STYLING TECHNOLOGY CORP
8-K, 1997-12-24
PERFUMES, COSMETICS & OTHER TOILET PREPARATIONS
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                       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 10, 1997



                         STYLING TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         DELAWARE                      0-21703                   75-2665378
- ------------------------------   --------------------      ---------------------
    (State or other              (Commission File No.)     (IRS Employer ID No.)
jurisdiction of incorporation)


          2390 East Camelback Road, Suite 435, Phoenix, Arizona, 85016
          ------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (602) 955-3353
<PAGE>
                         STYLING TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                                CURRENT REPORT ON

                                    FORM 8-K

ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

ACQUISITION OF ONE TOUCH AND CLEAN AND EASY PRODUCT LINES

        On December 10, 1997,  Styling  Technology  Corporation  (the "Company")
acquired   certain   assets  and  assumed   certain   liabilities  of  Inverness
Corporation,  a New Jersey  corporation,  and  Inverness  UK Limited,  a private
company  limited  by shares  and  registered  in  England  and  Wales  (together
"Inverness"), pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement")
dated  October  31, 1997 among the Company  and  Inverness.  Inverness  produces
professional  and consumer  hair  removal  appliances,  depilatories,  and other
products  under the "One Touch" and "Clean and Easy" brand  names.  The purchase
price consists of (i) $16.5 million in cash; and (ii) an additional $3.5 million
in cash held in escrow pending release contingent upon the successful transition
of the manufacture of certain hair removal appliances to offshore manufacturing.
The acquisition will be accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.

FINANCING TRANSACTION

        In  connection  with the  acquisition  of the assets of  Inverness,  the
Company entered into a $75 million credit facility (the "Credit  Facility") with
Credit  Agricole  Indosuez.  The  Credit  Facility  consists  of  four  separate
components:  (i) a $25 million A Term Loan maturing on December 31, 2002, (ii) a
$25 million B Term Loan  maturing on December  31, 2004,  (iii) a $12.5  million
acquisition facility, and (iv) a $12.5 million revolving line of credit maturing
on December 31, 2002.

        The  Company may utilize the  acquisition  facility in  connection  with
funding future  acquisitions of similar  businesses or product lines.  Upon such
financing,  the amount utilized will convert proportionately into the A Term and
B Term Loans based on the remaining  outstanding principal amounts of the A Term
and B Term Loans.

        The  Company,  at its  option, may elect to have the loans bear interest
based on the LIBOR rate.  Should the Company  exercise  this option,  the A Term
Loan will bear interest at the LIBOR rate plus 250 basis points; the B Term Loan
will bear  interest at the LIBOR rate plus 300 basis  points;  and the revolving
line of credit will bear interest at the LIBOR rate plus 250 basis points.

        If the Company does not exercise this option,  the Credit  Facility will
bear interest based on the Base Rate. The Base Rate under the Credit Facility is
equal to the higher of (i) the federal funds rate plus 50 basis points,  or (ii)
the Credit Agricole  Indosuez prime lending rate. The A Term Loan bears interest
at the Base Rate plus 100 basis  points,  the B Term Loan bears  interest at the
Base Rate plus 150 basis points, and the revolving line of credit bears interest
at the Base Rate plus 100 basis  points.  The  revolving  line of credit will be
used for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

        At the closing,  the Company utilized $50 million of proceeds from the A
Term Loan and B Term Loan to fund the  acquisition of the product lines referred
to above, to repay the outstanding  balance under its previous credit  facility,
and to provide funds for general  corporate  purposes.  In  connection  with the
repayment  of its  previous  credit  facility,  the  Company  intends to take an
extraordinary,  non-cash  charge in the  fourth  quarter of  approximately  $1.4
million (net of income tax effect), or approximately $0.33 per share, related to
the unamortized financing costs of the previous credit facility.

                                       2
<PAGE>

        The Credit Facility is secured by the Company's assets and the stock and
the assets of the Company's subsidiaries. The Credit Facility also is guaranteed
by the Company's  subsidiaries.  The Credit Facility contains certain provisions
that,  among other  things,  will  require  the  Company to comply with  certain
financial ratio  requirements  and will limit the ability of the Company and its
subsidiaries  to  make  certain  capital   expenditures,   to  incur  additional
indebtedness, to sell assets, to engage in certain mergers or consolidations, or
to declare dividends.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

(a)  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESSES ACQUIRED.

        As of the date of filing  of this  Current  Report  on Form  8-K,  it is
impracticable for the Registrant to provide the financial statements required by
this Item 7(a).  Such financial  statements  shall be filed by amendment to this
Form 8-K no later than  February 23, 1997,  in  accordance  with Item 7(a)(4) of
Form 8-K.

(b)  PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

        As of the date of filing  of this  Current  Report  on Form  8-K,  it is
impracticable for the Registrant to provide the pro forma financial  information
required  by this  Item  7(b).  Such  financial  statements  shall  be  filed by
amendment to this Form 8-K no later than February 23, 1997,  in accordance  with
Item 7(b) of Form 8-K.

(c)  EXHIBITS.

   EXHIBIT NO.                  DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
   -----------                  ----------------------

     10.19  Asset  Purchase  Agreement  dated as of  October  31,  1997 among
            Styling  Technology  Corporation,   Inverness  Corporation,   and
            Inverness (UK) Limited.

     10.20  Transition and  Manufacturing  Agreement dated as of December 10,
            1997  between  Styling   Technology   Corporation  and  Inverness
            Corporation.

     10.21  Credit  Agreement  dated as of December  10,  1997 among  Styling
            Technology  Corporation  and Credit Agricole  Indosuez,  New York
            branch, as agent and the lending institutions listed therein.

       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.

December 24, 1997              STYLING TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                               By: /s/ Richard R. Ross
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Richard R. Ross
                               Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer

                                       3



                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.19



                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                          DATED AS OF OCTOBER 31, 1997


                                     AMONG


                        STYLING TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION,


                             INVERNESS CORPORATION,


                                      AND


                             INVERNESS (UK) LIMITED


<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
SECTION 1  TRANSFER OF ASSETS...............................................  1
     1.1   Purchase and Sale of Assets......................................  1
     1.2   Transferred Assets...............................................  1
           (a) Accounts Receivable..........................................  1
           (b) Vehicles, Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment.................  2
           (c) Inventory....................................................  2
           (d) Claims and Rights to the Transferred Assets..................  2
           (e) Business Contracts...........................................  2
           (f) Intellectual Property........................................  2
           (g) Customer Lists...............................................  2
           (h) Licenses, Permits, and Approvals.............................  2
           (i) Books and Records............................................  3
           (j) Computer Software and Hardware...............................  3
           (k) Leasehold Interests..........................................  3
           (l) Names........................................................  3
           (m) Phone Numbers................................................  3
     1.3   Excluded Assets..................................................  3
           (a) Rights Hereunder.............................................  3
           (b) Non-Material Business Contracts..............................  3
           (c) Non-Material Licenses and Approvals..........................  3
           (d) Insurance Contracts and Related Claims.......................  4
           (e) Other Claims.................................................  4
           (f) Cash.........................................................  4
           (g) Telephone System.............................................  4
           (h) Leasehold Improvements and Fixtures..........................  4
           (i) Shipping and Warehouse Assets................................  4
           (j) Computer System..............................................  4
           (k) Administrative Assets........................................  4
           (l) Names........................................................  4
           (m) Deposits and Prepaid Expenses................................  4
           (n) Certain Books and Records....................................  4
           (o) Certain Other Assets.........................................  4

SECTION 2  ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES........................................  5
     2.1   Liabilities Assumed..............................................  5
     2.2   Excluded Liabilities.............................................  5
           (a) Liabilities Hereunder........................................  5
           (b) Legal and Accounting Fees....................................  5
           (c) Tax Liabilities..............................................  5
           (d) Liabilities to Employees.....................................  5
           (e) Property and Personal Injury Liabilities.....................  6
           (f) Liability to Others for Breach...............................  6
           (g) Liability Regarding Employee Welfare and Pension
                 Benefits...................................................  6
           (h) Liability for Violation of Law...............................  6
           (i) Environmental Laws...........................................  6
           (j) Transfer and Use Tax Liabilities.............................  6
<PAGE>

           (k) ERISA........................................................  6
           (l) Employee Grievances..........................................  6
           (m) Seller's Indebtedness........................................  7
           (n) Shareholder and Affiliates...................................  7
           (o) Liabilities Not Assumed Hereunder............................  7
     2.3   No Expansion of Third Party Rights...............................  7
     2.4   Designated Subsidiary............................................  7

SECTION 3  PURCHASE PRICE...................................................  7
     3.1   Purchase Price...................................................  7
     3.2   Payment of Purchase Price........................................  7
           (a) Cash.........................................................  7
           (b) Escrow Amount................................................  7
     3.3   Adjustment to Purchase Price.....................................  8
           (a) AA Net Tangible Asset Statement..............................  8
           (b) Dispute Notice...............................................  8
           (c) Resolution of Dispute Notice.................................  8
           (d) Statement of Resolutions.....................................  8
           (e) Fees and Expenses............................................  9
           (f) Access to Information........................................  9
           (g) Adjustment Amounts...........................................  9
     3.4   Allocation of Purchase Price.....................................  9

SECTION 4  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...................................  9
     4.1   Representations and Warranties of Seller......................... 10
           (a) Due Incorporation, Good Standing, and Qualification.......... 10
           (b) Corporate Authority.......................................... 10
           (c) No Subsidiaries.............................................. 10
           (d) Financial Statements......................................... 10
           (e) Actions in the Ordinary Course of Business................... 11
           (f) No Material Change........................................... 11
           (g) Title to Properties.......................................... 11
           (h) Condition of Assets and Properties........................... 11
           (i) Litigation................................................... 12
           (j) Rights and Licenses.......................................... 12
           (k) No Violation................................................. 12
           (l) Taxes........................................................ 12
           (m) Accounts Receivable.......................................... 12
           (n) Contracts.................................................... 12
           (o) Compliance with Law and Other Regulations.................... 13
           (p) Employee Benefit and Employment Matters...................... 13
           (q) Insurance.................................................... 14
           (r) No Payments to Directors, Officers, Shareholders, or 
                 Others..................................................... 14
           (s) Intellectual Property........................................ 14
           (t) Inventories.................................................. 14
           (u) Consents..................................................... 15
           (v) Accuracy of Statements....................................... 15
     4.2   Representations and Warranties of Buyer.......................... 15
           (a) Due Incorporation, Good Standing, and  Qualification......... 15
           (b) Corporate Authority.......................................... 15
<PAGE>

           (c) Litigation................................................... 16
           (d) No Violation................................................. 16
           (e) Compliance with Law and Other Regulations.................... 16
           (f) SEC Reports.................................................. 16
           (g) Consents..................................................... 17
           (h) Accuracy of Statements....................................... 17

SECTION 5  COVENANTS........................................................ 17
     5.1   Covenants of Seller.............................................. 17
           (a) Truth of Representations and Warranties...................... 17
           (b) Preservation of Business..................................... 17
           (c) Ordinary Course.............................................. 17
           (d) Books and Records............................................ 18
           (e) No Organic Change............................................ 18
           (f) No Issuance by Seller of Shares, Options, or Other .......... 18
           (g) Compensation................................................. 18
           (h) Consents and Approvals....................................... 18
           (i) Confidentiality.............................................. 18
           (j) Insurance.................................................... 18
           (k) Maintenance of Assets and Properties......................... 18
           (l) Satisfaction of Obligations and Liabilities.................. 19
           (m) Right of Inspection.......................................... 19
           (n) Confirmation of Delivery Schedule............................ 19
     5.2   Covenants of Buyer............................................... 19
           (a) Truth of Representations and Warranties.  ................... 19
           (b) Consents and Approvals....................................... 19
     5.3   Confidential Information......................................... 20
     5.4   No Solicitation.................................................. 20
     5.5   Efforts to Consummate Transaction; Further Assurances............ 20
     5.6   Public Announcements............................................. 21
     5.7   Hiring of Employees.............................................. 21
     5.8   Expenses......................................................... 21
     5.9   Transfer and Use Tax Liabilities................................. 21

SECTION 6  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS.............................. 21
     6.1   Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of Buyer................. 21
           (a) Accuracy of Representations and Warranties................... 21
           (b) Performance of Agreements.................................... 21
           (c) Corporate Approval........................................... 22
           (d) Opinion of Counsel for Seller................................ 22
           (e) No Material Adverse Change................................... 22
           (f) Litigation................................................... 22
           (g) Certificates of Seller and Designated Shareholder............ 22
           (h) Transition and Manufacturing Agreement....................... 22
           (i) Patent and Trademark Assignments............................. 22
           (j) Transition of Manufacturing to China......................... 22
           (k) Consents and Approvals....................................... 23
           (l) Minimum Net Tangible Assets.................................. 23
           (m) Formulas..................................................... 23
           (n) Escrow Agreement............................................. 23
<PAGE>

           (o) Guarantee and Non-Competition Agreement...................... 23
           (p) License Agreement............................................ 23
           (q) Lease Agreement.............................................. 23
     6.2   Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of Seller................ 23
           (a) Accuracy of Representations and Warranties................... 23
           (b) Performance of Agreements.................................... 23
           (c) Corporate Approval........................................... 23
           (d) Opinion of Counsel for Buyer................................. 24
           (e) Litigation................................................... 24
           (f) Certificates of Buyer and Designated Subsidiary.............. 24
           (g) Transition and Manufacturing Agreement....................... 24
           (h) Escrow Agreement............................................. 24
           (i) License Agreement............................................ 24
           (j) Lease Agreement.............................................. 24
           (k) Consents and Approvals....................................... 24

SECTION 7  THE CLOSING...................................................... 25
     7.1   Closing.......................................................... 25
     7.2   Deliveries by Seller............................................. 25
           (a) Instruments of Conveyance.................................... 25
           (b) Certificates of Seller and Designated Shareholder............ 25
           (c) Certificate of Secretary..................................... 25
           (d) Consents..................................................... 25
           (e) Legal Opinion................................................ 25
           (f) Books and Records............................................ 25
           (g) Transition and Manufacturing Agreement....................... 25
           (h) Patent and Trademark Assignments............................. 25
           (i) Escrow Agreement............................................. 25
           (j) License Agreement............................................ 25
           (k) Lease Agreement.............................................. 25
     7.3   Deliveries by Buyer or Designated Subsidiary..................... 26
           (a) Assumption of Liabilities.................................... 26
           (b) Purchase Price............................................... 26
           (c) Buyer's Certificate.......................................... 26
           (d) Secretary's Certificate...................................... 26
           (e) Legal Opinion................................................ 26
           (f) Consents and Approvals....................................... 26
           (g) Transition and Manufacturing Agreement....................... 26
           (h) Escrow Agreement............................................. 26
           (i) License Agreement............................................ 26
           (j) Lease Agreement.............................................. 26
     7.4   Delivery of Closing Schedules by Seller.......................... 26
     7.5   Further Assurances............................................... 27

SECTION 8  WAIVER, MODIFICATION, ABANDONMENT................................ 27
     8.1   Waivers.......................................................... 27
     8.2   Modification..................................................... 27
     8.3   Abandonment...................................................... 27
     8.4   Effect of Abandonment............................................ 28
     8.5   Right to Damages................................................. 28
<PAGE>

SECTION 9  NON-COMPETITION.................................................. 29
     9.1   Non-competition ................................................. 29
           (a) Duration and Extent of Restriction........................... 29
           (b) Restrictions with Respect to Customers....................... 29
     9.2   Anti-Raiding - Buyer............................................. 29
     9.3   Remedies for Breach.............................................. 30

SECTION 10 INDEMNIFICATION.................................................. 30
     10.1  Indemnification by Seller........................................ 30
     10.2  Indemnification by Buyer......................................... 30
     10.3  Notice and Right to Defend Third-Party Claims.................... 30
     10.4  Limitations of Indemnification................................... 31
           (a)  Deductions.................................................. 31
           (b)  Limitations................................................. 31
           (c)  Sole and Exclusive Remedy................................... 31
           (d)  Adjustments to Purchase Price............................... 32

SECTION 11 GENERAL.......................................................... 32
     11.1    Indemnity Against Finders...................................... 32
     11.2    Controlling Law................................................ 32
     11.3    Notices........................................................ 32
     11.4    Binding Nature of Agreement; No Assignment..................... 33
     11.5    Entire Agreement............................................... 33
     11.6    Paragraph Headings............................................. 33
     11.7    Gender......................................................... 33
     11.8    Survival of Representations and Warranties..................... 33
     11.9    Counterparts................................................... 34
     11.10   Subsidiaries................................................... 34
     11.11   China Transition; Exception to Representations, Warranties, 
               and Covenants................................................ 34
     11.12   Construction................................................... 34

<PAGE>
                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT  dated  as  of  October  31,  1997,   among  STYLING   TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATION,  a Delaware corporation  ("Buyer");  INVERNESS  CORPORATION,  a New
Jersey corporation ("Inverness");  and INVERNESS (UK) LIMITED, a private company
limited by shares and registered in England and Wales ("UK" and together, UK and
Inverness shall be referred to as "Seller").

     Seller is engaged in the development,  production,  marketing,  and sale of
salon and retail hair removal  apparatus  and products  under the product  lines
known as "One Touch" and "Clean and Easy" and depilatory products marketed under
the  "Inverness"   brand  name  as  well  as  jewelry  cleaning   products  (the
"Business").

     Buyer  desires to acquire and assume  from  Seller,  and Seller  desires to
transfer to Buyer, the Transferred  Assets and the Assumed  Liabilities (as such
terms are defined  respectively in Sections 1.2 and 2.1), all upon the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     Seller also engages in the  ear-piercing  business (the "Other  Business").
Buyer is not acquiring any of the assets used or intended for use exclusively in
the Other Business. The assets used or intended for use in both the Business and
the Other  Business  are  included in the  Transferred  Assets  except for those
listed on Excluded Assets in Section 1.3.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  of  the  mutual
covenants set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

                                   SECTION 1
                               TRANSFER OF ASSETS

     1.1 PURCHASE   AND  SALE  OF  ASSETS.   Based  upon  and  subject  to  the
representations,   warranties,   covenants,  agreements,  and  other  terms  and
conditions set forth in this  Agreement,  Seller shall sell,  convey,  transfer,
assign,  and deliver on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 7.1),  and Buyer
shall purchase, acquire, and accept or, subject to Section 2.4, cause Designated
Subsidiary  (as defined in Section 2.4) to  purchase,  acquire,  and accept,  as
provided herein, all of the assets,  properties,  rights, and goodwill of Seller
of every kind and  description,  wherever  located,  used or intended for use in
connection with the Business, except for the "Excluded Assets" listed in Section
1.3.

     1.2  TRANSFERRED ASSETS. The assets, properties, rights, and goodwill to be
sold, conveyed,  transferred,  assigned,  and delivered by Seller on the Closing
Date  pursuant  to Section  1.1 are  sometimes  herein  called the  "Transferred
Assets" and shall include, without limitation,  all of the assets and properties
shown on or reflected in the Balance  Sheet of the Business as at September  30,
1997  ("Seller's  Base Balance  Sheet") and all assets and properties used in or
intended for use in  connection  with the Business  acquired by Seller after the
date of Seller's  Base  Balance  Sheet and to the Closing  Date except for those
disposed of before the Closing  Date as  permitted  by this  Agreement.  Without
limiting the foregoing, with the exception of the Excluded Assets (as defined in
Section 1.3), the Transferred Assets shall include the following:

          (a) ACCOUNTS  RECEIVABLE.  All accounts receivable and notes and other
receivables created in connection with the Business (the "Accounts Receivable"),
including,  without  limitation,  those set forth on SCHEDULE  "1.2(a)"  hereto,
which sets forth the amount of each  receivable and the name and mailing address
of the obligor on each such  receivable  as of the date of Seller's Base Balance
Sheet.
<PAGE>
          (b) VEHICLES, FURNITURE,  FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT. All motor vehicles,
furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, parts, tools, molds, and dyes used or
intended for use in connection with the Business (the  "Equipment"),  including,
without limitation, the Equipment set forth on SCHEDULE "1.2(b)" hereto.

          (c)  INVENTORY.  All inventory,  including,  without  limitation,  raw
materials, supplies, work in process, finished goods, packaging, and promotional
materials  used in or intended  for use in  connection  with the  Business  (the
"Inventory" or "Inventories"),  including,  without limitation,  the Inventories
set forth on SCHEDULE "1.2(c)" hereto.

          (d) CLAIMS AND RIGHTS TO THE TRANSFERRED ASSETS. All claims and rights
(and benefits arising therefrom)  relating to the Transferred Assets against all
persons  and  entities,   including,  without  limitation,  all  rights  against
suppliers under warranties covering any of the Equipment and Inventory,  in each
case, to the same extent as the same are used or held for use in connection with
the Business.

          (e)  BUSINESS  CONTRACTS.  All Leases (as defined in Section  1.2(k)),
sales  orders,  sales  contracts,  sales  representative   agreements,   service
agreements,   license  agreements,  supply  agreements,   franchise  agreements,
technical service agreements, and other contracts and agreements to which Seller
is a party  and  that are in  writing  and  used or held  for use by  Seller  in
connection  with the Business (the  "Business  Contracts"),  including,  without
limitation,  each  Business  Contract  set forth on  SCHEDULE  "1.2(e)"  hereto.
SCHEDULE  "1.2(e)" sets forth a complete list of each Business  Contract  (other
than purchase or sales orders given by or made to Seller in the ordinary  course
of the  Business)  that  Seller  reasonably  believes  will be in  effect on the
Closing Date.

          (f) INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY.  All intellectual  property rights used or
intended for use by Seller in connection  with the Business that are owned by or
licensed to Seller, including,  without limitation, all patents and applications
therefor,  know-how,  unpatented  inventions,  trade secrets,  product formulas,
packaging styles and methods,  business and marketing plans,  ideas for products
or production  developed by or on behalf of Seller,  copyrights and applications
therefor,  trademarks and applications therefor,  service marks and applications
therefor,  trade names and  applications  therefor,  and all names,  logos,  and
slogans used or intended for use by Seller in connection  with the Business (the
"Intellectual  Property"),   including,  without  limitation,  the  Intellectual
Property set forth on SCHEDULE  "1.2(f)"  hereto.  Seller has provided to Buyer,
and  SCHEDULE  "1.2(f)"  sets  forth  a  complete  list  of,  all  such  license
agreements,  product  formulas,  copyrighted  materials,  trademarks,  and trade
names,  and patents and all  applications  therefor  used or intended for use in
connection  with the  Business;  it being agreed that  disclosure  of the actual
product formulas shall not be required until the Closing.

          (g) CUSTOMER  LISTS.  All customer lists and customer  records used or
intended for use in connection with the Business.  SCHEDULE "1.2(g)" hereto sets
forth a list of all  previous  (within the last two years from the date  hereof)
and existing  customers of Seller  relating to the Business and their last known
business addresses.

          (h) LICENSES,  PERMITS, AND APPROVALS. In addition to the Intellectual
Property  set  forth  on  SCHEDULE  "1.2(f)"  hereto,  all  licenses,   permits,
approvals,  certificates,  and  authorizations  of  whatsoever  kind  and  type,
governmental or private,  issued,  applied for, or pending, used or intended for
use in connection  with the Business (the "Licenses and Permits").  The Licenses
and Permits are set forth on SCHEDULE "1.2(h)" hereto.

                                       2
<PAGE>
          (i) BOOKS AND RECORDS.  All books and records used or intended for use
in connection with the Business,  including,  without  limitation,  the Customer
Lists, blueprints, drawings, and other technical papers used or intended for use
in  connection  with the Business or the  Transferred  Assets,  and all Accounts
Receivable, Inventory, and Equipment (including, without limitation, maintenance
records of the same),  but excluding all employee and tax records whether or not
used or intended for use in connection with the Business.

          (j) COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE. All computer software and hardware
located in the facility of UK in England, used or intended for use in connection
with the Business, whether owned, leased, or licensed by or to Seller.

          (k) LEASEHOLD INTERESTS. The leasehold interests created by all leases
of real property located in the facility of UK in England and personal  property
used or intended for use in connection with the Business located in the facility
of UK in England,  under which Seller is a lessee,  including  those leases that
are capitalized leases and any maintenance  contracts and deposits in connection
therewith  (all  such  leasehold  interests  shall  herein  be  referred  to  as
"Leasehold  Interests"  and the  contracts  evidencing  the same shall herein be
referred  to as the  "Leases,"  and all such  personal  property  that Seller is
leasing as lessee  relating  to the  Business  shall  herein be  referred  to as
"Leased Personalty"),  including,  without limitation, the Leased Personalty set
forth on SCHEDULE  "1.2(k)" hereto.  Attached to SCHEDULE  "1.2(k)" are complete
copies of all the lease agreements listed on SCHEDULE "1.2(k)".

          (l) NAMES. All right,  title, and interest in and to any and all names
associated with the Business and the Transferred  Assets used at any time within
the  preceding  24 months,  and any  derivations  thereof,  except that the name
"Inverness" will be subject to the License Agreement  attached hereto as Exhibit
E (the "Names").

          (m) PHONE NUMBERS. The telephone number 1-800-524-1023.

     1.3 EXCLUDED   ASSETS.   Anything  in   this   Agreement  to  the  contrary
notwithstanding,  the following assets,  properties,  and rights of Seller shall
not  constitute  Transferred  Assets and  therefore  shall be excluded  from the
purchase and sale  contemplated by this Agreement  (collectively,  the "Excluded
Assets"):

          (a) RIGHTS  HEREUNDER.  Seller's  rights under this  Agreement and any
other  contract  or  agreement  contemplated  to be entered  into by the parties
pursuant to this Agreement.

          (b) NON-MATERIAL  BUSINESS CONTRACTS.  All business contracts relating
to the Business that are not material to the Business of the Company and that by
their terms (i) are not assignable or (ii) require the consent of a party (other
than  Seller)  to such  business  contract  to  assign  the same to Buyer or the
Designated  Subsidiary  (as  defined  in Section  2.3) and such  consent to such
assignment  has not been obtained on or prior to the Closing (the  "Non-Material
Business  Contracts").  SCHEDULE  1.3(b) sets forth a list of such  Non-Material
Business Contracts.

          (c) NON-MATERIAL LICENSES AND APPROVALS.  All License and Permits that
are not  material to the Business of the Company and that by their terms (i) are
not  assignable  or (ii)  require the consent of a party  (other than Seller) to
such License and Permit to assign the same to Buyer or the Designated Subsidiary
and such  consent to such  assignment  has not been  obtained on or prior to the
Closing (the "Non-Material Licenses and Permits").  SCHEDULE 1.3(c) sets forth a
list of such Non-Material Licenses and Permits.

                                       3
<PAGE>
          (d) INSURANCE CONTRACTS AND RELATED CLAIMS. All contracts of insurance
of Seller and any claim or right of Seller  thereunder,  including all rights of
Seller to  reserves,  unearned  premiums,  return  of  premium,  or  claims  for
reimbursement, contribution or recovery thereunder.

          (e) OTHER CLAIMS. All rights and claims of Seller that may be asserted
as a defense,  cross-claim,  or counterclaim in any action,  suit, or proceeding
that may be brought  against Seller and for which Seller has an  indemnification
obligation to Buyer hereunder.

          (f) CASH. All cash and cash equivalents of Seller.

          (g) TELEPHONE SYSTEM. All telephone systems and other assets of Seller
used or held for use by Seller in connection  with such telephone  system at the
Fair Lawn, New Jersey facility of Seller,  including,  without  limitation,  all
telephone  equipment,  telephone  numbers and  related  software,  hardware  and
wiring.

          (h) LEASEHOLD  IMPROVEMENTS AND FIXTURES.  All leasehold  improvements
and fixtures of Seller in the Fair Lawn, New Jersey  facility of Seller,  except
to the extent any of the foregoing are listed on SCHEDULE 1.2(b).

          (i) SHIPPING AND WAREHOUSE  ASSETS.  All assets of Seller used or held
for use by Seller for shipping and warehousing,  including,  without limitation,
all shelving,  storage bins, fork lifts (and other moving equipment) and packing
equipment,  except to the extent  any of the  foregoing  are listed on  SCHEDULE
1.2(b).

          (j) COMPUTER  SYSTEM.  The computer system  (including,  all software,
hardware and related peripherals) of Seller used by Seller in the Fair Lawn, New
Jersey facility.

          (k) ADMINISTRATIVE ASSETS. All assets and properties of Seller used by
Seller for administrative purposes or by employees of Seller with administrative
responsibilities,  including,  without limitation, all desks, file cabinets, and
personal  computers,  except to the  extent any of the  foregoing  are listed on
SCHEDULE 1.2(b).

          (l) NAMES. Subject to the License Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit
E, the name "Inverness" and all derivatives thereof.

          (m) DEPOSITS AND PREPAID EXPENSES. All deposits, banks accounts, notes
receivable,  and  prepaid  expenses  of Seller,  except to the extent  listed on
SCHEDULE 1.3(m).

          (n) CERTAIN BOOKS AND RECORDS. (i) All employee and tax records,  (ii)
the corporate minute books, stock ledgers,  corporate charter and corporate seal
and other similar  books and records of Seller,  and (iii) the records of Seller
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (o) CERTAIN OTHER ASSETS. (i) All assets and properties of Seller used
or held for use by Seller  exclusively in connection with any business of Seller
other than the Business,  including, without limitation, all inventory, accounts
receivable,  machinery,  furniture,  fixtures, equipment,  contracts,  licenses,
permits,  approvals and intellectual  property so used or held for use, and (ii)
the other assets and properties of Seller listed on SCHEDULE 1.3(o).

                                       4
<PAGE>
                                   SECTION 2
                           ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES

     2.1 LIABILITIES  ASSUMED.  Upon the  sale and  purchase of the  Transferred
Assets as provided in this  Agreement,  Buyer or  Designated  Subsidiary  shall,
subject  as  provided  in this  Agreement,  assume and shall  thereafter  pay or
discharge when due (a) all accounts payable of Seller to vendors with respect to
the  Business as reflected  on Seller's  Base  Balance  Sheet and as incurred by
Seller with respect to the Business in the ordinary course of business after the
date of Seller's  Base  Balance  Sheet to the Closing  Date,  to the extent such
accounts  receivable  exist on the Closing Date and are disclosed as required by
this Agreement; (b) all accrued but unpaid liabilities of Seller existing on the
Closing Date incurred in  connection  with the Business with respect to payroll,
vacation,  any holiday pay as well as accrued  payroll  taxes for  employees  of
Seller who Buyer or  Designated  Subsidiary  hire as  employees  (the  "Relevant
Employees");  and (c) all obligations and liabilities of Seller under the Leases
and the Business Contracts transferred to Buyer pursuant to Section 1.2.

     Such obligations and liabilities being assumed pursuant to this Section 2.1
are sometimes referred to herein as "Assumed Liabilities."

     2.2 EXCLUDED LIABILITIES. Except as expressly provided in the Lease and the
License  Agreement  (described  in Sections  7.2(k) and  7.2(j),  respectively),
neither  Buyer nor  Designated  Subsidiary  shall be  obligated  to  directly or
indirectly pay,  perform,  or discharge the following  claims,  obligations,  or
liabilities of Seller:

          (a) LIABILITIES HEREUNDER.  Any  obligations or  liabilities of Seller
under this Agreement.

          (b) LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING FEES. Subject to Section 5.8, any obligations
or liabilities for legal, accounting, and other fees and expenses incurred by or
on  behalf  of  Seller  or  Samuel  J.  Mann,  owner of 100% of the  issued  and
outstanding  voting  capital  stock of  Seller  ("Designated  Shareholder"),  in
connection  with  the  negotiation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement, this Agreement, the sale of the Transferred Assets, the assumption of
the Assumed Liabilities, or the documents related thereto.

          (c) TAX  LIABILITIES.  Any tax  obligations  or liabilities of Seller,
whether  or not  owed  on or  prior  to the  Closing  Date,  including,  without
limitation,  (i) any liabilities of Seller (federal,  state,  local, or foreign)
for taxes on or measured by income of Seller; (ii) any liabilities of Seller for
federal,  state, local, or foreign income and employee FICA taxes that Seller is
legally obligated to withhold through the Closing Date whether or not Seller has
withheld  the same as  required  by law;  (iii) any  liabilities  of Seller  for
employer  FICA and  unemployment  taxes;  (iv) any  liabilities  of  Seller  for
franchise and excise taxes relating to the corporate  status of Seller ; (v) any
liabilities of Seller for property taxes;  and (vi) any other taxes of Seller of
any kind or description, except as provided in Sections 2.1(b) and 5.9.

          (d)  LIABILITIES TO EMPLOYEES.  Except as provided in Section 2.1, any
obligations or liabilities with respect to payroll, bonuses, severance benefits,
vacation  pay,  and  other  employment  benefits  or  sums,  including,  without
limitation,   FICA,  worker's  compensation  premiums,   medical,   dental,  and
disability (both long-term and short-term) benefits, or unemployment taxes to or
on behalf of employees of Seller,  and any and all liabilities or obligations of
Seller,  or any  Affiliate of Seller,  arising under any  collective  bargaining
agreement  or  union  contract.  For  purposes  of  this  Agreement,   the  term
"Affiliate" shall mean any entity in which Designated  Shareholder is an officer

                                       5
<PAGE>
or  director  or  in  which  Designated  Shareholder  or  Seller,   directly  or
indirectly,  owns or controls 10 percent or more of the equity securities of the
entity, or any person related to Designated Shareholder by blood or marriage.

          (e) PROPERTY AND PERSONAL  INJURY  LIABILITIES.  Any claims against or
liabilities  of  Seller  for  injury  to or death of  persons  or  damage  to or
destruction   of  property   (including,   without   limitation,   any  workers'
compensation  claim) arising out of the sale of any product sold by Seller prior
to the Closing  Date or the  performance  of any services by Seller prior to the
Closing Date  regardless  of when such claim or liability is asserted;  it being
acknowledged  and agreed that any such claim or liabilities  with respect to any
product  sold by or on  behalf  of  Buyer  after  the  Closing  (whether  or not
manufactured  prior to,  on,  or after the  Closing)  shall  not  constitute  an
Excluded Liability.

          (f) LIABILITY TO OTHERS FOR BREACH. Any obligations or liabilities for
any breach of any  representation,  warranty,  or covenant by Seller, or for any
claim for  indemnification  against  Seller,  contained in any contract or other
document  referred to in Section 1.2, agreed to be performed  pursuant hereto by
Buyer,  to the extent that such breach or claim arose out of or by virtue of the
performance or  nonperformance  by Seller  thereunder  exclusively  prior to the
Closing Date.

          (g) LIABILITY REGARDING EMPLOYEE WELFARE AND PENSION BENEFITS.  Except
as provided in Section 2.1(b),  any obligations or liabilities of Seller arising
out of or in connection  with any past or present  employee  welfare and pension
benefit plans of Seller,  including,  without  limitation,  any  obligations  or
liabilities of Seller to or on behalf of any past or present  employee of Seller
arising under any collective bargaining agreement,  union contract, union health
and welfare fund, or similar program.

          (h) LIABILITY FOR VIOLATION OF LAW. Any  obligations or liabilities of
Seller  arising  out of or in  connection  with any  violation  of a statute  or
governmental rule, regulation, or directive,  which violation arises exclusively
out of any act or omission that occurred or commenced prior to the Closing Date.

          (i)     ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.  Any obligations or liabilities of
Seller with respect to, or relating to, Environmental Laws (as hereinafter
defined) or environmental matters.

          (j)  TRANSFER  AND USE TAX  LIABILITIES.  Subject to Section  5.9, any
obligations  or  liabilities  of Seller with respect to sales,  use, or transfer
taxes, if any, arising as a result of the transfer of the Transferred  Assets to
Buyer or Designated Subsidiary by virtue of the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.

          (k) ERISA.  Any  obligations or liabilities of Seller with respect to,
or arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"),  or any Pension Plan, Welfare Plan, or Employee Benefit Plan, as each
are hereinafter defined or as defined by ERISA, and any related trust agreements
or annuity contracts not expressly assumed in Section 2.1.

          (l) EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES. Any obligations or liabilities of Seller with
respect to, or arising  under,  any grievance  brought by any employee of Seller
while in the employ of Seller or filed  pursuant  to any  collective  bargaining
agreement  to which  Seller  or any of its  subsidiaries  is a party or by which
Seller is bound.
                                       6
<PAGE>
          (m) SELLER'S INDEBTEDNESS. Any obligations or liabilities with respect
to indebtedness of Seller, except as expressly assumed in Section 2.1.

          (n)  SHAREHOLDER  AND  AFFILIATES.  Any  obligations or liabilities of
Seller with respect to any  shareholder  of Seller or any Affiliate of Seller or
any such shareholder.

          (o)A.  Consistent with and without
limitation by the specific  enumeration  of the  foregoing,  any  liabilities or
obligations not expressly assumed by Buyer pursuant to the provisions of Section
2.1 hereof.

     2.3 NO  EXPANSION  OF  THIRD  PARTY  RIGHTS.  The  assumption  by  Buyer or
Designated  Subsidiary of the Assumed  Liabilities,  and the transfer thereof by
Seller,  shall in no way  expand  the rights  and  remedies  of any third  party
against  Seller  or Buyer or  Designated  Subsidiary  as  assignee  of Seller as
compared to the rights and remedies that such third party would have had against
Seller or Buyer or  Designated  Subsidiary  as  assignee  of Seller had Buyer or
Designated  Subsidiary  not  assumed  such  liabilities.  Without  limiting  the
generality  of the  preceding  sentence,  the  assumption by Buyer or Designated
Subsidiary  of such  liabilities  shall not create any third  party  beneficiary
rights.

     2.4  DESIGNATED  SUBSIDIARY.  Buyer and Seller  contemplate  that Buyer may
organize  a newly  formed,  wholly  owned  subsidiary  (referred  to  herein  as
"Designated  Subsidiary")  to  acquire  the  Transferred  Assets  and assume the
Assumed Liabilities.  Accordingly,  notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in
Section 11.4, at the Closing,  Buyer may assign and delegate to such  Designated
Subsidiary  all its rights and  obligations  under this  Agreement and the other
agreements contemplated by this Agreement (a "Permitted  Assignment"),  it being
agreed that any such  Permitted  Assignment  shall not release Buyer from any of
its  obligations  under this  Agreement or any other  agreement that Buyer would
have  entered  into  in  connection  with  this  Agreement  or the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  but  for  such  Permitted  Assignment.  Therefore,  upon a
Permitted  Assignment,  all  obligations  of Buyer  hereunder and under any such
other  agreement  shall be  joint  and  several  obligations  of Buyer  and such
Designated  Subsidiary,   notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  in  this
Agreement or any such other agreement.

                                   SECTION 3
                                 PURCHASE PRICE

     3.1 PURCHASE  PRICE.  The  purchase  price (the  "Purchase  Price") for the
Transferred  Assets to be acquired pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be, in addition
to the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities  pursuant to Section 2.1, an amount
equal to (a) $20,000,000,  subject to the Transition and Manufacturing Agreement
(as defined in Section 6.1(h)) and adjustment as set forth in Section 3.3.

     3.2 PAYMENT OF PURCHASE  PRICE. At the Closing (as defined in Section 7.1),
Seller shall be entitled to receive the Purchase Price payable as follows:

          (a) CASH. At the Closing, Buyer shall pay to Seller, by wire transfer,
in immediately available funds, the sum of $16,500,000 (the "Initial Payment").

          (b) ESCROW AMOUNT. At the Closing, Buyer shall deposit with the escrow
agent (the "Escrow Agent") set forth in the Escrow Agreement  attached hereto as
Exhibit A, the sum of $3,500,000 of the Purchase Price (the "Escrow Deposit") by
wire  transfer,  in  immediately  available  funds to the  account  or  accounts

                                       7
<PAGE>
designated by the Escrow Agent, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in
such Escrow  Agreement.  The  disposition of the Escrow Deposit shall be made in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement.

     3.3  ADJUSTMENT TO PURCHASE  PRICE.  If the value of the total net tangible
assets,  defined for purposes of this Section 3.3, as the sum of the  respective
values of the Accounts Receivable (as defined in Section 1.2(a)),  the Equipment
(as defined in Section 1.2(b)), the Inventory (as defined in Section 1.2(c)) and
the other  categories of Transferred  Assets that  constitute  tangible  assets,
(excluding intangible assets, such as trademarks and patents), if any, reflected
on Seller's Base Balance Sheet,  transferred hereunder, in each case as the same
exist on the Closing Date less the value of the Assumed  Liabilities (as defined
in Section  2.1)  existing  on the Closing  Date,  as  conclusively  and finally
determined  in  accordance  with  this  Section  3.3 (the  "Net  Tangible  Asset
Amount"), is greater than or less than $8,000,000, then the Purchase Price shall
be adjusted in the manner described in Section 3.3(g).  The determination of the
Net Tangible  Asset Amount and the payment of such an adjustment to the Purchase
Price shall be made as follows:

          (a) AA NET TANGIBLE ASSET STATEMENT. Within 45 calendar days after the
receipt of the Closing  Balance Sheet and  supporting  schedules  required under
Section  7.4,  Buyer shall  cause  Arthur  Andersen  LLP to deliver to Buyer and
Seller a statement  (the "AA Net  Tangible  Asset  Statement")  setting  forth a
determination  of the Net Tangible Asset Amount (as defined in this Section 3.3)
prepared in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting  principles  applied
consistently with Seller's past practices.

          (b) DISPUTE NOTICE. The determination of the Net Tangible Asset Amount
set forth in the AA Net Tangible Asset Statement shall be conclusive, final, and
binding on the parties  unless Seller  delivers to Buyer within 30 calendar days
after its receipt of the AA Net  Tangible  Asset  Statement a statement  setting
forth in reasonable  detail any dispute it may have to the  determination of the
Net Tangible Asset Amount set forth in the AA Net Tangible Asset  Statement (the
"Dispute Notice").

          (c) RESOLUTION OF DISPUTE NOTICE. If Seller timely delivers to Buyer a
Dispute  Notice,  Buyer and Seller shall use  reasonable  efforts to resolve any
dispute  described in the Dispute  Notice.  If Buyer and Seller resolve all such
disputes,  then the parties shall memorialize such resolution in writing and the
determination  of the Net Tangible Asset Amount set forth in the AA Net Tangible
Asset Statement, as modified by such resolution, shall be conclusive, final, and
binding on the parties.

          (d) STATEMENT OF RESOLUTIONS. If Buyer and Seller resolve none or only
a portion of such disputes within 20 calendar days after receipt by Buyer of the
Dispute Notice, then the parties shall (i) memorialize any resolved disputes, if
any, in writing (the  "Parties  Statement of  Resolutions")  and (ii) submit the
remaining  items in dispute in writing to an  independent  "Big Six"  accounting
firm (i.e.,  one that will certify as to its  independence  to the parties) (the
"Accounting  Arbitrator")  to be  mutually  agreed upon by the  parties.  If the
parties  cannot  agree  upon the  identity  of the  Accounting  Arbitrator,  the
Accounting  Arbitrator  shall be one of such "Big Six" accounting firms selected
by lot. The parties  shall  instruct  the  Accounting  Arbitrator  to (A) make a
determination  of the items in dispute in the manner  described  in this Section
3.3 and (B) deliver its written  determination  regarding the such items to both
parties  as  soon  as  practicable  (the  "Accounting  Arbitrator  Statement  of
Resolutions").  Upon  receipt  by  both  parties  of the  Accounting  Arbitrator

                                       8
<PAGE>
Statement of Resolutions, absent a manifest error in the same, the determination
of the  Net  Tangible  Asset  Amount  set  forth  in the AA Net  Tangible  Asset
Statement,  as  modified  by  the  Parties  Statement  of  Resolutions  and  the
Accounting Arbitrator Statement of Resolutions,  shall be conclusive, final, and
binding on the parties.

          (e) FEES AND  EXPENSES.  Buyer shall pay for all the fees and expenses
of Arthur Andersen LLP in connection with its preparation of the AA Net Tangible
Asset Statement.  In the event the parties submit any unresolved  dispute to the
Accounting  Arbitrator  as provided in Section  3.3(d),  the parties shall share
ratably the fees and expenses of the  Accounting  Arbitrator as follows:  (i) if
the  Accounting  Arbitrator  resolves all of the remaining  disputes in favor of
Buyer (the  amount so  determined  is  referred  to herein as the "Low  Value"),
Seller will be  responsible  for all of the fees and expenses of the  Accounting
Arbitrator;  (ii) if the  Accounting  Arbitrator  resolves all of the  remaining
disputes in favor of Seller (the amount so  determined  is referred to herein as
the "High Value"), Buyer will be responsible for all of the fees and expenses of
the Accounting Arbitrator;  and (iii) if the Accounting Arbitrator resolves some
of the  remaining  disputes  in  favor of  Buyer  and the rest of the  remaining
disputes in favor of Seller (the amount so  determined  is referred to herein as
the "Actual  Value"),  Seller will be responsible  for that fraction of the fees
and expenses of the Accounting  Arbitrator  equal to (A) the difference  between
the High Value and the Actual  Value over (B) the  difference  between  the High
Value and the Low Value,  and Buyer will be responsible for the remainder of the
fees and expenses of the Accounting Arbitrator.

          (f) ACCESS TO  INFORMATION.  For  purposes  of  preparing  the Dispute
Notice, the Accounting  Arbitrator  Statement of Resolution or the resolution of
any dispute between the parties  regarding the determination of the Net Tangible
Asset  Amount,  each party shall provide the other party,  Arthur  Andersen LLP,
and, if  applicable,  the  Accounting  Arbitrator,  full access,  during  normal
business  hours and on  reasonable  prior  notice,  to all the books and records
(including,  any related work papers) reasonably necessary to review each of the
components that comprise the computation of the Net Tangible Asset Amount.

          (g) ADJUSTMENT AMOUNTS.  Within 10 calendar days of the conclusive and
final  determination of the Net Tangible Asset Amount in accordance with Section
3.3(b), 3.3(c), or 3.3(d), if, based on such conclusive and final determination,
(i) the Net Tangible Asset Amount exceeds $8,000,000 (such excess being referred
to herein as the  "Upward  Adjustment  Amount"),  then  Buyer  shall  deliver to
Seller, by wire transfer in immediately  available funds, an amount equal to the
Upward Adjustment Amount (in all events not to exceed $1,000,000) to the account
or accounts  designated by Seller or (ii) the Net Tangible Asset Amount is lower
than $8,000,000  (the  difference  between such amounts being referred to as the
"Downward  Adjustment  Amount"),  then Seller  shall  deliver to Buyer,  by wire
transfer  in  immediately  available  funds,  an  amount  equal to the  Downward
Adjustment  Amount (in all events not to exceed  $1,000,000,  assuming  that the
condition  precedent  in Section  6.1(l) has been  satisfied)  to the account or
accounts designated by Buyer.

     3.4 ALLOCATION  OF PURCHASE  PRICE.  Buyer and Seller agree  that the total
Purchase  Price  (including  liabilities  assumed) for the assets and properties
purchased  pursuant to this  Agreement  shall be  allocated  to those assets and
properties as set forth in SCHEDULE "3.4" hereto.  Buyer and Seller, each at its
own expense,  also agree to file  appropriate  forms with the  Internal  Revenue
Service setting forth the  information  required to be furnished to the Internal
Revenue Service by Section 1060 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1996, as amended
(the "Code") and the applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder.

                                       9
<PAGE>
                                   SECTION 4
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     4.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER. Except as otherwise set forth
in  the  Seller  Disclosure  SCHEDULE  heretofore  delivered  by  Seller  to and
acknowledged as received by Buyer,  Seller  represents and warrants to Buyer and
Designated Subsidiary as follows:

          (a) DUE  INCORPORATION,  GOOD  STANDING,  AND  QUALIFICATION.  Each of
Inverness and UK is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing, and in good
standing  under  the  laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  incorporation  with all
requisite  corporate power and authority to own,  operate,  and lease its assets
and  properties  and to carry on its  business as now being  conducted.  Neither
Inverness nor UK is subject to any material  disability  in connection  with the
conduct  of the  Business  by reason of the  failure to be duly  qualified  as a
foreign  corporation  for the  transaction of business or to be in good standing
under the laws of any jurisdiction.  SCHEDULE "4.1(a)" hereto constitutes a list
setting forth,  as of the date of this  Agreement,  each  jurisdiction  in which
Inverness and UK are qualified to do business with respect to the Business.

          (b) CORPORATE AUTHORITY.  Seller has the corporate power and authority
to enter  into this  Agreement  and to carry out the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.  The Boards of Directors and  shareholders of Inverness and UK have duly
authorized the execution,  delivery, and performance of this Agreement. No other
corporate  proceedings  on the part of Seller are  necessary  to  authorize  the
execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement or the consummation by Seller
of the transactions  contemplated  hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered  by, and  constitutes a legal,  valid,  and binding  agreement of,
Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms, except that (i)
such  enforcement  may be subject  to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,
moratorium,  or other  similar  laws now or  hereafter  in  effect  relating  to
creditors'  rights,  and (ii) the remedy of specific  performance and injunctive
and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable  defenses and to
the  discretion  of the court  before  which  any  proceeding  therefore  may be
brought.

          (c)  NO  SUBSIDIARIES.   Neither  Inverness  nor  UK  have  any  other
affiliates  or  subsidiaries  that  own  or  have  an  interest  in  any  of the
Transferred Assets or conduct any portion of the Business.

          (d) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The consolidated balance sheets of Inverness
as of December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1996 and the consolidated statements of
operations, stockholder's equity and cash flows of Inverness for the years ended
December 31, 1994,  December  31, 1995,  and December 31, 1996,  and all related
schedules and notes to the  foregoing,  have been audited by Gikow,  Bierman,  &
Talesnick,  independent public  accountants;  the consolidated  balance sheet of
Inverness  as of the date of Seller's  Base Balance  Sheet and the  consolidated
statements of operations,  stockholder's  equity and cash flows of Inverness for
the period ended January 1, 1997 to the date of Seller's Base Balance Sheet have
been prepared by the Seller without audit. In addition, the consolidated balance
sheet of the  Business as of the date of  Seller's  Base  Balance  Sheet and the
statements of operations  for the 12-month  period then ended have been prepared
by the Seller without audit. All of the foregoing financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles  ("GAAP"),
which were applied on a consistent  basis,  (except that  Seller's  Base Balance
Sheet does not include  normal  year-end  adjustments)  present  fairly,  in all
material respects, the consolidated  financial position,  results of operations,
and changes in financial  position of the Business as of their  respective dates

                                       10
<PAGE>

and for the periods indicated. Seller has no material liabilities or obligations
relating to the  Business  of a type that would be  included in a balance  sheet
prepared in accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles,  whether
related to tax or non-tax  matters,  accrued or contingent,  due or not yet due,
liquidated or unliquidated,  or otherwise, except as and to the extent disclosed
or reflected in Seller's Base Balance  Sheet or incurred  since the date of that
balance  sheet in the ordinary  course of business and as  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

          (e)  ACTIONS IN THE  ORDINARY  COURSE OF  BUSINESS.  Since the date of
Seller's Base Balance  Sheet,  with respect to the Business,  Seller has not (i)
taken any action  outside  the  ordinary  and usual  course of  business  in any
material respect;  (ii) borrowed any money or become contingently liable for any
obligation or liability of another to the extent that any of the foregoing would
result in or increase an Assumed  Liability or have a material adverse effect on
the conduct of the Business, the Transferred Assets, the Assumed Liabilities, or
the performance of this Agreement,  except, in all cases, in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past  practices;  (iii) failed to pay any of its
debts and obligations as they become due to the extent that any of the foregoing
would  result in or increase  an Assumed  Liability  or have a material  adverse
effect on the  conduct of the  Business,  the  Transferred  Assets,  the Assumed
Liabilities, or the performance of this Agreement,  except, in all cases, in the
ordinary course of business and consistent  with past  practices;  (iv) incurred
any debt,  liability,  or  obligation  of any  nature to any  party,  except for
obligations  arising from the purchase of goods or the  rendition of services in
the ordinary  course of business to the extent that any of the  foregoing  would
result in or increase an Assumed  Liability or have a material adverse effect on
the conduct of the Business, the Transferred Assets, the Assumed Liabilities, or
the  performance  of  this  Agreement;  or  (v)  failed  to use  all  reasonable
commercial  efforts  to  preserve  its  business  organization  intact,  to keep
available  the services of its  employees  and  independent  contractors,  or to
preserve its relationships with its customers,  suppliers, and others with which
it deals.

          (f) NO MATERIAL CHANGE. Since the date of Seller's Base Balance Sheet,
there has not been (i) any material  adverse change in the financial  condition,
business,  or  operating  results of Seller with  respect to the Business or the
Transferred  Assets,  (ii)  any  loss  or  damage  (whether  or not  covered  by
insurance) to any of the Transferred Assets, which materially affects or impairs
Seller's ability to conduct the Business, or (iii) any mortgage or pledge of any
of the Transferred Assets, or any indebtedness incurred by or relating to Seller
with  respect to the  Business  to the extent  that any of the  foregoing  would
result in or increase an Assumed  Liability or have material  adverse  effect on
the conduct of the Business, the Transferred Assets, the Assumed Liabilities, or
the performance of this Agreement, other than indebtedness,  not material in the
aggregate, incurred in the ordinary course of business.

          (g) TITLE TO  PROPERTIES.  Except as set forth in  SCHEDULE  "4.1(g)",
Seller  has good and valid  title to all of the  Transferred  Assets,  including
those  reflected in Seller's  Base Balance  Sheet or acquired  subsequent to the
date of Seller's  Base Balance  Sheet,  except  Transferred  Assets  disposed of
subsequent to the date of Seller's Base Balance Sheet in the ordinary  course of
business or as contemplated by this  Agreement,  and the Transferred  Assets are
subject to no mortgage,  indenture,  pledge, lien, claim,  encumbrance,  charge,
security interest or title retention, or other security arrangement,  except for
liens for the payment of federal,  state,  and other taxes, the payment of which
is neither  delinquent nor subject to penalties,  and except for other liens and

                                       11
<PAGE>
encumbrances  incidental  to  the  conduct  of the  Business  by  Seller  or the
ownership of the Transferred Assets,  which were not incurred in connection with
the  borrowing  of money or the  obtaining  of advances  and which do not in the
aggregate  materially  detract  from the  value  of the  Transferred  Assets  or
materially  impair the use thereof in the operation of the  Business,  except in
each case as disclosed in Seller's Base Balance Sheet.

          (h)  CONDITION OF ASSETS AND  PROPERTIES.  The  buildings,  equipment,
machinery,  fixtures,  furniture,  furnishings,  office equipment, and all other
tangible  personal  assets and  properties  of Seller  constituting  Transferred
Assets  that are  material  to the  conduct of the  Business  do not require any
repairs other than normal maintenance and are in good operating condition and in
a state of reasonable maintenance and repair.

          (i) LITIGATION.  There are no actions,  suits,  proceedings,  or other
litigation pending or, to the knowledge of Seller,  threatened against Seller at
law or in  equity,  or  before or by any  federal,  state,  municipal,  or other
governmental department,  commission,  board, bureau, agency, or instrumentality
that, if determined  adversely to Seller,  might reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate,  a material  adverse effect on the Transferred
Assets or the operations,  operating results,  or financial  condition of Seller
with respect to the Business (a "Material Adverse Effect").

          (j) RIGHTS AND LICENSES.  SCHEDULE  "4.1(j)"  hereto  contains a true,
correct, and complete list of all Licenses and Permits necessary for the conduct
of the Business.  Seller has all Licenses and Permits  necessary for the conduct
of the Business as presently  conducted by it and the  ownership  and use of the
Transferred Assets and the premises occupied by it with respect to the Business.

          (k) NO  VIOLATION.  Assuming  the  receipt  of  consents  set forth on
SCHEDULE  "4.1(u)" and the release of liens in SCHEDULE  "4.1(g)," the execution
and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  will not  violate  or result in a breach by Seller  of, or
constitute a default under,  or conflict with, or cause any  acceleration of any
obligation  with respect to, (i) any  provision or  restriction  of any charter,
bylaw,  loan,  indenture,  or  mortgage  of  Seller,  or (ii) any  provision  or
restriction of any lien, lease agreement, contract, instrument, order, judgment,
award, decree,  ordinance, or regulation or any other restriction of any kind or
character to which any of the  Transferred  Assets is subject or by which Seller
is bound with respect to the Business.

          (l)  TAXES.  Seller has duly  filed in  correct  form all Tax  Returns
relating to the activities of Seller required or due to be filed (with regard to
applicable  extensions) on or prior to the date hereof. All such Tax Returns are
accurate  and  complete in all  material  respects,  and Seller has paid or made
provision  for the  payment of all Taxes that have been  incurred  or are due or
claimed to be due from Seller by federal, state, or local taxing authorities for
all  periods  ending on or before  the date  hereof,  other  than Taxes or other
charges that are not  delinquent  or are being  contested in good faith and have
not been finally  determined and have been  disclosed to Buyer.  For purposes of
this Agreement, the term "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies, or
other  assessments,  including,  without  limitation,  income,  gross  receipts,
excise,  property,  sales,  transfer,  license,  payroll,  and franchise  taxes,
imposed by the United  States,  or any state,  local,  or foreign  government or
subdivision  or  agency  thereof;  and such term  shall  include  any  interest,
penalties,  or  additions  to tax  attributable  to such  assessments  or to the
failure to file any Tax Return; and the term "Tax Return" shall mean any report,
return,  or other  information  required to be supplied to a taxing authority or
required by a taxing authority to be supplied to any other person.

                                       12
<PAGE>

          (m)  ACCOUNTS  RECEIVABLE.  The  accounts  receivable  of Seller  with
respect to the Business have been created in the ordinary course of business and
are valid and  enforceable,  except to the extent of the  reserve  reflected  in
Seller's Base Balance Sheet or in such other amount which is not material in the
aggregate.  The reserve  reflected in Seller's Base Balance Sheet is adequate in
accordance with GAAP and consistent with Seller's past practices.

