Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                                     between

                               HELEN OF TROY L.P.
                              HELEN OF TROY LIMITED

                                as the Borrowers

                                       and

                              BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
                                  as the Lender
                                      dated

                               September 22, 2003

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                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1.  DEFINITIONS...................................................................................................1
   1.01  Defined Terms............................................................................................1
   1.02  Other Definitions.......................................................................................13

2.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF REVOLVING CREDIT LOAN....................................................................14
   2.01  Revolving Credit Loan Commitment........................................................................14
   2.02  Note....................................................................................................14
   2.03  Notice for Revolving Credit Loan Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion..................................14
   2.04  Letters of Credit.......................................................................................15
   2.05  Payments................................................................................................20
   2.06  Prepayments.............................................................................................20
   2.07  Illegality..............................................................................................20
   2.08  Inability to Determine Rates............................................................................21
   2.09  Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on  Eurodollar Rate Loans.................21
   2.10  Funding Loss............................................................................................21
   2.11  Past Due Amounts........................................................................................22
   2.12  Set-off.................................................................................................22

3.  INTEREST; FEES...............................................................................................22
   3.01  Interest................................................................................................22
   3.02  Usury; Non-Usurious Interest............................................................................22

4.  CONDITIONS OF LENDING........................................................................................23
   4.01  Conditions Precedent....................................................................................23
   4.02  Conditions to All Loans.................................................................................24

5.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...............................................................................25
   5.01  Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law................................................................25
   5.02  Authority; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.......................................................26
   5.03  No Legal Bar............................................................................................27
   5.04  Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect........................................................27
   5.05  No Material Litigation..................................................................................27
   5.06  No Default..............................................................................................28
   5.07  Ownership of Property; Liens............................................................................28
   5.08  No Burdensome Restrictions..............................................................................28
   5.09  Taxes...................................................................................................28
   5.10  Insurance...............................................................................................28
   5.11  Purpose of Loans........................................................................................28
   5.12  Trade Names.............................................................................................29
   5.13  Investment Company Act..................................................................................29
   5.14  Disclosure..............................................................................................29

6.  COLLATERAL SECURITY..........................................................................................29
</Table>

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7.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS........................................................................................29
   7.01  Financial Statements; Reports...........................................................................29
   7.02  Payment of Obligations..................................................................................30
   7.03  Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence........................................................30
   7.04  Maintenance of Properties...............................................................................30
   7.05  Maintenance of Insurance................................................................................31
   7.06  Inspection of Books and Records; Discussions............................................................31
   7.07  Notices.................................................................................................31
   7.08  Payment of Expenses and Costs...........................................................................31
   7.09  Amendments to Note Purchase Agreement...................................................................32
   7.10  Dividends...............................................................................................32

8.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS...........................................................................................32
   8.01  Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.....................................................................32
   8.02  Maximum Leverage Ratio..................................................................................32
   8.03  Liens...................................................................................................32
   8.04  Operations..............................................................................................33
   8.05  Law.....................................................................................................33
   8.06  Overdrafts..............................................................................................33
   8.07  Merger..................................................................................................33
   8.08  Management..............................................................................................33
   8.09  Dispositions............................................................................................33
   8.10  Investments.............................................................................................34
   8.11  Transactions with Affiliates............................................................................35
   8.12  Use of Proceeds.........................................................................................35
   8.13  Burdensome Agreements...................................................................................35

9.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT............................................................................................36
   9.01  Events of Default.......................................................................................36
   9.02  Remedies Upon Event of Default..........................................................................37

10.  MISCELLANEOUS...............................................................................................38
   10.01 Amendment; Waivers......................................................................................38
   10.02 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies..........................................................................38
   10.03 GOVERNING LAW...........................................................................................38
   10.04 Survival of Representation and Warranties...............................................................38
   10.05 Successors and Assigns..................................................................................38
   10.06 Severability............................................................................................38
   10.07 Descriptive Headings....................................................................................38
   10.08 Counterparts............................................................................................39
   10.09 No Liability............................................................................................39
   10.10 Indemnification by the Borrowers........................................................................39
   10.11 Assignment..............................................................................................40
   10.12 No Third Party Beneficiaries............................................................................40
   10.13 Notices.................................................................................................40
   10.14 Joint and Several Liability.............................................................................41
   10.15 Sale of Participations..................................................................................41
</Table>

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   10.16 Waiver of Jury Trial....................................................................................42
   10.17 ENTIRE AGREEMENT........................................................................................42
</Table>

                                      iii

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Schedules and Exhibits

Schedule 5.04              Material Indebtedness
Exhibit A                  Form of Note
Exhibit B                  Form of Guaranty
Exhibit C                  Form of Compliance Certificate

                                       iv

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                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS LOAN AGREEMENT ("this Agreement"), dated as of September 22, 2003,
is made by and between BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association
("Lender"), HELEN OF TROY L.P., a limited partnership duly organized under the
laws of the State of Texas ("HOT"), HELEN OF TROY LIMITED, a Barbadian company
("HOT-Barbados") (HOT and HOT-Barbados are collectively referred to herein as
the "Borrowers"), HELEN OF TROY LIMITED, a Bermudian company ("Limited"), HOT
NEVADA, INC., a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Nevada
("HOT-Nevada"), HELEN OF TROY NEVADA CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized
under the laws of the State of Nevada ("HOT-NVCORP") and HELEN OF TROY TEXAS
CORPORATION, a Texas corporation ("HOTC") (Limited, HOT-Nevada, HOT-NVCORP and
HOTC are each a "Guarantor" and are collectively referred to herein as the
"Guarantors").

         Borrowers have requested Lender to provide a revolving line of credit
loan (the "Revolving Credit Loan") up to an aggregate amount not exceeding
$50,000,000.00 at anytime outstanding.

         Lender and Borrowers desire to set forth the terms pursuant to which
Lender and Borrowers have agreed to enter into the Revolving Credit Loan;

         NOW, THEREFORE, Lender and Borrowers agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

         1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:

         "Acquisition" means the acquisition by any Person of (a) a majority of
the Voting Stock of another Person, (b) all or substantially all of the assets
of another Person or (c) all or substantially all of a line of business of
another Person, in each case (i) whether or not involving a merger or
consolidation with such other Person and (ii) whether in one transaction or a
series of related transactions.

         "Acquisition Consideration" means the consideration given by Limited or
any of its Subsidiaries for an Acquisition, including but not limited to the sum
of (without duplication) (a) the fair market value of any cash, property
(including Voting Stock) or services given, plus (b) the amount of any
Indebtedness assumed, incurred or guaranteed (to the extent not otherwise
included) in connection with such Acquisition by Limited or any of its
Subsidiaries.

         "Affiliate" means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, (a) any
other Person that at such time directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with,
such first Person, and (b) any Person beneficially owning or holding, directly
or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity interests of such
first Person or any Subsidiary or such first Person or any corporation of which
such first Person and its Subsidiaries beneficially own or hold, in the
aggregate, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity
interests. As used in this definition, "Control" means the possession, directly
or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management

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and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any
reference to an "Affiliate" is a reference to an Affiliate of Limited.

         "Agreement" means this Loan Agreement, and all Schedules and Exhibits
appended hereto, as the same may be from time to time amended, supplemented or
modified.

         "Alternate Base Rate" means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum
equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the
rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time
by the Lender as its "prime rate." The "prime rate" is a rate set by the Lender
based upon various factors including the Lender's costs and desired return,
general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point
for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced
rate. Any change in such rate announced by the Lender shall take effect at the
opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such
change.

         "Alternate Base Rate Loan" means a loan which bears interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

         "Applicable Rate" means a per annum rate equal to:

         (a)      with respect to Alternate Base Rate Loans, 0%; and

         (b)      with respect to Eurodollar Loans, 0.75%.

         "Audited Financial Statements" means the audited consolidated balance
sheet of Limited and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended February 28,
2003, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations,
shareholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of Limited and its
Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

         "Borrowing" means a borrowing by Borrowers consisting of a loan made by
Lender hereunder, each such loan being a "Loan".

         "Borrowing Date" means any Business Day on which Lender shall make a
Loan hereunder.

         "Business Day" means a day (i) on which the Lender and commercial banks
in New York City are generally open for business, and (ii) with respect to
Eurodollar Loans, on which dealings in Dollar deposits are carried out in the
Eurodollar interbank markets.

         "Capital Expenditures" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the sum of the aggregate of any expenditures by such Person during such
period for an asset which is properly classifiable in relevant financial
statements of such Person as property, equipment or improvement, fixed assets or
a similar type of tangible capital asset in accordance with GAAP.

         "Capital Lease" means, at any time, a lease with respect to which the
lessee is required concurrently to recognize the acquisition of an asset and the
incurring of a liability in accordance with GAAP.

         "Cash Collateralize" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(f).

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         "Change of Control" means, with respect to any Person, an event or
series of events by which:

                  (a) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in
         Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but
         excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries,
         and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or
         other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the
         "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the
         Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be
         deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such
         person or group has the right to acquire (such right, an "option
         right"), whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after
         the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the
         Voting Stock of such Person; or

                  (b) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of
         the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing
         body of such Person cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were
         members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of
         such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or
         equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in
         clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or
         nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing
         body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other
         equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in
         clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or
         nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing
         body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any
         individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a
         member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of
         an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the
         election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group
         other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by
         or on behalf of the board of directors).

         "Commitment" means the obligation of Lender to make the Revolving
Credit Loan pursuant to Section 2.

         "Commitment Period" means the period of time the Commitment is in
effect, which period shall commence on the Effective Date and, unless sooner
terminated pursuant to the Loan Documents, shall end on the Termination Date.

         "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form
of Exhibit C attached hereto, with such changes, or in such other form, as
agreed to by the Lender.

         "Consolidated EBITDA" shall mean for any period the sum of Consolidated
Net Earnings, plus the total of (a) non-cash expenses, such as depreciation and
amortization, (b) interest expense, and (c) federal income tax expenses, for
Limited and its Subsidiaries, all determined in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated EBITDA shall further be increased by any write-off of goodwill
mandated by GAAP.

         "Consolidated Fixed Charges" shall mean for any period the total of all
Fixed Charges of Limited and its Subsidiaries, and "Fixed Charges" shall mean
for each such entity the sum of scheduled principal payments (excluding
voluntary prepayments), plus cash interest expense, plus dividends/distributions
and share repurchases made to equity owners (other than

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dividends/distributions for the payment of federal income taxes).

         "Consolidated Funded Indebtedness" means, as of any date of
determination, for Limited and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
(eliminating intercompany Indebtedness), the sum of

         (a) all liabilities for borrowed money and redemption obligations in
respect of mandatorily redeemable Preferred Stock;

         (b) all liabilities for the deferred purchase price of property
acquired (excluding accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business
but including all liabilities created or arising under any conditional sale or
other title retention agreement with respect to any such property);

         (c) all liabilities appearing on its balance sheet in accordance with
GAAP in respect of Capital Leases;

         (d) all liabilities for borrowed money secured by any Lien with respect
to any property owned (whether or not it has assumed or otherwise become liable
for such liabilities);

         (e) all liabilities in respect of letters of credit or instruments
serving a similar function issued or accepted for its account by banks and other
financial institutions (whether or not representing obligations for borrowed
money);

         (f) all Swaps; and

         (g) all Guaranty Obligations with respect to liabilities of a type
described in any of clauses (a) through (f) hereof.

         "Consolidated Net Earnings" means for any period, net earnings (or
loss) after income taxes of Limited and its Subsidiaries for such period,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but not including in
such net earnings (or loss) the following:

         (a) any extraordinary gain or loss arising from the sale of capital
assets;

         (b) any extraordinary gain or loss arising from any write-up or
write-down of assets;

         (c) net earnings of any Person in which Limited or any Subsidiary shall
have an ownership interest other than a Subsidiary unless such net earnings (or
any portion thereof) shall have actually been received by Limited or such
Subsidiary in the form of cash distributions;

         (d) earnings or losses of any Subsidiary accrued prior to the date it
became a Subsidiary;

         (e) any portion of the net earnings of any Subsidiary that by reason of
any contract or charter restriction or applicable law or regulation (or in the
good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of Limited for any reason) is
unavailable for payment of dividends to Limited or any of its Subsidiaries;

         (f) the earnings or losses of any Person acquired by Limited or any
Subsidiary through purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, or the earnings
or losses of any Person substantially all of whose assets have been acquired by
Limited or any of its Subsidiaries, for any period prior to the date of such
acquisition;

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         (g) any gain arising from the acquisition of any securities of Limited
or any of its Subsidiaries; and

         (h) any other extraordinary gains or losses or any other gain or loss
arising from any event or transaction that is unusual in nature and infrequent
in occurrence (but which otherwise does not constitute an extraordinary item
under GAAP) and which GAAP requires to be reported as a separate component of
revenues and expenses from continuing operations.

         The above determination of net earnings (or loss) shall be made without
giving effect to any allocation thereof to any minority interest in respect of
Limited or any of its Subsidiaries.

         "Contingent Obligation" means as to any Person, any obligation of such
Person guaranteeing, or in effect guaranteeing any indebtedness, leases,
dividends or other obligations ("Primary Obligations") of any other Person (the
"Primary Obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including,
without limitation, any obligation of such Person, (a) to advance or supply
funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such Primary Obligation, or (ii) to
maintain working capital or equity capital for the Primary Obligor, or otherwise
to maintain the net worth or solvency of the Primary Obligor, (b) to purchase
property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner
of any such Primary Obligation of the ability of the Primary Obligor to make
payment of such Primary Obligation, or (c) otherwise to assure the owner of such
Primary Obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the
term Contingent Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for
deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business, or Borrowers'
guaranteeing of the Primary Obligations of any Subsidiary.

         "Contractual Obligation" means as to any Person, any provision of any
security issued by such Person, or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract
or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which such Person is or
purports to be a party or by which it or any of its property is or purports to
be bound.

         "Credit Extension" means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b)
a L/C Credit Extension.

