Document:

<PAGE>

================================================================================

                  SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                in the amount of

                                  $200,000,000

                                      among

                    EARLE M. JORGENSEN HOLDING COMPANY, INC.,

                           EARLE M. JORGENSEN COMPANY,

                         VARIOUS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

                                       and

                             BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,

                                    as Agent

                                       and

                         DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

                      as Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner

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

                            Dated as of March 3, 1993
                    Amended and Restated as of March 24, 1998
              and further Amended and Restated as of April 12, 2002

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

================================================================================

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
ARTICLE 1. Definitions ...................................................     1

   1.1  General Definitions ..............................................     1
   1.2  Accounting Terms and Determinations ..............................    25
   1.3  Other Defined Terms ..............................................    26

ARTICLE 2. Revolving Loans ...............................................    26

   2.1  Commitments ......................................................    26
   2.2  Determination of Borrowing Base ..................................    26
   2.3  Borrowing Mechanics ..............................................    27
   2.4  Settlements Among the Payments Administrator and the Lenders .....    29
   2.5  Mandatory Payment; Mandatory Reduction of Commitments ............    31
   2.6  Payments and Computations ........................................    32
   2.7  Maintenance of Account ...........................................    33
   2.8  Statement of Account .............................................    33
   2.9  Taxes ............................................................    33
   2.10 Sharing of Payments ..............................................    35
   2.11 Increases in Total Commitments; Addition of Lenders ..............    35

ARTICLE 3. Letters of Credit .............................................    36

   3.1  Issuance of Letters of Credit ....................................    36
   3.2  Terms of Letters of Credit .......................................    37
   3.3  Lenders' Participation ...........................................    37
   3.4  Notice of Issuance ...............................................    37
   3.5  Payment of Amount Drawn Under Letters of Credit ..................    38
   3.6  Payment by Lenders ...............................................    38
   3.7  Nature of Issuing Bank's Duties ..................................    39
   3.8  Obligations Absolute .............................................    39

ARTICLE 4. Interest, Fees and Expenses ...................................    40

   4.1  Interest on Eurodollar Rate Loans ................................    40
   4.2  Interest on Base Rate Loans ......................................    41
   4.3  Notice of Continuation and Notice of Conversion ..................    41
   4.4  Interest After Default ...........................................    42
   4.5  Reimbursement of Expenses ........................................    43
   4.6  Unused Line Fee ..................................................    43
   4.7  Letter of Credit Fee; Facing Fee .................................    43
   4.8  Authorization to Charge Account ..................................    44
   4.9  Indemnification in Certain Events ................................    44
   4.10 Calculations .....................................................    45
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                                       i

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<TABLE>

<S>                                                                        <C>
   4.11 Change of Applicable Lending Office ...............................   45
   4.12 Extension Fee .....................................................   45

ARTICLE 5. Conditions Precedent ...........................................   46

   5.1  Conditions to Initial Loans and Letters of Credit on the
        Restatement Effective Date ........................................   46
        (a) Execution of Agreement; Notes .................................   46
        (b) Material Adverse Change .......................................   46
        (c) Officer's Certificate .........................................   46
        (d) Opinions of Counsel ...........................................   46
        (e) Corporate Proceedings .........................................   47
        (f) Existing Credit Agreement .....................................   47
        (g) Approvals .....................................................   47
        (h) Litigation ....................................................   47
        (i) Acknowledgment, Consent and Amendment .........................   47
        (j) Liens .........................................................   48
        (k) Insurance Policies ............................................   48
        (l) Existing Indebtedness Agreements; Shareholders' Agreements;
            Management Agreements; Employment Agreements; Tax Sharing
            Agreements ....................................................   48
        (m) Payment of Fees ...............................................   49
        (n) Borrowing Base Certificate ....................................   49
        (o) Consent Letter ................................................   49
   5.2 Conditions to Each Revolving Loan and Letter of Credit .............   49

ARTICLE 6. Representations and Warranties .................................   50

   6.1  Corporate Status ..................................................   51
   6.2  Corporate Power and Authority .....................................   51
   6.3  No Violation ......................................................   51
   6.4  Litigation ........................................................   51
   6.5  Use of Proceeds ...................................................   51
   6.6  Governmental Approvals ............................................   52
   6.7  Investment Company Act ............................................   52
   6.8  Public Utility Holding Company Act ................................   52
   6.9  True and Complete Disclosure ......................................   52
   6.10 Financial Condition; Financial Statements .........................   53
   6.11 Locations of Offices, Records and Inventory .......................   53
   6.12 Fictitious Business Names .........................................   54
   6.13 Security Interests ................................................   54
   6.14 Tax Returns and Payments ..........................................   54
   6.15 Compliance with ERISA .............................................   54
   6.16 Subsidiaries ......................................................   55
   6.17 Patents, etc ......................................................   55
   6.18 Compliance with Statutes, etc .....................................   55
   6.19 Properties ........................................................   56
</TABLE>

                                       ii

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<TABLE>

<S>                                                                        <C>
   6.20 Labor Relations; Collective Bargaining Agreements .................   56
   6.21 Restrictions on Subsidiaries ......................................   57
   6.22 Conduct of Business ...............................................   57
   6.23 Status of Accounts ................................................   57
   6.24 Material Contracts ................................................   57

ARTICLE 7. Affirmative Covenants ..........................................   58

   7.1  Financial Information .............................................   58
   7.2  Inventory .........................................................   61
   7.3  Corporate Franchises ..............................................   61
   7.4  Compliance with Statutes, etc .....................................   61
   7.5  ERISA .............................................................   62
   7.6  Good Repair .......................................................   63
   7.7  Books and Records .................................................   63
   7.8  Collateral Records ................................................   63
   7.9  Security Interests ................................................   64
   7.10 Insurance; Casualty Loss ..........................................   64
   7.11 Taxes .............................................................   65
   7.12 End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters ..............................   65
   7.13 Further Assurances ................................................   65
   7.14 Maintenance of Corporate Separateness .............................   65

ARTICLE 8. Negative Covenants .............................................   66

   8.1  Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Purchase of Assets, etc. ...........   66
   8.2  Liens .............................................................   67
   8.3  Indebtedness ......................................................   69
   8.4  Capital Expenditures ..............................................   70
   8.5  Investments .......................................................   70
   8.6  Dividends, etc ....................................................   71
   8.7  Transactions with Affiliates ......................................   72
   8.8  Changes in Business ...............................................   73
   8.9  Working Capital ...................................................   73
   8.10 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio .......................................   73
   8.11 Limitation on Voluntary Payments and Modifications of
        Indebtedness; Modifications of Governing Documents
        and Preferred Stock; etc ..........................................   73
   8.12 Issuance of Subsidiary Stock ......................................   74
   8.13 Limitation on Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries .................   74
   8.14 No Additional Bank Accounts .......................................   75
   8.15 No Excess Cash ....................................................   75
   8.16 Additional Negative Pledges .......................................   75

ARTICLE 9. Events of Default and Remedies .................................   75

   9.1  Events of Default .................................................   75
        (a) Payments ......................................................   75

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                                       iii

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<TABLE>

<S>                                                                        <C>
        (b) Representations, etc. .........................................   76
        (c) Covenants .....................................................   76
        (d) Default Under Other Agreements ................................   76
        (f) ERISA .........................................................   77
        (g) Collateral Documents ..........................................   77
        (h) Guaranty ......................................................   77
        (i) Judgments, Etc. ...............................................   77

ARTICLE 10. The Agent .....................................................   78

  10.1  Appointment .......................................................   78
  10.2  Nature of Duties of the Agent .....................................   79
  10.3  Lack of Reliance on the Agent .....................................   79
  10.4  Certain Rights of the Agent .......................................   79
  10.5  Reliance by the Agent .............................................   80
  10.6  Indemnification of the Agent ......................................   80
  10.7  The Agent in its Individual Capacity ..............................   80
  10.8  Holders of Notes ..................................................   80
  10.9  Successor Agent ...................................................   80
  10.10 Collateral Matters ................................................   81
  10.11 Actions with Respect to Defaults ..................................   82
  10.12 Delivery of Information ...........................................   82

ARTICLE 11. Miscellaneous .................................................   83

  11.1  Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers ...............................   83
  11.2  Jury Trial ........................................................   84
  11.3  Governing Law .....................................................   84
  11.4  Delays:  Partial Exercise of Remedies .............................   84
  11.5  Notices ...........................................................   84
  11.6  Benefit of Agreement ..............................................   84
  11.7  Confidentiality ...................................................   87
  11.8  Indemnification ...................................................   88
  11.9  Entire Agreement; Successors and Assigns ..........................   89
  11.10 Amendment or Waiver ...............................................   89
  11.11 Nonliability of Agent and Lenders .................................   89
  11.12 Independent Nature of Lenders' Rights .............................   89
  11.13 Counterparts ......................................................   89
  11.14 Effectiveness .....................................................   90
  11.15 Severability ......................................................   90
  11.16 Headings Descriptive ..............................................   90
  11.17 Maximum Rate ......................................................   90
  11.18 Right of Setoff ...................................................   91
  11.19 Amendment and Restatement; Termination of Existing Credit
        Agreement .........................................................   91
  11.20 Additions of New Lenders; Conversion of Original Loans of
        Continuing Lenders; Termination of Commitments of
        Non-Continuing Lenders ............................................   91
</TABLE>

                                       iv

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<S>                                                                        <C>

  11.21 Revolving Credit Agreement, Intercreditor Agreement ...............   92

ARTICLE 12. Guaranty ......................................................   92

  12.1  The Guaranty ......................................................   92
  12.2  Bankruptcy ........................................................   93
  12.3  Nature of Liability ...............................................   93
  12.4  Independent Obligation ............................................   93
  12.5  Authorization .....................................................   93
  12.6  Reliance ..........................................................   94
  12.7  Subordination .....................................................   94
  12.8  Waiver ............................................................   95
  12.9  Limitation on Enforcement .........................................   95
</TABLE>

SCHEDULE I      List of Lenders
SCHEDULE II     Existing Indebtedness
SCHEDULE III    Existing Letters of Credit
SCHEDULE IV     Litigation; Environmental Matters
SCHEDULE V      Governmental Approvals
SCHEDULE VI     Chief Executive Offices, Records Locations and
                Inventory and Equipment Locations
SCHEDULE VII    Fictitious Business Names
SCHEDULE VIII   Tax Matters
SCHEDULE IX     Subsidiaries
SCHEDULE X      Real Properties
SCHEDULE XI     Collective Bargaining Agreements
SCHEDULE XII    Insurance
SCHEDULE XIII   Permitted Property Sales
SCHEDULE XIV    Permitted Liens
SCHEDULE XV     Investments
SCHEDULE XVI    Transactions with Affiliates
SCHEDULE XVII   Bank Accounts
EXHIBIT A       Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement
EXHIBIT B       Form of Collateral Access Agreement
EXHIBIT C       Form of Revolving Note
EXHIBIT D       Form of Notice of Borrowing
EXHIBIT E-1     Form of Collection Bank Agreement
EXHIBIT E-2     Form of Concentration Account Agreement
EXHIBIT F       Form of Letter of Credit Request
EXHIBIT G-1     Form of Notice of Continuation
EXHIBIT G-2     Form of Notice of Conversion
EXHIBIT H       Form of Opinion of Katten, Muchin & Zavis
EXHIBIT I       [intentionally omitted]
EXHIBIT J       Form of Acknowledgment, Consent and Amendment
EXHIBIT K       Form of Consent Letter
EXHIBIT L       [intentionally omitted]

                                       v

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT M       Form of Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT N       Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
EXHIBIT O       Form of Notice of Assignment

                                       vi

<PAGE>

           THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of March
3, 1993, and amended and restated as of March 24, 1998, and further amended and
restated as of April 12, 2002, among EARLE M. JORGENSEN HOLDING COMPANY, INC., a
Delaware corporation ("Holding"), EARLE M. JORGENSEN COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"), each of those financial institutions listed from
time to time on Schedule I hereto (each a "Lender" and collectively, the
"Lenders"), BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, acting as Agent in the manner and to the
extent described in Article 10 hereof, and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as
Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise
defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.1 hereof.

                              W I T N E S S E T H :
                              - - - - - - - - - -

           WHEREAS, Holding, the Borrower, each of the Lenders, and Bankers
Trust Company, as Agent, are party to a Credit Agreement, dated as of March 3,
1993, amended and restated as of March 24, 1998 (as the same has been amended,
modified or supplemented prior to, but not including, the Restatement Effective
Date, the "Existing Credit Agreement");

           WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to amend and restate the Existing
Credit Agreement as herein provided;

           WHEREAS, the Borrower wishes to obtain a credit facility to (i)
refinance the Existing Credit Agreement, (ii) pay certain fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the Transaction and (iii) provide for the Borrower's
general corporate purposes;

           WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein, the Lenders are willing to make available to the Borrower the credit
facilities provided for herein;

           NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1.

                                   Definitions
                                   -----------

           1.1  General Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall
                -------------------
have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

           Accounts shall mean, with respect to any Person, all present and
           --------
future accounts, contract rights and other rights to payment for goods sold or
leased (whether or not delivered) or for services rendered which are not
evidenced by an instrument or chattel paper, whether or not they have been
earned by performance, and any letter of credit, guarantee, security interest or
other security issued or granted to secure payment by an account debtor.

<PAGE>

           Acknowledgment, Consent and Amendment shall have the meaning given to
           -------------------------------------
such term in Section 5.1(m) hereof.

           Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall mean, for any Interest Rate
           ------------------------
Determination Date with respect to an Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) the offered quotation (rounded
                                     --------
upward to the nearest 1/16 of one percent) to first class banks in the interbank
Eurodollar market by BTCo for U.S. dollar deposits of amounts in same day funds
comparable to the principal amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan of BTCo for which
the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate is then being determined with maturities comparable
to such Interest Period as of approximately 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on
such Interest Rate Determination Date by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% minus
                                      --                                 -----
the stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements (including, without
limitation, any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other reserves)
applicable on such Interest Rate Determination Date to any member bank of the
Federal Reserve System in respect of "Eurocurrency liabilities" as defined in
Regulation D (or any successor category of liabilities under Regulation D).

           Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any Person, any entity which
           ---------
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person or any Person who is a
director or officer of such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person. For
purposes of this definition, "control" shall mean the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to (i) vote ten percent (10%) or more of the securities
having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or
(ii) direct or cause the direction of management and policies of a business,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise and
either alone or in conjunction with others or any group. Neither any Lender nor
any person controlling any Lender nor any of their respective Subsidiaries shall
be treated as an Affiliate of the Credit Parties or their respective
Subsidiaries.

           Agent shall mean BTCo in its capacity as Agent for the Lenders
           -----
hereunder, and shall include any successor thereto as Agent, appointed as such
pursuant to Section 10.9.

           Amendment to Holding Restructuring Agreement shall mean the Amendment
           --------------------------------------------
to Holding Restructuring Agreement entered into by and between Holding and KIA
IV on March 24, 1998.

           Applicable Lending Office shall mean, with respect to each Lender,
           -------------------------
such Lender's Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan,
and such Lender's Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Loan.

           Applicable Margin shall mean a percentage per annum equal to (i) in
           -----------------
the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate plus 2.50% and
(ii) in the case of Base Rate Loans, the Base Rate plus 1.25%

           Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall mean an assignment and
           -----------------------------------
assumption agreement entered into by an assigning Lender and an assignee Lender,
and accepted by the Syndication Agent, in accordance with Section 11.6,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

                                       2

<PAGE>

           Auditors shall mean a nationally-recognized firm of independent
           --------
public accountants selected by the Borrower and reasonably satisfactory to the
Agent. For purposes of this Credit Agreement, the Borrower's current firm of
independent public accountants, Ernst & Young LLP, shall be deemed to be
satisfactory to the Agent.

           Available Amount shall mean, as of any date of calculation thereof,
           ----------------
an amount equal to zero, plus or minus the sum of all Excess Cash Flow Amounts
                         -------------
for all Excess Cash Flow Periods then ended, minus the amount of all Dividends
previously made pursuant to Sections 8.6(b)(iv) (A), (B) and (C).

           Base Rate means, at any time, the higher of (i) the Prime Rate or
           ---------
(ii) the rate which is 1/2 of 1% in excess of the Federal Funds Rate.

           Base Rate Loan shall mean each Revolving Loan bearing interest as
           --------------
provided in Section 4.2.

           Borrower shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this
           --------
Credit Agreement.

           Borrowing shall mean an incurrence of Revolving Loans of the same
           ---------
Type from all the Lenders on the same day (or resulting from Conversion or
Continuance on the same date), having, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the
same Interest Period.

           Borrowing Base shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
           --------------
2.2.

           Borrowing Base Certificate shall have the meaning given to such term
           --------------------------
in Section 7.1(e).

           BT Account shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
           ----------
2.6(c).

           BT Delaware shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.3(b).
           -----------

           BTCo shall mean Bankers Trust Company, in its individual capacity and
           ----
its successors and assigns.

           Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
           ------------
legal holiday on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized to
close. When used in connection with Eurodollar Rate Loans, this definition will
also exclude any day on which commercial banks are not open for dealing in U.S.
Dollar deposits in the New York interbank Eurodollar market.

           Capital Expenditures shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all
           --------------------
expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities (including
Capitalized Lease Obligations)) by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during that
period that, in conformity with GAAP, are, or are required to be, included in
the property, plant or equipment reflected in the balance sheet of Borrower and
its Subsidiaries; provided that Capital Expenditures shall in any event include
                  --------
the purchase price paid in connection with the acquisition of any Person
(including through the

                                       3

<PAGE>

purchase of all of the capital stock or other ownership interests of such Person
or through merger or consolidation) to the extent allocable to property, plant
and equipment.

           Capital Lease, as applied to any Person, shall mean any lease of any
           -------------
property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person or any of its
Subsidiaries as lessee which, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a
capital lease on the consolidated balance sheet of that Person.

           Capitalized Lease Obligations shall mean the obligations under
           -----------------------------
Capital Leases of Borrower and its Subsidiaries in each case taken at the amount
thereof accounted for as liabilities in accordance with GAAP.

           Cash Equivalents shall mean (i) securities issued or directly and
           ----------------
fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United
                         --------
States of America is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more
than one year from the date of acquisition, (ii) U.S. dollar denominated time
deposits, certificates of deposit and bankers acceptances of (x) any Lender that
is a domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus
in excess of $500,000,000 or (y) any bank whose short-term commercial paper
rating from Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") is at least A-1 or the
equivalent thereof or from Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") is at
least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank, an "Approved Bank"), in each
case with maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition,
(iii) commercial paper issued by any Lender or Approved Bank or by the parent
company of any Lender or Approved Bank and commercial paper issued by, or
guaranteed by, any industrial or financial company with a short-term commercial
paper rating of at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-1 or
the equivalent thereof by Moody's (any such company, an "Approved Company"), or
guaranteed by any industrial company with a long term unsecured debt rating of
at least A or A2, or the equivalent of each thereof, from S&P or Moody's, as the
case may be, and in each case maturing within one year after the date of
acquisition, (iv) any fund or funds investing solely in investments of the type
described in clauses (i) through (iii) above, and (v) repurchase obligations
with a term of not more than seven days for investments of the type described in
clause (i) above and entered into with any Lender or Approved Bank.

           Casualty Loss shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
           -------------
7.10.

           CERCLA shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
           ------
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. (S) 9601 et seq.
                                                                        -- ---

           Change of Control shall mean (x) a "Change of Control" (or any
           -----------------
similar term) under and as defined in the New Senior Note Documents or Special
Term Loan Documents, (y) the direct or indirect acquisition by any Person,
entity or "group" (as such term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial ownership
(as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
30% or more of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Borrower or
Holding, other than any such Person, entity or group which is the direct
transferee of any of the voting stock of Holding from Kelso & Company and/or its
Affiliates, officers and employees and/or the ESOP so long as Kelso & Company
and its Affiliates, officers and employees and/or the ESOP which

                                       4

<PAGE>

owned the voting stock of Holding on the Restatement Effective Date continue to
beneficially own a majority of the voting stock of Holding or (z) Holding shall
cease to own a majority of the voting stock of the Borrower.

           Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
           ----
time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

           Collateral shall mean all of the Collateral as defined in each of the
           ----------
Collateral Documents.

           Collateral Access Agreements shall mean any landlord waivers,
           ----------------------------
mortgagee waivers, bailee letters or any similar acknowledgment agreements of
any warehouseman or processor in possession of Inventory, in each case as
executed in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement, or executed pursuant
to the requirements in clause (b) of the definition of Eligible Inventory and
Section 7.7, and otherwise substantially in the form of Exhibit B with such
changes thereto as are reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

           Collateral Agent shall mean BTCo acting as collateral agent pursuant
           ----------------
to the Collateral Documents.

           Collateral Documents shall mean all contracts, instruments and other
           --------------------
documents now or hereafter executed and delivered in connection with the
Existing Credit Agreement or this Credit Agreement, pursuant to which liens and
security interests are granted to the Collateral Agent in the Collateral for the
benefit of the Lenders, including, without limitation, the Security Agreement.

           Collection Account shall mean the account established at a Collection
           ------------------
Bank pursuant to the Collection Agreements, into which funds on deposit in the
relevant Sub-Collection Account shall be transferred pursuant to Section 2.6.

           Collection Agreements shall have the meaning given to such term in
           ---------------------
Section 2.6(b)(ii).

           Collection Bank shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
           ---------------
2.6(b)(ii).

           Collective Bargaining Agreements shall mean any collective bargaining
           --------------------------------
agreements or any other similar agreement or arrangements covering the employees
of the Borrower.

           Commercial Letter of Credit shall mean any letter of credit or
           ---------------------------
similar instrument issued for the purpose of providing the primary payment
mechanism in connection with the purchase of any materials, goods or services by
the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business.

           Commitment of any Lender shall mean the amount set forth opposite
           ----------
such Lender's name on Schedule I, as such Schedule may be amended from time to
time, under the heading "Commitment," as such amount may be increased or reduced
from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Credit Agreement.

                                       5

<PAGE>

           Computation Date shall mean the last Business Day of each month and
           ----------------
any other date specified in writing by an Issuing Bank with respect to a Letter
of Credit, or any replacement or renewal thereof.

           Concentration Account shall have the meaning given to such term in
           ---------------------
Section 2.6(c).

           Concentration Account Agreement shall have the meaning given to such
           -------------------------------
term in Section 2.6(c).

           Consolidated Net Income shall mean for any period the consolidated
           -----------------------
net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period as determined in
accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior practices.

           Contingent Obligations shall mean as to any Person any obligation of
           ----------------------
such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee 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, whether or not contingent,
(a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct
or indirect security therefor, (b) 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 of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the
net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) 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 (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of
such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that
                                                         -----------------
the term Contingent Obligations shall not include (x) endorsements of
instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or (y)
guarantees made by a Person of the obligations of a Subsidiary or Affiliate of
such Person which do not constitute Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or Affiliate
and are incurred in the ordinary course of business of such Subsidiary or
Affiliate. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an
amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in
respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or
determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof
(assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such
Person in good faith.

           Continuation and Continuance each shall refer to a continuation of
           ----------------------------
Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 4.3, provided that each such term shall not
                                         --------
constitute the making of a Revolving Loan for purposes of this Credit Agreement.

           Continuing Lender shall mean each Existing Lender with a Commitment
           -----------------
under this Credit Agreement (immediately upon giving effect to this Credit
Agreement on the Restatement Effective Date).

           Convert, Conversion and Converted each shall refer to a conversion of
           ---------------------------------
Revolving Loans of one Type into Revolving Loans of another Type pursuant to
Section 4.3, provided that
             --------

                                       6

<PAGE>

each such term shall not constitute the making of a Revolving Loan for purposes
of this Credit Agreement.

           Credit Agreement shall mean this Second Amended and Restated Credit
           ----------------
Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified, restated, amended and restated,
supplemented, extended or renewed from time to time.

           Credit Documents shall mean, collectively, this Credit Agreement and
           ----------------
once executed and delivered pursuant to the terms of this Credit Agreement (or
previously executed in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement), each
Revolving Note, each Letter of Credit, each Notice of Borrowing, each Notice of
Conversion, each of the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and
all other documents, agreements, instruments and certificates now or hereafter
executed and delivered in connection herewith or therewith, as the same may be
modified, amended, extended, restated or supplemented from time to time, except
as released prior to or in accordance with the execution of this Credit
Agreement.

           Credit Event shall mean the making of a Revolving Loan or the
           ------------
issuance of a Letter of Credit.

           Credit Parties shall mean, collectively, Holding and the Borrower.
           --------------

           Current Assets shall mean all assets (including cash and Cash
           --------------
Equivalents) designated as "current" on a consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower prepared in accordance with GAAP.

           Current Liabilities shall (i) mean all liabilities designated as
           -------------------
"current" on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower prepared in accordance
with GAAP and (ii) include, without limitation, and solely for the purpose of
calculating financial covenants contained in this Credit Agreement, the balance
of Revolving Loans outstanding.

           Default shall mean an event, condition or default which with the
           -------
giving of notice, the passage of time or both would be an Event of Default.

           Defaulting Lender shall have the meaning given to such term in
           -----------------
Section 2.4(c).

           Disbursement Account shall have the meaning given to such term in
           --------------------
Section 2.3(b).

           Dividend shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 8.6.
           --------

           DOL Litigation shall mean that certain litigation filed in the United
           --------------
States District Court for the Central District of California captioned Elaine L.
                                                                       ---------
Chao v. Earle M. Jorgensen Company, et al., Civil Action No. SA 02-257.
------------------------------------------

           Dollars and the sign $ shall each mean freely transferable lawful
           -------              -
money of the United States.

                                       7

<PAGE>

     Domestic Lending Office shall mean, with respect to any Lender, the office
     -----------------------
of such Lender specified as its "Domestic Lending Office" opposite its name on
Schedule I, as such annex may be amended from time to time.

     EBITDA shall mean, in any fiscal period, the Consolidated Net Income (other
     ------
than extraordinary items of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period
but including any Inventory adjustments), (i) plus the amount of all Interest
Expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, including
amortization of any goodwill or other intangibles for such period, (ii) less
gains and plus losses attributable to any fixed asset sales, (iii) plus or minus
(as the case may be) any other non-cash charges (other than any reserve
established by the Borrower against Accounts and/or Inventory) which have been
subtracted or added, as the case may be, in calculating Consolidated Net Income
for such period, all determined in accordance with GAAP, (iv) plus or minus (as
the case may be) any decrease or increase in the amount of deferred taxes (to
the extent the amount of such increase or decrease is not duplicative of any
other taxes already included in this calculation) as shown on the balance sheet
as of the end of such period since the first day of the same period, (v) plus
ESOP contributions during such period which are paid in cash and subsequently
invested in the capital stock of, or otherwise contributed to, the Borrower,
(vi) plus any LIFO expense and (vii) minus any LIFO income.

     Eligible Accounts Receivable shall mean Accounts of the Borrower payable in
     ----------------------------
Dollars and deemed by the Agent in its Permitted Discretion to be eligible for
inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base. In determining the amount to
be so included, the face amount of such Accounts shall be reduced by the amount
of all returns, discounts, claims, credits, charges, or other allowances and by
the aggregate amount of all reserves, limits and deductions provided for in this
definition and elsewhere in this Credit Agreement. Unless otherwise approved in
writing by the Agent, no Account shall be deemed to be an Eligible Account
Receivable if:

          (a) it arises out of a sale made by the Borrower to an Affiliate; or

          (b) the Account is unpaid more than 90 days after the original payment
     invoice date with respect to Accounts the invoice for which provides that
     payment is due in 30 days and 120 days from invoice date with respect to
     Accounts the invoice for which is due in 60 days after the original payment
     invoice date or less from the date of such invoice; or

          (c) it is from the same account debtor (or any Subsidiary thereof) and
     fifty percent (50%) or more, in face amount, of all Accounts from such
     account debtor (or any Subsidiary thereof) are ineligible pursuant to (b)
     above; or

          (d) the Account, when aggregated with all other Accounts of such
     account debtor, exceeds five percent (5%) in face value of all Accounts of
     the Borrower then outstanding, to the extent of such excess; provided,
                                                                  --------
     however, that Accounts supported or secured by an irrevocable letter of
     -------
     credit in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, issued by a
     financial institution satisfactory to the Agent, and duly pledged to the
     Collateral Agent (together with sufficient documentation to permit direct
     draws by the Collateral Agent) shall be excluded for purposes of such
     calculation; or

                                       8

<PAGE>

          (e) (i) the account debtor is also a creditor of the Borrower, (ii)
     the account debtor has disputed its liability on, or the account debtor has
     made any claim with respect to, such Account or any other Account due from
     such account debtor to the Borrower, which has not been resolved or (iii)
     the Account otherwise is or may become subject to any right of setoff by
     the account debtor; provided that any Account deemed ineligible pursuant to
                         --------
     this clause (e) shall only be ineligible to the extent of the amount owed
     by the Borrower to the account debtor, the amount of such dispute or claim,
     or the amount of such setoff, as applicable; or

          (f) the account debtor has commenced a voluntary case under the
     federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or made
     an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or if a decree or order for
     relief has been entered by a court having jurisdiction over the account
     debtor in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now
     constituted or hereafter amended, or if any other petition or other
     application for relief under the federal bankruptcy laws has been filed by
     or against the account debtor, or if the account debtor has filed a
     certificate of dissolution under applicable state law or shall be
     liquidated, dissolved or wound up, or shall authorize or commence any
     action or proceeding for dissolution, winding-up or liquidation, or if the
     account debtor has failed, suspended business, declared itself to be
     insolvent, is generally not paying its debts as they become due or has
     consented to or suffered a receiver, trustee, liquidator or custodian to be
     appointed for it or for all or a significant portion of its assets or
     affairs, unless the payment of Accounts from such account debtor is secured
     in a manner satisfactory to the Agent or, if the Account from such account
     debtor arises subsequent to a decree or order for relief with respect to
     such account debtor under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter
     in effect, the Agent shall have determined that the timely payment and
     collection of such Account will not be impaired; or

          (g) the sale is to an account debtor outside of the United States,
     unless the account debtor thereon has supplied the Borrower with an
     irrevocable letter of credit in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Agent, issued by a financial institution satisfactory to the Agent and
     which has been duly pledged to the Collateral Agent (together with
     sufficient documentation to permit direct draws by the Collateral Agent);
     or

          (h) the sale to the account debtor is on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed
     sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval or consignment basis or made
     pursuant to any other written agreement providing for repurchase or return
     (other than pursuant to ordinary course of business warranties); or

          (i) the Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion that such Account
     may not be paid by reason of the account debtor's financial inability to
     pay; or

          (j) the account debtor is the United States of America or any
     department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless the Borrower duly
     assigns its rights to payment of such Account to the Collateral Agent
     pursuant to the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31
     U.S.C. (S) 3727 et seq.); or
                     -- ----

                                       9

<PAGE>

          (k) title to the goods giving rise to such Account has not been
     transferred to the account debtor or the services giving rise to such
     Account have not been performed by the Borrower and accepted by the account
     debtor or the Account otherwise does not represent a final sale; or

          (l) the Account does not comply with all applicable legal
     requirements, including, where applicable, the Federal Consumer Credit
     Protection Act, the Federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z of the
     Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in each case as amended;
     or

          (m) the Collateral Agent does not have a valid and perfected first
     priority security interest in or Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on such
     Account or the Account does not otherwise conform to the representations
     and warranties contained in this Credit Agreement or the other Credit
     Documents, except that the value of any Account shall be reduced by the
     amount of any obligations secured by Permitted Liens which are prior to the
     Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent.

          Eligible Inventory shall mean Inventory of the Borrower deemed by the
          ------------------
Agent in its Permitted Discretion to be eligible for inclusion in the
calculation of the Borrowing Base. In determining the amount to be so included,
the amount of such Inventory shall be valued on a FIFO basis at the lower of
cost or market as adjusted from the Borrower's month end balance sheet, less any
                                                                        ----
goods returned or rejected by the Borrower's customers and goods in transit
(other than goods to which the Borrower has title), less any reserves otherwise
                                                    ----
required by the Agent pursuant to Section 2.2(b), and less any Inventory that
                                                      ----
the Agent determines to be ineligible pursuant to Section 2.2(b). Unless
otherwise approved in writing by the Agent, no Inventory shall be deemed
Eligible Inventory if:

          (a) the Inventory is not owned solely by the Borrower and with respect
     to which the Borrower does not have good, valid and marketable title; or

          (b) the Inventory is not stored on property that is either (i) owned
     or leased by the Borrower or (ii) owned or leased by a warehouseman that
     has contracted with the Borrower to store Inventory on such warehouseman's
     property, provided that (x) with respect to Inventory stored on property
               --------
     leased by the Borrower, such Inventory shall be deemed Eligible Inventory
     so long as, by the date which is 60 days after the Restatement Effective
     ----------
     Date, the Borrower shall have delivered in favor of the Collateral Agent a
     Collateral Access Agreement executed by the lessor of such property, and,
     with respect to Inventory stored on property owned or leased by a
     warehouseman, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Collateral Agent a
     Collateral Access Agreement executed by such warehouseman and (y) with
     respect to Inventory of the Borrower stored on property owned or leased by
     a customer of the Borrower, such Inventory shall be deemed Eligible
     Inventory so long as (1) such Inventory is segregated and identifiable from
               ----------
     such customer's other inventory, (2) such Inventory and other Inventory
     stored on property owned or leased by other customers of the Borrower do
     not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate and (3) the Borrower shall have
     delivered in favor of the Collateral Agent a collateral access agreement,
     in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, executed by such customer;
     or

                                       10

<PAGE>

          (c) the Inventory is not subject to a perfected first priority Lien
     (subject to Permitted Liens) in favor of the Collateral Agent except, (i)
     with respect to Eligible Inventory stored at sites described in clause (b)
     above, for Liens for normal and customary warehouseman charges and (ii) the
     value of any Inventory shall be reduced by the amount of any obligations
     secured by Permitted Liens which are prior to the Lien in favor of the
     Collateral Agent; or

          (d) the Inventory is not located in the United States; or

          (e) the Inventory is obsolete or the Inventory does not otherwise
     conform to the representations and warranties contained in this Credit
     Agreement or the other Credit Documents; or

          (f) the Inventory to the extent to which the FIFO value for each
     Inventory product item is in excess of the previous rolling 12 month cost
     of goods sold for such item (to the extent of such excess); or

          (g) such Inventory is part of one product line as disclosed on the
     schedules attached to the Borrowing Base Certificate and the amount of such
     Inventory exceeds 20% of the FIFO stock Inventory at such time (in the
     amount of such excess).

