HYDROCHEM INDUSTRIAL SERVICES INC
8-K, 1999-12-03
SERVICES, NEC
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                                 United States
                       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 earliest event reported January 5, 1999
                        Date of Report January 20, 1999


                     HYDROCHEM INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC. (*)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



            Delaware                     333-34323                75-2503906
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission File         (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)         Number)           Identification Number)


       900 Georgia Avenue
        Deer Park, Texas                                          77536
(Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip Code)


                                 (713) 393-5600
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


















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

*  HydroChem  International,  Inc.,  a direct and  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of
HydroChem  Industrial  Services,  Inc., is a  Co-Registrant.  It is incorporated
under the laws of the State of Delaware and its I.R.S.  Employer  Identification
Number is 75-2512100.


<PAGE>
ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

       On November 19, 1999, HydroChem Industrial Services, Inc. (the "Company")
acquired  all of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock  (the
"Shares") of Landry Service Co., Inc. ("LANSCO"). LANSCO is primarily engaged in
the business of tank cleaning, oil reclamation and liquid-solid waste separation
for the oil refining  industry.  This acquisition was consummated  pursuant to a
stock purchase  agreement (the "Stock  Purchase  Agreement") of the same date by
and among the Company,  LANSCO and each  stockholder of LANSCO.  Under the Stock
Purchase Agreement, the Company paid $35.5 million for the Shares, consisting of
$32.0 million in cash paid at closing and $3.5 million in promissory  notes (the
"Notes")  payable in  installments  with interest over the next two years to the
two principal  stockholders of LANSCO. In addition,  the Company entered into an
Additional  Sales Proceeds and Consulting  Agreement with one of these principal
stockholders which provides further payments of $1.25 million to the stockholder
over the  next  two  years.  The  source  of  funds  for the  acquisition  was a
combination of existing  available cash, the Notes,  and bank debt pursuant to a
new senior secured credit facility. HydroChem intends to use LANSCO's assets and
operations to expand  LANSCO's  customer base and  strengthen the Company's tank
cleaning business.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

       (a)  Financial statements of  the  business acquired will be filed  as an
amendment to this Form 8-K within 60 days of this filing.

       (b)  Pro  forma  financial  information  will be filed as an amendment to
this Form 8-K within 60 days of this filing.

       (c)  Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number            Description
- -------           ------------

2.1               Stock  Purchase Agreement dated November 19, 1999 by and among
                  HydroChem  Industrial  Services, Inc., and Landry Service Co.,
                  Inc.,  and  each  stockholder  of  Landry  Service  Co.,  Inc.
                  including Kenneth C. Landry,  Charles A. Landry, Jr.  Pursuant
                  to Item 601 of  Regulation  S-K, the Registrants  will furnish
                  any exhibit or schedule thereto to the Securities and Exchange
                  Commission upon request.

2.2               Credit  Agreement  dated  November 19,  1999  among  HydroChem
                  Holding, Inc., HydroChem  Industrial  Services,  Inc., various
                  lenders and Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent.

99.1              Press   release   dated   November  22,  1999  regarding   the
                  acquisition of Landry Service Co., Inc.


                                       2
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                             HYDROCHEM INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC.

     DATE: DECEMBER 3, 1999              BY:  /S/ SELBY F. LITTLE, III
                                              -------------------------------
                                                  Selby F. Little, III,
                                                  Executive Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer


                                             HYDROCHEM INTERNATIONAL, INC.

     DATE: DECEMBER 3, 1999              BY:  /S/ SELBY F. LITTLE
                                              -------------------------------
                                                  Selby F. Little, III,
                                                  Executive Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer


                                       3
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


2.1           Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated  November  19, 1999 by and among
              HydroChem Industrial Services, Inc., and Landry Service Co., Inc.,
              and each stockholder of Landry Service Co., Inc. including Kenneth
              C.  Landry,  Charles  A.  Landry,  Jr.  Pursuant  to  Item  601 of
              Regulation  S-K,  the  Registrants  will  furnish  any  exhibit or
              schedule  thereto to the Securities and Exchange  Commission  upon
              request.

2.2           Credit Agreement dated November 19, 1999 among  HydroChem Holding,
              Inc.,  HydroChem Industrial Services, Inc.,  various  lenders  and
              Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent.

99.1          Press release dated November 22, 1999 regarding the acquisition of
              Landry Service Co., Inc.



                                       4

                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         This Stock Purchase Agreement  ("Agreement"),  dated as of November 19,
1999,  is  by  and  among  HydroChem  Industrial  Services,   Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation  ("Buyer"),  Landry Service Co., Inc., a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  Kenneth C. Landry, a resident of Galveston  County,  Texas ("KCL"),
Charles A. Landry,  Jr., a resident of Galveston County,  Texas ("CAL") (KCL and
CAL being  collectively  referred to herein as the  "Landrys"),  and the sellers
listed on the signature page to this Agreement (collectively,  with the Landrys,
being referred to herein as "Sellers"). Buyer, the Company, and Sellers agree as
follows:

                                   SECTION ONE

                                     GENERAL

         1.1 INTRODUCTION.  Sellers own all of the issued and outstanding shares
of capital  stock of the Company (the  "Shares").  Sellers  desire to sell,  and
Buyer desires to purchase,  all of the Shares,  for the consideration and on the
terms set forth in this Agreement, and Sellers, Buyer, and the Company desire to
enter into certain related transactions. It is the intent of the parties and the
purpose of this  Agreement  to set forth the terms and  conditions  pursuant  to
which such transactions shall be consummated.

         1.2 DEFINITIONS.  As used in this Agreement,  the following terms shall
have the following meanings:

         "Accounts Receivable" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.12.

         "Affiliate" means any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with,  another Person. For purposes of
this  definition,  "control" means the power to direct or cause the direction of
the  management  and policies of such Person,  directly or  indirectly,  whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

         "Agreement"  shall mean this Stock Purchase Agreement and the Schedules
hereto.

         "Audited Financial Statements"  shall  have  the  meaning  specified in
Section 3.5.

         "Balance Sheet" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.5.

         "Buyer" shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.

         "Buyer's Audited Financial Statements" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 5.4.

         "Buyer Indemnified Persons" shall have the meaning specified in Section
7.3.


<PAGE>

         "Buyer's Interim Financial Statements" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 5.4.

         "Buyer's Financial Statements"  shall  have  the  meaning  specified in
Section 5.4.

         "Buyer's Transaction Documents" shall mean this Agreement,  and any and
all agreements,  instruments, documents, and certificates executed and delivered
by or on behalf of Buyer at the Closing  pursuant to this  Agreement,  including
the  Promissory  Notes,  the  Guaranties,  the  Employment  Agreements,  the KCL
Consulting Agreement, and the Sellers' Releases.

         "CAL"   shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.

         "Closing" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3.

         "Closing Date" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3.

         "Code"  shall mean the  Internal  Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor
law, and  regulations issued by the IRS pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code or
any successor law.

         "Company"  shall  have  the meaning specified in the first paragraph of
this Agreement.

         "Company Contracts" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.8.

         "Company's  Financial  Statements"  shall have the meaning specified in
Section 3.5.

         "Consent" shall mean any approval,  consent,  ratification,  waiver, or
other authorization (including any Governmental Authorization).

         "Contract"  shall  mean any  contract,  agreement,  order,  obligation,
commitment, or undertaking, whether written or oral, that is legally binding.

         "Copyrights" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.14.

         "Customer" shall mean any Person for whom the Company or the Subsidiary
or the  Company's  predecessor  or former  subsidiaries  of the  Company  or its
predecessor have provided services or products on or prior to the Closing Date.

         "Damages" shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.3.

         "Employment  Agreements"  shall  have  the meaning specified in Section
2.4(c).

         "Encumbrance" shall mean any lien, security interest,  pledge, right of
first refusal,  option,  easement,  right-of-way,  community  property interest,
restriction  on  transferability  or  voting,  or any other  restriction  on the
exercise of any kind of attribute of ownership.


                                       2
<PAGE>

         "Environment"  shall mean soil,  land  surface  or  subsurface  strata,
surface  waters  (including  navigable  water,  ocean  waters,  streams,  ponds,
drainage basins, and wetlands), ground water, sediments,  ambient air (including
indoor air), plant,  animal, and human life, and any other environmental  medium
or natural resource.

         "Environmental  Law"   shall   mean  the  Comprehensive   Environmental
Response,  Compensation  and  Liability  Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9601 et seq.
("CERCLA"),  the Resource  Conservation  and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C.  ss. 6901.,
et seq.,  the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. ss. 1251 et seq., the Toxic  Substances
Control Act, 15 U.S.C.  ss. 2601, et seq., the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss.7401,
et seq., the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C.  ss. 300f et seq., the Hazardous
Materials Transportation  Uniform Safety Act, 49 App.  U.S.C. ss. 2001, et seq.,
and  the  Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide & Rodenticide Act,  7 U.S.C. ss. 136,
et seq., and any other Law relating to protection of the Environment,  including
those Laws  relating to the storage,  handling,  use,  manufacture,  generation,
processing,  treatment,  transport, disposal, release,  discharge or emission of
Hazardous Materials.

         "Environmental  Liabilities"  shall  mean any cost,  damages,  expense,
fine, penalty,  obligation, or liability arising from or under any Environmental
Law, including  investigatory and remediation costs and consultant,  expert, and
attorney's  fees  arising from or under any duty or  obligation  mandated by any
Environmental Law or any breach or violation of any Environmental Law.

         "Escrow Agreement" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.4(e).

         "Facilities" shall mean any real property, real property leaseholds, or
other real property interests currently owned or operated by the Company and any
buildings, plants, or structures currently owned or operated by the Company.

         "Former  Facilities"  shall  mean  any  real  property,  real  property
leaseholds,  or other real property  interests formerly owned or operated by the
Company or any  predecessor  to the  Company or any former  subsidiaries  of the
Company or such a predecessor or the Subsidiary  and any buildings,  plants,  or
structures  formerly owned or operated by the Company or the  predecessor to the
Company or any former  subsidiaries  of the Company or such  predecessor  or the
Subsidiary.

         "GAAP"  shall  mean  United  States   generally   accepted   accounting
principles, applied on a consistent basis.

         "Governmental Authority" shall mean any foreign governmental authority,
the United  States of America,  any state of the United  States,  any  political
subdivision of any of the  foregoing,  and any body  exercising,  or entitled to
exercise,  any  administrative,   executive,  judicial,   legislative,   police,
regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any nature.

         "Governmental  Authorizations"  shall  have  the  meaning  specified in
Section 3.15.


                                       3
<PAGE>

         "Guaranties" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.5(c).

         "Hazardous  Materials"  shall mean any  hazardous  substance  or waste,
solid waste, pollutant, contaminant, petroleum, oil, or natural gas liquids, and
any other material or substance with respect to which remedial  obligations  may
be imposed  under any  Environmental  Law or which is defined or  regulated as a
hazardous substance or hazardous waste under any Environmental Law.

         "Health and Safety Laws" shall mean any Law relating to the  protection
of employees,  including, without limitation, the Occupational Health and Safety
Act, 29 U.S.C. ss.651 et seq.

         "Indemnitee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.13.

         "Indemnitor" shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.13.

         "Insurance Policies" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.21.

         "Intellectual  Property  Assets"   shall have the meaning specified  in
Section 3.14.

         "Interim  Balance  Sheet"   shall have the meaning specified in Section
3.5.

         "Interim  Financial  Statements"   shall have the meaning specified  in
Section 3.5.

         "IRS"  shall mean the United  States  Internal  Revenue  Service or any
successor agency,  and, to the extent relevant,  the United States Department of
the Treasury.

         "KCL"  shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of  this
Agreement.

         "KCL Consulting Agreement"  shall have the meaning specified in Section
2.4(d).

         "Key  Employees"  shall  mean  Craig Byard,  Alan Finley,  and  F. Paul
Sievert.

         "Knowledge"  shall mean, with respect to a Person who is an individual,
such individual is actually aware of such fact or other matter, and with respect
to a Person who is not an individual, any director,  officer, partner, executor,
or trustee of such Person (or in any similar capacity) is actually aware of such
fact or other matter, in each case without any duty of inquiry.

         "Landrys"  shall have the meaning specified in  the first paragraph  of
this Agreement.

         "Law"  shall  mean  any  applicable  law,  statute,   ordinance,  rule,
regulation  (or  interpretation  of  any  of  the  foregoing),   ruling,   writ,
injunction, decree, order, or judgment issued by any Governmental Authority.


                                       4
<PAGE>

         "Legal Requirement"  shall mean the requirements or terms of any Law or
Governmental Authorization.

         "Marks" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.14.

         "Material"  shall mean if an item or event, by its presence or absence,
as  required  by the  context,  would have a material  adverse  effect  upon the
assets,  financial condition,  results of operations,  business, or affairs of a
Person and any  Affiliates  of such Person with whom such Person,  in accordance
with GAAP, consolidates financial statements, taken as a whole.

         "Net  Accounts  Receivable" shall have the meaning specified in Section
3.12.

         "Order" shall mean any award, decision,  injunction,  judgment,  order,
ruling,  subpoena,  or  verdict  entered,  issued,  made,  or  rendered  by  any
Governmental Authority.

         "Parent" shall mean HydroChem Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         "Patents" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.14.

         "Permitted Encumbrances" shall mean: (a) Encumbrances for current Taxes
and  assessments  not yet due and payable,  or which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate  proceedings and for which an adequate reserve has been set
aside;  (b)  mechanic's,  workman's,  repairman's,  warehouseman's,  landlord's,
vendor's,  carrier's,  or similar statutory Encumbrances arising in the ordinary
course  of  business  and  securing  sums that are not yet due and  payable,  or
deposits or pledges to obtain the release of any such Encumbrances; (c) purchase
money  Encumbrances  incurred in the ordinary course of business or Encumbrances
securing  rental  payments under capital lease  arrangements;  (d)  Encumbrances
reflected on the Company's  Financial  Statements;  and (e) with respect to Real
Property, (1) Encumbrances, zoning laws, land use restrictions, or minor defects
in title  that do not  Materially  affect  the  value or  impair  the use of the
property  affected  thereby,  or (2) Encumbrances  reflected in applicable title
insurance policies or surveys.

         "Person"  shall mean any  individual,  corporation,  general or limited
partnership,  joint venture, limited liability company, association, joint stock
company, estate, trust, unincorporated organization,  Governmental Authority, or
any other form of entity.

         "Personal Property" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.10.

         "Proceeding"   shall  mean  any   citation,   notice  of  violation  or
administrative  order  issued by, or any action,  arbitration,  audit,  hearing,
litigation, suit, or, to the Knowledge of the Landrys,  investigation commenced,
brought,  conducted,  or  heard  by  or  before,  or  otherwise  involving,  any
Governmental Authority or arbitrator.

         "Promissory Notes" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.5(b).


                                       5
<PAGE>

         "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2.

         "Restriction Period" shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.

         "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor
law, and regulations and rules issued  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 or
any successor law.

         "Seller  Indemnified  Persons"   shall have the  meaning  specified  in
Section 7.5.

         "Sellers"  shall have the meaning specified in  the first paragraph  of
this Agreement.

         "Sellers'  Transaction  Documents"  shall  mean  with  respect  to each
Seller,  this Agreement,  limited to the extent that this Agreement  pertains to
the representations,  warranties,  covenants,  indemnities, and other rights and
obligations  of such Seller under this  Agreement,  and any and all  agreements,
instruments,  documents, and certificates executed and delivered by or on behalf
of such Seller at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement, including the Seller's
Release  and stock  powers  executed by such  Seller,  and,  additionally,  with
respect to each Key  Employee,  the  Employment  Agreement  executed by such Key
Employee, and, additionally,  with respect to KCL, the KCL Consulting Agreement,
and,  additionally,  with  respect to CAL and KCL,  the  Promissory  Notes,  the
Guaranties, and the Escrow Agreements.

         "Sellers' Releases" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.4(b).

         "Shares" shall have the meaning specified in the Section 1.1.

         "Subsidiary" shall have the meaning specified in the Section 3.1.

         "Tax" shall mean any tax (including any income tax,  capital gains tax,
value-added  tax,  sales tax,  use tax,  franchise  tax,  excise tax,  fuel tax,
property  tax,  gift  tax,  or  estate  tax),  levy,  assessment,  tariff,  duty
(including any customs duty),  deficiency,  or other fee, and any related charge
or amount (including any fine, penalty,  interest, or addition to tax), imposed,
assessed,  or collected by or under the authority of any Governmental  Authority
or payable  pursuant to any  Contract  relating to the sharing or payment of any
such tax, levy, assessment, tariff, duty, deficiency, or fee.

         "Tax  Return(s)"  shall  mean any  return  (including  any  information
return), report,  statement,  schedule,  notice, or form filed with or submitted
to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Governmental  Authority in
connection with the determination,  assessment, collection or payment of any Tax
or in connection with the  administration,  implementation  or enforcement of or
compliance with any Legal Requirement relating to any Tax.


                                       6
<PAGE>

         "Threatened"  shall  mean any notice  has been  received  (orally or in
writing) that would lead a prudent  Person to conclude that a Proceeding is more
likely than not to be asserted,  commenced,  taken, or otherwise  pursued in the
future.

         "Trade Secrets" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.14.

         "Transactions" shall mean the execution,  delivery,  and performance of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         "Vendor"  shall  mean any  Person  selling  or  licensing  a product or
service to the Company on or within one year prior to the Closing Date.

         1.3  CONSTRUCTION.  The  headings  of Sections  in this  Agreement  are
provided  for  convenience   only  and  will  not  affect  its  construction  or
interpretation.   All  references  to  "Section"  or  "Sections"  refer  to  the
corresponding  Section  or  Sections  of  this  Agreement,   all  references  to
"Schedule"  refer  to the  corresponding  Schedule  to this  Agreement,  and all
references to "Exhibit"  refer to the  corresponding  Exhibit to this Agreement.
All words  used in this  Agreement  will be  construed  to be of such  gender or
number as the circumstances  require.  Unless otherwise expressly provided,  the
word "including" does not limit the preceding words or terms.

                                   SECTION TWO

                           SALE AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

         2.1  SALE OF  SHARES.  Subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement,  at the Closing,  Sellers will sell and transfer the Shares to Buyer,
and Buyer will purchase the Shares from Sellers.

         2.2  PURCHASE PRICE.  The purchase price (the "Purchase Price") for the
Shares will be $35,500,000.

         2.3  CLOSING. The closing of the Transactions (the "Closing") will take
place at the  offices  of Haynes and Boone,  L.L.P.,  counsel to Buyer,  at 1000
Louisiana,  Suite 4300, Houston, Texas, on the as of date appearing in the first
paragraph of this Agreement (the "Closing Date").  The effective time of Closing
shall be 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date.

         2.4  SELLERS' CLOSING OBLIGATIONS.  At the Closing:

         (a)  each Seller will deliver to Buyer a  certificate  or  certificates
representing  the Shares owned by such Seller,  duly endorsed (or accompanied by
duly executed stock powers), for transfer to Buyer;


                                       7
<PAGE>

         (b)  each   Seller  will  execute  and  deliver  to   Buyer  a  release
substantially  in the form of Exhibit  2.4(b) (the "Sellers' Releases");

         (c)  each Key Employee will execute and deliver to Buyer an  employment
agreement   substantially  in  the  form  of  Exhibit  2.4(c)  (the  "Employment
Agreements");

         (d)  KCL  will  execute  and  deliver to  Buyer a consulting  agreement
substantially  in the form of Exhibit 2.4(d) (the "KCL Consulting Agreement");

         (e)  KCL and CAL will each  execute and deliver to Buyer and the escrow
agent an escrow agreement each  substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.4(e) (the
"Escrow Agreement");

         (f)  Kochman & Piper,  P.C.  will  execute and deliver to Buyer a legal
opinion substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.4(f);

         (g)  the Landrys will cause all officers  and  directors of the Company
and the  Subsidiary  (except for James A. Fields) to resign  their  positions as
officers and directors of the Company and the Subsidiary by written  resignation
addressed  to the  Company and  delivered  to Buyer  dated  effective  as of the
Closing  Date,  and the  Landrys  will cause Janet  Landry and James  Louvier to
resign  their  positions  as  employees  of the  Company by written  resignation
addressed  to the  Company and  delivered  to Buyer  dated  effective  as of the
Closing Date; and

         (h)  the Landrys will  execute and deliver to Buyer,  or will cause the
execution and delivery to Buyer, of such  documentation as the Landrys and Buyer
may agree with respect to the termination of the Company's 401(k) profit sharing
plan effective as of the Closing Date.

         2.5  BUYER'S CLOSING OBLIGATIONS.  At the Closing:

         (a)  Buyer will deliver to each Seller  by wire transfer the respective
amounts specified on Schedule 2.5(a);

         (b)  Buyer will execute  and  deliver to KCL a  promissory  note in the
principal  amount of  $2,006,494,  and Buyer will  execute  and deliver to CAL a
promissory  note  in  the  principal  amount  of  $1,493,506,  each  note  to be
substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5(b) (the "Promissory Notes");

         (c)  Buyer will deliver to each of KCL and CAL a guaranty substantially
in the form of Exhibit 2.5(c) executed by Parent (the "Guaranties");

         (d)  Buyer will  execute and  deliver to each of the Key  Employees  an
Employment Agreement;

         (e)  Buyer   will  execute  and  deliver  to  KCL  the  KCL  Consulting
Agreement; and


                                       8
<PAGE>

         (f)  Buyer  will execute  and  deliver  and cause the  escrow  agent to
execute and deliver to KCL and CAL the Escrow Agreements; and

         (g)  Haynes and Boone, L.L.P.  will  execute  and  deliver to Sellers a
legal opinion substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5(g).

         2.6  FURTHER ASSURANCES.  Sellers,  Buyer,  and  the Company shall from
time to time and  without further consideration  execute and deliver or cause to
be executed  and  delivered to  the other  parties  hereto  such  instruments of
transfer, conveyance,  and  assignment,  and  shall take such other actions,  as
such other parties may reasonably request to consummate the Transactions.

                                  SECTION THREE

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                                 OF THE LANDRYS

         The Landrys  jointly and severally  represent and warrant to Buyer that
the  statements  contained in this Section  Three are correct and complete as of
the Closing Date, as follows:

         3.1  ORGANIZATION. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing,  and in good standing under the laws of Delaware.  The Company has all
corporate power and authority and has satisfied all Legal Requirements necessary
to own,  operate,  or lease  its  properties  and to carry  on its  business  as
presently  conducted.  The Company is duly  qualified to do business and in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by Law and
the  failure to be so  qualified  would have a Material  affect on the  Company.
Schedule 3.1 sets forth for the Company each foreign jurisdiction in which it is
qualified to do  business.  Current and complete  copies of the  certificate  of
incorporation  and bylaws of the Company have been delivered to Buyer.  The only
predecessor to the Company is Landry Service Company, Inc., a Texas corporation,
which was merged with and into the Company in accordance  with  applicable  Law.
The only former  subsidiaries of the Company or its predecessor are as set forth
on Schedule 3.1, all of which have been dissolved in accordance  with applicable
Law.  Except for  Lansco  Foreign  Sales  Corporation,  a  Barbados  corporation
("Subsidiary"),  there is no corporation,  partnership,  joint venture, business
trust,  or other legal entity in which the Company either directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, owns or holds beneficial or record ownership
of at  least a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting  shares  or  other  equity
interests of such an entity entitled to vote.  Subsidiary has no active business
operations or liabilities of any nature, other than liabilities  associated with
maintaining  its  corporate  existence  and  good  standing.   Subsidiary  is  a
corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing,  and in good standing under the
laws of Barbados (the jurisdiction of its incorporation), and has full corporate
power  and  authority  to carry on  business  and  perform  all  agreements  and
instruments to which it is a party or by which it is bound. The authorized stock
of Subsidiary  consists of 1,000 shares of common  stock,  all of the issued and
outstanding  shares of which are owned and held by the Company free and clear of


                                       9
<PAGE>

all  Encumbrances  (other than  restrictions on transfer imposed pursuant to the
Securities Act). Such shares are duly authorized,  validly issued, and are fully
paid and  non-assessable.  Subsidiary has complied with all  applicable  Laws in
connection  with the issuance of such shares,  and none of such shares have been
issued in  violation  of any  Contract  binding  upon  Subsidiary.  There are no
existing options, warrants, calls, commitments, or other rights of any character
(including  conversion or preemptive  rights) relating to the acquisition of any
issued or unissued stock or other securities of Subsidiary.  Subsidiary does not
own and is not  subject to any  commitment  to acquire  securities  of any other
Person or any direct or  indirect  equity or  ownership  interests  in any other
business.  Except where the context requires otherwise,  the representations set
forth  elsewhere in this Section 3 are hereby  restated herein by this reference
as to Subsidiary  and are true and correct as to  Subsidiary  but are subject to
the same qualifications and conditions as are applicable to the Company.

         3.2  AUTHORITY  AND  ENFORCEABILITY.  The execution and delivery by the
Company of the Sellers' Transaction Documents and the performance by the Company
of the  Transactions  are within the requisite  corporate power and authority of
the  Company,  and have been duly  authorized,  executed,  and  delivered by the
Company. The Landrys have the absolute and unrestricted right, power, authority,
and capacity to execute and deliver the Sellers'  Transaction  Documents  and to
perform their obligations under the Sellers' Transaction Documents. The Sellers'
Transaction  Documents  constitute legal,  valid, and binding obligations of the
Landrys and the Company, as the case may be, enforceable against each of them in
accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or other laws of general application referring to or
affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.

         3.3  NONCONTRAVENTION.  The  execution  and  delivery  of the  Sellers'
Transaction Documents and the performance of the Transactions by the Landrys and
the Company do not: (a) conflict with,  violate,  breach, or result in a default
under, or the termination of, or give rise to an event which with notice,  lapse
of time, or both, would result in any such conflict, violation, breach, default,
or termination  of; (b) result in the creation or imposition of any  Encumbrance
upon any of the  Company's  assets  pursuant  to the terms of; (c)  require  any
Consent  from or notice to any Person  (except as has been  obtained)  under any
provision of; or (d) accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance of
any obligation  required by: (x) the articles or certificate of incorporation or
bylaws of the Company; (y) any applicable Legal Requirement; or (z) any Contract
or Governmental  Authorization to which the Landrys or the Company is a party or
by which the Company's assets may be bound or affected.

         3.4  CAPITALIZATION;  SUBSIDIARIES. The authorized capital stock of the
Company  consists of: (a) 3,000,000  shares of common stock,  par value $.01 per
share, of which  1,215,000  shares are issued and  outstanding;  and (b) 350,000
shares of preferred stock, of which 200,000 shares are designated Series A, none
of which are issued and outstanding,  and of which 150,000 shares are designated
Series B, 33,250 of which are issued and outstanding. The issued and outstanding
shares of common stock together with the issued and outstanding shares of Series
B preferred stock  constitute the Shares.  Sellers are the sole record owners of


                                       10
<PAGE>

all of the Shares. There are no existing options,  warrants, calls, commitments,
or other rights of any character  (including  conversion  or preemptive  rights)
relating to the  acquisition  of any issued or unissued  capital  stock or other
securities  of the Company.  The correct  number of Shares owned by each Seller,
and address and social security number or federal tax  identification  number of
each Seller,  is set forth  opposite  such Seller's name on Schedule 3.4. All of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized
and  validly  issued and are fully paid and  nonassessable.  The Company has not
entered into any Contract  relating to the  issuance,  sale,  or transfer of any
equity securities or other securities of the Company, other than this Agreement.
The  Company  has  complied  with all  applicable  Laws in  connection  with the
issuance of the Shares,  and none of the Shares were issued in  violation of any
Contract binding upon the Company.

         3.5  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The following financial statements have been
delivered  to  Buyer  (collectively  referred  to as  the  "Company's  Financial
Statements"): (a) audited balance sheets of the Company as at February 28, 1997,
1998,  and 1999 (the  audited  balance  sheet of the Company as at February  28,
1999, being referred to herein as the "Balance Sheet"),  and the related audited
statements of operations,  stockholders'  equity,  and cash flows for the fiscal
years then ended,  including in each case the notes  thereto,  together with the
report  thereon of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas,  P.C.,  independent  certified
public  accountants  (the audited balance sheets and related  audited  financial
statements  and notes  thereto  referred to in subpart  (a) of this  Section 3.5
being  referred to herein as the  "Audited  Financial  Statements");  and (b) an
unaudited  balance  sheet of the Company as at September  30, 1999 (the "Interim
Balance   Sheet"),   and  the  related   unaudited   statements  of  operations,
stockholders'  equity,  and cash  flows for the seven  months  then  ended  (the
Interim  Balance  Sheet and the related  unaudited  financial  statements  being
referred to herein as the "Interim Financial Statements"). The Company regularly
prepares monthly financial statements, of which the Interim Financial Statements
are an example,  and such monthly interim  financial  statements,  including the
Interim Financial  Statements,  are and have been distributed within the Company
to its president,  treasurer,  and senior members of the accounting  department.
The Company's  Financial  Statements fairly present in all Material respects the
financial  condition and the results of operations,  stockholders'  equity,  and
cash flows of the Company and the Subsidiary as at the  respective  dates of and
for the periods referred to in such financial statements, all in accordance with
GAAP, subject, in the case of Interim Financial  Statements,  to normal year-end
adjustments  and the absence of notes.  No financial  statements  of any Person,
other than the Company and the  Subsidiary,  are required by GAAP to be included
in the Company's Financial Statements.

         3.6 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.6,  the Company  has no  Material  liabilities  or  obligations  of any nature
(whether known or unknown and whether absolute, accrued, contingent,  unmatured,
unaccrued,   unliquidated,   or  otherwise)   except  for:  (a)  liabilities  or
obligations  reflected or reserved  against in the Balance  Sheet or the Interim
Balance  Sheet;  or (b)  liabilities  and  obligations  incurred in the ordinary
course of  business  since the  respective  dates  thereof,  there being no such
liability or obligation  that would have a Material  affect on the Company other
than those scheduled on Schedule 3.6.


                                       11
<PAGE>

         3.7  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.  Except for actions taken in
order to consummate the Transactions, or as described on Schedule 3.7, since the
date of the Audited Financial Statements, the Company has not:

         (a)  entered into any  Material transaction  or conducted  its business
other than in the ordinary course of business;

         (b)  undergone or  otherwise  experienced  any  Material  change in its
condition  (financial  or other),  properties,  assets,  liabilities  (including
contingent liabilities), working capital, business, or operations;

         (c)  entered into any Contract  with any employee  other than  standard
employment  agreements  entered into in the ordinary course of business (correct
and complete copies of the form or forms of such standard employment  agreements
having been delivered to Buyer), or granted or paid to any employee any increase
in compensation or benefits, other than ordinary merit increases consistent with
past practice;

         (d)  entered  into,  adopted, or amended in any respect any  collective
bargaining   agreement  or  adopted  or  amended  any  bonus,   profit  sharing,
compensation,   stock  option,  pension,   retirement,   deferred  compensation,
insurance,  or other similar plan, agreement,  trust, or fund for the benefit of
employees;

         (e)  suffered any strike or other labor  trouble or suffered any change
in its relationship  with, or loss of, employees,  suppliers,  or customers that
resulted in or could result in a Material effect on the Company;

         (f)  incurred  any  Material  liability,   obligation,   or  commitment
(whether  absolute,  accrued,  contingent or otherwise),  except in the ordinary
course of business;

         (g)  other  than in the ordinary  course  of  business,  entered  into,
amended,  terminated,  or suffered the  termination of any Contract to which the
Company is a party or by which any of its assets or properties are subject;

         (h)  purchased or acquired, or sold, encumbered,  assigned, or disposed
of, or suffered the loss or  destruction  of, any Material  assets,  tangible or
intangible;

         (i)  been cited for any violations of any Legal Requirement;

         (j)  made any change in its accounting policies or methods;

         (k)  entered into any Contract with any Affiliate, declared or paid any
bonus to any  Seller or Key  Employee,  or made or  declared  any  distribution,
payment, or dividend of any kind with respect to the Shares;


                                       12
<PAGE>

         (l)  cancelled or waived any Material claims or rights;

         (m)  made or experienced any change in the capitalization  or ownership
(as applicable) of the Company,  including,  without limitation, the issuance by
the  Company of any shares of stock of any class,  any  subscriptions,  options,
warrants,  convertible securities,  rights, calls, agreements,  commitments,  or
rights affecting or relating in any manner  whatsoever to any ownership,  voting
interest, or control of the Company; or

         (n)  agreed,  whether  in  writing  or  otherwise,  to do  any  of  the
foregoing.

         3.8  CONTRACTS. Schedule 3.8 describes all of the Material Contracts of
the  following  types to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or
the Company's assets are bound as of the date hereof  (collectively  referred to
as the "Company Contracts"):

         (a)  Contracts  for money  borrowed and Contracts for any money lent to
any other Person,  other than advances to employees for expenses in the ordinary
course of business;

         (b)  employment,  management,  and  consulting  agreements,  collective
bargaining  agreements,  or other  agreements  with any labor  union or group of
employees;

         (c)  Contracts  under  which the  Company  currently  is or will become
obligated  to  purchase  goods or services  of an  aggregate  value in excess of
$25,000;

         (d)  Contracts  under  which the  Company  currently  is or will become
obligated  to  provide  goods or  services  of an  aggregate  value in excess of
$25,000  and all master  service  agreements  and blanket  purchase  orders with
Customers;

         (e)  Contracts entered into outside of the ordinary  course of business
and that involve the  expenditure or receipt by the Company of money,  goods, or
services of an aggregate value in excess of $25,000;

         (f)  Contracts under which the Company is the lessor of, or permits any
other Person to hold or operate,  any personal  property  used by the Company in
the conduct of its business, and Contracts under which the Company is the lessee
of, or holds or operates, any personal property owned or controlled by any other
Person,  in each case  except for any  Contracts:  (1)  cancelable  upon 30 days
notice or less or involving a term of less than one year,  and (2)  involving an
aggregate commitment for payments of less than $25,000;

         (g)  Contracts under which the Company is the lessor of, or permits any
other Person to hold or operate,  any real  property  owned or controlled by the
Company,  and  Contracts  under  which the Company is the lessee of, or holds or
operates, any real property owned or controlled by any other Person;


                                       13
<PAGE>

         (h)  Contracts   relating  to  any  Intellectual   Property  Assets  or
containing  noncompetition or  confidentiality  provisions,  other than standard
agreements not to disclose information that are entered into between the Company
and its employees on a customary basis;

         (i)  Contracts involving an agreed sharing of profits,  losses,  costs,
or liabilities  by  the Company with any other Person,  including  joint venture
and partnership agreements;

         (j)  Contracts  providing  for payments by the Company to any Person or
by any Person to the Company based on sales, purchases, or  profits,  other than
direct payments for goods;

         (k)  each  power  of  attorney  entered  into  by the  Company  that is
currently effective and outstanding;

         (l)  Contracts  entered  into  other  than in the  ordinary  course  of
business that contain or provide for an express undertaking by the Company to be
responsible for consequential damages;

         (m)  Contracts  for  capital  expenditures by  the Company in excess of
$25,000;

         (n)  each written warranty,  guaranty, and or other similar undertaking
with respect to  contractual  performance  extended by the Company other than in
the ordinary course of business; and

         (o)  each amendment,  supplement, and modification in respect of any of
the foregoing.

         3.9  STATUS OF COMPANY  CONTRACTS.  Complete and correct  copies of the
written Company  Contracts have been delivered to Buyer.  All Contracts to which
the  Company is a party or by which the  Company's  assets are bound are in full
force  and  effect  and,  except as may be  limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium,  or other laws of general  application
referring to or affecting  enforcement of creditors'  rights  generally,  and by
general equitable principles, are valid and enforceable in accordance with their
respective  terms.  The Company and, to the Knowledge of the Landrys,  all other
parties  to any  Contract  to which  the  Company  is a party  or by  which  the
Company's  assets  are  bound,  have  in all  Material  respects  performed  all
obligations  required to be  performed by them to date and are not in default in
any Material respect. To the Knowledge of the Landrys,  there does not exist any
event, condition, or omission that (with or without notice or lapse of time) may
result in a  violation  or breach of, or give the  Company or other party to any
Contract  to which the Company is a party or by which the  Company's  assets are
bound,  the right to  declare a default or  exercise  any  remedy  under,  or to
accelerate the maturity or performance of, or to cancel,  terminate,  or modify,
any such  Contract.  The  Company  has not given to or  received  from any other
Person at any time any notice or other  communication  (whether oral or written)


                                       14
<PAGE>

regarding any Material violation or breach of, or default under, any Contract to
which the  Company is a party or by which the  Company's  assets are bound.  The
Company has not  received  notice of any plan or intention of any other party to
any  Contract to which the Company is a party or by which the  Company's  assets
are bound to exercise any right to cancel or terminate any such Contract.

         3.10 PERSONAL PROPERTY. The Company has good and indefeasible title to,
or, in the case of leased properties, a good and indefeasible leasehold interest
in, all of the personal property of whatever kind or nature and wherever located
(excluding  Intellectual Property Assets),  including furniture,  fixtures,  and
equipment,   reflected  on  the  Company's  Financial  Statements  (collectively
referred  to as the  "Personal  Property"),  in each  case free and clear of all
Encumbrances  other than Permitted  Encumbrances.  None of the Personal Property
are subject to or held under a title  retention  agreement,  or is other than in
the sole  possession  and under the sole  control  of the  Company,  other  than
Personal  Property in the  possession  or control of  customers  in the ordinary
course of business.  The Personal  Property is adequate for the uses to which it
is put by the Company, and conforms in all Material respects with all applicable
Legal Requirements.

         3.11 FACILITIES  AND  FORMER  FACILITIES.  Schedule  3.11  sets forth a
description of all of the Facilities and Former  Facilities (other than customer
job sites or  temporary  lodging  for  employees),  and with  respect  to Former
Facilities,  the time  periods  during  which  those  facilities  were  owned or
operated by the Company or the  Subsidiary or the  predecessor of the Company or
former  subsidiaries of the Company or its predecessor.  Copies of the deeds and
other instruments (as recorded) by which the Company or the Subsidiary  acquired
the Facilities, and correct and complete copies of all title insurance policies,
opinions,  abstracts,  surveys,  appraisals,  and  environmental  reports in the
possession of the Company and relating to the Facilities, have been delivered to
Buyer.  The Company has good and  indefeasible  title to all of the  Facilities,
subject to no  Encumbrances  other than Permitted  Encumbrances.  All buildings,
plants,  and structures owned by the Company lie wholly within the boundaries of
the real property owned by the Company and do not encroach upon the property of,
or  otherwise  conflict  with the  property  rights  of, any other  Person.  The
buildings,  plants, and structures of the Company are structurally sound, are in
good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they
are put by the Company,  and none of such buildings,  plants, and structures are
in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary,  routine  maintenance and
repairs.

         3.12 ACCOUNTS  RECEIVABLE.   Schedule  3.12  sets  forth  all  accounts
receivable (billed and unbilled) of the Company as of the date set forth thereon
(as supplemented  pursuant to Section 8.2,  "Accounts  Receivable"),  which list
sets  forth  the  customer  name,  amount,  and  invoice  date of such  Accounts
Receivable.  The  Accounts  Receivable  are (and,  with  respect to the Accounts
Receivable  reflected on the supplement to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.2,
will  be)  current  and  collectible,  net of a  reserve  of 2%  ("Net  Accounts
Receivable"). The Net Accounts Receivable will be collected in full, without any
set-off, within 120 days after the Closing Date.


                                       15
<PAGE>

         3.13 INVENTORY.  The Company has no Material inventory or supplies.

         3.14 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSETS. "Intellectual Property Assets" shall
mean all: (a) names, assumed names,  tradenames,  trademarks,  and service marks
("Marks");  (b) patents,  patent  applications  and rights,  and patents pending
("Patents");  (c) registered copyrights  ("Copyrights");  and (d) trade secrets,
confidential information,  know-how, processes,  formulas, data, customer lists,
technology,  drawings,  blueprints,  and computer  software  ("Trade  Secrets");
owned,  used,  or  licensed  by  the  Company  as  licensee  or  licensor.   The
Intellectual  Property  Assets are all those  necessary for the operation of the
Company's business as it is currently conducted. The Company is the owner of all
right,  title, and interest in and to each of the Intellectual  Property Assets,
or,  in the case of  leased  Intellectual  Property  Assets,  is the  owner of a
leasehold interest in such Intellectual  Property Assets,  free and clear of all
Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances, and has the right to use without
payment to any other Person all of the Intellectual  Property  Assets.  Schedule
3.14 describes all of the Marks,  Patents,  and Copyrights.  To the Knowledge of
the Landrys, all Intellectual  Property Assets are valid and enforceable and are
being used in  Material  compliance  with all Legal  Requirements.  There are no
pending, or to the Knowledge of Landrys,  Threatened infringement claims against
the Company with respect to any Intellectual  Property Assets.  To the Knowledge
of the Landrys,  the use of the  Intellectual  Property Assets will not, and the
operation of the Company's business as presently conducted does not, infringe on
the intellectual  property rights of any other Person. The Company has taken all
reasonable precautions to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value of the
Trade Secrets.

         3.15 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS.  To the Knowledge of the Landrys, all
licenses, permits, approvals,  registrations,  or other authorizations issued or
granted under Law or by any  Governmental  Authority  and currently  held by the
Company are listed on Schedule  3.15 (the  "Governmental  Authorizations").  The
Governmental  Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect. The Company
is,  and at all times has been,  in  Material  compliance  with the terms of the
Governmental  Authorizations.  To the Knowledge of the Landrys, the Governmental
Authorizations constitute all of the authorizations of the type described in the
first  sentence of this Section 3.15 that are  necessary  for or incident to the
operation of the  Company's  business or the  ownership or use of the  Company's
assets.  There are no  Proceedings  pending or, to the Knowledge of the Landrys,
Threatened that may result in the revocation, cancellation, or suspension of, or
any Material adverse  modification of, any Governmental  Authorization.  Correct
and complete copies of all  Governmental  Authorizations  have been delivered to
Buyer.

         3.16 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS.   The Company is, and at all times has been,
in  Material  compliance  with  all Laws  currently  or then  applicable  to the
Company,  or to the conduct or operation of its business or the ownership or use
of its  assets.  The  Company  has not  received at any time any notice or other
communication   (whether  oral  or  written)  from  any  Governmental  Authority
regarding any Material violation of, or failure to comply with, any Law.


                                       16
<PAGE>

         3.17 TAXES.   Except as set forth on  Schedule  3.17,  all Tax  Returns
required  to be filed by the Company or  Subsidiary  or the  predecessor  to the
Company or any former subsidiary to the Company or its predecessor,  as the case
may be, for all periods  ended on or before the Closing  Date,  have been timely
filed or  submitted.  All Taxes due on or before the Closing Date have been duly
paid in full  by the  Company  and the  Subsidiary  and the  predecessor  to the
Company and any former subsidiary to the Company or its predecessor, as the case
may be. Adequate provision has been made in the Company's  Financial  Statements
for the  payment  of all  unpaid  Taxes  for all  periods  ending at or prior to
September 30, 1999.  There are no examinations in progress or claims against the
Company or the  Subsidiary  for any period or periods  ending at or prior to the
Closing  Date,  and no  notice  of any  claim  for  Taxes,  whether  pending  or
Threatened,  has been  received.  Correct  and  complete  copies of: (a) any tax
examinations  of; (b) extensions of statutory  limitations  with respect to; and
(c) all Tax Returns  filed or submitted by the Company or any former  subsidiary
or the  Subsidiary  for the last three fiscal years have been provided to Buyer.
The Company  currently  uses the  accrual  method of  accounting  for income tax
purposes.  Such method of accounting  has not been changed  within the last five
years.

         3.18 EMPLOYEE  BENEFITS.  Schedule 3.18 sets forth an accurate schedule
of all  employee  benefit  plans as  defined  in  Section  3(3) of the  Employee
Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as amended,  and all other  employee
benefits  programs or  arrangements,  including  but not  limited  to,  deferred
compensation  agreements and stock plans sponsored or maintained by the Company,
its predecessor,  the Subsidiary,  or any former  subsidiaries of the Company or
its predecessor  (collectively "Employee Benefit Plans"). Copies of all Employee
Benefit  Plans  and of all  agreements  and  trusts  related  thereto  have been
delivered to Buyer.  Except for the employee benefit plans described on Schedule
3.18,  neither the Company nor its  predecessor,  the Subsidiary,  or any former
subsidiaries  of  the  Company  or  its  predecessor  sponsors,   maintains,  or
contributes  to any plan,  program,  fund, or  arrangement  that  constitutes an
employee pension benefit plan and neither the Company nor its  predecessor,  the
Subsidiary,  or any former  subsidiaries of the Company or its predecessor  have
any obligation to contribute to or accrue or pay any benefits under any deferred
compensation  or  retirement  funding  arrangement  on behalf of any employee or
employees  (such  as,  for  example,  and  without  limitation,  any  individual
retirement  account or annuity).  Neither the Company nor its  predecessor,  the
Subsidiary,  or any former  subsidiaries  of the Company or its  predecessor has
sponsored, maintained, or contributed to any employee pension benefit plan other
than  the  plans  set  forth  on  Schedule  3.18,  nor  is  the  Company  or its
predecessor,  the Subsidiary,  or any former  subsidiaries of the Company or its
predecessor  required  to  contribute  to any  retirement  plan  pursuant to the
provisions of any  collective  bargaining  agreement.  All accrued  contribution
obligations  of the Company,  its  predecessor,  the  Subsidiary,  or any former
subsidiaries of the Company or its predecessor,  with respect to any plan listed
on  Schedule  3.18 have  either been  fulfilled  in their  entirety or are fully
reflected  on the  Balance  Sheet,  except  for  accruals  since the date of the
Balance Sheet incurred in the ordinary course of business.  All Employee Benefit
Plans have been operated in accordance with all applicable Laws and the Employee
Benefit  Plans' terms in all material  respects.  There are no actions,  claims,
suits,  or  government  audits or  occurrences  pending  (other than for routine


                                       17
<PAGE>

benefits) or, to the Knowledge of the Landrys,  threatened against, any Employee
Benefit Plan.  Each Employee  Benefit Plan that is intended to be  tax-qualified
under Section  401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred which
could adversely affect the qualified status of any such plan.

         3.19 EMPLOYEES.  Schedule 3.19 contains a complete and accurate list of
the  following  information  for each  employee,  officer,  or  director  of the
Company, including each employee on leave of absence or layoff status: (a) name;
(b) job title; (c) date of hire; (d) hourly or semi-monthly compensation rate in
effect currently and on December 31, 1998; (e) vacation accrued; and (f) service
credited  for  purposes  of vesting and  eligibility  to  participate  under the
Company's  pension,   retirement,   profit-sharing,   thrift-savings,   deferred
compensation,  stock bonus, stock option,  cash bonus,  employee stock ownership
(including  investment  credit  or  payroll  stock  ownership),  severance  pay,
insurance,  medical,  welfare,  vacation,  or other  employee  benefit  plan. No
director or officer or, to the Knowledge of the Landrys, employee of the Company
or the Subsidiary,  is prohibited or in any way limited in his or her ability to
engage  in the  Company's  business,  nor  does any such  person  have  plans to
terminate his or her employment or other relationship with the Company.  Neither
the  Company  nor  the  Subsidiary  has  any  retired  employees,  officers,  or
directors.

         3.20 LABOR RELATIONS. Other than as set forth in Schedule 3.20, neither
the Company nor the Subsidiary has been and neither is a party to any collective
bargaining or other labor  Contract.  Other than as set forth in Schedule  3.20,
there is not  presently  pending  or  existing,  and,  to the  Knowledge  of the
Landrys,  there is not  Threatened:  (a) any  organizational  activity,  strike,
slowdown,  picketing,  work  stoppage,  employee  grievance,  or other  labor or
employment  claim  against the  Company or the  Subsidiary;  (b) any  Proceeding
against the Company or the Subsidiary  relating to the alleged  violation of any
Legal Requirement pertaining to labor relations or employment matters, including
any charge or complaint  filed by an employee or union with the  National  Labor
Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,  or any comparable
Governmental  Authority  against  the  Company  or the  Subsidiary;  or (c)  any
application for  certification of a collective  bargaining agent with respect to
the  Company or the  Subsidiary.  There is no lockout  of any  employees  by the
Company or the  Subsidiary,  and no such action is  contemplated by the Company.
The Company and the Subsidiary  have complied in all Material  respects with all
Legal  Requirements  relating  to  employment,   equal  employment  opportunity,
nondiscrimination,  immigration,  wages, hours, benefits, collective bargaining,
the  payment of social  security  and  similar  taxes,  occupational  safety and
health, and plant closing.  Neither the Company nor the Subsidiary is liable for
the payment of any compensation,  damages,  taxes,  fines,  penalties,  or other
amounts,  however  designated,  for failure to comply with any of the  foregoing
Legal Requirements.

         3.21 INSURANCE.    Schedule  3.21  describes  all  insurance   policies
maintained  by the Company for the current  policy year and the three  preceding
policy years (the "Insurance Policies"),  indicating with respect to each policy
the type of coverage, name of insured, the insurer, the expiration date, and all
Material claims made and Material payments made or received with respect to each
such policy.  All current Insurance  Policies:  (a) are in full force and effect


                                       18
<PAGE>

and will remain in effect  following the  consummation of the  Transactions  and
through the  expiration  date set forth on Schedule  3.21 without the payment of
additional  premiums;  (b) are sufficient for Material compliance with all Legal
Requirements  and  Contracts  to which  the  Company  is a party or by which the
Company's assets are bound; and (c) except as set forth on Schedule 3.21, do not
provide for any  retrospective  premium  adjustment  or other  experienced-based
liability on the part of the Company.  The Company has paid all premiums due and
complied in all  Material  respects  with the  provisions  of all the  Insurance
Policies.  The Company has not received any notice of  cancellation or any other
indication  that any  current  Insurance  Policy is no  longer in full  force or
effect or will not be renewed or that the issuer of any current Insurance Policy
is not  willing or able to  perform  its  obligations  thereunder.  Correct  and
complete  copies of all Insurance  Policies and pending  applications  have been
delivered to Buyer.

         3.22 LITIGATION. There is no pending Proceeding that has been commenced
against the Company,  KCL or CAL and that challenges,  or may have the effect of
preventing,  delaying,  making illegal or otherwise interfering with, any of the
contemplated  Transactions.  To the  Knowledge  of each of KCL and CAL,  no such
Proceeding has been Threatened.  Schedule 3.22 describes all pending Proceedings
brought by or against,  or to the Knowledge of the Landrys,  Threatened against,
the Company,  its  predecessor  or any former  subsidiary  of the Company or its
predecessor or the Subsidiary,  in each case  indicating  whether the Company or
its  predecessor  or any such  subsidiary or the  Subsidiary has given notice of
such  Proceeding  to any  insurer  in  accordance  with the  specific  reporting
requirements  of any  applicable  Insurance  Policy,  and whether any refusal of
coverage  or any notice  that a defense  will be afforded  with  reservation  of
rights  has  been  received.  Correct  and  complete  copies  of all  pleadings,
correspondence,  and  other  documents  relating  to each  Proceeding  listed on
Schedule 3.22 that are in the  possession or control of the Company,  and recent
summaries of each such Proceeding as requested by Buyer,  have been delivered or
made available to Buyer. To the Knowledge of the Landrys,  no event has occurred
that may give rise to or serve as a basis for the commencement of any Proceeding
against the Company or the Subsidiary.  There are no currently  effective Orders
against the Company,  or to the Knowledge of the Landrys,  Materially  affecting
the business or assets of the Company. All of the Proceedings listed on Schedule
3.22 are covered by insurance  maintained  by the  Company,  except as otherwise
disclosed  on Schedule  3.22,  such  coverage  being  subject to the  applicable
deductible under the insurance policy.

         3.23 ENVIRONMENTAL  MATTERS.   The Company and each Facility is, and at
all times has been, in Material  compliance with, and has not been and is not in
Material violation of, any then currently applicable Environmental Law or Order,
and the Company has not incurred or become liable for or subject to any Material
Environmental  Liabilities  at  any  of its  Facilities  or  any  of the  Former
Facilities.  Neither  the  Company  nor its  predecessor  nor any of the  former
subsidiaries  of the Company or its  predecessor  or the Subsidiary has received
or, to the  Knowledge of the Landrys,  has the Company any  reasonable  basis to
expect,  any communication  from any Person of any actual or potential  Material
violation or failure to comply with any  Environmental  Law, or of any actual or
Threatened   Material   obligation   to  undertake  or  bear  the  cost  of  any


                                       19
<PAGE>

Environmental  Liabilities  with respect to any Personal  Property,  Facilities,
Former  Facilities,  or with  respect  to any  property  at,  to, or from  which
Hazardous  Materials  were  generated,   manufactured,   refined,   transferred,
imported,  used, processed,  transported,  treated,  stored, handled,  disposed,
recycled, or received by the Company or its predecessor or any former subsidiary
of the Company or its  predecessor  or the  Subsidiary.  There are no  Hazardous
Materials present on or in the Environment at the Facilities, and there has been
no release of any Hazardous  Materials by the Company or from any  Facilities or
any  Former  Facility,  during  ownership  or  operation  by the  Company or its
predecessor  or any former  subsidiary of the Company or its  predecessor or the
Subsidiary of such Former  Facility,  into the  Environment,  except in Material
compliance with all then applicable  Environmental  Laws and so as not to create
any Material Environmental Liabilities.

         3.24 TRANSACTIONS  WITH  AFFILIATES.   Except as  disclosed on Schedule
3.24,  the Company has not engaged in any  transaction,  directly or indirectly,
with any Seller, Affiliate of the Landrys,  Affiliate of the Company, or, to the
Knowledge of the  Landrys,  any  Affiliate of any Seller,  since the date of the
Audited  Financial  Statements (other than transactions with persons inherent in
their normal capacities of shareholders,  officers, directors, or employees). No
Seller, Affiliate of the Landrys, Affiliate of the Company, or, to the Knowledge
of the  Landrys,  any  Affiliate  of any  Seller,  has any  ownership  interest,
directly, indirectly, or beneficially, in any competitor,  supplier, or customer
of the  Company,  except  for less than one  percent of the  outstanding  equity
securities  of any such  business  that is  publicly  traded  on any  recognized
exchange or in the over-the-counter market.

         3.25 CERTAIN PAYMENTS.  Neither the Company, nor its predecessor or any
former  subsidiary of the Company or its predecessor or the  Subsidiary,  or any
director or officer of the foregoing,  or, to the Knowledge of the Landrys,  any
agent or employee of the Company or any other Person  associated  with or acting
for or on behalf of the Company,  has, directly or indirectly:  (a) in violation
of any Legal Requirement,  made any contribution,  gift, bribe, rebate,  payoff,
influence payment,  kickback, or other payment to any Person, private or public,
regardless of form, whether in money, property, or services, to obtain favorable
treatment in securing  business,  to pay for  favorable  treatment  for business
secured,  or to obtain special  concessions or for special  concessions  already
obtained,  for or in respect of the  Company  or its  predecessor  or any former
subsidiary  of  the  Company  or  its  predecessor  or  the  Subsidiary;  or (b)
established  or  maintained  any fund or asset that has not been recorded in the
books and records of the Company.

         3.26 BROKERS AND FINDERS.  The  Company does not have any  liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker,  finder,  or agent with
respect to the Transactions.

         3.27 BOOKS AND  RECORDS.  The books of  account,  minute  books,  stock
record  books,  and other  records of the  Company,  all of which have been made
available  to Buyer,  are  complete  and  correct  and have been  maintained  in
accordance  with  sound  business  practices.  The minute  books of the  Company
contain  accurate and complete  records of all meetings  held of, and  corporate


                                       20
<PAGE>

action taken by, the  stockholders,  the boards of directors,  and committees of
the boards of directors of the Company.  At the Closing,  all of those books and
records will be in the possession of the Company.

         3.28 YEAR  2000  COMPLIANT.    All  computer  software  (including  the
Company's  network  operating  system and its MAS*90  programs for financial and
payroll  modules but excluding any other  software  licensed  under "shrink wrap
licenses") and computer hardware that is used by the Company in the operation or
conduct of its business as presently conducted is "year 2000 compliant," in that
such software and hardware will operate during all times prior to,  during,  and
after the calendar year 2000 A.D. without error relating to that date.

         3.29 HEALTH  AND SAFETY  MATTERS.  The  Company is and at all times has
been in Material compliance with, and has not been in Material violation of, any
then  currently  applicable  Health and Safety Law.  Neither the Company nor its
predecessor  or any former  subsidiary of the Company or its  predecessor or the
Subsidiary has received, nor to the Knowledge of the Landrys has the Company any
reasonable basis to expect, any communication from any Person, including current
and former  employees,  or any  Governmental  Authority,  regarding any Material
violation or alleged violation of any Heath and Safety Law.

         3.30 MATERIAL DISCLOSURES. No representation or warranty of the Landrys
in this Agreement or in any other certificate or other document  furnished or to
be furnished by the Landrys pursuant  hereto,  and no statement in any Schedule,
contains or will  contain any untrue  statement  of a Material  fact or omits or
will omit to state a Material fact  necessary to make the  statements  herein or
therein,  in light of the  circumstances in which they were made, not misleading
or will omit to state a Material  fact  necessary in order to provide Buyer with
accurate information as to the Company.

