SMARTALK TELESERVICES INC
8-K, 1998-12-09
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, NEC
Previous: MILLENNIUM CHEMICALS INC, 4, 1998-12-09
Next: AMERICAN SKIING CO, 10-Q, 1998-12-09




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

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 7, 1998

                           SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          California              0-21579               95-4502740
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
       of incorporation)       File Number)             43016-3566
5080 Tuttle Crossing Boulevard                          (Zip Code)
         Dublin, Ohio
(Address of Principal Executive
               Offices)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (614) 789-8500

                                    No change

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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


<PAGE>


Item 5 -- Other Events.


     On Monday,  December 7, 1998, SmarTalk  TeleServices,  Inc. (the "Company")
announced  that it reached an  agreement  with  Fletcher  International  Limited
("Fletcher") for a $25 million secured term loan facility,  maturing January 31,
1999.  The Company  expects to access up to $10 million of the facility over the
next month,  subject to the  satisfaction of customary  conditions to draw down.
The Company can access up to an  additional  $15 million from the facility  over
various periods,  subject to the discretion of the lender.  The Company plans to
use the financing for general corporate purposes.

     An affiliate  of Fletcher  currently is a  shareholder  of the Company.  In
connection with the financing transaction,  the Company has granted Fletcher the
right  to  acquire,  upon  satisfaction  of  applicable  notice  periods,  up to
approximately an additional 15% of the common stock of the Company.

     Certain  statements  made  herein  that are not  historical  in nature  are
forward-looking   statements  within  the  meaning  of  the  Private  Securities
Litigation  Reform Act of 1995  including  the  Company's  plans and  ability to
access various amounts of the credit facility.  Investors are cautioned that all
forward-looking  statements  involve  risks and  uncertainties  that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking
statements.  These risks include the risk that actual amounts accessed under the
facility depend upon the Company's  satisfaction of various conditions  detailed
in  the   provisions   of  the  credit   agreement   including,   under  certain
circumstances,  the lender's  discretion.  Investors  who seek more  information
about the  Company's  business and relevant  risk factors may wish to review the
Company's SEC reports, including,  without limitation, its Annual Report on Form
10-K for 1997 and its Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q, as each of such documents
may be amended.

     The foregoing is a summary of the transactions described. Reference is made
to the exhibits filed  herewith for a complete text of the documents  summarized
above which exhibits are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Item 7 -- Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

               (c)  The  Exhibits  furnished  in  accordance  with  Item  601 of
                    Regulation S-K are:

               10.1 Credit Agreement,  dated as of December 4, 1998, between the
                    Company and Fletcher, as lender.

               10.2 Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of December 4, 1998,
                    among the Company,  its  subsidiaries  listed  therein,  and
                    Fletcher.

               10.3 Promissory  Note,  dated as of December 4, 1998, made by the
                    Company in favor of Fletcher.

               10.4 Investment Rights  Agreement,  dated as of December 4, 1998,
                    between the Company and Fletcher.

               99.1 Press Release of the Company, dated December 7, 1998.


<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:  December 8, 1998

                                              SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.
                                              (Registrant)


                                              /s/ Thaddeus Bereday
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Thaddeus Bereday    

                                              Thaddeus Bereday
                                              Vice President and General Counsel


<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit Index


                    (c)  The Exhibits  furnished in accordance  with Item 601 of
                         Regulation S-K are:

                    10.1 Credit Agreement, dated as of December 4, 1998, between
                         SmarTalk   Teleservices,   Inc.  (the   "Company")  and
                         Fletcher International Limited ("Fletcher"), as lender.

                    10.2 Pledge and Security Agreement,  dated as of December 4,
                         1998,  among  the  Company,   its  subsidiaries  listed
                         therein, and Fletcher.

                    10.3 Promissory  Note, dated as of December 4, 1998, made by
                         the Company in favor of Fletcher.

                    10.4 Investment  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of December 4,
                         1998, between the Company and Fletcher.

                    99.1 Press Release of the Company, dated December 7, 1998.




                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


                          DATED AS OF DECEMBER 4, 1998


                                     BETWEEN


                          SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.,
                                   as Borrower


                                       AND

                         FLETCHER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,
                                    as Lender


<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

SECTION 1.DEFINITIONS1
1.1  Certain Defined Terms1
1.2  Accounting Terms; Utilization of GAAP for Purposes of Calculations Under 
          Agreement.17
1.3  Other Definitional Provisions17

SECTION 2.AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS AND LOANS17
2.1  Commitments; Loans17
2.2  Interest on the Loans19
2.3  Commitment Fee.20
2.4  Repayments, Prepayments and Reductions in Commitments;  General  Provisions
          Regarding Payments20
2.5  Use of Proceeds22
2.6  Increased Costs.23
2.7  Taxes23

SECTION 3.CONDITIONS TO LOANS24
3.1  Conditions to Loans24
3.2  Conditions to All Loans28
3.3  Sole Discretion of the Lender29

SECTION 4.REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES29

4.1  Organization,   Powers,   Qualification,   Good   Standing,   Business  and
          Subsidiaries29
4.2  Authorization of Borrowing, etc.30
4.3  Financial  Condition;  Projections31  4.4 No Material  Adverse Change32
4.5  Title to  Properties;  Liens;  Real Property;  Intellectual  Property32
4.6  Litigation;  Adverse  Facts33
4.7  Payment of Taxes33
4.8  Performance  of Agreements;  Materially Adverse Agreements34 
4.9  Governmental  Regulation34
4.10 Securities  Activities34
4.11 Employee Benefit Plans34
4.12 Certain  Fees35
4.13 Environmental  Matters35
4.14 Employee  Matters36
4.15 Inactive Subsidiaries.37
4.16 [RESERVED]37
4.17 Disclosure37
4.18 Year  2000  Problems37

SECTION 5.AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS38
5.1  Financial  Statements;  Collateral Reports and Other Reports38
5.2  Corporate Existence44
5.3  Payment of Taxes and Claims; Tax Consolidation44
5.4  Maintenance of Properties;  Insurance44
5.5  Inspection; Lender Meeting45
5.6  Compliance with Laws,  etc.45
5.7  Environmental  Disclosure and  Inspection45 
5.8  The Company's Remedial Action Regarding  Hazardous  Materials47 
5.9  Collateral  Matters47 
5.10 Further  Assurances47 
5.11 [RESERVED]47 
5.12 Use of Proceeds.48 
5.13 Cure of Defaults.48

SECTION 6.NEGATIVE COVENANTS48
6.1  Indebtedness.48
6.2  Liens and Related Matters49
6.3  Investments.50
6.4  Capital Expenditures50
6.5  Restricted Junior Payments51
6.6  Restriction on Fundamental Changes; Asset Sales51
6.7  Sale or Discount of Receivables51
6.8  Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates51
6.9  Conduct of Business52
6.10 Amendments or Waivers of Certain Agreements52
6.11 Fiscal Year52

SECTION 7.EVENTS OF DEFAULT52
7.1  Failure to Make Payments When Due53
7.2  Default in Other Agreements53
7.3  Breach of Certain Covenants53
7.4  Breach of Warranty53
7.5  Other Defaults Under Loan Documents54
7.6  Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc.54
7.7  Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc.54
7.8  Judgments and Attachments55
7.9  Dissolution55
7.10 Employee Benefit Plans55
7.11 Change in Control55
7.12 Failure of Security55

SECTION 8.[RESERVED]56

SECTION 9.MISCELLANEOUS56
9.1  [RESERVED]56
9.2  Expenses56
9.3  Indemnity57
9.4  Set-Off; Security Interest in Deposit Accounts58
9.5  [RESERVED]58
9.6  Amendments and Waivers58
9.7  Independence of Covenants58
9.8  Notices58
9.9  Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements59
9.10 Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies Cumulative59
9.11 Marshalling; Payments Set Aside59
9.12 Severability60
9.13 [RESERVED]60
9.14 Maximum Amount60
9.15 Headings61
9.16 Applicable Law61
9.17 Successors and Assigns61
9.18 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process61
9.19 Waiver of Jury Trial62
9.20 [RESERVED]63
9.21 Counterparts; Effectiveness63





                           SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


     This CREDIT  AGREEMENT  is dated as of December 4, 1998 and entered into by
and among SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC., a California corporation (the "Company"),
and FLETCHER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a Cayman Islands company (the "Lender").


                                 R E C I T A L S

     WHEREAS,  the  Company  desires  that  the  Lender  extend  certain  credit
facilities  to the  Company  hereunder,  the  proceeds  of which will be used to
provide financing for working capital and other general  corporate  purposes for
the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries,  all  subject  to the terms and  conditions
contained herein; and

     WHEREAS,  the Lender is willing to make such  credit  facilities  available
upon and subject to the terms and conditions contained herein;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and the  agreements,
provisions and covenants  herein  contained,  the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:


                                   SECTION 1.
                                   DEFINITIONS

1.1  Certain Defined Terms.

     The  following  terms  used in this  Agreement  shall  have  the  following
meanings:

          "Accommodation  Obligation" means any direct, indirect,  contingent or
     non-contingent  guaranty or  obligation  for the  Indebtedness  of another,
     except endorsements in the ordinary course of business.

          "Accounts"  means any and all rights of the  Company  to  payment  for
     goods sold,  including accounts,  contract rights,  general intangibles and
     any  and all  such  rights  evidenced  by  chattel  paper,  instruments  or
     documents,  whether  due or to  become  due and  whether  or not  earned by
     performance, and whether now or hereafter acquired or arising in the future
     and any proceeds arising therefrom or relating thereto.

          "Affiliate" means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly
     or indirectly  controlling,  controlled  by, or under common  control with,
     that  Person;  provided,  however,  the Lender shall not be  considered  an
     Affiliate  of the Company  under this  Agreement.  For the purposes of this
     definition,  "control"  (including,  with correlative  meanings,  the terms
     "controlling", "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as applied
     to any Person, means either (a) the power, directly or indirectly,  to vote
     5% or more of the securities  having ordinary voting power for the election
     of directors (or persons  performing  similar functions) of such Person, or
     (b) the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
     the  direction  of the  management  and  policies of that  Person,  whether
     through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

          "Agreement"  means this Credit  Agreement dated as of the date hereof,
     as it may be amended,  restated,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified from
     time to time.

          "Applicable  Laws" means,  collectively,  all statutes,  laws,  rules,
     regulations,   ordinances,   decisions,  writs,  judgments,   decrees,  and
     injunctions of any Governmental  Authority  affecting the Company or any of
     its  Subsidiaries  or any Collateral or any of their other assets,  whether
     now or hereafter enacted and in force, and all Governmental  Authorizations
     relating thereto.

          "Asset Sale" means any sale, lease or other disposition (including any
     such transaction effected by way of merger or consolidation) by the Company
     or any of its Subsidiaries of any asset,  including without  limitation any
     sale-leaseback transaction, but excluding (i) dispositions of inventory and
     used,  surplus or worn out  equipment in the  ordinary  course of business,
     (ii)  dispositions  to  a  wholly-owned  Subsidiary,  (iii)  cash  payments
     otherwise  permitted  under this Agreement,  or (iv) any other  disposition
     made  in  the  ordinary  course  of the  business  of  the  Company  or its
     Subsidiaries.

          "Bankruptcy  Code" means Title 11 of the United  States Code  entitled
     "Bankruptcy", as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

          "Blocked Account" has the meaning as defined in Section 3.1B.

          "Business Day" means a day other than a Saturday,  Sunday or other day
     on which  commercial  banks in New York City are  authorized or required by
     law to close.

          "Capital  Expenditures" for a period means the sum of all expenditures
     capitalized  for  financial  statement  purposes  in  accordance  with GAAP
     (whether  payable in cash or other  property  or  accrued as a  liability),
     including the capitalized portion of capital leases.  Capital  Expenditures
     shall  exclude  proceeds  of a  Casualty  Loss  applied  to the  repair  or
     replacement of the property affected by the Casualty Loss.

          "Capital  Lease"  means,  as applied to any  Person,  any lease of any
     property  (whether real,  personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that,
     in  conformity  with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital lease
     on the balance sheet of that Person.

          "Capital Stock" means any and all shares, interests, participations or
     other equivalents  (however  designated) of capital stock of a corporation,
     any and all  equivalent  ownership  interests  in a  Person  (other  than a
     corporation),  including,  without  limitation,  partnership  interests and
     membership  interests,  and any and all  warrants,  rights  or  options  to
     purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing.

          "Cash" means money, currency or a credit balance in a Deposit Account.

          "Cash Equivalents" means (i) marketable  securities issued or directly
     and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States Government or issued by
     any  agency  thereof  and backed by the full faith and credit of the United
     States,  in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition
     thereof;  (ii)  marketable  direct  obligations  issued by any state of the
     United States of America or any political  subdivision of any such state or
     any public  instrumentality  thereof maturing within one year from the date
     of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition,  having the highest
     rating  obtainable  from  either  Standard  &  Poor's,  a  division  of the
     McGraw-Hill  Companies,  Inc. ("S&P"),  or Moody's Investors Service,  Inc.
     ("Moody's"); (iii) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the
     date of creation  thereof and, at the time of acquisition,  having a rating
     of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody's; (iv) certificates of
     deposit or bankers'  acceptances  maturing within one year from the date of
     acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition,  having a rating of at
     least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody's,  issued by any  commercial
     bank organized  under the laws of the United States of America or any state
     thereof or the District of Columbia having  unimpaired  capital and surplus
     of not less than  $500,000,000  (each such  commercial  bank  being  herein
     called a "Cash Equivalent Bank"); and (v) Eurodollar time deposits having a
     maturity of less than one year purchased  directly from any Cash Equivalent
     Bank (provided such deposit is with such Cash  Equivalent Bank or any other
     Cash Equivalent Bank).

          "Casualty  Loss" means (i) the loss,  damage,  or  destruction  of any
     asset  owned or used by the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  (ii) the
     condemnation,  confiscation,  or other taking,  in whole or in part, of any
     such asset, or (iii) the diminishment of such asset so as to render use for
     its intended purpose impracticable or unreasonable.

          "Cleanup" means all actions required to: (1) cleanup, remove, treat or
     remediate  Hazardous  Materials in the indoor or outdoor  environment;  (2)
     prevent the Release of  Hazardous  Materials  so that they do not  migrate,
     endanger or threaten to endanger  public health or welfare or the indoor or
     outdoor  environment;  (3) perform  pre-remedial studies and investigations
     and  post-remedial  monitoring  and care; or (4) respond to any  government
     requests  for  information  or  documents  in any way  relating to cleanup,
     removal,  treatment or remediation or potential cleanup, removal, treatment
     or remediation of Hazardous Materials in the indoor or outdoor environment.

          "Closing Date" means the date hereof or such earlier date requested by
     the Company on which the conditions  precedent set forth in Section 3 shall
     be satisfied.

          "Collateral" means all of the properties and assets in which Liens are
     purported to be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

          "Collateral  Documents"  means the  Security  Agreement,  the  Lockbox
     Agreement and any other documents,  instruments or agreements  delivered by
     the Company and its  Subsidiaries  pursuant to this Agreement or any of the
     other Loan  Documents  in order to grant or perfect  liens on any assets of
     the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  as  security  for  all  or any of the
     Obligations.

          "Collections" means all cash, funds,  checks,  notes,  instruments and
     any other form of  remittance  tendered  by  account  debtors in payment of
     Accounts.

          "Commitments" means the commitments of the Lender to make Loans as set
     forth in subsection 2.1A of this Agreement.

          "Company"  has the meaning  assigned  to that term in the  Preamble to
     this Agreement.

          "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form
     of  Exhibit  IV  annexed  hereto  delivered  to the  Lender by the  Company
     pursuant to subsection 5.1(iv).

          "Contingent Obligation" means, as applied to any Person, any direct or
     indirect  liability,  contingent  or  otherwise,  of that  Person  (i) with
     respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another
     if the  primary  purpose  or intent  thereof by the  Person  incurring  the
     Contingent  Obligation  is to  provide  assurance  to the  obligee  of such
     obligation  of another  that such  obligation  of  another  will be paid or
     discharged,  or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with,
     or that the holders of such  obligation  will be protected  (in whole or in
     part) against loss in respect  thereof,  (ii) with respect to any letter of
     credit  issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is
     otherwise  liable for  reimbursement  of drawings,  or (iii) under Interest
     Rate Agreements or other Hedge  Agreements.  Contingent  Obligations  shall
     include,   without  limitation,   (a)  the  direct  or  indirect  guaranty,
     endorsement  (otherwise  than for  collection  or deposit  in the  ordinary
     course of  business),  co-making,  discounting  with  recourse or sale with
     recourse by such Person of the obligation of another, (b) the obligation to
     make   take-or-pay   or  similar   payments  if  required   regardless   of
     non-performance by any other party or parties to an agreement,  and (c) any
     liability  of such  Person  for  the  obligation  of  another  through  any
     agreement  (contingent  or  otherwise)  (X)  to  purchase,   repurchase  or
     otherwise acquire such obligation or any security  therefor,  or to provide
     funds for the payment or discharge of such obligation  (whether in the form
     of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or otherwise) or
     (Y) to maintain the solvency or any balance sheet item,  level of income or
     financial  condition of another if, in the case of any agreement  described
     under subclauses (X) or (Y) of this sentence, the primary purpose or intent
     thereof  is as  described  in the  preceding  sentence.  The  amount of any
     Contingent  Obligation  shall be equal to the amount of the  obligation  so
     guaranteed  or otherwise  supported  or, if less,  the amount to which such
     Contingent Obligation is specifically limited.

          "Continuing Director" shall mean, as of any date of determination, any
     member of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company who was a member of such
     Board of Directors on the Closing Date or any future member of the Board of
     Directors approved by a majority of Continuing Directors.

          "Contractual   Obligation"  means,  as  applied  to  any  Person,  any
     provision of any indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking
     or other  agreement  or  instrument  to which such  Person is a party or to
     which such Person or any of its assets is subject.

          "Debt  Incurrence"  means any  incurrence by the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries of any  Indebtedness,  other than the  Indebtedness  permitted
     under Section 6.1.

          "Default"  means a condition or event that,  after notice or after any
     applicable  grace period has lapsed,  or both, would constitute an Event of
     Default.

          "Deposit  Account"  means a demand,  time,  savings,  passbook or like
     account  with a bank,  savings and loan  association,  credit union or like
     organization,  other than an account evidenced by a negotiable  certificate
     of deposit.

          "Dollars"  and the sign "$" mean the lawful money of the United States
     of America.

          "Employee  Benefit Plan" means any "employee  benefit plan" as defined
     in Section 3(3) of ERISA which is subject to ERISA and which is  maintained
     or contributed to by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates.

          "Environmental  Claim"  means  any  claim,  action,  cause of  action,
     investigation or notice (written or oral) by any Person alleging  potential
     liability   (including,   without   limitation,   potential  liability  for
     investigatory  costs, Cleanup costs,  governmental  response costs, natural
     resources  damages,  property  damages,  personal  injuries,  or penalties)
     arising out of, based on or resulting from (a) the presence,  or Release of
     any Hazardous  Materials at any location,  whether or not owned,  leased or
     operated  by the  Company,  or (b)  circumstances  forming the basis of any
     violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental Law.

          "Environmental Laws" means all federal,  state, local and foreign laws
     and regulations  relating to pollution or protection of human health or the
     environment,  including  without  limitation,  laws relating to Releases or
     threatened  Releases of Hazardous  Materials  or otherwise  relating to the
     manufacture,  processing,  distribution,  use, treatment, storage, Release,
     disposal,  transport  or handling of Hazardous  Materials  and all laws and
     regulations  with regard to  recordkeeping,  notification,  disclosure  and
     reporting  requirements  respecting  Hazardous  Materials,   and  all  laws
     relating to the management or use of natural resources.

          "Environmental   Liabilities"  means  all  liabilities,   obligations,
     responsibilities,  obligations to conduct  Cleanup,  and all  Environmental
     Claims pending or threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
     or against  any Person  whose  liability  for any  Environmental  Claim the
     Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  may have  retained  or assumed  either
     contractually  or by  operation  of law,  arising  from (a)  environmental,
     health  or safety  conditions,  (b) the  presence,  Release  or  threatened
     Release  of  Hazardous  Materials  at any  location,  whether or not owned,
     leased or operated by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (c) circumstances
     forming  the  basis  of  any  violation,   or  alleged  violation,  of  any
     Environmental Law.

          "Equity  Issuance" means the issuance of any equity  securities by the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries,  but excluding equity securities issued
     to the Company or any Subsidiary and equity  securities  issued pursuant to
     employee stock options.

          "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
     amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

          "ERISA Affiliate" means, as applied to any Person, (i) any corporation
     which is a member of a controlled group of corporations  within the meaning
     of Section  414(b) of the  Internal  Revenue Code of which that Person is a
     member; (ii) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a
     member of a group of trades or businesses  under common  control within the
     meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person
     is a member; and (iii) solely for purposes of obligations under Section 412
     of the Internal Revenue Code or under the applicable  sections set forth in
     Section 414(t)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, any member of an affiliated
     service  group within the meaning of Section  414(m) or (o) of the Internal
     Revenue Code of which that Person, any corporation  described in clause (i)
     above or any trade or business described in clause (ii) above is a member.

          "ERISA  Event" means (i) a  "reportable  event"  within the meaning of
     Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder with respect
     to any Pension Plan  (excluding  those for which the  provision  for 30-day
     notice to the PBGC has been waived by  regulation  or with respect to which
     no penalty  will be assessed by the PBGC for failure to satisfy such notice
     requirements);  (ii) the  failure to meet the minimum  funding  standard of
     Section 412 of the  Internal  Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan
     (whether or not waived in  accordance  with Section  412(d) of the Internal
     Revenue Code) or the failure to make by its due date a required installment
     under  Section  412(m) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code with  respect to any
     Pension  Plan  or the  failure  to  make  any  required  contribution  to a
     Multiemployer Plan; (iii) the provision by the administrator of any Pension
     Plan  pursuant  to  Section  4041(a)(2)  of ERISA of a notice  of intent to
     terminate such plan in a distress termination  described in Section 4041(c)
     of ERISA; (iv) the withdrawal by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates
     from  any  Pension  Plan  with  two or more  contributing  sponsors  or the
     termination  of any  such  Pension  Plan  resulting,  in  either  case,  in
     liability pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, respectively;  (v) the
     institution  by the PBGC of  proceedings  to  terminate  any  Pension  Plan
     pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA;  (vi) the imposition of liability on the
     Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates  pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069
     of ERISA or by reason of the application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (vii)
     the withdrawal by the Company or any of its ERISA  Affiliates in a complete
     or partial  withdrawal  (within the  meaning of  Sections  4203 and 4205 of
     ERISA)  from any  Multiemployer  Plan  resulting  in  withdrawal  liability
     pursuant to Section 4201 of ERISA,  or the receipt by the Company or any of
     its ERISA Affiliates of written notice from any Multiemployer  Plan that it
     is in  reorganization  or  insolvency  pursuant to Section  4241 or 4245 of
     ERISA, or that it intends to terminate or has terminated under Section 4042
     of ERISA or under Section 4041A of ERISA if such  termination  would result
     in  liability  to the  Company or any of its ERISA  Affiliates;  (viii) the
     imposition  on  the  Company  or  any of its  ERISA  Affiliates  of  fines,
     penalties or taxes under  Chapter 43 of the Internal  Revenue Code or under
     Section  409 or  502(c),  (i) or (l) or 4071 of  ERISA  in  respect  of any
     Employee  Benefit Plan; (ix) the  disqualification  by the Internal Revenue
     Service of any Pension Plan (or any other Employee Benefit Plan intended to
     be  qualified  under  Section  401(a) of the Internal  Revenue  Code) under
     Section 401(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code, or the  determination  by the
     Internal  Revenue  Service that any trust  forming part of any Pension Plan
     fails to qualify for exemption  from taxation  under Section  501(a) of the
     Internal  Revenue Code; or (x) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section
     401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or pursuant to ERISA with
     respect to any Pension Plan.

          "Event of Default" means each of the events set forth in Section 7.

          "Exchange Act" means the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
     from time to time, and any successor statute.

          "Facilities"  means  any and all  real  property  (including,  without
     limitation, all buildings,  fixtures or other improvements located thereon)
     now, hereafter or heretofore owned, leased, operated or used by the Company
     or any of its Subsidiaries  (but only as to portions of buildings  actually
     leased  or used) or any of their  respective  predecessors  or any of their
     respective  Affiliates  that are directly or  indirectly  controlled by the
     Company.

          "Fiscal Quarter" means a fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year.

          "Fiscal   Year"   means  the  fiscal  year  of  the  Company  and  its
     Subsidiaries ending on December 31 of each calendar year.

          "Funding Date" means the date of the funding of a Loan.

          "GAAP" means,  subject to the limitations on the  application  thereof
     set forth in subsection 1.2, generally accepted  accounting  principles set
     forth in opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting  Principles Board of
     the American  Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and statements and
     pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other
     statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment
     of the  accounting  profession,  in each case as the same are applicable to
     the circumstances as of the date of determination  and specifically,  terms
     used  herein  applicable  to the Company  and its  Subsidiaries  defined by
     reference  to  GAAP  shall  give  effect  to the  subtraction  of  minority
     interests.

          "Governmental Authority" means any nation or government,  any state or
     any political subdivision of any of the foregoing and any entity exercising
     executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of
     or pertaining to government.

          "Governmental Authorization" means any permit, license, authorization,
     plan,   directive,   consent  order  or  consent  decree  of  or  from  any
     Governmental Authority.

          "Hazardous  Materials"  means  all  substances  defined  as  Hazardous
     Substances,  Oils,  Pollutants  or  Contaminants  in the  National  Oil and
     Hazardous  Substances  Pollution  Contingency Plan, 40 C.F.R. ss. 300.5, or
     defined as such by, or regulated as such under, any Environmental Law.

          "Hedge  Agreements"  means all  interest  rate  swaps,  caps or collar
     agreements  or similar  arrangements  entered into by the Company or any of
     its Subsidiaries  providing for protection against fluctuations in interest
     rates or  currency  exchange  rates or the  exchange  of  nominal  interest
     obligations, either generally or under specific contingencies.

          "Indebtedness"  means, as applied to any Person,  (i) all indebtedness
     for  borrowed  money,  (ii) that  portion of  obligations  with  respect to
     Capital  Leases that is  properly  classified  as a liability  on a balance
     sheet in  conformity  with GAAP,  (iii) notes  payable and drafts  accepted
     representing  extensions of credit whether or not representing  obligations
     for borrowed  money (other than current  accounts  payable  incurred in the
     ordinary course of business and accrued  expenses  incurred in the ordinary
     course of business),  (iv) any  obligation  owed for all or any part of the
     deferred  purchase  price  of  property  or  services  (excluding  any such
     obligations incurred under ERISA and current trade payables incurred in the
     ordinary  course of  business),  (v) all  obligations  evidenced  by notes,
     bonds,  debentures  or other  similar  instruments,  (vi) all  indebtedness
     created or arising  under any  conditional  sale or other  title  retention
     agreement  with respect to any  property or assets  acquired by such Person
     (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or the Lender under such
     agreement  in the event of default are limited to  repossession  or sale of
     such property or assets),  (vii) all obligations,  contingent or otherwise,
     as  an  account  party  under  acceptance,  letter  of  credit  or  similar
     facilities to the extent not reflected as trade  liabilities on the balance
     sheet of such  Person in  accordance  with GAAP,  (viii)  all  obligations,
     contingent or otherwise,  to purchase,  redeem, retire or otherwise acquire
     for value any Capital Stock,  (ix) all guarantee  obligations in respect of
     obligations  of the kind  referred to in clauses (i) through  (viii) above,
     and (x) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned
     or held by that  Person  regardless  of whether  the  indebtedness  secured
     thereby  shall have been  assumed by that Person or is  nonrecourse  to the
     credit  of that  Person.  Obligations  under  Hedge  Agreements,  including
     Interest  Rate  Agreements,   constitute  Contingent  Obligations  and  not
     Indebtedness  (except,  for purposes of Section 7, such  obligations  shall
     constitute Indebtedness).

          "Indemnitee" has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 9.3.

          "Initial  Loan" has the meaning  assigned  to that term in  subsection
     2.1B.

          "Interest  Payment Date" means the first Business Day of each calendar
     month.

          "Interest  Rate"  initially  means (i) for the  Initial  Loan,  twelve
     percent  (12%) per  annum;  (ii)  after  the next  Loan is made  hereunder,
     thirteen  and one half  percent (13 1/2%) per annum on such second Loan and
     all outstanding Loans; (iii) after the next Loan is made hereunder, fifteen
     percent (15%) per annum on such third Loan and all outstanding  Loans; (iv)
     after the next Loan is made  hereunder,  sixteen  and one half  percent (16
     1/2%) per annum on such  fourth  Loan and all  outstanding  Loans;  and (v)
     after the next Loan is made hereunder,  eighteen percent (18%) per annum on
     such fifth Loan and all outstanding Loans.

          "Insolvency  Event" means, with respect to any Person,  the occurrence
     of any of the  following:  (i) a  voluntary  or  involuntary  petition  for
     bankruptcy  or  other  relief  under  the  Bankruptcy  Code or any  similar
     statute,  (ii) an assignment  for the benefit of creditors,  (iii) failure,
     suspension of business  operations,  or insolvency,  (iv)  appointment of a
     receiver or trustee,  or (v) failure to pay debts  generally as they become
     due.  "Interest  Rate  Agreement"  means any interest rate swap  agreement,
     interest  rate cap  agreement,  interest  rate  collar  agreement  or other
     similar  agreement or  arrangement  designed to hedge the Company or any of
     its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates.

          "Internal  Revenue  Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as
     amended  to the  date  hereof  and  from  time  to time  hereafter  and any
     successor statute.

          "Investment" means all expenditures made and all liabilities  incurred
     (contingently  or otherwise) for or in connection  with the  acquisition of
     stock or Indebtedness of, or for loans,  advances, or capital contributions
     or transfers of property to, any Person or in respect of any  Accommodation
     Obligations.   In  determining  the  aggregate  amount  of  any  Investment
     outstanding  at any  particular  time,  (i) the  amount  of any  Investment
     represented  by a  guaranty  shall be taken at not less than the  principal
     amount  of the  obligations  guaranteed  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  such
     guarantee and still outstanding; (ii) there shall be deducted in respect of
     each such  Investment any amount  received as a return of capital (but only
     by repurchases,  redemption, retirement, repayment, liquidating dividend or
     liquidating distribution);  (iii) there shall not be deducted in respect of
     any Investment any amounts received as earnings on such Investment, whether
     as dividends,  interest or otherwise;  and (iv) there shall not be deducted
     from the aggregate  amount of Investments  any decrease in the market value
     thereof.

          "Investment Rights Agreement" means the Investment Rights Agreement of
     the Company in the form of Exhibit VII annexed hereto.

          "Lender" means Fletcher International Limited.

          "Lien"  means  any  lien,  mortgage,  pledge,   assignment,   security
     interest,  fixed or floating  charge or encumbrance of any kind  (including
     any conditional sale or other title retention  agreement,  any lease in the
     nature  thereof,  and any agreement to give any security  interest) and any
     option,  trust or  deposit  or other  preferential  arrangement  having the
     practical effect of any of the foregoing.

          "Loan" or "Loans" means, as the context  requires,  one or more of the
     Loans.

          "Loan  Commitment"  means an  aggregate  of  $25,000,000,  subject  to
     subsection 3.3.

          "Loan  Documents"  means this  Agreement,  the Notes,  the  Subsidiary
     Guaranty, the Investment Rights Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

          "Loans"  means the Loans made by the  Lender  pursuant  to  subsection
     2.1A.   "Lockbox  Agreement"  means  the  Lockbox  Agreement  executed  and
     delivered  by the  Company,  the Lender and the Lockbox Bank on the Closing
     Date,  substantially  in the form of  Exhibit VI  annexed  hereto,  as such
     Lockbox  Agreement  may be amended,  restated,  supplemented  or  otherwise
     modified from time to time.

          "Lockbox Bank" has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 3.1B.

          "Margin  Stock" has the meaning  assigned to that term in Regulation U
     of the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System as in effect from
     time to time.

          "Material Adverse Effect" means (i) a material adverse effect upon the
     business,   operations,   properties,   assets,   condition  (financial  or
     otherwise)  or  prospects of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
     whole,  (ii) the  material  impairment  of the  ability  of the  Company to
     perform the Obligations, (iii) a material adverse effect upon the legality,
     validity,  binding effect or enforceability against the Company of any Loan
     Document to which it is a party, or (iv) a material adverse effect upon the
     rights,  remedies and benefits  available to, or conferred upon, the Lender
     under any Loan Document.

          "Material Contracts" means any or all of the following, as the context
     may  require:  (i)  any  Security  issued  by  the  Company  or  any of its
     Subsidiaries,  (ii)  any  material  indenture,  mortgage,  deed  of  trust,
     contract,  undertaking,  agreement or other instrument to which the Company
     or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  is a  party  or by  which  it or any of its
     properties is bound or to which it or any of its  properties is subject and
     (iii) any other  document,  agreement or instrument that is material to the
     operation or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

          "Maturity Date" means January 31, 1999.

          "Multiemployer  Plan"  means a  "multiemployer  plan",  as  defined in
     Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA which is subject to Title IV of ERISA, to which
     the Company or any of its ERISA  Affiliates is contributing or to which the
     Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has an obligation to contribute.

          "Net Cash Proceeds" means, with respect to any transaction , an amount
     equal  to  the  cash  proceeds  received  by  the  Company  or  any  of its
     Subsidiaries  from or in respect of such  transaction  (including  any cash
     proceeds  received as income or other proceeds or any non-cash  proceeds of
     such transaction), less (i) any expenses (including commissions) reasonably
     incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries in respect of such transaction;
     (ii) the amount of any  Indebtedness  secured by a Lien on a related  asset
     and discharged from the proceeds of such transaction;  (iii) any taxes paid
     or  payable  by the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  with  respect  to  such
     transaction  (as  reasonably  estimated by the  Company's  chief  financial
     officer in good faith); and (iv) appropriate amounts, reasonably determined
     by  the  Company  in  accordance  with  GAAP,  as  a  reserve  against  any
     liabilities retained by such party with respect to such transaction.

          "Notes" means the promissory  notes of the Company issued  pursuant to
     subsection 2.1E on the Closing Date.

          "Notice of Borrowing"  means a notice in the form of Exhibit I annexed
     hereto  delivered by the Company to the Lender  pursuant to subsection 2.1B
     with respect to a proposed borrowing.

          "Obligations"  means all  obligations  of every  nature of the Company
     from time to time owed to the Lender under the Loan Documents,  whether for
     principal, interest, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise.

          "Officer's   Certificate"   means,  with  respect  to  any  Person,  a
     certificate  executed  on behalf  of such  Person  (x) if such  Person is a
     partnership or limited liability company,  by its chairman of the Board (if
     an officer) or chief executive officer or by the chief financial officer of
     its general partner or managing member or other Person  authorized to do so
     by its Organizational  Documents,  (y) if such Person is a corporation,  on
     behalf of such  corporation by its chairman of the board (if an officer) or
     chief executive  officer or its chief financial  officer or vice president,
     and (z) if such person is the Company, a Responsible Officer; provided that
     every Officer's Certificate with respect to the compliance with a condition
     precedent  to the  making  of  any  Loans  hereunder  shall  include  (i) a
     statement  that the  officer or officers  making or giving  such  Officer's
     Certificate   have  read  such  condition  and  any  definitions  or  other
     provisions  contained in this Agreement relating thereto,  (ii) a statement
     that,  in the  opinion  of the  signer or  signers,  they have made or have
     caused to be made such  examination  or  investigation  as is  necessary to
     enable  them to  express  an  informed  opinion  as to  whether or not such
     condition has been complied with,  and (iii) a statement as to whether,  in
     the  opinion of the signer or signers,  such  condition  has been  complied
     with.

          "Organizational  Authorizations"  means,  with  respect to any Person,
     resolutions of its Board of Directors,  general partners or members of such
     Person, and such other Persons,  groups or committees  (including,  without
     limitation,  managers and  managing  committees),  if any,  required by the
     Organizational  Certificate  or  Organization  Documents  of such Person to
     authorize or approve the taking of any action or the  entering  into of any
     transaction.

          "Organizational  Certificate"  means, with respect to any Person,  the
     certificate or articles of incorporation,  partnership or limited liability
     company  or any other  similar  or  equivalent  organizational,  charter or
     constitutional   certificate   or  document   filed  with  the   applicable
     Governmental   Authority  in  the   jurisdiction   of  its   incorporation,
     organization  or  formation,  which,  if such  Person is a  partnership  or
     limited liability  company,  shall include such  certificates,  articles or
     other  certificates  or  documents  in respect of each partner or member of
     such Person.

          "Organizational  Documents"  means,  with  respect to any Person,  the
     by-laws,   partnership  agreement,  limited  liability  company  agreement,
     operating  agreement,  management  agreement or other similar or equivalent
     organizational,  charter or constitutional agreement or arrangement, which,
     if such Person is a partnership or limited liability company, shall include
     such  by-laws,  agreements  or  arrangements  in respect of each partner or
     member of such Person.

          "PBGC"  means the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  established
     pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA (or any successor thereto).

          "Pension  Plan"  means  any  Employee   Benefit  Plan,  other  than  a
     Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA.