          Eligible Transferee shall mean and include a commercial bank,
          -------------------
financial institution or other "accredited investor" (as defined in SEC
Regulation D).

          Employment Agreements shall have the meaning provided in Section
          ---------------------
5.1(o).

          Environmental Claims shall mean any and all administrative, regulatory
          --------------------
or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of
noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared
by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries solely in the ordinary course of such
Person's business or as required in connection with a financing transaction and
not in response to any third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings
relating in any way to any Environmental Law or any permit issued, or any
approval given, under any such Environmental Law (hereafter, "Claims"),
including, without limitation, (a) any and all Claims by governmental or
regulatory authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or
other actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, and (b)
any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution,
indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from
Hazardous Materials arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health,
safety or the environment.

          Environmental Law shall mean any applicable Federal, state, foreign or
          -----------------
local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, guide, policy and rule of
common law now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, and any
judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or
administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to the environment,
health, safety or Hazardous Materials, including, without limitation, CERCLA;
RCRA; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. (S) 1251
et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. (S) 2601 et seq.; the Clean
-- ----                                                       -- ----
Air Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 7401 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C.
                            -- ----
(S) 300f et seq.; the Emergency Planning and
         -- ----

                                       11

<PAGE>

Community Right-to-Know Act, 49 U.S.C. (S) 1801 et seq.; the Occupational
                                                -- ----
Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. (S) 651 et seq.; the Oil Pollution Act of 1990,
                                         -- ----
33 U.S.C. (S) 2701 et seq. and any applicable state and local or foreign
                   -- ----
counterparts or equivalents.

     ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
     -----
amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued
thereunder. Section references to ERISA are to ERISA, as in effect at the date
of this Credit Agreement and any subsequent provisions of ERISA, amendatory
thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

     ERISA Affiliate shall mean each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of
     ---------------
ERISA) which together with Holding, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Holding or
the Borrower would be deemed to be a "single employer" within the meaning of
Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, and for the purpose of any specific provision
of this Credit Agreement which expressly refers to Section 302 of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code, within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o)
of the Code.

     ESOP shall mean the Earle M. Jorgensen Employee Stock Ownership Plan, as in
     ----
effect on the Restatement Effective Date, and as amended to the extent required
by applicable law.

     Eurodollar Lending Office shall mean, with respect to any Lender, the
     -------------------------
office of such Lender specified as its "Eurodollar Lending Office" opposite its
name on Schedule I, as such annex may be amended from time to time (or, if no
such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office or
Affiliate of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the
Borrower and the Agent.

     Eurodollar Rate Loan shall mean a Revolving Loan bearing interest as
     --------------------
provided in Section 4.1.

     Event of Default shall have the meaning provided for in Section 9.1 of this
     ----------------
Credit Agreement.

     Excess Cash Flow shall mean, for any period (calculated based on annual
     ----------------
audited numbers for the first Excess Cash Flow Period), the remainder of (i) the
sum of (a) EBITDA for such period and (b) the decrease, if any, in Working
Capital from the first day to the last day of such period, minus (ii) the sum
                                                           -----
of (a) the amount of Capital Expenditures (to the extent not financed with
Indebtedness (other than the amount financed by Revolving Loans) or made with
the proceeds from asset sales, insurance proceeds or condemnation awards) made
by the Borrower during such period, (b) the aggregate principal amount of
permanent principal payments of Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower
(provided that repayments of Revolving Loans shall be deducted in determining
 --------
Excess Cash Flow only if such repayments were accompanied by a reduction in the
Total Commitments) during such period and (c) the increase, if any, in Working
Capital from the first day to the last day of such period.

     Excess Cash Flow Amount shall mean, for any Excess Cash Flow Period, the
     -----------------------
amount, which may be a positive or negative number, of Excess Cash Flow
calculated for such period.

                                       12

<PAGE>

     Excess Cash Flow Period shall mean each fiscal year of the Borrower.
     -----------------------

     Exchange Notes shall mean exchange notes of the Borrower issued, pursuant
     --------------
to a registration statement filed by the Borrower with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, to the holders of the New Senior Notes (in exchange for
such New Senior Notes), which such exchange notes have terms substantially
identical in all material respects to the New Senior Notes.

     Existing Credit Agreement shall have the meaning given to such term in the
     -------------------------
first WHEREAS clause hereof.

     Existing Indebtedness shall mean all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its
     ---------------------
Subsidiaries outstanding prior to, and to remain outstanding on and after, the
Restatement Effective Date, and set forth on Schedule II, without giving effect
to extensions or renewals thereto, except as expressly provided therein or
permitted hereunder.

     Existing Indebtedness Agreements shall have the meaning given to such term
     --------------------------------
in Section 5.1(o) hereof.

     Existing Lender shall mean a Lender with a Commitment pursuant to the
     ---------------
Existing Credit Agreement.

     Existing Letter of Credit shall have the meaning given to such term in
     -------------------------
Section 3.1.

     Existing Loans shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 5.1(j)
     --------------
hereof.

     Expenses shall mean all present and future expenses incurred by or on
     --------
behalf of the Agent in connection with this Credit Agreement, any other Credit
Document or otherwise in its capacity as the Agent under this Credit Agreement,
whether incurred heretofore or hereafter, which expenses shall include, without
being limited to, the cost of record searches, the reasonable fees and expenses
of attorneys and paralegals, all costs and expenses incurred by the Agent in
opening bank accounts, depositing checks, receiving and transferring funds, and
any charges imposed on the Agent due to insufficient funds of deposited checks
and the standard fee of the Agent relating thereto, collateral examination fees
and expenses, reasonable fees and expenses of accountants, appraisers or other
consultants, experts or advisors employed or retained by the Agent, out of
pocket syndication fees and expenses, fees and taxes relative to the filing of
financing statements, costs of preparing and recording any other Collateral
Documents, all expenses, costs and fees set forth in Article 4 of this Credit
Agreement, all other fees and expenses required to be paid pursuant to the Fee
Letter and all fees and expenses incurred in connection with releasing
Collateral and the amendment or termination of any of the Credit Documents.

     Expiration Date shall mean the earliest to occur of (i) April 7, 2006, (ii)
     ---------------
the date one month prior to the maturity date of the Special Term Loan
Agreement, (iii) the date one month prior to the maturity date of the Exchange
Notes, and (iv) the date one month prior to the maturity date of the Holding
Notes; provided that in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv), if such
       --------
maturity date is extended after the Restatement Effective Date, the Expiration
Date shall only be

                                       13

<PAGE>

extended if the Borrower has paid to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders
the Extension Fee required by Section 4.12.

     Extension Fee shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.12.
     -------------

     Facing Fee shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.7(c).
     ----------

     Federal Funds Rate shall mean, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate
     ------------------
per annum equal, for each day during such period, to the weighted average of the
rates on overnight Federal Funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal Funds brokers, as published for such day (or,
if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any
day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such
transactions received by the Payments Administrator from three Federal Funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

     Fees shall mean, collectively, the Unused Line Fee, the Extension Fee, the
     ----
Letter of Credit Fees and the other fees provided for in Section 4.8 hereof.

     Financial Statements shall mean the consolidated and consolidating balance
     --------------------
sheets and statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows
and statements of changes in shareholder's equity of the Borrower for the period
specified prepared in accordance with GAAP and consistent with prior practices.

     Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any period shall mean the ratio of (x)
     ---------------------------
EBITDA less the sum of (i) Capital Expenditures for such period, excluding up to
       ----
(A) $23,000,000 for the period ending June 30, 2002, (B) $22,000,000 for period
ending September 30, 2002, (C) $15,000,000 for period ending December 31, 2002,
(D) $12,000,000 for period ending March 31, 2003, (E) $8,000,000 for period
ending June 30, 2003, (F) $4,000,000 for period ending September 30, 2003, and
(G) $2,000,000 for period ending December 31, 2003, in each case for Capital
Expenditures made in connection with the purchase and installation of the Kasto
System and the related expansion of the Borrower's facility in Schaumburg,
Illinois and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all scheduled payments of
Indebtedness under the Special Term Loan Documents for such period to (y) Fixed
Charges for such period.

     Fixed Charges for any period shall mean the sum of (i) Interest Expense,
     -------------
(ii) for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as used in
Section 8.6(b)(iv)(C), Dividends paid from Available Amounts calculated for such
period (other than Dividends the proceeds of which are promptly contributed to
the Borrower) plus the amount of the Dividend proposed to be paid pursuant to
Section 8.6(b)(iv)(C) at such time of the calculation for such purpose, and
(iii) to the extent not deducted in calculation of Consolidated Net Income, cash
payments made in connection with any settlement, judgment, order or decree
arising from the DOL Litigation, including amounts paid to repurchase shares,
interest or other earnings and any penalties paid in connection therewith but
excluding amounts paid or reimbursed by the Borrower's insurance carrier.

     GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United
     ----
States as in effect from time to time subject to Section 1.2.

                                       14

<PAGE>

     Governing Documents shall mean, as to any Person, the certificate or
     -------------------
articles of incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or governing
documents of such Person.

     Governmental Authority shall mean any nation or government, any state or
     ----------------------
other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government.

     Guarantor shall mean Holding in its capacity as the guarantor under Article
     ---------
12.

     Guaranty shall mean the guaranty provided by Holding pursuant to Article 12
     --------
of this Credit Agreement.

     Hazardous Materials shall mean (a) any petroleum or petroleum products,
     -------------------
radioactive materials, asbestos in any form that is or could become friable,
urea formaldehyde foam insulation, transformers or other equipment that
contained dielectric fluid containing levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, and
radon gas; (b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included in
the definition of "hazardous substances," "hazardous waste," "hazardous
materials," "extremely hazardous waste," "restricted hazardous waste," "toxic
substances," "toxic pollutants," "contaminants," or "pollutants," or words of
similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law; and (c) any other
chemical, material or substance, exposure to which is prohibited, limited or
regulated by any governmental authority.

     Highest Lawful Rate shall mean, at any given time during which any
     -------------------
Obligations shall be outstanding hereunder, the maximum nonusurious interest
rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for,
taken, reserved, charged or received on the Obligations owing under this Credit
Agreement, under the laws of the State of New York (or the law of any other
jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable notwithstanding other
provisions of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents), or under
applicable federal laws which may presently or hereafter be in effect and which
allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than under New York (or such
other jurisdiction's) law, in any case after taking into account, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, any and all relevant payments or charges under this
Credit Agreement and any other Credit Documents executed in connection herewith,
and any available exemptions, exceptions and exclusions.

     Holding shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Credit
     -------
Agreement.

     Holding Management Agreement shall mean the Management Agreement between
     ----------------------------
Holding and the Borrower as in effect on the Restatement Effective Date.

     Holding Note Documents shall mean and include each of the documents and
     ----------------------
other agreements entered into by Holding (including, without limitation, the
Holding Restructuring Agreement and the Holding Note Pledge Agreement) relating
to the issuance by Holding of the Holding Notes, as in effect on the Restatement
Effective Date and as the same may be modified, supplemented or amended from
time to time to the extent permitted pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof.

                                       15

<PAGE>

     Holding Note Pledge Agreement shall mean the Pledge Agreement entered into
     -----------------------------
by Holding and KIA IV in the form attached as Exhibit D to the Holding
Restructuring Agreement, as in effect on the Original Effective Date and as same
may be modified, supplemented or amended from time to time to the extent
permitted pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof.

     Holding Notes shall mean the Series A Variable Rate Senior Notes due 2006,
     -------------
including any Series A Variable Rate Senior Notes issued in lieu of interest
thereon, issued by Holding under the Holding Restructuring Agreement, and
amended by the Amendment to Holding Restructuring Agreement as in effect on the
Restatement Effective Date and as the same may be modified, supplemented or
amended from time to time to the extent permitted pursuant to the terms hereof
and thereof.

     Holding PIK Notes shall mean senior notes of Holding, issued, pursuant to
     -----------------
the Holding Restructuring Agreement, to the holders of Holding Notes in lieu of
payments of interest on such Holding Notes to the extent that Holding has
insufficient excess cash flow to pay such interest, which such senior notes
shall have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Holding
Notes.

     Holding Restructuring Agreement shall mean the Restructuring Agreement
     -------------------------------
entered into by and between Holding and KIA IV, as in effect on the Restatement
Effective Date and as the same may be modified, supplemented or amended from
time to time to the extent permitted pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof.

     Indebtedness of any Person shall mean without duplication (i) all
     ------------
indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) the deferred purchase price
of assets or services which in accordance with GAAP would be shown on the
liability side of the balance sheet of such Person, (iii) the face amount of all
letters of credit issued for the account of such Person and, without
duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder, (iv) all indebtedness of a second
Person secured by any Lien on any property owned by such first Person, whether
or not such indebtedness has been assumed, (v) all Capitalized Lease Obligations
of such Person, (vi) all obligations of such Person to pay a specified purchase
price for goods or services whether or not delivered or accepted, i.e.,
take-or-pay and similar obligations, (vii) all obligations of such Person under
Interest Rate Agreements, (viii) all reimbursement or other monetary obligations
with respect to surety, performance and bid bonds, and (ix) all Contingent
Obligations of such Person; provided that (x) Indebtedness shall not include
                            --------
trade payables and accrued expenses, in each case arising in the ordinary course
of business and (y) Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with
Sections 8.9 and 8.10 shall not include Contingent Obligations and Interest Rate
Agreements to the extent not reflected on the Borrower's balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.

     Initial Credit Event shall mean the making of the initial Revolving Loans
     --------------------
hereunder.

     Insurance Sub shall mean a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower
     -------------
organized under the laws of Bermuda.

                                       16

<PAGE>

     Intercreditor Agreement shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of
     -----------------------
March 24,1998 by and among Fleet National Bank, in its capacity as the
administrative agent for itself and any other lenders from time to time party to
the Special Term Loan Agreement, and the Agent.

     Interest Expense shall mean the aggregate consolidated interest expense of
     ----------------
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, including, without limitation, the
interest portion of any deferred payment obligation and the interest component
of any Capital Lease Obligations, provided that for the purpose of the
                                  --------
definition "Fixed Charges", amortization of original issue discount and debt
issuance costs on any Indebtedness and all fees payable in connection with the
incurrence of such Indebtedness (to the extent included in interest expense) and
debt issuance costs incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Transaction
shall each be excluded in calculating Interest Expense; provided, further, that,
                                                        --------
interest expense in respect of Life Insurance Policy Loans shall be included in
the calculation of "Interest Expense" only to the extent that such interest
expense exceeds any dividends received by the Borrower in respect of the Life
Insurance Policies relating to such Life Insurance Policy Loans.

     Interest Period shall mean for any Eurodollar Rate Loan the period
     ---------------
commencing on the date of the Borrowing, Conversion or Continuance thereof and
ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the
provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two,
three or six months, in each case as the Borrower may, in an appropriate Notice
of Borrowing, Notice of Continuation or Notice of Conversion, select; provided,
                                                                      --------
however, that the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after
-------
the Expiration Date. Whenever the last day of any Interest Period would
otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such
Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day;
provided, however, that if such extension would cause the last day of such
--------  -------
Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of
such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day. Whenever
any Interest Period 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), such Interest Period shall end on the last
Business Day of the applicable calendar month.

     Interest Rate Agreement shall mean any interest rate protection agreement,
     -----------------------
interest rate future, interest rate option, interest rate swap, interest rate
cap or other interest rate hedge or arrangement under which the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party or beneficiary.

     Interest Rate Determination Date shall mean, with respect to any Interest
     --------------------------------
Period, the second Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

     Interim Advance shall mean a Revolving Loan made by the Payments
     ---------------
Administrator to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.3(c).

     Interim Advance Period shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
     ----------------------
2.3(c).

                                       17

<PAGE>

     Inventory shall mean all of the inventory owned by the Borrower, including
     ---------
without limitation: (i) all raw materials, work in process, parts, components,
assemblies, supplies and materials used or consumed in the Borrower's business;
(ii) all goods, wares and merchandise, finished or unfinished, held for sale or
lease or leased or furnished or to be furnished under contracts of service; and
(iii) all goods returned or repossessed by the Borrower.

     Inventory Sublimit shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
     ------------------
2.2(a).

     Investment shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 8.5.
     ----------

     Issuing Bank shall mean, with respect to any Standby Letter of Credit, BTCo
     ------------
or any Lender that is acceptable to the Agent and which has agreed to issue a
Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower under this Credit Agreement
and, with respect to any Commercial Letter of Credit, shall mean LaSalle
National Bank.

     Issuing Bank Fees shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.7.
     -----------------

     Kasto System shall mean the automated storage and retrieval system
     ------------
purchased from Kasto Racine, Inc. to be installed in the Borrower's Schaumburg,
Illinois facility.

     KIA IV shall mean Kelso Investment Associates IV, L.P.
     ------

     Lead Arranger shall mean Deutsche Bank Securities Inc
     -------------

     Lender shall have the meaning given to such term in the preamble to this
     ------
Credit Agreement.

     Letter of Credit Fees shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
     ---------------------
4.7.

     Letter of Credit Obligations shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) the
     ----------------------------
aggregate Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time, plus
                                                                           ----
(ii) the aggregate amount of all drawings under Letters of Credit which have not
been reimbursed by the Borrower (including through the incurrence of Revolving
Loans).

     Letter of Credit Request shall have the meaning given to such term in
     ------------------------
Section 3.4.

     Letters of Credit shall mean all letters of credit (whether Commercial
     -----------------
Letters of Credit or Standby Letters of Credit and whether for the purchase of
inventory, equipment or otherwise) issued for the account of the Borrower
pursuant to Article 3 of this Credit Agreement and all amendments, renewals,
extensions or replacements thereof.

     Lien(s) shall mean any lien, charge, pledge, security interest, deed of
     -------
trust, mortgage, other encumbrance or other arrangement having the practical
effect of the foregoing or other preferential arrangement of any other kind and
shall include the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale
agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement.

     Life Insurance Policies shall mean those certain life insurance policies
     -----------------------
obtained in 1984, 1985 and 1986 by Kilsby-Roberts Holding Co. ("KR") from
Phoenix Mutual Life

                                       18

<PAGE>

Insurance Company covering participants in the KR employee stock ownership plan
and certain other KR executives, as in effect on the Restatement Effective Date.

     Life Insurance Policy Loans shall mean the loans made to the Borrower and
     ---------------------------
secured by its interests in the Life Insurance Policies.

     Management Agreements shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
     ---------------------
5.1(o).

     Margin Stock shall have the meaning provided in Regulation U.
     ------------

     Material Adverse Effect shall mean a material adverse effect on (i) the
     -----------------------
business, prospects, operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or
financial condition of the Borrower or of Holding and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole, (ii) the value of Collateral or the amount which the Agent and the
Lenders would be likely to receive (after giving consideration to delays in
payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation of such Collateral, (iii)
any Credit Party's ability to perform its material obligations under the Credit
Documents to which it is a party, or (iv) the material rights and remedies of
the Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders under any Credit Document.

     Material Contract shall mean any contract or other arrangement (other than
     -----------------
the Credit Documents), whether written or oral, to which the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation
or failure to renew by any party thereto may be reasonably expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

     Multiemployer Plan shall mean a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section
     ------------------
4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

     Net Sale Proceeds shall mean for any sale of assets, the gross cash
     -----------------
proceeds (including any cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to a
promissory note, receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received)
received from any sale of assets, net of (i) reasonable transaction costs
(including, without limitation, any underwriting, brokerage or other customary
selling commissions and reasonable legal, advisory and other fees and expenses,
including title and recording expenses, associated therewith), (ii) payments of
unassumed liabilities relating to the assets sold at the time of, or within 90
days after, the date of such sale and (iii) the amount of such gross cash
proceeds required to be used to repay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness
of the Lenders pursuant to this Credit Agreement) which is secured by the
respective assets which were sold.

     New Lenders shall mean each of the Persons listed on Schedule I hereto
     -----------
which is not a Continuing Lender.

     New Senior Note Documents shall mean and include each of the documents and
     -------------------------
other agreements entered into (including, without limitation, the New Senior
Note Indenture) relating to the issuance by the Borrower of the New Senior
Notes, as in effect on the Restatement Effective Date and as the same may be
entered into, modified, supplemented or amended from time to time to the extent
permitted pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof.

                                       19

<PAGE>

           New Senior Note Indenture shall mean the Indenture, dated as of March
           -------------------------
24, 1998, entered into by and between the Borrower and United States Trust
Company of New York, as trustee thereunder, as in effect on the Restatement
Effective Date and as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented from
time to time to the extent permitted in accordance with the terms hereof and
thereof.

           New Senior Notes shall mean the Borrower's 9 1/2% Senior Notes due in
           ----------------
the year 2005, as in effect on the Restatement Effective Date and the Exchange
Notes issued in exchange therefor in accordance with the terms of the New Senior
Note Indenture as the same may be modified, supplemented or amended from time to
time to the extent permitted pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof.

           Non-Continuing Lender shall mean each Existing Lender that is not a
           ---------------------
Continuing Lender.

           Notice of Borrowing shall have the meaning given to such term in
           -------------------
Section 2.3(a) and shall include any deemed Notice of Borrowing pursuant to
Section 3.5.

           Notice of Continuation shall have the meaning given to such term in
           ----------------------
Section 4.3(a).

           Notice of Conversion shall have the meaning given to such term in
           --------------------
Section 4.3(b).

           Obligations shall mean, without duplication, the unpaid principal of
           -----------
and interest on (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any
petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or
like proceeding, relating to Holding, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is
allowed in such proceeding) the Revolving Notes, any reimbursement obligation or
indemnity of Holding, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower on account
of Letters of Credit or any accommodation extended with respect to applications
for Letters of Credit, the Fees, the Expenses and all other obligations and
liabilities of Holding, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the
Agent, the Issuing Banks or to the Lenders, whether direct or indirect, absolute
or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred,
which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, this Credit Agreement, the
Revolving Notes, any other Credit Document and any other document made,
delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith.

           Original Effective Date shall mean March 3, 1993.
           -----------------------

           Outstandings shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) the principal
           ------------
amount of Revolving Loans outstanding at such time plus (ii) the Letter of
Credit Obligations at such time.

           Payment Office shall mean 90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey
           --------------
07302 or any other office within the continental United States designated by the
Payments Administrator to the Borrower from time to time as the office for
payment of all amounts required to be paid by the Borrower or Holding under this
Credit Agreement.

                                       20

<PAGE>

           Payments Administrator shall mean BTCo; provided, however, that if
           ----------------------                  --------  -------
BTCo shall cease to be the Agent hereunder, the Lenders shall have the option to
appoint one of the remaining Lenders as the Payments Administrator by written
notice to the Borrower.

           PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established
           ----
pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA and any Person succeeding to the functions
thereof.

           Permitted Discretion shall mean, with respect to the Agent, the
           --------------------
Agent's judgment exercised in good faith based upon its consideration of any
factor which it believes in good faith: (i) will or could adversely affect the
value of any Collateral, the enforceability or priority of the Collateral
Agent's Liens thereon or the amount which the Agent and the Lenders would be
likely to receive (after giving consideration to delays in payment and costs of
enforcement) in the liquidation of such Collateral; (ii) suggests that any
collateral report or financial information delivered to the Agent by any Person
on behalf of Holding, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower is
incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect; (iii) materially
increases the likelihood of a bankruptcy, reorganization or other insolvency
proceeding involving Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries
or any of the Collateral; or (iv) creates or reasonably could be expected to
create a Default or Event of Default. In exercising such judgment, the Agent may
consider such factors already included in or tested by the definition of
Eligible Accounts Receivable or Eligible Inventory, as well as any of the
following: (i) the financial and business climate of the Borrower's industry and
general macroeconomic conditions, (ii) changes in collection history and
dilution with respect to the Accounts, (iii) changes in demand for, and pricing
of, Inventory, (iv) changes in any concentration of risk with respect to
Accounts and Inventory, and (v) any other factors that change the credit risk of
lending to the Borrower on the security of the Accounts and Inventory. The Agent
shall disclose to the Borrower the basis on which its Permitted Discretion is
exercised, however, the burden of establishing lack of good faith hereunder
shall be on the Borrower.

           Permitted Liens shall mean any Liens permitted under Section 8.2(d)
           ---------------
and, to the extent such Liens may by operation of law take priority over a
previously perfected Lien, Sections 8.2(a) and (n).

           Permitted Materials shall have the meaning given to such term in
           -------------------
Section 6.18(c).

           Permitted Transactions shall mean (i) reasonable and customary fees,
           ----------------------
compensation and benefits paid to officers, directors, employees or consultants
of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates for
services rendered to the Borrower or any such Subsidiary in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practices; (ii) transfers of goods and services
by or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates in
the ordinary course of business on fair and reasonable terms, provided that if
                                                              --------
any such transaction or series of related transactions involves in excess of
$3,000,000, the Board of Directors of the Borrower shall determine in good faith
by resolution that such transaction is on terms fair and reasonable to the
Borrower; (iii) Dividends permitted under Section 8.6; (iv) transactions
pursuant to the Holding Management Agreement (provided that the 5% service fee
                                              --------
referred to in Section 5(b) of the Management Agreement shall not exceed
$200,000 per annum) and the Tax Sharing Agreement; (v) transactions between the
Borrower or any Subsidiary and the ESOP and permitted under Sections 8.3 and
8.5; and (vi) transactions

                                       21

<PAGE>

between Holding, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (other than Insurance Sub) and
Insurance Sub in connection with compliance by the Borrower with Section 7.10.

           Person shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership,
           ------
joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation,
institution, entity, party or government (including any division, agency or
department thereof), and, as applicable, the successors, heirs and assigns of
each.

           Plan shall mean any multiemployer or single-employer plan as defined
           ----
in Section 4001 of ERISA, which (i) is maintained or contributed to by (or to
which there is an obligation to contribute of), or (ii) at any time during the
five year period preceding (A) in the case of any Credit Event, the date of such
Credit Event or (B) in the case of any event or condition described in Section
7.5 or 9.1(f), the date thereof, was maintained or contributed to by (or to
which there is or was an obligation to contribute of), Holding, the Borrower, a
Subsidiary of Holding or the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate.

           Prime Rate shall mean the rate that BTCo announces from time to time
           ----------
as its prime lending rate in the United States for Dollar denominated loans, as
in effect from time to time. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not
necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer.
BTCo or any other Lender may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of
interest at, above or below the Prime Rate.

           Prior Effective Date shall mean March 24, 1998.
           --------------------

           Proportionate Share shall mean, with respect to any Lender, a
           -------------------
fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which shall be the amount
of such Lender's Commitment and the denominator of which shall be the Total
Commitments or, if the Commitments are terminated, a fraction the numerator of
which shall be the amount of such Lender's Revolving Loans and the denominator
of which shall be the aggregate amount of then outstanding Revolving Loans of
all the Lenders.

           RCRA shall mean the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act, as
           ----
amended, 42 U.S.C. (S) 6901 et seq.
                            -- ----

           Real Property of any Person shall mean all of the right, title and
           -------------
interest of such Person in and to land, improvements and fixtures, including
leaseholds.

           Recovery Event shall mean the receipt by Holding or any of its
           --------------
Subsidiaries of any (i) cash insurance proceeds payable (x) by reason of theft,
loss, physical destruction or damage or any other similar event with respect to
any property or assets of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries and (y) under any
policy of insurance required to be maintained under Section 7.10 or (ii)
condemnation award payable by reason of eminent domain or deed in lieu thereof.

           Regulation D shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the
           ------------
Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor thereto.

           Regulation U shall mean Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
           ------------
Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor thereto.

                                       22

<PAGE>

           Reportable Event shall mean any of the events described in Section
           ----------------
4043 of ERISA with respect to a Plan as to which the 30-day notice requirement
has not been waived by the PBGC.

           Required Lenders shall mean, at any time, those Lenders then owed or
           ----------------
holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the sum of the then existing aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans and the then existing aggregate
undrawn amount of the Total Commitments.

           Requirement of Law shall mean, as to any Person, the Governing
           ------------------
Documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or
determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in
each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to
which such Person or any of its property is subject.

           Restatement Effective Date shall have the meaning set forth in
           --------------------------
Section 11.14.

           Revolving Loan Conversion shall have the meaning set forth in Section
           -------------------------
2.1.

           Revolving Loans shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
           ---------------
2.1.

           Revolving Note shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower payable
           --------------
to the order of a Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, evidencing the
aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the
Revolving Loans made by such Lender or acquired by such Lender pursuant to
Section 11.6.

           Security Agreement shall mean the Security Agreement entered into
           ------------------
pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, as same may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time.

           Settlement Date shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
           ---------------
2.4(b)(i).

           Shareholders' Agreement shall have the meaning given to such term in
           -----------------------
Section 5.1(o).

           Special Term Loan Agreement shall mean the Term Loan Agreement, dated
           ---------------------------
as of March 24, 1998, among the Borrower, DLJ Capital Funding, Inc., as
Syndication Agent, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation and BT
Alex. Brown Incorporated, as Arrangers, Bankers Trust Company, as Documentation
Agent, Fleet National Bank, as Administrative Agent, and various financial
institutions party thereto from time to time (as amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time to the extent permitted by the terms hereof and
thereof).

           Special Term Loan Documents shall mean and include each of the
           ---------------------------
documents and other agreements entered into (including, without limitation, the
Special Term Loan Agreement) by the Borrower in connection with the Special Term
Loan Agreement, as in effect on the Restatement Effective Date and as the same
----
may be entered into, modified, supplemented or amended from time to time to the
extent permitted pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof.

                                       23

<PAGE>

           Special Term Loan Security Agreement shall mean the Security
           ------------------------------------
Agreement, dated as of March 24, 1998, between the Borrower, Fleet National
Bank, as Administrative Agent, and certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower from
time to time party thereto.

           Standby Letter of Credit shall mean any Existing Letter of Credit and
           ------------------------
any standby letter of credit or similar instrument issued for the purpose of
supporting (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower in respect of industrial revenue or
development bonds or financings, (ii) workers' compensation liabilities of the
Borrower, (iii) the obligations of third party insurers of the Borrower arising
by virtue of the laws of any jurisdiction requiring third party insurers, (iv)
obligations with respect to Capital Leases or operating leases of the Borrower,
(v) performance, payment, deposit or surety obligations of the Borrower, in any
case if required by law or governmental rule or regulation or in accordance with
custom and practice in the industry and (vi) trade payables in the Borrower's
ordinary course of business; provided that Standby Letters of Credit may not be
                             --------
issued for the purpose of supporting any Indebtedness constituting "antecedent
debt" (as that term is used in Section 547 of the United States Bankruptcy
Code).

           Stated Amount of each Letter of Credit shall, at any time, mean the
           -------------
maximum amount available to be drawn thereunder (in each case determined without
regard to whether any conditions to drawing could then be met).

           Sub-Collection Account shall have the meaning given to such term in
           ----------------------
Section 2.6(b)(i).

           Subsidiary shall mean as to any Person, a corporation, partnership or
           ----------
other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having
ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having
such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority
of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or
other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise
controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both,
by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a "Subsidiary" or
to "Subsidiaries" in this Credit Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or
Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

           Syndication Agent shall mean BTCo; provided that if BTCo shall cease
           -----------------                  --------
to be the Agent hereunder, the Lenders shall have the option to appoint one of
the remaining Lenders as the Syndication Agent.

           Tax Sharing Agreements shall have the meaning given to such term in
           ----------------------
Section 5.1(o).

           Taxes shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.9.
           -----

           Total Availability shall mean the difference between (i) the lesser
           ------------------
of (x) the Total Commitments and (y) the Borrowing Base and (ii) the
Outstandings.

           Total Commitments shall mean, at any date of determination, the
           -----------------
aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders.

                                       24

<PAGE>

           Transaction shall mean the execution and effectiveness of this Credit
           -----------
Agreement and the incurrence by the Borrower of the Revolving Loans hereunder.

           Transaction Documents shall mean, collectively, (i) the New Senior
           ---------------------
Note Documents, (ii) the Special Term Loan Documents and all other documentation
executed in connection therewith and (iii) the Credit Documents.

           Type shall mean, with respect to any Revolving Loan, whether such
           ----
Revolving Loan is a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan.

           UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to
           ---
time in the State of New York; provided that if, with respect to any financing
                               --------
statement or by reason of any provisions of applicable law, the perfection or
the effect of perfection or non-perfection of the Liens granted to the Agent
pursuant to any Credit Document is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in
effect in a United States jurisdiction other than the State of New York, "UCC"
shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such
jurisdiction.

           Unfunded Current Liability of any Plan shall mean the amount, if any,
           --------------------------
by which the actuarial present value of the accumulated plan benefits under the
Plan as of the close of its most recent plan year, determined in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 35, based upon the actuarial
assumptions used by the Plan's actuary in the most recent annual valuation of
the Plan, exceeds the fair market value of the assets allocable thereto,
determined in accordance with Section 412 of the Code.

           Unused Line Fee shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
           ---------------
4.6.

           Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of any Person shall mean any Subsidiary of
           -----------------------
such Person to the extent all of the capital stock or other ownership interests
in such Subsidiary, other than directors' qualifying shares, is owned directly
or indirectly by such Person or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof.

           Working Capital shall mean, at any time, the excess of Current Assets
           ---------------
over Current Liabilities.