                                  SECTION FOUR

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                                 OF EACH SELLER

         Each Seller hereby severally  represents and warrants to Buyer that the
statements  contained  in this  Section  Four with  respect  to such  Seller are
correct and complete as of the Closing Date, as follows:

         4.1  AUTHORITY AND ENFORCEABILITY.  The Sellers' Transaction  Documents
constitute  legal,  valid, and binding  obligations of each Seller,  enforceable
against each Seller in accordance with their terms,  except as may be limited by
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium,  or other laws of general
application  referring to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable  principles.  Each Seller has the  absolute  and  unrestricted  right,
power,  authority,  and capacity to execute and deliver the Sellers' Transaction
Documents  and  to  perform  such  Seller's   obligations   under  the  Sellers'
Transaction  Documents.  Each Seller  neither is or will be required to give any


                                       21
<PAGE>

notice to or obtain any Consent from any Person in connection with the execution
and  delivery of the  Sellers'  Transaction  Documents  or the  consummation  or
performance of any of the Transactions  contemplated by the Sellers' Transaction
Documents.

         4.2  CAPITALIZATION. Each Seller is the record and beneficial owner and
holder of such Seller's  respective  Shares,  as described on Schedule 3.4, free
and clear of all  Encumbrances  (other than  restrictions  on  transfer  imposed
pursuant to the Securities Act).  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2, no legend
or other  reference to any purported  Encumbrance  (other than  restrictions  on
transfer  imposed  pursuant to the Securities  Act) appears upon any certificate
representing such Seller's Shares. Upon Closing, Buyer shall receive valid title
to all of the Shares owned by Seller,  free and clear of all Encumbrances (other
than  restrictions  on transfer  imposed  pursuant to the Securities  Act). Each
Seller has not entered  into any Contract  relating to the  issuance,  sale,  or
transfer of equity  securities or other  securities  of the Company,  other than
this Agreement.

         4.3  BROKERS AND FINDERS. No Seller has any  liability or obligation to
pay any fees or commissions to any broker,  finder, or agent with respect to the
Transactions.

         4.4  INVESTMENT INTENT. Each of KCL and CAL is acquiring his Promissory
Note for his own  account  and not with a view to its  distribution  within  the
meaning  of  Section  2(11)  of the  Securities  Act.  Each of KCL and CAL is an
"accredited  investor"  as  such  term  is  defined  in Rule  501(a)  under  the
Securities Act.

                                  SECTION FIVE

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                                    OF BUYER

         Buyer hereby  represents  and  warrants to Sellers that the  statements
contained in this Section Five are correct and complete as of the Closing  Date,
as follows:

         5.1  ORGANIZATION.  Each of Buyer  and  Parent  is a  corporation  duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of Delaware.

         5.2  AUTHORITY AND ENFORCEABILITY.  The execution and delivery by Buyer
and Parent of Buyer's  Transaction  Documents and the  performance  by Buyer and
Parent  of the  Transactions  are  within  the  requisite  corporate  power  and
authority  of Buyer and Parent,  and have been duly  authorized,  executed,  and
delivered by Buyer and Parent.  Buyer's Transaction  Documents constitute legal,
valid,  and  binding  obligations  of  Buyer  and  Parent,  as the  case may be,
enforceable  against each of them in accordance with their terms,  except as may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium, or other laws
of general application  referring to or affecting creditors' rights generally or
by general equitable principles.


                                       22
<PAGE>

         5.3  NONCONTRAVENTION.The execution and delivery of Buyer's Transaction
Documents and the  performance of the  Transactions  by Buyer and Parent do not:
(a)  conflict  with,  violate,  breach,  or result in a  default  under,  or the
termination  of, or give rise to an event which with notice,  lapse of time,  or
both,  would  result  in any  such  conflict,  violation,  breach,  default,  or
termination  of; (b) except as set forth on Schedule 5.3, result in the creation
or imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of Buyer's or Parent's assets pursuant
to the terms of; (c) require any Consent from or notice to any Person (except as
has been  obtained)  under any  provision  of; or (d)  accelerate  or permit the
acceleration of the performance of any obligation  required by: (x) the articles
or certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Buyer or Parent; (y) any applicable
Legal  Requirement;  or (z) any Contract or Governmental  Authorization to which
Buyer or Parent is a party or by which any of Buyer or  Parent's  assets  may be
bound or affected.

         5.4  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The following financial statements have been
delivered  to  Sellers  (collectively  referred  to as  the  "Buyer's  Financial
Statements"): (a) audited consolidated balance sheet of Buyer as at December 31,
1998,   and  the  related   audited   consolidated   statements  of  operations,
stockholders'  equity, and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended,  including
in each case the notes  thereto,  together  with the  report  thereon of Ernst &
Young, LLP,  independent  certified public accountants (the consolidated balance
sheet and related  consolidated  financial statements and notes thereto referred
to in subpart (a) of this  Section 5.4 being  referred to herein as the "Buyer's
Audited Financial Statements");  and (b) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet
of Buyer as at September 30, 1999, and the related unaudited consolidated income
statement  for the nine  months  then  ended  (the  "Buyer's  Interim  Financial
Statements").  The Buyer's  Financial  Statements fairly present in all Material
respects the financial  condition and the results of  operations,  stockholders'
equity,  and cash flows of Buyer, on a consolidated  basis, as at the respective
dates of and for the periods  referred to in such financial  statements,  all in
accordance  with  GAAP,  subject,  in the  case  of  Buyer's  Interim  Financial
Statements,  to  normal  year-end  adjustments  and the  absence  of  notes.  No
financial  statements  of any  Person,  other  than as  reflected  thereon,  are
required by GAAP to be included in the Buyer's Financial Statements.

         5.5  ABSENCE  OF  UNDISCLOSED  LIABILITIES.  Buyer and  Parent  have no
Material  liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether known or unknown and
whether absolute, accrued, contingent,  unmatured,  unaccrued,  unliquidated, or
otherwise)  except for liabilities or obligations  reflected or reserved against
in the Buyer's Financial  Statements and liabilities and obligations incurred in
the ordinary course of business since the respective dates thereof.

         5.6  CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.  There is no pending Proceeding that has been
commenced against Buyer or Parent and that challenges, or may have the effect of
preventing,  delaying, making illegal, or otherwise interfering with, any of the
contemplated  Transactions.  To Buyer's  Knowledge,  no such Proceeding has been
Threatened.


                                       23
<PAGE>

         5.7  BROKERS AND FINDERS. Neither Buyer nor Parent has any liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker,  finder,  or agent with
respect to the Transactions.

         5.8  INVESTMENT  INTENT.  Buyer is  acquiring  the  Shares  for its own
account and not with a view to their distribution  within the meaning of Section
2(11)  of the  Securities  Act.  Buyer  has such  knowledge  and  experience  in
financial and business  matters that it is capable of evaluating  the merits and
risk  of  its  purchase  of  the  Shares  pursuant  to  this  Agreement.   Buyer
acknowledges  that the sale of the  Shares to it under this  Agreement  have not
been  registered  under the Securities  Act or qualified or been  registered for
sale  under  the  securities   laws  and  regulations  of  any  state  or  other
jurisdiction.  Buyer  acknowledges  that the Shares  purchased  by it under this
Agreement must be held indefinitely  unless their transfer or sale is registered
under the Securities Act and applicable  state  securities  laws or an exemption
from such registration is available.

         5.9  MATERIAL  DISCLOSURES. No  representation  or warranty of Buyer in
this Agreement or in any other certificate or other document  furnished or to be
furnished by Buyer pursuant hereto,  and no statement in any Schedule,  contains
or will contain any untrue statement of a Material fact or omits or will omit to
state a Material fact  necessary to make the  statements  herein or therein,  in
light of the  circumstances in which they were made, not misleading or will omit
to state a Material  fact  necessary in order to provide  Sellers with  accurate
information as to Buyer and Parent.

                                   SECTION SIX

                              RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

         6.1  CUSTOMERS. Each of the Sellers covenants and agrees that he or she
shall not (personally, nor will he or she direct any third party to do so) for a
period of: (a) four years from and after the Closing  Date, in the case of Craig
Byard and F. Paul Sievert; (b) two years from and after the Closing Date, in the
case of Alan Finley;  (c) one year from and after the Closing  Date, in the case
of Ricky L. Ziebart;  and (d) five years from and after the Closing Date, in the
case of all Sellers other than those  identified in clauses (a), (b), and (c) of
this  sentence (as the case may be, the  "Restriction  Period"):  (1) provide or
offer to provide to any  Customer  any product or service the same or similar to
that offered by the Company as of the Closing  Date; or (2) induce or attempt to
induce any  Customer  to  withdraw,  curtail,  or cancel its  business  with the
Company  or in any manner  modify or fail to enter into any actual or  potential
business relationship with the Company.

         6.2  EMPLOYEES  AND VENDORS.  Each of the Sellers  covenants and agrees
that he or she shall not (personally,  nor will he or she direct any third party
to do so), during the Restriction  Period:  (a) recruit or otherwise  solicit or
induce  any  Person  who is on the  Closing  Date an  employee  or Vendor of the
Company  to  terminate   their   employment   with,  or  otherwise  cease  their
relationship with, the Company;  or (b) hire,  recruit, or otherwise solicit any


                                       24
<PAGE>

person who, at any time during the six months immediately  preceding the date of
his or her hire or the date of  commencement  of recruitment or  solicitation of
such person, as applicable, had been an employee or Vendor of the Company.

         6.3  NONCOMPETITION.Each of the Sellers covenants and agrees that he or
she shall not,  during the Restriction  Period,  working alone or in conjunction
with one or more other Persons,  for  compensation  or not, permit such Seller's
name to be used by or engage in or carry on, directly or indirectly,  either for
himself  or  herself  or as a member of a  partnership  or other  entity or as a
stockholder or investor  (other than as the holder of one percent or less of the
equity of any entity with a class of equity securities  registered under Section
12(b) or 12(g) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  as  amended)  in any
business  competing with the business of the Company as such business  exists or
is being  conducted upon the Closing Date, but only for as long as such business
is carried on by: (a) the  Company;  or (b) any Person  deriving  title from the
Company to the assets  and  goodwill  of the  business  being  carried on by the
Company upon the Closing Date, in any county of any state of the United  States,
or in any country or political subdivision of the world. The parties intend that
the  covenants  contained  in this Section 6.3 shall be deemed to be a series of
separate  covenants,  one for each county in each state of the United States and
for each  country  and  political  subdivision  of the  world,  and  except  for
geographic coverage,  each such separate covenant shall be identical in terms to
the covenant contained in this Section 6.3.

         6.4  TOLLING OF TERM. If any Seller violates any covenant  contained in
Section  6.1,  Section  6.2,  or  Section  6.3,  then the term of such  violated
covenant shall be tolled for the period  commencing on the  commencement of such
violation and ending upon the earlier of: (a) such time as such violation  shall
be cured by such Seller to the reasonable  satisfaction  of Buyer;  or (b) final
adjudication  (including  appeals) of any action filed for injunctive  relief or
damages arising out of such violation.

         6.5  REFORMATION.If, in any judicial proceeding, the court shall refuse
to enforce any of the separate covenants  contained in Section 6.1, Section 6.2,
or Section 6.3,  because the time limit is too long, it is expressly  understood
and agreed between the parties hereto that for purposes of such  proceeding such
time  limitation  shall be deemed  reduced  to the  extent  necessary  to permit
enforcement of such covenants.  If, in any judicial proceeding,  the court shall
refuse to enforce  any of the  separate  covenants  contained  in  Section  6.1,
Section 6.2, or Section 6.3,  because they are more  extensive than necessary to
protect the business and goodwill of the Company, it is expressly understood and
agreed  between the parties  hereto that for  purposes of such  proceeding  such
provisions shall be deemed reduced to the extent necessary to permit enforcement
of such covenants.

         6.6  INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.  Sellers  acknowledge  that a breach of Section
6.1, Section 6.2, or Section 6.3 would cause irreparable damage to Buyer, and in
the event of an actual or threatened  breach by any Seller of the  provisions of
Section  6.1,  Section  6.2, or Section  6.3,  Buyer shall be entitled to seek a
temporary  restraining  order  and  injunction   restraining  such  Seller  from
breaching such covenants. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting Buyer


                                       25
<PAGE>

from  pursuing  any other  available  remedies for such  breach,  including  the
recovery of damages from Sellers. Each Seller acknowledges that the restrictions
set forth in Section  6.1,  Section  6.2,  and Section 6.3 are  ancillary  to an
otherwise enforceable agreement and are reasonable in scope and duration,  given
the nature of the business of the Company.

                                  SECTION SEVEN

                                INDEMNIFICATIONS

         7.1  NATURE OF INVESTIGATIONS. It is acknowledged that,in the course of
negotiating  this  Agreement and during due  diligence  conducted by the parties
prior to the Closing,  certain disclosures have been made and each party and its
representatives  and agents have become aware of certain  information  regarding
the other parties and the  Transactions.  Neither any investigation by any party
hereto,  nor any failure to make any investigation by any party hereto,  nor any
information acquired or capable of being acquired at any time, whether before or
after the  execution and delivery of this  Agreement or the Closing  Date,  with
respect to the  Transactions,  shall constitute a waiver of any  representation,
warranty, covenant, agreement, right, or remedy of any party hereto, nor relieve
such other party of any  obligation or liability with respect to the accuracy or
fulfillment thereof.

         7.2  SURVIVAL OF  REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES.  Regardless  of any
investigation  at any time made by or on  behalf  of any party  hereto or of any
information  any party  may have in  respect  hereof,  all  representations  and
warranties made in Sections Three,  Four, and Five shall survive the Closing and
shall  continue  in effect  for a period of two years  after the  Closing  Date;
provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing:

         (a)  the representations  and warranties made by the Landrys in Section
3.4 and Section 3.17 shall continue in effect until  expiration of the period of
limitations provided under Law for any breach thereof; and

         (b)  the representations and warranties made by Sellers in Section Four
shall continue in effect until expiration of the period of limitations  provided
under Law for any breach thereof.

         7.3  INDEMNIFICATION  BY EACH SELLER.  Each Seller  agrees to severally
indemnify and hold harmless Buyer, the Company,  and their respective  officers,
directors,  employees,  agents,  consultants,  advisors,  other representatives,
including  legal counsel and  accountants,  and  Affiliates  (collectively,  the
"Buyer Indemnified  Persons") for, and will pay to the Buyer Indemnified Persons
the  amount  of,  any  loss,  liability,  claim,  damage  (including  reasonably
foreseeable incidental and consequential damages), expense (including reasonable
costs of investigation,  defense,  and attorneys'  fees),  fines, and penalties,
whether or not involving a third-party claim (collectively, "Damages"), arising,
directly or  indirectly,  from or in  connection  with any breach of warranty or
inaccurate or erroneous representation made by any such Seller in Section Four.


                                       26
<PAGE>

         7.4  INDEMNIFICATION  BY THE LANDRYS.  The Landrys agree to jointly and
severally  indemnify  and hold harmless the Buyer  Indemnified  Persons for, and
will pay to the Buyer Indemnified  Persons the amount of, any Damages,  arising,
directly or indirectly, from or in connection with:

         (a)  any breach or  default in the  performance  by the  Landrys of any
covenant or  agreement  of the Landrys  contained  in the  Sellers'  Transaction
Documents;  provided,  however, that any claim for indemnification for breach or
default in the  performance by either CAL or KCL of any covenant or agreement of
CAL or KCL contained in the KCL Consulting Agreement or in the Sellers' Releases
shall be asserted solely against the party in breach or default, and not jointly
and severally; or

         (b)  any breach of warranty or inaccurate  or erroneous  representation
made by the Landrys in Section Three; or

         (c)  any claim or liability, including any  Environmental  Liabilities,
known or  unknown:  (x)  arising  out of,  or by virtue  of,  or based  upon the
business and  operations  conducted by the Company,  the  Subsidiary,  or any of
their  predecessors  or any former  subsidiaries  of the foregoing  prior to the
effective time of Closing; or (y) arising out of, or by virtue of, or based upon
the  ownership,  management,  use, or  operation  of the  respective  assets and
properties of the Company,  the  Subsidiary,  the  predecessor to the Company or
former subsidiaries of the Company or its predecessor,  including Facilities and
Former  Facilities,  prior to the effective time of Closing,  other than, in the
case of both (x) and (y): (1) claims or  liabilities  reflected on the Company's
Financial Statements;  (2) claims or liabilities incurred in the ordinary course
of  business  since the dates  thereof,  none of which are in excess of  $25,000
individually  or in the aggregate as to any related claims or  liabilities,  but
excluding  from the  exception  provided in this  clause (2):  (A) any claims or
liability that arises from a tort, breach of Contract, or violation of any Legal
Requirement;  and (B) any and all Environmental Liabilities; or (3) those claims
or liabilities disclosed on Schedule 7.4.

         7.5  INDEMNIFICATION  BY  BUYER.  Buyer  agrees to  indemnify  and hold
harmless  Sellers and their  respective  agents,  consultants,  advisors,  other
representatives,   including   legal   counsel   and   accountants,   heirs  and
representatives  (the "Seller  Indemnified  Persons"),  for, and will pay to the
Seller  Indemnified  Persons the amount of, any  Damages,  arising,  directly or
indirectly, from or in connection with:

         (a)  any breach or default in  the performance by Buyer of any covenant
or agreement of Buyer contained in this Agreement;

         (b)  any breach of warranty or inaccurate  or erroneous  representation
made by Buyer in Section Five; or

         (c)  any claim or liability, including any  Environmental  Liabilities,
known or unknown,  arising  out of, or by virtue of, or based upon the  business
and operations conducted by Buyer after the effective time of Closing or arising


                                       27
<PAGE>

out of,  or by  virtue  of,  or based  upon the  ownership,  management,  use or
operation of the assets and  properties of the Company or the  Subsidiary  after
the effective time of Closing.

         7.6  TIME LIMITATIONS WITH RESPECT TO CLAIMS AGAINST SELLERS. No Seller
will have any liability  (including  liability for  indemnification or any other
claim, including claims for breach of contact, fraud, misrepresentation,  breach
of federal  securities  laws, or under any other  federal or state  statutory or
common  law  cause  of  action)  arising,  directly  or  indirectly,  from or in
connection  with a  breach  of  such  Seller's  representations  and  warranties
contained in Section Four or for  indemnification  by such Seller under  Section
7.3,  unless on or before the expiration of the period of  limitations  provided
under  Law for any  breach  of  such  representation  and  warranty,  the  Buyer
Indemnified  Person notifies such Seller of a claim specifying the factual basis
of that  claim in  reasonable  detail  to the  extent  then  known by the  Buyer
Indemnified Person.

         7.7  TIME LIMITATIONS  WITH RESPECT TO CLAIMS AGAINST THE LANDRYS.  The
Landrys will not have any liability  (including liability for indemnification or
any   other   claim,   including   claims   for   breach  of   contact,   fraud,
misrepresentation, breach of federal securities laws, or under any other federal
or  state  statutory  or  common  law  cause of  action)  arising,  directly  or
indirectly,  from or in connection with a breach of the Landrys' representations
and warranties contained in Section Three, or for indemnification by the Landrys
under  Section 7.4,  unless on or before the second  anniversary  of the Closing
Date the Buyer Indemnified Person notifies the Landrys of a claim specifying the
factual basis of that claim in reasonable detail to the extent then known by the
Buyer Indemnified Person; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing:

         (a)  claims arising, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with
a breach of the Landrys' representations and warranties contained in Section 3.4
or Section  3.17 may be asserted  and  brought  against the Landrys or either of
them until the expiration of the period of limitations  applicable under Law for
any breach thereof; and

         (b)  claims for liability or indemnification  based upon: (x) breach by
the Landrys of any covenant or obligation made by either of them in Section Six,
Section Seven, or Section Eight of this  Agreement,  the Promissory  Notes,  the
Guaranties,  the Sellers' Releases, the KCL Consulting Agreement,  or the Escrow
Agreements;  or (y) claims made or  asserted by parties  other than Buyer or its
Affiliates may be made or asserted until expiration of the period of limitations
provided under Law for the prosecution of any such claims.

         7.8  TIME LIMITATIONS WITH RESPECT TO CLAIMS AGAINST BUYER.  Buyer will
not have any liability  (including  liability for  indemnification  or any other
claim, including claims for breach of contact, fraud, misrepresentation,  breach
of federal  securities  laws, or under any other  federal or state  statutory or
common law cause of action) for breach of Buyer's representations and warranties
contained in Section  Five or for  indemnification  by Buyer under  Section 7.5,
unless on or before  the  second  anniversary  of the  Closing  Date the  Seller


                                       28
<PAGE>

Indemnified  Person  notifies  Buyer of a claim  specifying the factual basis of
that  claim  in  reasonable  detail  to the  extent  then  known  by the  Seller
Indemnified Person; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, claims for
liability or indemnification  based upon: (x) breach by Buyer of any covenant or
obligation  made by it in Section Six,  Section Seven,  or Section Eight of this
Agreement,  the Promissory Notes, the Guaranties,  the KCL Consulting Agreement,
or the Escrow  Agreements;  or (y) claims made or asserted by parties other than
Sellers or their respective  Affiliates may be made or asserted until expiration
of the period of limitations  provided under Law for the prosecution of any such
claims.

         7.9  LIMITATIONS  ON DAMAGES  WITH  RESPECT  TO SELLERS  OTHER THAN THE
LANDRYS.  Each Seller, other than the Landrys, will have no liability (including
liability for indemnification or any other claim, including claims for breach of
contact, fraud,  misrepresentation,  breach of federal securities laws, or under
any other  federal  or state  statutory  or common  law cause of  action)  under
Section 7.3 to the extent all Damages with  respect to such  matters  exceed the
Purchase Price received by such Seller.

         7.10 LIMITATIONS  ON  DAMAGES WITH RESPECT TO THE LANDRYS.  The Landrys
will have no liability  (including  liability for  indemnification  or any other
claim, including claims for breach of contact, fraud, misrepresentation,  breach
of federal  securities  laws, or under any other  federal or state  statutory or
common law cause of action)  under Section 7.3 or Section 7.4 until the total of
all Damages with respect to such matters exceeds $200,000, and then only for the
amount by which such  Damages  exceed  $200,000;  provided,  however,  that this
limitation  shall have no affect on and shall not be  applicable to the Landrys'
obligation to repurchase  the Net Accounts  Receivable  pursuant to the terms of
Section 8.2. Each of KCL and CAL will have no liability (with respect to a claim
for  indemnification  or  otherwise,  including  for breach of  contact,  fraud,
misrepresentation,  breach of federal  securities  laws, or any other federal or
state  statutory or common law cause of action) under Section 7.3 or Section 7.4
to the extent all Damages  with  respect to such  matters  exceeds the  Purchase
Price  received by KCL or CAL,  respectively.  Notwithstanding  anything in this
Agreement to the  contrary,  with respect to any claim (for  indemnification  or
otherwise, including for breach of contact, fraud, misrepresentation,  breach of
federal  securities  laws, or any other federal or state statutory or common law
cause of action) for any breach of Section  3.16,  Section 3.23, or Section 3.29
or  for  indemnification  under  Section  7.4(c),  the  Landrys  shall  have  no
obligation  to pay Damages to Buyer as a result of Laws which were not in effect
at or prior to the effective time of Closing to the extent Damages under the new
Laws exceed the Damages  which would have  resulted  under Laws  existing at the
effective time of Closing.

         7.11 LIMITATIONS ON  DAMAGES WITH RESPECT TO BUYER.  Buyer will have no
liability (including liability for indemnification or any other claim, including
claims  for  breach of  contact,  fraud,  misrepresentation,  breach of  federal
securities  laws,  or under any other  federal or state  statutory or common law
cause of action)  under  Section 7.5 until the total of all Damages with respect
to such  matters  exceeds  $200,000,  and then only for the amount by which such
Damages exceed  $200,000.  Buyer will have no liability (with respect to a claim
for  indemnification  or  otherwise,  including  for breach of  contact,  fraud,


                                       29
<PAGE>

misrepresentation,  breach of federal  securities  laws, or any other federal or
state  statutory or common law cause of action)  under Section 7.5 to the extent
all Damages with respect to such matters exceeds the Purchase Price.

         7.12 RIGHT OF  SET-OFF.   Upon  notice  to the  Landrys  specifying  in
reasonable  detail the basis for such  set-off,  Buyer may set off any amount to
which it may reasonably believe it is entitled under Section 7.4 against amounts
otherwise  payable under the Promissory Notes or under the Escrow  Agreements if
funded pursuant to Section 7 of the Promissory Notes, as more fully described in
Section 12 of the  Promissory  Notes.  The  exercise of such right of set-off by
Buyer in good faith, whether or not ultimately determined to be justified,  will
not  constitute  an event of default  under the  Promissory  Notes.  Neither the
exercise of nor the failure to exercise such right of set-off will constitute an
election  of remedies  or limit  Buyer in any manner in the  enforcement  of any
other remedies that may be available to it.

         7.13 PROCEEDINGS UNDER INDEMNIFICATION. If any third party shall assert
a claim  against any party hereto that, if  successful,  might result in a claim
for  indemnification  pursuant to this  Agreement,  or if any party hereto shall
seek  indemnification from any other party hereto with respect to a claim on its
own behalf,  the party claiming  indemnification  ("Indemnitee")  shall,  within
twenty days (or such earlier time as might be required to avoid  prejudicing the
position of the party obligated to provide indemnification ("Indemnitor")) after
receipt of notice of commencement of any action  evidenced by service of process
or other legal pleading,  or with reasonable  promptness  after the assertion in
writing  of any claim by a third  party,  or with  reasonable  promptness  after
discovery of a claim arising on its own behalf,  give written  notice thereof to
Indemnitor,  together  with a copy  of  such  claim,  process,  or  other  legal
pleading.  Indemnitor shall have the obligation to undertake the defense thereof
by representatives of its own choosing,  reasonably  satisfactory to Indemnitee,
and at its own expense;  provided,  however,  that Indemnitee may participate in
the defense with counsel of its own choosing and at its own expense.  Indemnitee
agrees to assign any  counterclaims or crossclaims with respect to such claim to
Indemnitor.  In the event  that  Indemnitor  fails to defend  such claim in good
faith and diligently,  Indemnitee shall (upon further notice to Indemnitor) have
the right to undertake the defense,  compromise,  or settlement of such claim on
behalf  of and for  the  account  and  risk of  Indemnitor  and at  Indemnitor's
expense.  Anything  in  this  Section  7.13  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,
Indemnitor  shall not settle any claim without the consent of Indemnitee  unless
such settlement  involves only the payment of money and the claimant provides to
Indemnitee a release from all liability in respect to such claim, and such claim
does not involve a continuing business interest of Indemnitee. If the settlement
of the claim  involves more than the payment of money,  or involves a continuing
business  interest of Indemnitee,  Indemnitor shall not settle the claim without
the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.  The limitations on Damages set forth in Section 7.10 and Section 7.11
shall have no effect on Indemnitor's  obligation to defend any third party claim
against Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 7.13. To the extent,  however,  that
Indemnitor  expends  funds in defense or  settlement  of such claim that are not
Indemnitor's  responsibility  due to the  limitations  on  Damages  set forth in
Section 7.10 or Section 7.11,  Indemnitee  shall  reimburse  Indemnitor for such
amounts.


                                       30
<PAGE>

         7.14  COOPERATION.  Indemnitor and  Indemnitee  shall make available to
each  other and  their  attorneys  and  accountants,  all  books,  records,  and
documents  relating to any claim  hereunder and the parties shall render to each
other  reasonable  assistance in the defense of any claim hereunder which arises
as the result of claims made by persons not a party to this Agreement.

                                  SECTION EIGHT

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         8.1  EXERCISE OF STOCK  OPTIONS AND RELATED TAX  BENEFIT.  KCL, the Key
Employees,  and Ricky L. Ziebart hold  non-qualified  stock options  exercisable
upon the sale of the Company. The stock options are more particularly  described
in  Schedule  3.4.  Upon the  exercise  of the  stock  options  by KCL,  the Key
Employees,  and Ricky L. Ziebart, it is anticipated that the Company may receive
a substantial federal income tax deduction. The federal income tax deduction may
result in a net  operating  loss for the  Company  for the period  March 1, 1999
through the Closing Date. Buyer, the Company, and the Landrys agree that any net
operating  loss  created for the short tax period  ending as of the Closing Date
will not be carried back to prior years, but instead shall be carried forward as
allowed under the applicable  provisions of the Code.  Sellers hereby ratify the
exercise of the stock options  described above and  acknowledge  that such stock
options became  exercisable due to the Transactions.  Buyer hereby  acknowledges
that it is herewith informed of the foregoing ratification and acknowledgment of
Sellers.

         8.2  SUPPLEMENT  TO  SCHEDULE  OF ACCOUNTS  RECEIVABLE;  REPURCHASE  OF
UNCOLLECTED  NET ACCOUNTS  RECEIVABLE.  Within ten business days of the Closing,
the  Company  shall  deliver to Buyer and the Landrys a  supplement  to Schedule
3.12, setting forth all accounts receivable (billed and unbilled) of the Company
arising from the date set forth on Schedule 3.12 through the  effective  time of
Closing. Such supplement shall be prepared consistent with past practices of the
Company.  All amounts  reflected on such supplement shall be included within the
definition of "Accounts  Receivable." All Net Accounts  Receivable not collected
in full within 120 days after the Closing Date shall be purchased by the Landrys
from the Company for an amount in cash equal to the balance of such Net Accounts
Receivable,  and such  uncollected Net Accounts  Receivable shall be assigned by
the Company to the Landrys,  without  recourse or liability.  The obligations of
the Landrys under this Section 8.2 are joint and several obligations.

         8.3  EXPENSES.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each of
the respective  parties to this Agreement shall pay their own costs and expenses
(including all legal,  accounting,  broker,  finder, and investment banker fees)
relating to the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation
of the  Transactions;  provided,  however,  that the Company shall pay the first
$100,000 in costs and expenses  incurred by Sellers  relating to the negotiation
and execution of this Agreement.


                                       31
<PAGE>

         8.4  PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS  AND DISCLOSURE.  Any public  announcement or
similar  publicity  with respect to this Agreement or the  Transactions  will be
issued, if at all, at such time and in such manner as Buyer determines.

         8.5  NOTICES. All notices, consents,  waivers, and other communications
under this  Agreement  must be in writing  and shall be: (a)  delivered  by hand
(with written  confirmation  of receipt);  (b) sent by telecopier  (with written
confirmation  of receipt),  provided that a copy is mailed by  registered  mail,
return receipt requested; (c) sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (receipt requested); or (d) deposited in the United States mail, postage
prepaid, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, in each case to
the appropriate addresses and telecopier numbers set forth below or as set forth
on Schedule  3.4,  as  applicable  (or to such other  addresses  and  telecopier
numbers as a party may  designate  by notice to the other  parties).  Any notice
sent as described above shall be deemed delivered upon receipt,  except that any
notice received on any day that is not a business day shall be deemed  delivered
on the next business day, and any notice sent by telecopier  and received  after
3:00 p.m.  local time by the  recipient  shall be deemed  delivered  on the next
business day.

If to either Landry:                        Kenneth C. Landry
                                            2605 Fra Mauro
                                            League City, Texas  77573
                                            Facsimile:  281-334-7889

and:                                        Charles A. Landry, Jr.
                                            3001 Sea Pines Place
                                            League City, Texas  77573
                                            Facsimile:  281-334-3596

With a copy to:                             David S. Piper
                                            Kochman & Piper, P.C.
                                            Eleven Greenway Plaza; Suite 2806
                                            Houston, Texas 77046
                                            Facsimile:  713-871-2495

If to Buyer:                                HydroChem Industrial Services, Inc.
                                            900 Georgia Avenue
                                            Deer Park, Texas  77536
                                            Attn:  Chief Executive Officer
                                            Facsimile:  713-393-5965

and:                                        HydroChem Industrial Services, Inc.
                                            900 Georgia Avenue
                                            Deer Park, Texas  77536
                                            Attn:  General Counsel
                                            Facsimile:  713-393-5958


                                       32
<PAGE>

and:                                        HydroChem Industrial Services, Inc.
                                            5956 Sherry Lane
                                            Suite 930
                                            Dallas, Texas  75225

                                            Attn: Vice President
                                                  Corporate Development
                                            Facsimile: 214-361-4715

         8.6  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties  relating to the subject matter hereof,  supersedes all
prior oral or written agreements,  understandings,  or arrangements with respect
hereto,  and may not be amended,  supplemented,  or terminated except by written
instrument  executed by the  parties.  Any previous or  contemporaneous  oral or
written  agreements or understandings  between the parties regarding the subject
matter hereof are merged into and superseded by this Agreement.

         8.7  WAIVER. Any  waiver of any  provision of this Agreement shall only
be effective if  in  writing,  and any waiver of any provision of this Agreement
shall  not  constitute  a waiver of  any other provision of this Agreement,  nor
shall  such  waiver  constitute  a  waiver  of  any  subsequent  breach  of such
provision.

         8.8  ASSIGNMENT,  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This Agreement  shall not be
assignable  by any party hereto,  by operation of law or otherwise,  without the
prior written consent of the other parties hereto, which may be withheld in such
other  party's  absolute  discretion.  Any  attempted  assignment  other than as
provided for herein shall be null and void. Subject to the foregoing, the rights
and  obligations  of  the  parties  hereto  shall  attach  to  their  respective
successors and assigns.  Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will
be  construed to give any Person  other than the parties to this  Agreement  and
their permitted  successors and assigns any legal or equitable right, remedy, or
claim  under  or  with  respect  to  this  Agreement  or any  provision  of this
Agreement.  This  Agreement and all of its provisions and conditions are for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their successors
and assigns.

         8.9  CHOICE OF LAW.  The  validity and  construction of this  Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, excluding any choice of law
rule or  principle  which might refer to the laws of another  state.  Each party
consents and submits to the personal jurisdiction of and venue in any federal or
state court of competent jurisdiction sitting in Harris County, Texas.

         8.10 SCHEDULES. The disclosures in the Schedules to this Agreement will
relate  only  to  the  representations  and  warranties  in the  Section  of the
Agreement to which they expressly relate, unless otherwise specifically noted in
the Schedule.  All capitalized terms not defined in the Schedules shall have the
meanings given such terms in this Agreement.

         8.11 SEVERABILITY.   If any  provision  of this  Agreement  is declared
unenforceable  by a court of competent  jurisdiction,  such  provision  shall be


                                       33
<PAGE>

enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law, and such declaration shall not
affect the validity of any other provision of this Agreement.

         8.12 ATTORNEY'S  FEES.  In the event of any dispute between the parties
concerning the validity,  construction,  or enforcement of this  Agreement,  the
prevailing party shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the non-prevailing  party
for the prevailing party's  reasonable  expenses incurred in enforcing the terms
of this Agreement,  including, without limitation,  attorney's fees and costs of
court.

         8.13 AMBIGUITIES. In the event of any dispute concerning the meaning of
any provision of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees that, through
their  respective  counsel,  they have  contributed  to the  preparation of this
Agreement and have jointly written or composed the provisions herein and that no
party  should  be  given  any  advantage  over  the  other  under  the  laws  of
construction of instruments based upon the authorship hereof.

         8.14 JOINDER  OF  SPOUSES.  The spouse of each individual  Seller as to
whom there exists a community property interest in such  Seller's  Shares  joins
in the execution of this Agreement  solely to  evidence  such  spouse's  consent
and agreement to the sale of the Shares of the Company by such  Seller that form
a part of the community of such spouse and such Seller.

         8.15 COUNTERPARTS.    This  Agreement  may   be  executed  in  multiple
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall
be deemed one instrument.

         Dated as of the date first set forth above.

HydroChem Industrial Services, Inc.

BY:  /s/ Pelham H. A. Smith
     ---------------------------
         Pelham H. A. Smith,
         Vice President

Landry Service Co., Inc.

BY:  /s/ Kenneth C. Landry
     --------------------------
         Kenneth C. Landry,
         President


                                       34
<PAGE>

Sellers:

/s/ Kenneth C. Landry                        /s/ Ricky L. Ziebart
- ---------------------                        -----------------------
Kenneth C. Landry                            Ricky L. Ziebert

/s/ Jan Landry                               /s/ Judy Ziebart
- --------------                               ----------------------
Jan Landry, Spouse of                        Judy Ziebart, Spouse of
Kenneth C. Landry                            Ricky L. Ziebart

/s/ Charles A. Landry, Jr.                   /s/ Arnold B. Pollard
- --------------------------                   ----------------------
Charles A. Landry, Jr.                       Arnold B. Pollard

/s/ Roma J. Landry                           Charles A. landry, Jr. Grantor
- ------------------                           Retained Annuity Trust
Roma J. Landry
                                             By: /s/ Kenneth C. Landry
                                                 ----------------------
/s/ Craig Byard                                   Kenneth C. Landry, Trustee
- ---------------
Craig Byard                                  Roma J. Landry Grantor Retained
                                             Annuity Trust
/s/ Danette Byard
- -----------------                            By: /s/ Kenneth C. Landry
Danette Byard, Spouse of Craig Byard             ----------------------
                                                  Kenneth C. Landry, Trustee
/s/ Alan Finley
- ---------------
Alan Finley

/s/ Catherine Finley
- --------------------
Catherine Finley, Spouse of Alan Finley

/s/ F. Paul Sievert
- -------------------
F. Paul Sievert

/s/ Emily Sievert
- -----------------
Emily Sievert, Spouse of F. Paul Sievert




                                       35


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


                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      among

                            HYDROCHEM HOLDING, INC.,

                      HYDROCHEM INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC.,

                                 VARIOUS LENDERS

                                       and

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

                            as Administrative Agent


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

                          Dated as of November 19, 1999

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


                         BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

                        as Lead Arranger and Book Manager


<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           PAGE

SECTION 1.  Amountand Terms of Credit.........................................1

         1.01  The Commitments................................................1
         1.02  Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing...............................3
         1.03  Notice of Borrowing............................................4
         1.04  Disbursement of Funds..........................................5
         1.05  Notes..........................................................5
         1.06  Conversions....................................................7
         1.07  Pro Rata Borrowings............................................7
         1.08  Interest.......................................................7
         1.09  Interest Periods...............................................8
         1.10  Increased Costs, Illegality, etc...............................9
         1.11  Compensation..................................................11
         1.12  Change of Lending Office......................................12
         1.13  Replacement of Lenders........................................12

SECTION 2.  Letters of Credit................................................13

         2.01  Letters of Credit.............................................13
         2.02  Maximum Letter of Credit Outstandings; Final Maturities.......14
         2.03  Letter of Credit Requests; Minimum Stated Amount..............14
         2.04  Letter of Credit Participations...............................15
         2.05  Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings..................17
         2.06  Increased Costs...............................................18

SECTION 3.  Commitment Commission; Fees; Reductions of Commitment............18

         3.01  Fees..........................................................18
         3.02  Voluntary Termination of Unutilized
                Revolving Loan Commitments...................................19
         3.03  Mandatory Reduction of Commitments............................20

SECTION 4.  Prepayments; Payments; Taxes.....................................20

         4.01  Voluntary Prepayments.........................................20
         4.02  Mandatory Repayments..........................................21
         4.03  Method and Place of Payment...................................25
         4.04  Net Payments..................................................25

SECTION 5.  Conditions Precedent to Credit Events
             on the Initial Borrowing Date...................................27

         5.01  Execution of Agreement; Notes.................................27
         5.02  Officer's Certificate.........................................27
         5.03  Opinions of Counsel...........................................27

                                      (i)
<PAGE>

         5.04  Corporate Documents; Proceedings; etc.........................27
         5.05  Plans; Shareholders'Agreements;
                Management Agreements; Employment Agreements;
                Non-Compete Agreements; Collective Bargaining
                Agreements; Tax Sharing Agreements; Existing
                Indebtedness Agreements......................................28
         5.06  Consummation of the Transaction...............................29
         5.07  Adverse Change, etc...........................................30
         5.08  Litigation....................................................31
         5.09  Pledge Agreement..............................................31
         5.10  Security Agreement............................................31
         5.11  Subsidiaries Guaranty.........................................31
         5.12  Mortgage; Title Insurance; Survey.............................32
         5.13  Financial Statements; Pro Forma Balance Sheet;
                Projections..................................................32
         5.14  Solvency Certificate; Insurance Certificates;
                Initial Borrowing Base Certificate...........................32
         5.15  Subordinated Debt Compliance..................................33
         5.17  Fees, etc.....................................................33

SECTION 6.  ConditionsPrecedent to All Credit Events.........................33

         6.01  No Default; Representations and Warranties....................33
         6.02  Notice of Borrowing; Letter of Credit Request.................34

SECTION 7.  Representations,Warranties and Agreements........................34

         7.01  Organizational Status.........................................34
         7.02  Power and Authority...........................................34
         7.03  No Violation..................................................35
         7.04  Approvals.....................................................35
         7.05  Financial Statements; Financial Condition;
                Undisclosed Liabilities; Projections; etc....................35
         7.06  Litigation....................................................37
         7.07  True and Complete Disclosure..................................37
         7.08  Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations...........................38
         7.09  Tax Returns and Payments......................................38
         7.10  Compliance with ERISA.........................................39
         7.11  The Security Documents........................................40
         7.12  Representations and Warranties in the Acquisition Document....41
         7.13  Properties....................................................41
         7.14  Capitalization................................................41
         7.15  Subsidiaries..................................................41
         7.16  Compliance with Statutes, etc.................................42
         7.17  Investment Company Act........................................42
         7.18  Public Utility Holding Company Act............................42
         7.19  Environmental Matters.........................................42
         7.20  Labor Relations...............................................43
         7.21  Patents, Licenses, Franchises and Formulas....................43
         7.22  Indebtedness..................................................43
         7.23  Transaction...................................................43

                                      (ii)
<PAGE>

         7.24  Insurance.....................................................44
         7.25  Year 2000.....................................................44
         7.26  Subordinated Notes; etc.......................................44
         7.27  Special Purpose Corporation...................................44

SECTION 8.  Affirmative Covenants............................................44

         8.01  Information Covenants.........................................45
                  (a)  Monthly Reports.......................................45
                  (b)  Quarterly Financial Statements........................45
                  (c)  Annual Financial Statements...........................45
                  (d)  Management Letters....................................46
                  (e)  Budgets...............................................46
                  (f)  Officer's Certificates................................46
                  (g)  Notice of Default, Litigation and
                        Material Adverse Effect..............................47
                  (h)  Other Reports and Filings.............................47
                  (i)  Environmental Matters.................................47
                  (j)  Borrowing Base Certificate............................48
                  (k)  Other Information.....................................48
         8.02  Books, Records and Inspections;
                Receivables and Inventory Audit..............................48
         8.03  Maintenance of Property; Insurance............................49
         8.04  Existence; Franchises.........................................49
         8.05  Compliance with Statutes, etc.................................50
         8.06  Compliance with Environmental Laws............................50
         8.07  ERISA.........................................................51
         8.08  End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarter...........................52
         8.09  Performance of Obligations....................................52
         8.10  Payment of Taxes..............................................52
         8.11  Use of Proceeds...............................................52
         8.12  Certain Post-Closing Actions;
                Additional Security; Further Assurances......................52
         8.13  Foreign Subsidiaries Security.................................54
         8.14  Information Systems and Equipment.............................55
         8.15  Ownership of Subsidiaries.....................................55
         8.16  Permitted Acquisitions........................................55
         8.17  Contributions; Payments; etc..................................57
         8.18  Holding Junior Subordinated Notes.............................57
         8.19  Holding Preferred Stock.......................................57

SECTION 9.  Negative Covenants...............................................57

         9.01  Liens.........................................................57
         9.02  Consolidation, Merger, Purchase or Sale of Assets, etc........59
         9.03  Dividends.....................................................61
         9.04  Indebtedness..................................................62
         9.05  Advances, Investments and Loans...............................64
         9.06  Transactions with Affiliates..................................66
         9.07  Capital Expenditures..........................................66

                                     (iii)
<PAGE>

         9.08  Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio..........................68
         9.09  Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio......................68
         9.10  Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio...........................68
         9.11  Minimum Consolidated Net Worth................................69
         9.12  Limitation on Payments and Modifications of Certain
                Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of
                Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements, etc.....69
         9.13  Limitation on Certain Restrictions on Subsidiaries............70
         9.14  Limitation on Issuance of Capital Stock.......................70
         9.15  Business......................................................71
         9.16  Limitation on Creation of Subsidiaries........................71

SECTION 10.  Eventsof Default................................................71

         10.01 Payments......................................................71
         10.02 Representations, etc..........................................72
         10.03 Covenants.....................................................72
         10.04 Default Under Other Agreements................................72
         10.05 Bankruptcy, etc...............................................72
         10.06 ERISA.........................................................73
         10.07 Security Documents............................................73
         10.08 Guaranties....................................................74
         10.09 Judgments.....................................................74
         10.10 Change of Control.............................................74

SECTION 11.  Definitionsand Accounting Terms.................................74

         11.01 Defined Terms.................................................74

SECTION 12.  The Administrative Agent.......................................101

         12.01 Appointment..................................................101
         12.02 Nature of Duties.............................................102
         12.03 Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent.................102
         12.04 Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent...................102
         12.05 Reliance.....................................................103
         12.06 Indemnification..............................................103
         12.07 The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity..........103
         12.08 Holders......................................................103
         12.09 Resignation by the Administrative Agent......................104

SECTION 13.  Miscellaneous..................................................104

         13.01 Payment of Expenses, etc.....................................104
         13.02 Right of Setoff..............................................105
         13.03 Notices......................................................106
         13.04 Benefit of Agreement; Assignments; Participations............106
         13.05 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative...............................108

                                      (iv)
<PAGE>

         13.06 Payments Pro Rata............................................108
         13.07 Calculations; Computations; Accounting Terms.................109
         13.08 GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION;
                VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.................................109
         13.09 Counterparts.................................................110
         13.10 Effectiveness................................................110
         13.11 Headings Descriptive.........................................111
         13.12 Amendment or Waiver; etc.....................................111
         13.13 Survival.....................................................112
         13.14 Domicile of Loans............................................112
         13.15 Register.....................................................112
         13.16 Confidentiality..............................................113
         13.17 Certain Agreements with respect to the Senior
                Subordinated Notes..........................................113
         13.18 Increase of Commitments......................................114

SECTION 14.  Holding Guaranty...............................................114

         14.01 Guaranty.....................................................114
         14.02 Bankruptcy...................................................115
         14.03 Nature of Liability..........................................115
         14.04 Independent Obligation.......................................115
         14.05 Authorization................................................116
         14.06 Reliance.....................................................117
         14.07 Subordination................................................117
         14.08 Waiver.......................................................117
         14.09 Nature of Liability..........................................118


         SCHEDULE I                 Commitments
         SCHEDULE II                Lender Addresses
         SCHEDULE III               ERISA Matters
         SCHEDULE IV                Real Property
         SCHEDULE V                 Subsidiaries
         SCHEDULE VI                Existing Indebtedness
         SCHEDULE VII               Insurance
         SCHEDULE VIII              Existing Liens
         SCHEDULE IX                Existing Investments
         SCHEDULE X                 Indebtedness to be Refinanced
         SCHEDULE XI                Existing Letters of Credit


         EXHIBIT A-1                Notice of Borrowing
         EXHIBIT A-2                Notice of Conversion/Continuation
         EXHIBIT B-1                Term Note
         EXHIBIT B-2                Revolving Note
         EXHIBIT B-3                Swingline Note

                                      (v)
<PAGE>

         EXHIBIT C                  Letter of Credit Request
         EXHIBIT D                  Section 4.04(b)(ii) Certificate
         EXHIBIT E                  Opinion of Haynes & Boone, LLP
         EXHIBIT F                  Officers' Certifiicate
         EXHIBIT G                  Pledge Agreement
         EXHIBIT H                  Security Agreement
         EXHIBIT I                  Subsidiaries Guaranty
         EXHIBIT J                  Solvency Certificate
         EXHIBIT K                  Compliance Certificate
         EXHIBIT L                  Borrowing Base Certificate
         EXHIBIT M                  Assignment and Assumption Agreement
         EXHIBIT N                  Intercompany Note

                                      (vi)
<PAGE>

                  CREDIT  AGREEMENT,  dated  as  of  November  19,  1999,  among
HYDROCHEM  HOLDING,   INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation   ("Holding"),   HYDROCHEM
INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"),  the Lenders
party hereto from time to time,  and BANK OF AMERICA,  N.A.,  as  Administrative
Agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent") (all capitalized terms used
herein and defined in Section 11 are used herein as therein defined).

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

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

                  WHEREAS,  this Agreement  refinances and replaces,  and is the
successor facility to, the Existing  HydroChem Credit Agreement; and

                  WHEREAS,   the  Borrower,   by  resolution  of  its  Board  of
Directors,  has designated this Agreement as (and the Borrower hereby designates
this Agreement as) "Designated Senior Debt" under, and as defined in, the Senior
Subordinated Note Indenture;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

                  SECTION 1. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF CREDIT.

                  1.01 THE  COMMITMENTS.  (a)  Subject to and upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein,  each Lender with a Term Loan Commitment  severally
agrees to make a term loan or term loans (each a "Term Loan" and,  collectively,
the "Term Loans") to the Borrower,  which Term Loans (i) only may be incurred by
the Borrower on the Initial  Borrowing  Date,  (ii) shall,  at the option of the
Borrower,  be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, Base Rate Loans
or  Eurodollar  Loans,  provived  that,  (A)  except as  otherwise  specifically
provided in Section 1.10(b),  all Term Loans comprising the same Borrowing shall
at all  times  be of the same  Type  and (B)  unless  the  Syndication  Date has
occurred (at which time this clause (B) shall no longer be applicable), prior to
the 14th day  following  the  Initial  Borrowing  Date,  Term  Loans may only be
incurred and maintained as, and/or  converted into,  Eurodollar Loans so long as
all such outstanding  Eurodollar Loans,  together with all outstanding Revolving
Loans that are maintained as Eurodollar Loans, are subject to an Interest Period
of one week which  begins and ends on the same day,  and (iii)  shall be made by
each such Lender in that  aggregate  principal  amount which does not exceed the
Term Loan Commitment of such Lender on the Initial Borrowing Date (before giving
effect to the  termination  thereof on such date  pursuant to Section  3.03(b)).
Once repaid, Term Loans incurred hereunder may not be reborrowed.

                  (b)  Subject  to and upon the terms and  conditions  set forth
herein,  each Lender with a Revolving Loan Commitment  severally agrees to make,
at any time and from time to time on or after  the  Initial  Borrowing  Date and
prior to the Revolving Loan Maturity  Date, a revolving loan or revolving  loans
(each a  "Revolving  Loan"  and,  collectively,  the  "Revolving  Loans") to the

<PAGE>

Borrower,  which Revolving  Loans (i) shall,  at the option of the Borrower,  be
incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar
Loans,  provided that, (A) except as otherwise  specifically provided in Section
1.10(b), all Revolving Loans comprising the same Borrowing shall at all times be
of the same Type and (B) unless the Syndication Date has occurred (at which time
this clause (B) shall no longer be applicable),  prior to the 14th day following
the Initial Borrowing Date,  Revolving Loans only may be incurred and maintained
as, and/or  converted  into,  Eurodollar  Loans so long as all such  outstanding
Eurodollar  Loans,  together with all outstanding Term Loans that are maintained
as Eurodollar  Loans, are subject to an Interest Period of one week which begins
and ends on the same day, (ii) may be repaid and  reborrowed in accordance  with
the  provisions  hereof,  (iii) shall not exceed for any such Lender at any time
outstanding that aggregate  principal amount which, when added to the product of
(x) such Lender's RL Percentage  and (y) the sum of (I) the aggregate  amount of
all Letter of Credit Outstandings (exclusive of Unpaid Drawings which are repaid
with the proceeds of, and simultaneously  with the incurrence of, the respective
incurrence  of Revolving  Loans) at such time and (II) the  aggregate  principal
amount of all Swingline  Loans  (exclusive  of Swingline  Loans which are repaid
with the proceeds of, and simultaneously  with the incurrence of, the respective
incurrence  of Revolving  Loans) then  outstanding,  equals the  Revolving  Loan
Commitment  of such Lender at such time,  and (iv) shall not exceed for all such
Lenders at any time  outstanding  that aggregate  principal  amount which,  when
added  to the  sum  of  (I)  the  aggregate  amount  of  all  Letter  of  Credit
Outstandings  (exclusive of Unpaid  Drawings  which are repaid with the proceeds
of, and  simultaneously  with the incurrence  of, the  respective  incurrence of
Revolving  Loans) at such time and (II) the  aggregate  principal  amount of all
Swingline Loans (exclusive of Swingline Loans which are repaid with the proceeds
of, and  simultaneously  with the incurrence  of, the  respective  incurrence of
Revolving Loans) then outstanding,  equals the lesser of (x) the Total Revolving
Loan  Commitment at such time and (y) the Borrowing  Base at such time (based on
the Borrowing Base Certificate last delivered).

                  (c)  Subject  to and upon the terms and  conditions  set forth
herein,  the Swingline  Lender agrees to make, at any time and from time to time
on or after the Initial Borrowing Date and prior to the Swingline Expiry Date, a
revolving loan or revolving  loans (each a "Swingline  Loan" and,  collectively,
the "Swingline Loans") to the Borrower,  which Swingline Loans (i) shall be made
and  maintained  as Base  Rate  Loans,  (ii) may be  repaid  and  reborrowed  in
accordance  with the  provisions  hereof,  (iii)  shall not exceed in  aggregate
principal  amount at any time  outstanding,  when  combined  with the  aggregate
principal  amount of all  Revolving  Loans then  outstanding  and the  aggregate
amount of all Letter of Credit Outstandings at such time, an amount equal to the
lesser  of (x) the  Total  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  at such time and (y) the
Borrowing  Base at such  time  (based on the  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  last
delivered),  and (iv) shall not exceed in aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding  the  Maximum  Swingline  Amount.  Notwithstanding  anything  to the
contrary  contained in this Section 1.01(c),  (i) the Swingline Lender shall not
be obligated to make any Swingline  Loans at a time when a Lender Default exists
unless the Swingline Lender has entered into arrangements satisfactory to it and
the  Borrower to  eliminate  the  Swingline  Lender's  risk with  respect to the
Defaulting Lender's or Lenders' participation in such Swingline Loans, including
by cash  collateralizing  such Defaulting  Lender's or Lenders' RL Percentage of
the outstanding S wingline Loans  and  (ii) the  Swingline Lender shall not make
any Swingline Loan  after it has  received  written  notice  from  the  Borrower


                                       2
<PAGE>

or the Required Lenders stating that a Default or an Event of Default exists and
is  continuing  until such time as the  Swingline  Lender  shall  have  received
written  notice (A) of  rescission of all such notices from the party or parties
originally  delivering  such  notice  or  notices  or (B) of the  waiver of such
Default or Event of Default by the Required Lenders.

                  (d) On any Business Day, the Swingline Lender may, in its sole
discretion,   give  notice  to  the  RL  Lenders  that  the  Swingline  Lender's
outstanding  Swingline  Loans  shall be funded  with one or more  Borrowings  of
Revolving  Loans  (PROVIDED  that  such  notice  shall be  deemed  to have  been
automatically  given  upon the  occurrence  of a Default  or an Event of Default
under Section 10.05 or upon the exercise of any of the remedies  provided in the
last paragraph of Section 10), in which case one or more Borrowings of Revolving
Loans   constituting  Base  Rate  Loans  (each  such  Borrowing,   a  "Mandatory
Borrowing") shall be made on the immediately  succeeding  Business Day by all RL
Lenders PRO RATA based on each such RL Lender's RL Percentage (determined before
giving effect to any termination of the Revolving Loan  Commitments  pursuant to
the last  paragraph  of Section 10) and the  proceeds  thereof  shall be applied
directly  by the  Swingline  Lender  to  repay  the  Swingline  Lender  for such
outstanding  Swingline Loans. Each RL Lender hereby  irrevocably  agrees to make
Revolving  Loans upon one  Business  Day's  notice  pursuant  to each  Mandatory
Borrowing in the amount and in the manner  specified in the  preceding  sentence
and on the date specified in writing by the Swingline Lender notwithstanding (i)
the amount of the Mandatory  Borrowing may not comply with the Minimum Borrowing
Amount otherwise required  hereunder,  (ii) whether any conditions  specified in
Section 6 are then  satisfied,  (iii)  whether a Default  or an Event of Default
then exists, (iv) the date of such Mandatory Borrowing and (v) the amount of the
Total Revolving Loan Commitment or the Borrowing Base at such time. In the event
that any Mandatory Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise
required above (including,  without limitation,  as a result of the commencement
of a proceeding  under the Bankruptcy  Code with respect to the Borrower),  then
each RL Lender  hereby agrees that it shall  forthwith  purchase (as of the date
the Mandatory  Borrowing  would  otherwise have  occurred,  but adjusted for any
payments  received  from the  Borrower  on or after  such date and prior to such
purchase)  from the  Swingline  Lender such  participations  in the  outstanding
Swingline  Loans as shall be  necessary to cause the RL Lenders to share in such
Swingline Loans ratably based upon their  respective RL Percentages  (determined
before  giving  effect to any  termination  of the  Revolving  Loan  Commitments
pursuant to the last  paragraph of Section 10),  PROVIDED  that (x) all interest
payable on the Swingline Loans shall be for the account of the Swingline  Lender
until  the date as of which  the  respective  participation  is  required  to be
purchased and, to the extent attributable to the purchased participation,  shall
be payable to the  participant  from and after such date and (y) at the time any
purchase of  participations  pursuant to this  sentence  is actually  made,  the
purchasing RL Lender shall be required to pay the Swingline  Lender  interest on
the principal amount of participation  purchased for each day from and including
the day upon which the Mandatory  Borrowing would otherwise have occurred to but
excluding the date of payment for such  participation,  at the overnight Federal
Funds Rate for the first  three  days and at the rate  otherwise  applicable  to
Revolving Loans maintained as Base Rate Loans hereunder for each day thereafter.