          (n)  CONTRACTS.  With  respect  to the  Business,  and  to the  extent
materially  affecting a  Transferred  Asset or an Assumed  Liability,  except as
listed in SCHEDULEs 1.2(e), 1.2(k), and 4.1(p), Seller is not a party to (i) any
plan or contract  providing for bonuses,  pensions,  options,  stock  purchases,
deferred  compensation,   retirement  payments,  or  profit  sharing,  (ii)  any
collective bargaining or other contract or agreement with any labor union, (iii)
any lease, installment purchase agreement, or other contract with respect to any
Transferred  Assets,  excepting,  in each case,  items included within aggregate
amounts  disclosed  or  reflected  in  Seller's  Base  Balance  Sheet,  (iv) any
employment  agreement or other similar  arrangement not terminable by it upon 30
days or less notice without penalty to it, (v) any contract or agreement for the
purchase of any  commodity,  material,  fixed  asset,  or equipment in excess of
$10,000 (other than purchase or sale orders in the ordinary course of business),
(vi) any contract or agreement  creating an obligation of $10,000 or more (other
than  purchase or sale orders in the  ordinary  course of  business),  (vii) any
contract,  agreement,  mortgage, or lease, which by its terms does not terminate
or is not  terminable by it without  penalty to it,  (viii) any loan  agreement,
indenture,  promissory note, conditional sales agreement,  or other similar type
of arrangement,  or (ix) any material license agreement. All material mortgages,
leases,  contracts,  agreements,  and other  arrangements  with  respect  to the
Business to which Seller is a party materially  affecting a Transferred Asset or
an Assumed Liability are valid and enforceable against Seller in accordance with
their terms;  Seller, and, to the knowledge of Seller, all other parties to each
of the  foregoing  have  performed all  obligations  required to be performed to
date; neither Seller nor, to the knowledge of Seller, any such other party is in
default in any  material  respect  or in  arrears  under the terms of any of the
foregoing;  and no condition  exists or event has occurred that, with the giving
of notice or lapse of time or both,  would constitute a default by Seller in any
material respect under any of them.

          (o) COMPLIANCE WITH LAW AND OTHER REGULATIONS. Seller is in compliance
in all material  respects with all  requirements  (including  those  relating to
environmental  matters) of federal,  state, or local law and all requirements of
all governmental bodies and agencies having jurisdiction over it, the conduct of
the Business, the use of Transferred Assets, and all premises occupied by Seller
with respect to the Business.  There is no  environmental  contamination,  toxic
waste or other  discharge,  spill,  or condition at the Fair Lawn, New Jersey or
England facilities of Seller in violation by Seller of applicable  environmental
laws adversely  affecting any of the Transferred Assets, nor has Seller received
any  official  notice  or  citation  in the  past  three  years  that any of the
Transferred  Assets in any way  contravene any federal,  state,  or local law or
regulation  relating to  environmental,  health,  or safety  matters,  including
without limitation any requirements of CERCLA or any OSHA requirements.  Without
limiting the foregoing,  Seller has properly filed all reports, paid all monies,
and obtained all Licenses and Permits  needed or required for the conduct of the
Business and the use of the Transferred  Assets and the premises  occupied by it
in connection  with the Business and is in  compliance in all material  respects
with all conditions,  restrictions, and provisions of such Licenses and Permits.
Seller has not  received  within the three  years  prior to the date  hereof any

                                       13
<PAGE>

notice  from  any  federal,  state,  or  local  authority  or any  insurance  or
inspection body that any of the Transferred Assets or the business procedures or
practices  related to the  Business  fails to comply  with any  applicable  law,
ordinance,  regulation,  building,  or zoning law or  requirement  of any public
authority or body.

          (p) EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT AND  EMPLOYMENT  MATTERS.  Seller and its "ERISA
Affiliates" (as determined  under Section  414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) of the Code)
(i) maintain,  administer, or contribute to, only those employee pension benefit
plans (as  defined  in  Section  3(2) of ERISA,  whether  or not  excluded  from
coverage  under  specific  Titles or Subtitles  of ERISA)  described in SCHEDULE
"4.1(p)"  hereto (the  "Seller  Pension  Plans");  and (ii) Seller and its ERISA
Affiliates  maintain,  administer,  or contribute to only those employee welfare
benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, whether or not excluded from
coverage  under  specific  Titles or Subtitles  of ERISA)  described in SCHEDULE
"4.1(p)" hereto (the "Seller Welfare  Plans").  Seller and all ERISA  Affiliates
maintain,  administer, or contribute to only those bonus, deferred compensation,
stock purchase, stock option, severance plan, insurance, or similar arrangements
described in SCHEDULE "4.1(p)" hereto ("Seller Employee Benefit Plans").

          (q)  INSURANCE.  Seller  maintains in full force and effect  insurance
coverage on the Transferred Assets and its premises,  operations,  and personnel
relating to the Business in such amounts as Seller deems  appropriate.  SCHEDULE
"4.1(q)" hereto contains a description (identifying insurer, coverage, premiums,
named  insured,  deductibles,  and  expiration  date) of all  policies  of fire,
liability,  and other  forms of  insurance  that  currently  are, or at any time
within the past five years have been,  maintained in force by or for the account
of Seller with respect to the Transferred  Assets or the Business (such policies
are hereinafter  referred to as the "Policies").  Seller has been  continuously,
and is presently,  insured by insurers  unaffiliated with Seller with respect to
the  Transferred  Assets and the  conduct of the  Business  in such  amounts and
against such risks as are  adequate to protect the Business and the  Transferred
Assets, including, without limitation, liability insurance.

          (r) NO PAYMENTS TO DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, SHAREHOLDERS, OR OTHERS. Since
the date of Seller's  Base  Balance  Sheet,  there has not been any  purchase or
redemption   of  any  shares  of  capital  stock  of  Seller  or  any  transfer,
distribution,  or payment by Seller, directly or indirectly,  of any Transferred
Assets to any  director,  officer,  shareholder,  or other person other than the
payment of compensation for services actually rendered at rates not in excess of
the rates prevailing on the date of Seller's Base Balance Sheet.

          (s) INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY.  Seller owns or holds all of the rights to
use all packaging,  logos,  trademarks,  trade names, trade secrets,  fictitious
names,  service marks,  patents, and copyrights that are used in or necessary to
the conduct of the  Business.  Seller  owns all rights with  respect to, and has
good and valid title to, all of the formulas  that are used in or are  necessary
to the conduct of the Business. Seller is not, and following the Closing neither
Buyer nor Designated  Subsidiary will be,  obligated to pay any royalty or other
payment with respect to any of such formulas.  The formulas attached to SCHEDULE
"1.2(f)"  delivered  upon the  execution  of this  Agreement or on or before the
Closing Date are or will be the exact formulas being used routinely to batch and
produce each of the  representative  products of Seller in  connection  with the
Business,  including,  without limitation,  the ingredient sources,  the correct

                                       14
<PAGE>
percentages,  mixing and cooking  (heating  and cooling)  instructions,  and any
special  processing  procedures  necessary  for exact  duplication  and  quality
control.  SCHEDULE "1.2(f)" hereto sets forth a true, complete, and correct list
of all of the patents and  applications  therefor,  trademarks and  applications
therefor,  service marks and applications therefor, trade names and applications
therefor,  and  copyrights and  applications  therefor that are owned or used by
Seller with respect to the Business. To Seller's knowledge,  none of the matters
covered by the Intellectual  Property,  nor any of the products or services sold
or provided by Seller,  nor any of the processes used or the business  practices
followed by Seller,  with respect to the  Business,  infringes or has  infringed
upon any trademark,  trade name, trade secret,  fictitious  name,  service mark,
patent,  or  copyright  owned by any person or entity (or any  application  with
respect  thereto),  or constitutes  unfair  competition.  Except as set forth on
SCHEDULE  "4.1(s)",  Seller is not, and following the Closing  neither Buyer nor
Designated  Subsidiary  will be,  obligated to pay any royalty or other  payment
with respect to any of the Intellectual  Property that constitutes a Transferred
Asset. To the knowledge of Seller, no person or entity is producing,  providing,
selling,  or using products or services that would constitute an infringement of
any of the Intellectual Property that constitutes a Transferred Asset.

          (t)  INVENTORIES.   The  Inventories  are  in  good  and  merchantable
condition  and are  stated at not more than the  lower of cost or  market,  with
adequate  adjustments  for  obsolete,  obsolescent,  or  otherwise  not  readily
marketable items.  Since the date of Seller's Base Balance Sheet, there have not
been and  there  are not  required  to be any  write-downs  in the  value of the
Inventories or write-offs with respect to such  Inventories.  The raw materials,
work in  progress,  and finished  goods  inventory of Seller with respect to the
Business to be  transferred  hereunder are all in good  condition and are usable
and  currently  being used in the present  production  and sales  activities  of
Seller  with  respect to the  Business,  and Seller  does not have on hand or on
order any raw  materials,  work in progress,  or finished  goods  inventory with
respect to the Business in excess of its normal  requirements  (based upon sales
experience  from the latest 12 months)  for  products  that are  included in its
current  line with  respect to the  Business  and for which Seller is now taking
orders.  Without  limiting the  foregoing,  (i) Seller does not have more than a
six-month supply of raw materials, work in progress, or finished goods inventory
with respect to the  Inventories,  all of which is saleable at prices  currently
quoted by Seller,  and (ii) all work in progress and finished goods inventory to
be transferred to Buyer or Designated  Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement are
in accordance with customers'  specifications  and the sale thereof to customers
will not result in any liability of any kind to Buyer or Designated Subsidiary.

          (u) CONSENTS.  Except as set forth on SCHEDULE  "4.1(u)",  no consent,
approval, license, permit, or authorization of any federal, state, municipal, or
other  governmental   department,   commission,   board,   bureau,   agency,  or
instrumentality,  or other person is required in  connection  with the execution
and delivery of this  Agreement by Seller or the  consummation  by Seller of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

          (v) ACCURACY OF STATEMENTS.  Neither this Agreement nor any Exhibit or
SCHEDULE  hereto  furnished or to be furnished by Seller to Buyer in  connection
with this Agreement or any of the transactions  contemplated  hereby contains or
will  contain an untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omits or will omit to
state a material  fact  necessary  to make the  statements  contained  herein or
therein, in light of circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

                                       15
<PAGE>

     4.2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER. Except as otherwise set forth
in the Buyer Disclosure SCHEDULE heretofore  delivered by Buyer to Seller, Buyer
represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

          (a) DUE INCORPORATION, GOOD STANDING, AND QUALIFICATION. Each of Buyer
and its subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing,  and in
good  standing  under the laws of its  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  with all
requisite  corporate power and authority to own,  operate,  and lease its assets
and  properties  and to carry on its  business as now being  conducted.  Neither
Buyer nor any of its  subsidiaries  is subject  to any  material  disability  by
reason of the  failure to be duly  qualified  as a foreign  corporation  for the
transaction  of  business  or to be in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of any
jurisdiction.

          (b) CORPORATE  AUTHORITY.  Buyer has and, if a Permitted Assignment is
effected,  Designated Subsidiary will have, the corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and carry out the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.
The Board of Directors of Buyer has duly authorized the execution, delivery, and
performance of this Agreement and, if a Permitted Assignment is effected,  prior
to such Permitted  Assignment,  the Board of Directors of Designated  Subsidiary
will have authorized the performance of this Agreement by virtue of its approval
of  the  execution  and  delivery  of  documents  memorializing  such  Permitted
Assignment.  No other  corporate  proceedings on the part of Buyer or any of its
subsidiaries,  including the approval of Buyer's stockholders,  are necessary to
authorize  the  execution  and  delivery  by  Buyer  of  this  Agreement  or the
consummation by Buyer or Designated Subsidiary of the transactions  contemplated
hereby.  This  Agreement  has been duly  executed and  delivered by Buyer.  This
Agreement   constitutes  a  legal,   valid,  and  binding  agreement  of  Buyer,
enforceable  against  Buyer in  accordance  with its terms,  and if a  Permitted
Assignment is effected,  this Agreement will also constitute a legal, valid, and
binding  agreement  of  Designated  Subsidiary  enforceable  against  Designated
Subsidiary in  accordance  with its terms,  except that, in each case,  (i) such
enforcement   may  be  subject  to   bankruptcy,   insolvency,   reorganization,
moratorium,  or other  similar  laws now or  hereafter  in  effect  relating  to
creditors'  rights,  and (ii) the remedy of specific  performance and injunctive
and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable  defenses and to
the  discretion  of the court  before  which  any  proceeding  therefore  may be
brought.

          (c) LITIGATION.  There are no actions,  suits,  proceedings,  or other
litigation  pending or, to the knowledge of Buyer,  threatened  against Buyer 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  that, (i) if determined adversely to Buyer or any of
its subsidiaries,  might reasonably be expected to have,  individually or in the
aggregate,  a material adverse effect on the business,  assets,  properties,  or
prospects  or on the  condition,  financial  or  otherwise,  of  Buyer  and  its
subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  or (ii) question the validity of this Agreement
or seek to prohibit,  enjoin,  or challenge the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
                                       16
<PAGE>
          (d) NO VIOLATION. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby will not violate or result
in a breach  by Buyer or any of its  subsidiaries  of, or  constitute  a default
under,  or conflict  with,  or cause any  acceleration  of any  obligation  with
respect to, (i) any  provision  or  restriction  of any  charter,  bylaw,  loan,
indenture,  or  mortgage  of  Buyer  or any of its  subsidiaries,  or  (ii)  any
provision or restriction of any lien,  lease  agreement,  contract,  instrument,
order,  judgment,   award,  decree,   ordinance,  or  regulation  or  any  other
restriction  of any kind or character to which any assets or properties of Buyer
or  any  of  its  subsidiaries  is  subject  or by  which  Buyer  or  any of its
subsidiaries is bound.

          (e) COMPLIANCE WITH LAW AND OTHER  REGULATIONS.  Each of Buyer and its
subsidiaries  is in  compliance in all material  respects with all  requirements
(including those relating to environmental matters) of federal, state, and local
law  and  all  requirements  of all  governmental  bodies  and  agencies  having
jurisdiction  over it, the  conduct of its  business,  the use of its assets and
properties,  and  all  premises  occupied  by  it.  There  is  no  environmental
contamination,  toxic waste or other discharge,  spill,  construction component,
structural  element or condition,  adversely  affecting any of the properties of
Buyer or its subsidiaries, nor has Buyer or any of its subsidiaries received any
official notice or citation that the properties of Buyer or its  subsidiaries in
any way contravene any federal,  state,  or local law or regulation  relating to
environmental,  health,  or safety  matters,  including  without  limitation any
requirements  of  the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response  Compensation  and
Liability  Act  ("CERCLA")  nor any  OSHA  requirements.  Without  limiting  the
foregoing,  each of Buyer and its  subsidiaries  has properly filed all reports,
paid  all  monies,  and  obtained  all  licenses,  permits,   certificates,  and
authorizations needed or required for the conduct of its business and the use of
its  assets  and  properties  and  the  premises  occupied  by it in  connection
therewith  and is in compliance  in all material  respects with all  conditions,
restrictions,  and provisions of all of the foregoing.  Neither Buyer nor any of
its  subsidiaries  has  received any notice from any  federal,  state,  or local
authority  or  any  insurance  or  inspection  body  that  any  of  its  assets,
properties,  facilities, equipment, or business procedures or practices fails to
comply in any material respect with any applicable law,  ordinance,  regulation,
building, or zoning law or requirement of any public authority or body.

          (f) SEC REPORTS.  Buyer's Form 10-K Report for the year ended December
31,  1996,  and all  subsequent  reports  and  proxy  statements  filed by Buyer
thereafter  with the SEC  pursuant to Section  13(a) or 14(a) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, do not contain a  misstatement  of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
statements  therein not  misleading  as of the time the document  was filed.  No
report,  proxy  statement,  or other  document has been  required to be filed by
Buyer pursuant to Section 13(a) or 14(a) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934
that has not been filed. All such reports, registrations,  and statements, which
are filed  between the date hereof and the  Closing  Date,  will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein,  in light of
the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

          (g) CONSENTS. No consent, approval,  license, permit, or authorization
of any federal, state, municipal, or other governmental department,  commission,
board, bureau, agency, or instrumentality, or other person is required

                                       17
<PAGE>

          (h) ACCURACY OF STATEMENTS.  Neither this Agreement nor any Exhibit or
SCHEDULE  hereto  furnished or to be furnished by Buyer to Seller in  connection
with this Agreement or any of the transactions  contemplated  hereby contains or
will  contain an untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omits or will omit to
state a material  fact  necessary  to make the  statements  contained  herein or
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

                                   SECTION 5
                                   COVENANTS

     5.1 COVENANTS OF SELLER.  Seller agrees that, unless Buyer otherwise agrees
in writing  and except as set forth in the Seller  Disclosure  SCHEDULE,  at all
times prior to the Closing Date:

          (a) TRUTH OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Seller shall notify Buyer
if any of the  representations  or warranties of Seller herein  contained  shall
become untrue or incorrect in any material respect.

          (b)  PRESERVATION  OF  BUSINESS.   Seller  shall  use  all  reasonable
commercial  efforts to (i) preserve intact the present business  organization of
Seller  related  to  the  Business,  (ii)  preserve  the  present  goodwill  and
advantageous  relationships of Seller related to the Business with all customers
and  suppliers,   and  (iii)  preserve  and  maintain  in  force  all  licenses,
registrations,  franchises,  patents, trademarks,  copyrights,  bonds, rights to
formulas,  and other similar rights of Seller  constituting  Transferred Assets.
Seller shall not enter into any employment  agreements  with any of its officers
or management  personnel  related to the Business that may not be canceled by it
without penalty upon notice not exceeding 30 days.

          (c) ORDINARY  COURSE.  Seller shall  operate the Business  only in the
usual, regular, and ordinary course and manner.  Without limiting the foregoing,
Seller shall not (i) acquire,  transfer,  sell,  convey,  dispose of,  encumber,
pledge, or mortgage any Transferred Asset,  except in the ordinary course of the
conduct of the Business and consistent with past practice and as contemplated by
this Agreement;  (ii) incur any obligations  (contingent or otherwise) or modify
any  indebtedness  that may create,  increase  or modify any Assumed  Liability,
except any such  obligation  incurred  in the  ordinary  course of the  Business
consistent  with past  practice and as  contemplated  by this  Agreement;  (iii)
acquire  directly  or  indirectly  or redeem  any shares of its  capital  stock,
acquire any stock or other equity interest in any  corporation,  trust, or other
entity,  or create or acquire  any  subsidiary,  except to the extent  that such
action  will have no effect on the  conduct  of the  Business,  the  Transferred
Assets,  the Assumed  Liabilities,  or the performance of this  Agreement;  (iv)
enter into,  amend,  modify,  terminate,  extend, or otherwise change any lease,
contract,  agreement,  or other  obligation  with respect to the Business (other
than  contracts  for the sale of products or  services,  and  contracts  for the
purchase of supplies or services, in each case entered into, amended,  modified,
terminated,  extended,  or  otherwise  changed  in the  ordinary  course  of the
Business), which involve obligations aggregating $50,000 or more or which extend
beyond six months  from the date of this  Agreement;  (v) enter into any service
agreement, maintenance agreement, contract, or other arrangement relating to the
operations of the Business,  or maintenance of any Transferred Assets other than
in the ordinary course of the conduct of the Business;  or (vi) expend more than
$100,000  in any month with  respect  to the  Business,  except in the  ordinary
course of the  conduct  of the  Business  consistent  with  prior  periods or as
otherwise  permitted by this  Agreement,  without the prior written  approval of
Buyer, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned.

                                       18
<PAGE>
          (d) BOOKS AND RECORDS.  Seller shall maintain its books, accounts, and
records related to the Business in the usual,  regular,  and ordinary manner and
on a basis  consistent with prior years, and Seller shall comply in all material
respects  with all laws  applicable  to them with  respect to the conduct of the
Business.

          (e) NO  ORGANIC  CHANGE.  Seller  shall not (i) amend its  charter  or
bylaws,  (ii)  make  any  change  in  its  capital  stock  by  reclassification,
subdivision, reorganization, or otherwise, or (iii) merge or consolidate with or
sell any Transferred Assets to any other corporation, trust, or entity or change
the  character  of the  Business,  except in each case as  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  or to the extent that such action will have no effect on the conduct
of the  Business,  the  Transferred  Assets,  the  Assumed  Liabilities,  or the
performance of this Agreement.

          (f) NO ISSUANCE  BY SELLER OF SHARES,  OPTIONS,  OR OTHER  SECURITIES.
Seller  shall not (i)  issue any  shares of  capital  stock,  or (ii)  grant any
option,  warrant,  or other right to purchase or to convert any obligation  into
shares of capital stock, except in each case to the extent that such action will
have no effect on the  conduct of the  Business,  the  Transferred  Assets,  the
Assumed Liabilities, or the performance of this Agreement.

          (g)  COMPENSATION.  Seller  shall not (i)  increase  the  compensation
payable  (including  bonus  compensation) to any officer or director or to other
management  personnel  related to the Business from the amount payable as of the
date of  Seller's  Base  Balance  Sheet,  unless  such  increase  is made in the
ordinary  course  and is  consistent  with  Company's  past  practices,  or (ii)
introduce or change in any material  respect any pension or profit  sharing plan
or any other employee benefit arrangement related to the Business.

          (h) CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Seller shall use all reasonable commercial
efforts to obtain all consents and approvals listed in SCHEDULE  4.1(u).  Seller
shall  make or cause  to be made  all  filings,  applications,  statements,  and
reports to all  federal  and state  government  agencies  or  entities  that are
required to be made prior to the Closing Date by or on behalf of Seller pursuant
to any  statute,  rule,  or  regulation  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

          (i) CONFIDENTIALITY. Seller shall not reveal, orally or in writing, to
any   person,   other   than   Buyer  and   Designated   Subsidiary   and  their
representatives,  any of the business  procedures or practices followed by it in
the conduct of the Business or any other  information of a  confidential  nature
with respect to the Business.

          (j) INSURANCE. Seller shall maintain in force through the Closing Date
all of the property, casualty, crime, directors and officers, and other forms of
insurance that it is presently  carrying with respect to the Transferred  Assets
or the Business and shall  refrain from making any change in any such  insurance
coverage.

          (k)  MAINTENANCE  OF  ASSETS  AND  PROPERTIES.  With  respect  to  the
Business, Seller shall keep the premises occupied by it and all of the equipment
and  other  tangible  assets  and  personal  property  of  Seller   constituting
Transferred  Assets,  to the extent material to the conduct of the Business,  in
good operating  condition and in a state of reasonable  maintenance  and repair.
Except in the ordinary  course of the Business,  consistent with past practices,

                                       19
<PAGE>
Seller shall not remove any personal  property  related to the Business from any
facility of Seller unless same are replaced with similar items of at least equal
quality prior to the Closing Date.  Seller shall not permit any modifications or
additions to and shall not sell or permit to be sold or otherwise transferred or
disposed  of any  item or group of items  constituting  personal  property  with
respect to the Business,  except for any such modifications,  additions,  sales,
transfers,  or  dispositions  made in the ordinary  course of the conduct of the
Business,  consistent with past practices.  Seller shall not convey any interest
in any of the Transferred  Assets or subject any of the Transferred  Assets,  or
any portion thereof, to any additional liens, encumbrances,  or similar matters,
except in the ordinary  course of the Business,  consistent with past practices,
and as contemplated by this Agreement.

          (l) SATISFACTION OF OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITIES.  Seller shall (i) pay
or  cause to be paid  all of its  obligations  and  liabilities  related  to the
Business in the ordinary  course of business,  consistent  with past  practices,
including  those  related to taxes,  but except for those that are in good faith
disputed by Seller  with the written  approval of Buyer and those that if not so
paid would not result in an increase or modification  to any Assumed  Liability,
(ii)  maintain and perform in all material  respects its  obligations  under all
agreements  and  contracts  related  to the  Business  to  which  it is bound in
accordance with their terms, and (iii) comply in all material  respects with all
requirements of applicable  federal,  state,  and local laws,  regulations,  and
rules related to the Business.  Seller shall pay or cause to be paid in full all
bills and invoices for labor, goods,  materials,  services, and utilities of any
kind relating to the Business, which were contracted for by Seller or which were
delivered to or performed on its properties, in each case in the ordinary course
of  Business,  consistent  with  past  practices,  and as  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

          (m) RIGHT OF INSPECTION.  Seller shall make available to Buyer and its
representatives  for  inspection  at all  reasonable  times  all of the  assets,
properties,  facilities,  and agreements relating to the Business (including all
documents of any  description  evidencing any right or obligation of Seller) and
the books, accounts, records, and financial statements of Seller relating to the
Business   as  Buyer   shall   reasonably   request  and  allow  Buyer  and  its
representatives  the  right  to make  whatever  copies  of such  materials  they
require, and Seller shall permit Buyer and its independent  accountants to audit
or make such audit  tests  respecting  the  accounts  of Seller  relating to the
Business as Buyer or those accountants consider appropriate.

          (n)  CONFIRMATION  OF  DELIVERY  SCHEDULE.  Seller  shall use its best
efforts to obtain from ITS, Seller's independent  consultant in China, a written
letter or report (the "ITS Report")  stating  whether the Delivery  SCHEDULE set
forth in SCHEDULE 6.1 is materially correct or materially incorrect.

     5.2 COVENANTS OF BUYER.  Buyer agrees that,  unless Seller otherwise agrees
in  writing  and  except  as set  forth  in the  Buyer  Disclosure  SCHEDULE  or
contemplated by this Agreement, at all times prior to the Closing Date:

          (a)  TRUTH  OF   REPRESENTATIONS   AND   WARRANTIES.   Buyer  and  its
subsidiaries  shall not take or suffer or permit  any action  that would  render
untrue any of the  representations or warranties of Buyer herein contained,  and
Buyer and its  subsidiaries  shall not omit to take any action,  the omission of
which would render untrue any such representation or warranty.

                                       20
<PAGE>
          (b) CONSENTS AND APPROVALS.  Buyer shall use all reasonable commercial
efforts to obtain all  necessary  consents and  approvals  of other  persons and
governmental authorities to the performance by Buyer and its subsidiaries of the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement.  Buyer shall make or cause to be
made all filings, applications, statements, and reports to all federal and state
government  agencies  and  entities  that are  required  to be made prior to the
Closing  Date by or on  behalf  of Buyer  or its  subsidiaries  pursuant  to any
statute, rule, or regulation in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

     5.3 CONFIDENTIAL  INFORMATION.  Buyer agrees to (i) not use any information
received  by it or  any  of  its  representatives  from  Seller  or  any  of its
representatives  pursuant to Section  5.1(r) or during the course of  conducting
due diligence  relating to the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement (the
"Confidential  Information")  for any  purpose  (other  than for the  purpose of
consummating   the   transactions   contemplated  by  this  Agreement)  that  is
detrimental  to Seller  or its  affiliates  and (ii) keep all such  Confidential
Information confidential,  except (a) to the extent that Buyer's counsel advises
that disclosure must be made pursuant to applicable  laws and  regulations;  (b)
prior to the Closing, Buyer may use such Confidential  Information to the extent
useful in evaluating and  consummating  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement; and (c) Buyer may use such information to enforce compliance with the
terms and  conditions of this Agreement in connection  with any judicial  action
properly  brought by Buyer in  accordance  with this  Agreement  to protect  its
rights and  interests  under this  Agreement.  In the event  this  Agreement  is
abandoned  pursuant to Section 8, Buyer agrees to promptly  return to Seller all
copies (or other physical  embodiments) of the  Confidential  Information in its
possession or in the possession of any of its representatives,  and destroy (and
cause each of its  representatives  to  destroy)  all copies (or other  physical
embodiments) or any analyses, compilations, studies, or other documents prepared
by or for its use containing or reflecting any Confidential Information.

     5.4 NO  SOLICITATION.  Unless  and until  this  Agreement  shall  have been
abandoned  pursuant  to  Section  8,  neither  Seller  nor any of its  officers,
directors, affiliates, representatives, or agents shall:

          (a)  directly  or   indirectly,   encourage,   solicit,   or  initiate
discussions or negotiations with, any corporation, partnership, person, or other
entity or group (other than Buyer, its affiliates,  employees,  representatives,
and advisors)  concerning any merger,  sale of assets, sale of shares of capital
stock,  tender  offer,  or similar  transaction  involving  Seller or any of its
subsidiaries,  except to the extent  that such action will have no effect on the
conduct of the Business,  the Transferred Assets, the Assumed Liabilities or the
performance of this Agreement; or

          (b) disclose,  directly or indirectly,  any non-public  information to
any corporation,  partnership,  person,  or other entity or group (other than to
Buyer, its affiliates,  employees,  representatives,  or agents)  concerning the
Business,  afford to any such  party  access to the books or  records  of Seller
relating to the  Business,  or otherwise  assist or encourage  any such party in
connection with any of the foregoing.

                                       21
<PAGE>

     5.5 EFFORTS TO CONSUMMATE TRANSACTION;  FURTHER ASSURANCES.  Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees to use
all reasonable  commercial  efforts to take, or cause to be taken,  all actions,
and to do, or cause to be done, all things  necessary,  proper,  or advisable to
consummate and make effective the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
including, without limitation, using all reasonable commercial efforts to obtain
all necessary, proper, or advisable permits, consents, authorizations, requests,
and  approvals of third  parties and  governmental  authorities.  If at any time
after the Closing  Date,  any further  action is necessary or desirable to carry
out the purposes of this Agreement  (including  providing any information in any
way related to the  Transferred  Assets),  the proper  officers and directors of
each party to this Agreement  shall take any such actions as the other party may
reasonably request.

     5.6 PUBLIC  ANNOUNCEMENTS.  Buyer and Seller shall  consult with each other
before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public  statements with
respect to this Agreement and shall not issue any such press release or make any
such public statement prior to such  consultation,  except as may be required by
law on the advice of  counsel  or by any  listing  agreement  with any  national
securities exchange.

     5.7 HIRING OF EMPLOYEES.  Seller will  cooperate  with Buyer and give Buyer
access to employee  information and assistance with employee  communications  in
connection with Buyer's employment of certain employees of Seller. Buyer may, in
Buyer's sole  discretion,  offer  employment  to and Seller will permit Buyer to
hire or  retain  any of the  employees  of Seller  identified  in  SCHEDULE  5.7
immediately  following  the  Closing;  provided,  that  Buyer  will be  under no
obligation to hire or maintain any such  employee for any period of time.  Buyer
will  recognize the past service with Seller of such  employees for the purposes
of determining  such  employees'  vacation  benefits with Buyer and will provide
accrued  vacation  benefits  accruing after the Closing to such employees  based
upon which employees' seniority with Seller.  Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Section 5.7 to the contrary, the preceding two sentences shall in no way
create any type of  employment  contract  for any employ or alter in any way the
"employment at will" status of such employee.  Notwithstanding  anything in this
Section 5.7, no employee shall be a third party  beneficiary or inure any rights
or benefits by virtue of this Section 5.7.

     5.8  EXPENSES.  Except  as may  otherwise  expressly  be  provided  in this
Agreement,  each party  shall bear all those costs and  expenses  incurred by it
(including any fees and expenses of brokers,  attorneys,  or other professionals
engaged by such party) in connection  with this  Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated hereby.

     5.9  TRANSFER  AND  USE  TAX  LIABILITIES.   The  parties  agree  that  any
obligations or liabilities  with respect to sales,  use, or transfer  taxes,  if
any,  arising as a result of the transfer of the  Transferred  Assets or Assumed
Liabilities to Buyer or Designated  Subsidiary by virtue of the  consummation of
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  shall be borne  by Buyer or  Seller  in
accordance with applicable law.
                                       22
<PAGE>
                                  SECTION 6
                      CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS

     6.1 CONDITIONS  PRECEDENT TO THE  OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER.  The obligations of
Buyer to consummate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement are, at the
option of Buyer,  subject to the satisfaction of the following  conditions on or
before the Closing Date.

          (a) ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES.  The  representations
and  warranties of Seller herein  contained  shall have been true and correct in
all material  respects when made and, in addition,  shall be true and correct in
all  material  respects  on the  Closing  Date with the same force and effect as
though made on and as of the Closing  Date,  except as affected by  transactions
contemplated hereby.

          (b)  PERFORMANCE  OF  AGREEMENTS.  Seller  shall have in all  material
respects  performed  all  obligations  and  agreements  and  complied  with  all
covenants  and  conditions  contained  in this  Agreement  to be  performed  and
complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date and shall have delivered all
documents, instruments, and materials required by Section 7.2.

          (c) CORPORATE APPROVAL.  All necessary corporate action on the part of
the  directors  and  shareholders  of Seller  approving  this  Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall have been taken.

          (d)  OPINION OF COUNSEL  FOR  SELLER.  Buyer  shall have  received  an
opinion of Sills Cummis Zuckerman Radin Tischman Epstein & Gross,  P.C., counsel
for Seller, dated the Closing Date, with customary assumptions,  exceptions, and
qualifications reasonably acceptable to Buyer and its counsel.

          (e) NO  MATERIAL  ADVERSE  CHANGE.  Since  the date of  Seller's  Base
Balance  Sheet,  there  shall have been (i) no  material  adverse  change in the
financial  condition,  business,  or operating results of Seller with respect to
the Business or the  Transferred  Assets nor (ii) any loss or damage (whether or
not covered by insurance) to any of the  Transferred  Assets,  which  materially
affects or impairs Seller's ability to conduct the Business.

          (f) LITIGATION.  No action or proceeding by or before any governmental
agency shall have been instituted or threatened that seeks to enjoin,  restrain,
or prohibit, or, if adversely decided, might reasonably be expected to result in
substantial  damages in respect of, this  Agreement or the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  and  would,  in the  reasonable
judgment of Buyer, make it inadvisable to consummate such  transactions,  and no
court order shall have been entered in any action or  proceeding  instituted  by
any other  party  that  enjoins,  restrains,  or  prohibits  this  Agreement  or
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                       23
<PAGE>
          (g)  CERTIFICATES  OF SELLER  AND  DESIGNATED  SHAREHOLDER.  Buyer and
Designated  Subsidiary shall have received from Seller a certificate executed by
the president of Seller, dated the date of the Closing Date, certifying that all
representations  and  warranties of Seller set forth in this Agreement are true,
complete,  and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date as
if made at that time, and that Seller has performed and complied in all material
respects  with  all  agreements,  covenants,  and  conditions  required  by this
Agreement to be performed or complied with by it at or before the Closing Date.

          (h) TRANSITION AND MANUFACTURING AGREEMENT. Seller shall have executed
and  delivered to Buyer the  Transition  and  Manufacturing  Agreement  attached
hereto as Exhibit  B,  subject  to  completion  of the  exhibits  and  schedules
thereto.

          (i) PATENT AND TRADEMARK  ASSIGNMENTS.  Seller shall have executed and
delivered to Buyer the Patent and  Trademark  Assignments  in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to the parties.

          (j)  TRANSITION  OF  MANUFACTURING  TO CHINA.  Seller shall have taken
delivery  of product  shipments  representing  85% of the "Pot  Waxer"  products
ordered pursuant to the purchase orders attached hereto as SCHEDULE  "6.1(j)" at
the  prices   quoted  in  the   manufacturing   agreements   with  the   Chinese
manufacturers,  and the Pot Waxer products shall have satisfied certain mutually
agreed upon quality  control  parameters  consistent  with Seller's past product
quality  levels.  Seller has  delivered  to Buyer a schedule  setting  forth the
expected delivery dates for the product shipments for the "Phase I" products (as
defined in the Transition and Manufacturing Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit
B) attached  hereto as SCHEDULE "6.1" (the "Delivery  SCHEDULE").  To the extent
there are any material  modifications to the Delivery  SCHEDULE,  Buyer shall be
satisfied  with the contents of the  modified  Delivery  SCHEDULE.  In addition,
Buyer shall have  received,  inspected,  and been satisfied with the quality of,
samples and test shots of any Phase I Product (as defined in the  Transition and
Manufacturing  Agreement  attached hereto as Exhibit B) received by Seller prior
to the  Closing.  To the extent  that the ITS  Report is  obtained  pursuant  to
Section  6.1,  such  Report  shall  not  state  that the  Delivery  SCHEDULE  is
materially incorrect.

          (k)  CONSENTS  AND  APPROVALS.  Seller  shall  have  obtained  all the
consents and  approvals  listed in SCHEDULE  4.1(u) and marked with an asterisk.
Seller  shall  have  made  or  caused  to be  made  all  filings,  applications,
statements,  and  reports to all  federal and state  governmental  agencies  and
entities  that are  required  to be made prior to the Closing by or on behalf of
Seller  pursuant to any statute,  rule, or  regulation  in  connection  with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          (l) MINIMUM NET TANGIBLE ASSETS.  Buyer shall have received reasonable
assurances  that the value of the Net Tangible Asset Amount shall equal at least
$7,000,000 as of the Closing Date.

          (m) FORMULAS.  To the extent not  previously  delivered,  the formulas
attached to SCHEDULE "1.2(f)."

          (n) ESCROW  AGREEMENT.  Seller shall have  executed  and  delivered to
Buyer the Escrow Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.

                                       24
<PAGE>

          (o) GUARANTEE AND NON-COMPETITION  AGREEMENT.  Designated  Shareholder
shall have executed and  delivered to Buyer the  Guarantee  and  Non-Competition
Agreement attached in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the parties.

          (p) LICENSE AGREEMENT.  Seller shall have executed and delivered to 
Buyer the License Agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the 
parties.

          (q) LEASE  AGREEMENT.  The  landlord  of the  Fair  Lawn,  New  Jersey
Facility of Seller shall have  executed and delivered to Buyer the Lease in form
and substance reasonably acceptable to the parties.

     6.2 CONDITIONS  PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER.  The obligations of
Seller and Designated Shareholder to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement are, at the option of Seller and Designated Shareholder,  subject
to the satisfaction of the following conditions on or before the Closing Date:

          (a) ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES.  The  representations
and warranties of Buyer herein contained shall have been true and correct in all
material  respects when made and, in addition,  shall be true and correct in all
material  respects on and as of the Closing  Date with the same force and effect
as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except as affected by transactions
contemplated hereby.

          (b) PERFORMANCE OF AGREEMENTS. Buyer and, if a Permitted Assignment is
effected,  Designated  Subsidiary shall have in all material respects  performed
all  obligations  and  agreements and complied with all covenants and conditions
contained  in this  Agreement to be  performed  and complied  with by them on or
prior to the Closing Date and shall have delivered all consideration, documents,
instruments, and other materials required by Section 7.3 hereof.

          (c) CORPORATE APPROVAL.  All necessary corporate action on the part of
the directors of Buyer and, if a Permitted  Assignment  is effected,  Designated
Subsidiary approving this Agreement and approving the transactions  contemplated
hereby shall have been taken.

          (d) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR BUYER.  Seller and  Designated  Shareholder
shall have received an opinion of O'Connor, Cavanagh, Anderson,  Killingsworth &
Beshears,  a  professional   association,   counsel  for  Buyer  and  Designated
Subsidiary, dated the Closing Date, with customary assumptions,  exceptions, and
qualifications reasonably acceptable to Seller and its counsel.

          (e) LITIGATION.  No action or proceeding by or before any governmental
agency shall have been instituted or threatened that seeks to enjoin,  restrain,
or prohibit, or, if adversely decided, might reasonably be expected to result in
substantial  damages in respect of, this  Agreement or the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  and  would,  in the  reasonable
judgment of Seller, make it inadvisable to consummate such transactions,  and no
court order shall have been entered in any action or  proceeding  instituted  by
any other  party  that  enjoins,  restrains,  or  prohibits  this  Agreement  or
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                       25
<PAGE>
          (f) CERTIFICATES OF BUYER AND DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY. Seller shall have
received  from Buyer and  Designated  Subsidiary a  certificate  executed by the
chief executive officer and secretary of Buyer and Designated Subsidiary,  dated
the date of the Closing Date, certifying that all representations and warranties
of Buyer set forth in this  Agreement  are true,  complete,  and  correct in all
material respects on and as of the Closing Date as if made at that time and that
Buyer and  Designated  Subsidiary  have  performed  and complied in all material
respects  with  all  agreements,  covenants,  and  conditions  required  by this
Agreement to be performed or complied with by Buyer and Designated Subsidiary on
or before the Closing Date.

          (g) TRANSITION  AND  MANUFACTURING  AGREEMENT.  Buyer  or  Designated
Subsidiary  shall have  executed  and  delivered  to Seller the  Transition  and
Manufacturing  Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B, subject to the completion
of the exhibits and schedules thereto.

          (h) ESCROW  AGREEMENT.  Buyer or  Designated  Subsidiary  shall  have
executed and delivered to Seller the Escrow Agreement in substantially  the form
attached hereto as EXHIBIT A.

          (i) LICENSE AGREEMENT.  Buyer  shall  have  executed and  delivered to
Seller the License Agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the 
parties.

          (j)  LEASE  AGREEMENT.  Buyer  or  Designated  Subsidiary  shall  have
executed and delivered to the landlord of the Fair Lawn, New Jersey  facility of
Seller the Lease in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the parties.

          (k) CONSENTS AND APPROVALS.  Buyer or Designated Subsidiary shall have
obtained all necessary  consents and approvals of other persons and governmental
authorities  to  the  performance  by  Buyer  or  Designated  Subsidiary  of the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement.  Buyer or Designated  Subsidiary
shall have made or caused to be made all filings, applications,  statements, and
reports to all federal and state  governmental  agencies and  entities  that are
required to be made prior to the Closing by or on behalf of Buyer or  Designated
Subsidiary  pursuant to any statute,  rule, or regulation in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                   SECTION 7
                                  THE CLOSING

     7.1 CLOSING.  Subject to Section 8.3,  the closing (the  "Closing")  of the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement shall take place at the offices of
O'Connor,  Cavanagh,   Anderson,   Killingsworth  &  Beshears,  P.A.,  One  East
Camelback,  Suite 1100, Phoenix, Arizona on December 1, 1997, subject to Buyer's
right to postpone the Closing until December 15, 1997 but deemed to be effective
as of December 1, 1997, or at such other date,  time, and place as may be agreed
upon by Buyer and Seller,  which date is  sometimes  herein  called the "Closing
Date."
                                       26
<PAGE>
     7.2  Deliveries  by  Seller.  At the  Closing,  Seller  shall  execute  (as
applicable) and deliver to Buyer:

          (a) INSTRUMENTS OF CONVEYANCE.  Such deeds, bills of sale, instruments
of assignment (including, without limitation, trademark and patent assignments),
and other instruments and documents as may be necessary to convey, transfer, and
assign  to  Buyer,  or  if  a  Permitted  Assignment  is  effected,   Designated
Subsidiary, title to the Transferred Assets.

          (b) CERTIFICATES   OF  SELLER  AND   DESIGNATED   SHAREHOLDER.   The
certificates of the president of Seller required by Section 6.1(g).

          (c)  CERTIFICATE  OF SECRETARY.  The  certificate  of the secretary of
Seller certifying to the resolutions constituting all necessary corporate action
by the board of directors  and by the  shareholders  of Seller to authorize  the
consummation of the transactions provided for herein.

          (d) CONSENTS.  The written consents and approvals  required by Section
6.1(k).

          (e) LEGAL OPINION.  The  opinion of  Sills  Cummis  Zuckerman  Radin
Tischman Epstein & Gross, P.C. required by Section 6.1(d).

          (f) BOOKS AND RECORDS. All of the books,  records, and files of Seller
that  constitute  Transferred  Assets;  constructive  delivery  of the  same for
purposes of the Closing only being acceptable.

          (g) TRANSITION AND MANUFACTURING AGREEMENT.  The  Transition  and
Manufacturing Agreement required by Section 6.1(h).

          (h) PATENT AND TRADEMARK ASSIGNMENTS.  The  Patent  and  Trademark
Assignments required by Section 6.1(i).

          (i) ESCROW AGREEMENT. The Escrow Agreement required by Section 6.1(p).

          (j) LICENSE AGREEMENT.  The License Agreement required by Section 
6.1(o).

          (k) LEASE AGREEMENT.  The Lease Agreement required by Section 6.1(q).

     All assignments,  consents,  certificates, and other documents delivered by
Seller  pursuant  to Section  7.2 shall be in form  reasonably  satisfactory  to
counsel for Buyer;  it being  agreed by the parties  that none of the  foregoing
shall contain any representations, warranties, covenants, or other agreements of
any kind that are not contained in this Agreement or the Exhibits hereto, and to
the  extent  there  is an  inconsistency  between  any  such  document  and this
Agreement or the Exhibits  hereto,  this Agreement and the Exhibits hereto shall
control.

     7.3 DELIVERIES BY BUYER OR DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY. At the Closing, Buyer, or
if a Permitted Assignment is effected,  Designated Subsidiary, shall execute (as
applicable) and/or deliver to Seller or, as applicable, Escrow Agent:

                                       27
<PAGE>

          (a) ASSUMPTION  OF  LIABILITIES.  One or more  assumptions  or  other
instruments or documents as may be necessary for Buyer or Designated  Subsidiary
(as applicable) to assume the Assumed Liabilities.

          (b) PURCHASE  PRICE.  Payment of the Initial  Payment  provided for in
Section 2.1 in  immediately  available  funds by wire transfer to the account or
accounts  designated in advance by Seller and the deposit of the Escrow  Deposit
with Escrow  Agent  pursuant to the Escrow  Agreement in  immediately  available
funds by wire  transfer to the account or accounts  designated in advance by the
Escrow Agent.

          (c) BUYER'S CERTIFICATE.  The  certificate  executed  by  the  chief
executive officer and secretary of Buyer and Designated Subsidiary required by
Section 6.2(g).

          (d) SECRETARY'S  CERTIFICATE.  The certificate  of the secretary or an
assistant  secretary of Buyer  certifying to the  resolutions  constituting  all
necessary  corporate  action by the Board of Directors  of Buyer and  Designated
Subsidiary  to  authorize  the  consummation  of the  transactions  provided for
herein.

          (e) LEGAL OPINION.  The  opinion  of  O'Connor,  Cavanagh,  Anderson,
Killingsworth & Beshears, a professional association, required by Section
6.2(d).

          (f) CONSENTS  AND  APPROVALS.  Written  evidence of all  consents and
approvals of the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (g) TRANSITION AND MANUFACTURING AGREEMENT.  The  Transition  and
Manufacturing Agreement required by Section 6.2(g).

          (h) ESCROW AGREEMENT. The Escrow Agreement required by Section 6.2(h).

          (i) LICENSE AGREEMENT.  The License Agreement required by Section 
6.2(i).

          (j) LEASE AGREEMENT.  The Lease Agreement required by Section
6.2(j).

     All assumptions,  certificates,  and other documents  delivered by Buyer or
its Designated  Subsidiary  pursuant to Section 7.3 shall be in form  reasonably
satisfactory to counsel for Seller;  it being agreed by the parties that none of
the foregoing shall contain any representations, warranties, covenants, or other
agreements of any kind that are not contained in this  Agreement or the Exhibits
hereto,  and to the extent there is an  inconsistency  between any such document
and this  Agreement  or the Exhibits  hereto,  this  Agreement  and the Exhibits
hereto shall control.

     7.4 DELIVERY OF CLOSING SCHEDULES BY SELLER.  Seller shall deliver to Buyer
within 10 business days after the Closing a draft  Seller's  Balance Sheet as of
the  Closing  Date  (the  "Closing  Balance  Sheet")  with  accompanying  backup
schedules,  similar in form and content to Seller's Base Balance  Sheet,  except
that the Closing Balance Sheet shall include normal year-end adjustments.

                                       28
<PAGE>
     7.5 FURTHER  ASSURANCES.  From time to time, on and after the Closing Date,
as and  when  requested  by any  party  hereto  or its  permitted  assigns  (the
"requesting  party"),  the other party or its permitted assigns (the "furnishing
party")  shall execute and deliver all such deeds,  bills of sale,  assignments,
assumptions,  and other  instruments  and shall  take or cause to be taken  such
further or other actions as the requesting party may deem necessary or desirable
in order to confirm of record or otherwise title to and possession of all of the
Transferred Assets or the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities and otherwise to
carry out fully the provisions and purposes of this Agreement.  Without limiting
the foregoing,  the furnishing  party shall make available the books and records
pertinent to the Business  obtained or retained by it pursuant to this Agreement
available  to  requesting  party  (and  its  accountants,   counsel,  and  other
representatives)  upon five  business  days  prior  notice  and shall  allow the
requesting party to make extracts,  copies,  or summaries  thereof.  The parties
shall  cooperate  with  each  other  and  with  their  respective   counsel  and
accountants  in  connection  with  any  steps  to be  taken  as a part of  their
respective  obligations  under this  Agreement,  including  the  preparation  of
financial  statements.  Seller shall make all of its books and records pertinent
to the Business  available to Arthur Andersen LLP and Buyer's regularly retained
investment and commercial bankers,  and cooperate  reasonably with Buyer, Arthur
Andersen LLP, and Buyer's regularly retained  investment and commercial bankers,
including  making any standard  representations  and signing any standard  audit
representations  letters,  in order to  complete  any audit that may be required
under  applicable  rules and  regulations  of the SEC, as  determined  by Arthur
Andersen LLP.

                                   SECTION 8
                       WAIVER, MODIFICATION, ABANDONMENT

     8.1 WAIVERS.  The failure of Seller or  Designated  Shareholders  to comply
with any of their  obligations,  agreements,  or conditions as set forth in this
Agreement may be waived expressly in writing by Buyer, by action of its Board of
Directors.  The failure of Buyer or Designated  Subsidiary to comply with any of
their obligations,  agreements, or conditions as set forth in this Agreement may
be waived  expressly in writing by Seller,  by action of its Board of Directors,
without the vote of its shareholders.

     8.2 MODIFICATION. This Agreement may be modified at any time in any respect
by the mutual consent of all of the parties,  notwithstanding  prior approval by
the shareholders of Seller.  Any such modification may be approved for any party
by its Board of Directors,  without further  shareholder  approval,  except that
amount  of  consideration  to be paid  for  the  Transferred  Assets  may not be
decreased  (except as provided  herein) without the consent of the sharehol ders
of Seller given by the same vote as is required under  applicable  state law for
approval of this Agreement.

     8.3  ABANDONMENT.  The  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement may be
abandoned  on or before  the  Closing  Date,  notwithstanding  approval  of this
Agreement by the shareholders of Seller:

          (a) By the mutual agreement of the Boards of Directors of Buyer
and Seller, or
                                       29
<PAGE>
          (b) By the  Board of  Directors  of  Buyer,  if any of the  conditions
provided  in  Section  6.1 shall  not have been  satisfied,  complied  with,  or
performed in any material  respect by the Closing Date, and Buyer shall not have
waived such failure of satisfaction, noncompliance, or nonperformance, or

          (c) By the Board of  Directors  of  Seller,  if any of the  conditions
provided  in  Section  6.2 shall  not have been  satisfied,  complied  with,  or
performed in any material respect by the Closing Date, and Seller shall not have
waived such failure of satisfaction, noncompliance, or nonperformance, or

          (d) By Buyer,  on or prior to three weeks  following  the execution of
this  Agreement,  if (i) Buyer is not  reasonably  satisfied  with its final due
diligence  of the  Business  and the  Transferred  Assets,  which shall  include
interviewing  key employees,  vendors,  and customers of Seller  relating to the
Business  as well as visiting  Seller's  Chinese  manufacturers,  and (ii) Buyer
delivers to Seller a notice to Seller  setting  forth in  reasonable  detail the
basis,  which shall be one of the bases set forth on SCHEDULE 8.3(d),  for Buyer
not being satisfied with such due diligence.

          (e) At the  option  of  Buyer or  Seller,  if there  shall  have  been
instituted and be pending or threatened any legal proceeding before any court or
governmental  agency  seeking to restrain  or  prohibit or to obtain  damages in
respect of this Agreement or the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement,  or if any order  restraining or prohibiting the transactions
contemplated  by  this  Agreement  shall  have  been  issued  by  any  court  or
governmental agency and shall be in effect.

     In the event of any  abandonment  pursuant to this  Section 8.3 (other than
pursuant to  subparagraph  (a) hereof)  written notice setting forth the reasons
thereof shall  forthwith be given by Seller if it is the  abandoning  party,  to
Buyer, or by Buyer, if Buyer is the abandoning party, to Seller.  This Agreement
shall terminate  automatically if the Closing Date shall not have occurred on or
before  December 15, 1997  (subject to extension as specified  herein),  or such
later date as shall have been agreed to by the parties hereto under Section 8.2.

     8.4 EFFECT OF ABANDONMENT.  Other than the provisions of Sections 5.3, 5.6,
5.8, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, and 11.2 which  provisions  shall survive the abandonment of
this Agreement, if the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are abandoned
as provided for in this  Section,  (a) this  Agreement  shall  forthwith  become
wholly void and of no effect without liability to any party to this Agreement or
to the directors, officers,  representatives,  and agents of any such party, and
(b) without  limiting the generality of Section 5.3, Seller and Buyer (and their
representatives)  shall  return  to the other  all  copies  of  books,  records,
documents,  or other papers given by Seller or Buyer (or their  representatives)
to the other (or their representatives).

     8.5 RIGHT TO DAMAGES.  If the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
are abandoned by reason of a breach of a material  covenant or representation or
warranty,  the breaching  party(s) shall be jointly and severally  liable to pay
the  non-breaching  party(s) a fee of $1,000,000 (the  "Termination  Fee").  The

                                       30
<PAGE>

parties hereby acknowledge that the agreements contained in this Section 8.5 are
an integral part of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and that
without  these  agreements,  the  parties  would not enter into this  Agreement;
accordingly, if the breaching party(s) fail to promptly pay the Termination Fee,
the breaching  party(s) shall also pay the non-breaching  party(s) all its costs
and  expenses  incurred  by it in  pursuing  payment  of  such  Termination  Fee
(including  reasonable  attorneys'  fees).  The  parties  agree  that the proper
abandonment by one of the parties  pursuant to this Section 8 and/or the payment
of the  Termination  Fee, if  applicable,  under this Section 8.5 shall,  in the
absence of fraud, be the sole and exclusive remedies of the parties in the event
this Agreement is not consummated by the parties for any reason.

                                    SECTION 9
                                NON-COMPETITION

     9.1  NON-COMPETITION - SELLER.  Because of the  importance  of  Designated
Shareholder  to the  development  and operation of the Business,  as well as his
knowledge of and  reputation in Seller's  industry,  Buyer is unwilling to enter
into and perform this  Agreement  unless Seller enters into the  non-competition
agreement  contained in this Section 9.1 and Designated  Shareholder enters into
the Guarantee  Agreement provided for herein. To induce Buyer to enter into this
Agreement and for the benefit of Buyer and Designated Subsidiary,  Seller agrees
as follows:

          (a) DURATION AND EXTENT OF RESTRICTION.  Seller shall not for a period
ending five years after the Closing Date (the "Non-Competition  Period"), within
the United States or foreign countries (collectively, the "Relevant Territory"),
engage in a business the same as, similar to, or in general competition with the
Business as being conducted  presently by Seller at or within 12 months prior to
the Closing Date. The term "engage in" shall  include,  but shall not be limited
to, activities, whether direct or indirect, as proprietor, partner, shareholder,
principal,  agent, employee,  consultant or lender; provided,  however, that the
ownership  of not  more  than  5% in the  aggregate  by  Seller  and  Designated
Shareholder of the stock of a publicly held corporation shall not be included in
such term.

          (b) RESTRICTIONS  WITH RESPECT TO CUSTOMERS.  In furtherance  of, and
without in any way limiting  the  restriction  in this  Section 9.1,  during the
Non-Competition Period, Seller shall not directly or indirectly,

          (c) request  any  past,  present,  or future  customers  of Seller to
curtail or cancel their business with Buyer or any of its subsidiaries;

          (d) disclose the identity of any past, present, or future customers of
Seller,  Buyer,  or any  subsidiary  of  Buyer  to any  other  person,  firm  or
corporation  engaged  in a  business  the same as,  similar  to,  or in  general
competition with the Business within the Relevant Territory;

          (e) solicit,  canvas,  or accept,  or  authorize  any other person to
solicit,  canvas,  or accept,  from any past,  present,  or future  customers of
Seller,  Buyer or any  subsidiary  of Buyer,  any business for any other person,
firm,  or  corporation  engaged in a  business  the same as,  similar  to, or in
general competition with the Business within the Relevant Territory;

                                       31
<PAGE>

          (f) solicit any employee with respect to the Business of Seller, Buyer
or any subsidiary of Buyer to terminate his employment.

As used in this Section 9.1(b) "future customer" shall mean a customer with whom
business  will have been  transacted  between the date hereof and the end of the
term specified in Section 9.1(a).

     9.2 ANTI-RAIDING - BUYER.  Seller is  unwilling to enter into and perform
this Agreement unless Buyer enters into the agreement  contained in this Section
9.2.  To induce  Seller to enter  into this  Agreement  and for the  benefit  of
Seller, Buyer agrees that during the Non-Competition  Period, except as provided
in this Agreement in Section 5.7, it shall not solicit any employee with respect
to the Other  Business  (whether  the Other  Business is owned by Seller or by a
purchaser of the Other Business from Seller) to terminate his employment.

     9.3 REMEDIES FOR BREACH.  Each party  acknowledges  that the  restrictions
contained in this Section 9, in view of the nature of the Business and the Other
Business,  are reasonable  and necessary to protect the legitimate  interests of
the other party and that any  violation  of these  restrictions  would result in
irreparable injury to such other party and its affiliates and subsidiaries. Each
party agrees that, in the event of a violation of any of such restrictions,  the
other party shall be entitled to preliminary and permanent  injunctive relief as
well as an equitable  accounting of all earnings,  profits,  and other  benefits
arising from such violation, which rights shall be cumulative and in addition to
any other rights or remedies to which such other party may be  entitled.  In the
event of a violation,  the Non-Competition  Period shall be extended by a period
of time equal to that period beginning when such violation  commenced and ending
when  the  activities  constituting  such  violation  shall  have  been  finally
terminated in good faith.