          "Permitted Encumbrances" means the following types of Liens:

                    (i) Liens for taxes,  assessments or governmental charges or
               claims the  payment  of which is not,  at the time,  required  by
               subsection 5.3;

                    (ii)  statutory  Liens  of  landlords,  statutory  Liens  of
               carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen and other Liens
               imposed  by law (other  than any such Lien  imposed  pursuant  to
               Section  401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal  Revenue Code or by
               ERISA)  incurred in the ordinary  course of business for sums not
               yet  delinquent  or being  contested  in good faith  pursuant  to
               appropriate  proceedings,  if such  reserve or other  appropriate
               provision,  if any,  as shall be required by GAAP shall have been
               made therefor;

                    (iii) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course
               of   business   in   connection   with   workers'   compensation,
               unemployment  insurance and other types of social security, or to
               secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations,  surety
               and appeal  bonds,  bids,  leases,  government  contracts,  trade
               contracts,   performance  and  return-of-money  bonds  and  other
               similar obligations  (exclusive of obligations for the payment of
               borrowed money or other Indebtedness);

                    (iv) any  attachment  or judgment Lien not  constituting  an
               Event of Default under subsection 7.8, so long as such Lien could
               not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                    (v) leases or  subleases  granted to others (in the ordinary
               course  of  business   consistent   with  past   practices)   not
               interfering in any material  respect with the ordinary conduct of
               the  business  or  operations  of  the  Company  or  any  of  its
               Subsidiaries;

                    (vi) easements, rights-of-way,  restrictions, minor defects,
               encroachments  or  irregularities  in  title  and  other  similar
               charges or encumbrances  not interfering in any material  respect
               with the  ordinary  conduct of the business of the Company or any
               of its Subsidiaries;

                    (vii) any (a)  interest  or title of a lessor  or  sublessor
               under any Capital Lease  permitted by subsection  6.1(iii) or any
               operating lease not prohibited by this Agreement, (b) restriction
               or  encumbrance  that the  interest  or title of such  lessor  or
               sublessor may be subject to, or (c) subordination of the interest
               of the lessee or sublessee under such lease to any restriction or
               encumbrance referred to in the preceding clause (b);

                    (viii) Liens  arising from filing UCC  financing  statements
               relating solely to leases permitted by this Agreement;

                    (ix)  Liens in  favor of  customs  and  revenue  authorities
               arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in
               connection with the importation of goods;

                    (x)  deposits in the  ordinary  course of business to secure
               liabilities to insurance carriers,  lessors,  utilities and other
               service providers; and

                    (xi)  bankers  liens and  rights of setoff  with  respect to
               customary  depository  arrangements  entered into in the ordinary
               course of business.

          "Person" means and includes  natural  persons,  corporations,  limited
     partnerships,  limited liability  companies,  general  partnerships,  joint
     stock companies, joint ventures,  associations,  companies,  trusts, banks,
     trust  companies,  land  trusts,  business  trusts or other  organizations,
     whether or not legal  entities,  and governments and agencies and political
     subdivisions thereof and any other entities of whatever nature.

          "Projections"  has the  meaning  assigned  to that term in  subsection
     4.3B.

          "Recovery  Event"  means  the  receipt  by the  Company  or any of its
     Subsidiaries  of any  insurance  or  condemnation  proceeds  payable (i) by
     reason of theft,  physical destruction or damage or any other similar event
     with  respect  to any  properties  or assets of the  Company  or any of its
     Subsidiaries,  (ii) by  reason  of any  condemnation,  taking,  seizing  or
     similar  event with respect to any  properties of the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries and (iii) under any policy of insurance.

          "Register" has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.1D.

          "Release"  means  any  release,  spill,  emission,  leaking,  pumping,
     pouring,  injection,  escaping,  deposit, disposal,  discharge,  dispersal,
     dumping,  leaching or migration of Hazardous  Materials  into the indoor or
     outdoor  environment  (including,  without  limitation,  the abandonment or
     disposal of any barrels,  containers or other closed receptacles containing
     any Hazardous  Materials),  or into or out of any  property,  including the
     movement of any Hazardous  Material  through the air, soil,  surface water,
     groundwater or property.

          "Responsible  Officer" means the chief executive  officer,  president,
     general  counsel  or chief  financial  officer of the  Company,  but in any
     event,  with respect to financial  matters,  the chief financial officer or
     treasurer of the Company.

          "Restricted   Junior   Payment"   means  (i)  any  dividend  or  other
     distribution,  direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of
     stock of the  Company  now or  hereafter  outstanding,  except  a  dividend
     payable  solely  in shares of that  class of stock to the  holders  of that
     class,  (ii) any redemption,  retirement,  sinking fund or similar payment,
     purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect,  of any shares
     of any class of stock of the  Company  now or  hereafter  outstanding,  and
     (iii) any  payment  made to  retire,  or to obtain  the  surrender  of, any
     outstanding  warrants,  options or other  rights to  acquire  shares of any
     class of stock of the Company now or hereafter outstanding.

          "Securities" means any stock, shares,  partnership  interests,  voting
     trust  certificates,  certificates  of  interest  or  participation  in any
     profit-sharing  agreement  or  arrangement,   options,   warrants,   bonds,
     debentures,   notes,  or  other  evidences  of  indebtedness,   secured  or
     unsecured,  convertible,  subordinated  or  otherwise,  or in  general  any
     instruments commonly known as "securities" or any certificates of interest,
     shares or  participations  in  temporary  or interim  certificates  for the
     purchase  or  acquisition  of, or any right to  subscribe  to,  purchase or
     acquire, any of the foregoing.

          "Security  Agreement" means the Security Agreement entered into by and
     between  the  Company  and  the  Lender  on  and as of  the  Closing  Date,
     substantially  in the form of Exhibit III annexed hereto,  as such Security
     Agreement may heretofore  have been or hereafter may be amended,  restated,
     supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

          "Securities  Act" means the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended from
     time to time, and any successor statute.

          "Subsidiary"  means,  with  respect to any  Person,  any  corporation,
     partnership,  association,  joint venture or other business entity of which
     more  than  50% of the  total  voting  power  of  shares  of stock or other
     ownership  interests  entitled  (without  regard to the  occurrence  of any
     contingency)  to vote in the  election  of the Person or  Persons  (whether
     directors,   managers,   trustees  or  other  Persons   performing  similar
     functions)  having  the  power to  direct  or cause  the  direction  of the
     management  and  policies  thereof  is at the  time  owned  or  controlled,
     directly  or  indirectly,  by  that  Person  or one or  more  of the  other
     Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

          "Subsidiary  Guaranty" means the Subsidiary  Guaranty  entered into by
     and between the Subsidiaries of the Company and the Lender on and as of the
     Closing Date,  substantially in the form of Exhibit VIII annexed hereto, as
     such  Subsidiary  Guaranty may  heretofore  have been or  hereafter  may be
     amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

          "Tax" or "Taxes" means any present or future tax, levy, impost,  duty,
     charge, fee, deduction or withholding of any nature and whatever called, by
     whomsoever, on whomsoever and wherever imposed, levied, collected, withheld
     or  assessed;  provided  that "Tax on the  overall  net income" of a Person
     shall be construed as a reference to a tax imposed by the  jurisdiction  in
     which that Person's  principal office is located or in which that Person is
     deemed to be doing  business on all or part of the net  income,  profits or
     gains of that Person  (whether  worldwide,  or only insofar as such income,
     profits or gains are  considered  to arise in or to relate to a  particular
     jurisdiction, or otherwise).

          "Terms of  Subordination"  has the  meaning  assigned  to that term in
     Subsection 3.1Q.

          "Unfunded Current  Liability" means, with respect to any Pension Plan,
     the amount, if any, by which the actuarial present value of the accumulated
     plan  benefits  under such  Pension Plan as of the close of its most recent
     plan year  exceeds the fair market value of the assets  allocable  thereto,
     each  determined  in  accordance  with  Statement of  Financial  Accounting
     Standards No. 87, based upon the actuarial assumptions used by such Pension
     Plan's actuary in the most recent annual valuation of such Pension Plan.

          "Year 2000 Problems" means limitations in the capacity or readiness to
     handle date information (including, without limitation,  calculations based
     on date  information) for the Year 1999 or years beginning  January 1, 2000
     of any of the hardware, firmware or software systems ("Systems") associated
     with  information  processing and delivery,  operations or services  (e.g.,
     security  and  alarms,  elevators,  communications,  and HVAC),  including,
     without limitation,  equipment containing embedded microchips, operated by,
     provided to or otherwise reasonably necessary to the business or operations
     of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

1.2  Accounting  Terms;  Utilization of GAAP for Purposes of Calculations  Under
Agreement.

     Except as otherwise  expressly  provided in this Agreement,  all accounting
terms not otherwise  defined herein shall have the meanings  assigned to them in
conformity with GAAP.  Financial statements and other information required to be
delivered by the Company to the Lender pursuant to clauses (i), (ii),  (iii) and
(xiii) of subsection 5.1 shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, with
respect to interim financial  statements,  normal year-end audit adjustments and
the  absence  of  explanatory  footnotes)  as in  effect  at the  time  of  such
preparation (and delivered together with the reconciliation  statements provided
for in subsection  5.1(v)).  Calculations  in connection  with the  definitions,
covenants  and other  provisions  of this  Agreement  shall  utilize  accounting
principles  and policies in conformity  with those used to prepare the financial
statements referred to in subsection 4.3A.

1.3  Other Definitional Provisions.

     References  to  "Sections"  and  "subsections"  shall  be to  Sections  and
subsections,  respectively,  of this  Agreement  unless  otherwise  specifically
provided.  Any of the terms  defined in subsection  1.1 may,  unless the context
otherwise  requires,  be used in the  singular or the plural,  depending  on the
reference.  The words "includes," "including" and similar forms used in any Loan
Document shall be construed as if followed by the words "without limitation."


                                   SECTION 2.
                   AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS AND LOANS

2.1  Commitments; Loans.

     A.  Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and
in  reliance  upon the  representations  and  warranties  of the Company and its
Subsidiaries set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, the Lender hereby
agrees to make the Loans described in this subsection.  Subject to the terms and
conditions of the Agreement,  the Lender agrees to lend to the Company from time
to time during the period from the Closing  Date to but  excluding  the Maturity
Date an aggregate amount not exceeding the Loan  Commitment,  to be used for the
purposes  identified in subsection  2.5A.  The Lender's  Loan  Commitment  shall
expire on the Maturity Date and all Loans and all other  amounts owed  hereunder
with  respect  to the  Loans and the Loan  Commitments  shall be paid in full no
later than that date.

     B. Borrowing Mechanics.  Subject to the requirements of subsection 3.1Q, on
the  Closing  Date  the  Company  may  request  that the  Lender  make a loan of
$5,000,000  and  thereafter  once a week  for the next two  calendar  weeks  the
Company  may  request  that the  Lender  make  two  additional  installments  of
$2,500,000  each  (such  three  installments  to be  collectively  known  as the
"Initial  Loan").  After January 1, 1999, the Company may request one additional
Loan each  week,  subject  to the terms  and  conditions  hereof in an amount no
greater than $3,750,000.  Loans may only be requested once a week.  Whenever the
Company  desires  that the Lender  make  Loans it shall  deliver to the Lender a
Notice of Borrowing no later than 12:00 Noon (New York time), at least three (3)
Business Days in advance of the proposed  Funding Date.  The Notice of Borrowing
shall specify (i) the proposed  Funding Date (which shall be a Business Day) and
(ii) the amount of Loan  requested.  In lieu of delivering  the  above-described
Notice of Borrowing,  the Company may give the Lender  telephonic  notice by the
required time of any proposed  borrowing  under this subsection  2.1B;  provided
that such notice shall be promptly  confirmed in writing by delivery of a Notice
of Borrowing to the Lender on or before the applicable Funding Date.

     The Lender shall not incur any  liability to the Company in acting upon any
telephonic  notice  referred to above that the Lender  believes in good faith to
have been given by a duly  authorized  officer  or other  person  authorized  to
borrow on behalf of the Company or for otherwise acting in good faith under this
subsection  2.1B,  and upon funding of a Loan by the Lender in  accordance  with
this  Agreement  pursuant to any such  telephonic  notice the Company shall have
effected Loans hereunder.

     The Company  shall  notify the Lender  prior to the funding of any Loans in
the event that any of the matters to which the Company is required to certify in
the  applicable  Notice of  Borrowing  are no longer  true and correct as of the
applicable  Funding Date,  and the  acceptance by the Company of the proceeds of
any  Loans  shall  constitute  a  re-certification  by  the  Company,  as of the
applicable  Funding  Date, as to the matters to which the Company is required to
certify in the applicable Notice of Borrowing.

     C.  Disbursement  of Funds.  No later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) on the
applicable Funding Date, upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent specified
in  subsections  3.1 and 3.2,  the Lender  shall make the  proceeds  of the Loan
available  to the  Company by  causing an amount of same day funds  equal to the
Loan to be credited to the account of the Company at the account  designated  by
the Company.

     D. The Register.

          (i)  The  Lender  shall  maintain,  at  its  address  referred  to  in
     subsection  9.8, a register for the  recordation  of the Loans from time to
     time (the  "Register").  The Register  shall be available for inspection by
     the Company at any  reasonable  time and from time to time upon  reasonable
     prior notice.

          (ii) The Lender shall record in the Register the  Commitments  and the
     outstanding  Loans from time to time and each  repayment or  prepayment  in
     respect  of  the  principal  amount  of the  outstanding  Loans.  Any  such
     recordation  shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the Lender,
     absent manifest error;  provided that failure to make any such recordation,
     or  any  error  in  such  recordation,   shall  not  affect  the  Company's
     Obligations in respect of the applicable Loans.

          (iii)  The  Company  hereby  designates  the  Lender  to  serve as the
     Company's agent solely for purposes of maintaining the Register as provided
     in this subsection  2.1D, and the Company hereby agrees that, to the extent
     the Lender serves in such capacity, the Lender and its officers, directors,
     employees,  agents and  affiliates  shall  constitute  Indemnitees  for all
     purposes under subsection 9.3.

     E. Notes.  The Company shall execute and deliver on the Closing Date to the
Lender  a  Note  substantially  in  the  form  of  Exhibit  II  annexed  hereto,
respectively,  to evidence the  Lender's  Loans in the  principal  amount of the
Lender's  Loans  and  with  other  appropriate  insertions.  The  Notes  and the
Obligations  evidenced thereby shall be governed by, subject to and benefit from
all of the terms and  conditions of this  Agreement and the other Loan Documents
and shall be secured by the Collateral.

2.2  Interest on the Loans.

     A. Rate of Interest.  Each Loan shall bear interest on the unpaid principal
amount  thereof  from the date made to  maturity  (whether  by  acceleration  or
otherwise) at a rate equal to the Interest Rate.

     B. [RESERVED]

     C. Interest Payments. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2E, accrued
interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date,
upon any  prepayment  of that Loan (to the extent  accrued  on the amount  being
prepaid)  and  at  maturity  (including  final  maturity,   by  acceleration  or
otherwise).

     D. [RESERVED]

     E. Post-Default  Interest.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuation
of any Default, the outstanding principal amount of all Loans and, to the extent
permitted by Applicable Law, any interest payments thereon not paid when due and
any fees and other amounts then due and payable hereunder, shall thereafter bear
interest  (including   post-petition   interest  in  any  proceeding  under  the
Bankruptcy Code, or other applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws) payable upon
demand at a rate that is five  percent  (5%) per annum in excess of the Interest
Rate.  Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest  provided for in
this subsection 2.2E is not a permitted  alternative to timely payment and shall
not  constitute  a waiver of any  Default or  otherwise  prejudice  or limit any
rights or remedies of the Lender.

     F.  Computation  of  Interest.  Interest  on Loans shall be computed on the
basis of a 365 or 366-day year, as applicable, and for the actual number of days
elapsed in the period  during  which it accrues.  In  computing  interest on any
Loan,  the date of the  making of such Loan shall be  included,  and the date of
payment of such Loan shall be excluded; provided that if a Loan is repaid on the
same day on which it is made, one day's interest shall be paid on that Loan.

2.3  Commitment Fee.

     The Company agrees to pay to the Lender commitment fees with respect to the
Loans for the period from and  including  the date hereof to and  excluding  the
Maturity  Date,  equal to the sum of the average of the daily excess of the Loan
Commitments over the sum of the aggregate  principal amount of Loans outstanding
multiplied by 1.0% per annum. The foregoing  commitment fees shall be calculated
on the basis of a 360-day  year and the actual  number of days elapsed and shall
be payable in arrears on the Maturity Date.

2.4  Repayments,  Prepayments and Reductions in Commitments;  General Provisions
Regarding Payments.

     A.  Scheduled  Payments of Loans.  The Company shall repay all  outstanding
Loans on the Maturity Date.

     B. Prepayments and Reductions in Commitment.

          (i) Voluntary  Prepayments.  The Company may at any time and from time
     to time prepay,  without premium or penalty,  the Loans on any Business Day
     in whole or in part in an aggregate minimum amount of $500,000 and integral
     multiples of $250,000 in excess of that amount. Notice of prepayment having
     been given as  aforesaid,  the Loans  shall  become due and  payable on the
     prepayment  date  specified in such notice and in the  aggregate  principal
     amount specified therein. Once repaid, Loans may not be reborrowed.

          (ii) Mandatory Prepayments.

               (a) On the Maturity Date, the Loan Commitment of the Lender shall
          automatically  reduce to zero and may not be  reinstated.  The Company
          may reduce or terminate the Loan  Commitment at any time and from time
          to time in whole or in part.  Each such reduction must be in an amount
          not less than $5,000,000 (and in increments of $1,000,000 thereafter).
          If the Company  seeks to reduce the  Commitment to an amount less than
          $1,000,000, then the Loan Commitment shall be reduced to zero and this
          Agreement  shall be terminated.  Once reduced,  no portion of the Loan
          Commitment shall be reinstated.

               (b)  The  Loans  shall  be  prepaid  in the  manner  provided  in
          subsection 2.4B from time to time to the extent  necessary so that the
          aggregate  principal amount of all Loans  outstanding shall not at any
          time exceed the Commitments then in effect.

               (c) The Company shall,  immediately  upon receipt of the Net Cash
          Proceeds of any Asset  Sale,  Debt  Incurrence,  Equity  Issuance  and
          Recovery  Event  prepay the Loans in an amount  equal to the amount of
          such Net Cash Proceeds.

     C.  Application  of Proceeds of  Collateral.  All proceeds  received by the
Lender, as the case may be, in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other
realization upon all or any part of the Collateral under any Collateral Document
may, in the discretion of the Lender,  be held by the Lender as Collateral  for,
and/or (then or at any time thereafter) applied in full or in part by the Lender
against,  the  applicable  Secured  Obligations  (as defined in such  Collateral
Document) in the following order of priority:

               (a) to the  payment  of all  costs  and  expenses  of such  sale,
          collection  or  other   realization,   including  without   limitation
          reimbursement   of   reasonable   out-of-pocket   expenses   including
          reasonable fees of counsel,  and all other reasonable  liabilities and
          advances made or incurred by the Lender in connection  therewith,  and
          all amounts for which the Lender is entitled to indemnification  under
          such  Collateral   Document  and  all  advances  made  by  the  Lender
          thereunder  for the account of the Company,  and to the payment of all
          reasonable  costs  and  expenses  paid or  incurred  by the  Lender in
          connection  with the  exercise  of any  right  or  remedy  under  such
          Collateral  Document,  all  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  this
          Agreement and such Collateral Document;

               (b)  thereafter,  to the  extent of any excess  proceeds,  to the
          payment of all other such Secured Obligations; and

               (c)  thereafter,  to the  extent of any excess  proceeds,  to the
          payment  to or upon the order of the  Company or to  whosoever  may be
          lawfully  entitled  to  receive  the same or as a court  of  competent
          jurisdiction may direct.

     D. General Provisions Regarding Payments.

          (i)  Manner  and Time of  Payment.  All  payments  by the  Company  of
     principal,  interest,  fees and other  Obligations  hereunder and under the
     Notes  shall be made in same day  funds  and  without  defense,  setoff  or
     counterclaim,  free of any  restriction or condition,  and delivered to the
     Lender  not later  than  12:00  Noon (New York time) on the date due at the
     account of the Lender; funds received by the Lender after that time on such
     due date  shall be  deemed to have  been  paid by the  Company  on the next
     succeeding Business Day.

          (ii)  Application of Payments to Principal and Interest.  All payments
     in respect of the  principal  amount of any Loan shall  include  payment of
     accrued interest on the principal  amount being repaid or prepaid,  and all
     such payments (and in any event any payments made in respect of any Loan on
     a date when interest is due and payable with respect to such Loan) shall be
     applied to the payment of interest before application to principal.

          (iii)  Payments  on  Business  Days.  Except  if  expressly   provided
     otherwise,  whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be
     due on a day that is not a Business  Day, such payment shall be made on the
     next  succeeding  Business Day and such extension of time shall be included
     in  the  computation  of  the  payment  of  interest  hereunder  or of  the
     commitment fees hereunder, as the case may be.

          (iv) Notation of Payment.  The Lender agrees that before  disposing of
     any Note held by it, or any part  thereof,  the Lender will make a notation
     thereon  of all Loans  evidenced  by that Note and all  principal  payments
     previously made thereon and of the date to which interest  thereon has been
     paid;  provided  that the failure to make (or any error in the making of) a
     notation  of any Loan made  under  such Note  shall not limit or  otherwise
     affect such  disposition  or the  obligations  of the Company  hereunder or
     under such Note with  respect to any Loan or any  payments of  principal or
     interest on such Note.

2.5  Use of Proceeds.

     A.  Loans.  The  proceeds  of all Loans shall be applied by the Company for
working  capital  and  general   corporate   purpose  of  the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries.  The  proceeds  of the  Loans  shall  not  be  used,  directly  or
indirectly,  to purchase the stock or assets of any corporation,  partnership or
other entity.

     B.  Compliance  With Laws.  The Company  undertakes  that no portion of the
proceeds of any Loans shall be used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
any manner which would be illegal under,  or which would cause the invalidity or
unenforceability  (in each case in whole or in part) of any Loan Document under,
any Applicable Law.

     C. Margin Regulations.  Without limiting the generality of subsection 2.5B,
no portion of the proceeds of any borrowing  under this Agreement  shall be used
by the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  in any manner  that might cause the
borrowing  or  the  application  of  such  proceeds  to  violate  Regulation  U,
Regulation T or  Regulation  X of the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve
System or any other  regulation of such Board or to violate the Exchange Act, in
each case as in effect  on the date or dates of such  borrowing  and such use of
proceeds.

2.6  Increased Costs.

     In the event that the Lender  shall have  determined  (which  determination
shall,  absent  manifest  error,  be final and  conclusive  and binding upon all
parties hereto) at any time,  that the relevant  Interest Rate applicable to the
Loans  shall not  represent  the  effective  cost to the Lender  for  funding or
maintaining  Loans,  or the Lender shall incur  increased costs or reductions in
the amounts received or receivable hereunder in respect of any Loan, in any such
case  because  of (x)  any  change  since  the  date of  this  Agreement  in any
applicable  law or  governmental  rule,  regulation,  guideline  or order or any
interpretation  thereof  and  including  the  introduction  of  any  new  law or
governmental  rule,  regulation,  guideline or order,  whether or not having the
force of law and whether or not failure to comply  therewith  would be unlawful,
and/or (y) other reasonable circumstances affecting the Lender, then, and in any
such event,  the Lender shall,  promptly after making such  determination,  give
notice (by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Company of such determination.
Thereafter,  the Company shall pay to the Lender,  upon the Lender's delivery of
written demand therefor to the Company,  such additional amounts (in the form of
an increased rate of interest, or a different method of calculating interest, or
otherwise,  as the Lender in its sole  discretion  shall  determine) as shall be
required to  compensate  the Lender for such  increased  costs or  reduction  in
amounts received or receivable hereunder.

2.7  Taxes.

     A.  Payments to Be Free and Clear.  All sums  payable by the Company  under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall (except to the extent required
by law) be paid free and clear of, and without any deduction or  withholding  on
account  of, any Tax (other  than a Tax on the overall net income of the Lender)
imposed, levied, collected,  withheld or assessed by or within the United States
of America or any political subdivision in or of the United States of America or
any  other  jurisdiction  from  which a  payment  is made by or on behalf of the
Company.

     B.  Withholding of Taxes. If the Company or any other Person is required by
law to make any deduction or withholding on account of any such Tax from any sum
paid or payable by the Company to the Lender under any of the Loan Documents:

               (a) The Company  shall notify the Lender of any such  requirement
          or any change in any such  requirement as soon as the Company  becomes
          aware of it;

               (b) The  Company  shall pay any such Tax before the date on which
          penalties attach thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability to
          pay is  imposed  on the  Company)  for its  own  account  or (if  that
          liability  is imposed  on the  Lender) on behalf of and in the name of
          the Lender;

               (c) the sum  payable  by the  Company  in  respect  of which  the
          relevant  deduction,  withholding  or  payment  is  required  shall be
          increased to the extent  necessary to ensure that, after the making of
          that deduction, withholding or payment, the Lender receives on the due
          date a net sum  equal  to  what it  would  have  received  had no such
          deduction, withholding or payment been required or made; and

               (d) within 30 days after paying any sum from which it is required
          by law to make any deduction or withholding,  and within 30 days after
          the due date of payment of any Tax which it is  required by clause (b)
          above  to pay,  the  Company  shall  deliver  to the  Lender  evidence
          satisfactory  to  the  other  affected   parties  of  such  deduction,
          withholding or payment and of the  remittance  thereof to the relevant
          taxing or other authority;

provided  that no such  additional  amount  shall be  required to be paid to the
Lender  under  clause (c) above  except to the extent that any change  after the
Closing Date in any such requirement for a deduction,  withholding or payment as
is mentioned  therein shall result in an increase in the rate of such deduction,
withholding  or  payment  from that in effect at the date of this  Agreement  in
respect of payments to the Lender.


                                   SECTION 3.
                               CONDITIONS TO LOANS

     The obligation of the Lender to make any Loans  hereunder is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions.

3.1  Conditions to Loans.

     The  obligations  of the Lender to make the Loans are,  in  addition to the
conditions precedent specified in subsection 3.2, subject to prior or concurrent
satisfaction of the following conditions:

     A. Company  Documents.  On or before the Closing Date,  each of the Company
and its  Subsidiaries  shall  deliver or cause to be delivered to the Lender the
following, each, unless otherwise noted, dated the Closing Date:

          (i) Certified  copies of its  Certificate of  Incorporation,  together
     with a good standing  certificate  from the Secretary of State of the state
     of its  incorporation,  each  state in which it is  qualified  as a foreign
     corporation  to do business,  each dated a recent date prior to the Closing
     Date;

          (ii) Copies of its  Bylaws,  certified  as of the Closing  Date by its
     corporate secretary or an assistant secretary;

          (iii) Resolutions of its Board of Directors  approving and authorizing
     the  execution,  delivery and  performance  of this Agreement and the other
     Loan  Documents  to which it is a party or by which it or its assets may be
     bound as of the  Closing  Date,  certified  as of the  Closing  Date by its
     corporate  secretary or an  assistant  secretary as being in full force and
     effect without modification or amendment;

          (iv) Incumbency  certificates of its officers executing this Agreement
     and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party as of the Closing Date;

          (v) Executed  originals of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
     to which it is a party; and

          (vi) Such other documents as the Lender may reasonably request.

     B.  Collection of Accounts.  The Company shall instruct all account debtors
on the Accounts of the Company to remit all Collections to the account specified
on Schedule 3.1B (the "Blocked Account") at the financial  institution specified
on such Schedule or such other financial  institution  reasonably  acceptable to
the Lender (the "Lockbox  Bank").  The Company,  the Lender and the Lockbox Bank
shall  enter  into an  agreement  substantially  in the form of  Exhibit VI (the
"Lockbox Agreement").  All Collections and other amounts received by the Company
from any  account  debtor  shall upon  receipt  be  deposited  into the  Blocked
Account.  Termination of such  arrangements  shall be subject to approval by the
Lender.  The Lender  shall not be entitled to deliver a  Redirection  Notice (as
defined in the Lockbox Agreement) to the Lockbox Bank until the occurrence of an
Event of  Default.  Subject  to the  terms  of this  Agreement  and the  Lockbox
Agreement,  the Company hereby agrees that all payments  received by the Lender,
whether by cash,  check,  wire  transfer or any other  instrument,  made to such
Blocked Account or otherwise  received by the Lender and whether on the Accounts
or as proceeds  of other  Collateral  or  otherwise  will be sole and  exclusive
property of the Lender.

     C.  Necessary  Consents.  The Company  shall have  obtained all consents of
Governmental  Authorities  and other Persons  necessary in  connection  with the
continued   operation  of  the  business   conducted  by  the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries, and each of the foregoing shall be in full force and effect and in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

     D. Perfection of Security Interests. The Company shall have taken or caused
to be taken  such  actions  in such a manner so that the  Lender has a valid and
perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral. Such actions shall
include,  without  limitation,  the delivery to the Lender of (a) the Collateral
Documents,  (b) the results of a recent search, by a Person  satisfactory to the
Lender, of all effective UCC financing  statements and all judgment and tax lien
filings  which may have been made with respect to any  personal  property of the
Company,  together with copies of all such filings disclosed by such search, (c)
Uniform Commercial Code financing  statements  executed by the Company as to all
such Collateral granted by the Company for all jurisdictions as may be necessary
or desirable to perfect the Lender's security  interest in such Collateral,  and
(d)  evidence  reasonably  satisfactory  to the Lender  that all other  filings,
recordings  and other  actions  the  Lender  deems  necessary  or  advisable  to
establish,  preserve  and  perfect  the Liens  granted to the Lender in personal
property shall have been made.

     E. [RESERVED]

     F.  Opinions of Company's  Counsel.  The Lender and its counsel  shall have
received originally executed copies of one or more favorable written opinions of
the general  counsel and special New York counsel for the  Company,  in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender and its counsel, dated as of the
Closing  Date and  setting  forth  substantially  the  matters  in the  opinions
designated in Exhibit V and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

     G. Fees and  Expenses.  The Company  shall have paid to the Lender the fees
payable on the Closing Date referred to in subsection 2.3 and any expenses owing
to any Person by the Company as of the Closing Date.

     H.  Financial  Statements.  On or before the Closing Date, the Lender shall
have  received  from the  Company  the  financial  information  and  projections
described in subsection 4.3 hereof,  together with supporting  documentation  in
respect thereof, all in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.

     I.  Evidence of  Insurance.  The Lender  shall have  received  satisfactory
certificates  of  insurance  with  respect  to  each of the  insurance  policies
required  pursuant to subsection 5.4, and the Lender shall be satisfied with the
nature and scope of these insurance policies.

     J. Environmental.  (i) The Lender shall have received  information in form,
scope and substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the Lender with respect to all
Environmental  Liabilities  to which the Company  may be  subject,  and (ii) the
Lender  shall be  reasonably  satisfied  that the  amount and nature of any such
Environmental  Liabilities  and the plans of the Company with  respect  thereto,
could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     K. No  Material  Adverse  Effect.  (i) After the date of the funding of the
Initial Loan,  since September 30, 1998, (x) no Material  Adverse Effect (in the
sole opinion of the Lender)  shall have  occurred,  and (y) there shall not have
been  any  material  adverse  change,  or any  event,  condition  (financial  or
otherwise)  or  development  that could have a material  adverse  change,  in or
affecting  the  general  affairs,  industry,  management,  condition,  financial
position,  prospects,  shareholders  equity or results of operations of Company,
(ii) any  information  submitted  to  Lender  shall  not have  been  inaccurate,
incomplete  or misleading  in any respect,  which the Lender,  in its good faith
judgment,  deems to be  material  and  adverse,  and (iii)  there shall not have
occurred or become known to the Lender any event or events, adverse condition or
change that,  individually  or in the aggregate,  could have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

     L. Corporate and Capital Structure, Ownership, Management, Etc.

          (i) Corporate Structure. The corporate organizational structure of the
     Company shall be as set forth on Schedule 3.1L annexed hereto.

          (ii)  Capital  Structure  and  Ownership.  The capital  structure  and
     ownership  of the Company  shall be as set forth on Schedule  3.1L  annexed
     hereto.

          (iii) Management;  Employment  Contracts.  The management structure of
     the Company  shall be as set forth on Schedule  3.1L  annexed  hereto.  The
     Lender shall have  received  copies of, and shall be  reasonably  satisfied
     with the form and  substance  of,  any and all  employment  contracts  with
     senior management of the Company.

     M. Representations and Warranties;  Performance of Agreements.  The Company
shall  have  delivered  to the  Lender  an  Officer's  Certificate,  in form and
substance satisfactory to the Lender, to the effect that the representations and
warranties in Section 4 hereof are true and correct in all material  respects on
and as of the Closing  Date, to the same extent as though made on and as of that
date and that the Company  shall have  performed  in all  material  respects all
agreements and satisfied all conditions  which this Agreement  provides shall be
performed or satisfied by them on or before the Closing Date.

     N. Completion of Proceedings.  All corporate and other proceedings taken or
to be taken in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and all
documents  incidental thereto shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Lender and its counsel,  and the Lender and such counsel shall have received all
such counterpart  originals or certified  copies of such documents,  instruments
and legal opinions as the Lender may reasonably request.

     O. No Litigation.  Except as otherwise  disclosed to the Lender pursuant to
Schedule  3.1(O) or in the Company's  securities law filings,  there shall be no
litigation  or   administrative   proceedings   or  other  legal  or  regulatory
developments, actual or threatened, that, singly or in the aggregate, could have
a Material Adverse Effect.

     P.  Investment  Rights  Agreement.  The  Company  shall have  executed  and
delivered the Investment Rights Agreement

     Q.  Additional  Debt.  In order to borrow more than an aggregate  amount of
$10,000,000  under this  Agreement,  the Company shall have borrowed  $3,000,000
from another source, which debt may rank pari passu with the debt borrowed under
this Agreement.

     R. Subsidiary Guaranty. All Subsidiaries of the Company shall have executed
a copy of the Subsidiary Guaranty which is attached hereto as Exhibit VIII.

3.2  Conditions to All Loans.

     The  obligations  of the  Lender  to make  Loans on each  Funding  Date are
subject to the following further conditions precedent:

     A. The Lender shall have  received  before that Funding Date, in accordance
with the  provisions  of  subsection  2.1B,  an  originally  executed  Notice of
Borrowing,  in each  case  signed by the chief  executive  officer  or the chief
financial  officer of the  Company or by any  executive  officer of the  Company
designated by any of the above-described  officers on behalf of the Company in a
writing delivered to the Lender.

     B. As of that Funding Date:

          (i) The  representations  and warranties  contained  herein and in the
     other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material  respects on
     and as of that  Funding Date to the same extent as though made on and as of
     that  date,  except  to the  extent  such  representations  and  warranties
     specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such  representations
     and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on
     and as of such earlier date;

          (ii) No event shall have  occurred and be  continuing  or would result
     from the  consummation  of the  borrowing  contemplated  by such  Notice of
     Borrowing that would constitute a Default or Event of Default;

          (iii) The Company  shall have  performed in all material  respects all
     agreements and satisfied all conditions  which this Agreement and the other
     Loan  Documents  provide shall be performed or satisfied by it on or before
     that Funding Date;

          (iv)  No  order,  judgment  or  decree  of any  court,  arbitrator  or
     governmental  authority shall purport to enjoin or restrain the Lender from
     making the Loan to be made by it, on that Funding Date;

          (v) The making of the Loans  requested  on such Funding Date shall not
     violate any law including,  without limitation,  Regulation T, Regulation U
     or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

          (vi) There shall not be pending or, to the  knowledge  of the Company,
     threatened, any action, suit, proceeding, Environmental Claim, governmental
     investigation or arbitration against or affecting the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries or any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that
     has not been disclosed by the Company in writing and that is required to be
     so  disclosed  pursuant to  subsection  4.6,  4.13 or 5.1(xi)  prior to the
     making of the last  preceding  Loans,  and there  shall  have  occurred  no
     development  not  so  disclosed  in  any  such  action,  suit,  proceeding,
     Environmental Claim, governmental investigation or arbitration so disclosed
     that,  in either event,  in the good faith opinion of the Lender,  would be
     expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect;  and no  injunction  or other
     restraining  order  shall  have  been  issued  and no  hearing  to cause an
     injunction  or other  restraining  order to be issued  shall be  pending or
     noticed with respect to any action, suit or proceeding seeking to enjoin or
     otherwise  prevent the consummation of, or to recover any damages or obtain
     relief  as a  result  of any  of  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
     Agreement, including the making of Loans hereunder;

          (vii)  Neither the Company nor its  Subsidiaries  shall have any Hedge
     Agreements in effect;

          (viii)  Except for the  funding of the Initial  Loan,  for each of the
     fifteen days prior to any Funding Date the daily  volume  weighted  average
     per share  price of the common  stock of the  Company  shall be at or above
     $5.00 as determined by Bloomberg, L.P.;

          (ix) Except for the funding of the Initial Loan,  the cash flow of the
     Company for the fourth  quarter of 1998 (as  determinable  after January 1,
     1999)  shall  match or be more  positive  than the  Projections  which  the
     Company has delivered to the Lender prior to the Closing Date;

          (x) The shareholder's equity of the Company as applied on a consistent
     basis with GAAP shall be greater than $150,000,000; and

          (xi)  Except for the  funding of the  Initial  Loan,  the value of the
     Collateral shall be greater than  $28,000,000,  as determined by the Lender
     in its reasonable discretion.

3.3  Sole  Discretion  of the Lender.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
herein,  after the Initial Loan is made hereunder,  the availability of the Loan
Commitment  and the  making of any  subsequent  Loans  shall be made in the sole
discretion of the Lender.