           1.1  Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise defined or
                -----------------------------------
specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall have the meanings
customarily given in accordance with GAAP, and all financial computations to be
made under this Credit Agreement shall, unless otherwise specifically provided
herein, be made in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent in all
material respects with the Financial Statements referred to in Section 6.10(b).
All accounting determinations for purposes of determining compliance with
Sections 8.6(b), 8.9 and 8.10 hereof shall be made in accordance with GAAP and
applied on a basis consistent in all material respects with the Financial
Statements referred to in Section 6.10(b). The Financial Statements required to
be delivered hereunder from and after the Restatement Effective Date and all
financial records shall be maintained in accordance with GAAP as in effect as of
the date of the Financial Statements referred to in Section 6.10(b) or, if GAAP
shall change from the basis used in preparing the Financial Statements referred
to in Section 6.10(b), the certificates required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 7.1 demonstrating compliance with

                                       25

<PAGE>

the covenants contained herein shall include calculations setting forth the
adjustments necessary to demonstrate how the Borrower is in compliance with the
financial covenants based upon GAAP as utilized in the Section 6.10(b) Financial
Statements. If the Borrower shall change its method of inventory accounting from
the last-in-first-out method to the first-in-first-out method, all calculations
necessary to determine compliance with the covenants contained herein shall be
made as if such method of inventory accounting had not been so changed. Any
reference herein to a fiscal quarter shall mean a fiscal quarter consisting of
63 Business Days, except in the case of 366-day year, in which case one fiscal
quarter may contain an additional Business Day. Any reference herein to a fiscal
month shall mean a fiscal month consisting of 21 Business Days.

           1.2  Other Defined Terms. Terms not otherwise defined herein which
                -------------------
are defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of New York shall have the
meanings given them in such UCC. The words "hereof," "herein" and "hereunder"
and words of similar import when used in this Credit Agreement shall refer to
this Credit Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Credit Agreement, and references to Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit and like
references are references to this Credit Agreement unless otherwise specified.
An Event of Default shall "continue" or be "continuing" until such Event of
Default has been cured or waived in accordance with Section 11.10 hereof.

                                   ARTICLE 2.

                                 Revolving Loans
                                 ---------------

           2.1  Commitments. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions set
                -----------
forth herein, each Lender with a Commitment severally agrees, (A) in the case of
each Continuing Lender, to convert into Revolving Loans (each a "Revolving Loan
Conversion", and together, the "Revolving Loan Conversions"), on the Restatement
Effective Date, Existing Loans made by such Continuing Lender to the Borrower
pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement and outstanding on the Restatement
Effective Date, and/or (B) at any time and from time to time on and after the
Restatement Effective Date and prior to the Expiration Date, to make a revolving
loan or revolving loans (together with each Revolving Loan Conversion, each a
"Revolving Loan" and, collectively, the "Revolving Loans") to the Borrower,
which Revolving Loans (i) shall, at the option of the Borrower, be incurred and
maintained as, and/or converted into, Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, (ii)
shall not exceed for any Lender at any time outstanding such Lender's Commitment
and (iii) shall not exceed for all Lenders at anytime outstanding that aggregate
principal amount which, when added to the amount of all Letter of Credit
Obligations at such time, equals the Total Commitments at such time. The
Borrower hereby agrees to execute and deliver to each Lender a Revolving Note to
evidence the Revolving Loans made by such Lender.

           2.2  Determination of Borrowing Base. (a) Subject to Section 2.2(b)
                -------------------------------
and Section 2.3(c), Revolving Loans shall not in aggregate principal amount
exceed the lesser of:

                (i)   the Total Commitments then in effect minus the sum of (A)
           the Letter of Credit Obligations and (B) the Borrower's exposure (as
           determined by the Agent) under any Interest Rate Agreements entered
           into in connection with Section 8.3(m); and

                                       26

<PAGE>

                (ii)   the amount then equal to:

                (A)    Eighty-five percent (85%) of the Eligible Accounts
           Receivable, plus
                       ----

                (B)    Fifty-five percent (55%) of the Eligible Inventory, and
           minus
           -----

                (C)    the Borrower's exposure (as determined by the Agent)
           under any Interest Rate Agreements entered into in connection with
           Section 8.3(m), and minus
                               -----

                (D)    the Letter of Credit Obligations.

The sum of the amounts calculated in accordance with clauses (ii)(A), (B) and
(C) above is hereinafter referred to as the "Borrowing Base." In addition,
fifty-five percent (55%) of the Eligible Inventory shall not exceed sixty
percent (60%) of Outstandings (the "Inventory Sublimit").

           (b)  The Agent at any time shall be entitled to (i) establish and
increase or decrease reserves against Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible
Inventory, (ii) reduce the advance rates under Section 2.2(a)(ii)(A) or (B) or
restore such advance rates to any level equal to or below the advance rates
stated in Section 2.2(a)(ii)(A) or (B), and (iii) impose additional restrictions
(or eliminate the same) to the standards of "Eligible Accounts Receivable" and
"Eligible Inventory," in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion. The Agent may
but shall not be required to rely on each Borrowing Base Certificate and any
other schedules or reports delivered to it in connection herewith in determining
the then eligibility of Accounts and Inventory. Reliance thereon by the Agent
from time to time shall not be deemed to limit the right of the Agent to revise
advance rates or standards of eligibility as provided in this Section 2.2(b).

           2.3  Borrowing Mechanics. (a) Except as provided in Section 2.3(b),
                -------------------
Borrowings shall be made on notice from the Borrower to the Payments
Administrator, given not later than 1:00 P.M. New York City time on the date on
which the proposed Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Loans is requested to be
made and on the third Business Day prior to the date on which any proposed
Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Loans is requested to be made.

                (i)    Each Notice of Borrowing shall be given by either
           telephone, telecopy, telex, or cable, and, if by telephone, confirmed
           in writing, substantially in the form of Exhibit D (the "Notice of
           Borrowing"). Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable by and
           binding on the Borrower.

                (ii)   The Borrower shall notify the Payments Administrator in
           writing of the names of the officers authorized to request Revolving
           Loans on behalf of the Borrower, and shall provide the Payments
           Administrator with a specimen signature of each such officer. The
           Payments Administrator shall be entitled to rely conclusively on such
           officers' authority to request Revolving Loans on behalf of the
           Borrower until the Payments Administrator receives written notice to
           the contrary. The Payments Administrator shall have no duty to verify
           the

                                       27

<PAGE>

           authenticity of the signature appearing on any Notice of Borrowing or
           other writing delivered pursuant to this Section 2.3(a) and, with
           respect to an oral request for Revolving Loans, the Payments
           Administrator shall have no duty to verify the identity of any
           individual representing himself as one of the officers authorized to
           make such request on behalf of the Borrower. Neither the Payments
           Administrator nor any of the Lenders shall incur any liability to the
           Borrower as a result of acting upon any telephonic notice referred to
           in this Section 2.3(a) which notice the Payments Administrator
           believes in good faith to have been given by a duly authorized
           officer or other individual authorized to request Revolving Loans on
           behalf of the Borrower or for otherwise acting reasonably and in good
           faith under this Section 2.3(a) and, upon the funding of Revolving
           Loans by the Lenders in accordance with this Credit Agreement,
           pursuant to any such telephonic notice, the Borrower shall be deemed
           to have made a Borrowing of Revolving Loans hereunder.

                (iii)  In a Notice of Borrowing, the Borrower may request
           one or more Borrowings on a single day. Each such Borrowing shall,
           unless otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely of
           Revolving Loans of the same Type and shall be in an aggregate amount
           for all Lenders of not less than $1,000,000 in the case of Eurodollar
           Rate Loans or $500,000 in the case of Base Rate Loans. Unless
           otherwise requested in the applicable Notice of Borrowing, all
           Revolving Loans shall be Base Rate Loans. The right of the Borrower
           to choose Eurodollar Rate Loans is subject to the provisions of
           Section 4.3(c).

           (b) The Borrower has established a checking account (the
"Disbursement Account") with Bankers Trust (Delaware) ("BT Delaware") for
general corporate purposes, including the purpose of paying trade payables and
other operating expenses. The Lenders hereby authorize the Payments
Administrator, and so long as the conditions for Borrowing in Article 5 remain
satisfied, the Payments Administrator on behalf of the Lenders may but shall not
be obligated to make Revolving Loans to cover the amount of checks presented for
payment and other disbursements from the Disbursement Account. Advice from BT
Delaware of amounts required to cover such amounts will be deemed a sufficient
Notice of Borrowing. Such Borrowings shall be of Base Rate Loans only and will
not be subject to the minimum amount requirement of Section 2.3(a)(iii).

           (c) In the event the Borrower is unable to comply with (i) the
Borrowing Base limitations set forth in Section 2.2(a) or (ii) the conditions
precedent to the making of a Revolving Loan or the issuance of a Letter of
Credit set forth in Section 5.2, the Lenders authorize the Payments
Administrator to make Interim Advances to the Borrower for a period commencing
on the date the Payments Administrator first receives a Notice of Borrowing
requesting an Interim Advance until the earlier of (i) the fifteenth Business
Day after such date (unless the Required Lenders authorize a later date), (ii)
the date the Borrower is again able to comply with the Borrowing Base
limitations and the conditions precedent to the making of Revolving Loans and
issuance of Letters of Credit, or obtains an amendment or waiver with respect
thereto, or (iii) the date the Required Lenders instruct the Payments
Administrator to cease making Interim Advances (in each case, the "Interim
Advance Period"). The Payments Administrator shall not make any Interim Advance
to the extent that at such time the amount of

                                     28

<PAGE>

such Interim Advance when added to the aggregate outstanding amount of other
Interim Advances would exceed the greater of (1) the lesser of (A) the
difference between the Total Commitments and the Outstandings and (B) the
greater of (x) $10,000,000 or (y) 10% of the Outstandings and (2) such amount as
the Required Lenders shall authorize.

           2.4 Settlements Among the Payments Administrator and the Lenders. (a)
               ------------------------------------------------------------
Except as provided in Section 2.4(b), the Payments Administrator shall give to
each Lender prompt notice of each Notice of Borrowing by telecopy, telex or
cable. No later than 12:00 Noon New York City time on the date of each Borrowing
representing the incurrence of Revolving Loans (unless the Restatement Effective
Date is the date of such incurrence, in which case no later than 11:00 A.M. New
York City time on the Restatement Effective Date), each Lender will make
available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, to the Payments
Administrator at its Payment Office, in immediately available funds, its
Proportionate Share of such Borrowing. Unless the Payments Administrator shall
have been notified by any Lender on the Restatement Effective Date or, with
respect to each Borrowing after the Restatement Effective Date, prior to the
date of such Borrowing that such Lender does not intend to make available to the
Payments Administrator its portion of such Borrowing to be made on such date,
the Payments Administrator may assume that such Lender will make such amount
available to the Payments Administrator at its Payment Office on such date of
Borrowing, or, if applicable, the Settlement Date (as defined below) and the
Payments Administrator, in reliance upon such assumption, may but shall not be
obligated to make available the amount of the Borrowing to be provided by such
Lender. Except as provided in Section 2.4(b) and subject to Section 2.4(e),
promptly after its receipt of payments from or on behalf of the Borrower (other
than amounts payable to the Agent to reimburse the Agent and any Issuing Bank
for fees and expenses payable solely to them), the Payments Administrator will
cause such payments to be distributed ratably to the Lenders. The Lenders will
apply such payments in accordance with Section 2.6(d).

           (b) Unless the Required Lenders have instructed the Payments
Administrator to the contrary, the Payments Administrator on behalf of the
Lenders may but shall not be obligated to make Base Rate Loans under Section 2.3
without prior notice of the proposed Borrowing to the Lenders, as follows:

               (i)   The amount of each Lender's Proportionate Share of
           Revolving Loans shall be computed weekly (or more frequently in the
           Payment Administrator's discretion) and shall be adjusted upward or
           downward on the basis of the amount of outstanding Revolving Loans as
           of 5:00 P.M. New York City time on the last Business Day of the
           period specified by the Payments Administrator (such date, the
           "Settlement Date"). The Payments Administrator shall deliver to each
           of the Lenders promptly after the Settlement Date a summary statement
           of the amount of outstanding Revolving Loans for such period. The
           Lenders shall transfer to the Payments Administrator, or, subject to
           Section 2.4(e), the Payments Administrator shall transfer to the
           Lenders, such amounts as are necessary so that (after giving effect
           to all such transfers) the amount of Revolving Loans made by each
           Lender shall be equal to such Lender's Proportionate Share of the
           aggregate amount of Revolving Loans outstanding as of such Settlement
           Date. If the summary statement is received by the Lenders prior to
           12:00 Noon New York City time on any Business Day, each Lender shall

                                       29

<PAGE>

           make the transfers described above in immediately available funds no
           later than 3:00 P.M. New York City time on the day such summary
           statement was received; and if such summary statement is received by
           the Lenders after 12:00 Noon New York City time on such day, each
           Lender shall make such transfers no later than 3:00 P.M. New York
           City time on the next succeeding Business Day. The obligation of each
           of the Lenders to transfer such funds shall be irrevocable and
           unconditional and without recourse to or warranty by the Payments
           Administrator. Each of the Payments Administrator and the Lenders
           agree to mark their respective books and records on the Settlement
           Date to show at all times the dollar amount of their respective
           Proportionate Shares of the outstanding Revolving Loans.

               (ii)  To the extent that the settlement described above shall not
           yet have occurred, upon repayment of Revolving Loans by the Borrower,
           the Payments Administrator may apply such amounts repaid directly to
           the amounts made available by the Payments Administrator pursuant to
           this Section 2.4(b).

               (iii) Because the Payments Administrator on behalf of the
           Lenders may be advancing and/or may be repaid Revolving Loans prior
           to the time when the Lenders will actually advance and/or be repaid
           Revolving Loans, interest with respect to Revolving Loans shall be
           allocated by the Payments Administrator to each Lender and the
           Payments Administrator in accordance with the amount of Revolving
           Loans actually advanced by and repaid to each Lender and the Payments
           Administrator and shall accrue from and including the date such Loans
           are so advanced to but excluding the date such Loans are either
           repaid by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.5 or actually
           settled by the applicable Lender as described in this Section 2.4(b).

           (c) If any amount described in this Section 2.4 is not made available
to the Payments Administrator by a Lender (such Lender being hereinafter
referred to as a "Defaulting Lender") and the Payments Administrator has made
such amount available to the Borrower, the Payments Administrator shall be
entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Defaulting Lender. If such
Defaulting Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Payments
Administrator's demand therefor, the Payments Administrator shall promptly
notify the Borrower and the Borrower shall immediately (but in any event no
later than five Business Days after such demand) pay such amount to the Payments
Administrator. The Payments Administrator shall also be entitled to recover from
such Defaulting Lender and the Borrower, (x) interest on such amount in respect
of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made available by the
Payments Administrator to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by
the Payments Administrator, at a rate per annum equal to either (i) if paid by
                                      --- -----
such Defaulting Lender, the overnight Federal Funds Rate or (ii) if paid by the
Borrower, the then applicable rate of interest, calculated in accordance with
Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof, plus (y) in each case, an amount equal to any
                                   ----
costs (including legal expenses) and losses incurred as a result of the failure
of such Defaulting Lender to provide such amount as provided in this Credit
Agreement; provided, however, that the Payments Administrator shall not be
           --------  -------
entitled to demand payment by the Borrower of any amount under clause (y) above
unless demand therefor has been made of the Defaulting Lender and not paid
within five Business Days of such demand. Nothing

                                       30

<PAGE>

herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its duty to fulfill its
obligations hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Borrower may have
against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder,
including, without limitation, the right of the Borrower to seek reimbursement
from any Defaulting Lender for any amounts paid by the Borrower under clause (y)
above on account of such Defaulting Lender's default.

           (d) The failure of any Lender to make the Revolving Loan to be made
by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its
obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Revolving Loan on the date of such
Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other
Lender to make the Revolving Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of
any Borrowing.

           (e) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, so
long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or has rejected its Commitment, the
Payments Administrator shall not be obligated to transfer to such Lender any
payments made by the Borrower to the Payments Administrator for the benefit of
such Lender; and such Lender shall not be entitled to the sharing of any
payments pursuant to Section 2.10. Amounts payable to such Lender under Section
2.10 shall instead be paid to the Payments Administrator. The Payments
Administrator may hold and, in its discretion, re-lend to the Borrower the
amount of all such payments received by it for such Lender. For purposes of
voting or consenting to matters with respect to the Credit Documents and
determining Proportionate Share, such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to
be a "Lender" and such Lender's Commitment shall be deemed to be zero (0). This
Section 2.4(e) shall remain effective with respect to such Defaulting Lender
until (x) the Obligations under this Agreement shall have been paid in full to
the Payments Administrator and/or the Lenders other than the Defaulting Lender
or (y) the Required Lenders, the Payments Administrator and the Borrower shall
have waived such Defaulting Lender's default in writing. No Commitment of any
Lender shall be increased or otherwise affected, and performance by the Borrower
shall not be excused, by the operation of this Section 2.4(e).

           2.5 Mandatory Payment; Mandatory Reduction of Commitments. (a)
               -----------------------------------------------------
Revolving Loans shall be due and payable without any demand at any time (A) the
Outstandings at such time exceeds the Borrowing Base or the Total Commitments,
in the amount of such excess and (B) the Inventory Sublimit is exceeded, in the
amount of such excess, provided that (i) no such payment shall be required
                       --------
pursuant to the foregoing (A) as a result of a Borrowing Base deficiency during
an Interim Advance Period and (ii) if the then aggregate outstanding principal
amount of Revolving Loans is less than either such excess (after giving effect
to the foregoing clause (i)), Letters of Credit will be required to be cash
collateralized (to the satisfaction of the Collateral Agent) in the amount of
such difference.

           (b) On the Expiration Date, the Total Commitments (and the Commitment
of each Lender) shall automatically reduce to zero and all outstanding Revolving
Loans shall be paid in full.

           (c) The Borrower may reduce or terminate the unutilized Total
Commitments at any time and from time to time in whole or in part; provided,
however, that each such reduction must be in an amount not less than $1,000,000
(and in increments of $100,000 thereafter); and provided further, that (i) if
the Borrower seeks to reduce the Total Commitments

                                       31

<PAGE>

to an amount less than $25,000,000, then the Total Commitments shall be reduced
to zero and this Credit Agreement shall be terminated and (ii) once reduced the
amount of any such reductions in the Total Commitments may not be reinstated.

           (d) Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, unless the Required
Lenders otherwise consent, the Total Commitments shall automatically be reduced
to zero.

           (e) Any reduction to the Total Commitments pursuant to this Section
2.5 shall reduce the Commitment of each of the Lenders pro rata.

           2.6 Payments and Computations. (a) The Borrower shall make each
               -------------------------
payment hereunder and under the Revolving Notes not later than 3:00 P.M. New
York City time on the day when due in Dollars to the Payments Administrator at
its Payment Office in immediately available funds. The Borrower's obligations to
the Lenders with respect to such payments shall be discharged by making such
payments to the Payments Administrator pursuant to this Section 2.6 or, if such
payments are not received prior to the foregoing deadline, by the Payments
Administrator's adding such payments to the principal amount of the Revolving
Loans outstanding by charging such payments to the Borrower's Revolving Loan
account (which charge shall constitute an incurrence of Revolving Loans (that
are Base Rate Loans) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount so
charged).

           (b) (i) The Borrower shall have established and shall maintain one or
more accounts for the collection of payments made in respect of Accounts (each,
a "Sub-Collection Account") and shall instruct all account debtors on the
Accounts of the Borrower to remit all payments to its Sub-Collection Account.
All amounts received by the Borrower from any account debtor, in addition to all
other cash received from any other source (other than proceeds kept in the
"Collateral Account" (as defined in and pursuant to the Special Term Loan
Agreement)), shall, subject to the requirements of Section 8.15, upon receipt be
deposited into a Sub-Collection Account.

               (ii) The Borrower, the Collateral Agent and financial
           institutions selected by the Borrower and acceptable to the Agent
           (the "Collection Banks") shall enter into agreements substantially in
           the form of Exhibit E-1 (the "Collection Agreements"), providing,
           among other things, for all receipts received in respect of Accounts
           to be transferred at the end of each day from each Sub-Collection
           Account to the appropriate Collection Account.

               (iii) The Borrower may close Sub-Collection Accounts and/or open
           new Sub-Collection Accounts with the prior written consent of the
           Collateral Agent and subject to prior execution and delivery to the
           Collateral Agent of Collection Agreements consistent with the
           provisions of this Section 2.6 and in form and substance satisfactory
           to the Agent and its counsel.

           (c) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Collection Agreements, all available amounts held in the Collection Accounts
shall be wired each Business Day into an account (the "Concentration Account")
established pursuant to a concentration account agreement entered into among the
Borrower, the Collateral Agent and Bankers Trust

                                       32

<PAGE>

Company substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2 (the "Concentration Account
Agreement"). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Concentration Account
Agreement, all available funds in the Concentration Account shall be transferred
on every Business Day to an account (the "BT Account") maintained by the
Collateral Agent at Bankers Trust Company.

           (d) All available amounts held in the BT Account shall be distributed
and applied on a daily basis in the following order: first, to the payment of
                                                     -----
any Fees, Expenses or other Obligations due and payable to the Agent under any
of the Credit Documents, including amounts advanced by the Payments
Administrator on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.3(b), 2.3(c) or
2.4(b); second, to the payment of any Fees, Expenses or other Obligations due
        ------
and payable to any Issuing Bank under any of the Credit Documents; third, to the
                                                                   -----
ratable payment of any Fees, Expenses or other Obligations due and payable to
the Lenders under any of the Credit Documents other than those Obligations
specifically referred to in this Section 2.6(d); fourth, to the ratable payment
                                                 ------
of interest due on the Loans; and fifth, to the ratable payment of principal on
                                  -----
the Loans. Any payment received hereunder as a distribution in any proceeding
referred to in Section 9.1(e) shall, unless paid with respect to amounts
specifically owing to the Agent or any Issuing Bank, be distributed and applied
by the Collateral Agent to the payment of the amounts due hereunder and under
the Revolving Notes ratably in accordance with such amounts (or, if a court of
competent jurisdiction shall otherwise specify, as specified by such court).

           2.7 Maintenance of Account. The Payments Administrator shall maintain
               ----------------------
an account on its books in the name of the Borrower in which the Borrower will
be charged with all loans and advances made by the Lenders to the Borrower or
for the Borrower's account, including the Revolving Loans, the Letter of Credit
Obligations, the Fees, the Expenses and any other Obligations. The Borrower will
be credited, in accordance with Section 2.6 above, with all amounts received by
the Lenders from the Borrower or from others for the Borrower's account,
including, as set forth above, all amounts received by the Payments
Administrator in payment of Accounts and applied to the Obligations. In no event
shall prior recourse to any Accounts or other Collateral be a prerequisite to
the Payments Administrator's right to demand payment of any Obligation upon its
maturity. Further, the Payments Administrator shall have no obligation
whatsoever to perform in any respect any of the Borrower's contracts or
obligations relating to the Accounts.

           2.8 Statement of Account. After the end of each month the Payments
               --------------------
Administrator shall send the Borrower a statement accounting for the charges,
loans, advances and other transactions occurring among and between the Agent,
the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower during that month. The monthly
statements shall, absent manifest error, be an account stated, which is final,
conclusive and binding on the Borrower.

           2.9 Taxes. (a) All payments made by the Borrower or Holding, as the
               -----
case may be, hereunder, under any Revolving Note, under the Guaranty or under
any other Credit Document will be made without setoff, counterclaim or other
defense to the extent permitted by law. Except as provided for in Section
2.9(b), all such payments will be made free and clear of, and without deduction
or withholding for, any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees,
assessments or other charges of whatever nature now or hereafter imposed by any
Governmental Authority or by any political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof or therein

                                       33

<PAGE>

(but excluding, except as provided in the second succeeding sentence, any tax
imposed on or measured by the net income of a Lender pursuant to the laws of the
Governmental Authority in which such Lender is organized or incorporated or in
which the principal office or Applicable Lending Office of such Lender is
located or under the laws of any political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof or therein) and all interest, penalties or similar liabilities with
respect thereto (collectively, "Taxes"). If any Taxes are so levied or imposed,
the Borrower or Holding, as the case may be, agrees to pay the full amount of
such Taxes, and such additional amounts as may be necessary so that every
payment of all amounts due hereunder, under any Revolving Note, under the
Guaranty or under any other Credit Document, after withholding or deduction for
or on account of any Taxes, will not be less than the amount provided for
herein, in such Revolving Note or in the Guaranty. The Borrower shall also
reimburse each Lender, upon the written request of such Lender, for taxes
imposed on or measured by the net income of such Lender pursuant to the laws of
the Governmental Authority in which such Lender is organized or incorporated or
in which the principal office or Applicable Lending Office of such Lender is
located or of any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein
as such Lender shall determine are payable by such Lender in respect of Taxes
paid to or on behalf of such Lender pursuant to this or the preceding sentence.
The Borrower will furnish to the Payments Administrator within 45 days after the
date the payment of any Taxes, or any withholding or deduction on account
thereof, is due pursuant to applicable law certified copies of tax receipts
evidencing such payment by the Borrower or Holding, as the case may be. The
Borrower or Holding, as the case may be, will indemnify and hold harmless the
Agent and each Lender, and reimburse the Agent or such Lender upon its written
request, for the amount of any Taxes so levied or imposed and paid or withheld
by such Lender.

     (b) Each Lender which is not a United States person (as such term is
defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for U.S. Federal income tax purposes
agrees (i) to provide to each of the Borrower and the Agent on or prior to the
Restatement Effective Date two original signed copies of Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8 BEN or W-8 ECI certifying to such Lender's entitlement as of
such date to an exemption from United States withholding tax with respect to
payments to be made under this Credit Agreement, under any Revolving Note, under
the Guaranty or under any other Credit Document and (ii) that, to the extent
legally entitled to do so, (x) with respect to a Lender that is an assignee or
transferee of an interest under this Credit Agreement pursuant to Section 11.6
(unless the respective Lender was already a Lender hereunder immediately prior
to such assignment or transfer), upon the date of such assignment or transfer to
such Lender, and (y) with respect to any such Lender, from time to time upon the
reasonable written request of the Borrower or the Agent after the Restatement
Effective Date, such Lender will provide to each of the Borrower and the Agent
two original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 BEN or W-8 ECI
(or any successor forms) certifying to such Lender's entitlement to an exemption
from, or reduction in, United States withholding tax with respect to payments to
be made under this Credit Agreement, under any Revolving Note, under the
Guaranty, or under any other Credit Document. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in Section 2.9(a), but subject to the
immediately succeeding sentence, the Borrower or Holding, as the case may
be, shall be entitled, to the extent it is required to do so by law, to deduct
or withhold income or similar taxes imposed by the United States (or any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) from interest,
fees or other amounts payable hereunder (without any obligation to pay the
respective Lender additional amounts with respect thereto) for the account of
any Lender which is not a United States person (as such term is

                                       34

<PAGE>

defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for U.S. Federal income tax purposes
and which has not provided to the Borrower or the Agent such forms required to
be provided to the Borrower or the Agent pursuant to the first sentence of this
Section 2.9(b). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the
preceding sentence and except as set forth in Section 2.9(b), the Borrower or
Holding, as the case may be, agrees to indemnify each Lender in the manner set
forth in Section 2.9(a) in respect of any amounts deducted or withheld by it as
described in the immediately preceding sentence as a result of any changes that
are effective after the Restatement Effective Date in any applicable law,
treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order, or in the
interpretation thereof, relating to the deducting or withholding of income or
similar Taxes.

     (c) If the Borrower pays any additional amount pursuant to this Section 2.9
and any Lender actually receives a refund of tax or a credit against its tax
liabilities as a result of such payment by the Borrower, such Lender shall pay
to the Borrower an amount that such Lender determines, in its sole judgment, is
equal to the net tax benefit obtained by such Lender as a result of such payment
by the Borrower. Whether or not any Lender claims any credit or refund shall be
in the sole discretion of each Lender. Nothing in this Section 2.9(c) shall
require any Lender to disclose or detail the basis of its calculation of the
amount of any tax benefit or any other information to the Borrower or any other
party.

     2.10 Sharing of Payments. If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether
          -------------------
voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off or
otherwise) on account of the Revolving Loans made by it or its participation in
Letters of Credit in excess of its Proportionate Share of payments on account of
the Revolving Loans or Letters of Credit obtained by all the Lenders (other than
any Lender that has waived its Proportionate Share in writing), such Lender
shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participation in the
Revolving Loans made by them or in their participation in Letters of Credit as
shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment
ratably with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such
                           --------  -------
excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such
purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and each such Lender shall repay to
the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together
with an amount equal to such Lender's ratable share (according to the proportion
of (i) the amount of such Lender's required repayment to (ii) the total amount
so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or
payable by the purchasing Lender in respect to the total amount so recovered.
The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another
Lender pursuant to this Section 2.10 may, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, exercise all of its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with
respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct
creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

     2.11 Increases in Total Commitments; Addition of Lenders. The Borrower has
          ---------------------------------------------------
requested that the Total Commitments be increased to $220,000,000 and the Lead
Arranger has agreed to attempt to obtain commitments from one or more financial
institutions (each, a "New Lender") to become Lenders hereunder with aggregate
Commitments not to exceed $20,000,000 (the "Commitment Increase"). If the Lead
Arranger is able to syndicate all or a portion of the Commitment Increase, as
notified to the Agent and the Borrower, the Commitment Increase (or so much
thereof as has been committed by one or more New Lenders) shall become effective
on

                                       35

<PAGE>

the date specified by the Lead Arranger, provided that (a) no Default or Event
                                         --------
of Default shall exist on such date, both before and after giving effect to the
Commitment Increase, (b) the New Lenders shall have entered into one or more
agreements, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, agreeing to become
Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) the Borrower shall
have paid all fees and expenses due to the Agent and the New Lenders in
connection with such Commitment Increase, (d) the Borrower shall have executed
and delivered to the Agent a Revolving Note for each New Lender evidencing its
Commitment, and (e) the Borrower shall have delivered or caused to be delivered
to the Agent such other documents and opinions as the Agent or any New Lender
shall have reasonably requested. On the effective date of the Commitment
Increase, Schedule I shall be amended to reflect the Commitments of all Lenders,
including the New Lender(s), and the Total Commitments, each New Lender shall
become a Lender hereunder and the existing Lenders and the New Lenders shall
make such payments as may be necessary for each Lender, including each New
Lender, to have funded its Proportionate Share of all outstanding Revolving
Loans.

                                   ARTICLE 3.

                                Letters of Credit
                                -----------------

     3.1  Issuance of Letters of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions of
          -----------------------------
this Credit Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties of
the Borrower set forth herein, upon the request of the Borrower pursuant to
Section 3.4, one or more Issuing Banks selected by the Borrower shall issue
Letters of Credit hereunder and for the Borrower's account, as more specifically
described below. No Issuing Bank shall be obligated to issue any Letter of
Credit for the account of the Borrower if at the time of such requested
issuance:

          (a) the face amount of such requested Letter of Credit when added to
     the Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding, would (i) cause the
     Letter of Credit Obligations to exceed $15,000,000 or (ii) when added to
     the aggregate amount of Revolving Loans then outstanding would exceed (x)
     the lesser of (A) the Total Commitments and (B) the Borrowing Base then in
     effect or (y) the Inventory Sublimit;

          (b) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or
     arbitrator shall purport by its terms to enjoin or restrain such Issuing
     Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit or any Requirement of Law
     applicable to such Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not
     having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction
     over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request such Issuing Bank to
     refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of
     Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to
     such Letter of Credit any restriction or reserve or capital requirement
     (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated) not in effect as
     of the Restatement Effective Date, or any unreimbursed loss, cost or
     expense which was not applicable, in effect or known to such Issuing Bank
     as of the Restatement Effective Date and which such Issuing Bank deems in
     good faith to be material to it; or

          (c) a default of any Lender's obligations to fund under Section 3.6
     exists, or such Lender is a Defaulting Lender under Section 2.4(c), unless
     the Agent and the Issuing

                                       36

<PAGE>

     Banks have entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrower to
     eliminate such Issuing Bank's risk with respect to such Lender, including
     cash collateralization of such Lender's Proportionate Share of the Letter
     of Credit Obligations.

Schedule III attached hereto contains a description of all letters of credit
issued by an Issuing Bank pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement and which
are to remain outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date. Each such letter of
credit, including any extension thereof (each an "Existing Letter of Credit")
shall constitute a "Letter of Credit" for all purposes of this Agreement. Each
Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed issued for purposes of Sections 3.3
and 4.7 on the Restatement Effective Date.

     3.2 Terms of Letters of Credit. The Letters of Credit shall be in a form
         --------------------------
customarily issued by the respective Issuing Bank or in such other form as has
been approved by such Issuing Bank. Each Letter of Credit shall be denominated
in Dollars, and shall be payable on sight. At the time of issuance, the amount
and the terms and conditions of each Letter of Credit shall be subject to
approval by the Agent and the Borrower. In no event may the term of any Standby
Letter of Credit issued hereunder exceed 12 months (except that such Letters of
Credit may provide for annual renewal) nor the term of any Commercial Letter of
Credit exceed 180 days, and all Letters of Credit issued hereunder shall expire
no later than the date that is five Business Days prior to the Expiration Date.
Any Letter of Credit containing an automatic renewal provision shall also
contain a provision pursuant to which, notwithstanding any other provisions
thereof, it shall expire no later than the date that is five Business Days prior
to the Expiration Date.

     3.3 Lenders' Participation. Immediately upon the issuance or amendment by
         ----------------------
any Issuing Bank of any Letter of Credit in accordance with the procedures set
forth in Section 3.1, each Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and
unconditionally purchased and received from such Issuing Bank, without recourse
or warranty, an undivided interest and participation to the extent of such
Lender's Proportionate Share (based upon its Commitment) of the liability with
respect to such Letter of Credit (including, without limitation, all obligations
of the Borrower with respect thereto, other than amounts owing to such Issuing
Bank consisting of Issuing Bank Fees and Facing Fees) and any security therefor
or guaranty pertaining thereto.