                  1.02 MINIMUM AMOUNT OF EACH BORROWING. The aggregate principal
amount of each  Borrowing of Loans under a respective  Tranche shall not be less
than the Minimum  Borrowing  Amount  applicable to such  Tranche.  More than one
Borrowing may occur on the same date,  but at no time shall there be outstanding
more than ten Borrowings of Eurodollar Loans in the aggregate.


                                       3
<PAGE>

                  1.03 NOTICE OF BORROWING. (a) Whenever the Borrower desires to
incur (x) Eurodollar Loans hereunder, the Borrower shall give the Administrative
Agent at the Notice  Office at least three  Business  Days' prior notice of each
Eurodollar  Loan to be  incurred  hereunder  and (y) Base Rate  Loans  hereunder
(excluding  Swingline  Loans and  Revolving  Loans made  pursuant to a Mandatory
Borrowing),  the  Borrower  shall  give the  Administrative  Agent at the Notice
Office at least one  Business  Day's  prior  notice of each Base Rate Loan to be
incurred hereunder, PROVIDED that (in each case) any such notice shall be deemed
to have been given on a certain  day only if given  before  1:00 P.M.  (New York
time) on such day.  Each such notice (each a "Notice of  Borrowing"),  except as
otherwise  expressly provided in Section 1.10, shall be irrevocable and shall be
given by the Borrower in writing, or by telephone promptly confirmed in writing,
in the form of Exhibit A-1,  appropriately  completed  to specify the  aggregate
principal  amount of the Loans to be incurred  pursuant to such  Borrowing,  the
date of such  Borrowing  (which shall be a Business  Day), the Borrowing Base at
such time (based on the Borrowing Base Certificate last delivered),  whether the
Loans being incurred  pursuant to such Borrowing shall  constitute Term Loans or
Revolving Loans and whether the Loans being incurred  pursuant to such Borrowing
are to be initially  maintained  as Base Rate Loans or, to the extent  permitted
hereunder,  Eurodollar  Loans and, if  Eurodollar  Loans,  the initial  Interest
Period to be applicable  thereto.  The Administrative  Agent shall promptly give
each Lender  which is required  to make Loans of the  Tranche  specified  in the
respective  Notice of  Borrowing,  notice of such  proposed  Borrowing,  of such
Lender's  proportionate  share thereof and of the other matters  required by the
immediately preceding sentence to be specified in the Notice of Borrowing.

                  (b) (i) Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Swingline Loans
hereunder,  the Borrower shall give the Swingline Lender no later than 2:00 P.M.
(New York time) on the date that a  Swingline  Loan is to be  incurred,  written
notice or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing of each Swingline Loan
to be incurred  hereunder.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and specify in
each case (A) the date of  Borrowing  (which shall be a Business  Day),  (B) the
aggregate  principal  amount of the Swingline  Loans to be incurred  pursuant to
such  Borrowing and (C) the Borrowing  Base at such time (based on the Borrowing
Base Certificate last delivered).

                  (ii)  Mandatory  Borrowings  shall  be made  upon  the  notice
specified in Section 1.01(d),  with the Borrower  irrevocably  agreeing,  by its
incurrence of any Swingline  Loan, to the making of the Mandatory  Borrowings as
set forth in Section 1.01(d).

                  (c) Without in any way limiting the obligation of the Borrower
to confirm in writing any  telephonic  notice of any  Borrowing or prepayment of
Loans, the Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, may
act without  liability upon the basis of telephonic  notice of such Borrowing or
prepayment,  as the case may be,  believed  by the  Administrative  Agent or the
Swingline  Lender,  as the case may be, in good faith to be from the Chairman of
the Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice
President of the Borrower,  or from any other authorized officer of the Borrower
designated  in  writing by the  Borrower  to the  Administrative  Agent as being
authorized to give such notices,  prior to receipt of written  confirmation.  In


                                       4
<PAGE>

each  such  case,   the  Borrower   hereby  waives  the  right  to  dispute  the
Administrative  Agent's  or  Swingline  Lender's  record  of the  terms  of such
telephonic  notice of such Borrowing or prepayment of Loans, as the case may be,
absent manifest error.

                  1.04  DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS. No later than 2:00 P.M. (New York
time) on the date  specified in each Notice of Borrowing  (or (x) in the case of
Swingline  Loans,  no later than 4:00 P.M. (New York time) on the date specified
pursuant to Section  1.03(b)(i) or (y) in the case of Mandatory  Borrowings,  no
later than 2:00 P.M. (New York time) on the date specified in Section  1.01(D)),
each Lender with a Commitment of the respective  Tranche will make available its
PRO RATA portion  (determined  in  accordance  with  Section  1.07) of each such
Borrowing  requested to be made on such date (or in the case of Swingline Loans,
the  Swingline  Lender will make  available the full amount  thereof).  All such
amounts will be made available in Dollars and in immediately  available funds at
the Payment Office,  and the  Administrative  Agent will,  except in the case of
Revolving  Loans made pursuant to a Mandatory  Borrowing,  make available to the
Borrower  at the  Payment  Office  by 3:00  P.M.  (New  York  time)  on the date
specified in the respective Notice of Borrowing (or by 4:30 P.M. (New York time)
on the date specified in the  respective  notice  delivered  pursuant to Section
1.03(b)(i)  in the case of a Borrowing of Swingline  Loans) the aggregate of the
amounts so made available by the Lenders.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall
have been notified by any Lender prior to the date of Borrowing that such Lender
does not intend to make  available  to the  Administrative  Agent such  Lender's
portion of any Borrowing to be made on such date, the  Administrative  Agent may
assume  that such Lender has made such amount  available  to the  Administrative
Agent on such date of Borrowing and the Administrative  Agent may (but shall not
be  obligated  to), in reliance  upon such  assumption,  make  available  to the
Borrower a corresponding  amount.  If such  corresponding  amount is not in fact
made available to the  Administrative  Agent by such Lender,  the Administrative
Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such
Lender. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the
Administrative  Agent's demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify the Borrower and the Borrower shall  immediately  pay such  corresponding
amount to the  Administrative  Agent.  The  Administrative  Agent  also shall be
entitled to recover on demand from such Lender or the Borrower,  as the case may
be, interest on such  corresponding  amount in respect of each day from the date
such corresponding  amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the
Borrower  until  the  date  such  corresponding   amount  is  recovered  by  the
Administrative  Agent,  at a rate per annum equal to (i) if recovered  from such
Lender,  the  overnight  Federal  Funds Rate for the first three days and at the
interest rate  otherwise  applicable to such Loans for each day  thereafter  and
(ii) if recovered  from the  Borrower,  the rate of interest  applicable  to the
respective  Borrowing,  as determined  pursuant to Section 1.08. Nothing in this
Section 1.04 shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its  obligation  to make
Loans  hereunder or to prejudice  any rights which the Borrower may have against
any Lender as a result of any failure by such Lender to make Loans hereunder.

                  1.05 NOTES. (a) The Borrower's obligation to pay the principal
of, and  interest  on, the Loans made by each Lender  shall be  evidenced in the
Register  maintained by the  Administrative  Agent pursuant to Section 13.15 and
shall,  if requested by such Lender,  also be evidenced (i) if Term Loans,  by a
promissory note duly executed and delivered by the Borrower substantially in the
form of Exhibit B-1, with blanks appropriately  completed in conformity herewith


                                       5
<PAGE>

(each a "Term Note" and,  collectively,  the "Term  Notes"),  (ii) if  Revolving
Loans,  by a  promissory  note  duly  executed  and  delivered  by the  Borrower
substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2, with blanks appropriately completed in
conformity herewith (each a "Revolving Note" and,  collectively,  the "Revolving
Notes"),  and (iii) if Swingline  Loans,  by a promissory note duly executed and
delivered by the Borrower  substantially in the form of Exhibit B-3, with blanks
appropriately completed in conformity herewith (the "Swingline Note").

                  (b) The Term Note  issued to each  Lender that has a Term Loan
Commitment or outstanding Term Loans shall (i) be executed by the Borrower, (ii)
be payable to such  Lender or its  registered  assigns  and be dated the Initial
Borrowing  Date (or, if issued after the Initial  Borrowing  Date,  be dated the
date of issuance  thereof),  (iii) be in a stated  principal amount equal to the
Term Loans made by such  Lender on the  Initial  Borrowing  Date (or,  if issued
after the Initial  Borrowing Date, be in a stated  principal amount equal to the
outstanding  principal  amount of Term Loans of such Lender at such time) and be
payable in the outstanding  principal  amount of Term Loans  evidenced  thereby,
(iv) mature on the Term Loan Maturity Date, (v) bear interest as provided in the
appropriate  clause  of  Section  1.08 in  respect  of the Base  Rate  Loans and
Eurodollar  Loans,  as the case may be,  evidenced  thereby,  (vi) be subject to
voluntary  prepayment  as provided in Section 4.01,  and mandatory  repayment as
provided  in  Section  4.02,  and  (vii) be  entitled  to the  benefits  of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

                  (c) The  Revolving  Note  issued  to each  Lender  that  has a
Revolving Loan  Commitment or outstanding  Revolving Loans shall (i) be executed
by the Borrower, (ii) be payable to such Lender or its registered assigns and be
dated the  Initial  Borrowing  Date (or, if issued  after the Initial  Borrowing
Date, be dated the date of the issuance thereof), (iii) be in a stated principal
amount  equal to the  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  of such Lender (or, if issued
after the  termination  thereof,  be in a stated  principal  amount equal to the
outstanding  Revolving  Loans of such Lender at such time) and be payable in the
outstanding  principal  amount of the Revolving  Loans evidenced  thereby,  (iv)
mature on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, (v) bear interest as provided in the
appropriate  clause  of  Section  1.08 in  respect  of the Base  Rate  Loans and
Eurodollar  Loans,  as the case may be,  evidenced  thereby,  (vi) be subject to
voluntary  prepayment  as provided in Section 4.01,  and mandatory  repayment as
provided  in  Section  4.02,  and  (vii) be  entitled  to the  benefits  of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

                  (d) The Swingline  Note issued to the  Swingline  Lender shall
(i) be executed by the Borrower,  (ii) be payable to the Swingline Lender or its
registered assigns and be dated the Initial Borrowing Date, (iii) be in a stated
principal  amount  equal to the Maximum  Swingline  Amount and be payable in the
outstanding  principal amount of the Swingline Loans evidenced thereby from time
to time, (iv) mature on the Swingline Expiry Date, (v) bear interest as provided
in the  appropriate  clause of  Section  1.08 in  respect of the Base Rate Loans
evidenced  thereby,  (vi) be subject to  voluntary  prepayment  as  provided  in
Section 4.01, and mandatory  repayment as provided in Section 4.02, and (vii) be
entitled to the benefits of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

                  (e) Each Lender 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


                                       6
<PAGE>

such  notation  or any error in such  notation  shall not affect the  Borrower's
obligations in respect of such Loans.

                  1.06  CONVERSIONS.  The  Borrower  shall  have the  option  to
convert,  on any Business  Day,  all or a portion  equal to at least the Minimum
Borrowing  Amount  of the  outstanding  principal  amount of Loans  (other  than
Swingline  Loans which may not be converted  pursuant to this Section 1.06) made
pursuant to one or more  Borrowings  (so long as of the same  Tranche) of one or
more Types of Loans into a Borrowing  (of the same  Tranche) of another  Type of
Loan,  PROVIDED  that,  (i) except as  otherwise  provided  in Section  1.10(b),
Eurodollar  Loans may be converted  into Base Rate Loans only on the last day of
an Interest  Period  applicable to the Loans being converted and no such partial
conversion of Eurodollar Loans shall reduce the outstanding  principal amount of
such  Eurodollar  Loans made  pursuant  to a single  Borrowing  to less than the
Minimum  Borrowing Amount applicable  thereto,  (ii) unless the Required Lenders
otherwise agree,  Base Rate Loans may only be converted into Eurodollar Loans if
no Default or Event of Default is in  existence  on the date of the  conversion,
(iii) unless the Syndication  Date has occurred (at which time this clause (iii)
shall no longer be  applicable),  prior to the 14th day  following  the  Initial
Borrowing Date,  conversions of Base Rate Loans into  Eurodollar  Loans shall be
subject  to the  provisions  of clause (B) of the  proviso  in each of  Sections
1.01(a)(ii)  and  1.01(b)(i),  and (iii) no conversion  pursuant to this Section
1.06 shall result in a greater number of Borrowings of Eurodollar  Loans than is
permitted  under Section  1.02.  Each such  conversion  shall be effected by the
Borrower by giving the  Administrative  Agent at the Notice Office prior to 1:00
P.M. (New York time) at least three  Business Days' prior notice (each a "Notice
of Conversion/Continuation") in the form of Exhibit A-2, appropriately completed
to specify the Loans to be so converted, the Borrowing or Borrowings pursuant to
which such Loans were made and, if to be converted into  Eurodollar  Loans,  the
Interest Period to be initially  applicable  thereto.  The Administrative  Agent
shall give each Lender prompt notice of any such proposed  conversion  affecting
any of its Loans.  Upon any such conversion the proceeds  thereof will be deemed
to be applied  directly on the day of such  conversion to prepay the outstanding
principal amount of the Loans being converted.

                  1.07 PRO RATA  BORROWINGS.  All  Borrowings  of Term Loans and
Revolving Loans under this Agreement shall be incurred FROM THE LENDERS PRO RATA
on the basis of their Term Loan  Commitments or Revolving Loan  Commitments,  as
the case may be. It is understood  that no Lender shall be  responsible  for any
default by any other Lender of its  obligation to make Loans  hereunder and that
each  Lender  shall be  obligated  to make the Loans  provided  to be made by it
hereunder,  regardless  of the  failure  of any  other  Lender to make its Loans
hereunder.

                  1.08  INTEREST.  (a) The  Borrower  agrees to pay  interest in
respect of the unpaid  principal  amount of each Base Rate Loan from the date of
Borrowing  thereof  until the earlier of (i) the  maturity  thereof  (whether by
acceleration  or otherwise)  and (ii) the conversion of such Base Rate Loan to a
Eurodollar  Loan pursuant to Section 1.06 or 1.09, as applicable,  at a rate per
annum which shall be equal to (A) in the case of Term Loans and Revolving Loans,
the sum of the Applicable  Margin plus the Base Rate each as in effect from time
to time and (B) in the case of Swingline  Loans, the Base Rate as in effect from
time to time.


                                       7
<PAGE>

                  (b) The  Borrower  agrees to pay  interest  in  respect of the
unpaid  principal  amount of each  Eurodollar  Loan  from the date of  Borrowing
thereof until the earlier of (i) the maturity  thereof  (whether by acceleration
or otherwise)  and (ii) the  conversion of such  Eurodollar  Loan to a Base Rate
Loan pursuant to Section 1.06, 1.09 or 1.10, as applicable,  at a rate per annum
which shall, during each Interest Period applicable thereto, be equal to the sum
of the Applicable Margin plus the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period.

                  (c) Overdue  principal  and, to the extent  permitted  by law,
overdue interest in respect of each Loan shall, in each case, bear interest at a
rate per annum equal to the greater of (x) the rate which is 2% in excess of the
rate then borne by such Loans and (y) the rate which is 2% in excess of the rate
otherwise  applicable to Base Rate Loans of the respective  Tranche from time to
time, and all other overdue amounts payable hereunder and under any other Credit
Document  shall bear  interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate which is 2%
in excess of the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans from time to time.  Interest
which accrues under this Section 1.08(c) shall be payable on demand.

                  (d) Accrued (and theretofore unpaid) interest shall be payable
(i) in respect of each Base Rate Loan,  quarterly  in arrears on each  Quarterly
Payment Date, (ii) in respect of each  Eurodollar  Loan, 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 three month  intervals  after
the first day of such Interest Period, and (iii) in respect of each Loan, on any
repayment or prepayment (on the amount repaid OR prepaid),  at maturity (whether
by  acceleration or otherwise)  and, after such maturity,  on demand;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that in the case of Base Rate  Loans,  interest  shall not be  payable
pursuant  to the  preceding  clause  (iii)  at the  time  of  any  repayment  or
prepayment  thereof  (but shall  otherwise  be payable as provided in  preceding
clause (i)) unless the  respective  repayment or  prepayment  is made (x) in the
case of Revolving Loans, in conjunction with a permanent  reduction of the Total
Revolving Loan Commitment or (y) in the case of Term Loans and Revolving  Loans,
in  conjunction  with a repayment  or  prepayment  (or a required  repayment  or
prepayment) in full of all outstanding Loans of the respective Tranche.

                  (e) Upon each Interest  Determination Date, the Administrative
Agent shall determine the Eurodollar Rate for each Interest Period applicable to
the respective  Eurodollar  Loans and shall promptly notify the Borrower and the
Lenders thereof.  Each such determination shall, absent manifest error, be final
and conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

                  1.09  INTEREST  PERIODS.  At the time the  Borrower  gives any
Notice of  Borrowing  or Notice of  Conversion  in  respect of the making of, or
conversion into, any Eurodollar Loan (in the case of the initial Interest Period
applicable  thereto) or prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York time) on the third Business
Day prior to the expiration of an Interest Period  applicable to such Eurodollar
Loan (in the case of any subsequent  Interest  Period),  the Borrower shall have
the  right  to  elect,   by  giving  the   Administrative   Agent  a  Notice  of
Conversion/Continuation  (appropriately completed), the interest period (each an
"Interest  Period")  applicable to such Eurodollar  Loan,  which Interest Period
shall, at the option of the Borrower,  be a one, two, three or six-month period,
and, if prior to the  earlier of the 14th day  following  the Initial  Borrowing
Date and the Syndication Date, a one week period, PROVIDED that (in each case):


                                       8
<PAGE>

                 (i) all  Eurodollar Loans comprising  a  Borrowing shall at all
         times have the same Interest Period;

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

               (iii) if any Interest  Period for a  Eurodollar  Loan begins on a
         day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar
         month at the end of such Interest  Period,  such Interest  Period shall
         end on the last Business Day of such calendar month;

                (iv)  if  any  Interest  Period  for  a  Eurodollar  Loan  would
         otherwise  expire on a day which is not a Business  Day,  such Interest
         Period  shall expire on the next  succeeding  Business  Day;  PROVIDED,
         HOWEVER,  that if any  Interest  Period  for a  Eurodollar  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;

                 (v) unless the Required  Lenders  otherwise  agree, no Interest
         Period  may be  selected  at any  time  when a  Default  or an Event of
         Default is then in existence;

                (vi) no  Interest  Period in  respect  of any  Borrowing  of any
         Tranche of Loans shall be selected  which extends beyond the respective
         Maturity Date for such Tranche of Loans; and

               (vii) no  Interest  Period in  respect of any  Borrowing  of Term
         Loans  shall be  selected  which  extends  beyond any date upon which a
         mandatory  repayment  of Term Loans will be  required  to be made under
         Section 4.02(b) if the aggregate  principal  amount of Term Loans which
         have  Interest  Periods  which will  expire  after such date will be in
         excess of the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans then outstanding
         less the aggregate amount of such required repayment.

                  If upon the expiration of any Interest Period  applicable to a
Borrowing of  Eurodollar  Loans,  the  Borrower  has failed to elect,  or is not
permitted to elect,  a new Interest  Period to be applicable to such  Eurodollar
Loans as provided above, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert
such  Eurodollar  Loans into Base Rate Loans effective as of the expiration date
of such current Interest Period.

                  1.10 INCREASED COSTS,  ILLEGALITY,  ETC. (a) In the event that
any Lender shall have determined  (which  determination  shall,  absent manifest
error,  be final and  conclusive  and binding upon all parties  hereto but, with
respect to clause (i) below, may be made only by the Administrative Agent):

                 (i) on any Interest  Determination  Date that, by reason of any
         changes  arising  after  the  date  of  this  Agreement  affecting  the
         interbank  Eurodollar market,  adequate and fair means do not exist for


                                       9
<PAGE>

         ascertaining the applicable  interest rate on the basis provided for in
         the definition of Eurodollar Rate; or

                (ii) at any time,  that such Lender shall incur  increased costs
         or reductions  in the amounts  received or  receivable  hereunder  with
         respect to any  Eurodollar  Loan  because  of (x) any change  since the
         Effective Date in any applicable law or governmental rule,  regulation,
         order, guideline or request (whether or not having the force of law) or
         in the  interpretation  or  administration  thereof and  including  the
         introduction of any new law or governmental  rule,  regulation,  order,
         guideline or request,  such as, for example,  but not limited to: (A) a
         change  in the  basis of  taxation  of  payment  to any  Lender  of the
         principal of or interest on the Loans or the Notes 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 Lender
         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) or (B) 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
         Eurodollar  Rate  and/or  (y)  other  circumstances  arising  since the
         Effective Date affecting such Lender,  the interbank  Eurodollar market
         or the position of such Lender in such market; or

               (iii)  at  any  time,  that  the  making  or  continuance  of any
         Eurodollar  Loan has been made (x) unlawful by any law or  governmental
         rule,  regulation or order,  (y) impossible by compliance by any Lender
         in good  faith with any  governmental  request  (whether  or not having
         force  of  law)  or (z)  impracticable  as a  result  of a  contingency
         occurring  after the  Effective  Date which  materially  and  adversely
         affects the interbank Eurodollar market;

then, and in any such event,  such Lender (or the  Administrative  Agent, in the
case of clause (i) above)  shall  promptly  give notice (by  telephone  promptly
confirmed  in writing)  to the  Borrower  and,  except in the case of clause (i)
above,  to the  Administrative  Agent of such  determination  (which  notice the
Administrative  Agent shall  promptly  transmit  to each of the other  Lenders).
Thereafter (x) in the case of clause (i) above, Eurodollar Loans shall no longer
be available until such time as the  Administrative  Agent notifies the Borrower
and the  Lenders  that  the  circumstances  giving  rise to such  notice  by the
Administrative  Agent no longer exist,  and any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of
Conversion given by the Borrower with respect to Eurodollar Loans which have not
yet been incurred  (including by way of conversion) shall be deemed rescinded by
the Borrower,  (y) in the case of clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall, subject
to  Section  1.14,  pay to such  Lender,  upon  such  Lender's  written  request
therefor,  such  additional  amounts (in the form of an increased  rate of, or a
different  method of  calculating,  interest or  otherwise as such Lender in its
sole discretion  shall determine) as shall be required to compensate such Lender
for such  increased  costs or  reductions  in  amounts  received  or  receivable
hereunder (a written  notice as to the  additional  amounts owed to such Lender,
showing in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to
the  Borrower  by such  Lender  shall,  absent  manifest  error,  be  final  and
conclusive and binding on all the parties  hereto) and (z) in the case of clause
(iii)  above,  the Borrower  shall take one of the actions  specified in Section
1.10(b) as  promptly  as  possible  and,  in any event,  within the time  period
required by law.


                                       10
<PAGE>

                  (b) At any time that any  Eurodollar  Loan is  affected by the
circumstances  described in Section  1.10(a)(ii) or (iii), the Borrower may (and
in the case of a  Eurodollar  Loan  affected by the  circumstances  described in
Section  1.10(a)(iii) the Borrower shall) either (x) if the affected  Eurodollar
Loan is then being made  initially  or  pursuant  to a  conversion,  cancel such
Borrowing by giving the  Administrative  Agent telephonic  notice  (confirmed in
writing) on the same date that the Borrower is notified by the  affected  Lender
or the Administrative  Agent pursuant to Section  1.10(a)(ii) or (iii) or (y) if
the affected  Eurodollar Loan is then outstanding,  upon at least three Business
Days' written notice to the Administrative Agent, require the affected Lender to
convert such Eurodollar Loan into a Base Rate Loan,  PROVIDED that, if more than
one Lender is affected at any time,  then all  affected  Lenders must be treated
the same pursuant to this Section 1.10(b).

                  (c) If any Lender determines that after the Effective Date the
introduction  of or any  change  in any  applicable  law or  governmental  rule,
regulation,  order,  guideline,  directive or request (whether or not having the
force of law) concerning  capital  adequacy,  or any change in interpretation or
administration thereof by the NAIC or any governmental  authority,  central bank
or comparable  agency,  will have the effect of increasing the amount of capital
required  or  expected  to be  maintained  by  such  Lender  or any  corporation
controlling  such Lender  based on the  existence of such  Lender's  Commitments
hereunder or its  obligations  hereunder,  then the Borrower  shall,  subject to
Section  1.14,  pay to such  Lender,  upon its  written  demand  therefor,  such
additional  amounts as shall be required to compensate such Lender or such other
corporation  for the increased cost to such Lender or such other  corporation or
the reduction in the rate of return to such Lender or such other  corporation as
a result of such increase of capital.  In determining  such additional  amounts,
each Lender will act  reasonably  and in good faith and will use  averaging  and
attribution   methods  which  are   reasonable,   PROVIDED  that  such  Lender's
determination  of compensation  owing under this Section  1.10(c) shall,  absent
manifest  error,  be final and conclusive and binding on all the parties hereto.
Each  Lender,  upon  determining  that any  additional  amounts  will be payable
pursuant to this Section 1.10(c), will give prompt written notice thereof to the
Borrower, which notice shall show in reasonable detail the basis for calculation
of such additional amounts.

                  1.11 COMPENSATION.  The Borrower shall compensate each Lender,
upon its written request (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the
basis  for  requesting  such  compensation),   for  all  losses,   expenses  and
liabilities  (including,  without  limitation,  any loss,  expense or  liability
incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds
required  by such  Lender to fund its  Eurodollar  Loans but  excluding  loss of
anticipated profits) which such Lender may sustain: (i) if for any reason (other
than a default by such Lender or the  Administrative  Agent) a Borrowing  of, or
conversion  from or into,  Eurodollar  Loans does not occur on a date  specified
therefor  in a Notice  of  Borrowing  or Notice of  Conversion  (whether  or not
withdrawn by the Borrower or deemed withdrawn pursuant to Section 1.10(a)); (ii)
if any repayment (including any repayment made pursuant to Section 4.01, Section
4.02 or as a result of an  acceleration  of the Loans pursuant to Section 10) or
conversion of any of its Eurodollar Loans occurs on a date which is not the last
day of an Interest Period with respect  thereto;  (iii) if any prepayment of any
of its  Eurodollar  Loans  is not  made on any date  specified  in a  notice  of
prepayment  given by the  Borrower;  or (iv) as a  consequence  of (x) any other


                                       11
<PAGE>

default by the Borrower to repay its Eurodollar Loans when required by the terms
of this  Agreement  or any Note  held by such  Lender or (y) any  election  made
pursuant to Section 1.10(b).

                  1.12 CHANGE OF LENDING OFFICE.  Each Lender agrees that on the
occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section  1.10(a)(ii)  or
(iii),  Section  1.10(c),  Section  2.06 or  Section  4.04 with  respect to such
Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower,  use reasonable  efforts (subject
to overall policy  considerations  of such Lender) to designate  another lending
office for any Loans or Letters of Credit affected by such event,  PROVIDED that
such  designation  is made on such terms that such Lender and its lending office
suffer  no  economic,  legal or  regulatory  disadvantage,  with the  object  of
avoiding  the  consequence  of the event  giving rise to the  operation  of such
Section.  Nothing in this  Section  1.12  shall  affect or  postpone  any of the
obligations  of the  Borrower  or the right of any Lender  provided  in Sections
1.10, 2.06 and 4.04.

                  1.13  REPLACEMENT  OF  LENDERS.  (x) If any  Lender  becomes a
Defaulting  Lender or otherwise  defaults in its obligations to make Loans,  (y)
upon  the  occurrence  of an  event  giving  rise to the  operation  of  Section
1.10(a)(ii) or (iii), Section 1.10(c), Section 2.06 or Section 4.04 with respect
to any Lender which  results in such Lender  charging to the Borrower  increased
costs in excess of those being generally  charged by the other Lenders or (z) in
the case of a refusal  by a Lender  to  consent  to  certain  proposed  changes,
waivers,  discharges or  terminations  with respect to this Agreement which have
been approved by the Required Lenders as (and to the extent) provided in Section
13.12(b),  the Borrower shall have the right,  if no Default or Event of Default
then  exists (or,  in the case of  preceding  clause (z), no Default or Event of
Default will exist  immediately  after giving  effect to such  replacement),  to
replace  such Lender (the  "Replaced  Lender")  with one or more other  Eligible
Transferees,  none of whom shall  constitute a Defaulting  Lender at the time of
such replacement (collectively, the "Replacement Lender") and each of whom shall
be required to be reasonably  acceptable to the Administrative  Agent,  PROVIDED
that (i) at the time of any  replacement  pursuant  to this  Section  1.13,  the
Replacement  Lender  shall  enter  into one or more  Assignment  and  Assumption
Agreements  pursuant to Section  13.04(b) (and with all fees payable pursuant to
said Section  13.04(b) to be paid by the Replacement  Lender)  pursuant to which
the  Replacement  Lender shall acquire all of the  Commitments  and  outstanding
Loans of, and in each case  participations in Letters of Credit by, the Replaced
Lender and, in  connection  therewith,  shall pay to (x) the Replaced  Lender in
respect  thereof  an  amount  equal  to the sum of (I) an  amount  equal  to the
principal of, and all accrued interest on, all outstanding Loans of the Replaced
Lender,  (II) an amount  equal to all Unpaid  Drawings  that have been funded by
(and not  reimbursed  to) such  Replaced  Lender,  together with all then unpaid
interest  with  respect  thereto at such time,  and (III) an amount equal to all
accrued,  but theretofore  unpaid, Fees owing to the Replaced Lender pursuant to
Section 3.01, (y) the Issuing  Lender an amount equal to such Replaced  Lender's
RL  Percentage  of any  Unpaid  Drawing  (which at such time  remains  an Unpaid
Drawing) to the extent such amount was not  theretofore  funded by such Replaced
Lender to the Issuing  Lender and (z) the  Swingline  Lender an amount  equal to
such Replaced  Lender's RL  Percentage of any Mandatory  Borrowing to the extent
such amount was not theretofore  funded by such Replaced Lender to the Swingline
Lender and (ii) all  obligations  of the  Borrower due and owing to the Replaced
Lender at such time (other than those specifically described in clause (i) above
in respect of which the assignment  purchase price has been, or is  concurrently
being,  paid) shall be paid in full to such Replaced  Lender  concurrently  with
such replacement. Upon the execution of the respective Assignment and Assumption
Agreement, the payment of amounts referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above and,


                                       12
<PAGE>

if so requested by the Replacement Lender, delivery to the Replacement Lender of
the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrower,  the Replacement  Lender
shall  become  a  Lender  hereunder  and the  Replaced  Lender  shall  cease  to
constitute a Lender hereunder, except with respect to indemnification provisions
under this Agreement (including, without limitation,  Sections 1.10, 1.11, 2.06,
4.04, 12.06 and 13.01), which shall survive as to such Replaced Lender.

                  1.14   LIMITATION  ON  ADDITIONAL   AMOUNTS.   Notwithstanding
anything to the  contrary  contained  in Section  1.10 or 2.06,  unless a Lender
gives  notice to the  Borrower  that the Borrower is obligated to pay any amount
under  Section 1.10 or 2.06 within 180 days after the later of (x) the date such
Lender incurs the respective  increased costs or reduction in the rate of return
or (y) the date such  Lender  has  actual  knowledge  of its  incurrence  of the
respective increased costs or reduction in the rate of return, such Lender shall
only be entitled to be compensated  for such amount by the Borrower  pursuant to
Section  1.10 or 2.06 to the  extent  that  the  respective  increased  costs or
reduction  in the rate of return are  incurred  or suffered on or after the date
which occurs 180 days prior to such Lender giving notice to the Borrower that it
is obligated  to pay the  respective  amounts  pursuant to Section 1.10 or 2.06.
This Section 1.14 shall have no  applicability  to any Section of this Agreement
other than Sections 1.10 and 2.06.

                  SECTION 2.  LETTERS OF CREDIT.

                  2.01 LETTERS OF CREDIT.  (a) Subject to and upon the terms and
conditions  set forth herein,  the Borrower may request that the Issuing  Lender
issue, at any time and from time to time on and after the Initial Borrowing Date
and prior to the 30th day prior to the  Revolving  Loan Maturity  Date,  for the
account of the  Borrower  and for the benefit of (x) any holder (or any trustee,
agent or other similar  representative  for any such holders) of L/C Supportable
Obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,  an irrevocable  standby
letter of credit,  in a form  customarily  used by the Issuing Lender or in such
other form as has been approved by the Issuing Lender,  and (y) sellers of goods
to the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries,  an  irrevocable  trade  letter of
credit,  in a form  customarily used by the Issuing Lender or in such other form
as has been  approved  by the  Issuing  Lender  (each such  letter of credit,  a
"Letter of Credit" and,  collectively,  the "Letters of Credit"). All Letters of
Credit  shall be  denominated  in Dollars  and shall be issued on a sight  basis
only.

                  (b)  Subject  to and upon the terms and  conditions  set forth
herein,  the Issuing  Lender  agrees that it will,  at any time and from time to
time on and after the Initial  Borrowing Date and prior to the 30th day prior to
the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, following its receipt of the respective Letter
of Credit Request, issue for the account of the Borrower, one or more Letters of
Credit as are permitted to remain outstanding hereunder without giving rise to a
Default or an Event of Default,  PROVIDED  that the Issuing  Lender shall not be
under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit of the types  described above
if at the time of such issuance:

                 (i) any order, judgment or decree of any governmental authority
         or  arbitrator  shall  purport by its terms to enjoin or  restrain  the
         Issuing Lender from issuing such Letter of Credit or any requirement of
         law  applicable  to the  Issuing  Lender or any  request  or  directive
         (whether  or not  having  the  force  of  law)  from  any  governmental


                                       13
<PAGE>

         authority with jurisdiction over the Issuing Lender shall prohibit,  or
         request that the Issuing  Lender  refrain from, the issuance of letters
         of credit  generally  or such Letter of Credit in  particular  or shall
         impose  upon the Issuing  Lender with  respect to such Letter of Credit
         any  restriction  or  reserve or  capital  requirement  (for which such
         Issuing  Lender is not otherwise  compensated  hereunder) not in effect
         with  respect  to  the  Issuing  Lender  on  the  date  hereof,  or any
         unreimbursed  loss,  cost or  expense  which was not  applicable  or in
         effect  with  respect to the  Issuing  Lender as of the date hereof and
         which the Issuing Lender reasonably and in good faith deems material to
         it; or

                (ii) the Issuing Lender shall have received from the Borrower or
         the  Required  Lenders  prior to the  issuance of such Letter of Credit
         notice of the type described in the second sentence of Section 2.03(b).

                  (c)  Schedule  XI  contains a  description  of all  letters of
credit issued by the Issuing Lender  pursuant to the Existing  HydroChem  Credit
Agreement and which are to remain  outstanding  on the Initial  Borrowing  Date.
Each such letter of credit,  including any extension  thereof (each an "Existing
Letter of Credit")  shall  constitute  a "Letter of Credit" for all  purposes of
this  Agreement and shall be deemed issued for purposes of this Agreement on the
Initial Borrowing Date.

                  2.02 MAXIMUM LETTER OF CREDIT OUTSTANDINGS;  FINAL MATURITIES.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in this  Agreement,  (i) no
Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated  Amount of which,  when added to the
Letter of Credit Outstandings  (exclusive of Unpaid Drawings which are repaid on
the date of, and prior to the issuance of, the  respective  Letter of Credit) at
such time would exceed either (x) $5,000,000 or (y) when added to the sum of (I)
the aggregate  principal amount of all Revolving Loans then outstanding and (II)
the aggregate  principal  amount of all  Swingline  Loans then  outstanding,  an
amount equal to the lesser of (A) the Total  Revolving  Loan  Commitment at such
time and (B) the  Borrowing  Base at such  time  (based  on the  Borrowing  Base
Certificate  last  delivered)  and (ii) each Letter of Credit shall by its terms
terminate (x) in the case of standby Letters of Credit, on or before the earlier
of (A) the date which occurs 12 months  after the date of the  issuance  thereof
(although  any such standby  Letter of Credit may be extendible  for  successive
periods of up to 12 months, but, in each case, not beyond the third Business Day
prior to the Revolving  Loan Maturity  Date, on terms  acceptable to the Issuing
Lender) and (B) three  Business Days prior to the Revolving  Loan Maturity Date,
and (y) in the case of trade Letters of Credit,  on or before the earlier of (A)
the date which  occurs 180 days after the date of  issuance  thereof  and (B) 10
days prior to the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.

                  2.03 LETTER OF CREDIT  REQUESTS;  MINIMUM STATED  AMOUNT.  (a)
Whenever the Borrower desires that a Letter of Credit be issued for its account,
the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender at least
three  Business  Days' (or such shorter  period as is  acceptable to the Issuing
Lender)  written  notice thereof  (including by way of  facsimile).  Each notice
shall be in the form of Exhibit C,  appropriately  completed  (each a "Letter of
Credit Request").


                                       14
<PAGE>

                  (b)  The making  of each  Letter of  Credit  Request  shall be
deemed to be a  representation  and warranty by the Borrower to the Lenders that
such Letter of Credit may be issued in accordance with, and will not violate the
requirements  of, Section 2.02.  Unless the Issuing  Lender has received  notice
from the  Borrower or the Required  Lenders  before it issues a Letter of Credit
that one or more of the  conditions  specified  in  Section  5 or 6 are not then
satisfied,  or that the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate  Section
2.02, then the Issuing Lender shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement,  issue the requested Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower
in accordance with the Issuing Lender's usual and customary practices.  Upon the
issuance of or  modification  or amendment to any standby Letter of Credit,  the
Issuing Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower,  the Administrative Agent and
each Participant of such issuance, modification or amendment as the case may be.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in this  Agreement,  in the
event that a Lender Default exists,  the Issuing Lender shall not be required to
issue  any  Letter  of  Credit  unless  the  Issuing  Lender  has  entered  into
arrangements  satisfactory  to it and the  Borrower  to  eliminate  the  Issuing
Lender's  risk with  respect  to the  participation  in Letters of Credit by the
Defaulting Lender or Lenders,  including by cash collateralizing such Defaulting
Lender's or Lenders' RL Percentage of the Letter of Credit Outstandings.

                  (c)  The initial Stated  Amount of each Letter of Credit shall
not be less than  $25,000 or such lesser amount  as is acceptable to the Issuing
Lender.

                  2.04 LETTER OF CREDIT PARTICIPATIONS. (a) Immediately upon the
issuance by the Issuing Lender of any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall
be deemed to have sold and transferred to each RL Lender, other than the Issuing
Lender in its  capacity  (if any) as an RL Lender  (each such RL Lender,  in its
capacity under this Section 2.04, a  "Participant"),  and each such  Participant
shall be deemed  irrevocably and  unconditionally to have purchased and received
from the Issuing Lender, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and
participation, to the extent of such Participant's RL Percentage, in such Letter
of Credit,  each drawing or payment made  thereunder and the  obligations of the
Borrower under this Agreement with respect thereto, and any security therefor or
guaranty pertaining  thereto.  Upon any change in the Revolving Loan Commitments
or RL  Percentages  of the Lenders  pursuant to Section 1.13 or 13.04(b),  it is
hereby agreed that, with respect to all outstanding Letters of Credit and Unpaid
Drawings  with respect  thereto,  there shall be an automatic  adjustment to the
participations  pursuant to this Section 2.04 to reflect the new RL  Percentages
of the assignor and assignee Lender, as the case may be.

                  (b) In determining  whether to pay under any Letter of Credit,
the Issuing Lender shall not have any  obligation  relative to the other Lenders
other than to confirm that any  documents  required to be  delivered  under such
Letter  of  Credit  appear  to have  been  delivered  and that  they  appear  to
substantially  comply on their  face  with the  requirements  of such  Letter of
Credit.  Any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuing  Lender under or
in connection  with any Letter of Credit shall not create for the Issuing Lender
any resulting  liability to the Borrower,  any other Credit Party, any Lender or
any other  Person  unless such action is taken or omitted to be taken with gross
negligence  or  willful  misconduct  (as  determined  by a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision).


                                       15
<PAGE>

                  (c) In the event that the  Issuing  Lender  makes any  payment
under  any  Letter  of  Credit  issued  by it and the  Borrower  shall  not have
reimbursed  such  amount  in full to the  Issuing  Lender  pursuant  to  Section
2.05(a),  the Issuing Lender shall  promptly  notify the  Administrative  Agent,
which  shall  promptly  notify  each  Participant  of  such  failure,  and  each
Participant  shall  promptly and  unconditionally  pay to the Issuing Lender the
amount of such  Participant's  RL  Percentage  of such  unreimbursed  payment in
Dollars and in same day funds. If the Administrative Agent so notifies, prior to
1:00 P.M. (New York time) on any Business Day, any Participant  required to fund
a payment under a Letter of Credit, such Participant shall make available to the
Issuing Lender in Dollars such Participant's RL Percentage of the amount of such
payment  on such  Business  Day in same day  funds.  If and to the  extent  such
Participant  shall  not have so made its RL  Percentage  of the  amount  of such
payment available to the Issuing Lender,  such Participant  agrees to pay to the
Issuing Lender, forthwith on demand such amount, together with interest thereon,
for each day from such date  until the date such  amount is paid to the  Issuing
Lender at the  overnight  Federal Funds Rate for the first three days and at the
interest  rate  applicable to Revolving  Loans that are  maintained as Base Rate
Loans for each day thereafter.  The failure of any Participant to make available
to the  Issuing  Lender its RL  Percentage  of any  payment  under any Letter of
Credit shall not relieve any other  Participant of its  obligation  hereunder to
make  available to the Issuing Lender its RL Percentage of any payment under any
Letter of Credit on the date required,  as specified  above,  but no Participant
shall be responsible for the failure of any other  Participant to make available
to the  Issuing  Lender  such  other  Participant's  RL  Percentage  of any such
payment.

                  (d)  Whenever  the  Issuing  Lender  receives  a payment  of a
reimbursement  obligation  as to which it has  received  any  payments  from the
Participants  pursuant to clause (c) above, the Issuing Lender shall pay to each
such  Participant  which has paid its RL Percentage  thereof,  in Dollars and in
same day funds,  an amount  equal to such  Participant's  share  (based upon the
proportionate  aggregate  amount  originally  funded by such  Participant to the
aggregate  amount funded by all  Participants)  of the principal  amount of such
reimbursement obligation and interest thereon accruing after the purchase of the
respective participations.

                  (e) Upon the request of any  Participant,  the Issuing  Lender
shall  furnish to such  Participant  copies of any Letter of Credit issued by it
and such other documentation as may reasonably be requested by such Participant.

                  (f) The  obligations of the  Participants  to make payments to
the  Issuing  Lender  with  respect to  Letters of Credit  issued by it shall be
irrevocable  and not subject to any  qualification  or exception  whatsoever and
shall be made in  accordance  with the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement
under all circumstances,  including,  without  limitation,  any of the following
circumstances:

                 (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or
         any of the other Credit Documents;

                (ii) the existence of any claim, setoff,  defense or other right
         which  the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  may have at any time
         against a beneficiary  named in a Letter of Credit,  any  transferee of
         any Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such transferee may be


                                       16
<PAGE>

         acting),  the  Administrative  Agent,  any  Participant,  or any  other
         Person,  whether  in  connection  with this  Agreement,  any  Letter of
         Credit,   the  transactions   contemplated   herein  or  any  unrelated
         transactions (including any underlying transaction between the Borrower
         or any Subsidiary of the Borrower and the beneficiary named in any such
         Letter of Credit);

               (iii) any  draft,  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;

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

                 (v) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default.

                  2.05  AGREEMENT  TO REPAY LETTER OF CREDIT  DRAWINGS.  (a) The
Borrower  agrees to  reimburse  the  Issuing  Lender,  by making  payment to the
Administrative  Agent in immediately  available funds at the Payment Office, for
any  payment or  disbursement  made by the  Issuing  Lender  under any Letter of
Credit  issued by it (each such  amount,  so paid until  reimbursed,  an "Unpaid
Drawing"),  not later than one Business Day following receipt by the Borrower of
notice of such payment or  disbursement  (provided  that no such notice shall be
required  to be given if a Default or an Event of Default  under  Section  10.05
shall have occurred and be continuing, in which case the Unpaid Drawing shall be
due and payable immediately without  presentment,  demand,  protest or notice of
any kind (all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower)), with interest on the
amount so paid or disbursed by the Issuing Lender,  to the extent not reimbursed
prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York time) on the date of such payment or  disbursement,
from and  including  the date paid or disbursed to but  excluding  the date such
Issuing Lender was reimbursed by the Borrower therefor at a rate per annum equal
to the Base Rate in effect  from time to time  plus the  Applicable  Margin  for
Revolving Loans that are maintained as Base Rate Loans;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  to
the extent such amounts are not reimbursed prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York time) on
the third  Business Day  following the receipt by the Borrower of notice of such
payment or  disbursement or following the occurrence of a Default or an Event of
Default under Section 10.05,  interest shall thereafter accrue on the amounts so
paid or disbursed by the Issuing  Lender (and until  reimbursed by the Borrower)
at a rate per annum  equal to the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus the
Applicable  Margin for  Revolving  Loans that are  maintained as Base Rate Loans
plus 2%, with  interest to be payable on demand.  The Issuing  Lender shall give
the Borrower  prompt  written  notice of each Drawing under any Letter of Credit
issued by it,  PROVIDED that the failure to give any such notice shall in no way
affect, impair or diminish the Borrower's obligations hereunder.

                  (b) The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 2.05 to
reimburse  the Issuing  Lender with respect to drawings  under Letters of Credit
issued by it (each a  "Drawing")  (including,  in each case,  interest  thereon)
shall  be  absolute  and  unconditional  under  any  and all  circumstances  and
irrespective of any setoff,  counterclaim or defense to payment which Holding or
any Subsidiary of Holding may have or have had against any Lender  (including in
its  capacity as the Issuing  Lender or as a  Participant),  including,  without
limitation,  any defense based upon the failure of any drawing under a Letter of


                                       17
<PAGE>

Credit to conform to the terms of the Letter of Credit or any  nonapplication or
misapplication  by the  beneficiary  of the proceeds of such Drawing;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that the Borrower  shall not be  obligated  to  reimburse  the Issuing
Lender for any  wrongful  payment  made by the Issuing  Lender under a Letter of
Credit  issued  by it as a  result  of acts or  omissions  constituting  willful
misconduct or gross negligence on the part of such Issuing Lender (as determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision).

                  2.06 INCREASED COSTS. If at any time after the Effective Date,
the  introduction  of or any change in any  applicable  law,  rule,  regulation,
order,  guideline or request or in the interpretation or administration  thereof
by the NAIC or any governmental  authority  charged with the  interpretation  or
administration  thereof,  or compliance by the Issuing Lender or any Participant
with any request or directive by the NAIC or by any such  authority  (whether or
not having the force of law), shall either (i) impose, modify or make applicable
any reserve, deposit, capital adequacy or similar requirement against letters of
credit issued by the Issuing Lender or  participated in by any  Participant,  or
(ii)  impose on the  Issuing  Lender  or any  Participant  any other  conditions
relating, directly or indirectly, to this Agreement or any Letter of Credit; and
the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to the Issuing Lender
or any  Participant of issuing,  maintaining or  participating  in any Letter of
Credit,  or reduce the amount of any sum received or  receivable  by the Issuing
Lender or any Participant  hereunder or reduce the rate of return on its capital
with respect to Letters of Credit  (except for changes in the rate of tax on, or
determined by reference  to, the net income or profits of the Issuing  Lender or
such  Participant  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),  then, upon the delivery of the
certificate  referred  to below to the  Borrower  by the  Issuing  Lender or any
Participant (a copy of which  certificate shall be sent by the Issuing Lender or
such Participant to the Administrative  Agent),  the Borrower shall,  subject to
Section 1.14,  pay to the Issuing  Lender or such  Participant  such  additional
amount or amounts as will compensate the Issuing Lender or such  Participant for
such  increased  cost or reduction in the amount  receivable or reduction on the
rate of return on its  capital.  The  Issuing  Lender or any  Participant,  upon
determining that any additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section
2.06,  will give prompt  written  notice  thereof to the Borrower,  which notice
shall include a certificate  submitted to the Borrower by the Issuing  Lender or
such  Participant  (a copy of which  certificate  shall  be sent by the  Issuing
Lender  or such  Participant  to the  Administrative  Agent),  setting  forth in
reasonable  detail the basis for the  calculation of such  additional  amount or
amounts  necessary to compensate  the Issuing  Lender or such  Participant.  The
certificate required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 2.06 shall, absent
manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding on the Borrower.

                  SECTION 3.  COMMITMENT  COMMISSION;  FEES;  REDUCTIONS  OF
                              COMMITMENT.

                  3.01   FEES.   (a)  The   Borrower   agrees   to  pay  to  the
Administrative  Agent  for  distribution  to each  Non-Defaulting  RL  Lender  a
commitment  commission  (the  "Commitment  Commission")  for the period from and
including the Effective  Date to but excluding the Revolving  Loan Maturity Date
(or such  earlier date on which the Total  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  has been
terminated)  computed  at a rate per annum for each day equal to the  Applicable
Commitment  Commission Percentage on the daily average Unutilized Revolving Loan


                                       18
<PAGE>

Commitment of such Non-Defaulting RL Lender. Accrued Commitment Commission shall
be due and payable  quarterly in arrears on each  Quarterly  Payment Date and on
the date upon which the Total Revolving Loan Commitment is terminated.

                  (b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for
distribution  to each RL Lender  (based on each such RL Lender's  respective  RL
Percentage)  a fee in respect of each  Letter of Credit  (the  "Letter of Credit
Fee") for the period from and  including  the date of issuance of such Letter of
Credit to and including the date of  termination or expiration of such Letter of
Credit,  computed  at a rate per annum  equal to the  Applicable  Margin then in
effect with respect to Revolving  Loans that are maintained as Eurodollar  Loans
on the daily  Stated  Amount of each such  Letter of Credit.  Accrued  Letter of
Credit  Fees shall be due and  payable  quarterly  in arrears on each  Quarterly
Payment  Date and on the  first  day on or after  the  termination  of the Total
Revolving Loan Commitment upon which no Letters of Credit remain outstanding.

                  (c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Issuing Lender,  for its
own account,  a facing fee in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by it (the
"Facing  Fee") for the period  from and  including  the date of issuance of such
Letter of Credit to and including the date of  termination or expiration of such
Letter of Credit,  computed  at a rate per annum equal to 1/8 of 1% on the daily
Stated  Amount of such  Letter of Credit.  Accrued  Facing Fees shall be due and
payable  quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly  Payment Date and upon the first
day on or after the  termination  of the Total  Revolving Loan  Commitment  upon
which no Letters of Credit remain outstanding.

                  (d) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Issuing Lender,  for its
own account,  upon each payment under,  issuance of, or amendment to, any Letter
of Credit  issued by it,  such  amount as shall at the time of such event be the
administrative  charge and the  reasonable  expenses which the Issuing Lender is
generally imposing in connection with such occurrence with respect to letters of
credit.

                  (e) The Borrower  agrees to pay to the  Administrative  Agent,
for its own  account,  such other fees as have been  agreed to in writing by the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

                  3.02  VOLUNTARY   TERMINATION  OF  UNUTILIZED  REVOLVING  LOAN
COMMITMENTS.  (a) Upon at least one Business  Day's prior written  notice to the
Administrative Agent at the Notice Office (which notice the Administrative Agent
shall  promptly  transmit to each of the Lenders),  the Borrower  shall have the
right,  at any  time or from  time to  time,  without  premium  or  penalty,  to
terminate the Total Unutilized  Revolving Loan Commitment in whole, or reduce it
in part,  pursuant to this Section 3.02(a),  in an integral multiple of $500,000
in the  case of  partial  reductions  to the  Total  Unutilized  Revolving  Loan
Commitment,  PROVIDED that each such reduction  shall apply  proportionately  to
permanently reduce the Revolving Loan Commitment of each RL Lender.

                  (b) In the  event of a  refusal  by a  Lender  to  consent  to
certain proposed  changes,  waivers,  discharges or terminations with respect to
this Agreement  which have been approved by the Required  Lenders as (and to the
extent)  provided  in  Section  13.12(b),  the  Borrower  may,  subject  to  its


                                       19
<PAGE>

compliance with the requirements of Section  13.12(b),  upon five Business Days'
prior  written  notice to the  Administrative  Agent at the Notice Office (which
notice the Administrative  Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the Lenders)
terminate all of the Commitments of such Lender, so long as all Loans,  together
with  accrued and unpaid  interest,  Fees and all other  amounts,  owing to such
Lender  are  repaid  concurrently  with the  effectiveness  of such  termination
pursuant to Section  4.01(b) (at which time Schedule I shall be deemed  modified
to  reflect  such  changed  amounts)  and such  Lender's  RL  Percentage  of all
outstanding Letters of Credit is cash collateralized in a manner satisfactory to
the  Administrative  Agent and the Issuing Lender, and at such time, such Lender
shall no longer  constitute a "Lender" for  purposes of this  Agreement,  except
with  respect to  indemnifications  under  this  Agreement  (including,  without
limitation,  Sections 1.10,  1.11,  2.06,  4.04,  12.06 and 13.01),  which shall
survive as to such repaid Lender.

                  3.03  MANDATORY  REDUCTION  OF  COMMITMENTS.   (a)  The  Total
Commitment  (and the Commitments of each Lender) shall terminate in its entirety
on November 30, 1999 unless the Initial Borrowing Date has occurred on or before
such date.

                  (b) In addition to any other mandatory  commitment  reductions
pursuant to this Section 3.03, the Total Term Loan Commitment (and the Term Loan
Commitment  of each  Lender)  shall  terminate  in its  entirety  on the Initial
Borrowing  Date (after giving effect to the incurrence of the Term Loans on such
date).

                  (c) In addition to any other mandatory  commitment  reductions
pursuant to this Section 3.03,  the Total  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  (and the
Revolving Loan Commitment of each Lender) shall terminate in its entirety on the
earlier of (i) the  Revolving  Loan  Maturity  Date and (ii) unless the Required
Lenders  otherwise  agree,  on the 15th day  after the date on which a Change of
Control occurs (it being understood that nothing in this clause (ii) shall limit
the  rights of the  Lenders  pursuant  to  Section 10 as a result of an Event of
Default under Section 10.10).

                  SECTION 4. PREPAYMENTS; PAYMENTS; TAXES.

                  4.01  VOLUNTARY  PREPAYMENTS.  (a) The Borrower shall have the
right to prepay the Loans,  without  premium or penalty,  in whole or in part at
any time and from time to time on the following  terms and  conditions:  (i) the
Borrower shall give the Administrative  Agent prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York time)
at the Notice Office (x) at least one Business  Day's prior  written  notice (or
telephonic  notice  promptly  confirmed in writing) of its intent to prepay Base
Rate Loans (or same day notice in the case of a prepayment  of Swingline  Loans)
and (y) at least three Business Days' prior written notice (or telephonic notice
promptly  confirmed in writing) of its intent to prepay Eurodollar Loans,  which
notice (in each case)  shall  specify  whether  Term Loans,  Revolving  Loans or
Swingline Loans shall be prepaid, the amount of such prepayment and the Types of
Loans to be prepaid and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, the specific Borrowing
or Borrowings pursuant to which made, and which notice the Administrative  Agent
shall,  except in the case of Swingline Loans,  promptly transmit to each of the
Lenders; (ii) (x) each partial prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section
4.01(a) shall be in an aggregate principal amount of at least $250,000, (y) each
partial  prepayment of Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 4.01(a) shall be
in an  aggregate  principal  amount of at least  $100,000  and (z) each  partial


                                       20
<PAGE>

prepayment of Swingline  Loans  pursuant to this Section  4.01(a) shall be in an
aggregate  principal  amount of at least  $50,000,  PROVIDED that if any partial
prepayment of Eurodollar  Loans made pursuant to any Borrowing  shall reduce the
outstanding principal amount of Eurodollar Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing
to an amount less than the Minimum  Borrowing Amount  applicable  thereto,  then
such Borrowing may not be continued as a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans (and same
shall  automatically  be converted  into a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans) and any
election of an Interest  Period with respect thereto given by the Borrower shall
have no force or effect;  (iii) each prepayment pursuant to this Section 4.01(a)
in respect of any Loans made  pursuant to a Borrowing  shall be applied PRO RATA
among such Loans,  provided that at the Borrower's  election in connection  with
any  prepayment  of  Revolving  Loans  pursuant to this  Section  4.01(a),  such
prepayment shall not, so long as no Default or Event of Default then exists,  be
applied to any Revolving Loan of a Defaulting  Lender;  and (iv) each prepayment
of Term Loans  pursuant to this Section  4.01(a) shall be applied (1) first,  in
direct  order of maturity to those  Scheduled  Repayments  which will be due and
payable  within 12 months after the date of the  respective  prepayment  and (2)
second,  to the extent  that the amount of such  prepayment  exceeds  the amount
required to be applied  pursuant to the preceding clause (1), to reduce the then
remaining  scheduled  repayments  on a PRO  RATA  basis  (based  upon  the  then
remaining  unpaid  principal  amounts of such Scheduled  Repayments after giving
effect to all prior reductions thereto).