                                   SECTION 10
                                INDEMNIFICATION

     10.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY SELLER.  Seller covenants and agrees following the
Closing to defend,  indemnify,  and hold Buyer and, if a Permitted Assignment is
effected,  Designated  Subsidiary  harmless for,  from,  and against any and all
damages, losses, liabilities (absolute and contingent), fines, penalties, costs,
and expenses (including,  without limitation,  reasonable counsel fees and costs
and expenses incurred in the investigation,  defense, or settlement of any claim
covered by this indemnity) with respect to or arising out of any demand,  claim,
inquiry, investigation, proceeding, action or cause of action that Buyer and, if
a Permitted Assignment is effected, Designated Subsidiary may suffer or incur by
reason of (i) the  inaccuracy  of any of the  representations  or  warranties of
Seller  contained  in  this  Agreement  or  any of the  Exhibits,  or  SCHEDULEs
delivered in connection with this Agreement; (ii) the failure to comply with, or
the breach or the default by Seller of, any of the covenants or agreements  made
by Seller in this  Agreement,  or any of the Exhibits or SCHEDULEs  delivered in
connection with this Agreement; or (iii) any of the Excluded Liabilities, except
to the extent  that such  Excluded  Liabilities  arise  exclusively  from events
occurring after the Closing Date.

                                       32
<PAGE>
     10.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY BUYER. Buyer and Designated Subsidiary covenant and
agree to defend,  indemnify, and hold Seller harmless for, from, and against any
and  all  damages,  losses,   liabilities  (absolute  and  contingent),   fines,
penalties,  costs,  and  expenses  (including,  without  limitation,  reasonable
counsel fees and costs and expenses incurred in the investigation,  defense,  or
settlement  of any claim covered by this  indemnity)  with respect to or arising
out of any demand, claim, inquiry,  investigation,  proceeding, action, or cause
of action that Seller may suffer or incur by reason of (a) the inaccuracy of any
of the representations or warranties of Buyer or Designated Subsidiary contained
in this Agreement or any of the agreements,  certificates,  documents, exhibits,
or schedules  delivered in connection  with this  Agreement;  (b) the failure to
comply with, or the breach or the default by Buyer or Designated  Subsidiary of,
any of the  covenants or agreements  made by Buyer or  Designated  Subsidiary in
this Agreement or any of the agreements,  certificates,  documents, exhibits, or
schedules  delivered in connection  with this  Agreement.  Buyer and  Designated
Subsidiary  shall have no  obligation  to  defend,  indemnify,  and hold  Seller
harmless  pursuant to this Section 10.2 with respect to any liability that is an
Excluded  Liability  set  forth  in  Section  2.2  hereof;  or (c)  any  Assumed
Liability.

     10.3 NOTICE AND RIGHT TO DEFEND THIRD-PARTY  CLAIMS.  Promptly upon receipt
from a  third-party  of  notice  of any  claim,  demand,  or  assessment  or the
commencement of any suit,  action, or proceeding with respect to which indemnity
may be sought pursuant to this Agreement, the party seeking to be indemnified or
held harmless (the "Indemnitee")  shall notify in writing,  if possible,  within
sufficient  time to respond to such claim or answer or  otherwise  plead in such
action (but in any event within ten days, the party from whom indemnification is
sought (the  "Indemnitor")  setting  forth the nature of the claim in reasonable
detail.  In case any claim,  demand,  or assessment shall be asserted,  or suit,
action, or proceeding commenced against the Indemnitee,  the Indemnitor shall be
entitled,  at the  Indemnitor's  expense,  to participate  therein,  and, to the
extent that it may wish, to assume the defense,  conduct, or settlement thereof,
at its own expense,  with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnitee,  whose consent
to the  selection of counsel shall not be  unreasonably  withheld,  delayed,  or
conditioned,  provided that the Indemnitor confirms to the Indemnitee that it is
a claim to which its rights of indemnification  apply. The Indemnitor shall have
the right to  settle or  compromise  monetary  claims  without  the  consent  of
Indemnitee;  however,  as to any other claim,  the Indemnitor shall first obtain
the prior written consent from the Indemnitee,  which consent shall be exercised
in the sole  discretion of the  Indemnitee.  After notice from the Indemnitor to
the  Indemnitee  of  Indemnitor's  intent so to  assume  the  defense,  conduct,
settlement,  or compromise of such action, the Indemnitor shall not be liable to
the Indemnitee for any legal or other expenses  (including,  without limitation,
settlement costs) subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the
defense,  conduct,  or  settlement  of  such  action  while  the  Indemnitor  is
diligently  defending,  conducting,  settling,  or compromising such action. The
Indemnitor shall keep the Indemnitee apprised of the status of the suit, action,
or proceeding and shall make  Indemnitor's  counsel available to the Indemnitee,
at the Indemnitor's expense, upon the request of the Indemnitee.  The Indemnitee
shall  cooperate with the Indemnitor in connection with any such claim and shall
make personnel,  books and records and other  information  relevant to the claim
available to the Indemnitor to the extent that such personnel, books and records
and other information are in the possession and/or control of the Indemnitee. If
the Indemnitor decides not to participate,  the Indemnitee shall be entitled, at
the Indemnitor's expense, to defend,  conduct,  settle or compromise such matter
with counsel  satisfactory to the Indemnitor,  whose consent to the selection of
counsel shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

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<PAGE>
     10.4  LIMITATIONS OF INDEMNIFICATION.

          (a) DEDUCTIONS.  Payments by an Indemnitor pursuant to this Section 10
shall be limited to the amount of any  liability  or damage that  remains  after
deducting  therefrom any insurance  proceeds and any indemnity,  contribution or
other  similar  payment  payable  to the  Indemnitee  from any third  party with
respect thereto. Anything in this Section 10 to the contrary notwithstanding, no
Indemnitor  shall be liable to any  Indemnitee for punitive,  consequential,  or
special damages.

          (b) LIMITATIONS. The aggregate liability of Seller for indemnification
under this Section 10 with respect to all claims  incurred or sustained by Buyer
or Designated  Subsidiary shall in no event exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate.
The  obligation of Seller under this Section 10 to indemnify  Buyer  pursuant to
this Section 10 is subject to the limitation that Buyer or Designated Subsidiary
may not (and  shall  not) make or bring  any claim  against  Seller  under  this
Section 10 unless the aggregate  amount of all claims from time to time incurred
or suffered by Buyer and Designated  Subsidiary  collectively  exceeds  $250,000
after which all such claims  (including the first $250,000 of such claims) shall
be indemnified in full in accordance  with the terms of this Section 10. Without
limiting the foregoing,  no claim for indemnification under this Section 10 will
be effective unless made within one year after the Closing Date.

          (c) SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.  Except as provided in Section 9.3, the
indemnification  provided for in this Section 10 shall be the sole and exclusive
remedy for the inaccuracy of any  representation  or warranty  contained in this
Agreement  or  any of  the  agreements,  certificates,  documents,  exhibits  or
schedules  delivered  in  connection  with this  Agreement  or the breach of any
covenants  or  agreements  made  in  this  Agreement  or any of the  agreements,
certificates,  documents,  exhibits,  or schedules  delivered in connection with
this Agreement.

          (d) ADJUSTMENTS TO PURCHASE PRICE. To the extent that an adjustment of
the  Purchase  Price is made  pursuant  to  Section  3.3 and the  basis for such
adjustment  also  constitutes  an  inaccuracy of any of the  representations  or
warranties  contained in this Agreement or any of the agreements,  certificates,
documents,  exhibits,  or schedules delivered in connection with this Agreement,
no  indemnity  shall be due  under  this  Section  10 to the  extent of any such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.

     10.5 NO ADDITIONAL  REPRESENTATIONS.  Except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement or any of the Agreements,  Certificates,  SCHEDULEs, Exhibits or other
documents  delivered by one of the parties in connection with this Agreement and
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  no  party  is  making  any
representation,  warranty,  covenant  or  agreement,  express or  implied,  with
respect to the Business, the Transferred Assets, the Assumed Liabilities, or any
other matters referred to herein.

                                       34
<PAGE>

                                   SECTION 11
                                    GENERAL

     11.1 INDEMNITY AGAINST FINDERS.  Each party hereto shall indemnify and hold
the other parties  harmless against any claim for finders' fees based on alleged
retention of a finder by it.

     11.2 CONTROLLING  LAW. This Agreement,  and all questions  relating to its
validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of Delaware,  notwithstanding any Delaware
or other conflict-of-law provisions to the contrary.

     11.3 NOTICES.  All notices,  requests,  demands,  and other  communications
required  or  permitted  under this  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given, made and received when delivered against receipt
or when  deposited in the United  States  mails,  first class  postage  prepaid,
addressed as set forth below:

               If to Buyer:

               Styling Technology Corporation
               2390 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 435
               Phoenix, Arizona   85016
               Phone:  (602) 955-3353
               Fax:  (602) 955-3383
               Attention:  Sam L. Leopold

               with a copy given in the manner
               prescribed above, to:

               O'Connor, Cavanagh, Anderson,
                  Killingsworth & Beshears, P.A.
               One East Camelback Road, Suite 1100
               Phoenix, Arizona  85012
               Phone:  (602) 263-2606
               Fax:  (602) 263-2900
               Attention:  Robert S. Kant, Esq.

                                       35
<PAGE>

               If to Seller:

               Inverness Corporation
               17-10 Willow Street
               Fair Lawn, New Jersey  07410
               Phone:  (201) 794-3400
               Fax:  (201) 794-1179
               Attention:  Samuel J. Mann

               with a copy given in the manner
               prescribed above, to:

               Sills Cummis Zuckerman Radin
                  Tischman Epstein & Gross, P.C.
               One Riverfront Plaza
               Newark, New Jersey  07102-5400
               Phone:  (973) 643-5099
               Fax:  (973) 643-6500
               Attention:  Steven M. Goldman, Esq.

     Any party may alter the address to which communications or copies are to be
sent by giving  notice to such other  parties of change of address in conformity
with the provisions of this paragraph for the giving of notice.

     11.4 BINDING NATURE OF AGREEMENT;  NO ASSIGNMENT.  This Agreement  shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns; provided, however, that (except as expressly provided in
Section  2.4),  no party  may  assign,  delegate,  or  transfer  its  rights  or
obligations  under this  Agreement  other than as expressly  provided for herein
without the prior written consent of the other parties  hereto.  Any assignment,
delegation, or transfer made in violation of this Section 11.4 shall be null and
void.

     11.5 ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  This Agreement  contains the entire  understanding
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede
all prior and  contemporaneous  agreements  and  understandings,  inducements or
conditions, express or implied, oral or written, except as herein contained. The
express  terms hereof  control and supersede  any course of  performance  and/or
usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof. This Agreement may
not be modified or amended other than by an agreement in writing.

     11.6 PARAGRAPH  HEADINGS.  The paragraph headings in this Agreement are for
convenience  only; they form no part of this Agreement and shall not affe ct its
interpretation.

     11.7  GENDER.  Words  used  herein,  regardless  of the  number  and gender
specifically  used,  shall be deemed and  construed to include any other number,
singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine,  feminine or neuter, as the
context requires.

     11.8 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Except as may be expressly
provided in the Exhibits to this Agreement,  the  representations and warranties
made in or pursuant to this  Agreement  shall survive for one year following the
Closing.

                                       36
<PAGE>

     11.9 COUNTERPARTS.   This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  two  or  more
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

     11.10 SUBSIDIARIES.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  all references to a
subsidiary  or  subsidiaries  of Seller or Buyer shall mean any  corporation  or
partnership  in which  Seller  or  Buyer,  as the case may be,  owns a  majority
interest or otherwise controls.

     11.11 CHINA  TRANSITION;  Exception  to  Representations,  Warranties,  and
Covenants.  Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, Seller's efforts to
transition  the  manufacture  of  Phase I and  Phase  II  products  to  China in
accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement  and the  Manufacturing  Agreement
shall not be deemed a breach of any representations, warranties, or covenants in
this Agreement.

     11.12 CONSTRUCTION.  Items disclosed in any SCHEDULE  (including,  without
limitation,  any  Seller's  Disclosure  SCHEDULE)  shall  be  disclosed  for the
purposes  of all the  representations  and  warranties  made in this  Agreement;
provided,  that the mere listing (or inclusion of a copy) of a document or other
item shall not be deemed  adequate to disclose an exception to a  representation
or warranty made herein  (unless the  representation  or warranty has to do with
the existence of the document or other item itself).


                                       37
<PAGE> 

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

     STYLING TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION


     By: /s/ Sam L. Leopold
         -------------------------------------------------
         Sam L. Leopold
         Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer


     INVERNESS CORPORATION


     By: /s/ Samuel J. Mann
         -------------------------------------------------
         Samuel J. Mann
         President


     INVERNESS (UK) LIMITED


     By: /s/ Samuel J. Mann
         -------------------------------------------------
          Samuel J. Mann
          President

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.20

                                                                       EXHIBIT B
                     TRANSITION AND MANUFACTURING AGREEMENT

          THIS  AGREEMENT  (this  "AGREEMENT")  is  made as of the  10th  day of
December 1997, by and between INVERNESS  CORPORATION,  a New Jersey  corporation
("INVERNESS"),  and  STYLING  TECHNOLOGY  CORPORATION,  a  Delaware  corporation
("STYLING").
                              PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

          Inverness and Styling  entered into the Asset  Purchase  Agreement (as
such term is and other  capitalized terms used herein are defined in section 1),
pursuant to which Inverness and Styling agreed to enter into this Agreement as a
condition to the Closing.

          Subject  to the  terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  Inverness
desires to (and Styling desires to have Inverness)  manufacturer for and sell to
Styling each Product for the Relevant Period and transition the manufacturing of
the Products from the Facility to the facilities of the Off-Shore Manufacturers.

          Accordingly, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.   DEFINITIONS.

          "ADDITIONAL  INVENTORY"  means  those  raw  materials,   supplies  and
subassemblies  required for the  manufacturing  of the  Products,  but shall not
include any of the Inventory.

          "ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means the Asset Purchase Agreement dated as
of October 31, 1997 among  Styling,  Inverness  and Inverness  (UK)  Limited,  a
company limited by shares and registered in England and Wales.

          "FACILITY"  means the  manufacturing  facility of Inverness  currently
located at 17-10 Willow Street, Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

          "INVENTORY"  means those raw  materials,  supplies  and  subassemblies
required for the  manufacturing  of the Products that  constitute  Inventory (as
such term is defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement).

          "KNOWN SPA DEFECT" means the defect  discovered in certain of units of
the Spa  manufactured to date that manifests itself as a cracking of the housing
of the Spa around the hinge area.

          "LOOK-BACK  PERIOD" means, in respect of any Product,  the 90 calendar
day period immediately after the Relevant Period in respect of such Product.

          "NEW PERFORMANCE CRITERIA" means, with respect to each Phase I Product
in which a Phase I Product Material Defect exists,  the completion  (I.E.,  when
title to such Phase I Product passes at FOB port of initial  embarkation  (e.g.,
Hong Kong)) of the manufacturing by the corresponding  Off-Shore Manufacturer of
a quantity of such Phase I Product  equal to the quantity that was so defective,
<PAGE>
in conformity with quality control standards and product quality consistent with
the quality  control  standards  and product  quality of Inverness  prior to the
Closing and correcting such Phase I Product Material Defect.

          "NEW  RELEVANT  PERIOD"  means,  in  respect of any Phase I Product in
which a Phase I Product  Material  Defect exists,  the period  commencing on the
date Styling  notifies  Inverness of the same pursuant to section 2(d)(i) hereof
and ending on the first date on which the Off-Shore  Manufacturer for such Phase
I Product meets the New Performance Criteria for such Phase I Product.

          "NON-ACCEPTING  EMPLOYEE"  means those employees of Seller (as defined
in the  Asset  Purchase)  (i)  listed  in  Schedule  5.7 of the  Asset  Purchase
Agreement to whom Styling  offered  employment that rejected such offer and (ii)
who remain in the  employment  of Seller or the entity to whom Seller  sells its
"ear piercing" business.

          "OFF-SHORE  MANUFACTURER" means, in the case of each Phase I Products,
the third-party  manufacturer  identified in PART A SCHEDULE A corresponding  to
such  Product,  and in the case of the  Phase  II  Products,  those  third-party
manufactures  to be  mutually  agreed  upon by  Inverness  and  Styling for such
product; it being anticipated that each such manufacturer will be located in the
Peoples Republic of China.

          "PERFORMANCE CRITERIA" (i) with respect to each Phase I Product, means
the completion  (I.E.,  when title to such Product passes at FOB port of initial
embarkation  (e.g.,  Hong  Kong))  of the  manufacturing  by  the  corresponding
Off-Shore  Manufacturer  of 85  percent  of such  Phase  I  Product  ordered  in
accordance with the  corresponding  purchase order attached hereto as SCHEDULE B
in conformity with quality control standards and product quality consistent with
the quality  control  standards  and product  quality of Inverness  prior to the
Closing  and (ii) with  respect to each Phase II Product,  means the  completion
(I.E.,  when title to such  Product  passes at FOB port of  initial  embarkation
(e.g.,  Hong  Kong))  of  the  manufacturing  by  the  corresponding   Off-Shore
Manufacturer  of 85  percent of the first  purchase  order of each such Phase II
Product,  in  conformity  with quality  control  standards  and product  quality
consistent with the quality  control  standards and product quality of Inverness
prior to the Closing -- it being  agreed that the first  purchase  order for any
Phase II Product  shall  contain the quantity of units  identified  in PART B OF
SCHEDULE A, unless the parties  mutually  agreed upon a quantity  different from
the stated  quantity in PART B OF SCHEDULE A. For the  avoidance  of doubt,  the
parties  acknowledge  and  agree  that the Spa  shall not be deemed to have been
manufactured in conformity  with quality  control  standards and product quality
consistent with the quality  control  standards and product quality of Inverness
prior to the Closing if in good faith  Styling  delivers to the  Manufacturer  a
notice stating that the design  modifications  made to the Spa to cure the Known
Spa  Defect  are not in fact  satisfactory  to cure the Known Spa Defect and the
reasons (described in reasonable detail) for the same.

          "PHASE I PRODUCT  MATERIAL DEFECT" (a) means in respect of any Phase I
Product,  a material  manufacturing  or material  design  defect in such Phase I
Product  that met the  Performance  Criteria  (i.e.,  such  Phase I Product  was
included in the first shipment)  discovered during the  corresponding  Look-Back
Period;  provided,  that in the case of the Spa, the Known Spa Defect shall also
constitute a Phase I Product Material  Defect,  to the extent the same manifests
itself in Spas manufactured  after the design  modifications  made to the Spa to
cure the Known Spa Defect are put into effect.

          "PHASE  I  PRODUCTS"  means  those  products  identified  in PART A OF
SCHEDULE A as Phase I Products.
                                       2
<PAGE>
          "PHASE II  PRODUCTS"  means  those  products  identified  in PART B OF
SCHEDULE A as Phase II Products.

          "PRODUCTS" means Phase I Products or Phase II Products

          "RELEVANT  PERIOD"  with  respect  to any  Product  means  the  period
commencing  on the date  hereof  and  ending  on the  first  date on  which  the
Off-Shore  Manufacturer for such Product meets the Performance Criteria for such
Product.

          "SPA" means the Phase I Product  identified in PART A OF SCHEDULE A as
the "Spa."

2.   MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCTS.

          (a) MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCTS. With respect to each Product,  subject to
the other terms and conditions of this Agreement,  until the end of the Relevant
Period for such Product,  Inverness shall  manufacture and sell to Styling,  and
Styling shall purchase from Inverness,  each such Product.  For the avoidance of
doubt,  the parties  agree  that,  subject to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement,  the  manufacturing  obligations  of Inverness  under this  Agreement
pertain only to the  manufacturing  of  appliances;  and Inverness  shall not be
responsible  for any  other  action  that may be  required  to make any  Product
salable to a customer, including, without limitation, the "pack-out" or shipping
of any Product.

          (b) INVENTORY AND ADDITIONAL  INVENTORY.  The parties  confirm that at
the Closing,  Styling shall have purchased all the Inventory.  The parties agree
that  Inverness  shall use such  Inventory  for the  purposes  of  manufacturing
Product pursuant to section 2(a). In addition, for the purposes of manufacturing
Product pursuant to section 2(a), Styling hereby authorizes Inverness, on behalf
of and for the  account of  Styling,  to  purchase  and  maintain  for  Styling,
Additional  Inventory  of those items and in such  quantities  as Styling  shall
direct  Inverness in writing from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt,  the
parties  agree that  Inverness  shall not be required to use any raw  materials,
supplies and subassemblies  required for the manufacturing of the Products other
than the Inventory and the Additional Inventory; and therefore the manufacturing
obligations of Inverness  hereunder are  conditioned  upon the  satisfaction  by
Styling of the  obligations of Styling with respect to Additional  Inventory set
forth in this section 2(b).

          (c)  PURCHASE  ORDERS;  SUPPLY OF  PRODUCT.  Styling  may  order  such
quantities  of each  Product  as it may  from  time to time  desire  during  the
Relevant Period by sending to Inverness a written  purchase order specifying the
Product to be  purchased,  the quantity of such  Product and the  delivery  date
therefor;  PROVIDED,  THAT,  Inverness  shall  have the right to reject any such
purchase  order  within  three  business  days of receipt of the same if (i) the
quantities  of  Product  ordered  on  any  purchase  order  (together  with  any
previously  delivered purchase orders) exceed the quantity  limitations for such
Product set forth in SCHEDULE C for the corresponding period and (ii) the period
commencing on the date the purchase order is received by Inverness and ending on
the  delivery  date  specified  thereon is a "lead time"  inconsistent  with the
pre-Closing  historical lead time required by Inverness for the manufacturing of
such  Product  after  taking into  account the quantity of the Product and other
Products so ordered. Thereafter, Inverness shall deliver to Styling all Products
ordered by Styling in the quantity and on or before the delivery date  specified
by Styling in its written  purchase order therefor.  Inverness shall deliver all
Products to Styling at the Facility.

                                       3
<PAGE>
          (d) LOOK-BACK PERIOD.

               (i) In the event that during the  Look-Back  Period in respect of
any Phase I Product  Styling  notifies  Inverness that there exists (and in fact
there exists) a Phase I Product  Material  Defect in such Phase I Product,  then
Inverness  shall  resume the  manufacturing  of such Phase I Product for Styling
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this  Agreement  until the expiration of
the New Relevant Period.

               (ii) In the event that during the Look-Back  Period in respect of
any Phase II Product Styling requires additional manufacturing for such Phase II
Product,  then  Inverness  shall  provide  the same upon  terms  and  conditions
mutually acceptable to the parties.

3.   PRICES AND PAYMENT FOR PRODUCT.

          (a)  PURCHASE  PRICE FOR PRODUCT.  The purchase  price for each of the
Phase I Products  shall be the prices  specified in EXHIBIT 1 TO SCHEDULE A less
the cost of Inventory or Additional  Inventory  provided by Styling  included in
such Product;  it being  acknowledged and agreed that the allocation of overhead
relative  to such  Product  shall be mutually  acceptable  to the  parties.  The
purchase price for each of the Phase II Products  shall be the prices  specified
in EXHIBIT 2 TO  SCHEDULE  A less the actual  cost of  Inventory  or  Additional
Inventory  provided by Styling included in such Product;  it being  acknowledged
and agreed that the  allocation  of overhead  relative to such Product  shall be
mutually  acceptable to the parties.  Anything to the contrary in this Agreement
notwithstanding,  the parties  acknowledge and agree that the purchase price for
each Product is intended to be the same purchase  price for such Product  quoted
by the corresponding  Off-Shore Manufacturer of such Product;  therefore if such
Off-Shore  Manufacturer  increases  or  decreases  the  purchase  price for such
Product in accordance with the  manufacturing  agreement  between such Off-Shore
Manufacturer  and Styling  (as  assignee of  Inverness)  or as may be  otherwise
approved by Styling and  Inverness,  the purchase  price for such Product  under
this Agreement shall correspondingly increase or decrease. All prices are F.O.B.
the  Facility and are  exclusive  of all costs and expenses for  transportation,
shipping,  packaging,  insurance charges and all applicable  federal,  state and
local taxes (if any).

          (b) PAYMENTS FOR PRODUCT.  Manufacturer  shall invoice Styling for all
amounts payable hereunder for Products purchased by Styling upon delivery of the
same to Styling pursuant to section 2(c). Styling agrees to pay to Inverness all
amounts due hereunder  immediately upon receipt of such invoice.  In addition to
the amounts required by Styling to pay to Inverness  pursuant to the immediately
preceding  sentence,  immediately upon completion of the longest Relevant Period
in respect of the Phase II Products  (the  "TRANSITION  PERIOD  PAYMENT  DATE"),
Styling shall pay to Inverness by wire transfer in immediately  available funds,
to the account or accounts designated by Inverness an amount to be determined in
accordance with SCHEDULE D (the "TRANSITION PERIOD PAYMENT").  The parties agree
that the Transition  Period Payment shall constitute  additional  Purchase Price
(as defined in and for the  purposes of the Asset  Purchase  Agreement).  In the
event  Styling  fails to pay  Inverness  within  one  calendar  week  after  the
Transition Period Payment Date or its receipt of any invoice for Product, as the
case may be,  Styling  agrees to pay interest on the same at a rate equal to the
prime  rate (as  published  in the WALL  STREET  JOURNAL)  as at the date of the
invoice plus 3 percent for the period commencing on the date of such invoice and
ending on the date  Inverness  receives  payment in full.  All payments shall be
made in U.S. Dollars.
                                       4
<PAGE>
4.   OTHER AGREEMENTS RELATING TO TRANSITION.

          (a) INFORMATION  SYSTEMS. For the period commencing on the date hereof
and  ending  March 2,  1998 (or such  other  date  mutually  agreed  upon by the
parties),   Inverness  will  provide  to  Styling  information  system  services
substantially  the same of those  currently  in place at  Inverness  -- it being
understood  and  agreed  that  (i)  immediately   after  the  date  hereof,   as
expeditiously  as possible,  Styling shall make all reasonable  efforts to cease
using such information  system services and (ii) on mutually  acceptable  terms,
Styling shall  reimburse  Manufacturer  (or the person or entity  providing such
services) for the administrative  costs for personnel  associated with providing
such services.

          (b)  COOPERATION.  During  the Term,  Inverness  shall use  reasonable
efforts to (and cause Samuel J. Mann and, to the extent  available,  Don Lessard
and any Non-Accepting  Employee to use reasonable efforts to) (i) transition the
manufacturing  of the Products to the facilities of the Off-Shore  Manufacturers
and  (ii)  cooperate  with  Styling  in the  transitioning  of  the  back-office
operations  of the  Business  (as defined in the Asset  Purchase  Agreement)  to
Styling. For the purposes of the foregoing,  during the Term, Styling shall make
available to Inverness and its  representatives for inspection at all reasonable
times  all  the  employees,  books,  records  and  other  documents  of  Styling
responsible for or pertaining to the Off-Shore  Manufacturers,  the Products and
matters concerning the Performance  Criteria and New Performance  Criteria,  and
allow  Inverness and its  representatives  the right to make whatever  copies of
such  materials  they require.  Without the consent of Inverness,  which consent
shall not be unreasonably  withheld,  delayed or conditioned,  Styling shall not
take any  action  for the  purpose  of  causing a delay or  postponement  of any
Relevant Period for any Product.

          (c) SPECIAL PROVISIONS  REGARDING POT WAXERS.  After the completion of
the Relevant  Period in respect of Phase I Product  identified  in Schedule A as
the "Pot Waxer" (the "POT  WAXER"),  anything in this  Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, (i) Manufacturer agrees to manufacture and sell to Styling and,
Styling agrees to purchase from Manufacturer, that number of units of Pot Waxers
(but no more than 1,250 such units) that can be manufactured  from the Inventory
and the  Additional  Inventory on order as at November 26, 1997 (the  "REMAINING
FAIRLAWN POT WAXERS"),  and (ii) the parties  agree that (A) the purchase  price
for 50 percent of the Remaining  Fairlawn Pot Waxer units shall be the price for
Pot Waxers  specified in EXHIBIT 1 TO SCHEDULE A less the cost of such Inventory
or such Additional  Inventory provided by Styling in such Pot Waxers and (B) the
purchase  price for the other 50 percent  of the  Remaining  Fairlawn  Pot Waxer
units shall be the  aggregate  amount of actual costs and  expenses  incurred by
Manufacturer  to  manufacturer  such Pot Waxers for Styling under this Agreement
(as evidenced by corresponding bills of material and bills of labor).

          (d)  SPECIAL  PROVISIONS  REGARDING  PRODUCTS  OTHER THAN POT  WAXERS.
Anything in this  Agreement  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  pursuant to the
November  Letter  Agreement,  (i) after the  completion  the Relevant  Period in
respect  of any  Product  (other  than the Pot  Waxer),  Manufacturer  agrees to
manufacturer  and  sell  to  Styling,   and  Styling  agrees  to  purchase  from
Manufacturer, that number of units of such Product that can be then manufactured
by  Manufacturer  from the then existing  Inventory and Additional  Inventory on
hand and (ii) the parties  agree that the  purchase  price for each such Product
described in section  4(d)(i) shall be the aggregate  amount of actual costs and
expenses incurred by Manufacturer to manufacturer such Product for Styling under
this  Agreement  (as evidenced by  corresponding  bills of material and bills of
labor).

          (e) SPECIAL PROVISIONS REGARDING KNOWN SPA DEFECT. During the Relevant
Period in respect of the Spa and for the one calendar  year  thereafter,  if any

                                       5
<PAGE>
Spa is returned to Styling because of Known Spa Defect, (i) during such Relevant
Period in respect of the Spa, Manufacturer shall replace such Spa with the Known
Defect,  at its own  cost and  expense  and (ii)  during  such one year  period,
Manufacturer  shall pay to Styling an amount equal to the price for Spas paid by
Styling for each Spa unit from its Off-Shore Manufacturer for the same.

5.   TERM AND TERMINATION.

          (a) TERM.  The term of this  Agreement  (the "TERM") shall commence on
the date  hereof  and shall  end on the  earliest  to occur of (i) the  one-year
anniversary  of the date  hereof,  (ii) the  last  day of the  longest  Relevant
Period,  (iii) the last day of the longest New Relevant Period (if any) and (iv)
the termination of this Agreement pursuant to section 5(b).

          (b)  TERMINATION.  Either party may terminate  this Agreement upon the
occurrence  of a  material  default  by the other  party and the  failure of the
defaulting  party to cure such default within 30 calendar days after its receipt
from the  non-defaulting  of a notice stating in reasonable detail the nature of
the material  default.  In addition,  Styling  shall have the right to terminate
this  Agreement  for any  reason,  with or without  cause,  upon 30 days'  prior
written notice thereof to Inverness.

6.   WARRANTY

          (a)  WARRANTIES.  Inverness  warrants  to  Styling  that all  Products
manufactured by Inverness and sold to Styling hereunder shall (i) conform to the
specifications for each Product that exist as at the Closing and (ii) be free of
all  defects  in  materials  and  workmanship,  based upon the  quality  control
standards and product quality of Inverness  prior to the Closing.  OTHER THAN AS
SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 6(a), INVERNESS MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
OR  IMPLIED,  AND ALL IMPLIED  WARRANTIES  OF  MERCHANTABILITY  OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED BY INVERNESS AND
EXCLUDED HEREUNDER.

          (b) PRODUCT  DEFECTS.  In the event that any Product fails at any time
to conform to Inverness'  warranties  set forth in section  6(a),  Styling shall
promptly  notify  Inverness of the  non-conformity,  and Inverness  shall have a
reasonable  opportunity to investigate  and verify such  non-conformity.  If any
Product is in fact  non-conforming,  at Styling's option, upon written notice to
Inverness,  Inverness  shall  either (i) replace  such  Products  at  Inverness'
expense within 45 calendar days or (ii) credit against (A) future purchases made
by  Styling  or (B) the  Transition  Period  Payment  (as  defined  in the Asset
Purchase  Agreement)  the full amount of the purchase  price for such  defective
Products. Anything in this section 6 to the contrary notwithstanding,  Inverness
shall not be responsible for any Product  returned to Styling from a customer of
Styling for any reason other than the non-conformity of such Product at the time
Inverness delivered such Product to Styling pursuant to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement.

          (c) LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY.  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES  SHALL INVERNESS
BE LIABLE TO  STYLING  OR ANY OTHER  PERSON OR ENTITY FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR
SPECIAL,  CONSEQUENTIAL  OR  INDIRECT  DAMAGES OF ANY KIND  WHATSOEVER,  EVEN IF
STYLING HAS BEEN ADVISED AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

7.   FORCE  MAJEURE.  Neither  party  shall be liable  for  failure  or delay in
performing  any of its  obligations  hereunder  if  such  failure  or  delay  is
occasioned by compliance with any governmental regulation,  request or order, or

                                       6
<PAGE>

by  circumstances  beyond  the  reasonable  control  of the party so  failing or
delaying,  including, without limitation, Acts of God, war, insurrection,  fire,
flood, accident,  labor strikes,  organized work stoppage or organized slowdown,
or inability to obtain raw materials,  supplies, power or equipment necessary to
enable such party to perform  its  obligations  hereunder.  Each party shall (i)
promptly  notify the other party in writing of any such event of force  majeure,
the expected duration thereof and its anticipated  effect on the ability of such
party to perform its obligations hereunder,  and (ii) make reasonable efforts to
remedy any such event of force majeure.

8.   RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES. It is understood and agreed that this Agreement 
does not create any  relationship of  association,  partnership or joint venture
between the parties,  nor create any implied  licenses,  nor  constitute  either
party  as the  agent  or  legal  representative  of the  other  for any  purpose
whatsoever; and the relationship of Styling and Inverness for all purposes shall
be one of  independent  contractor.  Neither  party  shall  have  any  right  or
authority to create any  obligation or  responsibility,  express or implied,  on
behalf  or in the  name  or the  other,  or to  bind  the  other  in any  manner
whatsoever.

9.   CONFLICTING  TERMS.  In the  event of a  conflict  between  the  terms  and
conditions  of this  Agreement  and the  terms or  conditions  contained  in any
notice, shipment,  specifications,  purchase order, sales order, acknowledgement
or  other  document  that  may be  used  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall
supersede and govern, unless expressly waived in accordance with section 11.

10.  GOVERNING  LAW.  This  Agreement and the  relationship  between the parties
created hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New Jersey, without reference to choice of law doctrine.

11.  SCHEDULE C. In the event that the  Relevant  Period for any product has not
expired on March 31,  1998,  then prior to April 30,  1998,  Manufacturer  shall
delivery to Styling a revised Schedule C to extend such Schedule until September
30, 1998 in respect of all such  Product;  it being  agreed  that such  Schedule
shall  be  prepared   applying   substantially  the  same  methodology  used  by
Manufacturer in the preparation of Schedule C attached hereto. In the event that
the Relevant Period for any Product has not expired on August 30, 1998, Schedule
C shall be similarly revised.

12.  MISCELLANEOUS.  All notices, consents and other communications  required or
which may be given under this  Agreement  furnished in  accordance  with Section
11.3 of the Asset  Purchase  Agreement.  This  Agreement  may not be  amended or
modified, nor may any right or remedy of any party be waived, unless the same is
in writing and signed by such party or a duly authorized  representative of such
party.  The terms of this  Agreement  shall not be  amended or  modified  by the
pre-printed  terms of any  purchase  order  or  acknowledgment,  which  shall be
considered  solely for the  convenience of the party issuing such purchase order
or  acknowledgment,  regardless  of whether  the other  party may have signed or
accepted  the  same.  The  waiver  by any  party  of the  breach  of any term or
provision  hereof by any other  party will not be  construed  as a waiver of any
other or subsequent  breach.  No failure or delay by any party in exercising any
of its rights or remedies  hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof,  nor will
any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy preclude any other or
further  exercise  thereof or the  exercise  of any other  right or remedy.  The
rights and remedies of the parties provided in this Agreement are cumulative and

                                       7
<PAGE>

not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law, in equity or otherwise.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  each party  acknowledges that
the other may have no adequate  remedy at law if it violates any of the terms of
this Agreement. Accordingly, each party shall have the right, in addition to any
other  rights  and  remedies  it may have,  to obtain in any court of  competent
jurisdiction  injunctive  relief to  restrain  any breach or  threatened  breach
hereof or  otherwise  to  specifically  enforce  any of the  provisions  of this
Agreement.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties  hereto  and their  respective  legal  representatives,  successors  and
permitted  assigns.  Neither party may assign, or otherwise  transfer any of its
rights,  duties or obligations  under this  Agreement  without the prior written
consent of the other party; any such assignment or transfer being void and of no
force and effect.  This Agreement  (including the Schedules  hereto and together
with the Asset Purchase Agreement)  constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties and supersedes all prior proposals, communications,  representations and
agreements,  whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction  shall,  as to such  jurisdiction,  be ineffective to the extent of
such invalidity or  unenforceability  without rendering invalid or unenforceable
the remaining  terms and  provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity
or  enforceability  of  any of the  terms  or  provisions  hereof  in any  other
jurisdiction.  This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts,  each
of which shall be deemed an original,  with the same effect as if the signatures
thereto  and hereto were upon the same  instrument.  The  headings  used in this
Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning
or construction of this Agreement.


                            [Signature Page Follows]



                                       8
<PAGE>

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


                                                STYLING TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION


                                                By: /s/ Sam L. Leopold
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                Name: Sam L. Leopold
                                                Title: Chairman of the Board and
                                                       Chief Executive Officer


                                                INVERNESS CORPORATION



                                                By: /s/  Samuel J. Mann
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                Name: Samuel J. Mann
                                                Title: President and C.E.O.


                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.21


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

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


                                      AMONG

                         STYLING TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION,
                                       AND
                   CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ, NEW YORK BRANCH,
                                    AS AGENT,
                                       AND
                     THE LENDING INSTITUTIONS LISTED HEREIN

                              

                          DATED AS OF DECEMBER 10, 1997


                              

                                   $75,000,000

================================================================================
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1.  Amount and Terms of Credit...................................... 1

                  1.01.  Commitments........................................ 1
                  1.02.  Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; 
                           Maximum Number of Borrowings..................... 4
                  1.03.  Notice of Borrowings............................... 5
                  1.04.  Disbursement of Funds.............................. 6
                  1.05.  Notes.............................................. 7
                  1.06.  Pro Rata Borrowings................................ 9
                  1.07.  Interest........................................... 9
                  1.08.  Capital Requirements...............................10
                  1.09.  Total Loan Commitments; Limitations on 
                           Outstanding Loan Amounts.........................10
                  1.10.  Letters of Credit..................................11
                  1.11.  Conversions; Continuations.........................20
                  1.12.  Special Provisions Governing LIBOR Loans...........21
                  1.13.  Interest Periods...................................26

SECTION 2.  Commitments.....................................................27

                  2.01.  Voluntary Reduction of Commitments.................27
                  2.02.  Mandatory Adjustments of Commitments, etc..........27
                  2.03.  Commitment Commission..............................28

SECTION 3.  Payments........................................................29

                  3.01.  Voluntary Prepayments..............................29
                  3.02.  Mandatory Prepayments..............................30
                  3.03.  Method and Place of Payment........................33
                  3.04.  Net Payments.......................................34

SECTION 4.  Conditions Precedent............................................35

                  4.01.  Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans..............35
                  4.02.  Conditions Precedent to All Loans..................44
                  4.03.  Additional Conditions Precedent to 
                            Acquisition Term Loans..........................46
                  4.04.  Conditions Precedent to All Letters of Credit......49
<PAGE>

SECTION 5.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements......................49

                  5.01.  Status.............................................50
                  5.02.  Corporate Power and Authority; Business............50
                  5.03.  No Violation.......................................51
                  5.04.  Litigation.........................................51
                  5.05.  Use of Proceeds....................................51
                  5.06.  Governmental Approvals, etc........................52
                  5.07.  Investment Company Act.............................52
                  5.08.  Public Utility Holding Company Act.................53
                  5.09.  True and Complete Disclosure.......................53
                  5.10.  Transaction........................................53
                  5.11.  Financial Condition; Financial Statements;
                           Projections......................................54
                  5.12.  Security Interests.................................56
                  5.13.  Tax Returns and Payments...........................57
                  5.14.  ERISA..............................................57
                  5.15.  Subsidiaries.......................................58
                  5.16.  Patents, etc.......................................59
                  5.17.  Compliance with Laws, etc..........................59
                  5.18.  Properties.........................................60
                  5.19.  Securities.........................................60
                  5.20.  Collective Bargaining Agreements...................60
                  5.21.  Indebtedness Outstanding; Prior Liens..............60
                  5.22.  Environmental Protection...........................61
                  5.23.  Environmental Investigations.......................63

SECTION 6.  Affirmative Covenants...........................................63

                  6.01.  Information Covenants..............................63
                  6.02.  Books, Records and Inspections.....................68
                  6.03.  Maintenance of Property; Insurance.................69
                  6.04.  Payment of Taxes...................................69
                  6.05.  Corporate Franchises...............................70
                  6.06.  Compliance with Statutes, etc......................70
                  6.07.  ERISA..............................................70
                  6.08.  Performance of Obligations.........................71
                  6.09.  End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters...............71
                  6.10.  Use of Proceeds....................................71
                  6.11.  Interest Rate Protection...........................72
                  6.12.  Equal Security for Loans and Notes; No 
                            Further Negative Pledges........................72
                  6.13.  Lender Meeting.....................................72
                  6.14.  Pledge of Additional Collateral....................72
                  6.15.  Security Interests.................................73
                  6.16.  Subsidiary Guarantees..............................74
<PAGE>

                  6.17.  Environmental Events...............................74
                  6.18.  Landlord Lien Assurance............................75

SECTION 7.  Negative Covenants..............................................75

                  7.01.  Conduct of Business................................75
                  7.02.  Amendments or Waivers of Certain Documents.........75
                  7.03.  Liens..............................................76
                  7.04.  Indebtedness.......................................78
                  7.05.  Capital Expenditures...............................79
                  7.06.  Advances, Investments and Loans....................80
                  7.07.  Prepayments of Indebtedness, etc...................81
                  7.08.  Dividends, etc.....................................81
                  7.09.  Transaction with Affiliates........................82
                  7.10.  Total Interest Coverage Ratio......................82
                  7.11.  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio........................83
                  7.12.  Leverage Ratios....................................84
                  7.13.  Minimum Consolidated EBITDA........................86
                  7.14.  Issuance of Subsidiary Stock.......................87
                  7.15.  Disposition of Assets..............................87
                  7.16.  Contingent Obligations.............................90
                  7.17.  ERISA..............................................90
                  7.18.  Merger and Consolidations..........................91
                  7.19.  Sale and LeaseBacks...............................91
                  7.20.  Sale or Discount of Receivables....................92
                  7.21.  Gena Payments......................................92

SECTION 8.  Events of Default...............................................92

                  8.01.  Payments...........................................92
                  8.02.  Representations, etc...............................92
                  8.03.  Covenants..........................................93
                  8.04.  Default Under Other Agreements.....................93
                  8.05.  Bankruptcy, etc....................................93
                  8.06.  ERISA..............................................94
                  8.07.  Security Documents.................................95
                  8.08.  Guarantees.........................................95
                  8.09.  Judgments..........................................95
                  8.10.  Ownership..........................................96
<PAGE>

SECTION 9.  Definitions.....................................................97

SECTION 10.  The Agent......................................................128

                  10.01.  Appointment.......................................128
                  10.02.  Delegation of Duties..............................129
                  10.03.  Exculpatory Provisions............................129
                  10.04.  Reliance by the Agent.............................130
                  10.05.  Notice of Default.................................130
                  10.06.  NonReliance on Agent and Other Banks..............131
                  10.07.  Indemnification...................................131
                  10.08.  The Agent in Its Individual Capacity..............132
                  10.09.  Successor Agent...................................132
                  10.10.  Resignation by Agent..............................133

SECTION 11.  Miscellaneous..................................................133

                  11.01.  Payment of Expenses, etc..........................133
                  11.02.  Right of Setoff...................................134
                  11.03.  Notices...........................................135
                  11.04.  Benefit of Agreement..............................136
                  11.05.  No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative....................138
                  11.06.  Payments Pro Rata.................................138
                  11.07.  Calculations; Computations........................139
                  11.08.  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; 
                            Venue...........................................139
                  11.09.  Counterparts......................................140
                  11.10.  Effectiveness.....................................140
                  11.11.  Headings Descriptive..............................141
                  11.12.  Amendment or Waiver...............................141
                  11.13.  Survival..........................................141
                  11.14.  Domicile of Loans.................................141
                  11.15.  Waiver of Jury Trial..............................141
                  11.16.  Independence of Covenants.........................142
<PAGE>

Annex I   List of Banks
Annex II  Bank Addresses

Schedule 4.01(t)(i)  List of Mortgaged Real Property
Schedule 5.15        Subsidiaries
Schedule 5.19        Securities
Schedule 5.20        Schedule of Collective Bargaining Agreements
Schedule 5.21(a)     Schedule of Existing Debt
Schedule 5.21(b)     Prior Liens
Schedule 5.22        Environmental
Schedule 5.24        Certain Liens
Schedule 6.01(i)     Summary of Corporate Insurance Policies

Exhibit A1    Form of A Term Note
Exhibit A2    Form of B Term Note
Exhibit A3    Form of Acquisition Term Note
Exhibit B     Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit C1    Form of Opinion of O'Connor, Cavanagh, Anderson,
                Killingsworth & Beshears
Exhibit C2    Form of Local Counsel Opinions
Exhibit D     Form of Mortgage
Exhibit E     Form of Subsidiary Guarantee
Exhibit F1    Form of Borrower Securities Pledge Agreement
Exhibit G1    Form of Borrower Intellectual Property Security Agreement
Exhibit G2    Form of Subsidiary Intellectual Property Security Agreement
Exhibit H1    Form of Borrower General Security Agreement
Exhibit H2    Form of Subsidiary General Security Agreement
Exhibit I1    Form of Notice of Assignment
Exhibit I2    Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement
Exhibit J     Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit K     Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit L     Form of Officers' Certificate Regarding Environmental Review
Exhibit M     Form of Officers' Solvency Certificate
Exhibit N     Form of Landlord Lien Assurance
Exhibit O     Form of Officers' Certificate Regarding Conditions Precedent
<PAGE>

          CREDIT  AGREEMENT,  dated  as of  December  10,  1997,  among  STYLING
TECHNOLOGY  CORPORATION,  a Delaware  corporation (the "Borrower"),  the lending
institutions  listed in Annex I (each a "Bank" and,  collectively,  the "Banks")
and  CREDIT  AGRICOLE  INDOSUEZ  ("Indosuez"),  as agent  for the Banks (in such
capacity  "Agent") and as collateral agent for the Banks (in such capacity,  the
"Collateral Agent"). Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used
herein and defined in Section 9 are used herein as so defined.

                             W I T N E S S E T H :

          WHEREAS,  the Borrower has entered  into an Asset  Purchase  Agreement
(the "Asset Purchase  Agreement") with Inverness  Corporation and Inverness (UK)
Limited  (the  "Sellers"),  to effect the purchase by the Borrower of certain of
the assets of Inverness (the "Transaction");

          WHEREAS,  the Borrower desires (i) to incur the Initial Loans from the
Banks, the proceeds of which will be applied to repay outstanding  Indebtedness,
to finance the Transaction and to pay certain fees and expenses  related thereto
and (ii) to incur  further  Loans from the Banks,  the proceeds of which will be
used (a) to provide  working capital for the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  and
for general  corporate  purposes  and (b) with respect to the  Acquisition  Term
Loans,  to provide  financing for  acquisitions,  subject to the  conditions set
forth herein;

          WHEREAS,  the Guarantors,  in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth,  have agreed to guarantee the obligations of the Borrower
hereunder; and

          WHEREAS, the Banks are willing to make available the credit facilities
provided for herein.

          NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
<PAGE>
                                      -2-

          SECTION 1. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF CREDIT.

          1.01. COMMITMENTS. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein
set forth, each Bank severally agrees (i) in the case of any Borrowing under the
A Term Loan Facility or the B Term Loan  Facility,  in each case, on the Closing
Date, (ii) in the case of any Borrowing under the Revolving Portion, at any time
and from time to time after the  Closing  Date and prior to the  Revolving  Loan
Commitment  Termination  Date and (iii) in the case of any  Borrowing  under the
Acquisition  Portion,  at any time and from time to time after the Closing  Date
and prior to the Acquisition  Term Loan Commitment  Termination  Date, to make a
Loan or Loans to the  Borrower,  which  Loans  shall  be  drawn  under  the Loan
Facility (including the Acquisition  Portion, the Revolving Portion and the Term
Portion thereof), as set forth below.

               (a) Loans  under the Term  Portion of the Loan  Facility  (each a
          "Term Loan" and, collectively, the "Term Loans") may be made under the
          A Term Loan Facility (each an "A Term Loan" and, collectively,  the "A
          Term Loans") and the B Term Loan  Facility  (each a "B Term Loan" and,
          collectively,  the "B Term Loans"). Once repaid, Term Loans may not be
          reborrowed.

                    (i) Each A Term  Loan  under the A Term  Loan  Facility  (a)
               shall  be made as a  single  drawing  on the  Closing  Date in an
               amount not to exceed the Total A Term Loan Commitment;  PROVIDED,
               that the full amount of the Total B Term Loan Commitment has been
               used on the Closing  Date,  (b) shall  initially  be made as Base
               Rate Loans and,  30 days after the Closing  Date or such  earlier
               time  as  the  Agent  may  agree  (but  in no  event  later  than
               completion of the syndication), at the option of the Borrower and
               subject to the terms  hereof,  thereafter  may be converted  into
               LIBOR  Loans;  PROVIDED  that all Term  Loans  made by all  Banks
               pursuant  to  the  same   Borrowing   shall,   unless   otherwise
               specifically  provided  herein,  consist entirely of Loans of the
               same  Type  and (c)  shall  not  exceed  for any Bank at any time
               outstanding  that aggregate  principal  amount which equals the A
               Term Loan Commitment of such Bank.

                    (ii) Each B Term Loan  under  the B Term Loan  Facility  (a)
               shall  be made as a  single  drawing  on the  Closing  Date in an
               amount not to exceed the Total B Term Loan Commitment,  (b) shall
<PAGE>
                                      -3-

               initially  be made as Base  Rate  Loans  and,  30 days  after the
               Closing  Date or such earlier time as the Agent may agree (but in
               no event later than completion of the syndication), at the option
               of the Borrower and subject to the terms hereof,  thereafter  may
               be converted into LIBOR Loans;  PROVIDED that all Term Loans made
               by  all  Banks  pursuant  to the  same  Borrowing  shall,  unless
               otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely of Loans
               of the same  Type and (c) shall  not  exceed  for any Bank at any
               time outstanding that aggregate principal amount which equals the
               B Term Loan Commitment of such Bank.

               (b) Loans under the Revolving  Portion of the Loan Facility (each
          a "Revolving Loan" and, collectively, the "Revolving Loans") (i) shall
          be made at any time and from time to time after the  Closing  Date and
          prior to the Revolving Loan  Commitment  Termination  Date, (ii) shall
          initially  be made as Base Rate Loans and,  30 days after the  Closing
          Date or such  earlier  time as the Agent  may  agree  (but in no event
          later than completion of the syndication), shall be made at the option
          of the Borrower either as Base Rate Loans or as LIBOR Loans;  PROVIDED
          that  all  Revolving  Loans  made by all  Banks  pursuant  to the same
          Borrowing  shall,  unless  otherwise   specifically  provided  herein,
          consist  entirely  of Loans of the same Type,  (iii) may be repaid and
          reborrowed in accordance  with the provisions  hereof,  (iv) shall not
          exceed  for any  Bank  at any  time  outstanding  the  Revolving  Loan
          Commitment  of such Bank at such time and (v) shall not in any case be
          made  if the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  Revolving  Loans  then
          outstanding,  after giving effect to the Revolving  Loan  requested by
          the relevant Notice of Borrowing, plus the then outstanding Letters of
          Credit  Usage,  after giving  effect to the issuance of all Letters of
          Credit subject to outstanding requests for issuance,  would exceed the
          lesser  of  the  Borrowing   Base  as  shown  in  the  Borrowing  Base
          Certificate that was last required to be delivered pursuant to Section
          6.01 or the Total Revolving Loan Commitment then in effect.

               (c) Loans  under the  Acquisition  Portion  of the Loan  Facility
          (each an  "Acquisition  Term Loan") (i) shall be made to the  Borrower
          after  the  Closing  Date  and  prior  to the  Acquisition  Term  Loan
          Commitment  Termination  Date (the date of each such  Borrowing  of an
          Acquisition  Term Loan, an  "Acquisition  Term Loan Closing  Date") to
<PAGE>
                                      -4-

          effect  acquisitions,  (ii) shall initially be made as Base Rate Loans
          and, 30 days after the Closing  Date or such earlier time as the Agent
          may agree (but in no event later than completion of the  syndication),
          shall be made at the option of the Borrower  either as Base Rate Loans
          or as LIBOR  Loans,  (iii)  shall not  exceed for any Bank at any time
          outstanding the Acquisition  Term Loan Commitment of such Bank at such
          time,  and (iv) shall not be made  pursuant to a particular  Notice of
          Borrowing if the aggregate  principal amount of Acquisition Term Loans
          made since the Closing Date,  after giving  effect to the  Acquisition
          Term Loan  requested  by such Notice of  Borrowing,  would  exceed the
          Total Acquisition Term Loan Commitment.

               (d) At any Acquisition  Term Loan Closing Date,  Acquisition Term
          Loans made by the  Borrower on such date shall  automatically  convert
          into Term Loans (each such  conversion,  a "Conversion  Event").  Such
          Acquisition  Term  Loans  shall  be  added  to the  Total A Term  Loan
          Commitment and A Term Loans and the Total B Term Loan Commitment and B
          Term Loans, respectively, in an amount equal to the product of (a) the
          Acquisition  Term  Loans  made on such  date and (b) a  fraction,  the
          numerator of which is the outstanding  principal amount of such A Term
          Loans or B Term  Loans,  as the case may be,  immediately  before such
          Conversion  Event  and the  denominator  of which  is the  outstanding
          principal  amount of Term Loans  immediately  before  such  Conversion
          Event.   Upon  conversion,   such  Acquisition  Term  Loans  shall  be
          henceforth  considered A Term Loans and B Term Loans,  as the case may
          be.

               (e)  Upon  any  Conversion  Event,  the  Scheduled  A Term  Loans
          Principal  Payments and the Scheduled B Term Loans Principal  Payments
          shall be  increased  by  adding  to each  Principal  Payment  Date the
          product of (a) the amount of such  Acquisition Term Loans converted to
          A Term Loans or B Term  Loans,  as the case may be,  pursuant  to such
          Conversion  Event and (b) a fraction,  the numerator of which is equal
          to the  amount of such  Scheduled  A Term Loans  Principal  Payment or
          Scheduled  B Term Loans  Principal  Payment,  as the case may be, then
          remaining on each Principal Payment Date, and the denominator of which
          is the amount of all  Scheduled A Term Loans  Principal  Payments  and
          Scheduled  B Term  Loans  Principal  Payments,  as the  case  may  be,
          remaining before such Conversion Event.
<PAGE>
                                      -5-

          1.02. MINIMUM AMOUNT OF EACH BORROWING;  MAXIMUM NUMBER OF BORROWINGS.
The minimum  aggregate  principal  amount of a  Borrowing  of Loans shall be the
Minimum  Borrowing  Amount and, if greater,  shall be in integral  multiples  of
$100,000;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that the Borrowing of the A Term Loan portion and
the B Term Loan portion of the Initial Loans shall be in an aggregate  principal
amount of $25,000,000 and $25,000,000, respectively; PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER,
that the Banks' Acquisition Term Loan Commitment shall terminate,  on a PRO RATA
basis for each Bank, with respect to any portion of the Total  Acquisition  Term
Loan Commitments not utilized by the Borrower prior to the Acquisition Term Loan
Commitment  Termination  Date.  The  minimum  aggregate  principal  amount  of a
Borrowing of Revolving Loans shall be the Minimum Borrowing Amount (other than a
Borrowing of Base Rate Loans such that the total amount of Revolving Loans to be
outstanding  after giving effect to such  Borrowing  shall be equal to the Total
Revolving  Commitment)  and,  if  greater,  shall be in  integral  multiples  of
$100,000.  More than one Borrowing may be incurred on any date; provided that at
no time shall there be outstanding more than eight Borrowings of LIBOR Loans.

          1.03.  NOTICE OF  BORROWINGS.  Whenever the Borrower  desires that the
Banks make the Initial Loans,  an Authorized  Officer of the Borrower shall give
the Agent at the  Agent's  Office  prior to Noon  (New  York  time) at least two
Business Days' prior written notice (or telephone  notice promptly  confirmed in
writing) of such  Borrowing.  Whenever the Borrower  desires that the Banks make
Base Rate Loans under the Revolving  Portion or the  Acquisition  Portion of the
Loan Facility after the Closing Date an Authorized Officer of the Borrower shall
give the  Agent at the  Agent's  Office  prior to Noon  (New  York  time) on the
proposed date of such  Borrowing  prior  written  notice (or  telephonic  notice
promptly  confirmed  in  writing)  of each such  Borrowing  of Base Rate  Loans.
Whenever  the  Borrower  desires  that the  Banks  make  LIBOR  Loans  under the
Revolving Portion or the Acquisition  Portion of the Loan Facility it shall give
the Agent at the  Agent's  Office  prior to 10:00 A.M.  (New York time) at least
three  Business  Days'  prior  written  notice (or  telephonic  notice  promptly
confirmed in writing) of each such  Borrowing of LIBOR Loans.  Each such notice,
which shall be  substantially in the form of EXHIBIT J hereto (each a "Notice of
Borrowing"),  shall be  irrevocable,  shall be  deemed a  representation  by the
Borrower that all conditions precedent to such Borrowing have been satisfied and
shall  specify (i)  whether  such  Borrowing  is to be made from the A Term Loan
Facility,  the B Term Loan Facility,  the Acquisition  Term Loan Facility or the
<PAGE>
                                      -6-

Revolving Loan Facility,  (ii) the aggregate  principal amount in Dollars of the
Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing,  all of which shall be specified in
such  manner as is  necessary  to comply  with all  limitations  on Term  Loans,
Acquisition  Term Loans and Revolving  Loans  outstanding  hereunder,  including
without  limitation,  in the case of the Revolving Loans  availability under the
Borrowing Base, and (iii) the date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day).
The Agent shall as promptly as  practicable  give each Bank  written  notice (or
telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each proposed Borrowing,  of
such Bank's  proportionate share thereof and of the other matters covered by the
Notice of Borrowing.