     3.4 Notice of Issuance. Whenever the Borrower desires the issuance of a
         ------------------
Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall deliver to the Payments Administrator a
written notice no later than 1:00 P.M. New York City time at least three
Business Days (or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Issuing Bank)
in advance of the proposed date of issuance of a letter of credit request in
substantially the form attached as Exhibit F (a "Letter of Credit Request").
Whenever the Borrower desires the issuance of a Commercial Letter of Credit, the
Borrower shall deliver to LaSalle National Bank, as the Issuing Lender, an
application in the form required by such Issuing Lender, with a copy to the
Payments Administrator. The transmittal by the Borrower of each Letter of Credit
Request or the application for a Commercial Letter of Credit shall be deemed to
be a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the Letter of Credit may
be issued in accordance with and will not violate any of the requirements of
Section 3.1 or 5.2. A Letter of Credit Request may be given in writing or
electronically with prompt confirmation in writing.

                                       37

<PAGE>

     Upon receipt by the Payments Administrator of a Letter of Credit Request,
in the event that the Agent elects to issue such Standby Letter of Credit, the
Payments Administrator shall promptly so notify the Borrower, and the Agent
shall be the Issuing Lender with respect thereto. In the event that Agent, in
its sole discretion, as applicable, elects not to issue such Standby Letter of
Credit, Agent shall promptly so notify the Borrower, whereupon the Borrower may
request any other Lender to issue such Letter of Credit by delivering to such
Lender a copy of the applicable Letter of Credit Request. Any Lender so
requested to issue such Standby Letter of Credit shall promptly notify the
Borrower and the Payments Administrator whether or not, in its sole discretion,
it has elected to issue such Letter of Credit, and any such Lender that so
elects to issue such Standby Letter of Credit shall be the Issuing Lender with
respect thereto. In the event that all other Lenders shall have declined to
issue a Standby Letter of Credit, then notwithstanding the prior election of
Agent not to issue such Standby Letter of Credit, Agent shall be the Issuing
Lender with respect thereto. Each Issuing Bank shall notify the Payments
Administrator of the issuance of a Letter of Credit, and the amount and terms
thereof.

     3.5 Payment of Amount Drawn Under Letters of Credit. In the event of any
         -----------------------------------------------
request for drawing under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the
respective Issuing Bank shall notify the Payments Administrator, which shall
notify the Borrower of such request, not later than 11:00 A.M. on the Business
Day immediately prior to the date on which such Issuing Bank intends to honor
such drawing. The Borrower shall give notice to be received by the Payments
Administrator and the Issuing Bank not later than 1:00 P.M. on such Business Day
if it intends to reimburse such Issuing Bank for the amount of such drawing with
funds other than the proceeds of Revolving Loans. Such notice from the Borrower
shall be irrevocable and, if given, the Borrower shall reimburse such Issuing
Bank not later than the close of business New York City time on the day on which
such drawing is honored in an amount in same day funds equal to the amount of
such drawing. If the Payments Administrator shall not have timely received such
notice (i) the Borrower shall be deemed to have timely given a Notice of
Borrowing to the Payments Administrator to incur Revolving Loans on the date on
which such drawing is honored in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing
and (ii) subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions specified in
Section 5.2 hereof and the other terms and conditions of Borrowings contained
herein, the Lenders shall, on the date of such drawing, make Revolving Loans in
the amount of such drawing, the proceeds of which shall be applied directly by
the Payments Administrator to reimburse such Issuing Bank for the amount of such
drawing or payment. Borrowings pursuant to this Section 3.5 shall not be subject
to the minimum amount requirement of Section 2.3(a)(iii). If for any reason,
proceeds of Revolving Loans are not received by such Issuing Bank on such date
in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing, the Borrower shall be
obligated to and shall reimburse such Issuing Bank, on the Business Day
immediately following the date of such drawing, in an amount in same day funds
equal to the excess of the amount of such drawing over the amount of such
Revolving Loans, if any, which are so received, plus accrued interest on such
amount at the rate set forth in Section 4.2; provided, however, that any such
                                             --------  -------
payments shall not prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any
Lender as a result of any default by such Lender in funding such Revolving
Loans, as provided in the final sentence of Section 2.4(c).

     3.6 Payment by Lenders. (a) In the event that the Borrower does not
         ------------------
reimburse an Issuing Bank for the amount of any drawing pursuant to Section 3.5
and the proceeds of Revolving Loans incurred for such purpose are insufficient
for such purpose, the

                                       38

<PAGE>

Payments Administrator shall promptly notify each Lender of the unreimbursed
amount and of such Lender's respective participation therein. Each Lender shall
make available to such Issuing Bank an amount equal to its respective
participation in same day funds, at the office of such Issuing Bank specified in
such notice, not later than 1:00 P.M. New York City time on the Business Day
after the date notified by the Payments Administrator. In the event that any
Lender fails to make available to the Issuing Bank the amount of such Lender's
participation in such Letter of Credit as provided in this Section 3.6, such
Issuing Bank shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such
Lender, together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate.

     (b) The Payments Administrator or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be,
shall distribute to each Lender which has paid all amounts payable by it under
this Section 3.6 with respect to any Letter of Credit such Lender's
Proportionate Share of all payments subsequently received by the Payments
Administrator or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, from the Borrower in
reimbursement of drawings honored under such Letter of Credit when such payments
are received.

     3.7 Nature of Issuing Bank's Duties. In determining whether to pay under
         -------------------------------
any Letter of Credit, each Issuing Bank shall be responsible only to determine
that the documents and certificates required to be delivered under that Letter
of Credit have been delivered and that they comply on their face with the
requirements of that Letter of Credit. As between the Borrower, an Issuing Bank
and each other Lender, the Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions
of, or misuse of the Letter of Credit issued by each Issuing Bank by, the
respective beneficiaries of such Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in
limitation of the foregoing, no Issuing Bank nor any of the other Lenders shall
be responsible (i) for the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or
legal effects of any document submitted by any party in connection with the
application for and issuance of or any drawing honored under such Letter of
Credit even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged, (ii) for the validity or
sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to
transfer or assign such 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, (iii) for failure of the beneficiary of such Letter
of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to draw upon such
Letter of Credit, (iv) for errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in
transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex,
telecopy or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher, (v) for errors in
interpretation of technical terms, (vi) for any loss or delay in the
transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing
under any such Letter of Credit, or of the proceeds thereof, (vii) for the
misapplication by the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit of the proceeds of
any drawing honored under such Letter of Credit, and (viii) for any consequences
arising from actions or omissions taken or omitted in good faith or from causes
beyond the control of such Issuing Bank or the other Lenders; provided, however,
                                                              --------  -------
that nothing in this sentence shall relieve an Issuing Bank of liability for its
own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

     3.8 Obligations Absolute. The obligations of the Borrower to reimburse an
         --------------------
Issuing Bank for drawings honored under a Letter of Credit issued by it and the
obligations of the Lenders under Section 3.6 shall be unconditional and
irrevocable and shall be paid strictly in

                                       39

<PAGE>

accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement under all circumstances
including, without limitation, the following circumstances:

          (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;

          (b) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which
     the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower may have at any time against
     a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons or
     entities for whom any such beneficiary or transferee may be acting), such
     Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with
     this Credit Agreement, the transactions contemplated herein or any
     unrelated transaction, provided, however, that nothing contained herein
                            --------  -------
     shall preclude the Borrower from asserting any such claim, defense or
     counterclaim in a separate judicial proceeding or by compulsory
     counterclaim;

          (c) any draft, demand, certificate or any other documents presented
     under any 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;

          (d) the surrender or impairment of any security for the performance or
     observance of any of the terms of any of the Credit Documents;

          (e) payment by such Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit against
     presentation of a demand, draft or certificate or other document which does
     not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

          (f) failure of any drawing under a Letter of Credit or any
     non-application or misapplication by the beneficiary of the proceeds of any
     drawing; or

          (g) the fact that a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
     and be continuing;

provided, however, that the Borrower shall have no obligation to reimburse an
--------  -------
Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall have no obligation under Section 3.6 in the
event of such Issuing Bank's willful misconduct or gross negligence, as
determined by a final and non-appealable determination by a court of competent
jurisdiction, in determining whether documents presented under the Letter of
Credit comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or with respect to any
other express obligation an Issuing Bank may have under this Credit Agreement in
making any payment pursuant to any Letter of Credit.

                                   ARTICLE 4.

                           Interest, Fees and Expenses
                           ---------------------------

     4.1 Interest on Eurodollar Rate Loans. Subject to the provisions of Section
         ---------------------------------
4.4 hereof, interest on Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be payable on the last day
of each Interest Period with respect to such Eurodollar Rate Loans (and, if
earlier, the date three months after the date of the incurrence, Conversion or
Continuance thereof), at the date of any Conversion thereof (or portion thereof)
to a Base Rate Loan, upon any prepayment (on the amount prepaid) and at

                                       40

<PAGE>

maturity at an interest rate per annum equal during each Interest Period for
such Eurodollar Rate Loan to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in effect for such
Interest Period in effect for such Eurodollar Rate Loan plus the Applicable
Margin. The Payments Administrator upon determining the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate
for any Interest Period shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders
thereof. Each determination by the Payments Administrator of an interest rate
hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest
error.

     4.2 Interest on Base Rate Loans. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.4
         ---------------------------
hereof, interest on Base Rate Loans shall be payable monthly as of the end of
each month, upon any Conversion thereof (or portion thereof) to a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, upon any prepayment (on the amount prepaid) and at maturity at an
interest rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. Each
determination by the Payments Administrator of an interest rate hereunder shall
be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

     4.3 Notice of Continuation and Notice of Conversion. (a) With respect to
         -----------------------------------------------
any Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Borrower may, subject to
the provisions of Section 4.3(c) and the condition that no Default or Event of
Default then exists, elect to maintain such Borrowing or any portion thereof
equal to at least $1,000,000 as Eurodollar Rate Loans by selecting a new
Interest Period for such Borrowing (or portion thereof), which new Interest
Period shall commence on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest
Period. Each selection of a new Interest Period (a "Continuation") shall be made
by notice given not later than 12:00 P.M. New York City time on the third
Business Day prior to the date of any such Continuation, by the Borrower to the
Payments Administrator. Such notice (a "Notice of Continuation") shall be by
telephone, telecopy, telex or cable, confirmed immediately in writing if by
telephone, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1, which shall be completed in
such manner as is necessary to comply with all limitations on Revolving Loans
outstanding hereunder. If the Borrower shall fail to, or does not have the right
to, select a new Interest Period for any Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate
Loans in accordance with this Section 4.3(a), such Loans will automatically, on
the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base
Rate Loans.

     (b) The Borrower may on any Business Day (provided that no Default or Event
                                               --------
of Default has occurred and is continuing), upon notice (each such notice, a
"Notice of Conversion") given to the Payments Administrator, and subject to the
provisions of Section 4.3(c), Convert the entire amount of or a portion of
Revolving Loans of one Type into a Borrowing of Revolving Loans of the other
Type; provided, however, that any Conversion of any Eurodollar Rate Loans into
      --------  -------
Base Rate Loans shall be made on, and only on, the last day of an Interest
Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Each such Notice of Conversion shall be
given not later than 12:00 P.M. New York City time on the Business Day prior to
the date of any proposed Conversion into Base Rate Loans and on the third
Business Day prior to the date of any proposed Conversion into Eurodollar Rate
Loans. Subject to the restrictions specified above, each Notice of Conversion
shall be by telephone, telecopy, telex or cable, confirmed immediately in
writing if by telephone, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2. Each
Conversion shall be in an aggregate amount for the Revolving Loans of all
Lenders of not less than $1,000,000.

                                       41

<PAGE>

     (c) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 2.3 or subsections (a)
and (b) above to the contrary,

          (i)   if the Payments Administrator is unable to determine the
     Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans comprising any requested
     Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion, the right of the Borrower to select
     or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans for such Borrowing or any subsequent
     Borrowing shall be suspended until the Payments Administrator shall notify
     the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension
     no longer exist, and each Revolving Loan comprising such Borrowing shall be
     made as, or Converted into, a Base Rate Loan,

          (ii)  if the Required Lenders shall, at least one Business Day before
     the date of any requested Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion, notify the
     Payments Administrator that the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for Revolving
     Loans comprising such Borrowing will not adequately reflect the cost to
     such Lenders of making or funding their respective Revolving Loans for such
     Borrowing, the right of the Borrower to select Eurodollar Rate Loans for
     such Borrowing shall be suspended until the Payments Administrator shall
     notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such
     suspension no longer exist, and each Revolving Loan comprising such
     Borrowing shall be made as, or Converted into, a Base Rate Loan, and

          (iii) there shall not be at any one time more than five (5) Interest
     Periods in effect with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans.

     (d) Each Notice of Continuation and Notice of Conversion shall be
irrevocable by and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing,
Continuation or Conversion that the related Notice of Borrowing, Notice of
Continuation or Notice of Conversion specifies is to be comprised of Eurodollar
Rate Loans, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or
expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill, on or
before the date for such Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion specified in such
Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Continuation or Notice of Conversion, the
applicable conditions set forth in Article 5, including, without limitation, any
loss (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason
of the liquidation or re-employment of deposits or other funds acquired by such
Lender to fund the Eurodollar Rate Loan to be made by such Lender as part of
such Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion.

     4.4 Interest After Default. Interest on any amount of matured principal of
         ----------------------
the Revolving Loans, and interest on the amount of principal of the Revolving
Loans outstanding as of the date an Event of Default under Section 9.1(a) or (c)
(to the extent arising from the failure to comply with Sections 8.3, 8.9, 8.10
or 8.15 and after the Agent has given notice of such failure to the Borrower)
occurs, and at all times thereafter until the earlier of the date upon which (i)
all Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full, (ii) such Event of Default
shall have been cured or waived, or (iii) with respect to such Events of Default
arising under Section 9.1(c) the date which is thirty days after the first day
the rate is increased pursuant to Section 4.4 with respect to any individual
occurrence of Event of Default shall be payable on demand at a rate equal to the

                                       42

<PAGE>

rate at which the Revolving Loans are bearing interest pursuant to Sections 4.1
or 4.2 above plus 2%, or, if higher, the Base Rate in effect from time to time
plus the sum of (x) the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans and (y) 2%.

     4.5 Reimbursement of Expenses. (a) From and after the Restatement Effective
         -------------------------
Date, the Borrower shall promptly reimburse the Agent for all Expenses of the
Agent as the same are incurred by the Agent and upon receipt of invoices
therefor and, if requested by the Borrower, such reasonable backup materials and
information as the Borrower shall reasonably request.

     (b) If any payment of principal of, or any Conversion of, any Eurodollar
Rate Loan is made other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable
thereto for any reason, the Borrower shall, upon demand by any Lender (with a
copy of such demand to the Payments Administrator), pay to the Payments
Administrator for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate
such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses which it may reasonably
incur as a result of such payment, including, without limitation, any loss
(excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of
the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any
Lender to fund or maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loan.

     4.6 Unused Line Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Payments Administrator
         ---------------
for the benefit of each of the Lenders (other than a Defaulting Lender for so
long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender) a non-refundable fee (the "Unused
Line Fee") equal to 0.50% per annum on the unused portion of such Lender's
Commitment, which fee shall (i) accrue from the date this Credit Agreement
becomes effective pursuant to Section 11.14 until the Expiration Date and (ii)
be due and payable monthly in arrears at the end of each month, and on the
Expiration Date or such earlier date upon which the Total Commitments are
terminated.

     4.7 Letter of Credit Fee; Facing Fee. (a) The Payments Administrator, for
         --------------------------------
the ratable benefit of the Lenders, shall be entitled to charge to the account
of the Borrower (i) a fee (the "Letter of Credit Fee"), in an amount equal to
2.50% per annum of the daily amount of outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations
during the immediately preceding quarter, due and payable quarterly in arrears
on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December, and on the
Expiration Date or such earlier date upon which the Total Commitments are
terminated, and (ii) as and when incurred by the Payments Administrator or any
Lender, any charges, fees, costs and expenses charged to the Payments
Administrator or any Lender for the Borrower's account by any Issuing Bank
(other than any fees charged to such Payments Administrator or any Lender which
would be duplicative of the Letter of Credit Fee paid to such Payments
Administrator for the benefit of the Lenders) (the "Issuing Bank Fees") in
connection with the issuance of any Letters of Credit by any Issuing Bank. Each
determination by the Payments Administrator of Letter of Credit Fees hereunder
shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

     (b) Letter of Credit Fees payable in respect of Letter of Credit
Obligations outstanding as of the date an Event of Default under Section 9.1(a)
or (c) (to the extent arising from the failure to comply with Sections 8.3, 8.9,
8.10 or 8.15 and after the Agent has given notice of such failure to the
Borrower) occurs, and at all times thereafter until the earlier of the

                                       43

<PAGE>

date upon which (i) all Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full, (ii)
such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived, or (iii) with respect to
such Events of Default arising under Section 9.1(c) the date which is thirty
days after the first day the rate is increased pursuant to this clause (b) with
respect to any individual occurrence of Event of Default shall be payable on
demand at a rate equal to the rate at which the Letter of Credit Fees are
charged pursuant to Section 4.7(a) above, plus 2%.

     (c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the respective Issuing Bank, for its own
account, a facing fee in respect of each Letter of Credit issued for its account
hereunder (the "Facing Fee') for the period from and including the date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit to and including termination of such Letter of
Credit, computed at a rate equal to 1/4 of 1% per annum of the daily Stated
Amount of such Letter of Credit; provided that in no event shall the annual
                                 --------
Facing Fee with respect to each Letter of Credit be less than $500. Accrued
Facing Fees shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business
Day of March, June, September and December, and on the Expiration Date or such
earlier date upon which the Total Commitments are terminated and no Letters of
Credit remain outstanding.

     4.8 Authorization to Charge Account. The Borrower hereby authorizes the
         -------------------------------
Payments Administrator, subject to prior notice to the Borrower, to charge the
Borrower's Revolving Loan account with the amount of all Fees, Expenses and
other payments to be paid hereunder and under the other Credit Documents as and
when such payments become due. The Borrower confirms that any charges which the
Payments Administrator may so make to the Borrower's Revolving Loan account as
herein provided will be made as an accommodation to the Borrower and solely at
the Payments Administrator's discretion.

     4.9 Indemnification in Certain Events. (a) If after the Restatement
         ---------------------------------
Effective Date, either (i) any change in or in the interpretation of any law or
regulation is introduced, including, without limitation, with respect to reserve
requirements, applicable to the Agent, BT Delaware or any of the Lenders (or, in
the case of a Lender which is not a banking institution, any Affiliate of such
Lender funding such Lender ("Funding Affiliate")), or (ii) any of the Lenders
(or, in the case of a Lender which is not a banking institution, any Funding
Affiliate) complies with any future guideline or request from any central bank
or other Governmental Authority or (iii) any of the Lenders (or, in the case of
a Lender which is not a banking institution, any Funding Affiliate) reasonably
determines that the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding
capital adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof has or would
have the effect described below, or any of the Lenders (or, in the case of a
Lender which is not a banking institution, any Funding Affiliate) complies with
any future request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not
having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable
agency, and in the case of any event set forth in this clause (iii), such
adoption, change or compliance has or would have the direct or indirect effect
of reducing the rate of return on any of the Lenders' (or, in the case of a
Lender which is not a banking institution, any Funding Affiliate) capital as a
consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender
could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into
consideration the Lenders' (or, in the case of a Lender which is not a banking
institution, any Funding Affiliate) policies with respect to capital adequacy)
by an amount

                                       44

<PAGE>

deemed by such Lender to be material, and any of the foregoing events described
in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) increases the cost to the Agent, any Issuing Bank
or any of the Lenders of (A) funding or maintaining its Commitment or (B)
issuing, making or maintaining any Letter of Credit or of purchasing or
maintaining any participation therein, or reduces the amount receivable in
respect thereof by the Agent or any Lender, then the Borrower shall within 10
days after demand by the Agent, pay to the Payments Administrator, for the
account of each applicable Lender, additional amounts sufficient to indemnify
the Lenders against such increase in cost or reduction in amount receivable
allocable to such Lenders' funding or maintaining its Commitment or issuing,
making or maintaining any Letter of Credit or purchasing or maintaining any
participation therein. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost and
setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation thereof shall be submitted to
the Borrower by the Payments Administrator, or the applicable Lender, and shall
be conclusive absent manifest error.

     (b) Each Lender or Issuing Bank or the Agent will notify the Borrower and
the Payments Administrator of any event occurring after the Restatement
Effective Date which will entitle such Lender, Issuing Bank or the Agent to
payment pursuant to Section 4.9(a) as promptly as practicable after it obtains
knowledge thereof, specifying the event giving rise to such claim and setting
out in reasonable detail an estimate of the basis and computation of such claim.
Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall compensate such Lender or
Issuing Bank or the Agent in accordance with Section 4.9(a) from the date such
costs are incurred (including, without limitation, where such costs are
retroactively applied); provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be
                        --------  -------
required to compensate a Lender or Issuing Bank or the Agent for cost incurred
earlier than 150 days prior to the date of the notice required to be delivered
to the Borrower pursuant to this Section 4.9(b).

     4.10 Calculations. All calculations of (i) interest hereunder and (ii)
          ------------
fees, including, without limitation, Unused Line Fees and Letter of Credit Fees,
shall be made by the Payments Administrator, on the basis of a year of 360 days,
or, if such computation would cause the interest and fees chargeable hereunder
to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, 365/366 days, in each case for the actual
number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day)
occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable. Each
determination by the Payments Administrator of an interest rate or payment
hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest
error.

     4.11 Change of Applicable Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that on the
          -----------------------------------
occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Sections 2.9 or 4.9 with
respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable
efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate
another lending office for any Revolving Loans or Letters of Credit affected by
such event, provided that such designation is made on such terms that such
            --------
Lender and its lending office suffer no economic, legal or regulatory
disadvantage, with the object of avoiding the consequence of the event giving
rise to the operation of such Sections. Nothing in this Section 4.11 shall
affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the right of any
Lender provided in Sections 2.9 or 4.9.

     4.12 Extension Fee. If the maturity date of the Special Term Loan Agreement
          -------------
or the Exchange Notes is extended, the Borrower shall pay to the Payments
Administrator for the benefit of each of the Lenders (other than a Defaulting
Lender for so long as such Lender is a

                                       45

<PAGE>

Defaulting Lender) a non-refundable fee (an "Extension Fee") equal to 0.125% on
such Lender's Commitment, which fee shall be fully earned and due and payable on
the date on which such extended maturity date becomes effective. Payment of the
Extension Fee is a condition precedent to the extension of the Expiration Date.

                                   ARTICLE 5.

                              Conditions Precedent
                              --------------------

          5.1 Conditions to Initial Loans and Letters of Credit on the
              --------------------------------------------------------
Restatement Effective Date. The occurrence of the Restatement Effective Date and
--------------------------
the obligation of each Lender to make the initial Revolving Loans hereunder are
subject to the satisfaction of, or waiver of, immediately prior to or
concurrently with the making of such Revolving Loans on the Restatement
Effective Date, the following conditions precedent:

          (a) Execution of Agreement; Notes. On or prior to the Restatement
              -----------------------------
     Effective Date, this Credit Agreement shall have become effective as
     provided in Section 11.14 and there shall have been delivered to the
     Payments Administrator for the account of each Lender the appropriate
     Revolving Note in the amount, maturity and as otherwise provided herein.

          (b) Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2001, (i) no Lender
              -----------------------
     shall have become aware of any, or no change, occurrence, event or
     development or event involving a prospective change shall have occurred and
     be continuing, in either case, that is reasonably likely to have a Material
     Adverse Effect except as disclosed in Borrower's quarterly report on Form
     10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2001 or otherwise disclosed
     writing to the Agent and the Lenders prior to the date hereof and (ii)
     there shall have been no material adverse change in the syndication markets
     for credit facilities comparable to the transactions contemplated hereby,
     and there shall not have occurred and be continuing a material disruption
     of (including the continuation of any existing conditions) or material
     adverse change in the financial, banking or capital markets that has or
     would have a material adverse effect on such syndication market, in each
     case as determined by the Agent in its sole discretion.

          (c) Officer's Certificate. On the Restatement Effective Date, the
              ---------------------
     Agent shall have received a certificate dated such date signed by an
     appropriate officer of the Borrower stating that all of the applicable
     conditions set forth in Sections 5.1(b), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j)(ii) and
     (iv), (k) and (l) and 5.2(a), (b), (c) and (d) exist as of such date.

          (d) Opinions of Counsel. On the Restatement Effective Date, the Agent
              -------------------
     shall have received opinions, addressed to each of the Lenders and dated
     the Restatement Effective Date, from Katten, Muchin & Zavis, special
     counsel to Holding and the Borrower, which opinion shall be substantially
     in the form of Exhibit H-1 and shall cover the matters contained in Exhibit
     H-1 and such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated herein
     as the Agent may reasonably request.

                                       46

<PAGE>

          (e) Corporate Proceedings. (i) On the Restatement Effective Date, the
              ---------------------
     Agent shall have received from each Credit Party a certificate, dated the
     Restatement Effective, signed by the president, chief executive officer,
     vice president or chief financial officer, and attested by the secretary or
     any assistant secretary of such Person, substantially in the form of
     Exhibit I with appropriate insertions, together with copies of the
     Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, or other organizational documents
     of such Credit Party and the resolutions of such Credit Party referred to
     in such certificate and all of the foregoing (including each such
     Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws) shall be satisfactory to the
     Agent.

              (ii) On the Restatement Effective Date, all corporate and legal
     proceedings and all instruments and agreements in connection with the
     transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement shall be reasonably
     satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent, and the Agent shall have
     received all information and copies of all certificates, documents and
     papers, including good standing certificates and any other records of
     corporate proceedings and governmental approvals, if any, which the Agent
     reasonably may have requested in connection therewith, such documents and
     papers, where appropriate, to be certified by proper corporate or
     governmental authorities.

          (f) Existing Credit Agreement. On the Restatement Effective Date, (i)
              -------------------------
     each Continuing Lender shall have converted its Existing Loans as
     contemplated by Section 1.1, (ii) the Borrower shall have paid all interest
     and fees (including commitment fees) owing under the Existing Credit
     Agreement through the Restatement Effective Date, (iii) the Agent shall
     have received evidence in form, scope and substance satisfactory to it that
     the matters set forth in this Section 5.1(f) have been satisfied on the
     Restatement Effective Date and (iv) the Borrower shall have paid to any
     Existing Lender the expenses, if any, set forth in Section 4.5(b).

          (g) Approvals. On or prior to the Restatement Effective Date, all
              ---------
     necessary governmental and third party approvals in connection with the
     Transaction shall have been obtained and remain in effect and evidence
     thereof shall have been provided to the Agent, and all applicable waiting
     periods shall have expired without any action being taken by any competent
     authority which restrains, prevents or imposes, in the judgment of the
     Required Lenders or the Agent, materially adverse conditions upon the
     consummation of the Transaction. The Agent and the Lenders shall have
     received such documents or opinions as reasonably requested to confirm that
     the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents will not
     violate the terms of any Existing Indebtedness.

          (h) Litigation. On the Restatement Effective Date, there shall be no
              ----------
     actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened (i) with respect to
     this Credit Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (ii) except as
     set forth on Schedule IV, which the Agent or the Required Lenders shall
     determine is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (i) Acknowledgment, Consent and Amendment. On the Restatement
              -------------------------------------
     Effective Date, the Borrower and the Agent shall have duly authorized,
     executed and

                                       47

<PAGE>

     delivered an Acknowledgment, Consent and Amendment, substantially in the
     form of Exhibit J hereto (as amended, modified, extended, renewed,
     replaced, restated or supplemented from time to time, the "Acknowledgment,
     Consent and Amendment").

          (j) Liens. On the Restatement Effective Date, (1) the Security
              -----
     Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, (2) no filings,
     recordings, registrations or other actions shall be necessary or desirable
     to maintain the perfection and priority of the security interests granted
     pursuant to the Security Agreement in the Security Agreement Collateral
     covered thereby and (3) the Agent shall have received:

               (x) executed copies of Form UCC-1 financing statements in
          appropriate form for filing under the UCC of each jurisdiction as may
          be necessary to perfect the security interests purported to be created
          by the Security Agreement;

               (y) evidence of the completion of all recordings and filings of,
          or with respect to, the Security Agreement as may be necessary or, in
          the opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the security
          interests intended to be created thereby; and

               (z) evidence that all other actions necessary or, in the opinion
          of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests
          purported to be created by the Security Agreement have been taken.

          (k) Insurance Policies. On the Restatement Effective Date, the Agent
              ------------------
     shall have received evidence (including, without limitation, certificates
     of insurance) that the Borrower has obtained insurance complying with the
     requirements of Section 7.10 for the business and properties of the
     Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

          (l) Existing Indebtedness Agreements; Shareholders' Agreements;
              -----------------------------------------------------------
     Management Agreements; Employment Agreements; Tax Sharing Agreements. On or
     --------------------------------------------------------------------
     prior to the Restatement Effective Date, there shall have been delivered to
     the Agent copies, certified as true and correct by an appropriate officer
     of Holding and the Borrower, respectively, making such delivery, of each of
     the following (or a certificate that the applicable documents delivered to
     the Agent on the Prior Effective Date have not been amended or otherwise
     modified and remain in full force and effect):

               (i)  all agreements evidencing or relating to the Existing
          Indebtedness (collectively, the "Existing Indebtedness Agreements"),
          if any, of Holding and the Borrower, respectively;

               (ii) all agreements entered into by Holding or any of its
          Subsidiaries (x) governing the terms and relative rights of its
          capital stock or (y) with any shareholders relating to such entity
          with respect to their capital stock (collectively, the "Shareholders'
          Agreements"), if any, of Holding and the Borrower, respectively;

                                       48

<PAGE>

               (iii) any material agreements (or the forms thereof) with members
          of, or with respect to the, management of Holding or any of its
          Subsidiaries (collectively the "Management Agreements"), if any, of
          Holding and the Borrower, respectively;

               (iv)  any employment agreements (or the forms thereof together
          with a list of employees who are parties to such agreements) entered
          into by any Credit Party (collectively, the "Employment Agreements");
          and

               (v)   any tax sharing, tax allocation and other similar agreement
          entered into by Holding, or any Subsidiary of Holding (collectively,
          the "Tax Sharing Agreements"), if any, of Holding and the Borrower,
          respectively;

     all of which Existing Indebtedness Agreements, Shareholders' Agreements,
     Management Agreements, Employment Agreements and Tax Sharing Agreements
     shall be in the form delivered to counsel to the Agent on or prior to the
     date hereof or otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent
     and shall be in full force and effect on the Restatement Effective Date.

          (m) Payment of Fees. On the Restatement Effective Date, all costs,
              ---------------
     Fees and expenses, and all other compensation contemplated by this Credit
     Agreement due to the Agent or the Lenders (including, without limitation,
     legal fees and expenses) shall have been paid to the extent due, and the
     Borrower shall have paid to each Lender with a Commitment of less than
     $22,000,000 a fee of 0.25% of its Commitment and to each other Lender a fee
     of 0.375% of its Commitment.

          (n) Borrowing Base Certificate. On the Restatement Effective Date, the
              --------------------------
     Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent a Borrowing Base Certificate as
     of February 28, 2002 meeting the requirements of Section 7.1(e) and which
     Borrowing Base shall be deemed appropriate by the Agent in its Permitted
     Discretion with respect to the Borrower's overall business and working
     capital requirements.

          (o) Consent Letter. On the Restatement Effective Date, the Agent shall
              --------------
     have received a letter from CT Corporation System, indicating its consent
     to its continued appointment by Holding and the Borrower as their agent to
     receive service of process, pursuant to the consent letter executed in
     connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and substantially in the form
     of Exhibit K hereto, as specified in Section 11.1 of this Credit Agreement.

     5.2 Conditions to Each Revolving Loan and Letter of Credit. On the date of
         ------------------------------------------------------
the making of any Revolving Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit, both
immediately before and after giving effect thereto and to the application of the
proceeds therefrom, the following statements shall be true to the satisfaction
of the Agent (and each delivery or deemed delivery of each Notice of Borrowing
and a Letter of Credit Request, and the acceptance by the Borrower of the
proceeds of such Revolving Loans or issuance of such Letter of Credit, shall
constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of
such Revolving

                                       49

<PAGE>

Loans or issuance of such Letter of Credit immediately before and after giving
effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, such statements
are true):

          (a) the representations and warranties contained in this Credit
     Agreement and in each other Credit Document are true and correct in all
     material respects on and as of the date of such Revolving Loans or issuance
     of such Letter of Credit as though made on and as of such date, except to
     the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate solely
     to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall
     have been true and accurate on and as of such earlier date);

          (b) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such
     Revolving Loans or the issuance of any Letter of Credit or the application
     of the proceeds thereof, which would constitute a Default or an Event of
     Default;

          (c) no change or development which in any such case has had or is
     reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred
     and be continuing;

          (d) with respect to the issuance of any Letter of Credit, none of the
     events set forth in Section 3.1 hereof has occurred and is continuing or
     would result from the issuance of such Letter of Credit; and

          (e) the aggregate amount of cash constituting available and collected
     balances in any deposit account (other than the Sub-Collection Accounts,
     the Collection Accounts, the Concentration Account and payroll accounts)
     and Cash Equivalents held by the Borrower, minus the amount of payments
                                                -----
     reasonably expected to be made within the next three Business Days shall
     not exceed $3,000,000 or such greater amount as may be approved by Agent.

          The acceptance of the benefits of each Credit Event shall constitute a
representation and warranty by each Credit Party to each of the Lenders that all
of the applicable conditions specified above exist as of the date of such Credit
Event. All of the certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers
referred to in this Section 5, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to
the Payments Administrator at its address specified in Section 11.5 hereof for
the account of each of the Lenders and, except for the Notes, in sufficient
counterparts or copies for each of the Lenders and shall be in form and
substance as specified herein or otherwise satisfactory to the Agent.