                  (b) In the  event of a  refusal  by a  Lender  to  consent  to
certain proposed  changes,  waivers,  discharges or terminations with respect to
this Agreement  which have been approved by the Required  Lenders as (and to the
extent) provided in Section 13.12(b), the Borrower may, upon five Business Days'
prior  written  notice to the  Administrative  Agent at the Notice Office (which
notice the Administrative  Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the Lenders)
repay all Loans,  together  with accrued and unpaid  interest,  Fees,  and other
amounts owing to such Lender in accordance with, and subject to the requirements
of,  said  Section  13.12(b)  so long as (I) in the  case  of the  repayment  of
Revolving  Loans of any Lender pursuant to this Section  4.01(b),  the Revolving
Loan  Commitment of such Lender is terminated  concurrently  with such repayment
pursuant to Section  3.02(b) (at which time Schedule I shall be deemed  modified
to reflect  the  changed  Revolving  Loan  Commitments),  (II) such  Lender's RL
Percentage  of all  outstanding  Letters of Credit is cash  collateralized  in a
manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender and (III)
the consents,  if any,  required under Section  13.12(b) in connection  with the
repayment  pursuant to this clause (b) have been  obtained.  Each  prepayment of
Term Loans pursuant to this Section  4.01(b) shall be applied to reduce the then
remaining  Scheduled  Repayments  on a PRO  RATA  basis  (based  upon  the  then
remaining  unpaid  principal  amounts of such Scheduled  Repayments after giving
effect to all prior reductions thereto).

                  4.02 MANDATORY REPAYMENTS.  (a) On any day on which the sum of
(I) the aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount of all Revolving  Loans (after
giving effect to all other repayments  thereof on such date), (II) the aggregate
outstanding  principal amount of all Swingline Loans (after giving effect to all
other  repayments  thereof on such date) and (III) the  aggregate  amount of all
Letter of Credit Outstandings exceeds the lesser of (x) the Total Revolving Loan
Commitment  at such time and (y) the  Borrowing  Base at such time (based on the
Borrowing Base Certificate  last  delivered),  the Borrower shall prepay on such
day the principal of Swingline  Loans and,  after all Swingline  Loans have been
repaid in full or if no Swingline Loans are  outstanding,  Revolving Loans in an


                                       21
<PAGE>

amount equal to such excess.  If, after giving  effect to the  prepayment of all
outstanding  Swingline Loans and Revolving  Loans,  the aggregate  amount of the
Letter of Credit Outstandings exceeds the lesser of (x) the Total Revolving Loan
Commitment  at such time and (y) the  Borrowing  Base at such time (based on the
Borrowing  Base  Certificate  last  delivered),  the  Borrower  shall pay to the
Administrative  Agent at the Payment Office on such day an amount of cash and/or
Cash  Equivalents  equal to the amount of such  excess  (up to a maximum  amount
equal to the Letter of Credit  Outstandings at such time), such cash and/or Cash
Equivalents  to be held as security for all  obligations  of the Borrower to the
Issuing  Lender and the Lenders  hereunder  in a cash  collateral  account to be
established by the Administrative Agent.

                  (b) In addition to any other mandatory  repayments pursuant to
this Section 4.02, on each date set forth below,  the Borrower shall be required
to repay that principal amount of Term Loans, to the extent then outstanding, as
is set forth opposite each such date below (each such repayment, as the same may
be  reduced  as  provided  in  Sections   4.01(a)  and  4.02(h),   a  "Scheduled
Repayment"):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   SCHEDULED REPAYMENT DATE                  AMOUNT
                   ------------------------                  ------
                   <S>                                       <C>                                            <C>
                   September 30, 2000                        $  500,000
                   December 31, 2000                         $  500,000
                   March 31, 2001                            $1,250,000
                   June 30, 2001                             $1,250,000
                   September 30, 2001                        $1,250,000
                   December 31, 2001                         $1,250,000
                   March 31, 2002                            $1,750,000
                   June 30, 2002                             $1,750,000
                   September 30, 2002                        $1,750,000
                   December 31, 2002                         $1,750,000
                   March 31, 2003                            $2,000,000
                   June 30, 2003                             $2,000,000
                   September 30, 2003                        $2,000,000
                   December 31, 2003                         $2,000,000
                   March 31, 2004                            $2,250,000
                   June 30, 2004                             $2,250,000
                   September 30, 2004                        $2,250,000
                   Term Loan Maturity Date                   $2,250,000
</TABLE>

                  (c) In addition to any other mandatory  repayments pursuant to
this Section  4.02,  within five  Business  Days after each date on or after the
Initial  Borrowing Date upon which Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  receives
any cash proceeds from any capital  contribution  or any sale or issuance of its
equity  (other than cash  proceeds  received (i) from the issuance by Holding of
shares  of its  common  stock  (including  as a result  of the  exercise  of any
options,  warrants  or rights with  respect  thereto),  or options,  warrants or
rights to  purchase  shares of its common  stock,  to  officers,  directors  and
employees of Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  in an aggregate  amount not to
exceed  $250,000 in any fiscal year of Holding,  (ii) to fund an Excluded Equity
Transaction or (iii) from equity  contributions to any Subsidiary of the Holding


                                       22
<PAGE>

to the extent made by Holding or another Subsidiary of Holding), an amount equal
to 50% of the Net  Equity  Proceeds  of  such  capital  contribution  or sale or
issuance  of equity  shall be applied on such date as a mandatory  repayment  of
principal of  outstanding  Term Loans in  accordance  with the  requirements  of
Sections 4.02(h) and (i).

                  (d) In addition to any other mandatory  repayments pursuant to
this  Section  4.02,  on each date on or after the Initial  Borrowing  Date upon
which  Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  receives any cash  proceeds from any
incurrence by Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries of  Indebtedness  for borrowed
money  (other than  Indebtedness  for  borrowed  money  permitted to be incurred
pursuant to Section 9.04 as such Section is in effect on the Effective Date), an
amount equal to 100% of the Net Debt  Proceeds of the  respective  incurrence of
Indebtedness shall be applied on such date as a mandatory repayment of principal
of  outstanding  Term Loans in  accordance  with the  requirements  of  Sections
4.02(h) and (i).

                  (e) In addition to any other mandatory  repayments pursuant to
this  Section  4.02,  on each date on or after the Initial  Borrowing  Date upon
which  Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  receives any cash  proceeds from any
Asset Sale, an amount equal to 100% of the Net Sale Proceeds  therefrom shall be
applied on such date as a mandatory  repayment of principal of outstanding  Term
Loans in accordance with the requirements of Sections 4.02(H) AND (I);  PROVIDED
that with respect to no more than  $3,000,000  in the aggregate of cash proceeds
from Asset Sales in any fiscal year of Holding  plus the Net Sale  Proceeds  (if
any) received from the Permitted  Singapore  Transaction,  the Net Sale Proceeds
therefrom  (in either  case) shall not be required to be so applied on such date
so long as no Default or Event of Default then exists and such Net Sale Proceeds
shall  be  used  to  purchase   replacement  assets  or  otherwise for   Capital
Expenditures  (in  either  case)  within  270  days  following  the  date of the
respective Asset Sale, and PROVIDED FURTHER,  that if all or any portion of such
Net Sale  Proceeds  not required to be applied to the  repayment of  outstanding
Term Loans as provided in this Section 4.02(e) are not so reinvested within such
270-day period (or such earlier date, if any, as the Borrower  determines not to
reinvest the Net Sale Proceeds  from such Asset Sale as set forth  above),  such
remaining  portion  shall be  applied  on the last day of such  period  (or such
earlier  date,  as the case may be) as a mandatory  repayment  of  principal  of
outstanding  Term Loans as provided above in this Section 4.02(e) without regard
to the preceding proviso.

                  (f) In addition to any other mandatory  repayments pursuant to
this Section  4.02,  on each Excess Cash Payment Date, an amount equal to 75% of
the Excess  Cash Flow for the  relevant  Excess  Cash  Payment  Period  shall be
applied as a mandatory  repayment  of  principal  of  outstanding  Term Loans in
accordance with the requirements of Sections 4.02(h) and (i).

                  (g) In addition to any other mandatory  repayments pursuant to
this Section 4.02,  within 10 days  following  each date on or after the Initial
Borrowing Date upon which Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  receives any cash
proceeds from any Recovery  Event (other than  Recovery  Events in which the Net
Insurance Proceeds therefrom do not exceed $250,000), an amount equal to 100% of
the Net  Insurance  Proceeds  from such  Recovery  Event  shall be  applied as a
mandatory  repayment of principal of outstanding  Term Loans in accordance  with
the  requirements  of  Sections  4.02(h)  and (i);  PROVIDED  that so long as no
Default or Event of Default then exists and such Net  Insurance  Proceeds do not
exceed  $3,000,000,  such Net Insurance  Proceeds shall not be required to be so


                                       23
<PAGE>

applied on such date to the extent that the Borrower has delivered a certificate
to the  Administrative  Agent on or prior to such  date  stating  that  such Net
Insurance  Proceeds shall be used to replace or restore any properties or assets
in  respect  of which  such Net  Insurance  Proceeds  were paid  within 270 days
following  the  date  of the  receipt  of such  Net  Insurance  Proceeds  (which
certificate shall set forth the estimates of the Net Insurance Proceeds to be so
expended),  and PROVIDED  FURTHER,  that (i) if the amount of such Net Insurance
Proceeds  exceeds  $3,000,000,  then the  entire  amount  of such Net  Insurance
Proceeds (and not just the portion of such Net  Insurance  Proceeds in excess of
$3,000,000)  shall  be  applied  as  a  mandatory   repayment  of  principal  of
outstanding Term Loans as provided above in this Section 4.02(g) and (ii) if all
or any portion of such Net Insurance  Proceeds not required to be applied to the
repayment of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to the preceding proviso are not so
used  within  270 days  after  the  date of the  receipt  of such Net  Insurance
Proceeds  (or such  earlier  date,  if any, as the  Borrower  determines  not to
reinvest the Net Insurance Proceeds relating to such Recovery Event as set forth
above),  such remaining  portion shall be applied on the last day of such period
(or such earlier date, as the case may be) as a mandatory repayment of principal
of  outstanding  Term Loans as provided  above in this Section  4.02(g)  without
regard to the preceding proviso.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the provisions
of this Section 4.02(g) with respect to any Net Insurance  Proceeds  received in
respect of a Recovery  Event for the Deer Park Facility  shall be subject to the
terms of the Existing Deer Park Mortgage so long as same remains in effect,  and
the  Borrower  may,  and  shall  use its best  efforts  to,  apply  all such Net
Insurance  Proceeds to restore the  respective  damage to the Deer Park Facility
and not to repay the Existing Deer Park Mortgage.

                  (h) Each amount required to be applied to the outstanding Term
Loans  pursuant to Sections  4.02(d) and (f) shall be applied to reduce the then
remaining  Scheduled  Repayments  on a PRO  RATA  basis  (based  upon  the  then
remaining  unpaid  principal  amounts of such Scheduled  Repayments after giving
effect to all prior reductions  thereto).  Each amount required to be applied to
the outstanding  Term Loans pursuant to Sections  4.02(c),  (e) and (g) shall be
applied (i) first,  in direct  order of maturity to those  Scheduled  Repayments
which will be due and  payable  within 12 months  after the date the  respective
repayment is otherwise required to be made pursuant to such Section 4.02(c), (e)
or (g),  as the case may be,  and (ii)  second,  to the  extent  that the amount
required to be so applied exceeds the amount to be applied pursuant to preceding
clause  (i), to reduce the then  remaining  Scheduled  Repayments  on a PRO RATA
basis (based upon the then remaining unpaid principal  amounts of such Scheduled
Repayments after giving to all prior reductions thereto).

                  (i) With respect to each  repayment of Loans  required by this
Section 4.02,  the Borrower may  designate the Types of Loans of the  respective
Tranche  which  are to be  repaid  and,  in the case of  Eurodollar  Loans,  the
specific  Borrowing or Borrowings of the  respective  Tranche  pursuant to which
made, PROVIDED that: (i) repayments of Eurodollar Loans pursuant to this Section
4.02 may only be made on the last day of an Interest Period  applicable  thereto
unless all  Eurodollar  Loans of the  respective  Tranche with Interest  Periods
ending  on such  date of  required  repayment  and all  Base  Rate  Loans of the
respective  Tranche have been paid in full;  (ii) if any repayment of Eurodollar
Loans  made  pursuant  to  a  single  Borrowing  shall  reduce  the  outstanding
Eurodollar  Loans made  pursuant  to such  Borrowing  to an amount less than the
Minimum   Borrowing  Amount   applicable   thereto,   such  Borrowing  shall  be


                                       24
<PAGE>

automatically  converted  into a Borrowing  of Base Rate  Loans;  and (iii) each
repayment  of any Loans made  pursuant to a Borrowing  shall be applied PRO RATA
among such Loans.  In the absence of a designation  by the Borrower as described
in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the above,
make such designation in its sole discretion.

                  (j) In addition to any other mandatory  repayments pursuant to
this Section 4.02, (i) all then outstanding Loans of any Tranche shall be repaid
in full on the  respective  Maturity  Date for such  Tranche  of Loans  and (ii)
unless the Required Lenders otherwise agree, all then outstanding Loans shall be
prepaid in full on the 15th day  after  the  date on which a Change  of  Control
occurs (it being  understood  that  nothing in this  clause (ii) shall limit the
rights of the Lenders  pursuant to Section 10 as a result of an Event of Default
under Section 10.10).

                  4.03  METHOD  AND  PLACE  OF  PAYMENT.   Except  as  otherwise
specifically  provided  herein,  all payments  under this Agreement or under any
Note shall be made to the Administrative  Agent for the account of the Lender or
Lenders  entitled  thereto not later than 1:00 P.M.  (New York time) on the date
when due and shall be made in  Dollars  in  immediately  available  funds at the
Payment  Office.  Whenever  any payment to be made  hereunder  or under any Note
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 at the  applicable  rate
during such extension.

                  4.04  NET  PAYMENTS.  (a) All  payments  made by the  Borrower
hereunder or under any Note will be made without  setoff,  counterclaim or other
defense.  Except as provided in Section 4.04(b),  all such payments will be made
free and clear of, and without  deduction  or  withholding  for,  any present or
future taxes, levies,  imposts,  duties,  fees,  assessments or other charges of
whatever nature now or hereafter imposed by any jurisdiction or by any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein with respect to such payments
(but excluding,  except as provided in the second succeeding  sentence,  any tax
imposed on or measured by the net income or profits of a Lender  pursuant to the
laws of the  jurisdiction in which it is organized or the  jurisdiction in which
the principal  office or applicable  lending office of such Lender is located or
any  subdivision  thereof or therein)  and all  interest,  penalties  or similar
liabilities with respect to such non-excluded taxes,  levies,  imposts,  duties,
fees,  assessments  or other  charges  (all  such  non-excluded  taxes,  levies,
imposts,   duties,  fees,   assessments  or  other  charges  being  referred  to
collectively  as "Taxes").  If any Taxes are so levied or imposed,  the Borrower
agrees to pay the full amount of such Taxes, and such additional  amounts as may
be  necessary so that every  payment of all amounts due under this  Agreement or
under any Note,  after  withholding or deduction for or on account of any Taxes,
will not be less than the amount  provided  for  herein or in such Note.  If any
amounts are payable in respect of Taxes pursuant to the preceding sentence,  the
Borrower  agrees to  reimburse  each  Lender,  upon the written  request of such
Lender,  for taxes  imposed on or  measured by the net income or profits of such
Lender  pursuant  to the  laws of the  jurisdiction  in  which  such  Lender  is
organized or in which the principal office or applicable  lending office of such
Lender is  located  or under  the laws of any  political  subdivision  or taxing
authority of any such jurisdiction in which such Lender is organized or in which
the principal office or applicable  lending office of such Lender is located and
for any  withholding of taxes as such Lender shall  determine are payable by, or
withheld from,  such Lender,  in respect of such amounts so paid to or on behalf
of such Lender pursuant to the preceding  sentence and in respect of any amounts


                                       25
<PAGE>

paid to or on behalf of such Lender pursuant to this sentence. The Borrower will
furnish to the Administrative Agent within 45 days after the date the payment of
any Taxes is due pursuant to  applicable  law  certified  copies of tax receipts
evidencing  such payment by the Borrower.  The Borrower  agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Lender,  and reimburse such Lender upon its written  request,
for the amount of any Taxes so levied or imposed and paid by such Lender.

                  (b) Each  Lender that is not a United  States  person (as such
term is defined in Section  7701(a)(30) of the Code) for U.S. Federal income tax
purposes  agrees to deliver to the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent on or
prior to the  Effective  Date or, in the case of a Lender that is an assignee or
transferee  of an interest  under this  Agreement  pursuant  to Section  1.13 or
13.04(b)   (unless  the  respective   Lender  was  already  a  Lender  hereunder
immediately  prior  to  such  assignment  or  transfer),  on the  date  of  such
assignment  or transfer to such Lender,  (i) two accurate and complete  original
signed  copies of Internal  Revenue  Service  Form  W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN  (with
respect to a complete exemption under an income tax treaty) (or successor forms)
certifying to such Lender's  entitlement as of such date to a complete exemption
from United  States  withholding  tax with  respect to payments to be made under
this  Agreement and under any Note, or (ii) if the Lender is not a "bank" within
the  meaning  of Section  881(c)(3)(A)  of the Code and  cannot  deliver  either
Internal  Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN (with respect to a complete
exemption  under an income tax  treaty)  (or any  successor  forms)  pursuant to
clause (i) above, (x) a certificate  substantially in the form of Exhibit D (any
such certificate,  a "Section 4.04(b)(ii) Certificate") and (y) two accurate and
complete  original  signed copies of Internal  Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (with
respect to the portfolio  interest  exemption) (or successor form) certifying to
such Lender's  entitlement  as of such date to a complete  exemption from United
States  withholding  tax with  respect to  payments of interest to be made under
this  Agreement  and under any Note.  In addition,  each Lender agrees that from
time to time  after  the  Effective  Date,  when a lapse  in time or  change  in
circumstances renders the previous  certification  obsolete or inaccurate in any
material   respect,   such  Lender  will   deliver  to  the   Borrower  and  the
Administrative  Agent two new accurate and complete  original  signed  copies of
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,  Form W-8BEN (with respect to the benefits
of any income tax treaty),  Form W-8BEN (with respect to the portfolio  interest
exemption) and a Section 4.04(b)(ii)  Certificate,  as the case may be, and such
other forms as may be required in order to confirm or establish the  entitlement
of such Lender to a  continued  exemption  from or  reduction  in United  States
withholding  tax with respect to payments  under this Agreement and any Note, or
such Lender shall immediately notify the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent
of its  inability  to deliver any such Form or  Certificate,  in which case such
Lender shall not be required to deliver any such Form or Certificate pursuant to
this Section  4.04(b).  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained in
Section 4.04(a), but subject to Section 13.04(b) and the immediately  succeeding
sentence, (x) the Borrower shall be entitled, to the extent it is required to do
so by law, to deduct or withhold  income or similar  taxes imposed by the United
States (or any political  subdivision  or taxing  authority  thereof or therein)
from interest,  Fees or other amounts  payable  hereunder for the account of any
Lender which is not a United  States  person (as such term is defined in Section
7701(a)(30) of the Code) for U.S. Federal income tax purposes to the extent that
such Lender has not provided to the Borrower U.S. Internal Revenue Service Forms
that establish a complete  exemption from such deduction or withholding  and (y)
the  Borrower  shall not be  obligated  pursuant to Section  4.04(a) to gross-up
payments to be made to a Lender in respect of income or similar taxes imposed by


                                       26
<PAGE>

the  United  States if (I) such  Lender has not  provided  to the  Borrower  the
Internal Revenue Service Forms required to be provided to the Borrower  pursuant
to this Section  4.04(b) or (II) in the case of a payment,  other than interest,
to a Lender described in clause (ii) above, to the extent that such Forms do not
establish a complete  exemption from withholding of such taxes.  Notwithstanding
anything to the  contrary  contained in the  preceding  sentence or elsewhere in
this  Section  4.04 and except as set forth in Section  13.04(b),  the  Borrower
agrees to pay any additional  amounts and to indemnify each Lender in the manner
set forth in Section 4.04(a) (without regard to the identity of the jurisdiction
requiring  the  deduction or  withholding)  in respect of any Taxes  deducted or
withheld by it as described in the immediately preceding sentence as a result of
any changes that are effective  after the Effective Date in any applicable  law,
treaty,   governmental  rule,   regulation,   guideline  or  order,  or  in  the
interpretation thereof, relating to the deducting or withholding of such Taxes.

                  SECTION  5.  CONDITIONS  PRECEDENT  TO  CREDIT  EVENTS  ON THE
INITIAL  BORROWING  DATE. The  obligation of each Lender to make Loans,  and the
obligation  of the  Issuing  Lender to issue  Letters of Credit,  on the Initial
Borrowing  Date,  is  subject  at the time of the  making  of such  Loans or the
issuance  of  such  Letters  of  Credit  to the  satisfaction  of the  following
conditions:

                  5.01 EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT; NOTES. On or prior to the Initial
Borrowing  Date, (i) the Effective Date shall have occurred and (ii) there shall
have been delivered to the  Administrative  Agent for the account of each of the
Lenders that has requested same the appropriate  Term Note and/or Revolving Note
executed by the Borrower and to the extent  requested by the  Swingline  Lender,
the  Swingline  Note  executed  by the  Borrower,  in each case,  in the amount,
maturity and as otherwise provided herein.

                  5.02 OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE. On the Initial Borrowing Date, the
Administrative  Agent  shall have  received  a  certificate,  dated the  Initial
Borrowing  Date and  signed on behalf of the  Borrower  by the  Chairman  of the
Board, the President or any Vice President of the Borrower, certifying on behalf
of the Borrower that all of the conditions in Sections 5.06, 5.07, 5.08 and 6.01
have been satisfied on such date.

                  5.03 OPINIONS OF COUNSEL.  On the Initial  Borrowing Date, the
Administrative  Agent shall have received (i) from Haynes & Boone,  LLP, counsel
to  the  Borrower,  an  opinion  addressed  to  the  Administrative  Agent,  the
Collateral  Agent and each of the Lenders and dated the Initial  Borrowing  Date
covering the matters set forth in Exhibit E and such other  matters  incident to
the transactions  contemplated herein as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
request,  and (ii) reliance letters addressed to the  Administrative  Agent, the
Collateral  Agent and each of the Lenders and dated the Initial  Borrowing  Date
with respect to the opinions  delivered  pursuant to the Acquisition  Agreement,
which reliance  letters and opinions  shall be in form and substance  reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.

                  5.04 CORPORATE DOCUMENTS; PROCEEDINGS; ETC. (a) On the Initial
Borrowing Date, the Administrative  Agent shall have received a certificate from
each Credit Party,  dated the Initial  Borrowing Date, signed by the Chairman of
the Board,  the  President  or any Vice  President  of such  Credit  Party,  and
attested to by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Credit Party, in
the form of Exhibit F with appropriate  insertions,  together with copies of the


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<PAGE>

certificate  of   incorporation   and  by-laws  (or  equivalent   organizational
documents)  of such  Credit  Party  and the  resolutions  of such  Credit  Party
referred to in such certificate,  and each of the foregoing shall be in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (it being understood
that,  in  any  event,  the  resolutions  of  the  Borrower  shall  contain  the
designations referred to in the third recital of this Agreement).

                  (b) All corporate and legal  proceedings  and all  instruments
and  agreements  in  connection  with  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement and the other Documents  shall be reasonably  satisfactory in form and
substance  to the  Administrative  Agent  and  the  Required  Lenders,  and  the
Administrative  Agent  shall have  received  all  information  and copies of all
documents and papers,  including records of corporate proceedings,  governmental
approvals, good standing certificates and bring-down telegrams or facsimiles, if
any, which the Administrative  Agent reasonably may have requested in connection
therewith, such documents and papers where appropriate to be certified by proper
corporate or governmental authorities.

                  5.05 PLANS;  SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENTS;  MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS;
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS; NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS; COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS;
TAX SHARING AGREEMENTS;  EXISTING  INDEBTEDNESS  AGREEMENTS.  On or prior to the
Initial  Borrowing Date,  there shall have been delivered to the  Administrative
Agent true and correct copies of the following documents:

                 (i) all Plans  (and for each Plan that is  required  to file an
         annual report on Internal Revenue Service Form  5500-series,  a copy of
         the most recent such report  (including,  to the extent  required,  the
         related  financial  and  actuarial  statements  and  opinions and other
         supporting statements, certifications,  schedules and information), and
         for each Plan that is a  "single-employer  plan," as defined in Section
         4001(a)(15) of ERISA, the most recently  prepared  actuarial  valuation
         therefor) and any other "employee benefit plans," as defined in Section
         3(3)  of  ERISA,   and  any  other   material   agreements,   plans  or
         arrangements, with or for the benefit of current or former employees of
         Holding or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA  Affiliates  (provided that
         the  foregoing  shall apply in the case of any  multiemployer  plan, as
         defined in Section  4001(a)(3)  of ERISA,  only to the extent  that any
         document  described  therein  is in  the  possession  of  Holding,  any
         Subsidiary of Holding or any ERISA Affiliate,  or reasonably  available
         thereto  from the  sponsor or trustee of any such Plan)  (collectively,
         the "Employee Benefits Plans");

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

               (iii) all  material  agreements  with members of, or with respect
         to, the management of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively,
         the "Management Agreements");

                (iv) all material employment  agreements entered into by Holding
         or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Employment Agreements");


                                       28
<PAGE>

                 (v) all non-compete  agreements  entered into by Holding or any
         of its Subsidiaries  which restrict the activities of Holding or any of
         its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Non-Compete Agreements");

                (vi) all collective  bargaining  agreements applying or relating
         to any  employee of Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  (collectively,
         the "Collective Bargaining Agreements");

               (vii)  all  tax  sharing,   tax   allocation  and  other  similar
         agreements   entered  into  by  Holding  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries
         (collectively, the "Tax Sharing Agreements"); and

              (viii) all agreements  evidencing or relating to  Indebtedness  of
         Holding or any of its Subsidiaries which is to remain outstanding after
         giving  effect  to  the   Transaction   (collectively,   the  "Existing
         Indebtedness Agreements");

all of  which  Employee  Benefit  Plans,  Shareholders'  Agreements,  Management
Agreements, Employment Agreements, Non-Compete Agreements, Collective Bargaining
Agreements, Tax Sharing Agreements and Existing Indebtedness Agreements shall be
in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent and
shall be in full force and effect on the Initial Borrowing Date.

                  5.06  CONSUMMATION  OF THE  TRANSACTION.  (a)  On the  Initial
Borrowing Date, the Acquisition  shall have been  consummated in accordance with
the  Acquisition  Documents and all applicable  laws, and each of the conditions
precedent to the consummation of the Acquisition as set forth in the Acquisition
Agreement  shall have been satisfied and not waived,  except with the consent of
the Administrative  Agent, to the reasonable  satisfaction of the Administrative
Agent.

                  (b) On the Initial  Borrowing  Date,  the Borrower  shall have
issued  the  Seller  Subordinated  Notes in the  aggregate  principal  amount of
$3,500,000.

                  (c) (i) On the Initial  Borrowing Date, the total  commitments
in respect of the Indebtedness to be Refinanced shall have been terminated,  and
all  loans  and notes  with  respect  thereto  shall  have  been  repaid in full
(together with interest thereon),  all letters of credit issued thereunder shall
have been terminated  (unless deemed to be issued hereunder  pursuant to Section
2.01(c))  and all other  amounts  (including  premiums)  owing  pursuant  to the
Indebtedness  to be Refinanced  shall have been repaid in full and all documents
in respect of the  Indebtedness to be Refinanced and all guarantees with respect
thereto shall have been  terminated  (except as to  indemnification  provisions,
which may survive to the extent provided therein) and be of no further force and
effect.

                  (ii) On the Initial  Borrowing  Date, the creditors in respect
of the  Indebtedness  to be Refinanced  shall have  terminated  and released all
security   interests   and  Liens  on  the  assets  owned  by  Holding  and  its
Subsidiaries.  The  Administrative  Agent shall have  received  such releases of
security  interests  in and  Liens  on the  assets  owned  by  Holding  and  its
Subsidiaries  as may have been  requested  by the  Administrative  Agent,  which
releases  shall  be  in  form  and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to  the
Administrative  Agent.  Without  limiting the  foregoing,  there shall have been
delivered  (i) proper  termination  statements  (Form  UCC-3 or the  appropriate


                                       29
<PAGE>

equivalent)  for filing  under the UCC of each  jurisdiction  where a  financing
statement (Form UCC-1 or the  appropriate  equivalent) was filed with respect to
Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  in connection  with the security  interests
created with respect to the Indebtedness to be Refinanced and the  documentation
related thereto,  (ii) termination or reassignment of any security  interest in,
or Lien on, any patents, trademarks, copyrights, or similar interests of Holding
or any of is Subsidiaries on which filings have been made, (iii) terminations of
all mortgages,  leasehold mortgages, deeds of trust and leasehold deeds of trust
created with respect to property of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries,  in each
case, to secure the obligations in respect of the Indebtedness to be Refinanced,
all of which  shall  be in form and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
Administrative  Agent,  and (iv) all  collateral  owned by Holding or any of its
Subsidiaries  in  the  possession  of any of the  creditors  in  respect  of the
Indebtedness  to be  Refinanced  or any  collateral  agent or trustee  under any
related  security   document  shall  have  been  returned  to  Holding  or  such
Subsidiary, as the case may be.

                  (d) On or prior to the  Initial  Borrowing  Date,  there shall
have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders true and correct
copies  of all  Documents  entered  into  in  connection  with  the  Transaction
(including,  without  limitation,  the  Acquisition  Documents  and  the  Seller
Subordinated Notes), and all of the terms and conditions of such Documents shall
be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and
the Required Lenders.

                  (e) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence,  in
form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to it, that the matters set forth in
Sections  5.06(a)  through (c) have been  satisfied as of the Initial  Borrowing
Date.

                  5.07  ADVERSE  CHANGE,  ETC.  (a) On or prior  to the  Initial
Borrowing  Date,  nothing shall have  occurred  (and neither the  Administrative
Agent nor any Lender  shall have  become  aware of any facts or  conditions  not
previously known) which the  Administrative  Agent or the Required Lenders shall
reasonably  determine  has had,  or could  reasonably  be  expected  to have,  a
Material   Adverse  Effect  or  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  business,
operations,   properties,   assets,   liabilities  or  condition  (financial  or
otherwise) of Landry.

                  (b) On or prior to the Initial  Borrowing  Date, all necessary
governmental (domestic and foreign) and third party approvals and/or consents in
connection with the Transaction and the other  transactions  contemplated by the
Documents and otherwise  referred to herein or therein (including the consent of
Bank One as the prior  lienholder  on the Deer Park  Facility)  shall  have been
obtained and remain in effect (other than  immaterial  consents  relating to the
Acquisition), and all applicable waiting periods with respect thereto shall have
expired  without  any  action  being  taken  by any  competent  authority  which
restrains,   prevents  or  imposes   materially   adverse  conditions  upon  the
consummation  of the Transaction or the other  transactions  contemplated by the
Documents or otherwise referred to herein or therein. On or prior to the Initial
Borrowing Date, there shall not exist any judgment,  order,  injunction or other
restraint  issued  or filed or a  hearing  seeking  injunctive  relief  or other
restraint  pending  or  notified  prohibiting  or  imposing  materially  adverse
conditions  upon the Transaction or the other  transactions  contemplated by the
Documents or otherwise referred to herein or therein.


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<PAGE>

                  5.08 LITIGATION. On the Initial Borrowing Date, there shall be
no actions,  suits or proceedings  pending or threatened (i) with respect to the
Transaction,   this   Agreement  or  any  other   Document  or  (ii)  which  the
Administrative  Agent or the Required Lenders shall  reasonably  determine could
reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect or a material  adverse
effect on the business, operations, properties, assets, liabilities or condition
(financial or otherwise) of Landry.

                  5.09 PLEDGE  AGREEMENT.  On the Initial  Borrowing  Date, each
Credit  Party shall have duly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  the Pledge
Agreement in the form of Exhibit G (as amended,  modified or  supplemented  from
time to time, the "Pledge Agreement") and shall have delivered to the Collateral
Agent, as Pledgee thereunder,  all of the Pledge Agreement  Collateral,  if any,
referred to therein and then owned by such Credit  Party,  (x) endorsed in blank
in the case of promissory notes constituting Pledge Agreement Collateral and (y)
together  with  executed and undated  stock powers in the case of capital  stock
constituting Pledge Agreement Collateral.

                  5.10 SECURITY  AGREEMENT.  On the Initial Borrowing Date, each
Credit Party shall have duly  authorized,  executed and  delivered  the Security
Agreement in the form of Exhibit H (as  modified,  supplemented  or amended from
time to time,  the  "Security  Agreement")  covering all of such Credit  Party's
present and future Security Agreement Collateral, together with:

                 (i) proper Financing  Statements (Form UCC-1 or the equivalent)
         fully  executed  for filing under the UCC or other  appropriate  filing
         offices of each  jurisdiction as may be necessary or, in the reasonable
         opinion of the  Collateral  Agent,  desirable  to perfect the  security
         interests purported to be created by the Security Agreement;

                (ii)  certified  copies of Requests  for  Information  or Copies
         (Form UCC-11), or equivalent  reports,  listing all effective financing
         statements  that name Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries as debtor and
         that are filed in the  jurisdictions  referred  to in clause (i) above,
         together  with  copies of such  other  financing  statements  that name
         Holding or any of its Subsidiaries as debtor (none of which shall cover
         any of the Collateral except to the extent  evidencing  Permitted Liens
         or in  respect  of which  the  Collateral  Agent  shall  have  received
         termination   statements   (Form  UCC-3)  or  such  other   termination
         statements  as shall  be  required  by local  law  fully  executed  for
         filing); and

               (iii)  evidence of the  completion  of all other  recordings  and
         filings  of, or with  respect  to,  the  Security  Agreement  as may be
         necessary  or,  in the  reasonable  opinion  of the  Collateral  Agent,
         desirable to perfect the security  interests  intended to be created by
         the Security Agreement.

                  5.11  SUBSIDIARIES  GUARANTY.  On the Initial  Borrowing Date,
each Subsidiary Guarantor shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered the
Subsidiaries  Guaranty  in the  form  of  Exhibit  I (as  amended,  modified  or
supplemented from time to time, the "Subsidiaries Guaranty").


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<PAGE>

                  5.12  MORTGAGE;  TITLE  INSURANCE;  SURVEY.   On  the  Initial
Borrowing Date, the Collateral Agent shall have received:

                  (a) fully  executed  counterparts  of a Mortgage,  in form and
         substance  reasonably  satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent, which
         Mortgage  shall  cover the Deer Park  Facility  owned by the  Borrower,
         together  with evidence  that  counterparts  of such Mortgage have been
         delivered  to the title  insurance  company  insuring  the Lien of such
         Mortgage for recording in all places to the extent necessary or, in the
         reasonable  opinion of the Collateral Agent  desirable,  to effectively
         create a valid and enforceable  first priority  mortgage lien,  subject
         only to  Permitted  Encumbrances  (including  the  Existing  Deer  Park
         Mortgage),  on such Mortgaged Property in favor of the Collateral Agent
         (or such other  trustee as may be required or desired  under local law)
         for the benefit of the Secured Creditors;

                  (b) a  Mortgagee  Policy  on the  Mortgage  for the Deer  Park
         Facility  issued  by a title  insurer  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
         Collateral  Agent and in an amount  equal to  $3,500,000,  assuring the
         Collateral  Agent that the  Mortgage  on such  Mortgaged  Property is a
         valid and  enforceable  first priority  mortgage lien on such Mortgaged
         Property,  free  and  clear  of all  defects  and  encumbrances  except
         Permitted Encumbrances (including the Existing Deer Park Mortgage), and
         such  Mortgage   Policy  shall  otherwise  be  in  form  and  substance
         reasonably  satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and shall include,  as
         appropriate,  an endorsement  for future  advances under this Agreement
         and the Notes and for any other matter that the Collateral Agent in its
         reasonable  discretion  may  reasonably  request,  shall not include an
         exception  for  mechanics'  liens,  and shall  provide for  affirmative
         insurance  and  such   reinsurance  as  the  Collateral  Agent  in  its
         discretion may reasonably request; and

                  (c)  a  recent  survey,  in  form  and  substance   reasonably
         satisfactory  to the  Collateral  Agent,  of the  Deer  Park  Facility,
         certified by a licensed professional  surveyor reasonably  satisfactory
         to the Collateral Agent.

                  5.13   FINANCIAL   STATEMENTS;   PRO  FORMA   BALANCE   SHEET;
PROJECTIONS. On or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent
shall  have  received  true and  correct  copies  of  the  historical  financial
statements,  the PRO FORMA financial  statements and the projections referred to
in Sections 7.05(a) AND (d), which historical  financial  statements,  PRO FORMA
financial  statements and Projections shall be in form and substance  reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.

                  5.14 SOLVENCY  CERTIFICATE;  INSURANCE  CERTIFICATES;  INITIAL
BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE.  On the Initial  Borrowing Date, the  Administrative
Agent shall have received:

                 (i)  a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer of
         Holding in the form of Exhibit J;

                (ii)  certificates of insurance  complying with the requirements
         of Section  8.03 for the  business  and  properties  of Holding and its
         Subsidiaries,  in form and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
         Administrative  Agent and naming the Collateral  Agent as an additional


                                       32
<PAGE>

         insured and as loss payee, and stating that such insurance shall not be
         canceled  without  at least 30 days prior  written  notice (or 10 days'
         prior written  notice  thereof in the case of nonpayment of premium) by
         the insurer to the Collateral Agent; and

               (iii)  the  initial   Borrowing  Base  Certificate   meeting  the
         requirements of Section 8.01(j).

                  5.15  SUBORDINATED   DEBT  COMPLIANCE.   (a)  On  the  Initial
Borrowing Date, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative  Agent a
certificate  of  the  Borrower's  chief  financial   officer   demonstrating  in
reasonable  detail (and showing the financial  calculations  therefor)  that the
full amount of the Term Loans and at least  $3,500,000 of Revolving Loans and at
least $2,260,000 of Letters of Credit may be incurred or issued (as the case may
be) on, and that the  Seller  Subordinated  Notes may be issued on, the  Initial
Borrowing  Date in accordance  with, and will not violate the provisions of, the
Senior  Subordinated  Note  Indenture,   including,  but  not  limited  to,  the
provisions of Section 4.09 thereof.

                  (b) On the Initial  Borrowing  Date,  the Borrower  also shall
have  delivered  to the trustee  under the Senior  Subordinated  Note  Indenture
resolutions  passed  by the  Borrower's  Board  of  Directors  designating  this
Agreement as "Designated Senior Debt" under, and as such term is defined in, the
Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.

                  5.16 SENIOR  LEVERAGE  COMPLIANCE.  On the  Initial  Borrowing
Date,  the  Borrower  shall  have  delivered  to  the  Administrative   Agent  a
certificate  of  the  Borrower's  chief  financial   officer   demonstrating  in
reasonable  detail (and showing the financial  calculations  therefor)  that the
Consolidated  Leverage Ratio on the Initial  Borrowing Date (and determined on a
PRO  FORMA  Basis,  but  excluding  from  the  calculation  thereof  the  Senior
Subordinated  Notes,  the  Seller  Subordinated  Notes  and the  Holding  Junior
Subordinated Notes) is no greater than 1.50:1.00.

                  5.17 FEES,  ETC. On the Initial  Borrowing  Date, the Borrower
shall have paid to the Administrative  Agent and each Lender all costs, fees and
expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) payable to the
Administrative Agent and such Lender to the extent then due.

                  SECTION 6.  CONDITIONS  PRECEDENT  TO ALL CREDIT  EVENTS.  The
obligation  of each  Lender to make Loans  (including  Loans made on the Initial
Borrowing  Date),  and the  obligation of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of
Credit  (including  Letters of Credit issued on the Initial  Borrowing Date), is
subject,  at  the  time  of  each  such  Credit  Event  (except  as  hereinafter
indicated), to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

                  6.01 NO DEFAULT;  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  At the time
of each such Credit Event and also after giving  effect  thereto (i) there shall
exist no Default or Event of Default and (ii) all representations and warranties
contained  herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in
all material  respects with the same effect as though such  representations  and
warranties  had been made on the date of such Credit Event (it being  understood
and agreed that any  representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of
a  specified  date shall be  required  to be true and  correct  in all  material
respects only as of such specified date).


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<PAGE>

                  6.02 NOTICE OF BORROWING;  LETTER OF CREDIT REQUEST. (a) Prior
to the making of each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan or a Revolving Loan made
pursuant to a Mandatory Borrowing), the Administrative Agent shall have received
a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section 1.03(a).  Prior to the
making of each  Swingline  Loan,  the  Swingline  Lender shall have received the
notice referred to in Section 1.03(b)(i).

                  (b)  Prior to the  issuance  of each  Letter  of  Credit,  the
Administrative  Agent and the  Issuing  Lender  shall have  received a Letter of
Credit Request meeting the requirements of Section 2.03(a).

                  The  acceptance  of the  benefits of each  Credit  Event shall
constitute a representation  and warranty by each of Holding and the Borrower to
the  Administrative  Agent  and  each of the  Lenders  that  all the  conditions
specified in Section 5 (with respect to Credit  Events on the Initial  Borrowing
Date) and in this  Section  6 (with  respect  to  Credit  Events on or after the
Initial  Borrowing  Date) and  applicable  to such Credit Event exist as of that
time. All of the Notes,  certificates,  legal  opinions and other  documents and
papers  referred  to in  Section  5 and in  this  Section  6,  unless  otherwise
specified,  shall be delivered to the Administrative  Agent at the Notice Office
for the account of each of the Lenders and,  except for the Notes, in sufficient
counterparts  or copies for each of the Lenders  (except for the documents to be
delivered  pursuant  to  Section  5.05)  and  shall  be in  form  and  substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.

                  SECTION 7.  REPRESENTATIONS,  WARRANTIES  AND  AGREEMENTS.  In
order to induce the Lenders to enter into this  Agreement and to make the Loans,
and issue (or participate in) the Letters of Credit as provided herein,  each of
Holding and the Borrower  makes the following  representations,  warranties  and
agreements,  in each case after giving effect to the  Transaction,  all of which
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes and the
making  of the  Loans  and the  issuance  of the  Letters  of  Credit,  with the
occurrence  of each Credit  Event on or after the Initial  Borrowing  Date being
deemed to constitute a representation and warranty that the matters specified in
this  Section 7 are true and correct in all  material  respects on and as of the
Initial Borrowing Date and on the date of each such other Credit Event (it being
understood and agreed that any  representation or warranty which by its terms is
made as of a  specified  date shall be  required  to be true and  correct in all
material respects only as of such specified date).

                  7.01  ORGANIZATIONAL  STATUS.  Each of Holding and each of its
Subsidiaries  (i)  is  a  duly  organized  and  validly  existing   corporation,
partnership or limited liability  company,  as the case may be, in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization,  (ii) has the corporate,
partnership or limited  liability  company power and authority,  as the case may
be, to own its  property  and assets and to transact the business in which it is
engaged  and  presently  proposes to engage and (iii) is duly  qualified  and is
authorized to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
ownership,  leasing or  operation of its property or the conduct of its business
requires  such  qualifications  except for  failures to be so  qualified  which,
either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  7.02 POWER AND AUTHORITY. Each Credit Party has the corporate,
partnership or limited  liability  company power and authority,  as the case may
be, to execute,  deliver and  perform  the terms and  provisions  of each of the


                                       34
<PAGE>

Documents  to  which  it  is  party  and  has  taken  all  necessary  corporate,
partnership  or  limited  liability  company  action,  as the  case  may be,  to
authorize  the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  by it of  each  of  such
Documents.  Each  Credit  Party  has duly  executed  and  delivered  each of the
Documents  to which it is  party,  and each of such  Documents  constitutes  its
legal,  valid and binding  obligation  enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except  to  the  extent  that  the  enforceability  thereof  may be  limited  by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or other similar
laws  generally  affecting   creditors'  rights  and  by  equitable   principles
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).

                  7.03  NO  VIOLATION.   Neither  the  execution,   delivery  or
performance  by any Credit Party of the  Documents  to which it is a party,  nor
compliance by it with the terms and provisions thereof,  (i) will contravene any
provision of any law, statute, rule or regulation or any order, writ, injunction
or decree of any court or governmental instrumentality,  (ii) will conflict with
or result in any breach of any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions
of, or  constitute a default  under,  or result in the creation or imposition of
(or the  obligation  to create  or  impose)  any Lien  (except  pursuant  to the
Security  Documents) upon any of the property or assets of Holding or any of its
Subsidiaries  pursuant to the terms of any indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust,
credit agreement or loan agreement, or any other material agreement, contract or
instrument,  in each case to which Holding or any of its 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  certificate  or articles of
incorporation or by-laws (or equivalent  organizational documents) of Holding or
any of its Subsidiaries.

                  7.04  APPROVALS.   No  order,  consent,   approval,   license,
authorization  or  validation  of, or filing,  recording  or  registration  with
(except for those that have  otherwise  been obtained or made on or prior to the
Initial  Borrowing Date and which remain in full force and effect on the Initial
Borrowing  Date), or exemption by, any governmental or public body or authority,
or any  subdivision  thereof,  is  required  to  authorize,  or is  required  in
connection with, (i) the execution,  delivery and performance of any Document or
(ii) the  legality,  validity,  binding  effect  or  enforceability  of any such
Document.

                  7.05 FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS;  FINANCIAL CONDITION;  UNDISCLOSED
LIABILITIES; PROJECTIONS; ETC. (a)(i) The consolidated balance sheets of each of
Holding and the  Borrower  for their fiscal years ended on December 31, 1998 and
December 31, 1997 and for the nine month  period  ended on  September  30, 1999,
respectively,  and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and
stockholders'  equity of each of Holding and the Borrower for their fiscal years
or nine month  period ended on such dates,  as the case may be,  copies of which
have been furnished to the Lenders prior to the Initial Borrowing Date,  present
fairly in all material respects the consolidated  financial  position of each of
Holding  and  the  Borrower  at  the  dates  of  such  balance  sheets  and  the
consolidated  results of the  operations of each of Holding and the Borrower for
the  periods  covered  thereby.   All  of  the  foregoing  historical  financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting
principles  consistently applied (except, in the case of the aforementioned nine
month interim  financial  statements,  for normal year-end audit adjustments and
the absence of footnotes).


                                       35
<PAGE>

                  (ii) The balance  sheets of Landry for its fiscal  years ended
on February  28, 1999 and February 28, 1998 and for the seven month period ended
on September 30, 1999, respectively,  and the related statements of income, cash
flows and  stockholders'  equity of Landry for the fiscal  years or seven  month
period  ended on such  dates,  as the case may be,  copies  of which  have  been
furnished to the Lenders prior to the Initial Borrowing Date,  present fairly in
all material  respects the  financial  position of Landry as of the date of such
balance  sheets and the  results  of the  operations  of Landry for the  periods
covered thereby.  All of the foregoing historical financial statements have been
prepared  in  accordance   with   generally   accepted   accounting   principles
consistently  applied  (except,  in the case of the  aforementioned  seven month
interim  financial  statements,  for normal  year-end audit  adjustments and the
absence of footnotes).

                  (iii) The  consolidated  balance  sheets of Valley Systems for
its fiscal  year ended on June 30,  1998 and for the six month  period  ended on
December 31, 1998,  respectively,  and the related  consolidated  statements  of
income,  cash flows and  shareholders'  equity of Valley  Systems for the fiscal
year or six month  period  ended on such  dates,  as the case may be,  copies of
which have been  furnished to the Lenders prior to the Initial  Borrowing  Date,
present fairly in all material respects the consolidated  financial  position of
Valley  Systems  as of the  date of such  balance  sheets  and the  consolidated
results of the operations of Valley Systems for the periods covered thereby. All
of  the  foregoing   historical  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in
accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles  consistently  applied
(except,  in  the  case  of  the  aforementioned  six  month  interim  financial
statements, for normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes).

                  (IV) THE PRO FORMA consolidated  balance sheet of the Borrower
as of  September  30,  1999  (after  giving  effect to the  Transaction  and the
financing  therefor) and the related PRO FORMA consolidated  statement of income
of the Borrower for the  twelve-month  period ended on September 30, 1999 (after
giving  effect  to the  Transaction,  the  Valley  Systems  Acquisition  and the
financing  therefor  and  assuming  that same had  occurred on October 1, 1998),
copies  of which  have  been  furnished  to the  Lenders  prior  to the  Initial
Borrowing  Date,   present  fairly  in  all  material  respects  the  PRO  FORMA
consolidated financial position of the Borrower as of September 30, 1999 and the
PRO FORMA consolidated  results of the operations of the Borrower for the period
covered thereby.  ALL OF THE FOREGOING PRO FORMA financial  statements have been
prepared on a basis consistent with the historical  financial  statements of the
Borrower set forth in clause (a)(i) of this Section 7.05.

                  (v)  After  giving  effect  to the  Transaction  (but for this
purpose  assuming that the  Transaction  and the related  financing had occurred
prior to December 31, 1998),  since December 31, 1998,  there has been no change
in  the  business,  operations,   property,  assets,  liabilities  or  condition
(financial or otherwise) of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries  that has had, or
could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b) On and as of the Initial  Borrowing  Date and after giving
effect to the  Transaction and to all  Indebtedness  (including the Loans) being
incurred  or  assumed  and Liens  created by the  Credit  Parties in  connection
therewith  (i)  the  sum of the  assets,  at a fair  valuation,  of  each of the
Borrower on a stand-alone  basis and of Holding and its Subsidiaries  taken as a


                                       36
<PAGE>

whole will exceed its debts,  (ii) each of the Borrower on a  stand-alone  basis
and Holding and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole has not incurred and does not
intend to incur,  and does not  believe  that it will  incur,  debts  beyond its
ability to pay such debts as such debts  mature,  and (iii) each of the Borrower
on a stand-alone  basis and Holding and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole will
have sufficient capital with which to conduct its business. For purposes of this
Section  7.05(b),  "debt" means any liability on a claim,  and "claim" means (a)
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 (b) 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. The
amount of  contingent  liabilities  at any time shall be  computed as the amount
that,  in the light of all the facts and  circumstances  existing  at such time,
represents  the amount  that can  reasonably  be expected to become an actual or
matured liability in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

                  (c) Except for the  Transaction  or as fully  disclosed in the
financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.05(a), there were as of the
Initial  Borrowing Date no liabilities or obligations with respect to Holding or
any of its Subsidiaries of any nature  whatsoever  (whether  absolute,  accrued,
contingent or otherwise and whether or not due) which, either individually or in
the  aggregate,  could  reasonably be expected to be material to Holding and its
Subsidiaries  taken as a whole. As of the Initial  Borrowing Date and except for
the  Transaction,  neither  Holding nor the Borrower  knows of any basis for the
assertion  against it or any of its  Subsidiaries of any liability or obligation
of any nature whatsoever that is not fully disclosed in the financial statements
delivered  pursuant to Section  7.05(a)  which,  either  individually  or in the
aggregate,  could  reasonably  be  expected  to be  material  to Holding and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (d) The Projections  delivered to the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders prior to the Initial Borrowing Date have been prepared in good faith
and are  based  on  reasonable  assumptions,  and  there  are no  statements  or
conclusions in the Projections which are based upon or include information known
to Holding or the Borrower to be  misleading  in any  material  respect or which
fail to take into account material  information known to Holding or the Borrower
regarding the matters reported therein.  On the Initial Borrowing Date,  Holding
and the Borrower believe that the Projections are reasonable and attainable,  it
being recognized by the Lenders,  however,  that projections as to future events
are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual  results  during the period or
periods covered by the Projections may differ from the projected results.

                  7.06  LITIGATION.  There are no actions,  suits or proceedings
pending  or, to the best  knowledge  of  Holding  and the  Borrower,  threatened
against Holding or any of its Subsidiaries  that are, either  individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  7.07 TRUE AND  COMPLETE  DISCLOSURE.  All factual  information
(taken as a whole)  furnished  by or on behalf of  Holding  or the  Borrower  in
writing  to  the  Administrative   Agent  or  any  Lender  (including,   without
limitation,  all  information  contained in the Documents) for purposes of or in
connection  with this Agreement,  the other Credit  Documents or any transaction


                                       37
<PAGE>

contemplated herein or therein is, and all other such factual information (taken
as a whole)  hereafter  furnished  by or on behalf of Holding or the Borrower in
writing to the Administrative  Agent or any Lender 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 fact  necessary to make
such  information  (taken as a whole) not misleading in any material  respect at
such  time in  light of the  circumstances  under  which  such  information  was
provided.

                  7.08 USE OF PROCEEDS; MARGIN REGULATIONS.  (a) All proceeds of
the Term Loans will be used by the Borrower (i) to effect the Acquisition and to
repay  the  Indebtedness  to be  Refinanced  and (ii) to pay  fees and  expenses
related to the Transaction.

                  (b) All  proceeds  of the  Revolving  Loans and the  Swingline
Loans shall be used for the working  capital and general  corporate  purposes of
the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries;  PROVIDED  that up to,  but no more  than,
$5,000,000 of Revolving  Loans and Swingline  Loans in the aggregate may be used
for the purposes described in clause (a) of this Section 7.08.

                  (c) No part of any Credit Event (or the proceeds thereof) will
be used to  purchase  or carry  any  Margin  Stock or to extend  credit  for the
purpose of purchasing  or carrying any Margin  Stock.  Neither the making of any
Loan nor the use of the proceeds  thereof nor the occurrence of any other Credit
Event will violate or be inconsistent  with the provisions of Regulation T, U or
X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

                  7.09 TAX RETURNS AND PAYMENTS. Each of Holding and each of its
Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be timely filed all federal and state
income tax returns and all other material tax returns, domestic and foreign (the
"Returns"), required to be filed by it with respect to the income, properties or
operations of Holding and/or any of its Subsidiaries  (other than those, if any,
for which  extensions of time for filing have been  obtained in accordance  with
applicable  law). The Returns  accurately  reflect in all material  respects all
liability for taxes of Holding and its  Subsidiaries  as a whole for the periods
covered  thereby.  Each of Holding  and each of its  Subsidiaries  have paid all
taxes and  assessments  payable by them which have become due,  other than those
that are being  contested  in good  faith  and  adequately  disclosed  and fully
provided for on the  financial  statements  of Holding and its  Subsidiaries  in
accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles.  There is no action,
suit,  proceeding,  investigation,  audit,  or claim now pending or, to the best
knowledge of Holding and the Borrower threatened, by any authority regarding any
taxes relating to Holding or any of its Subsidiaries  that, either  individually
or in the  aggregate,  could  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a  material
liability  to Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries.  As of the Initial  Borrowing
Date,  neither Holding nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into an agreement
or waiver or been  requested to enter into an agreement or waiver  extending any
statute of limitations relating to the payment or collection of taxes of Holding
or any of its Subsidiaries,  or is aware of any  circumstances  that would cause
the taxable years or other taxable periods of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries
not to be subject to the normally  applicable  statute of  limitations.  Neither
Holding nor any of its Subsidiaries has provided,  with respect to themselves or
property  held by them,  any  consent  under  Section  341 of the Code.  None of
Holding or any of its Subsidiaries has incurred, or will incur, any material tax
liability  in  connection  with  the  Transaction  or  any  other   transactions
contemplated  hereby (it being understood that the  representation  contained in
this sentence does not cover any future tax liabilities of Holding or any of its


                                       38
<PAGE>

Subsidiaries  arising as a result of the  operation of their  businesses  in the
ordinary course of business).