          1.04.  DISBURSEMENT  OF FUNDS.  (a) No later than 3:00 P.M.  (New York
time) on the date  specified  in each Notice of  Borrowing,  each Bank will make
available  to the  Agent  in New York its PRO  RATA  portion  of each  Borrowing
requested to be made on such date in the manner provided below.

          (b) Each Bank shall make available all amounts it is to fund under any
Borrowing on or after the Closing  Date in  immediately  available  funds to the
Agent to the  account  specified  therefor  by the Agent or if no  account is so
specified at the Agent's Office and the Agent will make such funds  available to
the Borrower by depositing to the account specified  therefor by the Borrower or
if no account is so specified to its account at the Agent's Office the aggregate
of the amounts so made available in the type of funds received. Unless the Agent
shall have been  notified  by any Bank  prior to the date of any such  Borrowing
that such Bank does not intend to make available to the Agent its portion of the
Borrowing or Borrowings to be made on such date,  the Agent may assume that such
Bank has made such amount available to the Agent on such date of Borrowing,  and
the Agent,  in reliance upon such  assumption,  may (in its sole  discretion and
without any obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a  corresponding
amount. If such corresponding  amount is not in fact made available to the Agent
by such Bank and the Agent has made such  corresponding  amount available to the
Borrower,  the Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount from such Bank. If
such Bank does not pay such  corresponding  amount  forthwith  upon the  Agent's
demand therefor,  the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower
shall  immediately pay such  corresponding  amount to the Agent. The Agent shall
also be entitled to recover from such Bank or the Borrower,  as the case may be,
<PAGE>
                                      -7-


interest on such corresponding  amount in respect of each day from the date such
corresponding amount was made available by the Agent to the Borrower to the date
such amount is recovered by the Agent,  at a rate PER ANNUM equal to (x) if paid
by such Bank, the Federal Funds Rate or (y) if paid by the Borrower  (and/or one
or more other Credit Parties), the then applicable rate of interest,  calculated
in accordance with Section 1.07, for the respective  Loans. The Agent shall also
be  entitled  to  recover  from any Bank an  amount  equal to any  other  losses
incurred  by the Agent as a result of the  failure of such Bank to provide  such
amount as provided in this Agreement.

          (c)  Nothing  herein  shall be  deemed  to  relieve  any Bank from its
obligation to fulfill its Commitment  hereunder or to prejudice any rights which
the  Borrower or any other Credit Party may have against any Bank as a result of
any default by such Bank hereunder.

          1.05. NOTES. (a) The Borrower's obligation to pay the principal of and
interest on all the Loans made to it by each Bank shall be  evidenced:  (i) if A
Term Loans, by a promissory note (each, an "A Term Note" and, collectively,  the
"A Term Notes") duly executed and delivered by the  Borrower,  substantially  in
the form of EXHIBIT A1  hereto,  each with  blanks  appropriately  completed  in
conformity herewith; (ii) if B Term Loans, by a promissory note (each, a "B Term
Note" and, collectively,  the "B Term Notes") duly executed and delivered by the
Borrower,  substantially  in the form of  EXHIBIT A2  hereto,  each with  blanks
appropriately completed in conformity herewith; (iii) if Acquisition Term Loans,
by a promissory note (each, an "Acquisition  Term Note" and,  collectively,  the
"Acquisition   Term  Notes")  duly  executed  and  delivered  by  the  Borrower,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A3 hereto;  and (iv) if Revolving Loans, by
a promissory note (each, a "Revolving  Note" and,  collectively,  the "Revolving
Notes") duly executed and delivered by the Borrower substantially in the form of
EXHIBIT B hereto, with blanks appropriately completed in conformity herewith.

          (b) The A Term Note of the  Borrower  issued to each Bank shall (i) be
executed by the Borrower, (ii) be payable to the order of such Bank and be dated
the Effective Date,  (iii) be in a stated  principal  amount equal to the A Term
Loan Commitment of such Bank and be payable in the aggregate principal amount of
the A Term Loans  evidenced  thereby,  (iv)  mature,  with  respect to each Loan
evidenced  thereby,  on the Final A Term Loan Maturity  Date,  (v) be subject to
<PAGE>
                                      -8-

mandatory prepayment as provided in Section 3.02, (vi) bear interest as provided
in the appropriate  clause of Section 1.07 in respect of the Base Rate Loans and
the LIBOR Loans, as the case may be, evidenced  thereby and (vii) be entitled to
the benefits of this Agreement and the other applicable Credit Documents.

          (c) The B Term Note of the  Borrower  issued to each Bank shall (i) be
executed by the Borrower, (ii) be payable to the order of such Bank and be dated
the Effective Date,  (iii) be in a stated  principal  amount equal to the B Term
Loan Commitment of such Bank and be payable in the aggregate principal amount of
the B Term Loans  evidenced  thereby,  (iv)  mature,  with  respect to each Loan
evidenced  thereby,  on the Final B Term Loan Maturity  Date,  (v) be subject to
mandatory prepayment as provided in Section 3.02, (vi) bear interest as provided
in the appropriate  clause of Section 1.07 in respect of the Base Rate Loans and
the LIBOR Loans, as the case may be, evidenced  thereby and (vii) be entitled to
the benefits of this Agreement and the other applicable Credit Documents.

          (d) The  Acquisition  Term  Note of the  Borrower  issued to each Bank
shall (i) be executed by the Borrower, (ii) be payable to the order of such Bank
and be dated the Effective Date,  (iii) be in a stated principal amount equal to
the  Acquisition  Term  Loan  Commitment  of such  Bank  and be  payable  in the
aggregate principal amount of the Acquisition Term Loan evidenced thereby,  (iv)
be subject to conversion into an A Term Note and a B Term Note upon a Conversion
Event  pursuant to Section  1.01(d),  at which time, at the option of such Bank,
the Borrower shall issue new A Term Notes and new B Term Notes to each such Bank
holding  Acquisition  Term  Loan  Commitments,   in  an  amount  equal  to  such
Acquisition Term Loans so converted, and shall issue a new Acquisition Term Note
to such Bank  reflecting  the  decrease  in such  Bank's  Acquisition  Term Loan
Commitment  and such Bank shall return the replaced A Term Note, B Term Note and
Acquisition  Term Note to the  Borrower,  and (v) be entitled to the benefits of
this Agreement and the other applicable Credit Documents.

          (e) The Revolving  Note of the Borrower  issued to each Bank shall (i)
be  executed by the  Borrower,  (ii) be payable to the order of such Bank and be
dated the Effective  Date,  (iii) be in a stated  principal  amount equal to the
Revolving Loan Commitment of such Bank and be payable in the aggregate principal
amount of the Revolving Loans evidenced  thereby,  (iv) mature,  with respect to
each Loan evidenced thereby, on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, (v) be subject
<PAGE>
                                      -9-

to  mandatory  prepayment  as provided in Section  3.02,  (vi) bear  interest as
provided in the  appropriate  clause of Section 1.07 in respect of the Base Rate
Loans  and  LIBOR  Loans,  as the case may be,  evidenced  thereby  and (vii) be
entitled  to the  benefits of this  Agreement  and the other  applicable  Credit
Documents.

          (f) Each Bank will note on its  internal  records  the  amount of each
Loan made by it and each  payment  in  respect  thereof  and will,  prior to any
transfer  of  any  of  its  Notes,  endorse  on the  reverse  side  thereof  the
outstanding  principal  amount of Loans evidenced  thereby.  Failure to make any
such notation shall not affect the Borrower's or any Credit Party's  obligations
hereunder  or under the other  applicable  Credit  Documents  in respect of such
Loans.

          1.06. PRO RATA  BORROWINGS.  All Borrowings under this Agreement shall
be loaned by the Banks PRO RATA on the basis of their A Term Loan Commitments, B
Term Loan  Commitments,  Acquisition  Term Loan  Commitments  or Revolving  Loan
Commitments, as the case may be. No Bank shall be responsible for any default by
any other Bank in its obligation to make Loans  hereunder and each Bank shall be
obligated to make the Loans  provided to be made by it hereunder,  regardless of
the failure of any other Bank to fulfill its commitments hereunder.

          1.07. INTEREST. (a) The unpaid principal amount of each Base Rate Loan
shall  bear  interest  from the date of the  Borrowing  thereof  until  maturity
(whether by acceleration or otherwise) (or unless sooner  converted into a LIBOR
Loan) at a rate PER  ANNUM  which  shall at all times be equal to the sum of (i)
the Base  Rate in  effect  from  time to time and (ii) the  applicable  Interest
Margin.

          (b) The unpaid principal amount of each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest
from the date of the Borrowing  thereof until maturity  (whether by acceleration
or  otherwise)  (or unless  sooner  converted to a Base Rate Loan) at a rate PER
ANNUM equal to the sum of (i) the  relevant  LIBOR Rate and (ii) the  applicable
Interest Margin.

          (c) The unpaid  principal amount of each Loan, upon the occurrence and
during the  continuance  of an Event of Default,  overdue  principal and, to the
extent  permitted  by law,  overdue  interest in respect of each Loan shall bear
interest at a rate PER ANNUM equal to 2% plus the rate (including any applicable
margin) in effect from time to time.
<PAGE>
                                      -10-

          (d) Interest shall accrue from and including the date of any Borrowing
to but excluding  the date of any repayment  thereof and shall be payable (i) in
respect of each Base Rate Loan, quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of
each March,  June,  September and December  beginning December 31, 1997; (ii) in
respect of each LIBOR Loan, in arrears on the last day of each  Interest  Period
applicable  thereto  and, in the case of an  Interest  Period in excess of three
months,  on each date occurring at threemonth  intervals after the first date of
such Interest  Period;  and (iii) in respect of each Loan, on any prepayment (on
the amount  prepaid),  at maturity  (whether by  acceleration or otherwise) and,
after such maturity, on demand.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest payable
at the rate provided in Section 1.07(c) shall be payable on demand.

          (e) All computations of interest hereunder shall be made in accordance
with Section 11.07(b).

          (f) The Agent, upon determining the interest rate for any Borrowing of
LIBOR Loans for any Interest Period,  shall promptly notify the Borrower and the
Banks thereof.  Such  determination  shall,  absent  manifest  error,  be final,
conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto.

          1.08. CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS. If any Bank shall have determined that the
adoption or  effectiveness  after the Effective Date of any applicable law, rule
or regulation  regarding capital adequacy,  or any change therein, or any change
in the interpretation or administration  thereof by any governmental  authority,
central  bank  or  comparable   agency  charged  with  the   interpretation   or
administration  thereof,  or  compliance by such Bank or such Bank's parent with
any request or directive  regarding  capital adequacy (whether or not having the
force  of  law)  of any  such  authority,  central  bank  or  comparable  agency
(including in each case any such change  proposed or published prior to the date
hereof but taking effect  thereafter),  has or would have the effect of reducing
the rate of return on such Bank's or such Bank's parent's capital or assets as a
consequence  of such Bank's  obligations  hereunder  to a level below that which
such Bank or such  Bank's  parent  could have  achieved  but for such  adoption,
effectiveness  or change or as a  consequence  of an  increase  in the amount of
capital required to be maintained by such Bank (including in each case,  without
limitation,  with respect to any Bank's  Commitment or any Loan), then from time
to time,  within 15 days after  demand by such Bank (with a copy to the  Agent),
the Borrower  shall pay to such Bank such  additional  amount or amounts as will
compensate  such  Bank or such  Bank's  parent,  as the  case  may be,  for such
<PAGE>
                                      -11-


reduction. Each Bank, upon determining in good faith that any additional amounts
will be payable  pursuant to this Section 1.08, will give written notice thereof
to the Borrower,  which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis of
the calculation of such additional amounts.

          1.09. TOTAL LOAN COMMITMENTS; LIMITATIONS ON OUTSTANDING LOAN AMOUNTS.
The original amount of the (i) Total  Commitments is  $75,000,000,  (ii) Total A
Term Loan  Commitment  is  $25,000,000,  (iii) Total B Term Loan  Commitment  is
$25,000,000,  (iv) Total Acquisition Term Loan Commitment is $12,500,000 and (v)
Total Revolving Loan  Commitment is  $12,500,000,  including up to $5,000,000 of
Letters  of  Credit.  Anything  contained  in  this  Agreement  to the  contrary
notwithstanding, (a) in no event shall the sum of the aggregate principal amount
of all Term Loans, Acquisition Term Loans and Revolving Loans of any Bank at any
time exceed such Bank's portion of the Total Commitments,  (b) in no event shall
the sum of the aggregate  principal  amount of all Term Loans,  Acquisition Term
Loans  and  Revolving  Loans  from  all  Banks  at any  time  exceed  the  Total
Commitments  and (c) in no event shall the Total  Utilization  of Revolving Loan
Commitments and Letters of Credit Usage exceed the lesser of the Total Revolving
Loan Commitments or the Borrowing Base.
<PAGE>
                                      -12-

          1.10. LETTERS OF CREDIT.

          (a)  LETTERS OF CREDIT.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement  and in  reliance  upon  the  representations  and  warranties  of the
Borrower  set forth  herein and in the other  Credit  Documents,  in addition to
requesting  that the Banks make  Revolving  Loans  pursuant to Section 1.03, the
Borrower may request,  in accordance  with the  provisions of this Section 1.10,
that one or more  Issuing  Banks issue  Letters of Credit for the account of the
Borrower;  PROVIDED that (i) the Borrower  shall not request that any Bank issue
any Letter of Credit  and a Bank shall not issue any Letter of Credit,  if after
giving effect to such issuance the sum of (A) the Letters of Credit Usage on the
date of such  issuance,  after  giving  effect to the issuance of all Letters of
Credit subject to outstanding  requests for issuance of a Letter of Credit, plus
(B) the aggregate  principal amount of Revolving Loans then  outstanding,  after
giving  effect to the  making  of all  Revolving  Loans  then  requested  by all
outstanding  but unfunded  Notices of Borrowing,  would exceed the lesser of the
Borrowing Base as would be shown in the Borrowing Base Certificate that was last
required to be delivered  pursuant to Section 6.01 or the Total  Revolving  Loan
Commitment then in effect, (ii) in no event shall any Issuing Bank issue (A) any
Letter of Credit having an expiration  date later than thirty (30) Business Days
prior to the Revolving Loan Maturity  Date,  after giving effect to any possible
renewal of such Letter of Credit pursuant to the proviso to the following clause
(ii)(B),  (B)  subject to the  foregoing  clause  (ii)(A),  any Letter of Credit
having  an  expiration  date  more  than one year  after  its date of  issuance;
PROVIDED that,  subject to the foregoing  clause (ii)(A),  this clause (B) shall
not  prevent  any  Issuing  Bank from  issuing a Letter of Credit  containing  a
provision to the effect that such Letter of Credit will automatically be renewed
annually for a period not to exceed one year, so long as such  renewable  Letter
of Credit  provides  that it shall not at any time be renewed for an  additional
year if (I) the  Borrower  notifies the Issuing Bank in writing one Business Day
prior to the  applicable  renewal  date  that the  Borrower  elects to allow the
Letter of Credit to expire  without being  renewed,  or (II) the Issuing Bank or
the Required  Banks notify the Borrower in writing,  PRIOR to the date set forth
in such Letter of Credit as the date by which the  beneficiary  thereof is to be
notified  whether  such Letter of Credit is to be  renewed,  that such Letter of
Credit shall not be so renewed, in which case such Letter of Credit shall not be
so renewed,  (C) any Letter of Credit the initial stated amount of which is less
than  $5,000,  or (D) any Letter of Credit (I) which is  governed  by laws other
than the laws of the State of New York,  without  regard  to the  principles  of
<PAGE>
                                      -13-

conflicts  of laws,  or (II) as to which the  beneficiary  is not  required,  by
acceptance of the Letter of Credit, to be subject to the exclusive  jurisdiction
of any competent  state or federal court in the State of New York with regard to
such Letter of Credit and (iii) the Borrower  shall not request that any Issuing
Bank issue and no Issuing Bank shall issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving
effect to such  issuance  and the  issuance  of all other  requested  Letters of
Credit,  the then outstanding  Letters of Credit Usage in respect of all Letters
of Credit  would  exceed  $5,000,000.  The  issuance  of any Letter of Credit in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.10 shall be given effect in the
calculation of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding and
the Letters of Credit Usage and shall require the satisfaction of each condition
set forth in Sections 4.01, 4.02 and 4.04.

          Immediately  upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit in  compliance
with this  Agreement,  each Bank other than the  Issuing  Bank or Banks shall be
deemed to, and hereby  agrees to, have  irrevocably  purchased  from the Issuing
Bank a participation  (such  participation of each Bank in each Letter of Credit
being hereinafter  referred to as its "Letter of Credit  Participation") in such
Letter of Credit and each drawing  thereunder  in an amount equal to such Bank's
PRO  RATA  share  (determined  on  the  basis  of  such  Bank's  Revolving  Loan
Commitment) of the maximum  amount which is or at any time may become  available
to be drawn thereunder.

          Each Letter of Credit may provide that the Issuing Bank may (but shall
not be required to) pay the beneficiary  thereof upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default and the  acceleration  of the maturity of the Revolving  Loans or, if
payment is not then due to the beneficiary,  provide for the deposit of funds in
an account to secure payment to the  beneficiary and that any funds so deposited
shall be paid to the  beneficiary  of the Letter of Credit if conditions to such
payment are  satisfied or returned to the Issuing Bank for  distribution  to the
Banks (or, if all Obligations  shall have been paid in full, to the Borrower) if
no payment to the  beneficiary  has been made and the final date  available  for
drawings under the Letter of Credit has passed. Each payment or deposit of funds
by an Issuing  Bank as  provided  in this  paragraph  shall be  treated  for all
purposes of this  Agreement as a drawing duly honored by such Issuing Bank under
the related Letter of Credit.
<PAGE>
                                      -14-

          (b) REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE.  Whenever the Borrower  desires the issuance
of a Letter of Credit, it shall deliver to the Agent a request for issuance of a
Letter of Credit no later  than  Noon (New York  time) at least  three  Business
Days,  or such  shorter  period as may be agreed to by any  Issuing  Bank in any
particular  instance,  in advance of the proposed date of issuance.  The request
for issuance with respect to any Letter of Credit shall specify (i) the proposed
date  of  issuance  (which  shall  be a  business  day  under  the  laws  of the
jurisdiction of the Issuing Bank) of such Letter of Credit, (ii) the face amount
of such Letter of Credit, (iii) the expiration date of such Letter of Credit and
(iv) the name and address of the  beneficiary of such Letter of Credit.  As soon
as  practicable  after  delivery  of such  request  for  issuance of a Letter of
Credit,  the  Issuing  Bank for such  Letter of Credit  shall be  determined  as
provided in Section 1.10(c).  Prior to the date of issuance,  the Borrower shall
specify a precise  description  of the  documents  and the verbatim  text of any
certificate  to be presented by the  beneficiary of such Letter of Credit which,
if presented by such  beneficiary  prior to the expiration date of the Letter of
Credit,  would  require the  Issuing  Bank to make  payment  under the Letter of
Credit;  PROVIDED  that the  Issuing  Bank,  in its sole  judgment,  may require
changes in any such documents and certificates;  and PROVIDED,  FURTHER, that no
Letter of Credit shall  require  payment  against a conforming  draft to be made
thereunder  earlier  than  Noon  in the  time  zone of the  Issuing  Bank on the
Business Day (which  shall be a business day under the laws of the  jurisdiction
of the Issuing Bank) next succeeding the Business Day (which shall be a Business
Day under the laws of the  jurisdiction  of the Issuing Bank) that such draft is
presented. In determining whether to pay under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing
Bank shall be responsible  only to determine that the documents and certificates
required to be  delivered  under that Letter of Credit have been  delivered  and
that they comply on their face with the  requirements  of that Letter of Credit.
Promptly  after  receipt of a request for issuance of a Letter of Credit and the
determination  of the Issuing Bank thereof,  the Agent shall notify each Bank of
the proposed  issuance,  the identity of the Issuing Bank and the amount of each
other Bank's  respective  participation  therein,  determined in accordance with
Section 1.10(a).
<PAGE>
                                      -15-

          (c) DETERMINATION OF ISSUING BANK.

          (1) Upon  receipt by the Agent of a request for  issuance  pursuant to
Section  1.10(b)  with  respect  to a Letter of  Credit,  in the event the Agent
elects to issue such Letter of Credit,  the Agent shall so notify the  Borrower,
and the Agent shall be the Issuing Bank with respect thereto.  In the event that
the Agent,  in its sole  discretion,  elects not to issue such Letter of Credit,
the Agent shall  promptly so notify the  Borrower,  and the Borrower may request
any other Bank to issue such Letter of Credit.  Each such Bank so  requested  to
issue such Letter of Credit  shall  promptly  notify the  Borrower and the Agent
whether or not, in its sole  discretion,  it has elected to issue such Letter of
Credit, and any such Bank that so elects to issue such Letter of Credit shall be
the Issuing Bank with respect thereto.  In the event that each other Bank elects
not to issue such  Letter of Credit,  the Agent  agrees to issue such  Letter of
Credit and to be the Issuing  Bank with respect  thereto.  No Issuing Bank shall
issue any Letter of Credit denominated in a currency other than Dollars.

          (2) Each  Issuing  Bank that elects to issue a Letter of Credit  shall
promptly give written notice to the Agent and each other Bank of the information
required under Section 1.10(b)(i)(iv) relating to the Letter of Credit.

          (d) PAYMENT OF AMOUNTS DRAWN UNDER LETTERS OF CREDIT.  In the event of
any request for drawing under any Letter of Credit by the  beneficiary  thereof,
the Issuing  Bank shall  notify the Borrower and the Agent on or before the date
on which such Issuing Bank intends to honor such drawing, and the Borrower shall
reimburse  such  Issuing  Bank on the day on which such drawing is honored in an
amount in same day funds  equal to the amount of such  drawing;  PROVIDED  that,
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) unless
the Borrower  shall have  notified the Agent and such Issuing Bank prior to Noon
(New  York  time)  on the  Business  Day of the  date of such  drawing  that the
Borrower  intends to reimburse  such Issuing Bank for the amount of such drawing
with funds other than the proceeds of  Revolving  Loans,  the Borrower  shall be
deemed to have timely given a Notice of Borrowing  to the Agent  requesting  the
Banks to make Revolving Loans on the date on which such drawing is honored in an
amount equal to the amount of such drawing,  and (ii) subject to satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions specified in Section 4.02, the Banks shall, on the date
of such drawing,  make Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans in the amount of
such  drawing,  the proceeds of which shall be applied  directly by the Agent to
<PAGE>
                                      -16-

reimburse such Issuing Bank for the amount of such drawing; and FURTHER PROVIDED
that if, for any reason,  proceeds of  Revolving  Loans are not received by such
Issuing Bank on such date in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing,  the
Borrower shall  reimburse such Issuing Bank, on the Business Day (which shall be
a  business  day  under  the  laws of the  jurisdiction  of such  Issuing  Bank)
immediately  following the date of such drawing,  in an amount in same day funds
equal to the  excess  of the  amount  of such  drawing  over the  amount of such
Revolving  Loans,  if any, that are so received,  plus accrued  interest on such
amount at the rate set forth in Section 1.10(f)(1)(i).

          (e)  PAYMENT BY BANKS.  In the event that the  Borrower  shall fail to
reimburse an Issuing  Bank as provided in Section  1.10(d) in an amount equal to
the amount of any drawing  honored by such Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit
issued  by it,  such  Issuing  Bank  shall  promptly  notify  each  Bank  of the
unreimbursed amount of such drawing and of such Bank's respective  participation
therein.  Each Bank shall make available to such Issuing Bank an amount equal to
its respective  participation  in same day funds,  at the office of such Issuing
Bank  specified in such notice,  not later than 1:00 P.M. (New York time) on the
Business Day (which  shall be a business day under the laws of the  jurisdiction
of such Issuing Bank) after the date notified by such Issuing Bank. In the event
that any Bank fails to make  available  to such  Issuing Bank the amount of such
Bank's  participation  in such  Letter  of Credit as  provided  in this  Section
1.10(e),  such  Issuing  Bank shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand
from such Bank together with interest at the customary rate set by the Agent for
the  correction of errors among banks for three  Business Days and thereafter at
the Federal  Funds Rate.  Each Issuing Bank shall  distribute to each other Bank
which has paid all amounts payable by it under this Section 1.10(e) with respect
to any Letter of Credit  issued by such  Issuing Bank such other Bank's PRO RATA
share of all  payments  received  by such  Issuing  Bank  from the  Borrower  in
reimbursement  of  drawings  honored by such  Issuing  Bank under such Letter of
Credit when such payments are received. Nothing in this Section 1.10(e) shall be
deemed to relieve any Bank from its obligation to pay all amounts  payable by it
under this Section  1.10(e)  with  respect to any Letter of Credit  issued by an
Issuing Bank or to prejudice  any rights that the Borrower or any other Bank may
have against a Bank as a result of any default by such Bank hereunder.
<PAGE>
                                      -17-

          (f) COMPENSATION.

          (1) The Borrower  agrees to pay the following  amounts with respect to
all Letters of Credit:

          (i) with  respect  to  drawings  made  under  any  Letter  of  Credit,
     interest,  payable on demand,  on the amount paid by such  Issuing  Bank in
     respect of each such  drawing  from and  including  the date of the drawing
     through the date such amount is reimbursed by the Borrower  (including  any
     such  reimbursement  out of the  proceeds of  Revolving  Loans  pursuant to
     Section  1.10(d))  at a rate  which  is  equal to the  interest  rate  then
     applicable  to Base Rate Loans for the period from the date of such drawing
     to and including the first  Business Day after the date of such drawing and
     thereafter  at a rate  equal  to 2% PER  ANNUM  in  excess  of the  rate of
     interest  otherwise payable under this Agreement for Base Rate Loans during
     such period;  PROVIDED  that amounts  reimbursed  after 1:00 p.m. (New York
     time) on any date shall be deemed to be reimbursed  on the next  succeeding
     Business Day; and

          (ii) with  respect to the  issuance,  amendment  or  transfer  of each
     Letter  of  Credit  and  each  drawing  made  thereunder,  documentary  and
     processing charges in accordance with such Issuing Bank's standard schedule
     for such  charges  in effect  at the time of such  amendment,  transfer  or
     drawing, as the case may be.

          (2) The Borrower  agrees to pay to the Agent for  distribution to each
Bank in respect of each Letter of Credit  outstanding such Bank's PRO RATA share
of a commission  equal to 2.00% PER ANNUM of the maximum  amount  available from
time to time to be drawn under such  outstanding  Letters of Credit,  payable in
arrears on and through the last day of each fiscal  quarter of the  Borrower and
calculated  on the basis of a 365day year and the actual number of days elapsed.
Upon the happening and during the  continuance of an Event of Default  described
in Section 8.01, the commission  referred to in the preceding  sentence shall be
4.00% PER ANNUM.

          (3) The Borrower agrees to pay to each Issuing Bank in respect of each
Letter of Credit on the date of issuance a commission  equal to (i) with respect
to any Standby Letter of Credit, 0.25% PER ANNUM of the maximum amount available
at any time to be drawn under such Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank,
payable in arrears on and  through  the last day of each  fiscal  quarter of the
<PAGE>
                                      -18-


Borrower and  calculated  on the basis of a 365day year and the actual number of
days elapsed and (ii) with respect to any  Commercial  Letter of Credit,  on the
issuance date thereof,  the greater of (A) 0.25% PER ANNUM of the minimum amount
available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit or (B) $250.

          Amounts  payable under clauses (1)(i) and (2) of this Section  1.10(f)
shall be paid to the Agent on behalf of the Banks.  The Agent  shall  distribute
promptly to each Bank its PRO RATA share of such amount.  Amounts  payable under
clauses  (1)(ii) and (3) of this Section  1.10(f)  shall be paid directly to the
Issuing Bank.

          (g) OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE.  The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse
each Issuing Bank for drawings made under the Letters of Credit issued by it and
the  obligations of the Banks under Section 1.10(e) shall be  unconditional  and
irrevocable  and shall be paid  strictly  in  accordance  with the terms of this
Agreement under all circumstances including,  without limitation,  the following
circumstances:

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

          (2) the  existence of any claim,  setoff,  defense or other right that
     the Borrower or any  Affiliate of the Borrower or any other Person may have
     at any time against a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit
     (or any persons or entities for whom any such beneficiary or transferee may
     be acting),  such Issuing Bank,  any Bank or any other  Person,  whether in
     connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated herein or any
     unrelated transaction;

          (3) any draft,  demand,  certificate or any other  document  presented
     under any Letter of Credit  proving to be  forged,  fraudulent,  invalid or
     insufficient  in any  respect  or any  statement  therein  being  untrue or
     inaccurate in any respect;

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

          (5) any other circumstance or happening  whatsoever that is similar to
     any of the foregoing; or
<PAGE>
                                      -19-

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

          (h)  ADDITIONAL  PAYMENTS.  If by reason of (a) any  change  after the
Effective  Date in  applicable  law,  regulation,  rule,  decree  or  regulatory
requirement or any change in the  interpretation  or application by any judicial
or  regulatory  authority of any law,  regulation,  rule,  decree or  regulatory
requirement  or (b)  compliance  by  any  Issuing  Bank  or any  Bank  with  any
direction, request or requirement (whether or not having the force of law)of any
governmental or monetary authority including, without limitation, Regulation D:

          (i) such Issuing  Bank or any Bank shall be subject to any tax,  levy,
     charge or withholding  of any nature or to any variation  thereof or to any
     penalty with respect to the  maintenance or fulfillment of its  obligations
     under this Section  1.10,  whether  directly or by such being imposed on or
     suffered by such Issuing Bank or any Bank;

          (ii)  any  reserve,  deposit  or  similar  requirement  is or shall be
     applicable,  imposed or modified in respect of any Letter of Credit  issued
     by such Issuing Bank or participations therein purchased by any Bank; or

          (iii)  there  shall be  imposed on such  Issuing  Bank or any Bank any
     other  condition  regarding  this Section 1.10, any Letter of Credit or any
     participation  therein;  

and the result of the foregoing is to directly or  indirectly  increase the cost
to such Issuing Bank or any Bank of issuing, making or maintaining any Letter of
Credit or of purchasing or maintaining any participation  therein,  or to reduce
the amount  receivable in respect thereof by such Issuing Bank or any Bank, then
and in any such case  such  Issuing  Bank or such Bank  shall,  as  promptly  as
practical  after the  additional  cost is  incurred  or the amount  received  is
reduced,  notify the Borrower and the Borrower  shall pay on demand such amounts
as such Issuing Bank or such Bank may specify to be necessary to compensate such
Issuing Bank or such Bank for such additional cost or reduced receipt,  together
with  interest  on such  amount  from the date  demanded  until  payment in full
thereof at a rate PER ANNUM  equal at all times to the rate  applicable  to Base
Rate Loans then in effect;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the failure of any Bank to
timely give such notice shall not affect the  obligations of the Borrower to pay
<PAGE>
                                      -20-

such  amounts.  A  certificate  in  reasonable  detail as to the  amount of such
increased  cost or reduced  receipt,  submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by
that Issuing Bank or any Bank, as the case may be, shall, absent manifest error,
be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.

          (i)  INDEMNIFICATION;  NATURE OF ISSUING BANK'S DUTIES. In addition to
amounts payable as elsewhere provided in this Section 1.10, without duplication,
the Borrower hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and save each Issuing Bank
(and if the other Banks have been requested to  participate  pursuant to Section
1.10(e),  the Banks)  harmless  from and against  any and all  claims,  demands,
liabilities,  damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys'  fees and allocated  costs of internal  counsel)  which such Bank may
incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (i) the issuance
of the  Letters of Credit or (ii) the  failure of such  Issuing  Bank to honor a
drawing  under any Letter of Credit as a result of any act or omission,  whether
rightful or wrongful, of any present or future DE JURE or DE FACTO government or
Governmental  Authority  (all such acts or omissions  herein called  "Government
Acts").

          As between the Borrower and each Issuing  Bank,  the Borrower  assumes
all risks of the acts and  omissions  of, or  misuse  of the  Letters  of Credit
issued  by such  Issuing  Bank at the  Borrower's  request  by,  the  respective
beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of
the  foregoing,  such Issuing Bank shall not be  responsible:  (i) for the form,
validity,  sufficiency,  accuracy,  genuineness or legal effects of any document
submitted by any party in connection  with the  application  for and issuance of
such  Letters  of  Credit,  even if it should in fact  prove to be in any or all
respects invalid, insufficient,  inaccurate,  fraudulent or forged; (ii) for the
validity  or  sufficiency  of  any  instrument   transferring  or  assigning  or
purporting  to  transfer  or assign  any such  Letter of Credit or the rights or
benefits  thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, that may prove to
be invalid or ineffective  for any reason;  (iii) for failure of the beneficiary
of any such Letter of Credit to comply fully with  conditions  required in order
to draw upon such Letter of Credit; (iv) for errors, omissions, interruptions or
delays in transmission or delivery of any messages,  by mail, cable,  telegraph,
telex or  otherwise,  whether  or not  they are in  cipher;  (v) for  errors  in
interpretation   of  technical  terms;  (vi)  for  any  loss  or  delay  in  the
transmission  or otherwise  of any document  required in order to make a drawing
<PAGE>
                                      -21-

under  any such  Letter  of Credit  or of the  proceeds  thereof;  (vii) for the
misapplication  by the  beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds
of any  drawing  under such  Letter of Credit;  and (viii) for any  consequences
arising from causes beyond the control of such Issuing Bank, including,  without
limitation,  any Government  Acts.  None of the above shall affect,  impair,  or
prevent the vesting of any of such Issuing Bank's rights or powers hereunder.

          In  furtherance  and  extension  and not in limitation of the specific
provisions  hereinabove  set forth,  any action  taken or omitted by any Issuing
Bank in  connection  with the  Letters  of Credit  issued  by it or the  related
certificates, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not put such Issuing Bank
under any resulting liability to the Borrower.

          Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained  in this Section
1.10,  the Borrower  shall have no  obligation  to indemnify any Issuing Bank in
respect of any liability incurred by such Issuing Bank arising solely out of and
to the extent of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Issuing Bank
or out of the  wrongful  dishonor by such  Issuing  Bank of a proper  demand for
payment under the Letters of Credit issued by it.

          1.11. CONVERSIONS;  CONTINUATIONS.  The Borrower shall have the option
to convert  on any  Business  Day  commencing  on the  earlier of receipt of the
Agent's  approval or 30 days after the Closing  Date (but in no event later than
completion of the syndication) all or a portion (which portion shall not be less
than the Minimum  Borrowing  Amount) of the outstanding  principal amount of the
Loans owing by the Borrower  pursuant to a single  Portion of the Loan  Facility
into a Borrowing or Borrowings pursuant to such Portion of another Type of Loan,
or to  continue  all or a portion of such  Borrowings  as the same Type of Loan;
PROVIDED that (i) except as otherwise  provided in Section 1.12(b),  LIBOR Loans
may be  converted  into Base Rate Loans or  continued as LIBOR Loans only on the
last day of an Interest  Period  applicable  to such LIBOR  Loans,  (ii) no such
partial conversion of LIBOR Loans shall reduce the outstanding  principal amount
of LIBOR Loans under the Loan  Facility (or Portion  thereof) made pursuant to a
single Borrowing to less than the Minimum  Borrowing  Amount,  (iii) one Type of
Loan may only be  continued  as or  converted  into LIBOR Loans if no Default or
Event of Default is in existence on the date of the conversion or  continuation,
(iv) Borrowings  resulting from  conversions or  continuations  pursuant to this
<PAGE>
                                      -22-

Section  1.11 shall be limited in amount and number as provided in Section  1.02
and (v) all or a portion of the outstanding  principal amount of Base Rate Loans
may not be  converted  into  LIBOR  Loans if such  Base Rate  Loans or  portions
thereof  will  mature  within  30 days of such  proposed  conversion.  Each such
conversion  (or  continuation)  shall be effected by the  Borrower by giving the
Agent at the Agent's  Office prior to 10:00 A.M.  (New York time) at least three
Business  Days' (or one Business Day in the case of a conversion  into Base Rate
Loans) prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing)
(each a  "Notice  of  Conversion/Continuation")  specifying  the  Loans to be so
converted or continued, the Type of Loans to be converted into or continued and,
if to be converted into or continued as LIBOR Loans,  the Interest  Period to be
initially  applicable thereto. The Agent shall give each Bank notice as promptly
as practicable of any such proposed conversion or continuation  affecting any of
its Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing or the provisions of Section 1.13, if a
Default  or Event of  Default is in  existence  on the last day of any  Interest
Period  in  respect  of any  Borrowing  of LIBOR  Loans,  such  Loans may not be
continued  as LIBOR Loans but instead  shall be  automatically  converted on the
last  day of such  Interest  Period  into  Base  Rate  Loans.  If no  Notice  of
Conversion/Continuation  has been duly delivered with respect to a LIBOR Loan on
or before the third  Business Day prior to the last day of the  Interest  Period
applicable thereto, such LIBOR Loan shall be automatically converted into a Base
Rate Loan.

          1.12. SPECIAL PROVISIONS  GOVERNING LIBOR LOANS.  Notwithstanding  any
other provisions of this Agreement,  the following  provisions shall govern with
respect to LIBOR Loans as to the matters covered:

          (a) On an Interest Rate Determination  Date, the Agent shall determine
     (which determination shall, absent demonstrable error, be final, conclusive
     and binding upon all parties hereto) the interest rate which shall apply to
     the LIBOR Loans for which an interest rate is then being determined for the
     applicable  Interest  Period and shall  promptly  give  notice  thereof (in
     writing or by telephone  confirmed in writing) to the Borrower  thereof and
     to each Bank.

          (b) In the event that (x) in the case of clause  (i) below,  the Agent
     or (y) in the case of  clause  (ii) or (iii)  below,  any Bank  shall  have
<PAGE>
                                      -23-

     determined (which determination shall, absent demonstrable error, be final,
     conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto):

               (i) on any date for  determining  the LIBOR Rate for any Interest
          Period  that,  by  reason  of any  changes  arising  on or  after  the
          Effective Date affecting the interbank LIBOR market, adequate and fair
          means do not exist for  ascertaining  the applicable  interest rate on
          the basis provided for in the definition of LIBOR Rate;

               (ii) at any time that such Bank shall  incur  increased  costs or
          reductions  in the  amounts  received  or  receivable  hereunder  with
          respect  to any LIBOR  Loans or its  obligation  to make  LIBOR  Loans
          because of (x) any change since the Effective Date (including  changes
          proposed or published  prior to the Effective  Date) in any applicable
          law,  governmental  rule,  regulation,  guideline  or order (or in the
          interpretation   or   administration   thereof   and   including   the
          introduction  of  any  new  law  or  governmental  rule,   regulation,
          guideline  or order)  (such as, for  example,  but not  limited  to, a
          change in official reserve requirements, but, in all events, excluding
          reserves  required  under  Regulation D to the extent  included in the
          computation  of the LIBOR  Rate),  including  a change in the basis of
          taxation of payments  to any Bank of the  principal  of or interest on
          the Loans or any other amounts payable  hereunder  (except for changes
          in the rate of tax on, or  determined  by reference to, the net income
          or profits of such Bank  pursuant to the laws of the  jurisdiction  in
          which it is organized or in which its  principal  office or applicable
          lending  office is located  or any  subdivision  thereof  or  therein)
          and/or (y) other  circumstances  affecting  such Bank,  the  interbank
          LIBOR market, or the position of such Bank in such market; or

               (iii) at any time  that the  making or  continuance  of any LIBOR
          Loan has become unlawful by compliance by such Bank in good faith with
          any law, governmental rule,  regulation,  guideline or order (or would
          conflict with any such  governmental  rule,  regulation,  guideline or
          order not  having the force of law even  though the  failure to comply
<PAGE>
                                      -24-

          therewith  would not be unlawful),  or has become  impracticable  as a
          result of a  contingency  occurring  after the  Effective  Date  which
          materially and adversely affects the interbank LIBOR market;

then,  and in any such event,  the Agent in the case of clause (i) above or such
Bank in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) above  shall  promptly  give notice (by
telephone confirmed in writing) in accordance with Section 1.12(h) hereof to the
Borrower  of the Loan  affected  and, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) to the
Agent, of such determination  (which notice the Agent shall promptly transmit to
each of the other Banks).  Thereafter (x) in the case of clause (i) above, LIBOR
Loans shall no longer be  available  until such time as the Agent  notifies  the
Borrower and the Banks that the circumstances  giving rise to such notice by the
Agent  no   longer   exist,   and  any   Notice  of   Borrowing   or  Notice  of
Conversion/Continuation  given by the Borrower  with respect to the borrowing of
or  conversion  into (or  continuation  of) LIBOR  Loans which have not yet been
incurred  shall be deemed  rescinded by the Borrower,  (y) in the case of clause
(ii) above, the Borrower shall pay to such Bank, within 10 Business Days after a
written demand  therefor,  such additional  amounts (in the form of an increased
rate of, or a different  method of  calculating,  interest or  otherwise as such
Bank in its  reasonable  discretion  shall  determine)  as shall be  required to
compensate  such  Bank  for  such  increased  costs  or  reductions  in  amounts
receivable  hereunder (a written notice pursuant to Section 1.12(h) hereof as to
the additional amounts owed to such Bank, setting forth in reasonable detail the
basis for the  calculation  thereof,  submitted  to the Borrower  shall,  absent
demonstrable  error,  be final,  conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto)
and (z) in the case of clause  (iii) above,  the Borrower  shall take one of the
actions  specified in Section 1.12(c) as promptly as possible and, in any event,
within the time period  required by law.

          (c) At any time that any LIBOR Loan is affected  by the  circumstances
described in Section  1.12(b)(ii) or (iii), the Borrower may (and in the case of
a LIBOR Loan affected  pursuant to Section  1.12(b)(iii)  shall) either (i) if a
Notice of  Borrowing  or Notice of  Conversion/Continuation  has been given with
respect to the affected LIBOR Loan, cancel said Notice of Borrowing or Notice of
Conversion/Continuation   by  giving  the  Agent  telephonic  notice  (confirmed
<PAGE>
                                      -25-

promptly in writing) thereof on the same date (if the Borrower has been notified
by not  later  than  3:00  P.M.,  New York  time,  or the next  Business  Day if
otherwise)  that  the  Borrower  was  notified  by a Bank  pursuant  to  Section
1.12(b)(ii) or (iii),  or (ii) if the affected  LIBOR Loan is then  outstanding,
upon at least three  Business  Days'  notice to the Agent,  require the affected
Bank to convert each such LIBOR Loan into a Base Rate Loan, or prepay such LIBOR
Loan;  PROVIDED  that if more than one Bank is  affected  at any time,  then all
affected  Banks must be treated the same pursuant to this Section  1.12(c);  and
PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the Borrower shall compensate any such affected Banks as
set forth in Section 1.12(f).

          (d)  Anything  herein  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,  if on  any
Interest  Rate  Determination  Date no LIBOR Rate is  available by reason of the
inability of the Agent to determine  such interest  rate in accordance  with the
definition  thereof,  the Agent  shall give the  Borrower  and each Bank  prompt
notice thereof and the Loans requested to be made as LIBOR Loans shall,  subject
to the applicable notice requirements, be made as Base Rate Loans.

          (e) Each Bank agrees that, as promptly as practicable after it becomes
aware of the  occurrence of any event or the existence of a condition that would
cause it to be an affected Bank under Section 1.12(b) (ii) or (iii), it will, to
the extent not inconsistent  with such Bank's internal  policies or any legal or
regulatory  restrictions,  use reasonable  efforts to make, fund or maintain the
affected LIBOR Loans of such Bank through another lending office of such Bank if
as a result thereof the additional  moneys which would  otherwise be required to
be paid in respect  of such  Loans  pursuant  to  Section  1.12(b)(ii)  would be
materially reduced or the illegality or other adverse  circumstances which would
otherwise  require  conversion or  prepayment of such Loans  pursuant to Section
1.12(b)(iii)  would cease to exist,  and if, as  determined by such Bank, in its
reasonable discretion,  the making, funding or maintaining of such Loans through
such other lending office would not otherwise  materially  adversely affect such
Loans or such Bank. The Borrower  hereby agrees to pay all  reasonable  expenses
incurred by any Bank in utilizing  another  lending office of such Bank pursuant
to this Section 1.12(e).
<PAGE>
                                      -26-


          (f) The Borrower shall  compensate each Bank,  within 10 Business Days
after a written  request by that Bank (which  request shall be  accompanied by a
written notice pursuant to Section  1.12(h)  setting forth in reasonable  detail
the basis for the  calculation  of such  amounts),  for all  reasonable  losses,
expenses and liabilities  (including,  without  limitation,  such factors as any
interest  paid by that Bank to lenders of funds  borrowed by it to make or carry
its  LIBOR  Loans  and any  loss  sustained  by that  Bank  in  connection  with
reemployment of such funds (based upon the difference  between the amount earned
in  connection  with  reemployment  of such funds and the amount  payable by the
Borrower if such funds had been  borrowed or remained  outstanding))  which that
Bank may sustain with  respect to the  Borrower's  LIBOR  Loans:  (i) if for any
reason  (other  than a default  or error by that Bank) a  Borrowing  of any such
LIBOR Loan does not occur on a date specified  therefor in a Notice of Borrowing
or a Notice of  Conversion/Continuation or in a telephonic request for borrowing
or conversion or continuation, or a successive Interest Period in respect of any
such LIBOR Loan does not  commence  after notice  therefor is given  pursuant to
Section 1.11, (ii) if any prepayment or conversion (as required by Sections 3.01
and 3.02, by acceleration or otherwise) of any of such Bank's LIBOR Loans to the
Borrower  occurs  on a date  which is not the last  day of the  Interest  Period
applicable to that Loan,  (iii) if any prepayment of any such Bank's LIBOR Loans
to the  Borrower  is not made on any date  specified  in a notice of  prepayment
given by the  Borrower,  or (iv) as a  consequence  of any other  failure by the
Borrower to repay such Bank's LIBOR Loans to the Borrower  when  required by the
terms of this Agreement.

          (g) Any Bank claiming any additional  amounts payable pursuant to this
Section  1.12  agrees to use  reasonable  efforts  (consistent  with such Bank's
internal   policies,   legal  and   regulatory   restrictions   and   commercial
considerations)  to designate a different lending office if the making of such a
designation  would  avoid  the need for,  or  reduce  the  amount  of,  any such
additional amounts and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Bank, be in
any way otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank.

          (h) Each Bank shall notify the Borrower of any event  occurring  after
the  date  hereof  entitling  such  Bank to  compensation  under  the  foregoing
paragraphs  of this  Section  1.12 as  promptly as  practicable.  Each Bank will
<PAGE>
                                      -27-

furnish to the Borrower a certificate  setting  forth in  reasonable  detail the
basis  and  amount of each  request  by such Bank for  compensation  under  this
Section  1.12.  Determinations  by any Bank for purposes of this  Section  1.12,
including of the effect of any regulatory change pursuant to Section 1.12(b)(ii)
on its costs of maintaining Loans or its obligation to make Loans, or on amounts
receivable by it in respect of Loans,  and of the amounts required to compensate
such Bank under this Section 1.12, shall be made on a reasonable basis.

          1.13.  INTEREST  PERIODS.  At the time the Borrower  gives a Notice of
Borrowing or Notice of  Conversion/Continuation  in respect of the making of, or
conversion  into or  continuation  of, a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans, it shall have
the right to elect,  by giving the Agent written  notice (or  telephonic  notice
promptly  confirmed  in  writing),   the  Interest  Period  applicable  to  such
Borrowing,  which Interest  Period shall,  at the option of such Borrower,  be a
one, two,  three or six month period.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
contained above:

               (a) the initial  Interest Period for any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans
          shall  commence on the date of such  Borrowing  (including the date of
          any conversion  from a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans) and each Interest
          Period  occurring  thereafter  in  respect  of  such  Borrowing  shall
          commence  on the date on  which  the next  preceding  Interest  Period
          expires;

               (b) if any Interest Period relating to a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans
          begins on a date for which there is no numerically  corresponding date
          in the  calendar  month in  which  such  Interest  Period  ends,  such
          Interest  Period shall end on the last  Business Day of such  calendar
          month;

               (c) if any Interest Period would otherwise  expire on a day which
          is not a Business Day,  such Interest  Period shall expire on the next
          succeeding  Business  Day;  PROVIDED  that if any  Interest  Period in
          respect of a LIBOR Loan would otherwise expire on a day which is not a
          Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business
          Day occurs in such month,  such  Interest  Period  shall expire on the
          next preceding Business Day;
<PAGE>
                                      -28-

               (d) no Interest  Period shall extend beyond,  as applicable,  the
          Final A Term Loan  Maturity  Date (in the case of A Term  Loans),  the
          Final B Term Loan  Maturity  Date (in the case of B Term Loans) or the
          Final  Revolving Loan Maturity Date (in the case of Revolving  Loans);
          and

               (e) no Interest  Period with  respect to any  Borrowing  of LIBOR
          Loans shall extend beyond any date upon which the Borrower  thereof is
          required to make a scheduled  payment of principal with respect to the
          Term Loans or the  Acquisition  Term Loans if, after giving  effect to
          the selection of such Interest Period, the aggregate  principal amount
          of A Term Loans, B Term Loans and Acquisition Term Loans maintained as
          LIBOR Loans with Interest  Periods ending after such date of scheduled
          payment of principal  would exceed the amount of A Term Loans,  B Term
          Loans  and  Acquisition  Term  Loans  respectively,  permitted  to  be
          outstanding after such scheduled payment of principal.

          SECTION 2. COMMITMENTS.

          2.01.  VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS.  Upon at least one Business
Day's prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly  confirmed in writing)
to the Agent at the  Agent's  Office  (which  notice  the Agent  shall  promptly
transmit  to each of the  Banks),  the  Borrower  shall have the right,  without
premium or  penalty,  to  terminate  the  unutilized  portion  available  to the
Borrower of either or both of (i) the Total  Revolving Loan  Commitment and (ii)
the Total Acquisition Term Loan Commitments,  in each case, in part or in whole;
PROVIDED that (x) any such termination  shall  permanently  reduce the Revolving
Loan Commitment or Acquisition Term Loan Commitment,  as applicable,  of each of
the Banks on a PRO RATA basis and (y) any  partial  reduction  pursuant  to this
Section  2.01 shall,  in each case,  be in the amount of at least  $100,000  and
integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that
(A) the Total Revolving Loan  Commitment  shall not be reduced to an amount less
than the aggregate Total  Utilization of Revolving Loan  Commitments and Letters
of  Credit  Usage  then  outstanding  and (B) the  Total  Acquisition  Term Loan
Commitments  shall  not  be  reduced  to  an  amount  less  than  the  aggregate
Acquisition  Term  Loans  then  outstanding  (giving  effect  to the  conversion
described in Section 1.01(d)).

          2.02.  MANDATORY  ADJUSTMENTS  OF  COMMITMENTS,  ETC.  

          (a)  The  Total  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  shall  terminate  on the
Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date.
<PAGE>
                                      -29-

          (b) The  Total A Term  Loan  Commitment  shall be  reduced  (i) on the
Closing Date to the amount of A Term Loans then outstanding and (ii) on the date
on which any  payments  of  principal  on the A Term Loans are made  (other than
pursuant to Section 3.02(A)(a)) in an aggregate amount equal to such payments.

          (c) The  Total B Term  Loan  Commitment  shall be  reduced  (i) on the
Closing Date to the amount of B Term Loans then outstanding and (ii) on the date
on which any  payments  of  principal  on the B Term Loans are made  (other than
pursuant to Section 3.02(A)(a)) in an aggregate amount equal to such payments.

          (d) The Total Acquisition Term Loan Commitments shall terminate on the
earlier of (i) the Acquisition  Term Loan Commitment  Termination  Date and (ii)
the  voluntary  reduction  by the  Borrower  pursuant  to  Section  2.01  of the
Acquisition  Term Loan  Commitment  to zero and any  amounts not  borrowed  with
respect to the  Acquisition  Term Loans on or before such date shall cease to be
available.

          (e) The Total  Acquisition Term Loan  Commitments  shall be reduced on
the date of each Conversion  Event in an aggregate amount equal to the principal
amount of Acquisition Term Loans converted into Term Loans.

          (f) The Total Revolving Loan Commitment  shall be permanently  reduced
in the amount and at the time of any payment on the Loans required to be applied
to the Revolving  Loans or Revolving Loan  Commitments or to cash  collateralize
Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 3.02(B)(a).

          (g) Each reduction or termination of the A Term Loan Commitment, the B
Term  Loan  Commitment,  the  Acquisition  Term  Loan  Commitment  or the  Total
Revolving   Loan   Commitment   pursuant  to  this   Section  2.02  shall  apply
proportionately to the A Term Loan Commitment,  the B Term Loan Commitment,  the
Acquisition Term Loan Commitment or the Revolving Loan  Commitment,  as the case
may be, of each Bank.

          2.03.  COMMITMENT  COMMISSION.  The Borrower agrees to pay the Agent a
commitment commission ("Commitment Commission") for the account of each Bank for
the period from and including the Effective  Time to but not including the later
of the  dates on which  the  Total  Revolving  Loan  Commitments  and the  Total
Acquisition Term Loan Commitments have been terminated, computed at a rate equal
<PAGE>
                                      -30-

to 1/2% PER ANNUM on the  daily  average  Unutilized  Commitment  of such  Bank.
Accrued  Commitment  Commission  shall be due and payable in arrears on the last
Business Day of each December,  March, June and September  commencing March 1998
and on each of (i) the Revolving  Loan  Commitment  Termination  Date,  (ii) the
Acquisition  Term Loan Commitment  Termination  Date and (iii) the date on which
both the Total Revolving Loan  Commitments and the Total  Acquisition  Term Loan
Commitments  have been terminated  pursuant to the terms of this  Agreement,  in
each case, based on the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days.

          SECTION 3. PAYMENTS.

          3.01.  VOLUNTARY  PREPAYMENTS.  The  Borrower  shall have the right to
prepay Term Loans, Acquisition Term Loans, and Revolving Loans incurred by it in
whole or in part from time to time, without premium or penalty (except for LIBOR
Loans breakage costs,  if any) on the following  terms and  conditions:  (i) the
Borrower  shall  give  the  Agent  at the  Agent's  Office  written  notice  (or
telephonic  notice  promptly  confirmed  in writing) of its intent to prepay the
Loans and the amount of such  prepayment  and, in the case of LIBOR  Loans,  the
specific Borrowing or Borrowings  pursuant to which they were made, which notice
shall be given by the  Borrower at least one  Business  Day prior to the date of
such  prepayment  and which notice shall promptly be transmitted by the Agent to
each of the Banks; (ii) each partial  prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an
aggregate  principal  amount of at least  $100,000  and  integral  multiples  of
$100,000 in excess of that amount;  PROVIDED that no partial prepayment of LIBOR
Loans made  pursuant to a single  Borrowing  under the Loan Facility (or Portion
thereof) shall reduce the  outstanding  Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to
an amount less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount;  (iii) LIBOR Loans may only be
prepaid  pursuant to this  Section  3.01 on the last day of an  Interest  Period
applicable  thereto;  and (iv) each prepayment in respect of any Term Loans made
pursuant to a Borrowing shall be applied PRO RATA to the A Term Loans and B Term
Loans.  Voluntary  prepayments  of Loans  under the A Term  Portion  of the Loan
Facility shall be applied  without  penalty or premium except for LIBOR breakage
costs, if any, to the prepayment of the outstanding  principal  amount of A Term
Loans PRO RATA to all remaining  Scheduled A Term Loans Principal  Payments such
that each  Scheduled A Term Loans  Principal  Payment  then  remaining  shall be
reduced by an amount equal to the product of (A) such payment and (B) a fraction
of which the  numerator  is equal to the amount of such  Scheduled  A Term Loans
Principal  Payment then remaining and the  denominator is equal to the amount of
all Scheduled A Term Loans Principal Payments remaining.  Voluntary  prepayments
of Loans under the B Term Portion of the Loan Facility shall be applied  without
penalty or premium except for LIBOR breakage costs, if any, to the prepayment of
the  outstanding  principal  amount of B Term  Loans  PRO RATA to all  remaining
<PAGE>
                                      -31-

Scheduled B Term Loans Principal  Payments such that each Scheduled B Term Loans
Principal  Payment  then  remaining  shall be reduced by an amount  equal to the
product of (A) such  payment and (B) a fraction of which the  numerator is equal
to the amount of such  Scheduled B Term Loans  Principal  Payment then remaining
and the  denominator  is equal  to the  amount  of all  Scheduled  B Term  Loans
Principal Payments remaining.

          3.02. MANDATORY PREPAYMENTS.

          (A) REQUIREMENTS:

               (a) The Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of
          the A Term Loans,  the B Term Loans or the Revolving Loans on any date
          on which the  aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount of such  Loans
          (after giving effect to any other  repayments or  prepayments  on such
          day and together with the outstanding  principal  amount of Letters of
          Credit Usage)  exceeds the Total A Term Loan  Commitment,  the Total B
          Term Loan Commitment,  the Total  Acquisition Term Loan Commitments or
          the Total Revolving Loan Commitment, as the case may be, in the amount
          of such excess.

               (b) If the aggregate  principal  amount of outstanding  Revolving
          Loans and Letters of Credit Usage  exceeds the  Borrowing  Base as set
          forth in the most recent  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  required to be
          delivered  pursuant  to  Section  6.01 of  this  Agreement,  then  the
          Borrower shall prepay  Revolving Loans in a principal  amount equal to
          such excess no later than two (2) Business Days after the Borrower has
          delivered, or was required to deliver, such Borrowing Base Certificate
          to the Agent and the Banks.

               (c) The  Borrower  shall cause to be paid  Scheduled A Term Loans
          Principal Payments on the A Term Loans until the A Term Loans are paid
          in full in the amounts and at the times specified in the definition of
          Scheduled  A  Term  Loans  Principal   Payments  to  the  extent  that
          prepayments  have not previously been applied to such Scheduled A Term
          Loans  Principal  Payments (and such Scheduled A Term Loans  Principal
          Payments  have not  otherwise  been  reduced)  pursuant  to the  terms
          hereof.