                                   ARTICLE 6.

                         Representations and Warranties
                         ------------------------------

     To induce the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement and to make
Revolving Loans and issue and/or participate in the Letters of Credit provided
for herein, each of Holding and the Borrower makes the following
representations, warranties and agreements, as to itself and as to each of its
Subsidiaries, with the Lenders, all of which shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Credit Agreement, the making of the Revolving Loans and the
issuance of the Letters of Credit (with the occurrence of each Credit Event
being deemed to constitute a representation and warranty that the matters
specified in this Article 6 are true and correct in all

                                       50

<PAGE>

material respects on and as of the date of each such Credit Event, unless stated
to relate to a specific earlier date):

     6.1 Corporate Status. Holding, the Borrower and each of the Borrower's
         ----------------
Subsidiaries (i) is a duly organized and validly existing corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the
corporate power and authority to own its property and assets and to transact the
business in which it is engaged and presently proposes to engage and (ii) has
duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing in all
jurisdictions where it is required to be so qualified and where the failure to
be so qualified would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.2 Corporate Power and Authority. Each Credit Party has the corporate
         -----------------------------
power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions
of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and has taken all necessary
corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the
Credit Documents to which it is a party. Each Credit Party has duly executed and
delivered each Credit Document to which it is a party and each such Credit
Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit
Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability
may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors and (ii) federal securities or other laws or
regulations or public policy insofar as they may restrict the enforceability of
rights to indemnification.

     6.3 No Violation. Neither the execution, delivery and performance by any
         ------------
Credit Party of the Credit Documents to which it is a party nor compliance with
the terms and provisions thereof, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated therein (i) will contravene any applicable provision of any law,
statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or
governmental instrumentality, (ii) will conflict or be inconsistent with or
result in any breach of any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions
of, or constitute a default under, or (other than pursuant to the Collateral
Documents) result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create
or impose) any Lien upon any of the property or assets of such Credit Party or
any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust, agreement or other instrument to which such Credit Party or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets are
bound or to which it may be subject or (iii) will violate any provision of the
charter or By-Laws of Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's
Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) any immaterial
contravention, conflict, inconsistency, breach or default which are not
reasonably likely to adversely affect any Lender.

     6.4 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule IV, there are no actions,
         ----------
suits or proceedings pending or threatened with respect to Holding, the Borrower
or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries that, after giving effect to expected
insurance proceeds and indemnity payments, are reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

     6.5 Use of Proceeds. (a) The proceeds of all Revolving Loans shall be
         ---------------
utilized (i) to refinance the Existing Loans, (ii) to pay fees and expenses
associated therewith and (iii) for general corporate purposes of the Borrower
and/or its Subsidiaries.

                                       51

<PAGE>

     (b) No part of the proceeds of any Revolving Loan will be used to purchase
or carry any Margin Stock or to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying any Margin Stock.

     6.6 Governmental Approvals. Except as set forth on Schedule V hereto and
         ----------------------
except for the filing of financing statements and continuation statements as
required under the Collateral Documents, no order, consent, approval, license,
authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or
exemption by, any foreign or domestic governmental or public body or authority,
or any subdivision thereof, is required to authorize or is required in
connection with (i) the execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party
of any Credit Document or (ii) the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability of any Credit Document as against each Credit Party thereto.

     6.7 Investment Company Act. Neither Holding, the Borrower nor any of the
         ----------------------
Borrower's Subsidiaries is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by
an "investment company," within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.

     6.8 Public Utility Holding Company Act. Neither Holding, the Borrower nor
         ----------------------------------
any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries 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, as amended.

     6.9 True and Complete Disclosure. (a) All factual information (taken as a
         ----------------------------
whole) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of Holding or
the Borrower in writing to the Agent or any Lender delivered to the Agent and
the Lenders for purposes of or in connection with this Credit Agreement or the
Transaction does not, and all other such factual information (taken as a whole)
hereafter furnished by or on behalf of Holding or the Borrower in writing to the
Agent or any Lender will not, as of the date as of which such information is
dated or certified, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make such information (taken as a whole)
not misleading as of such time, in each case in light of the circumstances under
which such information was provided, it being understood and agreed that for the
purposes of this Section 6.9, such factual information shall not include
projections and pro forma financial information.
                --- -----

     (b) The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the
                             --- -----
factual information referred to in clause (a) above are based on good faith
estimates and assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time
made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such projections as to future
events are not to be viewed as facts and necessarily were based upon numerous
assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic
and competitive conditions and uncertainties, taxes and other matters which are
beyond the control of Holding, the Borrower and the Borrower's Subsidiaries,
such that there can be no assurance that such projections will be realized and
actual results may differ from the projected results.

                                       52

<PAGE>

     (c) As of the Restatement Effective Date, there is no fact known to any
Credit Party (other than matters of general economic, political or social
nature) which materially and adversely affects the business, property, assets,
liabilities, financial condition or prospects of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole which has not been disclosed herein or in such
other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Lenders for use in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

     6.10 Financial Condition; Financial Statements. (a) On and as of the
          -----------------------------------------
Restatement Effective Date on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the
                                --- -----
Transaction and all Indebtedness incurred, and to be incurred, and Liens created
and to be created, by each Credit Party in connection with this Credit
Agreement, (x) the sum of the assets, at a fair valuation, of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will exceed their debts, (y) the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will not have incurred nor intended to, or
believe that they will, incur debts beyond their ability to pay such debts as
such debts mature and (z) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole do
not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct their respective
businesses. For purposes of this Section 6.10(a), "debt" means any reasonably
expected liability on a claim, and "claim" means (i) right to payment whether or
not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed,
contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured
or unsecured; or (ii) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if
such breach gives rise to a payment, whether or not such right to an equitable
remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed,
undisputed, secured or unsecured.

     (b) Holding and/or the Borrower have furnished to the Lenders the following
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except,
in the case of the unaudited financial statements referred to below, for the
omission of footnotes and ordinary year end adjustments) consistently applied
throughout the periods involved: (i) the Borrower's consolidated balance sheet
as of, and statements of operations, shareholder's equity and cash flows for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2001, audited by independent certified public
accountants, and accompanied by an unqualified opinion thereof and (ii) an
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of, and unaudited
statements of operations, shareholder's equity and cash flows for the nine-month
period ending December 31, 2001. Since the date of the financial statements
referred to in clause (ii) above, nothing has occurred which would be reasonably
likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.11 Locations of Offices, Records and Inventory. The address of the
          -------------------------------------------
principal place of business and chief executive office of Holding and the
Borrower as of the date hereof and as of the Restatement Effective Date and
their corporate identification numbers are set forth on Schedule VI. The books
and records of Holding and the Borrower, and all its chattel paper and records
of Accounts, are maintained exclusively at the locations listed on Schedule VI.
As of the date hereof and as of the Restatement Effective Date, there is no
jurisdiction in which the Borrower has any chattel paper, records of Account and
Inventory (except for Inventory in transit) other than those jurisdictions
identified on Schedule VI. Schedule VI also contains a complete list of the
legal names and addresses of each facility or warehouse at which Inventory is
stored as of the date hereof and as of the Restatement Effective Date. None of
the receipts received by the Borrower from any warehouseman states that the
goods covered thereby are to

                                       53

<PAGE>

be delivered to bearer or to the order of a named person other than the Borrower
or its Subsidiaries or to a named person and such named person's assigns.

     6.12 Fictitious Business Names. Except as set forth in Schedule VII, the
          -------------------------
Borrower has not used any corporate or fictitious name since May 4, 1990, other
than the corporate name shown on its Governing Documents.

     6.13 Security Interests. On and after the Restatement Effective Date, each
          ------------------
of the Collateral Documents create, as security for the Obligations, a valid and
enforceable perfected security interest in and Lien on all of the Collateral,
superior to and prior to the rights of all third persons and subject to no other
Liens, other than (i) Permitted Liens to the extent permitted to encumber the
Collateral and (ii) as otherwise permitted under the Collateral Documents. At
all times on or after the Restatement Effective Date, the respective grantor
under each Collateral Document shall have good and marketable title to all the
Collateral subject thereto free and clear of all Liens other than Liens
permitted under Section 8.2. No filings or recordings are required in order to
perfect the security interests created under any Collateral Document except for
filings or recordings required in connection with any such Collateral Document.

     6.14 Tax Returns and Payments. Holding, the Borrower and each of the
          ------------------------
Borrower's Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be timely filed with the
appropriate taxing authority, all federal returns and all other material
returns, domestic and foreign statements, forms and reports for taxes required
to be filed by or with respect to the income, properties or operations of
Holding, the Borrower and/or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries. Such returns
accurately reflect all liability for taxes of Holding, the Borrower and the
Borrower's Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby. Holding, the Borrower
and each of the Borrower's Subsidiaries has paid all material taxes payable by
it other than taxes which are not established, and other than those contested in
good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. Except as provided in Schedule
VIII, there is no material action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit, or
claim now pending or, to the knowledge of Holding or the Borrower, threatened by
any authority regarding any taxes relating to Holding, the Borrower or any of
the Borrower's Subsidiaries. Except as provided in Schedule VIII, as of the
Restatement Effective Date, neither Holding, the Borrower nor any of the
Borrower's Subsidiaries has entered into an agreement or waiver or been
requested to enter into an agreement or waiver extending any statute of
limitations relating to the payment or collection of taxes of Holding, the
Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries, or is aware of any circumstances
that would cause the taxable years or other taxable periods of Holding, the
Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries not to be subject to the normally
applicable statute of limitations. None of Holding, the Borrower or any of the
Borrower's Subsidiaries have provided, with respect to themselves or property
held by them, any consent under Section 341 of the Code. Neither Holding, the
Borrower nor any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries has incurred, or will incur, any
material tax liability with respect to the Transaction and the other
transactions contemplated hereby.

     6.15 Compliance with ERISA. Except to the extent that all events and
          ---------------------
obligations described in the following clauses of this Section 6.15 and then in
existence would not, in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect; each Plan is in

                                       54

<PAGE>

substantial compliance with ERISA and the Code; no Reportable Event has occurred
with respect to a Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan); no Multiemployer Plan
is insolvent (as defined in Section 4245 of ERISA) or in reorganization (as
defined in Section 4241 of ERISA); no Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) has
an Unfunded Current Liability; no Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) has an
accumulated or waived funding deficiency or has applied for an extension of any
amortization period within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302
of ERISA; neither Holding nor any Subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate has
incurred any liability which as of the date hereof has not been fully satisfied,
to or on account of a Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062,
4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the
Code or expects to incur any liability under any of the foregoing Sections with
respect to any Plan; no proceedings have been instituted to terminate any Plan;
no condition exists which presents a material risk to Holding or any Subsidiary
or any ERISA Affiliate of incurring a liability to or on account of a Plan
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of ERISA and the Code; no lien imposed
under the Code or ERISA on the assets of Holding or any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate exists or, to the knowledge of Holding or any Subsidiary is likely to
arise on account of any Plan; and Holding and its Subsidiaries do not maintain
or contribute to any employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1)
of ERISA) (other than such an employee welfare benefit plan which is a
"multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section 414(f) of the Code) which
provides benefits to retired employees or other former employees (other than as
required by Section 601 of ERISA) or, except for the ESOP (with respect to the
DOL Litigation), any employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2)
of ERISA) the obligations with respect to which could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to Plans that are Multiemployer
Plans the representations and warranties in this Section 6.15, other than any
made with respect to liability under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA, are made to
the knowledge of the Borrower.

     6.16 Subsidiaries. Schedule IX hereto lists each Subsidiary of the
          ------------
Borrower, and the direct and indirect ownership interest of the Borrower
therein, in each case existing on the Restatement Effective Date. All
Subsidiaries of the Borrower are Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries. Holding is the
record and beneficial owner of all of the capital stock of the Borrower.

     6.17 Patents, etc. Holding and each of its Subsidiaries have obtained all
          -------------
material patents, trademarks, servicemarks, trade names, copyrights, licenses
and other rights, free from burdensome restrictions, that are necessary for the
operation of their respective businesses as presently conducted and as proposed
to be conducted.

     6.18 Compliance with Statutes, etc. (a) Holding, the Borrower and each of
          ------------------------------
the Borrower's Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable statutes,
regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all
governmental bodies, domestic or foreign, in respect of the conduct of its
business and the ownership of its property, except such noncompliances as are
not likely to, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) Except as set forth on Schedule IV, Holding, the Borrower and each of
the Borrower's Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Environmental
Laws governing its business for which failure to comply is likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect, and neither Holding, the Borrower nor any of the
Borrower's Subsidiaries is liable for any material penalties,

                                       55

<PAGE>

fines or forfeitures for failure to comply with any of the foregoing in the
manner set forth above. All licenses, permits, registrations or approvals
required for the business of Holding, the Borrower and each of the Borrower's
Subsidiaries, as conducted as of the Restatement Effective Date, under any
Environmental Law have been secured and Holding, the Borrower and each of the
Borrower's Subsidiaries is in material compliance therewith, except such
licenses, permits, registrations or approvals the failure to secure or to comply
therewith is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Holding, the
Borrower nor any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries is in any respect in
noncompliance with, breach of or default under any applicable writ, order,
judgment, injunction, or decree to which Holding, the Borrower or such
Subsidiary is a party or which would affect the ability of Holding, the Borrower
or such Subsidiary to operate its business or other Real Property and no event
has occurred and is continuing which, with the passage of time or the giving of
notice or both, would constitute noncompliance, breach of or default thereunder,
except in each such case, such noncompliances, breaches or defaults as are not
likely to, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth
on Schedule IV, there are as of the Restatement Effective Date no Environmental
Claims pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which (a)
question the validity, term or entitlement of Holding, the Borrower or any of
the Borrower's Subsidiaries for any permit, license, order or registration
required for the operation of any facility which Holding, the Borrower or any of
the Borrower's Subsidiaries currently operates and (b) wherein an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding would be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect. There are no facts, circumstances, conditions or occurrences on
any Real Property of Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries
or on any property adjoining or adjacent to any such Real Property, that are
reasonably expected (i) to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against
Holding, the Borrower any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries or any Real Property of
Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries, or (ii) to cause
such Real Property to be subject to any restrictions on the ownership,
occupancy, use or transferability of such Real Property under any Environmental
Law, except in each such case, such Environmental Claims or restrictions that
individually or in the aggregate are not likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

     (c) Except as set forth on Schedule IV, Hazardous Materials have not at any
time been (i) generated, used, treated or stored on, or transported to or from,
by Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries, any Real
Property of Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries, except
Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated or stored on, or transported to or
from, any Real Property of Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and in compliance with
Environmental Laws ("Permitted Materials") or (ii) released or disposed of (not
including the sale of inventory) on any such Real Property, in each case under
clauses (i) and (ii) where such occurrence or event is likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     6.19 Properties. Holding and each of its Subsidiaries has good title to all
          ----------
material properties owned by it free and clear of all Liens, other than as
permitted by Section 8.2. Schedule X contains a true and complete list of each
Real Property owned, if any, and each Real Property leased by the Borrower on
the Restatement Effective Date and the type of interest therein held by the
Borrower.

     6.20 Labor Relations; Collective Bargaining Agreements. (a) Set forth on
          -------------------------------------------------
Schedule XI hereto is a list (including dates of termination) of all collective
bargaining or similar

                                       56

<PAGE>

agreements between or applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and
any union, labor organization or other bargaining agent in respect of the
employees of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries on the Restatement
Effective Date.

     (b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any
unfair labor practice that is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is
(i) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against Holding, the
Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of the
Borrower, threatened against any of them, before the National Labor Relations
Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding
arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the
Restatement Effective Date against Holding, the Borrower or any of the
Borrower's Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened
against any of them, (ii) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or
stoppage is pending against Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's
Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against
Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries, except (with
respect to any matter specified in clause (i) and (ii) above, either
individually or in the aggregate) such as is not reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

     6.21 Restrictions on Subsidiaries. Except for restrictions contained in the
          ----------------------------
Credit Documents, the New Senior Note Documents, the Special Term Loan Agreement
and in agreements with respect to the Existing Indebtedness, as of the
Restatement Effective Date there are no contractual or consensual restrictions
on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which prohibit or otherwise restrict
(i) the transfer of cash or other assets (x) between the Borrower and any of its
Subsidiaries or (y) between any Subsidiaries of the Borrower or (ii) the ability
of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to grant security interests to the
Lenders in the Collateral.

     6.22 Conduct of Business. Prior to the Restatement Effective Date, Holding
          -------------------
has not conducted any other business other than those associated with its status
as a holding company of all the outstanding capital stock of the Borrower and
its obligations under the Holding Management Agreement.

     6.23 Status of Accounts. Each Account is based on an actual and bona fide
          ------------------
sale and delivery of goods or rendition of services to customers, made by the
Borrower in the ordinary course of its business; the goods and inventory being
sold and the Accounts created are its exclusive property and are not and shall
not be subject to any Lien, consignment arrangement, encumbrance, security
interest or financing statement whatsoever other than the Liens created pursuant
to the Collateral Documents and Permitted Liens, and, except as otherwise
reported or reserved against on the Borrower's or its Subsidiaries books and
records, the Borrower's customers have accepted the goods or services, owe and
are obligated to pay the full amounts stated in the invoices according to their
terms, without any dispute, offset, defense, or counterclaim.

     6.24 Material Contracts. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
          ------------------
is in breach of or in default under any Material Contract.

                                       57

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 7.

                              Affirmative Covenants
                              ---------------------

     Holding and the Borrower hereby covenant and agree that on the Restatement
Effective Date and thereafter, for so long as this Credit Agreement is in effect
and until the Total Commitments have terminated, no Letters of Credit or
Revolving Notes are outstanding and the Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit
Obligations, together with interest, Fees, Expenses and all other Obligations
(other than any indemnities described in Section 11.8 hereof which are not then
due and payable) incurred hereunder, are paid in full:

          7.1 Financial Information. The Borrower shall (and Holding shall, with
              ---------------------
respect to the financial statements referred to in clause (a)(i) below) furnish
to the Lenders the following information within the following time periods:

          (a) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end
     of each fiscal year of the Borrower, (i) audited consolidated balance
     sheets, statements of operations, statements of cash flows and statements
     of changes in shareholder's equity of Holding as of the close of such
     fiscal year, (ii) audited Financial Statements as of the close of the
     fiscal year and for the fiscal year, together with a comparison to the
     Financial Statements for the prior year, in each case accompanied by (A)
     report thereon of the Auditors unqualified as to scope, which report shall
     state that such consolidated financial statements fairly present the
     consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated
     Subsidiaries as at the date indicated and the results of their operations
     and cash flow for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP (except as
     otherwise stated therein) and that the examination by the Auditors has been
     made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, (B) such
     Auditors' "Management Letter" to Holding and/or the Borrower, (C) a written
     statement signed by the Auditors stating that in the course of the regular
     audit of the business of Holding and of the Borrower, which audit was
     conducted by the Auditors in accordance with generally accepted auditing
     standards, the Auditors have not obtained any knowledge of the existence of
     any Default or Event of Default under any provision of Sections 8.4, 8.9
     and 8.10 of this Credit Agreement, or, if such Auditors shall have obtained
     from such examination any such knowledge, they shall disclose in such
     written statement the existence of the Default or Event of Default and the
     nature thereof, it being understood that such Auditors shall not be
     required hereunder to perform any special audit procedures and shall have
     no liability, directly or indirectly, to anyone for failure to obtain
     knowledge of any such Default or Event of Default and (iii) a compliance
     certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit M along with a schedule in
     form satisfactory to the Agent of the calculations used in determining, as
     of the end of such fiscal year, whether the Borrower was in compliance with
     the covenants set forth in Articles 7 and 8 of this Credit Agreement for
     such year. To the extent that the Borrower's annual report on Form 10-K
     contains any of the foregoing items, the Lenders will accept the Borrower's
     Form 10-K in lieu of such items;

          (b) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end
     of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (except the last fiscal quarter of
     any fiscal year) (i) Financial Statements as at the end of such period and
     for the fiscal year to date, together

                                       58

<PAGE>

     with a comparison to the Financial Statements for the same periods in the
     prior year, all in reasonable detail and duly certified (subject to the
     addition of footnotes and audit and normal year-end adjustments) by the
     chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the Borrower as
     having been prepared substantially in accordance with GAAP and (ii) a
     compliance certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit M along with a
     schedule in form satisfactory to the Agent of the calculations used in
     determining, as of the end of such fiscal quarter, whether the Borrower was
     in compliance with the covenants set forth inArticles 7 and 8 of this
     Credit Agreement for such quarter. To the extent that the Borrower's
     quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains any of the foregoing items, the
     Lenders will accept the Borrower's Form 10-Q in lieu of such items;

          (c) as soon as available and in any event within 30 days after the end
     of each month (except the last month of any fiscal quarter, with respect to
     which such reports shall be delivered within 45 days after the end of the
     month (other than the last quarter of the fiscal year with respect to which
     such reports shall be delivered within 90 days after the end of the
     month)), a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet for the Borrower as
     at the end of such month and for the fiscal year to date and consolidated
     statements of operations and cash flows for such month and for the fiscal
     year to date, together with a comparison to the balance sheet, statement of
     operations and statement of cash flows for the same periods in the prior
     year, all in reasonable detail and duly certified (subject to the addition
     of footnotes and audit and normal year-end adjustments) by the chief
     executive officer or chief financial officer of the Borrower as having been
     prepared substantially in accordance with GAAP;

          (d) not later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal year, monthly
     projections of the financial condition and results of operations of the
     Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the following fiscal year and annual
     projections for each subsequent fiscal year through and including the
     fiscal year in which the Expiration Date occurs, including, but not limited
     to, a projected consolidated balance sheet and statement of operations, for
     such fiscal years;

          (e) upon request by the Agent or at any time a Default or Event of
     Default shall exist and in any event either (i) if the Total Availability
     is equal to or less than $30,000,000, not later than 12:00 Noon Los Angeles
     time on the third Business Day of each week, and within 12 Business Days
     after the last Business Day of each month, a Borrowing Base certificate,
     substantially in the form of Exhibit N (the "Borrowing Base Certificate"),
     duly completed, as of the Friday of the immediately preceding week and as
     of the last day of such month, as applicable (or such other date as the
     Agent may specify in such request) or (ii) if the Total Availability is
     more than $30,000,000, within five Business Days after the end of each
     month, a draft of, and within 12 Business Days after the end of each month,
     a final version of, the Borrowing Base Certificate, duly completed, as of
     the last day of such immediately preceding month (or such other date as the
     Agent may specify in such request). In any event, such Borrowing Base
     Certificate shall be certified by the Borrower's chief executive officer,
     chief financial officer, treasurer or controller and be subject only to
     adjustment upon completion of the normal year-end audit and confirmation
     based upon cycle counting verification. In addition, each Borrowing Base
     Certificate shall have attached to it such additional schedules

                                       59

<PAGE>

     and/or other information, including monthly aging reports, as the Agent may
     reasonably request;

          (f) promptly and in any event within five Business Days after becoming
     aware of the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, a certificate of
     the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the Borrower
     specifying the nature thereof and the Borrower's proposed response thereto,
     each in reasonable detail;

          (g) within 30 days after the end of each month (except the last month
     of any fiscal quarter, with respect to which such reports shall be
     delivered within 45 days after the end of the month (other than the last
     quarter of the fiscal year with respect to which such reports shall be
     delivered within 90 days after the end of the month)), a comparison of
     actual results of operations, cash flow and capital expenditures for the
     Borrower and the Borrower's Subsidiaries for such month and for the period
     from the beginning of the current fiscal year through the end of such month
     (i) with amounts projected for such month and for the period from the
     beginning of the current fiscal year through the end of such month pursuant
     to Section 7.1(d) above and (ii) with actual results of operations, cash
     flow and capital expenditures for the Borrower and the Borrower's
     Subsidiaries for the same periods of the prior fiscal year;

          (h) promptly upon the earlier of the mailing or filing thereof, copies
     of all 10-Ks, 10-Qs, 8-Ks, proxy statements, annual reports, quarterly
     reports, registration statements and any other filings or other
     communications made by the Borrower or Holding to holders of its publicly
     traded securities or the Securities Exchange Commission from time to time
     pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the
     Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

          (i) promptly and in any event after becoming aware of the occurrence
     of any of the following events:

               (i) any Material Contract of the Borrower or any of its
          Subsidiaries is terminated or amended or any new Material Contract is
          entered into which is reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on
          the Lenders (in which event the Borrower shall provide the Agent with
          a copy of such Material Contract); or

               (ii) any of the material terms (other than price) upon which
          material suppliers of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries do
          business with the Borrower or such Subsidiary are changed or amended
          the results of which are reasonably likely to have an adverse effect
          on the Lenders; or

               (iii) any order, judgment or decree in excess of $2,000,000
          (after reasonably expected insurance and indemnity recovery) shall
          have been entered against Holding, the Borrower or any of its
          Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets; or

               (iv) any notification of violation of any Requirement of Law
          shall have been received by Holding, the Borrower or any of its
          Subsidiaries from any

                                       60

<PAGE>

     Governmental Authority the results of which are likely to have a Material
     Adverse Effect; and

          (v) from time to time, such further information, including customer
     address list, regarding the Collateral, business affairs and financial
     condition of Holding, the Borrower and/or each of the Borrower's
     Subsidiaries as the Agent may reasonably request.

     7.2 Inventory. Upon the request of the Agent from time to time, the
         ---------
Borrower shall provide to the Agent written statements listing items of
Inventory in reasonable detail as requested by the Agent. The Borrower shall
make available when complete the results of any physical inventory count or
reconciliation of perpetual inventory to the general ledger.

     7.3 Corporate Franchises. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its
         --------------------
Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and
keep in full force and effect its existence, material rights and authority to do
business, provided that any transaction permitted by Section 8.1 will not
constitute a breach of this Section 7.3, and provided further that the Borrower
shall not be required to preserve, with respect to itself, any material right or
authority to do business and with respect to any of its Subsidiaries, any such
existence, material right or authority to do business if the Borrower shall
reasonably determine that such preservation is no longer desirable in the
ordinary course of business, and the loss thereof shall not be reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     7.4 Compliance with Statutes, etc. (a) Holding and the Borrower will, and
         ------------------------------
will cause each of the Borrower's Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable
statutes, regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by,
all governmental bodies, domestic or foreign, in respect of the conduct of its
business and the ownership of its property (including applicable Environmental
Laws) other than those the non-compliance with which (individually or in the
aggregate) would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Holding nor any of
its Subsidiaries will generate, use, treat, store, release or dispose of, or
permit the generation, use, treatment, storage, release or disposal of Hazardous
Materials on any of its Real Property, or transport or permit the transportation
of Hazardous Materials to or from any such Real Property, except for quantities
used or stored at such Real Properties in material compliance with all
applicable Environmental Laws and required in connection with the normal
operation, use and maintenance of such Real Property or the operation of the
business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. If required to do so under any
applicable Environmental Law, the Borrower agrees to undertake, and agrees to
cause each of its Subsidiaries to undertake, any cleanup, removal, remedial or
other action necessary to remove and clean up any Hazardous Materials from any
Real Property in accordance with the requirements of all such applicable
Environmental Laws and in accordance with orders and directives of all
governmental authorities; provided that neither Holding nor any of its
                          --------
Subsidiaries shall be required to take any such action where same is being
contested by appropriate legal proceedings in good faith by Holding or such
Subsidiary.

     (b) At the request of the Agent or the Required Lenders at any time and
from time to time, but in any event no more frequently than once a year, the
Borrower will provide, at the Borrower's sole cost and expense, an environmental
site assessment report concerning any Real Property of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, prepared by an environmental consulting firm

                                       61

<PAGE>

reasonably acceptable to the Agent, indicating the presence or release of
Hazardous Materials and the potential cost of any removal or remedial action in
connection with any Hazardous Materials on such Real Property; provided,
                                                               --------
however, no such request may be made unless the Agent or the Required Lenders
-------
reasonably believe that (i) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is in
material noncompliance with any Environmental Law with respect to such Real
Property and such noncompliance is reasonably likely to result in a liability of
the Borrower in excess of $5,000,000 (after expected insurance and indemnity
recovery) or (ii) an Event of Default is in existence. If the Borrower fails to
provide the same after sixty (60) days' written notice, the Agent may order the
same, and the Borrower shall grant and hereby grants to the Agent and the
Lenders and their agents access to such Real Property at all reasonable times
and without unreasonably interfering with the Borrower's operations and
specifically grants the Agent and the Lenders an irrevocable nonexclusive
license, subject to the rights of tenants, to undertake such an assessment all
at the Borrower's sole expense.

     7.5 ERISA. As soon as possible and, in any event, within twenty (20) days
         -----
after Holding, the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries or any ERISA
Affiliate knows or has reason to know of the occurrence of any of the following
events relating to a Plan, the Borrower will deliver to each of the Lenders a
certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower setting forth details
as to such occurrence and the action, if any, that Holding, the Borrower, such
Subsidiary or such ERISA Affiliate is required or proposes to take, together
with any notices required to be given to or filed with or by Holding, the
Borrower, such Subsidiary, the ERISA Affiliate, the PBGC, a Plan participant or
the Plan administrator with respect thereto: that a Reportable Event has
occurred which could reasonably be expected to result in material liability of
Holding, the Borrower, any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate
(except to the extent that Holding or the Borrower has previously delivered to
the Lenders a certificate and notices (if any) concerning such event pursuant to
the next clause hereof); that a contributing sponsor (as defined in Section
4001(a)(13) of ERISA) of a Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA is subject to the
advance reporting requirement of PBGC Regulation Section 4043.61 (without regard
to subparagraph (b)(1) thereof), and an event described in subsection .62, .63,
..64, .65, .66, .67 or .68 of PBGC Regulation Section 4043 is reasonably expected
to occur with respect to such Plan within the following 30 days; that, with
respect to a Plan which is not a Multiemployer Plan, an accumulated funding
deficiency has been incurred or an application will be or has been made to the
Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver or modification of the minimum funding
standard (including any required installment payments) or an extension of any
amortization period under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA with
respect to a Plan; that a Plan has been or may be terminated (other than
pursuant to Section 4041(b) of ERISA), reorganized, partitioned or declared
insolvent under Title IV of ERISA; that a Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability
giving rise to a lien under ERISA or the Code; that proceedings have been
instituted to terminate a Plan (other than pursuant to Section 4041(b) of
ERISA); that a proceeding has been instituted pursuant to Section 515 of ERISA
to collect a delinquent contribution to a Plan; or that Holding, any Subsidiary
or any ERISA Affiliate will or may incur any material liability (including any
contingent or secondary liability) to or on account of the termination of or
withdrawal from a Plan under Section 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212
of ERISA or with respect to a Plan under Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code or
Section 409 or 502(i) or 502(l) of ERISA. Upon the request of the Agent, Holding
will deliver to each of the Lenders a complete copy of the annual report (Form
5500) of each Plan required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service. In
addition to any certificates or notices delivered to the Lenders

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<PAGE>

pursuant to the first sentence hereof, copies of any material notices received
by Holding, the Borrower, any Subsidiary of Holding or the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate with respect to any Plan or any material development in the DOL
Litigation shall be delivered to the Lenders no later than 10 Business Days
after the date such records, documents and/or information have been furnished to
the PBGC or such notice has been received by Holding, the Borrower or such
Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate, as applicable or such development has
occurred.

     7.6 Good Repair. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries
         -----------
to, use its best efforts to provide that its material properties and equipment
used or useful in its business in whomsoever's possession they may be, are kept
in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear excepted and,
subject to Section 8.4, that from time to time there are made in such properties
and equipment all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements,
extensions, additions, betterments and improvements thereto, to the extent and
in the manner customary for companies in similar businesses.

     7.7 Books and Records. The Borrower agrees to maintain, and to cause each
         -----------------
of its Subsidiaries to maintain, books and records pertaining to the Collateral
in such detail, form and scope as is consistent with good business practice, and
agrees that such books and records will reflect the Lenders' interest in its
Accounts. The Borrower agrees that the Collateral Agent or its agents may enter
upon the premises of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries at any time and from
time to time, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice under the
circumstances, and at any time at all during the continuance of an Event of
Default, for the purposes of (i) inspecting the Collateral, (ii) inspecting
and/or copying (at the Borrower's expense) any and all records pertaining
thereto, (iii) discussing the affairs, finances and business of the Borrower
with any officers, employees and directors of the Borrower or with the Auditors
(it being understood that the Borrower shall be entitled to have a
representative present at any such discussions) and (iv) verifying Eligible
Account Receivable and/or Eligible Inventory. The Borrower shall give the
Collateral Agent fifteen days prior written notice of any change in the location
of any facility owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries where
Collateral is located or in the location of its chief executive office or place
of business from the locations specified in Schedule VI, and to execute in
advance of such change, cause to be filed and/or delivered to the Collateral
Agent any financing statements, Collateral Access Agreements or other documents
required by the Agent, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The
Borrower agrees to advise the Agent promptly, in sufficient detail, of any
substantial change relating to the type, quantity or quality of the Collateral,
or any event (other than a change in price) which could have an adverse effect
on the value of the Collateral or on the security interests granted to the
Lenders therein.

     7.8 Collateral Records. The Borrower agrees to execute and deliver, and to
         ------------------
cause each of its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, to the Collateral Agent,
from time to time, solely for the Agent's convenience in maintaining a record of
the Collateral, such written statements and schedules as the Collateral Agent
may reasonably require, including, without limitation, those described in
Section 7.1 of this Credit Agreement, designating, identifying or describing the
Collateral pledged or granted to the Lenders under the Collateral Documents. The
failure by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, however, to promptly give
the Agent such statements or schedules shall not affect, diminish, modify or
otherwise limit the Lenders' security interests in the Collateral.