                                   SECTION 4.
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     In order to induce the Lender to enter into this  Agreement and to make the
Loans,  the Company  represents and warrants to the Lender,  on the date of this
Agreement,  on the Closing Date and on each  Funding  Date,  that the  following
statements are true and correct.

4.1  Organization,   Powers,   Qualification,   Good   Standing,   Business  and
Subsidiaries.

     A. Organization and Powers.  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries which
is a corporation are duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of their  respective  states of  organization.  Each  Subsidiary of the
Company which is a partnership or limited  liability company is a duly organized
and validly existing limited  partnership or limited liability company under the
laws  of  its  jurisdiction  of  formation  and  is in  good  standing  in  such
jurisdiction.  The  Company  and  each of its  Subsidiaries  has  all  requisite
corporate,  partnership or limited  liability  company (as applicable) power and
authority to own and operate their  respective  properties and to carry on their
respective  business as now conducted  and as proposed to be conducted,  and the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate, partnership or
limited  liability company (as applicable) power and authority to enter into the
Loan Documents,  to carry out the transactions  contemplated thereby and, in the
case of the Company, to issue and pay the Notes.

     B.   Qualification  and  Good  Standing.   The  Company  and  each  of  its
Subsidiaries  are qualified or authorized to do business and in good standing in
every  jurisdiction  where their  respective  assets are  located  and  wherever
necessary to carry out their  respective  businesses and  operations,  except in
jurisdictions  where the failure to be so qualified or in good  standing has not
had and will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     C. Conduct of Business.  The Company and its  Subsidiaries are engaged only
in the businesses permitted to be engaged in pursuant to subsection 6.9.

4.2  Authorization of Borrowing, etc.

     A. Authorization of Borrowing.  The execution,  delivery and performance of
the Loan Documents and the issuance, delivery and payment of the Notes have been
duly authorized by all necessary  corporate  and/or  partnership (as applicable)
action on the part of the Company.

     B. No Conflict. After giving effect to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated  hereby to occur on the Closing Date, the  execution,  delivery and
performance  by the Company of the Loan  Documents,  the issuance,  delivery and
payment of the Notes and the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by
the Loan  Documents do not and will not (i) violate any  provision of any law or
any   governmental   rule  or  regulation   applicable   to  the  Company,   the
Organizational  Certificate or any other Organizational Documents of the Company
or any  order,  judgment  or decree of any court or other  agency of  government
binding on the Company,  (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute
(with  due  notice or lapse of time or both) a  default  under  any  Contractual
Obligation of the Company, (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition
of any Lien upon any of the  properties or assets of the Company (other than any
Liens created under any of the Loan  Documents in favor of the Lender),  or (iv)
require any  approval of  stockholders,  partners or members or any  approval or
consent of any Person under any  Contractual  Obligation of the Company,  except
for such  approvals or consents  which will be obtained on or before the Closing
Date and have been disclosed in writing to the Lender.

     C. Governmental  Consents.  The execution,  delivery and performance by the
Company of the Loan Documents,  the issuance,  delivery and payment of the Notes
and the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by the Loan Documents do
not and will not  require any  registration  with,  consent or  approval  of, or
notice  to,  or  other  action  to,  with or by,  any  federal,  state  or other
governmental  authority or regulatory  body except to the extent  obtained on or
before the Closing Date.

     D. Binding  Obligation.  Each of the Loan  Documents has been duly executed
and delivered by the Company and is the legally valid and binding  obligation of
the Company,  enforceable  against the Company in accordance with its respective
terms,  except as may be  limited  by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting  creditors'  rights generally
or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

     E. Collateral  Documents.  The security  interests  created in favor of the
Lender  under the  Collateral  Documents  will at all  times  from and after the
Closing Date constitute, as security for the obligations purported to be secured
thereby, a legal, valid and enforceable  security interest in and first priority
perfected  Lien on all of the  Collateral  referred  to  therein in favor of the
Lender.  The Company has good title to its respective  Collateral.  No consents,
filings  or  recordings  are  required  in order to  perfect  (or  maintain  the
perfection or priority of) the security interests purported to be created by any
of the  Collateral  Documents,  other than such as have been  obtained and which
remain in full force and effect and other than the filing of Uniform  Commercial
Code Financing  Statements delivered to the Lender for filing but not yet filed,
and the periodic filing of Uniform  Commercial Code  continuation  statements in
respect of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements filed by or on behalf of
the Lender.

     F. Absence of Third-Party  Filings.  Except for Permitted  Encumbrances and
except as set forth on Schedule 6.2 annexed  hereto,  no effective UCC financing
statement,  fixture filing or other instrument similar in effect covering all or
any part of the Collateral is on file in any filing or recording office.

     G.  Margin  Regulations.  Neither the making of the Loans nor the pledge of
the  Collateral  pursuant to the  Collateral  Documents  violates  Regulation T,
Regulation U or  Regulation  X of the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve
System.

4.3  Financial Condition; Projections.

     A.  Financial  Statements.  The Company  has  heretofore  delivered  to the
Lender,  at  the  Lender's  request,  the  following  financial  statements  and
information  with  respect  to the  Company,  pro forma  quarterly  consolidated
balance sheets of the Company as at September 30, 1998,  together with a related
pro forma consolidated  statements of income,  operations,  stockholder's equity
and cash flows for the Fiscal  Quarter then ended,  together will all supporting
documentation for any of the foregoing  reasonably  requested by the Lender. All
such statements are in material compliance with Regulation S-X of the Securities
Act, as interpreted by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission,  for
a public  offering  registered  under the  Securities  Act, and were prepared in
conformity with GAAP and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial
position  of the  entities  described  in such  financial  statements  as at the
respective  dates  thereof  and the results of  operations  and cash flows (on a
consolidated  basis) of the entities  described  therein for each of the periods
then ended, subject, in the case of any such unaudited financial statements,  to
changes resulting from audit and normal year-end  adjustments and the absence of
footnote  disclosure required in accordance with GAAP. The Company does not have
any  Contingent  Obligation,   contingent  liability  or  liability  for  taxes,
long-term lease or unusual forward or long-term commitment that is not reflected
in the  financial  statements  referred  to in the  preceding  clauses  of  this
subsection,   the  most  recent  financial   statements  delivered  pursuant  to
subsection  5.1 or the notes  thereto  and which in any such case is material in
relation to the business, operations, properties, assets, or financial condition
of the Company.

     B.  Projections.  On and as of the Closing  Date,  the  projections  of the
Company  delivered to the Lender with the Officer's  Certificate  on the Closing
Date (the  "Projections") are based on good faith estimates and assumptions made
by the management of the Company, it being recognized, however, that projections
as to future  events are not to be viewed as facts and that the  actual  results
during the period or periods  covered  by the  Projections  may differ  from the
projected results and that the differences may be material.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  as of the Closing Date,  management of the Company believed that the
Projections were reasonable and attainable.

4.4  No Material Adverse Change.

     After the date of the funding of the Initial Loan,  except, in any case, as
disclosed to the Lender in writing prior to the Closing Date, no event or change
has occurred  that has caused or evidences  or could  reasonably  be expected to
cause, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.5  Title to Properties; Liens; Real Property; Intellectual Property.

     A. Title to  Properties;  Liens.  After giving  effect to the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  the Company has good and marketable title in all of their
respective  properties and assets reflected in the financial statements referred
to in  subsection  4.3 or in the  most  recent  financial  statements  delivered
pursuant to subsection 5.1, except for assets disposed of since the date of such
financial  statements  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  or as  otherwise
permitted  under  subsection  6.7 and  except  for  such  defects  that  neither
individually  nor in the  aggregate  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  have a
Material  Adverse  Effect.  Except  as  permitted  by this  Agreement,  all such
properties and assets are free and clear of Liens.

     B. Intellectual  Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or have the
valid right to use all  trademarks  and service  marks,  trade  names,  patents,
copyrights,  trade  secrets and  technology  used in or necessary to conduct the
Company's  and  its  Subsidiaries'  business  (collectively,  the  "Intellectual
Property"),   free  and  clear  of  any  and  all  Liens  other  than  Permitted
Encumbrances.  All  registrations  therefor are in full force and effect and are
valid and  enforceable.  The  conduct  of the  Company's  and its  Subsidiaries'
business as currently  conducted,  including,  but not limited to, all products,
processes  or  services,   made,   offered  or  sold  by  the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries,  does not infringe  upon,  violate,  misappropriate  or dilute any
intellectual  property  of  any  third  party  which  infringement,   violation,
misappropriation  or dilution  could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. To the best of the Company's and its Subsidiaries' knowledge, no
third  party  is  infringing  upon the  Intellectual  Property  in any  material
respect.  There  is no  pending  or  to  the  best  of  the  Company's  and  its
Subsidiaries' knowledge, threatened claim or litigation contesting the Company's
right  to own or use any  material  Intellectual  Property  or the  validity  or
enforceability thereof.

4.6  Litigation; Adverse Facts.

     Except as set forth in Schedule 4.6, there is no action, suit,  proceeding,
arbitration or governmental  investigation (whether or not purportedly on behalf
of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries)  at law or in equity or before or by
any federal,  state,  municipal or other  governmental  department,  commission,
board, bureau,  agency or instrumentality,  domestic or foreign,  pending or, to
the  knowledge  of the  Company  (after  due  inquiry),  threatened  against  or
affecting the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries or any property of the Company
or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  that,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate
together with all other such actions,  proceedings and investigations,  has had,
or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect. Neither
the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is (i) in violation of any  Applicable
Law that has had,  or could  reasonably  be  expected  to result  in, a Material
Adverse  Effect or (ii)  subject  to or in  default  with  respect  to any final
judgment,  writ,  injunction,  decree,  rule or  regulation  of any court or any
federal, state, municipal or other governmental department,  commission,  board,
bureau,  agency or instrumentality,  domestic or foreign, that has had, or could
reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.7  Payment of Taxes.

     Except to the extent  permitted by subsection 5.3, all material tax returns
and reports of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  required to be filed by any of
them have been timely  filed and are true,  correct and complete in all material
respects,  and all  material  taxes,  assessments,  fees and other  governmental
charges  upon  the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  and  upon  their  respective
properties,  assets, income, businesses and franchises which are due and payable
have  been  paid  when  due and  payable.  Neither  the  Company  nor any of its
Subsidiaries  knows of any proposed tax assessment against the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  other than those which are being  actively  contested  by the
Company or such Subsidiary in good faith and by appropriate  proceedings and for
which reserves or other  appropriate  provisions,  if any, as may be required in
conformity with GAAP shall have been made or provided therefor.

4.8  Performance of Agreements; Materially Adverse Agreements.

     Except,  in any case,  as disclosed in writing to the Lender on or prior to
the Closing Date:

     A.  Neither the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is in default in the
performance,  observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations,  covenants or
conditions  contained in any of its  Contractual  Obligations,  and no condition
exists  that,  with the  giving of  notice  or the lapse of time or both,  would
constitute such a default, except where the consequences, direct or indirect, of
such default or defaults, if any, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     B.  Neither  the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party to or is
otherwise  subject  to any  agreement  or  instrument  or any  charter  or other
internal  restriction which has had, or could reasonably be expected (based upon
assumptions that are reasonable at the time made) to result in,  individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

4.9  Governmental Regulation.

     Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is subject to  regulation
under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the
Interstate Commerce Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any other
federal or state  statute  or  regulation  which may limit its  ability to incur
Indebtedness or which may otherwise render all or any portion of the Obligations
unenforceable.

4.10 Securities Activities.

     Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally,  or
as one of its important activities,  in the business of extending credit for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock.

4.11 Employee Benefit Plans.

     A. The Company and each of its ERISA  Affiliates are in compliance with all
applicable  provisions and  requirements  of ERISA with respect to each Employee
Benefit  Plan,  and have  performed  all their  obligations  under each Employee
Benefit  Plan,  except to the extent that any  non-compliance  with ERISA or any
such failure to perform would not result in material liability of the Company or
any of its ERISA Affiliates.

     B. No ERISA Event has occurred  which has resulted or is reasonably  likely
to  result  in any  material  liability  of  the  Company  or  any of its  ERISA
Affiliates to the PBGC or to any other Person.

     C.  Except to the  extent  required  under  Section  4980B of the  Internal
Revenue  Code and/or  Section  601 of ERISA,  neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries  maintains or contributes to any employee  welfare benefit plan (as
defined in  Section  3(1) of ERISA)  that  provides  health or welfare  benefits
(through  the  purchase of  insurance  or  otherwise)  for any retired or former
employees of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  other than as set forth on
Schedule 4.11 annexed hereto.

     D. No Pension  Plan has an  Unfunded  Current  Liability  in an amount that
would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     E. As of the most recent  valuation  date for each  Multiemployer  Plan for
which the actuarial report is available, the potential liability of the Company,
its Subsidiaries and their respective ERISA Affiliates for a complete withdrawal
from such Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of Section 4203 of ERISA), when
aggregated  with such  potential  liability for a complete  withdrawal  from all
Multiemployer Plans, based on information  available pursuant to Section 4221(e)
of ERISA, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.12 Certain Fees.

     No broker's or finder's fee or  commission  will be payable with respect to
this  Agreement or any of the loan  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and the
Company hereby indemnifies the Lender against,  and agrees that it will hold the
Lender  harmless from,  any claim,  demand or liability for any such broker's or
finder's fees alleged to have been incurred in connection  herewith or therewith
and any expenses  (including  reasonable  fees,  expenses and  disbursements  of
counsel) arising in connection with any such claim, demand or liability.

4.13 Environmental Matters.

          (i) The Company, each of its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the
     Company  (after  due  inquiry),  each of the  tenants  under any  leases or
     occupancy  agreements  affecting  any  portion  of the  Facilities,  are in
     compliance  with  all  applicable   Environmental  Laws  (which  compliance
     includes, but is not limited to, the possession by the Company, each of its
     Subsidiaries and each of such tenants of all permits and other Governmental
     Authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws, and compliance
     with the terms and  conditions  thereof),  except  where  failure  to be in
     compliance  would not have a Material  Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company
     nor any of its  Subsidiaries,  nor, to the knowledge of the Company  (after
     due inquiry),  any of the tenants under any leases or occupancy  agreements
     affecting  any portion of the  Facilities  has received  any  communication
     (written or oral), whether from a Governmental  Authority,  citizens group,
     employee or otherwise,  alleging that the Company, any of its Subsidiaries,
     or any such  tenants  is not in such  compliance,  and there are no past or
     present  (or  to  the  best  knowledge  of the  Company,  future)  actions,
     activities,  circumstances conditions, events or incidents that may prevent
     or interfere with such compliance in the future.

          (ii) There is no Environmental Claim pending or threatened against the
     Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or,  to  the  best  knowledge  of the
     Company, against any Person whose liability for any Environmental Claim the
     Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  has or may have  retained  or assumed
     either  contractually  or by  operation  of law which would have a Material
     Adverse Effect.

          (iii)  There are no past or present (or to the best  knowledge  of the
     Company, future) actions, activities, circumstances,  conditions, events or
     incidents,  including,  without limitation,  the Release or presence of any
     Hazardous  Material which could form the basis of any  Environmental  Claim
     against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the best knowledge of
     the Company, against any Person whose liability for any Environmental Claim
     the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries has or may have retained or assumed
     either  contractually  or by  operation  of law which would have a Material
     Adverse Effect.

          (iv)  The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  have  not,  and to the best
     knowledge of the Company,  no other Person has placed,  stored,  deposited,
     discharged,  buried, dumped or disposed of Hazardous Materials or any other
     wastes  produced  by,  or  resulting  from,  any  business,  commercial  or
     industrial activities,  operations or processes, on, beneath or adjacent to
     any property currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by the Company
     or any of its Subsidiaries, except for inventories of such substances to be
     used, and wastes generated therefrom, in the ordinary course of business of
     the Company and its  Subsidiaries  (which  inventories and wastes,  if any,
     were  and  are  stored  or  disposed  of  in  accordance   with  applicable
     Environmental  Laws and in a manner  such that there has been no Release of
     any such substances).

          (v) No Lien in favor of any Person  relating to or in connection  with
     any  Environmental  Claim  has  been  filed  or has  been  attached  to any
     Facility.

          (vi) Without in any way limiting the  generality of the foregoing none
     of  the  Facilities  contain  any:  underground  storage  tanks;  asbestos;
     polychlorinated   biphenyls;   underground  injection  wells;   radioactive
     materials;  or  septic  tanks  or  waste  disposal  pits in  which  process
     wastewater or any Hazardous Materials have been discharged or disposed.

4.14 Employee Matters.

     There is no  strike,  work  stoppage  or other  condition  relating  to the
Company's  employees in existence or threatened  involving the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  that could  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

4.15 Inactive Subsidiaries.

     The Subsidiaries of the Company listed on Schedule 4.15 hereto are inactive
and have no material assets.

4.16 [RESERVED]

4.17 Disclosure.

     The  representations  and  warranties of the Company  contained in the Loan
Documents and all information  contained in any other  document,  certificate or
written statement furnished to the Lender by or on behalf of the Company for use
in connection with the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or any other
Loan Document,  when taken  together,  do not contain any untrue  statement of a
material  fact or omit to state a material  fact (known to the  Company,  in the
case of any  document  not  furnished  by it)  necessary  in  order  to make the
statements   contained  herein  or  therein  not  misleading  in  light  of  the
circumstances in which the same were made.

4.18 Year 2000 Problems.

     The Company has (i) engaged in a process of  assessment of the existence of
the Year 2000 Problems  reasonably  appropriate  to the scope and  complexity of
their respective Systems; (ii) adopted and are successfully  implementing a plan
of correction ("Plan of Correction") which, the Company reasonably believes will
result in a substantial  elimination  of Year 2000 Problems  (and, in any event,
all Year 2000  Problems  which could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse  Effect) which might have a Material  Adverse Effect and, in the case of
all Systems (as defined in the definition of Year 2000 Problems) critical to the
business or operations of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  elimination in all
material  respects of Year 2000 Problems  prior to any  processing  failure of a
System or Systems due to Year 2000 Problems which might have a Material  Adverse
Effect; (iii) adopted and are successfully  implementing  validation  procedures
calculated  to  test  on an  ongoing  basis  the  sufficiency  of  the  Plan  of
Correction,  its  implementation,  and the  correction  of Year 2000 Problems in
substantially all Systems and all Systems critical to the business or operations
of the  Company and its  Subsidiaries;  and (iv)  adopted  and are  successfully
implementing   policies  and  procedures   requiring  regular  reports  to,  and
monitoring  by,  senior  management  of the  Company  concerning  the  foregoing
matters.

     The Company  reasonably  believes that, as relating to the Company and each
of its  Subsidiaries,  individually and taken as a whole, (x) the assessment and
correction of Year 2000 Problems,  including,  without  limitation,  the Plan of
Correction,  and the  testing of all  Systems  and the  correction  of Year 2000
Problems,  in  each  case,  which,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  if not
corrected could reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  will
be completed on or prior to December 31,  1998,  (y) a Material  Adverse  Effect
will not occur as a result of any Year 2000 Problem, and (z) the aggregate costs
and expenses incurred and reasonably  expected to be incurred in connection with
the  assessment  and  correction  of  Year  2000  Problems,  including,  without
limitation,  the Plan of  Correction,  and the  testing  and  monitoring  of all
Systems  and the  correction  of Year 2000  Problems,  could not  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


                                   SECTION 5.
                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     The Company  covenants and agrees that,  so long as any of the  Commitments
hereunder  shall remain in effect and until  payment in full of all of the Loans
and other  Obligations,  unless the Lender shall  otherwise  give prior  written
consent, the Company shall perform, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries, as
applicable, to perform, all covenants in this Section 5.

5.1  Financial Statements; Collateral Reports and Other Reports.

     The Company will maintain,  and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain,
a system of accounting  established  and  administered  in accordance with sound
business practices to permit  preparation of financial  statements in conformity
with GAAP. The Company will deliver to the Lender:

          (i) Monthly  Financials:  as soon as available and in any event within
     thirty (30) days after each calendar month-end commencing with the calendar
     month ending  November  30, 1998,  or in the case of the third month of any
     fiscal  quarter,  within  forty-five (45) days after the end of such month,
     (a) the  consolidated and  consolidating  balance sheets of the Company and
     its  Subsidiaries  as at the  end of each  fiscal  month  and  the  related
     consolidated  and  consolidating  statements  of income,  and  consolidated
     statement of cash flows of the Company and its  Subsidiaries for such month
     and for the period from the  beginning of the then  current  Fiscal Year to
     the end of such month,  setting forth,  in the case of statements of income
     only, in comparative form the  corresponding  figures for the corresponding
     periods of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding  figures from the
     consolidated  plan and  financial  forecast  for the  current  Fiscal  Year
     delivered pursuant to subsection 5.1(xiii), all prepared in accordance with
     GAAP and in reasonable  detail and certified by the chief financial officer
     of the Company  that they fairly  present,  in all material  respects,  the
     financial  condition  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  as at the dates
     indicated and the results of their  operations and their cash flows for the
     periods  indicated,  subject  to  changes  resulting  from audit and normal
     year-end adjustments;  and (b) a narrative report describing the operations
     of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole in the form prepared
     for  presentation  to senior  management  for such month and for the period
     from the  beginning  of the  then  current  Fiscal  Year to the end of such
     month;

          (ii)  Quarterly  Financials:  as soon as  available  and in any  event
     within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter commencing
     with the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 1998, (a) the consolidated and
     consolidating  balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the
     end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related  consolidated and  consolidating
     statements  of  income  and  consolidated  statement  of cash  flows of the
     Company and its  Subsidiaries  for such  Fiscal  Quarter and for the period
     from the  beginning  of the  then  current  Fiscal  Year to the end of such
     Fiscal Quarter, setting forth, in the case of statements of income only, in
     comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of
     the  previous   fiscal  year  and  the   corresponding   figures  from  the
     consolidated  plan and  financial  forecast  for the  current  Fiscal  Year
     delivered pursuant to subsection 5.1(xiii), all prepared in accordance with
     the GAAP and in  reasonable  detail and  certified  by the chief  financial
     officer of the Company that they fairly present,  in all material respects,
     the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates
     indicated and the results of their  operations and their cash flows for the
     periods  indicated,  subject  to  changes  resulting  from audit and normal
     year-end adjustments,  and (b) a narrative report describing the operations
     of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole in the form prepared
     for  presentation to senior  management for such Fiscal Quarter and for the
     period from the  beginning  of the then  current  Fiscal Year to the end of
     such Fiscal Quarter;

          (iii)  Year-End  Financials:  as soon as  available  and in any  event
     within  ninety  (90)  days  after  the end of  each  Fiscal  Year,  (a) the
     consolidated  and  consolidating  balance  sheets  of the  Company  and its
     Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated
     and consolidating  statements of income and consolidated  statement of cash
     flows of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  for such Fiscal  Year,  setting
     forth,  in the case of statements of income only, in  comparative  form the
     corresponding  figures for the previous  fiscal year and the  corresponding
     figures  from  the  consolidated  plan  and  financial  forecast  delivered
     pursuant  to  subsection  5.1(xiii)  for the  Fiscal  Year  covered by such
     financial  statements,  all  prepared  in  accordance  with the GAAP and in
     reasonable  detail  and  certified  by the chief  financial  officer of the
     Company that they fairly present,  in all material respects,  the financial
     condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and
     the  results  of their  operations  and their  cash  flows for the  periods
     indicated,  (b) a narrative report describing the operations of the Company
     and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole in the form prepared for presentation
     to senior  management  for such  Fiscal  Year,  and (c) in the case of such
     consolidated   financial  statements,   a  report  thereon  of  independent
     certified public  accountants of recognized  national  standing selected by
     the Company and reasonably  satisfactory to the Lender,  which report shall
     be unqualified as to going concern and scope of audit, and shall state that
     such  consolidated  financial  statements  fairly present,  in all material
     respects,  the  consolidated  financial  position  of the  Company  and its
     Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their  operations
     and their cash flows for the  periods  indicated  in  conformity  with GAAP
     applied  on a basis  consistent  with  prior  years  (except  as  otherwise
     disclosed  in  such  financial  statements)  and  that  the  audit  by such
     accountants in connection with such consolidated  financial  statements has
     been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards;

          (iv)  Officer's  and  Compliance  Certificates:   together  with  each
     delivery  of  financial  statements  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries
     pursuant to subdivisions (ii) and (iii) above, (a) an Officer's Certificate
     of the  Company  stating  that the  signer has  reviewed  the terms of this
     Agreement and has made, or caused to be made under his or her  supervision,
     a review in  reasonable  detail of the  transactions  and  condition of the
     Company and its Subsidiaries  during the accounting  period covered by such
     financial  statements  and that such review has not disclosed the existence
     during or at the end of such accounting period, and that the signer did not
     have  knowledge  of  the  existence  as  at  the  date  of  such  Officer's
     Certificate, of any condition or event that constitutes an Default or Event
     of  Default,  or,  if any  such  condition  or  event  existed  or  exists,
     specifying  the nature and period of existence  thereof and what action the
     Company has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto; and
     (b) a Compliance Certificate  demonstrating in reasonable detail compliance
     during  and  at the  end of the  applicable  accounting  periods  with  the
     restrictions contained in Section 6;

          (v)  Reconciliation  Statements:  if,  as a result  of any  change  in
     accounting  principles  and policies from those used in the  preparation of
     the  audited  financial  statements  referred  to in  subsection  4.3,  the
     consolidated  financial  statements  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries
     delivered  pursuant  to  subdivisions  (i),  (ii),  (iii) or (xiii) of this
     subsection  5.1 will differ in any material  respect from the  consolidated
     financial  statements  that  would  have been  delivered  pursuant  to such
     subdivisions had no such change in accounting  principles and policies been
     made,  then (a) together  with the first  delivery of financial  statements
     pursuant to subdivision  (i), (ii),  (iii) or (xiii) of this subsection 5.1
     following such change, consolidated financial statements of the Company and
     its  Subsidiaries  for (y) the current Fiscal Year to the effective date of
     such change and (z) the two (2) full fiscal years immediately preceding the
     Fiscal  Year in which such change is made,  in each case  prepared on a pro
     forma basis as if such change had been in effect during such  periods,  and
     (b)  together  with each  delivery  of  financial  statements  pursuant  to
     subdivision  (i),  (ii),  (iii) or (xiii) of this  subsection 5.1 following
     such change, a written  statement of the chief accounting  officer or chief
     financial  officer of the Company setting forth the differences which would
     have resulted if such financial statements had been prepared without giving
     effect to such change, if reasonably requested by the Lender;

          (vi)  Accountants'  Certification:  together  with  each  delivery  of
     consolidated  financial  statements  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries
     pursuant to subdivision (iii) above, a written statement by the independent
     certified  public  accountants  giving the report  thereon (a) stating that
     their audit has included a reading of the terms of this  Agreement  and the
     other  Loan  Documents  as they  relate  to the  conditions  set  forth  in
     subsection  3.2B  and  accounting  matters,  and (b)  stating  whether,  in
     connection with their audit examination, any condition or event, insofar as
     such  condition or event relates to the  conditions set forth in subsection
     3.2B or accounting matters, that constitutes an Default or Event of Default
     has come to their  attention  and, if such a condition or event has come to
     their  attention,  specifying  the nature and period of existence  thereof;
     provided that such accountants shall not be liable by reason of any failure
     to obtain  knowledge of any such Default or Event of Default that would not
     be disclosed in the course of their audit examination;

          (vii)  Accountants'  Reports:  promptly upon receipt  thereof  (unless
     restricted by  applicable  professional  standards),  copies of all reports
     submitted  to  the  Company  by a  national  independent  certified  public
     accountants in connection with each annual, interim or special audit of the
     financial  statements  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  made by such
     accountants, including, without limitation, any comment letter submitted by
     such accountants to management in connection with their annual audit;

          (viii) SEC Filings and Press  Releases:  promptly upon their  becoming
     available,  copies of (a) all financial  statements,  reports,  notices and
     proxy  statements  sent or made  available  generally by the Company to its
     security holders, (b) all regular and periodic reports and all registration
     statements (other than on Form S-8 or a similar form) and prospectuses,  if
     any,  filed by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  with any securities
     exchange or with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental
     or  private  regulatory  authority,  and (c) all press  releases  and other
     statements  made  available   generally  by  the  Company  or  any  of  its
     Subsidiaries to the public concerning material developments in the business
     of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

          (ix) Events of Default, etc.: promptly upon any officer of the Company
     obtaining  knowledge  (a) of any  condition  or event  that  constitutes  a
     Default or an Event of Default, (b) that any Person has given any notice to
     the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or taken any other  action  with
     respect to a claimed  default or event or condition of the type referred to
     in subsection  7.2, (c) of any condition or event that would be required to
     be disclosed in a current  report filed by the Company with the  Securities
     and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K (Items 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of such Form as
     in effect on the date  hereof) if the  Company  were  required to file such
     reports  under the Exchange  Act, or (d) of the  occurrence of any event or
     change  that has caused or  evidences  or could be  reasonably  expected to
     cause,  either in any case or in the aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect,
     an Officer's  Certificate  specifying the nature and period of existence of
     such condition,  event or change,  or specifying the notice given or action
     taken by any such Person and the nature of such claimed  Default,  Event of
     Default,  default,  event or  condition,  and what  action the  Company (or
     applicable  Subsidiary)  has  taken,  is taking and  proposes  to take with
     respect thereto;

          (x) Litigation or Other Proceedings:  (a) promptly upon any officer of
     the Company  obtaining  knowledge of (X) the  institution of, or threat of,
     any  action,  suit,   proceeding  (whether   administrative,   judicial  or
     otherwise),  Environmental Claim, governmental investigation or arbitration
     against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any property
     of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, "Proceedings") not
     previously  disclosed  in writing  by the  Company to the Lender or (Y) any
     material development in any Proceeding that, in any case:

               (a) if  adversely  determined,  has a reasonable  possibility  of
          giving rise to a Material Adverse Effect; or

               (b) seeks to enjoin or otherwise  prevent the consummation of, or
          to  recover  any  damages  or  obtain  relief  as  a  result  of,  the
          transactions contemplated hereby;

     written  notice  thereof  together  with such other  information  as may be
     reasonably available to the Company to enable the Lender and its counsel to
     evaluate such matters; and (b) within forty-five (45) days after the end of
     each fiscal quarter of the Company, a schedule of all Proceedings involving
     an alleged liability of, or claims against or affecting, the Company or any
     of its Subsidiaries  equal to or greater than $2,500,000 and promptly after
     request by the Lender such other information as may be reasonably requested
     by the Lender to enable the Lender and its counsel to evaluate  any of such
     Proceedings;

          (xi) ERISA  Events:  promptly upon the Company  becoming  aware of the
     occurrence of any ERISA Event that would result in a material  liability of
     the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates, a written notice specifying the
     nature thereof,  what action the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has
     taken,  is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and, when known,
     any  action  taken or  threatened  by the  Internal  Revenue  Service,  the
     Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto;

          (xii) ERISA Notices:  with  reasonable  promptness,  copies of (a) all
     written notices received by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates from
     a Multiemployer  Plan sponsor concerning an ERISA Event; and (b) such other
     documents  or  governmental  reports or filings  relating  to any  Employee
     Benefit Plan as the Lender shall reasonably request;

          (xiii)  Financial  Plans:  as soon as practicable  and in any event no
     later than the  beginning of each Fiscal Year, a monthly  consolidated  and
     consolidating  plan and financial  forecast for the next succeeding  Fiscal
     Year,  including  without  limitation (a) forecasted  consolidated  balance
     sheet and forecasted  consolidated and  consolidating  statements of income
     and   consolidated   statement  of  cash  flows  of  the  Company  and  its
     Subsidiaries  for such Fiscal Year,  together  with a pro forma  Compliance
     Certificate  for such Fiscal Year and an explanation of the  assumptions on
     which  such  forecasts  are  based,  and (b)  such  other  information  and
     projections as the Lender may reasonably request;

          (xiv)  Insurance:  as soon as practicable and in any event by the last
     day of each Fiscal Year, a report in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Lender outlining all material insurance coverage  maintained as of the date
     of such  report  by the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  and all  material
     insurance  coverage  planned  to be  maintained  by  the  Company  and  its
     Subsidiaries in the immediately succeeding Fiscal Year;

          (xv)  Environmental   Audits  and  Reports:  as  soon  as  practicable
     following receipt thereof,  copies of all environmental audits and reports,
     if  any,  whether  prepared  by  personnel  of  the  Company  or any of its
     Subsidiaries or by independent  consultants,  with respect to environmental
     matters at any  Facility or which relate to any  Environmental  Liabilities
     which could result in a Material  Adverse Effect of which the Company has a
     copy;

          (xvi) Regulatory Notices:  promptly upon receipt,  notification of any
     non-renewal, cancellation,  termination, revocation, suspension, impairment
     or material modification of, or of any hearing, proceeding or investigation
     regarding, any license held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which
     is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (xvii) Material Contracts: promptly after (a) any Material Contract is
     terminated or expires or is renewed or is, amended or otherwise modified in
     any material manner,  (b) any new Material Contract is entered into, or (c)
     any material notice or other communication is delivered by any party to any
     Material Contract pursuant thereto or in respect thereof, notice and a copy
     thereof and, in the case of any such renewal, amendment, other modification
     or new  Material  Contract,  a  description  in  reasonable  detail  of the
     material terms thereof;

          (xviii)  Material  Bids:  promptly  after (a) the Company places a bid
     which could  result in a Material  Contract  and (b) the  Company  receives
     notice that it has failed to receive a bid which  would have  resulted in a
     Material Contract, a description in reasonable detail of the material terms
     of the bid;

          (xix)  Merger/Sale   Discussions:   promptly  upon  knowledge  of  any
     discussions,  negotiations  or  offers  regarding  the  purchase  of all or
     substantially  all of the stock or assets of the Company,  or merger of the
     Company with any other entity,  notification  regarding  such  discussions,
     negotiations  or offers  together  with  documentation  describing  them in
     reasonable detail; and

          (xx)  Other  Information:   with  reasonable  promptness,  such  other
     information and data with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
     as from time to time may be reasonably requested by the Lender.

5.2  Corporate Existence.

     Except as permitted under  subsection 6.6, the Company will, and will cause
each of its  Subsidiaries  to, at all times  preserve and keep in full force and
effect its  corporate  existence and all rights and  franchises  material to the
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis).

5.3  Payment of Taxes and Claims; Tax Consolidation.

     A. The Company will,  and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to, pay all
taxes,  assessments and other governmental charges imposed upon it or any of its
properties  or  assets  or in  respect  of  any  of its  income,  businesses  or
franchises  before any  penalty  accrues  thereon,  and all  claims  (including,
without limitation, claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums
that have  become due and payable and that by law have or may become a Lien upon
any of its  properties  or  assets,  prior to the time when any  penalty or fine
shall be incurred  with respect  thereto;  provided that no such charge or claim
need  be paid if  being  contested  in good  faith  by  appropriate  proceedings
promptly  instituted  and  diligently  conducted  and if such  reserve  or other
appropriate  provision,  if any, as shall be required  in  conformity  with GAAP
shall have been made therefor.

     B. The Company  will not,  nor will it permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
file or consent to the filing of any  consolidated,  combined  or other  similar
income tax return with any Person (other than Subsidiaries of the Company).

5.4  Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.

     The Company will, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to, maintain or
cause to be maintained in good repair,  working  order and  condition,  ordinary
wear and tear excepted,  all material  properties used or useful in the business
of the Company and its  Subsidiaries and from time to time will make or cause to
be made all appropriate repairs,  renewals and replacements thereof. The Company
will maintain or cause to be maintained,  with  financially  sound and reputable
insurers,  insurance  with  respect  to its  properties  and  business  and  the
properties  and  businesses  of its  Subsidiaries  against loss or damage of the
kinds and with  respect to liability  customarily  carried or  maintained  under
similar  circumstances  by  corporations  of established  reputation  engaged in
similar businesses. Each such policy of casualty insurance covering damage to or
loss of  property  shall name the Lender as  additional  insured and as the loss
payee  thereunder  for all  losses,  each  such  policy of  liability  insurance
coverage shall name the Lender as an additional  insured,  and all such policies
of insurance  shall provide for at least thirty (30) days' prior written  notice
to  the  Lender  of  any  modification  or  cancellation  of  such  policy.  5.5
Inspection; Lender Meeting.

     The Company shall,  and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any
authorized  representatives designated by the Lender to visit and inspect any of
the  properties  of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  including  its and
their  financial and  accounting  records,  and to make copies and take extracts
therefrom, and to discuss its and their affairs, finances, strategy and accounts
with its and their officers and independent public  accountants.  Without in any
way limiting the  foregoing,  the Company will,  upon the request of the Lender,
participate  in a meeting of the Lender once during each month to be held at the
Company's  corporate  offices (or such other location as may be agreed to by the
Company and the Lender) at such time as may be requested by the Lender.

5.6  Compliance with Laws, etc.

     The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with
the  requirements of all applicable laws,  rules,  regulations and orders of any
governmental authority, noncompliance with which could reasonably be expected to
cause a Material Adverse Effect.

5.7  Environmental Disclosure and Inspection.

     A. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, exercise
all due  diligence in order to comply and cause (i) all tenants under any leases
or occupancy  agreements  affecting any portion of the  Facilities  and (ii) all
other Persons on or occupying  such property,  to comply with all  Environmental
Laws,  noncompliance with which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material
Adverse Effect.