               (d) The  Borrower  shall  cause to be paid each  Scheduled B Term
          Loans Principal Payment on the B Term Loans until all B Term Loans are
          paid  in  full  in  the  amounts  and at the  times  specified  in the
          definition of Scheduled B Term Loans Principal  Payments to the extent
          that  prepayments  have not previously been applied to such Schedule B
          Terms  Loans  Principal  Payments  (and such  Scheduled  B Term  Loans
          Principal  Payments have not otherwise  been reduced)  pursuant to the
          terms hereof.
<PAGE>
                                      -32-

               (e) After the Closing Date, on the date of receipt thereof by the
          Borrower  and/or any of its  Subsidiaries  of Net Cash Proceeds or Net
          Financing  Proceeds  (other  than  Indebtedness  permitted  by Section
          7.04),  an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash  Proceeds  (PROVIDED,
          HOWEVER, that this Section 3.02(A)(e) shall not apply if such Net Cash
          Proceeds aggregate less than $300,000) or Net Financing Proceeds shall
          be applied as provided in Section 3.02(B).

               (f) On the  date  which  is 90 days  after  the  last day of each
          fiscal year of the  Borrower,  commencing  with  December 31, 1997, an
          amount equal to 75% of the Borrower's Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal
          year shall be applied as provided in Section 3.02(B).

               (g) On the date of the receipt thereof by the Borrower and/or any
          of its  Subsidiaries,  an  amount  equal to 75% of the  cash  proceeds
          received by such Person (net of underwriting discounts and commissions
          and other reasonably  incurred costs and expenses directly  associated
          therewith)  of the sale after the Closing  Date of equity  (other than
          upon the  exercise  of warrants  or the  exercise of stock  options by
          employees or directors of the Borrower)  (PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that if
          the  remaining  25% of  the  net  proceeds  received  (the  "Remaining
          Amount")  is not used  within  12  months of the  receipt  thereof  to
          finance Acquisitions, the Remaining Amount will be applied as provided
          in Section 3.02(B)) shall be applied as provided in Section 3.02(B).

               (h) At the Agent's discretion, one Business Day after the date of
          receipt  thereof by the Borrower  and/or any of its  Subsidiaries,  an
          amount  equal  to  100% of any  insurance  proceeds  (less  reasonably
          incurred costs to recover)  received less any portion of such proceeds
          not in  excess  of  $300,000,  so long as  there  exists  no  Event of
          Default,  that is  promptly  applied to repair or replace  the damaged
          property shall be applied as provided in Section 3.02(B).

               (i) If any of the  Mortgaged  Real  Property  is the subject of a
          Taking or  Destruction  and  either  the  Borrower  or its  applicable
          Subsidiary  has  elected  not to effect a  Restoration  or neither the
          Collateral Agent nor the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary, as the
          case may be, has  elected to effect a  Restoration,  in each case,  in
          accordance with the provisions of the applicable Mortgage, then on the
<PAGE>
                                      -33-

          first  Business  Day  following  the  last  day  the  Borrower  or its
          applicable  Subsidiary can elect to effect a Restoration (in the event
          that the Borrower or its  applicable  Subsidiary has the right to make
          such an election) or, in the event that the Borrower or its applicable
          Subsidiary  does not have the  right to make an  election  to effect a
          Restoration, the day the Collateral Agent has notified the Borrower or
          its applicable  Subsidiary that a Restoration  will not be required in
          the case of any of the Mortgaged  Real Property being the subject of a
          Taking or Destruction,  an amount equal to the applicable Net Award or
          Net  Proceeds,  as the case  may be,  as a result  of such  Taking  or
          Destruction, shall be applied as provided in Section 3.02(B).

               (j) One  Business  Day after the receipt  thereof by the Borrower
          and/or  any of its  Subsidiaries,  an amount  equal to 100% of (i) any
          surplus  assets of any Pension  Plan  returned to the Borrower or such
          Subsidiary  or  (ii)  any tax  refund  made  to the  Borrower  or such
          Subsidiary  (PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that this clause 3.02(A)(j)(ii) shall
          only apply for tax refunds in excess of $300,000)  shall be applied as
          provided in Section 3.02(B).

          (B) APPLICATION:

               (a) Prepayments to be applied pursuant to this Section 3.02(B)(a)
          shall be applied, without penalty or premium except for LIBOR breakage
          costs, if any, as follows:  (i) first, on a PRO RATA basis between the
          A Term Loans and the B Term Loans in each  case,  in inverse  order of
          maturity  with  respect  to  the  remaining  Scheduled  A  Term  Loans
          Principal Payments and the remaining  Scheduled B Term Loans Principal
          Payments;  (ii) second,  to prepay  Revolving Loans and to permanently
          reduce the  Revolving  Loan  Commitment in the amount  prepaid;  (iii)
          third, to cash collateralize  Letters of Credit in a manner reasonably
          satisfactory to the Agent; and (iv) fourth,  the Acquisition Term Loan
          Commitment,  if any, and,  thereafter,  the Revolving Loan  Commitment
          will be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the amount otherwise
          required  to be prepaid.  Amounts  applied  pursuant  to this  Section
          3.02(B) may not be reborrowed.

               (b) With respect to each  prepayment of Loans required by Section
          3.02(A),  the Borrower  shall give the Agent two Business  Days notice
<PAGE>
                                      -34-

          and may designate the specific Borrowing or Borrowings which are to be
          prepaid;  PROVIDED  that  (i)(x)  LIBOR  Loans may be  designated  for
          prepayment  pursuant to this  Section  3.02 only on the last day of an
          Interest  Period  applicable  thereto  unless  all  LIBOR  Loans  with
          Interest  Periods  ending on such date of required  prepayment and all
          Base Rate Loans have been or are  concurrently  being paid in full and
          (y) if any  prepayment  of  LIBOR  Loans  made  pursuant  to a  single
          Borrowing  shall reduce the  outstanding  Loans made  pursuant to such
          Borrowing  to an  amount  less than  $100,000,  such  Borrowing  shall
          immediately  be  converted  into  Base  Rate  Loans;   and  (ii)  each
          prepayment of any Loans made pursuant to a single  Borrowing  shall be
          applied PRO RATA among such Loans.  In the absence of a designation by
          the  Borrower,  the  Agent  shall,  subject  to the  above,  make such
          designation  in its sole  discretion.  All  prepayments  shall include
          payment of accrued interest on the principal amount so prepaid,  shall
          be applied to the payment of interest before  application to principal
          and shall include amounts payable, if any, under Section 1.12(f).

          3.03.   METHOD  AND  PLACE  OF  PAYMENT.   (a)  Except  as   otherwise
specifically provided herein, all payments under this Agreement shall be made to
the Agent, for the ratable account of the Banks entitled thereto, not later than
1:00 P.M. (New York time) on the date when due and shall be made in  immediately
available  funds in lawful money of the United  States of America to the account
specified  therefor by the Agent or if no account has been so  specified  at the
Agent's Office,  it being  understood that written notice by the Borrower to the
Agent to make a payment from the funds in the Borrower's  account at the Agent's
Office shall  constitute  the making of such payment to the extent of such funds
held in such account.  The Agent will thereafter  cause to be distributed on the
same day (if payment is actually received by the Agent in New York prior to 1:00
P.M. (New York time) on such day) funds  relating to the payment of principal or
interest or fees  ratably to the Banks  entitled to receive any such  payment in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  If and to the extent that any such
distribution  shall  not be so made by the  Agent  in full on the  same  day (if
payment is actually  received by the Agent prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York time) on
such day),  the Agent shall pay to each Bank its ratable amount thereof and each
such Bank shall be entitled to receive from the Agent, upon demand,  interest on
such amount at the Federal  Funds Rate for each day from the date such amount is
paid to the Agent until the date the Agent pays such amount to such Bank.
<PAGE>
                                      -35-

          (b) Any payments under this  Agreement  which are made by the Borrower
later than 1:00 P.M.  (New York  time)  shall be deemed to have been made on the
next succeeding Business Day. Whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be
stated  to be due on a day which is not a  Business  Day,  the due date  thereof
shall be extended  to the next  succeeding  Business  Day and,  with  respect to
payments of principal,  interest  shall be payable  during such extension at the
applicable rate in effect immediately prior to such extension.

          3.04. NET PAYMENTS.  All payments by the Borrower under this Agreement
and/or under any Credit  Document shall be made without  setoff or  counterclaim
and in such amounts as may be necessary in order that all such  payments  (after
deduction  or  withholding  for or on  account of any  present or future  taxes,
levies,  imposts,  duties or other charges of whatsoever  nature  imposed by any
Governmental Authority, other than any tax on or measured by the net income of a
Bank  pursuant  to the income tax laws of the  jurisdictions  where such  Bank's
principal or lending  office is located  (collectively,  "Taxes"))  shall not be
less than the amounts otherwise specified to be paid under this Agreement and/or
under any  Credit  Document.  If the  Borrower  is  required  by law to make any
deduction or  withholding  on account of Taxes from any payment due hereunder or
under the Notes,  then (a) the  Borrower  shall  timely  remit such Taxes to the
Governmental Authority imposing the same and (b) the amount payable hereunder or
under the Notes will be increased to such amount  which,  after  deduction  from
such  increased  amount of all  amounts  required  to be  deducted  or  withheld
therefrom,  will not be less than the amount otherwise due and payable.  Without
prejudice  to the  foregoing,  if any Bank or the Agent is  required to make any
payment on account of Taxes, the Borrower will, upon notification by the Bank or
the Agent promptly  indemnify such person against such Taxes,  together with any
interest,  penalties and expenses  payable or incurred in connection  therewith.
The Borrower shall also reimburse  each Bank,  upon the written  request of such
Bank,  for taxes  imposed on or measured by the net income of such Bank pursuant
to the laws of the  jurisdiction in which the principal office or lending office
of such Bank is located or under the laws of any political subdivision or taxing
authority of any such  jurisdiction  as such Bank shall determine are payable by
such Bank in respect of Taxes paid to or on behalf of such Bank pursuant to this
Section 3.04. For purposes of this Section,  the term "Taxes" includes interest,
penalties  and  expenses  payable  or  incurred  in  connection   therewith.   A
<PAGE>
                                      -36-

certificate  as to any additional  amounts  payable to a Bank under this Section
3.04 submitted to the Borrower by such Bank shall,  absent  manifest  error,  be
final,  conclusive  and binding for all purposes upon all parties  hereto.  With
respect to each  deduction or  withholding  for or on account of any Taxes,  the
Borrower shall  promptly  furnish to each Bank such  certificates,  receipts and
other  documents  as may be required (in the judgment of such Bank) to establish
any tax  credit  to which  such  Bank may be  entitled.

          SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

          4.01.  CONDITIONS  PRECEDENT TO INITIAL LOANS.  The obligations of the
Banks to make the Initial Loans to the Borrower  hereunder  are subject,  at the
time of the making of each such Initial  Loan  (except as otherwise  hereinafter
indicated), to the substantially  contemporaneous  satisfaction of the following
conditions:

               (a) OFFICERS'  CERTIFICATE.  On the Closing Date, the Agent shall
          have  received  certificates  dated  such date  signed by  appropriate
          officers  of each of the  Credit  Parties,  in the form of  Exhibit  O
          hereto,  stating that all of the  applicable  conditions  set forth in
          Sections  4.01,  4.02,  4.03 and,  if  applicable,  4.04 (in each case
          disregarding  any  reference  therein  that such  condition  be deemed
          satisfactory  by the  Agent  and/or  the  Required  Banks)  have  been
          satisfied or waived as of such date.

               (b)  OPINIONS OF COUNSEL.  On the Closing  Date,  the Agent shall
          have  received an opinion or opinions  addressed  to each of the Banks
          and dated the Closing Date, each in form and substance satisfactory to
          the Agent,  from (i) O'Connor,  Cavanagh,  Anderson,  Killingsworth  &
          Beshears,  P.A.,  counsel to each Credit Party, which opinion shall be
          in the form of  EXHIBIT  C1  hereto,  and (ii)  local  counsel  to the
          Borrower  in certain  jurisdictions  in which  Collateral  is located,
          which opinions shall be in the form of EXHIBIT C2 hereto.

               (c) CORPORATE  PROCEEDINGS.  All corporate and legal  proceedings
          and all instruments and agreements in connection with the transactions
          contemplated  by the  Documents  shall  be  satisfactory  in form  and
          substance  to the  Agent,  and  the  Agent  shall  have  received  all
          information  and copies of all  certificates,  documents  and  papers,
<PAGE>
                                      -37-

          including records of corporate proceedings and governmental approvals,
          if any, which the Agent  reasonably may have requested from any Credit
          Party or any Affiliate of either thereof in connection therewith, such
          documents  and papers  where  appropriate  to be  certified  by proper
          corporate or governmental authorities. Without limiting the foregoing,
          the Agent shall have received (i) evidence  satisfactory  to them that
          the Boards of Directors  or Board of Managers,  as the case may be, of
          each Credit Party and any Affiliate  thereof,  shall have approved the
          transactions  contemplated by the Documents,  (ii)  resolutions of the
          Boards of Directors or Board of Managers,  as the case may be, of each
          Credit Party, and any Affiliate thereof approving and authorizing such
          documents and actions as are contemplated hereby in form and substance
          reasonably  satisfactory to the Agent including without limitation the
          execution and delivery of all Documents to be executed by such Person,
          certified by its  corporate  secretary  or an  assistant  secretary as
          being in full force and effect without modification or amendment,  and
          (iii) signature and incumbency certificates of officers of each Credit
          Party and any Affiliate  thereof executing  instruments,  documents or
          agreements required to be executed in connection with the transactions
          contemplated by the Documents.

          (d) TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS; TRANSACTION.

                    (i) Full,  complete and accurate  copies of the  Transaction
               Documents shall have been provided to the Agent.  The Transaction
               Documents  and  any  amendments  thereto  shall  be in  form  and
               substance  satisfactory to the Agent, and each of the Transaction
               Documents  required to be executed  and  delivered on or prior to
               the Closing  Date shall have been duly  authorized,  executed and
               delivered  by each of the  parties  thereto  and shall be in full
               force  and  effect.  No  term  or  provision  of the  Transaction
               Documents  shall  have been  modified,  and no  condition  to the
               consummation of the Transaction shall have been waived, in either
               case in a manner  detrimental to any Credit Party,  by any of the
               parties  thereto.  Each Credit Party and any of their  Affiliates
               shall have in all material  respects done and performed such acts
               and  observed  such  covenants  which each is  required  to do or
               perform  under  the   Transaction   Documents  and  in  order  to
               consummate the Transaction on or prior to the Effective Date.
<PAGE>
                                      -38-


                    (ii)  Each  Credit  Party  shall  have   provided   evidence
               satisfactory  in  form  and  substance  to  the  Agent  that  the
               Transaction has been consummated.

          (e) ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTATION, ETC.

               (i) On or  prior  to the  Closing  Date,  the  Banks  shall  have
          received copies of true and complete certified copies of the following
          documents  of each  Credit  Party,  the  provisions  of which shall be
          reasonably satisfactory to the Agent:

                         (A)  Each  such  Person's  respective   Certificate  or
                    Articles of Incorporation or Certificate of Formation, which
                    shall be certified  and be  accompanied  by a good  standing
                    certificate,   if  any,   from  the   jurisdiction   of  its
                    organization  and good standing  certificates,  if any, from
                    the jurisdictions in which it is qualified to do business as
                    a foreign corporation,  each to be dated a recent date prior
                    to the Closing Date; and

                         (B) Each such Person's  respective  Bylaws or Operating
                    Agreement, certified as of the Closing Date by its corporate
                    secretary.

               (ii) The  corporate,  management  and  capital  structure  of the
          Borrower  shall  be  reasonably  satisfactory  to  the  Agent  in  all
          respects.

          (f) CREDIT  DOCUMENTS.  Each of this  Agreement  and each other Credit
     Document shall (i) be in form and substance  satisfactory  to the Agent and
     (ii) have been, on or prior to the Closing Date, duly authorized,  executed
     and delivered by each of the parties signatory thereto.

          (g)  NOTES.  There  shall  have  been  delivered  to the Agent for the
     account of each of the Banks the Term Notes, the Acquisition Term Notes and
     the Revolving  Notes executed by the Borrower in the amounts and maturities
     and as otherwise provided herein.

          (h) CERTAIN FEES.  All costs,  fees and expenses  (including,  without
     limitation,  legal fees and  expenses)  payable to Indosuez by the Borrower
<PAGE>
                                      -39-

     pursuant to the letter  agreements  between the Borrower and Indosuez dated
     October 23, 1997 shall have been paid in full and the  Borrower  shall have
     paid or have caused to be paid the  commitment  and other fees and expenses
     (including,  without limitation,  reasonable legal fees and expenses of the
     Agent) contemplated hereby and/or in connection with the other Documents.

          (i) FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS,  ETC.  Prior to the Closing Date, the Agent
     shall have received (i) audited  financial  statements  including a balance
     sheet  and  statements  of  income  and  cash  flow  of  Borrower  and  its
     Subsidiaries for the period from the commencement of operations to December
     31,  1996  and  unaudited  financial  statements  of the  Borrower  and its
     Subsidiaries  for the  quarters  ended  March 31,  1997,  June 30, 1997 and
     September  30,  1997,  (ii)  audited  financial  statements  of each of the
     Predecessor Companies for the last two full fiscal years preceding December
     31,  1996 (one  year for  Kotchammer  Investments,  Inc.),  (iii)  reviewed
     financial  statements of ABBA for its fiscal years ended September 30, 1994
     and 1995 and  December  31,  1996 and  unaudited  financials  for the three
     months ended March 31, 1997,  (iv) audited  consolidated  balance sheets of
     Inverness  as  of  December  31,  1995  and  December  31,  1996,  and  the
     consolidated statements of operations,  stockholder's equity and cash flows
     of Inverness for the years ended  December 31, 1994,  December 31, 1995 and
     December  31,  1996 and  unaudited  financials  for the nine  months  ended
     September 30, 1997 and (v) the estimated PRO FORMA opening  balance  sheet,
     reviewed by a "Big Six"  accounting  firm,  of the Borrower as of September
     30, 1997,  after giving effect to the Transaction and the Borrowings  under
     this   Agreement.   The  Borrower   shall  have   delivered  to  the  Agent
     consolidating   financial   projections   (including   quarterly  financial
     projections  for the fiscal  year  ended  1998)  which  give  effect to the
     Transaction  and the  Borrowings  under this  Agreement,  accompanied  by a
     statement by the Borrower that such  projections  are based on  assumptions
     believed by it in good faith to be  reasonable  as to the future  financial
     performance of the Borrower, reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

          (j)  INSURANCE.  Set forth on  SCHEDULE  6.01(I)  is a summary  of all
     insurance  policies  maintained by the Credit Parties and their  respective
<PAGE>
                                      -40-

     Subsidiaries,  and the insurance  coverage  provided for the Credit Parties
     and their  respective  Subsidiaries  by such  insurance  policies  shall be
     reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

          (k)  PERFORMANCE  BONDS.  On the  Closing  Date,  the  Agent  shall be
     reasonably satisfied that the Borrower will be able to service and maintain
     any  performance  bonds  that may be  required  in the  ordinary  course of
     business on reasonable terms and conditions.

          (l)  INDEBTEDNESS,  ETC. On or prior to the Closing Date and except as
     set forth on SCHEDULE  5.21(A),  the Credit  Parties  and their  respective
     Subsidiaries shall have repaid or defeased all existing Indebtedness.

          (m) SECURITY DOCUMENTS AND GUARANTEES.  The Security Documents and the
     Guarantees  shall have been duly executed and  delivered by the  respective
     parties thereto and there shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent
     (i)  certificates  representing all Pledged  Securities (if  certificated),
     together  with  executed and undated  stock powers  and/or  assignments  in
     blank, (ii) evidence of the filing of appropriate  financing  statements or
     comparable  documents  under  the  provisions  of the  UCC  and  applicable
     domestic or local laws,  rules or  regulations in each of the offices where
     such filing is necessary or appropriate to grant to the Collateral  Agent a
     perfected first priority Lien in such  Collateral  superior to and prior to
     the rights of all third persons,  other than Prior Liens, and subject to no
     other  Liens,  other  than  Liens  expressly  permitted  by the  applicable
     Security Document, (iii) certified copies of Requests for Information (Form
     UCC11 or the  equivalent)  or  equivalent  reports or lien  search  reports
     listing all effective  financing  statements or comparable  documents which
     name any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (prior to and after giving
     effect  to the  Transaction)  as  debtor  and  which  are  filed  in  those
     jurisdictions   in  which  any  of  the   Collateral  is  located  and  the
     jurisdictions  in  which  any  Credit  Party  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries
     maintains  its chief  executive  office,  none of which shall  encumber the
     Collateral  covered or intended or  purported to be covered by the Security
     Documents  (other than Prior Liens) and (iv) evidence of the  completion of
     all recordings  and filings of each Security  Document and delivery of such
     other  security and other  documents as may be necessary or, in the opinion
     of the  Collateral  Agent,  desirable  to  perfect  the Liens  created,  or
     purported or intended to be created, by the Security Documents.
<PAGE>
                                      -41-

          (n) DUE  DILIGENCE.  Prior to the Closing  Date,  the Banks shall have
     received an agreed upon procedures  report from Arthur Andersen LLP in form
     and  substance  satisfactory  to the Agent and  information  sufficient  to
     reasonably  satisfy  the  Banks as to  Inverness's  arrangements  to source
     future production in the Republic of China.

          (o) CONSENTS, ETC. All material governmental and third party approvals
     and consents  (including,  without  limitation,  all material approvals and
     consents required in connection with any environmental  statutes,  rules or
     regulations),  if any, in connection with the Transaction, the transactions
     contemplated by the Credit Documents and the Transaction Documents,  and in
     either case  otherwise  referred to herein or therein to be completed on or
     before the Closing Date shall have been obtained and remain in effect,  and
     all applicable  waiting periods shall have expired without any action being
     taken by any competent  authority which restrains,  prevents or imposes, in
     the  judgment  of  the  Agent,   materially  adverse  conditions  upon  the
     consummation of the Transaction. There shall not exist any judgment, order,
     injunction or other restraint issued or filed with respect to the making of
     the Loans hereunder or the consummation of the Transaction.

          (p)  ENVIRONMENTAL  REVIEW.  At or prior to the Effective Date,  there
     shall have been  delivered  to the Agent for each of the Banks an Officers'
     Certificate of the Borrower in substantially  the form of EXHIBIT L hereto,
     and the Agent shall be satisfied as to any  environmental  matters relating
     to the properties of any Credit Party.

          (q) BORROWING BASE  CERTIFICATE.  Prior to the initial Revolving Loan,
     the  Agent  and the  Banks  shall  have  received  and the  Agent  shall be
     satisfied (both as to form and substance) with a Borrowing Base Certificate
     which shall be prepared  as of a date prior to the  Effective  Date that is
     satisfactory to the Agent,  which Borrowing Base Certificate shall indicate
     that the Borrowing Base as of November 30, 1997, giving PRO FORMA effect to
     the Inverness  Acquisition,  will exceed the Revolving Loan Borrowing to be
     incurred on the Closing Date by at least $7,500,000.
<PAGE>
                                      -42-

          (r)  LEASES.  All  Capital  Leases  of the  Credit  Parties  or  their
     respective  Subsidiaries  and all Operating Leases of the Credit Parties or
     their  respective   Subsidiaries   outstanding  immediately  prior  to  the
     Transaction   shall  remain   outstanding   after  giving   effect  to  the
     Transaction, on terms satisfactory to the Agent.

          (s) SOLVENCY.  On the Closing  Date,  the Banks shall have received an
     Officers' Solvency Certificate in the form of EXHIBIT M hereto.

          (t) CONDITIONS  RELATING TO MORTGAGED REAL PROPERTY AND REAL PROPERTY.
     On or prior to the  Closing  Date,  the  Borrower  shall have  caused to be
     delivered to the Collateral  Agent,  on behalf of the Banks,  the following
     documents and instruments:

               (i) Mortgages  encumbering each Mortgaged Real Property set forth
          on  SCHEDULE  4.01(T)(I)  in favor of the  Collateral  Agent,  for the
          benefit of the Banks,  duly  executed and  acknowledged  by the entity
          holding  title  thereto,  and  otherwise in form for  recording in the
          recording  office where each such Mortgaged Real Property is situated,
          together with such certificates, affidavits, questionnaires or returns
          as shall be  required  in  connection  with the  recording  or  filing
          thereof to create a lien under applicable law, and such UCC1 financing
          statements  and other similar  statements as are  contemplated  by the
          counsel opinions  described in Section  4.01(b)(ii) in respect of such
          Mortgage,  all of  which  shall be in form  and  substance  reasonably
          satisfactory  to the  Collateral  Agent,  and  any  other  instruments
          necessary  to grant a mortgage  lien under the laws of any  applicable
          jurisdiction,  which  Mortgage  and  financing  statements  and  other
          instruments  shall  when  recorded  be  effective  to  create  a first
          priority  Lien on such  Mortgaged  Real  Property  subject to no Liens
          other than Prior Liens;

               (ii) with respect to each Mortgaged Real Property, such consents,
          approvals,  amendments,  supplements,  estoppels, tenant subordination
          agreements or other instruments as necessary or required to consummate
          the transactions  contemplated hereby or as shall reasonably be deemed
<PAGE>
                                      -43-

          necessary by the Collateral  Agent in order for the owner or holder of
          the  fee  or  leasehold  interest  constituting  such  Mortgaged  Real
          Property to grant the Lien  contemplated  by the Mortgage with respect
          to such Mortgaged Real Property;

               (iii) with respect to each  Mortgage,  a policy (or commitment to
          issue a policy) of title insurance  insuring (or committing to insure)
          the Lien of such  Mortgage as a valid first  mortgage Lien on the real
          property  and  fixtures  described  therein in an amount not less than
          115% of the fair market value thereof, which policies (or commitments)
          shall (w) be issued by the Title Company, (x) include such reinsurance
          arrangements   (with   provisions  for  direct  access)  as  shall  be
          reasonably  acceptable to the Collateral  Agent, (y) contain a "tiein"
          or "cluster"  endorsement (if available  under  applicable law) (I.E.,
          policies  which  insure  against  losses  regardless  of  location  or
          allocated  value  of  the  insured  property  up to a  stated  maximum
          coverage amount) and have been  supplemented by such  endorsements (or
          where  such  endorsements  are  not  available,  opinions  of  special
          counsel,  architects or other professionals  reasonably  acceptable to
          the Collateral  Agent to the extent that such opinions can be obtained
          at a cost which is  reasonable  with  respect to the value of the real
          property subject to such Mortgage) as shall be reasonably requested by
          the Collateral Agent (including,  without limitation,  endorsements on
          matters   relating  to  usury,   first  loss,  last  dollar,   zoning,
          contiguity,    revolving   credit,   doing   business   and   socalled
          comprehensive  coverage  over  covenants  and  restrictions)  and  (z)
          contain only such  exceptions  to title as shall be Prior Liens or are
          otherwise  reasonably agreed to by the Collateral Agent on or prior to
          the Closing Date with respect to such Mortgaged Real Property;

               (iv) with respect to each Mortgaged  Real  Property,  policies or
          certificates  of  insurance  as  required  by  the  Mortgage  relating
          thereto,   which  policies  or  certificates  shall  comply  with  the
          insurance requirements contained in such Mortgage;

               (v) with respect to each Mortgaged Real Property,  UCC,  judgment
          and tax lien searches (or foreign jurisdiction equivalents) confirming
          that the personal property  comprising a part of such Real Property or
          Mortgaged Real Property is subject to no Liens other than Prior Liens;
<PAGE>
                                      -44-

               (vi)  with  respect  to  each  Mortgaged   Real  Property,   such
          affidavits,  certificates,  information (including financial data) and
          instruments  of  indemnification  (including,  without  limitation,  a
          socalled  "gap"  indemnification)  as shall be  required to induce the
          Title  Company to issue the policy or  policies  (or  commitment)  and
          endorsements contemplated in subparagraph (iii) above;

               (vii) evidence  reasonably  acceptable to the Collateral Agent of
          payment by the appropriate  Credit Party or Subsidiary  thereof of all
          applicable title insurance premiums,  search and examination  charges,
          survey costs and related  charges,  mortgage  recording  taxes,  fees,
          charges,  costs  and  expenses  required  for  the  recording  of  the
          Mortgages and issuance of the title insurance  policies referred to in
          subparagraph (iii) above;

               (viii)  with  respect to each Real  Property  or  Mortgaged  Real
          Property,  copies of all  Leases,  leases  in which a Credit  Party or
          Subsidiary  thereof  holds the tenant's  interest or other  agreements
          relating to possessory  interests.  To the extent any of the foregoing
          affect  any  Mortgaged   Real  Property,   such  agreement   shall  be
          subordinate to the Mortgage to be recorded against such Mortgaged Real
          Property and otherwise acceptable to the Collateral Agent; and

               (ix) with respect to each Mortgaged  Real Property,  an Officers'
          Certificate  or  other  evidence   reasonably   satisfactory   to  the
          Collateral Agent that as of the date thereof there (x) has been issued
          and is in effect a valid and proper  certificate of occupancy or other
          local  equivalent,  if  any,  for  the  use  then  being  made of such
          Mortgaged Real Property and that there is not outstanding any material
          citation,  violation or similar notice  indicating that such Mortgaged
          Real Property  contains  conditions  which are not in compliance  with
          local  codes or  ordinances  relating  to  building  or fire safety or
<PAGE>
                                      -45-

          structural  soundness,  (y) has not occurred any Taking or Destruction
          of any  Mortgaged  Real  Property  or  Real  Property  and  (z) to the
          knowledge of such officers,  are no disputes regarding boundary lines,
          location, encroachment or possession of any Real Property or Mortgaged
          Real Property and no state of facts  existing which could give rise to
          any such claim.

          (u) LABOR MATTERS.  There shall be no labor disputes,  strikes or work
     stoppages,  pending or  threatened,  involving  any Credit  Party or any of
     their  Subsidiaries  that could  reasonably be expected to adversely affect
     the consummation of the Transaction or that could reasonably be expected to
     have a Materially Adverse Effect.

          (v)  DISCHARGE  OF  CERTAIN  INDEBTEDNESS.  Except  as  set  forth  on
     Schedules  5.21(a)(i) and 5.21(a)(ii),  all principal  amounts,  prepayment
     charges, if any, accrued interest,  and fees, charges and other obligations
     of the  Borrower  in  respect  of  Existing  Debt  shall have been paid and
     discharged  in full,  and the Agent shall have  received  the  originals or
     copies  authenticated  to its  satisfaction  of (i)  all  promissory  notes
     outstanding  in  connection  therewith,  duly  cancelled by the  respective
     payees  thereof,   (ii)  duly  executed   discharge  letters  and  receipts
     evidencing  payment  in full of all  amounts  due  thereunder,  (iii)  duly
     executed releases and UCC3 Termination Statements  satisfactory in form and
     substance to the Agent,  effectively  releasing and  discharging  all Liens
     incurred in connection  with such Existing Debt  (including  duly cancelled
     stock powers), in proper form for filing or recording,  as applicable,  and
     (iv) such other  documents as the Agent may reasonably  request in order to
     evidence the  discharge of such  Existing Debt and the release of all Liens
     in connection therewith.

          The  acceptance  of the proceeds of each  Borrowing  of Initial  Loans
shall constitute a  representation  and warranty by each Credit Party to each of
the  Banks  that all of the  applicable  conditions  specified  above  have been
satisfied or waived as of that time and that, at the time of a Borrowing of such
Initial  Loan  (or  substantially  contemporaneous  therewith),  the  conditions
specified  in this  Section  4.02  have been  satisfied  or  waived.  All of the
certificates,  legal opinions and other documents and papers referred to in this
Section 4.01, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to the Agent at the
<PAGE>
                                      -46-

Agent's Office (or such other location as may be specified by the Agent) for the
account  of each of the Banks  and in  sufficient  counterparts  for each of the
Banks and shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent.

          4.02.  CONDITIONS  PRECEDENT TO ALL LOANS. The obligation of the Banks
to make all Loans,  including the Initial Loans, is subject, at the time of each
such Loan, to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

          (a)  EFFECTIVENESS.  This  Agreement  shall have become  effective  as
     provided in Section 11.10.

          (b) NO DEFAULT;  REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES.  At the time of the
     making of each Loan and also after  giving  effect  thereto (i) there shall
     exist no  Default  or Event of  Default  and (ii) all  representations  and
     warranties  contained  herein or in the other Credit Documents in effect at
     such time shall be true and correct in all material  respects with the same
     effect as though such  representations  and warranties had been made on and
     as of the date of the making of such Loan, unless such  representation  and
     warranty  expressly indicate that it is being made as of any other specific
     date in which case on and as of such other date.

          (c) ADVERSE  CHANGE,  ETC. (i) Since December 31, 1996,  nothing shall
     have  occurred or become known which the Required  Banks or the Agent shall
     have determined has a Materially Adverse Effect;  such determination  shall
     be made both before (only for the Initial Loans) and after giving effect to
     the Transaction and the making of the Loans hereunder.

          (ii) All material  governmental and third party approvals and consents
     (including,   without  limitation,  all  material  approvals  and  consents
     required  in  connection  with  any   environmental   statutes,   rules  or
     regulations),  if any, in  connection  with the conduct of the  business of
     each Credit Party or its respective  Subsidiaries  shall have been obtained
     and remain in effect.

          (iii) There shall not exist any judgment,  order,  injunction or other
     restraint issued or filed with respect to the making of any Loans hereunder
     the effect of which judgment,  order, injunction or restraint is adverse to
     any Bank.
<PAGE>
                                      -47-

          (d)  DOCUMENTATION  AND  OPINIONS  OF  COUNSEL.  The Agent  shall have
     received such  documentation and opinion or opinions,  addressed to each of
     the Banks, from counsel to each Credit Party as may be reasonably required,
     with reasonable notice under the  circumstances,  which shall be reasonably
     satisfactory  to the Agent,  from (i) such counsel to each Credit Party and
     (ii) appropriate local counsel,  which opinions shall cover such matters as
     reasonably requested by, and be in form and substance  satisfactory to, the
     Agent.

          (e) MARGIN RULES. On the date of each Borrowing of Loans,  neither the
     making of any Loan nor the use of the  proceeds  thereof  will  violate the
     provisions  of  Regulation  G, T, U or X of the Board of  Governors  of the
     Federal Reserve System.

          (f)  BORROWING  BASE  CERTIFICATE.  The Agent shall have  received and
     shall be  reasonably  satisfied  (both as to form and  substance)  with the
     Borrowing Base Certificate last required to be delivered to the Banks.

          (g) REAL  PROPERTY  DISCLOSURE.  Each Credit Party shall have made all
     notifications,  registrations, and filings in accordance with all State and
     Local Disclosure  Requirements  applicable to the Real Property,  including
     the use of forms  provided  by state or local  agencies,  where  such forms
     exist,  whether to the  Borrower or to or with the state or local agency to
     the extent  failure to make such filings  could  reasonably  be expected to
     have a Materially Adverse Effect.

          The  acceptance  of the  proceeds  of each  Borrowing  of Loans  shall
constitute  a  representation  and  warranty by each Credit Party to each of the
Banks that all of the applicable  conditions specified in this Section 4.02 have
been satisfied or waived.

          All of the certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers
referred to in this Section 4.02, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered
to the Agent at the Agent's  Office (or such other  location as may be specified
by the  Agent)  for  the  account  of  each  of  the  Banks  and  in  sufficient
counterparts  for  each of the  Banks  and  shall  be  satisfactory  in form and
substance to the Agent.
<PAGE>
                                      -48-

          4.03.  ADDITIONAL  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ACQUISITION TERM LOANS. The
obligations  of the Banks to make the  Acquisition  Term Loans  (which shall not
include  a  conversion  or  continuation  of  any  such  Loan),   including  any
Acquisition  Term Loan made on the Closing Date, are subject to the satisfaction
of the following additional conditions:

          (a) Each  Acquisition  Term  Loan  shall be made  solely  to  effect a
     Designated Acquisition;

          (b) No later than 20 calendar days prior to the Acquisition  Term Loan
     Closing Date  (except to the extent the Agent agrees to a shorter  period),
     the Agent shall have received (with  sufficient  copies for each Bank) each
     of the  following  with  respect  to  the  consummation  of the  Designated
     Acquisition to be financed with the proceeds of such Acquisition Term Loan:

               (i)  reasonable and  satisfactory  evidence that the Borrower has
          completed  customary and appropriate due diligence with respect to the
          Designated  Acquisition,  including legal,  accounting and operational
          reviews;

               (ii) a PRO  FORMA  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  and a PRO  FORMA
          balance sheet and PRO FORMA consolidated statements of income and cash
          flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the
          consummation of the Designated Acquisition,  as at the end of the most
          recent month;

               (iii) a  certificate  evidencing  PRO FORMA  covenant  compliance
          (PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that the Agent shall have the right to review and
          approve any  adjustments to historical  financial  statements  used in
          calculating  such  compliance),  after giving effect to the Designated
          Acquisition,  as at the end of the most recent month, at levels not to
          exceed the ratio set forth opposite such covenant below:

                          COVENANT                RATIO
                          --------                -----
                    Senior Leverage Ratio       3.50:1.00
                    Total Leverage Ratio        4.25:1.00
<PAGE>
                                      -49-

               (iv) a  certificate  of the  chief  executive  officer  or  chief
          financial  officer of the  Borrower  with  respect  to the  Designated
          Acquisition,

                    (x) certifying to the preparation of the PRO FORMA financial
               statements referenced in subclause (ii) and certifying that, both
               before and after giving effect to such Designated Acquisition, no
               Default or Event of Default shall exist, and that, on a PRO FORMA
               basis, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including any direct or
               indirect  Subsidiary  of  the  Borrower  to be  acquired  in  the
               contemplated  Designated  Acquisition) will be in compliance with
               the PRO FORMA covenants set forth in Section 4.03(b)(iii),  as of
               the  end  of  the  calendar  quarter  in  which  such  Designated
               Acquisition   is  to  be   consummated   and  setting  forth  the
               calculations required to establish such PRO FORMA compliance; and

                    (y)  certifying  that the  conditions  set  forth in each of
               Sections 4.02 and 4.03 (other than the  completion of filings and
               recordings to be performed upon the Acquisition Term Loan Closing
               Date)  have  been   satisfied   with  respect  to  such  proposed
               Acquisition Term Loan Borrowing;

               (c) On or before the  applicable  Acquisition  Term Loan  Closing
          Date, the Borrower shall have complied, in all material respects, with
          the  provisions  of  Sections  6.15,  6.16  and  6.17  (including,  if
          reasonably requested by the Agent, an appropriate environmental review
          of the Designated Acquisition entity from an environmental  assessment
          firm of national standing,  in a form satisfactory to the Agent) as to
          any  property  acquired  or to be  acquired  in  connection  with such
          Designated  Acquisition,  except  for any such  provisions  with which
          compliance is waived by the Agent in its sole  discretion,  including,
          without limitation,  that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including
          any Subsidiary so acquired) shall execute and deliver to the Agent any
          additional Security Documents (or Subsidiary  Guarantees)  required to
          provide the Agent for the benefit of the Banks with a valid, perfected
          security  interest in any Collateral to be acquired in such Designated
          Acquisition;
<PAGE>
                                      -50-

               (d) There  shall be  delivered  to the Agent (in each case,  with
          sufficient  copies for each Bank) upon  consummation of the Designated
          Acquisition,   a  complete  set  of  the  documents   effecting   such
          acquisition,  together  with all  schedules  and exhibits  (including,
          without limitation, the acquisition agreement);

               (e) Any fees or expenses of the Agent or the Banks which are then
          due and payable,  whether due in connection with such Acquisition Term
          Loan Borrowing or otherwise, shall have been paid in full prior to, or
          simultaneously with, the Acquisition Term Loan Closing;

               (f)  Sam  Leopold  shall  remain,  after  giving  effect  to  the
          Designated  Acquisition,  the Chief Executive  Officer of the Borrower
          and Mr.  Leopold  shall  retain at least 66 2/3% of his fully  diluted
          equity ownership  (including shares underlying options) of the Company
          as of the Closing Date, PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that this provision shall
          in no way  be  construed  to  create  any  personal  liability  of Sam
          Leopold; and

               (g) The Agent shall be reasonably  satisfied with the final terms
          and  conditions  of, and  documentation  relating  to, the  Designated
          Acquisition  (including,   without  limitation,  all  representations,
          warranties and indemnities  contained in such documentation),  and the
          Agent's continuing  satisfaction with the capital,  organizational and
          management  structure of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  (including
          the ownership and corporate structure of each Subsidiary).

          4.04.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ALL LETTERS OF CREDIT. The right of the
Borrower  to obtain  the  issuance  of any  Letter of Credit  that the  relevant
Issuing  Bank  determines  to issue in its  reasonable  discretion  hereunder is
subject to prior or concurrent satisfaction of all of the following conditions:

               (A) REQUIRED  DOCUMENTATION.  On or prior to the date of issuance
          of a Letter of Credit,  the Agent shall have  received,  in accordance
          with the  provisions of Section  1.10(b),  a request for issuance with
          respect to such Letter of Credit (the  furnishing  by the  Borrower of
          each  such  request  for  issuance  shall be deemed  to  constitute  a
          representation  and  warranty  of the  Borrower to the effect that the
          conditions set forth in Sections 4.01 and 4.02 are satisfied as of the
<PAGE>
                                      -51-

          date  of  delivery  and  will be  satisfied  on the  relevant  date of
          issuance),  all other  information  specified in Section 1.10(b),  and
          such other  documents  as the Issuing Bank may  reasonably  require in
          connection with the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

               (B)  CONDITIONS.  On the date of  issuance of each such Letter of
          Credit, all conditions  precedent  described in Sections 4.01 and 4.02
          shall be  satisfied  to the same extent as though the issuance of such
          Letter of Credit were the making of a Revolving Loan.

          SECTION 5.  REPRESENTATIONS,  WARRANTIES AND  AGREEMENTS.  In order to
induce  the  Agent and the Banks to enter  into this  Agreement  and to make the
Loans provided for herein, the Borrower makes the following  representations and
warranties to, and agreements  with, the Agent and the Banks, all of which shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans
(with the execution  and delivery of this  Agreement and the making of each Loan
thereafter  being deemed to  constitute a  representation  and warranty that the
matters  specified  in this  Section  5 are true  and  correct  in all  material
respects both before and after giving effect to the  Transaction and the related
transactions and as of the date of each such Loan unless such representation and
warranty expressly indicates that it is being made as of any specific date):

          5.01.   STATUS.   Each  Credit  Party  and  each  of  its   respective
Subsidiaries (i) is a duly organized and validly existing corporation or limited
liability  company in good standing  under the laws of the  jurisdiction  of its
organization; (ii) has the requisite corporate or other organizational power and
authority and has obtained all requisite governmental licenses,  authorizations,
consents  and  approvals  to own and  operate  its  property  and  assets and to
transact the business in which it is engaged and  presently  proposes to engage,
except for those governmental  licenses,  authorizations,  consents or approvals
the  failure  of which to be so  obtained  would not have a  Materially  Adverse
Effect  and  (iii)  is duly  qualified,  or as of the  Closing  Date  has  taken
appropriate  steps to qualify,  and is authorized  to do business,  or as of the
Closing Date has taken appropriate steps to be authorized to do business, and is
in good  standing in all  jurisdictions  where it is required to be so qualified
and where the failure to be so qualified would have a Materially Adverse Effect.
<PAGE>
                                      -52-

          5.02. CORPORATE POWER AND AUTHORITY;  BUSINESS.  Each Credit Party and
each of its  respective  Subsidiaries  has the  requisite  corporate  or limited
liability  company  power and  authority  to execute,  deliver and carry out the
terms and  provisions  of the Documents to which it is a party and has taken all
necessary  corporate  or  limited  liability  company  action to  authorize  the
execution,  delivery and  performance  of the  Documents to which it is a party.
Each Credit Party and each of its respective  Subsidiaries has duly executed and
delivered  each  Document  to  which  it  is a  party  and  each  such  Document
constitutes the legal,  valid and binding  obligation of such Person enforceable
in  accordance  with its terms except as such  enforceability  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.

          5.03. NO VIOLATION. Neither the execution, delivery and performance by
any Credit Party or its respective  Subsidiaries  of this Agreement or the other
Documents to which it is a party nor  compliance  with the terms and  provisions
hereof and thereof, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein
and therein (i) will  contravene any applicable  provision of any law,  statute,
rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental
instrumentality,  (ii) will  conflict or be  inconsistent  with or result in any
breach  of any  of  the  terms,  covenants,  conditions  or  provisions  of,  or
constitute a default under,  or (other than pursuant to the Security  Documents)
result in the creation or imposition of (or the  obligation to create or impose)
any  Lien  upon  any of the  property  or  assets  of any  Credit  Party  or its
respective  Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture,  mortgage, deed
of  trust,  agreement  or other  instrument  to which  any  Credit  Party or its
respective  Subsidiaries  is a party or by which  it or any of its  property  or
assets  is bound  or to  which it may be  subject  or  (iii)  will  violate  any
provision of the charter or bylaws or the  certificate of formation or operating
agreement,  as applicable,  of any Credit Party or its respective  Subsidiaries,
except, in each case, where such contravention, conflict, inconsistency, breach,
default,  creation,  imposition,  obligation  or  violation  would  not  have  a
Materially Adverse Effect.

          5.04.  LITIGATION.   There  are  no  actions,   judgments,   suits  or
proceedings pending or, to the Borrower's knowledge,  threatened with respect to
(i) the transactions  contemplated by the Documents and (ii) any Credit Party or
its  respective  Subsidiaries  which  could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
Materially Adverse Effect.
<PAGE>
                                      -53-

          5.05. USE OF PROCEEDS. 

          (a) The  proceeds  of all A Term  Loans and B Term Loans to be made to
the  Borrower  hereunder  shall be  utilized  by the  Borrower  to  finance  the
Transaction, to repay certain Indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses,
which such fees and expenses shall not exceed $3,000,000.

          (b) The  proceeds of all  Acquisition  Term Loans shall be utilized to
effect acquisitions in accordance with Section 4.03.

          (c) The proceeds of the Revolving  Loans shall be utilized for working
capital and other  general  corporate  purposes  but shall not be used to effect
acquisitions  (it being understood that the Borrower may use or issue any of its
Capital Stock as full or partial  consideration  for any acquisitions  otherwise
permitted by this Agreement).

          (d)  Neither  the  making  of any Loan  hereunder,  nor the use of the
proceeds  thereof,  will  violate  or be  inconsistent  with the  provisions  of
Regulation G, T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

          5.06.  GOVERNMENTAL  APPROVALS,  ETC.  No  order,  consent,  approval,
license,  authorization,  or validation of, or filing, recording or registration
with, or exemption  by, any third party or any foreign or domestic  governmental
or public body or authority,  or by any  subdivision  thereof  (other than those
orders, consents, approvals,  licenses,  authorizations or validations which, if
not  obtained or made,  would not  reasonably  be expected to have a  Materially
Adverse  Effect or which have  previously  been  obtained  or made or filings to
perfect security  interests  granted pursuant to the Security  Documents,  which
will be accomplished on or prior to the Closing Date (unless otherwise agreed to
by the Agent)),  is required to authorize or is required in connection  with (i)
the  execution,  delivery and  performance  of any Document or the  transactions
contemplated  therein  or  (ii)  the  legality,   validity,  binding  effect  or
enforceability of any Document.  At the time of the making of the Initial Loans,
there does not exist any judgment,  order,  injunction or other restraint issued
or filed with respect to the  consummation  of the  Transaction or the making of
Loans or the performance by the Credit Parties or their respective  Subsidiaries
of their respective obligations under the Documents.
<PAGE>
                                      -54-

          5.07. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. No Credit Party or any of its respective
Subsidiaries is, or will be after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
hereby,  an  "investment  company" or a company  "controlled"  by an "investment
company," within the meaning of the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,
or subject to any foreign,  federal or local statute or regulation  limiting its
ability to incur  indebtedness for money borrowed or guarantee such indebtedness
as contemplated hereby or by any other Credit Document.

          5.08.  PUBLIC UTILITY  HOLDING  COMPANY ACT. No Credit Party or any of
its  respective  Subsidiaries  is,  or  will  be  after  giving  effect  to  the
transactions contemplated hereby, a "holding company," or a "subsidiary company"
of a  "holding  company,"  or an  "affiliate"  of a  "holding  company"  or of a
"subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company,"  within the meaning of the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

          5.09. TRUE AND COMPLETE DISCLOSURE.  All factual information (taken as
a whole) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of the Credit
Parties in writing to any Bank (including,  without limitation,  all information
contained in the Credit  Documents)  for purposes of or in connection  with this
Agreement  or any  transaction  contemplated  herein is (or was,  on the date of
making the Initial Loans),  and all other such factual  information  (taken as a
whole) hereafter  furnished by or on behalf of any such Person in writing to any
Bank will be, true and accurate in all material respects on the date as of which
such  information  is dated or certified and not incomplete by omitting to state
any material fact necessary to make such information not misleading at such time
in light of the  circumstances  under which such  information was provided.  The
projections and PRO FORMA financial  information contained in such materials are
based on good faith  estimates  and  assumptions  believed by such Persons to be
reasonable  at the time  made,  it  being  recognized  by the  Banks  that  such
projections  as to future  events are not to be viewed as facts and that  actual
results during the period or periods covered by any such  projections may differ
from the projected results.  There is no fact known to any officer of any Credit
Party which materially and adversely affects the business, operations, property,
assets,  nature of assets,  liabilities,  condition  (financial or otherwise) or
prospects of the Credit Parties,  taken as a whole, which has not been disclosed
<PAGE>
                                      -55-

herein or in such other documents, certificates and written statements furnished
to the Banks for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

          5.10.  TRANSACTION.  At the time of  making  the  Initial  Loans,  all
necessary   governmental  and  thirdparty   approvals  in  connection  with  the
Transaction  have been,  or,  prior to the time when  required,  will have been,
obtained and remain in effect,  and all  applicable  waiting  periods have,  or,
prior to the time when required,  will have, expired without, in all such cases,
any action being taken by any competent  authority which is reasonably likely to
have a Materially Adverse Effect on the Transaction.

          5.11. FINANCIAL CONDITION;  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS;  PROJECTIONS. (a) No
Credit Party is entering into the  arrangements  contemplated  hereby and by the
other Credit Documents, or intends to make any transfer or incur any obligations
hereunder or thereunder  with actual intent to hinder,  delay or defraud  either
present or future creditors. On and as of the Closing Date, on a PRO FORMA basis
after giving  effect to the  Transaction  and to all  Indebtedness  incurred and
Liens and  Guarantees  created,  or to be created,  by each Credit  Party or its
respective  Subsidiaries  in connection with the  Transaction,  (w) the Borrower
does not expect that final judgments  against any Credit Party or its respective
Subsidiaries  in actions for money damages with respect to pending or threatened
litigation  will be  rendered at a time when,  or in an amount  such that,  such
Credit Party will be unable to satisfy any such judgments promptly in accordance
with their terms  (taking  into  account the maximum  reasonable  amount of such
judgments  in any such actions and the  earliest  reasonable  time at which such
judgments  might be rendered and the cash  available to each Credit Party or its
respective Subsidiaries, after taking into account all other anticipated uses of
the cash of such Credit  Party or its  respective  Subsidiaries  (including  the
payments  on or in  respect of debts and  insurance  proceeds,  including  their
Contingent  Obligations));  (x) no Credit Party or its  respective  Subsidiaries
will have incurred or intends to, or believes  that it will,  incur debts beyond
its  ability to pay such debts as such debts  mature  (taking  into  account the
timing and amounts of cash to be received by such Credit Party or its respective
Subsidiaries  from any source,  and of amounts to be payable on or in respect of
debts  of such  Credit  Party or its  respective  Subsidiaries  and the  amounts
referred  to in  the  preceding  clause  (w));  (y)  each  Credit  Party  or its
respective Subsidiaries, after taking into account all other anticipated uses of
<PAGE>
                                      -56-

the cash of such Credit Party or its respective Subsidiaries,  anticipates being
able to pay all  amounts on or in respect of debts of such  Credit  Party or its
respective  Subsidiaries when such amounts are required to be paid; and (z) each
Credit Party and its respective  Subsidiaries will have sufficient  capital with
which to conduct its present and presently proposed business and the property of
such  Credit  Party  and  its  respective   Subsidiaries   does  not  constitute
unreasonably  small  capital  with which to  conduct  its  present  or  proposed
business.  For purposes of this Section  5.11,  "debt" means any  liability on a
claim,  and "claim" means a (i) right to payment  whether or not such a right is
reduced to  judgment,  liquidated,  unliquidated,  fixed,  contingent,  matured,
unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured; or (ii)
right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise
to a payment,  whether or not such  right to an  equitable  remedy is reduced to
judgment, fixed, contingent,  matured, unmatured,  disputed, undisputed, secured
or unsecured.  On the date of each  Borrowing and the issuance of each Letter of
Credit (and after giving  effect to all  Borrowings  and Letters of Credit as of
such date), the  representations set forth in this Section 5.11(a) shall be true
and correct with respect to the Borrower on such date and any Credit Party which
is a  guarantor  with  respect  to any or all of such  Borrowings  or Letters of
Credit.

          (b) The Borrower has heretofore  delivered to the Banks the historical
financial  statements  set forth in Section  4.01(i).  The financial  statements
referred to in the preceding  sentence  were  prepared in  accordance  with GAAP
consistently  applied and fairly  present the financial  position and results of
operations of the Borrower for the periods covered thereby.

          There has also been  delivered  the  estimated PRO FORMA (after giving
effect  to the  Transaction)  opening  balance  sheet,  reviewed  by a "Big Six"
accounting  firm, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1997,
which presents a good faith  estimate of the  consolidated  PRO FORMA  financial
position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such periods.  The assumptions
made in preparing  such PRO FORMA balance sheet are reasonable as of the date of
such statements and as of the Closing Date and all material  assumptions are set
forth therein.  Except as contemplated hereby, since December 31, 1996 (on a PRO
FORMA  basis after  giving  effect to the  Transaction)  no event or events have
occurred that could reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect.
<PAGE>
                                      -57-

          (c)  There  have  heretofore  been  delivered  to the  Banks PRO FORMA
consolidating  income  projections  for the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  PRO
FORMA  consolidating   balance  sheet  projections  for  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries and PRO FORMA  consolidating cash flow projections for the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries,  all for the fiscal years ending December 31, 1997 through
December 31, 2004, inclusive (the "Projected Financial Statements"),  which give
effect to the Transaction and all  Indebtedness and Liens incurred or created in
connection with the Transaction. The assumptions made in preparing the Projected
Financial Statements are reasonable as of the date of such projections and as of
the Closing Date and all  material  assumptions  with  respect to the  Projected
Financial  Statements are set forth therein.  The Projected Financial Statements
present a good faith  estimate  by the  Borrower of the  consolidated  financial
information contained therein at the date thereof.

          (d) As of the  Closing  Date,  except as fully  reflected  or reserved
against in the financial  statements and the notes thereto  described in Section
5.11(b),  to  the  knowledge  of the  Borrower  there  were  no  liabilities  or
obligations  with respect to the Borrower or its respective  Subsidiaries of any
nature  whatsoever  (whether  absolute,  accrued,  contingent  or otherwise  and
whether or not due) which, either individually or in aggregate, would reasonably
be expected to result in a  Materially  Adverse  Effect on the  Borrower and its
respective Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower
does not know of any basis for the  assertion  against  any Credit  Party or its
respective  Subsidiaries of any liability or obligation of any nature whatsoever
that is not fully  reflected in the  financial  statements  described in Section
5.11(b) or (c),  except as incurred by any Credit Party in  connection  with the
Transaction, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be
expected to be material to such Credit Party and its respective Subsidiaries.

          5.12.  SECURITY INTERESTS.  The Security Documents,  when filed and/or
recorded,  together with delivery to the  Collateral  Agent of any Collateral in
which a security  interest is perfected by possession,  will create, in favor of
the  Collateral  Agent  for  the  benefit  of the  Banks,  as  security  for the
obligations  purported to be secured thereby, a valid and enforceable  perfected
first  priority  security  interest  in and  Lien  upon  all of the  Collateral,
superior to and prior to the rights of all third persons and subject to no other
<PAGE>
                                      -58-

Liens except Prior Liens and other Liens  expressly  permitted by the applicable
Security  Documents.  The  mortgagor  under each  Mortgage has good title to the
Mortgaged  Real  Property free and clear of all Liens other than Prior Liens and
other Liens  expressly  permitted  by the  applicable  Security  Documents.  The
respective  pledgor  or  assignor,  as the case may be, has (or on and after the
time it executes the respective Security Document,  will have) good title to all
items of Collateral  (other than real property subject to a Mortgage) covered by
such Security  Document free and clear of all Liens except Prior Liens and other
Liens expressly permitted by the applicable  Security  Documents.  No filings or
recordings are required in order to perfect the security interests created under
any Security  Document  except for filings or recordings  required in connection
with  any  such  Security  Document  which  shall  have  been  made  prior to or
contemporaneously  with the execution  and delivery  thereof  (unless  otherwise
agreed to by the Agent).

          5.13. TAX RETURNS AND PAYMENTS. Each of the Credit Parties and each of
its respective Subsidiaries has filed all tax returns required to be filed by it
and has paid all material taxes and assessments  payable by it which have become
due, other than those not yet delinquent and except for those  contested in good
faith and for which adequate reserves have been established.  Each of the Credit
Parties  and each of its  respective  Subsidiaries  has  paid,  or has  provided
adequate  reserves  (in  accordance  with GAAP) for the payment of, all federal,
state, local and foreign income taxes (including, without limitation,  franchise
taxes  based upon  income)  applicable  for all prior  fiscal  years and for the
current  fiscal  year to the  date  hereof.  The  Borrower  does not know of any
proposed  tax  assessment  against  any  Credit  Party or any of its  respective
Subsidiaries  that could  reasonably  be expected to have a  Materially  Adverse
Effect which is not being actively contested in good faith by such Person to the
extent affected thereby in good faith and by appropriate  proceedings;  PROVIDED
that such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required
in conformity with GAAP shall have been made or provided therefor. The PRO FORMA
financial  statements  delivered pursuant to Section 5.11(b) reflected all taxes
resulting from the transactions contemplated by the Transaction.