         "Debtor Relief Laws" means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States,
and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency,
reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other
applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of
creditors generally.

         "Default" means any Event of Default (as defined herein), whether or
not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any
other condition, has been satisfied.

         "Default Rate" means an interest rate equal to (a) the Alternate Base
Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Alternate Base Rate
Loans plus (c) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a
Eurodollar Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the
interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan
plus 2% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
Laws.

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         "Disposition" or "Dispose" means the sale, transfer, license, lease or
other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property
by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with
or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and
claims associated therewith.

         "Dollar" and "$" mean lawful money of the United States.

         "Effective Date" means the date of this Agreement.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

         "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) under common control with the Borrowers within the meaning of
Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for
purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

         "ERISA Event" means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension
Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrowers or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension
Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a
substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation
of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of
ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrowers or any ERISA
Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is
in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the
treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of
ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension
Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds
under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the
imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC
premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrowers
or any ERISA Affiliate.

         "Eurodollar Lending Office" means the office of Bank of America, N.A.
at 700 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas, 77002, or such other office of said
Lender as the said Lender may from time to time specify to Borrowers.

         "Eurodollar Loan" means a Loan which bears interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate.

         "Eurodollar Base Rate" has the meaning specified in the definition of
Eurodollar Rate.

         "Eurodollar Rate" means for any Interest Period with respect to any
Eurodollar Rate Loan:

                  (a) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the
         Lender to be the offered rate that appears on the page of the Telerate
         screen (or any successor thereto) that displays an average British
         Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars
         (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term
         equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately
         11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of
         such Interest Period, or

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                  (b) if the rate referenced in the preceding clause (a) does
         not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall not be
         available, the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the
         Lender to be the offered rate on such other page or other service that
         displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement
         Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such
         Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period,
         determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business
         Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or

                  (c) if the rates referenced in the preceding clauses (a) and
         (b) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the Lender as
         the rate of interest at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the
         first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate
         amount of the Eurodollar Loan being made, continued or converted and
         with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by the
         Lender's London Branch to major banks in the London interbank
         eurodollar market at their request at approximately 4:00 p.m. (London
         time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

         "Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section 9
hereof.

         "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to
the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such
day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next
succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the
Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the
next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day,
and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day,
the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward,
if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Lender on such day.

         "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, for any period of determination,
the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such period minus (ii)
the cash taxes paid by Limited and its Subsidiaries during such period minus
(iii) Capital Expenditures of Limited and its Subsidiaries for such period to
(b) Consolidated Fixed Charges.

         "FRB" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the
United States.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles as applied to
businesses of this nature and the official interpretations thereof by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board in effect from time to time. All accounting
terms herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given them in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

         "Governmental Authority" means the United States Government, any state
or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled (through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise) by the foregoing.

         "Guarantor" or "Guarantors" has the meaning set forth in the first
paragraph of this Agreement, and shall also include any other entity that
becomes a Guarantor after the Effective Date.

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         "Guaranty" means the continuing guaranty agreement by which each
Guarantor unconditionally guarantees payment of the Note, substantially in the
form of Exhibit B.

         "Guaranty Obligation" means, with respect to any Person, any obligation
(except the endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable
instruments for deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect
guaranteeing any indebtedness, dividend or other obligation of any other Person
in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including (without limitation)
obligations incurred through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such
Person:

         (a) to purchase such indebtedness or obligation or any property
constituting security therefor;

         (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of such
indebtedness or obligation, or (ii) to maintain any working capital or other
balance sheet condition or any income statement condition of any other Person or
otherwise to advance or make available funds for the purchase or payment of such
indebtedness or obligation;

         (c) to lease properties or to purchase properties or services primarily
for the purpose of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or obligation of the
ability of any other Person to make payment of the indebtedness or obligation;
or

         (d) otherwise to assure the owner of such indebtedness or obligation
against loss in respect thereof.

         In any computation of the indebtedness or other liabilities of the
obligor under any Guaranty Obligation, the indebtedness or other obligations
that are the subject of such Guaranty Obligation shall be assumed to be direct
obligations of such obligor.

         "Highest Lawful Rate" means the maximum nonusurious contract interest
rate permitted from time to time to be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged
or received on any Loan under applicable federal or Texas laws, whichever
permits the higher lawful rate; provided, however, that in the event (i) such
maximum nonusurious interest rate shall, at any time or times during the term of
a Loan evidenced hereby, be reduced to a rate less than the maximum non-usurious
contract rate in effect on the date of such Loan, and (ii) applicable law
permits contracting for, taking, reserving, charging and receiving on such Loan
throughout the duration thereof the maximum nonusurious contract rate in effect
on the date such Loan was made, then and at all such times the Highest Lawful
Rate shall be the maximum nonusurious contract rate permitted to be contracted
for, taken, reserved, charged or received on such Loan under applicable law in
effect on the date of such Loan. At all such times, if any, as Texas law shall
establish the Highest Lawful Rate, it shall be the "indicated rate ceiling" from
time to time in effect. For purposes of determining the Highest Lawful Rate
under Texas law, the indicated rate ceiling shall be the lesser of (a)(i) the
"weekly ceiling", as that expression is defined in Section 303.003 of the Texas
Finance Code, as amended, or (ii) if available in accordance with the terms
thereof and at the Lender's option after notice to the Borrowers and otherwise
in accordance with the terms of Section 303.103 of the Texas Finance Code, as
amended, the "annualized ceiling" and (b)(i) if the amount outstanding under
this Agreement is less than $250,000, twenty-four percent

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<PAGE>

(24%), or (ii) if the amount under this Agreement is equal to or greater than
$250,000, twenty-eight percent (28%) per annum.

         "Indebtedness" with respect to any Person means, at any time, without
duplication,

         (a) its liabilities for borrowed money and its redemption obligations
in respect of mandatorily redeemable Preferred Stock;

         (b) its liabilities for the deferred purchase price of property
acquired by such Person (excluding accounts payable arising in the ordinary
course of business but including all liabilities created or arising under any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to any such
property);

         (c) all liabilities appearing on its balance sheet in accordance with
GAAP in respect of Capital Leases;

         (d) all liabilities for borrowed money secured by any Lien with respect
to any property owned by such Person (whether or not it has assumed or otherwise
become liable for such liabilities);

         (e) all its liabilities in respect of letters of credit or instruments
serving a similar function issued or accepted for its account by banks and other
financial institutions (whether or not representing obligations for borrowed
money);

         (f) Swaps of such Person; and

         (g) any Guaranty Obligation of such Person with respect to liabilities
of a type described in any of clauses (a) through (f) hereof.

Indebtedness of any Person shall include all obligations of such Person of the
character described in clauses (a) through (g) to the extent such Person remains
legally liable in respect thereof notwithstanding that any such obligation is
deemed to be extinguished under GAAP.

         "Interest Payment Date" means, (a) as to any Loan other than an
Alternate Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to
such Loan and the Termination Date; provided, however, that if any Interest
Period for a Eurodollar Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that
fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also
be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Alternate Base Rate Loan, each
Quarterly Date and the Termination Date.

         "Interest Period" means, as to each Eurodollar Loan, the period
commencing on the Borrowing Date and ending on the date one, two, three or six
months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Notice of Requested
Borrowing; provided that:

         (a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a
Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such
Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period
shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

                                       9
<PAGE>

         (b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a
calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day
in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last
Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

         (c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Termination Date; and

         (d) there shall not be more than seven (7) Interest Periods in effect
at any one time.

         "Investment" means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect
acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase
or other acquisition of Stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan,
advance or capital contribution to, Guaranty Obligation or assumption of debt
of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation
or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture
interest in such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that
constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of
any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for
subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

         "L/C Credit Extension" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the
issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or
increase of the amount thereof.

         "L/C Obligations" means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate
undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all
unreimbursed drawings under all Letters of Credit.

         "Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued hereunder.

         "Letter of Credit Application" means an application and agreement for
the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in
use by the Lender.

         "Letter of Credit Expiration Date" means the day that is seven days
prior to the Termination Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business
Day, the next preceding Business Day).

         "Letter of Credit Sublimit" means an amount equal to $10,000,000. The
Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Commitment.

         "Leverage Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of
(a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness on such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for
the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended for which Limited has
delivered its financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a).

         "Lien" means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or other encumbrance, or any interest or title of any
vendor, lessor, lender or other secured party to or of such Person under any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement or Capital Lease, upon or
with respect to any property or asset of such Person (including in the case of
stock, stockholder agreements, voting trust agreements and all similar
arrangements).

         "Loan Documents" means, as in effect at anytime, this Agreement, the
Guaranty, the

                                       10
<PAGE>

Note (including all renewals, extensions and rearrangements thereof), each
Request for Credit Extension together with all other instruments executed (i)
pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with it, and (ii) any other document
reasonably required by Lender in connection with this Agreement.

         "Material Adverse Change" means any of the following events: (a) a
material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations,
business, properties, affairs, financial condition, assets or prospects of
Limited and its Subsidiaries, taken as whole; or (b) the occurrence and
continuance of any event or circumstance which could reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on either Borrower's or any Guarantor's ability
to perform their obligations under the Agreement or any other Loan Documents, or
(c) a material adverse change in, or material adverse effect upon, the validity
or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

         "Maturity Date" means, with respect to any Loan, the maturity date
agreed to by Lender and Borrowers with respect to such Loan as the date when
such Loan is due and payable. In no event shall any Maturity Date fall on a date
after the Termination Date.

         "Multiemployer Plan" means any employee benefit plan of the type
described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrowers or any ERISA
Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding
five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

         "Net Proceeds" means, with respect to any Disposition, the proceeds
thereof in the form of cash or cash equivalents, including payments with respect
to deferred payment obligations when received in the form of cash or cash
equivalents (except to the extent that such obligations are financed or sold
with recourse to Limited or any Subsidiary), net of (i) brokerage commissions
and other reasonable and necessary fees and expenses (including, without
limitation, fees and expenses of legal counsel and investment bankers) related
to said Disposition, and (ii) amounts required to be paid and that have been
paid in respect of, or amounts required to be pledged and that are pledged to
secure, Indebtedness owed to any Person (other than Limited or any Subsidiary)
owning a beneficial interest in the properties subject to the Disposition.

         "Note" shall mean the promissory note of Borrowers executed and
delivered under Section 2.02 hereof, including any and all renewals,
modifications, extensions or rearrangements thereto, in the original principal
amount of $50,000,000.00.

         "Notice of Requested Borrowing" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2.03.

         "Outstanding Amount" means (i) with respect to Loans on any date, the
aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any
borrowings and prepayments or repayments thereof, occurring on such date; and
(ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C
Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension
occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C
Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of
outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the
maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on
such date.

                                       11
<PAGE>

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

         "Pension Plan" means any "employee pension benefit plan" (as such term
is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is
subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrowers or
any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrowers or any ERISA Affiliate contributes
or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or
other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any
time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

         "Person" means any natural person, partnership, association, joint
venture, corporation (which shall include any business trust), bank, trust,
unincorporated organization and/or any government, agency or political
subdivision thereof.

         "Plan" means any "employee benefit plan" (as such term is defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrowers or, with respect to any such
plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA
Affiliate.

         "Preferred Stock" means any class of capital stock of a corporation
that is preferred over any other class of capital stock of such corporation as
to the payment of dividends or the payment of any amount upon liquidation or
dissolution of such corporation.

         "Quarterly Date" means the last Business Day of each March, June,
September and December during the term of this Agreement.

         "Reportable Event" means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c)
of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

         "Request for Credit Extension" means (a) with respect to a Borrowing,
conversion or continuation of Loans, a Notice of Requested Borrowing and (b)
with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application.

         "Requirement of Law" means as to any Person, the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, or other organizational or governing documents of such
Person, and any law, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or a
court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding
upon, or purporting to be applicable to or binding upon, such Person or any of
its assets or to which such Person or any of its assets is or purports to be
subject.

         "Responsible Officer" means the chief executive officer, president,
chief financial officer, executive vice president, controller, treasurer or
assistant treasurer of a Borrower or a Guarantor. Any document delivered
hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Borrower or a Guarantor
shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary
corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Borrower or
Guarantor and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have
acted on behalf of such Borrower or Guarantor.

         "Stock" means and includes any and all shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents (howsoever designated) of corporate stock.

         "Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, any corporation, association or
other business entity in which such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or
such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns more than 50% of the Stock
of such Person or sufficient equity or Voting

                                       12
<PAGE>

Stock to enable it or them (as a group) ordinarily, in the absence of
contingencies, to elect a majority of the directors (or Persons performing
similar functions) of such entity, and any partnership or joint venture if more
than a 50% interest in the profits or capital thereof is owned by such Person or
one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more of its
Subsidiaries (unless such partnership can and does ordinarily take major
business actions without the prior approval of such Person or one or more of its
Subsidiaries). Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a
"Subsidiary" is a reference to a Subsidiary of Limited and, in any event,
includes HOT-Nevada, HOT-NVCORP, HOTC, HOT and HOT-Barbados.

         "Swaps" means, with respect to any Person, payment obligations with
respect to interest rate swaps, currency swaps and similar obligations
obligating such Person to make payments, whether periodically or upon the
happening of a contingency. For the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of
the obligation under any Swap shall be the amount determined in respect thereof
as of the end of the then most recently ended fiscal quarter of such Person,
based on the assumption that such Swap had terminated at the end of such fiscal
quarter, and in making such determination, if any agreement relating to such
Swap provides for the netting of amounts payable by and to such Person
thereunder or if any such agreement provides for the simultaneous payment of
amounts by and to such Person, then in each such case, the amount of such
obligation shall be the net amount so determined.

         "Tactica Disposition" means the sale, contribution, redemption or other
disposition by Helen of Troy, LLC of Stock in Tactica International, Inc. and/or
APA International, Inc.

         "Termination Date" means a final scheduled maturity date of September
21, 2004.

         "Total Outstandings" means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all
Loans and all L/C Obligations.

         "Type" means, with respect to a Loan, its character as an Alternate
Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.