     B. The Company  agrees that the Lender may, from time to time,  retain,  at
the  Company's  expense,  an  independent   professional  consultant  reasonably
acceptable to the Company to review any report  relating to Hazardous  Materials
prepared  by or for the  Company  and to conduct  its own  investigation  of any
Facility currently owned, leased,  operated or used by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries,  if (x) an Default or Event of Default  shall have occurred and be
continuing,  or (y) the  Lender  reasonably  believes  (1)  that  an  occurrence
relating to such Facility is likely to give rise to an  Environmental  Liability
or (2) that a violation of an  Environmental  Law on or around such Facility has
occurred or is likely to occur,  which could,  in either such case,  result in a
Material  Adverse  Effect.  The Company agrees to use all reasonable  efforts to
obtain  permission for the Lender's  professional  consultant to conduct its own
investigation of any such Facility previously owned, leased, operated or used by
the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries.  The Company  shall use its  reasonable
efforts  to obtain for the Lender and its  agents,  employees,  consultants  and
contractors the right, upon reasonable  notice to the Company,  to enter into or
on to the Facilities currently owned, leased, operated or used by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to perform such tests on such property as are reasonably
necessary to conduct such a review and/or investigation.  Any such investigation
of any Facility shall be conducted,  unless  otherwise  agreed to by the Company
and the Lender,  during  normal  business  hours and,  to the extent  reasonably
practicable,  shall  be  conducted  so as  not to  interfere  with  the  ongoing
operations  at any such  Facility or to cause any damage or loss to any property
at such Facility.  The Company and the Lender hereby  acknowledge and agree that
any report of any investigation  conducted at the request of the Lender pursuant
to this subsection 5.7B will be obtained and shall be used by the Lender for the
purposes of the Lender's  internal credit  decisions,  to monitor and police the
Loans and to protect the Lender's  security  interests,  if any,  created by the
Loan  Documents.  The Lender  agrees to deliver a copy of any such report to the
Company with the understanding that the Company acknowledges and agrees that (i)
it will  indemnify  and hold  harmless  the  Lender  from any  costs,  losses or
liabilities  relating to the Company's  use of or reliance on such report,  (ii)
the Lender makes any representation or warranty with respect to such report, and
(iii) by delivering  such report to the Company,  the Lender is not requiring or
recommending the implementation of any suggestions or recommendations  contained
in such report.

     C.  The  Company  shall  promptly  advise  the  Lender  in  writing  and in
reasonable  detail of (i) any  Release or  threatened  Release of any  Hazardous
Materials  required  to be  reported  to any  federal,  state,  local or foreign
governmental or regulatory agency under any applicable  Environmental Laws, (ii)
any and all  communications  (written  or oral) with  respect to any  pending or
threatened  Environmental  Claims that have a reasonable  possibility  of giving
rise to a Material  Adverse  Effect or with respect to any Release or threatened
Release of Hazardous  Materials,  (iii) any Cleanup  performed by the Company or
any other Person in response to (x) any  Hazardous  Materials on, under or about
any Facility,  the existence of which has a reasonable  possibility of resulting
in an  Environmental  Liability  having a Material  Adverse  Effect,  or (y) any
Environmental  Liabilities that could have a Material  Adverse Effect,  (iv) the
Company's  discovery of any  occurrence  or condition on any property that could
cause any Facility or any part thereof to be subject to any  restrictions on the
ownership,  occupancy,  transferability  or use thereof under any  Environmental
Laws,  and (v) any request for  information  from any  governmental  agency that
fairly suggests such agency is  investigating  whether the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries may be potentially  responsible for a Release or threatened Release
of Hazardous Materials.

     D. The  Company  shall  promptly  notify  the  Lender  of (i) any  proposed
acquisition  of  stock,  assets,  or  property  by  the  Company  or  any of its
Subsidiaries  that could  reasonably be expected to expose the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  to, or result in,  Environmental  Liability that could have a
Material  Adverse Effect or that could reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on any Governmental Authorization then held by the Company or any
of its  Subsidiaries  and (ii) any proposed action to be taken by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to commence  manufacturing,  industrial or other similar
operations  that could  reasonably  be expected to subject the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  to  additional   Environmental   Laws,   including,   without
limitation,  Environmental Laws requiring  additional  environmental  permits or
licenses,  that are materially  different from the Environmental Laws applicable
to the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date.

     E. The Company shall, at its own expense,  provide copies of such documents
or information  as the Lender may reasonably  request in relation to any matters
disclosed pursuant to this subsection 5.7.

5.8  The Company's Remedial Action Regarding Hazardous Materials.

     The Company shall promptly  take, and shall cause each of its  Subsidiaries
promptly to take, any and all necessary  remedial  action in connection with the
presence,  handling,  storage,  use,  disposal,  transportation  or  Release  or
threatened  Release  of any  Hazardous  Materials  on,  under or  affecting  any
Facility  in  order  to  comply  with  all  applicable  Environmental  Laws  and
Governmental Authorizations unless the failure to so comply could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect.  In the event the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries  undertakes any cleanup action with respect to the presence,
Release or  threatened  Release of any  Hazardous  Materials on or affecting any
Facility, the Company or such Subsidiary shall conduct and complete such cleanup
action in material  compliance  with all applicable  Environmental  Laws, and in
accordance  with the policies,  orders and directives of all federal,  state and
local  governmental  authorities  except when,  and only to the extent that, the
Company's or such Subsidiary's liability for such presence,  handling,  storage,
use, disposal,  transportation or Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous
Materials is being contested in good faith by the Company or such Subsidiary.

5.9  Collateral Matters.

     The Company shall deliver at least thirty (30) Business Days' prior written
notice to the Lender of any change in the location of the chief executive office
or  place  of  business  of the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  from  the
locations specified in Schedule 5.9. At least twenty (20) Business Days prior to
any such change,  the Company  shall cause to be executed  and  delivered to the
Lender any financing  statements or other documents  required by the Lender, all
in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender.

5.10 Further Assurances.

     At any  time or from  time to time  upon the  request  of the  Lender,  the
Company will, at its expense,  promptly  execute,  acknowledge  and deliver such
further documents and do such other acts and things as the Lender may reasonably
request  in order to effect  fully the  purposes  of the Loan  Documents  and to
provide  for payment of the  Obligations  in  accordance  with the terms of this
Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents.

5.11 [RESERVED]

5.12 Use of Proceeds.

     The  proceeds  of all Loans  shall be applied by the  Company  for  working
capital and general corporate purposes of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  The
proceeds of the Loans shall not be used, directly or indirectly, to purchase the
stock or assets of any corporation,  partnership or other entity.  No portion of
the  proceeds  of  any  Loans  shall  be  used  by  the  Company  or  any of its
Subsidiaries  in any manner which would be illegal  under,  or which would cause
the  invalidity  or  unenforceability  (in each case in whole or in part) of any
Loan Document under,  any Applicable Law. Without limiting the generality of the
preceding  sentence,  no portion of the  proceeds  of any  borrowing  under this
Agreement shall be used by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries in any manner
that might cause the  borrowing or the  application  of such proceeds to violate
Regulation  U,  Regulation  T or  Regulation  X of the Board of Governors of the
Federal  Reserve System or any other  regulation of such Board or to violate the
Exchange  Act, in each case as in effect on the date or dates of such  borrowing
and such use of proceeds.

5.13 Cure of Defaults.

     Within five  Business  Days of the Closing  Date,  the Borrower  shall have
cured,  or obtained  waivers of, any defaults  under all Material  Contracts and
shall promptly have provided Lender with evidence thereof.


                                   SECTION 6.
                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     The Company  covenants and agrees that,  so long as any of the  Commitments
hereunder  shall remain in effect and until  payment in full of all of the Loans
and other  Obligations  unless the Lender  shall  otherwise  give prior  written
consent,  the Company shall perform, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to
perform, all covenants in this Section 6.

6.1  Indebtedness.

     The Company  shall not,  and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
directly or indirectly,  create,  incur, assume or guaranty, or otherwise become
or remain  directly or indirectly  liable with respect to, any  Indebtedness  or
preferred stock, except:

          (i) The  Company  may  become and remain  liable  with  respect to its
     Obligations;

          (ii) The  Company  may remain  liable  with  respect  to  Indebtedness
     described in Schedule 6.1 annexed hereto;

          (iii) The Company and its  Subsidiaries  may become and remain  liable
     with  respect to  Indebtedness  under  Capital  Leases  capitalized  on the
     consolidated  balance sheet of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  and other
     Indebtedness   secured  by  Liens  permitted  under  subsection   6.2A(ii);
     provided,  that the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness  outstanding under
     this clause (ii) at any time shall not exceed $4,000,000;

          (iv) The  Company  may  become  and  remain  liable  with  respect  to
     Indebtedness  to any of its  Subsidiaries,  any  Subsidiary  may become and
     remain liable with respect to  Indebtedness  to the Company;  provided that
     all  such  intercompany  Indebtedness  owed  by the  Company  to any of its
     respective  Subsidiaries  shall be unsecured and  subordinated  in right of
     payment to the payment in full of the Obligations  pursuant to the terms of
     the applicable promissory notes or an intercompany  subordination agreement
     that in any such case, are reasonably satisfactory to the Lender;

          (v) The Company and its Subsidiaries may become and remain liable with
     respect to the Indebtedness  referred to in subsection 3.1Q in an aggregate
     principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding $3,000,000;

          (vi) The Company  and its  Subsidiaries  may become and remain  liable
     with respect to Indebtedness subordinated to the amounts owed to the Lender
     under this Agreement pursuant to the terms of subordination attached hereto
     as Exhibit IX in an  aggregate  principal  amount not to exceed at any time
     outstanding $5,000,000; and

          (vii) The Company and its  Subsidiaries  may become and remain  liable
     with respect to other Indebtedness in an aggregate  principal amount not to
     exceed at any time outstanding $100,000.

6.2  Liens and Related Matters

     A. Prohibition on Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly,  create, incur, assume or permit to
exist  any  Lien on or with  respect  to any  property  or  assets  of any  kind
(including   any  document  or  instrument  in  respect  of  goods  or  accounts
receivable)  of the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  whether  now owned or
hereafter  acquired,  or any income or profits therefrom,  or file or permit the
filing  of, or permit to remain in effect,  any  financing  statement,  or other
similar notice of any Lien with respect to any such property,  asset,  income or
profits  under the  Uniform  Commercial  Code of any state or under any  similar
recording or notice statute, except:

          (i) Permitted Encumbrances;

          (ii) Liens described in Schedule 6.2 annexed hereto;

          (iii) Liens in favor of the Lender granted  pursuant to the Collateral
     Documents  or granted in favor of the Lender  pursuant  to  subsection  9.4
     hereof; and

          (iv) Liens on assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries not otherwise
     permitted  under this subsection  6.2A,  securing  obligations  (other than
     Indebtedness)  in an  aggregate  amount not to exceed  $100,000 at any time
     outstanding.

     B. No Further Negative  Pledges.  Except with respect to specific  property
encumbered to secure payment of particular  Indebtedness  or to be sold pursuant
to an executed  agreement with respect to a sale of assets,  neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries  shall enter into any agreement (other than the Loan
Documents)  prohibiting  the creation or  assumption of any Lien upon any of its
properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.

     C. No  Restrictions  on  Subsidiary  Distributions  to the Company or Other
Subsidiaries.  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to,  create  or  otherwise  cause or suffer  to exist or  become  effective  any
consensual encumbrance,  limitation or restriction of any kind on the ability of
any such Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make any other  distributions on any
of such Subsidiary's  Capital Stock owned by the Company or any other Subsidiary
of the Company, (ii) repay or prepay any Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary to
the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) make loans or advances
to the Company or any other  Subsidiary of the Company,  or (iv) transfer any of
its property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.

6.3  Investments.

     The Company  shall not,  and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
directly or indirectly,  make or own any Investment in any Person, including any
joint venture, except:

          (i) The Company may continue to own the Investments  owned by it as of
     the Closing Date and make and own additional Investments in any Subsidiary;

          (ii) The Company and its Subsidiaries may make  intercompany  loans to
     the extent permitted by subsection 6.1(iv);

          (iii) The Company and its  Subsidiaries  may make  extensions of trade
     credit in the ordinary course of business;

          (iv) The Company and its  Subsidiaries may make and own Investments in
     Cash Equivalents; and

          (v) The Company and its  Subsidiaries  may make  Capital  Expenditures
     permitted by subsection 6.4.

6.4  Capital Expenditures.

     The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  shall not make  payments  for  Capital
Expenditures in excess of an aggregate of $3,000,000 per fiscal quarter.  To the
extent that all or any portion of such amount is not used in any fiscal quarter,
it may not be carried  forward to the  immediately  following  fiscal year to be
used for Capital  Expenditures.  The Company and its Subsidiaries shall not make
any Capital Expenditures that are not directly related to the business conducted
on the Closing Date by the Company.

6.5  Restricted Junior Payments.

     The Company  shall not,  and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
directly or indirectly,  declare,  order, pay, make or set apart any sum for any
Restricted  Junior Payment;  provided that this subsection will not restrict the
ability of the Company to make  Restricted  Junior Payments to the Lender or any
of its affiliates;  provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default has
occurred  and is  continuing  or would  result  therefrom,  the  Company and its
Subsidiaries may repurchase shares of, or options to purchase shares of, Capital
Stock  of  the  Company  or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  from  employees,  former
employees,  directors  or  former  directors  of  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  (or permitted  transferees of such  employees,  former  employees,
directors  or  former  directors),  pursuant  to the  terms  of  the  agreements
(including  employment  agreements) or plans (or amendments thereto) approved by
the Board of  Directors  under  which such  individuals  purchase or sell or are
granted the option to purchase or sell,  shares of such common stock;  provided,
further, that the aggregate amount of such repurchases shall not exceed $100,000
in the aggregate.

6.6  Restriction on Fundamental Changes; Asset Sales.

     The Company  shall not,  and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
alter the  corporate,  capital or legal  structure  of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries,  create  any new  Subsidiaries  or enter into any  transaction  of
merger or consolidation, or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any
liquidation or dissolution),  or convey,  sell,  lease,  sub-lease,  transfer or
otherwise  dispose of all or any  substantial  part of its  business  or assets,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or acquire by purchase or otherwise all
or a  substantial  part of the business or assets of, or Capital  Stock or other
evidence of beneficial ownership of, any Person or any unit or division thereof,
except the Company and its  Subsidiaries  may acquire  inventory,  equipment and
other assets in the ordinary course of business.

6.7  Sale or Discount of Receivables.

     The Company  shall not,  and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
directly or indirectly,  sell with  recourse,  or discount or otherwise sell for
less than the face value thereof, any of its notes or accounts receivable.

6.8  Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates.

     The Company  shall not,  and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
directly  or  indirectly,   enter  into  or  permit  to  exist  any  transaction
(including,  without  limitation,  the purchase,  sale, lease or exchange of any
property or the  rendering of any service)  with any holder of 5% or more of any
class of equity  Securities  of the Company or with any Affiliate of the Company
or of any such holder,  on terms that are less  favorable to the Company or that
Subsidiary,  as the case may be,  than those that might be  obtained at the time
from Persons who are not such a holder or Affiliate; provided that the foregoing
restriction  shall not apply to (i) the Company and any wholly owned  Subsidiary
of the Company,  and (ii)  reasonable  and customary fees paid to members of the
boards of directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

6.9  Conduct of Business.

     The Company  shall not,  and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
engage in any business other than (i) the  businesses  engaged in by the Company
and its  Subsidiaries  on the Closing Date and (ii) such other lines of business
as may be reasonably related thereto.

6.10 Amendments or Waivers of Certain Agreements.

     A. Amendments or Waivers of Certain  Agreements and Documents.  None of the
Company nor any of its  respective  Subsidiaries  shall agree to any  amendment,
restatement,  supplement  or other  modification  to, or waive any of its rights
under, any (i) Organizational  Certificate or Organizational  Document,  or (ii)
other  Material   Contract,   if  such   amendment,   restatement,   supplement,
modification or waiver could be materially adverse to the Lender.

     B. Stock.  Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary of the Company shall (i)
amend, restate,  supplement or otherwise modify its Certificate of Incorporation
if the effect of such amendment,  restatement,  supplement or modification is to
provide for the issuance of any preferred  stock of the Company or of any of its
Subsidiaries or the filing or amendment of any  certificate of designation  with
respect  thereto or (ii) issue any  additional  equity  interests or  securities
which are convertible into equity interests;  provided,  however, this provision
shall not preclude the  operation of any employee  stock plans  consistent  with
past practice.

6.11 Fiscal Year.

     Neither  the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall  change its Fiscal
Year-end from December 31.


                                   SECTION 7.
                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     If any of the following  conditions or events  ("Events of Default")  shall
occur:

7.1  Failure to Make Payments When Due.

     Failure by the Company to pay any installment of principal of any Loan when
due,  whether at stated maturity,  by  acceleration,  by notice of prepayment or
otherwise;  or failure by the Company to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee
or any other amount due under this Agreement  within two (2) days after the date
due; or

7.2  Default in Other Agreements.

     Except, in each case, as disclosed in writing to the Lender or as otherwise
disclosed in the Company's  securities  law filings (in each case on or prior to
the Closing Date):  (i) Failure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay
when due (a) any principal of or interest on any  Indebtedness  in an individual
principal  amount  of  $100,000  or more or any  items of  Indebtedness  with an
aggregate principal amount of $250,000 or more or (b) any Contingent  Obligation
in an  individual  principal  amount  of  $100,000  or  more  or any  Contingent
Obligations with an aggregate principal amount of $250,000 or more, in each case
beyond the end of any grace period provided therefor;  or (ii) breach or default
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  with respect to any other term of (a)
any evidence of any  Indebtedness in an individual  principal amount of $100,000
or more or any  items of  Indebtedness  with an  aggregate  principal  amount of
$250,000 or more or any Contingent  Obligation in an individual principal amount
of $100,000 or more or any Contingent  Obligations  with an aggregate  principal
amount of $250,000 or more or (b) any loan  agreement,  mortgage,  indenture  or
other agreement  relating to such Indebtedness or Contingent  Obligation(s),  or
the occurrence of any other event,  condition or  circumstance in respect of any
such  Indebtedness  or Contingent  Obligations  if in any case under this clause
(ii) the effect of such breach or default or event, condition or circumstance is
to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of that  Indebtedness or Contingent
Obligation(s)  (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, that
Indebtedness  or  Contingent  Obligation(s)  to  become or be  declared  due and
payable (or  redeemable)  prior to its stated maturity or the stated maturity of
any underlying  obligation,  as the case may be (upon the giving or receiving of
notice, lapse of time, both, or otherwise); or

7.3  Breach of Certain Covenants.

     Failure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to perform or comply with
any term or condition  contained in subsection 2.4, 2.5, 5.1 or 5.2 or Section 6
of this Agreement; or

7.4  Breach of Warranty.

     Any representation,  warranty, certification or other statement made by the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  in any Loan Document or in any statement or
certificate  at any time  given by the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  in
writing pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection  herewith or therewith shall
be false in any material respect on the date as of which made; or

7.5  Other Defaults Under Loan Documents.

     The Company or any of its Subsidiaries  shall default in the performance of
or compliance with any term contained in this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents,  other than any such term referred to in any other subsection of this
Section 7, and such default shall not have been remedied or waived within thirty
(30) days after the occurrence of such default; or

7.6  Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc.

     (i) A court having  jurisdiction  in the  premises  shall enter a decree or
order for  relief in respect of the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  in an
involuntary  case  under  the  Bankruptcy  Code or under  any  other  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect,  which decree
or order is not stayed;  or any other similar  relief shall be granted under any
applicable  federal or state law; or (ii) an involuntary case shall be commenced
against  the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  under the  Bankruptcy  Code or
under  any  other  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or  similar  law  now or
hereafter in effect; or a decree or order of a court having  jurisdiction in the
premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator,  sequestrator,  trustee,
custodian or other officer  having similar powers over the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or over all or a substantial part of its property, shall have been
entered; or there shall have occurred the involuntary  appointment of an interim
receiver,  trustee or other custodian of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
for all or a  substantial  part of its  property;  or a warrant  of  attachment,
execution or similar process shall have been issued against any substantial part
of the  property of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  and any such event
described  in this  clause  (ii)  shall  continue  for sixty  (60)  days  unless
dismissed, bonded or discharged; or

7.7  Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc.

     (i) The Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall have an order for relief
entered  with  respect to it or commence a voluntary  case under the  Bankruptcy
Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency or similar law now or
hereafter in effect,  or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an
involuntary  case, or to the  conversion of an  involuntary  case to a voluntary
case,  under any such law,  or shall  consent  to the  appointment  of or taking
possession  by a receiver,  trustee or other  custodian for all or a substantial
part of its property;  or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  shall make any
assignment  for the  benefit  of  creditors;  or (ii) the  Company or any of its
Subsidiaries shall be unable, or shall fail generally, or shall admit in writing
its  inability,  to pay its  debts as such  debts  become  due;  or the Board of
Directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  (or any committee  thereof)
shall adopt any  resolution or otherwise  authorize any action to approve any of
the actions referred to in clause (i) above or this clause (ii); or

7.8  Judgments and Attachments.

     Any money  judgment,  writ or warrant  of  attachment  or  similar  process
involving (i) in any individual  case an amount in excess of $250,000 or (ii) in
the  aggregate  at any time an amount in excess of $500,000  (in either case not
adequately covered by insurance as to which a solvent and unaffiliated insurance
the Company has  acknowledged  coverage)  shall be entered or filed  against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their  respective  assets and shall
remain undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of thirty (30)
days (or in any event  later  than five days  prior to the date of any  proposed
sale thereunder); or

7.9  Dissolution.

     Any order,  judgment or decree shall be entered  against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries decreeing the dissolution or split up of the Company or that
Subsidiary and such order shall remain  undischarged or unstayed for a period in
excess of thirty (30) days; or

7.10 Employee Benefit Plans.

     There shall occur one or more ERISA  Events  which  individually  or in the
aggregate  results in or could  reasonably  be  expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect; or there shall exist an Unfunded Current Liability, individually
or in the  aggregate  for all  Pension  Plans  (excluding  for  purposes of such
computation any Pension Plans with respect to which there is no Unfunded Current
Liability),  which  will have or could  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a
Material Adverse Effect; or

7.11 Change in Control.

     (a) A majority  of the  members of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company
shall  not be  Continuing  Directors;  or (b) any  Person,  including  a "group"
(within the meaning of Sections  13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the  Exchange  Act) which
includes  such  Person,  shall  purchase  or  otherwise  acquire,   directly  or
indirectly,  beneficial  ownership of Securities of the Company and, as a result
of such purchase or  acquisition,  any Person  (together with its associates and
Affiliates),  shall  directly or  indirectly  beneficially  own in the aggregate
Securities  representing  more  than  20% of the  combined  voting  power of the
Company's voting Securities; or

7.12 Failure of Security.

     Any Collateral  Document shall, at any time,  cease to be in full force and
effect (other than by reason of a release of Collateral thereunder in accordance
with the terms hereof or thereof, the satisfaction in full of the Obligations or
any other  termination of such Collateral  Document in accordance with the terms
hereof or  thereof)  or shall be  declared  null and void,  or the  validity  or
enforceability  thereof  shall be  contested in writing by the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  or the Lender  shall not have or shall cease to have a valid
security interest in any Collateral  purported to be covered thereby,  perfected
and with the priority  required by the  relevant  Collateral  Document,  for any
reason  other  than the  failure  of the  Lender to take any  action  within its
control,  subject  only to  Liens  permitted  under  the  applicable  Collateral
Documents;

THEN (i) upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in subsection 7.6
or 7.7 each of (a) the unpaid  principal  amount of and accrued  interest on the
Loans, and (b) all other Obligations shall automatically  become immediately due
and payable,  without presentment,  demand, protest or other requirements of any
kind,  all of  which  are  hereby  expressly  waived  by the  Company,  and  the
obligation of the Lender to make any Loan shall  thereupon  terminate,  and (ii)
upon the occurrence and during the  continuation  of any other Event of Default,
the Lender may, by written notice to the Company,  declare all or any portion of
the  amounts  described  in clauses  (a) and (b) above to be, and the same shall
forthwith become,  immediately due and payable, and the obligation of the Lender
to make any Loan shall thereupon terminate.


                                   SECTION 8.
                                   [RESERVED]


                                   SECTION 9.
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

9.1  [RESERVED]

9.2  Expenses.

     Whether or not the transactions  contemplated  hereby shall be consummated,
the Company agrees to pay promptly (i) all the actual and  reasonable  costs and
out of pocket  expenses of the Lender in connection  with the preparation of the
Loan  Documents;  (ii) all the actual and  reasonable  costs of  furnishing  all
opinions by counsel for the Company  (including  without limitation any opinions
requested by the Lender as to any legal matters  arising  hereunder)  and of the
Company's  performance of and  compliance  with all agreements and conditions on
its part to be performed  or complied  with under this  Agreement  and the other
Loan  Documents  including,  without  limitation,  with  respect  to  confirming
compliance with environmental and insurance  requirements;  (iii) the reasonable
fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel to the Lender in connection with the
negotiation, preparation, execution and administration of the Loan Documents and
the Loans and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications hereto or
thereto and any other  documents or matters  requested by the Company;  (iv) all
other  actual  and  reasonable  costs and  expenses  incurred  by the  Lender in
connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Loan Documents
and  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby;  and (v)  after  the
occurrence  of a  Default  or Event of  Default,  all the  respective  costs and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of settlement, incurred
by the Lender in enforcing any  Obligations of or in collecting any payments due
from the Company  hereunder or under the other Loan  Documents by reason of such
Default  or  Event  of  Default  or  in  connection   with  any  refinancing  or
restructuring  of the credit  arrangements  provided under this Agreement in the
nature of a "work-out" or pursuant to any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings.

9.3  Indemnity.

     In addition to the payment of expenses  pursuant to subsection 9.2, whether
or not the transactions  contemplated  hereby shall be consummated,  the Company
agrees to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless the Lender, and the officers,
directors,   employees,   agents,   attorneys  and   affiliates  of  the  Lender
(collectively  called  the  "Indemnitees")  from and  against  any and all other
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
claims,  costs,  expenses  and  disbursements  of any kind or nature  whatsoever
(including  without  limitation the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
for such  Indemnitees in connection with any  investigative,  administrative  or
judicial  proceeding  commenced or threatened by any Person,  whether or not any
such  Indemnitee  shall be designated as a party or a potential  party thereto),
whether  direct,  indirect or  consequential  and whether  based on any federal,
state or  foreign  laws,  statutes,  rules  or  regulations  (including  without
limitation  securities and commercial laws,  statutes,  rules or regulations and
Environmental  Laws),  on  common  law or  equitable  cause  or on  contract  or
otherwise,  that may be imposed on,  incurred  by, or asserted  against any such
Indemnitee,  in any manner  relating to or arising out of this  Agreement or the
other  Loan  Documents  or  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or  thereby
(including without limitation the Lender's agreement to make the Loans hereunder
or  the  use  or  intended  use of the  proceeds  of  any of the  Loans)  or any
Environmental  Liabilities  that  arise from or relate to the  management,  use,
control,  ownership,  occupancy  or  operation  of any Facility or assets of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries  (including without  limitation,  all on-site
and  off-site  activities  involving  Hazardous  Materials),  or the  Release or
threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials (or allegations of the same) on or
from any of the  Facilities  or on or from any other  property  where  Hazardous
Materials  are or were (or are or were alleged to be) Released or  threatened to
be Released in connection  with any of the  Facilities or the business of any of
the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or any  predecessor in interest to the
Company  or  any of  its  Subsidiaries  (collectively  called  the  "Indemnified
Liabilities");  provided that the Company  shall not have any  obligation to any
Indemnitee hereunder with respect to any Indemnified  Liabilities to the extent,
and only to the extent, of any particular liability,  obligation,  loss, damage,
penalty,  claim,  cost,  expense  or  disbursement  that  arose  from the  gross
negligence  or willful  misconduct  of that  Indemnitee as determined by a final
judgment  of  a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction.  To  the  extent  that  the
undertaking  to  defend,  indemnify,  pay and  hold  harmless  set  forth in the
preceding  sentence may be  unenforceable  because it is violative of any law or
public  policy,  the Company  shall  contribute  the maximum  portion that it is
permitted  to  pay  and  satisfy  under   applicable  law  to  the  payment  and
satisfaction of all Indemnified  Liabilities  incurred by the Indemnitees or any
of them.

9.4  Set-Off; Security Interest in Deposit Accounts.

     In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and
not by way of limitation of any such rights,  upon the occurrence and during the
continuance  of any Event of  Default,  the Lender is hereby  authorized  by the
Company at any time or from time to time,  without  notice to the  Company or to
any other Person,  any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and
to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits (general or special, including,
but not limited to, Indebtedness  evidenced by certificates of deposit,  whether
matured  or  unmatured,   but  not  including  trust  accounts)  and  any  other
Indebtedness at any time held or owing by the Lender to or for the credit or the
account of the Company against and on account of the obligations and liabilities
of the Company to the Lender under this Agreement,  the Notes and participations
therein,  including, but not limited to, all claims of any nature or description
arising out of or connected with this  Agreement,  the Notes and  participations
therein  or any other  Loan  Document,  irrespective  of  whether or not (i) the
Lender  shall have made any demand  hereunder  or (ii) the  principal  of or the
interest on the Loans or any other amounts due  hereunder  shall have become due
and payable pursuant to Section 7 and although said obligations and liabilities,
or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured.

9.5  [RESERVED]

9.6  Amendments and Waivers.

     No amendment, modification,  termination or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement or of the Notes,  or consent to any departure by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries therefrom,  shall in any event be effective without the written
consent of the  Lender.  Any waiver or consent  shall be  effective  only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice
to or demand on the  Company in any case shall  entitle the Company to any other
or further  notice or demand in similar or other  circumstances.  Any amendment,
modification,  termination,  waiver or consent  effected in accordance with this
subsection 9.6 shall be binding upon the Lender and the Company.

9.7  Independence of Covenants.

     All  covenants  hereunder  shall be given  independent  effect so that if a
particular  action or condition is not permitted by any of such  covenants,  the
fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within
the  limitations  of,  another such covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a
Default or Event of Default if such action is taken or condition exists.

9.8  Notices.

     Unless  otherwise   specifically  provided  herein,  any  notice  or  other
communication  herein  required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and
may be personally served,  telecopied,  telexed or sent by United States mail or
courier  service and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person
or by courier service,  upon receipt of telecopy or telex, or four Business Days
after  depositing  it in the United States mail,  registered or certified,  with
postage  prepaid and  properly  addressed;  provided  that notices to the Lender
shall not be effective until received.  For the purposes hereof,  the address of
each party hereto shall be as set forth on Schedule 9.8 attached hereto, or such
other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice delivered
to the Lender and the Company.

9.9  Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.

     A. All representations, warranties and agreements made herein shall survive
the  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the  making  of the Loans
hereunder.

     B.  Notwithstanding  anything  in this  Agreement  or implied by law to the
contrary,  the agreements of the Company set forth in subsections 2.6, 2.7, 9.2,
9.3 and 9.4 and the  agreements of the Lender set forth in subsection  9.4 shall
survive the payment of the Loans and the termination of this Agreement.

9.10 Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.

     No failure or delay on the part of the Lender in the exercise of any power,
right or privilege  hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall impair such
power,  right or  privilege  or be  construed  to be a waiver of any  default or
acquiescence  therein,  nor shall any  single or  partial  exercise  of any such
power,  right or privilege  preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any
other power,  right or privilege.  All rights and remedies  existing  under this
Agreement and the other Loan  Documents are cumulative to, and not exclusive of,
any rights or remedies otherwise available.

9.11 Marshalling; Payments Set Aside.

     The Lender shall not be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor
of the  Company or any other party or against or in payment of any or all of the
Obligations.  To the extent that the Company  makes a payment or payments to the
Lender, or the Lender enforces any security  interests or exercise its rights of
setoff,  and such  payment or payments or the  proceeds of such  enforcement  or
setoff  or  any  part  thereof  are  subsequently  invalidated,  declared  to be
fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee,
receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, any other state or federal
law,  common law or any equitable  cause,  then, to the extent of such recovery,
the  obligation or part thereof  originally  intended to be  satisfied,  and all
Liens,  rights and remedies  therefor or related  thereto,  shall be revived and
continued  in full force and effect as if such  payment or payments had not been
made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

9.12 Severability.

     In case any  provision in or obligation  under this  Agreement or the Notes
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.

9.13 [RESERVED]

9.14 Maximum Amount.

     A. It is the intention of the Company and the Lender to conform strictly to
the usury and similar laws relating to interest from time to time in force,  and
all agreements  between the Loan Parties and their  respective  Subsidiaries and
the  Lender,  whether  now  existing or  hereafter  arising and whether  oral or
written,  are  hereby  expressly  limited  so that in no  contingency  or  event
whatsoever,  whether by acceleration of maturity hereof or otherwise,  shall the
amount  paid or agreed to be paid in the  aggregate  to the  Lender as  interest
(whether or not  designated  as interest,  and  including  any amount  otherwise
designated   but  deemed  to  constitute   interest  by  a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction)  hereunder  or under  the  other  Loan  Documents  or in any other
agreement given to secure the  indebtedness or obligations of the Company to the
Lender,  or in any other  document  evidencing,  securing or  pertaining  to the
indebtedness  evidenced  hereby,  exceed the maximum  amount  permissible  under
applicable  usury or such  other  laws  (the  "Maximum  Amount").  If under  any
circumstances  whatsoever  fulfillment  of any provision  hereof,  or any of the
other Loan  Documents,  at the time  performance of such provision shall be due,
shall involve exceeding the Maximum Amount,  then, ipso facto, the obligation to
be  fulfilled  shall be reduced  to the  Maximum  Amount.  For the  purposes  of
calculating  the actual  amount of interest  paid and/or  payable  hereunder  in
respect of laws  pertaining to usury or such other laws, all sums paid or agreed
to be paid to the holder  hereof for the use,  forbearance  or  detention of the
indebtedness  of the Company  evidenced  hereby,  outstanding  from time to time
shall,  to the extent  permitted by  Applicable  Law, be  amortized,  pro-rated,
allocated and spread from the date of  disbursement of the proceeds of the Notes
until  payment in full of all of such  indebtedness,  so that the actual rate of
interest on account of such indebtedness is uniform through the term hereof. The
terms and provisions of this subsection  shall control and supersede every other
provision of all agreements between the Company or any endorser of the Notes and
the Lender.

     B. If under any circumstances the Lender shall ever receive an amount which
would  exceed  the  Maximum  Amount,  such  amount  shall be deemed a payment in
reduction  of the  principal  amount  of the Loans  and  shall be  treated  as a
voluntary  prepayment  under  subsection  2.4B(i)  and  shall be so  applied  in
accordance with subsection 2.4 hereof or if such excessive  interest exceeds the
unpaid balance of the Loans and any other  indebtedness  of the Company in favor
of such  Lender,  the  excess  shall be deemed  to have  been a payment  made by
mistake and shall be refunded to the Company.

9.15 Headings.

     Section and subsection  headings in this Agreement are included  herein for
convenience  of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement
for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.

9.16 Applicable Law.

     THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

9.17 Successors and Assigns.

     


This  Agreement  shall  be  binding  upon  the  parties  hereto  and  their
respective  successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and the  successors  and assigns of the Lender.  The Company's  rights or
obligations  hereunder nor any interest therein may not be assigned or delegated
by the Company without the prior written consent of the Lender.

9.18 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process.

     ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST THE COMPANY AND THE LENDER ARISING
OUT OF OR  RELATING  TO  THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY  OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENT,  OR ANY
OBLIGATIONS  THEREUNDER,  MAY BE  BROUGHT  IN ANY  STATE  OR  FEDERAL  COURT  OF
COMPETENT  JURISDICTION  IN THE STATE,  COUNTY AND CITY OF NEW YORK. THE COMPANY
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY DESIGNATES, APPOINTS AND EMPOWERS CT CORPORATION SYSTEM, WITH
OFFICES ON THE DATE  HEREOF AT 1633  BROADWAY,  NEW YORK,  NEW YORK 10019 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,  THE COMPANY  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 LENDER UNDER THIS  AGREEMENT.  THE COMPANY HEREBY
FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH COURTS LACK JURISDICTION OVER
THE COMPANY, AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM, IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING
WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT  BROUGHT IN ANY OF THE
AFORESAID COURTS,  THAT ANY SUCH COURT LACKS JURISDICTION OVER THE COMPANY.  THE
COMPANY  FURTHER  IRREVOCABLY  CONSENTS  TO THE  SERVICE  OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH
ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED
MAIL,  POSTAGE PREPAID,  TO THE COMPANY,  AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES PURSUANT TO
SECTION 9.8. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH SERVICE
OF PROCESS  AND FURTHER  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN
ANY ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  COMMENCED  HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT
THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS WAS IN ANY WAY INVALID OR  INEFFECTIVE.  NOTHING  HEREIN
SHALL  AFFECT  THE RIGHT OF THE  LENDER  TO SERVE  PROCESS  IN ANY OTHER  MANNER
PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL  PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE  PROCEED AGAINST
THE COMPANY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY
OBJECTION  WHICH IT MAY NOW OR  HEREAFTER  HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY OF
THE AFORESAID  ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS  ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT BROUGHT IN THE COURTS REFERRED TO ABOVE AND
HEREBY FURTHER  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH
COURT  THAT ANY SUCH  ACTION OR  PROCEEDING  BROUGHT  IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN
BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

9.19 Waiver of Jury Trial.

     EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RESPECTIVE
RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT
OF THIS  AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS  OR ANY DEALINGS  BETWEEN
THEM  RELATING  TO  THE  SUBJECT   MATTER  OF  THIS  LOAN   TRANSACTION  OR  THE
LENDER/BORROWER  RELATIONSHIP OR OTHER  RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING  ESTABLISHED.
The  scope of this  waiver is  intended  to be  all-encompassing  of any and all
disputes that may be filed in any court and that relate to the subject matter of
this transaction,  including, without limitation,  contract claims, tort claims,
breach of duty claims and all other common law and statutory claims.  Each party
hereto  acknowledges  that this waiver is a material  inducement to enter into a
business  relationship,  that each has already relied on this waiver in entering
into this Agreement, and that each will continue to rely on this waiver in their
related future dealings.  Each party hereto further warrants and represents that
it has reviewed  this waiver with its legal  counsel and that it  knowingly  and
voluntarily  waives  its jury trial  rights  following  consultation  with legal
counsel. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE,  MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER
ORALLY  OR IN  WRITING  (OTHER  THAN BY A  MUTUAL  WRITTEN  WAIVER  SPECIFICALLY
REFERRING TO THIS SUBSECTION  9.19 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES  HERETO),
AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,  RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS
OR  MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY
OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE LOANS MADE HEREUNDER. In the event
of litigation,  this  Agreement may be filed as a written  consent to a trial by
the court.