          5.14.  ERISA. (a) Each Credit Party,  its respective  Subsidiaries and
its respective ERISA Affiliates are in compliance in all material  respects with
all  applicable  provisions  of  ERISA  and the  Code  and the  regulations  and
published interpretations thereunder with respect to all employee benefit plans.
<PAGE>
                                      -59-

          (b) No  Termination  Event has occurred or is  reasonably  expected to
occur with  respect to any  Pension  Plan which  resulted  or would  result in a
material  liability to any Credit  Party,  its  respective  Subsidiaries  or its
respective ERISA Affiliates.

          (c) The sum of the amount of unfunded benefit liabilities  (determined
in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) under all
Title IV Plans  (excluding each Title IV Plan with an amount of unfunded benefit
liabilities of zero or less) is not more than $100,000.  As of the Closing Date,
the sum of the amount of  unfunded  benefit  liabilities  (within the meaning of
Section  4001(a)(18) of ERISA) under all Title IV Plans  (excluding each Pension
Plan with an amount of unfunded benefit liabilities of zero or less) is not more
than $100,000.

          (d)  As of  the  Closing  Date,  none  of the  Credit  Parties,  their
respective Subsidiaries nor their respective ERISA Affiliates has any obligation
to  contribute to or any liability or potential  liability  (including,  but not
limited  to,  actual or  potential  withdrawal  liability)  with  respect to any
Multiemployer  Plan or any  employee  benefit  plan  of the  type  described  in
Sections  4063 and 4064 of ERISA or in Section  413(c) of the Code.  None of the
Credit  Parties,  their  respective  Subsidiaries  nor  their  respective  ERISA
Affiliates has incurred or reasonably  expects to incur any material  withdrawal
liability under Section 4201 ET SEQ. of ERISA to any  Multiemployer  Plan or any
employee  benefit plan of the type  described in Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA
or in Section 413(c) of the Code.

          (e) None of the Credit  Parties,  their  respective  Subsidiaries  nor
their  respective   ERISA  Affiliates  has  incurred  any  accumulated   funding
deficiency (whether or not waived) with respect to any Pension Plan.

          (f) None of the Credit  Parties,  their  respective  Subsidiaries  nor
their respective ERISA Affiliates has or reasonably expects to become subject to
a Lien in favor of any  Pension  Plan  under  Section  302(f) or 307 of ERISA or
Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Code.
<PAGE>
                                      -60-

          (g) Assuming that no portion of the Loans to be advanced  hereunder is
attributable,  directly or  indirectly,  to the assets of any  employee  benefit
plan, the  execution,  performance  and delivery of the Credit  Documents by any
party thereto will not constitute any prohibited  transaction within the meaning
of  Section  406 of ERISA or  Section  4975 of the Code for  which an  exemption
therefrom is not available.

          As  used  in  this  Section  5.14,  the  term   "accumulated   funding
deficiency" has the meaning specified in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of
the Code,  and the term  "employee  benefit  plan" has the meaning  specified in
Section 3(3) of ERISA.

          5.15. SUBSIDIARIES. After giving effect to the Transaction, all of the
outstanding  units or common  stock,  as the case may be, of each  Credit  Party
shall be  validly  issued,  fully  paid  and  nonassessable  and  shall be owned
beneficially  and of record by each Credit  Party as set forth as SCHEDULE  5.15
hereto,  subject to no Liens other than Liens in favor of the Collateral  Agent.
Other  than  as  set  forth  on  SCHEDULE  5.19,  after  giving  effect  to  the
Transaction,  there shall be no  preemptive  rights on the part of any holder of
any class of securities of any Credit Party or other rights, such as warrants or
options, to acquire any class of securities of any Credit Party.

          5.16. PATENTS,  ETC. Each Credit Party or its respective  Subsidiaries
owns or possesses adequate licenses or other rights to use all material patents,
patent   applications,   trademark   registrations,    trademark   applications,
servicemark  registrations,  servicemark  applications,  trade names,  copyright
registrations,  trade  secrets  and know how  (collectively,  the  "Intellectual
Property") that are necessary for the operation of its respective  businesses as
presently  conducted  and as  currently  proposed to be  conducted.  No claim is
pending  or,  to  the  knowledge  of  each  Credit  Party  and  its   respective
Subsidiaries,  threatened to the effect that any Credit Party or its  respective
Subsidiaries  infringes upon or conflicts with the asserted  rights of any other
person under any  Intellectual  Property,  and, to the  knowledge of each Credit
Party and its  respective  Subsidiaries,  there is no basis  for any such  claim
(whether or not pending or threatened). No claim is pending or, to the knowledge
of each Credit Party and its respective  Subsidiaries,  threatened to the effect
that any such Intellectual Property owned or licensed by any Credit Party or its
respective Subsidiaries or which any Credit Party or its respective Subsidiaries
<PAGE>
                                      -61-

otherwise has the right to use, is invalid or unenforceable by such Credit Party
or its respective  Subsidiaries,  and, to the knowledge of each Credit Party and
its  respective  Subsidiaries,  there is no basis for any such claim (whether or
not pending or threatened).

          5.17.  COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, ETC. Each Credit Party and its respective
Subsidiaries  is in material  compliance  with all laws and  regulations  in all
jurisdictions in which it is presently doing business, and each Credit Party and
its respective Subsidiaries will comply with all such laws and regulations which
may be imposed in the future in jurisdictions in which it or such Subsidiary may
then be doing business except to the extent the noncompliance with such laws and
regulations  would not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Materially  Adverse
Effect. To its knowledge,  no Credit Party is currently under  investigation for
the violation of any crime the conviction for which would reasonably be expected
to have a Materially Adverse Effect.

          5.18. PROPERTIES. Each Credit Party or its respective Subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to and beneficial ownership of all material properties
owned by it, including after the Closing Date all property reflected in the most
recent balance sheet referred to in Section 5.11(b) (except as sold or otherwise
disposed  of since  the date of such  balance  sheet in the  ordinary  course of
business),  free and clear of all Liens, other than, in the case of property not
constituting  Collateral,  Permitted  Encumbrances  and, in the case of property
constituting  Collateral,  Prior  Liens.  Each  Credit  Party or its  respective
Subsidiaries hold all material licenses,  certificates of occupancy or operation
and similar  certificates  and  clearances  of municipal  and other  authorities
necessary to own and operate its  properties  in the manner and for the purposes
currently  operated by such party.  Each Real Property and each  Mortgaged  Real
Property is suitable for its intended  purposes and is served by such  utilities
as are necessary for the operation thereof.  There are no actual,  threatened or
alleged  defaults  of a  material  nature  with  respect  to any  Leases of Real
Property under which any Credit Party or any of its respective  Subsidiaries  is
lessor or lessee.

          5.19.  SECURITIES.  Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 5.19 hereto, there
are not, as of the  Effective  Date,  any  existing  options,  warrants,  calls,
subscriptions,  convertible  or  exchangeable  securities,  rights,  agreements,
commitments or arrangements for any Person to acquire any equity security of any
<PAGE>
                                      -62-

Credit  Party or any other  securities  convertible  into,  exchangeable  for or
evidencing the right to subscribe for any such equity security.

          5.20.  COLLECTIVE  BARGAINING  AGREEMENTS.  Set forth on SCHEDULE 5.20
hereto  is a list  and  description  (including  dates  of  termination)  of all
collective  bargaining or similar agreements between or applicable to any Credit
Party or its respective  Subsidiaries as of the date hereof and any union, labor
organization or other bargaining agent in respect of the employees of any Credit
Party or its  respective  Subsidiaries  on the date  indicated in SCHEDULE  5.20
hereto.

          5.21. INDEBTEDNESS OUTSTANDING; PRIOR LIENS. 

          (a) Set forth on SCHEDULE  5.21(A) hereto is a list and description of
(i) all  Indebtedness  of the Credit Parties and their  respective  Subsidiaries
(other than the Loans) that shall be outstanding  immediately  after the Closing
Date and (ii) all  Indebtedness  of the  Credit  Parties  and  their  respective
Subsidiaries that was repaid,  defeased,  transferred or otherwise terminated on
the Closing Date.

          (b) SCHEDULE  5.21(B) hereto sets forth a true list of all Liens other
than Permitted  Encumbrances  on the property of the Credit Parties  immediately
following the Closing Date.
                                         
          5.22. ENVIRONMENTAL  PROTECTION.  Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 5.22
hereto and except as would not have a Materially Adverse Effect,

               (a)  Each  Credit  Party  and  its  respective  Subsidiaries  has
          obtained all  permits,  licenses  and other  authorizations  which are
          required with respect to the operation of the business and assets, and
          use,  ownership and operation of Real Property of the Borrower and its
          Subsidiaries,  in each case taken as a whole,  under any Environmental
          Law and each such authorization is in full force and effect.

               (b) Each  Credit  Party and its  respective  Subsidiaries  are in
          compliance with all terms and conditions of the permits,  licenses and
          authorizations  specified in subsection 5.22(a) above, and are also in
          compliance  with, and not currently  liable under,  any  Environmental
          Laws  applicable to it and its business,  assets,  operations and Real
          Property.
<PAGE>
                                      -63-

               (c) There is no civil,  criminal or administrative  action, suit,
          demand,   claim,   hearing,   notice  of   violation,   investigation,
          proceeding, notice or demand letter or request for information pending
          or, to the  knowledge  of any  Credit  Party or any of its  respective
          Subsidiaries,  threatened  against  any  Credit  Party  or  any of its
          respective Subsidiaries under any Environmental Law.

               (d)  None  of the  Credit  Parties  nor  any  of  its  respective
          Subsidiaries  has  received  notice that it has been  identified  as a
          potentially  responsible party under the  Comprehensive  Environmental
          Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA),
          or any  comparable  state law nor has any  Credit  Party or any of its
          respective  Subsidiaries  received any notification that any Hazardous
          Materials  that  it,  or  any  of its  Subsidiaries,  or any of  their
          respective  predecessors  in  interest  has used,  generated,  stored,
          treated, handled, transported or disposed of, or arranged for disposal
          or treatment  of, or arranged  with a  transporter  for  transport for
          disposal  or  treatment  of,  have been found at any site at which any
          governmental agency or private party is conducting or plans to conduct
          a remedial investigation or other action pursuant to any Environmental
          Law.

               (e)  There  have  been no  releases  (I.E.,  any past or  present
          releasing,  spilling,  leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting,  emptying,
          discharging,  injecting,  escaping, leaching, disposing or dumping) of
          Hazardous  Materials  by any  Credit  Party  or any of its  respective
          Subsidiaries  or,  to the  knowledge  of the  Credit  Party  after due
          inquiry, their respective  predecessors in interest on, at, upon, into
          or from any of the Real  Properties.  To the  knowledge  of any Credit
          Party and each of its respective  Subsidiaries after due inquiry there
          have been no such releases on, at, upon,  under, from or into any real
          property in the vicinity of any of the Real Properties  that,  through
          soil, air,  surface water or groundwater  migration or  contamination,
          may have migrated to or under such Real Properties.

               (f) No asbestos is present in, on, or at any Real  Properties  or
          any facility or equipment of any Credit Party or any of its respective
          Subsidiaries.

               (g)  No  Real  Properties  of  any  Credit  Party  or  any of its
          respective  Subsidiaries  or any of their  respective  predecessors in
          interest  are (i)  listed or  formally  proposed  for  listing  on the
<PAGE>
                                      -64-

          National   Priorities   List  under  CERCLA  or  (ii)  listed  in  the
          Comprehensive   Environmental   Response,   Compensation,    Liability
          Information  System  List  promulgated  pursuant  to  CERCLA  or (iii)
          included  on any  comparable  lists  maintained  by  any  governmental
          authority.

               (h)   There   are  no  past  or   present   events,   conditions,
          circumstances,  activities,  practices,  incidents,  actions  or plans
          which  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  interfere  with or prevent
          compliance with any  Environmental  Law, or which could  reasonably be
          expected to give rise to any liability  under any  Environmental  Law,
          including,  without  limitation,  liability  under  CERCLA or  similar
          state,  local or  foreign  laws,  or  otherwise  form the basis of any
          claim,  action,  demand,  suit,  proceeding,   hearing  or  notice  of
          violation, notice of potential liability or investigation, based on or
          related to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation,
          treatment,  storage, disposal, transport, shipping or handling, or the
          emission,   discharge,   release  or   threatened   release  into  the
          environment, of any Hazardous Materials.

               (i) No Lien has been recorded  under any  Environmental  Law with
          respect to any assets,  facility,  inventory or Real  Property  owned,
          operated,  leased  or  controlled  by any  Credit  Party or any of its
          respective Subsidiaries.

          5.23. ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS.  All environmental investigations,
studies, audits,  assessments or reviews conducted of which any Credit Party has
knowledge  in relation to the current or prior  business or assets of any Credit
Party or any of its  respective  Subsidiaries  or any Real  Property,  assets or
facility now or previously owned,  operated,  leased,  used or controlled by any
Credit Party or any of its  respective  Subsidiaries  have been delivered to the
Agent.

          SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE  COVENANTS.  The Borrower  covenants and agrees
that on the Effective  Date and  thereafter  for so long as this Agreement is in
effect and until the  Commitments  have  terminated  and the Loans together with
interest and fees are paid in full and all other Obligations incurred hereunder,
to the extent then due and payable, are paid in full:
<PAGE>
                                      -65-

          6.01. INFORMATION COVENANTS.  The Borrower will furnish or cause to be
furnished to each Bank:

               (a) As soon as  available  and in any event  within 90 days after
          the close of each fiscal year of the Borrower,  the  consolidating and
          consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at
          the  end of  such  fiscal  year  and  the  related  consolidating  and
          consolidated statements of income, of stockholders' equity and of cash
          flows for such fiscal year,  setting forth  comparative  consolidating
          and consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year and a report on
          such   consolidated   balance  sheets  and  financial   statements  by
          independent   certified  public  accountants  of  recognized  national
          standing, which report shall not be qualified as to the scope of audit
          or as to the status of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  as a going
          concern and shall state that such  consolidated  financial  statements
          present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Borrower 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 for such changes with which the independent  certified  public
          accountants  concur)  and  the  examination  by such  accountants  was
          conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.

               (b) As soon as practicable  and in any event within 30 days after
          the end of the each  month  ending  after the  Closing  Date,  (i) the
          consolidating  and consolidated  balance sheet of the Borrower and its
          Subsidiaries  as at the  end of  such  period  and  (ii)  the  related
          statements   of  income  and  cash  flows  of  the  Borrower  and  its
          Subsidiaries,  in each case for such  fiscal  month and for the period
          from the beginning of the then current  fiscal year to the end of such
          fiscal month,  setting  forth in  comparative  form the  corresponding
          periods of the prior fiscal  year,  the  corresponding  periods of the
          current  fiscal  year's  budget  and  a  Management's  Discussion  and
          Analysis for such financial  statements  covering the month then ended
          and the year to date.

               (c) Together  with each  delivery of financial  statements of the
          Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  pursuant to  subsection  (a) above,  a
          written  statement by the independent  public  accountants  giving the
          report thereon (i) stating that their audit examination has included a
          review of the terms of  Sections  6, 7, 8 and 9 of this  Agreement  as
<PAGE>
                                      -66-

          they relate to  accounting  matters but without  having  conducted any
          special  auditing  procedures  in connection  therewith,  (ii) stating
          whether, in connection with their audit examination,  any condition or
          event  which  constitutes  a 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,
          and (iii)  stating that based on their audit  examination  nothing has
          come to their  attention  which  causes them to believe that as of the
          end of such fiscal year of the Borrower  there existed a Default or an
          Event of Default  related to the breach of any  covenant  set forth in
          Section 6 or 7 as they  relate  to  accounting  matters  and if such a
          condition or event has come to their attention,  specifying the nature
          and period of  existence  thereof  and what  action the  Borrower  has
          taken, is taking and propose to take with respect thereto.

               (d) At the  time  of the  delivery  of the  financial  statements
          provided for in Sections  6.01(a) and (b), a certificate  of the chief
          financial  officer,  controller,  chief  accounting  officer  or other
          Authorized  Officer of the  Borrower  to the effect that no Default or
          Event of Default  exists,  or, if any Default or Event of Default does
          exist,  specifying the nature and extent thereof and what actions have
          been or will be taken in respect thereof,  which  certificate shall be
          accompanied on a quarterly basis by a Compliance Certificate in a form
          reasonably  acceptable  to the Agent  setting  forth the  calculations
          required to establish  whether the Borrower was in compliance with the
          covenants  in  this  Agreement   (including   without  limitation  the
          covenants set forth in Sections 7.05 and 7.10 through 7.13  inclusive)
          as at the end of such fiscal period or year, as the case may be.

               (e) Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy, if any, of each annual
          "management  letter"  submitted  to the  Borrower  by its  independent
          accountants  in  connection  with any annual audit made by them of the
          books of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

               (f)  Promptly  upon  their  becoming  available,  copies  of  all
          consolidating and consolidated financial statements,  reports, notices
          and proxy statements sent or made available  generally by the Borrower
<PAGE>
                                      -67-

          or any  Subsidiary  of the Borrower to its  security  holders in their
          capacity as such (other than to the Borrower or another Subsidiary) of
          all regular and periodic reports and all  registration  statements and
          prospectuses, if any, filed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
          with any securities  exchange or with the SEC (including reports filed
          on Forms 10Q and 10K) and of all press  releases and other  statements
          made  available  generally  by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  of the
          Borrower  to  the  public  concerning  material  developments  in  the
          business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

               (g) Promptly upon any officer of the Borrower obtaining knowledge
          (w) of any condition or event which  constitutes a Default or Event of
          Default, or becoming aware that any Bank has given any notice or taken
          any other action with respect to a claimed Default or Event of Default
          under this Agreement,  (x) that any Person has given any notice to the
          Borrower or taken any other action with  respect to a claimed  default
          or event or condition of the type  referred to in Section 8.04, or (y)
          of a material adverse change in the business, operations,  properties,
          assets,  nature of  assets,  condition  (financial  or  otherwise)  or
          prospects of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, an
          Officers' Certificate specifying the nature and period of existence of
          any such condition or event,  or specifying the notice given or action
          taken by such holder or Person and the nature of such claimed Default,
          Event of Default, event or condition,  or material adverse change, and
          what action the Borrower has taken, is taking and propose to take with
          respect thereto.

               (h) (w)  Promptly  upon any  officer  of the  Borrower  obtaining
          knowledge  of the  institution  of, or written  threat of, any action,
          suit, proceeding, governmental investigation or arbitration against or
          affecting  any  Credit  Party or its  respective  Subsidiaries  or any
          property  of any  Credit  Party  or its  respective  Subsidiaries  not
          previously  disclosed to the Banks,  which action,  suit,  proceeding,
          governmental  investigation  or  arbitration  seeks (or in the case of
          multiple actions, suits, proceedings,  governmental  investigations or
          arbitrations   arising  out  of  the  same  general   allegations   or
          circumstances  which  seek)  recovery  from  any  Credit  Party or its
<PAGE>
                                      -68-

          respective  Subsidiaries  aggregating  $500,000 or more  (exclusive of
          claims  covered by  insurance  policies  unless the  insurers  of such
          claims have  disclaimed  coverage  or  reserved  the right to disclaim
          coverage on such claims),  the Borrower  shall give notice  thereof to
          the Banks and  provide  such other  information  as may be  reasonably
          available  to enable  the Banks and their  counsel  to  evaluate  such
          matters;  (x) as soon as  practicable  and in any event within 45 days
          after the end of each fiscal  quarter,  the Borrower  shall  provide a
          quarterly  report to the Banks covering the institution of, or written
          threat of, any action, suit, proceeding, governmental investigation or
          arbitration (not previously  reported) against or affecting any Credit
          Party or its  respective  Subsidiaries  or any  property of any Credit
          Party or its respective  Subsidiaries not previously  disclosed to the
          Banks, which action, suit, proceedings,  governmental investigation or
          arbitration  seeks  (or  in  the  case  of  multiple  actions,  suits,
          proceedings,  governmental  investigations or arbitrations arising out
          of the same general  allegations or circumstances which seek) recovery
          from any  Credit  Party  or its  respective  Subsidiaries  aggregating
          $1,000,000 or more (exclusive of claims covered by insurance  policies
          unless  the  insurers  of such  claims  have  disclaimed  coverage  or
          reserved  the right to disclaim  coverage on such  claims),  and shall
          provide  such  other  information  at such  time as may be  reasonably
          available  to enable  the Banks and their  counsel  to  evaluate  such
          matters;  (y) in addition to the requirements set forth in clauses (w)
          and (x) of this  Section  6.01(h),  the Borrower  upon  request  shall
          promptly  give notice of the status of any action,  suit,  proceeding,
          governmental   investigation  or  arbitration   covered  by  a  report
          delivered  to the Banks  pursuant  to  clause  (w) or (x) above to the
          Banks  and  provide  such  other  information  as  may  be  reasonably
          available  to them to enable the Banks and their  counsel to  evaluate
          such  matters;  and (z)  promptly  upon any  officer  of the  Borrower
          obtaining  knowledge  of any dispute in respect of or the  institution
          of, or written threat of, any action, suit,  proceeding,  governmental
          investigation  or arbitration  in respect of any material  contract of
          any Credit Party or its  respective  Subsidiaries,  the Borrower shall
          give  notice  thereof  to the  Banks  and  shall  provide  such  other
          information  as may be  reasonably  available  to enable the Banks and
          their counsel to evaluate such matters.
<PAGE>
                                      -69-

               (i)  Within 15 days of any  material  changes to the terms of any
          insurance  policy as in effect on the Effective  Date and described on
          SCHEDULE  6.01(I)  or any  cancellation  of any  such  policy  without
          replacement with a substantially  similar policy, a report in form and
          substance  reasonably  satisfactory to Agent outlining such changes or
          the terms of the replacement policy, as the case may be.

               (j) To the extent  reasonably  requested by the Agent, as soon as
          practicable  and in any  event  within  ten days of the  later of such
          request  and the making of any such  amendment  or  waiver,  copies of
          amendments or waivers with respect to Indebtedness of any Credit Party
          or its respective Subsidiaries.

               (k) On or  prior  to  January  31,  1998  and  each  December  31
          thereafter,   a  consolidated   plan/budget  for  each  month  in  the
          succeeding  fiscal year  prepared in  accordance  with the  Borrower's
          normal  accounting  procedures (and which will represent  management's
          reasonable  estimate of the Borrower's  projected  performance  during
          such  periods)  applied  on a  consistent  basis,  including,  without
          limitation,  (i) forecasted consolidated balance sheets,  consolidated
          statements of operations, of stockholders' equity and of cash flows of
          the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis for such
          periods,  (ii) the amount of forecasted capital  expenditures for such
          fiscal  periods,  (iii)  forecasted  compliance with Sections 7.05 and
          7.107.13  and  (iv)  an   appropriate   discussion  of  the  principal
          assumptions on which such  plan/budget is based;  PROVIDED that if any
          such  forecast  indicates  that the Borrower may not be in  compliance
          with  any  provision  of this  Agreement  at some  future  date,  such
          forecast  shall not  constitute  a Default  or an Event of  Default or
          anticipatory or other breach  thereof.  Together with each delivery of
          financial   statements   pursuant  to  Sections  6.01(a)  and  (b),  a
          comparison of the current year to date financial  results  against the
          plan/budget  required to be submitted  pursuant to this subsection (k)
          shall be presented.

               (l) Within ten (10)  Business Days after the last Business Day of
          each month,  a  borrowing  base  certificate  in the form of EXHIBIT L
          hereto (the  "Borrowing  Base  Certificate")  detailing the Borrower's
          Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible Inventory as of the last day
<PAGE>
                                      -70-

          of such  month,  certified  as  complete  and correct on behalf of the
          Borrower by the chief  executive  officer,  chief  financial  officer,
          controller or other Authorized  Officer of the Borrower.  In addition,
          each  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  shall  have  attached  to it  such
          additional  schedules  and/or  other  information  as  the  Agent  may
          reasonably  request.  If  the  Borrower  fails  to  deliver  any  such
          Borrowing Base Certificate  within  twentyfive (25) days after the end
          of any such month,  then the  Borrowing  Base shall be deemed to be $0
          until such time as the Borrower shall deliver such required  Borrowing
          Base Certificate.

               (m) With reasonable  promptness,  such other information and data
          with respect to any Credit Party or its respective Subsidiaries or any
          other similar entity in which the Borrower has an investment,  as from
          time to time may be reasonably requested by the Agent.

          6.02.  BOOKS,  RECORDS AND  INSPECTIONS.  The Borrower  will, and will
cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to, keep true books of records and  accounts in
which full and correct entries will be made of all of its business transactions,
and  will   reflect  in  its   financial   statements   adequate   accruals  and
appropriations to reserves,  all in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower will, and
will  cause  each  of  its  Subsidiaries  to,  permit  officers  and  designated
representatives  of the  Agent  or any  Bank to  visit  and  inspect  any of the
properties or assets of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  in whosesoever
possession,  and to examine  the books of account of the  Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  and discuss the affairs,  finances and accounts of the Borrower or
any of its  Subsidiaries  with,  and be advised as to the same by, its and their
officers and independent accountants (in the presence of such officers),  all at
such reasonable  times and intervals and to such reasonable  extent as the Agent
or any Bank may reasonably request.

          6.03.  MAINTENANCE  OF PROPERTY;  INSURANCE.  

          (a) The  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  will  exercise  commercially
reasonable efforts to maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working
order and condition (subject to normal wear and tear) all properties used in its
businesses  and from time to time will make or cause to be made all  appropriate
repairs,  renewals  and  replacements  thereof  and will  maintain  and renew as
necessary all licenses, permits and other clearances necessary to use and occupy
such properties.
<PAGE>
                                      -71-

          (b)  Subject  to the  provisions  of  subsection  6.03(c)  below,  the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  will  maintain or cause to be  maintained,  with
financially  sound  and  reputable  insurers,  insurance  with  respect  to  its
properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily  insured
against by corporations of established reputation engaged in the same or similar
businesses  and  similarly  situated,  of such types and in such  amounts as are
customarily  carried under similar  circumstances by such other  corporations to
the  extent  that such types and such  amounts of  insurance  are  available  at
commercially  reasonable  rates.  The Borrower  will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, furnish to each Bank, upon reasonable  request,  information as
to the  insurance  carried,  and will not  cancel,  without  replacement  with a
substantially  similar policy, any such insurance without the reasonable consent
of the Required Banks.

          (c) The Borrower  will,  and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to,
maintain in full force the insurance  coverages in respect of the  Collateral as
set forth in the Security Documents.

          6.04. PAYMENT OF TAXES. The Borrower will, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries  to,  pay  and  discharge  all  material  taxes,   assessments  and
governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or
upon any  properties  belonging  to it,  prior  to the  date on  which  material
penalties attach thereto, and all lawful claims which, if unpaid, might become a
Lien or charge upon any properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or
cause a failure or  forfeiture  of title  thereto;  PROVIDED  that  neither  the
Borrower  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall be  required  to pay any such tax,
assessment,  charge,  levy or claim that is being contested in good faith and by
proper  proceedings   promptly  instituted  and  diligently   conducted,   which
proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property
or asset that may become  subject to such Lien,  if it has  maintained  adequate
reserves  with respect  thereto in  accordance  with and to the extent  required
under GAAP.

          6.05. CORPORATE FRANCHISES.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and
keep in full force and  effect its  existence,  rights  and  authority,  and its
Intellectual  Property,  except  where  such  failure  to keep in full force and
effect such rights and authority would not have a Materially Adverse Effect.
<PAGE>
                                      -72-

          6.06. COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTES, ETC. The Borrower will, and will cause
each of its  Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable  statutes,  regulations
and orders of, and all  applicable  restrictions  imposed  by, all  governmental
bodies,  domestic or foreign,  in respect of the conduct of its business and the
ownership of its property (including  applicable statutes,  regulations,  orders
and restrictions  relating to  environmental  standards and controls) other than
noncompliance  which  could not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Materially
Adverse Effect.

          6.07. ERISA. The Borrower will furnish to each of the Banks:

               (a) promptly  upon the Borrower  knowing or having reason to know
          of the  occurrence of any (i)  Termination  Event or (ii)  "prohibited
          transaction"  within the  meaning  of Section  406 of ERISA or Section
          4975 of the Code,  in  connection  with any Pension  Plan or any trust
          created thereunder,  which in the case of all such events described in
          clause (i) or (ii) results or could  reasonably  be expected to result
          in a liability of any Credit Party or its respective  Subsidiaries  in
          the aggregate in excess of $100,000 or the imposition of a Lien on the
          assets of a Credit  Party,  a written  notice  specifying  the  nature
          thereof, what action such Credit Party, its respective Subsidiaries or
          its respective  ERISA  Affiliates have taken, are taking or propose to
          take with  respect  thereto,  and,  when  known,  any action  taken or
          threatened by the Internal Revenue Service,  Department of Labor, PBGC
          or Multiemployer Plan sponsor with respect thereto; and

               (b) with reasonable promptness copies of (i) all notices received
          by any Credit Party,  its  respective  Subsidiaries  or its respective
          ERISA Affiliates of PBGC's intent to terminate any Title IV Plan or to
          have a trustee  appointed to administer  any Title IV Plan, the notice
          of which event is required  pursuant to the preceding  paragraph  (a);
          (ii)  upon  the  request  of the  Agent  each  Schedule  B  (Actuarial
          Information)  to the annual  report  (Form 5500  Series)  filed by any
          Credit Party,  its respective  Subsidiaries  or its  respective  ERISA
          Affiliates  with the  Internal  Revenue  Service  with respect to each
          Pension  Plan;  (iii) upon the  request of the Agent,  the most recent
          actuarial  valuation  report  for  each  Title  IV Plan  which is then
          maintained by any Credit Party,  its  respective  Subsidiaries  or its
          respective  ERISA  Affiliates  or as to which any  Credit  Party,  its
          respective  Subsidiaries  or its respective  ERISA  Affiliates has any
<PAGE>
                                      -73-

          continuing funding  obligations;  and (iv) all notices received by any
          Credit Party,  its respective  Subsidiaries  or its  respective  ERISA
          Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning the imposition
          or amount of withdrawal  liability  pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA,
          the  notice  of which  event is  required  pursuant  to the  preceding
          paragraph (a).

          6.08.  PERFORMANCE OF  OBLIGATIONS.  The Borrower will, and will cause
each of its  Subsidiaries  to,  perform in all  material  respects  all of their
respective  obligations  under the terms of each mortgage,  indenture,  security
agreement,  other debt instrument and material  contract by which they are bound
or to which they are a party, except where such nonperformance  would not have a
Materially Adverse Effect.

          6.09. END OF FISCAL YEARS;  FISCAL  QUARTERS.  Each Credit Party will,
for financial  reporting  purposes,  and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
have its (i) fiscal  years end on December  31, and (ii) fiscal  quarters end on
March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.

          6.10.  USE OF  PROCEEDS.  All  proceeds  of the Loans shall be used as
provided in Section 5.05.

          6.11.  INTEREST RATE PROTECTION.  The Borrower shall, no later than 90
days after the Closing Date and after every  Acquisition  Term Loan Closing Date
and in  respect of no less than 50% of the  outstanding  Term Loans as in effect
from time to time enter into Interest Rate Agreements  reasonably  acceptable to
the Agent for a period of not less than two years.

          6.12. EQUAL SECURITY FOR LOANS AND NOTES; NO FURTHER NEGATIVE PLEDGES.
(a) If the Borrower or any of its respective Subsidiaries shall create or assume
any Lien upon any of its  property  or assets,  whether  now owned or  hereafter
acquired  and  whether or not such  property or assets  constitutes  Collateral,
other than Liens  permitted by the applicable  Security  Document  (unless prior
written  consent to the creation or assumption  thereof shall have been obtained
from the Agent and the Required Banks),  the Borrower shall, and shall cause any
applicable  Subsidiary to, make or cause to be made effective provisions whereby
the  Obligations  will be secured by such Lien  equally and ratably with any and
<PAGE>
                                      -74-

all other Indebtedness thereby secured as long as any such Indebtedness shall be
secured;  PROVIDED that this  covenant  shall not be construed as consent by the
Agent and the Required  Banks to any violation by the Borrower of the provisions
of Section 7.03.

          (b) Except with respect to prohibitions  against other encumbrances on
specific  property  encumbered  to secure  payment  of  particular  Indebtedness
permitted  hereunder  (which  Indebtedness  relates solely to the acquisition or
improvement  of such  specific  property),  neither the  Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries  shall  enter  into  any  agreement  prohibiting  the  creation  or
assumption  of any Lien upon its  properties  or  assets,  whether  now owned or
hereafter acquired.

          6.13.  LENDER MEETING.  The Borrower will  participate in a meeting of
the Banks once during each fiscal year  (commencing  with the fiscal year ending
December 31, 1998) relating to the financial  statements of the previous  fiscal
year to be held at a location and a time selected by the Borrower and reasonably
acceptable to the Agent.

          6.14. PLEDGE OF ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL. Subject to Section 6.12(b), and
in any event within 30 days after the  acquisition by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  of (i) Real  Property,  (ii)  assets of the type that  would  have
constituted  Collateral  (pursuant to the appropriate  Security  Document on the
Closing Date or Effective  Date, as applicable,  executed by such Person) at the
Closing  Date or the  Effective  Date or (iii)  capital  stock  or other  equity
interest of any  Subsidiary  (whether by capital  contribution  or  acquisition)
(collectively,  (i), (ii),  (iii) and the assets of any Subsidiary  described in
(iii), the "Additional  Collateral"),  the Borrower will, and will cause each of
its  Subsidiaries  to,  take all  necessary  action,  including  the  filing  of
appropriate  financing  statements  under the provisions of the UCC,  applicable
foreign,  domestic or local laws,  rules or  regulations  in each of the offices
where  such  filing is  necessary  or  appropriate,  entering  into or  amending
Security  Documents  or,  in the case the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries
creates  or  acquires  a  Subsidiary,   entering  into  such  additional  pledge
agreements  and security  agreements in form and substance  satisfactory  to the
Collateral  Agent  (and,  in the  case  of the  acquisition  of  Real  Property,
satisfaction  of the conditions set forth in Sections  4.01(b)(ii),  4.01(p) and
4.01(t) and, in the case of the acquisition of personal  property,  satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Sections  4.01(b)(ii)  and 4.01(m)),  to grant to
<PAGE>
                                      -75-

the Collateral Agent a perfected first priority Lien, subject to Prior Liens and
other Liens permitted by the applicable Security  Documents,  in such Collateral
pursuant to and to the full extent  required by the Security  Documents and this
Agreement.  All actions  taken by the parties in  connection  with the pledge of
Additional Collateral,  including,  without limitation, costs of counsel for the
Agent or the Collateral Agent,  shall be for the account of the Borrower,  which
shall pay all sums due within 5 Business Days of demand.

          6.15.  SECURITY  INTERESTS.  The  Borrower  will,  and will  cause its
Subsidiaries  to,  perform any and all acts and  execute  any and all  documents
(including,  without limitation, the execution,  amendment or supplementation of
any  financing   statement  and  continuation   statement)  for  filing  in  any
appropriate  jurisdiction  under  the  provisions  of the UCC,  local law or any
statute,  rule or regulation of any applicable  jurisdiction which are necessary
in order to maintain or confirm in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit
of the Banks a valid and perfected  Lien on the  Collateral  and any  Additional
Collateral, subject to no Liens except for Prior Liens and other Liens expressly
permitted by the applicable Security Documents.  The Borrower shall, as promptly
as practicable after the filing of any financing statements, deliver or cause to
be  delivered  to the Agent  acknowledgment  copies of, or copies of lien search
reports confirming the filing of, financing  statements duly filed under the UCC
of all  jurisdictions as may be necessary or, in the reasonable  judgment of the
Agent,  desirable  to perfect the Lien  created,  or purported or intended to be
created, by each Security Document.

          6.16. SUBSIDIARY  GUARANTEES.  In the event the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  creates or acquires a  Subsidiary,  the  Borrower  will cause such
Subsidiary to execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Banks  a  subsidiary  guarantee,  in  form  and  substance  satisfactory  to the
Collateral Agent, guaranteeing the Obligations.

          6.17. ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS. (a) The Borrower will promptly give notice
to  the  Agent  upon  becoming  aware  thereof  (i)  of  any  violation  of  any
Environmental  Law,  (ii) of any  inquiry,  proceeding,  investigation  or other
action,  including a request for information or a notice of potential  liability
under any  Environmental  Law from any Person (in the case of each of clause (i)
and (ii),  that which could  reasonably  be  expected to result in a  Materially
<PAGE>
                                      -76-

Adverse  Effect) or (iii) of the discovery of the release or threatened  release
of any Hazardous Material at, on, upon, under or from any of the Real Properties
or any  facility or equipment  thereat in excess of  reportable  quantities  and
which must be  reported  under  applicable  Environmental  Laws,  or in a manner
and/or amount which could  reasonably  be expected to result in liability  under
any  Environmental  Law,  in each case  which  would have a  Materially  Adverse
Effect.

          (b) In the event of the  presence of any  Hazardous  Material  on, at,
upon or under  any of the Real  Properties  which is in  violation  of, or which
could  reasonably be expected to result in liability  under,  any  Environmental
Law, in each case which would have a Materially  Adverse Effect, the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries,  upon discovery thereof, shall take all necessary steps
to initiate and  expeditiously  complete all  responsive,  corrective  and other
action required under any  Environmental  Law to mitigate and eliminate any such
adverse effect.

          (c) The Borrower shall as promptly as practicable  notify the Agent of
the occurrence of any event  specified in Section  6.17(b) and shall  thereafter
keep the Agent  informed on a periodic basis of any actions taken in response to
such event and the results of such actions.

          (d) The  Borrower  shall  provide the Agent with copies of any notice,
submittal or  documentation  provided by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
to any Governmental  Authority or third party under any Environmental Law if the
matter  which is the subject of the  notice,  submittal  or other  documentation
could  reasonably  be expected to result in a Materially  Adverse  Effect.  Such
notice,  submittal or documentation shall be provided to the Agent promptly and,
in any event,  within 5 business  days after such  material  is  provided to the
Governmental Authority or third party.

          6.18. LANDLORD LIEN ASSURANCE.  The Borrower will use its best efforts
to obtain Landlord Lien  Assurances,  in the form of EXHIBIT N hereto,  from the
landlords of leased Real  Property of the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  where
Inventory is located,  it being  understood  that any Landlord  Lien  Assurances
(including those concerning  warehouseman's  Liens) previously  delivered to the
Agent remaining in full force and effect are acceptable to the Agent.
<PAGE>
                                      -77-

          SECTION 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.  The Credit Parties hereby covenant and
agree that as of the Closing Date and  thereafter  for so long as this Agreement
is in effect and until the  Commitments  have  terminated and the Loans together
with  interest  and fees are paid in full  and all  other  Obligations  incurred
hereunder, to the extent then due and payable, are paid in full:

          7.01.  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of
its  Subsidiaries  to,  at all  times  take any and all such  actions  as may be
necessary or appropriate to permit the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to continue
to conduct its business in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted
prior to the Transaction by the Borrower's predecessors.  The Borrower will not,
and will not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  engage in any business  other
than a business  directly  related to the  manufacture  and/or  distribution  of
beauty products, and lines of business reasonably related thereto.

          7.02. AMENDMENTS OR WAIVERS OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS.

          (a) No  Credit  Party or its  respective  Subsidiaries  will  amend or
otherwise change the terms of any Existing Debt in a manner adverse to the Banks
without the prior written consent of the Required Banks.

          (b)  After  the  Closing  Date,  no  Credit  Party  or its  respective
Subsidiaries  will  amend or  otherwise  change  the  terms  of the  Transaction
Documents in a manner adverse to the Banks without the prior written  consent of
the Required Banks.

          7.03.  LIENS.  The  Borrower  will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries  to,  directly or  indirectly  create,  incur,  assume or permit or
suffer  to  exist  any  Lien  upon  or with  respect  to any  item  constituting
Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or sell any such Collateral
subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase
such  Collateral  or assign any right to receive  income,  or file or permit the
filing of any financing  statement  under the UCC or any other similar notice of
Lien under any similar  recording or notice statute,  except for the Lien of the
Security  Document relating  thereto,  Prior Liens applicable  thereto and other
Liens expressly permitted by such Security Document.  The Borrower will not, and
will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create,  incur,  assume or suffer to
exist any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets of the Borrower or
any  Subsidiary  which  does not  constitute  Collateral  whether  now  owned or
<PAGE>
                                      -78-

hereafter  acquired,  or sell any  Collateral,  property or assets subject to an
understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such property
or assets or assign any right to receive income, or file or permit the filing of
any financing  statement under the UCC or any other similar notice of Lien under
any similar recording or notice statute, except the following,  which are herein
collectively referred to as "Permitted Encumbrances":

               (a) Liens for  taxes,  assessments  or  governmental  charges  or
          claims  not  yet  delinquent  or  Liens  for  taxes,   assessments  or
          governmental  charges or claims  being  contested in good faith and by
          appropriate  proceedings  for  which  adequate  reserves,  as  may  be
          required by GAAP, have been established;

               (b) Liens in respect of property or assets of the Borrower or any
          of its  Subsidiaries  imposed  by law (i) which were  incurred  in the
          ordinary   course  of  business,   such  as   landlords',   carriers',
          warehousemen's and mechanics' Liens and other similar Liens arising in
          the ordinary course of business, and (x) which do not in the aggregate
          materially  detract  from the  value of such  property  or  assets  or
          materially  impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of
          the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or  (y)  which  are  being
          contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings,  which proceedings
          have the effect of preventing  the  forfeiture or sale of the property
          or asset  subject to such Lien or (ii) which do not relate to material
          liabilities of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  and do not in
          the  aggregate  materially  detract from the value of the property and
          assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

               (c)  Liens  in  connection   with  any   attachment  or  judgment
          (including  judgment  or  appeal  bonds)  not in  excess  of  $250,000
          individually  or $500,000 in the  aggregate  for the  Borrower and its
          Subsidiaries  (exclusive of any amount adequately covered by insurance
          as to which the insurance  company has  acknowledged  coverage) unless
          the judgment it secures shall, within 60 days after the entry thereof,
          not have been  discharged  or  execution  thereof  not stayed  pending
          appeal,  or shall not have been  discharged  within 30 days  after the
          expiration of any such stay;
<PAGE>
                                      -79-

               (d) Liens  (other  than any Lien  imposed by ERISA)  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,  performance  and  returnofmoney  bonds and  other  similar
          obligations  incurred in the ordinary course of business (exclusive of
          obligations  in  respect  of the  payment  for  borrowed  money or the
          equivalent);

               (e) Subject to the  provisions  of Section 7.19 and, with respect
          to any Mortgaged  Real  Property,  to the provisions of any applicable
          Mortgage,  Leases  with  respect  to the assets or  properties  of the
          Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  entered  into  in the  ordinary
          course of the Borrower's or such Subsidiary's business and subordinate
          in all  respects to the Liens  granted and  evidenced  by the Security
          Documents;

               (f)  Easements,  rights of way,  restrictions,  minor  defects or
          irregularities  in title not interfering in any material  respect with
          the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,  in each case
          incurred  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  and  which  do  not
          materially  impair for its  intended  purposes the use or value of the
          Real Property to which it relates;

               (g) Liens securing the Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.04(i);

               (h) Liens disclosed in Schedule 5.21(b); and

               (i) Liens  upon real or  tangible  personal  property  (including
          Capital  Leases)  acquired by the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
          after the date  hereof;  PROVIDED  that (i) any such  Lien is  created
          solely  for the  purpose of  securing  Indebtedness  representing,  or
          incurred to finance, the cost of the item of property subject thereto,
          (ii) the principal amount of the Indebtedness  secured by such Lien is
          at  least  70%,  and  does  not  exceed  100% of the  fair  value  (as
          determined  in good faith by the board of  directors or members of the
          appropriate  entity) of the respective  property at the time it was so
          acquired,  (iii)  such  Lien  does not  extend  to or cover  any other
          property  other than such item of property and (iv) the  incurrence of
          such Indebtedness secured by such Lien is permitted by Section 7.04.
<PAGE>
                                      -80-

          The Borrower  shall use its  commercially  reasonable  best efforts to
obtain  the  waiver  of any Lien  referred  to in clause  (b)(i)  above on or in
respect of any Equipment or Inventory.  The term "Permitted  Encumbrances" shall
mean,  with  respect to  Mortgaged  Real  Property,  Liens  permitted  under the
Mortgages.

          7.04. INDEBTEDNESS.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of
its  Subsidiaries  to, contract,  create,  incur,  assume or suffer to exist any
Indebtedness, except:
                                           
               (a)  Indebtedness  incurred  pursuant  to the  Credit  Documents;
          PROVIDED that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness  incurred
          pursuant  to  this  Agreement  shall  in no  event  exceed  the  Total
          Commitments;

               (b) Existing Debt and any refinancing thereof;  PROVIDED that any
          such refinancing of Existing Debt shall be on terms which,  both taken
          as a whole and  specifically  as such terms  relate to the identity of
          the obligors,  repayments of principal,  covenants,  events of default
          and  security in  property  of the  debtor,  are in each event no more
          favorable to the creditor than the  correlative  terms of the Existing
          Debt;

               (c) Interest Rate  Agreements  to the extent  required by Section
          6.11;

               (d)  $1,000,000  of  principal   Indebtedness  in  the  aggregate
          outstanding at any time for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred
          to finance the cost of the  acquisition  of real or tangible  personal
          property  (including Capital Leases);  PROVIDED that such Indebtedness
          shall be at least 70% and shall not  exceed  100% of the fair value of
          such property;  and PROVIDED,  FURTHER,  that such Indebtedness is not
          secured  by any Lien other  than a Lien  referred  to in clause (g) of
          Section 7.03;

               (e) Contingent Obligations permitted by Section 7.16;

               (f)  Indebtedness   issued  to  sellers  in  connection  with  an
          acquisition,  PROVIDED that such  Indebtedness is unsecured,  does not
<PAGE>
                                      -81-

          provide for any cash interest  payments prior to the Final B Term Loan
          Maturity Date and contains  subordination and other terms satisfactory
          to the Agent, and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the Borrower is in pro forma
          compliance with Section 4.03(b) hereof;

               (g)  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  to any of its  Wholly  Owned
          Subsidiaries  or of any  Subsidiary to the Borrower or another  Wholly
          Owned   Subsidiary   of  the  Borrower  (but  only  so  long  as  such
          Indebtedness is held by the Borrower or its Wholly Owned Subsidiary);

               (h) other unsecured  Indebtedness  not exceeding  $750,000 in the
          aggregate  for  the  Borrower  and  its   Subsidiaries   at  any  time
          outstanding; and

               (i) Capital  Leases and purchase  money  Indebtedness  assumed in
          connection with any acquisition not to exceed  $2,000,000 in principal
          outstanding  at any time,  PROVIDED  that after giving  effect to such
          acquisition  and the  incurrence  of  such  Indebtedness  there  is no
          Default under this  Agreement  and the Borrower is in compliance  with
          Section 4.03(b).

          7.05. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. The Borrower will not, and will not permit
any of its  Subsidiaries  to, make  Consolidated  Capital  Expenditures  for any
purpose in excess of the amounts set forth below for the period set forth below:

          PERIOD                                                AMOUNT IN $
          ------                                                -----------
     Closing Date to December 31, 1997.......................     $500,000
     Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 1998....................   $1,200,000
     Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 1999....................   $1,500,000
     Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2000....................   $1,500,000
     Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2001....................   $1,500,000
     Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2002....................   $1,500,000
     Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2003....................   $1,500,000
     Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2004....................   $1,500,000

          7.06. ADVANCES, INVESTMENTS AND LOANS. The Borrower will not, and will
not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  lend money or credit or make  advances
(which  shall not  include  progress  payments  made by any Credit  Party to its
subcontractors  in the  ordinary  course of business  consistent  with  industry
practice)  to any  Person,  or purchase  or acquire  any stock,  obligations  or
securities of, or any other interest in, or make any capital contribution to any
Person, except:
<PAGE>
                                      -82-

               (a) investments in Cash and Cash Equivalents;

               (b)  receivables  owing to them and  advances  to  customers  and
          suppliers,  in each case if created,  acquired or made in the ordinary
          course of business and payable or  dischargeable  in  accordance  with
          customary trade terms;

               (c)  investments   (including  debt   obligations)   received  in
          connection  with the  bankruptcy  or  reorganization  of suppliers and
          customers and in settlement  of delinquent  obligations  of, and other
          disputes with,  customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course
          of business;

               (d) the acceptance of a form of consideration  other than Cash or
          Cash  Equivalents in connection with the sale or disposition of assets
          to the extent provided in Section 7.15;

               (e)  investments  to acquire  Capital  Stock of any other Person,
          PROVIDED that  immediately  after the transaction  such Person becomes
          (i) a Subsidiary  of the Borrower and (ii) a Credit  Party,  PROVIDED,
          FURTHER,  that the  Borrower is in pro forma  compliance  with Section
          4.03(b) hereof;

               (f) investments in and advances to Credit Parties;

               (g) loans and advances to  employees  for  reasonable  travel and
          business expenses in the ordinary course;

               (h) deposits for utilities, security deposits, leases and similar
          prepaid expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business; and

               (i) additional loans, advances and/or investments of a nature not
          contemplated by the foregoing  clauses (a) through (h);  PROVIDED that
          all loans,  advances and investments  made pursuant to this clause (i)
          shall not exceed for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (x) $500,000 in
          the  aggregate  at any time  outstanding  for the twelve  month period
          ending  December 31, 1998, (y) $1,000,000 in the aggregate at any time
          outstanding  for the twelve month period ending  December 31, 1999 and
          (z) $1,500,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding for any period
          thereafter.
<PAGE>
                                      -83-

          7.07.  PREPAYMENTS  OF  INDEBTEDNESS,  ETC. The Borrower will not, and
will not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to:  (a) after the  issuance  thereof,
amend or modify (or permit the amendment or modification of) any of the terms or
provisions, to the extent any such amendment or modification would be adverse to
the issuer thereof or to the interests of the Banks, of any of the  Indebtedness
(or any agreement  relating  thereto) of the type described in Section  7.04(b),
(f) or (h);  (b) make (or  give any  notice  in  respect  of) any  voluntary  or
optional  payment  or  prepayment  or  redemption  or  acquisition  for value of
(including,  without  limitation,  by way of  depositing  with any trustee  with
respect  thereto money or  securities  before such  Indebtedness  is due for the
purpose  of  paying  such  Indebtedness  when  due)  or  exchange  of  any  such
Indebtedness;  and/or (c) amend,  modify or change any of its respective charter
documents,  or any  agreement  entered into by the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries
with  respect to its equity  securities,  or enter into any new  agreement  with
respect to the equity securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary the result of
which is reasonably likely to be adverse to the interests of the Banks (in their
capacity as such) hereunder,  PROVIDED,  that this clause (c) shall not restrict
the Borrower's ability to effect offerings of its equity securities.

          7.08.  DIVIDENDS,  ETC. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any
of its  Subsidiaries  to, declare or pay any dividends or return any capital to,
its members or authorize or make any other distribution,  payment or delivery of
property  or cash to its  members  as  such,  or  redeem,  retire,  purchase  or
otherwise acquire,  directly or indirectly,  for any  consideration,  any of its
equity interest now or hereafter  outstanding (or any warrants for or options or
stock appreciation  rights in respect of any of such equity interests),  or make
any loans or advances to Affiliates  (other than Credit  Parties),  or set aside
any funds for any of the foregoing  purposes,  or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to purchase or otherwise  acquire for  consideration  any equity interest of the
Borrower  or any  other  Subsidiary,  as  the  case  may  be,  now or  hereafter
outstanding (or any options or warrants or stock  appreciation  rights issued by
such  Person  with  respect  to its  equity  interest)  (all  of the  foregoing,
"Dividends"),  except that any  Subsidiary  of the Borrower may pay Dividends to
its parent  corporation if such parent  corporation is (x) the Borrower or (y) a
WhollyOwned Subsidiary of the Borrower.
<PAGE>
                                      -84-

          7.09. TRANSACTION WITH AFFILIATES. The Borrower will not, and will not
permit  any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  enter into any  transaction  or series of
transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any holder
of 5% or more of the equity  securities of the Borrower or with any Affiliate of
the Borrower  other than on terms and conditions  substantially  as favorable to
the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  as would be  obtainable by the Borrower or such
Subsidiary  at the time in a comparable  arm'slength  transaction  with a Person
other than a holder of 5% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower or an
Affiliate of the Borrower;  PROVIDED that the foregoing  restrictions  shall not
apply to (i)  transactions  between or among the  Borrower  and its  WhollyOwned
Subsidiaries,  (ii) the  payment  of fees to  Indosuez  and its  Affiliates  for
financial  services,  such fees not to exceed Indosuez' usual and customary fees
for similar services and (iii) stock options issued to senior  management of the
Borrower in the ordinary course of business.

          7.10.  TOTAL INTEREST  COVERAGE RATIO.  The ratio of (i)  Consolidated
EBITDA to (ii) cash  Consolidated  Interest  Expense for the  Borrower set forth
below for the Test  Period  ending on each date  listed  below shall not be less
than the ratio set forth  opposite  such date  below;  that for any  computation
pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of Test Period,  Consolidated Interest
Expense  shall be equal to the  product of the amount of  Consolidated  Interest
Expense since the Closing Date and a fraction, the numerator of which is 365 and
the  denominator of which is the number of days elapsed during such period since
the Closing Date:
<PAGE>
                                      -85-

               Test Period                                      Ratio
               -----------                                      -----
           March 31, 1998 ................................... 3.00:1.00
           June 30, 1998 .................................... 3.00:1.00
           September 30, 1998 ............................... 3.00:1.00
           December 31, 1998 ................................ 3.00:1.00
           March 31, 1999 ................................... 3.25:1.00
           June 30, 1999 .................................... 3.25:1.00
           September 30, 1999 ............................... 3.25:1.00
           December 31, 1999 ................................ 3.25:1.00
           March 31, 2000 ................................... 3.50:1.00
           June 30, 2000 .................................... 3.50:1.00
           September 30, 2000 ............................... 3.50:1.00
           December 31, 2000 ................................ 3.50:1.00
           March 31, 2001 ................................... 3.75:1.00
           June 30, 2001 .................................... 3.75:1.00
           September 30, 2001 ............................... 3.75:1.00
           December 31, 2001 ................................ 3.75:1.00
           March 31, 2002 ................................... 4.00:1.00
           June 30, 2002 .................................... 4.00:1.00
           September 30, 2002 ............................... 4.00:1.00
           December 31, 2002 ................................ 4.00:1.00
           March 31, 2003 ................................... 4.00:1.00
           June 30, 2003 .................................... 4.00:1.00
           September 30, 2003 ............................... 4.00:1.00
           December 31, 2003 ................................ 4.00:1.00
           March 31, 2004 ................................... 4.00:1.00
           June 30, 2004 .................................... 4.00:1.00
           September 30, 2004 ............................... 4.00:1.00
           December 31, 2004 ................................ 4.00:1.00

          7.11.  FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE  RATIO.  The Borrower will not permit the
ratio of (i) Consolidated  EBITDAC of the Borrower minus cash taxes to (ii) cash
Consolidated  Interest  Expense of the  Borrower  plus the  amount of  scheduled
mandatory  payments on account of principal of  Indebtedness of the Borrower for
the Test Period ending on each date listed below,  to be less than the ratio set
forth opposite such date below;  PROVIDED that for any  computation  pursuant to
clause (ii) of the  definition  of Test Period,  Consolidated  Interest  Expense
shall be equal to the  product of the amount of  Consolidated  Interest  Expense
since the Closing  Date and a fraction,  the  numerator  of which is 365 and the
denominator  of which is the number of days elapsed during such period since the
Closing Date:
<PAGE>
                                      -86-

               Test Period                                      Ratio
               -----------                                      -----
          March 31, 1998 .....................................1.00:1.00
          June 30, 1998 ......................................1.00:1.00
          September 30, 1998 .................................1.00:1.00
          December 31, 1998 ..................................1.00:1.00
          March 31, 1999 .....................................1.00:1.00
          June 30, 1999 ......................................1.00:1.00
          September 30, 1999 .................................1.00:1.00
          December 31, 1999 ..................................1.00:1.00
          March 31, 2000 .....................................1.10:1.00
          June 30, 2000 ......................................1.10:1.00
          September 30, 2000 .................................1.10:1.00
          December 31, 2000 ..................................1.10:1.00
          March 31, 2001 .....................................1.20:1.00
          June 30, 2001 ......................................1.20:1.00
          September 30, 2001 .................................1.20:1.00
          December 31, 2001 ..................................1.20:1.00
          March 31, 2002 .....................................1.20:1.00
          June 30, 2002 ......................................1.20:1.00
          September 30, 2002 .................................1.20:1.00
          December 31, 2002 ..................................1.20:1.00
          March 31, 2003 .....................................1.20:1.00
          June 30, 2003 ......................................1.20:1.00
          September 30, 2003 .................................1.20:1.00
          December 31, 2003 ..................................1.20:1.00
          March 31, 2004 .....................................1.20:1.00
          June 30, 2004 ......................................1.20:1.00
          September 30, 2004 .................................1.20:1.00
          December 31, 2004 ..................................1.20:1.00

          7.12. LEVERAGE RATIOS.

          (a) TOTAL  LEVERAGE  RATIO.  The Borrower will not permit the ratio of
(i)  Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on each date listed below
to (ii)  Consolidated  EBITDA of the Borrower for the Test Period ending on each
date listed below to be more than the ratio set forth below;  PROVIDED  that the
portion of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  which  constitute
Revolving Loans shall be the average amount  outstanding  during the Test Period
ending on such date (with computations pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition
of Test Period being computed from the Closing Date):
<PAGE>
                                      -87-

               Test Period                                      Ratio
               -----------                                      -----
           March 31, 1998 ....................................4.25:1.00
           June 30, 1998 .....................................4.25:1.00
           September 30, 1998 ................................4.25:1.00
           December 31, 1998 .................................4.25:1.00
           March 31, 1999 ....................................4.25:1.00
           June 30, 1999 .....................................4.25:1.00
           September 30, 1999 ................................4.00:1.00
           December 31, 1999 .................................4.00:1.00
           March 31, 2000 ....................................3.75:1.00
           June 30, 2000 .....................................3.75:1.00
           September 30, 2000 ................................3.75:1.00
           December 31, 2000 .................................3.75:1.00
           March 31, 2001 ....................................3.50:1.00
           June 30, 2001 .....................................3.50:1.00
           September 30, 2001 ................................3.50:1.00
           December 31, 2001 .................................3.50:1.00
           March 31, 2002 ....................................3.00:1.00
           June 30, 2002 .....................................3.00:1.00
           September 30, 2002 ................................3.00:1.00
           December 31, 2002 .................................3.00:1.00
           March 31, 2003 ....................................3.00:1.00
           June 30, 2003 .....................................3.00:1.00
           September 30, 2003 ................................3.00:1.00
           December 31, 2003 .................................3.00:1.00
           March 31, 2004 ....................................3.00:1.00
           June 30, 2004 .....................................3.00:1.00
           September 30, 2004 ................................3.00:1.00
           December 31, 2004 .................................3.00:1.00

          (b) SENIOR LEVERAGE  RATIO.  The Borrower will not permit the ratio of
(i) Senior Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on each date listed
below to (ii) Consolidated  EBITDA of the Borrower for the Test Period ending on
each date listed below to be more than the ratio set forth below;  PROVIDED that
the portion of Senior  Indebtedness of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  which
constitute  Revolving Loans shall be the average amount  outstanding  during the
Test Period  ending on such date (with  computations  pursuant to clause (ii) of
the definition of Test Period being computed from the Closing Date):
<PAGE>
                                      -88-

               TEST PERIOD                                       RATIO
               -----------                                       -----
             March 31, 1998 .................................. 3.50:1.00
             June 30, 1998 ................................... 3.50:1.00
             September 30, 1998 .............................. 3.50:1.00
             December 31, 1998 ............................... 3.50:1.00
             March 31, 1999 .................................. 3.50:1.00
             June 30, 1999 ................................... 3.50:1.00
             September 30, 1999 .............................. 3.50:1.00
             December 31, 1999 ............................... 3.25:1.00
             March 31, 2000 .................................. 3.25:1.00
             June 30, 2000 ................................... 3.25:1.00
             September 30, 2000 .............................. 3.25:1.00
             December 31, 2000 ............................... 3.00:1.00
             March 31, 2001 .................................. 3.00:1.00
             June 30, 2001 ................................... 3.00:1.00
             September 30, 2001 .............................. 3.00:1.00
             December 31, 2001 ............................... 2.50:1.00
             March 31, 2002 .................................. 2.50:1.00
             June 30, 2002 ................................... 2.50:1.00
             September 30, 2002 .............................. 2.50:1.00
             December 31, 2002 ............................... 2.50:1.00
             March 31, 2003 .................................. 2.50:1.00
             June 30, 2003 ................................... 2.50:1.00
             September 30, 2003 .............................. 2.50:1.00
             December 31, 2003 ............................... 2.50:1.00
             March 31, 2004 .................................. 2.50:1.00
             June 30, 2004 ................................... 2.50:1.00
             September 30, 2004 .............................. 2.50:1.00
             December 31, 2004 ............................... 2.50:1.00

          7.13.  MINIMUM  CONSOLIDATED  EBITDA.  The  Borrower  will  maintain a
Consolidated  EBITDA of at least the amount set forth  below for the Test Period
ending on each date listed below:
                                                            Minimum EBITDA
                TEST PERIOD                                  ($ MILLIONS)
                -----------                                 --------------
              December 31, 1997 ..............................$14,500,000
              March 31, 1998 .................................$14,500,000
              June 30, 1998 ..................................$14,500,000
              September 30, 1998 .............................$14,500,000
              December 31, 1998 ..............................$15,000,000
              March 31, 1999 .................................$15,000,000
              June 30, 1999 ..................................$15,500,000
              September 30, 1999 .............................$16,000,000
              December 31, 1999 ..............................$16,000,000
<PAGE>
                                      -89-

              March 31, 2000 .................................$17,000,000
              June 30, 2000 ..................................$17,000,000
              September 30, 2000 .............................$17,000,000
              December 31, 2000 ..............................$18,000,000
              March 31, 2001 .................................$19,000,000
              June 30, 2001 ..................................$20,000,000
              September 30, 2001 .............................$20,000,000
              December 31, 2001 ..............................$21,000,000
              March 31, 2002 .................................$22,000,000
              June 30, 2002 ..................................$22,000,000
              September 30, 2002 .............................$22,000,000
              December 31, 2002 ..............................$23,000,000
              March 31, 2003 .................................$24,000,000
              June 30, 2003 ..................................$24,000,000
              September 30, 2003 .............................$24,000,000
              December 31, 2003 ..............................$24,000,000
              March 31, 2004 .................................$24,000,000
              June 30, 2004 ..................................$24,000,000
              September 30, 2004 .............................$24,000,000
              December 31, 2004 ..............................$24,000,000

          7.14.  ISSUANCE OF SUBSIDIARY  STOCK.  The Borrower will not, and will
not permit any of its  Subsidiaries,  directly or  indirectly,  to issue,  sell,
assign,   pledge  or  otherwise  encumber  or  dispose  of  any  shares  of  any
Subsidiaries'  capital  stock  or  other  securities  or  equity  interests  (or
warrants,  rights or options to acquire capital stock or convertible  securities
or other  equity  securities)  of such  Subsidiary,  other than  pursuant to the
Security Documents and as contemplated by the Transaction.

          7.15.  DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.  (a) The Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, dispose of all or any part of its interest in
any asset, except that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may sell assets so long
as (i) such sales are approved by the Required Banks and the sales price thereof
is, in the reasonable  judgment of the Agent,  at least equal to the fair market
value of such assets,  or (ii) such sale,  transfer or  disposition  is from one
Credit Party to another  Credit Party,  or (iii) such sales are for at least the
fair market value of such assets and the aggregate amount of such asset sales is
less than  $500,000 in any 12month  period and, in any such case,  the  Borrower
complies with the mandatory  prepayment and Commitment  reduction  provisions of
this Agreement and, in the case of Collateral,  so long as the conditions to the
release of Collateral  described herein and in the applicable Security Documents
<PAGE>
                                      -90-

are met, or (iv) such sales are of inventory in the ordinary course of business,
or (v) such  sales  are (A) of  obsolete  equipment,  (B) for at least  the fair
market  value of such  equipment,  (C) not in excess of $500,000 per year in the
aggregate  and (D) the  proceeds  of such sales are used  within 90 days of such
sales to (1) purchase equipment used in substantially  similar lines of business
or (2) repay Indebtedness under this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.02.

          The  consideration  received by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries  from
each sale of assets  permitted  above  shall be received in whole at the time of
sale and at least 70% of the consideration  from each sale shall consist of Cash
or Cash Equivalents. Any noncash proceeds received from the sale of assets shall
be  pledged to the  Collateral  Agent  pursuant  to and in  accordance  with the
applicable Security Documents and shall constitute Collateral.

          (b) Upon  compliance  with the  conditions in  subsection  (a) of this
Section 7.15, the Release Conditions and the Partial Release Conditions (each as
hereinafter  defined),  the  Borrower  shall be  entitled  to  receive  from the
Collateral Agent an instrument in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to
the Borrower (each, a "Release") releasing the Lien of the Mortgage with respect
to all or any portion of a  Mortgaged  Real  Property  (each,  a "Released  Real
Property").  The  Borrower  shall  exercise  its rights  under  this  Section by
delivering to the Collateral  Agent a notice (each, a "Release  Notice"),  which
shall refer to this Section,  describe with  particularity the proposed Released
Real Property and be accompanied by (i) four  counterparts  of the Release fully
executed and acknowledged by all necessary  parties other than Collateral Agent,
(ii) executed  counterparts of UCC or other  applicable  termination  statements
necessary  to  terminate  the  Lien of the  applicable  Mortgage  and  (iii)  an
Officers' Certificate  certifying that no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and the parties  executing any and all documents in connection with the
Release  (other  than  the  Collateral  Agent)  were  duly  authorized  to do so
(collectively,  the "Release  Conditions").  In the event the proposed  Released
Real Property  consists of less than all of the Mortgaged Real Property  subject
to a single Mortgage,  the Partial Release Conditions must be satisfied in order
for the Borrower to receive the Release.

          (c) The Collateral  Agent's obligation to deliver a Release in respect
of less than all of the  Mortgaged  Real Property  subject to a single  Mortgage
<PAGE>
                                      -91-

shall be contingent upon the satisfaction of the conditions in subsection (a) of
this Section 7.15 and the Release Conditions as well as the following conditions
(collectively, the "Partial Release Conditions"):

               (i)  following  the sale,  transfer or other  disposition  of and
          release of the Lien of the  applicable  Mortgage  with  respect to the
          proposed Released Real Property, the remaining Mortgaged Real Property
          shall have utility services and access to public roads, rail spurs and
          other  transportation  structures  sufficient  and  necessary  for the
          continued use of such Mortgaged  Real Property in the manner  utilized
          prior to the Release;

               (ii)  following the sale,  transfer or other  disposition  of the
          proposed Released Real Property, the remaining Mortgaged Real Property
          shall comply in all material  respects with  applicable  laws,  rules,
          regulations  and  ordinances  relating  to  environmental  protection,
          zoning, land use, configuration and building and workplace safety;

               (iii)  following the sale,  transfer or other  disposition of the
          proposed Released Real Property,  the value of the remaining Mortgaged
          Real  Property  shall  not be less  than the  value of such  remaining
          Mortgaged Real Property prior to the Release;

               (iv) the Title  Company shall have issued an  endorsement  to the
          Banks' title insurance  policy relating to the Mortgaged Real Property
          confirming that after the proposed release, the Lien of the applicable
          Mortgage  continues  unimpaired  as a first  priority  Lien  upon  the
          remaining Mortgaged Real Property subject only to Prior Liens; and

               (v) the Borrower shall cause to have been delivered to Collateral
          Agent an Officer's  Certificate  certifying  that the  conditions  set
          forth in subsections (i) through (iv) have been satisfied.

          (d) The Collateral  Agent shall execute,  acknowledge  (if applicable)
and  deliver  to  the  Borrower  counterparts  of  the  documents  described  in
subsection  (b)(i) and (ii) within 30 days after receipt by the Collateral Agent
of a Release Notice provided that the Release Conditions and the Partial Release
Conditions (if applicable) have been satisfied.  The Borrower shall (i) execute,
deliver, obtain and record such instruments as the Collateral Agent may require,
including,  without  limitation,  amendments  to the Security  Documents or this
Agreement  and  (ii)  deliver  to the  Collateral  Agent  such  evidence  of the
satisfaction of the Release Conditions and the Partial Release Conditions as the
<PAGE>
                                      -92-

Collateral Agent may require. The Borrower shall reimburse the Collateral Agent,
Agent and the Banks upon demand for all costs or expenses incurred in connection
with any actions taken pursuant to this Section 7.15.

          7.16.  CONTINGENT  OBLIGATIONS.  The  Borrower  will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries  to, directly or indirectly,  create or become or
be liable with respect to any Contingent Obligation except:

               (i)   guarantees   resulting   from   endorsement  of  negotiable
          instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business;

               (ii) Interest Rate  Agreements to the extent  required by Section
          6.11 of this Agreement;

               (iii)  performance  guarantees  by the  Borrower  of  contractual
          obligations of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower,  in each case entered
          into the ordinary course of business;

               (iv) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.04; and

               (v) other  Contingent  Obligations  not to exceed $350,000 in the
          aggregate for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries outstanding at any one
          time.

          7.17.  ERISA.  The  Borrower  will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to:

               (i)  engage  in any  transaction  in  connection  with  which the
          Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  could reasonably be subject to either a
          tax imposed by Section 4975(a) of the Code or the corresponding  civil
          penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA,  which penalties
          and taxes for all such transactions could reasonably be expected to be
          in an aggregate amount in excess of $200,000;
<PAGE>
                                      -93-

               (ii)  permit to exist any  accumulated  funding  deficiency,  for
          which a  waiver  has not  been  obtained  from  the  Internal  Revenue
          Service,  with respect to any Pension Plan which is then maintained by
          the  Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  or as to which the Borrower or its
          Subsidiaries has any continuing funding obligations;

               (iii)  permit to exist any failure to make  contributions  or any
          unfunded benefits liability which creates, or with the passage of time
          would create,  a statutory  lien or  requirement  to provide  security
          under  ERISA or the Code in  favor  of the PBGC or any  Pension  Plan,
          Multiemployer Plan or other entity;

               (iv) permit the sum of the amount of unfunded benefit liabilities
          (determined  in  accordance  with  Statement of  Financial  Accounting
          Standards  No. 87) under all Title IV Plans which are then  maintained
          by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or as to which any Credit Party or
          its Subsidiaries have any funding obligations (excluding each Title IV
          Plan with an amount of unfunded  benefit  liabilities of zero or less)
          to exceed $200,000 for a period in excess of twelve months; or

               (v) fail to make any material payment to any  Multiemployer  Plan
          that it may be required  to make under such  Multiemployer  Plan,  any
          agreement relating to such  Multiemployer  Plan, or any law pertaining
          thereto.

          As  used  in  this  Section  7.17,  the  term   "accumulated   funding
deficiency" has the meaning specified in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of
the Code, and the term "amount of unfunded benefit  liabilities" has the meaning
specified in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA.

          7.18.  MERGER  AND  CONSOLIDATIONS.  No  Credit  Party  will  merge or
consolidate  with or into  any  other  entity,  except  that  any  Wholly  Owned
Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or  consolidate  with or into (a) any other
WhollyOwned  Subsidiary of the  Borrower,  (b) any other Credit Party or (c) the
Borrower,  PROVIDED  that no Default or Event of Default  exists or would result
therefrom.

          7.19. SALE AND LEASEBACKS. Unless constituting a permitted disposition
of assets under Section 7.15 hereof,  the Borrower will not, and will not permit
its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly,  become or thereafter remain liable
<PAGE>
                                      -94-

as  lessee  or as  guarantor  or  other  surety  with  respect  to the  lessee's
obligations  under any lease,  whether an Operating Lease or a Capital Lease, of
any property  (whether real or personal or mixed) whether now owned or hereafter
acquired (i) which the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  has sold or transferred or
is to sell or transfer to any other Person  (other than in  connection  with the
Transaction) or (ii) which the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries  intends to use for
substantially  the same purpose as any other property which has been or is to be
sold or  transferred  by the  Borrower  or its  Subsidiaries  to any  Person  in
connection  with such lease,  if in the case of clause (i) or (ii)  above,  such
sale and such  lease are part of the same  transaction  or a series  of  related
transactions  or such sale and such lease occur within one year of each other or
are with the same other Person.

          7.20. SALE OR DISCOUNT OF RECEIVABLES. The Borrower will not, and will
not permit its  Subsidiaries  to, sell,  with or without  recourse,  or discount
(other  than in  connection  with  trade  discounts  in the  ordinary  course of
business)  or  otherwise  sell for less than the face  value  thereof,  notes or
accounts receivable, other than receivables,  that, in accordance with GAAP, are
deemed uncollectible.

          7.21.  GENA  PAYMENTS.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit its
Subsidiaries to, make any cash payments pursuant to the Stock Escrow and BuyBack
Agreement  dated  November 26, 1996 if at the time of such cash payment or after
giving effect thereto, a Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

          SECTION  8.  EVENTS OF  DEFAULT.  Upon the  occurrence  and during the
continuance  of any  of the  following  specified  events  (each  an  "Event  of
Default"):

          8.01. PAYMENTS. The Borrower shall (i) default in the payment when due
of any principal of the Loans, (ii) default, and such default shall continue for
two or more Business  Days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans
or under any other Credit  Document or (iii) fail to pay any other amounts owing
hereunder for five Business Days after  receiving  notice from the Agent of such
default; or

          8.02. REPRESENTATIONS, ETC. Any representation,  warranty or statement
made or deemed made by any Credit Party or its respective Subsidiaries herein or
in any other Credit  Document or in any  statement or  certificate  delivered or
<PAGE>
                                      -95-

required to be delivered  pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to be untrue in
any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made; or

          8.03. COVENANTS. Any Credit Party or its respective Subsidiaries shall
(a) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term,  covenant or
agreement  contained in Section 6.11, 6.12, 6.14, 6.15, 6.16 or Section 7 hereof
or  Section  1.1 of any  Mortgage  or (b)  default  in the  due  performance  or
observance  by it of any other term,  covenant or  agreement  contained  in this
Agreement or any Security Document (other than those referred to in Section 8.01
or 8.02) and such default  shall  continue  unremedied  for a period of at least
thirty days after the date of such default; or

          8.04.  Default  Under Other  Agreements.  (a) Any Credit  Party or its
respective  Subsidiaries  shall (i) default in any payment  with  respect to any
Indebtedness  (other than  Obligations)  having a principal  amount in excess of
$500,000 in the aggregate for all Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries,  beyond
the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which
such  Indebtedness  was created or (ii) default in the observance or performance
of any agreement or condition  relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in
any instrument or agreement  evidencing,  securing or relating  thereto,  or any
other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other
event or  condition  is to cause,  or to permit  the  holder or  holders of such
Indebtedness  (or a trustee  or agent on behalf of such  holder or  holders)  to
cause any such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity, PROVIDED
that to the extent  that the Gena  Payment is not made  because it would cause a
Default or Event of Default  hereunder,  such  nonpayment  will not constitute a
Default  or  Event  of  Default  under  this  Section  8.04;  or  (b)  any  such
Indebtedness of any Credit Party or any of its respective  Subsidiaries shall be
declared  to be due and  payable,  or  required  to be  prepaid  other than by a
regularly scheduled required  prepayment,  prior to the stated maturity thereof;
or

          8.05. BANKRUPTCY, ETC. Any Credit Party or its respective Subsidiaries
shall commence a voluntary case  concerning  itself under Title 11 of the United
States  Code  entitled  "Bankruptcy,"  as now or  hereafter  in  effect,  or any
successor  thereto (the "Bankruptcy  Code"); or an involuntary case is commenced
against any Credit Party or any of its respective  Subsidiaries and the petition
is not  controverted  within 10 days, or is not dismissed  within 60 days, after
<PAGE>
                                      -96-

commencement of the case; or a custodian (as defined in the Bankruptcy  Code) is
appointed for, or takes charge of, all or  substantially  all of the property of
any Credit Party or any of its respective  Subsidiaries;  or any Credit Party or
any of its  respective  Subsidiaries  commences any other  proceeding  under any
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution,
insolvency  or  liquidation  or similar law of any  jurisdiction  whether now or
hereafter  in  effect  relating  to any  Credit  Party or any of its  respective
Subsidiaries;  or there is  commenced  against  any  Credit  Party or any of its
respective  Subsidiaries  any such  proceeding  which remains  undismissed for a
period of 60 days; or any Credit Party or any of its respective  Subsidiaries is
adjudicated  insolvent  or  bankrupt;  or any  order of  relief  or other  order
approving any such case or proceeding is entered;  or any Credit Party or any of
its respective Subsidiaries suffers any appointment of any custodian or the like
for it or any  substantial  part of its  property  to continue  undischarged  or
unstayed for a period of 60 days;  or any Credit Party or any of its  respective
Subsidiaries  makes a general  assignment  for the benefit of creditors;  or any
corporate  action  is  taken  by any  Credit  Party  or  any  of its  respective
Subsidiaries for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

          8.06.  ERISA.

          (i) Any  "reportable  event" as  described in Section 4043 of ERISA or
the regulations thereunder (excluding those events for which the requirement for
notice has been waived by the PBGC), or any other event or condition,  which the
Required Banks determine  constitutes  reasonable  grounds under Section 4042 of
ERISA for the termination of any Pension Plan by the PBGC or for the appointment
by the  appropriate  United States  District Court of a trustee to administer or
liquidate any Title IV Plan shall have occurred; or

          (ii) A trustee shall be appointed by a United States District Court to
administer any Title IV Plan; or

          (iii) The PBGC shall  institute  proceedings to terminate any Title IV
Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Title IV Plan; or

          (iv) Any Credit Party,  its respective  Subsidiaries or its respective
ERISA  Affiliates  shall  become  liable  to the PBGC or any other  party  under
Section 4062, 4063, 4064 or 4069 of ERISA with respect to any Title IV Plan; or
<PAGE>
                                      -97-

          (v) Any Credit Party,  its respective  Subsidiaries  or its respective
ERISA  Affiliates  shall become liable to any  Multiemployer  Plan under Section
4201 ET SEQ. of ERISA; and

if the sum of each of such Credit Party's, its respective  Subsidiaries' and its
respective ERISA Affiliates'  various  liabilities (such liabilities to include,
without  limitation,  any  liability  to the PBGC or to any  other  party  under
Section 4062, 4063, 4064 or 4069 of ERISA) with respect to any Title IV Plan, or
to any Multiemployer Plan under Section 4201 ET SEQ. of ERISA which the Required
Banks determine could  reasonably be expected to be incurred as a result of such
events listed in subclauses (i) through (v) above exceeds $200,000; or

          8.07. SECURITY  DOCUMENTS.  Any Security Document shall cease to be in
full force and effect,  or shall cease to give the  Collateral  Agent the Liens,
rights,  powers and privileges  purported to be created thereby, in favor of the
Collateral  Agent,  superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons and
subject to no Liens other than Prior Liens and Liens expressly  permitted by the
applicable Security Document; or

          8.08. GUARANTEES.  Any Guarantee or any provisions thereof shall cease
to be in full  force  or  effect  in all  material  respects,  or the  Guarantor
thereunder  or Person  acting by or on behalf of such  Guarantor  shall  deny or
disaffirm  such  Guarantor's  obligations  under such Guarantee or the Guarantor
shall default in the due  performance  or  observance  of any term,  covenant or
agreement on its part to be performed or observed pursuant to any Guarantee; or

          8.09.  JUDGMENTS.  One or more  judgments or decrees  shall be entered
against  any Credit  Party or any of its  respective  Subsidiaries  involving  a
liability of $250,000 or more in the case of any one such judgment or decree and
$500,000 or more in the  aggregate  for all such  judgments  and decrees for all
Credit Parties and their  respective  Subsidiaries  (in either case in excess of
the  amount  covered  by  insurance  as  to  which  the  insurance  company  has
acknowledged coverage) and (i) any such judgments or decrees shall not have been
vacated, discharged,  bonded or enforcement thereof stayed pending appeal within
30 days from the entry thereof or (ii) any enforcement proceeding therefor shall
have been commenced; or
<PAGE>
                                      -98-

          8.10. OWNERSHIP. (i) The consummation of any transaction the result of
which is that any person or "group" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of
the Exchange Act) owns (x) directly or indirectly  50% or more of the issued and
outstanding  Common  Stock  of the  Borrower  or (y) 50% or  more of the  equity
securities of the Borrower  entitled  (without  regard to the  occurrence of any
contingency)  to vote for the  election of the members of the board of directors
of the Borrower or (ii)  individuals  who  constituted the board of directors of
the Borrower on the Closing Date (together with any new directors whose proposal
for election by the members of the Borrower was approved by a vote of a majority
of the directors of the Borrower then still in office who either were  directors
on the Closing Date or whose  election or nomination for election was previously
so approved)  shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members
of the board of directors of the Borrower  still in office  (each,  a "Change in
Control").

          Then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter,  if any Event
of Default shall then be continuing,  the Agent shall,  upon the written request
of the Required Banks, by written notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the
following  actions,  without prejudice to the rights of the Agent or any Bank to
enforce  its claims  against  the  Borrower,  except as  otherwise  specifically
provided for in this Agreement  (PROVIDED that, if an Event of Default specified
in Section 8.05 shall occur,  with respect to any Credit Party or its respective
Subsidiaries,  the result which would occur upon the giving of written notice by
the Agent as specified  in clauses (i) and (ii) below shall occur  automatically
without  the  giving of any such  notice):  (i)  declare  the Total  Commitments
terminated,  whereupon  the  Commitment of each Bank shall  forthwith  terminate
immediately  and any accrued and unpaid  Commitment  Commission  shall forthwith
become due and payable  without any other  notice of any kind;  (ii) declare the
principal  of and accrued  interest in respect of all Loans and all  Obligations
owing hereunder and thereunder to be, whereupon the same shall become, forthwith
due and payable  without  presentment,  demand,  protest or other  notice of any
kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Credit Party; and/or (iii) enforce,
as Collateral Agent (or direct the Collateral  Agent to enforce),  any or all of
the remedies created pursuant to the Security Documents.  If an Event of Default
is cured or waived in  accordance  with the  terms of the  Agreement,  it ceases
(and, if waived, pursuant to the terms, and to the extent, of such waiver).
<PAGE>
                                      -99-

          SECTION 9. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following terms shall have
the meanings herein specified  unless the context  otherwise  requires.  Defined
terms in this Agreement  shall include in the singular  number the plural and in
the plural the singular:

          "A TERM LOAN" has the meaning provided in Section 1.01(a).

          "A TERM LOAN COMMITMENT"  means, with respect to each Bank, the amount
set forth below such Bank's name on the signature  pages hereto  directly across
from the entry  entitled  "A Term Loan  Commitment,"  as the same may be reduced
from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.02, 3.02 and/or 8.

          "A TERM LOAN FACILITY" means the Loan Facility  evidenced by the Total
A Term Loan Commitment.

          "A TERM NOTE" has the meaning provided in Section 1.05(a).

          "A TERM PORTION"  means, at any time, the portion of the Loan Facility
evidenced by the Total A Term Loan Commitment.

          "ABBA" means U.K. ABBA Products, Inc., a corporation.

          "ACCOUNT"  means all of the  "accounts"  (as that term is  defined  in
Section  9106 of the  Uniform  Commercial  Code as in effect in the State of New
York) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries  whether or not such Account has been
earned  by  performance,  whether  now  existing  or  existing  in  the  future,
including,  without limitation, all (i) accounts receivable,  including, without
limitation,  all accounts  created by or arising from all of the  Borrower's and
its  Subsidiaries'  sales of goods or  rendition  of  services or  licensing  or
subleasing of any of the Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' Intellectual Property;
(ii) unpaid seller's rights  (including  rescission,  replevin,  reclamation and
stopping  in transit)  relating to the  foregoing  or arising  therefrom;  (iii)
rights to any goods represented by any of the foregoing,  including  returned or
repossessed  goods;  (iv) reserves and credit  balances held by the Borrower and
its  Subsidiaries  with respect to any such  accounts  receivable or any account
debtor;  (v)  guarantees  or  collateral  for  any of the  foregoing;  and  (vi)
insurance policies or rights relating to any of the foregoing.
<PAGE>
                                      -100-

          "ACQUISITION  PORTION"  means,  at any time,  the  portion of the Loan
Facility  evidenced by the Total Acquisition Term Loan Commitment.

          "ACQUISITION TERM LOAN" has the meaning provided in Section 1.01(c).

          "ACQUISITION  TERM LOAN  CLOSING  DATE" has the  meaning  provided  in
Section 1.01(c).

          "ACQUISITION  TERM LOAN COMMITMENT"  means, with respect to each Bank,
the amount set forth below such Bank's name on the signature pages hereto beside
the column entitled  "Acquisition Term Loan Commitment",  as same may be reduced
from time to time pursuant to Sections 1.01(d), 2.01, 3.02 and/or 8.

          "ACQUISITION  TERM LOAN  COMMITMENT  TERMINATION  DATE" means June 15,
1999.

          "ACQUISITION   TERM  NOTE"  has  the   meaning   provided  in  Section
1.05(a)(iii).

          "ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL" has the meaning provided in Section 6.14.

          "AFFILIATE"  means  with  respect  to any  Person,  any  other  Person
directly or indirectly  controlling (including but not limited to all directors,
managers and executive officers of such Person),  controlled by, or under direct
or indirect  common  control  with,  such  Person.  A Person  shall be deemed to
control a corporation  or a limited  liability  company for the purposes of this
definition if such Person  possesses,  directly or indirectly,  the power (i) to
vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election
of directors or managers of such  corporation  or limited  liability  company or
(ii) to direct or cause the  direction  of the  management  and policies of such
corporation  or limited  liability  company,  whether  through the  ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

          "AGENT"  has the  meaning  provided  in the  first  paragraph  of this
Agreement  and shall  include any  successor  thereto  appointed  in  accordance
herewith.

          "AGENT'S  OFFICE" means the office of the Agent located at 1211 Avenue
of the Americas,  7th Floor,  New York, New York 10036,  or such other office in
New York as the Agent may  hereafter  designate  in writing as such to the other
parties hereto.
<PAGE>
                                      -101-

          "AGREEMENT"  means this  Credit  Agreement,  as the same may after its
execution be amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified from time to time in
accordance with the terms hereof.

          "APPROVED  BANK" has the meaning set forth in the  definition of "Cash
Equivalents" below.

          "ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means the Asset Purchase  Agreement,  dated
as of October 31, 1997, by and among the Borrower and the Sellers.

          "ASSET  SALE" means the sale,  transfer or other  disposition,  to the
extent  consummated  after  the  Closing  Date,  by the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries  of any asset of the  Borrower  or its  Subsidiaries  to any Person
(other than  transactions  included in the definition of Net Financing  Proceeds
and sales,  transfers or other  dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course
of business  and/or of obsolete  equipment  effected in compliance  with Section
7.15(a)(iv)).

          "AUTHORIZED   OFFICER"  means  any  senior  officer  of  the  Borrower
designated  as such in  writing  to the  Agent by the  Borrower,  to the  extent
acceptable to the Agent.

          "B TERM LOAN" has the meaning provided in Section 1.01(a).

          "B TERM LOAN COMMITMENT"  means, with respect to each Bank, the amount
set forth below such Bank's name on the signature  pages hereto  directly across
from the entry  entitled  "B Term Loan  Commitment,"  as the same may be reduced
from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.02, 3.02 and/or 8.

          "B TERM LOAN FACILITY" means the Loan Facility  evidenced by the Total
B Term Loan Commitment.

          "B TERM NOTE" has the meaning provided in Section 1.05(a).

          "B TERM PORTION"  means, at any time, the portion of the Loan Facility
evidenced by the Total B Term Loan Commitment.

          "BANK"  has  the  meaning  provided  in the  first  paragraph  of this
Agreement and in Section 11.04.
<PAGE>
                                     -102-

          "BANKRUPTCY CODE" has the meaning provided in Section 8.05.

          "BASE  RATE"  means the  higher of (x) 1/2% PER ANNUM in excess of the
Federal Funds Rate and (y) the rate which the Agent  announces from time to time
as its prime  commercial  lending rate, as in effect from time to time. The rate
the Agent  announces as its prime lending rate is a reference  rate and does not
necessarily  represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer.
The Agent may make  commercial  loans or other  loans at rates of  interest  at,
above or below the rate it announces as its prime commercial lending rate.

          "BASE RATE LOAN" means each Loan bearing interest at the rate provided
in Section 1.07(a).

          "BORROWER"  has the meaning  provided in the first  paragraph  of this
Agreement.

          "BORROWER  GENERAL  SECURITY  AGREEMENT"  means the  General  Security
Agreement  executed and delivered by the Borrower  substantially  in the form of
EXHIBIT H1 hereto,  except for such  changes as shall have been  approved by the
Agent, as the same may be amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time in accordance with its terms and the terms hereof.

          "BORROWER  SECURITIES  PLEDGE  AGREEMENT" means the Securities  Pledge
Agreement  executed and delivered by the Borrower  substantially  in the form of
EXHIBIT F1 hereto,  except for such changes  therein as shall have been approved
by the Agent,  as the same may after its execution be amended,  supplemented  or
otherwise  modified from time to time in  accordance  with the terms thereof and
hereof.

          "BORROWING"  shall  mean  the  incurrence  pursuant  to  a  Notice  of
Borrowing  and to the Loan Facility of one Type of Loan by the Borrower from all
of the Banks on a PRO RATA basis on a given date (or resulting from  conversions
on a given date) having, in the case of LIBOR Loans, the same Interest Periods.

          "BORROWING  BASE"  means an amount  equal to the sum of (i) 85% of the
Eligible Accounts Receivable and (ii) 55% of the Eligible Inventory.
<PAGE>
                                     -103-

          "BORROWING BASE  CERTIFICATE" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 6.01.

          "BUSINESS  DAY" shall mean (i) for all purposes  other than as covered
by clause (ii) below, any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall
be in  the  City  of  New  York  a  legal  holiday  or a day  on  which  banking
institutions  are authorized by law or other  governmental  actions to close and
(ii) with respect to all notices and  determinations  in  connection  with,  and
payments of principal and interest on, LIBOR Loans,  any day which is a Business
Day  described  in clause (i) and which is also a day for trading by and between
banks in U.S. dollar deposits in the interbank Eurodollar market.

          "CAPITAL LEASE" of any Person means any lease of any property (whether
real,  personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee  which,  in  conformity  with
GAAP, is, or is required to be,  accounted for as a capital lease on the balance
sheet of that Person,  together  with any renewals of such leases (or entry into
new leases) on substantially similar terms.

          "CAPITALIZED  LEASE  OBLIGATIONS"  of any Person means all obligations
under  Capital  Leases of such  Person or any of its  Subsidiaries  in each case
taken at the amount  thereof  accounted for as  liabilities  in accordance  with
GAAP.

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

          "CASH  EQUIVALENTS"  means (i) securities issued or directly and fully
guaranteed  or  insured  by the  United  States  of  America  or any  agency  or
instrumentality  thereof  (PROVIDED that the full faith and credit of the United
States of America is pledged in support  thereof) having  maturities of not more
than  three  years  from  the  date  of  acquisition,   (ii)  marketable  direct
obligations  issued by any State of the  United  States of  America or any local
government  or  other  political  subdivision  thereof  rated  (at  the  time of
acquisition  of such  security)  at least AA by  Standard  & Poor's  Corporation
("S&P") or the equivalent thereof by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's")
having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition,  (iii)
U.S.  dollar  denominated  time deposits,  certificates  of deposit and bankers'
acceptances  of (x) any Bank,  (y) any domestic  commercial  bank of  recognized
standing  having capital and surplus in excess of  $250,000,000  or (z) any bank
whose  shortterm  commercial  paper rating (at the time of  acquisition  of such
<PAGE>
                                     -104-

security)  by S&P is at least A1 or the  equivalent  thereof or by Moody's is at
least P1 or the equivalent  thereof (any such bank, an "Approved Bank"), in each
case with  maturities of not more than six months from the date of  acquisition,
(iv)  commercial  paper and  variable or fixed rate notes  issued by any Bank or
Approved  Bank or by the  parent  company  of any  Bank  or  Approved  Bank  and
commercial  paper and  variable  rate  notes  issued by, or  guaranteed  by, any
industrial or financial company with a shortterm commercial paper rating (at the
time of acquisition  of such security) of at least A1 or the equivalent  thereof
by S&P or at least P1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody's, or guaranteed by any
industrial  company  with a  longterm  unsecured  debt  rating  (at the  time of
acquisition of such security) of at least AA or the equivalent thereof by S&P or
the  equivalent  thereof by Moody's  and in each case  maturing  within one year
after the date of  acquisition,  and (v) repurchase  agreements with any Bank or
any primary dealer  maturing  within one year from the date of acquisition  that
are fully collateralized by investment  instruments that would otherwise be Cash
Equivalents;  PROVIDED that the terms of such repurchase  agreements comply with
the  guidelines  set forth in the  Federal  Financial  Institutions  Examination
Council Supervisory Policy Repurchase Agreements of Depository Institutions With
Securities  Dealers and Others, as adopted by the Comptroller of the Currency on
October 31, 1985.

          "CERCLA" has the meaning provided in Section 5.22(d).

          "CHANGE IN CONTROL" has the meaning provided in Section 8.10.

          "CLOSING DATE" means December 10, 1997.

          "CODE" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended from time
to time.

          "COLLATERAL" means all of the Pledged  Collateral,  Pledged Securities
and Mortgaged Real Property.

          "COLLATERAL  AGENT" means Indosuez in its capacity as collateral agent
for the Banks and shall  include any successor  thereto  appointed in accordance
herewith.

          "COMMERCIAL  LETTER OF  CREDIT"  means any letter of credit or similar
instrument  issued for the account of Borrower for the purpose of providing  the
primary  payment  mechanism in  connection  with the purchase of any  materials,
<PAGE>
                                     -105-

goods or services by Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business of Borrower or Subsidiaries.

          "COMMITMENT" means, with respect to each Bank, such Bank's A Term Loan
Commitment,  B Term  Loan  Commitment,  Acquisition  Term  Loan  Commitment  and
Revolving Loan Commitment.

          "COMMITMENT COMMISSION" has the meaning provided in Section 2.03.

          "COMMON  STOCK"  means the Common  Stock,  $.0001  par  value,  of the
Borrower.

          "COMPLIANCE  CERTIFICATE"  means  a  certificate  issued  pursuant  to
Section  6.01(d)  signed  by  a  chief  financial  officer,   controller,  chief
accounting officer or other Authorized Officer of the Borrower.

          "CONSOLIDATED  AMORTIZATION  EXPENSE"  for any Person  means,  for any
period,  the consolidated  amortization  expense of such Person for such period,
determined  on a  consolidated  basis for such  Person and its  Subsidiaries  in
conformity with GAAP.

          "CONSOLIDATED  CAPITAL  EXPENDITURES"  of any  Person  means,  for any
period, the amount expended for property,  plant or equipment in conformity with
GAAP,  but  excluding  expenditures  made in  connection  with the  replacement,
substitution  or restoration of assets (i) to the extent financed from insurance
proceeds  paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being  replaced
or restored, (ii) with awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent
domain or  condemnation  of the assets  being  replaced  or (iii) with regard to
equipment  that  is  purchased  simultaneously  with  the  tradein  of  existing
equipment,  fixed assets or  improvements,  the credit  granted by the seller of
such equipment for the tradein of such equipment,  fixed assets or improvements;
PROVIDED that Consolidated  Capital  Expenditures shall in any event not include
the  purchase  price paid in  connection  with a Designated  Acquisition  or the
acquisition of all or substantially  all of a business or product line and shall
not include Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.04(i).

          "CONSOLIDATED  CURRENT ASSETS" means, with respect to any Person as at
any date of determination,  the total assets of such Person and its consolidated
<PAGE>
                                     -106-

Subsidiaries   which  may  properly  be  classified  as  current   assets  on  a
consolidated  balance  sheet of such Person and its  Subsidiaries  in accordance
with GAAP.

          "CONSOLIDATED  CURRENT  LIABILITIES" means, with respect to any Person
as at any date of  determination,  the total  liabilities of such Person and its
consolidated   Subsidiaries   which  may  properly  be   classified  as  current
liabilities  (other  than the current  portion of any Loans and of any  Existing
Indebtedness)   on  a  consolidated   balance  sheet  of  such  Person  and  its
consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

          "CONSOLIDATED  DEPRECIATION  EXPENSE"  for any Person  means,  for any
period,  the consolidated  depreciation  expense of such Person for such period,
determined  on a  consolidated  basis  for  such  Person  and  its  consolidated
Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP.

          "CONSOLIDATED  EBITDA"  for any  Person  means,  for any  period,  the
difference  between  (A)  the  sum  of  the  amounts  for  such  period  of  (i)
Consolidated  Net Income,  (ii)  Consolidated  Tax Expense,  (iii)  Consolidated
Interest Expense,  (iv) Consolidated  Amortization  Expense and (v) Consolidated
Depreciation  Expense;  PROVIDED  that the sums included in clauses (ii) through
(v) shall be added back only to the extent deducted in calculating  Consolidated
Net Income LESS (B) the sum of the  amounts  for such period of interest  income
and (C) net gains in  connection  with sales of assets  (excluding  sales in the
ordinary course of business), whether or not extraordinary, all as determined on
a  consolidated  basis for such  Person  and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  in
accordance with GAAP.

          "CONSOLIDATED   EBITDAC"  for  any  Person  means,   for  any  period,
Consolidated EBITDA MINUS Consolidated Capital Expenditures.

          "CONSOLIDATED  INTEREST EXPENSE" for any Person means, for any period,
total  interest  expense  (including  that  attributable  to  Capital  Leases in
accordance  with GAAP) of such  Person and its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated
basis  with  respect  to all  outstanding  Indebtedness  of such  Person and its
Subsidiaries,  including,  without  limitation,  all commissions,  discounts and
other fees and  charges  owed with  respect  to  letters of credit and  bankers'
acceptance  financing,  but excluding,  however,  any  amortization  of deferred
<PAGE>
                                     -107-

financing  costs and any other non-cash  component of interest  expense,  all as
determined  on a  consolidated  basis  for  such  Person  and  its  consolidated
Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

          "CONSOLIDATED  NET INCOME" for any Person means,  for any period,  the
net income (or loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
for such period taken as a single accounting period determined on a consolidated
basis for such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP;
PROVIDED  that  there  shall be  excluded  (i) the income (or loss) of any other
Person (other than consolidated  Subsidiaries of such Person) in which any third
Person (other than such Person or any of its  consolidated  Subsidiaries)  has a
joint  interest,  except to the  extent  of the  amount  of  dividends  or other
distributions  actually paid to such Person or any of its  Subsidiaries  by such
other Person  during such period,  (ii) the income (or loss) of any other Person
accrued prior to the date it becomes a consolidated Subsidiary of such Person or
is  merged  into or  consolidated  with such  Person or any of its  consolidated
Subsidiaries or such other Person's assets are acquired by such Person or any of
its consolidated  Subsidiaries,  (iii) the income of any consolidated Subsidiary
of such Person to the extent that the  declaration  or payment of  dividends  or
similar  distributions by that consolidated  Subsidiary of that income is not at
the time  permitted by  operation of the terms of its charter or any  agreement,
instrument,  judgment,  decree, order, statute, rule or governmental  regulation
applicable  to that  consolidated  Subsidiary  and (iv) the income (or loss) for
such Person arising from any nonrecurring  charges,  including the extraordinary
charge  related to the  writeoff of  deferred  financing  charges,  arising as a
result of the Borrower entering into this Agreement.

          "CONSOLIDATED  TAX  EXPENSE"  for any Person  means,  for any  period,
without  duplication,  the  consolidated  tax  expense  of such  Person for such
period,  determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its consolidated
Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP.

          "CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS" means, as to any Person, without duplication,
any  obligation  of such  Person  guaranteeing  or  intended  to  guarantee  any
Indebtedness,  leases, dividends or other obligations ("primary obligations") of
any other  Person (the  "primary  obligor") in any manner,  whether  directly or
indirectly,  including,  without  limitation,  any  obligation  of such  Person,
whether or not  contingent,  (a) to purchase any such primary  obligation or any
<PAGE>
                                     -108-

property  constituting  direct or indirect security therefor,  (b) to advance or
supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary  obligation  or
(ii) to maintain  working  capital or equity  capital of the primary  obligor or
otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary  obligor,  (c) to
purchase property,  securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring
the owner of any such primary  obligation of the ability of the primary  obligor
to make payment of such primary  obligation  or (d)  otherwise to assure or hold
harmless the owner of such primary  obligation  against loss in respect thereof;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the  term  Contingent  Obligation  shall  not  include
endorsements  of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of
business  and  amounts  that are  included  in Section  7.16.  The amount of any
Contingent  Obligation  shall be  deemed to be an  amount  equal to the  maximum
amount that such Person may be obligated to expend pursuant to the terms of such
Contingent  Obligation or, if such Contingent  Obligation is not so limited, the
stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such
Contingent  Obligation  is made or, if not stated or  determinable,  the maximum
reasonably  anticipated  liability in respect  thereof  (assuming such Person is
required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.

          "CONVERSION  EVENT"  shall have the  meaning  ascribed to such term in
Section 1.01(d).

          "CREDIT  DOCUMENTS"  means (i) this Agreement,  (ii) each Note,  (iii)
each Guarantee and (iv) each Security Document.

          "CREDIT  PARTY" means at all times the  Borrower  and each  Subsidiary
thereof that pledges any stock, grants any Lien or issues any guarantee pursuant
to any Credit Document.

          "CURRENCY  PROTECTION  AGREEMENT"  shall  mean  any  foreign  exchange
contract, currency swap agreement, or other financial agreements or arrangements
designed to protect the Borrower against fluctuations in currency values.

          "DEFAULT" means any event, act or condition which with notice or lapse
of time, 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.
<PAGE>
                                     -109-

          "DESIGNATED  ACQUISITION"  means such acquisition as shall be effected
by the Borrower or its  Subsidiaries in whatever manner selected by the Borrower
or its Subsidiaries  (including  acquisition of capital stock or the purchase of
assets) with the proceeds of an Acquisition Term Loan;  PROVIDED that (x) in the
case of a purchase of Capital Stock,  the entity acquired engages in, and (y) in
the case of a purchase of assets,  such  assets are used in a business  directly
related to the manufacture and/or distribution of beauty products,  and lines of
business reasonably related thereto.

          "DESTRUCTION" has the meaning assigned to that term in each Mortgage.

          "DIVIDENDS" has the meaning provided in Section 7.08.

          "DOCUMENTS" means each Credit Document and each Transaction Document.

          "DOLLARS" or "$" means United States Dollars.

          "EFFECTIVE DATE" has the meaning provided in Section 11.10. "EFFECTIVE
TIME" has the meaning provided in Section 11.10.

          "ELIGIBLE  ACCOUNTS  RECEIVABLE"  means,  as at any applicable date of
determination,  the aggregate  face amount of the Accounts of the Credit Parties
included in clause (i) of the  definition of Account  hereunder  (excluding  any
Accounts set forth in clauses (ii)  through  (vi) of such  definition),  without
duplication, in each case less (without duplication) the aggregate amount of all
reserves,  limits and  deductions  with respect to such Accounts set forth below
and less the  aggregate  amount  of all  returns,  discounts,  claims,  rebates,
offsets,  credits, charges (including  warehouseman's charges) and allowances of
any nature with respect to such  Accounts  (whether  issued,  owing,  granted or
outstanding).  Unless  otherwise  approved  in  writing by the Agent in its sole
discretion,  no  individual  Account  shall be deemed to be an Eligible  Account
Receivable if:
<PAGE>
                                     -110-

               (a) a Credit  Party  does not have  legal and valid  title to the
          Account; or

               (b) the Account is not the valid, binding and legally enforceable
          obligation of the account debtor subject,  as to enforceability,  only
          to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium
          or similar laws at the time in effect affecting the  enforceability of
          creditors' rights generally and (ii) judicial discretion in connection
          with the remedy of specific  performance and other equitable remedies;
          or

               (c) the Account arises out of a sale made by a Credit Party to an
          Affiliate of such Credit Party; or

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

               (e) the  Account is unpaid  more than 30 days after the  original
          payment  due date,  with  respect to  Accounts  the  invoice for which
          provides  that  payment is due more than 60 days from the date of such
          invoice;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the  aggregate  percentage  of all
          invoices  providing for payment more than 60 days from the date of the
          invoice that may constitute  Eligible  Accounts  Receivable  shall not
          exceed 20% at any one time; or

               (f) such Account,  when aggregated with all other Accounts of the
          same account debtor (or any Affiliate thereof), exceeds twenty percent
          in face value of all Accounts of the Credit Parties then  outstanding,
          to the extent of such excess; or

               (g) (i) the account debtor for such Account is also a creditor of
          a Credit Party,  to the extent of the amount owed by such Credit Party
          to the account debtor, (ii) the Account is subject to any claim on the
          part of the account debtor  disputing  liability under such Account in
          whole or in part, to the extent of the amount of such dispute or (iii)
          the Account  otherwise is or is reasonably likely to become subject to
          any right of  setoff  or any  counterclaim,  claim or  defense  by the
          account  debtor,  to the  extent  of the  amount  of  such  setoff  or
          counterclaim, claim or defense; or
<PAGE>
                                     -111-

               (h) the account debtor for such Account has commenced a voluntary
          case  under  the  federal  bankruptcy  laws,  as  now  constituted  or
          hereafter amended,  or made an assignment for the benefit of creditors
          or if a decree or order for relief has been  entered by a court having
          jurisdiction  in the  premises in respect of the account  debtor in an
          involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted
          or hereafter  amended,  or if any other petition or other  application
          for  relief  under the  federal  bankruptcy  laws has been filed by or
          against  the  account  debtor,  or if the  account  debtor has failed,
          suspended business,  ceased to be solvent, or consented to or suffered
          a receiver, trustee, liquidator or custodian to be appointed for it or
          for all or a significant portion of its assets or affairs; or

               (i) the Agent does not have a valid and perfected  first priority
          security  interest in such Account  (subject  only to a tax lien being
          contested in good faith and by appropriate  proceedings  and permitted
          by Section 7.03(a)); or

               (j) the  sale to the  account  debtor  for such  Account  is on a
          consignment,  sale on approval, guaranteed sale or saleandreturn basis
          or pursuant to any written agreement  requiring  repurchase or return;
          or

               (k) such  Account  is from an account  debtor  (or any  Affiliate
          thereof) and fifty  percent  (50%) or more,  in face amount,  of other
          Accounts from either such account debtor or any Affiliate  thereof are
          due or unpaid for more than 90 days after the original  invoice  date;
          or

               (l)  fifty  percent  (50%)  or  more,  in face  amount,  of other
          Accounts from the same account  debtor for such Account are not deemed
          Eligible Accounts Receivable hereunder; or

               (m) the account  debtor for such Account is a foreign  government
          or any agency, department or institution thereof; or

               (n) such Account is an Account a security interest in which would
          be subject to the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended
          (31 U.S.C. ss.3727 ET SEQ.),  unless the Credit Party has assigned the
          Account to the Agent in compliance with the provisions of such Act; or
<PAGE>
                                     -112-

               (o) the  account  debtor for such  Account is outside  the United
          States  or  incorporated  in or  conducting  substantially  all of its
          business in any jurisdiction located outside the United States, unless
          (i) the sale is on  letter  of  credit  or sight  draft,  guaranty  or
          acceptance  terms,  in each case  acceptable to the Agent or (ii) such
          Account is  otherwise  approved by and  reasonably  acceptable  to the
          Agent; or

               (p) the Agent  determines  in good faith in  accordance  with its
          internal  credit  policies  that  (i)  collection  of the  account  is
          insecure or (ii) such Account may not be paid by reason of the account
          debtor's  financial  inability  to pay;  provided,  however,  that any
          Account  referred  to in this  clause (p) shall not become  ineligible
          until the Agent shall have given the Credit Party three Business Days'
          advance notice of such determination; or

               (q) the goods  giving rise to such  Account have not been shipped
          or the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by
          a Credit  Party or the Account  otherwise  does not  represent a final
          sale; or

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

          In addition to the foregoing,  Eligible Accounts  Receivable  includes
such Accounts as a Credit Party requests and that the Agent approves in advance,
in writing and in its sole  discretion  (or if the  aggregate  face amount to be
approved exceeds  $1,000,000 at any one time, the approval of the Required Banks
has been obtained in writing).

          "ELIGIBLE  INVENTORY"  means (A) the gross  amount of Inventory of the
Credit Parties,  valued at the lower of cost (on a FIFO basis) or market,  which
(i) is owned  solely by a Credit  Party and with  respect to which  such  Credit
Party has good, valid and marketable  title;  (ii) is stored on property that is
either (a) owned or leased by a Credit Party,  PROVIDED that with respect to any
leased  property,  from and after the sixtieth  (60th) day following the Closing
Date the landlord has executed and delivered a Landlord Lien  Assurance,  or (b)
owned or  leased  by a  warehouseman  that has  contracted  (including  purchase
<PAGE>
                                     -113-

orders) with a Credit Party to store Inventory on such  warehouseman's  property
(PROVIDED that with respect to Inventory stored on property owned or leased by a
warehouseman,  from and after the sixtieth (60th) day following the Closing Date
the warehouseman has executed and delivered to the Agent an agreement reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent whereby the warehouseman  acknowledges the priority of
the Lien of the Collateral Agent); (iii) is subject to a valid,  enforceable and
first  priority  Lien in favor of the  Agent  subject  only to a tax lien  being
contested in good faith and by appropriate  proceedings and permitted by Section
7.03(a);  (iv) is located in the United States or the United  Kingdom  PROVIDED,
that any such  Inventory  located  in the  United  Kingdom  (x) is  located in a
warehouse leased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, (y) is subject to a valid,
enforceable  and first  priority  security  interest  reasonably  acceptable  to
counsel  for the Agent and (z) does not  exceed  $1,500,000  in value at any one
time; and (v) is not, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent,  obsolete or slow
moving in relation to customary industry practice,  and which otherwise conforms
to the requirements for eligibility contained herein; (B) LESS the amount of any
goods returned or rejected by the Credit Parties' customers and goods in transit
to third parties (other than to the Credit Parties' agents or warehousemen  that
comply with clause  (A)(ii)(b)  above);  and (C) LESS the amount of any reserves
for special order goods or  otherwise.  In addition to the  foregoing,  Eligible
Inventory shall include such items of the Credit Parties'  Inventory as Borrower
shall request and that the Agent approves in advance, in writing and in its sole
discretion (or if the aggregate amount to be approved exceeds  $1,000,000 at any
one time, the approval of the Required Banks has been obtained).

          "ENVIRONMENTAL  LAWS"  means the  common law and all  federal,  state,
local and foreign laws or  regulations,  codes,  orders,  decrees,  judgments or
injunctions  issued,  promulgated,   approved  or  entered  thereunder,  now  or
hereafter in effect,  relating to pollution or  protection of public or employee
health  and  safety or the  environment,  including,  without  limitation,  laws
relating  to (i)  emissions,  discharges,  releases  or  threatened  releases of
Hazardous  Materials,  into  the  environment  (including,  without  limitation,
ambient air, surface water,  ground water,  land surface or subsurface  strata),
(ii) the manufacture,  processing,  distribution,  use,  generation,  treatment,
storage,  disposal,  transport  or handling of  Hazardous  Materials,  and (iii)
underground and aboveground  storage tanks,  and related piping,  and emissions,
discharges, releases or threatened releases therefrom.
<PAGE>
                                     -114-

          "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended  from time to time.  Section  references  to ERISA  are to ERISA,  as in
effect at the date of this  Agreement  and any  subsequent  provisions of ERISA,
amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

          "ERISA AFFILIATE" means any entity, whether or not incorporated, which
is under common control or would be considered a single employer with any Credit
Party  within  the  meaning  of  Section  414(b),  (c) or (m)  of the  Code  and
regulations  promulgated  under those  sections or within the meaning of section
4001(b) of ERISA and regulations promulgated under that section.

          "EVENT OF DEFAULT" has the meaning provided in Section 8.

          "EXCESS CASH FLOW" means, without duplication,  for any Person for any
period for which such amount is being  determined,  (i) Consolidated Net Income,
MINUS (ii) any amount of gain included in both (x)  Consolidated  Net Income and
(y) either Net Cash Proceeds or Net Financing Proceeds required to be applied to
the prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section  3.02(A)(e),  PLUS (minus) (iii)
the amount of  depreciation,  depletion,  amortization of intangibles,  deferred
taxes and other  noncash  expenses  (revenues)  which,  pursuant  to GAAP,  were
deducted  (added) in  determining  such  Consolidated  Net Income of such Person
MINUS  (plus) (iv)  additions  (reductions)  to working  capital for such period
(I.E., the increase or decrease in Consolidated  Current Assets (excluding cash)
of such Person minus Consolidated Current Liabilities  (excluding (A) changes in
current  liabilities for borrowed money and (B) Cash or Cash  Equivalents  which
are either Net Cash Proceeds or Net Financing Proceeds required to be applied to
the prepayment of the Loans  pursuant to Section  3.02(A)(e) of such Person from
the beginning to the end of such period),  MINUS (v) the amount of  Consolidated
Capital  Expenditures,  MINUS  (vi)  Term  Loan  principal  payments  (excluding
mandatory  payments made pursuant to Section 3.02) made during such period.  For
purposes of the foregoing and without duplication,  Consolidated Net Income will
exclude  (x) all  losses on the sale of  capital  assets or out of the  ordinary
course of business and (y) all writedowns of capital assets. There shall also be
deducted for the purposes of this  definition  payments  made during such period
pursuant to Sections 7.06(h) and 7.06(i).

          "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
<PAGE>
                                     -115-

          "EXISTING DEBT" means the Indebtedness of the Credit Parties set forth
on SCHEDULE 5.21(A).

          "FEDERAL FUNDS RATE" means on any one day the weighted  average of the
rate on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve
System only arranged by Federal funds brokers as published as of such day by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or if not so published,  the rate then used by
first class banks in extending overnight loans to other first class banks.

          "FINAL A TERM  LOAN  MATURITY  DATE"  means the last  Business  Day of
December, 2002.

          "FINAL B TERM  LOAN  MATURITY  DATE"  means the last  Business  Day of
December, 2004.

          "FINANCING  PROCEEDS"  means the cash (other than Net Cash Proceeds or
cash  obtained  in  connection  with the  issuance  of equity)  received  by the
Borrower  and/or  any of its  Subsidiaries,  directly  or  indirectly,  from any
financing  transaction of whatever kind or nature,  including without limitation
from any  incurrence  of  Indebtedness,  any  mortgage  or pledge of an asset or
interest therein (including a transaction which is the substantial equivalent of
a mortgage or pledge),  from the sale of tax  benefits,  from a lease to a third
party and a pledge of the lease payments due thereunder to secure  Indebtedness,
from a joint venture  arrangement,  from an exchange of assets and a sale of the
assets received in such exchange,  or any other similar arrangement or technique
whereby the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  obtains Cash in respect of an
asset.

          "GAAP" means generally  accepted  accounting  principles in the United
States of America as in effect from time to time, it being understood and agreed
that determinations in accordance with GAAP for purposes of Section 7, including
defined terms as used therein,  are subject (to the extent provided  therein) to
Section 11.07(a).

          "GENERAL SECURITY  AGREEMENTS" means and includes the Borrower General
Security  Agreement,  the Subsidiary  General Security  Agreements and any other
general security agreements delivered pursuant to Section 6.14 or 6.15.
<PAGE>
                                     -116-

          "GOVERNMENT ACTS" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.10(i).

          "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" shall mean any federal, state, local, foreign
or other  governmental or administrative  body,  instrumentality,  department or
agency or any court,  tribunal,  administrative hearing body, arbitration panel,
commission, or other similar disputeresolving panel or body.

          "GUARANTEES"  means and  includes,  once executed and  delivered,  the
Subsidiary Guarantees and any subsidiary guarantee delivered pursuant to Section
6.16.

          "GUARANTORS"  for  purposes  of  this  Agreement  means  each  of  the
Borrower's  Subsidiaries and any subsidiary that delivers a subsidiary guarantee
pursuant to Section 6.16.

          "HAZARDOUS  MATERIALS" means any pollutant,  contaminant,  chemical or
industrial,  toxic or  hazardous  substance,  constituent  or  waste,  including
without  limitation,  petroleum  including crude oil or any fraction thereof, or
any petroleum product, subject to regulation under any Environmental Law.

          "INDEBTEDNESS"  of any  Person  means,  without  duplication,  (i) all
indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) the deferred purchase price
of assets  or  services  which in  accordance  with  GAAP  would be shown on the
liability side of the balance sheet of such Person, (iii) the face amount of all
letters  of  credit  issued  for  the  account  of  such  Person  and,   without
duplication,  all unreimbursed drafts drawn thereunder, (iv) all Indebtedness of
a second Person  secured by any Lien on any property owned by such first Person,
whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such first Person,  (v) all
Capitalized  Lease  Obligations  of such Person,  (vi) all  obligations  of such
Person to pay a specified  purchase  price for goods or services  whether or not
delivered  or  accepted,  I.E.,  takeorpay  and similar  obligations,  (vii) all
obligations of such Person under Interest Rate Agreements or Currency Protection
Agreements  and (viii) all net Contingent  Obligations of such Person;  PROVIDED
that Indebtedness  shall not include trade payables,  accrued expenses,  accrued
dividends,  stock redemption  payments,  royalty  payments,  accrued retirees or
employees  benefits,  deferred  taxes and  accrued  income  taxes,  in each case
arising in the ordinary  course of  business.  For purposes of clause (iv) above
<PAGE>
                                     -117-

(where the relevant Indebtedness has not been assumed by such first Person), the
amount of  Indebtedness  is equal to the  lesser of the  amount of  Indebtedness
secured or the fair market value of the property subject to the Lien.

          "INDOSUEZ"  has the meaning  provided in the first  paragraph  of this
Agreement.

          "INITIAL  BANK"  means a Bank that was an original  signatory  to this
Agreement.

          "INITIAL  LOANS" means the initial Loans made under this  Agreement on
the Closing Date.

          "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" has the meaning provided in Section 5.16.

          "INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY  SECURITY  AGREEMENTS"  means and includes the
Subsidiary  Intellectual  Property Security Agreement and any other intellectual
property security agreements delivered pursuant to Section 6.14 or 6.15.

          "INTEREST  MARGIN"  shall mean, in respect of (i) Base Rate Loans that
are (a) A Term Loans,  1.00%,  (b) B Term Loans,  1.50% and (c) Revolving Loans,
1.00% and (ii) LIBOR Loans that are (a) A Term Loans,  2.50%,  (b) B Term Loans,
3.00% and (c) Revolving Loans, 2.50%.

          "INTEREST  PERIOD"  shall mean,  with  respect to any LIBOR Loan,  the
interest period applicable thereto, as determined pursuant to Section 1.13.

          "INTEREST  RATE  AGREEMENT"  means any interest  rate swap  agreement,
interest  rate cap  agreement,  interest  rate collar  agreement,  interest rate
futures  contract,  interest rate option contract or other similar  agreement or
arrangement  to which the Borrower is a party,  designed to protect the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates.

          "INTEREST   RATE   DETERMINATION   DATE"  shall  mean  each  date  for
calculating  LIBOR for purposes of  determining  the interest rate in respect of
the Interest Period.  The Interest Rate  Determination  Date shall be the second
Business Day prior to the first day of the related  Interest  Period for a LIBOR
Loan.
<PAGE>
                                     -118-

          "INVENTORY"   means  all  of  the   inventory   of  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) including without limitation: (i) all raw
materials,  work  in  process,  parts,  components,   assemblies,  supplies  and
materials used or consumed in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(ii) all goods, wares and merchandise,  finished or unfinished, held for sale or
lease or leased or furnished or to be furnished under contracts of service;  and
(iii) all goods returned or repossessed by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

          "INVERNESS" means Inverness Corporation, a New Jersey corporation.

          "INVERNESS ACQUISITION" means the acquisition of certain of the assets
of Inverness and Inverness U.K. pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement.

          "INVERNESS  U.K." means Inverness  (U.K.)  Limited,  a private company
limited by shares and registered in England and Wales.

          "ISSUING BANK" means the Bank that agrees to issue a Letter of Credit,
determined as provided in Section 1.10(c).

          "LEASE"  means any  lease,  sublease,  franchise  agreement,  license,
occupancy or concession agreement.

          "LETTER OF CREDIT" or "LETTERS OF CREDIT" means (i) standby  Letter or
Letters of Credit and (ii) Commercial Letter or Letters of Credit, in each case,
issued or to be issued by Issuing Banks for the account of the Borrower pursuant
to Section 1.10.

          "LETTER OF CREDIT PARTICIPATION" has the meaning assigned to that term
in Section 1.10(a).

          "LETTERS OF CREDIT USAGE" means, as at any date of determination,  the
sum of (i) the maximum  aggregate  amount that is or at any time  thereafter may
become  available  under all  Letters of Credit then  outstanding  PLUS (ii) the
aggregate  amount of all drawings under Letters of Credit honored by all Issuing
Banks and not theretofore reimbursed by the Borrower.

          "LIBOR"  shall mean,  with  respect to any LIBOR Loan for any Interest
Period, an interest rate PER ANNUM (rounded upwards,  if necessary,  to the next
1/16 of 1%) equal to the rate at which U.S. dollar deposits  approximately equal
in principal  amount to the applicable  Loan of the Agent,  in its capacity as a
<PAGE>
                                     -119-

Bank, included in such LIBOR Loan and for a maturity comparable to such Interest
Period are  offered to the  principal  London  office of the Agent in the London
interbank market at approximately  11:00 A.M., London time, on the Interest Rate
Determination Date for such LIBOR Loan.

          "LIBOR LOAN" shall mean each Loan  bearing  interest at the LIBOR Rate
plus the applicable Interest Margin in accordance with the provisions of Section
1.07(b) hereof.

          "LIBOR  RATE"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to any LIBOR  Loan for any
Interest Period, an interest rate PER ANNUM (rounded upwards,  if necessary,  to
the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the  product  of (a) the LIBOR in effect  for such
Interest Period and (b) Statutory  Reserves,  if any. "LIEN" means any mortgage,
pledge, security interest,  encumbrance, lien, claim, hypothecation,  assignment
for security or charge of any kind  (including  any agreement to give any of the
foregoing,  any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any lease
in the nature thereof).

          "LOAN" means each and every A Term Loan, B Term Loan, Acquisition Term
Loan or Revolving Loan.

          "LOAN FACILITY" means the credit facility  evidenced by the Total Term
Loan  Commitment,  the  Total  Acquisition  Term Loan  Commitment  and the Total
Revolving Loan Commitment.

          "MATERIALLY  ADVERSE  EFFECT" means (i) any materially  adverse effect
(both  before  and after  giving  effect to the  Transaction  and the  financing
thereof  and  the  other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and by  the  other
Documents) with respect to the operations,  business, properties, assets, nature
of  assets,  liabilities  (contingent  or  otherwise),  financial  condition  or
prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, (ii) any fact
or  circumstance  (whether  or not  the  result  thereof  would  be  covered  by
insurance)  as to  which  singly  or in  the  aggregate  there  is a  reasonable
likelihood  of (w) a  materially  adverse  change  described  in clause (i) with
respect  to the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries,  taken  as a  whole,  (x) the
inability of any Credit Party to perform in any material respect its Obligations
hereunder or under any of the other  Documents or the  inability of the Banks to
enforce in any material respect their rights  purported to be granted  hereunder
or under any of the other Documents or the Obligations  (including  realizing on
<PAGE>
                                     -120-

the  Collateral),  or (y) a materially  adverse  effect on the ability to effect
(including   hindering  or  unduly  delaying)  the  Transaction  and  the  other
transactions  contemplated hereby and by the Documents on the terms contemplated
hereby and  thereby  or (iii) any fact or  circumstance  relating  to any Credit
Party as to which singly or in the aggregate there is a reasonable likelihood of
any significant liability on the part of the Banks or the Agent.

          "MINIMUM BORROWING AMOUNT" means $100,000 for Term Loans and Revolving
Loans, and $250,000 for Acquisition Term Loans.

          "MORTGAGE"  means a term loan and revolving credit mortgage or deed of
trust,  assignment of rents,  security agreement and fixture filing creating and
evidencing a Lien on each Mortgaged Real Property,  which shall be substantially
in the form of EXHIBIT D hereto, in each such case containing such schedules and
including such additional  provisions and other  deviations from such Exhibit as
shall be  necessary to conform such  document to  applicable  or local law or as
shall be customary under local law and made and which shall be dated the date of
delivery thereof and made by the owner of the Mortgaged Real Property  described
therein for the benefit of the  Collateral  Agent,  as  mortgagee,  assignee and
secured  party,  as the same  may at any  time be  amended  or  supplemented  or
otherwise  modified from time to time in  accordance  with the terms thereof and
hereof.

          "MORTGAGED  REAL  PROPERTY"  means each Real  Property  designated  on
SCHEDULE 4.01(T)(I).

          "MULTIEMPLOYER  PLAN"  means a  "multiemployer  plan"  as  defined  in
Section  4001(a)(3)  of ERISA  with  respect  to which any  Credit  Party or its
respective  ERISA  Affiliates is or has been required to contribute or otherwise
may have liability.

          "NET AWARD" has the meaning assigned to that term in each Mortgage.

          "NET CASH PROCEEDS" means:

               (a) with respect to any Asset Sale,  the aggregate  cash payments
          received by the Borrower and/or any of its  Subsidiaries,  as the case
          may be, from such Asset Sale,  net of the reasonably  incurred  direct
          expenses of sale; PROVIDED that, with respect to taxes, expenses shall
<PAGE>
                                     -121-

          only include taxes to the extent that taxes are payable in cash in the
          current  year or in the  next  succeeding  year  with  respect  to the
          current year as a result of such Asset Sale; and

               (b) with respect to any Taking or  Destruction,  the Net Award or
          Net Proceeds, as applicable, resulting therefrom, to be applied as Net
          Cash Proceeds under this Agreement  pursuant to the provisions of each
          Mortgage;

PROVIDED, FURTHER, that Net Cash Proceeds shall not include any amounts or items
included in the  definition  of  Financing  Proceeds or Net  Financing  Proceeds
(including in any proviso appearing therein or exclusion therefrom).

          "NET  FINANCING  PROCEEDS"  means  Financing  Proceeds,   net  of  the
reasonably  incurred  direct  expenses  of the  transaction  and  net  of  taxes
(including  income taxes)  currently paid or payable in cash as a result thereof
in the current year or in the next  succeeding  year with respect to the current
year as a result of the transaction generating Net Financing Proceeds.

          "NET PROCEEDS" has the meaning assigned to that term in each Mortgage.

          "NOTES" means any Revolving Note, Acquisition Term Note or Term Note.

          "NOTICE OF BORROWING" has the meaning provided in Section 1.03.

          "OBLIGATIONS"  means all amounts,  direct or indirect,  contingent  or
absolute, of every type or description,  and at any time existing,  owing to the
Agent, the Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Bank pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement  or any  other  Credit  Document  or  secured  by any of the  Security
Documents.

          "OFFICERS'  CERTIFICATE"  means,  as  applied  to any  corporation,  a
certificate  executed on behalf of such corporation by its Chairman of the Board
(if an officer) or its President or one of its Vice  Presidents and by its Chief
Financial  Officer or its  Treasurer or any Assistant  Treasurer;  PROVIDED that
every  Officers'  Certificate  with  respect  to  compliance  with  a  condition
precedent to the making of any Loan hereunder  shall  include,  on behalf of the
Borrower,  (i) a statement  that the  officers  making or giving such  Officers'
<PAGE>
                                     -122-

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  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 signers,  such condition
has been complied with.

          "OFFICERS'   SOLVENCY   CERTIFICATE"   means  the  Officers'  Solvency
Certificate in the form set forth as EXHIBIT M hereto.

          "OPERATING  LEASE" of any  Person,  shall  mean any lease  (including,
without limitation, leases which may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of
any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as Lessee which is
not a Capital Lease.

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

          "PENSION  PLAN" means any pension  plan as defined in Section  3(2) of
ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is or has been maintained by or to
which  contributions are or have been made by any Credit Party or its respective
ERISA  Affiliates  or as to  which  any  Credit  Party or its  respective  ERISA
Affiliates may have liability.

          "PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES" has the meaning provided in Section 7.03.

          "PERSON" means any individual, partnership, limited liability company,
joint venture, firm, corporation,  association, trust or other enterprise or any
government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality
thereof.

          "PLEDGE  AGREEMENTS" means and includes the Borrower Securities Pledge
Agreement and any securities  pledge  agreements  delivered  pursuant to Section
6.14 or 6.15.

          "PLEDGED  COLLATERAL"  means all the Pledged  Collateral as defined in
the  General  Security   Agreements  and  the  Intellectual   Property  Security
Agreements.
<PAGE>
                                     -123-

          "PLEDGED  SECURITIES"  means all the Pledged  Collateral as defined in
each of the Pledge Agreements.

          "PORTION" means the Term Portion,  the Acquisition Term Portion or the
Revolving Portion.

          "PREDECESSOR  COMPANIES" means each of Gena  Laboratories,  Inc., Body
Drench (a Division of Designs by Norvell, Inc.), JDS Manufacturing Co., Inc. and
Kotchammer Investments, Inc.

          "PRINCIPAL  PAYMENT  DATE"  means any date of a  Scheduled  Term Loans
Principal Payment.

          "PRIOR  LIENS"  means  Liens  which,  to the extent  permitted  by the
provisions of any Security Document,  are or may be superior to the Lien of such
Security Document.

          "PROJECTED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS" has the meaning provided in Section
5.11(c).

          "REAL  PROPERTY"  means all right,  title and  interest  of any Credit
Party  or  its  respective  Subsidiaries  (including,  without  limitation,  any
leasehold  estate) in and to a parcel of real  property  acquired  by any Credit
Party together with, in each case, all  improvements  and appurtenant  fixtures,
equipment, personal property, easements and other property and rights incidental
to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

          "REGISTER"  has the meaning  provided in Section  11.04(b)(A)  of this
Agreement.

          "REGULATION  D" means  Regulation  D of the Board of  Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System as from time to time in effect and any successor to all
or a portion thereof establishing reserve requirements.

          "REGULATION  G" means  Regulation  G of the Board of  Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System as from time to time in effect and any successor to all
or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

          "REGULATION  T" means  Regulation  T of the Board of  Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System as from time to time in effect and any successor to all
or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.
<PAGE>
                                     -124-

          "REGULATION  U" means  Regulation  U of the Board of  Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System as from time to time in effect and any successor to all
or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

          "REGULATION  X" means  Regulation  X of the Board of  Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System as from time to time in effect and any successor to all
or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

          "REQUIRED  BANKS" shall mean at any time one or more Banks  holding at
least 51% of the Total  Commitments held by Banks (or, if the Total  Commitments
shall  have been  terminated,  Banks  holding  at least  51% of the  outstanding
Loans);  PROVIDED that for the purposes of Section 4, the  requirement  that any
document,  agreement,  certificate or other writing is to be satisfactory to the
Required Banks shall be satisfied if (x) such document,  agreement,  certificate
or other  writing  was  delivered  in its final  form to the Banks  prior to the
Effective Date (or if amended or modified thereafter,  the Agent have reasonably
determined  such  amendment  or  modification  not  to be  material),  (y)  such
document,  agreement,  certificate or other writing is satisfactory to the Agent
and (z) Banks  holding more than 331/3% of the Total  Commitments  held by Banks
have not objected in writing to such document,  agreement,  certificate or other
writing to the Agent prior to the Closing Date.

          "RESTORATION" has the meaning assigned to that term in each Mortgage.

          "REVOLVING  LOAN  COMMITMENT"  means,  with respect to each Bank,  the
amount set forth below such Bank's name on the signature  pages hereto  directly
across from the entry entitled  "Revolving Loan  Commitment," as such amount may
be reduced from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.01, 2.02, 3.02 and/or 8.

          "REVOLVING  LOAN COMMITMENT  TERMINATION  DATE" means the Business Day
immediately preceding the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.

          "REVOLVING LOANS" has the meaning provided in Section 1.01(b).

          "REVOLVING  LOAN  MATURITY  DATE"  means  the  last  Business  Day  of
December, 2002 or such earlier date on which all Revolving Loan Commitments have
been terminated.
<PAGE>
                                     -125-

          "REVOLVING NOTE" has the meaning provided in Section 1.05(a).

          "REVOLVING  PORTION"  means,  at any  time,  the  Portion  of the Loan
Facility evidenced by the Total Revolving Loan Commitments.

          "SCHEDULED A TERM LOANS PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS" means, with respect to the
principal  payments on the A Term Loans on the last  Business  Day of each month
set forth below, the U.S. dollar amount set forth opposite thereto:

                                              Scheduled A Term Loan
            DATE                                Principal Payment
            ----                              ---------------------
            March 1998                             750,000
            June 1998                              750,000
            September 1998                         750,000
            December 1998                          750,000
            March 1999                             1,000,000
            June 1999                              1,000,000
            September 1999                         1,000,000
            December 1999                          1,000,000
            March 2000                             1,250,000
            June 2000                              1,250,000
            September 2000                         1,250,000
            December 2000                          1,250,000
            March 2001                             1,500,000
            June 2001                              1,500,000
            September 2001                         1,500,000
            December 2001                          1,500,000
            March 2002                             1,750,000
            June 2002                              1,750,000
            September 2002                         1,750,000
            December 2002                          1,750,000

PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that the Scheduled A Term Loans Principal Payments set forth
above shall be adjusted pursuant to Section 1.01(e) upon each Conversion Event.

          "SCHEDULED B TERM LOANS PRINCIPAL  PAYMENTS" means with respect to the
principal  payments on the B Term Loans on the last  Business  Day of each month
set forth below, the U.S. dollar amount set forth opposite thereto:
<PAGE>
                                     -126-

                                               Total B Term Loans
              DATE                             Principal Payments
              ----                             ------------------
           March 1998                               75,000
           June 1998                                75,000
           September 1998                           75,000
           December 1998                            75,000
           March 1999                               75,000
           June 1999                                75,000
           September 1999                           75,000
           December 1999                            75,000
           March 2000                               75,000
           June 2000                                75,000
           September 2000                           75,000
           December 2000                            75,000
           March 2001                               75,000
           June 2001                                75,000
           September 2001                           75,000
           December 2001                            75,000
           March 2002                               75,000
           June 2002                                75,000
           September 2002                           75,000
           December 2002                            75,000
           March 2003                               2,937,000
           June 2003                                2,937,000
           September 2003                           2,937,000
           December 2003                            2,937,000
           March 2004                               2,937,000
           June 2004                                2,937,000
           September 2004                           2,937,000
           December 2004                            2,941,000

PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that the Scheduled B Term Loans Principal Payments set forth
above shall be adjusted pursuant to Section 1.01(e) upon each Conversion Event.

          "SCHEDULED TERM LOANS  PRINCIPAL  PAYMENTS" means the Scheduled A Term
Loans Principal Payments and the Scheduled B Term Loans Principal Payments.

          "SEC" means the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission or any successor
thereto.

          "SECURITY DOCUMENTS" means each of the Pledge Agreements,  the General
Security  Agreements,   the  Intellectual  Property  Security  Agreements,   the
Mortgages  and any other  documents  utilized  to pledge as  Collateral  for the
Obligations any property or assets of whatever kind or nature.
<PAGE>
                                     -127-

          "SELLERS"  has the  meaning  set  forth in the first  recital  to this
Agreement.

          "SENIOR  INDEBTEDNESS" means Indebtedness,  including under the Credit
Documents,  of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  which is not  expressly
subordinated to the Loans or to the Guarantees, as the case may be.

          "SENIOR LEVERAGE RATIO" means the ratio of (i) Senior  Indebtedness of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at any date to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of the
Borrower for the Test Period most recently ended.

          "STATE  AND LOCAL  DISCLOSURE  REQUIREMENTS"  means any state or local
laws  requiring  notification  of the buyer of real property,  or  notification,
registration,  or filing to or with any state or local agency, prior to the sale
of any real property or transfer of control of an establishment, of knowledge of
the actual or threatened  presence or release into the environment,  or the use,
disposal,  or handling of Hazardous  Materials on, at,  under,  or near the real
property to be sold or the establishment for which control is to be transferred.

          "STATUTORY  RESERVES" means a fraction  (expressed as a decimal),  the
numerator of which is the number one and the  denominator of which is the number
one minus the  aggregate  of the  maximum  reserve  percentages  (including  any
marginal,  special,  emergency,  supplemental or other reserves)  expressed as a
decimal  established by the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve system of
the United  States with respect to any category of  liabilities  which  includes
deposits by reference to which LIBOR in respect of such Borrowing is determined.
Such reserve  percentages  shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D.
For  purposes of this  definition,  LIBOR  Loans  shall be deemed to  constitute
"Eurocurrency  Liabilities" within the meaning of Regulation D and to be subject
to such  reserve  requirements  without  benefit  of or  credit  for  proration,
exemptions or offsets which may be available from time to time to any Bank under
Regulation D. Statutory  Reserves shall be adjusted  automatically  on and as of
the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

          "SUBSIDIARY" of any Person means and includes (i) any corporation more
than 50% of whose  stock of any class or  classes  having  by the terms  thereof
ordinary  voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such  corporation
<PAGE>
                                     -128-

(excluding  stock of any class or  classes of such  corporation  that might have
voting power solely by reason of the  happening  of any  contingency)  is at the
time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries,  and (ii)
any partnership,  limited liability company, association, joint venture or other
entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more
than a 50% equity interest at the time.

          "SUBSIDIARY  GENERAL  SECURITY  AGREEMENT"  means the General Security
Agreements  executed and delivered by each Subsidiary  substantially in the form
of EXHIBIT H2 hereto, except for such changes as shall have been approved by the
Agent, as the same may be amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time in accordance with its terms and the terms hereof.

          "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE" means each subsidiary guarantee executed by the
subsidiaries  of the  Borrower  substantially  in the form of  EXHIBIT E hereto,
except for such  changes as shall have been  approved by the Agent,  as the same
may after its execution be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time in accordance with its terms and the terms hereof.

          "SUBSIDIARY   INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY  SECURITY  AGREEMENT"  means  the
Intellectual  Property  Security  Agreement  executed  and  delivered by certain
Credit Parties  substantially  in the form of EXHIBIT G hereto,  except for such
changes as shall have been  approved  by the Agent,  as the same may be amended,
supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to time in  accordance  with its
terms and the terms hereof.

          "SUBSIDIARY  SECURITIES  PLEDGE AGREEMENT" means the Securities Pledge
Agreement executed and delivered by certain Credit Parties  substantially in the
form of EXHIBIT F3 hereto,  except for such  changes  therein as shall have been
approved  by the  Agent,  as the  same  may  after  its  execution  be  amended,
supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to time in  accordance  with the
terms thereof and hereof.

          "TAKING" has the meaning assigned to that term in each Mortgage.

          "TAXES" has the meaning provided in Section 3.04.
<PAGE>
                                     -129-

          "TERM LOANS" has the meaning provided in Section 1.01(a).

          "TERM NOTE" means an A Term Note or B Term Note.

          "TERM  PORTION"  means,  at any time, the portion of the Loan Facility
evidenced by the Total Term Loan Commitment.

          "TERMINATION  EVENT"  means  (i) a  "reportable  event"  described  in
Section 4043 of ERISA or in the  regulations  thereunder  (excluding  events for
which the requirement for notice of such reportable event has been waived by the
PBGC by  regulation)  with respect to a Title IV Plan, or (ii) the withdrawal of
any Credit Party or any of its respective  ERISA Affiliates from a Title IV Plan
during a plan  year in which  it was a  "substantial  employer"  as  defined  in
Section  4001(a)(2)  of  ERISA,  or (iii)  the  filing  of a notice of intent to
terminate a Title IV Plan or the  treatment  of a Title IV Plan  amendment  as a
termination  under Section 4041 of ERISA, or (iv) the institution of proceedings
by the PBGC to terminate a Title IV Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer a
Title IV Plan,  or (v) any  other  event or  condition  which  might  constitute
reasonable  grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the  termination  of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer,  any Title IV Plan, or (vi) the complete
or  partial   withdrawal   (within  the  meaning  of  Sections  4203  and  4205,
respectively,  of  ERISA) of any  Credit  Party or any of its  respective  ERISA
Affiliates from a Multiemployer  Plan, or (vii) the insolvency or reorganization
(within  the  meaning  of  Sections  4245 and 4241,  respectively,  of ERISA) or
termination of any Multiemployer Plan, or (viii) the failure to make any payment
or contribution to any Pension Plan or  Multiemployer  Plan or the making of any
amendment to any Pension Plan which could result in the  imposition of a lien or
the posting of a bond or other security.

          "TEST PERIOD" means the four  consecutive  complete fiscal quarters of
the Borrower then last ended  computed on a PRO FORMA basis giving effect to any
acquisitions which have occurred during such period, as if such acquisitions had
occurred  on the first day of such  period,  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the Agent
shall  have the  right to review  and  approve  any  adjustments  to  historical
financial statements used in such computation.

          "TITLE  COMPANY" means First American Title  Insurance  Company of New
York or such other title insurance or abstract company as shall be designated by
the Agent.
<PAGE>
                                     -130-

          "TITLE IV PLAN" means any Pension Plan described in Section 4021(a) of
ERISA, and not excluded under Section 4021(b) of ERISA.

          "TOTAL  A TERM  LOAN  COMMITMENT"  means  the  sum of the A Term  Loan
Commitments  of each of the  Banks  increased,  at each  Acquisition  Term  Loan
Closing Date, by that portion of the  Acquisition  Term Loan  attributed to such
Commitment pursuant to Section 1.01(d).

          "TOTAL  ACQUISITION  TERM  LOAN  COMMITMENT"  means  the  sum  of  the
Acquisition  Term  Loan  Commitment  of  each  of the  Banks  reduced,  at  each
Acquisition  Term Loan Closing  Date,  by the amount of  Acquisition  Term Loans
borrowed on such date.

          "TOTAL  B TERM  LOAN  COMMITMENT"  means  the  sum of the B Term  Loan
Commitments  of each of the  Banks  increased,  at each  Acquisition  Term  Loan
Closing Date, by that portion of the  Acquisition  Term Loan  attributed to such
Commitment pursuant to Section 1.01(d).

          "TOTAL  COMMITMENT"  means the sum of the Total Term Loan Commitments,
the  Total  Acquisition  Term Loan  Commitments  and the  Total  Revolving  Loan
Commitments.

          "TOTAL  LEVERAGE  RATIO"  means the ratio of (i)  Indebtedness  of the
Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  at any date to (ii)  Consolidated  EBITDA of the
Borrower for the Test Period most recently ended.

          "TOTAL REVOLVING LOAN COMMITMENT"  means the sum of the Revolving Loan
Commitments of each of the Banks.

          "TOTAL  TERM  LOAN  COMMITMENT"  means  the  sum of  the A  Term  Loan
Commitment and B Term Loan Commitment of each of the Banks.

          "TOTAL UTILIZATION" means, at any date of determination, the aggregate
principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans.

          "TRANSACTION"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in the  recitals  to this
Agreement.

          "TRANSACTION  DOCUMENTS"  means the Asset  Purchase  Agreement and all
schedules and exhibits thereto.
<PAGE>
                                     -131-

          "TYPE" shall mean a Base Rate Loan or LIBOR Loan.

          "UCC" means the Uniform  Commercial  Code as in effect in the State of
New York.

          "UNUTILIZED  COMMITMENT"  for any Bank at any time means, on and after
the Effective Date, the sum of the unutilized  Revolving Loan Commitment of such
Bank,  after  taking  into effect the Letters of Credit  Usage,  and,  until the
earlier of the Acquisition Term Loan Commitment Termination Date and the date on
which the  Acquisition  Term Loan  Commitment  is  voluntarily  reduced  to zero
pursuant to Section 2.02, the  unutilized  Acquisition  Term Loan  Commitment of
such Bank.

          "WHOLLY-OWNED  SUBSIDIARY" of any Person means any  Subsidiary of such
Person to the extent all of the capital  stock or other  ownership  interests in
such Subsidiary,  other than directors' or nominees' qualifying shares, is owned
directly or indirectly by such Person.

          "WRITTEN" or "IN WRITING" means any form of written communication or a
communication by means of telex, telecopier device, telegraph or cable.
<PAGE>
                                     -132-

          SECTION 10. THE AGENT.

          10.01.  APPOINTMENT.  Each  Bank  hereby  irrevocably  designates  and
appoints  Indosuez as Agent (such term to include the Agent acting as Collateral
Agent or in any other  representative  capacity under any other Credit Document)
of such Bank to act as specified  herein and in the other Credit  Documents  and
each such Bank hereby  irrevocably  authorizes  the Agent to take such action on
its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents
and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are  expressly  delegated
to the Agent by the terms of this  Agreement  and the  other  Credit  Documents,
together with such other powers as are reasonably  incidental thereto. The Agent
agrees to act as such upon the express conditions  contained in this Section 10.
Notwithstanding  any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement,  the
Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities,  except those expressly set
forth herein or in the other Credit  Documents,  or any  fiduciary  relationship
with any Bank, and no implied covenants,  functions,  responsibilities,  duties,
obligations or liabilities  shall be read into this Agreement or otherwise exist
against the Agent.  The provisions of this Section 10 are solely for the benefit
of the Agent and the Banks, and no Credit Party shall have any rights as a third
party  beneficiary of any of the provisions  hereof. In performing its functions
and duties  under  this  Agreement,  the Agent  shall act solely as agent of the
Banks and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation
or  relationship  of agency or trust with or for any Credit Party.  The Borrower
hereby agrees to pay the Agent an annual  agency fee as  previously  agreed with
the Agent.

          10.02.  DELEGATION OF DUTIES.  The Agent may execute any of its duties
under this  Agreement  or any other  Credit  Document  by or  through  agents or
attorneysinfact  and  shall be  entitled  to advice of  counsel  concerning  all
matters  pertaining to such duties.  The Agent shall not be responsible  for the
negligence or misconduct  of any agents or  attorneysinfact  selected by it with
reasonable care except to the extent otherwise required by Section 10.03.

          10.03.  EXCULPATORY  PROVISIONS.  Neither  the  Agent  nor  any of its
officers, directors,  employees, agents,  attorneysinfact or affiliates shall be
(i) liable for any  action  lawfully  taken or omitted to be taken by it or such
Person  under or in  connection  with  this  Agreement  (except  for its or such
Person's own gross negligence or willful  misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any
<PAGE>
                                     -133-

manner to any of the  Banks for any  recitals,  statements,  representations  or
warranties  by the  Borrower,  any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower or any of their
respective  officers  contained in this Agreement,  any other Document or in any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in,
or received by the Agent under or in  connection  with,  this  Agreement  or any
other  Document or for any  failure of the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  of the
Borrower  or any  of  their  respective  officers  to  perform  its  obligations
hereunder or thereunder. The Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Bank
to ascertain or to inquire as to the  observance  or  performance  of any of the
agreements  contained in, or conditions  of, this  Agreement,  or to inspect the
properties,  books or records of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.
The  Agent  shall  not  be  responsible  to  any  Bank  for  the  effectiveness,
genuineness,  validity,  enforceability,  collectibility  or sufficiency of this
Agreement  or any  Credit  Document  or  for  any  representations,  warranties,
recitals  or  statements  made  herein or therein or made in any written or oral
statement  or in  any  financial  or  other  statements,  instruments,  reports,
certificates  or  any  other  documents  in  connection  herewith  or  therewith
furnished  or made by the Agent to the Banks or by or on behalf of the  Borrower
to the  Agent or any Bank or be  required  to  ascertain  or  inquire  as to the
performance or observance of any of the terms, conditions, provisions, covenants
or  agreements  contained  herein or therein or as to the use of the proceeds of
the Loans or of the  existence or possible  existence of any Default or Event of
Default.

          10.04. RELIANCE BY THE AGENT. The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and
shall be fully protected in relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice,
consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or
teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by
it to be genuine and to have been signed,  sent or made by the proper  Person or
Persons and upon advice and  statements  of legal  counsel  (including,  without
limitation,  counsel to the Credit Parties),  independent  accountants and other
experts  selected by the Agent. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or
refusing to take any action under this  Agreement  or any other Credit  Document
unless it shall first receive such advice or  concurrence  of the Required Banks
as it deems  appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by
the Banks  against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it
by reason of taking or  continuing  to take any such action.  The Agent shall in
<PAGE>
                                     -134-

all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this
Agreement  and the other Credit  Documents in  accordance  with a request of the
Required Banks (or to the extent specifically provided in Section 11.12, all the
Banks), and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto
shall be binding upon all the Banks.

          10.05.  NOTICE  OF  DEFAULT.  The  Agent  shall  not be deemed to have
knowledge  of the  occurrence  of any Default or Event of Default,  other than a
default in the payment of principal or interest on the Loans hereunder unless it
has  received  notice  from a Bank or the  Borrower  or any other  Credit  Party
referring  to this  Agreement,  describing  such Default or Event of Default and
stating that such notice is a "notice of  default".  In the event that the Agent
receives such a notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Banks.
The Agent  shall  take such  action  with  respect  to such  Default or Event of
Default as shall be reasonably  directed by the Required  Banks;  PROVIDED that,
unless and until the Agent shall have  received such  directions,  the Agent may
(but shall not be obligated  to) take such  action,  or refrain from taking such
action,  with  respect  to such  Default  or Event of  Default  as it shall deem
advisable in the best interests of the Banks.

          10.06.  NONRELIANCE  ON AGENT AND  OTHER  BANKS.  Each Bank  expressly
acknowledges  that  neither  the  Agent  nor  any  of its  officers,  directors,
employees,  agents,  attorneysinfact or affiliates have made any representations
or warranties to it and that no act by the Agent  hereinafter  taken,  including
any review of the affairs of the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower,
shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Agent to any
Bank. Each Bank represents to the Agent that it has,  independently  and without
reliance  upon the Agent or any other  Bank,  and  based on such  documents  and
information  as it  has  deemed  appropriate,  made  its  own  appraisal  of and
investigation into the business,  assets,  operations,  property,  financial and
other  conditions,  prospects  and  creditworthiness  of the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  and made its own  decision to make its Loans  hereunder  and enter
into this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby. Each Bank also
represents that it will,  independently  and without  reliance upon the Agent or
any other Bank,  and based on such  documents and  information  as it shall deem
appropriate at the time,  continue to make its own credit  analysis,  appraisals
and decisions in taking or not taking action under this  Agreement,  and to make
<PAGE>
                                     -135-

such  investigation  as it deems  necessary to inform itself as to the business,
assets,  operations,  property,  financial and other  conditions,  prospects and
creditworthiness  of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries.  Except for  notices,
reports and other documents  expressly  required to be furnished to the Banks by
the Agent  hereunder,  the Agent  shall not have any duty or  responsibility  to
provide any Bank with any credit or other  information  concerning the business,
operations,  assets,  property,  financial  and other  conditions,  prospects or
creditworthiness  of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which may come into
the  possession  of the  Agent  or any of its  officers,  directors,  employees,
agents,  attorneysinfact or affiliates.  Neither the Agent nor any Bank shall be
deemed to be a fiduciary or have any fiduciary  duty to any other Bank or Credit
Party.

          10.07. INDEMNIFICATION.  The Banks agree to indemnify the Agent in its
capacity as such or in any other representative  capacity under any other Credit
Document ratably according to their aggregate Commitments,  from and against any
and  all  liabilities,   obligations,   losses,  damages,  penalties,   actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  reasonable  expenses  or  disbursements  of any kind
whatsoever which may at any time  (including,  without  limitation,  at any time
following the payment of the Obligations) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against the Agent in its  capacity as such in any way relating to or arising out
of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or any documents contemplated by
or  referred  to herein or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or any action
taken or omitted to be taken by the Agent under or in connection with any of the
foregoing,  but only to the extent that any of the  foregoing is not paid by the
Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries;  PROVIDED  that no Bank shall be liable to
the Agent for the  payment  of any  portion  of such  liabilities,  obligations,
losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses or
disbursements  resulting  solely from the Agent's  gross  negligence  or willful
misconduct.  If any indemnity  furnished to the Agent for any purpose shall,  in
the opinion of the Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, the Agent may call
for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence,  to do the acts indemnified
against until such  additional  indemnity is furnished.  The  agreements in this
Section 10.07 shall survive the payment of all Obligations.

          10.08.  THE  AGENT  IN ITS  INDIVIDUAL  CAPACITY.  The  Agent  and its
Affiliates may make loans to, accept  deposits from and generally  engage in any
kind of business with the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and other Affiliates of the
Borrower as though the Agent were not the Agent  hereunder.  With respect to the
<PAGE>
                                     -136-

Loans made by it and all Obligations  owing to it, the Agent shall have the same
rights and powers under this  Agreement as any Bank and may exercise the same as
though it were not the Agent, and the terms "Bank" and "Banks" shall include the
Agent in its individual capacity.

          10.09.  SUCCESSOR  AGENT.  Upon the  acceptance of any  appointment as
Agent  hereunder  by a successor  Agent,  the term  "Agent"  shall  include such
successor  agent  effective  upon its  appointment,  and the  resigning  Agent's
rights,  powers and duties as Agent  shall be  terminated,  without any other or
further  act or deed on the part of such  former  Agent or any of the parties to
this Agreement.  After the retiring Agent's resignation  hereunder as Agent, the
provisions of this Section 10 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken
or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.

          10.10.  RESIGNATION  BY  AGENT.

          (a) The Agent may resign from the performance of all its functions and
duties hereunder at any time by giving 15 Business Days' prior written notice to
the  Borrower  and the  Banks.  Such  resignation  shall  take  effect  upon the
acceptance by a successor  Agent of appointment  pursuant to subsections (b) and
(c) below or as otherwise provided below.

          (b) Upon any such notice of  resignation  of the Agent,  the  Required
Banks shall appoint a successor Agent acceptable to the Borrower and which shall
be  an  incorporated  bank  or  trust  company  or  other  qualified   financial
institution with operations in the United States and total assets of at least $1
billion.

          (c) If a successor Agent shall not have been so appointed  within said
15 Business  Day period,  the  resigning  Agent with the consent of the Borrower
shall then appoint a successor  Agent (which  shall be an  incorporated  bank or
trust company or other qualified  financial  institution  with operations in the
United  States and total assets of at least $1 billion) who shall serve as Agent
until such time,  if any, as the  Required  Banks  appoint a successor  Agent as
provided above.

          (d) If no successor  Agent has been  appointed  pursuant to subsection
(b) or (c) by the 20th  Business  Day after the date such notice of  resignation
was  given  by the  resigning  Agent,  such  Agent's  resignation  shall  become
<PAGE>
                                     -137-

effective  and the  Required  Banks shall  thereafter  perform all the duties of
Agent  hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Banks with the consent
of Borrower appoint a successor Agent as provided above.

          (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
10,  Indosuez,  as Agent, may transfer its rights and obligations to perform all
of its functions and duties  hereunder to its parent company or to any Affiliate
of it or its parent company.

          SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS.

          11.01.  PAYMENT OF EXPENSES,  ETC. The Borrower agrees to: (i) whether
or not the transactions herein contemplated are consummated, pay all outofpocket
costs  and  expenses  (x) of the  Agent  in  connection  with  the  negotiation,
preparation,  execution  and delivery of the Credit  Documents and the documents
and  instruments  referred  to  therein  and any  amendment,  waiver or  consent
relating  thereto  (including,  without  limitation,  the  reasonable  fees  and
disbursements  of Cahill  Gordon & Reindel and local  counsel to the Banks) with
prior notice to the Borrower of the engagement of any counsel and (y) of each of
the Banks in connection with the enforcement of the Credit Documents  (including
in  connection  with any  "workout"  or other  restructuring  of the  Borrower's
Obligations  or in connection  with any  bankruptcy,  reorganization  or similar
proceeding  with  respect  to any  Credit  Party  or its  Subsidiaries)  and the
documents and instruments  referred to therein  (including,  without limitation,
the  reasonable  fees and  disbursements  of counsel for each of the Banks) with
prior notice to the Borrower of the engagement of any counsel and the reasonable
fees and expenses of any appraisers or any consultants or other advisors engaged
with  prior  notice to the  Borrower  of any such  engagement  with  respect  to
environmental  or other  matters;  (ii) pay all  outofpocket  costs and expenses
(including  attorneys'  fees) of the Agent or Indosuez or in connection with the
assignment or attempted  assignment to any other Person of all or any portion of
Indosuez's  interest  under this  Agreement  pursuant to Section 11.04  incurred
prior to 120 days  following  the Closing  Date;  (iii) pay and hold each of the
Banks  harmless  from and against any and all present and future stamp and other
similar taxes with respect to the  foregoing  matters and save each of the Banks
harmless from and against any and all  liabilities  with respect to or resulting
from any delay or omission (other than to the extent  attributable to such Bank)
to pay such  taxes;  and (iv)  indemnify  each Bank,  its  officers,  directors,
employees,  representatives  and  agents  from  and hold  each of them  harmless
against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (including,
without limitation, any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses
arising  under  Environmental  Laws)  incurred by any of them as a result of, or
arising out of, or in any way related to the entering into and/or performance of
<PAGE>
                                     -138-

any  Document  or  the  use of  the  proceeds  of  any  Loans  hereunder  or the
Transaction or the  consummation of any other  transactions  contemplated in any
Credit Document,  including,  without limitation, the documented reasonable fees
and  disbursements  of counsel  incurred by any of them (but  excluding any such
losses,  liabilities,  claims,  damages or  expenses  to the extent  incurred by
reason  of the  gross  negligence  or  willful  misconduct  of the  Person to be
indemnified).

          11.02.  RIGHT OF SETOFF.  In addition  to any rights now or  hereafter
granted under  applicable law or otherwise,  and not by way of limitation of any
such  rights,  upon the  occurrence  and during the  continuance  of an Event of
Default,  each  Bank is  hereby  authorized  at any  time or from  time to time,
without presentment,  demand,  protest or other notice of any kind to any Credit
Party or to any other Person,  any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to
set off and to appropriate  and apply any and all deposits  (general or special)
and any other  Indebtedness  at any time held or owing by such Bank  (including,
without  limitation,  by branches and agencies of such Bank wherever located) to
or for the credit or the account of any Credit  Party  against and on account of
the  Obligations  and  liabilities  of such Credit Party to such Bank under this
Agreement  or  under  any of the  other  Credit  Documents,  including,  without
limitation,  all interests in Obligations of such Credit Party purchased by such
Bank  pursuant  to  Section  11.06(b),  and all other  claims  of any  nature or
description  arising out of or connected with this Agreement or any other Credit
Document,  irrespective  of  whether or not such Bank shall have made any demand
hereunder and although said Obligations,  liabilities or claims, or any of them,
shall be contingent or unmatured.

          11.03.  NOTICES.  Except as otherwise  expressly  provided herein, all
notices and other  communications  provided  for  hereunder  shall be in writing
(which may include  telecopier  communication) and couriered for delivery of the
next Business Day, and shall be sent, if to any Credit Party, to:

                  Styling Technology Corporation
                  2390 East Camelback Road
                  Suite 435
                  Phoenix, Arizona  85016
                  Telecopy No.
                  Attention:  Richard R. Ross
<PAGE>
                                     -139-

                  with copies to:

                  O'Connor, Cavanagh, Anderson, Killingsworth &
                    Beshears, P.A.
                  One East Camelback Road
                  Phoenix, Arizona  85012
                  Telecopy No.:  (602) 2632900
                  Attention:  Jeffrey H. Verbin

if to any Bank, at its address  specified for such Bank on Annex II hereto;  or,
at such other address as shall be designated by any party in a written notice to
the other  parties  hereto.  All such  notices and  communications  shall,  when
telecopied or sent by overnight courier, be effective when sent by telecopier or
delivered to the overnight courier,  as the case may be, except that notices and
communications to the Agent shall not be effective until received by the Agent.

          11.04. BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT.  

          (a) This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by the parties hereto,  all future holders of the Notes,  and
their  respective  successors  and  assigns;  PROVIDED  that no Credit Party may
assign or transfer  any of its  interests  hereunder  without the prior  written
consent of all of the Banks in their sole  discretion;  and  PROVIDED,  FURTHER,
that the rights of each Bank to transfer,  assign or grant participations in its
rights and/or obligations  hereunder shall be limited as set forth below in this
Section  11.04;  PROVIDED  that nothing in this Section  11.04 shall  prevent or
prohibit  any Bank from (i) pledging  its Loans  hereunder to a Federal  Reserve
Bank in support of borrowings  made by such Bank from such Federal  Reserve Bank
and  (ii)  subject  to  Section  11.04(b)(B),   granting  participations  in  or
assignments of all or a portion of such Bank's Loans,  Notes and/or  Commitments
hereunder (y) to its parent company and/or to any Affiliate of such Bank that is
at least  50%  owned by such  Bank or its  parent  company  or (z) to an  entity
managed by a Person referred to in Section 11.04(a)(ii)(y).

          (b) Each  Bank  shall  have the  right to  transfer,  assign  or grant
participations  in  all  or  any  part  of its  remaining  Loans,  Notes  and/or
Commitments hereunder on the basis set forth below in this clause (b). Each Bank
may furnish any  information  concerning  the Borrower in the possession of such
Bank from time to time to  assignees  and  participants  (including  prospective
assignees and participants).
<PAGE>
                                     -140-

               (A)  ASSIGNMENTS.  Each  Bank,  with the  written  consent of the
          Agent,  which  shall  not be  unreasonably  withheld,  which  shall be
          evidenced  on the notice in the form of EXHIBIT I1 hereto,  may assign
          pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption  Agreement  substantially  in
          the form of EXHIBIT  I2 hereto  all or a portion  of its Loans,  Notes
          and/or Commitments hereunder pursuant to this clause (b)(A) to (x) one
          or more Banks or (y) one or more  commercial  banks or other financial
          or lending institutions; PROVIDED that any such assignment pursuant to
          this clause (y) shall be in an amount equal to at least  $3,000,000 or
          such Bank's  remaining  Loans,  Notes or  Commitments.  Any assignment
          pursuant to this clause  (b)(A)  will become  effective  no later than
          five Business Days after the Agent's  receipt of (i) a written  notice
          in the form of  EXHIBIT  I1  hereto  from the  assigning  Bank and the
          assignee Bank and (ii) a processing and recordation fee of $2,000 from
          the assigning  Bank in connection  with the Agent's  recording of such
          sale,  assignment,  transfer or  negotiation;  PROVIDED  that such fee
          shall only be payable if the  assignment is between a Bank and a party
          that is not a Bank prior to the  assignment.  The Borrower shall issue
          new Notes to the  assignee in  conformity  with  Section  1.05 and the
          assignor  shall  return  the  old  Notes  to the  Borrower.  Upon  the
          effectiveness of any assignment in accordance with this clause (b)(A),
          the assignee  will become a "Bank" for all purposes of this  Agreement
          and the other Credit  Documents and, to the extent of such assignment,
          the assigning Bank shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder with
          respect to the Loans,  Notes or Commitments being assigned.  The Agent
          shall  maintain at its address  specified in Annex II hereto a copy of
          each  Assignment  Agreement  delivered  to  and  accepted  by it and a
          register in which it shall record the names and addresses of the Banks
          and the  Commitment  of, and  principal  amount of the Loans owing to,
          each  Bank  from time to time (the  "Register").  The  entries  in the
          Register  shall be  conclusive  and binding for all  purposes,  absent
          demonstrable  error,  and the  Borrower,  the  Agent and the Banks may
          treat each Person  whose name is  recorded  in the  Register as a Bank
          hereunder for all purposes of this  Agreement.  The Register  shall be
          available for inspection by the Borrower, the Agent or any Bank at any
          reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

               (B)  PARTICIPATIONS.  Each  Bank may  transfer,  grant or  assign
          participations  in all or any part of such Bank's Loans,  Notes and/or
<PAGE>
                                     -141-

          Commitments  hereunder  pursuant to this clause  (b)(B) to any Person;
          PROVIDED  that (i) such Bank shall remain a "Bank" for all purposes of
          this  Agreement  and the  transferee of such  participation  shall not
          constitute a Bank  hereunder  and (ii) no  participant  under any such
          participation  shall have rights to approve any amendment to or waiver
          of this  Agreement or any other Credit  Document  except to the extent
          such amendment or waiver would (x) extend the scheduled final maturity
          date  of any  of  the  Loans,  Notes  or  Commitments  in  which  such
          participant  is  participating  or (y)  reduce the  principal  amount,
          interest  rate  or  fees  applicable  to any of the  Loans,  Notes  or
          Commitments in which such participant is participating or postpone the
          payment of any  interest or fees or (z)  release all or  substantially
          all of the  Collateral  (except as  expressly  permitted by the Credit
          Documents).  In the case of any such  participation,  the  participant
          shall not have any  rights  under this  Agreement  or any of the other
          Credit Documents (the  participant's  rights against the granting Bank
          in  respect  of  such  participation  to be  those  set  forth  in the
          agreement with such Bank creating such  participation) and all amounts
          payable by the Borrower  hereunder shall be determined as if such Bank
          had not sold such participation;  PROVIDED that such participant shall
          be  considered  to be a "Bank"  for  purposes  of  Sections  11.02 and
          11.06(b).

          11.05. NO WAIVER; REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. No failure or delay on the part
of the Agent or any Bank in exercising any right,  power or privilege  hereunder
or under any other Credit  Document and no course of dealing  between any Credit
Party and the Agent or any Bank shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right,  power, or privilege hereunder or under
any other Credit Document  preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right,  power or privilege  hereunder or  thereunder.  The
rights and remedies herein  expressly  provided are cumulative and not exclusive
of any rights or remedies which the Agent or any Bank would  otherwise  have. No
notice to or demand on any  Credit  Party in any case shall  entitle  any Credit
Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances
or  constitute  a waiver of the rights of the Agent or the Banks to any other or
further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.
<PAGE>
                                     -142-

          11.06. PAYMENTS PRO RATA.

          (a) The Agent agrees that  promptly  after its receipt of each payment
from or on behalf of any  Credit  Party in respect  of any  Obligations  of such
Credit Party, it shall  distribute such payment to the Banks PRO RATA based upon
their respective  shares,  if any, of the Obligations with respect to which such
payment was received.

          (b) Each of the Banks  agrees  that,  if it should  receive any amount
hereunder  (whether by voluntary payment,  by realization upon security,  by the
exercise  of the right of setoff or  banker's  lien,  by  counterclaim  or cross
action,  by  the  enforcement  of any  right  under  the  Credit  Documents,  or
otherwise)  which is  applicable to the payment of the principal of, or interest
on, the Loans,  of a sum which with  respect to any related sum or sums that are
received by other  Banks is  proportionately  greater as  measured  (immediately
prior  to  receipt  of all  related  amounts)  relative  to the  total  of  such
Obligations then owed and due to such Bank to the total of such Obligations then
owed and due to all of the Banks,  then such Bank  receiving  such excess amount
shall  promptly  purchase for cash without  recourse or warranty  from the other
Banks an interest in the  Obligations  of the  respective  Credit  Party to such
Banks in such amount as shall result in a proportional  participation  by all of
the Banks in such excess  amount PRO RATA in  accordance  with their  respective
shares of the  Obligations  with  respect  to which such  amount  was  received;
PROVIDED  that  if all or any  portion  of  such  excess  amount  is  thereafter
recovered  from such Bank,  such  purchase  shall be rescinded  and the purchase
price restored to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

          11.07. CALCULATIONS;  COMPUTATIONS. 

          (a) The  financial  statements  to be furnished to the Banks  pursuant
hereto shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP  consistently  applied
throughout the periods  involved (except as set forth in the notes thereto or as
otherwise disclosed in writing by Borrower to the Banks);  PROVIDED that, except
as  otherwise   specifically  provided  herein,  all  computations   determining
compliance with Section 7 and all definitions  used herein for any purpose shall
utilize  accounting  principles  and  policies  in  effect  at the  time  of the
preparation  of, and in conformity  with those used to prepare,  the  historical
financial statements delivered to the Banks pursuant to Section 4.01(i).

          (b) All  computations  of interest and fees hereunder shall be made on
the actual  number of days elapsed over a year of 365 days;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
that all computations of Commitment Commission and interest on LIBOR Loans shall
be made on the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days.
<PAGE>
                                     -143-

          11.08.  GOVERNING LAW;  SUBMISSION TO  JURISDICTION;  VENUE.  (a) This
Agreement  and the rights and  obligations  of the  parties  hereunder  shall be
construed  and  enforced in  accordance  with and be governed by the laws of the
State of New York  applicable  to  contracts  made  and to be  performed  wholly
therein.  Any legal action or proceeding  with respect to this  Agreement or any
other  Credit  Document may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or
of the United  States for the Southern  District of New York,  and, by execution
and  delivery  of  this   Agreement,   each  Credit  Party  and  its  respective
Subsidiaries  hereby  irrevocably  accepts  for  itself  and in  respect  of its
property,  generally and unconditionally,  the nonexclusive  jurisdiction of the
aforesaid  courts.  Each Credit Party and its  respective  Subsidiaries  further
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,  to CT Corporation  System,  1633
Broadway,  New York,  New York 10019,  its agent for  service of  process,  such
service to become  effective 30 days after such  mailing.  Each Credit Party and
its respective Subsidiaries hereby irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System to
serve as its agent for  service of  process  in  respect  of any such  action or
proceeding.  Nothing  herein  shall affect the right of the Agent or any Bank to
serve  process  in any  other  manner  permitted  by law  or to  commence  legal
proceedings  or otherwise  proceed  against any Credit  Party or its  respective
Subsidiaries in any other jurisdiction.

          (b) Each Credit Party 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
Credit Document brought in the courts referred to in clause (a) 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.

          11.09.  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.  A set of  counterparts
executed by all the parties  hereto  shall be lodged with the  Borrower  and the
Agent.
<PAGE>
                                     -144-

          11.10.  EFFECTIVENESS.  This Agreement  shall become  effective on the
date (the "Effective  Date") and at the time (the "Effective Time") on which the
Borrower and each of the Banks shall have signed a copy hereof (whether the same
or  different  copies)  and shall  have  delivered  the same to the Agent at the
Agent's  Office  or, in the case of the  Banks,  shall  have  given to the Agent
telephonic (confirmed in writing),  written,  telex or telecopy notice (actually
received)  at such  office  that the same has been  signed and mailed to it. The
Agent  will  give the  Borrower  and each  Bank  prompt  written  notice  of the
occurrence of the Effective Date.

          11.11. 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.

          11.12.  AMENDMENT  OR WAIVER.  Neither  this  Agreement  nor any other
Credit  Document  nor any  terms  hereof  or  thereof  may be  changed,  waived,
discharged or terminated  (other than pursuant to the terms hereof)  unless such
change,  waiver,  discharge or  termination is in writing signed by the Required
Banks;  PROVIDED that no such change,  waiver,  discharge or termination  shall,
without the consent of each Bank and the Agent,  (i) extend the scheduled  final
maturity date of any Loan, or any portion thereof,  or reduce the rate or extend
the time of payment of interest  thereon or fees or reduce the principal  amount
thereof,  or increase the Commitments of any Bank or the Total  Commitments,  in
each case over the amount  thereof  then in effect (it being  understood  that a
waiver of any Default or Event of Default  shall not  constitute a change in the
terms of any Commitment of any Bank),  (ii) release all or substantially  all of
the  Collateral  or  Guarantees  (except as  expressly  permitted  by the Credit
Documents),  (iii) amend,  modify or waive any provision of Section 1.08,  3.04,
10.07, 11.01, 11.02, 11.04, 11.06, 11.07(b) or 11.12, (iv) reduce any percentage
specified in, or otherwise modify,  the definition of Required Banks, (v) modify
the definition of Scheduled A Term Loans Principal  Payments or Scheduled B Term
Loans  Principal  Payments or (vi) consent to the  assignment or transfer by any
Credit  Party of any of its rights and  obligations  under  this  Agreement.  No
provision of Section 10 may be amended without the consent of the Agent.
<PAGE>
                                     -145-

          11.13. SURVIVAL.  All indemnities set forth herein including,  without
limitation,  in Section 1.08, 1.10, 1.12, 3.04, 10.07 or 11.01 shall survive the
execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the making of the  Loans,  the
repayment of the Obligations and the termination of the Total Commitments.

          11.14.  DOMICILE OF LOANS.  Each Bank may transfer and carry its Loans
at, to or for the account of any branch office,  Subsidiary or Affiliate of such
Bank.

          11.15.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  Each of the  parties to this  Agreement
hereby irrevocably waives all right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding
or  counterclaim  arising  out of or  relating  to this  Agreement,  the  Credit
Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

          11.16.  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 be otherwise  within the limitation of, another  covenant shall
not avoid the  occurrence  of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is
taken or condition exists.

<PAGE>
                                     -146-


          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this  Credit
Agreement to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.




                                             STYLING TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

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







<PAGE>
                                     -147-


          Credit Agreement among Styling Technology Corporation, Credit Agricole
Indosuez and the Banks listed herein.



                                       CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ,
                                         as Agent and Collateral
                                         Agent and as a Bank

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


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

                                        A Term Loan Commitment:  
                                        $25,000,000
                                        B Term Loan Commitment:
                                        $25,000,000
                                        Acquisition Term Loan Commitment:
                                        $12,500,000
                                        Revolving Loan Commitment:
                                        $12,500,000


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