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<PAGE>

     7.9 Security Interests. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its
         ------------------
Subsidiaries to, defend the Collateral against all claims and demands of all
Persons at any time claiming the same or any interest therein. The Borrower
shall, comply with the requirements of all state and federal laws in order to
grant to the Lenders valid and perfected first priority security interests in
the Collateral, subject only to Permitted Liens. The Collateral Agent is hereby
authorized by the Borrower to file any UCC financing statements covering the
Collateral whether or not the signatures of the Borrower appear thereon. The
Borrower shall do whatever the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, from
time to time, to effect the purposes of this Credit Agreement and the other
Credit Documents, including without limitation, filing notices of liens, UCC
financing statements and amendments, renewals and continuations thereof;
cooperating with the Collateral Agent's representatives; keeping stock records;
obtaining waivers from landlords and mortgagees and from warehousemen and their
landlords and mortgagees; and, paying claims which might, if unpaid, become a
Lien on the Collateral other than a Permitted Lien.

     3.10 Insurance; Casualty Loss. Schedule XII hereto sets forth a true and
          ------------------------
complete listing of all insurance maintained by the Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries as of the Restatement Effective Date. The Borrower agrees to
maintain, and to cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, public liability
insurance, third party property damage insurance and replacement value (or such
higher coverage as the Borrower may obtain) insurance on the Collateral under
such policies of insurance, with such insurance companies and/or Insurance Sub,
in such amounts and covering such risks in at least such amounts and against at
least such risks as are described on Schedule XII, or as are at all times
satisfactory to the Agent in its commercially reasonable judgment. All policies
covering the Collateral are to name the Collateral Agent as an additional
insured and the Collateral Agent as loss payee in case of loss, as its interests
may appear, and are to contain such other provisions as the Agent may reasonably
require to fully protect the Lenders' interest in the Collateral and to any
payments to be made under such policies. The Borrower shall provide written
notice to the Agent of the occurrence of any of the following events within ten
Business Days after the occurrence of such event: any Collateral is (i) damaged
or destroyed, or suffers any other loss, or (ii) condemned, confiscated or
otherwise taken, in whole or in part, or the use thereof is otherwise diminished
so as to render impracticable or unreasonable the use of such Collateral or to
materially diminish its marketability, and in either case the amount of the
damage, destruction, loss or diminution in value is in excess of $5,000,000
(collectively, a "Casualty Loss"). The Borrower and/or the respective Subsidiary
shall diligently file and prosecute their claim or claims for any award or
payment in connection with a Casualty Loss. In the event of a Casualty Loss, the
Borrower shall pay to the Collateral Agent, promptly upon receipt thereof, any
and all net insurance proceeds and payments received by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary on account of damage, destruction, loss, condemnation or eminent
domain proceedings, whereupon the Collateral Agent shall, at the election of the
Agent, in its sole discretion, either (a) apply the proceeds realized from
Casualty Losses to payment of accrued and unpaid interest or outstanding
principal under the Revolving Loans or (b) pay such proceeds to the Borrower to
be used to repair or replace the Collateral that was the subject of the Casualty
Loss. After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
(i) no settlement on account of any such Casualty Loss shall be made without the
consent of the Collateral Agent and (ii) the Collateral Agent may participate in
any such proceedings and the Borrower shall deliver to the Collateral Agent such
documents as may be requested by the Collateral Agent to permit such
participation and shall consult with the

                                       64

<PAGE>

Collateral Agent, its attorneys and agents in the making and prosecution of such
claim or claims. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and appoints the
Collateral Agent its attorney-in-fact, after the occurrence and continuance of
an Event of Default, to collect and receive for any such award or payment and to
file and prosecute such claim or claims, which power of attorney shall be
irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest, and the Borrower
shall, upon demand of the Collateral Agent, make, execute and deliver any and
all assignments and other instruments sufficient for the purpose of assigning
any such award or payment to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Lenders, free and clear of any encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever,
other than the right of the Borrower to any insurance proceeds remaining after
application thereof by the Collateral Agent as provided in this Section 7.10.

     7.11 Taxes. Holding will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay
          -----
and discharge all federal income and other material taxes, assessments and
governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or
upon any properties belonging to it, or payable by it pursuant to the Tax
Sharing Agreements, in each case on a timely basis, and all lawful claims which,
if unpaid, might become a Lien or charge upon any properties of Holding or of
any of its Subsidiaries; provided that neither Holding nor any of its
                         --------
Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or
claim which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has
maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of
such Person) with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

     7.12 End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters. The Borrower will, for financial
          ------------------------------------
reporting purposes, cause (i) each of its, and each of its Subsidiaries', fiscal
years to end on March 31 of each year and (ii) each of its, and each of its
Subsidiaries', fiscal quarters to consist of 63 Business Days each, except in
the case of a 366 day year, in which case one fiscal quarter may contain an
additional Business Day.

     7.13 Further Assurances. Holding and the Borrower shall take, and shall
          ------------------
cause each of the Borrower's Subsidiaries to take, all such further actions and
execute all such further documents and instruments as the Collateral Agent may
at any time reasonably determine to be necessary or desirable to further carry
out and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents, to
cause the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to be duly
authorized and to perfect or protect the Liens (and the priority status thereof)
of the Collateral Agent on the Collateral. Furthermore, the Borrower shall cause
to be delivered to the Collateral Agent such opinions of counsel, title
insurance and other related documents as may be reasonably requested by the
Collateral Agent to assure itself that this Section 7.13 has been complied with.

     7.14 Maintenance of Corporate Separateness. Holding and the Borrower will,
          -------------------------------------
and will cause each of the Borrower's Subsidiaries to, satisfy customary
corporate formalities, including the holding of regular board of directors' and
shareholders' meetings and the maintenance of corporate offices and records.
Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall make any payment to a
creditor of Holding in respect of any liability of Holding, and no bank account
of Holding shall be commingled with any bank account of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries. Any financial statements distributed to any creditors of
Holding shall, to the extent permitted by GAAP, clearly state the corporate
separateness of Holding from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. Finally, neither
Holding nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any

                                       65

<PAGE>

action, or conduct its affairs in a manner, which is likely to result in the
corporate existence of Holding being ignored, or in the assets and liabilities
of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries being substantively consolidated with
those of Holding in a bankruptcy, reorganization or other insolvency proceeding.

                                   ARTICLE 8.

                               Negative Covenants
                               ------------------

           Holding and the Borrower hereby covenant and agree that as of the
Restatement Effective Date, and thereafter, for so long as this Credit Agreement
is in effect and until the Total Commitments have terminated, no Letter of
Credit or Revolving Notes are outstanding and the Revolving Loans and Letter of
Credit Obligations, together with interest, Fees, Expenses and all other
Obligations (other than any indemnities described in Section 11.8 hereof which
are not then due and payable) incurred hereunder, are paid in full:

           8.1  Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Purchase of Assets, etc. Holding
                -------------------------------------------------------
and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Borrower's
Subsidiaries to, wind up, liquidate or dissolve its affairs, or enter into any
transaction of merger or consolidation, sell or otherwise dispose of all or any
part of its property or assets (other than (x) inventory, obsolete equipment,
excess equipment no longer needed in the conduct of business or equipment being
replaced with other equipment, in each case in the ordinary course of business
and (y) in the case of Holding, the disposition of the capital stock of the
Borrower in accordance with the Holding Note Pledge Agreement as in effect on
the Restatement Effective Date) or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in one
transaction or a series of related transactions) all or any part of the property
or assets of any Person (other than (i) to replace obsolete property or assets
disposed of in compliance with this Section and (ii) purchases, leases or other
acquisitions of goods, inventory and equipment, operating leases of property, in
each case, in the ordinary course of business) or agree to do any of the
foregoing at any future time, except that the following shall also be permitted:

           (a) Capital Expenditures to the extent within the limitations set
     forth in Section 8.4;

           (b) the investments, acquisitions and transfers or dispositions of
     properties permitted pursuant to Section 8.5;

           (c) any Subsidiary (other than Insurance Sub) of the Borrower may be
     merged or consolidated with or into, or be liquidated into, the Borrower or
     any other Subsidiary (other than Insurance Sub) of the Borrower (so long as
     the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (other than Insurance Sub) of the
     Borrower is the surviving corporation), or all or any part of the business,
     properties and assets of any Subsidiary (other than Insurance Sub) may be
     conveyed, leased, sold or transferred to the Borrower or any other
     Subsidiary (other than Insurance Sub) of the Borrower; and

           (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise dispose
     of (i) assets the net cash proceeds of which in the aggregate do not exceed
     $10,000,000

                                       66

<PAGE>

     (excluding the assets described in clause (ii) hereof) and (ii) the
     properties listed on Schedule XIII.

To the extent the Required Lenders waive the provisions of this Section 8.1 with
respect to the sale of any Collateral, or any Collateral is sold as permitted by
this Section 8.1, such Collateral in each case shall be sold free and clear of
the Liens in favor of the Lenders created by the Collateral Documents and the
Collateral Agent shall take such actions as it deems appropriate in connection
therewith or may be reasonably requested by the Borrower to evidence such Lien
release, in each case at the Borrower's expense.

           8.2  Liens. Holding will not, and will not permit any of its
                -----
Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with
respect to (i) the capital stock of the Borrower (other than pursuant to, and
only to the extent provided in, the Holding Note Pledge Agreement) or (ii) any
property or assets of any kind (real or personal, tangible or intangible) of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or
sell any such property or assets subject to an understanding or agreement,
contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such property or assets (including sales
of accounts receivable or notes with recourse to the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries) or assign any right to receive income, or file or permit the
filing of any financing statement under the UCC or any other similar notice of
Lien under any similar recording or notice statute, except:

           (a)  Liens for taxes not yet due and payable or Liens for taxes being
     contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which adequate
     reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower)
     have been established;

           (b)  Liens in respect of property or assets of the Borrower or any of
     its Subsidiaries imposed by law or which were incurred in the ordinary
     course of business, such as carriers', warehousemen's and mechanics' Liens,
     statutory landlord's Liens, Liens in favor of customs and revenue
     authorities to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the
     importation of goods, and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary
     course of business and not overdue for a period of more than 60 days, and
     (x) which, if any such property or asset is material, do not in the
     aggregate materially detract from the value of such property or assets or
     materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the
     Borrower or such Subsidiary or (y) which are being contested in good faith
     by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings have the effect of preventing
     the forfeiture or sale of the property or asset subject to such Lien;

           (c)  Liens created by or pursuant to this Credit Agreement or the
     other Credit Documents;

           (d)  Liens existing on the Restatement Effective Date and listed on
     Schedule XIV hereto without giving effect to any subsequent extensions,
     renewals or replacements thereof encumbering only the assets described on
     Schedule XIV;

           (e)  Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) incurred or
     deposits made in the ordinary course of business (x) in connection with
     liability insurance, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and
     other types of social security, or (y) to

                                       67

<PAGE>

     secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal
     bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money
     bonds and other similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
     business, in an aggregate amount (in the case of this clause (y) not to
     exceed $7,500,000) (exclusive of obligations (i) in respect of borrowed
     money or (ii) in respect of which a Letter of Credit has been issued);

           (f)  leases or subleases granted to third Persons not interfering
     with the ordinary course of business of Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries;

           (g)  Capital Leases to the extent permitted under Section 8.3(b);

           (h)  Liens (x) arising pursuant to purchase money mortgages securing
     Indebtedness representing the purchase price (or financing of the purchase
     price within 180 days after the respective purchase) of property or other
     assets acquired by the Borrower, provided that (i) any such Liens attach
                                      --------
     only to the assets so purchased, (ii) the Indebtedness secured by any such
     Lien does not exceed 100% of the purchase price of the assets being
     purchased and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby or any refinancing
     thereof is permitted by Section 8.3(b); or (y) existing on specific
     tangible assets at the time acquired by the Borrower or on assets of a
     Person at the time such Person first becomes a Subsidiary; provided that
                                                                --------
     (i) any such Liens were not created at the time of or in contemplation of
     the acquisition of such assets or Person by the Borrower, (ii) in the case
     of any such acquisition of a Person, any such Lien attaches only to
     specific tangible assets of such Person and not assets of such Person
     generally and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby or any refinancing
     thereof is permitted by Section 8.3(b);

           (i)  any attachment or judgment Lien arising from a judgment not
     giving rise to a Default or an Event of Default so long as such Lien, if
     encumbering Collateral, has not attached to such Collateral for more than
     45 days;

           (j)  easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges
     or encumbrances not interfering in any material respect with the business
     of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

           (k)  title defects or irregularities that do not in the aggregate
     materially impair the use of such properties by the Borrower or its
     Subsidiaries;

           (l)  Liens on Life Insurance Policies incurred in connection with the
     Life Insurance Policy Loans permitted under Section 8.3(h);

           (m)  Liens on the property or assets of Subsidiaries of the Borrower
     incorporated outside of the United States to secure Indebtedness of such
     Subsidiaries permitted under Section 8.3(l);

           (n)  Liens created under ERISA and under Environmental Laws that are
     being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been
     established to the extent required by GAAP and secure obligations not in
     excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate;

                                       68

<PAGE>

           (o)  Liens created by or pursuant to the Special Term Loan Agreement
     or other documents executed in connection therewith; and

           (p)  Liens not encumbering Collateral other than those described in
     the preceding clauses (a) through (n) with respect to obligations not in
     excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate.

           8.3  Indebtedness. Holding will not, and will not permit any of its
                ------------
Subsidiaries to, contract, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any
Indebtedness, except:

           (a)  Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Credit Agreement and the
     other Credit Documents;

           (b)  Capitalized Lease Obligations and Indebtedness of the Borrower
     secured by Liens permitted by Section 8.2(h) in an aggregate amount not to
     exceed $12,500,000 at any time outstanding;

           (c)  Existing Indebtedness;

           (d)  Indebtedness of Holding evidenced by the Holding Note (and any
     Holding Pik Notes);

           (e)  Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Wholly-Owned
     Subsidiaries owing to the Borrower or any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries,
     in each case to the extent making such loan was permitted in Section 8.5;

           (f)  Indebtedness of the Borrower in connection with any Life
     Insurance Policy Loans so long as such Indebtedness is limited to the cash
                            ----------
     surrender value of such Life Insurance Policies and is without recourse to
     Holding, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any of their
     assets other than such insurance policies;

           (g)  Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
     evidenced by guarantees, performance bonds and surety bonds incurred in the
     ordinary course of business for purposes of insuring the performance of the
     Borrower or such Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
     $7,500,000 at any time;

           (h)  Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of the Borrower arising out of
     loans made by the Borrower to such Subsidiary and permitted by Section 8.5;

           (i)  drafts payable for payroll and ordinary expense items;

           (j)  Indebtedness of those of the Borrower's Subsidiaries organized
     under the laws of a nation other than the United States, in an aggregate
     principal amount not to exceed $8,500,000 at any time outstanding so long
     as such Indebtedness is without recourse to the Borrower or any of its
     assets;

           (k)  Indebtedness under Interest Rate Agreements relating to the
     Obligations and the "Obligations" defined in the Special Term Loan
     Agreement, provided that (i)
                --------

                                       69

<PAGE>

     such Interest Rate Agreements entered into by the Borrower are on terms and
     conditions satisfactory to the Agent and (ii) the outstanding exposure in
     connection therewith shall not exceed $8,000,000; and

           (l)  Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in
     addition to other Indebtedness permitted under clauses (a) through (m)
     above, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any
     time outstanding.

           8.4  Capital Expenditures. Holding will not, and will not permit any
                --------------------
of its Subsidiaries to, incur Capital Expenditures except Capital Expenditures
made in compliance with this Section 8.4. Capital Expenditures shall be
permitted to be made by the Borrower (a) with the proceeds of insurance or any
condemnation award to restore or replace capital assets in accordance with
Section 7.10 plus (b) with respect to each period listed below, in an aggregate
amount not in excess of the corresponding amount set forth below opposite such
period:

            Period                                                   Amount
            ------                                                   ------
            Fiscal year beginning April 1, 2001 and ending           $28,000,000
            March 31, 2002

            Fiscal year beginning April 1, 2002 and ending           $17,000,000
            March 31, 2003

            Fiscal year beginning April 1, 2003 and thereafter       $14,000,000

provided, however, that to the extent the maximum amount of Capital Expenditures
--------  -------
permitted to be made in any period listed above pursuant to this clause (b),
without giving effect to this proviso, exceeds the aggregate amount actually
made during such period (the excess), Capital Expenditures may be made only in
the immediately subsequent period in an amount equal to such Capital
Expenditures plus such excess.

           8.5  Investments. Holding will not, and will not permit any of its
                -----------
Subsidiaries to, lend money or credit or make advances to any Person, or
purchase or acquire any stock, obligations or securities of, or any other
interest in, or make any capital contribution to (collectively, "Investments")
any other Person, except:

           (a)  the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may acquire and hold
     receivables owing to it, if created or acquired in the ordinary course of
     business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with the customary
     trade terms of the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary, as the case may
     be;

           (b)  loans and advances to employees, officers and directors in the
     ordinary course of business in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
     $3,000,000 at any time outstanding shall be permitted;

           (c)  Investments existing on the Restatement Effective Date and
     listed on Schedule XV hereto, without giving effect to any additions
     thereto or replacements thereof shall be permitted;

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<PAGE>

           (d)  the Borrower may make Investments in its Subsidiaries so long as
     the aggregate amount of all Investments outstanding at any time permitted
     under this clause (d) shall not exceed $4,000,000;

           (e)  any Investment by any Subsidiary (other than Insurance Sub) of
     the Borrower in the Borrower (so long as any loan made by a Subsidiary of
     the Borrower to the Borrower is subordinated to the Obligations on terms
     satisfactory to the Agent) or in another Subsidiary of the Borrower in an
     aggregate principal amount for all Investments permitted by this clause (e)
     not to exceed $4,000,000 at any time outstanding shall be permitted;

           (f)  Subject to Section 8.15, Investments in Cash Equivalents shall
     be permitted;

           (g)  Investments by the Borrower and/its Subsidiaries permitted under
     Section 8.1 and Capital Expenditures permitted under Section 8.4 shall be
     permitted;

           (h)  Investments received in connection with the bona fide settlement
     of debts created in the ordinary course of business shall be permitted;

           (i)  Contributions by Holding to the ESOP;

           (j)  Contributions to the ESOP by the Borrower and/or its
     Subsidiaries to the extent permitted by Section 8.7;

           (k)  the Borrower may make capital contributions to Insurance Sub in
     an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000;

           (l)  any Investments in accordance with any Rabbi Trust of the
     Borrower in effect on January 1, 1997 that is for the benefit of the
     Borrower's 401(a)(17) Supplemental Compensation Plan and deferred
     compensation plans; and

           (m)  any Investments in addition to those contemplated by the
     foregoing clauses (a) through (l), provided that all Investments made
                                        --------
     pursuant to this clause (m) shall be permitted by the New Senior Notes and
     the Special Term Loan Agreement and shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any
     time outstanding.

           8.6  Dividends, etc. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any
                ---------------
of its Subsidiaries to, declare or pay any dividends (other than dividends
payable solely in capital stock of the Borrower) or return any capital to, its
stockholders or authorize or make any other distribution, payment or delivery of
property or cash to its stockholders as such, or redeem, retire, purchase or
otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for a consideration (other than
consideration in the form of capital stock of the Borrower), any shares of any
class of its capital stock now or hereafter outstanding (or any warrants for or
options or stock appreciation rights in respect of any of such shares), or set
aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes and the Borrower will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of any class of the capital stock of Holding or the
Borrower now or

                                       71

<PAGE>

hereafter outstanding (or any warrants for or options or stock appreciation
rights issued by such Person in respect of any such shares) (all of the
foregoing "Dividends"), except that:

           (a)  any Subsidiary of the Borrower may pay dividends to the
     Borrower; and

           (b)  the Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holding in an amount
     necessary and to the extent immediately used by Holding to (i) pay accrued
     fees and expenses arising from the Transaction and/or ongoing reporting and
     related requirements, (ii) pay taxes payable by Holding (whether for itself
     alone or for itself and its Subsidiaries), in each case to the extent then
     due and payable and to the extent not otherwise paid by the Borrower
     pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement, (iii) repurchase shares of capital
     stock of Holding as required pursuant to the ESOP or pursuant to the
     Shareholders' Agreement, provided that the repurchase price therefor is
                              --------
     available to the Borrower from the net proceeds of any benefits paid
     pursuant to the terms of any life insurance policies covering certain
     participants in the ESOP and certain other executives of Holding and the
     Borrower, (iv) so long as no Default or Event of Default then exists, (A)
     pay the repurchase price payable to any officer or employee (or their
     estates) of Holding, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries upon death,
     disability or termination of employment of such officers and employees to
     the extent provided by the terms of any Shareholders' Agreement (including
     any extension thereof) as in effect on the date of this Credit Agreement,
     provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such repurchases in any
     --------  -------
     fiscal year of the Borrower shall not exceed $5,000,000, (B) pay amounts to
     repurchase shares of its capital stock (i) from participants who were
     distributed such shares from, and as required under, the ESOP and (ii) from
     the ESOP as required by any settlement, judgment, order or decree arising
     from the DOL Litigation; provided, however, that after giving effect to any
                              --------  -------
     such payment, the Borrower is in compliance with the Fixed Charge Coverage
     Ratio, calculated on a pro forma basis as of the end of the most recent
     fiscal quarter, and (C) make current payments of interest on the Holding
     Notes or pay principal in respect of Holding Notes issued in lieu of
     interest, so long as (x) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio calculated for any
               ----------
     period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (or, if shorter, the period
     beginning on April 1, 2002 and ending on the last day of the last fiscal
     quarter then ended) in each case taken as one accounting period shall
     exceed 2:1 and (y) the Borrower would be permitted to make a Restricted
     Payment under, and as defined in, the New Senior Note Indenture in the
     amount of such Dividend, provided that the amount of any Dividend paid
                              --------
     pursuant to this clause (b)(iv)(C) shall not exceed the Available Amount in
     effect immediately prior to the payment of such Dividend.

           8.7  Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will
                ----------------------------
not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction or series of
transactions involving payments or property with a value in excess of $100,000,
whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any Affiliate other than
(i) Permitted Transactions, (ii) Investments permitted under Section 8.5, (iii)
Dividends permitted under Section 8.6, (iv) fees and expenses set forth in
Schedule XVI, (v) amounts payable under the contractual agreements listed in
Schedule XVI, as in effect as of the date of this Credit Agreement, copies of
which have been delivered to the Agent, (vi) cash contributions by the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries to the ESOP in an amount not to exceed 10% of their
aggregate cash compensation to employees during any fiscal year plus any amounts
reinvested by the ESOP in capital stock of Holding and contributed to the
Borrower, (vii) cash

                                       72

<PAGE>

contributions by the Borrower or Holding to the ESOP as required by any
settlement, judgment, order or decree arising from the DOL Litigation; provided,
                                                                       --------
however, that after giving effect to any such payment, the Borrower is in
-------
compliance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, calculated on a pro forma basis
as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter, and (viii) any other
transaction or series of transactions the terms and conditions of which are
substantially as favorable (or more favorable) to the Borrower or such
Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time
in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate,
and for transactions involving aggregate payments in excess of $3,000,000, the
Borrower delivers to the Agent a resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Borrower (including all, if any, of the disinterested directors) to the effect
that the terms of such transactions are fair and reasonable to the Borrower.

           8.8  Changes in Business. (a) Except as otherwise permitted by
                -------------------
Sections 7.3 and 8.1 and clause (c) of this Section 8.8, the Borrower will not
alter the character of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from
that conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the Restatement Effective
Date.

           (b)  Holding shall not engage in any business other than its
ownership of the capital stock of the Borrower (and no other Person) and the
performance of certain management services for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
pursuant to the Holding Management Agreement.

           (c)  Insurance Sub shall not engage in any business other than the
performance of insurance services for Holding, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and the investment of its assets in cash and/or Cash Equivalents.

           8.9  Working Capital. The Borrower shall maintain as of the end of
                ---------------
each fiscal quarter, a level of Working Capital (without giving effect to any
balance sheet LIFO reserves) of not less than $50,000,000.

           8.10 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the
                ---------------------------
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters,
in each case taken as one accounting period, ended on a date set forth below to
be less than the ratio set forth opposite such date:

                Fiscal Quarter Ended                      Ratio
                --------------------                      -----
                June 30, 2002                          1.20 to 1.0

                September 30, 2002                     1.20 to 1.0

                December 31, 2002                      1.25 to 1.0

                March 31, 2003                         1.40 to 1.0

                Thereafter                             1.50 to 1.0

           8.11 Limitation on Voluntary Payments and Modifications of
                -----------------------------------------------------
Indebtedness; Modifications of Governing Documents and Preferred Stock; etc. (a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to: (i) make
(or give any notice in respect of) any voluntary or optional payment or
prepayment of principal on or voluntary or optional redemption

                                       73

<PAGE>

of or acquisition for value of (including, without limitation, by way of
depositing with the trustee with respect thereto or any other Person money or
securities before due for the purpose of paying when due), exchange, purchase,
redeem or acquire for value (whether as a result of a Change of Control, the
consummation of asset sales or otherwise) any Existing Indebtedness (except as
otherwise provided in Section 8.11(b)) or the Indebtedness described in Section
8.3(c), (d) and (f) (provided that the proceeds from "Asset Dispositions" (as
                     --------
defined in the Special Term Loan Agreement) may be used to prepay the "Term
Loans" (as defined in the Special Term Loan Agreement) as required by the
Special Term Loan Documents), (ii) amend or modify, or permit the amendment or
modification of, any provision of (x) any such Indebtedness (other than
Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Special Term Loan Agreement), (y) the
Special Term Loan Agreement, the effect of which would be to change any of the
covenants or defaults thereunder, shorten the weighted average life of the Term
Loans thereunder, or allow the lenders thereunder to create liens in collateral
of the Borrower other than real property, plant and equipment or (z) any
provision of its Certificate of Incorporation or By Laws relating to any
preferred or preference stock or the Shareholders' Agreement (without the
consent of the Agent) or (iii) issue any preferred or preference stock.

           (b) Holding will not amend, modify or waive, or permit the amendment,
modification or waiver of, any provision of the Holding Note Documents
(including, without limitation, the Holding Note Pledge Agreement) without the
Agent's consent, or make (or give any notice in respect of) any voluntary or
optional redemption of or acquisition for value (including, without limitation,
by way of depositing with the trustee with respect thereto money or securities
for the purpose of paying when due) the Holding Notes (other than (i) Holding
PIK Notes issued in lieu of interest and repaid with Dividends as permitted by
Section 8.6 and (ii) any such redemption or repayment made with the proceeds of
the issuance of equity by Holding).

           8.12 Issuance of Subsidiary Stock. The Borrower will not permit any
                ----------------------------
of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly to issue, sell, assign, pledge or
otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of its capital stock or other equity
securities (or warrants, rights or options to acquire shares or other equity
securities) of such Subsidiary to any Person other than the Borrower or another
wholly-owned Subsidiary, except (i) to the extent permitted by Sections 8.1(c)
and 8.5 and (ii) for the issuance of directors' qualifying shares to the extent
required by applicable law.

           8.13 Limitation on Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. The Borrower
                -------------------------------------------------
will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower to, directly, or
indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist any encumbrance or
restriction which prohibits or limits the ability of any Subsidiary of the
Borrower to (a) pay dividends or make other distributions or pay any
Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, (b) make
loans or advances to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, (c)
transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
the Borrower or (d) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any lien upon any
of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,
other than encumbrances and restrictions arising under (i) applicable law, (ii)
this Credit Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, (iii) Indebtedness
permitted pursuant to Sections 8.3(c), (d), (f) and (l), (iv) customary
provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a
leasehold interest of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (v) customary
restrictions on dispositions of real property interests found in reciprocal
easement agreements of

                                       74

<PAGE>

the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (vi) any agreement relating to
permitted Indebtedness incurred by a Subsidiary of the Borrower prior to the
date on which such Subsidiary was acquired by the Borrower or any other
Subsidiary of the Borrower and outstanding on such acquisition date, (vii) the
extension or continuation of contractual obligations in existence on the date
hereof, provided that any such encumbrances or restrictions contained in such
        --------
continuation are no less favorable to the Lenders than those encumbrances and
restrictions under or pursuant to the contractual obligations continued hereby,
and (viii) restrictions imposed under the agreements relating to Indebtedness
permitted under Section 8.3(b), provided that such restrictions apply only to
                                --------
the property giving rise to such Indebtedness.

           8.14 No Additional Bank Accounts. The Borrower will not, and will not
                ---------------------------
permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Insurance Sub) within the United
States to, directly or indirectly, open, maintain or otherwise have any
checking, savings or other deposit accounts at any bank or other financial
institution where money is or may be deposited or maintained with any Person,
other than (i) the Disbursement Account and the accounts set forth on Schedule
XVII, (ii) local accounts for petty cash deposit in the ordinary course of
business and (iii) the "Collateral Account" (as defined in the Special Term Loan
Agreement and as required under the Special Term Loan Documents).

           8.15 No Excess Cash. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any
                --------------
of its Subsidiaries (other than Insurance Sub) to, directly or indirectly,
maintain in the aggregate in all of the checking, savings or other accounts
(other than the Disbursement Accounts, the Sub-Collection Accounts, the
Collection Accounts, the Concentration Account and the payroll accounts) of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Insurance Sub) total cash balances and
investments (other than Investments permitted under Section 8.5(l)) in excess of
$3,000,000 at any time during which any Revolving Loans are outstanding
hereunder.

           8.16 Additional Negative Pledges. The Borrower will not, and will not
                ---------------------------
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise
cause or suffer to exist or become effective, or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective, directly or
indirectly, any prohibition or restriction (including any agreement to provide
equal and ratable security to any other Person in the event a Lien is granted to
or for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders) on the creation or existence of
any Lien upon the assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, other than the
restrictions contained in (i) the Transaction Documents, (ii) any agreement
relating to a Lien permitted pursuant to Section 8.2 as relating to the property
encumbered thereby or (iii) restrictions described in Section 8.13.

                                   ARTICLE 9.

                         Events of Default and Remedies
                         ------------------------------

           9.1 Events of Default. Upon the occurrence of any of the following
               -----------------
specified events (each an "Event of Default"):

           (a) Payments. The Borrower shall (i) default in the payment when due
               --------
     of any principal of the Revolving Loans or (ii) default, and such default
     shall continue for five or more days, in the payment when due of, any
     interest on the Revolving Loans or any

                                       75

<PAGE>

drawings under Letters of Credit which have not been reimbursed by the Borrower
(including through the incurrence of Revolving Loans), or (iii) default, and
such default shall continue for five or more days after written demand therefor
by the Agent, in the payment when due of any Fees, Expense or any other amounts
owing hereunder or under any other Credit Document; or

           (b) Representations, etc.. Any representation, warranty or statement
               ---------------------
     made by any Credit Party herein or in any other Credit Document or in any
     statement or certificate delivered or required to be delivered pursuant
     hereto or thereto shall prove to be untrue in any material respect on the
     date as of which made or deemed made; or

           (c) Covenants. Holding or the Borrower shall (i) default in the due
               ---------
     performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement
     contained in Article 8, or (ii) default in the due performance or
     observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those
     referred to in Section 9.1(a), 9.1(b) or clause (i) of this Section 9.1(c))
     contained in this Credit Agreement and such default shall continue
     unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after notice to the defaulting
     party by the Agent or the Required Lenders; or

           (d) Default Under Other Agreements. Holding, the Borrower or any of
               ------------------------------
     its Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any payment in respect to any
     Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) in excess of $2,500,000
     individually or $5,000,000 in the aggregate of the Borrower and its
     Subsidiaries beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the agreement
     or instrument under which such Indebtedness was issued, including, but not
     limited to, the New Senior Note Documents and the Special Term Loan
     Documents, or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any
     agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in
     any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or
     any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default
     or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders
     of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or
     holders) to cause (determined without regard to whether any notice is
     required to so cause), any such Indebtedness to become due prior to its
     stated maturity; or any such Indebtedness of Holding, the Borrower or any
     such Subsidiary shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be
     prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a
     mandatory prepayment, prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

           (e) Bankruptcy, etc. Holding, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
               ----------------
     shall commence a voluntary case concerning itself under Title 11 of the
     United States Code entitled "Bankruptcy," as now or hereafter in effect, or
     any successor thereto (the "Bankruptcy Code"); or an involuntary case is
     commenced against Holding, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and the
     petition is not controverted within 30 days, or is not dismissed within 60
     days, after commencement of the case; or a custodian (as defined in the
     Bankruptcy Code) is appointed for, or takes charge of, all or substantially
     all of the property of Holding, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or
     Holding, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries commences any other
     proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt,
     relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of
     any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating

                                       76

<PAGE>

     to Holding, the Borrower or such Subsidiary; or there is commenced against
     Holding, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries any such proceeding which
     remains undismissed for a period of 60 days; or Holding, the Borrower or
     any of its Subsidiaries is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; or any order
     of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered;
     or Holding, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries suffers any appointment
     of any custodian or the like for it or any substantial part of its property
     to continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or Holding,
     the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries makes a general assignment for the
     benefit of creditors; or any corporate action is taken by Holding, the
     Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for the purpose of effecting any of the
     foregoing; or

           (f) ERISA. (i) Any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding
               -----
     standard required for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such
     standard or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under
     Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, any Plan is, shall have
     been, or is reasonably likely to be terminated or the subject of
     termination proceedings under ERISA, an event shall have occurred or a
     condition shall exist in either case entitling the PBGC to terminate a
     Plan, any Plan shall have an Unfunded Current Liability, Holding, the
     Borrower or any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is
     reasonably likely to incur a liability to or on account of a Plan under
     Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or
     4212 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code, or Holding, the Borrower
     or any Subsidiary has incurred or is reasonably likely to incur
     liabilities, except in connection with the DOL Litigation, pursuant to one
     or more employee welfare benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(1) of
     ERISA) that provide benefits to retired employees or other former employees
     (other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA) or employee pension
     benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA); (ii) there shall
     result from any event or events set forth in clause (i) of this Section
     9.1(f) the imposition of a lien, the granting of a security interest, or a
     liability or a material risk of incurring a liability; and (iii) such lien,
     security interest or liability, will have a Material Adverse Effect; or

           (g) Collateral Documents. Any Collateral Document shall cease to be
               --------------------
     in full force and effect, or shall cease to give the Collateral Agent on
     behalf of the Lenders the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to
     be created thereby in favor of the Collateral Agent, or any Credit Party
     shall default in any material respect in the due performance or observance
     of any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed
     pursuant to any such Collateral Document and such default shall continue
     unremedied for a period of at least 15 days after notice to the Borrower
     by the Agent or the Required Lenders; or

           (h) Guaranty. The Guaranty or any provision thereof shall cease to be
               --------
     in full force and effect, or Holding or any Person acting by or on behalf
     of Holding shall deny or disaffirm obligations under the Guaranty; or

           (i) Judgments, Etc. (a) One or more judgments or decrees shall be
               ---------------
     entered against Holding, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries involving
     a liability of $2,500,000 or more in the case of any one such judgment or
     decree and $5,000,000 or more in the aggregate for all such judgments and
     decrees for Holding and all its

                                       77

<PAGE>

     Subsidiaries (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance provided by a
     carrier that has acknowledged coverage) and all such judgments or decrees
     shall not have been vacated, discharged or stayed pending appeal within 60
     days from the entry thereof;

then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default
shall then be continuing, the Agent shall, upon the written request of the
Required Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the
following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Agent or any Lender to
enforce its claims against the Borrower, except as otherwise specifically
provided for in this Credit Agreement (provided that, if an Event of Default
                                       --------
specified in Section 9.1(e) shall occur with respect to the Borrower, the result
which would occur upon the giving of written notice by the Agent as specified in
clauses (i) and (ii) below shall occur automatically without the giving of any
such notice): (i) declare the Total Commitments terminated, whereupon the
Commitment of each Lender shall forthwith terminate immediately and any Unused
Line Fee accrued and unpaid shall forthwith become due and payable without any
other notice of any kind; (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest
in respect of all Revolving Loans and all Obligations owing hereunder to be,
whereupon the same shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment,
demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by
the Borrower; (iii) direct the Collateral Agent to enforce any or all of the
Liens and security interests created pursuant to the Collateral Documents; (iv)
terminate any Letter of Credit which may be terminated in accordance with its
terms; and/or (v) direct the Borrower to pay (and the Borrower hereby agrees
upon receipt of such notice, or upon the occurrence of any Event of Default
specified in Section 9.05 in respect of the Borrower, it will pay) to the
Payments Administrator at its Payment Office such additional amounts of cash, to
be held as security for the Borrower's reimbursement obligations in respect of
Letters of Credit then outstanding equal to the aggregate of all Letters of
Credit Obligations.