9.20 [RESERVED]

9.21 Counterparts; Effectiveness.

     This Agreement and any amendments,  waivers, consents or supplements hereto
or in connection  herewith may be executed in any number of counterparts  and by
different  parties  hereto  in  separate  counterparts,  each of  which  when so
executed and delivered  shall be deemed an original,  but all such  counterparts
together shall constitute but one and the same  instrument;  signature pages may
be  detached  from  multiple  separate  counterparts  and  attached  to a single
counterpart  so that all  signature  pages are  physically  attached to the same
document.


                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


<PAGE>


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


     COMPANY:                           SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.


                                        By:____________________________
                                        Name:__________________________
                                        Title:_________________________


     LENDER:                            FLETCHER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
                                             as Lender


                                        By:____________________________
                                        Name:__________________________
                                        Title:_________________________


                                        By:____________________________
                                        Name:__________________________
                                        Title:_________________________



                          PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

     This PLEDGE AND SECURITY  AGREEMENT,  dated as of December 4, 1998, is made
by SmarTalk  Teleservices,  Inc. ("SmarTalk") and the Subsidiaries listed on the
signature  page  hereto,  as  Borrower  (the  "Borrower"),  in favor of Fletcher
International Limited, as Secured Party (the "Secured Party").

                                    RECITALS:

     WHEREAS, the parties hereto have entered into a Credit Agreement,  dated as
of December 4, 1998, between SmarTalk and the Secured Party (said Agreement,  as
it may hereafter be amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement");

     WHEREAS,  pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Secured Party has agreed to
make  extensions  of  credit to  SmarTalk  upon the  terms  and  subject  to the
conditions set forth therein;

     WHEREAS,  it is a condition  precedent  to the  obligations  of the Secured
Party  to  extend  credit  to  SmarTalk  under  the  Credit  Agreement  that the
obligations of SmarTalk thereunder be secured as provided herein;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to induce the
Secured Party to enter into the Credit  Agreement and to make its  extensions of
credit to SmarTalk thereunder, and in consideration of other Secured Obligations
hereinafter  incurred,  the Borrower  hereby agrees with the Secured  Party,  as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   DEFINITIONS

     2.2 Definitions.  Capitalized  terms used herein but not otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meanings  ascribed  thereto in the Credit  Agreement.  The
following terms shall have the following meanings:

          "Account  Debtor"  shall  mean  the  person  who  is  obligated  on  a
     Receivable.

          "Accounts"  shall mean  "accounts"  as such term is defined in Section
     9-106 of the UCC.

          "Agreement" shall mean this Pledge and Security Agreement, as the same
     may from time to time be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

<PAGE>

          "Capital   Stock"   shall   mean  any  and  all   shares,   interests,
     participations or other equivalents  (however  designated) of capital stock
     of a corporation,  any and all equivalent  ownership  interests in a Person
     (other than a corporation)  and any and all warrants,  rights or options to
     purchase any of the foregoing.

          "Chattel  Paper" shall mean "chattel paper" as such term is defined in
     Section 9-105(b) of the UCC.

          "Collateral"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to it in  Section  2
     hereof.

          "Collateral Account" shall mean the account (which may be a securities
     account)  maintained  pursuant  to  this  Agreement  by the  Secured  Party
     entitled  "[Wells Fargo Account # 4091382788 ]," and all funds,  investment
     property and  instruments or other items from time to time credited to such
     account and all interest thereon.

          "Collateral  Records" shall mean books,  records,  computer  software,
     computer printouts,  customer lists, blueprints,  technical specifications,
     manuals,  and similar items which relate to any Collateral  other than such
     items  obtained  under  license  or  franchise  agreements  which  prohibit
     assignment or disclosure of such items.

          "Contracts"  shall mean all contracts to which any Borrower now is, or
     hereafter will be, bound,  or a party,  beneficiary or assignee  (including
     without limitation Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses,  Trademark Licenses
     and Trade  Secret  Licenses),  and all other  instruments,  agreements  and
     documents  executed and delivered with respect to such  contracts,  and all
     revenues,  rentals,  Proceeds and other sums of money due and to become due
     from any of the  foregoing,  as the same may be modified,  supplemented  or
     amended from time to time in accordance with their terms.

          "Copyright  Licenses" shall mean all of any Borrower's  right,  title,
     and interest in and to any and all agreements providing for the granting of
     any right in or to Copyrights (whether the Borrower is licensee or licensor
     thereunder)  including,  without limitation,  each agreement referred to in
     Item B of Schedule IV.

          "Copyrights"  shall  mean  all of any  Borrower's  right,  title,  and
     interest in and to all United States and foreign copyrights, all mask works
     fixed in  semi-conductor  chip products (as defined under 17 U.S.C.  901 of
     the  U.S.  Copyright  Act),  whether  registered  or  unregistered,  now or
     hereafter in force throughout the world, all registrations and applications
     therefor including,  without limitation, the registrations and applications

<PAGE>

     referred  to in Item A of  Schedule  IV, all rights  corresponding  thereto
     throughout the world, all extensions and renewals of any thereof, the right
     to sue for past infringements of any of the foregoing,  and all proceeds of
     the foregoing, including, without limitation,  licenses, royalties, income,
     payments, claims, damages, and proceeds of suit.

          "Deposit  Accounts" shall mean the Collateral  Account and any deposit
     account,  including without limitation,  "deposit accounts" as such term is
     defined in Section  9-105(e) of the UCC and any other deposit or securities
     account,  together with any funds,  instruments  or other items credited to
     any such account from time to time, and all interest thereon.

          "Documents"  shall mean "documents" as such term is defined in Section
     9-105(f) of the UCC.

          "Equipment"  shall mean "equipment" as such term is defined in Section
     9-109(2)   of  the   UCC,   including,   without   limitation,   machinery,
     manufacturing  equipment,  data  processing  equipment,  computers,  office
     equipment, furniture,  appliances, tools, furnishings,  fixtures, vehicles,
     motor  vehicles,  and  any  manuals,  instructions,   blueprints,  computer
     software  and  similar  items  which  relate to the above,  and any and all
     additions, substitutions and replacements of any of the foregoing, wherever
     located,  together  with  all  improvements  thereon  and all  attachments,
     components,  parts,  equipment and accessories installed thereon or affixed
     thereto.

          "Event of  Default"  shall have the  meaning  assigned  thereto in the
     Credit Agreement.

          "Fixtures"  shall mean  "fixtures"  as such term is defined in Section
     9-313 of the UCC.

          "General Intangibles" shall mean "general intangibles" as such term is
     defined in Section 9-106 of the UCC, including, without limitation,  rights
     to the payment of money (other than Receivables),  Trademarks,  Copyrights,
     Patents and Contracts,  licenses including,  without limitation,  Trademark
     Licenses, Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses and Trade Secret Licenses and
     franchises,  partnership interests, joint venture interests, federal income
     tax refunds,  computer  software,  databases,  inventions,  designs,  Trade
     Secrets, goodwill,  tradenames,  fictitious business names, business names,
     company  names,  business  identifiers,  trade  styles  and  service  marks
     (whether or not registered),  proprietary rights,  customer lists, supplier
     and customer contracts, sale orders, correspondence, advertising materials,
     payments   due  in   connection   with   any   requisition,   confiscation,
     condemnation, seizure or forfeiture of any property, reversionary interests
     in  pension  and  profit-sharing  plans and  

<PAGE>

     reversionary, beneficial and residual interests in trusts, credits with and
     other claims  against any Person,  together with any  collateral for any of
     the  foregoing  and the  rights  under any  security  agreement  granting a
     security interest in such collateral.

          "Instruments"  shall  mean  "instruments"  as such term is  defined in
     Section 9-105(1)(i) of the UCC.

          "Insurance Policies" shall mean insurance policies,  including without
     limitation the following  insurance  policies:  attached hereto on Schedule
     VII.

          "Intellectual Property" shall mean, collectively,  the Copyrights, the
     Copyright Licenses, the Patents, the Patent Licenses,  the Trademarks,  the
     Trademark Licenses, the Trade Secrets and the Trade Secret Licenses.

          "Interest  Rate  Agreements"  shall  mean  interest  rate or  currency
     protection or hedging  arrangements,  including without  limitation,  caps,
     collars, floors, forwards and any other similar or dissimilar interest rate
     or currency exchange  agreements or other interest rate or currency hedging
     arrangements (including the Hedge Agreements).

          "Inventory"  shall  mean  "inventory"  as such term is  defined in ss.
     9-109(4) of the UCC, including without limitation,  all goods (whether such
     goods are in the  possession of any Borrower or of a bailee or other Person
     for sale, lease, storage, transit, processing, use or otherwise and whether
     consisting of whole goods, spare parts, components,  supplies, materials or
     consigned or returned or repossessed goods),  including without limitation,
     all such goods whether raw, in process or finished, all materials usable in
     processing  the same and all  documents of title  covering  any  inventory,
     including but not limited to work in process, materials used or consumed in
     Borrower's business, now owned or hereafter acquired or manufactured by any
     Borrower  and held for sale in the  ordinary  course of its  business;  all
     present and future  substitutions  therefor,  parts and accessories thereof
     and all additions  thereto;  and all proceeds  thereof and products of such
     inventory in any form whatsoever.

          "Money"  shall  mean  "money"  as such  term  is  defined  in  Section
     1-201(24) of the UCC.

          "Motor  Vehicles"  shall mean motor vehicles,  tractors,  trailers and
     other like property, if title thereto is governed by a certificate of title
     ownership.

          "Patent  Licenses"  means  all of any  Borrower's  right,  title,  and

<PAGE>

     interest in and to any and all agreements providing for the granting of any
     right in or to Patents  (whether  the  Borrower  is  licensee  or  licensor
     thereunder)  including,  without limitation,  each agreement referred to in
     Item D of Schedule IV.

          "Patents" means all of any Borrower's  right,  title,  and interest in
     and to all United States and foreign patents and  applications  for letters
     patent throughout the world, including,  but not limited to each patent and
     patent  application  referred  to in Item C of Schedule  IV, all  reissues,
     divisions, continuations,  continuations-in-part, and reexaminations of any
     of the foregoing,  all rights  corresponding  thereto throughout the world,
     and all proceeds of the foregoing including, without limitation,  licenses,
     royalties,  income, payments, claims, damages, and proceeds of suit and the
     right to sue for past infringements of any of the foregoing.

          "Person"  shall mean and include any  individual,  partnership,  joint
     venture, firm, corporation,  association,  trust or other enterprise or any
     government   or   political   subdivision   or   agency,    department   or
     instrumentality thereof.

          "Pledged  Notes" shall mean any promissory  notes listed on Schedule I
     hereto,  all intercompany  notes at any time issued to any Borrower and all
     other  promissory  notes  issued  or  held  by  any  Borrower  (other  than
     promissory notes to be issued in connection with extensions of trade credit
     by any Borrower in the ordinary course of business).

          "Pledged  Stock"  shall  mean any shares of  Capital  Stock  listed on
     Schedule I hereto,  together  with any other  shares,  stock  certificates,
     options or rights of any nature  whatsoever in respect of the Capital Stock
     of any Person  that may be issued or granted  to, or held by, any  Borrower
     while this Agreement is in effect;  provided,  only the outstanding capital
     stock  of a  foreign  controlled  corporation  possessing  up  to  but  not
     exceeding  65% of the total voting power of all classes of capital stock of
     such  foreign  controlled  foreign  corporation  entitled  to vote shall be
     deemed to be pledged hereunder.

          "Proceeds"  shall mean  "proceeds"  as such term is defined in Section
     9-306(1) of the UCC.

          "Receivables"  shall  mean all  rights to  payment  for goods  sold or
     leased or services  rendered,  whether or not earned by performance and all
     rights in respect of the Account Debtor, including without limitation,  all
     such  rights in which the  Borrower  has any right,  title or  interest  by
     reason of the  purchase  thereof by the  Borrower,  and  including  without
     limitation  all such  rights  constituting  or  evidenced  by any  Account,
     Chattel Paper,  Instrument,  General Intangible,  note, contract,  invoice,
     purchase  order,  

<PAGE>

     draft,  acceptance,  intercompany  account,  security  agreement,  or other
     evidence of  indebtedness  or security,  together  with (a) any  collateral
     assigned,  hypothecated  or held to  secure  any of the  foregoing  and the
     rights under any security  agreement  granting a security  interest in such
     collateral,  (b) all  goods,  the  sale of  which  gave  rise to any of the
     foregoing,  including,  without  limitation,  all rights in any returned or
     repossessed   goods  and  unpaid  seller's  rights,   (c)  all  guarantees,
     endorsements and indemnifications on, or of, any of the foregoing,  and (d)
     all powers of attorney for the execution of any evidence of indebtedness or
     security or other writing in connection therewith.

          "Receivables  Records"  shall  mean  (a) all  original  copies  of all
     documents,  instruments or other writings  evidencing the Receivables,  (b)
     all books, correspondence, credit or other files, records, ledger sheets or
     cards,  invoices,  and other  papers  relating  to  Receivables,  including
     without  limitation  all tapes,  cards,  computer  tapes,  computer  discs,
     computer  runs,  record  keeping  systems  and other  papers and  documents
     relating to the Receivables, whether in the possession or under the control
     of the  Borrower or any  computer  bureau or agent from time to time acting
     for the Borrower or otherwise, (c) all evidences of the filing of financing
     statements  and  the  registration  of  other   instruments  in  connection
     therewith  and  amendments,  supplements  or other  modifications  thereto,
     notices  to  other  creditors  or  secured   parties,   and   certificates,
     acknowledgments,  or other writings,  including,  without limitation,  lien
     search reports, from filing or other registration  officers, (d) all credit
     information,  reports and  memoranda  relating  thereto,  and (e) all other
     written  or  non-written  forms of  information  related  in any way to the
     foregoing or any Receivable.

          "Secured  Obligations"  shall  mean (a) all  obligations,  liabilities
     (including, without limitation, contingent obligations) and indebtedness of
     every nature of the Borrower,  now existing or hereafter incurred,  arising
     under or in  connection  with the  Credit  Agreement,  any Note,  any other
     Credit  Document  or  this  Agreement;  (b)  all  obligations,  liabilities
     (including, without limitation, contingent obligations) and indebtedness of
     every nature of the Borrower,  now existing or hereafter incurred,  arising
     under or in  connection  with Hedge  Agreements  entered into in connection
     with the Credit Agreement and prior to the termination thereof; and (c) all
     other obligations, liabilities of every kind, nature or description, direct
     or indirect, primary or secondary, joint or several, absolute or contingent
     of the  Borrower  to the  Secured  Party  whether  due or to become due and
     whether  now  existing  or  hereafter   incurred  and  whether  similar  or
     dissimilar to the obligations  described in clauses (a) and (b) hereof, and
     including, without limitation, all consumer or commercial transactions, all
     purchase money and nonpurchase  money  transactions,  all  overdrafts,  all
     letters of credit,  all lines of credit and all other extensions of credit,

<PAGE>

     regardless of how they may be evidenced.

          "Secured Party" shall mean Fletcher International Limited.

          "Security Collateral" shall mean:

          (i) any Pledged Stock and the  certificates  representing  the Pledged
     Stock, and all dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to
     time  received,  receivable  or otherwise  distributed  in respect of or in
     exchange for any or all of the Pledged Stock;

          (ii) any  Pledged  Notes and the  instruments  evidencing  the Pledged
     Notes, and all interest,  cash, instruments and other property from time to
     time  received,  receivable  or otherwise  distributed  in respect of or in
     exchange for any or all of the Pledged Notes;

          (iii) all  additional  shares of stock (of any  issuer of the  Pledged
     Stock) from time to time  acquired by any  Borrower in any manner,  and the
     certificates representing such additional shares, and all dividends,  cash,
     instruments  and other property from time to time  received,  receivable or
     otherwise  distributed  in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such
     shares; and

          (iv)  all  additional  indebtedness  from  time  to  time  owed to any
     Borrower by any obligor of the Pledged Notes and the instruments evidencing
     such indebtedness,  and all interest,  cash, instruments and other property
     from time to time received,  receivable or otherwise distributed in respect
     of or in exchange for any or all of such indebtedness.

          "Trademark Licenses" shall mean all of the Borrower's right, title and
     interest in, and to any and all  agreements  providing  for the granting of
     any  right in or to  Trademarks  (whether  such  Borrower  is  licensee  or
     licensor thereunder) including,  without limitation, any agreement referred
     to in Item F of Schedule IV.

          "Trademarks"  shall  mean  all  of the  Borrower's  right,  title  and
     interest in, and to all United States and foreign trademarks,  trade names,
     corporate names,  fictitious  business names, trade styles,  service marks,
     certification  marks,  collective  marks,  logos,  other source or business
     identifiers,  designs,  internet domain names and general  intangibles of a
     like nature,  all  registrations  and applications for any of the foregoing
     including,  but not limited to the registrations and applications  referred
     to in Item E of  Schedule  IV, all  extensions  or  renewals  of any of the
     foregoing;  rights of publicity  and privacy  relating to the use of names,
     likenesses, signatures and biographical information of real persons; all of
     the goodwill 

<PAGE>

     of the business  connected with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing;
     the right to sue for past  infringement or dilution of any of the foregoing
     or for  any  injury  to  goodwill,  and  all  proceeds  of  the  foregoing,
     including,  without  limitation,  licenses,  royalties,  income,  payments,
     claims, damages and proceeds of suit.

          "Trade Secret Licenses" shall mean all of the Borrower's right,  title
     and interest in and to any and all payments  providing  for the granting of
     any right in or to Trade  Secrets  (whether  the  Borrower  is  licensee or
     licensor thereunder) including,  without limitation, any agreement referred
     to in Item G of Schedule IV.

          "Trade  Secrets"  shall mean all of the  Borrower's  right,  title and
     interest in and to trade secrets and all other  confidential or proprietary
     information and know-how now or hereafter owned or used in, or contemplated
     at any time for use in, the business of the Borrower  (all of the foregoing
     being  collectively  called a "Trade  Secret"),  whether  or not such Trade
     Secret has been reduced to a writing or other tangible form,  including all
     documents and things  embodying,  incorporating  or referring in any way to
     such  Trade  Secret,  the right to sue for past  infringement  of any Trade
     Secret and all proceeds of the foregoing,  including,  without  limitation,
     licenses,  royalties,  income,  payments,  claims,  damages and proceeds of
     suit.

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

                                   ARTICLE IV

                           GRANT OF SECURITY INTERESTS

     4.2 As security for the prompt and complete payment and performance in full
of all the  Secured  Obligations  when  due  (whether  at  stated  maturity,  by
acceleration  or otherwise),  the Borrower  hereby grants to the Secured Party a
security  interest  in and  lien  on all of such  Borrower's  right,  title  and
interest  in, to and under the  following,  in each case,  whether  now owned or
existing or  hereafter  acquired or arising and  wherever  located (all of which
being hereinafter collectively called the "Collateral"):

     (1) all Accounts;

     (2) all Chattel Paper;

     (3) all Contracts;

<PAGE>

     (4) the Collateral Account;

     (5) all Collateral Records;

     (6) all Deposit Accounts;

     (7) all Documents;

     (8) all Equipment;

     (9) all Fixtures;

     (10) all General Intangibles;

     (11) all Intellectual Property;

     (12) all Interest Rate Agreements;

     (13) all Instruments;

     (14) all Insurance Policies;

     (15) all Inventory;

     (16) all Money;

     (17) all Motor Vehicles;

     (18) all Receivables;

     (19) all Receivables Records;

     (20) all other tangible and intangible personal property;

     (21) all of the Security Collateral; and

     (22) all  accessions  and  additions  to any or all of the  foregoing,  all
substitutions  and replacements for any or all of the foregoing and all Proceeds
or products of any or all of the foregoing.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

<PAGE>

     The Borrower  hereby  represents and warrants to the Secured  Party,  which
representations  and  warranties  shall  survive  execution and delivery of this
Agreement, as follows:

     6.2  Credit  Agreement   Representations   and  Warranties.   Each  of  the
representations  and  warranties  made by and/or in respect of such  Borrower in
Section 4 of the Credit Agreement is true and correct as of the date hereof.

     6.4 No Other Liens.  (a) Except for the Lien  granted to the Secured  Party
hereunder,  the Borrower owns and, as to all Collateral  whether now existing or
hereafter  acquired will continue to own, each item of the Collateral pledged by
it free and clear of any and all  Liens,  rights or claims of all other  Persons
other than Permitted Liens, and the Borrower shall defend the Collateral against
all claims  and  demands of all  Persons  at any time  claiming  the same or any
interest therein adverse to the Secured Party.

          (b) No  effective  financing  statement  or  other  evidence  of  lien
covering or purporting  to cover any of the  Collateral is on file in any public
office other than (i)  financing  statements  filed or to be filed in connection
with the  security  interests  granted  to the  Secured  Party  hereunder,  (ii)
financing statements for which proper termination statements have been delivered
to the  Secured  Party  for  filing  and  (iii)  financing  statements  filed in
connection  with  Permitted  Liens.  The Borrower has not consented to any other
Person  other than the Secured  Party  having  "control"  (within the meaning of
Section 8-106 of the UCC) over the Collateral Account.

     6.6 Perfected Liens; Priority. (a) The security interests in the Collateral
granted to the Secured Party hereunder  constitute  valid security  interests in
the Collateral.

          (b) (i) Upon  filing  financing  statements  naming  the  Borrower  as
"debtor" and the Secured Party as "secured  party" and describing the Collateral
in the filing  offices set forth on Schedule V hereto and (ii) to the extent not
subject to Article 9 of the UCC, (x) in the case of Intellectual Property,  upon
the  recordation  of  the  security  interests  granted  hereunder  in  Patents,
Trademarks  and  Copyrights in the  applicable  patent,  trademark and copyright
registries or (y) in the case of the Security  Collateral,  upon the delivery of
the Security  Collateral  and  Investments  to the Secured  Party,  the security
interests  in  the  Collateral  granted  to the  Secured  Party  hereunder  will
constitute  perfected security interests therein superior and prior to all Liens
(other than Permitted Liens), rights or claims of all other Persons.

     6.8 Security Collateral. (a) The Pledged Stock has been duly authorized and
validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable. The Pledged Notes have been
duly authorized,  authenticated or issued and delivered, and is the legal, valid
and binding obligation of the issuers thereof, and is not in default.

<PAGE>

          (b) The Pledged  Stock  constitutes  the  percentage of the issued and
outstanding  shares of stock of the  respective  issuers  thereof  indicated  on
Schedule I. The Pledged Notes are outstanding in the principal  amount indicated
on Schedule I.

     6.10 Chief Executive  Office;  Records.  The chief executive  office of the
Borrower is located at the location  specified on Schedule III. The  Receivables
Records and all  Contracts and  Collateral  Records are located at the locations
identified  on  Schedule  III as such or at the  chief  executive  office of the
Borrower.  All  Receivables  and Contracts are  maintained at and controlled and
directed (including,  without limitation,  for general accounting purposes) from
the chief executive office of the Borrower or the offices identified on Schedule
III as such.

     6.12 Location of Inventory and  Equipment.  All Inventory and Equipment now
or from time to time  included in the  Collateral  is kept only at the locations
listed on Schedule IV. None of such  Inventory or Equipment is in the possession
of an issuer of a negotiable document (as defined in UCC Section 7-104) therefor
or otherwise in the possession of a bailee.

     6.14 Receivables.  (a) Each Receivable (i) is and will be the legal,  valid
and binding obligation of the Account Debtor in respect thereof, representing an
unsatisfied  obligation of such Account Debtor,  (ii) is and will be enforceable
in  accordance  with its  terms,  (iii) is not and  will not be  subject  to any
setoffs,  defenses,  taxes or counterclaims (except (x) with respect to refunds,
returns  and  allowances  in the  ordinary  course of business  with  respect to
damaged  merchandise and (y) to the extent that such Receivable may not yet have
been  earned  by  performance)  and (iv) is and will be in  compliance  with all
applicable laws, whether federal, state, local or foreign.

          (b) None of the Account  Debtors in respect of any  Receivable  is the
United States Government or an instrumentality thereof.

          (c) No  Receivables  which are  evidenced by Chattel Paper require the
consent of the Account Debtor in respect  thereof in connection  with assignment
hereunder and no other receivable purports to prohibit assignment or require the
consent of the Account Debtor thereunder in connection with assignment.

          (d) No  Receivables  are evidenced by any  Instrument or Chattel Paper
which has not been delivered to the Secured Party.

          (e) The  Borrower has  delivered  to the Secured  Party a complete and
correct  copy of each form of  document  under  which a  Receivable  may  arise,
including  without  limitation,  a form of  each  invoice,  security  agreement,
contract, master contract,  promissory note, order form or similar 

<PAGE>

document used by the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business.

     The representations  and warranties  contained in this Section 3.7 shall be
deemed to be  repeated  by the  Borrower  as of the time  when  each  Receivable
pledged by it arises.

     6.16 Contracts.  (a) Each Contract (i) is and will be the legal,  valid and
binding  obligation  of  each  of the  parties  thereto,  (ii)  is and  will  be
enforceable  against each party thereto in accordance  with its terms,  (iii) is
and  will be in  full  force  and  effect  and is not  subject  to any  setoffs,
defenses,  taxes,  counterclaims or other claims,  nor have any of the foregoing
been  asserted  or  alleged  as to any  Contract  and  (iv)  is and  will  be in
compliance with all applicable laws, whether federal, state, local or foreign.

          (b) No consent or  authorization  or filing with or other act by or in
respect  of any  governmental  authority  is  required  in  connection  with the
execution, delivery, performance,  validity or enforceability of any Contract by
any party  thereto  other than  those  which  have been duly  obtained,  made or
performed,  are in full  force and effect  and do not  subject  the scope of any
Contract  to any  material  adverse  limitation,  either  specific or general in
nature.

          (c) Neither  the  Borrower  nor any other party to any  Contract is in
default or likely to become in default in the  performance  or observance of any
of the terms thereof.

          (d) The Borrower has fully performed all of its obligations under each
Contract to which it is a party.

          (e) The  Borrower has  delivered  to the Secured  Party a complete and
correct copy of each Contract,  including all amendments,  supplements and other
modifications thereto.

          (f) No payments due the Borrower  under any Contract are  evidenced by
any  Instrument  or Chattel  Paper which has not been  delivered  to the Secured
Party.

          (g) No party to any  Contract is the United  States  government  or an
instrumentality thereof.

          (h)  Except  as set  forth  in  Schedule  VI,  no  Contract  prohibits
assignment or requires or purports to require consent of or notice to any Person
in connection with assignment hereunder.

     6.18 Farm Products. None of the Collateral constitutes,  or is the proceeds
of, Farm Products (as defined in the UCC).

     6.20 Fair Labor  Standards Act. Any goods now or hereafter  

<PAGE>

produced  by the  Borrower  included  in the  Collateral  have  been and will be
produced in compliance with the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as
amended.

     6.22  Intellectual  Property  Collateral.  Except as disclosed in Item H of
Schedule IV:

          (a) all Intellectual  Property is subsisting and has not been adjudged
invalid or  unenforceable,  in whole or in part,  and the Borrower has performed
all acts and has paid all renewal, maintenance and other fees and taxes required
to maintain each and every registration and application of Intellectual Property
Collateral in full force and effect;

          (b) all Intellectual  Property is valid and  enforceable;  no holding,
decision or judgment has been  rendered in any action or  proceeding  before any
court or administrative  authority challenging the validity or enforceability of
the Borrower's right to register,  own or use any  Intellectual  Property and no
such  action  or  proceeding  is  pending  or,  to the  best  of the  Borrower's
knowledge, threatened;

          (c) all  registrations  and applications  for Copyrights,  Patents and
Trademarks are standing in the name of the Borrower and none of the  Trademarks,
Patents, Copyrights or Trade Secret Collateral has been licensed by the Borrower
to any  affiliate or third  party,  except as disclosed in Items B, D, F or G of
Schedule IV;

          (d) the  Borrower  has been  using  appropriate  statutory  notice  of
registration in connection with its use of registered Trademarks, proper marking
practices  in  connection  with the use of  Patents  and  appropriate  notice of
copyright in connection  with the  publication  of  Copyrighted  works which are
material to the business of the Borrower;

          (e)  the  Borrower   uses   adequate   standards  of  quality  in  the
manufacture,  distribution and sale of all products sold and in the provision of
all services  rendered under or in connection  with all Trademark  Collateral in
order to protect the value of such Trademarks and has taken all action necessary
to insure that all licensees of any portion of the Trademark Collateral owned by
the Borrower has been used with such adequate standards of quality.

          (f) Schedule IV sets forth a true and accurate  list of (i) all United
States,  state  and  foreign  registrations  of and  applications  for  Patents,
Trademarks  and Copyrights  owned by the Borrower and (ii) all Patent  Licenses,
Trademark  Licenses  and  Copyright  Licenses  material  to the  business of the
Borrower;

          (g) the Borrower is the sole and exclusive  owner of the entire 

<PAGE>

right,  title and interest in and to all  Intellectual  Property on Schedule IV,
and owns or has the valid right to use all other  Intellectual  Property used in
or  necessary to conduct its  business  free and clear of all Liens,  claims and
encumbrances or licenses,  except for Permitted Liens and the licenses set forth
on Schedule IV items B, D, F and G;

          (h) the conduct of the Borrower's  business does not infringe upon any
trademark,  patent,  copyright,  trade secret or similar  intellectual  property
right owned or controlled by a third party;  and no claim has been made that the
use of any  Intellectual  Property  owned  or  used by  Borrower  (or any of its
respective licensees) violates the asserted rights of any third party;

          (i) to the  best  of the  Borrower's  knowledge,  no  third  party  is
infringing in any material respect upon any Intellectual  Property owned or used
by Borrower or any of its respective licensees;

          (j) no  settlement or consents,  covenants  not to sue,  non-assertion
assurances  or  releases  have been  entered  into by  Borrower  or to which the
Borrower is bound that adversely affect the Borrower's  rights to own or use any
Intellectual Property; and

          (k) the Borrower has not made a previous assignment, sale, transfer or
agreement  constituting a present or future  assignment  sale or transfer of any
Intellectual  Property  that has not been  terminated  or released.  There is no
effective financing statement or other document or instrument now executed or on
file or  recorded  in any public  office,  granting a  security  interest  in or
otherwise encumbering any part of the Intellectual Property, other than in favor
of the Secured Party.

<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                    COVENANTS

     The  Borrower  covenants  and agrees with the  Secured  Party that from and
after the date of this Agreement:

     8.2 Further Assurances. At any time and from time to time, upon the request
of the Secured Party and at the sole expense of the Borrower,  the Borrower will
promptly  and duly  execute and deliver  any and all such  further  instruments,
endorsements,  powers of attorney and other documents,  make such filings,  give
such notices and take such further  action as the Secured  Party may  reasonably
deem  desirable  in obtaining  the full  benefits of this  Agreement  and of the
rights, remedies and powers herein granted,  including,  without limitation, the
following:

          (a) the filing of any financing  statements,  in a form  acceptable to
the  Secured  Party  under  the  Uniform   Commercial  Code  in  effect  in  any
jurisdiction  with respect to the liens and security  interests  granted hereby.
The Borrower also hereby authorizes the Secured Party to file any such financing
statement  without the  signature  of the  Borrower to the extent  permitted  by
applicable  law. A photocopy or other  reproduction  of this Agreement  shall be
sufficient as a financing  statement and may be filed in lieu of the original to
the extent  permitted by applicable  law. The Borrower will pay or reimburse the
Secured Party for all filing fees and related expenses;

          (b) the recordation of appropriate  evidence of the liens and security
interests granted  hereunder in the Intellectual  Property with any intellectual
property registry in which said Intellectual  Property is registered or in which
an application for registration is pending including,  without  limitation,  the
United States Patent and Trademark  Office,  the United States Copyright Office,
the  various  Secretaries  of State and the foreign  counterparts  on any of the
foregoing;

          (c) will make or reimburse  the Secured  Party for making all searches
deemed necessary by the Secured Party to establish and determine the priority of
the  security  interests of the Secured  Party or to  determine  the presence or
priority of other secured parties;

          (d) upon request of the Secured  Party,  cause the Secured Party to be
listed as the lienholder on the  certificate of title or ownership  covering any
Collateral  covered by such a  certificate  of title or ownership and to deliver
evidence thereof to the Secured Party promptly; and

          (e)  furnish to the  Secured  Party from time to time  statements  and
schedules  further  identifying  and  describing  the  Collateral and such other

<PAGE>

reports in connection  with the  Collateral as the Secured Party may  reasonably
request,  all in  reasonable  detail and in a form  satisfactory  to the Secured
Party.

     8.4  Delivery of  Security  Collateral.  All  certificates  or  instruments
representing  or evidencing  the Security  Collateral  shall be delivered to and
held by or on  behalf  of the  Secured  Party  pursuant  hereto  and shall be in
suitable form for transfer by delivery or shall be  accompanied by duly executed
instruments  of  transfer  or  assignment  in blank,  all in form and  substance
satisfactory  to the Secured Party.  The Secured Party shall have the right,  at
any time in its discretion and without notice to the Borrower, to transfer to or
to  register  in  the  name  of the  Secured  Party  any or all of the  Security
Collateral,  subject only to the revocable  rights  specified in Section 6.1(b).
For the better  perfection of the Secured  Party's rights in and to the Security
Collateral,  the  Borrower  shall  forthwith,  upon the  pledge of any  Security
Collateral  hereunder,  cause such  Security  Collateral to be registered in the
name of such nominee or nominees as the Secured Party shall direct, subject only
to the revocable  rights specified in Section 6.1(b).  In addition,  the Secured
Party shall have the right at any time to exchange  certificates  or instruments
representing or evidencing  Security  Collateral for certificates or instruments
of smaller or larger denominations.

     8.6 Change of Chief Executive Office.  The Borrower will not move its chief
executive  office  except to such new location as the Borrower may  establish in
accordance  with  the  last  sentence  of this  Section.  The  originals  of all
Receivables Records and Contracts and all Collateral Records will continue to be
kept at such chief executive  office or at the locations  identified on Schedule
III as  such,  or at  such  new  locations  as the  Borrower  may  establish  in
accordance with the last sentence of this Section. All Receivables,  Receivables
Records and  Contracts of the Borrower  will  continue to be  maintained  at and
controlled and directed (including,  without limitation,  for general accounting
purposes)  from,  a  location  identified  as such on  Schedule  III or such new
locations as the Borrower may establish in accordance  with the last sentence of
this  Section.  The  Borrower  shall not  establish a new location for its chief
executive  office  or such  activities  (or move any  such  activities  form the
location  listed in Schedule III therefor)  until (i) it shall have given to the
Secured Party not less than 30 days' prior written notice of its intention to do
so, clearly describing such new location and providing such other information in
connection  therewith as the Secured Party may reasonably  request and (ii) with
respect to such new location, it shall have taken all action satisfactory to the
Secured  Party as the Secured  Party may  reasonably  request,  to maintain  the
security interest of the Secured Party in the Collateral  intended to be granted
hereby at all times fully  perfected,  with the same or better  priority  and in
full force and effect.

     8.8 Change of Location of Inventory and Equipment. The Borrower agrees that
all Inventory and  Equipment  now held or  subsequently  acquired by it shall be
kept at (or shall be in transport to) any one of the locations 

<PAGE>

shown on  Schedule II or such new  location as the  Borrower  may  establish  in
accordance with the last sentence of this Section.  The Borrower may establish a
new location for Inventory and Equipment  only if (i) it shall have given to the
Secured Party not less than 30 days' prior written notice of its intention to do
so, clearly describing such new location and providing such other information in
connection  therewith as the Secured Party may reasonably  request and (ii) with
respect to such new location, it shall have taken all action satisfactory to the
Secured  Party,  as the Secured Party may  reasonably  request,  to maintain the
security interest of the Secured Party in the Collateral  intended to be granted
hereby at all times fully  perfected,  with the same or better  priority  and in
full force and effect.