                  7.10 COMPLIANCE WITH ERISA. (i) Schedule III sets forth, as of
the Initial Borrowing Date, each Plan. Except as disclosed on Schedule III, each
Plan (and each  related  trust,  insurance  contract or fund) is in  substantial
compliance  with its  terms and with all  applicable  laws,  including,  without
limitation,  ERISA and the Code;  except as disclosed on Schedule III, each Plan
(and each related trust, if any) which is intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service to the effect  that it meets the  requirements  of  Sections  401(a) and
501(a)  of the  Code;  no  Reportable  Event has  occurred;  no Plan  which is a
multiemployer  plan (as defined in Section  4001(a)(3) of ERISA) is insolvent or
in reorganization;  no Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability; no Plan (which is
not a multiemployer plan) which is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section
302 of ERISA has an accumulated funding  deficiency,  within the meaning of such
sections  of the Code or ERISA,  or has  applied  for or received a waiver of an
accumulated  funding  deficiency  or an  extension of any  amortization  period,
within the  meaning of Section  412 of the Code or Section  303 or 304 of ERISA;
all  contributions  required to be made with  respect to a Plan have been timely
made;  neither Holding nor any Subsidiary of Holding nor any ERISA Affiliate has
incurred any material liability to, or on account of, a Plan pursuant to Section
409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA or
Section  401(a)(29),  4971 or 4975 of the  Code or  expects  to  incur  any such
material liability under any of the foregoing sections with respect to any Plan;
no condition  exists which presents a material risk to Holding or any Subsidiary
of Holding or any ERISA  Affiliate  of  incurring a material  liability to or on
account of a Plan pursuant to the foregoing provisions of ERISA and the Code; no
proceedings  have been instituted to terminate or appoint a trustee  pursuant to
Title IV of ERISA to administer  any Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA;
no action, suit, proceeding, hearing, audit or investigation with respect to the
administration,  operation or the  investment  of assets of any Plan (other than
routine claims for benefits) is pending,  expected or threatened which is likely
to result in a material liability;  using actuarial  assumptions and computation
methods consistent with Part 1 of subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA, the aggregate
liabilities  of Holding and its  Subsidiaries  and its ERISA  Affiliates  to all
Plans which are multiemployer  plans (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA)
in the event of a  complete  withdrawal  therefrom,  as of the close of the most
recent  fiscal year of each such Plan ended prior to the date of the most recent
Credit Event,  would not exceed $250,000;  each group health plan (as defined in
Section 607(1) of ERISA or Section  4980B(g)(2) of the Code) which covers or has
covered employees or former employees of Holding,  any Subsidiary of Holding, or
any ERISA  Affiliate has at all times been operated in material  compliance with
the  provisions of Part 6 of subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and Section 4980B of
the Code;  no lien  imposed  under the Code or ERISA on the assets of Holding or
any Subsidiary of Holding or any ERISA Affiliate exists or is likely to arise on
account  of any Plan;  and  Holding  and its  Subsidiaries  do not  maintain  or
contribute to any employee  welfare  benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of
ERISA) which provides  benefits to retired  employees or other former  employees
(other than as  required  by Section  601 of ERISA) or any Plan the  obligations
with respect to which could reasonably be expected to, either individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (ii)  Each  Foreign   Pension  Plan  has  been  maintained  in
substantial  compliance with its terms and with the  requirements of any and all
applicable  laws,  statutes,   rules,   regulations  and  orders  and  has  been


                                       39
<PAGE>

maintained,   where  required,  in  good  standing  with  applicable  regulatory
authorities.  All  contributions  required to be made with  respect to a Foreign
Pension Plan have been timely made.  Neither Holding nor any of its Subsidiaries
has incurred any obligation in connection  with the termination of or withdrawal
from  any  Foreign  Pension  Plan.  The  present  value of the  accrued  benefit
liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Foreign Pension Plan,  determined
as of the end of  Holding's  most  recently  ended  fiscal  year on the basis of
actuarial assumptions,  each of which is reasonable,  did not exceed the current
value of the assets of such  Foreign  Pension  Plan  allocable  to such  benefit
liabilities.

                  7.11  THE  SECURITY  DOCUMENTS.  (a)  The  provisions  of  the
Security  Agreement are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for
the benefit of the Secured  Creditors a legal,  valid and  enforceable  security
interest in all right,  title and interest of the Credit Parties in the Security
Agreement  Collateral  described  therein,  and the  Collateral  Agent,  for the
benefit of the Secured  Creditors,  has (or will have upon the reregistration of
the  certificates of title for the Vacuum Trucks or the recordation of the Grant
of Security  Interest in U.S.  Trademarks,  Patents and  Copyrights as described
below) a fully  perfected  first lien on, and  security  interest in, all right,
title  and  interest  in all  of the  Security  Agreement  Collateral  described
therein,   subject  to  no  other  Liens  other  than   Permitted   Liens.   The
reregistration of the certificates of title for the Vacuum Trucks reflecting the
security  interest of the  Collateral  Agent in such Vacuum Trucks will create a
perfected  security  interest in such Vacuum Trucks.  The recordation of (x) the
Grant of  Security  Interest  in U.S.  Patents  and (y) the  Grant  of  Security
Interest in U.S.  Trademarks  in the  respective  form  attached to the Security
Agreement,  in each case in the  United  States  Patent  and  Trademark  Office,
together  with filings on Form UCC-1 made  pursuant to the  Security  Agreement,
will create,  as may be perfected by such filings and  recordation,  a perfected
security  interest in the United States  trademarks  and patents  covered by the
Security  Agreement,  and the  recordation of the Grant of Security  Interest in
U.S.  Copyrights in the form attached to the Security  Agreement with the United
States  Copyright  Office,  together with filings on Form UCC-1 made pursuant to
the Security  Agreement,  will  create,  as may be perfected by such filings and
recordation,  a  perfected  security  interest in the United  States  copyrights
covered by the Security Agreement.

                  (b) Upon the delivery of the Pledge  Agreement  Collateral  to
the  Collateral  Agent and assuming  the  continuous  possession  thereof by the
Collateral  Agent,  the security  interests  created in favor of the  Collateral
Agent, as Pledgee,  for the benefit of the Secured  Creditors,  under the Pledge
Agreement  constitute first priority  perfected security interests in the Pledge
Agreement Collateral  described in the Pledge Agreement,  subject to no security
interests  of any  other  Person.  Upon the  delivery  of the  Pledge  Agreement
Collateral  to the  Collateral  Agent and  assuming  the  continuous  possession
thereof by the Collateral  Agent, no filings or recordings are required in order
to perfect (or maintain the  perfection  or priority of) the security  interests
created in the Pledge Agreement Collateral under the Pledge Agreement.

                  (c) Each  Mortgage  creates,  as security for the  obligations
purported to be secured  thereby,  a valid and  enforceable  perfected  security
interest in and mortgage lien on the respective  Mortgaged  Property in favor of
the Collateral  Agent (or such other trustee as may be required or desired under
local law) for the  benefit of the Secured  Creditors,  superior to and prior to
the rights of all third Persons (except that the security  interest and mortgage


                                       40
<PAGE>

lien  created  on  such  Mortgaged  Property  may be  subject  to the  Permitted
Encumbrances  related  thereto)  and  subject  to no  other  Liens  (other  than
Permitted Liens related thereto).

                  7.12   REPRESENTATIONS   AND  WARRANTIES  IN  THE  ACQUISITION
DOCUMENTS.  All  representations  and  warranties  set forth in the  Acquisition
Documents were true and correct in all material respects at the time as of which
such representations and warranties were made (or deemed made) and shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of the Initial Borrowing Date as if such
representations  and warranties were made on and as of such date,  unless stated
to relate to a specific  earlier  date, in which case such  representations  and
warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier
date.

                  7.13 PROPERTIES.  All Real Property owned or leased by Holding
and each of its Subsidiaries as of the Initial Borrowing Date, and the nature of
the interest therein, is correctly set forth in Schedule IV. Each of Holding and
each of its  Subsidiaries  has  good  and  indefeasible  title  to all  material
properties owned by it, including all material property reflected in Schedule IV
and in the most recent historical  balance sheets referred to in Section 7.05(a)
(except as sold or otherwise disposed of since the date of such balance sheet in
the ordinary course of business or as permitted by the terms of this Agreement),
free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

                  7.14  CAPITALIZATION.  (a) On the Initial  Borrowing Date, the
authorized  capital stock of Holding  shall  consist of (i) 8,000,000  shares of
Class A common  stock,  $.00005 par value per share,  (ii)  5,000,000  shares of
Class B common stock,  $.00005 par value per share,  (iii)  1,000,000  shares of
Class C common stock,  $.00005 par value per share, and (iv) 5,000,000 shares of
Series A 13%  Cumulative  Preferred  Stock,  $.00005  par value  per share  (the
"Series A Preferred  Stock").  All  outstanding  shares of the capital  stock of
Holding have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
As of the  Initial  Borrowing  Date,  Holding  does  not  have  outstanding  any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for its capital stock or outstanding
any rights to subscribe for or to purchase,  or any options for the purchase of,
or any agreement providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, or any
calls,  commitments  or claims of any character  relating to, its capital stock,
except  (i) as set  forth in any  Shareholders'  Agreement  as in  effect on the
Initial  Borrowing  Date and (ii) for  options,  warrants and rights to purchase
shares of Holding's common stock which have been issued.

                  (b) On the Initial  Borrowing  Date,  the  authorized  capital
stock of the Borrower  shall consist of 1,000 shares of common  stock,  $.01 par
value per  share,  of which 100  shares  shall be issued  and  outstanding.  All
outstanding  shares  of the  capital  stock of the  Borrower  have been duly and
validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by Holding.  The
Borrower  does  not  have   outstanding  any  securities   convertible  into  or
exchangeable for its capital stock or outstanding any rights to subscribe for or
to purchase,  or any options for the purchase of, or any agreement providing for
the issuance  (contingent or otherwise) of, or any calls,  commitments or claims
of any character relating to, its capital stock.

                  7.15  SUBSIDIARIES.  As of the Initial Borrowing Date, Holding
has no Subsidiaries other than those Subsidiaries listed on Schedule V. Schedule
V  correctly  sets forth,  as of the  Initial  Borrowing  Date,  the  percentage
ownership  (direct or  indirect)  of  Holding in each class of capital  stock or
other equity of its Subsidiaries and also identifies the direct owner thereof.


                                       41
<PAGE>

                  7.16 COMPLIANCE  WITH STATUTES,  ETC. Each of Holding and each
of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable  statutes,  regulations
and orders of, and all  applicable  restrictions  imposed  by, all  governmental
bodies,  domestic or foreign,  in respect of the conduct of its business and the
ownership of its property (including,  without limitation,  applicable statutes,
regulations,  orders and restrictions  relating to  environmental  standards and
controls),  except such  noncompliances as could not, either  individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  7.17  INVESTMENT  COMPANY ACT.  Neither Holding nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is  an  "investment  company"  or  a  company  "controlled"  by an
"investment company,"  within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.

                  7.18 PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING  COMPANY ACT.  Neither Holding nor
any of its Subsidiaries is a "holding  company," or a "subsidiary  company" of a
"holding  company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary
company" of a "holding company" within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as amended.

                  7.19  ENVIRONMENTAL  MATTERS.  (a) Each of Holding and each of
its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and the
requirements of any permits issued under such  Environmental  Laws. There are no
pending  or, to the best  knowledge  of  Holding  and the  Borrower,  threatened
Environmental  Claims  against  Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any Real
Property  owned,  leased  or  operated  by  Holding  or any of its  Subsidiaries
(including  any such claim arising out of the  ownership,  lease or operation by
Holding or any of its Subsidiaries of any Real Property  formerly owned,  leased
or operated by Holding or any of its Subsidiaries but no longer owned, leased or
operated  by  Holding  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries).   There  are  no  facts,
circumstances,  conditions  or  occurrences  with  respect  to the  business  or
operations of Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or any Real Property  owned,
leased or operated by Holding or any of its Subsidiaries (including, to the best
knowledge of Holding and the Borrower,  any Real Property formerly owned, leased
or operated by Holding or any of its Subsidiaries but no longer owned, leased or
operated by Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries,  with  respect to the period of
time such Real  Property was owned,  leased or operated by Holding or any of its
Subsidiaries)  or,  to the best  knowledge  of  Holding  and the  Borrower,  any
property  adjoining  or  adjacent  to any  such  Real  Property  that  could  be
reasonably  expected  (i) to form the basis of an  Environmental  Claim  against
Holding  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any  Real  Property  owned,  leased  or
operated  by  Holding  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or (ii) to  cause  any  Real
Property owned,  leased or operated by Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries to be
subject  to  any   restrictions   on  the   ownership,   lease,   occupancy   or
transferability  of such Real  Property  by Holding  or any of its  Subsidiaries
under any applicable Environmental Law.

                  (b) Hazardous  Materials have not at any time been  generated,
used,  treated or stored on, or transported to or from, any Real Property owned,
leased or operated by Holding or any of its Subsidiaries  where such generation,
use,  treatment,  storage or transportation  has violated or could reasonably be
expected  to  violate  any  Environmental  Law or give rise to an  Environmental
Claim.  Hazardous  Materials  have not at any time been  Released on or from any
Real Property  owned,  leased or operated by Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries


                                       42
<PAGE>

where such Release has violated or could  reasonably  be expected to violate any
applicable Environmental Law or give rise to an Environmental Claim.

                  (c)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Section
7.19, the  representations and warranties made in this Section 7.19 shall not be
untrue  unless the effect of any or all  conditions,  violations,  Environmental
Claims,   Releases,   restrictions,   failures,   noncompliances,    events   or
circumstances of the types described above could,  either individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  7.20  LABOR   RELATIONS.   Neither  Holding  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  is engaged in any unfair labor  practice that could  reasonably be
expected to, either  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse
Effect.  There is (i) no unfair labor practice complaint pending against Holding
or any of its  Subsidiaries  or,  to the  best  knowledge  of  Holding  and  the
Borrower,  threatened  against any of them,  before the National Labor Relations
Board,  and no grievance or arbitration  proceeding  arising out of or under any
collective  bargaining  agreement  is so pending  against  Holding or any of its
Subsidiaries  or, to the best knowledge of Holding and the Borrower,  threatened
against any of them, (ii) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending
against Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of Holding
and the Borrower,  threatened  against  Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  and
(iii) no union  representation  question exists with respect to the employees of
Holding or any of its Subsidiaries, except (with respect to any matter specified
in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate)
such as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  7.21  PATENTS,  LICENSES,  FRANCHISES  AND  FORMULAS.  Each of
Holding  and  each of its  Subsidiaries  owns or has  the  right  to use all the
patents, trademarks, permits, service marks, trade names, copyrights,  licenses,
franchises,  proprietary  information  (including  but not  limited to rights in
computer  programs and  databases)  and formulas,  or rights with respect to the
foregoing, and has obtained assignments of all leases, licenses and other rights
of whatever nature,  necessary for the present conduct of its business,  without
any known  conflict  with the rights of others  which,  or the failure to obtain
which, as the case may be, could reasonably be expected,  either individually or
in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  7.22 INDEBTEDNESS.  Schedule VI sets forth a true and complete
list of all Indebtedness  (including Contingent  Obligations) of Holding and its
Subsidiaries as of the Initial Borrowing Date and which is to remain outstanding
after giving  effect to the  Transaction  (excluding  the Loans,  the Letters of
Credit,  the Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  the Seller  Subordinated  Notes,  the
Acquisition  Guaranty and the Holding Junior  Subordinated  Notes, the "Existing
Indebtedness"),  in each case showing the aggregate principal amount thereof and
the name of the respective borrower and Holding or any of its Subsidiaries which
directly or indirectly guarantees such debt.

                  7.23  TRANSACTION.  At the time of consummation  thereof,  the
Transaction  shall have been  consummated  in  accordance  with the terms of the
respective  Documents  and all  applicable  laws.  At the  time of  consummation
thereof,  all consents and approvals of, and filings and registrations with, and
all other  actions in respect  of, all  governmental  agencies,  authorities  or
instrumentalities  required in order to  consummate  the  Transaction  have been




                                       43
<PAGE>

obtained,  given, filed or taken and are or will be in full force and effect (or
effective  judicial relief with respect  thereto has been obtained)  (other than
immaterial consents relating to the Acquisition). All applicable waiting periods
with  respect  thereto  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 restrains, prevents, or imposes material adverse conditions upon
the  Transaction.  All  actions  taken by each  Credit  Party  pursuant to or in
furtherance  of the  Transaction  have been taken in all  material  respects  in
compliance with the respective Documents and all applicable laws.

                  7.24  INSURANCE.  Schedule  VII sets forth a true and complete
listing of all  property and casualty  insurance  maintained  by Holding and its
Subsidiaries as of the Initial Borrowing Date, with the amounts insured (and any
deductibles) set forth therein.

                  7.25 YEAR 2000. All Information Systems and Equipment are Year
2000 Compliant, except to the extent that the failure of any Information Systems
and  Equipment  to be  Year  2000  Compliant,  either  individually  or  in  the
aggregate,  could not reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect.
Further,  to the  extent  that  any  such  reprogramming,  remediation  or other
corrective  action is  required,  the cost  thereof  (as well as the cost of the
reasonably  foreseeable   consequences  of  the  failure  to  become  Year  2000
Compliant)  to Holding  and its  Subsidiaries  (including,  without  limitation,
reprogramming  errors and the failure of other systems or  equipment)  could not
reasonably  be expected to (x) result in a Default or an Event of Default or (y)
have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  7.26 SUBORDINATED NOTES; ETC. (a) The subordination provisions
contained in the Senior  Subordinated Notes and in the other Senior Subordinated
Note  Documents are  enforceable  against the  respective  Credit  Parties party
thereto and the holders of the Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  and all Obligations
and Guaranteed  Obligations (as defined in the Subsidiaries Guaranty) are within
the  definitions of "Designated  Senior Debt," "Senior Debt" and "Senior Debt of
the Subsidiary  Guarantor",  as the case may be, included in such  subordination
provisions.

                  (b)  The  subordination  provisions  contained  in the  Seller
Subordinated  Notes and the  Acquisition  Guaranty are  enforceable  against the
Borrower,  Holding  and  the  holders  of  the  Seller  Subordinated  Notes,  as
applicable,  and all Obligations and Guaranteed  Obligations (as defined in this
Agreement)  are  within  the  definition  of  "Senior  Debt"  included  in  such
subordination provisions.

                  (c) The  subordination  provisions  contained  in the  Holding
Junior Subordinated Notes are enforceable against Holding and the holders of the
Holding Junior Subordinated Notes, and all Guaranteed Obligations (as defined in
this Agreement) are within the definition of "Specified  Superior Debt" included
in such subordination provisions.

                  7.27 SPECIAL PURPOSE  CORPORATION.  Holding has no significant
assets (other than the capital  stock of the  Borrower) or material  liabilities
(other than those liabilities under the Credit Documents to which it is a party,
the Acquisition  Guaranty,  the Holding Junior  Subordinated  Notes,  the Seller
Subordinated Notes and as otherwise permitted by Section 9.15(b)).


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<PAGE>

                  SECTION 8.  AFFIRMATIVE  COVENANTS.  Each of  Holding  and the
Borrower  hereby  covenants and agrees that on and after the Effective  Date and
until the Total  Commitment  and all Letters of Credit have  terminated  and the
Loans,  Notes and Unpaid Drawings (in each case together with interest thereon),
Fees and all other  Obligations  (other than  indemnities  described  in Section
13.13 which are not then due and payable) incurred hereunder and thereunder, are
paid in full:

                  8.01 INFORMATION  COVENANTS.   Holding  will  furnish  to each
Lender:

                  (A)  MONTHLY  REPORTS.  Within  30 days  after the end of each
fiscal  month of the  Borrower  (commencing  with its  fiscal  month  ending  on
November  30,  1999),  the  consolidated  balance  sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  as at the end of such fiscal  month and the  related  consolidated
statements  of  income  and,  to the  extent  prepared,  retained  earnings  and
statement of cash flows for such fiscal month and for the elapsed portion of the
fiscal year ended with the last day of such fiscal  month,  in each case setting
forth comparative figures for the corresponding fiscal month in the prior fiscal
year and comparable  budgeted figures for such fiscal month as and to the extent
provided in the respective budget delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(e),  all of
which shall be certified  by the chief  financial  officer of the Borrower  that
they fairly  present in all  material  respects  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles the financial condition of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as of the dates  indicated and the results of their  operations for
the periods  indicated,  subject to normal  year-end audit  adjustments  and the
absence of footnotes.

                  (B) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.  Within 50 days after the
close of the first  three  quarterly  accounting  periods in each fiscal year of
Holding,  (i) the consolidated  balance sheet of Holding and its Subsidiaries as
at the end of such  quarterly  accounting  period and the  related  consolidated
statements of income and retained  earnings and statement of cash flows for such
quarterly accounting period and for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended
with the last day of such  quarterly  accounting  period,  in each case  setting
forth  comparative  figures for the related periods in the prior fiscal year and
comparable  budgeted figures for such quarterly  accounting period as and to the
extent provided in the respective budget delivered  pursuant to Section 8.01(e),
all of which shall be certified by the chief  financial  officer of Holding that
they fairly  present in all  material  respects  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  the  financial  condition  of Holding  and its
Subsidiaries as of the dates  indicated and the results of their  operations for
the periods  indicated,  subject to normal  year-end audit  adjustments  and the
absence  of   footnotes,   and  (ii)  with  respect  to  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries,  management's  discussion and analysis of the material operational
and financial developments during such quarterly accounting period.

                  (C)  ANNUAL  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.  Within 100 days after the
close of each fiscal  year of Holding,  (i) the  consolidated  balance  sheet of
Holding and its  Subsidiaries  as at the end of such fiscal year and the related
consolidated  statements  of income and retained  earnings and statement of cash
flows for such fiscal year setting forth  comparative  figures for the preceding
fiscal year and audited by Ernst & Young LLP or such other independent certified
public accountants of recognized national standing reasonably  acceptable to the
Administrative  Agent,  together with a report of such  accounting  firm stating
that in the course of its regular audit of the  financial  statements of Holding


                                       45
<PAGE>

and its  Subsidiaries,  which audit was conducted in accordance  with  generally
accepted auditing  standards,  such accounting firm obtained no knowledge of any
Default or an Event of Default relating to accounting or financial matters which
has occurred and is  continuing  or, if in the opinion of such  accounting  firm
such a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing,  a statement
as to the  nature  thereof,  and  (ii)  with  respect  to the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries,  management's  discussion and analysis of the material operational
and financial developments during such fiscal year.

                  (D) MANAGEMENT LETTERS. Promptly after Holding's or any of its
Subsidiaries'  receipt thereof, a copy of any "management  letter" received from
its certified  public  accountants,  and promptly  after  management's  response
thereto, a copy of such response.

                  (E) BUDGETS.  No later than 30 days following the first day of
each fiscal year of Holding,  a budget in form  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
Administrative  Agent  prepared by Holding  including (i) for each of the twelve
months of such fiscal year,  budgeted  statements of income  prepared in detail,
(ii) for each of the four  quarterly  accounting  periods of such  fiscal  year,
budgeted  statements of cash flows and balance  sheets  prepared in detail,  and
(iii) for each of the  immediately  three  succeeding  fiscal  years ,  budgeted
statements  of income and cash  flows,  and balance  sheets  prepared in summary
form, in each case setting forth,  with  appropriate  discussion,  the principal
assumptions upon which such budgets are based.

                  (F) OFFICER'S CERTIFICATES. (A) At the time of the delivery of
the financial statements provided for in Sections 8.01(b) and (c), a certificate
of the chief financial officer of Holding in the form of Exhibit K certifying on
behalf  of  Holding  that,  to the best of such  officer's  knowledge  after due
inquiry,  no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing  or, if
any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing,  specifying the
nature and extent thereof,  which  certificate shall (i) set forth in reasonable
detail  the  calculations   required  to  establish   whether  Holding  and  its
Subsidiaries  were in  compliance  with  the  provisions  of  Sections  4.02(c),
4.02(e), 4.02(f) (to the extent delivered with the financial statements required
by Section 8.01(c)), 4.02(g), 9.01(x),  9.01(xii),  9.02(iv), 9.02(v), 9.02(vi),
9.03(iii),  9.03(iv), 9.04, 9.05 and 9.07 through 9.11, inclusive, at the end of
such  fiscal  quarter or year,  as the case may be, (ii) if  delivered  with the
financial statements required by Section 8.01(c), set forth in reasonable detail
the amount of (and the calculations  required to establish the amount of) Excess
Cash Flow for the respective  Excess Cash Payment Period,  and (iii) set forth a
list of all  Subsidiaries of the Borrower as of the date of such certificate and
an update to Annexes A through F of the Security Agreement and Annexes B through
E of the Pledge Agreement as of the date of such certificate.

                  (B) At the time of the  delivery of the  financial  statements
provided for in Sections 8.01(b) and (c), a schedule of all of the Vacuum Trucks
owned by the Borrower or any of the  Subsidiary  Guarantors as of the end of the
fiscal quarter most recently  ended,  which schedule shall specify (i) the state
in which each such Vacuum Truck is registered or titled, (ii) whether a security
interest  has been  recorded  on the  certificate  of title for each such Vacuum
Truck in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors,
(iii) whether the  certificate  of title for each such Vacuum Truck (as modified
to reflect  the  security  interest in favor of the  Collateral  Agent) has been
reregistered  with the appropriate state  governmental  agency (and, if not, the
date by which such  reregistration  must be  accomplished in accordance with the


                                       46
<PAGE>

terms of the Security  Agreement),  and (iv) each Vacuum  Truck  listed  thereon
acquired  since the Initial  Borrowing  Date or the date of the  delivery of the
previous schedule pursuant to this Section 8.01(f)(B), as the case may be.

                  (G) NOTICE OF DEFAULT, LITIGATION AND MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT.
Promptly,  and in any event  within  five  Business  Days  after any  officer of
Holding or the Borrower obtains knowledge thereof,  notice of (i) the occurrence
of any event  which  constitutes  a  Default  or an Event of  Default,  (ii) any
litigation  or  governmental  investigation  or  proceeding  pending (x) against
Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  which  could  reasonably  be expected to be
material or (y) with respect to any Document or (iii) any other event, change or
circumstance  that has had, or could  reasonably be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect.

                  (H) OTHER  REPORTS AND FILINGS.  Promptly  after the filing or
delivery  thereof,  copies of all  financial  information,  proxy  materials and
reports,  if any, which Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall publicly file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto (the "SEC")
or deliver to holders (or any trustee,  agent or other representative  therefor)
of its  material  Indebtedness  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  the  documentation
governing such Indebtedness.

                  (I)  ENVIRONMENTAL  MATTERS.  Promptly  after any  officer  of
Holding or the Borrower obtains knowledge thereof,  notice of one or more of the
following  environmental matters to the extent that such environmental  matters,
either  individually  or when  aggregated  with  all  other  such  environmental
matters, could reasonably be expected to be material:

                 (i) any  pending  or  threatened  Environmental  Claim  against
         Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries or any Real Property owned,  leased
         or operated by Holding or any of its Subsidiaries;

                (ii) any  condition  or  occurrence  on or arising from any Real
         Property   owned,   leased  or  operated  by  Holding  or  any  of  its
         Subsidiaries that (a) results in noncompliance by Holding or any of its
         Subsidiaries  with any  applicable  Environmental  Law or (b)  could be
         expected to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Holding or
         any of its Subsidiaries or any such Real Property;

               (iii) any condition or  occurrence  on any Real  Property  owned,
         leased or operated by Holding or any of its Subsidiaries  that could be
         expected to cause such Real Property to be subject to any  restrictions
         on the ownership,  lease, occupancy,  use or transferability by Holding
         or  any  of  its   Subsidiaries   of  such  Real  Property   under  any
         Environmental Law; and

                (iv) the taking of any removal or remedial action in response to
         the actual or alleged  presence of any  Hazardous  Material on any Real
         Property   owned,   leased  or  operated  by  Holding  or  any  of  its
         Subsidiaries as required by any  Environmental  Law or any governmental
         or other  administrative  agency;  PROVIDED  that in any event  Holding
         shall deliver to each Lender all notices  received by Holding or any of
         its Subsidiaries  from any government or governmental  agency under, or
         pursuant to, CERCLA which identify  Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries


                                       47
<PAGE>

         as potentially responsible parties or which otherwise notify Holding or
         any of its Subsidiaries of potential liability under CERCLA.

All such notices shall  describe in  reasonable  detail the nature of the claim,
investigation, condition, occurrence or removal or remedial action and Holding's
or such Subsidiary's response thereto.

                  (J) BORROWING BASE  CERTIFICATE.  (x) On the Initial Borrowing
Date,  (y) not later than 3:00 P.M.  (New York time) on the  thirtieth day after
the last day each fiscal  month of Holding  thereafter,  and (z) prior to, or at
the time of, the  consummation  of any Permitted  Acquisition,  a borrowing base
certificate  in the form of Exhibit L (each,  a "Borrowing  Base  Certificate"),
which shall be prepared (A) as of September 30, 1999 (giving PRO FORMA effect to
the Acquisition) in the case of the initial Borrowing Base  Certificate,  (B) as
of the last day of the preceding  fiscal month (or, in the case of February,  as
of the last day of the second  preceding  fiscal  month to the  extent  that the
respective  Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered on March 1 or 2, as the case
may be) in the  case of each  subsequent  monthly  Borrowing  Base  Certificate,
provided that with respect to the Borrowing Base  Certificate to be delivered in
respect  of  the  Borrower's  fiscal  month  ended  on  October  31,  1999,  the
information  included  thereon for Landry need only include the  information for
Landry as of September 30, 1999, and (C) as of the last day of the most recently
ended fiscal  month for which  information  is  available  for each Credit Party
(including   any  Person  (or  assets)   acquired  as  part  of  such  Permitted
Acquisition)  in the  case of  each  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  delivered  in
connection  with a Permitted  Acquisition,  in each case  certified by the chief
financial officer of Holding.

                  (K)  OTHER   INFORMATION.   From  time  to  time,  such  other
information or documents (financial or otherwise) with respect to Holding or any
of its  Subsidiaries  as the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender may reasonably
request.

                  8.02 BOOKS, RECORDS AND INSPECTIONS; RECEIVABLES AND INVENTORY
AUDIT.  Holding will,  and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to, keep proper
books of  record  and  accounts  in which  full,  true and  correct  entries  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and all requirements of
law shall be made of all dealings and  transactions  in relation to its business
and activities. Holding will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit
officers  and  designated  representatives  of the  Administrative  Agent or any
Lender to visit and  inspect,  under  guidance  of  officers  of Holding or such
Subsidiary,  any of the properties of Holding or such Subsidiary (subject to the
Administrative  Agent's or such Lender's compliance with any safety and security
procedures for sites owned or operated by any  unaffiliated  third Person and on
which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries operate), and to examine the books
of account of Holding or such  Subsidiary and discuss the affairs,  finances and
accounts of Holding or such  Subsidiary  with, and be advised as to the same by,
its and their officers and independent  accountants,  all upon reasonable  prior
notice and at such reasonable times and intervals and to such reasonable  extent
as the Administrative  Agent or such Lender may reasonably request. In addition,
Holding  will,  and  will  cause  each  of its  Subsidiaries  to,  permit,  upon
reasonable prior notice to Holding or the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (or
an independent  consultant retained by the Administrative  Agent) to conduct, at
Holding's and the Borrower's  expense,  an audit of the accounts  receivable and
inventory of the Credit Parties at such times (but no more  frequently than once


                                       48
<PAGE>

a year unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be  continuing) as the
Administrative Agent shall reasonably require.

                  8.03 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY; INSURANCE. (a) Holding will, and
will cause each of its Subsidiaries  to, (i) keep all property  necessary to the
business of Holding and its  Subsidiaries  in reasonably  good working order and
condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, (ii) maintain with financially sound
and  reputable  insurance  companies  insurance on all such property in at least
such amounts and against at least such risks as is consistent  and in accordance
with  industry  practice  for  companies   similarly   situated  owning  similar
properties in the same general areas in which Holding or any of its Subsidiaries
operates,  and (iii) furnish to the Administrative Agent, together with each set
of financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(c),  full information
as to the insurance  carried.  At any time that insurance at or above the levels
described on Schedule VII is not being  maintained by Holding or any  Subsidiary
of Holding,  Holding will, or will cause one of its  Subsidiaries  to,  promptly
notify  the  Administrative  Agent in  writing  and,  if  thereafter  reasonably
requested by the Administrative  Agent or the Required Lenders to do so, Holding
or any such Subsidiary,  as the case may be, shall obtain such insurance at such
levels and coverage  which are at least as great as those  described in Schedule
VII to the extent such insurance is available at commercially reasonable rates.

                  (b) Holding will, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries to,
at all times keep its property insured in favor of the Collateral Agent, and all
policies or  certificates  (or  certified  copies  thereof) with respect to such
insurance  (and any other property or casualty  insurance  maintained by Holding
and/or  such  Subsidiaries)  (i) shall be  endorsed  to the  Collateral  Agent's
satisfaction  for  the  benefit  of the  Collateral  Agent  (including,  without
limitation,  by naming  the  Collateral  Agent as loss payee  and/or  additional
insured),  (ii) shall state that such  insurance  policies shall not be canceled
without  at least 30 days'  prior  written  notice  thereof  (or 10 days'  prior
written  notice  thereof in the case of nonpayment of premium) by the respective
insurer  to the  Collateral  Agent,  (iii)  shall  provide  that the  respective
insurers irrevocably waive any and all rights of subrogation with respect to the
Collateral  Agent and the other Secured  Creditors,  and (iv) shall be deposited
with the Collateral Agent.

                  (c) If Holding or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to insure
its property in  accordance  with this Section 8.03, or if Holding or any of its
Subsidiaries  shall fail to so endorse and deposit all policies or  certificates
with respect thereto,  the Administrative  Agent shall have the right (but shall
be under no  obligation)  to procure such insurance and Holding and the Borrower
agree to  reimburse  the  Administrative  Agent  for all  reasonable  costs  and
expenses of procuring such insurance.

                  8.04 EXISTENCE;  FRANCHISES. Holding 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  and its  material  rights,
franchises,  licenses  and  patents;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that  nothing in this
Section 8.04 shall prevent (i) sales of assets and other transactions by Holding
or  any of its  Subsidiaries  in  accordance  with  Section  9.02  or  (ii)  the
withdrawal  by  Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  of its  qualification  as a
foreign  corporation in any jurisdiction where such withdrawal could not, either
individually  or in the  aggregate,  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.


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<PAGE>

                  8.05  COMPLIANCE  WITH STATUTES,  ETC.  Holding 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),  except such  noncompliances as could not, either  individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  8.06  COMPLIANCE  WITH  ENVIRONMENTAL  LAWS.  (a) Holding will
comply,   and  will  cause  each  of  its  Subsidiaries  to  comply,   with  all
Environmental  Laws and permits  applicable  to, or required by, the  ownership,
lease or use of all Real Property now or hereafter owned,  leased or operated by
Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries,  except such  noncompliances  as could not,
either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
Material Adverse Effect, and will promptly pay or cause to be paid all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with such compliance,  and will keep or cause to
be kept all such Real Property  free and clear of any Liens imposed  pursuant to
such  Environmental  Laws.  Neither  Holding  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  will
generate, use, treat, store or Release or permit the generation, use, treatment,
storage or Release of Hazardous  Materials on any Real Property now or hereafter
owned, leased or operated by Holding or any of its Subsidiaries, or transport or
permit  the  transportation  of  Hazardous  Materials  to or from any such  Real
Property,  except in  compliance in all material  respects  with all  applicable
Environmental Laws and as required in connection with the normal operation,  use
and  maintenance of the business,  operations or Real Property of Holding or any
of its Subsidiaries.

                  (b) At the reasonable  written  request of the  Administrative
Agent or the Required Lenders,  which request shall specify in reasonable detail
the basis therefor,  at any time and from time to time, Holding and the Borrower
will provide, at the sole expense of Holding and the Borrower,  an environmental
site assessment report concerning any Real Property owned, leased or operated by
Holding or any of its Subsidiaries, prepared by an environmental consulting firm
reasonably  approved by the  Administrative  Agent,  indicating  the presence or
absence of Hazardous Materials and the potential cost of any removal or remedial
action  in  connection  with such  Hazardous  Materials  on such Real  Property,
PROVIDED  that (A) (i)  unless  the  Lenders  or the  Administrative  Agent  has
received any notice of the type described in Section 8.01(i) or (ii) the Lenders
have exercised any of the remedies pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 10,
such  request  may not be made more than once  every two years in respect of any
parcel of Real Property and (B) in the case of any  Leasehold or facility  which
is located at an unaffiliated  Person's site, the obligations of Holding and the
Borrower  under this Section  8.06(b)  shall be subject to the terms of any such
Leasehold or obtaining the requisite consent from such  unaffiliated  Person. If
Holding or the Borrower  fails to provide same within 90 days after such request
was made, the  Administrative  Agent may order the same, the cost of which shall
be borne by Holding and the Borrower  and Holding and the  Borrower  shall grant
and  hereby  grant  to the  Administrative  Agent  and  the  Lenders  and  their
respective  agents  access  to such Real  Property  and  specifically  grant the
Administrative  Agent and the  Lenders  an  irrevocable  non-exclusive  license,
subject  to the  rights of  tenants,  to  undertake  such an  assessment  at any
reasonable  time upon reasonable  notice to Holding or the Borrower,  all at the
sole expense of Holding and the Borrower.


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<PAGE>

                  8.07 ERISA As soon as possible  and, in any event,  within ten
(10) days after Holding,  any Subsidiary of Holding or any ERISA Affiliate knows
or has reason to know of the  occurrence of any of the  following,  Holding will
deliver to each of the Lenders a certificate of the chief  financial  officer of
Holding setting forth the full details as to such occurrence and the action,  if
any,  that  Holding,  such  Subsidiary  or such ERISA  Affiliate  is required or
proposes to take,  together with any notices required or proposed to be given or
filed  by  Holding,  such  Subsidiary,  the  Plan  administrator  or such  ERISA
Affiliate  to or with  the  PBGC or any  other  governmental  agency,  or a Plan
participant and any notices  received by Holding,  such Subsidiary or such ERISA
Affiliate from the PBGC or any other  government  agency,  or a Plan participant
with respect thereto: that a Reportable Event has occurred (except to the extent
that Holding has previously  delivered to the Lenders a certificate  and notices
(if any)  concerning  such event  pursuant  to the next clause  hereof);  that a
contributing  sponsor  (as  defined in Section  4001(a)(13)  of ERISA) of a Plan
subject to Title IV of ERISA is subject to the advance reporting  requirement of
PBGC Regulation Section 4043.61 (without regard to subparagraph (b)(1) thereof),
and an event described in subsection .62, .63, .64, .65, .66, .67 or .68 of PBGC
Regulation  Section  4043 is  reasonably  expected to occur with respect to such
Plan within the  following  30 days;  that an  accumulated  funding  deficiency,
within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA,  has been
incurred or an application  may be or has been made for a waiver or modification
of the minimum funding standard (including any required installment payments) or
an extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code or Section
303 or 304 of ERISA with respect to a Plan; that any contribution required to be
made with  respect to a Plan or Foreign  Pension  Plan has not been timely made;
that a Plan has been or may be terminated, reorganized,  partitioned or declared
insolvent  under  Title  IV of  ERISA;  that a  Plan  has  an  Unfunded  Current
Liability;  that  proceedings  may be or have been  instituted  to  terminate or
appoint a trustee  pursuant to Title IV of ERISA to  administer  a Plan which is
subject to Title IV of ERISA; that a proceeding has been instituted  pursuant to
Section  515 of ERISA to  collect  a  delinquent  contribution  to a Plan;  that
Holding,  any Subsidiary of Holding or any ERISA Affiliate will or is reasonably
expected to incur any material  liability with respect to, or on account of, the
termination of or withdrawal from a Plan under Section 4062,  4063,  4064, 4069,
4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA or with respect to a Plan under Section  401(a)(29),
4971,  4975 or 4980 of the Code or Section  409,  502(i) or 502(l) of ERISA;  or
that Holding or a Subsidiary  thereof will or is reasonably  expected to incur a
material  liability  with  respect to a group health plan (as defined in Section
607(1) of ERISA or Section  4980B(g)(2)  of the Code) under Section 4980B of the
Code;  or that  Holding  or any  Subsidiary  of  Holding  will or is  reasonably
expected  to incur any  material  liability  pursuant  to any  employee  welfare
benefit  plan (as defined in Section  3(1) of ERISA) that  provides  benefits to
retired  employees or other former  employees (other than as required by Section
601 of ERISA) or any Plan or any Foreign  Pension Plan.  Holding will deliver to
each of the Lenders copies of any records,  documents or other  information that
must be furnished to the PBGC with respect to any Plan  pursuant to Section 4010
of ERISA.  At the written  request of any Lender,  Holding  will also deliver to
such Lender a complete  copy of the annual report (on Internal  Revenue  Service
Form 5500-series) of each Plan (including,  to the extent required,  the related
financial and actuarial statements and opinions and other supporting statements,
certifications,  schedules  and  information)  required  to be  filed  with  the
Internal Revenue Service.  In addition to any certificates or notices  delivered
to the Lenders pursuant to the first sentence hereof,  at the written request of
any Lender, copies of any records, documents or other information required to be


                                       51
<PAGE>

furnished to the PBGC or any other governmental agency, and any material notices
received by  Holding,  any  Subsidiary  of Holding or any ERISA  Affiliate  with
respect to any Plan or Foreign Pension Plan shall be delivered to the Lenders no
later  than  ten (10)  days  after  the  date  such  records,  documents  and/or
information has been furnished to the PBGC or any other  governmental  agency or
such notice has been received by Holding, the respective Subsidiary or the ERISA
Affiliate, as applicable.  Holding and each of its applicable Subsidiaries shall
insure that all Foreign Pension Plans  administered by it or into which it makes
payments  obtains or retains  (as  applicable)  registered  status  under and as
required  by  applicable  law and is  administered  in a  timely  manner  in all
respects in compliance  with all applicable  laws except where the failure to do
any of  the  foregoing  could  not,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  8.08 END OF FISCAL YEARS; FISCAL QUARTERS.  Holding will cause
(i) each of its, and each of its Subsidiaries',  fiscal years to end on December
31 of each  year and (ii)  each of its,  and each of its  Subsidiaries',  fiscal
quarters to end on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  Landry may have a fiscal  year that ends on February 28 and
fiscal quarters that end on days that are consistent with such a fiscal year end
so long as  Holding  causes  Landry to change  its  fiscal  year end and  fiscal
quarter ends to the dates  otherwise  provided above in this Section 8.08 within
60 days following the Initial Borrowing Date.

                  8.09 PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS.  Holding will, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries  to, perform all of its obligations  under the terms of
each mortgage, indenture, security agreement, loan agreement or credit agreement
and each other material agreement,  contract or instrument by which it is bound,
except  such  non-performances  as  could  not,  either  individually  or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  8.10  PAYMENT OF TAXES.  Holding will pay and  discharge,  and
will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all 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
penalties  attach  thereto,  and all lawful claims for sums that have become due
and payable which, if unpaid,  might become a lien not otherwise permitted under
Section 9.01(I); PROVIDED that neither Holding nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
be  required  to pay any such tax,  assessment,  charge,  levy or claim which is
immaterial or is being  contested in good faith and by proper  proceedings if it
has  maintained  adequate  reserves  with  respect  thereto in  accordance  with
generally accepted accounting principles.

                  8.11  USE OF PROCEEDS.  The Borrower will use the  proceeds of
the Loans only as provided in Section 7.08.

                  8.12  CERTAIN  POST-CLOSING   ACTIONS;   ADDITIONAL  SECURITY;
FURTHER  ASSURANCES.  (a) Within 60 days following the Initial  Borrowing  Date,
Holding will use its reasonable efforts to deliver to the  Administrative  Agent
fully  executed  counterparts  of landlord  waivers,  each in form and substance
reasonably  satisfactory  to  the  Administrative  Agent,  with  respect  to the
Leaseholds of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.


                                       52
<PAGE>

                  (b)  Within 60 days  following  the  Initial  Borrowing  Date,
Holding will deliver to the Administrative  Agent true and correct copies of the
certificates  of title  for each  Vacuum  Truck  owned by the  Borrower  and the
Subsidiary  Guarantors as of the Initial  Borrowing Date, which  certificates of
title shall have been properly  reregistered  with the  respective  states which
issued  such  certificates  of title to reflect  the  security  interest  of the
Collateral Agent in the Vacuum Trucks covered by such certificates of title.

                  (c)  Within 60 days  following  the  Initial  Borrowing  Date,
Holding  will use its  reasonable  efforts to cause each of the  Holding  Junior
Subordinated  Notes to be  amended  on a basis  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
Administrative  Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall have received true and
correct copies of such amendment.

                  (d) Holding and the Borrower  will, and will cause each of the
Subsidiary  Guarantors to, grant to the Collateral Agent security  interests and
Mortgages  in such  assets and  properties  of  Holding,  the  Borrower  and the
Subsidiary Guarantors (other than Leaseholds) as are not covered by the original
Security Documents,  and as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the
Administrative  Agent or the Required  Lenders  (collectively,  the  "Additional
Security Documents"). All such security interests and Mortgages shall be granted
pursuant to documentation  reasonably  satisfactory in form and substance to the
Administrative  Agent  and shall  constitute  valid  and  enforceable  perfected
security  interests  and  Mortgages  superior  to and prior to the rights of all
third  Persons and subject to no other Liens  except for  Permitted  Liens.  The
Additional  Security  Documents or instruments  related  thereto shall have been
duly  recorded or filed in such manner and in such places as are required by law
to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Collateral
Agent required to be granted pursuant to the Additional  Security  Documents and
all taxes,  fees and other charges  payable in connection  therewith  shall have
been paid in full.

                  (e) Holding will, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries to,
at the expense of Holding and the Borrower, make, execute, endorse, acknowledge,
file and/or  deliver to the  Collateral  Agent from time to time such  vouchers,
invoices,   schedules,   confirmatory   assignments,    conveyances,   financing
statements,  transfer  endorsements,  powers  of  attorney,  certificates,  real
property surveys,  reports, landlord waivers and other assurances or instruments
and take such further  steps  relating to the  Collateral  covered by any of the
Security  Documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably  require  (including,
without  limitation,  (x)  reregistering  the certificate of title of any Vacuum
Truck in any state in which such Vacuum Truck primarily operates,  to the extent
the Collateral Agent determines, in its reasonable discretion,  that such action
is required to ensure the  perfection  or the  enforceability  as against  third
parties of its security  interest in such  Collateral and (y)  delivering  fully
executed  landlord  waivers  with respect to  Leaseholds  entered into after the
Initial Borrowing Date). Furthermore,  Holding will cause to be delivered to the
Collateral  Agent such  opinions of counsel,  title  insurance and other related
documents as may be reasonably  requested by the Administrative  Agent to assure
itself that this Section 8.12 has been complied with.

                  (f) If  the  Administrative  Agent  or  the  Required  Lenders
reasonably  determine  that  they  are  required  by law or  regulation  to have
appraisals  prepared  in  respect  of the  Real  Property  of  Holding  and  its
Subsidiaries  constituting  Collateral,  Holding and the Borrower will, at their


                                       53
<PAGE>

own expense,  provide to the  Administrative  Agent appraisals which satisfy the
applicable  requirements of the Real Estate Appraisal  Reform  Amendments of the
Financial Institution Reform,  Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended,
and which shall  otherwise be in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent.

                  (g) Each of  Holding  and  Borrower  agrees  that each  action
required by clauses (d) through (f) of this  Section  8.12 shall be completed as
soon as possible, but in no event later than 60 days after such action is either
requested to be taken by the  Administrative  Agent or the  Required  Lenders or
required to be taken by Holding and/or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of
this  Section  8.12;  PROVIDED  that,  in no event  will  Holding  or any of its
Subsidiaries  be required to take any  action,  other than using its  reasonable
efforts,  to obtain  consents from third parties with respect to its  compliance
with this Section 8.12.

                  8.13 FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES  SECURITY. If, following a change in
the relevant sections of the Code or the regulations, rules, rulings, notices or
other official pronouncements issued or promulgated thereunder, Holding does not
within 45 days after a request  from the  Administrative  Agent or the  Required
Lenders deliver evidence,  in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to the
Administrative  Agent,  with respect to any Foreign  Subsidiary of Holding which
has not already had all of its stock  pledged  pursuant to the Pledge  Agreement
that (i) a pledge of 66-2/3% or more of the total  combined  voting power of all
classes of capital stock of such Foreign  Subsidiary  entitled to vote, (ii) the
entering  into  by  such  Foreign   Subsidiary   of  a  security   agreement  in
substantially the form of the Security  Agreement and (iii) the entering into by
such  Foreign  Subsidiary  of a  guaranty  in  substantially  the  form  of  the
Subsidiaries  Guaranty,  in any such case could  reasonably be expected to cause
(I) any  undistributed  earnings of such Foreign  Subsidiary as  determined  for
Federal  income tax purposes to be treated as a deemed  dividend to such Foreign
Subsidiary's  United States parent for Federal income tax purposes or (II) other
Federal income tax  consequences to the Credit Parties having a Material Adverse
Effect,  then in the case of a failure  to deliver  the  evidence  described  in
clause (i) above, that portion of such Foreign Subsidiary's  outstanding capital
stock not theretofore pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement shall be promptly
pledged  to the  Collateral  Agent  for the  benefit  of the  Secured  Creditors
pursuant to the Pledge  Agreement (or another pledge  agreement in substantially
similar form,  if needed),  and in the case of a failure to deliver the evidence
described in clause (ii) above,  such Foreign  Subsidiary shall promptly execute
and deliver the Security  Agreement and Pledge  Agreement  (or another  security
agreement  or pledge  agreement  in  substantially  similar  form,  if  needed),
granting  the  Secured  Creditors  a security  interest  in all of such  Foreign
Subsidiary's  assets and  securing the  Obligations  of Holding and the Borrower
under the Credit  Documents and under any Interest Rate Protection  Agreement or
Other Hedging  Agreement and, in the event the Subsidiaries  Guaranty shall have
been  executed by such  Foreign  Subsidiary,  the  obligations  of such  Foreign
Subsidiary  thereunder,  and in the case of a failure  to deliver  the  evidence
described in clause (iii) above, such Foreign  Subsidiary shall promptly execute
and deliver the  Subsidiaries  Guaranty  (or another  guaranty in  substantially
similar form, if needed), guaranteeing the Obligations of the Borrower under the
Credit  Documents  and under any  Interest  Rate  Protection  Agreement or Other
Hedging  Agreement,  in each case to the extent  that the  entering  into of the
Security  Agreement,  Pledge Agreement or Subsidiaries  Guaranty is permitted by
the laws of the respective foreign jurisdiction and with all documents delivered
pursuant  to  this  Section  8.13  to  be  in  form  and  substance   reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.


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<PAGE>

                  8.14 INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT. Holding will, and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries  to, (i) ensure that its Information  Systems and
Equipment are at all times Year 2000 Compliant, except insofar as the failure to
do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  and
(ii) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender promptly upon detecting any
failure of its  Information  Systems and Equipment to be Year 2000  Compliant to
the extent that such  failure  could  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse  Effect.  In  addition,  Holding  will,  and  will  cause  each  of  its
Subsidiaries  to,  provide  the  Administrative  Agent and any Lender  with such
information about Holding's or such  Subsidiaries'  year 2000 computer readiness
(including, without limitation, information as to contingency plans, budgets and
testing  results) as the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender  shall  reasonably
request.

                  8.15 OWNERSHIP OF SUBSIDIARIES.  Except as otherwise permitted
by Sections  9.05(xii) and (xiii) and the  definition of Permitted  Acquisition,
the Credit Parties shall directly or indirectly own 100% of the capital stock or
other equity interests of each of their Subsidiaries.

                  8.16 PERMITTED ACQUISITIONS.  (a) Subject to the provisions of
this Section 8.16 and the requirements  contained in the definition of Permitted
Acquisition,  the Borrower and its  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries  may from time to
time  effect  Permitted  Acquisitions,  so long as (in each  case  except to the
extent the Required Lenders otherwise  specifically agree in writing in the case
of a specific Permitted  Acquisition):  (i) no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing at the time of the  consummation of the proposed
Permitted  Acquisition  or  immediately  after giving effect  thereto;  (ii) the
Borrower shall have given to the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders at least
10 Business  Days' prior  written  notice of any  Permitted  Acquisition;  (iii)
calculations  are  made by  Holding  and the  Borrower  of  compliance  with the
financial covenants contained in Sections 9.08, 9.09, 9.10 and 9.11 for the Test
Period (taken as one accounting period) most recently ended prior to the date of
such Permitted Acquisition for which financial statements are available (each  a
"Calculation  Period"),  on a PRO  FORMA  Basis as if the  respective  Permitted
Acquisition (as well as all other Permitted Acquisitions theretofore consummated
after the first day of such Calculation Period) had occurred on the first day of
such Calculation Period, and such recalculations  shall show that such financial
covenants  would  have  been  complied  with if the  Permitted  Acquisition  had
occurred on the first day of such Calculation  Period;  (iv) based on good faith
projections prepared by Holding and the Borrower for the period from the date of
the  consummation  of the  Permitted  Acquisition  to the date which is one year
thereafter,  the level of financial  performance  measured by the  covenants set
forth in  Sections  9.08,  9.09,  9.10 and 9.11 shall be better than or equal to
such level as would be required  to provide  that no Default or Event of Default
would exist under the financial covenants contained in Sections 9.08, 9.09, 9.10
and 9.11 as compliance  with such covenants  would be required  through the date
which is one year from the date of the consummation of the respective  Permitted
Acquisition;  (v) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the
other Credit  Documents 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 such Permitted  Acquisition  (both before and after giving
effect  thereto),  unless stated to relate to a specific  earlier date, in which
case  such  representations  and  warranties  shall be true and  correct  in all
material  respects as of such earlier  date;  (vi) the  aggregate  consideration
(including,  without  limitation,  (I) the  aggregate  principal  amount  of any
Indebtedness assumed,  incurred or issued in connection therewith, (II) the fair
market value (as  determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of Holding)


                                       55
<PAGE>

of any common stock or Qualified  Preferred  Stock of Holding  issued as part of
the purchase price therefor  (provided that no Default or Event of Default under
Section 10.10 would result therefrom) and (III) the aggregate amount paid and to
be  paid  pursuant  to  any  earn-out,   non-compete,   consulting  or  deferred
compensation  or purchase price  arrangements  (other than customary  employment
arrangements  entered into with one or more of the selling  shareholders  of the
respective  Acquired Entity or Business on a basis consistent with past practice
and so long as the  payments  made or to be made  thereunder  are  treated as an
expense  which reduces  Consolidated  Net Income in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles)  for any such proposed  Permitted  Acquisition
shall not  exceed  either  (A)  $2,500,000  or (B) when  added to the  aggregate
consideration paid for all other Permitted Acquisitions  consummated during such
fiscal year, $7,500,000; (vii) immediately after giving effect to each Permitted
Acquisition  (and all payments to be made in  connection  therewith),  the Total
Unutilized  Revolving Loan Commitment  shall eaual or exceed  $7,500,000 and the
Borrowing  Base at  such  time,  giving  PRO  FORMA  effect  to  such  Permitted
Acquisition  (based on the  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  then  being  delivered
pursuant to Section  8.01(j)(z)),  would  permit the  Borrower to incur at least
$7,500,000 of additional  Revolving  Loans;  (viii) the aggregate  consideration
paid in connection with all Permitted Acquisitions in which the Person or assets
so acquired had more than 10% of their assets or annual revenues  outside of the
United States or Puerto Rico (as  determined  from the most  recently  available
financial  information for such Person or assets) does not exceed  $3,000,000 in
any  fiscal  year of  Holding;  and (ix)  Holding  shall have  delivered  to the
Administrative  Agent  and  each  Lender a  certificate  executed  by its  chief
financial  officer,   certifying  to  the  best  of  such  officer's  knowledge,
compliance with the  requirements  of the preceding  clauses (i) through (viii),
inclusive,  and containing the calculations (in reasonable  detail) (A) required
by the preceding  clauses (iii),  (iv), (vi), (vii) and (viii) and (B) necessary
to establish the Acquired  Revenues of the Acquired Entity or Business  acquired
pursuant to such  Permitted  Acquisition  for the most  recently  ended 12 month
period for which financial  statements are available for such Acquired Entity or
Business.

                  (b) At the time of each  Permitted  Acquisition  involving the
creation or acquisition of a Subsidiary,  or the acquisition of capital stock or
other equity interest of any Person, all capital stock or other equity interests
thereof created or acquired in connection with such Permitted  Acquisition shall
be pledged  for the  benefit of the  Secured  Creditors  pursuant to (and to the
extent required by) the Pledge Agreement.

                  (c) The Borrower will cause each Subsidiary which is formed to
effect, or is acquired pursuant to, a Permitted  Acquisition to comply with, and
to execute and deliver,  all of the  documentation as and to the extent required
by, Sections 8.12 and 9.16, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative
Agent.

                  (d) The  consummation of each Permitted  Acquisition  shall be
deemed to be a  representation  and warranty by each of Holding and the Borrower
that the  certifications  pursuant  to Section  8.16(a) are true and correct and
that all  conditions  thereto have been  satisfied and that same is permitted in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement,  which  representation and warranty
shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty for all purposes  hereunder,
including, without limitation, Sections 7 and 10.


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<PAGE>

                  8.17 CONTRIBUTIONS;  PAYMENTS; ETC. (a) Holding will, upon its
receipt  thereof,  contribute  as an equity  contribution  to the capital of the
Borrower,  any cash  proceeds  received  by  Holding  from any asset  sale,  any
incurrence of  Indebtedness,  any Recovery Event, any tax refunds or any sale or
issuance  of its equity or any cash  capital  contributions  (other  than equity
proceeds received as part of an Excluded Equity Transaction).

                  (b)  The  Borrower   will  use  the  proceeds  of  all  equity
contributions received by it from Holding as provided in clause (a) above toward
the  repayment of Term Loans to the extent  required by the  relevant  clause of
Section 4.02.

                  8.18 HOLDING JUNIOR  SUBORDINATED  NOTES.  Holding will ensure
that no interest is paid on the Holding Junior  Subordinated  Notes, rather such
interest  shall  continue to accrue in accordance  with the terms of the Holding
Junior Subordinated Notes.