                                   ARTICLE 10.

                                    The Agent
                                    ---------

           10.1  Appointment. (a) Each Lender hereby designates BTCo as Agent
                 -----------
(for purposes of this Section 10, the term "Agent" shall include BTCo as
Payments Administrator and as Collateral Agent under the Collateral Documents
and Syndication Agent) to act as herein specified. Each Lender hereby
irrevocably authorizes, and each holder of any Revolving Note or participation
in any Letter of Credit by the acceptance of a Revolving Note or participation
shall be deemed irrevocably to authorize, the Agent to take such action on its
behalf under the provisions of this Credit Agreement and the Revolving Notes and
any other instruments and agreements referred to herein and to exercise such
powers and to perform such duties hereunder and thereunder as are specifically
delegated to or required of the Agent by the terms hereof and thereof and such
other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Collateral Agent shall
hold all Collateral and the Payments Administrator shall hold all payments of
principal, interest, Fees, charges and Expenses received pursuant to this Credit
Agreement or any other Credit Document for the benefit of the Lenders to be
distributed as provided herein. The Agent may perform any of its duties
hereunder by or through its agents or employees.

           (b)  The provisions of this Article 10 are solely for the benefit of
the Agent and the Lenders, and neither Holding nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
have any rights as a third party

                                     78

<PAGE>

beneficiary of any of the provisions hereof (other than Sections 10.9 and
10.10(c)). In performing its functions and duties under this Credit Agreement,
the Agent shall act solely as agent of the Lenders and does not assume and shall
not be deemed to have assumed any obligation toward or relationship of agency or
trust with or for Holding or any of its Subsidiaries.

           10.2  Nature of Duties of the Agent. The Agent shall not have any
                 -----------------------------
duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Credit
Agreement and the other Credit Documents. Neither the Agent nor any of its
officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for any action taken or
omitted by it as such hereunder or in connection herewith, unless caused by its
or their gross negligence or willful misconduct. The duties of the Agent shall
be mechanical and administrative in nature; the Agent shall have by reason of
this Credit Agreement or the other Credit Documents a fiduciary relationship in
respect of any Lender; and nothing in this Credit Agreement or the other Credit
Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to
impose upon the Agent any obligations in respect of this Credit Agreement or the
other Credit Documents except as expressly set forth herein or therein.

           10.3  Lack of Reliance on the Agent. (a) Independently and without
                 -----------------------------
reliance upon the Agent, each Lender, to the extent it deems appropriate, has
made and shall continue to make (i) its own independent investigation of the
financial or other condition and affairs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in
connection with the taking or not taking of any action in connection herewith
and (ii) its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, and, except as expressly provided in this Credit Agreement, the
Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a
continuing basis, to provide any Lender with any credit or other information
with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the making of
the Loans or at any time or times thereafter.

           (b)  The Agent shall not be responsible to any Lender for any
recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties herein or in
any document, certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or
for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability,
collectibility, priority or sufficiency of this Credit Agreement or the
Revolving Notes or the financial or other condition of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries. The Agent shall not be required to make any inquiry concerning
either the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or
conditions of this Credit Agreement or the Revolving Notes, or the financial
condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or the existence or
possible existence of any Default or Event of Default, unless specifically
requested to do so in writing by any Lender.

           10.4  Certain Rights of the Agent. The Agent shall have the right to
                 ---------------------------
request instructions from the Required Lenders at any time. If the Agent shall
request instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any act or action
(including the failure to act) in connection with this Credit Agreement, the
Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such action unless
and until the Agent shall have received instructions from the Required Lenders,
and the Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so
refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of
action whatsoever against the Agent as a result of the Agent acting or
refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the
Required Lenders.

                                       79

<PAGE>

           10.5  Reliance by the Agent. The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and
                 ---------------------
shall be fully protected in relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice,
statement, certificate, telex, teletype or telecopier message, cablegram,
radiogram, order or other documentary, teletransmission or telephone message
believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made
by the proper person. The Agent may consult with legal counsel (including
counsel for the Borrower with respect to matters concerning the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it
and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or
experts.

           10.6  Indemnification of the Agent. To the extent the Agent is not
                 ----------------------------
reimbursed and indemnified by the Borrower, each Lender will reimburse and
indemnify the Agent, in proportion to its respective Commitment, for and against
any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements) or
disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including all Expenses) which
may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent in performing its
duties hereunder, in any way relating to or arising out of this Credit
Agreement; provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Agent's gross negligence or
willful misconduct.

           10.7  The Agent in its Individual Capacity. With respect to its
                 ------------------------------------
obligation to lend under this Credit Agreement, the Loans made by it and the
Revolving Notes issued to it, and its participation in Letters of Credit issued
hereunder, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any
other Lender or holder of a Revolving Note or participation interests and may
exercise the same as though it was not performing the duties specified herein;
and the terms "Lenders," "Required Lenders," "holders of Revolving Notes," or
any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include
the Agent in its individual capacity. The Agent may accept deposits from, lend
money to, acquire equity interests in, and generally engage in any kind of
banking, trust, financial advisory or other business with Holding or any
Affiliate of Holding as if it were not performing the duties specified herein,
and may accept fees and other consideration from Holding for services in
connection with this Credit Agreement and otherwise without having to account
for the same to the Lenders.

           10.8  Holders of Notes. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any
                 ----------------
Revolving Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a
written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been filed with
the Agent. Any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of
making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any
Revolving Note, shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder,
transferee or assignee of such Revolving Note or of any Revolving Note or
Revolving Notes issued in exchange therefor.

          10.9  Successor Agent. (a) The Agent may, upon five (5) Business Days'
                ---------------
notice to the Lenders and the Borrower, resign at any time (effective upon the
appointment of a successor Agent pursuant to the provisions of this Section
10.9) by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. Such
resignation of the Agent shall also operate as a resignation as an Issuing Bank,
as Payments Administrator and as Syndication Agent. Upon any

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<PAGE>

such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, upon five (5) days'
notice and approval by the Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld), to appoint a successor Agent which shall also serve as a successor
Issuing Bank. If no successor Agent (i) shall have been so appointed by the
Required Lenders, and (ii) shall have accepted such appointment, within thirty
(30) days after the retiring Agent's giving of notice of resignation, then, upon
five (5) days' notice, the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint
a successor Agent, which shall also serve as a successor Issuing Bank.

           (b)   Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a
successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become
vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent,
and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under
this Credit Agreement. After any retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as
Agent, the provisions of this Article 10 shall inure to its benefit as to any
actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Credit
Agreement.

           (c)   In the event of a material breach by the Agent of its duties
hereunder, the Agent may be removed by the Required Lenders (other than the
Agent and without giving effect to any Revolving Loans or Commitments made by
the Agent) for cause and the provisions of this Section 10.9 shall apply to the
appointment of a successor Agent. Such removal of the Agent shall also operate
as a removal as an Issuing Bank, as Payments Administrator as Syndication Agent.

           10.10 Collateral Matters. (a) Each Lender authorizes and directs the
                 ------------------
Collateral Agent to enter into the Collateral Documents for the benefit of the
Lenders. Each Lender hereby agrees, and each holder of any Revolving Note by the
acceptance thereof will be deemed to agree, that, except as otherwise set forth
herein, any action taken by the Required Lenders in accordance with the
provisions of this Credit Agreement or the Collateral Documents, and the
exercise by the Required Lenders of the powers set forth herein or therein,
together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be
authorized and binding upon all of the Lenders. The Collateral Agent is hereby
authorized on behalf of all of the Lenders, without the necessity of any notice
to or further consent from any Lender, from time to time prior to an Event of
Default, to take any action with respect to any Collateral or Collateral
Documents which may be necessary to perfect and maintain perfected the security
interest in and liens upon the Collateral granted pursuant to the Collateral
Documents.

           (b)   The Lenders hereby authorize the Collateral Agent, at its
option and in its discretion, upon the direction of the Agent to release any
Lien granted to or held by the Collateral Agent upon any Collateral (i) upon
termination of the Commitments and payment and satisfaction of all of the
Obligations at any time arising under or in respect of this Credit Agreement or
the Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii)
constituting property being sold or disposed of upon receipt of the proceeds of
such sale by the Collateral Agent if the Borrower certifies to the Collateral
Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with Section 8.1 hereof
(and the Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further
inquiry) or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required
Lenders, unless such release is required to be approved by all of the Lenders
hereunder.

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<PAGE>

Upon request by the Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the
Collateral Agent's authority to release particular types or items of Collateral
pursuant to this Section 10.10.

           (c)   Upon any sale and transfer of Collateral which is expressly
permitted pursuant to the terms of this Credit Agreement, or consented to in
writing by the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders, as applicable, and upon
at least five (5) Business Days' prior written request by the Borrower, the
Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Lenders to)
execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Liens
granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders herein or
pursuant hereto upon the Collateral that was sold or transferred; provided that
                                                                  --------
(i) the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on
terms which, in the Collateral Agent's opinion, would expose the Collateral
Agent to liability or create any obligation or entail any consequence other than
the release of such Liens without recourse, representation or warranty and (ii)
such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations
or any Liens upon (or obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in
respect of) all interests retained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
including, without limitation, the proceeds of the sale, all of which shall
continue to constitute part of the Collateral. In the event of any sale or
transfer of Collateral, or any foreclosure with respect to any of the
Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall be authorized to deduct all of the
Expenses reasonably incurred by the Collateral Agent from the proceeds of any
such sale, transfer or foreclosure.

           (d)   The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the
Lenders or to any other Person to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned
by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or is cared for, protected or insured
or that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent herein or pursuant hereto have
been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or
enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise or to
continue exercising at all or in any manner or under any duty of care,
disclosure or fidelity any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or
available to the Collateral Agent in this Section 10.10 or in any of the
Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the
Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, the Collateral Agent
may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion, given the
Collateral Agent's own interest in the Collateral as one of the Lenders and that
the Collateral Agent shall have no duty or liability whatsoever to the Lenders,
except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct.

           10.11 Actions with Respect to Defaults. In addition to the Agent's
                 --------------------------------
right to take actions on its own accord as permitted under this Credit
Agreement, the Agent shall take such action with respect to an Event of Default
as shall be directed by the Required Lenders; provided that until the Agent
                                              --------
shall have received such directions, the Agent may (but shall not be obligated
to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such
Event of Default as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the
Lenders.

           10.12 Delivery of Information. The Agent shall not be required to
                 -----------------------
deliver to any Lender originals or copies of any documents, instruments,
notices, communications or other information received by the Agent from Holding,
the Borrower, any Subsidiary, the Required Lenders, any Lender or any other
Person under or in connection with this Credit Agreement or any other Credit
Document except (i) as specifically provided in this Credit Agreement or any
other Credit Document and (ii) as specifically requested from time to time in
writing by any

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<PAGE>

Lender with respect to a specific document, instrument, notice or other written
communication received by and in the possession of the Agent at the time of
receipt of such request and then only in accordance with such specific request.

                                   ARTICLE 11.

                                  Miscellaneous
                                  -------------

           11.1  Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each of Holding and the
                 -----------------------------------
Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

           (a)   submits for itself and its property in any legal action or
     proceeding relating to this Credit Agreement and the other credit documents
     to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment
     in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts
     of the State of New York located in New York City, the Courts of the United
     States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate
     courts from any thereof;

           (b)   consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in
     such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to
     the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such
     action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to
     plead or claim the same;

           (c)   designates, appoints and empowers CT Corporation System with
     offices on the date hereof at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011
     as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for
     and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all
     legal process, summons, notices and documents which may be served in any
     such action or proceeding. If for any reason such designee, appointee and
     agent shall cease to be available to act as such, each Credit Party agrees
     to designate a new designee, appointee and agent in New York City on the
     terms and for the purposes of this provision satisfactory to the Agent
     under this Credit Agreement;

           (d)   agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding
     may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail
     (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the
     Borrower at its address set forth in Section 11.5 or at such other address
     of which the Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

           (e)   agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect
     service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the
     right to sue in any other jurisdiction;

           (f)   to the extent permitted by law, waives the right to assert any
     setoff, counterclaim or cross-claim in respect of, and all statutes of
     limitations which may be relevant to, such action or proceeding (other than
     compulsory counterclaims), provided that nothing in this clause (f) shall
     preclude a separate action asserting any such claims; and

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<PAGE>

          (g) waives due diligence, demand, presentment and protest and any
     notices thereof as well as notice of nonpayment.

     11.2 Jury Trial. Holding, the Borrower, the Agent, the Issuing Banks and
          ----------
the Lenders each hereby waive any right to a trial by jury in any action or
proceeding arising out of this Credit Agreement, the Credit Documents or any
other agreements or transactions related hereto or thereto.

     11.3 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this
          -------------
Credit Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New
York.

     11.4 Delays: Partial Exercise of Remedies. No delay or omission of the
          ------------------------------------
Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Lenders to exercise any right or remedy
hereunder, whether before or after the happening of any Event of Default, shall
impair any such right or shall operate as a waiver thereof or as a waiver of any
such Event of Default. No single or partial exercise by the Agent, any Issuing
Bank or the Lenders of any right or remedy shall preclude any other or further
exercise thereof, or preclude any other right or remedy.

     11.5 Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices and
          -------
correspondences hereunder shall be in writing and sent by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight delivery service,
with all charges prepaid, if to the Agent, or any of the Lenders, then to BTCo,
300 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90071, Attention: Keith
Alexander, and if to the Borrower, then to the Borrower at 3050 East Birch
Street, Brea, California 92821, Attention: William S. Johnson, or by facsimile
transmission, promptly confirmed in writing sent by first class mail, if to the
Agent, or any of the Lenders, in the case of BTCo at (213) 620-8394, and if to
the Borrower at (714) 577-3765. All such notices and correspondence shall be
deemed given when received by the party to whom sent.

     11.6 Benefit of Agreement. (a) This Credit Agreement shall be binding upon
          --------------------
and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and
assigns of the parties hereto, provided that no Credit Party may assign or
                               --------
transfer any of its interests hereunder, without the prior written consent of
the Lenders and provided further, that the rights of each Lender to transfer,
                -------- -------
assign or grant participations in its rights and/or obligations hereunder shall
be limited as set forth below in this Section 11.6, provided that nothing in
                                                    --------
this Section 11.6 shall prevent or prohibit any Lender from pledging its rights
under this Credit Agreement and/or its Revolving Loans and/or Revolving Notes
hereunder to a Federal Reserve Bank in support of borrowings made by such Lender
from such Federal Reserve Bank.

     (b) Each Lender shall have the right to transfer, assign or grant
participations in all or any part of its remaining rights and obligations
hereunder on the basis set forth below in this clause (b).

         (A) Assignments. Each Lender may assign pursuant to an Assignment and
             -----------
     Assumption Agreement all or a portion of its rights and obligations
     hereunder pursuant to this clause (b)(A) to (x) one or more Lenders or (y)
     one or more other Eligible Transferees, provided that (i) any such
                                             --------
     assignment pursuant to clause (y) above shall be in the aggregate amount of
     at least $5,000,000, and (ii) any

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<PAGE>

     assignment pursuant to clause (y) shall require the consent of the Agent
     which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any assignment to another
     Lender pursuant to this clause (b)(A) will become effective upon the
     payment to the Payments Administrator by either the assigning or the
     assignee Lender of a nonrefundable assignment fee of $3,500 and the
     recording by the Payments Administrator of such assignment, and the
     resultant effects thereof on the Revolving Loans and Commitments of the
     assigning Lender and the assignee Lender, in a register maintained by the
     Payments Administrator (the "Register"), the Payments Administrator hereby
     agreeing to effect such recordation no later than five Business Days after
     its receipt of a written notification by the assigning Lender and the
     assignee Lender of the proposed assignment, provided that the Payments
     Administrator shall not be required to, and shall not, so record any
     assignment in the Register on or after the date on which any proposed
     amendment, modification or supplement in respect of this Credit Agreement
     has been circulated to the Lenders for approval until the earlier of (x)
     the effectiveness of such amendment, modification or supplement in
     accordance with Section 11.10 or (y) 30 days following the date on which
     such proposed amendment, modification or supplement was circulated to the
     Lenders. Assignments pursuant to clause (b)(A) (y) will only be effective
     if the Payments Administrator shall have received a written notice,
     substantially in the form of Exhibit O hereto, from the assigning Lender
     and the assignee and payment of a nonrefundable assignment fee of $2,500 to
     the Payments Administrator by either the assigning Lender or the assignee.
     No later than five Business Days after its receipt of such written notice,
     the Payments Administrator will record such assignment, and the resultant
     effects thereof on the Revolving Loans and Commitment of the assigning
     Lender, in the Register, at which time such assignment shall become
     effective, provided that the Payments Administrator shall not be required
                --------
     to, and shall not, so record any assignment in the Register on or after the
     date on which any proposed amendment, modification or supplement in respect
     of this Credit Agreement has been circulated to the Lenders for approval
     until the earlier of (x) the effectiveness of such amendment, modification
     or supplement in accordance with Section 11.10 or (y) 30 days following the
     date on which such proposed amendment, modification or supplement was
     circulated to the Lenders. Upon the effectiveness of any assignment
     pursuant to clause (b)(A)(y), (x) the assignee will become a "Lender" for
     all purposes of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents with
     Revolving Loans and a Commitment as so recorded by the Payments
     Administrator in the Register, and to the extent of such assignment, the
     assigning Lender shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder with
     respect to the portion of its Commitment being assigned and (y) if such
     assignment occurs after the Restatement Effective Date, the Borrower shall
     issue new Revolving Notes (in exchange for the Revolving Note or Revolving
     Notes of the assigning Lender) to the assigning Lender (to the extent such
     Lender's Commitment is not reduced to zero as a result of such assignment)
     and to the assignee Lender, in each case to the extent requested by the
     assigning Lender or assignee Lender, as the case may be, to the extent
     needed to reflect the revised Commitments of such Lenders. The Payments

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<PAGE>

     Administrator will (x) notify each Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to
     outstanding Letters of Credit within 5 Business Days of the effectiveness
     of any assignment hereunder and (y) prepare on the last Business Day of
     each calendar quarter during which an assignment has become effective
     pursuant to this clause (b)(A) a new Schedule I giving effect to all such
     assignments effected during such quarter and will promptly provide same to
     the Borrower and each of the Lenders. In addition, each agreement creating
     any assignment must include an agreement by the assignee to be bound by the
     provisions of Section 11.7 of this Credit Agreement and such assignee shall
     have executed a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of
     Exhibit P hereto.

         (B) Participations. Each Lender may transfer, grant or assign
             --------------
     participations in all or any part of such Lender's interests and
     obligations hereunder pursuant to this clause (b)(B) to any Eligible
     Transferee, provided that (i) such Lender shall remain a "Lender" for all
                 --------
     purposes of this Credit Agreement and the transferee of such participation
     shall not constitute a Lender hereunder and (ii) no participant under any
     such participation shall have rights to approve any amendment to or waiver
     of this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document except to the extent
     such amendment or waiver would (x) extend the final scheduled maturity of
     any of the Revolving Loans or the Commitment in which such participant is
     participating (it being understood that a waiver of a mandatory reduction
     in the Total Commitments or the waiver of the application of any prepayment
     to the Revolving Loans shall not constitute the extension of the final
     scheduled maturity of any Revolving Loan or Commitment), (y) reduce the
     interest rate (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any
     post-default increases in interest rates) or Fees applicable to any of the
     Revolving Loans, Commitments or Letters of Credit or postpone the payment
     or reduce the amount thereof or (z) release all or substantially all of the
     Collateral or guaranties (except as expressly provided in the Credit
     Documents). In the case of any such participation, the participant shall
     not have any rights under this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit
     Documents (the participant's rights against the granting Lender in respect
     of such participation to be those set forth in the agreement with such
     Lender creating such participation) and all amounts payable by the Borrower
     hereunder shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such
     participation, provided that such participant shall be entitled to receive
                    --------
     additional amounts under Sections 2.9, 2.10, 4.5 and 4.9 on the same basis
     as if it were a Lender. In addition, each agreement creating any
     participation must include an agreement by the participant to be bound by
     the provisions of Section 11.7 of this Credit Agreement and such
     participant shall have executed a confidentiality agreement substantially
     in the form of Exhibit P hereto.

     (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 11.6, no transfer
or assignment of the interests or obligations of any Lender hereunder or any
grant of participations therein shall be permitted if such transfer, assignment
or grant would require the Borrower to file a registration statement with the
SEC or to qualify the Loans under the "Blue Sky" laws of any State.

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<PAGE>

     (d) If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, or upon the occurrence of
any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.9, 4.3(c)(ii) or 4.9 with
respect to such Lender, the Borrower shall have the right, if no Default or
Event of Default then exists, to either replace such Lender (the "Replaced
Lender") with one or more Eligible Transferees (collectively, the "Replacement
Lender"), provided that (i) at the time of any replacement pursuant to this
          --------
Section 11.6(d), the Replacement Lender shall enter into one or more Assignment
and Assumption Agreements pursuant to Section 11.6(b)(A) (and with all fees
payable pursuant to said Section 11.6(b)(A) to be paid by the Replacement
Lender) pursuant to which the Replacement Lender shall acquire all of the
Commitments and outstanding Revolving Loans of, and participations in Letters of
Credit by, the Replaced Lender and, in connection therewith, shall pay to (x)
the Replaced Lender in respect thereof an amount equal to the sum of (A) an
amount equal to the principal of, and all accrued interest on, all outstanding
Revolving Loans of the Replaced Lender, (B) an amount equal to all drawings
under Letters of Credit that have been funded by (and not reimbursed to) such
Replaced Lender, together with all then unpaid interest with respect thereto at
such time, (C) at the option of the Borrower, an amount equal to the increased
costs incurred by the Borrower and owing to the Replaced Lender pursuant to
Sections 2.9 and 4.9 and (D) an amount equal to all accrued, but theretofore
unpaid, Fees owing to the Replaced Lender pursuant to Article 4 and (y) any
Issuing Bank the amount of all unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit
attributable to such Replaced Lender and (ii) all obligations of the Borrower
owing to the Replaced Lender (other than those specifically described in clause
(i) above in respect of which the assignment purchase price has been, or is
concurrently being, paid) shall be paid in full by the Borrower to such Replaced
Lender concurrently with such replacement. Upon the execution of the respective
Assignment and Assumption Agreements the payment of amounts referred to in
clauses (i) and (ii) above the Replacement Lender shall become a Lender
hereunder and the Replaced Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder,
except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Credit Agreement,
which shall survive as to such Replaced Lender.

     (e) Each Lender initially party to this Credit Agreement hereby represents,
and each Person that becomes a Lender pursuant to an assignment permitted by the
preceding clause (b)(A) will upon its becoming party to this Credit Agreement
represent, that it is an Eligible Transferee which makes loans in the ordinary
course of its business and that it will make or acquire Revolving Loans for its
own account in the ordinary course of such business, provided that subject to
                                                     --------
the preceding clauses (a) through (d), the disposition of any promissory notes
or other evidences of or interests in Indebtedness held by such Lender shall at
all times be within its exclusive control.

     1.7 Confidentiality. Each Lender agrees that it will use its reasonable
         ---------------
best efforts not to disclose without the prior consent of the Borrower (other
than to its employees, auditors, or counsel, or to another Lender if the
disclosing Lender or such disclosing Lender's holding or parent company in its
sole discretion determines that any such party should have access to such
information) any information with respect to the Borrower or any of the
Borrower's Subsidiaries, which is furnished pursuant to the Credit Documents and
which is designated by the Borrower to the Lenders in writing as confidential;
provided that any Lender may disclose any such information (a) as has become
--------
generally available to the public, (b) as may be required or appropriate in any
report, statement or testimony submitted to any Governmental Authority having or
claiming to have jurisdiction over such Lender, (c) as may be

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<PAGE>

required or appropriate in response to any summons or subpoena or in connection
with any litigation, (d) in order to comply with any Requirement of Law, and (e)
to any prospective or actual transferee or participant in connection with any
contemplated transfer or participation of any of the Revolving Notes or
Commitments or any interest therein by such Lender which prospective transferee
or participant shall have agreed in writing to be subject to the confidentiality
provisions of this Section 11.7; provided, however, that in the case of any
                                 --------  -------
disclosure pursuant to the foregoing clauses (c) or (d), such Lender will use
its reasonable efforts to notify the Borrower, to the extent permitted as
advised by counsel, in advance (or, in the case of clause (d), promptly
thereafter) of such disclosure so as to afford the Borrower the opportunity to
protect the confidentiality of the information proposed to be so disclosed.

     11.8 Indemnification. (a) Each of Holding and the Borrower shall and hereby
          ---------------
agrees to jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Agent,
each Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders and their respective directors,
officers, agents and employees (the "Indemnitee") from and against (x) any and
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, judgments or expenses
incurred by any of them (except to the extent that it is finally judicially
determined to have resulted from their own gross negligence or willful
misconduct) arising out of or by reason of any litigations, investigations,
claims or proceedings which arise out of or are in any way related to (i) this
Credit Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) the issuance of
the Letters of Credit, (iii) the failure of an Issuing Bank to honor a drawing
under any Letter of Credit, as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful
or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or
Governmental Authority, (iv) any actual or proposed use by the Borrower of the
proceeds of the Revolving Loans or (v) the Agent's or the Lenders' entering into
this Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents or any other agreements and
documents relating hereto, including, without limitation, amounts paid in any
settlement agreed to by the Borrower, court costs and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel incurred in connection with any such litigation,
investigation, claim or proceeding or any advice rendered in connection with any
of the foregoing and (y) any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
deficiencies, judgments or expenses incurred in connection with any remedial or
other action taken by Holdings or any of the Lenders in connection with
compliance by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective
properties, with any federal, state or local environmental laws, acts, rules,
regulations, orders, directions, ordinances, criteria or guidelines.

     (b) If and to the extent that the Obligations of either of Holding or the
Borrower hereunder are unenforceable for any reason, each of Holding and the
Borrower hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and
satisfaction of such Obligations which is permissible under applicable law. Each
of Holding's and the Borrower's Obligations hereunder shall survive any
termination of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the
payment in full of the Obligations, and are in addition to, and not in
substitution of, any other of their Obligations set forth in this Credit
Agreement.

     (c) In addition, each of Holding and the Borrower shall, upon demand, pay
to the Agent and any Lender all costs and expenses (including the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel and other professionals) paid or incurred by
the Agent or such Lender in (i) enforcing or defending its rights under or in
respect of this Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents or any other
document or instrument now or hereafter executed and delivered in connection
herewith, (ii) in collecting the Revolving Loans, (iii) in foreclosing or
otherwise

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<PAGE>

collecting upon the Collateral or any part thereof and (iv) obtaining
any legal, accounting or other advice in connection with any of the foregoing.

     11.9  Entire Agreement; Successors and Assigns. This Credit Agreement and
           ----------------------------------------
the other Credit Documents constitute the entire agreement among Holding, the
Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders, supersedes any prior agreements among them,
and shall bind and benefit Holding, the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders and
their respective successors and permitted assigns.

     11.10 Amendment or Waiver. Neither this Credit Agreement nor any other
           -------------------
Credit Document nor any terms hereof or thereof may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated unless such change, waiver, discharge or termination is
in writing signed by the Borrower and the Required Lenders, provided that no
                                                            --------
such change, waiver, discharge or termination shall, without the consent of each
Lender affected thereby, (i) extend the final scheduled maturity of any
Revolving Loan or Revolving Note (it being understood that any waiver of the
application of any prepayment or the method of application of any prepayment to
the Revolving Loans or any mandatory reduction to the Total Commitments shall
not constitute an extension of the final maturity date of such Revolving Loans),
or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or Fees thereon, or
reduce the amount thereof, or increase the Commitment of any Lender over the
amount thereof then in effect (it being understood that a waiver of any Default
or Event of Default or of a mandatory reduction in the Total Commitments, or
mandatory prepayment, shall not constitute a change in the terms of any
Commitment of any Lender), (ii) release all or substantially all of the
Collateral or guaranties (except as expressly provided in the Credit Documents),
(iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section, (iv) reduce the
percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, (v) consent to the
assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of any of its rights and obligations
under any Credit Document, or (vi) amend the order of the application of
payments set forth in Section 2.6(d). No provision of Article 3, 10 or 11 may be
amended without the consent of each Issuing Bank or the Agent, respectively.

     11.11 Nonliability of Agent and Lenders. The relationship between Holding,
           ---------------------------------
the Borrower and the Borrower's Subsidiaries, and the Lenders and the Agent
shall be solely that of borrower and lender. Neither the Agent nor any Lender
shall have any fiduciary responsibilities to Holding, the Borrower, or any of
the Borrower's Subsidiaries. Neither the Agent nor any Lender undertakes any
responsibility to Holding, the Borrower, or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries
to review or inform Holding, the Borrower, or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries
of any matter in connection with any phase of the business or operations of
Holding, the Borrower, or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries.

     11.12 Independent Nature of Lenders' Rights. The amounts payable at any
           -------------------------------------
time hereunder to each Lender under such Lender's Revolving Note or Notes shall
be a separate and independent debt.

     11.13 Counterparts. This Credit Agreement may be executed in any number of
           ------------
counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       89

<PAGE>

     11.14 Effectiveness. (a) This Credit Agreement shall become effective on
           -------------
the date (the "Restatement Effective Date") on which (i) all of the parties
hereto shall have signed a copy hereof (whether the same or different copies)
and shall have delivered (including by way of facsimile device) the same to the
Agent pursuant to Section 11.5 or, in the case of the Lenders, shall have given
to the Agent written, telecopied or telex notice (actually received) at such
office that the same has been signed and mailed to it and (ii) the conditions
precedent set forth in Section 5.1 have been met to the satisfaction of the
Agent or have been waived by the Agent.

     (b) On the Restatement Effective Date, each New Lender and each Continuing
Lender shall have delivered to the Agent for the account of the Borrower an
amount equal to (i) in the case of each New Lender, the Revolving Loans to be
made by such New Lender on the Restatement Effective Date and (ii) in the case
of each Continuing Lender, the amount by which the principal amount of Loans to
be made and/or converted by such Continuing Lender on the Restatement Effective
Date exceeds the amount of the Existing Loans of such Continuing Lender
outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Section 11.14(b), in satisfying the foregoing
condition, unless the Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the
occurrence of the Restatement Effective Date that such Lender does not intend to
make available to the Agent such Lender's Revolving Loans required to be made by
it on such date, then the Agent may, in reliance on such assumption, make
available to the Borrower the corresponding amounts in accordance with the
provisions of Section 2.4 of this Credit Agreement, and the making available by
the Agent of such amounts shall satisfy the condition contained in this Section
11.14(b).

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

     11.16 Headings Descriptive. The headings of the several sections and
           --------------------
subsections of this Credit Agreement, and the Table of Contents, are inserted
for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction
of any provision of this Credit Agreement.

     11.17 Maximum Rate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
           ------------
elsewhere in this Credit Agreement or in any other Credit Document, the
Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that all agreements among them
under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, whether now existing
or hereafter arising and whether written or oral, are expressly limited so that
in no contingency or event whatsoever shall the amount paid, or agreed to be
paid, to the Agent or any Lender for the use, forbearance, or detention of the
money loaned to the Borrower and evidenced hereby or thereby or for the
performance or payment of any covenant or obligation contained herein or
therein, exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If due to any circumstance whatsoever,
fulfillment of any provisions of this Credit Agreement or any of the other
Credit Documents at the time performance of such provision shall be due shall
exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, then, automatically, the obligation to be
fulfilled shall be modified or reduced to the extent necessary to limit such
interest to the Highest Lawful Rate, and if from any such circumstance and
Lender should ever receive anything of value

                                       90

<PAGE>

deemed interest by applicable law which would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate,
such excessive interest shall be applied to the reduction of the principal
amount then outstanding hereunder or on account of any other then outstanding
Obligations and not to the payment of interest, or if such excessive interest
exceeds the principal unpaid balance then outstanding hereunder and such other
then outstanding Obligations, such excess shall be refunded to the Borrower. All
sums paid or agreed to be paid to the Agent or any Lender for the use,
forbearance, or detention of the Obligations and other Indebtedness of the
Borrower to the Agent or any Lender shall, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of
such Indebtedness until payment in full so that the actual rate of interest on
account of all such Indebtedness does not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate
throughout the entire term of such Indebtedness. The terms and provisions of
this Section shall control every other provision of this Credit Agreement and
all agreements among the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders.

     11.18 Right of Setoff. In addition to and not in limitation of all rights
           ---------------
of offset that any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have under applicable law,
each Lender and each Issuing Bank shall, upon the occurrence of any Event of
Default and whether or not such Lender or such Issuing Bank has made any demand
or the Obligations of any Credit Party are matured, have the right, upon prior
notice to the Borrower, to appropriate and apply to the payment of the
Obligations of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries all deposits (general or
special, time or demand, provisional or final) then or thereafter held by and
other Indebtedness or property then or thereafter owing by such Lender or such
Issuing Bank, including, without limitation, any and all amounts in any
Depositary Account, the Concentration Account or the Disbursement Account. Each
Lender or each Issuing Bank exercising such rights shall notify the Agent
thereof and any amount received as a result of the exercise of such rights shall
be reallocated among the Lenders and the Issuing Bank as set forth in Section
2.11 provided, however, that failure of the Borrower to receive such notice
     --------  -------
shall not impair any Lender's or Issuing Bank's rights hereunder.

     11.19 Amendment and Restatement; Termination of Existing Credit Agreement.
           -------------------------------------------------------------------
On the Restatement Effective Date, without further action by any party, the
Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated to read in full as set
forth herein. The Borrower and each of the Lenders agrees that the "Commitments"
as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement shall be terminated in their
entirety on and as of the Restatement Effective Date.

     11.20 Additions of New Lenders; Conversion of Original Loans of Continuing
           --------------------------------------------------------------------
Lenders; Termination of Commitments of Non-Continuing Lenders. (a) On and as of
-------------------------------------------------------------
the occurrence of the Restatement Effective Date in accordance with Section
11.14, each New Lender shall become a "Lender" under, and for all purposes of,
this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

     (b) The parties hereto acknowledge that each Existing Lender has been
offered the opportunity to participate in this Credit Agreement, after the
occurrence of the Restatement Effective Date, as a Continuing Lender hereunder,
but that no Existing Lender is obligated to be a Continuing Lender.

     (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Existing
Credit Agreement, this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document, the
Borrower and each of the Lenders hereby agree that on the Restatement Effective
Date, (i) each Lender with a

                                       91

<PAGE>

Commitment as set forth on Schedule I (after giving effect to the Restatement
Effective Date) shall make or maintain (including by way of conversion) that
principal amount of Revolving Loans to the Borrower as is required by Section
2.1, provided that if the Existing Loans of any Continuing Lender outstanding on
the Restatement Effective Date (immediately before giving effect thereto) exceed
the aggregate principal amount of Loans required to be made available by such
Lender on such date (after giving effect to the Restatement Effective Date),
then Existing Loans of such Continuing Lender in an amount equal to such excess
shall be repaid on the Restatement Effective Date to such Lender and (ii) in the
case of each Non-Continuing Lender, all of such Non-Continuing Lender's Existing
Loans outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date shall be repaid in full on
such date, together with interest thereon and all accrued Fees (and any other
amounts) owing to such Non-Continuing Lender, and the Commitment (under, and as
defined in, the Original Credit Agreement) of such Non-Continuing Lender, if
any, shall be terminated, effective upon the occurrence of the Restatement
Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the
Existing Credit Agreement, this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document,
the parties hereto hereby consent to the repayments and reductions required
above, and agree that in the event that any Existing Lender shall fail to
execute a counterpart of this Credit Agreement prior to the occurrence of the
Restatement Effective Date, such Existing Lender shall be deemed to be a
Non-Continuing Lender and, concurrently with the occurrence of the Restatement
Effective Date, the Commitment (under, and as defined, in the Existing Credit
Agreement) of such Existing Lender, if any, shall be terminated, all Existing
Loans of such Existing Lender outstanding on the Restatement Effective Date
shall be repaid in full, together with interest thereon and all accrued Fees
(and any other amounts) owing to such Existing Lender, and concurrently with the
occurrence of the Restatement Effective Date, such Existing Lender shall no
longer constitute a "Lender" under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit
Documents, provided that all indemnities of the Credit Parties under the
Existing Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents (as in effect prior to
the Restatement Effective Date) for the benefit of such Existing Lender shall
survive in accordance with the terms thereof.

     11.21 Revolving Credit Agreement, Intercreditor Agreement. This Credit
           ---------------------------------------------------
Agreement is to be deemed to be a "Revolver Credit Agreement" under the
Intercreditor Agreement, and the Agent and the Lenders shall be bound by the
terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 12.

                                    Guaranty
                                    --------

     12.1 The Guaranty. In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Credit
          ------------
Agreement and to extend credit hereunder and in recognition of the direct
benefits to be received by the Guarantor from the proceeds of the Revolving
Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit, the Guarantor hereby agrees
with the Lenders as follows: the Guarantor hereby unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantees as primary obligor and not merely as surety the full and
prompt payment when due, whether upon maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of
any and all indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder. If any or all
of the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders becomes due and payable
hereunder, the Guarantor unconditionally promises to pay such indebtedness to
the Lenders, or order, on demand, together with any and all reasonable expenses
which may be incurred by the Agent or the Lenders in collecting any of the

                                       92

<PAGE>

indebtedness. The word "indebtedness" is used in this Section 12 in its most
comprehensive sense and means any and all advances, debts, obligations and
liabilities of the Borrower arising in connection with this Credit Agreement, in
each case, heretofore, now, or hereafter made, incurred or created, whether
voluntarily or involuntarily, absolute or contingent, liquidated or
unliquidated, determined or undetermined, whether or not such indebtedness is
from time to time reduced, or extinguished and thereafter increased or incurred,
whether the Borrower may be liable individually or jointly with others, whether
or not recovery upon such indebtedness may be or hereafter become barred by any
statute of limitations, and whether or not such indebtedness may be or hereafter
become otherwise unenforceable.

     12.2 Bankruptcy. Additionally, the Guarantor unconditionally and
          ----------
irrevocably guarantees the payment of any and all indebtedness of the Borrower
to the Lenders whether or not due or payable by the Borrower upon the occurrence
in respect of the Borrower of any of the events specified in Section 9.1(e), and
unconditionally and irrevocably promises to pay such indebtedness to the
Lenders, or order, on demand, in lawful money of the United States.

     12.3 Nature of Liability. The liability of the Guarantor hereunder is
          -------------------
exclusive and independent of any security for or other guaranty of the
indebtedness of the Borrower whether executed by the Guarantor, any other
guarantor or by any other party, and the liability of the Guarantor hereunder
shall not be affected or impaired by (a) any direction as to application of
payment by the Borrower or by any other party, or (b) any other continuing or
other guaranty, undertaking or maximum liability of a guarantor or of any other
party as to the indebtedness of the Borrower, or (c) any payment on or in
reduction of any such other guaranty or undertaking, or (d) any dissolution,
termination or increase, decrease or change in personnel by the Borrower, or (e)
any payment made to the Agent or the Lenders on the indebtedness which the Agent
or such Lender repay the Borrower pursuant to court order in any bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other debtor relief proceeding, and
the Guarantor waives any right to the deferral or modification of its
obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding.

     12.4 Independent Obligation. The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder are
          ----------------------
independent of the obligations of any other guarantor or the Borrower, and a
separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Guarantor
whether or not action is brought against any other guarantor or the Borrower and
whether or not any other guarantor or the Borrower be joined in any such action
or actions. The Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the
enforcement thereof. Any payment by the Borrower or other circumstance which
operates to toll any statute of limitations as to the Borrower shall, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, operate to toll the statute of limitations as
to the Guarantor.

     12.5 Authorization. The Guarantor authorizes the Agent and the Lenders
          -------------
without notice or demand (except as shall be required by applicable statute and
cannot be waived), and without affecting or impairing its liability hereunder,
from time to time to:

          (a) subject to the agreement of the Borrower, change the manner, place
     or terms of payment of, and/or change or extend the time of payment of,
     renew, increase, accelerate or alter, any of the indebtedness (including
     any increase or decrease in the rate of interest thereon), any security
     therefor, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in

                                       93

<PAGE>

     respect thereof, and the Guaranty herein made shall apply to the
     indebtedness as so changed, extended, renewed or altered;

          (b) take and hold security for the payment of the indebtedness and
     sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon or otherwise deal with in
     any manner and in any order any property by whomsoever at any time pledged
     or mortgaged to secure, or howsoever securing, the indebtedness or any
     liabilities (including any of those hereunder) incurred directly or
     indirectly in respect thereof or hereof, and/or any offset there against;

          (c) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the
     Borrower or others or otherwise act or refrain from acting;

          (d) release or substitute any one or more endorsers, guarantors, the
     Borrower or other obligors;

          (e) settle or compromise any of the indebtedness, any security
     therefor or any liability (including any of those hereunder) incurred
     directly or indirectly in respect thereof or hereof, and may subordinate
     the payment of all or any part thereof to the payment of any liability
     (whether due or not) of the Borrower to its creditors other than the
     Lenders;

          (f) apply any sums by whomsoever paid or howsoever realized to any
     liability or liabilities of the Borrower to the Lenders regardless of what
     liability or liabilities of the Guarantor or the Borrower remain unpaid;
     and/or

          (g) consent to or waive any breach of, or any act, omission or default
     under, this Credit Agreement or any of the instruments or agreements
     referred to herein, or otherwise, with the agreement of the Borrower,
     amend, modify or supplement this Credit Agreement or any of such other
     instruments or agreements.

          12.6 Reliance. It is not necessary for the Agent or the Lenders to
               --------
inquire into the capacity or powers of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the
officers, directors, partners or agents acting or purporting to act on its
behalf, and any indebtedness made or created in reliance upon the professed
exercise of such powers shall be guaranteed hereunder.

          12.7 Subordination. Any indebtedness of the Borrower now or hereafter
               -------------
owing to the Guarantor is hereby subordinated to the indebtedness of the
Borrower owing to the Agent and the Lenders; provided that payment may be made
                                             --------
by the Borrower on any such indebtedness owing to the Guarantor so long as the
same is not prohibited by this Credit Agreement; and provided further, that if
                                                     -------- -------
the Agent so requests at a time when an Event of Default exists, all such
indebtedness of the Borrower to the Guarantor shall be collected, enforced and
received by the Guarantor as trustee for the Lenders and be paid over to the
Lenders on account of the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders, but
without affecting or impairing in any manner the liability of the Guarantor
under the other provisions of this Guaranty. Prior to the transfer by the
Guarantor of any note or negotiable instrument evidencing any indebtedness of
the Borrower to the Guarantor, the Guarantor shall mark such note or negotiable
instrument with a legend that the same is subject to this subordination.

                                       94

<PAGE>

     12.8 Waiver. (a) The Guarantor waives any right (except as shall be
          ------
required by applicable statute and cannot be waived) to require the Agent or the
Lenders to (i) proceed against the Borrower, any other guarantor or any other
party, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from the Borrower, any
other guarantor or any other party or (iii) pursue any other remedy in the
Agent's or the Lenders' power whatsoever. The Guarantor waives any defense based
on or arising out of any defense of the Borrower, any other guarantor or any
other party other than payment in full of the indebtedness, including, without
limitation, any defense based on or arising out of the disability of the
Borrower, any other guarantor or any other party, or the unenforceability of the
indebtedness or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause
of the liability of the Borrower other than payment in full of the indebtedness.
The Agent and the Lenders may, at their election, foreclose on any security held
by the Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders by one or more judicial or
nonjudicial sales, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially
reasonable (to the extent such sale is permitted by applicable law), or exercise
any other right or remedy the Agent and the Lenders may have against the
Borrower or any other party, or any security, without affecting or impairing in
any way the liability of the Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the
indebtedness has been paid. The Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any defense arising out of any such election by the Agent and
the Lenders, even though such election operates to impair or extinguish any
right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of the Guarantor
against any Borrower or any other party or any security.

     (b) The Guarantor waives all presentments, demands for performance,
protests and notices, including without limitation notices of nonperformance,
notices of protest, notices of dishonor, notices of acceptance of this Guaranty,
and notices of the existence, creation or incurring of new or additional
indebtedness. The Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping
itself informed of the Borrower's financial condition and assets, and of all
other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the indebtedness and
the nature, scope and extent of the risks which the Guarantor assumes and incurs
hereunder, and agrees that the Agent and the Lenders shall have no duty to
advise the Guarantor of information known to them regarding such circumstances
or risks.

     (c) The Guarantor, until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full, hereby waives all rights of subrogation which it may at any time otherwise
have as a result of this Guaranty (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the
Bankruptcy Code, or otherwise) to the claims of the Lenders against the Borrower
or any other guarantor of the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders
(collectively, the "Other Parties") and all contractual, statutory or common law
rights of reimbursement, contribution or indemnity from any Other Party which it
may at any time otherwise have as a result of this Guaranty. The Guarantor
hereby further waives any right to enforce any other remedy which the Lenders
now have or may hereafter have against any Other Party, any endorser or any
other guarantor of all or any part of such indebtedness of the Borrower to the
Lenders and any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or
collateral given to or for the benefit of the Lenders to secure payment of such
indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders.

     12.9 Limitation on Enforcement. The Lenders agree that this Guaranty may be
          -------------------------
enforced only by the action of the Agent, in each case acting upon the
instructions of the Required Lenders and that no Lender shall have any right
individually to seek to enforce or to

                                       95

<PAGE>

enforce this Guaranty it being understood and agreed that such rights and
remedies may be exercised by the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders upon the
terms of this Credit Agreement. The Lenders further agree that this Guaranty may
not be enforced against any Affiliate, director, officer, employee or
stockholder of the Guarantor.

                                      * * *

                                       96

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of
this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above
written.

                                           EARLE M. JORGENSEN HOLDING
                                              COMPANY, INC.

                                           By
                                              -------------------------------
                                              Name: William S. Johnson
                                              Title: Vice President and CFO

<PAGE>

                                           EARLE M. JORGENSEN COMPANY

                                           By
                                              -------------------------------
                                              Name: William S. Johnson
                                              Title: Vice President and CFO

<PAGE>

                                           AGENT:
                                           -----

                                           BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                                              as Agent

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

<PAGE>

                                           LENDERS:
                                           -------

                                           BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                                              as Lender

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

<PAGE>

                                           THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.,
                                              as Lender

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

<PAGE>

                                           CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION,
                                              as Lender

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

                                       102

<PAGE>

                                           FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                                              as Lender

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

<PAGE>

                                           FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                                              as Lender

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

<PAGE>

                                           FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                                              as Lender

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

<PAGE>

                                           GMAC COMMERCIAL CREDIT, LLC,
                                              as Lender

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

<PAGE>

                                           LA SALLE NATIONAL BANK,
                                              as Lender

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

<PAGE>

                                           MANUFACTURERS BANK
                                              as Lender

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

<PAGE>

                                           THE PROVIDENT BANK,
                                              as Lender

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

<PAGE>

                                                                      SCHEDULE I
                                                                      ----------

                                 LIST OF LENDERS
                                 ---------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Lenders                     Commitment         Domestic Lending Office        Eurodollar Lending Office
-------                     ----------         -----------------------        -------------------------
<S>                         <C>                 <C>                           <C>
Bankers Trust
Company

The CIT Group/
Business Credit, Inc.

Congress Financial
Corporation

Fleet Capital
Corporation

Foothill capital
Corporation

GMAC Commercial
Credit, LLC

La Salle National
Bank

[Manufacturers Bank]

The Provident Bank
</TABLE>

                                  Schedule I-1<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 10.5

                             COMBIMATRIX CORPORATION
                             1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN

SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.

         The CombiMatrix Corporation 1995 Stock Option Plan is intended to
promote the interests of CombiMatrix Corporation, a California corporation, by
providing incentives to certain Employees who are responsible for the
management, growth, or financial success of the Corporation or its Subsidiary
Corporations. The plan will encourage such Employees to acquire a proprietary
interest, or to increase their proprietary interest, in the Corporation and will
thereby induce such Employees to continue to perform services for, and to
enhance the welfare of, the Corporation or its Subsidiary Corporations.

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.

         (a) "Award Date" shall mean the date on which an Optionee is granted an
Option.

         (b) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation, as
constituted from time to time.

         (c) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         (d) "Committee" shall mean a duly appointed committee of the Board as
described in Section 3(a).

         (e) "Corporation" shall mean CombiMatrix Corporation, a California
corporation.

         (f) "Employee" shall mean (i) any individual who is an employee of the
Corporation or of a Subsidiary Corporation, (ii) a member of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation or of a Subsidiary Corporation, and (iii) an
independent contractor who performs services as an advisor or consultant for the
Corporation or for a Subsidiary Corporation. Service as an Employee shall be
considered employment for all purposes of the Plan except the second sentence of
Section 4(a).

         (g) "Exercise Price" shall mean the amount for which one Share may be
purchased upon exercise of an Option, as specified by the Committee in the
applicable Stock Option Agreement.

         (h) "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair market value of a Share, as
determined by the Committee in good faith. Any determination as to fair market
value made pursuant to this Plan shall be determined without regard to any
restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and
shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

         (i) "ISO" shall mean an incentive stock option described in Section
422(b) of the Code.

<PAGE>

         (j) "Nonstatutory Option" shall mean a stock option not described in
Section 422(b) of the Code.

         (k) "Option" shall mean an ISO or Nonstatutory Option granted under the
Plan and entitling the holder to purchase Shares.

         (l) "Optionee" shall mean an individual who holds an Option.

         (m) "Parent Corporation" means any corporation (other than the
Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation
if, at the Award Date, each of the corporations other than the Corporation owns
stock possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

         (n) "Plan" shall mean this CombiMatrix Corporation, 1995 Stock Option
Plan.

         (o) "Share" shall mean one share of Stock, as adjusted in accordance
with Section 9 (if applicable).

         (p) "Stock" shall mean the common stock, no par value, of the
Corporation.

         (q) "Stock Option Agreement" shall mean the agreement between the
Corporation and an Optionee, which contains the terms, conditions and
restrictions pertaining to such Optionee's Option.

         (r) "Subsidiary Corporation" shall mean any corporation, if the
Corporation and/or any of its Subsidiary Corporations own stock possessing not
less than 50 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
of such corporation. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary
Corporation on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a
Subsidiary Corporation as of such date.

SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION.

         (a) COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP. The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee. If no Committee has been appointed, the entire Board shall constitute
the Committee. No member of the Committee or of the Board, when acting in the
capacity of director or Committee member, may exercise discretionary functions
as to any matter relating solely to such director or Committee member's own
interests under the Plan. Subject to the foregoing limitation, any member of the
Committee may be removed by the Board at any time either with or without cause,
and any vacancy on the Committee may be filled by the Board at any time.

         (b) COMMITTEE PROCEDURES. The Board shall designate one of the members
of the Committee as chairperson. The Committee may hold meetings at such times
and places as it shall determine. A majority of the members of the Committee
shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of a majority of the Committee members
present at meetings at which a quorum exists, or acts reduced to or approved in
writing by all Committee members, shall be valid acts of the Committee. In
making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under the Plan,
the Committee may obtain and may rely upon the advice of experts, including
professional advisors or consultants to the Corporation. The Committee may
delegate ministerial, non-discretionary functions to any Employee.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

         (c) COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES. Subject to the provisions of the Plan,
the Committee shall have full authority and discretion to take the following
actions:

                  (i) To interpret and apply the provisions of the Plan or of
any Option granted thereunder;

                  (ii) To adopt, amend or rescind rules, procedures and forms
relating to the Plan or to any Option granted thereunder;

                  (iii) To authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the
Corporation, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan or of
any Option granted thereunder;

                  (iv) To determine when Options are to be granted under the
Plan;

                  (v) To select the Optionees;

                  (vi) To determine the number of Shares to be made subject to
each Option;

                  (vii) To prescribe the terms and conditions of each Option,
including (without limitation) the Exercise Price, the date or dates on which an
Option becomes exercisable, the installments (if any) in which such Option shall
become exercisable, the events of termination or reversion of such Option and
whether such Option is to be classified as an ISO or a Nonstatutory Option;

                  (viii) To determine whether an outstanding Stock Option
Agreement should be modified, extended or assumed, subject to applicable legal
restrictions;

                  (ix) To prescribe the considerations for the grant of each
Option or other right under the Plan and to determine the sufficiency of such
consideration; and

                  (x) To take any other actions deemed necessary or advisable
for the administration of the Plan.

                  All decisions, interpretations and other actions of the
Committee performed pursuant to the Plan shall be final and binding on Optionees
and all persons deriving their rights from an Optionee. No member of the
Committee shall be liable for any action that such member has taken or has
failed to take in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Option.

SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY.

         (a) GENERAL RULE. Only Employees shall be eligible for designation as
Optionees by the Committee. In addition, only individuals who are employed as
employees by the Corporation or by a Subsidiary Corporation shall be eligible
for the grant of ISOs. Mere status as an Employee shall not entitle any person
to receive Options.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

         (b) TEN-PERCENT STOCKHOLDERS. An employee of the Corporation or of any
Subsidiary Corporation who, on the Award Date, owns stock possessing more than
10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Corporation, any Subsidiary Corporation, or any Parent Corporation shall not be
eligible for an ISO unless (i), as of the Award Date, the Exercise Price is at
least 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share and (ii) such ISO by its
terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Award Date.

         (c) ATTRIBUTION RULES. For purposes of SubSection (b) above, in
determining stock ownership, an employee shall be deemed to own the stock owned,
directly or indirectly, by or for that employee's brothers, sisters, spouse,
ancestors and lineal descendants. Any stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or
for a corporation, partnership, estate or trust shall be deemed to be owned
proportionately by or for its stockholders, partners or beneficiaries. Any stock
with respect to which such employee holds an option shall not be counted.

SECTION 5. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.

         (a) BASIC LIMITATION. All Shares issued under the Plan shall be
authorized but unissued Shares or treasury Shares. The aggregate number of
Shares issued under the Plan upon exercise of Options shall not exceed ______
Shares, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9. The number of Shares that
are subject to Options outstanding at any time under the Plan shall not exceed
the number of Shares that then remain available for issuance under the Plan
unless (i) an amendment to increase the maximum number of Shares issuable under
the Plan is adopted by the Board prior to the initial grant of any such Option
and is thereafter submitted to the Corporation's stockholders for approval and
(ii) each Option so granted is not to become exercisable, in whole or in part,
at any time prior to obtaining such stockholder approval.

         (b) ADDITIONAL SHARES. In the event that any outstanding Option for any
reason expires or is canceled or otherwise terminated, the Shares allocable to
the unexercised portion of such Option shall again be available for subsequent
grants of Options.

SECTION 6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

         (a) STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT. Each Nonstatutory Option and each ISO shall
be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement in a form acceptable to the Corporation
and signed by the Corporation and the Optionee. Such Option shall be subject to
all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and shall be subject to any
other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which
the Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option Agreement. The
provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements need not be identical.

         (b) NUMBER OF SHARES. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the
number of Shares that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the
adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 9. The Stock Option
Agreement shall also specify whether the Option is an ISO or a Nonstatutory
Option. A Stock Option Agreement for an ISO will also provide that to the extent
the Aggregate Fair Market Value (at the time the ISO was granted) of Stock with
respect to which the ISO is exercisable on the first time by an Employee during
any calendar year exceeds $100,000, the ISOs will be treated as Nonstatutory
Options.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

         (c) EXERCISE PRICE. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the
Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an ISO shall not be less than 100 percent
of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Award Date, and a higher percentage
may be required by Section 4(b). The exercise of Nonstatutory Option shall not
be less than 90% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Award Date. Subject
to the preceding three sentences, the Exercise Price under any Option shall be
determined by the Committee at its sole discretion. The Exercise Price shall be
payable in a form described in Section 8.

         (d) WITHHOLDING TAXES. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the
Optionee shall make such arrangements as the Committee may require for the
satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations
that may arise in connection with such exercise. The Optionee shall also make
such arrangements as the Committee may require for the satisfaction of any
federal, state, local, or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in
connection with the disposition of Shares acquired by exercising an Option.

         (e) TERM. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the term of the
Option. The term shall not exceed 10 years from the Award Date, except as
otherwise provided in Section 4(b).

         (f) EXERCISABILITY. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date
when all or any installment of the Option is to become exercisable and vest. No
Option shall become exercisable prior to six months after the Award Date.

         (g) NONTRANSFERABILITY. No Option shall be transferable by the Optionee
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. An Option may be
exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee or by the
Optionee's guardian or legal representative. No Option or interest therein may
be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated by the Optionee during the
Optionee's lifetime, whether by operation of law or otherwise, or be made
subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

         (h) EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. The Committee shall establish
in respect of each Option granted to an Employee the effect of a termination of
employment on the rights and benefits thereunder and in so doing may make
distinctions based upon the cause of termination. The effect of such termination
of employment shall be set forth in the applicable Stock Option Agreement.

         (i) NO RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. An Optionee, or a transferee of an
Optionee, shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares
covered by an Option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate for
such Shares.

         (j) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES. To the extent that an
applicable Stock Option Agreement so provides, any Shares issued upon exercise
of an Option shall be subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of
repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the
Committee may determine. Such restrictions shall apply in addition to any
restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

SECTION 7. MODIFICATION, EXTENSION AND ASSUMPTION OF OPTIONS.

         Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee from time to time may
authorize, either generally or in specific cases only, modification, extension
or assumption of an outstanding Option. Such modification, extension or
assumption may be effected by any legally valid means, including by cancellation
of an outstanding Option and the subsequent regranting of an Option, by
amendment, by substitution of an outstanding Option, or by waiver and may result
in, among other changes, a higher or lower Exercise Price, a greater or lesser
number of Shares that are subject to the Option, different vesting dates, or a
longer or shorter term; provided, however, that no modification, extension or
assumption of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, impair the
Optionee's rights or increase the Optionee's obligations under the Option.

SECTION 8. PAYMENT FOR SHARES.

         (a) GENERAL RULE. The entire Exercise Price of Shares issued under the
Plan shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America or by a
certified or bank cashier's check, except as provided in Subsections (b), (c),
(d), and (e) below.

         (b) SURRENDER OF STOCK. To the extent an applicable Stock Option
Agreement so provides, payment may be made in whole or in part with Shares which
have already been owned by the Optionee or a representative of the Optionee for
more than six months and which are surrendered to the Corporation in good form
for transfer. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the
date when the new Shares are purchased under the Plan.

         (c) EXERCISE/SALE. To the extent that an applicable Stock Option
Agreement so provides, payment may be made in whole or in part by the delivery
(on a form prescribed by the Corporation) of an irrevocable direction to a
securities broker approved by the Corporation to sell Shares and to deliver all
or part of the sales proceeds to the Corporation in payment of all or part of
the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes.

         (d) EXERCISE/PLEDGE. To the extent an applicable Stock Option Agreement
so provides, payment may be made in whole or in part by a promissory note
executed by the Optionee in favor of the Corporation, upon terms and conditions
determined by the Committee, and secured by the Stock issuable upon exercise of
such Option in compliance with applicable law (including, without limitation,
state corporate law and federal margin requirements).

         (e) OTHER METHODS OF PAYMENT. To the extent an applicable Stock Option
Agreement so provides, payment may be made in whole or in part by any other
means deemed acceptable by the Committee.

SECTION 9. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

         (a) GENERAL. In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock, a
declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, a declaration of an extraordinary
dividend payable in a form other than Shares in an amount that has a material
effect on the value of Shares, an issuance of Stock or other securities in an
amount that has a material effect on the value of Shares, a combination or
consolidation of the outstanding Stock into a lesser number of Shares, a

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

recapitalization, a spinoff, a reclassification or a similar occurrence, the
Committee shall make appropriate adjustments in one or more of (i) the number of
Shares available for future grants under Section 5, (ii) the number of Shares
covered by each outstanding Option, (iii) the Exercise Price under each
outstanding Option or (iv) any other provision in the outstanding Stock Option
Agreements that the Committee deems necessary or advisable to adjust.

         (b) REORGANIZATIONS. In the event that the Corporation is a party to a
merger or other reorganization, or in contemplation of such a merger or other
reorganization, and to the extent that applicable Stock Option Agreements so
provide, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, take one or a combination of
the following actions:

                  (i) provide that Options may be terminated upon payment to
Optionees of the difference between the Exercise Price and the consideration to
be received by stockholders of the Corporation for "in-the-money" options and
that all other Options may be terminated without payment therefor of any kind,

                  (ii) provide for the assumption, by the surviving corporation
or its parent, of some or all of the outstanding Options;

                  (iii) if the Corporation is a surviving corporation, direct
the Corporation to continue some or all of the outstanding Options;

                  (iv) authorize the immediate and full vesting of some or all
of the outstanding Options, followed by cancellation if not exercised; or
(v)take any other action with respect to some or all of the Options that the
Committee deems necessary or advisable.

         (c) RESERVATION OF RIGHTS. Except as provided in this Section 9, an
Optionee shall have no rights by reason of (i) any subdivision or consolidation
of shares of stock of any class, (ii) the payment of any dividend or (iii) any
other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class. The
grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or
power of the Corporation to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations
or changes of its capital or business structure, to merge or consolidate or to
dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

SECTION 10. SECURITIES LAWS.

         Shares shall not be issued under the Plan unless the issuance and
delivery of such Shares comply with (or are exempt from) all applicable
requirements of law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities
laws and regulations, and the regulations of any stock exchange on which the
Corporation's securities may then be listed. Optionees may be required by the
Committee, as a condition to exercising any Option, to represent to the
Corporation in writing that the Shares are being acquired by them for investment
only and not with a view to the resale or distribution thereof.

SECTION 11. NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.

         No provision of the Plan, nor any right or Option granted under the
Plan, shall be construed to give any person any right to become, to be treated
as, or to remain an Employee, or be interpreted so as to interfere with the
Corporation's or any Subsidiary Corporation's right to determine the Optionee's
other compensation, including salary.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

SECTION 12. DURATION AND AMENDMENTS.

         (a) TERM OF THE PLAN. The Plan, as set forth herein, shall become
effective on the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to the approval of
the Corporation's stockholders. In the event that the stockholders fail to
approve the Plan on or before the date 12 months after its adoption by the
Board, (i) the Plan shall terminate, (ii) any Options already granted shall be
canceled and (iii) any Shares already issued under the Plan shall be repurchased
by the Corporation at the original Exercise Price. The Plan shall terminate
automatically 10 years after its adoption by the Board and may be terminated on
any earlier date pursuant to SubSection (b) below.

         (b) RIGHT TO AMEND OR TERMINATE THE PLAN. The Board may amend, suspend
or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason; provided, however, that
any amendment of the Plan which increases the number of Shares available for
issuance under the Plan (except as provided in Section 9), or which materially
changes the class of persons who are eligible for the grant of ISOs, shall be
subject to the approval of the Corporation's stockholders. Unless required by
applicable law, stockholder approval shall not be required for any other
amendment of the Plan.

         (c) EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. No Shares shall be issued or
sold under the Plan after the termination thereof, except upon exercise of an
Option granted prior to such termination. The termination of the Plan, or any
amendment thereof, shall not affect any Share previously issued or any Option
previously granted under the Plan (except as provided in SubSection (a) above).

SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW.

         The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Plan shall be
governed by the laws of the State of California.

SECTION 14. EXECUTION.

         To record the adoption of the Plan by the Board, the Corporation has
caused its authorized officer to execute the same.

                                         COMBIMATRIX CORPORATION

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

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

                 FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE COMBIMATRIX CORPORATION
                             1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, CombiMatrix Corporation (the "Company") presently maintains
the CombiMatrix Corporation 1995 Stock Option Plan which became effective on
____________, 1996 (the "Plan"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company, pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan, has the right
to amend the Plan from time to time subject to certain limitations; and

         WHEREAS, effective September 14, 2000 ("Effective Date"), the Company
changed from being a California corporation to become a Delaware corporation;
and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Plan so that the Options (as
defined in the Plan) granted after the Effective Date are subject to the laws of
the state of Delaware.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in order to make certain revisions desired by the
Company, the Plan is hereby amended in the following manner:

         1. Effective as of the Effective Date, the first sentence of Section 1
of the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  The CombiMatrix Corporation 1995 Stock Option Plan is intended
                  to promote the interest of CombiMatrix Corporation, a Delaware
                  corporation, by providing incentives to certain Employees who
                  are responsible for the management, growth, or financial
                  success of the Corporation or its Subsidiary Corporations.

         2. Effective as of the Effective Date, Section 2.(e) of the Plan is
hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  (e) "Corporation" shall mean CombiMatrix Corporation, a
                  Delaware corporation.

         3. Effective as of the Effective Date, Section 13 of the Plan is hereby
amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section 13. GOVERNING LAW

                  The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Plan
                  shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CombiMatrix Corporation has caused this First
Amendment to the CombiMatrix 1995 Stock Option Plan to be executed on this day
of __________, 2000.

                                         COMBIMATRIX CORPORATION

                                         By:
                                             -----------------------------------

                                      -2-

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