     8.10 Change of Name;  Identity or Corporate  Structure.  The Borrower shall
not change its name (or conduct any  significant  portion of its business  under
any new  tradenames),  identity or corporate  structure  until (i) it shall have
given to the Secured  Party not less than 30 days' prior  written  notice of its
intention  to do so,  clearly  describing  such new name,  identity or corporate
structure  or such new  trade  name and  providing  such  other  information  in
connection  therewith as the Secured Party may reasonably  request and (ii) with
respect to such new name,  identify  or  corporate  structure  or such new trade
name,  it shall have taken all action  satisfactory  to the Secured Party as the
Secured Party may reasonably  request,  to maintain the security interest of the
Secured Party in the Collateral intended to be granted hereby at all times fully
perfected, with the same or better priority and in full force and effect.

     8.12 Delivery of Instruments and Chattel Paper. If any amount payable under
or in connection with any of the Collateral  shall be or become evidenced by any
Instrument  or  Chattel  Paper,  such  Instrument  or  Chattel  Paper  shall  be
immediately   delivered  to  the  Secured  Party,  duly  indorsed  in  a  manner
satisfactory  to the Secured  Party,  to be held as Collateral  pursuant to this
Agreement.

     8.14 Maintain and Mark Records and Receivables.  The Borrower will keep and
maintain at its own cost and expense  satisfactory  and complete  records of the
Collateral,  including,  but not limited to, the originals of all  documentation
with respect to all  Receivables  and records of all  payments  received and all
credits granted on the  Receivables  and all merchandise  returned and all other
dealings  therewith.  The Borrower shall legend,  in form and manner  reasonably
satisfactory  to the  Secured  Party,  all Chattel  Paper and other  evidence of
Receivables,  as well as the Receivables Records,  with an appropriate reference
to the fact that the Chattel Paper and all other  Receivables have been assigned
to the Secured Party and that the Secured Party has a security interest therein.

     8.16 Right of  Inspection.  The Secured  Party shall at all times have full
and free access during normal  business  hours to all the books,  correspondence
and records of the Borrower and the Secured  Party and its  

<PAGE>

representatives   may  examine  the  same,  take  extracts  therefrom  and  make
photocopies  thereof and the Borrower  agrees to render to the Secured Party, at
the Borrower's  cost and expense,  such clerical and other  assistance as may be
reasonably  requested with regard thereto.  The Secured Party and its respective
representatives  shall at all  times  have the right to enter  and  inspect  any
property of the Borrower  and enter into and upon any premises  where any of the
Inventory  or  Equipment  is located  for the  purpose of  inspecting  the same,
observing its use or otherwise protecting its interests therein.

     8.18  Insurance.  The Borrower shall maintain  insurance as required by the
Credit Agreement.

     8.20  Receivables.  (a) The Borrower shall perform in all material respects
all of its obligations with respect to the Receivables.

          (b) The  Borrower  shall not  amend,  modify,  terminate  or waive any
provision of any Receivable in any manner which could  reasonably be expected to
materially  adversely  affect the value of such Receivable as Collateral.  Other
than (i) in the  ordinary  course of business and (ii) while no Default or Event
of Default shall have  occurred and be  continuing,  the Borrower  shall not (w)
grant any  extension  or renewal of the time of payment of any  Receivable,  (x)
compromise or settle any dispute,  claim or legal proceeding with respect to any
Receivable for less than the total unpaid balance thereof,  (y) release,  wholly
or partially,  any Person liable for the payment thereof or (z) allow any credit
or discount thereon.

          (c) The  Borrower  shall  use its  best  efforts  (including,  without
limitation,  prompt and  diligent  exercise of each  material  right it may have
under  any  Receivable  (other  than any right of  termination))  to cause to be
collected  from  each  Account  Debtor,  as and  when  due  (including,  without
limitation,  amounts  which are  delinquent,  such  amounts to be  collected  in
accordance with generally  accepted lawful collection  procedures),  any and all
amounts  owing  under or on account of any  Receivable  and apply all  collected
amounts to the outstanding  balance of such Receivable  immediately upon receipt
thereof.

     8.22 Contracts. (a) The Borrower shall perform in all material respects all
of its obligations under each Contract.

          (b) The Borrower shall deliver promptly to the Secured Party a copy of
each material demand,  notice or document  received by it relating in any way to
any Contract.

          (c)  Without  the prior  written  consent of the  Secured  Party,  the
Borrower shall not amend,  modify,  terminate or supplement any provision of any
Contract or compromise  or settle any dispute,  claim or legal  proceeding  with
respect to any Contract,  in any such case in any manner which could  reasonably
be  expected  to  materially  adversely  affect  the value of such  Contract  as

<PAGE>

Collateral and shall not terminate any Contract.  Each such permitted amendment,
modification,  termination,  supplement,  compromise or  settlement  shall be in
writing, a copy of which shall be delivered promptly to the Secured Party.

          (d) The Borrower shall promptly and diligently  exercise each material
right it may have under any  Contract  (except  the right of  termination).  All
costs and expenses in connection therewith,  whether incurred by the Borrower or
the Secured Party, shall be borne by the Borrower.

     8.24 Warehouse  Receipts  Non-negotiable.  The Borrower  agrees that if any
warehouse  receipt  or receipt  in the  nature of a  warehouse  receipt or other
Document is issued with respect to any of its Inventory,  such warehouse receipt
or receipt in the nature thereof or other Document shall not be "negotiable" (as
such term is used in Section 7-104 of the UCC or under other relevant law).

     8.26 No  Impairment.  The Borrower  will not take or permit to be taken any
action which could impair the Secured Party's rights in the Collateral.

     8.28 Limitations on Dispositions of Collateral. The Borrower will not sell,
transfer,  lease,  license or otherwise  dispose of any of the Collateral or any
rights  therein or attempt,  offer or contract to do so,  except as permitted in
the Credit Agreement.

     8.30 Intellectual Property.

          (a) The Borrower  shall not do any act or omit to do any act,  whereby
any of the Intellectual  Property which is used in or otherwise  material to the
business of the Borrower may lapse or become abandoned, dedicated to the public,
or  unenforceable,  or which would  adversely  affect the  validity,  grant,  or
enforceability of the security interest granted therein.

          (b) The Borrower shall not, with respect to any  Trademarks  which are
used in or otherwise material to the business of the Borrower,  cease the use of
any of such  Trademarks or fail to maintain the level of the quality of products
sold and  services  rendered  under  any of such  Trademark  at a level at least
substantially  consistent  with the quality of such  products and services as of
the date hereof,  and the Borrower shall take all steps necessary to insure that
licensees of such Trademarks use such consistent standards of quality.

          (c) The  Borrower  shall,  within  thirty (30) days of the creation or
acquisition of any  Copyrightable  work which is material to the business of the
Borrower, apply to register the Copyright in the United States Copyright Office;
the  Borrower  shall,  within  thirty  (30)  days  of  the  acquisition  of  any
registrations  or  applications  for any  Patents or  Trademarks  from any third
party, record its 

<PAGE>

interest in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

          (d) The Borrower shall  promptly  notify the Secured Party if it knows
or has reason to know, that any item of the  Intellectual  Property that is used
in or otherwise  material to its business may become or has become (a) abandoned
or  dedicated  to the  public or placed in the  public  domain,  (b)  invalid or
unenforceable  or  (c)  subject  to any  adverse  determination  or  development
(including the  institution of  proceedings)  in any action or proceeding in the
United States Patent and Trademark  Office,  the United States  Copyright Office
any state registry or international  or foreign  counterpart of the foregoing or
any court.

          (e) The Borrower shall take all reasonable  steps in the United States
Patent and Trademark  Office,  the United  States  Copyright  Office,  any state
registry or international or foreign counterpart of the foregoing, to pursue any
application and maintain any registration of each Trademark, Patent or Copyright
owned by the Borrower and used in or otherwise  material to its business,  which
is now or shall become included in the Intellectual Property including,  but not
limited to, those items on Schedule IV Items A, C or E.

          (f)  In  the  event  that  any  Intellectual   Property  owned  by  or
exclusively licensed to the Borrower is infringed, misappropriated or diluted by
a third party,  the Borrower shall promptly take all reasonable  actions to stop
such infringement, misappropriation or dilution and protect its exclusive rights
in such Intellectual Property including, but not limited to, the initiation of a
suit to obtain injunctive relief and to recover damages.

          (g) The Borrower shall promptly (but in no event more than thirty (30)
days after the Borrower obtains  knowledge  thereof) report to the Secured Party
(i) the filing of any application to register any Intellectual Property with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or
any state  registry or  international  or foreign  counterpart  of the foregoing
(whether  such  application  is filed by the  Borrower  or  through  any  agent,
employee,  licensee  or  designee  thereof)  and  (ii) the  registration  of any
Intellectual  Property by any such office.  The Borrower  hereby  authorizes the
Secured  Party  to  modify  this  Agreement  by  amending  Schedule  IV and will
otherwise  cooperate  with the Secured Party in effecting any such  amendment to
include  any  item of  Intellectual  Property  which  shall  become  part of the
Intellectual Property after the date hereof.

          (h) The Borrower  shall,  promptly upon the reasonable  request of the
Secured Party, execute and deliver to the Secured Party any document required to
acknowledge,  confirm,  register, record or perfect the Secured Party's interest
in any  part of the  Intellectual  Property,  whether  now  owned  or  hereafter
acquired.

          (i) Except with the prior consent of the Secured Party or as 

<PAGE>

permitted  under the Credit  Agreement,  the Borrower will not execute and there
will not be on file in any public office, any effective  financing  statement or
other document or instruments, except financing statements or other documents or
instruments  filed or to be filed in favor of the Secured Party and the Borrower
will not sell, assign,  transfer,  license, grant any option or create or suffer
to exist any Lien upon or with respect to the Intellectual Property,  except for
the Lien created by and under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

     8.32  Notice.  The  Borrower  will advise the Secured  Party  promptly,  in
reasonable  detail and in accordance with the provisions  hereof (a) of any Lien
(other  than  Permitted  Liens)  on,  or  claim  asserted  against,  any  of the
Collateral and (b) of the  occurrence of any other event which could  reasonably
be  expected to have a material  adverse  effect on the  aggregate  value of the
Collateral or on the Liens created hereunder.

     8.34 Performance by Secured Party of Borrower's Obligations; Reimbursement.
If the Borrower fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements  contained
herein,  the Secured  Party may,  without  notice to or consent by the Borrower,
perform or comply or cause performance or compliance  therewith and the expenses
of the Secured Party incurred in connection with such performance or compliance,
together with interest  thereon at a rate per annum 2% above the Interest  Rate,
shall be  payable  by the  Borrower  to the  Secured  Party on  demand  and such
reimbursement obligation shall be secured hereby.

                                    ARTICLE X

                          SPECIAL PROVISIONS REGARDING
                            RECEIVABLES AND CONTRACTS

     10.2 Borrower  Remains Liable under  Receivables  and  Contracts.  Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding (including, without limitation, the grant
of any rights to the Secured Party), the Borrower shall remain liable under each
of the  Receivables  and Contracts to observe and perform all the conditions and
obligations  to be observed and  performed by it  thereunder,  all in accordance
with the terms of any agreement giving rise to each such Receivable or Contract.
The Secured Party shall have no obligation or liability under any Receivable (or
any  agreement  giving rise  thereto) or Contract by reason of or arising out of
this  Agreement or the receipt by the Secured  Party of any payment  relating to
such  Receivable  or Contract  pursuant  hereto,  nor shall the Secured Party be
obligated in any manner to perform any of the  obligations of the Borrower under
or pursuant to any Receivable (or any agreement giving rise thereto) or under or
pursuant to any  Contract,  to make any  payment,  to make any inquiry as to the
nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency
of any  performance by any party under any  Receivable (or any agreement  giving

<PAGE>

rise thereto) or under any Contract,  to present or file any claim,  to take any
action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which
may have  been  assigned  to it or to which  it may be  entitled  at any time or
times.

     10.4 Notice to Account Debtors and Contracting  Parties.  At any time after
an Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing,  the Secured Party may, and
upon request of the Secured Party, the Borrower shall notify Account Debtors and
parties to the Contracts  that the Accounts and the Contracts have been assigned
to the Secured Party and that payments in respect thereof shall be made directly
to the Secured  Party.  The Secured  Party may in its own name or in the name of
others,  communicate with Account Debtors and parties to the Contracts to verify
with them to the Secured Party's satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of
any Receivables or Contracts.

     10.6  Collections  on Receivables  and Contracts.  The Secured Party hereby
authorizes  the Borrower to collect the  Receivables  and Contracts  and, at any
time after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Secured Party
may curtail or terminate said authority and by itself or by its agents,  collect
all Receivables and amounts owing under the Contracts. After an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing,  if required by the Secured Party,  any payments
of Receivables and Contracts, when collected by the Borrower, shall be forthwith
(and, in any event,  within two Business Days)  delivered by the Borrower to the
Secured Party in the exact form received,  duly indorsed to the Secured Party if
required,  for deposit into the  Collateral  Account,  and until so turned over,
shall be held by the Borrower in trust for the Secured  Party,  segregated  from
other funds of the Borrower.  All Proceeds,  while held by the Secured Party (or
by the Borrower in trust for the Secured  Party) shall continue to be Collateral
securing all of the Secured Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof
until applied as hereinafter provided.

                                   ARTICLE XII

                          SPECIAL PROVISIONS REGARDING
                               SECURITY COLLATERAL

     12.2 Voting Rights;  Dividends;  Etc. (a) So long as no Event of Default or
event  which,  with the  giving of  notice  or the lapse of time or both,  would
become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing:

          (i) The  Borrower  shall be  entitled  to  exercise  or  refrain  from
     exercising any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the
     Security  Collateral or any part thereof,  for any purpose not inconsistent
     with  the  terms  of this  Agreement  or the  Credit  Agreement;  provided,
     however,  that such Borrower shall not exercise or refrain from  exercising
     any such right if, in the Secured Party's judgment,  such action would have

<PAGE>

     a material  adverse  effect on the value of the Security  Collateral or any
     part  thereof,  and,  provided  further,  that the Borrower  shall give the
     Secured Party at least five days' written  notice of the manner in which it
     intends to exercise or the reasons for refraining from exercising, any such
     right;

          (ii) The Borrower  shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all
     dividends  and  interest  paid  in  respect  of  the  Security  Collateral,
     provided, however, that any and all

               (A)  dividends and interest paid or payable other than in cash in
          respect of, and instruments and other property received, receivable or
          otherwise  distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Security
          Collateral,

               (B) dividends and other  distributions paid or payable in cash in
          respect of any Security  Collateral  in  connection  with a partial or
          total  liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of
          capital, capital surplus or paid-in-surplus, and

               (C) cash paid,  payable or  otherwise  distributed  in respect of
          principal  of, or in  redemption  of, or in exchange for, any Security
          Collateral,  shall be forthwith delivered to the Secured Party to hold
          as Security  Collateral  and shall,  if received by the  Borrower,  be
          received in trust for the benefit of the Secured Party,  be segregated
          from the other  property  or funds of the  Borrower  and be  forthwith
          delivered to the Secured Party as Security Collateral in the same form
          as so received (with any necessary indorsement or assignment); and

          (iii) The  Secured  Party  shall  execute  and deliver (or cause to be
     executed  and  delivered)  to the  Borrower  all  such  proxies  and  other
     instruments  as the  Borrower  may  reasonably  request  for the purpose of
     enabling  the  Borrower to exercise the voting and other rights which it is
     entitled to exercise  pursuant  to  paragraph  (i) above and to receive the
     dividends or interest payments which it is authorized to receive and retain
     pursuant to paragraph (ii) above.

          (b) Upon the  occurrence  and  during the  continuance  of an Event of
Default  or an event  which,  with the  giving of notice or the lapse of time or
both, would become an Event of Default:

          (i) All  rights  of the  Borrower  (x) to  exercise  or  refrain  from
     exercising the voting and other consensual  rights which it would otherwise
     be entitled to exercise  pursuant to Section 6(a)(i) shall,  upon notice to
     the  Borrower by the Secured  Party cease and (y) to receive the  

<PAGE>

     dividends and interest  payments which it would  otherwise be authorized to
     receive and retain pursuant to Section 6(a)(ii) shall  automatically  cease
     and all such rights shall thereupon  become vested in the Secured Party who
     shall  thereupon have the sole right to exercise or refrain from exercising
     such voting and other consensual rights and to receive and hold as Security
     Collateral such dividends and interest payments; and

          (ii) All  dividends  and interest  payments  which are received by the
     Borrower  contrary  to the  provisions  of  paragraph  (i) of this  Section
     6.1(b),  shall be received  in trust for the benefit of the Secured  Party,
     shall be segregated from other funds of the Borrower and shall be forthwith
     paid over to the Secured  Party as Security  Collateral in the same form as
     so received (with any necessary indorsement).

     12.4  Additional  Shares.  The Borrower  agrees that it will (i) cause each
issuer of the  Pledged  Shares  not to issue any  stock or other  securities  in
addition to or in  substitution  for the Pledged  Shares  issued by such issuer,
except to the Borrower and (ii)  immediately  upon its acquisition  (directly or
indirectly)  thereof,  deliver  to the  Secured  Party  as  additional  security
hereunder  any and all  additional  shares of stock or other  securities of each
issuer of the Pledged Shares.

                                   ARTICLE XIV

                               COLLATERAL ACCOUNT

     14.2 Collateral  Account.  There is hereby  established with [name of bank]
the  Collateral  Account.  The  Collateral  Account  shall be under the sole and
exclusive  dominion and control of the Secured Party and the Borrower shall have
no rights with respect to the Collateral  Account,  except as  specifically  set
forth below with regard to determination of the nature of investments to be made
with amounts credited to the Collateral Account. Without limiting the generality
of the  foregoing,  the Borrower  shall have no right of  withdrawal or transfer
from the Collateral Account.

     14.4  Deposit of  Proceeds.  There  shall be  deposited  in the  Collateral
Account from time to time the cash  proceeds (as defined in Section  9-306(1) of
the  UCC)  of any of  the  Collateral  (including  insurance  proceeds  thereon)
required to be delivered to the Secured Party pursuant  hereto.  All amounts and
investments and other items credited to the Collateral Account from time to time
shall constitute  Collateral  hereunder and shall not constitute  payment of the
Secured Obligations until applied as hereinafter provided. At any time following
the  occurrence and during the  continuance of an Event of Default,  the Secured
Party may in its discretion apply or cause to be applied (subject to collection)
the  balance  from time to time  outstanding  to the  credit  of the  

<PAGE>

Collateral  Account to the  payment  of the  Secured  Obligations  in the manner
specified herein.

     14.6 Investment of Balance in Collateral  Account.  Amounts credited to the
Collateral  Account  shall  be  invested  from  time to  time in such  Permitted
Investments as the Borrower (or, after the occurrence and during the continuance
of a Default or Event of Default,  the Secured  Party)  shall  determine,  which
Permitted  Investments shall be held in the name and be under the control of the
Secured Party.

                                   ARTICLE XVI

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     16.2 Secured  Party's  Appointment  as  Attorney-in-Fact.  (a) The Borrower
hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Secured Party and any officer or
agent  thereof,  with  full  power  of  substitution,  as its  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  with full  irrevocable  power and  authority  in the place and
stead of the Borrower  and in the name of the Borrower or in its own name,  from
time to time in the Secured Party's discretion,  for the purpose of carrying out
the  terms of this  Agreement,  to take any and all  appropriate  action  and to
execute  any and  all  documents  and  instruments  which  may be  necessary  or
desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and, without limiting the
generality  of the  foregoing,  the Borrower  hereby gives the Secured Party the
power and right,  on behalf of the Borrower,  without notice to or assent by the
Borrower, to do the following:

          (i) in the case of any  Receivable,  at any time when the authority of
     the Borrower to collect the  Receivables  has been  curtailed or terminated
     pursuant hereto, or in the case of any other  Collateral,  at any time when
     any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,  in the name of
     the Borrower or its own name or  otherwise,  (A) to take  possession of and
     indorse  and  collect  any  checks,  drafts,  notes,  acceptances  or other
     instruments  for the  payment of moneys due under or with  respect  to, any
     Collateral; (B) to direct any party liable for any payment under any of the
     Collateral  to make  payment  of any and all  moneys  due or to become  due
     thereunder  directly  to the Secured  Party or as the  Secured  Party shall
     direct;  and (C) to ask or demand  for,  collect,  receive  payment  of and
     receipt for, any and all moneys,  claims and other amounts due or to become
     due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral;

          (ii) to prepare,  sign and file any UCC  financing  statements  in the
     name of the Borrower as debtor;

<PAGE>

          (iii) to prepare,  sign, and file for recordation in any  intellectual
     property registry,  appropriate  evidence of the lien and security interest
     granted herein in the Intellectual  Property in the name of the Borrower as
     the Borrower;

          (iv) to take or cause to be taken all actions  necessary to perform or
     comply or cause performance or compliance with the terms of this Agreement,
     including, without limitation,  actions to pay or discharge taxes and Liens
     levied or placed on or  threatened  against the  Collateral,  to effect any
     repairs or obtain any insurance  called for by the terms of this  Agreement
     and to pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof;

          (v) upon the  occurrence  and during the  continuance  of any Event of
     Default  (A) to sign and indorse any  invoices,  freight or express  bills,
     bills of lading,  storage or warehouse  receipts,  drafts against  debtors,
     assignments,  verifications, notices and other documents in connection with
     any of the Collateral;  (B) to commence and prosecute any suits, actions or
     proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent  jurisdiction  to
     collect the  Collateral  or any  Proceeds  thereof and to enforce any other
     right in  respect  of any  Collateral;  (C) to defend  any suit,  action or
     proceeding brought against the Borrower with respect to any Collateral; (D)
     to settle, compromise or adjust any suit, action or proceeding described in
     the preceding clause and, in connection therewith,  to give such discharges
     or releases as the Secured Party may deem  appropriate;  and (E) generally,
     to sell or transfer  and make any  agreement  with respect to, or otherwise
     deal with,  any of the  Collateral  as fully and  completely  as though the
     Secured Party were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes,  and to do,
     at the Secured  Party's option and the Borrower's  expense,  at any time or
     from time to time,  all acts and  things  which  the  Secured  Party  deems
     necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Liens
     of the Secured  Party  thereon and to effect the intent of this  Agreement,
     all as fully and effectively as the Borrower might do; and

          (vi) at any time and from time to time, to execute, in connection with
     any  foreclosure,  any  indorsements,  assignments or other  instruments of
     conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral.

     The Borrower  hereby  ratifies all that said attorney  shall lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue  hereof.  This power of attorney  is a power  coupled
with an interest and shall be irrevocable.

     The Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that in acting pursuant to this
power-of-attorney, the Secured Party shall be acting in its own interest and the
Borrower  acknowledges and agrees that the Secured 

<PAGE>

Party shall have no fiduciary  duties to the  Borrower  and the Borrower  hereby
waives any claims to the rights of a  beneficiary  of a  fiduciary  relationship
hereunder.

          (b) No Duty on the Part of Secured Party.  The powers conferred on the
Secured Party hereunder are solely to protect the interests of the Secured Party
in the  Collateral  and shall not  impose  any duty  upon the  Secured  Party to
exercise  any such  powers.  The  Secured  Party shall be  accountable  only for
amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers and
neither it nor any of its  officers,  directors,  employees  or agents  shall be
responsible to the Borrower for any act or failure to act hereunder,  except for
their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

                                  ARTICLE XVIII

                          REMEDIES; RIGHTS UPON DEFAULT

     18.2 Rights and Remedies Generally.  If an Event of Default shall occur and
be continuing, then and in every such case, the Secured Party shall have all the
rights of a secured party under the UCC,  shall have all rights now or hereafter
existing  under  all other  applicable  laws or in equity  and,  subject  to any
mandatory  requirements  of  applicable  law then in effect,  shall have all the
rights set forth in this  Agreement and all the rights set forth with respect to
the Collateral or this Agreement or in any other agreement  between the parties.
No  enumeration  of rights in this Article or elsewhere in this  Agreement or in
any related document or other agreement, shall be deemed to in any way limit the
rights of the Secured Party as described in this Article.

     18.4 Collection of Receivables  and other Proceeds.  If an Event of Default
shall occur and be  continuing,  in addition to the rights of the Secured  Party
specified  in Section 5.3 with  respect to the  collection  of  Receivables  and
Contracts,  all Proceeds received by the Borrower consisting of cash, checks and
other  near-cash  items  shall be held by the  Borrower in trust for the Secured
Party,  segregated  from other funds of the  Borrower and shall  forthwith  upon
receipt by the Borrower,  be turned over to the Secured Party,  in the same form
received by the Borrower  (appropriately indorsed or assigned by the Borrower to
the order of the Secured Party or in such other manner as shall be  satisfactory
to the Secured Party) for deposit into the Collateral Account.

     18.6 Direct Borrower to Dispose of Collateral. If an Event of Default shall
occur and be  continuing,  the  Secured  Party may direct the  Borrower to sell,
assign or  otherwise  liquidate  or  dispose  of all,  or from time to time any,
portion of the  Collateral  and the Borrower  shall do so, and the Secured Party
may, at its option,  take  possession  of the Proceeds of such  Collateral.  The

<PAGE>

Secured  Party may direct  the  Borrower  to direct  that all  Proceeds  of such
Collateral  be paid  directly to the Secured Party or may permit the Proceeds of
such  Collateral  to be paid to the  Borrower  and,  if  directed by the Secured
Party, all such Proceeds  consisting of cash, checks or near-cash items shall be
held by the Borrower in trust for the Secured Party, segregated from other funds
of the Borrower and shall forthwith upon receipt by the Borrower, be turned over
to the Secured Party,  in the same form received by the Borrower  (appropriately
indorsed  or assigned  by the  Borrower to the order of the Secured  Party or in
such other  manner as shall be  satisfactory  to the Secured  Party) for deposit
into the Collateral Account.

     18.8  Collateral  Account.  If an  Event  of  Default  shall  occur  and be
continuing,  the Secured  Party may  liquidate  any  securities  credited to the
Collateral Account (including any Permitted  Investments) and apply the proceeds
thereof and any other amounts credited to the Collateral  Account to the Secured
Obligations  (whether matured or unmatured),  in such order as the Secured Party
may elect. Any balance of such Proceeds remaining after the Secured  Obligations
have been paid and  performed in full,  shall be paid over to the Borrower or to
whomsoever  may  lawfully  be  entitled  to  receive  the  same or as a court of
competent jurisdiction may direct.

     18.10 Possession of Collateral.  (a) If an Event of Default shall occur and
be continuing:  (

          i) the  Secured  Party  may,  personally  or by agents  or  attorneys,
immediately retake possession of the Collateral  (including the originals of all
or any  Receivables  or  Receivables  Records)  or any  part  thereof,  from the
Borrower or any other Person who then has  possession of any part thereof,  with
or without  notice or judicial  process and for that  purpose may enter upon the
Borrower's  premises  where any of the Collateral is located and remove the same
and, the Secured  Party may use in  connection  with such  removal,  any and all
services, supplies, aids and other facilities of the Borrower; and

          (ii) upon five (5) days notice to the Borrower, the Borrower shall, at
its own expense,  assemble the Collateral,  including,  without limitation,  the
originals of all Receivables  Records (or from time to time any portion thereof)
and make it available to the Secured Party at any place or places  designated by
the Secured Party which is reasonably convenient to both parties, whether at the
Borrower's or the Secured Party's premises or elsewhere.  The Borrower, shall at
its sole  expense,  store and keep any  Collateral so assembled at such place or
places  pending  further  action by the Secured  Party and while the  Collateral
shall be so stored and kept,  provide  such guards and  maintenance  services as
shall be  necessary  to  protect  the  same and to  preserve  and  maintain  the
Collateral  in good  condition.  The  Borrower's  obligation  so to assemble and
deliver the  Collateral is of the essence of this  Agreement  and,  accordingly,
upon  application  to a court of equity having  jurisdiction,  the Secured Party
shall be entitled to a decree requiring specific  performance by the Borrower of
said 

<PAGE>

obligation.

          (b) When  Collateral  is in the Secured  Party's  possession,  (i) the
Borrower shall pay (or reimburse the Secured Party on demand for) all reasonable
expenses  (including  the cost of any  insurance  and  payment of taxes or other
charges)  incurred  in  the  custody,  preservation,  use  or  operation  of the
Collateral  and the  obligation to reimburse all such expenses  shall be secured
hereby and (ii) the risk of  accidental  loss or damage shall be on the Borrower
to the extent of any deficiency in any effective insurance coverage.

     18.12 Disposition of the Collateral. If an Event of Default shall occur and
be  continuing,  the  Secured  Party may sell,  assign,  lease,  license  (on an
exclusive  or  non-exclusive  basis)  give an option or options to  purchase  or
otherwise  dispose of the  Collateral  (or contract to do any of the  foregoing)
under one or more  contracts  or as an entirety  and without  the  necessity  of
gathering  at the place of sale the  property  to be sold,  at public or private
sale or sales,  conducted by any Officer,  nominee or agent of, or auctioneer or
attorney for, the Secured Party at any location of any third party conducting or
otherwise  involved in such sale or any office of the Secured Party or elsewhere
and in general,  in such  manner,  at such time or times and upon such terms and
conditions and at such prices as it may consider  commercially  reasonable,  for
cash or on credit or for future delivery without  assumption of any credit risk.
The Secured Party may in its sole discretion restrict  prospective bidders as to
their number,  nature of their  business and  investment  intention.  Any of the
Collateral may be sold,  leased,  assigned or options or contracts entered to do
so or  otherwise  disposed  of, in the  condition in which the same existed when
taken by the Secured Party or after any overhaul or repair which the  Collateral
Agent shall determine to be commercially reasonable.  To the extent permitted by
applicable  law, the Secured  Party may bid for and become the  purchaser of the
Collateral or any item thereof, offered for sale in accordance with this Section
without  accountability  to the Borrower  (except to the extent of surplus money
received)  as  provided  below.  In the  payment  of the  purchase  price of the
Collateral,  the  purchaser  shall be  entitled to have credit on account of the
purchase  price thereof of amounts owing to such  purchaser on account of any of
the Obligations and any such purchaser may deliver notes, claims for interest or
claims for other payment with respect to such  Obligations in lieu of cash up to
the amount which would,  upon  distribution of the net proceeds of such sale, be
payable thereon.  Such notes, if the amount payable hereunder shall be less than
the amount due  thereon,  shall be  returned to the holder  thereof  after being
appropriately stamped to show partial payment.

     18.14 Registration Rights. If the Secured Party shall determine to exercise
its right to sell all or any of the Security Collateral pursuant to Section 9.6,
the Borrower agrees that, upon request of the Secured Party,  the Borrower will,
at its own expense:

<PAGE>

          (a)  execute  and  deliver,  and cause  each  issuer  of the  Security
Collateral  contemplated  to be sold and the directors  and officers  thereof to
execute and deliver,  all such  instruments  and documents and do or cause to be
done all such other acts and things,  as may be necessary  or, in the opinion of
the Secured  Party,  advisable to register  such Security  Collateral  under the
provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as from time to time  amended (the
"Securities  Act"), and to cause the registration  statement relating thereto to
become  effective and to remain  effective for such period as  prospectuses  are
required by law to be  furnished,  and to make all  amendments  and  supplements
thereto  and to the  related  prospectus  which,  in the  opinion of the Secured
Party,  are necessary or advisable,  all in conformity with the  requirements of
the Securities Act and the rules and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission applicable thereto;

          (b) use its best efforts to qualify the Security  Collateral under the
state  securities  or "Blue Sky" laws and to obtain all  necessary  governmental
approvals for the sale of the Security  Collateral,  as requested by the Secured
Party;

          (c) cause each such issuer to make available to its security  holders,
as soon as practicable,  an earning  statement which will satisfy the provisions
of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act; and

          (d) do or cause to be done all such  other  acts and  things as may be
necessary to make such sale of the Security Collateral or any part thereof valid
and  binding  and in  compliance  with  applicable  law.  The  Borrower  further
acknowledges the impossibility of ascertaining the amount of damages which would
be suffered by the Secured  Party or the Secured  Party by reason of the failure
by the Borrower to perform any of the  covenants  contained in this Section and,
consequently,  agrees that,  if the  Borrower  shall fail to perform any of such
covenants,  it shall pay, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty,  an amount
equal to the value of the  Security  Collateral  on the date the  Secured  Party
shall demand compliance with this Section.

     18.16 Recourse.  The Borrower shall remain liable for any deficiency if the
proceeds of any sale or other  disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to
satisfy  the  Secured  Obligations.  The  Borrower  shall also be liable for all
expenses of the  Secured  Party  incurred in  connection  with  collecting  such
deficiency  including,  without  limitation,  the fees and  disbursements of any
attorneys employed by the Secured Party to collect such deficiency.

     18.18 Intellectual Property License. Solely for the purpose of enabling the
Secured  Party to  exercise  rights  and  remedies  under this  Article  IX, the
Borrower  hereby grants to the Secured Party,  to the extent it has the right to
do so, an irrevocable,  non-exclusive  license  (exercisable  without payment of
royalty or other compensation to the Borrower) to use, operate under, license or

<PAGE>

sublicense  any  Intellectual  Property now owned or  hereafter  acquired by the
Borrower  and  wherever  the  same  may be  located,  subject,  in the  case  of
Trademarks,  to sufficient  rights to quality control and inspection in favor of
the Borrower to avoid the risk of invalidation of said Trademarks.

     18.20 Expenses;  Attorneys'  Fees. The Borrower shall reimburse the Secured
Party  for all its  expenses  in  connection  with the  exercise  of its  rights
hereunder,  including,  without limitation,  all reasonable  attorneys' fees and
legal expenses incurred by the Secured Party.

     18.22  Application  of  Proceeds.   The  proceeds  of  any  disposition  of
Collateral shall be applied as follows:

          (a) to the  payment  of any  and  all  expenses  and  fees  (including
reasonable  attorneys' fees and disbursements)  incurred by the Secured Party in
connection  with the exercise of its rights and remedies  hereunder,  including,
without  limitation,  expenses and fees in  connection  with  obtaining,  taking
possession of, removing,  holding,  insuring,  repairing,  preparing for sale or
lease, storing and disposing of Collateral;

          (b) to the  satisfaction of the Secured  Obligations (in such order as
the Secured Party may decide);

          (c) any other payment of any amount required to be paid by the Secured
Party by law;

          (d)  the  satisfaction  of  indebtedness  secured  by any  subordinate
security  interest in the Collateral if written  notification of demand therefor
is received before  distribution  of the proceeds is completed,  but only to the
extent of the proceeds undistributed when such notification is received; and

          (e)  upon   termination  of  the   Commitments   and  the  expiration,
cancellation  or return to the issuer  thereof  undrawn  upon of any  letters of
credit, to the Borrower or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

     18.24  Limitation on Duties Regarding  Preservation of Collateral.  (a) The
Secured Party's sole duty with respect to the custody,  safekeeping and physical
preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207 of the UCC
or  otherwise,  shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the Secured Party
deals with similar property for its own account.

          (b) The Secured  Party shall have no  obligation  to take any steps to
preserve rights against prior parties to any Collateral.

          (c)  Neither  the Secured  Party nor any of its  directors,  officers,
employees  or agents  shall be liable for failure to demand,  collect or 

<PAGE>

realize upon all or any part of the  Collateral  or for any delay in doing so or
shall be under any  obligation  to sell or otherwise  dispose of any  Collateral
upon the request of the Borrower or otherwise. 

     18.26 Waiver of Claims. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, THE
BORROWER  HEREBY WAIVES,  TO THE EXTENT  PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NOTICE AND
JUDICIAL HEARING IN CONNECTION WITH THE SECURED PARTY'S TAKING POSSESSION OR THE
SECURED  PARTY'S  DISPOSITION  OF  ANY  OF THE  COLLATERAL,  INCLUDING,  WITHOUT
LIMITATION,  ANY AND ALL PRIOR NOTICE AND HEARING FOR ANY PREJUDGMENT  REMEDY OR
REMEDIES  AND ANY SUCH  RIGHT  WHICH  BORROWER  WOULD  OTHERWISE  HAVE UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION  OR ANY  STATUTE OF THE STATES OR OF ANY  STATE,  and the  Borrower
hereby further waives, to the extent permitted by law:

          (a) all damages  occasioned  by such taking of  possession  except any
damages which are the direct result of the Secured  Party's gross  negligence or
willful misconduct;

          (b) all other  requirements as to the time, place and terms of sale or
other requirements with respect to the enforcement of the Secured Party's rights
hereunder;

          (c) demand of performance or other demand,  notice of intent to demand
or accelerate,  notice of acceleration  presentment,  protest,  advertisement or
notice of any kind to or upon the Borrower or any other Person; and

          (d) all  rights of  redemption,  appraisement,  valuation,  diligence,
stay, extension or moratorium now or hereafter in force under any applicable law
in order to prevent or delay the  enforcement  of this  Agreement,  the absolute
sale of the Collateral or any portion  thereof and the Borrower,  for itself and
all who may claim under it, insofar as it or they now or hereafter lawfully may,
hereby waives the benefit of all such laws.

     18.28  Discontinuance of Proceedings.  In case the Secured Party shall have
instituted  any  proceeding  to enforce  any right,  power or remedy  under this
Agreement by foreclosure,  sale,  entry or otherwise,  and such proceeding shall
have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason or shall have been determined
adversely to the Secured Party's_____,  then and in every such case the Borrower
and the Secured  Party shall be returned to their  former  positions  and rights
hereunder  with  respect  to the  Collateral  subject to the  security  interest
created under this Agreement, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Secured
Party shall continue as if no such proceeding had been instituted.