                  8.19 HOLDING  PREFERRED STOCK.  Holding will pay all Dividends
on its Qualified  Preferred  Stock  (including the Series A Preferred  Stock) in
additional  shares of such class of  Qualified  Preferred  Stock  rather than in
cash,  provided that in lieu of issuing additional shares of Qualified Preferred
Stock as  Dividends,  Holding may increase  the  liquidation  preference  of the
shares of the Qualified  Preferred Stock in respect of which such Dividends have
accrued.

                  SECTION  9.  NEGATIVE  COVENANTS.  Each  of  Holding  and  the
Borrower  hereby  covenants and agrees that on and after the Effective  Date and
until the Total  Commitment  and all Letters of Credit have  terminated  and the
Loans, Notes and Unpaid Drawings (in each case, together with interest thereon),
Fees and all other Obligations (other than any indemnities  described in Section
13.13 which are not then due and payable) incurred hereunder and thereunder, are
paid in full:

                  9.01 LIENS.  Holding  will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, create,  incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with
respect to any property or assets (real or personal,  tangible or intangible) of
Holding or any of its Subsidiaries,  whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or
sell any such  property  or assets  subject to an  understanding  or  agreement,
contingent or otherwise,  to repurchase such property or assets (including sales
of accounts receivable with recourse to Holding or any of its Subsidiaries),  or
assign  any  right to  receive  income  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;  PROVIDED that the provisions of this Section 9.01
shall not prevent the  creation,  incurrence,  assumption  or  existence  of the
following (Liens described below are herein referred to as "Permitted Liens"):

                 (i)  inchoate  Liens for  taxes,  assessments  or  governmental
         charges  or  levies  not yet due or Liens  for  taxes,  assessments  or
         governmental  charges or levies  being  contested  in good faith and by
         appropriate   proceedings   for  which  adequate   reserves  have  been
         established   in  accordance   with   generally   accepted   accounting
         principles;

                (ii) Liens in respect of property or assets of Holding or any of
         its  Subsidiaries  imposed by law,  which were incurred in the ordinary
         course of business and do not secure  Indebtedness  for borrowed money,
         such as carriers',  warehousemen's,  materialmen's and mechanics' liens


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<PAGE>

         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
         Holding's or such Subsidiary's  property or assets or materially impair
         the use  thereof in the  operation  of the  business of Holding or such
         Subsidiary  or  (y)  which  are  being   contested  in  good  faith  by
         appropriate   proceedings,   which   proceedings  have  the  effect  of
         preventing  the forfeiture or sale of the property or assets subject to
         any such Lien;

               (iii) Liens in existence on the Initial  Borrowing Date which are
         listed, and the property subject thereto  described,  in Schedule VIII,
         but only to the  respective  date,  if any, set forth in such  Schedule
         VIII for the removal,  replacement  and  termination of any such Liens,
         plus renewals,  replacements and extensions of such Liens to the extent
         set  forth on such  Schedule  VIII,  PROVIDED  that  (x) the  aggregate
         principal  amount of the  Indebtedness,  if any,  secured by such Liens
         does not increase from that amount  outstanding at the time of any such
         renewal, replacement or extension and (y) any such renewal, replacement
         or extension does not encumber any  additional  assets or properties of
         Holding or any of its Subsidiaries;

                (iv)     Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

                 (v) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to other
         Persons not materially  interfering with the conduct of the business of
         Holding or any of its Subsidiaries;

                (vi)  Liens  upon   assets  of  the   Borrower  or  any  of  its
         Subsidiaries  subject to  Capitalized  Lease  Obligations to the extent
         such Capitalized  Lease  Obligations are permitted by Section 9.04(IV),
         PROVIDED  that (x) such  Liens  only  serve to secure  the  payment  of
         Indebtedness  arising under such  Capitalized  Lease Obligation and (y)
         the Lien  encumbering  the asset giving rise to the  Capitalized  Lease
         Obligation does not encumber any asset of Holding or any other asset of
         the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower;

               (vii) Liens placed upon equipment or machinery acquired after the
         Initial  Borrowing Date and used in the ordinary  course of business of
         the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries at the time of the acquisition
         thereof  by the  Borrower  or any such  Subsidiary  or  within  90 days
         thereafter to secure  Indebtedness  incurred to pay all or a portion of
         the purchase price thereof or to secure  Indebtedness  incurred  solely
         for the purpose of financing the  acquisition  of any such equipment or
         machinery  or  extensions,  renewals  or  replacements  of  any  of the
         foregoing  for the  same or a  lesser  amount,  PROVIDED  that  (x) the
         Indebtedness secured by such Liens is permitted by Section 9.04(iv) and
         (y) in all events,  the Lien  encumbering the equipment or machinery so
         acquired  does not  encumber any asset of Holding or any other asset of
         the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

              (viii) easements, rights-of-way,  restrictions,  encroachments and
         other similar charges or encumbrances, and minor title deficiencies, in
         each case not securing Indebtedness and not materially interfering with
         the conduct of the business of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries;


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<PAGE>

                (ix) Liens arising from  precautionary  UCC financing  statement
         filings regarding operating leases;

                 (x) Liens  arising out of the  existence of judgments or awards
         in respect of which  Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall in good
         faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review and in respect
         of which there shall have been secured a  subsisting  stay of execution
         pending such appeal or proceedings,  PROVIDED that the aggregate amount
         of all cash and the fair market value of all other property  subject to
         such Liens does not exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding;

                (xi)  statutory,  common law and  contractual  landlords'  liens
         under  leases to which the  Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a
         party;

               (xii) Liens (other than Liens  imposed  under ERISA)  incurred in
         the ordinary course of business in connection with workers compensation
         claims,  unemployment  insurance and social security benefits and Liens
         securing the performance of bids, tenders,  leases and contracts in the
         ordinary  course of  business,  statutory  obligations,  surety  bonds,
         performance  bonds and other  obligations of a like nature  incurred in
         the  ordinary  course of business  and  consistent  with past  practice
         (exclusive  of  obligations  in respect  of the  payment  for  borrowed
         money),  PROVIDED  that the  aggregate  amount of all cash and the fair
         market value of all other  property  subject to all Liens  permitted by
         this clause (xii) shall not at any time exceed $500,000;

              (xiii)     Permitted Encumbrances; and

               (xiv)  Liens  on  property  or  assets  acquired  pursuant  to  a
         Permitted Acquisition,  or on property or assets of a Subsidiary of the
         Borrower in existence at the time such Subsidiary is acquired  pursuant
         to a Permitted Acquisition,  provided that (x) any Indebtedness that is
         secured by such Liens is permitted to exist under Section 9.04(x),  and
         (y) such Liens are not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation
         or anticipation of, such Permitted Acquisition and do not attach to any
         asset of  Holding  or any  other  asset of the  Borrower  or any of its
         Subsidiaries.

In connection  with the granting of Liens of the type described in clauses (vi),
(vii) and (xiv) of this Section 9.01 by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
the  Administrative  Agent and the Collateral  Agent shall be authorized to take
any actions deemed appropriate by it in connection therewith (including, without
limitation,  by  executing  appropriate  lien  releases  or  lien  subordination
agreements  in favor of the  holder or  holders of such  Liens,  in either  case
solely with respect to the item or items of equipment or other assets subject to
such Liens).

                  9.02 CONSOLIDATION,  MERGER,  PURCHASE OR SALE OF ASSETS, ETC.
Holding  will not,  and will not permit  any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  wind up,
liquidate  or dissolve  its affairs or enter into any  transaction  of merger or
consolidation, or convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of
its  property  or assets,  or enter  into any  sale-leaseback  transactions,  or
purchase or otherwise  acquire (in one or a series of related  transactions) any
part of the property or assets (other than  purchases or other  acquisitions  of


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inventory,  materials and  equipment in the ordinary  course of business) of any
Person (or agree to do any of the foregoing at any future time), except that:

                 (i) Capital  Expenditures by the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
         shall be permitted to the extent not in violation of Section 9.07;

                (ii) each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make sales of
         inventory in the ordinary course of business;

               (iii)  each  of  the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  may  sell
         obsolete, uneconomic or worn-out equipment or materials in the ordinary
         course of business;

                (iv) each of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  may sell other
         assets  (other than the Deer Park Facility and the capital stock of any
         Subsidiary  Guarantor),  provided that the aggregate amount of proceeds
         received  from all assets  sold  pursuant to this clause (iv) shall not
         exceed $250,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower;

                 (v) each of the  Borrower and its  Subsidiaries  may sell other
         assets  (other than the Deer Park Facility and the capital stock of any
         Subsidiary  Guarantor),  so long as (v) no  Default or Event of Default
         then  exists  or would  result  therefrom,  (w) each such sale is in an
         arm's-length  transaction and the Borrower or the respective Subsidiary
         receives at least fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
         Borrower  or such  Subsidiary,  as the  case  may  be),  (x) the  total
         consideration  received by the Borrower or such  Subsidiary is at least
         90% cash and is paid at the time of the  closing of such sale,  (y) the
         Net Sale Proceeds  therefrom are applied  and/or  reinvested as (and to
         the extent) required by Section 4.02(e) and (z) the aggregate amount of
         the proceeds  received from all assets sold pursuant to this clause (v)
         shall not exceed $3,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower;

                (vi) the Permitted Singapore Transaction shall be permitted;

               (vii) Investments may be made to the extent permitted  by Section
         9.05;

              (viii) each of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may lease (as
         lessee) or license (as licensee) real or personal  property (so long as
         any  such  lease  or  license  does  not  create  a  Capitalized  Lease
         Obligation except to the extent permitted by Section 9.04(iv));

                (ix)  each of the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may  sell or
         discount,  in each case without  recourse and in the ordinary course of
         business,  accounts  receivable  arising  in  the  ordinary  course  of
         business,  but only in  connection  with the  compromise  or collection
         thereof and not as part of any financing transaction;

                 (x)  each  of the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  may  grant
         licenses,  sublicenses,  leases  or  subleases  to  other  Persons  not
         materially interfering with the conduct of the business of the Borrower
         or any of its  Subsidiaries,  in each  case  so  long as no such  grant
         otherwise affects the Collateral Agent's security interest in the asset
         or property subject thereto;


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<PAGE>

                (xi)  any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  (i)  may be  merged  or
         consolidated  with or into the  Borrower or  liquidated  so long as the
         Borrower is the surviving  corporation of such merger or  consolidation
         or receives the assets of such  Subsidiary  upon such  liquidation  and
         (ii) may  transfer  its  assets to the  Borrower  or to any  Subsidiary
         Guarantor;

               (xii)  any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  (i)  may be  merged  or
         consolidated  with or into any  other  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  or
         liquidated  so  long  as (A) in the  case of any  (x)  such  merger  or
         consolidation  involving a Subsidiary Guarantor, a Subsidiary Guarantor
         is the surviving  corporation  of such merger or  consolidation  or (y)
         such liquidation,  a Subsidiary  Guarantor  receives the assets of such
         Subsidiary  upon such  liquidation  and (B) in the case of any (x) such
         merger or  consolidation  involving a  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  of the
         Borrower, in addition to the requirements of preceding clause (A)(x), a
         Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary is the surviving corporation of such merger or
         consolidation or (y) such liquidation,  in addition to the requirements
         of preceding  clause  (B)(y),  a Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  receives the
         assets of such Subsidiary  upon such  liquidation and (ii) may transfer
         its assets to any Subsidiary Guarantor;

              (xiii) Landry may sell its "Net Accounts  Receivable"  (as defined
         in the Acquisition Agreement) for cash as, and to the extent,  provided
         in Section 8.2 of the Acquisition Agreement;

               (xiv) Permitted Acquisitions may be made to the extent  permitted
         by Section 8.16; and

                (xv) the  Acquisition  shall be permitted in accordance with the
         terms of the Acquisition Documents.

To the extent the Required  Lenders  waive the  provisions  of this Section 9.02
with  respect  to the  sale  of any  Collateral,  or any  Collateral  is sold as
permitted by this Section 9.02 (other than to Holding or a Subsidiary  thereof),
such  Collateral  shall be sold  free  and  clear of the  Liens  created  by the
Security Documents,  and the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall
be  authorized  to take any actions  deemed  appropriate  in order to effect the
foregoing.

                  9.03  DIVIDENDS.  Holding will not, and will not permit any of
its  Subsidiaries  to,  authorize,  declare or pay any Dividends with respect to
Holding or any of its Subsidiaries, except that:

                 (i) any  Subsidiary of the  Borrower may pay cash  Dividends to
         the Borrower or to any  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary of  the Borrower;

                (ii) any  non-Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower may pay
         cash Dividends to its shareholders generally so long as the Borrower or
         its  respective  Subsidiary  which  owns  the  equity  interest  in the
         Subsidiary  paying such Dividends  receives at least its  proportionate
         share thereof (based upon its relative  holding of the equity  interest
         in the  Subsidiary  paying such  Dividends  and taking into account the
         relative  preferences,  if  any,  of  the  various  classes  of  equity
         interests of such Subsidiary);


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<PAGE>

               (iii) so long as there shall exist no Default or Event of Default
         (both  before and after  giving  effect to the  payment  thereof),  the
         Borrower may pay cash  Dividends to Holding for the purpose of enabling
         Holding to repurchase,  and Holding may repurchase,  outstanding shares
         of its  common  stock  (or  options  to  purchase  such  common  stock)
         following  the  death,  disability  or  termination  of  employment  of
         officers, directors or employees of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries,
         PROVIDED that the aggregate  amount of Dividends and  repurchases  made
         pursuant to this clause  (iii) in any fiscal year of Holding  shall not
         exceed the lesser of (A) $500,000  and (B) that amount  permitted to be
         paid  as a  restricted  payment  at such  time  pursuant  to the  first
         sentence of Section 4.08 of the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture;

                (iv) the Borrower  may pay cash  Dividends to Holding so long as
         the  proceeds  thereof are  promptly  used by Holding to pay  operating
         expenses  incurred  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  (including,
         without  limitation,  outside directors and professional fees, expenses
         and  indemnities)  and  other  similar  corporate  overhead  costs  and
         expenses,  PROVIDED that the aggregate  amount of cash  Dividends  paid
         pursuant to this  clause  (iv) shall not exceed  $250,000 in any fiscal
         year of Holding;

                 (v) the Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holding at the times
         and  in the  amounts  necessary  to  enable  Holding  to  pay  its  tax
         obligations;

                (vi)  Holding  may  pay  regularly  scheduled  Dividends  on its
         Qualified  Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms thereof solely through
         the issuance of additional  shares of such  Qualified  Preferred  Stock
         rather than in cash, provided that in lieu of issuing additional shares
         of Qualified  Preferred  Stock as  Dividends,  Holding may increase the
         liquidation  preference of the shares of the Qualified  Preferred Stock
         in respect of which such Dividends have accrued; and

               (vii) Excluded Equity Transactions shall be permitted.

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

                 (i)  Indebtedness  incurred  pursuant to this Agreement and the
         other  Credit  Documents  (including  any  such  Indebtedness  incurred
         pursuant to Section 13.18);

                (ii) Existing Indebtedness  outstanding on the Initial Borrowing
         Date and  listed  on  Schedule  VI (as  reduced  by any  repayments  of
         principal  thereof),   plus  any  subsequent   extension,   renewal  or
         refinancing  thereof,  PROVIDED that the aggregate  principal amount of
         any such  Indebtedness  to be extended,  renewed or refinanced does not
         increase  from  that  amount  outstanding  at  the  time  of  any  such
         extension, renewal or refinancing;

               (iii)  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
         under Interest Rate Protection  Agreements which are non-speculative in
         nature and are  entered  into with an  Approved  Person to protect  the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates in
         respect of floating rate Indebtedness  outstanding at the time that the


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         respective Interest Rate Protection  Agreements are entered into, which
         floating rate Indebtedness is otherwise permitted to remain outstanding
         or be incurred, as the case may be, pursuant to this Section 9.04;

                (iv) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries evidenced
         by Capitalized Lease  Obligations (to the extent permitted  pursuant to
         Section  9.07) and  purchase  money  Indebtedness  described in Section
         9.01(VII),  PROVIDED  that in no event  shall the sum of the  aggregate
         principal  amount of all  Capitalized  Lease  Obligations  and purchase
         money  Indebtedness  permitted by this clause (iv) exceed $2,500,000 at
         any time outstanding;

                 (v) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiary  Guarantors
         under the Senior  Subordinated Notes and the other Senior  Subordinated
         Note  Documents  in  an  aggregate   principal  amount  not  to  exceed
         $110,000,000 (as reduced by any repayments of principal thereof);

                (vi) Indebtedness of the Borrower under the Seller  Subordinated
         Notes in an aggregate  principal  amount not to exceed  $3,500,000  (as
         reduced by any repayments of principal thereof);

               (vii)   Indebtedness   of  Holding   under  the  Holding   Junior
         Subordinated  Notes in an aggregate amount not to exceed $12,983,181 as
         of  September  30,  1999 (as  reduced by any  repayments  of  principal
         thereof  and as the  same  may be  increased  through  the  accrual  of
         interest  in  respect  of  regularly  scheduled  interest  payments  in
         accordance with the terms thereof);

              (viii)  intercompany  Indebtedness  among  the  Borrower  and  its
         Subsidiaries to the extent permitted by Section 9.05(ix)(B);

                (ix)  Indebtedness  consisting of guaranties by the Borrower and
         the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  of each  other's  Indebtedness  and  lease
         obligations permitted under this Agreement;

                 (x)  Indebtedness  of  a  Subsidiary  acquired  pursuant  to  a
         Permitted  Acquisition  (or  Indebtedness  assumed  at  the  time  of a
         Permitted Acquisition of an asset securing such Indebtedness), provided
         that (w) such  Indebtedness  was not incurred in connection with, or in
         anticipation or contemplation of, such Permitted Acquisition,  (x) such
         Indebtedness  does not  constitute  debt for borrowed  money,  it being
         understood and agreed that Capitalized  Lease  Obligations and purchase
         money  Indebtedness  shall not  constitute  debt for borrowed money for
         purposes  of  this  clause  (x),  (y) at the  time  of  such  Permitted
         Acquisition,  such  Indebtedness does not exceed 10% of the total value
         of the  assets  of the  Subsidiary  so  acquired,  or of the  asset  so
         acquired, as the case may be, and (z) the aggregate principal amount of
         all  Indebtedness  permitted  by  this  clause  (x)  shall  not  exceed
         $3,000,000 at any one time outstanding;


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<PAGE>

                (xi)  Indebtedness  in  respect  of  bid,  performance,  advance
         payment or surety bonds entered into in the ordinary course of business
         and consistent with past practices in an aggregate amount not to exceed
         $500,000 at any time outstanding;

               (xii)  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries
         under Other  Hedging  Agreements  entered into with an Approved  Person
         providing  protection  to the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  against
         fluctuations in currency values or commodity  prices in connection with
         the  Borrower's or any of its  Subsidiaries'  operations so long as the
         entering  into of such Other Hedging  Agreements  are BONA FIDE hedging
         activities and are not for speculative purposes;

              (xiii)     Indebtedness of Holding under the Acquisition Guaranty;

               (xiv)  Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to
         Holding  represented  by a payable in an aggregate  amount equal to the
         difference  between  the  aggregate  amount of income  tax  obligations
         actually  payable by Holding and that amount of income tax  obligations
         that would be payable by the Borrower if determined  without  regard to
         Holding's ownership in the Borrower, so long as no payments are made by
         the Borrower in respect of such payable; and

                (xv) so long as no Default or Event of  Default  then  exists or
         would result therefrom,  additional unsecured  Indebtedness incurred by
         the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate  principal amount not
         to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

                  9.05 ADVANCES,  INVESTMENTS  AND LOANS.  Holding will not, and
will not permit any of its Subsidiaries  to, directly or indirectly,  lend money
or credit or make  advances  to any  Person,  or  purchase or acquire any stock,
obligations  or  securities  of, or any other  interest  in, or make any capital
contribution  to, any other  Person,  or purchase  or own a futures  contract or
otherwise  become  liable  for  the  purchase  or  sale  of  currency  or  other
commodities  at a future date in the nature of a futures  contract,  or hold any
cash  or  Cash  Equivalents   (each  of  the  foregoing  an  "Investment"   and,
collectively, "Investments"), except that the following shall be permitted:

                 (i) the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may  acquire and hold
         accounts  receivables  owing to any of them,  if created or acquired in
         the  ordinary  course of  business  and  payable  or  dischargeable  in
         accordance   with  customary  trade  terms  of  the  Borrower  or  such
         Subsidiary;

                (ii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may acquire and hold cash
         and Cash Equivalents;

               (iii) Holding and its  Subsidiaries may hold the Investments held
         by them on the Initial  Borrowing  Date and  described  on Schedule IX,
         provided  that any  additional  Investments  made with respect  thereto
         shall be  permitted  only if  independently  justified  under the other
         provisions of this Section 9.05;

                (iv) the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may  acquire  and own
         investments  (including debt  obligations)  received in connection with
         the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and in good


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         faith settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with,
         customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business;

                 (v) the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries may make (A) advances to
         their  officers  and  employees  for  moving,   relocation  and  travel
         expenses,  drawing  accounts and similar  expenditures  in the ordinary
         course of business so long as any such  advances  made pursuant to this
         clause  (A)  are  ultimately   treated  as  an  expense  which  reduces
         Consolidated   Net  Income  in  accordance   with  generally   accepted
         accounting principles and (B) loans and advances in the ordinary course
         of business to their  respective  directors,  officers and employees so
         long as the aggregate  principal  amount of all such Investments at any
         time  outstanding  under this clause (B) (determined  without regard to
         any  write-downs  or write-offs  of such loans and advances)  shall not
         exceed $500,000;

                (vi)   Holding   and/or  the   Borrower  may  acquire  and  hold
         obligations  of one or more officers,  directors or other  employees of
         Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  in connection with such officers',
         directors'  or  employees'  acquisition  of shares of capital  stock of
         Holding  so  long  as no  cash  is  paid  by  Holding  or  any  of  its
         Subsidiaries  to such  officers,  directors or employees in  connection
         with the acquisition of any such obligations;

               (vii)  the  Borrower  may enter  into  Interest  Rate  Protection
         Agreements to the extent permitted by Section 9.04(iii);

              (viii) the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may  acquire and hold
         promissory  notes  and  other  non-cash  consideration  issued  by  the
         purchaser  of assets in  connection  with a sale of such  assets to the
         extent permitted by Section 9.02(v);

                (ix) (A)  Holding  may make  cash  equity  contributions  to the
         Borrower,  (B) the  Borrower  and the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  may make
         intercompany   loans  and   advances   between  or  among  one  another
         (collectively,  "Intercompany Loans"), so long as (i) each Intercompany
         Loan shall be evidenced by an Intercompany  Note that is pledged to the
         Collateral  Agent  pursuant  to the  Pledge  Agreement  and  (ii)  each
         Intercompany  Loan in which the Borrower or a  Subsidiary  Guarantor is
         the obligor  shall  contain the  subordination  provisions  attached as
         Annex A to the respective Intercompany Note, and (C) Holding may hold a
         receivable  from the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries to the extent
         permitted by Section 9.04(xiv);

                 (x) Permitted  Acquisitions  shall  be  permitted in accordance
         with Section 8.16;

                (xi) the  Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  may enter  into Other
         Hedging Agreements to the extent permitted by Section 9.04(xii);

               (xii) the Permitted Singapore Transaction shall be permitted; and

              (xiii) the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries may make Investments not
         otherwise  permitted by clauses (i) through  (xii) of this Section 9.05
         in an aggregate  amount not to exceed  $1,000,000 in any fiscal year of
         the Borrower.


                                       65
<PAGE>

                  9.06 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.  Holding will not, and will
not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to, enter into any transaction or series of
related  transactions,  whether or not in the ordinary course of business,  with
any Affiliate of Holding or any of its Subsidiaries,  other than in the ordinary
course of business  and on terms and  conditions  substantially  as favorable to
Holding or such  Subsidiary  as would  reasonably be obtained by Holding or such
Subsidiary at that time in a comparable  arm's-length  transaction with a Person
other  than an  Affiliate,  except  that the  following  in any  event  shall be
permitted:

                 (i) Dividends  may  be  paid  to the extent provided in Section
         9.03;

                (ii) loans may  be made and other  transactions  may be  entered
         into by  Holding  and  its  Subsidiaries  to the  extent  permitted  by
         Sections 9.02, 9.04 and 9.05;

               (iii) customary  fees  may  be  paid to non-officer  directors of
         Holding and its Subsidiaries; and

                (iv) Holding and its  Subsidiaries  may enter into, and may make
         payments under,  employment agreements,  employee benefits plans, stock
         option plans, indemnification provisions and other similar compensatory
         arrangements with officers,  employees and directors of Holding and its
         Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained above in this Section 9.06,
in no  event  shall  Holding  or any of its  Subsidiaries  pay  any  management,
consulting or similar fee to any of their respective  Affiliates  except for any
such fees paid to the  Borrower or as otherwise  permitted by clauses  (iii) and
(iv) of this Section 9.06.

                  9.07 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.  (a) Holding will not, and will not
permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, make any Capital  Expenditures,  except that
(i) during the period from  October 1, 1999 through and  including  December 31,
1999, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make Capital Expenditures so long as
the aggregate amount of all such Capital Expenditures does not exceed $3,000,000
and (ii)  during  any  fiscal  year of  Holding  set forth  below  (taken as one
accounting  period),   the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries  may  make  Capital
Expenditures  so long as the aggregate  amount of all such Capital  Expenditures
does not exceed in any fiscal  year of Holding set forth below the lesser of (x)
6% of the  Borrower's  and its  Subsidiaries'  gross  revenues on a consolidated
basis for such  fiscal  year and (y) the amount set forth  opposite  such fiscal
year  below  (as  such  amount  may be  adjusted  pursuant  to  the  immediately
succeeding paragraph):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FISCAL YEAR ENDING ON                 AMOUNT
                  ---------------------                 ------
                  <S>                                   <C>
                  December 31, 2000                     $12,000,000
                  December 31, 2001                     $12,500,000
                  December 31, 2002                     $13,000,000
                  December 31, 2003                     $13,500,000
                  December 31, 2004                     $14,000,000
</TABLE>

                                       66
<PAGE>

                  From and after the consummation of any Permitted  Acquisition,
each of the  Capital  Expenditure  amounts  set forth in the table above in this
clause (a) shall be increased by an amount equal to 6% of the Acquired  Revenues
of the respective  Acquired  Entity or Business  acquired in each such Permitted
Acquisition  for the most  recently  ended 12 month  period for which  financial
statements  are available for such Acquired  Entity or Business (as certified in
the  respective  officer's  certificate  delivered  pursuant  to clause  (ix) of
Section 8.16(a)),  provided that the Capital  Expenditure  amount for the fiscal
year in which such Permitted  Acquisition is consummated shall only be increased
by the amount set forth  above in this  sentence  multiplied  by a fraction  the
numerator  of which is the number of days  remaining in such fiscal year and the
denominator of which is 365.

                  (b) In addition to the foregoing, in the event that the amount
of  Capital  Expenditures   permitted  to  be  made  by  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  pursuant to clause (a) above in any fiscal year of Holding (before
giving  effect to any  increase in such  permitted  Capital  Expenditure  amount
pursuant to this clause (b)) is greater than the amount of Capital  Expenditures
actually  made by Holding and its  Subsidiaries  during such fiscal  year,  such
excess may be carried  forward and utilized to make Capital  Expenditures in the
immediately  succeeding  fiscal  year,  PROVIDED  that no amounts  once  carried
forward  pursuant to this Section  9.07(b) may be carried  forward to any fiscal
year of Holding  thereafter  and such  amounts  may only be  utilized  after the
Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries  have  utilized  in full the  permitted  Capital
Expenditure  amount for such fiscal year as set forth in the table in clause (a)
above  (without  giving  effect to any increase in such amount  pursuant to this
clause (b)).

                  (c) In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries may make Capital  Expenditures with the amount of Net Sale Proceeds
received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  from any Asset Sale so long
as such Net Sale Proceeds are reinvested in  replacement  assets within 270 days
following  the date of such Asset Sale to the extent such Net Sale  Proceeds are
not otherwise required to be applied to repay outstanding Term Loans pursuant to
Section 4.02(e).

                  (d) In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  may make  Capital  Expenditures  with the amount of Net  Insurance
Proceeds  received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries  from any Recovery
Event so long as such Net Insurance  Proceeds are used to replace or restore any
properties or assets in respect of which such Net  Insurance  Proceeds were paid
within 270 days  following  the date of receipt of such Net  Insurance  Proceeds
from such  Recovery  Event to the extent  such Net  Insurance  Proceeds  are not
otherwise  required to be applied to repay  outstanding  Term Loans  pursuant to
Section 4.02(g).

                  (e) In addition to the  foregoing,  commencing  with Holding's
fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2001, the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries may
make  Capital  Expenditures  in any  fiscal  year of Holding in an amount not to
exceed 25% of Excess  Cash Flow for the  immediately  preceding  fiscal  year of
Holding.

                  (f) In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  the  Borrower  and  its
Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries may consummate  Permitted  Acquisitions in accordance
with the requirements of Section 8.16.


                                       67
<PAGE>

                  9.08 CONSOLIDATED  INTEREST  COVERAGE RATIO.  Holding will not
permit the  Consolidated  Interest  Coverage Ratio for any Test Period ending on
the last day of a fiscal  quarter of Holding set forth below to be less than the
ratio set forth opposite such fiscal quarter below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              FISCAL QUARTER ENDING ON                  RATIO
              -------------------------                 -----
              <S>                                       <C>
              March 31, 2000                            2.00:1.00
              June 30, 2000                             2.00:1.00
              September 30, 2000                        2.00:1.00
              December 31, 2000                         2.00:1.00
              March 31, 2001                            2.00:1.00
              June 30, 2001                             2.00:1.00
              September 30, 2001                        2.00:1.00
              December 31, 2001                         2:25:1.00
              March 31, 2002                            2:25:1.00
              June 30, 2002                             2:25:1.00
              September 30, 2002                        2:25:1.00
              December 31, 2002
              and the last day of each fiscal quarter
              of Holding thereafter                     2:50:1.00
</TABLE>
                  9.09  CONSOLIDATED  FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO.  Holding will
not permit the  Consolidated  Fixed  Charge  Coverage  Ratio for any Test Period
ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter of Holding set forth below to be less
than the ratio set forth opposite such fiscal quarter below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              FISCAL QUARTER ENDING ON                       RATIO
              ------------------------                       -----
              <S>                                            <C>
              March  31, 2000 and the last day
              of each fiscal quarter of Holding
              thereafter                                     1.00:1.00
</TABLE>
                  9.10 MAXIMUM  CONSOLIDATED  LEVERAGE  RATIO.  Holding will not
permit the  Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio at any time  during a period set forth
below to be greater than the ratio set forth opposite such period below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              PERIOD                                         RATIO
              ------                                         -----
              <S>                                            <C>
              Initial Borrowing Date through
              and including December 30, 2000                5.00:1.00

              December 31, 2000 through and
              including December 30, 2001                    4.75:1.00

              December 31, 2001 through and
              including December 30, 2002                    4.25:1.00

              December 31, 2002 through and
              including December 30, 2003                    4.00:1.00

              Thereafter                                     3.50:1.00
</TABLE>

                                       68
<PAGE>

                  9.11  MINIMUM CONSOLIDATED NET WORTH.  Holding will not permit
Consolidated  Net Worth at any time to be less than the Minimum Consolidated Net
Worth at such time.

                  9.12  LIMITATION ON  PAYMENTS  AND  MODIFICATIONS  OF  CERTAIN
INDEBTEDNESS; MODIFICATIONS OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, BY-LAWS AND CERTAIN
OTHER AGREEMENTS, ETC.  (a)  Holding will not,  and  will not permit any  of its
Subsidiaries to:

                 (i) make (or give any notice in respect  of) any  voluntary  or
         optional  payment or prepayment on or  redemption  or  acquisition  for
         value  of, or any  prepayment  or  redemption  as a result of any asset
         sale,  change of control or similar  event of  (including in each case,
         without limitation,  by way of depositing with the trustee with respect
         thereto  or any other  Person  money or  securities  before due for the
         purpose of paying when due),  any of the Seller  Subordinated  Notes or
         the Senior Subordinated Notes;

                (ii) make (or give any  notice  in  respect  of) any  voluntary,
         optional  or  mandatory  payment  or  prepayment  on or  redemption  or
         acquisition for value of (including,  in each case, without limitation,
         by way of depositing with the trustee with respect thereto or any other
         Person money or  securities  before due for the purposes of paying when
         due), any Holding Junior  Subordinated  Notes or make any other payment
         in respect thereof (whether for principal, interest or other amounts);

               (iii) make (or give any notice in respect  of) any  voluntary  or
         optional  payment or prepayment  on, or redemption or  acquisition  for
         value of, the Existing Deer Park Mortgage Loan;

                (iv) amend or modify,  or permit the  amendment or  modification
         of, any provision of the Existing Deer Park Loan Documents  which would
         make same more restrictive in any material respect as to Holding or any
         of its  Subsidiaries  or could  reasonably be expected to be adverse to
         the interests of the Lenders in any material respect;


                                       69
<PAGE>

                 (v) amend or modify,  or permit the  amendment or  modification
         of,  any  provision  of  any  Seller   Subordinated  Note,  any  Senior
         Subordinated Note Document or any Holding Junior Subordinated Note;

                (vi)  amend,  modify or change its  certificate  or  articles of
         incorporation   (including,   without  limitation,  by  the  filing  or
         modification  of any certificate or articles of designation) or by-laws
         (or the equivalent  organizational  documents) or any agreement entered
         into  by  it  with  respect  to  its  capital  stock   (including   any
         Shareholders'  Agreement), or enter into any new agreement with respect
         to its capital stock,  unless such amendment,  modification,  change or
         other action  contemplated  by this clause (iv) could not reasonably be
         expected to be adverse to the  interests of the Lenders in any material
         respect; or

               (vii) amend, modify or change any provision of (x) any Management
         Agreement,  unless such  amendment,  modification  or change  could not
         reasonably be expected to be adverse to the interests of the Lenders in
         any  material  respect  (although no amendment or change may be made to
         any monetary  term  thereof) or (y) any Tax Sharing  Agreement or enter
         into any new tax sharing agreement, tax allocation agreement or similar
         agreement  without  the prior  written  consent  of the  Administrative
         Agent.

                  (b)  Neither  Holding  nor  any  of  its  Subsidiaries   shall
designate any Indebtedness,  other than the Obligations,  as "Designated  Senior
Debt" for purposes of the Senior Subordinated Note Documents.

                  9.13  LIMITATION  ON  CERTAIN  RESTRICTIONS  ON  SUBSIDIARIES.
Holding will not, and will not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  directly or
indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any
encumbrance  or  restriction  on the ability of any such  Subsidiary  to (a) pay
dividends  or make any other  distributions  on its  capital  stock or any other
interest or participation in its profits owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
of the Borrower,  or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary
of the Borrower, (b) make loans or advances to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
the Borrower or (c) transfer any of its  properties or assets to the Borrower or
any Subsidiary of the Borrower,  except for such  encumbrances  or  restrictions
existing under or by reason of (i)  applicable  law, (ii) this Agreement and the
other Credit  Documents,  (iii) the Senior  Subordinated  Note  Documents,  (iv)
customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing
a leasehold  interest of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower,  (v)
customary provisions restricting assignment of any licensing agreement (in which
the Borrower or such Subsidiary is the licensee) or other contract  entered into
by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower in the  ordinary  course of
business,  (vi)  restrictions  on the transfer of any asset pending the close of
the sale of such  asset  and (vi)  restrictions  on the  transfer  of any  asset
subject to a Lien permitted by Section 9.01(iii), (vi), (vii) or (xiv).

                  9.14 LIMITATION ON ISSUANCE OF CAPITAL STOCK. (a) Holding will
not, and will not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  issue (i) any  preferred
stock other than  Qualified  Preferred  Stock of Holding or (ii) any  redeemable
common  stock other than common stock that is  redeemable  at the sole option of
Holding or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.


                                       70
<PAGE>

                  (b) Holding will not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to issue
any capital stock  (including by way of sales of treasury  stock) or any options
or warrants to purchase,  or securities  convertible into, capital stock, except
(i) for transfers and replacements of then outstanding  shares of capital stock,
(ii) for stock splits,  stock  dividends and issuances which do not decrease the
percentage  ownership of Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries in any class of the
capital  stock of such  Subsidiary,  (iii) to  qualify  directors  to the extent
required by  applicable  law or (iv) for  issuances by newly created or acquired
Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

                  9.15  BUSINESS.  (a) Holding will not, and will not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than the businesses engaged
in by  Holding  and  its  Subsidiaries  as of the  Initial  Borrowing  Date  and
reasonable extensions thereof.

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing or anything  else in this
Agreement to the contrary,  Holding will not engage in any business and will not
own any  significant  assets or have any  material  liabilities  other  than its
ownership of the capital  stock of the  Borrower  and having  those  liabilities
which it is responsible for under this Agreement,  the other Credit Documents to
which  it  is  a  party,  the  Acquisition   Guaranty  and  the  Holding  Junior
Subordinated  Notes,  PROVIDED that Holding may engage in those  activities that
are incidental to (x) the  maintenance of its corporate  existence in compliance
with applicable law and (y) legal, tax and accounting matters in connection with
any of the foregoing activities.

                  9.16 LIMITATION ON CREATION OF SUBSIDIARIES. Holding will not,
and will not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  establish,  create or acquire
after the Initial Borrowing Date andy Subsidiary, PROVIDED that the Borrower and
its Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries shall be permitted to (A) establish,  create and,
to the extent permitted by this Agreement,  acquire Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries so
long as (i) the equity  interests of each such new  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  is
pledged pursuant to, and to the extent required by, the Pledge  Agreement,  (ii)
each such new Wholly-Owned  Domestic  Subsidiary (and, to the extent required by
Section  8.13,  each  such  new  Wholly-Owned  Foreign  Subsidiary)  executes  a
counterpart of the Subsidiaries  Guaranty, the Pledge Agreement and the Security
Agreement, and (iii) each such new Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary (and, to the
extent required by Section 8.13, each such new Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary),
to the extent  requested by the  Administrative  Agent or the Required  Lenders,
takes all actions required  pursuant to Section 8.12, and (B) establish,  create
and acquire  non-Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries in each case to the extent permitted
by Sections  8.15,  9.05(xii)  and  9.05(xiii)  and the  definition of Permitted
Acquisition  so long  as the  equity  interest  of  each  such  non-Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary  is pledged  pursuant  to, and to the extent  required by, the Pledge
Agreement.  In addition, each such new Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall execute and
deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all other relevant documentation
of the type  described in Section 5 as such new  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  would
have had to deliver if such new  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary were a Credit Party on
the Initial Borrowing Date.

                  SECTION 10. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  Upon the  occurrence of any of
the following specified events (each an "Event of Default"):

                  10.01 PAYMENTS.  The Borrower shall (i) default in the payment
when due of any  principal  of any Loan or any  Note or (ii)  default,  and such
default  shall  continue  unremedied  for three or more  Business  Days,  in the


                                       71
<PAGE>

payment when due of any interest on any Loan or Note,  any Unpaid Drawing or any
Fees or any other amounts owing hereunder or thereunder; or

                  10.02  REPRESENTATIONS,  ETC. Any representation,  warranty or
statement  made or deemed made by any Credit Party herein or in any other Credit
Document or in any  certificate  delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent or any
Lender  pursuant  hereto or  thereto  shall  prove to be untrue in any  material
respect on the date as of which made or deemed made; or

                  10.03 COVENANTS.  Holding or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i)
default in the due  performance  or  observance  by it of any term,  covenant or
agreement contained in Section 8.01(g)(i), 8.08, 8.11, 8.15, 8.16, 8.17, 8.18 or
8.19 or Section 9 or (ii) default in the due  performance or observance by it of
any other term,  covenant or agreement  contained in this Agreement or any other
Credit  Document  (other than those set forth in  Sections  10.01 and 10.02) and
such default  shall  continue  unremedied  for a period of 30 days after written
notice  thereof  to the  defaulting  party  by the  Administrative  Agent or the
Required Lenders; or

                  10.04  DEFAULT UNDER OTHER  AGREEMENTS.  (i) Holding or any of
its  Subsidiaries  shall (x) default in any payment of any  Indebtedness  (other
than the  Obligations)  beyond  the  period of grace,  if any,  provided  in the
instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created or (y) default
in the observance or  performance of any agreement or condition  relating to any
Indebtedness  (other than the  Obligations)  or contained in any  instrument  or
agreement  evidencing,  securing or relating  thereto,  or any other event shall
occur or  condition  exist,  the  effect  of  which  default  or other  event or
condition is to cause,  or to permit the holder or holders of such  Indebtedness
(or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause (determined
without  regard to whether any notice is  required),  any such  Indebtedness  to
become due prior to its stated maturity,  or (ii) any  Indebtedness  (other than
the Obligations) of Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall be declared to be
(or shall  become) due and  payable,  or required to be prepaid  other than by a
regularly scheduled required  prepayment,  prior to the stated maturity thereof,
PROVIDED  that it shall  not be a  Default  or an Event of  Default  under  this
Section  10.04 unless the  aggregate  principal  amount of all  Indebtedness  as
described in preceding clauses (i) and (ii) is at least $1,000,000; or

                  10.05  BANKRUPTCY,  ETC.  Holding  or any of its  Subsidiaries
shall commence a voluntary case  concerning  itself under Title 11 of the United
States  Code  entitled  "Bankruptcy,"  as now or  hereafter  in  effect,  or any
successor  thereto (the "Bankruptcy  Code"); or an involuntary case is commenced
against Holding or any of its Subsidiaries, and the petition is not controverted
within 10 days, or is not dismissed  within 60 days,  after  commencement of the
case; or a custodian (as defined in the  Bankruptcy  Code) is appointed  for, or
takes charge of, all or  substantially  all of the property of Holding or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  or Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  commences  any other
proceeding under any reorganization,  arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of
debtors,   dissolution,   insolvency  or  liquidation  or  similar  law  of  any
jurisdiction  whether now or hereafter  in effect  relating to Holding or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  or  there  is  commenced  against  Holding  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  any such proceeding  which remains  undismissed for a period of 60
days,  or  Holding  or any of  its  Subsidiaries  is  adjudicated  insolvent  or
bankrupt;  or any  order of  relief or other  order  approving  any such case or
proceeding  is  entered;  or  Holding  or any of its  Subsidiaries  suffers  any
appointment of any custodian or the like for it or any  substantial  part of its


                                       72
<PAGE>

property  to  continue  undischarged  or  unstayed  for a period of 60 days;  or
Holding or any of its Subsidiaries makes a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors;  or  any  corporate  action  is  taken  by  Holding  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

                  10.06 ERISA. (a) Any Plan, which is not a multiemployer  plan,
shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standard required for any plan year or
part thereof  under  Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA or a waiver
of such  standard or extension of any  amortization  period is sought or granted
under Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 or 304 of ERISA, a Reportable Event
shall have occurred,  a contributing  sponsor (as defined in Section 4001(a)(13)
of ERISA) of a Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA shall be subject to the advance
reporting  requirement of PBGC  Regulation  Section  4043.61  (without regard to
subparagraph (b)(1) thereof) and an event described in subsection .62, .63, .64,
 .65,  .66,  .67 or .68 of PBGC  Regulation  Section  4043  shall  be  reasonably
expected to occur with respect to such Plan within the  following  30 days,  any
Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA shall have had or is likely to have a
trustee  appointed  pursuant to Title IV of ERISA to administer  such Plan,  any
Plan which is  subject to Title IV of ERISA is,  shall have been or is likely to
be terminated or to be the subject of termination  proceedings  under ERISA, any
Plan shall have an Unfunded  Current  Liability,  a contribution  required to be
made with respect to a Plan or a Foreign  Pension Plan has not been timely made,
Holding or any  Subsidiary of Holding or any ERISA  Affiliate has incurred or is
likely to incur any  liability  to or on account of a Plan  under  Section  409,
502(i),  502(l),  515, 4062,  4063,  4064,  4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA or
Section  401(a)(29),  4971 or 4975 of the Code or on account  of a group  health
plan (as defined in Section 607(1) of ERISA or Section  4980B(g)(2) of the Code)
under  Section  4980B of the Code,  or Holding or any  Subsidiary of Holding has
incurred  or is likely to incur  liabilities  pursuant  to one or more  employee
welfare  benefit  plans (as  defined  in  Section  3(1) of ERISA)  that  provide
benefits to retired  employees or other former employees (other than as required
by Section 601 of ERISA) or Plans or Foreign  Pension Plans, a "default"  within
the meaning of Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA shall occur with respect to any Plan,
any applicable law, rule or regulation is adopted,  changed or  interpreted,  or
the interpretation or administration  thereof is changed, in each case after the
date hereof, by any governmental  authority or agency or by any court (a "Change
of Law"), or, as a result of a Change in Law, an event occurs following a Change
in Law, with respect to or otherwise  affecting any Plan; (b) there shall result
from any such  event or events  the  imposition  of a lien,  the  granting  of a
security  interest,  or a liability or a material risk of incurring a liability;
and (c) such lien, security interest or liability, either individually and/or in
the  aggregate,  has had, or could  reasonably  be expected to have,  a Material
Adverse Effect; or

                  10.07 SECURITY DOCUMENTS.  Any of the Security Documents shall
cease to be in full  force and  effect,  or shall  cease to give the  Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured  Creditors  the Liens,  rights,  powers and
privileges  purported to be created thereby (including,  without  limitation,  a
perfected security interest in, and Lien on, all of the Collateral,  in favor of
the Collateral  Agent,  superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons
(except as permitted by Section 9.01),  and subject to no other Liens (except as
permitted  by  Section  9.01),  or any  Credit  Party  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 such  Security  Document and such default
shall  continue  beyond the  period of grace,  if any,  specifically  applicable
thereto pursuant to the terms of such Security Document; or


                                       73
<PAGE>

                  10.08 GUARANTIES.  Any Guaranty or any provision thereof shall
cease to be in full force or effect as to any Guarantor, or any Guarantor or any
Person  acting by or on behalf of such  Guarantor  shall deny or disaffirm  such
Guarantor's  obligations  under  the  Guaranty  to  which  it is a party  or any
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 the
Guaranty to which it is a party; or

                  10.09  JUDGMENTS.  One or more  judgments or decrees  shall be
entered against Holding or any Subsidiary of Holding  involving in the aggregate
for Holding and its  Subsidiaries  a liability  (not paid or fully  covered by a
reputable and solvent  insurance  company) and such judgments and decrees either
shall be final and non-appealable or shall not be vacated,  discharged or stayed
or  bonded  pending  appeal  for any  period  of 30  consecutive  days,  and the
aggregate amount of all such judgments equals or exceeds $3,000,000; or

                  10.10  CHANGE OF CONTROL.  A Change of Control shall occur;

then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default
shall then be continuing,  the Administrative Agent, upon the written request of
the Required Lenders,  shall by written notice to the Borrower,  take any or all
of the following actions,  without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative
Agent,  any Lender or the holder of any Note to enforce  its claims  against any
CREDIT PARTY (PROVIDED  that, if an Event of Default  specified in Section 10.05
shall occur with respect to the Borrower,  the result which would occur upon the
giving of written notice by the Administrative Agent as specified in clauses (i)
and (ii) below shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice):
(i) declare the Total Commitment  terminated,  whereupon all Commitments of each
Lender shall forthwith terminate immediately and any Commitment Commission shall
forthwith  become due and  payable  without any other  notice of any kind;  (ii)
declare the  principal  of and any accrued  interest in respect of all Loans and
the Notes 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;  (iii)  terminate any Letter of Credit which may be terminated in
accordance  with its terms;  (iv) direct the  Borrower to pay (and the  Borrower
agrees that upon receipt of such notice,  or upon the  occurrence of an Event of
Default specified in Section 10.05 with respect to the Borrower, it will pay) to
the  Collateral  Agent at the Payment Office such  additional  amount of cash or
Cash Equivalents, to be held as security by the Collateral Agent, as is equal to
the  aggregate  Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit issued for the account of
the Borrower and then outstanding;  (v) enforce, as Collateral Agent, all of the
Liens and security  interests  created pursuant to the Security  Documents;  and
(vi) apply any cash  collateral  held by the  Administrative  Agent  pursuant to
Section 4.02 to the repayment of the Obligations.

                  SECTION 11. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS.

                  11.01 DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Agreement,  the following
terms shall have the following  meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable
to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):


                                       74
<PAGE>

                  "Acquired Entity or Business"  shall have the meaning provided
in the definition of "Permitted Acquisition."

                  "Acquired   Revenues"  of  any  Acquired  Entity  or  Business
acquired  pursuant to a Permitted  Acquisition  shall mean the gross revenues of
such  Acquired  Entity or  Business  calculated  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted accounting principles.

                  "Acquisition"  shall mean the  acquisition  by the Borrower of
all of the  outstanding  capital  stock of Landry  pursuant  to the  Acquisition
Agreement.

                  "Acquisition   Agreement"   shall  mean  the  Stock   Purchase
Agreement,  dated as of November 19,  1999,  among the Borrower and the existing
stockholders of Landry.

                  "Acquisition  Documents" shall mean the Acquisition  Agreement
and all other agreements and documents relating to the Acquisition.

                  "Acquisition  Guaranty"  shall mean the guaranty by Holding of
the  Borrower's  obligations  under the  Acquisition  Documents  and the  Seller
Subordinated Notes.

                  "Additional  Security  Documents"   shall  have  the   meaning
provided in Section 8.12.

                  "Adjusted Consolidated Net Income" shall mean, for any period,
Consolidated Net Income for such period plus,  without  duplication,  the sum of
the  amount  of  all  net  non-cash  charges  (including,   without  limitation,
depreciation,  amortization, deferred tax expense and non-cash interest expense)
and net non-cash  losses  which were  included in arriving at  Consolidated  Net
Income for such period,  less the amount of all net non-cash  gains and non-cash
credits  which were  included in arriving  at  Consolidated  Net Income for such
period.

                  "Adjusted  Consolidated  Working  Capital"  shall mean, at any
time,  Consolidated  Current Assets (but  excluding  therefrom all cash and Cash
Equivalents) less Consolidated Current Liabilities at such time.

                  "Administrative  Agent"  shall  mean Bank of  America,  in its
capacity as Administrative  Agent for the Lenders  hereunder,  and shall include
any successor to the Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Section 12.09.

                  "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person,  any other
Person directly or indirectly  controlling  (including,  but not limited to, all
directors  and  officers  of such  Person),  controlled  by, or under  direct or
indirect common control with,  such Person.  A Person shall be deemed to control
another Person 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  of such  corporation  or (ii) to  direct  or cause  the
direction of the management and policies of such other Person,  whether  through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender (nor any Affiliate thereof)
shall be considered an Affiliate of Holding or any Subsidiary thereof.


                                       75
<PAGE>

                  "Agreement"  shall mean this Credit  Agreement,  as  modified,
supplemented,   amended,  restated  (including  any  amendment  and  restatement
hereof), extended or renewed from time to time.

                  "Applicable  Commitment Commission Percentage" and "Applicable
Margin"  shall  mean  from  and  after  any  Start  Date  to and  including  the
corresponding  End Date,  the  respective  percentage  per annum set forth below
under the respective column below and OPPOSITE THE RESPECTIVE LEVEL (I.E., Level
1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 or Level 5, as the case may be)  indicated  to have
been achieved on the  applicable  Test Date for such Start Date (as shown on the
respective officer's certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(f)(A) or the
first proviso below):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               Applicable     Applicable Margin      Applicable
          Consolidated         Margin for Base         For             Commitment
Level     Leverage Ratio       Rate Loans      Eurodollar Loans      Commission
- -----     --------------       ----------      ----------------      Percentage
<S>       <C>                      <C>                <C>                <C>
  1       Less than or equal
          to 2.50:1.00             0.50%              1.75%              0.300%

  2       Greater than
          2.50:1.00 but less
          than or equal to
          3.00:1.00                0.75%              2.00%              0.375%

  3       Greater than
          3.00:1.00 but less
          than or equal to
          3.50:1.00                1.00%              2.25%              0.375%

  4       Greater than 3.50:1.00
          but less than or equal
          to 4.00:1.00             1.25%              2.50%              0.500%

  5       Greater than 4.00:1.00   1.75%              3.00%              0.500%
</TABLE>
; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that if Holding fails to deliver the financial statements
required to be delivered  pursuant to Section 8.01(b) or (c) (accompanied by the
officer's  certificate  required to be delivered  pursuant to Section 8.01(f)(A)
showing the applicable Consolidated Leverage Ratio on the relevant Test Date) on
or prior to the respective date required by such Sections,  then Level 5 pricing
shall apply until such time, if any, as the financial statements required as set
forth  above and the  accompanying  officer's  certificate  have been  delivered
showing the pricing for the  respective  Margin  Reduction  Period is at a level
which is less than Level 5 (it being  understood  that,  in the case of any late
delivery of the financial  statements and officer's  certificate as so required,
any reduction in the  Applicable  Commitment  Commission  Percentage  and in the


                                       76
<PAGE>

Applicable  Margin  shall apply only from and after the date of the  delivery of
the complying financial statements and officer's certificate); PROVIDED FURTHER,
that  Level 5  pricing  shall  apply at any time  when any  Default  or Event of
Default is in existence.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in
the immediately  preceding sentence,  Level 5 pricing shall apply for the period
from the  Effective  Date to but not including the date which is the first Start
Date after Holding's fiscal quarter ending on June 30, 2000.

                  "Approved Person" shall mean any Lender, any affiliate thereof
or any other counterparty  having a long-term  unsecured debt rating of at least
"A" or the equivalent  thereof by Standard & Poor's Ratings  Services or "A2" or
the equivalent thereof from Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

                  "Asset   Sale"   shall  mean  any  sale,   transfer  or  other
disposition by Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  to any Person  (including by
way of  redemption  by such  Person)  other than to  Holding  or a  Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary of Holding of any asset (including,  without limitation,  any capital
stock or other securities of, or equity interests in, another Person) other than
sales of assets  pursuant to  Sections  9.02(ii),  (iii),  (iv),  (ix),  (x) and
(xiii).

                  "Assignment and Assumption Agreement" shall mean an Assignment
and Assumption  Agreement  substantially in the form of Exhibit M (appropriately
completed).

                  "Bank of  America"  shall mean Bank of America,  N.A.,  in its
individual   capacity,   and  any  successor   corporation  thereto  by  merger,
consolidation or otherwise.

                  "Bank One" shall mean Bank One, Texas,  National  Association,
and any successor corporation thereto by merger, consolidated or otherwise.

                  "Bankruptcy Code"  shall have the meaning provided in  Section
10.05.

                  "Base Rate"  shall  mean,  at any time,  the higher of (i) the
Reference  Rate  at such time and  (ii) 1/2 of 1% in excess of the Federal Funds
Rate at such time.

                  "Base Rate Loan" shall mean (i) each  Swingline  Loan and (ii)
each other Loan  designated or deemed  designated as such by the Borrower at the
time of the incurrence thereof or conversion thereto.

                  "Borrower"  shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in  the first
paragraph of this Agreement.

                  "Borrowing"  shall mean the borrowing of one Type of Loan of a
single Tranche from all the Lenders having Commitments of the respective Tranche
(or from the  Swingline  Lender in the case of Swingline  Loans) on a given date
(or resulting  from a conversion or conversions on such date) having in the case
of  Eurodollar  Loans the same  Interest  Period,  PROVIDED that Base Rate Loans
incurred  pursuant to Section  1.10(b) shall be  considered  part of the related
Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans.


                                       77
<PAGE>

                  "Borrowing  Base"  shall  mean,  as at any date on  which  the
amount  thereof is being  determined,  an amount  equal to the sum of (x) 85% of
Eligible Receivables plus (y) 60% of Eligible Inventory, each as determined from
the  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  most recently  delivered  pursuant to Section
8.01(j).

                  "Borrowing Base Certificate"  shall have the meaning specified
in Section 8.01(j).

                  "Business  Day" shall mean (i) for all purposes  other than as
covered by clause (ii) below, any day except Saturday,  Sunday and any day which
shall be in New York, New York or in Charlotte,  North Carolina, a legal holiday
or a day on which  banking  institutions  are  authorized  or required by law or
other  government  action to close  and (ii) with  respect  to all  notices  and
determinations  in connection  with,  and payments of principal and interest on,
Eurodollar  Loans, any day which is a Business Day described in clause (i) above
and which is also a day for trading by and between banks in the London interbank
Eurodollar market.

                  "Calculation Period"   shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in
Section 8.16(a).

                  "Capital Expenditures" shall mean, with respect to any Person,
all  expenditures  by such Person which should be capitalized in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and, without duplication, the amount of
Capitalized Lease Obligations incurred by such Person.

                  "Capitalized  Lease  Obligations"  shall mean, with respect to
any  Person,  all rental  obligations  of such  Person  which,  under  generally
accepted accounting principles, are or will be required to be capitalized on the
books of such Person,  in each case taken at the amount thereof accounted for as
indebtedness in accordance with such principles.

                  "Cash   Equivalents"   shall  mean,  as  to  any  Person,  (i)
securities  issued or  directly  and fully  guaranteed  or insured by the United
States or any agency or  instrumentality  thereof  (PROVIDED that the full faith
and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities
of not more than six months from the date of acquisition, (ii) marketable direct
obligations  issued  by  any  state  of  the  United  States  or  any  political
subdivision  of any such state or any public  instrumentality  thereof  maturing
within six  months  from the date of  acquisition  thereof  and,  at the time of
acquisition,  having  one of the two  highest  ratings  obtainable  from  either
Standard & Poor's Ratings  Services or Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc., (iii)
Dollar  denominated  time deposits and  certificates of deposit of any Lender or
any commercial bank having,  or which is the principal  banking  subsidiary of a
bank holding company having,  a long-term  unsecured debt rating of at least "A"
or the equivalent thereof from Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or "A2" or the
equivalent thereof from Moody's Investors  Service,  Inc. with maturities of not
more  than  six  months  from  the  date of  acquisition  by such  Person,  (iv)
repurchase  obligations  with a term of not more than seven days for  underlying
securities of the types described in clause (i) above entered into with any bank
meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above, (v) commercial paper
issued by any Person incorporated in the United States rated at least A-1 or the
equivalent  thereof by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or at least P-1 or the
equivalent thereof by Moody's Investors Service,  Inc. and in each case maturing


                                       78
<PAGE>

not more than six months after the date of acquisition by such Person,  and (vi)
investments  in  money  market  funds  substantially  all of  whose  assets  are
comprised of securities of the types described in clauses (i) through (v) above.

                  "CERCLA" shall mean the Comprehensive  Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as the same may be amended from time to
time, 42 U.S.C. SS. 9601 ET SEQ.

                  "Change of Control"  shall mean (i) Holding shall cease to own
100% of the economic and voting interest in the Borrower's  capital stock,  (ii)
the Sponsor,  its Affiliates and the members of the Borrower's senior management
as of the Initial  Borrowing Date shall cease to own on a fully diluted basis in
the  aggregate  at least 51% of the  economic  and voting  interest in Holding's
capital  stock,  or (iii) any "change of  control" or similar  event shall occur
under the Seller  Subordinated  Notes, the Senior Subordinated Note Documents or
the Holding Junior Subordinated Notes.

                  "Change  of   Law"    shall   have  the  meaning  provided  in
Section 10.06.

                  "Code"  shall  mean the  Internal  Revenue  Code of  1986,  as
amended from time to time, and the  regulations  promulgated  and rulings issued
thereunder.  Section references to the Code are to the Code, as in effect at the
date of this  Agreement and any  subsequent  provisions of the Code,  amendatory
thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

                  "Collateral"   shall  mean  all  property   (whether  real  or
personal)  with  respect to which any security  interests  have been granted (or
purported to be granted) pursuant to any Security Document,  including,  without
limitation,  all Pledge Agreement Collateral, all Security Agreement Collateral,
all  Mortgaged  Properties  and all  cash  and  Cash  Equivalents  delivered  as
collateral pursuant to Section 4.02 or 10.

                  "Collateral Agent" shall mean the Administrative  Agent acting
as  collateral  agent  for  the  Secured  Creditors  pursuant  to  the  Security
Documents.

                  "Collective  Bargaining  Agreements"  shall  have  the meaning
provided in Section 5.05.

                  "Commitment"  shall mean any of the commitments of any Lender,
I.E., whether the Term Loan Commitment or the Revolving Loan Commitment.

                  "Commitment  Commission"  shall  have  the meaning provided in
Section 3.01(a).

                  "Consolidated  Current  Assets" shall mean,  at any time,  the
consolidated current assets of Holding and its Subsidiaries at such time.

                  "Consolidated  Current  Liabilities"  shall mean, at any time,
the  consolidated  current  liabilities of Holding and its  Subsidiaries at such
time, but excluding the current portion of any Indebtedness under this Agreement
and  the  current  portion  of any  other  long-term  Indebtedness  which  would
otherwise be included therein.


                                       79
<PAGE>

                  "Consolidated  EBIT" shall mean, for any period,  Consolidated
Net Income for such period before  consolidated  interest expense of Holding and
its  Subsidiaries  and  provision  for taxes for such period and without  giving
effect to (x) any extraordinary gains or losses and (y) any gains or losses from
sales of assets other than from sales of inventory  sold in the ordinary  course
of business.

                  "Consolidated EBITDA" shall mean, for any period, Consolidated
EBIT  for  such  period,  adjusted  by  adding  thereto  (i) the  amount  of all
amortization of intangibles and  depreciation  that were deducted in arriving at
Consolidated  EBIT for such period and (ii) the amount of all expenses  incurred
in connection  with the Transaction for such period to the extent that same were
deducted in arriving at Consolidated  EBIT for such period;  it being understood
that in determining the Consolidated  Leverage Ratio only,  Consolidated  EBITDA
for any period  shall be  calculated  on a PRO FORMA Basis to give effect to (i)
the Valley Systems  Acquisition  and the  Acquisition as if same had occurred on
October  1, 1998 as a  Permitted  Acquisition  and (ii) any  Acquired  Entity or
Business acquired during such period pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition and not
subsequently  sold  or  otherwise  disposed  of by  the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries during such period.

                  "Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" shall mean, for any
period,  the ratio of (x) the  remainder  of (A)  Consolidated  EBITDA  for such
period minus (B) the sum of (i) the amount of all cash  payments made by Holding
and its  Subsidiaries  in respect of income taxes or income tax  liabilities for
such period and (ii) the amount of all Capital  Expenditures made by Holding and
its Subsidiaries for such period (other than Capital  Expenditures to the extent
financed  with  equity  proceeds,  Asset Sale  Proceeds,  insurance  proceeds or
Indebtedness) to (y) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.

                  "Consolidated  Fixed Charges" shall mean, for any period,  the
sum of, without duplication,  (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period,
(ii)  the  scheduled  principal  amount  of  all  amortization  payments  on all
Indebtedness  (including,  without  limitation,  the principal  component of all
Capitalized  Lease  Obligations) of Holding and its Subsidiaries for such period
(as  determined on the first day of such period) and (iii) the aggregate  amount
of all cash  earn-out,  non-compete,  consulting  or  deferred  compensation  or
purchase price  adjustments  paid during such period pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement  and/or any  Permitted  Acquisition,  but only to the extent that such
cash payments have not otherwise reduced Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

                  "Consolidated  Indebtedness"  shall mean, at any time, the sum
of (without duplication) (i) all Indebtedness of Holding and its Subsidiaries at
such time as would be  required to be  reflected  on the  liability  side of the
balance  sheet  of  such  Person  in  accordance  with  the  generally  accepted
accounting   principles  as  determined  on  a  consolidated   basis,  (ii)  all
Indebtedness of Holding and its  Subsidiaries at such time of the type described
in clause  (ii) of the  definition  of  Indebtedness  and  (iii) all  Contingent
Obligations of Holding and its  Subsidiaries  in respect of  Indebtedness of any
third Person of the type referred to in preceding clauses (i) and (ii).

                  "Consolidated  Interest  Coverage  Ratio" shall mean,  for any
period,  the ratio of Consolidated  EBITDA to Consolidated  Interest Expense for
such period.


                                       80
<PAGE>

                  "Consolidated  Interest  Expense"  shall mean, for any period,
the total consolidated interest expense of Holding and its Subsidiaries for such
period  (calculated  without regard to any  limitations on the payment  thereof)
plus,  without  duplication,  that portion of Capitalized  Lease  Obligations of
Holding and its  Subsidiaries  representing the interest factor for such period;
PROVIDED that the amortization of deferred financing, legal and accounting costs
with respect to this  Agreement,  the Existing  Deer Park  Mortgage Loan and the
Senior  Subordinated Notes shall be excluded from Consolidated  Interest Expense
to the extent same would otherwise have been included therein.

                  "Consolidated  Leverage  Ratio" shall mean,  at any time,  the
ratio of Consolidated  Indebtedness at such time to Consolidated  EBITDA for the
Test Period then most recently ended.

                  "Consolidated Net Income" shall mean, for any period,  the net
income (or loss) of Holding  and its  Subsidiaries  for such  period (or, in the
case of Section  9.11 only,  the net  income (or loss) of the  Borrower  and its
Subsidiaries  for such period),  determined on a  consolidated  basis (after any
deduction for minority interests), PROVIDED that (i) in determining Consolidated
Net Income,  the net income of any other  Person  which is not a  Subsidiary  of
Holding or is accounted for by Holding by the equity method of accounting  shall
be  included  only  to the  extent  of the  payment  of cash  dividends  or cash
distributions  by such other  Person to Holding or a Subsidiary  thereof  during
such period,  (ii) the net income of any  Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  shall be
excluded  to the extent that the  declaration  or payment of cash  dividends  or
similar cash  distributions  by that Subsidiary of that net income is not at the
date of  determination  permitted by operation of its charter or any  agreement,
instrument  or law  applicable to such  Subsidiary  and (iii) the net income (or
loss) of any other Person  acquired by such specified  Person or a Subsidiary of
such Person in a pooling of  interests  transaction  for any period prior to the
date of such acquisition shall be excluded.

                  "Consolidated  Net Worth" shall mean,  at any time,  the total
stockholder's equity of the Borrower at such time.

                  "Contingent  Obligation"  shall mean,  as to any  Person,  any
obligation of such Person as a result of such Person being a general  partner of
the  other  Person,   unless  the   underlying   obligation  is  expressly  made
non-recourse  as to such  general  partner,  and 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,  (i) to
purchase any such primary  obligation  or any  property  constituting  direct or
indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (x) for the purchase
or payment of any such primary  obligation or (y) to maintain working capital or
equity capital of the primary  obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or
solvency  of the primary  obligor,  (iii) 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 (IV)  otherwise  to assure or hold  harmless  the  holder 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.  The amount of any
Contingent  Obligation  shall be deemed to be an amount  equal to the  stated or


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<PAGE>

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.

                  "Credit  Documents"  shall mean this  Agreement and, after the
execution and delivery  thereof  pursuant to the terms of this  Agreement,  each
Note, the Subsidiaries Guaranty and each Security Document.

                  "Credit Event"  shall  mean  the  making  of  any  Loan or the
issuance of any Letter of Credit.

                  "Credit Party"  shall  mean  Holding,  the  Borrower  and each
Subsidiary Guarantor.

                  "Cumulative  Consolidated  Net Income" shall mean, at any time
for the determination thereof,  Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as
one accounting  period) commencing on October 1, 1999 and ending on the last day
of the Borrower's fiscal quarter then last ended.

                  "Deer  Park  Facility"  shall  mean  the  Borrower's  facility
located at 900 Georgia Avenue, Deer Park, Texas.

                  "Default"  shall mean any event,  act or condition  which with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

                  "Defaulting  Lender"  shall  mean any Lender  with  respect to
which a Lender Default is in effect.

                  "Dividend"  shall mean, with respect to any Person,  that such
Person has  declared or paid a dividend or  returned  any equity  capital to its
stockholders,  partners or members or authorized or made any other distribution,
payment or delivery of property (other than common stock of such Person) or cash
to its  stockholders,  partners  or  members  as  such,  or  redeemed,  retired,
purchased or otherwise acquired, directly or indirectly, for a consideration any
shares  of any  class of its  capital  stock or any  partnership  or  membership
interests outstanding on or after the Effective Date (or any options or warrants
issued  by such  Person  with  respect  to its  capital  stock or  other  equity
interests),  or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes,  or shall
have permitted any of its  Subsidiaries  to purchase or otherwise  acquire for a
consideration any shares of any class of the capital stock or any partnership or
membership  interests of such Person  outstanding on or after the Effective Date
(or any  options or warrants  issued by such Person with  respect to its capital
stock or other equity  interests).  Without limiting the foregoing,  "Dividends"
with respect to any Person  shall also include all payments  made or required to
be made by such  Person with  respect to any stock  appreciation  rights,  stock
plans or any  similar  plans or  setting  aside of any funds  for the  foregoing
purposes.

                  "Documents" shall mean the Credit  Documents,  the Acquisition
Documents and the Seller Subordinated Notes.


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<PAGE>

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

                  "Domestic  Subsidiary"  shall  mean  each  Subsidiary  of  the
Borrower that is  incorporated  under the laws of the United  States,  any State
thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof.

                  "Drawing"  shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.05(b).

                  "Effective  Date"   shall  have   the   meaning   provided  in
Section 13.10.

                  "Eligible Inventory" shall mean the gross dollar value (valued
at the lower of cost or market  value) of the  inventory of the Borrower and the
Subsidiary  Guarantors located in any state of the United States, Puerto Rico or
the  District of Columbia  and which  conforms in all  material  respects to the
representations and warranties  contained in the Security Agreement,  except (i)
any goods  which are not  "inventory"  as such term is  defined in the UCC as in
effect in the State of New York,  (ii) any advance  payments  made by  customers
with respect to inventory of the Borrower and the Subsidiary  Guarantors,  (iii)
any inventory held on consignment,  (iv) any inventory which has been shipped to
a  customer,  even if on a  consignment  or  "sale  or  return"  basis,  (v) any
inventory to the extent that the Borrower or a Subsidiary  Guarantor has taken a
reserve, but only to the extent of such reserve, including any reserves required
by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable  judgment,  (vi) any inventory not
subject to a valid and perfected  first-priority Lien in favor of the Collateral
Agent under the Security Agreement, subject to no prior or equal Lien, and (vii)
any inventory not produced in compliance with the applicable requirements of the
Fair Labor Standards Act.

                  "Eligible Receivables" shall mean the total face amount of the
trade receivables of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors which conform in
all material  respects to the  representations  and  warranties  in the Security
Agreement and at all times continue to be acceptable to the Administrative Agent
in its reasonable judgment, except (i) receivables relating to sales or services
rendered to account  debtors  outside the United States,  Puerto Rico and Canada
unless supported by a letter of credit acceptable to the Administrative Agent or
is otherwise approved by the Administrative Agent, (ii) any receivable that does
not comply in all material  respects  with all  applicable  legal  requirements,
including,  without limitation,  all laws, rules,  regulations and orders of any
governmental  or judicial  authority,  (iii) any  receivable in respect of which
there is any unresolved  dispute with the account debtor, but only to the extent
of such dispute, (iv) any receivable payable more than 90 days after the date of
issuance of the  original  invoice  therefor,  (v) any  receivable  that remains
unpaid for more than 90 days from the original due date specified at the time of
the original issuance of the invoice therefor,  (vi) any unbilled receivable and
any  receivable  in  respect  of  goods  not yet  shipped  or  services  not yet
performed,  (vii) any receivable arising outside the ordinary course of business
of the Borrower or any Subsidiary  Guarantor,  (viii) any receivable due from an
account debtor (a) as to which on such date receivables  representing  more than
20% of the aggregate  amount of all  receivables  of such account  debtor (other
than any such  receivable  in respect of which the account  debtor has requested
additional  information as a condition to making payment,  without disputing any
information   regarding  such  receivable   already  in  such  account  debtor's
possession, and the Borrower or the respective Subsidiary Guarantor is using its


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<PAGE>

best efforts to satisfy such information  request) have remained unpaid for more
than 90 days from the  original  due date  specified at the time of the original
issuance of the invoice therefor,  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that if an account debtor
has multiple  locations to which the Borrower  submits its invoices for payment,
then, with respect to such an account debtor,  the test set forth in this clause
(a) only shall not be  calculated  with respect to such account  debtor based on
the total accounts  receivable due from such account debtor but shall instead be
calculated separately with respect to the accounts receivable which shall be due
from each such location  that is  administratively  distinctive  in terms of the
decision to approve invoices for payment,  (b) in respect of which a credit loss
has been  recognized  or reserved by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor,
unless otherwise accepted by the Collateral Agent, or (c) that is the subject of
a case or proceeding of the type described in Section 10.05, (ix) any receivable
due  from an  account  debtor  at any  time to the  extent  that  the  aggregate
outstanding  amount  of  receivables  due  from  such  account  debtor  and  its
Affiliates at such time exceeds 20% of the aggregate  amount of all  receivables
due to the Borrower and the Subsidiary  Guarantors at such time, but only to the
extent of such  excess,  (x) any  receivable  in respect of which there has been
established  a contra  account,  but only to the extent of such contra  account,
(xi) any receivable not subject to a valid and perfected  first-priority Lien in
favor of the Collateral Agent under the Security Agreement,  subject to no prior
or equal Lien,  (xii)  contracts or sales to any  Affiliate of Holding or any of
its Subsidiaries and (xiii) receivables due from the United States of America or
any department,  agency or instrumentality  thereof,  unless the Borrower or the
respective  Subsidiary  Guarantor  has complied in all respects with the Federal
Assignment of Claims Act of 1940.

                  "Eligible  Transferee"  shall  mean and  include a  commercial
bank, an insurance company, a finance company, a financial institution, any fund
that  invests  in  loans or any  other  "accredited  investor"  (as  defined  in
Regulation D of the Securities Act), but in any event excluding  Holding and its
Subsidiaries.

                  "Employee Benefit Plans"  shall  have  the meaning provided in
Section 5.05.

                  "Employment Agreements"  shall  have  the  meaning provided in
Section 5.05.

                  "End Date" shall mean, for any Margin  Reduction  Period,  the
last day of such Margin Reduction Period.

                  "Environmental  Claims" shall mean any and all administrative,
regulatory or judicial  actions,  suits,  demands,  demand letters,  directives,
claims,  liens,  notices  of  noncompliance  or  violation,   investigations  or
proceedings  relating in any way to any  Environmental Law or any permit issued,
or any approval given, under any such  Environmental Law (hereafter,  "Claims"),
including,  without  limitation,  (a) any  and all  Claims  by  governmental  or
regulatory authorities for enforcement,  cleanup, removal, response, remedial or
other actions or damages pursuant to any applicable  Environmental  Law, and (b)
any  and  all  Claims  by  any  third  party  seeking   damages,   contribution,
indemnification,  cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief in connection
with alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment due
to the presence of Hazardous Materials.


                                       84
<PAGE>

                  "Environmental Law" shall mean any Federal,  state, foreign or
local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, guideline, written policy
and rule of common law now or  hereafter  in effect and in each case as amended,
and  any  judicial  or  administrative  interpretation  thereof,  including  any
judicial or administrative  order,  consent decree or judgment,  relating to the
environment,  employee  health and  safety or  Hazardous  Materials,  including,
without  limitation,  CERCLA;  RCRA; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33
U.S.C. SS. 1251 ET SEQ.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. SS. 2601 ET
SEQ.;  the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.  SS. 7401 ET SEQ.;  the Safe Drinking  Water
Act, 42 U.S.C.  SS. 3803 ET SEQ.;  the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C.  SS.
2701 ET SEQ.;  the  Emergency  Planning and the Community  Right-to-Know  Act of
1986, 42 U.S.C. SS. 11001 ET SEQ.; the Hazardous MateriaL Transportation Act, 49
U.S.C.  SS. 1801 ET SEQ. and the  Occupational  Safety And Health Act, 29 U.S.C.
SS. 651 ET SEQ.; and any state AND local or foreign counterparts or equivalents,
in each case as amended from time to time.

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

                  "ERISA  Affiliate"  shall  mean each  person  (as  defined  in
Section 3(9) of ERISA) which  together  with Holding or a Subsidiary  of Holding
would be deemed to be a "single  employer"  (i)  within  the  meaning of Section
414(b),  (c),  (m) or (o) of the  Code or  (ii)  as a  result  of  Holding  or a
Subsidiary of Holding being or having been a general partner of such person.

                  "Eurodollar  Loan"  shall  mean  each  Loan  (other  than  any
Swingline Loan) designated as such by the Borrower at the time of the incurrence
thereof or conversion thereto.

                  "Eurodollar  Rate"  shall mean (a)  relative  to any  Interest
Period for a  Eurodollar  Loan,  the  interest  rate per annum for  deposits  in
Dollars for a period equal to the  relevant  Interest  Period  which  appears on
Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page) at  approximately  11:00 A.M. (London
time) on the date which is two Business Days prior to the  commencement  of such
Interest Period,  provided  however,  to the extent that an interest rate is not
ascertainable  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions  of this  definition,  the
interest  rate to be used for purposes of this  definition  shall be the offered
quotation to first-class banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market by Bank
of  America  for Dollar  deposits  of amounts  in  immediately  available  funds
comparable to the outstanding principal amount of the Eurodollar Loan of Bank of
America with  maturities  comparable to the Interest  Period  applicable to such
Eurodollar Loan commencing two Business Days thereafter as of 11:00 A.M. (London
time) on the date which is two Business Days prior to the  commencement  of such
Interest  Period,  divided (in either case) (and  rounded  upward to the nearest
1/100 of 1%) by (b) a  percentage  equal to 100% minus the then  stated  maximum
rate of all reserve requirements (including,  without limitation,  any marginal,
emergency,  supplemental,  special or other reserves required by applicable law)
applicable  to any  member  bank of the  Federal  Reserve  System in  respect of
Eurocurrency funding or liabilities as defined in Regulation D (or any successor
category of liabilities under Regulation D).

                  "Event  of  Default"   shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in
Section 10.


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<PAGE>

                  "Excess Cash Flow" shall mean,  for any period,  the remainder
of (a) the sum of (i) Adjusted  Consolidated Net Income for such period and (ii)
the decrease,  if any, in Adjusted  Consolidated  Working Capital from the first
day to the last day of such period,  minus (b) the sum of, without  duplication,
(i) the amount of all Capital  Expenditures made by Holding and its Subsidiaries
during such period (other than Capital  Expenditures to the extent financed with
equity proceeds, Asset Sale proceeds, insurance proceeds or Indebtedness),  (ii)
the  aggregate  amount of all  Permitted  Acquisitions  made by Holding  and its
Subsidiaries during such period (other than Permitted Acquisitions to the extent
financed with equity  proceeds,  capital stock,  Asset Sale proceeds,  insurance
proceeds or  Indebtedness),  (iii) the aggregate  amount of permanent  principal
payments of  Indebtedness  for  borrowed  money of Holding and its  Subsidiaries
during such period (other than (A) repayments to the extent made with Asset Sale
proceeds, equity proceeds, insurance proceeds or Indebtedness and (B) repayments
of Loans,  PROVIDED that  repayments  of Loans shall be deducted in  determining
Excess Cash Flow if such repayments were (x) required as a result of a Scheduled
Repayment  under  Section  4.02(b) or (y) made as a  voluntary  prepayment  with
internally  generated  funds  (but in the  case  of a  voluntary  prepayment  of
Revolving  Loans  or  Swingline  Loans,  only  to the  extent  accompanied  by a
voluntary reduction to the Total Revolving Loan Commitment)), (iv) the increase,
if any, in Adjusted  Consolidated Working Capital from the first day to the last
day of such period, (v) the aggregate amount of post-closing consulting payments
made by the Borrower during such period  pursuant to the Acquisition  Agreement,
to the extent that such consulting  payments have not otherwise reduced Adjusted
Consolidated Net Income for such period,  and (vi) that amount,  if any, of cash
taxes that would have been paid by Holding  for such  period had Holding not had
any net operating loss carryforwards as of September 30, 1999.

                  "Excess Cash Payment  Date" shall mean the date  occurring 100
days  after the last day of each  fiscal  year of  Holding  (beginning  with its
fiscal year ending on December 31, 2000).

                  "Excess Cash Payment  Period" shall mean,  with respect to the
repayment  required on each Excess Cash Payment Date, the immediately  preceding
fiscal year of Holding.

                  "Excluded  Equity  Transaction"  shall mean a transaction  the
result of which is that one  stockholder of Holding (the "Selling  Stockholder")
sells one or more shares of capital stock of Holding to another  stockholder  of
Holding (or to a Person  which,  upon such sale,  will become a  stockholder  of
Holding) (the "Purchasing  Stockholder"),  provided that (i) such transaction is
structured  in a manner in which Holding acts as a conduit for such sale insofar
as the Purchasing  Stockholder  purchases shares of capital stock of Holding for
cash and immediately thereafter Holding uses such cash proceeds to redeem a like
amount of shares of capital  stock of Holding from the Selling  Stockholder  and
(ii) such transaction  could not reasonably be expected to result in any adverse
tax or other consequences to Holding or any of its Subsidiaries.

                  "Existing  Indebtedness"  shall  have  the meaning provided in
Section 7.22.

                  "Existing  Indebtedness  Agreements"  shall  have  the meaning
provided in Section 5.05.


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<PAGE>

                  "Existing Deer Park Mortgage"  shall mean the mortgage held by
Bank One on the Real Property portion of the Deer Park Facility,  which Mortgage
secures the  Existing  Deer Park  Mortgage  Loan and the related  Interest  Rate
Protection Agreement as set forth on Schedule VI.

                  "Existing Deer Park Mortgage Loan"  shall mean the  $7,500,000
loan  made  by  Bank One  to  the  Borrower  pursuant to the Existing  Deer Park
Mortgage Loan Documents.

                  "Existing  Deer Park Mortgage Loan  Documents"  shall mean (i)
the Loan  Agreement,  dated as of July 17,  1998,  between the Borrower and Bank
One, (ii) the Existing Deer Park Mortgage and (iii) the other documents relating
to the Existing Deer Park Mortgage.

                  "Existing  HydroChem  Credit  Agreement" shall mean the Credit
Agreement,  dated as of December 31, 1997,  among the  Borrower,  the  financial
institutions party thereto and Bank of America, as agent.

                  "Existing Letter of Credit" shall have the meaning provided in
Section 2.01(c).

                  "Facing  Fee"  shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in Section
3.01(c).

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

                  "Fees"  shall mean all amounts payable pursuant to or referred
to in Section 3.01.

                  "Foreign  Pension Plan" shall mean any plan, fund  (including,
without   limitation,   any  superannuation   fund)  or  other  similar  program
established  or  maintained  outside the United  States by Holding or any one or
more of its  Subsidiaries  primarily  for the benefit of employees of Holding or
such Subsidiaries  residing outside the United States, which plan, fund or other
similar program provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of income
in  contemplation  of  retirement  or  payments to be made upon  termination  of
employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code.

                  "Foreign   Subsidiary"  shall  mean  each  Subsidiary  of  the
Borrower which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

                  "Guaranteed  Creditors"  shall  mean and  include  each of the
Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Lenders and
each party (other than any Credit  Party) party to an Interest  Rate  Protection
Agreement  or Other  Hedging  Agreement to the extent such party  constitutes  a
Secured Creditor under the Security Documents.


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<PAGE>

                  "Guaranteed  Obligations"  shall  mean (i) the full and prompt
payment when due (whether at the stated maturity,  by acceleration or otherwise)
of the principal and interest on each Note issued by, and all Loans made to, the
Borrower  under this  Agreement  and all  reimbursement  obligations  and Unpaid
Drawings  with  respect  to  Letters  of  Credit,  together  with all the  other
obligations  (including  obligations  which,  but for the  automatic  stay under
Section  362(a)  of the  Bankruptcy  Code,  would  become  due) and  liabilities
(including,  without limitation,  indemnities, fees and interest thereon) of the
Borrower to the Lenders,  the Issuing Lender, the  Administrative  Agent and the
Collateral Agent now existing or hereafter incurred under,  arising out of or in
connection  with this  Agreement  and each other  Credit  Document  to which the
Borrower is a party and the due  performance and compliance by the Borrower with
all the terms,  conditions and agreements  contained in the Credit Agreement and
in each such other Credit Document and (ii) the full and prompt payment when due
(whether  at  the  stated  maturity,   by  acceleration  or  otherwise)  of  all
obligations  (including  obligations  which,  but for the  automatic  stay under
Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy  Code,  would become due) of the Borrower owing
under any Interest Rate Protection Agreement and Other Hedging Agreement entered
into by the  Borrower  with any Lender or any  affiliate  thereof  (even if such
Lender  subsequently  ceases to be a Lender under this Agreement for any reason)
so long  as  such  Lender  or  affiliate  participates  in  such  Interest  Rate
Protection  Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement,  and their subsequent assigns,
if any, whether now in existence or hereafter  arising,  and the due performance
and compliance with all terms, conditions and agreements contained therein.

                  "Guarantor" shall mean Holding and each Subsidiary Guarantor.

                  "Guaranty"   shall   mean   the   Holding  Guaranty   and  the
Subsidiaries Guaranty.

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

                  "Holding"   shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in  the first
paragraph of this Agreement.

                  "Holding Guaranty" shall mean the guaranty of Holding pursuant
to Section 14.

                  "Holding Junior  Subordinated  Notes" shall mean (i) Holding's
12-1/2% Subordinated Notes due August 4, 2008 and (ii) Holding's 12-3/4 % Junior
Subordinated Notes due August 4, 2009.

                  "Indebtedness"   shall  mean,   as  to  any  Person,   without
duplication,  (i) all  indebtedness  (including  principal,  interest,  fees and
charges) of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of


                                       88
<PAGE>

property or services,  (ii) the maximum  amount  available to be drawn under all
letters of credit,  bankers'  acceptances and similar obligations issued for the
account of such  Person and all unpaid  drawings  in respect of such  letters of
credit, bankers' acceptances and similar obligations,  (iii) all Indebtedness of
the types  described  in clause  (i),  (ii),  (iv),  (v),  (vi) or (vii) of this
definition secured by any Lien on any property owned by such person,  whether or
not such  Indebtedness  has been assumed by such Person  (PROVIDED  that, if the
Person  has  not  assumed  or  otherwise   become  liable  in  respect  of  such
Indebtedness,  such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be in an amount equal to the
fair market value of the property to which such Lien  relates as  determined  in
good faith by such Person), (iv) the aggregate amount required to be capitalized
under leases under which such Person is the lessee,  (v) all obligations of such
Person to pay a specified  purchase price for goods or services,  whether or not
delivered or  accepted,  I.E.,  take-or-pay  and similar  obligations,  (vi) all
Contingent  Obligations  of such  Person,  and (vii) all  obligations  under any
Interest Rate  Protection  Agreement,  any Other Hedging  Agreement or under any
similar type of agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not
include  (x) trade  payables  and  accrued  expenses  incurred  by any Person in
accordance  with customary  practices and in the ordinary  course of business of
such  Person and (y) up to $750,000 in  aggregate  principal  amount at any time
outstanding of promissory notes or other  instruments  issued by the Borrower in
the ordinary  course of business and  consistent  with past practices to finance
premiums on insurance policies.

                  "Indebtedness  to be Refinanced"  shall mean all  Indebtedness
set forth on Schedule X which is to be repaid in full and/or  terminated  on the
Initial Borrowing Date (including the Existing HydroChem Credit Agreement).

                  "Information  Systems and  Equipment"  shall mean all computer
hardware,  firmware  and  software,  as well  as  other  information  processing
systems,  or any equipment  containing  embedded  microchips,  whether  directly
owned, licensed,  leased,  operated or otherwise controlled by Holding or any of
its Subsidiaries, including through third-party service providers, and which, in
whole or in part, are used, operated,  relied upon, or integral to, Holding's or
any of its Subsidiaries' conduct of their business.

                  "Initial  Borrowing  Date" shall mean the date occurring on or
after the Effective Date on which the initial Borrowing of Loans occurs.

                  "Intercompany Loan" shall have the meaning provided in Section
9.05(ix).

                  "Intercompany  Note" shall mean a promissory note, in the form
of Exhibit N, evidencing Intercompany Loans.

                  "Interest  Determination Date" shall mean, with respect to any
Eurodollar  Loan,  the  second  Business  Day prior to the  commencement  of any
Interest Period relating to such Eurodollar Loan.

                  "Interest Period"  shall have the meaning provided in  Section
1.09.


                                       89
<PAGE>

                  "Interest Rate Protection  Agreement"  shall mean any interest
rate swap agreement,  interest rate cap agreement,  interest  collar  agreement,
interest rate hedging agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement.

                  "Investments" shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.05.

                  "Issuing Lender" shall mean Bank of America.

                  "Landry"  shall  mean  Landry  Service  Co., Inc.,  a Delaware
corporation.

                  "L/C  Supportable  Obligations"  shall mean (i) obligations of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to workers compensation and
other insurance programs,  surety bonds and other similar statutory obligations,
(ii) obligations of the Borrower or any of its  Subsidiaries  under contracts to
provide goods or services or under leases entered into in the ordinary course of
business  and  (iii)  such  other  obligations  of  the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries  as are  reasonably  acceptable to the Issuing Lender and otherwise
permitted  to  exist  pursuant  to the  terms  of  this  Agreement  (other  than
obligations in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Seller Subordinated
Notes and the Existing Deer Park Mortgage Loan).

                  "Leaseholds" of any Person shall mean all the right, title and
interest  of such  Person  as  lessee or  licensee  in,  to and under  leases or
licenses of land, improvements and/or fixtures.

                  "Lender"  shall  mean  each  financial  institution  listed on
Schedule I, as well as any Person that becomes a "Lender"  hereunder pursuant to
Section 1.13 or 13.04(b).

                  "Lender  Default"  shall mean (i) the  refusal  (which has not
been  retracted) or the failure of a Lender to make available its portion of any
Borrowing  (including  any  Mandatory  Borrowing)  or to fund its portion of any
unreimbursed  payment under Section  2.04(c) or (ii) a Lender having notified in
writing the Borrower and/or the  Administrative  Agent that such Lender does not
intend to comply with its obligations under Section 1.01(a), 1.01(b), 1.01(d) or
2.

                  "Letter of Credit"  shall have the meaning provided in Section
2.01(a).

                  "Letter of Credit Fee"   shall  have  the  meaning provided in
Section 3.01(b).

                  "Letter of Credit  Outstandings"  shall mean, at any time, the
sum of (i) the Stated Amount of all  outstanding  Letters of Credit and (ii) the
aggregate amount of all Unpaid Drawings in respect of all Letters of Credit.

                  "Letter of Credit Request"  shall have the meaning provided in
Section 2.03(a).

                  "Lien"  shall  mean  any  mortgage,   pledge,   hypothecation,
assignment,  deposit  arrangement,   encumbrance,  lien  (statutory  or  other),
preference,  priority  or  other  security  agreement  of  any  kind  or  nature
whatsoever (including,  without limitation,  any conditional sale or other title
retention  agreement,  any financing or similar  statement or notice filed under


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<PAGE>

the UCC or any other similar  recording or notice statute,  and any lease having
substantially the same effect as any of the foregoing).

                  "Loan" shall mean each Term Loan, each Revolving Loan and each
Swingline Loan.

                  "Management Agreements"  shall  have  the  meaning provided in
Section 5.05.

                  "Mandatory Borrowing"   shall  have  the  meaning  provided in
Section 1.01(d).

                  "Margin  Reduction  Period" shall mean each period which shall
commence on the date occurring  after the Initial  Borrowing Date upon which the
respective  officer's  certificate is delivered  pursuant to Section  8.01(f)(A)
(together with the related financial  statements  pursuant to Section 8.01(b) or
(c), as the case may be) and which  shall end on the date of actual  delivery of
the next  officer's  certificates  pursuant to section  8.01(f)(A)  (and related
financial   statements)  or  the  latest  date  on  which  such  next  officer's
certificate (and related financial statements) is required to be so delivered.

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

                  "Material  Adverse  Effect" shall mean (i) a material  adverse
effect on the business, operations, properties, assets, liabilities or condition
(financial  or  otherwise)  of the  Borrower or of Holding and its  Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or (ii) a material adverse effect (x) on the  Transaction,  (y)
on the rights or remedies of the Lenders or the  Administrative  Agent hereunder
or under any other Credit  Document or (z) on the ability of any Credit Party to
perform its obligations to the Lenders or the Administrative  Agent hereunder or
under any other Credit Document.

                  "Maturity  Date"  shall mean,  with  respect to any Tranche of
Loans,  the Term Loan Maturity  Date,  the  Revolving  Loan Maturity Date or the
Swingline Expiry Date, as the case may be.

                  "Maximum Swingline Amount" shall mean $5,000,000.

                  "Minimum Borrowing Amount"   shall  mean  (i) for  Term Loans,
$1,000,000, (ii) for Revolving Loans, $250,000  and  (iii) for  Swingline Loans,
$100,000.

                  "Minimum  Consolidated Net Worth" shall mean, at any time, the
sum of (i) $14,789,000  plus (ii) 50% of Cumulative  Consolidated Net Income (if
positive)  plus (iii) 80% of the Net Equity  Proceeds  received by the  Borrower
after the Effective Date.

                  "Mortgage" shall mean a mortgage,  leasehold mortgage, deed of
trust,  leasehold deed of trust,  deed to secure debt,  leasehold deed to secure
debt or similar security instrument.

                  "Mortgage Policy" shall mean a mortgage title insurance policy
or a binding commitment with respect thereto.


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<PAGE>

                  "Mortgaged  Property"  shall mean any Real  Property  owned or
leased by the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  Guarantor  which is  encumbered  (or
required to be encumbered) by a Mortgage.

                  "NAIC"  shall  mean  the  National  Association  of  Insurance
Commissioners.

                  "Net Debt Proceeds" shall mean, with respect to any incurrence
of  Indebtedness  for borrowed  money,  the cash proceeds  (net of  underwriting
discounts and  commissions  and other  reasonable  costs  associated  therewith)
received  by the  respective  Person  from  the  respective  incurrence  of such
Indebtedness for borrowed money.

                  "Net  Equity  Proceeds"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to  each
issuance or sale of any equity by any Person or any capital contribution to such
Person,  the cash proceeds (net of  underwriting  discounts and  commissions and
other reasonable costs  associated  therewith)  received by such Person from the
respective  sale or  issuance  of its  equity  or from  the  respective  capital
contribution.

                  "Net  Insurance  Proceeds"  shall  mean,  with  respect to any
Recovery Event, the cash proceeds (net of reasonable costs and taxes incurred in
connection  with such  Recovery  Event)  received  by the  respective  Person in
connection with such Recovery Event.

                  "Net Sale Proceeds"  shall mean, for any Asset Sale, the gross
cash proceeds  (including any cash received by way of deferred  payment pursuant
to a promissory  note,  receivable or otherwise,  but only as and when received)
received  from such sale of  assets,  net of the  reasonable  costs of such sale
(including fees and commissions,  payments of unassumed  liabilities relating to
the  assets  sold  and  required  payments  of  any  Indebtedness   (other  than
Indebtedness secured pursuant to the Security Documents) which is secured by the
respective assets which were sold), and the incremental taxes paid or payable as
a result of such Asset Sale.

                  "Non-Compete Agreements"  shall  have  the meaning provided in
Section 5.05.

                  "Non-Defaulting  Lender" and  "Non-Defaulting RL Lender" shall
mean and  include  each  Lender or RL Lender,  as the case may be,  other than a
Defaulting Lender.

                  "Note" shall mean each Term Note,  each Revolving Note and the
Swingline Note.

                  "Notice of Borrowing"  shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in
Section 1.03(a).

                  "Notice of Conversion/Continuation"  shall  have  the  meaning
provided in Section 1.06.

                  "Notice  Office"  shall mean the office of the  Administrative
Agent  located at 100 North  Tryon  Street,  Charlotte,  North  Carolina  28255,
Attention:   Michael  W.   Stearns  or  such  other  office  or  person  as  the
Administrative  Agent may  hereafter  designate  in writing as such to the other
parties hereto.


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<PAGE>

                  "Obligations"   shall   mean   all   amounts   owing   to  the
Administrative  Agent, the Collateral  Agent, the Issuing Lender,  the Swingline
Lender or any Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Credit
Document.

                  "Other  Hedging  Agreement"  shall mean any  foreign  exchange
contracts,  currency  swap  agreements,  commodity  agreements  or other similar
agreements  or  arrangements  designed to protect  against the  fluctuations  in
currency values.

                  "Participant"  shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in Section
2.04(a).

                  "Payment  Office" shall mean the office of the  Administrative
Agent located at 100 North Tryon Street,  Charlotte,  North Carolina  28255,  or
such other office as the Administrative Agent may hereafter designate in writing
as such to the other parties hereto.

                  "PBGC"  shall mean the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation
established  pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA, or any successor thereto.

                  "Permitted  Acquisition"  shall  mean the  acquisition  by the
Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof of assets constituting a business,
division or product line of any Person not already a Subsidiary  of the Borrower
or of 100% of the capital  stock of any such Person  (including  way of merger),
which Person shall, as a result of such stock acquisition, become a Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  (or shall be merged  with and into a  Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary  of the  Borrower)  (such  assets or  Person  are  referred  to as an
"Acquired   Entity  or  Business"),   PROVIDED  that  (in  each  case)  (A)  the
consideration  paid by the  Borrower or such  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  consists
solely of cash  (including  proceeds of Loans),  the issuance or  incurrence  of
Indebtedness  otherwise  permitted by Section 9.04, the issuance of common stock
of Holding or Qualified  Preferred  Stock of Holding to the extent no Default or
Event of Default exists pursuant to Section 10.10 or would result  therefrom and
the assumption/ acquisition of any Indebtedness (calculated at face value) which
is  permitted to remain  outstanding  in  accordance  with the  requirements  of
Section 9.04, (B) in the case of the acquisition of 100% of the capital stock of
any Person (including way of merger),  such Person shall own no capital stock OF
any other person (other than DE MINIMIS  amounts)  unless either (x) such Person
owns 100% of the  capital  stock of such  other  Person  or (y) (1) such  Person
and/or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries own at least 80% of the consolidated assets
of such Person and its  Subsidiaries  and (2) any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
such Person was non-Wholly Owned prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition
of such Person,  (C) the Acquired  Entity or Business  acquired  pursuant to the
respective Permitted  Acquisition is in a business permitted by Section 9.15 and
(D) all applicable  requirements  of Sections 8.16,  9.02 and 9.16 applicable to
Permitted Acquisitions are satisfied.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
contained in the immediately  preceding sentence,  an acquisition which does not
otherwise meet the  requirements set forth above in the definition of "Permitted
Acquisition" shall constitute a Permitted Acquisition if, and to the extent, the
Required  Lenders  agree in writing  that such  acquisition  shall  constitute a
Permitted Acquisition for purposes of this Agreement.


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<PAGE>

                  "Permitted  Encumbrance"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to  any
Mortgaged  Property,  such  exceptions to title as are set forth in the Mortgage
Policy  delivered  with  respect  thereto,  all  of  which  exceptions  must  be
acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

                  "Permitted Liens"   shall have the meaning provided in Section
9.01.

                  "Permitted Singapore  Transaction" shall mean any sale, lease,
conveyance,  transfer or disposition at fair market value (as determined in good
faith  by the  Borrower)  of all or any  part of the  assets  of the  Borrower's
Singapore  branch,  having a  cumulative  value  not to  exceed  $2,500,000,  in
exchange  for any  combination  of cash,  Cash  Equivalents,  assets  or  equity
interests in a Person  having  operations  in Southeast  Asia;  provided that if
assets or equity  interests  are received in connection  with such  disposition,
such assets must be useful in, or the Person whose equity interests are received
must be in, the  Borrower's  business  or any  business  similar  or  reasonably
related thereto.

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

                  "Plan"  shall mean any pension plan as defined in Section 3(2)
of ERISA,  which is  maintained  or  contributed  to by (or to which there is an
obligation  to  contribute  of) Holding or a  Subsidiary  of Holding or an ERISA
Affiliate, and each such plan for the five year period immediately following the
latest date on which  Holding,  a  Subsidiary  of Holding or an ERISA  Affiliate
maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to such plan.

                  "Pledge Agreement"  shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.09.

                  "Pledge Agreement Collateral"  shall mean all "Collateral"  as
defined in the Pledge Agreement.

                  "Pledgee"  shall  have  the  meaning as  defined in the Pledge
Agreement.

                  "Projections"  shall  mean  the  projections  included  in the
Confidential  Offering Memorandum  distributed by Bank of America Securities LLC
to  potential  Lenders  under  cover  letter,  dated  October  22,  1999,  which
projections were prepared by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with the
Transaction.

                  "Pro  Forma  Basis"  shall  mean,  in   connection   with  any
calculation  of compliance  with any financial  covenant or financial  term, the
calculation  thereof  after  giving  effect  on a pro  forma  basis  to (x)  the
incurrence of any Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness, except to the
extent  same is incurred  to  refinance  other  outstanding  Indebtedness  or to
finance Permitted  Acquisitions) after the first day of the relevant Calculation
Period as if such  Indebtedness  had been  incurred  (and the  proceeds  thereof
applied) on the first day of the relevant  Calculation Period, (y) the permanent
repayment of any  Indebtedness  (other than  revolving  Indebtedness)  after the
first day of the relevant  Calculation  Period as if such  Indebtedness had been
retired or redeemed on the first day of the relevant  Calculation Period and (z)
the  Permitted  Acquisition,  if any,  then  being  consummated  as if same  had
occurred  on the  first  day of such  Calculation  period,  as well as any other


                                       94
<PAGE>

Permitted   Acquisition   consummated  after  the  first  day  of  the  relevant
Calculation  Period  and on or  prior to the  date of the  respective  Permitted
Acquisition  then  being  consummated,  with  the  following  rules  to apply in
connection therewith:

                 (i) all  Indebtedness  (x) (other than revolving  Indebtedness,
         except to the extent same is incurred to  refinance  other  outstanding
         Indebtedness or to finance Permitted  Acquisitions)  incurred or issued
         after  the  first  day  of the  relevant  Calculation  Period  (whether
         incurred to finance a Permitted Acquisition,  to refinance Indebtedness
         or otherwise)  shall be deemed to have been incurred or issued (and the
         proceeds   thereof   applied)  on  the  first  day  of  the  respective
         Calculation  Period  and  remain   outstanding   through  the  date  of
         determination and (y) (other than revolving  Indebtedness)  permanently
         retired or  redeemed  after the first day of the  relevant  Calculation
         Period  shall be deemed to have been  retired or  redeemed on the first
         day of the respective Calculation Period and remain retired through the
         date of determination;

                (ii) all  Indebtedness  assumed to be  outstanding  pursuant  to
         preceding  clause (i) shall be deemed to have borne interest at (x) the
         rate applicable  thereto, in the case of fixed rate indebtedness or (y)
         the  rates  which  would  have  been  applicable   thereto  during  the
         respective  period  when same was  deemed  outstanding,  in the case of
         floating rate Indebtedness  (although  interest expense with respect to
         any Indebtedness for periods while same was actually outstanding during
         the  respective  period  shall be  calculated  using the  actual  rates
         applicable thereto while same was actually outstanding); and

               (iii) in making any  determination  of Consolidated  EBITDA,  pro
         forma  effect  shall  be  given to any  Permitted  Acquisition  for the
         periods described above, taking into account factually  supportable and
         identifiable  cost  savings  and  expenses  which  would  otherwise  be
         permitted to be accounted for as an  adjustment  pursuant to Article 11
         of Regulation S-X under the Securities  Act, as if such cost savings or
         expenses were realized on the first day of the respective period.

                  "Purchasing Stockholder"  shall  have the  meaning provided in
the definition of "Excluded Equity Transaction."

                  "Qualified  Preferred Stock" shall mean any preferred stock of
Holding so long as the terms of any such preferred  stock (v) do not contain any
mandatory put,  redemption,  repayment,  sinking fund or other similar provision
prior to June 15, 2010, (w) do not require the cash payment of dividends, (x) do
not contain any covenants that are more restrictive in any material respect than
those  contained  in the Series A  Preferred  Stock as in effect on the  Initial
Borrowing  Date,  (y) do not grant the holders  thereof any voting rights except
for (I) voting rights  required to be granted to such holders  under  applicable
law and (II) limited  customary  voting  rights on  fundamental  matters such as
mergers,  consolidations,  sales of all or  substantially  all of the  assets of
Holding,  or liquidations  involving Holding,  and (z) are otherwise  reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.


                                       95
<PAGE>

                  "Quarterly  Payment  Date" shall mean the last Business Day of
each December,  March, June and September  occurring after the Initial Borrowing
Date, commencing on December 31, 1999.

                  "RCRA" shall mean the Resource Conservation and Recovery  Act,
as the same may be amended  from time to time,  42 U.S.C.SS. 6901 ET SEQ.

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

                  "Recovery  Event"  shall mean the receipt by Holding or any of
its Subsidiaries of any cash insurance  proceeds or condemnation  awards payable
(i) by reason of theft, loss, physical destruction,  damage, taking or any other
similar  event with  respect to any  property or assets of Holding or any of its
Subsidiaries  and (ii) under any policy of insurance  required to be  maintained
under Section 8.03.

                  "Reference  Rate"  shall  mean the rate of  interest  publicly
announced  from time to time by Bank of America in Charlotte,  North Carolina as
its  "reference  rate." It is a rate set by Bank of America  based upon  various
factors,  including Bank of America's costs and desired return, general economic
conditions and other factors,  and is used as a reference point for pricing some
loans, which may be priced at, above or below such announced rate. Any change in
the Reference Rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening
of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

                  "Register" shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.15.

                  "Regulation  D"  shall  mean  Regulation  D of  the  Board  of
Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System as from time to time in effect and any
successor to all or a portion thereof establishing reserve requirements.

                  "Regulation  T"  shall  mean  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.

                  "Regulation  U"  shall  mean  Regulation  U of  the  Board  of
Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System as from time to time in effect and any
successor to all or a portion thereof.

                  "Regulation  X"  shall  mean  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.

                  "Release"  shall mean the disposing,  discharging,  injecting,
spilling,  pumping, leaking, leaching,  dumping, emitting,  escaping,  emptying,
pouring  or  migrating,  into or upon any land or  water  or air,  or  otherwise
entering into the environment.

                  "Replaced Lender"  shall  have the meaning provided in Section
1.13.

                  "Replacement Lender"   shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in
Section 1.13.


                                       96
<PAGE>

                  "Reportable  Event"  shall mean an event  described in Section
4043(c)  of ERISA  with  respect  to a Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA
other than those  events as to which the 30-day  notice  period is waived  under
subsection .22, .23, .25, .27 or .28 of PBGC Regulation Section 4043.

                  "Required Lenders" shall mean  Non-Defaulting  Lenders the sum
of whose  outstanding  Term Loans and Revolving Loan  Commitments  (or after the
termination  thereof,  outstanding  Revolving  Loans and RL  Percentages  of (x)
outstanding Swingline Loans and (y) Letter of Credit Outstandings)  represent at
least  50.1% of the sum of (i) all  outstanding  Term  Loans  of  Non-Defaulting
Lenders and (ii) the Total  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  less the Revolving Loan
Commitments of all Defaulting Lenders (or after the termination thereof, the sum
of the then total outstanding Revolving Loans of Non-Defaulting  Lenders and the
aggregate  RL  Percentages  of  all  Non-Defaulting  Lenders  of the  total  (x)
outstanding Swingline Loans and (y) Letter of Credit Outstandings at such time).

                  "Returns" shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.09.

                  "Revolving Loan"  shall  have  the meaning provided in Section
1.01(b).

                  "Revolving Loan Commitment"  shall mean, for each Lender,  the
amount set forth  opposite such  Lender's name in Schedule I directly  below the
column  entitled  "Revolving  Loan  Commitment," as same may be (x) reduced from
time to time pursuant to Sections 3.02, 3.03 and/or 10 or (y) adjusted from time
to time as a result of  assignments  to or from such Lender  pursuant to Section
1.13 or 13.04(b).

                  "Revolving Loan Maturity Date" shall mean December 31, 2004.

                  "Revolving Note"   shall  have the meaning provided in Section
1.05(a).

                  "RL  Lender"  shall mean each  Lender  with a  Revolving  Loan
Commitment or with outstanding Revolving Loans.

                  "RL  Percentage"  of any RL  Lender at any time  shall  mean a
fraction  (expressed  as a  percentage)  the numerator of which is the Revolving
Loan  Commitment of such RL Lender at such time and the  denominator of which is
the Total  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  at such  time,  PROVIDED  that if the RL
Percentage of any RL Lender is to be determined  after the Total  Revolving Loan
Commitment has been terminated,  then the RL Percentages of such RL Lender shall
be determined immediately prior (and without giving effect) to such termination.

                  "Scheduled Repayment"   shall  have  the  meaning  provided in
Section 4.02(b).

                  "SEC" shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.01(h).

                  "Section 4.04(b)(ii)  Certificate"   shall  have  the  meaning
provided in Section 4.04(b)(ii).


                                       97
<PAGE>

                  "Secured  Creditors" shall have the meaning assigned that term
in the respective Security Documents.

                  "Securities  Act" shall mean the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Security  Agreement"   shall  have  the  meaning  provided in
Section 5.10.

                  "Security Agreement Collateral" shall mean all "Collateral" as
defined in the Security Agreement.

                  "Security  Document"  shall  mean  and  include  each  of  the
Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, each Mortgage and, after the execution
and delivery thereof, each Additional Security Document.

                  "Selling Stockholder"  shall  have the meaning provided in the
definition of "Excluded Equity Transaction."

                  "Seller  Subordinated  Notes"  shall  mean  the  Borrower's 8%
subordinated  notes due November 19, 2000 and November 19,
2001.

                  "Senior  Subordinated  Note  Documents"  shall mean the Senior
Subordinated  Note  Indenture,  the  Senior  Subordinated  Notes and each  other
document or agreement relating to the issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes.

                  "Senior Subordinated Note Indenture" shall mean the Indenture,
dated as of August 1, 1997,  among the Borrower,  the Subsidiary  Guarantors and
Norwest Bank, Minnesota, N.A., as trustee.

                  "Senior  Subordinated Notes" shall mean the Borrower's 10-3/8%
senior subordinated notes due August 1, 2007.

                  "Series A Preferred  Stock" shall have the meaning provided in
Section 7.14(a).

                  "Shareholders' Agreements"  shall have the meaning provided in
Section 5.05.

                  "Sponsor" shall mean Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd.

                  "Start Date" shall mean, with respect to any Margin  Reduction
Period, the first day of such Margin Reduction Period.

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

                  "Subsidiaries Guaranty"  shall  have the  meaning  provided in
Section 5.11.


                                       98
<PAGE>

                  "Subsidiary" shall mean, as to any Person, (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
(irrespective  of  whether  or not at the time  stock of any class or classes of
such  corporation  shall  have or  might  have  voting  power by  reason  of the
happening of any  contingency) is at the time owned by such Person and/or one or
more  Subsidiaries of such Person and (ii) any  partnership,  limited  liability
company, association,  joint venture or other entity in which such Person and/or
one or more  Subsidiaries  of such Person has more than a 50% equity interest at
the time.

                  "Subsidiary  Guarantor" shall mean each Wholly-Owned  Domestic
Subsidiary  of the Borrower and, to the extent  required by Section  8.13,  each
Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower.

                  "Swingline  Expiry  Date"  shall  mean that date which is five
Business Days prior to the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.

                  "Swingline Lender" shall mean Bank of America.

                  "Swingline Loan"  shall  have  the meaning provided in Section
1.01(c).

                  "Swingline Note"  shall  have  the meaning provided in Section
1.05(a).

                  "Syndication  Date"  shall  mean  that  date  upon  which  the
Administrative  Agent  determines  in its  sole  discretion  (and  notifies  the
Borrower) that the primary  syndication  (and  resultant  addition of Persons as
Lenders pursuant to Section 13.04(b)) has been completed.

                  "Tax Sharing Agreements"  shall  have  the meaning provided in
Section 5.05.

                  "Taxes" shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.04(a).

                  "Term Loan" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.01(a)

                  "Term Loan Commitment" shall mean, for each Lender, the amount
set forth  opposite such  Lender's name in Schedule I directly  below the column
entitled "Term Loan Commitment," as same may be terminated  pursuant to Sections
3.03 and/or 10.

                  "Term Loan Maturity Date" shall mean December 31, 2004.

                  "Term Note" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1.05(a)

                  "Test Date" shall mean,  with  respect to any Start Date,  the
last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of Holding ended immediately prior to
such Start Date.

                  "Test  Period"  shall  mean each  period  of four  consecutive
fiscal quarters of Holding then last ended (in each case taken as one accounting
period).

                  "Total  Commitment"  shall mean,  at any time,  the sum of the
Commitments of each of the Lenders at such time.


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<PAGE>

                  "Total Revolving Loan Commitment" shall mean, at any time, the
sum of the Revolving Loan Commitments of each of the Lenders at such time.

                  "Total Term Loan Commitment"  shall mean, at any time, the sum
of the Term Loan Commitments of each of the Lenders.

                  "Total  Unutilized  Revolving Loan Commitment"  shall mean, at
any time,  an amount  equal to the  remainder  of (x) the Total  Revolving  Loan
Commitment then in effect less (y) the sum of the aggregate  principal amount of
all Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans then outstanding plus the then aggregate
amount of all Letter of Credit Outstandings.

                  "Tranche"  shall mean the respective  facility and commitments
utilized in making Loans  hereunder,  with there being three separate  Tranches,
I.E., Term Loans, Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans.

                  "Transaction" shall mean,  collectively,  (i) the Acquisition,
(ii) the issuance of the Seller  Subordinated  Notes, (iii) the repayment of the
Indebtedness to be Refinanced and the termination of all commitments thereunder,
(iv) the entering into of the Credit  Documents  and the  incurrence of Loans on
the  Initial  Borrowing  Date and (v) the  payment of all fees and  expenses  in
connection with the foregoing.

                  "Type" shall mean the type of Loan  determined  with regard to
the interest  option  applicable  thereto,  I.E.,  whether a Base Rate Loan or a
Eurodollar Loan.

                  "UCC" shall mean the Uniform  Commercial  Code as from time to
time in effect in the relevant jurisdiction.

                  "Unfunded  Current  Liability"  of any  Plan  shall  mean  the
amount,  if any, by which the value of the  accumulated  plan benefits under the
Plan  determined  on a plan  termination  basis  in  accordance  with  actuarial
assumptions  at such  time  consistent  with  those  prescribed  by the PBGC for
purposes of Section  4044 of ERISA,  exceeds  the fair market  value of all plan
assets  allocable to such  liabilities  under Title IV of ERISA  (excluding  any
accrued but unpaid contribution).

                  "United States" and "U.S."  shall each mean the  United States
of America.

                  "Unpaid Drawing"   shall  have  the  meaning  provided  for in
Section 2.05(a).

                  "Unutilized   Revolving  Loan  Commitment"  shall  mean,  with
respect to any Lender at any time,  such Lender's  Revolving Loan  Commitment at
such time less the sum of (i) the aggregate  outstanding principal amount of all
Revolving  Loans  made by such  Lender at such time and (ii)  such  Lender's  RL
Percentage of the Letter of Credit Outstandings at such time.

                  "Valley Systems"  shall  mean,  collectively,  Valley Systems,
Inc. and Valley Systems of Ohio, Inc.


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                  "Valley Systems Acquisition" shall mean the acquisition by the
Borrower  of  substantially  all of the  assets  and the  assumption  of certain
liabilities of Valley Systems on January 5, 1999.

                  "Vacuum  Truck"  shall  mean each  vacuum  truck  owned by the
Borrower  or any of its  Subsidiaries  and  used to  provide  services  to their
respective customers.

                  "Wholly-Owned  Domestic  Subsidiary"  shall mean each Domestic
Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  that  is  also a  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  of the
Borrower.

                  "Wholly-Owned  Foreign  Subsidiary"  shall  mean each  Foreign
Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  that  is  also a  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary  of the
Borrower.

                  "Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary"  shall mean, as to any Person,  (i)
any corporation  100% of whose capital stock (other than  director's  qualifying
shares) is at the time  owned by such  Person  and/or  one or more  Wholly-Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company,
association,  joint  venture or other entity in which such Person  and/or one or
more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person has a 100% equity interest at such
time.

                  "Year 2000 Compliant" shall mean that all of Holding's and its
Subsidiaries'  Information  Systems and Equipment  accurately  process date data
(including,  but not limited to, calculating,  comparing and sequencing) before,
during  and after the year 2000,  as well as same and  multi-century  dates,  or
between the years 1999 and 2000,  taking into account all leap years,  including
the fact  that the year  2000 is a leap  year,  and  further,  that when used in
combination with, or interfacing with,  Information Systems and Equipment of any
other Person, shall accurately accept, release and exchange date data, and shall
in all material  respects continue to function in the same manner as it performs
as of the Initial  Borrowing Date and shall not otherwise impair the accuracy or
functionality of Holding's or any of its Subsidiaries'  Information  Systems and
Equipment.

                 SECTION 12.  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                  12.01 APPOINTMENT.  The Lenders hereby  irrevocably  designate
Bank of America as  Administrative  Agent (for  purposes of this Section 12, the
term  "Administrative  Agent" also shall include Bank of America in its capacity
as  Collateral  Agent  pursuant to the Security  Documents)  to act as specified
herein  and in the  other  Credit  Documents.  Each  Lender  hereby  irrevocably
authorizes,  and each holder of any Note by the acceptance of such Note shall be
deemed irrevocably to authorize, the Administrative Agent to take such action on
their behalf under the provisions of this Agreement,  the other Credit Documents
and any other  instruments  and agreements  referred to herein or therein and to
exercise such powers and to perform such duties  hereunder and thereunder as are
specifically  delegated to or required of the Administrative  Agent by the terms
hereof and thereof and such other powers as are reasonably  incidental  thereto.
The Administrative Agent may perform any of their respective duties hereunder by
or through its officers, directors, agents, employees or affiliates.


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<PAGE>

                  12.02  NATURE OF DUTIES.  The  Administrative  Agent shall not
have any duties or  responsibilities  except those  expressly  set forth in this
Agreement and in the other Credit Documents.  Neither the  Administrative  Agent
nor any of its officers,  directors,  agents,  employees or affiliates  shall be
liable for any action  taken or  omitted  by them  hereunder  or under any other
Credit Document or in connection herewith or therewith,  unless caused by its or
their  gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct  (as  determined  by a court of
competent  jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable  decision).  The duties of
the  Administrative  Agent shall be mechanical and administrative in nature; the
Administrative  Agent  shall not have by reason of this  Agreement  or any other
Credit Document a fiduciary  relationship in respect of any Lender or the holder
of any Note;  and nothing in this  Agreement  or in any other  Credit  Document,
expressed or implied,  is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon
the  Administrative  Agent any  obligations  in respect of this Agreement or any
other Credit Document except as expressly set forth herein or therein.

                  12.03  LACK  OF   RELIANCE   ON  THE   ADMINISTRATIVE   AGENT.
Independently  and without reliance upon the  Administrative  Agent, each Lender
and the holder of each Note,  to the extent it deems  appropriate,  has made and
shall continue to make (i) its own  independent  investigation  of the financial
condition and affairs of Holding and its  Subsidiaries  in  connection  with the
making  and the  continuance  of the Loans and the  taking or not  taking of any
action in connection herewith and (ii) its own appraisal of the creditworthiness
of Holding  and its  Subsidiaries  and,  except as  expressly  provided  in this
Agreement,  the Administrative  Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility,
either  initially or on a continuing  basis, to provide any Lender or the holder
of any Note with any credit or other  information with respect thereto,  whether
coming  into its  possession  before  the  making of the Loans or at any time or
times  thereafter.  The  Administrative  Agent shall not be  responsible  to any
Lender or the  holder  of any Note for any  recitals,  statements,  information,
representations  or warranties  herein or in any document,  certificate or other
writing  delivered in connection  herewith or for the execution,  effectiveness,
genuineness, validity, enforceability,  perfection, collectibility,  priority or
sufficiency  of this  Agreement  or any other Credit  Document or the  financial
condition  of  Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  or be  required  to make any
inquiry  concerning  either the  performance  or observance of any of the terms,
provisions or conditions of this Agreement or any other Credit Document,  or the
financial  condition of Holding or any of its  Subsidiaries  or the existence or
possible existence of any Default or Event of Default.

                  12.04  CERTAIN  RIGHTS  OF THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT.  If the
Administrative  Agent shall request  instructions from the Required Lenders with
respect to any act or action (including  failure to act) in connection with this
Agreement  or any other  Credit  Document,  the  Administrative  Agent  shall be
entitled to refrain  from such act or taking  such  action  unless and until the
Administrative Agent shall have received instructions from the Required Lenders;
and the  Administrative  Agent shall not incur liability to any Lender by reason
of so refraining.  Without  limiting the  foregoing,  neither any Lender nor the
holder  of any Note  shall  have any  right of  action  whatsoever  against  the
Administrative  Agent  as  a  result  of  the  Administrative  Agent  acting  or
refraining  from  acting  hereunder  or  under  any  other  Credit  Document  in
accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders.


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<PAGE>

                  12.05 RELIANCE.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to
rely,  and  shall  be fully  protected  in  relying,  upon  any  note,  writing,
resolution,  notice,  statement,  certificate,  telex,  teletype  or  telecopier
message,  cablegram,  radiogram,  order or other  document or telephone  message
signed, sent or made by any Person that the Administrative  Agent believed to be
the proper  Person,  and, with respect to all legal  matters  pertaining to this
Agreement and any other Credit Document and its duties hereunder and thereunder,
upon advice of counsel selected by the Administrative Agent.

                  12.06 INDEMNIFICATION.  TO THE EXTENT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
(OR ANY AFFILIATE  THEREOF) IS NOT REIMBURSED  AND  INDEMNIFIED BY THE BORROWER,
THE LENDERS WILL  REIMBURSE  AND  INDEMNIFY  THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT (AND ANY
AFFILIATE  THEREOF) IN PROPORTION TO THEIR  RESPECTIVE  "PERCENTAGE"  AS USED IN
DETERMINING  THE REQUIRED  LENDERS  (DETERMINED  AS IF THERE WERE NO  DEFAULTING
LENDERS) FOR AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES,  OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES,
PENALTIES,  CLAIMS,  ACTIONS,  JUDGMENTS,  COSTS,  EXPENSES OR  DISBURSEMENTS OF
WHATSOEVER KIND OR NATURE WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED ON, ASSERTED  AGAINST OR INCURRED
BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT (OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF) IN PERFORMING ITS DUTIES
HEREUNDER  OR UNDER ANY  OTHER  CREDIT  DOCUMENT  OR IN ANY WAY  RELATING  TO OR
ARISING OUT OF THIS  AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT  DOCUMENT;  PROVIDED  THAT NO
LENDER SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY PORTION OF SUCH LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES,
DAMAGES, PENALTIES,  ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES OR DISBURSEMENTS
RESULTING FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT'S (OR SUCH AFFILIATE'S) GROSS NEGLIGENCE
OR WILLFUL  MISCONDUCT (AS DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT  JURISDICTION IN A
FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE DECISION).

                  12.07 THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT IN ITS  INDIVIDUAL  CAPACITY.
With respect to its obligation to make Loans, or issue or participate in Letters
of Credit, under this Agreement,  the Administrative Agent shall have the rights
and powers  specified herein for a "Lender" and may exercise the same rights and
powers as though it were not performing  the duties  specified  herein;  and the
term  "Lender,"  "Required  Lenders,"  "holders of Notes" or any  similar  terms
shall,   unless  the   context   clearly   otherwise   indicates,   include  the
Administrative Agent in its respective individual capacities. The Administrative
Agent and its affiliates may accept  deposits from, lend money to, and generally
engage in any kind of banking, investment banking, trust or other business with,
or provide debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial
advisory services) to, any Credit Party or any Affiliate of any Credit Party (or
any Person engaged in a similar  business with any Credit Party or any Affiliate
thereof) as if they were not performing  the duties  specified  herein,  and may
accept fees and other  consideration  from any Credit Party or any  Affiliate of
any Credit Party for services in  connection  with this  Agreement and otherwise
without having to account for the same to the Lenders.

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


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<PAGE>

                  12.09  RESIGNATION  BY  THE  ADMINISTRATIVE   AGENT.  (a)  The
Administrative  Agent may  resign  from the  performance  of all its  respective
functions and duties  hereunder  and/or under the other Credit  Documents at any
time by giving 30 days' prior written  notice to the Lenders.  Such  resignation
shall take  effect upon the  appointment  of a  successor  Administrative  Agent
pursuant to clauses (b) and (c) below or as otherwise provided below.

                  (b) Upon any such notice of resignation by the  Administrative
Agent,  the Required  Lenders  shall  appoint a successor  Administrative  Agent
hereunder  or  thereunder  who  shall  be a  commercial  bank or  trust  company
reasonably acceptable to the Borrower which acceptance shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed (provided that the Borrower's approval shall not be required
if an Event of Default then exists).

                  (c) If a successor Administrative Agent shall not have been so
appointed within such 30 day period, the  Administrative  Agent with the consent
of the Borrower  (which consent shall not be  unreasonably  withheld or delayed,
provided  that the  Borrower's  consent  shall  not be  required  if an Event of
Default then exists),  shall then appoint a successor  Administrative  Agent who
shall serve as Administrative  Agent hereunder or thereunder until such time, if
any,  as the  Required  Lenders  appoint  a  successor  Administrative  Agent as
provided above.

                  (d) If no successor  Administrative  Agent has been  appointed
pursuant  to clause (b) or (c) above by the 35th day after the date such  notice
of resignation was given by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent's
resignation  shall become  effective and the Required  Lenders shall  thereafter
perform all the duties of the  Administrative  Agent hereunder  and/or under any
other Credit Document until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a
successor Administrative Agent as provided above.

                  SECTION 13.  MISCELLANEOUS.

                  13.01  PAYMENT OF  EXPENSES,  ETC.  The  Borrower  shall:  (i)
whether or not the transactions  herein  contemplated  are consummated,  pay all
reasonable   out-of-pocket  costs  and  expenses  of  the  Administrative  Agent
(including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of White &
Case LLP and of the Administrative  Agent's  consultants) in connection with the
preparation,  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement  and the other  Credit
Documents and the documents and  instruments  referred to herein and therein and
any  amendment,   waiver  or  consent   relating  hereto  or  thereto,   of  the
Administrative  Agent in connection with its syndication efforts with respect to
this Agreement and of the  Administrative  Agent and, after the occurrence of an
Event of Default, each of the Lenders in connection with the enforcement of this
Agreement  and the other Credit  Documents  and the  documents  and  instruments
referred  to  herein  and  therein  or in  connection  with any  refinancing  or
restructuring  of the credit  arrangements  provided under this Agreement in the
nature of a "work-out" or pursuant to any  insolvency or bankruptcy  proceedings
(including,   in  each  case  without   limitation,   the  reasonable  fees  and
disbursements of counsel (including,  without duplication, the allocated cost of
in-house  counsel) and consultants for the  Administrative  Agent and, after the
occurrence of an Event of Default,  counsel for each of the  Lenders);  (ii) pay
and hold the  Administrative  Agent and each of the  Lenders  harmless  from and
against  any  and all  present  and  future  stamp,  excise  and  other  similar
documentary   taxes  with  respect  to  the  foregoing   matters  and  save  the
Administrative  Agent and each of the Lenders  harmless from and against any and


                                      104
<PAGE>

all  liabilities  with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission (other
THAN TO THE EXTENT  ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT OR SUCH LENDER) TO
PAY SUCH TAXES;  AND (iii) INDEMNIFY THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT AND EACH LENDER,
AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS,  DIRECTORS,  EMPLOYEES,  REPRESENTATIVES,
AGENTS, AFFILIATES,  TRUSTEES AND INVESTMENT ADVISORS FROM AND HOLD EACH OF THEM
HARMLESS  AGAINST ANY AND ALL  LIABILITIES,  OBLIGATIONS  (INCLUDING  REMOVAL OR
REMEDIAL ACTIONS),  LOSSES,  DAMAGES,  PENALTIES,  CLAIMS,  ACTIONS,  JUDGMENTS,
SUITS, COSTS,  EXPENSES AND DISBURSEMENTS  (INCLUDING  REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' AND
CONSULTANTS' FEES AND DISBURSEMENTS) INCURRED BY, IMPOSED ON OR ASSESSED AGAINST
ANY OF THEM AS A RESULT OF, OR ARISING  OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY  RELATED TO, OR BY
REASON OF, (a) ANY INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION OR OTHER PROCEEDING (WHETHER OR NOT
THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT OR ANY LENDER IS A PARTY  THERETO  AND WHETHER OR NOT
SUCH INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION OR OTHER PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT BY OR ON BEHALF OF
ANY CREDIT  PARTY)  RELATED TO THE  ENTERING  INTO  AND/OR  PERFORMANCE  OF THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE USE OF ANY LETTER OF CREDIT OR THE
PROCEEDS OF ANY LOANS  HEREUNDER OR THE  CONSUMMATION  OF THE TRANSACTION OR ANY
OTHER  TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED  HEREIN OR IN ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE
EXERCISE  OF ANY OF THEIR  RIGHTS OR  REMEDIES  PROVIDED  HEREIN OR IN THE OTHER
CREDIT DOCUMENTS,  OR (b) THE ACTUAL OR ALLEGED PRESENCE OF HAZARDOUS  MATERIALS
IN THE AIR,  SURFACE WATER OR GROUNDWATER OR ON THE SURFACE OR SUBSURFACE OF ANY
REAL  PROPERTY  OWNED,  LEASED OR AT ANY TIME  OPERATED BY HOLDING OR ANY OF ITS
SUBSIDIARIES, THE GENERATION, STORAGE,  TRANSPORTATION,  HANDLING OR DISPOSAL OF
HAZARDOUS  MATERIALS  BY HOLDING  OR ANY OF ITS  SUBSIDIARIES  AT ANY  LOCATION,
WHETHER OR NOT OWNED,  LEASED OR OPERATED BY HOLDING OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES,
THE NON-COMPLIANCE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY OWNED,  LEASED OR OPERATED BY HOLDING OR
ANY  OF  ITS  SUBSIDIARIES  WITH  FOREIGN,   FEDERAL,   STATE  AND  LOCAL  LAWS,
REGULATIONS, AND ORDINANCES (INCLUDING APPLICABLE PERMITS THEREUNDER) APPLICABLE
TO ANY SUCH REAL PROPERTY,  OR ANY ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIM ASSERTED AGAINST HOLDING,
ANY OF ITS  SUBSIDIARIES  OR ANY  REAL  PROPERTY  OWNED,  LEASED  OR AT ANY TIME
OPERATED BY HOLDING OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, INCLUDING, IN EACH CASE, WITHOUT
LIMITATION,   THE  REASONABLE  FEES  AND  DISBURSEMENTS  OF  COUNSEL  AND  OTHER
CONSULTANTS  INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH  INVESTIGATION,  LITIGATION OR
OTHER  PROCEEDING  (BUT EXCLUDING ANY 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  (AS  DETERMINED  BY A  COURT  OF
COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN A FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE  DECISION)).  TO THE EXTENT
THAT THE UNDERTAKING TO INDEMNIFY, PAY OR HOLD HARMLESS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
OR ANY LENDER SET FORTH IN THE PRECEDING  SENTENCE MAY BE UNENFORCEABLE  BECAUSE
IT IS VIOLATIVE OF ANY LAW OR PUBLIC POLICY, THE BORROWER SHALL MAKE THE MAXIMUM
CONTRIBUTION  TO THE  PAYMENT  AND  SATISFACTION  OF  EACH  OF  THE  INDEMNIFIED
LIABILITIES WHICH IS PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

                  13.02  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,  the  Administrative  Agent  and each  Lender  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 the  Administrative  Agent or such Lender  (including,
without limitation, by branches and agencies of such Lender wherever located) to
or for the credit or the account of any Credit  Party  against and on account of
the  Obligations  and  liabilities of the Credit  Parties to the  Administrative
Agent or such  Lender  under  this  Agreement  or under any of the other  Credit


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Documents, including, without limitation, all interests in Obligations purchased
by such Lender pursuant to Section 13.06(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 Lender shall have made any
demand hereunder and although said Obligations, liabilities or claims, or any of
them, shall be contingent or unmatured.

                  13.03 NOTICES.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
all notices and other communications  provided for hereunder shall be in writing
(including  telegraphic,  telex,  telecopier or cable communication) and mailed,
telegraphed,  telexed, telecopied,  cabled or delivered: if to any Credit Party,
at the address  specified  opposite its signature below or in the other relevant
Credit Documents; if to any Lender, at its address specified on Schedule II; and
if to the Administrative Agent, at the Notice Office; or, as to any Credit Party
or the  Administrative  Agent,  at such other  address as shall be designated by
such  party in a written  notice to the other  parties  hereto  and,  as to each
Lender, at such other address as shall be designated by such Lender in a written
notice to the  Borrower  and the  Administrative  Agent.  All such  notices  and
communications shall, when mailed, telegraphed,  telexed,  telecopied, or cabled
or  sent by  overnight  courier,  be  effective  when  deposited  in the  mails,
delivered to the telegraph company,  cable company or overnight courier,  as the
case  may  be,  or  sent  by  telex  or  telecopier,  except  that  notices  and
communications  to the  Administrative  Agent  and  the  Borrower  shall  not be
effective  until received by the  Administrative  Agent or the Borrower,  as the
case may be.

                  13.04 BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS;  PARTICIPATIONS.  (a)
This  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon  and  inure  to the  benefit  of and be
enforceable  by the  respective  successors  and assigns of the parties  hereto;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  the  Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights,
obligations  or  interest  hereunder  without the prior  written  consent of the
Lenders and, PROVIDED FURTHER, that, although any Lender may transfer, assign or
grant  participations  in its  rights  hereunder,  such  Lender  shall  remain a
"Lender" for all purposes  hereunder  (and may not transfer or assign all or any
portion of its  Commitments  hereunder  except as provided in Sections  1.13 and
13.04(b)) and the transferee, assignee or participant, as the case may be, shall
not constitute a "Lender" hereunder and, PROVIDED FURTHER,  that no Lender shall
transfer  or grant any  participation  under  which the  participant  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 (i) extend
the final scheduled  maturity of any Loan, Note or Letter of Credit (unless such
Letter of Credit is not extended  beyond the Revolving  Loan  Maturity  Date) in
which such participant is  participating,  or reduce the rate or extend the time
of payment of interest or Fees thereon  (except in  connection  with a waiver of
applicability  of any  post-default  increase in  interest  rates) or reduce the
principal amount thereof (it being understood that any amendment or modification
to the financial  definitions in this Agreement or to Section 13.07(a) shall not
constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or Fees  payable  hereunder),  or
increase the amount of the participant's  participation  over the amount thereof
then in effect  (it being  understood  that a waiver of any  Default or Event of
Default or of a mandatory reduction in the Total Commitment shall not constitute
a  change  in the  terms of such  participation,  and  that an  increase  in any
Commitment (or the available portion thereof) or Loan shall be permitted without
the  consent  of any  participant  if  the  participant's  participation  is not
increased as a result  thereof),  (ii) consent to the  assignment or transfer by
the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations  under this Agreement or (iii)
release all or  substantially  all of the  Collateral  under all of the Security


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Documents (except as expressly provided in the Credit Documents)  supporting the
Loans or Letters of Credit hereunder in which such participant is participating.
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  such  Lender in respect of such  participation  to be those set
forth in the  agreement  executed  by such  Lender  in favor of the  participant
relating  thereto) and all amounts  payable by the Borrower  hereunder  shall be
determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation.

                  (b) Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  any Lender (or any Lender
together with one or more other  Lenders) may (x) assign all or a portion of its
Commitments and related  outstanding  Obligations  (or, if the Commitments  with
respect  to the  relevant  Tranche  have  terminated,  outstanding  Obligations)
hereunder to (i) its parent company and/or any affiliate of such Lender which is
at least  50%  owned by such  Lender  or its  parent  company  or to one or more
Lenders or (ii) in the case of any Lender that is a fund that  invests in loans,
any other  fund that  invests  in loans and is  managed  or  advised by the same
investment  advisor of such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor
or (y) assign all, or if less than all, a portion  equal to at least  $5,000,000
in the  aggregate  for  the  assigning  Lender  or  assigning  Lenders,  of such
Commitments and related  outstanding  Obligations  (or, if the Commitments  with
respect  to the  relevant  Tranche  have  terminated,  outstanding  Obligations)
hereunder to one or more Eligible Transferees (treating any fund that invests in
loans and any other fund that  invests in loans and is managed or advised by the
same  investment  advisor  of such fund or by an  Affiliate  of such  investment
advisor as a single Eligible Transferee), each of which assignees shall become a
party to this Agreement as a Lender by execution of an Assignment and Assumption
Agreement,  PROVIDED that, (i) at such time Schedule I shall be deemed  modified
to reflect the Commitments and/or outstanding Loans, as the case may be, of such
new Lender and of the existing Lenders,  (ii) upon the surrender of the relevant
Notes by the assigning Lender (or, upon such assigning Lender's indemnifying the
Borrower for any lost Note  pursuant to a customary  indemnification  agreement)
new Notes will be issued, at the Borrower's  expense,  to such new Lender and to
the  assigning  Lender upon the request of such new Lender or assigning  Lender,
such new Notes to be in conformity  with the  requirements of Section 1.05 (with
appropriate   modifications)  to  the  extent  needed  to  reflect  the  revised
Commitments  and/or  outstanding Loans, as the case may be, (iii) the consent of
the  Administrative  Agent and,  so long as no Default or Event of Default  then
exists,  the consent of the Borrower  shall be required in  connection  with any
assignment to an Eligible Transferee pursuant to clause (y) above (each of which
consents shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (iv) the Administrative
Agent shall receive at the time of each such  assignment,  from the assigning or
assignee Lender,  the payment of a  non-refundable  assignment fee of $3,500 and
(v) no such  transfer or  assignment  will be  effective  until  recorded by the
Administrative Agent on the Register pursuant to Section 13.15. To the extent of
any assignment pursuant to this Section 13.04(b),  the assigning Lender shall be
relieved of its obligations  hereunder with respect to its assigned  Commitments
and outstanding  Loans. At the time of each assignment  pursuant to this Section
13.04(b) to a Person which is not already a Lender  hereunder and which is not a
United  States  person (as such term is defined  in Section  7701(a)(30)  of the
Code) for Federal income tax purposes,  the respective assignee Lender shall, to
the extent legally  entitled to do so,  provide to the Borrower the  appropriate
Internal  Revenue  Service  Forms (and,  if  applicable,  a Section  4.04(b)(ii)
Certificate)  described in Section 4.04(b).  To the extent that an assignment of


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all or any portion of a Lender's Commitments and related outstanding Obligations
pursuant to Section 1.13 or this  Section  13.04(b)  would,  at the time of such
assignment,  result in increased  costs under  Section  1.10,  2.06 or 4.04 from
those being charged by the respective assigning Lender prior to such assignment,
then the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay such increased  costs  (although
the Borrower,  in accordance  with and pursuant to the other  provisions of this
Agreement,  shall be  obligated  to pay any  other  increased  costs of the type
described  above  resulting  from  changes  after  the  date  of the  respective
assignment).

                  (c) Nothing in this  Agreement  shall  prevent or prohibit any
Lender from pledging its Loans and Notes  hereunder to a Federal Reserve Bank in
support of  borrowings  made by such Lender from such Federal  Reserve Bank and,
with the consent of the  Administrative  Agent,  any Lender  which is a fund may
pledge all or any  portion  of its Loans and Notes to its  trustee in support of
its  obligations  to its  trustee.  No pledge  pursuant to this clause (c) shall
release the transferor Lender from any of its obligations hereunder.

                  13.05 NO WAIVER;  REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.  No failure or delay on
the part of the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Lender
or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any
other Credit Document and no course of dealing between the Borrower or any other
Credit Party and the  Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent, the Issuing
Lender or any Lender 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,
powers and remedies  herein or in any other Credit Document  expressly  provided
are  cumulative  and not exclusive of any rights,  powers or remedies  which the
Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent,  the Issuing Lender or any Lender
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
Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Lender or any Lender to
any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.

                  13.06 PAYMENTS PRO RATA.  (a) Except as otherwise  provided in
this Agreement,  the Administrative Agent agrees that promptly after its receipt
of each payment from or on behalf of the Borrower in respect of any  Obligations
hereunder,  it shall  distribute  such  payment to the  Lenders  (other than any
Lender  that has  consented  in  writing to waive its PRO RATA share of any such
PAYMENT) PRO RATA based upon their respective shares, if any, of the Obligations
with respect to which such payment was received.

                  (b) Each of the Lenders  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, Unpaid Drawings,  Commitment Commission or Letter of Credit Fees,
of a sum which with respect to the related sum or sums received by other Lenders
is in a greater  proportion  than the total of such Obligation then owed and due
to such Lender bears to the total of such Obligation then owed and due to all of
the Lenders  immediately prior to such receipt,  then such Lender receiving such
excess  payment  shall  purchase for cash without  recourse or warranty from the


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other Lenders an interest in the  Obligations of the respective  Credit Party to
such Lenders in such amount as shall result in a proportional  participation  by
all the  LENDERS IN SUCH  AMOUNT;  PROVIDED  that if all or any  portion of such
excess amount is thereafter recovered from such Lenders,  such purchase shall be
rescinded and the purchase price  restored to the extent of such  recovery,  but
without interest.

                  (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
the  provisions of the preceding  Sections  13.06(a) and (b) shall be subject to
the express  provisions of this Agreement  which require,  or permit,  differing
payments to be made to Non-Defaulting Lenders as opposed to Defaulting Lenders.

                  13.07  CALCULATIONS;  COMPUTATIONS;  ACCOUNTING TERMS. (a) The
financial  statements  to be furnished to the Lenders  pursuant  hereto shall be
made and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States  consistently  applied throughout the periods involved (except
as set forth in the notes  thereto or as  otherwise  disclosed in writing BY THE
BORROWER TO THE LENDERS);  PROVIDED that,  (i) except as otherwise  specifically
provided herein, all computations of Excess Cash Flow, the Applicable Commitment
Commission  Percentage and the Applicable  Margin,  and all computations and all
definitions  used in  determining  compliance  with  Sections 9.07 through 9.11,
inclusive,  (x) shall utilize  accounting  principles and policies in conformity
with  those  used to  prepare  the  most  recent  audited  historical  financial
statements of Holding referred to in Section 7.05(a) and (y) shall be determined
as if no Holding  Junior  Subordinated  Notes are  outstanding,  and (ii) to the
extent expressly  provided herein,  CERTAIN  CALCULATIONS SHALL BE MADE ON A PRO
FORMA Basis.

                  (b) All  computations of interest,  Commitment  Commission and
other  Fees  hereunder  shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days for the
actual  number of days  (including  the first  day but  excluding  the last day;
except  that in the case of  Letter  of  Credit  Fees,  the  last  day  shall be
included) occurring in the period for which such interest, Commitment Commission
or Fees are payable;  provided that interest in respect of Base Rate Loans shall
be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days,  as the case may be,  for the
actual  number of days  occurring  in the  period  for which  such  interest  is
payable.

                  13.08 GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; VENUE; WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.  (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE RIGHTS
AND  OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES  HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER  SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  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,  IN EACH CASE WHICH ARE LOCATED IN THE
CITY OF NEW YORK,  AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER
CREDIT DOCUMENT, EACH OF HOLDING AND THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR
ITSELF  AND IN RESPECT  OF ITS  PROPERTY,  GENERALLY  AND  UNCONDITIONALLY,  THE
JURISDICTION  OF THE AFORESAID  COURTS.  EACH OF HOLDING AND THE BORROWER HEREBY
FURTHER  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES  ANY  CLAIM  THAT ANY  SUCH  COURTS  LACK  PERSONAL


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JURISDICTION OVER HOLDING OR THE BORROWER,  AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM, IN
ANY LEGAL ACTION  PROCEEDING  WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT
DOCUMENTS  BROUGHT IN ANY OF THE  AFOREMENTIONED  COURTS,  THAT SUCH COURTS LACK
PERSONAL  JURISDICTION  OVER  HOLDING  OR THE  BORROWER.  EACH OF HOLDING OR THE
BORROWER  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 HOLDING OR
THE BORROWER AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH OPPOSITE ITS SIGNATURE BELOW, SUCH SERVICE
TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING.  EACH OF HOLDING OR THE BORROWER
HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS AND FURTHER
IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
COMMENCED  HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER CREDIT  DOCUMENT THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS
WAS IN ANY WAY INVALID OR INEFFECTIVE.  NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF
THE ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE HOLDER OF ANY NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS
IN ANY  OTHER  MANNER  PERMITTED  BY LAW OR TO  COMMENCE  LEGAL  PROCEEDINGS  OR
OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST THE BORROWER IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

                  (b) EACH OF HOLDING AND THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES
ANY OBJECTION  WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER  HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY
OF THE AFORESAID  ACTIONS OR  PROCEEDINGS  ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION  WITH
THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT BROUGHT IN THE COURTS REFERRED TO IN
CLAUSE (a) ABOVE AND HEREBY  FURTHER  IRREVOCABLY,  TO THE EXTENT  PERMITTED  BY
APPLICABLE  LAW,  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.

                  (c) 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 OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

                  13.09  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 Administrative Agent.

                  13.10 EFFECTIVENESS.  This Agreement shall become effective on
the  date  (the  "Effective   Date")  on  which  Holding,   the  Borrower,   the
Administrative  Agent and each of the Lenders  shall have  signed a  counterpart


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hereof (whether the same or different counterparts) and shall have delivered the
same to the  Administrative  Agent at the  Notice  Office or, in the case of the
Lenders,  shall have given to the Administrative Agent telephonic  (confirmed in
writing),  written or telex notice  (actually  received) at such office that the
same has been  signed  and  mailed to it.  The  Administrative  Agent  will give
Holding, the Borrower and each Lender prompt written notice of the occurrence of
the Effective Date.

                  13.11  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.

                  13.12 AMENDMENT OR WAIVER; ETC. (a) Neither this Agreement nor
any other  Credit  Document  nor any terms  hereof or  thereof  may be  changed,
waived,  discharged  or  terminated  unless such  change,  waiver,  discharge or
termination is in writing signed by the Respective  Credit Parties party thereto
and the Required  Lenders,  PROVIDED that no such change,  waiver,  discharge or
termination  shall,  without the consent of each Lender (other than a Defaulting
Lender) (with  Obligations  being directly affected in the case of the following
clauses (i) and (ii)),  (i) extend the final  scheduled  maturity of any Loan or
Note or extend the  stated  expiration  date of any Letter of Credit  beyond the
Revolving  Loan Maturity  Date, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment
of  interest  or  Fees  thereon   (except  in  connection  with  the  waiver  of
applicability  of any post-default  increase in interest  rates),  or reduce the
principal amount thereof,  (ii) reduce the amount of, or extend the date of, any
Scheduled  Repayment,  (iii) release all or substantially  all of the Collateral
(except as expressly  provided in the Credit  Documents)  under all the Security
Documents,  (iv) amend,  modify or waive any  provision  of this  Section  13.12
(except for technical amendments with respect to additional extensions of credit
pursuant to this  Agreement  which  afford the  protections  to such  additional
extensions  of credit of the type  provided to the Term Loans and the  Revolving
Loan Commitments on the Effective Date), (v) reduce the percentage  specified in
the definition of Required  Lenders (it being  understood that, with the consent
of the  Required  Lenders,  additional  extensions  of credit  pursuant  to this
Agreement  may be  included  in the  determination  of the  Required  Lenders on
substantially  the same basis as the extensions of Term Loans and Revolving Loan
Commitments  are  included  on  the  Effective  Date)  or  (vi)  consent  to the
assignment  or  transfer by the  Borrower  of any of its rights and  obligations
under this Agreement;  PROVIDED FURTHER, that no such change, waiver,  discharge
or termination  shall (1) increase the Commitments of any Lender over the amount
thereof then in effect  without the consent of such Lender (it being  understood
that waivers or modifications of conditions  precedent,  covenants,  Defaults or
Events of Default or of a mandatory  reduction in the Total Commitment shall not
constitute an increase of the Commitment of any Lender,  and that an increase in
the available  portion of any  Commitment of any Lender shall not  constitute an
increase  of the  Commitment  of such  Lender),  (2)  without the consent of the
Issuing Lender,  amend,  modify or waive any provision of Section 2 or alter its
rights or obligations with respect to Letters of Credit, (3) without the consent
of the Swingline Lender, alter the Swingline Lender's rights or obligations with
respect to Swingline Loans, (4) without the consent of the Administrative Agent,
amend,  modify or waive any  provision  of Section 12 or any other  provision as
same relates to the rights or obligations of the  Administrative  Agent,  or (5)
without the consent of Collateral  Agent,  amend,  modify or waive any provision
relating to the rights or obligations of the Collateral Agent.


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                  (b) If,  in  connection  with  any  proposed  change,  waiver,
discharge  or  termination  to  any of  the  provisions  of  this  Agreement  as
contemplated  by clauses (i) through  (vi),  inclusive,  of the first proviso to
Section  13.12(a),  the  consent of the  Required  Lenders is  obtained  but the
consent of one or more of such other  Lenders  whose  consent is required is not
obtained,  then the Borrower shall have the right, so long as all non-consenting
Lenders whose individual  consent is required are treated as described in either
clauses (A) or (B) below, to either (A) replace each such non-consenting  Lender
or Lenders with one or more Replacement Lenders pursuant to Section 1.13 so long
as at the time of such replacement, each such Replacement Lender consents to the
proposed  change,  waiver,  discharge  or  termination  or  (B)  terminate  such
non-consenting  Lender's  Commitments  and/or repay each Tranche of  outstanding
Loans of such  Lender  in  accordance  with  Sections  3.02(B)  and/or  4.01(b),
PROVIDED that,  unless the Commitments  that are  terminated,  and Loans repaid,
pursuant to preceding  clause (B) are immediately  replaced in full at such time
through the  addition of new Lenders or the increase of the  Commitments  and/or
outstanding  Loans of  existing  Lenders  (who in each  case  must  specifically
consent  thereto),  then in the case of any action pursuant to preceding  clause
(B) the Required Lenders (determined after giving effect to the proposed action)
shall  specifically  consent thereto,  PROVIDED  FURTHER,  that in any event the
Borrower shall not have the right to replace a Lender, terminate its Commitments
or repay its Loans  solely as a result of the exercise of such  Lender's  rights
(and the  withholding  of any required  consent by such Lender)  pursuant to the
second proviso to Section 13.12(a).

                  13.13 SURVIVAL.  All  indemnities set forth herein  including,
without  limitation,  in Sections 1.10,  1.11, 2.06, 4.04, 12.06 and 13.01 shall
survive the execution,  delivery and termination of this Agreement and the Notes
and the making and repayment of the Obligations.

                  13.14  DOMICILE OF LOANS.  Each Lender may  transfer and carry
its Loans at, to or for the account of any office,  Subsidiary  or  Affiliate of
such Lender.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained herein, to the
extent that a transfer of Loans  pursuant to this Section  13.14  would,  at the
time of such transfer,  result in increased costs under Section 1.10, 1.11, 2.06
or 4.04  from  those  being  charged  by the  respective  Lender  prior  to such
transfer,  then the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay such increased  costs
(although the Borrower  shall be obligated to pay any other  increased  costs of
the type described above resulting from changes after the date of the respective
transfer).

                  13.15   REGISTER.   The   Borrower   hereby   designates   the
Administrative  Agent to serve as the Borrower's  agent,  solely for purposes of
this Section  13.15,  to maintain a register (the  "Register")  on which it will
record the Commitments from time to time of each of the Lenders,  the Loans made
by each of the Lenders and each repayment in respect of the principal  amount of
the Loans of each Lender. Failure to make any such recordation,  or any error in
such recordation, shall not affect the Borrower's obligations in respect of such
Loans.  With  respect to any Lender,  the  transfer of the  Commitments  of such
Lender  and the  rights to the  principal  of,  and  interest  on, any Loan made
pursuant  to such  Commitments  shall not be  effective  until such  transfer is
recorded on the Register maintained by the Administrative  Agent with respect to
ownership  of such  Commitments  and  Loans and  prior to such  recordation  all
amounts owing to the transferor with respect to such Commitments and Loans shall
remain owing to the  transferor.  The  registration of assignment or transfer of
all or part of any Commitments and Loans shall be recorded by the Administrative


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Agent on the Register only upon the acceptance by the Administrative  Agent of a
properly executed and delivered  Assignment and Assumption Agreement pursuant to
Section  13.04(b).  Coincident  with  the  delivery  of such an  Assignment  and
Assumption Agreement to the Administrative Agent for acceptance and registration
of  assignment  or transfer of all or part of a Loan,  or as soon  thereafter as
practicable,  the  assigning or transferor  Lender shall  surrender the Note (if
any)  evidencing  such  Loan,  and  thereupon  one or more new Notes in the same
aggregate principal amount shall be issued to the assigning or transferor Lender
and/or the new Lender at the request of any such Lender.  The Borrower agrees to
indemnify the Administrative Agent from and against any and all losses,  claims,
damages and  liabilities of whatsoever  nature which may be imposed on, asserted
against or incurred by the  Administrative  Agent in performing its duties under
this Section 13.15.

                  13.16 CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) Subject to the provisions of clause
(b) of this Section  13.16,  each Lender agrees that it will use its  reasonable
efforts not to disclose without the prior consent of the Borrower (other than to
its employees, auditors, advisors or counsel or to another Lender if such Lender
or such Lender's  holding or parent  company in its sole  discretion  determines
that any such  party  should  have  access to such  information,  provided  such
Persons  shall be subject to the  provisions  of this Section  13.16 to the same
extent as such  Lender) any  information  with  respect to Holding or any of its
Subsidiaries  which is now or in the future furnished pursuant to this Agreement
or any other  Credit  Document  and which is  designated  by the Borrower to the
Lenders in writing as  confidential,  PROVIDED  that any Lender may disclose any
such information (i) as has become generally  available to the public other than
by virtue of a breach of this Section 13.16(a) by the respective Lender, (ii) as
may be required or appropriate in any report,  statement or testimony  submitted
to any municipal,  state or Federal  regulatory  body having or claiming to have
jurisdiction  over such  Lender or to the Federal  Reserve  Board or the Federal
Deposit Insurance  Corporation or similar  organizations  (whether in the United
States  or  elsewhere)  or  their  successors,  (iii)  as  may  be  required  or
appropriate  in respect to any  summons or subpoena  or in  connection  with any
litigation,  (iv) in order to comply with any law,  order,  regulation or ruling
applicable to such Lender,  (v) to the  Administrative  Agent or the  Collateral
Agent  and (vi) to any  prospective  or  actual  transferee  or  participant  in
connection with any  contemplated  transfer or participation of any of the Notes
or  Commitments  or any  interest  therein by such  Lender,  PROVIDED  that such
prospective  transferee  agrees  to be bound by the  confidentiality  provisions
contained in this Section 13.16.

                  (b) Each of Holding and the Borrower hereby  acknowledges  and
agrees  that  each  Lender  may  share  with  any of its  affiliates,  and  such
affiliates may share with such Lender any information  related to Holding or any
of its Subsidiaries  (including,  without  limitation,  any non-public  customer
information  regarding the  creditworthiness  of Holding and its  Subsidiaries),
provided such Persons  shall be subject to the  provisions of this Section 13.16
to the same extent as such Lender.

                   13.17   CERTAIN   AGREEMENTS   WITH  RESPECT  TO  THE  SENIOR
  SUBORDINATED  NOTES.  Each of Holding and the Borrower  hereby  represents and
  warrants  that  (i)  $30,000,000  of Term  Loans  and at least  $3,500,000  of
  Revolving  Loans and at least  $2,260,000 of Letters of Credit may be incurred
  or issued (as the case may be) under this  Agreement on the Initial  Borrowing
  Date, and the Seller Subordinated Notes may be issued on the Initial Borrowing
  Date,  in each case in reliance on the first  paragraph of Section 4.09 of the


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  Senior  Subordinated Note Indenture,  and (ii) $30,000,000 of Revolving Loans,
  Swingline  Loans and Letters of Credit in the aggregate  incurred  pursuant to
  the Total Revolving Loan Commitment as in effect on the Initial Borrowing Date
  may be  incurred  in  reliance  on clause  (i) of  Section  4.09 of the Senior
  Subordinated Note Indenture.

                  13.18 INCREASE OF COMMITMENTS.  So long as no Default or Event
of Default then exists or would result  therefrom,  the Borrower  shall have the
right at any time and from time to time to on or prior to September  30, 2000 to
request that up to  $20,000,000  of additional  financing be provided under this
Agreement to finance one or more Permitted  Acquisitions  on the following terms
and conditions:  (i) the Borrower shall have given the  Administrative  Agent at
least 30 days prior written notice of its desire to make any such request; (iii)
no more than  three  requests  in the  aggregate  may be made  pursuant  to this
Section  13.18;  (iii)  such  additional  financing  shall  be in the form of an
increase to the Total  Revolving  Loan  Commitment  and/or the addition of a new
tranche  of term  loans,  provided  that any such new  tranche of term loans (A)
shall  have a final  maturity  date of at least  one year  beyond  the Term Loan
Maturity Date and (B) may not have any interim scheduled  amortization  payments
prior to the Term Loan  Maturity Date in an annual amount in excess of 1% of the
initial  aggregate  principal  amount of such new tranche  term  loans;  (iv) no
Lender shall be obligated to provide any additional financing as a result of any
request by the  Borrower;  (v) any Lender may provide all or any portion of such
additional  financing  without  the  consent  of any  other  Lender  (except  as
otherwise provided in clause (x) below); (vi) any additional  financing provided
pursuant to this Section 13.18 shall  require the prior  written  consent of the
Administrative  Agent and shall be done in coordination with the  Administrative
Agent;  (vii) any request for  additional  financing to be provided  pursuant to
this Section 13.18 shall be in a minimum amount of at least  $5,000,000;  (viii)
the  Credit  Parties  shall  deliver  such  documentation  as may be  reasonably
required by the  Administrative  Agent in  connection  with any such  additional
financing (including,  but not limited to, certificates,  opinions and documents
of  the  type  described  in  Sections  5.01(ii),  5.02,  5.03,  5.04  and  5.15
(appropriately  modified));  (ix) the  Borrower  shall have paid to the  Lenders
providing such  additional  financing such fees as may have been agreed to among
the Borrower,  the  Administrative  agent and such Lenders;  and (x) the Lenders
agree that they will enter into (and not withhold  their  consent to)  technical
amendments  to this  Agreement  and the other Credit  Documents  approved by the
Administrative Agent to incorporate such additional financing (including certain
technical   amendments   which  afford  such  additional  term  loans  the  same
protections  afforded  the Term  Loans and  Revolving  Loan  Commitments  on the
Effective Date).

                  SECTION 14.  HOLDING GUARANTY.

                  14.01 GUARANTY.  In order to induce the Administrative  Agent,
the  Collateral  Agent,  the  Issuing  Lender and the Lenders to enter into this
Agreement and to extend  credit  hereunder,  and to induce the other  Guaranteed
Creditors to enter into Interest Rate  Protection  Agreements  and Other Hedging
Agreements,  and in recognition of the direct benefits to be received by Holding
from the  proceeds of the Loans,  the  issuance of the Letters of Credit and the
entering  into of such  Interest Rate  Protection  Agreements  and Other Hedging
Agreements,  Holding  hereby  agrees with the  Guaranteed  Creditors as follows:
Holding hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees as primary obligor and


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<PAGE>

not  merely  as surety  the full and  prompt  payment  when  due,  whether  upon
maturity,   acceleration  or  otherwise,  of  any  and  all  of  the  Guaranteed
Obligations  of the Borrower to the Guaranteed  Creditors.  If any or all of the
Guaranteed  Obligations of the Borrower to the Guaranteed  Creditors becomes due
and payable hereunder,  Holding  unconditionally and irrevocably promises to pay
such  indebtedness  to the  Administrative  Agent  and/or  the other  Guaranteed
Creditors,  or order, on demand, together with any and all expenses which may be
incurred  by the  Administrative  Agent and the other  Guaranteed  Creditors  in
collecting  any of the  Guaranteed  Obligations.  If claim is ever made upon any
Guaranteed  Creditor for repayment or recovery of any amount or amounts received
in payment or on account  of any of the  Guaranteed  Obligations  and any of the
aforesaid  payees  repays  all or part  of  said  amount  by  reason  of (i) any
judgment,   decree  or  order  of  any  court  or  administrative   body  having
jurisdiction  over such payee or any of its property or (ii) any  settlement  or
compromise  of any such claim  effected  by such  payee  with any such  claimant
(including  the  Borrower),  then and in such event Holding agrees that any such
judgment, decree, order, settlement or compromise shall be binding upon Holding,
notwithstanding  any revocation of this Guaranty or other instrument  evidencing
any  liability of the  Borrower,  and Holding  shall be and remain liable to the
aforesaid  payees  hereunder  for the amount so repaid or  recovered to the same
extent as if such amount had never originally been received by any such payee.

                  14.02 BANKRUPTCY.  Additionally,  Holding  unconditionally and
irrevocably  guarantees the payment of any and all of the Guaranteed Obligations
of the Borrower to the Guaranteed Creditors whether or not due or payable by the
Borrower upon the  occurrence of any of the events  specified in Section  10.05,
and irrevocably  and  unconditionally  promises to pay such  indebtedness to the
Guaranteed Creditors, or order, on demand, in lawful money of the United States.

                  14.03 NATURE OF LIABILITY.  The liability of Holding hereunder
is  exclusive  and  independent  of any  security  for or other  guaranty of the
Guaranteed  Obligations of the Borrower,  whether executed by Holding, any other
guarantor or by any other party,  and the liability of Holding  hereunder is not
affected or impaired by (a) any  direction as to  application  of payment by the
Borrower or by any other party,  or (b) any other  continuing or other guaranty,
undertaking or maximum  liability of a guarantor or of any other party as to the
Guaranteed Obligations of the Borrower, or (c) any payment on or in reduction of
any such other guaranty or undertaking,  or (d) any dissolution,  termination or
increase,  decrease or change in personnel by the  Borrower,  or (e) any payment
made to any  Guaranteed  Creditor on the Guaranteed  Obligations  which any such
Guaranteed  Creditor  repays  to the  Borrower  pursuant  to court  order in any
bankruptcy,  reorganization,  arrangement,  moratorium  or other  debtor  relief
proceeding,  and Holding waives any right to the deferral or modification of its
obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding.

                  14.04  INDEPENDENT  OBLIGATION.  The  obligations  of  Holding
hereunder are independent of the obligations of any other  guarantor,  any other
party or the  Borrower,  and a  separate  action or actions  may be brought  and
prosecuted  against  Holding  whether or not action is brought against any other
guarantor,  any  other  party  or the  Borrower  and  whether  or not any  other
guarantor,  any other  party or the  Borrower  be  joined in any such  action or
actions.  Holding waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the benefit of
any statute of limitations  affecting its liability hereunder or the enforcement


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<PAGE>

thereof.  Any payment by the Borrower or other  circumstance  which  operates to
toll any statute of  limitations  as to the Borrower  shall  operate to toll the
statute of limitations as to Holding.

                  14.05   AUTHORIZATION.   Holding   authorizes  the  Guaranteed
Creditors  without  notice or demand  (except as shall be required by applicable
statute and cannot be waived),  and without affecting or impairing its liability
hereunder, from time to time to:

                  (a) change the manner,  place or terms of payment  of,  and/or
change or extend the time of payment of, renew,  increase,  accelerate or alter,
any of the  Guaranteed  Obligations  (including  any increase or decrease in the
rate of interest or fees  thereon),  any  security  therefor,  or any  liability
incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof, and the Guaranty herein made
shall apply to the Guaranteed  Obligations as so changed,  extended,  renewed or
altered;

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

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

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

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

                  (f) apply any sums by whomsoever paid or howsoever realized to
any  liability  or  liabilities  of the  Borrower  to the  Guaranteed  Creditors
regardless of what liability or liabilities of the Borrower remain unpaid;

                  (g) consent to or waive any breach of, or any act, omission or
default under,  this  Agreement,  any other Credit  Document,  any Interest Rate
Protection Agreement or any Other Hedging Agreement or any of the instruments or
agreements  referred  to  herein  or  therein,  or  otherwise  amend,  modify or
supplement  this  Agreement,  any  other  Credit  Document,  any  Interest  Rate
Protection  Agreement  or any  Other  Hedging  Agreement  or any of  such  other
instruments or agreements; and/or

                  (h)  take  any  other  action  which  would,  under  otherwise
applicable principles of common law, give rise to a legal or equitable discharge
of Holding from its liabilities under this Guaranty.


                                      116
<PAGE>

                  14.06  RELIANCE.  It  is  not  necessary  for  any  Guaranteed
Creditor  to  inquire  into the  capacity  or  powers of  Holding  or any of its
Subsidiaries or the officers, directors, partners or agents acting or purporting
to act on their  behalf,  and any  Guaranteed  Obligations  made or  created  in
reliance  upon  the  professed  exercise  of such  powers  shall  be  guaranteed
hereunder.

                  14.07  SUBORDINATION.  Any indebtedness of the Borrower now or
hereafter owing to Holding is hereby subordinated to the Guaranteed  Obligations
of the Borrower owing to the  Guaranteed  Creditors;  and if the  Administrative
Agent  so  requests  at a time  when  an  Event  of  Default  exists,  all  such
indebtedness  of the  Borrower  to  Holding  shall be  collected,  enforced  and
received by Holding for the benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors and be paid over
to the Administrative  Agent on behalf of the Guaranteed Creditors on account of
the  Guaranteed  Obligations of the Borrower to the  Guaranteed  Creditors,  but
without  affecting or impairing in any manner the liability of Holding under the
other provisions of this Guaranty.  Prior to the transfer by Holding of any note
or negotiable  instrument  evidencing any such  indebtedness  of the Borrower to
Holding,  Holding  shall mark such note or negotiable  instrument  with a legend
that the same is subject to this subordination.  Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing,  Holding  hereby agrees with the Guaranteed  Creditors that it
will not exercise any right of  subrogation  which it may at any time  otherwise
have as a result of this Guaranty (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the
Bankruptcy  Code or  otherwise)  until  all  Guaranteed  Obligations  have  been
irrevocably paid in full in cash.

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

                  (b) Holding waives all presentments,  demands for performance,
protests and notices,  including without  limitation  notices of nonperformance,
notices of protest, notices of dishonor, notices of acceptance of this Guaranty,
and  notices  of the  existence,  creation  or  incurring  of new or  additional
Guaranteed Obligations. Holding assumes all responsibility for being and keeping


                                      117
<PAGE>

itself  informed of the Borrower's  financial  condition and assets,  and of all
other  circumstances  bearing  upon the  risk of  nonpayment  of the  Guaranteed
Obligations and the nature,  scope and extent of the risks which Holding assumes
and incurs  hereunder,  and agrees that the  Administrative  Agent and the other
Guaranteed  Creditors shall have no duty to advise Holding of information  known
to them regarding such circumstances or risks.

                  14.09  NATURE OF  LIABILITY.  It is the  desire  and intent of
Holding  and the  Guaranteed  Creditors  that this  Guaranty  shall be  enforced
against  Holding to the  fullest  extent  permissible  under the laws and public
policies  applied in each  jurisdiction  in which  enforcement  is  sought.  If,
however,  and to the extent that, the obligations of Holding under this Guaranty
shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable  for any reason  (including,
without  limitation,  because of any applicable state or federal law relating to
fraudulent  conveyances  or transfers),  then the amount of Holding  obligations
under this  Guaranty  shall be deemed to be reduced  and  Holding  shall pay the
maximum amount of the Guaranteed  Obligations  which would be permissible  under
applicable law.

                                      * * *


                                      118
<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused their duly
authorized  officers to execute and deliver this  Agreement as of the date first
above written.

ADDRESS:

900 Georgia Avenue                           HYDROCHEM INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC.
Deer Park, Texas 77536
Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
Telephone No.:  (713) 393-5665               By:/s/ Selby F. Little, III
                                                -------------------------
Telecopier No.:  (713) 393-5965                 Name:  Selby F. Little, III
                                                Title: Chief Financial Officer

900 Georgia Avenue                           HYDROCHEM HOLDING, INC.
Deer Park, Texas 77536
Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
Telephone No.:  (713) 393-5665               By:/s/ Selby F. Little, III
                                                -------------------------
Telecopier No.:  (713) 393-5965                 Name:  Selby F. Little, III
                                                Title: Chief Financial Officer


<PAGE>


                                      BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
                                       Individually and as Administrative Agent


                                      BY:/s/ John J. ONeill
                                         -------------------
                                         Name:  John J. ONeill
                                         Title: Managing Director


<PAGE>


                                      BANK AUSTRIA CREDITANSTALT
                                        CORPORATE FINANCE, INC.


                                      BY:/s/ Tom Pierce
                                         -----------------
                                         Name:  Tom Pierce
                                         Title: Senior Associate


                                      BY:/s/ Robert Biringer
                                         --------------------
                                         Name:  Robert Biringer
                                         Title: Executive Vice President

<PAGE>


                                      NATIONAL CITY BANK OF KENTUCKY


                                      BY:/s/ Tom Gurbach
                                         ------------------
                                         Name:  Tom Gurbach
                                         Title: Vice President


<PAGE>




                                      NATEXIS BANQUE - BFCE


                                      BY:/s/ Louis P. Laville, III
                                         ----------------------------
                                         Name:  Louis P. Laville, III
                                         Title: Vice President & Group Manager


                                      BY:/s/ Daniel Payer
                                         -------------------
                                         Name:  Daniel Payer
                                         Title: Assistant Vice President


<PAGE>


                                      SOUTHWEST BANK OF TEXAS, N.A.


                                      BY:/s/ Carmen Dunmire
                                         -------------------
                                         Name:  Carmen Dunmire
                                         Title: Vice President


<PAGE>


                                      WELLS FARGO BANK (TEXAS),
                                      NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


                                      BY:/s/ Linda Masera
                                         -------------------
                                         Name:  Linda Masera
                                         Title: Vice President




                              N E W S R E L E A S E

For more information:
Dorothy Botnick, HydroChem

713-393-5670

                            HYDROCHEM ACQUIRES LANSCO

HOUSTON,  NOVEMBER 22, 1999 -- HydroChem  Industrial  Services,  Inc.  announced
today that it has  acquired  Landry  Service Co.,  Inc.  (LANSCO) for a purchase
price of $35.5 million.

         Houston-based  LANSCO is a leader in providing tank cleaning  services,
primarily to refineries throughout the United States, and specializes in on-site
sludge  removal and  processing  services for above ground  storage  tanks.  The
company has 120 employees.

         "LANSCO and HydroChem  share many of the same  customers,  and LANSCO's
service  offerings  complement  ours," said Tom Carter,  HydroChem  chairman and
chief executive officer. "This acquisition will enhance both our companies since
it offers LANSCO an opportunity to expand its customer base and allows HydroChem
to strengthen its tank cleaning services."

         HydroChem,  also based in Houston,  has more than 2,200  employees  and
offices  throughout  the U.S.  and in  Singapore  and Puerto  Rico.  The company
provides  industrial  services,  including  hydroblasting,   chemical  cleaning,
industrial  vacuuming and mechanical  services,  primarily to the petrochemical,
oil refining, electric utility, metals and pulp and paper industries.

                                      #####





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