Document:

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                                  EXHIBIT 10.17

                               DEBENTURE AGREEMENT

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THIS CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE HAS BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT TO A NON-PUBLIC OFFERING IN
CONFORMITY WITH AN APPLICABLE AND IN RELIANCE ON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH SECURITIES
HAVE NOT BEEN QUALIFIED WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA OR ANY OTHER STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR REGISTERED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD,
TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY
SHALL HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE INTENDED DISPOSITION IS PERMISSIBLE AND DOES NOT
VIOLATE THE SECURITIES ACT OR THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION THEREUNDER, OR THE PROVISIONS OF ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY RULES OR REGULATIONS THEREUNDER.

                           10 % CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE

1.       PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST

         The undersigned, Remedent USA, Inc., a Nevada corporation having a
principal place of business at 1220 Birch Way, Escondido, CA 92027 ("Maker"),
promises to pay Dr. Timothy J. Pieper (hereinafter referred to as "Holder"), or
to its successors or assigns, on or before February 8, 2002, at a place or
location designated by Holder, the principal sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000), bearing simple interest on the unpaid principal at the rate of ten
percent (10%) per annum (computed on the basis of a 365-day year), principal due
and payable on demand and interest payments to be paid quarterly.

2.       DEFAULT

         Should Maker default on any provision of this Convertible Debenture the
whole sum of the principal and accrued interest shall become immediately due at
the option of Holder. Default shall include, but not be limited to, the failure
of Maker to perform any duties hereunder, the filing as to Maker, of a voluntary
or involuntary petition under the provisions of the Federal Bankruptcy Act, and
the issuance's of any attachment or execution against any asset of Maker.

3.       PREPAYMENT AND CONVERSION

         Principal and interest on this Convertible Debenture may be prepaid at
any time, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty in lawful money of the
United States. Upon receipt of any prepayment of interest or principal, Holder
hereof shall make a notation on this Convertible Debenture of the payment
received.

                                       (1)
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         Should Holder at any time desire to convert this Convertible Debenture
into common stock of the Maker, the conversion is at the following value: 30% of
the average trading price (average of bid and ask) for the 30 day period
immediately prior to the maturity date of this Convertible Debenture, for each
dollar of principal and interest outstanding as of the maturity date of this
Convertible Debenture. The conversion of this Convertible Debenture may be in
whole or in any part of the remaining balance on the conversion date at the sole
option of Holder.

4.       WAIVER OF PRESENTMENT PROTEST AND NOTICE OF DISHONOR

         Maker hereby waives presentment, protest, notice of dishonor, and all
other notices normally required by law, except for notices expressly provided
for in this Convertible Debenture.

5.       TIME OF THE ESSENCE

         Time is of the essence. Maker and Holder agree that time is of the
essence for the performance of each and every covenant and the satisfaction of
each and every condition contained in this Convertible Debenture.

6.       EXTENSION OR RENEWAL

         Holder may, from time to time, at his sole discretion extend or renew
this Convertible Debenture for any period regardless of whether the period is
longer or shorter than the original period of this Convertible Debenture,
However, any such extension or renewal of this Convertible Debenture shall not
operate as a change or alteration of any other part of this Convertible
Debenture or of the obligation, in whole or in part, of Maker therein.

7.       RELEASE OF PROMISSORY CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE

         Holder may grant releases or compromises of this Convertible Debenture
to any party who is liable to make payment on this Convertible Debenture,
without notice or consent of Maker, and without affecting the liability of Maker
under this Convertible Debenture.

8.       CHOICE OF LAW

         This Convertible Debenture has been entered into in the State of
California, and the parties hereto expressly agree that this Convertible
Debenture shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.

                                       (2)
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9.       SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS

         All covenants and agreements herein shall be deemed material and shall
bind Maker and its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not, and all
such covenants and agreements shall inure to the benefit of Holder and his
nominees, successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

10.      WAIVER

         No course or dealing between Holder and Maker and no delay on the part
of Holder in exercising any rights under this Convertible Debenture shall
operate as a waiver of the rights of Holder. No covenant or other provision of
neither this Convertible Debenture, nor any default in connection therewith, may
be waived unless such covenant or other provision or default is waived pursuant
to a written instrument signed by the parties hereto.

11.      COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES

         In the event legal action is commenced to enforce or interpret any part
of this Convertible Debenture the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover
as an element of his and/or her costs of suit, and not as damages, reasonable
attorney's fees to be fixed by the court. The "prevailing party" shall be the
party who is entitled to recover his and/or her costs of suit, whether or not
the suit proceeds to final judgment. No sum for attorney's fees shall be counted
in calculating the amount of a judgment nor shall the amount of the judgment be
used in determining the reasonableness of the costs or attorney's fees.

         WHEREFORE, this Promissory Convertible Debenture is executed as of
February 8, 2001.

"HOLDER"

By:
   --------------------------------------------------
         Dr. Timothy J. Pieper

"MAKER"

REMEDENT USA, INC.

By:
   -------------------------------------------------
         Rebecca Inzunza
         Its:   President / CEO

                                       (3)<PAGE>

                                 FIRST AMENDMENT

         FIRST AMENDMENT (this "Amendment"), dated as of April 1, 2001, among
Earle M. Jorgensen Holding Company, Inc, a Delaware corporation ("Holding"),
Earle M. Jorgensen Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the
financial institutions party thereto from time to time (the "Lenders", and
each, a "Lender"), and BT Commercial Corporation, as Agent (the "Agent").
Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have
the respective meanings provided such terms in the Credit Agreement referred
to below.

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, Holding, the Borrower, the Lenders and Agent, are parties to
the amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 24, 1998 (as
amended, modified or supplemented to the date hereof, the "Credit Agreement").

         WHEREAS, subject to and on the terms and conditions set forth herein,
the parties hereto wish to amend the Credit Agreement as provided below.

         NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed:

         I.    AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

               A.    Section 8.4 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the $14,000,000 set forth opposite the heading "Fiscal year
beginning April 1, 2001 and ending March 31, 2002" and inserting
"$28,000,000" in lieu thereof.

         II.   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

               A.    In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this
Amendment, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants that:

                     1.    no Default or Event of Default exists as of the
         Amendment Effective Date, after giving effect to this Amendment, and

                     2.    all of the representations and warranties
         contained in the Credit Agreement as amended hereby and the other
         Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects as of
         the Amendment Effective Date, after giving effect to this Amendment,
         with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had
         been made on and as of the Amendment Effective Date (it being
         understood that any representation or warranty made as of a specific
         date shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such
         specific date).

               B.    For purposes of the Credit Documents to which the
         Guarantor is a party,

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by its respective signature below, the Guarantor hereby consents and agrees
to the entering into of this Amendment and acknowledges and affirms that each
of the Guaranty and Collateral Documents (as amended, modified or
supplemented prior to the date hereof) remains in full force and effect in
accordance with its terms on the date hereof and after giving effect to this
Amendment. Each Credit Party hereby acknowledges and affirms that each of the
Collateral Documents (as amended, modified or supplemented prior to the date
hereof) remains in full force and effect in accordance with its terms on the
date hereof.

               C.    This Amendment is limited as specified and shall not
constitute a modification, amendment or waiver of any other provision of the
Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document.

               D.    This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts,
each of which counterparts when executed and delivered shall be an original,
but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A
complete set of counterparts shall be lodged with the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent.

               E.    THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

               F.    This Amendment shall become effective on the date (the
"Amendment Effective Date") when the Borrower, the Guarantor, the Agent and
the Required Lenders shall have signed a counterpart hereof (whether the same
or different counterparts) and shall have delivered (including by way of
facsimile transmission) the same to the Agent at its Notice Office.

               G.    From and after the Amendment Effective Date, all
references in the Credit Agreement and each of the other Credit Documents to
the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement
as modified hereby.

                                    * * *

                                     -2-

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