                                   ARTICLE XX

<PAGE>

                                    INDEMNITY

     20.2  Indemnity  and  Expenses.  (a)  The  Borrower  agrees  to  indemnify,
reimburse and hold the Secured  Party and its  respective  officers,  directors,
employees,  representatives  and agents (hereinafter in this Section referred to
individually as "Indemnitee"  and collectively as  "Indemnitees")  harmless from
any  and all  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  claims,
actions,   judgments,   suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements   (including
reasonable  attorneys'  fees and expenses) (for the purposes of this Section the
foregoing are  collectively  called  "expenses")  for whatsoever  kind or nature
which may be imposed on, asserted  against or incurred by any of the Indemnitees
in any way  relating  to or  arising  out of  this  Agreement  or the  documents
executed  in  connection  herewith  or in  any  other  way  connected  with  the
administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or the enforcement of any
of the  terms  of or the  preservation  of any  rights  hereunder  or in any way
relating to or arising out of the manufacture,  ownership,  ordering,  purchase,
delivery,  control,  acceptance,   lease,  financing,   possession,   operation,
condition,   sale,  return  or  other  disposition  or  use  of  the  Collateral
(including,  without  limitation,  latent  or  other  defects,  whether  or  not
discoverable),  the  violation  of the  laws  of any  country,  state  or  other
governmental  body or unit,  any tort  (including,  without  limitation,  claims
arising or imposed under the doctrine of strict liability,  or for or on account
of injury to or the  death of any  Person  (including  any  Indemnitee),  or for
property  damage) or any contract  claim;  provided that no Indemnitee  shall be
indemnified  pursuant to this Section for  expenses to the extent  caused by the
gross negligence or wilful  misconduct of such  Indemnitee.  The Borrower agrees
that upon written notice by any Indemnitee of any assertion that could give rise
to an expense,  the Borrower  shall assume full  responsibility  for the defense
thereof.  Each Indemnitee  agrees to use its best efforts to promptly notify the
Borrower of any such assertion of which such Indemnitee has knowledge.

          (b) Without  limiting the  application  of clause (a) of this Section,
the Borrower agrees to pay, or reimburse the Secured Party for any and all fees,
costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature  incurred in  connection  with the
creation,  preservation  or  protection  of the  Secured  Party's  Liens on, and
security  interest  for the  benefit of the  Secured  Party in, the  Collateral,
including,  without  limitation,  all fees  and  taxes  in  connection  with the
recording or filing of instruments and documents in public  offices,  payment or
discharge of any taxes or Liens upon or in respect of the  Collateral,  premiums
for  insurance  with  respect to the  Collateral  and all other fees,  costs and
expenses in connection with protecting, maintaining or preserving the Collateral
and the Secured Party's interest therein,  whether through judicial  proceedings
or otherwise,  or in defending or prosecuting any actions,  suits or proceedings
arising out of or relating to the Collateral.

          (c)  Without  limiting  the  application  of clause (a) or (b) of this

<PAGE>

Section, the Borrower agrees to pay, indemnify and hold each Indemnitee harmless
from and against any expenses which such Indemnitee may suffer,  expend or incur
in  consequence  of or growing out of any  misrepresentation  by the Borrower in
this  Agreement  or in any  statement  or  writing  contemplated  by or  made or
delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement.

          (d) If and to the extent that the  obligations  of the Borrower  under
this Section are  unenforceable  for any reason,  the Borrower  hereby agrees to
make  the  maximum   contribution  to  the  payment  and  satisfaction  of  such
obligations which is permissible under applicable law.

     20.4 Indemnity  Obligations  Secured by Collateral;  Survival.  Any amounts
paid  by  any  Indemnitee  as  to  which  such   Indemnitee  has  the  right  to
reimbursement  shall constitute Secured  Obligations  secured by the Collateral.
The  indemnity  obligations  of the Borrower  contained  in this  Article  shall
continue  in  full  force  and  effect  notwithstanding  the  full  payment  and
performance  of  the  Secured  Obligations  and  notwithstanding  the  discharge
thereof.

                                  ARTICLE XXII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     22.2 Governing  Law. THIS  AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND  OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES  HEREUNDER  SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     22.4  Submission  to  Jurisdiction.  Any legal  action or  proceeding  with
respect to this  Agreement  and any action for  enforcement  of any  judgment in
respect  thereof may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or of the
United States of America for the Southern District of New York and, by execution
and delivery of this  Agreement,  the Borrower  hereby accepts for itself and in
respect  of its  property,  generally  and  unconditionally,  the  non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and appellate courts from any thereof.  The
Borrower  irrevocably  consents  to the  service  of  process  out of any of the
aforementioned  courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies
thereof by registered or certified mail,  postage  prepaid,  the Borrower at its
address set forth under its signature  below.  The Borrower  hereby  irrevocably
waives any objection  which it may now or hereafter  have to the laying of venue
of any of the aforesaid  actions or proceedings  arising out of or in connection
with this Agreement  brought in the courts  referred to above and hereby further
irrevocably  waives  and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any
such  action or  proceeding  brought  in any such  court has been  brought in an
inconvenient  forum.  Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Secured Party
to 

<PAGE>

serve  process  in any  other  manner  permitted  by law  or to  commence  legal
proceedings or otherwise proceed against the Borrower in any other jurisdiction.

     22.6 Waiver of Trial by Jury. TO THE EXTENT  PERMITTED BY  APPLICABLE  LAW,
EACH OF THE BORROWER AND THE SECURED PARTY HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES ALL RIGHT
OF TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,  PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTER ARISING HEREUNDER.

     22.8  Limitation of Liability.  No claim may be made by the Borrower or any
other Person against the Secured Party or the affiliates,  directors,  officers,
employees,  attorneys  or  agents  of any of  them  for any  special,  indirect,
consequential or punitive damages in respect of any claim for breach of contract
or any other theory of liability  arising out of or related to the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  or any act,  omission  or event  occurring  in
connection therewith; and the Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees not to
sue upon any claim for any such  damages,  whether or not accrued and whether or
not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

     22.10 Notices.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices,
requests and demands to or upon the  respective  parties  hereto to be effective
shall be in writing (including by telecopy,  telex, or cable  communication) and
shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when  delivered by hand, or five
days after being deposited in the United States mail,  postage  prepaid,  or, in
the case of telex notice,  when sent,  answerback  received,  or, in the case of
telecopy notice, when sent, or, in the case of a nationally recognized overnight
courier  service,  one  Business  Day after  delivery to such  courier  service,
addressed,  in the case of each party hereto, at its address specified  opposite
its signature  below, or to such other address as may be designated by any party
in a  written  notice to the other  party  hereto,  provided  that  notices  and
communications to the Secured Party shall not be effective until received by the
Secured Party.

     22.12  Successors  and Assigns.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Borrower,  the Secured Party,  all future holders of
the Secured Obligations and their respective successors and assigns, except that
the Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights or  obligations  under
this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Secured Party.

     22.14  Waivers  and  Amendments.  None of the terms or  provisions  of this
Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a
written instrument executed by the Borrower and the Secured Party, provided that
any provision of this  Agreement may be waived by the Secured Party in a written
letter or  agreement  executed  by the  Secured  Party 

<PAGE>

or by  telex  or  facsimile  transmission  from  the  Secured  Party.  Any  such
amendment, supplement, modification or waiver shall be binding upon the Borrower
and the Secured Party and all future holders of the Secured Obligations.  In the
case of any waiver,  the  Borrower  and the  Secured  Party shall be restored to
their former  position and rights  hereunder and under the  outstanding  Secured
Obligations,  and any Default or Event of Default  waived  shall be deemed to be
cured and not  continuing,  but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

     22.16 No Waiver;  Remedies  Cumulative.  No failure or delay on the part of
the Secured Party in exercising any right,  power or privilege  hereunder and no
course of dealing  between the Borrower and the Secured Party shall operate as a
waiver thereof;  nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or
privilege  hereunder  preclude  any other or  further  exercise  thereof  or the
exercise of any other right,  power or privilege.  A waiver by the Secured Party
of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a
bar to any right or remedy which the Secured Party would  otherwise  have on any
future  occasion.   The  rights  and  remedies  herein  expressly  provided  are
cumulative and may be exercised  singly or concurrently and as often and in such
order as the Secured  Party deems  expedient and are not exclusive of any rights
or remedies which the Secured Party would otherwise have whether by agreement or
now or hereafter  existing under  applicable  law. No notice to or demand on the
Borrower in any case shall  entitle the Borrower to any other or further  notice
or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights
of the Secured Party to any other or further action in any circumstances without
notice or demand.

     22.18  Termination;   Release.  When  the  Secured  Obligations  have  been
indefeasibly  paid and performed in full this Agreement  shall terminate and the
Secured Party, at the request and sole expense of the Borrower, will execute and
deliver  to the  Borrower  the proper  instruments  (including  UCC  termination
statements)  acknowledging  the  termination  of this  Agreement,  and will duly
assign, transfer and deliver to the Borrower,  without recourse,  representation
or  warranty  of  any  kind  whatsoever,  such  of the  Collateral  as may be in
possession  of the  Secured  Party and has not  theretofore  been  disposed  of,
applied or released.

     22.20  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number  of
counterparts and by the different parties hereto on 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.

     22.22  Effectiveness.  This Agreement shall become effective on the date on
which the  Borrower  shall  have  signed a  counterpart  hereof  and shall  have
delivered the same to the Secured Party.

<PAGE>

     22.24  Headings  Descriptive.  The  headings  of the several  Sections  and
subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not in
any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

     22.26  Severability.  In case any  provision  in or  obligation  under this
Agreement or the Secured Obligations 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.

     22.28  Survival.  All  indemnities  set  forth  herein  shall  survive  the
execution  and delivery of this  Agreement  and the making and  repayment of the
Secured Obligations.

     22.30  Powers  Coupled with an Interest.  All  authorizations  and agencies
herein  contained  with respect to the  Collateral  are  irrevocable  and powers
coupled with an interest.

     22.32 [RESERVED]

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Borrower  and the Secured  Party have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                             SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.
                                                  By________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                             [_________________________]
                                                  By________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                             [_________________________]
                                                  By________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:
                                             [_________________________]
                                                  By________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                       FLETCHER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
                                                  By________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:



                                                                      EXHIBIT II

                                 [FORM OF NOTE]

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$25,000,000.00                                                New York, New York
                                                                December 4, 1998

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED,  SMARTALK  TELESERVICES,  INC., a Delaware  Corporation
("Company"),  promises to pay to FLETCHER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED ("Payee") or its
assign, the lesser of (x) TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS  ($25,000,000.00 ) and (y)
the unpaid  principal  amount of all advances  made by Payee to Company as Loans
under the Credit Agreement referred to below at the Maturity Date (as defined in
the Credit Agreement).

     Company  also  promises  to pay  interest  on the unpaid  principal  amount
hereof,  from the date hereof until paid in full,  at the rates and at the times
which shall be  determined  in  accordance  with the  provisions of that certain
Credit  Agreement  dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended,  restated,
supplemented  or otherwise  modified from time to time, the "Credit  Agreement";
the terms defined therein and not otherwise  defined herein being used herein as
therein defined), by and between Company and the Payee.

     This Note is issued  pursuant to and entitled to the benefits of the Credit
Agreement,  to which  reference is hereby made for a more complete  statement of
the terms and conditions  under which the Loans  evidenced  hereby were made and
are to be repaid.

     All  payments of  principal  and  interest in respect of this Note shall be
made in lawful  money of the United  States of America in same day funds at such
place as shall be designated in writing for such purpose in accordance  with the
terms of the Credit Agreement.  Payee hereby agrees,  by its acceptance  hereof,
that  before  disposing  of this Note or any part hereof it will make a notation
hereon of all principal  payments  previously  made hereunder and of the date to
which interest hereon has been paid; provided, however, that the failure to make
a notation of any payment made on this Note shall not limit or otherwise  affect
the obligations of Company hereunder with respect to payments of principal of or
interest on this Note.

<PAGE>

     Whenever  any payment on this Note shall be stated to be due on a day which
is not a  Business  Day,  such  payment  shall  be made on the  next  succeeding
Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in the  computation of
the payment of interest on this Note.

     This Note is subject to  mandatory  prepayment  as provided  in  subsection
2.4B(ii) of the Credit  Agreement  and to prepayment at the option of Company as
provided in subsection 2.4B(i) of the Credit Agreement.

     THIS NOTE AND THE RIGHTS AND  OBLIGATIONS  OF COMPANY  AND PAYEE  HEREUNDER
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED  AND ENFORCED IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH,
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     Upon the  occurrence  of an Event of  Default,  the  unpaid  balance of the
principal  amount of this Note,  together  with all accrued and unpaid  interest
thereon,  may  become,  or may be declared to be, due and payable in the manner,
upon the conditions and with the effect provided in the Credit Agreement.

     This Note is secured pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

     The terms of this Note are subject to amendment only in the manner provided
in the Credit Agreement.

     This Note is subject to  restrictions on transfer or assignment as provided
in subsection 9.17 of the Credit Agreement.

     No reference  herein to the Credit  Agreement and no provision of this Note
or the Credit Agreement shall alter or impair the obligations of Company,  which
are absolute  and  unconditional,  to pay the  principal of and interest on this
Note  at the  place,  at the  respective  times,  and  in  the  currency  herein
prescribed.

     Company  promises  to pay all  costs  and  expenses,  including  reasonable
attorneys'  fees,  all as provided in  subsection  9.2 of the Credit  Agreement,
incurred  in the  collection  and  enforcement  of this  Note.  Company  and any
endorsers of this Note hereby  consent to renewals and  extensions of time at or
after  the  maturity  hereof,   without  notice,  and  hereby  waive  diligence,
presentment,  protest,  demand and notice of every kind and,  to the full extent
permitted by law, the right to plead any statute of  limitations as a defense to
any demand hereunder.

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Company has caused this Note to be duly  executed and
delivered by its officer  thereunto  duly  authorized  as of the date and at the
place first written above.

                                        SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.

                                        By: __________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:




                           INVESTMENT RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     This Investment Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") dated as of December 4,
1998 is entered into by and between  SmarTalk  TeleServices,  Inc., a California
corporation   (together   with  its   successors,   "SmarTalk"),   and  Fletcher
International  Limited, a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands
(together with its successors, "Fletcher").

     The parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  Purchase  and  Sale.  In  consideration  of and upon  the  basis of the
representations,  warranties  and  agreements  and  subject  to  the  terms  and
conditions set forth in this Agreement:

          a. [RESERVED].

          b. Investment Right.

               (i) SmarTalk  hereby grants  Fletcher the right to purchase ( the
          "Investment  Rights"),  and agrees to sell to Fletcher,  at Fletcher's
          sole option, newly issued shares of SmarTalk common stock (the "Common
          Stock"),  no par value, in an aggregate amount equal to the greater of
          (x) 6,060,606 and (y) such number which would equal at the time of any
          Investment  Closing (as defined  below)  fifteen  percent (15%) of the
          Common Stock of SmarTalk as determined on a Fully-Diluted  basis after
          giving  effect  to  Fletcher's   exercise  of  its  Investment  Rights
          hereunder  (collectively,  such  number of  shares of Common  Stock as
          determined  pursuant hereto,  subject to any adjustments made pursuant
          to this  Agreement,  the  "Shares")  at a purchase  price per Share of
          $4.125 (such sum,  subject to any  adjustments  made  pursuant to this
          Agreement, the "Investment Right Price").  "Fully-Diluted" shall mean,
          at  any  time,  the  then  outstanding   Common  Stock  plus  (without
          duplication) all shares of Common Stock issuable, whether at such time
          or upon the passage of time or the occurrence of future  events,  upon
          the exercise,  conversion or exchange of all then-outstanding  rights,
          warrants,  options,  convertible securities or exchangeable securities
          or  indebtedness,  or other rights  exercisable  for or convertible or
          exchangeable   into,   directly  or  indirectly,   Common  Stock,  and
          securities  convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock,  whether at
          the time of issuance or upon the passage of time or the  occurrence of
          some future event.

               (ii) Fletcher shall be entitled to exercise its Investment Rights
          hereunder  in  whole  or in  part  from  time  to  time  for a  period
          commencing  on the date of this  Agreement  and  ending  on the  first
          trading  day which is five (5) years  from the date of this  Agreement
          (the  "Expiration  Date");   provided,   however,  that  any  exercise
          hereunder  is  subject  to  Fletcher  making   available  to  SmarTalk
          $5,000,000  as a Loan (as defined in the Credit  Agreement (as defined
          below))  pursuant to the Credit  Agreement on December 7, 1998.

          c. To exercise the  Investment  Rights,  Fletcher shall deliver one or
     more written notices in the form attached hereto as Annex A (an "Investment
     Notice") to SmarTalk from time to time prior to the  Expiration  Date.  The
     date upon which  Fletcher  causes an  Investment  Notice to be delivered to
     SmarTalk, by hand, facsimile,  electronic transmission or otherwise,  shall
     be the  "Notice  Date" with  respect  to such  exercise  of the  Investment
     Rights. If the Investment Rights are exercised,  such sale shall take place
     on an Investment  Closing Date (as defined below) upon  satisfaction of the
     terms and conditions described herein. Upon satisfaction or, if applicable,
     waiver of the  relevant  conditions  set forth in Sections 9 and 10 hereof,
     the closing of the sale or delivery  of Shares (the  "Investment  Closing")
     shall take place three (3) business  days  following  the Notice Date (such
     date and time being referred to herein as the  "Investment  Closing Date").
     To the extent such  Investment  Closing  Date occurs after the 3 day period
     referred to in the preceding  sentence  (each day a "Default Day") due to a
     failure of the relevant conditions set forth in Sections 9 and 10 hereof on
     the part of  SmarTalk,  Fletcher  shall be entitled to receive an amount of
     additional  shares of  Common  Stock  equal to 10% of the  number of Shares
     determined  pursuant  to  Section  1.b(i) for each such  Default  Day at no
     additional cost to Fletcher.

          d. Notwithstanding  anything else contained in this Agreement,  solely
     in limitation of Fletcher's rights, the aggregate number of Shares issuable
     immediately  upon  exercise of the  Investment  Rights,  together  with all
     Shares previously  issued,  shall be less than or equal to the lower of (i)
     the  Exercisable  Number (as defined below) or (ii) the number of shares of
     Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of Investment Rights. Any
     Shares not issued as a result of the  previous  sentence  shall be issuable
     when and to the extent the Exercisable Number is thereafter increased.  The
     "Exercisable  Number" is initially zero (0) and thereafter may be increased
     upon  expiration  of a sixty-five  day period (the "65 Day Notice  Period")
     after  Fletcher   delivers  a  notice  (a  "65  Day  Notice")  to  SmarTalk
     designating an aggregate  number of shares of Common Stock in excess of the
     then existing Exercisable Number. A 65 Day Notice may be given at any time.
     One or more 65 Day  Notice(s)  may be given  from  time to time at any time
     after  the  date of this  Agreement,  provided  that  any  increase  in the
     Exercisable  Number designated by any 65 Day Notice shall be effective only
     upon  expiration  of the 65 Day Notice  Period with  respect to such 65 Day
     Notice.

     2. Closing.

          a. [RESERVED].

          b. At any Investment Closing, the following deliveries shall be made:

               (i).  Shares.  SmarTalk  shall  deliver the stock  certificate(s)
          representing  the Shares,  duly registered on the books of SmarTalk in
          the name of Fletcher or its  nominee,  against  payment by Fletcher of
          the  Investment  Right Price (if any) by wire transfer in  immediately
          available funds, to the account  identified in the Investment  Notice;
          provided,  however,  that  notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary
          herein,  Fletcher may set-off against such Investment  Right Price any
          and all amounts owing to Fletcher under that certain Credit  Agreement
          dated as of the date hereof between Fletcher and SmarTalk (the "Credit
          Agreement") (including without limitation any principal,  interest and
          accrued fees thereunder).

               (ii).  Closing  Documents.  The  closing  documents  required  by
          Sections  9 and 10  shall  be  delivered  to  Fletcher  and  SmarTalk,
          respectively.

               (iii).  Delivery Notice.  An executed copy of the delivery notice
          in the  form  attached  hereto  as  Annex  C  shall  be  delivered  in
          accordance therewith, with a copy delivered to Fletcher.

     The foregoing deliveries shall be deemed to occur simultaneously as part of
a single  transaction,  and no delivery  shall be deemed to have been made until
all such deliveries have been made. The original  certificates  representing the
Shares  shall be  delivered  via Federal  Express to Fletcher at the address set
forth in Section 15 hereof,  unless  Fletcher shall have delivered to SmarTalk a
written notice specifying a different address.

     3.  Representations and Warranties of SmarTalk.  SmarTalk hereby represents
and warrants to Fletcher on the date hereof and on each Investment Closing Date,
if any, as follows:

          a. SmarTalk has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in good
     standing under the laws of California, or after the date hereof, if another
     entity has succeeded  SmarTalk in accordance  with the terms hereof,  under
     the laws of one of the United States.

          b.  The  execution,   delivery  and   performance  of  this  Agreement
     (including  the  issuance  of the Shares  (when and if issued)) by SmarTalk
     have been duly authorized by all requisite  corporate action and no further
     consent  or  authorization  of  SmarTalk,  its  Board of  Directors  or its
     shareholders  is  required.  This  Agreement  has been  duly  executed  and
     delivered by SmarTalk and, when this Agreement is duly authorized, executed
     and  delivered  by  Fletcher,   will  be  a  valid  and  binding  agreement
     enforceable  against  SmarTalk  in  accordance  with its terms,  subject to
     bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  and similar  laws of
     general applicability  relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally
     and to general principles of equity.

          c.  SmarTalk  has full  corporate  power and  authority  necessary  to
     execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder
     (including  the  issuance of the Shares).  The  transaction  evidenced  and
     contemplated by this Agreement and the issuance of the Shares is a separate
     and  distinct  transaction  and  shall  not be  integrated  with any  other
     transaction between Fletcher and SmarTalk.

          d. Except as may be  required  under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust
     Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), no consent, approval,
     authorization or order of any court,  governmental  agency or other body is
     required for  execution  and delivery by SmarTalk of this  Agreement or the
     performance by SmarTalk of any of its obligations hereunder other than such
     as may already have been received.

          e. Except as may be required under the HSR Act,  neither the execution
     and delivery by SmarTalk of this Agreement nor the  performance by SmarTalk
     of any of its obligations hereunder:

               (1)  violates,  conflicts  with,  results  in  a  breach  of,  or
          constitutes  a default (or an event which with the giving of notice or
          the lapse of time or both would be  reasonably  likely to constitute a
          default)  under  (A) the  Articles  of  Incorporation  or  by-laws  of
          SmarTalk or any of its subsidiaries,  (B) any decree, judgment, order,
          law,  treaty,  rule,  regulation or determination of which SmarTalk is
          aware (after due inquiry) of any court,  governmental  agency or body,
          or  arbitrator  having  jurisdiction  over  SmarTalk  or  any  of  its
          subsidiaries or any of their respective  properties or assets, (C) the
          terms  of  any  bond,  debenture,   note  or  any  other  evidence  of
          indebtedness,  or any  agreement,  stock option or other similar plan,
          indenture, lease, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument to which
          SmarTalk or any of its  subsidiaries  is a party, by which SmarTalk or
          any of its subsidiaries is bound, or to which any of the properties or
          assets of SmarTalk  or any of its  subsidiaries  is  subject,  (D) the
          terms of any  "lock-up" or similar  provision of any  underwriting  or
          similar  agreement to which SmarTalk or any of its  subsidiaries  is a
          party  or (E) any  rules of the  National  Association  of  Securities
          Dealers,  Inc. or the NASDAQ National Market applicable to SmarTalk or
          the transactions contemplated hereby; or

               (2) results in the creation or imposition of any lien,  charge or
          encumbrance  upon (A) any Share or (B) any of the properties or assets
          of SmarTalk or any of its subsidiaries.

          f.  SmarTalk  has validly  reserved  for  issuance to Fletcher (i) the
     shares of Common  Stock for  issuance  from time to time as Shares and (ii)
     any  additional  shares of Common Stock as required  under this  Agreement.
     When issued to Fletcher  against  payment  therefor in accordance  with the
     terms of this Agreement, each Share:

               (1) will have been duly and validly authorized,  duly and validly
          issued, fully paid and non-assessable;

               (2) will be free  and  clear of any  security  interests,  liens,
          claims or other  encumbrances  (other  than  encumbrances  that may be
          imposed under  federal  securities  laws);  and

               (3)  will  not  have  been  issued  or sold in  violation  of any
          preemptive or other similar rights of the holders of any securities of
          SmarTalk.

          g. SmarTalk  satisfies all  quantitative  maintenance  criteria of the
     NASDAQ  National  Market or, after the date hereof,  has a valid  exemption
     from such criteria.  Following any Investment Closing, the Shares (when and
     if issued) will be, duly listed and  admitted for trading on the  principal
     exchange or market for the Common Stock.

          h. On the date hereof,  except as  disclosed  in the  schedules to the
     Credit  Agreement,  there  is no  pending  or,  to the  best  knowledge  of
     SmarTalk,  threatened action, suit,  proceeding or investigation before any
     court,  governmental agency or body, or arbitrator having jurisdiction over
     SmarTalk  or  any  of its  affiliates  that  would  materially  affect  the
     execution by SmarTalk of, or the performance by SmarTalk of its obligations
     under, this Agreement,  provided,  however,  that the  representations  and
     warranties  contained in this Section 3.1(h) shall not apply to any action,
     threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation initiated by Fletcher.

          i. None of SmarTalk's  filings with the United States  Securities  and
     Exchange  Commission  (the  "SEC")  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
     amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  or under  Section  13(a) or 15(d) of the
     Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), (each an
     "SEC Filing")  contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
     to state any material fact  necessary in order to make the  statements,  in
     the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

          j. Since the date of SmarTalk's most recent SEC Filing,  there has not
     been, and SmarTalk is not aware of, any  development  that would require an
     amendment to SmarTalk's  most recent  effective  Registration  Statement in
     order  to  permit  public  offers  and  sales of  shares  of  Common  Stock
     thereunder.

          k. The  offer  and sale of the  Shares to  Fletcher  pursuant  to this
     Agreement  will,  subject to  compliance  by Fletcher  with the  applicable
     representations  and warranties  contained in Section 4 hereof and with the
     applicable  covenants and agreements contained in Section 8 hereof, be made
     in  accordance  with  the  provisions  and  requirements  of  Regulation  D
     promulgated  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities
     Act") and any applicable state law.

          l. As of the date hereof,  the  authorized  capital  stock of SmarTalk
     consists of 100,000,000  shares of Common Stock,  and 10,000,000  shares of
     preferred  stock,  no par value,  of SmarTalk  ("Preferred  Stock").  As of
     November 30, 1998,  (i)  27,607,379  shares of Common Stock  (including the
     treasury shares described in clause (iii) below) and no shares of Preferred
     Stock were  issued and  outstanding,  (ii) less than  10,000,000  shares of
     Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding  stock
     options, warrants or other convertible rights and (iii) no shares of Common
     Stock were held in the treasury of SmarTalk.  All of the outstanding shares
     of Common Stock are,  and all shares which may be issued  pursuant to stock
     options, warrants or other convertible rights will be, when issued and paid
     for in accordance  with the  respective  terms  thereof,  duly  authorized,
     validly issued,  fully paid and  non-assessable  and free of any preemptive
     rights  in  respect  thereof.  As of the date  hereof,  except as set forth
     above,  and except for shares of Common  Stock or other  securities  issued
     upon  conversion,  exchange,  exercise  or  purchase  associated  with  the
     securities,  options,  warrants,  rights and other  instruments  referenced
     above,  (i) no  shares  of  capital  stock or other  voting  securities  of
     SmarTalk were  outstanding,  (ii) no equity  equivalents,  interests in the
     ownership or earnings of SmarTalk or other similar rights were  outstanding
     and (iii) there were no existing options, warrants, calls, subscriptions or
     other rights or agreements or commitments  relating to the capital stock of
     SmarTalk or any of its  subsidiaries  or obligating  SmarTalk or any of its
     subsidiaries  to issue,  transfer,  sell or redeem  any  shares of  capital
     stock, or other equity interest in, SmarTalk or any of its  subsidiaries or
     obligating  SmarTalk or any of its  subsidiaries to grant,  extend or enter
     into any such option, warrant, call, subscription or other right, agreement
     or  commitment.  No provision of this Section 3(l) is intended to relate to
     any  transaction,  including  but not  limited to  options  traded by third
     parties on the Chicago Board of Exchange,  in which SmarTalk is not a party
     and by which neither SmarTalk nor any of its properties are bound.

     3.A Registration Provisions.

          a. SmarTalk shall as soon as practicable  and in any event in no later
     than 30 days from the date of this Agreement and at its own expense, file a
     registration statement (the "Registration  Statement") under the Securities
     Act  covering  the sale or resale of the sum of all Shares  (which for such
     purposes  shall be deemed to be not less than the number of Shares  subject
     to the Investment Rights) (each, a "Covered Security"),  shall use its best
     efforts to cause such Registration  Statement to be declared  effective not
     later than 90 calendar days (the  "Required  Registration  Date") after the
     date of this Agreement and shall promptly amend such Registration Statement
     from time to time if the  maximum  number of  Shares  is  greater  than the
     number of shares of Common Stock registered  pursuant to such  Registration
     Statement,  provided that Fletcher shall have provided such information and
     cooperation in connection  therewith as SmarTalk may reasonably request. If
     the Registration  Statement has not been declared effective by the Required
     Registration  Date,  the Investment  Right Price as determined  pursuant to
     Section  1.b.  for shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the
     Investment Rights exercised following the Required  Registration Date shall
     be  reduced  by 2.5% for each  month (or  portion  thereof)  following  the
     Required Registration Date that such Registration  Statement shall not have
     been declared effective.

          b. SmarTalk  will use its best efforts to: (i) keep such  registration
     effective  until the earlier of (A) the second  anniversary of the issuance
     of each Covered  Security  (provided that,  Fletcher may freely resell such
     Covered  Securities),  (B)  the  later  of the  date  all  of  the  Covered
     Securities  shall have been sold by Fletcher and the Expiration Date or (C)
     such time as all of the Covered  Securities held by Fletcher can be sold by
     Fletcher  or any of its  affiliates  within a  three-month  period  without
     compliance  with  the  registration  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act
     pursuant to Rule 144 under the  Securities  Act ("Rule 144");  (ii) prepare
     and file with the SEC such amendments and  supplements to the  Registration
     Statement  and the  prospectus  used in  connection  with the  Registration
     Statement  (as  so  amended  and  supplemented   from  time  to  time,  the
     "Prospectus")  as may be  necessary  to comply with the  provisions  of the
     Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Covered Securities by
     Fletcher  or  any  of  its   affiliates;   (iii)  furnish  such  number  of
     Prospectuses and other documents incident thereto,  including any amendment
     of or  supplement  to the  Prospectus,  as  Fletcher  from time to time may
     reasonably request;  (iv) cause all Covered Securities to be listed on each
     securities  exchange and quoted on each quotation  service on which similar
     securities  issued by  SmarTalk  are then  listed or quoted;  (v) provide a
     transfer agent and registrar for all Covered  Securities and a CUSIP number
     for all Covered  Securities;  (vi) otherwise use its best efforts to comply
     with all  applicable  rules and  regulations of the SEC; and (vii) file the
     documents required of SmarTalk and otherwise use its best efforts to obtain
     and maintain  requisite blue sky clearance in (A) New York,  California and
     all other  jurisdictions  in which any of the  shares of Common  Stock were
     originally sold and (B) all other states  specified in writing by Fletcher,
     provided,  however,  that as to this  clause  (B),  SmarTalk  shall  not be
     required  to qualify to do business or consent to service of process in any
     state in which it is not now so qualified or has not so consented.

          c. SmarTalk shall furnish to Fletcher upon request a reasonable number
     of copies of a supplement  to or an amendment of such  Prospectus as may be
     necessary in order to facilitate  the public sale or other  disposition  of
     all or any of the Covered  Securities by Fletcher or any of its  affiliates
     pursuant to the Registration Statement.

          d. With a view to making  available to Fletcher and its affiliates the
     benefits  of Rule 144 and Form  S-3  under  the  Securities  Act,  SmarTalk
     covenants  and  agrees  to: (i) make and keep  available  adequate  current
     public information (within the meaning of Rule 144(c)) concerning SmarTalk,
     until the  earlier of (A) the second  anniversary  of the  issuance of each
     Covered  Security  (provided that,  Fletcher may freely resell such Covered
     Securities)  or (B) such date as all of the Covered  Securities  shall have
     been  resold by  Fletcher  or any of its  affiliates;  and (ii)  furnish to
     Fletcher upon request, as long as Fletcher owns any Covered Securities, (A)
     a written  statement by SmarTalk  that it has complied  with the  reporting
     requirements  of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (B) a copy of the
     most recent  annual or  quarterly  report of  SmarTalk,  and (C) such other
     information  as may be reasonably  requested in order to avail Fletcher and
     its  affiliates  of Rule  144 or Form  S-3  with  respect  to such  Covered
     Securities.

          e. Notwithstanding  anything else in this Section 3.A, if, at any time
     during which a Prospectus  is required to be delivered in  connection  with
     the sale of any Covered Securities,  SmarTalk determines in good faith that
     a development  has occurred or a condition  exists as a result of which the
     Registration  Statement or the Prospectus contains a material  misstatement
     or omission, SmarTalk will immediately notify Fletcher thereof by telephone
     and in  writing.  Upon  receipt  of  such  notification,  Fletcher  and its
     affiliates  will  immediately  suspend  all offers and sales of any Covered
     Securities pursuant to the Registration  Statement. In such event, SmarTalk
     will  amend  or  supplement  the  Registration  Statement  as  promptly  as
     practicable  and will take such other  steps as may be  required  to permit
     sales of the Covered  Securities  thereunder by Fletcher and its affiliates
     in accordance with applicable  federal and state securities laws.  SmarTalk
     will promptly  notify  Fletcher  after it has determined in good faith that
     such sales have become permissible in such manner and will promptly deliver
     copies of the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus (as so amended or
     supplemented)  to Fletcher in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section
     3.A.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  (A)  under no  circumstances  shall
     SmarTalk be entitled to exercise its right to suspend  sales of any Covered
     Securities  pursuant to the  Registration  Statement more than two times in
     any  twelve-month  period,  (B) the period  during  which such sales may be
     suspended  (each a "Blackout  Period") shall not exceed thirty days and (C)
     no  Blackout  Period  may  commence  less than 30 days after the end of the
     preceding Blackout Period.

          Upon the  commencement  of a Blackout  Period pursuant to this Section
     3.A,  Fletcher  will notify  SmarTalk of any  contracts to sell any Covered
     Securities (each a "Sales Contract") that Fletcher or any of its affiliates
     has entered into prior to the commencement of such Blackout Period and that
     would  require  delivery of such Covered  Securities  during such  Blackout
     Period,  which notice will contain the  aggregate  sale price and volume of
     Covered  Securities  pursuant to such Sales Contract.  Upon receipt of such
     notice,  SmarTalk will  immediately  notify Fletcher of its election either
     (i) to terminate the Blackout Period and, as promptly as practicable, amend
     or  supplement  the  Registration  Statement or the  Prospectus in order to
     correct  the  material  misstatement  or  omission  and deliver to Fletcher
     copies  of  such  amended  or  supplemented   Registration   Statement  and
     Prospectus in accordance  with paragraph (b) of this Section 3.A or (ii) to
     continue the Blackout Period in accordance with this paragraph. If SmarTalk
     elects  to  continue  the  Blackout  Period,  and  Fletcher  or  any of its
     affiliates is therefore unable to consummate the sale of Covered Securities
     pursuant  to the Sales  Contract  (such  unsold  Covered  Securities  being
     hereinafter referred to herein as the "Unsold  Securities"),  SmarTalk will
     promptly indemnify each Fletcher Indemnified Party (as such term is defined
     in Section 13 below)  against  any  Proceeding  (as such term is defined in
     Section 13 below) that each  Fletcher  Indemnified  Party may incur arising
     out of or in connection  with  Fletcher's  breach or alleged  breach of any
     such Sales Contract, and SmarTalk shall reimburse each Fletcher Indemnified
     Party for any  reasonable  costs or expenses  (including  reasonable  legal
     fees)  incurred  by such  party  in  investigating  or  defending  any such
     Proceeding (collectively, the "Indemnification Amount"); provided, however,
     that each  Fletcher  Indemnified  Party shall take all  actions  reasonably
     necessary or  appropriate  to mitigate  such  Indemnification  Amount;  and
     provided further, however, that the Indemnification Amount shall be reduced
     by an amount  equal to the number of Unsold  Securities  multiplied  by the
     difference  between (x) the actual per share price  received by Fletcher or
     any of its affiliates upon the sale of the Unsold  Securities (if such sale
     occurs within three Trading Days of the end of the Blackout  Period) or the
     closing  sale price of the Common  Stock on the NASDAQ  National  Market or
     other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed
     on the  third  Trading  Day after the end of the  Blackout  Period  (if the
     Unsold  Securities are not sold by Fletcher or any of its affiliates within
     three  Trading  Days of the end of the  Blackout  Period),  and (y) the per
     share sale price for the Unsold Securities  provided in the Sales Contract.
     As used herein,  the term "Trading  Day" means any day on which  SmarTalk's
     Common  Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ  National  Market or, if  applicable,
     other national securities exchange.

