated as of December 6, 1995 and amended as of April 8, 1998, August
19, 1998 and July 8, 1999 (as amended, modified and supplemented from time to
time, the "Guarantee Agreement"), in connection with the Loan Agreement;

         WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Loan Agreement be further
amended and that certain matters be waived by the Lenders, subject and pursuant
to the terms and conditions of this Amendment and subject to the condition
precedent that Guarantor execute the Waiver attached hereto as Exhibit A;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Guarantor, the Lenders and the Agent
wish to amend the Loan Agreement in certain respects, and accordingly, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

         Section 1. Definitions. Terms used but not defined herein shall have
the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Agreement.

         Section 2. Conditions Precedent. The agreements set forth in Sections 3
and 4 of this Amendment shall be subject to the satisfactory completion, in the
Agent's sole opinion, of the following conditions:

                  (a) The Company, the Guarantor and the Agent shall have
         entered into a Waiver relating to the Guarantee Agreement substantially
         in the form of Exhibit A hereto; and

<PAGE>   2

                  (b) No Event of Default, which is not otherwise being waived
         by the terms hereof, under the Loan Agreement shall have occurred and
         be continuing.

         Section 3. Amendments. The Loan Agreement is amended as follows:

                  (a) The definition of "Principal Payment Date" in Section 1.01
         of the Loan Agreement hereby is amended to read as follows:

                           "Principal Payment Date" shall mean the dates set
                  forth in Schedule II hereto.

                  (b) Section 2.08 of the Loan Agreement is replaced in its
         entirety by the following:

                           2.08 Repayment of Loans. The Borrower hereby promises
         to pay Principal to the Agent for the account of each Lender, in the
         amounts and by the dates set forth in the amortization schedule
         attached hereto as Schedule II, until the Loans have been paid in full.
         The Company's last payment of Principal shall be accompanied by an
         additional payment of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00),
         as consideration for the Lenders consenting to the amendments to this
         Agreement set forth in Amendment No. 4 and Waiver dated as of March 26,
         2001, among the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent.

                  (c) Schedule II to the Loan Agreement hereby is amended in its
         entirety and replaced by the Schedule II set forth in Exhibit B to this
         Amendment.

                  (d) Section 2.10(a) of the Loan Agreement hereby is amended as
         follows:

                           (i) Replace the "30%" in line 3 with "50%"; and

                           (ii) Add the following sentence to the end of
         Section 2.10(a): "The foregoing calculation shall be made prior to
         Borrower's expenditure of Exploration Costs for drilling."

         Section 4. Waiver. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent specified in Section 2 above, but effective on and as of the date
hereof, the Lenders hereby waive: (i) the following Events of Default, and (ii)
the Company's compliance with the following requirements and obligations under
the Loan Agreement through November 30, 2002, or repayment in full of the Loans,
whichever first occurs:

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

                  (a) Any Event of Default under Section 8.26 and compliance
         with Section 8.26 of the Loan Agreement;

                  (b) Any Event of Default under Section 8.27 of the Loan
         Agreement as a result of the Company's failure to maintain the required
         Hedge Contract obligations; provided, however, that by not later than
         April 30, 2001, the Company shall establish and maintain Hedge
         Contracts on six (6) months' forecast gold production from the Project
         on a rolling forward basis;

                  (c) Any Event of Default under Section 8.28 and compliance
         with Section 8.28 of the Loan Agreement;

                  (d) Compliance with Sections 8.06, 8.12(b) and 8.13 of the
         Loan Agreement; and

                  (e) Compliance with Section 8.01(e) of the Loan Agreement;
         provided, however, that this waiver is limited to a 5 day extension of
         the 90 day period referred to in line 2 of such Section.

         Section 5. Documents Otherwise Unchanged. Except as herein provided,
the Loan Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect, and each
reference to the Loan Agreement shall be a reference to the Loan Agreement as
amended hereby and as the same may be further amended, supplemented and
otherwise modified and in effect from time to time.

         Section 6. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be identical and all of which, when taken
together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any of the parties
hereto may execute this Amendment by signing any such counterpart.

         Section 7. Binding Effect. This Amendment shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns.

         Section 8. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

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

                                           "BORROWER"

                                           CR BRIGGS CORPORATION

                                           /s/ Gary C. Huber
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Gary C. Huber
                                           Vice President

                                           "AGENT"

                                           BNP PARIBAS, as agent for the Lenders

                                           /s/ Paul Nicholas
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Paul Nicholas
                                           Vice President

                                           "LENDERS"

                                           BNP PARIBAS

                                           /s/ Paul Nicholas
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Paul Nicholas
                                           Vice President

                                           /s/ Timothy E. Vincent
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Timothy E. Vincent
                                           Vice President

                                           BAYERISCHE HYPO-UND
                                           VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK
                                           BRANCH

                                           /s/ Andrew G. Matthews
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Andrew G. Matthews
                                           Managing Director

                                           /s/ Bernd Schaefer
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Bernd Schaefer
                                           Director

                                      -4-

<PAGE>   5

                                           NM ROTHSCHILD & SONS LIMITED

                                           /s/ C. Coleman
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           C. Coleman
                                           Director

                                           /s/ N.A. Wood
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           N.A. Wood
                                           Assistant Director

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                  to Amendment No. 4 and Waiver,
                                                      dated as of March 26, 2001

                                     WAIVER

         WAIVER (this "Waiver") dated as of March 26, 2001, among CR BRIGGS
CORPORATION (the "Company"), a corporation organized under the laws of the State
of Colorado, CANYON RESOURCES CORPORATION, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Guarantor"), the Lenders named on the
signature pages hereof, and BNP PARIBAS, as successor-in-interest to Banque
Paribas, New York Branch, in its capacity as agent for the Lenders (the
"Agent").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company, the Lenders and the Agent have entered into the
Loan Agreement dated as of December 6, 1995, and amended as of April 8, 1998,
August 19, 1998 and July 8, 1999 (as amended, modified and supplemented from
time to time, the "Loan Agreement"), providing for certain Loans to be made to
the Company by the Lenders to finance the acquisition and construction of the
Project;

         WHEREAS, the Guarantor, the Company and the Agent have entered into the
Guarantee, Equity Contribution and Pledge Agreement dated as of December 6, 1995
and amended as of April 8, 1998, August 19, 1998 and July 8, 1999 (as amended,
modified and supplemented from time to time, the "Guarantee Agreement"), in
connection with the Loan Agreement;

         WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Loan Agreement be amended
and that certain matters be waived by the Lenders in an amendment and waiver
agreement ("Amendment No. 4 and Waiver") among the Company, the Lenders and the
Agent dated as of March 26 2001;

         WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the amendments contained in the
Amendment No. 4 and Waiver that this Waiver be executed.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Guarantor, the Lenders and the Agent
hereby agree as follows:

                                      -1-
<PAGE>   7

         Section 1. Definitions. Terms used but not defined herein shall have
the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Agreement.

         Section 2. Representations and Warranties. The Guarantor represents and
warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that each of the representations and
warranties set forth in Sections 3.01, 3.03, 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07 and 3.08 of
the Guarantee Agreement are true and complete on the date hereof as if made on
and as of the date hereof.

         Section 3. Effectiveness. This Waiver shall become effective as of
March 26, 2001: (a) upon the execution and delivery of this Waiver by the
Company, the Guarantor, the Agent and each Lender, and (b) upon the execution
and delivery of the Amendment No. 4 and Waiver and the satisfaction of all
conditions specified therein.

         Section 4. Waiver. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent specified in Section 3 above, but effective on and as of the date
hereof, the Lenders hereby waive any Events of Default which have arisen as a
direct result of the Guarantor's failure to comply with the following provisions
of the Guarantee Agreement, and Lenders hereby waive Guarantor's compliance with
the following provisions of the Guarantee Agreement, through November 30, 2002,
or whenever the Loans have been repaid in full, whichever first occurs:

                  (a) Section 5.06; provided, however, that this waiver of
         Section 5.06 is limited to a reduction of the $38,000,000 minimum Net
         Tangible Worth amount in the third line of such Section to a minimum
         Net Tangible Worth amount of $30,000,000;

                  (b) Section 5.07;

                  (c) Section 5.08: and

                  (d) Section 5.01(b); provided, however, that this waiver of
         Section 5.01(b) is limited to a 5 day extension of the 90 day period in
         line 1 of such Section.

         Section 5. Documents Otherwise Unchanged. Except as herein provided,
the Guarantee Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect, and
each reference to the Guarantee Agreement shall be a reference, to the Guarantee
Agreement, as the same may be further amended, supplemented and otherwise
modified and in effect from time to time.

         Section 6. Affirmation of Guarantee. The Guarantor affirms (i) that all
references in the Guarantee Agreement to the Loan Agreement (including amounts
from time to time owing to the Lenders or the Agent by the Borrower under the

                                       2
<PAGE>   8

Loan Agreement) are to be construed as references to the Loan Agreement as
amended by the Amendment No. 4 and Waiver and (ii) that the Guarantor's
guarantee obligations under the Guarantee Agreement remain in full force and
effect.

         Section 7. Counterparts. This Waiver may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be identical and all of which, when taken
together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any of the parties
hereto may execute this Waiver by signing any such counterpart.

         Section 8. Binding Effect. This Waiver shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns.

         Section 9. Governing Law. This Waiver shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Waiver to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                       "BORROWER"

                                       CR BRIGGS CORPORATION

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

                                       "AGENT"

                                       BNP PARIBAS, as agent for the Lenders

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

                                       3

<PAGE>   9

                                       "LENDERS"

                                       BNP PARIBAS

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

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

                                       BAYERISCHE VEREINSBANK AG,
                                       NEW YORK BRANCH

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

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

                                       NM ROTHSCHILD & SONS LIMITED

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

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

                                       "GUARANTOR"

                                       CANYON RESOURCES CORPORATION

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

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

                                       4
<PAGE>   10
                                                                       EXHIBIT B
                                                  to Amendment No. 4 and Waiver,
                                                      dated as of March 26, 2001

                                   SCHEDULE II

                              AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE

         Principal Payment                       Due Date

         $242,500.00                             April 30, 2001

         $242,500.00                             May 31, 2001

         $275,000.00                             June 30, 2001, and on or before
                                           the end of each calendar month
                                           thereafter until the Loans have been
                                           repaid in full

                                       5<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.1

                          AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE
                         OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION
                         EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                       (Effective as of March 30, 2001)

     WHEREAS, Opinion Research Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), adopted the Opinion Research Corporation Employee Stock Purchase
Plan (the "Plan"), effective October 1, 2000; and

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Plan to reduce the aggregate
maximum number of shares available to be issued thereunder; and

     WHEREAS, Section 19 of the Plan authorizes the Board to amend the Plan from
time to time in such manner as it may deem advisable, subject to shareholder
approval in certain circumstances not applicable here.

     NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to action taken by the Board authorizing amendment
to the Plan, the Plan is, effective as of the date hereof, amended as follows:

     1.   Section 10 of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read:

          "10. Shares Subject to Plan. The aggregate maximum number of Shares
     that may be issued pursuant to the Plan is five hundred thousand (500,000),
     subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18 of the Plan. The Shares
     delivered pursuant to the Plan may, at the option of the Company, be Shares
     purchased specifically for purposes of the Plan, shares otherwise held in
     treasury or Shares originally issued by the Company for such purpose."

     2.   In all other respects, the Plan remains in full force and effect.

                                      OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ Douglas L. Cox
                                         ------------------------------------
                                           Douglas L. Cox
                                           Executive Vice President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer

                                     II-9

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