         "Voting Stock" shall mean securities or other equity interests of any
class or classes, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of
contingencies, entitled to elect a majority of the corporate directors (or
persons performing similar functions in the case of business entities other than
corporations).

         1.02 Other Definitions.

         All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings
when used in the Note or any certificate or other document made or delivered
pursuant hereto.

         As used herein and in the Note, any certificate or other document made
or delivered pursuant hereto, accounting terms not defined in Section 1.01, and
accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.01, to the extent not defined,
shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP.

         The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar
import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, Schedule and
Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

                                       13
<PAGE>

2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF REVOLVING CREDIT LOAN

         2.01 Revolving Credit Loan Commitment. Subject to the terms and
conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties set forth in this
Agreement, Lender agrees to lend hereunder to Borrowers on any one or more
Business Days during the Commitment Period, for the purpose of making
acquisitions, providing working capital and for general corporate purposes,
amounts which shall not at anytime exceed in the principal sum of $50,000,000.00
less Total Outstandings as of the Business Day on which such borrowing is to be
made.

         To the extent the Total Outstandings shall at anytime exceed the amount
permitted above, payment in an amount necessary to reduce the unpaid principal
balance of the Note to the lesser of the amount permitted under this Section,
shall be made within two (2) Business Days.

         During the Commitment Period, Borrowers may use the Revolving Credit
Loan by borrowing, prepaying as herein provided, and reborrowing; provided,
however, Borrowers must be in full compliance with all of the terms of the Loan
Documents at the time of and as a prerequisite to any Loan.

         Lender's records shall serve as presumptive evidence of any and all
amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Loan.

         2.02 Note. The Revolving Credit Loan shall be evidenced by the Note in
the principal sum of $50,000,000.00, dated as of the Effective Date, executed
and delivered by Borrowers, payable to the order of Lender, in the form appended
hereto as Exhibit A. The Termination Date of the Note shall be September 21,
2004.

         Loans made by Lender under the terms of the Note may be either
Alternate Base Rate Loans, or one (1) month, two (2) months, three (3) month, or
six (6) month Eurodollar Loans.

         Borrowers shall pay interest on each Alternate Base Rate Loan for the
Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of
(i) the Alternate Base Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate,
or (ii) the Highest Lawful Rate, which interest shall be due and payable on each
Interest Payment Date.

         Borrowers shall pay interest on each Eurodollar Loan for the Interest
Period with respect thereto on the unpaid principal amount thereof at a rate per
annum equal to the lesser of (i) the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Rate,
or (ii) the Highest Lawful Rate, which interest shall be due and payable on each
Interest Payment Date.

         If not sooner paid, the entire unpaid principal of, and all accrued,
unpaid interest on, the Note and all other amounts owed hereunder shall be due
and payable on the Termination Date.

         2.03 Notice for Revolving Credit Loan Borrowing, Continuation or
Conversion. Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other,
and each continuation of Loans shall be made (a) in the case of a Borrowing of,
conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans, on either Borrower's
irrevocable notice given to Lender not later than 10:00 a.m. (Houston time) on
the third Business Day prior to the proposed Borrowing Date or requested date
of, continuation of Eurodollar Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Loans to

                                       14
<PAGE>

Alternate Base Rate Loans, or, (b) in the case of a Borrowing of or conversion
to an Alternate Base Rate Loans, on either Borrower's irrevocable notice given
to Lender not later than 3:00 p.m. (El Paso time) on the first Business Day
prior to the proposed Borrowing Date. Each such notice of a requested borrowing
(a "Notice of Requested Borrowing") may be oral or in writing, and shall specify
(i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from
one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Loans, (ii) the proposed
Borrowing Date or date of conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which
shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed,
converted or continued, which (x) in the case of a Borrowing of, conversion to
or continuation of Eurodollar Loans shall be in an amount not less than
$500,000.00 and an integral multiple of $500,000.00 and (y) in the case of a
Borrowing of or conversion to an Alternate Base Rate Loan shall be in an amount
not less than $ 500,000 and an integral multiple of $100,000, (iv) the Type of
Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if
a Eurodollar Loan, whether it is a one (1) month, two (2) month, three (3)
month, or six (6) month Eurodollar Loan. If any Notice of Requested Borrowing
shall be oral, such Borrower shall deliver to Lender prior to the Borrowing Date
a confirmatory written Notice of Requested Borrowing. If such Borrower fails to
specify a Type of Loan in a Notice of Requested Borrowing, or if such Borrower
fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the
applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Alternate Base Rate Loans.
Any such automatic conversion to Alternate Base Rate Loans shall be effective as
of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the
applicable Eurodollar Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion
to, or continuation of Eurodollar Loans in any such Notice of Requested
Borrowing but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have
specified an Interest Period of one month.

         2.04 Letters of Credit.

                  (a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.

                           (i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
                  herein, the Lender agrees (A) from time to time on any
                  Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until
                  the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of
                  Credit for the account of either Borrower, and to amend
                  Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with
                  subsection (b) below, and (B) to honor drafts under the
                  Letters of Credit; provided that the Lender shall not be
                  obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any
                  Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit
                  Extension, (x) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations
                  would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (y) the Total
                  Outstandings would exceed the Commitment. Within the foregoing
                  limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
                  Borrowers' ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully
                  revolving, and accordingly the Borrowers may, during the
                  foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters
                  of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and
                  reimbursed.

                           (ii) The Lender shall be under no obligation to issue
                  any Letter of Credit if:

                                    (A) any order, judgment or decree of any
                           Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its
                           terms purport to enjoin or restrain the Lender from
                           issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of
                           Law

                                       15
<PAGE>

                           applicable to the Lender or any request or directive
                           (whether or not having the force of law) from any
                           Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the
                           Lender shall prohibit, or request that the Lender
                           refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit
                           generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or
                           shall impose upon the Lender with respect to such
                           Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital
                           requirement (for which the Lender is not otherwise
                           compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective
                           Date, or shall impose upon the Lender any
                           unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not
                           applicable on the Effective Date and which the Lender
                           in good faith deems material to it.

                                    (B) the expiry date of such requested Letter
                           of Credit would occur more than twelve months after
                           the date of issuance;

                                    (C) the expiry date of such requested Letter
                           of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit
                           Expiration Date;

                                    (D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit
                           would violate one or more policies of the Lender; or

                                    (E) such Letter of Credit is in an initial
                           amount less than $50,000, or denominated in a
                           currency other than Dollars.

                           (iii) The Lender shall be under no obligation to
                  amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the Lender would have no
                  obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its
                  amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of
                  such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment
                  to such Letter of Credit.

                  (b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of
         Credit.

                           (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended,
                  as the case may be, upon the request of either of the
                  Borrowers delivered to the Lender in the form of a Letter of
                  Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a
                  Responsible Officer of either of the Borrowers. Such L/C
                  Application must be received by the Lender not later than 1:00
                  p.m. (Houston time), at least two Business Days (or such later
                  date and time as the Lender may agree in a particular instance
                  in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or
                  date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a
                  request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such
                  Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail
                  satisfactory to the Lender: (A) the proposed issuance date of
                  the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business
                  Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D)
                  the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the
                  documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any
                  drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be
                  presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing
                  thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the Lender may
                  require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any
                  outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit
                  Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to
                  the Lender (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the
                  proposed date of

                                       16
<PAGE>

                  amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the
                  nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters
                  as the Lender may require.

                           (ii) Upon the Lender's determination that the
                  requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance
                  with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and
                  conditions hereof, the Lender shall, on the requested date,
                  issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrowers or
                  enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in
                  each case in accordance with the Lender's usual and customary
                  business practices.

                           (iii) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of
                  Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising
                  bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the
                  Lender will also deliver to the Borrowers a true and complete
                  copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

                  (c) Drawings and Reimbursements.

                           (i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter
                  of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of
                  Credit, the Lender shall notify the Borrowers thereof. Not
                  later than 1:00 p.m. (El Paso time) on the date of any payment
                  by the Lender under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an
                  "Honor Date"), the Borrowers shall reimburse the Lender in an
                  amount equal to the amount of such drawing either through a
                  cash payment by the Borrowers to the Lender or by a draft by
                  Lender from one or more accounts owned by Borrower. If the
                  Borrowers fail to so reimburse the Lender in either fashion,
                  the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a borrowing of
                  an Alternate Base Rate Loan to be disbursed on the Honor Date
                  in an amount equal to the amount of such unreimbursed drawing,
                  without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in
                  Section 2.03 for the principal amount of Alternate Base Rate
                  Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of
                  the Commitment and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02.

                           (ii) If the Borrowers fail to reimburse the Lender
                  for any drawing under any Letter of Credit (whether by means
                  of a borrowing or otherwise), such unreimbursed amount shall
                  be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and
                  shall bear interest at the Default Rate.

                           (iii) Borrowers hereby authorize Lender to draft any
                  of Borrowers' accounts to reimburse the Lender for any
                  payments made by the Lender pursuant a Letter of Credit.
                  Lender shall give Borrowers notice as soon as possible, but no
                  later than one Business Day before the date of any such draft.

                  (d) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrowers to
         reimburse the Lender for each drawing under each Letter of Credit shall
         be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly
         in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances
         (except to the extent that the action or inaction of the Lender with
         respect to such Letter of Credit is proved by the Borrower to be gross
         negligence or willful misconduct), including the following:

                                       17
<PAGE>

                           (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such
                  Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or
                  instrument relating thereto;

                           (ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim,
                  set-off, defense or other right that the Borrowers (or either
                  one of them) may have at any time against any beneficiary or
                  any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for
                  whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be
                  acting), the Lender or any other Person, whether in connection
                  with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or
                  by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument
                  relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

                           (iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other
                  document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be
                  forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or
                  any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any
                  respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise
                  of any document required in order to make a drawing under such
                  Letter of Credit;

                           (iv) any payment by the Lender under such Letter of
                  Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that
                  does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of
                  Credit; or any payment made by the Lender under such Letter of
                  Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy,
                  debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors,
                  liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor
                  to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit,
                  including any arising in connection with any proceeding under
                  any Debtor Relief Law; or

                           (v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever,
                  whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any
                  other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense
                  available to, or a discharge of, the Borrowers.

         The Borrowers shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit
and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any
claim of noncompliance with the Borrowers' instructions or other irregularity,
the Borrowers will immediately notify the Lender. The Borrowers shall be
conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the Lender and its
correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

                  (e) Role of Lender. The Borrowers agree that, in paying any
         drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Lender shall not have any
         responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft,
         certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit)
         or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such
         document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any
         such document. The Borrowers hereby assume all risks of the acts or
         omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of
         any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not
         intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrowers' pursuing such
         rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or
         transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the Lender, any
         of its Affiliates, any of the respective officers, directors,
         employees, agents or attorneys-in-fact of the Lender and its
         Affiliates, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or
         assignees of the Lender shall be liable or responsible for any of the
         matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.04(d);

                                       18
<PAGE>

         provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary
         notwithstanding, the Borrowers may have a claim against the Lender, and
         the Lender may be liable to the Borrowers, to the extent, but only to
         the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary,
         damages suffered by the Borrowers which the Borrowers prove were caused
         by the Lender's willful misconduct or gross negligence or the Lender's
         willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the
         presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and
         certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a
         Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the
         foregoing, the Lender may accept documents that appear on their face to
         be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, and the
         Lender shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any
         instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or
         assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or
         proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or
         ineffective for any reason.

                  (f) Cash Collateral. Upon the occurrence and continuance of an
         Event of Default, if the Lender has honored any full or partial drawing
         request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has not been
         reimbursed on the applicable Honor Date, the Borrowers shall
         immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C
         Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount determined
         as of the applicable Honor Date or the Letter of Credit Expiration
         Date, as the case may be). For purposes hereof, "Cash Collateralize"
         means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Lender, as
         collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances
         pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Lender. Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The
         Borrowers hereby grant to the Lender a security interest in all such
         cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the
         foregoing. Cash collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest
         bearing deposit accounts at the Lender.

                  (g) Applicability of ISP98 and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly
         agreed by the Lender and the Borrowers when a Letter of Credit is
         issued, (i) the rules of the "International Standby Practices 1998"
         published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or
         such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance)
         shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the
         Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently
         published by the International Chamber of Commerce (the "ICC") at the
         time of issuance (including the ICC decision published by the
         Commission on Banking Technique and Practice on April 6, 1998 regarding
         the European single currency (euro)) shall apply to each commercial
         Letter of Credit.

                  (h) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the
         Lender a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit equal to .50 of
         1% per annum times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under
         such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in
         effect under such Letter of Credit), but in no event in a minimum
         amount less than $500. Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on
         a quarterly basis in arrears and are non-refundable. Such letter of
         credit fees shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after
         the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with
         the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of
         Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on
         demand.

                                       19
<PAGE>

                  (i) Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to Lender. The
         Borrowers shall pay to the Lender the customary issuance, presentation,
         amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and
         charges, of the Lender relating to letters of credit as from time to
         time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are
         due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

                  (j) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. In the event
         of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of
         Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.

         2.05 Payments. All payments (whether of principal, interest,
reimbursements or otherwise) by or on behalf of Borrowers shall be made, in
immediately available funds, at the principal office of Lender without set-off,
deduction or counterclaim. If received prior to 2:00 p.m. (El Paso time),
payments shall be credited on the day of receipt, or if received after 2:00
p.m., payments shall be credited on the next Business Day after receipt by
Lender, and shall be applied first to interest accrued to the date of payment,
and the balance, if any, to the unpaid principal thereof.

         Except as is otherwise provided herein with respect to Eurodollar
Loans, if the due date of any payment falls on a day which is not a Business
Day, such date shall be extended to the next succeeding full Business Day and
interest shall be payable for any principal so extended for the period of such
extension.

         2.06 Prepayments.

                  (a) Voluntary Prepayments. Borrowers may, at their option, on
any Business Day, prepay the outstanding principal amount of any Loan, in whole
or in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the
principal amount prepaid.

                  (b) Mandatory Prepayments. Within 10 Business Days of the
receipt of Net Proceeds from Dispositions by the Borrowers of any assets other
than any Dispositions permitted under clauses (a) through (g) of Section 8.09
hereof, the Borrowers shall prepay Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal
to 100% of such Net Proceeds, together with accrued interest to the date of such
prepayment on the principal amount prepaid.

         2.07 Illegality. If Lender determines that any Requirement of Law has
made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is
unlawful, for Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to make, maintain or fund
Eurodollar Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the
Eurodollar Rate, then, on notice thereof by Lender to the Borrower, any
obligation of Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Loans or to convert
Alternate Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended until Lender
notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination
no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand
from Lender, prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Loans to Alternate
Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if
Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans to such day, or
immediately, if Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar
Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay
accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. Lender agrees to
designate a different Eurodollar Lending Office if such

                                       20
<PAGE>
designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith
judgment of Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to Lender.

         2.08 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Lender determines that for
any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the
Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed
Eurodollar Loan, or that the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period
with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Loan does not adequately and fairly
reflect the cost to Lender of funding such Loan, the Lender will promptly so
notify the Borrower. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lender to make or
maintain Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended until the Lender revokes such
notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request
for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans or,
failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a
Borrowing of Alternate Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

         2.09 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on
Eurodollar Rate Loans.

                  (a) If Lender determines that as a result of the introduction
of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law, or Lender's compliance
therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to Lender of agreeing to make
or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Loans or (as the case may be)
issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount
received or receivable by Lender in connection with any of the foregoing, then
from time to time upon demand of Lender, the Borrower shall pay to Lender such
additional amounts as will compensate Lender for such increased cost or
reduction.

                  (b) If Lender determines that the introduction of any law
regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation
thereof, or compliance by Lender (or its lending office) therewith, has the
effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of Lender or any
corporation controlling Lender as a consequence of Lender's obligations
hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital
adequacy and Lender's desired return on capital), then from time to time upon
demand of Lender, the Borrower shall pay to Lender such additional amounts as
will compensate Lender for such reduction.

                  (c) The Borrower shall pay to Lender, as long as Lender shall
be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets
consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as
"Eurocurrency liabilities"), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount
of each Eurodollar Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to
such Loan by Lender (as determined by Lender in good faith, which determination
shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which
interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at
least 15 days' prior notice of such additional interest from Lender. If Lender
fails to give notice 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such
additional interest shall be due and payable 15 days from receipt of such
notice.

         2.10 Funding Loss. Upon demand of Lender, the Borrower shall promptly
compensate Lender for and hold Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense
incurred by it as a result of:

                                       21
<PAGE>

                  (a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any
Loan other than an Alternate Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of
the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by
reason of acceleration, or otherwise); or

                  (b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the
failure of Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any
Loan other than an Alternate Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount
notified by the Borrower;

excluding any loss of anticipated profits, but including any loss or expense
arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain
such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds
were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees
charged by Lender in connection with the foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lender under
this Section, the Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Loan
made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other
borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and
for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Loan was in fact so
funded.

         2.11 Past Due Amounts. Any amount not paid when due with respect to the
principal of a Loan (whether at the Termination Date, by acceleration or
otherwise), costs or expenses, or, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
interest, shall bear interest at the lesser of (a) the Default Rate and (b) the
Highest Lawful Rate.

         2.12 Set-off. In the event Borrowers shall fail to pay any sum due
under the terms of this Agreement or the Note, which failure shall constitute
one or more Events of Default hereunder, Lender shall have the right, in
addition to all other rights and remedies available to it, to set-off, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, against the unpaid balance of any note held
by it or any debt owing to Borrowers or Guarantors, including, without
limitation, any funds in any deposit account, whether general or special in
nature, maintained by Borrowers or Guarantors with Lender, and nothing in this
Agreement shall be deemed any waiver or prohibition of any depository's right or
banker's lien or set-off.

3. INTEREST; FEES

         3.01 Interest. Interest with respect to Eurodollars Loans shall be
calculated on the basis of a 360 day year for the actual days elapsed, unless
such calculation would result in a usurious rate, in which case such interest
shall be calculated on the basis of a 365 day or 366 day year, as the case may
be. Interest on all other amounts due hereunder, including those on Alternate
Base Rate Loans, shall be calculated on the basis of a 365 day or 366 day year,
as the case may be.

         3.02 Usury; Non-Usurious Interest. Lender and Borrowers intend in the
execution of the Loan Documents to contract in strict compliance with applicable
usury laws. Lender and Borrowers therefore stipulate and agree that none of the
terms and provisions contained in this Agreement, or in the Loan Documents,
shall ever be construed to create a contract to pay for the use, forbearance, or
detention of money, or interest at a rate in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate.
Accordingly, it is agreed that (i) the aggregate of all interest, and other
charges and fees constituting interest under applicable laws, contracted for,
chargeable, receivable or reserved

                                       22
<PAGE>

under the Loan Documents or otherwise in connection with this loan transaction,
shall never exceed that which would accrue on the outstanding principal balance
of the Revolving Credit Loan at the Highest Lawful Rate, and (ii) no provision
of the Loan Documents, or any other instrument relating to the Revolving Credit
Loan, shall require the payment or permit the charging, receipt, collection or
reserving of interest in excess of that which would accrue at the Highest Lawful
Rate. If any such excess is, or is adjudicated to be, so provided for, it shall
be deemed a mistake and the provisions of this Section 3.02 shall govern, and
neither Borrowers, nor any guarantors, endorsers or other parties now or
hereafter becoming liable for payment of the Note, nor their heirs, personal
representatives, successors or assigns, shall be contractually obligated to pay
such excess, nor shall Lender be permitted to contract for, charge, receive,
collect or reserve such excess, and this Agreement and the Loan Documents shall
automatically be reformed so as to permit only the charge for and collection of
the amount of non-usurious interest allowed under applicable usury laws. The
Highest Lawful Rate shall be computed from the date Loan funds are disbursed to
Borrowers for their account, and interest shall, to the full extent permitted by
applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread over the full term
of the Note, that is, from the Effective Date until the Maturity Date, to the
extent permitted by applicable law.

         Any interest in excess of that which accrues at the Highest Lawful Rate
shall be canceled automatically, and if theretofore paid, shall at Lender's
option, be either refunded to Borrowers or credited on the unpaid principal
amount of the Revolving Credit Loan.

         For purposes of this Section 3, "interest" shall include, if and to the
extent characterized as interest under applicable law, any charge, payment, fee
or obligation characterized as interest under applicable laws.

4. CONDITIONS OF LENDING

         4.01 Conditions Precedent. The obligation of Lender to make the initial
Credit Extension is subject to the receipt by Lender of the following documents,
each of which shall be satisfactory in form and substance to Lender, and the
satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

                  (a) Note. Lender shall have received the Note, conforming to
the requirements hereof, duly completed and executed.

                  (b) Resolutions and Certificates. Lender shall have received,
prior to the execution of the Loan Documents (i) appropriate resolutions from
HOT evidencing that the partners of HOT have authorized execution and delivery
of this Agreement and all instruments contemplated hereby, (ii) appropriate
resolutions from Limited evidencing that the Board of Directors or shareholders
of Limited, as applicable, have authorized execution and delivery of this
Agreement and all instruments contemplated hereby, (iii) appropriate resolutions
from Guarantors evidencing that the Board of Directors or shareholders of the
Guarantors, as applicable, have authorized execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Guaranty, and all instruments contemplated hereby, (iv) a
Certificate of Limited Partnership of HOT from the State of Texas confirming the
existence and good standing of HOT, and (v) the Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws of Limited and each Guarantor confirming the existence and good standing
of Limited and each Guarantor, and (vi) if applicable, a certificate of assumed
name duly filed as required by law.

                                       23
<PAGE>

                  (c) Guaranty. Lender shall have received the Guaranty in form
and substance acceptable to the Lender.

                  (d) Opinion of Counsel. If required by Lender, Lender shall
have received a legal opinion from Borrowers' legal counsel opining as to due
organization, existence, good standing and authority of each Borrower and each
Guarantor, due authority of the Person or Persons executing the Loan Documents
on behalf of each Borrower and each Guarantor, the enforceability, validity and
binding effect of the Loan Documents to be executed by each Borrower and/or each
Guarantor, and such other matters as Lender may reasonably require.

                  (e) Additional Matters. Such other documents as reasonably
requested by Lender, each duly completed and executed. All documents and legal
matters in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall
be satisfactory in form and substance to Lender and its counsel.

                  (f) No Litigation. No actions, suits, proceedings, claims or
disputes shall have been threatened or commenced in any court, in arbitration or
before any Governmental Authority against Limited or any of its Subsidiaries
which (i) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) would materially
and adversely affect the ability of Limited and its Subsidiaries to perform
their obligations hereunder or (iii) either individually or in the aggregate, if
determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to result in a material
adverse change in the business, operations, properties, or financial or other
condition of Limited and its Subsidiaries.

         4.02 Conditions to All Loans. The obligation of Lender to honor any
Request for Credit Extension (other than a Notice of Requested Borrowing
requesting only a conversion of the Loans to the other Type, or a continuation
of Eurodollar Loans) is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions
precedent:

                  (a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties contained in Section 5 hereof, or which are contained in any
certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished at anytime under
or in connection herewith, shall be materially true and correct on and as of the
Borrowing Date for such Loan as if made on and as of such date.

                  (b) No Default or Event of Default. No Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date, or after giving
effect to the advance to be made on the date of such Credit Extension unless, in
the case of a Default other than (i) failure to pay the Note as and when due,
(ii) failure to give any notice required in Section 7.07 hereof, (iii) failure
to comply with the negative covenants set forth in Section 8 hereof (for which
no notice or opportunity to cure is required to be given or is allowed, as the
case may be), and (iv) under Section 9.01(h) hereof, Borrowers have commenced in
good faith to cure any such Default in a manner reasonably acceptable to Lender.

                  (c) Delivery of Waived Items. Lender shall have received any
items or documents which were to have been delivered to Lender on or before the
initial funding of the Revolving Credit Loan, the delivery of which was waived
by Lender at the time of the initial funding of the Revolving Credit Loan.

                                       24
<PAGE>

                  (d) Approvals. The business and operations of Borrowers as
conducted at all times relevant to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement to and including the close of business on the date of each advance
hereunder shall have been and shall be in compliance with all applicable laws,
regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority affecting Borrowers and
their business and operations.

                  (e) Commitment Fees. All commitment fees, if any, billed to
Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement have been paid in full.

                  (f) Request for Credit Extension. The Lender shall have
received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements
hereof.

         Each Request for Credit Extension submitted by the Borrowers shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in
Section 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of such
applicable Credit Extension.

5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         In order to induce Lender to enter into this Agreement, make the Credit
Extensions, each Borrower and each Guarantor jointly and severally represent and
warrant, as of the date hereof, and as of the date of Credit Extension, that:

         5.01 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law.

                  5.01.1 HOT is (a) a Texas limited partnership which is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing; (b) has the power, authority
and legal right to own or lease and operate its property and to conduct the
business in which it is currently engaged; and (c) is in compliance with all
material Requirements of Law, including, without limitation, all Requirements of
Law necessary for the operation of HOT's business. HOT is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions wherein the character of
property it owns or the nature of the business it transacts makes such
qualification necessary.

                  5.01.2 HOT-Barbados is (a) a Barbados corporation which is
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing; (b) has the corporate
power, authority and legal right to own or lease and operate its property and to
conduct the business in which it is currently engaged; and (c) is in compliance
with all material Requirements of Law, including, without limitation, all
Requirements of Law necessary for the operation of HOT Barbados' business.
HOT-Barbados is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in
good standing in all jurisdictions wherein the character of property it owns or
the nature of the business it transacts makes such qualification necessary.

                  5.01.3 Limited is (a) a Bermuda corporation which is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing; (b) has the corporate power,
authority and legal right to own or lease and operate its property and to
conduct the business in which it is currently engaged; and (c) is in compliance
with all material Requirements of Law, including, without limitation, all
Requirements of Law necessary for the operation of Limited's business. Limited
is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good
standing in all jurisdictions wherein the character of property it owns or the
nature of the business it transacts makes such qualification necessary.

                                       25
<PAGE>

                  5.01.4 HOTC is (a) a Texas corporation which is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing; (b) has the power, authority
and legal right to own or lease and operate its property and to conduct the
business in which it is currently engaged; and (c) is in compliance with all
material Requirements of Law, including, without limitation, all Requirements of
Law necessary for the operation of HOTC's business. HOTC is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions wherein the character of
property it owns or the nature of the business it transacts makes such
qualification necessary.

                  5.01.5 HOT-Nevada is (a) a Nevada corporation which is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing; (b) has the power, authority
and legal right to own or lease and operate its property and to conduct the
business in which it is currently engaged; and (c) is in compliance with all
material Requirements of Law, including, without limitation, all Requirements of
Law necessary for the operation of HOT-Nevada's business. HOT-Nevada is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions wherein
the character of property it owns or the nature of the business it transacts
makes such qualification necessary.

                  5.01.6 HOT-NVCORP is (a) a Nevada corporation which is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing; (b) has the power, authority
and legal right to own or lease and operate its property and to conduct the
business in which it is currently engaged; and (c) is in compliance with all
material Requirements of Law, including, without limitation, all Requirements of
Law necessary for the operation of HOT-NVCORP's business. HOT-NVCORP is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions wherein
the character of property it owns or the nature of the business it transacts
makes such qualification necessary.

         5.02 Authority; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.

                  5.02.1 Each Borrower has the power, authority and legal right
to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and the Loan Documents and to borrow
hereunder and has taken all necessary action to authorize the borrowings on the
terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Loan Documents and to authorize
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Loan
Documents. No further consent of any other Person (including partners,
stockholders and creditors of either Borrower), and no further authorization of,
notice to, or other act by or in respect of any Governmental Authority, is
required in connection with the borrowings hereunder or with the execution,
delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Loan
Documents. This Agreement has been, and the Note will be, duly executed and
delivered on behalf of each Borrower, and this Agreement constitutes, and each
of the Loan Documents when executed and delivered will constitute, a legal valid
and binding obligation of such Borrower enforceable against such Borrower
substantially in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally.

         5.02.2 Each Guarantor has the corporate power, authority and legal
right to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and such Guaranty and has
taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the guarantee of the Revolving
Credit Loan on the terms and conditions of this Agreement and its Guaranty and
to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this

                                       26
<PAGE>

Agreement and its Guaranty. No further consent of any other Person (including
stockholders and creditors of any Guarantor), and no further authorization of,
notice to, or other act by or in respect of any Governmental Authority, is
required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or the Guaranty. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered on behalf of each Guarantor, and this Agreement
constitutes, and each Guaranty when executed and delivered will constitute, a
legal valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor enforceable against such
Guarantor substantially in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally.

         5.03 No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the Loan Documents, and the use of the proceeds of the borrowings
hereunder, will not violate any Requirement of Law or any Contractual Obligation
of the Borrowers or any Guarantor, and will not result in, or require, the
creation or imposition of any Lien on any of their respective properties or
revenues pursuant to any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation.

         5.04 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

                  (a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby,
except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial
condition of Limited and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their
results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise
expressly noted therein; and (iii) reflect all material indebtedness and other
liabilities, direct or contingent, of Limited and its Subsidiaries as of the
date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and
Indebtedness.

                  (b) The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Limited
and its Subsidiaries dated May 31, 2003, and the related consolidated statements
of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal
quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise
expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of
Limited and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of
operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i)
and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
Schedule 5.04 sets forth all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct
or contingent, of Limited and its consolidated Subsidiaries since May 31, 2003,
including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

                  (c) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there
has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that
has had or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

         5.05 No Material Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding
of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Borrowers or the Guarantors overtly threatened against the
Borrowers or the Guarantors or any of their respective properties or revenues
with respect to this Agreement or the Loan Documents or any of the transactions
contemplated hereby, which involve the probability of any judgment or liability
not

                                       27
<PAGE>

adequately covered by insurance and which, if adversely determined, could result
in a Material Adverse Change.

         5.06 No Default. None of the Borrowers or the Guarantors is in Default
under, or with respect to, any Contractual Obligation in any respect which could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. None of the
execution of and delivery of the Loan Documents, the consummation of the
transactions therein contemplated, and compliance with the terms and provisions
thereof, will conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent
(not theretofore obtained at the time the representation is made) under,
applicable law or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any
court or Governmental Authority, or any agreement to which the Borrowers or the
Guarantors is a party or by which it is bound, or to which it is subject.

         5.07 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Borrowers and the
Guarantors has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid
leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary
conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in any
material adverse change in the business, operations, properties, or financial or
other condition of the Borrowers or the Guarantors. The property of the
Borrowers and the Guarantors is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted
by Section 8.03.

         5.08 No Burdensome Restrictions. No Contractual Obligation of the
Borrowers or the Guarantors and no Requirement of Law materially adversely
affects, or insofar as the Borrowers or the Guarantors may reasonably foresee
may so affect, the business, operations, property or financial or other
condition of the Borrowers or the Guarantors.

         5.09 Taxes. Each of the Borrowers and Guarantors has filed all material
tax returns which, to their knowledge, are required to be filed with any
domestic or foreign Governmental Authority, and has paid all taxes shown on said
returns and all assessments which are due, except such taxes the payment of
which is not yet due, or which if due, is not yet delinquent or is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or which has not been finally
determined. Except as reported in Guarantors' financial statements, Guarantors
know of no claims by any Governmental Authority for any unpaid taxes, and the
charges, accruals and reserves on the books of Guarantors in respect of all
taxes and other governmental charges are, in the opinion of Guarantors, adequate
in all respects.

         5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Borrowers and the Guarantors are
insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates
of the Borrowers, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks
as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning
similar properties in localities where the applicable Borrower or Guarantor
operates.

         5.11 Purpose of Loans. Borrowers do not own any "margin stock" within
the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB (hereinafter called "margin stock"). None
of the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loan or any Letter of Credit will be
used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for the
purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred
to purchase or carry a margin stock or for any other purpose which might make
this transaction a "purpose" credit within the meaning of said Regulation U, as
now in effect or as it may hereafter be amended. Neither Borrowers, nor any
agent acting on their

                                       28
<PAGE>
behalf, has taken or will take any action which might cause this Agreement or
the Note to violate Regulation U, Regulation T or any other regulation of the
FRB or to violate the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect now or as
the same may hereafter be in effect on the date of the Revolving Credit Loan.

         5.12 Trade Names. Each Borrower and each Guarantor have all licenses,
permits, patents, patent rights, trademark rights, trade names, trade name
rights, and copyrights which are required in order for them to conduct their
business as now conducted without known material conflict with the rights of
others.

         5.13 Investment Company Act. None of the Borrowers, any Person that
Controls the Borrowers, or any Guarantor (i) is a "holding company," or a
"subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding
company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," within the meaning
of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or (ii) is or is required to
be registered as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of
1940.

         5.14 Disclosure. The Borrowers have disclosed to the Lender all
agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which they or any
of the Guarantors is subject, and all other matters known to them, that,
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in any
Material Adverse Change. No report, financial statement, certificate or other
information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of the
Borrowers or the Guarantors to the Lender in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder
(as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any
material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial
information, the Borrowers and Guarantors represent only that such information
was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at
the time.

6. COLLATERAL SECURITY. The Loan is unsecured, but is guaranteed by the Guaranty
executed by Guarantors.

7. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         Each Borrower and each Guarantor covenant and agree that so long as
this Agreement, or any renewal, extension or modification hereof, remains in
effect, or any Note remains outstanding and unpaid, or any Letter of Credit
remains outstanding, or any liabilities are owing to Lender, Borrowers shall:

         7.01 Financial Statements; Reports. Deliver to Lender:

                  (a) Financial Statements of Limited. As soon as available, and
in any event (i) within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first
three (3) quarters of Limited's fiscal year, quarterly unaudited financial
statements showing Limited's financial condition and the results of its
operations for each such quarter on a consolidated and consolidating basis, and
(ii) annually within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year,
Limited's audited consolidated financial statements at the end of and for the
entire fiscal year and Limited's unaudited consolidating financial statements at
the end of and for the entire fiscal year. Such

                                       29
<PAGE>

statements shall fairly present the result of Limited's operations for the
period covered and Limited's financial condition as of the end of such period in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied. Each quarterly financial statement
shall be subject to the absence of footnotes and to normal year end adjustments
and shall be certified by the President or Chief Financial Officer of Limited.
Each annual statement shall be accompanied by (i) a report of independent
certified public accountants acceptable to Lender, which report will not be
qualified by reason of any audit limitations imposed by Limited, and, if
required by Lender, (ii) a so-called "Management Letter" to Lender commenting on
any accounting or financial deficiencies.

         Each quarterly financial statement shall set forth Limited's
comparative quarterly and year-to-date balance sheet and income statement on a
consolidated basis prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

                  (b) SEC Reports. Together with each delivery of each financial
statement, a copy of all reports with or submitted to the Securities and
Exchange Commission by Borrowers or Guarantors during the period covered by such
financial statement, including, without limitation, Form 10-K -- Annual Report,
and Form 10-Q -- Quarterly Report;

                  (c) Compliance Certificate. Together with each delivery of
each financial statement, a Compliance Certificate from (x) HOT's General
Partner or Chief Financial Officer and (y) HOT-Barbados' President or Chief
Financial Officer, stating that (i) there exists no Event of Default or, if the
same has occurred, stating the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof
and what action the Borrowers have taken and proposes to take with respect
thereto, and (ii) that no Default exists with respect to the payment of any debt
of the Borrowers, any Affiliate, or, if the same has occurred, stating the
nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action the Borrowers,
or such Affiliate has taken or proposed to take with respect thereto.

         7.02 Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or
before maturity or before they become delinquent, or in accordance with a plan
of arrangement, as the case may be, all its debt and other obligations of
whatever nature, except when the amount or validity thereof is currently being
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, or, when the amount
involved exceeds the sum of $500,000.00, Lender has been furnished with a
certificate of each Borrower's Chief Financial Officer stating that Borrowers
have a bona fide defense to the debt being contested and that Borrowers are
contesting such indebtedness in good faith.

         7.03 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence. Continue to
engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by it, and
preserve, renew and keep in full force and maintain all rights, privileges and
franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business; comply
with all Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law except to the extent
that the failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.

         7.04 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all
of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its
business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted;
and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof
except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to cause a
Material Adverse Change.

                                       30
<PAGE>

         7.05 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and
reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrowers, insurance with
respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds
customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business,
of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar
circumstances by such other Persons.

         7.06 Inspection of Books and Records; Discussions. Keep proper books of
records and accounts in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with
GAAP, and all Requirements of Law, shall be made of all dealings and
transactions in relation to their respective business and activities; and permit
representatives of Lender, upon reasonable advance notice, to visit and inspect
any of its books and records at any reasonable time and as often as may
reasonably be desired, and to discuss the business, operations, properties and
financial and other condition of each such party with their respective officers
and employees and with their respective independent certified public
accountants. Prior to a Default, such visits and inspections shall not
unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Borrowers or the
Guarantors.

         7.07 Notices. Promptly give notice to Lender in writing of:

                  (a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

                  (b) any default, or claim of default, with respect to any
Contractual Obligation of Borrowers or Guarantors in excess of $500,000.00;

                  (c) any litigation, arbitration, administrative proceeding, or
other proceeding affecting Borrowers or Guarantors in which (i) the amount
involved is $500,000.00 or more, which involves the probability of any judgment
or liability not adequately covered by insurance, or (ii) in which injunctive or
similar relief is sought, and which, if adversely determined, could reasonably
be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change;

                  (d) a change in the business, operations, property or
financial or other condition of either Borrower which could reasonably be
expected to cause a Material Adverse Change;

                  (e) the resignation or removal of Gerald J. Rubin as Chairman
of the Board of Directors of HOTC, after the date of this Agreement;

                  (f) any material change in the method of computing its
depreciation for either tax or book purposes, or make any other material change
in its accounting method, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the effective date
of such change; and

                  (g) the occurrence of any ERISA Event.

         Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.07 shall be accompanied by a
statement of a senior officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred
to therein and stating what action Borrowers propose to take with respect
thereto.

         7.08 Payment of Expenses and Costs. Pay all costs and expenses of
Lender (including, without limitation, the reasonable attorneys' fees of its
legal counsel) in connection with the enforcement or preservation of Lender's
rights under the Loan Documents; and Borrowers will pay all costs and expenses
(including, without limitation, the reasonable attorneys' fees of

                                       31
<PAGE>

Lender's legal counsel in excess of $7500) in connection with the preparation,
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other documents described
herein and any and all amendments, modifications and supplements thereof or
thereto, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.

         7.09 Amendments to Note Purchase Agreement. Give Lender written notice
prior to amending that certain Amended and Restated Note Purchase and Guaranty
Agreement dated effective December 31, 1996, by and among HOT, HOT-Barbados,
HOT-Nevada, HOT-NVCORP, HOTC, Limited and certain note purchasers as further
described therein, and to deliver copies of any such amendments to the Lender
within ten (10) days following the date the amendment(s) is fully executed.

         7.10 Dividends. Have the right to declare and pay dividends on any
shares of any class of its Stock, so long as no Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing at the time of such payment, and so long as the making of such
payment does not cause or create an Event of Default.

8. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         Each Borrower and each Guarantor covenant and agree that so long as
this Agreement, or any renewal, extension or modification hereof, remains in
effect, or the Note remains outstanding and unpaid, or any Letter of Credit
shall remain outstanding, or any liabilities are owing to Lender:

         8.01 Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio shall not exceed 1.25 to 1.0, on a rolling four-quarter basis, measured at
the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending November
30, 2003.

         8.02 Maximum Leverage Ratio. The Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.50
to 1.0, measured at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal
quarter ending November 30, 2003.

         8.03 Liens. Neither Borrowers nor Guarantors shall grant, create,
incur, assume, permit or suffer to exist any Lien upon its property, assets or
revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

                  (a) liens for taxes not yet due, or which are being contested
in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves with respect
thereto are maintained on the books of such party in accordance with GAAP;

                  (b) other Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or
the ownership of its assets which (i) are expressly subordinated to all debt due
Lender, and (ii) which do not in the aggregate materially detract from such
party's ability to perform its obligations hereunder or in connection herewith;

                  (c) liens created by this Agreement, or hereafter granted to
Lender for the benefit of Lender;

                  (d) purchase money Liens granted in connection with any
purchase of equipment;

                                       32
<PAGE>

                  (e) liens, or any existing pledge of a deposit, securing the
payment of senior debt by an Affiliate or Subsidiary to a foreign financial
institution as disclosed in the financial statements delivered pursuant to
Section 5.04 of this Agreement or which may be granted or amended and may be
disclosed from time to time by any such party.

         8.04 Operations. Neither Borrowers nor Guarantors shall materially
change the nature of the business in which it is presently engaged.

         8.05 Law. Neither Borrowers nor Guarantors shall be in violation of any
law or any regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or
Governmental Authority, or in breach of any agreement or instrument to which
Borrowers nor Guarantors is a party or to which Borrowers nor Guarantors is
subject or in Default thereunder, the breach or violation of which, or Default
under which, could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.

         8.06 Overdrafts. Borrowers shall not use overdrafts or draw on
uncollected funds instead of using the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loan
available under this Agreement. If such an event does occur, Borrowers agree to
pay interest on such overdrafts and uncollected funds, in addition to any other
charges applicable to such overdrafts and uncollected funds, at the Alternate
Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; provided, however, in no event shall the
rate contracted for, charged to Borrowers, received, collected or reserved
hereunder exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, and if application of the Alternate
Base Rate as provided in this Section, or any other circumstances, would cause
the rate of interest hereunder to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, the rate of
interest hereunder shall automatically be reduced to the Highest Lawful Rate.

         8.07 Merger. Without the written consent of Lender, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, Borrowers or Guarantors shall
not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of any of them to, enter into any
transaction of merger, consolidation, reorganization, exchange of Stock or
assets, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or
dissolution), except that, for so long as no Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing both before and after giving effect to any such transaction, (i)
any Borrower may merge into the other Borrower, (ii) any Subsidiary may merge,
or dissolve and liquidate into any of the Borrowers or any of the Guarantors,
and (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Borrower or Guarantor may merge, or
dissolve or liquidate into or consolidate with any other Subsidiary that is not
a Borrower or Guarantor.

         8.08 Management. Limited shall not, and shall not permit its Affiliates
to change the duties and obligations of Gerald J. Rubin without the prior
written consent of the Lender.

         8.09 Dispositions. Neither Borrowers nor Guarantors shall make any
Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

                  (a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

                  (b) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of
business;

                  (c) Dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent
that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of
similar replacement property or

                                       33
<PAGE>

(ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the
purchase price of such replacement property;

                  (d) so long as there exists no Default both before and after
giving effect to any such transaction, Dispositions of property by any
Subsidiary to the Borrowers or Guarantors;

                  (e) so long as there exists no Default both before and after
giving effect to any such transaction, any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or
substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to
another Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a
Guarantor, then the transferee must either be a Borrower or a Guarantor.

                  (f) so long as there exists no Default both before and after
giving effect to any such transaction, the Tactica Disposition;

                  (g) so long as (i) there exists no Default both before and
after giving effect to any such Disposition and (ii) the assets being Disposed
of generate less than 15% of Consolidated EBITDA calculated for the 12 month
period immediately preceding such Disposition, Dispositions of assets (including
Stock of a Subsidiary);

                  (h) so long as there exists no Default both before and after
giving effect to any such transaction, Dispositions of assets (including Stock
of a Subsidiary), not otherwise permitted in clauses (a) through (g) above, so
long as the mandatory prepayment required pursuant to Section 2.06(b) hereof is
made;

provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (h)
shall be for fair market value.

         8.10 Investments. Neither Borrowers nor Guarantors shall make any
Investments, except:

                  (a) Investments in the form of direct obligations of the
United States of America or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the
United States of America or any agency thereof, in any case maturing within
three years after the acquisition thereof;

                  (b) Investments in bankers' acceptance, certificates of
deposits or time deposits issued or accepted by any commercial bank organized
under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof, or the
District of Columbia, and having combined capital, surplus and undivided profits
of at least $1,000,000,000 and having (or having parent holding company that
has) outstanding short term debt rated P-1 by Moody's Investor Service, Inc. or
A-1 by Standard and Poor's Rating Group and long-term debt rated at least A by
Moody's Investor Service, Inc. or Standard and Poor's Rating Group;

                  (c) Investments in commercial paper rated in one of the two
highest rating categories by Moody's Investor Service, Inc. or by Standard and
Poor's Rating Group and maturing not more than 270 days from the date of
creation thereof;

                  (d) Investments in money market mutual funds that are
classified as current assets in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles and that invest solely in Investments described in clauses (a)
through (c) and of this definition maturing not more than

                                       34
<PAGE>

one year after the acquisition thereof, which funds are managed by Persons
having, or who are members of holding companies having, capital and surplus in
excess of $100,000,000;

                  (e) advances to officers, directors and employees of the
Borrowers and Guarantors in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any
time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary
business purposes;

                  (f) Investments of the Borrowers in any Guarantor and
Investments of any Guarantor in the Borrowers or in another Guarantor;

                  (g) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the
nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of
trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in
satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account
debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

                  (h) Investments as a result of Acquisitions, if each of the
following conditions has been satisfied: (i) immediately before and after giving
effect to such Acquisition, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(ii) the aggregate Acquisition Consideration for any single Acquisition (whether
in one transaction or a series of related transactions) shall not exceed
$100,000,000, (iii) such Acquisition shall not be opposed by the board of
directors or similar governing body of the Person or assets being acquired and
(iv) if the Acquisition results in a domestic Subsidiary being acquired, such
domestic Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Lender (x) a counterpart of
the Guaranty or such other document as Lender shall deem appropriate for such
purpose, (y) such documents of the types referred to in clause (b) of Section
4.01 and (z) a favorable opinion of counsel to such Person located in the
jurisdiction of organization of such Person, in form, content and scope
reasonable satisfactory to Lender; and

                  (i) so long (i) as the assets and cash flows of the Borrowers
and Guarantors, taken together, comprise at least 75% of the assets and cash
flows of Limited and its Subsidiaries as of the date of the most recent
financial statements delivered to the Lender pursuant to Section 7.01(a) and
(ii) there exists no Default or Event of Default and no Default or Event of
Default would result therefrom, Investments not otherwise permitted to be made
pursuant to clauses (a) through (h).

         8.11 Transactions with Affiliates. Neither the Borrowers nor the
Guarantors shall enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of
Limited, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair
and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrowers or Guarantors
as would be obtainable by the Borrowers or the Guarantors at the time in a
comparable arm's length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

         8.12 Use of Proceeds. The Borrowers and the Guarantors shall not use
the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether directly or indirectly,
and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin
stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to
others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund
indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

         8.13 Burdensome Agreements. None of the Subsidiaries shall enter into a
Contractual Obligation that limits the ability of any Subsidiary to (a) make any
dividend or other distribution

                                       35
<PAGE>

(whether in cash, securities or other property) to the Borrowers or any
Guarantors or (b) otherwise transfer property to the Borrowers or any
Guarantors.

9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         9.01 Events of Default. The following shall be Events of Default under
this Agreement:

                  (a) The Borrowers shall fail to pay within two (2) business
days after receipt of notice of nonpayment any amount of principal of any Loan
or any L/C Obligation, or any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or
any commitment or other fee due hereunder, or any other amount payable hereunder
or under any other Loan Document; or

                  (b) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any
Borrower or any Guarantor herein or which is contained in any certificate,
document or financial or other statement furnished at anytime under or in
connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any
material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

                  (c) any Borrower or Guarantor fails to perform or observe any
other covenant or agreement (except for Borrowers' covenants as to (i) notices
as set forth in Section 7.07, and (ii) negative covenants as set forth in
Section 8 hereof) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or
observed and such failure continues for 30 days following the earlier of
Borrowers' or Guarantors' knowledge thereof or written notice by the Lender to
the Borrowers; or

                  (d) any Borrower or any Guarantor shall (i) default (as
principal or as guarantor or other surety) in the payment of any principal of or
premium or interest on any Indebtedness that is outstanding in an aggregate
principal amount of at least $500,000 beyond any period of grace provided with
respect thereto, or (ii) default in its payments according to a plan of
arrangement, composition or readjustment of its debts or any other event shall
occur, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or permit the
holder or holders of any Indebtedness or beneficiary or beneficiaries of any
Contingent Obligation (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders
or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, any Indebtedness or Contingent
Obligation outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of at least $500,000 to
become due, repurchased or repaid prior to its stated maturity; or

                  (e) any Borrower or any Guarantor shall commence any case,
proceeding or other action relating to it in bankruptcy or seek reorganization,
liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, arrangement, composition, readjustment of
debt or other similar act or law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, now
or hereafter existing; or any Borrower or any Guarantor shall apply for a
receiver, custodian or trustee of it or for all or a substantial part of its
property; or any Borrower or any Guarantor shall make an assignment for the
benefit of creditors; or

                  (f) any case, proceeding or other action against any Borrower
or any Guarantor shall be commenced in bankruptcy or any Borrower or any
Guarantor shall seek reorganization, liquidation, dissolution, winding-up,
arrangement, composition or readjustment of its debts, or any other relief,
under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution,
arrangement, composition, readjustment of debt or other similar act or law of
any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, now or hereafter existing; or a receiver,
custodian or trustee of

                                       36
<PAGE>

any Borrower or any Guarantor or for all or a substantial part of its property
shall be appointed; or a warrant of attachment, execution or distraint, or
similar process, shall be issued against any substantial part of the property of
any Borrower or any Guarantor; and in each such case such condition shall
continue for a period of sixty (60) days undismissed, undischarged or unbonded;
or

                  (g) one or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against
any Borrower or any Guarantor involving in the aggregate a liability (not paid
or fully covered by insurance) of $500,000.00 or more and all such judgments or
decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending
appeal within sixty (60) days from the entry thereof; or

                  (h) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under the terms
of, and as defined in, that certain Amended and Restated Note Purchase and
Guaranty Agreement dated effective December 31, 1996, among Borrowers,
Guarantors and certain named purchasers, regarding the purchase of 7.01%
Guaranteed Senior Notes due January 5, 2008; or

                  (i) (x) an ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan
or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to
result in liability of the Borrowers under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension
Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of
$500,000, or (ii) the Borrowers or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due,
after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment
with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a
Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $500,000; or

                  (j) any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and
delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder, ceases
to be in full force and effect; or any of the Borrowers or Guarantors or any
other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan
Document; or any of the Borrowers or Guarantors denies that it has any or
further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke,
terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or

                  (k) there occurs any Change of Control with respect to either
of the Borrowers.

         9.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. Upon the occurrence of any Event
of Default, any or all of the following actions may be taken by Lender: (a)
declare the Commitment to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Commitment
shall immediately terminate; (b) declare the Revolving Credit Loan (with accrued
interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the Note
to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due
and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to
accelerate, notice of acceleration, or other notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby expressly waived, except as otherwise expressly provided herein; (c)
require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount
equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and (d) exercise all rights and
remedies available to it under the Loan Documents or applicable law;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an
order for relief with respect to any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the
United States, the obligation of the Lender to make Loans and make L/C Credit
Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all
outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid

                                       37
<PAGE>

shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrowers
to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically
become effective, in each case without further act of the Lender.

10. MISCELLANEOUS

         10.01 Amendment; Waivers. Borrowers and Lender may, from time to time,
enter into written amendments, supplements, waivers or modifications hereto for
the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the Note or changing
in any manner the rights of Lender or of Borrowers hereunder or thereunder.

         10.02 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no
delay in exercising, on the part of Lender, any right, power or privilege
hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein
provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by
law.

         10.03 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE
CONTRACTS UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE AND APPLICABLE
FEDERAL LAW. THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 346 OF THE FINANCE CODE OF TEXAS ARE
SPECIFICALLY DECLARED BY THE PARTIES HERETO NOT TO BE APPLICABLE TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

         10.04 Survival of Representation and Warranties. All representations
and warranties made by Borrowers and Guarantors hereunder and in any document,
certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Note.

         10.05 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of Borrowers, Guarantors and Lender, all future holders of
the Note and their respective successors and assigns, except that Borrowers may
not assign or transfer any of its rights under this Agreement without the prior
written consent of Lender.

         10.06 Severability. Should any clause, sentence, paragraph or Section
of this Agreement be judicially declared to be invalid, unenforceable or void,
such decision will not have the effect of invalidating or voiding the remainder
of this Agreement and the parties hereto agree that the part or parts of this
Agreement so held to be invalid, unenforceable or void will be deemed to have
been stricken herefrom and the remainder will have the same force and
effectiveness as if such part or parts had never been included herein.

         10.07 Descriptive Headings. The Section headings in this Agreement have
been inserted for convenience only and shall be given no substantive meaning or
significance whatsoever in construing the terms and provisions of this
Agreement.

                                       38
<PAGE>

         10.08 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of
the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts and all of
said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.

         10.09 No Liability. Lender shall not be deemed to be a partner or a
joint venturer of Borrowers or an agent or principal of Borrowers, nor shall it
be liable for the performance or Default of any party other than Lender.
Nothing, including, without limitation, any advance of any of the proceeds of
the Revolving Credit Loan, or any acceptance of any document, shall be construed
as a representation or warranty of any kind by Lender.

         10.10 Indemnification by the Borrowers. WHETHER OR NOT THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY ARE CONSUMMATED, THE BORROWERS SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD
HARMLESS THE LENDER AND ITS RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES, COUNSEL, AGENTS AND ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT (COLLECTIVELY THE
"INDEMNITEES") FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES,
DAMAGES, PENALTIES, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES
AND DISBURSEMENTS (INCLUDING ATTORNEY COSTS) OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER
WHICH MAY AT ANY TIME BE IMPOSED ON, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY SUCH
INDEMNITEE IN ANY WAY RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH (A)
THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY, ENFORCEMENT, PERFORMANCE OR ADMINISTRATION OF ANY LOAN
DOCUMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT, LETTER OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED IN CONNECTION
WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR THE CONSUMMATION OF THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, (B) ANY COMMITMENT, LOAN OR LETTER OF CREDIT
OR THE USE OR PROPOSED USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREFROM (INCLUDING ANY REFUSAL BY
THE LENDER TO HONOR A DEMAND FOR PAYMENT UNDER A LETTER OF CREDIT IF THE
DOCUMENTS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DEMAND DO NOT STRICTLY COMPLY WITH
THE TERMS OF SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT), OR (C) ANY ACTUAL OR PROSPECTIVE CLAIM,
LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING,
WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY (INCLUDING ANY INVESTIGATION
OF, PREPARATION FOR, SETTLEMENT OF, OR DEFENSE OF ANY PENDING OR THREATENED
CLAIM, INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING) AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY
INDEMNITEE IS A PARTY THERETO (ALL THE FOREGOING, COLLECTIVELY, THE "INDEMNIFIED
LIABILITIES"), WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF
THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE TO THE EXTENT SUCH CLAIM IS BROUGHT BY A THIRD
PARTY; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE
AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES,
PENALTIES, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES OR
DISBURSEMENTS ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND
NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL
MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE. NO INDEMNITEE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR
ARISING OUT OF ITS ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH

                                       39
<PAGE>

(WHETHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE CLOSING DATE). ALL AMOUNTS DUE UNDER THIS SECTION
10.10 SHALL BE PAYABLE WITHIN TEN BUSINESS DAYS AFTER DEMAND THEREFOR. THE
AGREEMENTS IN THIS SECTION SHALL SURVIVE THE TERMINATION OF THE COMMITMENTS AND
THE REPAYMENT, SATISFACTION OR DISCHARGE OF ALL THE OTHER OBLIGATIONS.

         10.11 Assignment. Neither this Agreement, nor the Loan proceeds shall
be assignable by Borrowers without the prior written consent of Lender and any
attempt at any such assignment without such consent shall be void and at the
option of Lender be deemed a Default hereunder.

         10.12 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is made for the sole
and exclusive benefit of Borrowers and Guarantors. No other person, firm,
corporation or entity shall have any right of action, claim for relief or
benefit from this Agreement, nor shall this Agreement be construed to establish
any fund, loan, or payment for the benefit of anyone not a party hereto.

         10.13 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the
respective parties hereto shall be effective and shall be deemed to have been
duly given or made, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, when deposited
in the mail, postage prepaid, certified mail, return receipt requested. The
mailing address of each party for the purpose of this Section 10.13 is as
follows:

HOT

Helen of Troy L.P.
1 Helen of Troy Plaza
El Paso, Texas 79912
Attn: Chairman, CEO and President

HOT - Barbados

Helen of Troy Limited
Whitepark House
White Park Road
P.O. Box 836 E
Bridgetown, Barbados
Attn: Chairman, CEO and President

Limited

Helen of Troy Limited
Clarendon House
2 Church Street
P.O. Box HM 1022
Hamilton HM DX, Bermuda
Attn: Chairman, CEO and President

                                       40
<PAGE>

HOT - Nevada

HOT Nevada, Inc.
639 Isbell Road, Suite 390
Reno, NV 89509
Attn: Chairman, CEO and President

HOT - NVCORP

Helen of Troy Texas Corporation
1 Helen of Troy Plaza
El Paso, Texas 79912
Attn: Chairman, CEO and President

HOTC

Helen of Troy Texas Corporation
1 Helen of Troy Plaza
El Paso, Texas 79912
Attn: Chairman, CEO and President

With a copy to:

Office of the General Counsel
1 Helen of Troy Plaza
El Paso, Texas 79912

Lender

Bank of America, N.A.
Commercial Bank Group
700 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Gary Mingle, Senior Vice President

         10.14 Joint and Several Liability. Each Borrower shall be jointly and
severally liable to the Lender for the faithful performance of all of the
obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
to which they are a party.

         10.15 Sale of Participations. Lender reserves the right in its sole
discretion, and at its sole expense, without notice to Borrowers or Guarantors,
to sell participations or assign its interest, or both, in all or any part of
the Revolving Credit Loan, the Note or the Commitment to Affiliates of the
Lender or to any other financial institution; provided that so long as no Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, Lender shall continue to be the "lead
lender" or "manager" of the Revolving Credit Loan, Note and Commitment. Lender
shall provide Borrowers with written notice of any such sales of participations
or assignments.

                                       41
<PAGE>

         10.16 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY
EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR
CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR
RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH
RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE
WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR
TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH
CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT
A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR
A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE
SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

         10.17 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS WRITTEN LOAN AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE
FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF
PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE
NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

                                       42
<PAGE>

EXECUTED TO BE EFFECTIVE as of September 22, 2003, regardless of the date
actually signed.

HELEN OF TROY L.P., a Texas limited partnership

By:  HELEN OF TROY NEVADA CORPORATION,
a Nevada corporation, General Partner

By:   /S/ Gerald J. Rubin
   -----------------------------------------------
Name: Gerald J. Rubin
Title: Chairman, CEO and President

HELEN OF TROY LIMITED, a Barbados corporation

By:   /S/ Gerald J. Rubin
   -----------------------------------------------
Name: Gerald J. Rubin
Title: Chairman, CEO and President

BORROWERS

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

By:   /S/ Gary L. Mingle
   -----------------------------------------------------------
Name: Gary L. Mingle
Title Senior Vice President

LENDER

                                       43
<PAGE>

                              BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                               HELEN OF TROY L.P.

                              HELEN OF TROY LIMITED

                           REVOLVING CREDIT LOAN NOTE

El Paso, Texas                 September 22, 2003                 $50,000,000.00

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, HELEN OF TROY L.P., a Texas limited partnership,
duly organized under the laws of the State of Texas and HELEN OF TROY LIMITED, a
Barbados corporation organized under the laws of the country of Barbados
(collectively, "Makers"), promises to pay to the order of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
("Lender") on or before September 21, 2004 (the "Termination Date"), at 700
Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas, 77002, or at such other location as Lender may
designate, in immediately available funds which at the time of payment is lawful
money of the United States of America, the lesser of (i) the principal sum of
FIFTY MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($50,000,000.00) (the "Maximum Loan Total") or
(ii) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of loans made by Lender hereunder
(each such loan being a "Loan"), which may be outstanding on the Termination
Date. Each Loan shall be due and payable on the maturity date agreed to by
Lender and Makers with respect to such Loan (the "Maturity Date"). In no event
shall any Maturity Date fall on a date after the Termination Date.

         Terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings given
to them in the Agreement (defined below).

         The Loans may be either Alternate Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans.
Makers shall pay interest on each Alternate Base Rate Loan at a rate per annum
equal to the lesser of (i) the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, or
(ii) the Highest Lawful Rate, which interest shall be due and payable quarterly,
on each Interest Payment Date. Makers shall pay interest on each Eurodollar Loan
for the Interest Period with respect thereto on the unpaid principal amount
thereof at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (i) the Eurodollar Rate (as
hereinafter defined) plus the Applicable Rate, or (ii) the Highest Lawful Rate,
which interest shall be due and payable quarterly, on each Interest Payment
Date.

         Any amount not paid when due with respect to principal (whether at
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), costs or expenses, or, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, interest, shall bear interest at a rate per
annum equal to the lesser of (i) the Default Rate, or (ii) the Highest Lawful
Rate, which interest shall be due and payable on demand.

         For purpose of this Note, "Agreement" means the Loan Agreement, dated
as of September 22, 2003, by and among Lender and Borrowers, and all exhibits
appended thereto, as the same may be from time to time amended, supplemented or
modified.

         The unpaid principal balance of this Note at any time shall be the
total of all Loans made by Lender to or for the benefit of Makers which are
outstanding on the Business Day on which such borrowing is to be made, less (i)
the amount of all payments of principal made hereon by or for the account of
Makers and (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Letters of Credit

                                       44
<PAGE>

which are outstanding on the Business Day on which such borrowing is to be made.
Lender's records shall serve as presumptive evidence of any and all amounts
outstanding hereunder.

         Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, as defined in the
Agreement, any or all of the following actions may be taken by Lender: (a)
declare the Commitment, as defined in the Agreement, to be terminated forthwith,
whereupon the Commitment shall immediately terminate; (b) declare the unpaid
principal balance of all Loans, all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all
other amounts payable under this Note to be forthwith due and payable in full,
without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of
actual acceleration, or further notice of any kind, except as required by the
Agreement, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Makers, except as
otherwise expressly provided herein; (c) require that the Makers Cash
Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding
Amount thereof); and (d) exercise all rights and remedies available to it under
the Loan Documents or applicable law.

         Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, as defined in the
Agreement, if this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection, or
collected through probate or bankruptcy proceedings, or if suit is brought on
the same, Makers agree to pay attorneys' fees and all costs and expenses.

         This Note is issued by Makers to evidence Loans outstanding from time
to time not to exceed the Maximum Loan Total in the aggregate pursuant to a
$50,000,000.00 revolving line of credit (the "Revolving Line of Credit")
extended by Lender to Makers. Lender is not obligated in any way to make any
Loan or Loans, or any advances hereunder, except as provided in the Agreement,
and this Note is subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

         Makers warrant and represent to Lender, and to all other owners and/or
holders of any indebtedness evidenced hereby, that advances evidenced by this
Note are for business, commercial, investment or other similar purpose and not
primarily for personal, family, household or agricultural use, as such terms are
used in Chapter 342 of the Texas Finance Code.

         Makers warrant and represent to Lender and to all other owners or
holders of this Note that no amounts advanced or borrowed hereunder shall be
used for the purchase or carrying of any "margin stock" within the meaning of
Regulation "U" of the FRB, as in effect on the date hereon.

         Except as otherwise specified in this Note, Makers and any and all
co-makers, endorsers, guarantors and sureties hereby severally waive
presentment, demand, notice of default, notice of intent to accelerate, notice
of acceleration, and all other demands and notices of any nature or type
whatsoever, except as required by the Agreement in connection with the delivery,
acceptance, performance, default, dishonor or enforcement of, or entry of
judgment in connection with this Note, and further waive the filing of suit
hereon for the purpose of fixing liability.

         This Note shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Texas and (except as provided hereinabove with regard to applicability
of federal law) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with such laws.

         Anything in this Note to the contrary notwithstanding, Makers shall
never be required to

                                       45
<PAGE>

pay unearned interest on this Note and shall never be required to pay interest
on this Note at a rate in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, and if the
effective rate of interest which would otherwise be payable under this Note
would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, or if the holder of the Note shall receive
any unearned interest or shall receive monies that are deemed to constitute
interest which would increase the effective rate of interest payable under this
Note to a rate in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, then (i) the amount of
interest which would otherwise be payable under this Note shall be reduced to
the amount allowed under applicable law, and (ii) any unearned interest paid by
Makers or any interest paid by Makers in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate
shall, at the option of the holder of this Note, be either refunded to Makers or
credited on the principal of this Note. It is further agreed that, without
limitation of the foregoing, all calculations of the rate of interest contracted
for, charged or received by Lender or any holder of this Note that are made for
the purpose of determining whether such rate exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate
shall be made, to the extent permitted by usury laws applicable to Lender (now
or hereafter enacted), by amortizing, prorating and spreading in equal parts
during the period of the full stated term of the Loans evidenced by this Note
all interest at any time contracted for, charged or received by Lender in
connection therewith.

          EACH MAKER HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY
CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS NOTE, ANY LOAN
DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS
OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO THIS NOTE, ANY LOAN
DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING
OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND
EACH MAKER HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR
CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT THE
LENDER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT
AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH MAKER TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY.

         THIS NOTE AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

                                       46
<PAGE>

EXECUTED TO BE EFFECTIVE as of September 22, 2003, regardless of the date
actually signed.

HELEN OF TROY LP., a Texas limited partnership

By: HELEN OF TROY NEVADA CORPORATION,
a Nevada corporation, General Partner

By:   /S/ Gerald J. Rubin
     ---------------------------------------------------------
Name: Gerald J. Rubin
Title: Chairman, CEO and President

HELEN OF TROY LIMITED, a Barbados corporation

By:   /S/ Gerald J. Rubin
   -----------------------------------------------------------
Name: Gerald J. Rubin
Title: Chairman, CEO and President

MAKERS

Acknowledged for purposes of notice pursuant to Texas law by:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

By:   /S/ Gary L. Mingle
    ----------------------------------------------------------
Name: Gary L. Mingle
Title: Senior Vice President

                                       47<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                              SPARTECH CORPORATION
                                     BY-LAWS
                    Amended and Restated As of June 11, 1998
                            Amended September 7, 2000
                            Amended December 6, 2000
                              Amended June 5, 2003

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

                                    ARTICLE I
                                     Offices

         Section 1. The registered office shall be in the City of Wilmington,
County of New Castle, State of Delaware.

         Section 2. The corporation may also have offices at such other places
both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from
time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.

                                   ARTICLE II
                            Meetings of Stockholders

         Section 1. All meetings of the stockholders shall be held in St. Louis
County, Missouri at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of
Directors, or at such other place either within or without the State of Delaware
as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or the
officer calling the meeting and stated in the notice of the meeting.

         Section 2. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held on the second
Wednesday of March if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the
next Business Day following, at 10:00 a.m. or at such other date and time as
shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in
the notice of the meeting, at which they shall elect by a plurality vote a Board
of Directors, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before
the meeting. "Business Day" means any day on which the banks in New York City
are not authorized or required to remain closed and on which the New York Stock
Exchange is not closed.

         Section 3. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the
corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of
stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the
meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each
stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.
Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose
germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least
ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the
meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the
meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.
The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting
during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is
present.

         Section 4. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or
purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the certificate of
incorporation, may be called by the chief executive officer and shall be called
by the chief executive officer or the secretary at the request in writing of a
majority of the Board of Directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders
owning a

                                       7
<PAGE>

majority in amount of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or
purposes of the proposed meeting.

         Section 5. Written notice of every meeting of the stockholders stating
the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting,
the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than
sixty days before the date of the meeting.

         Section 6. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders
shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

         Section 7. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the
transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the
certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or
represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to
vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to
adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at
the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned
meeting, at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
notified. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the
adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of
the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to
vote at the meeting.

         Section 8. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the
holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or
represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting,
unless the question is one upon which by express provisions of the statutes or
of the certificate of incorporation, a different vote is required in which case
such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

         Section 9. Each stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders
be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of the capital
stock having voting power held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted
on after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer
period.

         Section 10. Whenever the vote of stockholders at a meeting thereof is
required or permitted to be taken for or in connection with any corporate
action, by any provision of the statutes, the meeting and vote of stockholders
may be dispensed with if all of the stockholders who would have been entitled to
vote upon the action of such meeting were held shall consent in writing to such
corporate action being taken; or if the certificate of incorporation authorizes
the action to be taken with the written consent of the holders of less than all
of the stock who would have been entitled to vote upon the action if a meeting
were held, then on the written consent of the stockholders having not less than
such percentage of the total number of votes as may be authorized in the
certificate of incorporation; provided that in no case shall the written consent
be by the holders of stock having less than the minimum percentage of the total
vote required by statute for the proposed corporate action, and provided that
prompt notice must be given to all stockholders of the taking of corporate
action without a meeting and by less than unanimous written consent.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE III
                                    Directors

                      Number, Qualification, Term of Office

         Section 1. The number of directors shall not be less than four nor more
than 15, the exact number of directors to be fixed from time to time only by the
vote of a majority of the entire Board. No decrease in the number of directors
shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

         The directors shall be divided into three classes: Class A, Class B and
Class C. Such classes shall be as nearly equal in number as possible. At each
annual election, the directors chosen to succeed those whose terms then expire
shall be identified as being of the same class as the directors they succeed and
shall be elected for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting or
thereafter when their respective successors in each case are elected and have
qualified. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease in
directors shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain all classes
as nearly equal in number as possible and any individual director elected to any
class shall hold office for a term which shall coincide with the term of such
class.

         The Board may, by the vote of a majority of the entire Board, prescribe
qualifications of candidates for the office of director of the Corporation, but
no director then in office shall be disqualified from office as a result of the
adoption of such qualifications.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any preferred
stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting as a class or
otherwise, to elect directors at the annual meeting of stockholders, the then
authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be increased by the
number of the additional directors so to be elected, and at such meeting the
holder of such preferred stock shall be entitled, as a class or otherwise, to
elect such additional directors. Any directors so elected shall hold office
until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their rights to hold such
office terminate pursuant to the provisions of such preferred stock, whichever
is earlier. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply notwithstanding the
maximum number of directors hereinabove set forth.

                              Removal of Directors

         Section 2. Directors of the Corporation may be removed solely in
accordance with the provisions of Article FOURTEENTH of the Certificate of
Incorporation.

                                    Vacancies

         Section 3. If the office of any director becomes vacant at any time by
reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office
or otherwise, or if any new directorship is created by any increase in the
authorized number of directors, a majority of the directors then in office,
although less than a quorum, or the sole remaining director, may choose a
successor or fill the newly created directorship, and the director so chosen
shall hold office, subject to the provisions of these By-laws, until the
expiration of the term of the class to which he has been chosen and until his
successor shall be duly elected and qualified.

                                     Powers

         Section 4. The business of the corporation shall be managed by its
Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the corporation and do
all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the certificate of
incorporation or by these By-laws directed or required to be exercised or done
by the stockholders.

<PAGE>

                       Meetings of the Board of Directors

         Section 5. The Board of Directors of the corporation may hold meetings,
both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.

         Section 6. The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors
shall be held at such time and place as may be fixed by the vote of the
stockholders at the annual meeting and no notice of such meeting shall be
necessary to the newly elected directors in order legally to constitute the
meeting, provided a quorum shall be present. In the event of the failure of the
stockholders to fix the time or place of such first meeting of the newly elected
Board of Directors, or in the event such meeting is not held at the time and
place so fixed by the stockholders, the meeting may be held at such time and
place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for
special meetings of the Board of Directors, or as shall be specified in a
written waiver signed by all of the directors.

         Section 7. Additional regular or special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by the chief executive officer. A special meeting of the
Board of Directors shall be called by either the chief executive officer or
secretary upon the written request of any two directors.

         Section 8. Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be
given to all directors, in the manner provided in Article IV, not less than 72
hours prior to such meeting in the case of a physical meeting, or not less than
24 hours prior to such meeting in the case of a telephonic meeting. Neither the
business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting
of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of such meeting."

         Section 9. Any director may participate in any meeting of the Board, or
of any committee of which the director is a member, by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other; and participation in a meeting
in such manner shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

         Section 10. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the membership
of the whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and
the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is
a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise
specifically provided by statute, by the certificate of incorporation, or as
otherwise provided in this Article. If a quorum shall not be present at any
meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the
meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the
meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

         Section 11. Any transaction requiring a vote by the Board of Directors
must not only satisfy the requirements as set forth in this Article, but also
must satisfy any and all requirements contained in the certificate of
incorporation of the corporation and all statutory requirements.

                         Board Action Without A Meeting

         Section 12. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of
incorporation or these By-laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken
without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be,
consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the
minutes of proceedings of the Board or committees.

                             Committees of Directors

         Section 13. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a
majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to
consist of two or more of the directors of the corporation. The Board may
designate one or more directors as alternate

<PAGE>

members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at
any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the
resolution, shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in
the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may exercise
the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be
affixed to all papers which may require it; provided, however, that in the
absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of
any such absent or disqualified member. Such committee or committees shall have
such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted
by the Board of Directors.

         Section 14. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings
and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

                            Compensation of Directors

         Section 15. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of
attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum
for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as
director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the
corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members
of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending
committee meetings.

                           Independence of Directors

         Section 16. In determining the number of directors to constitute the
Board of Directors of the corporation, and in selecting nominees for election to
the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors or the committee thereof making
such determination or selection shall ensure that a majority of the Board of
Directors will be comprised of directors who are "independent" as defined from
time to time in the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission and any national securities exchange on which the securities
of the corporation are listed.

         Section 17. The Board of Directors shall schedule regular executive
sessions, at which times the non-management directors shall meet without the
presence of the corporation's management. For the purposes of this Bylaw,
"non-management" directors means directors who are not "officers" (as defined in
Rule 16a-1(f) or a successor rule of the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission) of the corporation. The presiding director at such executive
sessions shall be, in the following order of precedence:

         First, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if a non-management
         director;

         Second,the director, if any, who shall have been formally designated by
         the Board of Directors as "Lead Director" or "Presiding Director;"

         Third, the Chairman of the Governance Committee;

         Fourth, the Chairman of the Audit Committee;

         Fifth, such other non-management director as shall be chosen by the
         directors present at the executive session.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                     Notice

         Section 1. Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the
certificate of incorporation or of these By-laws, notice is required to be given
to any stockholder, it shall not be

<PAGE>

construed to mean personal notice unless expressly stated, but such notice may
be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such stockholder at his address as it
appears on the records of the corporation, with postage hereon prepaid, and such
notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited
in the United States mail.

         Notices to directors may be given by telephone or facsimile
transmission. Notice by telephone shall be deemed to be given when the call is
either received personally by the director or received in the director's
personal mailbox in a voice mail system at a number furnished by the director
for such purpose.

         Notice by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be given upon
confirmation by the sending machine of a completed transmission to a number
furnished by the director for such purpose; provided that if the receiving
location is at a place other than the director's residence and is either sent on
a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday or confirmed after 5:00 p.m. local time at
the place of receipt it shall be deemed to be given on the next business day.

         Section 2. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the
provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these
By-laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled
to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed
equivalent thereto. The attendance of a person at any meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the person attends such meeting
for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because
the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and so objects at the beginning
of the meeting.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                    Officers

         Section 1. The executive officers of the corporation shall be elected
by the Board of Directors and shall be a chairman of the board (who shall also
be a director of the corporation), a president, one or more vice presidents (who
may be designated as executive or senior vice presidents or given such
additional designations as the Board may determine), a chief financial officer,
however titled, a principal accounting officer, however titled, and a secretary.
Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the certificate of
incorporation or these By-laws otherwise provide.

         Section 2. The Board of Directors shall elect the executive officers
annually, but vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any
meeting of the Board of Directors.

         Section 3. The salaries of all executive officers of the corporation
shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

         Section 4. The Board of Directors may appoint or authorize the
president to appoint other officers and agents with such powers and duties as
the Board of Directors or the president shall determine.

         Section 5. The officers of the corporation shall hold office until
their successors are chosen and qualify or until their death, resignation or
removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be
removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of
Directors.

         Section 6. The officers of the corporation shall each have the
following powers and duties generally pertaining to their respective offices, as
well as such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the
Board of Directors:

<PAGE>

                  a. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD (AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD). The
         chairman of the board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of
         Directors. In the absence of the chairman of the board or in the event
         of his inability or refusal to act, the vice chairman of the board (if
         any) shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the chairman
         of the board.

                  b. PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The president shall
         be the chief executive officer of the corporation. He shall preside at
         all meetings of the stockholders; shall have general and active
         management of the business of the corporation; shall see that all
         orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into
         effect; and in general shall have all powers and authority and perform
         all duties as are usually vested in the president and chief executive
         officer of a corporation, as well as such other powers, authority and
         duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to
         time. In the absence of the chairman of the board and the vice chairman
         of the board or in the event of their inability or refusal to act, the
         president shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the
         chairman of the board. The president may execute bonds, mortgages and
         other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation,
         except where required or permitted by law or these By-laws to be
         otherwise signed and executed.

                  c. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT. The executive vice presidents
         shall have such powers, authority and duties as may be prescribed by
         the Board of Directors or the president from time to time.

                  In the absence of the president or his inability or refusal to
         act, the executive vice president shall exercise the powers and perform
         the duties of the president. The executive vice president may execute
         bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal
         of the corporation, except where required or permitted by law or these
         By-laws to be otherwise signed and executed.

                  If there is more than one executive vice president, the
         executive vice presidents shall have such authority in the order
         determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such
         determination, then in the order of their election or the order in
         which their names appear in the minutes of the meeting or written
         consent documenting their election).

                  d. OTHER VICE PRESIDENTS. The other vice presidents, if any,
         shall each possess powers and perform such duties, in addition to those
         prescribed in these By-laws, as the Board of Directors and/or the
         president may from time to time determine, and each shall have
         supervision over such department or division of the corporation's
         business as the chairman of the board or the president may from time to
         time assign to him. In the absence of the executive vice presidents or
         in the event of their inability or refusal to act, the senior vice
         presidents, and after them the other vice presidents, if any, in the
         order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such
         determination, then in the order of their election or the order in
         which their names appear in the minutes of the meeting or written
         consent documenting their election) shall exercise the powers and
         perform the duties of the executive vice presidents.

                  e. SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY. The secretary shall
         attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the
         stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the
         corporation and of the Board of Directors in a book to be kept for that
         purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when
         required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings
         of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and
         shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of
         Directors, the chief executive officer, the chairman of the board, the
         vice chairman of the board, or the president, under whose supervision
         he shall be. He

<PAGE>

         shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation and he, or
         an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any
         instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his
         signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The Board of
         Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the
         seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing of his signature.

                  The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, the
         assistant secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors
         (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their
         election or the order in which their names appear in the minutes of the
         meeting or written consent documenting their election), shall, in the
         absence of the secretary or in the event of his inability or refusal to
         act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and
         shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board
         of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

                  f. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER. The chief
         financial officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and
         securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and
         disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall deposit
         all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of
         the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board
         of Directors.

                  He shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be
         ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
         disbursements, and shall render to the chief executive officer,
         chairman of the board, vice chairman of the board, and president, and
         the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of
         Directors so requires, an account of all his transactions in his office
         and of the financial condition of the corporation.

                  If required by the Board of Directors, he shall give the
         corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as
         shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful
         performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the
         corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal
         from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property
         of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to
         the corporation.

                  The assistant treasurer, or if there shall be more than one,
         the assistant treasurers in the order determined by the Board of
         Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of
         their election or the order in which their names appear in the minutes
         of the meeting or written consent documenting their election), shall,
         in the absence of the chief financial officer or in the event of his
         inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers
         of the chief financial officer and shall perform such other duties and
         have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time
         prescribe.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                              Certificates of Stock

         Section 1. Every holder of stock in the corporation shall be entitled
to have a certificate certifying the number of shares owned by him in the
corporation, signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, (1) the chairman
or vice chairman of the Board of Directors, the president or a vice president,
and (2) the treasurer or vice president-finance, the secretary, an assistant
treasurer or an assistant secretary.

         If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of
stock or more than one series of any class, the designations, preferences and
relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock
or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such
preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face
or

<PAGE>

back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such
class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section
202 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing
requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificates
which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a
statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder
who so requests the designations, preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and
the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or
rights.

         Section 2. Where a certificate is countersigned (1) by a transfer agent
other than the corporation or its employee, or (2) by a registrar other than the
corporation or its employee, the signatures of the officers of the corporation
may be facsimiles. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile
signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such
officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation
with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of issue.

                                Lost Certificates

         Section 3. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or
certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates
theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming
the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such
issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its
discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the
owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his
legal representatives, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require
and/or to give the corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the
certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

                               Transfers of Stock

         Section 4. Upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of
the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by
proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be
the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled
thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its book.

                               Fixing Record Date

         Section 5. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any
adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or any
distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock of for the purpose of any
other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date,
which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of
such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action. A
determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned
meeting.

                             Registered Stockholders

         Section 6. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive
right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive
dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and
assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of

<PAGE>

shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to
interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not
it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by
the laws of Delaware.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                               General Provisions
                                    Dividends

         Section 1. Dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation, subject
to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, if any, may be declared
by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law.
Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock,
subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation.

         Section 2. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out
of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the
directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a
reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for
repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other
purpose as the directors shall think conductive to the interest of the
corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the
manner in which it was created.

                                Annual Statement

         Section 3. The Board of Directors shall present at each annual meeting,
and at any special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the
stockholders, a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the
corporation.

                                     Checks

         Section 4. All checks or demands for money and notes of the corporation
shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as
the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

                                   Fiscal Year

        Section 5. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by
resolution of the Board of Directors.

                                      Seal

         Section 6. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of
the corporation, the year of its organization and the words "Corporate Seal,
Delaware." The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be
impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                   Amendments

         Sections 1, 2 and 3 of Article III and this Article VIII of the By-laws
may not be amended, modified or rescinded except by the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least 80 percent of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, considered
for such purpose as one class, and, in addition, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, considered
for such purpose as one class, which are not beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any corporation, person or other entity which is the beneficial
owner (as defined in Article THIRTEENTH of the Certificate of Incorporation),
directly or indirectly, of 10 percent or more of the outstanding shares of such
capital stock, considered for

<PAGE>

such purpose as one class. To the extent not inconsistent with the foregoing,
all other provisions of the By-laws may be amended, modified and rescinded and
new By-laws may be adopted, (i) by the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation
entitled to vote thereon, or (ii) by the Board of Directors; provided, that any
By-law adopted, amended or modified by the Board of Directors may be amended,
modified or rescinded by the vote of the stockholders prescribed in clause (i)
above.

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