     4.  Representations and Warranties of Fletcher.  Fletcher hereby represents
and warrants to SmarTalk on the date hereof and on each Investment Closing Date,
if any, as follows:

          a. Fletcher has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in good
     standing  under the laws of the Cayman  Islands,  or after the date hereof,
     under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.

          b. The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this  Agreement  by
     Fletcher have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action and no
     further consent or authorization of Fletcher, its Board of Directors or its
     stockholders  is  required.  This  Agreement  has been  duly  executed  and
     delivered by Fletcher and, when duly authorized,  executed and delivered by
     SmarTalk,  will  be a  valid  and  binding  agreement  enforceable  against
     Fletcher in accordance with its terms,  subject to bankruptcy,  insolvency,
     reorganization,  moratorium  and  similar  laws  of  general  applicability
     relating  to or  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally  and  to  general
     principles of equity.

          c. Fletcher  understands that no United States federal or state agency
     has passed on,  reviewed or made any  recommendation  or endorsement of the
     Shares.

          d. Subject to Section 3.A hereof, Fletcher understands that the Shares
     have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be re-offered
     or resold other than  pursuant to  registration  thereunder or an available
     exemption therefrom.

          e.  Fletcher is an  "accredited  investor"  as such term is defined in
     Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

          f.  Fletcher  shall be  purchasing  the Shares for its own account for
     investment  only and not with a view to, or for resale in connection  with,
     the  public  sale  or  distribution  thereof,   except  pursuant  to  sales
     registered under the Securities Act.

          g. Fletcher  understands  that the Shares are being or will be offered
     and sold to it in  reliance on specific  exemptions  from the  registration
     requirements of United States federal  securities laws and that SmarTalk is
     relying on the truth and accuracy of, and Fletcher's  compliance  with, the
     representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings
     of Fletcher set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such
     exemptions and the eligibility of Fletcher to acquire the Shares.

          h. The  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement are not part of a
     plan or scheme on the part of Fletcher, any of its affiliates or any person
     acting on its or their behalf to evade the registration requirements of the
     Securities Act.

          i. As of the date hereof,  Fletcher intends to purchase any Additional
     Shares within the  Investment  Purposes  Only  exemption of the HSR Act, 16
     C.F.R  Section  802-9 and will take any action  required  by the HSR Act in
     connection with any such purchase.


     5. [RESERVED.]

     6.  Consolidation,  Merger,  Etc. In case SmarTalk  shall be a party to any
transaction  providing for (i) any acquisition of SmarTalk by means of merger or
other form of corporate  reorganization in which outstanding  shares of SmarTalk
are exchanged  for  securities or other  consideration  issued,  or caused to be
issued, by the acquiring  corporation (the "Acquirer") or its subsidiary or (ii)
a sale of all or substantially  all of the assets of SmarTalk (on a consolidated
basis) or (iii) any other  transaction  or  series of  related  transactions  by
SmarTalk in which in excess of 50% of SmarTalk's  voting power is transferred to
a single entity or group acting in concert (each of the foregoing being referred
to as a "Combination"), Fletcher, at its sole option, may choose to (1) exercise
the  Investment  Rights (in whole or in part) before the  Combination  is closed
(the  "Combination  Closing") or (2) exercise the Investment Rights (in whole or
in part)  simultaneously with the Combination  Closing, in which event, it shall
receive a number of shares of Acquirer  Common Stock (as defined below) on terms
identical to those set forth in Section 1 (and Section 5 and 3.A, if applicable)
and any other  consideration  that it would have  received had it exercised  the
Investment  Rights  immediately prior to the Combination  Closing;  and (3) with
respect to any  portion  of the  Investment  Rights  that are not  exercised  by
Fletcher,  Fletcher  shall be entitled to purchase from the Acquirer (i) a right
to  purchase  a number of shares of common  stock of the  Acquirer  equal to the
remaining  amount of Shares  subject to the  Investment  Rights (the  "Number of
Shares") at a price per share determined by multiplying (a) the Number of Shares
times (b)(x) 4.125 divided by the consideration received in the Combination from
or on behalf of the Acquirer times (y) the market price of Acquirer Common Stock
on the day of the  Combination  Closing  and/or (ii)  receive  cash in an amount
equal to the  Black-Scholes  value of the Investment Rights based on the 260-day
volatility as reported by Bloomberg,  L.P. and based on the time remaining until
the  Expiration  Date.  The  "Acquirer  Common  Stock"  shall  mean the class of
publicly  traded  common  stock  of  the  Acquirer  having  the  largest  market
capitalization as of the date of the Combination Closing. SmarTalk shall provide
Fletcher  with  written  notice  of any  proposed  Combination  as  soon  as the
existence  of  a  proposed  Combination  is  made  public  by  any  person  (the
"Combination Notice").  SmarTalk will cause the surviving party in a Combination
to assume all of the  obligations  of SmarTalk  pursuant to this  Agreement.  It
shall be a condition  that all  Acquirer  common stock issued to Fletcher in any
Combination shall have been registered under the Securities Act.

     7.  Covenants of SmarTalk.  SmarTalk  covenants and agrees with Fletcher as
follows:

          a. For so long as Fletcher  owns any Shares or any  Investment  Rights
     exist,  and in any case for a period of 90 days  thereafter,  SmarTalk will
     use its best efforts to (i) maintain  the  eligibility  of the Common Stock
     for  quotation  on the  NASDAQ  National  Market or  listing  on a national
     securities  exchange (as defined in the  Exchange  Act) and (ii) regain the
     eligibility of the Common Stock for quotation on the NASDAQ National Market
     in the event  that the Common  Stock is  delisted  by the  NASDAQ  National
     Market.

          b. SmarTalk will provide  Fletcher with an  opportunity  to review and
     comment on any public disclosure by SmarTalk of information  regarding this
     Agreement and the transactions  contemplated hereby.  Beginning on the date
     hereof and for so long as any Investment  Rights exist, and in any case for
     a period of 90 days thereafter,  SmarTalk will (i) promptly notify Fletcher
     if there is any public  disclosure  by  SmarTalk  of  material  information
     regarding  SmarTalk or its  financial  condition,  prospects  or results of
     operation and (ii) provide Fletcher with copies of all SEC Filings.

          c. As soon as such  information  is  available  (but in no event later
     than  December  10,  1998),  SmarTalk  shall  deliver to Fletcher a written
     notice stating the number of  outstanding  shares of Common Stock as of the
     date hereof.

          d. SmarTalk will make all filings  required by law with respect to the
     transactions contemplated hereby.

          e. SmarTalk will cause the Common Stock  issuable as Shares to be duly
     listed and  admitted for trading on the NASDAQ  National  Market or, if the
     NASDAQ  National  Market is not then the principal  trading  market for the
     Common Stock, on a national securities exchange (as defined in the Exchange
     Act) or the principal exchange or market for the Common Stock.

          f. [RESERVED]

          g. For a period  beginning  on the date  hereof  and ending on the day
     which is one year after the date hereof (the "One Year  Period"),  SmarTalk
     will not  offer or sell any of its or its  subsidiaries'  Preferred  Stock,
     Common Stock or other equity securities (or any securities convertible into
     or  exchangeable  for such  Preferred  Stock,  Common Stock or other equity
     securities)  in  reliance  upon  Section  4(2)  of  the  Securities  Act or
     Regulation D promulgated thereunder or under Regulation S promulgated under
     the  Securities  Act (an "Equity  Placement"),  unless  SmarTalk shall have
     given  Fletcher  prior  written  notice  (a  "Notice  Obligation")  of  its
     intention to engage in any such Equity  Placement or other capital  raising
     transaction  in advance of soliciting or negotiating  with any  prospective
     investor and Fletcher has given its written  approval  thereof  (which such
     approval shall be in Fletcher's  sole  discretion);  and for one additional
     year  after  the  One  Year  Period  SmarTalk  shall  still  have a  Notice
     Obligation,  and the parties hereto shall be obligated to negotiate in good
     faith  with  respect  to the terms of any such  proposed  Equity  Placement
     before  the  same  shall  occur.   Except  during  the  five  trading  days
     immediately  prior to and  following  the date  hereof and during the three
     trading days  immediately  prior to, and the five trading days  immediately
     following,  any Investment  Closing Date, the above  restrictions shall not
     apply to (i) the sale of 50% or more of the  outstanding  common stock of a
     subsidiary  of SmarTalk  (other than a sale which would  constitute  all or
     substantially all of the assets of SmarTalk and its subsidiaries), (ii) any
     strategic  partnership  or  arrangement  or joint  venture  entered into by
     SmarTalk or any of its  subsidiaries,  (iii) the merger or consolidation of
     SmarTalk with or into any other  corporation or entity (other than a merger
     or  consolidation  that in substance  results in the issuance of SmarTalk's
     securities for cash), (iv) any registered,  underwritten public offering of
     SmarTalk's equity securities,  (v) any issuances of Common Stock (including
     warrants and options  exercisable for or convertible  into Common Stock) in
     connection with any employee,  consultant or director  compensation plan or
     arrangement,  (vi) any  acquisition  of any other  corporation or entity by
     SmarTalk or any of its subsidiaries or merger or consolidation of any other
     corporation  or entity with or into  SmarTalk  or any of its  subsidiaries,
     provided  such  corporation  or entity  engages in a  substantial  trade or
     business; (vii) any issuance of warrants or other similar instrument with a
     fixed  exercise  price  at or  above  the  then  current  market  price  in
     connection  with the offer and sale of  non-convertible  debt securities by
     SmarTalk  and  (viii) any  issuance  in  connection  with bona fide bank or
     equipment financing by or on behalf of SmarTalk or any of its subsidiaries.

          h. If on any Notice  Date,  the  aggregate  number of Shares  issuable
     pursuant to Investment Rights (without regard to any notice periods),  when
     added to the  aggregate  number of Shares  previously  issued and any other
     shares of Common Stock required to be included by NASDAQ,  would exceed the
     number of shares equal to 20% of the total number of shares of Common Stock
     outstanding  (adjusted to reflect any split,  subdivision,  combination  or
     consolidation   of  the  Common   Stock,   whether   by   reclassification,
     distribution  of a dividend  with respect to the  outstanding  Common Stock
     payable in shares of Common Stock, or otherwise, or any recapitalization of
     the Common Stock) on the date of this Agreement (the "Original Number") and
     such  circumstance  would require the approval (the "Required  Consent") of
     the holders of the Common  Stock  pursuant to the listing  requirements  or
     rules of the NASDAQ  National  Market (or such  other  national  securities
     exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed),  SmarTalk (A) shall not
     issue shares of Common Stock (the  "Issuance  Blockage") to the extent that
     the total number of shares of Common Stock  issued  hereunder  would exceed
     19.9% of the Original Number, and (B) shall use its best efforts to obtain,
     within 90 days from the Notice Date, the Required  Consent approval for the
     issuance of 20% or more of SmarTalk's Common Stock under this Agreement. In
     the event the  Required  Consent is not  obtained  in  accordance  with the
     preceding  sentence,  Fletcher  shall  have the right to convert up to that
     amount of the Investment  Rights, the exercise of which would result in the
     total  number of shares  issued  hereunder  to exceed 19.9% of the Original
     Number into a note (an "Excess  Note") by delivery of an Excess  Notice (as
     defined below) in an amount equal the product of (x) the positive excess of
     the closing  price (the "Excess  Closing  Price") as reported by Bloomberg,
     L.P.  of the  Common  Stock on the  NASDAQ  National  Market (or such other
     national  securities  exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed) on
     the Excess Notice Date (as defined  below) over the  applicable  Investment
     Right  Price and (y) the  number of shares of Common  Stock  that  would be
     issuable in respect of the  complete  exercise  of the  Initial  Investment
     Right but for the Issuance  Blockage.  All  computations  in the  preceding
     sentence  with  respect  to the  Investment  Right  Price and the number of
     shares of Common Stock issuable shall be determined as if the Excess Notice
     Date were the Notice Date. In addition,  in the event the Required  Consent
     is not  obtained  and any Excess Note is  outstanding,  SmarTalk  shall not
     issue any  securities or incur any  indebtedness  for borrowed money (other
     than  indebtedness  incurred  pursuant to a revolving bank credit agreement
     ("Bank Debt") or in the ordinary course of SmarTalk's business),  except in
     connection with the repurchase of Excess Notes. The Excess Note(s) shall be
     subordinated  in right of  payment  to the Bank  Debt,  provided  that such
     subordination  shall not affect  SmarTalk's  obligation  to pay such Excess
     Note(s)  when due.  To  convert  Investment  Rights  into an  Excess  Note,
     Fletcher  shall  deliver one or more written  notices in the form  attached
     hereto as Annex D (an "Excess  Notice") to SmarTalk from time to time.  The
     date  upon  which  Fletcher  causes an Excess  Notice  to be  delivered  to
     SmarTalk, by hand, facsimile,  electronic transmission or otherwise,  shall
     be the "Excess Notice Date" with respect to such exercise of the Investment
     Rights,  which date shall be deemed to be an  Investment  Closing  Date for
     purposes of Section 3 hereof.  Each Excess Note shall be due and payable 90
     days after the date of issuance  and bear  interest at an interest  rate of
     15% per annum.  Notwithstanding  anything  else in this section 7(h), if at
     any time Fletcher  delivers an Investment  Notice and SmarTalk is unable to
     issue all or any  portion of the shares  identified  therein as a result of
     the Issuance  Blockage,  SmarTalk shall issue to Fletcher an Excess Note in
     amount equal to the product of (x) the positive excess of the closing price
     as reported by Bloomberg of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ  National Market
     (or such other  national  securities  exchange on which the Common Stock is
     then listed) on the Excess Notice Date over the applicable Investment Right
     Price and (y) the number of shares of Common  Stock that would be  issuable
     in respect of such  exercise  of the Initial  Investment  Right but for the
     Issuance Blockage.

     8.  Covenants  of  Fletcher.  Fletcher  hereby  covenants  and agrees  with
SmarTalk as follows:

          a. Neither Fletcher nor any of its affiliates nor any person acting on
     its or their  behalf  will at any time offer or sell any Shares  other than
     pursuant  to  registration  under  the  Securities  Act or  pursuant  to an
     available exemption therefrom.

          b. Fletcher will provide  SmarTalk with an  opportunity  to review and
     comment on its filings  pursuant to Regulation 13D-G under the Exchange Act
     regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

          c. [RESERVED].

     8.A.  Legend.  Subject  to  Section  3.A.,  Fletcher  understands  that the
certificates  or  other  instruments   representing  the  Shares  shall  bear  a
restrictive  legend  in the  following  form (and a stop  transfer  order may be
placed against transfer of such certificates or other instruments):

     THE SECURITIES  REPRESENTED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  HAVE NOT BEEN  REGISTERED
     UNDER THE SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE  "SECURITIES  ACT"),  OR
     APPLICABLE  STATE  SECURITIES  LAWS. THE SECURITIES  HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
     INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE,  SOLD,  TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED
     IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT FOR THE  SECURITIES
     UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE  STATE  SECURITIES  LAWS, OR UNLESS
     SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SAID ACT.

     The legend set forth  above  shall be removed  and  SmarTalk  shall issue a
certificate  without  such legend to any holder of Shares if,  unless  otherwise
required  by state  securities  laws,  (a) such  shares are sold  pursuant to an
effective  registration  statement  under the Securities Act, or (b) such holder
provides SmarTalk with assurances reasonably  satisfactory to SmarTalk that such
shares  may be  publicly  sold  pursuant  to  Rule  144 (or  similar  regulation
hereinafter adopted) without restriction.

     8.B.  Adjustments.  In the event that SmarTalk  shall declare a dividend or
make a distribution on or with respect to the  outstanding  shares of its Common
Stock in shares of its Common Stock,  subdivide its outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a greater  number of shares,  or combine  its  outstanding  shares of
Common  Stock into a smaller  number of shares,  then,  in each such event,  the
number of shares  issuable and the per share price  stated in this  Agreement in
effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or  distribution  or the
effective  date of such  subdivision  or  combination  shall be  proportionately
adjusted, if necessary, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
SmarTalk,  so that Fletcher shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock that Fletcher would have received  immediately  following
such action if  Fletcher  had  exercised  its rights  immediately  prior to such
action. Such adjustment shall be made successively  whenever any event specified
above shall occur.

     9.  Conditions  Precedent to Fletcher's  Obligations.  The  obligations  of
Fletcher hereunder are subject to the performance by SmarTalk of its obligations
hereunder  and  to  the  satisfaction  of the  following  additional  conditions
precedent, unless expressly waived in writing by Fletcher:

          a. On the date hereof and each Investment Closing Date, if any, (i) to
     the extent provided in Section 3 hereof, the representations and warranties
     made by  SmarTalk in this  Agreement  shall be true and  correct,  and (ii)
     SmarTalk shall have complied fully with all the covenants and agreements in
     this  Agreement;  and  Fletcher  shall  have  received  on each such date a
     certificate of the Chief Executive  Officer or the Chief Financial  Officer
     of SmarTalk dated such date and to such effect.

          b. On the  date  hereof  and each  Investment  Closing  Date,  if any,
     SmarTalk shall have delivered to Fletcher an opinion of the general counsel
     reasonably satisfactory to Fletcher, dated the date of delivery, confirming
     in substance  the matters  covered in  paragraphs  (a), (b), (c), (d), (e),
     (f), and (h) of Section 3 hereof.

          c. [RESERVED].

          d. On each  Investment  Closing  Date,  if any,  SmarTalk  shall  have
     delivered  to  Fletcher  an  opinion  of  the  general  counsel  reasonably
     satisfactory  to Fletcher,  dated the date of delivery,  to the effect that
     the offer and sale of the Shares to Fletcher  do not  require  registration
     under the Securities Act.

          e. In addition,  as of each  Investment  Closing,  SmarTalk shall have
     delivered  an  opinion  of  outside  counsel  reasonably   satisfactory  to
     Fletcher,  dated the date of delivery,  confirming  in substance the matter
     covered in paragraph (d) of this Section 9.

     10.  Conditions  Precedent to SmarTalk's  Obligations.  The  obligations of
SmarTalk hereunder are subject to the performance by Fletcher of its obligations
hereunder  and  to  the  satisfaction  of the  following  additional  conditions
precedent, unless expressly waived in writing by SmarTalk:

          a. On the date hereof and each  Investment  Closing,  if any,  (i) the
     representations  and warranties made by Fletcher in this Agreement shall be
     true and correct,  and (ii) Fletcher shall have complied fully with all the
     covenants  and  agreements  in this  Agreement;  and  SmarTalk  shall  have
     received  on each such date a  certificate  of an  appropriate  officer  of
     Fletcher dated such date and to such effect.

     11. Fees and Expenses.  SmarTalk agrees to pay all expenses incident to the
performance  of its  obligations  hereunder,  including,  but not limited to the
fees, expenses and disbursements of Fletcher's counsel.

     12. Non-Performance.

     If, on the date hereof or on any Investment Closing, SmarTalk shall fail to
deliver  the  Shares to  Fletcher  required  to be  delivered  pursuant  to this
Agreement  for any reason other than the failure of any  condition  precedent to
SmarTalk's  obligations  hereunder or the failure by Fletcher to comply with its
obligations hereunder, then SmarTalk shall:

          a. hold Fletcher harmless against any loss, claim or damage (including
     without limitation,  incidental and consequential  damages) arising from or
     as a result of such failure by SmarTalk; and

          b.  reimburse  Fletcher  for  all  of  its  reasonable   out-of-pocket
     expenses,  including  fees and  disbursements  of its counsel,  incurred by
     Fletcher  in  connection   with  this   Agreement   and  the   transactions
     contemplated herein and therein;

provided,  however,  that SmarTalk  shall then be under no further  liability to
Fletcher except as provided in this Section 12 and Section 13 hereof.

     13. Indemnification.

          a.  Indemnification  of Fletcher.  SmarTalk hereby agrees to indemnify
     Fletcher  and  each  of its  officers,  directors,  employees,  agents  and
     affiliates and each person that controls  (within the meaning of Section 20
     of the  Exchange  Act)  any of the  foregoing  persons  (each  a  "Fletcher
     Indemnified Party") against any claim, demand, action, liability,  damages,
     loss, cost or expense  (including,  without  limitation,  reasonable  legal
     fees) (a  "Proceeding"),  that it may incur in  connection  with any of the
     transactions contemplated hereby arising out of or based upon:

               (1) any untrue or alleged untrue  statement of a material fact in
          an SEC filing or this  Agreement by SmarTalk or any of its  affiliates
          or any person  acting on its or their  behalf or  omission  or alleged
          omission to state  therein or herein any  material  fact  necessary in
          order to make the statements,  in the light of the circumstances under
          which  they  were  made,  not  misleading  by  SmarTalk  or any of its
          affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf;

               (2) any of the  representations  or  warranties  made by SmarTalk
          herein being untrue or  incorrect at the time such  representation  or
          warranty was made; and

               (3) any  breach  or  non-performance  by  SmarTalk  of any of its
          covenants, agreements or obligations under this Agreement;

         and SmarTalk hereby agrees to reimburse each Fletcher Indemnified Party
         for any reasonable  legal or other  expenses  incurred by such Fletcher
         Indemnified Party in investigating or defending any such Proceeding;

         provided,  however, that the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to any
         Proceeding  to the  extent  that it arises  out of or is based upon the
         gross  negligence  or  wilful  misconduct  of  Fletcher  in  connection
         therewith.  Furthermore,  the foregoing  indemnity rights will not take
         effect  unless  or until the total  amount  of the  indemnification  is
         $10,000.

          b.  Indemnification  of SmarTalk.  Fletcher hereby agrees to indemnify
     SmarTalk  and  each  of its  officers,  directors,  employees,  agents  and
     affiliates and each person that controls  (within the meaning of Section 20
     of the  Exchange  Act)  any of the  foregoing  persons  (each  a  "SmarTalk
     Indemnified Party") against any Proceeding, that it may incur in connection
     with any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby arising out of or based
     upon:

               (1) any untrue or alleged untrue  statement of a material fact by
          Fletcher or any of its affiliates or any person acting on its or their
          behalf or omission  or alleged  omission  to state any  material  fact
          necessary  in  order  to make  the  statements,  in the  light  of the
          circumstances  under which they were made,  not misleading by Fletcher
          or any of its affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf;

               (2) any of the  representations  or  warranties  made by Fletcher
          herein being untrue or incorrect; and

               (3) any  breach  or  non-performance  by  Fletcher  of any of its
          covenants, agreements or obligations under this Agreement;

         and Fletcher hereby agrees to reimburse each SmarTalk Indemnified Party
         for any reasonable  legal or other  expenses  incurred by such SmarTalk
         Indemnified Party in investigating or defending any such Proceeding;

         provided,  however, that the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to any
         Proceeding  to the  extent  that it arises  out of or is based upon the
         gross  negligence  or  wilful  misconduct  of  SmarTalk  in  connection
         therewith.  Furthermore,  the foregoing  indemnity rights will not take
         effect  unless  or until the total  amount  of the  indemnification  is
         $10,000.

          c. Conduct of Claims.

               (1) Whenever a claim for  indemnification  shall arise under this
          Section, the party seeking  indemnification (the "Indemnified Party"),
          shall notify the party from whom such  indemnification  is sought (the
          "Indemnifying  Party")  in  writing  of the  Proceeding  and the facts
          constituting the basis for such claim in reasonable detail;

               (2) Upon delivery of such notice,  such  Indemnified  Party shall
          have a duty to take all  reasonable  steps  to  mitigate  any  losses,
          liabilities,   costs,  charges  and  expenses  relating  to  any  such
          Proceeding;

               (3) Such  Indemnifying  Party  shall have the right to retain the
          counsel  of its  choice  in  connection  with such  Proceeding  and to
          participate at its own expense in the defense of any such  Proceeding;
          provided,  however,  that counsel to the Indemnifying  Party shall not
          (except  with the consent of the relevant  Indemnified  Party) also be
          counsel to such Indemnified  Party. In no event shall the Indemnifying
          Party be liable for fees and  expenses  of more than one  counsel  (in
          addition to any local  counsel)  separate from its own counsel for all
          Indemnified  Parties in connection with any one action or separate but
          similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the
          same general allegations or circumstances; and

               (4) No  Indemnifying  Party  shall,  without  the  prior  written
          consent  of  the  Indemnified  Parties  (which  consent  shall  not be
          unreasonably  withheld),  settle or compromise or consent to the entry
          of any judgment with respect to any litigation,  or any  investigation
          or  proceeding  by any  governmental  agency  or  body,  commenced  or
          threatened,   or  any   claim   whatsoever   in   respect   of   which
          indemnification  could  be  sought  under  this  Section  unless  such
          settlement,  compromise  or  consent  (A)  includes  an  unconditional
          release of each  Indemnified  Party from all liability  arising out of
          such litigation,  investigation,  proceeding or claim and (B) does not
          include a statement as to or an admission of fault,  culpability  or a
          failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

     14.  Survival  of the  Representations,  Warranties,  etc.  The  respective
representations,  warranties,  and agreements made herein by or on behalf of the
parties  hereto  shall  remain  in full  force  and  effect,  regardless  of any
investigation  made by or on behalf of the other party to this  Agreement or any
officer,  director or employee of, or person controlling or under common control
with,  such  party and will  survive  delivery  of and  payment  for any  Shares
issuable hereunder.

     15. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing, and

          a. if sent to Fletcher, shall be delivered by hand, sent by registered
     mail  or  transmitted  and  confirmed  by  facsimile  to  Fletcher,  unless
     otherwise notified in writing of a substitute address, at:

          Original Copy:
          Fletcher International Limited
          c/o Midland Bank Trust Corporation (Cayman) Limited
          P.O. Box 1109
          Mary Street
          Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, B.W.I.
          Attn: Pamela Clements
          Telephone: (345) 914-7515
          Facsimile: (345) 949-7634

          with a copy to:

          Fletcher Asset Management
          22 East 67th Street
          New York, NY 10022
          Attn: Peter Zayfert
          Telephone: (212) 758-7000
          Facsimile: (212) 758-7090

          with a copy to:

          Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
          919 Third Avenue
          New York, NY 10022
          Attention:  Robert A. Copen
          Telephone:        (212) 735-3536
          Facsimile:        (212) 735-2000


          b. if sent to SmarTalk, shall be delivered by hand, sent by registered
     mail  or  transmitted  and  confirmed  by  facsimile  to  SmarTalk,  unless
     otherwise notified in writing of a substitute address, at:

          SmarTalk TeleServices, Inc.
          5080 Tuttle Crossing Blvd.
          Dublin, Ohio  43017
          Attention:  General Counsel
          Telephone:  (614) 764-2933
          Facsimile:   (614) 764-4801

          with a copy to:

          Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
          100 Maiden Lane
          New York, NY 10038
          Attention:  Lawrence A. Larose
          Telephone: (212) 404-6000
          Facsimile:  (212) 504-6666

          To the extent  that any funds shall be  delivered  to SmarTalk by wire
          transfer,  unless otherwise instructed by SmarTalk,  such funds should
          be  delivered  in  accordance  with the  following  wire  instructions
          provided by SmarTalk.

     16. Miscellaneous

          a. This Agreement may be executed in one or more  counterparts  and it
     is  not  necessary  that  signatures  of all  parties  appear  on the  same
     counterpart,  but such  counterparts  together shall constitute but one and
     the same agreement.

          b. This  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding  upon
     the parties  hereto,  their  respective  successors  and assigns and,  with
     respect  to  Section  13  hereof,  their  respective  officers,  directors,
     employees,  agents, affiliates and controlling persons, and no other person
     shall have any right or obligation hereunder.  SmarTalk may not assign this
     Agreement.  Fletcher may assign any of its rights,  in whole or in part, at
     its sole discretion (including, without limitation, the Investment Rights).

          c. This  Agreement  shall be governed by, and  construed in accordance
     with,  the internal laws of the State of Delaware,  and each of the parties
     hereto hereby  submits to the  non-exclusive  jurisdiction  of any State or
     Federal  court in the State of  Delaware  and any court  hearing any appeal
     therefrom, over any suit, action or proceeding against it arising out of or
     based upon this  Agreement  (a "Related  Proceeding").  Each of the parties
     hereto hereby waives any objection to any Related Proceeding in such courts
     whether on the  grounds of venue,  residence  or  domicile or on the ground
     that the Related Proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

          d. This Agreement shall not limit SmarTalk's  ability to issue options
     under or to enter into, adopt or amend any stock option, bonus,  incentive,
     deferred  compensation,  hospitalization,  medical insurance,  severance or
     other plan, fund, program or policy providing director,  officer,  employee
     or similar person benefits  maintained or contributed to by SmarTalk in the
     ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

          e.  This  Agreement  shall  not limit  SmarTalk's  ability  to adopt a
     shareholders rights plan or similar agreement or arrangement (any of which,
     a "Rights  Plan")  provided  that  SmarTalk  shall not adopt a Rights  Plan
     unless in  connection  therewith  SmarTalk  delivers  to  Fletcher  a legal
     opinion from outside counsel reasonable satisfactory to Fletcher confirming
     that no Fletcher  Party (as defined  below) shall be adversely  affected by
     such  Rights  Plan  either at such time or with the  passage of time,  as a
     result  of its  being  the  beneficial  owner of any  securities  issued or
     issuable  pursuant  to  this  Agreement  (any  such  securities,  "Fletcher
     Securities,"  including  any Common  Stock which have been or may be issued
     upon exercise of the  Investment  Rights),  where a "Fletcher  Party" shall
     include (i) Fletcher, Fletcher Asset Management,  Inc., Polaris Fund, L.P.,
     and The Fletcher  Fund,  L.P.,  (ii) any  affiliate of Fletcher,  (iii) any
     creditor of Fletcher who acquires Fletcher  Securities upon the exercise of
     creditor rights in connection with a bona fide credit arrangement, and (iv)
     any other person who acquires Fletcher Securities provided that such person
     stated or intends  to state in a timely  fashion  in a filing  pursuant  to
     Regulation 13D-G under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or
     any  successor  provision  thereto,  that such  person  has  acquired  such
     securities  in the ordinary  course of business and not with the purpose or
     effect of changing or  influencing  control of SmarTalk,  nor in connection
     with or as a participant in any transaction  having such purpose or effect,
     including any transaction subject to Rule 13d-3(b).

          SmarTalk  shall not take any actions  inconsistent  with the rights of
     Fletcher Parties as of the date hereof.

          f. The headings of the sections of this  document  have been  inserted
     for  convenience  of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of
     this  Agreement.  This  Agreement  constitutes  the  entire  agreement  and
     supersedes all prior agreements and understandings,  both written and oral,
     between the  parties  hereto  with  respect to the  subject  matter of this
     Agreement.  This  Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person other
     than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder or under the terms
     of the term sheets between such parties.

     17. Time of Essence. Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement.


<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have duly  executed and delivered
this Agreement, all as of the day and year first above written.


                                        SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.

                                        By:___________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


                                        FLETCHER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

                                        By:___________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                        By:___________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


<PAGE>

                                                                         ANNEX A


                           [FORM OF INVESTMENT NOTICE]

                                                       -------------, --

SmarTalk TeleServices, Inc.
[ADDRESS]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Fletcher  International  Limited ("Fletcher") hereby elects to exercise the
_________ Right (as defined in the Investment Rights Agreement (the "Agreement")
dated  as of  December  __,  1998 by and  between  SmarTalk  TeleServices,  Inc.
("SmarTalk") and Fletcher) and, if applicable,  herewith  tenders  $_________ by
check or wire  transfer to the  account of  SmarTalk  as payment for  __________
Shares in  accordance  with the terms of the  Agreement.  Capitalized  terms not
otherwise  defined  herein  shall  have the  meanings  ascribed  thereto  in the
Agreement.

     In accordance with the terms of the Agreement, the Investment Closing shall
be  ___________,  and the total  number of Shares  issuable  in  respect of this
exercise  is   ________________.   Fletcher  requests  that  stock  certificates
representing  the Shares  purchased hereby be registered in the name of Fletcher
and  delivered  to the  following  address in  accordance  with the terms of the
Agreement:

                                    [To Come]


                                        FLETCHER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

                                        By:___________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                        By:___________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED:
SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.

By:________________________
     Name:
     Title:


<PAGE>


                               [ANNEX B RESERVED]


<PAGE>


                                                                         ANNEX C


                         [FORM OF SHARE DELIVERY NOTICE]


Fletcher International Limited
c/o Fletcher Asset Management
22 East 67th Street
New York, NY  10021
Attn:  Peter Zayfert
Telephone:     (212) 758-7000
Facsimile:     (212) 758-7090

          RE: Investment Rights Agreement (the "Agreement")  dated December __ ,
              1998 by and between Fletcher  International  Limited  ("Fletcher")
              and SmarTalk TeleServices, Inc. ("SmarTalk").


Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Attached are copies of the original  stock  certificates  representing  the
__________ Shares (as defined in the Agreement) purchased by Fletcher,  together
with a copy of the  overnight  courier  air bill  which will be used to ship the
certificates. We have the executed originals of the stock certificates and other
documents  required to be delivered in connection  with the Investment  Closing.
Upon our confirmation of the payment of the $_____________  aggregate Investment
Right Price by Fletcher to SmarTalk, if applicable, for the Shares on the Notice
Date, we will send the stock  certificates by overnight courier to the following
address:

                                [INSERT ADDRESS]

and we will  send the other  original  documents  by  overnight  courier  to the
following address:

                    Fletcher International Limited
                    c/o Midland Bank Trust Corporation (Cayman) Limited
                    P.O. Box 1109
                    Mary Street
                    Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, B.W.I.
                    Attn:  Pamela Clements
                    Telephone:     (345) 914-7515
                    Facsimile:     (345) 949-7634

                    with a copy to:

                    Fletcher International Limited
                    c/o Fletcher Asset Management
                    22 East 67th Street
                    New York, NY  10021
                    Attn:  Peter Zayfert
                    Telephone:     (212) 758-7000
                    Facsimile:     (212) 758-7090

     Capitalized  terms not  otherwise  defined in this letter have the meanings
set forth in the Agreement.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.


<PAGE>


                                                                         ANNEX D


                          [FORM OF EXCESS NOTES NOTICE]


                                                       -------------, --

SmarTalk TeleServices, Inc.
[ADDRESS]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Fletcher  International  Limited ("Fletcher") hereby elects to exercise its
right  to  convert  some or all of its  Investment  Rights  (as  defined  in the
Investment Rights Agreement (the  "Agreement")  dated as of December __, 1998 by
and between  SmarTalk  TeleServices,  Inc.  ("SmarTalk")  and Fletcher)  and, if
applicable, herewith tenders $_________ by check or wire transfer to the account
of SmarTalk as payment for $ __________ of Excess Notes in  accordance  with the
terms of the  Agreement.  Capitalized  terms not otherwise  defined herein shall
have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

     In accordance with the terms of the Agreement,  the Investment Closing Date
shall be ___________, and the amount of issuable Excess Notes in respect of this
exercise  is  ________________.  Fletcher  requests  that  the  Excess  Notes be
registered  in the name of Fletcher and  delivered to the  following  address in
accordance with the terms of the Agreement:

                                    [To Come]


                                        FLETCHER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

                                        By:___________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                        By:___________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED:
SMARTALK TELESERVICES, INC.

By:________________________
     Name:
     Title:



SmarTalk[tm]


                                  NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                               Contact:    SmarTalk TeleServices
                                             Pamela Bennett
                                             Manager, Corporate Communications
                                                (614) 789-8650

                                             Fletcher Asset Management
                                             Jonathan Schindel
                                             (212) 284-4800




                     SMARTALK ANNOUNCES NEW CREDIT FACILITY


         Monday, December 7, 1998 (Columbus, Ohio): SmarTalk TeleServices,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:SMTK)  today  announced  that it has reached an agreement  with Fletcher
International  Limited for a $25 million  secured term loan  facility,  maturing
January  31,  1999.  The  Company  expects  to access up to $10  million  of the
facility  over  the  next  month,  subject  to  the  satisfaction  of  customary
conditions  to draw down.  The  Company  could  access up to an  additional  $15
million from the facility over various periods, subject to the discretion of the
lender. SmarTalk plans to use the financing for general corporate purposes.

         An affiliate of Fletcher Asset Management currently is a shareholder of
SmarTalk.  In connection  with the financing  transaction,  SmarTalk has granted
Fletcher the right to acquire,  upon  satisfaction of applicable notice periods,
up to approximately an additional 15% of the common stock of SmarTalk.

         SmarTalk  TeleServices,  Inc. is a leading  provider of prepaid calling
cards and prepaid wireless services.  Based in Dublin,  Ohio, SmarTalk maintains
distribution   agreements   with  the  U.S.  Postal  Service  and  leading  mass
merchandisers, consumer electronics retailers, supermarkets, hotels, home office
superstores  and  convenience  stores  throughout  North  America  and the  U.K.
SmarTalk also creates  promotional  card programs for  advertisers and corporate
clients. Visit the SmarTalk website at www.smartalk.com.

Note:  Certain  statements  made  herein that are not  historical  in nature are
forward-looking   statements  within  the  meaning  of  the  Private  Securities
Litigation  Reform Act of 1995  including  the  Company's  plans and  ability to
access various amounts of the credit facility.  Investors are cautioned that all
forward-looking  statements  involve  risks and  uncertainties  that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking
statements.  These risks include the risk that actual amounts accessed under the
facility depend upon the Company's  satisfaction of various conditions  detailed
in  the   provisions   of  the  credit   agreement   including,   under  certain
circumstances,  the lender's  discretion.  Investors  who seek more  information
about the  Company's  business and relevant  risk factors may wish to review the
Company's SEC reports, including,  without limitation, its Annual Report on Form
10-K for 1997 and its Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q, as each of such documents
may be amended, and the Form 8-K which the Company is preparing to file with the
SEC, which will include the complete text of the credit agreement.



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission